The Curators Of Good Electronic Music. Interview With Secta

by Alexandra Mansilla

The Curators Of Good Electronic Music. Interview With Secta

10 Aug 2024

What exactly is Secta? According to their own description on their website, it is an "artist-led Middle East community-based event & record label focused on high-energy rolling and hypnotic techno." Founded in 2021, driven purely by spirit and a love for music, Secta has truly turned the underground scene in Dubai on its head.

The founders of Secta really put their all into every detail of their parties — maybe that is why they are SO epic and everyone wants in.

Here are the people making Secta parties happen, a collective of passionate curators, producers, and DJs: Julian Lovett (Ju Lovett), Kirill Zhan, Elisa (Dea), and Bianca (Baby B). We got the chance to chat with them about how they all came together to start Secta, their legendary Bassiani showcase, the story behind their massive cage, and why they decided to kick off their own label.

Note: Say goodbye to summer on the 31st of August as Secta hosts their season closing event, with all four residents performing. Make sure to follow them on Instagram and keep an eye out for more updates

— Hey guys! I would like each of you to share your backgrounds one by one. What were you doing before Secta? You all come from different parts of the world, and Dubai has brought you together. Please tell me where you are from, what you did before, and anything else you would like to share.

Kirill Zhan: I am originally from Kazakhstan, but I have been living here since 2003. This place has truly become my second home; I grew up here and went to school and university here. Before getting involved with Secta, I started planning events in late 2018 with some friends. We ran our operations under several brand names, one of which was SYN7ROME. During COVID, we threw underground parties in farmhouses, villas, and penthouses and even started in a friend's garage. One memorable venue was a villa owned by a Ghanaian rapper who had built an entire club underneath his house. It was incredibly fun.

I have always held a day job, though, because I felt it was unfair to rely financially on music and events. Currently, I work as a regional manager for Jinn, a popular Russian sunflower seed brand.

Honestly, I think artistry and music in general have changed for new artists. It is very hard to have a DJ career or be a promoter and make money from it, especially if it is an underground project. But having my job helps me not to rely on the project's earnings. Everything we make goes back into it.

Ju Lovett and Kirill Zhan. Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

Julian Lovett: I am originally from the UK. I have been living in Dubai for the past 11 years, and before that, I spent five years in Italy, with stints in other parts of Europe, Amsterdam, the UK, and the US.

From a young age, I have been deeply involved in the music scene. It all started with organising school discos when I was around 11 or 12 years old. Despite not knowing much about organising or DJing at that time, it sparked a lifelong interest in events. My professional journey in music began after I graduated with a degree in Sound Engineering in London. I have worked in several nightclubs, including managing production at El Divino in Ibiza in 2002 and being the general manager of Mondo’s on Greek Street, London, in my early twenties.

Despite my success, the financial returns weren't enough to sustain a comfortable life in London and other expensive cities. Thus, I revisited an earlier interest in flying. I received a scholarship with the Air Force at 16 and trained as a pilot. So, I returned to aviation, eventually becoming a pilot for Ryanair in 2008 in Italy.

In 2013, I took an opportunity to work for a major airline in the UAE and have been here since. During my time in Dubai, I have also continued organising events, such as Dysfunktion, and worked as a global tour manager for Egg in London.

Alongside my aviation and event management careers, I have continued DJing and producing music, particularly in the UK's underground electronic music scene during the late '90s and early 2000s. This period was crucial for my development as a DJ and had a significant impact on electronic music globally. So, that is a brief overview of my journey through music, event management, and aviation!

Elisa (Dea). Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

Elisa (Dea): Hi, I am from Italy, but I have been living in Dubai for 11 years. Although I haven't been deeply involved in organising music events from the start, I have supported Julian in his projects, focusing on the creative and artistic direction.

My professional background is primarily in advertising, where I have worked for many agencies and also as a freelancer. Additionally, I have launched my own fashion brand, which has given me a solid foundation in brand development and management.

Currently, I am channelling my efforts into the event side of our business with Secta, where I can blend my creative skills with my growing interest in event management.

Bianca (Baby B): I am half English, half Spanish. I was born in Spain but raised in various parts of Europe before moving to Dubai seven years ago. My roots are in Malaga, in the south of Spain. Growing up there, drum and bass culture was a big part of my life. I spent my teens attending underground raves — hidden events we would find out about through secretive messages, leading us to remote locations for weekend-long parties.

