Frequency New York

Made Events Does it Again with Bingo Beach

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:00 -0400

As a first-timer to Made Event’s shows on Governor’s Island this past Sunday, there was quite a bit for me to soak in as I arrived on the island. Surprisingly, the ferry ride was less than 10 minutes in duration and even before we set foot on the island, we could already start to hear music blasting from a big, white tent. Some people on the ferry were dressed in regular festival clothes, while others walked around in furries, body suits, and other forms of quirky attire. By the time we arrived it was about 7:15pm, giving us 15 minutes to catch the tail end of Tritonal’s set. Although we didn’t get to hear much, they closed with arguably one of their best tracks, “Still With Me” (Seven Lions Remix).

Up next was Bassjackers, whose electro-house set was just as energizing as his set at EDC NY. Marlon played tracks like “Boneless,” a collaboration of Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, and Tujamo, that made the crowd go absolutely nuts, in addition to Tiesto’s “Pair of Dice.” It seemed as though people were really enjoying his set as they jumped around, danced, sang along, you name it. The sun was setting beautifully into the crowd, as you can see in the photo above, which enhanced Bassjackers' set and made it that much more magical.

At around 9pm, it was time for the main event: Bingo Players. The sun may have gone down, but the party was just beginning. To the left of the stage was a perfect view of Manhattan, whose buildings illuminated the night sky. Girls hula-hooped toward the back of the crowd, while those with LED gloves performed light shows for their friends; there was something exciting going on no matter what direction you were looking.

Credit should always be given where it is due, and Maarten is deserving of all the credit in the world for holding up that amazing three-hour set, alone. Late last week, Paul was admitted to the hospital in Holland for an “emergency procedure,” but not to worry, as he is currently in a stable condition. Unfortunately, he was not able to travel for last weekend’s show in Chicago and in New York, nor is he able to attend EDC Vegas this weekend. However, Maarten came on his own and performed for all his fans in New York, whom he had no intention of disappointing.

Bingo Players opened with one of their most recent songs, “Out of My Mind”—a pretty predictable move, since they opened their set at Ultra with this track, as well. And of course Maarten couldn’t leave Governor’s Island without playing “Cry Just A Little,” the song that truly made them famous. By this point, blue and pink beach balls were being tossed amongst the crowd to give the show more of a beach party vibe. What I enjoyed most about Bingo Players’ set was that it was versatile—Maarten used many electro tracks like Dada Life’s “Boing Clash Boom," but he also used Porter Robinson and Mat Zo’s “Easy.” And that’s when people really lost it—at the drop, because “Easy” is such a great song to “raise the roof” to. Finally, somewhere in the mix Maarten threw in Tiesto and BT’s “Love Comes Again,” which was definitely a nice surprise for fans.

There were a number of pros to Made Event’s show at Governor’s Island. Here is a basic rundown of the event and some tips for the future:

Pros:

Made Event wasn’t lying when they named their event “Bingo Beach”; for a while we were actually dancing on sand, which is cool if you’ve never been to a show on the beach before.
The show was outdoors, which is somewhat reminiscent of a mini festival but far less expensive and only 8 hours long.
At night the city lights up, giving you a gorgeous view of the Empire State Building right across the river as you’re raging to good music.
Overall, the vibe was very friendly and the staff was polite/efficient.
There is a seating area for people that just want to chill or eat food that is sold at the side of the tent.

Tips:

The line for the ferry was ridiculously long, so get there early to ensure you don’t miss anything!
Waiting in line to grab a drink also takes some patience, so try to get to the bar as early as possible or just pregame before the event.
If you want to get to the front of the stage, it’s definitely doable, but it will take some time. Just squeeze your way through where you can and let other people do the rest of the work for you!
Remember to stay hydrated. Being outside in the sun for that long can wear you out pretty quickly, so obviously it’s important to drink a lot of water.

Photo courtesy of Doug Van Sant Photography. In addition to being a DJ-photographer, he is also the official photographer for Echostage in Washington, DC, as well as for EDC NY and Electric Zoo. Past clients include: Gareth Emery, Cosmic Gate, Emma Hewitt, Markus Schulz, and many, many more. To see more of Doug's work, check out his website.

Joonbug Gets To Know Sydney Blu

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:16:00 -0400

Sydney Blu has established herself as one of the top female EDM producers and DJs in the world.

Originally from Canada, Sydney has performed at some of the biggest music festivals and clubs in the world, along the way gathering support from the likes of Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Deadmau5, and Funkagenda. She's been constantly on the Beatport Charts with hits such as her remix of “Givin It Up” by The Goodmen. Lately, she's been getting closer to her fans by starting a new documentary series that can be seen on Black Hole Recording's YouTube channel. Saturday she was in town to tear down the huge BangOn!NYC event in Brooklyn, and tear it down she did! If you don't believe me just search all the tweets about Sydney Blu's set at the event. Joonbug was lucky enough to sit down for a quick chat with Sydney just before her amazing set at Bang On!NYC.

