Save WiggleWorld: Spencer & Alya's Recovery from Eaton Fire

Spencer, Alya & Wiggle World made it through the Eaton fire without their house burning. Largely because of civilian intervention by neighbors and many friends, their neighborhood along the arroyo in West Altadena is one of the only still standing. Their neighborhood is the Westernmost boundary of the burn scar, and due to this proximity their house and the recording studio suffered some serious smoke damage and they haven’t been able to return home since the fires. They’ve hesitated till this point to create a Go Fund Me in an attempt to rely as much as possible on grants and other funding to restore their lost belongings (porous materials) and sustain themselves through this instability, to allow mutual aid to go where most needed. As time has passed and their losses have become more clear, they have realized they need help from their communities as they have received little (Spencer) to no (Alya) support from grants thus far. They unfortunately did not have renter’s insurance at the time of the fire.

This money will be going towards the replacement of rugs, clothes, shoes, bedding, pillows, beds, band merch, fabric chairs, pantry items, dump runs, curtains and couches. WW will have to take on costs of deep cleaning, HVAC repairs, studio infrastructure repairs and money lost from the sessions booked in the studio. This money will also help cover rent costs while the studio is under repair and inoperable. Spencer and Alya will hopefully be able to move back to their house in May, after the house remediation is done. Wiggle World is aiming to reopen in June if the timeline of repairs goes as planned.

Spencer & Alya are both artists living and working in Altadena and are deeply invested in their community. Spencer is a musician and engineer, producer, and sound artist. Spencer’s sole income is from his work as engineer/producer at Wiggle World, and he has been unable to work since the fire. Alya is a visual artist, harpist and organizer. Over the years they have worked in various communities as a full spectrum doula, herbalist, caregiver and street medic. Alya’s current sole income is as a server/bartender and they’ve missed considerable work as a result of displacement. Alya has had to move 7 different times with their cat Omi since the fires.

Wiggle World is a cozy, independent recording studio in Altadena, CA, that opened its doors in 2021. Built for deep exploration, it’s a place where artists can experiment, push perceived limits and boundaries, and discover new possibilities in their unique sound. Spencer has donated hundreds of hours to emerging experimental projects, contributing to greater accessibility for many incredible artists in the experimental/ambient/electronic music scene. Over the years, Wiggle World has become an integral part of the LA music community, working with artists like Qur’an Shaheed, Cherry Glazerr, Sharpie Smile, Jerry Paper, and Colloboh. Wiggle World is more than a recording studio, it is a beloved community hub and creative home to many!

Thank you so much for reading and for your support <3 <3 <3