Opening set for the Zoukland Brazilian Zouk social, September 2024 at The Omni Movement.

BPM: 56-80

Zoukland - “Ring the Bells” (Brazilian Zouk Opening DJ Set, 9/28/24)

Here is my set from October’s Sunset Swing social. The set’s name comes from the hot air balloons we saw rising into the sky nearby as we danced on the Artthaus rooftop. At that point I played a couple of songs in honor of them. Check my Instagram for some footage from this night (though sadly, I did not capture the majestic sky candles on video in time). I came really close to playing Fireflies after someone mentioned it, but didn’t. Missed opportunity? Props to the amoeba of contact-swing fusion shenanigans that the whole dance floor formed near the end of the night as I was playing energetic Hip Hop. That’s how you know the dance was good.

BPM: 83-106
Energy: full range, several waves
Location: The Omni Movement, Artthaus Studios (rooftop)

Sunset Swing - "Candles In The Sky" (West Coast Swing DJ Set, 10/20/24)

Opening set for the Zoukland Brazilian Zouk social, October 2024 at The Omni Movement.

Zoukland - "Puppet On Your String" (Brazilian Zouk Opening DJ Set, 10/26/24)

Musically, this is my favorite Zoukland social I've played so far. The title comes partly from a comment I got from one of the dancers. She said the set was like being in a series of "hurricanes." Each one was a powerful force, immersing you in a particular place- the eye of that storm. Each hurricane was different. I played many short energy waves of varying emotional character, each smoothly flowing into the next and always moving somewhere. You could say each storm delivered the audience into the next place in a way that was meant to almost evade their awareness. The way I weaved deep, intimate, and dreamy harmonies against powerful pulsing energy, as well as the standard "boom chick" against other types of beats, felt like a big accomplishment- a balance I've been trying to nail in this particular way for a while.

Track list:
Baila Conmigo - Selena Gomez, Rauw Alejandro
Paper Love (DJ Alexy Zouk Remix) - Allie X
Call Me - DJ Kakah
Deixa Eu Viver (DJ Kakah Zouk Remix) - Mari Fernandez, Luísa Sonza
Lovesong Viver (DJ Quintessence Mashup - 2025 Remastered) - DJ Quintessence [The Cure vs. Mari Fernandez, Luísa Sonza & DJ Kakah]
Teardrop (Remastered 2019) [feat. Elizabeth Fraser] - Massive Attack
Emowe (Original Mix) - Notre Dame
Safe Place - DJ Kakah
Tides (DJ Quintessence Zouk Remix) - DJ Quintessence vs. Bonobo, parkbreezy
What It Is (Block Boy) (Slowed Down) - Doechii (feat. Kodak Black)
Moderation vs. Sekhmet Awakens (DJ Quintessence Zouk Double) - DJ Quintessence [Cody Ko & Space Rangers vs. DJ Alexy]
Ney - Jean du Voyage
Shake It (Extended) - TroyBoi ft Guaynaa
High By The Beach (Meg Paton Cover) - Lana Del Rey - Zouk Remix (Justin Caruso and DJ Alexy)
Careless Whisper (Dj Vini Zouk Remix) - Dj Vini; Yuvi Bhatia [cov. George Michael]
Zeal and Zest [pre-release] - DJ Quintessence
Into The Future - DJ Quintessence
Roses (Kakah Zouk Beats) - DJ Kakah [SAINT JHN]
Point Of Entry vs. Call Me (DJ Quintessence Mashup) - DJ Quintessence vs. DJ Kakah
My Oasis - Cover (Dj Vini Zouk Remix) - Dj Vini; Cally Rhodes [cov. Sam Smith (feat Burna Boy)]
Unica. - Marcia
Waterfall - DJ Cronus
Gypsy - DJ Kakah
AKILA - $ayonara.
Mmmm - TroyBoi
Sunshower - Ivy Lab & OAKK
Yayo - Oordaya
Fade (Sane Beats Remix) (feat. Maiday) - Jakwob
Obvious - Ayelle
Leave The Door Open (Dj Vini Zouk Remix) - Dj Vini; Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
Cigana (Dj Vini Zouk Remix Bootleg) - Dj Vini; Delacruz, Clau, Luccas Carlos e Keviin
What Is Love (Jaymes Young Cover) - DJ Kakah
sad girlz luv jiya jale - SANJ [Amaarae cover]
My Immortal (Violin Kizomba Sensual Cover) - D.Vizcaino [cov. Evanescence]
Chihiro (DJ Zen Eyer Zouk Remix) - Billie Eilish; DJ Zen Eyer
Dripping Gold vs. Into The Future (DJ Quintessence Zouk Double) - Elysian Moon vs. DJ Quintessence
Before - Kori, Miro, Calper & Mara

Zoukland - “Sweet Heat Hurricane” (Brazilian Zouk Closing DJ Set, 5/24/25)

Zoukland @ The Oak Grove, June 2025

The Zoukland prior to this one, which I titled "Sweet Heat Hurricane," was a milestone for me, hitting a new level of competency as a Zouk DJ after integrating months of feedback and trial and error. This set felt like a continuation of the same new path and new bar I set with "Sweet Heat Hurricane," hence this month's title, "Second Wind." If you liked the last one, you're likely to like this one as well!

Zoukland - “Second Wind” (Brazilian Zouk Closing DJ Set, 6/21/25)

DJ Quintessence (Lexi Battle, she/her) is one of the most diverse and musically nuanced acts you’ll find performing today. In addition to being a lead DJ and organizer of the “Ecstaturday” Ecstatic Dance in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, she is also a resident DJ in partnership with The Omni Movement, a progressive partner dance studio located in Oakland. You’ll most commonly find her playing for Fusion Dance, Brazilian Zouk, or West Coast Swing around the Bay Area, though she also holds passion for her unique take on club-style EDM. As a highly multidisciplinary DJ and music producer, she brings lessons and influences from each of the music scenes she’s involved with into all of the others, giving her a unique perspective that allows her to hybridize the elements that work from the different scenes and let them inform each other.


Quintessence is a master of the intentional dance journey. She begins with tempos and rhythms designed to warm the body up while the melodic content creates emotional depth and intrigue that set the stage for what’s to come. Each stage successively builds on what we’ve experienced in the last, taking us somewhere new that still feels part of the same story. The crescendos and climaxes interplay with periods of moderate rest and reflection to create a series of waves through various energies and moods. Finally, we come to the sentimental landing and closing stages where we can integrate what we’ve experienced as the journey nears its end, perhaps indulging in one final burst of joy or artistic expression before sending us off to what’s next.


As a dancer herself whose life has been transformed by the practice, Quintessence always plays for the party she wants to be at. Her work often defies genre, weaving through a great many of them throughout the journey in delightfully surprising ways. As she’s a multidisciplinarian with extremely broad taste, you’ll never get the same experience with DJ Quintessence twice. She’ll make you move, make you melt, take you to places beyond words, and leave you wanting more.


DJ Quintessence has shared a stage with acts such as DJ Kakah, Tzoul, Fab, Dhroovy, Mark Carpenter, Exuberance, Intrepid, Ji, Kurama, and Andrew Roth. She can be found on Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, and all other major music platforms.

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https://www.theomnimovement.org/

May the Spirit of Dance lift you up on the Wings of Freedom 🕊

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