SOP018 - Choices | Affection 

2020 seemingly put a dent in everyone's lives and plans but after a rocky year, we're back and more excited than ever to see what the future has in store. With new global energy and a new wave of music, we stay hopeful and came up with two new cuts that we feel encase this energy. 

We hope you enjoy them.

Choices | Affection

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Affection

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Microdose, the latest release from Washington DC-based producers “Shades Of Play”— aka Derek Tucker & Felipe Rivera— is a moody, exploratory trip through divergent shades of experimental house and techno.

The 5-track EP flexes Tucker and Rivera’s taste for introspective, minimalist, and emotive modes of dance music. In Microdose, the duo delivers a thoughtful range of tracks that prioritize experimentalism and emotion without sacrificing dance floor power.

In opening track Gazuza, a haunting, hypnotic melody is cut against a tough bassline and echoing vocal elements. What follows is pure, unadulterated, deep house music magic.

It goes without saying that house and techno heads love a slow burn. NYC Lovin is just that: an ode to the minimalist, edgy house music stylings found in Brooklyn warehouses and Manhattan clubs.

In Microdose, Tucker and Rivera explore a distinctly raw, primal, and psychedelic side of techno. Marked by complex rhythms and eerie vocals, the track is designed to bring dance floors to a frenzy.

Things lighten up a bit in No Promises, a sparkling, uplifting house track that pairs sophisticated percussion with dreamy soundscapes. Its tribal-inspired sound is ripe for steamy summer dance floors and sunny afternoon sessions alike.

Inspired by the likes of Floating Points, closing track Mirrors and Masks is an intricate, commanding piece of progressive techno; a cinematic secret weapon for building dance floor euphoria.

About Shades of Play: Bringing together Midwestern Native American, Black, and South American cultures, Shades Of Play is a Washington DC-based duo comprised of longtime friends Derek Tucker and Felipe Rivera. With sounds ranging from heavy, pulsating, primal rhythms to progressive rock and jazz-influenced fusions; their sounds are a direct result of their ancestral roots and explore the broader spectrums of electronic, house, and techno music.

Mirrors & Masks

No Promises

Microdose

NYC Lovin

Gazuza

2hr set from our show at Hohm Brooklyn, NYC

Shades Of Play @ HOHM - Antisocial Afterhours (NYC) 05.21.22

Journey thru some of our favorite sounds each and every month via Data Transmission Radio. 

www.shadesofplay.org 
www.crossfadedc.com

Data Transmission x  Cross:Fade Radio - April 2023 : Shades Of Play

Zelma - Dub Mix

Zelma - Original Mix

SOP003
Sergio Pardo, Jordi Lazaro, Alex Delgado - Insanity EP

Shades Of Play, delving into the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music. Sister label to Witty Tunes recordings

Shades Of Play, explorando las diferentes sombras en el espectro de la musica electronica, house y techno. Sello hermano de Witty Tunes recordings.

Washington D.C

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Alex Delgado, Sergio Pardo - Insanity

SOP004
Max(Italy), Perri(it) - Composer EP incl. Guti Legatto, Niko Tiko & Ydentiti Crisis Remixes

Shades Of Play, delving into the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music. Sister label to Witty Tunes recordings Shades Of Play, explorando las diferentes sombras en el espectro de la musica electronica, house y techno. Sello hermano de Witty Tunes recordings. 

Washington D.C

Perri (it) - GloryHole (Original Mix) Available Now

SOP005
GIANS - Blue Energy EP incl. Luigi Gori Remix

Stellar leftfield electronic release from our friend GIANS. Conjuring visions of hot & steamy jungle nights meets "Escape from New York".
GIANS - Another Reflection EP. Included is a mesmerizing remix by Luigi Gori (303 Lovers, Great Stuff, Definitive) (Presslaboys).

Shades Of Play, delving into the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music. Sister label to Witty Tunes recordings Shades Of Play, explorando las diferentes sombras en el espectro de la musica electronica, house y techno. Sello hermano de Witty Tunes recordings. 
https://www.facebook.com/SOPRecordings/
Washington D.C

GIANS - Listen The Preyer (Original Mix) Available Now

GIANS - Listen The Preyer (Texture Mix)Available Now

GIANS - Blue Energy (Texture Mix) Available Now

GIANS - Blue Energy (Luigi Gori Remix) Available Now

SOP006
11.20.17 

Sao Paulo's Volkoder lands on Shades Of Play for SOP006. Bringing his signature flare with "Colosso EP". The pack starts off with a "Roots", delayed chords play over a palette of a walking bassline and groove. "Turn Electric" simple and to the point, a dirty bassline leads into a timed break with a catchy sample to top it off. "Colosso" keeps the vibe going into the night. 

Previous releases on Repopulate Mars, Hot Creations,  Suara, Kittball & more.

Volkoder - Turn Electric (Original Mix) 11.20.17

Volkoder - Roots (Original Mix) 11.20.17

@YdentitiCrisis, Derreuq 
Polarity EP 
SOP 008

Polarity EP is the result of one year of mistakes, learning and self reflection. A journey into finding their “sound” and presenting it as best as they possibly could. The nine tracks are each marked by experiences they had or shared in 2017, ranging from deeper sounds to darker and brooding elements all meant to be a story. Each track is meant to entrance the listener with layers of groove, organic and industrial elements. As the package progressed, they constantly learned new things that improved upon each track. In certain parts they even went outside and experimented with field recordings to add a more organic feel to the coldness of machine production.

www.shadesofplay.org

Shades Of Play - Blind feat. Aves Volare  (Original Mix) 02.26.18

What is fear? 

