Darkroom dance beats to warm your winter nights

Underground - Disco Dungeon (Jan 25, 2022)

Rites Of Spring - May 5, 2022

With the days growing shorter and the nights stretching longer, this is the right time to share my set from Harder last October. It's the perfect mix for working though an intense afternoon, or warming up for a long, sleazy night.

DJ Shonar at Harder October 2022

Kicking off Pride month with this special new mix, dedicated to celebrating queer joy as a radical act.

It hasn't been an easy year to be queer. Our rights are being taken away day by day, and hate crimes are on the rise even in our own neighborhoods. It would be easy for us to get mired in fear or despair. And that's why it's important for us to take the time to celebrate and love ourselves and each other - to remind ourselves of our true nature.

Celebrating our joy is not the whole story. We're not off the hook for doing the hard work, day in and day out, to fight for justice. But those fights can be long, and in the dark hours where it all feels futile, those moments of joy give us strength to keep fighting. 

Languages are funny sometimes. "Laetitia" literally translates to "joy", and "innata" literally means "natural". But "innata" is also translated as "radical", and "laetitia" can also translate to "fertility" or "sexuality". It's an apt reminder for us that our sexuality is innately linked to our joy, that we derive community from it, and that we don't need to conform to the boundaries dictated by cisheteropatriarchal society. 

Many platforms demote posts that mention many of the words I've included here - "sexuality", "gay" "queer", etc. I thought about rewriting this post to avoid them. But it didn't feel right. Nothing I've written here is shameful. If SoundCloud wants to bury this post, that's fine. Those who need to hear this mix will find it. 

Happy Pride. I hope this mix brings you joy. ❤️🏳️‍🌈

LAETITIA INNATA (In Radical Joy)

One year ago today, I made this mix, a sonic eulogy for one of my closest friends. Sadly, for reasons I can't share here, many of her friends didn't get to hear it live at the memorial event where I played it, so I promised to release the recording. 

And then I didn't. I held onto it, hoping to share it when I could think of the right words to say about her. Those words never came. At this point, I don't think they will. 

If you knew her, you'll hear her in this. If you never met her, you'll know her a little better by the end.

And if you enjoy it, even if you didn't know her, let me know. She would have loved to know that.

To Lose Your Mind And Find Your Soul

Live remix, shared here due to popular demand.

Dedicated to all those who've been told to calm down when they've been wronged. ♥

Rimba B6 (Bleach Blonde)

On July 4th, I had the privilege of DJing a party that's become one of the highlights of my summer each year. 

Life is full of uncertainty, which makes it all the more important to seize the moment we have to celebrate and create oases of joy.  This 5-hour mix is an excerpt from my full set, which ran outdoors from dusk until the wee hours of the morning. It was the soundtrack to a night that served as a testament to the moments which imbue our lives with meaning: the gaiety of community, the wonder and beauty of the world around us. Ranging from cheerful and whimsical to quirky and campy, it's the perfect vibe for pepping up your day, getting ready for the night, or just sitting by the fire and marveling at our magical universe. 

Thank you to everyone who made this night what it was, dancing under the stars and creating memories to treasure for years to come. I find myself at a rare loss for words to express it all, so I'll just leave it with: everything I have to say is in the music itself, so tune in, and you too may feel some of the love and gratitude I felt that night. 

P.S. The recording equipment cut out a few times because the music was pumping so hard we kept (literally) blowing the fuses, so this is just an excerpt - it seems like the universe intended the rest to exist for that moment only. iykyk :)

Flaming Man 2025 (July 4, 2025)

Unleashed celebrated its two-year anniversary with a special party: STUFFED! I was delighted to mark the occasion with this set that blends the party's signature playful attitude with the sultry darkroom beats that keep the pups coming back for more (...and more...)

Shonar

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