Welcome to NY! Have you ever played in Brooklyn?

No not yet, I'm looking forward to it!

You're originally from Canada, how is the EDM scene out there?

It's amazing, Toronto is where I spent most of my time as a DJ. I spent 10 years living there, learning how to DJ. I played all over the city. Guvernment nightclub was the big one. It holds about 10,000 people, I had a residency there for like 6 years. Toronto has an amazing underground scene, people love their techno, lots of good acts come from Toronto.

Do you currently have any residencies?

Yeah, I play a club called Footwork. It's awesome, it's an underground warehouse in Toronto. Within North America I play every major city, some with clubs I play regularly.

I see your in Miami a lot, do you live there?

Actually, I just moved to Los Angeles to be closer to more people in the music industry.

I see you started a documentary about yourself. Can you explain how that came about?

It's awesome. Basically my film crew follows me to one gig a month and they film the whole show from the moment I arrive in the city, to the process of getting ready for the show, the work that goes into it such as studio time and then they film the actual gig. Episode 2 was in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. Episode 3 is coming out in a week. It covers a show I did in Chicago. Episode 4 will be filmed in Toronto at the end of the month.

You mentioned WMC, tell us about the Blu Party you throw in Miami for the event.

The Blu Party is amazing, we do it every year. This year we decided to do a techno party as opposed to doing the bigger room, commercial stuff. We just wanted to take it underground for a change. People loved it, they were so receptive to it.

Can we get a Blu Party in NY?

I would looooove to throw a party in NY! I would also like to do an episode of my documentary here because I think NY is such a great city. I love NY.

Who are your favorite artists to work with?

I worked with Funkagenda a bunch of times. I played his Funk parties. I'm on his record label, it's always good working with him. Same with Gina Star, she's a DJ as well and she's awesome. We're writing a track together right now.

Who are you checking for on your Soundcloud right now?

Recently I'm in love with Reboot an amazing underground techno guy. I really like Art Department. I'm into techno DJs like Dubfire, Richie Hawtin, Eric Prydz, and people like that.

What would be your dream gig?

I would love to play EDC Las Vegas. Also Ministry of Sound in UK.

You have an album dropping soon. When can we expect that?

It's coming out Monday the 24th of June on Beatport and it will be on iTunes July 8th.

What features can we expect?

Well it's a compilation, it has Funkagenda, Mark Knight, Hot Since 82, lots of my own tracks, a record by Gina Star. A big record from Size Records, Steve Angello's record label called "Hit It." Lots of good stuff!

How long is the compilation?

It's a 90 minute mix with about 17 tracks, something like that.

OK, we know your real name is Joanne, why the name Sydney Blu?

Sydney is my mothers middle name and Blu is my first pets name. It was a joke. You know kind of like how you get your porn star name hahaha.

Do you feel any more pressure being a female DJ? Do you think it's harder or easier for female DJs?

I think it's both. I try not to look at it as being a female DJ. I look at it as I'm a person working really hard to be the best. I just go up there and kill it.

What are your influences? Who did Sydney Blu look up to coming up?

Roger Sanchez was one of my favorites, Derrick Carter, Erick Morillo. Danny Tenaglia definitely. I love Danny.

Legends! What can fans expect next from Sydney Blu?

I am releasing this album and touring all across North America for the summer. Then going to Europe and touring.

Sounds awesome! Thank you for talking with Joonbug. Looking forward to a great show tonight!

You're welcome! Can't wait to perform for NY.

The Metamorphosis of Tritonal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:25:00 -0400

Just two days after sitting down with emerging star, Topher Jones, we managed to catch an interview with Tritonal at Made Event's Bingo Beach at Governor's Island. The show obviously headlined Bingo Players, but accompanying him (Paul was unable to be at this event due to health reasons) were Bassjackers, Tritonal, and Majk. Chad is super outgoing while Dave is reserved, like me, but we were able to keep a great conversation going in the green room about 45 minutes after their set. There was definitely a lot to talk about, as 2013 has been a year of change—new tour, new management, new logo, etc. The trance duo we know and love had a lot to share with us on Sunday, and Tritonians can expect many good things from them in the near future.

Photo courtesy of Doug Van Sant Photography. In addition to being a DJ-photographer, he is also the official photographer for Echostage in Washington, DC, as well as for EDC NY and Electric Zoo. Past clients include: Gareth Emery, Cosmic Gate, Emma Hewitt, Markus Schulz, and many, many more. To see more of Doug's work, check out his website.

So, Chad, I hear that Topher Jones can beat you in a pushup contest. How do you feel about that?

Chad: He probably can at this rate, like I’m a little out of shape, and he is kind of a beast. I love Topher. Like, him and I, we’re sort of on the same wavelength. And Dave too, and just how we approach our career. We’re sober, we work out, we try to eat healthy. We aspire to live on that higher plane of life, you know? We’re both very hungry for music and for success. And I think, you know, living that way—luck favors the prepared. When you’re living right there are gonna be opportunities and you’re gonna be awake to sieze those. So you know, when he says that it’s kind of like a jab that—“I’d kick your ass.”

