Archive for March 2011

Québécois Guidos Are Called Douchebags, Episode 2: If the Lady Parts Are Clean, The Bags Are Full Of It

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Thanks to social networking, Miami Music Week can be experienced, up to a certain extent, all around the world. Past years have seen the biggest names in Electronic music put on a show for tens of thousands at the Ultra Music Festival and side shows in and around Miami. The week is designed to regroup the cream of the crop and give DJs a chance to roadtest their new tracks. This is also the case for the last few shows leading up to Miami, as Fred, Ellis and I learned 2 Fridays ago, on the 19th of March. Main Press Photo

Life is good if you’re Nick van de Wall. In addition to winning a Grammy for his remix of Madonna’s “Revolver” with David Guetta, the 23-year old, better known as Afrojack, also pocketed 2 of this year’s IDMAs for “Best Remixer” and “Breakthrough DJ.” The Dutch House prodigy, co-producer of Chris Brown’s latest track, currently in first place on Billboard’s R&B chart, has recently hashed out a tune with Pitbull & Nayer which is getting loads of airtime on the radio. To top it all off, he released a massive tune yesterday (see below) that is sure to climb the Beatport charts in a hurry. You can understand our excitement when we learned that he would be coming to Montreal. Unfortunately, Afrojack spun his set at La Folie. At the risk of reiterating the Dash Berlin show, La Folie is the crab apple in the beautiful orchard that is Montreal. Since euphoria can make you forget about your surroundings, we decided to go anyways.

Press-4Afrojack’s set was exactly as we had prophesized: high energy, wildly entertaining, heavy on the bass and eclectic. Amidst the amazing manipulations of “Bangduck”, “Pacha On Acid” and “Replica” were lots of new unknown tracks. Some were tailored to his usual style, but others had more of a techy, artistic-feel to them. Although not very rave-oriented, these songs were a clear sign of the Dutchman’s musical range that he failed to show in the past. They were also the first look at his new alias, Shermanology. Unlike other DJs who smile into the masses with a blank stare, Mr. van de Wall often had his head thrown back and looked to be entranced by his own sound, a true testament to his passion for House music. The rest of the night was devoted to destroying the club and sending the crowd home satisfied by using remixes of “Hide and Seek,” “Louder Than Words” and a special mashup of Steve Angello & Laidback Luke’s “Be” and Afrojack’s “Pacha On Acid.”

Afrojack vs Steve Angello & Laidback Luke – Be Pacha (Andrew Dee & Joker Inc Bootleg)

Afrojack Vs S. Angello & LBL-Be Pacha (0202 Prime Bootleg - Andrew Dee & Joker Inc) by Dj Andrew Dee

Yesterday, Afrojack released the first of his post-Miami tunes. This song is a true beauty, something we have all come to expect from him. The Dutch influence, ever so present, appears in the form of Electronic wailing and is isolated near the first drop. Sub bass leaves a deep imprint in this tune and hints towards big room allure. The melody comprises most of the build-ups and lingers throughout the track, only to join the Dutch sound in a climactic ending which creates a dazzling hybrid between commercial interest, club appeal and artistic integrity.

Afrojack – Doing It Right (Original Mix) Beatport

“Doing It Right” wasn’t the only release on Spinnin’ Records yesterday. Swedish duo Olle Corneer and Stefan Engblom, better known as Dada Life, presented a track of their own called “Fight Club Is Closed (It’s Time For Rock ‘N’ Roll).” This is a typical Dada Life tune, relying heavily on the Electro tendencies and perfect for playing out. The calmer portions of the song seem rather boring and sometimes annoying as the vocals feel displaced and are repeated a little too often. However, the drop is completely worth the wait. As Stefan explains, “[…] other producers’ plugins go to 10. Ours go to 11.” This is yet another hard-hitting, quality tune from Dada Life which is certain to induce a party atmosphere.

Dada Life – Fight Club Is Closed (It’s Time For Rock ‘N’ Roll) Beatport

Onto the Trance side of things.

