Rhizomes are a subterranean plant stem that sends out roots from its nodes. Electronic music intrinsically carries the same travel patterns and serves as a mode of active expression. It travels fast and far. 

Black Rhizome is a bi-monthly program that uplifts femme, women, queer and gender nonconforming artists, producers, writers and thinkers and centers the spirit and tenacity of electronic music, the places it’s traveled, and the art it has inspired– dedicated to sampling sounds +  ideas to read pasts and speculate our present.

On Episode 1 of Black Rhizome, host Softchaos takes us through some of their favorite tracks, paying heavy homage to the black electronic soundscape of techno in New York City, blended with industrial, breaks and rn&b. They also share a few texts to get the inaugural show started. It’s emotional, hard, loud and danceable for the dolls who need a good release this month of San Valentín. 

With tracks from TYGAPAW, LSDXOXO, AceMo, M. Bootyspoon, Byrell The Great and TAAHLIAH.

This mix was especially made as a treat and open letter to queer friends taking care of each other. Happy Black History Month everyone. Black Trans Lives Matter x

Books/essays mentioned in the show: Polar Green - Tony Cokes & Tim Semb (2019) 
 Technosonic of Black Expressionism - Reg Zehner (2022) Techno Rebels - Dan Sicko (2010)

Softchaos is a Los Angeles born, Spain based experimental DJ and performance artist. Using sound as their medium, Softchaos blends to engage in a hybrid practice of sound archiving and technological criticism. Through their work, they study radical black and diasporic queer movements.

As a self-taught dj, their percussion-heavy sets draw from the black roots of techno to question boundaries of musical styles and highlight radical sound politics, while infusing the energy of sample based electronic music rhythm and bass into the genre. Softchaos is currently working on experimental club sets +  community building and aspires to bring that energy to more live shows.

Tracklist:

• Scene 1 - Unseen - Tygapaw

• 8up | GRRL X FKA TWIGS - Byrell The Great

• Milkshake - COUCOU CHLOE

• Death Rattle - LSDXOXO

• Twerkulate - VZEPOP

• System Override - AceMo

• Dun Wan - M. Bootyspoon

• Batalt Afham 3ala Haly (بطلت أفهم على حالي) -TAAHLIAH


• Shygirl Tasty Remix - Boys Noize

• Killa - crsswrds

• Booty Optics - AceMoma

• Technologic Remake - Hadone

• Thot Shit - Rian Riot Remake

• Stay Fly - Nova Cheq

• Mush [Das Booty] - angels gun club

• Set the Trap - Asquith

• SUKUBRATZ x XAKALELE - BALA

• uwu - LSDXOXO

• 「AALIYAH」x あいのうた - Arca

• Bobby Valentino Slow Down (Architect On The Drums) - Architect

• Thank You ft. Mandy Harris Williams - Tygapaw