As the world is slowly starting to reopen, the Netherlands have declared no music festivals until there is a COVID-19 vaccine. The news recently came out that their government is playing it safe, and have completely ruled out mass events for the unseeable future.
As a music festival goer, this isn’t great news. The Netherlands are the first country to declare this, and I believe the rest of the world will unfortunately soon follow. Minister for health, Hugo de Jonge had this to say about the recent news:
“For the last step, that’s massive events on a national scale, we can not yet give a date [for them to resume]. That is only possible once there is a vaccine, and no one knows how long that will take. Of course we hope soon, but a year or more is very likely.
As of now, there is no timeline for when a COVID 19 vaccine will be produced on a mass scale. Just when the world saw a glimmer of hope, this unfortunately sets festivals back at least a year.
Due to the measures announced by the authorities and the current global crisis, as of today Sea Star Festival is officially postponed to May 2021.
However, thanks to EXIT team organizers’ long negotiations, there is good news for all festival fans – each of the already announced acts will await them in the Stella Maris lagoon in Umag next year!
This makes Sea Star the only festival in Croatia and the whole region to not only have new dates, but also performance conformations by all previously announced acts. Organizers promise to expand the lineup even more in order to reward the audience for the patience they showed through this unprecedented global situation which has taken a large toll on the festival industry.
The new festival dates are even more attractive, since they are one week closer to summer, with Friday, 28 May and Saturday, 29 May 2021 welcoming one of the biggest hip-hop groups in history, Cypress Hill, techno superstar Amelie Lens, Italian hit sensation Meduza, the greatest regional band Dubioza Kolektiv, Slovenian electro magician Umek and his rap majesty Vojko V!
The lineup will also greet the trap team of Kuku$, z++, Buntai, 30zona, Klinac, Brudaz, Young Sanci, Ognjen and Triad & Yeah Left live, rock duo Buč Kesidi, as well as regional electronic scene’s royals Tijana T and Insolate and furious techno crew lead by Farrago, Andrea Ljekaj, Damir Hoffman, DJ Gumja, Bronski and Marcel.
Sea Star Festival 2021
“We are grateful to festival fans for the patience and trust they have shown. We are happy to deliver such good news to audiences from more than 50 countries, as well as to Umag, Istria, Croatia and the whole region”, says Exit team in this unprecedented situation threatening to jeopardize countless festivals around the world.
All tickets, accommodation and transfer options for this year’s Sea Star festival purchased at official ticket-selling points will be valid for the 2021 festival edition. New tickets, accommodation and transfer options batch will be on sale soon with more info to follow in the future.
All buyers who do not find the new Sea Star dates suitable will be able to request a refund. EXIT team kindly asks for your patience so that refunds can be made compliant to the law passed by the Republic of Croatia in accordance with the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as they are available, information will be published on the festival’s official website and social media.
Warm up this May with Sea Star Stream Festival!
Taking place on this year’s previously announced festival dates, Sea Star Stream Festival will broadcast former Sea Star festival performances from Thursday, 21 May to Sunday, 24 May. Performances will be broadcasted on the festival’s official website and social media. The schedule will be announced on 11 May.
Today, legendary DJ and producer, Tiësto announced that his new album, The London Sessions, a unique collection of house tracks inspired by and recorded in London, is coming May 15th!
Always evolving his style and exploring new sounds, Tiësto worked with the best and brightest in the London music scene, including: Becky Hill, KAMILLE, Mabel, Violet Skies, Rita Ora and more. The album also features superstar collaborations with Snoop Dogg on ‘On My California’ and Post Malone on the worldwide hit ‘Jackie Chan’.
Tiësto also dropped a new music video for ‘Nothing Really Matters‘ with Becky Hill. Using the universal language of dance, the video features people from all around the world doing a self-taped dance routine choreographed by esteemed choreographer Sherrie Silver. Watch it Here!
The video comes on the heels of the lyric video, which was created by Timo Helgert, as an extension of his ‘Return To Nature‘ works—a creative series designed to inspire hope during a time of being stuck inside.
