AYLI Ground Level shines a light on artists that create the fabric of our community: City by city, state by state, country by country.

AYLI on Bandcamp

AYLI Ground Level Series

Mixes

These are mixes made by the current members of Research & Development, Makeen and JS Alvarez

Mixes by R&D members

Tracklist:

Fernando Falcão - Memoria das Aguas
Pulse Emitter - Void Engine 1
Uun - Junkspace
Inox Trax - Sound Effects
Franz Jager - Lana Hunts (VIL Club Edit)
Robert Hood - Ignite A War
Hardcell & Grindvik - Silver (Hardcell Remix)
Sibilant - Screecher Creature
Overland - NASA
1800 Haightstreet - Permafrost
Pelada - Desatado
Vinicius Honorio - Heartbeat (Alex Bau Repaint)
Andre Kronert - Tenth Street Rag
dj ESP Woody McBride vs. John Frank - The Pitch of Madness
Clouds - T12
Sound Associates - Jackknife (Len Faki edit)
Subjected - Thtswhtwnt
Merino - Como Desaparacer
Lonefront - 19
Furtive - Crossfire
Russell E.L. Butler - Maggots
Are:gone - 721.2
Tarker - Enhanced
Jaq Attaque - Martian Immigration (Raw Mix)
Free Range - The Grey Goose
Paul Bailey - Battery Girl
Blacknecks - Don’t Say Goodbye
Frankie Vega & Gabriel Palomo - The Tempest
Decks - Fractured
Keanu Raves - Secret Base Aesthetic
Fjaak - Bassani
Alphaconda - Hey Mami
LSDXOXO - Mutant Exotic (D.Dan Remix)

JS Alvarez- minimal detroit

Jana has 'shape shifting lizard' JS Alvarez on the show to select some mutant techno and unruly bass music. 
https://www.nts.live/shows/jana-rush/episodes/jana-rush-24th-february-2024

Jana Rush w/ JS Alvarez 240224

@jsalvarez
@researchndevelopment
Interview: https://www.ayli-sf.com/2024/05/16/ayli-ground-level-019-js-alvarez/

Track-listing: 

Michal Wolski - Qi
Architectural - Rare Ceremony Tapes
Space Drum Meditation - Oviraptor (Marco Shuttle Remix) 
Felix K - Fundamentals (Onar Anxiety Remix)
Uun - Blood Money Redux
Wata Igarashi - Gravity 
DJ Hockey - Whirlpool 
Jeremy Caufield - Station A
Aliasing - Bline
DJ Nobu - pressure point 
Ezy - Too Deep
Marçal- Bionic Jungle 
Gag Reflex - Tomb 
Ungar - Aggressive 
PS11 - Chiron 
Decoder - Visionary
Legless Lizard - Something Better 
Are:gone - Organic Taste 
Aadja - post natal drip

AYLI Ground Level 018: JS Alvarez

Neptunian Influence, Sixty-Seven | Featuring @jsalvarez

JS Alvarez is a shape shifting lizard that succumbs to no one genre and can be found exploring the depths of mutant techno and unruly bass music alike. He is the founding member of Research & Development. ﻿What started as a monthly event series at Smartbar took on a new path with a biweekly mix series focused on nurturing new sounds, experiences and atmospheres while exploring the music and culture it was born or mutated from. Find him at Podlasie Club or sweaty basements and warehouses in Chicago and beyond.

SUPPORT: @researchndevelopment

| Tracklist | 
Phoenicia - Diagnosa
Forest Drive West - Time
214 - Body Control
Annika Wolfe - The Art of Abduction Dark
Atrice - Multiplex
Del Hale, R. Mohr - Gambit
Keith & Kevin - No Hot Water at St Regis
Future DZ - Sawed Off
Gesloten Cirkel - Everything For The Dev
Only Now, Flore - Cut & Run (Only Now Version)
Pedrolino - I Don’t Believe You (Filmmaker remix)
Marcela Dias Sindaco - Rio Ofegante
Privacy - Sword, NYC
KEEFE - Bad Boi
Identified Patient - Digital Drain
Deandrah - Red Grey
MANASyt - No 13th Floor
Data Assault - Pesadelo Absoluto
Rescript - Regurge
Shcuro - Unbearable Heaviness
Cressida - Al Gore Riddim
Machino - Pusher
Jensen Interceptor - The Fountainebleau
Raavel - Insect Repellent
Nite Fleit & False Persona - Parallax
Cyan 85 - 4 ma C-Borgs
TANS - The Priest’s Morsel (DJ Nephil RMX)
Vorp - I Plead the Filth

Meet you in the Great Dark Spot

NI67 | JS Alvarez

We are so lucky to release this mix for our 37th entry, recorded live at SmartBar (Chicago) by our friend and excellent DJ Shanti!

From the artist:
I am so grateful to be able to share this mix with you all through PPRZ! This is a mix that was recorded at Smartbar in Chicago when I opened for Lady Starlight as part of Justin Aulis Long's series, Flowers of Romance. It was a 3-hour long set from 10pm-1am on a Pioneer V10 Mixer with 3-4 CDJ 3000s. 

What I love about opening sets is having the ability to set the tone for the night as people are arriving and making the transition from wherever they came from to the communal embodiment of dancing. The other fascinating element about an opening set is the dramatic contrast between the beginning and end as one first experiences an empty dance floor and sees the gradual process of it growing with energy and feeling even though I can really only see beautiful silhouettes moving in the darkness. I take an opening set to be about the gradual cultivation of energy but also an opportunity for creative tension and exercising restraint for the headliner and rest of the night.

Bio:
Shanti is a Chicago-based DJ who explores philosophical themes of existential angst and ambiguity through surreal, foreboding, and atmospheric soundscapes. Her sets weave a story of the simultaneous despair and yearning that are intertwined with the human condition. 

While she is thoughtful about curating multifaceted energy and emotion within her sets, she also co-curates events such as Otherworldly Ambiguity as Evanti, a conceptual experience centered around the phenomenon of hybridity, occupying the spaces in between and outside of pre-existing concepts and rigid categories. She is also a part of Chicago-based DJ collective and label, Research & Development which is a mix series and curator of multifaceted music-centered experiences. 

Mix mastered by: Umair Chachar

Tracklist:
Part 1:
Lemna - Memories
Lemna - Hallucination 
Voices from the Lake - Mika 
Donato Dozzy - Aquatica
SHXCXCHCXSH - A Sunny Day in Ostrogothia 
Dan B. Hood - Ode to Drome
BMG & Derek Plaslaiko - Ghost Ship 
Rrose - Signs 
Alexskyspirit - The Travelers (Polygonia remix)
Etapp Kyle - Source 
Mike Parker - Heat Inducer 
Love Letters - Morse (BMG mix) 
Club Drippy - Crashed
Ryogo Yamamori- Zw
Marcel Dettman - Rush (Deep Release mix)
Pause - Crater  
SHXCXCHCXSH  - HHHHHHHGGKS 
Part 2:
Rrose - Solaris 
Lonefront - Stera
Modes - M52 
NØRBAK - Luyr 
Allana Letm - Tempos Multiplos (Centrific Remix)
Nubbles - Reflect 2 
Maedon-X - Caged Animal 
Perc - Milk Snatchers Return
Ritaffein - Laiva
Regis - Body Unknown 
Jamaica Suk - Tes Levrés
British Murder Boys - We Will Show You 
Uun - Junkspace 
Kanding Ray - Dark Barker 
Peter Van Hoesen - Vola Flash 
Surgeon - The Golden Sea 
Alexskyspirit- SNCTR2 
Decoder - Falling Flat 
Part 3:
Quelza - Plastic Waves 
Neel - A Thought without Time 
Oscar Mulero - Tormenta 
Regis - The Theme from Street Walker
DASH3D - Neuropulmonar
CRØG - Fire 
Oblivion & Uranya - Bassa Marea 
Sorcery - Dark Scan
GiGi FM - Amadamushies
Neel- Riflesso 
Quelza - We’ll Never Be Friends Again 
J. Blofeld - Uranus 
Cej- Itchy 
Char - Free 
Psyk & Orbe - Tunnel Diode
Surgeon - Convenience Trap Pt.2

Donations if you enjoyed this mix from Shanti's recommended organization: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/ - creating a just and sustainable food system for all through education.

