Years back in the days of the “Kazbah loft”, Ali and I threw some epic parties.  If you remember those of you know, the brick and timber with the sunrise vibes.  The rooftop looking at the Transamerica pyramid. They typically would be ending the next day. So, when 9am hit, it always felt like the appropriate time to soften up the vibes musically. I would do just that. Our friends came up with the nickname Louie Soft Hands.  

Recently, I was djing a friend’s wedding in Austin, Texas and I was hearing some of those same friends yelling out “Louie Soft Hands!”.  Seeing how much people enjoy the softer side of house music made me think that I should start a series of “Louie Soft Hands” inspired mixes. So here is the first mix.  I hope you enjoy it! 

I made sure to include mine and TR-BOB’s recently released track “Talk to Her” as well as a Sade edit that we made exclusively for playing out or for mixes such as this one.

Louie Soft Hands :: Butter Soft Cuts 001

Live recording from Ocaso Festival 2022, Costa Rica.

Papa Lu @ Ocaso Festival 2022, Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

It was the first day of LIB 2022. Everyone was hyped for the return of LIB and ready to party.  This was the closing set at the Junkyard stage and also the hottest night of the 5 nights at LIB. I didn't realize how many people would be there on the first day but crowd was thick and the energy was high. This ended up being one of my all time favorite sets to play.

Live at The Junkyard Stage (LIB 2022)

This edit is available for purchase at bandcamp.

https://papalu.bandcamp.com/track/oliver-malcolm-the-machine-papa-lu-edit

Oliver Malcolm - The Machine (Papa Lu edit)

Ali Khalili & Papa Lu back to back set right before sundown on Saturday night at Lightning in a Bottle Festival 2023.

Ali Khalili & Papa Lu - Live at the Junkyard Stage @ LIB 2023

Opening set for the Forever stage at Forever Midnight day one.

Papa Lu (Live) @ Forever Midnight LA

Ferrari Kit

Ferrari Kit (extended)

Rave

Rave (Original)

This set is perfect to listen to at sun rise on the beach in Tulum, Mexico.  

To Loom On A Sunrise

Free Download

I'm Goin' Down (Papa Lu Edit)

A house mashup of Jean Plum's "Here I go again" with a classic Ghostface Killah verse.

Jean Plum X Ghostface (Papa Lu Bootleg Edit)

Free Download via the link below:

https://laylo.com/papalu/5T3mtu6j

Ms. Fat Booty (Papa Lu edit)

Slick Rick - I Did That (Papa Lu edit)

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (Papa Lu edit)

This was my set at Insomniac's Halloween Festival, Escape 2025.  I played the first set on the Feeding Grounds stage on the second day of the festival. 

Papa Lu @ Escape 25 (Feeding Grounds Stage)

Opening set on Friday/ Sunset Stage at night at Sunset Campout.  Everyone was ready to get their party on at this point. The energy was great! 

Papa Lu @Sunset Campout 2016

This was the Sunday closing set at The Kazbah for the 2016 burn.  The end to one of Kazbah's best parties that has happened 3 years now with Lee Foss and Friends on burn night into Sunday day.  Towards the end of Lee's set Jamie Jones jumped on to tag with him.  After a few hours wAFF (Hot Creations) jumped on to tag with both Lee & Jamie.  After a few more hours Lee got off and Papa Lu jumped on to tag with Jamie & wAFF.  A few more hours went by and Jamie got off while wAFF & Papa Lu continued to tag and keep the party going.  Their tag set went so well that they ended playing for a little over 6 hours.  In the thick of vibe, Ali Love catered to the party with his emcee/ impromptu vocals over the beats that wAFF & Lu laid down.

wAFF b2b Papa Lu with Ali Love (impromptu vocals) Live at The Kazbah/ Burning Man 2016

My first time playing Lost Beach was an amazing experience.  The club was beyond my expectations, an amazing setting, stellar sound, the works all around.  The crowd had a ton of energy and a "shut and dance" type of vibe.  I couldn't ask for more.  Lost Beach is my new favorite club.

Papa Lu @ Lost Beach, Ecuador

Island vibes. jungles, beaches, sunsets on the Caribbean, and the heartbeat of life through music.

