Ravebot

The club cited financial stresses for its closure Continue reading...

Hungry for the journey ahead with a string of fascinating projects and styles attached to her artistry, Sakkura – record producer, performer & DJ from Brighton – releases Astral, a vibrant and varied 11-track LP ruling BPM as its one and only limitation. The project was released by Sakkura on her new label Atherea Records, but created and toured as Sakkura Live: a group of tight-knit producers, MCs and vocalists, but above all, friends. The project flows seamlessly between uplifting vocal-led summer anthems, to dark and twisted heavy hitters designed to be rinsed on a basement dancefloor. It is a powerful example of collaboration and a beautiful display of good friends feeling the freedom of a loving environment, and then capturing it for all to hear. Whilst Sakkura is not new to the world of dance music, her pseudonym represents a fresh start. Formerly known as Wickaman, Sakkura symbolises new beginnings. Returning into the scene with both trepidation and excitement, she enters a new era entirely with her most powerful and exciting music yet. Astral marks a look to the future, and stands strong as a foundation of love, community, creativity and friendship, of which this incredible collective will no doubt flourish from. Over to Sakkura to tell us the whole story. How are you Sakkura? All over the place! Happy, nervous, scared, excited. A fruit salad of emotion. Putting myself out there, that’s really scary. The release, the band, all the pressures of working with a group of people, it’s not just about you anymore. You want to do right by everyone and the more excited the people I collaborate with get, the more nervous I get. I really don’t want to let these people down, they’re all friends of mine, real genuine friends. I only work with my friends. They’re not collaborators that I don’t hang out with. We all have a lot of fun together. Sakkura is your artist name, but you also have Sakkura Live, talk us through the differences between the two! Well, the funny thing is, it was Miss Melody who said ‘We’ll just call the live project Sakkura Live’. That was her idea. Initially, I thought that was sort of funny, using my name, in the band’s name. But then I started to like it. Where my brain went was Marilyn Manson. Everyone thinks of Brian as Marilyn Manson, but the band is also Marilyn Manson. I always liked the ambiguity of that. I like to blur the lines. With the radio plays we’ve been getting too, they say, this is a band. They’re seeing Sakkura and Sakkura Live as the same thing. That’s cool. There’s nothing there for me to be specific about, let’s blur the lines a bit. Love that. What made you want to start a live project as well as Sakkura? I had a live project years ago. It was with OC Breaks, who is the drummer in Sakkura Live, he was also involved in that along with Hoodz & Mavrik, and it was hell for me. I did some shows and it would take me a month to recover. I’ve always had this thing where I don’t feel welcome in the industry. I sort of freak out a bit. And I couldn’t take the pressure, so I didn’t want to carry on with it. But OC Breaks kept on saying to me ‘Let’s do it, let’s do it!’, so I said we would, when I have some music. Because I needed the music out there first. Just before lockdown, Dee Freer said to me ‘Come on, let’s do the live thing’. So they were both saying it. Lockdown happened, and of course, then nothing happened! So, I said when we come out of lockdown, I’ll have this album ready, and we’ll get the live thing going. That’s how that happened. Also, I thought it would be different this time… And is it different this time? It’s a lot of work! But it is different this time. I’m definitely enjoying it a lot more. I guess you learnt so much from when you did a live project before. Do you feel like your mindset is different going back into it this time round? Yeah. Absolutely. I was in a lot of fear. I still am now. But I’m really stubborn, so I’m not going to give up. I’m going to keep going, whether I succeed or it destroys me, I’ll go down with the ship. Plus, I’m really excited about where it’s going next. Now the album project is done, I’ve allowed myself a new confidence. The album is like a pick and mix, and I know now the areas that I really want to explore and we’re all really excited about what we’re going to do next. We’ve already started working on other tracks. We have this style and energy we want to explore. We have hooks and ideas, and this time, I’m going to put together the production, but not finish the tracks. I’m going to get some ideas down with Riva, then we’re going to get together with OC Breaks and Miss Melody and get OC Breaks to play the beats I’ve made in a way that he wants to play them, and then Miss Melody can come up with her stuff on the fly. We’re going to jam to finish the tracks, so everyone is involved. To try and come up with stuff for all of us at the same time seemed mental to me, and a lot of stress too. But, if I could produce all the parts, and we jam those pre-made sounds, that are already mixed down and mastered, it’ll be a cool way to make music. It’ll sound finished as we make it. Wow – a super collaborative process! It really is. OC Breaks might play something crazy on the drums and we can respond to it there and then. It’s such a joy, and it makes you laugh too, because it’s ridiculous! Photo: Dan Reid I bet it’s chaos! Beautiful chaos. Who exactly is in Sakkura Live? Let’s big up the crew a little bit… OC Breaks is the drummer, we’ve been friends since we were 13 years old. He was the reason that I learnt to play the guitar. So, all of this is his fault! He is a surgeon on the drum kit. So methodical. The way he works out how he plays the breaks and the beats is incredible. Then there is Riva, who I have been working with and really good friends with for 10/11 years now. Her roots are in soul singing, she has this beautiful soulful jazzy voice, that’s her thing! We’re going to utilise her jazziness in some of the next tracks, I’m really looking forward to that. Miss Melody, our MC, I got to meet her through RV who is another producer on the album. She’s an awesome MC that adds a completely fresh dynamic to the band and is essential to our live performances. Then there is Dee Freer, again, a really close friend. I did some stuff with her on Ministry of Sound & Metalheadz back in the day. We have stayed friends ever since. She has a very different sound to Riva so the two of them bounce off each other really well. Sakkura is a new alias but you’ve had many, many years in the D&B scene under the Wickaman alias. There were many years between the two – how does it feel to now re-emerge as Sakkura? Scary. Really scary. I’ve lost touch with a lot of people, and I don’t know if I’ll be in touch with a lot of them again, which is sad. It was a negative time, it wasn’t a happy severance, let’s say. It’s with trepidation. It sounds weird but I think I have PTSD from this. I still have nightmares, recurring nightmares about the scene and where I was. See – at the time, I took a lot of shit from my peers on social media, people I respected, people I saw as colleagues and friends and it destroyed me. What that has done to my brain is still there. That’s why I find it weird to talk about it. That messed me up. It scared me. That’s why I’m still scared now, because of that. It was a kick in the teeth. I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like for you. Very sad, and disappointing to hear. It’s sad because I expected it. It’s a funny thing, me being trans is the least interesting thing about me. I don’t want to be seen as a figure-head for trans people. It’s not part of my conversation. I don’t see myself as part of any group, it just so happens that I am. I’m the last person to be shouting about it. It doesn’t interest me. If there is anything that I could do to inspire someone else that might be trans or someone who wants to transition is that you don’t have to make a big deal out of it. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it’s just not interesting for me. It’s been a big struggle for sure, but it’s not something I need to celebrate. It just is what it is. This is undoubtedly a huge step and a scary time for you, but is it also a huge weight off your shoulders, re-emerging with your artistry as your true and authentic self? Oh yeah. It’s amazing. It’s like, oh my god. I never thought it would be possible. There’s a real freedom that I have now. I can breathe. Obviously I’m scared that I won’t ever achieve what I did before or be as successful and all that stuff but it’s exciting. There is hope for the future. I feel like I’ve thrown some chains off, and that’s liberating. So there is excitement with it. I guess feeling so liberated and free helps with creativity too, does it? It does now! Putting this album together was a struggle. But now that I’ve got to this point, I can finally look forward to something. Continuing this project with all these people, it’s really exciting. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. There will be a lot of Wickaman fans who will love and support your new journey and will be happy to see you’re back with Sakkura. That’s really cool. A lot of people have said to me, don’t you want to reconnect with fans, but I was too scared to. This interview is the first time that I’ve said that. I’ve never said that before. I’m looking forward to creating a new Sakkura fanbase. I hope Sakkura connects and people enjoy where I’m taking the music. Let’s dive into Astral, your new album – what does the project mean to you? What does it signify? The album is a milestone, it’s unlocking a door. Getting this out there, it sort of puts us on the map. For all of us, that was a really big thing. It’s a foundation. It’s the foundation of which we’re going to build this thing. Journey wise, that’s what it signifies. I can tell you why it’s called Astral, too. The record label is called Atherea Records, it was meant to be “Ethereal Records”, but that one already exists. Basically, I suffer from sleep paralysis. I’ve seen lots of different things, I’ve been held down, I can see the thing pushing me down. I’ve had things come into my room, I’ve had nice entities, bad entities. I’ve had all this crazy stuff happen, since forever. I’ve managed to tame it now but I always felt that when you’re in those states, you’re sort of tapping into spirit realms. Which is why I chose Astral. Astral realms are the places between this reality and a spirit reality. You’re in both places. In the in-between place. And Atherea Records? I looked Atherea up online and it turns out that in a novel, Atherea is a planet that when you’re on it, you’re in both this reality and in the spirit realm. It couldn’t be more perfect. That is the theme to a lot of what I do, in fact, everything I do. That’s always there. Will you be championing a particular vibe or style of D&B? Basically, it’s the exact opposite! It’s definitely not championing a particular style. Hopefully, when people listen, they’ll get that it’s not about a style, it’s about how many styles can we fit into this BPM. The only boundary is a BPM, and we want to dance within that BPM, and be as creative as possible. Be as weird and quirky as possible, have as much fun as possible within that one boundary. I think boundaries are fun for that reason, right? Limitation creates creativity. Take instruments for example, they’re a complete limitation. You can sit there with all these synthesizers and sit there playing for days with all these different plugins, but give me a guitar and I’ll come up with a catchy hook in seconds! That limitation does something to the mind. What does the future hold for Sakkura? Who knows! I can tell you what I want it to hold. Having fun, expressing through music, expressing all of the emotions through the music! Doing gigs, going on tour. Being successful is where I want to go. Working with all the people I’m working with, moving forward together and continuing what we’ve started, is what I want the future to hold. Being on that map, being part of music and the scene, having our place. That would be amazing.

