SE Podcast (Mix Series)

RELEASES

New tape / digi from Oakland based @equilet!  Hit play and listen carefully.

Sacred invocations of past memories and forgotten data via sound that is as metallic and cold as it is nostalgically warm.  Hazy melodies weave and modulate over rhythms that dance the listener along.  Each entry is overcast with impressionistic moods that, while identifiable, are impossible to move into focus.  Familiar, yet amorphous .  An aural schematic for the peripheral beyond that which is within and without.

Preorder: https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/late-correction-lp

credits:
release: May 25, 2021
Music: equilet
cover: equilet
Mastering: João Melo

late correction

Preorder tape / digi

SE 10 // equilet - 'late correction' lp (cass / digi)

We're excited to to announce our next release on Silva Electronics, this time coming from SE founder Michael Claus. Realm is a collection of four tracks that utilize a variety of analog and digital production techniques and demonstrate Claus' ability to create a cohesive style from a variety of sound sources. The title track Realm and Atmos Schematics, originally written in 2018, are entirely "in the box" and showcase an atmospheric sound that includes an acidic 303 synth line. Baümer and Surge were originally recorded to tape in a single take via an old Tascam Portastudio in 2017 and were produced and mixed earlier this year. Surge's driving percussion and drums are equally matched by Baümer's sludgy and drone-adjacent sound design. This release is fit for deep listeners and DJs alike.

https://michaelclaus.bandcamp.com/album/realm

releases August 24, 2021

Music / Production / Mix: Michael Claus ( @michael-claus )
Mastering: Mark Pistel in Room 5 (www.markpistel.com)
Cover Design: Michael Claus

SE 11 // Michael Claus - "Realm" ep

Prolific Portland producer Joel Shanahan characterizes his latest collection in varied terms: “a flex; multidimensional; batshit; uncompromising.” All are accurate. Golden Donna has long been the outlet for Shanahan’s most omnivorous sonic tendencies but The Damage Has Been Done is dizzying and dazzling even by the project’s restlessly high standards. Blasted kicks rev into jittery wormholes of technoid energy, alternately claustrophobic and cathartic, tranced and troubled. Melancholic pads map footpaths across dim dance floors, spirits swirling from the speakers as the walls close in.

The EP’s five songs successfully translate the fever dream of Golden Donna’s sweaty, spiraling live performances into vividly deliberate multi-tracked compositions: accelerated but exacting, explosively precision-mapped, achieved via method, madness, and “arranging the fuck out of tracks.” The title took root a few years back, during a heightened window of “personal hells and ugly changes,” consumed by a sense of being at the threshold to nowhere, frustrated and futureless. This is music of emotional exorcism and rhythmic liberation, embracing challenge and change within and without.

@goldendonna

https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/the-damage-has-been-done

Pre order

SE 12 // Golden Donna - "The Damage Has Been Done" ep (12")

Release date: May 17, 2022

https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/boskage

@juneunit

Electronic music as consumed by listeners if often defined or understood through curation, selecting a song purposefully to motivate a moment, whether you’re a DJ or someone creating a playlist in your bedroom. "boskage" steps outside of this familiarity in the way that it moves with us and adapts. Each track on "boskage" feels so incredibly personal, and yet they can’t be defined by a single setting. For those who lend an ear and willingly welcome the winding path that “reflection of time, place and emotion,” (a concept Juneunit speaks of when describing her process for this release) might take you on, then the possibilities for how her music can shape your present moment are perceptively and sincerely endless.

While "boskage" is amorphous in it’s ability to color your surroundings, the way it pulls you in feels deliberate. "boskage" is driving, atmospheric and ambient with dubby and lo-fi elements. “the trash is done” is one track that beautifully encompasses all of these pieces, rolling through a single journey that explores a spectrum both contemplative and tranquil on one end, and determined and dancey on the other. Similarly, “arest b” plays with the way in which it grabs you, demanding that you listen intently or move...  more
credits
releases May 17, 2022

Written and produced by juneunit
Mastering by Mark Pistel
Words by Nikkole Rathkamp
Cover by Michael Claus

Silva Electronics - SE13

SE 13 // juneunit - 'boskage'(cassette)

Bandcamp: https://solotape.bandcamp.com/album/days-on-end-pt-i


“Days On End” serves as a sonic archive of mid-pandemic moods. Through a collection of live-recorded tracks, it captures a raw, creative burst from Solotape during a period of stripped-down production. Signature rhythm-work and gritty sound design return for this extensive collection, released in two parts.

“I was kind of burnt out on music early during the pandemic - everyone at my house was suddenly home all the time and I never had any alone time to work on it. Eventually, I ended up renting a shared rehearsal spot nearby in San Francisco. My audio interface was still at home when I first moved in there, so I didn't have a way to digitally record. I brought my tape deck instead and pressed record when things started sounding good.”

