
FEBRUARY 2025 #7
This is part 3 of a special worldwide series of Pond Recommends to platform the artists/DJs/creatives involved in Mura Masa's Curve Club tour and share local taste. We invited those we have collaborated and hung out with to contribute to the editorial by giving a small list of personal recommendations from their local music/culture scene - record labels/stores, clubs, club nights, radio, community spaces, small hangouts, cafes etc. Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping.
BRUSSELS


Videos by Acid
Flyer by Saskia Smith
is an online community radio and streaming platform broadcasting 24/7 from a wooden kiosk in the heart of Brussels’ historic 'Parc Royal'. The radio was founded in 2017 and broadcasts a wide range of music genres, from jazz to experimental, from rock to electronic music. The station’s programme features a mix of live DJ sets, pre-recorded mixes and interviews by both local and international artists. One of the unique features of Kiosk Radio is its emphasis on Brussels’ local community. The station regularly hosts and supports a diverse array of local artists, musicians, collectives and cultural organisations to showcase the vibrant music scene in Brussels.
in the middle of Matonge, the Congolese neighborhood in Brussels, if you want to block an artery with one last meal I would recommend a Philly Cheese Steak at the best US Diner in town. Music is on point, the owner is still behind the counter and the Arnold Palmer (Lemonade/Iced Tea mix) can cure whatever you’re going through
from its front, the Nova Cinema sets the tone with a joyful bric-a-brac spiced up with boldness and colour. Far from commercial screens, this unique cinema advocates an alternative and eclectic approach, a singular and unconventional spirit which has made its reputation well beyond borders. Remaining in its original state, the large room displays a singular charm with its decrepit walls, its balcony, its small orchestra pit and an incredible ceiling. On the programming side, Nova broadcasts both feature-length and medium-length or short films, sometimes experimental and often rare. It’s the ideal place to enjoy a different type of audio-visual experience in a unique setting!
a new space for performers, dancers, creators and organisers in Brussels. Residency studios, shared and private ateliers and event and presentation 'Spaces To be Continued'
a cultural beauty centre run by Cayo van Breugel & Matthieu Ha, where you can make and repair flower petals, enjoy little concerts and performances in the city centre of Brussels
an associative artistic project created in 2013 based in Brussels in a place called Sterput. The non-profit organisation E² organises exhibitions, creative workshops, a focus on micro-publishing, and other cultural events throughout the year. It's space for meeting and disseminating emerging and established artists from all backgrounds, Sterput promotes alternative and extraordinary contemporary art. The E² project offers a different vision of art, raw and sharp, but also popular and accessible, aiming for access to culture for all. Non-conforming and singular figurative art, Sterput believes in the emotional power of images
Listen to Kiosk Radio here
Liyo is a DJ and runs HE4RTBROKEN with Stephenie Kevers, a Belgian collective bringing unapologetically emotional music into the club. Not shying away from the melodramatic tone of its name, the HE4RTBROKEN nights offer a safe haven to the lone souls longing for a dance floor to cry on. Running since 2015, they’ve done parties in Brussels, Paris, London, Berlin and Shanghai and have their own NTS residency. Liyo also edits films, check out a curation of her favourite scores for 254 Forest.
an online radio run from a wooden cabin in the middle of the Royal Park. Lovely hang out and great music from the local scene and international guests alike, and they really managed to create a strong community around them
art centre with a strong focus on videos and installations, not so many people know that they also have a public library with a lot of art books and archives, and they host a bookshop called Rile with a great curation
iconic venue for concerts and sometimes club nights. It’s in the old botanical garden of Brussels
a multidisciplinary creative space where you can find sound studios, offices and a gallery
a cosy family-run Palestinian restaurant in Saint Gilles which aims at educating about Gaza’s culture through food
Carré de Moscou square (Saint Gilles)
jamaican Food every Thursday - nice chicken, cheap cocktails and they usually have a dj providing the soundtrack
favourite pool place
one of the oldest and biggest cinémathèque in Europe, created in the 60s by Jacques Ledoux, close to the French New Wave. They play movies daily, often on film, including silent old classics accompanied by live piano
Best kept secret spot:
Bargello. My favourite ice cream place!!! They are Sicilian and have special flavours like dark chocolate sorbet, Tuscan cream (pistachio + almonds), Vespucci (ricotta + honey + fig), close to the European headquarters where all the picky Italian Eurocrats work so it’s 100% Italian approved
Listen Liyo's mixes here and the HE4RTBROKEN NTS show here
Otis is the founder of Slagwerk, a Brussels-based label notorious for their parties, bringing together the ever-surprising stretches of contemporary music – its history includes James Ferraro, Amnesia Scanner, Crystallmess, Oli XL, Varg2TM, Sky h1 and Vegyn – and delight to the many faces of club, never disconnected from the families it fosters. This partying is not something one should take lightly, Slagwerk understands that like no other, with its experimental and dynamic embrace one can escape both nightlife’s over-intellectualising and over-trivialising impulses. At Slagwerk, and so too in Otis’ continuous escapades as a DJ, the trivial is never just banal, the pop never just popular, but the cutting-edge never turns pose either. In Otis’ sets, rigid conceptions of music are left aside, cul-de-sacs explored conditionally through humor, affect and instinct alike. Staying true to the thrill and shuffled spirit of online musical discovery, sound and songs connect and disconnect, flow and disrupt, genres are exploited and transgressed, melody seduced and swept.
