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Technasia returns to Toolroom with his latest single ‘Bring It Back’

Technasia

Having touched down on Toolroom in 2015 alongside house legend Green Velvet to deliver their huge collaboration ‘Suga’, French favourite Technasia will return to the iconic UK label in March with his latest single ‘Bring It Back’ – however the release will feature a unique angle, with fans able to personally contribute to and collaborate with both artist and label on the final production.

Asking ‘What do you miss about the club scene, festivals, electronic music and nightlife in general?’, fans will be able to contribute a recorded voice note via Whatsapp directly to Toolroom, with submissions having the potential to be featured as a spoken word inclusion in the forthcoming production.

I really love what I do for a living and consider myself lucky to do what I do, I wanted to make something to show how I missed it and having my fans involved just makes it more special. I don’t think anything like this has ever been done.” – Technasia

Answers must be no longer than 10 seconds and start with the words ‘I miss…’ in the form of a statement, phrase, feeling or an emotion – whatever comes to mind. A selection of the best contributions will then be highlighted for inclusion in the brand new track, with the release dropping via the label on 19th March.

The submission deadline for contributions is 23:59 GMT on 5th February 2021, with all contributions to be sent to Toolroom’s WhatsApp on +447787204079.

Full details plus terms & conditions are available via the Toolroom website here.

EXIT Festival 20th anniversary edition will be held according to plan in July 2021

exit

EXIT Festival organisers remain optimistic about their 20th anniversary edition and would like to reassure fans who have contacted them in the wake of the cancellation of the Glastonbury Festival.

Dates for this years event are set for 8th-11th July at the iconic Petrovaradin Fortress with world stars such as David Guetta, DJ Snake, Tyga, Eric Prydz b2b Four Tet, Paul Kalkbrenner, Nina Kraviz, Solomon, Boris Brejcha, Metronomy, Honey Dijon and many others who will be announced soon.

We are very optimistic about the possibility of celebrating Exit’s jubilee in 2021. Given what we have all been through in the past year, the euphoria at this year’s festival can only be compared to the explosion of positive energy at the first international Exit in 2001, which occurred after a decade of isolation and conflict in the Balkans during the 1990s. of the last century.

It was this release of huge repressed energy 20 years ago that led to the creation of the legend of Exit as a festival with the most exciting atmosphere where performers have some of the best performances in their careers. The safety of all our visitors, artists and staff is of course a priority, and last years Life Stream project gave us a vital opportunity to prove it is possible to host a Covid secure event with health and safety measures at the highest level” – said Dušan Kovačević, founder of EXIT festival.

Reasons for optimism are taken from the excellent speed of vaccination that Serbia has achieved, being the third in Europe and the seventh in the world in terms of the level of vaccinated population. This means that over 1 million people or about 15% of the total population will be vaccinated every month. Also according to previous research and the opinion of health experts at least 40% of people in Serbia already have Covid antibodies, although it is believed that this percentage is much higher. It is also expected that because of the high rate of mass vaccination, minimization of the virus activity will be achieved in the spring, bringing back the normalization of life and the relaxation of restrictive measures.

Last year, EXIT festival was one of the few festival events to have a live audience with its Life Stream project. A special challenge was the organization of the event itself, but even on such a demanding task, incomparable to anything so far, EXIT showed how a completely safe event could be organized even during a pandemic with the correct measures in place. This event was realized in cooperation with the UN World Food Program, the largest humanitarian organization in the world and the current winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and it marked the 20th anniversary of the festival, whose central celebration will take place from 8 to 11 July 2021 at Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Some of the most prominent musical artists in the region and the world have already confirmed their performances at the festival this summer. These include David Guetta, DJ Snake, Tyga, Eric Prydz b2b Four Tet, Paul Kalkbrenner, Nina Kraviz, Boris Brejcha, Sheck Wes, Solomun, Sepultura, Metronomy, Dax J, Kobosil, Denis Sulta, Honey Dijon, Laibach, Juliana Huxtable, Francois X, 999999999 live, Onyvaa, Monosaccharide, Bokee, VTSS, SPFDJ, Marko Nastić, After Affair, Kristijan Molnar, Bokee, Coeus, Goblini, Ilija Djoković, Lag, Insolate, Layzie, Massimo, Reblok, Runy, Space Motion, and Thundermother.

EXIT Festival was established in 2000 in University Park as a student movement for the fight for peace and freedom, both in Serbia and in the Balkans. Over the past 20 years, it has grown into one of the most eminent music festivals in the world, bringing to Novi Sad, its venue, as many as two Best European Festival titles won for 2013 and 2017.

The Festival is organized at one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. Social responsibility remains one of the key aspects of the Festival through the work of the EXIT Foundation, whose social activism is focused on youth development and peace promotion, creative industries, environmental protection and destination branding.