Although I wasn’t directly organising these events in Spain, I was always connected through friends who were DJs or organisers. When I first moved to Dubai, I focused mostly on work, but everything changed when I met Kirill and started helping out at parties he organised in a friend's basement. I wasn’t DJing then; I was more behind the scenes, handling things like the bar and the sound system setup.

My involvement in the music scene deepened after meeting Julian and Elisa at one of their private house parties. It was supposed to be a closed event, but we managed to get in, and that is where I really started learning about the technical side of event production. Kirill encouraged me to try DJing, and I quickly became obsessed with it! I even mixed music between work calls while working from home for one company.

Now, I have been DJing for about two years, influenced greatly by Julian, Elisa, and Kirill. It has been an incredible journey, from being a backstage helper to performing as a DJ. I am still balancing this with my full-time job as a creative director at an agency, which keeps me grounded in the creative industry.

Bianca (Baby B). Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

— Okay, good! So, now about the name. You have already talked about it here, but could you please repeat the story for our audience?

Julian: Looking back at the beginnings of Secta, it all started quite organically during COVID when clubs were closed. We began hosting small house parties that initially included just five people due to restrictions and gradually grew as restrictions eased. The numbers increased to 10, then 20, and eventually, we hosted about 200 people.

One memorable night, Kirill burst through the back door, nearly knocking over the DJ booth, and he played at one of these gatherings soon after. Our parties grew rapidly in scale, culminating in a massive event with 200 people crammed into our living room. It was exhilarating but felt dangerously overcrowded, prompting us to move to a proper venue.

That shift required a formal name for our collective, so I sat down at my computer, exploring dictionaries and word generators. I came up with several options, but when I read out "sect" to Elisa, she liked the sound but suggested adding an 'a' to soften it. We both agreed it sounded great. I sent a message to Kirill right away, asking, "What do you think about 'Secta'?" and he replied, "Wow, it’s amazing, we have this word in Russian, too!"

Later, an interviewer from Vice, who spoke Arabic, told us that "Secta" also means a musical pause in Arabic, which serendipitously aligned with our vision. So, this name turned out to have multiple meanings that resonated deeply with our values and the diverse, communal spirit we wanted to foster.

"Secta" has stuck because it is easy to remember, and it encapsulates our ethos of building a tight-knit community around music. It is fascinating how what started as a fun way to stay connected during lockdowns has evolved into a significant cultural movement, all under the banner of "Secta."

Kirill: Usually, when people ask me how the name came up, I am like, you know, Julian and Elisa suggested it in a group chat, and everyone said yes.

— And do you remember your first event under the name Secta?

[Everyone laughs]

Julian: Very well.

Bianca: It was awesome!

Kirill: I still have an obsession with Old Dubai. So, I was thinking, since the whole underground scene in Dubai started a long time ago in Bur Dubai and Old Dubai — with all those clubs that people just forgot about — I was like, guys, I think we should visit a few. Let's check out Old Dubai; it will be cool. No one is doing anything like that, and we'll definitely find something nice. So we made a small list of clubs. The first one we visited was named Hangover. It is an Indian club. You go inside, and it is styled like the "Hangover" movies, with casinos and everything. It is very grungy, a bit dirty, but I think it is different and nice. The guys were like, "Yeah, let's do it." And we did it there. We just brought our sound system — I had a bunch of sound equipment from my previous events, and the guys had some equipment — and we just called friends and did it.

— How many people attended it?

Kirill: The first event attracted around 200 people, but the event in the guys’ house was attended by 200 people, too. It was essentially about bringing these people and their friends to a new venue, a new space, and starting this new wave of partying in clubs. We were one of the first events that kicked off partying in clubs again. — Because it was right after COVID?

Kirill: Yeah, exactly; we were one of the first groups to kickstart it all again. I mean, there was clubbing, but you could only stay next to your table, so you couldn't really dance; there were no dance floors. There were other small parties happening around during COVID as well, but none of them had a proper dance floor like what we did.

Elisa: We also restarted the underground scene in Dubai a bit, which had been dormant for a long time.

— Yeah, could you please describe that period? What was Dubai's underground scene like in 2021?

Kirill: In 2021, the techno scene was quite different from today. There were some private parties, but none featured the type of music Julian and Elisa were playing. Their sets were unique — more energetic and out of the box, blending elements of house with faster, more rolling hypnotic techno. At that time, only Secta was doing something like that; nothing else compared.

— So, with Secta you brought to Dubai something absolutely new.

Kirill: Yeah, it was a whole new sound, not just in Dubai, but a fresh wave of techno worldwide. We can definitely say we were part of that pioneering group that kickstarted this sound. Everyone was talking about it. There was some harder techno around that people liked, but nothing as organised or well-thought-out. It was a completely new thing for Dubai.

