Space Dogg Collective injects a dose of bass music into Lansing

Space Dogg Collective might sound like a pack of K-9 astronauts, but it’s not. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the thumping sound of bass music. Passion for the hard-hitting genre is what started the group.

The Lansing-based collective, made up of “Space Doggs,” are simply artists and musicians who are on a mission to further amplify the Capital City’s bass and dance music scene. The goal of the group, what they call their ethos, is to create a welcoming environment where people can “be confident in their own skin and own minds and enjoy life in its most pure form.”

Devon Kirby, Space Dogg’s event coordinator and social media lead, described the collective as an event and production group. Kirby, 28, is from Lansing and is a “career bartender and server” currently working at Soup Spoon Cafe. He performs under the name Skeptic, and his music can be found on SoundCloud. He said the group is approaching live shows with a different mindset and style than typical event producers.

“I think there’s a certain aesthetic to these DIY shows in basements, somewhere, stoned by some friends, that I think has a lot of character we can channel,” Kirby said. “In addition to that, we’re informed by festivals and EDM. We’re melding a lot of what we like about both of those aspects together.” 

For those who want an in-person sonic sample, Space Dogg Collective hosts it’s next event, Bass Doggs, Friday (April 1) at The Avenue Café. The event features bass-focused dance and drum music from Kirby (a.k.a. Skeptic), and two other acts, Surge and PRIM. The free event is billed as a way to “inject a dose of bass music” into the Lansing community. This event is yet another passion project their team has masterminded over the last few years.  

Kirby, who became involved with Space Dogg in 2018, after he and some friends threw a Christmas party. The friends rented sound equipment, threw together visuals and recordings and performed their music. Space Dogg had always been the name the friends called their camp at music festivals, so the name stuck. 

“We were like, ‘Oh, maybe we could move this into a legitimate venue and try to cultivate what this kind of vibe is,’” lead designer Kameron Chauvez said. “(Space Dogg) is what we called our group. We took that name and turned it into an actual business.” 

Chauvez, 31, said he became involved with the group in 2018, along with Kirby. Originally from Muskegon, Chauvez now lives in Lansing and works as a freelance graphic designer with a focus on branding. 

Chauvez, who performs under project name is OBSRVR, said he produces all the music himself and plays the drums live. His music, which can be streamed on most music platforms, is heavily influenced by artists like Tycho and Odesza. Chauvez’s forthcoming album, “Balance,” is set for a June 3 release. The collective is planning an event to celebrate its release. 

Kirby, whose project is EDM-leaning, said his strength, right now, is his live DJing skills, so he considers himself to be “more of a live act.” 

“I haven’t dedicated as much time to the production aspect of things such as Kam, so I’m not nearly as refined in that sense as him,” Kirby said. “I definitely think I bring out an incredible live energy. I usually catch a room of different people at different times and get them moving or keep them engaged. I take pride in that.” 

But it’s not just about their missions. Kirby said the collective is always looking to grow the community and bring in like-minded, positive individuals. If someone comes to the group looking for help with music or show production, the Space Dogg crew will try to help. Chauvez said that’s where his branding and design expertise comes in. 

“Brand strategy is a huge part of that,” Chauvez said. “Asking a bunch of questions in the forefront to get an idea of what their goals are with their audience, all that stuff, is really helpful when you’re trying to either put on an event or produce a track for someone. There’s a lot of overlap there.” 

Eventually, the group would like to start booking shows outside of Lansing, but the Avenue Cafe on Michigan Avenue has been a great starting place for Space Dogg to experiment. 

“They let us come in and kind of do a trial run around Halloween (2021),” Kirby said. “The owner seemed to really enjoy it. I thought it brought a lot of unique energy to the area.” 

As the group continues to “hone the craft and have results” to show, they hope to move their vision to venues like the Intersection in Grand Rapids and the UFO Factory in Detroit. Kirby said Space Dogg wants to produce shows of “higher quality at smaller levels” while including local artists and vendors. 

“We really want to bring a style of live music to Lansing that is sorely missing,” Kirby said. “That being bass music, as well as the more involved production, such as lights and live visuals.”

Bass Doggs

8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., April 1

The Avenue Café

2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing