Afraid of the Dark 2026

Who they are

• 

  Joeski

  New York City · 9 bookings since Nov 2023

  “Change is inevitable, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the world of dance music.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Change is inevitable, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the world of dance music. Analog gives way to digital, trends come and go, yet NYC’s DJ Joeski remains at the top of his game, and now, in the midst of his third decade as one of house music’s most sought-after stars, his momentum shows no signs of slowing. Joeski’s trajectory can be traced back to 1991, when he burst onto the NYC house music scene as a founding member of The Chocolate Factory DJ collective. He delighted crowds at Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium and NASA, helped turn “Save The Robots” into a NYC afterhours institution and earned his first residency at “Together” parties at the legendary Roxy, playing alongside the likes of Danny Tenaglia, Louie Vega and Roger Sanchez. Already a fixture on the U.S. and Canadian club circuit,in the late 90’s Joeski added production to his repetoire, building his own recording studio and spending the next few years mastering his craft. In 2000 he burst into the clubs and onto the charts with hit after hit on Electrik Soul, Siesta, Chez and Camouflage, emerging as one of the most sought-after DJs, remixers and producers in the scene. In 2001 Joeski launched Maya Records, with releases like “Hustler’s Revenge” and his collaboration with DJ Chus on “El Amor” propelling the label onto the forefront of the U.S. house music sound that would become a global phenomenon and win him worldwide acclaim from clubbers and fellow DJs alike. Demand for his studio skills grew exponentially over the next decade, with Joeski producing and remixing for the likes of NRK, Ministry of Sound, Defected, Bedrock, Nervous, Cajual and KMS ,helping catapult him further into the ranks of the house music elite. Entering its 16th year, his Maya label continues a steady output of quality material that remain fixtures on the Beatport and Traxsource tech and deep house charts, with a robust release schedule that shows no signs of slowing any time soon. January 2017 began with Joeski once again hard at work in the studio, teaming up with Harry Romero (as HR+Ski) on “Dem Tings” for Maya, working solo on “Lessons in Dub” for Poker Flat and also releasing the 14th installment in his “Maya Sessions” podcast on Pioneer DJ Radio. The new music and remixes continued with the release of “Mind Function” on Maya and “Tribute to Obatala” on Crosstown Rebels, dropped by Pete Tong on his BBC Radio 1 show in February. Joeski’s touring schedule continues to be as prolific as his studio output, headlining clubs from Acapulco to Helsinki plus a booked-out week spent at Miami Music Week 2017. In March all three tracks from “Tribute to Obatala” simultaneously climbed onto Beatport’s Tech House Top 100, with Joeski ending the month as featured artist on John Digweed’s “Transitions” podcast. New music continued to flow in April including the release of Dancing in Space” on Kinetika and “Deep Elements EP” on Kitball, while “Mind Function” on Maya climbed into the Traxsource Tech House Top-10. Returning home from a tour of Mexico Joeski hit the studio once again, jamming with SF’s legendary Doc Martin on an upcoming collaboration and putting the finishing touches on his next solo Maya release. This summer Joeski will once again be a fixture on the global tour circuit with performances at both Do Not Sleep and Dennis Ferrer’s Misfits Party in Ibiza, extensive tours of Australia, New Zealand, South America and Europe while back stateside he and Harry Romero continue their monthly Yage night at Brooklyn’s Output. Fueled by his genuine love of the music, there’s no doubt that Joeski will continue to evolve both behind the decks and in the studio, captivating new generations of club-goers and maintaining his place as one of dance music’s most enduring talents. For Bookings USA - South America - Melissa@armige.com Europe & Asia - oscar@cumacbookings.com
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Hooj Choons, Defected Records, fabric Records, NRK Music and 6 more.

  Recently at Signal, The Ornate Studio, The Chocolate Factory · often with Papa Lu, Maya Records Presents, alexander:louis, none of them here on Saturday

• 

  Frankie Bones

  New York City · 20 bookings since Dec 2023

  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists XL Recordings, Trax Records, Nu Groove Records, Sonic Groove and 5 more.

