A culture all their own
New York City is known for many things — from late-night grabs to street art to fashionistas. But what do you really know about what goes bump in the night? I'm talking about that big bass that'll shake your waist!
One does not simply do ANYTHING in NYC
You love her. You hate her. Needless to say NYC isn't an easy place to live, and navigating the nightlife scene isn't any more straightforward. You've gotta earn your stripes in this city. Finding a killer vibe is nothing short of magical.
Mashrik, aka Michael, the founder of Kuná, knows this all too well. Before Kuná started, "NYC lacked a cool, inclusive electronic music event that brought like-minded international" expats together. The desire within this community to groove and "discover up-and-coming artists within the electronic music scene" was real.
The concrete jungle
Who is the king of the jungle? In the savannahs, it's the lions. In the concrete jungle — it's the big promoters. Many of which have a monopoly-like hold on the scene. For smaller brands, it's difficult to "attract a consistent number of" attendees, "let alone keep a business financially healthy." As Michael puts it, one of the biggest challenges is working in an "industry where there is a lot of greed and competition," which is especially prevalent in the Big Apple.
Like all great things, it's an uphill battle. It's hard to "book artists who typically sell out shows due to exclusivity contracts, which they often have with bigger production companies in the NYC scene." All of these combined elements make it "very difficult to keep a business profitable," says Michael, and that's before you consider the "rising costs of production and artists' fees."
What's the vibe?
Kuná is focused on "creating an atmosphere that is both sonically and visually appealing." Michael often incorporates "performances and vendors markets" to make the entire experience more sensually exciting. Kuná attracts fresh faces and has a regular crowd of "cool, hip electronic music lovers."
The secret sauce
A refined palette needs many flavors to be truly satisfied. The party mix isn't just those baby breadsticks for a reason! A great party needs the right ingredients. Michael's ingredients include "the weather, a fire venue, exquisite musical direction, captivating creative and production elements." Each ingredient must "complement the next" to create the vibe.
No divas
Choosing a favorite can be tricky. In general, "it's hard to say," but there are traits that Michael "personally prefers," such as "artists that are more involved in making the event a success" and those who are not "too demanding." Let's face it, "at the end of the day — we're all humans," and as famous as you might be, you've "gotta stay humble and true to yourself."
Biggest party pet peeve?
La musica. "If it's not good, I'd rather not be at the party." Amen to that.
Dream lineup & location (a to z)
No single place is at the top of Kuna's list OTHER THAN every international location. "The goal is to conquer the world," and "we're slowly but surely achieving this goal." A dream lineup? No chance — Kuna's a-to-z answer isn't what most might expect. Rather than rattling off a few top names, Michael would instead book "talented artists who play great music, whether they're famous or completely unknown." The ultimate dream setup would include "a great vibe" and a few killer back-to-back sets.
Catch the next Kuná party
Whether you're kicking it NYC or international waters this summer, Kuná's got a special something prepared for everyone. Be sure to catch one of their upcoming events, and stay tuned to their page on Lineup.
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