The Creators Project Conquers London

Marjana Jaidi / July 21, 2010

Last Saturday, The Creators Project held their second of five global events at the Victoria House in London. The exhibitions, screenings and panels were open to the public during the day from 12 PM – 6 PM, followed by a private party in the evening, which featured an array of musical performances and DJ sets from 9 PM – 3 AM.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE LONDON EVENT

While New York City’s Milk Studios contained each major installation in its own room, the Victoria House had no closed doors, creating a maze-like atmosphere that flowed seamlessly between exhibits. Some were familiar – The Digital Flesh (Radical Friend), Tryptich & Hereafter (United Visual Artists), and A.D.A.B.A. (Nick Zinner), were also featured at the NYC launch. At the entrance, Felix’s Machines (Felix Thorn), a Tim Burtonesque music-making sculpture, set the tone for the wonder that was to come. Other notable art additions included Karl Sadler’s Corridor, an indoor forest that combined lights, sound and smell for a complete sensory experience, as well as Moritz Waldemeyer’s By Royal Appointment, a throne whose lights reacted to the color of the sitter, inspired by the halo of light surrounding a subject in medieval portraiture.

After a short break, we returned to the Victoria House for the musical performances, starting with Peaches (the surprise special guest), who spun an eclectic set that managed to be both retro and modern at the same time. Ever the trooper, Peaches powered through her DJ set with her broken leg propped up on a turntable. We then bounced between the Auditorium and the Ballroom, catching glimpses of Yuck, Mumdance, Crispin Dior and Saam Farahmand, who simultaneously projected video portraits behind him as he DJed.

The MVP award undoubtedly goes to Mark Ronson and the Business Intl, whose 40-minute set went above and beyond expectations. Dapper as always, Ronson et al opened with “Bang Bang Bang”, led by MNDR and Spank Rock (standing in for Q-Tip), followed by “Just”, with the vocal stylings of Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), who delighted the audience by crowd-surfing.

The well-rounded set list featured songs that spanned Ronson’s entire catalog, from Here Comes the Fuzz (2003) and Versions (2007) to the upcoming Record Collection, set for a September release. Spank Rock contributed vocals during “Bike Song”, which he co-wrote for Record Collection, and improvised raps in the place his absent cohorts, including Ghostface Killah (“Lose It” and “Ooh Wee”) and Theophilus London (“Hey Boy”). Rose Elinor Dougall stepped up to the mic for “Hey Boy”, then led the band into her own “Start/Stop Synchro”. The gig ended with “Valerie”, with Kyle Falconer (The View) filling in for Amy Winehouse on vocals.

This performance was Mark Ronson’s best and most dynamic to date. He displayed an impressive musical range, switching between guitar, keyboards, electric drum kit, and even vocals, and for the first time, he looked like he was actually enjoying himself onstage. The camaraderie between band members was unmistakable, and their infectious energy was immediately reflected by the crowd. “This is the best fucking gig of all time,” Ronson remarked between songs, “This is our third gig as the Business Intl, and I don’t think it’ll get any better than this.”

Our energy renewed, we swung by the Auditorium, where Filthy Dukes’ DJ set had the party in full swing. Back in the Ballroom, Kele Okereke (from Bloc Party) delivered a high-energy performance to a crowd that was clearly well versed in his music. Unfortunately, Tinchy Stryder’s set was cancelled due to time constraints, so we headed over to the auditorium where Trevor Jackson closed out the night.

We already know that the people behind The Creators Project know how to throw a good party – that’s the easy part. The more impressive achievement is The Creators Project’s growing reputation for having impeccable taste and an eye for innovation, characteristics that will prove important in the coming years as they expand their ongoing initiative.

CLICK HERE to view photos from the London event, and in case you missed it, check out the recap and photos from the NYC Launch Party HERE.