A new venue in London’s East End is reinvigorating UK clubland with a refined focus on technical perfection and substantive musical experiences. Blazing onto the capital’s live electronic music scene at the beginning of 2018 with a 27-hour New Year’s Eve launch party, E1 blends simple industrial minimalism with cutting-edge technology to provide the perfect backdrop for a quintessential clubbing experience.
Occupying a two-room converted warehouse space, E1 is a location-turned-destination. The creation of Yuval Hen and Oren Arush, the venue is an evolution of the founders’ existing Studio Spaces facility – an events and high-production photo shoot destination catering to global brands and the biggest names in fashion and film. Having already run a series of successful warehouse style parties over the past few years, the team wanted to hone their offering; redesigning the space to place the focus on audio excellence and a heightened consumer experience.
‘We decided to create a space that was the combination of a rough and ready warehouse space with the luxuries of a full club, while retaining a blank canvas feel – something we felt London was lacking,’ explains Marketing Manager, Tim Hinson.
Taking inspiration from iconic clubs like Trouw, The Cross, Tresor and The End, Hinson wanted to ensure the new venue could tap directly in to their guests’ emotional state. ‘People’s experiences - whether it be in a club, at a football match or in a restaurant – are all based upon their senses,’ Hinson says. ‘We feel that a good clubbing experience is based predominantly around the sense of sound; for the optimum experience in a club, there has to be a great level of sound quality.’
With this in mind – and having used Funktion-One on countless projects over the past decade – the Studio Spaces team knew where to turn: ‘When it came to choosing permanent sound systems to suit the programming of the space, there was no other option,’ says Hinson.
The E1 crew called in long-time collaborator Sound Services. Headed by Curt Gilmore and Rich Cufley, the audio specialists designed and installed a bespoke Funktion-One system for both the main warehouse space and the smaller ‘Black Studio’ room – the latter undergoing a complete redesign based around the audio installation, DJ and dancefloor. The two five-way systems feature the most recent loudspeaker innovations from Funktion-One, including Evolution 6 mid-highs and the revolutionary BR132 32-inch bass reflex enclosures.
‘This new technology can deliver unparalleled low end with precision, unlocking low frequency information that goes unnoticed on most audio systems,’ Cufley says. “Combined with tried and tested F221 and F215 horn-loaded loudspeakers, it makes two five-way systems of epic proportions.’
To ensure the highest possible audio quality, the systems are powered by Full Fat Audio FF10000 and FF6004 amplification, with digital signal processing from XTA Electronics XO4A/DP448 – all designed and built in the UK. DJ Monitoring in both rooms is provided by the iconic Funktion-One PSM318s.
‘When it comes to sound, we all know that there’s not anyone quite like Rich Cufley,’ says Hinson. ‘Like us, Sound Services constantly aims for perfection and, despite some challenges we’ve faced together, it has always been a constant pleasure working with Rich, Curt and the rest of the Sound Services team.’
Every aspect of E1 is primed to deliver the perfect clubbing adventure. Alongside the Funktion-One audio, a top-grade lighting rig provides impressive visuals and – leaving no sonic stone unturned – the acoustic performance of both spaces has been optimised by architectural specialists Shaun Murkett Acoustic Consultancy.
Following its marathon launch – a cascade of top quality performances from the likes of Ben Klock, Maceo Plex, Rødhåd, Âme and Avalon Emerson – E1 has risen to the promise of its burgeoning reputation with turns from Moodymann and Theo Parrish, plus forthcoming events from some of London and Europe’s best promoters.
The club’s main systems comprise Evolution 6 SH skeletal mid high units with F215mk2 mid bass, F221 double 21-inch horn loaded bass and a BR132A linear motor powered 32-inch bass reflex speaker. Monitoring is through PSM318. Fills, Resolution 2SH skeletal units and F1201 small-format loudspeakers. Amplification is provided by Full Fat Audio FF10000 and FF6004, with processing using XTA Electronics XO4A/DP448s.
