Herrensauna

October 1, 2022

BASEMENT: CEM / TT / Sausha
STUDIO: MCMLXXXV / DJ Saliva / Sister Zo

Herrensauna makes its return to BASEMENT, taking over both rooms with a packed lineup. Residents and founders CEM and MCMLXXXV split headlining duties: the former brings his expansive approach to techno to BASEMENT, while the latter stretches out in STUDIO. Both have built a significant following for their expertly-crafted sets, which weave disparate strains of deviant technoid electronics into a rich sonic tapestry. The result moves with pantherine sleekness and a subversive menace, while running laps around their more staunchly purist peers.

This spirit of defiance and alluring subterfuge is reflected in their acute curation, which highlights cutting edge artists who ruthlessly redefine the genre on their own terms. This night is no exception: TT has become a regular at BASEMENT for their deliriously serpentine sets. Moving with a quickness, TT blends up-tempo, trance-inflected anthems with darkly cosmic explorations and feverishly tense rollers. In a crowded NY landscape, no one else sounds quite like TT. Sausha is a regular presence in the new queer underground that has exploded in NY. On a recent set for NTS show Mess Maker, she melts and warps poppier overtones into a techno nightmare. Her sets are exercises in ferocity and catharsis.

In STUDIO, Herrensaua resident and Arena Spa Superiora founder DJ Saliva joins from overseas. The Portugal-born, Berlin-based DJ keeps things naughty with a hedonistic psychedelia. Whether in their sets or productions, Saliva’s sound brings a slippery queerness true to their name. Sister Zo rounds out the lineup. The recent NY transplant has been a steady presence in the US midwest underground, but recently broke out into the global spotlight with the release of her “Freak Shift” EP on Martyn’s 3024. Across four tracks, she displays an unflinching prowess with winding, writhing rhythms and spacious, evocative textures. Coming off a recent run of high-profile dates, including a standout date at Honcho Campout, she’s proving to be an unmissable name.

■ 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