☉ Palpebræ Mix 15: DJ SHUFFLEMASTER
Check out the full interview: palpebrae.com/in-conversation-with-dj-shufflemaster
DJ SHUFFLEMASTER, alias of Tokyo-based producer Tatsuya Kanamori, is one of the most influential figures to emerge from the Japanese techno scene in the late 1990s. Closely associated with the seminal Subvoice label, he developed a groove-driven and functional sound that quickly attracted the attention of European techno institutions.
His international breakthrough came with the release of his debut album EXP on Tresor Records in 2001 (reissued in 2023), positioning him among the first Japanese techno artists to gain worldwide recognition.
In 2014, DJ SHUFFLEMASTER founded his own label Shiki Kyokai, continuing to explore a stripped-back, physical form of techno rooted in rhythm, shuffle, and long-form club dynamics. Through his label and ongoing collaborations, Tatsuya Kanamori has remained committed to a form of techno that resists excess and spectacle, favouring longevity, precision, and emotional restraint.
In this conversation, we look back at the formative influences that shaped his path—from early encounters with hip hop, punk, and new wave to the emergence of Tokyo’s underground techno scene — while also exploring his creative process, his view on today’s electronic landscape, and the balance between club functionality and emotional intent. The interview also touches on upcoming releases and the mindset behind the mix recorded for Palpebræ.
☉ About DJ SHUFFLEMASTER:
DJ Shufflemaster, alias of Tatsuya Kanamori, stands as a key figure in Japanese techno and one of the first artists from the country to gain international recognition in the late 1990s. Active for over three decades, his trajectory developed alongside the growth of Tokyo’s underground scene. His early work as a producer is closely connected to Subvoice, a seminal label for Japanese techno, where Kanamori refined a direct and physical language built on tight grooves, pronounced shuffle, and sustained rhythmic tension. In 2014, DJ Shufflemaster founded his own imprint, Shiki Kyokai, a platform through which he continues to pursue a personal and disciplined vision of techno: functional, nocturnal, and reduced to its essential elements. Between studio work and clubs, DJ Shufflemaster remains a quiet but constant reference point—an artist who has moved through shifting eras and trends while maintaining a coherent vision, guided by rhythm, movement, and a form of techno that continues to evolve without losing contact with its origins.
☉ About the mix:
"While updating my Rekordbox, I rediscovered several tracks I’d never played before, so I added them to the playlist. I also included a few of my own tracks that I hadn’t played out yet. These are records I expect to be playing in clubs for a while, so this mix works almost like a preview of what I’ll be playing at upcoming gigs."
☉ Follow DJ SHUFFLEMASTER here:
@shiki-kyokai / https://www.instagram.com/djshufflemaster / https://shikikyokai.bandcamp.com/
☉ Follow Palpebræ here:
on SoundCloud: @palpebraenetwork
on web: www.palpebrae.com
on Instagram: www.instagram.com/palpebraenetwork/
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/palpebraenetwork
All content for Palpebræ Mix series is the property of Palpebræ Network and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
☉ Palpebræ Mix 15: DJ SHUFFLEMASTER
Check out the full interview: palpebrae.com/in-conversation-with-dj-shufflemaster
DJ SHUFFLEMASTER, alias of Tokyo-based producer Tatsuya Kanamori, is one of the most influential figures to emerge from the Japanese techno scene in the late 1990s. Closely associated with the seminal Subvoice label, he developed a groove-driven and functional sound that quickly attracted the attention of European techno institutions.
His international breakthrough came with the release of his debut album EXP on Tresor Records in 2001 (reissued in 2023), positioning him among the first Japanese techno artists to gain worldwide recognition.
In 2014, DJ SHUFFLEMASTER founded his own label Shiki Kyokai, continuing to explore a stripped-back, physical form of techno rooted in rhythm, shuffle, and long-form club dynamics. Through his label and ongoing collaborations, Tatsuya Kanamori has remained committed to a form of techno that resists excess and spectacle, favouring longevity, precision, and emotional restraint.
