Following a successful and widely praised ADE run at SugarFactory, Awakenings returns for a year-end trilogy of events.
Spread across the final days of December and the first day of 2026, the series will explore different corners of electronic music, from warm daytime house to powerful New Year’s techno and a fresh start to the new year.
The series begins on December 30 with a daytime event dedicated to house, bringing together debutants Gordo and East End Dubs, Joella Jackson, Jamback and Joseph Capriati, who trades his familiar techno sound for a special house performance.
On December 31, Awakenings continues its long-standing New Year’s Eve tradition with a night of pure techno. Artists include Megan Leber, Grace Dahl & Lobster, Joris Voorn, Pan-Pot, and Speedy J, shaping the transition into 2026.
Awakenings New Years
The celebrations conclude on January 1 with a forward-looking daytime event that marks Awakenings‘ return to New Year’s Day, featuring a new wave of artists including Eva Vrijdag, Lucky Done Gone x Saidah, LB aka Labat, Lammer, Malugi, and DJ Gigola.
With these events, Awakenings continues to shape the story of SugarFactory as its newest space for both day and night programming.
Singer-songwriter Eric Hirshberg and GRAMMY-nominated soul artist Aloe Blacc have reunited for “For Real,” a powerful new single about coming together and finding common ground in our increasingly divided world.
Out now on all digital platforms, the track arrives as the first glimpse of Hirshberg’s forthcoming third album, “More Is Not The Answer,” – an expansive new body of work due in 2026.
After first teaming up on 2024’s “I Love Not Drinking” – hailed by People Magazine as “a sober anthem for Dry January” and featured by KCRW, Relix, American Songwriter, and KTLA – the pair set out to write something bigger: a song about reconnecting in a time of disconnection.
“This song started as a conversation about our phones,” says Hirshberg. “Like so many people, we were both trying to use the phone and social media less and to reduce the divisive influences in our lives.
‘For Real’ is a song about breaking free of the forces that divide us. It is about the importance of talking to and listening to each other, even when – maybe especially when – we disagree.”
Eric Hirshberg Aloe Blacc – For Real
“I believe in using music to try to lift people up and bring people together,” adds Blacc. “And the concept of this song is one that is needed right now.”
From a production standpoint, Hirshberg says the collaborators wanted to find a sound “that sits directly between our two genres.”
“My past work has always had an intimate, human-scale feel, and Aloe, of course, writes larger than life, R&B inspired pop,” he explains. “The resulting combination is something we are calling ‘Cinematic Folk.’ It is a personal song, delivered with an epic scale.”
That intersection – between intimacy and scope, message and melody – also reflects the creative partnership at the heart of “For Real.”
Aloe Blacc has long been a voice for the people – a globally recognized singer, songwriter, and changemaker whose music uplifts, empowers, and unites. Best known for genre-defying anthems like the international smash “Wake Me Up” with Avicii, anthemic “The Man,” and the timeless “I Need A Dollar,” Blacc continues to inspire through sound and purpose.
In 2025, Blacc returned with his most mission-driven work to date: a new full-length album titled Stand Together – both a celebration and a call to action, with Aloe’s signature soul and sincerity woven into every note. With powerful new music, renewed purpose, and a voice as vital as ever, Aloe stands at the center of culture and conscience – reminding the world that one good song really can change everything.
Eric Hirshberg’s own journey has been just as unconventional. Before releasing his first album, he spent nearly a decade as CEO of Activision, overseeing global entertainment franchises like Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Skylanders, and Destiny.
He previously served as CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Deutsch LA, where he led the agency through a fourteen-year run that earned multiple Adweek and AdAge “Agency of the Year” honors. Named one of AdAge’s “50 Most Creative People in Business” and inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Achievement, Hirshberg built a career at the center of culture before turning his focus toward his lifelong passion for music.
Since leaving the corporate world, Hirshberg has advised founders at purpose-driven startups including MasterClass, Beta Technologies, Skydio, and UpPartners while channeling his creative energy into music defined by humanity, humor, and hope. That balance – innovation and introspection – runs through “For Real,” a song about finding what connects us amid the noise.
“For Real” builds on the creative momentum of “I Love Not Drinking,” which celebrated joy and mindfulness through sobriety, and extends Hirshberg’s evolution as a songwriter with something meaningful to say.
While “I Love Not Drinking” championed personal clarity, “For Real” turns outward. In a culture often driven by outrage and algorithms, the song invites listeners to “break free,” and to “laugh and cry and disagree, and still see one another for the sisters and the brothers that we are.
That message continues the thread Hirshberg began with his previous album, Second Hand Smoke – a project praised by Relix for “exploring positive themes in the face of personal challenges,” and described by Americana Highways as “beautiful and quietly soaring,” and “one of the best albums of the year in any genre.”
