New York’s premier underground music festival Sustain-Release comes to Tokyo with their satellite party

By highlighting the underground scene that connects New York and Tokyo, this party brings a brand new club experience to Tokyo for one night only. Launched in 2014 and held every year at an upstate camping site, Sustain-Release is New York’s leading rave organized by Brooklyn-based DJ and producer Aurora Halal. In addition to Brooklyn DJs injecting local flavor, their on-point curation has brought international guests like DVS1, DJ Stingray, DJ Sprinkles, Lena Willikens, Kassem Mosse, Legowelt, Josey Rebelle, Courtesy, Batu and Jane Fitz, as well as Japanese artists such as DJ Nobu, Wata Igarashi, Powder and Chris SSG. Celebrating their 7th anniversary this year, Sustain-Release has been ranked the best festival of the month by Resident Advisor for four years in a row. The festival’s strict policy rejecting all forms of violence and discrimination is also part of the reason for their success. In order to protect this safe environment, the festival is invite-only and is capped at 1,000 tickets, which all sell out in seconds.
To start, the main floor will be plunged into a world of deep, groovy psychedelic techno by two-time Sustain-Release performer and producer Wata Igarashi, whose affiliations include Midgar, DJ Nobu’s Bitta as well as techno label The Bunker New York. On the heels of his new album “Information” from Ghostly International, Galcher Lustwerk will follow with a DJ set synchronizing his vocals and original sounds. Proudly closing out the night is Sustain-Release mastermind Aurora Halal.
On the Contact Floor, “deep reggaeton” pioneer DJ Python will close out the night with his playful style that defies all expectations. Incienso alum and rising star Beta Librae will make her Japan debut with a tripped out, groovy techno set. In the earlier hours, Akiram En will deliver left-field techno to the dance floor and Sustain-Release guest and label-owner JR Chaparro will kick off the night.
The Foyer zone will feature popular Japanese DJs who have been making an international mark in recent years. The first name in the lineup is Mari Sakurai, DJ and founder of popular high-energy party KRUE. Ambient producer Ultrafog whose record from Motion Ward is still fresh on our minds will represent US collective C minus. Additional names include Kotsu from Tokyo’s CYK collective and DJ, promoter and Bristol sound aficionado Romy Mats who are fixtures in the Tokyo club scene. Celter will open the night with experimental and avantgarde sounds that escape easy explanation.