Aaron. reads the room like no one else. He likes to create a moment. For him a good set is like a good story: to carefully catch a dream, build it up to the next cliffhanger, only to fall in love with the underdog again. He adores a melancholic tension that keeps the audience in his grip from start to finish, technical and immersive. A game of repel and attract, flirting with the dancefloor.

Aaron. on soundcloud

Aaron Gyssels has been behind the decks for a while now. He’s known to be a skilled performer, with appearances in Funke (Ghent) but also on Kiosk Radio (Brussels), Rinse FR, Microwave and Radio Beguin (Lyon). Aaron. wants to touch people out of love for the scene and its music. That’s the essence.

PROJECTS:

In the project “Aaron. & snake18k” he found a home for tunes he doesn’t get to play on the dance floor. In this collaboration Aaron. curates a musical background for Laika’s poems and spoken word. He considers it a challenge to glue tracks, tempos and different atmospheres into a coherent story, fitting snake18k’s words.

Aaron. & snake18k on soundcloud

WHAT’S NEXT:

His newest endeavor will be called “Equinox Tapes”; a 12 hour long set, recorded throughout the year. He will record a new one-hour mixtape each month, seamlessly transitioning from the previous one. Aaron. wants to touch a wide range of genres, guiding listeners through the mystic and dark night into the sunrise, mirroring the concept of day and night.The project will start on March 20th 2024 and end on March 20th 2025, both dates an equinox. Both nights as long as their daytime companions.

“Laika where have you been?”
       “I don’t know, here and there, looking for hearts and fixing a hole to get
through and finally spin some words around my finger.”
“A black hole?”
       “Maybe, let’s see what comes out?”

Aaron. & snake18k on Radio Béguin

Aaron. and snake18k created this language trip about 3 years ago as an experiment. Acting and reacting live; walking the line where poetry meets music and installation art. They experiment with the format of a DJ set, add props and think about interaction with the audience. Through an allegory of the oracle, layered with spoken word, the audience becomes the motor of a poetical Q&A session. “And you and us and all and set to spread love and twist twists.”

Domi focuses on the essentials; a good and steady rhythm and a lot of bass in an industrial atmosphere. He likes it dark and physical, evoking the images of abandoned warehouses and cold sweat. For him dark techno is a humbling force, like the kid glancing at the thunderstorm from behind the window. Less is always more. If you give him half the chance, he’ll try and keep the broomsticks away from the dance floor.

Domi on soundcloud

Domi is short for Dominique Van Dyck. He wants to know how things work. He likes to create something out of nothing. He works in a tangible way and wants to develop a broad skill set. A technician at heart with only two constants: electronic music and his friends. In his view you can’t have the day without a proper night. He has been throwing tracks for a long time now and wants to represent good music in a world that has been spinning around the wrong focal points. A night out with Domi, is a night amongst his chosen family.

PiP believes music is best perceived through absorption, on the crossroads where dancing limbs meet a lingering mind. He’ll take the scenic route, inviting you to embody the rhythms and to assimilate an open attitude. He is fond of the creative and unforeseen, pivoting around a theme or looking for odd links and weird curveballs. “Versatility is a style I guess, but I’m sure we’ll end up somewhere soon.”

PiP on soundcloud

PiP is short for Pepijn Gyssels. He is a curator, field recordist, DJ & producer. As an artist he is patiently building on a coherent and honest story.With recurring performances for events like Matinée and Ambient Tide he tries to spread his love for the slower paced electronic music. He already appeared on various independent radio stations like Kiosk Radio, Microwave and Radio Ruit, but also had the opportunity to play Radio TNP in Amsterdam and Radio 80k in Munich.
PiP likes to experiment with the format of nightlife and how to create togetherness in and around electronic music. The program of Casa Marmelada forms a great example.

PROJECTS:

C Bliss

PiP is producing electronic music in various constellations. Under the moniker of C Bliss he works together with synth nerd, brain doctor and trombone player, Vincent Heirman. PiP brings a lot of textures and field recordings to the mix and together they aim for a refined sound where deconstruction, balance and timing are key. Their 3-track EP was a very organic process and saw the light on Moodfamily label during the first covid summer.

