INTERVIEW BY SEAN OCEAN
Aaron Davis, the visionary behind Acid Camp, tells the tale of an inspiring journey that spans from the streets of Brooklyn to the sunny vibes of Los Angeles. His adventure began in Brooklyn in 2008, where he landed on the scene by producing events for groups like Discovery and the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. In 2012, he brought his love of promoting events to LA, co-founding an all-vinyl radio show that serendipitously led to the creation of Acid Camp during a trip to Joshua Tree. In a short amount of time, Acid Camp quickly became a beloved staple of the underground scene, due to the collective energy of passionate friends and a community-driven spirit, as well as iconic merch and branding that added to the underground allure and helped build a dedicated following.
Despite the challenges of organizing underground events, Davis’s unwavering passion for hosting parties and sharing music has always seen him through, and his dedication to music curation and collaboration with talented artists and engineers has been key to crafting the unique and joyful vibe of Acid Camp events. Ever one to keep it real, Davis sees himself as a raver with a passion for the music rather than a veteran DJ and promoter, and he continues to relish the journey of creating unforgettable experiences with friends and music lovers every event. Here he shares his story with us ahead of his latest mix for As You Like It, let’s press play and dive in.
What inspired you to start Acid Camp, and what steps have you taken to make AC such a staple of the underground?
I’ve been passionate about throwing events for a long time. I started planting the seeds early when I moved to LA and took the chance when it came.
I moved to Brooklyn in the fall of 2008. There I helped produce events for Discovery, Girls and Boys, Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, The Bakery, and Famous Friends. Then I moved to Los Angeles in the Spring of 2012. There I sought outlets to share my passion for music and parties. I connected with Christopher Nguyen who ran the blog bdoml. We started to record an all vinyl radio show together. The show needed a name and on an adventure through Joshua Tree the name came to us.
In terms of making Acid Camp a staple, I’d say it was a lot of inspired friends coming together to make a special event. In the spirit of having fun and showcasing talent in our community. As the party grew and connections fractled out, I tried to keep that spirit alive and surround myself with the supportive people that made the first parties in LA so enjoyable. Big shout outs to Erin Keeffe, Brennan Schloo, Aaron Sondergaard, and Vukadin Backonja for capturing so many awesome moments on camera. Their photos definitely helped fan the flames.
The shirts and merch also contributed. I could entice people to come to the events since the shirts could only be purchased there and were produced in limited editions. Each event had a unique design. Now, most of the archive designs are available at shop.acid.camp thanks to Fourthwall. One that’s not being reprinted is from our third event I collaborated on with Josh and Robert from Honey Soundsystem. We combined their logo and a Patrick Crowley album cover. Since then I’ve collaborated with lots of friends–super talented artists–to create fliers, merch, and record covers: Danielle Davis, Jo Minor, Emma Hastil, Bill Rebholz, Margret Frances, Vukadin Backonja, Jeremiah Chui, Archie Lee Coates IV (Otto Milo), Justin Olerud, Sloane Solley, Tenkai Kariya, Bryce Alber, Klarika Huszar, Henrik Andersson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ren.
What was your background throwing parties before launching Acid Camp? Did you see a need that led to its creation?
My parents hosted great parties at our apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan. I remember waking up to loud music and finding a cast of characters laughing, singing, dancing, playing show tunes on our piano. They left a deep groove in my spirit that has yet to wear out.
After my parents split my mother, brother, and I moved to Madison to be close to family. My mom never hosted another party but it didn’t take long before I started. The first event was at my house in 2005 with my band Wood And Wires–including bandmate Marta Sofia Honer who later released music on Acid Camp as Some All None with her partner Jeremiah Chui. I began mixing records in 2004. After seeing the documentary “Scratch”, I was inspired by the ability to mix music together and saved up all summer to buy a pair of turntables. In 2006, I met Erin Keeffe, aka Erin Platner, and our dance music tastes meshed more than anyone I had met before. He showed me how to use Ableton to play live and we started performing at house parties and regularly at a party called indieQueer. In 2007, we found a venue, The Majestic, to start our own party called DiscoTech.
Since moving to Madison I had dreamed of moving back to New York City. In 2008, with the intention to go to art school, I moved to Brooklyn. There I met a group of promoters called Famous Friends, run by Ruth Hevelone, Beth D’Haem, and Brad Dickason. They took me in as a resident DJ. I also helped with marketing and booking. We created the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, the first year was held at the same venue as Sunday Best. Events like theirs and PS1 Warm Ups were a big inspiration for Acid Camp. Dancing outside under the shade of large windswept trees or courtyard as the sun sets behind the DJ and a bright flock of dancers sway around you… can’t beat that feeling.
