Egg's blog

Crookers @ Egg Presents...15.03.13

2013-03-13T13:00:00.001Z

Crookers is the musical project of Italian DJ/producer, Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia.

Crookers was originally a duo consisting of Phra and fellow producer Bot, who worked together from 2003-2012. When the two artists met, both were trying to branch out of their genre and explore dance music. Their first collaboration worked. Phra said "It felt natural to team up, seeing that we had the same musical tastes... which isn't that easy here in Milan."

Bot took up the guitar at an early age, later moving onto synths, turntables and sequencers. Phra had already started DJing by age 11, when he was introduced to the Italian hip hop scene.

Their first international release was on Berlin's Man Recordings (Funk Mundial #3), for which Crookers contributed various remixes. The duo later released three EPs in 2008 (Knobbers, Mad Kidz and E.P.istola, all containing exclusive original tracks). Their debut album, Tons of Friends, was released in 2010.

Their collaboration with Kid Cudi entitled "Day'N'Nite" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 2 and is featured on the game Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

Crookers work with producer/remixer Sketch Iz Dead on many of their tracks.

In 2009 they DJed the in-game radio station ElectroChoc in the game Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, which is based around the nightclub scene of Liberty City. Also, the group gained significant attention as the closing song in the final GTAIV game ("The Ballad of Gay Tony") is "No Security".

In November 2010 the duo signed a deal with Interscope Records, and they released their new single "We Love Animals" under the label as their first single of their upcoming second studio album.

In May 2011, Crookers released their second album Dr Gonzo on iTunes and Beatport. The album features Savage Skulls, Neoteric, Wax Motif, His Majesty Andre, Lazy Ants ans Keith & Supabeatz and has been described as a return to their original style. A related EP titled The Gonzo Anthem was released on June 27, 2011.

Bot left the group in October 2012. Phra continues to use the Crookers name solo. "After having worked together for more than 8 years now, the time has arrived to start exploring different directions." Bot said.

Exciting times are yet to come and both can't wait to show what's in store for the future.

Catch him playing this Friday at Egg London!

Format: B @ Mistakes Music 16.03.13

2013-03-10T11:00:00.000Z

Format:B are Franziskus and Jakob. Jakob is a Berliner, from Kreuzberg to be exact. As all good parents do, his wanted him to play an instrument. After years of successfully dodging music lessons and his parents wishes, he finally at the subtle age of 15 decided that he desperately needed a bass guitar, which then through diligent practice manoeuvred him from hardcore bands to funk and jazz bands. But suddenly, there was a small problem: he liked Techno parties much better than rock concerts. So, as one does, he began buying the odd techno maxi here and there until one day little Jakob thought to himself: Why heck, I can do that too! So off he went and bought himself an overpriced Atari St40 and a cheap synthesizer, only to realize that oops those guys from Detroit really do know what theyre doing and that it wasnt that easy after all. Well, that is basically where Jacobs ambitiously planned out life suddenly took a screeching of the wheels turn in another direction.

Franziskus is from Erfurt, a small and rural part of Germanys quite rough and wild East, which didnt stop him from starting piano lessons at the innocent age of 6. His musical interests took him from the usual suspects like Michael Jackson and The Pet Shop Boys through to Hardcore (obviously not on the piano). But then one day, or night to be exact similar to Jakob, all was to suddenly change.. A fortuitous night out at the legendary E-Werk in 1993, made this young mans heartbeat skip from Chopin over to a 4/4 beat where it was to remain, probably forever. Three years later Franziskus took up residency at the infamous Sub ground Lighthouse After hour, resulting in numerous further bookings. The paths of these two young men crossed whilst they were both studying to be sound engineers. Seeing as all the other students in there year were long haired Metal heads it was only a matter of time until their paths crossed. So, after spending a few long Berlin party nights together they decided to see if they could start a project together. And so the story ends or better yet, begins with Format:B.

After they were banging numerous hit-singles like "Vivian Wheeler", "Edding 850" and many others, they decided to found there own label Formatik Records in August 2009. In addition to that, they build up a new studio in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg to work on their second Album called “Restless”. Meanwhile they catched up a lot of brilliant Techno artists like Sébastien Léger, Hugo and Super Flu to work with. Super Flu were remixing the track “Gospel” - an outstanding Club hit, which finally brought Formatik Records to the ears of the world. As a consequence of their great success, Jakob and Franziskus were “forced” to play live on the whole planet. So they toured to Australia, Asia, USA and discovered their biggest fan-base in South America. In Berlin they found the Watergate Club as the best place to celebrate their own label nights.

Catch Format: B playing at Egg London this Saturday, March 16th at Mistakes Music party!

Monika Kruse @ Heroes 09.03.13

2013-03-08T12:00:00.000Z

Monika Kruse was born 1971 in Berlin, but grew up in Bavaria’s capital Munich. Her passion and love for music came at the age of four when she started taking piano lessons. A love that would never leave her and that she expressed in these simple words: "Music just makes me happy.''

Monika started her DJ carrier 1991 in Munich while she was studying sociology and working for a well-known record label as a product manager. Funk, Hip Hop and House influenced her early DJ sets.

Monika’s great talent and sensible musical feeling to choose the best record at the right time and to create an amazing and fantastic party vibe brought her fast recognition and national bookings outside of Munich. In 1993 she became a member of the Ultraworld Crew.

The group organized Techno Parties and opened the legendary “Ultraschall" Club in Munich in 1994 – where Monika was resident DJ right from the start. In 1995 Monika produced her own events called “Housetram” in an abandon Munich streetcar. Around the same time she started touring international from Australia to New York and at nearly every place on the planet.

Aside from her DJ’ing, Monika began to create her own musical productions. She released her first track in 1996, before she meet her “partner in crime” Patrick Lindsey. With whom she shared a very successful collaboration with more than 2 artist albums, 14 single EP’s record releases and various remixes. After moving back to Berlin Monika formed two record companies: Terminals M and Electric Avenue Recordings. Two label imprints that offer a platform for well-known and unknown, young and creative artists and producers. On Terminal M - among one of the many great tunes - Monika Kruse’s most successful release so far: "Latin Lovers". A fusion of Latin grooves and electronic beats that reached the number #1 in Netherlands Dance Charts and hit the Top 20 the Spanish Sale Charts in 2003.

Apart from her busy DJ and producing schedule, in 2000 Monika founded the charity organization “No Historical Backspin”. A platform for Electronic Artists to spotlight a voice and make a stand against racism, intolerance and xenophobia. With more than 20 events produced, electronic musicians have donated their entire fees to the victim fund “Cura” of the Amadeu Antonio foundation, which helps and supports the victims of right and racist motivated violence.

Beside her seven DJ-mix albums – including Monika Kruse “On The Road Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4” Monika Kruse’s DJ-Schedule has taken her from Japan’s largest indoor Rave “Wire”, to the “Loveparade closing ceremony” in front of 1,5 million people.

Her national and international success is visible in various DJ Charts or magazines polls over the last couple of years. The more recent one in Germanys Raveline Magazine, where the readers voted Monika in the Top 4 of the national DJ Polls 2009.

Monika Kruse together with producer Gregor Tresher finished Monika´s first solo album “Changes of Perception" in spring last year. The album was released in September 2008 and was voted as Best Album of 2008 on number 2 in Germany´s Raveline Magazin.

In 2009 three remix EP ́s of "Changes of Perception" are being released on her label Terminal M. They contain Remixes from Heartthrob, Mark Broom, Broombeck, 2000 and One, Erman Erim and Luca Morris and had dropped in spring, summer and fall of 2009.

Catch her playing at Heroes this Saturday, 09.03.13!

Timo Maas @ ''Lifer'' Album Release Party, Fri 08.03.13

2013-03-05T13:15:00.002Z

2013 should be a vintage year for Timo Maas. Over the next 12 months, he’ll release his long awaited new artist album, Lifer, featuring Mikill Pane, Placebo’s Brian Molko, U.N.K.L.E’s James Lavelle, Katie Cruel and more; he’ll celebrate 10 years as a resident at DC10 in Ibiza; welcome new artists to his Rockets & Ponies imprint, help Cocoon commemorate their 100th release and continue to reinforce his reputation as one of German electronic music’s most colourful characters.

For a small town in Lower Saxony, Bückeburg punches well above its weight. It’s home to a helicopter museum. It was also where Bach spent the greater part of his life and where one can find the beautiful Bückeburg Palace, where Prince Alexander of Schaumburg-Lippe still lives. It is also the hometown of our hero Timo Maas, who is – somewhat unsurprisingly – buddies with the prince.

Has it really been 14 years since Maas’ music burnt itself indelibly on our synapses with the all-conquering remix of Azzido Da Bass’ ‘Doom’s Night’? Indeed it is. Or, as Timo chuckles: “The spot on the ass of my career!”

He is, of course, joking. The Maas remix made him an international DJ celebrity and propelled the track into the pop charts in both Germany and the UK, leading to remix offers from Madonna, Depeche Mode, Fatboy Slim, Muse, Kelis and many more. Maas and then studio partner Martin Buttrich had returned from the Miami conference in 1999 inspired. “We were so motivated, we started writing music off the back of these amazing memories and produced a string of things in quick succession, including ‘Doom’s Night’. A few months later all the UK garage guys picked up on it and then all the other stuff we’d done in that short burst of activity came out too. But with the success of this fucking record on the garage scene it blew up. This record changed everything!”

