Pitchblack Playback founder, Ben Gomori on Harmonizing Music and Business

Photo courtesy of Ben Gomori

In conversation with POSTERCHILD, Ben Gomori — London-based multi-hyphenated creative and founder of Pitchblack Playback, a series of hi-fi musical listening sessions held in complete darkness—shares the evolution of his career. From DJing and producing to building a globally recognized music business, Ben's career arc is a testament to the power of adaptability and passion.

PC: Ben, you’re a DJ, producer, and founder of Pitchblack Playback. It’s cool to see how you’ve built a successful business while continuing to grow your creative practice. How do you balance it all?

Ben Gomori: I think balance comes with perspective. When you’re starting out, you imagine your career as this linear path—like, “I’ll do this, then I’ll climb that ladder.” But as I’ve gone on, especially in today’s creative industries, you realize you have to wear many hats. It’s not just about passion; it’s often a necessity. Things like rent, production costs, and promotion add up, so having multiple income streams isn’t just practical but essential.

If I look back at all the different things I’ve done—DJing, producing, music journalism, and PR—they’ve all fed into where I am now. I started DJing at 14 and got into music journalism because I wanted to get free guest lists for gigs I wanted to go to. It wasn’t a strategic move; it was just about doing what I loved. Over time, these experiences layered on top of each other. My work in journalism and PR taught me how the music industry operates, and that knowledge is invaluable for running Pitchblack Playback.

PC: Pitchblack Playback feels like such a breath of fresh air in today’s music scene. What gave you the idea?

Ben Gomori: It came from a press playback that Ninja Tune was throwing to preview Amon Tobin's ISAM album, which I attended as a journalist. They previewed an album in a cinema with visuals, but what really struck me was the focused listening environment—no phones, no distractions. I wanted to bring that experience to the public, especially to superfans who want to deeply connect with the music.

It’s a combination of my past lives—my journalism background helps with curation, my marketing experience with promotion, and my love for DJing ties it all together. It was the first project where I thought, “This needs to exist.” Initially, it wasn’t about making it my full-time job, but now it’s become that. Since lockdown, it’s been my primary focus.

Photo courtesy of Nicola Anker

PC: There’s something incredibly immersive about listening to an album in the dark, front to back. How do you see the role of experiential listening changing in today’s music industry?

Ben Gomori: For me, it’s about challenging the narrative that albums are “dead.” I think that mentality underestimates audiences. People still want meaningful experiences, but the way we present music has shifted. With Pitchblack Playback, I want to create a space where people can disconnect from the noise and fully immerse themselves in the music.

It’s not just about the sound—it’s the entire ambience. Darkness eliminates distractions, and high-quality sound systems allow people to hear nuances they’d otherwise miss. When artists attend our events, they often tell me how much they appreciate an environment where their work gets the undivided attention it deserves.

PC: You’ve managed to grow Pitchblack Playback internationally while juggling DJing and producing. How do you navigate wearing all these hats?

Ben Gomori: It helps that they’re interconnected. DJing and producing are my creative outlets, while Pitchblack Playback draws on my skills as a journalist, marketer, and event organizer. I’ve also built flexibility into the business—I set the pace for how many events we do each month. That allows me to scale things up or down depending on what’s happening in my life.

I’m fortunate that I can juggle these roles without losing my passion. I’ve seen friends burn out from turning their craft into a full-time grind, and I’ve been careful to avoid that. Having multiple streams of income also helps—it takes the pressure off any one thing and allows me to be more selective.

Image courtesy of HÖR Berlin

PC: It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve created something of a sustainable model. What’s next for Pitchblack Playback?

Ben Gomori: Expansion, but in an organic way. I’m not about rapid growth for the sake of it. I want to maintain the quality and integrity of the experience. Right now, we’re focusing on adding new venues in the UK, like Bristol and Brighton, while continuing to build relationships with labels for premieres and anniversary events.

I’m also excited about developing Pitchblack Mixtapes. It’s a sub-series where we do live DJ mixes in the dark around specific themes. It bridges my worlds of DJing and Pitchblack Playback and offers even more creative possibilities. The challenge is keeping everything manageable while staying true to the core of what makes Pitchblack Playback special.

Learn more about Pitchblack Playback and their upcoming events in your city here. Don’t forget to follow Ben and Pitchblack Playback on Instagram.