Kaleidoscopic psychedelia from one of Australia's finest.

While it might feel early to call bets on DJs of the decade, Kia Sydney, best known as Kia, is undoubtedly one of them. The Animalia founder began in Naarm's (Melbourne) underground scene in the mid-2010s, crediting a trip to the influential deep techno Japanese festival, Labyrinth, as the inspiration behind her sound.

Deep techno might not cut it as a descriptor for Sydney's sound, though. Hypnotic ribbons of steely techno mix with atmospherics and nimble grooves, drawing from IDM, dub and tech house, sharing as much with DJ Nobu and Donato Dozzy (try to find the track that overlaps with Dozzy's own RA Podcast) as well as modern practitioners like Priori and Beatrice M.

This distinctly Australian scuttling psychedelia has made Kia one of the most sought-after underground DJs globally. Her brainchild, Animalia, showcases a plurality of sounds and scenes, serving as living proof of the fruitful shift of the 2020s: less serious, perhaps, but with a sense of open-minded worldliness that offers a far more promising vision of what dance music can be and achieve.

Sydney's rare talent lies in forging connections, bringing people, sounds and ideas together with a distinct playfulness. Her RA Podcast showcases this alchemy in abundance, weaving classics like Monolake and Enya with peers such as OK EG, Cousin and Command D.

As she told us in her 2023 Breaking Through profile, "people tell me I have quite a distinctive sound but I can't tell so much because I hear so many different versions of it." RA.973 serves as confirmation that Kia's style is, to say the least, the mark of a generational talent.
 
@kia-sydney @animalia-label  @cirruslabel

Read more at ra.co/podcast/973

RA.973 Kia

Adam Pits Live Dj Set | KAUZ Zurich 28.03.25

"Designing clubs is about understanding psychology." The famed architects talk about bringing emotions, durability and hidden logic into era-defining nightlife spaces.

How do you design the world's best clubs? Studio Karhard, the architecture firm started by Thomas Karsten and his wife, Alexandra Erhard, in 2003, know exactly which ingredients go into a successful nightlife space. The Berlin-based duo are the visionaries behind Berghain and ∄ in Kyiv, as well as a number of private residences, businesses and smaller venues around the world. Their specialty, they say, is salvaging forgotten spaces and resurrecting them to serve a new purpose.

In this RA Exchange, Karsten talks about first coming across the building that's now Berghain and working tirelessly with engineers and city planners to preserve its neoclassical facade. As he explains, creating a memorable atmosphere goes beyond just designing for aesthetics. There are countless hidden design features that serve to make venues like Berghain comfortable.

But according to Karsten, Studio Karhard's masterpiece is ∄, which they began designing in 2018. He describes the special experience of first visiting the abandoned brewery—which was then in extreme disrepair—and bringing the lessons they took away from building Berghain to make this Ukrainian space their most successful project yet.

This episode takes a look under the hood of the psychology, anthropology and emotional study that inform the venues that have shaped underground electronic music culture. Listen to it in full. -Chloe Lula

EX.775 Studio Karhard (Berghain, K41)

Valesuchi is a producer who we have kept a close eye on for a while now – the Chilean artist has released some stellar leftfield house and techno, drawing upon Latin influences and channeling a proper DIY sensibility.

We are talking rough drums, dusty pads, grungey acid and everything in between.

Based in Rio De Janeiro we felt now would be a fitting time to feature her in our series after she reached out and sent us her new album – which is as riotous and intriguing as they come. A proper journey through weird soundscapes and analogue dreams.

This mix showcases her versatility as a DJ, a proper masterclass in movement between style, genre and pace. All with a no holds barred undercurrent which keeps things very fresh and very interesting.

Valesuchi: The Ransom Note Mix

The Sustain-Release co-founder steps up to the Phonica mix just ahead of the acclaimed festival’s 11th year. 
New York has an iconic history when it comes to club music, and over the years has seen many great names emerge from its underground scene. In modern times, Aurora Halal is undoubtedly one of those names. 
Aurora has become a staple at forward-thinking institutions like Berghain, De School, and her home base, Nowadays, where she holds a residency. Alongside her international touring, she’s carved out her own vital space through the long-running Mutual Dreaming parties and Sustain-Release, the DIY-rooted festival she co-founded, which continues to push boundaries as it enters its second decade.
Her Phonica mix offers a vivid snapshot of her deep, intuitive approach to DJing—captured live at Mansions, a cozy NYC wine bar turned house party haven. Known for her genre-fluid sets that blend hypnotic techno, house, acid and experimental textures this is the perfect calling card to showcase why she can hold it down with a range of greats like DJ Nobu, Vladimir Ivkovic and more.
We had a chat about the mix with Aurora as well as touching off Sustain and some of her favorite moments at the festival.

Phonica Mix Series 134: Aurora Halal

The day after our first night at Club Raum, we hosted a listening session at our Amsterdam home base Noord Space to softly land. In an intimate setting, Erik Luebs offered listeners a unique live performance created for this moment. Seated in front of his instruments, Erik made time stop and created communion. This recording captures perfectly what we experienced, and we hope that you will feel it too.

Sunday Aftermath with Erik Luebs Live at Noord Space

Animalia alumni, the very talented @al-den-te at Diega, a New Years Festival held in the bush near Melbourne. 30th December 3-4am, 2024.

<3 


ani/live Seventy Two: Al Dente @ Diega

This week's mix is by @bian_ca, a DJ based in Rio De Janeiro, a dedicated vinyl collector and resident at Nervosa, one of Rio’s key underground parties! His sets weave the sweat spot between techno and house, and he keeps it timeless and unexpected. 

The 100-minute mix is a journey where the tension stays exactly where it's supposed to be, shifting in genres and moods, and guides you to a grand finale, leaving you mesmerized. 

Track highlight:
‘’This selection is very special to me, as many of these tracks have been with me for a long time. It includes music from close friends I greatly admire, like Muta’s Poem by Capetini and Black Jesus by Vaskular (feat. Valesuchi). However, the track I’d like to highlight is In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven There Were Men and Women by Robert Ashley. I still remember hearing it for the first time, and it’s hard to believe it was produced in the ’70s. This was the first time I’ve had the chance to play it in a set, and I fall in love with it all over again every time.’’

Thanks Caio<3

bian.ca...IsBurning #174

We’re opening our new mixtape series Umwege — a dedication to the detours, connections, and encounters that shaped a year spent traveling through Germany’s dance music landscape.

For the first edition, we’re joined by TILS (@tils303), an upcoming artist from Haan, a small city between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal. Recently, he has been making a name for himself in NRW’s dance music scene with his DJ sets and music productions. His debut release just landed on Victor’s imprint Magic Power, marking the beginning of a promising journey.

Tils - Umwege 01 / Mixtape Discos Movimiento

Crystalline techno from an Italian sound sculptor.

Read more: https://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=601

@Neel

Resident Advisor podcast

RA.601 Neel

Tripped-out trance and electro from Canada.

Read more here: https://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=667

@d-tiffany

EX.775 Studio Karhard (Berghain, K41)

Resident Advisor

Related tracks