Headlining talent includes powerhouse DJs Octo Octa and Eris Drew, alongside Canadian rising forces Ciel, softcoresoft and dust-e-1.

Montréal, QC (September 5, 2018) – Never Apart’s music division, NVA, is pleased to announce its annual all-night musical event. Local and international artists to both perform and speak on September 22. This initiative further solidifies the centre’s goal of promoting equality and igniting social change in dance music, art and culture.

Equinox is the moment in the year when night and day are of equal duration. During this transition from summer to fall, when lightness and darkness balance each other, NVA celebrates with dancing and a musical celebration until the morning hours.

ABOUT NVA EQUINOX 2018

Day Program: Artist Talks
Venue: Never Apart, 7049 St-Urbain, Montréal
Date: 22 September 2018
Time: 17:30 to 20:30

Two intimate artist talks with international headliners will also be presented at Never Apart. Octo Octa will be doing an artist Q&A moderated by Leticia Trandafir, and Eris Drew will offer a 90-minute lecture on her musical and mystical philosophy.

6PM — Live artist Q&A with Octo Octa

7PM — A conversation with Eris Drew: “More Than a Party: Rave Culture, Archaic Shamanism and States of Ecstasy.”
Night Program: Party
Venue: Bloc 66, 6610 Hutchison Montréal
Date: Saturday 22 September 2018 (the day of the fall Equinox)
Time: 10pm to 6am

Octo Octa (DJ) https://soundcloud.com/octoocta
Eris Drew (DJ) https://soundcloud.com/eris-drew
Ciel (DJ) https://soundcloud.com/cl_lit
Dust-e-1 (live) https://soundcloud.com/duste1
Softcoresoft (DJ) https://soundcloud.com/softcoresoft

Visuals by BOYCOTT (June Moon), who is a regular collaborator of Moonshine.
Sound by Hell in Paradise sound system.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

OCTO OCTA [ 100% Silk, HNYTRX | Brooklyn ]

Brooklyn-based producer and DJ Octo Octa has by now become a mainstay of modern house over the past four years, with releases on labels like 100% Silk, Honey Soundsystem’s HNYTRX and Argot. Her energetic mixing style and taste for jacking grooves laced with moody pads and breakbeats make her one of the funnest DJs to dance to. She’s been touring the world, with stops at Berlin’s Panorama Bar, Barcelona’s Sónar Festival and many more. Octo Octa will be offering up a DJ set at the peak of the night for Equinox.

ERIS DREW [ Motherbeat | Chicago ]

Eris Drew is a DJ, musician and self-identified trans mystic. She is a resident at Chicago’s Smart Bar and co-founded Hugo Ball, the club’s long-running polysexual Dada-inspired dance party. Eris is known for her ecstatic and intensely rhythmic sets which channel what she calls “the Motherbeat.” Eris has seen her rise as a DJ skyrocket in the last few months—we will have the pleasure to experience a 3-hour strictly vinyl set of breakbeat, rave, house, bass and more for her Montreal premiere.

CIEL [ Discwoman | Toronto ]

With a music conservatory background, DJ and producer Ciel continues a lifelong journey exploring post-punk, shoegaze, acid house, techno and breaks. Championing community building in Toronto where she is based, she runs two acclaimed parties: It’s Not U It’s Me in conjunction with Gingy, and Work in Progress, which focuses on putting forth female identifying talent in the electronic music. Her productions have also been acclaimed, notably her Electrical Encounters EP on Shanti Celeste’s label Peach Discs. Ciel will be stopping at Equinox for a DJ set inside of a busy international touring schedule.

DUST-E-1 live [ Collect Call, Lobster Theremin | Montreal ]

Canadian-based British producer and DJ who goes by Dust-e-1 recently released ‘The Lost Dustplates EP’ on the well-respected imprint Lobster Theremin, hot on the heels of his Dust In The Dance EP on Collect-Call Records. Dust-e-1 offers uplifting, percussive jungle workouts, as well as breaky ambient. Pushing forward a revisited taste of 90’s warehouse UK raves, this up-and-comer is one to watch. He will be performing a new live set for Equinox.

SOFTCORESOFT [ Lagom | Montreal ]

softcoresoft is a Montreal-based DJ, music producer, radio host and cultural organizer. Her sonic aesthetic fuses acid, hypnotic techno, rave musics and broken beats. She’s a long time collaborator of Discwoman, playing at their events and releasing a mix in Fe 2018. Softcoresoft has taken the stage at MUTEK, Piknic Électronik, Igloofest and internationally in Barcelona, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Norway, and countless raves. softcoresoft is set to release her debut EP on Lobster Theremin in the coming year.

ABOUT NEVER APART

Established in 2015, Never Apart is a non-profit organization in Montreal, Canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Founded by tech CEO, Dax Dasilva, the Centre features 12,000 square feet of creative space with seasonal art exhibitions, two permanent installations (the Sun Room and the Moon Room), live music events, artist talks, and film screenings. Most recently, it premiered a TV series that can be seen worldwide on OUTtv and OUTtv Go. Never Apart has welcomed thousands of visitors and has collaborated with over 300 artists.

Follow Never Apart’s latest developments and read the monthly online magazine by visiting neverapart.com. Also, tune in on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @neverapartmtl

ABOUT NVA

Never Apart’s music division, NVA, creates high concept experiences utilizing the city’s array of exciting event spaces. The program’s music hub is its fully functioning DJ room located at the Centre that houses a publicly accessible vinyl archive of nearly 10,000 records. NVA shines way beyond Never Apart’s home in the Mile Ex through cutting edge programming from a diverse musical repertoire with a focus on inclusivity and community. To date, over 5,000 attendees have taken part in over 30 original offsite events, more than 20 first-time international guests brought to Montréal, and significant collaborations fostered with Red Bull Music Academy, Goethe-Institut, Piknic Électronik, and Fierté.

CONTACT

For interview requests, high resolution photos and info, please contact:

Leticia Trandafir
Music Director
leticia@neverapart.com
514-794-1705