With a heavy heart for my friends affected by fires in Los Angeles this week, I release my set from just a week ago when we started the year with hope and optimism at Subtract and Moon Kitty's super fun shindig to open 2025.  

First of all, big thanks to Treavor and Anton for having me.  It was so, so fun to play this party.  I knew close to half of the people there, had many great conversations and much fun dancing after.  Moontribe DJs are no joke!  So much talent :). Sarkis was great too!  I was happy with my set and am excited to share it.

I lived in various parts of LA for 36 of the 38 years between 1980 and 2018. It is not the world's most beautiful city by any means, but I always tell my friends not from there how special and thriving the underground music scene has always been in LA.  It's a city where you have to know someone to have a good time I think -  one of the least digestible cities as a tourist.

But all it takes, or ever took, is to experience one good LA underground event and a whole world opens up to you.  If you are bored in LA, it's no fault of the music scene.  

For me this one event was 1995's Big Wig Thumper at what was then called the Orange Showgrounds.  Though technically my 3rd rave, the other two were in 1991 when I was just about to graduate high school, and appreciated it but wasn't really ready for it.  Let's just say I hadn't found my dancing shoes yet.  But in 95, I was ready and I never looked back.  I've thrown a hundred parties and DJed hundreds in LA since.  

This is a hard mix description to write because my favorite US city is in flames.  Many of my friends have lost their homes, and several venues I've hosted Tropical at have been destroyed.  It feels inappropriate to promote events there with the fires raging, and I've struggled to even post this mix.

But... it is music.  And music can only help.  

I am here to help in other ways too!  I'm not in LA, but super connected so reach out if you need help.  Also have space in my home in Oregon for friends who want to get away to clean air for a bit.

Hoping for safety for my friends, squashing of fires asap, and then hopefully a hard look at how prepared we are for fires like this, and how we can improve on that <3


Ben Annand Live at Moontribe NYD 1-1-25 Los Angeles

Mike Balance live at Boogaloo Mountain Jam 2015

DJ Mes is our special guest on the Space Cowboys RIPEcast this week. DJ Mes delivered an unforgettable night at Wiggle Room, spinning a masterclass in jackin’ house. From deep grooves to high-energy crowd shakers, the dance floor was locked in from start to finish. Toronto showed up—and showed out. From the opening beat to the closing drop, DJ Mes seamlessly blended classic throwbacks with fresh cuts, creating a hypnotic soundscape for late‑night revelers. If you were there, you know. If you missed it... Don’t make that mistake twice.

2025-07-31 RIPEcast Mes

I sure hope you enjoy my second set from Camp Dayfunk 2025 as much as I enjoyed playing it!   If you do, please give it a like and consider re-posting it on Soundcloud - it just takes a second and is the most helpful way to share cool music to new people!

Camp Dayfunk is a Minneapolis-based campout in just its second year, taking place 2 hours East in the Wisconsin Woods - and I enjoyed its quality, intimacy, and cute little camp touches immensely.  Both this event and this set are very special to me <3

Before anything, let's talk about the Mix Cover.  I got great pictures from my first set and none from this 2nd, and it's fine.  Because I got something better than a picture - I got a Danceflooor Badge!  

It was one of the greatest honors of my DJ career to earn one of only 8 Dance Floor badges given out at this event  - not for my 4 hours of playing music where I dance some but maintain focus on the mixing - but for my many more hours of representation on the dancefloor as a dancer, which is where this all started for me... and honestly has stayed.  

I fricken love dancing and absolutely think it makes me a better DJ to study and appreciate music from both sides of the decks. I don't dance to everything and also want to give props where props are due - the music at this event was rock solid, and receiving the dance badge has as much to do with the quality of the other DJs playing as it does my dance stamina.  Fun fact, the most I ever danced was at @mingameslaby in Japan in 2007 ;)

Okay, about the music and vision for this set!  My first set at the event, the night before, was previously posted to the event's Soundcloud (@user-467880110) and I had a full dancefloor and lots of energy coming back at me - a Dj's dream.

This, my second set, Saturday 4-6pm, was a bit different.  It's daytime, there's a beach, and @djdanmusic, @Dj-Mes, and Mazi aka @audiosoulproject are playing B2B2B on that stage.  Right at the same time as my set at the Pavilion stage!  First thing that comes to my mind after I realize they are simultaneous - wtf am I going to do?

