DJ Mixes

abel. (4/29/26)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0500

abel. in Carbon Sound's studio.

abel. is a longstanding house DJ and vibe curator in the Twin Cities. To abel., DJing is all about setting the vibe in a room so people can come to the dance floor, move, forget what they're doing, and escape through the music. As a strong advocate for ‘less sections, more dance floors,’ he believes “more dance floors will equalize the way that we think about the music that we love so much, which is electronic.”

In his mix for Carbon Sound, abel. warmly welcomes you to the dance floor.

We chatted with abel. about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

My name is Abel. I am a — that's a good question. It's very existential question isn't it? Who am I? Who are we? No, my name's Abel. I am a house music DJ, vibe curator in the city. I have been DJing since 2009, and I play all sorts of music. House music is kind of home for me. But yeah, music is kind of where I like to vibe.

What was your introduction to house music?

My introduction to electronic music in general was this compilation — oh, I cannot remember the name of it, but a friend of mine was just playing something in their car, this was back in college, and the song that really kind of got me was this track called — also cannot remember that. Wow, my brain — just when you have to talk about something, your brain just goes blah. But no, I was listening to a compilation CD in a friend's car, and the music was just so compelling. And I was like, "What is this?" And she was like, "Let me take you on a trip." And she loaned me the CD. And then following that, I actually went on a study abroad trip to Scotland, and I found a car boot sale, is what they call it, it's kind of like a rummage sale or garage sale. And I bought just tons of CDs, and I was just listening to all of it. By the time I came back, I had got all of it on my computer and just started DJing. Just started, like, stitching stories together, stitching songs together, with my little Trakor X1 controller. And I guess the rest is what they say is history, right?

So you started DJing because of that friend's CD, or did you just have a love and a knack for music?

I think I've always had a love for new music. Ever since I was a kid, you know, the stereotypical choir kid, I was one of the kids who would remake songs, like popular songs, and rewrite them so that they were choir-friendly. And then I found my way into a lot of just stitching music together, like making little track mixtapes from radio edits. Like, I'll put a cassette player into it and then hit record, and then get myself a mixtape from that. When I first moved here, back in 2003, I was chronically online. There was this promo that Coca-Cola had back in, like, 2006, 2005, 2004, something like that, and it was kind of like a Habbo Hotel, but it was for making music. And the currency in this was, they'd give you like preset music or whatever, and then you made a snippet, and then you'd perform it in front of all the avatars, and they'd vote for it and say if it's good or not. And then if it was really good, they'd give you currency and you got to buy like your furniture and your posters for your hotel room, and people came to the hotel room and hung out. And I really enjoyed it. So I found myself on Sony Acid, the DAW I used back then. And then I went into Fruity Loops, and then I went into Ableton Live. And then I was like, "I really like this music thing a lot." So I picked up DJing as kind of like my artistic and my creative outlet.

What's the difference between being a DJ and being a "vibe curator"?

I think the culture has changed the definition of what DJing is. I think when you think about the original definition of disc jockeying, it was really just grabbing songs, grabbing music together, and setting a vibe in a room. The greats did it. You know, Ron Carroll, Larry Levan, they knew how to control and set a room's vibe for hours and hours and hours. Didn't matter what they played. They played disco, they played funk, they played what was to be known as house, and people just danced. And that was DJing back then. You hear DJing now, and you think, big stage, you think Ultra Music Festival, you think that it's a viable way to make millions and millions of dollars. And you forget that at its core, it's about setting a room. At its core, the whole idea of making, of this thing that we do, is an art form, is setting a vibe in a room so people can come and forget what they're doing. So I still call myself a DJ because that's the vocabulary, that's the colloquialism. But at its core, I'm a vibe curator. I like to play music in a room and get people moving, dancing, forgetting where they are, what they're doing at that moment, and just like focusing on the fact that this is an escape for them, where they are at this moment.

Is that where "less sections, more dance floors" comes from?

Yes, I have a hate-hate relationship with sections. I hate sections. I think they take away so much from the dance floor. People are there for the wrong reasons. It is "show me" culture in its worst form. And I get it, venues and bars and clubs have to make money. I understand it. But you know, at its core, again, going back to the original reason for this thing that we call dance music, it's right there in its name — dance music. We want sweaty dance floors. We want to just get on the floor and just pound concrete or lawn or whatever the medium is that is under our feet, and just enjoy ourselves and not sit in a couch and look and watch people and pop bottles. I mean, that is not what we're here for, especially in electronic music. If you think about the history of it here, think about where it came from, it is such a departure from the club culture that we have now. And I think something around just more dance floors will equalize the way that we think about the music that we love so much, which is electronic.

Speaking of electronic, speaking of enjoying ourselves, speaking of dancing, what do you have in store for Carbon Sound today?

Good question, I don't know. I talked to a couple of friends a few months ago about this, at its core, like when I start playing, I don't know what mindset I'm in, I just hit the first song, and then the next one comes, and the next one comes, and the next one comes after that, and all of a sudden it's like an hour set, and I don't know which way I'm going. So it could be all house, it could be deep, it could be melodic, it could be a little bit of funk, it could be a little bit of hip-hop, I don't know. So we'll see where the vibe takes us today.

DJ PEACEBOII (4/22/26)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0500

DJ PEACEBOII in Carbon Sound's studio.

Carbon Sound

DJ PEACEBOII is a DJ and event curator based in Minneapolis. He first started DJing because he felt a need to explore more diverse sounds he thought were missing from the Minneapolis scene. This solo endeavor soon became one built with other community members and creatives, leading to events like Battle for the Belt and various club appearances.

In his mix for Carbon Sound, DJ PEACEBOII celebrates 5 years in the game with Afrobeats, R&B, and more.

We chatted with DJ PEACEBOII about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

I'm DJ PEACEBOII, I feel like I DJ for the people. I like to read the rooms, see the vibes, see what's going on. I don't like to be put in a certain box. I feel like I could do Hip-Hop, R&B, Dancehall, even EDM, like, whatever the vibes is, I'm able to do it.

When did you first start DJing?

I started DJing five years ago. I just came up on five years.

What made you want to start DJing?

I just felt the need for it. It wasn't a lot of diversity as far as music in the Minneapolis scene, and that was something that I felt like I brought to the table. Just playing different stuff, not the same set, not the same music all the time, and giving people actual vibes.

Over the course of these five years, have you had favorite spots to DJ at?

I really don't have a favorite spot, because I pretty much DJ everywhere. As long as they got a good sound system, it works for me.

Do you have any highs and lows when it comes to DJing over that time?

Yeah, I mean it was one point where I was doing my own shows, I was killing it, doing my own thing, and then the venue that I was doing my stuff at had shut down for like a year. So that kind of messed me up, because I was known for having my own stuff. So it kind of switched my mindset to not just doing my own thing, but tapping in with other people, building relationships with other people. So if I do ever get in that type of situation, I won't just be stagnant, and not moving around and DJing.

You were mentioning how certain sounds in Minneapolis weren't being covered. Do you feel like that's changed?

Yeah, for sure. It's just right now we have a shortage on clubs, because a lot of clubs have shut down, but I feel like it's a lot of dope DJs out there that bring a lot of diversity now to the scene.

What can you tell us about Battle for the Belt?

That was something I came up with, I think it was last year, because I wanted to bring like, that competition to the Minneapolis scene. And I felt like we got a lot of dope artists, and everybody feel like they the best. So I'm like, "Shoot, let's see who gonna be the best." And then my boy Rick from Water Wave TV, he reached out to me for the last one we just did, and me and him collabed on it, and it was a great turnout.

What observations did you make about putting competition on display like that?

If I'm being honest, you actually see who take it serious and who don't. You actually see who's just taking it as a hobby and who's actually trying to make it. It's like a big difference.

Knowing you take it seriously, what can we expect from this set today?

I'm energy, man. So it's just a lot of energy, a lot of dope vibes, I'm gonna try to get into some like transition, I'm gonna try to take it around and then bring it back, we just gonna travel everywhere, man.

Effygasm (3/25/26)

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Effy Kawira, also known as Effygasm, is a DJ, director, writer, producer, and more. A masterful curator and worldbuilder, Effygasm uses her filmmaking experience to create sets from beginning to end that tell a story. One of her favorite parts about DJing is discovering new sounds, and she noted the importance of opening up audiences to fresh sonic experiences as a DJ.

In her mix for Carbon Sound, Effygasm was looking to party. She mentioned craving the experience of truly turning up with no thoughts and no worries. So, under the guidance of Effygasm, turn up to this set in your house, your car, or really anywhere, and dance away.

We chatted with Effygasm about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

Hi, I'm Effy Kawira, aka Effygasm.

Are there any artistic practices you come from?

Yeah, I do a lot of things. I guess I'd say I'm kind of multidisciplinary. I'm not only a DJ — I'm a director, I'm a writer, I'm a producer. What else do I do? I'm also on a journey of starting something very new that's coming out soon, which basically kind of ties in every single thing that I've learned from all of the various creative practices that I've invested my time and my energy into. And it's truly a culmination of all of it, which I'm really, really excited for it to come out, but I don't want to see too much...But you'll see it in like a month.

In the things you mentioned, I think of visual art. Has DJing helped you as a visual artist, or do you see them as separate practices?

I see them together. When I started creating more visual work, for example, like working in music videos, music would inspire visuals for me. I have a very visual brain, and I can think of what I see and describe it and express it. And I think that without music, I don't think my visual eye would be as refined. I think that there's an importance to my understanding of music and developing that practice, too. It goes into the whole process of building a world and trying to convey a message, and I think for me, comes a lot from what I hear and what things make me feel in that way. So I don't think that they're separate; I think more so they're intertwined for me. I think everything I do, in a way, feels like it's super intertwined.

Is that why you wanted to become a DJ? What's the origin story?

When I first started wanting to become a DJ, I was like, 18, 19 — no, actually, I was younger. This was like, SoundCloud, Majestic Casual, Tumblr, that era of music, and I wanted to be a DJ, because I felt like I was being introduced to all these different sounds. And my mind wasn't even thinking, like, "Oh yeah, I'm gonna produce." I was like, "I want to DJ." I think music became so much more interesting to me, and I felt like there was so much discovery that I wanted to be part of it. And so that's why I wanted to become a DJ, because I was just like, "Wow, I want to explore this. I want to share this as well." I think that was a big part for me, and then eventually I became a DJ.

Has that music discovery element been your favorite part about being a DJ? Or what would you say your favorite part is?

Yeah, I think the music discovery is really, really fun. I enjoy listening to something being like, "Oh my god, I love this. I can't wait to play this for other people, to hear how fire this song is." Or just to see people's reactions, I guess. And I think that DJs are important for introducing people to new sounds. I think a lot of people don't really take that time, like, it's really a study of its own. I don't think people take the time to discover new music or discover new genres. They just kind of stay in the lane of what they typically listen to, but as a DJ, you can open up people to new sonic experiences that they might have otherwise never heard of or ever experienced outside of you, and spark that curiosity for them to then go ahead and deepen that exploration for themselves, which I think is cool.