Tomorroland shares the official aftermovie of Tomorrowland 31.12.2020

The wait is over, the official aftermovie from Tomorrowland’s magical digital New Year’s Eve celebration Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 is finally out just for your audio video pleasure!

The team behind the world’s best dance music festival, Tomorrowland shares the official aftermovie of the unforgettable end of year party Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 in the brand-new digital entertainment venue NAOZ, available exclusively to watch in the Tomorrowland app for 24 hours – after which it’ll become available on festival’s official YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels.

Even though 2020 was a year of uncertain times due to COVID-19 outbreak, Tomorrowland festival welcomed and united millions of people of all ages and places through the power of music, bringing a magical show to their living rooms all around the world and allowing them to interact and unite as one from the comfort of their own homes, unfazed by any borders or boundaries.

The 12-minute aftermovie is a magnificent recap from the digital New Year’s Eve festival, which saw stellar performances on 4 mesmerizing digital stages – Tree of Melodia, Atmosphere, Planaxis and Pulse from more than twenty-five superstar artists such as  Armin van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Diplo, Kölsch b2b Joris Voorn, Lost Frequencies, Major Lazer, Martin Garrix, DJ Snoopadelic and many more.

The Official Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 Aftermovie features a unique 11-song tracklist, treating fans to beautiful records from David Guetta & MORTEN, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Diplo, Kölsch, Lost Frequencies, Meduza, Netsky and Ytram.

Watch the Official Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 Aftermovie now exclusively in the Tomorrowland app for 24 hours!

The official aftermovie will be available on YouTube, Facebook and IGTV afterwards.

Simon Doty drops a driving remix of Marsh ‘Beech Street’

Canadian multi-talented DJ and producer Simon Doty shows his remixes are as deft as his originals, as he drops a driving remix of Marsh ‘Beech Street’, out on Anjunadeep today!

Marsh’s tracks always have really strong atmospheric elements and Beech Street was no exception; that acid line is so great tooSimon says. ‘I wanted to rework it for the club with tougher drums on my Analog Rytm and a heavy bassline from my Sub 37. I think it’s worked out nicely as a combination of our styles‘.

With a string of successful releases on Anjunadeep, Last Night On Earth and Knee Deep In Sound, the Canadian rising star continues where he left off last year, on a successful winning streak. Watch this space…

Listen to the track here.

Toolroom deliver the 2021 instalment of their flagship ‘This Is Toolroom’

Mark Knight
http://stuarttracte.photography

Toolroom deliver the 2021 instalment of their flagship ‘This Is Toolroom’ series, featuring a trio of collaborations from Mark Knight alongside new music from Illyus & Barrientos, Danny Howard, Rene Amesz, Maxinne and more.

A project which not only sets the tone for the year ahead, but also one packed full of new and exclusive cuts from the #ToolroomFamily, ‘This Is Toolroom’ remains as a yearly highlight and a must-have offering for house music lovers across the globe.

Building on what was a significant twelve months for the label, welcoming a series of huge tracks to their iconic back-catalogue, late-January now welcomes the arrival of eleven fresh productions from some of the biggest names in the game, signalling a huge statement of intent from one of the scenes most loved imprints.

Leading the charge is head honcho Mark Knight who delivers a trio of scintillating collaborations, kicking things off alongside surging talent Siege, whilst also combining with rising duo Frederick & Kusse and fellow UK pairing Tuff London in equally impressive fashion.

Further huge partnerships follow in the form of Scottish house regulars Illyus & Barrientos as they join forces with Radio 1 tastemaker and Nothing Else Matters boss Danny Howard on ‘Feel Ma Boogie’, whilst a transatlantic combination of Raumakustik, Gene Farris and DJ Rae deliver ‘Breathe In’.

Add in huge tracks from Toolroom favourite Maxinne, Dutch talent Rene Amesz, Sydney-based DJ, live act and producer Alex Preston and Amsterdam’s inimitable Mason, plus newest Toolroom signing and emerging Liverpool-based talent Sophia Essel, it’s clear to see that Toolroom are kicking off the year in style, delivering yet another essential collection of feel-good, lively and accomplished house productions.

Listen to the tracks here.

Above & Beyond releases a long-awaited Spencer Brown remix of ‘Sun In Your Eyes’

Above & Beyond

GRAMMY-nominated electronic trio Above & Beyond releases a long-awaited remix of ‘Sun In Your Eyes’, from California’s Spencer Brown.

Spencer first appeared on Anjunabeats with ‘Wannamaker’ in 2016. His productions blur the lines between deep house, progressive, and trance, earning a place in the record bags of top-flight artists Above & Beyond, deadmau5, Calvin Harris, and Sasha.

