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The electronic scene in the early to mid 2000s was synonymous with two names, Doctor P and Flux Pavilion. They were both at the helm of the dubstep phenomenon that took over the globe during this time, which catapulted their sound and careers to unforeseen heights. Their take on dubstep was whimsical, manic and completely outrageous at times. However, it resonated with millions of people across the world, and forever altered the electronic music landscape. Now, decades later they’re on the brink of releasing their collaborative, self-titled dubstep album, which is an ode to their 23 year-long friendship and the genre that changed the trajectory of their lives indefinitely. The 15-track album, which will be released via their groundbreaking imprint Circus Records on 27 March, marks a full circle moment for both artists. It cross-pollinates elements of jungle, grime, breaks and other electronic mutations, and feels like a time capsule with a contemporary edge, with many fans sharing their overwhelming nostalgia online after listening to the album’s teasers. The album is a formidable body of work which not only exhibits their roots, but also their staggering individual growth. The build-up to its release has been incredible, with teasers like ‘WDGAF’ and ‘Wasabi’ decimating all expectations, and fans on the edge of their seats, desperately needing more. The focus track ‘Water’ features voice notes from the Circus Records team, and kicks off with a sucker-punch beat and a brawny bassline, and then morphs into a deranged, mouth-watering bass spectacle. In our exclusive interview with Doctor P and Flux Pavilion, we chat about their favourite tracks on the album, the future of dubstep and what else 2025 holds for them. Stream the album below, while reading our exclusive interview! Doctor P & Flux Pavilion / Image credit: Fiona Garden You’re about to release your album Doctor P & Flux Pavilion, a gargantuan 15-track dubstep album! How are you both feeling about the album release? Doctor P: Excited, nervous, it’s been a journey. Flux Pavilion: Yeah I think excited, we’ve put a lot into this and it’s time for it to enter the world. It’s an unusual feeling for sure. Fans have been raging online about the nostalgia the album is evoking, with many saying it feels like the early 2010s again. What about this era made dubstep such a formidable genre, and what sparked your return to this sound? Doctor P: I guess at the time we were all just experimenting and Dubstep was still fresh with lots of room to do something new. Flux Pavilion: Definitely, I think we decided between ourselves that there were some elements we discovered back then that shouldn’t be forgotten, so now was the time to modernise them and bring that back to present day Dubstep. You’ve been collaborating for over 20 years, and it’s clear that you have quite a strong bond and understanding. After all this time, how do you manage to keep your dynamic fun, innovative and fresh? Doctor P : Probably by not overdoing it, we both have very independent careers, it’s not that often that we come back together and do something this creative. So it definitely feels fresh every time. Flux Pavilion: We understand each other in quite a unique way, plus we’re honest about stuff when we think it doesn’t work. Then we manage to be good at finding the right answer for those problems, or one of us wins and we forget about it! lol The album has been described as a balance between a “serious body of work” and “just two friends messing around on a computer”. In light of this, the music industry can be extremely grueling for artists, and it’s easy to get caught up in the seriousness of it all. How do you balance the light, playful side of things with the more serious aspects? Doctor P: I think people see me as quite serious, but I like to challenge that assumption in my sense of humour and graphic design. I really enjoy making music and being in the studio, which is probably where I find that balance. Flux Pavilion: Yeah, I guess there are two answers here. In terms of music I’ve always had that approach, I think I’ve always been at my best when pushing for a feeling over creating the most perfectly finessed commercial project. The industry is very serious, and it’s important to understand and embrace that, but I always balance life and personal time to make sure I don’t get in too deep. Doctor P & Flux Pavilion Album Cover / Album art by Doctor P and Fiona Garden This year marks 16 years of your label Circus Records. Aside from the release of your album, what does the rest of 2025 hold for the imprint? Doctor P: More of the same I think, to be honest we’ve been so in deep on this album it’s been hard to think about anything else. Flux Pavilion: Yeah, I think there’s more music coming from lots of the new artists on the label. FuntCase mentioned he’s working on a collaboration EP, so that should be exciting. As dubstep luminaries, how important is it for you to stay on the cusp of what’s happening with the genre? Doctor P: Very important, so much changes, especially when new software comes out and people develop new approaches. Flux Pavilion: I’ve spent lots of time over the last 2 or 3 years to make sure we’re at the forefront. This album is about that as much as anything, both of us bringing our current knowledge together, throwing in all the things we feel are missing in modern dubstep but in a way that works for the modern floor. Where do you think the future of dubstep is going? Doctor P: Serum 2 Flux Pavilion: The new dubstep scene is so exciting, I’m loving what people like Hamdi and LYNY are doing, inspired by the old UK scene, blending in of other genres, it’s fun. Do you each have any favourites off the album? Doctor P: I think ‘Flashback’ is really interesting, it’s got a foot in the old and the new, a good summary of what we’re trying to do in general. Flux Pavilion: ‘Feel Good Ltd’ is lots of fun, we asked my friend Sarah Bonito from Kero Kero Bonito to jump on the vocal, she’s amazing and I love everything she does. She really gets that fun aspect of the music we wanted to make. Are there any stand-out, special or outrageous studio moments from creating this album that you’d like to share? Doctor P: We had to do a lot of work finding the right hooks for so many tracks, one that went left field was ‘Water’. We ended up asking a bunch of people from the Circus office to record voice notes saying ‘Water’, anyone British who’s been to the US will know how much contention one word creates. Flux Pavilion: My favourite is from the head of business affairs, he’s got a great voice! We also accidentally left a placeholder sample at the end, but thought it was funny so left it in the final cut Stream ‘Water’ below: What do you hope fans take away from this album? Doctor P: Hopefully it will give them a big smile, and a few strong bass faces. Flux Pavilion: That they’ll enjoy how it makes them feel and they enjoy dancing to it out in the world. I think that’s the main thing. What else can we expect from both of you this year? Are there any exciting tours, projects or releases in the works? Doctor P: I’m busy with my next solo singles, some production work and my other Drum and Bass project Freaks & Geeks. Flux Pavilion: I’ve got some remixes coming, then we’re working on putting together a Doctor P & Flux Tour (shhh, it’s a secret, don’t tell our agent we told you). After that, maybe Fluxiverse 3, we’ll see. Follow Doctor P: Facebook – Instagram – X – Spotify Follow Flux Pavilion: Facebook – Instagram – X – Spotify Follow Circus Records: Facebook – Instagram – X – Spotify This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Doctor P & Flux Pavilion discuss their monumental collaborative album, the future of dubstep & share album focus track [Premiere]

The fifth edition of Tomorrowland Winter has officially come to an end, bringing together more than 22,000 People of Tomorrow in the breathtaking ski resort of Alpe d’Huez. Over seven unforgettable days, festivalgoers from more than 90 countries embraced the perfect mix of music, mountains, and adventure, exploring the mesmerizing world of Paperworld. For those who want to relive the experience, full live sets from AFROJACK, Agents Of Time, Alok, Axwell, Henri PFR, HUGEL, Indira Paganotto, Kevin de Vries, Kölsch, Meduza, Mind Against, Miss Monique, NERVO, Steve Aoki, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, W&W, and many more are now available on YouTube and the Tomorrowland App. Tomorrowland Winter 2025: Key Highlights Theme: ‘Paperworld’ 5th edition of Tomorrowland Winter 7 festival days More than 22,000 festivalgoers from over 90 countries 7 stunning indoor and outdoor stages across the mountains and resort More than 150 top electronic artists 250 km of ski slopes With over 150 artists performing across 7 iconic stages, Tomorrowland Winter 2025 delivered some of the most electrifying beats. The festival’s most-played tracks captured the energy and spirit of the week-long celebration, giving fans an unforgettable soundtrack to the event. Tomorrowland Winter 2025 was another unforgettable chapter in the festival’s legacy—where friendships were formed, memories were made, and music echoed through the mountains. Until next time, relive the magic now on YouTube and the Tomorrowland App. The post [WATCH] Tomorrowland Winter 2025 Sets Now on YouTube appeared first on EDMTunes.

Zeds Dead had quite the weekend in New York. It all started on Thursday, March 20th, when they took over the world-famous Katz Deli. They served more than pastrami sandwiches and gave the pop-up crowd plenty to feast on. Katz Deli was filled to the brim with ravers as the Canadian duo played their world-famous sound in an iconic venue. Their New York takeover continued into Friday and Saturday night at the sold-out Avant Gardner. Support for the shows was impressive, including Truth, Mr.Carmack, Distinct Motive, Mary Droppinz, Hershe, Suray Sertin, and more. Each of them added to an unforgettable night of bass and grooves. Zeds Dead Zeds Dead is coming off a huge album release Spectrum Of Intergalactic Happiness. Before the release, it had been over 8 years since their last one. This 14-track opus is their gift of self-expression to the world. As you listen, the music takes you to alternate dimensions, jumping across all parallel universes from track to track. ‘One Of These Mornings’ is a personal and crowd favorite, and hearing it for the first time live shook everyone’s bones. Their stage design and visuals for the tour will take you back in time. They line the front of the stage with small old TVs that look similar to what we had as kids (depending on your age of course). They are big, boxy, and vintage, which allows for the visuals to be expressed in a unique manner. Those TVs were never very crisp with their pixels, so you get thrown back into time just by staring at them. Zeds Dead does a wonderful job of sampling old songs. They are no stranger to pulling songs from the 1930s-1950s. What is really cool is they have found footage of the original artist and play it in the background while the modern track plays. They do some clever visual manipulation and take you on a colorful journey. I think the most impressive part about Dylan “DC” Mamid and Zachary “Hooks” Rapp-Rovan is their mixing abilities. They play a variety of genres every time I see them and are constantly shifting BPMs seamlessly and often. This keeps the crowd on their toes, never knowing what to expect next. Zeds Dead transcends this dimension we live in, giving intergalactic happiness to all. The post Zeds Dead Take Over New York For The Weekend [Event Review] appeared first on EDMTunes.

John Summit, a famous dance music artist, shares his brand-new song “Light Years” with Inéz today through Darkroom/Experts Only. Summit’s music label and events brand, Experts Only, is meant to support the next generation of house, tech-house, and techno artists. “Light Years” is a great example of current house music because it combines happy builds with deep, punchy basslines. The bright, melodic synths in the track give it an infectious energy that moves easily between tension and release. Summit’s flawless production shines through in every drop, creating a positive, festival-ready vibe that is both hypnotic and thrilling. Before his recent high-energy sets at The Sphere in Las Vegas and SXSW in Austin, he gave fans an early listen to the new song at major shows in London and Amsterdam. The track sent waves of energy through the crowds before it was officially released. Summit and Dom Dolla’s project, Everything Always, is getting ready to play the main stage at Ultra Miami. Their unique sound and high-quality production are sure to light up the main stage. The post John Summit unveils new single ‘Light Years’ appeared first on The Groove Cartel.

Tim ‘Avicii’ Bergling’s former manager, Ash Pournouri, who managed him from 2008 to 2016, recently filed a lawsuit on Monday against Levan Tsikurishvili. Tsikurishvili was the director of the documentary Avicii: True Stories in 2017, the year before Avicii’s death. Pournouri has expressed that this documentary portrays him negatively, hurting his reputation. He has endured false external narratives, but has chosen remain quite out of respect for Tim’s memory and family. Several times, Pournouri has expressed his dissatisfaction with the film, implying he would have pressured Avicii too hard when he was clearly unwell. He wasn’t exactly pleased either with the newest documentary, TIM, which was released on December 31st, 2024. Then the movement of the lawsuit happened after Tsikurushvili posted on Instagram, “Trying to shift the blame to a film instead of handling the situation correctly is both unreasonable and irresponsible.” On his social media pages, Pournouri says, “Enough is enough.” “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.” Enough is enough. In a recent interview focusing on my current business ventures and what I have focused all my energy on building back up, I confirmed that the past few years have been hell for me and my family. I have endured a false external narrative which, out of respect for Tim’s memory and family, I have actively chosen not to engage in. That courtesy has not been extended to me. Lies and false accusations by certain individuals continue with the aim of causing me harm and to profit from a tragedy. Consequently, I have been left with no other choice but to file lawsuits with the main objective for the lies to stop and the facts to be known, once and for all. I will not make any further comments regarding this matter and will put my trust in the legal proceedings.“ The post Ash Pournouri Filing Defamation Lawsuit Over Avicii Documentary appeared first on EDMTunes.

