Coolest Person in the Room: Téa Abashidze

Popularity is relative, especially in the digital age. You could have hundreds of thousands of followers online but be completely unknown in the streets — massively famous on Instagram, YouTube or Twitter, but lack any kind of real, authentic cool in person. For our series Coolest Person in the Room, we pinpoint all the people whose energy is contagious regardless of their following count or celebrity. For this edition, we caught up with Téa Abashidze, the co-founder of Wire Festival and NYC’s hottest club, Basement.

Hi, how are you? Oh my God, it’s so nice to hear your gorgeous voice not at 4 AM.

Exactly, daytime. [Laughs]

I want to start by saying congratulations — you’re the coolest person in the room.

Thank you, thanks so much. I’m honored. I do love PAPER magazine, actually, and I’m happy to be part of it.

It’s not a hit piece, I promise.

I don’t know if you know this, but actually my first interview ever about Basement was for PAPER.

Oh really, so you’re part of the family. I love that. So a few months ago the New Yorker labeled you one of the the coolest New Yorkers you don’t know–

Most powerful New Yorkers.

Oh sorry, thank you for the correction. It was actually me who pitched you to them. It was part of my master plan to secure Basement access. But this story, I had no sticky fingers involved. This is all you.

You know what, the best thing girls can do is support other girls. We’re here for it. And your strategy worked actually, now you have unlimited access to the club and to my heart.

Oh my gosh, you’re being so nice. But first I wanna talk about the actual shoot, because I did see the photos. I love the hair slicked back and I loved you just lounging on those green room couches — girl, a lot has happened on those couches.

Yeah, exactly. So the shoot was fun. We did it at the Knockdown Center and Basement, both spaces, and the team was really amazing. I enjoyed working with them all. and since you’ve seen the pictures it was lots of dark clothes, and yes the Balenciaga, the creative director Demna is also from Georgia like I am.

I feel like that was you in your final form. You love an all black moment. Is that a form of self-expression or do you feel like you sort of just end up in black? How does fashion play a role in your life?

I do love dark clothes on myself, I feel comfortable in it. I actually do wear colors on weekdays—

Oh, fierce.

It’s due to the nature of my work. My clothes get destroyed very easily in a club environment, so I have to wear black for this reason and I have to be very comfortable, as I’m always on the run.

Do you get nervous in moments like that [on set]? I’m confident, but I still get nervous.

Yes, of course. As a human being, I was also getting nervous. But the team was making me confident.

I get the feeling you don’t like being the center of attention, but rather the New York scene and what you can do for all of us is what made you the center of attention. Or do you love it?

I’m a very private person, and I usually prefer my creations and projects to be the center of attention, rather than me personally. But I still get lots of attention, I think because I’m so involved in it and I put so much of my character in it and my heart and love and care that we are just inseparable. And yeah, once somebody asked me actually what I do at Basement and my friend answered them: “She is Basement.” I gagged, but also I have to say that I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the help of my really dedicated team and support from my amazing friends and honestly the support and involvement of the community. I think we are all creating this magic together.

A hundred percent. So do you want to talk about who Téa is or what Téa does?

I am open to talk about both, actually.

We’re obviously going to get into all the Basement tea — no pun intended — but first I wanna pull all the way back. What is it that Téa does when she wants to have fun or unplug?

So during the weekdays it’s planning, and then during the weekends it’s execution, so I work literally seven days a week. But luckily I’m still able to find the balance, because it’s crucial for my mental health. I need to rest my brain. I love sports, I play tennis. I’m a big tennis girlie.

You do love a tennis skirt, too. Wait, are you good?

Not that good, but I am trying to be.

I mean, you’re better than me. I can guarantee that. Did you see Challengers?

I did.

Was it hot to you? Did it turn you on?

Not really, sorry. [Laughs]

Two gay guys, sign me up.

Well, that was amazing. But I had different expectations, I would say. But I do like watching tennis, as well as playing. I like professional matches. And I also watch Formula One.

Oh you’re like, actually cool.

Yeah, I love sports and also I love to take photos. I take a lot of photos with my film camera. I actually have very cute photos of you from Wire Festival, by the way.

Oh yeah, we took a photo together. Girl, I was lit. I was up for 36 hours. I think everyone was up for 36 hours.

But those are cute. I’m gonna send them to you later actually.

