MDC Mix Archive

MDC007 // Max Graef - The Love Tapes

Out late August.

Max Graef: http://soundcloud.com/max-graef
MDC on FB: https://www.facebook.com/Melbourne.Deepcast

[MDC007] Max Graef - Pedro

One of the most influential, respected and loved names in house since way back in 1991, and quite comfortably one of our all time favourite producers of house music with too many classics to name, Ian Pooley treats us to an hour of seriously deep cuts, mixing his own personal edits of underground favs from the 90s and 00s from the comfy surrounds of his studio in Mainz, Germany. This is a trip down 12″ memory lane you probably don’t want to miss!

Click here for our chat with Ian Pooley: melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/ian-pooley

https://pooledmusic.bandcamp.com

@ianpooley

www.melbournedeepcast.net

Interview

MDC.260 Ian Pooley

A fresh dose of interplanetary house from the Perth based Butter Sessions producer @guycontact!

Much like his recent run of brilliant 12s, the latest of which are soon to drop for UK outfits @hawsmusic and @craigie-knowes, Guy Contact expertly transports us through a psychedelic time warp back to a moment when progressive house was at its peak, with tightly pulsating grooves met by metallic synth lines and dreamy celestial atmospherics. An alien trip through the blissful and serene with just enough bite to launch you into the unknown.

melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/guy-contact

@guycontact
@buttersessions

MDC.262 Guy Contact

DJ Possum and Myles Mac return with a three hour trip full of saxy summer time slow jams, deep balearic burners, soulful UK garage and loungin' 90s house & hip hop. Mellow to its core, this one invites you to hit recline and see where the vibe might take you. One for the boom bappers and the chill steppers!   

Tracklist and full info: melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/myles-mac-dj-possum

A little bit about the mix..

@djpossums:

Collaborating with Myles is fun because it's where we find a point of intersection with our djing styles and music tastes. I'm an unpinned DJ in terms of genre but together we find cohesiveness to tell a story that is reminiscent of our upbringings and nostalgic memories; UK Underground street soul, 90s Hip Hop, funny South African Kwaito tunes that we sing along to even though we don't know the language, soulful electronic love songs, early house classics and many more..

Some pretty banging songs that are precious to me from the message in the lyrics, the feeling they create, the fun vibes or just their awesome production are: Can't Stop (One World 12'' Mix) by After 7, U.N.I.T.Y. by Queen Latifah, Scratched by Etienne de Crecy and the Brazilian balearic classic Tudo Faz Sentido by Taciana to name a few.

@myles-mac:

One of the few upsides of extended periods at home this year thanks to all the lockdowns has been the time to trawl through old Ibiza chill CDs, youtube channel wormholes and bandcamp compilations to discover classic or relatively unknown 90s downtempo gems that have managed to last the test of time. With this mix, Maria and I put our heads together to tell a story of the past that somehow still sounds fresh to our ears today, trying to squeeze in a bunch of styles from both of our collections while making it all flow and sound somewhat cohesive over three hours and a variety of tempos.

Inspirations for the mix come from all over the map, but there's a definite focus on the link between the UK and Ibiza in the early-mid 90s, with old Dj Alfredo live recordings, José Padilla's Café del Mar compilations, psychedelic mixes from the late great Andrew Weatherall, the absolutely insane discography of UK Street Soul pioneer Toyin Agbetu (the producer behind 2 Tuff, Deluxe, Shades Of Black, Robyn, Mary Pearce and many more), the crisp jazzy productions of downtempo master Paul Hardcastle from Kiss The Sky (a ton of which he's uploaded to bandcamp) and the don of deep &amp; soulful UK Garage Mike Millrain (aka D Base, DJ South Central, Vibes Alive, Stone Cold Steppaz).

A few special mentions go to our friend Dust-e-1 in Montreal for his chillout monster of a remix for Pascale Project, the late Richard H. Kirk aka Sandoz who recently passed but left us with an infinite resource of beautiful electronic dance music, and Alaska's Kwaito classic "Accuse" that will always put a smile on our faces no matter the occasion.

MDC.265 Myles Mac & DJ Possum

A true OG in every sense of the word, the lifelong record digger and die-hard music aficionado Estimulo has been pushing the needle in Berlin's deep underground since the late 80s! His regular collaborations with like minded music obsessed guests to present marathon live streams of the notorious EstimuloShow are the stuff of legend, the most recent of which have been streamed live from his basement in Berlin with guests like Huerta, C.K, Flørist and Adi Toohey stopping by for some cake and an extended b2b.

Wowing even the most astute of house heads without even breaking a sweat, Esti's selections simply are one of a kind, drawing upon the deepest of deep cuts from his 30+ year record collection to share with the world an incredible ear for rare and forgotten dance music.

A dubbed out "listening mind journey" as he describes it, Estimulo mixes up some pure gold here as per usual, and gives us some great insight into the history and inner workings of the EstimuloShow, and the thought process that goes into making his own killer edits!

Interview with Estimulo: melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/estimulo

@estimulo

http://mixomat.org/estimulo

https://cashmereradio.com/shows/estimuloshow

MDC.266 Estimulo

Entering our minds through the rumbling of bass bins planted firmly on the ocean floor, Cousin’s deep earth rhythms span wide, from massage chair dubs on 7" to peak time dust burners echoing live under the stars. Summoning sounds from well below the surface and far beyond the ozone layer, we're treated here to a blissed out blend of atmospheric groovers inspired by the natural surrounds of the Moonshoe boss' daily commute.

Click here for our chat with Cousin: melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/cousin/

@secondcousins

MDC.274 Cousin

Straight outta Deepcast HQ we present the third chapter in the extended mix collab between Naarm's very own @myles-mac and @djpossums. 

Heavy as ever on those smooth 'n sexy mid-90s r'n'b & hip hop flavas, this time the pair of chillout aficionados throw in a special spice mix of 90s dub & ragga styles, west coast g-funk, Kwaito hip hop, UK street soul, UK Garage and Italo house to keep your toes well and truly tappin' over the 2+ hour ride..

MDC.280 Myles Mac & DJ Possum

Chief of the undercover cross over jam, the humble downtempo don and Rhapsodise head honcho @daniel_pisano adds his own slice of paradise to the series, with a dance focussed blend of beachside 90s breezers dusted off and smuggled from their mysterious cyber caves. Cruise control >> on! 

