- Vintage progressive house from the Iranian-Canadian DJ and activist.
- Before moving to San Francisco, Iranian-Canadian artist AIDA got her start in one of the world's more unlikely, yet nourishing, rave scenes tucked away in the southwest corner of Canada: Vancouver. There, amongst the basement raves, forest parties and yeast-perfumed gigs on top of bakeries, she found a home amidst a small but strong scene of record-digging minimal lovers, finding power in their pure passion for music. This is where she started, though over time her sound has developed along with a lot of the minimal scene, touching on electro, breaks and progressive house.
The latter is the focus of her RA Podcast, which comes amidst a year-long sabbatical from her dayjob to focus on music. It seems like the extra time is paying off: she's playing out more than ever, around the world, and playing more kinds of music, too. This mix revolves entirely around her love for the original wave of progressive house, gathered from records chosen over a period of weeks and then put together with a firm but idiosyncratic touch, as she explains below. It's as much a testament to the timelessness of this music as the cyclical nature of dance music, though it's also a bit of history lesson, a reminder of the broad world of sounds and rhythms beyond the au courant revival.
When she's not DJing, AIDA also runs a record label rooted in activism around her Iranian heritage. Inspired partly by the Woman Life Freedom movement in Iran, her imprint Apranik Records focuses on artists of Iranian and Persian heritage from the country and across the diaspora, as well as raising money for charities and nonprofits.
What have you been up to recently?
I have recently returned home to the West Coast from a successful EU/UK tour over the summer where I had the opportunity to play in many new and exciting places. I gained a lot of inspiration over the summer which has translated into new projects for my record label Apranik Records, as well as other studio projects and mixes. I have also taken a much needed sabbatical from my product design work to focus on music for one year, so I think I will slowly ease my way back into the design world in some capacity.
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
This is a vinyl-only mix that I recorded in my house in San Francisco. I selected the records for this mix very carefully over the course of a few weeks. Some of the records are gems that have been in my collection for a long time, and others I specifically dug for this mix. My intention with this mix was to create an energetic and positive journey through dance music history that passes through tribal, acid, and progressive house and techno, with many surprises behind each transition in the way that I introduce new tracks. I love the surprise and delight moment when a new track comes in. I didn’t want the mix to be too consistent, rather wanted it to be dynamic in rhythm and mood, and to still tell a coherent story.
For me, the sets I remember the most are the ones that have unique and unexpected moments. I don’t really remember sets that are super precise and consistent all the way through. You’ll hear quite a few of those unexpected moments in this mix that I hope make a mark on your memory.
I also wanted to go back to the roots of progressive house. New productions in this genre are very popular these days and I personally love how the genre has evolved. However, there is still a color and character to the '90s OG style that I find makes it unique and timeless compared to new productions we hear today. My goal with this mix is to take us back to the '90s, to the roots of this genre. I want my listeners to experience the same nostalgia I feel when listening to sounds from that era.
How did you originally get into progressive house and why does the genre appeal to you so much? Who are any newer producers/artists that make music in this vein that you like?
I got into progressive house in high school shortly after I got into electronic music. Although it is not the only style that I really like, the appeal of it comes from two important effects that music has for me: escapism and release. The styles of house that I am drawn to the most have both or a single one of these effects prominently. The escapism comes from atmospheres that are dreamy, lustful, playful or generally any atmosphere that takes you into an emotional or imaginative space that is different from where you are. It allows you to explore something from a new angle.
The sense of release comes from rhythmic and predictable changes in familiar 4/4 drums, and the building and releasing of tension as the story of a track progresses: steadfast steps towards an anticipated build-up and breakdown. Together these aspects create a sense of letting go that is loved on a dance floor.
Modern productions close to this style that I like are the works of Theo Kottis, Running Hot, releases on Semidelicious by Demi Requismo, Klasse Wrecks, R.A.N.D. Muzik, Gabriola & Bliss Inc. on Magicwire, Kalahari Oyster Cult, Make a Dance, Cartulis, Radiant Records and so much more.
What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist?
My early days in Vancouver's underground scene at Open Studios and with friends who organized parties in makeshift spaces are still some of my favorite memories. I feel they shaped me as an artist today. I gained a lot of inspiration from this community, especially my minimal head friends with whom I shared the passion of collecting and playing records. I frequently reflect back on that time and certainly miss it.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
The Woman Life Freedom movement in Iran that started after the killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini on September 16 2022. I have been very active in regards to this movement, especially where it meets the music world.
I cofounded Apranik Records with Nesa Azadikhah specifically as a response to this movement and with the aim to raise awareness around these issues in the music industry. I want the music world to pay closer attention to Iranian artists. The amount of talent and creativity that exists amongst artists from Iran is astounding. However, many of these incredible artists are deprived of the ability to showcase their talent in Europe, as an example, because their performance visas are repeatedly denied, despite meeting all criteria or having had successful tours in the past. I want the world to pay more attention to these artists and open the doors for them.
You're passionate about showcasing and helping artists from Iran. Who are some of your favourites that you think our audience might not be aware of?
Yes, I have been releasing the music of Iranian artists on Apranik Records, and also creating mixes with Iranian artists' music a lot since the Woman Life Freedom movement. Some artists who I think do great work are Salar Ansari, Tonnovelle, Voiski, Nesa Azadikhah, Sepehr, Kasra V, Azadi.mp3, Rojin Sharafi, Maral and everyone else who has released on Apranik so far.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I am very much looking forward to what the new year will bring, new places that I hope to have the opportunity to play and the release of new projects that I have been working on over the past few months both on my own record label as well as externally. I am a pretty ambitious person and tend to aim directly at the places that I want to end up at—for example, certain festivals or record labels which have been on my radar for many years. I look forward to hopefully seeing my work in those places.
I am also very curious and excited to see how my life evolves especially when balancing music and product design. As a double-career person, finding the balance between the two careers such that I can continuously excel at both while maintaining a healthy life, has been a constant trial and error for the past six years. I have learned that for me, its not about finding a single formula, but rather taking a phased approach where I choose which practice is in the foreground for a certain period of time. In the last year, music has very much been in the foreground, I hope to maintain that but also get back into design to some capacity.
Photo: Marisa Bazan
TracklistPhunky Torso - You & I
Marquise De Sade - Pain And Pleasure (Tribal Mistress Mix)
Johnny D & Nicky P - Magic (M.K. Mix)
Undisputed Truth - Fire in Dub
Cozy Concept - Keep it Going Now
Piece of Mind - A Piece of Mind
Scotti Deep - Brooklyn Beats (Nite Groove Version)
Maurice & Noble - Hoochie Coochie (I'm Ready Mix)
Dum Dum - Unknown Track
D.O.P - Get Out on This Dancefloor
Birdman Project - Bum-a-Ding
B.O.O.M. - Sooner (I Don't Know) (T-empo's Blue Room Dub)
The Peppermint Lounge - Lemon Project (Grapefruit Mix)
Headless Chicken - Juice (Ollie J Mix)
Lemmon Grass - One Of Them
Peppermint Candy - Chocolate Girl (Julien Jabre Remix)
Idjut Boys & Quakerman - Schlamm Me (L.E.S Dirtybird Remix)
Pop Out & Play - Share It With The Class (Rozzo Mix)
The Wavecatcher - Flight DH2126
Unknown Artist - Unknown ID
Rupert Marnie - Unknown ID
Sound Waves - Gotta Have You (Smooth Mix)