First Floor

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Dance Music Is Still Losing Its Pioneers
Examining the genre's continued struggle to support, or even properly celebrate, its foundational figures while they're still alive.
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #255 – Smoke and Mirrors in the DJ Booth
An examination of the Ryanair DJ phenomenon, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh bundle of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
The Puzzling Prevalence of Ryanair DJs
In a music industry where promotion itself is increasingly the primary product, building (and maintaining) illusions has become an essential skill.
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Shawn Reynaldo

February 2025

First Floor #254 – This Is Fine
The music industry is failing nearly everyone, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh slate of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
The Music Business Is Broken, and Everybody Knows It
Stuck in a system that only benefits a select few, the music community is struggling to even imagine viable alternatives.
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #253 – Embracing the Jam
An interview with Barker, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh batch of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
In a Volatile World, Barker Is Trying New Things—And Loving It
An interview with the Berlin-based artist, who talks about kick drums, DJ culture, trance, live jams and how uncertainty shaped his forthcoming new…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #252 – The Allure of the Past
a.k.a. A curated look back at the Dance Mania catalog, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh crop of new track…
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Shawn Reynaldo
30 Tracks Celebrating 40 Years of Dance Mania, Part 2
Looking back at one of the most storied labels in house music history.
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Shawn Reynaldo
30 Tracks Celebrating 40 Years of Dance Mania, Part 1
A curated tour through some of the best bits of the vaunted Chicago label's extensive catalog.
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #251 – The Worst Wellness Product
The newsletter goes outside, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh bundle of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor Ventures into the Real World
A new series of live events kicks off this month in Barcelona.
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Shawn Reynaldo
© 2025 Shawn Reynaldo
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