LA-based producer, singer, and DJ XIE had just dropped her empowering new single, ‘Siente El Ritmo’, on March 21st featuring the talented Spanish singer-songwriter ANGE, as part of the inspiring Lady of the House Latin America compilation, available now via the Lady Of The House label. XIE provides bold and empowered rhythms in ‘Siente El Ritmo’ In fact, ‘Siente El Ritmo’ embodies the vibrant spirit of Latin dance culture with sultry vocals, hypnotic rhythms, and pulsating house grooves. In addition, XIE’s dynamic production perfectly complements ANGE’s evocative lyrics, encouraging listeners to lose themselves in the music’s magic. The track’s energetic beats and fiery essence make it a standout addition to the compilation. XIE blends her unique music production style with the outstanding vocals of ANGE “ANGE’s beautiful vocals were the inspiration point for everything. ‘Siente El Ritmo’ means ‘Feel The Rhythm’ in Spanish so I wanted to create a track that felt just like that. I really leaned into the percussion, drums, and bringing my own Latin Tech house vibe & the soul of the record to life.” Musical background of the artists, successes so far, and upcoming EP Combining her background as a classically trained violist with her artistry as a singer-songwriter and her skill in reading audiences as a DJ, XIE is destined to shine in the house music scene. Her sound is a kaleidoscope of colors, infused with a distinct sass that translates beautifully to the live stage. XIE’s electrifying DJ sets have graced renowned events like Coachella’s DoLaB Stage, HARD Summer, Miami Music Week, and EDC Las Vegas. In 2023, XIE released two captivating singles, ‘C’est La Vie’ and ‘Birds In Paradise’, showcasing her ability to blend playful pop with moody tech-house. Furthermore, ‘Siente El Ritmo’ follows her uplifting single, ‘LOVE LANGUAGE’, and paves the way for her upcoming EP, Kick Drum Heart. Finally, click “Play” on the Spotify link to stream ‘Siente El Ritmo’ from XIE, a track that allows one to really embrace the rhythm and let the music inspire at every groove. The post XIE Brings Out The Vibrant Flows in ‘Siente El Ritmo’ appeared first on EDMTunes.

*Featured Cover Photo Credt: Pat Quinteiro (TNL) / Miss Monique Hï Ibiza is set to elevate the clubbing experience in 2025 with the upcoming, electrifying 13-week Thursday residency of Miss Monique in the Club Room, running from June 26th to September 18th. Miss Monique is jumpstarting a new era as one of the female resident DJs at the venue. The Ukrainian electronic music innovator will showcase her signature sound—an exhilarating mix of progressive house, melodic techno, and hypnotic rhythms—at the world’s No. 1 club. The new residency of Miss Monique at Hï Ibiza’s Club Room is a must-see In fact Miss Monique’s residency will highlight 13 special international artists, with an exciting opening act each week, many from her acclaimed Siona Records label. Guests can anticipate a stunning light experience and her iconic neon hand fans, creating unforgettable nights. On the same Thursdays, HUGEL will debut his ‘Make The Girls Dance’ residency in the Theatre, offering a vibrant mix of Latin house and Afro house, making these nights the most dynamic of the 2025 season. Miss Monique expressing her excitement over her upcoming residency Miss Monique shares her thoughts about her upcoming residency, “I am so proud and excited to announce my first ever Ibiza residency at Hï Ibiza on Thursdays. I will try to bring my own unique feeling to the iconic Club Room, and sharing the overall venue with the amazing HUGEL. When three years ago I came to play at HÏ Ibiza for the first time, I used to dream of one day seeing my name and face on an Ibiza billboard and having my own night. Thanks to Yann Pissenem and The Night League team, my dream has now become my reality! I will play 13 Thursdays at HÏ and have been building an amazing line-up of supporting artists: legends and new generational talent. I look forward to seeing you all in Ibiza from June 26!” A global phenomenon and host of the MiMo Radio Show As a celebrated DJ, producer, and label owner, Miss Monique boasts over 1.1 million YouTube followers and 300 million cumulative views on the platforms. Miss Monique have also dropped unforgettable releases on Tomorrowland Music, Insomniac, Drumcode and Armada, especially her most recent release on Tomorrowland Music, ‘Magnet’. Aside from being label head of Siona Records, she also hosts her own weekly global radio show, MiMo Radio, and it broadcasts on 50 stations in 30 countries, setting the stage for an incredible season in Ibiza. Together, Miss Monique and HUGEL are shaping the future of global club culture at the world’s premier venue. Tickets and VIP tables for Thursdays at Hï Ibiza are available now on its official website. The post Miss Monique Sets to Headline Residency at Hï Ibiza’s Club Room appeared first on EDMTunes.

So, you’re going to Ultra Music Festival for the first time? Congrats! You’ve just signed up for three days of nonstop bass, questionable decision-making, and enough energy drinks to power a small village. Whether you’re here to witness history, lose your friends in record time, or just see a guy in an astronaut suit absolutely destroy the dance floor, this guide will help you make it through Ultra with your sanity (mostly) intact. 1. Dress for the Occasion (and the Heat)Ultra is in Miami in March, which means two things: it’s hot, and so is the fashion. Think bright colors, funky accessories, and less is more. If you show up in jeans and a sweater, security might actually check to see if you’re lost. Pro tip: Comfortable shoes are a must—your future self will thank you when you’re still dancing at 2 AM instead of limping to an Uber. It also wouldn’t hurt to throw a rain poncho it your bag either- just in case. 2. Hydrate Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)Between the Miami heat and all that dancing, you will sweat buckets. Bring a hydration pack or a reusable bottle to refill at water stations. Dehydration is not a good look, and trust me, passing out mid-bass drop is a surefire way to miss the best part of the festival. 3. Ear Protection = Your New Best FriendYes, you want to hear every drop in full force, but you also want to HEAR after the festival ends. Bring earplugs—your ears will thank you when you’re not still hearing ghost echoes of house beats three days later. 4. Don’t Be That Person with a Dead PhoneYour phone will die faster than you think. Bring a portable charger (or two), and turn on low-power mode before you even get there. Also, resist the urge to record entire sets—nobody is going to watch your shaky, bass-distorted, 27-minute video later (not even you). Snap a few clips, soak in the moment, and for the love of all things EDM, don’t be the person live-streaming with their flash on. 5. Meet People, But Keep Track of Your CrewUltra is a social playground where you’ll make friends with people from all over the world. But losing your friends in a sea of 50,000 people? Not ideal. Set a meeting point in case you get separated, because trying to text “where r u??” with spotty service is a nightmare. 6. Plan Your Schedule, But Be FlexibleUltra’s lineup is stacked with world-class DJs, but unless you’re wizard—you can’t see everyone. Pick your must-sees ahead of time, but don’t stress if you get sidetracked by a surprise set or a new friend who insists you must check out an artist you’ve never heard of. Some of the best moments at Ultra happen when you least expect them. 7. Fuel Like a Festival ProUltra is basically a three-day cardio session disguised as a music festival, and if you don’t eat, you’ll be running on pure adrenaline and bad decisions. Pack some easy-to-carry snacks like granola bars, trail mix, or anything that won’t melt in your pocket. Trust me—your future self will thank you. 8. Bathroom Quest WiselyFestival bathrooms are like a game of roulette—you never know what you’re going to get. Lucky for us, Ultra has brought back their Upgraded Bathrooms, which are quite a step up from the average porta potty. That being said, go before you have to, bring travel tissues, and if you see a short line, RUN. 9. Bring Sunglasses: Not Just for Style, but for SurvivalSunglasses aren’t just for looking cool, they’re your lifesaver against the blazing Miami sun and the insane lasers. Bonus points if you bring a backup pair—because at some point, yours may mysteriously disappear. 10. Just Have Fun!At the end of the day, Ultra is all about letting go and enjoying the music. Don’t stress about catching every set, getting the perfect Instagram shot, or keeping your hair in place (spoiler: it won’t happen). Just dance, vibe, and soak in the madness. Ultra is a marathon, not a sprint—so pace yourself, stay hydrated, and most importantly, have fun. See you in Miami!

2024 was a year in which Koven reached a lot of milestones, both on a professional and personal level. The biggest of them all, though? The duo celebrated 10 years since Katie, their vocalist, joined. In those 10 years, Koven went through some changes, and experimented with their sound, but always stayed true to themselves. “We’ve never tried to fit in with trends because honestly, we don’t know how to,” Katie tells us. 2025 is already shaping up to be a good year for them as well, with their recent release ‘Polarised’ with ÆON:MODE recently released. And that’s not all, because they also announced their new 12-track album Moments in Everglow, and a London headline show in May. The album comes five years after Butterfly Effect, and will feature a full orchestra and choir to make this production bigger than ever. We had a chat with Katie to reflect on the last 10 years of Koven, and had a little look into the upcoming future… In November 2024, it was 10 years ago since you joined Koven, congratulations! A lot has happened since then, but what are some of the most standout moments to you? We’ve been really fortunate to play a lot of incredible shows, but I think a pinnacle part in our journey was when we made the decision for Max to stop playing shows, our dynamic changed a lot then. We only had a couple of years of playing shows together. Max has a lot of flight anxiety, where it’s linked to flight claustrophobia. He doesn’t like being stuck in planes, and it was making the travel really difficult for him. As a DJ playing shows, being able to travel easily and comfortably is so important. It’s stressful enough to travel every weekend if you don’t mind it, but trying to do it when you have this phobia to battle at the same time… It became really difficult for him, so that’s why we made this decision that I would be the only one to play the shows. I would go in the forefront of Koven, but we would always make it very clear that Max is working his butt off in the background. Everything we do is a joint collaboration between the two of us, but I became the forefront of it. I thought it was sad because then I was suddenly playing shows on my own. We played some amazing shows together, before that. The first big festival we did together was Exit Festival in Serbia, on a UKF stage, and it was so surreal. It was the first time me and him stepped on a huge stage. We’d done a few club shows, but we hadn’t done a big festival together. That’s a moment that we’ll definitely always, always remember. Another one is releasing our album Butterfly Effect. It feels like such an achievement to create a body of work like that. And lastly, the fact that we still are working together after all those years. We’re just really fortunate that we are two people after 10 years who are still really happy to work together. And how have you both evolved in those 10 years? I think we’ve just gotten better. From my side of things, I definitely feel more confident in my songwriting and vocal abilities. You can even hear it if you go back to one of the first songs. I almost don’t sound the same, like my vocal is nowhere near as strong and it’s almost like I’m nervous and holding back a little bit. And fastforward to now, you can feel my confidence levels coming out through the music, so I think that’s definitely one way that I’ve evolved. I guess you’re just going to get better at something the more you do it, but it’s a nice feeling though. In 10 years not only a duo like yourself can change, but there have also been some changes in the drum & bass scene. Have you adapted to this change? We’ve always tried not to adapt to the scene in a way, and we’ve been really fortunate that our music has always been well received, no matter what we’ve done. We’ve done different genres and different tempos, different vibes, and people have always seemed to enjoy what Koven is. Koven is not necessarily a certain genre, it’s more of a sound that you get from our music. I think that that’s something we’ve always tried, to stay true to ourselves, in terms of only making music that we absolutely love, and only releasing music that we love. We’ve never really tried to fit trends because honestly we don’t know how to! In the long run, that’s actually done us a lot of favours. Our fan base is unreal. We are fortunate to have so many people that just appreciate who we are as people and as artists. They seem like they’re in for the ride no matter what, which is amazing. In terms of the scene changing, we have had a lot more bookings lately, which has been really good for us. I don’t know, but maybe that has come from the fact that there’s more women in the forefront of drum & bass? That’s been a really big movement that’s happened in the last 10 years. When we first started 10 years ago, there was not this much pressure for equal gender lineups and things like that. I’ve seen that change and it’s been amazing to be part of that ride. I was very lucky to be a woman who was on lineups when it wasn’t as common, and now one of the things I’m seeing is that I’m just surrounded by so many more women when I’m on the road. I absolutely love that, because these women become your friends. I mean, the men become your friends as well, but obviously, woman to woman, you get a tighter bond, so that’s been something that I’ve really seen, a real uprising in female power, and it’s been really nice to be part of that journey. With what goal in mind did you join Koven? I just wanted to write and release music. I never had the aim of it being a career, because I was always very realistic in that mindset of “it doesn’t get to be everyone’s career, you always have to have a side job,” and I did have a side job for a very long time. My goal was always just to create and when Max approached me about working together, it felt so perfect. He felt like the perfect person to create with and originally that was all I cared about, just making music, having an outlet to be creative, and getting music out to people. Obviously then when it does become your career, your goals change because the pressure changes. Suddenly there’s new things that you want to achieve, which is fine because it keeps you motivated and it keeps you going. We’ve now achieved every single goal that we ever set out to achieve so now we have to make new goals. It’s weird, because you achieve one thing and then you go, “okay, now we need to do that but we need to do it bigger and better,” so our goals are always to grow, as long as we keep getting some steady growth, and feel like we’re going somewhere. But we would probably also be fine if we got to a point where we can sustain the same level of success. You get made to feel like you always have to be going up and up and up and up, but ultimately, if I have a career and me and Max continue for this to be our income and our jobs, then I feel like we’ve achieved as much as we can. That’s a good way of looking at things! How did you get this mindset? Even though I say it out loud now, there are times when I’m like, “No, we have to get bigger and it has to get better and there has to be growth,” but I think you get to a point where you just get a little bit older and you get a little bit wiser. Then you realize what really matters in life. One of the most important things in life is financial stability. If you achieve financial stability you’re so fortunate. Friends, family, all of these things, I’m starting to put a lot more focus on those things and then it takes a lot of pressure off your career. When you start out, everything is “career focus career focus career focus” and you throw everything at that. Then it becomes something that you think, if I lose this then I lose everything. The idea of losing it is so scary, but when you get a little bit more content in life, you have to be okay with the idea that it can go away, because you can drive yourself crazy worrying about all of the what-ifs. You have to teach yourself to be content with whatever the outcome may be. Throwing everything into it is also important, because you have to work hard to achieve those things. But you always have to have a balance for your own mental wellbeing of understanding that there are other things in life that are just as important. Hopefully you make it, and hopefully you get a long and successful career, but you can drive yourself crazy from overthinking it. I’ve had so many periods of time, before we got to this point of our career, where I drove myself crazy from worrying. At the moment we’re at a very fortunate position where we are doing well. We’re getting a lot of bookings. It’s our full time job. But there was a time five, six years ago when we were just on the cusp of making it, where it felt like we had something there and we had the capabilities to be successful, but we just weren’t quite reaching to the point we needed to be. I used to get so worked up about it. I know how it can be, and I can see other people finding similar stresses within the industry. Sometimes you just have to take yourself out, look at what you’ve achieved from an outsider’s perspective, and realize that where you’re at is still incredible. You’ll always think that there’s something more and somewhere higher you need to be, and it’s very difficult to get out of that mindset. I managed to do it, because I just got really content with whatever happens. I am very lucky to have achieved so much that I feel like I can pat myself on the back and say, you’ve done a really good job. You’ve just announced your first back to back with A.M.C at Beats for Love. Can you tell us more about that? This was something we have been approached about several times, I guess since people finding out I’m in a relationship with Alex (A.M.C). But we always needed it to make sense. We didn’t want to do it for that reason, we wanted to do it because the show would be amazing. And when Beats for Love came to us it just felt right. We wanted it to be in a place where we have quite an equal fan base and that definitely works for the Czech republic. Also the ‘Love stage” at Beats for Love is one of my favourite stages in the world. It’s an incredible build and has this amazing runway for performance space, it felt like the perfect place to put on the best show we can possibly do. Do you have any exciting projects coming up you want to tell us about? Yes! One of the most exciting, we have just announced our second full length album, Moments in Everglow. We released our first album Butterfly Effect back in 2020 and it had a huge impact for us. We think this album is even better and we are so excited to share all the new music (we’ve already started the release process of some of the singles), as well as the new shows we plan to do alongside the release. It’s just such a positive time for us. After you spend literally YEARS making it, and you get to this part where you can finally enjoy the hard work that’s gone into it. It’s all very exciting.

