MERGE x SANDWELL DISTRICT

TBA - Brooklyn, New York City

This night happened — Fri 27 Mar

MERGE

Press play

Who was billed6 artists

In the order the promoter listed them.

Set times were not published.

Most of these artists had shared a bill before that night.

the pairs that have met

5 of the 15 pairings on this bill were first meetings.

Juana and Ne/Re/A — 13 shared bills before that night, first on Sat 18 Nov 2023.
Ne/Re/A and Auspex — 9 shared bills before that night, first on Fri 28 Jun 2024.
Phase Fatale and Ne/Re/A — 10 shared bills before that night, first on Sat 11 Nov 2023.
Juana and Auspex — 6 shared bills before that night, first on Fri 17 May 2024.
Phase Fatale and Auspex — 3 shared bills before that night, first on Fri 27 Jun 2025.
Phase Fatale and Juana — 3 shared bills before that night, first on Sat 10 Aug 2024.
Rrose and Ne/Re/A — 4 shared bills before that night, first on Thu 5 Oct 2023.
Rrose and Phase Fatale — 1 shared bill before that night, first on Fri 27 Mar 2026.
Rrose and Juana — 2 shared bills before that night, first on Fri 31 May 2024.
Rrose and Auspex — 1 shared bill before that night, first on Fri 30 Jan 2026.

