Introducing my new series, “Monthly Mix-Ins” – where I look back on everything I’ve been tuning into this past month, from new tracks, DJ sets, and more.

This past June, I’d definitely consider myself a major cratedigger. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the car – commuting to my current internship or traveling – so I’m constantly looking for something new to consume or revisiting some old favorites to entertain myself. Yet if I were to choose a genre of the month, it would be house – that’s right, good ol’ pure house. With the weather finally feeling like summer I can’t help but turn on those bright four-on-the-floor groovy tunes. They just sound like the sun.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve consumed this month! Everything is linked for your listening.

Top 10 IDs of the Month (alphabetical order)

• 6 AM Mimosa by DJ BORING: This track is the definition of “less is more.” So groovy, so fun, yet so simple you can almost taste the sparkling wine and orange juice.
• Airport Blossom by Jeff The Fool: When I think of pure happiness, this track is the main theme song. Funky electric keyboard chords, strings that sing, bouncy drums, and topped with vocals sampled from “I Like Being a Woman” by The Three Degrees (1973) – bliss.
• Break by SWIM: A track that could trigger so many different emotions depending on what mood you’re in, that’s just how powerful it is. SWIM never fails to move me with the way he manipulates synths and vocals into one gorgeously produced piece of art.
• Double Take by Mabel: One word – hot. A hardgroove-inspired track that would definitely move the dancefloor.
• El House by Hector Cuoto, Alejandro Paz: A modern house spin on Alejandro Paz’s 2013 house track “El House.” The groove in this track is addicting – and it’s just another example of why house music should never ever die.
• Free My Mind (William Kiss Remix) by La Fleur A recent release that put Kiss’s techno spin on an already funky dance track. The energy behind the percussion and vocal samples of this release is just obscene.
• Groove 144 by Mattei & Omich: I love how this track breaks down into what I assume is the original funk sample right before the drop. “Groove 144” is so right.
• NOSLEEPBUDDY by Kollaba: Another recent release that has all the punchy bass and gritty leads it needs. Deep and grimy, this track is filled with the dirtiest low cuts.
• On The Block by Ned Bennett, 6 SENSE: An Australian take on hardgroove that I’m obsessed with. The claps alone are so banging this track could shake the whole club.
• Wa Is Da Wa (Monkey Safari Remix) by BLOND:ISH, ISH & ISH: Released 2 weeks ago, it’s incredibly easy to let yourself fall into the repetitive drums and chilling vocals of BLOND:ISH’s original tech house release. Monkey Safari simply gave it an afro house spin every sunrise set needs to kick up the crowd’s energy.

DJ Sets of the Month

fabric presents Pretty Girl: this mix dropped into my Spotify feed when it came out on June 20th since I’ve been a Pretty Girl listener for a solid three years or so. I’ve always thought of Pretty Girl as a producer over a DJ, but to come across a mix from her was a pleasant surprise. An artist hailing from Australia, the dreamy synths and vocals (her very own, mind you) she uses in her tracks have always drawn me in. This mix definitely opens with IDs similar to hers, featuring soft electronic piano chords, atmospheric leads and arps, and breathy echo effects that surely will make you feel like you’re floating. Pretty Girl slowly brings in more energy to her mix while maintaining what I can only describe as the “beauty” of her sound, leaning into the punchier basslines and bouncier drum patterns of house, dance, and UKG. Featuring her own tracks “Hahaha” and her most recent release “Innadream,” Pretty Girl truly showcased the breadth that her sound extends to in this mix. My favorite new ID that I’ll be adding to my own playlists – Chapel by Jeigo.

GuduMix 030: William Kiss: Melbourne-born William Kiss is a recent artist I’ve come across and can’t get enough of. Instead of the traditional techno sound we’re used to – the pounding four-on-the-floor kick of peak time – Kiss combines elements of raw drum pattern samples and house-like vocals and leads to generate an electrifying sound that you can’t help but dance to. If you know me, you know I love a funky drum pattern of bongos, shakers, hi-hats, and other percussion galore – Kiss does it all within the 132 - 140 bpm range. The groove is addictively entrenched within the drums rather than a bassline like we might expect. His mixing style is simple and clean; yet so effective, indicative of his intention behind each track. This mix features a couple of his own releases – House Machine, Like This, Clap for Me, and The Healer. I also picked up two new IDs for my rotation – Make Me by Carl Falk and Let Me Bang! by Beau Didier.

That’s all for June. Thanks for tuning in! Maybe some of these tracks will make whatever set I choose to share soon :).