TuneLab
Awakenings Podcast S276 - Mha Iri
Podcast sets are where we get to witness a DJ's id run wild, free from the constraints of a peak-time dancefloor, and Mha Iri's Awakenings Podcast entry is a gloriously unhinged tour through rave memory lane. This is a trance and hard house odyssey that cherry-picks from the '90s and '00s with the gleeful abandon of a kid in a candy store, leaving us to piece together the narrative from blurry YouTube rips and repressed vinyl. The vibe is pure headphone journey—ideal for that long train ride where you need a private energy boost. Technically, it's a rollercoaster, with a BPM average of 141.8 that spans from 136 to 174, showcasing a playful disregard for genre borders. The harmonic glue is the ever-reliable 12A key, appearing 11 times, which provides a surprising cohesion amidst the chaos.
The energy profile is balanced but driving, with a strong low-end (0.6322) and active mids (0.2675) supporting the classic rave stabs and melodies. The mixing is enthusiastic and blend-heavy, often letting tracks like the 12-minute 'De Bellis con Stenzel - Come With Me' play out in full, epic glory. The crate digging is the main event here. Kicking off with the iconic piano house of The Porn Kings' 'Up to No Good' is a statement of intent. She then drops the nuclear bomb of 2 Unlimited's 'No Limit (Extended)' with zero irony, just pure joy.
Octo Octa's 'River' provides a beautiful, modern deep house interlude, while Energy 52's 'Café Del Mar (DJ Kid Paul Mix)' offers a moment of serene, classic trance. The inclusion of her own track, 'The Unexpected,' shows confidence in weaving original material into this nostalgic tapestry. The journey starts with the mischievous bounce of 'Up to No Good,' peaks with the relentless energy of 'No Limit,' and concludes with the big-room tech-trance of Maddix, Sander van Doorn & S.O. Project's 'Direct Dizko.' A chaotic, delightful masterclass in selective nostalgia.