The album dives into refreshingly candid themes, tackling sobriety, aging, and mental wellness through the lens of someone who’s experienced life’s ups and downs. With songs about setting boundaries, letting go of toxic relationships, and finding peace through reflection, Second Hand Smoke offered listeners something not often heard in today’s pop landscape.
With “For Real,” Hirshberg and Blacc channel their shared belief in the power of music to build bridges. It’s a reminder that conversation, compassion, and creativity still have the ability to cut through the noise – and that connection, in all its forms, is something worth fighting for.
UNTOLD Dubai is back from November 6–9 at a brand-new location, Dubai Parks and Resorts. Festival-goers can expect 4 days and nights of non-stop entertainment, 6 spectacular stages, over 100 world-renowned artists, and hundreds of thousands of fans enjoying an unforgettable experience.
Romanian airline AnimaWings becomes the official partner of UNTOLD Dubai 2025, marking a collaboration between two Romanian brands gaining international recognition while promoting Romania on the global stage.
Here’s what Edy Chereji, Co-Founder of UNTOLD Universe had to say about the partnership:
“Partnering with AnimaWings is more than a collaboration—it is a union of two Romanian brands committed to showcasing Romania to the world through excellence and vision. UNTOLD Dubai proves that when we believe in our ideas and the people behind them, we can create experiences with global impact.”
AnimaWings x UNTOLD Dubai
Speaking about this collaboration, Marius Pandel, President of AnimaWings added:
“Dubai holds a special place for us as the first international destination we operated on a regular basis. Partnering with UNTOLD Dubai allows us to highlight two Romanian brands that share the same values: quality, professionalism, and a focus on delivering exceptional experiences.“
World-renowned artists such as J Balvin, REMA, YUNGBLUD, Swae Lee, Saweetie, Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Alan Walker, Eric Prydz, and Nora Fatehi will perform at UNTOLD Dubai, delighting hundreds of thousands of fans from around the globe.
UNTOLD Dubai
UNTOLD Dubai unites the world’s leading artists—both global icons and emerging talents—from EDM, techno, pop, hip-hop, and more, in a lineup designed to bring music lovers together from every corner of the world.
Tickets and passes for UNTOLD Dubai2025 are available HERE.
Mathame are closing 2025 on their own terms, announcing their brand new single, ‘MEET ME’ (with Son of Son and Jonos) alongside a duo of surprise shows in New York and Los Angeles to kick off the year-end.
The track lands November 7th, the very same night the duo take over 53 Scott Ave in Brooklyn, followed by a second date on November 8th at Sound in Los Angeles. With tickets available here starting October 29, the release and the shows invite fans even closer into Mathame‘s creative world, offering a personable view into the next stage of their ongoing artistic evolution – the new EmoTech sound.
Weeks before its official release, ‘MEET ME‘ sparked global buzz when it was unveiled live on the very same night by Mathame and Anyma; the former debuting it from the Mainstage of Creamfields Argentina, and the latter during his monumental Great Pyramids of Egypt performance as well as his UNVRS Ibiza closing weekend party.
At its core, ‘MEET ME‘ embodies Mathame‘s signature vision of EmoTech – an emotional technology of sound that fuses cinematic depth with electronic precision. It’s not just a track, but a feeling engineered: melodies as memories, rhythm as heartbeat, and texture as light.
With ‘MEET ME‘, Mathame continue to shape the blueprint for a new emotional language in club culture – one where technology and humanity finally dance together.
Mathame – MEET ME
Teaming up with Son of Son and Jonos, who deliver a powerful, chant-like vocal reminiscent of an anime soundtrack, Mathame present one of their most inspired efforts of the year. The track sets the tone from the very first bars, combining the hypnotic vocal hook with a bouncing kick for a commanding club groove.
Energy pulses through rhythmic synths, building a cinematic tension that fits seamlessly into Mathame‘s evolving sound. Designed equally for the darkest underground rooms and the biggest festival stages, ‘MEET ME‘ is a journey built for both the floor and the imagination.
At the very last moment, Mathame decided to launch a spontaneous coast-to-coast weekend in the U.S. – two all-night-long shows inviting fans to “meet us” in a raw, intimate setting, free of phones and distractions.
The first night coincides with the release of ‘MEET ME‘ on November 7th in Brooklyn, followed just a day later by an LA takeover at Sound. Tickets go on sale October 29th, with limited capacity to keep the energy personal and close.
This Halloween, the city of Barcelona will experience an unprecedented event: elrow, Brunch Electronik, and Loud-Contact join forces for the first time to present a joint festival that promises to redefine how the most haunting night of the year is celebrated. On November 1, 2025, from 3PM – 3AM, Parc del Fòrum will be transformed into Halloween Takeover, a universe of music, fantasy, and terror.