What are you most looking forward to as you begin your Metamorphic Tour in July with Topher?

Dave: Really just getting out there again. I mean, we’ve been doing a lot of studio work and we still are. I mean, we’re in the studio everyday. We’re working on new music all the time and it’s gonna be good for us to do dance floor testing on a lot of these new records. And of course we’re gonna be able to go back and refine them, because we’re ADD; because we’re anal about everything.

Chad: And also there are a lot of markets that AM Only, our booking agent, and Complete Control, our management agency, are putting us in that we’ve never played before. Tuesday nights in small places and Wednesday nights and Sunday nights and like, playing in the Midwest cities, you know? Indianapolis and State College and all these markets we’ve never played. Like, it’s one thing to play San Francisco, LA, Chicago, New York, blah blah blah. But to get into college towns and the Nashvilles and the markets that a lot of the international guys don’t play because they come here and play the big cities—is great for us. Because we’re making new fans, young fans—that have never heard of us. And so this tour is an amazing opportunity to make some new Tritonians.

2013 has been a huge year for you two because you appeared at several major festivals, became co-owners of Enhanced Recordings, and began your new radio show, Tritonia. How have these big changes affected your lives?

Chad: It’s been kinda nerve-racking to be quite honest, cause Dave and I are so passionate about what we do and we love music so much. And we worked so hard to get to that place where “Piercing the Quiet” and the club mixes came out and we had like six #1 trance singles. And so this big change that we’ve gone through—with management and with bookings—has been very exciting but also a little scary. Any time you’re going through something like that there is always fear, like, “Is this the right move?” or “Are we doing the right thing?” and the answer is a resounding "Yes." We love the new logo, Tritonia has been so fun to be able to start fresh, to end “Air Up There" 100 in Austin where we started everything. It was a blessing, to sell that show out, and to play with guys that used to be our heroes—Kyau & Albert and Super8 & Tab. It was so cool. With Tritonia we feel like we have more freedom, we’re putting Tritonians on the air, they’re calling in on the hotline, we feel more freedom to play progressive records and electro records and dubstep records and trance records—all in the same show. And we don’t feel like we have to be put in this little box. And that is just inspiring. So it has been a cool year. It has been a big year. There haven’t been as many releases as usual. I don’t know if you’ve looked at our discography but Tritonal has like over 100 releases and the year before? It was one every 4 to 6 weeks. You know, for us to have one EP out in 6 months is like, “Ehh, come on. Like, we’re ready to go.”

Dave: But, you know, at the same time, there’s nothing you can do to stop that. We’re doing a whole bunch of work in the studio and our curve has gone way over from where it was before. We’re just not rushing out the music; it’s quality over quantity.

How would you compare Tritonia with Air Up There?

Dave: With Tritonia, you’re not in a box. We already hit the reset button. Air Up There was a journey and we ended it in Austin.

Chad: And let’s be honest, it started as trance, and it was hardcore trance. When we started Air Up There, it was 138, like Above & Beyond records, right? And over 4 years, slowly the BPMs came down and the energy level slowly came up. So, we were like, “We need a reset button or this is gonna be weird as a branding.” We needed to either be assertive—we believed in this change and we were gonna change, because people know it. You can’t hide behind it. So you either need to believe it and stand up for it and say, “This is who we are, this is what we are, and this is what we believe in,” and so we’re either gonna hit the reset button or we’re not.

Do you guys have props, or good luck charms, that you never go on stage without?

Chad: No, sometimes we’ll have a moment, say a prayer together. I don’t have any like, charms, per se. I will say that I don’t wear a necklace on stage because it’s flown off a few times, slapped me in the face a few times, almost knocked a tooth once. My sunglasses actually flew off today. My management was looking for them and they were right in front of me. We jump around a lot so it’s best we keep it to a minimum.

According to DC Comics, Tritonians are also the dominant race that lives in the undersea Atlantean city of Tritonis. Was the term Tritonians something that you guys started or just a phenomenon prompted by your fan base?

Chad: Totally something we started. It was a joke on Facebook. The name “Tritonal,” took us—what— 3 weeks. We went through so many bad names, like, we won’t even tell you some of these bad names, but bad names, right? We loved ‘Tritone’ and we put the two together. We didn’t even know it meant that it was explosive but we did like the chord, we liked that it was a weird chord. When we found out that it meant it was like 80% TNT, we just thought musical “explosivity” was cool and we loved the name so we went with it. “Tritonians” was really just like a spin-off in the name so I totally didn’t know mermaids were involved. Laughs.

As Austin natives, what do you think about South by South West? Have you ever gotten to go check it out or do you plan on playing there in the future as it continues to expand the genre of music that it intends to cover?

