19 AUGUST 2024 | HYOEUN KANG

In Los Angeles, a hub of diverse cultures, trends, and artistic mediums, Goyo Club is weaving together creative communities through a shared passion for music and art. Founded by Kliff and Nvbi, this collective goes beyond simply curating art — it’s about fostering connections between the city’s eclectic talents and the spaces that bring them to life.

From emerging artists pushing boundaries to established musicians reinventing their sound, there’s always something new to discover. Online consumption of digital media is increasingly conscious and prevalent, playing an important role in the exposure of independent and up-and-coming artists. By featuring performances in cherished, family-owned shops and highlighting local talents, Goyo Club is reshaping LA’s cultural landscape, transforming everyday spaces into resonating stages.

We got the chance to discuss with the founders of Goyo Club and gain more insight on how they achieve community-building through their work:

1. What is Goyo Club? – Tell us a bit about how you guys got started.

We are kliff and nvbi, the directors behind goyo club. One day, we came up with the idea of curating and archiving a diverse spectrum of art forms in LA communities through cinematic videos in local spaces. LA is a place where many artists come and go to chase their dreams. We were among them and wondered, what if there was a platform dedicated to spotlighting these many talented artists who go unnoticed and focusing on bringing together our local community? Our goal was established then: to give the audience a taste of different cultures in various art forms and to provide local artists with a platform to express themselves, while also documenting and protecting family-owned small businesses with unique characters that live among us.

2. Can you describe why you named this “Goyo (고요)”? How do you think it reflects the spirit of what you guys do?

Goyo (고요) is a Korean word that can be described as calm, silence, stillness, and tranquility. It was often used to describe Korea and its beauty of tranquility and simplicity. Goyo represents a moment without noise, an atmosphere filled with energy that can transform into anything. Silence also enables us to truly enjoy sound and music. We hope to fill our supporters’ lives with the abundant joy of discovering new, diverse artists every week.

3. How do you hope to create a community around music in LA? And how have you seen this community evolve?

With just a click, we can now enjoy the works of artists on the other side of the globe, but it does feel like the boundaries of our actual lives have become smaller. Going to local shows to see local musicians perform live, visiting small local galleries to view the works of your local artists, genuinely supporting them within your community, and talking about such a day with friends at a local bar - this is the cultural norm we wish to bring back. In light of this, we plan on hosting more local events in the near future.

4. What about LA’s music scene stood out to you guys?

Los Angeles is a city made up of various neighborhoods, each with a distinct cultural identity, resulting in a rich blend of diverse cultures and art genres. This diversity creates a unique and vibrant scene that we love. It allows people from completely different cultural backgrounds to come together and create new synergies. Its constant evolution and the sheer amount of talent surprise us everyday. There's always something new to discover, from emerging artists pushing boundaries to established musicians reinventing their sound.

5. The “Finding Records” and “Electric Cleaners” series provide unique environments for artists to perform. What inspired you to choose these family-owned locations as the setting for live performances and DJ mixes, and what kind of vibe do you aim to create with these sessions?

In our search for authentic spaces, we focused on places with traces of time. These are spaces that have remained unchanged because they didn't need to. They are places where customers are treated like family. We hope to evoke nostalgic memories for our viewers, like the time they went to the cleaners with their parents or bought their first vinyl at a record shop. Our mission is to protect and support these smaller family-owned businesses so they can thrive, allowing us to appreciate their unique charm.

6. Goyo Club features a wide range of artists from diverse backgrounds and genres – How do you know which artists you want to feature, and what qualities do you look for in them?

At Goyo Club, we try to immerse ourselves in various cultures and genres to learn more about the communities around us, enabling us to curate talented and unique artists. Our priority is always diversity, so we constantly seek out styles we haven’t showcased yet. The authenticity and care an artist puts into their craft are significant factors in our curation process. At the end of the day, if they wish to support and take part in our movement to empower local communities, we are happy to archive them one day.

7. Looking to the future, are there any artists, DJs, or musicians that you dream of collaborating with?

Erykah Badu for Finding Records and Fatboy Slim for Electric Cleaners. We also plan to expand our archive series to include various types of artists like dancers, fine artists, film directors, and more. Our goal is to make goyo club a lasting archive channel, so we can capture many more hidden gems and established legends in Los Angeles and possibly other cities for years to come.

8. What has been the most memorable moment or performance in one of your series, and why did it resonate with you and the community?

It’s always heartwarming when customers come in, hear the music playing, start dancing with us, and ask about our story. However, our most memorable moment was definitely the first time we filmed our electric cleaners series with matrixunni. Seeing our vision come to life with the trust of the cleaners' family, the artist, and our crew at that moment truly felt amazing. We’ll never forget that day.

As Kive Studio’s first interview, we’re looking forward to sharing stories that highlight spaces for creative communities.

We’d like to thank Kliff and Nvbi for sharing their story.

Photo credits to Kliff and Nvbi

Cultivating LA's Music Scene: An Interview With Goyo Club