What are some notable highs and lows throughout your time as a DJ?

The highs of DJing are when you have a really great set, and you're excited about it, and then you play it, and everybody really, really loves it. And also, when you can truly build a set. I don't necessarily know how to explain it, but I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about. When you build a set from beginning to end, and it feels like it's telling a story. I love those sets where I feel like I'm taking elements of my experience when it comes to filmmaking and telling a story through a set. That feels really satisfying to me. And lows — I hate playing for a crowd that wants to just hear the same shit. I don't want to play for a crowd who's not open to exploration, because then you're literally playing the same shit all the time. And I don't think that's a fun experience as someone who curates energy for any environment, and so I don't really enjoy those types of things. And I think sometimes clubs can be that way. But I also think it's particularly mainly in America, where it's like, people just want to hear what they want to hear, and people aren't open to new sounds or new sonic experiences. They want to hear the same shit that they listen to. And also TikTok. TikTok to me, I think ruins the experience of listening, because people only want to hear that sound bite that they heard on TikTok. But then once you're done with that, you have to transition because they don't want to hear it. They're now disengaged.

So I'm hearing exploration, discovery, storytelling. What kind of story are you hoping to tell for the Carbon Sound audience today?

Honestly, I've been in this energy where I'm craving, truly, to just freely party and turn up. I don't know, it sounds crazy, but I feel like I've just been desiring the experience of truly just turning up with no thoughts. And I feel like we don't have experiences like that anymore, where you could just go and turn up and be free and not worry about people being on their phone and people making videos of you, and you being in the video. And it's like, you have to be so aware of your experiences nowadays when you're out, even when you're just trying to enjoy yourself. I think for me, the set is that. I want people to just feel free, turn up in your house, turn up in your car, dance your ass off. That was the point of this. It's not going to be chill whatsoever. It's not a chill set at all.

Tarik Thornton (2/18/26)

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Tarik Thornton is a veteran crate digger and radio host. Originally from New Orleans, Tarik has laid a foundation for himself in South Minneapolis through community efforts, including (but not limited to) his esteemed show Quiet Village on KRSM Radio. Tarik credits Minneapolis’ vibrant community and robust music scene with his growth as a DJ. In his mix for Carbon Sound, Tarik reminds listeners that music is resistance and honors the resiliency of Minnesotans.

We chatted with Tarik about his background and his intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

My name is Tarik Thornton. I am a Twin Cities transplant; I'm originally from New Orleans, born and raised there. I lived in New York for quite a while, traveled quite a bit for work, but I'm known for record digging and DJing and so forth. I've been in the game a long time, just doing radio and so forth, and some production as well.

Knowing that you've spent time in New Orleans, New York and Minneapolis, how would you compare and contrast those scenes?

So growing up in New Orleans, I always knew jazz and funk music, like that was always a thing. And then through that, I got introduced to hip-hop, and that kind of led me on this pilgrimage, for better words, to New York, where I kind of got to see hip-hop firsthand, like in the late 90s and early 2000s. So it all kind of was in sync, and then when I moved to the Midwest, I really got into — well, I always was a record digger — but when I got into the Midwest, I started discovering more soul music and 45s which actually, brought me here to DJ, and that's how I ended up in Minneapolis. And since I've been in Minneapolis, the moment I landed here, I was like, "Yo, this is a dope city." And I just love — you know, besides what we see going on now — I just knew the community here was way more vibrant and amazing than anything that I've ever experienced, like people were together in community. When I first landed here, I landed in South Minneapolis, and so that's been my foundation since I've been here. And actually, I will say being here has allowed me to grow as a DJ in ways that I never thought.

You've been around music your whole life. What made you want to start DJing?

Honestly, I just always had it. I learned about records on accident, like one Christmas morning, my mom or someone had bought my dad a record cleaner, and I opened the presents, and I thought it was a toy. So I started playing with it, and once my dad got up, he's like, "Oh, this is a record cleaner." And I was able to make the connection. Then before you know it, I had my own portable turntable and I was playing records. But I didn't really touch my first set of 1200s until college, because my parents couldn't afford it. They were super expensive way back then, and so I met a good friend and that's kind of how I really started learning the Technic 1200 which is like the staple of DJing.

How did location impact you as a DJ? You were saying how Minneapolis impacted you in ways you couldn't even think of. How does it do that?

Well, one of the things that's impacted me the most about Minneapolis is — there's always an undercurrent of the 70s scene here, and then you go into Prince and so forth. Especially in South Side, there's that lineage of artists that have always been around South Minneapolis since the 70s. And for me, being where I came from, and then I landed here, it just added more recipes to my cookbook. I was like, "Okay, I'm hearing this," the way my brain works, like, "How can I integrate this with this?" But also, I will say the diversity of the Twin Cities, but also the South Side, because there's so many different people that live in South Minneapolis. So when I go out and I play, I'm always thinking about the people in my community and what they would enjoy, then I add my taste to it.

Speaking of community, you've been a part of community radio at KRSM. When did you start there and what has that experience been like?

I started at KRSM in the very beginning, actually, like in the grant stages. And I kind of just held my ground until it was the right opportunity. And then the studio went up, and I got the call. So I was probably one of the first shows on KRSM when they first came around, and it's been an amazing experience to kind of tie in radio and then actually create my own sound from that. I feel like nowadays, people, when they listen to my show, say like, "Oh, when I listen to your show, when I hear you DJ, it's like medicine" or "I just really love the way you curate the show." But it's really about having people disconnect from whatever is going on out here in the world, and just kind of challenging themselves to listen to things differently. Being a product of hip-hop, I can play a rock song, a funk song, a hip-hop song, and then play a folk song in the same set. So it challenges the listener, right? It's like, "What is this? Why is this dude playing this way? Why is he not just playing one genre?" I feel like you gotta give people food for thought, especially nowadays. You gotta challenge the listener to think differently.

The challenge, is that the most gratifying part of DJing for you or what would you say is the most gratifying part of DJing?

The most gratifying part for me is actually when I'm just kind of zoned out and doing my thing and doing my set, and someone will just thank me. You know, it's very simple, because I know if that person was kind enough or thoughtful enough to thank me, that means that they heard something that they were able to connect to. And for me, that's what DJing is about, whether it's playing that record that somebody never heard, or playing a record that actually connects with your audience. That's what it's about.

How are you planning to connect with the Carbon Sound audience today? What do you have in store for us?

I was thinking about this — one thing I will say out of this experience that we're experiencing right now with the occupation and ICE and so forth, is Minnesotans are Minnesotans, you know? I love the way the city looks out and takes care of each other, like it kind of moves as one. And so I just brought music to kind of reflect on that, but then reflect on how music is resistance. When everything first started happening, it was just weird, because it's like just do what you can, do what you can, do what you can, and I was like, "Okay, this is what I'm gonna do to be a part of what's resistance, however you feel it." And it doesn't mean you have to be on the street, but resistance, what's going on, we feel it in our bodies. And so for me, resistance is self-care, taking care of your body, making sure that you're feeling good, no matter how chaotic things are around you. Or making sure you're kind of centered in your own self, no matter what's going on around you, so you can be your best person and do your best work. The set's more about — I can't describe it, really. I guess you’ll hear it.

The Mayor (2/4/26)

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

The Mayor, also known as Awa Mally, is a community-forward DJ and creative. Although she’s relatively new to the world of DJing, she has made a name for herself in the Twin Cities, performing at high-energy parties like Samambo, inMotion, and more. She recommends the same process for new or aspiring DJs — get out there and perform, learn, and listen to as much diverse music as possible. If you're not familiar with Awa as a DJ, her all-time favorites mix for Carbon Sound is a perfect introduction.

We chatted with The Mayor about her background and her mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you and where did your DJ name come from?

I'm Awa Mally, also known as The Mayor. My DJ name came from just being out and about in the city, community events, art events, and then also just repping Minneapolis. People just randomly started calling me The Mayor, and I ran with it. And then when I became a DJ, I was like, "I need a name." And it just kind of made sense.

You've had your hands in different art spaces. What made you want to become a DJ? How'd that start?

Proximity and access, I would say. I've been around DJing my whole life because my dad is a DJ, and then in high school we had a DJ group, and then I also took some DJ classes. And with Reload.it, we also hosted a DJ workshop. So I've always just been around DJs and DJing, but I've never had interest until, I think it was two years ago, when I just had the free time and the interest to pick up a hobby and learn a new skill. It just made sense.

How's it been going so far? What have the learning experiences looked like?

It's been really great. I mean, I'm here now. It's one of those things where I think of it as, always just do your hobby. I had no intentions to do a lot of things I've been able to do with DJing, at all. I just really wanted to give my brain some exercise. And I've been able to do some really cool things, and it just makes me happy to fulfill something that I had on my list, but also just to see how many avenues and outlets you're able to access just by trying something out.

Do you have any specific moments or memories that have stood out?

Okay, this is gonna be one — after I do this, this will be one. And in November, I DJed outside in the Red Bull Jeep for their event, so that was really cool. DJing Samambo was really cool, because that was my first public DJing event, and so just having to kind of beg Kwey and set up a date, because I started DJing, and I was like, "Kwey, we need to set a date so I have something to work towards." So that was really cool, because I feel like that was my DJ introduction.

The Mayor (Awa Mally). Red Bull Directions with DJ Pee .Wee (AKA Anderson .Paak) took place at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

Sara Fish for MPR

How does this differ from your other artistic practices?

There's no breaks when you're DJing. You're performing in front of people, like there is no break. Usually with photography, maybe I could catch like a little 5 minute, 10 minute break, but it's really ongoing. And obviously people are attentive the whole time. That's kind of the thing — with everything else, there's so many different ways where it's about you, but it's not about you at the same time, whereas DJing, I feel like you and the crowd or whatever you're doing, it's a constant interaction the whole time. But also, I've realized there's a lot of connection between DJing and so many art forms. You learn buttons, you learn how things work together, and you kind of just bring in your own taste to it.

Is that relationship with the audience exciting or daunting?

Okay, as someone who is a big audience advocate, I am pro-audience over the DJ. Being on the other side of, I guess the stage or the DJ booth, I love it. I feel like parties need to be an interaction and conversation between the dance floor, the DJs, everybody involved. So I like it because I'm playing music and you're responding to it, but you're also dancing or not dancing, and I'm also responding to that. And I feel like it needs to be an active engagement. So I like the friction, but also I like the fun when we're all singing songs together and we're all dancing together, when we're all noticing. I played a gig for the design camp, and I was playing some Mk.gee and some other stuff. And obviously people were at a conference, so they couldn't respond, but when they had breaks, they'd come up to me and be like, "Oh my God, were you playing Mk.gee? Oh my God, I think I heard that song. Oh my God, I know this song." I love things like that. I feel like it's a conversation, versus we're all just kind of being forced to be here with each other. I think more interaction is necessary.

