This is a part of
braindance_
XL edition of AB's electronic all-nighter
On December 14, braindance_ will turn AB upside down and inside out. Get ready for a night beyond the ordinary, where every room buzzes with DJ sets and electrifying live acts. Forget Boiler Room - this is the place to be, right in the heart of Brussels. Step inside and let the music take you on a journey.
DJ Seinfeld
Rising to prominence in 2016 alongside producers like Ross From Friends and Mall Grab, DJ Seinfeld quickly became a globally in-demand DJ, sharing stages with acts like Bicep, Stormzy, and Jeff Mills. He founded his Young Ethics label in 2019, releasing music that has garnered support from industry heavyweights.
“DJ Seinfeld’s beats are ultimately guided by an idea of authenticity, true to the spirit of the early house pioneers. A lot’s been made of this lo-fi fuzz, with many clamoring to declare it a scene, but he won’t be put into a box. His path is his own. Footage of his gigs or their post-show reaction exemplifies the reception he gets as a DJ. Biographies often claim a DJ regularly ‘sends crowds into rapture’ or ‘lays waste to the floor,’ but in DJ Seinfeld’s case pandemonium is the default.” - Resident Advisor
Duskus
26-year-old British producer Duskus is a DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist fast on the rise. He spent over a decade playing both piano and the guitar – first classical and later acoustic; training that helped foster a lifelong passion for music-making.
Heavily influenced by visual outdoor elements, Duskus’ vision is grounded in the world around him; the here and now. His sound meshes together elements of classic 4x4 house, blood-and-thunder kicks and rich melodies. He credits electronic artists like Floating Points, Ross From Friends, Tom VR and Joy Orbison with playing into those ideas, but also looks further afield to folk and country music.
His single Let Go landed him on the Spotify Viral 50 in The UK, Ireland, Australia & New Zealand and laid the foundation for his latest EP, Healers Vol.1, – music inspired by his love for the outdoors that he hopes will “help take people away from their four walls” and into nature. “It’s a concept that’s gonna take time to fully figure out”, he explains, “but I feel like it’ll be at the heart of the evolution of each EP, and how I connect those dots.”
Elkka (live)
“Make me love you, make me love you, make me love you,” so begins Make Me, a delicious yet cavernous electronic dance track from London-based artist and producer Elkka; all heavy repetitive beats and glistening, syrupy vocal samples. Much of the debut album Prism of Pleasure is like this: warmth and coldness rubbing against each other sonically, pulling the listener in unexpected directions. “I like to go through different genres and moods and surprise you,” says Elkka. “Make Me has something about it that pushes and pulls you in two different directions, but still makes you feel safe.”
Prism of Pleasure is easily the most authentic expression of Elkka’s artistry to date. Written over the space of 18 months, the record encapsulates Elkka’s essence as a bold, queer woman who pushes freedom and sensuality to the forefront of her work. Written around the notion of queer intimacy – with all of the power, vulnerability and connectedness that entails – Prism of Pleasure is like a peep into a steam-filled room of wonders, via the female gaze.
Girls Don’t Sync
Girls Don’t Sync is an all-female group of DJs, producers and curators who are bringing much-needed inclusivity and energy to underrepresented dancefloors worldwide. Matty Chiabi, Sophia Violet, Hannah Lynch and G33 came together to form Girls Don’t Sync in the summer of 2021, and exploded onto the scene soon after with one of the most-watched Mixmag Lab of the year.
Their fresh take on UKG, house and bass has made them a must-see act at the likes of Glastonbury, Boomtown, Parklife, Lost & Found and many more this year, winning fans around the world for their boundless energy and the unforgettable atmosphere they create with each performance. In an era of feminine resurgence, Girls Don’t Sync are inspiring a new generation of dance music fans and becoming leaders of their scene.
Jasper Tygner (live)
North London’s Jasper Tygner dropped his debut EP Things To Come on Ninja Tune’s Technicolour imprint. Shaped by early raving experiences while growing up in London’s electronic underground scene, Jasper Tygner cites legendary institution Plastic People, along with a deep reverence for jungle, dubstep and garage, as key formative influences.
This EP marks a fresh turn for Tygner, and his evolving sound is immediately evident in the banging opening track Before Me. Lead single Eyes is perhaps the most informed by the stage, with each buildup and subsequent drop primed to get live audiences going. Tygner is a must-watch artist, getting buzz from BBC Radio and major platforms like DMY and Amazon Music. He’s rocked festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury with his killer live sets. Make sure to catch him at braindance_
Lefto Early Bird presents Motherless Father in Movement
‘Motherless Father in Movement’ is an audiovisual contemporary dance performance bringing together Lefto’s passion for music, dance and art. For this project Lefto dove deep into a sound somewhere in between club, spiritual music and jazz. The album drops in 2024. It was this particular blend of influences that triggered him to develop an audiovisual dance performance to be able to tell this musical story. It's a performance by Isabelle Clarençon, Joffrey Anane, Rashad Zangaba
and Kassy Bondoko.
Mall Grab
Since his debut release in 2014, Jordon Alexander aka Mall Grab has spent the last 10 years carving out a lane of his own with a carefree and fun yet considered brand of electronic dance music that transcends genres & labels and is unmistakably “Mall Grab” when you hear it. Jordy, as he is affectionately known by fans the world over, has a recognizable energy as a DJ that involves everyone who enters the orbit of his music, whether it be festival, club, or theatre. His Looking For Trouble shows have been consistently sold out since the label’s founding in 2018.
2024 will usher in a new era of MG, with the launch of new label Fragrance with Effy and their fan favourite single iluv, a slew of new music to come, and many key festival appearances and shows. We're excited that he's finally coming to AB, three years after his cancelled show (amid the pandemic), with some brand new tracks!
Séa
Radiohost Valerie Wynants (known for: Studio Brussels’ UNTZ, & One World Radio) routes her groove as Séa. Carefully selecting and blending soulful vocals with a steady disco backbone and basslines where you’d want to make love to. Expect fresh cuts of nineties-influenced house, needy and sleazy hints of ghetto tech or some well-digged disco (du monde). Standing up and making moves at the big three (Rock Werchter, Tomorrowland, Pukkelpop) or joining Glitterbox line-ups and hooking into the Antwerp underground scene. Séa has proven that she’s here to stay.
Romi Luna
Romi Luna is an Antwerp-based DJ with a refreshing sound selection and a burning desire to make people move and raise the roof. With a wide range of influences, Romi Luna’s varied musical background gives birth to an eclectic sound that is sure to stand out from the crowd as she effortlessly takes her audience on a wondrous journey from funky Hip Hop pioneers and Neo Soul innovators to funky underground house music. Expect a temperature raising selection of music, so don’t forget to bring a towel.