Mari Ella is a DJ, dancer, and podcast host from Vienna, Austria, now based in New York. A former member of New York’s Dance Fusion Crew, she transitioned to DJing in 2018. Mari Ella has played at NYC venues like Public Records, Elsewhere, and Jupiter Disco, as well as in Miami, Portland, Houston, Philly, Denver, Detroit, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Vienna, and Mexico. Influenced by DJs like Rich Medina and Theo Parrish, she focuses on deep and soulful house music. In 2022, she started DEEP WATERS, a house music party in Brooklyn. She also hosts the podcast DANCE TO THE MUSIC, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Words from Mari Ella about the mix:
"This mix is dedicated to my dance elders in NYC who have shared their energy, art and culture throughout the world for decades. Unfortunately, as with music, dance is treated as a commodity and not as an important aspect of culture, which leads to many folks not knowing about the rich history of the dance that goes along with the music they love. As someone who has been a dancer years before starting to DJ, I will forever be indebted to the folks who welcomed me into their sacred club spaces."

Deep South Podcast 160 Mari Ella

https://soundcloud.com/terrence-rice

Terrence is a London-based DJ and visual artist originally from New York City. Inspired deeply by the eclectic mixing style of house music’s early DJ’s and his years spent as a dedicated dancer in NYC's queer house/techno scene, Terrence has crafted an approach to music that is tension-heavy, psychedelic and left field yet decidedly soulful. Terrence cut his teeth DJing at house parties, after hours and clubs around NYC including Trans-Pecos, Black Flamingo and Fotografiska’s Chapel Bar. His taste and selections vary from house, disco, techno and electro to assorted strains of UK dance music and are characterized by a distinctively emotive funky finesse tinged with a jacking queer sensibility.

Notes on the mix: I wanted this mix to feel like a trippy, percussive, acid-heavy wormhole with hints of UK influence inspired by my recent move to London.

Deep South Podcast 161 Terrence Michael

https://soundcloud.com/kai-alce

https://soundcloud.com/kaialce

Kai Alcé is a boundary-transcending artist who channels his diverse experiences into fostering an inclusive musical environment. Born in New York, he was influenced early on by soca, Caribbean rhythms, and jazz. Moving to Detroit in 1980, he witnessed the birth of techno and worked at the iconic Music Institute nightclub. Relocating to Atlanta, Kai brought authentic house and techno to the city, including a decade-long residency at MJQ. His first production, ‘The Kaizer EP,’ was released in 2002, followed by the founding of the House In The Park event and his label NDATL in 2008, showcasing artists like Larry Heard, Theo Parrish, and Mike Huckaby.

Deep South Podcast 162 Kai Alcé

S'aint Panic is a genre-defying creative project by Cedric Antonio, a multi-disciplinary artist born in Baltimore with over 16 years of performance experience and 10 years in production and nightlife curation in New York City. Cedric has honed their craft in building cinematic worlds through sound, focusing on amplifying the stories of Queer and QTPOC artists and communities. Their sound, influenced by Experimental Electronic, House, Vogue Beats, Baltimore Club, and Black Melodic Techno, reflects this mission. Recent DJ appearances include Nocturnal Emissions, Function, Nowadays, and Deep Roots Pride. Cedric is also a resident DJ for The Carry Nation and a member of Brooklyn-based collectives Merge and Staff Party.

Deep South Podcast 163 S'aint Panic

@aunt_acid

Aunt Acid blossomed his love for dance music by giving hand geometry, dance floor gallops, and bright-smiled twirls. Now living in Newark, Aunt Acid's DJing includes a wide BPM range, but always full of high energy, booty-shaking sass.

This mix is a love letter to House and connecting with queer friends all over the globe

Deep South Podcast 164 Aunt Acid

*@yoniyachtclub* is a dance floor collage artist, sharing music across lands, diasporas, and time as a medium of connecting and moving with themselves, atlanta, and the world surrounding. they create with the belief that with communal effort, care and thriving dance circles, the dance floor can be a place of liberation.