  Recently at Refuge, Nowadays, SILO · often with STEEN, Adam Hadari, listening session, none of them here on Saturday

• 

  Lenny Dee

  New York City · 12 bookings since Dec 2023

  “Producer / DJ / Label Owner Lenny Dee is one of NYC’s earliest techno and house pioneers.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Producer / DJ / Label Owner Lenny Dee is one of NYC’s earliest techno and house pioneers. He produced classic UK chart-hitting techno with Frankie Bones (as Looney Tunes), Victor Simonelli (for Nu Groove and Def Mix) and Tommy Musto – including their ‘Fallout’ track – now heard on the video game ‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’. Early on, Lenny worked at Skyline Studios (at the time home of Nile Rodgers), and at Arthur Baker’s Shakedown Studio’s on productions for New order, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, and Al Jarreau among others. He then attacked Europe with the then new sound of Techno and in 1991 launched Industrial Strength Records – the first electronic ‘Hardcore’ label in the world that’s included music from Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Manu Le Malin, Angerfist, Corrosion of Conformity, Daft Punk, Neophyte, Unexist, DOA, The Sickest Squad, Nasenbluten and many more. Lenny has also written and produced hundreds of tracks on labels such as 4th floor, Warner Bros, Strictly Rhythm, R&S, Music Man, Atlantic Records, Arista, XL Recordings, Gigilo, Rotterdam Records, ID &T and Stay Up Forever. As well as remixes for Atlantic Records, Sven Vath and Robert Owens, Marshall Jefferson w/ Gareth Whitehead among others. He has had chart topping hits in Holland and Italy – including projects with Italy’s superstar DJ Moella from RadioDeeJay FM. Lenny’s first residency was at the local roller disco Roll-A-Palace in Brooklyn NY at the age of 17 and he has DJed all over the world at most of the biggest parties including EDC (Vegas), Tomorrowland, MayDay, Love Parade, Woodstock, Thunderdome, the Jane's Addiction Reunion tour & the list goes on. Lenny’s musical accomplishments range wide, having engineered 3 remixes on the Wu Tang Clan album Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture Vol. 2 , has remixed Ali King’s hit feat. Def Jam’s Fabolous and recently mixed the soundtrack for a Runway Show at New York’s Fashion Week. It’s no wonder Lenny was the 1st Hardcore DJ to appear on the ‘DJ Mag - Top 100’ and was previously named Number 1 ‘Hard DJ’ by Mixmag, was twice awarded the accolade of Best Worldwide Techno DJ by the Scottish Dance Music Awards & Frontpage Magazine and even has a track listed on the Top 40 Deep House Tracks of all Time (Spin Magazine).
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists XL Recordings, Defected Records, F Communications, Warp Records and 6 more.

  Recently at Paragon, 3 Dollar Bill, Listen Brooklyn · often with Volvox, Fortified Structures, Light Asylum, none of them here on Saturday

