Well hello to you! My loves,

Before you an extraordinary set created by the Persian duo Madota. Two very warm, funny and incredible beings we truly see as brothers. We met years ago at one of Mira's birthday parties. It was as random as it was funny to meet the tall characters somewhere in the maze of endless entertainment. 

There was always a desire to work with the two. Their sets and performances have this alluring energy. But some things take time and so did our collaboration.

Please enjoy their take on music as much as we did. Leave the comments, share and support. You will for sure see them soon from the Babylon dancefloor.

Love,

The Gardens of Babylon

Babylon Family Series #006 - Madota

Afternoon at Sea

Recorded Live at Deer Lodge Ojai, CA.

Psychedelia drips through the desert in the beats of soothing funk. A dreamscape of shimmering lights and grooving bodies, the glimmering of the disco ball, and hypnotic pattern of colors lighting every pair of dancing feet. 
This celebration of love dawns a new journey, an eternal soul union, welcoming the lovers next chapter as we dance into the rising sun, the music guiding us ever on.
The funky fever taking over !
               💃🪩🕺🏾




Instagram: www.instagram.com/afrotrace/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/afrotrace.page/
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/afrotrace/

Afrotrace in Studio 54 @ Deer Lodge Ojai

Petrichor (noun) - A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather

Petrichor

Today we embark on a special journey with our dear friend Amer from Old City. Old City has been close to Amaya since the very beginning and we have enjoyed our relationship for a number of years. We are so happy to have you today sharing this beautiful and eclectic mix, perfectly balanced and mixed. It truly shows how deep and thoughtful Old City's musical storytellings evolve. 
As usual we get to know more about Old City in our interview at the end.
Please enjoy it as much as we did ourselves.

"While creating a set, I process a lot of what I go through and make sense of my journey by drawing meaning from the stories that reveal themselves. What is this song about? What does it make me feel? Is there a story that I can draw an emotional attachment from? A lot of realizations have come about this past year as I ask myself these questions. The deeper question being masked by that is really: how am i feeling today? Through that constant self assessment, I get to know myself a little better, peel the layers and understand what each phase means to me. I get to know myself best when I’m creating. Through music, through starting to explore photography and through writing, I’m expanding the channels in which I can absorb, process, learn and then share. Old City is my attempt at doing so. 

As many people already know, I started playing alone for over a year now without the partner that I started this all with - a gap that has forced me to ask myself endless questions and go through a lot of internal growth. I have a lot of emotions towards having to fill that gap and losing a partner in this journey, but every “positive” or “negative” experience exists to teach us something. We ask ourselves the hardest questions when it’s a “negative” experience, and sometimes can go a little less self aware when we’re on that “positive” momentum. I went in a different direction musically and used it as an opportunity to self discover, experiment and increase my range. I played disco, house, minimal, acid jazz, blues, afro funk, progressive house. All blended in a way that felt unique to my taste and felt right to the ambience of where I was playing. But I perhaps also escaped what reminded me of the original essence of why Old City came to be and I continued to distract myself away from the hardest question.

This set for Amaya’s radio show is my deepest and most personal, emotional reflection and I want it to tell you what I love, what I truly care about, and what I am starting to understand Old City to be, authentically me. Some elements, particularly the important message during the closing of this set was something very special I wanted to share during my sunset time slot on the Maxa Art Car at Burning Man this year, but that set was cancelled last minute and I was left heartbroken that I couldn’t share that message then and there. But naturally I immediately knew this radio show with Amaya was the right home for it. There is a 45 mins interview at the end that I shed a bit of light on this as well and a first open heart discussion about my story and beliefs. For those of you that take the time to read this and to listen to my set(s), thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share this time with you" @oldcitysounds

Amaya Radio - Episode 11 with OLD CITY

Cuneyt Ozturk @ Bonjuk Bay - Love Weekend 2022

Pineapple Submarine: https://www.instagram.com/pineapplesubmarine_/

From Justin:
At Burning Man, the evening of the burning of the Man is often an emotional one. Energetically diverse, with people in a variety of states of mind: contemplation, celebration, and everything in between. As the set progressed, it felt like the initial challenge was to try to merge what felt like multiple interests and energy levels on the dance floor. I remember just feeling washed in warm energy as the various strands began to intertwine and the dance floor began to move together.

