ARTISTS
Despite making music since his teenage years, the first notable appearance was in 2010 when his first 12” “Vril 1-4” transformed the Dub Techno genre. His first album “Torus” followed, unveiling the depth of his abilities. It laid out a sonic landscape of loopy perfection and otherworldly noise, that brought attention from electronic music lovers across the world.
Since then, there’s been a steady development of VRIL’s visionary electronica - from the dystopia on “Thronwagen” (IMF), “UV” (Ostgut Ton) “Vortekz” (Delsin), “Portal” (Delsin) to the seemingly supernatural layering on “Anima Mundi” (Delsin). Bad Manners 4, his most recent album on Marcel Dettmann’s label Bad Manners, is taking the powerful edges of his sound further and expanding them to conquer dancefloors.
Undoubtedly a VRIL production is as spacious as it is arcane, shifting between earth-shattering drums and delicate chords in just one track. Many of those hold new discoveries and hidden sounds reveal themselves with every single listen. These qualities as a producer mean he’s also become a sought-after remixer, having given songs by the likes of SUUNS, HVOB, SteRac and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard to name just a few - audacious alterations.
While his productions cover a wide range from experimental deep listening to peak-time club tracks - ambient, IDM, techno, electro - they’re all sprinkled with a unique touch. As if he uses some kind of powdered space matter, something cosmic that makes his sound so distinct yet inexplicable.
Complementing the EP and LP releases, experiencing VRIL live is best described as highly energetic and profound. Through questioning the limits of what may be acceptable on a dancefloor he plays a kind of contemporary techno and electro that is cathartic in many ways.
In 2021, VRIL is an established artist, with a host of releases and podcasts . Recent projects have seen him collaborate with Rødhåd as “Out Of Place Artefacts” and he became a regular participant in Sebastian Mullaert’s improvisatory project “Circle Of Live”.
By now he has toured in over 45 countries. This has also earned him a spot in the top ten of the best live artists according to several polls.
Since then, there’s been a steady development of VRIL’s visionary electronica - from the dystopia on “Thronwagen” (IMF), “UV” (Ostgut Ton) “Vortekz” (Delsin), “Portal” (Delsin) to the seemingly supernatural layering on “Anima Mundi” (Delsin). Bad Manners 4, his most recent album on Marcel Dettmann’s label Bad Manners, is taking the powerful edges of his sound further and expanding them to conquer dancefloors.
Undoubtedly a VRIL production is as spacious as it is arcane, shifting between earth-shattering drums and delicate chords in just one track. Many of those hold new discoveries and hidden sounds reveal themselves with every single listen. These qualities as a producer mean he’s also become a sought-after remixer, having given songs by the likes of SUUNS, HVOB, SteRac and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard to name just a few - audacious alterations.
While his productions cover a wide range from experimental deep listening to peak-time club tracks - ambient, IDM, techno, electro - they’re all sprinkled with a unique touch. As if he uses some kind of powdered space matter, something cosmic that makes his sound so distinct yet inexplicable.
Complementing the EP and LP releases, experiencing VRIL live is best described as highly energetic and profound. Through questioning the limits of what may be acceptable on a dancefloor he plays a kind of contemporary techno and electro that is cathartic in many ways.
In 2021, VRIL is an established artist, with a host of releases and podcasts . Recent projects have seen him collaborate with Rødhåd as “Out Of Place Artefacts” and he became a regular participant in Sebastian Mullaert’s improvisatory project “Circle Of Live”.
By now he has toured in over 45 countries. This has also earned him a spot in the top ten of the best live artists according to several polls.
Japan's DJ Nobu is one of a kind; a DJ with no fixed style but instead a very real ability to draw on a wide world of music and cook up his own unique sound spaces. He is something of a cult figure for those who know with decades of experience, all of which are distilled at his acclaimed party 'Future Terror', his label 'Bitta' and his few choice production outings.
All of this has slowly but surely turned Nobu from being one of Japan's, to one of the world's most in demand selectors who is famously flexible and ever evolving.
All of this has slowly but surely turned Nobu from being one of Japan's, to one of the world's most in demand selectors who is famously flexible and ever evolving.
