The LowDown #135

One-hundred and thirty fifth installment of our weekly newsletter from the Team.

Jul 01, 2026

From the Team:

What’s up everyone, it’s your boy Cloudy taking over this week’s Lowdown to give a little life update and share some thoughts on the industry and the scene.

For the past few years I’ve been living out in Salt Lake City, Utah, and life has managed to thwart a few attempts to get me out to NYC. Once I stayed for a woman, twice I got trapped in a brutal lease. Hopefully the next move goes a little smoother.

That said, my time out here hasn’t been wasted,especially recently.

SLC has a small but steadily developing underground scene. It definitely has its challenges, with Utah liquor laws shutting down any venue serving alcohol at 1:30 a.m., but people have found creative ways around it. You can throw a rave in the desert or out on the Salt Flats, there are enough art cars and sound systems floating around to make it happen. If that’s not your thing, there are after-hours venues that run BYOB events and can keep the party going as late as they want, effectively skating around the 1:30 cutoff.

Unfortunately, the city has been cracking down hard on those spaces. Safe to say our Mormon hombres aren’t too stoked on people raging until sunrise.

That crackdown has created some difficult challenges. The biggest has been venue costs skyrocketing, making it increasingly difficult to throw events that are even remotely profitable. A lot of local collectives have taken major hits over the past few years, and it’s slowed the momentum of the scene. But the people who truly care keep pushing forward, determined to keep the blood of house and techno flowing through the city’s veins.

One of those collectives is Doof, which I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of during my time in Utah.

Doof was started by my good friends Mike Stern, Jordan Sweeter, and Cole Reaves back in college, and it’s grown organically alongside their tastes over the years. Today it’s become a niche underground haven for partygoers looking for something a little different. At a Doof party you might hear spaced-out minimal techno, West Coast and East Coast house, wonky UK garage, electro, Despacio-adjacent indie dance, and plenty beyond that. If you’re heading to Doof, expect weird and expect deep.

Personally, Doof gave me something I’d been looking for: a place where I could play what I genuinely love while experimenting with a crowd that actually expects the unexpected. It’s had a huge influence on my sound. Mikey and I are constantly digging for new records, discovering new artists, and chasing whatever we think is the dopest shit at the moment.

We’ve moved beyond simply throwing parties, we’re trying to curate complete experiences. The venue, the sound system, the production, the DJs, and the crowd all matter equally.

Recently we partnered with a liquor-licensed venue to take over for the summer and build something from the ground up. We’re calling it BarDoof, and there are absolutely no phones allowed.

The space is a dark, industrial basement with low ceilings, outfitted with subtle but intentional production. We keep it moody, with a disco ball serving as the focal point. Sound-wise, we’re running two Danley SH60 tops, two Funktion-One kick bins, and two Danley 21-inch subs.

Safe to say it absolutely fucking rips.

The goal has always been simple: create a consistent home where people in Salt Lake City can hear proper underground music and dance every weekend. So far, we’ve managed to do exactly that, and the city’s response has been incredible.

Our first month focused primarily on Doof residents alongside local collectives and DJs we respect and who fit our ethos—Matthew Fit, Travis “Disko” TK (Warehouse Preservation Society), Gabo and Manu (Love Lunatics), Chini, Jess D (Chicago), Sarah Lies, Right On Time . July shifts the focus toward bringing in more out-of-town talent and some more local legends, including Mungo Sound Machine, Adam Rose (Yoon), Halo Varga (H-Foundation) and Chavez. You can find all their IG’s within the Doof pages linked earlier in the article.

The format is intentional: just two DJs each night, playing from 9 p.m. until close. We think longer sets create a much more cohesive experience for both the dancers and the DJs. As our tastes continue evolving, we’re also hoping to host more vinyl-only nights.

Vinyl has become one of my biggest passions over the past few years. It always interested me, but I never really had the means, or the people around me, to dive into it. About a year ago Mike finally sacked up and bought turntables, and from there the race was on.

Since then we’ve been buying wax nonstop and spinning every chance we get.