“My whole setup was pretty basic with less instruments than I usually have. There was a sort of simplicity to making stuff that I think was good for me. I was just excited to work on music again, and wasn’t obsessing over the technicalities. I didn’t have any particular plans for what I was recording, and just set the tapes aside for a while. I had forgotten most of what I had recorded by the time I returned to them months later. I didn’t know what to expect once I listened back and essentially rediscovered all of the material like it was new. The tapes felt like a physical little time capsule of an earlier period. After I realized that I liked what I had made, I dubbed the tapes to digital and made some edits to clean them up. Almost everything from the three tapes is included here.”

Despite this simplified approach (or perhaps because of it), Solotape has created a body of work that is full of excitement, joy, and playfulness, as well as frustration, catharsis, and dread. At times rambling, at others immediate and visceral, it resembles a series of vignettes, tied together through a common tonal palette and form rather than emotional valence. “Days On End” strikes a balance of raw emotion and analog textures, providing an honest snapshot into the artist's internal world.


Solotape:
https://www.instagram.com/tapes_and_moire/
https://linktr.ee/solotape
https://soundcloud.com/enceence

Silva Electronics:
https://www.instagram.com/silvaelectronics/
https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/
https://www.silvaelectronics.net/
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11glIMvFlbpftSVUPrVLB0?si=8356319043d240c9&nd=1

Days On End (pt. I)

SE 15 //  Solotape - "Days On End (pt. I)"

Bandcamp: https://aakaara.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-promises
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/aakaara

        Lost in the depths of space, AAKAARA takes listeners on a journey to the outer limits of the sonic universe with their latest album “Obsidian Promises”. Blending influences from punk and metal, EBM, architectural design and certain celestial objects, AAKAARA offers a fresh take on industrial techno. This body of work is dark and brooding, full of haunting and thought-provoking soundscapes. Metallic and cold one moment, blisteringly hot the next. Pounding drums create searing rhythms, acid-drenched synths weave abrasive textures, and noise permeates the stereo field.

        Inspired by the mysterious and alluring world of black holes, the producer explores the beauty of extremes through sound.

        "If you know my work or me," AAKAARA says, "it's no secret that I have a spiritual connection to, and an obsession with, black holes. It's not about doom and gloom, but about beautiful extremes: infinite calmness, ultra-high energy, being deeply centered, and inevitable attraction.”

        “I try to sonify this in a naive sense. It isn't an attempt at science; it's a way for me to practice a makeshift spirituality about these entities through craft and functional dance music for people."

        Spirituality and stellar inspiration were essential to AAKAARA's life during the three years they spent between Los Angeles and London, while writing this album. It provided a sonic home during a period of transition, when they didn't feel at home and didn't have access to a studio. Everything was made "in the box" using only Ableton 10. After collecting guitar pedals and amplifiers for years, AAKAARA has shifted away from a hardware-focused mindset and is now more invested in the conceptual framework, narrative, and cultural implications of their work.

        Visuals also play an integral role in this maximalist experience. The outer sleeve (front and back cover) conveys the “big ideas” visually, while the companion poster includes custom typography, detailed drawings, symbol design, and poetry. The poetry provides a textual counterpoint to the lyric-less music, written in parallel but later stages of the production process. The visual identity of this work is inseparable from the music, describing it in an integral way. It’s the other side of the coin, not simply an accompaniment.

        With its spiritual connection to the infinite and mysterious, “Obsidian Promises” harnesses the beauty and intensity of celestial entities as musical inspiration, transforming the science into mystical, narrative-driven sonic . Get ready for a ride through the unknown as AAKAARA's latest offering takes you on a high-energy trip through the black hole's playground.

SE 16 // AAKAARA - "OBSIDIAN PROMISES" (12")

Embarking on a thrilling sonic departure, Michael Claus resurfaces with "Dark Forest," a 12" EP that's sure to incite movement on dance floors everywhere. Shifting away from the chill, down-tempo vibe of his previous release "Lavender Palace," Claus dives headfirst into the realm of breakbeats, heavy synth lines, and distortion. The two original tracks, "Dark Forest" and "Paranoia," bear witness to the innovative producer's penchant for exploration, as he navigates the new BPM range and sound palette with fearless curiosity. Designed for the sub-heavy club sound systems, this EP is destined to reverberate with unbridled energy and intensity.
As if the original tracks weren't enough, the EP also boasts two outstanding remixes that add their own distinct flavor to the mix. Force Placement takes the reins with a jungle-inspired rework, infusing a groovy bass line that rolls beneath a vortex of mind-bending sound effects. This percussive adventure will undoubtedly captivate the senses, transporting dancers to an immersive world of rhythm and intrigue.
Further enhancing the EP's allure, Lara Sarkissian delivers a hazy and psychedelic remix, blending sub-heavy rhythms with mesmerizing sound design. This ethereal concoction showcases Sarkissian's deft touch and mastery of her craft, as she seamlessly weaves together entrancing elements that complement Claus' original vision. "Dark Forest" is a testament to Michael Claus' ever-evolving artistry, and with these remixes, the EP promises to leave a lasting impression on all who dare to enter its enigmatic domain.

