MERGE
TBA - Brooklyn, New York City
This night happened — Sat 27 Jan 2024
Press play
Who was billed5 artists
In the order the promoter listed them.
- DJ Nobu
- next: Berghain in Berlin, Sat 31 OctAurora Halal
- Kangding Ray
- next: H0L0, Fri 13 NovClarisa Kimskii
- next: Mansions, Thu 12 NovLychee
Set times were not published.
the pairs that have met
5 of the 10 pairings on this bill were first meetings.
- Kangding Ray and Clarisa Kimskii — 5 shared bills before that night, first on Fri 27 Oct 2023.
- DJ Nobu and Kangding Ray — 1 shared bill before that night, first on Sat 27 Jan 2024.
- DJ Nobu and Lychee — 1 shared bill before that night, first on Sat 27 Jan 2024.
- Aurora Halal and Clarisa Kimskii — 2 shared bills before that night, first on Sat 9 Dec 2023.
- Clarisa Kimskii and Lychee — 1 shared bill before that night, first on Thu 14 Sep 2023.
Who they are
“Nobu is something of a cult figure for those who know with decades of experience, all of which are distilled at his acclaimed party ‘Future Terror’, his label ‘Bitta’ and his few choice production outings.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Nobu is something of a cult figure for those who know with decades of experience, all of which are distilled at his acclaimed party ‘Future Terror’, his label ‘Bitta’ and his few choice production outings. All of this has slowly but surely turned Nobu from being one of Japan’s, to one of the world’s most in demand selectors who is famously flexible and ever evolving.Their RA profile lists Token, Grasswaxx Recordings, Non Series, Bitta and 4 more.Last at Nowadays in Sep 2023 · often with Berghain, Doltz, Ne/Re/A, none of them here that night
“Shadowy and psychedelic, her hardware live & DJ sets have a hazy sensuality and metallic dance floor intensity that's at turns playful, dark, euphoric and emotionally vulnerable.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Shadowy and psychedelic, her hardware live & DJ sets have a hazy sensuality and metallic dance floor intensity that's at turns playful, dark, euphoric and emotionally vulnerable. In all her projects, she treats dance music as an arena for transformation and since 2010, her events have been rooted in an underground, DIY approach that pushes forward-thinking sounds, production, and ideas. She’s spent the last 10 years touring like-minded clubs, raves, and festivals worldwide and gained a reputation for powerful, unique performances that work both the body and mind. She’s 4 years into a residency at NYC’s Nowadays, is a regular at Berghain and previously De School.Techno on 28, House on 14, Electro on 11 and Experimental on 9. styles on their catalogued releasesReleased on BAKK (2), Dekmantel (1) and Mister Saturday Night Records (1); their RA profile also lists Mutual Dreaming Recordings. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profileRecently at Bossa Nova Civic Club, Paragon, Nowadays · often with Berghain, deep creep, Gerd Janson, none of them here that night
“Kangding Ray’s complex sound aesthetic tests boundaries, evolving tirelessly in its exploration of texture, rhythm, and sound design.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Kangding Ray’s complex sound aesthetic tests boundaries, evolving tirelessly in its exploration of texture, rhythm, and sound design. KR has remixed artists such as Martin Gore and Ben Frost on Mute, Battles on Warp, Oscar Mulero on Polegroup or Inigo Kennedy on Token. Letellier’s foundations in rock and musique concrete give his music a vitality and uniqueness that has won fans the world over, from discerning avant-garde–electronica listeners, all the way to devoted clubbers. Those who have been following Letellier since his debut album, 2006’s Stabil, will recognize not only his meticulous and constantly developing approach to sound design, but also the conceptual gravity behind his releases. Through a string of recent EP’s and albums, culminating with the critically acclaimed “Solens Arc”, KR showed his ability to keep his artistic approach while delivering direct and powerful club-leaning tracks and darkly cinematic soundscapes. On 2015’s “Cory Arcane”, he pushed the limits of his sound even further. Relinquishing standard rhythmic structures and conventional tonal models, he delivered what is perhaps his most sophisticated release yet; a raw and visceral universe, allowing a more fluid dialogue between soul and machines. 