These are mixes made by the current members of Research & Development, Makeen and JS Alvarez

Mixes by R&D members

This mix is from a very special at night November 09 2024 at Smartbar with my dear friends Nikki Nair, Madeline and Pen Pals. I was tasked with closing out the evening and was an honor to do so. Thanks to everyone who came out and stayed till the lights came on.  Hope yall enjoy!

Live mix at Smartbar Nov 09 2024 - Dan B Hood

We are so lucky to release this mix for our 37th entry, recorded live at SmartBar (Chicago) by our friend and excellent DJ Shanti!

From the artist:
I am so grateful to be able to share this mix with you all through PPRZ! This is a mix that was recorded at Smartbar in Chicago when I opened for Lady Starlight as part of Justin Aulis Long's series, Flowers of Romance. It was a 3-hour long set from 10pm-1am on a Pioneer V10 Mixer with 3-4 CDJ 3000s. 

What I love about opening sets is having the ability to set the tone for the night as people are arriving and making the transition from wherever they came from to the communal embodiment of dancing. The other fascinating element about an opening set is the dramatic contrast between the beginning and end as one first experiences an empty dance floor and sees the gradual process of it growing with energy and feeling even though I can really only see beautiful silhouettes moving in the darkness. I take an opening set to be about the gradual cultivation of energy but also an opportunity for creative tension and exercising restraint for the headliner and rest of the night.

Bio:
Shanti is a Chicago-based DJ who explores philosophical themes of existential angst and ambiguity through surreal, foreboding, and atmospheric soundscapes. Her sets weave a story of the simultaneous despair and yearning that are intertwined with the human condition. 

While she is thoughtful about curating multifaceted energy and emotion within her sets, she also co-curates events such as Otherworldly Ambiguity as Evanti, a conceptual experience centered around the phenomenon of hybridity, occupying the spaces in between and outside of pre-existing concepts and rigid categories. She is also a part of Chicago-based DJ collective and label, Research & Development which is a mix series and curator of multifaceted music-centered experiences. 

Mix mastered by: Umair Chachar

Tracklist:
Part 1:
Lemna - Memories
Lemna - Hallucination 
Voices from the Lake - Mika 
Donato Dozzy - Aquatica
SHXCXCHCXSH - A Sunny Day in Ostrogothia 
Dan B. Hood - Ode to Drome
BMG & Derek Plaslaiko - Ghost Ship 
Rrose - Signs 
Alexskyspirit - The Travelers (Polygonia remix)
Etapp Kyle - Source 
Mike Parker - Heat Inducer 
Love Letters - Morse (BMG mix) 
Club Drippy - Crashed
Ryogo Yamamori- Zw
Marcel Dettman - Rush (Deep Release mix)
Pause - Crater  
SHXCXCHCXSH  - HHHHHHHGGKS 
Part 2:
Rrose - Solaris 
Lonefront - Stera
Modes - M52 
NØRBAK - Luyr 
Allana Letm - Tempos Multiplos (Centrific Remix)
Nubbles - Reflect 2 
Maedon-X - Caged Animal 
Perc - Milk Snatchers Return
Ritaffein - Laiva
Regis - Body Unknown 
Jamaica Suk - Tes Levrés
British Murder Boys - We Will Show You 
Uun - Junkspace 
Kanding Ray - Dark Barker 
Peter Van Hoesen - Vola Flash 
Surgeon - The Golden Sea 
Alexskyspirit- SNCTR2 
Decoder - Falling Flat 
Part 3:
Quelza - Plastic Waves 
Neel - A Thought without Time 
Oscar Mulero - Tormenta 
Regis - The Theme from Street Walker
DASH3D - Neuropulmonar
CRØG - Fire 
Oblivion & Uranya - Bassa Marea 
Sorcery - Dark Scan
GiGi FM - Amadamushies
Neel- Riflesso 
Quelza - We’ll Never Be Friends Again 
J. Blofeld - Uranus 
Cej- Itchy 
Char - Free 
Psyk & Orbe - Tunnel Diode
Surgeon - Convenience Trap Pt.2

Donations if you enjoyed this mix from Shanti's recommended organization: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/ - creating a just and sustainable food system for all through education.

PPRZ Podcast 37 - Shanti live at SmartBar Chicago

ZONA CINCO - MICTLAN - VOL 4

We are thrilled to present this mix by Chicago based JS Alvarez for our 39th entry in the series. Both Adam and I admire what Jeremy contributes to the music scene with their podcast and event series Research & Development.

