TuneLab
NATHAN MICAY
Nathan Micay’s full tracklist from The Lab NYC is a glorious mess of a journey, the kind of set that starts with freak funk and ends with world problems, and we are here for every bewildering, brilliant second. Formerly known as BWANA, Micay trades in a brand of melodic techno that feels more like storytelling than mere DJing, in a room where the narrative is king. The BPM climbs thoughtfully from 125 to an average of 128.7, with the harmonic journey primarily weaving between 12A and 3B, creating a sense of urgent, forward motion.
The energy balance is fascinatingly mid-range dominant (avg 0.62), meaning the driving force comes from layered melodies, acidic squelches, and vocal samples, all sitting atop a solid but restrained low-end (0.29). This is progressive in the truest sense, building chapters rather than drops, with mixes that often feel like collages, stitching together disparate elements into a cohesive whole. His crate digging is legendary: Literon’s "Freak Funktion" is a wild, squelching opener that sets the tone, while DJ Dado’s "X Files" mix is a hilarious and terrifying slice of ’90s trance nostalgia deployed with absolute seriousness.
3rd Face’s "Canto Della Liberta" is an epic, soaring highlight, and Victor Calderone’s "The Drive" offers a dose of sleek, driving energy. The inclusion of Gigi D’Agostino’s "Bla Bla Bla" as a looped, ironic motif is the kind of high-concept joke we can all appreciate. The journey launches with the chaotic energy of "Literon - Freak Funktion", peaks during the absurdly extended, soulful climax of "Aretha Franklin - Chain of Fools", and lands with the melancholic, reflective pads of "Renaldas - World Problems", a closing track that makes you stop and think before heading for the exits.