After a summer tearing up festival stages all over Europe – including headlining Isle of White Festival and being the first band to headline the new Chevron Stage at Reading Festival, their sixth time at the legendary event, today, icons of the scene, The Prodigy announce a run of raucous shows across the country to close out the year. The Disrupta Tour 2024 will kick off in Bridlington on Dec 13th, move to The Warehouse Project in Manchester for 2 nights (14th and 15th), Civic Hall in Wolverhampton on the 17th before heading back to their recently reopened spiritual home of O2 Academy Brixton for 3 nights, December 19th, 20th and 21st. The second WHP and the final Brixton date will be late shows with a 1am finish for all the vampiric ravers. For their last mash-up of the year the band intend to bring their vast cannon of electronic rock meets rave anthems to the stage to pulverise your senses – be ready. On the shows, Liam says – “We never turn down the chance to play the UK and our righteous home Brixton Academy, we will be there armed with a sonically fresh attack. Let it disrupt ya….” LH Fan pre-sale tickets are available at 10.00 on Thursday September 19th and general sale 10.00 on Friday September 20th. THE DISPRUPTA TOUR: Friday 13th Dec Bridlington Spa, Bridlington Saturday 14th Dec The Warehouse Project, Manchester* Sunday 15th Dec The Warehouse Project, Manchester Tuesday 17th Dec Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Thursday 19th Dec O2 Academy Brixton Friday 20th Dec O2 Academy Brixton Saturday 21st Dec O2 Academy Brixton* (*late show, 1am Curfew) Read our Interview with The Prodigy Liam Howlett The post The Prodigy announce The Disrupta 2024 UK Tour appeared first on Decoded Magazine.

After over two decades as a cornerstone of Berlin’s nightlife, the legendary Watergate Club has announced it will cease operations. But when? Watergate Club will close for good at the end of this year. The club, located at Oberbaumbrücke, has been a staple of the international electronic music community since its opening in 2002. In a heartfelt statement, Watergate’s management explained, “With a heavy heart, we have decided to end our club operations at Watergate, located at the Oberbaumbrücke, at the end of the year and not to renew our lease.” They cited several factors contributing to this difficult decision. These include economic challenges in the post-COVID landscape, rising costs, and shifting dynamics in club culture. How does it happen? Why Berlin’s Watergate Club will close? The announcement reflects broader struggles faced by Berlin’s nightlife industry: These are tough times for Berlin’s clubs, and since Covid the business hasn’t really picked up for many. Whether it’s high rents, war, inflation, rising costs, or simply a change in the nightlife dynamics of the next club generation and a shift in the relevance of club culture in general – the operation of a venue like Watergate, in such a prime location, with the financial pressure that comes with it, is increasingly becoming a balancing act with an uncertain future. Watergate quickly rose to prominence as one of the globe’s premier nightlife destinations, “helping to put Berlin on the map as one of the top nightlife destinations in the world.” The venue’s unique location on the River Spree, featuring its iconic glass floor with views of the water below, made it a truly special place for both locals and tourists alike. The club plans to go out on a high note. Watergate Club planned a series of farewell events throughout the remaining months of the year. In the coming months, until the end of the year, we’ll be hosting a series of top-tier events. No artist will miss the chance to celebrate one last sunrise in the club with us, no collective will skip the opportunity for one final gathering, and no guest will be denied the last chance for a memorable night at Watergate. Management expressed gratitude to the guests who filled Watergate “week after week with their diverse and enthusiastic energy” over the past 22 years. They acknowledged the club’s role in shaping Berlin’s nightlife scene, stating: Watergate has been at the forefront of the international club scene for 22 years, quickly becoming a staple for guests from all over the globe. The post Berlin’s Watergate Club to close down for good appeared first on The Groove Cartel.

Following the massive success of his RIAA Gold-certified hit ‘Ferrari’ and collaborations with industry heavyweights like Kim Petras and Major Lazer, James Hype continues to push the boundaries of house music. James Hype has excitingly secured the Beatport #1 chart with his latest single, ‘7 Seconds’ featuring South London’s Shamiya Battles. ‘7 Seconds’ showcases Hype’s signature blend of rap, R&B, and house, fused with a fresh take on the bouncy bassline from ‘I Got 5 On It’. Shamiya Battles’ powerful vocals bring the utmost energy that nods to its roots while reinventing the melody with a modern flair. The track also features tempo shifts and a rhythm fans clearly cannot get enough of. In the past two years, James Hype has amassed billions of streams and views globally, with his previous release, ‘Wild’, also topping the Beatport charts. His success extends to YouTube, where he recently reached the milestone of 1 million subscribers. With ‘7 Seconds’, James Hype continues his dominance, delivering yet another hit that blends catchy vocals and ever-evolving production—proving that his reign over the global electronic music scene is far from over.

Having previously covered the original release, view here, Van Snyder, Serena Bleu and TOROK‘s single ‘Light My Fire’ gets injected with a boosted dose of adrenaline thanks to none other than Dave Ruthwell and Mr. Sid. The remix comes just 2 months after the original was released and brings a new edge along with it, turning the future rave anthem into a house music gem. Dave Ruthwell and Mr. Sid have already proven to be the perfect pairing when it comes to their previous remixes such as ‘Close To You’ and ‘Better Off Alone’ along with countless other original collaborations. This latest remix uses the vocals of the original and matches them up with a rhythmic and groovy house flow that transports the track to another world and brings a while different vibe to the original. Stream this remix below.