Jamie Jones has revealed the lineup for ‘Paradise in the City’, the first-ever, full-scale, UK outdoor festival from his world-renowned Paradise brand. Taking place across 4 stages at Boston Manor Park in London from 12pm to 10pm on 2nd August 2025, Jamie Jones has curated a stellar lineup featuring the cream of house and techno. With more names still to be announced, heavy hitters revealed today include Vintage Culture, East End Dubs, Seth Troxler, Hot Since 82, wAFF, Manda Moor, Richy Ahmed, Fleur Shore, Mason Maynard, and of course, Jamie Jones himself will step up to the decks. Cutting-edge sound and state-of-the-art production are guaranteed via innovative event experts, LWE, along with the renowned energy and vibes of Paradise. Tickets go on pre-sale Tuesday 25th March @ 10 am and on general sale Wednesday 26th March @ 10am from paradiseinthecity.co.uk. Hot Creations, Hottrax and Paradise Music label boss, Jamie Jones is one of the most influential and in-demand DJs on the planet. His Paradise Ibiza parties are legendary and he has hand-selected the perfect lineup for the biggest tunes and the best vibes as Paradise In The City parties through the day and into the night. Vintage Culture is Brazil’s electronic music powerhouse with over 1.5 billion streams of his music, and top-tier slots at Tomorrowland, Burning Man, EDC, Coachella, Awakenings, and more. His set at Boston Manor Park will be epic. From Detroit to Berlin, Seth Troxler has crossed the globe playing every major festival and club along the way – he knows exactly how to ignite any dancefloor. Underground heavyweight East End Dubs is the name on everyone’s lips and Paradise In The City will be jumping to his acid-tinged mix of London house and garage. Nature Records boss, wAFF has connected with the Paradise crowds since day one, so fans should expect the very best from this house maestro. Manda Moor continues her rise and will drop the tastiest Chicago house-flavoured blend of grooves and tech. Original Paradise family and founder of Four Thirty Two, Richy Ahmed knows exactly how to get the Paradise dance floor going crazy. Knee Deep In Sound label boss and bonafide house legend Hot Since 82 will bring his surefire collection of festival crowd-pleasers to London. The list of talent lining up for Paradise In The City is breathtaking. Festival-goers can roam 4 stages in the glorious setting of Boston Manor Park and find more unmissable sets from the likes of Alisha, Bontan, Dimmish, Fleur Shore, Mason Maynard, Mr G, Omar S, and Sidney Charles. Paradise has always been a showcase for new and fast-rising talent, and this festival brings even more treats to the turntables with exciting sets from Evie, Fifi Forte, Gaskin, Jamback, L.P. Rhythm, Late Replies, Olive F, and Omri. With even more names to be announced, Paradise In The City will be the ultimate outdoor summer festival for house and techno lovers. Like a slice of Ibiza in West London, party people can dance in the sun from noon, and as the sun goes down, come together to lose themselves in the best mix of electronic music and positive vibrations. Tickets via here The post Jamie Jones drops lineup for his first-ever Paradise UK Outdoor Festival appeared first on Decoded Magazine.

Haskell‘s journey is nothing short of inspiring, from being a professional Rugby player for the national England rugby team to a highly acclaimed DJ and producer. As a prominent fixture in the global tech house scene, he’s performed in Ibiza and Dubai, opened for the living legend Carl Cox, and has released music on leading labels such as In Rotation, Toolroom and D4Dance. Last year, Haskell collaborated with house music luminaries Mark Knight and Gene Farris on their awe-inspiring single ‘Go Deep’, further showcasing Haskell’s discerning ear and artistic fervour. Renowned for his depth and evocative taste in music, he also hosts a successful radio show and podcast, Backrow Beats Series, with Defected Records. Aside from his remarkable musical pursuits, Haskell is a published author with multiple books under his belt, as well as a Sunday Times bestseller for his rugby memoir What A Flanker. This year, he has committed to pushing his signature sound into bolder and more experimental territories, with his forthcoming EP, The Power of Speech at the helm, and set to be released on 1 April via In Rotation. In our interview with Haskell he talks about the similarities between his music and sports careers, following his instincts and drawing inspiration from his daughter. He also shares an exclusive mix below! Let’s talk about your latest track, ‘Love Dealer’ with David LeSal. What inspired this track and can you tell us about the creative process behind it? ‘Love Dealer’ was another step forward in shaping the sound I’m trying to be known for — groove-led, hooky, and built for DJs. David’s vocal hit straight away; it’s got this weight to it, speaks to how we all chase different types of love — physical, emotional, even chemical. I’d been working a lot on drum grooves, making sure the skippy percussive feel cut through, and this one came together around that. The rhythmic stabs give it movement, but each section has its own momentum — that was important. It’s a track DJs can really work with live. Stream ‘Love Dealer’ below: You’re known for being at the forefront of the global tech-house scene. What drew you to tech-house in the first place, and what about the genre continues to intrigue you? For me, it’s always been about rhythm. I grew up on Garage, so that swing, that shuffle — it stuck. Tech-house gave me space to bring that into a more club-focused sound. It’s still the genre that lets you be groovy without losing punch. But it’s not without its challenges — it can get stale quickly. That’s why I’ve been focused on keeping things original: finding new ways to push a groove, using unexpected sounds, working in vocals that still feel fresh. What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without. I’m working mostly in Ableton. I love how quick the workflow is — you don’t lose ideas waiting for stuff to load. UAD plugins are my go-to for warmth and colour, and I always spend a lot of time on the drums, so layering samples through things like PunchBox or even just drum racks with saturation is a must. Performance-wise, it’s the Pioneer setup — the standard. But I’m not into overcomplicating things. The music should do the heavy lifting. How has your artistic process or perspective shifted since you started your journey? Early on, I was very focused on getting the technical stuff right — levels, transitions, all that. Now it’s more instinctive. I trust my ear and focus on what feels right. I’ve also stopped trying to guess what labels want. It’s easy to sit on Beatport and overthink everything. But really, you’ve just got to make what you’d want to play out. The rest follows if the music’s solid. You’re also a renowned former international Rugby player. Have you found any similarities between your sports career and music career? If so, what are they? Loads, actually. Discipline, work ethic, learning from others — it’s all transferable. In rugby, you turned up every day, put in the graft, even when no one was watching. Music’s the same. There’s no shortcut. You chip away at it. And collaboration’s a big one — like in sport, there’s always someone doing what you want to do better than you. So work with them, learn from them. You’ve played all over the globe from Ibiza to Dubai, are there any stand out moments or sets that you’re particularly proud of? Playing Café Mambo in Ibiza was a moment — the sunset, the vibe, the expectation. It teaches you a lot about selecting the right records, not just bangers. Also loved my set at Soho Garden in Dubai — the crowd was properly up for it. Those gigs where the crowd trusts you and you can take them on a bit of a journey — that’s when it clicks. Last year you released a track titled ‘Go Deep’ with Mark Knight and Gene Farris. How fundamental is collaboration to you and can we expect more collabs this year? ‘Go Deep’ was a huge one for me. Mark and Gene are both machines — so much experience, and their ability to execute an idea is next level. I learned a lot just watching how they build and finish tracks. Collaboration’s essential. It’s how you grow. This year I’ve got more collabs in the pipeline — not just for the sake of it, but with people who bring something fresh to the table. Stream ‘Go Deep’ below: If your life and career were an album, what would its title be, and what’s the hidden track only your fans would know? Wow, hard one that! Honestly there are too many to choose from. And if the hidden track was named, it wouldn’t be hidden any more! What inspires you outside of music? My daughter, first and foremost. She’s obsessed with Taylor Swift, so I end up listening to a lot of that — and even though it’s worlds apart from what I make, there’s something to learn from great pop songwriting. I also keep an eye on what other producers in the scene are doing — guys like Sonny Fodera, who walk that line between club and commercial really well. What have you got in the pipeline for the near future? More music — I’ve got some releases lined up that lean into that groove-focused, vocal-heavy sound I’ve been honing. Also exploring a few more melodic bits for the right context. Gig-wise, there’s some big shows on the horizon, and I’m carving out time to build something long-term, rather than chasing quick wins. Always learning, always building. Stream Haskell‘s exclusive YourEDM mix below: Your EDM’s Collection · YourEDM Mix Series – HASKELL Tracklist: Chris Lake, Abel Balder – Ease My Mind (Extended Mix) Prospa, RAHH – This Rhythm feat. RAHH (Extended Mix) Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (SIDEPIECE Remix) HASKELL – The Power Of Speech (Extended) Joshwa – Say My Name (Extended Mix) SIDE B – Offsound (Original Mix) Low Steppa, Jewel Kid – Big Busta (Extended Mix) HASKELL, Maitland, ft RION S – Work (Extended Edit) Biscits – Freak (Extended Mix) HASKELL – Frequency (Extended Mix) HASKELL Love Dealer – Extended Mix Riordan – Gimme (Extended Mix) Braydon Terzo – Paula Abdul (Extended Mix) VENGA – Shake It (Extended Mix) SIDEPIECE, Barney Bones – Ménage À Trois (Extended Mix) Follow Haskell: Spotify – Instagram – SoundCloud – Website This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Haskell talks pushing tech-house forward, career highlights and shares an exclusive mix! [Interview]

