Get to know Toronto’s queer club scene

Toronto is known for many things, but arguably its best feature is its vibrant queer community. The city’s nightlife scene was impressive to begin with, but two years of intermittent lockdowns only intensified the collective urge to revel, and a new wave of DIY raves and bashment parties emerged in their wake. Coming from a place where resourcefulness is key, it’s become something of a source of pride within the community to be able to ‘just figure it out’. 

“We always find a way to make things work,” says Jelz, one half of DJ duo Redliners. “When every club and bar was closed, the girls were [desperate] to rave. We had no idea when we’d get back to the club, but that summer I saw some of the most creative and iconic raves I’d ever been to. We were having parties in the middle of forests, under the highway, in schoolyards, packing full sound systems and generators in and out of U-Haul trucks to make it work. The police would shut us down in the middle of the night then we’d move to a different location, share the coordinates and the party would keep going like it was nothing.” 

Though venues, funding and government support are still in short supply compared to other larger cities, people’s passion and pure love for their community is what feeds the culture. For DJ and producer Karim Olen Ash, it goes deeper than just a fun night out. “A huge part of our community is uplifting and supporting other artists who deserve the platform to share their voice and perspective,” he says. “For us, it’s more than just a party; it’s a chance for us to address and tackle the erasure of BIPOC and queer artists in underground dance music culture.”

We spoke to 9 leaders of Toronto’s queer underground club scene to learn more about local nightlife and how they advocate for their community from the ground up.

Karim Olen Ash, DJ/producer and founder of Pep Rally

Tell us about your party, Pep Rally…
Pep Rally was birthed out of the desire to create our own space to congregate, dance and play the music we like to hear. Back when we started, there weren’t many opportunities for us (queers, women, BIPOC) to feel safe in a space playing dance music, so we decided to create our own.

What inspires your sound?
My love for dancing and the roots of house music, which is black and gay. I really believe it’s important to progress to the future, but never to forget the past and the contributions of our pioneers. My job is to honour and celebrate them and uplift a new generation of artists. I love to channel this through sets where I specifically gravitate towards house and techno and their derivatives. My upbringing and my queerness also deeply inspire my sound, so I love to play music that infuses ballroom culture, the Caribbean diaspora, soul and funk, as well as old school hip-hop and R&B, all of which essentially raised me as an artist.

Aside from the music, what are the key elements of a good party?
A great sound system, great lighting and a crowd with an open mind.

What are your hopes for the future of nightlife in Toronto?
My hope is that the city begins to understand the importance of supporting nightlife and creative culture in general. It feels like a hamster wheel a lot of the time because the infrastructure doesn’t support what we do. I’d also like to see more opportunities for marginalised communities to be on big stages and platforms of events with bigger budgets. Our stories deserve to be told and our city deserves to hear them.

@karimolenash

Jelz and PLAYGIRL, 22 and 26, co-creators of DJ duo REDLINERS

Can you describe the REDLINERS sound?
Jelz: Chaotic but cohesive. 
PLAYGIRL: It’s the direct product of our environment, being from such a diverse city. Our sound is a love letter to Black music all over the globe. We spin “world club”, blending dance music you’d hear in clubs in Africa and all Black diasporas. The core of so many mainstream and popular genres come from us, Black people. Techno, baile funk, house music, hip-hop, dancehall, gqom, dembow, and so many more. I don’t restrict myself to just one genre; I love to celebrate them all. 

Who or what inspires you?
PLAYGIRL: My community.
Jelz: Definitely my friends, most of them are also DJs and creative people. They’re the ones that are constantly pushing me to be a better artist and person. Quincie (PLAYGIRL) specifically – anytime we play b2b, she sends me running home to find more new songs. 

Describe your performance aesthetic. What do you feel good playing in? PLAYGIRL: I think the overall rule for both of us is “less is more” — I may not always be confident in how my body looks, but wearing less allows me to move and express myself via dance. That means more to me when it comes to club attire.

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground?
PLAYGIRL: The melting pot of so many ethnic backgrounds, races and religions all in one hub makes us unique. We’re able to see ourselves when we’re on that dance floor; we know that we’re not alone and are constantly uplifted for our own individuality. We’re not New York, we’re not London, we’re not Berlin… we’re this small queer community making noise everyday, if you just take the time to listen.

Favourite song to play right now…
Jelz: “Sento No Bico Da Glock” by Dj Gabriel do Borel. 
PLAYGIRL: “WANT NEED LOVE” by LSDXOXO.

@redlinersaturdoor

Nino Brown, 30, DJ

Describe your sound…
Genre-jumping pop enthusiast with a love for anything bass and anything waist.

How has the city influenced you?
It will come as no shock that Caribbean culture was the dominant influence growing up in this city. It had a profound effect on my DJ career. How else would I have learned to mix a pop rock classic into a dancehall track, or Spice Girls into soca?

