ISSUE 001 GAZE
A little bit about the venue where we shot this editorial: Lofi Amsterdam is located in an old bus garage in Amsterdam West that has been transformed into a club. The club is a creative urban oasis in the raw Sloterdijk area where various events are organised.
Outside, Lofi has a beautiful outdoor courtyard shielded by large sea containers. Inside, Lofi has two industrial interior spaces with large doors, high ceilings and raw finishes. As a result, Lofi blends in seamlessly with the industrial Sloterdijk.
At Lofi Amsterdam, they expect all visitors to be open to others, regardless of their origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion and age. As a result, everyone should feel welcome and safe at the club. Lofi wants to be more than just a club venue. Lofi is a community that promotes cultural diversity through year-round programming that explores the corners of contemporary club culture. Collaborating with leading artists and organisations from both international and local soil, Lofi welcomes subcultures into a true haven of cutting-edge club nights.
Vera Grace (girl with black hair):
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Vera Grace is a DJ & producer currently based in Amsterdam. Her unique, raw sound is defined by industrial textures and dark atmospheres with an intense vibe.
Relentlessly energetic on stage, Vera draws you into a restless journey, inspired by melancholy, darkness, yet hope at the very same time. Much like herself, she keeps the dancefloor moving non-stop while building towards eclectic and powerful climaxes.
With her first EP "Eternal Perdition" released on the label Sacred Court and other releases on labels such as Elements, her passion and inquisitiveness for music have already taken her a long way. She is currently studying electronic music at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. On the weekends, her music shatters the walls of clubs all over Europe as well as in her home country at places such as Intercell and BASIS.
Dan Berg (with red background):
Dan Berg (2000), an Amsterdam based DJ/producer with a passion for crafting immersive experiences. Drawing inspiration from revered artists like Dax J, Speedy J, and ROD (Benny), Dan Berg his sound is characterized by eclectic, atmospheric textures, dark grooves, and driven percussion tracks.
With over 3 years of DJing experience under his belt, Dan's sets traverse a diverse range of styles, including groovy, hard groove, old-school, and hypnotic. His adaptability shines through as he seamlessly navigates different venues and crowds, all while staying true to his unique sound and musical identity.
Nelke Mast (blonde girl):
Nelke Mast (she/her), alias NELLY DANSEN, is a conceptual artist and self-proclaimed Bimbo born somewhere in a Frisian forest and raised in a house of Punks. Mast’s practise explores gender roles by deconstructing and re-establishing prevailing sexual archetypes, breaking down the Freudian Madonna-whore complex. But at the heart of her work is the question: “NELLY DANSEN, girl or concept?”, which powers her almost anthropological artistic approach. This has most recently manifested through the lens of the new-age bimbo, which Mast believes is the 21st-century reincarnation of the ’80s punk. In addition to holding a doctorate in Bimboism, Mast often operates as a private detective collecting clues from the world around her. This natural born archivist documents almost everything to understand how someone with a female-coded body can add value, her creative practise embracing intertextuality accompanied by critical humour and a sense of joie de vivre. In the end, NELLY DANSEN always finds the energy to stand up for all the good, the bad and the ugly there is, and her first film, HEAD OVER HEELS, manifests all of the above.
Sammy Does (the one with silver eye shadow): Get familiar with Sammy Does. An incredibly talented individual who is making waves in multiple creative industries. Joining us is Sammy Does, a remarkable young woman who excels in the fields of 3D printed art and makeup artistry. Not only has Sammy established herself as a skilled artist, but she is also a member of the prestigious House of Orange agency, renowned for representing top-tier talent in the fashion and entertainment industry. Sammy's innovative use of 3D printing technology in her art brings a fresh perspective to the world of visual expression, while her expertise as a makeup artist allows her to transform faces into stunning works of art.
Photography by Ines Vansteenkiste-Muylle (@ines.vm_) , assisted by Louis Kerckhoven (@louiskerckhof) and Daniël Schierenberg (@dan.berg_) | Styling
by Vincent van Laeken (@vincentvlaeken) , assisted by Edgar van den Heede (@edgarvandenheede) | Make-up by Anita Jolles via Artists Unit Paris (@anitajolles) ,
using Armani Beauty | Hair by Sanne Schoofs (@sanneschoofs) using Balmain Hair Couture Germany, assisted by Jannes Vandevelde (@vandeveldejannes) | Production by Sticky Stuff Agency (@stickystuffagency) | Starring Vera Grace (@veragraceb), Sammy Does (@samu.el) , Nelly Dansen (@nellydansen) and Daniël
Schierenberg (@dan.berg_)| Special thanks to Lea Petrasova, Club Lofi, and Max Maloney
