SHEIK N BEIK

Julio Santo Domingo and Sheik 'N' Beik | Antakly Projects
Antakly Projects  ·  Music  ·  New York

Julio Santo Domingo
and Sheik 'N' Beik

Julio's first Sheik n Beik interview  ·  The first Sheik 'N' Beik  ·  The origin

Geneva-born, New York-based. Spinning since October. Psychedelic Techno. His goal: to reach as many people as possible with something fresh. Plus: Rechulski on building SNB from a cassette player at age six to 24-hour warehouse parties across the five boroughs.

Geneva  ·  New York Sheik 'N' Beik  ·  2008 Psychedelic Techno
Julio Santo Domingo, first Sheik N Beik, photo by Leila Antakly Julio  ·  First SNB  ·  Photo: Leila Antakly
I told Julio, Sheik n Beik is more than a party. - Leila

Julio Santo Domingo grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. He started spinning in October. He was already playing in Rio, Colombia, and New York, and was heading to Japan and Europe for the summer. He describes his style as Psychedelic Techno: anything with a good beat and a groovy attitude.

This interview was one of the first things published on what would become Antakly Projects. Sheik 'N' Beik had just launched. The collective that would go on to bring Circoloco to New York, collaborate with Resolute and TekSupport, book Ellen Allien, Sven Väth, Derrick May, Honey Dijon, and Maya Jane Coles, produce 24-hour warehouse parties across the five boroughs, found a record label, and eventually build the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Florida: it was just beginning. This is what the beginning looked like.

"Bad music." What inspired you to become a DJ?
Julio Santo Domingo
Julio Santo Domingo  ·  The first interview
01

Tell us about your background.

I grew up in Geneva, Switzerland and started spinning only in October.

02

What inspired you to become a DJ?

Bad music.

03

How do you describe your style and music preferences?

I would call my style Psychedelic Techno. As to my music preferences, anything with a good beat and a groovy attitude. As a friend of mine always says: go hard, or go home.

04

DJs you admire?

Sven Väth, Luciano, Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Loco Dice, Steve Bug, and Par Grindvik.

05

Goals and aspirations?

My goal is to reach as many people as I can with my music by bringing them something fresh and enjoyable, especially in the US where the predominant music is rock, hip-hop, and pop. In the future, everyone will be talking about Psy-Tech: the new growing phenomenon.

06

Your thoughts on the state of dance music, and differences between Latin America and the US?

In Brazil the scene has always leaned toward Psy-Trance. Some of the greatest DJs and producers of the past ten years come from Chile: Pier Bucci, Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos, Dinky. In America the electronic music party scene is suppressed by authorities and their restrictions on opening hours. During Miami Music Week every year, things are different and people can explore new music and DJs, which is a very good thing. Another great place to hear great electronic music is Burning Man in Nevada.

07

Where would be your favourite place to DJ?

The Terrace at DC-10 in Ibiza, or Cocoon Club in Frankfurt.

About

Sheik 'N' Beik

New York City  ·  2008  ·  Founded by Rechulski

Sheik 'N' Beik started out as a New York City underground house and techno artist collective and event series by DJ and music producer Rechulski, back in February 2008. Regular events on Thursdays at famed NYC spots including Le Royale (where Lady Gaga and Lady Starlight started) and Kush Lounge, and on weekends some of the most legendary 24-hour warehouse parties the city has ever seen, in warehouses and inconspicuous locations throughout the five boroughs.

Responsible for bringing the famed Circoloco brand to NYC, and collaborating with Resolute, Black Market Membership, TekSupport, and Zero. SNB eventually expanded globally to South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, finding a permanent home at the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Florida, curating and booking the Jungle 51 dusk-till-dawn stage.

Notable artists who played at SNB include Ellen Allien, Xosar, Julia Govor, Volvox, Honey Dijon, Lady Blacktronika, Gerd Janson, Metro Area, Mr C., Mathew Jonson, Tania Vulcano, Kim Ann Foxman, Anthony Parasole, Sven Väth, Derrick May, Nightmares On Wax, Damian Lazarus, Hiroko Yamamura, and Maya Jane Coles.

Since 2014, SNB has run an eponymous record label, Sheik 'N' Beik Records, as an outlet for Rechulski's take on electronic music: ambient to disco to house to minimal to techno to electronica. Notable releases include work by Voiski, Xamiga (Legowelt and Xosar), Keita Sano, and a double vinyl LP by Simone Gatto. All releases available on vinyl and digital.

Rechulski

The founder  ·  In his own words

My first mixing skills came about when I was six or seven years old. I used to have a cassette player in my room. I used to record music from the radio and cut out the adverts. These were my first mixtapes. I then went on to host a weekly reggae show at my high school radio station in Switzerland. These were my first DJ experiences.

I have always listened to all kinds of music: Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley, the Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix. I was also very big into aliens and paranormal activity. I have always considered myself the biggest X-Files fan ever.

I particularly remember listening to a lot of Global Underground mixes, and Deep Dish's Renaissance Ibiza compilation. This led me to Luciano's Live at Weetamix compilation, Richie Hawtin's DE9 series, Kompakt compilations, Cocoon in the Mix, and early DC-10 compilations brought back from Ibiza by older friends. When I was at university in Boston I went to Ibiza for the summer and saw it all. That was the first taste of blood. I was hooked ever after.

I never considered myself an artist, just someone who really loves music and wants to share that passion with the world. The more I immersed myself into all the different aspects of electronic music, the more I started finding my voice, whether it was DJing or studio time with various artists, quietly contributing to various productions. I was always looking for strange music: the kind of music that ignites your curiosity by being singular or mind-expanding.

After graduating in 2007, I knew I had to do something about my passion and so I started DJing and inviting friends to my own parties, Sheik 'N' Beik, in 2008. In 2015 I founded Soundslinger, the event production company behind the cult Florida camping-only Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. In 2022 I founded Sungai Design, a Bali-based studio transforming river plastic waste into functional art and furniture. The project extends the ethos of community and creativity into environmental impact.

"I never considered myself an artist, just someone who really loves music and wants to share that passion with the world."
Rechulski

Stay curious,

Leila Antakly
Previous
Previous

ART IN THE CITY WITH ENEAS CAPALBO

Next
Next

The Fantastical World of Pierre et Gilles