What kind of conversation are you planning to have with the Carbon Sound audience today?

Today, the music I've decided to pick are songs that I feel like, throughout my whole lifetime, these are my favorite songs. I can't fit everything in there, so I'm probably not gonna be able to play everything. But these are songs that no matter what day it is, no matter the weather, I want to hear this song. So I hope maybe other people can relate.

So we're getting The Mayor's all-time favorites in a set.

In a sense, but I will say the set is kind of influenced by the world currently, but it's still my favorite songs. And it's because I usually DJ high-energy parties. And for someone who likes melancholy music, sometimes there's really no place for some of the music I listen to, so I feel like this is also my way of being able to play music that I really, really want to listen, that I just feel like I can't play at midnight.

Anything else we missed?

A lot of people say they want to DJ, and they don't know how. I always tell people just do it. It's way more intimidating visually than it actually is. If you type on a keyboard, if you scroll on TikTok, if you have a Nintendo, if you can order from the McDonald's menu, I don't know, you can literally DJ. So I think just go for it. Do it, either get a board or just learn how to DJ on your computer. And then, I think it's important for people to listen to more music, listen to diverse music. Use your freedom, and listen to all the music in the world.

Sophia Eris (11/7/25)

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0600

Minneapolis renaissance woman Sophia Eris joins us back in the Carbon Sound studio for a set spanning different eras of R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, and more. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2008, Sophia’s music knowledge and artistry have allowed her opportunities to collaborate and share stages with artists like Lizzo, Prince, and other legends. Her robust creative career, paired with her innate love and curiosity for music, makes this Carbon Sound set one that will keep you moving and guessing.

Sophia’s will be opening up Red Bull Directions with DJ PEE .WEE (Anderson .Paak) at First Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 8. In other news, the first full-length album from MAKR AN ERIS, LILITH, is currently in the mixing and mastering process and is on the way.

We chatted with Sophia about her background and her mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

My name is Sophia Eris, I'm an artist, DJ, and producer. I am a transplant of the Twin Cities; I moved here in 2008. And I basically became an artist here, and I love the cities because of that reason.

So did you start out with your music artistry, or did you come here pursuing DJ efforts?

I was actually a college athlete. I played soccer, but I had three concussions, and that wasn't fun anymore, so I decided to pursue music business. So I moved here to go to school at IPR for a music business degree in 2008, I graduated a year and a half later, and I've been here ever since. I started getting acclimated to the scene in a business sense, but then I kind of got pushed into artistry based off of just people encouraging me to do it, so here I am.

What made you want to become a DJ then?

That was actually Lizzo's fault. We were in like two groups together and once she put out her solo mixtape, I was a feature on it called "Batches & Cookies." When she got offered her first tour, she was like, "You have to come with me. Just be my DJ." And I was like, "Okay!" I never had DJed before, and so that's how it happened. And I made a lot of mistakes for a lot of people, but that's how you learn. Now I've been a DJ for like, 11 years I would say.

What made you want to stick with it? I'm sure that was kind of hard or embarrassing, not necessarily knowing how to DJ at first.

I've always just been in love with music, you know? These days, whenever people want to reach out to kind of get tools or advice on how to start DJing, I just say taste and timing are two things you can't teach, you know? And if you have those two things, you're good. Everything else you can learn as you go. But as long as you have taste and you have a good playlist, you're good. And I've always just had an innate love and curiosity for music that will never die. So I think that's a good thing to have when you're a DJ. I'm still learning more things about DJing and how to expand and stay inspired. I think that's the main job as an artist.

What's been the most gratifying experience when it comes to being a DJ?

The thing about DJing compared to other forms of artistry that I do, it definitely gave me that — I never felt like I was ever an anxious person — but I felt anxiety for the first time as a DJ because it's so apparent when you mess up. You're like a captain of the boat, and you don't want to rock the ship. And they'll stay on the boat, and they'll follow you wherever you want to go, but just don't make the ship rock. And when I say the ship rock, I mean when you see the floor stop moving, and you feel it so much. So definitely test your strength and skill and patience with yourself and grace with yourself, and it's not about the mistakes you make, it's what you do after. Once I got a hold of that part of it, then I was able to move forward more confidently. So I get really excited when I can just feel the wave and that energy, and I know it was a good set because people are just like, smiling and sweaty.

Well, speaking of good energy, you're gonna be opening up for DJ PEE .WEE, AKA Anderson .Paak. How does that feel?

He's got the craziest energy ever, he just like a walking smile, you know? I'm so excited. As an artist, as Anderson (.Paak), he's someone that, when I first heard him, he was such a good North compass for me. I was like, "This is exactly what I need to hear at this time" because I felt like he was kind of ranging in places that I wanted to go with myself, personally, artistically, and just being able to open him up as a DJ, I'm so excited.

What can people expect from that set?

Man, I'm still figuring it out, too. I was lowkey like, "Kwey, what are you gonna do?" I know Kwey was just here, he's amazing, Samambo's amazing. So I'm still kind of scaling out my set for there, but maybe this will be a little taste of it too. I just wanted to stay fresh and innovative, that's the goal. So I'm just meshing sounds that may not be mashed before, so we'll see how it goes.

What can people expect from this Carbon Sound set?

It's just really fun, I think it's a really fun set. I feel like I got a lot of it carved, and I feel like I'm going to kind of freestyle the end of it. But I'm having fun, so I hope you guys have fun too!

Kwey (10/31/25)

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Kwey, the mastermind behind Samambo World, once again joins us for a dance-worthy set in the Carbon Sound studio. Channeling his eclectic ear and mission to connect the African Diaspora, Kwey delivered a set that seamlessly blends house, Kuduro, R&B, and more.

Kwey’s upcoming performances include Red Bull Directions with DJ PEE .WEE (Anderson .Paak) at First Avenue and Samambo World’s LOVE FM at Green Room.

We chatted with Kwey about his background and his mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

Who are you?

My name is Kwey; I am a producer, DJ, event curator, gentle giant.

When did you first start DJing?

I started DJing 2015. I remember my homie, Alec, at the time I was taking producer lessons from him, and he had a show coming up that he was gracious enough to add me on to. And he was like, "Yo, you gotta learn how to DJ." I'm like, damn. And then him and I were in his room, he's just showing me the ropes. And from that point on, I found a new love for DJing, playing music. I guess I was already kind of DJing before, without knowing it, because I'd go to house parties and play music off my phone. But yeah, that was the genesis of me DJing. And then from there, I started DJing more parties and events.

One of the questions I was going to ask was 'What made you want to become a DJ?' but it sounds like you were kind of thrown into it.

I was definitely thrown into it. I wanted to be Pharrell, because I was producing, and I thought my life would be like, "I'm gonna be in the studio every day, cranking out beats." Living that life. But DJing came, like you said I was just thrown into it. But then when I got into the technicals of it, and just doing it more frequently, I was like, "Woah. This is so much fun." So I just kept doing it over and over and over and over and over again.

For the people who aren't up to date with Carbon Sound's Gig List that features your events all the time, what is Samambo World?

Samombo World is a platform that I started 2018, it is a space to connect the African Diaspora through music. Right now, it's just a dance party where we have a bunch of fire DJs, lots of great music, and we're just trying to create a space to have people come be free, allow them to express themselves however they see fit, and enjoy good music. It's been fun over the last seven years, which is crazy.

What's been the most gratifying part of that journey and experience?

Honestly, seeing how the people are responding to the space. Even today, I'm kind of overwhelmed. I don't have words for it, but yeah, just seeing the response from the crowd, seeing how engaged people are with what we're doing. It just means a lot.

It is crazy, it feels like every event is sold out too, which is probably a lot to process.

And for me, my brain is always running.

Do you stop and cherish it or is that hard to do?

It's super hard to do. I think I need to make more time to do that. But yeah, it's been wild. Sometimes I'll be at the party, standing on the stairs looking down, like, "Oh, this is crazy."

You're also opening up for DJ PEE .WEE aka Anderson .Paak soon, what does that feel like?

I'm super excited, because he's one of my favorite artists. 2016, I think that's when Malibu dropped, I rinsed that album every day from top to bottom. That album is in my veins. So to be opening for him definitely means a lot. Him and I share the same name too, his name is Brandon. I'm excited to see what he brings as a DJ, I know he pivoted to that a couple years ago, so I'm excited to see what he has. But also I'm excited to play some good music for people. Get people dancing, get people grooving.

Is that all you can tell right now? Or what can people expect from that set?

Oh definitely, you're gonna dance. That's for sure, I'm gonna make sure people dance. And if people aren't dancing, then I haven't done my job.

Lastly, what kind of set are you giving Carbon Sound?

I'm gonna be honest, I definitely wasn't as prepared for this set. But, this was just a compilation of most of the songs that I was just feeling right now, that I've been listening to or just recently discovered. It's just a mixture of house Kudoro, which is an Angolan genre, ties between Angola and Portugal, like amapiano influence. It's not amaiano necessarily, but it's like a fusion of amapiano. Yeah, it was just good vibes, I think. So hopefully I delivered.

Angel Beloved (9/3/25)

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Angel Beloved is the co-founder, creative director, and resident DJ of artist collective MPLSHOUSE. This collective contributes to the robust house music scene in Minneapolis through collaborations with local producers and DJs, like House Proud’s Jeff Swiff on his latest project Six Won Two. Angel is a longstanding community-driven DJ who aims to create connection through his soulful and global sets.

We chatted with Angel about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

First things first, who are you?

I am spirit. I am a human. But I go by Angel Beloved of MPLSHOUSE, which is a collective in Minneapolis. We do many things — we throw parties, DJ production. Just on a journey of music and DJing.

When did you first start DJing?

Well, I dibbled and dabbled like early 2000s. But when I really got serious with vinyl and digital was in 2017.

What made you want to become a DJ?

I was a professional dancer for a really long time. So I did ballet, modern, and I was a break dancer. I was in a crew called Battle Cats, and we would open up for Rhymesayers at Soundset when it was at First Avenue. So I kind of stopped dancing, and then music's everything, so I was like, 'oh, maybe DJing might be something that I'm interested in.' And so my friend and I, Marcus Rice, he and I bought some decks together.

So almost a decade in the game, then.

That's crazy.

What's been the most gratifying experience when it comes to being a DJ?

Just seeing my growth, and then watching other DJs and their talent and what they play, and creating a community. When I first started, like really getting into gigging, what really helped was throwing sessions at the studio and just DMing DJs and having a community DJ session. That was beautiful. That was a way to get into the game and learn about different gigs, music, and just networking.

