Mixes

Recorded with care, joy and human imperfection on a pair of turntables using a fairly modest record collection. I put this mix together in one take on a rainy winter afternoon filled with drizzles and sparse glimpses of the sun. One for those who are loved as well as those to be loved. 

The first hour or so was broadcast on the December 2nd episode of my radio show Murals on lowergrandradio.com.

Tracklist:
 
Artist - Track - Album

Pharoah Sanders - Bedria - Journey to the One
Nadia Khan - Restless (Alex Albrecht Last Bells Remix) - In Gleam
Nadia Khan - Rain Again (Lawrence Remix 1) - Port Ana
Larry Heard - Heaven (Monchan Edit) - Heaven Dubs
Alex Albrecht - Further Afield - Further Afield
Edward - Into A Better Future - Into A Better Future
Traumprinz - Messed Up Jam - All The Things
Kerri Chandler - Keep One (But Do It Again) - Spaces and Places Album Sampler 3
Traumprinz - All The Things - All The Things
Alex Albrecht - Sprinkler - Further Afield
Route 8 - 4th Journey - Rewind The Days of Youth
Edward - Hecstatic - Into A Better Future
Route 8 - Bound together - Rewind The Days of Youth
Kerri Chandler - Let It [Basic Club] - Spaces and Places Album Sampler 3
Byron The Aquarius - Miss Dat Girl (Dub) - Shroomz, Guns and Roses
Blaze - We All Must Live Together - 25 Years Later
Edward - At Ease - Into A Better Future
Dego - Remini Dream ft. Ivana Santilli - Too Much
Laraaji - Zither Dance - Flow Goes The Universe

As you enjoy this mix, please consider contributing to a fund to support our unhoused neighbors in the Bay Area during this rainy winter: bit.ly/OaklandRainRelief

Murals 15: Sunshowers Mix

Murals 16 ~ Deep Romantic Chasm

In a world fixated on peaks, altitudes and heights of achievement, it may be beneficial for us to dance together in a "deep romantic chasm". The words are from one of my favorite poems, in which i interpret them to represent a state of 'void-ness' or 'zero-ness' (शून्यता). This is a state of openness to experience and lack of judgement with which I try to enter queer spaces. To me, it is also a state of sensitivity that bodes well for creation.  

As you enjoy this mix, kindly consider supporting local queer venues, gay bars, poc-run co-ops, radio stations and other venues in your community that allow direct access to art. Please also consider supporting the creators of the music in this mix.

I will play the first hour of this mix live on the February episode of Murals on Lower grand radio (lowergrandradio.com). This will be on Friday, 3rd February, 3:30 pm PDT.

Tracklist:

(Artist - Track)
Ron Trent - Seduction
Jon Dixon - Wind Drifts (Instrumental)
UFP feat. Roy Ayers - Zeularae
Osunlade - Pride (feat. Nadirah Shakoor)
Byron The Aquarius - She Want To Work It (Original Mix)
Fred P - Everyday of my life (Minimal House Mix)
Fred P - Beauty and Peace
Osunlade - Booty Call
A. R. Rahman - Barso Re
George Morel - Boom Boom
Rick Wade - Bangin'
Missing Soul - Regard (Ron Trent remix)
Ron Trent feat. Robert Owens - Deep Down (Mr. Fingers remix)
Fred P - In Waves
Kush Jones - Worldly Rhythm
Osunlade - Welcome
Jenifa Mayanja - The Road In Front of Me
Fred P - Good Vibration (Fred P reshape)
Rick Wade - Proving Ground
Matthew Herbert - Suddenly
Traumprinz - Believe
Terrence Parker & Merachka - Just Like Muzik (Michele Chiavarini Remix)
Louie Vega - I Deserve To Breathe (Instrumental Mix)
Martinou - Let's Get Out of Here
Selene - Blabberbaby
Kerri Chandler - Oblivion (dub)
Raybone Jones - Green Funk
Kyle Hall - Katastematic Pleasure
Rachika Nayar - Clarity
Pontiac Streator - Eye To You

Murals 16: Deep Romantic Chasm

This episode of Murals is dedicated to the sound of a deep house label from Chicago called Prescription. Although I did not understand it at the time, this type of music really crystallized my affection for house music a few years ago as well as helping me work through some difficult moments in life's journey. I have tried to capture some of the warmth, space, intimacy and energy of Prescription through this mix. Hope you enjoy! 