This is a mix made with love as a tribute to and archive of Atlanta’s underground resistance and nightlife culture in this shifting moment, paved by Black Atlanta intersecting with Queer & Trans Atlanta. It transcends genres, scenes, communities, featuring almost all tracks from Atlanta’s talented underground producers and creators.

The South influences everything, and this mix is in reverence of the power, community, taste, range, parties, and energy Atlanta brings to the world. Forever, we love atlanta

Save Weelaune, Violet
Village Vibez, Osmani Soundz
[Unreleased], JayBella Banks	
Sossanewbootyup, Mashup by Hourglass	
down south, alexis curshe
Underground & Black (NDATL Dub 2), Kai Alce, Ash Lauryn	
IF I WAS A BAD BITCH, Blend by ECTOPUS	
Let Me See It, Divoli S'vere & MikeQ Remix	
Routine, Misshe 	
Machooka, Badsista	
Log Off!, TAYLOR ALXNDR	
Fly By, Zaida Zane	
suraj hua madham x hydration
Sorry Not Sorry, Omeretta the Great		
Ride, Ciara edit, akash91	
Sumatra, Glimmerman	
Georgia, Ludacris, Field Mob, Jamie Foxx	
Stoggaf, Cakes da Killa & Proper Villains
Guillotine Drum, JSPORT	
I Wanna (Original Mix), Zaida Zane	
In the Club Out (Leonce Remix), Leonce, Maude Vôs, Marie Nyx	
Way Too Much (feat. Maleigh Zan) (Original Mix), NSA, Maleigh Zan	
magic, DJs Who Kiss	
Slip Away, Bored Lord (Memphis)
3am, amaarae edit, lavi		
Ad Infinitum (Abby Dear Remix), twofold 22XL Remixes
TransBasketball League MC (Voice) Alexis Jayde
Wallace Remix, Nikki Nair
Betcha Can't Do It Like Me, D4L	
shit aint easy club classics, Ree De La Vega		
Don't Stop When You Hittin' It, D2T404	
YIKES RAVE EDIT, No Replica		
AY! Cherish, Tom Marsi		
HABIBI BREAK, Archangel (Richmond)
10 Commandments, Chapel Beauty, Miss He
Carnatic, Tamil Footwork EP
Deep Space Exploration, D2T404	
Moongazer, DJ Chooch	
Laugh by Mohammed el Kurd, read by Miliaku Nwabueze
I LOVE BEING FROM THE SOUTH.WAV, crai bbyy, intro, bbymutha

Deep South Podcast 165 yoniyachtclub

https://soundcloud.com/cignarale

"Whenever I revisit my collection of Junior Vasquez and Sound Factory records I uncover new answers to why I do this in the first place. Discovering Junior’s sound was one of the most eye-opening moments for me creatively—not just as a DJ but as a queer person; and from there I unlocked a path to finding my own point of view. I was just born when the Sound Factory opened, so much of my understanding of it is from stories, uploaded videos, cheap tape mixes, posters, and my own fantasies. With all that, the Sound Factory’s myth will always be relevant for me and future generations of queer people. As I see it, the Sound Factory was telling us: the world might be unfair and burning all around us - and inspite of that; we are going to dance and be fabulous"