His progressive sessions, profound and with long mixes, are real voyages that sail through experimental music, ambient and horizontal and dubby techno.
His productions are 4x4 experiments of low tempo with field recordings and marked spaces, where he explores timbres, textures and cinematographic structures. He is resident at the Alpenglühen and Taiga sessions and owner of the label Antimatter together with Bule.
He is also the owner of Alpenglühen (the label) focused in deep and ambient techno which explores the thin line between light and darkness.
He has recently launched together with Kawn, "Tactil", a project formed in 2020 focused on experimental slow techno that released its first vinyl in April this year on Antimatter.
His productions are 4x4 experiments of low tempo with field recordings and marked spaces, where he explores timbres, textures and cinematographic structures. He is resident at the Alpenglühen and Taiga sessions and owner of the label Antimatter together with Bule.
He is also the owner of Alpenglühen (the label) focused in deep and ambient techno which explores the thin line between light and darkness.
He has recently launched together with Kawn, "Tactil", a project formed in 2020 focused on experimental slow techno that released its first vinyl in April this year on Antimatter.
GiGi FM aka Giulia Fournier-Mercadante is a French/Italian force well and truly to be reckoned with. Born and raised in Paris, Gigi moved to New York in her teens after being awarded a dance scholarship at the NYC Ballet and Alvin Ailey where she studied and practiced dance at the highest level before moving onward to her current residence of London where she continues to make waves with her unique approach to Music, Sound, Dance and Art.
It wasn’t long until she became a firm fixture of South-London’s close- nit music scene, taking part in organising parties in DIY spaces and DJing regularly across the city (with regular appearances at London’s revered ‘Make Me’ parties). Listing Donato Dozzy, Bjork, Function, Neel, Aleksi Perrälä, Pierre Henry, E. Satie and Suzanne Ciani to name a few among her musical influences, Gigi is as creative in the studio as she is on the decks.
Her residency on London's NTS Radio has given her space to explore and share her musical pallet further, inviting kindred musical minds to guest including the likes of Crossing Avenue, Azu Tiwaline, Bambounou, Midgar and Donato Dozzy. Associating textures and colours with the sounds she hears, GiGi has a truly unique approach to collecting, selecting, playing and making music affording her a natural ability to create atmospheres and ambience unlike many others.
After playing two stand-out sets on Boiler Room, embarking on a Boiler Room club-tour covering some key UK and European cities, gaining a keen listenership via her monthly NTS Radio show, and plenty of great shows coming up at Panorama Bar, HORST Festival, Elysia Basel, Selectors, Berghain and many more!
It wasn’t long until she became a firm fixture of South-London’s close- nit music scene, taking part in organising parties in DIY spaces and DJing regularly across the city (with regular appearances at London’s revered ‘Make Me’ parties). Listing Donato Dozzy, Bjork, Function, Neel, Aleksi Perrälä, Pierre Henry, E. Satie and Suzanne Ciani to name a few among her musical influences, Gigi is as creative in the studio as she is on the decks.
Her residency on London's NTS Radio has given her space to explore and share her musical pallet further, inviting kindred musical minds to guest including the likes of Crossing Avenue, Azu Tiwaline, Bambounou, Midgar and Donato Dozzy. Associating textures and colours with the sounds she hears, GiGi has a truly unique approach to collecting, selecting, playing and making music affording her a natural ability to create atmospheres and ambience unlike many others.
After playing two stand-out sets on Boiler Room, embarking on a Boiler Room club-tour covering some key UK and European cities, gaining a keen listenership via her monthly NTS Radio show, and plenty of great shows coming up at Panorama Bar, HORST Festival, Elysia Basel, Selectors, Berghain and many more!
Influenced by ambient electronics and chromaticism, Guillam pursues depth through the exploration of sound and composition. Soothing soundscapes, unfolding rhythms and organic textures are elements present in his music and dj sets. He very much enjoys delivering ambient exploratory sets at Paral.lel, where he has been involved in music and sound curation from the early days of the festival.
