REFUGE, the creative vision of video and holographic artist Samuel Saunders, started as an underground social alternative to clubbing and traditional art openings. The party represents a nightlife renaissance, and the return of great music, great people and great vibes to Los Angeles.
The concept combines gallery settings with club atmospheres, old with new, high-tech with antique, and classy with trashy to explore futuristic realms of club experience and design. Is REFUGE the illusion or the reality?
Or can we have both?
This protective asylum is an inspired escape far from the maddening world.
Accented by floor-to-ceiling video projections, inverse 3D imagery and holographic art, the alternative scene plays with concepts of fact and fiction, and space and time. Large-scale antique mirrors and decorative furniture pieces add dimension to the eclectic party environment where people dance with holograms to the vibes of classic and tech house music.
Offering goodness, light, and beauty while featuring video and holographic art installations against a backdrop of soundscapes created by the night’s DJs, this is a REFUGE for artists, club kids, old school house heads and others seeking protection amongst friends.
About REFUGE Resident DJs:
Terence Toy
Terence Toy is a legend in Los Angeles and is easily known as the hardest working figure in the city’s scene. He’s played every major venue, including Paradise 24 at Circus where he was a resident long before Giant and Spundae did their thing there. DJ Toy hosted his own radio show — “The Underground Beat” — on 92.3FM The Beat in Los Angeles, and over the years he’s done many guest spots on premier LA mix show, Powertools . Many of Los Angeles’ current house fanatics and DJs were influenced by his amazing sets at the legendary afterhours club Does Your Mama Know. Toy’s countless mix tapes and CDs, available in many speciality stores throughout the West Coast, across the US and Canada, have spread the now ubiquitous sound of deep house music to thousands.
For more info go to his website: www.terencetoy.com
Erick LaBanca aka Mad Matin:
Erick LaBanca, also known as DJ Mad Matin, (meaning mad morning, mad night, mad records and mad music) has developed a strong love for house and techno since the age of fifteen. He started out working at Satellite Records in NYC and began his career at the age of eighteen DJing and rocking out New York venues such as Vinyl, Life, Carbon, Shelter, Tunnel, Midway, Jet Lounge, Lunatarium, Shine (Touch parties), Novacento (w/ Dave Hollands), Plant Bar, Open Air, Boogaloo, The Brooklyn Loft, and his last residency in New York City, The Sullivan Room.
During his time in New York, Erick had the opportunity to share the decks and learn from some of the world’s best DJs such as Timo Maas, Pete Bones, Randall Jones, Dave Ralph, Hybrid, Dave Hollands, Max Graham, Eddie Richards, Terry Mullan, DJ Feelgood, Bassbin Twins, Eddie Baez, Starecase, Melvin Moore, and DJ Disciple, amongst others.
From New York to Los Angeles, Erick continue to bring his “Mad Matin” sounds and style to clubs on the West Coast as he has done for the East Coast. His style and sound focuses on hard-hitting basslines, sturdy and well-defined rhythms with melodies and chord progressions that venture into worlds of the deep, moody, brooding, bright, uplifting, energetic, retro, and nostalgic.
While spinning, Erick can go mental with hard techno, twisted acid lines and hollow-sounding pads while sometimes returning to a chunky, minimal-techno sound. He also keeps his ears open to different styles of music. He aspires to string a common thread between the many types of house music, not only by blending sounds together but also by slamming together unlikely genres.
Erick considers himself a “lifer” – meaning that as long as he’s breathing the music won’t stop. In the coming year he plans to release original tracks and new mixes as he attempts to break into the tight-knit LA house scene.
His latest mixes are available at www.ericklabanca.refugelosangeles.com.