I happily refer to Liyo's list - it holds some of my faves as well but to avoid doubles, here's a few more:
in front of my house there's a small hidden gem. A tiny café accompanied by a garden to escape the rush that is the St Marie square
located in Schaarbeek as well, a 20 hectares park that is my go to place for running, picknicking in basically hangin out all summer
a solidarity and participatory restaurant in the heart of Molenbeek. You're free to contribute whatever you want and so providing a meal for the next person so to speak. They are currently in a temporary location due to renovations
home to Belgium's greatest football team
shared plates and wine, you know the vibe
a recently opened radio in The Marolles with a very cosy bar and indoor space, perfect to spend an afternoon during the cold winter in Belgium
Best kept secret spot:
Tonton Garby, a sandwich place that specialises in cheese. Owned by two brothers they will make you a sandwich from scratch based on your cheese preferences. You can easily spend 1h in line as they spend quite some time with each client, but trust me it's worth it
Watch Otis' Boiler Room here
Saskia Smith works both in- and behind-the-scenes of Brussels’ art world, contributing through writing, research and graphic design. She co-directs Medusa Offspace, a curatorial project, and serves as a writer-in-residence in Brussels’ freshest residency space Terms & Conditions. Here, she leverages insights gained from her additional studies in anthropology, to wonder how systems of culture can be phrased in such a way that (courting neither hope nor despair) artistic niches draw beyond their own purpose and devises.
is a classic choice for drinks
Café des Minimes or Café l’Athénée
if you’re after a good outdoor vibe
has less locals passing by but offers a quirky setting
occasionally, you might catch a cool concert
an unbeatable hangout spot, pair it with takeout from Pure Veg India
every morning this place buzzes with an energy that epitomises Brussels' social & material chaos
is a small nightshop with a single table plopped right in its center. It serves cheap Indian cuisine under the aesthetic glow of LED lights and a backdrop of the nightshop’s passing interactions
do not go unless you’re seeing something in the Grand Eldorado room — a massive Art Deco cinema space
Damien & The Love Guru, Etablissement d’en Face, Super Dakota & Stems Gallery
the best art galleries
sometimes stirs to life with an event you don’t want to miss
Follow Saskia here




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compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

JANUARY 2025 #6
This is part 2 of a special worldwide series of Pond Recommends to platform the artists/DJs/creatives involved in Mura Masa's Curve Club tour and share local taste. We invited those we have collaborated and hung out with to contribute to the editorial by giving a small list of personal recommendations from their local music/culture scene - record labels/stores, clubs, club nights, radio, community spaces, small hangouts, cafes etc. Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping.
AMSTERDAM
Photos by Nikola Lamburov
Flyer by Mehdi-J
Ever since releasing his debut record Grow! (2021), Bby Eco has paved the skies with a blissful and emotive "eco-pop" sound — manifesting oneness with transformation & giving voice to a generation that seeks to re-connect with nature in a highly digitised world. Venturing into electronic sounds, his music uncovers a vibrant portrayal of a world that symbolises inner- and ecological metamorphosis. His latest record O2O (2023) — follows up this transformative outlet and shifts pace into energising and fluorescent production, aiming to bend time from an otherworldly place — with an ever so sentient touch. Following the footsteps of a so called earth-spirit, Bby Eco aims to synthesise nature into a utopian, playful & vivid display — making up a world wherein dreams are immortalised.
small local community of table tennis players, some are really good but I can still join in.
one of the best nightclubs and now a physical and digital space dedicated to “micropopculture”
is a really nice hangout spot too
club with really diverse programming, they’re open to new ideas without worrying about being commercial
a record label that throw really good parties
great events in great spaces - an art and music platform devoted to emerging artists and a curious audience, also a community where you can become a member and free access to their events
indie radio i listen to a lot
Best kept secret spot:
Hortus Botanicus and Vereniging van Horen Zeggen @ Salon de Ijzerstaven
Listen to Bby Eco tracks and mixes here
WILLEM FELTZER
I am Willem Feltzer, a producer and DJ from The Hague, currently working in Amsterdam designing for Dekmantel and kanaal40.
THE HAGUE:
in The Hague we have a new club that is run by cool people. I feel they are relevant/renovating regarding their line-ups and visual output. They also have a great restaurant/bar with cozy vibes.
is one of the things that makes me really proud of The Hague. They book the most exciting and upcoming experimental artists, as well as older rare acts.
is a lovely restaurant bar in the city center with a cute and romantic vibe both inside and outside in the summer.
new modern Japanese restaurant from the brother of Remy Unger, an important electronic music figure from The Hague. With great dishes/sake and not too expensive.
traditional Japanese restaurant from 1992 with insanely fresh ingredients, sushi, tempura, etc.
a hidden gem in a park, to have drinks and relax in the sun during summer. You can also rent a small boat and go through the canals.
cozy and tasteful sourdough bakery and coffee place.
