Once NYC was replete with clubbing meccas, but these days finding a legitimately licensed and professionally outfitted venue in which to dance to proper underground music is a needle in a haystack search. All the more reason to cherish Cielo, perhaps the only such place standing with the longevity and success to be worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the city’s now bygone nightlife institutions. With it’s elegant design, sophisticated approach and ultra-chic meatpacking district address, one might easily dismiss Cielo as yet another joint catering to the city’s elitist bottle service trend in nightlife, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Beneath it’s polished exterior lies a DJ owned club outfitted with an arguably perfect sound system and operated with an unwavering commitment to presenting quality House music. The list of long term residents at Cielo includes bonafied godfathers of the genre like Francois K and Louie Vega, testimony to the club’s knowledge of and respect for the city’s musical heritage, and the important role it has played in extending that tradition into the new century.
Having just inked a 10 year lease and completed some renovations and sound upgrades, Cielo is set to celebrate it’s 8th Anniversary this Saturday night (see info here). We took the opportunity to pick the brain of the club’s founder and resident, Nicolas Matar, to unlock the secret to his success in a field riddled with high profile flops.
Halcyon: Congratulations on Cielo’s 8th Anniversary. In the clubbing world, 8 years is an eternity. Especially in NYC, few establishments last more than a couple of years, and even fewer survive with their integrity intact. How has Cielo managed to transcend the fickle nature of the business for so long? What’s your secret?
Nicolas: The secret to Cielo’s longevity is quite simple: Attention to detail, playing by the rules, not having too many cooks in the kitchen, and beyond everything else, CONSISTENCY. Never deviating for our original formula and staying true to our vision of serving NYC with the best possible electronic music on a nightly basis.
h: I think it’s particularly interesting that Cielo still succeeds with underground DJ bookings when it is located in the heart of what is certainly Manhattan’s most trendy, high-gloss and above board nightlife hub, the now world renowned meatpacking district. Tell us a bit about how the rapid change in the neighborhood, once a desolate haven for tranny hookers, now an over crowded bastion of models and bottles, has effected the club. Has the door policy evolved? The bookings?
N: Sadly, there are very few neighborhoods left in NYC zoned as manufacturing, allowing for a Cabaret license. As such, there aren’t many options for an individual wanting to go out for a night of legal/licensed clubbing. The door policy has always been the same, catering to mature music aficionados. The Cielo brand and DJ bookings have never been adapted to the neighborhoods evolution.
h: One strategy clubs commonly employ to keep their audience’s attention is periodically redecorating. Cielo has again bucked this industry norm, barely changing a thing about it’s interior design in 8 years. We grahear now though, that you have gone ahead with some renovations that will be unveiled at the anniversary party. Why now, and can you give us a sneak preview of what to expect?
N: We are proud to announce that Cielo has just renewed its lease for another 10 years. The club’s design is award winning, timeless, and created the blueprint for the small dance club, emulated all around the world. For the anniversary, we will unveil some subtle changes to the club’s furnishing and banquettes, as well as a complete re-design of our bathrooms. The Design aesthetic of the club remains the same, we call it version 8.0. New and improved :)
h: The Function One sound system is one of the driving factors people talk about when Cielo comes up. How would you describe the character of the sound and what makes it work in the space? Are there other systems you’ve heard that compare?
N: The acoustics of the room (padding all around like a studio), coupled with the clarity of the mids and highs of the custom Funktion-One system at Cielo makes the nuances and textures of deep and tech house come out…The positioning of the speakers, all focused on the Dancefloor, is also one of the key factors. The two best systems that I have played on in recent years were Room 26 in Rome (Integral Sound) and Zouk in Singapore (Gary Stewart)
h: As a world traveling DJ yourself, you get to experience a lot of different clubs. What innovative ideas have you seen lately that inspire you? Do you have a favorite place to play on the road? Any venues on your wish list?
N: The evolution of sound and LED lighting with the advancement of technology is truly amazing. The most impressive festivals that I have experience in terms of production value are in the Netherlands hands down. On my wish list, I would love to play at Robert Johnson just outside of Frankfurt. It’s an institution, revered by music lovers…
h: Since you have such a broad perspective, DJing around the globe and owning a top venue here in NYC, please comment on the state of club culture in NYC as it compares to what you experience elsewhere. What unique challenges does owning a club in NYC pose?