I’ve played a handful of vinyl sets already, and my goal is to eventually incorporate records into every set I play. Before I leave Utah, I want to collect as much music as possible from the serious diggers and legendary DJs who’ve built this city’s scene, so I can carry that influence, not just in my taste, but physically in my record bag, wherever I end up next.

A few people deserve special recognition.

Matthew Fit is a true local legend who’s been collecting and playing records for decades. He’s a wealth of knowledge and connections, and he’s brought genuine legends through Salt Lake over the years.

Travis “TK” is one of the best DJs I have ever heard and has more records than anyone I know, I am very lucky that he has been an incredible mentor to both Mikey and I. He’s a legend not only in Salt Lake, but internationally as well. Seriously—this guy knows everybody. It’s scary. (Go check out the Warehouse Preservation Society mix on Rekids.)

Then there’s Manu and Gabo, originally from Colombia and Venezuela, respectively. They play some of the deepest and rarest house records I’ve ever heard. They’re serious diggers, even more serious DJs, and they’ve helped shape the musical identity of the city. (Also, good luck at HOR!)

These are some of the people who laid the foundation that allowed Doof to become more musically focused without ever losing its weirdness. They’re also the people who’ve expanded my understanding of what dance music, and the dance industry as a whole, can be.

Utah has been full of highs and lows.

For a long time I was frustrated that I couldn’t leave. Looking back now, though, I think it all happened for a reason. Without my time here, I don’t think I’d be the artist I am today, and I definitely wouldn’t have the clarity or vision I have for what’s next.

There’s a lot more I could say about that, but I think you’ll just have to wait and see.

This is Cloudy (Preston) signing out.

Thanks for reading <3

Artist of the Week:

Triptil

Instagram: @triptil__

In the world of underground electronic music, few scenes have had the lasting influence of Romania’s minimal movement (shocker, we’re talking about romania again). Over the past two decades, the country has produced a distinct sound built on subtlety, groove, and precision, giving rise to artists like Rhadoo, Raresh, Petre Inspirescu, and Priku. Among this generation of respected selectors and producers is a name you may not recognize, Triptil, a DJ whose name has become synonymous with the hypnotic rhythms that we all know and love.

Rather than relying on dramatic drops, like most of minimal music, Triptil’s approach is rooted in patience. His sets unfold gradually, layering crisp percussion, warm basslines, and intricate textures into long, immersive journeys. It’s a style that rewards careful listening.

His productions reflect the same philosophy. Since emerging in the early 2010s, Triptil has released music on respected labels including Sleep Is Commercial, Body Parts, What Now Becomes, NG Trax, UVAR, and more recently Micronica Records.

While he may not chase mainstream recognition, Triptil’s reputation has steadily grown through appearances at intimate clubs, underground events, and respected parties across Europe, From Bucharest to London, Paris, Tel Aviv, and beyond.

For those just already wrapped up in the Romanian minimal scene, Triptil may be a new artist to check out. His music captures everything that makes the genre so enduring: restraint over excess, groove over spectacle, and a deep understanding that the best moments on a dancefloor often come from what isn’t rushed. Dang, we may need to reconsider our vision statement because that last sentence was fire.

-Lint

Event of the Week:

Demi Requismo b2b Dj Seinfeld @ Refuge

LED proclaimed artist of the year b2b with another crowd favorite Dj Seinfeld will be tearing it up at refuge for a 3pm show to celebrate the 4th this year. If you are keeping it real and staying in the city this weekend this is the show to be at. Never been to a day party at Refuge so im excited to see what its like and hopefully will spill inside at some point to get immersed in that sound system yet again.

Info —> Event of the Week

Mix of the Week:

Samuel Deep b2b DJ Senc - SLPFNK LIVE CUTZ #14

“The Live Cutz series is our time machine. We always smile towards the future, but never forget our past. Why would we?

Today, the portal opens again, this time transporting us to Levenslang, Saturday night of ADE 2025. Sold out, sweaty dancefloor, tenderized to perfection. The Slap and The Funk, Sylvestro and Alfredo, Deep-ly Senc-ronized, close out the night yet again. Another masterclass from the Slap brothers.”