TuneLab
BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD & SHAWN WASABI in The Lab LA
Some lab sessions are for precision; others are for throwing the rulebook out the window and seeing what sticks. BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD & SHAWN WASABI in The Lab LA firmly belongs to the latter category—a gloriously chaotic, genre-hopping live set that feels like mainlining internet culture. The vibe is less dark club and more colorful digital playground, probably with flashing LED strips and a sense that anything could happen next. Technically, it's a wild ride with a BPM range stretching from 91 to 162, averaging 136, and a harmonic base in 12A that just about holds the madness together.
The energy profile is all over the shop (low 0.45, mid 0.34, high 0.21), which is the entire point: this is a set of sudden drops, nostalgic left-turns, and meme-worthy moments. Their hybrid live/DJ approach is less about seamless mixing and more about curating a vibe of joyful unpredictability. The tracklist is a treasure trove of the absurd and the brilliant. Opening with Leningrad's Russian-language 'Кабриолет' is a statement of intent: expect the unexpected.
The thirteen-minute marathon of Valentino Khan's 'Deep Down Low' is a test of endurance for the bass heads. Throwing Skrillex & The Doors' 'Breakn' a Sweat' into the mix is a peak-2011 flashback we didn't know we needed. Alice Deejay's 'Better Off Alone' gets the inevitable play, but it’s the inclusion of SpongeBob SquarePants' 'Electric Zoo' that truly defines this set's glorious, unhinged spirit. The journey starts with the bizarre charm of 'Кабриолет', builds to a bass-heavy peak with 'Deep Down Low', and collapses in a heap of Korean hip-hop freestyles with the closing 'Eung Freestyle'.