Speaking of different gigs, this itself could be seen as a different gig. What do you have in store for us?

I'm actually gonna be playing some broken beats and some world music. That's kind of like my favorite genres right now. I would have played some house, but I just want to go on a different, left turn. So some broken beats, some world music.

Track IDs:

Tribute to chief Red Crow (Congo Natty)
Jet’aime Zopelar, L’Homme Statue Retromigration
Waiting Feat. Karmina Dai Spiritchaser
Irenie WAPO Jije
Naut’s L8nite Brux Mix
Be Real China Charmeleon Broken Mix
Enouwo Lagnon Captain Planet Remix
Commit to Sound Wheel Up & Sean McCabe
Let The Drums Play M-Scape
Day by Day Feat. Cherie Mathieson Close Counters Mark Clive Lowe
Runnin Imantus Reon Vanger Remix Turbulance
CDMX Black Loops
Real Love Oliver Night Brukwise Remix
Intentions Max Sinal, King Crowney & Live East
Taxi Nights (M-sol) Vocal Remix
Brown Sugar Sal Marina DFRA
Land of Love The Modern African Spirit Soulstance

UNBOTHERED Presents: Yasmeenah (6/25/25)

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Just like that, UNBOTHERED wraps up a strong DJ residency with a House, Afro-Club, and GQOM mix for Carbon Sound.

Dedicated to celebrating life and music through dance, UNBOTHERED is the brainchild of Yasmeenah, a DJ and event organizer based in Minneapolis. Through careful curation, UNBOTHERED has celebrated the Black roots of electronic music. Living legends such as Kai Alcé, modern mainstays like Ash Lauryn and Akua, and rising stars, local and national, have had some of their first-ever appearances in Minneapolis thanks to UNBOTHERED bringing them to town for unforgettable events.

As a DJ herself, Yasmeenah is a fixture of the Minneapolis scene with a healthy list of superlatives. Her DJ in the Park series last summer brought warehouse ravers (and their dogs and kids) into the sunlight. She has played nationally on lineups legends like Marcellus Pittman and even opened for Fred again.. when he came to town last fall.

Yasmeenah will represent UNBOTHERED during its residency on Carbon Sound. Expect deep explorations through the annals of house history every fourth Wednesday from now until July on Carbon Sound.

We chatted with Yasmeenah about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

This is your second time in the studio. How has the last year treated you?

It's been busy, but a good busy. I'm really excited for what's to come

A little recap - You had your DJ in the Park series, you opened for Fred again.. How did that come together?

The Fred again.. show was really random. They hit me up, like, two days before the concert and were like, “hey, do you want to open for Fred again..?” And I was like, why not? It was a great experience. I've never played for that many people, and Fred again..’s team was really accommodating.

DJ in the Park was probably one of my favorite things that I did the past year. I really liked being outside and playing music for people outside of the nightlife setting. It was cool seeing fellow party goers bring their children, family, and friends who normally don't come out at night. It will be coming back this summer.

What is UNBOTHERED?

UNBOTHERED is just a lifestyle. I feel like there are lots of things in this world that make us feel bothered. With UNBOTHERED parties, I want people to feel free to express themselves and release from their body. I think in order to do that, you have to allow yourself to be unbothered.

Follow UNBOTHERED on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

echo's final mix (6/18/25)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

echo’s final mix for Carbon Sound: 5 hours, 109 tracks, 3 decks. echo left it all in the booth, recording until the camera ran out of storage and still playing after. Listen to echo’s final mix, “Just A Souvenir / Real Flesh and Blood,” now on Carbon Sound’s YouTube channel.

For this mix, echo weaved together house, techno, electro, disco, and UK garage. Each track chosen methodically and arranged meticulously. Starting the mix with “Page One” by Lemon Jelly, he challenges the listener to let go of the familiar and embrace the infinite potential of music.

Julian is wrapping up his time at Minnesota Public Radio and in Minneapolis. Since moving here in 2017 to attend the University of Minnesota, he has worked diligently to highlight Black music and elevate the local music scene. He launched The Vanguard, Radio K’s platform for Hip-Hop and R&B, in 2020. Using this experience, he launched Carbon Sound through MPR in 2022. Julian’s experience as a DJ and love for electronic music inspired the launch of Carbon Sound’s DJ sessions, which began in December 2023. Since then, Julian has booked, recorded, edited, and posted every single mix that Carbon Sound has platformed so far.

Julian is leaving, but Carbon Sound will keep on. Stay tuned for new mixes every other week

Follow echo on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Track IDs

Page One - Lemon Jelly
Receptor (Claudio PRC remix) - Takaaki Itoh
Glow - Matt Thibideau
Rhodes 2 - Daniel Bell
Shifting - Mihai Popoviciu
Agatha (Original Mix) - Head High
M05A (Edit) - Maurizio
Show You (Andres Remix) - Golf Clap
Just a Player - Andrés
An Afternoon's Delight - Marcellus Pittman
Evolution - Mihai Popoviciu
Mess of Afros (Glenn Underground Remix) - Q-Burns Abstract Message
Bodyword - Funk Utilities
SA DUB 4 - Shinichi Atobe
Vertical Hold - Terrence Dixon
Diastole - Rrose & Polygonia
Brainscraatch (Sard's Rescratch) - Huey Mnemonic
Blank Scenario - Ben Klock & Marcel Dettmann
Press N_Pull - Love Letters
Precious Little Diamond - Ohm & Kvadrant
I Just Wanna Tell - Waajeed
Spirit - Karizma
Looking for You - Kirk Franklin
Anagrammer - Takaaki Itoh
"1991" - Julia Govor
XX 15 B1 [MOLXX15D] - Decoder
Like No One Is Watching - Stanislav Tolkachev
Unknown III - P.E.A.R.L.
Visionary - Decoder
Untitled #2 - Markus Suckut
Seeq - Andrés Zacco
Haze - Anunaku & DJ Plead
Serac - Chlär
Gentle Decka - Franz Jäger
Departed - Androman
Harness [mldcs023] - Ruben Ganev
Brainscraatch - Huey Mnemonic
Kaus - Z.I.P.P.O
4 - Sleeparchive
Energia (Original Mix) - D-Leria
Onde & Catane - Neel
Me Mood - Smoke
I Am From Detroit - Scan 7
Blaze It Up - Vice
Echoes of Change [LN010] 12" - Max Watts and Huey Mnemonic
Flex - Mark Broom
Wigged Out - DrewSky
Signing Your Own Post - Funk Assault
Magic Equation - Marcal
Exorcismo - Maoh
Small Stone S700 - Skee Mask
The Human Aspect - Deetron
Vision Leaks - M4A4
Dust Dance - Buckley
Chicken Garaage - Objekt
909D - Marco Zenker
Kotic - Franz Jäger
Itika - Alarico
Moments In Love - Art Of Noise
Post - Mark Broom
Vaulting - Dynamic Forces
Nutz Alarm - Ocirala
Set A Dot - Chontane
Skyway - Infiniti
Push - 1morning
Pleasure Domes - Funk Assault
Don't Fear the Three - Marcal
Romance - Mark Broom
Q - Kenny Larkin
Oracolo (Neel Remix) - Worg
Red Sun - Maoh
Half Light - Burroughs
T D Playa - Decent Damage x Shawn Cartier
Panic Button - Skee Mask
The Pace - Robert Hood
Sustain Loop [LN014] 12" - Max Watts
M-00 - Silent Servant
Savana Urbana - Dextro
real flesh and blood (Mark Broom Kick Edit) - Mark Broom
Movement (Hurdslenk Remix) - TWR72
Meraki - Dynamic Forces
Style (Franz Jäger Remix) - TWR72
Sun Phase (DJ John Brooklyn's Toxic Love Mix) - Destiny Cloud
Ausgefallen - DJ Fucks Himself
Eleven - Z.I.P.P.O
Shit Hits the Fan - Dogpatrol
Sterno-mastoid - Robert Hood
Phylyps Trak II/II - Basic Channel
Forgotten Tales - Anunaku
Translate Rhythms - Deetron
The Rhythm - Casio Royale
BlackWater (Full Strings Instrumental) - Octave One
The Coincidence - The Carry Nation
Credit Card (Gay Marvine Remix) - BMG/Sal P
Deflection - DJ Priadel
Concrete - Vladimir Dubyshkin
Minus - Robert Hood
You Prefer Cocaine - Vitalic
I Feel Love (12″ version) - Donna Summer
Astronotes - Original Mix - Sterac
UK74R1512110 - Aleksi Perälä
Terminus Effect - Drumcell
Love - Luke Slater
Family (Extended) feat. Ian O'Brien - Los Hermanos Detroit
Track Ten (Re-work by Kirk Degiorgio) - Juan Atkins
Musik - Command D
Nims - Blawan
Blue Monday - New Order
Radiance II - Basic Channel

Büttäh (6/11/25)

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Büttäh is a DJ and producer based in Minneapolis. As a multi-genre DJ, he describes his style as “bass music.” Taking the legacy of reggae and dub and its influence on all genres of electronic music, Büttäh’s sets put an emphasis on rhythms that make you move. Büttäh is also an instructor at Slam Academy, a Minneapolis membership-based electronic music school.

We chatted with Büttäh about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

Seeing people rocking parties and stuff my whole life. Going to concerts and seeing my homies DJ and being like, “damn, that's cool. I want to get into that.". So that's really what kind of drove me. I also wanted to spin my own music, too.

How would you define bass music?

It's awesome, because with the history of bass music, it comes from reggae, with that deep, 30 hertz sub bass. Anything that with rhythm that could make you move, that's what I categorize bass music. I can't really give it a genre.

What have been like some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ so far?

Being able to teach at Slam Academy now. I mean, obviously, playing the concerts, playing the festivals, bigger shows, is awesome, but being able to share knowledge with the stuff that I've learned.

What is Slam Academy?

Slam Academy is an electronic dance music school. It's a membership-based type of school. You can learn how to DJ, we teach kids Ableton, sound design, all that. It's basically just a musical playground for artists. I got into it through a mutual friend.

How would you describe your DJing philosophy?

Just have fun, man. A lot of people get too in their heads when they're playing and stuff. For the most part, as long as people are out there dancing, you're doing a good job out there, 1,000%.

What do you have in store for us today?

I got a multi-genre set. A lot of people like to categorize me, and I don't want to stay in one lane when it comes to DJing. So, I'm gonna do a little multi-genre set and take you on the journey.

Follow Büttäh on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Truly Humble Under God (6/4/25)

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Truly Humble Under God is the DJ alias of Minneapolis-based producer and rapper Major Sosa. With a heavy emphasis on exploring regional styles like footwork, New Orleans bounce, and ghetto tech, T.H.U.G. weaves a thread through Black electronic music while adding a deep-fried, meme-pilled filter to it. Many of the tracks he played in are self-produced and unreleased. There’s nothing else that sounds like this mix.

