The sun was a fierce radiant orange. It were as if it was challenging the very earth below to dance amidst the flames. All it wanted was for the world to burn beneath it, to blow it all to smithereens.

He sat perched beneath an umbrella, sweating in the glow of the morning heat. He sipped upon a long, cool drink. It was all that was keeping his head above right now, all that was keeping him sane.

He could feel his heart beating in his chest, perhaps he'd overdone it last night. The beat, the heat, it was all a little much.

The sugar would help, it always did.

Phonica offer up a new EP as part of their AM series featuring the talents of Rhythms of Prescott. This one is a sexy, sleek house affair. House music done proper. Sophisticated like.

PREMIERE: Rhythms Of Prescott - The Beat Heat [Phonica AM]

4th mix coming in from https://soundcloud.com/oscartheabdullah

With his 15 years of experience DJing and working at institutions such as Phonica and Ninja Tune, Oscar Abdullah has engrossed himself deeply in music across the board, building a varied record collection and ear for quality in the process. For this mix he's chosen to go all in on Hip Hop, picking smoked out 90s beats and bars to give you his take on what it means to be chilled.

Son Of A Blunt - Don’t Snooze
The Boulevard Connection - Haagen-Daz
Jehst - 1979
Shyheim - On And On
Cookie Soul & Kid Frankie - Anillos
Da Grassroots - Precious Metals (Feat. Ghetto Concept)
Nujabes - Counting Stars
Meyhem Lauren - Got The Fever
Da Bush Babies - Remember We (Salaam Remi Version)
A.D.O.R - One For The Trouble Remix
A.D.O.R - One For The Trouble
Non Phixion - Four W’s
People Under The Stairs - Earth Travelers
CRU Feat. Slick Rick - Just Another Case
K-Mack - In Baltimore
Double L - Peeps In The Ground (Careless Remix)
Mr Voodoo - Hemlock
Smoked Out Productions - Styles
Citizen Kane Feat. Down To Erf - Elements Of Mind (Black Rain Remix)

Calm Your Mind #004 - Oscar Abdullah

exclusive | All Shade - Consummation | Hatsu Records

The dusk of movement and the dawn of surrender—this is where "Consummation" unfolds. Christopher Iwatsu and Jameel Wollaston, the architects behind All Shade, return to Hatsu Records, weaving a narrative of depth and devotion. The title track of their latest EP is not just a composition; it is an act of becoming, a slow-burning incantation that lures the listener into its embrace. It moves with the patience of tides, each layer dissolving into the next like whispers exchanged in the half-light.

"Consummation" begins with a groove measured yet inviting, its percussion setting the rhythm of an unseen ritual. A deep chord trilogy, cast across octaves, forms the backbone of the piece—both a foundation and an apparition, shifting in hue as the track unfolds. What begins as a steady pulse soon becomes a living, breathing entity, each subtle modulation a ripple across its surface, each effect an echo in the corridor of sound.

The melody does not dictate—it persuades. It morphs, stretching and recoiling in a hypnotic loop, an evolving mantra that never quite settles. Then, at the two-thirds mark, the air stills. A break—a moment of weightlessness, a void between inhale and exhale—where silence is not absence but an invitation. It is the pause before a revelation, before the track exhales once more, guiding the listener back onto the floor with renewed gravity.

"Consummation" is not merely dance music; it is the pulse beneath skin, the breath between words, the night folding into dawn. It moves with purpose yet drifts like a thought left unfinished, lingering long after the final beat dissolves. All Shade do not command the floor; they beckon it into their world, where movement is memory and sound is devotion.

Buy the EP: https://hatsurecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-shade-consummation-ep

Artist & label information
All Shade: @allshademusic // https://www.instagram.com/_allshademusic
Keisuke: @keisukemusic // https://instagram.com/keisukemusic
Hatsu Records: https://www.instagram.com/hatsurecords

Visit & follow Torture the Artist at:
https://torturetheartist.net​
https://facebook.com/torturetheartist​ 
https://soundcloud.com/torture-the-artist
https://instagram.com/torture_the_artist​ 
https://linktr.ee/torture_the_artist
https://youtube.com/torturetheartist​
https://tiktok.com/@torturetheartist

Buy the EP

exclusive | All Shade - Consummation | Hatsu Records

The Off The Record series ventures stateside to Chicago, Illinois to reach out to one of the most iconic modern labels going at the moment; International Anthem, who are now celebrating 11 years on the planet. Started in 2012 by Scottie McNiece and David Allen International Anthem Recording Company has been focused on pushing some of the most ground breaking sounds in Jazz, funk, soul and blues. With a roster that extends to names like Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, Damon Locks, Carlos Nino and more it has proved to have an eye for the highest quality in sound and curation. For this mix the label has nominated their own Alejandro Ayala AKA King Hippo to hon and curate the sounds provided. King Hippo was the label representative on the International Anthem Worldwide FM Chicago show - so we are definitely in good hands. Coming in at a clean hour, Ayala brings in various styles of Jazz, moulded expertly to provide a perfect home listening experience or what the label likes to be known as the "Floating Kissaten Mix". We sat down and had a chat about the mix with Alejandro, as well as about the label and about what they have coming up in the future for their 11th year.

Off The Record Mix Series 55: International Anthem (Mixed by King Hippo)

The Phonica series drifts Amsterdam way for the next addition in its series with not one but two of the cities most prominent artists. Kamma & Masalo supply separately in their sets nothing but magical moments so when you have the chance to see them play together it is that times two and some. Never knowing what the direction and vibe their set will go - having roots in eclectic and disco vibes as well clubbier house, techno and acid sounds (a vibe they cement firmly at their Brighter Days party in Amsterdam) - they have firmly placed themselves on top shelf list of some of Europes finest selectors.  Appearing regularly at festivals like Dekmantel and Japan's Rainbow Disco Club to name a few, the duo have played some of the best clubs around the world. For Phonica 131 Kamma and Masalo have the dancefloor in mind with a mix focused on their beginnings in the underground club scene of their upbringing. We had a quick chat with them about the mix and what they have coming up!