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Long before he charmed the pants of dancefloors worldwide, he was DJing back in his native Bückeburg and nearby Hannover from the age of 13. He’s been at it for over 30 years now. “I went from music lover and tape recorder to DJ for local occasions to DJing in local discotheques at 15,” he recalls. “By the age of 17 I was playing in clubs.”

Timo was present when the eruptions that created fissures in the club scene arrived. He recalls hearing ‘Pump Up The Volume’ for the first time: “When M/A/R/R/S came out it was the initial explosion. What the fuck is that sound?! Then I bought Phuture’s ‘Acid Tracks’ from my local store. What kind of trippy, weird stuff are these guys doing?” But many Germans were simply not ready for this brave new world. “Trying to play this sort of stuff in the clubs was difficult because the people didn’t understand it. They’d say play something from the charts, but don’t play this weird shit.”

As the German rave scene gradually extended is borders to include Hannover and its environs, Timo was one of the primary architects. Alongside raves, Maas held down a residency at a mixed night in the fantastically-named Men Factory.

“The gay scene was still musically very upfront then,” explains Timo. “At the time gay clubs were dark and mysterious and I was playing things like Underground Resistance, Steve Poindexter, some really cool stuff.” When DJ Gary D heard him play in Hannover one evening, he invited him over to The Tunnel in Hamburg, then one of Germany’s leading clubs. “I went to Hamburg and drank Jagermeister with him,” he quips. “And the week after I was a resident with him there.”

The first stamp in Timo’s DJ passport came in 1995, with his debut appearance at the Lakota club in Bristol. ““I sent my first record out with a mixtape to promoters and two came back and invited me to play, one of them was the Lakota,” he recalls. “I had a residency there for three years through Leon Alexander who later became my manager. I was playing regularly with people like System 7 and Carl Cox and in the back room it was drum and bass guys like Reprazent.”

If ‘Doom’s Night’ blew up the spot, then his solo albums – and we are now on his third – are where he’s forged a reputation for brave collaborative choices and cinematic sounds. Although Maas has been widely described as a purveyor of techno, tech house or a whole load of other genre prescriptions, the striking thing about his music is the effortless ease with which it morphs chameleon-like from one style to another. His latest album, for example, runs from the almost Beatles-esque raga of ‘Visions’, which features the sitar work of fellow German Torsten de Winkel – the pair having been introduced by our old friend Prince Alexander of Schaumburg-Lippe.

For those that have followed the trajectory of Maas’ albums, Lifer contains yet more wildly divergent collaborators, from Brighton chanteuse Katie Cruel (now signed to his own Rockets & Ponies label), who weighs in with the haunting ‘Articulation’, the gritty rap delivered by Mikill Pane on ‘Grown-Up’, through to Placebo singer Brian Molko’s contribution to ‘College 84’, while James Lavelle delivers a primo vocal on the dramatic ‘The Hunted’. “This is the only vocal outside of U.N.K.L.E. he has ever done,” says Timo. “So I feel quite honoured. Out of everything on the album, I think it’s probably the nearest in sound to the old Timo Maas material, especially around the time of the Loud album. We’d never met each until recently when we played at a festival together and we realised we were mutual fans of each other’s work. Originally the idea was to produce a track together. But after he’d sent me something, I just said, ‘You know, I’d really like you to sing.’ And I absolutely love what he’s done. It’s perfect.”

This eclectic approach makes for a great listening experience, yet Maas insists he has also found room in his extensive club sets to play many of the tracks from his album. “Well, I do play certain tracks off my album, in fact I’ve played many already,” says Timo. “But it’s not just dance music, it’s also a way of expressing myself more with my production partner, Santos. I’ve never only produced dance music. It’s only my third full artist album, but I’ve always done this. I don’t pay too much attention about anything fitting into a genre. I love so many different styles of music and I try and interpret them in my own way. This is how it comes out.”

One sure measure of Maas’ studio success has been the vast array of games, movies and TV shows that have looked to his music to provide soundbeds and the appropriate atmosphere. “Well, we work with great sync-licensing people, but with all the albums it’s been the same situation. They are all relatively timeless and they have this cinematic quality. This is what the new album has in common with the first two. And, as a gamer myself, sometimes in the studio, you do think, ‘Wow this bit would sound amazing on a racing game!’”

Yet it is still his club work that informs and drives much of the desire in the studio. “I come from DJing,” he asserts. “For me it’s the connection to the world outside. It’s where I can experiment, where I hear about things, it’s just so important to what I do. How can you have a feeling for clubs when you are not going to them?”

Indeed. In clubs, as in the studio, there’s only one way to describe Timo Maas: lifer.

Catch him playing this Friday 8th of March at his new album ''Lifer'' release party!

Cristian Varela @ Familia, Sat. 02.03.2013

2013-02-28T12:39:00.000Z

Celebrated as one of the planets best DJs, CRISTIAN VARELA is no stranger to winning awards collecting more than 25, as part of amazing career that´s spanned almost two decades. This includes Worlds Best Techno DJ (Ibiza International DJ Awards), Best DJ of the Year (Spain) and Best Techno DJ (Spain- 10 times), he´s also picked up awards for both his production and Labels.

Influenced by a special family of artists, whilst he is famed primary as a DJ, he has a broad musical background and is a classically trained pianist, he´s composed soundtracks for the National Theatre, Movies, Fashion shows and television.

Compiling a discography of over 150 productions and compositions for labels including Sony/BMG, Blanco & Negro (Spain), Intec (U.K.) Elephant House (USA), Pornographic Recordings (Spain), Donkey Head and Black Codes (Spain).

Remixer of talents like Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams", Michael Zager´s Band "Let´s All Chant", Split Second "Flesh", his productions and interviews have appeared in the most important specializing magazines, TV´s, radios and journals in the world.

With this Cristian´s long artistic life, discography and of course, his spectacular sets with 3/4 decks, along with his constants tours around the world from Japan to U.S.A, Europe, UKmakes him one of the most prestigious names in the electronic international scene. At the moment, Cristian Varela is one of the deejays Top in the electronics scene in the world.

AWARDS LIST

- Best DJ of Madrid 1996 (ATTTICA AWARDS)
- Best DJ of Madrid 1998 (DeeJay MAGAZINE)
- Best international album “New electronic audio/architectures” 2000 (DeeJay MAG.)
- Best international album “New electronic audio/architectures” 2000 (DJ1)
- Best DJ Techno 2000 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Production Techno 2001 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ of the year 2002 (DeeJay MAGAZINE)
- Best DJ of the year 2002 (DJ1)
- Best DJ Techno 2002 (DJ)
- Best Rmx “Electric deluxe” 2002 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Rmx “Electric deluxe” 2002 (DJ1)
- Best Mix Cd for sale “Salón de mezclas” 2002 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ Techno 2003 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Techno Track 2003 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Techno Club “Emotion” 2003 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Techno label “Pornographic Recordings” 2004 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ Techno 2004 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best Electronic label “Pornographic Recordings” 2005 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ Techno 2005 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ Techno-Minimal 2006 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best techno label Pornographic Recordings 2006 (DeeJay MAG)
- Best DJ of the year 2006 (DJ1)
- Best Minimal-Techno label “Pornographic Recordings” 2006 (DJ1)
- Best DJ Techno (DJ1)
- BEST DJ TECHNO OF THE WORLD(International Awards 2007)
- Best DJ Techno (DJMag 2007)
- Deejay of the year (DJ12007)
- Best DJ Techno (DJMag 2008)
- Best DJ Techno-Minimal (DJ 1 2008)
- BEST DJ OF THE YEAR (Deejaymags 2009)
- Best DJ Techno (Deejaymags 2009)
- Best DJ Techno (DJ1 2009)
- Best DJ Techno (Deejaymag 2010)
- Best Techno DJ (DJ Onners 2011)

He's playing this Saturday at Egg London's monthly event - Familia!

DJ Sneak @ X, Fri. 01.03.13

2013-02-24T15:43:00.000Z

In 1983, Carlos Sosa aka DJ Sneak, moved to the city of Chicago from The island of Puerto Rico, where his early musical experiences and Influences were rooted in salsa, meringue and famous Latin orchestras.

Chicago, like Puerto Rico, is a city rich with musical styles and sounds. It was in Chicago that Sneak found inspiration in underground house music, Warehouse parties and "old school" mix tapes from the early pioneers - Farley Jackmaster Funk, Ralphi Rosario, Steve Hurley and local radio station shows played on WBMX.

Sneak earned his nickname rocking designs in the graffiti tagging days and began working at retail stores as an airbrush artist, not long after he cultured the music industry world and began recording his first releases. While at retail stores Sneak developed his DJing skills around the city working regular mobile DJ jobs and local nightclubs. In an already saturated DJ pool, sneak focused on music production and started an independent label - Defiant Records.

In 1992, using the fundamental studio pieces, Sneak began recording tracks with an unusual new style. In 1994, while still working at local store Gramophone Records sneak met Cajmere (green velvet) owner of Cajual and Relief Records. Cajmere released some of sneak's pivotal tracks and helped bring international recognition, with it, a global DJing career.

