Last week, Skrillex sold out five consecutive shows at Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall, SRB, Output, and a warehouse in East Williamsburg. The producer who soundtracked Spring Breakers draws massive crowds, so it’s no wonder he opted for trendy and spacious North Brooklyn over Manhattan. But his “takeover” also points to a shift in the dance scene in general.
While DIY venues like Steel Drums come and go, a new crop of above-ground clubs (like the forthcoming Verboten, which just dropped a teaser for its spring opening) is making the neighborhood a destination for those who might once have raved on the other side of the river.
We spoke to four dance-music heavyweights to get their take on the scene’s evolution. Sean Glass (son of Daniel Glass of Glassnote Records and founder of his own label, Win Music) often throws parties in Williamsburg. Veteran nightlife photographer Nicky Digital works out of a “Secret Clubhouse” at South 3rd Street and Bedford Avenue. Chris Leacock (aka The Jillionaire, a member of popular electro-reggae act Major Lazer) works in Brooklyn more and more (Tuesday, he shot a music video for his new single, “Fresh,” at The Flat in Bushwick). And DJ Richie Beretta used to know Williamsburg as a seedy place, but calls it a “different world” now.
Watch the video above to hear their thoughts, along with a few words from Skrillex himself.