It is with a heavy heart and his hypnotic beats on repeat, that we discovered the tragic passing of DJ Ronen Dahan, known as Perplex.

Around 6 AM on Saturday, June 29th, the Israeli psytrance DJ and producer was playing a show in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, when gunmen opened fire on the nightclub, killing two and injuring four. It has been said that it is unlikely Dahan was the intended target. The motive is unclear but local sources believe the shooting to be linked to ongoing drug cartel violence in the country.

Dahan was believed to have been performing at the time of the shooting.

An Outpour of Support

According to his Facebook page, Dahan had been on a Mexican tour since mid-May, describing the country as one of his favourite places in the world, sharing his love for the culture and cuisine with his fans. His Mexican fan base returned the love with an outpour of support over these past few weeks.

The support continues to flood in from fans and fellow artists worldwide. Fellow DJ Faders reached out to fans to help raise funds to have Dahan’s body returned to his loved ones in Israel. The fundraising target has since been reached, demonstrating the strength and support of his community.

A Career to be Proud of

Throughout his ten-plus year career, Dahan released thirteen records under different aliases and embarked on many world tours. His ability to create high-energy melodies with bold basslines kept his crowds dancing for hours. His talents helped him emerge from the underground scene and celebrate worldwide success, collaborating with some of the biggest names out there.

He had more recently joined forces with DJ Daniel Zitrin, a.k.a. Minimize to form the duo, Pura Vida:

Gone Too Soon

Although Dahan captivated trance lovers worldwide, he had yet to come into fame in his home country of Israel. “He always wanted to come back to Israel and make it big playing his music here,” said his cousin Emily Ben Hamo.