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Martin Garrix, Zedd, Gesaffelstein and More Confirmed for Ultra 2025: See the Phase 1 Lineup

25 years after the debut of Ultra, its organizers are poised for the biggest and best festival in its storied run. 
Celebrating its quarter-century anniversary in 2025, Ultra is returning to its longtime home of Bayfront Park from March 28-30. The festival today revealed a slew of its headliners, lifting the veil of arguably its most impressive lineup yet.
Confirmed artists include Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Zedd, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Axwell, Charlotte de Witte, Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Chase & Status and 999999999 and Tiësto.
Hardwell performing at Miami's Ultra Music Festival in 2024.Kelly Knisel/EDM.com
A surefire highlight of today's reveal is the first-ever b2b DJ set from deadmau5 and Pendulum, a pair of prevailing pioneers of electronic music. Attendees can also look forward to collaborative sets from Anyma b2b Solomun and Everything Always, the alias of Dom Dolla and John Summit.
Ultra 2025 will also see the return of techno legend Carl Cox, who did not appear last year after performing a staggering 19 times since the festival's debut in 1999. He's once again taking over Ultra's storied RESISTANCE MegaStructure to debut a brand-new live show, according to a press release. Fellow techno icon Richie Hawtin will also headline the stage, bringing his innovative "DEX EFX X0X" production to Ultra for the first time.
Ultra's organizers have also announced the event's first-ever psytrance stage, curated by the influential DJ duo Vini Vici and their label, Alteza Records.
Ultra is scheduled to return to its longtime home of Bayfront Park from March 28-30, 2025 and tickets are on sale now. Check out the festival's first phase of artists below.
c/o Ultra Music Festival
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Ultra Music Festival Announces Scorching Phase 1 Lineup for 25th Anniversary

Ultra is once again owning our attention today. After the festival dropped the mindblowing announcement of Anyma b2b Solomun on the mainstage for its 25th Anniversary, we knew the Phase 1 was coming soon. As Ultra frequently announces things on Tuesday, our ears were perked up all morning. Then Ultra tweeted to let us know we should pay attention and get ready. First, the festival dropped another b2b bomb, announcing Dom Dolla b2b John Summit (Everything Always) would also play the mainstage.
Only a short time later the full Phase 1 lineup dropped and it’s a banger as expected. It features exclusives from Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Alesso, Anyma b2b Solomun, Armin van Buuren, Artbat, Axwell, Boris Brejcha, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Chase and Status, Deadmau5 b2b Pendulum, Dom Dolla b2b John Summit, Four Tet, Gesaffelstein, Hardwell, I Hate Models, LSZEE, Martin Garrix, Mau P, Miss Monique, NERO, NGHTMRE b2b Sullivan King, Richie Hawtin DEF EFX XOX, Solomun, Subtronics, Zell, and Zeds Dead. Exclusive means you’ll only see them at Ultra, or possibly as a surprise guest at a side party.
Resistance will host stage takeovers from Carl Cox Invites (meaning some b2bs) and Solomun’s Diynamic record label. Ultra will also feature a psytrance takeover from Vini Vici’s Alteza Records in addition to A State of Trance and Dirty Workz. In addition to deadmau5 and Pendulum playing together, they will also play separately. Deadmau5 will perform a retrospective set and Pendulum will play live.
Beyond that, there’s 999999999, Adam Beyer, Eli Brown, and Tiesto. Don’t forget, this is only Phase 1. Ultra has shown us in the past that it still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve from here. Could we see Eric Prydz [CELL] on Phase 2? We’ll have to wait and see. Tickets are back on sale now!
The post Ultra Music Festival Announces Scorching Phase 1 Lineup for 25th Anniversary appeared first on EDMTunes.
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5 Artists to Catch at We Belong Here Central Park Festival

In just a few days, We Belong Here’s inaugural Central Park Festival touches down at the Wollman Rink on October 4-6. Besides the unique venue location, the festival will feature We Belong Here’s signature 360-stage, a staple of its annual Miami event. This immersive stage design fosters a connection between the DJ, the crowd, and the dancefloor, creating an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Those who attended their We Belong Here series at Governors Island this fall got a preview of it. Friday tickets are still available on the official website.
This year’s lineup features industry heavyweights such as Kaskade, Monolink, Fisher, and Dombresky. Besides catching the headliners, here are some artists that you should consider catching throughout the weekend for their unique styles.
For Adrian Rodriguez, better known by his stage name Arodes, music and athletics are inextricably linked passions of his. While many perceive them as opposites, Arodes sees them as expressions of the same intense pursuit. His journey began on the soccer pitch in Spain, where he honed his competitive spirit and discipline. These qualities have carried over into his music career, fueling his drive to create unforgettable experiences. In just a few years, Arodes has skyrocketed from obscurity to international stardom. His captivating melodies and infectious beats have resonated with audiences worldwide. From the beaches of Tulum to the clubs of Ibiza, Arodes’ music has become a global phenomenon. Arodès’ music is a harmonious blend of various electronic genres, including progressive house, future bass, and trance.
Anabel Englund is a rising star in the electronic dance music scene, renowned for her captivating vocals and infectious energy. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Englund’s unique blend of pop and house music has garnered her a dedicated following worldwide.
With a powerful voice and a knack for creating memorable melodies, Englund has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Robin Schulz, Duke Dumont, and Diplo. Her tracks have consistently topped charts and dominated dancefloors, solidifying her status as a sought-after vocalist and songwriter. Beyond her studio work, Englund is a dynamic live performer. Her energetic stage presence and infectious enthusiasm have made her a favorite among fans and industry professionals alike.
Magdalena is one of Germany’s most prominent figures in the electronic music industry, excelling as a DJ, promoter, and artist. Her journey began at the tender age of 15, when she was first introduced to electronic music. Growing up in Hamburg, Germany, she was immersed in the vibrant Deep Melodic and Indie Techno/House scene, which significantly shaped her musical style and career. Magdalena’s influence extends far beyond her performances. She is renowned for her SHADOWS events, which have captivated audiences in Ibiza, Europe, North America, and beyond. Her impressive discography, featuring releases on labels like Diynamic, Mobilee, Kitball, Selador, John Digweed’s Bedrock Records, Crosstown Rebels, Knee Deep in Sound, Anjunadeep, and Mood, showcases her versatility and artistic talent.
Mason Maynard, a Manchester native, was destined for DJ stardom from the moment he launched his career in 2016. His groovy production quickly catapulted him into the limelight, earning him a coveted residency on the renowned “Solardo Sessions” tour. Maynard’s distinctive sound has garnered support from industry icons. Pete Tong, Danny Howard, and BBC Radio 1’s Monki have championed his work, with Monki even dubbing him a “One to Watch.” Recognized for the immense quality of his productions, he was also identified as a future star by fellow producer & DJ, Seth Troxler. His early success, including the Danny Howard-approved track ‘Puffy,’ paved the way for releases on influential labels like Solardo’s Sola Records, Cajual, Repopulate Mars, Defected, and Relief Records.
A legend in the techno scene, Stephan Bodzin is a German electronic music producer and DJ known for his pioneering blend of progressive house and techno. Renowned for his meticulous studio work and innovative sound design, Bodzin has been a driving force in the electronic music scene for over two decades. With a career spanning numerous albums and EPs, Bodzin has consistently pushed the boundaries of electronic music. His signature sound is characterized by deep, hypnotic basslines, intricate melodies, and atmospheric textures. His productions often incorporate elements of ambient, techno, and house music, creating a unique and immersive listening experience.
The post 5 Artists to Catch at We Belong Here Central Park Festival appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Coldplay's Chris Martin Reflects on Avicii's Death, Urges Greater Care in Social Media Era

