Le Trou Turns Two! A Celebration of community and connection

On December 6th, Le Trou is celebrating its wonderful two-year journey—a milestone that’s about so much more than just creating another event. Born from the profound desire to create meaningful experiences in a post-covid world, Le Trou has transformed from a simple event series into a living, breathing community. This special anniversary edition promises a memorable night that embodies everything Le Trou stands for. With local hip-hop artist Sandor Dayala kicking off with a live performance, followed by the incredible Rasharn Powell travelling from London just for the occasion. And who better to close out the night than Jackie Jr. b2b KITT, and Helmond Lang!

We’re thrilled to dive deeper into this conversation with Ami Keita—one of the brilliant minds behind Le Trou, accompanied by Passian Smit, who will be jumping into our discussion, bringing that passion that has been the heart of Le Trou since day one.

GC: Let’s dive right into it! How did the concept for Le Trou come to life? 
Ami: Le Trou came to life during the first post-covid summer. Everyone had desperately missed physical interactions, which made every event feel purer and more intense than ever. We couldn’t get enough of going out and meeting exciting new people in real life! We memorized everything very vividly: smells, tastes, sounds, places, people. After having this realization we agreed we didn’t want to go into another depressing winter. This resulted in the idea of hosting events ourselves, bridging disciplines and providing an exciting meeting ground for people who are open to new event formats…shortly after, Le Trou was born.

GC: Sweet! Why start this collective, and how does its concept reflect your vision for creativity and connection?
Ami: In our working life, we already worked together a lot with friends and like-minded creatives. Although the concept starts with us, we could not do it without other people’s talent. We work out of a strong collaborative spirit with people who are experts in their field and whose vision we look up to, and that’s how we felt events should be formed. We highlight our community through tributes, as they are the reason we exist. Throughout the year, we organize photoshoots in which we cast them, allowing these individuals to become visual representations so that more people can connect with us through them.

For our anniversary editions, we decided to create a special item each year. Last year it was a t-shirt with all the names of collaborators on the back. This year we have created a playing card set with drawings from our community by Jess Macadam. Aside from this, I think our vision comes from the things that fascinate us and our cultures which we find important to share. 

GC: Can you already tell us what you are looking forward to the most on the 6th?
Ami: Can’t just name one thing! We always love having all of our friends together in one room and talking to new people. Plus the performances and DJs: of course, we know who we are booking, but the delivery is of the same surprise to us as it is for you guys. And to dance… We’re stoked, really.

GC: The lineup looks great I agree! And if you had to describe your event in 3 words, what would they be?
Ami: Wholesome, refreshing, fun

GC: Over these past two years, what would you say have been the most transformative moments for the collective? And which emotions arise leading up to this celebration?
Ami: The first summer edition at Murmur was really one we will never forget. Also, in edition 5, we held a dinner for 60 people, accompanied by an accordionist and mime player. These editions set the tone for us to focus on food and hosting live performances. It gave us the realisation that people loved the new forms of nightlife we had to offer, and that was the reason we started Le Trou in the first place. People really seem to be coming back after each edition and making new connections at Le Trou events. For someone to come up to you and tell you this… That hits different. That, and Murmur asking if we’d be open to doing a winter edition after another successful Summer edition, is a big drive to continue and explore further what we’re doing.

GC: Ami, we are curious when curating events, what’s your starting point? Do you begin with a theme, a feeling, or the artists?
Ami: I think a feeling would be the right way to describe it. It’s about the season we’re in, the state of mind our society is in, and the vibe and inspiration my surroundings and friends give me during certain periods. I think about what’s missing and how I can fill that gap. Asking myself what I can add to people’s lives that’s valuable and inspiring entertainment and creates an (offline) space to connect. I think about who inspires me with their work, music, or just the vibe that person gives off. I try not to limit myself to the ever-returning question: “How are we going to pay for all these ideas?”. I wouldn’t want to compromise on my ideas because I believe in them, and money has never been my drive.

GC: What drew you to invite Rasharn Powell for this anniversary edition?
Ami: A close friend of mine, who I share a deep passion for music with, brought him to my attention. I trust this person’s music taste blindly, so I put Rasharn on top of the list for our anniversary edition. We like exploring international bookings whenever there’s room for it. Apart from the fact that he is a very talented artist, we found out he’s a great entertainer too, which is something not every artist is born with per se, and he’s very kind-hearted. Very important, too, because if we find someone talented who’s difficult to work with, that would definitely be a deal breaker. Even though he’s doing great back home in the UK, he remains humble and aligns with our vision for Le Trou. That means a lot to us.

GC: That does sound like you found a really great match! Also, Le Trou seamlessly blends different forms of art—music, food, and visual expression. What inspires this multidisciplinary approach, and how does it reflect Amsterdam’s cultural landscape?
Ami: Our friends and creative “colleagues” here inspired this multidisciplinary approach. Lots of them are freelance creatives who wear multiple hats. A way of surviving, sure, but also because they feel like they do not want to commit to just one interest in life. We believe in creating a space that gives room for that kind of exploration and collaboration. From there, new and even bigger ideas can grow. You can’t do it all alone and that’s an important message we think the people need to be reminded of in this time.

GC: What is your most controversial opinion / hot take about the music scene?
Ami: There is a very thin line between being inspired by trends and just all sounding the same. I love musicians who are able to find their own sound within the things that inspired them and, on top of that, add personality, and build a character.

Passian: The pace at which we produce music nowadays is often at the expense of quality. The fast route is not always the best route. On a positive note: your music library is bigger than it would be in any other era and influenced by cultures from all over the World, without having to go miles in order to discover it.

GC: I totally see what you mean and as you look to the future, are there any particular artists, disciplines, or even global collectives you hope to work with? 
Ami: John Glacier is someone I’d book in a heartbeat if I had the money, Mark William Lewis, who I saw just two weeks ago, Romeo + Juliet, Dijon, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE. Crystal Mess who is a DJ that I think stands out in her wide music range and mixes lyrical songs seamlessly, TWEAKS for a listening session. On Dutch grounds, it would be S10. Cero Ismael and Elijah Waters again any day. The Jollof Club, which cooks West African food, is high on our list for the next edition with food, and we would love to collaborate with a company that makes sound systems. I have great ideas for an event with a partner who makes great speakers… So to everyone on this list reading this…

Passian: And every other collective that wants to put out something original and brings the right energy to do that. People who we can emotionally connect with and who bring new perspectives.

GC: Yes! It’s all about new perspectives! That’s all I had for us today, thank you for your time! 
Ami and Passian: Thank you! We can’t wait to see everyone on Friday!