It started in the Bronx, goes the old hip-hop saying. But, really, it started in a house party hosted by Kool Herc – and over 50 years later, it seems that house parties are still where the real vibes are at.
At least, that’s according to a new report by Pioneer DJ founders AlphaTheta. In a survey of over 2,500 respondents from across the UK, Spain and France, more than a third of both Gen Zs and millennials say that the best DJ set they’ve ever heard was at a house party, and more than a quarter of each played their first DJ set at a house party.
In the wake of wider reports that Gen Z individuals are less likely to drink and attend nightclubs than preceding generations, the report suggests that they are not turning their back on partying entirely – they’re just continuing to do it behind closed doors.
“House parties and DIY spots were everything back in the day – that’s where we learned our craft,” says drum and bass DJ Fabio of Fabio & Grooverider fame. “You had total freedom, no rules, no security telling you to turn it down, just vibes and creativity. Those spaces built communities and gave people a chance to experiment and find their sound. UK nightlife was built on that DIY energy. Without those small, independent spaces, the scene loses its soul.”
The report arrives at a crucial time. UK nightlife mainstay Corsica Studios recently announced that it would be closing its doors amid wider gentrification and licensing pressures in its longtime Elephant and Castle location. Elsewhere, rising operational costs and decreasing revenue have forced iconic venues such as London’s Pickle Factory, Bristol’s Motion and Leeds’ Wire to shut down in recent months. Cheeringly, there are ongoing attempts to rejuvenate the UK’s declining nighttime industry – including growing alcohol-free offerings, converting disused office blocks and commercial spaces into music spaces, and the creation of London mayor Sadiq Khan’s Nightlife Taskforce.
This report sheds light on an often underreported aspect of the discussion. Young people, it suggests, are drawn to the DIY and spontaneous nature of a house party, and it’s where some of their most formative musical experiences take place. Perhaps if nightclubs are able to replicate some of these features, they might be able to engage the next generation of party-goers.