A decade after its release, who could forget Coldplay and Avicii's "A Sky Full of Stars"?
Certainly not the band's frontman, Chris Martin, a former collaborator of the late EDM icon, whose real name was Tim Bergling. Looking back on the track in a new interview, Martin opened up about the pressures of social media and the toll it takes on artists' mental health.
"I think we have to handle everyone with care, first and foremost," Martin told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 ahead of Coldplay's 10th album, Moon Music. "Secondly, artists, particularly when they're on their own—it's a delicate thing, especially now with social media."
"It's relentless and it's extremely stressful for a young artist. So if someone like Tim, who was at the beginning of the real social media craziness, and he was doing four gigs a day—there was no Will [Champion, Martin's Coldplay bandmate]. He didn't have a Will to say, 'Hey, awesome. Let’s rest for a minute' or, 'Let's not do seven singles this week, let's do one.'"
"A Sky Full of Stars" is a generational dance anthem for countless fans of Bergling, who tragically died by suicide in 2018. The song's lyricism ("'Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark") continues to remind us of the inherent worth and brilliance within each individual, often obscured by the shadows of depression, anxiety or trauma.
Many in the music industry now regard Avicii as a cautionary tale. Ubiquitously known as one of the most virtuosic dance music producers of all-time, Bergling grappled with mental health struggles contrived largely from a grueling tour schedule.
"The thing you learned from Avicii was we have to protect all people," Martin added.
Moon Music is scheduled to release October 4th, 2024. You can watch Coldplay's full interview on Apple Music 1 below.
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DJ Snake Debuts New Alias At Lost Lands Festival

The renowned DJ and producer DJ Snake has introduced a new alias at the most recent version of Lost Lands Festival. Snake’s new moniker goes by the name of The Outlaw. This marks a significant change and a gush of wind for the artist, who has been a prominent figure in the Electronic music scene for nearly a decade.
DJ Snake, known for his hit songs like ‘Turn Down for What‘, ‘Get Low‘ and ‘Lean On‘, has collaborated with numerous artists and headlined major festivals worldwide. He previously hinted at his final performance under the DJ Snake moniker, scheduled for May 10th, 2025.
The Outlaw, DJ Snake’s new project, focuses on Bass and Dubstep. The alias debuted at Lost Lands 2024, where fans were excited to hear the new sound. While few details have been released about The Outlaw’s future plans, the project offers a heavier and darker vibe compared to DJ Snake’s previous work.
As DJ Snake’s career continues to evolve, his alias The Outlaw presents an exciting new chapter for the French DJ and producer.
The post DJ Snake Debuts New Alias At Lost Lands Festival appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Ushuaïa Ibiza’s ANTS Will Return To Zamna In 2025

The legendary Ibiza-born party ANTS is set to make a triumphant return to Zamna Festival on January 7, 2025. Following a successful debut in 2024, ANTS will once again bring its world-renowned lineup of underground House and Techno to the heart of Mexico’s Quintana Roo jungle.
As one of Ibiza’s most iconic brands, ANTS has captivated audiences worldwide with its mind-blowing productions and cutting-edge music. Known for discovering and nurturing new talent, ANTS hosts events in destinations such as London, Miami, Sydney, and Tulum.
Founded in 2017, Zamna Festival is renowned as one of the most authentic and unique destinations to experience quality electronic music in Tulum. It welcomes a carefully curated mix of international DJs to the heart of Mexico’s mystical Quintana Roo jungle where nature, ancient magic and next-level production technology coexist. What sets the brand apart is its incredible design and bespoke music stages that are works of art in their own right. Inviting audiences to dance together in the lush Mexican jungle, Zamna’s exclusive experience connects music fans from all over the world.
The lineup for the ANTS event at Zamna 2025 will be announced soon. Get ready to join the Colony and experience an epic party like no other. Find tickets to your name right here.
The post Ushuaïa Ibiza’s ANTS Will Return To Zamna In 2025 appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Here’s Tomorrowland’s ADE 2024 Full Schedule

Tomorrowland is gearing up for another massive ADE this year. In years past they have thrown huge events around the city celebrating the best-voted festival in the world. This year will be no different with three unique experiences on the way.
The Tomorrowland Expo – October 16th – 20th
Offering people from all corners of the globe a one-of-a-kind and free experience, Tomorrowland will be transforming the historic venue of De Rode Hoed in the vibrant heart of Amsterdam into a magical Tomorrowland Expo for 5 days – from Wednesday October 16 to Sunday October 20. The Tomorrowland Expo will give a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Tomorrowland and discover all novelties and innovations, as well as take a journey through the magnificent history and evolution of the iconic festival from its humble beginnings to a global phenomenon over the past 20 years. Freely accessible to everyone, the expo makes for an inspiring moment in the midst of the busy ADE week.
More information
Tomorrowland presents Afterlife Amsterdam – October 16 & October 17
Amsterdam holds a significant place in the history of Afterlife and this year it makes its exhilarating return at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam during Amsterdam Dance Event on Wednesday, October 16, and Thursday, October 17. Following their successful collaboration at Tomorrowland’s iconic 20-year anniversary edition, where Afterlife hosted the Freedom stage on both weekends in July, Tomorrowland and Afterlife are now joining forces again for a one-of-a-kind audiovisual experience with a scintillating production featuring custom lighting, state-of-the-art sound design, and immersive visuals.
Complete with a masterful line-up of artists to compliment Tale Of Us’ closing sets each evening, the audience can anticipate a thrilling and unique show. Wednesday, October 16 will feature SCRIPT followed by Colyn and Chris Avantgarde B2B Massano, before a special performance Anyma presents ‘Genesys’. Thursday, October 17’s event will consist of 19:26, Rebūke and Cassian B2B Kevin de Vries, as well as another special performance, MRAK presenting ‘We Don’t Follow’.
More information
Tomorrowland presents Our Story – October 18
Tomorrowland is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a mesmerizing Our Story show in the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on Friday October 18. Taking place during Amsterdam Dance Event as well, people from around the world can expect a magical spectacle and journey through 20 years of Tomorrowland’s musical history with some of the finest electronic artists set to perform their most iconic tracks in front of 15,000 guests.
Prepare for a unique show created by the renowned creative team behind Tomorrowland and guided by the Symphony of Unity, a symphonic orchestra with musicians and vocalists to unite classical and electronic music live on stage. The line-up will remain a secret until the artists take the stage. All proceeds of Our Story 2024 will go the Tomorrowland Foundation to support children and youngsters around the world.
More information
The post Here’s Tomorrowland’s ADE 2024 Full Schedule appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Anyma Adds Two New Dates To Genesys Las Vegas Sphere Residency

After an astonishing sell-out for the six upcoming Afterlife presents Anyma ‘The End of Genesys’ shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas, two new dates for the residency have been added for January 10 and 11, 2025. A genre leader heralded for his critically-acclaimed albums Genesys and Genesys II, as well as his high-caliber live shows, Anyma is the multidisciplinary music and contemporary art project helmed by Matteo Milleri, operating at the compelling intersection between art, technology, and music. Afterlife has evolved from an event series and record label to become a multidimensional platform for groundbreaking artists and visually sensational installations.  Presented by Live Nation, these new dates join Anyma’s previously announced shows at the venue on December 27 through 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025.  
As the first Electronic music act at Sphere, Anyma will present an audio/visual ‘Genesys’ show, which has fascinated audiences around the world. The inclusion of special guests will highlight the performances of ‘Genesys.’ All eight performances will showcase a meticulously curated selection of music and innovative visual art by Anyma.
Visual collaborations include; art direction by Alessio De Vecchi, executive production by Alexander Wessely, and additional production by animation studio Woodblock –  anticipating what is bound to be an unforgettable milestone in live music.
Sphere’s next-generation technologies – including the world’s highest-resolution LED display and its advanced concert-grade audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT – will be combined with Anyma and Afterlife’s signature production. Fans can expect a sensory-expanding mix of innovative visuals and sounds that defy the boundaries of what’s possible.
Sign up now at after.life/spherelasvegas to access the Afterlife presale beginning Monday, October 7 at 9 am PT. The general on sale will begin Tuesday, October 8 at 9 am PT at after.life/spherelasvegas.  Tickets for all other shows are completely sold out.
About Anyma
Anyma (aka Matteo Milleri) is a world-renowned, multi-disciplinary artist whose Melodic Techno beats, dreamy sounds, and one-of-a-kind audiovisual live experience has captivated the attention of millions. In 2023, Anyma released his debut album Genesys followed by this year’s Genesys II (Afterlife/Interscope) which explores themes of technology, nature, humanity, and coexistence. The highly anticipated project features a lineup of impressive collaborators, handpicked by Anyma, including Grimes and Sevdaliza.. Footage from Anyma’s iconic live performances consistently go viral as they are an unprecedented blend of mesmerizing visual installations, avant-garde sound engineering, and awe-inspiring stage designs. With the use of digital audiovisual artistic elements that interact with reality, Anyma’s creates a unique, out-of-this-world experience, proving that his artistry is expansive, way ahead of its time, and cements his reputation across the music industry as a visionary, pioneering project unlike any other. In addition to his solo career, Anyma is one half of Electronic duo Tale Of Us, co-founder of Afterlife Records, and his remixes of Fred Again…’s ‘Turn On The Lights again..(feat. Future)’ and Lana Del Rey’s ‘Say Yes To Heaven’ have seen great success.  Most recently Anyma served as Creative Visual Director of The Weeknd’s One-Night-Only show in São Paulo.
He will also be headlining Ultra 2025 with a B2B set with fellow DJ and producer, Solomun, for a first-ever, world exclusive performance for the festival’s 25th anniversary.
About Sphere  
Sphere is a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment. A venue where the foremost artists, creators, and technologists create extraordinary experiences that take storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue hosts original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood directors; concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; and premier marquee events. The first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in September 2023, and is a new Las Vegas landmark, powered by cutting-edge technologies that ignite the senses and enable audiences to share experiences at a never-before-seen scale. More information is available at thesphere.com.  