This past Sunday, Ultra gave Armin van Buuren his very own stage to perform the second leg of his podcast’s 500th milestone anniversary. The massive show was conducted by some of the biggest members of the Trance family: Markus Schossow, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, Armin himself, ATB and Sander van Doorn joined forces in that precise order to deliver 12 straight hours of pleasure. The show was available for live streaming on the internet and Fred, his brother, and I were tuned in for the marathon radio show. It became quite clear that the entire world was listening when MORPHgasms and Gareth Emery both momentarily became trending topics on Twitter. Some of the highlights were M.O.R.P.H.’s remix of Triple A’s “Winter Stayed,” an ID remix of Gareth Emery and Mark Frisch’s “Into The Light” and when Ferry played Maarten de Jong’s bootleg of Coldplay’s “The Scientist.” Above all these was a track played by Andre Tanneberger, a.k.a. ATB, who wowed the crowd with another unknown marvel. Dash Berlin revealed the song’s identity today. The track, dubbed “Apollo Road,” is a collaboration between the two men. Using ATB’s wealth of experience and Dash’s fresh take on today’s Trance, the guys have managed to create a unique piece which seems to gather from trends old and new.

Here are a few dates to look forward to:

Friday April 1st – Size Matters w/ Steve Angello, Max Vangeli & AN21 @ Metropolis

Friday April 8th – Umek, tyDi and Ali Wilson @ Circus Afterhours

Saturday April 9th – Felix Da Housecat @ Circus Afterhours

Friday April 15th – Blake Jarrell @ Circus Afterhours [UPDATE]

Sunday April 17th – Sander Kleinenberg @ Imperial Room

Friday April 22nd – Myon & Shane 54 @ Imperial Room, Marcel Woods and John Askew @ Circus Afterhours [UPDATE]

Saturday April 23rd – Wolfgang Gartner @ Club Soda, Kaskade @ La Mouche [UPDATE]

Sunday April 24th – Rusko @ Metropolis [UPDATE]

Sunday April 24th – Bal En Blanc 17 @ Palais des Congrès

Friday May 20th M.I.K.E. and Mr.Pit @ Circus Afterhours

Saturday May 21st – Andy Moor and Stoneface & Terminal @ Circus Afterhours

Sunday May 22nd – Armin van Buuren @ Beachclub

Friday June 3rd – Axwell @ La Folie [UPDATE]

Friday June 10th – Leon Bolier @ Circus Afterhours

Thursday June 23rd – Tytanium Sessions 100 with Sean Tyas, Arnej, Simon Patterson & Raneem @ Circus Afterhours [UPDATE]

 

To finish, I promise that my post will include the Super 8 & Tab interview. Our technical advisor has been hard at work and has delivered a great looking video. All we’re waiting for is the ok from Anjunabeats!

Your 2011 ULTRAfest Guide!

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So as many of you know, ULTRA starts tomorrow. This post is going to be dedicated to sharing some of the people who I consider must-see acts at the festival. Descriptions will be short since I'll be listing many artists. Let's get to it, since I'm writing this in biology class... ahh, alveoli..

FRIDAY MUST SEES:

-Avicii
-Sidney Samson
-Carl Cox
-Designer Drugs
-Tinie Tempah (perhaps a BareNoize appearance?)
-Fedde La Grand
-Pendulum
-Tiesto

SATURDAY MUST SEES:

-Avicii (2 showings, go to both, he's that good!)
-Excision and Datsik (dirtiest dubstep show in the south, guaranteed!)
-Feed Me
-Rusko
-Nero
-Skream + Benga
-Afrojack
-Moby
-Boys Noize
-Armin Van Buuren
-Deadmau5
-Kaskade


SUNDAY MUST SEES:

-Umek (awsome progressive house)
-Lazy Rich
-Will Bailey
-Dada Life
-John Dahlback
-Glitch Mob
-Skrillex
-12th Planet
-Dieselboy
-Cosmic Gate
-Sub Focus
-Steve Aoki
-MSTRKRFT
-David Guetta
-Laidback Luke
-Wolfgang Gartner
-Will.I.AM (for all you cheeseheads)


Now let's make some highlights.

-Porter Robinson
Now this guy really knows what he's doing, some kind of mix between the steady house rhythms and dirty electro basses, accompanied by the classic dubstep yelps. Also worth checking out Lazy Rich as they seem to produce similar sounding tracks and often work together.
Lesssgooooo!!!!!!
Must see at ULTRA for the dirty bassline and constant energy.