"It's not what records you have, but what you do with them, that's important"
A DJ for over 25 years, Jane Fitz is unique in creating her strong reputation from DJing alone, Jane plays a hard-to-categorise mix of music that can take in early UK acid tracks, deep, spacey house, psychedelic techno, early trance or ambient textures. You’re just as likely to hear her playing in the mountains of Japan, the beaches of Montenegro, the warehouses of Brooklyn or the basements of London as well as in the world’s most credible clubs and festivals, often playing lengthy sets or even all night long. Over the past few years she has also committed to regular and varied b2bs with DJs such as Carl H, XDB, Jade Seatle, Eric Cloutier, Solar, Spekki Webu and Miki, showcasing her versatility and commitment to playing with, and learning from, artists she admires. and respects.
After many years touring and holding down long-running residencies such as Freerotation festival, London's Pickle Factory and Rinse FM, aside from her own Night Moves party with Jade Seatle, Jane is concentrating more on warm-ups, backrooms, listening parties and all-night sets as she strives to keep things fresh and challenging, and always be open to ideas.
Occasional productions under the Invisible Menders name (co-produced with Dom Ahtuam) on cult labels such as Porn Wax, Boe and Animals On Psychedelics have snuck out the past few years. But playing records in obscure locations remains her ambition. As always, there is plenty to discover, much to learn and more to come.
A DJ for over 25 years, Jane Fitz is unique in creating her strong reputation from DJing alone, Jane plays a hard-to-categorise mix of music that can take in early UK acid tracks, deep, spacey house, psychedelic techno, early trance or ambient textures. You’re just as likely to hear her playing in the mountains of Japan, the beaches of Montenegro, the warehouses of Brooklyn or the basements of London as well as in the world’s most credible clubs and festivals, often playing lengthy sets or even all night long. Over the past few years she has also committed to regular and varied b2bs with DJs such as Carl H, XDB, Jade Seatle, Eric Cloutier, Solar, Spekki Webu and Miki, showcasing her versatility and commitment to playing with, and learning from, artists she admires. and respects.
After many years touring and holding down long-running residencies such as Freerotation festival, London's Pickle Factory and Rinse FM, aside from her own Night Moves party with Jade Seatle, Jane is concentrating more on warm-ups, backrooms, listening parties and all-night sets as she strives to keep things fresh and challenging, and always be open to ideas.
Occasional productions under the Invisible Menders name (co-produced with Dom Ahtuam) on cult labels such as Porn Wax, Boe and Animals On Psychedelics have snuck out the past few years. But playing records in obscure locations remains her ambition. As always, there is plenty to discover, much to learn and more to come.
From his early releases on the legendary German imprint Raster- Noton, to his more recent, club-geared output, David Letellier aka Kangding Ray traces a singular trajectory while navigating the unexplored territories between experimental music and dance music. As a former architect, Kangding Ray’s multidisciplinary approach allows him to apply his craft in diverse fields such as visual arts, film scores, audiovisual installations and dance performances.
In both his DJing and live performances, Kangding Ray preserves a genuine artistic approach, while carefully crafting a unique universe, equally focused on evoking an emotional response and a visceral impact on the listener.
He has a number of critically-acclaimed releases, all of which test boundaries while engaging both the body and the mind with his exploration of rhythm and texture. Kangding Ray's collaborative project “Neon Chambers”, with Sigha, gained global attention since the premiere of their mind-bending live show at the legendary Atonal Festival in Berlin. With only one EP released on the Dekmantel label, they have already played a number of high-profile festivals including Sonar Barcelona, Dekmantel Amsterdam, Brave Factory Kiev, Nowa Muzika and Forte, paving the way for what is set to become an era-defining record.
Since 2019, Kangding Ray has curated his own imprint called “ara” (About Recording Artists): a platform for artists with unique sonic identities that seeks to induce deep emotion through sound.”
In both his DJing and live performances, Kangding Ray preserves a genuine artistic approach, while carefully crafting a unique universe, equally focused on evoking an emotional response and a visceral impact on the listener.