Candy, terror, and techno: the full lineup is here
The festival announces a top-tier lineup combining major international names with rising stars defining the present and future of electronic music.
Featuring a world-class lineup spanning myriad shades of house and techno, the bill includes Adiel b2b Quest, Andrea Oliva, Andres Campo, Anthony Rother, Cuartero b2b Manda Moor, Fatima Hajji, Kobosil, Luciano, Maceo Plex, Marcel Dettmann, Marco Faraone, Mathame, Miss Monique, Nico Moreno, Nicolas Lutz, NOVAH, NTO, and more.
“We wanted to design a lineup that showcased every face of electronic music — from the most melodic to the hardest — while merging 3 distinct visions and approaches into a single event. Halloween Takeover is an artistic and creative challenge that reflects the incredible moment electronic music is having in Barcelona,” says Víctor de la Serna, Music Director of elrow.
Halloween Takeover 2025 lineup
Halloween unites electronic music in an unprecedented event
Barcelona will witness an unprecedented collaboration between three of the most influential promoters in the electronic scene. The festive energy and immersive staging of elrow join the sustainable, community-driven spirit of Brunch Electronik, alongside Loud-Contact‘s large-scale production expertise. Industry City, the label born from the spirit of Monegros, will also host its own stage for the most intense sounds.
“Combining Brunch Electronik’s good vibes with the magic of elrow’s productions for a Halloween festival has always been a dream — and today it’s becoming reality!” adds François Jozic, CEO of Brunch Electronik.
Parc del Fòrum like never before
More than 25,000 attendees are expected at Parc del Fòrum, with four stages and over 35 artists performing across twelve hours of uninterrupted music – from afternoon to the early hours of the morning.
Fantasy and terror take over Barcelona
Though held on the spookiest date of the year, the 3pm start ensures a full experience blending the energy of a daytime festival with the mystery and magic of the night.
“At Loud-Contact, we’ve always championed authentic musical experiences. Joining forces with elrow and Brunch Electronik this Halloween allows us to take that vision to a new level, offering Barcelona an event where music, community, and creativity come together in one space,” says Alessio Teora, CEO of Loud-Contact.
Tickets for Halloween Takeover are available via the event’s official website.
Label mainstay Kevin de Vries and Jast team up for a collaborative new single ‘Born Like That’ on the world-renowned record label, Afterlife.
As a core member, Kevin de Vries makes regular appearances on Afterlife, while Jast is a recent addition, emerging with his breakthrough single ‘Move‘.
Kevin de Vries & Jast – Born Like That
On ‘Born Like That‘ they join forces to create a high-energy immersive journey punctuated by a catchy vocal snippet. At its foundation, undulating bass combines with an array of elements to perfectly encapsulate the Afterlife sound.
As he gears up for a major open-air season in 2025, Paul Kalkbrenner makes a highly anticipated debut on Cercle Records with his new single ‘Vier:Drei’.
Premiered during his Cercle Odyssey YouTube Live Show, the track captures the essence of Paul Kalbrenner‘s signature sound — a refined blend of emotional depth and raw techno power. ‘Vier:Drei‘ builds around a hypnotic, driving bassline, while airy, Balearic-tinged percussion and radiant synth layers inject a sense of euphoria.
Tried and tested across his recent global live shows, the track represents a new peak in Kalkbrenner‘s constant evolution, balancing meditative introspection with dancefloor impact.
Paul Kalkbrenner – Vier:Drei
With ‘Vier:Drei‘, he reaffirms his status as a singular force in electronic music — uncompromising, innovative, and deeply resonant. This release marks not only a key moment in his own artistic journey, but also a landmark for Cercle Records.
World-renowned electronic music artist and continuous bastion of influence for studio producers everywhere, deadmau5 has announced he will release a new artist album in 2026 alongside the release of his latest single “Ameonna” on his label mau5trap.
Now marks a new era for the trailblazing electronic music maker who introduced himself to the world with memorable cuts “Faxing Berlin” and “Strobe,” starting with the release of “Ameonna,” a brand new instrumental composition that will appear on his LP to arrive next year. Tune in as deadmau5 builds a world for the listener from pressurized synths and atmospherics into a swirling sonic storm.
Meanwhile, deadmau5 is officially retiring his iconic cube live production and will be debuting a brand new show this coming November 7 & 8 at Red Rocks in Colorado.
The shows which mark his annual day of the deadmau5 celebrations is where he will present a conceptualized five-hour set that also features his techno alter-ego testpilot, new deadmau5 music, and a mau5 drum & bass set to close. The music will be accompanied by entirely new production, lights and imagery as well as other unexpected technical delights.
deadmau5 Ameonna
Alongside the Red Rocks shows, deadmau5 will present the Denver mau5hop pop up shop at 95 S Cherokee Street, Denver, CO 80223 from 5 am – 7 pm each day. Fans can take part in unique experiences and will have access to cool and exclusive merchandise custom made specifically or the two-day pop up including the debut of the Atari x deadmau5 Meowingtons’ Revenge playable 7800 game cartridge.