AMSTERDAM:
really no one does it like this club in Amsterdam; booking upcoming talented artists and giving them the deserved push to grow. Their team is amazing and they have a real quality-over-quantity mentality.
Best kept secret spot:
Moktar Nabil (one of the founders of Garage Noord and kanaal40) is currently developing a new social app focussed on creatives worldwide. I’m glad to be part of the development by creating the visual side for it. I think updates on this will come through the kanaal40 Instagram, if you want to follow.
Listen to Willem's latest single here
SEEDLINK⁺
Seedlink⁺is an Amsterdam-based record label founded by ity, Go Me and Yoong in 2019. Their current discography counts 24 releases, of which a number has been released on CD as well as digitally. The artists on the label all explore their own distinct sound, but share an interest in the more contemplative side of electronic music, favoring off-kilter rhythms and complex melodic structures over harder dance music styles. Even though much of the music released on the label is clearly indebted to the online, Seedlink⁺’s main focus is on the offline and the physical, giving rise to events at Amsterdam clubs kanaal40 and Garage Noord as well as a recent merchandise collaboration with Baby Reni.
fun parties
interesting exhibitions
good bookes
delicious food
cool sounds
Best kept secret spot:
Listen to music from Seedlink+ here
MEHDI-J
Mehdi-J is a Breda based audiovisual artist whose style feels as self-explanatory as totally uncommon. Styles run parallel as well as perpendicular to each other, creating alienation that eventually will make it feel like it’s supposed to be this way, causing the little voice in your head to say that it’s not time to go home yet and you should stay a little longer for another “brabants kwartiertje”. Mehdi designed the flyer for Curve Club Amsterdam (pictured above).
best club in Amsterdam no doubt. The club that keeps surprising me, letting me discover new music + styles and giving local talent a platform (Noord)
experimental events and boundary pushing art (West)
cozy bar with vinyl DJ sets and a great view (Nieuw-West)
super diverse radio station (Noord)
community-driven space promoting sustainability and social gatherings (West)
Roopram Roti
best Surinamese food in the city (de Pijp)
stylish industrial setting offering inventive modern cuisine (Noord)
wine bar + restaurant, really intimate with a great variety of really good wines (West)
best sandwiches for the most reasonable price + staff is great (West)
iconic cafe with a classic Amsterdam atmosphere (Centre)
delicious Taco Spot (Noord)
best lahmacun in town (Centre)
authentic Italian Restaurant (West)
try the pekingduck pancakes (West)
authentic brown cafe, not pretentious and not fancy ;) (Centre)
traditional Indonesian cuisine (Noord)
Best kept secret spot:
Saarhair always hooks me up with the best cuts and colours & Foos1e, amazing and super talented hair stylist.
You can check out Mehdi's work here and listen to his mixes here

compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

JANUARY 2025 #5
Pond Recommends had a brief hiatus whilst The Pond has been growing the community overseas via Mura Masa's Curve Club tour. We've been to Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris, Barcelona and New York. We wanted to use these parties as an opportunity to learn more about the local scenes in each city and sourced local creatives to be a part of the events. We worked with local designers to make commissioned flyers, of course local DJs to play, local photographers to document the night and local tastemakers to attend. The parties have been an attempt to bring some of the values and aims of The Pond into the club space, as well as a good reason to expand our community and invite new and interesting people we met along the way.
This is a special edition of Pond Recs to platform the artists/DJs/creatives involved in the parties in each city and share local taste. We invited those we have collaborated and hung out with to contribute to the editorial by giving a small list of personal recommendations from their local music/culture scene - record labels/stores, clubs, club nights, radio, community spaces, small hangouts, cafes etc. Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping.
BERLIN
Photos by Emma Depres
Flyer by Annika Bohn
Daphne is a visual artist/tastemaker and Eddington is a musician - I feel like we kinda follow our friends who are DJs, promoters, artists, creatives, you know, and we stay within our community, and that's it. Just so it feels, like, fun, exciting, safe. It's also a great overlap of communities. What makes it so interesting is that it's affordable for artists to live here. Berlin is still poor and sexy - you can't really make money with any of the events you put on but it really feels like a community project. Now with all the censorship on government funding everybody's finding ways to do things themselves. Most of our friends are running collectives, we just take over places. The parties we organise depend on what places we can afford because we need to keep the tickets cheap.
a really great club that does really great parties.
the new hot spot. It’s a space financed by an artist/painter so they are independent from the trends and the art scene, which is not the case for a lot of German institutions in Berlin. So they are free to show really alternative and underground events - they have the best parties and art shows. Feels like a family reunion every time. In the winter the organiser goes to Ghana but in the Summer it starts again and people return to Berlin from all over - London, New York - so many people stay here for summer and Trauma Bar is where everyone comes back together.
an independent art studio in Wedding that hosts lots of cool events. Very DIY, run by 4 artists/creatives who did a really good job - they built it out with a great sound system and high spec AV tech.
is hosting fashion events that we've been to last year in our messy era. This year too, but less messy. They have, like, all these big celebrities and then smaller artists too. They take over venues, random places and abandoned spaces too.
good clubs.
one of our favourite venues in Mitte, very leftist.
do really nice parties, we feel safe there.
