Boston 168 (@boston_168_official) have always approached DJing and live performance from a hardware-first perspective, and that mindset carries directly into how they think about risk, structure, and crowd interaction. Built around analogue machines and live sequencing, their sets are less about precision in the traditional sense and more about control within unpredictability. That becomes especially relevant now, as club culture continues to shift under the influence of short-form content and constant documentation.
With the launch of their new label Your Acid Mate, the duo are doubling down on that identity. The imprint gives them a direct outlet to release music without compromise, while also creating space for artists like Titta, whose upcoming EP aligns with the same acid-focused, machine-driven approach. It positions the label as an extension of their performance philosophy, where experimentation, structure, and sound design all feed into each other.
In this conversation, Boston 168 break down how they navigate a culture shaped by phones and online visibility, what creative risk looks like in that environment, and why surprise still sits at the center of what they do.
Interview With Boston 168
Has the awareness that moments can travel beyond the room, through social media or iPhone filming in general, influenced how you shape a set?
Not in a direct way. We are aware that anything can end up online, but we do not build our sets with the camera in mind. For us, the priority is always the people in the room and the energy we create with them. If a moment works live, it will also translate through a screen, but that is never the starting point.
For us, a live performance is something human. Small mistakes can happen, and that is part of what makes it feel alive and less mechanical.
Do you think the current phone-based culture rewards precision more than experimentation?
In some ways, yes. Short-form content highlights immediate and impactful moments, so there is a push toward precision and clarity. At the same time, experimentation remains essential. It may not always be captured easily, but it is what gives depth and identity to a set over time.
A DJ set or live performance is not designed to be reduced to short clips. It is not always possible to capture the meaning of a full set in a short video. What matters is that the set is built in a coherent way. If it works as a whole, everything else becomes secondary.
With that in mind, what does creative risk look like for you today?
Creative risk means staying honest with what we feel, even if it goes against expectations. It can mean playing something more raw, more hypnotic, or less structured than what people anticipate. It is about avoiding fixed formulas, even when those formulas are effective.
When you play something unexpected, what determines whether you commit or pivot?
It depends on the crowd, but not in an obvious way. Sometimes people need time to process something new, so we do not change direction immediately. We try to read the room carefully. If there is curiosity or openness, we commit. If the energy drops too much, we adjust and move in another direction.
How do you maintain freshness in a culture that archives everything online?
By continuing to evolve. We are always searching for new sounds, new machines, and new ways of performing.
We recently launched our label, Your Acid Mate, to strengthen our identity while continuing to develop our sound. If the music connects, it will stay relevant beyond the moment. It needs to leave a clear impression.
What role does surprise still play when you’re DJing?
It plays a central role. Surprise keeps both us and the audience engaged. It can come from an unexpected track, a sudden shift in energy, or a small detail in the mix. Without that element, everything becomes predictable, and that is something we avoid.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
