Pre order here: https://www.beatport.com/release/shady/3895299

Better known as one half of the Stavroz quartet, Pieter De Meester and Maxim Helincks turn up on A Tribe Called Kotori with their self-titled third studio effort as Shady, following up to "Your Skin" EP on Beat & Path last year. Grinding a wide set of influences through oddball, genre-bending compositions, the pair has been carving out its own wonky, cross-curricular sound grammar away from normative restrictions and creative-hindering behaviourism - like the weird brainchild to Soulwax, Nicolas Jaar and Connan Mockasin. 

"Can I Be Yours" gets the ball rolling on a spectral pop tip, blending together the vaporous spook of ultra-processed riffs with mischievous drum play and hypnotically smooth-tongued vocals dissolving in rippling delays. A further nocturnal affair, "Cruisin" goes a more sensuous, electro-friendly route, beaconed with hints of washed-out folk and cosmo-ambient spaciousness. The Cali vibes meet spoken Brit post-punk motif'd (think Baxter Dury out for a quick surf session with the Beach Boys) "Sun" rounds off the ride on a catchy Mod-like note, merging to perfection the swinging London's debonair charm with that of the west coast's typical carefreeness of being. That's ocean-spray bottled in a tune.

Shady – Cruisin [Snippet]

Bookings : bookings@thedancinggurus.com
"Voices in My Head" OUT NOW on Kamai Music
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Gigs 2025
July 26: Rakete Extended (Zurich, CH)
July 26: Rise & Dance (Zurich, CH)
July 24: All Night Long b2b Juli Lee at Klaus (Zurich, CH)
July 12: Heal Play Love (Basel, CH)
June 28: Rakete im Hive (Zurich, CH)
June 27: Fusion Festival (Lars, DE)
June 21: KaterBlau (Berlin, DE)
June 12: Samarsi Takeover Hive (Zurich, CH)
May 17: Private (Istanbul, TR)
May 4: Private (Istanbul, TR)
Apr 26: Open Air Lake (Zurich, CH)
Mar 29: Rakete Anniversary Im Hive (Zurich, CH)
Mar 28: Sunset Grooves Collective (Lausanne, CH)
Mar 22: Arosa Electronica (Arosa, CH)
Feb 14: Moe's on the 5th (Dubai, AE)
Feb 6: Gate Two (Dubai, AE)
Feb 1: Hive Club (Zurich, CH)
Jan 4: Klaus (Zurich, CH)
NYE 2025: Heal Play Love Festival (Zurich, CH)

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Last Gentleman on Playa - is a music producer, digital nomad and active burner.

He is traveling around the world in search of fresh grooves and new collaborations.

As one of the creators of the evergreen record label @itsgoodtobeatree, he channels the ethos of growth and natural harmony into his music.

Bookings: LastGentlemanOnPlaya@gmail.com

)'(

Podcasts, Bookings, Remixes and such: AKIVA.prog@gmail.com

Latest releases:

https://www.beatport.com/artist/akiva/572633

'I cherish the sounds that we are able to create using digital, and analog machines - an extension of our human minds and imagination.'

AKIVA is a melodic house and techno producer/DJ/live act based in Los Angeles producing and curating music inspired by the progressive house scene of the early 2000s. 

Topping Beatport charts with music on underground labels such as 3rd Avenue, Arey, ARRVL, Balkan Connection, Dear Deer, Deedmusic Berlin, Gibbon Records, Hexagonal, ICONYC, JourneyDeep, Later Caked Melodic, Mystique Music, Pro B Tech, Sound Avenue, Saturo Sounds and more. 

AKIVA has shared the decks with who’s who of electronic dance music greats such as Alan Nieves, Alex O'Rion, Amber Long, Amir Telem, Anthony Pappa, AUDIOGLIDER, Cid Inc, Cream (PL), Dave Seaman, Dennis Ferrer, Desna, Francesco Lombardo, Galestian, Guzy, Hernan Cattaneo, Higgins, Ian Dillon, Jaap Lighthart, Jay Hill, Jonas Saalbach, Juheun, Juliane Wolf, Khen, Lonya, Made in Paris, Markus Saarlander, Miyagi, Modus, Pete Moss, Squire, Sonic Union, Steve Marx, Steve Parry, Technasia, Viviana Toscanini, and more. 

AKIVA started his journey through music with Jaco Pastorius. The rhythmically diverse and bass-driven fusion style, presented to him by his father and uncle's jazz records, prompted his purchase of an Ibanez bass guitar. Along with jazz, he developed a love of smooth tenor and alto saxophones and, string sounds of the violin and viola through his love of classical music. 

While he was jamming out to heavy metal and classic rock in high school, Akiva discovered electronic music on NYC's KTU station. AKIVA immediately started playing progressive and goa-psytrance songs with his friends at parties. House and techno music were still considered underground at that time. As the scene grew, both in NYC and abroad, he spent waking hours adding to his music collection and refining his production skills. 

AKIVA brings passion from all of his beloved musical genres, world music, and the classical inspirations of old school techno and house, focusing on the ethereal and deep melodies found across the world today.

Demo submissions only to: tribe@atribecalledkotori.com .

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Let’s gather on the path where ancient tribal rhythms and hallucinogenic surroundings coalesce into a kaleidoscopic experience for body, mind and soul. Here, we’re free from our past and future selves to connect to the moment and elevate each other to a higher sphere – together as one.

°°

✺ Facebook: facebook.com/atribecalledkotori/
✺ Instagram: www.instagram.com/atribecalledkotori/
✺ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHy3doaNYu7rhy4vRRGYsEw
✺  Website: https://atribecalledkotori.com/