Masalo

An integral part of the Amsterdam scene, Masalo's abundant creativity blends sophistication with a solid dose of rebelliousness. His sets shift effortlessly between house, techno, hi-NRG, and disco, while incorporating his own tracks and gems from decades of digging.

Formative years at Amsterdam institutions like Trouw and Paradiso placed Masalo in the thick of the city's underground dance community. He cites his family as an even earlier inspiration: jam sessions and a passion for analog machines from his father, a love of dancing and cultural influences from his Japanese mother, and hip-hop and turntablism courtesy of his brother. Extending the family feeling, Masalo has continued to build community through the Brighter Days event and compilation series he runs alongside his longtime musical collaborator Kamma.

A prolific producer, 2017 saw Masalo's first official release; a remix of Bassekou Kouyate's Jama Ko, turning the Malian soul ballad into a hypnotically energetic house tune. He then joined the illustrious ranks at Rush Hour – a label and crew that has been integral to his creative journey – releasing his debut EP 'New Dance' in 2019, followed by collaborations with Soichi Terada, Jamie 3:26, and Palms Trax. His status as a sure-fire tastemaker goes beyond the official catalog, with unreleased edits like his Acid Dream version of Oliver N'Goma's 'Lina' and a rework of Prince's 'Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic' becoming sought-after club anthems.

The next evolution of his artistry takes the shape of a live show, which he debuted on Dekmantel's formidable main stage in 2024. The live set delves into the more electronic spectrum of his signature sound – a high-octane journey of lush synths, hard-hitting drum patterns, and euphoric arpeggio basslines, blending new material with nods to his beloved classics. His set-up is called The Trinity – a custom-made rig, designed and built in collaboration with new school architects. Through a dedicated process of building, programming, and mastering The Trinity, Masalo improvises in conversation with the crowd, ensuring no two performances sound exactly the same. Studio renditions of several tracks on The Trinity will be released by Young Marco's label Safe Trip and Dekmantel this year.