After the pandemic, we have seen a rise in the underground returning in such a huge and prominent way. Whether we are writers, attendees, or musicians – the underground will always stand to be a solid force and a source of culture and discovery of all genres and types of music. There is a prominent collective currently coming out of Salt Lake City, UTAH – BLAQ VOID. Run by three different people, the brand works to collectively provide a vision coming straight from a long-lasting and tight-knit group of friends who all initially shared ideas and a dream – to provide a platform for artists and spread positivity.
The shows work to create a safe place for attendees to experience both unknown up-and-coming artists alongside fan favorites all while promoting respect, safety, harm reduction, and good vibes. Some of the artists they’ve booked in the past two years include VILLA, 1997, Mr Carmack, QLANK, Longstoryshort, Levity, Digital Ethos, Sharlitz Web, Tisoki, and so many more. I was able to sit down with the group of friends who started BLAQ VOID in an exclusive interview, exploring the foundations and ideologies that they hold.
In Conversation with BLAQ VOID
ALLISON: Hi Brandon! I’m such a fan of your work and the shows you throw – so excited to learn more about the foundation and values behind BLAQ VOID. What was the core goal you had in mind when you initially thought of throwing these shows?
BRANDON: When we first started BLAQ VOID our focus was really on building a longstanding brand with our best friends that reflected our values as a friend group and would allow us to all be creative in our ways. We really wanted to highlight smaller up-and-coming artists and create a platform where we could showcase the talent of smaller artists in different ways and in front of larger crowds of people than they would normally get as openers for a big headliner.
We’ve always been kind of a ragtag group of friends with a rebellious spirit so taking a non-traditional approach to our parties was also important to us. Rather than booking big acts to attract people at established venues, we decided to cultivate and grow a community of people who were looking for something different and open to discovering new artists & experiences. Cultivating a community was at the core of what we wanted BLAQ VOID to become and will always be because we believe that the People make the experience.
ALLISON: Tell me about the time you realized that you accomplished this goal and what it was like to sit in that moment.
RANDY: We’ve honestly started to feel the weight of our efforts paying off more recently. We have sold out almost every party since the beginning of 2023 and that just blows our mind. Doing shows out of state with like-minded individuals and people we look up to has also given us a lot of fuel for our spaceship. A lot of companies like ours can be hard to keep alive long term. But we think the most recent impact we’ve made in our communities and people’s minds has kind of cemented us as a group that’s just going to grow from here on out. It’s a very validating feeling and we’re really excited for what is coming.
ALLISON: It really seems like the safety and energy that someone attending, their experiences are so important to you – is that something that was always a core goal for you?
DRUE: That’s always been huge for us. Before we were business owners, we were patrons (and still are). Since our conception, we wanted to create a space where people felt included, cared for, and safe. The golden rule kind of applies here as an initial thought of, “How would I like to be treated as a patron of someone else’s event?” People need to know that there’s someone in control, but a benevolent someone. It must be professional but fluid. Always take care of your team and your people, and good things will come out of that.
ALLISON: Lastly, what can we look forward to seeing from you guys this year & what are you most excited about?
BRANDON: People can expect some larger scaled parties and new locations. We’ve been planning to throw down at some more unique locations with new experiences. Some bigger name artists have been reaching out to us, so there are some fun opportunities there. We also want to focus on bringing some more local talent and friends into the spotlight and creating a space for them to grow and thrive. There’s so much talent that we bring to our parties – we just want them to get the recognition that they deserve. We’re excited about some more double-day parties, mini-fests, and more out-of-state collabs. Keep watch!
Keep up with BLAQ VOID:
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
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