US Midwest veteran Shell Robinson delivers a deep two-hour emotive punch…

Name: Shelley Robinson
Location: San Francisco Bay Area – California, USA
Alias/Producer name: Shell Robinson
Labels affiliated with: UV Noir, Juicebox Music, InU Records, Schallmauer, Big Bells, Future Avenue, White SOHO, Natura Viva

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I grew up in a deeply religious home—classical and Christian music only. Piano and voice lessons were routine, but my real escape came through an old AM radio and a backyard trampoline. On quiet nights, I’d bounce under the stars, twisting the antenna just right to catch forbidden frequencies from Chicago.

Through the static, I found Journey, Hall & Oates, Depeche Mode, The Psychedelic Furs, and Howard Jones. Those secret sessions taught me early that the best sounds are always worth hunting down—no matter what stands in your way.

In January 2000, in the middle of a snowstorm, I went out to a little nightclub in Cleveland, aptly called That Groovy Little Nightclub, and heard early progressive house for the first time. A local DJ named Ernie played a remix of Everything But the Girl’s Missing and a bootleg of Garbage, and I was hooked. Each weekend, he made mix CDs called Just Roll With It and handed them out.

I remember instantly wanting to learn how to mix, and from that moment on, I started devouring as much of the music as I could find.

Same spot—That Groovy Little Nightclub. I spent nearly two years there every weekend, plus late nights at an after-hours spot called Aqua. DJ Ernie would blend these killer bootleg remixes, dropping tracks that sent chills up your spine. People danced on speakers, shirtless guys lost in the music, windows fogged up while snow fell outside.

I was working through a personal loss then—those nights became my therapy. Some of my closest friendships were born on that dancefloor, and fittingly, that club gave me my first DJ gig.

I dove deep into the progressive scene, spending every weekend hunting through record stores in whatever city I landed in. That mix of patchouli incense, coffee, and cigarettes still lingers in my memory—the scent of discovering gold.

The essential compilations that shaped me:

Paul Oakenfold – Travelling – The first mix that showed me what a real journey feels like.
Early Tiësto – In Search of Sunrise series – Pure late-night magic.
Global Underground series – Sasha in San Francisco, Nick Warren in Budapest, Dave Seaman in Buenos Aires, Darren Emerson in Uruguay, Deep Dish—each one a masterclass.
Transport series – Dave Ralph, Sandra Collins, Max Graham, Quivver—soundtracks to countless nights.
Jimmy Van M – Bedrock: Compiled & Mixed – I wore out my first copy and had to buy it again. Still hits just as hard.

Balance Presents: Dave Seaman & Quivver. Been collecting compilations since 2000. My daughter’s godfather in Chicago spotted it right away—I already had it earmarked. We’ve had a standing weekly “competition” for years now: whoever finds the best new music first wins.

Production: Running Ableton on a beefy Windows laptop, paired with a ROLI Seaboard Rise and a KORG piano. Love the ROLI for its polyphonic expression—feels alive under your fingers.

DJ Setup: Just upgraded to a Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 from my trusty 2012 XDJ-AERO. Still keep my original Technics 1200s (learned on these) with a Pioneer 600 mixer. These days, I split my time between live sets and studio work—so many tools to experiment with, but vinyl and CDJs still feel like home.

Solo Releases:

– 2/21 — Schallmauer 2 song EP — It’s Drippy, What is Left
– 3/6 — White SOHO, When I See You
– Mid-April two-tracker coming on Big Bells
– Single dropping on Natura Viva (date TBD)

Collaborations:

In the lab with Bud Cahill and VORA on two tracks each, plus two more collabs I’m hyped to announce soon. Been focusing heavily on solo work/songs, I added three in this mix – they’ll be ready in the coming weeks.

Catch me with the FUSE Collective at Bergerac San Francisco on 2/28, with some big news dropping soon. This past year has been all about the studio—really dialing in on production. I also put out weekly extended mixes on SoundCloud and Mixcloud and host House Call, where I dive into conversations with DJs and producers about what makes them tick.

Even though it was one of my first solo tracks, I wanted it to capture the essence of early progressive while still feeling current. The goal was a vintage vibe that sticks with you—something timeless yet memorable.

One of my all time favorite songs. Its a mood, a memory and timeless.

The Dead Don’t Hurt’ .Written, directed, and starring Viggo Mortensen, it’s an independent film with a powerful story of survival. Viggo also curated all of the music.

Balance-Walter Balance

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