At 3AM on January 1st, Dutch Producer, DJ and De Lichting co-founder @humanspacemachine took us on a trippy techno journey.

Human Space Machine Live @NYE 2025

For this episode we welcome the extraordinary talents of Aaron J, Brooklyn's Sure Thing record label and podcast founder, known for hosting an immense list of explorative modern techno artists from around the globe. Altering our consciousness for the first time in 2023 with a particularly awe inspiring set at Sustain-Release, Aaron's deeply considered and intricate approach is something of sheer beauty, and coupled with masterful technical ability, his inspiring DJ sets allow for fully immersive dancefloor experiences. 

Here Aaron explores the softer edges of his expansive sound palette, meditative soundscapes and tranquil IDM converging in total harmony for what he describes as a 'recalibration of the senses'. 

@arn_j
@sure_thing

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

A. Of all the mixes I’ve put together over the years, this one definitely feels the most vulnerable. The months I spent thinking about and working on this mix accompanied an intensely busy time in my life, and the process helped me stay in touch with the simple joy of listening as a way of stepping back and letting things go. There is a direct connection here between the music within and the emotions that live inside me. At the same time, I’ve tried my best to mix this as transparently as possible, so that the act of DJing takes a back seat and allows the music to take center stage.

The inspiration behind the tracks I chose and the story of the mix is one of finding balance, so I hope listening to it feels like a casting off of the present day and a recalibration of the senses. I’d love for people to listen to the mix in a setting where they feel most protected from the changes and stressors of the outside world, whether that be sitting outside in nature or laying on a couch surrounded by the comforts of home.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. There is a track in the mix by Autumn of Communion called “Goodbye PK” dedicated to the late Peter Kuhlmann, who many of your listeners will know as the legendary Pete Namlook of FAX +49-69/450464. It’s an immensely moving track that manages to convey both the tragedy of his loss and the depth of the beauty he left with the world, and I feel we’re so fortunate to have music and influences like this in our recent history. I included it early to set the tone of the rest of the mix, which is quite different than any I’ve done before, and to pay my respects to those who’ve inspired our scene from the very beginning.

Q. I was lucky enough to witness your set at Sustain-Release in 2023 and was in awe of your ability to practice restraint while steadily building up tension and energy in the set with such clinical and seamless execution. Is this part of the DJ craft something you spend a lot of time planning and refining?

A. That was such a life-changing moment for me, so I’m really glad you were there! You really nailed what I hoped to accomplish with that set, and I definitely spend a lot of time thinking about where my sets will begin, where I would like them to end up, and what sort of path I might take to get there. Understanding the minutiae of how a transition will affect someone’s state of mind and how to propel someone forward without jarring them back to reality is something I’m always working to improve on. That said, the upward trajectory is not always the most interesting one, and there are so many other ways of charting a course through a set that I hope to be able to explore. For the mix I’ve made for you, it’s not so much a set that builds energy as it is one that expands and contracts, hopefully in a gentle and purposeful way.

MDC.311 Aaron J

~ Deep Breakfast 308 by https://soundcloud.com/blind-observatory ~

We're thrilled to introduce the incredible German DJ and music producer, Blind Observatory.

Blind Observatory is a highly talented DJ, music producer, designer, and visual artist whose creative work delves deeply into themes of science fiction, futurism, and astronomy. Inspired by the captivating idea of viewing dance floors as "observatories for the blind," his name embodies a guiding principle and serves as a meaningful reminder for David as he explores the vastness and solitude of the universe. His unique artistic approach, combined with an intuitive sense of the energy and flow of a night, enables him to skillfully navigate the delicate emotional spectrum between sadness and joy. This ability has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a true "DJ’s DJ" — someone who understands the art of moving a crowd on a profound level. Since 2024 he is running https://soundcloud.com/gravitational-multiplex together with Vincent Neumann, where he recently released his first solo ep in almost a decade https://gravitationalmultiplex.bandcamp.com/album/entropy-of-me

"With this one I wanted to be it a lush summer mix so I was aiming for a slight water theme. Drifting and Floating. Lots of ripples, droplets, reflections and swirls. Tidal movements and waves with a wiggly undercurrent."

Tracklist:
1. Love Over Entropy - Fortysix [SoHaSo, 2025]
2. Claudio PRC - Prelude [Delsin, 2025]
3. Mown - Haze [Mown, 2025]
4. Owl - Infinite Rotation [re:st, 2024]
5. Bas Dobbelaer - Rise (Moon Patrol Remix) [SoHaSo, 2024]
6. VC-118A - Extract [Patterns Of Perception, 2022]
7. Koss - Ocean Waves (Return To Ring Mix) [Mule Electronic, 2010]
8. Red Noise - Lirio [Orbitando, 2024]
9. Télépopmusik - δp.δq ≥ h⁄4π “L’incertitude d’Heisenberg” [Chrysalis, 2001]
10. Plants Army Revolver - 0101011001000010 [Danza Nativa, 2024]
11. Mown - Like Pieces Of Memories In The Sky [Mown, 2025]
12. Dino Sabatini - Plena Lunae [Outis Music, 2023]
13. Ness - Return To Homeland [The Gods Planet, 2025]
14. Patrick O’Hearn - Beautiful World [Patrickohearn.com Music, 2003]
15. Declan - Eye Of The Feline [Companion, 2024]
16. Natalie Beridze - Bygone [Natalie Beridze, 2024]
17. Space Biology - Sustainability [Companion, 2024]
18. John Consemulder - Coffee Addict (Decaf Mix) [Fluid Electronics, 2024]

Picture shot by himself.