Prescription discography: https://www.discogs.com/label/292-Prescription

"Founded by producers Ron Trent and Chez Damier in 1994 to "provide a certain level of healing for people," as Trent explained to i-D magazine in November 1995, Prescription Underground EPs like vocalist-producer Romanthony's Prince-like 'The Wanderer' and Abacus' 'Relics' spatialized house by sculpting space into elegiac intimacy. Instead of dry, machine tones or the sweeping, phasing variations, these producers opened a depth of field that allowed wind currents and heavy weather to charge through the horizon of the mix. 1996's 'Romanworld' was a concept album, an audiodrama where Romanthony took an elevator 'deeper underground to Romanworld - an imperial Roman Empire, where you can feel free to indulge your every whim.' "
- Kodwo Eshun (from Modulations: A History Of Electronic Music)

Murals 17: Prescription

In the pre-internet era, many of the sounds that we have grown to so love were created by small communities of musicians working in cities such as Chicago, New York, Detroit, San Francisco.. . Local live spaces where music could be experienced often led to sublime, perception altering experiences. Sistrum recordings is a deep house label run by artist Patrice Scott which traces a rich cultural legacy rooted in the house and techno music of Detroit. This 2 hr episode of Murals is dedicated to the surreal yet intimate sound of Sistrum - definitely a mix recalling the deep after hours.

As you enjoy this mix please consider exploring the labels bandcamp page and discography:
https://sistrumrecordings.bandcamp.com/
https://www.discogs.com/label/75477-Sistrum-Recordings

Reflecting on personal experience: I was exposed to a lot of this kind of music in local gay bars and queer spaces. I am really grateful for these experiences. Given recent events related to a drag panic, transmisogynoir and global incidents of homophobia, I want to emphasize the importance of these safe spaces for queer and trans folks of many age groups. In case you are a queer or trans person who needs a listening ear or mental health support, one avenue could be to reach out to a Trevor Project counselor:
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Murals 18: Sistrum

Those touched by the magic of underground queer culture have almost certainly experienced the timeless energy of the 'Ha Dance' track in one form or another. This track was crafted by Louie Vega and Kenny Gonzalez operating under the production duo called Masters at Work. I have stitched together some of the music produced by these artists under this and a few other aliases into a mixtape for the episode of Murals that was played on May 5th on Lower Grand Radio. I hope friends and listeners will enjoy this journey through strains of exalting, disco-adjacent house music as well as soulful and joyous pop-edits. I will be delighted to share a playlist consisting of the hundreds of tracks from which I crafted this mix. Please feel free to email murals.radio@gmail.com.

Some useful discography links for passionate diggers are as follows:
Louie Vega: https://www.discogs.com/artist/161487-Louie-Vega
Kenny Gonzalez: https://www.discogs.com/artist/356288-Kenny-Dope-Gonzalez
Masters at Work: https://www.discogs.com/artist/142-Masters-At-Work
Nuyorican Soul: https://www.discogs.com/artist/2267-Nuyorican-Soul
Elements of Life: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1181564-Elements-Of-Life-3

A particular sentiment stuck with me as I was immersed in putting this mix together. It is easy to despair given some of the social issues that we are faced with around us. However, creating something beautiful does take sustained collective effort and real love. Please consider contributing to the work of 'Little' Miss Flint as you enjoy this mix: https://www.gofundme.com/f/little-miss-flint-clean-water-fund

Murals 19: Nuyorican Soul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is Just to Say 

I have eaten
the plums
that were
in the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold



- William Carlos Williams

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This very special mix is dedicated to moments of love and rapture I have been incredibly fortunate to experience in the city that has provided me with a home for more than a decade now. Grateful for the friends that sometimes peer pressure you into going out not knowing that you might just be about to have a life altering experience on a dance floor. Please consider directly supporting the producers who crafted these tracks with so much love and attention. The tracklist is appended below.

