PENDULUM
Most 18-year-olds keep themselves busy applying to college, surfing the internet, and hanging out with other normal teenagers. But Hugo Pierre Leclercq, better known as Madeon, is far from your average teen. The production prodigy began composing music at the young age of 11, and since has taken the world by storm with his electropop masterpieces.
Madeon has come a long way from his 2010 hit remix of Pendulum’s “The Island.” This year has been huge for the French wonderboy, with the ubersuccessful releases of spring’s “Icarus” and summer’s “Finale.”
With Zeds Dead headed to Starland Ballroom on the next stop of their Living Dead tour, we got the latest from the dynamic DJ duo. Read on!
Interview by Angela Samartano
Angela Samartano: How did you both originally start working with one another? How did you decide on the name Zeds Dead?
Hooks: We started a group called Mass Productions years ago with the goal of making instrumental albums, selling beats, and working with rappers. Years later we started getting into electronic stuff and decided to make a new alias which was Zeds Dead. It came from our initials Z and D (Zack and Dylan) and ya, the scene in Pulp Fiction.
AS: Which musicians or DJs have inspired your music over the years? Who would you say is your biggest influence of all?
Hooks: So many people have inspired me over the years. to list a few: DJ Shadow, Premier, Pete Rock, Rza, Madlib, Dre, Mugs, RJD2, Noisia, Pendulum, Skream, Justice.. I feel like my biggest influence may be the Beatles though..
AS: What has been your most memorable gig to date? Which city do you enjoy playing in most?
Hooks: Our show we just did at the congress theater in Chicago was incredible! So many people there and such great energy. I had some surreal moments on stage looking out at everybody.
AS: Beginning last month, Omar Linx and you started "The Living Dead Tour" throughout North America, bringing along Araab Muzik, XI, Memorecks, Mat the Alien and Knight Riders. How did you go about picking artists to join you on the tour? What are you most excited about throughout the tour?
Hooks: We tried to make the lineup very diverse with everybody bringing something unique to the table. All the artists we chose play different types of sets than us and have a unique sound. It's really cool to just be in an atmosphere full of artists that you respect. It gets the creative juices going.
Arriving at Pacha NYC on Black Friday, the energy was evident before even walking through the doors. The venue was filled with partygoers all ready to dance off their Thanksgiving dinners and leftovers, at the prestigious New York City spot. Awaiting up and coming house DJ duo AN21 & Max Vangeli to headline the Black Friday event.
AN21(born Antoine Joseffson), the brother of Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello, has been working alongside Max Vangeli for the past year caught up with us before getting into the booth at Pacha to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their upcoming projects. Vangeli, named one of the "Top 5 DJs to watch in 2011" by the Top 100 DJ poll on DJMag.com, and AN21 have taken over clubs worldwide with remixes of Swedish House Mafia's Save the World as well as Pendulum's The Island. Both anticipating the gig, they gave the crowd one of the best sets in which I have seen them, if not the best. Feeling the vibes of the club rocking to the music, AN21 even attempted (and succeeded!) in crowd-surfing throughout Pacha's main floor! Definitely a night for the record books, as per usual, at Pacha NYC.
Ultra Music Festival (UMF) is returning to downtown Miami’s Bicentennial Park for what is probably the most anticipated weekend of the year. Thousands will flock to Miami for Ultra’s first three-day event (formerly only Friday and Saturday) on Friday, March 25, Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27. The growth of the electronic music genre, from the past year alone, is clearly visibile through the expansion of Ultra this year and the growth of its headlining artisits.
Ultra is expecting 150,000 attendees over the span of three days this year, being the world’s first ever major electronic music festival to expand to three days and completely sell out. Being the first major North American music festival of 2011, Ultra Music Festival will no doubt raise the bar and set the standard high for live music everywhere. Spirits are already high in Miami as the stages are being built and the streets are getting crowded.
WHERE: MANDALAY BAY - HOUSE OF BLUES
WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 9:00 P.M.
PRICE: $22.00 GENERAL ADMISSION/STANDING, $26.00 DAY OF SHOW
DESCRIPTION: ORIGINALLY FROM THE SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA CAPITAL OF PERTH, THE BAND NOW RESIDES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THEY BEGAN IN THE DRUM AND BASS GENRE, AND INCORPORATED A ROCK EDGE. THEIR NEWER STUFF HAS MOVED TO A FASTER TEMPO, EDGING ON PUNK. PENDULUM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE INTO THEIR OWN CREATION.
SPECIAL GUEST - INNER PARTY SYSTEM.
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