Q. Hey Daniel, what inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. The mix is inspired by my love of 90s dance music. As with most of my mixes, the records used are exclusively from this era, or at least draw inspirations from it. The sounds I like from this era tend to have a similar feel to them - breakbeaty, progressive and always with a touch of balearic energy. I haven’t recorded a dance-floor mix for a couple of years so it was fun putting this together with some of my favourite records and CDs I’ve collected since then.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are especially close to your heart, or new or old favourites that you’ve been keeping up your sleeve for the right moment?

A. The first track I used in the mix is from a remix CD by Australian electronic music project ‘Kiva’. I went blind on their self-titled album last year and soon realised how good all of their other CDs were. I think I had naturally been drawn to look for music from the UK, Europe and the US and around this time I started researching a lot more into local artists. My appreciation for home grown electronic music definitely started to shift, which you could see in mixes and uploads to my YT channel.

Q. We’re big fans of your Rhapsodise YT channel over here, with some extraordinary finds being uploaded frequently over there by your good self! Tell us a bit more about that project and how you go about curating it, and what characteristics might you be looking for when deciding what tunes to share?

A. Thanks so much for the kind words :) The project was inspired by the other channels in the community that upload amazing finds. Internationally I was always blown away by No Frills, Customs, oddSample, Modern Art and local friends such as Mike Who, Daniel Lupica and Mirren. In terms of curation, I really just upload things that I enjoy that haven’t yet hit YouTube. Most of these uploads form part of mixes that I put together so the uploads I find are generally similar in style to the mix I’m preparing at the time. I’ve recently moved to London, so hopefully there’s some new uploads in the coming months!

MDC.288 Daniel Pisano

@myles-mac and @djpossums closing out The Grove, 4:00-6:30am Friday night at Sustain-Release Year 9.

@sustain-release-nyc

Myles Mac & DJ Possum @ Sustain-Release 2023

Safe to say this one has been worth the wait! Relentless Sydney digger @daniel-lupica uncovers some seriously next level 90s kwaito and mid-tempo house from South Africa for a summer time spread full of pure under the radar heat! 

Q. Hey Daniel, what inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. Kind of, but it wasn’t super intentional; obviously I’m into 90’s sounds (in particular South African Kwaito and House) so I wanted to share some of my favourite finds of this year and string them together in a cohesive mix, keeping a steady mid-tempo vibe, where everything sounds both similar and different the whole way through. Nothing groundbreaking, just trying to keep an emphasis on quality and not play too many jams I’ve heard before in other DJ’s mixes.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are especially close to your heart, or new or old favourites that you’ve been keeping up your sleeve for the right moment?

A. There are a few! As a lot of the SA stuff is not easy to come by, it feels like it’s by chance (right place, right time) that I ended up with a couple, so pretty grateful to have some of my grails in hand, such as the “Shima - S'Phete Vibe” LP, the song “Dlayani” is in the mix but it’s packed full of heat. Another is the “Andile - Want Me (Viagra Mix)” (recently added to my YT) that is red hot fave at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSet9roaPA

Q. With so many great under-the-radar South African records in the mix, can we expect to hear a few of these popping up on your youtube channel in the months ahead? And what other rabbit holes have you been exploring for the channel of late?

A. Yes for sure! There’s 3 or 4 in there that I plan to throw onto my channel. But hopefully I don’t sit on them too long and miss the boat.

The other rabbit holes that I’m always exploring include 90’s Latin/Spanish/Brazillian Hip Hop and Hip-House, as well as Reggae and Dancehall covers of 90s RnB and pop songs. Always nice to throw something familiar yet different into the mix when playing in a bar or club.

MDC.290 Daniel Lupica

Rounding out the year with two and a half hours of perfectly weighted dream grooves, tech savvy-transcendence and heavenly vintage house music from a beacon of the deep dancefloor, Hannah D! 

@hld
@thespacebetweenus

Q. Hey Hannah, what inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. Hey Myles! Thank you so much for having me on, I’m over the moon to be a part of the series. This mix is a bit of an ode to my favourite time and place to DJ — sunset at a festival or doof in the bush. When the day turns to night is such a special time, especially in these settings, and I really wanted to try and emulate that feeling — starting out soft and building into something a bit euphoric.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are especially close to your heart, or new or old favourites that you’ve been keeping up your sleeve for the right moment?

A. Yes actually! One that comes to mind is Dario - Sweet Love (Evolution Mix). I found it a few years ago and was obsessed with it but the record was so expensive on Discogs (currently $200!) and I couldn’t find it anywhere else so I kinda gave up on it. When you asked me to do this mix I decided to have another look for it and ended up being able to trade someone for a rip of the vinyl. So happy to finally play it!! Another special one is Kalle-M - This Place. My partner David actually found this and sent it to me a while ago and I love it so much, so shout out to Dave for that one :) and a final special mention for Blue Noise - Coldflow which is close to the end. It gives me goosebumps every time, so intensely emotional and I would be crying if I heard this on a dancefloor!

Q. I know you’ve had quite the busy year on the events front, hosting a number of different parties with great local and international DJs as part of the Luna Blessings and Send/Return collectives. What were some of your favourite moments from the year that was, and what projects are you looking forward to working on in 2024?

A. Thank you! It’s been a crazy year looking back and I’m so grateful to be a part of so many special parties. A moment that stands out was the Waxo Paradiso x Hope Street Radio party the other week, the vibes were so perfect all day. This year I’ve actually played quite a lot of b2b sets which has been so fun, and I’ve had the chance to play interstate a couple of times and in Europe which was amazing :) We’ve got a super stacked year ahead with both Luna Blessings and Send/Return which I can’t wait for! We’re hosting one of my favourite artists ever for Luna in January which we’ll announce very soon. I’m looking forward to more of all of the above in 2024!

MDC.291 Hannah D

@myles-mac's annual MDC Review is in, blending some of his favourite mind massagers from 2023.