The post Anyma Adds Two New Dates To Genesys Las Vegas Sphere Residency appeared first on EDMTunes.
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In Search Of Sunrise 20 Mixed by Markus Schulz, Solarstone, York, Airscape, Zoya & Super8 & Tab

INCLUDING MUSIC FROM ARMIN, ABOVE & BEYOND, COSMIC GATE, GIUSEPPE OTTAVIANI, FERRY CORSTEN, ILAN BLUESTONE, PUSH, GABRIEL & DRESDEN, CHICANE AND MANY, MANY MORE

So here we are … and here it is. 25 years after the first took the mix comp scene by storm and set a new high-bar in the process, we’ve arrived at the twentieth ‘In Search Of Sunrise’. For a landmark occasion this momentous, an exceptional edition was required, and with a six-mix/disc/DJ odyssey, that’s exactly what series guardians Black Hole Recordings have delivered.

Before all that though, a little history!

With the millennium on the then horizon, October the 10th 1999 saw DJ Tiësto’s first ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ touch down into a glowing comp climate. Already trailing heat through his previous series (‘Magik’), anticipation was way high. However, its reception outmatched even Tiësto and Black Hole’s expectations, with the Dutchman mixing seven in total, before parting creative ways with the series.

ISOS returned in 2010 under the stewardship of one-time Tiësto protegee Richard Durand, who delivered six editions and introduced co-mixing to its dynamic. Having ‘visited’ India, South Africa and his native Amsterdam, sounds diverged once again and Richard departed the series in 2015, at which point it went on a well-earned three-year hiatus.

Doing away with the city/country hopping, but retaining the co-mixing dynamic, Markus Schulz became ‘Sunrise’s new standard-bearer in 2018. It’s a position he retains to this day, with ‘In Search Of Sunrise 20’ marking his 7th (Tiësto-equalling) outing. That DJ democracy has since allowed many other co-spinners to leave their ‘ISOS’ mark, Gabriel & Dresden, Andy Moor, Jerome Isma-Ae, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Kyau & Albert and Ilan Bluestone among them.
That brings us then to where ISOS stands in the late summer of 2024, when Black Hole revealed their plans for the 20th ‘Search’. Solarstone became the first of the six mixers unveiled, with Johan Gielen’s Airscape, Super8 & Tab, York, ZOYA and (naturally!) Markus followed in weekly succession.
Highest highs amongst its 100+ track highlights then!? Well, that’s a tough one, so maybe better to pinpoint some of the extraordinary legacy moments its six mixes touch on. York beginning his mix with his ‘Reachers Of Civilisation’ … as Tiësto did 25 years before him!? Unquestionably classy! Or indeed finishing with ‘Farewell to the Moon’ – possibly the most ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ title of all time!? Markus seeing out his disc with his ‘lost’ 2019 ISOS remix of Accadia’s undulating ‘Into the Dawn’ – would be another. And who could resist Solarstone calling back ‘Solarcoaster’, or Super8 & DJ Tab, ‘Helsinki Scorchin’ – prime movers in the ‘003 – Panama’ and ‘004 – Latin America’ editions!? Or Markus and ZOYA’s nods to Chicane, perhaps the most ISOS-embodying producer there is!? We could go on … (and on!) but at its core, ‘In Search Of Sunrise 20’ amounts to 6 DJs, 100+ tracks, 450+ musical minutes and 25 years of electronic music history, all celebrated through one milestone release.

The album is available to order now as a six-disc-boxset, six-mix digital release, triple-vinyl, and through all good streaming channels. 

Tracklist:          

Solarstone
01. Soul Alt Delete – You Need to Let Me Go
02. Solarstone – When I Dream (William Byrne Remix)
03. Foxhill – When the Morning Comes
04. Pablo Gargano – Open Up
05. Sinful Biz & Façade – Captivate
06. Orkidea – Dance of Life
07. Sean Tyas & Enigma State – Lately (Azure Mix)
08. Aerium & Julian Del Agranda – Flawless
09. Luigi Di Mare – Infinity
10. Solarstone – Solarcoaster (Aquarius Remix)
11. Slusnik Luna – Let Me Breathe
12. Mario De Caine – Patagonia
13. Effen – Majesty
14. Tom Bro – Balearic Islands
15. Solarstone – Release

Johan Gielen presents Airscape
01. Johan Gielen presents Airscape – Beach Pearl [Robert’s Theme – Intro Mix]
02. Airwave – Caribbean Sunrise
03. Johan Gielen presents Airscape – Love From Above (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
04. Daniel Wanrooy – Lost Lake
05. Kyau & Albert x John Grand – Under My Skin 
06. PARAFRAME – Radiance
07. Mark van Rijswijk – Solaris
08. Daniel Wanrooy & Rafael Osmo – High Tide
09. Johan Gielen presents Airscape – Pacific Melody (Kryder’s Balearic Breaks Mix)
10. David Broaders – Interplanetary 
11. Tim Besamusca – Myth
12. Johan Gielen presents Airscape featuring Arkayne – In The Dust Where Love Is Gone 
13. Woody van Eyden & Cheryl Barnes – Salty Skin (Woody van Eyden at Sunbreak Instrumental Remix)
14. Northern Project & Abbey8k – Not Going Back
15. Johan Gielen presents Airscape – Piano Del Sol (Airscape’s In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
16. Johan Gielen & Pierre Pienaar – Benguela
17. DJ T.H., Jam Da Bass & Julie Thompson – Oceans
Super8 & Tab
01. maybe – Intoxicated
02. Scorz & Sirolf featuring Diandra Faye – Missing Piece
03. Modera & Andrew Burrow & Susie Ledge – Dominoes
04. Kryder featuring Sarah de Warren – Lights Out (Dominiq Vanquish Remix
05. John Grand – Ruby
06. Cosmic Gate & Christian Burns – Brave (Sean Tyas Remix)
07. Jesabel – You
08. Super8 & Tab x LÜRUM featuring LYCA – Hold The Fire
09. Kyau & Albert – Cascading Waterfalls 
10. Mofasa – Awakening
11. SØNIN & JS – Brighton BOP
12. DT8 Project – Destination (Super8 & Tab Remix)
13. Super8 & DJ Tab – Helsinki Scorchin’
14. ilan Bluestone – Echoes Of Courage
15. Push vs Beico – Enter Your Soul
16. Tim Clark – Feel You Now
17. Super8 & Tab – Flare

