DIVERSION

Who they are

• SSG_

  27 bookings since Jul 2024

  Recently at Bossa Nova Civic Club, Xanadu, H0L0 · often with Devoye, Anthorp, MORENXXX, none of them here that night

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  CSILLA

  New York City · 31 bookings since Aug 2023

  “A lifelong student of rhythm, CSILLA evolved from a childhood spent behind drum kits and in performing arts studios to becoming a formidable architect of the global underground.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  A lifelong student of rhythm, CSILLA evolved from a childhood spent behind drum kits and in performing arts studios to becoming a formidable architect of the global underground. Born in New York City and now serving as a resident for Infra Boston, she has rapidly emerged as one of North America’s most compelling techno exports. Her trajectory is marked by performances at renowned institutions like Basement (NY), Domicile (Miami), and Kremwerk (Seattle), recently culminating in a landmark appearance alongside the legendary Jeff Mills at New York’s Knockdown Center. CSILLA’s artistry is a living map of her global immersion, with her presence felt across dancefloors in Germany, Greece, Moldova, Lebanon and more. Her signature sound is a high-octane fusion of raw analog techno, relentless machine-funk, and electro-infused EBM—an identity forged in the industrial warehouses from Texas to Detroit, the cavernous depths of Kyiv, and the bunker-born spirit of Berlin. As a producer, her work is as intentional as her DJ sets. With releases on esteemed labels such as Subsist Records and TYME Berlin, and contributions to high-impact projects like the Re:flect Recordings Ukrainian Fundraiser, she continues to expand her discography with a focus on both technical precision and social resonance. Backed by deep roots and a forward-thinking vision, CSILLA is cementing her place as a vital, long-term force on the international stage.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
  House on 53, Techno on 33, Progressive House on 20 and Trance on 38. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on 541 (1), Armada (4) (1) and House Of Reptile (1); their RA profile also lists Subsist and Reflect Recordings. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at 314 Scholes, BASEMENT, Bossa Nova Civic Club · often with Offtrack, Meda-Ava, Adrian Hex, none of them here that night

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  jay york

  New York City · 33 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Jay York is a techno DJ/ Producer based in Orlando, Florida.”

  their own biography

  SoundCloud ↗
  Techno on 21 and Experimental on 1. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on Enemy Records (2) (1), Evilgroove (1) and Toca (3) (1); their RA profile also lists Float Records, Hayes, SYXT, CATALOG 01366 and 2 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Honey's, Refuge, public records · often with Adrian Hex, Secret Raver, STE-VÍ, none of them here that night

