Thursdaze is an event based in Cologne, Germany dedicated to create space for underground music & club culture. Recently, Poulho had a chat with Romi, one of the hosts, talking about their event series, club culture in general, and their 2 year anniversary this Saturday at Bumann & Sohn.

How did you three meet?

We really got to know each other through the Cologne DJ scene, as we started DJing around the same time and were attending the same events. I think we quickly realized that we like the same things and have a similar approach, which led us to share more and more with each other. Over time, this developed into a very nice friendship where we've always supported each other.

How did the idea for 'Thursdaze' come about, and what was your original vision for this event series?

We had often talked beforehand about how the typical club scene offers little space for DJs to explore musically, which often frustrated us, as we felt restricted by it. At the same time, we found it unfortunate that so many lesser-known genres don’t get the attention they deserve. That’s how the idea spontaneously came up: ‘Why don’t we just create our own event?’—and everyone was immediately on board. Our original vision for Thursdaze was thus focused on underground genres and the DJs who play these sounds. It was especially important to us to give newcomers, or people who don’t often have the opportunity to DJ, a chance to do so.”

How would you describe your sound? Are there any specific genres that are essential to 'Thursdaze'?

Our sound is very diverse. Since we have different guests each time, every Thursdaze is a unique musical experiment. We’ve had everything from House, Drum & Bass, Baile Funk, Kuduro, Gqom, to Amapiano and Hip-Hop. But what’s almost always present are bass-heavy, uptempo genres like UK Bass or Baile Funk.

How do you think the club scene has changed over the past two years, and how do you respond to that with 'Thursdaze'?

I think the club scene has become more open to 'new' or different genres, though mostly in the form of edits. Unfortunately, I believe this is part of the process needed for these genres to even start gaining access to the mainstream. We saw this, for example, with the rise of the Amapiano genre. However, the cultural background of these genres and appreciation for their origins often gets lost in this process. On social media, we try to use our account to raise awareness about the history and context behind these genres. Overall, I think there’s still a lot of room for growth, and there’s a lack of events and, above all, venues that aim to promote more diverse sounds. By being admission-free, we hope to make our event accessible to as many people as possible. This also takes away the pressure of expectations. Thursdaze is an experience you can briefly dive into if you enjoy it, and if not, you can simply leave. I think this has helped us create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

What do you particularly remember from the past two years of Thursdaze? Is there a highlight that stands out to you?

Honestly, every Thursdaze has been a highlight for me personally over the past two years. Seeing how a small community has gradually formed, with many regulars, is really fulfilling for us. It's especially the small encounters and conversations with guests that give us the strength to keep going.

What can your guests expect from the two-year anniversary event on Saturday?

For our two-year anniversary, we have three amazing DJs lined up who are making the long trip from Rotterdam and Frankfurt just for us, and we’re really looking forward to it! Our guests can definitely expect high-energy and diverse sets, good vibes, and a lot of fun.