opening with mango walk 😮‍💨🥭!!

Nowadays Live And Direct

An emotional rollercoaster of a mix comes to us this week from Groovy Groovy boss Akanbi, recorded live and direct from the Nowadays booth deep in the summer of 2021, alongside DJ Voices and EQUISS. These were the early days of our reopening and New York's return to nightlife, after a difficult year of closures due to the pandemic. There was a sense of cautious optimism in the air for some, and exuberant joy for others. Akanbi's set on this night met the dancers where they were, merging a tender emotional tenor and uplifting soulfulness with headier rave moments through his unique sense of pacing, all laced in groove and full of surprises. Here's two hours of a DJ fully immersed in their signature style, a set packed to the brim with bubbling percussion and downtempo interludes. 

Big thanks to all the staff and dancers in the house on this night. Until next time!

Nowadays Live and Direct 013 - Akanbi

Here we are with a recording from the first (but certainly not last) time Kiernan Laveaux graced the decks at Nowadays back in September of 2021. In it you’ll find so much of what we’ve come to love about the T4T LUV NRG affiliate: swarming percussion, freaky and frenetic psychedelia, otherworldly groove, a captivating sense of narrative, and so much more. 

This mix is a two and a half hour segment from her closing set, after DJ Voices and Azu Tiwaline earlier in the night. Packed to the brim with moments of tension and release, it makes for one truly wild and mesmerizing ride. The home listener is likely to find it just as enchanting as the dancers did. 

Big thanks to our staff and all those in attendance on this night <3

Nowadays Live and Direct 014 - Kiernan Laveaux

We’re very excited to present the first Live & Direct of 2023, courtesy of our Pittsburgh-based residents Honcho. 

This one was recorded live at Nowadays on the first weekend of January, to a room of smiling faces for whom the festive nature of the new year had clearly not worn off. It's two hours of the crew in pure form, with all three DJs locked into the same irresistible groove. George, Aaron and Clark have a knack for uniting their own unique styles to present a cohesive vision of chugging, sexy house music, and here it is on full display. Big thanks to Honcho for letting us share this with the world!

In addition to the killer music from both Honcho and Father Dukes, this night was especially memorable thanks to everyone in attendance contributing to the friendly and joyful vibe, from the dancers to the staff and everyone in between. A big thanks is due to you all as well!

Nowadays Live and Direct 015: Honcho

This is a re-recording of my SR set. Unfortunately, the audio recording had stopped due to a power cut earlier in the evening.

Thanks for having me Sustain Release! I'll never forget this <3

DJ Plead - Sustain Release, Year 9

9th June 2023, the incredible @kiernanlaveaux live at Mansions, NYC. A 2 hour snippet of a 6 hour set. <3

Artwork by her partner Malzof with a photo from this Mansions set

"The shape design is from Wind Chorus by Pauline Oliveros - which I also have the design of on some custom slipmats that are also visible in the photo ;)"

<3

ani/live Forty: Kiernan Laveaux @ Mansions

Nowadays Live and Direct returns after a long hiatus with a 5-hour recording from Carlos Souffront (@csouffront), recorded from 10 am - 3 pm at our Halloween Nonstop party on October 29, 2022. Carlos returns to Nowadays for another Nonstop set this weekend, playing from 3 pm to 6 pm Sunday afternoon.

A regular at Interdimensional Transmissions' No Way Back parties in Detroit and beyond, Carlos Souffront brings a brilliant sense of creative alchemy to the decks, combining years of experience and digging with a sensibility like no other. Abstract rhythms meld together into inexplicable chaos magic. Dark, shadowy selves emerge, ready to be explored with a sense of mischief and playfulness, carried through by an acid bassline or cheeky vocal.

For this extended Halloween set during the real witching hours, Carlos summoned all of the party gremlins, goblins, and ghouls to the Nowadays dancefloor for the ultimate seance.

Nonstop: 3/9-3/10

Nowadays Live and Direct 016: Carlos Souffront

Recorded for @Refugeworldwide. Inspired by how water interacts with solid structures. 