Tracklist
Michael Cignarale - Unreleased Track
Happy Mondays - Stinkin Thinkin (Junior Style Mix)
Dangerous Minds - Live In Unity (Club 69 Vox Mix)
Mighty Dub Katz - Ghetto Girl
Dee Diggs - Toss It (Matt FX Glitz n Glam Mix)
C+C Music Factory - Keep It Comin' (The Cole & Clivilles House Anthem)
Glenn Underground - I Feel Dub (Mix 2)
Sara Parker - My Love Is Deep (Armand's Dub Of Doom)
Jose 2 Hype - Sonar Hype (Original Mix)
Bizarre Inc - I'm Gonna Get You (Original Flavour Mix)
Chanelle - I'll Keep Coming Back
Junior Vasquez, Connie Harvey - Lift Me Up (X Beat Vocal Remix)
Continuous Cool - Automatic (Junior Vasquez Remix)
99 Allstars - Luv Is All U Need (Ralphi Rosario Cha Cha Dub)
Mack Vibe, Jaqueline, Al Mack - Mr. Meaner (Junior & Mack's "Treatment" Mix)
DJ Duke, The Soundman - The Factory feat. Mercy (Junior's Factory Dub)
Junior Vasquez - If Madonna Calls (Michael Cignarale’s Bootleg Medusa Remix) 
Dat Oven - Icy Lake (Original Arena Mix)
Moné - Movin' (Jazz-N-Groove Main Vocal Mix)
Ugly Kid Jay - Annihilate Junior Vasquez D.J. Beats (Junior Vasquez D.J. Beats)
Michael Cignarale - She Thinks She’s Fierce (Delusional Diva Remix)
Argentino - Work This Pussy (Latin Mix)
Veda Simpson - Ooohhh Baby (Original Mix)
Paradise 3001 - Beautification Bang Bang (Total Eclipse) (Original Mix)
Dino Lenny - Cocaine (Dont Take Silly Drugs) (Original Mix)
Deee-Lite - Music Selector Is the Soul Reflector
Electronic - Getting Away With It

Deep South 166 Michael Cignarale

Simmon aka SOS is an Atlanta-based DJ who brings a unique fusion of his taste in music to the dance floor.
Drawing inspiration from the many years in the club alongside his love for the community, SOS's style is all about connection and energy. Whether it’s playing at Club Morph, with his collective @Gimmicksounds, or anywhere in between - SOS always aims to create a space where music, movement, and community merge.

Deep South 167 SOS

Joseph Mattachine is a DJ + producer from Denver, Colorado. He is a resident at the Denver Eagle and co-organizes the Denver-based queer party, CHOICES. Joseph’s selections and original tracks span genres from nu disco to house to techno and often explore a range of vibes in between, always maintaining a focus on the groove.


1. Ouija Dub - Josh Ludlow
2. Testify (Shalvoy Remix) - Hifi Sean Ft. Crystal Waters
3. Piano Parfait - Donald's House
4. Pleasure Principle (Matt Moss Vocal Mix) - Janet Jackson
5. Impermanence - silversound
6. The Rhythm (Factory Setup Remix) - Zombies In Miami
7. Commander's Vogue - SUB-P
8. Work My Body - Tino
9. Freaky Fantasy - Cromby
10. First Wave (Running Hot Remix) - NairLess
11. Queer Acid Energy - Nark
12. Act Bad (Original Mix) - BASHKKA
13. RUSH (Cooper Cooper's ADHD Trainer) - Cooper Cooper


Deep South 168 Joseph Mattachine

https://soundcloud.com/play3r1

Bio:
"Maybe it's too soon to tell, but I think I'll look back at 2024 as a defining year for myself as a DJ. I've created connections with people who have helped fuel my growth in ways I can hardly express and for that, I'll be forever thankful. I've also found new avenues to express myself, DJing vinyl being one of them. 

I bought my first record at 14 and have been collecting them ever since. But 2024 was the first year I began mixing and playing them in spaces other than my bedroom. I find my vinyl collection to be the truest expression of my musical tastes because purchasing vinyl requires more intention (and money lol) than purchasing digitally. Which is why when I'm invited to play a mix, I try to make it an all-vinyl one so I can really express myself in ways I'm unable to with my digital selections. 

This mix is a selection of some of my favorite house and techno records I've bought this year. Thank you to the entire Deep South crew for having me, especially to Alexis Curshé, who was the first person to let me mix on a set of turntables". 

