Stellar Mammals is the solo project of Venice Beach music producer Mark Koester. Music for energy, dance, focus, and chill.

It started in 2020, in the Venice canals during lockdown, as a software engineer's rabbit hole into modular synths. The early ambient experiments went out under the name DJ Mystikos. In 2022 the project became Stellar Mammals, and since then it has been roughly two albums a year: six records so far, written and produced mostly solo, then lifted by collaborators.

The catalog covers a full range. Early on it was ambient soundscapes and jazzy, energizing lofi for focus and flow. Along the way live players came in: Jacob Burgdorf on trumpet, Kris on co-production, and now vocals from LosA. The newest work moves onto the dancefloor, deep house with live horns. Whatever the tempo, it is companion music for whatever you are doing.

The through-line is flow. Show up daily, make songs, finish them, and trust that there is no wrong way to make a song, and endless right ways. Forever a beginner, always becoming, always moving forwards and towards.

For questions, collaboration, or production work, reach out at stellarmammals@gmail.com.

Selected writing

Mark writes about the craft of making and finishing creative work. A few favorites:

• Creative Principles for Music Makers: A Music Producer's Guide
• Finding Your Musical Flow: Lessons from a 30-Day Songwriting Challenge
• From Zero to Album: A Music Production Learning Journey
• Creative Organization: Streamlining the Creative Process with a Spreadsheet
• Tangible Artistic Creations: Why Creative Output Matters

More at markwk.com.

Timeline

• 2020
  The project begins in the Venice canals during lockdown, as DJ Mystikos. Modular synths, first tracks on SoundCloud.
• 2022
  Renamed Stellar Mammals. First album, Take Life Chill.

  
• 2023
  Symbolic Wonderlands and Cosmic Coastlines. Starts writing about the craft: a 30-day songwriting challenge and going from zero to album.

  
• 2024
  Stardust and Dreams and Chop Wood, Carry Water. Jacob Burgdorf (trumpet) and Kris (co-production) become core. Publishes Creative Principles for Music Makers.

  
• 2025
  Forwards & Towards. More danceable and guitar-forward.

  
• 2026
  The house pivot. Palm Tree Party, deep house with live trumpet and vocals. Single Frisbee Flow State out Aug 5, album Aug 27.