I'm still at a loss for words for how well Jessie and my second co-hosted Ecstatic Dance event in Ōtautahi - Christchurch was received. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!

On a beautiful wooden floor at St Martins Community Centre, 20-odd dancers from all walks of life gathered to journey, move, express, flow, dance, and explore clarity for the new year together.

A gentler journey than my first high-energy set in December 2022, this time I put together songs that invite you to take it slow while still embodying the energy of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ecstatic Dance Sessions #2

The potent alchemy of pain into love can only unfold in the body—here and now. As a tree whispers the forgotten secrets of deep-rooted healing and transformation, we listen and dance our journey from light, into darkness, and back again. Knowing we are held by the thread of unwavering love throbbing in the heart of aliveness. In this we find the celebration of life—together.  

Set recorded @ Katjalisa's Birthday BANG 2024 (private event)

Design:
Intensity: ●●●○○
Movement diversity: ●●●○○ 
Club-vibes: ●●●●○
Emotion diversity: ●●○○○
Tribal/shamanic-ness: ●●●○○
Playfulness: ●●○○○

TRACK ID: 
1. Pasaje Universo -  Inikanaue Kaiowá (Fanfara Electronica Remix) @pasaje-universo
2. Noelani Love - Grandmother Moon (ft Uji)(Uji Remix) @ujitimebeing
3. Ali Termos & Qualista - Ghajar (Turu Anasi Remix) @turuanasi
4. Omerar Nanda - Tamu Seseh @omerarnanda
5. Aron Estocolmo - A Golden Womb Manifesting the Cosmos @aronestocolmo
6. Ace of Base - All That She Wants (Zuma Dionys & DIBIDABO Edit) @aceofbaseofficial @zuma_dionys @dibidabo
7. Pedra Branca - Caipora (ft. Luena Flores) @pedrabranca
8. Clarianas - Canto de Proteção (Selector Chico Remix) @selectorchico
9. Timboletti - About Frogs and Birds @timboletti
10. Hot Oasis - Siwa @hotoasis
11. Solatic - True Voice @solatic
12. Slow Nomaden - Concrete Desert @slownomaden
13. Kapchiz - Todo (Sahalé Remix) @sahaleprods
14. Mercedes Sosa - Miss Criolla (Señora Edit) @senoramusica
15. Majnoon - Zamane (ft. Mtu, Eren Erdogan) @majnoonlive
16. Goyanu - Nomad Trip @goyanu
17. Aleceo - Shamanic Dreams (Guy Maayan Remix) @guymaayanmusic @aleceo
18. Ruveni - Ba Be Lai @ruveni
19. Hot Oasis - Bedouin Joy @hotoasis
20. Holy Moly - Gamodi 
21. Nix - Blueprint @nixmusicc
22. Mose & ELIH - Rainbow Stardust @mosemusica @elias-hector

Art by Mario Martinez (aka Mars1) www.instagram.com/mars_1_

◈ 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘆 • Celebration of Life @ Vinha Velha, Portugal • 16.03.24

Each of us has the same amount of time in every day—1,440 minutes a day, 168 hours a week. “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Let’s think about those 70-some years for a moment. The first 15 are spent in childhood. We spend 20 years sleeping. In our final years, physical limitations curtail our activities. So you’ve only got about 30 years left. Now part of that time has to be spent in eating, and part of that time has to be spent working. So how much time do you have left? “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away,” says James 4:14. Just a vapor. It comes up like a vapor and it’s gone. That’s what your life is in eternity, and in the sight of God.

The Bible says, “[Redeem] the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). The Bible talks about the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), who is the devil.

Jesus calls him the “prince of this world” (see John 12:31). The Bible talks about the great forces of evil, dominated by Satan, that have been unleashed upon the world. Thank God, someday Satan is going to be bound, and Satan will not trouble us anymore. But “[redeem] the time, because the days are evil.” That means that we are to buy some time. That word redeem is a business word. We are to redeem—we are to buy—the time at any cost to invest it in the Kingdom of God.

