“What is a DJ if they don’t dig?” is Austen van der Bleek’s adapted maxim. One of the Sunshine City’s bright spots, he’s a champion of undiscovered cuts, carrying the torch for revitalizing eclectic dance floors at home and beyond. Touching on threads of true-school Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Balearic dance music with the discernment of an insider’s knowledge while bending the rules from the advantage of an outsider’s perspective, his style is distinctive, yet difficult to pin. He’s a DJ that truly shines behind the decks, leaving listeners soaking up rays that linger on long after his sets.
These radiant qualities make Van der Bleek a force to be reckoned with. Over a decade spent honing his skill behind the decks and seeking inspired experiences in front of the stacks gave shape to his sound. His sets have served as a catalyst for dance floors before legendary figures like François K, Tony Humphries, Timmy Regisford, King Britt, Mark Farina, Roy Davis Jr., Mike Huckaby, Charles Webster, and more — an expansive list of dance music luminaries. He’s performed at some of the South East’s premiere festivals and gatherings such as Suwannee Hulaween, Okeechobee Music Festival, The Atlanta Weekender, and The Love Burn, in addition to annual official Movement Festival pre-parties and Memorial Day Weekend afterparties in the Detroit and notable venues across the country like Flash, Spot Lite, The Electric Pickle, and Bar Smith. Through his travels, he’s shared his free-spirited selections with Mexico City, Cartagena, NYC, Denver, and other destinations. He’s also reached listeners world-wide over the airwaves with mixes for Deeper Shades of House, Razor-N-Tape, Charivari, and other platforms.
Wherever Van der Bleek lands, he’s always gotten his hands dirty doing the work to build community, bolster the culture, and bring to light missing musical links, despite the difficulties of operating in the shadows of a smaller coastal community, outside the buzz of big city hubs. His celebrated Open House Conspiracy residency has kept the fires burning for various strands of underground dance music across Florida. With original productions, the launch of his Echoes in My Mind radio show, and more adventures on the horizon, there’s still bigger and brighter things ahead, but his mission has always remained pure and simple: discover, collect, and share as much good music as possible with the people.
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