The Pandemic Is Over, but the Beat Goes on With Oak Cliff's Music Safari

When we consider the number of things Kathy Tran can do, and do well, very few people come close. You already know her as one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most highly regarded photographers who has done some killer spreads and covers for the Observer. Her latest project is Music Safari, an outdoor music series that takes place outside nine Oak Cliff homes.

One of the stops on the neighborhood series is her house, which is also the location of her photography studio, Kessler Studios.

Music Safari began in 2020 as a pandemic-era project by singer and Oak Cliff resident Floramay Holliday as a way to bring live outdoor music to those feeling cooped up in their homes. When Tran purchased her home in 2022, she fit right into the creative, free-spirited group of neighbors.

“We were originally looking for a warehouse,” Tran recalls. “Somewhere we could do our shoots but also live in. But then this house came up on Zillow, and we put our bid in, and we got it.”

Tran says the house was the first and only one she looked at, and she immediately fell in love. The lush home boasts a comfortable lounge outfitted with comforting colors and furnishings, a wall stacked with vintage cameras, a work space where Tran edits photos and meets with clients, an upstairs kitchen where her partner, writer Daniel Rockey, is cooking dinner at the time of our visit, and a large upstairs living space, ideal for small parties and gatherings. Not to mention, a wall with some of Tran’s favorite covers she’s shot in her career.

Out back is a large treehouse, where festivities and conversation continue through the night.
The next Music Safari, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 2 to 8 p.m., will offer musical performances, dancing and food across several homes in the East Kessler Park Neighborhood. At Tran’s home will be an eclectic group of performers.

“When I first moved to the neighborhood, a lot of the Music Safari performers were acoustic singers and instrumentalists,” Tran says. “But I wanted to add hip-hop, R&B and electronic to the mix.”

For this iteration, musician Jerry Zeng is set to kick things off with a jazzy lounge set. Then, from 3:30 to 5, a dance contest called Battle of the Elements will take place as eight dancers embody water, earth, fire and air to music set by DJ Natural Hiigh. The crowd will vote on which dancer best channels the essence of each element.

There will be a diverse assortment of musical performers at each of the homes. At Tran’s house an afterparty called Sun:Set will feature DJ sets by DJ Rene “Cozy” Campos, Justin Orion, CJ “SPCMN” Serrato and DJ DRNDX (pronounced “Dare-N The Red X).

This portion of the event will take place in the spacious upstairs living area inside Tran’s home — a space that brings Campos full circle.

“One of the first DJ sets I booked was ‘And Now The Vibes,’ in 2022” Campos says, recalling a hip-hop and alt-R&B mix composed of artists like Kid Cudi, SZA, Future, and Travis Scott. “Kathy really gave me a shot when I was first starting out.”

Tran recalls this event fondly. “I remember when I first heard his stuff, I was like ‘I’ve got to book him.’ I’m so lucky that I always end up getting things right on the first try — first with this house, now with Cozy.”

For Sun:Set, each DJ promises a unique listening experience. Campos will deliver his signature “cozy” living room vibes, and SPCMN will speed things up a bit with an electronic-driven mix.

“I’m actually going to the studio to finish a mix so I can have it ready in time for next Saturday,” SPCMN says during our chat.

DRNDX teases a more “rhythmic mix” with throwbacks, newer tracks and remixed recordings, which may include elements of “Jersey club” beats.
Orion, who was absent during our chat, is sure to keep our pulses running with his 125 BPM mixes.

Tran says that these Music Safari events take a lot of her time — on top of photography and the many projects she juggles at a time. But partying with local musicians makes for a lovely reprieve. You won’t find Tran’s personal address online so her space can maintain its underground nature. “Those in the know, know,” she says. But Music Safari attendees will be able to tell which home is hers when they observe the camaraderie among the guests as they enter the house at sunset.

“I don’t really go out that much because I’m always working,” Tran says. “So it’s nice to have the people come here.”

As Music Safari continues to grow, and Tran continues to widen its appeal to a younger crowd, she expresses gratitude for the community of creatives she’s been able to level up with.

“I’m so lucky to have such cool neighbors,” says Tran, noting that she is the youngest homeowner on her block. “And they don’t mind the loud music.”