Archived episodes of my monthly multi-genre radio show on Rotterdam-based station Operator Radio, exploring the sonic intersections between vocal and electronic music.

https://operator-radio.com/artists/lightbeams

Operator Radio | 2024

Australian Kia very quickly rose up through the grimy after-hours rave scene of Melbourne to make her mark on the international stage. Now Berlin-based, her unique grasp of rhythm is rooted in a love of bass, IDM and deeper techno though she is adept at exploring a wide range of moods within those worlds. She has done so at places like ADE and our own festival and extends her good taste to the curation of her Animalia imprint and its ambient sub-label Cirrus as well as her own original tracks on Nous'klaer Audio.

In this week's mix, Kia showcases a colourful and kaleidoscopic take on techno which she says was awakened by an early trip to Japan's famously head Labyrinth festival. It's a hi-fidelity feast of supple rhythms, icy synths and deep space ambiance that unfolds in late-night fashion. The melodies are as delicate as silk, the drums rubbery yet punchy. It's high-paced future music that manages to be as delicate and beautiful as it is dynamic.

Dekmantel Podcast 440 - Kia

Inspired by my home of Johannesburg, this mix traverses the sonic landscape of South Africa featuring some of my favourite classic tracks and some newly released gems.

Track List

mi-el - from the river to the sea 
Jazzuelle - The Shadow People 
FKA Mash & Samthing Soweto - Get Down Muzi - 
Tjuu Wena (feat. Setso) Alaska - Accuse (Instrumental) 
Yvonne Chaka Chaka - I’m In Love With a DJ TonicMotion, KNVL., MOJVKI - Phumelela 
Brenda Fassie - Jiva (Deeper Dub) 
Artwork Sounds - African Sax (ARTWORK b2b Remix) 
Jullian Gomes - Let Me Go feat. Sio 
SEI SIREN - Rambles Near Midnight 
Sha Sha - Tender Love (Surreal Sessions Bootleg) 
Freshlyground - Nomvula (After the Rain)

www.operator-radio.com

Operator Radio Guest Show | November 2023

Streaming from Amsterdam's Radio Radio: this is RRFM.NL w/ @state-offf

RRFM • State OFFF • 20-12-23

The Feb episode of my monthly show on Operator Radio delves into the crossovers between RnB and electronic music, chatting about my favourite tracks in the mix.

Track List:
Erika de Casier - Test It
serpentwithfeet - Spades
Bnnyhunna - feelings mutual?
Victoria Monét - Alright
Kaytranada ft. Goldlink - Vex Oh
FKA Twigs - darjeeling (feat jorja smith & unknown t)
Kelela - Happy Ending (A.G Remix)
Tinashe - Gravity
Little Simz - Mood Swings
Kelela - Raven (TYGAPAW Remix feat. Rochelle Jordan)
Mia Koden - Racket
Throwing Shade - 4Drake
Deena Abdelwahed - Complain (Ehua Remix)
Rochelle Jordan & LSDXOXO - Love You Good
Kelela - On the Run (ACONSTANTINO Remix)
Forest Drive West - Break
Erika de Casier - Lucky

Operator Radio Show | February 2024

British-Nigerian-born, Berlin-based Richard Akingbehin (@richard-akingbehin) is behind many crucial projects in electronic music, and most of them revolve around his exploration of deep and dubby sounds. Not only is he a co-founder of the excellent Refuge Worldwide radio station, but he also runs the experimental label Kynant Record and has some key residencies when not headlining other cult clubs around the world. His label recently released the first new album from dub techno don Tikiman in almost 20 years and this summer the pair will be playing together again as part of a mini tour. 

Ahead of joining us at Dekmantel Selectors later this year, Richard recorded this week's mix for us in the Refuge Worldwide studio with the aim of showcasing what he is playing in the clubs at the moment. It takes in his signature blend of dub techno styles with music from the likes of Parallel 9, Tikiman, Dialog and Delano Smith. It's spacious and unhurried but slowly ramps up the pressure to get you on your toes and vibing to his ever-warm, supple and minimal rhythms.

