There are no rules in Fluid Construct.
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios’ monthly dance parties feature everything from electronica to jungle. Alex Stock is a queer DJ from Denton who founded Fluid Construct in 2022 when they noticed a lack of DJ nights and electronic music in their hometown.
“I can’t believe Denton doesn’t have anything of his own,” Stock said. “I thought, ‘If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it my way.'”
Before founding Fluid Construct, Stock, who goes by Freakhorse, spent countless nights traveling to Dallas and Fort Worth, listening to DJs at dive bars and clubs. There are many DJs based there who regularly play the same genre of music at the same venue. Stock doesn’t stick to one genre when it comes to DJing, and he believes creating a space for all types of dance music can help grow Denton’s DJ scene.
“I don’t see enough DJ nights that highlight all the different genres and I wanted to focus on that,” Stock said.
They imagined a night where different fans could listen to different types of music under one roof. Two years later, Fluid Construct is now a center for creative experimentation.
Each month, the Fluid Construct lineup inside the Rubber Gloves Main Stage looks and sounds different. The lineup usually consists of three to four North Texas DJs, with a mix of experienced DJs and new faces. Fluid Construct’s DJs don’t follow a theme; they just follow a theme. Instead, they play different styles of dance music throughout the night.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen every month,” Stock said.
One night, Fort Worth DJ Dr999w played a set of electronic music. Another night, Luna, a member of Texas tech band the Beverly Hill Cowboys, played a hard-beat set. Another month, DJ duo Chemdawg of Frontale Club played house and drum and bass. Stocker believed that what Denton needed was fluidity in genre.
“I like having people from different groups play together and different groups of people interacting together,” Stocker said. “I’ve seen everything from budding new DJs to established DJs.”
In addition to genre diversity, the Fluid Constructs concept also allows new DJs in the area to be seen by a wider crowd.
Tanner Cassell is a DJ from Fort Worth who goes by the nickname Acid Angel and performs ’90s-style psychedelic trance music at house gigs and parties in North Texas. In December, he performed at Fluid Construct for the first time, which was also his first time on the big stage.
“It was definitely the best show I’d ever played on before that,” Cassell said. “It’s really great because I’ve been going to other clubs for a while and I was wondering what it would be like to play there.”
Kassel performs again at Fluid Construct in May. He said playing Fluid Construct helped him gain more experience outside of family gatherings.
“I’ve been using Fluid to take many small steps from preparation to playing in a real club,” Cassell said. “Meeting a lot of different types of people and people who have similar musical tastes to me has been really helpful in helping to foster community.”
This sense of community isn’t just for DJs.
Queer Fluid Construct regular Alonza Ian said the diverse music selection attracts a diverse crowd.
“It’s a safe space where you can express yourself and show up without judgment,” he said.
Petra Wilde, a trans woman, has been with Fluid Construct for two years and is now the prom’s photographer. She says Fluid Construct is more than just a dance night; it’s a place where queer people can be themselves.
“It’s a space that creates interesting connections and vibes between queer and trans people of color,” Wilde said. “Fluid Construction showcases not just the music, but the fluidity of each person’s gender expression, orientation, or taste in music.”
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