In 1995, sneak's new sound revolutionized house music with inspirational sounds and rhythms never heard. The disco filtered house grooves became sneak's signature sound. Innovator to many, sneak's love for music spawned current talents such as Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden. In 1996, Dj Sneak's" You can't hide from your bud" on Derrick Carter's Classic Recordings turn out to be something of a masterpiece, setting a blueprint for many subsequent 'filtered disco'tracks and preceding the wave of funky, disco-influenced house that would prove the massive popularity of Chicago underground music.

From 1996 through the present day DJ Sneak is also a veteran on the remix world, with highly expected remixes that drive dance floors across the globe to ecstatic conditions by means of his intense beats and rhythms.

After years of development, DJ Sneak is a familiar name across the world's club circuit rocking down the best venues and events. A frequent visitor of Ibiza -the Island of spiritual parties and the Mecca of dance music culture, sneak has played a part in many of events involving the best production teams from England; Ministry of Sound, Cream, Manumission, Miss Money penny's to mention a few.

A favorite in the United Kingdom's summer festivals for example Homelands, Creamfiels, 'T' in the park in Scotland, Sneak has no mercy on the sound systems and on the scale of exiting DJs to grasp he remains part of the top 100 DJs of the world for 5 consecutive years. Recognized as the disco filter innovator his musical style is diverse from furious banging' Chicago tracks and Latin tribal beats to disco filtered reworks of retro classics with melodic rhythms that suit your soul.

At present times DJ Sneak is focused on his booking agency "All World Entertainment" where he represents fellow Chicago talents Mark Farina, DJ Heather, J-dub, with a sub division of Canadian talents DJ Gryphon and DJ Jason Hodges.

In 2001 Sneak will be launching a new record label 'Magnetic Recordings" where he's releasing all new music, compilations as well as introducing new talents and continue preaching the sound of Chicago House Music. The future bring about new light to DJ Sneak' journey focusing on the development and evolution of electronic music's struggle to be acknowledged as the sound of tomorrow.

Catch him playing at Egg London - X, this Friday!

Ewan Pearson @ Layo & Bushwacka! Miami Send Off, Sat. 23.02

2013-02-20T11:00:00.000Z

Ewan Pearson has been making records since 1995. He has recorded as Maas for Soma, releasing six singles and an album, ʻLatitudeʼ, and under a number of other guises including World of Apples and, currently, Partial Arts for Cologne’s legendary Kompakt label. His remixes for the likes of Depeche Mode, Chemical Brothers, Seelenluft, Cortney Tidwell, Junior Boys and Metronomy are considered classics of the form and have been compiled on ‘Small Change’ (Soma, 2001) and 2007’s !K7 2CD retrospective ‘Piece Work’. His production credits include Delphic’s ‘Acolyte’, Tracey Thorn’s solo albums ‘Out Of The Woods’ and ‘Love And Its Opposite’, The Rapture’s ‘Pieces of the People We Love’ and M83’s ‘Saturdays=Youth’.

A published academic and lecturer at the tender age of 27 (‘Discographies: dance music, culture and the politics of sound’ (Routledge, 1999) with Jeremy Gilbert), Ewan writes a regular column for Germany’s ‘Groove’ magazine and his ‘Enthusiasm’ blogs send readers hot-footed to record stores in their droves. As a DJ Ewan’s no slouch either. He has been responsible for three acclaimed mix CDs – SciFiHiFi Vol.1 for Soma, fabric 35 and last year’s ‘We Are Proud Of Our Choices’ for Kompakt. A regular at clubs from We Love Space to Panoramabar and a resident at Robert Johnson and The Loft, his sets – like the rest of his career – defy easy categorisation, marrying the independent and the underground with a pop sensibility that’s all his own.

In the last nine months Ewan has returned to remixing with a vengeance, completing work for October, Escort, Remain, Chapel Club, Crosstown Rebels, Visionquest and Erol Alkan. The first track from a new project ‘Bhutan Tiger Rescue’ (with Julian ‘October’ Smith) is featured on Kompakt's Pop Ambient 2011 compilation. He has also produced a new single for Oxford’s Trophy Wife and mixed Flowers and Sea Creatures' debut album for Buzzin’ Fly.

Catch him playing at Layo & Bushwacka! Miami Send Off this Saturday - 23rd of February.

Pirupa @ Circus, Friday 22.02

2013-02-17T11:00:00.000Z

What Pirupa has accomplished in 2 years is astounding and this is just the tip of the iceberg, making him one of the producers and DJs you have to watch.

A talented DJ/producer from Italy, Pirupa has recently separated himself from the pack of successful producers by topping beatport's charts with his last releases. Now with two of the most downloaded tracks on Beatport "Sweet Devil" in 2009 and "Get Funky" in 2010, the sky's the limit for this relentless talent from the small peninsula.

Signed to impressive (well known) dance record labels in the world (Defected, Cècille, Viva Music, Saved, Noir Music, Audio Therapy, Rebirth, Cr2, Snatch! Records, Suara, Stereo and Size Records) Pirupa has recently remixed Sharam and the legendary Jamiroquai for Universal, more than Westboy, Riva Starr, NiCe7, Luca Agnelli, Pitto and Marascia among others.

Pirupa has accomplished this in a short period of time, building a reputation that takes most artists a lifetime to achieve. A feat like this can cause some people to sit back, relax, and acknowledge their own success but this has only caused Pirupa to work harder with new hot releases!

His success in the studio led to rank at #11 in the Top100 Most Charted Artists of 2010 on Resident Advisor and has landed Pirupa gigs at some of the most prestigious clubs in the world, gracing the decks of many leading venues...

...and festivals like:

Sonar (Barcelona), Kazantip (Ukraina) and Surround Festival.

He has played alongside legends such as Pete Tong, Steve Lawler, Dj Vibe, Chus&Ceballos, Paul Woolford, Sander Kleinenberg, Nick Curly, Smokin Jo and many more.

Pirupa’s tracks are regularly supported and played by Pete Tong, Luciano, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Paul Van Dyk, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Danny Tenaglia, Dubfire, Nick Curly, Erick Morillo, Mathias Tanzmann, Steve Lawler, Nic Fanciulli, James Zabiela, Steve Angello, David Guetta, Mark Knight, Riva Starr to name a few.

Catch him playing at Circus Ldn - this Friday - 22nd of February!

Mark Farina @ Supernova 16.02.2013

2013-02-10T10:00:00.000Z

Shortly after Mark befriended Derrick Carter in 1988 at a record store in Chicago, his passion for House music, and sharing it with the world, exploded. Mark experimented with a deeper style, dropping De La Soul, disco classics and other stuff that wasn’t being played in the main rooms of nightclubs. While exploring his love for the purist forms of House Music, Mark developed his trademark style:Mushroom Jazz; acid jazz infused with the West Coast’s jazzy, organic productions along with urban beats.

Fans embraced Mark’s downtempo style so much that he started a weekly Mushroom Jazz club night in San Francisco with Patty Ryan. In 3 short years, the club established a fanatical, cult-like following for Farina and the Mushroom Jazz sound.

When the doors closed, Farina continued the tradition by releasing a series of Cds, “Mushroom Jazz”. Since then, Mark has been traveling the globe performing 100s of shows, to over one million club goers, a year. His House sets take fans on journeys to the jazzy side of Chicago House mixed San Fran style. Some of these sets have been known to last up to 8 hours. And sometimes you’ll find Mark playing in two different rooms at the same party, showcasing his range of rocking the big room sound to the uber-chill.

Farina’s taste making skills continue to turn the heads of crowds worldwide and consistently draw new fans to his style of chunky–funky rhythms and deep underground house. URB, MUZIK and BPM Magazines have all had him on their Top DJ’s In The World lists.

Catch him playing at Supernova 2013 opening party on Saturday, 16th of February.

Christian Smith @ Heroes, Sat. 09.02.2013

2013-02-07T17:37:00.002Z

Christian Smith has been at the top of his game as a DJ and producer for over a decade, but despite enjoying a global reputation as one of the most evergreen performers in his field, times have never been quite as good as they are right now. Born in Sweden, Christian spent much of his youth and early adult life in Germany and America. This exposure to different cultures gave Christian a broader outlook than most 30-somethings, even for a well-travelled DJ more familiar with Star Alliance lounges than home comforts. This open-minded outlook comes through loud and clear in the music he makes and plays. While his roots lie in techno, Christian has never been a purist; favouring instead to flavour the tough, rhythmical music he loves with heavy doses of funk or intersperse the raw energy of his sets with inspired moments of pure euphoria.

2009 has been quite a ride so far, and the signs are all there that this year will be Christian Smith’s busiest to date. Having recently relocated to Sao Paulo, Brazil from Spain, it would have been easy to lose touch with the scene’s beating pulse in Europe. Not so for the man whose recent production schedule reads like a discography wish list. Christian Smith & John Selway’s “Total Departure” on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label was one of the tunes if 2008. This was followed by three singles for John Digweed’s Bedrock label which were all a massive success in the clubs and retail stores, as were his releases on Dubfire’s Sci+Tec label, Renaissance, and Steve Lawler’s Viva imprint. The Smith & Selway remix of the Kevin Saunderson classic “Rock To The Beat” was another massive success in Ibiza, and there were other superb remixes for Valentino Kanzyani’s Jesus Loves You, Nic Fanciulli’s Saved and Dieb Audio. The end result – over 30,000 downloads on Beatport in 2008.