Of the new album, Tiësto says:
“I have been really inspired by the music coming out of London and the scene there. London has always been a great place for me to discover new music and artists to get inspired by.
Working with these incredible artists and making the music while in the great city of London was such an awesome experience and I am excited to show you the recorded momentum we had going through those weeks in London. All the ideas from the London sessions album started here in London at SARM Studios.”
The London Sessions, also includes some of Tiësto’s recent hits: ‘Jackie Chan’ (over 1.5 Billion streams; 200 Million video views), ‘Ritual’ (612 Million streams; 165 Million video views), and ‘God Is A Dancer’ (215 Million streams; 52 Million video views).
The London Sessions
Track List
01. God Is A Dancer (with Mabel)
02. Nothing Really Matters (with Becky Hill)
03. Ride (with The Kid Daytona and ROE)
04. Ritual (with Rita Ora and Jonas Blue)
05. Jackie Chan (with Dzeko feat Post Malone and Preme)
06. Lifestyle (feat KAMILLE)
07. On My California (with Shaun Frank feat Snoop Dogg and Fontwell)
Enigmatic DJ and producer Claptone has launched a brand-new online cooking series, ‘Claptone’s Quarantine Canteen’.
Taking place once a week at Sunday, 9pm CET, The Masked Man will cook a new dish for every show (all vegetarian or pescatarian), with a little Claptonetwist added in each time. Each dish is dedicated to a specific country and the recipes are inspired by his trips all over the world. The first three episodes have seen him cook up golden octopus (Spain), pasta ‘Claptonese‘ (Italy) and ceviche ‘Claptuvian style‘ (Peru).
It follows the recent launch of his new weekly series ‘Claptone in the Circus‘, which will broadcast every Wednesday at 9pm CET for 12 weeks straight across his Facebook and YouTube channels.
The series will feature a string of themed live sets from the masked DJ, who will be performing inside a small circus. But it won’t be as simple as that, with each episode also incorporating parts of a circus show, while Claptone drops in over 40 unreleased, exclusive originals, remixes and edits.
It follows the success of ‘Physical‘, the German’s newly released remix for Dua Lipa, and a hugely successful summer in Ibiza, where the German launched his Masquerade residency at Pacha Ibiza. Taking place every Monday, the grandiose party concept saw the likes of Armand Van Helden, Basement Jaxx, Danny Tenaglia, Dennis Ferrer, Diplo, Faithless, Kerri Chandler and Todd Terry join Claptone over 19 memorable weeks.
‘Claptone’sQuarantine Canteen‘ and ‘Claptone in the Circus‘ sees one of the world’s best-loved electronic artists doing his best to lighten the mood during these testing times.
After revealing her new logo during a spellbinding Livestream reaching over 3 million people around the world last month, Techno Dj and producer, Charlotte de Witte is back with another stream on May 7 from 7 PM – 8:30 PM CEST. This time around it will be a special B2B with Italian techno titan Enrico Sangiuliano.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Charlottevisited Milan Fashion Week, where she met up with Enrico Sangiuliano. Once the virus had been detected in Italy, they decided to go to Belgium together. They’ve been lockdown buddies ever since. With both artists eager to play for music lovers around the world, it only makes sense to combine their strengths to create a special Livestream.
With Enrico being known for his strong performances at Awakenings and Creamfields amongst others and Charlotte notorious for her effortless charm and powerful track selection, this Livestream will be nothing short of extraordinary. Make sure to tune in to this memorable Livestream, this is something you don’t want to miss!
Charlotte de Witte Enrico Sangiuliano Livestream
This Livestream is done in compliance with the current rules of the local authorities.
Matador returns to the foreground of electronic music’s vast landscape with Tuesday; his debut album contribution to the ambient realm.
Offering an immersive montage of stories that pay tribute to Ireland’s idyllic vistas, the multifaceted producer’s breath-taking LP echoes a tenacious dedication to his craft. Following its soft launch in March, Tuesday now celebrates its official release – available to stream and download via Matador‘s esteemed RUKUS imprint.
