Lilla Döden
Klubb Lilla Döden is run by J&J, two young queer feminists from Stockholm, who feel that their freshly-started club is not just something they do for fun – it’s a mission.
What exactly is Klubb Lilla Döden?
Klubb Lilla Döden – Club Little Death, La Petite Mort – is a queer, feminist, pseudo-alternative club that is starting off this fall. It is a reaction to and a safe haven from the patriarchal norms and patterns otherwise all too commonly exhibited throughout the mainstream nightlife and club scene. We want anyone, regardless of gender, physical appearance or ability to feel welcome, included and safe, which is sadly not always the case with other clubs and venues.
Klubb Lilla Döden is being held as a “closed event” due to venue restrictions, and will only be open for the first 300 participants who buy tickets online before the event.
Why does Stockholm need Lilla Döden?
Klubb Lilla Döden was first conceived after a rather disappointing night out in Stockholm, after which we returned home with the nagging feeling that the Stockholm club scene was severely lacking in venues and events for people like us. We wanted to do our part in creating a more open, welcoming and inclusive club scene in our city, especially for non-males and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) people.
We think that there is a big demand for clubs like this in Stockholm, and the response we have gotten thus far has been super-positive. There are exceptions to this of course, with feminist and queer initiatives popping up from time to time, but we never felt that they fully lived up to our expectations and wishes. Klubb Lilla Döden is a queer feminist club night without any ties to a political party or any for-profit organisations, which we think is very important. We believe that there is a place for feminist and queer politics, but we also believe that there has to be a place for people to let loose and have fun.
We wanted to create an arena for people from the feminist and LGBTQ-communities to have a good time without giving them speeches or turning it into a political rally; this is a nightclub with a queer feminist perspective, nothing more and nothing less.
What can we expect on one of your club nights?
A safe, welcoming environment, where we will have a unique (and cheap!) bar, unisex bathrooms and educated and open-minded security personnel. We will have a venue which is easily accessible for people of varying physical ability. At Klubb Lilla Döden no-one will have to accept being sexualized, mistreated or in any other way made to feel less safe or welcome, without the knowledge that they will have the full support of staff, organizers and security. Music-wise we will be focusing on darker, edgier and grittier sounds, ranging from hip-hop and electro to post-punk and experimental. Many HBTQ and feminist clubs tend to be very lighthearted and mostly focusing on traditional house and glamour music, which is not really our thing. At Klubb Lilla Döden, dancefloors will be dark and sweaty, bass will be heavy and our dedicated DJs will focus on darker, edgier sounds. Another thing which sets us apart from many other night spots is that all the music we will be playing, all the artists we are booking and all the DJs we are hiring will be non-males, to try and counteract the otherwise rather unbalanced booking culture of Swedish night clubs and venues.
Apart from your own club, what’s your favourite night spot?
Moriskan in Malmö, Wilde! in Uppsala, Social Club in Paris, Under Bron and Trädgården in Stockholm.
And do you have any favourite restaurants?
Chutney, Kokyo and Le Rouge in Stockholm, any street food in Berlin, any pastry in Paris.
Bars?
Le Rouge in Gamla Stan, Bagpipers Inn in Vasastan, any hotel bar, Tiki Lounge in Berlin.
What do you think we will see more of on the music scene in 2015?
We will probably be seeing even more boring, male-centric clubs offering the same old thing aimed at the same old crowd. We do however hope to see more open-minded, brave, queer feminist, LGBTQ-focused clubs opening up. We hope for more opportunities for female artists and DJs to get out there and showcase their talent, and for a more welcoming and safe environment for all those who do not feel as welcome and included in todays club scene.
How else can Stockholm’s nightlife get better?
Educate security personnel and other staff to be more vigilant and responsive to mistreatment, threats and harassment and educate all staff in LGBTQ and feminist matters. Start booking less male artists and DJs, start making a conscious decision on whether the music you’re playing is part of the problem or part of the solution when it comes to gender inequality and misogyny.
