Recap: Soul Button in Chicago 7/20

On July 20, Rituals commenced with Soul Button in Chicago! Based in Berlin, the temple city of techno, Soul Button is a leading pioneer of today’s underground dance culture with his signature sound — Ethereal Techno. His set energized the room with transcendent melodic phrases, mystical breakdowns, and grooving tech-house beats late into the morning. First inspired to create electronic music by Kraftwerk, Soul Button now has three of his own labels; Steyoyoke, Steyoyoke Black, and my personal favorite Inner Symphony. 

“Each unbuttoned button is a disclosed secret,
a higher level of conscious intimacy.
Each fastened button is a hard barrier, an insurmountable obstacle.
According to that, the button becomes a symbol of communication.

Rituals & Aural Matrix combined teams to create a beautiful space of relaxation and uplifting community. With aerial performances, relaxing massage work, body paint, entrancing visuals and spectacular artwork, the environment was designed to immerse us all in a comfortable and happy state of mind.

Starting the music off was Yegor Miester, followed by Hummingbird b2b with Jade to warm up the decks before Soul Button. After that amazing performance, Two Guns (Snizza + Techno Dog) and Dabura were spinning tunes until the sun was high in the sky on a, thankfully not too hot, Sunday morning! 

What makes these gatherings special is not these wonderful artists and entertainers, it is without a doubt the people that bring the real magic. Chicagoans from many backgrounds and different paths bring with them a love that inspires a sense of hope and serenity unlike any other in the electronic scene here. Our time was not just spent letting go through dance and flow, but also creating connections with everyone around us. The crowd was overflowing with smiles and buzzing with conversation as new friends met while old ones caught up. It is these intimate moments that Soul Button can masterfully spin into being through his art. He doesn’t just play music at the audience, Soul Button consciously observes the atmosphere and crowd, integrating them into his sound, in order to weave a beautiful story right along with them.

Many thanks to Rituals & Aural Matrix, The Good Space for use of their warehouse, and of course to Soul Button, but most importantly I want to thank Kim of Kimtography, who was somehow able to capture the magic with her incredible photography!

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Psssssst, you should click this link and listen to one of my favorite Soul Button sets. 😀

-Sam Fessler

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