Takamasa Owaki and Andres Fierro feature on The Lab Sessions’ Assemble episode 15 for Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Based in Bogotá, Colombia, The Lab Sessions (TLS) is an artistic electronic music collective known for curated showcases and large-scale events. Its mission is to present an authentic representation of Colombia’s underground electronic music scene, with a focus on supporting and elevating Colombian DJs.
Alongside international influences, TLS presents artistic programming to a diverse audience of local listeners and people from multiple nationalities. This approach highlights the depth of talent in Colombia, showing that underground music is created and performed locally as well as imported, by artists with significant potential.
Since 2016, TLS has organised events across South America and performed at a range of venues and clubs. These include Octava, Klan 31, Teatron, KAPUTT, Vagabond, Bud-X Colombia, Top Secret Medellín, Armando Records, Céntrico, Mambo Alive, Sutton, Montibus Fest, Bassline events, TLS Parties, Euro Techno, Madame Garden and La Fabryka in Cali, Victoria, Masha, Vlak and Lede Club, with later appearances at Groove and Dirty Sanchez in Quito, Ecuador.
Guest DJ Takamasa Owaki (first hour)
This week’s first guest DJ is Takamasa Owaki, hailing from Kamo-gun in Japan. His career began internationally, with early appearances across South America, including events in Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador, experiences that helped shape his open-minded and genre-fluid approach to DJing.
Rooted in House, Nu Disco and Tech House, Takamasa’s sound reflects nearly two decades of musical influence. Alongside electronic music, his background draws heavily from 1980s and 1990s culture, Disco and Rock, with classical music also playing a formative role from an early age through his father’s influence.
At the age of 23, he spent two years in the United States as an agriculture trainee, immersing himself in a wide range of styles including electronic music, hip hop, reggae and Latin sounds. This period proved pivotal, solidifying his direction as a DJ. After returning to Japan, he balanced his work as a florist with regular DJ appearances in cafés and bars, steadily refining his craft.
Operating under his Cactus Experience concept, Takamasa Owaki delivers tracks that move fluidly between Disco, Afro House, Psychedelic textures and Ambient passages, while maintaining a strong focus on Deep House and Soulful House. His selections favour urban, refined atmospheres and hypnotic grooves, designed to unfold gradually and with emotional intent.
A vinyl-trained DJ, Takamasa has held residencies at a number of international venues, including Lavista Nightclub at the InterContinental Hotel Doha, The Warehouse Wine & Tapas at Pearl Rotana Abu Dhabi, Impressions Lounge at Anantara Abu Dhabi, ToroToro at Etihad Towers and Hard Rock Café Bogotá. Today, his Cactus Experience sessions continue to evolve, offering immersive journeys that move deeper into mood, rhythm and subconscious flow.
Guest DJ Andres Fierro (second hour)
This week’s second guest DJ is Andrés Fierro, born and raised in Colombia and active in the electronic music scene since the late 1990s. Beginning his career in 1997, he quickly developed a personal and recognisable approach that set him apart, earning him long-standing respect as both a DJ and producer within the country’s underground circuit.
His sound resists strict categorisation, moving fluidly between Progressive House, Tech House and Techno with a natural sense of balance. Fierro’s sets are driven by solid low-end pressure, rhythmic intensity and controlled energy, allowing him to shift moods and tempos without disrupting the flow of the dancefloor. This versatility has become a defining feature of his performances.
Over the years, he has become a resident DJ at some of Colombia’s most respected underground venues, including Cinema, where he continues to perform regularly. Beyond his residencies, Andrés Fierro has appeared at clubs and festivals across the country, steadily reinforcing his position within the scene.
His career has also seen him share line-ups with internationally recognised artists such as César del Río, José de Melero, El Pasha, El Divino, John Acquaviva, Carl Cox, Felipe Volumen, Nick Warren, XL Garcia, Santos and Darren Emerson. With decades of experience behind the decks, Andrés Fierro remains a consistent and influential presence, delivering focused, high-energy sets rooted firmly in underground club culture.
Takamasa Owaki and Andres Fierro’s Assemble episode 15 opens with Soul Renegades’ Speak To Me on Local Talk, setting out a House Music foundation. Dominic Balchin’s Side Walk Hustle follows on Tropical Disco Records with a more direct Dance Music feel.
