Additional Information
Domesicle is nightlife’s greatest hits. Completely immersed in 360 visuals, this 5 hour extravagant lineup is not one to be missed and will kick off the long awaited domesicle series. After a couple cold weeks, this is the heat wave we’ve all been waiting for. Without mentioning Mutek which is a pillar of Montreal’s electronic music scene, this night also features one of Vancouver’s most prolific event organizer; Normie Corp who came up during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Similary to other online event organizers like Club Quarantine who made the best of a bad situation, Normie Corp draws an audience that can’t help but have fun. To get an idea of just how wild it would get I reached out to fagofcolour and HNZ who have just landed in Montreal. Despite the long flight, the duo behind Normie Corp this Friday generously answered questions about organizing events, keeping a vibe going and handling social media fame.
PAN M 360: How does it feel to be in Montreal?
HNZ: We were in Montreal last year for Mutek as attendees and we were so inspired by all the artists, the organizers, and the festival itself. Coming back to 30 degree and sunny weather makes us really excited to experience this vibrant city some more.
PAN M 360: Lockdown seems so far away. Did you ever have the feeling, while you were organizing online events, that it would take you this far?
fagofcolour: To be honest, no. Sometimes I feel like I’m dreaming. Like, we flew out to Montreal for this super cool gig and someone is interviewing us?
HNZ: We couldn’t have gotten this far without the support of people along the way who have shared their skills and who have believed in our work from the beginning
PAN M 360: What’s the short story behind why you started Normie Corp?
HNZ: Normie Corporation was founded in 2020 amidst a lockdown period of a global pandemic. We were born because we missed dancing with our friends. Using tools that were readily available, we threw online parties and safely brought the community together when we were required to be apart.
fagofcolour: Since inception, we have proudly showcased the tastes and talents of performers who are 2-spirit, queer and/or trans, Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, as well as women.
PAN M 360: Between the music, the lights, the fashion, the themes, and the overall ambiance — what is it that makes the Normie Corp events stand out?
fagofcolour: Since the beginning, Normie Corp has showcased performers of different skill and taste levels, and we are incredibly lucky to have garnered an audience that can dance to any genre we throw at them. There’s a common understanding that it’s a place where people come and be themselves and just dance!
HNZ: The community. A lot of our shows include people coming to show support for their friends, many of which are performing for the first time ever.
PAN M 360: Beyond the simple numbers of followers and tickets, how does your fanbase influence and shape the events you make?
HNZ: We’re always inspired by how the energy that our attendees bring. This can either be from their cute outfits, their raunchy comments on our posts, or them tagging us in up and coming artists and trends. For example, we noticed a hot lesbian couple making out at the front of one of our raves and thought, “why don’t we harness this sexiness and create a sapphic rave?” Thus was born We-Haul.
PAN M 360: How has your use of Instagram and social media evolved over time?
HNZ: In some ways, it doesn’t feel like our strategy has changed. However, on paper, I guess technically we’ve been posting more? It seems like events have been more competitive and asserting your presence and even just reminding the audience that something is happening (over and over) is necessary.
Do you ever take time away from social media?
fagofcolour: To be honest, no. It is difficult to take breaks from social media, especially if we have upcoming shows. Outside of “club promoting” in real life, social media remains our main point of contact with our audience.
HNZ: I’m never on social media, I’d rather be fishing
PAN M 360: fagofcolor, you’ve been reposting wild Baile Funk edits on SoundCloud recently. Is this hinting at what we might be hearing Friday?
fagofcolour: Wow, thank you for looking through my SoundCloud..! I believe that no genres are off-limits as long as the audience is dancing.
PAN M 360: HNZ, with a fast tempo and pitch-up samples, your DJ sets have a high energy that gives a sense of craze. I’m curious — what kind of music do you listen to on a daily basis that gives you this feeling?
HNZ: As a Mexican DJ, I am always inspired by latin club music and culture. But on a daily basis, I listen to Shakira and Nelly Furtado because I have their CDs in my car.
PAN M 360: For both fagofcolor and HNZ: Once the music is on and the party is going, what is your main focus on the decks?
fagofcolour: To have fun and to make sure everyone else is having fun.
HNZ: Connecting with the audience and keeping the energy up
PAN M 360: What would your motivational speech sound like for someone procrastinating on buying their tickets for this weekend?
HNZ: It’s June. The sun is here and Domesicle is back at SAT, an iconic venue in this lively city. 4 DJs, a live act, and 360 visuals are ready to keep you on your feet all evening as we dance the night away. Why are you stalling? The weather? Energy? These excuses are holding you back from the time of your life. You need this, and you’ve earned it. See you this Friday at the Dome (Satosphere).