𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒩❁𝓉𝑒𝓈 𝒢𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑀𝒾𝓍𝑒𝓈

Chill chill chill

Utrecht based producer, live artist and ISOTOOP label head, @vandmusic, joined me for episode 305 of Passing Notes.

Collaboration is a central feature of Vand’s story so far - his fast growing list of celebrated collaborative projects include VOAL (Vand + Shoal) as well as releases alongside Passing Notes alumni Alfred Czital and of course Bas Dobbelaer. Across these projects you’ll find disparate sounds brought together by meeting of the minds and production prowess. His release with Alfred Czital ‘P.J.M’ on Harmoney Rec unsurprisingly showcases a colourful club-ready side, with sounds punctuated by breaks and nostalgic 90s undertones. VOAL turns to the cooler side of the pillow with deeper shades of forward thinking, sometimes slo-mo and always transfixing techno. His work with Bas Dobbelaer shines with crisp percussion and shimmery dub-like textures, exemplified in the 2019 standout (and a personal favorite) release ‘Laren’ on Something Happening Somewhere. An exciting remix collection followed in 2023 - a release that also touched my soul and featured heavily on my radio rotations. Further to Vand’s recorded works include live performances at notable events like the Mostra Festival and La Nature, where he performed a 3-hour improvisational live set with Shoal and queniv.

With each collaborative project, solo work or live set a piece of the Vand puzzle is revealed, illuminating Vand’s versatility, keen ear for detail and finessed approach sound design. Above all Vand remains disarmingly humble.

Vand - PN 305

@liquidearthmusic
Emerging from the sun-drenched landscapes of California and now firmly rooted in the Barcelona sands, Liquid Earth has spent years sculpting a signature sound that’s equal parts classic and contemporary. Wrangling sounds inspired by the ‘80s-‘00s continuum of effervescent house and reimagining them with a hardware and futuristic-forward twist, Freels’ sophisticated brand of ‘tech house’ has resulted in years of quality output to boot. With a career further propelled by his unmatched positive attitude and razor sharp dancefloor instincts, Freels has released under several monikers across labels like @kalaharioystercult, @butter_side_up and his own @squidrecordings. 

Beyond production, Freels is a label head, electronics/synth-tinkerer and selector of unmatched acumen. Wielding his record bag of deeply dug house, tech, progressive and trance adjacent cuts, Freels is a regular face in the international touring circuit and has graced the decks at notable clubs and festivals including Panorama Bar, Dimensions Festival, and beyond. With a seemingly endless treasure trove of creativity and momentum behind him, Freels is poised to continue to use the energy of the Liquid Earth project to trailblaze and treat us to his idiosyncratic brand of ‘tech house with a twist’!

Liquid Earth joined me live in the PBS studio for episode 307 of Passing Notes.


Liquid Earth - PN 307

@zeynep
To celebrate 6 years of Passing Notes and International Women’s Day just passed, I enlisted the help of Berlin-based Syrian DJ, curator and goddess Zeynep. Zeynep’s voice is no stranger to Passing Notes, she joined me live in the studio with the Harmony Rec crew for episode 256 back in February 2024. Today, she returns in sonic form from afar, to showcase her fervent musical voice.

A dynamic selector who strikes a captivating balance between smooth lusciousness and unruly bodaciousness, Zeynep’s performances are impassioned trips through deeply dug mesmeric trance, seductive prog, and ecstasy-inducing rare gems - an intoxicating signature that has earned her a residency at Prague’s Harmony Rec. Her sound fosters an undeniable connection to the primal, collective joy of the rave, igniting spaces with a femme-forward intensity that resonates with those who crave liberation, pleasure, and transcendence.

Beyond the decks, Zeynep is also a passionate curator and community builder, committed to shaping electronic music culture in meaningful ways. Her deep involvement with Harmony Rec. reflects her dedication to fostering heartfelt connections within the underground music scene, ensuring that the spaces she plays in aren’t just dancefloors but homes for those who find freedom in the music.