Rolling Stone wasn’t exaggerating when they crowned Stevie Nicks the Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll. With a career spanning decades, she has more than earned the title, leaving an unforgettable impact on the music industry. Even Mattel recognized her legendary status by creating a Stevie Nicks Barbie, complete with her signature black outfit and platform boots. Before her rise to global stardom, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham—her then-partner—found moderate success as a duo. But in 1975, she made a game-changing move by joining Fleetwood Mac, propelling the band to legendary status. Their second studio album with Stevie became one of the best-selling albums worldwide, cementing their place among the greatest musical acts of all time. Proving her versatility and artistic independence, Nicks embarked on a solo career in 1981, delivering timeless hits like Edge of Seventeen from her debut album. The record soared to the top of the Billboard 200, earning platinum certifications across multiple countries. Over the years, her influence has only grown, earning her 2 American Music Award nominations, 8 Grammy nominations, and a well-deserved spot on the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Even after nearly 50 years in the music industry, Stephanie Lynn Nicks shows no signs of slowing down. At 75 years old, the Queen of Rock is still captivating audiences, headlining major concerts, and wrapping up rescheduled dates from her tour with Billy Joel in Concert. If you’re looking to experience her magic live, TicketX has the best deals on Stevie Nicks concert tickets for 2024. Don’t miss your chance to witness rock royalty in action! Stevie Nicks Tickets What’s Stevie Nicks Up to These Days? Still Reigning, Still Rocking! At 75 years old, Stevie Nicks isn’t just sitting back and enjoying her legendary status—she’s still out there, making waves in music, on tour, and even influencing pop culture. New Music with a Message In September 2024, Nicks released “The Lighthouse,” a powerful anthem inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. More than just a song, it became a rallying cry for women’s rights, proving that her voice—both musically and socially—is as strong as ever. She took the stage on Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote the track, leaving audiences in awe of her enduring presence. Stevie Nicks Tour If you thought she’d slow down, think again. Stevie is currently co-headlining the “Two Icons, One Night” tour with Billy Joel, playing to sold-out crowds across the country. The duo is set to hit MetLife Stadium on August 8, 2025, and fans are already scrambling for tickets. Make sure to get yours here on TicketX! Fleetwood Mac, Hollywood, and Legacy With Fleetwood Mac’s future uncertain after the heartbreaking loss of Christine McVie in 2022, Nicks has been honoring her late bandmate while keeping her own legacy alive. Meanwhile, she’s also got her eye on Hollywood—she’s pushing for a second season of Amazon’s hit series Daisy Jones & The Six, which was loosely inspired by her Fleetwood Mac days. She’s been in talks with executive producer Reese Witherspoon and lead actress Riley Keough, teasing that there’s plenty more drama (and music) to explore. Stevie Nicks Tickets 2025 At the core of Nick’s star power and achievements as a rock artist are her distinctive voice, enchanting stage presence, and poetic songwriting. Her voice has been described as ethereal, carrying emotionally charged lyrics. The star is currently on tour with Billy Joel, so don’t miss the chance to catch 2 legends, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks perform together! Worries about tickets being sold out? TicketX is a progressive secondary ticket resale platform that makes highly sought-after tickets available to you. Instead of dealing with long queues and exorbitant prices on other ticketing platforms, you can quickly grab the cheap Stevie Nicks tickets reserved for you at TicketX. To take advantage of more amazing deals like this from TicketX, check out their promo code article for 10% off your first ticket! The post Stevie Nicks: Catch the Queen of Rock and Roll LIVE appeared first on The Groove Cartel.

Insomniac and Tomorrowland are two of the most famous music event organizers in the world. They are working together on something new called UNITY. This amazing audiovisual show will debut at Sphere in Las Vegas on August 29, 30, and 31, 2025. It will take Labor Day weekend to a whole new level, bringing music and stories to life through cutting-edge technology from the world’s most advanced entertainment location. Tomorrowland and Insomniac both believe in the power of music to bring people together, and UNITY represents those ideals. When the dreamlike worlds of Insomniac and Tomorrowland meet at UNITY, their most famous dreamscapes come together to form a breathtaking, guided journey. Tomorrowland and Insomniac have been working together for decades to create immersive festival experiences. This is the first time that their legendary realms—Tomorrowland’s Planaxis, Adscendo, and Orbyz and Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween, and Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC)—will be combined into one experience. With immense gratitude and excitement, we present UNITY: A New Tomorrowland and Insomniac Experience at Sphere in Las Vegas. Through the past decades, we both have strived to create festivals and experiences around the world that foster beautiful, unique communities of individuals. Music is our universal language, the dance floor our sanctuary, and every one of you, our family. We can’t thank you enough for being such an integral part of the journey with us. Now, for the first time in history, our worlds become one. In UNITY, we join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events—and there’s no better stage on earth than Sphere. The heart of UNITY is its carefully chosen soundtrack, which combines powerful new orchestral compositions and accompaniments with dance music’s long past. It mixes classic anthems with cinematic arrangements to create an unforgettable sound experience that brings this journey to life. The excitement of each show will build to a breathtaking climax, with surprise appearances by special guest DJs at the end. Tomorrowland and Insomniac’s work together is a big deal in the world of live entertainment, and it’s only the beginning. UNITY is the first project that the two famous event organizers have worked together on. More projects will be coming in the future. UNITY shows the power of group strength by bringing together two well-known event communities. This partnership brings together a creative vision, cutting-edge technology, and a deep love for dance music culture from two stars in the field. Sphere’s cutting edge technology makes UNITY possible on a level that has never been seen before. The venue has the world’s highest-resolution LED display (16k x 16k), which wraps up, over, and around the audience to create a fully immersive visual experience. It also has Sphere Immersive Sound, the world’s most advanced concert-grade audio system, which gives every guest sound with unmatched clarity and precision. At UNITY at Sphere, the lines between reality and dream will blur, taking people to a magical world where Tomorrowland and Insomniac merge. Starting Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. PT, you can get tickets early through Insomniac and Tomorrowland. Tickets go on sale to everyone on April 7. Q&A: UNITY – The Groundbreaking Collaboration Between Insomniac & Tomorrowland at Sphere in Las Vegas Q: What is UNITY? A: UNITY is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between two of the world’s most iconic music festival brands—Insomniac (USA) and Tomorrowland (Belgium). This immersive audiovisual experience will debut at Sphere in Las Vegas over Labor Day Weekend (August 29-31, 2025), combining cutting-edge technology with the signature storytelling and production of both festivals. Q: What makes UNITY unique? A: UNITY merges Tomorrowland’s legendary fantasy worlds (Planaxis, Adscendo, Orbyz) with Insomniac’s iconic realms (Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween, EDC) into a single, multisensory journey. The event will feature orchestral reinterpretations of dance music anthems, surprise DJ performances, and Sphere’s groundbreaking 16K LED display and immersive sound system. Q: How can I get tickets? A: Vibee VIP Packages (Early Access): Available March 27-30 at unity.vibee.com, including hotel stays and premium perks. Insomniac & Tomorrowland Presale: Starts March 31 at 10 AM PT. General On-Sale: Begins April 7. Q: What can attendees expect from the experience? A: UNITY will blend music, storytelling, and next-gen production, transporting fans into a shared universe where both brands’ themes collide. Expect breathtaking visuals, orchestral dance music arrangements, and special guest DJs during the finale. Q: Is this a one-time event, or will there be more collaborations? A: UNITY is just the beginning—it’s the first chapter in a long-term partnership between Insomniac and Tomorrowland, with more joint experiences planned for the future. Q: Why is Sphere the ideal venue for UNITY? A: Sphere’s 16K wraparound LED screen, immersive sound system, and advanced technology allow for an unparalleled fusion of music and visual storytelling—making it the perfect stage for this revolutionary collaboration. Q: Are there VIP or travel packages available? A: Yes! Vibee offers exclusive VIP packages with premium seating, hotel stays (The Venetian or Virgin Hotels), expedited entry, club access, and more. Book early access starting March 27. Q: How does UNITY reflect the values of Insomniac and Tomorrowland? A: Both brands are built on connection, inclusivity, and the power of music to unite people. UNITY celebrates these shared ideals by bringing their communities together in an unprecedented way. The post Insomniac and Tomorrowland to host UNITY at The Sphere appeared first on The Groove Cartel.

Super-flu.de · Love Letter / March 2025 This week we welcome the German powerhouse duo – Super Flu, one of our all-time favourite producers and DJs. Welcome to a world where crispy baked bass drums give the keynote, where Momratzn twitch to tweaking hi-hats and speech bubbles wave engaging basses to you!? Do you falter when making a tough decision? Super Flu recommend you garlic bread rolls and 6-minute-boiled eggs! ? Is your equipment rubbish? Trust your intuition, tickle the max out of the old stuff and squeeze inspiration out of everything you can lay your hands on!? Are you lacking ideas? Take your cockatoo’s advice! Go on vacation and have some beer. Try (you know, doing something you’d never do otherwise). Listen to Jazz. Tinker whatever comes to your mind using funny snack bar names, exotic instruments and kid’s toys.? Now with your best mate and at least one mutual favourite bakery, lots of Herzblut and a great Traum behind, nothing can harm you anymore…! The post Mix of the Week – Super Flu appeared first on Decoded Magazine.

After months of silence on the musical front, Justin Bieber is slowly finding his way back into the conversation. This time, it’s not pop tabloids making noise, but dance music circles. A few recent developments have ignited speculation around Bieber’s potential return to electronic music, and there’s more substance behind it than a random headline. The Studio Photo That Got Everyone Talking Earlier this week, a photo of Justin Bieber in the studio with Fred again.. appeared online. The image, posted to Instagram, quickly spread across fan accounts and music blogs. Known for his emotionally detailed productions and select circle of collaborators, Fred again.. is not someone who invites just anyone into his creative space. The presence of Justin Bieber in that room immediately raised eyebrows and prompted questions about what the two could be working on. John Summit Wants In Shortly after the photo gained traction, John Summit tweeted, “does anyone have justin bieber’s number im tryin to get bro out of his funk and back into dance music.” While casual in tone, the tweet carried weight. John Summit has built a reputation for thrilling house sets and has been open about wanting to work with artists beyond the traditional club sphere. His public request wasn’t just about nostalgia. It suggested he sees Justin Bieber as a real creative partner who could add something distinct to his sound. Justin Bieber’s Past in Electronic Music This wouldn’t be the first time Justin Bieber stepped into electronic territory. In 2015, he teamed up with Skrillex and Diplo under the Jack Ü banner for “Where Are Ü Now.” The track won a Grammy and helped reshape what a collaboration between pop and EDM could sound like. That single didn’t just chart well. It shifted public perception of Justin Bieber’s musical direction. More followed. Justin Bieber worked with Major Lazer on “Cold Water” and later joined forces with David Guetta for “2U.” These songs weren’t one-offs. They highlighted how comfortably he fit within the genre. Unlike many artists crossing over from pop to dance, Justin Bieber never felt out of place. His tone, timing, and adaptability made him a natural fit for the electronic space. Why This Moment Matters Justin Bieber has kept a low profile musically over the past year. No major releases, no extended tours, and minimal media appearances. That silence is part of what makes the Fred again.. photo so intriguing. Fred again.. is not known for random studio visits. His process is private and deliberate. Pairing that with John Summit’s direct interest in collaborating suggests that Justin Bieber might be preparing for a return, and not just in name. If something does come out of these recent interactions, it won’t likely follow the same formulas as his earlier dance-pop tracks. Fred again.. brings a more layered and emotional approach. John Summit operates in club spaces that focus on tension and release. Either direction would be new ground for Justin Bieber, who has shown an ability to evolve his sound when given the right creative setting. Who Should Justin Bieber Work With Next If Justin Bieber is making his way back into electronic music, the obvious question is who should be next on his list. Would a collaboration with Lane 8 bring out a softer, more atmospheric side? Could a studio session with Dom Dolla push things toward the late-night club circuit? Or would a pairing with Tale of Us offer something entirely unexpected? Let us know which DJ or producer you would want to see Justin Bieber work with next. Drop your dream collabs in the comments!

Two of electronic music's most illustrious festival organizers, Tomorrowland and Insomniac Events, are set to join forces for a new event series at the Vegas Sphere. Coming to the record-breaking, $2.3 billion venue this year is UNITY, a new collaborative event from the EDM powerhouses. Debuting at the Sphere over Labor Day Weekend from August 29-31, the audiovisual show marks the first time Tomorrowland and Insomniac have partnered. Described as a "guided adventure," UNITY is the first venture in a series of collaborations between the two iconic brands, with more experiences planned, according to a press release. "UNITY is an opportunity to take you on an electrifying journey through a fusion of music, storytelling, and technology," the festivals said in a joint statement. "This guided adventure takes you deep into some of our most beloved realms, all inspired by the themes and characters of our festivals. Tomorrowland’s enchanting themes of Planaxis, Adscendo and Orbyz merge with Insomniac’s vibrant universes of Beyond Wonderland x Nocturnal, Escape x Countdown, and EDC, transporting you into a new multi-sensory dimension." Every UNITY event will conclude by virtue of a finale with "world-renowned artists joining us for a final closing set" and the special guest for each show will be announced closer to each. Lineups for UNITY have not yet been announced at the time of this writing. Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase on Thursday, March 27th at 10am PT here. View the original article to see embedded media. Follow Tomorrowland:X: x.com/tomorrowland TikTok: tiktok.com/@tomorrowland Instagram: instagram.com/tomorrowland Facebook: facebook.com/tomorrowland Follow Insomniac Events:X: x.com/insomniacevents TikTok: tiktok.com/@insomniacevents Instagram: instagram.com/insomniacevents Facebook: facebook.com/insomniacevents

