last half of my set at smartbar! probably my favorite one to date. :-)

ARC After Dark at smartbar: jayah (08.29.25)

In the deserts I dreamed of water, in the oceans I longed for sand. In the winter water lost its wetness. Every summer I was a child again.

Kai Castro is a genre-blurring DJ and producer known for his high-energy, high-personality sets. 

After building his name in Austin at clubs like Kingdom and The Concourse Project, he launched his label Birds of Play and quickly found new ground in Chicago’s club scene. 

Community, creativity, and a commitment to authenticity remain the constants in everything Kai touches.

Contact for releases, remixes, business opportunities, etc: Kai@KaiCastro.com

All websites and socials: https://kaicastro.set.bio/

a DJ collective dedicated to creating inclusive, genre-fluid experiences that celebrate the range of underground dance music. Brought together by a shared vision, we embrace difference—not just in sound, but in the energy that every artist brings.

Californian  Lounge Zone #lounge- https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/californian-fiesta-in-lounge-the-zone/pl.u-leylkK6Ij0a2lo8

❀ jayah is a DJ, radio host on her show, embrace, on WIIT 88.9 FM, & ATM Chicago collective resident.

Being surrounded by a family of music lovers, she was raised listening to a variety of sounds rooted in soul, hip hop, to new wave. As a young adult, she also spent her time playing the alto saxophone and oboe. Her love for music didn’t stop there; she fell hard for underground music culture & community at a young age, frequently attending raves within the LA warehouse scene. 

As one of Chicago’s most dynamic and sought out DJs, jayah has earned the reputation for setting the perfect vibe and captivating dance floors wherever she goes. She has provided support at the booth for Call Super, Pangaea, Bonobo, Dan Ghenacia, DJ BORING + more, and is best known for her selector abilities and sharing the element of surprise, mixing her eclectic collection of music from rare 90s house, new wave tinge to electro, bubbly techno, and pop throwbacks. Punchy dance floor tunes and hypnotic breaks & vocals are the driving force of her sound, while supporting independent radio stations around the world pushes her diverse taste.

On her radio show, embrace, jayah dedicates time to sharing variety and the sound of underground dance music, old and new, with an emphasis on independent artists and labels. She has DJed in Chicago’s most iconic spaces such as smartbar and PodlasieClub and appeared on stations like NTS, The Lot Radio, and dublab to name a few. From clubs to the airwaves and beyond, she strives to set a dynamic and warm atmosphere that keeps your body moving.