The sense of anticipation walking through the narrow corridor that leads into Culture’s lofty concert space is nothing compared with crossing the invisible threshold onto its dance floor and feeling the four-point sound system bathe you in music.

D.C.’s newest entertainment venue in Ivy City was designed to host artists such as Berlin-based, electronic duo Mind Against, whose melodic house/techno set transformed the chamber into a red-light rave in the early hours of Independence Day.

Somewhere in the crowd, Nü Androids founder Nayef Issa made sure everything was running smoothly through the night. Culture, the 5,500-square-foot event space that opened in mid-May, is the culmination of Issa’s vision for the decade-old dance music collective, after all.

“Years ago, I didn’t really know what I wanted as we got into programming events at Flash, U Street Music Hall, and off-site parties,” Issa tells City Paper regarding Nü Androids’ early shows. “Over time, I started getting a better idea of how I wanted to build a space because, virtually, all music venues have a traditional setup with the DJ booth in one, fixed area; I realized it would be cool to be ever-changing and not have the same point of view every time you attend.”

While most of the venue—the high-fidelity Danley Sound Labs speakers, the cinder-block bar, the 14 gender-neutral bathrooms meant to reduce wait times—won’t move, the location of the stage and lighting will change depending on the event. Culture’s current pace is two shows per week. If the capacity exceeds 400 to 500 people, the venue can admit additional guests into the lush atrium that connects the space to Vera Cocina & بار, a Mexican-Lebanese restaurant, to serve as a lounge.

“It’s like sitting at a bar, watching a movie of a warehouse party,” Issa says.

Issa tested this modular venue model out in 2022 by holding a year’s worth of events at a slightly larger warehouse up New York Avenue NE, before relocating to Ivy City, a petri dish for a growing arts community.

Culture’s sound itself is a marvel; Mind Against’s crisp melodies and rolling bass lines reverberated across the dance floor without being ear-splitting. On the contrary, casual concertgoers will find they can carry on conversations with their friends on the center floor without having to yell.

Between 12 inches of insulation on the ceiling and tack and sound-deadening lining the walls, the neighbors won’t hear a peep, while the slightest noise inside resonates pure.

“It’s not really DIY, but it has that appeal of the high ceilings, the warehouse vibes that D.C. doesn’t really have in a 500-600-cap venue,” Issa says. “I think when you’re talking about a smaller, more intimate space, I don’t think there’s any venue that resembles what we have, so it adds another exciting option to the city.”

Don’t call Culture a nightclub, though. Rather than opening nightly, the space will only be accessible during shows and special events—everything from Afrobeat day parties to weddings. 

Issa promises concerts will be all over the music spectrum with performers lured by Nü Androids’ ability to create a different atmosphere for every show. The space felt dark and industrial for Mind Against, and there’s no telling what the ambience will be when Culture welcomes Grammy-nominated TOKiMONSTA, known for her hip hop-infused electronica, on July 21.

Culture might be the physical manifestation of Nü Androids’ ethos to connect people through music and diverse experiences, but it will continue to have a presence beyond Ivy City. 

The collective’s Sundown day parties, launched at Flash nightclub in 2017, have sold out all but once since 2019 and will continue at the Northwest venue from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday from March through October. At those parties, goers can expect the mixture of nu disco, deep house, and amapiano genres that put Nü Androids on the map.

“D.C. is a huge brunch city, but you’re done around 3, 4 o’clock and want to continue partying,” Issa says. “The shows are a staple in the city now; it’s a blessing.”

Culture currently hosts biweekly shows at its Ivy City location, 2006 Fenwick St. NE. Their next event, Indo Warehouse, starts at 10 p.m. on July 14. TOKiMONSTA performs at 10 p.m. on July 21. culturedc.com.