York
01. York – Reachers Of Civilisation (In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
02. Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston – Crazy Love
03. Kyau & Albert – Photographs 
04. Steve Brian x Torsten Stenzel x Nazzereene – Weighed Down
05. Re:Locate & Simon Anthony – Skylight
06. Gabriel & Dresden – Kinetic Cinema
07. Activa pres. Solar Movement – Eclipse
08. The Space Brothers & DT8 Project featuring Andrea Britton – Never Felt This Good
09. Elysian – Now We Are Free
10. Torsten Stenzel featuring Mahe – Never Give Up
11. Talla 2XLC presents Zyrus 7 – 1998
12. Torsten Stenzel – Interstellar [Cornfield Chase] (York’s Back In Time Mix)
13. Wavetraxx vs. Jaron Inc. – Summerbreeze [PT. 1] (Wavetraxx Mix)
14. Torsten Stenzel featuring Grim Reaper – Sleepwalking
15. York – Farewell to the Moon (Torsten Stenzel Sunset Mix)
ZOYA
01. ZOYA – Crystal Cove
02. Nils Hoffmann & Kasbo featuring Vancouver Sleep Clinic – Running In A Dream
03. Paradoks – Flourish
04. ZOYA – Bright Star
05. Lumïsade – Orange Theme
06. Chicane featuring Moya Brennan – Saltwater (Kryder Remix)
07. Armin van Buuren & AVIRA vs Chicane – Offshore
08. Volaris – Tygar
09. Above & Beyond – Sun In Your Eyes
10. The Thrillseekers – In These Arms (Gundamea Remix)
11. ZOYA – Eternity
12. ZOYA – Gravity
13. ZOYA – Riverside
14. Cosmic Gate & Diana Miro – Nothing to Hide
15. TMPST & Dee Ocean – How You Feel
Markus Schulz
01. Chicane – Sunstroke (DC Symphonic Rehearsal Mix)
02. Late Night Alumni – Empty Streets (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise 20 Remix)
03. Giuseppe Ottaviani & Ferry Corsten – Magenta (Milkwish Remix)
04. Markus Schulz presents Dakota – Stereo 11AM
05. Eelke Kleijn – Lately
06. Siskin – Fly Away (Hel:sløwed Remix – In Search of Sunrise 20 Revision)
07. Airwave – When The Sun Comes Back (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Reconstruction)
08. Stereo Underground – The Last Dance
09. Estiva – Via Infinita (Marsh Remix)
10. Tim Besamusca – Prometheus
11. First State featuring Anita Kelsey – Falling (Dave Neven presents OCATA Remix)
12. Mees Salomé – Apart
13. Bart Claessen & Raz Nitzan pres. Who.Is – We.Are (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix)
14. Rex Mundi – Opera Of Northern Ocean (Mike EFEX presents Sun Theory Remix)
15. BLR – My Precious
16. The Quest – C Sharp (ALAT Remix)
17. Daxson – While We Wait (In Search of Sunrise 20 Revision)
18. The Thrillseekers presents Hydra – Affinity (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Reconstruction) 
19. Markus Schulz & Emma Hewitt – Safe From Harm (William Schneider Remix)
20. Accadia – Into the Dawn (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix)
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facebook.com/zoyazipova
facebook.com/super8tab
facebook.com/torsten.stenzel.75
facebook.com/johangielenofficial   


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The post In Search Of Sunrise 20 Mixed by Markus Schulz, Solarstone, York, Airscape, Zoya & Super8 & Tab appeared first on EDMTunes.
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ADE Reveals Final 2024 Lineup

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has completed its festival program for ADE 2024 with over 1,000 events in more than 200 venues over five days and nights. 3,000+ performing artists will participate in ADE 2024, making it the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. Amsterdam Dance Event kicks off with five ADE Official Opening Concerts this year, taking place simultaneously on Wednesday, October, 16.
Five ADE Arts & Culture Opening Concerts
Dutch artist Eefje de Visser will play the glass atrium at the Van Gogh Museum unplugged, treating visitors to a fifty-minute performance of her songs in their truest form. Nick Verstand & the Cello Octet Amsterdam take on DOOR OPEN SPACE, where they present ‘COCON II’. This audiovisual live performance has been designed explicitly for ADE this year.
BIMHUIS presents a special collaboration between legendary free jazz singer Greetje Bijma and left-field artist Oceanic. The event will close with a genre-fusing concert by classically trained producer LUXE (live). 24classics will present ‘Philip Glass by Lavinia Meijer & Nikki Hock’ at the iconic Zuiderkerk, where Meijer’s hypnotic classical music meets Hock’s audiovisual works, and true to tradition, Melkweg welcomes Metropole Orkest, to collaborate with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to play their tribute titled ‘50 Years of J Dilla’.
The final wave of artists for ADE 2024 includes Anz, Bambounou, Ben Sims, DJ Nobu, Cera Khin, Dasha Rush, Kölsch, Luke Slater, Pete Tong, Sandrien, and Sweely. The full wave is listed below, and the complete program can be found on the ADE website.
The list of artists includes Alisha (GB), Alex Kassian (DE), Amaliah (GB), Ame (DE), Anotr (NL), Anz (GB), ARTBAT (UA), Austin Millz (USA), Bad Boombox (USA), Bambounou (FR), Barbara Tucker (US), BASHKKA (DE), Ben Sims (GB), Benjamin Berg (NL), Boris Coelman (NL), Bradley Zero (GB), Brina Knauss (SI), CAIVA (DE), Carlos Valdes (NL), Cera Khin (TN), Chloé Caillet (FR), Christian AB (GB), Colin Benders (NL), D.Dan (DE), Dan Shake (GB), Dasha Rush (RU), Dennis Ferrer (USA), Diora (NL), DJ EZ (GB), DJ Holographic (USA), DJ Nobu (JP), E.Lina (UA), East End Dubs (GB), Eats Everything (GB), Eva Vrijdag (NL), Fleur Shore (GB), Francesco Del Garda (IT), Gome (DE), Gorgon City (GB), Henry X (NL), Hernan Cattaneo (AR), Hot Since 82 (GB), Hugel (FR), Human Space Machine (NL), Identified Patient (NL), Ineffekt (NL), JADALAREIGN (US), Jan Blomqvist (DE), JAZZY (DE), John Talabot (ES), KAS (FR), Kia (AU), Kölsch (DK), Kyle Starkey (GB), Laidlaw (GB), Laura Meester (NL), LP Giobbi (USA), Luke Slater (GB), Maara (CA), Marie Montexier (DE), Maruwa (DE), Megan Leber (NL), Mella Dee (GB), Mischluft (DE), Monocule (NL), Mr. Belt & Weezol (NL), Naone (NL), Natalie Robinson (DE), Natasha Diggs (US), Nedda Sou (NL), Nick Warren (GB), NOVAH (BE), Paco Osuna (ES), Pan-Pot (DE), PAWSA (GB), Pegassi (BE), Pete Tong (GB), Phillippa Pacho (DE), Retromigration (DE), Richie Hawtin (CA), RONI (FR), SAIDAH (NL), Salamanda (KR), Sandrien (NL), Sarah Story (GB), Scarlet O’ Mally (GB), Schacke (DK), Space 92 (FR), Stephan Bodzin (DE), Sugar Free (ES), Sven Väth (DE), Sweely (FR), The Lady Machine (BR), Tjade (NL), Toman (NL), TSHA (GB), Ultra Naté (US), Winson (NL), X-Coast (USA), Zombies in Miami (MX) and many more.
Event tickets are available through ADE’s website, and the ADE Pro Pass is available here.
Alongside these confirmations that complete the ADE 2024 Festival program, ADE Pro has recently confirmed top-tier artists for its Conference programme, including Amelie Lens & Charlotte de Witte, Marlon Hoffstadt, Reinier Zonneveld, Kölsch, and more. In exclusive panels at ADE Pro, they will reveal the secret behind their international success.