Phonica Mix Series 131: Kamma & Masalo

Dee Diggs joins us for Phonica mix 132, a 90-minute session that traces a fluid line through U.S, deep house and disco. Based in Brooklyn, Diggs is a DJ, producer and curator whose work foregrounds the Black and queer roots of dance music. Her sets balance emotional depth and rhythmic precision, drawing from a wide palette while maintaining a strong sense of narrative. First emerging through New York’s queer party circuit, she’s since built an international profile through thoughtful mixes for platforms like Honcho and Dekmantel, as well as her own event series, House of Diggs. With each project, Diggs makes clear that dance music is both personal archive and political practice. 

Phonica Mix Series 132: Dee Diggs

If you’ve been to Phonica in the past 15+ years, you likely know Nick Williams—an integral figure behind the counter, sharing his deep and eclectic musical taste with everyone from global DJs to underground newcomers. As founder of Meda Fury Records, he’s championed soulful, leftfield sounds, discovering artists like DJ Seinfeld along the way. A seasoned DJ himself, Nick has played iconic clubs like Fabric and Corsica, known for genre-defying sets that span ambient, house, techno, post-punk, jungle, and beyond. His latest mix reflects this wide scope—layered, emotional, and full of unexpected gems.

Phonica Friends & Family Mix Series 24: Nick Williams

Our Off The Record mix series returns with a radio-show like hour long mix from Music From Memory affiliated Berlin based Electronica / Jazz trio The Zenmenn.
The Zenmenn are a genre-blurring trio known for their lush, escapist soundscapes that blend ambient, Balearic, and cosmic funk influences. With a flair for vintage textures and laid-back grooves, their music conjures a sense of timeless serenity—equally suited for sun-drenched afternoons or introspective nights. 
The Zenmenn debuted in 2021 with Enter The Zenmenn on Music From Memory, a dreamy blend of ambient textures, soft rock, and global influences. They followed up with Hidden Gem in 2022, a collaborative album with John Moods shaped by loose jam sessions and warm, nostalgic tones. Both releases highlight their signature fusion of cosmic calm and crate-digger sensibility.
Their contribution to the Off The Record mix series showcases their crate-digging sensibilities and deep reverence for global sounds, weaving together a meditative journey that’s both soulful and transportive. 
We had a brief chat with the band (fronted through the words of their Keyboardist Magnus) about the mix and about what they had coming up in the rest of 2025.

Off The Record Mix Series 57: The Zenmenn

For this edition of Off The Record, we’re honored to host a mix from Rob Sevier, co-founder of the legendary archival label Numero Group. Known for its meticulous approach to uncovering and reissuing lost gems across soul, funk, punk, ambient, and beyond, Numero has earned its place as a gold standard for crate diggers and curious listeners alike. Sevier, a tireless researcher and selector, brings that same curatorial depth to his exclusive mix—a deep dive into self-released and small-label funk-adjacent singles from Ohio, Texas, Michigan, and Georgia. Alongside the mix, we caught up with him to talk DJing in hidden corners of Japan, the joys of non-allegiance to any one digging method, and what’s next for one of the most important archival projects in music.

Off The Record Mix Series 58: Numero Group (Mixed By Rob Sevier)

The long standing NTS resident steps up for the latest Off The Record mix.
London-based DJ and NTS regular Babyschön a.k.a Safi Bugel brings her deep, left-of-centre sensibilities to Phonica’s Off The Record series with a mix that bridges the afterglow of summer and the shadows of winter. Known for weaving post-punk, Italo, EBM and oddball house through her radio shows and club sets, Safi has built a reputation for finding warmth in the darker corners of the dancefloor. This mix, recorded at home on a quiet autumn afternoon but inspired by her set at DIY festival Three Wheel Drive back in August, channels that same energy — hazy, melodic and a little nostalgic while still maintaining a solid dance ready beat throughout. We had a quick chat with Safi about her mix and what she has coming up for the rest of the year:

Off The Record Mix Series 59: babyschön

Torture the Artist - your source for contemporary electronic music

Torture the Artist is a webzine, or a magazine made for the internet, geared towards those with a passion for contemporary electronic music, with subgenres including Techno, Tech House, Deep House and Eletronica, as well as a small amount of Indie and Alternative. Founded in 2014 by Holger Breuer, a German native and lover of the arts, Torture the Artist now consists of five team members from all around the world.

In addition to publishing interviews, music reviews, DJ charts and track premieres, the webzine hosts out a  podcast series called 'art:casts'. This medium gives DJs and producers the artistic freedom to highlight their different musical styles while not being restricted by factors such as setting, and connecting them to a wider audience. 

Being in its ninth year, Torture the Artist has gained a strong and active online support group, including music enthusiasts to label managers and artists themselves, creating a cohesive community with music as their bond.

London's leading independent record shop. Also home to labels Phonica Records, Phonica White, Phonica Records Special Editions and @KarakulRecords.

Full features, including interviews and tracklists, for our Phonica Podcast and Phonica Mix Series on our editorial platform Off The Record ⬇

http://offtherecord.net/

Calm Your Mind

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Inspiration. Creativity. Calm.

Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste.

With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history.

Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture.

We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell.

With love until the grave.

New tracks tagged #phonica