Tracklist:

Eivind Vullum & Telephones - Changgu-Satturnu (Telephones' Mind Meld) // 	Vibrasjon
Radart - Soli Test // Companion
A.S.O. - Falling Under (Cousin's Dive Dub) // Low Lying Records
Anthony Naples - Scars // ANS
Rings Around Saturn - Lansky's Vision // Best Effort
Beta Librae - Bodhicitta // Incienso
Frank & Tony - Agitate // Pacific Rhythm
Pilgrims Of The Mind - My Baby Likes Rum // Heels & Souls
DJ Popup - MLK // NES
Adam Pits - Spreadable // Kalahari Oyster Cult
p1LL - Touch My Soul // Serenity Now Recordings
Fantastic Man - West Coast // Superconscious 
Patrick Holland - Fog Wall // Verdicchio Music Publishing
Sean La'Brooy - 140 to the Pin (ft. Greg Carleton) // Analogue Attic
Jex Opolis - Catalytic // Bad Timin'
DJ Central - Person // NES
Retza - Division (Too Sexy Mix) // Retza
Angus Mills - Wet // Moonshoe
Lew E - Teardrop // Basic Spirit
Thurlow Joyce - Lemon Citrus // NAFF
Sleep D - Planet Waves // Butter Sessions
Caldera - Dolphin Skii // Nummer Music
ANF - Technique // DustWORLD

MDC 2023 Review

We return to NYC where the wonderful @lycheefrut has us fully submerged in a wobbly world of ambient techno moods and grooves. Restorative mind state hypnosis for the early morning acid dreamers with moments of total serenity! 

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. There are a few recent moments that I drew from: I had pulled a lot of dreamy tracks to close out the intimate Sunday evening queer party I throw with my friends called Antidote, and for a b2b with my friend threehz at their party dream/self. I usually spend a lot of time planning a tracklist for studio mixes, but this time, I was struggling to sequence or choose between the tracks I had pulled.

On New Year's Eve, a few friends came over to my studio to pass some time before going to a rave where I was working the door at 8am, and they all ended up dozing off while I was DJing. I was trying to play music that was both energetic enough to keep me awake, but not too intense for people who were sleeping. A few days later, I ended up recording this mix in one take with no strict playlist, drawing from that moment; it was a fun experiment in trusting myself to find a more organic flow.

Q. As someone who’s actively involved in a number of interconnected projects and events within NYC’s underground dance scene, tell us about the idea behind your Spontaneous Affinity outlet for zines, mixes and long form interviews that regularly feature important insights from DJs, producers and organisers alike. 

A. The series has been on a bit of a pause / slow paced moment lately as I focus on getting some other aspects of my life together :) but the idea was to use the interviews to draw connections between different nodes of people working to build scenes in different places. Everyone gets the same set of questions to choose from; it's always fun compiling it all into a zine and seeing what kinds of commonalities emerge. I hope to find time to work on another zine before the end of this year!

Q. And finally, I really enjoyed your set opening up The Grove at last year’s Sustain-Release! Tell us about how you found that whole experience, and how did you approach a set like that where you could seemingly take things anywhere over the three and half hours..

A. This set was a heavy one for me – I've been to every Sustain, and it was a formative part of my journey deeper into DJing and music. This summer also came with a lot of big losses and transitions. I spent as much time journaling and meditating as I did organizing music, and wanted to make space for others to process difficult things before diving into party mode in a psychedelic environment.

As far as the musical approach, I thought of the set in 7 or 8 "chapters" that could expand or contract depending on the energy and vibe. I've played a lot of opening sets over the years and lately have wanted to push myself within that; here, instead of the standard ambient → techno type opening set, I wanted to play with a structure where the set built into a mild frenzy and then settled back down before the live acts that played after me.

MDC.293 Lychee

Dipping into warmer waters with the Life Classics mood masters tapped into a soul defining well of exquisite late 90s and early 00s house music. Dreamy, techy, jazzy, groovy, this one has it all. 

Deep house at its absolute finest.

@sanctuary3

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. We’ve always had our heads locked into the deeper shades of house from the late 90’s to early 00’s, in particular those nostalgic tracks that tap into that spacey special place. The mix is shaped around a bunch of records that resonate that feeling for us, a nod to those dance floor dreamers found late into the night with stars in their eyes.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are especially close to your hearts, or old favourites that you’ve been keeping up your sleeves for the right moment?

A. The opening track is from Ronin's Night Grooves EP. A firm favourite of ours that we've kept on rotation over the years. And also the last track from Aurora Borealis on FNAC, this one has been on the shelf for long minute, but don't often play it out so it felt right letting it run here.

Q. What’s the latest with your Life Classics parties in Berlin? Do you have some fun nights planned at OHM once again this year, and who have been some of the guests that have blown your minds in recent years, and why?

A. We just had a banging start to another year's residency a couple of weeks back with Telephones. Next month we've got Antal coming through again, he has been a staple of our nights since the A.S.E days and it's always a wild one. Red Greg was definitely a recent highlight, treated us all to a master class deep into the wee hours.

MDC.294 Sanctuary

A radiant beacon of light and energy, Naarm's longtime curator, tastemaker and worldly dance music selector Adriana steps away from the d-floor to serve us a delightful blend of soulful hip hop, r'n'b and neo soul, moving between vintage and contemporary cuts with complete ease and steeze! Opa!

@goodlucktoyourdad

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, or time/place in dance music history that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. This mix has been inspired by what I’ve been listening to as of late which has been heaps of rnb, neo-soul, hip-hop and afrobeat. Thrown in the mix are some real classics from the 90’s as well as some contemporary jams that have really impressed me. I think it’s too easy to get caught up in having to play only what is considered to be “underground” when in actual fact there are some fire mainstream releases as of late.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are especially close to your heart, or old favourites that you’ve been keeping up your sleeve for the right moment?

A. The last jam ‘Come Dance with Me’ by Sleepy Brown definitely takes me back to my childhood and ignites a fire in my heart!! I wasn’t too sure if bringing up the mix by another 10bpm to finish was a wise move but I’m so glad I did! 

Q. A massive winter edition of your ever evolving Spasta party is happening this June with an mega lineup just announced (Jex Opolis, Ruf Dug & Adi Toohey to name a few), how long has this one been in the making, and what kind of vibes might we be able to expect over the two stages?

A. This Spasta is our biggest one yet and the enthusiasm behind it has been mind blowing!! People are so keen for a day festival in the Winter - especially when the lineup and location are undeniably amazing! 

As always, Spasta will emphasise my Greek culture - this time with a Florinian band to welcome guests upon arrival, Greek statues projected across the convent walls and ouzo to be catered at the bar.

We also really pride ourselves on the artists that we book - this time mixing it up between fan favourites and underground figures who deserve a spotlight on them because they’re so damn incredible!

Spasta prides itself on not being pretentious which is why it feels so welcoming. I am proud of the community that I have created alongside Finding Figaro, and am grateful that people are so trusting and receptive to our vision and values! We simply cannot wait to do it all over again with them this June! :D

MDC.296 Adriana

We're beyond thrilled to welcome French house music pioneers Alan Braxe & DJ Falcon who share with us with their recent set from Golden Plains Festival! 

