Bae’ takes on a whole new meaning
The bi-monthly party aims to bring together Atlanta’s female musicians for a night of fun.
If you thought saying “bae” was played out, think again, my friend. Local DJ and producer Sharon Oh, aka Mikkoh, is reclaiming the Internet-born term of affection by hosting a local party every two months that features exclusively women-identifying musicians dubbed — you guessed it — Bae.
“Initially, Bae was supposed to be a one-off party,” Oh says. “We, Mikkoh, and Bae co-founder Desiree deCoteau, had been working on some music as a duo called Mikoteau. And Karl Injex, owner of The Sound Table, offered us a residency.” Around that time, another DJ friend named Jayda who’s an ATL native now based in Tokyo, approached them about collaborating on a one-time party while she was in town visiting — they’d called themselves DJ Baes, so Bae just stuck. “It stemmed from there being a lack of events and platforms in Atlanta for creative women,” Oh says. “The party really took off so we decided to keep going with it.”
So far, they’ve hosted four parties, and Jayda now runs #BaeTokyo events in Japan. “The response has been incredible,” Oh says. “I think it’s partly due to the fact that there aren’t many platforms for female artists in our local community. We’re really carving a niche.” Due to growing attendance, they’ve had to move their venue from The Sound Table to Space2 next door. The next Bae party, accessible for those age 21 and up, will be held April 9 at 10 p.m.
On the horizon, Oh says they’re looking to expand the concept and host these parties in other cities in the future. “Bae is a movement that serves as a catalyst in the shift of the perception of female artists and a celebration of the progression we’ve made so far,” she says. “It’s about creating a safe space and a dynamic support system for women. We want to cultivate a spirit of collaboration, support and creativity amongst women.”