## Boiler Room: Where South Asian DJs Are Redefining Rave Culture Through Style
Sweat-soaked floors, bodies moving in unison, skin brushing in the close confines of the space – this is the visceral, euphoric experience of Boiler Room. This hidden, limited-capacity club night, a successor to the 1980s rave culture, is a vibrant celebration of freedom of expression through electronic, dance, and warehouse music. It’s not just the music that sets the mood, but also the free-flowing, boundary-pushing fashion. Think tinted visors, vintage hand fans, leather pants, baby tees, and footwear that’s decidedly not heels – this is the Boiler Room uniform.
Born in London, Boiler Room was named after the genre-defining movement’s first venue, a derelict storeroom dubbed a ‘studio’. This space flipped the script on celebrity norms. Unlike traditional concerts where artists are placed on a pedestal, Boiler Room sets feature DJs at the heart of the crowd, with a live webcam stream reaching a global audience. The goal? To showcase talent from the fringes of club culture, giving a platform to the underground scene.
Over time, these intimate sets have exploded onto the world stage. From Fred Again in London and Charli XCX in the Balearic Islands to Watashi in Mumbai, Boiler Room walks a tightrope between inclusivity and aspiration, fostering a unique vibe – an era, really – that has given rise to a techno-coded style. Take Charli XCX’s iconic Brooklyn set in February of this year. Her Cult Classics tee, sheer white tights, and wraparound shades made as much noise as her then-released single ‘Von Dutch’. This ensemble sparked a summer of trends, proving that even seemingly effortless looks can have a powerful impact.
Consider tightly-strapped skimpy bodysuits or T-shirts paired with cheeky briefs as hallmarks of DJ wardrobes. This isn’t a performance designed to solidify celebrity status; it’s a party where ravers and artists are on equal footing. Perhaps this is why New York City-based DJ Armana Khan chooses gritty, revealing outfits, aiming to make her audience feel included, empowered, and free. For her first-ever set in Brooklyn this year, she paired a vibrant yellow embroidered lehenga blouse, traditional gold jewelry, and a red bindi with a tiny pink thong. “When people see me showing that much skin, especially with elements that are typical of my heritage, they are shocked,” she says. As a trans woman, this defiance of convention embodies Khan’s style as much as her music. “They may think what I’m doing is technically wrong, but it’s obviously so right because look how happy I am – that comfort without fearing judgment is what I want to showcase.” She hopes this stance inspires her audience to embrace their own authentic stylistic expression.
Boiler Room stands out amongst other club nights for its commitment to the rave culture motto “PLUR” (peace, love, unity, and respect). Just like Khan, Zainab Hasnain DiStasio (or ZeeMuffin as feral clubbers know her) uses her style to project a unique identity that resonates with her followers. For her Montreal Boiler Room set a few months ago, the NYC-based artist, whose family hails from Lahore, wore an earthy Raga Malak corset with vintage deconstructed trousers. The standout piece, however, was the silver paranda that adorned her trailing black braid, bouncing with each beat. Traditionally worn by Sikh brides on their wedding day, this accessory choice was a visual nod to the musical flavor she brings to the decks. “I wanted to represent my Punjabi-Kashmiri background – and I kid you not, since then I’ve been tagged on social media by multiple girls wearing parandas to raves,” recalls DiStasio.
Boiler Room style rejects extravagant stage costumes in favor of easily accessible, replicable fashion. Silhouettes that don’t require a Beyoncé-esque budget form the foundation of these artists’ looks. Oslo-based DJ Suchi Ahuja, who has graced techno capitals like London, Amsterdam, New York, and Ibiza, has played at and danced in many Boiler Room events. At her own sets, she’s sported bright orange corsets and heeled boots from Miista one day and oversized Supreme tees featuring Devanagari script the next. “You can dress modestly or walk naked wearing only nipple pasties and a thong,” she says.
Sometimes, Boiler Room DJs deliberately choose irreverent, statement-making outfits to create a sense of playfulness and dismantle inhibitions. Beyond embracing trends, the freedom of finding your comfort zone emerges as the driving force behind the Boiler Room aesthetic. This isn’t to say there’s anything rigid or stagnant about the elastic fabrics favored by ravers. The clothes are chosen for their style and their ability to allow unrestricted movement, complementing the experience of escaping reality for a while. Comfy shoes and micro-mini skirts with dividers are essential for these high-energy gigs that can last for eight hours or more. Second-generation Sri Lankan American artist Priyanka Vigneswaran agrees. While she’s yet to play a Boiler Room set, she describes her ideal outfit: “I gravitate towards Indian-inspired clothing, like a corset I own from Svarini. The brand takes intrinsically South Asian fabrics and gives them a Bridgerton spin. It’s also very queer-friendly and open-minded, both values that I want to carry when I play a set.”
Creating a unique identity is crucial for these artists, just like it was for Charli XCX, whose unique branding launched the globally beloved Brat Summer trend that had retailers scrambling to stock up. For this cohort of South Asian DJs, this identity stems from their ability to tap into their roots, helping them stand out from the crowd. “After all, that embodiment of confidence, freedom, and acceptance is what the Boiler Room aesthetic is all about,” explains Vigneswaran.
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