LAIDBACK LUKE

Electric Zoo makes its triumphant return to its original location, NYC's Randall’s Island Park this Labor Day Weekend (August 30-September 1st) for three days of the world's best in electronic music. To celebrate E Zoo’s fifth anniversary there will be two main stages on expanded festival grounds—which can only mean more confetti, more music, and more fun. The two stages, designated Main Stage West and Main Stage East, will have headliners such as Avicii, Knife Party, Dada Life, David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, and Laidback Luke and others yet to be announced. This year there will be a total of five stages in addition to the two main stages for all you zoo animals out there to choose from.

Laidback Luke, the ever versatile producer and label head at Mixmash Records, is out with a new jammer called "Pogo." On this track, Luke has teamed up with London MC, Majestic to create the heavy bass and pounding kick filled song. Following the release of the ‘Dub Mix’ earlier this month, the full single is out now on Beatport and features the full vocal mix as well as remixes from heavyweights Chuckie, Congorock, H.P. Vince and Deorro.

Interview by: Haley Edelson After being discovered by Laidback Luke at the ripe age of 18, Quintino was off to an incredibly successful career. The Dutch electro-sensation made his mark on the electronic music world last year with the release of his collaboration with Sandro Silva entitled "Epic" which championed the airwaves for months. Joonbug had the chance to chat with Quintino after his impressive EDC Orlando set. The Dutch producer dished it out about the crowd energy's, his hopeful collaborations, and staying creative in the industry.

You've been able to tour through many countries and play to a variety of crowds. What's one of your favorite aspects of being able to play in different continents across the world?In Europe, you get to play in legendary places like Ibiza. Everybody knows Ibiza. It's always a party. In Asia the people go wild! America it's hard to say because there are so many great places, but the good thing is they are all into dutch house music which is what I am into. Vegas....LA everywhere you go the people party like it's their last night on earth. Traveling in so many environments must give you a chance to experience very different groups of people. Is there anything that you've noticed that sets the audiences apart from one another? It's the best feeling in the world when any crowd knows your songs. Traveling and sleeping in hotels does get exhausting but seeing each crowd enjoy your music gives you goose bumps. Do shows ever tend to get repetitive for you or is each one a clean slate? No no no no no! The funny thing is everyone plays with the same setup. The stage, the four CD players but you never know what to expect from the people which makes it really interesting. To play every time a new set and surprise people with new stuff, it really allows you to be creative. As being someone in the crowd I always wonder how the DJ is going to switch up their set and songs to keep me guessing. Yes, It's all about the surprise! I can play my old tracks twenty times but if I introduce it to the crowd in a different way it really changes the feeling the song brings. If you know how the songs coming it's not interesting anymore, for me that's what it's all about. I know there are a lot of DJ's and producers involved in the Dutch House scene, are there any particularly that influence you. Well years ago, I got to play with Laidback Luke and after my set he came up to me and said, "Listen you're really talented can I help you with something, let's hook up to play together" So he really inspired me for a long time and after that me and him were friends. So we started off together playing. Later on, I got to meet Tiesto and he also put me down so right now it's all moving pretty fast. It's really amazing. Having the opportunity to work with DJs like Laidback Luke and Tiesto sounds unbelievable. Is there anyone else you'd really like to see yourself collaborate with in the future? Actually, recently I've been telling everyone that there is a vocalist I'd really love to work with. Her name is Sia from David Guetta's Titanium. I love her voice, and it's the best song because you never get tired of her vocals. Her voice is amazing. A lot of these vocalists never get the attention they deserve on some of these tracks! I agree that's why if given the opportunity I'd really like to work with her. Would you say you have any pre-show rituals going into each of your performances or something specific you do before shows? No, I never really doing anything like that, but every night is different for me really. Sometimes you're walking into small clubs, sometimes they are huge clubs, and sometimes they're festivals. Since each show is different you can't ever play a prerecorded set you have to switch it up. I always try to work in a creative way, I feel out the vibe of the people, where we are, what kind of place I'm in, and the time of the day also. It makes it more exciting not just for me, but for the audience as well for me to not just "push play". The audience definitely enjoyed it tonight. Is there anything in particular that assures you that you've made the fans enjoy the show and your music? When I go to a new place, and see the new fans. Like Orlando, It's totally new for me here. I always watch my twitter, I always try to reply everyone, so when I see a lot of people are really traveling hours to come to the show and hear my set and it makes me more excited than ever. I really have to work and show the fans a good time to make it worth the distances they traveled to hear and feel the music. WebRep currentVote noRating noWeight

The infamous Pacha NYC is celebrating 7 wild, epic, and successful years! The party is going down on December 28th and in excellent fashion, Pacha is bringing in Laidback Luke to kick off the festivities!

