galen (Sunset Sound System, Roam Recordings, SF)

Galen founded Sunset Sound System in 1994 in Berkeley, California. It began as a small outdoor dance party set against the backdrop of the sun setting in the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Within just a few years, Sunset became an internationally recognized production company drawing thousands of attendees to sold-out events throughout the year — from boat parties to the annual Sunset Campout Festival in Northern California.

Galen has earned an international following and has toured extensively in his career throughout the United States as well as performed at major clubs and festivals in Europe, Central America, and Asia (ie. Glastonbury, Love International). With a university degree in Sound Design and extensive experience spanning almost 25 years, Galen has gained the respect for being technically proficient and yet has a unique fluid dj style. The psychedelic music scene of 1990s San Francisco provided a launching point to his extensive vinyl collection that spans many genres from classic disco to post-punk to roots reggae and modern house music. His sets can travel a diverse range yet maintain a conscious groove of cohesiveness, always appropriate to the time and place. They are thoughtful, yet never pre-planned, with artfully-timed track selections that spark any dance floor, appealing to the old school just as much as the new.

Music productions are also at the core of expression for Galen. Collaborations with Claude Von Stroke, Justin Martin, Lopazz, Pillowtalk, and Shiny Objects have laid the foundation to new solo endeavors. Releases to date are defining his bass & groove laden production style.

Galen has been Djing since 1993 and has this to say about at:

Making a great mix involves appropriate programming for your set time and mixing music in a way that enhances each song and creates new textures that each song can’t achieve on its own. The energy should transfer fluidly between each song building an overall feeling or vibe throughout the set.

You can peruse his Soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/dj-galen

Galen started producing events in 1994 to build community and provide a musical forum to dj at.

Information on Sunset Sound System can be found here: https://www.sunsetsoundsystem.com/

Gavin Stephenson ( ebb + flow / Second Format, NYC)

Bred on UK rock and synth pop, Gavin started dropping records on the turntable since the day he could reach it.

With a music career spanning decades, Gavin is an artist that pulls inspiration from all points on his musical path. His sound ranges from energetic and funky to deep and dreamy, touching on all that falls between. Reading the crowd and joining their journey is essential to Gavin’s style.

Gavin is a resident & co founder of NYC based ebb + flow. Along with partner Iman Rizky the journey continues producing events, DJing and sharing his love for music with all.

Gavin first started Djing in 1998 and has this to say about mixing:

‘A DJ set is a connection between dance floor and artist. Aligning with the energy of the crowd to take them on a journey is essential. When trust is established there are no limits and the music will speak for itself.’

Check his work on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gavin_stephenson_nyc

He also began organizing events in 1998 and offers this insight on his motivation:

‘I organize events to bring people together, to create community and to share my greatest passion in life: music. If I can leave my mark here by adding a special moment to someone’s life I’ll be content.’

Ebb and flow: https://www.ebbandflowmusic.com

the other half of Ebb and Flow, and our fellow New York City representative:

Iman Rizky (ebb + flow / Second Format)

Iman Rizky was bred on house beats from the early ’80s and ’90s. His relationship with dance music back then was a transcendental experience every weekend at places like New York City’s Red Zone, the Tunnel, Limelight’s Disco 2000, the Sound Factory, and the legendary Twilo. Iman became a promoter for the Tunnel, Limelight, and the Palladium during the club scene era of the late ’80s. His immersion in the heyday of club culture in NYC prompted the pursuit of his true life-long passion of DJing. With his extensive knowledge of dance music from both participation and promotion, he was able to cultivate a unique DJ sound to call his own. As the club scene era wound down and the dance music scene went underground in the early 2000s, Iman formed the party production group, Ku-Deta, which put together events stateside as well as internationally. Around the same time, he started his weekly DJ residency at SEA in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he continues to play on Fridays and Sundays.

Ku-Deta provided a precursory template for ebb + flow music, an NYC-based production company that Iman Rizky founded with Gavin Stephenson in 2013. The underground parties of ebb + flow music have brought consistent high quality music and an undeniably contagious vibe to the dance music scene. As an ebb + flow resident, Iman’s DJ sets are laden with minimal groovy beats layered with melodic sounds that build in a cycle of high peaks and low valleys. He takes the crowd on a thrilling roller coaster ride of music that elevates the mind, moves the body, and satisfies the soul. In the summer of 2014, Iman took ebb + flow to another level with collaboration on music production with Justin Marchacos and Gavin Stephenson. The trio became Second Format and has been producing tracks with driving bass lines and catchy, danceable hooks. Track releases are available on Cityfox label.

Iman first started Djing in 1990 and describes his mixing as

‘providing a rollacoaster journey through deep sexy groovy minimal sounds with vary peaks and valleys’

Check his music on Soundcloud

Iman began organizing events in 1993 and continues to organize 25 years later ‘for the love and passion of music where we can bring the underground community together’

Ebb and flow

Peter Kinohou Curtis is native to Hawaii. He started his DJ career as a radio host back in 2009 when he was inspired by the eclectic sounds of trip hop and euro lounge. He saw a void in his small island for electronic music shows and started his own company, Bass Innovations LLC throwing organized outdoor raves across the Big Island. They were widely successful, but he wanted to dive deeper into the scene and who truly influenced it.

Answering the calling to the meaning of his middle name “new beginnings,” Kinohou moved to San Diego in 2014 and started to explore. Within a year, he has well acquainted himself to the majority of local DJs of SanDiego. He has shared the decks with the likes of Thee-O, Croatia Squad, Raxon, DJ Huggie, DJ Mark E Quark, Marques Wyatt, Cris Herrera, Matthew Brian, Joe Pea, Red Sonya, and many more San Diego and L.A. Heavyweights.