Check out Daphne's work here and listen to Eddington here
I am a multimedia artist, genre-fluid DJ, curator and dancer. Many of my gigs in Berlin are on different occasions, from clubs to to corporate events, exhibitions, radio stations and the ballroom scene. It's very refreshing that I can explore my versatility in new settings, a lot of event productions in the city often surprise me with exciting, new locations. What I love the most about Berlin is that you can find a niche for everything, and that the city is full of adventures and amazing people from all over the world. A place that never sleeps, with a lot of possibilities.
the program is exciting for people with an open minded music taste and a bit different than the usual 4/4 techno vibe in the city, I am personally a fan of small clubs like these. Also the sound system is amazing.
immediately fell in love with this place when I played there once for Kilowatt, most of the time there are concerts but sometimes special little parties or exhibitions.
a beautiful curated secondhand store with a lot of fab stuff in the heart of Kreuzkölln, lovely staff and it's also not too overpriced.
lovely cozy listening bar with a great program, if you just wanna hang out with your friends and enjoy music it's a great spot.
Best kept secret spot:
Personally its Tibet Haus for me, my favourite restaurant for over a decade now lol.
Listen to Jada's mixes here
I am the DJ/Producer LACATY. I focus on playing 90s punchy house tracks intertwined with modern edits, deep YouTube finds and white label vinyl releases. I produce music that gets people up and moving, that aims to fill the room with energy and get the party going. Berlin is a hedonistic paradise of idea swapping and mind melding. I honed my skills here and I’ll always be comfortable playing and working here, wherever I end up.
Community radio station, fundraising platform and also a great hangout spot @ Oona Bar
house music club with good vibes
flinta focused collective throwing the cutest UKG parties in Berlin
beautiful lake outside of Berlin
hangout spot in Summer
Best kept secret spot:
No particular spot, but if you are in Berlin over summer the best you can do is just be out and about, there are lots of secret raves going on, so keep your eye out!
Listen to Lacaty's EP here
What's up my frogs? This is Ry: Owner and operator of ye ol' Tennis Bar in Neukölln, Berlin. I am currently operating a small bar, venue, and art space; a cosy dive where people from across the micro-scenes of Berlin can come together for an affordable sip. I am also a Country music DJ under the moniker Grounded Beef, a graphic designer, and avid Magic The Gathering player. There are lots of places I could recommend to you or talk trash about (sorry, I actually think Berghain is dog-shit) but here is my list of places and parties that truly capture our lil slice of hell on earth.
Germany is not a country renowned for it's cuisine... or its sense of humor or general prioritization of happiness. Neukölln however is home to some of the best Arabic restaurants in Europe. There are may worth shouting out: Aldimashqi, Alfaisal, Assam, Jemenitisches Restaurant... these are all perfect 10s. But if you're looking for an 11 out of 10 dining experience, you gotta talk to dat Boi. Omar runs a little hole in the wall shop just down the street from Tennis. I assume that before he opened his shop he was just strumming a harp, 'cause this man is a literal angel from heaven. He takes time to talk to every person he serves and what he's serving is worth the wait. I recommend the falafel aubergine wrap and tell him Ry sent you for an extra thick portion ;).
Gotta blow the lid off this one: A toilet themed bar filled with animatronics and hydraulic pranks. You can order a sausage and it come's covered in brown sauce served in a bed pan. There's an MC in a cage whose just there to talk shit (pun intended) about people as you walk by. He's been locked in that thing for at least 20 years and so most of his roasting isn't exactly "PC". It's every good and bad stereotype about Germany in one place. Chef's kiss!
1 of the 2 unmissable club-nights in Berlin. Huge shout out to my friend CCL for this one. I've never met a single person in berlin who isn't a DJ, so it's truly a blessing to know one of the greatest this town has to offer. Not only do they make the speakers go boom, but they always put together a lineup that prioritizes sound over clout. Rare in this town. OHM can be a bit packed, so I recommend going from 4:00 AM til closing when only the heads are left.
Unmissable party 2 of 2. Heavy heaters and bass being served from start to finish. Show up. Become turnt. Thank me later.
As a jewish person, I never thought I would be labeled an anti-semite (lol) or have the shit beat out of me by the German police for attending a peaceful demonstration. But over the last year and a half Germany has become notorious for it's violent and authoritarian suppression of people standing in solidarity with Palestine. 3ezwa helps raise money for those facing legal troubles as a result of their solidarity, but beyond that have really drawn a connection between Berlin's club scene and other grassroots movements. Support them! And check out the DJ's who stand with them because they're usually playing the best parties in town.
Best kept secret spot:
Jorg's Pinball Hall 10 bucks entry for unlimited free pinball. Plus 2€ beers you can take out of the fridge and pay with an honor system. Jorg has some classic tables here and the vibe is immaculate. Plus I think pinball helps keep a great perspective: Even the best game ends in a drain, so enjoy the moment and don't over tilt.
Thank you for reading and please consider coming to Tennis Bar every single day. Open every day 18:00 til late.
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compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

SEPTEMBER 2024 #4
Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping, brought to you by a fresh member of the pond every other month. Here’s why we think they’re cool, and what they think is cool.
