Freaks NY Unveils “Aquaria” for New York Carnival 2013
Freaks NY kicked off its second New York Carnival season on Saturday, June 8, 2013, unveiling “Aquaria” during its official band launch at Pulse 48 in Brooklyn.
The launch introduced masqueraders to an ocean-inspired presentation that Freaks planned to bring to Eastern Parkway that Labor Day. Contemporary promotion advertised a live runway show, appearances by Freaks NY and Freaks Miami masqueraders, and performances by Cassi and Drupatee.
For Freaks, the night came at an important point in its New York story. The organization had only made its Eastern Parkway debut the year before, but by 2013 it was already returning with a new theme, a growing mas operation and ambitions to bring some of the energy it had developed in Miami Carnival into Brooklyn.
Watch the Freaks NY “Aquaria” Band Launch
The original Julianspromos highlights capture the costumes, models and atmosphere surrounding the launch of Freaks NY’s 2013 presentation.
The Julianspromos coverage was hosted by Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson, with the footage shot and edited by Julian C. Hackett. The video was uploaded on June 10, 2013.
Welcome to “Aquaria”
The centerpiece of the night was Aquaria, Freaks NY’s presentation for New York Carnival 2013.
Its concept drew heavily from the sea, using aquatic imagery, bright color and elaborate Carnival costume design to create a presentation meant to feel alive on the road.
Later that summer, Caribbean Life visited the Freaks Mas camp and described it as being surrounded by the vibrant colors of the sea as the team prepared Aquaria for Eastern Parkway. Among the documented sections were Sea Anemone, modeled by Starr Thorne, and Queen Anthias, modeled by Kendra Weekes.
Those details help put the June launch into context.
At Pulse 48, masqueraders were seeing the concept before months of costume production, registration and road preparation transformed Aquaria into a full Carnival band.
Freaks Returns for Its Second New York Carnival
Freaks NY was still relatively new to the West Indian American Day Carnival.
Its first Eastern Parkway appearance came in 2012, when the band presented “Illusions” and finished third in the Adult Large Band category. The 2013 season therefore represented an opportunity to build on a strong debut rather than start from scratch.
By August 2013, contemporary coverage was explicitly describing Aquaria as Freaks Mas’ second appearance on Eastern Parkway.
That makes the June 8 launch particularly interesting today.
Freaks was still in the early stages of establishing itself as a New York mas band, but it already had enough momentum to return with an entirely new presentation only a year after its debut.
From Natural Freaks to Freaks Mas
The names surrounding Freaks during this period can look confusing in old flyers, videos and articles.
Natural Freaks had already developed a reputation through Caribbean entertainment and Carnival activity, particularly in Miami. As the organization expanded more deeply into costume mas, Freaks Mas became an increasingly important identity for that side of the operation.
Co-band leader Ray Bruce explained in 2013 that Freaks Mas remained under the Natural Freaks umbrella but was being promoted under a different name as the organization moved further into mas. He also said Freaks had spent roughly a decade developing its energetic Carnival reputation in Miami before growing its New York presence.
So Aquaria captures the organization during a genuine transition.
Freaks was no longer simply known for parties and Carnival entertainment.
The costumes, designers, masqueraders and road experience were becoming central to the brand.
Cassi and Drupatee at the Launch
The June 8 event was designed as more than a costume reveal.
Contemporary promotion advertised live performances by Cassi and Drupatee, bringing Soca and Chutney-Soca entertainment into the runway presentation while Freaks NY and Freaks Miami masqueraders helped introduce the 2013 band.
That combination made sense for a Carnival launch.
Band launches are partly fashion shows, partly recruitment events and partly fetes. Prospective masqueraders get to see the costumes up close, but the music and atmosphere also give them an early taste of what joining the band might feel like on the road.
At Pulse 48, Aquaria was being sold as an experience, not simply a collection of costumes.
Building Toward Eastern Parkway
After the launch, Freaks had the rest of the summer to turn Aquaria from a runway presentation into a road band.
Its Brooklyn mas camp became the center of that preparation. Later 2013 coverage placed Freaks Mas at 549 Nostrand Avenue, where the organization held events and continued promoting individual Aquaria sections as Labor Day approached.
The work behind a New York Carnival presentation stretches far beyond the day of the parade.
Costumes have to be produced.
Masqueraders have to register.
Sections have to be organized.
Music, logistics and road operations all have to come together.
The band launch is where the public first sees the idea.
Eastern Parkway is where that idea finally has to work.
Aquaria and Freaks’ Growing Carnival Identity
In retrospect, Aquaria represents an early chapter in the development of Freaks Mas as a more recognizable Carnival brand.
Freaks entered New York mas in 2012, returned with Aquaria in 2013 and was simultaneously maintaining the Miami connection that had helped shape its reputation. Later that same summer, the organization was preparing separate Freaks Mas activity for Miami Carnival as well.
That two-city presence distinguished Freaks from a band operating only around Brooklyn’s Labor Day season.
New York was becoming an important part of the operation, but Miami remained part of its Carnival DNA.
Aquaria sits right in the middle of that expansion.
From the Julianspromos Archives
Julianspromos documented the Freaks NY band launch with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson hosting the coverage and Julian C. Hackett shooting and editing the footage.
The original video was uploaded on June 10, 2013, two days after the June 8 launch.
The assignment also continued an existing relationship between Julianspromos and Freaks. The previous year, Julianspromos had documented the band’s first New York Carnival season and later traveled with the wider Freaks organization during Miami Carnival.
But the strongest reason to revisit this footage is the Carnival story unfolding in front of the camera.
Freaks NY was only entering its second year on Eastern Parkway.
The Aquaria costumes were brand-new.
The summer of mas was still ahead.
And the Freaks Mas identity was still taking shape.
On June 8, 2013, Brooklyn got its first look at what Freaks planned to bring to the road.
