David Juno Sets

Gratitude. Belonging. Collaboration. Flow state. Scintillating crowd energy. Much mud. Moist air. Fire and Water. Masculine and Feminine.

These are a few words that come to mind when I think back to my Sunday Mass set at Swing Fling, from 2-4pm on the last day of Kiwiburn 2023.

Many thanks to all the pious and devout dancers who brought their palpable energy to a very special rendition of the Sunday Mass, as well as all the nuns at Swing Fling serving pancakes, mimosas and/or spanks to those who confessed their transgressions on (or off) the paddock. Gary Boomshanker certainly got excited, letting off a burst of flames with every spank.

It turns out that sleep deprivation, a splitting headache and the sweltering heat inside Swing Fling's dome on a sunny afternoon after days of rain make a great recipe for entering flow state while DJing! I've had the best time feeding off the energy, dance moves and smiles from the crowd, playing one of my most enjoyable sets in a long time. Originally I was only supposed to play an hour but when the next DJ didn't show up I was actually stoked that I could continue tapping into flow state and weaving more songs. I ended on one song that I chose specifically as a way of showing my gratitude to Swing Fling and the larger burn community: Belong by Viken Arman. There is something truly tangible about the sense of belonging I feel with the radiant humans of Swing Fling, both at my first burn and this time, being actually part of the camp.

I got even more emotional when my friend Dani from Wānaka started drumming along to my tunes - something that I'd always dreamed of someone doing during a set. Next time we should try and get the drumming amplified and recorded, too!

In closing, I'd like to share a massive insight I had at this burn: the music I like to play (and dance to) is usually more feminine than masculine, which sustains the positive valence of a dancefloor and of the dancers, and keeps spirits uplifted. This may sound straightforward, but there's something in the simple clarity I gleaned from this that is very wholesome and satisfying.

Kia ora!

Photo credit goes to Piet (the man behind Swing Fling and Gary's creator), with extra kudos to the consenting models M & M (Mickey and Minnie)

Sunday Mass @ Swing Fling | Kiwiburn 2023

“A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.”

For "A Very St. Patrick's Hobbit Party" in Ōtautahi Christchurch, I was challenged by Ryan from @beaconbloom to play a Hobbit / Lord of the Rings themed melodic house set. So this is what I came up with. It's messy and experimental, but hella fun!

Enjoy my tale, may it take you places!

Live long and may the Force be with you.
~ Commander Davidore Kenobi

Tracklist

The Hobbit (1977) - Misty Mountains Song
Bram - Concerning Hobbits
@LetsNotMedia - Two Young Hobbits
@elfenberg - Lotus
@rapossa - Carouselland
@arina_mur - Miniatur
@armenmiran & @hraach - Karahunj (The Prelude)
@cafedeanatolia - Dreams
@danielhokum - Tarantula
@enya - May it Be
Campfire
@densorteskole - Riforme
Sam Harris - Space, Time & Attention
@rapossa - Let’s Get Drunk
@iv-in - All I Ever Get
@vikenarman - Drop of Raki - @nutia remix
Nina Simone - Baltimore - @dj-nirso Edit
@jackpagemusic - Sunrise (Uncle Stepdad Remix)
@ensembleentendu - Well, Why Not
Kita - Through The Trees (@sanoimusik & @zukebeats Remix)
@itai_music - Say My Name (Breaking Bad Tribute)
@moontideaus - Antigua
La Bionda - Sandstorm- @landegaard-1 Rework
@marcotegui - Be Cow
@departmusique & Sergio Battaglia - Rebirth
@dwig - Orange Evening
Lake Powel - Bright Eyes, Dirty Hair - @acidpauli & @N-U Remix
@ulize - Ella Sabia (feat. Manu Ela)
@meutesound - Peace
@survmusic - Je K'abere
@beaconbloom & @sanoimusik - Silver [UNRELEASED]
@norken & @deer - Remember That Feeling

There and Back Again: A Wizard's Tale | XCHC Christchurch

Happy new year everyone! I had the immense pleasure of playing this 2.5 hour set at 2 am after New Years Eve at Rhythm & Alps festival 2023 in Aotearoa New Zealand, closing the lush Playhouse tent. 