2017’s “HYPER OPAL MANTIS” released on Stroboscopic Artefacts heralds a new era for Kangding Ray, where he explores the tension between the natural and artificial, the body and mind, which are central themes in electronic music in general, and Techno in particular. The means of creation, focused around technology and interactions with machines, contrast with the emotional response to sound, the mystical ritual of collective dancing, and the ethos of liberation and tolerance embedded in the culture it has produced. As he describes it himself in a recent interview : “I’ve been evolving since a couple of years at the outer fringes of the club culture, where it overlaps with different experimental and avant-garde genres. While i intend to continue to explore that zone as a free maverick, i also wanted to give something back to the scene, something strong, beautiful and functional at the same time, while retaining enough personality to be exciting.” ( Adapted from words by Vincent Morris)Their RA profile lists Mute Records, Warp Records, Raster-Noton, Token and 6 more.Last at BASEMENT in Oct 2023 · often with Ne/Re/A, Berghain, Decoder, none of them here that night
“Brooklyn-based DJ and producer Clarisa Kimskii has cemented her musical footprint on the borough since moving back in 2022.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Brooklyn-based DJ and producer Clarisa Kimskii has cemented her musical footprint on the borough since moving back in 2022. Through a palpable blend of psychedelic and driving techno, Clarisa’s approach to the genre is deeply idiosyncratic - an assemblage of both timeless and modern grooves. As a producer, Clarisa has contributed to a handful of respected labels (Monday Off, Dusk & Haze, Mysteries of the Deep, etc.) within her sonic niche, but it’s through her own label L.A.G where the ethos of her sound truly takes form - a detailed variation of propulsive and atmospheric soundscapes. Clarisa is deeply rooted in the techno subculture’s underground, and in early 2022 - the 20+ year veteran was named resident DJ of the Brooklyn-based, queer party Merge. Through her former residency at Merge and regular appearances at the city’s premiere institutions in BASEMENT Nowadays and Bossa Nova Civic Club Clarisa’s prestige is undeniably felt. Her pure, yet passionate approach to DJing has graced the decks of memorable nights at international institutions in Berlin's Berghain, Tbilisi's Khidi, and at notably iconic parties in Wrecked, Club Toilet, and The Bunker NY. Recent festival appearances at Taiwan’s Organik Festival and North America’s Honcho Campout, Sustain-Release, Whole Festival , Draaimolen and The Great Beyond have only elevated her reputation as a force within those respective communities. The saga continues with juicy bits on the horizon.Industrial on 1, Techno on 1, Acid on 1 and Minimal Techno on 1. styles on their catalogued releasesTheir RA profile lists L.A.G., Monday Off, On Board Music, Gradient and 3 more.Recently at Bossa Nova Civic Club, Market Hotel, Nowadays · often with Ne/Re/A, Berghain, Ron Like Hell, none of them here that night
“In addition to holding down regular appearances at Basement, Nowadays, and Bossa Nova Civic Club, Lychee runs Spontaneous Affinity, a monthly mix and interview series and occasional event platform focused on how dancefloors have shaped artists, is part of the Antidote and Meridian event collectives, co-runs the label Unimatrix Zero, and is on the board for the Aslice Foundation.”
their own biography
the whole biography
In addition to holding down regular appearances at Basement, Nowadays, and Bossa Nova Civic Club, Lychee runs Spontaneous Affinity, a monthly mix and interview series and occasional event platform focused on how dancefloors have shaped artists, is part of the Antidote and Meridian event collectives, co-runs the label Unimatrix Zero, and is on the board for the Aslice Foundation. Lychee got their start as a radio DJ for WMFO, Tufts' college radio station, in 2007. Since starting to play out in 2012, they have played alongside artists like Takaaki Itoh, Objekt, Rrose, Legowelt, Claude Young, and Honey Soundsystem. In addition to playing out, Lychee has organized skillshare events, taught DJ workshops, and curated a speaker event about inclusivity in music technology. Photos: Ben DeHaan, Nathaniel YoungTheir RA profile lists Blankstairs.Recently at Bossa Nova Civic Club, House of Yes, The End · often with Yaya Flows, Nutrition Facts, Ne/Re/A, none of them here that night
names these artists often play with — not that night
- Ne/Re/A20 with Clarisa Kimskii, 7 with Kangding Ray, 7 with Lychee and 3 with DJ Nobu
- Berghain5 with Aurora Halal, 5 with DJ Nobu, 5 with Kangding Ray and 4 with Clarisa Kimskii
- Juana5 with Clarisa Kimskii and 3 with DJ Nobu
- Rene Wise4 with Clarisa Kimskii and 2 with DJ Nobu
- Decoder3 with Kangding Ray and 2 with DJ Nobu
- Nutrition Facts7 with Lychee
- Ron Like Hell6 with Clarisa Kimskii
- Yaya Flows6 with Lychee
The room
TBA - Brooklyn — 106 events and 400 distinct artists since Aug 2023.
Who put it on
MERGE — 39 events and 136 artists since Aug 2023.