For more than a decade, KEXP has used its platform to champion adventurous music in all its forms. From Indie Rock to experimental electronics and everything in between. Among the Seattle-based radio station’s most beloved programs is ‘Midnight in a Perfect World,’ a long-running mix series that invites artists and DJs to step behind the decks and reveal the sounds that shape their creative worlds.

Since launching in 2015, the show has hosted an expansive roster. This includes james K and Guedra Guedra to Oklou, Neue Grafik and Klein among many. It has offered genre-spanning sets that blur boundaries and highlight the art of the DJ mix as storytelling. We hear from the Lead Curator of ‘Midnight in a Perfect World’ – KEXP’s Alex Ruder – to learn about some of the show’s most memorable moments, where personal taste, deep digging and cultural context collide.

JD Twitch – March 21st, 2015 

Alex Ruder: “The legendary and sadly departed JD Twitch (aka Keith McIvor) of Glasgow duo, label and club crew Optimo contributed the fifth guest DJ mix for ‘Midnight in a Perfect World.’ It aired exactly one month after the show launched in February 2015. The first mix I remember truly showcasing the art and power of a DJ mix. He stitched together a thematic mix revolving around nuclear war. Somehow, he managed to turn this catastrophic event into something deep and groovy with killer tunes, expert mixing and sequencing, and a specific vision. It’s a mix that embodies what made JD’s mixes and curation so singular. R.I.P. to a legend.”

Nabihah Iqbal (fka Throwing Shade) – April 1st, 2016

“The brilliant Nabihah Iqbal quickly caught my ear with her Throwing Shade project in the mid-2010s. So, it’s cool to look back now on her mix from almost exactly 10 years after that was made while she was still using her now-retired moniker. It’s a stellar glimpse into her adventurous club-minded vision. The way she uses the acappella of Destiny Child’s ‘Say My Name’ to connect Stardust’s ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ to New Order’s ‘Blue Monday.’ Then, she slid into a hard-to-find remix of Kelis’ ‘Milkshake’ and then George Morel’s early 1990s house classic ‘Let’s Groove,’ which is a run I especially love.”

CCL – February 24th, 2017

“Before relocating to Berlin and fully ascending as one of the most exciting stars of the international underground electronic community, CCL was a force within Seattle’s nightlife scene as an events curator and DJ. They did this mix while still calling the Pacific Northwest home. It’s a thrilling early showcase of their singular ear. As well as the masterful digging and crafty mixing techniques that has become renowned on a global scale.”

Dan the Automator – May 25th, 2018

“Dan the Automator’s link-up with Del Tha Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala for the Deltron3030 album is a monumental record to me. One I credit for quickly leading me to discover DJ Shadow and Entroducing… Dan’s ‘Midnight in a Perfect World’ mix was a special moment and a dream come true for 18-year-old me. His blend of Midnight Reaper’s The Exorcist theme with The Meters’ ‘Hand Clapping Song’ is a joy. He sneaks in a sweet Donovan/Nas blend and some fairly unexpected selections towards the end too. It’s just a really fun time. Any mix that includes both The Diplomats and Nilüfer Yanya is a winner in my book.”

DJ Suspence – June 26th, 2020

“DJ Suspence is the alias of Seattle native Spencer Manio. He’s a renowned DJ, producer, curator and former member of beloved Seattle trio The Saturday Knights. He was super active on the DJ scene throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. But he’s largely been behind-the-scenes digging for the past couple decades. His mix for ‘Midnight in a Perfect World’ is his first (and only) recorded DJ mix. He cleverly set-up his mix like an actual cassette mixtape featuring two distinctive sides. The A-side is titled ‘1990 North Seattle House Party’ and is a homage to the house party jams he used to DJ out regularly. The B-side is titled ‘2020 South Seattle Couch Party’ and it serves as a reflection of his at-home dad-life listening favorites. Both sides are time portals in their own awesome way.”

ML Buch – January 7th, 2024

“I’m a big fan of hearing artists that aren’t traditional DJs share a mix of their favorites. This one from Danish artist ML Buch was a special treat in that regard. Her album Suntub was a big favorite of mine from 2023. So, I was thrilled to kick off ‘Midnight in a Perfect World’s’ 2024 series with a mix from her. It’s full of elegant, arty, sweeping guitar-driven songs that gives any fans of her music a little glimpse into the inspirations behind her own hypnotic, painterly vision. The mix preceded another ML Buch/KEXP connection as she stopped by the station later that year with Molina for an amazing Live on KEXP session.” 

Follow KEXP on Mixcloud.