Fasten your seatbelts for a high-octane genre bending encounter, packed with plenty of cult French house classics mixed with the duo's signature blend of indie pop, disco and techno with some special edits they made just for the set. 

@braxe1 + @djfalconofficial

Q. What inspiration did you both draw upon when planning for this set at Golden Plains? How would you describe the feeling in the crowd, and what kind of a story were you hoping to tell with the music that night?

Alan Braxe:

Weeks before playing at Golden Plains many people and friends told us this one is going to be special, you’ll love it! So we were very excited. When we arrived on the site we immediately felt very good energy with a big crowd focusing on the music. All these lights everywhere made it quite unreal, a bit like in a fairy tale. When we played we tried to be quite eclectic covering a wide range of the music we like. We even prepared some special edits backstage before the set when we realized how good the atmosphere was.

DJ Falcon:

As Alain said we were already excited to play there as we had tonnes of great feedback from our Australian mates weeks before the show. We knew this festival was going to suit us well as we’re constantly flirting with pop, rock and electronic music. Honestly we simply play the music we love and tell a little bit of our story, some of our French classics combined with a selection of tracks we like from the moment. 

Q. What were some of your favourite moments from this particular set, and how do you guys find the right balance between the nostalgic classics and the newer French house sounds when preparing for your sets together? 

AB:

As said above we love to play eclectic with a bit of techno, house, French house, indie pop, we don’t really prepare the set, it’s more an improvisation based on our respective selections. It doesn’t really matter to us if the music is new or made 20 years ago, it’s more about playing tracks we love 100%. My fave moment was probably when I played the 1st track “I Saw” by Young Fathers that I edited a few minutes before the set. On stage, when I saw this very enthusiastic crowd, I felt like wow we have full freedom to play whatever we want.

DJF:

Favorite moment, for me, is when you arrive at the place and you instantly know that you’re gonna have a good time. Also after 10/15 mins of our set we were able to know that the audience is super receptive, that’s a good satisfaction for us. Talking about the right balance between classics and newer tracks is mainly dictated by the energy of the audience. I feel like we’re simply going with the flow, we’re somehow just some kind of energy sensor…

Q. Now having completed this long awaited Australia tour, how did you find the experience of returning to the country after so many years, this time as a duo, and where are you hoping to take the Braxe + Falcon project next? 

AB:

It’s been a very pleasant tour, we did other festivals with also a very positive reaction from the people, touring as a duo is also very exciting as there is this common excitement backstage before playing, and also my son is now living in Sydney so I had the chance to spend a lot of time with him. Next for us is studio time to release more music, our next single is set to be released on July 10th on Smugglers Way / Domino, and there will be more to come later in 2024.

MDC.297 Braxe + Falcon

Raised in Shibuya, Tokyo and now calling Naarm/Melbourne home for the past year, Kamome cut his teeth playing adventurous extended sets as part of the Tokyo based Vinyl Youth DJ collective, with close mentorship from local legends KEITA SANO and Yamarchy from the notorious Shibuya small club, Mitsuki. 

Kamome brings his unique and playful musical stylings to the table for the latest episode with a mix as deep and immersive as it is quirky and acid-groovy, primed for late night smoky dancefloor indulgence!   

@kamome-8787

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when putting this mix together? Is there a sound, feeling, time or place that connects all the different elements in one way or another?

A. The inspiration for this mix comes from my upcoming one year of being in Australia, and I created it with the hope that the local people will get to know me. As a Japanese person, this mix is largely composed with sounds from the Japanese community and those of my seniors and friends.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. All the tracks in this mix by Chida, Keigo Okazaki, Daichi, Yamarchy, ifax!, Dj Himitsu, and KEITA SANO are important to me, but the one that stands out the most is the debut track "Got to be real" by DAICHI & Yamarchy, which will be released at the end of August. This edit seems to be a re-edit of a past track from the label Clue-L, run by Kenji Takimi.

Q. I know you’ve featured some incredible unreleased Japanese records in this mix! What Japanese artists/labels are responsible for some of your favourite sounds of late, and who should we be watching out for?

A. An artist I'm keeping an eye on is DAICHI, a member of my collective "Vinyl Youth." His recent release from MM Disco, based in Berlin and Barcelona, is still fresh in my memory, and I can't wait for what's next !

An artist to watch is KEITA SANO, and although not Japanese, Lunatic Music, based here in Melbourne, is also noteworthy. Keita is like an older brother to me :) and he releases works in a unique style at an incredible pace. (He has released five works this year alone.) 

Bart and Jack, who run Lunatic Music, have been invaluable friends since I came to Melbourne. Their label features Japanese artists, and all their releases are excellent. Be sure to check them out!

MDC.298 Kamome

London’s Customs duo are connoisseurs of finely crafted garage music, two life long devotees to the sound’s deeply swung rhythms and unifying dancefloor vibrations.

Finessing their take on all things garage (not garage) through their regular spots on Kiosk Radio and at London's Giant Steps, the guys join us with a swinging smorgasbord of 90s and early 00s records from the UK, dabbling in top notch garage and some of the sounds that anticipated broken beat and early grime productions. 

@customs_ldn

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when combining for this mix, and what kind of setting might you imagine it being enjoyed in the most?

Guy: 

Firstly, thank you Myles so much for sharing this mix. Longtime fans of MDC! Both of us answered “driving” as the best setting, which is funny since neither of us drives. So maybe “riding” rather than driving. Lots of thoughts percolated for me on night drives to inner city Manchester a few months back. Definitely inspired by the All Bad Boy & All Good Girl archive work of Death Is Not The End, resurfacing the sound of Moss Side blues parties like Soul Control. Reading Ed Gillett’s new-ish book Party Lines also gave a push further into alternate UK dance histories, specifically Black club scenes and music that ‘swings’.

Tom: 

I’ve been bingeing on a bunch of old club recordings from the ‘speed garage’ era lately - sets from places like Club Koo and The Colosseum - and I think some of the energy from that early blend of UK and US sounds has definitely bubbled over into this mix.

Q. With the mix showcasing your shared appreciation for deep garage music and its many adjacent styles and offshoots, could you give us a brief insight into your journeys with the sound, and what years, artists or labels have you found to be responsible for the most timeless cuts in your record bags?

