It’s an opinion we have arrived at after many years of running experiences in and for the underground. Case in point: what is now our RAW uncensored storytelling night began decades ago as an underground gathering held at lock-ins and round kitchen tables. Christine, our founder, felt the post-pandemic world needed this kind of innovative human connection format – so she launched it at Soho House, before human connection became a buzzword. In true underground style, the night has gone on to influence the wider London scene. What starts as ‘unknown’ and ‘hidden’ begins to shape the mainstream. And yet, RAW maintains its counter-culture ethos not only by valuing the everyday human, and making sure everyone’s voice matters. But also by virtue of not playing the attention economy game – an ethos attendees feel through our curation. And evidenced by the fact that not a single person is on their phone during the storytelling.
It all points to the everyday human becoming the underground source of culture. When the mainstream only values celebrity, power, and fame – there is nothing more radical than people from all backgrounds gathering to simply be themselves, protected from the prying eyes of the internet, and traps of virality. It’s in such spaces that organic cross-pollination can happen –and something new can emerge. To create an underground movement today with the kind of impact that creates meaningful change means to hide in plain sight – and to make it about everyone.
The revolution is intimate – and human
RAW is one such a space that flips the script. No promo, no performance, no ‘look at me.’ Just humans, stripped of titles. We’ve had buskers, CEOs, sex workers, psychotherapists, artists, grandmothers, dominatrixes and refugees. Everyone from 16 to 80 year-olds, standing shoulder to shoulder, as humans sharing their truth. And we host RAWs in beautiful, exclusive spaces, so, for one night, anyone can belong. And if you weren’t there, too bad. The fact that these are moments you can’t replicate is the whole point.