Shanti celebrates its fifth anniversary

The Shanti club is celebrating its first-ever anniversary - the five-year anniversary. During this time, the venue managed to earn a reputation as one of the leading techno platforms in the capital. Today, it features several dance floors, and musical events run parallel to festivals, film screenings, fashion shows, art performances, and children's parties. Thematic party series regularly introduce audiences to leading representatives of foreign and Russian electronic music. Last year, Shanti went further and launched its own record label, Shanti Records, releasing vinyl records by Russian and European musicians, such as the German artist Move D.

The main guest for the birthday celebration was a Detroit musician - DJ Rolando, also known as Aztec Mystic - a star of the Underground Resistance label, one of the founders of the Los Hermanos project, and the author of the famous techno track 'Knights Of The Jaguar'.

Rolando Rocha spent his childhood in one of the Mexican neighborhoods of Detroit and absorbed Latin American rhythms from an early age, as his father was also a musician.

In the eighties, Rolando, like many of his peers, discovered electro and techno, primarily thanks to Jeff 'The Wizard' Mills' radio broadcasts. In the nineties, Rolando started spinning records, and then composing, and soon, at the invitation of Mike Banks (Mad Mike), he joined the large Underground Resistance family.

His first record saw the light in 1997, and two years later, Rolando recorded his most recognizable track 'Knights Of The Jaguar'. Rocha based it on Detroit techno-soul, promoted by Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, added Latin American components, and created a completely new sound - airy, light, melodic, and full of mystique.

The potential of the record was recognized by representatives of the major label Sony BMG, who offered Underground Resistance to license the track. However, true to their ideals, UR declined, leading Sony to release a copied 'cover' version. This episode became part of show business textbooks and a crucial milestone in the confrontation between majors and independent labels. Nevertheless, in the DJ world, support was received by the authentic version, and the story made Rolando a genuine star. His music was re-released over and over, and he traveled the world with DJ sets and live performances as part of Underground Resistance and the new Los Hermanos group, which Rocha founded with Gerald Mitchell.

In the mid-2000s, Rolando left Los Hermanos and Underground Resistance and embarked on a solo journey. Since then, he has frequently performed in Europe and collaborated with European labels. His DJ mixes are released by the British NRK Sound Division, and Rolando's latest release came out on the Dutch Delsin label, which has long been considered one of the main techno bastions.

Rolando may change cities and continents, but he remains true to his musical ideals: as a musician and DJ, he invariably plays light and melodic techno, built on Detroit traditions and Latin American elegance.

February 6, Friday / 9:00 PM
Special guest: DJ Rolando (USA/Underground Resistance)
Live: Gorje Hewek (RU/Deep Mix)
DJs: Dol'shik, Onlee