Red Room Collective Vol. 2:

Celebrating with two stages and two days, the Red Room Collective hosted their two year anniversary celebration on Sept. 26 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sept. 27 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Cosmo Sports and Restrobar in Downtown Pomona.

The anniversary held on a Friday and Saturday featured 28 DJs in total, spinning house tracks in honor of another year of accomplishments and trying new things.

The Red Room Collective pushed the boundaries beyond their underground gem this past year. They collaborated with record labels like Used Goods and Mami Sounds, expanding the collectives’ musical relations and taking them to a road called Hollywood Boulevard.

The collective embraced the so-called “soft clubbing’ phenomenon that collectives across the country are hosting, normally during the day in a more casual setting. They appeared at a local sneaker store called Street Culture Boutique, where a lineup of Red Room curated DJs provided sound while art pieces were available around the store as well. The collective and the boutique teamed up to create merchandise symbolizing both of their endeavors.

House music’s cultural and political undertones remained strong this past year and the Red Room came through in a philanthropic way.

In January, Southern California experienced devastating wildfires ripping through Pasadena and the Palisades. Collectives throughout Los Angeles canceled shows and festivals due to the poor air quality and offered aid to those evacuating. The Red Room hosted an Afro-House pop-up event as a donation hub for their attendees, asking for anything means could reach like hygiene products, clothing, food, water, blankets, and comfort.

Anti-immigration enforcements struck Los Angeles heavily this past year. Yet another time collectives throughout Los Angeles shut down events due to the safety of their attendees. In June, the Red Room offered resources for followers to donate and used 100 percent of their event’s ticket sales towards charities for families displaced from their homes by immigration laws. The historical movement of house music’s culture brings people together and the Red Room continues sharing its love for the people who love the music.

The Red Room reached new bounds and traveled east for a few events in Montclair. Featured on Thursday instead of their typical Fridays, the Red Room provided an extended cut of the collective for those in San Bernardino County.

Within the team, some original members started their own collectives. Founder and DJ Jhaycautro said that isn't a bad thing because that is what the Red Room is essentially about. The Red Room built a community for smaller DJs to practice on open decks and have the masses hear their sound.

Resident DJs of the Red Room are starting to be booked at other events like Space Taco and Electrofest, which is something the collective is proud to be a part of. The Red Room’s mission, to provide a mixer for anyone who has the passion for house music, honors their lasting effect in this subculture. Not looking to be better than anyone but looking to support everyone.

Jhaycautro said the collective’s biggest takeaways from this year were the collaborations and branching out to different venues.

“That really helped us figure out our demographic,” Jhaycautro said. “We learned more about where our attendees are from and how big of a reach we have in different cities.”

Jhaycautro said the realization and reflection of where the collective is heading toward was his favorite part of this past year.

Sarah Van Buskirk can be reached at bysarahvanbuskirk@gmail.com