I know what you’re thinking. The aftermovie is here. Actually, no, Tomorrowland 2024 has yet to be released but, the Belgium festival has something equally exciting for you. In July 2024, Tomorrowland celebrated its legendary 20-year anniversary edition. 400.000 souls from over 200 nations gathered during two weekends of magic. After this incredible achievement, Tomorrowland has collaborated with Amazon Music to present ‘We Are Tomorrow’. But what is it? ‘We Are Tomorrow’ is a touching documentary that provides an in-depth look into the magic, music, and global community that defines Tomorrowland. ‘We Are Tomorrow’ covers the unique journeys and personal stories of six People of Tomorrow attending the Belgian festival in 2024: Brazilian DJ & producer Vintage Culture, Curtis and Stacey from the United Kingdom, Julian and Danté from Argentina, and Héline from Singapore. Its aim is to capture the hearts of music enthusiasts, festivalgoers, and anyone curious about the cultural phenomenon of Tomorrowland. The short film is now available to watch on the Amazon Music app and YouTube. Tomorrowland has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. I’m proud to be one of them. This documentary gives us an inside look at the spirit of the Tomorrowland festival and the positive impact it has on so many. It’s a behind the scenes view of the artists, fans and the team that makes it all work. When I was a kid, the dream of playing at Tomorrowland filled me with hope. Finally performing on the Mainstage was a dream come true. Thank you Tomorrowland for the amazing memories and so many more to come! – Vintage Culture Last year’s ‘We Are Tomorrow’ documentary feat. Alok won a Webby Award, named the Best Video – Events & Livestream in the 28th Annual Webby Awards Internet Celebration. ‘We Are Tomorrow’ is a 23-minute cinematic journey. It explores some stories from the people of Tomorrowland. It portrays the stories of Vintage Culture and how he grew up and became the person he is today. It also tells the story of British healthcare provider Curtis who lost his foot during a motorcycle accident and his girlfriend Stacey. Then the documentary brings you to Argentina with best friends Julian & Danté who made their childhood dream come true, and the 18-year-old Héline who brought her parents along on the adventure for the first time. Each tells personal stories about what Tomorrowland means to them, alongside spectacular new footage of the festival. I think that I couldn’t live without music. Music has this power to connect, so I let the music speak for myself. When words fail, music speaks. Because music is endless, you have endless possibilities. My head is always thinking about music. Tomorrowland represents a lot for me. I’m very proud that they are in Brazil, my home. It’s very important to the scene. I remember watching the first aftermovies and saying, one day I want to be there. – Vintage Culture Tomorrowland documentary ‘We Are Tomorrow’ cover art People of Tomorrowland: Curtis & Stacey ​Curtis is a 34-year-old healthcare provider from Bristol (UK), whose life hung by a thread last year. In May 2023, a few months before he was due to come to Tomorrowland with his girlfriend Stacey, he had a serious motorcycle accident. He lost his right foot on the spot, and during emergency surgery, they had no choice but to amputate it to the knee. A very tough rehabilitation followed, which is still ongoing. He now has a prosthetic leg and has been declared unable to work for the next 3 to 5 years. Curtis loves festivals and traveling. He’s been to Tomorrowland before and calls it his favorite music festival. This year will be Stacey’s first time, and Curtis can’t wait to show her everything. I have music on for everything. It just always lifts me up. There’s always a song for any type of mood. I actually got really emotional, which I didn’t expect. It just meant so much to me. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but it’s pure ecstasy. It was incredible. Along my path of rehabilitation, to find myself at a festival – not just any festival – my favorite festival, is a real feat. I really do think now I’ve done this, I really do believe I can do anything and nothing is going to stop me. It’s the start of the new me and I’m looking forward to what’s to come. – Curtis Because we were originally going to Tomorrowland two months after his accident, obviously I had to break the news to him about we weren’t going. After that, it’s always been our goal to go again. But we thought we were going to go next year. So the fact that he’s recovered enough to be able to go this year, it’s just amazing. He never thought we would have got that this year. – Stacey Julian & Danté: We Are Tomorrow Julian and Danté (both 27) from Argentina became best friends at high school. As 14-year-olds they were completely mesmerized by Tomorrowland. They had no idea such music festivals existed and were totally overwhelmed. At the time, they were chatting to each other about how much they wanted to experience something like this for themselves, and it became their ultimate dream. A dream that seemed immensely far away for two young Argentinians who were struggling. They felt like they were on the wrong side of the world, in a place with little work, having to watch their own families struggle to make ends meet. After graduating, Julian started working as a developer and started saving money and looking for ways to go abroad. Since November 2023, he has been living and working as a developer in Australia. At the end of last year, he decided to make their joint dream come true, booking Global Journey tickets for the two of them, unbeknownst to Danté. Julian paid for everything. Danté didn’t know what hit him, because for him at that moment, the dream seemed further than ever. The news that Julian is making his dream come true is a huge bright spot in his life. For Danté, it will be the first time he leaves Argentina, and the first time at a music festival. I couldn’t have done it without him. I could have gone alone, but given the passion that we both have for the festival, I would have felt incomplete if it wasn’t with him. – Julian Electronic music is the only music that lifts me up in any state of mind and it’s the only one that makes me feel something that no one else gives me. To think that we had dreamed about this for so long in high school. Unbelievable. The dream of coming here to Tomorrowland was born around 2012. We started watching videos, songs with pictures from the festival and we noticed that we really liked the music. The desire for coming was getting bigger and bigger. – Danté Héline ​Héline (18) lives with her mother and father in Singapore and is in the final year of her high school. Her brother lives in Canada, but the family tries to come together at least once a year. As she is turning 18 years old this year, Héline’s parents surprised her with a family trip to Tomorrowland. Their visit to the festival will also be a goodbye, since Héline will stay in Rotterdam to study and will have to miss her parents and brother for a really long time. When I was just looking at the crowd and just wondering how everyone has their own story and their own life, their own loved ones. It made me feel like myself. I felt good. I feel like no one would judge you. I was there to just have fun. It’s nice to be able to be with other people who are there for the same reasons. I feel like people are just here to celebrate life and love. – Héline The post Tomorrowland presents new documentary ‘We Are Tomorrow’ appeared first on The Groove Cartel.

What an incredible way to start this almost-fall Monday with the announcement of Lane 8’s fifth studio album, Childish. Most of us expected this news, but this soon?! It’s been four years since Brightest Lights and this exciting piece of news has made today the happiest Monday of the year for us. Save the date, as Childish will be released on This Never Happened on September 27th. Childish Daniel made a bold move by clearing out his Instagram last Friday and surprising his fans with a heartwarming video of his childhood, just a week after his spectacular performance at the Summer Gatherings show in Vancouver. The anticipation among his fans reached new heights. Daniel cherishes the importance of family and reflection. He draws inspiration from the boundless creativity of his two children, who fearlessly pursue their artistic visions without allowing the distractions of the world to impede their progress. Not only drawing inspiration from them, but also the unrestrained imagination from his younger self, Daniel reveals his new piece of work Childish. Emphasizing the pursuit of joy through the process of creation, rather than fixating on the end results, epitomizes the core philosophy of This Never Happened and its deep-rooted values. Daniel collaborates with many familiar names on this album. Some of them include TNH regulars Sultan + Shepard, Indie stars Arctic Lake, Anjuna superstar duo Kasablanca and Tailor. A new name you will see on this album is Art School Girlfriend. Check out the tracklist below. childish the Deep – with Art School Girlfriend Higher the Choice – with Arctic Lake Merry Mary Wake up – with Tailor Say the world – with Arctic Lake You – with Kasablanca osse De Dosse Quiet Rush – with Sultan + Shepard The artwork and the writing on Childish is the work of Daniel’s daughter Heidi. Pre-order the Childish vinyl here and pre-save the album on your preferred streaming channel. We are waiting in anticipation for obtuneviously what will be one of the best albums of the year, so stay tuned to EDMTunes for all your music updates! The post Lane 8 Announces Fifth Studio Album Childish appeared first on EDMTunes.