Julian: When I arrived in Dubai in 2013, the underground scene included events like Analog Room and Groove on the Grass, which initially booked more underground techno artists of the time. Throughout the early to mid-2010s, there were several underground parties like Dysfunktion and Decibel, but they quickly faded away. A major challenge was competing with larger clubs like Blue Marlin, a well-known Ibiza-style beach club with massive budgets and free entry, making it tough for independent promoters to compete.

By the end of the 2010s, even Blue Marlin had disappeared, overshadowed by newcomers like Soho Garden, which brought even bigger budgets to the scene. This commercialisation of techno, driven by who had the largest wallet, dominated until the COVID pandemic hit.

The pandemic acted as a massive reset for the music industry globally. It halted well-established artists and venues, creating space for new producers, promoters, and events to emerge and gain popularity. This break in the scene was a crucial time for those who had been invisible in the industry to finally be noticed. Additionally, there was a pent-up demand from young people who had turned of age during the pandemic and were eager to experience clubbing for the first time. As we emerged from the pandemic, a new sound in techno, strongly influenced by the energetic and groovy 90s techno, started gaining traction. This sound was easier to dance to and widely enjoyable, marking a distinct shift from the previous harder styles. Notably, this was the first time in the UAE's history that a music style evolved simultaneously as it did in Europe and other parts of the world. We were at the forefront, pushing this fresh sound along with other scenes like Vault sessions in Amsterdam.

This new direction in techno was significant because it was not just imported; it developed organically here, as it did elsewhere, sometimes even leading the way. This shift was critical in the music world, offering a fresh and exciting alternative to the monotonous 'business techno' that many had grown tired of. It represented a real change, something new and fresh that people were ready for.

Bianca: I think one of the coolest aspects was our transition from makeshift basement parties with Kirill to our first event, where we made a thousand Dirhams. It felt like hitting the lottery! None of us ever thought we would actually make money from it; it was more about the passion for the scene. That event was a one-off in the history of our events, where the venue counted the cash right after the night and handed it over to us. It is like a myth now, one of those stories you tell that never happened again, but it was incredibly fun.

Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

— Are you looking for a new venue every time, or do you already have some permanent ones?

Elisa: We started with a few venues, but one in particular in Al Barsha really stood out for us. Honestly, it was a shabby bar, nothing special, but the layout was perfect — a long corridor-like space — and its central city location made it accessible to people from Downtown and Marina. Despite its grittiness, which really added to its underground vibe, it felt like real life, not polished like Dubai can be.

Interestingly, this bar was next to some sketchy spots, so setting up there always felt like an adventure. It was funny but also a significant first step towards becoming the Secta we are today. It allowed us to start building our community. We made the space our own, adding smoke and improving the lighting and the sound. We were hyper-focused on sound quality, and we quickly ended up buying our own system.

That first venue lasted about eight to nine months — a pretty long time — and gave us countless incredible memories. It was our first home, where Secta really began to take shape. After that, our events grew quickly; we once had 430 people show up, and Bianca was handling the door by herself. From the very beginning, we were particular about who we let in, not just anyone who could enter. We have always maintained a sort of door policy to keep the vibe right, turning away people whose energy or attire didn't fit with what we wanted for Secta.

— I am really impressed with the description of your door policy and guidelines on your website. Respect, guys!

Bianca: You really have to do it, though. Reflecting on what others said about the community — it is crucial. Initially, my role with Secta wasn't about leading; I was there to support, mainly handling the door. I enjoyed greeting people and making them feel welcome. That interaction at the door sets the tone for the entire event. If someone is rude to you, you enter the party already feeling off, right? So, managing the door was always interesting, especially turning away those who didn't quite fit the vibe, like random hotel guests in flip-flops.

The community we have built is tight-knit because people trust us to ensure only the right crowd is inside. Even when we moved to the second club, things got intense, but it was an incredible learning experience. At the Public House, where we hosted events before, we learned how to handle everything from sound installation to dealing with the venue manager — even though we often butted heads.

Although still a bit grimy, it was a step up from the Hangover Club, and I learned so much just by observing how we managed things.

I remember the grind, especially on weekends. We would go to other events on Fridays, end up hungover, and then on Saturdays, we would haul the entire sound system from the parking lot up to the venue — no AC, just sheer will, like a pilgrimage every time.