PPRZ Podcast 37 - Shanti live at SmartBar Chicago

ZONA CINCO - MICTLAN - VOL 4

We are thrilled to present this mix by Chicago based JS Alvarez for our 39th entry in the series. Both Adam and I admire what Jeremy contributes to the music scene with their podcast and event series Research & Development.

JS Alvarez is a shape shifting lizard that has learned human behavior from living in cities such as Chicago and Miami. He succumbs to no one genre and can be found exploring the depths of mutant techno and unruly bass music alike.

He is the founding member of Research & Development which ignited in the iconic Chicago mainstay of Smartbar. The event series has moved on to host community focused events centered on a wide variety of often cutting edge electronic sounds at venues like Podlasie Club, The Whistler and various DIY spaces. R&D also hosts a biweekly podcast 100+ episodes deep ranging from rising talents, hometown heroes and well established DJs and producers from North America and around the world.

He's shared the booth with artists such as DVS1, Veronika Vasicka, D.Dan, Hodge and others. His mixes have been featured on NTS Radio, Mutant Radio and SutroFM among others. Catch him at The Great Beyond this July! 

I was trying to find a very textured sound within the first quarter of the mix. My attempt at some sort of atmospheric sci-fi horror score followed by something a bit more hypnotic. By the end of the mix I wanted those vibes to explode into something highly rhythmic. Something to shatter what came before and get the sweat dripping off the walls. 

If you enjoyed this mix, please consider donating to JS Alvarez' organization of choice:
https://www.organizedcommunities.org/ 
https://www.organizedcommunities.org/donate

PPRZ Podcast 39 - JS Alvarez

Special guest mix from Chicago based dj SHANTI  - cohost of Otherworldly Ambiguity with Scum.ee, member of techno collective Research & Development, and host of “Liminal Radio” on WIIT 88.9 FM. Shanti kindly shared a 3 hour opening set she did for Aurora Halal in Chicago on May 9th 2025 at Smoke & Mirrors - toon in! 🚀🚀🚀
https://soundcloud.com/shantievanti
https://soundcloud.com/researchndevelopment

See video of Shanti’s set at https://youtu.be/QqfMYAyS8bM?si=FPZJDhNdZqlf63YS

BL Radio EP 130: SHANTI [Research & Development]

"The context:
I am alone. I am found. I died alone. I never thought I’d be found. I am overwhelmed by memories of a dystopian existence on a collapsing planet where evil took over and subsumed good. All of the kindness evaporated and was swallowed by greed. Memories of my past life occlude my consciousness causing confusion between modes of time like a mirage. Is it the past, present, or future? I can no longer tell.

A journey through being:
Confronted by the pain of knowing but trying to exist and embrace being in the world. Did I give up too quickly? Did I fail to change reality? What did I sacrifice in order to function and live a worldly existence like everyone around me? Blinded by hedonism, the collapsing of the mind and soul into the throws of desire left me empty. I gave up. I lost myself. I returned to the comfort of despair. It’s throbbing. To live without hope is to live in despair. Was there a reprieve from it all? Distractions, pleasure, and attachments turned into a vicious cycle of yearning and loss. Accepting impermanence with a half-open heart. It never got better. It just got worse. Functioning with an ever-growing sense of doom. And now I’m here. Alone. All I have are my memories. But existing in confusion from when these memories took place. Introspection with escapism outside of time. The vicious interplay between existence and non-existence. I am left with nothing."

Opening for Rrose at Smartbar, Chicago in June utilizing 4 CDJs and a V10 mixer.

@shantievanti
IG: @shantiism
https://ra.co/dj/shanti
https://youtu.be/QqfMYAyS8bM?si=iwapv-7i2LFIPNlG

Shanti has made textured waves in Chicago’s techno scene with her curation of dark, sinister, and ethereal soundscapes. Music has always been a means of coping with the otherness and hybridity Shanti experienced throughout her life. She has been deeply moved by the transcendent ability of music to express concepts, states of consciousness, and conflicting emotions. Shanti’s sets weave a story of the simultaneous despair and yearning that are intertwined with the human condition and illustrate an intentional trajectory through combining and cultivating surreal, atmospheric, and haunting sounds.