As a crucial Drumcode Records crew member, Dutch producer Bart Skils is world-revered for his best-selling powerhouse Techno releases like ‘Roll The Dice’ and his mesmerising sets. But he likes to pay it forward too, finding and nurturing new talent for Adam Beyer’s label, hence SUDO’s (Japanese brothers Isao & Takashi) hugely successful recent Drumcode debut EP Real World. Skils collabs with SUDO on ‘Nexus’, and with Drunken Kong (‘Dee’ Singh & DJ Kyoko) on ‘Set It Right’, who are globally respected Tokyo Techno maestros, WOMB residents, and Beatport chart regulars, who had their Drumcode debut in 2023 with the I Want To See EP. “This year I wanted to focus on a few special collab tracks“, says Skils. “Both Dee’s and Isao’s other releases I’ve been playing a lot in my sets and it got me thinking a combination of our sounds could kickstart something big“. “Both tracks came out amazing. The one with Dee leans more into a phat building groove and the Isao track gets the psychedelic rolling with some fantastic synth work.“ -Bart Skils ‘Nexus’ is a solid wall of fast, come-at-you Techno, joined by melodic, almost chime-sounding short synth chords creating a spacey feel and dominating the main breakdown before a dangerously entrancing drop. SUDO were very excited to collaborate and release this special track, since they’ve respected Bart for a very long time. “‘Nexus’ is inspired by nostalgia but with modern and energetic essence“, the duo said. Bart Skils’ collaboration with Drunken Kong — ‘Set It Right’ — lightens without softening its sternly bounding Techno, with a resonant echoing vocal title-riff and portentous, even minatory, synth chords setting the nerves tingling – and another epic drop for the EP. “We have always loved Bart`s music so when the idea of a collaboration came, we were very excited. For ‘Set It Right’, we focused on making a big groove while keeping things simple but effective. We are very happy with how the track came out!“ -Drunken Kong You can listen to Bart Skils’ new EP Sakura below and on all available streaming platforms. Stay tuned for more news! The post Bart Skils Teams Up With SUDO And Drunken Kong On The Sakura EP appeared first on EDMTunes.

Renowned for its progressive approach to curation, CRSSD Festival is nestled along the shores of the San Diego Bay, Waterfront Park, which serves as a scenic haven for music fans. Throughout the two day festival (Sept 28 + 29), attendees can revel in the impeccably curated sounds of 3 distinct stages amidst cityscape views and picturesque sunsets. As night falls, CRSSD extends its reach across the city, hosting a variety of after-parties at clubs, venues, and converted spaces. This seamless blend of daytime bliss and nighttime partying makes CRSSD the ultimate destination for Electronic music enthusiasts seeking forward-thinking programming at every turn. With a star-studded lineup, it’s hard to prioritize all the amazing talent, but here’s our top 5 recommendations (in no particular order)! Gesaffelstein Still on his Enter The Gamma Tour, Gesaffelstein has been busy this year riding his comeback wave from his new album GAMMA. Dubbed the “Dark Prince of Techno“, this Paris-based DJ-producer reconnects Hard Techno to its Industrial roots. To mainstream audiences Gesa is known for collaborating with Kanye West on two standout tracks on 2013’s stunning Yeezus album – the abrasive ‘Send It Up’ and the astonishing Glam-Punk Rap riot ‘Black Skinhead’, a co-production with Daft Punk and Levy’s friend Brodinski. But Gesaffelstein has been building up a name among Dance fans for decades. Releases on the OD, Zone and Bromance labels showcasing an ever-developing individual style with distinctive ominous undertones. Remixes for Lana del Rey, Justice, The Hacker, Laurent Garnier and heroes Depeche Mode put his unique sound – harsh but beautiful, sometimes brutal but always delicately structured – front and center. Klangkuenstler Berliner and provocateur of Hard Techno, Klangkuenstler doesn’t come to the US often, so fans of the genre won’t want to miss out on this set. Growing up in the southernmost corner of Germany’s Allgäu area, it was his first clubbing experiences at Munich’s Harry Klein that infected him with Electronic music. Following his evolving passion for grooves and bass lines, he moved to Berlin in 2012. Driven by the German capital’s music and club variety, Klangkuenstler soon not only emerged as a DJ and live act, but also emphasised his multi-faceted personality by way of his initial singles: while ‘Barfuss auf Wolken’ was released in 2013 by the quality label Stil vor Talent and reached more than one million plays online, ‘Hand in Hand’ (Soundplate) was supported in the BBC Radio 1 show by Rob Da Bank. Tini Gessler A relative newcomer, Tini Gessler has risen through the music scene remarkably quickly. Starting out playing small parties in her home town of Sitges, Tini was soon picked up by Pacha Barcelona where she held a three-year residency and it wasn’t long before she found herself playing at iconic clubs including Space and Pacha Ibiza. Since then Tini has cemented herself as part of the Elrow team, as resident DJ for their underground label KER. Gaining identity for her pumping Deep / Tech House sets, Tini has played across Europe and throughout Central and South America- notably at Rioma Club in Mexico DF with Marc Houle. As an elrow regular Tini also frequently plays alongside international artists such as Jamie Jones, Paco Osuna and Joseph Capriati. Tini Gessler’s ascent in the music industry is a story of talent meeting opportunity. Gorgon City The UK duo has been around for a while now, but has always been able to stay relevant through their constantly evolving sound as well as mainstream collaborations. Now on their 5th studio album Reverie, the two continue their success with headlining slots across the globe. Head of their own label, Realm Records, Gorgon City is a curator of some of the best vibes out there. You can always rely on them for a good show. Nora En Pure The scenery of San Diego’s Waterfront Park was made to go with Nora’s signature Melodic House and Techno. The South African born DJ Producer is a core member of the Helvetic Nerds group, Nora leads listeners out of the darker realms of Deep House with intricate instrumentals and enlightening melodies. Every track she gets her hands on turns to gold and every performance she gives leaves the audience in awe. Her Purified brand has gained notoriety, radio shows, and curated events across the globe. Globally renowned and adored for her cinematic soundscapes and ethereal performances, she has spent the last few years working relentlessly to reach the pinnacle of the Dance music scene. The post Here’s 5 Artists You Cannot Miss At CRSSD – Fall 2024 appeared first on EDMTunes.