Image by CCL

𝙡𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 w CCL #11 Rock Pools @refugeworldwide

Juanita's Mix 100 with Ciel @ciel_dj

Q. How would you describe yourself?
A. a music maker with too much sincerity and a passion for sampling, film, and leftist politics

Q. What drew you to the music scene in the beginning and where do you hope to see it in the future?
A. Looking back at my life, I think everything from my birth led me on this path towards music. It was my first love. But as an only child, my experience with music growing up was always very solitary. I yearned to be part of a community radio station with Iikeminded music nerds, and it was working for a radio station eventually during my undergraduate that brought me toward DJing and rave culture. Back then I never thought I could do this full time, but once I got the chance to make a living doing this, I realized the scene was far from perfect, in fact it's very exploitative. I hope in the future we can find a way to fairly compensate music makers for the incredible gift of music they bestow upon the world, without becoming beholden to corrupt corporate & military interests. Artists can be hyper individualistic and self-interested, and I hope we can get better at looking out for each other instead of just our own paycheques.

Q. Tell us a little bit about this mix.
A. I wanted to present a different side of myself to international audiences on such a wonderful mix platform. Perhaps people outside of my home city of Toronto are less familiar with my downtempo sets, but it's been a significant part of my wheelhouse for years, and have gained even wider affection from me since I started doing a downtempo party in Toronto last year. Like I always say, 80-100bpm is the most natural tempo for extended human body movements. I also liked the idea of doing a mix that doesn't build in a predictable way, instead it waxes and wanes like the natural rhythm of life. So many of my favourite mixes build and release tension in a way that's very satisfying to listen to, the sounds intensify to a frenzy before disintegrating into nothingness. I wanted to play with that rise and fall and mix downtempo and dub with double time d&b in a non-linear way that is evocative of our most precious memories and tells stories we've only seen in dreams. Downtempo and dub also seemed like the perfect genres to play in the 100th mix for Juanita's, and in the lead up to my fav April holiday. :) I hope the listeners enjoy it.

Juanita's Mix 100: Ciel

Prior to her gig at Nowadays upsammy presents an hour of trippy electronics, the experimental side of DnB and oddball techno.

https://www.instagram.com/upsammy_

upsammy @ The Lot Radio 03-30-2024

In very loose terms, James K's (@jamesk_1 music operates at the fringes of the pop world. It is experimental and industrial, packed with hooks and riddled with dreamy textures that show off her mastery of synths. She has released it in album form with Dial and Incenso, dropped EPs on AD 93 and collaborated with the likes of Drew McDowall and Stefan Maie, and always manages to imbue her adventurous arrangements with real-world emotions and anxieties. This year she will join us at Dekmantel Festival but not before serving up this week's podcast.

It's the sort of rhythmically thrilling workout that has always stood James apart: jittery drum patterns and kinetic grooves that unfold at 100 miles an hour as a barrage of caustic motifs, hypnagogic melodies and hyper-real colours all bounce about the mix. There is an ever-present sense of tension in the way things are assembled - it's as if they might implode or explode at any minute, and it all sounds fantastically futuristic.

Dekmantel Podcast 460 - James K

Interview: https://truantsblog.com/2024/truancy-volume-326-404-eros/

Soundcloud: @404eros

A slick snapshot into the rich and often overlooked world of Memphis rap from London based diggers, DJs and music archivists, 404 Eros. The mix serves as an audio accompaniment to their latest project, a zine showcasing the visual artwork of Memphis rap tapes.

Music from Playa G, Pretty Tony & 38 Slug, Gangsta Pat, Lil Noid , Eightball, MJG and more.

