Simon Doty

Another day, another impeccably curated melodic journey from the Anjunakitchen. We’re all here, presumably ignoring our actual kitchens, for Simon Doty’s brand of heartstring-tugging progressive house, a safe haven from the relentless thump of the mainstage. The vibe is predictably warm and polished, like a well-oiled synth pad, with low lighting and that familiar Anjuna-esque coziness—comfort food for the soul, served in hi-def. Technically, Doty locks into a steady 127-128 BPM cruise, with Camelot key 12A dominating the harmonic landscape for a lush, cohesive feel.

The energy profile skews heavily towards the low-end, providing a deep, propulsive groove that anchors the set, while melodic elements in the mid-range ebb and flow with precision. His mixing is seamless, employing long, harmonic blends that allow tracks like 'Carlos A - Soma' to evolve naturally into more emotive passages. The progression is textbook progressive house, building from introspective moments to euphoric peaks without ever feeling rushed. As for crate digging, this Simon Doty live set is a masterclass in modern curation: Andrew Meller’s 'Summer Of Love' sets a hazy, optimistic tone perfect for an opener, while Tiësto’s 'The Business' gets a respectful, unironic nod to the genre’s peak commercial era.

The deeper cut of Michael Kruck’s 'Transposer' showcases Doty’s ear for atmospheric builders, and Iio’s 'Rapture' remains a timeless, vocal-led weapon that never fails to hit. Hollen’s 'Safety Tutor' adds a welcome techy edge, and QuiQui’s 'Chaos Is Creativity' bridges progressive and tech house with driving percussion. The journey begins with 'Summer Of Love,' climbs to a nostalgic high with 'Rapture,' and closes on a classic piano-house note with Robin S.’s 'Show Me Love,' leaving us thoroughly satiated.