The second half of 2009 will be dominated by the first in a trilogy of mix compilations for legendary clubbing brand, Renaissance. The release of Christian Smith – Platform in September will put Christian on a footing with other Renaissance acts Sander Kleinenberg, Hernan Cattaneo, James Zabiela and Steve Lawler and provide the continuity for a mammoth 30+ date world tour that will stop off at parties across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America over the coming months. As a DJ, Christian plays everything between house and techno. Never one for a purist approach, he simply believes that people go out to party. The secret is in the energy that he creates, as witnessed in 2008 at Wire Festival, Tokyo; Brazil’s Skol Beats Festival; Awakenings Festival, Amsterdam (featuring a Smith & Selway live show), Space, Ibiza (with Carl Cox), Ministry Of Sound, London (with Pete Tong); and Fabric’s new uber-cool, Matter alongside John Digweed and James Zabiela.

Honoured as Carl Cox’s “Hero of 2008” and with the success of his productions breeding a renewed energy for studio time, the natural next step was for Christian to re-launch his Tronic label. Kicking off in January with a re-release of the Smith & Selway’s classic “Move!” including chart topping remix from Steve Angello, the label has progressed at a pace to place Christian back at the centre of underground music. Featuring tracks from Umek, Mark Broom, Stryke, Fergie and Psycatron, Tronic has resurfaced with a bang and looks set to track Christian’s personal upward trajectory. Look out for future singles from cutting edge producers including Steve Mac, Ramon Tapia, Jim Rivers and Anton Pieete. With massive crossover support for his music from DJ's across the house and techno spectrum the future looks very certain for Christian Smith. Proof if it was needed that it is possible to reinvent your sound and maintain a position at the very top within the vanguard of electronic music.

Catch him playing at HEROES this Saturday, February the 9th.

Felix Da Housecat @ Egg presents...Friday 08.02

2013-02-03T10:00:00.000Z

A name as synonymous with House music as it is with being the moniker of one of the greatest innovators of the current Electro sound.

Atlanta based, Chicago born Felix da Housecat's breakthrough 2001 album, Kittenz and thee Glitz, took the dance music world by storm as his collaborations with the now infamous Miss Kittin on "Silver Screen" and "Madame Hollywood" and "What Does it Feel Like" spawned a synth club revival.

Felix Da Housecat has music in his veins and the world has recognized this with two Grammy Award nominations for the legendary DJ/Producer.

Felix has had multiple worldwide club hits including ‘Silver Screen (Shower Scene)’ (also a top 40 hit on the UK pop charts), ‘Elvi$’, ‘Kickdrum’, ‘Madame Hollywood’, ‘Thee Anthem’, ‘Something For Porno’, ‘Jack U’ with P. Diddy , ‘Tweak’, ‘What Does It Feel Like’ and ‘Phantasy Girl’.

Felix’s full length artist albums such as ‘Kittenz & Thee Glitz’, ‘Virgo Blaktro & The Neon Disco’,‘Son Of Analog’,‘Thee Industry Made Me Do it’, and ‘Alone In The Dark’ have seen similar world wide chart and dancefloor success.

Felix has lent his creativity to compilations for Global Underground, Bugged Out!, Defected.

Along the way, Felix gained mainstream press acceptance and has been heralded by Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine as one of the most creative artists in music today. This solid reputation as a musician who consistently delivers has led Felix to remix for platinum artists such as Madonna, Marilyn Manson, Will.I.Am Kylie Minogue as well as the very intriguing “Lectro Black” alias which features the one and only, P.Diddy.

“Da Housecat” has headlined clubs on every continent, festivals and special events around the world as a DJ.

2011 has seen Felix work on a new compilation with Pete Tong entitled “All Gone Ibiza ‘11”.

Catch him playing at Egg presents... this Friday 8th of February!

Jennifer Cardini @ Familia, 02.02

2013-01-31T16:07:00.001Z

For more than 15 years, Jennifer Cardini has been working the European electronic dance music circuit. Her early influences came from Detroit, Chicago, and Cologne, which led her to play primarily house music in the late ‘90s at clubs in France; but time and experience allowed her style to develop into the more experimental techno sets she’s known for today.

After her move to Paris in 1998, Cardini ultimately became one of the first of a generation of French DJ’s to play the stripped-down Berlin sound that would eventually settle into a distinctive movement in electronic music – ‘minimal’ even before that genre term became popular.

In Paris, she quickly became a resident at two of the most influential venues at the time - Le Pulp, which turned into the underground hot spot for avante-garde music, and Rex Club, which continues to be the site of her groundbreaking “Correspondant” parties. It has been at these shows that her skill and passion for music became fully realized, and where she earned her reputation as an icon in electronic music culture.

Over the course of her career, Cardini has continued to work hard and constantly improve, landing her regular appearances at elite venues like Fabric in London, Womb in Tokyo, and Tresor and Panorama Bar in Berlin. Cardini also reached a major milestone in 2008, becoming the first female French artist to sign with Kompakt, with the release of her compilation, Feeling Strange.

In addition to her DJ work, Cardini’s productions have also been successfully on target, right from her first acid house 12-inch on Pumpking Records in 1996, all the way through her latest EP on Crosstown Rebels. These carefully crafted tracks have been slowly released over the years, but they have landed solidly on techno powerhouse labels like Mobilee and Kill the DJ. Most recently, Cardini has been spending more time continuing her production efforts, focusing on her current solo projects. She is also starting her own label, Correspondant, as an outlet for her musical vision.

Catch her playing at Familia this Saturday at Egg London!

Todd Terry @ X - Friday 01.02

2013-01-27T10:00:00.000Z

Grammy Award nominated DJ/Producer Todd Terry has been engulfed in dance music since he first started listening to European dance music records while growing up in Brooklyn. Already devoted to turntables, he heard something different in those tracks, and he “went for the difference". "I never got a break in New York, but England happened right away, so I catered to them.” In any event, the Todd Terry sound was born.

By 1988, Todd Terry hit big in England and Europe, and his notoriety was making its way back to the U.S. In addition to DJ appearances, Todd was cutting his classic underground tracks A Day In The Life, Weekend, and Can You Party, released under monikers such as the Todd Terry Project, House Of Gypsies, and Royal House, all considered essential and ground breaking. In the mid 90’s, the Ministry of Sound’s eponymous UK label released A Day In The Life, a collection of Todd Terry tracks that had been causing dance floor panic. That then led the way to a deal with Mercury Records allowing him to set up a context in which to work with his favorite singers and performers. The first release, Keep On Jumpin’ on featured a vocal workout from super-divas Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown, together for the first time ever. The song became a top 10 UK crossover pop hit and worldwide smash. Todd followed with the anthem ‘Something Going On’, a top 5 UK crossover pop hit. All the while, Todd continued to break new ground as a Producer/Remixer. From SNAP to Annie Lennox to George Michael to Bjork, Todd’s mixes bridge the ground between club cool and commercial accessibility.

In 1995, his remix for Everything But The Girl’s Missing became a worldwide smash, giving the British duo their first ever hit. He then rode the charts with mixes for Garbage (Stupid Girl), The Cardigans (Love Fool), Everything But The Girl (Wrong), 10,000 Maniacs (More Than This), Jamiroquai (Alright), The Cardigans (Been It), and The Lightning Seeds (You Showed Me),.among others. He also produced a Robin S track (Givin’ You All That I’ve Got) for the multi-platinum Space Jam soundtrack. INK/Distinctive Records 2005 release The Todd Terry Trilogy: Past, Present & Future on 3 x CD & 10 x 12” vinyl has inspired Todd fans both old and new with over 30 Todd classics and 10 new Todd songs.

Todd is also releasing a barrage of new singles on Blanco y Negro, Elementary Group, and Manifesto/Mercury (who are also re-releasing the ‘Keep On Jumpin’ and ‘Something Going On’ in 2006). Ministry of Sound has licensed Philippe B Vs. Todd Terry ‘Can You Feel It (Can You Party)’ for a major 2006 release, a new version of the Todd classic Royal House ‘Can You Party’. Todd Terry All Stars feat. Kenny Dope, DJ Sneak, Terry Hunter, & Tara McDonald’s ‘Get Down’ will be released in 2007 on Strictly Rhythm. This red hot single is the first proper original release on the re-launched legendary label. ‘Strictly Todd Terry’ compilation mixed by Todd Terry will be released in 2007 on Strictly Rhythm. Todd’s mix follows installments by Masters at Work and Tiefschwarz in this newly launched series. Todd is one of the world’s most celebrated figures in dance music. With almost two decades of dance floor domination under Todd’s belt the quality of his productions goes from strength to strength. Welcome to the church of house music presided over by Todd the God. Are you a believer?

Catch him playing at X on Friday, February 1st.

UMEK @ Fact Ldn 26.01

2013-01-23T12:00:00.000Z

It would take a long essay to fully explain UMEK’s meaning to electronic music. The Slovenian born producer and DJ has been setting trends and rocking dance floors for two decades now -- and still shows no signs of slowing down. He’s tireless in his techno and tech house production and with more than 100 gigs per year, probably one of the busiest techno DJs out there.

He’s not only been rocking our ears with his own productions for labels like Toolroom, Spinnin, Great Stuff, Intec and many more, but has also been heavily involved in choosing who to sign to his arty imprint 1605, which mostly supports young and talented artists who haven’t yet made it on the global party scene.