Vujaday Festival Lineup + tickets here: https://vujadaymusicfestival.com

Papa Lu // Vujaday 2018

Closing set in the loft at Public Works SF for the Mayan Warrior SF fundraiser 2018.

Papa Lu @ Mayan Warrior SF fundraiser

My recording from the Mayan Warrior at EDC Las Vegas 2019.

Papa Lu / Mayan Warrior / EDC Vegas 2019

This was one of the closing sets on the last night of Ocaso Festival 2020.

Papa Lu - Ocaso Festival 2020

Hello to everyone at home on quarantine,  
All my gigs have been either canceled or postponed but I can still share some music.  Here's a recording of my set from the Kazbah: Portals event in that hot n' steamy warehouse in DTLA.  I wish we could all go back to that time and place but this will have to do for now.  Enjoy! 

Tracklist 
[00:00] Franck Roger - Deegruv [Home Invasion]
[04:00] Papa Lu - JAM [unreleased]
[08:00] Ben Rau, Jansons - The Player [Knee Deep in Sound]
[12:00] Subb-an, Isis Salam - Body in Time [Eastenderz]
[16:00] 9th House - Keeping Me Up [9th House]
[20:00] High Powered Boys - Hoes Get Down [Marble]
[23:00] Floorplan - Baby, Baby [M-Plant]
[27:00] Mim Suleiman - Haki [BubbleTease Communications]
[30:00] Girlsname, Papa Lu - Burn Baby Burn [unreleased]
[34:00] Traumer - Exercise [GETTRAUM]
[38:00] Extra Credit - Emotional Make Up (Loods Vocal Mix) [WARM]
[42:00] Greg Gow - Lantana [Planet E Communications] 
[48:00] Audiojack - On The Run [Origins RCRDS]
[52:00] Laurent Garnier, Chambray - Feelin' Good [Rekids]
[59:00] Junior Sanchez - Keep On Reachin [Robsoul Recordings]
[1:02:00] KOKO - Mostami Come [independent via Bandcamp]

Follow me at: 
https://www.facebook.com/djpapalu/
https://www.instagram.com/papalumusic/

Kazbah.Portals.DTLA.2 22 20

For bookings: nightmoves.uni4rm@gmail.com

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Papa Lu was exposed to a vast and diverse selection of underground music which he gladly absorbed at a young age. Finding himself instantly drawn to a thriving Hip Hop scene at the time, he realized his passion for music, and dove right into the business of throwing parties right out of high school. He worked with classic artists of the true school era like Digable Planets, Digital Underground, Gang Starr, Kool Keith,
and many more. During that time, several house music pioneers like Mark Farina, Derrick Carter, DJ Sneak, etc. were making waves at the same venues he was holding his hip hop shows. From that exposure, he made a quick transition into producing house music events like his Night Moves party at Monarch SF. His love for music and natural talent for booking events rapidly developed into an exciting career of discovering new artists and bringing new sounds
and talent to the Bay Area through his parties. After completely immersing himself in dance music it was only a matter of time before Papa Lu started a serious career as a DJ working with cutting edge and legendary artists.
In 2013 Papa Lu collaborated with a group of close friends to create The Kazbah, one of the most popular sound camps at Burning Man, and worked to rapidly gain a mass following through his signature sound known throughout Black Rock City and beyond.

In 2015 Papa Lu put out his first E.P. as one half of the duo "Set in Stone" on PetFood records. Their release, "Bad One," charted on Beatport's top 100 deep house releases hitting #30 at one point. Since then, Papa Lu has been invited to play at the world’s premier parties and festivals including Apparitions, BPM, SXMusic Festival, Vujaday Festival and several sound camps at Burning Man. 

Today, Papa Lu keeps a very busy and exciting schedule involving everything
music related. When he is not playing an international festival, Papa Lu is headlining a local shows or underground warehouse parties in the Bay Area, or opening for a big act like Carl Craig, H.O.S.H., Jamie Jones or Lee Foss. Papa Lu has also been spending a lot of time in studio creating new sounds and keeping it fresh for every upcoming gig.

Papa Lu

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