Hoodies, t-shirts, hats and other unique trinkets, as well as vinyl of their favorite mau5 albums and more will be available. Plus deadmau5 will participate in a meet & greet each day from noon to 3 pm.
Entry for the Denvermau5hop is all ages and free of charge.
After captivating audiences at Tomorrowland Belgium, two sold-out shows in Brussels, and the spectacular UNITY performance at Sphere Las Vegas, Symphony of Unity is set to make its official recording debut.
The genre-blending ensemble releases a stunning symphonic re-imagining of Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash‘s legendary hit “Reload” (feat. John Martin) on Tomorrowland Music.
A long-time crowd favorite in the dance world, the original Reload stormed the charts upon its release in 2013, peaking at #3 in the UK Singles Chart, topping charts across Europe, and amassing hundreds of millions of streams to this day.
Now, more than a decade later, Symphony of Unity breathes new life into the anthem with a grand orchestral twist, merging electronic energy with cinematic depth.
Symphony of Unity -Reload
“We’ve always believed that music has no boundaries. This rework is our tribute to a timeless classic, transformed into a powerful symphonic experience.” — Symphony of Unity
The rework, which has already sparked massive excitement during live shows at Tomorrowland, and in Sphere Las Vegas (UNITY), marks a major milestone for the project, turning their one-of-a-kind live concept into an official release on Tomorrowland‘s own label.
Genre-bending band 2ŁØT celebrates the release of The Albert Harvey Mix – a four-track EP reimagining their most powerful songs through the globally attuned lens of acclaimed Dutch producer Albert Harvey (David Guetta, Avicii, Armin van Buuren, Stargate). To mark the occasion, they’ve also dropped a new visualizer for “Arrow of Time,” bringing fresh energy and imagery to one of their most cosmic tracks.
Originally released as part of 2ŁØT‘s debut album Entropy, “Arrow of Time” features Michael Kang of The String CheeseIncident and explores the universe’s relentless momentum from order to disorder – a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of living fully in the present.
“Arrow of Time encapsulates the cosmic journey from order to disorder, a testament to the universe’s relentless momentum,” shared 2ŁØT frontman Rudy Love Jr.
“It’s a heartfelt anthem, beckoning us to grasp fleeting moments and treasure the present. With each beat, it celebrates our existence and the unstoppable trajectory of time’s arrow.”
2ŁØT – Arrow of Time Albert Harvey Mix
Harvey‘s remix builds on that foundation with bold, immersive production, turning the song into a propulsive, dance-floor meditation. Textural layering and sweeping drops elevate the track’s emotional stakes, pushing its message into a sonic realm that feels both euphoric and existential.
“Albert has always challenged us to rethink the creative process” adds 2ŁØT bassist Robert Trusko. “This remix EP really enabled Albert to explore the spirit of these songs. He discovered ways to raise their energy without losing their essence. This remix is my favorite of the EP because of its soul house elements.”
“Arrow of Time (Albert Harvey Mix)” is the culmination of a project that began with the release of “Sacrifice (Albert Harvey Mix),” a bold reinterpretation that preserved the original’s emotional intensity while infusing it with kinetic dance energy.
That was followed by “Never Knew You (Albert Harvey Mix),” a moody exploration of grief and misperception originally written by Rudy Love Sr., Rudy Jr.‘s late father and a revered soul artist. The third release, “Call For Me (Albert Harvey Mix),” offered a cinematic take on the band’s heartfelt plea for connection and support.
Together, the four songs form a striking sonic suite that preserves the emotional core of 2ŁØT‘s message while expanding its impact to global electronic audiences.
The Albert Harvey Mix EP follows 2ŁØT‘s recent high-profile collaborations with Aloe Blacc (“Immortal“) and Paul Oakenfold (“Entropy (Remix)“), further signaling their evolution from emerging genre-defiers to fully realized creative force – one that blends depth, resilience, and social connection with boundary-pushing production and vision.
The Albert Harvey Mix by 2ŁØT
1. Sacrifice
2. Never Knew You
3. Call For Me
4. Arrow of Time
2ŁØT is a five-piece band blending hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, rock, and electronic music into a sound they call Electronic Jam Music (EJM). Formed during a time of personal upheaval, the group – comprised of Rudy Love Jr., Chase Koch, Omar Jawar II, Sage Judd, and Robert Trusko – uses music as a tool for social change.
Their work spans themes of addiction recovery, youth empowerment, and criminal justice reform, offering listeners both emotional catharsis and community-driven purpose.
Watch the official visualizer for “Arrow of Time,” below!
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