Enamored by the liminal dynamics of sound, she cohosts Otherworldly Ambiguity with Scum.ee –an experience that is centered around the phenomenon of existing in between and outside of pre-existing concepts and rigid categories. She is also a member of techno collective Research & Development and hosts a monthly radio show, “Liminal Radio” on WIIT 88.9 FM featuring thoughtful artists at the core of Chicago’s underground music scene. Shanti has had the privilege of warming up and closing out dancefloors for incredibly inspirational artists such as Rrose, DJ Nobu, Ø [Phase], Aurora Halal, Mozhgan, Lady Starlight, Black Light Smoke, Esther Dune, Zenker Brothers, Noncompliant, Xtin, and more. She has had the immense pleasure of conjuring spirits at Chicago’s most beloved clubs such as Smartbar, Smoke & Mirrors, Podlasie Club, and several underground gatherings.

Experiencing music outside of the confines of a club or the underground is extremely important to Shanti as she had initially discovered her favorite artists through online podcasts and radio. The universalizability of podcasts and radio enable music to be experienced by more humans situated in different contexts. This is why she has contributed to many notable online mix series and radio channels. Her mixes have been featured on The Black Lodge Radio, SutroFM, Mutant Radio, PPRZ, Death Decay & Magic, Braid Records, Low Visibility, Dance All Day, and m50’s etc radio among other podcasts and shows. This past year, Shanti has expanded her surreal storytelling beyond Chicago by playing in Amsterdam, LA, Detroit and notable Midwest festivals such as Minnesota’s The Great Beyond and Madison’s Musique Électronique. This Halloween, she will be playing at Chicago’s notoriously dark music festival, Sanctum.

Distant Signals 084: Shanti

The new podcast series “AYLI Ground Level” shines a light on artists that create the fabric of our community: City by city, state by state, country by country. In a different year, under a different environment, Washington, D.C.’s Baronhawk Poitier would be an “it” name of the summer festival season. His release on Honey Soundsystem would have been played by DJs near and far, bringing a smile to the face of the moodiest raver. For a debut release, his polished sound, infectious vibes and catchy beat is years beyond his relative experience. Despite the uncertainty of what’s to come, you can bet that Baronhawk will be a name you’ll be hearing about for years to come. Take a moment to listen to his mix, read his interview, pick up his Honey release on Bandcamp, and send him a few bucks or more. This Sunday we’re excited to showcase the Washington, D.C community, in collaboration with Fault Radio, for our monthly Coast to Coast broadcast. Quality.

Venmo/Cashapp: @Baronhawk
INTERVIEW: http://www.ayli-sf.com/2020/08/18/ground-level-001-baronhawk-poitier/
@baronhawkpoitier

Baronhawk Poitier - Temperado Tornado (Official Video) Dir. Aron Kantor on @honeysoundsystem.

https://youtu.be/iX7b-R2TqEs

Baronhawk Poitier – The Stopped World (Mix)
Rustic Hut – See You Again (Broadway & Queen Mix)
Panash – Cheval (Przewalski’s Eastern Bounce)
Waajeed – Better Late Than Never
DjjoelS – Al Greens House
D Tiffany – V2M
Armonica – Ngeke (Andhim Remix)
Obas Nenor – Tribe Tribute
Gafacci – Sweetest Taboo
DJ Technics – Don’t Make Me Wait
Dukeyman – Feelin It Filter Joint
Flora FM – Inc Stop
Santos – Hold Home
Cray76 – Evangelion
Christina Chatfield – Flutters (Unreleased)
Acronym City – Powermoves (Gerd Janson Mayday Edit)
Karizma – How Fly This Life Is
Jay Ka – 6
Atjazz – Sweat No Sleep (Broken Soul Dub)
Maxwell – Stop The World

AYLI Ground Level 001 - Baronhawk Poitier's Stopped World Mix

AYLI Ground Level 001: Baronhawk Poitier's Stopped World (Mix)