POND PEOPLE: MURA MASA
This month we spoke with Pond founder Mura Masa for a flavour of his flavour. The Pond asks for five recommendations and one anti-rec ;) before diving into a deeper conversation about everything in and around Mura Masa in the wake of Curve 1, his first offering as an independent artist through his own record label, Pond Recordings.
"I'm trying to make something that lasts or is timeless or is classic or something like that. And then maybe you get over that and you transition into something else. I wanna make stuff that's unignorable, you know, because of its quality. And then you kind of feel like you've done that or you just move on from that thought. I think at a certain point, the ambition gets so lofty, but it's like you lose track of why you're even doing it in the first place, and you have to return to that point of just - I'm doing this because I'm compelled to - and the rest of it is kind of bullshit or relies on other people or comparison. You just have to do it because it's like a compulsion almost. And that can be very freeing because it frees up a lot of motivation to just make room for play and fun. Experimentation. I'd say that's kind of where I'm at. Just doing it for its own sake in a really, like, wholesome way rather than a depressing one.
I've made enough work now that you can kind of hear very clearly the evolution, the subject matter, the motivations, the inspirations, so there definitely is a link, but I'm not the type of person who's gonna go ahead and draw that link. You know? It's that David Lynch thing of, you spend 2 years making the movie and then they want you to talk about the movie, but the movie is the talking. Yeah. That's where that's where I'm at.
But Curve 1 is ultimately a love letter to club spaces and club music, and a manifestation of an attitude I’ve been cultivating in my personal life; ignore everything. All the content, all of the attention economy, all of it. In doing that, the really meaningful and vital parts of what’s around you make themselves known and un-ignorable, demanding your energy. Don’t sweat about what they’re doing, we’re doing this over here."
REC 1: Disco Elysium
A lot’s been written about this so I’ll keep my recommendation brief, but this is just a true work of art. Something like 1 and a half million words of amazingly written dialogue, endless replay potential. It’s really bent my mind playing through it, so perfectly written. And surprisingly politically ruthless for a video game. Currently embarking on a play through as a completely useless and sorry piece of shit. Great fun.
"I don't think there's any way of talking about this without sounding completely dweeby and kind of millennial and loser-ish, but video games are important to me. Why? Just because it's a very complete art form in the way that film is, in that it marries a lot of disciplines. There's the visual side, the audio side, the curation of the casting. But video games have this other dimension, which is the play part of it and, like, how you curate an experience for someone to play with, you know? And I've been feeling that way about club music recently where it's like a big facet of it is like how do you make something that someone can play with in the context of a DJ set. I mean I could talk about this forever. There's narrative in video games sometimes but equally it's like it's a unique art form in that it can be without narrative as well. It can just be a fucking game for its own purpose. So I've been trying to think in those kinds of terms about club music."
REC 2: trickpony - Pillow Talk
Really been enjoying this trickpony EP, part of a general attraction of mine towards music that really creates mood and setting. Also scratching my current trip-hop addiction.
"These days, I think what inspires me is people who are doing stuff that's unrelated to anyone else. When the work just kind of is its own thing, doesn't have many collaborations on it, if any. Like, just kind of seems like it appeared out of nowhere and just has its own universe. You have to uncover it. I just really like - it feels banal to say - but I just really like music for its own thing. Whereas in the past, I would've been attracted to music that fit into a somewhat sort of cultural puzzle. I’m trying to be inspired by those kinds of characters. I guess what I'm attracted to is people who can't help but inject their own views, ideologies and ideas into their conversations. And, people who are just relentlessly themselves. I think it's better to be a beginner, to be honest. Because I started so young, I think I've been through most iterations of this thought of, “what am I doing?” And at first you're like - I'm trying to break into that group of people who are making stuff that matters and that is relevant. And then if you're lucky, you kind of get to that point and then you realise actually that's bullshit. The important thing is to show yourself and provide your ideas. That's what's attractive to me."
REC 3: Tuna Rice Cakes
Been eating a lot of this for lunches, its so quick and simple that it suits a nice middle of the day meal that isn’t disruptive to studio time and gives you some protein. I’m pretty useless at remembering to feed myself so this has been a good solution.
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Can of tuna, I like Rio but anything works. Preferably in oil rather than brine.
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Combine in a bowl with some mayonnaise or a vegan alt, little bit of Thai sweet chilli sauce and maybe some hot sauce if you’re into that. I like the Caribbean El Yucateco with the scotch bonnets in it.
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Liberal salt and pepper
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The important part is to press the whole mix together with a fork, make sure and do it for a while to break through the tuna chunks and make sure you’re coating all the bits of fish with the mix.
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One can nets about 4 rice cakes worth of mix, 3 if you’re heaping the tuna on. I like to use unsalted rice cakes.
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Finish with an xtra sprinkle of salt to taste, maybe some chopped spring onion if you wanna put the time in, drizzle of truffle oil if you’re feeling fancy or wanna mix it up. The washing up amounts to rinsing the can out, cleaning the fork, and a small plate to eat off.
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Devour and feel good that you fed yourself some protein. Back to work.
