Electroclash – a style of gritty dance music with a decidedly ’80s influence – was born in Brooklyn, the brainchild of producer and promoter Larry Tee.
Now, the term electroclash – which he first coined in 2001 – has become a full-fledged pop culture buzzword. Madonna is said to be plumming the sound for her new album, and Tee’s Berliniamsburg, an all-electroclash affair at the miniature Williamsburg club, Luxx, is still regarded as one of the more culturally significant nightspots of the moment.
One of the defining features that distinguish electroclash from techno and electronica, which is dominated by faceless producers, is the genre’s emphasis on vocals and charismatic performers.
“When it comes to buying a record, people tend to buy artists, not producers,” says Tee, 43, who wrote and produced fellow Atlanta native RuPaul’s hit “Supermodel of the World.”
“People relate to electroclash artists, like Fischer Spooner, W.I.T. and Peaches because they all have identifiable leaders.”
W.I.T. (Whatever it Takes), who are signed to Tee’s Electro Mogul label, and Peaches both feature sexy art-chicks with attitude and colorful live performances – features which certainly enhance their marketability.
“It’s driven by rock ‘n’ roll star power, politics and fashion,” says Tee “And it’s totally propelled by some very strong female performers.”
Berliniamsburg’s modest capacity of 200 is consistently challenged every weekend as it swells with neighborhood crowds there to catch live performances from a slew of eccentric acts.
“We keep it going because we want the stage for the artists to develop – and being out in Brooklyn really weeds out the tourists,” says Tee. “We try to keep the bridge-and-tunnel people away – except for us the bridge and tunnel crowd are from Manhattan.”
Tonight, the club hosts Linda Luxe (whose sound Tee describes as “Go Gos with a rhythm box”) and the all female electro-hip-hop act Spalding Rockwell.
Next on tap for Tee: a monthly Manhattan electro-bash at an as-yet undisclosed location.
“We’re trying to make it so Manhattanites can say ‘Wow, we’re cool again,'” he says.
Berliniamsburg at Luxx, 256 Grand St., between Driggs and Roebling streets. Shows start at 12:30 a.m., $10.