dweller: François X / cotton / Juno / Stacey Hotwaxx Hale / Kilopatrah Jones / Dennis Free

About the experience

After a year-long hiatus, Dweller returns in 2026. The NY-based festival books exclusively Black artists, showcasing some of the most groundbreaking and exciting artists in electronic music today. Since its launch in 2019, each edition has been a major highlight of the year, a source of inspiration that resonates throughout the community and dance music underground. BASEMENT is proud to present back-to-back full-club takeovers on February 20th and 21st. The first night is headlined by Parisian powerhouse François X. An absolutely essential force in his hometown, François X has played a major role in the French capital’s techno renaissance. While drawing inspiration from the grittier side of American electronic music, he is able to find a sweet spot where immaculate craft interlaces with potent urgency. “Techno has always been about breaking rules,” he once said. “For me, it’s about capturing the raw motion of life, sweat, emotion, and that pulse that connects us all.” Cotton returns to the room. Over the last half decade and change, the NY-based artist has made her mark. Stretching between all-out blistering mayhem and deep sonic exploration - in her own words,” soft music for the hard times” - her sets are resoundingly personal and expressive. Juno makes their BASEMENT debut. As a community leader, they are playing a key role in shaping the city’s culture. But Juno is more than just a behind-the-scenes activist. Their vinyl-heavy DJ sets overflow with expressive power and explosive energy. Drawing from the lineage of high speed Detroit techno and Midwest rave, Juno’s is an unapologetic heir to some of dance music’s most vital lineages. “The godmother of house music,” Stacey Hotwaxx Hale, steps up in STUDIO. A DJ since the late ‘70s, Hale learned the craft at a time when the practice of beatmatching was still in its infancy. She has evolved with the times, answering the call of the dance floor with indelible soul and pure, unfettered joy. A true virtuoso and pioneer, Hale has helped to define the craft for generations. Kilopatrah Jones is an artist whose work shows a great affinity with Hale’s. One of the standout ambassadors of house music in the US today, Jones stands out for their remarkable fluidity and unstoppable charisma behind the decks. You can tell they love every track, and they make you love them too. Dennis Free cranks up the energy. The Level III co-founder moves between pumping house, 140 bpm sounds and fiery, percussive minimalism. Free draws liberally on his multicultural background, evoking a dialog between genres that spans eras and continents; “Oakland gave me that raw, bass-driven, community energy, while New York sharpened my sense of pace and experimentation. My African roots show up in rhythm and percussion, and my Chinese background and culture, which is grounded in peace and calm, comes through in the balance.” ■ No photos or videos ■ Ticket purchase does not guarantee entrance ■ No phone use on the dancefloor ■ The dance floor is for dancing, not conversation ■ No glowing/flashing clothes or items ■ Respect other people's space, no shuffling ■ Consent is mandatory ■ Zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism or any form of discrimination ■ Take care of each other, alert our staff if somebody isn't feeling well ■ Violating the house rules will result in removal PLEASE REVIEW HOUSE POLICIES AT LINK BELOW