Musicians
Soohan
To know the music of SOOHAN (Stephen Suchan) is to be
flooded with a rush of the vague and familiar: nostalgia
meets unique and unknowable, as he deftly weaves
worldwide influences into dance floor and festival-ready
settings. To the unfamiliar, SOOHAN is the key holder to a
catalog which dives into and celebrates what all too often
lies in the periphery. Drawing from the traditional and
popular music of countless cultures, SOOHAN’s signature
interpretation of dance music ignores borders, favoring a
shared community dance floor experience that
enthusiastically exposes audiences to new musical
territory with every performance.
Starting as a grassroots project in Baltimore, SOOHAN
has taken off as an identity in global dance floor fusion,
effortlessly combining diverse rarities with familiar 808s
and basslines. Since his initial east coast success,
SOOHAN finds himself touring the US and Canada on a
consistent and constant basis, with festival appearances
at the likes of Envision, Shambhala, Lightning In A Bottle,
Symbiosis, Burning Man, and numerous others. With
some seven albums, 18 million streams, and a widely
celebrated DJ mix series with Global Bass Radio,
SOOHAN has hit his stride and shows no signs of slowing.
SOOHAN’s most ardent fans will have even more to look
forward to in 2022, as a steady output of remix
compilations, DJ mixes, and original material looms on the
horizon. Cultivating an appreciation for the music which
lies beneath the surfaces all around us, driving a direct
line to celebration of global culture, and bringing people
together in rapturous dance remain in SOOHAN’s sights,
virtually everywhere he goes.
Rising Appalachia
In 2007, Leah and Chloe Smith decamped to New Orleans from their hometown in downtown Atlanta. The mission was to deliver art in service to the rebirth of a city, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The sisters sought to assist in the process of healing and rebuilding, collaborating on restoration education and post-storm artistic offerings with the organization Alternate Roots.
Seduced by the royalty of NOLA culture— radiant even in the midst of such unimaginable loss, struggle and trauma—the young women put down their own roots and swiftly got to work. Nestled in the bosom of New Orleans' vibrant musical village, they saw themselves as street-culture apprentices, discovering kindred souls while steadily finding their way as Rising Appalachia.
“The voice and songs of New Orleans will knock you off your feet. They strike you quick with an almost obsessive heartache and love,” reflects Chloe. “We basically never left. We lived there for seven years, soaking in the jazz and brass, the spirit of its people. Naturally, those sounds seeped into our music, as well as into our identity as Southerners.”
Rising Appalachia’s soulful folk-roots sound traces back to parents who prioritized culture and diversity, and to the grassroots music communities that dot the hills and valleys of the Deep South. Countless weekends spent at fiddle camps like the Swannanoa Gathering, immersed in what they affectionately call “Appalachian trance music.” Through thunderstorms and hot summer nights, firefly-chasing and bullfrog belting, they developed an affinity for the forests, groves and hidden treasures of rural Appalachia.
Eschewing established industry norms, Leah and Chloe Smith have followed invitation and intuition to independently forge their own path. Fifteen years and seven studio albums into an ambitious adventure that has already taken these medicine women around the world, Rising Appalachia continues spreading musical catharsis with an iridescent elixir of global soul.
Equanimous
Equanimous is a music producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist. He gathers elements from the world around him to create a sound that defies genres, pushes boundaries, and can only accurately be described as an experience. His diverse and unpredictable music resonates with any listener and creates a joyous high vibrational atmosphere on the dance floor. Equanimous expands the electronic music experience by playing live djembe, keys, and beatboxing along with his tracks. He's known for his deep bass, beautiful melodies, live looping, and creative rhythmic beats that take people into a state of euphoric dancing and heart-centered bliss.
Ruby Chase
With a focus on taking her listeners on a journey, Ruby serves up a unique ritualistic approach to live performance, weaving a broad span of musical flavors ranging from bass to latin, downtempo to house. Blending this range of global dance tracks with her original music, ethereal live vocals and interactive invitations, Ruby’s sets turn the dance floor into a ceremony.
