CLUB: Parasit presents: Aquarian (Dekmantel, Berlin) & Babylon Barsebäck (Skörd, Malmö)

Hybrid, mutated strains of rave music with influence from the sounds of London, Detroit, and Berlin – Aquarian makes raw, arresting, and urgent music aimed squarely at the dancefloor. Drawing his sound from both sides of the Atlantic, he combines Drexcyian electro, old school jungle, and UK grime with vertical singularity. The Canadian-born, Berlin-based artist broke out with a trio of records for UNO NYC in 2012, and has since released records through his own culinary-rave imprint, Hanger Management, while also collaborating with Caen-based producer Deapmash as AQXDM on Bedouin Records and Houndstooth.

As a DJ, his high energy and eclectic mixing style has found its way into Berghain, De School, Tresor, and Unsound Festival, while his productions have drawn support from from Aphex Twin, Nina Kraviz, Ben UFO, Objekt, Avalon Emerson, and more. 2019 saw his LP debut, The Snake That Eats Itself, released via Bedouin Records, expanding on his stylistic hallmarks to include industrial-flecked IDM, drone, and pop through a cinematic lens, while collaborating with acclaimed artist and researcher Sougwen Chung on a spectacular live A/V show. Showcased at festivals around the world, such as Nuits Sonores, Mutek, and CTM to name a few – it also hints at some of his other work in scoring and soundtracks.

2022 has been marked by two critically-acclaimed EPs for Dekmantel Records’ UFO imprint. Originally written as inflection points for his typically boisterous and genre-collapsing DJ sets, they gleefully contort DnB tearouts, wrong-footed IDM, and progressive trance euphoria into thrilling new shapes. Whatever the touchstone, the results are clear: distinctly modern, highly-propulsive body music with an unapologetically emotive core.