The post ADE Reveals Final 2024 Lineup appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
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The Circuit Group Announces Partnership with LabelWorx

The Circuit Group announced its exclusive distribution partnership with LabelWorx.
But, who are they? The Circuit Group is a new enterprise led by some of the most respected artist managers in the world to build business opportunities around artists’ intellectual property. On the other end, LabelWorx is the world’s largest independent digital distributor for indie electronic music labels.
This strategic collaboration is set to enhance the distribution capabilities for The Circuit Group’s roster of artists and labels. This includes renowned partners such as Catch & Release, and diviine, among many others.
LabelWorx will manage all digital distribution for The Circuit Group’s diverse catalog. It will bring cutting-edge solutions to maximize the visibility and reach of their music globally.
As part of their exciting new partnership, The Circuit Group and LabelWorx invite attendees of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) to join them. An exclusive mixer event on Wednesday, October 16, at Felix Meritis from 5:00-6:30 PM attends you.
Attendees will have the chance to meet key representatives from both The Circuit Group and LabelWorx, and gain insights into how this partnership can benefit their careers.
The post The Circuit Group Announces Partnership with LabelWorx appeared first on The Groove Cartel.
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Fatman Scoop's Cause of Death Revealed as Fans Mourn Iconic Voice of Club Culture

The music world was shaken when Fatman Scoop collapsed suddenly onstage during a recent concert in Hamden, Connecticut. The cause of death of the beloved hype man, 56, has now been revealed.
Initially classified as a medical emergency, his death has now been confirmed to be the result of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a report by the Connecticut Medical Examiner's Office.
His sudden passing prompted an outpouring of love and grief from both fans and industry figures. His booking agency, MN2S, expressed its deep sorrow, calling him "the undisputed voice of the club" and remembering his "vibrant spirit, boundless enthusiasm, and passion for music."
Scoop, whose real name was Isaac Freeman III, had thrilled fans for decades with his unmistakable voice and unbridled onstage energy. Known for his booming voice and party-starting presence, his influence spanned genres. His collaborations with major artists in the EDM scene include Skrillex, Hardwell and Bingo Players—just to name a few—and his contributions have since cemented his legacy as a pivotal bridge between hip-hop and electronic music.
Scoop's impact on contemporary music will be remembered not only for the energy he brought to every stage, but also for the unity and joy his music inspired in clubbers worldwide. From festival mainstages to the most intimate dancefloors, his presence was felt and his influence is indelible.
We at EDM.com express our sincere condolences to the family, fans, friends and loved ones of Fatman Scoop.
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Brownies & Lemonade Take Over Under The K Bridge

Brownies & Lemonade have been having some landmark shows on the East Coast for the past few years. The predominately LA group has been coming across the country to show off their talent. Their takeover at Under The K Bridge might have been their best New York show yet.
Their lineup spanned multiple genres with Alison Wonderland, Madeon, Wavedash, and more taking the stage. The diverse lineup gave a festival experience allowing all fans of dance music to be happy. With Drum & Bass taking off in the States it was lovely to see Camo & Krooked, Mefjus, and MC Daxta share the stage. Their set was intense and thrilling.
The new New York venue is a unique experience that all should attend. It takes place literally under a bridge at the iconic Kosciuszko Bridge in Brooklyn. It is a festival-like experience there with ample space to dance and the ability for 2 stages. There is also a row of 10 food trucks with a diverse food lineup for your snacking pleasures. There are plenty of bathrooms and chill spots as well to soak in the New York night.
The production continues to get better and better with each visit. Brownies & Lemonade went all out with the lighting and screens it was definitely the best show yet I have seen there.
Alison Wonderland & Madeon
Alison Wonderland & Madeon were the 2 headliners of the show. Madeon had the crowd in his grasp as the DJ-focused set pushed and pulled. He played a fantastic mix of his own music mixed with hard-hitting tracks. It was my first time seeing him and I finally got all the hype around him! He has some truly beautiful songs and when you combine that with a unique venue, you are in for a special show.
Madeon played all of his classics including ‘Shelter.’ His set was ethereal and expertly crafted and it has me wondering what his tour shows sound like. Friends have said that is Madeon as his best.
Alison Wonderland always knows how to throw down. First seeing her at Mad Decent years ago it has been awesome to watch her grow. Her music and sets have evolved to pleasure all dance music fans. They are hard-hitting and bass-focused but what I really like is how emotional they are for both her and her crowd. You can see it and you can certainly feel the love.
She played a multitude of tracks including ‘I Want U’ and Vincent’s remix of ‘U Don’t Know’. I particularly liked the DnB and Techno portion of her set. She played her modern classic with Dimension ‘Satelite’ and also one of their unreleased collabs.
The post Brownies & Lemonade Take Over Under The K Bridge appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Julian Marley's Amapiano Grammy Submission Reinforces Genre's Global Rise

Renowned reggae artist Julian Marley, the son of the legendary Bob Marley, is eyeing another Grammy win—but his sights are now set on dance music.
Marley in 2023 nabbed the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Colors of Royal alongside Antaeus, who became the first Greek-born music creator to win a Grammy. The duo has now submitted another record for the upcoming 67th Grammy Awards, their Amapiano remix of "Jah Sees Them."
Antaeus (L) and Julian Marley (R).John Barrett
It's a big moment not only for the producers, but also the Amapiano genre, which has surged in popularity on a global scale. A sultry blend of deep house, jazz and lounge music, the South African house music phenomenon offers a fresh, culturally rich alternative to mainstream electronic dance music.
As international DJs and producers continue to embrace Amapiano, they are poised to reshape dancefloors and prove that innovation in dance music knows no borders.
"This remix echoes our team's dedication to creating timeless music that connects with listeners across generations," Antaeus said in a statement. "The track is a testament to our commitment to push the envelope and create sounds that resonate with the heart and soul, transcending borders."
A stunning fusion of Amapiano, Afrobeats and dancehall, Marley's remix of "Jah Sees Them" will be considered in the category of Best Remixed Recording in the Pop & Dance/Electronic Field. Antaeus worked alongside Footsteps and MrMyish to produce the record prior to its release by Monom Records, and he handled its mixing and mastering alongside Grammy-winning audio engineers Joe Maldonado and Alex Psaroudakis.
The Recording Academy's First Round Voting period for the 2025 Grammys opens Friday, October 4th. The nominations will then be revealed on November 8th before Final Round Voting from December 12th, 2024, to January 3rd, 2025.
The 67th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place Sunday, February 2nd live at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.
Follow Julian Marley:
X: x.com/julianmarley
Instagram: instagram.com/julianrmarley
Facebook: facebook.com/julianmarley
Spotify: tinyurl.com/msmfy5ce
Follow Antaeus:
X: x.com/alexx_antaeus
Instagram: instagram.com/alexx_antaeus
Facebook: facebook.com/antaeusmusic
Spotify: tinyurl.com/4wbh7ubr
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Anyma Adds More Dates to Historic Vegas Sphere Residency

Anyma, the Italian DJ poised to headline the Vegas Sphere's first-ever electronic music concerts, has announced an extension of his historic residency.
Anyma in July revealed a momentous New Year's Eve show at the Sphere before quickly adding five more events due to "incredible ongoing demand." Billed as "The End of Genesys," all six concerts from December 27th to January 1st sold out in less than 24 hours. He's now revealed two new dates: January 10-11, 2025.
Today's reveal also comes with additional details surrounding the residency's production and visual collaborators. Its art direction will be spearheaded by Alessio De Vecchi, who in 2023 was named EDM.com's best visual artist. Renowned multidisciplinary artist Alexander Wessely will serve as Executive Producer and additional production will come from the animation studio Woodblock.
Anyma's residency is a watershed moment for the record-breaking Sphere, where only a handful of legendary rock and jam bands have performed prior. He joins U2, Phish, Dead & Company and The Eagles as a resident headliner of the structure's pioneering concert venue, which contains the world's highest-resolution wraparound LED screen.
"Three years ago when I started Anyma I would have never believed we’d come this far - all I can say is Thank You," Anyma said in a recent statement. "To all 100,000 of you attending I promise to give you the best show of my life, with special surprises and guests lined up."
In other Anyma news, he recently served as the Creative Visual Director for The Weeknd's one-night-only concert in São Paulo. The techno superstar also announced a rare headlining DJ set alongside house music icon Solomun at Miami's Ultra Music Festival 2025.
A pre-sale for the new Vegas Sphere dates will begin Monday, October 7th at 9am PT. The general on-sale will begin the following day at the same time.Tickets for the other shows are completely sold out.
Follow Anyma:
Instagram: instagram.com/anyma_ofc
X: x.com/anyma_eva
TikTok: tiktok.com/@anyma
Facebook: facebook.com/anyma.ofc
Spotify: tinyurl.com/2p976k79
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Illenium Shares News Of Beloved Dog Peanut’s Passing