Tracklist:
Mr. G - Make Me High
Mike Huckaby - Disco Time
Dreamhouse - I Can Feel it (Fun Mix) 
Inland Knights - Sound In Mind
Blake Baxter - Where Were You
Rick Wade - The Megamix
Zorro & Rob H - Heartbeat 
Lezar - Unreleased
Towa Tei - Technova (Wink's Building Groove)
Andreas Saag - Release The Grove
Deetron - Vibrando
Miguel Graca - Speak My Mind
DJ Kemit, Carl Mcintosh, Kai Alcé - Digital Love (Remix)
Kerri Chandler & Jerome Sydenham - Espirito Du Tempo (Welcome Home)

Deep South 169 playr1

https://soundcloud.com/bestleyworld

“We need to talk about Bestley.” London attitude through and through, Bestley is the definition of the queer go-getting artist. Renowned across the underground club scene and beloved by the worlds of fashion and culture, Bestley’s deep-rooted knowledge of disco, house and soulful rarities has them set on a path for dance floor domination. 

Their eclectic but always groove-laden DJ sets have taken them from Mexico to Mykonos playing alongside legends like DJ Harvey, Honey Dijon, Maurice Fulton and Derrick Carter.  “When we’re away, we trust Bestley to take the reins at the Horse Meat Disco mothership. Bestley is the foal to us four horses!” says Jim Stanton of Horse Meat Disco 

An integral part of the new vanguard keeping club culture alive, you’ll also find Bestley sharing a DJ booth with the likes of ABSOLUTE, Storm Mollison, Jodie Harsh and HAII. The ultimate atmosphere creator, Bestley’s timeless taste and immaculate selection is suited to beautiful sunset balearic vibes, sophisticated cocktail disco or HI-NRG 3am pumpers in a hedonistic sweaty basement. 

2023 saw them open Drumsheds - London’s newest and biggest 10,000 venue, tour with Annie Mac for her Before Midnight series where she named Bestley “an absolute world class warm-up DJ” and support Jessie Ware through her That! Feels Good! album release. “Guaranteed to make you throw your hands in the air, find a new favourite song and dance the whole night long. I was honoured to have Bestley warm up 20,000 people at Ally Pally for me. Beautiful, positive, fabulous vibes” - Jessie Ware

Bestley has amassed 2million streams on Spotify across 3 single releases (“Ethereal Frequency”, “RabbitHole” and “Supernova”) made with creative director Warboy, and was the featured vocalist on legendary label Kompact’s 2021 release “Hello Echo” garnering support from likes of The Blessed Madonna and BBC Radio 6.


Tracklist: 

You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (12” Tom Moulton Mix) - Lou Rawls 
Let’s Get Together - Jaye P Morgan 
Cool Breeze - Neighbourly 
Mantropic - DJ Rocca
Love Is the Answer - Gene Chandler 
Without Your Love (Tad Wily Mix) - Hotel Motel feat. Pat Fulgoni
Red Light - The Three Degrees
Losing My Mind - Liza Minelli 
Prove Your Love - Keep Me In The Light Edit 
Music Makes my Night - Madleen Kane 
Moky Danza - Joi N’ Juno
The Love I Lost (12” Tom Moltoun) - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes 

(they/she/he) 

Deep South 170 Bestley

https://soundcloud.com/mashamar

Masha Mar is a Serbian-born, Los Angeles-based DJ and music producer known for her eclectic style, blending cosmic disco, tribal rhythms, deep house, and left-field secret weapons. As a DJ, she effortlessly transitions between festival stages and intimate club settings, captivating crowds with her electric sets. She champions independent radio with residencies on both NTS Radio and dublab. As a producer, especially fond of using the Roland 808 and Juno 60, Masha has released acclaimed EPs and singles on SOS Records, Night Prism, and more. Her debut EP, Virgil's Dream, flowed blissfully between Italo, house and dub. Her latest EP, Cherry Cherry, unveils an evolving sound primed for the dance floor. Rooted in the grooves of cosmic disco, tribal rhythms, deep house, and left-field gems, Masha channels her eclectic influences into her productions and performances. Masha has been deeply involved in fostering community and pushing culture within the vibrant LA dance music scene. In 2014, she co-founded Dig Deeper LA with Alison Swing, an event series that became a pillar of the Los Angeles underground, hosting legendary artists like DJ Sprinkles, K-Hand, Daniele Baldelli, Lena Willikens and Axel Boman. More recently, she teamed up with Heidi Lawden to launch Take It Outside, a femme and queer-friendly series spotlighting world-renowned artists alongside rising local talent. Suffice to say, Masha stays fiercely engaged, locked and channeling the eclectic sounds that she loves.


