NEWS, ESSAYS & CRITIQUES

Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

Pacha New York Faces Bushwick and East Williamsburg Residents at Community Board 1 Hearing

Bushwick and East Williamsburg residents showed up last night. Community Board 1 held a public hearing last night on Pacha New York's liquor license for what would become an 8,000-person outdoor venue at the former Brooklyn Mirage site – down from an allegedly proposed capacity of 9,600. FIVE Holdings' Kabir Mulchandani – the Dubai-based billionaire behind the Pacha brand since 2021 – made an in-person appearance, delivering a 10-minute presentation to the board.

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Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

STOP CALLING EVERYTHING TECHNO!

Techno was created by black communities in working-class settings, not by high-profile cultural institutions or privileged people. It emerged from industrial cities, cemented in queer and marginalized clubs, and was defined by DIY ecosystems. It spread through underground networks, pirate radios, white-label releases, independent distributors, and underground warehouse parties. It was positioned as a cultural resistance form, even though it was not explicitly lyrical; resistance in techno was often structural rather than verbal. It rejected the traditional song form and the mighty hierarchy of instrumentation. From its conception, it was purposed to eradicate the performer-centered spectacle, focusing on the collective dancefloor experience. It was meant to decentralize authorship through the DJ culture by favoring rhythm and system over the idea of a star persona. The dancefloor became a temporary autonomous zone. Not metaphorically, operationally.

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Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

Teksupport: The Deadlock – Inside the Partnership Dispute and Alleged Corporate Coup

In January 2024, Forbes profiled Teksupport as a family-run business at its peak and positioned it as a powerful force in the industry. The article focused on co-founders Robert Toma and Michael Vitacco as a unified team. By early 2026, that narrative no longer stands. The partnership has seen courts, in plural,and the company is now defined by internal conflict.

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The Pacha NYC Countdown Clock is at 12 Days To Go: Why So Quiet, Though?

As the anticipation tightens, thePacha PR team is keeping it surprisingly under the radar. While 140 Stewart Avenue has been cleared for temporary assembly space in DOB filings on March 19, 2026, it is only meant for the ground floor. The space can fit 2,800 people, which is not even close to the planned 7,000-person grand reopening.

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The Great Mirage Heist: How Axar Capital Stole the Brooklyn Nightlife Scene and Sold it out to Kabir Mulchandani

Axar Capital, a private equity firm, has been previously accused of wrongdoing by MCA funders and a committee overseeing the Avant Gardner venue in Brooklyn. Yet, despite these allegations, Axar has managed to secure deals and is now on a fast track to exit all legal liabilities. The torch is now being passed to PACHA, owned by Five Holdings, with Kabir Mulchandani - a person once accused of real estate fraud and who spent 140 days in jail who’s been making quite a comeback and will have a decisive voice the future of the Brooklyn nightlife scene.

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Electric Zoo Refunds: What Ticket Holders Need to Know About the Bankruptcy Process

In the wake of Electric Zoo's recent bankruptcy announcement, eligible ticket holders are now seeking clarity on the refund process. Although a similar plan was proposed in June 2024, the focus has shifted to the timing and availability of funds for these refunds. As Electric Zoo navigates this challenging situation, the community anxiously awaits updates on how much money will remain after previous claims have been processed. With fans eager for answers, the festival's commitment to transparency will be crucial in maintaining trust and engagement.

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Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

Brooklyn Mirage Bankruptcy: What Weekly Updates Knew – and Who Was Briefed on Them

In early 2025, as the Mirage moved through its final construction phase, a set of recurring internal updates began to circulate among management and governance stakeholders, according to individuals familiar with the reporting process and materials reviewed by Unmixed. These updates documented installation milestones alongside revised budget assumptions and advance ticket projections for reopening-week performances – placing forward sales into the same reporting stream as procurement timelines, engineering inputs, and cost adjustments as late-stage assumptions hardened into fixed spend.

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Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

Wasserman Is Up for Sale After Epstein Fallout as Artists Exit

Wasserman is exploring a sale after Epstein-related documents resurfaced communications between CEO Casey Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell—prompting client departures and placing one of live music’s most important touring intermediaries into a formal auction process. As artists publicly distance themselves to manage reputational risk, the fallout is exposing how leadership scandal can cascade through the touring infrastructure that underpins the global live economy.

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Nina Katashvili Nina Katashvili

Brooklyn Mirage New Build Filing Submitted Feb 3, 2026 Under Same Architect and Ownership

If prior Mirage related issues were attributed to problems with initial drawings or plan sets, what specifically were those deficiencies and how were they identified? And if the February 3 2026 New Work filing has been submitted under the same ownership entity and Architect of Record, what ultimately prompted continuity in the design team and what if anything has changed in the plans now moving forward?

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Electronic Dance Music Market Growth 2026: From Dancefloors to Balance Sheets and the Decline of the Middle Tier

Electronic Dance Music is projected to grow from $10.17B in 2024 to $19.17B by 2033 — with live events driving 55% of that growth. As capital flows into festivals, venues, and catalogs — and ownership consolidates among major operators like Live Nation, AEG Presents, CTS Eventim, and Superstruct — decisions that once belonged to promoters may increasingly sit inside portfolios.

We break down the shift in 7 steps:

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Brooklyn Mirage Bankruptcy Plan Fast-Tracked in 17-Minute Hearing

In just 17-minutes, Judge Walrath approved AGDP's late-night plan (Dkt. 583)–admitting she'd not reviewed it. Faris (Young Conaway/Axar) hyped CEO Gary Richards endlessly; Verita's older rep stumbled on foggy technical point. No objections. Confirmation done.

Key Roles: Richards (CEO), Yazhari (plan admin), Nahas ($15K/mo trustee ahead of unsecureds). CVR now $90M trigger + $3.5M guaranteed.

Pacha eyes June relaunch post-demo–but NYC DOB permits? Unrealistic timeline. Creditors wait. Transparency alarm sounded harsh.

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