~Excerpts from Billy Graham's speech: Life is Short |  Live Every Day for Good

Tracklist: Tba Soon 

𝕷𝖎𝖋𝖊 𝕴𝖘 𝕾𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖙

If you're familiar with my Apukuna sound, you know I love to guide listeners and dance floors on expansive journeys from stillness and gentle textures, into full-blown ecstatic releases. But for this contribution to the amazing Baikal Nomads mixtape series, you'll experience another love of mine: pure, unfiltered dance floor bliss. Many of these tracks have been patiently lounging around in my 'crates', awaiting their moment for some Apukuna treatment. Well lounge no more! It's time to dance! May you dance and groove well my friend. Offered to you as a meditation, a movement, and a prayer for an awakening heart.

Follow & Support
https://soundcloud.com/apukuna
IG: www.instagram.com/apukunamusic/

TRACKLIST:

1. Omri Smadar & Yehezkel Raz - Corals Under the Sun (Remix) @yehezkelraz @omri-smadar
2. MD Pallavi & Andi Otto – Prayer to the Cloud @andiotto @pingipung
3. Lev Tatarov & Sinai – Shankar (Original Mix) @sinai_it @lev-tatarov @pipeandpochet
4. Max TenRom – Orisha @max-tenrom
5. R. Carlos Nakai – Inward Journey
6. Nomadic – Hikkomori @nomadic_escape
7. Dandara – L-Za @dandaramusic @atribecalledkotori
8. Deya Dova – (samples) @deya-dova
9. Landikhan – GT DWN (Original Mix) @lndkhn
10. Max TenRom – Empty Space @max-tenrom
11. Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons – Lovers Eyes (Mohe Pi Ki Najariya) @damianlazarus @crosstownrebels
12. Giovanny Aparicio – Velo Que Bointo @dj-giovanny-aparicio @solselectas
13. Zazou & Stephan Zovsky – This Walk (Original Mix) @zovsky @3000-grad
14. Dj Tomer & Ricardo – Zulu ft. Kyaku Kyadaff (Original Mix) @djtomer @myothersideofthemoon
15. Ngalah Oreyo – GALA GALA (UMOJA Roots Percussion Remix) @umojaworldwide @clubcruise
16. Be.Lanuit – Santë (Original Mix) @be-lanuit @afroterraneo
17. Aloisio Menezes & Guga Stroeter – Ibi Alujá (Xangô) (ElPeche Remix) @elpeche
18. Blay Ambolley – Simi Rapp (Original Mix) @multiculti
19. Mind Groove – The Sailor and the Mountain (feat. Manuel Obeso) @mind-groove @seven-villas-records

Mixtape #242 by Apukuna

Nicolas Jaar - Colomb (Herhangi/Deep-Noise Revision)
...................................................................
Espérez!
Plus d'espérance!
Trois jours, leur dit Colomb
En montrant le ciel immense
Le fond de l'horizon
Trois jours et je vous donne un monde
Vous qui n'avez plus d'espoir
Ses yeux s'ouvraient pour le voir

Nicolas Jaar - Colomb (Herhangi/Deep-Noise Revision)

Some tracks move us quietly, without asking for attention. Gardens Of Wonders by Xande is one of them: a dreamy journey that soothes and awakens at once.
Like a soft opium haze, it bathes the world in rose-coloured light. And then that voice, mysterious, full of passion, returning again and again, inviting us deeper.
A true Italian enigma. We’re glad to have Xande back, guiding us through yet another garden of wonders.

By @xxande-music from Milan

Gardens Of Wonders

For Murphy …my one and only love ❤️

Gidge - Fell in love (Andara’s  Interpretation of Love )

We are glad to present the remixes pack of «@nikosh
- Kima» EP, where four distinct artists bring unique interpretations to the
original tracks, each adding a fresh sonic perspective.

@erhanyilmazedits takes «Gallo» into more profound, meditative territory,
transforming it into an entrancing 4/4 electronic journey. Hypnotic rhythms and
immersive textures pull you in, creating a groove that subtly takes over, making
your head nod in sync with its pulsating energy.

@jonasfasching brings his signature pumping electronic drive to the «Gallo»
remix, shaping a bold reinterpretation inspired by the original piano sample. He
builds a captivating atmosphere through an eﬀective chord progression, later
expanding it with an expressive jam session on the «Novation Peak», adding layers
of evolving synth textures.

@turuanasi delivers a joyful, dance-driven rework of «Lunar,» infusing it with a
soulful touch. A beautifully expressive trumpet solo intertwines with warm
«Rhodes» electric piano chords, crafting an uplifting groove that invites movement
and emotion in equal measure.

