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A US run of Noetic label showcases centred on fully improvised, hardware-only live techno, touching down in LA, Chicago, Phoenix and St. Petersburg (FL)
Feb 28th – Los AngelesMarch 6th – PhoenixMarch 7th – ChicagoMarch 14th – St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Area)
Respected live techno artist, Noetic imprint owner, and a modular instrument designer for Anti-Kulture, David Castellani, is bringing a series of label showcases to the US across late February and March taking in shows in LA, Chicago, Phoenix and St. Petersburg (FL).
With a focus on hardware-driven live techno performances, the events will feature a very rare performance by two icons of the genre, Sterac & Lady Starlight who’ll debut a fully improvised 100% live hardware jam at the LA, Chicago and Phoenix dates. Expect a unique and unrepeatable experience at every show. Elsewhere standout Baltimore native and now Berlin-based Tresor resident MAEDON will join the Chicago, Phoenix and St. Petersburg (FL) events. A fearless live performer, lock in for a bold, boundary-pushing set which fuses driving techno with visceral, modern hardware experimentation. Seeing David Castellani perform in the flesh should be on every techno fan’s bucket list. A modular aficionado of rare creativity and ingenuity, he intuitively constructs blistering, transcendental soundscapes that are at once meticulously crafted and thrillingly unpredictable.
Other artists to join the tour include stunning live acts Komprezzor, Trovarsi and Sleepy Cat, alongside quality DJ talent which includes Fader founder Dzenan, Phoenix mainstay GERSH and Castellani collaborator Brittney Vandal.
“The goal with Noetic is to dissolve the line between performer and crowd — placing everyone inside the system rather than watching it from a distance” – David Castellani shares, giving an insight into the intimate set-up that will characterise the upcoming showcases.
Continuing his commitment to nurturing the next crop of producers, Castellani will run a free modular workshop alongside the St Petersburg gig. Check Noetic socials for more info and sign-up details.
The series of Noetic events follows last October’s standout showcase during Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) week featuring David Castellani, Lady Starlight and MAEDON, and a maiden showcase in LA in late 2024, featuring Hiroko Yamamura and Ken Ishii.
Tour dates:
Feb 28th – Los Angeles – Work x Noetic: Machine Wars (secret warehouse location)Line-up: Sterac & Lady Starlight – 3 hour set (live), David Castellani (live), Trovarsi (live), Sleepy Cat (live)Times: 23:00-6:00Prices: from $23+bfTickets: https://ra.co/events/2345274
March 6th – Phoenix – presented by Departures & Techno Snobs (secret warehouse location)Line-up: Sterac & Lady Starlight (live), David Castellani (live), MAEDON (live), Komprezzor (live), GERSHTimes: 23:00 – 5:30 Prices: $22 upwardsTickets: https://shotgun.live/en/events/noetic-label-showcase
March 7th – Chicago – Cermak Hall @ RadiusLine-up: Sterac & Lady Starlight (live), David Castellani (live), MAEDON (live), Komprezzor (live)Prices: starting from $27.71Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/muftkktz
March 14th – St. Petersburg, FL – presented by Fader (secret warehouse event)Line-up: David Castellani (live), MAEDON (live), Brittney Vandal, DzenanPrices: TBA – follow @noeticmusic_ for updates Tickets: TBA – follow @noeticmusic_ for updates
Artist Rundown:
Sterac & Lady Starlight (LA, Phoenix, Chicago)Sterac, the techno moniker of the legendary Dutch producer Steve Rachmad, and Lady Starlight, an American artist known for her raw and authentic techno performances, have both carved unique paths in the electronic music scene. Now, they are joining forces to create Sterac & Lady Starlight Live, a ground-breaking live act that merges their formidable talents and shared passion for techno. Not just a performance; it is an ode to the art of live electronic music – expect a fully improvised live jam and 100% live hardware set up.
David Castellani (LA, Chicago, St. Petersburg, Phoenix)His influence goes well beyond the DJ booth. Italy-born, Chicago-raised, and a long-time mainstay of the LA techno scene (now based in Lisbon), Castellani is a live techno performer, head of Noetic, and a modular instrument designer for Anti-Kulture, the company he launched in 2022. His live modular performances – shared on bills with artists from Colin Benders to Luke Slater – are sculpted entirely on hardware, drawing from a deep relationship with modular synthesis to create soundscapes that are both precise and unpredictable.
MAEDON (LA, Chicago)A rising force in the techno world, she is a Tresor resident and founder of the Rant & Rave imprint set up to showcase female talent in the traditionally male-dominated techno space. As a live performer, her sets are dense, driving, and fearless, pushing hardware into new rhythmic territories while maintaining a raw edge that feels both modern and timeless.
Trovarsi (LA)The LA-based music producer and live performance artist brings a unique sound to the world of electronic music. With a hybrid blend of analogue synths, modular, drum machines and Ableton, she builds a pulsing atmosphere to any set she plays.
Brittney Vandal (St. Petersburg, FL)Brittney Vandal is a DJ and poet based in Lisbon, after years immersed in Los Angeles’ underground scene. Her sets blend hypnotic techno with a cinematic sense of tension and atmosphere, rooted in raw warehouse energy. Her writing often finds its way into musical collaborations and recorded work, bringing a personal narrative onto dancefloors. As part of the Noetic collective, she builds late-night experiences that prioritize feeling and immersion over quick impact.
Sleepy Cat (LA)The Los Angeles-based artist is rooted in the underground house and techno community. He is known for raw, hypnotic productions and immersive live performances.
Komprezzor (Chicago, Phoenix)As a mainstay of the Chicago techno scene whose live sets channel raw machines and classic drum DNA to craft dark and dirty techno that has seen him land on labels including SecreTechno, Reloading Records, Sienna Obscure and more.
Dzenan (St. Petersburg, FL)Dzenan is a DJ known for groove-focused, hypnotic techno built for long-form dancefloors. His sets rely on subtle shifts in rhythm and tension, creating momentum through precision rather than excess. As founder of the Fader event series, he has helped cultivate spaces centered on deep, late-night programming and underground artists. Each performance is shaped around patience and flow, keeping dancers locked into the atmosphere from start to finish.
GERSH (Phoenix)A vital member of Phoenix’s Departures crew, he helps shape events that connect the city’s underground community around forward-thinking electronic music. Expect a moody opening set from the skilled DJ which will appropriately ramp up to kick off the evening’s live performances!
About Noetic: Founded in 2021, Noetic is Castellani’s platform for hardware-focused, future-facing techno, featuring originals releases from David Castellani and remixes from the likes of Etapp Kyle, Matrixxman, DJ Hyperactive, Ken Ishii, Voiski and Redshape.
