We'll let you in for a reduced cover ($2 instead of $5) if you're a musician / producer / 2d-designer / visualist who brings a stack of demos / web-folios / 3d-excursions / DVDs / etc, who gives them away through the night. We hope you'll walk out with an equally large stack of CDRs, DVDs and biz cards, but that last bit of initiative is up to you. We've assembled the right people and slapped name tags on (many of) them, so now you get to go chat with them, have fun, and hopefully advance your career (and hey, there's booze, remember? That makes it easier to approach strangers).

But it's not nearly as socially awkward and lame as all those "networking" events you get evites to at your day-job email address. We've got an excellent soundtrack provided by Protman, a local electronic magician who's most recently been throwing down low-fi samples with the computer band K-Rad, and a live set by Bounte, another Chicago native who's been busy blurring the lines between intelligent dance music, hip-hop, rock, jazz, and classical, but with a credible feel.

And, as always with the Ramp Chicago nights, you'll have the comfort of knowing that Emulsion will be at your side with his ambient, IDM and electro to fill in the gaps, and that Liz Revision will be on hand to fulfill your need for quirky, glitched-out melodic electronics and weird techno.

• Tuesday, July 17th at Sonotheque
• 1444 W. Chicago Ave.
• $5
• 21+
• 9pm to 2am

Trade your musical & audio demos or just biz cards at this not-lame networking part featuring video-game electronic magician Protman and electro (tr)hip – hop producer Bounte. Ramp Chicago residents Emulsion and Liz Revision fill in with ambient, IDM, electro and quirky, glitchy techno.

• Tuesday, June 12th at Sonotheque


• 1444 W. Chicago Ave.


• $5


• 21+


• 9pm to 2am

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1. Get a mini-press kit together specifically for getting booked


2. Let them know what you sound like live


3. Make sure that you will avoid dead air


4. Do some research on venues, and start small


5. Find your contact person, and respond quickly


6. Agree on details before the gig


7. Invite everyone you know


8. Bring some light


9. Bring audio adapters


10. Bring CDs

“Free music? A record label is giving away all of its releases? And it's legal to download? Well it can't be that g—whoah, hold on-- this is really excellent stuff here... free you say? C'mon, there's got to be some catch...”

Nope, there's no catch, people: quality underground music can be yours for a total cost of zero dollars ($0.00). Witness the power of the Netlabel—the new, super niche-y music distribution platform with an instant delivery, grab-it-while-it's-fresh aesthetic that's only possible because of the Internet. While it's similar to a traditional independent label, the main difference is that a Netlabel has no physical component to any of its releases—everything is digital and free to download. iTunes, eMusic or any other digital download broker is never part of the picture, proving that the power of the Internet, combined with pure DIY spirit can bypass the traditional system of music distribution.

It's fitting that most Netlabels feature IDM and experimental electronic releases, seeing as the genre is produced on computers likely to be connected to the Internet at some point. The most established Netlabels include Kikapu & Monotonik (IDM), Textone (minimal techno), and 8bitpeoples (8bit / Chiptune). While they oftentimes feature a mixture of higher profile and less-established artists, one thing is consistent: they're always focused on bringing quality music to a larger audience.

Enter Xynthetic [pronounced "Synthetic"], the Netlabel that's intent on blowing out your eardrums as well as your musical preconceptions with releases by such talented producers as Mochipet, Phylum Sinter, Mercury Effect, Zainetica, and Ramp Chicago resident, Emulsion.

You owe it to yourself to see and hear the innovators behind Xynthetic in their first Chicago appearance. Josh Garrett (Xyn) a native of Detroit / Ann Arbor has contributed remixes and tracks for labels like Component and en:peg, while Graeme Foote (Pyxis) is a respected Vancouver club DJ. Both are convinced that traditional music distribution channels have failed musicians and believe that a Netlabel that connects the music of talented artists with an appreciative audience will only bring great things. Building upon their eclectic-but-excellent theme, local celebrity selector Ianhixxx will shake the subwoofers and your expectations with his genre-bending forays into electro, Italo, growly techno, acid and IDM.

• Tuesday, April 10th at Sonotheque



• 1444 W. Chicago Ave.


• $5


• 21+


• 9pm to 2am

The Xynthetic Netlabel founders Xyn and Pyxis treat Chicago to the sensibility behind their label—IDM, breakbeat, techno, experimental, acid, and more, but always with an ear towards absolute quality. Local celebrated DJ Ianhixxx supports along with a DJ set from resident Emulsion.

All you need do is point to your shirt.

Assuming you've moved the button to the second box and Ms. Requestor is literate, she'll glance down, force a polite grin of disgust and breeze off in a huff. Good work!

So a few hours later you find yourself at a grungily cool loft on the outskirts of town, the air thick with cigarette smoke, stale beer, and sweat. Crowds of uber-trendy hipsters are clustered around, and you've already gotten two trainspotters to call out your most obscure 12-inch German imports. These people are on it. Thankfully that little check button is movable, and with a bit of quick maneuvering you've made a bunch of new friends and gotten to show off your inimitable record collection and impeccable taste. Check you out.

DJ Request Policy T-shirt at FractalSpin