Dave: I mean, Chad’s lived in Austin more than I have, and I guess I’ve lived there long enough to kind of get it. But it was interesting. Being from DC, it’s like, “Wow, this is a really cool music festival that happens every year—cool.” But what I get from it, it’s really just a festival that has all types of music—

Chad: And film, it’s very industry-based, it’s cool. You know, the thing is we haven’t been able to explore very much over the last 4 years because we’re always at Ultra. And it’s like, right in the middle of it. And we go down there every year, thinking, “Oh we’re gonna network and we’re gonna do this and we’re gonna do that…” and Miami is just such a party. This year we were talking about it—“SXSW is something we should invest more time in, and do something cool with, being as we’re from Austin.” And we’ve played it one time in the last 5 years. I’ve gone to some shows and stuff, but, you know, that’s about all I have to say about it.

Dave: Actually the good thing (if they ever decided to explore SXSW for fun) is that I don’t know if anyone would be able to pick us out there. There’s so many different people.

How did you react when you found out you were going to play the main stage at EDC Vegas and EZOO? Did it feel like you accomplished a huge goal?

Chad: We ran up and down the street naked screaming explicit—no…we got really excited.

Dave: That is a huge goal for us. We’ve been saying for years, “Man, we need to get main stage.” And, you know, we want to be at a main stage and feel like our energy level can match it. We delved into this already but we played a lot of the trance stages, which was great for our growth, but obviously we know where we want to get.

Chad: Yup, we got really excited. And the artists that we’re playing alongside—it’s great, cause our sound is different. And that’s what I love about festivals like that. It’s not gonna be hearing the same records, hopefully anyway, over and over and over again. You know? We’ll try to bring our own spin to it.

What does Metamorphic mean to you?

Chad: Change. You know, that’s really what it means to us. As people, as artists, we did it with “Piercing the Quiet,” a milestone in our career. We remixed almost 10 tracks from the album, we had our fun with that. And we felt like we did something we always wanted to do with that album. We’re not gonna go write another “Lifted” and another “Still With Me.” It doesn’t make sense to haggle out the same thing. I’m not inspired to produce the same record over and over again. Right? And I think we’re more talented than that. I think we have the ability to do bigger and better things. So, this year is about finding ourselves in a new lane and seeing what we can do. And that’s what Dave was alluding to. There’s a lot of growth going in the studio and projects are taking longer and we’re writing a song and re-writing a song. We’re like, “What is it about this record that we can do to it that makes it new and cool and unique and it’s not like every other record out there?”

Getting to Know Sultan & Ned Shepard

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:24:00 -0400

Sultan & Ned Shepard will be coming to Pacha this Friday, June 21st, along with Hook N' Sling (yup, the guy that helped produce the hit, "Take You Higher"). We were so excited that we couldn't wait to interview them at the venue, so here is an anticipatory pre-show interview! Together they have produced a number of tracks, such as "Walls," "Call My Name," and "In the Air." These guys are also repsonsibile for that amazing remix of Kaskade's "Fire in Your New Shoes" and more recently, of Bruno Mars' "Locked out of Heaven." You can either purchase tickets or get on the guestlist for $10 admission before midnight (21+ only, 19+ reduced).

Compared to other years, how is 2013 going for you both as producers and as DJs?

2013 has been a great year so far. As producers we've released more records this year than we have in the past two years and still have so many more coming out before the end of the year. Having lived in LA for the past year we've had so many great opportunities and collaborations come our way so it's truly been an inspiring year so far. As far as DJing, we're playing more than we ever have and are fortunate to be playing several of the major festivals including Ultra, EDC, and Tomorrowland.

I interviewed Fedde le Grand a few weeks ago and asked him to tell me a little bit about what it was like working with you. I understand that you collaborated again and are going to release a record called "No Good" this summer. What can you say about your experience producing with Fedde?

We love Fedde both as a friend and as a collaborator. The energy we have together both on the road touring and in the studio is amazing. Musically, we're really just on the same page. With some people it feels natural and with Fedde we've allowed ourselves to experiment a lot more and do things outside of the box which has been so refreshing and exciting. "No Good" is a project we started a year and half ago in Fedde's studio in Holland and continued to work on together here in LA. It's out June 24th on Spinnin', can't wait!

About two and a half weeks ago, you two finally released "Draw Close" on Beatport. Was the public’s general response to the track as positive as you wanted it to be?

Yes! The response was awesome and working with Revealed Records has been a great experience. This track was one of those that came together in a day and we're stoked we got to work on it together with our good friends Taurus and Vaggeli from Philadelphia.

Last month I saw you at EDC NY, and that was your first time performing there, correct? How is an indoor crowd different from an outdoor crowd?

Sultan: First time at EDC New York and we loved it! Probably one of the best shows we've had this year. You just can't beat the energy in New York, it's infectious.

Ned: I grew up in New York, and I had almost forgotten how crazy the crowd in New York always is. When it goes off there, it's like nowhere else in the world.