SE 17 // Michael Claus - "Dark Forest" (feat. Lara Sarkissian & Force Placement) (12")

Bandcamp: https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/psychic-diffraction

@nervous-operator

Embark on a sonic odyssey with Nervous Operator's latest album, "Psychic Diffraction," an audacious nine-track collection where the pulse of syncopated rhythms and psychedelic synthcraft meet the ethereal realms of ambient melodies and hypnagogic dreamscapes.

Forging a path that diverges from the digitally-centered composition of his last album, "Chronostasis" released on Dreamtone in 2021, Nervous Operator, who is based in Vancouver, embraces the raw energy and imperfections of live performance. "Psychic Diffraction" has its roots in two dynamic live PA sets, which served as the creative essence for the album. The original performances were recorded, only to be reworked through a studio process that refined and enhanced the compositions without sacrificing the spontaneous spirit of the live experience. Utilizing an impressive array of hardware, including an Octatrack, Rytm (gratitude to Josh Rose aka Derivatives for lending the device), Syntakt, and the Mopho, Nervous Operator ensures each track delivers a palpable and vibrant auditory experience that is tinged with tactile warmth.

“Psychic Diffraction” is also a homage to the influence Chicago, where Nervous Operator previously lived, had on the artist’s creative process. “Much of my inspiration came from my time in Chicago and the musicians and DJs I met through various shows and parties. I greatly appreciated the freedom of exploration and melding of genres”. As a result, the album boasts an eclectic blend of industrial, electro, breakbeat, and techno. “I always aim to create small ‘worlds’ for the listener to explore sonically and to layer textures in such a way that allows the listener to discover new elements on repeated plays,” Nervous Operator reflects. "Psychic Diffraction" indeed offers a multilayered auditory odyssey that becomes richer with each listen.

SE 18 // Nervous Operator - "Psychic Diffraction"

Buy: https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/liminal-point
Releases on February 27th, 2024
==========
Introducing Slow Blink, the latest sonic venture from acclaimed producer Michael Claus, who this time pivots to a more raw, club-centric sound. Under this new moniker, Claus unveils a 5-track EP that radiates raw, rave-inspired energy, marking a stark contrast to his typically more ambient and introspective creations. This release is a resonant journey through overdriven drum machines and subaquatic electro, meticulously crafted for the pulsating heart of the dance floor.

The EP showcases two original tracks by Slow Blink, where Claus delivers a frenetic concoction of saturated rhythms and kaleidoscopic melodies, interwoven with iridescent atmospheres that pulse with vibrant intensity. These are complemented by a special rave edit, a high-energy rendition that intensifies the originals' dynamic energy and is perfect for peak club moments.

Complementing Claus' originals, the EP features two striking remixes by Farsight and Pteron, adding an extra layer of depth to the EP. Farsight's interpretation infuses a bass-heavy rhythm, transforming the original into a breakbeat-driven powerhouse, enriched with a new dimension of funk and bounce. Meanwhile, Pteron accelerates the tempo, reimagining the track as a sub-heavy drum and bass odyssey. This version layers swift percussion over deep basslines, evolving the original melodies into a captivating, rhythmically complex soundscape. Together, these remixes not only pay homage to the essence of Slow Blink's debut but also push it into thrilling new realms.

Slow Blink (aka Michael Claus)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikec187/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/michael-claus
BandCamp: michaelclaus.bandcamp.com

Farsight:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/djfarsight/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/djfarsight
X / Twitter: twitter.com/DJFarsight
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/2gTyZstDbbmkkohxLNchlj

Pteron:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pteron/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/pterontracks
Club Moniker: clubmoniker.bandcamp.com

Silva Electronics:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/silvaelectronics/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/silvaelectronics
Bandcamp: silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com
Website: www.silvaelectronics.net
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/11glIMvFlbpftSVUPrVLB0?si=8356319043d240c9&nd=1

SE 19 // Slow Blink - "Liminal Point" (feat. Farsight & Pteron)

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mikec187/
SC: https://www.soundcloud.com/michael-claus

Episode 1 comes from SE founding @michel-claus !

**Can you introduce yourself, tell us where you're from and/or currently based, and what it is you do? How you would describe your sound.**

My name is Michael Claus. I'm a music producer / DJ (among other things) and the founder of Silva Electronics. In terms of my sound, I’d say it has quite a bit of range that can go from left field and ambient leaning to heavy and distorted. Each release is a little bit different, but overall my music seems to retain a lightness and fun aspect to it. I'm originally from the Bay Area and spent the past 13 years in San Francisco, but recently relocated to Brooklyn, where I'm now based. Although I’ve been making music in some form for most of my life, I started Silva Electronics in 2017 and have been having a blast with it since. Thanks for tuning in and for your support.