How do you stay inspired, musically?
The one thing about being a late bloomer is having music history in your arsenal. I’m so inspired by old and new that somehow bridging the two allows for a unique sound. I always say being a music fan first and foremost is what keeps you driven. Creatively, I’m just so lucky to be surrounded by artists like Young Teesh, Bambii, Chippy Nonstop, etc. who motivate me to be better, both professionally and personally.

@yesyesninobrown

Bobby Bowen, 34, stylist/MC/party curator

What makes a good MC?
Keeping the crowd engaged, connecting the crowd to the music, and allowing the music to breathe! Not talking too much — just enough to enhance the DJ’s set.

And what makes a good party, aside from the music?
The venue, curating the right crowd and lighting!

You style too. What comes first for you: fashion or music?
It’s the music for me! That inspires the fashion for sure.

Does Toronto have a sound?
I think Toronto did have a sound back in the days, in the late 90s/early 2000s era, when we had local artists like Choclair, Saukrates and Baby Blue Sound Crew. It’s still developing now in my opinion, but we have some incredible up-and-coming artists in the city!

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground nightlife scene?
That we all support each other! It’s never a competition, we work together. It’s always family vibes!

@bobbybowenn

Bambii, DJ/producer/curator

How did your party JERK come about? Who is JERK for?
I started JERK eight years ago because I wanted to create a music space that broke boundaries between genres. It’s grown into a platform that explores Caribbean and global club music. JERK prioritises the communities that inspire me most but aims to include everyone. 

Which city do you have the most fun in? 
Toronto, Montreal and London – but the order changes!

As a champion of DIY parties, what’s the hardest part of the process when it comes to organising events in Toronto?
Dealing with the growing lack of venues! Restrictive by-laws that prevent outdoor programming. The community is here, the spaces aren’t. 

What is the Toronto ‘sound’?
The Toronto sound right now that is relevant to me is open format, aggressive breaks, cult pop, jungle, techno, etc.  

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground nightlife scene?
Toronto’s queer nightlife scene feels like it’s acknowledged as the most popular in the city and setting the tone for what parties should look like in general. The intentionality, ethics, and creativity really sets it apart. Some people point to our size as a critique but I feel like that has made us more collaborative and less socially segregated. 

@bam_bii

Ace Dillinger, 30, DJ

Who or what inspires your sound? 
I’m inspired by the youth, by love, by my friends and I’m inspired by film and television. I was just watching an episode of P-Valley and it reminded me of all the dirty south music we would listen to back in the early 2000s. I immediately went looking for more Crime Mob and Gangsta Boo tracks.

Who do you play music for?
I play music for the girls that just wanna have fun!

Tell me about your party, Strapped?
Strapped was created at a time when it felt like there wasn’t any women/NB Black-focused parties in the queer scene. It was created to bring folks together to have a space for community. Marisa, the creator, was gracious enough to ask me to be the resident DJ almost 3 years ago and we’ve been rocking ever since.

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground nightlife scene?
I think, right now, there’s a time and place for everyone! With parties like Pep Rally, JERK, YesYesY’all and STRAPPED, there’s a sense of community for everyone. 

What have the past few years taught you?
That time really isn’t promised and in a split second things can change, so live for right now! Do it NOW and don’t hold back.

@ace_dillinger

Kash, 30, community curator

What are the most important elements of any good event?
Personally speaking, being able to smoke weed inside. Whenever possible, it’s important to hire staff and work with venue managers that are from the same community you’re catering to. You also need people to dance! If people aren’t dancing, why are they there? Create an atmosphere and the vibes for people to let loose and have a good time – no mannequins please!

Tell me about your party, SMOKED. Who is it for?
It’s for the Black and POC gurlz (LGBT) and girls (womxn). Having to find oneself back in the day, all we had was Church Street (The Village), and if you weren’t a white twink, then eventually the facade faded and you realised this space wasn’t made for us. This is the main reason why I started SMOKED and The A.C.E Group: to provide the space to not only create an experience that caters to my community, but to also highlight and provide a platform for the amazing talent within our scene.   

What’s your advice to anyone wanting to organise their own DIY event?
Start small and see what sets your event apart from others. Once you tap into that, things will come together naturally. Also, utilise your community. Everything you need to organise, curate and create an experience is probably within your inner community, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. That was the biggest thing holding me back and the minute I put my pride aside, my community was there for me with all the love, resources and support to help make my vision come true. 

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground nightlife scene?
I hate the word diversity but I’d have to say: diversity. Diversity not only of ethnicities, but of music, ideas and art that is truly Toronto… the real Toronto. 

@kash2u

Young Teesh, 25, DJ

Who or what inspires your sound? 
Being Black.

Describe your performance look? What do you feel good playing in?
Latex!

Most iconic moment in your music career so far?
My two hour b2b with Green Velvet at the first festival I ever played would have to take the cake.

Who’s your music hero?
Women DJs of Toronto have set a standard of excellence for me.

What’s unique about Toronto’s queer underground nightlife scene?
I grew up inspired by some of the best in this city and now have the privilege of playing alongside them since becoming a DJ myself. My biggest inspirations are the legends of years ago that remain the tastemakers of today.

@youngteesh

Credits

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Photography Othello Grey