It was a frigid February afternoon as partiers across NYC made their way to Superior Ingredients to catch the HE.SHE.THEY. Brooklyn return. With what seems like an unlimited choice of potential events, hundreds chose to attend the 14-hour marathon dual-level event put on by the powerhouse brand that is HE.SHE.THEY. With a lineup including legends from Katie Rex to Shermanology, how could you not choose to spend your evening in Williamsburg?
Before the event, Sophia Kearney, Co-Founder of HE.SHE.THEY., noted that the energy of an event starts in the green room. Broke Magazine arrived at Superior Ingredients well into the marathon. As the daytime party was winding down, there was still much to look forward to for the rest of the evening. The house rules sign was prominent as you entered the building, and we spotted a few people taking a moment of reprieve from the chaos on two hanging swing chairs.
As we entered, we noticed security confiscating a bottle of poppers – interesting for a place where music and libation have become synonymous. Bummer. This setback didn’t stop the group from grooving the rest of the night, as I spotted them later that evening with wide smiles on the dancefloor. We headed to the roof to catch the end of the daytime set, sibling duo Shermanology put us in a 90’s trance, playing deep house with live vocals from Dorothy over Andy’s tracks. They even graced the crowd with their major hit Boyz N Da Club. You couldn’t help but feel warm watching the two perform together while they interacted with the crowd.
While descending to the lower level, the energy shifted. Dark lights took over and heavy bass filled the room – high bpm and fast progressions were the theme for the rest of the evening. Noticing a particular groove and heavy acid inspired tracks, we see Brooklyn’s very own Madness Of (WTCHCRFT B2B KYRUH) starting the techno portion of the night off strong.
Through the night, the magic was found during the little moments that caught our eye both behind the decks and on the dancefloor. Nur Jaber, with her magnetic stage presence, dove into her powerful set, dancing and energizing everyone around her. Her aura was quite infectious. Across all the sets we saw, there was a clear communication of energy between the artists and the crowd. Not to mention, the dancers in front of the booths for each set created an atmosphere of joy – interacting with both the crowd and the artists through props and expressive movements. We noticed many of the DJs, both from the day and night sets, stayed through the entirety of the event, creating a supportive community while chatting and dancing with one another.
Background or identity aside, attendee or talent, we were all there for a shared love of music. There is euphoria and community that comes along with partying, and you could feel this behind the decks and through the crowd. This feeling is exactly what an event like this should aim to achieve – it’s why a person chooses to come to these events time and time again. We’re eager to see what HE.SHE.THEY. has in store for the rest of the year.