He has a number of critically-acclaimed releases, all of which test boundaries while engaging both the body and the mind with his exploration of rhythm and texture. Kangding Ray's collaborative project “Neon Chambers”, with Sigha, gained global attention since the premiere of their mind-bending live show at the legendary Atonal Festival in Berlin. With only one EP released on the Dekmantel label, they have already played a number of high-profile festivals including Sonar Barcelona, Dekmantel Amsterdam, Brave Factory Kiev, Nowa Muzika and Forte, paving the way for what is set to become an era-defining record.
Since 2019, Kangding Ray has curated his own imprint called “ara” (About Recording Artists): a platform for artists with unique sonic identities that seeks to induce deep emotion through sound.”
Spearheading a percussive yet atmospheric sound, Konduku’s minimalist approach to house and techno carves out a singular space where the artist can experiment with an amalgamation of new and futuristic sounds.
With a raft of acute tribalisms found across the Nous’klaer label he’s commonly associated - it’s the artist’s ventures further afield that are also drawing plaudits, most overtly his hailed Parlama EP for Spazio Disponibile.
Seeing some techier UK club cuts make it to the Idle Hands label in 2019 (Lila EP), other radical and leftfield techno expressions can be found on Delsin’s Mantis series, to more abstract and experimental outings via Disk (Şeker, 2020). Inspired by a musical mixture of influences taking in mid-2000s Italian techno, eastern-bloc & European minimalism, to turn-of-the-century tech house - Konduku’s originality comes through a kinship with British bass culture and the frenetic polyrhythms, otherworldly syncopation and distinct flex of his own linear steez.
Having now relocated to Berlin, groove and rhythmic pulse remain a priority of Konduku’s DJ sets, however it's a mix of halftime steppers, quick cuts and layered blends that conjure up hypnotisms and alluring new hybrids in the process. A major musical talent full of artistic influence and an outsider’s edge, it’s Konduku’s obsession for drums and the spaces in between that creates a unique set of sounds that not only inspire but live long in the memory.
With a raft of acute tribalisms found across the Nous’klaer label he’s commonly associated - it’s the artist’s ventures further afield that are also drawing plaudits, most overtly his hailed Parlama EP for Spazio Disponibile.
Seeing some techier UK club cuts make it to the Idle Hands label in 2019 (Lila EP), other radical and leftfield techno expressions can be found on Delsin’s Mantis series, to more abstract and experimental outings via Disk (Şeker, 2020). Inspired by a musical mixture of influences taking in mid-2000s Italian techno, eastern-bloc & European minimalism, to turn-of-the-century tech house - Konduku’s originality comes through a kinship with British bass culture and the frenetic polyrhythms, otherworldly syncopation and distinct flex of his own linear steez.
Having now relocated to Berlin, groove and rhythmic pulse remain a priority of Konduku’s DJ sets, however it's a mix of halftime steppers, quick cuts and layered blends that conjure up hypnotisms and alluring new hybrids in the process. A major musical talent full of artistic influence and an outsider’s edge, it’s Konduku’s obsession for drums and the spaces in between that creates a unique set of sounds that not only inspire but live long in the memory.
More than twenty years producing together from Valencia, joining musical universes and professional experiences of the most plural, elaborating a meditated sound from techno and the darkest dub with multiple references to electronic, electroacoustic, idm, ambient or contemporary music. His taste for analogue machinery and junk, for synthesis and algorithmic composition, and his love for the
algorithmic composition, and his love for all kinds of synthesizers and programming environments, crystallizes in hard-hitting works for Alpenglühen, The Monkey Bar or Eleve Music. Pajaro Dune is the product that combines the creative minds of producer Jaime Romero aka Estrato Aurora (Bliq Rec, Appian Sounds, On Board Rec, Oslated, HC Records, Discos Pandémicos) and the composer and pianist David Ortolà (Tropos Ensemble, Columna Música, Loudeast, Betelgeuse, Kontakte).
algorithmic composition, and his love for all kinds of synthesizers and programming environments, crystallizes in hard-hitting works for Alpenglühen, The Monkey Bar or Eleve Music. Pajaro Dune is the product that combines the creative minds of producer Jaime Romero aka Estrato Aurora (Bliq Rec, Appian Sounds, On Board Rec, Oslated, HC Records, Discos Pandémicos) and the composer and pianist David Ortolà (Tropos Ensemble, Columna Música, Loudeast, Betelgeuse, Kontakte).