Having conquered most of world’s biggest stages and festivals, UMEK started his own weekly radio show “Behind the Iron Curtain,” which immediately landed on dozens of the world’s hippest EDM radio stations.

Although he probably holds a national record for the number of flights per year, UMEK still finds time for charity. Every August he hosts a charity event called “Party with a Cause,” where local sponsors help raise money for a certain cause, mostly to help underprivileged youth.

UMEK is playing this Saturday , January 26th at Egg London at Fact 2013 Opening: 1605 Tour.

DJ W!ld @ Circus Ldn Fri. 25.01

2013-01-20T10:00:00.000Z

Deep, dark, acid, sexy house music has always been closest to the heart of DJ W!LD. For many, the recent rise of DJ W!LD - the Circo Loco residency, the WMC and Sonar debuts, the joining of Cocoon’s world-renowned roster - has him pegged as one of the most exciting new talents on the scene. To those in the know, the accolades are simply long-overdue recognition for one of France’s long-serving underground house heroes. No matter your perspective, the truth is undeniable: DJ W!LD is one of the most deserving breakthrough acts of recent years.

DJ W!LD’s journey began at the end of the 1980s in Dijon, France, via a keen interest in graffiti street culture, disco, funk and hip hop. With a DJ moniker chosen in tribute to the cult 1983 film Wild Style, DJ W!LD’s formative influence was Laurent Garnier; it was Garnier’s unique and all-encompassing style that encouraged DJ W!LD to develop his own perspective on the music emanating from Detroit and Chicago. DJ W!LD relocated to Paris in 1996, where he gravitated towards the DJ booth, playing at popular Parisian clubs Palace, Queen, Rex, and collaborating with Peter Rauhofer as House Heroes, on the international hit "Magic Orgasm".

As the growing popularity of ‘French Touch’ filtered house in the late 1990s drew more and more attention to Parisian producers, DJ W!LD opted to not hustle for his moment in the spotlight; he instead poured his energies into the city’s underground club community, during the time of the harshest censorship and government policies. Soon afterwards, disillusioned by Paris’ increasingly commercial club landscape, DJ W!LD began to focus his attentions abroad. He was a regular guest DJ in New York, including a memorable set for nightclub institution Twilo, and from there he ventured further south. In Brazil he attended huge parties with more than 10,000 ecstatic revellers, and he was awestruck by both the scale of the crowds and by their level of enthusiasm for the most eclectic and unpredictable DJ sets. With his faith restored, DJ W!LD returned to Europe and began a residency with Brussels leading tastemaker club Fuse.

At the turn of the millennium, DJ W!LD crossed paths with Chris Carrier and Guillaume La Tortue, and their collaborative EP Carnaval/Comestible soon followed. From there, DJ W!LD’s longtime associations with the fashion world led to him composing music and soundtracks for legendary designers such as Thierry Mugler, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Agnes B and Ora Ito, but it was 2005 that proved to be the major turning point, reconciling his much-loved DJ style with a floor-focused production approach. The music of Catwash, the duo made up of Chris Carrier and DJ W!LD, became an instant favourite of DJs around the globe, with tracks finding their way into the sets of Andrew Weatherall, Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin and Josh Wink, and licensed on Detour, Visitor, Crack & Speed and Get Physical.

DJ W!LD established his own solo imprint Catwash Records soon afterwards, but being marginalised by the growing dancefloor demand for electro and minimal fueled a desire to get back into the studio, and sparked a period of intense productivity which saw him completing a new track every one or two days. Many of these productions were courted and released by leading labels Off, Robsoul, Motivbank, Love Letters from Oslo and RAL, the bootleg label created by Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. In 2009 DJ W!LD was announced as the new resident DJ for DC10’s Circo Loco, and the following year he made his debut at WMC and Sonar Festival. Not long afterwards, Sven Väth invited DJ W!LD to join the Cocoon family, and he went on to show-stopping debut sets in Japan with Circoloco, and at London's Fabric club and Berlin's Panorama Bar.

DJ W!LD’s upward trajectory continued though 2011, with the launch of his new label, W, numerous EPs for Luna Records, Magnetic, Adult Only and Soweso, and the release of his acclaimed debut album Palace, which offered a glimpse of acid house, techno, disco and soul through DJ W!LD’s eyes. Heading into 2012, the momentum is showing no signs of slowing: the forthcoming Palace remixes have drawn on the talents of DJ Sneak, Kerri Chandler, Art Department, Radio Slave, Jay Haze, Chris Carrier, SIS and Gauthier DM, his own productions and remixes will be soon be seen on hot labels like Robsoul, One Records and Viva, plus DJ W!LD’s forthcoming sophomore album D!rty, for Cabin Fever Records, will reveal another layer of his sound; one that harnesses the spirit of his energetic DJ sets, and stays true to the spirit of classic house with a view to future-forward dancefloor sounds.

DJ W!LD is now a regular fixture of it all: the best international clubs and festivals, the leading labels, the hottest remixes and the sought-after DJ mixes, the press, the hype and the underground chatter. Yet through it all, and into the future the spirit that drives him will remain the same: deep, dark, acid, a little bit w!ld and always sexy music.

Catch him playing at CIRCUS LDN on Friday, 25th of January

Alex Neri @ La Dolce Vita Sat. 19.01

2013-01-18T13:21:00.000Z

Alex Neri kicked off his career at a very young age, when his first taste into the music scene saw him DJing at various clubs in Tuscany, Italy. These were the years of the “new wave” / “electro funk” / “garage” / “house” of the 90s, and Alex quickly became well known across the leading clubs across the globe.

Alongside his DJing successes, he united efforts with his business partner Marco Baroni to form the production brand Kamasutra, with releases that were felt on a global scale.

In 1999 Planet Funk were born, and with their first single “Chase the Sun” they emerged at the top of global charts, and subsequently various albums and singles of equal success and industry acclaim. The band has since released a total of 3 albums and a Best Of (2009), and is currently releasing their fourth Album “The Great Shake” in September 2011.

Alex Neri has collaborated with the notable Tenax Club in Florence in starting the record label “Tenax Recordings”, acclaimed both by the public and the industry. The first single, “Houstrack”, released in 2004, won the Siae prize for most sold album for an independent label.

Tenax Recordings has showcased a myriad of well known DJs and Italian producers: Federico Grazzini, Ilario Alicante, Luca Bacchetti, Minimono, Federico Locchi, Sonothèque and many more.

And while Alex continues to produce, he also works on various remixing projects for many international and local artists.

At the very core, Alex’s passion remains the club, where he can best express his pure love of music.

Always innovative, his DJ sets are a fantastic marriage between experimental sounds and the best of house hitting dancefloors today.

Catch him playing at La Dolce Vita 2013 opening on Saturday, 19th of January.

Kabale und Liebe @ Unlock Launch Party 18.01

2013-01-13T10:00:00.000Z

While Amsterdam is rising to fame as a hotbed for young techno talent, one of its greatest new ambassadors is gaining grounds accordingly. Not only has Kabale und Liebe – amongst other smashing releases – produced one of the greatest clubhits of the decade. He is currently sweeping dancefloors across Europe with his compelling live and dj performances. Blending the old with the new and the minimalistic with the soulful, Kabale und Liebe has created a sound that appeals to technofreaks and househeads alike, his growing popularity marking a new era of approach between the two scenes.

Kabale und Liebe – or Liron van Daalen, as his parents dubbed him – is exemplary of a new school generation, that studied electronic music and production techniques since early childhood, reaching musical adolescence in their teens. At the tender age of twelve, Kabale und Liebe already dreamed of being a professional dj, spending most of his time and all of his allowance on gear and vinyl. During his teens, he played frequently at clubs across the Netherlands. When he debuted as a producer at age twenty-three, he already had the experience and the record collection of a seasoned jock, and a musical taste as ripe as a piece of old Dutch cheese.

Only a year after his first releases on Meerestief and Archipel, Kabale und Liebe had his first big hit with Mumbling Yeah. It shot up the charts in 2007. Resident Advisor even voted Mumbling Yeah ‘track of the year’. That same year Kabale und Liebe joined forces with Quazar, Lauhaus, Boris Werner, Julien Chaptal and David Labeij to bring Amsterdam 661, a super group live formation made up of Holland's finest, bringing a unique and captivating live jam session on six machines, but with only one aim: to thoroughly rock the crowd. In the meantime, Amsterdam 661 has rocked some of the best dancefloors in Europe. As for Kabale und Liebe, his feel for the dancefloor has kept him internationally in demand as a live-act and a dj.

Since 2007 Kabale und Liebe has found himself amidst a whirlwind of international media attention, festival bookings and remix requests. Signed to Remote Area and 100 % Pure, he became the bright new star of Amsterdam’s thriving New School scene. Quite the pressure for a guy in his mid twenties. But he has kept his head straight and proven to be much more than just a one-hit wonder. Tracks like Makake (2008), Miami Nice (2008), and his latest, Hotpants (2009), all show a profound mastery of the studio, a deep understanding of the dancefloor and a knack for catchy tunes. Not to mention the growing list of ace remixes for labels like Strictly Rhythm, Rush Hour, Great Stuff and Tenax Recordings.