Julian: Actually, there is a funny story about that, too. One time, both Kirill and Bianca overslept. Kirill even missed his slot and turned up right when he was supposed to have finished his set. After that incident, I bought them a kids' alarm clock as a reminder to be on time, which they now keep right by their bed.

Bianca: I still have it.

Kirill: Yeah, but listen, I had a run-in with the security, too. I ended up being 20 minutes late because I was arguing with them, and they ended up punching the wall.

Julian: You know, during that really busy night, I was there when Abhinav (the manager at TPH) came running over saying, “Julian, we have to close the door!”. I was like, "Why, what's the problem?" And he said, "It's too bloody full." I looked around, and sure enough, every space was taken. People were dancing on the bar, literally on top of it, and even in the aisles. There is even a video of it — it was just insane.

Kirill: And our golden cage…

Elisa: Oh, that is a great story. So, from the very start, we had this golden cage. It was part of the bar's core decor. But we thought, "Oh, that's cool. Let’s add some lights inside so people can dance in it." Since then, this cage idea has really stuck with us. If you have seen photos on our Instagram, you might have noticed our DJ booth — it is a massive cage. It is almost like a metal cage, and it symbolises our evolution from that small original cage. Interestingly, we actually took that original cage last month and placed it in the club where we are now. It is still part of our decor, like a full circle, you know.

Kirill: You should definitely come to one of our events!

— I am in Amsterdam, but I will definitely do it when I come to Dubai!

Julian: Actually, people often mischaracterise us as being similar to Berghain in Berlin, but we are really not. Anyone who has been there would see the difference. In fact, we are much more aligned with the Amsterdam music scene in terms of our music, community, and atmosphere. The scene in Berlin, and particularly at Berghain, is a completely different world. So it is an important distinction to make because people always assume that, and we have to correct them.

Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

— I got it. And let’s go on with the venues Secta has had.

Elisa: After our initial stint at the Public House, which was an amazing space, we had to make a move. Thanks to some connections, we then got the opportunity to showcase the Georgian club Bassiani.

Kirill: So it all started with our common friend from Georgia, who knew the founders of Bassiani. He had been to our events and one day suggested, "Why don't we organise a Bassiani showcase in Dubai?" He spoke to the Bassiani owners, and soon enough, we were all on a call planning it out. Everyone was thrilled about the idea.

But then we hit a snag. We had TPH (the Public House) available, but it just wasn't large enough for what Bassiani represents — a venue that could really elevate us and give us that push to grow even bigger. So, we started scouting for new venues, especially those that had closed down or weren't in use. One of the places we looked at was Industrial Avenue. Julian knew one of the managers there, and he reached out. So, the whole event kick-started with talking to Industrial Avenue. That is when Julian and Elisa really took charge, securing what would become our new club home. It was a game-changer for us.

Julian: If you remember, we initially planned to host the Bassiani event at Industrial Avenue — just one event — and then head back to TPH. However, the Industrial Avenue management proposed something different; they wanted us to stay and run the entire club for them. That was totally unexpected, but it actually worked out quite well in the end.

So, we ended up moving to Industrial Avenue, taking over a club that had been closed for many years. We set up everything from scratch — a new sound system, new lighting — everything, and it looked amazing. Then we hosted Bassiani, and it was a huge success.

Elisa: At Industrial Avenue, we found a real club environment, not just a city bar like TPH. Don't get me wrong, even though TPH was nice, the difference at Industrial Avenue was massive. Honestly, I still think it is the best club in Dubai, maybe even in the UAE. Unfortunately, we are not there anymore, but it was truly incredible — so underground, so cool. It had three rooms, all connected in a really unique way, and with our sound setup, it was just amazing. Through that venue, Secta really exploded because it became this 'wow' factor, elevating everything we were about.

Kirill: When the Bassiani night happened there and the sheer number of people that came — it was humongous. The dance floor was packed; everyone was losing their minds. I remember standing there, watching, and thinking, "What a monster have we created?" It was crazy. You didn't feel like you were in Dubai or anywhere specific; you were just in this space, and the energy and the vibe were so unique. It was really good.

That event also propelled us to an international level. When Bassiani did their showcase, everyone around us was shocked. People started to really take notice, you know?

And when Bassiani happened, everyone was like, "Guys, what are you doing? You're going to get us all in jail. Underground parties will be cancelled completely." We were always promoting a space free from any prejudices or intolerances, which was something completely new for Dubai. It was a curse but also a big thing that I think we should be proud of — making people feel more free. Yeah, it was crazy.

