Cherushii and Nackt, Two 100% Silk Artists, Confirmed Dead in Oakland Fire
More names of victims of the warehouse fire in Oakland on December 2 have been revealed by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Among the 36 confirmed dead are two artists on the electronic music label 100% Silk, who were both scheduled to perform that night. They are Chelsea Faith Dolan, aka Cherushii, and Johnny Igaz, aka Nackt.
As the East Bay Times notes, according to Dolan’s SoundCloud page, she “began experimenting with electronics as a teenager, which led to playing live techno and house at underground raves in the 2000s.” She had “been working as a live performer, producer, DJ, and remixer for over a decade,” according to the page, and signed to 100% Silk in 2013. She released two EPs on the label and one album, 2015’s Memory of Water. Dolan appeared on the cover of the Chicago Reader in July, accompanying an article about an event celebrating the overlooked role of women in electronic music. She reportedly volunteered as a host at the University of California-Berkeley radio station, KALX-FM. She was 33.
According to Igaz’s press kit, he co-founded the parties Outpost, Rare Form, and Deep East. He became “obsessed with hip-hop in the ’90s,” later “earned a weekly residency at Oakland landmark Ruby Room,” and continued “to DJ and promote in SF with the left-field and bass-heavy” Outpost party. His productions and remixes appeared on the labels 100% Silk, Chillin Music, Don’t Say Techno, and 3AM Devices, including last year’s 100% Silk cassette Virex. He was a record buyer at Green Apple Books and Music in San Francisco. He was 34.
Past Cherushii collaborator Maria Minerva reflected on news of Dolan’s passing in a social-media tribute, while Green Apple Books and Music shared a tribute to Igaz; find those below.
Another victim confirmed by police was Alex Ghassan, 35, a director and producer who worked on music videos for Masta Ace, Bodega Bamz, and a song featuring Talib Kweli and Spike Lee.
Previously, authorities shared the names of seven victims whose lives were claimed by the fire. Cash Askew of Bay Area dream-pop band Them Are Us Too was among those listed.
Also now identified as among the dead are Em Bohlka, 33; Micah Danemayer, 28; Billy Dixon, 35; Michele Gregory, 20; Ara Jo, 29; Amanda Kershaw, 34; Edmond Lapine, 34; Griffin Madden, 23; Jennifer Morris, 21; Feral Pines, 29; Vanessa Plotkin, 21; Hanna Ruax, 32; Benjamin Runnels, 32; Nicole Siegrist, 29; Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31; and Alex Vega, 22.
A third 100% Silk artist, Golden Donna, whose real name is Joel Shanahan, was also scheduled to perform on Friday and was unhurt, label co-owner Amanda Brown told LA Weekly.
Recording artist Joseph Matlock, aka Joey Casio, is still unaccounted for.
The Oakland Athletics have set up a fundraiser in support of the victims of the fire. You can donate here. The A’s and the Raiders will each match $50,000 in donations.
The East Bay Times is compiling stories about the warehouse fire victims here.
Read “After Ghost Ship Fire, Oakland DIY Grapples With a Broken System” on the Pitch.
Scheherazade (The City Freer) by Nackt
RIP @cherushii. Please RT! Day 3 & miss her like crazy.
Our track is here: https://t.co/AermaIkF5F
Her soundcloud: https://t.co/Oci0CCYiO8 pic.twitter.com/cP5MKoES5J— Maria Minerva (@mrmnrv) December 6, 2016
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