In this conversation, we look back at the formative influences that shaped his path—from early encounters with hip hop, punk, and new wave to the emergence of Tokyo’s underground techno scene — while also exploring his creative process, his view on today’s electronic landscape, and the balance between club functionality and emotional intent. The interview also touches on upcoming releases and the mindset behind the mix recorded for Palpebræ.
☉ About DJ SHUFFLEMASTER:
DJ Shufflemaster, alias of Tatsuya Kanamori, stands as a key figure in Japanese techno and one of the first artists from the country to gain international recognition in the late 1990s. Active for over three decades, his trajectory developed alongside the growth of Tokyo’s underground scene. His early work as a producer is closely connected to Subvoice, a seminal label for Japanese techno, where Kanamori refined a direct and physical language built on tight grooves, pronounced shuffle, and sustained rhythmic tension. In 2014, DJ Shufflemaster founded his own imprint, Shiki Kyokai, a platform through which he continues to pursue a personal and disciplined vision of techno: functional, nocturnal, and reduced to its essential elements. Between studio work and clubs, DJ Shufflemaster remains a quiet but constant reference point—an artist who has moved through shifting eras and trends while maintaining a coherent vision, guided by rhythm, movement, and a form of techno that continues to evolve without losing contact with its origins.
☉ About the mix:
"While updating my Rekordbox, I rediscovered several tracks I’d never played before, so I added them to the playlist. I also included a few of my own tracks that I hadn’t played out yet. These are records I expect to be playing in clubs for a while, so this mix works almost like a preview of what I’ll be playing at upcoming gigs."
☉ Follow DJ SHUFFLEMASTER here:
@shiki-kyokai / https://www.instagram.com/djshufflemaster / https://shikikyokai.bandcamp.com/
☉ Follow Palpebræ here:
on SoundCloud: @palpebraenetwork
on web: www.palpebrae.com
on Instagram: www.instagram.com/palpebraenetwork/
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/palpebraenetwork
☉ Palpebræ Mix 12: Irazu
Check out the full interview: palpebrae.com/in-conversation-with-irazu
☉ About Irazu:
Irazu (Madrid, 1989) finds in electronic music a vehicle for self-exploration and sonic expression, a way to uncover his identity and emotions.
His journey in the scene began as a promoter of events in Madrid, but he soon discovered that music production and releasing records were essential outlets to channel his artistic vision. His early works were released on Stale, Kastil’s label, collaborating with artists such as Acronym, Regis, Pessimist, and Kastil himself. In 2018, he released the mini-album Study for Portrait, showcasing his personal take on techno.
Following several releases on labels like Hooded, Artificial Intelligence, and 30drop, as well as producing remixes, Irazu released his EP 140.15 on Stale. However, it was in 2022 when he presented his debut album, Anything Exist Anymore, on Semantica Records. This album delved into melancholic soundscapes while staying rooted in techno and enriched by a broad spectrum of influences.
In 2023, Irazu took a step further with Self-Medicating, his second album released on Warm Up Recordings, Óscar Mulero’s label. This work, the most aggressive and dark in his career to date, marked an evolution into more unsettling and introspective sonic territories.
Irazu’s influences span key regions in the evolution of techno and experimental electronics: from the West Midlands in the UK to the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain. Artists such as Regis, Svreca, Autechre, Donato Dozzy, Óscar Mulero, Luke Slater, and Surgeon have shaped his sound, alongside pioneers of industrial and experimental electronics like Throbbing Gristle, Whitehouse, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Coil.
Irazu’s sound can be described as an intimate space where tension and false tranquility coexist—a constant exploration of new horizons that reflects his relentless artistic pursuit.