"You see it all starts with a baby, at the age of six months, and the mother say's, boo. Scares the hell out of the baby, gives it the hiccups, and then the baby giggles there's it's first moment of fear. Later on it's on a swing, getting higher and higher and catching it's breathe when it gets to high. So it goes, we all enjoy, shall we say,  dipping our toes in the cold water of fear". 

- Alfred Hitchcock

Free Download

Shades Of Play - Insects Romance (Original Mix)

SOP012

A very special twelfth release from our end to yours as label residents @Ydentiti Crisis & Derreuq team up with longtime friend and fellow artist - Jay Hill (Superfreq, King Street) ( @jayneuf ) for a driving, journey filled package. The release throws you right into the mix of things with the lead cut 'Hybrid Theories' while keeping the journey going with the following cuts. We hope you enjoy.

Ydentiti Crisis, Derreuq, Jay Hill (Club Edit) Free Download

SOP012

A very special twelfth release from our end to yours as label residents  team up with longtime friend and fellow artist - Jay Hill (Superfreq, King Street) ( @jayneuf ) for a driving, journey filled package. The release throws you right into the mix of things with the lead cut 'Hybrid Theories' while keeping the journey going with the following cuts. We hope you enjoy.

Shades Of Play, Jay Hill - Hybrid Theories

S0P013 
Ydentiti Crisis, Derreuq

Another year has come and gone and what better way to end it than with a small gift from our family to yours. 'Breathe' is a reminder to slow down, take the time to meditate, enjoy what you have and who you have in your life. The slow burn cut is geared towards after-hours or early morning sets. 
We hope you enjoy it and look forward to sharing more in the New Year. 

- Ydentiti Crisis  & Derreuq

Shades Of Play  - Breathe ( Free Download )

Our most recent guest mix for 'Radio 2019' based out of Istanbul, Turkey. We hope you enjoy the session and look forward to sharing new music.

Shades Of Play (Radio 2019 - Istanbul, Turkey) 03.11.19

Shades Of Play, delving into the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music. Sister label to Witty Tunes

SOP014 
Seppuku EP

Based out of Washington D.C, Shades Of Play is a duo comprised of long time friends & label owners , Felipe Rivera & Derek Tucker.

Having met upon a chance encounter in 2011 they soon began collaborating on various style projects working dilligently to refine their sound. Their most recent notable release 'Hybrid Theories', reaching #1 on Traxsource's Top 100 Techno Charts.

'Seppuku EP' is a natural progression of our sound, we are both deeply introspective people and have dealt with tons of trauma in our lives and we have always struggled to try and encompass that in our music, with 'Seppuku' it was as if all the parts and things we had learned both in life and our craft came together. The tracks themselves are moody, melancholic with a touch of 80's and deep sounds. - Felipe & Derek

The lead track, ‘ Dupont Circle ‘ touches on the subject of inner battles, anxiety, alcoholism and drug use. One of my biggest struggles in life has been the constant feeling of emptiness, and seeking to fit in or being accepted. Throughout different points in my life I turned to alcohol and other substances to help me cope and try to better understand who I thought I needed to be. I still struggle with some of these internal questions but I no longer feel the need to use anything to make up for them. – Felipe

Life is about balance and balance helps us to keep control, ‘Minds Eye’, touches on the subject of depression and suicide. Suicide is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death around the globe. The effects of suicide go beyond the person who acts on this feeling; it has lasting effects on families, friends and communities. 
‘There was a belt around her neck and she was purple, all I could think is if I had been a minute later she would be gone, I should’ve listened closer, I knew they were battling internally…I made sure to get her help but I will never forget this moment. – 
Derek

www.shadesofplay.org

Shades Of Play - Dupont Circle

Shades Of Play, exploring the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music.

SOP016, After a long hiatus, @Justinschumacher makes a strong return to SOP with a stellar Techno package. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NYC by way of the Bronx, Justin unearthed these gems from a restored hard drive from 2018, still sounding fresh in 2020, we got together and decided to bring these select cuts to the light of day. Currently making up for lost time in the studio, you can expect follow up releases on some familiar labels and Shades of Play.

Justin Schumacher :
https://soundcloud.com/justinschumacher
https://www.traxsource.com/artist/51879/justin-schumacher
https://www.beatport.com/artist/justin-schumacher/26640

Justin Schumacher - Vacuum (Original Mix)

Justin Schumacher - Anomaly (Original Mix)

Shades Of Play (Washington D.C) Delving into the deeper and broader spectrum of electronica, house & techno music.
 Sister label to Witty Tunes recordings. This month we welcome back London favorite, Martin Bundsen. A Longtime friend and collaborator of the imprint, Martin always delivers the goodness and this month is no different. Sit back and enjoy 1 hour of 140BPM grooves.  


@martinbundsen
Instagram: @martinbundsen 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djmartinbundsen 
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/martinbundsen_official

Data Transmission - Shades Of Play Podcast 37 : Martin Bundsen

Residents @Wittytunes & Blurred Lines. 

Bringing together Midwestern Native American, Black, and South American cultures, Shades Of Play is a Washington DC area-based project comprised of longtime friends Derek Tucker and Felipe Rivera. With sounds ranging from heavy, pulsating, primal rhythms to progressive rock and jazz-influenced fusions; their sounds are a direct result of their roots and explore the broader spectrums of electronic, house, and techno music.

Popular tracks by Shades of Play