Lane 8 has revealed a new album, Childish. Announcing the project today, the deep house superstar, whose real name is Daniel Goldstein, paints a picture of an album that more so resembles a time machine. He's trading in his producer's chair for a spot on the living room floor, rediscovering the joy of creation sans the pressure of pleasing the masses. Inspired by his own experiences as a father, Childish, Goldstein says, channels the unrestrained imagination of his kids and his younger self. "as parents, we’ve always tried to provide the materials and space for them to create, but to then step back and let them be themselves and focus without interfering," Goldstein writes. "seeing the joy and the confidence that creating in their own way brings them has been one of the most eye-opening parts of parenthood for me." View the original article to see embedded media. Childish is scheduled to release on September 27th via Lane 8's own label, This Never Happened. Fans can anticipate a collection that captures the whimsy of making music for the sheer love of it, promising a departure from his ethereal style by embracing spontaneity and the simple pleasure of creation. "when you make a living off your art, people need to like what you make for the whole thing to work," Goldstein continues. "a pressure to please others starts to creep into the creative process, whether you want it to or not. it was only by watching our kids create that i fully appreciated how much my own process had changed. it hurt to admit it at first, but what followed was a new sense of liberation and motivation, because i knew it didn’t have to be that way." "and so, with a determination to explore a more childish side of my creativity, this album slowly came together. i tried to think as little as possible about end results, and instead focus only on finding joy in the moment, and chasing that feeling for as long as i could." Childish is Lane 8's first full-length album since Reviver, which released back in January 2022. In a heartwarming homage to its title, the cover art for this playground of sound features an illustration created by his 7-year-old daughter, Heidi. You can pre-save Childish here. Check out Lane 8's announcement below, followed by the album's full tracklist. View the original article to see embedded media. Lane 8 - Childish Tracklist1) Childish 2) The Deep (with Art School Girlfriend) 3) Higher 4) The Choice (with Arctic Lake) 5) Merry Mary 6) Wake Up (with Tailor) 7) Say the Word (with Arctic Lake) 8) You (with Kasablanca) 9) Osse De Dosse 10) Quiet Rush (with Sultan + Shepard) Follow Lane 8:X: x.com/lane8music Instagram: instagram.com/lane8music Facebook: facebook.com/lane8music Spotify: spoti.fi/2BYYafk

Summer is coming to an end, and with it, comes one of the more awaited tops of the season. Tomorrowland‘s official radio station, One World Radio, has released this year’s Summer Anthems Top 100, a list of the best songs of the summer. People from all over the world had the chance to cast their votes for a poll that truly represented the radio’s audience. This list features the most important songs of the summer that were played at festivals and clubs around the world. It’s a great way to remember your favorite summer memories, or discover new music. Of course, if you’ve been around this festival season, either physically at shows or or social media, chances are, you’ve at least heard every song from the Top 10. Do you wanna party? Because the anthem of the open-air events this year, ‘Move‘ by Adam Port, Stryv, Orso and Malachiii was chosen as the number one song. Second place goes to the Melodic Techno tune ‘Aria‘ by Argy and Omnya, while third place goes to ‘Somebody That I Used To Know‘, SIDEPIECE’s rework of the hit 2010s track. Check out the 10 most voted tracks of this year’s Summer Anthems Top 100 list below: Adam Port, Stryv, Keinemusik, Orso, Malachiii – Move Argy & Omnya – Aria Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (SIDEPIECE Treat) Swedish House Mafia ft. Niki & The Dove – Lioness Marlon Hoffstadt aka DJ Daddy Trance – It’s That Time Zerb – Mwaki (ft. Sofiya Nzau) Mr. Belt & Wezol – It’s Not Right (But It’s Okay) Chase & Status, Bou – Baddadan (ft. IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga, Takura) Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Tiësto & Dido & W&W – Thank You (Not So Bad) Fred again.. x Swedish House Mafia – Turn On The Lights again (ft. Future) Also, check out the remaining positions by clicking this link. And stay tuned to our page for more news on EDM. The post Argy, Keinemusik And More Crowned At Tomorrowland Summer Anthems Top 100 List appeared first on EDMTunes.

David Guetta does not just break records in the music world; The French DJ has sold his Miami Beach condo for a record-setting $16 Million. In 2018, he purchased a stunning condo from billionaire Richard LeFrak at the prestigious Setai Miami Beach for $9.5 million. The luxurious residence, perched high above the city, offered the French artist sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Miami skyline. Six years later, Guetta has set a new per-square-foot price record for Miami Beach condos. The 37th-floor unit, sold in an off-market deal to an undisclosed buyer last week, spans 2,525 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. For $6,337 per square foot, it marks the highest price paid per square foot in Miami Beach history and ranks second overall in Miami-Dade County for non-penthouse condos. The condo boasts three exposures, providing breathtaking views of the ocean by day and the city’s illuminated skyline by night. For owners seeking to recoup costs, the Setai allows short-term rentals and extended stays; during his travels, Guetta reportedly rented out the unit for up to $28,000 per week or $50,000 per month. The condo’s sleek, all-white interior is equipped with Sonos speakers throughout its open-concept layout. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area offer expansive ocean views, while a spacious balcony extends the living space outdoors. The primary bedroom also features a private balcony, an ensuite bathroom, and large windows that fill the room with natural light. Residents of the 40-story Setai tower enjoy access to a host of luxury amenities, including three climate-controlled infinity pools, the on-site Valmont spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the exclusive Les Clefs d’Or concierge service. Last year David bought a brand-new ultra-modern home on the ultra-exclusive Indian Creek Island enclave. The post David Guetta Gets Record-Setting $16 Million For Miami Condo appeared first on EDMTunes.

Two-time JUNO-award-winning Canadian producer Rezz and German Dubstep leader and Grammy-nominee Virtual Riot unveil their highly-anticipated collaboration, ‘Give in to you (feat. One True God)‘. The sultry track, released Friday on Monstercat, marks the debut collaboration from these electronic powerhouses. ‘Give in to you’ is a haunting blend of Rezz’s signature Midtempo soundscapes, Virtual Riot’s heavy-hitting Bass prowess, and One True God’s emotive vocals. The addictive heavily saturated bassline with haunting vocals evokes the allure of surrendering to love making it an irresistible anthem for music fans everywhere. The moment Rezz dropped a teaser of the collaboration with Virtual Riot and One True God, their fanbases ignited a wildfire of excitement and anticipation. Fans took to TikTok, X, Instagram, and YouTube in a frenzy, buzzing as speculation and demand for the release reached an ultimate high. Listen here. “Virtual Riot and I met up at deadmau5’s house and we worked on a song together. I then hit up One True God and he smashed the vocal! Really happy with how this song turned out. Virtual Riot was super fun to work with especially as he’s such a genius with mixing/mastering.” — Rezz With a massive fanbase known as The Cult of Rezz, consisting of millions across social media and DSPs, and the backing of giants like Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and deadmau5, Rezz has become a dominant force in the Electronic music scene and beyond. Rezz’s ability to sell out iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where last month she held her annual ‘Rezz Rocks,’ and The Brooklyn Mirage, is a testament to her dedicated following and power to captivate massive audiences. Her collaborations with deadmau5 as REZZMAU5, including ‘Infraliminal‘ and ‘Hypnocurrency,’ and their spellbinding live performances at Tomorrowland, HARD Summer, and VELD Music Festival, have further solidified her influential status. The headline act has expanded her musicality across different genres beyond her signature Midtempo soundscapes, and was one of the pioneers to bridge the gap between Rock and Electronic. She’s collaborated with celebrated names including Grabbitz on their smash hit ‘Someone Else,’ which reached #15 on Alt Radio in the US and #1 in Canada, Phantogram, PVRIS, Dove Cameron, Subtronics, and more, showcasing her versatility to connect with a broader audience. With over a decade of influence in the scene, Virtual Riot has consistently pushed the boundaries of Dubstep and Bass music. Known for his innovative production style, unforgettable live performances, and commitment to education, Virtual Riot has cemented his position as a leading figure. His meticulous sound design has opened doors to collaborations with industry titans, including Skrillex and Swae Lee on ‘Mixed Signals,’ which peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Top Dance and Electronic Albums, as well as Justin Bieber on his Grammy-nominated record ‘2 Much.’ His work has also secured major placements in television, notably in Disney+’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian. On the touring side, Virtual Riot is an in-demand act, headlining and selling out renowned venues including The Hollywood Palladium, playing major festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, Rampage Open Air, Parookaville, Lost Lands, and more. Virtual Riot’s production tutorials on YouTube and Patreon and monumental sample packs on Splice, which have been downloaded over 5 million times, have helped countless aspiring producers and artists develop their skills. This dedication and mentorship to fostering the next generation of producers has further developed his legacy. The post Rezz And Virtual Riot’s Release Debut Collab ‘Give in to you (feat. One True God)’ appeared first on EDMTunes.