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  Surgeon

  Midlands, United Kingdom · 4 bookings since May 2024

  “His debut EP is regarded by many as seminal, launching his career along with several early Downwards releases, causing a ripple of excitement through the techno cognoscenti of the time.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  His debut EP is regarded by many as seminal, launching his career along with several early Downwards releases, causing a ripple of excitement through the techno cognoscenti of the time. Surgeon has been prolific since, with three albums on Tresor and numerous Counterbalance and Dynamic Tension EPs as well as his 'Breaking The Frame’, ‘From Farthest Known Objects’ and ‘Luminosity Device’ LPs “Over the course of his career, the Birmingham resident has perfected a unique and uncommonly effective production style. His is a tough techno sound with an industrial murk about it but also plenty of funk, swing and a sophisticated sense of dub-space learned in part from his Chain Reaction contemporaries in Berlin. Proving that hard can also be smart, sensuous and danceable, the influence of Surgeon on the 2010-ruling Ostgut/Berghain sound – DJs/producers like Marcel Dettmann, Shed et al – is substantial”. (Fact Magazine) Further evidence of these multi-functional production skills can be seen on Surgeon's impressive remix CV, working with the biggest names in techno (Dave Clarke, Luke Slater/PAS, Green Velvet, Hardfloor, the Black Dog etc), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Glasgow post-rock outfit Mogwai, old masters Faust and Coil, as well as artists such Moderat, Shed, Traversable Wormhole and Scuba. Over the years Surgeon has shown his versatility as a musician with releases under his own name on FatCat, NNA Tapes and Editions Mego which break all the usual boundaries of electronic dance music. Recently dubbed by Fact magazine as “arguably the finest techno DJ in the world”, Surgeon is also naturally one of the most in-demand, with DJ mixes for Warp and Fabric and a schedule spread across Europe and Japan. He has played every key club/event/festival going; helped pioneer Birmingham’s House of God; and, held a 3 year residency at Tresor (Berlin) during its all powerful 1990s peak. He is also one half of the much loved BMB (British Murder Boys) with Regis as well as performing improvised live sets solo and with Lady Starlight, with Speedy J as ‘Multiples’ and alongside Daniel Bean as ‘The Transcendence Orchestra’ Contemporary Surgeon sets are notable for experimentation with new DJ technologies embracing cutting edge hardware and software solutions, increasingly blurring the line between a DJ set and a live performance. Surgeon is a selector of some skill and one of the most inventive, intuitive DJs out there. Using techno as a vehicle to carry his artistic message, he also mixes up everything from contemporary bass music/dubstep to Rephlex-esque electronica to create a coherent, intense and righteously banging whole. More recently live improvisation has become a more important part of all of his performances.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Tresor, Dynamic Tension, Token, Ilian Tape and 6 more.

  Recently at BASEMENT, Knockdown Center · often with GLOBUS, TRESOR, Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy, none of them here that night

• Duck Trash

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  S4M23

  Boston · 59 bookings since Dec 2023

  “Sam discovered her love for electronic music at a young age while surfing YouTube, which has sent her into a lifelong digging rabbit hole.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Sam discovered her love for electronic music at a young age while surfing YouTube, which has sent her into a lifelong digging rabbit hole. Her sound reflects a deeply informed ear and reverence for dancing, pulling from her coming of age experience on the floors at raves and clubs. Her work as a DJ and producer leans into mutant sonic collisions, channeling the spirit of midwestern electronics through acid-infused, tracky body music.
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Trance on 3, Techno on 2, Hardcore on 2 and Ambient on 1. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on RAVE4EVAR (1), Yearning (1) and low income $quad (1); their RA profile also lists Evar Records and Gyration Station. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Mansions, Green Room NYC, Signal · often with Miss Parker, MORENXXX, Erika, none of them here that night

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  Lauren Flax

  Detroit · 99 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Lauren Flax has been a lifelong musician, starting to play the drums at 8 years old before continuing on to guitar and bass in high school.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Lauren Flax has been a lifelong musician, starting to play the drums at 8 years old before continuing on to guitar and bass in high school. She began her DJ career in the underground dance and rave scenes of Detroit as a resident at the Motor Lounge, playing every Tuesday night along with resident DJs Mike Servito, DJ Dilemma, Jason Kendig, and Derek Plaslaiko. Flax played the very first Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2000 on the Motor stage. While originally starting off as a jungle DJ, Flax evolved her style into a variety techno, house, and electro music. Flax moved to Chicago in 1999, where she honed in on music production while continuing to DJ. By 2002, she relocated again to Manhattan, which shortly followed the release of her first remix, "Much Finer" for Le Tigre. In 2018, Flax was introduced to DJ Haus by fellow Detroit musician and friend Jimmy Edgar, to which he quickly signed a record, resulting in "Dance Trax Vol. 16" (2018). In 2019, Flax joined the mostly Detroit-born New York collective The Bunker New York,[1] on which she released "One Man’s House is Another Woman’s Techno EP" (2019). The EP was highly successful and sold out quickly. Flax met with Brooklyn-based record label 2MR in 2019, curious to explore beyond the realm of dance music. She remixed 'Breathe' by label-mate Pale Blue, and that ended up inspiring Flax's new style of music. After the remix was released, Flax took to writing a 6 track EP, merging genres of ambient, acid house, and much more, set to come out in Summer 2021. Flax started touring the United States and Europe as a solo artist in 2019, performing live analog sets, pushing the boundaries of what a DJ is defined as.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  House on 39, Techno on 22, Acid House on 13 and Electro on 17. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on WRKTRX (3), Aliens On Wax (1) and House Of Efunk Records (1); their RA profile also lists Defected Records, !K7, Toolroom Records, Nervous Records and 6 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Good Room, Knockdown Center, BASEMENT · often with Sevyn 0000, Austin Kunis, Costume Design, none of them here that night