Insomniac and Tomorrowland are officially bringing a collaborative show to the Las Vegas Sphere. The powerhouse Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) promoter and Belgian festival giant announced on social media today that “UNITY,” a new audiovisual experience combining the two brands’ distinct creative universes, will debut at the high-tech Las Vegas this Labor Day weekend, August 29-31. Though details are scarce at the time of writing, the event is said to be a “multi-sensory celebration of music and mind-altering visuals,” where “the magic of Tomorrowland and Insomniac become one,” according to the event’s new website. The site also indicates that this audiovisual experience will travel through Tomorrowland’s “Planaxis,” “Adscendo,” and “Orbyz” themes and Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween, and EDC festivals, with a selection of tracks curated from across dance music history. The show, which will make use of the Sphere’s 580,000-square-foot LED wall, will build to a crescendo with TBA special guest DJs joining the party for a final closing set. These artists will be revealed in the coming months. Following several cryptic social media posts shared by Insomniac and Tomorrowland that hinted at the forthcoming collaboration, the announcement marks a historic convergence of two of dance music’s most powerful brands. Pre-sale registration for “Insomniac x Tomorrowland present UNITY” at the Las Vegas Sphere is now open here. Pre-sale ticket access will begin this Monday, March 31, at 10AM local time. General on-sale will begin the following Monday, April 7. Fans can grab tickets even earlier with exclusive hotel accommodation and ticket packages from Vibee, available starting this Thursday, May 27, at unity.vibee.com. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit unityxsphere.com. Featured image courtesy: Insomniac Events and Tomorrowland. The post Insomniac & Tomorrowland To Debut “UNITY” Show At Las Vegas Sphere appeared first on EDM Maniac. View the full article

In just a few short years, Knock2 has gone from DJing at small San Diego clubs and producing twerk remixes to commanding stages at Ultra, Coachella and Lollapalooza, not to mention launching his own own music festival. What's even crazier? All of this happened before the 25-year-old dropped his debut album, nolimit. With that kind of momentum, it was clear that his "nolimit tour" wouldn't just be a showcase of the album, but a statement. Now that the North America leg of the tour has come to a close, here's some moments you'll regret missing. Patrick Le Brand-new production "The Stack"Debuting his new live show, "The Stack," the EDM.com Class of 2023 star proved his tour was not just about the spectacle of visuals, lasers and pyrotechnics. Instead, it was a fully immersive experience, meticulously created to pull fans into his universe. Inspired by the cover art of "feel U luv me," The Stack's central structure is built from large, retro-style speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers. Surrounding it were massive LED screens, floodlights and custom elements covered in graffiti and rave stickers. Raw, bold and intentionally over-the-top, the setup felt like a tribute to underground rave and streetwear culture. View the original article to see embedded media. Openers and special guestsThe energy of the "nolimit" tour didn't just stop at its headliner. It was also a showcase of the crew behind him. From some of the SD Waterboys—Aleko, RemK and Frosttop—to other bass music staples like Holly and Wavedash, the support roster felt like a curated celebration of the scene in which Knock2 came up. No matter what date you attended, it was clear that the support would bring just as much energy as the main act. Plus, if you got lucky, there would be a surprise appearance from his ISOKNOCK partner-in-crime, ISOxo, his longtime best friend and collaborator. View the original article to see embedded media. Unreleased tracks and flipsKnock2's musicality shined throughout his electrifying 90-minute set. With a whirlwind of releases over the past two years—from nolimit to 4EVR—he faced the challenge of seamlessly blending his arsenal of fan-favorites. But he navigated it effortlessly. Opening with a custom intro, he weaved together past and present by showcasing his sharp ear for transitions. "feel U luv me" seamlessly intertwined with "One Chance" while "shyne 4 me" flowed into the hard-hitting "THRASH." He kept it exciting with ISOxo's unreleased edits of 2hollis' "jeans" and "Stereo Love." No matter what genre— bass house, trap or hardstyle—there was never a blind spot. Even with all the music already in rotation, he still found time to create more, teasing unreleased tracks and IDs at some shows and making sure that the crowd knew that he's not slowing down anytime soon. View the original article to see embedded media. Unbeatable crowd energyIf there’s one thing you can count on at a Knock2 show, it’s that the energy will be contagious from the first drop to the last. Whether you're in the front row or way in the back, Knock2’s energy finds you—and pulls you in. Mosh pits open up, hands fly in the air and not a single body stays still. There’s something undeniably magical about it—an energy that’s raw, real and rare for any DJ, let alone one his age. What started as a tour is primed to end as a movement. You can find tickets to Knock2's "nolimit" tour here. View the original article to see embedded media. Follow Knock2:X: x.com/knock2music Instagram: instagram.com/knock2music TikTok: tiktok.com/@knock2music Spotify: spoti.fi/3OHeylI

Apple introduced DJ with Apple Music, an integrated experience with leading DJ software and hardware platforms AlphaTheta, Serato, and inMusic’s Engine DJ, Denon DJ, Numark, and RANE DJ — enabling Apple Music subscribers to build and mix sets directly from Apple Music’s catalog, and adding to a first integration with Algoriddim‘s djay Pro software. This integration ensures that DJs at every level have easy and intuitive access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs to create and rehearse their sets on any of these DJ software and hardware platforms —a way for any DJ to hone their craft and shape their future sets. “Apple Music is committed to supporting DJs,” says Stephen Campbell, Global Head of Dance, Electronic & DJ Mixes at Apple Music. “With this latest integration, we’re taking that commitment even further—seamlessly connecting Apple Music with the industry’s leading DJ software and hardware. This innovation brings the full power of Apple Music into the creative workflow, making it easier than ever for DJs to access, play, and discover music in real time.” Beginning today, users can also access a new dedicated DJ with Apple Music category page, spotlighting a series of DJ-friendly editorial playlists, along with new curator pages for each DJ software and hardware platform showcasing any mixes or sample playlists that can be used to practice. “Teaming up with Apple Music is a milestone moment for Serato’s artist community,” said Young Ly, CEO at Serato. “We are excited to see established and new DJs alike combine their passion and creativity with access to one of the largest streaming catalogs in the world.” “The integration of djay with Apple Music across mobile, desktop, and spatial devices opens up a world of creative possibilities for both beginners and seasoned pros,” said Karim Morsy, CEO at Algoriddim. “With instant access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs, DJs can mix anytime, anywhere – transforming the way they discover and play their favorite music. Whether using Automix for a seamless, hands-free experience or crafting their own unique sets with djay’s powerful mixing tools, this integration marks a major milestone in making DJing more accessible than ever.” “We are thrilled to bring this integration with Apple Music to DJs around the world and in their creative process,” said Yoshinori Kataoka, President and CEO of AlphaTheta. “This marks a significant step forward in making DJ’ing more accessible, and we couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities it opens up.” “At inMusic, our goal has always been to empower DJs with innovative tools that enhance creativity and performance,” said Morgan Donoghue, VP Marketing, DJ Brands at inMusic. “Integrating Apple Music into our Engine DJ platforms marks a major step forward, giving DJs instant access to a vast library of over 100 million tracks and expertly curated playlists to build and refine their sets with ease. This collaboration ensures DJs at every level can seamlessly discover, play, and integrate new music into their creative workflow.” DJ with Apple Music builds upon the success of Apple Music’s DJ Mixes, a program that, since its announcement in September 2021, has turned Apple Music into the premier destination for premium DJ mixes, with a comprehensive collection of thousands of sets. In December, Apple Music also launched Apple Music Club, a live global radio station where mixes from the most important and forward-thinking DJs are thoughtfully curated together, providing fans a never-ending set, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Check out DJ with Apple Music HERE. The post Apple announces DJ with Apple Music, integration with software and hardware platforms appeared first on Decoded Magazine.

Insomniac and Tomorrowland continue to tease fans with their cryptic posts, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats. While there’s still no official confirmation about what these two powerhouse brands are planning, we’ve uncovered some exciting new clues that hint at what’s to come. Today, we got our hands on a major reveal through a teaser trailer: Insomniac X Tomorrowland present: UNITY. The trailer is packed with subtle easter eggs that fans are already dissecting. One major detail is the unification of the owl (Insomniac’s logo) and the butterfly (Tomorrowland’s) symbolizing the partnership between the two brands. As the trailer unfolds, we’re taken through a journey of both companies’ past festival themes—from the animals of Nocturnal Wonderland to Planaxis and Beyond Wonderland. These nostalgic nods come together in a powerful image of a globe encircled by both Insomniac and Tomorrowland bracelets, embodying the essence of unity. Speculation is running wild that this could be the long-rumored collaboration at The Sphere in Las Vegas, following in the footsteps of previous Anyma shows. While the idea of the Sphere would undoubtedly be a creative triumph for both companies, fans are still hoping for confirmation of the rumored Tomorrowland festival in the U.S or perhaps an EDC event in Europe. Adding fuel to the fire, a new Instagram account dubbed @unityxsphere has surfaced, almost confirming that this collaboration could be a major show held at The Sphere. If true, it would make this event the second-ever EDM act to perform at the world-class venue. While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, we’re getting closer to understanding what UNITY could truly be. Stay tuned as we continue to piece together the clues and unravel what’s next for this electrifying partnership.

Kobalt, the world’s leading independent music publisher announces partnership with Anyma, the electronic music artist renowned for his innovative live performances and visuals. This new deal coincides with a milestone moment in Anyma’s career. His recent sold-out, eight-night residency at Sphere Las Vegas. Due to overwhelming demand, the residency was extended to a total of 12 shows. Anyma is the first electronic artist to perform at the venue. He now sits in the Sphere Hall of Fame with world-famous artists like U2, Phish, Dead & Co. and others. Kobalt’s Excitement About the Partnership: “This partnership with Kobalt marks an exciting new chapter in Anyma’s career,” said Rani Hancock, Kobalt’s Executive Vice President. “His ability to blend sonic and visual elements sets him apart, and we are thrilled to support his continued evolution as an artist.” – Kobalt Anyma’s Sphere Residency Anyma’s Sphere residency blew away over 200,000 fans, drawing positive experiences from both audiences and critics. His performances were highlighted for his blended production of sound and 3D visuals that merge music and technology in groundbreaking ways. Rolling Stone praised Anyma’s use of “volumetric capture” to create a unique three-dimensional sound experience. The Las Vegas Review-Journal described it as “the future of live entertainment.“ Anyma’s Vision Anyma is a visionary who has pushed the boundaries of electronic music through his creative performances and the use of new technology. Now, known for his residency at Sphere and his collaboration with Tale Of Us. Anyma continues to reshape live electronic music. His upcoming albums and future live shows promise to further elevate his career. He is launching the “Genesys” trilogy and collaborations with industry heavyweights such as Sevdaliza and FKA Twigs. Altogether His ability to immerse audiences in a multi-sensory experience, industry collaborations, and production team continues to make Anyma a leader in the genre. Upcoming events and career moves for Anyma This partnership with Kobalt comes as Anyma’s career takes a monumental leap. Following a successful residency at Sphere, Anyma is set to headline Ultra Miami 2025, where he will perform a world-exclusive B2B set with Solomun. His fans can also look forward to seeing him at Sziget Festival, Creamfields, Zurich Open Air, Tomorrowland, and other major global events. With an international fanbase and a passion for innovation. Anyma’s collaboration with Kobalt is poised to drive his music to even greater heights in the coming years. The post Anyma Signs Global Publishing Deal with Kobalt appeared first on EDMTunes.

Miami Music Week is here, and sleep is officially canceled. From rooftop raves to poolside parties and sunrise sets, here’s your guide to the best events you won’t want to miss: 1. Axtone & FriendsTBA (Axwell?), A-Trak, Biscits b2b Martin Ikin, Dmtri, Luch, Mark Knight, Moojo, Tiffy Vera, Roger Sanchez, Purple Thursday, March 27th | 12pm | Nautilus Sonesta Tickets: GA & VIP Available https://www.gofevo.com/event/AXTONE25 2. STMPD RCRDS Pool PartySpecial Guest (Martin Garrix?), Justin Mylo, Lavern, Mesto, Mikey Barreneche, KVSH, DubVision, Julian Jordan Thursday, March 27th | 12pm | Surfcomber Hotel Tickets: GA SOLD OUT, VIP Available https://www.tixr.com/groups/blnkcnvs747/events/stmpd-rcrds-pool-party-129348 3. HilomatikOliver Heldens (HI-LO Set), Enrico Sangiuliano, Fatima Hajji, KAS:ST, Sarah de Warren Thursday, March 27th | 9pm | Wynwood Market Place Tickets: GA & VIP Available https://www.tixr.com/groups/blnkcnvs/events/hilomatik-131400 4. All Day Rave: MaddixThursday, March 27th | 12pm-7pm | MAD Live Tickets: GA Available https://www.tixr.com/groups/blnkcnvs/events/all-day-rave-130865 5. Armada Invites Pool Party MiamiSpecial Guest (Armin van Buuren?), ARTY, Arodes b2b Cristoph, AVIRA b2b MARtim rola, Chelina Manuhutu, DiMarë, Rodriguez Jr., Markus Schulz b2b Special Guest, Marsh, Sistek, Haska Friday, March 28th | 12pm | Nautilus Sonesta Tickets: GA & VIP Available https://www.gofevo.com/event/ARMADA25 6. Brownies & LemonadeSpecial Guest, ISOxo, 4B b2b Flosstradamus, SLANDER, NGHTMRE b2b PEEKABOO, Nitepunk b2b Viperactive, Syzy Friday, March 28th | 9pm | Mana Wynwood Tickets: GA Available https://www.tixr.com/groups/blnkcnvs/events/brownies-lemonade-miami-2025-130487 7. Chris Lake Presents: Black Book RecordsChris Lake, Special Guest (Fisher?), Riordan b2b Andre Zimmer, Chloé Robinson, Ahadadream Saturday, March 29th | 8pm | Toe Jam Backlot Tickets: Waitlist https://posh.vip/f/1e34b?t=thirdeyelt 8. Shaq’s Bass All-StarsDIESEL (Shaquille O’Neal), Two Friends, Special Guest, GorillaT, Jon Casey, CELO, SLOTH Saturday, March 29th | 9pm | Mana Wynwood Tickets: GA Available https://www.tixr.com/groups/blnkcnvs/events/shaq-s-bass-allstars-miami-132921 9. EDX Presents: No XcusesEDX, Special Guests Saturday, March 29th | 11pm | Mynt Lounge Tickets: GA Available https://dice.fm/event/dkba2v-edx-presents-no-xcuses-at-miami-music-week-29th-mar-mynt-lounge-miami-beach-tickets?lng=en-US 10. Elrow MiamiMatroda, HUGEL, Dombresky, San Pacho, Odd Mob, AYYBO, Chelina Manuhutu, Arielle Free, Patrick Topping, Thunderpony, Tini Gessler, Eats Everything, Manda Moor, Olive F, Sirus Hood Sunday, March 30th | 7pm | Factory Town Tickets: Waitlist https://dice.fm/event/eody36-elrow-miami-music-week-closing-2025-kaos-garden-30th-mar-factory-town-miami-tickets?lng=en-US