Zeynep - PN 313 (6 Years of PN)

@djpgz @yikesone
Two of the most vital voices in so-called Australia’s dance music landscape, heavyweight producers DJ PGZ and Yikes, joined me for episode 315 of Passing Notes. Fresh off the release of their fierce new split EP ‘Come Round’ via Butter Sessions, these two stewards of contemporary dance music and club culture show us what happens when deep musical knowledges, community-first ethos, and production prowess collide. Come Round is a bold, percussive journey through techno and its playful yet unrelenting derivatives. The tracklist features solo cuts, cross-remixes and one standout team-up, Ouss Ouss, that ties it up into a cheeky not to be missed package.

Gunai/Kurnai & Yorta Yorta artist DJ PGZ is a defining presence in the club and festival circuit, from Pitch to Dekmantel his razor-sharp productions and full-throttle sets pay homage to the Black and Brown roots of club music while charting new territory for future First Nations sound. His contributions to the EP tracks like the wub-heavy Solidarity System and acid-tinged Rewind Yourself Mix stretch the limits with style and power.

Wongi artist Yikes is a multi-dimensional creative force. He is the co-founder of Aboriginal-led creative studio Nani Creative, a DJ, producer, and host of the legendary ‘Full Frequency’ show on RTRFM. A mentor to emerging First Nations DJs, Yikes brings intention to every move he makes, including his consistent appearaces at events of the highest caliber including Inner Varnika and Pitch. His rhythm-driven and progressive tracks Sidestep and Check Out That, carry swing, grit and dancefloor depth.

Together, DJ PGZ and Yikes deliver Come Round as both a sonic flex and a communal offering that harnesses and connects the raw dancefloor energy of the east and west coasts. 

We celebrated their remarkable release and the tour that’s taking it to the people live on PBSfm106.7fm on the 28th March 2025.

DJ PGZ & Yikes - PN 315

Saphileaum is the alias of Georgian producer, multi-disciplinary artist and KHIDI club resident Andro Gogibedashvili. Emerging from a profoundly creative family-actors, singers, writers, and poets, Andro’s creative path has been profoundly shaped by his heritage and the traditions that surround it.
Saphileaum makes music for coming together, for meditation, and for mystical, philosophical musings. A sound crafted as unique and consistent as his, only possible through a lifelong passion and commitment to artistic expression. Often drawing on disparate genres, his unique sound is brought together by the beauty of rhythm—live drumming including the Georgian Dhol often featuring alongside starry melodies, woven into half-time grooves, meditative ambient and atmospheric techno. 
Inspired by mysticism, earth and the secrets of the universe, Saphileaum’s journey reached celestial heights in 2022, when a snippet of his piece Cosmic Lake Transparency was transmitted into deep space to the exoplanet K2-18B, just 124 light-years away from Earth. via the Goonhilly Earth Station, making him the second Georgian artist to have their music sent to the stars. (Sidenote: incredible timing finding out this fun fact with signs of life on K2-18B being reported this week!).
His discography spans labels of the highest order: Mule Musiq, Good Morning Tapes, Silent Season, Oslated and more with each release reflecting his creative approach to each label, which he described as ‘like stepping into a new country’. Fresh terrain of culture, sound, and inspiration. Being releasing records, Saphileaum shapeshifts across other mediums, soundtracking Georgian films, collaborating on high-profile art and fashion exhibitions and writing poetry. From club nights to quiet nights, and now from Earth to K2-18B, Saphileaum’s approach to music and art invites us to listen deeply.

Saphileaum - PN 318

The Space In Between

The Space In Between (Ben Böhmer Remix)

Lessons To Be Learned

Sweet About Me

Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/release/the-end/2690872
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/album/the-end-single/1481942205
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/14SPwjeJXH0UJUdsttrzUk

Dutch prodigy Budakid returns to Exploited for his third mesmerising EP on the label, with two fresh new opuses for your delectation. 

The End is one of his typically cinematic tracks, reminiscent of 90s melodic breakbeat types Hybrid. Hovering, Reese-toned bass looms subtly over intricate, light broken beats and gently enveloping string progressions. Crisp and spacious, the arrangement is honed to perfection. Muted, gated stabs echo the ghost of 90s trance in the breakdown, fusing beautifully with the breaks when the beat drops back in. Soft cymbal rides splash across the surface as the elements fuse back together for a restrained crescendo. Perfect for the afterhours or a spot of deep meditation.