JS Alvarez is a shape shifting lizard that has learned human behavior from living in cities such as Chicago and Miami. He succumbs to no one genre and can be found exploring the depths of mutant techno and unruly bass music alike.

He is the founding member of Research & Development which ignited in the iconic Chicago mainstay of Smartbar. The event series has moved on to host community focused events centered on a wide variety of often cutting edge electronic sounds at venues like Podlasie Club, The Whistler and various DIY spaces. R&D also hosts a biweekly podcast 100+ episodes deep ranging from rising talents, hometown heroes and well established DJs and producers from North America and around the world.

He's shared the booth with artists such as DVS1, Veronika Vasicka, D.Dan, Hodge and others. His mixes have been featured on NTS Radio, Mutant Radio and SutroFM among others. Catch him at The Great Beyond this July! 

I was trying to find a very textured sound within the first quarter of the mix. My attempt at some sort of atmospheric sci-fi horror score followed by something a bit more hypnotic. By the end of the mix I wanted those vibes to explode into something highly rhythmic. Something to shatter what came before and get the sweat dripping off the walls. 

If you enjoyed this mix, please consider donating to JS Alvarez' organization of choice:
https://www.organizedcommunities.org/ 
https://www.organizedcommunities.org/donate

PPRZ Podcast 39 - JS Alvarez

One of my best tracks so far and its free download. Leave a like and a comment of you download 🙏🏼⚒

HYLEM [Free DL]

Special guest mix from Chicago based dj SHANTI  - cohost of Otherworldly Ambiguity with Scum.ee, member of techno collective Research & Development, and host of “Liminal Radio” on WIIT 88.9 FM. Shanti kindly shared a 3 hour opening set she did for Aurora Halal in Chicago on May 9th 2025 at Smoke & Mirrors - toon in! 🚀🚀🚀
https://soundcloud.com/shantievanti
https://soundcloud.com/researchndevelopment

See video of Shanti’s set at https://youtu.be/QqfMYAyS8bM?si=FPZJDhNdZqlf63YS

BL Radio EP 130: SHANTI [Research & Development]

Timothy J. Fairplay is back with this months edition of Dungeon Module. This month including
new music by The Jak & Nico Babylon, Rebecca Goldberg, DJ Slush, Mystic Bill, Sanford
Zydeco, Robert Bergman, Mark Grusane & Eric Schwab, Adrián Marth and lots more. Plus as
always some new music by Timothy himself.

Timothy J. Fairplay pres. Dungeon Module [12.07.25]

Next up we have Columbian based DJ, Lopar. Originally from the central mountains of Colombia, Lopar remains in an inexhaustible search and exploration, with the ability to navigate effortlessly through different styles, from ambient, minimal, house, deep, dub to down tempo, dnb, breaks, IDM and more. He is currently NATURAL’s resident DJ, with a trajectory that is strengthened with more than 8 years of experience in which he has had the privilege of sharing booth with artists such as Neel, Polygonia, Blazej Malinowski, Paula Koski, Anthony Linell among others. Lopar carefully elaborates his sets, achieving each time to produce a different and unique soundscape and experience with a great musical instinct; transporting the listener to different spaces and times and transmitting emotions through his music.

1. How and why did you get into producing / dj’ing?
- It all started in 2014, when I was still a raver. I began to feel the need to convey to people the feelings and emotions that great DJs made me feel when I listened to them. I wanted to show the world my vision of electronic music.

2. Who, What/where was your most coziest gig you’ve been to or experienced and why?
- Without a doubt listening to Luigi Tozzi in 2019 at the Freedom Festival (Medellín) was truly an out-of-body experience. From that moment everything changed!

3. Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert in the scene?
-I think both hahahaha sometimes I like to be in the quiet of my house, discovering new music and other times I prefer to be surrounded by friends sharing knowledge.
Lopar
4. If you had to choose 1 track to vibe out too forever, what would it be?
- Caramel Chameleon - Dronacid [phaserinterlude mix] This track for me is a real utopia. It always brings a tear to my eye.

5. What is your routine when preparing for a gig / production/writing session? Do you have any special remedies/ mental/physical prep/ places to go to?
- 5. The days before the concert I’m always looking for new music, I like to be able to bring that touch of authenticity to my sets. The rest is pure improvisation and reading the dance floor.

