Surgeon returns to the room for a DJ set - need we say more? Some people play techno, Surgeon is techno. There are a handful of artists who have truly defined the genre and whose work, year after year, has continued to set the standard. Surgeon is one of them. His reputation would be secure on the strength of his early releases alone; albums like “Basictonalvocabulary” and “Force+Form” are truly seminal works that raised the bar at a time when techno was in rapid, accelerated growth. But Surgeon has never stopped innovating and evolving, and his most recent releases remain as vital and gripping as ever. He is a true master whose creative ethos seems impervious and ironclad. Holden Federico carries the torch. The NY artist’s dedication to raw, ‘90s techno and no-BS quality control has made him a DJ you can hang your hat on. Federico skips the trends for the timeless, going deeper and deeper into the wormhole of heavy, driving, even searing loop techno. Elle Dee completes the night with some full throttle, banging power. Her Mild Fantasy party series and label draw on powerful warehouse sounds with a towering sense of scale. Cinthie is fast becoming a STUDIO favorite. The “Berlin Queen of House” is one of her hometown’s major movers, running the 803 Crystal Grooves label as well as its Collective Cuts sub-label and we_r house, all under the umbrella of her Elevate Records shop. As an artist, Cinthie’s sets are fully classic affairs, bringing to life the eternal pleasure of a killer groove, a bouncy bassline and hard-earned positivity. Fans of foundational house imprints like Strictly Rhythm, Prescription Records and Nervous will feel right at home when Cinthie’s on deck. LA’s Heidi Lawden taps into the surging chug of cosmic disco, the indelible sleaze of boogie and their many, many offshoots. A regular on Dublab, Lawden brings a connoisseur’s discernment and indisputable cool to every set. Kim Ahn matches the energy. She’s informed by the shadow glamour and synth-heavy textures of the ‘80s, with productions that cruise with the elegant menace.