Austen van der Bleek

Just me doing what I’ve dedicated a good chunk of my life to, sharing records I love. It’s all the sweeter amongst friends. Thanks to @dj_jus_ed ’s encouragement, my set from @danteshifi Miami was recorded and up on @soundcloud . If you haven’t listened yet, check the link in bio. Was pretty much playing for @dennisbakeruk , who was there right from the start, straight from work, and took this video. Everyone deserves such kind, supportive, and music loving friends like him. I was talking to Dennis about the records and at one point even asked if I should play my copy of Loose Joints “Stay a Little While, Child” despite it being a little too “well loved” with quite a bit of artifacts in the grooves. @whodat_detroit actually turned me on to it in the @bananas_records warehouse when she played for us in St. Pete. Digging with a serious record head and former shop owner like her was a real treat. Anyway, Dennis said it’s a favorite, so I ran with it. Also really enjoyed meeting @neddasou , who was on after me, and the conversation that ensued. Ed spoke highly of her, so already knew she was a real one, but it was a refreshing exchange with someone so likeminded about DJ and dance culture. Definitely kindred in her approach, outlook, and insights, which feel increasingly rare to find. Coming from the Netherlands without her records, she was restricted to strictly what she could collect digging in NYC the week of and still impressed with beautiful sounds. Finally, yes, I am wearing a shirt with @richmedina giving a 🫡 illustrated by @gracebioart for the Garage parties, which were unassuming, intimate gatherings in the back of a hair salon, and elsewhere, in St. Augustine, where I had some of my favorite Florida dance music memories catching DJs like Rich, @djkemit , and others. Miami may be the most visible Florida city for DJs and nightlife, but there have always been and will always be raw, need-to-know pockets dedicated to the culture across the state. If you keep an open mind and ear, you might find yourself stumbling upon some of our best kept secrets.

It’s 3:48AM in Spirit Lake and the DJ is 6 hours into a secret set at the Oasis tent… sending them back to camp floating on a Balearic cloud. 🙂‍↔️☁️ Might have set an unofficial record for the longest set inside the festival grounds at @Hulaween . 🤷‍♂️ #MakeDJSetsLongAgain (it’s the only way to take people on a true journey like this) 🤳 @one.world_123

Filled with gratitude for the opportunity to warm up the stage for @thieverycorporation yesterday at @jannuslive . Thanks to the band and @noclubs for offering me the platform as well as the stage crew for working through the less than ideal downpour during load in and soundcheck. I tried to cram as much as I could into the 30 minutes and then got to stretch out a little afterwards at @mandarinhide . Yesterday was also Juneteenth, so I attempted to do the assignment. I wish I could ignore and shut out the world around me, and keep it light and happy, but that’s just not in my nature. It’s concerning, and for many frightening, in the world out there right now. So, yes, I was “political.” I know Thievery’s music speaks to these conditions and dynamics, with their singers using a moment on the mic to share similar message at one point during the show. Here I’m playing DJ Goo’s remix of @saulwilliams ’ “Not in Our Name (Pledge of Resistance),” a record I found at @bananas_records . If you take in the lyrics and message, it sounds like it was specifically made for today’s climate, which is a sad reality of the cyclical nature of the world’s problems, considering that it’s actually from 2003. It means humanity has still yet to learn its lesson… the only good here is that perhaps things are not so daunting, that we’ve been through it before, and that art and artists are still here to process this and speak truth to power — despite the current active efforts to quell us. As artists, we have an obligation to live up to the responsibility of making the most out of the fact that we hold people’s attention while gathered with their barriers down. Do not be scared or afraid to use it. One of my friends said “your set was chill,” but to me, it was actually kind of aggressive and militant. If you just put a good beat behind it, the message can go over anyone that is looking to tune out’s head, but for the rest, it might be one of the only times they feel their voice heard and themselves seen at scale in such a social, collective setting. Never let the naysayers silence you from harnessing this power. Keep fighting the good fight out there, people. ✊ 🤳 @dj.clone.13

Two @barmezzostpete debuts this weekend! Fri @nicosalchemy Sat @lynnhawkins_ alongside resident @avbleek

DJs, or aspiring ones, this could be you… If you’re looking for a space to practice on industry standard equipment, record an audio/video mix, take a lesson, or dig through new dance music releases on vinyl in the @tangiblerecordshop , @suite.e.studios is a cozy loft style space with a living room feel tucked away in the the Warehouse Arts District. DM us or email [email protected] to book a session.