CoziMix 22 : Lopar

2025年7月24日 19:30-22:30 JST 

Shogawin
Erika
Resom




#dub-techno #ambient

R 303 Radioとruralのコラボレーション企画として、rural 2025へ出演するアーティストを中心としたプログラムがフェスティバル前後に配信が決定。 世界を舞台に活躍し、本祭でも個性あふれるパフォーマンスを届けてくれるであろうアーティストたちが、R 303 Radioスタジオから違った側面のセットを披露してくれます。 Ginger Coven、またソロとしても出演するErikaとResomがShowgawin名義での出演をはじめとして、様々なアーティストによる特別な公演をお楽しみください。

As part of a collaboration between R 303 Radio and rural, a program centered on artists appearing at rural 2025 will be broadcast before and after the festival. Artists who are active on the world stage and are sure to deliver unique performances at the festival will reveal a different side of themselves from the R 303 Radio studio. Featuring Ginger Coven, as well as Erika and Resom performing under the name Showgawin, along with various other artists, this special performance promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Room 303 ・三○三号室 
https://instagram.com/room303radio

@ WPÜ HOTEL SHINJUKU 
https://www.instagram.com/wpu_shinjuku

Shogawin (Erika & Resom) ｜2025年7月24日｜#dub-techno #ambient

We warmly welcome Dani & Irimias (@danisivar & @irimiass) to our WHiTMIX series with a live recording from their 2024 set at MNMT festival @monument-podcast

The Stockholm-based diggers discovered a shared love for diverse flavours of music, through their initial connection at Monument in its inception years. Forging a long-lasting friendship you can feel reflected in their mix.

"We had a lot of fun playing this set together as we felt a lot of freedom to do our own thing with the timeslot (23:40-03:30), playing on the second stage (Haven) and knowing the festival very intimately. It was especially fun as we had played there the year before as well together with @celadon, opening the main stage on Saturday. So to get to do a night time set with some weirder selections was a blast.

This section of the mix is from the middle of the set and we felt it represents the overall mood the best."

Tune in to their immersive selections as they guide us through the waves of free, electronic expressions

Thank you Dani & Irimias.

@danisivar 
@irimiass

WHiTMIX #23 | Dani & Irimias (live) @MNMT 2024

Philipp Otterbach is a German artist, DJ, and electronic music producer known for his experimental and atmospheric approach to sound.
His musical journey began in the underground scene of Düsseldorf, where he became involved with the influential club Salon des Amateurs—a space recognized for its avant-garde take on club music. It was there that Otterbach developed his distinct style, one that prioritizes emotional storytelling over conventional dancefloor functionality.
His productions often feature analog synths, field recordings, guitars, primal percussion, and ambient effects, forming dense and cinematic sound collages. Listening to his work feels like entering a sonic dreamscape—rich in mood, memory, and quiet tension. There's a strong narrative quality to his music, as if each track were part of an imaginary film score.

| EPISODE 223 | Philipp Otterbach

Palm Reader 11: Israel Vines
"disquiet, reprieve, unbind"

Aired on VPN Radio, virtualpublic.net, on August 7th, 2025
Recorded live at Plata Lounge on the Palm Reader label series preview night on 06.13.2025  @israel-vines

~

We’ve been big fans of Israel Vines ever since hearing him play out in LA warehouses some 15+ years ago. A true veteran of the US underground, Israel spent his formative rave years in Detroit and Chicago in the early 90’s - where he worked at the legendary Gramaphone Records - before going on to become the distinguished producer/DJ we know him as today, with releases on Tresor, Semantica, Cult Figures, and Eye Teeth (sub-label of Detroit’s own @ithqdetroit ).

Both Israel’s productions and sets reveal his encyclopedic knowledge of, and a deep love for, abstract electronic music - always carrying his signature heady sound and flair for bold artistic expression. Israel has played for us several times before at @gradientcampout and other collabs with our homies eternal @printshop.club ❤️ We're thrilled and honored to have his contribution to Palm Reader, our series dedicated to ambient and experimental for wayfinding in stillness. This mix was recorded live at our Palm Reader label preview night (!) on Friday, June 13th, indoors at Plata in Silver Lake. Thank you Israel for joining us that night, and trusting us with your beautiful mix 🙏 Enjoy! ~