It’s been a sad week for Illenium, as the DJ/producer just shared the heartbreaking news that his beloved pup, Peanut, has tragically passed away. Any Illenium fan knows of Peanut, the adorable little Dachsund so graciously shared across social media for years. According to the producer’s post, Peanut passed away suddenly last week, and he received the news just two hours before landing in Japan.
Illenium and his wife are understandably devastated, but their announcement was beautifully worded as it focused on the light Peanut brought into their lives and the joy she brought to everyone who encountered her. Peanut even had her own, very successful Instagram page, which you can view here. Hopefully this will help preserve her memory for years to come.
We are keeping Illenium and his wife in our thoughts, and I know we are all collectively grateful that the producer allowed us to share in Peanut’s life. She will be missed, but never forgotten!
The post Illenium Shares News Of Beloved Dog Peanut’s Passing appeared first on EDMTunes.
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Okeechobee Canceled For 2025 With Return In Doubt

One of America’s most beloved festivals has been canceled once again. Okeechobee took 2024 off to reassess, reorganize, and reflect on progressing with the festival. However, even though they had planned to return in 2025, more time will be needed to deliver an exceptional festival experience.
Okeechobee prides itself on “only at Okeechobee” experiences. That is what they aim to provide going forward, hopefully in 2026. The festival promises to make its return bigger than ever, expanding on the event that first began in 2016. Earlier this year they asked their fans for a wish list for the 2025 edition. I think all fans wish for the same thing…to have the festival occur.
We really hope Okeechobee comes back to us in 2026. It is a festival known for it’s community of harmony, creativity, and wonder. The charming camping festival offers a unique and intimate experience for ravers. Hopefully, they go back to their original roots as they desire and ignite that spark once again.
The post Okeechobee Canceled For 2025 With Return In Doubt appeared first on EDMTunes.
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What You Missed at the 2024 Lost Lands Festival, the Gold Standard of Bass Music Experiences

"It's a coming-together of an entire scene... and it's a sect of EDM that is unlike anything else we've seen." 

Those are the words of electronic music star Grabbitz, but they're reflected by the tens of thousands of ravers and artists alike who annually attend Lost Lands.
Despite facing challenges in 2024, like a ban of open flames and pyrotechnics, the 2024 edition of Excision's flagship festival came out on top as its most groundbreaking yet, reinforcing its standing as the gold standard for stateside bass music.
EDM.com was once again on the grounds of Ohio's Legend Valley to cover this one-of-a-kind event. Read on to discover some of the best moments from Lost Lands 2024.
The brand-new "Crater" stage pushed laser technology to its limits
Fans have always made the trip to Lost Lands for the bleeding-edge laser production of Excision Presents, but their brand-new "Crater" stage brought that technology to new heights by virtue of an eye-popping 360° setup.
The stage was created by Hauss Collective with more than 100 lasers and over 6000w, according to Lightwave International. They made the sky vanish, replacing it with a vibrant canopy of light that pulsed in sync with heavy-hitting dubstep beats. For many, the stage was the highlight of Lost Lands.
View the original article to see embedded media.
No fireworks? No problem
Approximately a week before the festival's gates were to open, Lost Lands and the Ohio State Fire Marshal released a statement banning all flame effects, pyrotechnics and most open flame burning of propane. Many had hoped to witness the festival's renowned fireworks display and were left disappointed by the news.
However, Excision Presents quickly adapted by introducing an awe-inspiring drone show. Instead of traditional fireworks, hundreds of drones lit up the sky in intricate formations, from dinosaurs to Excision's logo. The swift response from the Lost Lands team highlighted their dedication to providing an exceptional experience, ensuring that fans enjoyed stunning visuals despite the limitations. 
Surprise b2b sets brought together dubstep's biggest names
As the days went on, the energy remained high, with many of the festival's highlights occurring even after the headlining acts concluded. Given the incredible talent on the lineup, extremely rare b2bs were inevitable—and they did not disappoint.
From Crankdat and Kompany to Tape B and Levity, and even Excision, Wooli, LEVEL UP, Sullivan King and Dion Timmer, these surprise sets provided a rare opportunity to witness diverse styles converge and experience some of the biggest names in the game experimenting with their sounds.
View the original article to see embedded media.
New generation of producers stepped into the spotlight
The nation's biggest artists in dubstep and bass music play at Lost Lands, but it’s arguably the rising talents that steal the show. ALLEYCVT, Hairitage, INZO, Zingara, LAYZ and many more threw down over the course of the weekend.
Notably, on the first day of the festival, EDM.com Class of 2024 trio Levity graced the Prehistoric Stage, bringing their signature wobbling bass and soaring synths to the mainstage. Considering it was such an early set, the size of the crowd showed that fans were eager to experience the group's infectious energy.
Elsewhere, Pauline Herr dominated the Forest Stage with a set filled with high-energy trap music. Even when the rain started falling, her stage presence kept spirits high, a testament to her ability to connect with crowds and elevate the overall experience.
View the original article to see embedded media.
DJ Snake debuted a new alias, The Outlaw 
Less than 24 hours before the festival, DJ Snake teased a new alias on his social media in cryptic fashion. He then debuted The Outlaw and surprised the Lost Lands faithful by throwing down a heavy set filled with dubstep, tearout and hard techno.
Even though he's a decade into his career, it was refreshing to see him experiment with his sound and keep his fans on their toes. It remains to be seen whether or not more performances from The Outlaw are on the horizon before Snake plays his "final show" in 2025.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Follow Lost Lands:
X: x.com/lost_lands
Instagram: instagram.com/lostlandsfestival
Facebook: facebook.com/lostlandsmusicfestival
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In Coversation With London Elektricity

