Nie Myer - Rainbow Road

So much memories in this tree house at home
New year 2023 was magic !!!

Flying tree house - Brigade du Kiff

Michelle Hübsch is a fairly new face on the scene and a well-rounded music selector from South Africa currently living in Johannesburg. Driven by her passion and love for music, she has been able to come a long way in a short amount of time. Her sets are unique, genre-bending, and storytelling. With her carefully curated and vocally driven sets, she creates joyful, vulnerable, and all-round emotional selections sure to take anyone who is open to listen on a journey.

Follow @michelle-hubsch, peeps!

Michelle Hübsch

SXDNS356 // Michelle Hübsch

Magic, love, gratitude, belonging and connection - those words capture some of my first Splore Festival experience. These feelings are better to be present with rather than trying to freeze moments in time. 

A massive thanks goes to Lucky Star, who entrusted me with the privilege to open The Studebaker stage(formerly known as The Portal) on Saturday night, as my mobster alter ego Tony "Tassel" Caputo. Vielen lieben Dank, Joss, Jake, Christa, Sarah, Mels and Jonas. ❤️🙏🏼 You're the ones who made this happen for me and are making me feel like the luckiest guy in the world. 🥰

Saturday night was especially memorable and full of presence. I spent the night with a small crew of old and new friends who I felt so much cohesion with that night. We were exploring different stages, vibes, genres, ways of moving our bodies, and all round hilarity. That experience escapes all description, so I'll give up right there. Much love to you, you know who you are 😘 🦥

Thank you Darling!

Tracklist
@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

The Studebaker Saturday Opening | David Juno | Splore Festival '23

solar cycle 25 - hübsch b2b leeu

Here’s Kantocast 018 Mâi - “Selections from Mâi’s Kitchen”

Mâi is a Berlin/Istanbul based musician/producer/live act. It is a musical mirror to his journey, evolves and changes slowly through time. With a unique blend of indie dance music and Anatolian folk impressions, Mâi's music is both captivating and thought-provoking. Whether creating oriental soundscapes or driving funky beats, Mâi's music is always authentic and engaging. With a strong focus on visual and audio storytelling, Mâi’s live performances are an immersive experience that transport audiences to the narrow streets of Istanbul. 
Occasionally ornamenting with his soulful improvisations on the keyboard, his practice is the reflection of ‘what if’ questions and experimentations on creative points of contact between sonic ideas. It doesn’t stick to any existing genre while always keeping a signature oriental essence.

*What pushed you towards music production? Where did the inspiration come from?
My drive for music production has two roots; 
One root is in my introverted side.This comes from the intention of expressing myself. Telling about what I’ve been going through; what I’ve been enjoying lately, what I’ve been suffering from. As if I’m keeping a journal. I’m trying to open a door to my inside world, not really caring about the opinions of the external world, just as a monologue. 
Second root is feeding from my extroverted side. I’m looking for ways to connect with people through art. Provide an imaginary space for people to connect with the art and find their expressions. It is a dialogue where I say something and people respond.
The meaning presents itself when both aspects are in balance. 

* Do you think music interconnects with culture? How does the environment you live in affect your music?
Music is a form of expression that turns into culture; also culture is the food of music. It is a continuous cycle where each one affects the other simultaneously. That is what makes the culture continuous and preserve its uniqueness. 
I am always inspired by my surroundings. The cultural, artistic details in a city; a tiny ornamentation on a building, the smell on the streets; the way people talk, behave and live; all these combined, unconsciously inspire me and shape my expressions. This fact hit me very clearly when I moved to Berlin. Before moving I always lived in Istanbul. So obviously my music was highly influenced by the life & culture of Istanbul. After coming to Berlin 1.5 years ago my musical expression shifted drastically to what this city presented to me. However I can see clearly that I carry Istanbul in me and it will have a glimpse in my creations.  

* Do you get inspired by any other form of art?
If we can define art as a creative human expression, I am deeply inspired by any form of art. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but I’m mostly inspired by the forms of expressions; details that I intentionally or unintentionally remark in daily life. So every art form out there, any kind of expression, at any moment can be a source of inspiration for me. 

* What makes a set a good one?
Honesty and a perspective..
A set is good when you lose yourself in it while finding some inspiration. For this, the artist needs to have honest intentions about what they are presenting. Also have to bring something unique to the table; a provocative perspective saying “have you ever thought of this before?”.
Craft can always evolve and develop, but honesty and a strong perspective is essential.

* What’s the process you follow when bringing tunes together? Is it instinctive only or do you plan ahead?
This really depends on the occasion. But most of the time I overplan it, then I go spontaneous and with the flow.

* What would you like to say about your podcast?
This set came about in a cold lonely Berlin winter. So I was dancing in the kitchen most of my days. I was feeling homesick and listening to lots of music from the Middle East. :)

Kantocast 018: Mâi - "Selections from My Kitchen"

Taking over for our next transmission, here comes Hamburg-via-Berlin special disco forces Nayan Soukie, alias Amount, and fellow A Tribe Called Kotori affiliate, Madmotormiquel (check out his 2022-released ripper 'Bombo' if you haven't). Responsible for a stream of choice outings on their own imprint, URSL, and noteworthy detours through our good friends Katermukke's dedicated platform and Gerd Janson's seminal disco house haven Running Back, the pair clocks in with their collaborative debut on the label, 'Holiday' - a straight out bouncy fruit born in confinement and painstakingly polished into the blazing trio of heaters it is today over the last few months.
All in curvy syncopations and flashy, neon-woven envelopes, 'Lifou' breaks the EP in with undeniable punch and chromatic vibrancy. Engineering a fine mix of brightly hued arps and earwormy bass set against a prog-friendly momentum, Amount and MMM let their implacable sense of the groove and intricate tune-making do the talk. Trading the roundness of the opener's bounce for a more angular take, 'Amedee' breathes in a Detroit-ish influence to its driving build-up as flocks of crisp hats, volatile snares and incendiary bass coalesce to eruptively smashing effect. True to its idyllic name, the final number 'Ouvea' takes us on a journey across cerulean skylines and endless strips of white sands. Infused with a healthy dose of balearic abstraction, slo-burning electronica tropes and full-blown disco vox lines, the track has us drifting in-limbo serene all-blue Edens and a steamy sweatbox. The ultimate Ibizean house / balearic funk weapon, just let the groove get in.

Amount & Madmotormiquel – Lifou [Snippet]

I got to play this deliciously housey set to celebrate a decade of Johannesburg's beloved FATHER COFFEE. 

It was a perfectly crisp Jozi evening. The sun had started to set. The partygoers started to turn up in droves. The bar staff were churning out moreish cocktails and glorious glases of natural wine. The only coffee being poured went straight into espresso martinis. There was cake. The dancefloor was epic. It was one for the books. 

Thank you to the FATHER family for having me. 

Here's to 100 more birthdays!




[ Insanely cool cover image by MATTE.co.za ]

HOUSEBLEND /// Celebrating 10 years of Father Coffee | 15 Jun 2023

Manic

Snow House

Nightfall - Mr Deeper

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