Ace Hotel New York and Second World Productions Launch '1978' Dance Party Series Celebrating Musical Convergence

The Ace Hotel New York has partnered with Second World Productions to present '1978', a spring dance party series that honors the formative year when rare grooves, disco, hip-hop, house music, and club culture intersected. Curated by Selectress Iriela, the series draws its name from the '1978' inscriptions found on many records from that pivotal year in her collection. Iriela, who recently completed a 15-date 'Healing World Tour' across six countries, began her musical journey as one of the first female DJs in 1996. Her sets, inspired by Jamaican sound system culture and her experiences at stations like https://www.iriefm.net and https://wers.org, seamlessly blend house, techno, funk, and soul. She has performed with legends like Louie Vega and appeared on Francios K's legendary 'Deep Space' in New York City.

Joining Iriela for the '1978' launch is Y.U.K.IKO, a Japanese-born, Chicago-based DJ renowned for her ability to energize dance floors. In 2019, Y.U.K.IKO founded her own event, 'Inspiration Exchange', to reconnect the spirituality of dance and create opportunities for music to be experienced through soulful interplay. Her deep, infectious musical style has earned her airplay on stations like https://thefaceradio.com and https://housenationmusic.com, and she regularly collaborates with artists such as Dames Brown, Ash Lauryn, Wajeed, Horse Meat Disco, and Joe Clausell. The series aims to transport attendees back to the era when these diverse musical genres converged on the dance floor, celebrating the genesis and evolution of DJ and dance culture.

The '1978' series underscores the enduring impact of 1978 as a watershed moment in music history, when emerging sounds from disco to hip-hop began to shape modern nightlife. By reviving this era, the events highlight how these genres laid the groundwork for contemporary electronic and dance music scenes. The collaboration between Ace Hotel New York and Second World Productions reflects a growing trend of cultural institutions fostering immersive experiences that educate and entertain, bridging historical appreciation with present-day enjoyment. For attendees, the series offers not just entertainment but a deeper understanding of music's transformative power during a critical period of innovation.

Upcoming '1978' parties are scheduled for May 18th and June 29th at the Ace Hotel New York, providing opportunities for audiences to engage with this rich musical heritage. The series emphasizes the role of curators like Iriela and performers like Y.U.K.IKO in preserving and reinvigorating cultural legacies, ensuring that the sounds of 1978 continue to inspire new generations. This initiative matters as it reinforces the importance of historical context in music, showing how past convergences influence today's artistic expressions and community-building through dance and DJ culture.