Low & High Takeover at REM5 Virtual Reality Lounge [Show Preview]

Low & High Presents and REM5 come together to bring the first of many immersive music and VR art experiences of its kind.

“This is our version of a ‘hybrid’ event — some people will be in a bass music reality, and other people are…on another goddamn planet doing whatever they want in virtual reality.” Shared the Director of Events and Marketing at REM5, Brian Skalak.

REM5 is a Virtual Reality lounge located in St. Louis Park, just 10 minutes North of Minneapolis. The 8,000 square foot lounge opened up 3.5 years ago and allows guests to experience VR in a communal environment.

“[REM5] take[s] the virtual world we’ve been so immersed in and let people still be immersed in technology, but also engage with other people.” Said Brian.

What sets this venue apart from other venues is that it does not center around loud music and alcohol consumption – though both will be available. REM5 also has one feature that sets it apart from all other live music experiences: seats and food.

The pandemic aged as all, okay?

“We’re bringing in new communities,” said Andre Schü. “One thing that separates this collaboration from any other collaboration with another venue is how either of these two organizations has been a part of raising up local and regional talent, both being an intermediary to larger markets of the sound and aesthetic.”

Andre Schü is a glitch artist whose virtual and interactive art will be more than displayed at the event.

“We’re not going to sit here and dictate [how to] look at art and [how to] interpret art. Like, no, especially Andre,” said Brian. “Here are the special controls, and get weird with it! I don’t know where it’s going to go. It’s a novel space only you can discover.”

The event is capped at 150 people to assure everyone in attendance has the opportunity to engage in every piece of glitch art, art tech, and photogrammetry available for the evening.

“There is so much more art in the world that people don’t recognize or get to experience,” shared Low & High team member Jake Whaley. “This event will definitely sell out.”

A space within the space, if you will, is where the core music experience will happen. It is envisioned to be dark and moody, with projection art displayed on its curved, forest green walls. The walls fall just short of the industrial height ceiling, which allows Campion Void Sound’s Void Sound system to flow over the top and into the rest of the Virtual Reality Lounge.

The producers will not perform for their audience but eye to eye with their audience, as made famous at the Boiler Room. As for this show, there is no hierarchy of art.

Musical support for the show will be by Dublink and Modest. The headliner for the event will not be announced until closer to the date of the show.

The intention is to assure those who want to experience the various types of virtual art will have a chance to snag a ticket before the rush of ticket sales for a producer, who can be seen in any regular ol’ venue, sells out the evening.

(No hate to regular ol’ venues, we’re just really amped for this particular show.)

When attendees want to take a breather from the music, they can step out from the four walls and into one of six VR PODs, gather around high-top tables for classic video games and food, shop the featured vendors, or experience Andre Shü’s art installation.

The PODs are equipped with a VR set and comfortable seating, much like a living room. Each POD will feature a different VR experience, catered to folk whose idea of a “good time” is a bass show on bicycle day. This event is attendees’ chance to play with rainbow bubbles, become a dancing hot dog, go on a cosmic journey, or step into a 360 Android Jones experience.

“A lot of our art is creating aesthetics and letting people play with it,” said Brian. “People don’t expect it, which is why this is the perfect time and space for this collaboration.”

The event is on track to sell out. The last thing potential attendees will want to do is wait for the headliner announcement to buy their tickets.

Tickets are available HERE!

Enter to win a ticket package on This Is Perfect Harmony Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to the REM5 Takeover and Mythm atThe Exchange on April 20. Winner announced April 19!