Contrast is the answer.  If people want it funky, they're gonna want to be down at the other stage.  I mean I wanted to be there too lol.  And who the heck wants the 2 stages to sound the same anyway, that's silly.  So I leaned into this contrast theme for my set.  Someone told me that I may have confused people a little lol.  I said 'good!'  

I'm really glad I had the opportunity to play the night before, because that was my more funky set - though my interpretation is a bit different from most.  I also won some hearts there, which created more interest than there would have been I think.

So anyway, this set was a challenge - a friendly challenge to myself to play a 2 hour set that was a bit out of the box without losing people, that would serve as a worthy contrast to that devastating funk of Dan, Mes and Mazi.  
 
I would guess overall people there probably liked my first set a tad more - but for me this one was hands-down the winner.  Partly because it was a full 2 hours of new music. Partly because my cup was already full since  I had nailed my set the night before and even got extended an extra hour -  the best hour.  And partly because I had experienced some challenge locking the XDJ the night before, but was effortlessly near flawless on Saturday. I felt zero pressure to do anything but be myself, and play what I felt at that time <3

In general, I favor very full tracks that envelope you with sound.  Besides contrast, the theme for this set is laid back and expansive.  There's funkiness, sure, there are some peaks and valleys energetically, but not at all like the night set.  Overall, it's a smooth ride through deep house with some vocals, minimal house and even a touch of techno, all  around 124bpm. 

Thanks for reading to the end!  I Hope you enjoy the music, and perhaps this background too!


Contrast - Ben Annand Live July 19, 2025 at Camp Dayfunk in the Wisconsin Woods

DJ DAN on The People's Banana at Lightning in a Bottle 2025.

DJ DAN Live @ Lightning in a Bottle 2025

Decoded Magazine presents Simon Shackleton with his exclusive - CHPTR 002 mix

Read the full interview at www.decodedmagazine.com

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Decoded Magazine presents Simon Shackleton

Hello all! Dancing Mandy and I are pleased to finally release our live recording of our tag team set at unSCruz 2025, Saturday night on the Luna Stage! Since we were slotted to play the closing set we decided to go ALL OUT and bang it out with some odes to the late night after hours that a lot of us grew up in. We decided to keep it spicy and play 1x1 (as in, we each played only 1 song at a time) which was a lot of fun because it gave us more opportunities to dig through our digital Rolex and find a suitable track to mix into the last one. 

Please enjoy & thanks for listening! 

Track list:

1. (Mandy) Boudi - "Not Tonight Pamela"
2. (Denise) Cloonee, Young M.A, InntRaw - "Stephanie" (HNTR Remix)
3. (Mandy) PARISI - "High For This"
4. (Denise) Mojjo, De Qualite - "Sweaty" (Extended)
5. (Mandy) Chris Campos & Daniel Dubb - "2 My People"
6. (Denise) HNTR ft Roshin - "No Brake$"
7. (Mandy) Gabriele Poso - "La Bola" (Dodi Palese Remix)
8. (Denise) Loco Dice, Skrillex & Fireboy DML - "Heavy Heart"
9. (Mandy) 33 Below & Daniel Allan - "CONTEXT"
10. (Denise) Stacey Pullen - "NA$TY"
11. (Mandy) Veritas (UK) - "Funk Soul" (Original Mix)
12. (Denise) Marco Strous - "Tootsie Pop" (Extended Mix)
13. (Mandy) False Persona & Mall Grab - "It's Time (VIP)"
14. (Denise) TOYZZ - "ALL DONE" (Extended Mix)
15. (Mandy) Pickle & TOYZZ "So Different"
16. (Denise) Matt Sassari & CHRSTPHR - "Naughty" (Extended Mix)
17. (Mandy) Sam Paganini - "Rave" (Adam Beyer & Layton Giordani Remix)
18. (Denise) Jewel Kid - "Lizard King" (Extended Mix)
19. (Mandy) Kyle Starkey - "Feel My Desire"
20. (Denise) Felix Jaehn & Sophie Ellis-Bextor - "Ready For Your Love" (Odd Mob Extended Remix)
21. (Mandy) Walker & Royce and Mindchatter "Same Way Down"
22. (Denise) Raphi - "Freedom" (VIP Mix)
23. (Mandy) KI/KI & Storm Mollison - "Getting Ready for the Party"
24. (Denise) Pickle - "Get Silly" (Extended Mix)
25. (Mandy) Dom Dolla - girl$ (Layton Giordani Remix)
26. (Denise) GARRDA - "Higher Love" (Extended Mix)

Dancing Mandy b2b DJ Denise: Live at unSCruz 2025 - Luna Stage

@cacadora slays it every year. Here she is at the peak hour of our Friday night showcase, with that dark, bouncy, groovin' psy-techno flava that she does so well. Hell yeah.