TRACKLIST >>> 
F&E - Emotions - (Nullpunkt, 2021)
:ZOVIET*FRANCE: - Ciels Ténébreuse - (DOVe, 1991)
WILLIAM SELMAN - A Soft Degeneration - (Mysteries Of The Deep, 2023)
LEMNA - The Dawn - (Self-Released, 2025)
NSI. - Detached To Reality - (NAKID, 2024)
KLAUS SCHULZE - Melange - (Elipsis Arts, 2000 *recorded in 1978)
LEMNA - Caught In Mud - (Self-Released, 2025)
COSEY FANNI TUTTI - The Secret Touch - (Conspiracy International, 2017)
JACK DANGERS - Come Back To Earth With Me - (Important Records, 2004)
DEATHNESS - Daughter Of Slaughter - (Self-Released, 2025 *recorded in 2017)
FRENSEL LENS - Tireless Wait - (Self-Released, 2022)
LEMNA - Hallucination - (Self-Released, 2025)
AZU TIWALINE & CINNA PEYGHAMY - Canopée Imaginaire (Live Version) - (Self-Released, 2024)
PUB - Dilema - (Ampoule, 2001)
NATHANIEL YOUNG - Graying Dawn - (Mysteries Of The Deep, 2019)
SENZA TESTA - ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै व ि च्चै - (Northern Electronics, 2022)
COSEY FANNI TUTTI - Corridor - (Conspiracy International, 2022)
JON HASSELL - Viva Shona - (Lovely Music, Ltd., 1978)
RASHAD BECKER - Themes I - (PAN, 2013)
IRENE BIANCO - Hvid // - (Permanent Draft, 2024)
DEMDIKE STARE - Ghostly Hardware - (Modern Love, 2009)
DOPPLEREFFEKT - Computronium - Curtis Electronix, 2024)
DEMDIKE STARE - Mephisto’s Lament - (Modern Love, 2012)
DOPPLEREFFEKT - Pascal’s Recursion - (Leisure System, 2013)
STAVE / KARIM MAAS - The Center Is Dead - (Standards & Practices, 2025)
HILDUR GUONADÓTTIR - Bridge Of Death - (Deutsche Grammophon, 2019)
KING MIDAS SOUND - Bluebird - (Cosmo Rhythmatic, 2019)
COSEY FANNI TUTTI - Ritual Awakening 2t - (Conspiracy International, 2000)
STARS OF THE LID - Adamord - (Sedimental, 1995)
COSEY FANNI TUTTI - Selflessness Part One - (Conspiracy International, 2004)
MELVINS - A Really Long Wait - (Scion Audio / Visual, 2012)
BLACK SABBATH - Planet Caravan - (Vertigo, 1970)

Palm Reader 11: Israel Vines

From Karl: "This set was recorded live at the Detroit Masonic Temple, opening for LCD Soundsystem on Thursday 8/21/25. Special thanks to Abby Echiverri and Clay Wilson for making this happen as well as to the LCD crew, who were extremely friendly, helpful  and accommodating. This was a nice opportunity to play some things (new & old) that I don't get the chance to play out often—a mixture of edits, post-punk influences and slow-tempo weirdness as well as some acid house and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Hope you enjoy!" @karlpmeier