Sun In Your Eyes’ was originally released on Above & Beyond’s 2011 album ‘Group Therapy’, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. One of Above & Beyond’s most popular instrumental pieces, ‘Sun In Your Eyes’ has had a new lease on life, with Jamie XX and Grimes recently supporting the track.

It was remastered for Above & Beyond’s 2019 ambient album ‘Flow State’, which has generated over 135 million streams to date. Spencer’s remix has been a secret weapon in his live shows for years and is the first remix of the track to be officially released as a single.

Spencer’s second mix album, ‘Stream of Consciousness’, was released on Anjunabeats in January 2020. Last year also saw Spencer team up with ALPHA 9 on ‘Ariel / Afterlife’ and with Anjunadeep’s Ben Böhmer on the ‘Phases EP’.

The Spencer Brown remix of Above & Beyond’s ‘Sun In Your Eyes’ is out now on Anjunabeats.

Listen to the track below.

THEMBA reveals plans for inaugural live album Modern Africa PT I – Ekhaya

Themba

Modern Africa, the revelatory two-part album from South African DJ and producer Themba, marks an exciting turn in his music with a sonic depiction of his native continent that’s unlike anything he’s produced before.

Recorded live with singers and musicians from Johannesburg, the genre-defying album comes from the heart as it unfurls a trail to his childhood years with ‘ekhaya‘ meaning home and Themba exploring what that means to him.

With Modern Africa he went all in for the purpose of telling a personal story, exclusively producing a live album as his way of celebrating his musical roots from African jazz through to African disco, pulling them into the present as the world moves forward, and giving fans a more truthful portrayal of his artistic identity.

Here’s what Themba had to say about his brand new album Modern Africa:

“I wanted to put out an album that would be a symbol of unity, one that vividly presents what modern day Africa is. To inspire the next African kid and show them what’s possible when you embrace yourself and your heritage.

What makes you deeply African is your consciousness, soul, aura, and how you impact on other people’s lives – there’s a strong sense of unity between us and we are born with a deeply entrenched understanding of rhythm. 

Opening track ‘Colours‘ begins with the distinctive sound of a heartbeat, as warm strings follow with the emotive, melancholic callings of singer J Something who portrays heartbreak.

Resonating with the current, global-wide situation is ‘Sound Of Freedom‘, an extraordinary listening experience, likened by Themba as the African take on iconic techno tracks, with dazzling piano keys and rhythmic staccato strings taking the lead before we are charmed by Thakzin‘s enlivening vocals.

Modern Africa‘s expansive soundscape continues with ‘Ashamed‘ an expressive RnB record that touches on themes of submission and guilt. ‘Mountain High‘ elevates listeners, leaping in with Lizwi‘s velveteen vocals on a backdrop of African drums and lightly played brass instruments.

Opening on a heartbeat, the album closes with the thunderous rumbles on ‘Heavy Weather, Coming Up For Air‘, which land alongside wandering keys, percussive grooves and a spiralling sax.

Modern Africa (Ekhaya) is the first in Themba‘s two-part African experience, with Modern Africa (Heritage) to follow. Further celebrating Africa’s innovating music makers, it features Themba’s rerubs of tracks by ground-breaking Shina Williams & His African Percussionists with their revered fusion of afrobeat, boogie and disco; Nigerian jùjú band King Sunny Adé and His African Beats, one of the first African pop musicians to gain international success; and Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, who’s been especially influential in Themba’s vision with him frequently asking himself what Kuti’s sound would have been like in today’s era.

Listen to Themba feat. Thakzin – Sound Of Freedom

TRACK LIST

Modern Africa Part One – Ekhaya

Themba – Colours

Themba feat. Thakzin – Sound Of Freedom

Themba – Izindlu

Themba – Ashamed

Themba feat. Lizwi – Mountain High

Themba – Reflections

Themba – Heavy Weather (Coming Up For Air)

Modern Africa Part two – Heritage

Shina Williams & His African Percussionists – Agboju Logun (THEMBA’s Herd Remix)

Themba feat. Sunny Ade & His African Beats – Synchro System

Themba feat. Fela Kuti – Zombie (Herd Remix)

Junior Jack & Pat BDS deliver a cinematically futuristic video for ‘Tecky Dream’

Junior Jack

Superstar DJ and producers Junior Jack & Pat BDS deliver a cinematically futuristic, heroic music video for their melodic house heater ‘Tecky Dream’. Directed by Mike Anderson and Ryan Dickie, they create an analogue of the last year using video game engines and motion caption.

Released in 2020 on Junior Jack & Pat BDS‘ own Adesso Music imprint, ‘Tecky Dream‘ instigates tension and rising energy by integrating slow building synths and elevating bass tones. The track has a rich, cinematic feel, driving intensity which is captured in the video set to be released today.

