Discoteca 3ala Mars
06.20.26
Karim & Mara are soulmate homies that met in their late youth and quickly discovered that Cairo and Miami culture bleed into each other in magic ways. Discoteca 3ala Mars presents explorations of musical lineages between Masr, the 305 and the broader musical traditions of the surrounding regions and cultures. The intention is to explore and enjoy sounds that shape the experiences of third culture kids outside of the places they’re from.
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To us, Connor Mikami is a cultural worker, whose work moves through the spaces where sound and memory meet. His practice reflects a fascination with the ways culture travels, carried through migration, friendship, nightlife, and the everyday rituals that connect us to places.
Mara first met Connor in LA in 2014, while they attended UCLA and Connor was visiting his hometown, the city of angels. Connor jokes that he went to his first rave with Mara. Karim and Connor met through a mutual friend Azzouni, who was with Connor diving deep into the Bay Areas electronic music scenes in the mid 2010’s before returning to Cairo to become a vital part of the underground electronic scene there. Karim resonated strongly with Connor’s obvious and uncompromising love and respect for his craft and his dedication to constantly being a student of the game.
Often on a long night of party hopping, we always try our best to make it to IYKYK (If You Know You Know), Connor’s party series. Beyond cutting up the decks, IYKYK reflects Connor’s abilities as a masterful and intentional programmer, featuring lineups that are born out of years of careful immersion in various communities populated by the sweetest local and international crowd. Everyone truly finds themselves at the right place / right time, brought together by the music and lust to lose oneself in the underground.
His work is rooted in a deep curiosity around the ways culture travels. How sounds, memories, and traditions move and become transformed through new contexts.
We were joined in the studio by three of Connor’s besties, each so thoughtful and precise in their listening. Recorded on the sunday sunny afternoon with late spring beaming and memorial day weekend antics looming in the air.
We hope you enjoy two hours of uninterrupted vinyl grooves, brought to you by Connor Mikami. Big love always to those who nurture the LA underground.
Tracklist has been purposefully omitted to respect the culture of record digging. You are welcome to message Connor for Track ID with a timestamp.
Tracklist:
1. Christian AB – Machina Drummer La Nota Del Diablo – LND002 6:21-6:51 I was really happy to find this one sitting in the new arrivals bin at Audio-In in Berlin recently. Christian AB brings a different flair to his music for this release on Quest’s La Nota Del Diablo and this track is my favorite, I think it strikes a perfect balance for Christian’s usual production style while being slightly more akin to the spooky output on the label. 2. Funkdamentalist – My Soul (Prab K’s Reality Remix) Silence in Metropolis – SIM005 15:13-15:43 I bought this record during my first ever dig at Vinyl Dreams SF back in 2017 or 2018. Prab K’s remix always stood out for me and as fate would have it, we met serendipidiously on the dance floor at Gladys just after the Covid lockdowns were lifted… I was happy to share the story with him and have a moment. This record always finds its way back into my rotation. 3. Dan Ghenacia – Sex6 Aweed – SPASM003 1:23:48 – 1:24:18 Merci beaucoup to Dan Ghenacia for this one! We recently had a chat in Ibiza and i let him know how his first release on Aweed featured a track called Ravehouse that was such an earworm for me the first time i heard Apollonia play at Awakenings in 2019. He reached into his record bag and hands me the third release on the same label as a birthday present, full circle moment, eh? I really enjoy the opening track on this release, i think it carries the same quality of Ravehouse by setting a distinctive tone and transporting the listener somewhere trippy. 4. Michelle – New Place Cabaret Recordings – CABARET40 1:36:20 – 1:36:50 Michelle’s debut album on Cabaret Recordings is loaded with some amazing music. I have a few that I keep circling back to, but the closing track New Place has it all for me. It was a pleasure hearing her play a few live sets in Japan this past January and her music (along with many other Uruguayan producers) have become buy on site for me. She has a very distinct way of conveying emotion through her music and the composition always keeps you eager for what’s to come next. 5. Henriku – Rush Fantasy Det Gode Selskab – DGS006 1:42:53 – 1:43:23 The bar is always set high with Henriku and this EP really has it all. The title track toes the line perfectly in terms of energy and is one of those rare tracks than can be played during an opening, peak time, or closing set. It rarely leaves my bag.
