TuneLab
Justin Jay
Mixmag Lab Chicago | House Calls
Justin Jay's House Calls session for the Mixmag Lab Chicago is a heartfelt love letter to the genre's history, from its raw, analog roots to its current progressive iterations, mixed with the enthusiasm of a true collector. The vibe is that of a classic basement party—intimate, knowledgeable, and driven by pure passion for the groove. With a BPM arc that climbs from 122 to 140, averaging 138.4, this is a journey set, harmonically guided by the dominant key of 12A with supporting shifts to 3B and 10B.
The energy is beautifully balanced between low and mid frequencies, allowing for both deep, rolling passages and soaring, melodic peaks, with Jay's mixing style favoring long, musical blends that tell a story. The tracklist is a crate-digger's dream: opening with the sacred text of 'Mr. Fingers - Can You Feel It' sets a reverent tone.
'Anon.Anon.anon - Repeat' is a hypnotic, modern minimal tool, while 'Puppah Nas-T & Masters At Work - Work' is a timeless, percussive house bomb. 'DJ Trevon - Winter Steam' and 'Question Mark - The Birds' are deep, underground gems, and his own original 'Justin Jay & OnlyWithYou - Haus Muzik' fits seamlessly into the raw, organic aesthetic. From the spiritual opening of Larry Heard, the set builds through jacking rhythms and soulful vocals, reaching a peak with the extended, emotive drive of 'Goodboys - Blindspot,' before landing gently on the classic, piano-led warmth of 'Raw Stylus - Believe In Me.'.