Emerging from the depths of a distant galaxy, ARTÉ lands on Earth with a sound that’s as otherworldly as it is emotionally raw. A visionary dance music producer, ARTÉ blends the pulsing drive of House and Techno with the sweeping drama of film scores and the immersive intensity of art installations. Each track is a journey into the darker corners of the human experience—unflinching, transformative, and cinematic. It’s not just music; it’s a mirror to our pain, resilience, and the beauty we find when we dare to face both. In ARTÉ’s latest release, a dark and epic remix inspired by Kanye West, the producer channels that complex, often unspoken feeling of god-like confidence—the kind that bubbles up in fleeting moments but rarely gets acknowledged. This remix doesn’t just reimagine the original; it elevates it into a brooding, emotional storm, capturing the tension between power and vulnerability. Through layered synths, haunting textures, and a relentless beat, ARTÉ invites us to sit with our shadows, feel the chaos, and find a strange kind of clarity in it all. ARTÉ · Kanye West – I am a GOD (ARTÉ remix)Follow Arte: Soundcloud / Instagram / YouTube

San Francisco’s Outside Lands has unveiled its 2025 lineup. The beloved Bay Area festival will return to Golden Gate Park from August 8-10, marking its 17th edition with nightly headline performances from Tyler, The Creator—who canceled his appearance at last year’s event—Hozier and Doja Cat. Other top-billed acts include Anderson.Paak & the Free Nationals, Glass Animals, Gracie Abrams, Doechii, and a sunset performance from Vampire Weekend, with house and techno superstar John Summit, Grammy-nominated producer Jamie xx, and enigmatic French midtempo artist Gesaffelstein locked in as the festival’s electronic headliners for 2025. Equally anticipated DJ sets from house and techno stalwarts Black Coffee, Claude VonStroke, Floating Points, Walker & Royce, BLOND:ISH, and Dombresky will return to SOMA, Outside Lands’ open-air dance destination in Marx Meadow, while other top selectors like Sammy Virji, Levity, Claptone, NOTION, DJ Koze, ARMNHMR, and Anderson .Paak’s vinyl-spinning DJ Pee.Wee alias will perform elsewhere throughout the park. Additional multi-genre highlights include indie favorites Bleachers, Jorja Smith, Still Woozy, flipturn, FINNEAS, Royel Otis, Julien Baker & TORRES, Ludacris, and BigXthaPlug, among others. Check out the full lineup below. “This year’s lineup captures the dynamic, ever-evolving tastes of the Bay Area,” Outside Lands co-founder Allen Scott said in a press release. “We’re proud to curate a festival that spans generations, bringing something unique and unforgettable for everyone.” Tickets for Outside Lands 2025 will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26, at 10AM PT. For more information or to purchase yours, visit sfoutsidelands.com. Featured image courtesy: Outside Lands. The post San Francisco’s Outside Lands Drops 2025 Lineup appeared first on EDM Maniac. View the full article