Their zine exploring the artwork of Memphis rap is available now here:  https://404eros.bandcamp.com/merch/memphis-hip-hop-album-covers

Access the download on our Patreon. No tracklist for this one but if any listeners would like to help put one together please leave a comment on the Soundcloud link with your finds and we will compile. Your support helps cover all our costs, allows us to now pay our guests and allows Truants to continue running as a non-profit and ad-free platform. patreon.com/truants

404 Eros

Truancy Volume 326: 404 Eros

Truancy Sessions S01 E04: Kuscheln (@kuschelntime)

Artwork by Kushagra (kushlet on Instagram)

Locking in with a new episode of our Truancy Sessions series with a mix of hi-energy hypnotics from Toronto-based DJ and tastemaker Kuscheln. An all-round purveyor of playful, thought-provoking dance music, he has become a staple figure in the Toronto underground, with his Klub Ferret parties offering nights of steamy dance-offs and queer revelry to a soundtrack of the hottest house and bubbling bass. His mix for us today is party perfection, rolling through with an infectious palette of  late night mind twisters, soaring grooves and big room breaks. As the curveball-loving fans that we are at Truants too, we've completely lost count of the amount of times we've wheeled up the Spice Girls remix in this mix. An unreal statement of flow and taste over 100 glorious minutes.

We've put the mix as well as a little photo diary and selection of the tracklist up on our wesbite. You can download Truancy Sessions S01 E04: Kuscheln in 320kbps and view the full tracklist on Patreon here (patreon.com/truants). Couple tracks are unreleased Kuscheln tunes. Your support helps cover all our costs, allows us to now pay our guests, allows Truants to continue running as a non-profit, ad-free platform and helps fund projects like this. Members will receive exclusive access to mixes, tracklists, and discounts off future merchandise. If you're desperately after any IDs however or money is tight, please leave a comment on the mix and either us or Kuscheln will get back to you :)

http://truantsblog.com

Kuscheln

Truancy Sessions S01 E04: Kuscheln

Bimonthly excursions through memories, geographies and nostalgia from NYC-based livwutang. 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/livwutang/episodes/livwutang-15th-april-2024

Furniture without Memories w/ livwutang 150424

This installment of Live & Direct features the opening segment of a set that Russell E.L. Butler (@russellelbutler), played alongside NIKS on June 2, 2023.

"Reggae music is a teacher. I’ve learned about spaces between short moments through this music. I’ve learned to listen through this music. I’ve learned how to connect with others through love and consideration through this music. I’ve learned that every moment is the beginning and the end and how to listen for the space in between. I’ve learned that no matter how far away home is, you can always find a way back." — @russellelbutler

Russell E.L. Butler returns to Nowadays for an all-night set this Friday, April 19, 2024.

All Night: 4/19

Nowadays Live and Direct 017: Russell E.L. Butler

Simon Aussel is known for a particularly wild DJing style and leftfield bassy bangers, and it's his curious and playful approach to clubland that's won him loyal fans over the years. Whether photographing drink tokens from gigs or creating an 8-bit version of his debut album on a Game Boy cartridge, he seems to approach every endeavour with childlike joy and wonder—rare qualities in an industry that can leave so many jaded.

The Nantes-born, Paris-based artist's love of club culture, digging and world-building has set him on a blazing path in club music. He's released an exceptionally wide range of music, including a Memphis rap tape for Trilogy Tapes, dubstep-trap-jazz hybrids with Egyptian singer Abdullah Miniawy and deadly hard drum for Livity Sound. His mixes, meanwhile, are fast becoming DJ lore thanks to his knack for connecting seemingly opposed genres like new wave and fast techno. Look no further than his now-infamous Dekmantel Selectors set from 2021 or a marathon back-to-back with Skee Mask in 2022. 

As the French DJ gets more comfortable with story-telling, he's getting more personal and focusing on deeper, slower sounds. That's evident on this RA Podcast—six months in the works—which incorporates woozy downtempo, weighty dub and bleepy beats. Of course, in the chaotic middle section there's plenty of huge basslines, plus old-school electro, acidic techno and even a bouncy edit of the Montell Jordan classic "This Is How We Do It." Showcasing his quirks, influences and growth, this is Simo Cell in prime time.

@simocell

Read more at https://ra.co/podcast/934

RA podcast

RA.934 Simo Cell

Live recordings from the Nowadays dancefloor in Ridgewood, New York City.

Nowadays Live and Direct 017: Russell E.L. Butler

Nowadays

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