‘You meet people here you’d never meet anywhere else’: Lost Files Vol 009

Story & Images by Mayatu Nova

“You meet people here you’d never meet anywhere else.”

For a moment, it feels like you’ve stepped into an underground scene in the UK or somewhere deep in Melbourne’s concrete sprawl. It’s a small escape from what we typically experience in Magandjin (Brisbane). 

“Everyone is [wearing] a mixture of local designers, international labels, even pieces they’ve created themselves,” says event photographer, Finnian Mullen.

There’s a collective identity shaped by influences of gothic and skater aesthetics, manifested as streetwear. It’s a subculture that sits at the heart of Lost Files.

As someone who often feels intimidated walking into spaces where ‘everyone is the cool kid,’ it made me reflect on the nature of self-expression and its inconsistent ties to personality. 

Sometimes it really is as simple as ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ 

The separation of the dance floor and outdoor lounge shaped the energy of the night.

While some gathered among their friends in the lounge area, others took up space on the dance floor, unbothered, energetic and moving to the pulse of every beat. 

I asked a few people, “why are events like Lost Files so important?” and the consistent response is, “if you’re not here, you’re missing out.” 

And honestly, I think they’re right. 

What also makes Lost Files special is that it’s one of the only female-led, POC-owned events in Brisbane that genuinely emulates the culture often searched for in bigger cities. It feels like someone has finally built the space people here have been craving. 

In a city where a long-term event series can sometimes lose momentum, disappear, or get swallowed by people moving away, Lost Files remains one of a kind. If you fall into their target demographic, it’s rare to find something this consistent, curated, and culturally grounded.