"I just really like people. But the duality of really liking people, wanting to be close to people, to be able to relate - mixed with when you observe big groups of people very closely, you realise how, like, fallible we are. How disappointing people can be, that sort of thing. So it's like this real duality between misanthropy and just love. That's the main thing that is emergent, I think, for me. That's gonna be my bugbear my whole life. It's just like, I love people. Why are we so fucking stupid? I love that."
REC 4: Cinema
I claim to be a fan of film but have recently realised how little I make the effort to go and see things in the cinema given how convenient the streaming age has become. I think the trick is to just treat it as a trip to the cinema, rather than waiting for something you wanna see to come up. Just see what’s on, pick something. No harm in seeing something shit, it’s good fun. I think in my disillusionment with the current trends of mainstream cinema I had begun to avoid supporting the industry altogether, but in can be a good evening out to go laugh along to the latest reboot schlock with some friends, as well as finding some littler indie gems you wouldn’t have otherwise seen.
"I think a good community is like equal parts comfort and discomfort. It's the comfort of gathering around shared ideas or taste or whatever it is and then the discomfort of having to be challenged on those things or introduced to new things that you don't understand. Fandom is an interesting one because it's mollycoddled, you're gathered around this basic idea which is we all like this thing. That's so changeable and kind of weak. But if a community is based around a debate about something or the sharing of things, it's something a bit more juicy I guess. Then it becomes really interesting to me because I like the initial feeling of discovering a community that is based around a thing that you know nothing about, but that quickly wears off as you get to know about the thing. So there has to be some longevity in that challenging aspect of there needs to constantly be ideas injected into the group and talked about and kind of lived in, you know. It's not enough to just, like, be a fan of something. That's just, like, comfort food, I think."
REC 5: Anysia Kim - Truest
Big fan of this. It’s become a nice refrain in my daily listening. Soulful, ethereal, patchworked, modernist. Nods to rave and dance culture but from an oblique angle. Really just special work.
"I guess one of the big reasons I started the Pond community is what I was just talking about, which is music groups within music tend to centre around fandom. And, like, that's been really working out for a couple of decades because I guess consumption has been very much at the centre of what the music industry is about. You know, post piracy and post internet becoming a thing, things like that - it's very much about how we foster and create a community that will basically lead to someone buying a shirt or a ticket or whatever. That felt interesting for a second but I think that's very much wearing off. I'm interested in exploring what it looks like when you create a community around creative work or music that is motivated by something that isn't consumptive or based around “opportunity”. That's why the Pond is still closed. I'm just excited to grow it in an organic way and it's been fun seeing it slowly kind of gain more people and interaction and facets to it."
ANTI REC: Twitter/X
Maybe we already know this but this is your sign to act on it ; you’ve gotta get off twitter if you’re still on there. The model now is basically just ; blue tick account says something to upset/anger you, you look at it and people interact with it which directly generates them ad revenue. The incentive for anybody to be on there now is just all based around baiting you into feeling bad haha. Let’s trash it. Go on are.na and find some cool pictures instead.
"And we’re about to start the parties. Curve Club will also take the form of club parties across Europe and America, with scope to hopefully bring its attitude elsewhere in the world. What I feel often gets lost in the digital age of music consumption is the community that music can foster, and the shared values that people can gather around as campfires and create things more interesting and lasting than simple fandom. It’s in these real spaces that we can really utilise music as common ground, a shared thrill and a means of nurturing spaces of acceptance and joy. It’s been super fun curating the lineups and figuring out as we go what exactly Curve is. When you create a DJ lineup, you really dictate who's gonna be there, what kind of audience, those sorts of things. So it's been fun to zero in on what exactly it is that I'm looking for out of these parties and what abstract quality all the music has to it. It's just about translating those ephemeral internet things into some real life equivalents.
Also work is starting on the physical Pond Studios in Peckham. I really want it to be a jam space. An ideas jam. I'm starting to sound like a Silicon Valley person. Maybe it's overly simple, but I'm excited to just have a third space. Where it's like - oh, we were gonna hang out somewhere. Let's go hang out at the Pond."





compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

AUGUST 2024 #3
a monthly archive of cultural recommendations, original works and contributions from members of The Pond community and Discord. Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Here's what we’re feeling rn 🌀:
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Woman Photographer of the Year - Emmeline
Boo
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Start - Bill Frisell, Arild Anderson
Mura Masa
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Some Say I So I Say Light - Ghostpoet
Phil
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君島大空
Kogane
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Dark Blue - Caroline
Imagiro
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Day Out - Spresso Music Video
Mura Masa
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Dubplate 07 - Lauren Duffus
Phil
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Tia Radkiewicz
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I Have A Special Plan For This World’ - Current 93
Leo Bhanji
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Mura Masa
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no mans land - Chino Amobi
Jak Ritger
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Gabba-17’ - Buttechno (aka Pavel Milyakov)
Witch Trials
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Cleveland - Eev Frances
Mura Masa
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Common Loon - Xiu Xiu
Jak Ritger
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Jealous of your industry - Saint Abdullah, Eomac
Witch Trials
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Excalibur - Molly Nilsson
Shaad D'Souza
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Owed2Me - Anysia Kim
Mura Masa
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dj lukinhas & the dream police - NAÇÃOREBOLATION69
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As Long As - Bassvictim
Mura Masa
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MADE BY THE POND
Original works and achievements by us. 🏆 :
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Günseli wrote an Unreality Report for Dazed
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Angela Steps played with Shy Girl for Club Shy Glastonbury & Ibiza
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Yeule is DJing at Margins United by Eastern Margins
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Boo won the BBC Introducing DJ search and played at Radio 1 Dance Ibiza
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Nelya Rosa put together the features for Buffalo Zine No. 19
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DJH produced on Bitch I'm Packin' for Ice Spice
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Umru released single Records with Chase Icon
LISTEN
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Caroline Whiteley interviewed A Song For You for The Wire
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LISTEN
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Salute released album True Magic
LISTEN
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Karma Kid collaborated with Salute on True Magic
LISTEN
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The Reids directed the music video for Thrown Around (James Blake)
LOOK
and Horseblinders for Cam Hicks
LOOK
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Mura Masa released single FLY ft Cherish
LISTEN
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Shaad D’Souza wrote about how the music industry is engineering artist popularity for the Guardian Magazine
READ
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Rifke Sadleir designed and built code for OffChance Magazine
LOOK
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LSDXOXO released single GHOST
LISTEN
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Cameo Blush released a 100% production mix on Rinse.FM
LISTEN
and single Art of Worry was featured on DJ BORING’S DJ-Kicks compilation
LISTEN
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Umru is touring the US and Europe
LOOK
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Witch Trials threw the fourth Revolver party
and did a mix for Brixton Radio
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Denial (run by Jo Taylor) made merch
LOOK
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RESOURCE SWAPPING
Resources and tools shared by Pond members in our private Discord.
Mura Masa shared the BBC Sound Effects Archive
Imagiro shared a plugin he made
Lloyd Wayne shared a sample pack

compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

JULY 2024 #2
Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping, brought to you by a fresh member of the pond every other month. Here’s why we think they’re cool, and what they think is cool.
POND PEOPLE: STEPPIN' OUT
This month we spoke with Pond member Jake Allen, founder of Steppin' Out, for a flavour of his flavour. The Pond asks for five recommendations and one anti-rec ;) before diving into the story of Steppin' Out and what it stands for. Featuring photos from Callie Gregory, Courteney Frisby, Dearbhla Gorham, Elise Shauna, Hamda Sagal Ibrahim Mahamoud, Jake Allen, Karla Lizethe-Hunter, and Taja Lewis Bodie.
Steppin' Out is an underground club culture print magazine, on their third issue with two years and three-hundred pages of cultural archive and insight from the heart of the underground. Connecting the dots from all corners of the club spectrum, their publication features honest conversations with past, present and future underground icons accompanied with editorial images captured by an eclectic group of photographers and friends. Jake founded Steppin’ Out as a platform to showcase his nearest and dearest, something that belonged to their scene, a time capsule of their hard work (and hard play). Steppin' Out are hosting their two year anniversary at Jumbi with selected work on show from their photographers and vinyl all night from the S/O residents.
“we’re doing it from a perspective where we’re all planted within these clubs, these parties. We’re not bystanders, we’ve been invited to a couple of places and we go but we go to dance. I wanted it to be real. A lot of publications have lost their edge - there’s so many paid ads, none of the writing has any grit to it - I wanna hear about the drugs, I wanna hear about the dirt. That’s what it is, that’s what nightlife is. We need independent publications like this to keep the underground going. None of the stuff we platform has been paid for.”
REC 1: Record shop bargain ‘bins’ - The greatest club classics and B side remixes of R&B hits for a fiver or less, trust me. Flashback on Bethnal Green Road, Reckless Records (Soho), Palace Vinyl (Crystal Palace), Notting Hill Music & Video exchange & the record stand at the front of Brick Lane vintage market are always good bets.
“I’ve always wanted Steppin Out to be in print because there’s something really beautiful about holding something real. Feeling the texture of the paper. Even the colours in printed magazines are totally different, they’re more vibrant. I think we’re so used to seeing screens that I wanted this to exist outside of the digital realm. You're touching something that’s real, real time has gone into that. It’s taking the time to sit with something and not have 5 apps open in the background, take a minute to breathe, have a moment with it.”
REC 2: Lahore Kebab House on Umberston Street, the best curry, best prices this side of the Thames!
"with Steppin Out, I really wanted to look at the different areas of club land within London post pandemic. Because when you observe too broadly you kinda loose the depth of it. Looking within London specifically you’ve got the House scene, Jungle, Soul, Garage - they’re all quite specific but they all cross paths. I wanted to get someone from each of those scenes, I guess to be able to document them in a more personal way. It’s nice when I flick through the pages of Steppin Out there’s a big range of parties and you see the same people in the pictures - and if you looked broader you wouldn’t get that. It’s become quite London-centric but I wanted to look at our cities club culture and how much is happening - a lot of things are grim but there are parts flourishing in their own way."
REC 3: If you need a PROPER party, Shortlist & Folly never disappoint (find them at various spots around town), Adonis because well, we don’t need to say much there, Heart Of Soul for the soul boys/girls (Lewisham) and Jumbi (any night) for a more chilled vibe/listening bar.
