By Yvan Serrano aka DJ Healer Selecta and Crystal We created Raison d’Etre Collective in late 2000, because independent Art (Music, Dance, Cinema, Poetry, Painting, etc..) is our reason to being, Art and Culture are our passion.

We are lucky: growing up in France and  living in London, multiculturalism, art and culture has always been all around us.

Since ours early teens back in Limoges and Tulle (France) we been involved into cultural, local and international underground creativity, running Festivals, Gigs, shows in small and big venues. (Soul, Garage Rock Surf, Surf, Hip Hop, Hard Core, Rockabilly, Blues, World music, etc.. some artists like, Toots & Maytals, Maceo Parker, Manu Chao, Abones, Mano Negra, Wailers, Gene Vincent's Blue Caps, Skatalittes, Lee Scracth Perry, Ruddy Grayzell, Phamtom Surfers, the Mummies, etc... As a musicians i was playing guitar in bands, (the Blue Devils, Showman & The Thunderous Staccatos, etc..) and  Djings and collecting records was already a great passion, we were also tour promoter for UK and Canadian bands. And also producer (PopCorn Brothers at Toe Rag Music Studio London/King A Ling) etc..

We meet loads of people,before and during the Raison D'Etre Adventure from all over the planet and from all different backgrounds. We see the strength this variety gives us, and we want to build on it, to celebrate it.

It was below Café El Paso (Old Street, London ) on Tuesday and Friday  nights that the soul train began. We started a simple open mic night (Raison D'Etre) and a Dj night ( Funk-i-Tus), we wanted to create a vibe that would encourage artist to come to do their thing with a positive vibe,  to gain in confidence, to be seen and heard, to see and hear each other and to create and socialise with a party atmosphere.
So many good musicians, Disc Jockeys, Film makers, Poets, Creative people, International music lovers,  dancers...

Now, we put on events THE RAISON D'ETRE SHOW, the lengendary Live and Disc Jockey Session, all round London Town and so many people are involved - as artists, helping out, or just coming along and supporting: People from all over the world, (more then 100 differents nationalities and now more then 15.000 members world wise) from all different social and ethnic backgrounds, united by the fact that they love Art & Creativity without super-star ego. Everybody cares about what each other is creating. Just down on earth people.

So, however you express yourself, we're listening: Music, Dance, Poetry, Visuals, Film, Writing, Painting, and the list goes on...
Do what you do and be happy - there's really no other reason to be.

Sunshine,
All in  music
Yvan aka Healer Selecta & Crystal

Founders of the Raison d'Etre Arts Collective.

Working with Raison d'Etre	::	by Cameron Dundee	::	18th December 2004
Welcome to Raison d'Etre	::	by Charlotte Forfieh	::	18th December 2004
A true collective	::	by Ian Hunter	::	18th December 2004