The Playhouse is part of the Yumm Zone, offering couches, cushions, carpet, warm heaters, free hot chai tea and a welcoming vibe for everyone to slow down and feel at ease.

Thanks everyone from the crew for making me feel at home, and the crowd that contributed to the lovely energy in the tent.

Enjoy the journey, may it guide you into the energy of 2024.

David Juno | New Year's Welcome at Rhythm & Alps 2023/24

David Juno - Beat & Pathways 022

My cup remains expanded and full after Relish Festival 2025, nestled in the lush native forest of the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.

With deepest gratitude for all the beautiful souls and the land, I had the absolute delight of sharing two hours of tunes on the Friday night in the Chill n Cherish Lounge, at the far end of the Delicious Kitchen tent - the very heart and soul of Relish.

I only hit record a few tracks into the set, but since it was all an impromptu multi-genre musical journey, I didn't feel called to make any edits or rerecord the start of my set.

Enjoy!

Much love,
David <3

P.S. Thanks to Bear Heart for this beautiful photo of the kitchen tent.

David Juno | Cherish & Chill Lounge @ Relish Festival 2025

Friday night in the Tea Temple at the last ever New Zealand Spirit Festival North Island was such a delight - the most present, engaging and supportive crowd I've had a in a long time, turning the Tea Temple tent into quite the portal indeed! The set recording captures the journey we all went on, starting in mellow downtempo, adding a bit of a bounce pretty soon, and taking us all the way into melodic tech house at the end, with lots of vocals. 

Viel Spaß, und dankeschön! <3

David Juno | Tea Temple @ NZ Spirit Festival 2025

German-born David Juno discovered electronic music in Jena before moving to New Zealand. Melody and organic sounds are at the core of the music he is passionate about, through different tempos and moods within the 4/4 realm of house and downtempo. David Juno concocts harmonious brews that enthrall listeners at large and small gatherings; clandestine woodland rendezvous; thundering, pitch-black basement blowouts, light-speed gigs aboard gleaming spaceships, and even interdimensional celestial soirées. He's a regular at XCHC and core member of Mary Hush. David Juno is a sonic conduit - his sets create atmospheric journeys that connect audiences through sonic storytelling, ranging from dark, spacious soundscapes to bright, energetic peaks that capture the full spectrum of human emotion and experience - with all the nuances in between.

2025
Auerworld Festival - Auerstedt, Germany
Relish Festival - March - Waimate, NZ
NZ Spirit Festival - March - Auckland, NZ

2024
Chi Wow Wah City - Opening for Viken Arman - November - Christchurch, NZ
Abracadabra at Ponderosa Ranch - March - Waihi, NZ
Shipwrecked Festival - February - Te Arai, NZ

2023
Rhythm & Alps Festival Yumm Zone - December - Cardrona, NZ
Summer Technical
Mary Hush VI: The Holographic Hotel - May - Christchurch, NZ
Relish Festival - March - Waimate, NZ
Splore Festival @ Lucky Star - February - Tapapakanga, NZ
Kiwiburn @ Swing Fling, Paradox, Devour & Delight - January - Hunterville, NZ

2022
Splitfest - September - Temple Basin, NZ

2021
Mary Hush presents Simulation '75 - Dec 18 - Christchurch, NZ
Super Sounds w/ Harry Charles and Laminar - Aug 6 - Christchurch, NZ
Abracadabra Festival - July 23-25 - Waihi, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Night Dive to Neptune - May 1 - Christchurch, NZ
Omnishakti Festival - Feb 28 - Takaka Hill, NZ
Shipwrecked Festival - Feb 14 - Te Arai, NZ
Kiwiburn - Swing Fling and Paradox - Hunterville, NZ
Flux First Birthday (with Beacon Bloom) - Jan 16 - Christchurch, NZ

2020
Slow Motion 01 - Dec 4 - Christchurch, NZ
XCHC: The Underworld - Oct 31 - Christchurch, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Slow Boat to Centauri - Jul 25 - Christchurch, NZ
XCHC: Where the Wild Things Are - Jul 17 - Christchurch, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Aftergloom Delight - Jan 17 - Christchurch, NZ

2019
Something Else Festival - Nov 15 - Lake Sumner Park, NZ


Header photo by Lukas Vacha during my set at Shipwrecked 2021