Mike Servito + Justin Cudmore / NIKS / Chloëdees

Who they are

• Mike Servito

  New York City · 154 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Some DJs burst upon the scene like a supernova, fading just as quickly.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Some DJs burst upon the scene like a supernova, fading just as quickly. Others take years, even decades, to make their way—but those are the ones who make the most impact, thanks to a lifetime of accumulated musical wisdom. Mike Servito is a prime example of the latter. His career is one that’s defined by a slow and steady rise to upper ranks of the deejaying realm—and along the way, he’s perfected a jacking style that equal parts house, acid and techno, a sound that pays homage to the past while being very much of-the-moment. A Detroit-area native, Servito got his early education by tuning into the Electrifying Mojo and the Wizard (Jeff Mill’s radio moniker). By the early ’90s, Servito was primed to try his hand at the deejaying arts, “I was just kind of cocky about it,” he says. “I knew I could do it.” And he was right—in the DJ hotbed of Detroit, internalizing knowledge gleamed from the likes of Mike Huckaby and Claude Young, he kept working at it until he established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Motor City circuit, eventually becoming a member in good standing with the inner circle of Ghostly International. But Servito felt the need for a change from the sometimes insular environment of Detroit. By the late ’00s, he was living in NYC with no real game plan in place. As it turned out, he didn’t really need one—he soon fell in with the city’s premier techno party, The Bunker, becoming one of its mainstay residents. Around the same time, he was beginning to make his presence known on a global scale, packing dance floors with gigs around the States and around the world. But it was a hometown festival snub in 2014 that really got things going. Servito had played Movement once before, in 2011. “And between then and 2014,” he recalls, “I had been playing so many Bunker parties, playing so many great gigs and my profile was rising—so I was sure they would book me again.” The invite never came. Instead, he booked himself at every Movement after-party he could, one of which was the annual No Way Back, a legendary throw down hosted by The Bunker New York and Detroit’s Interdimensional Transmissions label. The set, a riotously sweaty bleeps-and-beats affair, was recorded for posterity; unexpectedly but deservedly, it garnered a nod as the year’s No 1 online Mix of the Year on Resident Advisor. That was the spark that set Servito’s career aflame, the push that took him to the top. Since then, he’s cemented his status as one of the most respected spinners around, regularly manning the decks at such hallowed halls as Berlin’s Panorama Bar, London’s XOYO and Tokyo’s Contact, not to mention the world’s best festivals—including, of course Movement. And to this day, his approach to deejaying is refreshingly simple: “I really don’t think about it,” he says, “When I’m playing, I just dive in, and I’m OK.” He’s far more than okay—he’s one of the best around.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Techno on 7, Acid on 5, House on 5 and Acid House on 3. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on The Bunker New York (2) and Interdimensional Transmissions (1); their RA profile also lists Firehouse and Honey Soundsystem. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at The Chocolate Factory, Nowadays, BASEMENT · often with Shaun J. Wright, S4M23, JADALAREIGN, none of them here that night

• 

  Justin Cudmore

  New York City · 74 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Justin's coming-of-age as a fan and creator of dance music took place amidst the wide expanses of central Illinois.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Justin's coming-of-age as a fan and creator of dance music took place amidst the wide expanses of central Illinois. As a kid growing up in the state’s tucked-away capital of Springfield, he played drums as a jazz percussionist in school. While most of his peers were tuned into pop music, Justin was wearing out self-made mixes and classic disco compilations, workshopping new-wave influenced beats in bands and DJing college parties. A post-graduation move to Chicago led him to work for the influential dance music blog Little White Earbuds, opening him up to fully experience the city’s thriving underground house and techno scene. A Midwest-born and raised DJ, Justin has played at queer parties such as Wrecked, The Carry Nation, Horse Meat Disco, Honcho, and Club Toilet, and has gained a following all over the world with appearances at clubs like Smartbar Chicago, Panorama Bar, Is Burning Amsterdam, Razzmatazz Barcelona, DC10 and Lux Fragil. His bold, acid-flecked distillation of house and techno has found a home on the labels that are helping to shape the current landscape of transgressive body music, including The Bunker New York, Detroit’s Interdimensional Transmissions, and Honey Soundsystem Records. Justin's sound is defined by snaking acid lines, whip smart drums and offbeat rave melodies that have resonated with DJs and dancers from Detroit to Berlin. He has been featured in mixes for series such as Beats In Space, Truants, MixMag, Phantasy and The Bunker New York’s long-running podcast.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Techno on 23, House on 20, Tech House on 10 and Acid on 9. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on Acid For Trans Health (1), Spotlight Records (1) and The Night Institute (1); their RA profile also lists Turbo Recordings, Hotflush Recordings, Interdimensional Transmissions, Phonica White and 6 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at public records, Le Bain, Lillistar · often with Jeffrey Sfire, Kim Anh, JADALAREIGN, none of them here that night

