By now, it seems that most of New York City, particularly those residing in northern Brooklyn, are at least somewhat familiar with an emerging culture that revolves around spiritualism and the occult. It might seem strange that in this day and age, a large number of 20/30-somethings are finding themselves drawn to such esoteric traditions – whether aesthetically or ideologically – but it actually makes a lot of sense. Bushwick has long been known for its lure of outsiders, and those who are looking to pursue artistry over more traditional paths of life, and since organized religion doesn’t tend to play a key role in the lives of this demographic, it makes the whole “witchcraft” vibe all the more appealing.
Fitting perfectly into these circumstances is the “coven” known as the Witches of Bushwick, an ever growing collective that facilitates artistic collaborations and hosts a bunch of awesome of events – from album release parties to weekly viewings of American Horror Story: Coven – all of which unsurprisingly possess a distinct, supernatural energy. They’re kind of like the main characters in The Craft, as they embrace a culture of “the other” along with mysticism and the dark side. But unlike the iconic 90’s foursome, the girls behind Witches of Bushwick (Bushwick residents, Anne Alexander and Christine Tran) do not restrict who participates in their coven, nor do they wish to seek revenge on their peers. Instead, they use their powers to throw parties with music acts like Creep and DARK SiSTER, while engaging the community in various, and perhaps less prominent, aspects of arts like tarot and tattoos.
Can you tell us about the collective and how it got started?
We had gone to high school together in Northern Virginia – reconnecting a couple years ago when we realized we were both living in Bushwick. A brunch conversation quickly went from catching up to talking about what a talented community of people we were surrounded by. From there, the collective has been ever evolving. It started with a party and has grown into various projects and collaborations that we are continuing to create and develop further.
We heard you have an app coming out. Can you tell us more about it and how it will work?
It’s a social networking tool that will connect freelance individuals with one another to place creative control in the hands of the creators.
I’m sure you get this a lot, but it seems that more and more young people are finding themselves drawn to different aspects of the occult. Do you think there’s a specific reason for this, or is it some sort of weird coincidence?
Whether it’s a generational movement or an overall social movement, there are aspects of self-empowerment and discovery that a lot of people are drawn to.
I saw that you recently threw a party in Sydney, which is awesome. Did you specifically choose Sydney because it had the kind of vibe you were seeking? Or did it just happen by chance?
Both. We were approached by the Sydney community because some girls who had been traveling here had been to a couple of our parties and brought the idea back home. For us, Sydney was a great fit with the right vibe, and it coming to us was a very welcomed happening.
Do you think you’ll keep expanding to other cities?
We certainly are working on expanding and making everything we do more accessible. Our vision is that anyone who wants to be a part of the coven can be and should be.
If you could throw your dream party, who would be performing? (Please say Grimes, and please make it happen).
A: Endless possibilities. Grimes for sure is high up on my list.
C: WITCHES event: The World of Grimes curated by Grimes.
Interview by Nicole Woszczyna. You can follow her on twitter @nicolewosz
Photos by Cheryl Georgette Arent