Guy: 

It was a nocturnal radio sound for me as a young teenager I guess, largely mysterious, coming largely from London when I was growing up in the north west. But the sampling of R&B vocals from stuff I knew made it immediately accessible. In more recent years, digging in London, I’ve tended to get most excited by either one-off/ white label riddles that are sometimes garage-not-garage, and also alias stuff from bigger name producers across bigger labels in the genre - G-Spot Records, Nice ‘N’ Ripe, Unda-Vybe etc. 

Tom:

I actually started out as a bedroom garage DJ, so it’s a bit of a full-circle moment for me. I had a mate at school who wanted to be an MC, and on Saturdays we used to hit up Music & Video Exchange to pick up whatever white labels we could find before heading back to his flat in Ladbroke Grove to practice a set that nobody would ever hear. Shout out to Nick The Greek, wherever you are! Twenty-something years later, I’m still finding exciting stuff from the same producers we loved back then - guys like Jeremy Sylvester and Mike Millrain who have these unfathomably deep back-catalogues.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your hearts, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

Guy: 

I’d call out 2. Artist Formerly Known as PP - When I’m Down, from 1998. Bit of a private press oddity from a producer who’s prolific but mysterious (the PP = ‘Persian Prince’). It’s a kind of rolling, morphing megamix type cut that samples Brandy - Best Friend but also features raw toasting style MC bits the likes of which you hear from the live party recordings in All Bad Boy & All Good Girl. The other is Colour 3 - La Femme, a beautiful, melodic white label that’s been so versatile for me since I picked it up from Crazy Beat in Upminster. Has worked a treat on sound systems like Giant Steps and after parties alike. 

Tom:

The penultimate track, Drivers Anthem, is a special one for me. Super deep and melodic production, but with that trademark UK bump on the bottom end.

MDC.299 Customs

300 mixes! What a journey. Big respect to those still listening since it all began back in the late 2000s, and a warm welcome to those who might just be tuning in for the first of hopefully a few more to come.

Thought it must be about time for another episode from Deepcast HQ, with Myles Mac & DJ Possum back in the mix for a relaxing journey guided by the eternal balearic breeze of the 90s. Two and a half hours of smooth summertime groovers with plenty of vocoders, utopian dream states and moments of total rave nostalgia. Dancefloor chillers for the deeply inclined and/or reclined. Here's to 300 more :~)

@myles-mac & @djpossums

MDC.300 Myles Mac & DJ Possum

Dubwise dreams and groovy percussive house with the low end dwelling Moonshoe producer @angusmills

Q. What can you tell us about the mix?

A. Thanks so much for having me on the series, I've been a big fan for over a decade now 🙂 So the mix has been curated with my interpretation of the MDC spirit in the front of my mind. I’ve loved how so many mixes over the years have danced thoughtfully between home listening and warm fictional dancefloor settings. I wanted the music to reflect some of the sounds and feelings that I love and which you’ve touched upon in your next question. Hopefully the music translates back to the listener in whichever setting they happen to be in. Recently I’ve been listening back to the mix at home while standing in our light filled kitchen making dinner, looking over at our whippet Olive while she snores on her bed. 

Some of my favourite tracks in the mix include Erzulie (Temple Dub Mix) by Mind Over Rhythm from 1992, Tranquillity by Bamboo Curtain, Nick Kelly’s Track – Dew U Feel Me from Trip ‘N Spin Recordings from San Francisco and the track I close out the mix with is a song that really resonates strongly with me, Soundtrack to a Dying by Phil Western. 

Q. You’ve clearly got a real appreciation for deep hypnotic rhythms, tell us about how you became entrenched in this sound, and how long had you been refining things before your debut Moonshoe release came out?

A. Thanks Myles, that’s very kind of you to say. Yeah, I’m pleased with how that release turned out and am just starting to get back to writing some new music again after a busy work period which feels exciting. Shoutout to Jackson as well who heard a couple of early iterations of those tunes and decided to take a risk on working towards a release for me, couldn’t have imagined a better home for the music than Moonshoe.

I’ve been producing music since the start of 2011 and released some stuff under a few different monikers over the years but wasn’t completely confident with my productions until about 2020. I started studying architecture in 2018 and during the degree, didn’t really have much capacity to work on my own music. I was still heavily listening to music throughout the degree and found that having a break from producing during this time helped me to relearn to love making music again. Perhaps there was something about shifting some creative energy away from music for a period?

Q. On your Moonshoe affiliations, I know you have been working with the label for a little while now, tell us about that experience and what have you got in the works?

A. Yes so, Jackson/ Cousin and I have known one another for a while now through going out to parties around Sydney, I used to go and see him and Brad play a lot around town. He met my partner Claudia years back before we’d even started dating and funnily enough, she suggested that we’d probably get along well. I was sending Jackson a bit of music around 2018/2019 and one of the tracks, Transient ended up coming out on the second Limbs compilation, From Inside Out. Jackson ended up getting a job at Sydney University with me in the AV team which hilariously employs many creatives from the Sydney music scene, and we just started hanging out more and regularly grab lunch together. One thing led to another, and he started helping me put Alva together, doing an excellent job of A&R, giving me regular feedback and suggestions for improving the music. I was also giving him some feedback on his own releases for some other labels, which kind of shifted organically into helping him narrow down some music for his upcoming EP on Moonshoe ‘Wake the Town’ which is a 6 tracker coming out in the next couple of months. In the meantime, Cousin has some individual tunes that didn’t quite make the EP coming out through the Moonshoe bandcamp over the next couple of months which I’ve done some mastering work on. Definitely keep watching this space for music coming out on Moonshoe over the course of next year!

MDC.301 Angus Mills

Command D summons the gods of the deep to have us completely submerged in a world of interdimensional dub techno, traversing us through an hour and a half of infinitely looped reflections and subaquatic soundscapes. 

@commandd

Q. This certainly feels like one of your most immersive mixes to date, deeply contemplative and full of dreamy dub techno atmospherics. What inspiration did you draw upon, and what type of setting or situation could you imagine it being enjoyed in? 

A. I started to get into this sound when I was putting together my mix for the Moonshoe mix series. I didn’t know what to call it at the time but I found all of those tunes and tied them together with a certain feeling that was really inspiring me then, it was very organic and that is still one of my favourite mixes. You can hear dub elements scattered throughout that whole mix.

As I started incorporating more dub elements into my productions I discovered artists like Stephen Hitchell and Rhythm & Sound that had created a kind of music that was really extremely satisfying for me to listen to, especially considering my developing love for hi-fi and larger sound systems. I incorporated those artists into my FHUO mix which was a much more considered exploration of the style. Looking back on the process of making the mixes and how much I enjoyed them really assures me that the deep and contemplative sound is a big part of who I am.

