Unfold my Howl Daddy… ow… 😫 (weekend of 15-17/02/25)

Everyone has something to say about the changes that have become very apparent in the scene, the most notable being the Unfold crowd. Every time it’s brought up in a smoke-area convo or at afters—either to complain or state the obvious—it’s reminiscent of old English people talking about the fucking weather. Just rather reductive.

Here’s a random snap of me at fountayne Monday morning with the fabulous Henrique:

This past weekend, I found myself at Howl, playing groupie for my girl, 131 BPM. Fab sets in all three rooms, but I don’t think this format—The 90 and the two other venues—is the best for Howl, in my opinion.

Tocorro showed the main room why she’s a reputable Latin tech goddess in her own right, and 131 played a set that made me want to be g’ing the fuck out at a summer forest rave. I dared them to play that “Every time I walk in the club” song, and when they did, lemme tell you… I dropped a bump and ran to the dance floor.

At afters, as I yapped away in Tedesco’s kitchen doing Gartruche impersonations, I kept hearing everyone’s plans for Sunday, and it just made me want to go straight home. But after what was a cute afters—and finally getting to meet Tocorro personally—it was actually really fun giving her the admin reveal. She was gooped and gagged, confessing she’d been a longtime fan, much in the same way I am of her.

When I finally got home, I texted my friend Elliot (131 BPM) to let them know that the inevitable was likely to happen… I was gonna crash and even warned ahead, but then I thought to myself: This is the one set I cannot miss at Unfold. See, 131’s songs and different projects are how I taught myself to DJ, so I felt obliged to turn a look out and give them their flowers by showing up for a day-three dance.

Arriving at Fold on no sleep is never a proud moment, but it was my first time back since Mall Grab’s New Year’s Eve party. Yikes. To be fair, the best Unfolds are the ones you show up to on day three. I rushed through security, and the usual staff congratulated me on throwing such a fit (blushes). I managed to catch a good bit of 131’s set, which was CUNT overload. What I sensed in the room’s energy was that yes, this is a new generation of Unfolders, but I didn’t seem to mind?

I started going in early 2023 when it all still seemed so star-gazing to me, and the strobes would actually give people seizures. The people who went then were the ones I thought I’d dance next to forever, but people move out of London, drug trends change, some go to rehab, some divas get banned, or they just outgrow the sliv of it all. I’m still so new to this scene, so seeing one generation end as another comes in feels like a rite of passage, I guess? A bit bittersweet.

What I will say is that there seems to be a lack of chivalry and respect that the dolls used to get. Not to make it a competition of marginalized groups, but Unfold was THEE place where we (the dolls) came, felt like goddesses, and were given the respect and space to dance our emotional weight away every other Sunday. Dolls are still a good percentage of the dance floor, but now it’s almost like we’re the number one target for spilled drinks. Cis folks, please prioritize the front for transsexuals. I’m being so serious.

The good thing about Fold is that you can stand anywhere and still hear different focuses of the sound, which is what makes the system so elite. You can enjoy it from just about anywhere, so just leave room for the dolls to thrive. Pls and thanks.

Hanno Hinkelbein delivered a set in the Steam Room that had me doing bits, dancing with Miss Karlie Marx. Again, very few familiar faces, but the vibes and the upgraded sound in the Steam Room made up for it. Hanno had everyone second-guessing their smoking breaks. That’s the Unfold I missed.

By the time my pill kicked in and I realized I’d been on a Xan-drunk binge, I felt like one of the Real Housewives sliving. At that point, I realized the entire scene hadn’t come to Unfold because it was Ruben’s going-away party. What a dumb realization—but I guess if it weren’t for that and a refreshing Unfold, I wouldn’t have seen things the way I did. Even if only for those six hours I was there, I had some very telling reflections on the dance floor.

What a dumb bitch. Just dance.