A man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries over the weekend after two suspects stabbed him with a knife and a machete in a Melbourne nightclub, according to local reports. Authorities on Sunday morning arrived at Revolver Upstairs around 4am to respond to calls surrounding the attack, per a statement issued by Victoria Police. The suspects fled the area before they arrived and an investigation is now underway. "A 31-year-old Endeavour Hills man sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment," police said. Revolver's owners temporarily shut down the venue and cancelled a scheduled Sunday night performance by Bag Raiders, the ARIA Award-nominated electronic music duo behind the global dance hit "Shooting Stars." It's the second knife attack at a Melbourne nightclub over the course of the last month. Just three blocks from Revolver, a man was stabbed outside the Love Machine nightclub on August 16th after a brawl broke out onto the street. The victim, 18, suffered multiple stab wounds before doctors placed him in a medically induced coma, 9News reported at the time. The victim of the attack at Revolver is in critical but stable condition, according to the Australian Associated Press. "We are heartbroken by the violent incident that took place at Revolver Upstairs this morning," the venue said in a statement released on social media. "Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this terrible event."

In July 2024, Tomorrowland celebrated its legendary 20-year anniversary edition with 400.000 souls from over 200 nations gathering during two weekends of magic. The world-renowned Electronic music festival is now thrilled to announce its new collaboration with Amazon Music to present ‘We Are Tomorrow’ – a touching documentary that provides an in-depth look into the magic, music and global community that defines Tomorrowland. ‘We Are Tomorrow’ covers the unique journeys and personal stories of six People of Tomorrow attending the Belgian festival in 2024: Brazilian DJ & producer Vintage Culture, Curtis and Stacey from the United Kingdom, Julian and Danté from Argentina and Héline from Singapore – capturing the hearts of music enthusiasts, festivalgoers, and anyone curious about the cultural phenomenon that is Tomorrowland. The short film is now available to watch on the Amazon Music app and on YouTube. The exclusive premiere of the authentic documentary took place in São Paulo, including the attendance of Brazil’s superstar Vintage Culture. “Tomorrowland has touched the lives of millions of people around the world“, said Vintage Culture. “I’m proud to be one of them. This documentary gives us an inside look at the spirit of the Tomorrowland festival and the positive impact it has on so many. It’s a behind-the-scenes view of the artists, fans and the team that makes it all work. When I was a kid, the dream of playing at Tomorrowland filled me with hope. Finally performing on the Mainstage was a dream come true.“ “Thank you Tomorrowland for the amazing memories and so many more to come!” — Vintage Culture Last year’s ‘We Are Tomorrow’ documentary featuring Alok won a Webby Award, named the Best Video – Events & Livestream in the 28th Annual Webby Awards Internet Celebration. Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honouring excellence on the Internet. ‘We Are Tomorrow’ is a 23-minute cinematic journey, portraying the stories of Vintage Culture and how he grew up and became the person he is today, British healthcare provider Curtis who lost his foot during a motorcycle accident and his girlfriend Stacey, Argentinian best friends Julian & Danté who made their childhood dream come true, and the 18-year-old Héline who brought her parents along on the adventure for the first time. Each tells personal stories about what Tomorrowland means to them, alongside spectacular new footage of the festival. Transcending the boundaries of music, culture and emotion, ‘We Are Tomorrow’ gives viewers an intimate look at the iconic music festival right from their homes, portraying the different protagonists in a raw and authentic way during their journey and joining the celebration on the festival grounds. The post Tomorrowland And Amazon Music Present ‘We Are Tomorrow’ Documentary appeared first on EDMTunes.

Excitement is building across the rock community, with rumors swirling that Warped Tour could make a big comeback in 2025 for its 30th anniversary. According to Rock Feed, multiple sources hint that the iconic festival will return next year. Though specifics remain unclear, fans are already buzzing about what could be the revival of one of the most beloved touring festivals in history. Live Nation to Lead the Comeback Rock Feed host Brian Storm reported that Warped Tour’s return is in the works, with Live Nation set to take control. Despite this, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman will still play a significant role. This ensures the festival keeps its authentic roots. Although Live Nation hasn’t commented yet, fans eagerly await an official announcement. Warped Tour started in 1995 and quickly became the top festival for rock and alternative music. It helped launch bands like Blink-182, Paramore, and Fall Out Boy. Even pop stars like Katy Perry found their footing there. If the tour comes back, its 30th anniversary would be the perfect way to celebrate its legacy. Potential Lineup for 2025 If Warped Tour returns, the lineup could feature some major names. Bands like My Chemical Romance and Blink-182 have reunited recently and could easily headline. Even Linkin Park or Katy Perry might make appearances, given their ties to the festival. Though speculation is rampant, the actual lineup remains a mystery for now. Standing Out in a Crowded Festival Scene The music scene has changed since Warped Tour’s last run. Festivals like When We Were Young have emerged, catering to the same emo and alt-rock crowd that Warped once dominated. If Warped Tour returns as a series of festivals, as reports suggest, it’ll need to set itself apart. How it will do that remains to be seen, but fans are ready for something big. Why Warped Tour Shut Down Founder Kevin Lyman shared his frustrations with Warped Tour’s final years. In 2019, he explained to Kerrang! how the festival’s atmosphere had shifted. By 2017, the once strong sense of community felt fractured. Fans were more divided, and the negativity made it tough to keep things going. Lyman also noted how the festival’s focus on younger audiences had caused some of this division, as it shifted away from its original spirit. Now, as rumors swirl about a 2025 revival, fans are left wondering: Can Warped Tour recapture its former glory? If it does come back, it could be the festival’s biggest and best year yet.As we look forward to 2025, the big question remains: Can Warped Tour reclaim its legacy and overcome the challenges of today’s festival landscape? Fans are certainly ready to find out, and if the rumors are true, it’s going to be one heck of a celebration. [H/T] – Forbes The post Warped Tour Eyeing 30th Anniversary Comeback appeared first on EDMTunes.

Available to watch now, ‘DJ Mehdi: Made In France’ features unseen archive footage and tributes from Busy P, Justice and Cassius Continue reading...

Martyn’s Law will apply to venues with a capacity of more than 200 across the UK Continue reading...

The limited edition book will cover the evolution of the label including archival photography and flyers Continue reading...

The third of nine Jackson children, Tito played the guitar and sang vocals for the famous pop group Continue reading...

The week-long festival, which takes place annually in Albania, faced a wave of technical problems earlier this month Continue reading...

The two women are accused of helping Kami Carpenter, who was convicted of murdering Cody Fisher, evade capture in the days following the attack Continue reading...