Belgium's Peter Van Hoesen is considered as one of techno's tastemakers but never has been that typical techno artist. Peter is someone who sculpts sounds for many different environments - the club, the home, the gallery or even the museum. He does so with a true sense of personality. On his own label Time to Express he releases textural compositions and he also records to great acclaim as Sendai alongside Yves De Mey.
In performance terms, Peter lays down dark and arresting techno sets as well as captivating, story telling live musical journeys. Because of that he is renowned around the world for his high quality, high creativity, high levels of consistency, constantly translating his personality into his music.
In performance terms, Peter lays down dark and arresting techno sets as well as captivating, story telling live musical journeys. Because of that he is renowned around the world for his high quality, high creativity, high levels of consistency, constantly translating his personality into his music.
Music is all about connections, and is at its most vital when it speaks to you in a voice only you seem to hear. For Berlin-based Refracted, electronic music, and techno in particular, is the chosen medium to find his unique voice, to connect. And a growing number of people, wanting more from techno than formulaic entertainment and a soundtrack to dance to, are connecting with his particular vision and peculiar sound. This might be because Refracted ́s music feels as fundamentally human as it sounds otherworldly. It is techno more as an idea and conduit, than as an easily-labeled sound. It is dance music where layered rhythms act almost on a neural, sub epidermal level, while moving and evolving soundscapes acquire a tactile, understated physicality. Paramount examples of this can be found on releases on Refracted's own Mind Express label, and on celebrated labels like PoleGroup, Semantica and Bitta amongst many others. His path unravelling further, a mind set on favouring unflinching quality over quantity.
The dynamics created by this yearning to displace us from space and self, while rooted in a elemental, naturalistic approach, which catalyzes inner self discovery, are also at the foundation of his DJing. Spiritual, almost meditative, his sets possess a kinetic energy as well, which is a clear indication of a DJ who knows the fundamental role of dancing as part of the ritual. He wants to take us somewhere, the “where” being of our own choosing, the trail never being the most travelled.
The dynamics created by this yearning to displace us from space and self, while rooted in a elemental, naturalistic approach, which catalyzes inner self discovery, are also at the foundation of his DJing. Spiritual, almost meditative, his sets possess a kinetic energy as well, which is a clear indication of a DJ who knows the fundamental role of dancing as part of the ritual. He wants to take us somewhere, the “where” being of our own choosing, the trail never being the most travelled.
Sa Pa is a freeform exploration of high fidelity sound art echoing the subtle dissonance and melody of futuristic, modernist music. By blending a cocktail effect of freeform rhythms, dub, percussion and non-music with the sonic phenomena of field recordings - the artist seeks to transport the listener into a nebulous realm of spatio-temporal immersion through visions of ephemeral landscapes and deeper, twenty-first-century clubbing environments. Sa Pa released Fuubutsushi (風物詩) in 2015 with successive albums and EPs for labels like Mana, Marcel Dettmann Records, Lamassu and Rosa.
One of the most influential and uncompromising figures in exploratory bass music culture, who with his recent work has become a genuine polymath.
Shackleton's singularly hypnotic, psychedelic and industrially-charged sound now permeates a catalogue of live band projects and collaborations, adding yet more stylistic breadth and weight to his storied repertoire.
From the bedrock of the pioneering Skull Disco imprint he established with Appleblim - promptly pulling the shutters after ten prime 12-inches in 2009 - and the seminal Fabric mix that followed shortly after, Shackleton has been zig-zagging in increasingly adventurous musical directions, using prolific output on Honest Jon's and his own Woe To The Septic Heart! label to hone a musical lexicon that has his customarily subtle serialist motifs, dazzling rhythmic tessellations and irrefutably dread, post-industrial low-end scored through its DNA...all in service to sonic atmospheres that only one hand could author.
Having aligned himself with choice vocalists such as Anika and Ernesto Tomasini for recent album works, two exciting new live configurations will emerge in 2019, in parallel to Shackleton's ongoing and increasingly selective club show activity. More details in the offing soon.