Following Matador, aka Gavin Lynch‘s recent Astralwerks Records White Label release ‘Bush‘ and vinyl-only ‘Cyclone‘ series, the talent’s Tuesday project presents as a seminal down-tempo addition to his ever-flourishing back-catalogue. Proposing a fresh perspective on both concept and sonic sensibilities, the ambient-led electronica opus takes an alternative stylistic route from its predecessors, welcoming nature as its muse.
Perched in a tucked-away spot mere metres from the water, Matador‘s Dublin-based workspace is enveloped by an abundance of nature and wildlife that serves as an endless source of inspiration for his production output.
Matador Tuesday
Harnessing field recordings from the untainted seascape, the album’s 20 cuts are replete with organic sentiment; from indigenous birdsong to breaking waves and blustery storms; each composition stimulates a period of reflection for the listener, serving as an intimate retreat from every-day noise. Founded on a love for the free-flowing progression of music and an authentic composition process, Tuesday is designed for start-to-finish listening and is available as a continuous mix.
“My idea was to create a soundscape that connects and fills in the spaces; the physical spaces around us, the silences in between, and the space amongst our thoughts, actions and reactions” – Matador
The Grammy-nominated breakout dance act of 2019 are set to host their very first ‘Livestream World Tour’ on 8th and 9th May, taking place at Friday (5pm ET) and Saturday (6pm CET).
The Italian trio Meduza, behind the massive smash, “Piece of Your Heart“, which was the biggest debut dance record of 2019, racked up over a billion streams across all platforms and has since turned silver, gold, platinum and diamond in over 10 countries.
Having dominated dancefloors all summer long last year, Meduzarecently followed up with their debut Defected production ‘Born To Love‘ that has already seen over 13 million Spotify streams.
Meduza Livestream World Tour
The year has already been a huge success for the guys with tour dates spanning Amnesia Milan, Brazil Carnival, and EDC Vegas festivals.
Now, you can enjoy their soulful and vibrant house selections from the comfort of your own home this weekend.
There is always a story behind music, no matter how big or small. Shaped by the memories of valuable experiences, they not only allow the artist to tell their side of it all, but also encourage listeners to share theirs.
And that’s exactly what Super8 & Tab aim for with part one of their brand-new album: ‘These Little Stories‘.
In the first part of ‘These Little Stories‘, Super8 & Tab draw from the wonderful moments they’ve had with family, friends and fans during the years. A journey from chill to big room to their signature side of Progressive Trance, the album continues on the path of their ‘Reformation‘ album, featuring three original productions alongside four amazing collaborations with the likes of Armin van Buuren, Christina Novelli, Jess Ball and Rodg.
If you listen closely, you can hear the little echoes of the past being brought back to modern days. And it may just be that ‘These Little Stories‘ will bring a smile to your face every single time.
Speaking about the album Super8 & Tab have said: “This album is inspired by the stories and experiences that our fans and we have shared both together and apart.”
The final chapter (for now) in the Common Ground story, the ‘Bittersweet & Blue’ remix package picks up the baton from Jono, Paavo and Tony’s recent emphatic club anthem, with two label debutants who have appeared under different guises.
With over a decade of experience, and still only 25, Amsterdam’s Jordin Post (previously known as Juventa) returns not only to Anjunabeats but to the genre as a whole. The last four years have seen Jordin diversify as an artist, releasing melodic bass music on MonsterCat as part of the highly successful duo of KUURO (alongside fellow Anjuna alumni Luke Shipstad, a.k.a Suspect 44).
The move to using his given name is a symbolic one; channeling everything he learned on his dance music journey and bringing it back to the progressive music he loves. Jordin’s ‘Bittersweet & Blue’ remix is one of several releases to come with the Anjunafamily during 2020.
The initial tried and tested ‘Bittersweet & Blue’ club rework hails from duo Lumïsade. Played throughout the original ‘Common Ground’ album tour, the Finnish pair provide a progressive twist which has made them such favorites on Above & Beyond’s radio show over recent years. Another blast from the past, Lumïsade are K-System and JoonasHahmo, responsible for Anjunadeep favorites‘ Together’ and ‘Cocktail Bar’.