To further express their musical vision, Kabale und Liebe and fellow-New Schooler Lauhaus decided to set up Soweso. The label is meant to cater for upcoming artists in the rapidly growing house-techno crossover scene. Local talents like Makam and Tom Ruijg as well as established names as Chris Carrier, Ray Okpara and DJ Wild are already signed, with the label bosses providing the occasional remix. “It’s not so much about pushing ourselves forward,” Kabale explains. “Our main objective is to support the music we believe in, and to add something substantial to the world of electronic music.” Something Kabale und Liebe has been doing quite convincingly for the last three years and will continue doing for as long as he can help it.

Catch Kabale und Liebe at Unlock Launch Party on Friday 18th of January!

Riva Starr @ Heroes 12.01

2013-01-09T18:00:00.000Z

Driven from his Italian motherland by a compelling desire to reinvent, innovate (?) and progress (!), Riva has made London his home since 2008: A breath of freedom and fresh beats that allowed to him to wear his inspirations proudly beyond the sleeve and deep, deep, deep into the groove.

A Neapolitan cultural exile with a degree in Chinese literature; a passionate family guy who still manages to juggle a DJ schedule of over 200 international gigs a year, a label and production duties. How can you pigeonhole a man who never sits still?

From the dolce vita to Dalston, the Big Smoke’s open eared community and exciting cauldron of influences finally allowed him to truly make the records he wanted to make. In the past he’d produced house, techno, breakbeat, electro, pop, folk and everything in between. Here was the city where he could bring them together.

As the very name of his own label Snatch suggests, Riva’s unpredictable “Magic Hat” selection keeps both him and us listeners on our toes. It’s kept him relevant, but more importantly, it’s kept him alive and kicking…

To Riva, though, he’s just doing his job, hoping to pick up new friends along the way......Read more.

Check interview from Riva Starr

What can party people expect from your set, styles and sounds at the 1st Heroes party of 2013 ?

Riva Starr: I'm gonna go deeep into the bass, planning to play a very long and trippy set.

Do you have any secret weapons you can share with us ?

Riva Starr: Got plenty of new wicked material from my new album and my label SNATCH!, lots of good stuff on the pipeline!

Can you tell us what's new for the new year in terms of productions, remixes, projects etc etc ?

Riva Starr: Well my first album single ABSENCE will be released on Feb the 14th.. the video is amazing as well and it will come with a club mix… plus I've just finished a couple of remixes for SNATCH and a few collaborations with Roots Manuva, Horace Andy, Dj Sneak and a follow up to Get Naked with Fatboy Slim and Beardyman...

Any New Year's resolutions? and do you think you'll stick them out?

Riva Starr: I never tell myself any resolution cause I know I'll never stick them out!

How does playing in London, especially Heroes @ Egg, compare to other cities or countries, and do you count London as one of your favourite spots?

Riva Starr: London has always been more of my fave spots that's why I moved here back in the days, the good thing of London is that I can experiment with my style drawing influences from different styles and making it original in my own way… I always have fun at the Egg, people is really open minded so really looking forward to play @ Heroes

How does it feel to have been working in House music for the last ... years or and what are you proudest moments/memories ?

Riva Starr: Feel proud and lucky, house music is such an open laboratory and for me it's crucial too be able to experiment and try things out of the usual rules… it contributes to keep it fresh for me… never get bored.. or if I ever get bored I can just try different recepies and make it fresh back again!

How do you manage to keep it fresh, new and vital? Is it a case of pressure as a DJ/Producer to always be one step ahead in the house/techno scene?

Riva Starr: For me it's not a pressure thing is more of a needing, I can't keep on doing the same stuff for too long.. as we need fresh air to breath I need fresh ideas and sounds to keep on djing and producing… I feel bad and bored when things get tedious… so go back to the studio and mix cards again.

Recording & Producing must keep you busy. Do you have your own label and is there anyone or track that you’re particularly proud of any and are you psyched about any new stuff upcoming?

Riva Starr: Pretty happy about how Pirupa is growing, he's got a massive new EP on Snatch plus several gigs all around the world… pretty psyched about the forthcoming releases of Blue Mondays, Landmark and Sean Miller.. all amazing on their very own way! Then i have my album to drop.. so happy about it!

What was your first break and first big record and did it set you on your path?

Riva Starr: Well I did a track with John Aquaviva when I was still releasing as MADOX (the style was mainly breakbeat) and it was titled FEEDBACK.. it went straight to number 1 on Beatport and was an early electrohouse tune.. in a dirty way.. from then on I got deep into the 4/4 till the Riva Starr releases (Bubble on Dirtybird, Thizzle on Frontroom.. I Was Drunk on Made To Play.. and all the releases on my own SNATCH!)

You grew up in Naples and then moved to London?, how much of an influence did the neighbourhoods around you have on your path towards music? Were there any other major influences such as key people, DJ's, producers or clubs etc ?

Riva Starr: Growing up in Naples really gave me that open minded approach to music as you can find plenty of music influences there as we are in the middle of the Mediterranean area with North Africa, Greece, Balkans and SPain all throwing musical inputs :)… that's why i decided to move to London then as here I found the same open way to make music

So after over 6 years as Riva Starr, what does the future hold for you?

Riva Starr: Hopefully a nice Pizza when I'll get home after this long European tour :)

And before you leave us, can you tell us something you think we should all be listening to before we head out the door to Heroes on Saturday January 12th ?

Riva Starr: My live sets on soundcloud.com/rivastarr

Catch Riva Starr playing at HEROES at Egg London this Saturday 12th of January.

Adriatique @ X 11.01

2013-01-06T10:00:00.000Z

Adrian & Adrian, two guys from Zurich started off with music just like everyone else by trying several instruments and scratching on grandfather’s turntable, nothing special about that. Both were born in the mid 80’s when the techno and house community was rising to the top.

90’s dance, hip-hop & house stuff influenced one of them. The other half was more into melodic sounds and Europe based techno. On the road as solo artists they met in 2008, found mutual connection with their interpretations and became dj & production partners.

Harmony between Dj-ing, performance and immediate contact with the people makes a good to a "better" dj. The self-proclaimed brothers have a sensible feeling for the Clubheads, dance-a-holics and all the others, for which "music" means attitude not just a word. They love to mix up different styles to make their sets intensive, diversified and unique. Almost poetic, comparable with an exciting story.

Adriatique are also featured on the highly anticipated second Release from Diynamic’s Sublabel 2DIY4. Their groovy newinterpretation from Feist – Honey, Honey is considered as one of the summer tracks 2011. This was their kick-off to be also part of 2DIY4’s motherlabel Diynamic Music.

In addition to their musical-work & busy club-schedule Adriatique have their monthly based event series „Moving Around Us“ in Zurich which has grown to a meeting point for international guests, local talent, music & art.

Stay tuned for upcoming Releases on some of the most influential Imprints of the current electronic music scene.

Catch them playing at X on 11th of January!

Lee Van Dowski @ January Sale 05.01

2013-01-03T13:02:00.000Z

Lee Van Dowski: The very name exudes style and intrigue — a country lord, perhaps, who at night throws open the manor gates to host all-night bacchanals legendary for their wine and song.

And though the French-born, Geneva-based artist may not have a manor to his name, the rest isn't far off the mark. Born Renaud Lewandowski, Lee has earned a reputation as a kind of dark prince of uplifting electronic music—a trickster who spreads his mischief via long, undulating DJ sets and bewilderingly funky releases. And he's done this in a remarkably short span of time. In 2004, he and Philippe Quenum released the well-received "Extension"/"Oregon" single for Luciano's Cadenza label; since then Lee has gone on to unleash a deluge of material on labels like Mental Groove, Bpitch Control, Dumb Unit, Einmaleins, Memo, Plak, Defrag Sound Processing, Mobilee, Leena, Wagon Repair, Soma (where Lee and Quenum also released their collaborative album, As Told On The Eve Of…) and still more. He's a regular fixture at some of the world's most celebrated nightclubs— Panorama Bar, Weetamix, Goa, Rex Club, D edge, The Arches etc…and even more celebrated afters. And as the director of two labels—Num, alongside Quenum, and 60Sec, with Agnès—he's released dozens of records from the likes of Butane, Mike Shannon, Alex Attias, Exercise one, Pan Pot, Dario Zenker and many more.

But while it's been a comparatively rapid ascent, Lee's roots go deep. His musical prehistory may be similar to many of his generation: raised on rock and hip-hop, complete with the obligatory attempt to learn to play guitar followed by short-lived bands with schoolmates. But Lee was the beneficiary of his stepfather's eclectic musical tastes, which spanned classical, jazz, funk, rock and even musique concrete and academic electronic music. "I was fascinated by the metallic sleeves and their geometrical designs," he remembers, suggesting a possible source for the shimmering timbres and clever vectors of his own music.

The pieces first fell together in 1993, when a friend invited Lee to attend a rave in southern France, near where he lived. "That was the shock of my life," says Lee, echoing a sentiment that will be familiar to many. "That was what I was looking for, without really knowing it—thousands of people dancing and sweating in the open air. An amazing soundsystem. And this never-ending kick that drives you to madness… Since that day, I've devoted my life entirely to being a part of this."

