With 400 brands in Virgin Group, it’s easy to forget that Sir Richard Branson’s business empire is founded on music. Virgin Voyages’ Scarlett Lady will provide a strong reminder, though, with an array of music choices.
As part of the kick off, Virgin Voyages has created a popup at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St, Miami, in Wynwood for five days from 4-11 p.m., ending on Saturday, March 30. There’s a vinyl spin art station, a giant turntable for social media photos and a swag give away.
Here’s a breakdown from Virgin’s press release about music on the Scarlet Lady, with my comments in parentheses:
- Voyage Vinyl – a new record shop aboard Scarlet Lady that will be the go-to spot for Sailors to experience music from all
Voyage Vinyl eras and genres. It will feature personal listening stations, limited-edition vinyl collections with playlists by Virgin Voyage’s past & present DJs and a performance spot for live DJ sets by Scarlet Lady’s resident DJs. Voyage Vinyl features personal listening stations for passengers (called sailors in Virgin speak) to enjoy their favorite albums. (Us older folks may cringe at the snap, crackle and pop of old abused vinyl, but it seems to be all the rage in the young hipster set. )
- The Groupie – the onboard bookable karaoke, gaming and movie lounge, designed as a modernist take on a Japanese-style karaoke room for Sailors to enjoy singing along to their favorite tunes with friends. (I love the photo of the room with buckets of champagne and the
Karaoke calls at The Groupie curvy couch. I guess it’s BYOG–bring your own groupies.)
- New DJ Residency additions – in addition to a previously announced DJ residency with Mark Ronson, Virgin Voyages is adding multi-platinum chart-topping artist, DJ, producer/ remixer, MK (Marc Kinchen) & Grammy-nominated electronic music duo Sofi Tukker to its roster of DJ residents. Virgin Voyages’ residency program will feature performances on ship, in-port destinations and at The Beach Club at Bimini. (You have to love all the big names here. Ronson has committed to four performances at the Beach Club, which is connected to Resorts World Bimini.)
- WhiteLabel Creative – Virgin Voyages’ new music Creative Collective that will be responsible for developing the background sonic palettes across the ship and securing DJs for The Beach Club at Bimini’s residency program. The whole ship will have an electronic music sonic identity. The brand defines electronic, as not solely as a traditional “EDM” sound, but will incorporate all electronically programmed sounds.
