Refuge Friday

Who they are

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  Hiroko Yamamura

  Chicago · 21 bookings since Sep 2023

  “Taking inspiration from classic science fiction and dark anime, Hiroko’s introverted life and immersion in fringe, nerdy alongside an introspective outlook are evident in her demeanor and the way she gravitates to outsiders within the community.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Taking inspiration from classic science fiction and dark anime, Hiroko’s introverted life and immersion in fringe, nerdy alongside an introspective outlook are evident in her demeanor and the way she gravitates to outsiders within the community. Once she hits the decks, the isolation melts away as she lights up dance floors with an homage to the House, Acid and techno sounds that shaped the Chicago Rave Sound. One of her main missions is to demonstrate how much can help you cope with the darker times in life, creating an expressive outlet, and people that feels like they might not fit… have their important place in the culture.
  SoundCloud ↗
  Their RA profile lists !K7, Planet E, Trax Records, Octopus Music and 5 more.

  Recently at 314 Scholes, Paragon, H0L0 · often with Philippa Pacho, Berghain, Mari Sakurai, none of them here that night

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  Risa Taniguchi

  Tokyo, Japan

  “RISA TANIGUCHI (CLR) Widely recognized as a leading force in Japan’s underground techno movement, Risa Taniguchi bridges the intensity of Tokyo’s club culture with the raw pulse of the global scene.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  RISA TANIGUCHI (CLR) Widely recognized as a leading force in Japan’s underground techno movement, Risa Taniguchi bridges the intensity of Tokyo’s club culture with the raw pulse of the global scene. Her sound – a hypnotic interplay of distortion, acid, and rhythm – captures the emotional duality of techno: mechanical yet deeply human. Her breakthrough “So Loud EP” reached No.1 on Beatport’s Techno (Raw/Deep/Hypnotic) Top Releases chart, marking a milestone that placed her among the new generation of defining artists. Since then, she has become a core member of Chris Liebing’s CLR label, following up with the “Break It EP,” while previous releases on MOOD Records, Octopus Recordings, and Second State have further demonstrated her versatility as a producer. Each track reflects her precision and emotional weight, sculpting tension and release with an architectural sense of balance. On stage, Risa commands dance floors with an intensity rooted in control and emotion. One of the most in-demand DJs in Japan, she performs every weekend across the country, holding residencies at WOMB and Ohjo bldg in Tokyo, while also serving as the only Japanese resident at Seoul’s fast-emerging Undercity club. Her touring schedule extends regularly to Europe and the United States, where her deep, driving sets continue to captivate audiences. Her growing global reputation has been reinforced through two consecutive appearances at Berlin’s Rave The Planet (formerly Love Parade) and a powerful performance on the RESISTANCE stage at Ultra Japan. These milestones highlight her rising influence as an artist connecting Asia’s techno underground with the European stronghold of the genre. Beyond the club, Risa’s artistry extends into other cultural spaces – she has composed music for two runway shows by Japanese fashion brand ATTACHMENT and hosts her own program on J-WAVE, one of Japan’s leading national radio stations. For Risa, techno is more than rhythm – it is a form of emotional architecture, a way to translate tension, distortion, and silence into shared human experience. With her relentless energy, refined sound, and expanding international presence, Risa Taniguchi continues to shape the future of techno with clarity, depth, and purpose.
  SoundCloud ↗
  Their RA profile lists Octopus Music, CLR, Kneaded Pains, Second State and 2 more.

  often with Bad Boy, Buda (Paris), Felix Reichelt, none of them here that night

• Diskonnected

  3 bookings since Aug 2024

  Last at Nowadays in Mar · often with Jek, Succubass, Patrick Russell, none of them here that night

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  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 BASEMENT, Signal, Paragon · often with Mike Servito, Jeffrey Sfire, Kim Anh, none of them here that night

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  Timo Lee

  Hawaii · 85 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Timo Lee emerged her background in Honolulu and Taipei.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Timo Lee emerged her background in Honolulu and Taipei. From early childhood, Timo has kept her ear to the speaker, fingers tapping to the rhythm. A child of the 90’s, she was weaned on rave culture’s pulsing electronic beats. As the 2000’s progressed, her tastes evolved as she embraced underground disco, house, electronica. Her love for music manifested in a remarkable way as she hosted a three-hour weekly radio show on KTUH Honolulu for eight years. During this time, Timo shared the stage with a constellation of talented DJs, including luminaries like DJ Harvey, Bonobo, James Murphy, Thomas Bullock, DJ Garth, Tiger and Woods, Daniele Baldelli, Tim Sweeney, and many others at thirtyninehotel. She also served as the club's booker for six years, actively shaping the local dance scene in Hawaii. In 2014, Timo took her talents to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, NY. Commuting between the energetic vibes of NYC and her beloved Honolulu, she curated the atmosphere at Bevy, a popular cocktail discotheque in Kaka'ako with a 100-person capacity. Timo's presence in the New York music scene has been significant, with regular performances at iconic venues such as Good Room, The Lot Radio, and various nightclubs across the city. Timo wears multiple hats as the curator of "Wax the Van," a weekly all-vinyl session at Good Bar. Since 2020, she has also led Chomp! Chomp! Records, showcasing diverse artists in the underground dance music scene. 2023 marks two decades of Timo's music journey. Her sets are a testament to her eclectic and diverse taste, seamlessly blending different genres to keep audiences tapping fingers and bobbing heads. Timo Lee believes that music should evoke emotions from within, and she approaches it with an ethos that knows no limits.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
  Acid House on 1, Acid Jazz on 1, Tech House on 1 and Techno on 1. styles on their catalogued releases

  Their RA profile lists Chomp! Chomp!.

  Recently at public records, Good Bar, Jupiter Disco · often with Armii1n, HunnyBunny, Choukroun, none of them here that night

• Melting 99

• Toumingren

• Y3KDJ