The life of an artist is one of service. However, please make sure that you're taking care of your basic needs so you can pour from a place of genuine abundance. I found this to be a useful article for maintaining a creative space, something which I am still refining:
https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-your-home-and-workspace-fuel-your-creativity/

Although I played an hour long version of this mix for the twentieth episode on lower grand radio, it was nice to indulge and continue journeying with music for another hour. Starting from the next issue, I will include a short substack newsletter to go with the mixtape. With the letter, I will include more music, works of smaller creators and minoritized artists. I hope to be driven by an overall ethics of mutual care and agape in this project. I will be delighted if you sign up and share some thoughts here: 
https://forms.gle/MjcMVXDvd2QizFiy8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tracklist:

(Artist, Track)
Kerri Chandler, “The art of conversation”
Octo Octa, “Bodies meld together”
Dorisburg remix, “Adrift”
Fred P, “Tokyo to Chiba”
Kerri Chandler, “Back to the raw” (ruff mix)
Honey Dijon re-edit, “Strike It”
Louie Vega re-touch, “Dance (Disco Heat)”
Lovebirds, “Want you in my soul”
Ron Trent, “Soul samba express”
Fred P, “Visions”
Patrice Scott, “They walk the Earth”
Chez Damier, “Sometimes I feel like”
Patrice Scott, “The Detroit upright”
Frankie Knuckles, “Rain Falls” 
(David’s soaking wet mix)
Louie Vega, “Last night a DJ saved my life”
Fred P, “Look to the Sun”
Romanthony, “Trust” (Kerri Chandler dub)
Wild Nothing, “Paradise”
Fred P, “Dancing in the dark”
Elements of Life, “Children of the world”
Rick Wade, “Dimensional Resonance”
Fred P, “Low mood”
Louie Vega & Martinez brothers,“Let it go”
Louie Vega remix, “So sweet”
Beyoncé, “Virgo’s groove”
Frankie Knuckles, “The whistle song” (Cinthie remix)
Underground resistance, “Quadrasonic”
Kerri Chandler, “Who knows”
Voyeur, “A problem for the whole solution”
Manuel Gottsching (Paradise version), “Sueño Latino”
Kerri Chandler, “Mommy what’s a record”
Rick Wade, “I do believe”
Fred P, “Lost in your sweetness”
Louie Vega and Josh Milan, “The world is a family”
Sylvester, “You make me feel mighty real”
Moor Mother, “Passing of time”

Murals 20: A Pride Soirée

Inspired by a very special live recording and recommendations from friends, I stitched together a mix of Mike Huckaby’s music for this particular episode of Murals. I played a part of it on the first Friday of July live on Lower Grand Radio and will continue for the August episode (August 4th, 3:30 pm PST on lowergrandradio.com for a live broadcast).

Mike Huckaby was a dearly beloved and respected musician, DJ, educator rooted in the rich musical tradition of Detroit. Based on his productions, one also gathers that he was keen to explore new instruments and synthesis techniques. This particular mixtape highlights a selection of his music that is more groovy, whimsical and punctuated with warm bass lines. However, it’s clear that he was a versatile producer capable of fully harnessing the Moebius strip that modern dance music is.

Discography link:
https://www.discogs.com/artist/8755-Mike-Huckaby

The artwork is partially based on a manual tracing of a creative commons image of a religious monument.

Read more: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/welcome-to-this-fresco

Murals 21: Mike Huckaby

Occhiolism (noun):
"The awareness of the smallness of one's perspective: by which it is meant that one couldn't possibly draw any meaningful conclusions at all, about the world or the past, or the complexities of culture. Although one's life is an epic and unrepeatable anecdote, it still only has a sample of size of one, and may end up being the (non-statistical) control for a much wilder experiment happening in the next room."

The 22nd episode of Murals is dedicated to the enigmatic artist Spencer Kincy from Chicago who goes as ‘Gemini’. His discogs page has the following profile description:

"As one of Chicago’s most mysterious and revered characters, the story of Gemini, aka Spencer Kincy (born June 6, 1969) has become something of a myth in recent years – blazing a trail throughout the 90’s, prolifically releasing over 200 tracks from 1994 to 1999, Spencer’s music had shades of innovation and soul few of his peers could match. Then, suddenly, at the peak of his career, he disappeared."

I found quite a bit written about him online but couldn’t really verify the information. As you do your own digging, I humbly invite you to partake in this 1 hr 36 min seamless mix of his productions. The vibe is real, sometimes bubbling, soulful and ends on a hopeful note.

I was able to play some of his tunes on the 1st September episode of Murals live on lowergrandradio.com, but it's always nice to expand a bit more for the mix series. The live recording should be available on mixcloud soon:
https://www.mixcloud.com/lowergrandradio/

Please feel encouraged to directly support the artist so they can continue making this sweet music for us:
https://spencerkincy.bandcamp.com

For further listening and digging pleasures:
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2145-Gemini

Read more on substack here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/frescoes/p/the-little-eye?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Artwork uses public domain 3D models under a creative commons license.

