BALANCE: DJ Hyperactive / Clarisa Kimskii / Justin Cudmore / Mike Servito / Madison Moore

April 7, 2023

BASEMENT: DJ Hyperactive / Clarisa Kimskii / Justin Cudmore
STUDIO: Mike Servito / Madison Moore

Justin Cudmore’s Balance parties always bring out someone special and this time is no exception. Chicago’s DJ Hyperactive is a true master from the old school, a foundational techno artist whose roots go back to the beginning of the genre and whose career has seen him evolve in perfect step with the times. Early EPs like “Jeopardy” and “Don’t Fuck With Chicago” show a young Hyperactive’s fiendishly jacking style in full effect, while more current works like “Soul” show his ferocity refined but not tempered. His productions move with determined assuredness while never giving the game away. Clarisa Kimskii is one of the country’s best practitioners of sensual wormhole techno. A veteran DJ, label owner and event organizer, she’s split the last years between NY, Berlin and Washington DC, always putting herself at the center of the action. But most important is her music: an exceptional talent, she brings an elemental power to her sets while highlighting slinky-yet-muscular grooves. Justin Cudmore always delivers. The Bunker NY artist has a sneaky swagger to his sets, which are driven by whip smart drums and tough, bouncy grooves.

Mike Servito and madison moore handle STUDIO. Are there two artists more perfectly suited for Balance? Both bring an exemplary, queer approach to house DJing, steeped in tradition and executed with flawless technique while remaining beholden to neither. Servito is practically a household name in NY. A resident of The Bunker, the Detroit native takes instant command of any room he’s DJing in. Naughty, jacking house with plenty of acidic flair, deep cuts from the vault and a deadly sense of timing: these are the hallmarks of a Servito set. madison moore goes for the jugular, with a strobing, exhilarating sound. An explosive presence in the booth, his sets are guided by both an uncontainable viscerality and strong critical framework; when he isn’t DJing, he is teaching at the University level authoring treatises on queer life and arts in America.

■ No photos or videos
■ No phone use on the dancefloor
■ The dance floor is for dancing, not conversation
■ No glowing/flashing clothes or items
■ Respect other people's space, no shuffling
■ Consent is mandatory
■ Zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism or any form of discrimination
■ Take care of each other, alert our staff if somebody isn't feeling well
■ Violating the house rules will result in removal
■ Ticket purchase does not guarantee entrance