Blind Observatory
Label: https://gravitational.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blind.observatory/

Deep Breakfast Series
Instagram: www.instagram.com/deepbreakfastseries/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DeepBreakfastSeries/
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/deepbreakfastseries

Deep Breakfast 308 ~ Blind Observatory

Tasha B2B Anika Kunst - 10 May 2025

There’s a rhythm to how the festival unfolds. Thursday opens slowly, almost like a breath in. By Friday night, the pulse is stronger, but not too heavy. Monument festival had settled into its rhythm, and Kia and Polygonia stepped into the wooden dj-booth together.

The forest floor was vibrating, the crowd fully present. Their set matched the moment—playful, warm, and alive. It felt like Friday was always meant to sound like this. Varden became their playground.

This was more than a strong back-to-back. Two years earlier, they met here, both playing solo, both part of the Monument line-up for the first time. This night marked an anniversary of their friendship. From solo artists to close friends, now creating something special together.

Follow:
https://soundcloud.com/kia-sydney
https://www.instagram.com/kiasvs/

https://soundcloud.com/polygonia
https://www.instagram.com/_polygonia_/


Monument Festival 2024 : Kia b2b Polygonia

For this month's Unrush mix, we're excited to feature Eric Cloutier - a true digger with a deep history in the scene and an ear for detail. His 90-minute guest mix flows through warm, textured ambient with darker, rhythmic turns: subtle, patient, and always engaging.

Cloutier’s path has taken him from Detroit to New York, where his years as a regular at The Bunker New York helped shape his distinct style: deep, body-oriented music with a strong sense of narrative. Now based in Berlin and a resident at Tresor, he continues to bring that same focus and depth to clubs and listeners around the world.

With a straightforward, no-nonsense approach, he has spent years honing his craft. His label Palinoia - named after the act of repeating something until it’s mastered - reflects that mindset: a home for stripped-back, dubby techno and lesser-known talent that fits seamlessly into his sets.

A true digger with an ear for detail — this mix is one to sit with...

Thanks a lot to https://soundcloud.com/cloutier

ERIC CLOUTIER on the web:
Palinoia Bandcamp: https://palinoiarecords.bandcamp.com/
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/3401076-Eric-Cloutier
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericcloutier/
RA: https://de.ra.co/dj/ericcloutier

UNRUSH on the web:
Bandcamp: www.unrush.bandcamp.com/
Hardwax: www.hardwax.com/label/unrush/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_unrush

Cover artwork by Irakli Kiziria

Tracklist tba...

097 - Unrushed by Eric Cloutier

“My mission is to explore the boundaries of psychedelic music.” The revered artist talks about expanding consciousness, breaking boundaries and his new album on Tresor. 

There has always been a strain of dance music that has leant psychedelic, from the left field psychoacoustics of pioneers like La Monte Young to the proggy techno taking over today's dance floors. One artist who embodies the spirit of psychedelia is Anthony Child—AKA Surgeon—a revered DJ and producer who has historically been placed in the world of industrial techno, but whose output over the years has consistently flirted with altered states of consciousness and a strong opposition to the mainstream.

 Child is originally from Birmingham, where he and Karl O'Connor, AKA Regis, helped birth a style of powerful, loop-driven techno. Together they've put out music as British Murder Boys and released music on O'Connor's label Downwards Records. But they've had equally successful solo careers, with Child putting out several releases on Tresor and performing live improvised electronics as Surgeon and as part of ambient listening duo The Transcendence Orchestra.

In this interview, Child talks about his most recent release on Tresor, the album Shell~Wave, and its innovative use of techniques associated with Jamaican dub. He also discusses the throughline of psychedelia in his work and what it means to surrender oneself to sometimes uncomfortable processes—both creatively and in life—and come out the other side. There are strong links to spirituality and Buddhism in Child's work, many of which are designed to prompt listeners to question and reconsider the boundaries they've set around the reality they live in. Listen to the episode in full. -Chloe Lula

EX.766 Surgeon

NIKS (@niksbad) is as dedicated as anyone to furthering dance music culture. Hailing from south-east London via Bath, NIKS has long proven her curatorial skills with radio shows on BBC Radio 1, Rinse, and NTS. Her idiosyncratic blends of ‘90s groovy, rhythmic sounds and forward-thinking, underground-leaning soundscapes have brought her to some of the world’s most revered clubs. After contributing music to various compilations, last year she explored bass-heavy sounds with her first solo EP on Or:la’s Céad label. Beyond her work as a musician, NIKS also co-founded the Black Artist Database, a crowd-sourced list of Black-owned labels, artists, and producers designed to amplify and uplift talent.

