Room: Christmas Town

Being too young during the 90’s and sheltered during the early 00’s Rat Galactic instead learned about rave culture through books and “Ishkur’s Guide.” Each exposure to the elusive “rave scene” only served to fascinate them more and more. Rat cites “Hot Butter – Popcorn” being played on their elementary school morning show every day for five years as the first piece of electronic music that rewrote their brain chemistry. From there, Rat heard a Florida breaks DJ just starting up as they were ushered out the door at a childhood birthday party. (Even after intense pleading and begging, Rat would never be allowed back to the skating rink on a Friday night.) High school “get-to-know-you” exercises, myspace, etc. had Rat defining themselves with “electronic music, video games, and anime” as their interests (in that order.) As Rat Galactic proceeded into adulthood; freedom, newfound confidence, underground parties, and one DJ holding a record aloft like a communion wafer turned them into the DJ and promoter that they are today.

There’s few as intent on continuing dance music’s rich cultural history as St. Petersburg’s Rat Galactic. Listening to their sets you’re likely to hear music from decades ago amongst fresh tracks from modern producers. Unconcerned with genre boundaries, you’ll instead find Rat’s sets united by unique percussive tracks and deep rolling basslines. Rat’s love for the old school informs their mixing style where stand-out tracks are placed in the midst of trance inducing segments for maximum impact.

A sharp eye can find Rat’s contributions on some of the most underground parties – including supporting Tampa Bay’s legendary Serious Soul nights as a resident. On the higher end of the pitch, Rat Galactic helped form Refuge alongside fellow eclectics Kay-S and Blak.