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  Sharlese

  Seattle · 24 bookings since Sep 2023

  “Sharlese is a Seattle-based DJ and radio host who thrives on the unexpected, crafting elegant dialogues between genres—from electro and EBM to Italo and techno.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Sharlese is a Seattle-based DJ and radio host who thrives on the unexpected, crafting elegant dialogues between genres—from electro and EBM to Italo and techno. She has earned a reputation for weaving intricate, emotionally charged sets on dance floors around the world, with appearances at Tresor, Panorama Bar, Nowadays, MÜLL SF, and Grauzone. Her acclaimed DJ mixes for respected platforms such as KIHDI, BITE, and Pi Pi Pi shine a light on darker, often overlooked sonic realms. For the past 18 years, Sharlese has been an integral part of KEXP, where she currently serves as Producer for The Afternoon Show, Programming Education Manager, and host of Mechanical Breakdown—a program dedicated to off-the-cuff, boundary-pushing underground music. She began DJing in 2012 as a resident at Seattle’s industrial wave event, an experience that—along with hosting shows at Electric Tea Garden—laid the foundation for her live event series False Prophet. For nearly a decade, the series has supported both emerging and established artists, including ADULT., Nuovo Testamento, Xeno & Oaklander, Kris Baha, and Spike Hellis. Sharlese also curates Audiodrome, a monthly party held on the second Saturday at the historic Pony in Seattle. The event explores a wide spectrum of styles—Italo, wave, synth, and electro—and has hosted artists such as Franz Scala, Josh Cheon (Dark Entries), and Beau Wanzer. Audiodrome is streamed live via Intergalactic.fm. In addition to her event work, Sharlese holds residencies with the PNW techno collective secondnature, at Massive Club in Seattle’s Capitol Hill, and on Mutant Radio—an independent online radio station and music platform based in Tbilisi, Georgia—further underscoring her dedication to underground music and her unwavering commitment to making bodies dance.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at public records, Nowadays, Camp Kennybrook · often with Arvin T, Helena Hauff, Saia, none of them here that night

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  Eduardo de la Calle

  Madrid, Spain · 5 bookings since Dec 2023

  “Across a glittering 26 year production career,under an array of aliases, Madrid-based über producer, Eduardo de la Calle has worked with many of the most important labels of modern times such a Planet E Communications (Detroit).It's hard to put a fine point on Eduardo's sound.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Across a glittering 26 year production career,under an array of aliases, Madrid-based über producer, Eduardo de la Calle has worked with many of the most important labels of modern times such a Planet E Communications (Detroit).It's hard to put a fine point on Eduardo's sound. Equally capable of composing lush, languid soundscapes, exotic tech-house,complex IDM,sci fi Jazz and why not ,brutal big room assaults, De la Calle is a multi-faceted soul.
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists fabric Records, Cocoon Recordings, International DeeJay Gigolo Records, Turbo Recordings and 6 more.