**Tell us about the mix you've recorded for us.**

This mix is a special one. I recorded it in January 2024, prepping for a series of memorial club nights for my dear friend and San Francisco legend, Gregory Anthony Clarke aka Woo, who passed away in December 2023. Gregory and I DJ’d together as residents of the Outpost Party series in San Francisco (~2011-2016), organized by CM-4 (Cassidy Martin) & Nackt (Johnny Igaz).

For Woo’s events, I wanted to include tracks I loved playing at Outpost parties with him back in the day, whether we were DJing together or he was working the bar at UGSF. So the first half of the mix features recent digs, while the second half includes some old favorites from the Outpost era. It was amazing to relive those nights through these sounds while getting these playlists together. Huge shout out to Jimmy B of WERD SF for helping put those together.

I hope you enjoy it! Rest in Power, Woo! ❤️

**What are your upcoming projects or collaborations?**

Silva Electronics has a series of releases coming out over the next few months, including some from friends and a couple from me, which I'm very excited about! I'm also thrilled to start this new podcast series and get back to DJing and digging, alongside my music production. Keeping busy! 😁

SE Podcast 1: Michael Claus

🔮🌿 Silva Electronics is excited to announce the 20th entry in our catalog: Part II of solotape's 'Days on End' album—A series of vignettes where simplicity breeds authenticity, delivering smoked-out jams perfect for late-night introspection. 🌃🌌

Pre-order is now available for both digital and cassette formats! Purchasing the tape includes a digital download of Part II and Part I (you'll receive a digital download code for Part I when the tape ships).

SE 20 - Silva Electronics, November 2024

Music: solotape (@tapes_and_moire )
Mastering: Mark Pistel (@mark_pistel )
Cover render: @hydra_v0id 
Design: Saish K (@saishk___ )

SE 20 // solotape - "Days On End (pt. 2)" (cs)

Episode 2 comes from San Francisco-based DJ and curator DJ Tips, a key figure behind the event series and label Club Moniker. Known for his hazy, rhythmic layers and explorations of left-field experimental dance music, DJ Tips also serves as a resident for Hyper K, a monthly radio show and event series on SutroFM. This mix delivers a lush, psychedelic dreamscape of atmospheric techno, acid, and industrial, reflecting his signature sound.

https://soundcloud.com/tips_tk

https://www.instagram.com/tips.tk_/
https://www.instagram.com/club.moniker/

Full tracklist and interview -> https://blog.silvaelectronics.net/774520160438648832/se-podcast-2-dj-tips

Excerpt:

"Tell us about the mix you've recorded for us."

I recorded this in my living room with a xone92 and 3 xdj's. I mainly focused on atmospheric techno with a few acid and industrial elements. The only intent was to build toward a few higher energy tracks with a smooth, moving, and playful groove. Everything else came together nicely on the fly.
The theme of this mix is my usual MO: a hazy, psychedelic, and mysterious dreamscape within lush, natural terrain (forest, mountains, etc.) I also wanted to evoke recently gained confidence playing on bigger sound systems and gigs out of my hometown.

"Can you walk us through your creative process when approaching a new mix?" 

I spend a lot of time browsing bandcamp via labels, and then I listen to my bookmarks while commuting. I've only recently started using rekordbox to organize tracks. I group them together based on key detect with some attention to genre, energy level, and rhythm. That's about it. The rest was improvisational. I enjoy layering with 3+ decks on the spot when I catch phrases that speak to me.

“Layering with 3 decks on the spot is quite a skill. How do you decide which tracks to layer, and how does this element help shape your sound?”

I prepare based on how I feel about a collection of tracks in an environment. I have a lot of important feelings for music paired with scenery in the Bay Area. Moving through landscapes and interiors while listening to tracks leaves impressions of details like tone, intensity, rhythm, phrasing, etc.
Sometimes certain details stick with me, which leads me to tracks that have commonalities (or polarities depending on how chaotic I feel). I add a few tracks for tonal/rhythmic bridging, which leaves me with a body of elements and phrases for flexible layering. At a certain point, I just try to have fun juggling with whatever I bring to the decks. Looping helps ground me when I’m completely aimless.

“Could you tell us more about your involvement with Club Moniker? How did you connect with the crew, and what excites you most about working with them as an event series and label?”

I started Club Moniker a few years ago with a group of friends that I admire musically. We have a wide range of tastes which leads to unpredictable hilarity. We’re very much a “what if” kind of a crew which is exciting to me. That’s probably why we don’t have a distinct association with genre because we’re interested in many forms of expression. Obviously this leads to many tribulations, but I like the fact that it’s hard for us to conform to something indefinitely. The event series and label is a reflection of that.