We chatted with Truly Humble Under God about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

Dance music always fascinated me, but it never was something where I was like, “I'm gonna do this.” A year ago I got the opportunity to start. It's been up ever since.

How would you describe your style?

I like to think of it as a collage of what's around in the world that I see. It's a lot of dance, I'd say, like, a lot of movement.

You also produce and rap, right?

Yeah. I started off in a group with my homies, Human Error. I started rapping on my own a little later after that, and then kept doing that. That's partially what got me into DJing, wanting to put the rap stuff into that context of a weird rave scene or something that.

Is there a common thread between DJing and producing for you?

For sure. Early on I tried to keep them separate, but I think they come together naturally… It's kind of cool to be able to incorporate what I make into what I DJ and shit like that.

What do you have in store for us today?

I’ve been trying to play with a lot of originals. A big thing for me is egional sounds, so I've been working a lot with ghetto tech shit from Detroit and a lot footwork recently. But, yeah, a lot of just cool shit to get vibing. I did some some weird other techno shit that I've made a while ago, but that's about it.

Follow Truly Humble Under God on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

UNBOTHERED Presents: D Untethered (5/28/25)

Wed, 28 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We're proud to have UNBOTHERED as our next resident DJ curator.

Yasmeenah invited D. Untethered to represent UNBOTHERED for this month’s edition of the residency. D. Untethered is a Minneapolis-based DJ who also runs The People’s Sound, a mobile sound system that is integral to Minneapolis’ May Day programming.

We chatted with D. Untethered about their background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

Listening to internet radio when I was a kid. At the age of 15 and 16, I felt like I was jacking into the mainframe, hearing all different kinds of music. When I got to college, I started following some DJs around that I had classes with called the the Crunchy Bunch. And then I met DJ Nola within a year and a half or so meeting them. I started following her around northern Minnesota, where I was going to school at. Before you know it, I just bought my own turntables and decided to do it.

You also run a sound system. How did that come about?

Following George Floyd being murdered in 2020, I, would walk over to the square to see what was going on. Some of those first protests were people trying to see what was going on and what to do. I noticed right away that there just wasn't really quality sound, there was a lot of folks walking around megaphones and d stuff like JBL speakers, but there wasn't any PAs projecting people's voices so everyone could hear them.

Within a week’s time, there were sound systems spontaneously just popping up. A DJ getting, a pop up tent, sound, and then feeding people oftentimes. I just thought that was really cool. The first time I ran into Yasmeenah was there on Juneteenth, and she was with the Black Visions Collective., I just got profoundly affected by that. It was a combination of seeing that, seeing myself, being able to do it, and then asking the community for help. So, I reached out to some promoters to see if I could borrow some sound, and I was able to get a small QSC sound system initially. Later I was able to do a fundraiser, raised about $7,000, and was able to buy the first real sound system. That was the start of The People’s Sound.

You’re here today as a part of UNBOTHERED’S residency. What has been your favorite memory of working with them?

The first PARABLE was when it really all came together. Between Yasmeenah’s connections and relationships that she was able to kind of bring in such wonderful talent for that first event. I felt like that was the first time that we had this all-Black rave in Minneapolis. It was her vision to put that event together.

I feel like we both have a strong kind of connection with the Midwest when it comes to like underground music, and our collaboration comes out of a love for this music, and for the culture. We really want to take care of BIPOC folks in our scene that are oftentimes marginalized.

What do you have in store for us today?

I put together a sunny house set. When I was putting this together, I was thinking about May Day and how I felt after. Trying to capture a vibe of being out in the sun with your friends.

Follow UNBOTHERED on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

BYZARRA (5/21/25)

Wed, 21 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

BYZARRA AKA DIE/ASPORA is a Minneapolis-based DJ and visual artist known for the innovative, boundary-pushing sets. Recently back from a debut set in New Orleans, BYZARRA has also been featured on The Lot Radio based in New York City and will be playing at Babestock Festival in Austin, TX later in June.

We chatted with BYZARRA about their background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

What's your name?

Christian Ybarra. The two aliases I use are “BYZARRA” and “DIE/ASPORA.”

How do you delineate between the two aliases?

When I think of DIE/ASPORA, I think more alt, heavier, grittier. It was the first alias I started using. I associate it with my more goth stuff or harder tech. When I think of BYZARRA, I think of very euphoric, 90s rave-influenced stuff. Kind of cerebral, I guess.

Who will we be hearing from today?

The fun thing about having more than one alias is there's a point where you can go into gray areas, like no man's land. I’ve been living in that groove as of recently, figuring out the middle ground is. But I would say probably it's a leaning more BYZARRA for this set.

What made you want to become a DJ?

I wasn't trying to DJ at first, believe it or not. It was just something that kind of fell in my lap. I started going out with a good friend of mine, Persephone, when she was hosting more events, and then she started DJing. The promoters wanted to get me on, too, and I was like, “okay, we'll see.” I wasn’t against it, but it was not something I was actively trying to do at the time.

Prior to getting into music, my background was more in visual art. That's what I went to school for. It's been a really wild journey, and I'm glad. I have no regrets as to how everything came about.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

At this point with so many years into it, I feel like there's a level of trust that our local dance floors in the Twin Cities have with me. The party goers, the dancers, they know whatever I'm going to give them is going to be something they are not really expecting, but they're ready for the ride. I'm grateful for that, because that trust, a dancer's trust, you don't just get that right away.

What do you have in store for us today?

I've been in a break-y bag. I played a show down in New Orleans for this underground queer, DIY space. I played a break-y, sassy set down there.What I'm going to be playing today is not necessarily aggressive, but maybe kind of diva-coded.

Follow BYZARRA on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Urban Lights Presents: Big Reece (5/14/25)

Wed, 14 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Wrapping up Tim Wilson/Urban Lights’ residency on Carbon Sound is Big Reece, a DJ with decades of experience and deep roots in the Twin Cities. Tim Wilson is the owner and proprietor of Urban Lights, one of the few remaining Black-owned record stores in the US.

Wilson has been a longtime pillar of hip-hop in Minneapolis through his work at the store, artist management, and hosting Faders Up - a weekly session for hip-hop DJs and turntablists.

Tim selected the four DJs that were featured in Urban Lights' residency.

We chatted with Big Reece about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

How long have you been DJing?

Jesus, about 38 years now.

How has your style evolved in that time?

I've gone through all the different phases of it. I would say the evolution has been more with the music. Going through all the different genres of music and the different eras of it. I’ve evolved by being able to transition between all the different genres, being around long enough to know how they intertwine.

What made you want to become a DJ?

Love for the music. I was just always a hobby. It took me a long time before I took it serious. I probably was late teens, early 20s, when I started to take it serious. But before that, it was just the love of the music, you know, just a strong love for it. And I knew I was never a rapper. I was never good at that.

How did you get involved with Tim and Urban Lights?

I was one of those guys coming in purchasing records, you know, with the record pool. That was way back in the ‘90s.

What do you have in store for us today?

Today I'm going to do a little bit of what I would call my personal favorites, or the type of hip hop I like. A lot of what we call “boom-bap.” A lot of that combination of heavy drums, samples, and strong, punchline-heavy bars.

Follow Big Reece on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Tekk Nikk (5/7/25)

Wed, 07 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Tekk Nikk is a St. Paul-based DJ, producer, and live act with deep roots in the Twin Cities scene. Today, she runs BORA, an electronic record label whose Parallel Lounge series has featured local and Midwestern favorites like TML, Sard, and Mutual Identities. She also assists with Flyover Sound, an open format music series featuring artists with ties to the Midwest underground. As a DJ herself, Tekk Nikk is known for her rare finds that feature intricate, psychedelic grooves.

We chatted with Tekk Nikk about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

I started out doing live hardware and it takes a lot of time and effort to write a dance set with that. So, I wanted another way to to perform and to play to a dance floor.

Does using hardware and DJing tie into each other? Or are they completely separate?

They definitely tie into each other. I have used tricks from how I perform a live set to a DJ set and vice-versa.

How did you start your label BORA?

I have helped run labels for the last eight years and I thought it was time to start my own.

How would you define the sound of the label?

It's pretty eclectic electronic and club music. It's ambient, it's techno, it's kind of any form of electronic music.

What do you have in store for us today?

Some dubby, hypnotic techno,

Follow Tekk Nikk on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

DJ Advance (4/30/25)

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

With 20 years in the game, DJ Advance is an integral part of the hip-hop scene in the Twin Cities. Mixing regularly in bars, clubs, and arenas in addition to being a regular on former hip-hop station GO 95.3, he’s made a name for himself with unique mixes and keen crowd-reading abilities. Born Vance McCain, DJ Advance is dedicated to connecting his community through music. He plans to celebrate two decades of DJing with a weekend of events in the Twin Cities.

We chatted with DJ Advance about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

How long have you been a DJ?

This is year 20 for me. I'm planning to celebrate this summer with a weekend of events. My long term goal is to start some type of scholarship for the kids, God willing.

What made you want to become a DJ?

I was heavy into production and needed a way to make money if I wasn’t making money off of music right away. So, me and my brother ended up throwing basement parties and I was DJing those. I loved it and it kind of just went on from there.

How has the game changed in 20 years?

I think that I feel like the game has become more accessible. In the early days, you had to find the right people to connect with. It was a lot more hustle to try to get out here. Now, with social media and so much digital content, it's a little easier to get your name out there without leaving your house. That's the huge difference.

What have been some of your favorite moments as a DJ?

Probably DJing on Sway in the Morning. It was an electric day. Vic Mensa did his famous freestyle there where he was talking about DJ Akademiks. So, I was kind of in that moment of history.

What’s a DJ’s role in an event?

I think a DJ’s job is to help people get through whatever they're getting through. You might be going through something and you could dance the night away and forget all about it. I rely heavily on that thought process. I feel like music is a gateway for people to feel a lot better than they did before. I know when I listen to music, it changes the way I feel. If I'm listening to something uplifting, my whole vibe changes. So , that's my purpose in DJing; to uplift people and get the community together.

What do you have in store for us today?

A little bit of everything. I want to show all the styles of music that I like to listen to through this mix. It's going to be up and down kind of, but I'm gonna make sure it makes sense.

Follow DJ Advance on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

UNBOTHERED Presents: Yasmeenah (4/23/25)

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We're proud to have UNBOTHERED as our next resident DJ curator.

Yasmeenah will represent UNBOTHERED during its residency on Carbon Sound. Expect deep explorations through the annals of house history every fourth Wednesday from now until July on Carbon Sound.

