LVRS SLC Co-founders DJ Luva Luva and Dajon Thompson came together to create a nightlife in Salt Lake City based around inclusion and inspiration.
LVRS SLC Co-founders DJ Luva Luva and Dajon Thompson came together to create a nightlife in Salt Lake City based around inclusion and inspiration. - Photo courtesy of LVRS SLC

LVRS SLC: Parties With a Purpose

By
July 6, 2022

Community

(L–R) Tré Bourdeaux, Dalon Thompson and Jalen Thompson are three of the six members of LVRS SLC, an organization that is inclusive, musically expressive and artfully driven about event planning in SLC.
Photo Courtesy of LVRS SLC

LVRS SLC Co-founders DJ Luva Luva and Dajon Thompson met in eighth grade while attending Judge Memorial Catholic High School. The two locals grew up playing basketball together, and both men exchange smiles as Thompson describes their relationship as a yin and yang, each balancing the other out—Thompson plays the more extroverted part of the duo while Luva happily sits behind the spin table with headphones on. Luva and Thompson are both quick to underscore how vital the whole LVRS crew is to their vision—including Enzo Pighini (Business Development), Tré Bourdeaux (Accounting), Jalen Thompson (“Dawn of a new era”) and DJ Spaz—with each member of LVRS cultivating the lead pair’s vision while also playing an individually nuanced and vital role for the organization. They are a team, and they coordinate their skills in order to make LVRS happen. “Everyone plays their position,” says Thompson.

“We have to inspire our children and the next generation, making sure they are inspired when we pass that torch.”

The group formed in 2019 with the goal of mirroring the atmosphere of events in cities like LA, Atlanta and Chicago here in Salt Lake City. Luva and Thompson founded LVRS as an organization that is inclusive, musically expressive and artfully driven. Having worked as a DJ for over 10 years, Luva felt creatively stifled in what he could play for certain events. With LVRS, an event likely won’t be mixing the top 40; rather, each song is something culturally meaningful and carefully selected. Deep cuts from popular artists, Black anthems and nostalgic music all flow together into LVRS’ sound. “Women of color play a huge role in LVRS,” says Luva. “They … play an important role in our musical curation and selection, [and] we find that soulful and true R&B sound from female artists.” From the design of the set to the music, everything is intentional.

DJ Spaz is a member of LVRS SLC, who helps cultivate the lead pair’s vision while also playing an individually nuanced and vital role for the organization.
Photo Courtesy of LVRS SLC

In addition to their curated artistic approach, cultivating community is one of LVRS’ main intentions. “People know that feeling when they go out, get drunk and repeat. It can feel like regression,” says Thompson. “LVRS is about creating a positive experience, to inspire growth [in] a night out.” Luva nods in agreement, adding, “I don’t necessarily look for the crowd to be dancing—I look for the crowd to be singing along … vibing with their friends.” A LVRS event won’t be a regular night out—it’s going to be filled with awareness and purpose. “We were the only Black kids in school,” says Thompson, noting that part of the vision for LVRS was to create a space for people of color to have a community filled with love, acceptance and inspiration. This is primarily done through music, design, art and even fashion at their events. LVRS has beautifully created an environment for everyone while elevating people of color’s presence

The LVRS community is filled with young professionals of color; it’s a social experience for people who might not normally meet to create strong bonds. The LVRS crew is hyper-aware of the emotional undercurrent that exists in every event, and their events create a subtle vibration that can expand the experience into something more transformational for attendees. “Come with love and leave with love—that will be the legacy,” says Luva. Thompson hopes that “[LVRS’] influence paves the way for generational change,” he says. “We have to inspire our children and the next generation, making sure they are inspired when we pass that torch.” Being selfless and understanding of our crucial element of community is how anyone can become a member of the LVRS family. Luva’s and Thomp – son’s parting words were, “Kill the ego and feed the soul—do what you do with love.”

“Women of color play a huge role in LVRS,” says Luva. “They … play an important role in our musical curation and selection, [and] we find that soulful and true R&B sound from female artists.”

LVRS will be at Purgatory Bar (62 E. 700 South in Salt Lake City) for brunch on Saturdays for the month of July. To stay up to date with the group, visit their website, lvrsslc.com, or follow them on Instagram @lvrsslc. All are welcome to join the family.

Read more about community events here:
SLC Pride Parade – 2022 Gallery
The Babes Are Back In Town: SLC Skate Babes