Mars & Specter • 6hr Session • 8/2024

Mario Mars aka heathenBEAT is a Chicago based DJ & creative w/ a goal of blurring genre lines within global dance rhythms while keeping focus on Dance Music’s linear history & foundational sound culture unique to Chicago’s House roots. 

Mars was born in LA, raised in St. Louis, and groomed in visits to New York. Early years involved Punk venues, Industrial music, & focus on international nightlife & arts. Taken under wing by elders in his mid/late teens his tastes evolved to include Chicagoans Larry Heard and Jersey’s Tony Humphries who he credits as the club music Godfather who turned him out. An avid record collector to this day he began familiarizing himself with spinning in early 90’s & became a known dancer in warehouse, lofts, and after hours. Around this time he was asked to curate mixes for a college station and focused on obscure international club music.  He still spins records preferably. 

Around 2012 Mars established a friendship w/ the Chicago based collective, Excursions, helmed by DJs Cordell Johnson & James Vincent. After relocating to Chicago he began hosting their wildly successful gathering rooted in Chicago but branched out in Japan, Detroit, & Atlanta. Artist like Jay Daniel, Jose Marquez, Marcellus Pittman, Antonio Ocasio, Loftsoul & countless others were guest at staple venues that include the infamous annual Detroit gathering at the Russell Bazaar Warehouse that drew thousands. 

Pivoting to individual pursuits Mars dove into the craft of DJing as nightlife closed in pandemic. Numerous mixes spurred invites to session from elders like Andres (Specter) Ordonez. These sessions inspired still ongoing gatherings that have seen Chicagodeep, Julion De'Angelo, Chicago Skyway, Noshaluv & other selectors & friends. 

A unique sound he affectionately calls heathenBEAT, Mars prefers a slow-paced, low to ground, slung & intoxicating rhythm that pushes a muddier Detroit sound meshed w/ Chicago’s deep & moody house origin. His roots in Punk often lend to sets going left into unpredictable stretches of obscure & hidden gems. heathenBEAT, which he also calls coarse or irregularity, is music, and way of presenting it, that goes against grain & norms. 

Mario Mars features on domestic & international radio, been booked as remote as Lima Peru, billed on lineups alongside Tony Humphries, Rich Medina, Specter, Damon Lamar, Jose Rico & appeared at Silver Room Block Party, Podlasie Club, Bronzeville Winery, & other esteemed spaces.

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Markus Perlmut

Miloš Vuković

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Paula bentabol lopez

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batZ

Acid Jesse

Dj Zikks

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Timma