Defected’s unstoppable virtual momentum continues this Friday with an all-star Virtual Festival line-up, featuring dance music heavyweights A-Trak, Danny Howard, Duke Dumont, Claptone, OFFAIAH, Roberto Surace and Sonny Fodera streamed via Defected’s channels on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, VKontakte and Twitch.
Defected’s virtual series continues to innovate
A weekly series running since the beginning of coronavirus lockdown in the UK, Defected was one of the first to experiment with live-streamed events of this kind. The new-era music business continues to innovate in the digital events space, with state-of-the-art production and interactivity, going so far as to offer festival slots to its talented community of DJs.
Described by Facebook as defying “the woes of coronavirus”, Defected’s Virtual Festivals have so far collected 12 million views from far and wide across the seven events, including two from Defected‘s sister label Glitterbox. While events are hit by inevitable cancellations and postponements, Defected continue to plug an ever-widening gap for dance music lovers to still enjoy their favorite artists and even discover new ones while adhering to social distancing rules.
A-Trak makes his debut
Making his debut appearance for Defected will be dance music’s wonderkid A-Trak, a producer, turntablist and label head whose work includes productions for Kanye West, collaborations with Armand Van Helden (as Duck Sauce) and remixes for the likes of Boys Noize and Simian Mobile Disco.
As a DJ he’s full of surprises and this Friday will be no exception, as he provides a special set combining his turntable set-up with a Roland TR-8S drum machine, an innovation brought on by experimenting during lockdown.
A-Trak adds, “It’s opened up a whole new approach to DJing for me, where everything is a live re-edit. I come from a background of turntablism and DMC battles, but over the years my quest became to make routines that people can dance to and enjoy as songs — especially as my path led me from hip hop to house music. This is the first time I’ll perform a set comprised of all these new ideas that I’ve been exploring. This is a first peek into the future of my sets.”
Defected Virtual Festival
Competition winners get the chance to play for millions
Alongside Defected‘s seven world-class DJs, this Friday’s Virtual Festival will feature two of the most promising undiscovered talents from its global community, courtesy of the DJFor The World competition.
The competition saw more than 750 aspiring DJs sending in their mix auditions to Defected for a chance to win a slot during one of the festivals. Inundated with entries at a very high standard, four winners were chosen instead of one as originally planned. The first pair of worthy winners, Selena Faider from France and Soulmajestik from South Africa, will each play a half hour set this Friday.
Impressing Defected‘s team with her infectious energy and self-assured vocal house selections, Selena Faider revealed that stepping up to this particular platform felt like it was meant to be:
“One day a guy used to call me a ‘Defected Child’, I guess he was right! Defected has rocked me through the years, on the dancefloor and behind the decks, house music has always been a spirit in my eyes. I’m happy to be part of this adventure.”
From the other side of the world but sharing universal house music sensibilities, trio Soulmajestik caught the eye of the Defected team with their high-energy percussive performance, using live drums and keys to create unmistakably South African dance rhythms. Thrilled to take one of the four winning spots, one of the group commented:
“On behalf of my band I would like to thank [Defected] so much for this great opportunity to perform on your Virtual Festival. I follow Defected Records on Twitter so I have witnessed the amazing platform that you have created for artists around the world. I feel soooo excited to be chosen among the winners, it gives me so much hope and confidence on our craft, thank you so much.”
Defected will also continue to encourage fundraising for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Response Fund, placing a button alongside the stream for direct donations. During the previous virtual events $337.5k has been raised, doubled by Google to make a total of $675k.
Next week will see the return of Defected‘s sister brand Glitterbox, for the third installment of its Virtual Festival. Previous headliners have included Bob Sinclar, Purple Disco Machine, Dimitri From Paris and Mousse T.
Find out more about the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund here.
Defected Virtual Festival playlist on Spotify here.
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The series will feature a string of themed live sets from the masked DJ, who will be performing inside a small circus. But it won’t be as simple as that, with each episode also incorporating parts of a circus show, while Claptone drops in over 40 unreleased, exclusive originals, remixes and edits.
