Queerness is not a monolith. It is felt and interpreted differently according to what side of the tracks you’re from. Thankfully, more and more platforms are emerging to serve particular strands of queer identity. Queer Bruk is one of those platforms. Based in London, they throw parties that place Black and Brown people at the centre, celebrating their stories and the roles they play in cultivating culture.

Bridging the gap between Afro-Caribbean music and queer nightlife, expression is paramount, and there isn’t a Queer Bruk where the dancefloor isn’t filled. They’ve thrown parties at London’s Southbank Centre and Tate Modern, spreading their inclusive messages along the way. We chatted to Queer Bruk founder Akeil Onwukwe-Adamson to learn more about their ethos, uniting Black and Brown people through music and the need for more spaces for queer minorities.

What does the dance floor mean to you? 

Akeil: It means freedom really, the freedom to move one’s body with your own people and to feel safe truly is a freeing experience. To go from attending majority white or ‘straight’ events to this is a complete leap into freedom. 

How would you describe the impact of queer communities on modern nightlife around the world? 

We are the blueprint. We impact so many areas of nightlife. From the music, to the dances, to the vibes – we have made nightlife.

What role do you think parties and the dance floor play in cultivating these communities? 

There are so little safe spaces for queer people to meet, vibe and build connections. They’re so key in helping people make connections – and feeling like they have a home. 

How do you think queer communities are informed by modern music and culture in the modern day?

I think queer communities are on the pulse and truly understand the shifts and changing tides in culture. We also ARE the culture.

In your time going to clubs and parties, do you think they are a safer place for queer communities overall?

Not really. Especially being visibly queer – and even sometimes in queer spaces – there have been straight people who have taken over. It seems that it’s really tricky to keep things for just ourselves.

“Queer people are the blueprint. We impact so many areas of nightlife. From the music, to the dances, to the vibes – we have made nightlife.”

How did Queer Bruk come about? What messages did you want to get across with the platform? 

Queer Bruk was born from a need for more spaces that catered to Black and Brown queer people. We wanted to create a safe space for people to listen to Afro-Caribbean music and feel free to express themselves in their Blackness and queerness. Our message is first and foremost about celebrating Black queer bodies, but ultimately it’s also about celebrating music and culture. 

As a platform that champions Black music and queer nightlife across genders, do you feel you’ve been able to create a safe space for people at this intersection?

Yes, we are so proud of what we’ve managed to achieve: creating spaces that all genders and sexualities feel comfortable in. We love that our spaces have become safe for womxn too; that has been something we wanted to ensure. So many queer spaces are so centered around men and we wanted to make sure womxn felt like they had somewhere that felt just as much theirs as anyone else’s’. 

What have been some of Queer Bruk’s proudest moments so far? 

Being included in the British Library’s Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music exhibit where we also got to throw a party. Closing out the Mayor of London’s Black on the Square event in Trafalgar Square. So many come to mind – just being able to throw raves for our loyal audience. 

Tell us about London’s nightclub culture as it pertains to the LGBTQIA+ community; who are the major players?

Pxssy Palace and Nadine, of course, is a major player as a platform. In terms of individuals, you have Donnie Sunshine, Mark-Ashley Dupé, Talia A Darling and Jordss who all are huge in the nightlife scene, not just LGBTQIA+ but across the UK and beyond. Those are some of my favorite talents.

What are some of the best or up and coming queer parties/events right now?

Bledi Party is an amazing SWANA event that we are collaborating with this month for a blended event that combines two cultures together.

What do you want to see more or less of, in London’s queer nightlife scenes?

More Black and Brown people in the bigger venues. We are rarely represented in the big queer venues and would love to see more of us taking up space and playing these spots. Also, more female-focussed events in the bigger venues too. 

What has satisfied you the most about building the communities you’re a part of?

Building connections, finding my people and seeing familiar faces at every event we do. It’s like our own little family who come together every once in a while. I love it. 

The impact of queer communities on nightclubbing is indelible, but do you see any major developments in the ways that queer communities engage with these spaces in the future?

To be honest, we just need to fight back against closures and erasures. It’s becoming harder and harder to host parties and Black and queer venues and events seem to be getting hit the hardest. Yes, I would love to say new sounds or venues feeding our own creativity, but we are finding it harder to even exist. 

What does Pride Month mean to you? How will you and Queer Bruk celebrate it?

Pride Month is a time to be extra GAY! Queer Bruk hosted a party with Bledi on June 20th at Oslo in Hackney. It was a dream!