Dekmantel Podcast

Dekmantel Podcast 457 - Richard Akingbehin

Track List:

1. K-Lone - Water Palace
2. !Sooks - Cry Me A River
3. Tyla - No. 1 (feat Tems)
4. Lala & CE - FASTER (feat. Midas The Jagaban)
5. Logic1000 - (Promises feat. Rochelle Jordan) (VIP)
6. SUCHI - Bottlepop
7. Cloudsteppers - Duckstep
8. Introspekt - Ur A Jerk
9. Little Dragon - Twice (Etiquette Remix)
10. Erika De Casier - ice. (feat. They Hate Change)
11. Machinedrum - ZOOM (feat. Tinashe)
12. Nia Archives - Crowded Roomz
13. SZA - Saturn (Egnever Drum and Bass Edit)

Operator Radio Show | March 2024

Track List:

1. Adi Oasis - Multiply	
2. NxWorries, Anderson.Paak, H.e.r., Knxwledge - Where I Go (feat. H.E.R.)
3. Charlotte Day Wilson	- Forever
4. Lala &Ce - Jalouse
5. Tems - Free Mind
6. Cleo Sol - Nothing on Me
7. Adi Oasis -Stay Up (Pastel Remix)
8. Charlotte Dos Santos - Cupid's Bow
9. Cool Company - Floatin'
10. Hiatus Kaiyote - Red Room (Ki Pharaoh Basement Edit)
11. Hiatus Kaiyote - Make Friends
12. Destin Conrad - LUV N DEVOTION
13. Nia Archives - No Need 2 Be Sorry, Call Me? (feat. Maverick Sabre)
14. FRANK OCEAN – THINKIN' BOUT YOU (KLM FLIP)
15. Amaarae - Co-Star (Gaszia Edit)

Operator Radio Show | April 2024

Track List:

1. musclecars feat. Aden - Hello?
2. Electric Wire Hustle - Perception
3. JMSN - Inferno
4. Jamila Woods, duendita - Tiny Garden
5. musclecars feat. New Past - Water
6. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
7. anaiis - transcending (Karen Nyame KG Remix)
8. Fat Freddy's Drop - Flashback (Jazzanova's Breathe Easy Remix)
9. musclecars - I Don't Remember the Last Time I Saw Stars
10. Machinedrum feat, DUCKWRTH - ILIKEU
11. Whitney Houston - It's Not Right But It's Okay (Pj Bridger Refix)
12. K.P. & Envyi - Swing My Way (Pj Bridger Refix)

Operator Radio Show | June 2024

an excerpt from the middle of a four hour opening set. enjoy.

photo by willem mevis

Richard Akingbehin @ Draaimolen x Sustain Release, Tilburg - May '24

Recording of Amor Satyr & Siu Mata's set at Dekmantel Ten

Pre-register for Dekmantel Festival 2025 here: bit.ly/4fyWKXc

Amor Satyr & Siu Mata at Dekmantel Ten

The in-demand US DJ unfurls dubby, dance floor poetry.

Where does sentimentality fit on the dance floor? For Liv Klutse, AKA livwutang, the answer is everywhere. The New York-based DJ is guided by a deep desire to stir connection, finding themes and points of correspondence across an impressively broad range of sounds, tempos and eras. 

This emotional intuition lends Klutse's sets a depth few others can match. Her selections can seem unpredictable, rooted in an appreciation for feeling over genre—hard and soft sounds are carefully balanced with surrealism and bursts of nostalgia (for instance, the Lazy Dog bootleg edit of Everything But The Girl's "Tracey In My Room"). But as versatile as she is, a few signature traits colour her style, such as a love for dubwise music and rhythms from across the Black diaspora, alongside a refreshingly introspective energy that invites dancers to find moments of meditation—even during peak time. 

