Kade Young

Melt returns, featuring special guests DC’s @_amaldc and Baltimore’s own @nomiii_ ! Melt is a celebration of all things deep, heavy, and sexy in dance music, where folks can unwind and let loose freely. This time around I’m excited to welcome two artists shaking DMV dance floors with their vibrant styles and flair. Amal, 1/3 of seminal DC supergroup Black Rave Culture, and a virtuosic artist in his own right, captains the Hochi Runs label while leading the charge in club culture in the District. A dynamic and experienced DJ, Amal is becoming a household name for a reason- his sets are explosive, surprising, and above all else, fun. Expect to leave it all on the floor during his set. Baltimore based Nomiii is eclectic, intentional, and smooth on the decks, known for their unique blend of techno, club, and footwork throughout the DMV. Hearing Nomiii spin feels adventurous yet pleasantly comforting, like receiving a warm embrace while setting off on a winding, sonic adventure. A beloved favorite in Bmore and beyond, Nomiii embodies everything Melt is meant to be. Join us for another night of Melt- we’re excited to have you! Limited $5 early birds are available while they last. See you soon :) flyer by the incomparable @sky.m3ow

UK mini tour I bought an old ass digicam while in London to document the trip, and finally after 3 weeks I got the right bits to get the pics onto my phone. This is a mix of those and iPhone shots…. Genuinely one of the best weeks of my life, incredibly hard to sum up in 20 slides. 4 radio shows, 3 gigs, and so many new friends and fam. And I’m very thankful I got to do it with my brothers. Def missing some pics with folks and some footage but maybe I’ll share those later once I find everything. UK! Yall have supported us for so long, before a lot of our own hometown people did! We love yall and will be back. Thanks to these folks for making this possible: @carmascoming (THANK U SM SHORD‼️) @nammywams @p_excelsior_ @djma1col @dj__bok @eyg_london

Back like I never left…know yall missed me 🏄‍♂️ SUM2HOLDU out now on bandcamp 1. CLUB HOT 2. I’M GOOD LUV 3. DETOUR My first edit pack in over 2 years, and prob my last for a long time. Some warm tracks to both hold u over until the next full EP from me, and to *hold u* during these insane times we’re in. Hope you enjoy. Art: @sky.m3ow Mastering: @dj_spen

Ya’ll mind if I ambient post rq Thank you @goopcat for this clip 🙏🏾 #ambient #chill #baltimoredj

Hey y’all 🫂 a few folks have asked me- so I’m happy to say my ambient mix from Dopamine w/ @itsjacqjill last month is now up on my soundcloud. This was my first time playing an ambient set, and I really enjoyed the chance to work a different part of my DJ brain to try something new. The first track is actually an excerpt from a longer 20 minute suite I was commissioned to do for a podcast a few years back, glad folks can finally hear a piece of it. Don’t have a set list for you, but expect music from skee mask, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Eera, Burial, uhh the fkin Drive soundtrack lmao and some other cool stuff Big shouts to @scott_not_astronaut for my new fav pic of me Hope u enjoy

Finally recovered from the weekend to say THANK YOU for coming out to the first Melt party. I’ve been helping throw parties in Baltimore for about 5 years now- whether it’s been Midnight Club, Balance, Syncopate, or Fever- but this was somehow my first event I’ve ever organized by myself. I was mad stressed leading up to it, but clearly had no reason to be…the music, dancers, my friends and fam, everything felt so good all night. And yall 👏🏾sold 👏🏾 that 👏🏾 bih 👏🏾 out ‼️ Special thanks once again to @koticcouture and @djblueangel for holding it down. My only regret is not taking more pics 🥲 Thanks again yall, more to come.

Just in time for the last hints of winter to finally wash away into memory, I’m introducing a new party series: “Melt”. I’ve been thinking about the concept for Melt for some time. While I’m obviously no stranger to playing hard and fast, I’ve lately been feeling a call to bring things back to a sexier, intentional groove. I want people to feel more at ease in the club and on the dance floor, able to express themselves freely and to the fullest. That being said, my calling card has always been combining my background in soulful and deep house with my love for Club music, but I often find myself getting booked in lineups where I’m expected to lean one way or the other. In addition to bringing in other genres I enjoy, like techno, afro, etc, Melt will be a more varied “melting pot” of sounds. So! The concept is simple- I bring in two guests with distinct styles, and I meet them in the middle; the only through thread being “sexy”. For this first iteration, I’m happy to welcome two DJs who I respect greatly, my friends- club queen Kotic Couture and rising Baltimore house legend Blue Angel. Early birds are up for $5, and will be tiered after that. Meet us at 1722 next week for a really lovely night :)

Not for the first time, the most exciting dance music is coming out of Baltimore. In many ways, Baltimore feels like the underdog of stateside dance music: less storied than Detroit, Chicago and New York, despite its rich history of house music and its crucial role in the genealogy of club styles from Jersey and Philadelphia. So hearing about a thriving new era of Baltimore Club was always going to be catnip to us. @_kadeyoung and @jialing.bigj are two central figures in the city’s new school, known for running events and releasing a stream of club bangers via their label @woe.bmore . They told us why Baltimore is the real engine room of US dance music, and why the city’s importance remains undersung. As well as clueing us into the local scene in 2026, they also provided an insider perspective on the last 20 years of Baltimore Club. We also managed to record the entire episode without making a joke about The Wire, so well done us. (Come at JIALING, you best not miss...) Before that, we offer our recent scene reports: Tom’s trip to @tonynjokuartist ’s All Our Knives are Always Sharp, Chal mucking in at the @smut_press night at the Distillery, and the elephant in the big room: Fred Again and Thomas Bangalter at Alexandra Palace. Should the man behind ‘Club Soda’ be lowering himself to making mash-ups with someone with eight hyperlinked family members on Wikipedia? Find out inside!

