The Royal Burlesquerade was one of the chicest parties I have been to in a long time. In true New York City fashion of weird and wild, the guests at the posh get-together were decked out in sophisticated, sexy costumes, and tickets went for $150 pre-sale. None at the door. Or should I say dock, because this party was on a yacht cruise around the harbor. We set sail around 4:30 pm and docked at 10:00 pm. Even though the party started and ended early, it was nothing but fierce.
This party felt like an affair for dukes and duchess’s who needed to get their naughty out before going back in front of the court, but the essential thematic vibe of the party was community at its most sexually indulgent level. Everyone was dancing, complimenting each other’s costumes, taking pictures, and banging out to the amazing line up the Lighting Society put together for New York City’s best party of 2016.
The configuration of this event was a minor draw back, because there were three stages set up on different floors providing simultaneous entertainment, getting to the meat of each DJ’s performance was nearly impossible. On the main floor I was able to see Nico Stojan and Elias Dore. Both are Berlinners, cultivated by the same underground scene at different times. Stojan originally emerged as a Hip Hop inspired artist, exploring jazz elements until he found his home in House. Burlesquerade was Dore’s USA debut and he definitely sent some shockwaves through the continent. Dore’s purist techno sound and style make it easy to lose yourself in its reverberations. His creations are examples of how the different notches of depth can be both plummeting, and velvety smooth.
Elias Dore
Stojan is known for being a traveler, and it seems that a few of the other producers at the event are as well. FDVM and Tasha Blank both have Burning Man connections, and rocked the boat. FDVM has a super traditional techno funk, with a good intermixing of unaltered vocals that maintains a natural swagger. This set was their final performance of their current tour, and it was amazing to hear them go full throttle with salacious steady bass that kept every one bumping on the dance floor. Blanks’ deep house bass, with brassy tenor hip hop and R&B vocals complimented FDVM’s set like a brandy does a good cigar. Her HOUSE blend was freshly brewed, and she tantalized the crowd into a frenzy.
Tasha Blank
There was another interesting character amongst the heavy masked, corseted, and undulating crowd, and that was Experimen.tal, or Tal Polany. This guy is a bit of a mystery, even without a mask. His sound is unique and reminds me of being on a South Pacific island where the locals are mixing old school 90’s techno with a native groove into a banging meditation, mind bending exercise. His set pulsed and tongued at your ear.
As for the accommodations, I would say that yacht company Hornblower is a luxurious option for any party, but the fact that we were on a boat made this event very exclusive and indulgent. There were three bars on the boat, and food was available for purchase at New York City prices. After seeing the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline glide by as I danced with new and old friends, got down to some seriously talented music producers’ delightful electronic jams, watched and participated in licentious photoshoots, and was captivated by the all the opulent costumes, I promise its worth saving up for. In fact, I might make this my reason for an annual pilgrimage to my good ol’ New York City.
New York, NY
Check out all the sexy costumes, deliriously dank light shows, and a few set playlists on the Lightning Society’s facebook.