Linguistic sees Budakid in more of a deep house / melodic techno mood. Subtle synth licks waft across the stereo field as live percussion forms a groove and wildlife sounds create a heady atmosphere deep in the distance. A plodding groovy bassline drives its way into the foreground, while minimialist layers of electronics build the mood. The brain-twisting breakdown makes more great use of noise gating as a dizzying lead soars and pulses. Its a great piece of work that centres more on mood and texture than melody, and in doing so recalls classic progressive house sounds.

The End

Budakid - The End | Exploited

Capturing the current world mood perfectly - the tension, the frustrating pace, the pent-up emotion and that feeling of absolute longing for friends, family, normality to return - 'Safe' is one of the most fitting lockdown soundtracks you'll hear all pandemic.

The latest in a long line of breath-taking emotion-laden hitters (think 'Hi', 'Mantra' and 'Gira' in the last year alone) the unstoppable Monkey Safari roll out an eight minute moment of calm in an otherwise chaotic, uncertain world. Disarming chord progressions, a gradual sense of release and hope and a spoken word sample that will bring many to tears, 'Safe' is one of Monkey Safari's most thoughtful and well-executed tracks to date.

'Just a few months ago, when our lives had not been upside-down yet, we produced 'Safe' as a message of unity, hope, and love. Just a normal day in the studio. But now, in these days of social isolation, it seems 'Safe' represents exactly our feelings when we look at the empty world outside. Sharing emotions is one of our main motivations when producing music and DJing. Getting together, dancing together, smiling together. 'Safe' is full of emotions that we would love to share with everyone.' Monkey Safari.

Sharing is caring: 'Safe' has been subject to so many ID requests since Joris Voorn first started playing it, they've pushed the release forward for us all to enjoy. Stay safe everyone, brighter days will return eventually.

Monkey Safari - Safe

There's no question in the remarkable quality of the musical outputs that Melbourne has to offer. Every now and then however, something truly special comes across your musical desk. For me, one of the most exciting projects to come of 2020 is Acopia.

Acopia brings together three local Melbourne musicians @purient, @liluzu and @morganwright, commendable all in their individual endeavours, but together converge to showcase a contemporary incarnation of stripped back, emotional synth pop reminiscent of the 80s. Their debut EP 'For You I Try' is everything I love packaged in two neat little arrangements, warm yet melancholy and worthy of a tear or two. Acopia's less is more approach to music will no doubt see them flourish into their bright future. I'm counting down the days until we can see Acopia take the stage live, but for now Lachie, Kate, and Morgan joined me for a chat and one hour guest mix, broadcast live on PBS Melbourne for Passing Notes episode 81.

Acopia - PN 81

https://mixmag.net/feature/yaeji-dj-mix-set-recording-feature-interview

It's Yaeji in the mix! The New York-based DJ has come through with a selection of forward-thinking tracks that are 100% ready for the dancefloor and put together in her signature inventive style.

Tracklist

The Cover Mix: Yaeji

Rinse France Podcast

Download

December invite Jana Woodstock - 12 Octobre 2020

Glenn Kitson was live with his show Pleasuredrome. A 2-hour exploration into experimental electronica, left-field downtempo and icy ambience from the likes of Jimmy Chambers, Coyote and David Lynch.

Pleasuredrome w/ Glenn Kitson - October 2020

Rinse FM Podcasts

Patrick Holland - 13 October 2020

Spilt Tee Radio was back with another instalment of dancefloor-ready business. Tracks from Virgo Deep, Dani Bosco and Shirazee & Busiswa are all on the tracklist. Expect GQOM, Kuduro, Kwaito and afrobeat sounds over the full 120.

Spilt Tee Radio - October 2020

✽1/2 of @companionmelb

✽eu+uk+asia: agathe@klsbookings.com
✽au+nz: sam@watartists.com
✽contact: hello@passingnotes.radio

Acopia - PN 81

Pjenné