Deep South 171 MASHA MAR

https://soundcloud.com/ysheso

ysheso__ is a Lebanese-American house DJ based out of Atlanta, Georgia. The name ysheso__ is pronounced y-she-so __– the underscore is there so you can fill in the blank. ysheso__ started her journey with house music over 10 years ago and has remained true to her sound.

With over a decade of dedication to the decks, she's carved out a distinct sound that stays true to her origins while evolving with every beat. Her sets guide you through the diverse realms of house music—from the soulful grooves of deep house to the hypnotic vibes of deep tech, and the infectious rhythms of disco and funk. As the visionary behind Here&There, ysheso_ is more than just a DJ and producer; she's a bridge between worlds. Her project brings together artists from around the globe, fostering collaboration and driving innovation. With a sharp strategic mind and an entrepreneurial drive, she's not only spinning tracks—she's shaping the house music culture in her city!

Deep South 172 ysheso__

https://soundcloud.com/sylvie-foret?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf0FF0obOCSE56nx0DxQ57vCzC2tLuDtx_I6dPMxIXR1EGnX9mVxtkQlncVLQ_aem_dIXpucBbOi1JygDlj0KvXQ

https://www.instagram.com/perla_cdmx/

Sylvie has been reorganizing sound and silence for bodies since the late 20th century. Her sets are psychedelic, sexy, love-filled explorations of the foundations of house and techno. She was born and raised in New York City but has deep roots in her other homes of Berlin and Detroit. She now resides in Mexico City, where she runs Perla alongside her bestie, Tommy Hart.

Deep South 173 sylvie forêt

@wahinedj

Wahine (pronounced wah-hee-neh)

Wahine–an award-winning radio show host, music blogger, interviewer, and event producer–has worn many hats since returning to the decks after a 10-year hiatus. Her comeback began with winning the Defected Croatia Mix Contest in 2019, making her international debut at the festival and reigniting her DJ career. Her appearance at the Defected festival alongside house legends and luminaries propelled her into the spotlight of the international disco and house scene, leading to her current status as a globally celebrated talent.
She co-hosts the Spin City show on MyHouseRadio.fm and is a Passion Ibiza Radio resident. She has contributed guest mixes to various platforms including NTS, Mi-House, Sinestesia Ibiza, and Disco Deviance.
Post-pandemic, Wahine ventured into music production, with her mashups charting on Hypeddit and gaining support from radio shows worldwide. She hosts events in Atlanta, including Soul Seek and her signature tropical-flavored disco event, Wahine’s Hideaway, featuring international guests like Dicky Trisco and The Funk District.
Wahine has supported renowned artists Crazy P, DJ Sneak, and DJ Disciple at events in Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, and Amsterdam. Her radio show has featured guests such as The Reflex, Aroop Roy, and YSE Saint Laur'ant.
Described as “Disco in Paradise,” her sound is sundrenched and full of tropical influences, matching her Hawaiian moniker. Funky licks are spiced with percussive jams with equal parts brains and brawn with every beat telling a story of rhythm and roots.
Trained in a dozen world dance forms, Wahine is known to spend her last track on the dancefloor in communion with her fellow dancers.
Wahine comes from proud Japanese and Filipino roots, with grandparents who played significant roles in Asian American history. Her Filipino grandfather was among the first to move to California’s Central Valley in the 1920s for economic opportunities, while her Japanese grandparents met in the Rohwer concentration camp in Arkansas. Following their marriage, her grandfather enlisted in the segregated Japanese American army unit, earning a Purple Heart with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—the most decorated unit in the entire history of the US Military.