Join us as we sit down with a legendary vocalist and an incredibly wise rising star. Where do I even begin with this one? We were fortunate enough to catch a chat with two of the most prominent artists in Trance and Dance music as a whole. Firstly, we sat down with BiXX, experienced Uplifting Trance producer from Alabama who will see the release of his debut artist album this year. And alongside him, we had the pleasure of interviewing none other than Susana, arguably the voice of Trance. Together, they released ‘Believe In Me‘ not long ago. The track is a beautiful piece which explores the themes of being supported and finding someone you can count on. It’s an inspirational masterpiece, and while this was the focal point of our interview at first, you’ll see that soon we began to touch upon more and more themes. I know this comes from far too close, but this convo was truly spectacular. Let’s not waste any more time, if you’re looking for an inspiring chat, here you’ll find everything you need, so please proceed. Here’s our insightful conversation with BiXX and Susana. The Interview (Please note, the bolded text represents a question, while the paragraph(s) following it represent BiXX’s and Susana’s answers.) Thank you so much for being here. It means a lot. Well, first question: How’s the reception been on ‘Believe In Me’, so far? Any particular comments that have stuck with you during these weeks? BiXX: Okay. Well, number one, we got the track played on A State Of Trance, which is not so easy for me, but it’s very easy for Susana [laughs], with great visibility. So I probably received five to ten times more comments on this track from just various friends, fans, etc. But one stuck out in particular. When you receive a comment like this, it’s like, my gosh, all the challenges that you go through, this makes it worthwhile. This particular guy was from Denmark. He lost his father, and then he lost a child four months later. And he struggles with anxiety. He listened to this track, and he cried, and this track gave him so much hope. So, you know, when you create an inspirational track, you feel like “I have this knowledge that works for me, and it’s no good if it stays inside me, and I want to share it. How do I share it? How do I get the message across in a powerful way? Work with Susana“. The way the message is so powerful, you really don’t want to keep it inside you. You want to give it to the world, and you hope it’s received, and you hope it impacts people in a positive way. So when you get a message like this, it was a “wow” moment for me. I felt the emotion and the passion. I felt so happy. Susana: I didn’t even know yet about this message, and I feel like as an artist, that’s the biggest— I don’t know, I feel in the context of his story, to say a compliment is a bit weird, but I can’t think of a better word to explain it. “The effect that your music can have on people“. So that means a lot to me, and obviously to Bob as well. Because I feel like music isn’t always appreciated in society. It’s like a commodity, like a consumer thing. But it’s actually impacting people’s lives, and one song can do that. One line in a song can do that, which is why I love this job as well. And talking about the fact that it was played on A State Of Trance, there was a beautiful moment there, because it was also broadcasted on YouTube. And we could see this girl. I made a post trying to find out who she was, but I haven’t found her yet. But she was getting emotional during the song. I’m not sure if it was about the song, or it was something else happening at the time, but it looked like it was the song or the words. So that emotion, and the meaning behind it, I think that’s touching people. And the response has been really, really great. I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out. Great. Well, I need to ask this. What’s the story behind ‘Believe In Me’? It’s a very inspirational track. We’d love to know how both of you connect to the lyrics and the melody. Susana: I think Bob should go first, because… BiXX: My father passed away in October of 2023. It was literally two days before coming home from ADE. That still haunts me a little bit. He was close to 93. So, a wonderful life. So then I brought back a thought I’d been having for a long time: “What will I say at the eulogy?“. And then, as my dad got older, it sort of became an opportunity. So, as I started writing the eulogy about my life, my father, one thing just kept coming to me: He believed in me. He believed in me. A simple idea that people could latch on to, not only closely related to me but that could perhaps resonate with others when turned into a song. And then, I realized how I structured my whole life about trying to find people around me that I just gravitated towards, that believed in me, as opposed to people that don’t. So, I just felt like this message needed to be communicated to the world, because if you really believe in yourself and you structure your life where you surround yourself with people who also believe in you — not so easy, but it’s very doable —, your life will change so much for the positive. So, that’s where the message idea came from. And then, boy, what better person to partner up with than Susana. Although I really had no idea about her brilliance, her talent for taking a story and creating very short, impactful, powerful words in a song. I had no idea that she could do this, this good. And so, I sent her a couple of topics. Susana: Bob sent me a couple track narratives, because this track was going to be part of his upcoming album and he already had all the track titles and the themes of the songs. And there were a few still open, which you sent to me, and then when I read this one, I knew right away, “this is the one I’m going to go with“. And also because my parents have always supported me and believed in me and I have a really good relationship with them, I could personally relate to what Bob was saying about his father. If you look at the lyrics, the words are actually simple and there’s quite a bit of space for them, but it just came, and this doesn’t happen to me with all the songs that I work on, some are really hard work to find the right message and the words and to fit them to the melody. But with this, the demo was so beautiful, it just flowed very easily. I think it helped that I had such a clear idea of the story and some of the words that Bob used to describe his relationship with his father. [To BiXX] I think you wrote something like, “My father shaped me into who I am today“, and that’s literally in the lyrics, “Thanks to you I am who I am today“. So it was a very enjoyable process and I think that was a combination of me being able to relate personally to Bob’s story, the fact that I had a clear story to work with, and that the demo was so beautiful. Incredible story. Thank you so much, because it was a very insightful story. Now, specifically to BiXX, we’d love to know what got you into making music. Had you been thinking about this for a while? Was it something that just popped out of the blue? Walk us through it, please. BiXX: I guess we’ve all heard the term “Midlife Crisis”. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s something that’s a little frustrating and worrisome, because it forces you to get inside yourself and figure out who you are. So, I had always wanted to be a DJ as a child. In fact, I did a little DJing back in college, you know? I was always carrying my big stack of Funk records at a mostly white campus where they played boring white music. And I just loved Dance music. Then I sort of evolved from there to Eurodance. Loved that. So, I always loved music, but I also was in the business world and went down that path. And I got consumed, raising a family, all the wonderful things of life. I built a nice company. I love the relationships with people. I love bringing the best out of people and seeing what they’re good at and trying to develop that and try to help build this vision and then get everybody on board. And so, all these things that I enjoy doing, when I sold my business and left the company, I gave myself two years to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I just started thinking back on the fact that I’ve always loved music. I somehow ran into a guy skiing who had a business in Hong Kong, and he actually sold his business and he went to Ibiza to become a DJ and played the clubs of Ibiza for a couple of summers. So he encouraged me. First I went to Atlanta to go to a DJ school, but it was Funk and Hip-Hop, which is not really what I wanted to learn how to play. So I realized I had to go to Amsterdam. So I took lessons at the DJ School of Amsterdam in 2016, and they said, “You need to come back to ADE, Amsterdam Dance Event“. Coming from business, I’m a networker and I love to network and meet people. And so, when I went to ADE I met a couple of really good music producers. So, I used my skills. What was I really good at? Team building. I could’ve probably built my career on my own, I’m pretty good on my own, but I’m great with a team. And I like to be great. So, I built a team, whether it was production, whether it was just a couple guys that would give me mentoring and confidence because the music industry is tough. So, anyway, and why Trance? Back in I think it was 2005, Susana did a track with Armin van Buuren called ‘Shivers’ and, that’s a gift that keeps on giving. And I just was captivated by her voice. I was captivated by the melody and then, “Who’s this Armin van Buuren guy?“. And I just dove into the whole journey of Trance. I just loved Trance music, and still do. Back in business I used to be a very creative guy. And so, if you don’t replace that creativity, you get depressed. And music just happened to fill a void that I was missing at a certain time in my life. And then I just went all in. Susana: I think that’s very admirable and inspirational that you didn’t let any limiting thoughts in the way like, “Oh, I’m already getting too old“, or travelling all the way to Amsterdam to go to a DJ school. “It’s probably 20-year-olds teaching there”. So, I think that in itself is already an inspiration for other people out there who also, regardless of their age, have always had a passion for something, but never went for it for whatever reason, or maybe felt a little bit intimidated to pursue it. And yeah, you’re gonna make mistakes and you’re gonna feel silly and awkward more than a few times, probably. But it’s part of the process and it’s how you grow, right? It’s very cliche, but it’s true. And I’m glad you did and that we got to work together. You guys are crushing this interview right now! Loving it. So, Susana, now your turn. After a quick look at Beatport, I can see you have close to a thousand records released, which is something extraordinary to keep as your discography. Now, out of all of those songs, which I insist are a lot, any particular ones that are closer to your heart, that you hold more dearly than others? One that you have a particular story to it? And if you were so kind, if you found one, could you please share the story behind it? Susana: Oh, wow. This is always such a challenging question, I think, for any artist. And a thousand, I think that’s probably a lot of different releases and re-releases and everything. I should look up how many individual songs those are. I have no idea, actually. Quite a few as well, because I’ve been doing this for 20 years now. Also speaking about 20 years ago, I remember the song that made me fall in love with Trance music. That was ‘Nothing At All’ with Rex Mundi. I don’t know if you know this track. It was released maybe a year or two after ‘Shivers’, it’s a Progressive track. And it did really well back in the day. I actually got to go to Taiwan to record a music video for it, which was a beautiful experience. And I remember working on that track. I heard the instrumental and I just felt like, “Wow, this was made for me or something“. I believe it was Markus Schulz who actually told Rex, “You should work on this one with Susana. I think she would fit the track perfectly“. So he kind of sensed that already. So that’s still a special one for me because of that. Also, obviously, ‘Shivers’, Bob mentioned it already. I often say it’s like the gift that keeps on giving, because I had no clue about Dance music when I recorded ‘Shivers’. I did not write ‘Shivers’. I came to the studio, I recorded the vocals that were written by a songwriter. I had heard of Armin before, but I didn’t really know what he looked like. And at that time, his star was rising, but he wasn’t at the height of his career where he is now. And so that was just a whole eye-opening experience. I basically took the job because I was like, “Oh, it will be nice to get some studio experience, right?“. I think that’s a funny story because that track is literally the one that opened a lot of doors for me. I got to tour with Armin. When I toured with Armin, I got to meet other artists in Electronic music. And I found that so inspiring. That’s when I started to connect literally with the crowd, Trance crowd, Trance community. And yeah, I just felt like this whole new world was opening up to me. At the time, Armin did shows of, like, nine hours. He was playing for nine hours nonstop. So imagine the amount of tracks I was hearing when we did those shows, I was really listening to tons of music that was new to me. So that really was a defining moment for me and made me determined to pursue this career. Also ‘RAMelia’, of course. RAM and I had never worked before, but we knew each other. I had seen him perform and we would speak backstage at events. I got to know his wife as well, Amelia. And then she all of a sudden passed away. I think it was his manager calling me like, “Hey”, I knew what had happened, “RAM wants to do a tribute for Amelia. He’s playing this event in the Netherlands in a few weeks and he would like to play a track in her memory“, which was a huge honour for me. But I also, as you can imagine, kind of felt the pressure. I wanted to do a really good job at it. I wanted to write a song that would do her justice as a person, but that would not just be like a sad, sad song, right? I wanted it to have a shimmer of light or hope. And I still feel like maybe she was there with me, channelling the words. I don’t know, it was a special thing, I cried through the whole thing when I was writing. And that song still holds a special place in my heart, obviously. I could go on mentioning tracks. I don’t think I have one favourite. It just depends on the mood also and maybe what’s happening in my own life at a certain moment. But ‘Believe In Me’ is definitely a favorite of the past couple of years, also because of the process. It was just really enjoyable to work with Bob. And I think it’s turned out to be a really meaningful song that’s close to my heart as well. BiXX: By the way, we have an acoustic version of the track that I worked on with Paul Skelton. He’s just a brilliant composer, and an incredibly talented piano player. And that’ll be on the album only. It is beautiful. You take a Dance track sometimes and you can put it into a more orchestral, a symphonic sort of beautiful sound. It’s half the speed. It’s stunning. And it even brings the message across much, much stronger. Absolutely. Well, I’m a huge fan of Above & Beyond and they say they always start their songs like this, their vocal tracks. They start as an acoustic idea and then they build up the Dance thing. They kind of adapt the acoustic part and they say the message comes through much stronger than if it was just born as a four on the floor track. BiXX: That’s good to know, because labels have their sound and then you have your sound, and labels try to get you boxed in to their ideal sound. Even my mentor, RAM, sometimes says, “Bob, you need to change this, you need to change that, don’t make your breakdown so long“. And I get it. If you’re playing live, you can only have a couple of tracks that really captivate with a long breakdown. But I do so many tracks that I start with the breakdown first. You know, it’s just that’s to me the heart and soul of the track. And it’s good to hear that the world’s best, that’s how they design their tracks. Susana: You got to go to the beat of your own drum, in a sense. I’ve been in this scene for 20 years and I feel like all the time there’s this talk of “Trance is changing, it’s not the same, it’s not cool anymore“. And this is the first time in 20 years that I’m actually sometimes fearing that there might be truth to it, that Trance is losing ground at the moment, the emotional Trance, especially when it comes to filling up venues. I know in the Netherlands, especially the Trance crowd is getting a little bit older. Maybe they just don’t really go to events anymore. I can’t really explain it. At the same time I know there is a core of hardcore Trance fans who will always continue to love and support these emotional songs. I believe everything goes in cycles, so we’re just in a different phase of music now. But I do hope that there will still be a place for emotional songs in the future. So let me understand your point. You think that Trance is coming back as a wave, but you think it’s not coming back with the proper emotion that it used to have? Susana: Not really. I feel like it’s not what’s the trend right now. If you look at the lineup of the ASOT the past weekend, they used to be all about Trance and now there is a specific area, Area 2, that was more about the Trance as we know it. But I also find it hard to put labels on things because I do believe music should be fluid and it’s good if there’s crossovers and we influence each other. But of course, they have a lot of Melodic Techno now… That’s my impression and what I hear from people, that’s the type of music that people get excited about now. And that’s probably also why Bob got the advice not to make his breakdowns too long. But we’ll see how it will all develop. And I know for a big part of my fan base, this is what they love and what they’ll continue to support and listen to. BiXX: I think there’s a struggle from an artist’s standpoint of authenticity versus commerce. Do you create to sell tracks? Do you create to get more gigs? Do you create what speaks to your heart as a piece of you, as a piece of art that you’re giving to the world? And that’s one part of it. It’s how authentic you want to stay and then risk not getting gigs or not selling records. The other part to me is that I believe that many humans will need emotional triggers in music, in order to fully experience music. I think you have to innovate in anything you do, you grow or you die. And innovation comes from a lot of things. But technology is one. And as you know, AI makes it easier to create new sounds and separate vocals from tracks and create speaking parts. And there are so many things that AI can do in music. So if you’re using that as a tool in your toolbox to create newer sounding tracks, you’ve got to keep innovating because people just get bored of the same. I think one of the things with Trance is structure. People get lazy. It’s like intro, breakdown, climb, drop. And it’s just all the same. It’s like a cookie cutter, template-driven industry. I don’t know if that gives Trance a bad name. There definitely is room to keep innovating in Trance, though. Also, humans are always going to be human. You have some people that go to events because they’re angry or they’re frustrated and they get their outlet through the hard stuff. And then there’s other people that need emotional triggers to feel their feelings. You know, they actually have a hard life, they’ve had to shut down and they need emotional triggers through music to open up and to feel happiness. So I don’t think human emotions are going to change much. So I do feel like there’s always going to be space for emotional, uplifting Trance. But it’s just up to the producer to innovate and make it interesting. And if you get too much the same, people get tired of it. So there’s hope. I hope there’s hope as well. Now, about you, Bob, can we talk about the album for a bit? Let’s get to know the name, some tracks, kind of a rough sketching of what it means for you and what’s going to convey for the story of BiXX. BiXX: Yes. I think it’s important in the music scene to have, you know, good people around you and especially the people that are very encouraging. There’s times when we get down because of a series of rejections or a series of things that happen. I guess people get in so much into their own journey that they don’t take the time to understand the importance of other people around them. That’s where this began. I was talking to a friend of mine about two and a half years ago who I worked with for social media, Jimmy. And I was just telling a few stories about my past and my life. And I kept saying to him that I try to be that voice of reason, that calm person that can advise people when they’re having a very stressful time or struggles and to give good advice just based on past experiences. Because, you know, it seemed like just a short time ago, I would call somebody older, more experienced than me and ask them for advice. And all of a sudden, life happens. And now I’m that older guy that’s giving advice to the younger people. So he said, why don’t you do an album and call it Voice of Reason? You keep talking about being that voice of reason. And then I called RAM, one of my mentors, advisors. “What do you think about me doing albums?