An Italian by heritage, born in London, and now making a career in Manchester. Pierluigi Zardetto, or better known as just ‘Zar’, brings music with an abundance of soul drawn from all corners of his life. At every stage, he’s been magnetised to community and connection. From childhood – with family-oriented summer trips, to formative teens – hitting gigs with schoolmates, to adulthood – welcoming all-manner of artists into his studio. Whether conscious or subconscious, these experiences have built a social, hospitable, in-touch-with-his-feelings character – all of which flows into Zar’s debut album for Space Cadet entitled ‘Anima’. His musical influence varies from Simon and Garfunkel to The Prodigy, but what shines through heavily in his production is a hip-hop and jazz background. The MPC-puncher in him feeds off of source material and gives it a new context. His ability to musically paint feelings and reflections from scratch is uncommon. Take ‘Primavera’ – the only track in Anima without a lyrical collaboration – where he executes the aural equivalent of a late-summer Sunday, sitting on the balcony and staring out as the city moves in an amber-orange haze. It’s music made with passion, telling a story without needing a word. On the other nine tracks in the album, it’s all about the teamwork. Manchester’s bubbling community get stuck in: 2b.frank, aya dia, Dan Harris, EVABEE, Milansanger, Nathan Stoker, Whitt, and of course the label boss and champion of this jazzy sound, DRS. Bringing his mates on for the journey was always the move – and by bringing them all in for live sessions amongst laughs and conversation, every track has that much more meaning and quality. A cultivation of soul. With the album out and after several releases across Fokuz, Liquid V, and Five Alley – it was high-time we brought the young producer in for a chat… How did music become important to you? Starting from the top. Well, when I was younger, we used to do a lot of long drives. Because I’m Italian we would actually drive from London to Rome every year, all through my childhood really – and it’s a long drive. We’d have CDs in the car like Daft Punk ’Discovery’, Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits, Black Eyed Peas ‘Monkey Business’, Gorillaz. I remember all these albums so vividly and we’d play them end to end, over and over. And I mean this was when I was really young, not knowing what life had ahead. But these sort of opened up my tastes. Was it your parents choosing that music? Yeah I think so. They had a lot of love for Italian music too. But then moving to London, they had a taste for that too. They brought me to BST Festival, and I remember seeing Simon & Garfunkel there – they were a big part of my Mum and Dad’s music taste, and I still listen to them quite a bit now. How about once you get into your teens? So growing up in London as a teenager was pretty sick. We’d go to gigs, sometimes two or three times a week, seeing artists like Massive Attack, Portishead, Blur, Primal Scream, The Prodigy – all these massive bands. I realised this is what I want to do, when I saw how electronic music could be mixed with melodic, band music. Then it was just a slow progression into the electronic side. But I was such an indie boy at first. It was me and Alfie (Channell) actually who used to go to a lot of those gigs! Then later on I found hip-hop. A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, Pete Rock, J Dilla – all that really blew my mind, and that’s definitely when I knew what I wanted. Because I dabbled in playing the drums, but I was never musical to the point of playing in bands. But hip-hop showed me that using influences, you can take something and turn it into your own with sampling. For a long time I made hip-hop. I started when I was about 15, just trying to recreate tracks, then I progressed to making originals. Then drum & bass came into the fold when I was about 16 or 17 years old. I kind of knew what drum & bass was, but I associated it more with people like Sub Focus and others like that. Then I found Calibre and Lenzman, and realised it was basically like hip-hop but faster, and it opened up my mind even more. From then on it was no-looking back. So it was sampling, MPC, hip-hop culture, over theory and classic instruments? Yeah – I can play piano, there’s a few on this album where it’s me. ‘Primavera’, for example, has no samples, it’s just me on the keys. I think it’s just having the ear and playing around on MIDI keyboards and MPCs. My Grandma is a piano teacher in Italy too, so just being around her I’d pick up some things. I also enjoy recording other people to incorporate into my tracks. So working with people who play trumpet, or guitar, or those live instruments I can record and cut up. When I was younger we had this lodge out the back of the garden and that was basically my studio, and I had a drum kit that we put in there. But then when I found production I got the old mac, a torrented version of Logic, and some old monitors and started playing around. Slowly the drums just ended up being the corner. What prompted the move up to Manchester? Well I studied music and production at A-levels, then I went straight to university and studied music production up here. I chose Manchester because I wanted to be as far away as possible – just to find new experiences, because I’d barely been out of London. Manchester also obviously has such a big history of music: The Smiths, Oasis, the Haçienda days… it just seemed like such a good hub, and I’d eventually discover that it is actually one of the best in the country, or the world. What do you think moving to Manchester has done for your career so far? Would you be making this style of music? I think the vibe of the city definitely plays a part in my sound now. But subconsciously, I always liked to work with a lot of people. I liked the idea of community. Being originally Italian I think that family vibe is in me, and that’s a big theme for the album really. What the city has done for me is that it’s brought me in, given me confidence, and now being here eight years it just feels like home. I really respect everyone here, they’re so inviting, and it makes me realise that if you stay true to yourself, and not copy what anyone else is doing, you can achieve so much – that’s the attitude everyone has. If there’s one thing I notice about Manchester – it’s that it’s just so far away from being ‘sell out’. Everyone is original and down-to-earth. 100%. I’m not here for the clout or the money or whatever. I just enjoy it, and so does everyone else. And it’s just so great how it works out when you have that mindset. And that’s the thing about this album you know, it was born here. I never thought I’d do one at this point, but I wanted to tell a story about what the city is like really. So was that a highly conscious thing to get so many of the crew featured on the album? Yeah, everyone on it is friends really. Everyone I worked with is professional, but I like to build a relationship, because at the end of the day we’re all in this together and I’m not just going to use someone for something, and then we never see each other again. You’re a social guy and you get energy from being in a room with others. Yeah! That’s the thing, that’s what inspires me. Being around people, and I like to have conversations. Obviously going out and listening to music is inspiring, but to be honest, I get more inspired now from feelings and conversations. Both DRS and Redeyes have been huge supporters of your music lately – how did these relationships form? With Del, he was the first person to show me any support. In Manchester at that point I’d worked with Abnormal Sleepz, we did a hip-hop tune. But as big artists in the city go – DRS is a don. So we did that ‘Spiders’ tune, and then we did a tune ‘Like To Know’ that came out on Liquid V. Those two tunes were originally for his album ‘Light Language’, but they didn’t make it in the end. All of this was during covid, so I hadn’t met DRS or Dan Blindside (who runs Space Cadet), but we were all chatting on email and stuff. Eventually we did get to meet and I kept sending tunes, and Del (DRS) said let’s do more. He’s like me – we both really love hip-hop, and he loves the influences I have. So that’s where we sort of connect, and what gave me confidence to keep going. Because I was in a rut at that point – you know, I was working really hard, I was getting some releases but it wasn’t quite working. And it’s not about being ‘big’ or anything but you want a bit of a home label and some support. I was missing that, especially in lockdown. And how about Julien (Redeyes)? Well this was a funny story actually. I did a project at university in my second year – an essay – and we had to do a few interviews as part of it. I think I spoke to Benny Co-Lab and Heist, and I also really loved Redeyes at the time so I reached out, and he was into it. One of the answers to my questions was that he mentioned he was starting his own label, this was years before Five Alley started, and I was like “oh yeah, that sounds good, I make music…”. So that’s sort of where the relationship started, but I was just sending him loads of music leading up to the EP that we got released on Five Alley this year. I think whenever I work with someone, I just get a little more confident. You really have to believe in yourself and love what you’re doing in this, and if you do, you can really achieve anything. When I was younger, I wanted to do music because it’s a part of me, and that’s what I want to show the world. Because it’s a big world and we’re not all here for long. Sorry, I’m getting deep now! Mate – let’s dive in. Do you think music is your best way to communicate what you’re feeling? Definitely. And in the long run, I’d like to work on more big projects like this. I’ve always loved albums and this experienceof writing an album has spurred it even more. I feel excited to dive more into multi-genre things and maybe live projects. But for now, I think this album feels right – such a good form of expression. I think we should push albums more. People put out these singles – which is fine – but I personally like listening to big projects. How do you feel about it? Well it’s something that comes up in almost every interview. Singles and EPs are more ‘viable’, but albums can have a huge impact on legacy. For sure. I agree, and I feel blessed for Space Cadet to have believed in me to put this together. It’s a big thing, they don’t release on a really regular schedule so every project is quite special, so I’ve got to shout them out. Now moving on, I think this experience has really shown me who I want to work with. Anyone who believes in the sound, and who shares a mutual respect. Making loads of money off a massive track is sick, but never what it should be about. Who came up with the idea for LP? Were Dan and DRS pushing for it? It was that ‘Spiders’ tune that sat there for a couple of years, and then I would ask them often about putting a project together including that. They’re pushing multi-genre stuff, with a lot of jazz, so the tune that sparked the project turned out to be ‘Soul (Some Other Way)’ with Milansanger and Nathan Stoker. That was the first time I met those guys and they both came to my house, and we made that tune in one session – it was so much fun. We all love jazz, Milan had barely even heard of drum & bass so that was the first he ever made. We also made that ‘Drowning’ hip-hop tune too. Those two tunes – they really inspired me. I was making good music before then, but this was really thinking outside the box, digging deep. From there I just kept on making music with that same sort of ethos – I was making a lot at that time, but all the tunes that had that feeling, I kept on sending to Space Cadet. It was just going to be an EP, but they just kept coming! For me, I make tunes quite quickly. But it does come in bursts, there could be a time where I make loads of music over a month but then the next one I don’t make anything. But this was around the time that I’d made a bunch, and it felt really special. There were these themes subconsciously flowing through me. It was never meant to be an album, but it was all there. As I listened to all of it I was really happy with it. I think it’s nice that it came more naturally than me sitting down and being like OK I need to make an album, an intro, I need this sort of tune, a big single… So I’m so happy with it. If I’d put more thought into it being an album-making process I would’ve stressed myself out, it would’ve been a lot of pressure. What were you up to in your life as you were writing all this? I’d just finished university when a couple of the tunes were already made. But I was living in this flat in the centre of Manchester, right at the end of Covid. It was a dark, dingy corner where I had my studio set up. It was really depressing and there were loads of noise complaints. Then I moved into the flat I live in now, and it was just like, massive windows that look over the city, lots of light, and it was so much more inspiring. Also at that time, post-covid, I was meeting loads of people like Milan, Nathan, Evabee, aya dia – just getting all this new interaction, and we all had similar interests, we were having fun and jamming. I also wasn’t working at that time, just DJing in bars and places. Lots of vinyl, jazz, hip-hop, house, disco. My life was arranged where I do that on the weekends, and in the week I’d be having fun with making music. I was quite lucky having all that free time. Honing in on the craft. And obviously not everyone gets that, having to work 9-5 and make music after work. But yeah, that change in environment was such a big mental change, as well as finishing up with uni and covid. We also got this studio that I’m sitting in soon after. That’s when it really levelled up. Because I love working with people in person. And all the tracks on this project are recorded in person (aside from the one with DRS). Plenty of them were even all made in the same session. That’s quite rare I feel like – most artists say they do a lot of exchanges online. Yeah that’s another great thing about Manchester, it’s so small and we all link up so often. And that definitely flows into the theme of the album. If someone hits me up and asks for tunes, I’d maybe send them a tune but ask to do it in person. It goes back to that thing where I get inspired from conversations. You’re in the same room and feeding off each other, and it becomes something way more special and memorable. Where does the album name come from? Anima means ‘soul’ in Italian. You can probably see in the artwork as well there’s like a figure, and then another figure coming out of it. Love that name, and the artwork. Do you think there’s influence from Italy in the music itself on here? I think in the music itself, there’s these values of community, passion, integrity. They’re big things I get from my family and the culture, and it feeds into the writing of the music. Traditional music over there is definitely from the soul – some guy belting out his feelings might be a little different to this, but the essence behind it is all the same. Because it’s such a contrast between just being a producer versus singers and songwriters, I really have put my soul into the sound, and I often give a lot of input into what vocalists deliver – I’ll sing something to them sometimes. Actually on ‘Bring It Back Home’ I am singing a few of the layers. We did it together and there’s a few moments where we really wanted to make it sound full, so I jumped on it. See if you can hear it! I also have this Tascam field recorder – and I’ll go for walks in the mountains and just record the atmospheres. And on most of the tunes in this album, I’ve put all these Italian natural environment atmospheres. So that’s another way that the Italian roots have been embedded into this project. What is the most memorable moment of your career so far? Probably Sun & Bass last year. It was a Space Cadet stage, and I’d at this point I had already finished this album, so I was playing a lot of the tracks from it. The set was with DRS hosting too, they really did a solid for me bringing me out there and giving me that set. I was on just before Children Of Zeus, so the place was packed. I thought Del was just going to introduce me, but we did the whole thing together. And the final tune I played was ‘Spiders’, where it all started with Del and I, so it was just really cool. All the people there were amazing too. Not to mention it was all Sardinia, in Italy. …And surely once it’s out, releasing this debut album will be a big highlight. Oh yeah of course. I also want to send love to all the artists involved in it; Whitt, Milansangar, EVABEE, Nathan Stoker, aya dia, 2b.Frank, Dan Harris and DRS. Got to shout out Del and Dan at Space Cadet for making it happen, and for believing in the music. Big love to everyone supporting already, too. This is only the start!