“It’s really lovely to see people that you’re just having fun and partying with actually making careers out of this - it makes you go oh shit yeah you kind of can. Even though you may be working two or three jobs at the same time. Steppin’ Out wants to know why people make it work, what they did to get there. I’m really hustling to keep this going. There’s no funding, it’s chaotic and it’s messy but that’s what dance music is. There’s such a disconnect now, especially with big labels about what this culture is and what it’s built on. It’s built off of struggle and DIY - so much of it is so clean cut, like an advert - we’re not. Most of us that work on it are working three jobs, we’re in it, we’re just normal twenty-something year olds. Steppin Out feels real. It’s made up of hustlers who are trying to make something work.”
REC 4: An exhibtion I went to recently - 'Beyond The Bassline: 500 years of Black British music' at the British Library.
"I mean fucking hell this is funded completely from my own pocket. It’s hustling and trying to pull it together. I want to do it for the love of it. I like to think all of the photographers and the artists we have involved see/feel that to and have gotten involved for the same reasons, the love of it. I wanted this to be a platform who actually give a fuck about what they’re doing. It’s been amazing to see these people who are involved progress in their own ways."
REC 5: Final rec is a bit more abstract, but this is our motto, don’t try to be anyone else, fit your own mould, you don’t need to impress. Authenticity and realness will always shine through, so keep on trucking and stay true to you xx
"I feel like even in Issue 3, there’s more that we could’ve talked about and each article could have been greatly expanded - I started to realise that we have a really unique point of view here where we can actually say and talk about whatever we want, but we're learning, I am learning and with each issue we can build on the last. "
ANTI REC: DJ Mag’s top 100 clubs. In what universe are Fabric & Ministry London’s best raving spots? Wonder how much they charge for a spot on the list? If you need a proper big club minus the tourists check out The Cause and more intimate spots like Corsica Studios, MOT & Colour Factory!
"It's a family affair and most of the team/contributors/writers/photographers have all been met with some connection to clubbing/raving/being out. I met Meg our Graphic Designer at one our now resident's (Liz-zie) (and long time friend) first events, I met Zine (and then Courteney later) at The Cause's now infamous Seaside Beano, Hamda at a Bikini State exhib, met Jeet at The Cause, Shauna & Georgie are friends from school, Maka & Liv at Folly, Taja at Ella Knight's first house party event, Elise & Leah are long time friends of mine, Derv, Callie, Karla, Maddy & James all through mutuals connected by nightlife."
"Being as independent as possible will always be the priority for us. We need to maintain control."











compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander

JUNE 2024 #1
a monthly archive of cultural recommendations, original works and contributions from members of The Pond community and Discord. Anti-gatekeeping gatekeeping.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Here's what we’re feeling rn 🌀:
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Montagem phone brasileiro - dj arana
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Poor Things score - Jerkin Fendrix
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Offline matters - Jess Henderson
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Linear S Decoded - SHXCXCHCXSH
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The Commercials of David Lynch
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Patchwork of unresolved feelings - 𐎫𐎨𐎦𐎧𐏂
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It’s Not What the World Needs Right Now - Andrew Norman Wilson
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Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
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Give It To Me (Dance Mania) - Stacy Kidd
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Vampyroteuthis Infernalis, Villem Flusser
MADE BY THE POND
Original works and achievements by us. 🏆 :
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Daniela Lalita featured in new TRISTÁN! single Pinky Ring
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Rifke Sadleir spoke at INTERFACE a discussion on digital space making
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KAVARI released CULT TAPE 001 - SELECTED NOISE WORKS
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Lloyd Wayne released Bird Beyond
and an NTS show
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Denial (run by Joe Taylor) held a party
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Revolver (run by Witch Trials) parties are back!
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Jam City released deluxe record Jam City Presents EFM
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Salute released singles system and saving flowers
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LSDXOXO released single BLOODLUST
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Umru released single soulbreakcore
and is touring (UK/EU)
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Zack Sekoff played the Mk.gee show at Earth Hackney and is currently touring alongside him
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Cold co-produced Dance2, It’s Cold Out, Redstripe, Wind, Westfield & 265 on new Jawnino album 40
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Karma Kidd collaborated, wrote and produced with Shy Girl on album Club Shy
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Jak Ritger edited Issue III of PARADIGM Magazine
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Mietze Conte released single Secret
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Shy Bairns label released debut single Get Nowt
LISTEN
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Boo released debut single Kama Sutra
LISTEN
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Shaad D'Souza wrote an article for the New York Times
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Mura Masa produced and mixed new PinkPantheress single Turn It Up
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Steppin' Out launched Issue 3 of their underground club culture magazine
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RESOURCE SWAPPING
Resources and tools shared by Pond members in our private Discord.
Karma Kid shared 100s of samples
Umru added a bunch of edits
Jam City shared their stems
Leo Bhanji shared his favourite drum packs
Mura Masa shared some exclusive edits, breaks and recorded samples
Yeule shared some sounds she made and hoarded with her OP-1

compiled and edited by Lexi and Xander