Ahead of her debut at the Dekmantel Festival this year, NIKS serves up a 90-minute window into her current musical world, including her own forthcoming productions in a deep, dub-infused journey into hypnotic techno and house rhythms that intertwine to create a warm, supple soundscape. Its seamless flow takes in sounds from the past, present, and future, and they all encourage you to move and meditate in equal measure."

Dekmantel Mix 490 - NIKS

@hems 

The next Deep Mind Music comes from one of my dearest friends, and greatest inspirations - hems

hems and I have a special connection, we both love to adventure through musical lands strange and beguiling, evocative and unusual, and have spent many hours together digging through obscure backcatalogs or making our own noises experimenting with hems’ many synthesisers in his studio in London 🧡

hems plays music like no one else I know, he has a magic touch and deep sensitivity for representing all shades of human existence. From the sublime to the transcendent, the unsettling to the hilarious, hems’ sets takes listeners to the beyond and then further still.

I first invited hems to make a mix many years ago, so I am very happy to finally welcome an entry from him. This recording is the first 2.5 hours of an all-night 8 hour set hems played at an intimate private gathering in Mexico City in March of this year.

In this recording hems coaxes us to drift inwards, to enter into an unusual landscape, to open up to all the elements of sound, contrasting pre-Hispanic music with vintage synthesizer tracks and much more.  

Listening to hems’ sets over the years has expanded my mind towards new possibilities, his selections and genius touch for programming evoking many deep epiphanies and insights. This mix is brimming with vitality and life, I hope you enjoy this kaleidoscopic voyage into the mystical 🌿 ~

Alongside DJing, hems produces very deep and intricate experimental electronic music I highly recommend checking out, often utilitising spatial audio systems or even playing gongs live, and he also runs the amazing Titrate records with @o-utlier, as well as his own mix series @hardcore-chillout with @EightFoldWay

https://titrate.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/titraterecords
https://instagram.com/thatshems/
https://hems.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/hardcore-chillout

~~  
Downloads Enabled ~

Deep Mind Music Vol.33 ~ hems

Here is a Liveset i recorded exclusively for Resident Advisor. Features some as yet unreleased material...

Enjoy


From RA :
This week's podcast is sixty minutes of lush pads and Detroit hypnotism from Glasgow's Vince Watson.

Vince Watson might have been gathering steam recently, but he’s always been a producer with broad appeal. He’s rated by harder techno DJs such as Carl Cox and Christian Smith, he’s released house music on Ibadan and NRK (the classic ‘Mystical Rhythm’), and his latest records have come out on Detroit-centric labels such as Planet E (‘Renaissance’) and Delsin (the longplayer ‘The eMotion Sequence’). “I try and make all my sets a journey through different elements of my music,” Watson told RA. “I don't just write techno. I just write music, and want people to listen to it as music, nothing more nothing less. I'm not a genre freak.”

Watson also runs his own record label Bio Music, which has released the likes of Steve Rachmad, Joris Voorn, Deetron and Ben Sims. Now there are some names that might clue you in to where he’s coming from: He might be Detroit-influenced, but he’s European and forward-thinking about it too (Yes, the Detroit/Glasgow axis does exist!) But maybe rather than genre, perhaps the key to Watson’s sound is his unique instrumentation: his music is characterised by strong, complex keyboard arrangements which gather momentum, and expanse, over time to hypnotic and highly danceable effect. He also has great taste in natural scientists: Sir David Attenborough is his number one MySpace friend.

For his RA mix, Watson has assembled sixty minutes of music refreshingly free of the fly-by-night techno trends; it’s a live mix full of lush pads, Detroit touches and Watson’s own unique sense of harmony. This one flies by real quick.

RA caught up with Vince Watson for a chat when he handed over his mix.

What have you been working on recently?
I've been getting into the heart of my Fcom album, which has been taking a long time. I wanted to do a project that was very Fcom but showed a different side to my music that some people may not have heard before. I'm also recording the next Planet E single and recording a single for the UR guys for Submerge Recordings. I also have a remix coming out soon on Kompakt's new sub-label 'Orphanear' for Mute records artist Turner.

Where was the mix recorded?
The mix was recorded live at my new studio, Biocom 2 – all new refittted and new setup. This mix is exclusive and will not be performed anywhere like this. It includes some unsigned, unfinished and unreleased material as well as the cuts that are on the streets at the moment.




Vince Watson - Resident Advisor Podcast RA.47

Boiler Room x Amsterdam Dance Event w/ Dexter, Nina Kraviz, Peter van Hoesen, Agoria & Cajmere.

[Broadcast on 17th October 2012]

Tracklist & video at http://boilerroom.tv

Agoria 50 min Boiler Room Mix at ADE 2012

Connecting club culture to the wider world, on screen and irl through parties, film and video.