Drum & bass legend London Elektricity has been on quite the journey recently, and we caught up with him to delve into his latest chapter. Just a few weeks back, we sat down with the iconic producer to talk about his new label Fast Soul Music—a personal venture that follows his departure from Hospital Records, the label he co-founded over two decades ago. Tony Colman, the man behind the alias, revealed his desire to return to a more hands-on, creative approach to music-making after stepping back from the responsibilities of running a large label. His vision for Fast Soul Music is rooted in that passion, as he explained: “I never wanted to sign anyone—it’s about the music.”
With upcoming releases on Metalheadz and a fresh stream of music from his own label, the future is bright. And despite his storied history, London Elektricity feels like he’s just getting started again: “It’s lovely at my age to feel like I’m at the start of something.” With a passion for fostering community, making bold statements, and keeping the music at the heart of everything, London Elektricity’s next chapter is one to watch.
Hi, what have you been up to recently?
I’ve been really, really busy having fun in the studio doing what I love I’m very lucky to be able to do that. Setting up my new label.
And How was Festival season for you?
It was good. That there’s a couple more left. I’m doing one in Winchester called Mucky Weekender, which I’ll definitely take my wellies for, and then Sun & Bass in Sardinia next week.
I’m taking my wife this year and we’ve got a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old. So actually leaving them home alone for four days. Which is going to be a new experience for them. Basically, as long as they can get themselves to school and not make a real mess of the house, then it’s a win.
I wanted to ask about your family because there have been many events I’ve been to, where you’ve brought them on stage- it’s such a nice thing to see. How are they all doing?
They’re good. I’ve got two boys, the oldest Kenji is very musical but he’s not pursuing a music-based career and he’s gonna go and study engineering at university. Chemical engineering, not sound engineering.  
And Stanley he’s 14, he’s mad keen on playing the trumpet. He’s a promising trumpet player so I drag him on stage to play the trumpet over a few tunes, it’s partly for his experience but it’s partly just because it’s a vibe. 
Over the years, they’ve both been around when I’ve been DJing at festivals. I’d have them on my shoulders while I played when they were toddlers and all that kind of thing. I guess it is kind of a life skill. It’s quite good for them to not be scared of being in front of lots of people, whatever they end up doing. It’s a nice thing to do when you’re a kid.
I love to see it, it makes you seem more relatable and it reiterates that the drum and bass scene can be a family-orientated space…
I do this because it’s all about sharing a feeling with the people who come and see you play. It’s about engaging with the crowd and just sharing that feeling of pure joy that this music gives us.
Let’s talk about Fast Soul Music. Where did the initial idea come from to move into more of a solo space?
I had 27 years of building and running Hospital Records. And that was quite a ride.
I stepped away from Hospital because I got a bit lost, it became too big and too corporate for me personally. That’s no criticism of the other guys who run Hospital. I actually started Hospital Records as an outlet for my own music, I never really wanted to sign anyone, but then High Contrast and Danny Bird came along and it was impossible to turn them down.
So it grew into something really quite beautiful and quite big, but for me, as CEO of that company, I was getting torn apart because what I love is the music, I love making music. I love helping people to make music and I love performing music and I love connecting with fans, but when a company reaches that size, with 30 employees, you spend all your time dealing with staff problems and paying the overheads. So it wasn’t the lovely little thing that it was- it became very different for me. I was unhappy in that situation. I’ve always said when something makes me unhappy, I’ll move away from it. So that was the decision and it was a very, very good decision for everybody concerned.
The last couple of years I’ve been, really enjoying making music, working with other artists and doing what I love. I thought, I’ll just release my music on a few different labels and it would be fun. I started to rediscover the reasons why I set up Hospital in the first place; a lot of other labels are pretty disorganised and people kept saying, “You should do your own, it’s the way forward!” I had chats with artists who’ve done that; Zinc, S.P.Y, Etherwood and a whole range of people. They all said, “It’ll be really easy with your experience Tony,  just do it!”
I was quite cautious and I didn’t want to do it until I had the right people in place. I met up with Ed Priest who used to do promotions at Hospital for a while and he’s label managing Souped Up. We had a chat, I played him the new music, and he really liked it. So he’s now label manager for Fast Soul Music. 
Ed’s wicked, he really is, he’s got such a great energy! Knowing that I’ve got someone who knows what they’re doing and has got the right kind of vibe and spirit, I was happy to move forward.  I’m not going to sign anyone. I have absolutely no intention of growing another two-headed beast. I really hope I can stick to that.
Until another High Contrast comes along… 
Then I’ll just enjoy their music…
It’s nice and I like having an outlet that I can produce for. I’ve also got music coming on Metalheads, which I’m really excited about because I’ve been a fan from the very early days. In fact, the very reason that I decided to really start working in drum and bass was because in 1995 I was in an acid jazz band called Izit . We were touring the world and I needed some time off because my head was basically exploding so I went on holiday and at the airport I bought a copy of ‘Timeless’ by Goldie to take with me to the Philippines. 
That blew my mind and actually opened loads of doors and windows in my mind as to what I could do, so big up Goldie for that because it really changed the course of my musical life. So to be releasing on Metalheadz is an absolute dream and an honor.  One is a track I’ve done myself and there’s a collaboration with Conrad Subs and Genesis Elijah.  
I’ve also got a collaboration with BCee on Spearhead. And after that, I’m gonna be releasing music pretty much every month on my own label. And I feel really, really excited. It’s lovely at my age to be feeling like I’m at the start of something.
Is it bittersweet? Moving away from Hospital, because for me at least, it’s really hard to separate you from them, you’re completely synonymous, but now you’ve got this whole journey ahead of you… 
I really have and it’s a lovely feeling. I’ve been making music for so long and still when I sit down and start making a tune I always feel like I don’t know what I’m doing and that’s a positive thing, that keeps things fresh. Otherwise, it’s very easy to get jaded if you start doing things in the same way and just banging them out, I’ve never been able to do that, it’s not in me to do that. So I always feel like I’m just at the start of something.
You’ve always had the air of someone who has massive respect for the past and where we’ve come from. But you embrace all the changes and everything that comes with it… 
I think if you want to be authentic and really true to yourself and to the craft, you have to understand it only exists in the moment. Yes, there’s all this stuff that’s gone before in the past and in history, which is there for you to learn from. But that’s gone. It doesn’t exist anymore. And nothing in the future exists yet, so the only thing that exists is what we’re doing right now in this moment.
Remembering that is quite powerful. Because everything else is kind of irrelevant. it’s a real paradox because yes, it’s important to learn from the past. But it’s also important to remember that it doesn’t exist. What we do right now is what influences the future.
That’s just a very long-winded way of saying “Don’t worry about s***, keep going with what you love.”
Is that a philosophy you take in all aspects of your life?
I try to, and I try every day to make sure that that’s how I live. That involves quite a lot of meditation and basically, I guess you could say prayers, just to set myself up first thing in the morning. It’s just the way for me to completely offload all of the s*** that exists in my head, because my head is full of it. If I actually listen to what my head’s telling me the day is not going to go well, so I need to park it somewhere. 
Speaking about changes, what are the biggest things you’ve seen changing the scene in the last 30 years that you’ve been a part of it? 
So much has changed in 30 years. I had a second life and started DJing at 35/36, but I’m lucky in that when I started, it was all about dubplates and vinyl so I learned my craft, which gives you a different flow and different outlet. So I’ve seen all of that change- vinyl to CDs to MP3s off USB.
Basically now it’s all people using Rekordbox and that software gets slightly refined. They have to produce new hardware to keep themselves in business, it’s the same hardware slightly refined. Now you can automate what you do more which means it’s very, very easy for people to go and DJ without really knowing how to DJ because the equipment works for you. As long as you set up your key points in Rekordbox properly, you can just turn up and press sync and off you go, that’s what’s in front of us. And there’s no point in anyone saying “That’s rubbish. It’s not real DJing”. It is what it is now.
The ways of communicating have really changed, when we used to promote records, 30 years ago, you pressed up a load of white labels on vinyl and you posted them to the DJs who you wanted to actually support your music. You’d send them with the reaction sheet, which was a photocopied form that they were supposed to fill in and post back to you.
How many did you get back?
People used to do that because DJs knew that if they didn’t fill in their reaction sheets they might not get sent records anymore.
When you promote a tune now, you just spam out through email addresses and you’re lucky if the DJ listens to it and bothers to send you a little tick in the box or comments “Yeah, that’s wicked.” So it’s really changed in that respect.
And obviously, we can communicate with our fans directly now. Which is, 95% of the time, lovely. It really, is and it’s something to embrace, it’s not something to ignore. It doesn’t replace actually going to a rave playing and spending time meeting people who like your music. I love going to an event and actually meeting the people, they’ve taken time out to come and see you play- that’s a big deal. It really is because for all of us, time is the most valuable thing that we have. We don’t own time, but how we spend it is the most valuable decision that we ever make, so if people spend a few hours coming out to hear me play because they like my music or whatever, that’s incredible.
So, that hasn’t changed, the connection, that’s the same. It’s interesting, isn’t it?
You’ve got another way that you connect with people, your podcasts. What draws you to the podcast medium?  What value do you think it adds to music?
I started the Hospital Podcast back in the day, RIP to the Hospital Podcast because it’s finished now. I started that in 2006. After I’d been in Australia on tour with Zinc. He said, “I’m doing this podcast thing”, and he loved it, so I thought I’ll try that. I did one and I really enjoyed it. Even back then in 2006 I got lots of feedback, I mean feedback on MySpace as it was then. Since I’ve moved on from Hospital, I’ve done my own podcast, which is called Fast Soul Music, and I’ve taken a break over the last few months from it just so I can focus on this label and being in the studio making music. But we’ll definitely be recording it on a regular basis because I do love doing it.
When I broadcast a podcast, I imagine that I’m talking to one person. It shows that I’m fairly insane because I’m happy to spend a couple of hours talking to an imaginary friend. It’s nice when you are playing music, but podcasts give you an opportunity to actually say how that tune makes you feel, ultimately music is all about emotions. As a listener, I consume and listen to music that I love, because It creates new emotions for me, and it makes connections for me when I listen to it. 
When we make music we have to remember that this is actually for someone else’s emotional experience. So when you play it and you can talk about it, it’s nice to pass a little bit of that on. 
Talk to us about your first two releases on FSM, they feature two incredible vocalists; Doktor and Catchng Ciaro.  Why do you like working with vocalists? 
In terms of the craft of actually producing, one of my favourite things is to work with vocalists. And I particularly love having a vocalist in the studio. Being there, to get my hands dirty with all of that. I love that and with Catching Cairo, that’s what we did. I sent her the sketch and she came up with a rough idea, I said “Just come to the studio and we’ll put it down.” I’d never worked with her before, but she came in and it was almost one take. It was fantastic.
I really like getting into the performance and delivery of the words and the clarity; editing the lyrics on the spot and all of that. I really love helping the vocalists to be the best version of themselves on that recording- it’s an absolute joy. 
With Doctor it was different he did the vocal in his own studio and sent it over. Then it was a process of collaborating with him on how to structure it and change it again a very, very rewarding experience. They’re both wicked vocalists. And I just love good vocals, I like making instrumentals as well but I just love the human interaction- most singers are a bit crazy and pretty funny. It’s a good laugh. 
What else have you got coming up? 
I’ve got a tune that’s finished. It’s a collaboration with DJ Marky and Makoto with Vonne on vocals, who is an incredible R&B/gospel singer. What she’s done on this tune is unbelievable. My tune with BCee has got the amazing Ruth Royal on vocals. And then next year, we’ve got a tune finished which is another vocal-  it’s a collaboration with Anile and Zara Kershaw on vocals. And they’re beautiful vocals.
You collaborate with such varied artists…
I collaborate with people that I really, really love and love their music and respect. I think it’s important to keep things varied to stop things getting stale.
I wanted to talk to you about social responsibility. You talk about politics quite openly, which a lot of artists can shy away from because they don’t want to alienate people. There’s a lot of love and respect for you for pushing good energy. Why do you think that’s important and is there a balance that needs to be considered?  
Why is it important? We can’t change anything by keeping quiet about it. There are certain things in life that are much more important than how many followers you’ve got and how many people are streaming your music. When I get my teeth into a cause, it becomes very important to me. And some things I just have to stop and go “What the f***. This needs talking about!” 
When Russia invaded Ukraine. That was one such occasion for me. Partly because I have a lot of social connections in Ukraine. Before that, I had friends in Ukraine and Russia, once Russia invaded Ukraine I did reach out to some of my Russian friends and asked “What’s your take on this? What do you think?” Some of them were like “Yeah this is s***, Putin is insane!” Some of them actually wouldn’t talk about it at all.
For my Ukrainian friends, it was a case of doing what I could to support them in their country. I’ve been able to visit twice during the war, I went in July last year and I went in May this year. Just to go and play for free to help them raise money for humanitarian aid and their own forces. That’s the only way that I can help. 
I also went to bear witness that this actually is happening because there’s still a lot of people who believe the Russian-influenced, right-wing media that they see online. They actually think that it’s not happening at all and that it’s been created by the deep state. But I’ve been there, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It was a real privilege.
How is that for you?
Last year I was taken around some places where in the first few days of the invasion, the Russian forces came in and occupied. It’s where they committed various acts of genocide. I’ve seen all of that with my own eyes and I was shown around by a Commando from Special Forces in Ukraine. It was pretty gobsmacking to see it all. I saw the pile of vehicles that were pulled off the bridge when the Russian forces came into the occupied area, civilians were trying to get out across the bridge towards Kyiv- they were just hit with machine guns and murdered in their cars.
There’s a huge heap of vehicles, full of bullet holes.
It’s very sobering but I knew that I was lucky to be told the story by someone who was actually there. To actually see it with my own eyes, because it’s important that we can, then relay this to people who aren’t living in the war. This war is ongoing, people are getting bombed and shelled all the time. It’s been three years now, it has become the norm so it doesn’t get reported on very much. But it’s actually getting worse, so I do what I can. 
The other cause is what’s happening in Gaza. And that’s a really difficult one for people to talk about. Because there’s so much entrenched in the history of the Jewish people, and it’s very confusing for a lot of people to get a very conflicted about it. But the fact of the matter is, it’s not anti-Semitic to criticize the Israeli government. It’s got nothing to do with spiritual matters or religious matters if they are behaving in a genocidal way it needs to be told and it needs to be called out. 
You asked about striking a balance and it is important that you do strike a balance because if you’re going to constantly spout politics on your music-related channels, then you’re going to switch off a lot of people- and you actually destroy the mechanism by which you can carry a message. So it’s really important to know when to stop. That was something I didn’t used to be very good at. I used to shoot my mouth off about all sorts of things and piss off loads of people. Now I try to do things in a slightly more balanced way. 
What would you say to any younger musicians, who maybe would want to say something for a particular cause, but are a little worried about what might happen? Would you advise them or is that something that someone needs to think about in their own?
It really is a matter of your own intuition. No one can tell you what to do and what not to do. But I will say first of all make sure that it’s researched. Don’t start speaking about something that you don’t know about. Because you’ll get called out on it and you’ll feel like a complete idiot. 
It needs to be something that is true. Especially in these days of massive fake news that’s put in front of us to manipulate how we think and how we act.
Also, don’t do it if you’re not prepared to face the consequences. If you’re too fragile to deal with the hate that may come back at you- then really you’ve got no business doing it in the first place. That being said, doing it when you’re unprepared for the consequences, can be very good lesson,  it can actually teach you to become stronger.

