Alex Perera is a Kyiv-based DJ and co-founder of Stezhka, a queer collective and cultural platform that has been carving out space for freedom and self-expression through electronic music since 2022. A resident DJ and curator at the heart of Ukraine's independent scene, he draws from deep house, tribal percussion, dub, trance and hypnotic techno, weaving them into sets that move between tension and release, groove and desire. This week he brings us a long-imagined dub-led journey, recorded at home in Kyiv.
Tell us about this mix: what mood or journey were you going for?
A story with paced development. I wanted to submerge the listener in a deep, liquid texture, feminine, seductive and playful vocals running through it, slowly gaining traction before climaxing in a blend of piano and dub.
Where and how did you put it together?
I'd wanted to record a lower-tempo mix built predominantly around dub for a long time. Putting it together for SEVEN, back home in Kyiv, felt like a match made in heaven.
Pick one track in here you cannot stop playing right now, and why.
Scan 7, "The Resistance." That blend of classic Detroit techno strings with uplifting vocals is really resonating with me right now.
When and where should people listen to this?
Whenever they want to disconnect from tension and connect with something deeper.
What is your connection to SEVEN or to Berlin?
SEVEN is a community of like-minded people with exceptional taste. Berlin feels similar, but on a larger scale. Like a bubble inside of another bubble.
The first record you ever bought?
Distance, "Closer" (Niche Blue).
What is on your turntable at home right now?
Alexander Skancke, "Mitsubishi Experience" (QRK016).
A guilty pleasure track you secretly love?
The "Stateside" + Kylie Minogue mashup by PinkPantheress and Kylie Minogue.
The mix is up now. Give it the time it asks for, somewhere quiet or somewhere loud, and let it do its thing. Follow Alex on SoundCloud, Instagram and Resident Advisor.