Photo: Peaxh Fantastic

— Now, a completely random question. You have kind of rules for your visitors on your website. Do you have any rules within your team?

Kirill: We have this unspoken rule that every time we see each other, we have to drink a b**r. That is just how it is.

Bianca: I think it is impossible for us to have strict rules. Part of the reason we work well as a team is because we are all different but very accepting of each other. It is like when one of us pushes, the other bends, so there’s this constant give and take. Also, since we all have day jobs, it’s impossible to set firm rules. If we ever reached a point where we could leave our jobs and dedicate ourselves full-time, then, of course, we would probably implement some sort of fixed structure. But for now, that's just not feasible.

— Okay. In December 2023, you launched the label. Why did you decide to do it?

Julian: Unfortunately, Industrial Avenue shut down, so we had to move out and didn't have a venue for quite some time, especially as it was going into summer — a slow period for events. During this downtime, we pondered how to keep supporting the regional music scene and sustain our brand. This lull naturally led to the idea of starting a record label, something I had always considered but now finally had the time to delve into.

Over those months without events, I dedicated myself to learning everything about setting up a record label — understanding distribution, online sales, and the operational details needed to run it successfully. Once we grasped the backend, we began defining what our label would represent and what we aimed to achieve with it.

We noticed that everything in the UAE club culture was imported, from international DJs to the music itself. Realising the abundant local talent, we saw an opportunity to start exporting music from the UAE to the world. But we didn't want our label to focus exclusively on Middle Eastern artists. Instead, we envisioned a platform that levels the playing field for all artists, whether they are emerging talents or seasoned professionals from anywhere in the world.

This inclusive approach aimed to give visibility to lesser-known producers and artists while offering established names the best in terms of artwork, promotion, and collaboration opportunities. Our first release, "We Are Secta \ Vol 1," featured 14 tracks from artists globally, symbolising our goal to blend high-calibre talent from various backgrounds on an equal footing.

This initiative was well-received globally, marking a significant step in our efforts to not just showcase but actively elevate the music scene from the UAE and beyond, setting a new standard for international collaboration in our industry.

Also, we launched an EP with Benza on March 2nd. Right now, we are working on our upcoming releases, including another variety of artists' albums set to drop at the end of the year.

As a record label, you'll find some that release music almost non-stop — weekly or monthly. In our view, that can be overwhelming. We prefer to take our time and release only music that really stands out. We have several releases lined up with new artists, though I can't reveal their names just yet..

Elisa: Working with Benza was a prime example of our commitment to nurturing talent. When he first approached us, he was virtually unknown, just starting out. But his production was so impressive that we all agreed: this guy has something special, and we need to support him. And we did — his release was met with tremendous acclaim, really proving that we made the right call.

Honestly, it's amazing to see everything coming together like this, hosting artists from different regions, meeting them, and just experiencing the energy they bring. It's incredibly rewarding and just plain cool to see how our efforts to push good music are bearing fruit.

Julian: Yeah, it's kind of like Dubai itself — the label and our parties are a reflection of the city. There's no single demographic; it's a mix of people from all over the world, and everyone is drawn to Dubai just like they are to our label. We really try to mirror the city's ethos — that it's a place where everyone is welcome and where everything converges.

Photo: Augustine Paredes; Peaxh Fantastic

— And now, plans!

Elisa: Wow. Well, there are big plans, to be honest.

Bianca: I feel like we are truly inspired. We have almost gone beyond expectations with everything we have accomplished. If you had asked me a year or two ago if I would be doing all of this with my best friends and my partner, I wouldn’t have believed it. It's like we haven’t really stopped to look at how much we have achieved. Now, I am starting to feel more confident — not that I wasn’t before, but now there's a track record. I genuinely believe that as a group, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. We have developed a mindset where if we all agree to pursue something, we have the collective skills and the right team to make it happen. So, this year is about dreaming big for us.

Julian: We have many plans in motion, but it's too early to share specifics. What I can disclose is that we have launched a new entity and brand, Modul-Production, which has already made significant strides in production and audio production. From December last year until April this year, we partnered with Nike to execute a festival they held in the desert. We served as their audio partner, supplying all the audio equipment — speakers and PA systems — for the entire site, which included five stages. We also curated the music for each of these stages and produced original music for one of their walk-through experiences as attendees entered the site.

We are branching out, taking on production on a larger scale with various partners and companies. This new company and brand are making more developments, and in typical Secta style, you might even see a venue change soon. However, beyond that, I can't reveal much more about our future plans at this stage.

by Alexandra Mansilla