Secret Underground and guest DJ Ishan feature in episode 9 of the programme on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an international electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Secret Underground is a record label and event management company originating from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean and is among the largest audience bases for Progressive House and underground music in general.
The Sri Lankan scene inspired the Secret Underground crew's aim of uniting people internationally through music. Founder member Pasindu Dilhara started Secret Underground to share electronic-music posts, before it developed into a Mixcloud podcast and record label supporting DJs and producers in his home country.
The early rave scene in Sri Lanka broadened local musical tastes. The crew has sought to give listeners a considered selection of underground electronic music.
At the time of publication, Secret Underground promoted events in Sri Lanka while overseeing its podcast with Scientific Sound Asia. The crew also planned to build the brand internationally and strengthen connections with artists and music enthusiasts in the underground scene.
Guest DJ ISHAN.
This weeks guest DJ is ISHAN, ISHAN whose real name is Ishan Attanayake is an aspiring DJ who hails from Bandarawela in Sri Lanka. Ever since he discovered his passion for electronic dance music he knew where his heart was. He also decided that he wanted to spend the rest of his life doing what he loved to do the most and that was being a DJ.
This has not been an easy journey for him, everything that he possesses in terms of skills as a DJ he taught himself mainly through online tutorials and trial and error. He will never forget the very first time he got to play for a crowd, he was just 17 years old and in his own thoughts was just a kid who was meddling around with Virtual DJ at home and then he got a gig on New Year’s Eve, where he played his heart out.
After a few years and some gigs later; he gained his first residency at Riu Hotels and Resorts, Sri Lanka. This was an education as it was a commercial residency where he focused mainly on playing hip hop and R&B for the tourists. However, at the same time, he still got opportunities to play what he loved playing the most, and that was purely underground music.
A significant turning point occurred when he went to the Ultra music festival in 2017 attending as a raver and seeing some of his favourite idols such as Sasha, John Digweed, Henry Saiz, Nic Fanciulli, and Dubfire made him want to produce his own tunes that would give rise to the very same inspiration that he felt. Consequently, he has started experimenting with production and felt that being a versatile DJ has helped him with his skills as a producer.
In the meantime, he enjoys mixing tunes that uplift his mood and mixes his podcast series entitled “Inspiring Emotions'' on Mixcloud. He hopes to continue on his trajectory and become one of the most sought after DJs in his home country and hopefully in the future internationally.
Secret Underground episode 9 with DJ Ishan opens with Empire Of The Sun's We Are The People (Recode Edit), an Electronica release on Capitol Records. Alex O'Rion's Fiend on Movement Recordings and Fran & Co's Today (Dmitry Molosh Remix) on Mad Hatter establish the programme's progressive house direction.
Simone Vitullo and Do Santos bring Afro House into focus with Que Ritmo (Simone Vitullo Revisited Mix 2K20) on Go Deeva Records, followed by Dario Nunez's Calena on Monkey League. Kostya Outta and Anton Borin's Radio Interstellar on Balkan Connection South America then leads into Katzen's Last Chance (Santi Cebrero Remix) on Nube Music Records.
Dimuth K and Shannon Davin's Horus (Subandrio Remix) appears on Visceral before Khen's April Storm on Balance Music extends the measured club focus. Marcelo PM's Distances on Superordinate Music and DJ Zombi's Ninja (Mariano Mellino & John Cosani Remix) on Or Two Strangers keep the selection within its progressive house framework.
Max Blade's Moonlook on Stellar Fountain and Dabeat's Zinner on BeatFreak Recordings deepen the set's later passage. Anton MAKe's Melbourne on Proton Music is followed by Kamilo Sanclemente and David Barragan's Relive on Replug.
Cid Inc.'s Rescue Me, also on Replug, gives way to Julian Nates's The Last Call on Clubsonica Records. Eric Lune's Embers (GMJ Remix) on Sound Avenue and Kay-D's Magnetic (Nosh & SJ Remix) on PHW Elements sustain the programme's patient progression.
Cherry (UA)'s Ruba on Timeless Moment introduces Melodic House and Techno, while the same artist's Come To Me returns to progressive house on the label. Billie Eilish's Everything I Wanted (Hugo Cantarra Remix) provides the closing record.
Secret Underground 09 DJ Ishan
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Recode Edit)
Betoko feat. Shyam P - Lost Time (D-Formation & GRAZZE Remix)
Alex O'Rion - Fiend (Original Mix)
Fran & Co - Today (Dmitry Molosh Remix)
Simone Vitull & Do Santos - Que Ritmo (Simone Vitullo Revisited Mix 2K20)
Dario Nunez - Calena (Original Mix)
Kostya Outta & Anton Borin - Radio Interstellar (Original Mix)
Katzen - Last Chance (Santi Cebrero Remix)
Dimuth K & Shannon Davin - Horus (Subandrio Remix)
Khen - April Storm (Original Mix)
Marcelo PM - Distances (Original Mix)
DJ Zombi - Ninja (Mariano Mellino & John Cosani Remix)
Ultraverse - Hyper Dimension (Original Mix)
Max Blade - Moonlook (Original Mix)
Dabeat - Zinner (Original Mix)
Anton MAKe - Melbourne (Original Mix)
Kamilo Sanclemente & David Barragan - Relive (Original Mix)
Cid Inc. - Rescue Me (Original Mix)
Julian Nates - The Last Call (Original Mix)
JFR & Deepness Feat. Azu Botticher - Love On The Edge (Ricardo Piedra Remix)
Eric Lune - Embers (GMJ Remix)
Kay-D - Magnetic (Nosh & SJ Remix)
Cherry (UA) - Ruba (Original Mix)
Cherry (UA) - Come To Me (Original Mix)
Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted (Hugo Cantarra Remix)
Listen on Mixcloud here.