Indoor crowds are completely different. When a club goes off, there is a crazy energy because you feel like the room can't contain the party anymore, which is a great thing. But when you play at a festival outdoors, everything just feels big. There is a vast expansiveness to the crowd that you can't get indoors, except maybe in an arena or something, so there is a certain magic to it. Plus when it's during the day, you get to see everyone's faces so clearly. It's amazing to watch the reactions of your tracks, especially when you play something for the first time.

You both come from unique backgrounds. Sultan—you are Arab Christian Palestinian and Ned, you are Jewish. How would you say that your religion and overall background impact the music you produce?

Sultan: I'd say our backgrounds and the places we grew up in have impacted our music and our relationship as friends and as production/DJ partners. My background is Palestinian but growing up I lived in Kuwait, then Cyprus, then Egypt, before heading to Canada for university. Growing up in the Middle East, the music I was exposed to was mainly rock influenced. As a kid I listened to lots of heavy metal and slowly became obsessed with grunge and alternative music in the '90s along with some pop. My sisters introduced me to a lot of '80s bands as they were older than I am and just living in the Middle East you are constantly surrounded by eastern music and rhythms.

Ned: Growing up in New York, I was influenced by a big range of music from Hip Hop, to punk rock, indie music, new wave, and lots of weird stuff. There's such a musical culture there. I've been playing classical and jazz piano since I was a kid and some of my earliest memories are going to little jazz bars and just feeling the vibe of those clubs. When I was 16 I lived in France for a year, which really exposed me to electronic music which, of course I fell in love with. Later I traveled around the rest of Europe and went to India and New Zealand and all of those experiences really made me see how global this music was, so when I came back to New York I immersed myself in the amazing clubs that were there like Vinyl, Twilo, Limelight, etc. I got to see all my favorite DJs and that was when I realized that DJing was what I wanted to do.

I think the combination of our influences and our love for organic instruments and the fact that we both play instruments has really impacted our productions and rhythms.

If you could choose one artist to collaborate with outside of the EDM genre, who would it be and why?

Sultan: Justin Timberlake. He's probably one of the best artists of our generation and as far as a pop singer/writer goes, he's definitely one of the best. It would be an amazing experience to work with an artist like that.

Ned: Robyn. She's such an exciting artist because she combines an amazing pop sensibility with a genuine edginess. We did a remix for "Call Your Girlfriend" a couple years ago, and it was one of our favorite projects we've worked on. She kills it live, too.

This question is more directed toward Sultan—what made you decide to start working with Ned and why was he special to you?

Ned approached me ten years ago at a club in Montreal and handed me a CD with productions he was working on with his "Digital Witchcraft" project. Although our first encounter was brief, the moment he passed me that CD I knew we would be friends. Something about his energy, his genuineness.

That night I played the CD at home and loved what I heard. It was emotional, musical, and beautiful. I called him up the next morning, woke him up, and we've been friends since then. Years later we worked on a few songs together and our chemistry as friends and as collaborators was insane. I think the progression was so natural. After a while it just felt like musically and creatively we complimented each other. Not only are we great in the studio together but we are also best friends. There are people that enter your life and will always be a part of your life. Real people, true friends that are there for you through thick and thin. That's Ned.

So then, in what ways do you believe your musical careers would have turned out differently had you both pursued solo careers, or produced with other people?

Sultan: Before joining studios with Ned and even before I met Ned, I had a solo career. I released a lot of records, mainly deeper progressive records, on my own and with other producer friends. But it wasn't the same as working with Ned. I feel I've grown as a producer and a musician working with Ned and our combo has allowed us to venture and experiment so much more than I would have done on my own. If you go through our back catalogue, you'll find progressive records, electro records, tech house records, house records, and big room records. I'm not sure I would have ventured as much had I been a solo artist. I know my drive would be the same as it is now but we are who we are and make the music we make because it's Ned Shepard and because it's Sultan. Each one of us brings something creatively. Kinda crazy to think that our music would have never been created had it just been Sultan solo and Ned solo.

Ned: We've had a natural chemistry since the first day we got in the studio. We could make songs on our own if we wanted to, but we know that it will just sound better if we do it together, so that makes us excited to collaborate over and over again. At this point, it's pretty much like we share one brain, so working together feels as natural as making music could ever feel. Plus, we're such close friends that it's just way more fun to go through the whole process together. You share all the ups and downs and that's what makes it special.

Finally, what new records do you have in store for your fans?

Next release is "No Good" with Fedde coming out on Spinnin' on Monday, June 24th.

We just finished up a record featuring one of our favorite artists, Tegan and Sara, which we are so stoked about and have about 4 other vocal records we are finalizing including the follow up to "Walls" with our beautiful friend Quilla.

Stay tuned!

An Interview with Topher Jones: The Hottest New Artist

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:37:00 -0400

If you’ve ever listened to Gareth Emery’s sets, chances are pretty likely that you’ve already heard Topher Jones’ music, but never knew who he was. Jones is best known for his records, “Brohammer” and “Hello Chicago.” In fact, he just released his festival mix of “Hello Chiacgo" on Beatport about a week ago, which is now #79—check it out here! We talked to Topher over the weekend before his show at Stage 48 in New York, and not only is he on our ‘up-and-coming artist’ watch list, but he’s also the sweetest guy ever. Jones was a pleasure to talk to and this interview gives some insight as to who he is and why we should listen to his music. If you like what you see below, be sure to listen to his Soundcloud and catch Topher and Tritonal as they begin their Metamorphic Tour in July.