“What are your upcoming projects or collaborations?”
A few shows coming up in San Francisco, incl:
2/8 - Squish x Club Moniker - livwutang all night @ UGSF
2/22 - Club Moniker x Hyper K - Piezo @ Yerba Buena

SE Podcast 2: DJ Tips

IG: www.instagram.com/mikec187/
SC: @michael-claus

SE Founder Michael Claus @michel-claus is back at it again for Episode 3, coming through with a slow-burning journey of downtempo grooves, tripped-out rhythms, and dubby atmospheres.

Full interview and tracklist -> https://blog.silvaelectronics.net/post/779628891026472960/se-podcast-3-michael-claus

Tracklist:
Artist - Track name

Forest Management - Hydro
Porter Ricks - Phosphoric
Techno Animal - Hydrozoid
In Aeternam Vale - 808TS
Conforce - Elude
Austin Cesear - Cloud Hall
Huerco S. - Rushing To Paradise
Bookworms & Steve Summers - Let it Run
Jack Hyde - Sea-Stone
Shinichi Atobe - Plug and Delay
Demdike Stare - Eulogy
Millsart - The Deuce Theory
DJ Spider - Planetary DisFunkshun
Elexos Park - Guava
Bruce Trail - Beatrice
2301 - Shell
Monolake - Fragile
Plastikman - I Don't Know
Marcelus - Utopia

---

**Tell us about the mix you've recorded for us.**

I put this mix together on a very snowy Saturday night in February, where everything outside was blanketed in white and it just kept coming down for hours. The view from my window was beautiful, and that cozy, surreal stillness definitely inspired the direction of the mix. Since I was posted up at home, I decided to go for a slower, more laid-back set that featured some of my favorite styles and sound palettes. We’re cooking low and slow here—downtempo sluggers, lush atmospheres, and staggered rhythms that drift behind and around the beat. It moves through different zones, starting mellow and hazy, building toward tripped-out house, minimal and dubby textures.

**Can you walk us through your creative process when approaching this mix?**

I wanted the mix to feel like it matched the color and mood of that snowy night—shades of purple, blue, and white. The idea was to explore the more psychedelic, melodic, and slightly off-kilter sides of downtempo and experimental club sounds. I started by gathering some of my favorite tracks in this realm and loosely organizing them by tempo. Then I hit record and just jammed, gradually increasing the tempo as the mix progressed. There are a few rough edges in there, but I chose not to re-record it. You can hear “me” in there. Definitely not AI ;)

SE Podcast 3: Michael Claus

https://soundcloud.com/michael-claus
https://michaelclaus.bandcamp.com/album/gradient-dreams-ep

Drawn from live performances in San Francisco and Sacramento between 2022 and 2023, Michael Claus’ latest 4-track EP distills the energy, experimentation and atmosphere of those sets into a focused studio release. Loops, textures, and rhythmic sketches originally crafted for the dance floor and shaped in real time by crowd energy, space, and intuition have been reshaped into four fully realized tracks—each one carrying traces of the environments and moments that first gave them life.

From the high-velocity percussion and drive of “Gradient Dreams” to the low slung and staggered swing of “Plastic Soul,” Claus weaves together a palette of saturated percussion, hazy atmospheres and pixelated melodies. “AI Instinct” locks into a hypnotic and machine-link churn of syncopated 909s and a minimalist 303, while “Invisible Beach” closes things out with a groovy melody that feels half dream, half machine. There’s a distinctly cybernetic mood running throughout—neon-tinted and lo-fi, like glimpses of a decaying city’s sprawl refracted through smoke and chrome.

Influenced by the retro-futurist visions of authors like William Gibson, Claus taps into a sound both worn and futuristic, pulsing with motion yet heavy with atmosphere. The result is a collection that feels lived-in and cinematic. Whether heard in a club or in solitude, the EP offers a snapshot of Claus’ creative loop between performance and production, memory and reinvention.
credits
releases June 13, 2025

UPDATE on our upcoming release pre-order, “Gradient Dreams” EP.

We have decided to donate all proceeds of this release to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, whose mission it is to supply medical aid, treatment, food, water, and necessities to families affected by the ongoing crisis. They also focus on rebuilding healthcare facilities, and funding trauma counseling and mental health services to foster healing in the community.

From the BBC ( https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz63jnx52l0o ):

“The IPC assessment, released on Monday, found half a million people - or one in five - were facing starvation in Gaza. It said nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next 11 months to April 2026.”

From PBS ( https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-israels-blockade-pushes-gaza-towards-famine-aid-workers-say-they-feel-helpless ):

“After months of trying to raise alarm, humanitarian workers are overflowing with anger, frustration and horror over Israel’s nearly three-month blockade of Gaza. The Associated Press spoke to over a dozen aid workers, some with years of experience in emergencies around the world and Palestinians who have worked through this and other wars.