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Nordfold joins Budakid’s Flores label

Flores · Nordfold – Goldfold / Machine Amsterdam’s Simon van Leunen, AKA Nordfold has a family tree chock-full of Dutch professional musicians, dating back generations. Being immersed in music this way is what makes Nordfold’s music so incredible – rich, deep, instinctively knowing how to create a mood and to stir your emotions through music, as shown across his many brilliant releases on Anjunadeep and Watergate – the latter being his acclaimed collaboration with label boss Budakid on 2022’s ‘United’ EP. This makes his music perfect for Flores, a label where Budakid, his friend and long-time collaborator, is collating the best, most original electronic music, with a focus on cinematic quality soundscapes and music that makes you feel.
The titular track, ‘Goldfold’ starts with a solid 4/4 Moog modular bass kick paired with a more complex breaksy hi-hat. Nordfold lets his music breathe, giving you time to get into the rhythm, before adding a deep soulful bassline thirty seconds in. Layers of atmospheric synths stir you inside, ‘Goldfold’ emerges from its’ seed case growing up gloriously through the frost towards the sunshine. The melodic keyboard line fills you with a warm feeling in your tummy as ‘Goldfold’ blooms. Upbeat yet relaxed, exciting and calming at the same time. The soulful vocal sample only adds to this as the music pulses and swells, taking you with it on their meandering currents like a leaf on a stream,
Nordfold explains: “Goldfold existed from pure longing to the endless summer days and sunsets. I started the track during the darker and cold winter days where the musical ideas felt like a future sun kiss. I finished it in the summer. Goldfold both longs for and experiences the golden days. It’s a playful tune, flirting with breaks, old school basses and fresh progressive elements in the background.”
‘Machine’, the second track, hits you with the sweetest broken beat. Nordfold again with the musicality to let his tracks breathe. Keyboards like staccato angels call you through Amsterdam’s St Nicholas’s Basilica towards the Sauer organ, where Nordfold is on the keys, the organ pipes pumping out the most beautiful bassline. Machine has a dreamy, 3D quality, melodic and machine synths buzzing around you like fireflies, interchanging, weaving and always adding to the vibe.
Nordfold tells us more: “With ‘Machine’ I had the intention of creating a track that can trigger positive and hopeful daydreaming. To me, it kind of feels like a guided meditation with the solo lead starting halfway through the song, taking you on a blissful trip”
Budakid adds: “Nordfold and I have known each other for a while already. I’ve always been a big fan of his music and artistic vision. I love the ‘Goldfold’ 2 tracker- uplifting, powerful with a hint of nostalgia but still Nordfold’s strong signature sound.”
Buy / Stream https://push.fm/fl/ignjwski 
The post Nordfold joins Budakid’s Flores label appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
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