• 

  Keoki

  New York City · 5 bookings since Dec 2024

  “Superstar DJ Keoki arrived on the mainland with forty records, a bag full of clothes and $200 in his pocket, without the slightest idea he would become a key figure in a groundbreaking social movement.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Superstar DJ Keoki arrived on the mainland with forty records, a bag full of clothes and $200 in his pocket, without the slightest idea he would become a key figure in a groundbreaking social movement. An artist whose music would shred the sonic spectrum for a digital generation, jonesing to transcend the old ways, Keoki was destined to make a name for himself. Born in El Salvador, raised on Maui and nicknamed for the mysterious bastard son of a legendary Hawaiian king, Keoki arrived on the mainland US in the late eighties. Landing a job with TWA in New York enabled Keoki the opportunity to travel the world for free, but it was while moonlighting as a busboy at Danceteria, a hot Manhattan nightclub, that Keoki saw the sights and heard the sounds that would change his life and perhaps the future of pop music. Fascinated by the powerful connection a DJ could make with a crowd, Keoki himself began to play records, putting his own distinctive spin on other artists music. Flamboyant as hell, he dubbed himself “Superstar DJ” Keoki. “…I wore a jeweled crown, big furry collars and gold chains,” he recalls with a laugh. “It was a gimmick, but the fun of it really caught fire”. Though it started as a lark, “Superstar DJ” Keoki quickly became sought after by Manhattan’s underground trendsetters and socialites alike, Keoki was now known as "The DJ to the Stars!”. He worked legendary parties for the likes of Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Drag Queen icon RuPaul and The B-52’s. “…All the glamorous stars and creatures of New York were there”, he says. The former baggage handler soon became a jetting-setting commodity, performing to capacity audiences across America and overseas. His was a sonic sleight-of-hand in which funk could meet punk, and where a barking Scooby Doo would mix perfectly with a ranting Jimmy Swaggert. He continued to discover dramatic new ways to keep a crowd in the palm of his hands. “…New York really showed me that I could draw on anything around me and make something of it”, he says. “There were just no limits”. By the early nineties the underground dance music scene had swelled to a critical mass. The rave scene in America was born and as one of the first traveling DJs, Keoki was propelled into the limelight. Through his numerous performances at Los Angeles raves, Keoki caught the attention of Steve Levy, president of Moonshine Music. Keoki's personality, flamboyance and glaring musical talent led to Keoki and Moonshine joining forces. Although signed as a recording artist, his immediate skills lay in his DJ-ing ability, and as a result, a series of top selling DJ mix albums including “Superstar DJ Keoki –All Mixed Up” and “Disco Death Race 2000” were released. Between discs and sold out performances, Keoki began crafting original material. Keoki’s message began to shine as brightly as a welder’s arc. “…This generation, this rave culture is so highly intuitive, that communicating to them through pure sound is absolutely possible”, he states. “…but since I had their attention, I figured why not take it a little farther and give them a story, a theme?” Keoki the pied piper was born. For his first single, Keoki teamed with co-producer Dave Aude for what has evolved into an incredible artist and producer journey; it was then that “Caterpillar” was created and released in early 1996. It featured the catchy “I just can’t cope without my dope” hook that made a playful mockery of drug abuse. Blazing to #3 on the Billboard Dance Chart, the song earned Keoki a spot on that summer's Lollapalooza tour and was even featured in an episode of The Simpsons. The follow-up single, “Majick” was released in January 1997 as a precursor to the almost finished “Ego Trip” full length LP. With lyrics suggesting that the communal euphoria which his audience sought, could only come from the “magic” within themselves. It too, rocketed up the charts. Having moved from New York to Los Angeles (via Denver), Keoki's album was now in motion. Three months later,“Ego Trip” was completed. It was nothing less than a stunning leap, even for someone whose name is already synonymous with breathtaking invention. From the harrowing, multi-layered track “Madness” to the stellar hit singles “Caterpillar” and “Majick,” to the aural sex drive of “Space”, Ego Trip’s 10 songs are a seamless musical excursion that carry the listener effortlessly from one hook to the next. With its trance-inducing synth-lines, mega-ballistic breakbeats and carbonated vocals, Ego Trip crackles with energy. Ego Trip was the first full-length album of original material by Keoki, a performer who, until then, had been mainly recognized as one of America's premiere electronic music mix masters. Whether you're a longtime fan or completely new to the form, this is an aural experience the likes of which you cannot imagine. Built from the underground up, Ego Trip is like a wild and wonderful funhouse ride, an album in which Keoki injects everything he has. Ego Trip is the culmination of Keoki’s unique audio odyssey that began decades ago. the Superstar DJ pouring everything he has ever learned about sound and its ability to captivate into the album’s very core. Every generation produces a key performer who, by the sheer force of their talent and personality, pushes a new artform into mass acceptance. For the increasingly influential realm of electronic music, Keoki is that key, and Ego Trip his breakthrough. “…This is the beginning”, he says, “of a whole new kind of musical expression”. With over two million records sold... (Limelight, Party Monster, Ego Trip) and regular listings on the top of the dance charts, Keoki has evolved into a record spinner of international renown, the charismatic Bad Boy of Techno, a figurehead of the vital and often controversial Rave movement, and can even claim Bart Simpson (who enjoys his music on one of the episodes) among his fans.
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Moonshine, Astralwerks, Interscope Records and Play Records.

  Recently at Tropix, 3 Dollar Bill, Bossa Nova Civic Club · often with Johnny Sell It, Tyler Hendrix, Auto Rock, none of them here on Saturday

