James Axon is a DJ, musician, and the founder of Planet Love, a queer underground party based in Los Angeles. A pianist by training, he came to DJing through years in bands and orchestral ensembles, and that background runs quietly through everything he plays. He also hosts Hearing Color, a residency on Dublab, and has shared stages with the likes of Octo Octa, Eris Drew, The Blessed Madonna, and Derrick Carter. His sets move across house, techno, italo, electro, disco, and breaks, and for this mix he came to Berlin, picked up some records in person, and recorded it live in the SEVEN store.
Tell us about this mix: what mood or journey were you going for?
I wanted to start light and groovy before increasing the tension, getting a bit darker, and then ending with some trippy and emotional stuff. Sort of like the arc of a good night out. Seduction, tension, catharsis and release.
Where and how did you put it together?
I culled some recent favourites and a few older ones that remind me of Berlin (like Levon Vincent's "Impressions of a Rainstorm") since this is the first mix I've done for a Berlin-based label. I also picked up a couple of vinyl records while in Berlin just for this mix, stuff that I had been looking for and knew was in stock at the stores in the city and didn't want to pay transatlantic shipping fees on. Then I mixed it live in the lovely SEVEN store.
Pick one track in here you cannot stop playing right now, and why.
Like trying to pick your favourite child! There's a forthcoming one from Make a Dance's label called "LOST IN BRAZIL WITH AN ATTITUDE" that truly does have an attitude, and brilliantly flips a Real McCoy sample. "Horse Of The Year" by Running Hot is probably the one I've played most this summer though, it's like the sonic equivalent of sunshine and an Aperol spritz.
When and where should people listen to this?
At home while dancing in your underwear at night before bed in front of the mirror, ideally, if you're a revenge bedtime procrastination person like me. Or perhaps at the gym.
What is your connection to SEVEN or to Berlin?
Berlin was an extremely formative place for me. I first visited in 2014 and immediately fell in love with the nightlife scene, it was a more artistic and immersive version of nightlife than anything I had seen before, and the music felt like something I'd been waiting my whole life to hear as someone who always gravitated toward electronica and more alternative sounds. I started researching the music and culture obsessively, which of course naturally led to DJing eventually. In 2016 I moved there after finishing school and lived there for a year, a time in which I learned a lot both personally and musically. SEVEN represents a bright light in the new, post-pandemic Berlin scene to me, a store clearly run with love that is a gift to the community. It's really passion projects like this that uphold the culture in my opinion. I discovered CRYME's amazing music earlier this year and quickly became a fan; my connection to him led to discovering the SEVEN store, although I had already purchased some tracks from the label at that point before I put the connection together.
A hidden gem from your collection most people have not heard?
I'd wager most people have not heard "Darnley" by dBRm, which is in this mix. A seriously naughty, dark, and tough electro track.
A guilty pleasure track you secretly love?
"Faxing Berlin" by Deadmau5. The chord progression is so simple but absolutely perfect; it's quite melancholic and raw in a way his other stuff isn't. I've never played it out but I want to...
Vinyl, CDJs, or both, and why?
Both! When I'm at home I practise with one CDJ and one turntable. It keeps me on my toes and attuned to the feeling of both. I love playing vinyl because it does strengthen your ear by blinding your other senses, and I have so much stuff at home that I haven't ripped. But I also buy and receive so much new music that either doesn't exist on vinyl or hasn't been pressed yet, and I also like to make edits.
The mix is up now. Give it a listen on SoundCloud, and follow James on Instagram and Resident Advisor to keep up with what he is playing next.