Enemy Records head Dustin Zahn is back. He’s a paragon of Midwest techno, a lineage that has brought forth some of the most radical and uncompromising dance music ever to be pressed to wax. Zahn is an artist who values quality over quantity, and his oeuvre is filled with considered, finely crafted releases that each have something to say. The same applies to his sets, which are invariably elevated, visceral journeys. Nastia Reigel returns to the room. Since her early releases like “Trust, Intimacy,” Reigel has cultivated a spacious, haunting sound that cuts through the noise. On last year’s “Identity,” she showcases her command of grooving loop techno, once again incorporating her signature voice into her arrangements. It’s a creative coup, equal parts intuitive and inventive, always highlighting the overlap between the corporeal and the mechanical. Georgian-born NEUX casts a dark spell. On her recent “Silent” release, NEUX builds an mesmerizing, uneasy tension that draws you deeper into a mystery. “I’m going back to sleep,” she intones. “Can you hear me?” We absolutely can.
For one night, STUDIO hosts a takeover from Eau De Cologne. Party founder Natuta comes in hot with a sweat-soaked sound. Weaving between thick, humid electro, raunchy house and full-bore intensity, Natuta embodies the fearlessly liberated approach that her party has become notorious for. Berlin free spirit MVHY returns to the room. Swinging between saucy vocal chops, pumping 2-step and classic rave, MVHY’s fluid, joyous approach has made him a staple in his hometown and beyond. Mutualism represents the US. An outrageous selector whose sets are “always a party,” Mutualism has made her mark on STUDIO more than a few times. She returns for this special set, underscoring an international camaraderie between herself and Eau De Cologne.
