Seattle DJ Subset has Gone Missing [Update: He’s Safe!]

The last call, text, or data use from Subset was November 22, according to police.

Update December 4 at 6pm PT: Tonight, Diane Martinez, Mark Martinez’s sister, provided her latest update to the Facebook Group that had formed to help in the search to state that she has made contact with him and that he’s safe. “At the moment, this is all I am able to share, and I ask that you all respect Mark’s privacy regarding this matter,” she said before thanking the group that had swelled to 3,500 members for their search efforts, support, and respect.

Previously: A missing persons case has rattled the EDM community over the past few days. Subset, a DJ and producer based in Seattle, has apparently not had contact with anyone since Wednesday, November 22.

According to police phone logs his sister Diane says that she’s seen, that’s the last date of any data, calls or texts from his phone. It’s also when he missed a gig at Q Nightclub in Seattle. Subset (real name Mark Martinez) is scheduled to perform in Denver on December 2 and in Mexico on December 6. The organizer of the latter event has apparently tried to contact Mark about the gig to no avail.

Rumors had briefly spread on social media that Mark had been found. In Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) posts made on November 26, Diane said that police had told her that they still had yet to make contact with him, and to not trust anyone claiming otherwise.

Martinez came up in the NYC dance music scene, developing an often funky, always versatile style that began to earn him a growing following. After holding down a weekly party called BASSment Saturdays at Webster Hall, he became a fixture for DJ sets at gatherings like Camp Bisco, Holy Ship!, and Burning Man.

During the COVID pandemic, Mark added a vital dimension to his brand with a foray into livestream events. His series, The New 9-5, consisted of eight-hour digital events — not only featuring him, but other DJs as well as dancers and other kinds of artists. His housecat, Pocky, was even known to make an appearance from time to time.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mark Martinez, aka Subset, is encouraged to contact Diane Martinez at (210) 833-2461. EDM Identity hopes he turns up safe and sound very soon.

Mark Martinez aka Subset’s missing person’s search poster: