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Death By Audio was a beloved underground venue that occupied a large warehouse space on the waterfront of Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 2005 until 2014. Within its walls were a music venue, a guitar effects pedal company, a recording studio, and the home of over 10 artists and musicians. Shortly after its founders moved into the space in 2005, Williamsburg was in full swing as a hub of DIY music, cultural, and artistic activity in NYC. The space developed a reputation for nurturing the underground music community and curating shows with the best-emerging bands from around the country. Throughout the years, the venue hosted a multitude of bands that went on to enjoy international acclaim, including A Place To Bury Strangers, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Future Islands, Lightning Bolt, and so many more.
In a rapidly changing neighborhood transforming from affordable artist haven to tourist/shopping/dining oasis, Death By Audio was the longest lasting DIY space in Williamsburg and its closing in November 2014 sounded the final death knell of the neighborhood as an epicenter of creativity. Upon learning the news that their lease would not be renewed, the creative forces behind Death By Audio decided to turn a tragedy into a celebration and go out with a bang. They made a point to reach out to all the bands they loved that had played Death By Audio, many of which had far outgrown the 100+ capacity of the small venue. With an outpouring of support from virtually every band they invited to play, the lineup of shows for the last 75 days was a back-to-back, who’s-who of underground and independent music. In addition, the residents of DBA opened areas of the warehouse never previously open to the public and invited them into their home. They converted the space into a living art gallery showcasing the work of over 70 local artists, holding a 24-hour drone concert, a halloween masquerade, and a multitude of other special events. The final concert at Death By Audio was held on November 22nd, 2014. Less than 24 hours later, a moving truck carried away the last load from the space they had called home for almost ten years.
Ebru Yildiz, a Turkish-born, Brooklyn-based music and portrait photographer, was a regular at the very first parties thrown at Death By Audio. Yildiz was at Death By Audio almost every day and night for the last 75 days of its existence, photographing not only the raucous concerts but also the quieter, more intimate scenes from the lives of the people who worked and lived in the space. The result is not only a visual documentation of the final days of one of the longest-standing venues in the DIY community of early 2000s NYC, it is also a window into the dedication and hard work that go into creating a space whose primary focus is to nurture artistic expression and fellowship. These photographs draw attention to the importance that spaces like Death By Audio provide for their communities, and what stands to be lost in their absence.
Hard Cover, Over 200 black and white photographs
12.25" (L) x 8.25" (H) x 1" (W)
