Posts filed under interviews

Behind The Scenes at Passing Clouds: Meet Ella!

Here at Passing Clouds, we'd like to introduce you to some of the people that work behind the scenes and make our weekly events and late night parties actually happen. So we've started this 'Behind The Scenes' series that will acquaint you with the core members of our team, who make Passing Clouds the dynamic & sparkly place that it is today!

We're kicking it off with our amazing decor designer Ella Lynch. Not only does she maintain the venue, she also creates custom costumes for the staff, and makes all of the glittery goodness that we provide for people's birthday celebrations! Ella is an absolute diamond. Her ability to create all of the building's decor on a budget, and constantly come up with new & innovative ideas, is truly instrumental to our organisation. We couldn't do it without her!

Ella rocking a Sun Ra Arkestra headdress!

Ella rocking a Sun Ra Arkestra headdress!

Us: What were your first impressions of Passing Clouds?

Ella: Like most people’s first experience of the venue, I was quite mesmerised. Passing Clouds puts on these crazy parties that you just can’t find anywhere in London so I was just so happy i found it. It really felt like a wonderland.

Adding some flowers to one of our signature tribal masks

Adding some flowers to one of our signature tribal masks

Us: Tell us about your current job role (and how you got there!)

Ella: I started as a bartender so that I could fund my own artwork; at the time I was making sets, costumes and headdresses. During this period, the venue was going through renovations and had consequently left the building looking quite unloved. The management were looking to bring in a creative director to work on the decor and to get the venue looking wonderful again so I put myself forward and was luckily given the job! My role involves maintaining and creating decor, making costumes, creating sets and pieces for events and generally controlling how the venue looks. My job is amazing.

 

Balthazar is a magical purple dragon-type creation with plasma eyes, made especially for Beatroots

Balthazar is a magical purple dragon-type creation with plasma eyes, made especially for Beatroots

Us: What makes you happiest about your job?

Ella: The fact that I am doing what I love doing everyday and that I am allowed to create whatever I like, no matter how weird.

Us: What has been your favourite decor project that you've undertaken?

Ella: They have all been so much fun but probably the goddess party last year that was all about celebrating the female. For this I made a humungous boob and hung it on the stage, I also made the staircase and landing into a womb and birth canal with a big vagina at the entrance.

 

Thanks for everything that you do Ella! You are indispensible, and damn funky too!

Follow her on Instagram to stay up to date with her latest creations: @bobbydazzler__

Did you know that Passing Clouds employs over 50 people? If you'd like to support our campaign, and preserve this unique space that fosters creativity, please sign & share our petition! One love, Passing Clouds xxx

Posted on July 11, 2016 and filed under latest news, interviews.

Passing Clouds Featured in Hackney Today!

Passing Clouds is so proud to have been featured in Hackney Today! This insightful local paper profiled our Company Director, Eleanor Wilson in their May 23rd issue, as part of the coverage of our Ten Year Anniversary.

The article - which features Eleanor as one of their "Hackney People" - makes an interesting read. Have a look below to discover more about the roots of Passing Clouds, and how we came to exist at the heart of Dalston. As Eleanor says in the interview: "Over the decade, we have gone from being the black sheep, to being cherished by the community".

Keep an eye out for exciting events coming up to celebrate #TenYearsofPassingClouds. So far we've had iconic acts like Lee Scratch Perry, Sun Ra Arkestra and Osibisa come down to mark the occasion. Next up it's Soothsayers & Dennis Bovell with Gaudi & the Hempolics on July 1st!

Posted on June 7, 2016 and filed under latest news, interviews.

Hemplics talks to the Clouds

The Hempolics talk to us backstage after their storming gig at Passing Clouds on 1st August

The Hempolics talk to us backstage after their storming gig at Passing Clouds on 1st August

1st August. It's a hot night, the kind of rare hot night in London when everyone is in a sunny mood to match. The Hempolics have just come off the Passing Clouds stage, the first headliner to tread the (at the time still unfinished) refurbished downstairs since we undertook a makeover.

Posted on August 14, 2014 and filed under latest news, interviews.