Who they are

Sandwell District
Berlin, Germany · 3 bookings since Mar 2025
““We don’t write music, we make it.””
their own biography
the whole biography
“We don’t write music, we make it.” As befits someone who has never been shy of proffering an opinion or three, Karl (Regis) O’Connor has some thoughts about the state of today’s electronic music scene. Particularly when it comes to the overly commercial attitudes associated with what passes for most of modern-day dance music. “If you make something, it’s your dinner date with eternity,” he rails when discussing Sandwell District’s new album, End Beginnings. “That’s what you should be doing, you’re making a record. It’s not about making a track to fulfil something. No, that’s the difference between people who are in it for the music and the art and those who are just in it for the sesh.” Make no mistake, Sandwell District, the shadowy techno collective, of which O’Connor is the lynchpin alongside Dave (Function) Sumner, have always been about the art. If they hadn’t parted in such bitter circumstances, one would describe End Beginnings as a hotly-anticipated comeback. But, quite simply, no-one ever expected their return. “I was always really averse to it,” he reflects. “It was always a very fractious relationship between me and Dave in particular. It was this rock’n’roll escapade, it wasn’t really dance music. Everyone left on bad terms, everyone walked out. I was left on the decks at Fabric. Dave didn’t turn up and that was that. There was all this hyperdrama nonsense. We didn’t speak for 10 years.” They are, then, the real deal. In truth, they always were. They were the genuine article back in the early-00s, when Regis and his long-time confidant Peter (Female) Sutton established the artistic co-operative, first as an offshoot label to O’Connor’s influential Downwards imprint to release sonic missives by themselves, and then Function and Juan (Silent Servant) Mendez among others. Unsurprisingly, Sandwell District remain true originals today. Over a decade since their last acrimonious blow out – Sumner not turning up to DJ alongside O’Connor at Fabric might have been the final straw, but in reality, it was death by a thousand cuts – Sandwell District are back. Older? Certainly. Wiser? Arguably. Still outspoken?Absolutely. “To get beyond the spectacle you remain silent,” O’Connor avows. “You do nothing. And that’s effectively what we did. We didn’t release records. You’ve got to get beyond the spectacle, once you get dragged down into the whole messy soup…” The result is End Beginnings, a majestic coming together of cinematic techno and mind-bending dancefloor dynamism; an album that marries Drexciya’s idea of techno being an act of seditionary innovation to a sense of unbridled fun, an imperative that means an awful lot to O’Connor. “Having a good time is pretty much why you get into it in the first place,” he notes wisely. “And it is fun. I think we feel a lot more fortunate now, especially with what happened with Juan. We’re grateful.” End Beginnings then is also a moving requiem to a fallen soldier – Juan Mendez. At the beginning of 2024, Mendez tragically died just as things were moving in the right direction for the collective. Mendez’s stunning artwork and visuals were always a central pillar of Sandwell District; indeed, he was working on a piece of art entitled ‘End Beginnings’ that was mooted to be the album cover. That work was never finished, but O’Connor and Sumner took the title to honour their friend’s contribution. It remains a fitting tribute to the stop-start nature of this rebel alliance. “We were a real gang,” O’Connor reminisces. “We used to come into town, tear it up and go home. We got banned from about three airlines for fighting with each other. We used to turn up at the airport, get hammered and it would go downhill from there.” No wonder they were described as techno’s answer to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young by online music organ, The Quietus. O’Connor laughs when that interpretation is put to him. “That’s brilliant,” he says. “It’s probably very accurate. As long as I can be Nash.” Back in the early 2000s, this gang, fuelled by the spirit of unfettered collaboration had become a transatlantic clandestine super group comprised of Regis, Function, Silent Servant and Female centred around the techno mecca of Berlin and culminating in the release of 2010’s revered Feed-Forward album. The album sold out immediately (as did 2023’s long awaited box set reissue), but by then, the tumultuous alliance had come apart at the seams. The kinetic energy at the heart of the Sandwell District project couldn’t hold. Theirs was no post-acid house loved-up dynamic – this was pure, reckless rock’n’roll abandon. Something was bound to give. The time to remain silent is now over. The catalyst for their reunion might come as a shock to some, mind. “I struck up a really close friendship with Mark Lanegan before he died,” explains O’Connor. “Which was weird. Mark Lanegan, king of grunge, friend of Kurt Cobain. He told me to keep going, to revisit Sandwell District.” Even though O’Connor and Sumner had been blood brothers – metaphorically and literally at times – Karl couldn’t envisage working with his old sparring partner again; couldn’t see past the drama that had come to define their relationship. Lanegan had other ideas. “He said ‘it’s more than the sum of its parts and it’s important’. I began to think maybe it was a good idea.” He continues: “The last time I saw Lanegan was at the Roundhouse. As I was going into the dressing room to meet him John Paul Jones from Zeppelin was coming out the other way. I remember thinking this is certainly something. I knew then it was something special and I had to listen to him because it’s good to listen to people and get over yourself sometimes. That’s what it was – getting over yourself.” Even then it took time for relations to thaw. Mendez was the conduit between the friends-turned-adversaries. After much umming and ahhing on both sides a plan was set in motion to re-release the collective’s Feed-Forward album. The limited nature of its initial