London Grammar have released their highly anticipated fourth studio album The Greatest Love, out now on Ministry of Sound. The new album from Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dot Major arrives 11 years after their double platinum-selling debut If You Wait was released when the band were just teenagers. The Greatest Love is the sound of a band who have carved a unique path, selling out arenas while swerving celebrity. Having sold 3 million albums world-wide with two #1 selling records, an Ivor Novello win and numerous BRIT Award nominations under their belts, The Greatest Love is a celebration of creative freedom for the British trio and a triumphant start to their second decade in the industry. Hannah Reid said, “This album means more to me than words can express. I am eternally grateful that no matter what shapes my life, art continues to find me and define me. Getting to share it with others will always be our passion as a band. We hope you like it, and we hope you find your greatest love.” London Grammar recently announced their biggest tour to date, as tickets for their UK arena tour have nearly sold out having only gone on sale just a few weeks ago. The UK arena tour will open this autumn and signifies the accumulation of over a decade of the band releasing music and will conclude in a career defining moment as they headline The O2 Arena in London on November 14. The UK leg also includes shows at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on November 11 and AO Arena in Manchester on November 12, and will follow the EU leg of the arena tour which is all-but sold out already. News of the shows arrived just days after the band closed Glastonbury Festival on the Sunday night as they headlined The Park Stage to record crowd numbers – some of the biggest the stage has ever seen. They also headlined Latitude Festival this summer. Full UK/EU Arena dates + GUEST LAUREN MAYBERRY October 31 Zenith Paris, France SOLD OUT November 1 Forest National Belgium, Brussels SOLD OUT 3 Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, Netherlands 5 Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, Germany 7 UFO Velodrome Berlin, Germany 11 OVO Hydro Glasgow, UK 12 AO Arena Manchester, UK 14 The O2 London, UK The Greatest Love follows the British trio’s critically acclaimed #1 selling album Californian Soil, which was released in 2021 and earned the band their second BRIT nomination for Best British Group. First single House was released in April and was accompanied by the official video which you can watch here. Then followed tracks Kind Of Man, Into Gold and Fakest Bitch. Stream / Download here The post London Grammar drop new album appeared first on Decoded Magazine.