Minimal Wave 20 Years: In Trance 95 (live), An-i (live), Veronica Vasicka, Sharlese + more

This year, the Minimal Wave label celebrates its 20th anniversary since forming in 2005. Minimal Wave 20 Years is the first in a series of parties honoring two decades of releasing over 80 albums of under-recognized electronic music from the 1970s–1990s. On May 17th at Good Room in Brooklyn, Greek legends In Trance 95 will perform their first-ever live set in the U.S., celebrating the upcoming release of their The Move EP, out May 27th on Minimal Wave. Advance copies will be available at the show. Also performing live is An-i (Douglas Lee), the Berlin-based Cititrax artist known for his analog-driven, body-shaking sets. His performance draws from the fierce and fractured energy of his Cititrax EPs: Kino-i, Gutz, and Rabble. Label founder Veronica Vasicka will open the night with a vinyl DJ set of Minimal Wave classics, tracing the label’s roots and early influences. She’ll then go b2b with the brilliant Sharlese, digging deep into obscure cuts and dancefloor gems from both the Minimal Wave and Cititrax catalogs, along with other hidden treasures. Reissues of obscure ’80s acts may be common today, but that wasn’t the case in 2005, when Vasicka launched Minimal Wave with a timeless EP from Oppenheimer Analysis. A lifelong New Yorker and one of the founding members of East Village Radio, she began spinning ’80s rarities found in record fairs and bargain bins on her weekly show. When listeners began asking where to find the music, she tracked down the artists and began releasing beautiful vinyl reissues. Not knowing how to classify the icy synths, stark drum machines, and haunting vocals she uncovered, Vasicka coined the term Minimal Wave and launched minimalwave.com as a platform to share her finds. The label’s output spans stripped-down D.I.Y. synth-pop to lush new wave to pioneering industrial electronics—often decades ahead of their time. Vasicka continues to unearth and revive hidden gems. Recent highlights include long-lost material from cult heroes Vicious Pink and French legends Martin Dupont. Coming up next, Cititrax will release a full-length from Another Body Found, a project related to the visionary Le Syndicat Électronique. Alongside Minimal Wave, Cititrax remains a key outlet for forward-thinking, machine-based music, showcasing newer work from artists like Marie Davidson, Schwefelgelb, Broken English Club, Cosmetics, and Op-Art. Donato Dozzy side project Men With Secrets is slated for later in the year. Join us on May 17th to mark 20 years of timeless electronics and experience In Trance 95’s first live set in the U.S. alongside stunning performances from An-i and more. In the Bad Room, we're honored to have Liz Wendelbo (of Xeno & Oaklander) and Layne DJing all night long—expect coldwave, synth-pop, industrial, and beyond. Dance with us! **Good Room is a safe space for all people. We do not accept racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, body shaming or discrimination in any form. If you are being harassed, please speak to one of our safety monitors wearing the flashing armband**