Could you start by telling us a little about yourself? How did you get into the industry, and when did you figure out that you wanted to make this your career?

I got my first pair of turntables for my birthday when I turned 15, and I wanted to be hip-hoppy. I loved scratching and stuff like that and that’s what I wanted to learn how to do. So I did that and then a year later, I was introduced to dance music and I fell in love instantly and then from then on it was buying dance records instead of the hip hop stuff. And that was my sophomore year of college. I was having a conversation in my head when I was walking home from class: “Either I have to sell my turntables, or let’s try and write some music and give this a shot.” And then I tried writing some music and then it was like, “Oh, maybe this could become a career.” It kind of picked up and that was kind of like the turning point.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and why?

Hm…in dance music or outside?

Both.

Outside of dance music—Sigur Ros, Coldplay, and Mumford & Sons. Inside dance music—everyone’s been affected by Swedish House Mafia. My brother—Nooka Jones, the almighty. He inspired “Brohammer” so he’s definitely an inspiration. I mean, the thing with being inspired inside dance music right now is that there are a zillion producers. But the thing that I’ve really been inspired by recently is artists who think more long-term and big picture and I admire…careers rather than, “Oh, that’s a cool song.” And so I really admire people like Morgan Page and Kaskade, who have really developed their own massive fan bases outside of what everyone else is doing. They have their fans and they do serious touring and it’s really impressive. So that type of stuff I’ve been thinking a lot about and that’s been very inspiring.

Is there anyone in particular you hope to collaborate with in the future?

Katy Perry, so I can buy a really nice car? Or Lady Gaga so I can be a millionaire? Nah, I mean, as far as real people I’ve been working on an album and there are some really cool people we’re in talks of doing stuff with for that. I would appreciate doing a collaboration with Gareth Emery because he’s been the biggest supporter of my music as far as the big DJs go, like he’s played every one of my songs. And he’s such a nice guy and we’re friends and we keep in touch. He writes really different music than I do but he really supports my music so it would be fun to sit down and see what we could do together. I would love to work with someone like Skrillex, because it’s a completely different world, and he’s just a genius. I think Axwell would be fascinating to see in the studio, Alesso would be incredible. I’m not really dying to work with anyone in particular; I’m not like, “Oh man this guy has the coolest stuff ever.” My approach is more, “I really like this guy as a person, let’s work on a track together.”

As you conclude your Hello North America Tour this upcoming Sunday at Spring Awakening, what can you say were the highlights of your first headlining tour?

The highlight is doing a tour. It was my first branded tour that I’ve done. I played with 6 other people in Hawaii on the beach and that’s pretty unbelievable. And then you play in places like St. Louis, Missouri and you’re like, “I have no idea if anyone’s gonna be here.” And then you show up and the club is packed and people know your songs and they sing along. Stuff like that is just incredible and it’s like, “Wow, like this stuff you dream of.” You know, you show up to a club in the middle of nowhere, in the Midwest, and 800 people are singing along to “Hello Chicago” and it’s like, “this is the coolest thing ever.” There have been a lot of amazing shows but the branded tour we’re going to do in 2014 is going to be awesome and massive.

Is Spring Awakening your first major festival?

I mean, I played the Indy 500 a couple of weeks ago with Diplo and Afrojack so it’s not a major festival, but it’s like the biggest one-day sporting events in the world. And that was just unbelievable. But yes, Spring Awakening is the first big actual festival that I’m doing. My Twitter was blowing up: “You better play ‘Hello Chicago,’ if you don’t you’re a disgrace to this city!” Like, don’t worry guys I’m not an idiot! I wrote the song about the city so when I’m here, I'm like, "I might even play it like 4 times!" Nah, I won’t play it 4 times but it’s gonna be cool. Any time you have your home turf, your home territory to play, is always really cool and I’m excited. I’m really excited for that.

You also just released your festival mix of “Hello Chicago” on Beatport earlier this week. What has the general reaction been?

The blogs have loved it, the DJs have loved it, I’m really excited about it, the label loves it, that’s all I can really ask for.

What are you most looking forward to when you embark on the Metamorphic Tour with Tritonal in July?

Probably the time outside of the shows, because Chad is an absolute clown and Dave is this super-shy, but absolutely hysterical dude. Outside of the shows, we’re gonna have so much fun hanging out. But the shows are gonna be great and I’m playing for new markets which is exciting. It’s going to be about 35 shows total and that’s pretty neat. We’re going to be touching every corner of America hitting up places like Hawaii, Canada…I couldn’t ask for more.

I heard that you are coming out with a new single on Ultra called "Talk About It." What are your thoughts on this track and do you think this could be your new signature track?