Deep South 174 Wahine (AANHPI Heritage Month Series)

Delicious is an openly queer & trans DJ from Toronto. His DJing career began in university, playing at
house parties and sporting events, blending his love of 90s Hip Hop and R&B with classic house and
pop hits with a splash of the funk, soul and reggae he heard growing up. Today, Delicious is
establishing himself as a dance floor connoisseur across Toronto and wherever the music takes
him. He has maintained residencies across the Toronto area, hosted his own events, and played
among Toronto icons at some of the city’s hottest parties! Keep an eye out for Delicious, playing all
the funkiest music, guaranteed to keep you grooving on the dancefloor!


Tracklist:
Universal Tongues - Open Up Your Mind feat. Elle
Honey Dijon - Finding My Way
Leon Vynehall - Beau Sovereign
Danny Tenaglia - Move That Body
Murk - Reach for Me
Crystal Waters - Makin' Happy (Hurley's Happy House Mix)
Hardsoul - Back Together (feat. Ron Carroll) (Original Mix)
Leigh D Oliver - Dear Deluded
Kerri Chandler - House is House
Jovonn - Men's Club
NY's Finest - Do You Feel Me? (City Soul Project Remix)
Romeo Louisa - Lift Me Up
Junior Jack - Stupidisco (Extended Original Version)
Kolter - Wanna Be With U
Jill Scott - Crown Royal (Shelter Remix)
Paul Johnson - The Groove
Junior Jack feat. Jocelyn Brown - Hold Me Up (JJs Vocal Mix)
Cevin Fisher - (You Got Me) Burning Up
lostboy - Could be Wrong

Deep South 175 Delicious

https://soundcloud.com/neighborthedj

Neighbor is a queer, fun-loving dancing fanatic originally from Centerville, Tennessee. After 19 years soaking up the vibes in Nashville, they made the move to Atlanta, now proudly calling it home. Though their only formal music background was singing bass in show choir and drumming in middle school, Neighbor knows how to work a dance floor—bringing infectious energy and movement wherever they play.



Blending Indie Dance, Electronica, House, and Techno into a nostalgic yet future-facing “new retro” sound, Neighbor breathes life into clubs and house parties with syncopated, funky rhythms and a deep love for communal joy. A member of the DJ collective “Let’s Dance” with co-founders Mike Bradley and Mark McEwan, they also draw inspiration and guidance from a wide spectrum of local and global artists, including Wild Cherry (ATL), Roi Perez (Berlin), Berth (Toronto), A-Ron (Nashville), Jane Dupree (Nashville), Alfonso Tan (Seattle), and Massimiliano Pagliara (Berlin).



Neighbor began mixing in March 2024 and made their club debut one year later at Georgia Beer Garden in Atlanta. They got their start spinning at house and pool parties for friends—learning to read the room, embrace mistakes, and connect through sound. “My goal is for guests to leave my sets feeling lighter, freer, and more in love with themselves and the people around them,” they say. Whether you’re there to shake loose or slip into a dream state, Neighbor delivers a dance floor experience that feels like both a reunion and a revelation.

Deep South 176 Neighbor

Tanner Castro is an Ottawa-based DJ with Venezuelan roots, whose passion for music was first ignited as a street dancer. This early love for movement and rhythm eventually led them to clubs like Stereo, where they were introduced to the house music community and like-minded individuals who deepened their connection to the genre.

With respect for the elders and the roots of house music, Tanner brings a unique point of view, creating sets that bridge the gap between underground cuts and electrifying anthems offering a profound understanding of music’s healing and transformative power.

As a resident DJ at THROB, Sashay, Dance Temple, Hi Slay!, and now co-founder @skank.party, Tanner has become a staple of Ottawa’s queer nightlife, medicine circles and dance floors, curating experiences where people can feel free, connected, and alive

Deep South 177 Tanner Castro

Atlanta Queer monthly w/ priority & Visibility to femme, black, nb, poc, trans
-Residents-
*Vicki Powell - https://soundcloud.com/vickipowell https://soundcloud.com/deepsouthatl
*Brian Rojas - https://soundcloud.com/brianrojasatlanta 
*Wild Cherry - https://soundcloud.com/w1ldcherry

New tracks tagged #DeepSouthAtl