CLUBBING 2020
WHO IS SHE?
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Dreeemy (Reem Abdou) is a"genre-bending sonic alchemist, meditation guide and community catalyst."
- She describes her sound as a"communication of soul vibration: global rhythms, groovy basslines, pulsing 808s, glittering synths, ancestral vocals — ancient sounds and future beats."
- On top of her music, she's the founder of BAE (Before Anything Else), a series of New York City-based gatherings created by women for everyone that intends to amplify and evolve connection, collaboration, co-creation and community.
BAE IS A REVOLUTIONARY MINDFUL MUSIC LABEL.WE ARE A GENRE-FLUID ECOSYSTEM & EMBODIED EXPERIENCE OF INTENTIONAL MULTI-GENERATIONAL ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BY WOMEN, FOR ALL.WE ARE HERE TO CREATE POSITIVE SUSTAINABLE IMPACT IN MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE, TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTION & WELL-BEING WITHIN COMMUNITY, & TO EMPOWER CREATORS TO BE ALCHEMISTS OF CHANGE.
- She's also founded BASSyoga, through which she combines subfrequency sound-healing music and movement medicine.
PRESS
'Collective BAE Empowers Women Through Art
And Wellness' - Forbes Magazine
"Collective BAE is striving to revolutionize the music industry as a genre-fluid female talent group and community that offers empowering experiences focused on fusing nightlife, art and wellness."
“’It was just this missing link in my life,’ Abdou adds. ‘I felt
there weren’t a lot of spaces I could go out and feel like I was taking care of myself. I felt like I was always going out and feeling super exhausted, hungover [and] depleted. I felt like I wasn’t connecting with people. [BAE] was a space exactly for that—where people could connect more deeply with each other.’”
Much of Abdou’s work is at the intersection of art and wellness, but this also translates to her personal beliefs of balancing the two. ‘Most artists struggle, either emotionally, mentally or physically,’ she says. ‘Our culture itself doesn’t really support a healthy process for the individual. It’s either all or nothing. You’re either a health freak or you’re like going absolutely buck-wild and losing yourself every day and every night. So for me, those two things have to marry each other. To be an artist, you have to be somebody who takes care of themselves. In order to create great art, you have to start with yourself and take care of yourself.’”
“’There’s not very many labels or, forget about big labels, even independent labels that are focused on mindfulness, intentionality, environmental awareness or any of these things,’ Abdou says. ‘It’s an opportunity to kind of shift the culture of the music industry, which I feel is missing that consciousness, without it being alienating. Keeping it really accessible, fun, still about dance and having an amazing night out.’”
WHO, WHERE, WHEN, HOW MUCH, WHAT?
Though BAE’s key goal is to “empower and feature women,” Abdou says the events are also open to men and those who identify as gender fluid, LGBTQ+, transexual and non-binary. BAE’s motto is “By Women, For ALL,” so the collective specifically aims to showcase and empower marginalized groups.
The experiences are aimed at being affordable (typically $10-$30), and the events usually begin with an opening ceremony that uses meditation to invite attendees to be mindful of why they attended, as well as be aware of values such as safety, consent and clear communication. BAE also partners with holistic vendors, such as tarot card readers and feminine healthcare experts, that set up stands at the events that compliment the rest of the experience, providing opportunities for attendees to connect besides at the bar or the dance floor.
The collective has collaborated with venues such as Sultan Room, most recently, as well as House of Yes, Lot 45 and Ambrosia Elixirs. Abdou notes she typically looks for spaces run by women as well as venues that feel “feminine in the sense that it’s open and receptive to different genres and different kinds of artists. It feels a little more creatively exploratory, which to me are like feminine qualities.” She also looks for venues that prioritize diversity, accessibility and sustainability.
ONLINE OFFERINGS
DRĖĖĖMY not only broadcasts her own content, but shares the work of female DJ's/artists along with varied wellness offerings.
Much that she shares explores the integration of visual and sound experiences and guided written text.