Yemanjo
Yemanjo is a project of producer, DJ, and singer/multi-instrumentalist Ben Harris. His original music is a polyrhythmic concoction of downtempo/ethnic house beats blended with traditional instruments and tribal chants from Latin America, Africa and the Middle East--influences drawn from Harris' near-constant world travels.
Illuminati Congo
ocCult Classic Comedic Conscious Controversial Creative and Captivating Tantrik Rasta Hip Hop That Lightens the Heart.
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Based in Chicago, Illuminati Congo's sound dissolves the barrier between conscious and unconscious, reggae and hip hop, and light and dark, all the while maintaining a light-hearted, playful, childlike and comedic musical uniqueness. This coupled with Jahn's global travels teaching yoga as well as his penchant for writing books covering such myriad subject matter as tantra, gnostic Rastafarianism, health, and healing, and alchemy makes Illuminati Congo one of the most interesting musical outfits on the scene.
Illuminati Congo performances can only be described as electric, and Jahn has spent the last four years touring the U.S., the Caribbean, and Australia. Illuminati Congo is a regular collaborator with both local and national acts, and has played and recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry, KRS-One, Pretty Lights, Dead Prez, Big Youth, Lutan Fyah, Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces, Del the Funky Homosapien, Anthony B, Burro Banton, King Kong, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Perfect Giddimani, Sa-Roc, Zion I, Dj Fresh, One Be Lo, Eligh, MR Vegas and Rocker T,
Born i
The world has its ideas of who you are/ but you don’t need them,/ to be the person you really are inside/ is Freedom. The empowering lyrical verse of Ofosu Jones-Quartey, a meditation teacher and hip-hop musician, offers a unique entry point to mindfulness and self-empowerment for kids ages 7 and up, with words that call out to be spoken, recited, or sung aloud. Accompanied by the vibrant illustrations of Ndubisi Okoye, each verse in Love Your Amazing Self carries a theme that encourages kids to affirm the positive in themselves and their lives, including: Be True to Yourself, Find Your Magic, Stand up for Kindness, Embrace Impermanence, and Ask for Help. Short reflections and activities accompanying each verse help kids embody the messages, strengthen their self-confidence, and bring greater joy into their own lives and those around them.
Hon Jao
Hon Jao is the musical moniker of Jon Hao, Maryland and D.C. based violinist/DJ. A frequent presence in the electronic music community on the East Coast, Jon’s musical roots are deeply embedded in classical and electronic music, performing with orchestras and studying under private musical tutelage since the age of 3. Weaving together soaring, improvised violin melodies with primal, earthy beats, his live DJ sets are best described as a spontaneous closed-eyes journey.
An integrated part of the yoga, dance, and meditation community, Jon also can be found at private sound healing/meditation workshops, or yoga and conscious dance events such as Daybreaker, Ecstatic Dance, and transformational music/art festivals. He seeks to leave a lasting impact through his music that helps uplift people, and create a positive atmosphere in their lives.
The ShrubSquad
Soul Fire
Soul Fire is a musical project with DJ Electro-cute and DJ Zen Steady specializing in global electronic music + live instrumentals including percussion, didgeridoo, flute, synth, & more! Soul Fire has evolved out of the love for the conscious dance community and hosts conscious dance events in the DC area lovingly titled Soul Fire Experiences!
Blaudiss
DJ Shango
a Burning Man DJ, a Philadelphia, DC & Jersey based DJ,
Bringing indigenous and world sounds that uplift, enlighten and open the chakras, Shango brings his vision to life through the motion and raw power on the dance floor. Art and music collide, healing the audience of their traumas using movement, chanting, mantras, crystal vibrations, live drummers, and tribal body art. Shango’s ancient futuristic artform creates a constant flow of physical and ethereal release within the audience, purposefully increasing the power and influence of the healing energy directed toward the crowd each event, creating a massive healing movement in Philadelphia and beyond.