Tracklist:
1. BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE "In Full Effect" (CBS, 1989)
2. TOM TOM CLUB "Suboceana - Magic Juan Mix" (Sire/Reprise, 1989)
3. S' EXPRESS "Funky Killer - I-Robots Reconstruction" (Rhythm King / Needle Boss, 1988)
4. MOEBIUS / PLANK / NEUMEIER "Pitch Control" (Sky, 1983)
5. DOLO PERCUSSION "9" (The Trilogy Tapes, 2018)
6. LURKA "Battery" (Timedance, 2018)
7. N.Y. HOUSE'N AUTHORITY "Ravenswood House - Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon Edit" (Nu Groove, 2024)
8. VELODROME "Capataz" (Animalized, 1988)
9. CHARLES MANIER "Bopside - For Chrislo & Beate" (Kode, 2013)
10. GESETZ DER OKTAVEN "Sensor" (Third Ear Recordings, 2016)
11. CH-BB / THE FANTASY "CH BB" (Secret Mixes / Fixes, 2015)
12. AEVA "Octagon" (Don't Delay, 2017)
13. THE MOLE "Going With The Hat Man - Drum & Bass Mix" (Maybe Tomorrow, 2017)
14. METRIST "Qaqq Ata" (Timedance, 2019)
15. TOLOUSE LOW TRAX "Elk Kelp - Pelagophycus Porra" (Obsolete Future, 2022)
16. FLORIAN KUPFER "Discotag" (W.T., 2015)
17. STEVE POINDEXTER "The Rhythm" (Housetime, 1989)
18. WET "That's The Game - Cratebug Edit" (S.T.D., 1983)
19. THE SOUND VANDALS "On Your Way" (Nu Groove, 1991)
20. BOBBY KONDERS "Massai Women" (Nu Groove, 1990)
21. CULTURAL VIBE "Ma Foom Bey" (Easy Street, 1986)
22. THROBBING GRISTLE "Hot On The Heels Of Love - Carl Craig Re-Version" (Mute, 2004)
23. PAUL DU LAC "Who's The Mack" (Bio Rhythm, 2013)
24. BABY FORD "Normal - Is It Normal? Club Mix" (Rephlex, 1998)
25. DECIUS "Hashtag Booty Finger - 12" Mix" (Leaf, 2022)
26. ACHTERBAHN D'AMOUR "7_Edit" (Acid Test, 2021)
27. KERO "Waiting" (4-Track, 2025)
28. PARANOID LONDON "Joey's Love Bomb" (Bandcamp, 2020)
29. MUTANT BEAT DANCE "The Human Factor - Marcel Dettmann Edit" (Running Back, 2025)
30. BABY FORD "Snakes & Ladders - Gift Mix" (Bandcamp, 2024)
31. KETIOV "CF 122BPM" (Running Back, 2025)
32. CHIMALE "3st Chi-File" (Chiwax, 2025)
33. NASTY BOY "Night Howl" (Puu, 2022)
34. DEREK PLASLAIKO "Computer Sagt Nein" (The Bunker NY, 2023)
35. IAN NORTH "Sex Lust You - Marcel Dettmann Edit" (Running Back, 2025)
36. ATOM TM & ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO "Estas Solo" (Geometrik, 2020)
37. THEE CHURCH OF ACID HOUSE "Theme - Move D + D Man 'Last Train To Buffalo' Remix" (Pudel Produkte, 2025)
38. DVS1 "Shatter" (Hush, 2023)
39. FACTORY FLOOR "16-16-9-20-1-14-9-7" (Blast First Petite, 2010)
40. LAURIE SPIEGEL "Drums" (Capriccio Records, 1983)
41. DJ FROG & SnP 500 "Engine" (Doo, 2024)
42. DEVICE CONTROL "Spirit Module - Ken Meier Remix" (Double Standards, 2018)
43. YELLO "Bostich, Pt. 1 - Cratebug Edit" (1981, Stiff)
44. HEAVEN 17 "I'm Your Money - Gay Marvine's Edit" (Secret Mixes / Fixes, 2009)
45. MASTERS AT WORK "Body" (MAW, 2002)
46. DVS1 "Shatter" (Hush, 2023)
47. JEFF MILLS "Alarms" (Purpose Maker, 1997)
48. BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB "Timing, Forget The Timing (128 BPM) - Kerrier District Remix" (Rephlex, 2004)
49. ABANDONED FOOTWEAR "Mind Over Matter" (Polybius Trax, 2017)
50. FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD "Two Tribes - Carnage Mix" (ZTT, 1984)

Standards & Practices Mix Series — Karl Meier

Introducing the new 4‑track EP from Ebb & Flow 🌲—a visceral plunge into Woo‑Dog's haunting forest psychedelia, cloaked in shadow and charged with raw, kinetic grit.
This isn’t just forest psy—it’s a ritual carved into wax. Listen for brooding textures that echo like distant bells through forgotten woods, kicks that strike with the weight of ash-covered steel, and basslines that crawl beneath the surface like something ancient stirring below. The atmosphere hangs thick—twisting, uncanny—pulling you into a space where time fractures and the veil thins.
No filler—just fierce, primal force pulsing like embers in a dying fire.
This EP is organic yet menacing, electrifying yet grounded: forest psy for those brave enough to venture past the fog wall.

release date - September 12, 2025
Download - rb.gy/vamex0

Mastering - Interzone
Artwork - Gray Matter
WooDog Recordings 2025

@ebb_and_flow_psy

3. Ebb & Flow - Okami 154 D

https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/album/4MDJ1wEdYBNC6cWxP0tTCQ

kelonia

Esoterik Elektroniks
We are the resistance.
blacklodge.bandcamp.com
Email: theblacklodgela@gmail.com

Based in Chicago, R&D is a music event/mix series focused on nurturing new sounds, experiences and atmospheres while exploring the music and culture it was born or mutated from. Techno, electro, EBM, bass, breaks, club and beyond.
Current personnel
Jeremy Alvarez - JS Alvarez
Eric Fernandez - Makeen
Shanti Chu - Shanti
Dan Hood - Dan B Hood
Kona Mazariegos - Zona Cinco

BL Radio EP 130: SHANTI [Research & Development]

THE BLACK LODGE

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