Ground Level 002: @jacq-jill

Pronouns: She/They

AYLI Ground Level shines a light on artists that create the fabric of our community: City by city, state by state, country by country. Washington, D.C.’s Jacq Jill AKA Lauren Wright's contribution to their local community have ramped up in recent years, with regular gigs alongside international heavy hitters and the launch of the “Hothouse" warehouse series with Shyboi. Those dates have been paired with releases on a who’s who’s of podcasts and an appearance representing D.C on Boiler Room. That energy has lead to headliner appearances at the leading queer underground parties in North America. Jacq Jill’s best known for bringing that same energy to the party.  Their energy on the decks is captivating. Their drive is to build community through the creation safe spaces. It’s impossible not to be pulled in. We’re excited to shine a light on Jacq Jill.  Take a moment to listen to the mix, read the interview and send Lauren a few bucks or more. Last weekend we showcased the Washington, D.C community, in collaboration with Fault Radio, for our monthly Coast to Coast broadcast. Get ready for a release. Quality.
INTERVIEW: http://www.ayli-sf.com/2020/08/25/ground-level-002-jacq-jill/
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/jacqjill

AYLI Ground Level #002: Jacq Jill's Release Mix

Ground Level #003: @truncate
Pronouns: He/Him

INTERVIEW: http://www.ayli-sf.com/2020/09/09/ground-level-003-truncate/
TRACKLIST:
Josh Wink - Intro
Ackermann - Stabilität
Harry Romero - Control (Josh Wink Interpretation)
Gabriella Vergilov - So Cool So High (Hiroko Yamamura Remix)
Bleur & MB1 - Mercedes (Michael Klein Remix)
Black Girl/White Girl - Jelly Brain
Hertz Collision - Vent
Armando - Unknown Disco Tape #7
DJ Pro One - Kaos Theory (Claude Young Mix)
Jay Denham - Beat Box
Reeko - Indonesian Dream
Kai Van Dongen - Siabasin
Scuba x Felsen - Speed This MF Up (Truncate Remix)
Earwax - Attraverso
Re_Axis - Collective Shift
TWR72 - Breath
CZR - Climax
It’s Not A Game (Jorge Zamacona Remix)
Losoul - Movespeak
Loco Dice - Backyard Moves
DJOKO - Jode Lade
Glenn Astro - Slarutan (Pristine Mix)

GROUND LEVEL 003-TRUNCATE

AYLI Ground Level #003: Truncate's It's a New Day Mix

INTERVIEW: http://www.ayli-sf.com/2020/09/14/ground-level-004-zernell/
@grimyedits
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/zernell

TRACKLIST:
Detroit Swindle – Time

Jon Pierce – Survivor 

KemeticJust pres. Terrance Downs – Here For It (Deeper Tech Rub) 

The New Mastersounds – Taking Me Down (DJ Spinna Remix)

Hugo LX – Catching Thunder

Tai Davis – Acid Luv

Latin Soul Brothas – Future foundation

Every Cow has its Day 

Kimosabe – If We Were Children Again

James Curd- Let’s Get Get Get it

PJ – Unreleased 

Byron the Aquarius  – I want to go

AYLI Ground Level

AYLI Ground Level #004: Zernell

INTERVIEW: https://www.ayli-sf.com/2020/10/13/ground-level-005-ivvy/
@ivvyseattle
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/ivvy

Track list:

IVVY - Floating in a circle (live version) - Self release
IVVY - Lets go back - unreleased
IVVY - Bad mood - unreleased
IVVY - English bake - unreleased
IVVY - Kepler 1649 - unreleased
IVVY - Painful light - unreleased
IVVY - Witchcraft - unreleased
IVVY - No, no - unreleased
IVVY - Closer - unreleased
IVVY - Somebody kill me - Identity Spectrum Records 
IVVY - God are you there, its Madi - Secondnature
IVVY - Kicks over my head - unreleased
IVVY - Be good - unreleased

AYLI Ground Level: IVVY

AYLI Ground Level 005: IVVY

As You Like It is the result of a shared taste for quality electronic music, late-night experiences, and creative expression, rooted in the underground and branching out to new heights.

As You Like It Recordings, an imprint of As You Like It SF, fosters and amplifies the diverse Bay Area artist community, releasing cutting-edge sounds through a multifaceted collaborative platform that strives for timelessness.