It’s funny, there’s the stigma that non-native New Yorkers are ruining the scene. You know what I mean, but here we are. We’re both transplants. I’m from Wisconsin. You’re from Georgia. What was it that pulled you to the city that makes you want to contribute to the city’s vibe? How did you end up here?

I think one of the main reasons why New York is amazing is because it’s so diverse and it’s full of people who are not even from here, like us. This is like different cultures meeting each other, and I see New York like a group project, where millions of people make it a better place. And I’m pretty sure the city wouldn’t be the same otherwise.

So you’re from Georgia. What was it like growing up in Georgia? What did you see New York as when you were there?

Georgia is an amazing country. I love it. It’s my home, obviously. But I moved in New York 10 years ago with my best friend GeGa [Japaridze].

Love him, shout out GeGa.

Literally yes, exactly. We moved literally with a couple of suitcases and a dream, and the dream was to do what we currently do, which is insane when I think about it, because we are living our dream lives right now. And it was not an easy journey in the beginning, especially. We had lots of struggles and setbacks and tears, but despite it all we didn’t give up and we were always pushing for our ideas and our vision. When you have good intentions and pure intentions, and you are driven by passion rather than money, things always work out. And there’s a lot more to come.

I couldn’t agree more. When I moved here, I was young, like 19, and I was like, “What can New York do for me?” And I wasn’t finding any success with that. Then I got older, I turned 25, my frontal lobe developed and I thought, “What can I do for New York?” And after I changed into that mindset, all these opportunities and success came my way. The city can tell your intentions and it rewards you accordingly.

Exactly. I’m not from here and, regardless, the city welcomed me. It kind of adopted me, it helped me grow and be more comfortable in my skin. This is my home now and, of course, we care about our home and what’s going on here. And it’s treated me well, so I’m trying to pay that back.

In nightlife there’s often a face to a venue or party and then there’s a secret man in an office raking in the office. But I’ve come to realize that you are that man hiding in the office. So how did your relationship with Basement and Knockdown begin?

Speaking of finances and the man in the office, we are an independent venue, which I’m sure you know already. So there is no corporation hiding behind Basement or Knockdown Center, and we intend to keep it that way. Most of the revenue is usually being re-invested actually, it’s spent on building improvements, new sound systems, hiring more staff. Not having a corporation strangling us for money is a big relief and that’s how we can afford also to have affordable tickets for the community. It’s very affordable, because going out shouldn’t be a luxury, it’s a need for so many people.

And how Basement came to life — so me and GeGa started to work at Knockdown, first in 2018. It was an art space back then and we got invited to be the first in-house music bookers. And Basement was literally just the basement of the building then, but the minute we saw it it was love at first sight. So Basement is a collaboration between me, GeGa and Tyler [Meyers], so Tyler was looking to do something in the space me and GeGa were looking for space to open the club which we were dreaming of for years, and it just ended up being a perfect match. We founded Basement in 2019, which is crazy, six years ago.

I remember quite a few years ago, we did a walkthrough at Knockdown and you were like you have to see downstairs. I don’t think there was even sound or light installed yet. It was so undone. And now it’s the closest thing the United States has to a proper underground electronic music venue.

I’m happy I showed you in the beginning, so you knew what it was.

After COVID I know you got more involved with the big events there, like Rush and the infamous Wire Festival. You’re particularly passionate about those two specific things, yes?

Yes, I am. Wire Festival encapsulates Basement. But it’s on a larger scale. Wire is special for me because it’s a bridge of different cultures, local artists and international artists and collectives, and we invite industry people from around the States and Europe and we do this industry meet-up. And Wire Festival’s attendance, it’s not just New Yorkers, people come all around the world. That’s why it’s called “Wire Festival,” because wires connect.

Oh my God, I love that. You’re a genius.

And we also do Rush, which is our most recent project, which is based around faster techno and that’s why it’s called “Rush.” It has a festival-scale production.

So there’s been quite the evolution that New York nightlife has gone through, and I feel like you’ve been a major part of it. The way Basement added that second room, Studio, and played music other than techno there — now all the DIY techno parties have a second room with different music, too. Every party needs that second room now, it’s trickled down.