For this mix I’ve taken inspiration from the MDC series itself which I’ve been listening to for years. I wanted to add little hints of deep house sounds as a nod to the mixes of the past. I personally think mixes like this are the best to listen to when you’re travelling and looking out a window, otherwise maybe sitting at a desk on a rainy day doing some work. I’d like people to listen to this in a time where they won't be distracted by something else or feel the need to skip forward, I’d want people to just throw it on and let it play, drifting in and out of the tracks and their own thoughts.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. My favourite tracks in the mix are Saftig Komposition by Rasmus Hedlund and Sedlec Ossuary by Persuasion. At a base level I love these tracks because they take a more modern approach to a dub techno track with tight production. Going deeper, the thing that really resonates with me is hard to put into words and best left unsaid. I think this kind of music (along with many other kinds) allows the listener to feel emotions that aren't able to be put into words, part of why I love it so much. I find that dub techno specifically can feel sad and happy at the same time like lots of jazz ballads. That to me is a really beautiful sound that kind of encapsulates life in general.

Q. Tell us about the development of your live set, and where things are currently at with it? Do you feel like you’re able to explore different shades of your sound when playing in a live setting?

A. Putting together my first live set was an awesome experience. I got to play it all around Australia from clubs to rainforests. I’ve put the current live set to bed for now and am starting to work on a new one with a slightly different setup. Although it was a challenging experience, I loved making a live set because often when I would dig for tunes to play out I’d think ‘I wish I had a song like this’ and writing a live set meant that I could bring those ideas to life and curate a set exactly how I wanted. I think I’m really starting to settle into ‘my sound’ in production and DJing, but there are creative limitations in both like finding new music or learning new skills. Overcoming technical barriers in production allows me to get closer to my most true form of expression when it comes to what’s coming out the speakers so I’ve been really working on that recently. Hoping the next live set will be bigger and better : )

MDC.302 Command D

The supremely talented DJ Plead launches us into a mind warping world of percussive pleasures and dexterous genre bending, with his trademark agile club rhythms and pacy low end palpitations on full display in episode 303!

@1djplead

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when planning this mix, and what type of listening environment could you imagine it being easily enjoyed in? 

A. I actually looked through my rekordbox history from a recent Animalia night I played in Naarm and drew some inspiration from that. When listening back to the mix I can imagine it being played for a semi-casual game of Futsal or something like that. I feel like there are some light-footed tracks in there that would be useful to some nimble futsal players. 

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these cuts that resonate with you so much?

A. Mata by Nidia & Valentina

It's taken off  a truly sublime Album that I draw lots of inspiration from. It's simultaneously organic and loose and club-playable, which is a tough one to get right. It's something I’m constantly trying to achieve but they seem to have done it effortlessly. 

Dotted by Cliques

I actually tried to google to see if I’ve ever put this tune in another guest mix before. I probably have, so I’ll apologise for that now. Cliques has always had a big influence on me since I started producing music. They’ve since stopped producing themselves which is a shame but I always play their old tunes out if I can. RIP Cliques..

Q. One of the things I’ve been fascinated with in your DJ sets (the Sustain-Release set for example) is your mixing of polyrhythms to seamlessly bridge tempos throughout a set. How did you first get inspired to experiment with this style and what are some of otherwise conflicting genres/sounds that have blended nicely?

A. My DJing style is at times an extension of my music production. I think this might be a good example of that. The sustain release transition from 150 to 100 is using a tune that I produced years ago in a 3/4 time signature. I’ve produced a few tunes over the past few years that are able to do that. It just allows me at times to bounce around to different worlds and stops me from feeling stuck in a tempo-range. I haven’t done it so much recently but I’d like to get back into doing it. It can create a really strange feeling for the audience. At Sustain-Release, a lot of the audience were on hallucinogens so it felt appropriate to get trippy in that way. It's harder to pull off in a nightclub environment.

I’m no longer sure what the original inspiration for experimenting with this style was. Playing a lot of tunes that have a polyrhythm in them can often make you feel like you have the option to dance at two different tempos.

MDC.303 DJ Plead

The 2024 Review has landed with MDC's @myles-mac blending up some the tastiest treats from the year that was.

Tracklist:

C.K - We Share The Skies // PRS
AV Moves & Alex Ho - Perennials // Public Possession
naemi - Couch Angel w/ Arad Acid & Huerco S. // 3XL
Pleasure Planet - Alien (Alex Kassian's Sphinx Gate Mix) // SELF:TIMER
DJ Relax - Anti Free Flowing Anxiety // Speed Dial
Mosam Howieson - Ether // Semantica
OP BOOMBOX - Mystery Bay // Serenity Now
Alex Kassian - A Reference To E2-E4 By Manuel Göttsching // Test Pressing
Picasso - Sub Rosa [l.o.v.e] // Tackle Audio
Jamma-Dee - On & On // Public Possession
Patrick Holland - S Mobile // Verdicchio Music Publishing
BùLù - Senegalese-Sharpshooter (Original Mix) // Nummer Music
Mayurashka - 12:00 P.M. // Serenity Now
Cousin - ~O.V.O~ // Self Released
Huerta - Cool Frijoles ft. CJ // Leizure
DJ SWISHA - WEIRDO BEHAVIOR // Self Released
Julie Marghilano - All I Need // RAWAX
DJ Pipe - Deeper Strainz // Global North
Shinichi Atobe - Dub 6(six) // DDS
Picture - Sea // Help Recordings
Retza - Solum Silvus // Looking For Life
Fantastic Man - Warm Waters // Axis of People
DOC 'N' P1LL - Fastforward // Serenity Now
Opal Sunn - Elastic - Phase I // Test Pressing
Avalon Emerson - A Dam Will Always Divide (Lew E Asks the Dust Remix) // Another Dove

MDC 2024 Review

Tech friendly coastal groovers and bouncy breakbeats from the sun kissed shores of Lisbon with @magic_carpet co-pilot Hazr in the hot seat! 

@haz_r

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when planning this mix, and what type of listening environment could you imagine it being easily enjoyed in? 

A. I recorded this poddy on the Wild Lady, my girlfriend’s canal boat. I find a lot of inspiration digging & plotting here - I’m surrounded by nature and the slow pace of the canal unplugs me from distractions. 

