As a DJ, producer, club owner, and promoter, Mike Swells is a veteran curator of live musical experiences. He dedicated the first 12 years of his post-university life to these intentions in his hometown of Boston, securing a permanent place in the hearts of its dance music community. With a sound that blurs the boundaries between electronic and organic, Swells’ dynamic style sets a contagious vibe that can carry a crowd from sunset past sunrise. Through ongoing residencies, he maintains close ties to the roots that shaped him as an artist. From his new home in Brooklyn, Swells turns his focus to the studio while continuing to share the sounds that move him.

Until its final party in 2015, Boston’s RISE Club generated waves felt by every soul in the building, with Swells at the helm. From operations, to bookings, to performing, he made RISE a warm, welcoming home for those who seek deeper sounds. Swells’ efforts at RISE—from regular open-to-close sets to sharing the booth with countless internationally renowned artists—earned him a reputation as one of the primary go-to DJ/promoters in the Northeast. His impact was felt locally and globally, solidifying RISE’s legendary status with DJ Mag’s #42 spot on the Top 100 Clubs of 2012. For Swells, RISE was the perfect sonic testing ground where his own musical style grew and evolved. For the artists and patrons, RISE was the platform on which Swells helped build and rally many communities around non-commercial dance music in all it’s flavors.

Now relieved of the duties of running a club, Mike’s defined a new homebase for himself as resident DJ at Make It New. Since 2005, MiN has occupied every Thursday night at Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge, MA, serving sets and performances from another seemingly endless roster world-class house & techno artists. Mike continues to play guest sets for his extended Northeast families like Fractaltribe, Bijou, and Therapy, while performing regularly in his new home at Brooklyn clubs like House of Yes and Output. He remains heavily invested in Soundscape with partner Pepe Elias, as well as his 10 year residency at The Red Door in Portsmouth, N.H.