That’s amazing to hear. Honestly, I very proudly acknowledge that Basement is a big part of New York’s nightlife evolution, like you said, because we truly care about the community and the music we represent. This is the first techno club in the city, the first club to have a no photo, no video policy, and the first club to actually enforce it. The first club to have a door selection, which does not include VIP treatment. So we are leading in many aspects.

Having two rooms is crucial, I think, because you have different moods and need to navigate between them based on your preferences. I’m more than happy if somebody’s looking up to us, because none of us are inventing a wheel or a bicycle. Anyone can get inspiration from anywhere, which is then developed and molded in our own way.

Totally. Okay, we gotta talk about Berghain, because you guys have crazy created the closest thing to Berghain in the whole country. Do you like these comparisons or do you wanna push them far away?

Honestly, I don’t like the comparison and I’ll tell you why. There are many clubs that share our vision and music direction, like Berghain. People like to compare everything to it because it has a really long-running history, but I think all these clubs are unique in their ways. We shouldn’t compare clubs.

There is such a magnifying glass on Basement. There’s Reddit threads, girl. Do you read these threads or do you ignore them?

Yes, I’ve seen them. I read them. I take into consideration if it’s needed, but some of them you have to disregard and people talk a lot about us, which is an indication that we do something important — that people cannot stop talking about it. There are many supporters who love us and support us and there are many haters as well, it’s just part of the healthy process. I don’t take it personally.

You play a major role in inclusivity in queer nightlife, and you didn’t need to do that. You could’ve lived a hetero lifestyle, but there are so many queer people that feel so safe and welcome under your watch. What is it about the queer community that makes you want to include them?

So club culture in general comes from the minorities in the first place, and I think that every club should always honor those roots and provide space for queer community, which is so much needed in today’s world. And as a woman, I also understand myself the importance of such a space where you can be yourself, you find yourself, express yourself, feel safe, and where people just connect and celebrate their identities. Also in general, I think we all have been through so much in life, that we should just support and uplift each other. And I’m very happy to do this.

Oh my God I love you. I’m even more obsessed with you than I was before. You love the dolls at Basement, you almost give us too much power.

We do. [Laughs]

The dolls are the presidents and the mayors of Basement, and you love it.

Yes, I love it.

A lot of crazy shit does happen at your parties. What’s one of the wildest things that’s happened?

I think I’m not going to make a comment about this. [Laughs] You know, what happens in Basement stays with us. There’s a no photos and videos policy for a reason. Because whatever you do here, you express yourself, be yourself, and nobody’s going to judge you.

You’re always working, working, working when I see you. You’re running around, behind the scenes, making everything happen. Is there ever a moment that Téa puts her sunglasses on and loses herself on the dance floor?

In Basement, I really don’t lose myself on the dance floor, because I still have to be very alert and take care of things, and I’m watching so many things and I’m taking care of so many things. But I do dance in the mornings in Studio, when things are chiller.

When you’re like, “No more wrist bands! No more wrist bands!”

Exactly, let me dance now.

There are a lot of huge egos in the scene, but you always balance it with so much patience. How do you stay that way?

I deal with lots of different people, some of them are very loving and pleasant — most of them — and some of them can be unpleasant, but how I look at it is that a lot of people are hurting, they’re going through something, so I don’t take it personally, I just still treat them kindly. And they’re gonna learn and realize eventually, what needs to be realized.

For sure. This person’s being a diva, but it’s not personal.

Exactly.

Am I ever a nightmare?

No, you’re always nice. Well, sometimes maybe you are. [Laughs]

In the beginning, I was maybe, but you really whipped me into shape.

No, you’re good.

You’re clearly a very organized and methodical person. Everything you do is so thought-out and has so much intention behind it. So what’s next? I know you have a plan.

There is not really a final or end goal here. This is a process and, actually, the goal is to enjoy the process.

Love that.

Wow, I sounded so smart. [Laughs]

So where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I actually don’t know. I don’t think about such things. I’m really enjoying the present moment and I try not to overthink about the future.

I love that. But we do eventually need to find a way for Téa to get more sleep.

Yes, definitely.

Photography: Diego Villagra Motta
Styling: Angelina Cantú
Hair: John Novotny
Makeup: Ryann Carter

Photo assistant: Xandra Hafermann
Styling assistant: Joyce Esquenazi Mitrani

Editor-in-chief: Justin Moran
Managing editor: Matt Wille
Editorial producer: Angelina Cantú
Interview: Linux
Location: Knockdown Center