Following a narrative of a hero in a relentless, escalating chase scene the video corresponds with the times we find ourselves in; charging forward, trying to stay alive and well, with ever-changing threats nipping at our heels.

Junior Jack & Pat BDS ‘Tecky Dream’

The hero has a past, and the story has an ending, but for these four minutes, the intensity of the sequence is all that matters. The video is dream-like, with unanswered questions and mysteries locked inside the narrative.Mike Anderson & Ryan Dickie

Inspired by cut scenes and trailers for AAA video games, Junior Jack & Pat BDS bring us a futuristic animated apocalyptic video for ‘Tecky Dream‘ filled with ceaseless energy.

Combining a video game development pipeline with a cinematic track, we built a project that pushed the boundaries of our practice. We’ve been collaborating on different projects for ten years, and we’re always searching for ways to reinvent our approach, always trying to find something new. For us, ‘Tecky Dream’ opened up a high-energy, collaborative approach to storytelling that was a perfect fit for the project.Mike Anderson & Ryan Dickie

Watch the official video below.

Ferry Corsten launches music production masterclass: ‘In The Studio’

ferry corsten
via Sean Nunley

With over 25 years of studio experience, a hit-studded discography and an undeniably impressive track record as a composer, it’s safe to say that electronic music icon Ferry Corsten knows a thing or two about music production.

The Dutchman has been among his scene’s most authoritative figures since he released seminal Trance classics such as ‘Out Of The Blue‘ (as System F) and ‘Gouryella‘ (as Gouryella), and he now steps up to the plate to teach his craft to the next generation of dance music producers through his first-ever masterclass on Armada University and FaderPro: ‘In The Studio‘.

A must-watch for every producer regardless of stylistic preference, Ferry Corsten‘s ‘In The Studio‘ course shows exactly why his remix résumé shows top names such as U2, Moby, Faithless, The Killers, William Orbit, Duran Duran, Public Enemy, Nelly Furtado and X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro.

Throughout 4,5 hours of top-level music production, the award-winning producer builds an ’80s-style track from scratch to teach his students all about his workflow, creating unique risers, playing with crazy effects and building a high-energy record that will smash every sound system to bits. Every piece of info gets explained in an easy-to-understand way, ensuring that this course has everything a budding producer needs to start taking the next step.

Available at a 15% pre-order discount from today until the masterclass’ actual release on February 2, the masterclass was made in tandem with Armada University, the online producer platform of leading dance music label Armada Music, and FaderPro, the online masterclass platform specializing in music production courses.

Every purchase of the course, whether at the full price of $59,99 or at the special pre-order discount, also includes a detailed demo feedback report on one demo from Armada Music‘s A&R team, allowing producers to not only learn directly from a major artist such as Ferry Corsten, but also from the tailored feedback of the label’s esteemed A&R team.

Ferry Corsten: “I’m very excited that I can share my experience and knowledge with all of those who have been following me over the past 20 years. I’ll be giving an insight into how I work in the studio, showing you some great little tricks and tips that have helped shape me into the artist that I am today.

Maykel Piron, CEO Armada Music: “Ferry is one of the first dance music artists who enjoyed major global success and he continues to have an undeniably strong presence within the scene to this day. He is an artist many young producers look up to due to the role he’s played in shaping today’s electronic music scene and that makes him the go-to person to teach those next-gen music makers how to make an impact with their music.

Check out Ferry Corsten‘s ‘In The Studio‘ masterclass via the link.

Watch the trailer below.

Cat Dealers start 2021 on a high note with new track: ‘Scars’

After a particularly fruitful, musically exciting 2020 that saw them sign with leading dance music label Armada Music, Cat Dealers are pushing into the new year in similar fashion.

In the wake of their internationally acclaimed collaboration with Guz Zanotto and Moore called ‘Save Me Now‘, the Brazilian brothers are showing why their popularity keeps surging through their first 2021 release on Armada Music: ‘Scars‘ featuring HAVENN.

An emotion-stricken record that juggles silky vocal tones with heavy bass grinds and thrilling grooves, ‘Scars‘ serves as a testament to the in-studio capabilities of its creators. Showcasing the duo’s versatility and ability to reinvent themselves, this record is sure to leave its mark on the dance music world as many of the pair’s record have done in recent times.

Cat Dealers: “‘Scars’ is our first release in 2021 and it continues this new style we’ve been working on. This song went through some phases and we really liked how it turned out; it strongly reflects the sound that we want to work with and present to everyone. After these difficult months, we are very excited to start this new year with a song that we like so much and are so fond of. We can’t wait to see the result on the floor.

Listen to the track below.

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