-Datsik and Excision
My personal favorite, Datsik, if you haven't heard, comes up with some of the dirtiest, heaviest, in your face dubstep ever. And hes with his wingman Excision!He puts on an amazing show live, really knows how to get the crowd working, and no doubt, will be a huge act to catch at this year's ULTRA.



-Skrillex
Ah, good ol' Skrillex, who seemingly has blown up overnight, is playing on the Tower of Ultra stage this Sunday. Might be a little gimmicky, but he really knows how to throw down some bangers, check out one of his newer songs, a Rob Zombie cover, Sick Bubblegum.


-Avicii
Avicii is probably my favorite house producer right now. After following him for a while, I've started to notice a trend in his music..... none of it's boring! Doesn't surprise me this guy is playing two or three times at Ultra this year, you HAVE to check him out!


-Feed Me
Another guy who seems to have blown up under Deadmau5' label is Feed Me. Former D&b producer, Spor, is up there with Porter Robinson with the danceable, yet dirtyyyy bass.


-John Dahlback

So I recently found this guy in his new song with my buddy Avicii. Haven't heard too much from him, but from what I have heard, this guy is killer. I could only imagine dancing to his music with the Miami Skyline in my peripherals.




The Bloody Beetroots Exclusive (Updated)

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Few artists have as distinct a sound as The Bloody Beetroots. Their stage name, pluralized, may cause confusion. Although the live shows sport more than one member, the production side of things is undertaken solely by Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo. After emerging onto the scene in 2007, he has managed to vault The Bloody Beetroots to the height of EDM in a mere 3 years. Gathering influences from Electro, Indie, Punk, Acid and a multitude of other sources, Bob has been able to create a unique style which escapes categorization. Characterized by an overwhelming energy, a thirst for audible exhaustion and a sonic representation of chaos, his tunes have been accepted across the world as soundtracks to numerous lavish parties, as shown in the music video for his song “Cornelius.”

The pair included in the video is comprised of Sir Bob, along with his partner in crime, DJ Tommy Tea. The live shows are unlike any other. Electronic music duos usually imply two people behind the decks, with one DJing and the other pumping up the crowd. The Bloody Beetroots’ are similar to Pendulum’s: they incorporate real instruments and vocals, which ties a closer bond to the audience. With Bob’s unorthodox style in the studio, his partnership with Tommy onstage and the sinister Venom masks they both wear, it wasn't long before the rest of the world took notice. Steve Aoki, owner of Dim Mak Records, welcomed Sir Bob to his prestigious label in 2008 with the release of Rombo EP. Being such a diverse production, Beatport was unable to qualify the songs and simply put it in the Indie/Nu Disco category, the spot where all of the indefinable tracks are put. In fact, nearly all of his releases are qualified as such, thus strengthening their uniqueness. Then came Warp.

The success of the track alone would probably have been enough to launch The Bloody Beetroots into stardom. The song was a monster hit the instant it was heard, garnishing support from DJs across the globe. Featuring a newly acquired friend, none other than Steve Aoki, the song was accepted by an unimaginable number of fans ranging through all popular genres. It is a perfect choice to do exactly what Bob’s intends his sets to do: connect with his audience through an artistic experiment with chaos. Still today, nearly 3 years after its release, crowds go insane at the sound of it. The tune blends Electro trends with those of Punk, creating a hardcore and digitized atmosphere. Like his previous work, Warp adds to the distance Bob tries to put between himself and mainstream trends.

In an attempt to demystify The Bloody Beetroots’ persona, The Hawt reached out to Sir Bob, who was kind enough to provide a short interview:

“What are some of your earliest inspirations? 

- Punk 77, Classical Music, Old School Electro

What sets you apart from other Electro House producers? (Was trying to figure out the genre. Took a shot.)

- Schizophrenia

We’ve come up with 2 theories: either you’ve got a Spiderman fetish or you’re terribly ugly. Why the masks?

- I have a postmodern conception of the commedia dell'arte

What are some of your favourite producers and what makes their releases so great?

- Rick Rubin – it’s his touch

To which track would you attribute your breakthrough onto the EDM scene?

- The Whip “Muzzle No.1” Bloody Beetroots Rmx

Which song(s) has gotten you the best crowd reaction so far in 2011?

