#MonthlyArtistSpotlight :: Tonight @wayneeverest is back for week 2 of his @den_ent residency at @whynotjazzroom. Listen to a brief snippet of last week's gift. 🎺🎶🎁 Stop by at 9pm to check him. #WayneTucker #DenEntertainment #whynotjazzroom #trumpet #jazz
#DenDinnerSeries :: Thank you @carteblancheband for making Tuesday so memorable. Until next time! #versace 💄👑👗 Tonight we relaunch our #MonthlyArtistSpotlight with #WayneTucker. Every Thursday in September at 9pm. Drop in! 💋💓🔝🎺 #DenEntertainment #whynotjazzroom #carteblanche #jazz
Wellesley in Art: Interview with Den Entertainment @Den_Ent Founder and Culture Curator Solonje Burnett-Loucas ‘02 @soliemusic
Solonje Burnett-Loucas ‘02 runs Den Entertainment, a music management, talent booking, event production, PR and marketing agency in NYC. Through her work, she brings together people and organizations from around the globe to celebrate diversity and the arts.
Pictured: Solonje Burnett-Loucas. Photo by Helena Kubicka De Bragança
Wellesley Underground: How did Den Entertainment come to be?
The Den came to be a little over three years ago. I left my career in nonprofit, where I had been working for years and the last role as the Director of Development and Communications at the Harlem School of the Arts, to do my own thing. I launched a blog called the Hippie Den NYC, named after the apartment my partner Jeremy and I shared. He is a Grammy-award winning sound engineer. At the time he had so much talent coming and going while I brought in a crowd of music and art enthusiasts. The Hippie Den became a gathering space for the spirit of creativity to really flourish. We hosted parties, after parties, and into the next day hangs... I launched the blog to talk about that and so many other things that were happening in NYC. Then a couple of different musicians asked me to work them as their "voice," doing booking and PR. I held my first Hippie Den Session at the Living Theatre on Clinton Street with Perf Production and soon Den Entertainment was born.
Musicians Left: Arooj Aftab, Right: Janelle Kroll performing at SHE, the Den Entertainment 2-Year Anniversary Celebration at Highline Ballroom in NYC, July 2014. Photos by Danny Severino.
WU: Tell us about Den Entertainment’s mission of diversity and inclusiveness. Why is that mission important now and why is it important to you?
The world is beyond divided. Everyone is constantly staying ridiculous things like "You Can't Sit With Us," and promoting a lifestyle of exclusion and sameness. It is as if the cliques of High School are what is in fashion. We should grow up and realize we are all humans and that is what unites us. We would be in a much better place if we did that.
On the flip side, it is our diverse backgrounds that could make us stronger. Being introduced to different cultures, music, food, sounds, etc is the spice of life. My family is from the Caribbean and my partner is from Europe. Living in NYC, and even before that when I lived in Boston, I actively sought out people who looked different from me. It truly had and continues to enrich my life and soul.
We need to bring compassion, understanding and inclusion to the forefront in order to heal our society. With that in mind, I work with a diverse group of people in all my endeavors. I just event produced TLDEF's (Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund) 10-year anniversary celebration - The Freedom Awards, collaborate on artist development with hair and makeup team Double-D Production (Dee Tranny Bear and Lady Deja Davenport), the musicians I represent and manage (including Bowmont, Lulu Gainsbourg, and Francisco Mela) come from all over the world, and the parties I throw have music from international DJs. My 2-Year anniversary SHE was a salute to the diverse talent of women in Brooklyn including Arooj Aftab, Vandana Jain, Janelle Kroll, Lily Virginia ad DJ SoDabu. And now I manage/curate/book Whynot Jazz Room in the West Village to fill the space with sounds and spirits from all over. There is no nepotism only talent. There is such a richness in diversity and I hope to expose people to it.
Bacchanal - Rooftop Pool Summer Holiday Series at JIMMY at the James Hotel in NYC 2015 put on by Den Entertainment. Photos by Danny Severino.
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund 2015 Freedom Awards at The Art Director's Club, event produced by Den Entertainment. Right image: Solonje with TLDEF Executive Director, Michael Silverman.
WU: How does Wellesley figure into your career today? What were you doing in and then following college?
Wellesley helped to nurture the belief in self and can do whatever you like attitude that was instilled in me by my mother. It also furthered my belief in diversity and difference as a benefit to our society whether it be due class, gender expression, race, culture, etc. There I explored many creative interests from majoring in Psychology, studying Black History and astronomy, playing soccer, being a part of the art and music society Tau Zeta Epsilon as the VP of Music, singing in the Blue Notes and Prism Jazz, as well as Co-Directing the Ethos Fashion Show. I went straight to Emerson College and received my MA in Broadcast Journalism and then landed a career in nonprofit. Giving back is something that is really part of the education at Wellesley and I believe that is why I began working in communications/fundraising for nonprofits.
Top image: Solonje and ARC Executive Director, Namasha Schelling. Both images taken from the African Rainforest Conservancy February 2015 fundraiser “ Act Local, Think Global,” in Williamsburg at 7 Dunham Gallery.
WU: Why did you choose a career in arts and entertainment management? How does your career make sense with who you are today, how does it figure into your life?
I call myself a Culture Curator because I dabble in a bit of everything as I previously mentioned and live a lifestyle of inclusion, education, and acceptance of others. It also may be because I am a musician myself. I was classically trained as a singer for about 10 years, I even got into the New England Conservatory of Music but opted for a broader education.
To that end I think the combo of the liberal arts, communications background with music throughout made it obvious. The career kinda chose me and it is where I feel the most at home. I'm surrounded by creatives and making their voices heard in a cult of media that focuses on empty popularity based on wealth is a goal of mine. Artists used to say something and stand up for more than how many likes they have on their latest instagram post. I will do all I can to get real artists seen and heard.
Solonje with visual artist Talia Kirsh October 2013, at Kirsh’s exhibition “Unbound” curated by Den Entertainment at 7 Dunham Gallery.
WU: What advice do you have to alums who are interested in starting their own arts and entertainment business?
Start early, keep an open mind and work with those who appreciate you.
WU: What advice do you have for alums who to aspire to be professional artists and musicians?
Build a team that believes in you and don't stop working toward your goals. Focus in and work hard every day. Take no days off.
Pictured: Solonje backstage at Highline Ballroom. Photo by Danny Severino.
Solonje will be performing at Whynot Jazz Room (14 Christopher Street in NYC), July 14. Click here for more information.
#DenDinnerSeries :: #NossaNova made a steamy evening @whynotjazzroom so serene. Thank you Joyce and Richard. @den_ent loves you. 💓 Enjoy Korea Joyce! 👯 #DenEntertainment #whynotjazzroom #BossaNova #singersongwriter (at Whynot Jazz Room)
#DenDinnerSeries :: snippet of @takeberlin "Sebastian" last night. Thanks Yvonne and @barneznova 💞😍 and lovely pals like @tallhall79 @diamondduked @janellekroll for filling me with the joy of your presence at @whynotjazzroom. #DenEntertainment #whynotjazzroom #westvillage #DenFamily (at Whynot Jazz Room)
