Austin Darkwave Pioneer Sky Hutchens, aka DJ Scorpio, Has Died

Sky Hutchens’ Memorial takes place on Feb. 8 at Cheer Up Charlies from 5pm-2am (Art by Billie Buck)

Update, Feb. 7, 1:35pm: A memorial for Sky Hutchens will take place at Cheer Up Charlies on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 5pm to 2am. The event will include "DJ sets, live bands from the Nite School repertoire, a couple of beautiful drag tributes from his friends in the community, and speakers/reading tributes." Austin nonprofits HAAM and the SIMS Foundation will be tabling.

The fundraiser launched following Hutchens' passing, which is now closed, raised over $13,000. On Feb. 2, Hutchens' friend Billie Buck posted an update on the GoFundMe: "I wanted to make sure everyone saw this update following the wishes of Sky's family: [...] Sky's father is paying for the cremation and formal funeral. This gofundme is to support the many costs involved with the passing of a loved one and their memorial needs, including support for his partner and the bills related to the house they shared, cleaning, organizing, and archiving all of his art and collections, providing security in groceries and living expenses for his partner. We will also be putting some funds back into the community, to support the artists playing and organizing the memorial show."

Update, Feb. 1, 12pm: In a social media post announcing Sky Hutchens’ death, the DJ’s longtime partner Victoria Renard wrote that Austin EMTs and the Austin Police Department determined the cause of death was kidney failure. On Thursday, Feb. 1, Detective Patrick Reed, who is assigned to the case, told the Chronicle: “No one would have made that determination right now.” The detective said it would take months to determine and make public Hutchens’ cause of death, following a toxicology report that is standard in deceased person cases. He added that Hutchens’ death was not being investigated as a homicide.

The family of Hutchens has called into question fundraising efforts organized on behalf of the recently deceased DJ, said to help finance Hutchens' funeral and Victoria Renard's moving efforts. The DJ's sister, Aria Hutchens, wrote on Facebook that the family intends to pay for the funeral and asked fans not to donate to fundraisers in Hutchens' name.

Jan. 29, 3:42pm: Sky Hutchens, the local booker and promoter who spun records under the name DJ Scorpio, has died, his partner Victoria Renard confirmed.

Renard wrote on Instagram Sunday that Hutchens passed away in his sleep on Saturday, Jan. 27. According to her post, first responders determined his cause of death was kidney failure.

You could usually spot Hutchens sporting a suit and a Robert Smith-esque black mop at goth and psychedelic clubs Elysium and the 13th Floor – or Cheer Up Charlies, which hosted his monthly dance party Nite School for over 10 years.

Hutchens discussed the series in a 2017 Chronicle feature on Austin’s dance music scene, pointing to Cheer Up’s all-inclusive reputation as a draw for the darkwave crowd. “Hard for me to imagine Nite School being anywhere else than Cheer Up Char­lies,” he said at the time. “Ultimately, to me, its greatest advantage is being a female-owned LGBTQ safe space welcome to everyone.”

Recently, the “neu wave dark disco underground dance” showcase boasted sets by alternative rockers Single Lash, San Antonio shoegazers Sinking, and post-punk duo Most Modern.

Single Lash vocalist Nicolas Nadeau shared a tribute to Hutchens on Instagram Sunday, noting that the band had played Nite School shows since 2012.

“Sky had great taste and an encyclopedic knowledge. He enjoyed picking just the right songs to DJ before and after a Single Lash set and later would ask me ‘Did you notice that Felt track I faded in when you were packing up?’ Or ‘I remembered you said that was your favorite Clan of Xymox song,’” Nadeau wrote. “Sky was a good friend and supporter both to me personally and to the band. He would take risks on unknown artists like us for Nite School when other promoters wouldn’t give us the time of day.”

Fellow bookers Resound Presents honored Hutchens with their own statement, calling the DJ a “major key player and personality in the pulse of our city’s night life.” The company wrote: “Sky was one of the first to push and build a dark wave scene here in town years before it gained a wider audience.”

On their Levitation account, psychedelic festival founders the Black Angels gave Hutchens similar praise. “Sky gave his support from the earliest days of The Black Angels and Austin Psych Fest and lent his time and talents to countless Levitation festivals and shows,” the band said. “Thank you Sky. He provided a platform for so many Austin bands, DJs and visual artists, and developed a thriving scene in Austin with his Nite School series. A joy to work with and to be around, he’ll be deeply missed.”

Nite School typically takes over Cheer Up Charlies on the second Thursday of every month. On Feb. 8, what would be the next installment of the series, the venue will instead host a Hutchens memorial, Renard said.

Watch Thousand Foot Whale Claw’s 2018 music video for “Black Hole Party,” featuring Hutchens and friends, below.