We chatted with Yasmeenah about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

This is your second time in the studio. How has the last year treated you?

It's been busy, but a good busy. I'm really excited for what's to come

A little recap - You had your DJ in the Park series, you opened for Fred again.. How did that come together?

What is UNBOTHERED?

Follow UNBOTHERED on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Lonefront (4/16/25)

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Performing as a DJ and live PA, Ross Hutchens, AKA Lonefront, is one of Minneapolis’ best and brightest. Raw and hypnotic, Lonefront aims to arrange and orchestrate textures to illicit dance and introspection, depending on the event. As a producer and label head of Uncoiled, his talents have taken him across the country to warehouses in San Francisco, Phoenix, Detroit, and New York City. He’s played in Säule, a club in Berlin’s legendary Berghain dedicated to experimental dance music. Lonefront’s works have been played by DVS1 and other techno heroes from around the world. Recently, he won a McKnight Composer’s Fellowship. Not one to rest on his laurels, Lonefront stays busy producing new works and live sets late into the night.

We chatted with Lonefront about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What got you started in music?

I studied violin when I was in elementary school and always wanted to play guitar. I moved to Minnesota from the Bay Area when I was 18 to study at Macalester in St. Paul. I didn't know what I wanted to do at the time, but , music was what I wanted to do once I got there. I decided to study guitar while I was there. I kind of always wanted to be a performing artist.

After a while, I started getting into electronic music from acts like DJ Rashad and Teklife. I started messing around with Ableton since a lot of my friends at the time had it. A different friend noticed I was getting really into making beats, so they invited me to Future Classic. That was my first time hearing techno out for real, for real. It changed me overnight.

I went home and wanted to learn everything about house and techno. I watched all the documentaries and switched up my approach with music. Instead of trying to make more modern stuff, I was listening back to older sounds and trying to learn more about how those styles of music were created. I learned about different drum machines like the [Roland TR] 808 and 909. Around that time, I started working at the store that sold modular synthesizers. I was surrounded by a lot more people involved in all that and started learning more about synthesis. Through working at that shop and getting really familiar with synthesizers, I started using a modular when I performed live, and it's kind of been my thing.

What got you introduced to DJing?

That was the first thing that I started getting into after going to Future Classic. I wanted to start collecting records and figuring out how to beat match and DJ. I had friends at the time who had controllers and we would hang out. I learned how to DJ that way.

Eventually, I got a record player and would casually beat match here and there. Once COVID hit, my roommates and I would spend like all day long beat matching the same 30 records. All of us got our chops through that period of time.

How would you describe your style?

A lot of people describe it as raw, hypnotic techno. For the sake of convenience, I tell people it's hypnotic techno. From a musician standpoint, though, I feel the songs I create are sonic explorations of textures. Orchestrating textures to illicit dance and introspection into the nature of sound. I feel like the sort of raw, hypnotic side of techno is a really open ended genre to explore.

When did you start to notice that people around the country and world were paying attention? Do you feel that way?

Yeah, definitely, over time. I feel very grateful to have been afforded the opportunities that I have. A lot of that success came around 2021 after I performed in LA with DVS1. Since The Great Beyond got started, a lot more people are paying attention to what's happening with dance music in Minneapolis, specifically.

How do you describe the Minneapolis scene to people when you’re abroad?

I like to say it's the best kept secret in the country. When Future Classic was still around I would say that Minneapolis has one of the best techno clubs in the world, especially when we look at North America.

I always tell people about the legacy that's been here this whole time, even if the industry came and went and focused on other places. Roots of dance music here that tie to the early 90s Midwest rave go even further back with funk, hip-hop, and all the other styles that feed into rave music. There’s a rich history and I think a lot of lot of things have changed really recently, too.

I really celebrate the newer generation that has showed up. Not just being attendees, but taking it in their own directions. Getting inspired and sharing things with others. There’s a rich tapestry with what we have going on here. We don't have the same infrastructure as a lot of other cities to go late hours, there aren’t a lot of places in downtown that facilitate a lot of this, but there are a lot of good things going on.

You were recently awarded a grant from the McKnight Foundation. How did that come about?

I’ve applied to grants handful of times over the years and it's never worked out. The big difference this time was that I had a lot more experience behind me. When I went to write the application, I had a story to tell based on everything I had worked on and achieved up to this point. I think that that played a big part in resonating with the judges. It’s great to be recognized for creating music in the space of culture that techno resides in. A lot of legacy music institutions, especially in academia, don't recognize dance music as a valid, authentic form of musical expression — Maybe because they don't quite understand how it connects to their framework of Western music. But that blanket statement that doesn't apply everywhere, and it's cool that Knight Foundation can see the vision.

What do you have in store for us today?

I'm gonna play a collection of stuff that I has been influential the style of music that I produce and play live as Lonefront. A snapshot into what I really love about this music.

Follow Lonefront on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Urban Lights Presents: DJ IntenZ (4/9/25)

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We're proud to announce Tim Wilson as our first resident DJ curator! Tim Wilson is the owner and proprietor of Urban Lights, one of the few remaining Black-owned record stores in the US.

Wilson has been a longtime pillar of hip-hop in Minneapolis through his work at the store, artist management, and hosting Faders Up - a weekly session for hip-hop DJs and turntablists.

Tim selected the four DJs that will be featured in Urban Lights' residency. Urban Lights' mixes will air every second Wednesday for through May.

Behind the decks this week is DJ IntenZ, whose connection with Urban Lights goes all the way back to his childhood when he would visit their weekly record pools with his father.

We chatted with DJ IntenZ about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

It ran in the family. My dad is a DJ. My uncles, my cousin is Big Reece, who’s also here today. So, it's just kind of in the blood, you know?

How would you describe your style?

Definitely a student of the game when it comes down to learning turntable tricks. But I'm open for anything.

What are some of your favorite gigs that you’ve played?

Probably Bar Mitzvahs for the kids. Partying with the kids is a whole ‘nother energy. Besides that, just kicking it with the OGs at Faders Up every Saturday at Urban Lights.

How did you get involved with Tim and Urban Lights?

I used to run around Urban Lights back when it was Northern Lights as a kid with my dad. Every Saturday he would go to the record pools there to get music for the club. So, I kind of grew up there. I used to ask the DJ when I was younger, trying to get involved with it. Now, actually being involved with it is fun.

What do you have in store for us today?

I got a lot of fun hits, probably some B sides, some stuff that you probably won't hear on regular radio. Just bunch of good energy. Make it intense for you.

Follow DJ IntenZ on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Omari Eternal (4/2/25)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Omari Eternal is a multidisciplinary artist with roots in the Twin Cities and talent that takes them around the country. Thinking of DJing as a way to paint a picture, Omari Eternal’s mix shirks genre in favor of a message for liberation and unity.

We chatted with Omari Eternal about their background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

Music has always been a huge cornerstone of my life. I met my partner, Pauli Cakes, in 2020 and they showed me how to mix and blend music. It changed my perspective, and that's how I got into DJing.

How would you describe your DJing style?

Very eclectic, sporadic. I like to use many different sounds. I'm not afraid to bend genres. I'm not afraid to bend social norms.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

The most gratifying moments have been when I'm DJing and I look up and see people having a good time. Dancing, not on their phones, just present in reality. That's a really hard thing to do in this day and age, to get a person to pay attention to something. It's the attention economy, after all.

You're an artist in a lot of different rights. What are some of the other media that you like to express yourself in?

I'm a tattoo artist and I also draw. Pretty much any medium that I can get my hands on, if it can make a stroke, then I probably will use it.

How does DJing tie into all of it?

It's all connected. I see myself as a painter. No matter what I'm doing, whether it's making music, DJing, or tattooing, I'm putting a painting together for people to view. That's how I see it.

What do you have in store for us today?

Today, we're gonna be going into my mind a little bit. I also want to draw the parallels between the struggle in Palestine to liberation in general. There's a parallel between the Black struggle and the Palestinian genocide that's happening currently today. That's something I want to try to convey through my set, if possible.

Follow Omari Eternal on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

UNBOTHERED Presents: Yasmeenah (3/26/25)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We're proud to announce UNBOTHERED as our next resident DJ curator.

Yasmeenah will represent UNBOTHERED during its residency on Carbon Sound. Expect deep explorations through the annals of house history every fourth Wednesday from now until July on Carbon Sound.

We chatted with Yasmeenah about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

This is your second time in the studio. How has the last year treated you?

It's been busy, but a good busy. I'm really excited for what's to come

A little recap - You had your DJ in the Park series, you opened for Fred again.. How did that come together?

What is UNBOTHERED?

What do you have in store for us today?

Soulful, Jazzy, deeper house tunes. Lots of instrumentation. I love live instruments and and percussion. Then, easing into what I like to call “party house,” what I would normally play for a packed dance floor.

I think my goal with the [UNBOTHERED residency] sets ia to let the tracks breathe and let people hear what they have to give. I've noticed with longer tracks, some of my favorite bits end up being in the last four minutes. But all around, I would just call it good house music. Period.

Follow UNBOTHERED on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

DJ Sci-Fi (3/19/25)

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

What made you want to become a DJ?

I’m a super daydream-y person but there wasn't a lot to daydream about in my surroundings. Except for being on the bus going to school, where they would play the radio. I would always think about what the DJs must be doing. That was the first time I can remember being really interested in it. When I was 18 or 19 I met Shannon Blowtorch, which kind of reignited that fantasy that I forgot that I had from being a kid.

How would you describe your DJing style?

I'm very much rooted in the technique of hip-hop battle DJing, which I think is kind of rare in the house scene that I play in. A lot of my technique is more hard cuts and stuff like you would hear in hip-hop mixes; more turntable technique as opposed to the more melodic stuff that I personally see out a lot from house and techno DJs. I noticed that they play a lot more with sound frequencies and stuff like that, whereas I'm much more about certain musicality things within the music I listen to; especially if I'm doing hip-hop sets and house sets, because there will be little things in songs that remind me of this other little thing from this other song. I'm very open to playing with stuff, whether or not it sounds good, and just figuring it out. If I can make it sound good, that's even better. I think it's playful, but careful.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

A couple came to mind right away. One was the set I did last year for May Day at Powderhorn Park. I think that was one of my favorite sets I've ever done. I could only see the first five or six people that were in front of me and nothing else, so I played for them. Little did I know my friend was up on the hill getting a video of the whole crowd. I think if I knew how big the crowd was at the time, I would have been really, really scared. But getting to see it in the aftermath and realizing I can move people that way — not just physically, but emotionally — with music is really gratifying.

The other one was, we had an employee party for my day job. We got to go to Paisley Park and they let me DJ for the party in the NRG lounge, where Prince threw parties in his house. It was one of the coolest moments my entire life and probably one of the greatest experiences I think I'll ever have. I don't think I've ever been treated that way as an artist — having to come in through the loading bay and and give my ID to a security guy for an all access pass, having people carry my things and escort me to the stage. It was really jarring at first, until I actually got to be on the stage, take the setting in, and realize how special the opportunity was.

