Closet Yi: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

When it drops in its entirety on the 27th April, ‘Bmore Baby’ will mark the inauguration of record label ‘Curving Track’, and constitute four luscious tracks with deeply satisfying, smooth-to-the-touch textures and warm, inviting tones. Expect raspy percussion and deep, full-bodied bass lines.

Her Shine A Light On mix continues in this textural exploration, transporting its listener to another cosmos where everything points to a future time apart from those few nostalgic elements that keep you grounded in familiarity.

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I’m Closet Yi, I’m a producer and DJ based in Seoul, South Korea. The music that I play is mostly somewhere between euphoric techno and raw house, but I also listen to a lot of electro, bleeps, and IDM as well.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us?

The image of a Korean dish called ‘Haemul Pajeon’ just popped into my mind for this question. Haemul Pajeon is a savory pancake with a lot of vegetables and different seafoods. The ingredients might sound like it doesn’t go well with each other, but once you taste it it’s super good. I guess my music is something like that as well, I like playing with different sounds across genres and styles such as adding a glitchy percussion to a deep house track or pitching up vocal samples on top of a dark heavy beat. I like my sounds being harmonic, but also not too obvious.

Where was the mix recorded?

At my lovely house in Seoul! I recorded this on the very first day that the government finally lifted the lock down, so very high energy and emotions for this one.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

I would choose this mix if I’m heading to a dark energy, big room party just to focus on dancing. Wouldn’t really try this on home speakers, because it might extend the volume and my neighbors might not like that.

What should we be wearing?

Trying anything more glam and wild than usual? Not something too much, but a little twist that can boost up the hype would work I think! 

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

I’m happy with my home studio now, but sometimes my selections are quite suitable for big rooms so if I can record a mix somewhere with really high ceilings and stone walls I think that would give me a quite different mood. Like those places where you see in cercle mixes you know.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Phonogenic – Arcsec Resolution from label Moodmusic (2021). I’m really leveling up my hype for the upcoming plans in Europe, and this track really links to my energy right now. The sheer arrangements are just enough, like I could loop this track and listen to it again and again.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I think my Coastal Haze mix I made 2 years ago really shows well the direction that I’m looking as a musician. It’s one of the most hedonistic, euphoric selections I ever made, which means it’s less clubby, but I remember making that one so easily.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Easy question. Naone! We used to dj as a duo a lot before she moved to Amsterdam, and she’s the funniest, craziest b2b dj. I wouldn’t really choose anyone else other than her!

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I would go to my friend’s house to practice, which had a djm 350 mixer and two 850 cdjs at that time. I got my first technics turntable set up a lot later than that, with really poor Behringer speakers. The turntables are still the same, but now I have much bigger yamaha speakers and a nice new apollo audio interface

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Ending, because that is how people that you might never meet again will remember you.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first one was a punk record from roxy recordings, which I had zero idea about the music at that time. I just followed my friend to the record shop and grabbed anything that looked fancy. I recently ordered some new ones from One Eye Witness, great that they shipped everything so nicely to Seoul! I’m really enjoying Louis Marlo’s album – Who Wants Alchemy? from Felt Sense Recordings lately.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

It’s a shame that I keep failing to mix this record that I have from Aquarhythms, the track title is ‘Bodyjazz Bodyfusion (Rabbit In The Moon Heart Remix)’. I love this track so much and always put it in my record bag, but actually never mixed it properly..

What’s upcoming in the world of Closet Yi?

I just finished two eps that are coming out this season (one from Curving Track and another to come soon), so my main focus right now is having plenty of time digging and listening to music that I love before I start my tour in Europe.

Anything else we need to discuss?

That Seoul is open now? You guys are welcome to come over here whenever from now on! yay!

Pre-order Bmore Baby here.