They say what is happening in Gaza is a catastrophe, among the worst they have ever seen. It’s more painful, they say, because it’s man-made, caused by Israel cutting off all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to the territory nearly 11 weeks ago.

The world’s top authority on food crises last week warned of famine unless the blockade ends. Almost the entire population of around 2.3 million is acutely malnourished, and one in five Palestinians are on the brink of starvation, it said.” (from PBS)

Please consider making your own contribute to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.  You can make a donation and learn more about their work on their website: 

https://www.pcrf.net/
--

Composition, production, mixing: Michael Claus
Mastering: Russell E. L. Butler

SE 21 // Michael Claus  - "Gradient Dreams" EP

Episode 4 comes from Bay Area-based DJ and selector Researcher, whose ties to scenes in Brooklyn, Detroit, and SF shape a wide-ranging, intentional approach to sound and curation. Researcher brings a sharp ear for mood, movement, and atmosphere. This mix is a driving, heady trip that fuses peak-time techno pressure with electro-inspired rhythms and dub textures that surface throughout.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/researcher.mp3/

SC: https://soundcloud.com/researcher-mp3

https://soundcloud.com/researcher-mp3

Full interview and Tracklist -> https://blog.silvaelectronics.net/post/784704908970655744/se-podcast-4-researcher

Interview excerpt:

"You’ve spent time in scenes from Brooklyn to Detroit to SF—how have those scenes shaped your approach to music and curation, and what makes a party or venue feel truly special to you?"
Spaces like 285 Kent (BK) and parties like GHE20G0TH1K (BK) really impressed upon me that underground culture really wasn’t about just one single aesthetic, genre, style, or artform.  There are, of course, certain touchstones and common influences.  All of this is ultimately rooted in the queer and Black cultures of cities like Detroit, Chicago, etc., and our parties and spaces should reflect and respect those origins.  But the styles and sounds that influence this culture are tremendously diverse.  

My time in Detroit really reinforced that lesson.  The aesthetic boundaries there felt pretty fluid, there’s a lot of overlap between scenes and genres. Which is as it should be, at least in my opinion.

Probably the most influential space for me was Grenadier Club, which was an after hours spot in Detroit around 2016. It’s hard to capture how special that place was, but like, if you were around Detroit at that time, you know. I was really captivated by the space itself. The building had this slightly disorienting layout, and the visual design of the space felt like something out of David Lynch.  I didn’t really know anyone when I moved to the city but I was captivated by the visuals and ended up bringing a DSLR to photograph some of the parties. I felt self conscious about it at first, but the staff and party promoters were incredibly kind and encouraging. I’m grateful that they let me shoot the parties: Grenadier only lasted a year or two before the city shut it down, but I was able to capture some of it.  Those images mean so much to me now.

SE Podcast 4: Researcher

Episode 5 comes from San Francisco-based producer, DJ, and promoter Pressing, whose work explores off-kilter rhythms and left-field sound design. As the founder of Hyper K, he has helped shape the Bay Area underground through genre-spanning events, residencies on SutroFM and Noods Radio, and collaborations with crews like Club Moniker and Endzeit. This mix, recorded live at a Hyper K party earlier this year, finds Pressing navigating a psychedelic low-BPM zone, threading halftime DnB, atmospheric bass, and percussive hypnosis into a slow-burning, body-centric trip.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/_press_ing

SC: https://soundcloud.com/ppressingg

NOODS redisent page: https://noodsradio.com/residents/pressing

Full interview and Tracklist -> https://blog.silvaelectronics.net/post/792908032569999360/se-podcast-5-pressing

Interview excerpt:

Tell us about the mix

"This mix is the recording of a set I played on April 4th 2025. It was for a party my crew Hyper K threw with some friends, Club Moniker and Endzeit. Spekki Webbu, Feral, Miagma, Mozhgan, Kudeki, and Altinbas also played. I played upstairs in a fast/trippy room.

I played early and the next artists really shine and do their thing at a pretty fast pace but I didn’t want to creep up the tempo consistently over an hour. I pulled my zoniest 80/160 and tried to find a smooth ramp up. My hope was that after an hour of this, the bodies in the room could hear/feel something near where Spekki and Feral would be playing for a less jarring transition. There’s so much good music in this zone: from half time dnb to atmospheric, leftfield psychedelia and even a lil hip hop. That gives way to some heavy bass which, at this tempo, really makes me….not want to headbang buuuuut….maybe nod my head really hard?? I also love just straight up percussion so there’s a bit of that in there too."

That party was with Hyper K, Club Moniker, and Endzeit and seemed like a real moment. How did the night go?