Often times it's hard to believe there was a time before our house music. When music festivals were one weekend and everyone jammed out in General Admission. Before it exploded and when it was just a small "underground thing." The entire genre has evolved over time taking on many different forms but it's an absolute must to go back to it's roots. From the disco days to the early 90s when house started making it's way over to the states. We've rounded up 8 songs that aren't exactly your hard hitting, bass-in-your-face, typical progressive house. These songs can be easily defined as the epitome of what house music really was.

More days than others, it seems like we're looking for some nostalgia from music festivals past only to get us in gear for music festivals present. Sometimes there are no words to describe our experiences, however, thankfully we have the live sets to bring us back to those moments. We've rounded up 10 amazing live sets from a solid group of DJ's that produce unforgettable sets and will most definately never get old. Listen, love, and enjoy!

1. Funkagenda- Live at Global Gathering 2012

2. Diplo- Live at Electric Zoo 2012

3. R3hab - Live at EDCNY 2012

Artist Of The Week: Sean Kingston For 22-year-old Sean Kingston, the term "Back 2 Life" describes way more than just his highly anticipated third solo album title. "Hip Hop/Reggae singer, Sean Kingston Critically Injured In Jet Ski Crash" is what the headlines read 18 months ago as millions of fans, friends, supporters and family members pulled together praying for the "Prince Of Miami." He's back to his feet and behind the mic with his first single since the life threatening incident. "Rum And Raybands" feat. Cher Lloyd, is climbing the charts as Kingston reclaims his presence! Album Of The Week: 'Dreams And Nightmares,' Meek Mill

Last month, we told our readers about the EDM revolution starting to take place thanks to music mogul Robert Sillerman and his big-picture thinking. The astute businessman, who made his millions by merging regional concert promoters to create Live Nation, has taken his talents to the electronic music realm and is
using the same successful model. His early August acquisition of “Life in Color” (formerly known as Dayglow) has helped steer the world’s largest paint party into the fast lane towards an incredibly bright future.

Once a standard college soiree with basic paint splatters and decent musical talent put on by Committee Entertainment, Dayglow served its purpose of entertaining attendees for a night of color-splashing on the dance-floor. But six years later and a new monkier, the event has grown into a world-wide phenomenon that attracts more than 500,000 people per year. With the most sought after DJs in the industry behind the decks and intensely high theatrical production, Life in Color has transformed into a highly in demand electronic event and, with the help of Sillerman, will only continue to flourish.

"It has only been the golden rule. If you can play in Holland, you can play anywhere," were the words of Dutch trance producer and DJ Sander Van Doorn in the official trailer of a documentary that is in the works telling the tales of the quick and immense success of the Dutch dance scene.

Appropriately titled, "Dutch Influence," the film gets right to the point with saying that dance music originated in Europe and explains it's transition into America. The film features talented, global superstars such as Tiesto, Laidback Luke, Fedde Le Grand, and many more. The doc will follow these rising talents through some of the party capitals of the world and give fans an insight of their experiences and what it takes to stay fresh in the revolution of dance music. Check out the trailer and for more information visit the Dutch Influence homepage here.

Article by Sarah Harper

Usually when an eclectic mix of ravers cross paths, they find themselves wired with different brainwaves and thinking patterns, disagreeing and interested in opposite genres whether it be dubstep, progressive house or trance. But when the conversation between the two parties leads to Electric Zoo, surprisingly, the two-different minded personalities can usually come together in agreement: Electric Zoo is an electronic music festival, designed for whatever type of sub genere of dance music you’d like to delve into.

Taking place from 8/31-9/1 on Randall’s Island in New York City, Electric Zoo boasted a prestigious line-up of the top DJ and producers in the world, a sold-out crowd and unbelievable electronic music. For three-days straight, attendees dressed in absurd neon attire, drenched themselves in glitter and danced around in animalistic ways while world-renowned DJ/producers dropped their latest beats and high-tech LED visuals.