[Release] Kaeno - Nefarious Things [The Vanishing Point Recordings]

Nefarious Things is a masterclass in storytelling through sound from one of Trance's heroes Deon Butler, aka. Kaeno. One of our friends here at the Church of Trance I had the chance to talk to him about his origins in Music back in 2024 [watch / listen / read], and now in 2025 he continues to innovate through his globally syndicated platform, The Vanishing Point Records.

Kaeno has always been the champion of the unsung voices of Trance and pioneers the future of underground music, and Nefarious Things is the stage where he weaves his own personal history, pioneers genre innovation, and embeds emotional resonance into a cohesive album, making this project stand out across both the trance and techno landscapes. Each track invites you not just to hear but to feel the journey, and the collaborations amplify the album’s emotional depth, genre fusion, and storytelling. Each partner brings a distinct flavor, helping Kaeno realize his vision of an album that’s as personal as it is universal.

Starting with the imagery of how his journey was conveyed thru the album cover Deon shared with us

The cover art reflects my older self looking back at the past. If you look into my right eye, you'll see a reflection of my younger self. The extended album cover will be a reverse reflection of my past self looking ahead to my future.

As we listen thru the album, it's exciting to hear from vocalists Olya Gram, Christine Ekeberg, and John Long each bring their unique vocal styles, adding emotional resonance and storytelling to the tracks. Deon shared with us

I wrote the lyrics for each vocal track and worked with the vocalist who sang on every track lyric for lyric. Nothing was edited out and they delivered raw emotions to my words.

At the same time, producers Nite Mrkt, Hiwater, Sean Truby, and Derek Ryan contribute their signature sounds to bring depth and dimension to the story Nefarious Things tells. But the album alone is not just about the sound or the style communicated with each track, but emotional ranges spanning from cinematic introspection (“Lost in Echoes”) to euphoric immersion (“Feel Alive”), showcasing Kaeno’s versatility 30+ years in the industry highlights while saying "I'm not afraid to blend genres and push boundaries." Deon shared with us how his storytelling takes root in his own #originstory :

Overtown, Liberty City, and Carol City form one continuous stretch (One track broken into 3 opuses). It represents the progression of Miami’s simple roots comparable to “Techno” evolving into what I saw as my epicenter, Carol City. Miami was rough in the 80s and 90s. I watched urban development and gentrification unfold and had to take 27th Ave from Carol City to Overtown just to reach art school. I saw everything shift, with those roads I traveled while listening to Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Deftone, Chemical Brothers, Goldie, KRS ONE, Kraftwerk, NIN, and other genres that shaped me and my sound.

Nefarious Things is crafted to be more than a dance album—it’s a story of transformation, resilience, and authenticity, inviting us to experience both the shadows and the light, feel the emotional arc and mood progression thru each melody, each note sang, and each bar orchestrated from the basslines to the synths to the high hats struck across the themes and emotions conveyed:

Dark Suspense → Nefarious Things
Anticipation → Shinkansen Dreams, Call My Name, Feel Alive
Immersion & Balance → Ratio, Miss Me
Rebellion & Roots → Flightpath, Marauders, Overtown, Liberty City
Humanity & Closure → Carol City

Looking holistically across Nefarious Things we can see each track’s emotional focus and elements as collaboration:

Track	Collaborator(s)	Theme/Emotion	Notable Elements/Contribution
Nefarious Things (Intro Mix)	—	Suspense, Emotion	Cinematic, atmospheric
Shinkansen Dreams (Tech Mix)	Nite Mrkt	Movement, Futurism	Progressive Tech, hypnotic, mechanical
Call My Name (Original Mix)	Hiwater, Olya Gram	Connection, Longing	Ethereal vocals, gritty bass
Feel Alive	Sean Truby	Immersion, Freedom	Hypnotic vocals, adrenaline, mantra
Lost in Echoes (Extended Mix)	Derek Ryan	Introspection, Darkness	Cinematic trance, textured sound
Ratio (Extended Mix)	—	Balance, Craftsmanship	Precision, power
Miss Me (Original Mix)	Christine Ekeberg	Vulnerability, Loss	Haunting vocals, stripped-back trance
Semper Fi (Extended Mix)	—	Loyalty, Courage	Militant rhythm, emotional storytelling
30 Seconds (Original Mix)	John Long	Tension, Anticipation	Rollercoaster energy, vocal storytelling
Flightpath	Sean Truby	Journey, Euphoria	Acid lines, futuristic trance, pulsing percussion
Marauders (Original Mix)	—	Rebellion, Chaos	Warehouse culture, raw bass
Overtown (Extended Mix)	—	Grit, Resilience	Tribal percussion, Miami homage
Liberty City (Extended Mix)	—	Freedom, Fire	Mainstage techno, euphoric drops
Carol City (Extended Mix)	—	Reflection, Humanity	Cinematic, soulful finale

Legend

Collaborator(s): Lists featured producers or vocalists. Tracks without collaborators are solo Kaeno productions.
Theme/Emotion: The central feeling or story each track conveys.
Notable Elements/Contribution: Highlights the unique sonic or creative features, including what each collaborator brings to the track.

But don't take my word for it - give it a spin, grab a copy to support this legend, and if you're a promoter, reach out for a booking to bring the legend to your city!