"The night went great. Really good turnout and really cool space with two floors and a chill out zone. Always fun to do parties with friends who put a lot of thought into the curation and production. It was a huge effort to turn that warehouse into a warehome for the night :)"

SE Podcast 5: Pressing (Live @ Endzeit Club Moniker Hyper K, April 2025)

Episode 6 comes from Silva Electronics founder and Brooklyn-based Producer / DJ Michael Claus. For this one he digs deep into the “lower middle-bottom left section” of his record collection for an all vinyl dive bar mix, stitching together psychedelic jazz, krautrock, post-punk, leftfield, New Wave, industrial, EBM, crust punk, and metal. Recorded on a humid summer night in New York with the windows wide open.

https://blog.silvaelectronics.net/post/800836469028798464/episode-6-comes-from-silva-electronics-founder-and

IG: www.instagram.com/mikec187/ 
SC: @michael-claus

Tell us about the mix:
"I recorded this mix on a summer night, New York humidity in full effect, all the windows and the balcony door wide open to let in whatever little breeze was available. I was enjoying a night in, so I dug through the lower middle-bottom left section of my record collection, hooked up my second turntable to an old DJ “battle” mixer (Tascam XS-4) I had stashed in the closet, plugged it into my laptop, and hit record. It was fun!"

"This mixer is a little tricky to work with and takes a bit of time to get used to. It only has a low and high band EQ, and each channel is a mirror image of the other, so each EQ knob is on the opposite side from the other channel. I don't really use mixers in the turntable “battle” context, so this kind of setup makes it really easy for me to accidentally grab the wrong EQ parameter lol."

Tracklist:

Miles Davis - In A Silent Way / It’s About That Time [In A Silent Way, Side B] (full side)
CAN - Paperhouse [Tago Mago, A1]
CAN - Mushroom [Tago Mago, A2]
Bronze - Dulcinea [World Arena, A3] [2014, Not Not Fun Records] <3
The Clash - The Call Up [EP, A1]
Crass - Beg The Question [Christ - The Album, A5]
The Clash - The Magnificent Dance [EP, B1]
Art Of Noise - Legs [Legs, B1]
Grauzone - Der Weg Zu Zweit [Grauzone, B4]
Bronze - Played [World Arena, A1] [2014, Not Not Fun Records] <3
Grauzone - Schlachtet! [Grauzone, A2]
Borghesia - She Is Not Alone [She Is Not Alone, A1]
Cabaret Voltaire - Crackdown [EP, A1]
Severed Heads - A Million Angels [Since The Accident, A2]
Cardinal & Nun - I Met The Devil [Cardinal & Nun, A1]
Severed Heads - Dead Eyes Open [Since The Accident, A5]
Chrome - The Chronicles Of The Beacons [The Chronicles II, A1]
GBH - Tipuki Thunder [Wot a Bargin’, A4]
Crass - Have A Nice Day [Christ - The Album, A1]
Amebix - Monolith / Nobody’s Driving / The Power Remains [Monolith, A1, A2, A3]
Darkthrone - These Shores Are Damned / Canadian Metal [F.O.A.D., A1, A2]
Anti Cimex - Pain Killer [Anti-Cimex EP, B1]
Power Trip - Manifest Desimation / Heretic’s Fork [Manifest Decimation, A1, A2]

SE Podcast 6: Michael Claus (Dive bar vinyl)

The first installment of the "Ground Loop Sessions" mix series.  Michael Claus brings the heat.  @michael-claus

Ground Loop Sessions Vol 1 - Michael Claus

Ground Loop Sessions Vol 2 - Michael Claus

@michael-claus
@silva-electronics
@outpost-sf

Ground Loop Sessions Vol II - Michael Claus

Silva Electronics Presents:
Ground Loop Sessions Vol. III
DJ HYENA

"55 minutes of hardcore techno, ebm and electro from the illusive San Francisco, CA based DJ HYENA."

Ground Loop Sessions Vol III: DJ HYENA

Live cuts from the SF based 'Assassins Of Youth.'  All tracks were recorded in one take, 100% live and straight to tape.  No edits. No compromises.

Releases January 29, 2018 

Jan 2018 Silva Electronics

SE002 // Assassins of Youth - 'AOY' ep PREVIEWS (Out Now)

Our good friend @estudy brings us an assortment of electro and techno for this installment of the Ground Loop Sessions.  éstudy doesn't hold back, this mix GOES! Do yourself a favor and listen to this one.
---------------------------------------------------------
Ground Loop Sessions Vol. IV: @estudy
Silva Electronics
Jan 21st 2018
---------------------------------------------------------

https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/

Ground Loop Sessions Vol IV:  éstudy

Hard hitting techno of the third kind from the Oakland based @Vidiian . 
Out 3/26/18
----------
Pre sales available on bandcamp:
https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/
----------
Music written by Vidiian
https://soundcloud.com/vidiian
----------
Analog Mastering by Pheek
https://audioservices.studio/
----------
Silva Electronics, March 2018