☉ tracklist:
Rrose - The Tears of Applause (2024-2004)
Derue - Plexo
Clement - Sussulto
Dario Mass - Noise Bank
Obscur - Human Target
Nao Nhil - Kometa
Firek - Basic Instinct
Irazu & kNS - Reborn
Unbekannt - Mundane
Isgang - Sacrificio de Oblacion
Coefficient - Folded Membranes
David Reina - Self-Denial
Psyk & Orbe - Matteria
Crøwn - Encore
Emzoo - Opportunity 1.7
Whoismarce - Bajo El Agua Negra
Feisfois - Picks (Hugo Rolan Remix)
Translate - Campo Magnético Variable
Biorc - Null Particle
Tièmoko Koné - Altercation
Audio Resistance - Pulsar
Jonas Kopp & Pulso - EC#10 - Expansión
Mossed - Minuend
Decoder - Realm
Irazu - Sad Hills
The 65d Mavericks - Earthbound (Surgeon Remake)
Irazu - Unreleased
☉ Follow Irazu here:
@irazu-1 / https://www.instagram.com/irazumusic/
☉ Follow Crudo here:
@crudo_madrid / https://www.instagram.com/crudo.madrid/
☉ Follow Palpebræ here:
on SoundCloud: @palpebraenetwork
on web: www.palpebrae.com
on Instagram: www.instagram.com/palpebraenetwork/
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/palpebraenetwork
Palpebræ Mix series
☉ Palpebræ Mix 15: DJ SHUFFLEMASTER
Check out the full interview: palpebrae.com/in-conversation-with-dj-shufflemaster
DJ SHUFFLEMASTER, alias of Tokyo-based producer Tatsuya Kanamori, is one of the most influential figures to emerge from the Japanese techno scene in the late 1990s. Closely associated with the seminal Subvoice label, he developed a groove-driven and functional sound that quickly attracted the attention of European techno institutions.
His international breakthrough came with the release of his debut album EXP on Tresor Records in 2001 (reissued in 2023), positioning him among the first Japanese techno artists to gain worldwide recognition.
In 2014, DJ SHUFFLEMASTER founded his own label Shiki Kyokai, continuing to explore a stripped-back, physical form of techno rooted in rhythm, shuffle, and long-form club dynamics. Through his label and ongoing collaborations, Tatsuya Kanamori has remained committed to a form of techno that resists excess and spectacle, favouring longevity, precision, and emotional restraint.
In this conversation, we look back at the formative influences that shaped his path—from early encounters with hip hop, punk, and new wave to the emergence of Tokyo’s underground techno scene — while also exploring his creative process, his view on today’s electronic landscape, and the balance between club functionality and emotional intent. The interview also touches on upcoming releases and the mindset behind the mix recorded for Palpebræ.
☉ About DJ SHUFFLEMASTER:
DJ Shufflemaster, alias of Tatsuya Kanamori, stands as a key figure in Japanese techno and one of the first artists from the country to gain international recognition in the late 1990s. Active for over three decades, his trajectory developed alongside the growth of Tokyo’s underground scene. His early work as a producer is closely connected to Subvoice, a seminal label for Japanese techno, where Kanamori refined a direct and physical language built on tight grooves, pronounced shuffle, and sustained rhythmic tension. In 2014, DJ Shufflemaster founded his own imprint, Shiki Kyokai, a platform through which he continues to pursue a personal and disciplined vision of techno: functional, nocturnal, and reduced to its essential elements. Between studio work and clubs, DJ Shufflemaster remains a quiet but constant reference point—an artist who has moved through shifting eras and trends while maintaining a coherent vision, guided by rhythm, movement, and a form of techno that continues to evolve without losing contact with its origins.
☉ About the mix:
"While updating my Rekordbox, I rediscovered several tracks I’d never played before, so I added them to the playlist. I also included a few of my own tracks that I hadn’t played out yet. These are records I expect to be playing in clubs for a while, so this mix works almost like a preview of what I’ll be playing at upcoming gigs."
☉ Follow DJ SHUFFLEMASTER here:
@shiki-kyokai / https://www.instagram.com/djshufflemaster / https://shikikyokai.bandcamp.com/
☉ Follow Palpebræ here:
on SoundCloud: @palpebraenetwork
on web: www.palpebrae.com
on Instagram: www.instagram.com/palpebraenetwork/
on Facebook: www.facebook.com/palpebraenetwork