N: Club culture will never be as big in North America as it is in Europe. It’s cultural, European kids like to go out and dance. it’s ingrained in their way of life. In many European countries, you see people in their 50s and 60s still clubbing. Owning/operating a club in NYC is quite challenging in this day and age due to police enforcement, complex licensing/xoning laws, the economic crisis, and the exorbitant prices of real estate in the city.
h: If you could, take that one step further. What trends do you see guiding the course of electronic music in North America? It would seem to be a growing scene – is it finally on the road to reaching it’s potential?
N: Electro/pop, David Guetta style, is growing immensely in popularity in North America. For someone who has been championing the more underground side of house music for 20 years, I am not sure if this is a good thing. I consider it to be a completely different genre entirely. I suppose it’s better than hip hop, and hopefully these kids will get into more quality sounds as they get older.
h: Let’s talk DJs for a moment. Cielo’s longtime residents are amongst NYC’s most revered House veterans… Louie Vega’s Roots night on Wednesday, Francois K’s Deep Space Mondays, etc. How valuable have these figureheads been to the club’s sustained success? Does their involvement exert any influence on your other bookings, by which I mean, is there a ‘Cielo Sound’ styled after this core group? If so, how would you define the club’s musical aesthetic?
N: These long time residents have been extremely important to the club’s success. Again, it’s all about consistency! Hosting a weekly residency in a club is not an easy endeavor. There are very few clubs In North America that have had such long residencies…we are very proud of that. Cielo’s musical aesthetic is best represented by the numerous compilations that Willie Graff and I have released every year. Timeless house music…everything for deep to tech to soulful.
h: Is there one DJ who has never graced Cielo’s decks whom you would love to book? Can you give us a glimpse into some upcoming bookings you are excited about? What about up-and-coming talent to watch?
N: Ricardo Villalobos. You probably could have guessed that one…We are very excited to have Desyn Masiello for Cielo’s 8th Anniversary this Saturday. He greatly impressed me with his music last year in Ibiza and at Burning Man. As far as talent to watch, Tensnake from Germany.
h: I’m sure a lot of celebrities and dignitaries have passed through the doors over the years. People who deal with famous personalities on a regular basis tend to become desensitized to the trappings of stardom, but are there any that have impressed, intimidated, surprised or simply dumbfounded you? Any total jerks to out?
N: Believe or not, we haven’t had as many celebrities as you may think over the years. I remember Prince walking in one night years ago and staying for 15 minutes. We don’t really cater to celebrities…we would never change the music to appeal to a celebrity in the house that’s for sure There’s a plethora of places in the Meatpacking District better suited for celebrities. In all honesty, American celebrities listen to hip hop/mash up music…Cielo doesn’t really exist for them.
h: A lot of memories get packed into 8 years, both highs and lows. Can you pick one moment of triumph to share and also divulge one disastrous behind the scenes moment you’d rather forget…
N: Wow, that’s a tough one! Moment of triumph, The legendary Roy Ayres Performing live for my surprise Bday party a few years ago. The most disastrous moment, getting shut down by the NYPD because one person who smoking a joint in the garden!
h: After 8 years in which the club has won numerous prestigious awards in the clubbing business, Cielo is undoubtedly a globally recognized brand. I am sure in your position you field offers left and right from people who would back your expansion, yet to date you have never franchised out the name or launched other business ventures off the club’s success. What’s the most ridiculous idea someone has ever pitched to you?
N: The main problem is that most of these franchising/licensing requests come from individuals who don’t really speak English. Finding the right local partners is very challenging, especially when you are not willing to risk diluting your brand by partnering up with some Bulgarian mobsters. Speaking of Bulgarian mobsters, once upon a time, someone opened a Cielo in Sofia, Bulgaria. They copied everything: The design, logo, website, you name it! I managed to contact the manager of the club and he informed me that the “the guys behind me are animals, killers, I wouldn’t involve any lawyers if I were you!”
h: Now for the good ideas… What can we look forward to in 2011 and beyond?
N: More quality music, sound, lighting, and acoustic
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