Support

SE003 // Vidiian - 'Salvaged Systems' ep PREVIEWS (Out Now)

Back at it again with exactly what you need!
------------------------------------------------------------------
@estudy @estudy @estudy @estudy @estudy
------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.facebook.com/theyreheresf
------------------------------------------------------------------
https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/

Ground Loop Sessions Vol VI: éstudy

Mesmerizing broken-beat & techno cuts from one of the UK's finest, techno weirdo @caldera-caldera
--------------------------
PRE ORDER:
https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/running-through-life-sleeping-ep
--------------------------
Music written and composed by @caldera-caldera
--------------------------
Mastering by TENEBRE
--------------------------
Silva Electronics, July 9th 2018

SE004 // Caldera - 'Running Through Life Sleeping' ep PREVIEWS (out now)

Blistering tape rips from the prolific San Francisco based musician and gear junkie,  Solotape (@enceence)
--------------------------
PRE ORDER:
https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/synthetic-instantiations-of-nature-ep
--------------------------
Music written and composed by @enceence
--------------------------
Mastering by Matt Tammariello
--------------------------
Silva Electronics, August 18th 2018

SE005 // Solotape - 'Synthetic Instantiations Of Nature' ep PREVIEWS

Silva Electronics Radio ep. 1 - Michael Claus

For SE 006, @michael-claus offers up a diverse set of music that ranges in tempo and genre and is packed full of atmospheric bliss.  Using a variety of acoustic instruments, field recordings and synthesizers, Claus creates a cohesive sound through out the entire release and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you.

Out January 28th 2019

Cover by @Michael-claus

https://silvaelectronics.bandcamp.com/album/arrival-lp

SE006 // Michael Claus - 'Arrival' lp PREVIEWS

We are extremely excited to announce the upcoming release of SE007, 'DEGENERATE MATTER' ep by LA based @aakaara.  Consisting of four blistering cuts packed full of pistol whipping EBM and techno, this is not one to sleep on.

Safe when used as directed.

Out March 25th via Bandcamp.

Cover by @aakaara

SE 007 // AAKAARA - 'DEGENERATE MATTER' ep

Murky cuts and tripped out sounds from SF DON @sepehr-a
==========
Silva Electronics Radio
==========
Every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 8 - 9p PST
==========
On the one and only - www.sutrofm.net
@sutrofm @sutrofm @sutrofm

se radio feat. SEPEHR 4/5/20 (sutrofm.net)

Silva Electronics Radio August 2020 feat. Michael Claus (@michael-claus)
==========
SE RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT: We're changing up the format of Silva Electronics Radio and are shifting from a bi-weekly show with new mixes each time to a monthly mix/playlist that broadcasts twice per month (1st and 3rd Sunday).  These mixes will cover a range of genres and will focus on sharing BandCamp releases and playing out unreleased material from SE Founder Michael Claus and the SE family.  After the final broadcast of the month, the show will be archived onto our SoundCloud ( https://soundcloud.com/silva-electronics/sets/se-radio-sutrofm-net ) with a complete track list.  If you hear something you like, we encourage you to check the track list and buy it on BandCamp.  Supporting independent music, labels and artists is an important thing to do, especially in times like these. Also, we'd like to take a quick moment to thank all of our listeners for tuning in these past few years and for all the people re-listening & showing us support on SoundCloud.  Thanks and stay tuned for more!
==========
Tracklist:

Reset - Folder (Experiences Ltd 2020)
MDP5 - Skee Mask (Ilian Tape 2020)
Array - Page off 2B (c minus 2020)
Im Fremden Raum - Ike Zwanikken (Storage Media 2020)
Fake Room of People - Perila (Self Released 2020)
Mbass123 - Skee Mask (Ilian Tape 2020)
Double Window - Hybrid Man (Paper-Cuts 2019)
All feelings at par - The Marx Trukker (Noorden 2020)
Sea-Stone - Jack Hyde (Whitelabrecs 2019)
Unreleased - Michael Claus
Unreleased - Michael Claus
Unreleased - Michael Claus
Yes - Shinichi Atobe (DDS 2020)
==========
Silva Electronics Radio
==========
Broadcasts 1st and 3rd Sunday from 8 - 9p PST
==========
On the one and only - www.sutrofm.net
@sutrofm @sutrofm @sutrofm

SE Radio feat. Michael Claus 8/2/20 (sutrofm.net)

====================
🔊 San Francisco based Record Label
📡 Introspective Dreamscapes and Dystopic Beats
====================
Demos, promo, mix submissions and inquires: 
michael@silvaelectronics.net
@michael-claus
====================
Distribution:
EU: Ready Made Distribution
US: Email directly 
====================
est. Oct 2017 - San Francisco, CA
====================

Silva Electronics

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