In 2009, Famous Friends helped launch Girls and Boys with a handful of promoters pooling resources where it found a home as a weekly party at Webster Hall. Later that year, Damon Jablons, Joel Fowler, Ruth Hevelone, and I started a new party called Discovery. It started in Brooklyn at Studio B, thanks to JDH, then moved to Manhattan at Santos Party House, thanks to Jen Lyon. The logo was hand drawn by my cousin, Emma Hastil.
In 2010, I moved into a big commercial space, 219 Jackson St in Brooklyn, with Erin Keeffe, Damon Jablons, and Alison Drager, and Brandon Eaves secured the apartment above it. Damon, over thanksgiving dinner with his family, found out his uncle-in-law from Long Island was a retired DJ and sold us all their equipment that had been stored in their garage since the 80s. A 3-way PA system, amps, eqs, a prized Bozak mixer–that I still own–, turntables, and a huge lot of records from the glory days of record pools. We installed everything in the below ground level and sound treated room. It was nearly silent from the street. We called the venue The Bakery and hosted Norm Talley, Pepe Bradock, Charles Webster, Wolf and Lamb, Alexi Dilano, Seth Troxler & Lee Foss, and more before the landlord’s barber who lived on the block tattled, saying, “there are flocks of folks leaving your office at 6am in the morning, what’s up?” We were threatened with eviction and that was the end of that.
The Bakery, 2010.
Aaron Davis, Brandon Eaves, and Erin Platner after a party at the Bakery, 2010.
DJ booth at the Bakery, 2010.
The Bakery, 2010.
The same year, my mother committed suicide while trying to start a new life for herself in Santa Monica. I continued helping with Discovery and found support among my friends in the music community.
I moved to LA in early 2012 chasing love and taking the opportunity to live closer to my younger brother. I was surprised the city lacked open air dance parties. After experiencing more of the amazing energy of day time events in Detroit, Berlin, Niigata, and Istanbul I wanted to host that kind of party and I thought what better place than Los Angeles, the city with year-round warm weather. I built a sound system at Knowhow Shop using Bill Fitzmaurice designs and threw a few backyard parties at Dan Siegel’s place in Echo Park and an artist space called Nuclear Family.
Once we established the name for Acid Camp by happenstance I got connected with a venue in Downtown LA with a great outdoor area called Mystery Box. I made a flier, ordered t-shirts, hung shade sails, set up the speakers, DJ equipment–which initially was vinyl only–, hung a disco ball, and ordered a whole roasted pig to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
Roasted pig at the first Acid Camp party, 2015.
Aaron Davis DJing at the first Acid Camp party, 2015.
With the success of the first event I continued to do it nearly monthly. The location changed frequently as spaces in Los Angeles opened and disappeared. I guess this was the nature of the downtown rave scene. I hosted a few parties in parks like Elysian Park with a generator that were free and more informal.
You’re now a seasoned veteran. It feels like just yesterday you were just breaking into the scene. What have been some of the biggest challenges you face when organizing events, and how do you overcome them?
Event planning and organizing is difficult. I wouldn’t even say I’m great at it. But with anything that’s challenging I did my best, I sought mentors, I learned from my mistakes, and at the end of the party I set a date for the next one. Hosting underground events can especially be challenging, with lots of risk and unknowns. For example, just a few months ago we were having our 10 Year Anniversary party in Los Angeles. Erika Kim (Ms. Ed), Bryce Alber, and I land in Burbank after playing in Portland the night before to find out that a storm cluster had moved in and it would begin to pour any moment. The party was going to start in 3 hours and the venue had no indoor space. Deep Dark Blue had already set up for their live performance under pop-ups and Sebastian Bean had the sound system all ready to go. I had invited Josiah David Burnham, JdB, to be our sound tech for the day, he made a phone call and the venue they had run sound for the night before was still all set up. So, we made the call and moved the event indoors at the last minute. That’s not the first time I’ve had to change venues day-of. Being flexible and calm has served me well amid the chaos of event production.
I wouldn’t self-identify as a veteran. I’m a passionate raver. I really enjoy hosting parties, dancing, sharing music, and creating a special experience for my friends. I’ve been fortunate to be able to book super talented artists from around the world. I’ve gotten a taste of getting to travel to play music. It’s been an awesome experience. Give me another 10 or 20 years to earn the veteran badge.
What’s the main idea for how you create your vibe for your events? Was it ever difficult to build a fan base for Acid Camp events?
