Proteus: Happy When It Rains.

Yasmine Akim & Judith Klempner

You walk into a low-ceilinged nightclub on a Wednesday evening hearing a wildly eclectic mix of 80’s synth tracks. People vogue at one another, twisting and freezing in time to the music while others simply shuffle quietly in the corner, everyone focused on the cold, dark rhythms emanating from the speakers. This is Proteus, a night dedicated to the best of early synth, cold wave and everything that followed. It’s a rare opportunity to hear such a diverse mix of this type of music, but not surprising given the background of the night’s promoter, Judith Kempler.

The 24-year-old fine art student grew up in Sheffield listening to the sounds of early goth music. After DJ’ing and putting on nights she began working in L.P Records and discovered the likes of Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and Heaven 17,

“My boss was really into old synth stuff, he was a fanatical Gary Numan fan, as well as liking bands like The Associates and Japan. He basically loved that entire era and it made a big impression on me musically.”

After moving to London Judith took up the graveyard shift at Fire, playing 90’s RnB from 2-7am for the regular after-club crowd that stumbled onto the dance floor but it wasn’t long before she got the chance to throw her own party. A promoter pulled out of Sunday evening at Power Lunches in Dalston, and after some light persuasion, Judith pitched her night and Proteus was born,

“It was sheer chance but it worked out great. Mirrored walls, red lighting and a constant smoke machine, it was so 80’s. The party was absolutely brilliant so I was immediately thinking about doing it again.”

A few months later another stroke of luck brought Judith together with Tom, the manager at Rye Wax. A friend had been working there and suggested moving south of the river,

“Tom is a great guy. Right from the very beginning he understood what I was trying to do. After the first one he immediately wanted more dates in the diary so I started booking two at a time!”

Now Proteus is a regular midweek staple at Rye Wax - and it fits perfectly here. A large following on soundcloud or your public profile are completely irrelevant. The DJ’s passion for the music and the tracks they play are all that matters. It’s Judith’s vast musical knowledge, tied with her affable nature and enthusiasm for variation that keeps people coming back every month. It’s also clear that she holds a fierce passion for the sound and an unshakable dedication for the night,

“I do this because I feel I have to, I love synth and cold wave and I’d been thinking about my own night for so long. If I didn’t have Proteus, life would be so depressing, I’d still be DJ’ing at 4 in the morning trying to avoid someone throwing up on me.”

Looking forward, Judith has plans to take Proteus north of the river. The Shacklewell Arms have offered the third Friday of every month, allowing Judith to spread the sound of early synthesizers to those in the east.

“They were really keen to get us over. It’s unlikely people will travel across the river so it’ll be a completely different crowd both nights. We’ll have Proteus every two and half weeks which is really exciting.”

It’s no surprise that the opportunity arose to export this party north of the river. You’re starved in East London for a night that showcases the synth sound of the early 80’s in such a diverse way. With a regular event happening in each end of London’s club going community, complete with their own dedicated crowd of wildly dressed, enthusiastic dancers, this surely is London’s first and foremost cold wave experience.

WORDS: @FrankMitchell25

PHOTOS: Neelam Khan Vela

The next Proteus in the basement is 20th July, keep your eyes on the social bits for info.