“, “Oh, that’s a terrible idea“. And so when he said that, I decided I was going to do an album. Ram and I are good friends so we can speak freely with each other. He is also a great mentor to me. So his comment about it being a bad idea was because his goals and where he is in his career are different than mine. My purpose is more about teaching and inspiring. Once I explained that to Ram, he was interested in learning more. His perspective was way different than mine. So mine was, how do I leave something in life for people, whoever, kids, grandkids, just something to look back on when I’m retired. Although I don’t think retirement’s ever an option for me. You always want to keep challenging and innovating and living life to the fullest. Anyway, I was going to do an album. And I wanted to approach it like writing a book, from a standpoint. And so I wrote all of this like a book, like each track is a chapter. Each track has an inspirational message. So I just started outlining a list of messages. But I just started writing a whole bunch of that list of potential titles and concepts, I’ll just rattle a few. So, one came from my wife telling me, “If you could only follow your own advice, you’d be way better“. I give good advice and always follow it. So one of the concepts I always tell people is, “Your self-doubt is creating your own glass ceiling“. So I have a really nice vocal track on the album called ‘Glass Ceiling’. Another came from the fact that one of my big frustrations about the music industry is that people lack a sense of urgency, so I have a track called ‘Sense Of Urgency’. And another track that sort of happened by accident, it’s called ‘Karma Is Coming For You’. It’s got some very powerful words and sentences, messages about, you know, “You think no one’s watching, but Karma is watching“, and the importance of doing the right thing. Otherwise, Karma is going to come back and get you. Other tracks I’ll mention right now: my mother used to ask me why I dated all the pretty girls when I was younger, and she said external beauty fades and internal beauty never dies. So I’ve got a track called ‘Beauty Within’. I’ve got a vocal track that’s coming out next month. It’s basically about not giving up, and it dates back to the ADE incident I mentioned earlier. I got back from ADE in 2023. My father had just passed away, I got very sick, my colon got infected and I had surgery. And that knocked me down for a couple of months. And at the same time I got involved with a couple people, who were just not who I thought they were. And that was very disappointing. So I had all these things happen, to the point I was convinced music was doing me harm and I was determined to leave it aside. So I resorted to my inner circle, and they convinced me not to quit, not to give up. So I named one of the tracks ‘To Find Myself’. And then there’s a track called ‘Your Time Will Come’ that’s coming out next month. It’s about not giving up. And the last one I’m going to mention is a track called ‘Appreciation’. One of the greatest gifts we have is the power to give and show appreciation. You could say it’s a bit of a mentoring album in a way, right? There’s 17 tracks on the album. And then the three acoustic versions that will be on the album make it more dynamic. It’s not all just banging Trance. There’s incredible artistic beauty through the talents of Paul Skelton on this as well. Wow. Something to look forward to. I find it interesting that you talk about Paul Skelton because I didn’t know he had kind of an orchestral face. I’ve always heard him only Trance and just Trance. And yeah, he does great music, but I didn’t know he had a more important role whenever it comes to the breaks or the non-beat stuff. BiXX: Yeah, I don’t want to give away Paul’s secrets, but he works with several producers in the Trance scene. There’s technical producers that are really good with sound design and the technical aspects of tracks, but they’re not born composers. So if a technical person works with a composer like Paul Skelton, it really enhances the melodic beauty and breaks the monotony, again, adding beauty. Now, Susana, a question for you, if you’re ready. Susana: Yep. Back to the lyrics. Well, we talked about this a little bit before, but your tracks are often super emotional, super powerful. Is that intentional on your end? Does it just happen naturally? Where does the inspiration for this poetry come from? Susana: Wow, I think it’s a big compliment to hear it described as poetry. It’s a good question. Is it intentional? I think first of all, we’re talking about my sound. There’s a songwriter I’ve worked with a lot, Raz Nitzan. He was one of the songwriters on ‘Shivers’, for example. And I worked with him very closely for the first eight years of my career. And we’re still really good friends and still work together on occasion. It’s always really fun studio sessions. And he likes to call this “The Susana Moment”, a moment in the track where you reach the chorus and the powerful vocal comes out, which probably at the beginning was not intentional. But then it became something that you enjoy doing and that you notice is resonating with people and, if we’re talking about branding, I would say it has become part of my brand. But when I write, I just don’t really think about those things. I just go where the music takes me. Sometimes I do think, “Okay, I can probably go higher here” or “this hook needs to be more powerful“. So to answer your question, it’s probably part of who I am and a bit of intention as well. Because I’ve noticed that it creates beautiful, powerful moments in a song, and that it works. I do also enjoy writing meaningful songs where there is a story. I did a session with another songwriter, two years ago, and that’s when I realized not all songwriters are writing in that way. We talked a little bit about her life and what she was going through, and I got to write about that. And then at the end of the session, she was like, “Wow, I’ve never really approached songwriting like this, where I tell a story or something personal and emotional“. She just had a different way of writing, maybe more thematic. She’s really successful, so it’s working for her. It’s just a different approach to songwriting. But especially for Trance, I do think that my method works well. And it resonates also with my audience, my fan base. I feel like in that, we found each other. Well, we in Trance, we are a very soft-hearted fan base. Susana: What is in a way intentional is, especially when I work on uplifting tracks or with producers or DJs who tour a lot and play big festivals, I think about, “If they play this at Dreamstate, or in A State Of Trance, what would make the crowds go teary-eyed“, you know? So I do think about that and how to create a moment like that. Making the lyrics sometimes personal, sometimes universal, but something that people can relate to. I think a line like, “Because you Believe In Me, no matter what“, anyone can relate to that in some way to their own life. So it’s part intentional and part of who you are as a person, and what your sound is as an artist. And I think that that goes for probably most artists, that their creativity is an extension of who they are. Or some say it’s not really an extension of you, but you’re the vessel, that ideas are already there somewhere, but you are then the one who’s grabbing the idea, and when it is ready to be shared with the world, then you are the vessel in a way, that that’s what artists do, which I think is also a nice way to look at it, even if I don’t know if it’s true, it feels like that sometimes. BiXX: You have a way… What’s that moment when you surrender yourself to the track? And you seem to be able to find that moment quite easily in many of your tracks, where it’s so beautiful, you just surrender yourself, you’re just in the moment. Susana: Yeah, that’s probably usually when you go into the chorus, right? BiXX: Yeah. Susana: When I find that melody in a song or that moment, it always feels a little bit like an accomplishment, like I’ve found it. And with some songs or instrumentals that I work with, it’s easier to be found, than others. Now, I’ve got three more questions. These are kind of more abstract questions. So it’s excellent for the themes we’ve been talking about lately. First off, have you had an “Oh my God” moment, either while producing, performing, whatever, in which you’re doing something and then you suddenly stop and become aware of where you are, what you’ve achieved, etc? Susana: I’ve had a few moments like that, thankfully. Even last weekend, when I performed at A State Of Trance. I did one song that’s coming out next month. And this performance was only a few minutes, so it passes by like this, right? [Snaps fingers] I also do performances where I have more songs or I’m out there half an hour. But a lot of times, even half an hour just flies by. So I try to always be in the moment consciously and enjoy it and take it in. Because before I know it, it’s over. And what a shame it would be if I was just all in my head about it and not enjoying it. But I think the one moment that really stands out for me was in 2019. I got to perform with Armin at Tomorrowland during ADE with an orchestra. So the energy of the orchestra was already supporting me in a big way. And I remember, I had to wait under the stage and then step on something and it would go up and I would appear on the stage. And I was waiting downstairs and I heard the crowd, and I was just, kind of talking to the universe out there like, “Help me to shine my light and have a positive impact on the people out there“. And then I went on stage and sang ‘Shivers’ with the orchestra. I had already sung this version during that summer at Tomorrowland. And I had made my own ending to it. It was my more “Susana” ending, another one of those moments we just talked about. I added that finishing touch to it. And I remember singing it there at ADE with Armin. And when I sang the last note of that line I experienced that very moment you just described, “Oh my God, this is probably my best note ever“. I could feel it. And I felt that the crowd could feel it too. Afterwards, when Armin saw me in the dressing room, he told me “You’re a star!“. I haven’t experienced that feeling when singing ever since. So yeah, I don’t know what it was, but that was definitely an Oh my God moment for me. It was almost like an out-of-body experience. Like, “Was that me?“. I have a recording of it, thankfully. So I know it actually happened. BiXX: I’ll mention two, where one’s really fast. So the fast one is, I was actually working with Mark Sherry last April in the studio, and Mark’s car was messed up. And he had a rental car and they had to bring him a new rental car. So he said, “Bob, I got to go out of the studio for about 10 minutes to deal with this“. And then I looked at my phone and I got this message that Susana had sent me the first vocal attempt at ‘Believe In Me’. And from the very first word, “I hear your voice“, all of a sudden the tears started flowing. And it was an Oh my God moment for me because it was a perfect summary of everything I had in mind for the track. And then the longer one, back in 2019 I was looking to become a better artist. Obviously I’m not the young guy, so my philosophy was “How do I accelerate my learning curve“. I figured I’d fly around Europe and spend time in the studio with different producers and have melody writing sessions and tuitions and help build tracks. One day I’m at this producer’s. Basically he had a melody. We’re at a melody writing session. I said, “Well, do you have any old melodies that are sitting in your melody graveyard?” So I’m clicking through all these melodies. And all of a sudden I find something similar to what we ended up doing in a track called ‘Yes I Can’. It was perfect. And previous to that, I had heard Davey Asprey’s ‘Fallout’. I watched Armin play it at A State Of Trance and everybody was jumping up and down. I said, “I want a track like that“. That’s going to make the audience go crazy, and it’s going to be great to play live. So anyway, once we found the melody, I sort of wrote up a narrative on kind of how I wanted the track to go. So we sat down and developed the track and then I played it for my wife. My wife says, “Oh, well, you need a chorus“. We had a choir. “You need a choir melody in this section and you need a choir melody in that section“. And she’s a little bit of a singer. So she actually hummed the melody, she participated. And then I just knew it was a good track. I didn’t know how people were going to react. Fast forward some months, I attended Trancemission in October of that year. Darren Porter played the track live on his set. And you could just see the change in the crowd. And I’m like, “Oh, my gosh“. This is that moment. This track that was born from that moment of Armin playing Davey Asprey’s ‘Fallout’ live at ASOT. It’s happening right now. And then the aftermath: somebody cut the track and posted it on YouTube. And it got like 500,000 views in the first couple of weeks. And everybody was going, “Who is this guy? Who did this track?“. That was like my moment. Maybe I had released three tracks before that. Incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I’m still smiling from ear to ear. Second to last, if you could go back in time, say 10, 20 years, any amount of years you’d find interesting, and meet your past self, what would you tell your younger self? Were you worried about something that wasn’t really necessary? BiXX: Okay, so the “worry” part, I’ll address it two ways. I call F.E.A.R, False Expectations Appearing Real. And I’m a worrier. My mom was a worrier. And I had someone call me Mr. Worry, “He’s worried about not having something to worry about“, you know? So I tend to worry. And this false expectations appearing real acronym, most things you worry about never really happen. Then, in terms of going back in time and telling my younger self… So I can look back at myself in stages, when you’re going through your 20s, it’s experimenting, your 30s, and often your 40s, you’re in the grind, you’re trying to achieve, you’re working really hard. And I see this with younger people these days: you slow down, and take the time to smell the roses, take the time to appreciate the process, and the journey, and the people that you work with that you enjoy working with. That’s what I’d tell my younger self. Because I look back now, and in my company I had these great customers, or I had these great employees, and all I was really focusing on was the bottom line profit of the company, I was so worried about the profit of the company, I was so worried about the cash flow, the this, the that. And I did enjoy all those relationships, but I just wish I would have slowed down a little bit, which I do now, because that’s, that’s the great thing about having a second chance to reinvent yourself or another chance. And you can do it. I didn’t tell people that I appreciated them back then, I might have told them, you need to tell people that you appreciate them, you tell people that do a good job. “Well, they’re expected to do a good job, you know?”, and I just didn’t get it, because I was just so driven. That’s what I’d say: slow down, and smell the roses. Enjoy the now, enjoy the process, enjoy the people, acknowledge people, and show them appreciation. Susana: What would I tell my younger self? There’s a lot I could tell her. But I always say that I’m a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser. So I would probably tell her, you are just right the way you are. And you are a good person. And don’t worry too much about what other people might think or about disappointing people. You are allowed to go for your dream, right? And I probably, if I look back, I feel like I sometimes could have been a little bit more selfish, in a way. And have done my own thing more or sooner, probably. I can kind of relate to what Bob’s saying, the overthinking part, right? It’s always a good thing to enjoy, to celebrate your achievements. I heard this quote a few years ago that really stuck with me. I don’t know who said it originally, but it was something along the lines of, “Once you reach your dream, it’s no longer your dream“. And I mean, it’s so often that when we achieve a goal, we forget about it so quickly, and we’re already thinking about the next thing. It’s so easy to look at what’s not there yet. While if you look at it from another way, so many people would like to be where you are now. So don’t take it for granted. So yeah, I would tell her, believe in yourself. Believe in yourself and in your own vision. And don’t worry too much about getting it perfect, making mistakes, disappointing people, people having an opinion. Because it’s your life, it’s your career, it’s your dream. Fight for it, go for it. BiXX: And let me add something about being selfish, because we all associate it with something negative, right? But I’ve come to see it more like what they say in the plane, like when the oxygen masks drop, put it on yourself first before helping others. And I feel the same way about if you have a dream. And I still believe in being kind to people. It’s not about that. But I think as an artist, you become an artist because you have something to share with the world. And if you don’t put your dream first, if you’re not at least a little bit selfish in that way, then people are going to have to miss out on what you have to offer them. It happens in the small things as well. I have a guy I work with on social media, and we had a certain way of doing videos. And then Susana asked, “Can I approve the videos before they go out?“. She wanted to be involved. And I’m telling you, she’s very specific in particular, but she had so much knowledge that we did not have. She made us way better than we were. And we will be better in the future for this experience. She’s so connected in that social media world that’s definitely changing with short attention spans and things like that. So sometimes if you are selfish to get your own points across because you want to be better, then you make the team around you better. Susana: That’s the point. I could have thought, “Oh, I don’t want to sound like a control freak or something“. But it was genuinely also because I could help us get the best out of the promotion efforts. And I must really give it to Bob. All the effort that he has put in, all the content ideas he came up with, other artists can definitely learn from that. So I think we all brought our strengths to the table. Now, last question, which is, part of the same question that we were just discussing, but this is instead of advising yourself, advising someone else, if you could give our audience one piece of advice about anything, what would it be? Susana: Well, maybe it’s not so much an advice, but more of a plea to people to just be more gentle with each other and believe in the other person’s good intentions. I feel like with everything that’s going on in the world, the debates are getting more harsh and you know what it’s like on social media, right? People can say the meanest things to each other and assume all these horrible things about people just based on something that they’ve written. Let’s try and give each other more grace. At the end of the day, we’re all human beings and we want to live meaningful lives and make sure that our loved ones are taken care of. We may not always have the same ideas about how we’re going to get there. But in that sense, I think the theme of ‘Believe In Me’ can also be translated to believing in each other and being more gentle. BiXX: I’ll follow up with what Susana said first and then I’ll give you my other advice is. I like to do the following: if I have any kind of conflict or misunderstanding, after maybe about two to three messages, emails, and I sense it’s getting a little bit frustrating or going down potentially the wrong path of being misunderstood, I will always request a phone call. I would prefer Zoom or to see a person’s face to see them as a human, to see their body language, to see their feelings and then discuss it, as opposed to these dumb wars dropping bombs, you know? And now my own advice: it’s so important to surround yourself with good people. Who do you surround yourself with? I think that mediocre people don’t like high achievers and high achievers don’t necessarily like mediocrity. It’s because the standards aren’t the same. So if you aspire to go in a certain direction or a new career, or if you want to climb the ladder, try to surround yourself with people that are already there, where you want to go. If you surround yourself with people that are smarter than you, that are more experienced than you, that will fill your gaps to your weaknesses. You can invite them to lunch, connect at a party, you follow up, not all of them work out, but build it, build a team around you. Susana: I can add to that because last year, I worked with a business coach and she would always say, “Be brave enough to be the smallest one at the table“, because especially if you’ve been doing something for a while and you build a name for yourself, there can be a little of an ego thing like, “Oh, I am already someone in music“, or whatever your career is. And you might notice that you’re starting to reach a plateau. And in order to reach the next level, you will have to become okay with being the smallest one on the table again and being that beginner, maybe also having that beginner mindset and making mistakes. Maybe even approaching people or surrounding yourself with people that intimidate you a little bit. So I can relate to what Bob’s saying. And I thought I would add what she used to tell me because it really helped me as well. BiXX: You know, just one more follow-up on that. That’s a great point, Susana. When you go from, I was 25, 30 years in my business and I got to that point where you, achieve a certain status and there’s a little bit of a know-it-all mentality, maybe the ego gets in the way, but then you shift focus and climb into this music industry, and you’re all of a sudden a student again and you’re just that smallest person at the table. It opens up your mind for lots of creativity, because you don’t have the heaviness of being this know-it-all person. And then you learn from other people and your mind becomes more of a listener and more of a student. Susana: Student of life. We are all students of life, right? Nice questions! BiXX: Yeah, great questions. -End of interview- Final Words I can’t really put into words what I feel after this interview. I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to speak with these two geniuses, and having the opportunity to soak up a bit of their wisdom. I hope this chat also inspired you and gives you a fresh perspective in life, I know it did the trick for me. Thank you so so much to Bob and Susana for the lovely chat — of which you read only a fragment, since we actually spoke for over 90 minutes. Amazing. Here’s to a year full of exciting music from these two pros! The post [INTERVIEW] BiXX And Susana Talk ‘Believe In Me’, Persevering, Career, And More appeared first on EDMTunes.