• 

  NIKS

  London, United Kingdom · 6 bookings since Dec 2023

  “The South East London-based artist has paved the way in the scene for herself and her sound.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  The South East London-based artist has paved the way in the scene for herself and her sound. NIKS has displayed a truly natural and organic growth to her journey, refusing to be genre pigeon-holed and flexing musical knowledge and skill across the board. NIKS has a background in contemporary dance, having danced from the age of four and going on to train professionally for 14 years, but music has always remained front and centre. Having originally found inspiration through a musical stewardship of her guitarist father, as well as in the sounds of electronic music pioneers such as Trevor Rockcliffe, Mr. G, Kerri Chandler and a growing record collection, NIKS looked towards DJing as a natural step in artistic direction. Her heavy pool of vast influences has resulted in a forward-thinking sound that is an amalgamation of UK percussive elements, and the influential 90s/00s groovy, rhythmic sounds that influence her extended journey sets today. Her production prowess steadily cements this, with her first EP ‘Milieu’ inviting listeners to enter the vast sonic world of NIKS. She’s been able to consistently flex and flit between bouncy, bass-heavy production and a distinctive downtempo flair. 2025 promises more releases and a remarkable bound forward in production finesse from NIKS, starting with her self-released standalone charity track ‘Amble Minds’. The single raised funds for Focus Congo, with the dubby roller being reviewed by Resident Advisor as a ‘wonky, disorientating club weapon’. As she’s honed in on her craft, NIKS has played across globally esteemed festivals and venues such as Glastonbury, Panorama Bar, Basement, Blitz, Club RAUM, FOLD, Horst and more. Performances, as well as curations, at De School, Love International, UNFOLD - leading to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Josey Rebelle, Amaliah, Shanti Celeste, Call Super, Tasha, Josh Caffé, rRoxymore and many others - amongst her busiest touring yet. Alongside a thriving and full career and self-taught journey, in 2020, NIKS co-founded the integral collective Black Artist Database. Originally coined as Black Bandcamp, the organisation was created in direct response to a lack of representation in the dance music space. Since its inception, NIKS has been part of a team behind mobilising for inclusion and equality in the scene, co-curating multiple workshops, as well as club and festival takeovers, talks, and masterclasses. The artist also has a regular Rinse FM show, taking listeners on a monthly deep dive through underground house and techno, as well as displaying her wide spectrum of sound through one-off shows such as her downtempo special, a dubby b2b journey with livwutang, and a techno masterclass for Tasha’s Neighbourhood. She also regularly appears on long-time friend Moxie’s NTS show, and has also held down a BBC R1 residency, delving into her music journey so far and the influences behind each stage, with episodes on ‘The Genesis’, Black Artist Database and on forthcoming/new music. Alongside her seminal RA Podcast, she has curated mixes for the likes of Origins, The Ransom Note, Daisychain, CRACK, as well as recently releasing a Dekmantel Podcast - delivering a ‘warm, supple soundscape’ ahead of her debut performance at the renowned festival this year. NIKS has remained truly devoted to the underground scene across her career, showcasing a steady and admirable rise within the space, carving out room for a sound and presence that has become synonymous with futuristic dance music.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
  Their RA profile lists Neighbourhood, Céad, Borne Fruits, Obligated Records and 1 more.

  often with Amaliah, Berghain, Grace Dahl, none of them here that night

• Chloëdees

  8 bookings since Nov 2023

  Last at public records in Nov · often with Mo Yasin, Dean Bryce, D'Sean, none of them here that night