Phase Fatale (live) & DJ Hyperactive
Robot Ears + Direct to Earth are teaming up for their first ever Live A/V show with special guests Phase Fatale (Ostgut Ton, 47) and Hyperactive (Droid, Blank Code). The Grand Theater's 360 sound system paired with mind-bending visuals from Etcher/Engraver will take this performance on a spatial journey.
Phase Fatale
Phase Fatale is the techno project of Berlin-based DJ and producer Hayden Payne. Originally from New York, Payne explored the post-punk/coldwave world through various projects over the course of a decade. Started in 2014, Phase Fatale served as an outlet for his own interpretation of darker and industrial-fused techno. Defined by rigid drum programming, cutting synthesizers and bleak samples, he has created a sound imprint that has transformed into a new electronic identity. On October 13th, Hospital Productions released Phase Fatale’s first full length album, Redeemer, along with an extended mix 12’’ of edits created together with Silent Servant. Redeemer expands upon Payne’s multitude of influences and pushes them further, deeper and harder than ever before, laying the groundwork for new mutations in electronic music.
DJ Hyperactive
Chicago born and bred DJ, Producer Joseph Manumaleuna aka DJ Hyperactive needs little introduction to those versed in the history of techno. As one of Daft Punk’s “Teachers” and “brother of the humble” according to Resident Adviser, his contributions to the underground continue to span generations. Honing his skills in the highly influential scene and sound of Chicago in the early 90s, DJ Hyperactive gained instant international recognition and has since gone on to play the most legendary and lauded events and venues over the last 20 years, such as Orbit/ Leeds, Liquid Room/ Tokyo, Love Parade/ Berlin, Shelter, Smart Bar, Primary/ Chicago, Interface/ Los Angeles, Movement/ Detroit, Output/ Brooklyn, Tresor/ Berlin, Berghain/ Berlin and the list doesn’t stop there. Also over the course of his career, he has produced over 100 remixes and original tracks, including classics such as ‘Venus’ & ‘Wide Open’ - Missile, ‘25HRs’ - Droid Recordings, “Music Box’ on his own imprint 4 Track Recordings, ‘Chicago’ - Contact, Truncate, Figure, Blank Code, Impact Mechanics, Nachstrom Schallplatten, CLR, to name a few. DJ Hyperactivereturned to Chicago 2013 to reconnect with his family and musical roots.
Max Gardner
US based artist Max Gardner is a DJ, producer, and founder of Direct to Earth (DTE). Max’s deep sound landed him a residency with The Shuffle Co-Op, and he continues to perform for his Direct to Earth collective, opening with direct support for the biggest names in the game. He's shared the bill with artists s/a Heiko Laux, Steve Rachmad, Cosmin TRG, Ø [Phase], Mark Broom, Ambivalent, Carl Craig and many more. He’s a San Francisco favorite, and sporadically appears across the US and abroad. Max plays a combination of vinyl and CDJs. He has played in various cities across the US: most notably in Detroit at the Evolve party for Movement 2017, in Denver at the Great American Techno Festival, and at Hawaii’s renowned Asylum underground party in 2016. His mixes have been featured on the Type III and DTE Podcasts, and notable releases include Amun on Dark & Sonorous recordings.
John Kaberna
San Francisco based artist John Kaberna is a Techno DJ and founder of Robot Ears. John has shared the decks with many Techno stalwarts including Len Faki, Dax J, Oscar Mulero, Drumcell, Truncate, Cleric, Rebekah, Developer, DVS1, Tommy Four Seven, Ø [Phase], Ansome, Marla Singer, Lewis Fautzi, SNTS, Reeko, Yan Cook and many more.
Partners
Robot Ears
Robot Ears began in 2013 when John Kaberna and Travis Groneman opened up a private underground space in a basement of a residential building in a sketchy part of SOMA. They managed to throw successful after hours events for 2 years until eventually moving on to even bigger events and expanding to other cities. In addition to throwing events at just about every notable club in SF including Public Works, Great Northern, Mighty, F8, Audio, Halcyon, Vessel, Verso, and Harlot they've also had parties in Detroit during Movement, Wherehouse in Tijuana, Spin in San Diego, and Complex in LA. John has shared the decks with many Techno stalwarts including Len Faki, Dax J, Oscar Mulero, Drumcell, Truncate, Cleric, Rebekah, Developer, DVS1, Tommy Four Seven, Ø [Phase], Ansome, Marla Singer, Lewis Fautzi, SNTS, Reeko, Yan Cook and many more.
Direct to Earth
US based artist Max Gardner is a DJ, producer, and founder of Direct to Earth (DTE). Direct to Earth started as an underground party series in 2011, filling a void for quality warehouse parties in the Bay Area. Since then, it has evolved into a San Francisco & Oakland techno artist collective regularly hosting acclaimed international DJs to a techno-hungry audience in Northern California. Additionally, Max has a full decade of DJ experience behind him, and is deeply attuned to the full physics of the party: ensuring that every track thrown down is more communication rather than dictation to his audiences. As a producer, Max is as an artist and remixer for several labels such as Coal Recs, Dark and Sonorous, and Emote, pursuing a signature sound that is equally dark, hypnotic, funky, artful and jackin’.