It has been two weeks since the last Starlight event took place and safe to say it was a success. This years first event took place in Yamamori Tengu with dim lights, smoke and rooms full of people. Josh, the mastermind behind the event, reflected that he never expected the event to be received so positively.
“Yamamori Tengu last Thursday was our third consecutive sell-out party… It’s hard to even process how much gratitude I feel.”
Although running since last year, this was the first time Starlight took place in Tengu. “It was wonderful being in Tengu – they have such supportive staff and are always around to help out. Best venue in Dublin, hands down.”
The Starlight Project premiered on the 6th of February taking the place of the discontinued Midnight Disco. The first night took place in Wigwam Basement and was advertised as a “newly-birthed celestial dance initiative, crafted to spotlight the artistic selection of cosmic soundscapes.” From the very beginning the organisers put stress on local talent and community feeling.
Asked about the origins of his event, Josh told UT that prior to Starlight he had a few years of experience in running electronic events in London and, after joining Trinity, by being brought onto the team that ran The Midnight Disco.
Despite the experience Starlight took a while to come together – from simpler aspects like coming up with a name to more complicated processes like designing visuals. All the 3D graphics seen on the Starlight project’s Instagram Josh makes by himself.
“I have always loved graphic design and used to code video games, and a those skills allowed me to make the 3D graphics! A lot of my interests and experiences tend influence the visuals, from video game paraphernalia to a Paris Texas poster, vinyls (of course), a tube train, music production equipment, and lots of plants.”
The first starlight event was a success receiving an RA pick of the week and definitely reflecting the projects cause to fill the gap in the Dublin night-scene. “Starlight is and always will be based around its community first.”
Starlights main inspirations come from underground parties in Berlin, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin, which were primarily based on community rather than headliners tosell tickets.
“The event from its very beginning was a platform for local acts, both established and brand new, to play out unprescribed, weirder and more original material that was often overlooked or forgotten.”
Similarly to the aforementioned Starlight promotes an anti-phone policy to encourage “a community that lives in the moment and enjoys the night.”
It becomes clear then that to the organisers of the Starlight project community takes precedence.
As Josh describes it: “With Starlight, we’re trying to build a community that feels both
open and intentional — a place where locals can take the lead in shaping the sound and the atmosphere. We want the dancefloor to be a point of connection, not just through music but through the sense of belonging it creates. Starlight is as much about supporting local talent as it is about cultivating a culture of inclusivity, freedom, and Exploration.”
Apart from Josh, the team consists of quite a few people. Faye Dolan, a talented graphic designer who also took to the booth at the initial party, is in charge of designing the posters. Hugh Brownlee and Daniel Bradley, who worked alongside Josh at the Midnight Disco, act as primary promoters to help the night run smoothly. Finally, Hamza Bana, who immediately captured Starlight’s visual identity through his highly-exposed colour-filled photos, functions as a crucial member of the team. Not to mention an active community of supporters who advertise the event on their socials and in real life to their friends, proving that the main mission of the event – to bring people together and foster a community – is indeed working. The sound of starlight is all about the forgotten music that is “lying in record stores or
home collections and need to be revived.”
As Josh explains: “We definitely don’t constrain DJs to a certain sound, but we do look for a weirder and more underground sound.” For Josh it is important that the starlight project tries to push as much as possible is Vinyl: “Vinyl as a medium is also becoming a forgotten art, and we definitely try to have as much wax spun at our parties as possible.”As music has become a mainstream part of culture in general, and even more so at universities.
For Josh who was the DUDJ ENTS officer last year and continues to be as involved as possible this year, it is great to see so many get involved with DUDJ. For instance: “Having FLINTA+ members join is really important, especially considering the gender split in dance music.” Starlight always tries to keep their lineups balanced in that regard, ensuring to give equal amount of platform to the female DJs in the Dublin scene.
Speaking of the future of the event Josh highlights that for him collaboration is paramount: “it doesn’t happen often enough at the moment in the Dublin scene – we are definitely looking into running some more ambitious events with other collectives.”
As of right now there are a few things planned, including a Starlight stage takeover at a festival in Slane Castle on Halloween, and Starlight merch. Apart from the already available stickers, there may be some t-shirts and lighters to come.
Finally, Starlight has a Various Artists compilation in planning with all profits donated in support of Venezuelan migrants and families in Colombia which is set to release at some point over the next few months.
When asked about his favourite Starlight memory, Josh states that: “every party for me has been a real joy to be honest, in the moment I find it hard to process. Tengu for me was pretty special. It is such an important space for me, with one of the best sound systems I’ve heard in the city and a staff and ethos that is so unbelievably supportive and kind. Seeing it completely full with everyone together dancing, even to some of the weirder more alternative tunes played, was a real kick me moment.”
It is easy to see that in the nightlife scene that increasingly defined by commercial pursuits, Starlight offers a reminder of what club culture can be with its experimental sound, inclusive environment and established community.