Shackleton's singularly hypnotic, psychedelic and industrially-charged sound now permeates a catalogue of live band projects and collaborations, adding yet more stylistic breadth and weight to his storied repertoire.
From the bedrock of the pioneering Skull Disco imprint he established with Appleblim - promptly pulling the shutters after ten prime 12-inches in 2009 - and the seminal Fabric mix that followed shortly after, Shackleton has been zig-zagging in increasingly adventurous musical directions, using prolific output on Honest Jon's and his own Woe To The Septic Heart! label to hone a musical lexicon that has his customarily subtle serialist motifs, dazzling rhythmic tessellations and irrefutably dread, post-industrial low-end scored through its DNA...all in service to sonic atmospheres that only one hand could author.
Having aligned himself with choice vocalists such as Anika and Ernesto Tomasini for recent album works, two exciting new live configurations will emerge in 2019, in parallel to Shackleton's ongoing and increasingly selective club show activity. More details in the offing soon.
As a DJ, Sybil’s speciality is her versatility and ardent love for vibrant and immersive electronic music in all its forms. She is equally adept at playing high-energy propulsive techno, as she is at exploring sumptuous downtempo, euphoric trance, expansive drone, and even full-throttle drum and bass. Sybil’s sets criss-cross through all of these genres and more, as she guides dancers on journeys which are emotive, thrilling and ultimately revitalising.
Sybil’s DJing has taken her across the UK, with appearances at Village Underground, Fabric, Glastonbury, and Timedance, alongside revered events and venues on the global stage. These include: Berlin Atonal, Berghain’s Säule, WHOLE Festival, De School (Amsterdam), Nowadays (New York), Brutaż (Warsaw), ZVUK (Almaty) and Honey Soundsystem (San Francisco). Post-pandemic, Sybil has been busy playing at local parties across London, including SUB:SYSTEM and the inaugural Risen festival, as well as hosting off-grid trance raves deep in the British countryside.
Whilst Sybil’s club sets are geared for energetic dance floor exhilaration, her mixes are notable for their highly visual narrative arcs. Subtly accelerating and decelerating between disparate BPMs, she stitches together music from a broad palette of textures, contrasting new finds with long forgotten gems to create memorable narratives which are both rewarding and entrancing. Whether it be a healing ambient mix, a ride though an alien vortex, or a powerful techno excursion, Sybil always manages to hit the nail on the head.
Sybil’s DJing has taken her across the UK, with appearances at Village Underground, Fabric, Glastonbury, and Timedance, alongside revered events and venues on the global stage. These include: Berlin Atonal, Berghain’s Säule, WHOLE Festival, De School (Amsterdam), Nowadays (New York), Brutaż (Warsaw), ZVUK (Almaty) and Honey Soundsystem (San Francisco). Post-pandemic, Sybil has been busy playing at local parties across London, including SUB:SYSTEM and the inaugural Risen festival, as well as hosting off-grid trance raves deep in the British countryside.
Whilst Sybil’s club sets are geared for energetic dance floor exhilaration, her mixes are notable for their highly visual narrative arcs. Subtly accelerating and decelerating between disparate BPMs, she stitches together music from a broad palette of textures, contrasting new finds with long forgotten gems to create memorable narratives which are both rewarding and entrancing. Whether it be a healing ambient mix, a ride though an alien vortex, or a powerful techno excursion, Sybil always manages to hit the nail on the head.
Ulla (Ulla Straus) is an artist by ways from Kansas and California, but currently based in Philadelphia. She has released music on an array of labels such as Quiet Time, Experiences Ltd, West Mineral Ltd, and her most recent record Limitless Frame on Motion Ward.
In 2020, Ulla released her critically acclaimed Tumbling Towards A Wall which has received praise as one of the best albums of 2020 from Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Washington Post, and Bandcamp. Ulla has also collaborated with a number of other artists including Perila, Pontiac
Streator, Exael, and Ben Bondy.
In 2020, Ulla released her critically acclaimed Tumbling Towards A Wall which has received praise as one of the best albums of 2020 from Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Washington Post, and Bandcamp. Ulla has also collaborated with a number of other artists including Perila, Pontiac
Streator, Exael, and Ben Bondy.