Music curation and talent has been #1 for me. I have collaborated with various sound systems, lighting engineers, decorators, and groups, like Anemone, Fine Time, Far Away, and Rhythm Rapport, that bring a unique energy to each event. The venues also have their own character that helps inspire me. I’m grateful for the friends and supporters who have contributed. We had a tight knit following and a solid network of promoters who were supportive of each other in the 2010s. It felt like being at the right place at the right time.
Seeking consistent help and partners to make it more than my party took a while. Dan Siegel, Alice Dan, Brennan Schloo, and Sebastian Bean were always there early to lend a hand. Ray Hernandes, asked to help and came at the right time when I was feeling like I needed to take a break. Erika Kim, Ms. Ed, has also been a huge infusion of energy for Acid Camp in the last few years. Since moving to Eugene in 2020, she has been helping with the label, especially the 10 Year Anniversary Compilation, including formulating the perfume with UFO Parfums, and producing our events in LA.
Do you consider yourself a person who has a good ear for music trends? If so, do you incorporate them? What genres are you following closely? And anything we should add to our Bandcamp?
No, I don’t consider myself aware of music trends or trendy. I prefer timeless over trends. I enjoy following artists and labels that I like, especially the ones I know personally. I lean on friends who share new digs. I go out to parties to hear new music. I visit record stores and ask the shopkeepers questions. Inspiration comes when you’re open to receiving it. I do spend a lot of time organizing and growing a digital music collection in addition to buying records.
I got to play a liquid & jungle set for the Acid Camp x Anemone party b2b with Max Ellington and One Child Policy. We’ve been digging a lot for that set and sharing music. From that set, here are a few artists and labels I played tracks from: Tim Reaper, Future Retro, PFM, Shakleton, Cheetah, Infrared Records, Deep Jungle Records, Heavy Sounds, Astrophonica, Green Bay Wax, Maximum Airtime, Source Direct, and Pizza Hotline.
Word is that some of these day parties can get pretty wild.
Well, this answer may be disappointing, but Acid Camp events have been wholesome. They’re usually kid and dog friendly. You could consider making tacos from a whole roasted pig on the dance floor weird.
If you’ve considered your impact in the scene as a DJ, promoter and curator, do you see a vein that you’ve helped create a lasting change?
I’ve seen a growing number of open air events and venues in LA and renegades in outdoor spaces. Newer promoters have told me they were inspired by Acid Camp events or had heard the lore, specifically New Palm and Anemone.
Congratulations on your ten year anniversary and the compilation! What are your future plans for Acid Camp? Your record label has seen some interesting musical directions.
Thank you! It’s a big milestone. Acid Camp has new releases coming soon. In the pipeline are releases from Endash, Deep Dark Blue, otodojo, Scotia, Shingo Suwa, and more.
I enjoy listening to and playing a variety of music. I wanted the label to reflect that. People tend to assume Acid Camp is specifically acid house. The genre certainly informs the ethos of what we do–to experiment, to try new sounds, to have a good time–but it doesn’t define it. Upcoming releases will vary in genre from acid house, techno, breakbeat, and ambient.
We’re stoked to have you with us for this mix. For someone who’s never heard your sets or is unfamiliar with your taste, what should we be expecting to hear?
This mix was recorded during my opening set at Process in Portland for Ms. Ed, Posthuman, and Lauren Flax. I wanted to span a wide range of bpms and styles. I had recently released the Acid Camp 10 Year Anniversary compilation and you’ll hear a number of tracks from that mixed with tracks that have been in my rotation for a while and new releases from friends.
Tracklist
Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away
agraybé – Crepuscular Ray
J Majik – Space Between
Loopchasers – The Light (2022 Mix) feat. Dust-e-1
Jonathan Fitoussi & Clemens Hourrière – Lune d’Afrique
Anthony Naples – Glo
Jeremiah Chiu – Geocity
Street Side Boyz – I Want To Be With You (AFX Editional)
O.D.C. – My Mind Is Going (Total Insanity Mix)
Abby Echiverri – Hives Of Lusus
Pediment – Your Life Is Changing
Chaos In The CBD – Multiverse
ex-terrestrial – Vanilight (Priori Rezone)
Christopher Rau – Alfred
Frits Wentink – Spiritual Basslines (Club Mix)
The Martin – Bigidy
Da Posse – In the Heat of the Night (Vocal Mix)
Laurence Guy – Experience Health
Moomin – Sleep Tight
Chez Damier Featuring Antonie – Close (Session with DC)
Patricia – Coffee Computer
