The latest installment of the FADER Mix series offers a deep dive into the sonic landscape of Safety Trance, the project of Venezuela-born, Barcelona-based artist Luis Garban. Known for his work as Cardopusher, Garban has cultivated a reputation for blurring the lines between the sacred and the profane, blending reggaeton, witch house, and experimental noise into a singular, chaotic vision.

This mix serves as a maze of sound, where dense, abrasive noise suddenly pivots into moments of soft, ethereal ambiance. It is an act of explosive hypnosis, reflecting the same energy found on his recent album, sacrificio, which features collaborations with artists like Arca, Eartheater, and Sega Bodega.

Reflecting on his creative evolution, Garban notes that his transition into the Safety Trance moniker was solidified through his early production work with Arca on tracks like “Prada” and “Rakata.” These sessions helped define a new chapter of speaker-breaking, zeitgeist-shifting sound that he continues to explore today.

A Journey Through Sound

When asked about his influences, Garban cites a diverse array of artists ranging from Aphex Twin and Venetian Snares to Eddie Palmieri and Dean Blunt. This eclecticism is central to his approach, as he seeks to remain unpredictable in his sets. “I don’t want to predict the future of electronic music,” he explains. “I want to be surprised.”

The mix, recorded in his home studio in Gràcia, Barcelona, is described by the artist as “eclectic, noisy, but still emotional.” It is a functional space filled with records, synths, and books, providing the quiet backdrop for his high-energy output. Whether he is opening for legends like Aphex Twin or crafting his own experimental soundscapes, Garban remains committed to the raw, unpolished spirit of his craft.

Tracklist

Safety Trance, “AAAAgarrate (ft. Venera)”; Weed420, “Chataing Show”; Safety Trance, “Choque96”; Lil Kaylee, “Sexy Coded”; Safety Trance, “duro (ft. Nusar3000 & Kinara)”; Elysia Crampton, “ch´ixi (for love of the other) w/ Nunu & Joshua”; Sheet Noise, “Kompromat Lullaby”; NGHTCRWLR, “Troubled Waters”; Safety Trance, “100 $$$ mas”; Kavari, “///”; Dj Weed, “el deseo te consume”; Safety Trance, “inter i”; Enya, “Boadicea”; BEBETUNE$, “Sahara Jr”; Blood Of Aza, “Severance”; Female Pentimento, “Syzygy”; Safety Trance, “the beat drops (ft. Arca)”; ARS WAS TAKEN, “XCAPIN (ft. N1L)”; virtualdemonlaxative, “Neeeeeeeee”; Cardopusher, “Cry Tough”; CTRLFR33K, “Keto Cereal”; Sewerslvt, “Slvtcrvsher”; Safety Trance x Korn, “All In The RGGTN Family”; Safety Trance, “N@#0%!”; asco, “sslidnn”; Safety Trance, “YASURI X STRETCH”; Machine Girl, “Down To The Essence (Mun Sing Remix)”; Sheet Noise, “Iron Lung Ballet”; Safety Trance, “most of me (is elsewhere) (ft. Eartheater & Sega Bodega)”; Malibu, “Atlantic Diva”.