I guess it depends what side of the world you’re listening 🙃 There’s quite a bit of sunkissed house in here, so down under it could keep ya sizzlin’ nicely at a bbq or with a warm brew and biccy for us in cooler climates. 

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. The closing track ‘Does It Really Matter’ by Jeff Dam is a real beauty, there’s something about blissful & groovy breaks which always connects with me. Also shout out to Pistaccio, there’s one from his EP on Magic Carpet last year.

Q. What’s the latest with the Magic Carpet label you run alongside @djappleb? Any upcoming releases you’re particularly jazzed about?

A. We’re celebrating 5-years riding the carpet this year, with some lovely treats to share. The 1st instalment is a EP from b0n with some slammin’ breaks, check the clips up on our SC ⚡️

Q. I know you guys do a regular label night at the legendary Lisbon club Lux Fragil, how would you describe the energy of those nights, and what’s next in the pipeline?

A. Deeply active, big love to our crew who bring the nrg! On the 7th of Feb we’ve got Malika bringing her aromatic grooves and our homie Velvet Velour on closing business, should be a sweet one.

MDC.304 Hazr

A longtime conductor of contagious positive vibrations, Danny Bodega is a much loved name among balearic dance music enjoyers round the globe! Co-founding Gazebo Records last year, his killer ear for breezy coastal cruisers and deep crossover club jams make Bodega's effervescent energies the perfect tone setter for those long 'n' balmy summer nights. 

Step back in time for 3 hours of extended hangs and zesty hedonistic pleasures with Danny Bodega as your good time guarantor! 

@beaton-4

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when planning this mix, and what kind of listening environments might you see it being easily enjoyed in?

A. Last year I went to my neighbour Lenny’s night at a tiny basement club in Hackney with Dan Beaumont and Wes Baggaley playing records together. Had not felt that feeling in the club since the early days going out in Naarm with locals playing records all night at Lounge, Liberty Social and Roxanne Parlour. This mix is a nod to that vibe and best suited to before, or after the club hangs…or triathlon training.

Q. Are there any records in the mix that are particularly close to your heart? 

A. There are quite a few records in here that I’ve had for more than 10 years and have only ever played to myself at personal kick-ons, so it’s a delight to share them more widely. The Usual Suspects remix of Mr. C and Robert Owens’ ‘A Thing Called Love’ is one. While I’ve never been a fan of Robert Owens’ vocal stylings, this remix is an overlooked $2 Layo & Bushwacka! banger. Will put it up on the Gazebo YouTube channel soon.

Q. You and Nick managed to gather a tonne of support for your inaugural Gazebo Records release last year, releasing Fuemana’s 1994 cult classic New Urban Polynesian on vinyl for the first time. What was your favourite part about that whole process?

A. The response to the Fuemana family’s story and musical talents from a whole new generation of fans really blew us away. Having Tony and Mamma Fuemana fly over from Auckland for the launch party was the perfect culmination of family, friends and community spirit around the release that was also the perfect send off for me moving to London the following day. News on Gazebo 002 incoming shortly…

Q. Where can people catch you spinning next?

A. All night at Frequence in Paris this Friday, Feb 21 at Bodega Nights, April 12 with Daisy Records and Evie at the Jago. Nick and I are putting on a Gazebo party over here on May 3 with some special guests that we are excited about!

MDC.305 Danny Bodega

London’s friendliest DJ duo Merchant summon their deepest club crates for two hours of summery prog and rhythm heavy house heaters!

Oozing their signature feel good sensibilities, this one’s a bumping ride with classy 90s groovers and contemporary UK dance music mixed up with love as the main ingredient..

@merchantrecordslondon

Q. What inspiration did you guys draw upon when planning out and making this mix together, and what kind of listening environments might you see it being easily enjoyed in?

A. We’ve always loved a variety of different music and it feels really nice to be able to put out a dance mix that shows that side of our sound. We often spin dance music with our mates at home before a night out, so this could be quite good for the pre-game or as you’re gearing up for the dance in the festival campsite.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. Two of the three tunes we’ll be releasing in our first EP this summer are in the mix so look out for tracks Viva and Twenty46. We worked with our very talented producer friend Strath on those and we are excited for playing them more this summer. 

Another standout is Rockin The Boat by Reflex Blue. It’s got the perfect amount of groove to it with that sax coming over that acid line and it’s a great track for moving sets in different directions. 

We are also really fond of the last two tracks. 

Life Formation by Epsylon 9 is a 90s trance track that has got a lot of positive energy. We paired that with the closing track Please Come To My Show by Kolter which carries that atmosphere but with a more contemporary sound. 

Q. Harry I know you’re heading back to the UK to reunite with Al after spending the summer down here in Aus. What are you guys looking forward to upon your return, any new projects or parties in the works?

A. Mainly excited to give each other a big hug, crack a bottle of wine and chuck a few records on. DJing never feels the same when we aren’t together so we are really looking forward to some nice European gigs soon. Obviously the EP is also exciting. We are also starting a run of parties later this year so keep an eye out for that on our insta if you’re listening from London.

MDC.306 Merchant

Settled back in the UK after a long stint in Berlin, London chill-out devotee Lucy Cook treats us to one of her notoriously nostalgic blends, with meditative vocal swept soundscapes and smoky jazz lounge space dub fused with trip-hop cuts resurrected from obscure CDs from the 90s and 00s. Deeep mood exploration at its finest! 

@lucyscook

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when planning this mix, and what type of listening environment could you imagine it being enjoyed in? 

A. I put the mix together after a bright and productive start to the year. It’s somewhat reflective of my mood I guess, maybe not through the vibe of the tracks, but in the space around them. I’ve explored some deeper sounds in this one.. so maybe one for some introspective listening. 

I recently visited Japan too and was super inspired by how intentional everything is, with a focus on simplicity and quality. Stripping things back and consistency are new-ish themes in my personal life too, which feels really good.

Q.  Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. I really can’t choose, but there’s a couple of edits and things I made which feel special. I had fun layering some interesting vocal samples and weird sounds I’ve been collecting over the years, and created some bits with these which are peppered throughout. 

Quite a few of the tracks are CD rips from the 90’s and 2000’s, which is a method of digging I love. For me without it, so much amazing music wouldn’t be shared. There’s also one or two from friends’ labels Truffle101 and Sonido Chido which are really cool ones. It’s important to me to support those around me and get good music heard :)  

Q. I know you recently made the move back to London after some years living in Berlin, how's the transition been and what are a couple of your favourite UK parties or festivals that you're looking forward to reconnecting with this summer?