Lauren (Topher’s PR rep) is telling everyone about this! I think it’s terrible and that’s why I’m putting it out. Lauren is such a punk! No one knows this song! Except for myself, my manager, the label, and Lauren heard it. But if you come to my show you get to hear it. I’m super excited about the track. We had a meeting with Ultra today and we went over a ton of new music and everything to plan for this album. And they said, “This is the best track you’ve ever done.” Like I think this is the best track that I’ve ever done. And everyone that hears it goes, “What is this?” The coolest thing is that no one knows it and I’ll play it in the middle of a set and people will just go, “What is this?” And I’ll go, “This is my new track!” I’m really excited about this one.

As an emerging artist, how would you encourage people to listen to your music? In other words, what is unique about your sound that you believe avid EDM fans have not heard before?

There’s a lot of raw emotion and honesty to it, and I think that people can really connect to it. What I find interesting is that my 83-year old grandma can say to me, “Oh, ‘Hello Chicago’ is amazing, I love it and I want to hear it again!” like yeah it’s really cool to me that my music can reach an 83-year old—“Oh, that’s beautiful.” But she hates “Brohammer,” thinks it’s the worst thing ever. But she loves that song. So I think there’s a wide variety and that each song evokes some sort of emotional reaction, whether it’s, “I wanna get crazy, I wanna rage,” or “I wanna sing along to something a little deeper, or more emotional.” I try and make my tracks very emotional depending on which emotion it is, if that makes sense.

Tomorrow's Harvest

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:42:00 -0400

On June 11, 2013, Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada released their fourth studio full-length onto US soil. After eight long years, the now ironically titled Tomorrow's Harvesthas hit our ears and it couldn't have come soon enough. Boards of Canada is kind of like the Daft Punk of the experimental scene; a mysterious duo (sans masks) who oftentimes provide little information or insight into their current state of production. Similar to the French house legends, they've also had the tendency to avoid interviews over the years, as well general spotlight on a personal level, and thoroughly enjoy teasing the living hell out of us. Seriously, who else would allow fans to hear their album two weeks early, if only they could use geographic coordinates to find speakers set up in the middle of the California desert? Luckily, for our ears' sake, the game-playing this go around was not for nought.

Tomorrow's Harvest is a throwback to the band's roots, which is something that will absolutely thrill dedicated listeners. The surprisingly organic and more conventional song structure that seemed out of character on their last record, 2005's The Campfire Headphase, is all too absent on this one, instead being replaced by the eerie-but-warm sounds Boards fans are used to. Taking the place of groovy beats and live instrumentals are beatless sounds of the void ("Collapse"), swirling psychedelia ("Split Your Infinities"), and the comforting, rainy-day mood music ("Nothing Is Real") these guys do oh so well. The record as a whole plays out as the soundtrack to a post-apocalyptic world that has a strangely inviting feel to it, as if the best were yet to come. In that sense, Tomorrow's Harvest is one of those albums that sounds instantly familiar, as if it's been in constant rotation on your iPod for years. The songs may be new but the authentically human feelings they evoke, a glimmer of hope in the face of despair, have always been there. Simply put, this album is auditory bliss and Boards of Canada have created a full-bodied work of art that was fully worth the wait.

Check out the the music video above for the new single, "Reach for the Dead," and look out for Tomorrow's Harvest, now available on Amazon!

A State of Space

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:35:00 -0400

Armin van Buuren posted on Facebook Saturday that he will be traveling to space in 2014, thanks to SXC. As one of the “Founder Astronauts,” this is a huge honor for Armin. Only 100 people have the priviledge to be part of this program, and founders will make the very first flights into space. van Buuren will partake in multiple training sessions to prepare him for his adventure, and hopefully we’ll see “A State of Space” broadcast next year on SiriusXM.

Party in the Hamptons with AN21

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:26:00 -0400

On Saturday, June 22nd rage in the Hamptons withAN21 where he will be headlining South Pointe Nightclub. The red hot younger brother of Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello is most famous for his remix of Pendulum’s “The Island,” which he remixed with Steve Angello and Max Vangeli. The track was dubbed ‘Hottest Track in the World’ by Radio One’s Zane Lowe.

You may have noticed that AN21 often tours with best friend, Max Vangeli. With a remix album of People of the Night on its way, the two have recently released their remix of Promise Land’s “Glow.” Although Max Vangeli will not be at South Pointe, fans can expect to hear some of the hottest tracks they have produced and remixed together.

South Pointe is at the top of the food chain in Southampton nightlife, known for throwing the best EDM parties on the East End. The 7,000 square foot venue is just barely a year old and has already hosted a slew of top notch DJs. Names like Mark Knight, Dirty South, Chris Lake, Jus Jack, dBerrie, and resident DJ NVM have already blessed the turntables at this Southhampton hot spot. And with summer season kicking off with this impressive line up, South Pointe is sure to continue to set the standard in Hamptons' nightlife.

Check out South Pointe's website or their Facebook page for more info.