• 

  Dank

  New York City · 4 bookings since Nov 2023

  “( Ultra Music, Funky Element Records, TurnitUp Muzik New York, NY ) Genres​ ​don’t​ ​matter​ ​when​ ​each​ ​of​ ​your​ ​tracks​ ​belongs​ ​in​ ​a​ ​category​ ​all​ ​its​ ​own.​ ​DJ​ ​and producer ​DANK​ channels​​ nearly ​​two​​decades​ ​of ​​New ​​York ​​City ​​blood, ​​sweat ​​and​ ​tears ​​into any​ ​unforgettable​ ​anthem​ ​with​ ​his​ ​name​ ​on​ ​it.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  ( Ultra Music, Funky Element Records, TurnitUp Muzik New York, NY ) Genres​ ​don’t​ ​matter​ ​when​ ​each​ ​of​ ​your​ ​tracks​ ​belongs​ ​in​ ​a​ ​category​ ​all​ ​its​ ​own.​ ​DJ​ ​and producer ​DANK​ channels​​ nearly ​​two​​decades​ ​of ​​New ​​York ​​City ​​blood, ​​sweat ​​and​ ​tears ​​into any​ ​unforgettable​ ​anthem​ ​with​ ​his​ ​name​ ​on​ ​it. Be​ ​it​ ​house,​ ​techno,​ ​electro​ ​or​ ​dubstep,​ ​instant​ ​appeal​ ​is​ ​the​ ​common​ ​denominator​ ​of​ ​every DANK​ ​release.​ ​His​ ​path​ ​to​ ​success​ ​in​ ​the​ ​EDM​ ​world​ ​has​ ​been​ ​paved​ ​not​ ​only​ ​by​ ​sexy​ ​hooks and​ ​melodies​ ​but​ ​also​ ​a​ ​tireless​ ​work​ ​ethic.​ ​As​ ​an​ ​official​ Ultra​ ​Records​​ ​artist​ ​he’s​ ​remixed songs​ ​by​ ​the​ ​likes​ ​of​ D​​aft​ ​Punk,​ ​​Rihanna​​ ​and​ Avicii​​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​providing​ ​a​ ​platform​ ​for such​ ​artists​ ​as​ Lazy​ ​Rich​​ ​and​ C​​alvertron​​ ​via​ ​his​ ​own​ ​imprint,​ F​unky​ ​Element​ ​Records.​ DANK,​ ​whose​ ​real​ ​name​ ​is​ Brian​ ​Atwood​,​ ​came​ ​of​ ​age​ ​in​ ​the​ ​NYC​ ​nightlife​ ​scene​ ​during​ ​its heyday​ ​in​ ​the​ ​‘90s.​ ​Born​ ​and​ ​raised​ ​in​ ​Long​ ​Island​ ​just​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​five​ ​boroughs,​ ​he​ ​fell​ ​in love​ ​with​ ​electronic​ ​music​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​15.​ ​Bouncing​ ​between​ ​Brooklyn​ ​warehouse​ ​raves​ ​and legendary​ ​clubs​ ​like​ ​Limelight​ ​and​ ​Twilo,​ ​he​ ​experienced​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​cross​ ​section​ ​of​ ​dance culture​ ​before​ ​the​ ​turn​ ​of​ ​the​ ​millennium. In​ ​2000​ ​DANK​ ​purchased​ ​his​ ​first​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​Technics​ ​turntables​ ​and​ ​learned​ ​how​ ​to​ ​play​ ​records. Before​ ​long​ ​he​ ​found​ ​himself​ ​performing​ ​at​ ​such​ ​NYC​ ​destinations​ ​as​ Lunatarium​,​ ​​Randall’s Island​,​​​Webster ​​Hall​​​ and​ Hammerstein​​ Ballroom,​​ ​as ​​well ​​as ​​out-of-town​ ​hotspots ​​like Asylum​ ​Nightclub​​ ​in​ ​Springfield,​ ​Massachusetts​ ​and​ ​the​ Whistle​​ ​parties​ ​in​ ​Philadelphia. That​ ​year​ ​DANK​ ​also​ ​launched​ F​​unky​ ​Element​ ​Productions​​ ​and​ ​began​ ​throwing​ ​parties throughout​​ New ​​York ​​City. ​​He​​ and​​ his ​​team​​were​​ responsible​​ for ​​massives​​ like ​S​​neaky,​ Afraid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Dark​ a​​nd​ A​​ ​ ​New​ ​Beginning​,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​Funky​ ​Element​ ​gathering​ ​was billed​ ​as​ F​​ahrenheit​ ​​and​ ​drew​ ​a​ ​crowd​ ​of​ ​roughly​ ​3,000 ​to​ ​Hammerstein​ ​Ballroom​ ​in​ ​2006. Although​ ​DANK​ ​had​ ​learned​ ​how​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​music​ ​in​ Cubase​​ ​as​ ​early​ ​as​ ​2002​ ​using analog ​​equipment​ ​like ​​the ​Roland ​​TB-303​ ​​and ​TR-909,​​ ​he ​​shifted​ ​his ​​focus​ ​to ​​the ​​studio more​ ​so​ ​in​ ​2007​ ​than​ ​ever​ ​before.​ ​In​ ​2010​ ​he​ ​founded​ ​his​ ​own​ ​artist​ ​label,​ ​Funky​ ​Element Records.​ ​He​ ​inaugurated​ ​it​ ​with​ ​the​ ​release​ ​of​ ​a​ ​track​ ​titled​ ​“FuNK​ ​eL,”​ ​and​ ​Lazy​ ​Rich​ ​himself contributed​ ​a​ ​club​ ​mix​ ​of​ ​the​ ​single​ ​that​ ​charted​ ​on​ B​​eatport.​ In​ ​2012​ ​DANK​ ​cut​ ​his​ ​first​ ​EP:​ ​An​ ​electro​ ​four-tracker​ ​titled​ Tunnel​ ​Vision​​ ​for​ ​which​ ​he​ ​enlisted FTampa​,​​​ Rednek,​ ​​​Chrizz​​Luvly​ ​​and ​Alex​​Mind ​​​to ​​deliver ​​remixes. ​​Soon​​ after, ​​he ​​tried ​​his hand​ ​at​ ​producing​ ​dubstep​ ​and​ ​saw​ ​immediate​ ​success;​ ​his​ ​2013​ ​single​ ​“Blow​ ​Me”​ ​reached #1​ ​on​ ​Beatport’s​ ​Dubstep​ ​Top​ ​100​ ​Tracks​ ​chart. The​ ​same​ ​year,​ ​DANK’s​ ​put​ ​out​ ​a​ ​song​ ​called​ ​“Crystals”​ ​that​ ​marked​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​turning​ ​point in​ ​his​ ​career.​ ​He​ ​originally​ ​submitted​ ​it​ ​to​ ​Ultra​ ​Records​ ​A&R​ D​​avid​ ​Waxman​​ ​but​ ​released​ ​it on​ ​on​ ​his​ ​own​ ​label​ ​after​ ​receiving​ ​no​ ​reply.​ ​It​ ​reached​ ​#7​ ​on​ ​the​ Beatport​ ​Top​ ​100​ ​Songs​ ​& DJ​ ​Tracks​​ ​chart,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​day​ ​Waxman​ ​responded​ ​to​ ​his​ ​email​ ​with​ ​an​ ​invitation​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to the​ ​Ultra​ ​offices​ ​for​ ​a​ ​meeting.​ ​He​ ​ended​ ​up​ ​signing​ ​a​ ​360​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​Ultra​ ​and​ ​remains​ ​on​ ​the label’s​ ​official​ ​roster​ ​to​ ​this​ ​day. DANK​ ​has​ ​risen​ ​through​ ​the​ ​ranks​ ​of​ ​EDM​ ​as​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​remixers​ ​since​ ​signing​ ​to​ ​Ultra Records.​ Britney ​​Spears,Yoko Ono​ ​​and ​Shakira ​​​are ​​but ​​a ​​few ​​of ​​the ​​artists ​​whose ​​music he’s​ ​re-imagined​ over​ ​the​ ​years.​ ​Several​ ​of​ ​his​ ​remixes​ ​have​ ​reached​ ​#1​ ​on​ ​various​ ​Beatport charts​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the​ Billboard​ ​Dance​ ​Club​ ​Play​​ ​chart.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​also​ ​now​ ​performed​ ​in​ ​most states​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​nightclubs​ ​in​ ​Vancouver​ ​and​ ​Paris. As​ ​simple​ ​as​ ​it​ ​may​ ​sound,​ ​what​ ​has​ ​afforded​ ​DANK​ ​so​ ​many​ ​opportunities​ ​is​ ​that​ ​he​ ​makes music​ ​from​ ​the​ ​heart​ ​and​ ​soul.​ ​Instead​ ​of​ ​chasing​ ​trends​ ​he​ ​produces​ ​in​ ​whatever​ ​style​ ​suits his​ ​fancy​ ​-​ ​and​ ​his​ ​sincerity​ ​translates​ ​through​ ​to​ ​the​ ​finished​ ​product​ ​every​ ​time.​ ​Having worked​ ​as​ ​both​ ​an​ ​entertainer​ ​and​ ​an​ ​entrepreneur​ ​-​ ​and​ ​in​ ​live​ ​music​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the recording​ ​industry​ ​-​ ​his​ ​unique​ ​perspective​ ​also​ ​keeps​ ​him​ ​on​ ​the​ ​forefront​ ​as​ ​a​ ​music professional. If​ ​his​ ​trajectory​ ​thus​ ​far​ ​serves​ ​is​ ​any​ ​indicator,​ ​the​ ​future​ ​holds​ ​even​ ​bigger​ ​and​ ​better​ ​things for​ ​DANK.​ ​He’s​ ​sitting​ ​on​ ​a​ ​wealth​ ​of​ ​new​ ​music,​ ​so​ ​it’s​ ​safe​ ​to​ ​say​ ​the​ ​best​ ​is​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​come​ ​for this​ ​rising​ ​talent.
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Ultra Records and Ultra Music.

  Recently at Dolso's, The Meadows · often with Pauly Perez, Tony Di Angelis, Mrfaust999, none of them here on Saturday