When Steve reached out to ask if I’d consider playing the Man Burn, and that they wanted it to be open ended, I was really excited for the opportunity to express myself, to share music that’s been meaningful to me across a variety of energetic space and time. It’s so rare to have these windows that allow us to just play, and when that connects with the dance floor it’s just pure magic. I’m so honored that we went for as long as we did - it all just flowed.

Reflecting on it afterwards, this experience ended up being one of my absolute highlights after 12 years on the playa. I went to the burn with the primary intention to spend my personal time sharing music, and this set ultimately felt like a beautiful marker of a year spent digging, learning, traveling, feeling, and finding my voice in a what is a relatively new medium for me. 

Gratitude. As a fellow builder of art cars, it’s important to express how much this length of time in relation to such a unique and scarce resource means. Scotty and the entire Pineapple Motel crew, thank you for the effort to make it happen! Particularly special to get to play on the Funktion One that I’ve had the pleasure of tuning in New York.

Steve, Lilly, Jason, thank you for the opportunity and for your trust. What a pleasure to camp together in our little village out on the 2 o’clock side this year.  

Last fall, in an ongoing dialogue about creative mediums, my dear friend John Dill encouraged me to more seriously consider DJing. The year of ear training via vinyl has been priceless, as have all of the tips along the way from many I’ve looked up to over the years. Its been a wild ride this year, and I’m deeply grateful for the support , and a few others I’d like to call out along the way. Benjamin, Holmar, Vivian, Jason, Isaiah, Mark, Lauren, thank you! I’m planning to continue to follow my heart with this one and we’ll see where it goes from here.

SC: http://soundcloud.com/shafferj
IG: http://Instagram.com/shafferj
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/mbcurious/

Justin Shaffer - Pineapple Submarine - Burning Man 2022

First time playing vinyl out, at the Studio Collective Showcase in SF. A beautiful evening of live music and a wonderful younger community of musicians and enthusiasts gathered to listen and dance. An ice breaker for me for sure, it was nice to feel nervous! Greatful to Tösh for the opportunity to play.

Tracklist with notes on where I found each of these below. With all music, but particularly vinyl, the act of discovery is such a beautiful part of the process, so thought id share these stories. 

(00:00) David Mayer, Nico Stojan - Fling [Ouie] 

- Nico Stojan and Acid Pauli (Martin) run one of my favorite labels, Ouie. I've had the opportunity to drop in Berlin with Nico a few times and he's kindly sent me home with some of their records over the years. This is a collaboration between Nico and David Mayer. David has also released twice with them previously in 2018 and 2019 and all of this music is excellent. 

(07:40) &ME, Rampa & Adam Port - Confusion (feat. Ali Love) [Keinemusik] 

- Send Return doesn't really need an introduction, particularly given the popularity of this Keinemusik release. I bought the record after a conversation with Ry X over dinner about his work with them on Feeling. 

(12:25) AtJazz - For Real (Versions Remix) [Innervisions] 

- Found this buried in a returns bin at Vinyl Dreams in SF. Surpised to find innervisions there, first time. 2006 release, played the vinyl only versions remix. 

(17:50) Peter (The Drifter edit) Nils Frahm [Philomena] 

- I found out about Philomena after chasing a track that I heard Dixon play at our second Further Future event: Un by Patrick Bishop, remixed by Tuff City Kids. Searching for it led me to Philomena, a sublabel of Innervisions created to release some of their favorites vinyl only across 14 records. I've been slowly chasing them down used over the past few years and finally completed the set last year. 

