Kyaro
[Auralism Records]

Auralism's two-headed monster Kyaro was born from a classic meeting-of-the-minds. In the spring of 2002, two formerly Cali-based DJs, Los Angelino Hac Le and San Franciscan Jason Short (producing at the time as Sattva), were shopping for vinyl at the world-famous Gramaphone Records in Chicago. Both had moved to the Second City to get back to their musical roots, both loved house and techno but hungered for something more—and both reached for the same record at the same time. Taking their name from chiaroscuro, an Italian word meaning "light/dark," Le and Short bonded instantly, and the chemistry was undeniable.

The pair developed a unique "2x6x2" format for their live performances, in which the two DJs manipulate six turntables and two mixers ("we had to develop hand signals," Le notes), layering minimal tracks with haunting effects for a deep, swirling mix that still bumps like something hiding under the bed.

Though Kyaro has been scrambling audiences' brains with high-profile gigs in North and Central America for years, the duo's production career is still young, with no significant releases to date. Their upcoming work for Short's Auralism Records—of which Le is creative director—will be well worth the wait. "The new tracks will be dark and nasty bangers with strong beats and very psychedelic textures and synths," Short says, "Kyaro tends to sound pretty intense."

Kyaro DJ set @ Auralism Launch Party, SF 1/20/08

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