In the house music canon, there are moments that feel monumental and iconic. Hearing @this_is_robert_owens deliver “Tears” like a sermon from a balcony in your city is one of them. He’ll be hitting @zeyzeymiami on Friday, July 17th. Comment “I’ll be your friend” and we’ll message you a free RSVP link — or hit the one in our bio. Despite being a smaller city, we’ve still been blessed with moments like this here in St. Pete, as well as others like @therealmikedunn doing “Phreaky MFer” live or Lem Springsteen from @mood_ii_swing spinning his hit with @ultranatemusic , “Free,” during Pride. Coming from an era when producers could still produce and move records, Owens has had his hands in writing and producing more seminal house music songs than the official credits let on. Often times DJ names would get slapped on for marketing — not knowing name recognition would be important in the future as the industry shifted to an almost exclusively live performance economy — but a lot of the real work being done in the studio was by figures like Robert. This is your chance to hear the selections and voice of someone who truly shaped the sound.

Mixing in some @khand.music (rest in peace) while rocking the tee she gave me opening for @kennylarkinofficial at @morphnightclub in 2019. I don’t always play techno, but when I do it’s in a larger room with big sound… I miss the opportunity to do that in this city. Their building was recently in the local news. Some developer wants to demolish it and the old Playhouse Theater for “affordable housing.” It’s sat vacant since they closed during COVID. Like anywhere it came with some good and bad, but it’s still the only real dance club I’d consider St. Pete as having since I moved here. I wound up working a couple different roles there, including becoming a resident (I think?). Did a few of our own @openhouseconspiracy parties too, hosting @therealmikedunn and Lem Springsteen of Mood II Swing. Also brought @dj_stingray_313 . I remember going back into the Playhouse Theater one time, which was dilapidated, but still had an awe and beauty to it, until we went up to the balcony and found a Bible opened to an apocalyptic page — that was creepy. I also watched someone die (health reasons) at their one year anniversary in February 2020. If that wasn’t an omen of things to come… Change is inevitable, but COVID seriously killed all the momentum in this city and it has never come back. It’s probably just a footnote for many, yet it completely rewrote the narrative. Coming out of it, things were fractured and saturated, with a major disconnect between the before and now.

WUSF Jazz Sunday vinyl jazz sessions at @suite.e.studios is this weekend from 11a-2p. Come listen to some chill jazz and sip on some great coffee from @eatingkino . Bring your friends, your current read, or the novel you’re writing, and relax. This is your monthly Jazz Kissa—a cozy, Japanese‑inspired listening session made for slowing down. Featuring coffee by b-flat brews (@eatingkino ), which offers coffees, teas and tonics at almost any hour for any occasion. inspired by bebop’s jazz standard Bouncin’ with Bud, b-flat brews serves the unique and the approachable in the form of a rotating specials drink menu ☕️ and with staples including espresso drinks, cold brew, and at least one non-caffenaited option. Free to attend. Good vibes guaranteed. Indoor event. 📍 Suite E Studios - 15 27th St S, STE E, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33712 🗓️ May 17 | ⏰ 11 AM – 2PM | free to attend

You ever pop into the record shop at a venue in the middle of a DJ set, buy their own label’s brand new debut release, and put it on right there? Recently came across this memory of that, spinning the first release on @spotlitedetroit from Detroit legend @djaltonmiller in their alley during a @charivaridetroit after party in 2023. I don’t know that there’s still that many places in the world you can have moments like these. The industrious Motor City is certainly one of them. I remember @rouladavid saying, “That’s our record!” And striking up a conversation about St. Pete artist @knownasbask . Sharing now because it’s hard to believe next week is already the start of Memorial Day Weekend in Detroit — an annual trip for many of us. Looking forward to seeing everyone and all the digging! Always return with a record bag filled to the brim to share back home in the Sunshine City. @rat_galactic , @christianparchuke , and I will be channeling all our inspiration from the D on Saturday, May 30th at @suite.e.studios for a new party called Where Would You Be?

I’ll be DJing out in the back of @mandarinhide tonight for @sunshinecitydisco . No idea why I have or took this pic — it’s from 2022 and just popped up. Guess bathroom bar selfies are a thing in St. Pete. Not sure when they became one. Sharing 4 years after the fact is sort of my thing though.

This weekend at @barmezzostpete ! Fri @vicangelo Sat @avbleek (unofficial Jazz on the Block afterparty)

This was the setup for our 10-year-anniversary with @theshelterny ’s Timmy Regisford in October of 2022. Believe this was the first and only dance party in Building 2 at @thefactorystpete . The @brunorochart painted speakers were still so bright back then. Now they’ve faded and this room is a pickle ball court. This year marks 15 years for us. Who should we bring to celebrate another milestone?