So, disco?

No, not really. But I do like disco! Mostly the more obscure disco from pre-1975, and the disco that survived the disco demolition night of 1979. The proto-house disco that birthed electronic dance music, the disco boogie that ushered in hip hop. I’m particularly fond of West African disco and boogie.

But disco is only a very small piece of the music puzzle. This is about the music discovery journey in all its forms.

Who’s Ammon

I’m a music junkie. Grew up in a family of musicians and chose turntables as my instrument. Vinyl is my preferred format, although happy to push bits in a pinch. Analog is my escape from an ever-digified world. It’s my happy place.

Co-founder and resident DJ with the Rhythm Society (1995 - present) — a San Francisco-based event series and intentional community. Member of the Love Bizarre DJ crew — OG disco and boogie devotees bringing the love vibes back to SF. Member of the notorious Ambient Mafia DJ crew, a downtempo and triphop collective. Co-founder and resident DJ of the SF weekly Mushroom Jazz (1992 - 1995), playing alongside Mark Farina, Tom of England, Marques Wyatt, Julius Papp, DJ IZ, Felix da Dog, and many others.

I’m also a designer and technologist tinkering in the space of immersive music experiences for the past couple decades. Also recently built an AI-powered app that explores cultural context and the interconnectedness of music. You are welcome to follow my other Substack that’s more focused on my work: The Long Tale.

You can find my DJ mixes, thoughts and creative output at qaswa.com.

What should I expects if I join?

Updates about music gigs along with thoughts and ideas about San Francisco, underground music culture, and music-tech. If you’re in the Bay Area, I hope to see you at one of my gigs!

-Ammon