MEET DJ KEEPSAKES

A regular and favourite down here at The Galaxy and a pioneering champion in the local and international music scene. KEEPSAKES brings the beats and really gives us our break from reality when he drives the SUBTLE Soundsystem at HAVEN events he curates with the team. Check him out here https://www.facebook.com/keepsakesish

Keepsakes (James Barrett) is a Christchurch-based producer, DJ, and founder of Haven Intl, a distinctive underground label and party series. Known for raw and high‑octane “tektek bangerz”, he has releases across Perc Trax, Boys Noize, KAOS/OAKS, and Turbo Recordings. With a growing footprint in Aotearoa’s dance music sphere and global bookings, Keepsakes continues to forge dynamic sonic routes within the underground scene.

🌍 Background and Vision

Keepsakes is the alias of British‑New Zealand producer and DJ James Barrett, deeply rooted in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) but with strong ties across Aotearoa and abroad. He co-founded the club night and record label HAVEN INTL—originally based in Tāmaki Makaurau and now firmly entrenched in Ōtautahi’s underground scene  

As the label’s artistic director, he curates HAVEN’s ethos of boundary-pushing techno, unconventional experimental rhythms, and vinyl-first aesthetics .

🔊 Sound, Releases & Musical Approach

Keepsakes has released several standout EPs via HAVEN INTL, including Perspectives From A Sterile Hellhole [HVN001] (2018), and A Virtue In Vogue [HVN012] (2022), which features tracks like Peak Egotist, Malignant Motion, and No Acceptance Uptown—marked by tribal drums, swung rhythms, and industrial synth textures  

The 2019 EP Modern Anxious Vernacular [HVN006] showcased a slower, atmospheric direction, blending eerie vocal atmospheres with heavyweight techno aesthetics in tracks like Seep and State Of It soundcloud.com.

Keepsakes describes his output as "tektek bangerz,” energetic techno that thrives on contrast, texture, and uncompromising sound design  

📀 DJ Sets & Live Persona

A highlight: the mix “KEEPSAKES: ALL VINYL, ALL NIGHT // HAVEN ŌTAUTAHI 09/08/24” captured one of his most memorable club performances at Galaxy Arcade’s Subtle Sound System. The 5‑hour set begins ambient/experimental before evolving through techno, broken‑beat, electro, EBM, and punk‑thrash finale—earning praise as one of the “Top 5 techno mixes of all time” by listeners on SoundCloud  

🤩 As one fan raved:

“Easily in my Top 5 techno mixes of all time. Literally the only thing I listen to on long drives…” soundcloud.com

🏷️ Brand & Label Philosophy

Keepsakes runs HAVEN INTL alongside Jaded Nineties Raver. Their combined vision positions HAVEN at the nexus of left‑field dance music in Aotearoa, championing emerging outsider artists both locally and internationally. The label prioritises vinyl releases and a club-first aesthetic, rooted in immersive sound and live energy  

Their releases have appeared via respected labels such as Perc Trax, South London, Turbo Recordings, and Boys Noize Records  

🌟 Why Keepsakes Stands Out

Attribute	Details
Sonic Range	From hypnotic ambient intro sets to high-energy techno-smashers
Vinyl Aesthetic	All-vinyl, deep‑dig sessions reflect decade-long record obsession
Curatorial Edge	Founder identity is intertwined with HAVEN’s experimental programming
Community Focus	Builds international attention from Ōtautahi’s underground scene

In summary: Keepsakes is an integral force in NZ's techno underground—a visionary DJ/producer and the driving curator behind HAVEN INTL. His artistry spans abrasive vinyl sets, genre-fluid production, and label-led community cultivation.