(23:25) Isolée - Favouride [Pampa Records] 

- Berlin digging at Spacehall with John Dill on our way to Sacred Ground.

(27:15) Mass Digital - Rain in June [All Day I Dream] 

- I find myself generally quite picky about ADID releases, and while I play a lot of Lee's labels music digitally, I hadn't yet felt compelled to own any vinyl. I was at Vinyl Dreams in SF last year for a quick dig and came across this. Rain in June is a track that Dill and I both love and play regularly.

(32:30) Innelea - Confronted Reality [Afterlife] 

- latest Innelea release from Mary Gone Wild before they closed after ADE this year. I spent an afternoon wandering the city with Darren Smith, and we went to Rush Hour, Red Light, and Mary Gone Wild. Their selection of newer work from labels I love was impressive, and I found myself excitedly picking up stuff I might not have otherwise.

(37:40) Robag Wruhme - No [Kompakt]

- Spacehall in Berlin seemingly had everything ever released on Kompakt in one section, which id never had the chance to see in person. It was fun digging through it all. I've always been a huge Robag fan and this track in particular is fantastic. 

(43:05) Massimiliano Pagliara - To A Faraway Place [Ostgut Ton]

- I first learned about Massimiliano Pagliara via a gift from Lorenz Aschoff, who gave me the Live at Robert Johnson compilation records with Phasing Down the Sea on it. This is newer release on Berghain's label Ostgut Ton. I found it at Mary Gone Wild in Amsterdam recently as well. 

(50:00) Robert Dietz - Swallowing Tubes [Live at Robert Johnson]

- Another gem from Mary Gone Wild and the ADE trip. This track in particular was a challenge to mix well, and I really enjoy experimenting with it. Definitely my favorite from the album. 

(53:25) Map:ache - Love (s.o.s) [Giegling]

- From Rush Hour in AMS, vinyl only new release from Map:ache/Giegling.

(58:55) The Veils - Vicious Traditions (Daniel Bortz edit) [Philomena]

- Back to Philomena for the closer. Daniel Bortz reworking the Veils.

Justin Shaffer - [02] - Studio Collective Vinyl Set - SF Oct 2022

Studio 53 Sessions Vol 6

This woman hates you - Mama Tzo

It all began right there on the playa, six years ago under the rays of the morning sun, immersed in the magic of the beautiful Robot Heart sound stage.  A community so powerful and strong, it has become the biggest inspiration for my own musical journey. The people I met, the music I heard and the feelings I had that first night have left a lasting impression and inspired me to learn a new skill and start playing and producing music.

In the modern world, traveling around the world, making countless acquaintances we get lost in this endless whirlpool of activity. We start seeking a sense of belonging, experiences that unite us and inspire to create. This is what Robot Heart does for many of us, whether you come here to dance, play or connect. 

My own experience led me to start experimenting with sound and styles, curating artists that would join us on the playa for a week and become family for life.  We grew into a amazing community, which we call White Ocean, united by our love and passion for creativity and exploration. There is nothing more inspiring for me at the moment than seeing how music can improve our lives and open our minds to new adventures and experiences. It did it for me......

It has been the greatest honor to come back to where it all started and play my set for Robot Heart's 10 year anniversary on the playa. I wish your journey to continue for my years to come:)

Love

Timujin

Photo: John Dill

Timujin - Robot Heart 10 Year Anniversary - Burning Man 2017

Bonjuk is a life platform for a community of imaginative, conscious and like-minded people to celebrate life, co-create and share transformational experiences. It’s a mindset that encourages you to express yourself freely, get in touch with your inner child and be your authentic self.

Bonjuk Bay is a habitat for like-minded people to celebrate life through learning, sharing, creativity, personal development and self-expression. Great music, creative arts, gastronomy and physical activities are part of daily life in Bonjuk Bay.

Cuneyt Ozturk @ Bonjuk Bay - Love Weekend 2022

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