Upstairs underground

At the end of July we headed to The Treehouse Croydon for the launch of a new monthly club night, The Loft Sessions (it aptly takes place in the loft space at The Treehouse, in case you were wondering). Featuring a collective of local DJs, the night is curated by RichT, who first DJed at the venue back in the ’90s when it was the Blue Anchor. This week we catch up with him to find out more about The Loft Sessions ethos, its underground influences and why the time feels right for a new Croydon club night, ahead of the next event on bank holiday Saturday (29 August).

Croydonist: For readers who missed the first Loft Sessions, tell us a little about the night and what people can expect when they come along.

RichT: The Loft Sessions theme goes all the way back to when dance music took hold in America in the late ’70s. DJs, or spinners as they were originally termed, are encouraged to avoid mainstream music and bring a vibe that opens people’s ears to sounds they may never have heard before. The name also nods to the original Loft parties in New York, where David Mancuso created a non-commercial, inclusive space built purely around the music. That spirit of underground discovery is exactly what we want people to feel when they come along.

Croydonist: Where did the idea for the Loft Sessions come from, and what made you decide now was the right time to start it?

RichT: The name came from being in an upstairs space with no natural light – not a basement, but a room that transforms you and plays with your senses. It felt like the perfect setting for an underground night upstairs!

I used to play at this venue back in the ’90s, so when we were looking for a new home, it made sense to revisit it. As for why now, Croydon finally feels like it’s on the verge of kicking off again. There’s a buzz returning and it felt like the right moment to build a night that aligns with that rebirth.

Croydonist: Who’s behind the decks at the Loft Sessions? Could you introduce us to the DJs and tell us a little about your different musical backgrounds and styles?

RichT: MIZNIK is a South London DJ whose passion for music comes from a lifelong love of all genres. Her sound has been shaped by years of clubs, festivals and live events, paired with a naturally sharp ear for rhythm, energy and crowd-focused selection.

Shone’d is a music lover with a broad taste that stretches from indie and rock through to dance and electronic music. He’s always enjoyed discovering new sounds and figuring out what connects with different crowds, and that curiosity is what eventually pushed him into DJing.

And as for me, I started DJing back in the early ’90s as a vinyl DJ. I held two residencies in Croydon in the ’90s, playing three nights a week, including at the Blue Anchor (now called The Treehouse), which is the home of our Loft Sessions. I stepped away from the scene for a while, only to fall straight back into it during COVID, and I haven’t looked back. It feels like I’ve reconnected with my earlier self while evolving at the same time. I always felt something was missing without realising it was DJing.

Croydonist: Why did you choose The Treehouse as the home for the night, and how important was it to you that the Loft Sessions happened in Croydon?

RichT: You know when you walk into a space and instantly think, “Yeah, this is the place”? That’s exactly what happened when I first stepped into The Treehouse, and the other DJs felt the same the moment they walked in. The room has that atmosphere – intimate, characterful and perfect for the kind of underground energy we want the Loft Sessions to carry.

It also sits right on the border of where Croydon starts to get busy, which echoes the spirit of the original Loft parties in the ’70s, staying just outside the mainstream flow of partygoers. We’re not hiding, but we’re definitely keeping things just out of the spotlight, where the real magic happens.

Croydonist: The night is specifically for over-25s. Was there a particular kind of night out or audience you felt was missing locally?

RichT: Rewinding back to our former selves in the ’90s, and with all the resident DJs being around the same age, we realised there was a gap locally for nights aimed at people who’ve lived through that era of raving. We wanted to create a space where those former ravers could go out, feel comfortable and know they’re partying with people who share a similar moment in club culture.

That’s why we set the lower age limit. It’s not about excluding anyone, it’s about curating a vibe that feels familiar, nostalgic and in tune with the crowd we built this night for. A place where people can reconnect with the energy they grew up with without feeling out of step.

Croydonist: How do you approach the music across the night? Is there a particular Loft Sessions sound, or is part of the idea that each DJ brings something different?

RichT: It’s a bit of both. Each DJ is chosen for their ability to bring their own vibe, and because everyone has a unique style, it pretty much guarantees that throughout the night people will feel like they’ve been found musically. There is definitely a Loft Sessions thread running through it all though. The music has to stay underground, just like the original raving days when nights were built on music that caught people off guard in the best way.

We also raise the tempo as the evening progresses. It keeps the journey moving, builds the energy in the room and lets each DJ add their own flavour while still contributing to a shared progression.

To keep that spirit alive, we’ll be bringing in guest DJs each month to mix things up and introduce a fresh vibe, while still keeping everything rooted in that underground feel.

Croydonist: You launched the Loft Sessions last month. How did that first night feel from your side of the decks, and was there a moment when you thought, ‘yes, this is working’?

RichT: My slot was last, so I spent most of the evening talking to people and observing how everyone settled into the night. Maybe it’s a sixth sense, but you can usually tell when a crowd is genuinely enjoying themselves, and that’s exactly what it felt like. No one drifted off early, everyone stayed right through until later on and the atmosphere just kept building. That was the moment I thought, ‘yes, this is working’.

Croydonist: One for each of you – what’s the one track guaranteed to get you onto the dancefloor, no matter how many times you’ve heard it?

Shone’d: Richie Rich – Salsa House
MIZNIK: Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body
RichT: Nitro Deluxe – Brutal

Croydonist: And another for everyone – what’s one track currently finding its way into your Loft Sessions set?

Shone’d: Hugel – Move to the Sun
MIZNIK: Mellizos – 4Get the Girl
RichT: Gai Barone, ETNE, Melaniya – Juste Un De Plus (ETNE and Melaniya Remix).

Croydonist: The Loft Sessions is set to become a regular night. What would you love it to grow into over the next year?

RichT: I’d love to see the space fill up in a comfortable way. I never want it packed corner to corner. The Loft Sessions should always feel like a night where people have room to breathe, dance and properly connect.

If it could become part of bringing nightlife back to Croydon, that would mean everything. Imagine the centre picking up pace again at night, streets full of people genuinely enjoying themselves, bars and clubs buzzing and a real sense of community returning. That’s the kind of energy I’d love to see grow around us.

Music and dance do something powerful for the mind, body and soul. Letting your hair down, meeting people you might never normally cross paths with – the dance floor brings people together in a way nothing else does. And from a DJ’s perspective, there is no greater feeling than watching that happen right in front of you.

Croydonist: Finally, where in Croydon do you go when you’re not behind the decks?

RichT: I don’t get out as much as I used to, but when I do it’s usually Boxpark. I love the space, the mix of young and old, different cultures and different backgrounds all enjoying the same environment. It’s one big melting pot and it’s exactly the kind of energy that inspires what we’re doing with the Loft Sessions.