Beat Kitty
THE HEAVY-HITTING, GENRE DEFYING, BASS-DRIVEN POWERHOUSE YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR…
Grounding-breaking rhythms and booty shaking beats make up the dynamic and playful producer/dj combo known as Beat Kitty. Her sets are ecstatic and dance-floors infectious; blending genres, skill, and a lot of low-end filth for the enjoyment of all.
Beat Kitty has shared her soundscapes nationally and internationally, playing festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Elements Festival, Camp Bisco, The Untz Festival, Bamboo Bass, Emissions, and Mysteryland and venues such as Meow Wolf, Flash D.C., The Great Northern, The Midway, Catch One, The Black Box, The Lost Circus (Avant Gardner) and the Knitting Factory.
Confetti The First
Known as the “House Queen,” Confetti The First has been lighting up dancefloors across the Mid-Atlantic for over a decade. Renowned for her creativity, stellar track selection, and unique multi-genre approach, her fun, high-energy sets are always sure to energize the crowd, and leave them worn out but still begging for more!
Confetti The First is an outspoken advocate committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. She is a regular performer and participant at Pride events and festivals in all major cities in the tri-state area, including Capital Pride, Baltimore Pride, Montgomery County Pride, Howard County Pride and Alexandria Pride. She has also performed for drag companies such as SAD Brunch, Absolutely Dragulous, MoCo Pride Center, and PAD Awesome, and have shared lineups with Rupaul’s Drag Race contestants Peppermint and The Vixen, and dancers from the House of Oricci Primo and Remy the Ma.
Her reach goes beyond the decks, as a co-host of multiple podcasts & a social media figure. Confetti The First has released music both as solo projects and collaborations with other talented producers across the country. She’s hosted various DJing workshops, educating both adults and children at any skill level. Confetti The First has also had the honor of playing events for record labels such as Dreamstate, Anjunabeats, Defected, and Insomniac.
If you have never experienced her signature brand of electrifying beats and infectious grooves, you’re missing out on one of the best to ever do it! It’s no wonder she has earned the respect of her peers, and the love of thousands of followers all across the world.
Kia
@kia_official_
J. Ursidae
J. Ursidae is a multi-instrumentalist, producer & DJ as well as leader of Ecstatic Dance DC. J's intricate and funky yet dreamy sounds stems from his upbringing, an environment which fostered his need for musical exploration. With a professor of music theory for a father and a background in classical piano, music has been central to his life from the start. The core purpose of Ursidae is to inspire love and movement through layers of hypnotically energizing tones and rhythms.
Kitana
Breaking into a male dominated industry is not an easy task, but Kitana isn’t taking no for an answer. Kitana has knocked down every obstacle in her way and is currently working on world domination. Recently sharing the stage with Ill.Gates, SoDown, Maddy O’Neal, Psymbionic, and Dorfex Bos, she is already making a statement that she can throw down with the best of them. She has also graced the stage at national festivals such as Clustxr, Summerdance, and Beauty in the Backyard as well as her local regional burn, Transformus.
She’s got deep and dirty drops, grooves that make you move, and a sound that does not fit into one category neatly, but that’s exactly what makes her stand out. Kitana is shaking up the game and making her own rules on what music should be. Her sound is her art and we are loving it.
James Nasty
This is a big moment for this music we all love. I’ll forever be grateful that the creators, innovators, dancers and fans of Baltimore Club Music have embraced me and allowed me, some kid from PG county with dreams of being a rock star who chose to call Baltimore home after high school, to contribute to the history and culture of the sound. Don’t blink or you might miss my brief appearance in the film.
Jon Eye
Jon Eye (Jonathan Iredell), Lucid District co-founder and multi-talented artist as well a professional educator in elementary to collegiate level.
Electrocute
Electrocute (she/they) has been DJing and producing music for 12 years, rising through the ranks in the underground rave scene in NYC. Originally spinning electro and expanding into downtempo house, tech house and global house and bass music. Electrocute samples multicultural musical palettes as an homage to her Persian and European background and takes you on a melodic musical journey through all genres, musical keys, and cultures.