Eddie Amador and Coco Street bring What’s Going On? in its Long Version on Nu Soul, before Cosmonection’s Lost Islands on Pont Neuf Records introduces Deep House. Sir Bonez’s dub mix of Emptiness for Afrinative Soul and Opolopo’s The Sluggard on Local Talk keep the opening stretch rooted in deep and house-led club music.
Fernando Picon’s Intro Nature on Surbeats Records supplies DJ Tools / Acapellas before Satin Jackets featuring KLP’s For Days on Eskimo moves into Electronica. Closing the first hour for Takamasa Owaki in style.
Andres Fierro opens the second hour with Maceo Plex’s Mutant Disco Feat. Maars on Ellum Audio bringing Melodic House and Techno. Then Mr.C’s Cha Cha Slide on Superfreq introduces a Party Music turn.
James Holden’s A Break In The Clouds on Border Community leads into Tech House through Ramon Tapia’s Rave Alarm on Sola and Eskuche’s Pleasure Beat on Hot Creations. Mene’s Too Funky on Noexcuse Limited, Dettlef’s Beat Won’t Stop on Hot Creations and Alan Nieves’ Palo on Noexcuse Records deepen the groove with Deep Tech House pressure.
Dennis Cruz and Leon’s My Hood on Crosstown Rebels returns to house territory, followed by Rone White and Alessandro Diruggiero’s Keep The Temper on Be Loud. Luuk Van Dijk’s Joey Daniel remix of Hyped Up on Oblack Label shifts towards Techno, and David Herrero’s Gloriosus on Kore Music keeps the deep-tech direction in place.
Matt Tolfrey’s Regain The Past on Hot Creations eases the programme back towards house before Mirco Caruso’s Lazer on 2Drop Records and Chris Main’s Nice To Meet You on La Pera Records restore the tech-house momentum. Les Castizos’ Leandro Da Silva remix of Baby on Black Lizard supplies a Funky House finish, with Gusgus’ Feather Light on Oroom closing the selection.
Assemble by The Lab Sessions episode 15
Takamasa Owaki (first hour)
Soul Renegades - Speak To Me (Original Mix) [Local Talk]
Vincent Caira - Soul Shoes (Original) [Spacedisco Records]
Dominic Balchin - Side Walk Hustle [Tropical Disco Records]
Eddie Amador, Coco Street - What's Going On? (Long Version) [Nu Soul]
Micky More, Andy Tee, Angela Johnson, Reel People - Time (Reel People Remix) [Groove Culture]
Cosmonection - Lost Islands [Pont Neuf Records]
Sir Bonez - Emptiness (Dub Mix) [Afrinative Soul]
Opolopo - The Sluggard (Original Mix) [Local Talk]
Husky, Red London - Heaven (Extended) [Bobbin Head Music]
The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You (Conway’s Afro-Conna Funk) [Urban Retro Music Group]
SubFNK - 747-s (Original Mix) [Soul Room Records]
Fernando Picon - Intro Nature [Surbeats Records]
Satin Jackets feat. KLP - For Days [Eskimo]
Andres Fierro (second hour)
Maceo Plex - Mutant Disco Feat. Maars [Ellum Audio]
Mr.C - Cha Cha Slide [Superfreq]
James Holden - A Break In The Clouds [Border Community]
L. Mass - Hight Flight [Soundcloud]
Roman Tapia - Rave Alarm [Sola]
Eskuche - Pleasure Beat [Hot Creations]
Mene - Too Funky [Noexcuse Limited]
Dettlef - Beat Won't Stop [Hot Creations]
Alan Nieves - Palo [Noexcuse Records]
Hollen, Raffaele Rizzi - Space Modular [Filth on Acid]
Dennis Cruz & Leon - My Hood [Crosstown Rebels]
Rone White, Alessandro Diruggiero - Keep The Temper [Be Loud]
Luuk Van Dijk - Hyped Up (Joey Daniel Remix) [Oblack Label]
David Herrero - Gloriosus [Kore Music]
Matt Tolfrey - Regain The Past [Hot Creations]
Stanley Foster, Franco Zehringer - Bouquet [Taika Records]
Mirco Caruso - Lazer [2Drop Records]
Chris Main - Nice To Meet You [La Pera Records]
Les Castizos - Baby (Leandro Da Silva Remix) [Black Lizard]
Gusgus - Feather Light [Oroom]
Listen on Mixcloud here.