Maze: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

This mix demonstrates a well rounded understanding of the fundamentals of House music – pairing the more intrinsically head down experiences alongside highs and emotional release via the rise in tempo and sound.

For her it’s in “those subtle moments when everything comes together that you really remember.”

We reckon you’ll like this.

Listen below:

Please introduce yourself…

I’m Maze – not the 90s house one – it’s an alteration of my surname as no-one could pronounce it

Who are you?

That’s a big question, jeez. Right now, I’m a semi-at peace house-head that lives the 2 lives of club rat and industry do-gooder simultaneously. If I was still in the UK, I might be one of those older ravers that people start to look at strangely in the club, but in Berlin it’s just about right.

Where are you?

At my desk, my accidental best friend.

What are you?

An infinite soul struggling through a material existence.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Trippin and/or samadhi.

Where was the mix recorded?

Studio Kreuzberg in Berlin. It’s full of machines I don’t understand, but luckily the founder Julian does and he uses them to help make my tracks sound excellent before I let anyone listen to them

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

It’s a balance of introspection and hope, so probably an afters

What should we be wearing?

Well, what do or don’t you wear at an afterparty?

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

Mixes are moments in time to me, so a recording of a special live set – probably Panorama Bar, the sound is really good there and I’d be hyper present so less likely to fuck up

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

“Let the Music Into Your Mind”, by Tony Boninsegna & Estudiantes. It’s a nugget, a perfect example of why searching for tracks for 3 hours to find just 1 is worth it.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

My memory can’t really cope with that question, but my fav mixes of the past year are DJ Gregory @ XLR8R, Nat Wendell @ The Lot, and my Homodrop mix, as it helped me achieve some personal milestones

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

I’m sure everyone says this, but Andew Weatherall. As king of the tangent, it would be a pretty unique journey and take me out of my comfort zone. Plus, that way I could take pictures of all his records.

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

At 16 it was the cheapest possible, so 2x Numark turntables and one of those CD racks you had to press + and – before jog wheels were a thing. Now, mine just broke. Maybe I can use this as a pitch to Pioneer for some free gear?

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

In a mix – start on. In the club – end on.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first was Narcotic Thrust’s “Safe From Harm”, on one of those FFRR records with the giant ear. The last was Downtown Rhithms by Tom Carruthers on L.I.E.S. NY, not sure how every track on a 12 track album can be an absolute killer – emotional but classy as hell.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

My mind goes to the time someone accidentally scoffed Flying Saucers mates were smuggling their MDMA into a festival with

If it was an animal what would it be?

A flying squirrel

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

Kyoko Koizumi “Fade Out” (Moody Strings Mix), but I’ll keep trying anyway

Upcoming in the world of…

Is this where you willy-wave your gigs? I’m actually going to Govardhan Ecovillage just north of Mumbai to turn my phone off and read the Bhagavata Purana. Then back to Berlin for the Permanent Vacation showcase at Pano. Then to São Paulo for the first time to speak at International Music Week Brazil with Earth Sonic, the climate charity I’m part of, play at Ephigenia, and hopefully get to see the Amazon

Anything else we need to discuss?

People seem to care that I’m sober/spiritual, maybe it’s because there are so many DJs out there they need something different to talk about. But, for anyone vaguely interested, I’d just say – it’s not all light up wings and pseudo spirituality – you can still get out of your head on music in a raw, free, and wild way. There’s real energy, peace n connection just waiting inside. Check out Dose of Pleasure & Pyramid for more.