Franky Wah’s SHÈN with Spencer Brown

The last two times we invited Franky Wah to New York, he played an extended five-hour set to a completely sold-out crowd. Franky’s blend of euphoric house, techno, and breakbeat make for eclectic shows that keep fans coming back for more. Now, he’s making his highly-anticipated return to New York with a showcase of his newly founded label SHÈN at the Knockdown Center on April 28. He'll be joined by special guest Spencer Brown, and rising stars Luzi Tudor and Paige. You won’t want to miss an evening in this cutting-edge art space, especially with a soundtrack like Franky’s.

Franky Wah–the genre-defying producer from an 800-person village in Yorkshire–has seen phenomenal success over the last few years. He's achieved significant chart success several times over. His 2019 release, “Get Me High,” reached #2 on the Beatport chart and #3 on the Radio 1 Dance chart. In 2021 he debuted on Pryda Presents with "The World You See," the transcendent melodic house anthem was a collaboration with Christoph and Artche and dominated dancefloors as the world began to emerge from the pandemic. Spending six months in the Beatport Top 10 it picked up plays from Tiesto, Vintage Culture, Armin van Buuren, Gorgon City, and countless others, and remains in the Beatport top 100 to this day. With a consistent stream of electrifying, chart-topping hits he has also earned the backing of influential tastemakers such as Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Danny Howard along the way. Collaborations with Carl Cox, Cristoph, and Sasha only solidified Franky’s spot at the top.

In 2022, Franky began surfacing his imprint, SHÈN Recordings. In November of the same year, he released his magnum opus, boldly announcing its arrival. This is SHÈN is a sprawling three-hour, 27-track album. This remarkable collection seamlessly incorporates Chinese influences and maintains admirable consistency throughout the album. Rather than banging out flashy, club-ready hits, Franky oscillates between introspective sound design and brooding, progressive bangers. For his upcoming set, Franky Wah will bring this inspired music of SHÈN to life.

A cast of Gray Area favorites is helping Franky realize his creative vision, starting with our special guest, Spencer Brown. With his potent brew of progressive trance melodies, pulsating drums, and techno-tinged flourishes, Spencer is a leading name in the melodic house and techno space. With massive releases on industry-leading labels like Anjunabeats and mau5trap, his skills as a DJ and producer have elevated his profile to levels most artists could only dream of. From the driving vigor of “Windows 95 On Acid” to the tribal minimal odyssey of his remix for Kx5’s “Escape,” Spencer’s music has found its way into the DJ sets of some of the world’s biggest dance music superstars. John Summit, deadmau5, FISHER, Maceo Plex, Dubfire, John Digweed, Calvin Harris, Nora En Pure, Above & Beyond, and Oliver Heldens have all sung his praises.

Luzi Tudor’s entré into the world of dance music production and DJ was incredible, to say the least. The Romanian-born artist debuted on Lane 8’s This Never Happened in 2021 with “Warrior,” a slithering five-minute journey punctuated by stuttering strings, glowing synths, and thoughtful composition that firmly establishes her dynamic storytelling prowess. She’s continued to release stunning, emotional music and in 2022, joined Lane 8 on tour stops at LA Historic Park and the Brooklyn Mirage.

New York-born PAIGE is the industry’s next melodic house and techno star. His soul-stirring productions are transformative and brightly beautiful. His releases have blessed the catalogs of dance music’s most celebrated tastemakers, including Gorgon City’s REALM and Nora En Pure’s Purified. In 2022 he topped the Beatport Melodic House & Techno charts for 22 weeks with the Alchemy EP. One of the year’s top sellers, it received widespread support from Korolova, Tiesto, Vintage Culture, and more.

For such an inspired night, an equally inspired venue is required. Knockdown Center is a 50,000-square-foot art and performance space in Queens. Built on collaboration and cross-pollination, this century-old venue focuses on innovative, experimental programming. With undeniable warehouse vibes and a rich history of creativity embedded in the brick walls, this will be the perfect backdrop for a night of euphoric, explorative dancing. We’re so honored to welcome Franky Wah back to New York, and we hope you will join us in the celebration.