Meet Whitney Jones | Vibe Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitney Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was looking for a social setting where the music felt nostalgic and familiar, the people valued experiences over the material and where different connections could be fostered without competing with the deafening volumes of music. There were parties and venues that had similar vibes but nothing quite like what I was envisioning. A friend of mine (after all of my griping) suggested that I create the vibe I wanted to see. While it had been a fleeting thought over the years, I hadn’t truly considered what it would look like to define this experience for myself and for others. In November of 2019, I committed to honoring my vision and Slow Drag was created.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My greatest loves are music and Black liberation. As I was navigating through my vision of curating this particular dance experience, I was drawn to archival photography that showcased Black men and women getting close to each other, dancing, smiling, embracing, experiencing great joy. My most memorable experiences of Black joy revolved around some kind of musical moment: concerts and festivals in the park, singing along with our favorite soundtrack on a road trip with homegirls, the Electric Slide at the family reunions and functions, dancing slowly to R&B jams with a lover. These were the moments where I felt the most free and uplifted. Those were the feelings I wanted to replicate with Slow Drag. A space where Black folk could be vulnerable and feel uplifted while being comforted by the 70’s slow jams they grew up on.

I’m most proud of the feedback that I receive after each Slow Drag event. The outpouring of love continuously affirms the work I’m doing. When someone tells me, “Thank you. I needed to feel that,” I know I’m on the right track. I’m only in year two so I do know there’s much more growth on the horizon. I launched the first Slow Drag in February 2020, right before the pandemic, so no, it absolutely has not been easy. I honestly did not think I would have the support to return after that inaugural event. It was a challenge trying to come up with innovative ways to pivot and reassess for the remainder of 2020 and throughout 2021. The lesson that’s be reiterated for me time and time again is that authenticity is the most attractive. I truly believe Slow Drag has continued to be successful because I refuse to stray from being my most authentic self and that reflects in the work I’m doing and building with Slow Drag.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d check out some fine art at ZuCot Gallery and Future Gallery, go shopping at the Village Retail at PCM and the New Black Wall Street Market, catch a show and music at The Love Below Speakeasy, Ten ATL, Parlor, The Social House and Kat’s Cafe, go record and book shopping at Moods Music, JB’s Record Lounge, Black Dot Cultural Center and 44th and 3rd Bookseller, have tea and coffee at Just Add Honey, Hodgepodge Coffeehouse and Jayida Che Tea Spot, have a spa and wellness day at iwi fresh, iwi fresh Farm Oasis and VAVAVOOM, volunteer with Umi Feeds and the Free99 Fridge, hit up the APEX Museum for some Black history, get a grill at Grillz By Scotty, hopefully we can catch a popup from Two Dough Girls, Good Books ATL, Journey of a Black Girl, AD Kaya Clark, Tropical Express, Lady Marauder and Pyramid Music, Thank God It’s Vinyl, Everythang Dope, Enita’s Burgers and Cocktails, or Phyliis Iller and then, finally, we’d eat at The Fry Trap, Le Petite Marche, Springreens, Ms. Icey’s, Green Love Kitchen, Spice House, yAAAs! Cookies, Local Green, Nana’s Chicken and Waffles, and Everythang NOLA. A fun and fulfilling week!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to shout out my #SlowDragATL team! Brittany, Camisha, Gansiry, Joy and Noura. From the inception of Slow Drag, y’all have made this process much more manageable and pleasant to navigate. I can’t thank y’all enough for being in my corner, for nurturing this experience, for pouring your energy and ideas into Slow Drag as if you birthed this project yourselves. Each of y’all have such beautiful gifts and I’m honored that you’ve chosen to share them through Slow Drag. Slow Drag to the World!

Also, shout out to my tribe. I luh y’all deep.

Website: slowdrag.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowdrag.co/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlowDragATL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slowdrag.co

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeRxfTdXCX6Q3skx6-aEYqg

Image Credits
AD Kaya Clark, Jonathan Cooper, Melissa Alexander, Carlos York, Jahaan London