The Sonic Salon #02 w/ J.ex

As the year comes to an end, this set is my way of gathering the moods, emotions, and energies that shaped it. It moves across different sounds and tempos — from avant-garde jazz to groovy house, from breaks and bass to quieter, ambient moments. The mix reflects my personal year, shaped by the people around me and by the realities of the world we’re living in right now - tense, uncertain, and constantly shifting. And yet, music remains a space of connection and a sense of community.

All of the tracks in this set are inspiring in their own way, but several tracks stand out within this selection. Marshall Allen, now 101 years old, continues to perform with remarkable intensity. Square The Circle is an avant-garde jazz piece that carries a raw, almost punk-like energy.

Kasia Kadłubowska’s new album Roots explores the spiritual and cultural landscapes of Eastern European ancestry. It connected strongly with my own experiences this year, as I visited my family in Croatia following the death of my grandfather.

Paul Tellimerg’s I’m Lost In The Desert reflects a sense of disorientation that was particularly present for me at the beginning of the year.

The Levity Flip of Denial Is a River, one of my most played tracks of 2024, creates a sweet peak moment in the set. It transitions into Là-haut Sur La Dune by Vague Imaginaires, which takes me back to August in southern France — an intense trip spent with my loved ones from the Brot&Wein collective.

The set closes with Reprise by Djrum. The violin feels like a moment of release, capturing the end-of-year mood I find myself in right now.

Taken together, this mix reflects a year marked by uncertainty but also by collaboration, shared experiences, and music as a consistent connection.

Hope you enjoy XoXo J.ex

Tracklist

• Self Jupiter – Its All Bout the Temple…Tempo
• Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons – Square The Circle
• Kasia Kadłubowska – Wecerne Sonce
• Eszaid – Unsaid
• Von Party – Pygmy Funk
• Paul Tellimerg – I’m Lost In The Desert Oriental Waves EP
• KAIR – Fonk! (DJ Kicks: Eris Drew)
• Mr. V – Jus Dance (Quentin Harris Remix)
• Bystander – Mass Hysteria
• Hassan Abou Alam feat. SHBL-LBSH – Kesibt
• Levity – Denial Is a River vs. Flight FM (Levity Flip)
• Vague Imaginaires – Là-haut Sur La Dune (from L’île d’Or)
• Djrum – Reprise

Photocredits

• instagram.com/your.red.nightmare
• collage based on The Last New Novel by Lucius Rossi