Published
Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 11:30
- Written by Danielle Antoinette Hidalgo, Dance Music Spaces is available now.
A new book is available now called Dance Music Spaces: Clubs, Clubbers, and DJs Navigating Authenticity, Branding, and Commercialism.
California-based writer Danielle Antoinette Hidalgo wrote the book, which features an in-depth study of three key artists: Honey Dijon, Peggy Gou and The Blessed Madonna.
"I had received funding to study nightclubbing in London when I literally stumbled upon The Blessed Madonna's set and was totally transported back to my early rave days, a sweaty night that shifted the course of my research and my life for the next four years," Hidalgo told Resident Advisor. "My book tells that story, taking a close look at how both authenticity and commercialism play out on physical dance floors and are realized and constantly negotiated in digital spaces like Instagram."
Hidalgo followed the three DJs both in-person, across clubs in the US and Europe, and digitally, particularly via Instagram. "There was a clear tension for the DJs," she explained in a Twitter thread, "crafting a brand that's stretched between both 1. Authenticity–storied and reflective of house music's history–and 2. Commercialism–accessing new income streams and audiences willing to pay more."
In her findings, Hidalgo coined a new concept—"authenticity manoeuvring"—which explains the moves DJs make to establish new, authentic personas for themselves, to reach "new audiences, level themselves in the DJ hierarchy and get more prestigious shows."
Buy Dance Music Spaces, and read Hildalgo's Twitter thread.
Update, February 14th: A quote from Hidalgo was added to the piece at 4 PM GMT.