release, the mythology that had built up around it in the intervening years and its importance and influence upon everyone from Mute’s Daniel Miller to techno poster boy Daniel Avery meant their reformation was no exercise in nostalgia. “You have to decentralise the ego for the good of the project,” O’Connor says. “And then it’s about reframing it in some way. You are going back to rebuild something, but the way things are now and people’s attention spans are so short in general, that it’s almost like it’s new again.” The new album itself has its roots in underground techno - long-time connoisseurs will recognise Motor City impulses and 80s European industrial electro, while recent disciples will appreciate the post-Berghain rush – but it’s also a considered, dare-you-say, mature home listening experience. It verges from the ethereal psychedelia of ‘Citrinitas Acid’ to the hypnotic tribal drums of ‘Dreaming’, by way of the propulsive futurism of ‘Hidden’ and the widescreen electronica of ‘Least Travelled’. With the lessons of the past learned, Karl and Dave worked on the album remotely – in London and Berlin respectively. A buffer was also put in place in the shape of Simon Shreeve, formerly of the dubstep outfit Kryptic Minds. When the final hurdle just couldn’t be surpassed and before stasis set in, mixing was handed over to Mika Hallbäck (Rivet). Seth Horvitz (Rrose) and Sarah Kranz (Sarah Wreath) were also enlisted to add to the collaborative spirit the collective has always benefited from. Welcome back, Sandwell District, we have missed you. Your time is now…
SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
Their RA profile lists Sandwell District, Surface Records and Balans.
Recently at Nowadays · often with Shaleen, Henry Chow, Agonis, none of them here that night
Rrose
California · 13 bookings since Oct 2023
“Born 1969.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Born 1969. Died 1909.
SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
Their RA profile lists Sandwell District, EAUX, KR3 Records and 2 0.
Recently at Paragon, Good Room, Nowadays · often with Decoder, Carrier, Wata Igarashi, none of them here that night
Phase Fatale
New York City · 14 bookings since Aug 2023
“Emerging as Phase Fatale in 2014, Berlin-based DJ, producer and label owner, Hayden Payne is rewriting the discourse of Techno with his cross-pollination of gnarly basslines, sensual narratives and mind-control mechanics.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Emerging as Phase Fatale in 2014, Berlin-based DJ, producer and label owner, Hayden Payne is rewriting the discourse of Techno with his cross-pollination of gnarly basslines, sensual narratives and mind-control mechanics. Demonstrating his vision through an authentic, highly curated sonic-lens of techno, the New York native’s rhythmic excursions draw on his roots in the underground scenes of his respective cities as well as his reputable experience performing to dancefloors globally. Exemplified by long-standing tenures as a resident for esteemed institutions such as Berlin’s Berghain, KHIDI in Georgia's capital Tbilisi, and queer New York collective Merge, Payne demonstrates a resolute understanding of harnessing club synergy across his productions and DJ sets. With three full length albums under his belt, including the 2020 sophomore release ‘Scanning Backwards’ on Berghain’s imprint Ostgut Ton, Payne’s sonic signature pushes the boundaries of techno sensibilities and reflects the zeitgeist whilst staying true to his own vision. Wasting no time since his solo project’s inception to showcase his expert sonic ability, Payne has toured throughout Europe performing at renowned clubs and festivals worldwide, releasing numerous records on labels including Jealous God, Ostgut Ton, and his own label BITE. Hailing from post-punk roots, Payne draws on his depth of musical knowledge and multitude of influences. His merging of nuanced references and high concept narratives remain geared towards the dancefloor at its core, subtleties of his multifarious sonic palette act as the foundations for his layered wall of sound. Payne launched the BITE imprint in 2018 as a means to platform cutting-edge sound production across a diverse roster of international artists. Along with fellow Soft Crash protagonist Pablo Bozzi pioneering ‘Italo Body Music’, BITE’s seminal synthesis of curated techno solidifies the label as a tour de force taste-maker within electronic music with showcases worldwide including Berghain and their 5 year anniversary compilation ‘Shedding Skin’ in 2023.
SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
Their RA profile lists Ostgut Ton, Hospital Productions, Jealous God, Falling Ethics and 4 more.
Recently at BASEMENT, Nowadays · often with Berghain, Roi Perez, Cormac, none of them here that night
Juana
Washington DC · 53 bookings since Aug 2023
“Juana has enticed crowds all over the world at venues such as Berghain, LuxFrágil, Fabric, Smartbar, Basement, Nowadays, and countless festivals and underground warehouse gigs.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Juana has enticed crowds all over the world at venues such as Berghain, LuxFrágil, Fabric, Smartbar, Basement, Nowadays, and countless festivals and underground warehouse gigs. She originally hails from the city of Chicago where she cultivated her love for the underground at clubs like Smartbar and The Generator and parties such as Soul in the Hole and Boom Boom Room. She began DJing in roughly 2001 and moved to DC in 2003 where she began hosting weekly live internet radio shows on HandzOnRadio (Baltimore) and Cyberjamz (Tampa) and playing parties in the DC scene, upping her skills alongside her mentor and legendary DJ Sam “the Man” Burns, and at clubs including Red and the DC Sanctuary. Juana started obsessively collecting disco and early house records in the late 90s and eventually developed an undying penchant for straight-ahead techno and deeper, darker shades of first and second-wave Chicago dance music. In the 2010s, Juana made her mark in DC as one of only a handful of techno DJs and a resident of the legendary rave, Sequence, and started regularly touring North and South America and EU. In the 2020s, Juana picked up major momentum, becoming a resident of the renowned rave Unter and making frequent appearances at Basement, Nowadays, and Paragon. She has been a founding member of the DC QT BIPOC collective NOXEEMA JACKSON since 2021, and in 2026, joined the MERGE collective. As a producer, her most recent EP “We Are Everything We Think We're Not” was released in March 2024, and she has also appeared recently on releases from the No Mercy, World Building, and Perimeter Junk labels. She is currently working on more releases, probably until she croaks.
SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
Their RA profile lists Bound, Vanity Press Records, ROAMANCE, Trax Only and 1 more.
Recently at telos.haus, Paragon, Nowadays · often with Concrete Husband, Boris, LYDO, none of them here that night
Ne/Re/A
New York City · 67 bookings since Aug 2023
“Spanish DJ and producer, Ne/Re/A, a fixture of Brooklyn's teeming techno ecosystem for more than 10 years, has a distinctly energetic approach to the genre - relentless groove and unapologetically timeless.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Spanish DJ and producer, Ne/Re/A, a fixture of Brooklyn's teeming techno ecosystem for more than 10 years, has a distinctly energetic approach to the genre - relentless groove and unapologetically timeless. In 2021, Ne/Re/A was named resident DJ of the Brooklyn-based queer party, MERGE, which has served as a musical home and has allowed her to explore the depths of her sonic palette alongside a sophisticated rolodex of the genre's legends. She has played alongside DVS1, Boris, Phase Fatale, Wata Igarashi, Takaaki Itoh and Ancient Methods (to name a few). She cut her teeth as the founder and resident DJ of Distrikt1, the monthly weeknight party at Brooklyn's historic Bossa Nova Civic Club. She's played reputable parties in New York - Unter, Wrecked, Bound and many nights at the city's premiere institutions in BASEMENT, Nowadays, and Paragon. She's played at Berlin's Tresor, Pornceptual, Gegen and at the iconic queer pilgrimage, Whole Festival, BULTO and Video Club in Colombia and Brutal in Mexico City. Her collaborative project, Name Names, with DC-based DJ and producer Juana explores the darker shades of her repertoire, where driving propulsive techno are at the forefront. In 2025, her prowess grows, Ne/Re/A makes her debut in Asia at Taiwan's highly-regarded Organik Festival and Seoul's Volnost, plays notable parties in New York like Wire Festival, Berlin and South America, and continues her residency with MERGE. As a producer Ne/Re/A sharply blends industrial and EBM with melodic techno into her own concoction - a heady assemblage of punch and drive. In 2025 she just released a collaborative track with Clarisa Kimskii in Phase Fatale's BITE record label.In 2024 she released two new tracks for Maison Fauna “In the Dark” and Infra “Piercing the veil”. In 2020, she released her first EP "Your World Took Your Future" on the Industrial Techno United imprint. She's remixed tracks for Alpha Sect, Rennst and throughout the years has contributed tracks to Soil, NOTT, Pildoras Tapes, Sinister Desires and Eclectic Reactions record labels.
SoundCloud ↗
Techno on 9, Electro on 6, EBM on 5 and Experimental on 5. styles on their catalogued releases
Released on Bite (1), Eclectic Reactions Records (1) and InterplanetaryLtd (1); their RA profile also lists Pildoras Tapes, Sinister Desires, Lemos and Faceless. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile
Recently at BASEMENT, Paragon · often with Clarisa Kimskii, Concrete Husband, Ron Like Hell, none of them here that night
Auspex
New York City · 29 bookings since Oct 2023 · Basement and Berghain techno
“Having cut his teeth over the last decade coming up through Brooklyn’s warehouse scene, NYC-based Auspex has solidified himself as a regular fixture and contributor to its underground techno community, a DJ, producer, label boss and tireless organizer very much at home in the city's vibrant queer nightlife scene.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Having cut his teeth over the last decade coming up through Brooklyn’s warehouse scene, NYC-based Auspex has solidified himself as a regular fixture and contributor to its underground techno community, a DJ, producer, label boss and tireless organizer very much at home in the city's vibrant queer nightlife scene. Having made regular appearances over the years at such legendary parties like The Bunker, Merge and Unter, he soon found himself at the helm of the transcendent party ALTÆR when Basement emerged onto the club-scape. Now six years running, ALTÆR has become known for its immersive and music-driven line-ups, pulling the together some of the world’s best international techno and house talents. He’s also made frequent appearances in Berlin at venues like RSO , Griessmuehle and most recently Berghain, as well as appearances at underground functions like Pornceptual, Gegen and STAUB. Most recently, he launched his own techno imprint Templum to showcase his production work and some of the hottest and most prolific producers of hypnotic and raw techno working in the industry today. With a healthy and robust release calendar already in the pipeline, Templum is poised to become a major source of dance floor fire power in the months and years ahead. Musically, Auspex conjures techno as a space of collective hypnosis—with sets that move with fluid precision and driving percussion through intergalactic expanses, leading dancers through spiraling grooves and sensory depth, shaping an experience that’s equal parts body ritual and psychedelic voyage. As a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, his compositions are in infused with narrative tension and a rambunctious mischief, driving dance floors to bedlam and then back again.
SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
Their RA profile lists Soma Records, Diffuse Reality, Whirlwind Trax, Oath and 2 more.
Recently at BASEMENT, Bossa Nova Civic Club · often with Boris, cotton, Juliana Huxtable, none of them here that night