  Recently at Industry City, H0L0, The Subway Station · often with LYZA, Jana Falcon, RED, none of them here that night

• Magda

  Detroit · 14 bookings since Nov 2023

  “Magda's realm as an artist spans far beyond the typical role played by DJs and producers.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Magda's realm as an artist spans far beyond the typical role played by DJs and producers. With an open mind, Magda will try her hand at whatever feels right: from producing high-quality Tequila to tech collaborations, fashion and art, Magda has created a truly unique, multifaceted expression of herself. Born in Poland and raised in Detroit, Magda has soaked up the various characteristics of her surroundings, resulting in a widely-cultured perspective, tuned to see beauty and potential in the most derelict and depressed of places. As a teenager partying in Detroit, it wasn't long until Magda was fully immersed in the city's underground scene. In 1998, she was dropped straight into the deep end; she joined Minus and began touring the world as Richie Hawtin's opening DJ. Whilst this was a perfect platform for Magda to show off her talents and develop a fanbase, it brought with it the constraints of an established reputation. Magda was defined as a DJ under the Minus umbrella, but since has forged her own path. Magda's touring schedule is amongst the most high-profile and demanding around, with regular bookings at many of the world's very best house/techno clubs and festivals. She's proved herself as a consistent, adventurous and top-quality performer, with a knack for bringing tracks together in unexpected ways. As well as notable accolades such as a BBC 1 Essential Mix and playing at Timewarp's live streamed 20th anniversary, Magda has been behind some stand-out commercial mixes. 'She's A Dancing Machine', released in 2006 through Hawtin's label, was truly seminal. It intricately layered 70 tracks into 16 sections and displayed an almost unprecedented level of energy for a minimal DJ mix. She was later invited to record a mix for Fabric esteemed CD series, and adopted a similar patchwork approach to brilliant effect. Her latest, two-disc mix compilation, out through the Balance series in February, gives equal measure to the experimental and club-focused aspects of her DJing. Incorporating music from the likes of Shackleton, Murat Tepeli and Marcel Dettmann, Magda takes the listener on a thrillingly unpredictable listen. Though solo Magda releases are relatively rare, there's no doubt her ability extends beyond the booth to the studio. In the fall of 2010, Magda revealed her debut on Minus, 'From The Fallen Page'. It combined her love for Italian horror composition, Detroit techno futurism and straight-forward dancefloor functionality into a quality body of work that still sounds fresh today. She has also remixed the likes of Plastikman and Depeche Mode. Collaboration has become a vital part of Magda's studio work. Cornerbred is the project she shares with partner Daniela Huerta. Offering a respite from normal DJ sets, it revels in avant-garde and real-life concepts, utilising a broad sound pallet and lending itself to live performance. The pair have recorded mixes on Soundcloud and sites such as Oki-ni, the hour-long sessions covering a wide array of styles, sounds and periods, from 80s electro to more atonal works. DTR (Define The Relationship) is Magda's edits venture with Nyma, dedicated to 'reshaping, reintroducing and reviving early influences as a homage to the past, present and future'. So far, LL Cool J, Chaka Khan and Jody Watley have been under the DTR microscope with fascinating results. On top of all this, Magda has proved herself as a label boss, running the long-standing and successful Items & Things imprint with Marc Houle and Troy Pierce. The label thrives on the off-kilter and the uncommon, unearthing new artists and sounds that push boundaries. Thirty releases in and Items & Things proudly count the likes of Jimmy Edgar and Rework amongst its roster. With a new event series and much more in the works, 2015 is an exciting year for Magda and her fans. Her Maria Pascuala Tequila brand and design work also continue to open new avenues, each of them explored with the stamp of quality Magda has come to represent. Connect with Magda: www.soundcloud.com/magda-official www.residentadvisor.net/dj/magda www.discogs.com/artist/Magda www.gigs.gigatools.com/user/magda www.dj.beatport.com/magda www.twitter.com/magda_music www.facebook.com/unmagda itemsandthings.com
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists M-nus, Items & Things, Soniculture and Balance Music.

  Recently at Nowadays, public records, H0L0 · often with Morgan, HOPPER, ACID BOGEN, none of them here that night

• 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 Bossa Nova Civic Club, BASEMENT, Green Room NYC · often with Shaun J. Wright, JADALAREIGN, The Carry Nation, none of them here that night

• Aversion

  2 bookings since Oct 2023

  Recently at Telephone

• Shade of Blur