A. It took a little while to “arrive” here actually. I’m a pretty calm person and the energy is very different, but I’m feeling happy and at home here now. 

Electronic music wise, I went to Houghton for the first time last year and was blown away by the quality of the music, so I’m looking forward to being there again. Otherwise, I’m enjoying seeing more live musicians. There’s always a lot of great psychedelia, jazz, soul, and hip hop to see here, especially outdoors in the summer. Oh and number 1, Glastonbury!

MDC.307 Lucy Cook

An episode that feels well overdue yet thoroughly worth the wait! A titan of the Naarm underground music scene, Pjenné has been a kindred spirit and longtime pal since the early days of MDC, and it's no surprise that her contribution is packed full of gloriously deep and immersive feels, bassy and driving in parts and light as a feather in others, speaking to a palette that has been meticulously explored and continues to evolve along with her incredible weekly radio show on PBS, Passing Notes. 

@pjenne

Q. What sounds of feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. For this mix, I wanted to channel the energy and sounds that I associate with Melbourne Deepcast rather than drawing on the darker side of my sound palette that has been at the fore of my radio and club sets of late. MDC means so many things to me, but there’s definitely an energetic, grooviness that comes to mind and this is what inspired the mix. Although the mix does showcase parts of me (heavily atmospheric, emotive and a few downtempo tracks for good measure), I’d say this is more of a mix for you. :) I imagine this mix being listened to outside, on a sunny day, but when you might also need a little extra pep in your step. 

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. The first that came to mind is a track by Sean Cusick and Medway (Jesse Skeens) - It is an incredibly beautiful and emotive breakbeat track from 2002 on Saw recordings, there’s just something about how the vocals and the pads wash over you - although its upbeat there's also a sombreness to it and I just think its the whole package. 

Towards the end of the mix there’s also a very very classic ambient trance number, Lazer Worshippers by Damon Wild & Tim Taylor from 1993 - Not the most deeply dug track but it's a classic for a reason.

Q. You have been lovingly broadcasting your weekly radio show Passing Notes on PBS for six years running, which is a serious achievement! Tell us what you did for your sixth anniversary on International Women's Day, and what keeps you inspired to broadcast the show week in week out?

A. It’s been a wild ride that’s for sure! I really appreciate that International Women’s Day marks each yearly anniversary of Passing Notes - it reminds me to stop and reflect on each year as an achievement that I would probably otherwise forget in the chaos of life. This year I enlisted the help of Syrian DJ and Harmony Rec affiliate Zeynep, who provided an excellent, playful and sassy celebratory guest mix. 

As for my inspiration to keep going, I’d say that I draw from the collective power of electronic artists locally as well as internationally. There’s just so much good music to share, and Passing Notes enables me to provide a crucial connection between ‘underground’ electronic music and the wider music community. I'm also inspired by live radio as a format - it provides a sanctuary for me from the highly curated nature of music today and allows me to be more playful in the way that I explore different sounds. To me it is a place free of judgement.

MDC.308 Pjenné

A much loved figure within the American underground scene, California's Baby Leo has been consciously connecting body and mind from coast to coast, finding space for the unpredictable and the awe inspiring, hypnotising dancefloors with wildly eclectic DJ sets filled with energising twists and turns.

An innovator and sonic boundary pusher at his core, the Dripping festival Leo runs alongside Relaxer is a deep underground oasis in the woods of Sparta, New Jersey, and returns for it's third mind excursion this June, with Leo and DJ Plead combining this year for a hotly anticipated back to back. 

@djbabyleo

Q. The mix is truly a wild ride! What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this, and what listening environments could you imagine it being enjoyed in?

A. This is the deepcast right? For this one, we’re going deeper than what I might usually do in a club. Some of these tracks came to me while laying blindfolded on the floor during guided high-dose mushroom journeys. Because this is a space of complete emotional surrender, many of these tracks became permanently embedded in my heart. Awe, fear, reverence, gratitude are all part of the recipe. The ideal listening environment is similar to how you might want to watch a movie - cozy, undistracted, and fully immersed in sound. Perhaps by yourself and hopefully something to return to and discover something new.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. I think Untitled (How Does it Feel) by D’Angelo is my favorite song of all time. It feels amazing every time. The way energy builds and boils over is unmatched. I played it backwards.

Q. Your festival Dripping returns to the majestic woods of Sparta, NJ for its third year running in June, and I see you’ve got a special extended b2b set with DJ Plead planned which should be quite the mind-bend! How have you been preparing for that one, and what things might you guys be doing differently this year that you’re excited about? 

A. Preparation hasn’t really begun in any serious way, but we are both anticipating and very excited to play together. Especially at Dripping, I’m typically trying to push the energy forward for a fully explosive impact. I will usually do a lot of preparation for a set like this and plan certain sequences. In contrast, I’ve seen Plead play sets with incredible restraint, patiently working a crowd into complete hypnosis. I guess the thing about a back to back set is that it will take on a life of its own and just go where it needs to go. There will be less planning for this and more intuition, but mind-bending and heart-opening is certainly the goal and we haven’t discussed anything other than that.

Tracklist:

Avartuva nake - Esa Kotilainen
La Symphonie - Cute Heels
Marka - Carmen Villain
Portamento - Stine Janvin
Flusso I - Donato Dozzy
Winded - 7038634357
O Berimbao - Nana Vasconcelos
Polar Sun - Feral
Temples - Anunaku
Doubles - Untold
Drop it On The One - Untold
Wormhole Chant - Vector Trancer
Through The Cobalt Desert - Marco Shuttle
A Touch Of - Piezo
Andnowawordfromoursponsors - Kabeaushe
Shimming - Yor Kultura
Untitled (How Does it Feel) - D’Angelo
Hamburger Lady (Carter Tutti remix) - Throbbing Gristle
Guboo - Lights in a Fat City

MDC.309 Baby Leo

On the back of a stunning debut for Priori and Ex-T's NAFF label out in Montreal earlier this year, we find ourselves well and truly in business here with @maara laying down a nostalgia packed club mix with heavy doses of 90s tranquility rave, dark n' stormy trance moods, sexy vocal snips and plenty of forthcoming productions of her own that are guaranteed to cut you deeep! Watch out!

Click here for our chat with Maara: melbournedeepcast.net/portfolio/maara

https://maara.bandcamp.com/album/ultimate-reward
https://massiedome.bandcamp.com/

@maara

Melbourne Deepcast

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