Murals 22: Gemini

Lilo: a neologism that refers to a particular kind of friendship that can lie dormant for years and return to a degree of warmth, understanding and familiarity as if no time had passed at all. These friendships often run deep and are exposed to all our shadows, while having the full capacity to celebrate our radiant joy. 

I was holding the thought of some of these relationships in mind as I prepared a vinyl performance for Grace Cathedral in SF. In this live recording, we go through some depths of understanding and confession to welcome our full capacity for celebration and energy. I hope many of my friends will enjoy this dance music journey. As with many vinyl recordings, there are skips and moments of imperfection (the heads do need something to talk about after all). However, I'm happy with it in the sense of the progression, energy and emotional continuity over all. 

I have immense gratitude to Grace cathedral for hosting me and my friends on this special evening. The cathedral is a sacred celebration of queer life, remembrance and community in the Bay Area. Please read more in the substack article here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/frescoes/p/inorganic-chemistry?r=44ihr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Murals 25: Grace Cathedral

“On my kitchen wall hang four snapshots of graffiti art I first saw on construction walls as I walked to my teaching job at Yale University years ago. The declaration, “The search for love continues even in the face of great odds,” was painted in bright colors. At the time, recently separated from a partner of almost fifteen years, I was often overwhelmed by grief so profound it seemed as though an immense sea of pain was washing my heart and soul away. Overcome by sensations of being pulled underwater, drowning, I was constantly searching for anchors to keep me afloat, to pull me back safely to the shore. The declaration on the construction walls with its childlike drawing of unidentifiable animals always lifted my spirits. Whenever I passed this site, the affirmation of love’s possibility sprawling across the block gave me hope.” 

bell hooks, from the introductory chapter to ~All About Love: New Visions~ titled “Grace: Touched by Love”

Full tracklist and more info here on substack: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/afterglow

Much gratitude to lower grand radio in Oakland for hosting my monthly radio show on first Fridays each month. Thank you for letting me play exactly what I want to play.

Murals 26: All About Love (House mix)

I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,   
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:   
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,   
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries   
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,   
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose   
from the earth lives dimly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,   
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,   
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,   
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

- Pablo Neruda
One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII
(translated by Mark Eisner)

I recall a summer afternoon spent on the beach in a golden haze with a good friend I love with all my spirit. And in this specific instance of real love, I find in myself the ability to experience love and gratitude for everything. What does 'agape' mean to you?

https://frescoes.substack.com/

Murals 27: Ocean Beach

The places we frequent or find refuge in have a way of staying with us. Cafe (caffe?) mediterraneum was one of those cozy cafes in the east bay that had a life of its own. The Telegraph avenue area and south side of the UC Berkeley campus has always been a neighborhood with beautiful murals, bookstores, record shops and a public park. Cafe mediterraneum added to the charm by hosting a gathering place for different communities and sometimes would turn into something quite different from a quiet cafe. In the memory of this institution, I find a lot of joy and warmth that I can summon in my quietest moments. Channeling some of this energy into a mix full of love and warmth has been a delight.

Read more: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/infinitesimals

Murals 28: Cafe Mediterraneum

Grains of sand filtering through our fingers and blown away by the wind: an image that recalls the inexorable passage of time. It is undeniable human nature to seek guidance, hope, a light or a sense of direction. This mix captures some of these feelings while trying to remind ourselves that we must fully inhabit each present moment. These moments can also include fun, joy and celebration.

Perhaps some thoughts to keep in mind as we let our actions guide us to the future:
~ What are the invariants of our lives? What values do I hope to conserve as time goes on?
~ What generates movement? What energizes us into action?
~ What is the proper sequence of activities that leads to a certain meaningful outcome?
~ How can we appreciate the seasons and natural oscillations of life and the earth (of which we are an integral component)?

Reference: J. J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics, Chapter 2: Quantum Dynamics

Murals 29: Divination

"look at love
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love

look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life

why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend"

প্রতীত্যসমুৎপাদ

Music and visuals
http://instagram.com/indrasenb_
https://bandcamp.com/indrasen/

Murals @murals_radio is a monthly radio show on lower grand radio dedicated to uplifting dance music.
Tune in every first Friday afternoon, 3:30-4:30 pm (pacific time) on https://www.lowergrandradio.com/

murals.radio@gmail.com
indrasen1@gmail.com

San Francisco Bay Area

Indra

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