@amu_amu completely reshapes the «Kima» track with a deep, atmospheric
sound design. Layering recordings of external synths and intricate FX, he creates a
slow-burning, hypnotic downtempo trip. The track flows like an endless train
through dark and mysterious soundscapes, with the «Arturia PolyBrute» and
«Novation Andromeda» lends organic instability to the textures, resulting in an
experimental, otherworldly ambiance.

Beatport Pre-Order: April 16, 2025
Release Date: April 30, 2025

Nikosh - Kima (AmuAmu Remix)

Chaotic times call for non-linear trance. This is not a climax. it's a swirl. A mix for unstable ground, spinning bodies, and the strange joy of staying human while the sky rages.

🌀 I had this cosmic selection of music for months and I was going nowhere with it. Then I saw this new image NASA released of Jupiter with these swirling storms and it gave me the key! I had to mix it as of you were going in and out of the storm and in the infinite sky and in the chaos again and out.. and this is how this mix was born. 💥 A mix for those who spin when the world shakes. Slow, organic, and cosmic trance, made to dance on Jupiter storms.
—

Track ID:

00:00 Las Cosas - Sydney Seymour  
03:16 Something Ancient - gingembre 
07:13 Glitter Mechanics - Matija & Richard Elcox 
10:10 Robots - Landhouse 
14:30 Pace - Nikosh (KOYENGA Remix) 
18:24 Tunnel - Polo & Pan, Channel Tres
21:32 Sables mouvants - Grand Soleil (Chirac Edit)
23:43 Matcha - Makoto San 
26:45 Song Of Good (We Are All The Same) - landhouse, helmet lampshade 
30:21 Muse - Nicolas Jaar (pupi chunes edit)
32:35 Bound - Laar
35:41 Synästhesie - Lotus, Inner Symphony 
39:14 Cloudwalk - tipotheus   
44:14 Somewhere Else - Mog & La Cantina
45:54 Flow(ers) - Aamiq
49:05 Spaceship: Earth - Mop Mop 
52:53 In Life - Harry Charles (thea & Schtu Remix) 
56:25 Danse des astres - Odalie 

—
🪐 Cover: collage by Rys.om (Matisse revisited ft. NASA's picture of Jupiter)

On Jupiter Storms We Will Dance

Ir e Vir (Birdzzie Edit) marks the debut release of Postas de Pescada, a label dedicated to reimagining Portuguese folk through electronic reinterpretation.

Each release is curated by Mike Stellar, our head honcho, crate digger, and sonic archaeologist — digging through dust and poetry to unearth the songs that still pulse today.

The original track “Ir e Vir” was recorded by Grupo de Acção Cultural (G.A.C.) in the years following the 1974 Portuguese Revolution. Formed in the wake of the dictatorship's fall, G.A.C. was a collective of musicians, poets, and activists who gave voice to the hopes and struggles of a changing Portugal, blending traditional melodies with political urgency.

At the heart of “Ir e Vir” lies a stark portrayal of the life of Portuguese fishermen: waking before dawn, braving the sea, and returning with little more than exhaustion. The lyrics speak of labour without dignity, of bodies spent for profits that never reach them. In this edit, those words echo differently but no less urgently. 

Today, it’s often artists who navigate a similarly extractive system: streaming economies, unpaid gigs, exposure in place of income. Ir e Vir becomes not just a chronicle of past injustices, but a mirror for the present: a reminder that the rhythms of exploitation shift form, but rarely fade.

In this edit, Birdzzie, a portuguese producer known for ambient depth and hypnotic downtempo rhythms. slows the track to a reflective pace, bringing its message into a spacious, electronic landscape. This isn’t just an edit; it’s a respectful act of sampling tradition and transforming it for new ears and contexts.


Curated by @mike-stellar

https://www.instagram.com/mikestellarofficial/

Edit by @birdzzie

https://www.instagram.com/birdzzie/

Mastering DJ Honesty 

Follow Postas de Pescada Records:

@postasdepescadarecords

https://www.instagram.com/postasdepescada.ofc/

https://postasdepescadarecords.bandcamp.com/

Download

[Premiere]  G.A.C. - Ir e Vir (Birdzzie Edit) [Postas de Pescada Records]

Tolga Maktay - Slowistan Vol.II

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.

2024
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