C Bliss on bandcamp

SAUS

PiP and Tijn Driessen have been teaching each other how to make music since 2018. They started meeting regularly, bought themselves increasingly expensive gear and eventually came up with a name for this friendship: SAUS. For PiP it is a place that sharpens his skills. Tijn keeps pushing him to explore a live performative side, but also allows him to resample sounds and rearrange tracks in the studio.
After two small releases on Moodfamily label, they’ve played their first live sets together in the summer of 2023.

SAUS on bandcamp

For Bozar PiP had the opportunity to make a soundscape, adding an extra layer to the expo “Swedish Ecstasy”. For the occasion he teamed up with Tijn Driessen for some extra sounds and his sister Maud Gyssels, who wrote the text. The recorded voice is Gemma Allen’s.

PiP – Soundscape for Swedish Ecstasy on soundcloud

WHAT’S NEXT:

In January 2024 he will trade Brussels for Ostend. For the residency program of “De Grote Post” he will work with field recordings in and around the iconic building and invite different artists to record in situ.

PiP is also part of Buro Crato, a collective that creates experiences in and around festivals like Horst and Waking Life. Within this collective his biggest passion is streamlining and curating a 5-day program, filled with experiences, in Casa Marmelada, on the grounds of Waking Life Festival in Portugal.

If you put PiP and Tijn Driessen in a room, you can call them SAUS. In essence this project is a place for experiment, trial and error. Whether it is how to blend different musical backgrounds together or how to have fun playing live on a stage, SAUS is trying to push the boundaries and limitations of both musicians.They both understand how the occasional friction and a quirky mistake add to a better result… eventually.

After two small releases on Moodfamily label, they have been playing their first live set together in the summer of 2023. The setup forces them to make decisions on the spot. You’ll never see the same show twice.

SAUS on bandcamp

From an underground abode, snake18k shows up with split tongues. Looking for the suspense between dark and warm, music and words. She approaches a set as a collage of textures, thoughts and movements, and works regularly with scenography, poetry or props. She has a taste for slow, mysterious and surprising music that is tactile and touching.

snake18k on soundcloud

PROJECTS:

Aaron. & snake18k

In collaboration with her brother, they translate poems into mixes and atmospheres. She’s interested in the exchangeable role of performer and observer and the act of listening as a glue between them. With this project she wants to make space for intimate writings, other voices, a pinch of joy & sorrow and the importance of the attempt.

TAFEL
Maud Gyssels’ practice focuses on sound, performance, sculpture, writing and food.

More info

Tijn Driessen loves improvisation. When he plays, he’s the conductor of his own electronic orchestra. He’ll be tweaking drum computers, rearranging songs or just downgrading them to 1 loop. It’s all about (de)construction, feeling a vibe and diving into the rabbit hole. His live setup forces him to improvise on the spot. Nobody knows where we will end up, including Tijn.

Tijn will always try to create a cosy warmth and a loving atmosphere. He’s not afraid to switch it up or throw in some vocals or a guilty pleasure. Behind the decks, there are even less restrictions. “Not too much prep please, I’ll swing with the moment.” In short, Tijn needs to feel free.

Tijn Driessen on soundcloud

Tijn Driessen is what we call a born musician. Since 2013 he has been working as a session musician with roots in improvised music. But there’s a certain energy on the dancefloor that called for his attention. After moving to Ghent in 2018, Tijn has been surrounding himself with an increasing number of electronic music devices. He started producing his own tracks and has been combining his skills on the piano with electronic beats. For his first solo releases he found Moodfamily label (Ghent) as a partner in crime. By now he also released on Ritual Recordings (Paris) and Minds Alike (Miami). After regular performances in Funke (Ghent) en Broei (Ghent), he was invited to play Klunkerkranich (Berlin) and to be the support act of Stavroz (Ghent, Rotterdam). Lately, he is also adding vinyl and a more hybrid approach to his DJ sets.

PROJECTS:

Within SAUS, Tijn is challenged to dive deeper. PiP and Tijn Driessen have been teaching each other how to make music since 2018. Although they released two tracks on Moodfamily and a liveset in the summer of 2023, SAUS has always been a place for experiment. Within SAUS, Tijn can add melodic and harmonic information to field recordings and textures of PiP. It’s a way for him to push the boundaries of his sonic playing field, challenging him to pair sounds and to leave his comfort zone.

SAUS on bandcamp