A former staffer at our New York office, Klutse has long merited an RA Podcast. Her slow-burning blends and mystical selections have graced near-enough every major festival and club out there, from Dekmantel and Sustain-Release to Nowadays, where she's been a resident since 2022. Despite this cross-continental touring schedule, she still plays plenty of grassroots venues—testament to her days with TUF collective and Orphan Radio in Seattle, as well as her enduring belief in the power of DIY, community-orientated dance music. 

"How did you come down off life?" James Massiah asks at the beginning of RA.975. Across nearly 90 minutes, Klutse's downright beautiful mix seeks answers to this question, reflecting on hedonism in times of political decay. She's in full-on dub mode, moving through meditative bassweight, glitchy house and flat-out weirdo techno with a deftness we've come to expect from one of the most promising, singular voices in dance music right now. She's got there all on her own terms—and we couldn't be prouder.

@livwutang

Read more and find the tracklist ra.co/podcast/975

RA.975 livwutang

A deconstructed collage of songs I love, about love, and to fall in love to 

torus - radiate540
addison rae - diet pepsi
aj tracey & jorja smith - crush
justin bieber - somebody to love
caribou - never come back
loukeman - took a turn
cece natalie - romeo 
beverly hills mom - dj desparate hou5ewife
kaskade - 4am (adam k & soha remix)
mk.gee - rockman (maymung edit)
che ecru - we in luv 
ag cook - gold leaf
ninajirachi - ice u out
vegyn - another time another place
oklou - blade bird 
betty hammerschlag - you know wassup
frank ocean - in my room 
telefon tel aviv - fahrenheit fair enough
tk kravitz - ocean 
aphex twin - on (u-ziq mix)
boom jinx - to the six
wayne wonder - no letting go
ml buch - o 
oklou & bladee - take me by the hand (gaszia edit)
skrillex - all i ask of you 
justin bieber & nicki minaj - beauty and a beat 
clara la san - in this darkness
mario - how do i breathe
kelela - lmk
skee mask - 50 euro to break boost
mssingno - fones
tomaga - intimate intensity (floating points remix)
dj missoni - two heavens
gigi masin - the word love

inspired by JR ~

Amouria: A Valentine's Mix

Welcoming the lovely Refuge Worldwide co-founder and dub-master @richard-akingbehin to the Animix series this week, with a beautiful journey of minimal house infused with his signature dub styles.

Clear in his DJ'ing, but also his work with @refugeworldwide, and his immaculately curated label, @kynant-records, Richard is an all-round classy selector, and a champion of community. Through his various outputs, his deep & considered knowledge and taste shines. 

Richard always impresses me with the diversity of moods he presents via his DJ'ing, hybrid collaborations with legend Tikiman, b2bs with other legends like livwutang, and his label - a diversity that's always strung together with his incredibly distinctive psychedelic, soothing dub formula. 

Thanks for the mix Richard <3

Downloads enabled

Animix One Hundred & Seventy Three: Richard Akingbehin

🌐 Refuge Worldwide is a radio station and community space based in Berlin-Neukölln.
➡️ More info, more music: www.refugeworldwide.com

Support us by becoming a member on Patreon for just 3€ a month: www.patreon.com/refugeworldwide

Daisy Records Takeover - adobeprincess - 07 Jun 2025

Live recorded on 3 turntables, vinyl only.

B2B with Helena Hauff Live at Trädgården, Stockholm

LightBeams is a DJ, radio host and writer from South Africa.

Through her deep-rooted love for music, she channels light and joyful sonic energy just as her name suggests. She has graced decks across South Africa, the Netherlands and Berlin, playing at iconic clubs such as Evol, Radio Radio and Garage Noord. With her eclectic taste and skillful track selection, her sets invite listeners to go deeper and listen harder.

Operator Radio Show | April 2024

LightBeams

Related tracks