Lee got involved with the infamous Dragon Bal raves, where Miss Kittin got her start; he worked mundane jobs, saved money, bought decks and a mixer and taught himself to spin. He came to production the same way, beginning with an MPC2000, but translating the sounds in his head into its fat, blocky pads wasn't as easy as it seemed. His ambitions took Lee to Geneva, where he earned a degree in music engineering, but it may have been his next job, working in a Lausanne music shop, that really signaled his entry into the world of electronic music. "Even if the boss was a crazy guy, the shop was like a goldmine, full of gear and old analog synths, drum machines, all the recording and mixing tools you could dream of," he recalls with awe. He took advantage of his employee discount to build out his studio, and just as importantly, the shop served as a focal point for all the area's musicians. It was here that Lee would meet both Quenum and Luciano—and from there, as they say, the rest is history…

There's no single description for Lee's productions, which have proved unusually malleable in his half-decade of releases; an early interest in the skittish rhythms of labels like Warp and Skam remains evident, but reformatted for the supple grooves of deep house and classic minimal techno. His time in the Lausanne music shop clearly served him well; Lee's tracks immediately stand out for their fine sense of detail, an almost intangible shimmer. Utilizing samples, drum machines and all manner of synthesizer, Lee's music remains open to every possibility. "It's an empirical process," he says of his method. "Each sound or loop brings me to the next one, and so on, until the moment that I feel I have all the elements I need to finish the track. Of course, there are always surprises and accidents—that's what makes the magic in writing music."

Lee's DJ sets are similarly spirited. "Technically, I like to surprise myself," he says. "I like to do a long, smooth mix, and then a radical one… It's important for me to try telling a story, so of course your technique is another way of doing that, along with the music itself. With time and with age, maybe, the tempo really decreased—I think I play a bit deeper now than five or six years ago. But I still love a good, bouncy track if it's not too aggressive, and if the energy serves the groove instead of breaking it." Slowing down also means stretching out. "I like to play long sets," he continues, "when you don't have to rush, and you can really forget yourself and build something different."

2009 finds Lee stretching out as never before. The year began with his Free For All Crash Endeavors, released on his and Quenum's Num label, and The Variable Man (Leena), with one track featuring Lee's longtime colleague Agnes; Lee also collaborated with Anja Schneider for Mobilee's 50th release, "Deseo"/"La Roulette." Further releases are out now, or due soon, on Saf Series, Material Series and Curle Recordings. But the year's biggest development may be Lee's return to Cadenza, the label that helped launch his career five years ago. In May, Lee will appear alongside Luciano, Glimpse and Guy Gerber on a split EP; he also joins Cadenza Booking, joining a family-style roster that includes Luciano, Thomas Melchior, Petre Inspirescu, Rhadoo, Mirko Loko and many more of electronic dance music's most innovative players. Count Lee has returned to his Swiss manor, the gates are wide open, and the beat is beckoning.

Catch him playing at Egg London this Saturday at January Sale Weekender!

Dubfire @ Layo & Bushwacka! presents... 29.12

2012-12-26T16:00:00.000Z

It was a risk. Perhaps even a gamble. But whatever it was, Ali ‘Dubfire’ Shirazinia's decision to go solo in 2005 was anything but easy. Together with Sharam Tayebi he had conquered house music under the name Deep Dish, a partnership which began in 1991 in Washington DC. On their way to the top, Deep Dish released acclaimed dance classics beginning with the 1995 remix of De'Lacy 'Hideaway', and went on to work with an eclectic array of names in pop, rock and electronica. Together they won a Grammy, among many other high-profile awards, and became one of the most respected DJ acts in the world.

Having firmly established the reputation of Deep Dish as pioneers amongst the greats of electronic music, no one would have blamed Dubfire for resting on his laurels. But despite the odds and dance music history being stacked against him, he decided to go it alone. Dubfire’s first solo release was a remake of the 1989 Love And Rocket’s classic ‘I Feel Speed’. The track symbolically and sonically marked a crossroads in Shirazinia’s music career, fusing Deep Dish’s vocal-driven progressive house with darker, edgier sounds. Dubfire continued to quietly release a string of remarkable tracks, and in 2007 he founded SCI+TEC Digital Audio as an outlet to release his new music, much of which was inspired by his musical roots - a kaleidoscope of influences that spanned punk, new wave, industrial, dub, hip hop, house and techno.

Dubfire kept experimenting and evolving his sound. 2007’s electro-tech track ‘Raodkill’ edged Dubfire ever closer to a techno sensibility, while the stripped-back ‘Ribcage’ showed his appetite for exploring the cutting-edge. Soaked in minimal atmospherics, ‘Ribcage’ was the first ever release on Loco Dice’s much-heralded Desolat label, and it became an instant classic.

Dubfire followed up with an onslaught of dancefloor-igniting releases, landing on some of electronic music’s leading labels including Cocoon, Get Physical, Rekids, and Richie Hawtin’s highly respected Minus imprint, which released both his single ‘Emissions’, and an official re-work of Plastikman’s 1993 classic ‘Spastik’.

With each release, Dubfire’s profile soared higher. Two top 10 tracks in Resident Advisor’s 100 Most Charted Records of 2007, IDJ Magazine’s Player of the Year in 2008, nominations for Beatport’s Best Minimal Artist and Best Techno Artist in 2008 and 2009, covers on countless music magazines, mixes for Mixmag, BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix, and DJ Magazine – the accolades and achievements came thick and fast.

Then in 2009, Dubfire captured the zeitgeist once again with a seminal remix of Danton Eeprom and Radio Slave's 'Grindhouse'. The track, released on Rekids, crossed genres and encapsulated everything that Dubfire stands for today: dark rhythms, superior audio, and technological brilliance. It was the apex of a sound that DJ Magazine called "jet-black, polished chrome techno." Groove and Raveline Magazine named it the Best Remix of the Year.

Throughout this remarkable journey, Dubfire’s SCI+TEC Digital Audio record label continued to grow. Originally set up as an outlet for Dubfire’s productions, the label soon established itself as a home for emerging techno talent, putting Dubfire at the head of an electronic music scene at the cutting-edge of technology.

A healthy partnership with German producer Oliver Huntemann was also brewing. Beginning in 2008, the duo’s series of club tracks on Huntemann’s Ideal Audio label gave both producers an outlet for peak-time techno. The resulting singles ‘Diablo’, ‘Dios’, and ‘Fuego’ were big club hits, and Dubfire and Huntemann’s continued alliance is likely to see similar such success.

Fast forward to 2011, and Dubfire's recent work has seen him co-produce tracks with celebrated British electronic music act Underworld, put out a two-disc mix compilation with Loco Dice for Cocoon, and remix more Plastikman material.

And Ali Shirazinia? He is the risk taker, the gambler, the audacious man who conquered electronic music not once, but twice.

Catch him playing at Layo & Bushwacka presents... 29th of December!

Mirko Loko @ Boxing Day Special 26.12

2012-12-23T11:00:00.000Z

Mirko Loko’s passion for music has led him on an upward trajectory ever since he first started DJing in the late 90’s clubs of Lausanne. Based at the crossroads of Detroit-inspired techno and the stripped-down, jacked up side of house, his music is music of diversity, and subtlety, a hypnotic collage sewn together by his imagination. Regularly hiding complexities: layers, polyrhythms, shifting moods of dark and light, high-class and low-slung. In 2010-11 alone, there’s been Mirko’s original collaboration with Detroit’s Stacey Pullen. Remixes ranging from Martina Topley-Bird (Massive Attack) to Layo & Bushwacka – and even remixes of Mirko’s material by Carl Craig and Ricardo Villalobos. Not bad, really, when you add those to a discography that already spans such labels as Border Community, Wagon Repair, Planet E, Desolat, and Visionquest…

Mirko was born in 1979 in Lausanne and has loved music for as long as he can recall. After DJing in the clubs, Couleur3 (Swiss national radio) snapped him up as a DJ and programme planner between 1997 and 2001. During this time he continued DJing nationally but also started performing internationally at places like Rex in Paris, Cielo in New York, and 2001’s Detroit Electronic Music Festival, where he was invited to perform by Carl Craig.

In 2003 he moved temporarily to New York and took a residency at Christian Smith’s party, Tronic Treatment. When Mirko returned home he became artistic programmer at Loft Club. He then met Raphael Gros and together they formed Lazy Fat People, a production unit that was to impact heavily over the next few years. Their debut, ‘Big City’, came out in 2006 on James Holden's Border Community. From there tracks spilled across other labels, including Mathew Jonson’s Wagon Repair and Carl Craig’s Planet E. There were remixes, too, like their reworking of Daniel Bell’s ‘Science Fiction’, and Oliver Lieb’s ‘Isotropy’, not to forget the never-to-forget C2 remix of Fat Lazy People’s ‘Pixelgirl’. However, in 2007, at the height of their success, the duo decided to go their separate ways. So Mirko continued, remixing for Tania Vulcano and Tato’s IsGud as well as Alexkid’s Imprimé Records.