Roger Shah, JES & Brian Laruso—Higher Than The Sun

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:06:00 -0400

Roger Shah, Brian Laruso, and JES have recently collaborated to produce their latest track, “Higher Than the Sun.” Officially released on Magic Muzik, the official music video and remixes by the likes of Aly & Fila, Sunlounger, and Jesse Vorn will arrive in July.

"Higher Than the Sun" begins with a subtle build featuring JES’ voice, and at about 1:20 we really begin to hear those reminiscent vocals from songs such as "Awaken," (JES), "Every Other Way," (BT feat. JES),” and "Flying Blind (Cosmic Gate feat. JES)." While the song keeps an invigorating pace, it also maintains an emphasis on the potency of the lyrics and of the vocals. What’s great about this song is the powerful blend of JES’s heartfelt singing, high-energy synth, and string components. It’s raw in emotion, yet listeners can’t stop moving to the progressive-trance beat.

Roger Shah has been active in the international EDM scene for more than 20 years and boasts an impressive release record of more than 500 tracks on some of the largest and most successful record labels in the world. As a producer he has worked with and for artists such as Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold, Sarah MacLachlan, and Ferry Corsten.

Brian Laruso, commonly known for being half of Global Experience with Roger Shah, has collaborated on multiple hit singles for the group including the popular "Fox & Koi." Now the two appear under their own names for this new collaboration with female vocalist JES; chart-topper, IDMA winner, and the voice behind hit records with Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, Gabriel & Dresden, and BT, among others. Together the three have created a charismatic impetus to the song with her unequalled vocal performance.

Purchase on Beatport here.

How to Survive EDC Las Vegas 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:46:11 -0400

There are many characteristics that come to mind when I think about EDC Las Vegas, including: the hottest names in EDM, glittery outfits, hippie headbands, carnival rides, and the desert. We are only a few days from one of the biggest productions and invasions of electronic dance music that Vegas has ever seen. Between the $35 million being put into the festival and the constant delivery of entertainment, EDC-goers are in for a treat. As I prepare to embark on the same adventure as many of you this upcoming weekend, there is some advice I would like to bestow to you.

Wear Earplugs: Yes, I know what you’re thinking. I am not trying to be a mom. I just know that I want to be able to hear when I’m 30 years old, and I’m sure many of you would like to be able to do the same. Sounds will reach anywhere near 140 dB in front of the speakers and can still reach 120 dB at the back of the crowd. Exposing your ears to this level of volume for three days straight will cause hearing loss that you may not notice for years down the road. Do your hearing a favor and wear earplugs. Better yet, bring extra so you can make a friend when the cutie next to you asks, “Hey, have any extra earplugs?”

Stay Hydrated: All physical activity requires some intake of water. Now add the Vegas desert, dancing for hours straight, and the body heat from the crowd. The last thing anyone wants is to pass out or have a friend pass out from dehydration. This is a quick way to ruin your festival experience, and it’s so easy to prevent. If you’re drinking alcohol, then you definitely need to be sure to have water as well. Try alternating between the two. EDC will allow fans to bring in empty CamelBaks or the reusable Insomniac aluminum water bottle which is available to purchase in advance or on carnival grounds. There will be free water stations where attendees will be able to fill up these items. Another thing about staying hydrated, watch out for each other. If someone is desperate for water and you have some extra, go ahead and give them a few sips. You’d be surprised at how much that can help someone stuck in a crowd.

Be Outgoing: Dress up, don’t be shy, meet people, ride the rides, and don’t stay with your group of friends! This is EDC Vegas you guys. This is the time to express yourselves, make new friends, and enjoy an amazing weekend with other EDM lovers. I say why not?

Attend Other EDC Week Events: Believe it or not, there are tons of other events going on other than EDC this week and weekend. If you’re going to be in Vegas early, check out Bassrush Massive Thursday night. This epic bass-filled event will feature performances from Flosstradamus, Excision, Sub Focus, and more! During the day, check out one of the million pool parties that are being held. Many of your favorite DJs will be performing at places other than the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Visit Insomniac for more information about EDC Week.

Don’t Stage Hop: There is no such thing as a perfect combination of set times. I highly discourage running back and forth between different stages when you have the dilemma of two of your favorite DJs performing at the same time. Here’s a secret, everyone has that problem. Instead of bending over backwards to make 15 minutes of one show and 20 minutes of another, pick one. This will make your EDC experience a million times more enjoyable. Trust me.

Get Rest: None of the above things will be possible without getting adequate sleep and eating. Our bodies weren’t made to go days without sleep and food. Yes, I said to attend other EDC Week events, but this doesn’t mean attempt to attend all of them. There are just some things Vitamin C and Red Bull can’t overcome. Take it from someone who had one of their first music festival experiences ruined because she thought she was invincible. Listen to your body and get some sleep.

EDC Las Vegas can very easily become one of the best memories of your life. Just follow the tips above, and this weekend will be one you’ll never forget. As for me, I’ll see y’all in Vegas!