What do you have in store for us today?

Some house and some UKG I'm really excited about. I think having house, and the particular kind of house that I feel like people know me for playing, made it a really easy avenue to get into UKG. I think UKG is like house, but it has a swing to it that just puts a little bit more in your step than house might.

Follow DJ Sci-Fi on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Urban Lights Presents: DJ Layz T (3/12/25)

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

We're proud to announce Tim Wilson as our first resident DJ curator! Tim Wilson is the owner and proprietor of Urban Lights, one of the few remaining Black-owned record stores in the US.

Wilson has been a longtime pillar of hip-hop in Minneapolis through his work at the store, artist management, and hosting Faders Up - a weekly session for hip-hop DJs and turntablists.

Tim selected the four DJs that will be featured in Urban Lights' residency. Urban Lights' mixes will air every second Wednesday for through May.

Behind the decks is Tony Williamson aka DJ Layz T, who hails from the north side of Minneapolis and began DJing in 1978. He began spinning records in the park and quickly elevated to the radio and club scene. We chatted with DJ Layz T about his background and intentions for the mix.

We chatted with DJ Layz T about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What got you started as a DJ?

It's hard to say. I came across it by radio. There used to be a radio station, KBEM, way back in the day. Allen Freed had a mix show from 10 to 12 [PM]. We got hooked on to that. Then it was just like, “okay, how can I do that?” So, we started mimicking it from there.

How has your style changed with time?

It really hasn’t. Of course, my forte is hip-hop, but there’s also R&B. I've done a bar mitzvah, quinceañera, all the hood parties, house parties, neighborhood clubs, corporate. So, you know, you gotta be versatile. Play the pop music, country and all that. I can go wherever, if I need to.

How did you get involved with Tim and Urban Lights?

It's kind of funny. It's a house party. He's friends with a guy named Troy Foster who's a south sider. We used to be running buddies. Long story short, we went to a south side house party and ran into Tim. Back then it was north side versus south side, but we just hit it off from there. Tim was doing a record pool, then he got his own shop over there. So that’s where we're at. He's been at that record shop, what, 30 years? We been together that long.

What do you have in store for us today?

I set up something, but it'll probably change. Normally everything's real speedy. I came across an idea where I slowed everything down. So, it's a different tempo. Same vibe, just different tempo. Because if you know the songs, you'll be like, “oh, it ain't that slow.” So we'll change it up.

Follow DJ Layz T on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Ori The Ghost (3/5/25)

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Ori The Ghost is a DJ and producer based in Minneapolis. A fixture of the underground electronic scene in the city, she is affiliated with local collectives PIVOT and Acme. Ori’s high-octane style is filled with left turns and kinetic, hand-sculpted grooves.

We chatted with Ori The Ghost about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

Where did your DJ name come from?

Not a great place, actually. I’ve always considered myself as someone who's usually on the outskirts of things. So much so that I felt like a ghost in a lot of spaces I was part of. I didn't feel like I was connected with a lot of people. These days, it's a lot different. But the origins of me also being an online person, playing a lot of video games, and having a lot of internet relationships made me feel almost like a transparent entity rather than a regular DJ. I also make stuff and produce things, so I felt like putting the word DJ in my name never made sense.

Has being a DJ helped you become more connected with people?

100% If it wasn't for DJing, I don't know where I would be creatively right now. I wouldn't have so many outlets in which to express my creativity, especially in the city. Without DJing, all these opportunities would just be left in my bedroom. DJing has brought the opportunity to let me share ideas that I have and a lot of the music that I love and have been collecting for a while. It’s been a wonderfully net positive.

What made you want to become a DJ?

The universe. I'm not a super spiritual kind of person, but I do believe in signs. I resisted the idea of being a DJ for a while because I just never made sense for what I was making at the time. Then I got an opportunity from the a local DJ here who gave me the idea to start, but I said no. DJing still wasn’t on my mind. They eventually asked again and I was ready at that point, but they had a big year and got busy, so my opportunity passed.

Eventually, I got a presented with the opportunity again by someone separate, Gerardo Morado. He's the head of the Acme Collective. He like, was like, “yo, I see you on the floor. I see you have a sense of rhythm, do you want to learn how to DJ?” I think at that point the universe was slapping me in the face. All signs point to doing this I was very blessed with the opportunity to have my hands on actual CDJs and XDJs. I feel like a lot of my growth came out of being given these opportunities.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

People's responses. I get really scared, specifically when it comes to playing stranger rhythms, more abrasive sounds that I'll probably sprinkle in between some of the hardgroove that I really wanted to play today, because I'm scared of people's reactions to them.

Being from Iowa, a lot of people don’t even want to listen to regular dance music, let alone the more abrasive sounds. So, I felt very timid about sharing that with people, especially at shows. When I did, there were people who identified with wanting to hear these sounds and wanting to experience the dance floor with music that they listen to. I felt super gratified in the sense that what I'm doing is doing something for at least a few people, that's enough for me.

What do you have in store for us today?

I have a mixture of a few sounds. Hardgroove and a more a fast-paced 140 [BPM] feels right for this space and the legacy of what I hear on Carbon Sound, but also honoring the sounds that I really love and enjoy. I think hardgroove is a really good conduit for that… There will be a lot of different ideas in there that all have high-octane, metallic energy to them that I like to bring to most of my music and sets.

Follow Ori The Ghost on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Track IDs

FKA twigs - Room Of Fools
Mark Broom - W.W.W.W.W.W.W.WORK (Original Mix)
MYKI - AAA
BASSBEAR!! - Lil Scrappy Joint
Caru & Micca - JAYWALK
X CLUB. - Block Rockin
PHANTAZN - MISSED CALL
Recluse - Spark Trak
Funk Assault - Corporate Cages
DJ JM - Charge
INTIMATE CLUB RECORDS - Submarine FM - Cute Boys
Ori The Ghost - When Did It Get SAUR Hard (i think about it all the time edit)
WILHELMINA - Gongs of Death
Constantine - I Want To Be Down Vs Boy Is Mine
Gaszia - Final Round
Dubbel Dutch - High School Drums
XQZ ME - EXCUSE ME
DR. GABBA - Celestial Trash Collection
Mark Broom - Paid In Full (Mark Broom Edit)
Maccari - Stardust Rhythm (Original Mix)
Ori The Ghost - BOOTS

Rimarkable (2/26/25)

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Rimarkable, an NYC-based, Detroit native DJ, producer, and New York University adjunct professor, came to town for February’s edition of House Proud, a monthly event at Beast Barbecue. With decades of experience and deep crates to select from, Rimarkable laid down a set of uplifting house that is sure to stave off the February blues.

We chatted with Rimarkable about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

How did house music get introduced to your life?

I grew up during its infancy. As it was developing, I was developing, and we just grew up together

What does house music mean to you?

House music is a place of salvation and safety. I like to think a lot of the fundamentals of house music derived from the church and the people that influence house music and created house music were people that weren't typically supported in those spaces. House music developed a culture where people that were considered outcasts could be safe and feel saved by the spirit of the music, the vibration of the music.

What made you want to become a DJ?

I was always naturally a DJ, I just didn't know it. I used to make what old school DJs call “pause mix tapes” from the radio. Basically, you wait for your favorite song to come on, and you hit record from the radio, and then you pause it in a certain spot so it'll blend into the next one. I was just doing that instinctively, and I had a massive collection of these pause tapes for my own enjoyment. I had some friends that caught wind of it, and I got known for my tapes. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college, I didn't want to go back home. So, I found an ad in my school paper for a company hiring DJs. I bullshitted my way through the interview and became a DJ and was taught how to do everything from the ground up.

What have been some of the most gratifying moments for you as a DJ?

The most gratifying moments are when people let me know how they've been moved or blessed by the work that I'm doing. I don't want to be in a place where I'm thinking, “oh, I've achieved this, I played at this festival.” I'm actually leaving behind those ideas, that ideology about where we're supposed to be in our career, you know? I'm circling back to the elements of the culture, which is this. Making this music, this connective tissue, and impacting people's lives.

People are sick. The world is crazy. When people reach out to me and tell me how I saved them, or they were going through a tough time, or they're really inspired by my work, that’s the highlight. That's everything that lets me know I'm doing the right thing and I'm staying on the right path.

What do you have in store for us today?

Today, I'm gonna give you a one hour set of a journey through house music. I might play some unreleased tracks, if that's cool. I am just gonna give you a taste of something… remarkable.

Follow Rimarkable on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Track IDs

Art Of Tones - I Just (Can't Get Over It) (Terrence Parker Remix)
Colau - Thats New (Saison Extended Remix)
DJ E-Clyps - Pinky Toe Disco
Guri Guri Boys & Aaron K Gray - Fiyah (Original Mix)
B Rocka - Ba Dop
Ninetoes - Nose (Original Mix)
Waajeed - After You Left
Rimarkable - Think Of Me With Summers Light (Stefan Braatz - Touch From A Distance Mix)
Seven Davis Jr. - I Should Be In Japan
Henrik Schwarz - Synthphonica Urano Beatz (Original Mix)
Gershon Jackson - Take It Easy (Mike Dunn Blackball Ezee Mixx)
Dennis Ferrer - Sinfonia Della Notte (Original Mix)
Tobirus Mozelle & The SyntheTigers - F.U.N. (Feel U Now)
Soulfreakah - A cure for heartache. (Original Mix)
Kai Alcé - Power Thru Pt 3 (Mush's Sax Dub)
Rimarkable - Speak Lord (In the Big Room Mix)

DJ Slugo (2/19/25)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Chicago Ghetto House legend DJ Slugo graced the studio with a visit during his time in the Twin Cities for UNBOTHERED’s Parable rave last Saturday. Known as the King of Ghetto House, Slugo has evangelized the sound and ethos of the subgenre for decades. His productions, like his recent work with NYC’s Lauren Flax, have also lit dancefloors on fire across the globe.

We chatted with DJ Slugo about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity, below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

I watched my cousin DJ for years and saw what he was doing. We grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes — the projects. I saw him get a lot of notoriety from it. So I told him, “teach me.”

What was it like being in Chicago at the dawn of house music?

One of the best things that could have happened. I never would have figured DJing would be my job. I had other aspirations and things like that, but I wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world.

You are the King of Ghetto House, correct?

That's what they say.

What does ghetto house mean to you?

Everything. I live, breathe, everything ghetto house, you know? House music was cool. But for me and the guys that grew up with me and helped me pioneer the sound, it was too slow for us. It wasn't speaking to our lifestyle. It wasn't speaking to the things that we were experiencing in the neighborhoods we were growing up in. So, we decided to change the sound. That's why we put the word “ghetto” in front of it, because we was living in the hood.

