MOOD CHANGE

Change your mood. 

Mood  Change  is  the  alias  of  Taylor  Lysohirka,  a  Calgary-based  DJ  who’s  shared  the  stage  with  artists  like  Jimmy  Edgar,  Mall  Grab,  Leon  Vynehall  and  Midland.  His  role  in  the  city’s  underground,  however,  extends  beyond  that  of  a  DJ  and  into  broadcasting,  event  programming,  and  organizing  two  locally  celebrated  artists  platforms.    In  2015,  after  having  DJ’d  around  the  city  under  various  aliases  for  three  years,  Lysohirka  founded Excursions.fm alongside  Prashant  Dutt,  DJ  Anokha.  Taking  inspiration  from  an  online  digital  platform  of  the  same  name  (created  by  Anokha),  Excursions.fm launched  as  a  series  of  mixes  where  local  figures  are  invited  to  showcase  the  music  that  resonates  with  them  regardless  of  commercial  viability.  The  series  is  now  on  its  50th  iteration,  and  has  been  rapidly  growing  in  notoriety  and  stature  featuring  DJ’s  and  producers  from  across  Canada.    Shortly  after  the  group’s  creation,  Lysohirka  was  also  brought  on  as  a  co-curator  of  Versions.  Now  entering  its  fifth  season,  this  summertime  series  of  bi-weekly  open  air  events  has  gained  an  air  of  prestige  locally  by  highlighting  luminaries  of  the  Western  Canadian  electronic  music  community.  With  Excursions.FM  and  Versions  solidified  Lysohirka  turned  his  attention  back  to  DJing,  and  Mood  Change  debuted  at  this  start  of  this  year  with  an  hour-long  podcast  presented  by  Calgary  label  VRNT.  The  podcast’s  interlacing  of  dance  floor-centric  tracks  with  ambient  and  broken-beat  textures  affirms  that  underpinning  Mood  Change  are  the  same  values  of  exploration  and  experimentation  that  define  Excursions.    Mood  Change  exemplifies  the  role  of  the  classic  selector  and  embodies  the  attitude  of  DIY  music  culture  by  unearthing  selections  that  radically  depart  from  convention  and  presenting  them  through  independent  grassroots  platforms  that  he’s  helped  to  forge,  pushing  the  underground  forward  in  the  process.