Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Stallings and CJ Wooten.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Warmth Culture is a Black and Queer Femme-led music series based in Cincinnati, OH. Warmth promotes individuality and vulnerability in trusted spaces by creating events that empower POC, Queer, and Femme people to feel safe to let their guard down and “Bring Your Best Self” as our tagline says. Another motto we have is “DJs are artists, not jukeboxes.” We firmly believe that DJs are artists and we should respect what they do as their craft.
We would never tell a painter what to paint, or a poet what to write, so why would we demand requests from DJs?Warmth has been transforming spaces and connecting creatives since December 2021. Our soft opening first started as an invite-only party in a warehouse in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, OH. In less than a year, we have collaborated with some of the best DJs and performing artists in Cincinnati with featured guests from coast to coast.
We are grateful for our partnerships and the range of opportunities we’ve been awarded. Some highlights include our partnership with 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati and Cincinnati Regional Chamber for BLINK 2022, the nation’s largest art and lights festival. We’ve activated stages with Cincy Nice and Great Parks of Hamilton County, along with several other venues across the city. Not bad for our rookie year!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, candidly, it has not been a smooth road. We have been burned out, and creatively exhausted, collaborating with people who didn’t have our best interests at heart in the end. We threw some events that risked drifting from our vision and mission. And, at certain points, we had to take an L and pay out of our own pockets to make it happen for our artists. Despite all that, we stay firmly committed and aware of our accountability to each other as a collective and community.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Music Exploration and Vibe Curation is our business. From events and stage activation to playlist curation, we pride ourselves as Vibe Specialists. Let’s distill it down to this simple pursuit: we want creatives and music lovers to experience new and familiar music in a trusted space where they can have a good time, release tension or fear and be brave enough to show up as the best versions of themselves.
What matters most to you?
Intention. We never do anything half-hearted or without purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/warmth.culture
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warmth.culture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warmth.culture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJco0GK46i3f4GIHrJvdaA
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1kRQydIpZiucEtNBlIi0i1?si=725c905a727d4b3a
Image Credits
Noir Media, Call Me Rideout, Pixxel Designs, and Brandon Issac
