JD Twitch, who we lost this month, but who lives on in so many different ways, would no doubt roll his eyes at the idea of a tribute mix, so let’s just call this a mix. 

From disco to disco, bleep to raptor, footwork, acid house, ambient, pop and beyond, this is music born in the projects, the streets, the clubs, the squats, the basements and the after parties... of Chicago, Caracas, New York, London, Glasgow, Europe and the world. It is the music of migration. The music of community. The music of home. 

I had a handful of tracks I planned to play, but most of them didn’t make it in. Instead I just made this off the cuff, on a pair of turntables, playing what felt right in that moment. I am so proud to call myself one of Optimo’s children. There are a couple of my more famous sisters and brothers on here too, as well as those who paved the way for all to follow, the teachers and the pioneers, many of whom I first encountered through Keith and Jonnie. Most importantly - and maybe I am mad for even trying - I wanted to capture, in my own unpolished and amateur way, Keith’s bold and joyfully irreverent approach to mixing which, as anyone who ever caught one of his sets, was technically astonishing and ALWAYS coupled by utter devotion to the music and the artists and engineers who made it, and to the creative integrity of the work. It’s a rare and beautiful combination, in a DJ, in any kind of artist, in a person. 

This selection is of course completely personal and does not necessarily represent what Keith would play, but if I've captured some of his spirit here then I will be chuffed. And if you hate it, go do it better yourself!   

OSSX - TALK IS CHEAP
Tiga & Hudson Mohawke - Duro
Fred Everything – Dreampoet
Tomorrow The Rain Will Fall Upwards - Collocate
Wanda Jackson - Funnel Of Love
Fixate & Sam Binga - Issker
Wake Up
Dj Babatr, Oshazs - Aje (Me llama la calle) feat. Oshazs"
Paul Johnson - Feel My M.F. Bass
DJ Funk - The Original Video Clash- Video Clash II (Street mix)
Tiga & Hudson Mohawke - Polyvoxx
B-Tribe - Fiesta Fatal
Lurka - Swirl
Orlando Voorn - Face
Joe Smooth - Promised Land
Glenn Underground - There Is A Time
Scott Grooves - The Journey
Paul Johnson - FRIENDS
Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams
DJ Sprinkles - Masturjakor (Kink&the Neville Watson Remix)
Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey (Riva Starr Paradise Garage Extended Remix)
Steve Poindexter - Transport
THE FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON - Papua Boot (Soul Central Remix)
Radio Slave - The Lunatics 
Isolée - Beau Mot Plage 
Verses GT - Your Light (ft. George Riley)
Makèz & Life on Planets - Give It Life 
DJ Deeon - Hypnosis
Octave One - BlackWater feat. Ann Saunderson (Full Strings Vocal Mix)
ABSOLUTE - Time 2 Love Again
Inner City - Back Together Again (Reese Phuture Dub Trip) (snippet)
Jaydee - Plastic Dreams  
Genius Of Time - Rave Breaks feat. Bassie Kay
Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair & Tayla Parx - Set The Roof
Arthur Russell - That's Us/Wild Combination

JOY RIDE 138

Mukat Hospital is one of the best healthcare organisations with specialised doctors, nurses, and staff working around the clock 24/7 for patient well-being.

Author and DJ. Prize nominated debut novel FOLK out now on Velocity Press.

What began as parties on trains, has morphed into a vehicle for underground artists and labels who have shaped and continue to push at the boundaries of global club culture.

Run by DJ duo Frolic+Detour, The Night Trains operates as a loose collective of artists, promoters and experience designers focused on sonic adventures and curated journeys.

Look out for new releases, bootlegs, refixes + remixes in 2024!

JOY RIDE 138

Stef Macbeth