Between 2007 and 2009 he was also assistant programmer for the electronic side of Montreux Jazz Festival. Yet something else was brewing: it was big. It was the ‘Mousa Big Band’ track, Mirko’s collaboration with Cadenza boss, Luciano, included on their Family EP and released on Loco Dice’s Desolat, alongside Mirko’s own productions ‘Liah’ and ‘Serena’. Dice even played ‘Mousa Big Band’ and ‘Liah’ during his 2008 Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1. In 2009 Cadenza released Mirko’s debut solo album – Seventynine. It proved to be both a timely tribute to his inspirations and a testament to his own journey through music. There was a new influx of shows across the globe, from Space Miami to Monegros in Spain, Lowlands in the Netherlands, Summer Sonic in Japan, Creamfields in the UK, and Sonofilia in Mexico. And an innovative new venture with Luciano and the Cadenza family was born: a live ‘visual music’ performance named Æther, which premiered in the summer of 2009.

Mirko’s passion continues to take his music to new places. 2010 saw him remix Layo & Bushwacka’s ‘The Longest Day’ on Olmeto, Ghost Dancer’s ‘Home’ on Panorama, and dOP’s ‘Assurance Vie’ on Circus Company. This was the time of his Seventynine Remixes project, with remixes by Carl Craig on ‘Love Harmonic’ and Ricardo Villalobos on ‘Tahktok’. Mirko became a professional ‘vagabundo’ with Cadenza in Ibiza – a journey that continued in 2011. This year he’s laid down an original collaboration with Stacey Pullen on the Deux Éléments EP (‘Formulaic Mode’/‘Tronic Illusion’) for Cadenza. He’s remixed Martina Topley-Bird’s ‘Baby Blue’. ‘Gloria’ is enroute to Seth Troxler's Visionquest.

Catch him playing at Boxing Day special on 26th of December!

Matador (live) @ Circus X-mass, 22.12

2012-12-21T11:00:00.000Z

The Matador Project was set up in December 2006 by Producer/Engineer/DJ "Gavin Lynch". This guise was simply intended for the writing & release of work created in the early hours…Nightworks, this time being when production is at its most natural for the 'Matador Sound'.

These early productions often went back and forth as they were road tested at various dj residencies in Dublin, '515@Tripod', 'Acii Disco', & the infamous 'Mixed Salad' parties. These nights & parties would pave the way, stimulate & energize this project & sound in a huge way for the years to come…..

Trained as a chef, sound engineer & music producer, Gavin has found his place comfortably in any creative environment, and takes great pride in the work & ethics involved. The journey into techno first began when listening to early dj compilations, 'Dave Clarkes World Service', 'Richie Hawtin's Decks Efx 909' and various others. These 2 particular mixes retained amazing tracklists & from listening to them over & over, whilst sourcing the singles on vinyl, production & engineering was the natural course to take. Understanding, educating, consuming, growing, with time & energy…

Having worked and experienced many studio environments, Gavin is now based in Dublin Ireland in his own production studio where, day to day, night to night, music is being created, drums processed, sound designed & tracks completed…

From the early success of his remix of 'Perc - Work Softer' which gained the support from top industry leaders, Gavin has gone on to a string of Releases & Remixes on some high end prints including; Trapez, Cocoon, 1605, Rekluse, Harthouse & many more…

More recently Gavin has been welcomed into the Minus family with a stellar remix of 'Bryan Zentz_D-Clash' on Plus 8, and his ever popular 'Kingswing Ep' on Minus. Both of these projects have been widely supported and have seen fantastic chart success.

Building on some solid production foundations & great live shows, this project continues to evolve & surprise with each week that passes…..keep watching…..

Catch him playing at Circus X-mass, on December 22nd!

Lee Foss @ Circus X-mas 22.12

2012-12-19T11:00:00.000Z

Few DJs have made such a dramatic impact on the underground house and techno scene over the last two years as Hot Creations label owner Lee Foss. Described by DJ Mag as “one of the most talented new forces in modern dance music today” and by fellow future house innovators Art Department as their favourite producer, Lee has quickly catapulted himself into dance music’s collective consciousness. Lee and his Hot Natured partner Jamie Jones currently spearhead a whole family of like-minded producers that includes Robert James, Russ Yallop, Richy Ahmed and most recently Danny Daze who are currently re-writing the rulebook of how to make evocative and emotive house music.

Born and raised in Chicago, the birthplace of house, Lee now lives between London and Los Angeles. Lee made his name on both sides of the Atlantic playing at clubs like The Standard Rooftop (Lost Angeles), fabric (London), The Marcy Hotel (Brooklyn), Watergate (Berlin), Spybar (Chicago) and DC10 (Ibiza). Lee’s rapid rise to prominence has been as much down to his unified but all-encompassing approach to DJing as it has to his pioneering take nu school house and synth-heavy techno, backed up by a string of hit releases on labels like No 19, Culprit, Wolf+Lamb and his own Hot Creations imprint. His unique sound, born out a lifelong love of classic house, 90s hip hop, 80s electro and Detroit techno, combined with fanatical grassroots support from clubbers in both Europe and North America, made him the highest new entrant in Resident Advisor’s Top 100 DJs poll last December, coming in at number 36.

While growing up in Chicago, Lee cut his teeth on the clubs and raves of the late 90’s, which sparked his interest in house and disco. However, it was a chance visit to Ibiza back in 2001, that changed his whole approach to music that helped steer his musical destiny for the next decade and beyond. It was in Ibiza that summer that he first became friends with Jamie Jones and the pair quickly formed a tight brotherly bond that has recently blossomed into their highly acclaimed Hot Natured partnership. Having spent several years abroad, and heavily inspired by time spent at seminal electro and deep house parties in Ibiza and East London, Lee decided to take all that he’d learnt in Europe and export it back to the USA.

After spending the better part of a decade in the competitive Chicago DJ scene, Lee chose to uproot and set up in Los Angeles. There he decided to work on music full time and soon fell in with Droog who were just setting up Culprit Records which became a platform for his early releases like ‘h.e.a.d.s EP’ in partnership with Jamie Jones. His bold move to Los Angeles soon began to pay dividends as it helped draw international attention to both his DJing and production work. His real break through came with the release of ‘Grinding’ on Wolf+Lamb, a track that was picked up and played by DJs right across the spectrum of dance music.

Since then Lee has gone on to release a string of hits on a variety of labels including ‘The Edge EP’ ‘Equilibrium’, ‘U Got Me’ and most recently his ‘Starfruit EP’, all of which have been independently awarded ‘Tune of the Month’ in Mixmag at various points over the last year. In addition DJ Magazine voted ‘U Got Me’ as their number 4 favourite record of 2010, having already featured it in their ‘Stone Cold Killers’ section earlier in the year. Lee's 2011 was even bigger as Hot Creations grew to become one of the biggest labels in electronic music and Lee's Hot Natured project with Jamie Jones released the hit 'Forward Motion', one of the breakout records in Miami 2011 and one of the years biggest dance hits. His rise in dance music consciousness perhaps is perhaps most measurable in the yearly Resident Advisor Top 100 DJ poll, where in 2010 he was ranked 38th in the world and in 2011 he was voted 18th.

With this many accolades under his belt in such a short space of time, it would be easy for Lee to rest on his laurels but this couldn’t be farther from the case. He’s currently in the studio with Jamie Jones, ‘Forward Motion’ vocalist Ali Love and Infinity Ink's Luca C putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming Hot Natured debut album, which he’s producing alongside his own debut artist album due out later this year. With plans to turn Hot Natured into a fully formed live act and tour it globally in 2013, this is already shaping up to be a career-defining year for Lee Foss.

Catch him at Circus X-mas, on December 22nd!

Julian Jeweil @ Christmas Party w/ Form Music, 21.12

2012-12-16T08:00:00.000Z

Julian Jeweil is an internationally acclaimed DJ and producer originating from the south of France. In 2007, he released his first Hit EP " AIR CONDITIONNE". Following this magnificient release, Julian continued his musical journey producing a second EP for Skryptöm, named "POP CORN" and remixed by Danton Eeprom. He then proceeded to producing two more – "TOURNESOL" on Craft Music and "

MY CAT" on Figure (Len Faki's label).

In 2010, Julian signed to two prestigious labels, Cocoon Records (Sven Vath's label) and PLUS 8 records (Richie Hawtin's label): "BABOO" was released on PLUS 8 records and includes 4 tracks. "COLOR" was released on COCOON and includes 3 tracks, one of which is "SOHO" which charted at number one the beatport techno charts.

Julian's other releases that same year include " TECHNO CORNER" EP on Popof's Form records, a remix of Moby's "STAY DOWN" and the "POLAROID" EP on Sébastien léger 's record label; Mistakes music.

Performance-wise, Julian has hit various stages all across the world. His techno live PA has been heard on multiple festivals and venues. The latter includes: Monegros desert festival (Fraga), Kaballah festival (Sao Paulo), Soul tech festival (Mexico), We love techno (Tel Aviv), Refresh festival (Portugal), Astropolis/ Marsatac/ I Love Techno/ Electro d'Uzes etc (France), ROW 14 (Barcelona), Womb (Tokyo), D.Edge (Sao Paulo), Onzième (Osaka), Sankeys (Manchester), Zoon (Mexico), Rex club (Paris),Warehouse party (London), Ellui club ( Seoul) ... and many more.

In 2011, Julian established himself as one of the most reliable techno artists. There is no doubt that he has earned his spot amongst the celebrities of PLUS 8 records after signing his second release with them: "HERMANOS" ep.

He is currently working on his remixes for artists like John Digweed, Nick Muir, Dusty Kid etc. He is also working on more techno, as well as some tech house tracks…

Catch him playing at Christmas Party w/ Form Music on 21st of December!