We loved house music and we didn't mind playing it, but we wanted to ghetto-fy it. Put profanity in and say derogatory stuff because that's the stuff we was hearing. That's the stuff we grew up on. It's still house music. I tell people ghetto house is still house music. It's just hood. It's hood house music.

I've described ghetto house to people and it's almost like people feel like they have to be offended when they hear the term. Do you ever get that?

A lot of people get offended because they hear the word “ghetto.” I grew up in the ghetto. I grew up in the hood. Don't be afraid to be where you from. I embrace it. You said I'm ghetto, but I took the ghettoness of what you saying that I am and turned it into a business. So I guess I got a ghetto house business too.

At the end of the day, I'm never offended. You know, whatever people want to call it, how they want to embrace it, but at the end of the day, it's what we call it and what we do with it that makes sense. So if people don't understand it that way, I'm not offended at all. I've even had people in Chicago who grew up there be like, “what's ghetto house music?” I'm like, man, have you been under a rock? That's the reason I keep doing what I'm doing, because it's a lot of people, even in Chicago, that still don’t know what this sound is. So, I keep pushing until everybody knows what the sound is.

It's funny that you mentioned people in Chicago not getting it because you're mentioned on [French duo] Daft Punk’s song “Teachers.” How did you feel when you first heard that?

I felt two ways: excited, because a lot of people were excited for us, but disappointed that they mentioned all of those people on that record and never did a record any of us. You say that we’re your teachers and we helped you build your sound, but you couldn't come back and get at least one or two of us?

I was excited that they paid homage, a lot of people do that pay homage, but the best way to pay homage is by going and grabbing that guy who inspired you, and saying, “hey, let's do something together.” That would be more inspiring than anything… So, I was excited that they gave us flowers while we were alive on there, but to not come back and do a record with either guy on the record on that they mentioned… I never understood it. I always wanted to ask them, “why y'all never came back and did a record with any one of us?” It’s like leaving the hood and then never coming back and bringing anything back to the hood.

That's a good point. It's funny that you mentioned that, because I feel like from the outside looking in, that's what your collaboration with Lauren Flax was. You obviously inspired her, so you two worked together.

Exactly. She's a sweetheart, too. She's one of those people. Somebody asked me about her, and I'm like she's 100 because she went and did music with the people that inspired her. So to even to be able to do music with people that inspired you, it's epic. But it's a lot of people who me and my colleagues have inspired who have never done anything with us… There are people who sampled us, replayed our bass lines, our words, but never once called and said, “hey, let's do a record together.” Or, “hey, I want to remix your record.” But it'd be beautiful. I could remix your record and we put another one on there. Now, I'm in a situation with Sony, or I'm in a situation with Atlantic, and I want to make sure you get a part of that situation, because I want to redo your song. But no, we don't get that. It's like every man for himself in the house world, unfortunately.

You’re in town for a show. What are you most looking forward to about tonight?

I love this sound, like, love this sound. So, just being able to get it to a newer generation in there that ain't heard it yet. That gives me another five years as they’re growing up and getting into the sound. That's what I'm really looking forward to, bringing the sound to people who've never heard it. I mean, of course, the people who've heard it and and want to hear it, blessings with them. But my goal is to bring the sound to new people.

I tell people my life is a party. I just want to have a good time, you know? I wanna leave this earth with a smile on my face. I had a ball, you know, and then have no regrets when I leave here, you know? So, that's what I'm looking forward to. Having fun.

What do you have in store for us in the booth today?

I never have a curated set. A lot of people do that, I don't. Whatever I'm feeling at that particular time, I'm gonna play it like. I might go back and critique this mix 100 times and it just prepares me for my next gig. When I'm doing sets like this, it's practice.

Follow DJ Slugo on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Urban Lights Presents: Mickey Breeze (2/12/25)

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

We're proud to announce Tim Wilson as our first resident DJ curator! Tim Wilson is the owner and proprietor of Urban Lights, one of the few remaining Black-owned record stores in the US.

Wilson has been a longtime pillar of hip-hop in Minneapolis through his work at the store, artist management, and hosting Faders Up - a weekly session for hip-hop DJs and turntablists.

Tim selected the four DJs that will be featured in Urban Lights' residency. Urban Lights' mixes will air every second Wednesday for through May.

Starting us off is Mickey Breeze, a DJ, producer, and educator from St. Paul. Mickey’s approach to DJing is highly technical, incorporating scratching, live drum pad usage, and stems to create wholly new works from recorded songs. Currently, he DJs for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Twins via his partnership with Generation Now. Mickey Breeze also teaches courses at Slam Academy.

We chatted with Mickey Breeze about his background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

Getting to express myself live and on stage. I have a pretty decent background in instrumentation. I played piano, trumpet, drums and a couple of other orchestral instruments. I was making my own beats and wanting to perform them live, I figured DJing was the best conduit for me to hop on stage play my stuff.

Who have been some of your biggest influences as a DJ?

Scratch Bastid out of Toronto, Canada. DJ Jazzy Jeff — I know it's kind of a cop out. DJ Craze from Miami and a few other really good freestyle DJs have been big inspirations on my style.

How did you get involved with Tim and Urban Lights?

I've been making beats for about 15 years now. I was very heavily involved with with beat battles around the Twin Cities and I had met the Urban Lights team doing a couple of beat battles in their store.

My mom was a really heavy promoter of my DJing when I was younger, via Facebook, or just walking me up to Urban Lights all the time, and going over my music exploits and stuff with Tim all the time. When I got of age to be getting in clubs and studios with people, me and Tim kind of connected on our own. He signed me to Urban World Management and we've been connected ever since then.

I also teach for him at our creative arts program at a couple of schools in the Minneapolis Public School System, and he's been helping me make some music to license out to a few different companies.

What do you have in store for us today?

A lot of things that I've been inspired by recently. I listen to new music every single day. I'm always trying to find new things, trying to mix new textures. It's a mixture of places that I've been in my life, places that I've been recently. Some techno, house, and different world influences.

Follow Mickey Breeze on Instagram to stay up to date with his events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Girl Blunt (2/5/25)

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Our first studio guest of 2025 is Girl Blunt, a Minneapolis DJ whose Sunday Synastry residency at Green Room Minneapolis has platformed queer and BIPOC DJs and served as a perfect excuse to leave the house on a frigid Sunday evening.

We chatted with Girl Blunt about her background and intentions for the mix. Read a transcript of the interview edited for length and clarity below:

What made you want to become a DJ?

I’ve been involved in music my entire life. I was inspired by the feelings and community in those musical spaces, but felt that there was still something missing that maybe I had the key to unlock it.

What did you think was missing?

Music for me captures moments, spaces, and emotions. It's like a measure of time — one of the only real measurements of time we have. It felt like a lot of what I saw people were doing was selfish. They didn’t interact with the crowd enough or they weren’t feeling the emotions that the crowd was feeling. Emotion and connection was missing from what I was experiencing. I’m a really emotional person, so I wanted to be able to connect with people in that way.

What have been some of your favorite events that you've done so far?

[Sunday] Synastry has been a huge blessing. I wasn't ready for it when it happened, but being able to have a space every single week to perform and share the stage with others has been really inspiring. Otherwise, all the random weird places that I've gotten to play — different people's basements, warehouse spaces, or just random sets in the middle of someone's apartment or screen printing shop.

What do you have in store for us today?

Follow Girl Blunt on Instagram to stay up to date with her events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

D. Untethered at Berlin (1/19/25)

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Carbon Sound stayed busy this month with its residency on Sunday nights at Berlin. Each night has featured a diverse lineup of local talent that we believe exemplify our mission. On Sunday, Jan. 19, we featured two local DJs: Stevie and D Untethered.

Drew "D" Valle (they/them) goes by D. Untethered to dignify not having stronger familial traditions or cultural roots. D. is from Ohio and moved to Minnesota in 2010. D. grew up listening to hip-hop, funk, R&B, soul, and jazz and became interested in dance music in their late teens. Although they are a discerning selector as a DJ, D. lives out the value in their moniker by not remaining fixed on a particular rhythm and tempo.

In 2024, D. wrote and performed a live hardware set in June with Ross Hutchens (AKA Lonefront), Mutual Identities, and Mike Pifer under the moniker D. Tracks.

D's musical taste is inspired by liberation spirituality, the Black radical tradition, and concepts around cultural relief and resilience through ecstatic dance experiences and sound system culture. They curate a dance night called DecaDance at the Uptown VFW and organize the People's Sound System project as a DIY community PA resource for mostly free events in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Follow D on Instagram to stay up to date with their events.

Stay tuned for new mixes on Carbon Sound every other Wednesday. If you’re a DJ and want to be considered for the series, email a mix of yours to jgreen@mpr.org.

Track IDs

Angelo Badalamenti - Slow Cool Jazz (demo)

David Lynch - Poem of Unknown Origin

Hirano Yoshihisa - Latent Power

Dennis Martin, Takeo Miratsu - Main Menu

JBx Project - Vero

Eva Be - Trippin Dub

Pastilla Blanca - Emblematico (Green Spice Mix)

Lightning Head - Life is Life

Joey Bada$$ - Righteous Minds

Ralf Stritt - 1979

Neil Frances - Dancing

JBx Project - Samba de Palma

Legion of Green Men - 21st Century Disease

SWV - Right Here

B(if)tek - Pipe Dream

Benedek - Saturday Jam

Karyn White - The Way You Love Me

Bad Jazz Troupe - Breakdown Treat (Rework)

Trus' me - Can We Pretend

Dego - The Negative Positive

Jack Hererra - Jack Hererra 4 President

Grae Music - Zxc

Hexstatic - That Track

Floating Points - People's Potential

Dego & The 2000 Black Family - Don't Stop Let it Go

The Amalgamation of Soundz - Phuture Soundz

From P60 - Softly

Reunion - Eona (Jimpster Remix)

The Kaminski Experience - Mirage

Rebecca Vasmant - Broken Biscuits feat. Nadya Albertsson

Georg Levin - When I'm With You

Slope - Para Los Pinchas (Sequel Remix)

Modulo5 - Miles 2000

The Future Sound of London - While Others Cry

Kevin Yost - It's Getting Bigger

Charles Levine & Martin Buttrich - Festival Queen

Sakanatsuri - Currents

Black Jazz Consortium - Levels

upper class - Driftin

Los Hermanos - Detroit 2 Minneapolis

Dauwd - La Nota

Cook Peepl feat. Billy Love - Free (Mr. G Testify Dub)

Los Hermanos - Body Levitation

Midnight Special - Nude Runner

Terence Terry - About House tt. Edit

Pontchartrain - Burning

Angelo Badalamenti - Dance of the Dream Man