This Saturday (20/04) we welcome Manchester’s Beatnik Collective to The Imaginarium. Residents Rossa, Frenchy, and Adam Nahalewicz have invited Craigie Knowes to join them for this party. Ahead of the event, we spoke with Adam…
Imaginarium: What brought Beatnik Collective together and inspired you guys to start throwing parties?
Adam: I think we are all heavily inspired by wanting to get out djing and raving really and connecting with people on the dance floor and being daft as fuck in general just having fun. I know all that sounds a bit cliche but seeing a party come together with all those elements and its Something we made happen is special, I think we all just wanted a piece of that.
The idea of BC was started by Josh carney and a friend off the back of Houghton in 2017. Something he wanted to put together as was super passionate about the ideait was just a where to start kinda thing. I think it was a chance encounter with Tristan da Cunha in the end that spurred them into action and made a plan for the party with him as the header.The first couple of events were wicked with Tristan and Bobby O’Donnell and then the Ghost. Rossa met Josh on the dance floor and got involved, upped the game again with his promoting experience and connections in Manchester. By this time Id played for them and was asked by The lads if I wanted get stuck in more as I was keen. I think me and Rossa really loved the concept and vibe of the Brand and the artwork was so unique, we just wanted to be apart of it. It just glued together over a few years organically and now it’s us three, Well and truly caught the bug.. as challenging as it is at times. We love it.
Imaginarium: Tell us a bit about yourselves and the other residents…
Adam: We all have years Djing and raving experience under our belts to be honest. Between us theres a wealth of knowledge and understanding I think that really helps especially with the warm ups and also programming our sets and line ups.
Me and Rossa have been djing for a few years now and our B2Bs are getting better we share the same tastes musically so it’s easy.
Obviously the main weapon in our arsenal is Frenchy haha. It’s an absolute privilege to have such a solid DJ and all round gent as a resident. I think we learn Something every time he plays for us to be honest. I know I do any way I love watching him play.
Imaginarium: Any standout gigs in recent times?
Adam: I think we would have to say are last night we played at BC before Marcelina we sent it and the energy in room was just perfect from start to finish. Rob James closed the room and its was a seriously special moment for us tbh just feeding off the way the dance floor was reacting for the closing track.
Of course we would have to say Gottwood too, We are all lucky enough regulars, Rossa and frenchy for longer than me and our deeply connected with the festival its always massive highlight for us now that we all play.
I had the opportunity to play Hoppetosse last October for Moving peoples first label showcase. 6am till close , that ones gunna stay with me for a while too for sure.
Imaginarium: Craigie Knowes are a great booking. For those who might be familiar with the label, but haven’t caught the pair’s DJ sets, what should we expect?
Adam: Firstly , top class tunes haha and diverse range of genre and lots of energy.
The label is iconic and has been for some years now you can see the passion shining through, A true love for dance music is was it takes to create that always transcends on to the dance floor when you have DJs playing who truly move what their doing. They have years and years of djing together to thats always special when its as if one DJ is performing. We really looking forward to having them down.
Imaginarium: Beatnik Collective are launching a label. Tell us about your first release…
Adam: We are extremely exited about this haha, it Something me we have been talking about for a few years and to see it finally manifest is quite a high. We are just waiting on a rough release date so we can start promoting it properly, So I don’t really want to spill the beans just yet but the test presses have been approved.
The first release is a VA from a tight crew of DJs and producers that we have had on our line ups, including and track from me and Rossa as well so its exiting and we cant wait to share it.
(Since we spoke with Adam a few days ago, the first release has been announced. Find out more here.)
Imaginarium: Why did you choose The Imaginarium as a venue?
Adam: We always loved the concept the venue as a home for the underground music scene in Beeds and with it with being a record and house plant shop by day is really cool! Also fact its run by a group of creatives DJs, promoters, friends is really special and its clear to see every one involved is passionate about the music and the cities scene and wants to do Something good. This really resonates with us , It’s a gem and needs to be supported. We’ve had some top class nights there over last two years too so its was kinda on the cards just when we could get date locked in.
We have a close circle of friends in Leeds that always make the trip over and support us in Manchester so we really wanted to run an event in here. It’s the perfect spot for us really. The smaller intimate venues suites us and is what we look for. of course we’re looking forward to play on the new martin audio install too, which I think will complete the venue perfectly.
Imaginarium: Manchester seems to have so many great spaces for electronic music. Would you say that its music scene is thriving, or is this just an outsider’s perspective?
Adam: Yer for sure, it’s really bounced back after lock down things look in full swing, at least it seems that way. I guess its hard to truly know how thriving a music scene can as its getting harder to find the spaces with development and lots more residents in the centre now and smaller venues loosing there licences for live music etc.But theres so many smaller events like us that continue to pop up on its a buzz to see and be apart of that as we know the struggle it can be at times. Of course a few of the bigger events are smashing it and really flying the flag.
The progress centre looks like it’s about change the game and also the Loft has been a wicked space for the scene over the last few years. Week in week out events and still able to keep that rawness and underground feel Something the city missed after Sankeys closed.
Imaginarium: Any future plans you’d like to share?
Adam: As in events we have two more dates one in the summer with its wicked line up, we are itching to get that out soon as we can after April , we cant say any more on that yet haha. Also booked in at the Eagle inn again for our 6th birthday in November. We are continuing to plan more stuff. We have been approached by a few festivals to work with them so that would be amazing if we could make them happen next summer let’s see.
The label is a massive priority and getting a catalogue of really good music out there over the next few years is where we want to be and hope to build on our brand that way and leave a mark on the scene, that would be amazing.
Tickets for Saturday’s party are available from Resident Advisor
Interview: Roya Brehl