Are you a fan of electronic music but find your options limited in Champaign-Urbana? Never fear: LiQuid Dreams is here.
“LiQuid Dreams is an independent event label focused on unique exploration for electronic music and creating mixed media events,” said Lucas Borges, graduate student at the University and co-founder of LiQuid Dreams. “The goal is to create an immersive experience and not just a party.”
What started in 2022 as Borges’ hobby of DJing has turned into a full-on organization.
“When I started (DJing), I was really into deep house, and it was a style that I didn’t see any events playing that kind of music here,” Borges said. “So (LiQuid Dreams) really started as a place that I wanted to have the stage and the vibe to play my music. Since there was no place similar, I just wanted to make something.”
Since the spring of 2023, LiQuid Dreams has created a unique experience where people can feel represented through many creative niches.
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Only about 30 people attended LiQuid Dreams’ first event, but its influence quickly spread.
“It really triggered in me this passion for creating spaces and gathering people,” Borges said.
Borges enjoys creating unique experiences where people can find something for them, no matter their interests. Borges also noticed that parties lose excitement when music is the only entertainment. He wanted to combat this problem with LiQuid Dreams.
Borges brought in Liam Dee, junior in FAA, to help LiQuid Dreams expand through merchandising and event layout design.
“I was thinking, ‘How can we make a party more engaging than just, like, a church, like worship of the DJ at the altar,’” Dee said.
Dee’s solution was to break up the space by incorporating more elements than just the DJ set. He divides the space by including other elements like art, fashion and visuals to provide a unique and immersive experience.
In addition to having a DJ deck, LiQuid Dreams’ events also contain a video jockey deck that allows visual artists to project an immersive atmosphere.
When LiQuid Dreams had its first event, its setup included a VJ deck without a visual artist to fill the position. As the night went on, an event-goer asked to play around with the equipment. That started a trend of people coming up to the equipment to experiment with the venue’s colors and patterns.
LiQuid Dreams’ next event was a more structured experience. They had people sign up for slots where they could control the visuals throughout the event.
Another unique aspect of the experience is its incorporation of art and fashion. Dee wanted to emphasize the passion for these areas that people naturally bring to each event.
“The event on its own is already very fashion-based just in its nature,” Dee said. “The people who come are well dressed, and they want to show out. So I feel like that’s already within, and I wanted to bring a more human touch element into it, like a handmade element into it.”
Dee designs and handmakes the merchandise LiQuid Dreams sells at its experiences. Examples of his past merchandise include handmade clothes and unique takes on typical tote bags. Dee utilizes his merchandise to expand LiQuid Dreams from more than just a party into a multifaceted experience.
LiQuid Dreams is gearing up to host another event later this spring. Before hosting an event, the organization goes through several steps before the big day.
First, the organization is constantly on the lookout for new venues. Each of its events occurs at different venues, allowing experiences to remain new and unique.
“We’re always looking for new places to actually host the show,” Dee said. “We have options right now that we’re relying on, but we don’t want to be limited to (them).”
The organization looks for underground and rare venues that match the unparalleled experience of LiQuid Dreams.
After selecting a venue, the group works to pick a date. They must avoid any large holidays or University events that may affect attendance. They must also consider the schedules of all those involved, which includes about 20 people.
Despite the many moving parts, LiQuid Dreams excels in leadership and management.
“The best thing about Lucas is that he always gives fair representation to those he collaborates with,” Dee said. “If someone puts anything into the project, he’s always the first to say their name or represent them for what they contribute. I think that’s missing from so many, not even venues, but social organizations on campus and just generally. There’s not enough fair representation for individual contributors.”
After fulfilling its basic event requirements, LiQuid Dreams launches its marketing campaign to generate maximum publicity and interest.
“You don’t just put (out) a flyer and have the event,” Borges said. “To attract the audience, you have to build some tension, some mystery around (the event).”
Looking forward, Borges hopes to continue expanding LiQuid Dreams’ network by increasing involvement and expanding the types of events hosted. He is looking to collaborate with venue owners to create experiences that are unique and specific to the venue itself.
Borges wants to bring various people involved in areas like sound engineering, visual artistry, social media, videography and photography. He encourages anyone interested in getting involved to reach out to the organization through its Instagram account.
LiQuid Dreams is not looking to create larger parties but to expand on its existing network to continue making inclusive and accepting spaces for people in the C-U area to enjoy.
“We’re really trying to create a culture of electronic music in Champaign because it doesn’t exist right now,” Dee said.