Your spring reset has arrived. I’ve been dreaming of curating Dopamine for a while now. 3 hours of ambient, fresh coffee, and room to stretch. Selections from guest, @_kadeyoung , + myself. See you in the sun. 11 AM - 2 PM • BYO 📍warehouse tba 🔗 tix in bio Flyer by @itsjacqjill

As I inch closer to Unc-Status, I decided that I’d like to bring my 28th birthday the only way I know how! In collaboration with club 1722, WE PRESENT: DOLLA DAY FEATURING MYSELF, @_kadeyoung and THE LEGENDARY @thedjtechnics !!! The night will open with an amazing back to back from Kade Young and myself to kick of the Pisces Season on a high note. Making his Sto’ Debut, is a man who needs no introduction. The one who gave us DICKONTROL, an original CLUB KING, and a man who without, we would not be here today, the one and only DJ TECHNICS!! Tickets live TOMORROW AT 11AM ON RA.CO Yall already know @earth222shae on the flyer man, stop playing

BODYWERK 3: AN ARMY OF LOVERS SHALL NOT FAIL This edition of BODYWERK is an especially meaningful lineup as we celebrate love in all its forms. I have been absolutely hot and bothered— beyond excited to announce the lineup for BODYWERK 3, which features four B2Bs from Baltimores absolute finest, and three solo sets from ILUSM’s dearest friends: S.DOT and Kade Young will be showing off their incredible track selection and dynamic synergy as a long-standing duo. They are both hard-hitting DJs and producers in their own right, but their set will give us a peak into how they come together as longtime friends and close collaborators. @s.dotmusic @_kadeyoung Baltimore icons Tromac and Nomiii are showcasing their love on the decks as well, with a B2B that will have us all feeling sexy, sweaty, and ready to connect on the dance floor. @tromac @nomiii_ Girlypop Princess and Nanagotchi are known as the major trailblazers behind Digital Xscape- Baltimore premiere dance event. Their set will be a love letter to all those with a true PLUR soul- a B2B packed with bass, hard rhythm, and gritty vocal chops. @girlypop_princess @nanagotchii Yesterdayneverhappened and Subwoof burst into the Baltimore dance scene late last year and have been booked and busy ever since. This sweet duo have dedicated themselves to curating a heart racing dance floor for booty bouncers all over the world, and we are so happy to have them for their first BODYWERK. @nuedead @0ritse Coming in HOT, we have our solo sets by Koh, annamae, and ILUSM. Years of polishing their craft has led Koh to being a peerless selector and an essential pillar of DC nightlife. annamae will get us in the mood for love with their sultry voice, and we have a very special performance from them in the works- so this is certainly not a show to miss. Leading our solo sets and curating the evening is ILUSM, an up and coming DJ known for his eclectic track selection and dedication to smooth blends. @dj___koh @4nn4m4e @_____iloveusomuch Photography and flyer design by @sky.m3ow on instagram 21+ Tix in bio !! Please DM ILUSM if u can’t afford tix!! NOTAFLOF at the door Xoxo 💋 ILUSM

Back in December we wrapped our intro to production workshop! During 3 sessions over 3 months, I had the privilege of teaching 15 students the basics of Ableton, sharing creations and ideas in a setting that felt safe, comfortable, and filled with a great energy. We ended our time with a lovely private showcase and panel, joined by the esteemed @b_x_r_n_x_r_d , @s.dotmusic , and @jialing.bigj who shared their insights with the class. (Thanks y’all) Want to give a huge thanks to @mdartscouncil for providing the funding to make this happen. Massive thanks to @quidnuncartgallery for hosting us and being so accommodating, and to Nancy and @yung.kirb for doing so much to make this class work. And BIG thanks to my partner in crime @baraeceurself for their supreme knowledge in organizing and just making magic happen 🥲 Our goal was to provide a platform for queer, trans, and femme BIPOC to learn comfortably and in a focused environment, and I think we achieved that goal. Long term, it’s my hope that the seeds planted during this workshop will continue to blossom into a thriving community here in Baltimore. I also believe it’s my responsibility to do my best to make that happen. Hopefully, we’ll be able to run this workshop back this year. We had a huge (overwhelming) amount of interest this first go round, so we’re going to see what we can make happen in the near future. We will probably need all the help we can get lol. Much love, and stay tuned. 📸: @poochoodle (thank u Pocholo!!!!)