Caçadora - 12AM Friday  @ Ironic Spin 2025

The first in a new series of spontaneous Pop-Up DJ sets – recorded live in Cheesman Park, Denver.

A fusion of Simon Shackleton & Elite Force styles, blending cinematic grooves with dancefloor energy. The sun was shining, the beats were flowing, and this set captures the raw, human spirit of the moment.

👉 Free download + full tracklist available here: 
https://www.simonshackleton.org/news/pop-up-dj-set-cheesman-park-denver

#SimonShackleton #EliteForce #PopUpDJSet #CheesmanPark #DenverMusic #LiveMix #ElectronicMusic

Simon Shackleton, Elite Force - Pop-Up Set - Cheesman Park, Denver - 2025-09-28

My set from Tropical 27 year Anniversary on 9/27/25

KOMBAT - Live @ Tropical 27 Year Anniversary

Sunday Pwnage part 1: 
3:30-5am at Feather River Campout with an energetic crowd under the moon and trees. Followed by Dao through dawn til 6:30am before we rushed to Sanctuary campout to do a sunday sunshine tag set 9am-Noon. We're very stoked on the full 6 hour journey!

Tracklist:

01 - We Were Riding High - __ (Alternate Version)
02 - Spread Your Legs (On a Rhodes Trip) - Daniel Roth & Christian Burkhardt
03 - Backclap - Seth Troxler
04 - Friday to Sunday - Sebastopol
05 - Mutant Disco - Maceo Plex Ft. Maars
06 - Give Back - Christian Burkhardt
07 - Where It's At (Johnny Aux Rmx) - Shit Robot Ft. Reggie Watts
08 - Dontstop - Christian Burkhardt
09 - Doubledub Remaster - Christian Burkhardt
10 - Street Kings 2.0 (Zombie Disco Squad Rmx) - Hanne & Lore
11 - Too Much Fun at the Temple of Doom - Simple Symmetry
12 - Bongos & Tambourines (Simple Symmetry Rmx) - Autarkic
13 - Isobar (Johnny Aux Rmx) - The Helmholtz Resonators
14 - Metallik Cages (Acid Arab Rmx) - Etienne Jaumet
15 - El Sueno Ft. Martina Camargo - Martina Camargo, Dennis Cruz
16 - Noom - 
17 - Eggo - Fritz Carlton, RYBO

Predawn Moon - Sunday Pwnage 1 - Pwny Live at FRC 2018

Welcome to my SoundCloud page, how nice of you to stop in! 

I was born and raised in the San Francisco bay area and feel lucky to be residing in SF in an especially lush and fertile environment for electronic music culture at this moment. Lately I've been mixing deep house, tech house, minimal..... but as always, tracks are whatever I find atmospheric, well produced, and/or have a certain vibe/groove.  When I hear a track for the first time, my jaw hits the floor and I yell "WTF is THIS?!?" ...that's the track I want to play, all of the time! :-D

In 2003 I started playing vinyl with the intention of mixing and DJing.   I switched to CDJs in 2010 -  vowing never to travel to the desert with records again - which was becoming a yearly phenomenon.              
As much as I was loathe to abandon the vinyl format, the realization that vinyl is not environmentally sustainable, that I would be able to collect more music, and support more artists by moving to digital solidified my conviction.  

I always ID tracks on my mixes I post to the best of my ability, and take care to keep notes during any session - whether it's in the bedroom or playing out live - for the purpose of crediting artists and passing on the enjoyment of great music to the listener.  I hope you enjoy some of the music that moves me.   And, please, please support the artists we love by purchasing their tracks!  :)

You will find several tracks repeated in the mixes I post, which is unorthodox. I broadcast a live DJ set most Tuesday mornings ( Brunch With Pwny on www.mixlr.com/pwny ) and gig actively. I have tracks that survive the test of time and when it's the right time to use an older track, I will do so. Most mixes I post now are recordings of the live broadcast or of a gig.

For booking or correspondence you may send a message to daoandpwnybooking@gmail.com

PLURzzzz! 

~Pwny