Now as a highly sought out independent DJ, he has put Dance Klassique, Souleil, House Music Friday’s, Soulwork Presents: Eden and other notables into the books. He brings a Euro vibe playing a range of music from deep tech house to tribal to minimal techno, covering a wide range of ‘basses’ for settings from the gritty city to the desert. He is sure to pick the proper vibe for his next show.

As an ubiquitous fixture of Northern California’s music scene Little John is more than a DJ and an icon; he is a force of nature.

An extraordinary DJ, producer, remixer, and music historian, Little John’s musical artistry transcends genres with an intensity, knowledge and savviness possessed by few. Whether he’s playing Tech-House, Mid-tempo, Future Bass, or Booty Slap, this innovator continually unites factions and taps new levels of creativity simply for the heart of it. With an acutely discerning ear and an open mind and heart, his ability to read a crowd and mix the perfect vibe truly sets him apart. His is a genuinely unique approach that will move body, mind, and soul.

His roots run deeply through the creative hot-bed of San Francisco’s mid 90’s underground House scene and the incredibly diverse Santa Cruz free party scene. He became a resident of the legendary 13 Moon Tribe while simultaneously pioneering production of the wildly successful Raindance events, which continue to run strong today. Little John has played along-side many other first-class musicians and is regularly requested with such acts as Bassnectar, Tipper, Mark Farina, A.Skillz, and Fort Knox Five, to name just a few.

Current musical projects include a collaboration with Takuya Nakamura of Cocorosie; tapping into his gypsy roots and the birthing of his alter ego, Gudada, performing Gypsy Swing, Balkan Beat and Camel Krunk.

DJ Maggie (Moontribe Collective, Los Angeles)

Hailing from Los Angeles, fellow Moontribe resident DJ Maggie has been a regular at Tropical since we started doing campouts in 2007, allowing us to broaden our musical range to include more downtempo. She’s been our go-to downtempo artist since.

Michael Manahan first came to Tropical Oasis Retreat in 2012, and has played every one since. When I hatched the idea of bringing our retreat to Kauai last year, Michael was the first West Coast dj I talked to. He readily agreed to help rally the fun people from Seattle to our retreat and became the first member of our team!

In 2019, we expand our vision to include both the West Coast and East Coast US with the theme: “Connecting the Coasts.” Like last year, we have chosen one core person from each city who is absolutely at the top of their game as both a dj and an event producer to be the point person there. There is no better choice than Michael Manahan in Seattle!

Michael Manahan first started DJing in 1989 and has this to say about it.

“I try to bring sounds that enhance an environment and experiences. hypnotic grooves and curious soundscapes get me every time”

Soundcloud

He started his event production career in 1992, with full moon parties in the North cascades. He throws parties because

I love bringing people together, creating atmospheres for connectivity, inspiration and self realization.

What’s Michael up to right now? Why he’s off to Cascadia Festival, a yearly event he produces near Granite Falls, WA.

Cascadia

As a classically trained pianist, self taught guitar player and award winning Jazz vocalist by the age of 12, Music has always been an obvious path for Mena. Cutting her teeth as a DJ in the underground clubs, festivals and warehouse parties of the 90’s it is the Pacific Northwest and it’s many artists that have granted her countless life-long influences.

A DJ with nearly 20 years behind the dex, 2013 was her debut year in production and she hit the ground running with 13 releases on 7 labels in 3 countries. Today in her home town of Portland, Oregon, her influence is both local and international with releases on underground House labels across the globe.

As a studio vocalist, budding producer, composer and Dj she’s carved out a sound all her own. To date, having collaborated with a hand full of heavy hitters Mena has done projects on Caboose Records, Native Soul Recordings, Caliber Sounds, Great Lakes Audio, Grin Music and DJ Sneaks label ‘I am House Gangster’ to name a few. A true member and champion of the House Music community, the girl’s got something for your mind, your body, and your soul!

Miko Franconi fka SoundSex, has been living up to his name the moment he stepped up to the decks, and into the studio. Having been involved with electronic dance music since the early 90s, his pre-teens, he was bred to do this. Miko started as an opening DJ act for his oldest brother in 1999, and has since been under close watch of aficionados everywhere, surpassing expectations worldwide. Being a classically trained pianist, and more than comfortable with any multitude of instruments, including his native (Hawaiian) Ukulele, he has been more than welcomed into top-notch studios around the globe. Miko Franconi has been twisting hips since his first release, “Tension”, on Decoding Jesus’ “Let’s Beat Milo Records” (LA) in 2010. Side project with wondering electronic guru Josh Wetherington (together known as “Wet::Sex”) has received support from chart-toppers Claude Vonstroke (Nov 2012 “Stepp Harder” Beatport Chart) and DJ-MAG staples and Dirtybird co-founders, Justin & Christian Martin.

The studio is not the only place this young star has been shaking it up, in 2012 he was named Hawaii’s SPINZONE DJ OF THE YEAR. Holding residencies at Ultra Music Festival (Miami), Artisan Afterhours (Las Vegas), Asylum Afterhours Honolulu (#77 DJ-Mag Top 100 Clubs), and having just finished a staggering 21 shows in 19 cities, covering 9 states and 4 festivals in only two months (Lick My Soul Tour), this block-rocker is no stranger to the DJ booth. With his sound increasingly getting support, his rise to the top is inevitable… it appears the Franconi Legacy has much more in store for us all.