Music Club Takeover feat. Karam
A special guest mix and a new connection-driven nightlife experience: Arae (this Saturday in LA)
I’m excited to introduce you to Karam, a DJ, producer, and sound healing artist based in Los Angeles. We were introduced through a friend of Music Club, met for coffee, and instantly clicked. Before we met, I listened to a few of her sets and was immediately drawn to the softness she brought to her mixes.
This Saturday she’s hosting a new event series called Arae. I really admire the thought process and mindful considerations that went behind her vision for this event. If you’re in Los Angeles, I’d love to invite you to attend the launch event this Saturday and as a Music Club member, you’ll get a special ticket discount (ticket link here).
I also want to thank Karam for curating a dreamy guest mix for Music Club - think sunset beach vibes ✨
You started DJing in 2012 and went on your first tour last year in Europe. Big congrats!! How would you describe your sound? What artists/sounds/feelings inspire you currently?
Thank you for the flowers! I would describe my sound as emotive and dynamic. I like music that connects with the soul, tells a story, and makes you feel something. I especially love when different elements that don't normally go together (like a spacey metallic synth with wooden percussion) work together in harmony. In my current chapter, I'm very inspired by nature, and the concept of duality.
You have your first event this Saturday in LA called Arae, which translates to "underneath" or "below" in Korean. When we spoke you mentioned wanting to do things differently in the nightlife scene, balancing comfort with connection and of course the music. What led you to Arae? What is your vision for the first event?
I created Arae with the intention of bringing more balance into nightlife, and honoring both yin and yang energies. I love dancing to loud music in a pumping room, but I also crave a place to sit down and just catch my breath alone or chat with friends. Arae not only offers that place to rest and recharge, but really celebrates yin energy by transforming an entire room into a tea lounge, run by a tea practitioner!
My Arae vision fully came together when I visited the Monterey Aquarium last year with my family. I visited the deep sea exhibit and observed these incredible jellyfish there and thought, "How much of the ocean do we know absolutely nothing about, simply because it's not visible to the human eye?" My hope is that Arae can be a place of connection -- not just to others, but also to yourself -- and an opportunity to explore beneath the surface layer. When you have the space to slow down and dig a little deeper, beautiful insights can emerge.
With your first and future events, what elements are important to you?
The most important thing is the guest experience. I want folks to feel welcomed, safe, and supported in enjoying the evening on their own terms. I would of course love for people to also be engaged with the experience (e.g. enjoy some tea, appreciate the music and visuals) but at its essence, Arae is about creating spaciousness. Whatever that spaciousness then cultivates, is perfect!
You have graciously curated a mix for Music Club. What was the inspiration behind it?
My incredibly talented friends (many of them who are featured in the mix), and how much my community inspires me. And of course, Arae!
Learn More
Purchase tickets for Arae - May 3rd in LA
Instagram: @karam_universe / @Arae.gather
Soundcloud: @karam_universe
Catch-Up on Music Club