- No songs, I bet on the strength of chaos

You've traveled a fair amount. In which part of the world are the hottest girls?

- Iceland

We know you love coming to Montreal. How would you describe our city’s nightlife?

- Alcoholic

New tracks, remixes, world tours, collaborations; what can we expect from The Bloody Beetroots in 2011?

- Chaos theory becomes reality

What do you think about music blogs? In your opinion, are they helping or hurting artists? Do you follow any blogs? Will you read The Hawt?

- I can't generalize. They help and they don’t; freedom of information often becomes misinformation. Everyone should be able to discern. Yes, I read The Hawt.”

bloody salto 2bn

Evidently, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo is a man of very few words. Although not all of Bob’s interviews are as short and sweet, they are straight to the point and this exchange still tells lots about him. Behind the well thought out speech and the onstage binge drinking is a man who is very comfortable with his inability to be read.

During the most recent tours, the usual name was dropped for Death Crew 77, a group consisting of Bob, Tommy and a drummer named  Edward Grinch. With the added dimension of rhythmic prowess, it’s safe to say that The Bloody Beetroots offer one of the most complete live EDM experiences.

Apart from trying to realize chaos theory, Sir Bob started 2011 with the release of a compilation containing his most popular remixes. This one is also under Beatport’s Indie/Nu Disco spell and carries the very simplistic name: “Best of…Remixes.” Feel free to sample the tracks through the link below.

The Bloody Beetroots – Best Of…Remixes                                Released on Beatport on January 15th

Beatport

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Have a great week and stay tuned to The Hawt for the Super8 & Tab interview which should be up anytime soon.

Photos courtesy of Nacho Alvarez Nabscab

Legal and Still Giving Out Free 320 kbps’

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In regards to Beatport, a wise man once asked: “Is this an EDM website or a Deadmau5 blog?” This question came with obvious reason; the horde of albums and EPs released by mau5trap had monopolized the top downloads list for a substantial amount of time. Ironically, this so-called wise man is none other than Mark Knight, who’s own Toolroom Records is currently at the helm of another dominating performance. Fuelled by its latest compilation album, Toolroom Records Miami 2011, the label occupies 9 of the top 10 spots. The release comes in anticipation of this year’s Ultra Music Festival and features new music from the likes of Michael Woods & Mark Knight, Afrojack, Fedde Le Grand and Thomas Gold, to name a few. Check it out here.

In addition to his tune with Michael Woods, Knight has been hard at work in the studio, including a track of his own on the compilation and producing another collaboration with Tiësto. The star-studded partnership has unveiled the official video, as well as the magnificent tune that accompanies it. Knight’s signature drums, Tiësto’s bassline and vocals by Dino go well with the soft synths and rugged melody. The track seems to be on the progressive side, yet still offers a strong beat which gives it obvious nightclub appeal. Both Techno and House influences combine to offer this marvel. The video is interesting, as the beginning closely resembles Justice’s “Stress.”

Tiësto & Mark Knight ft. Dino – Beautiful World (Original Mix) Released on Beatport on March 21st

There is a limited number of EDM fans who can assertively say that they enjoy all of its subgenres. Artists often attempt to mix these styles and create something different, but again, only a small number can successfully do this. One of these select few is Funkagenda, a Techno/House artist, who has released songs on big labels such as Toolroom Records and Funk Farm. One of the tracks from his most recent release rounds up Beatport’s top 10 and is a perfect example of crossover between musical subgenres. The track dubbed “Budgie” is half Techno, half House and although Beatport qualifies it as Tech House, it should not be confused with the latter. A close listen confirms either an amazing concoction of the two, or some wildly innovative Tech House. This songs sports an intricate set of beats, a wealth of sound bite layers and a dark, yet enchanting melody that completes the plethora of styles that is “Budgie.”

Funkagenda – Budgie (Original Club Mix) Beatport

Funkagenda - Budgie by toolroomrecords

In other Funkagenda news, the Englishman is giving away one of his tracks, free of charge. As a “thank you” to all his Facebook followers for finally hitting the 50 000 ‘likes’ milestone, he has posted a high quality download link for a new tune of his called “Shinjuku.” The distant and imposing bass coupled with the recurring hints of cymbals gives this song an impressive background layout. In addition, the isolation given to the seamlessly quaint electro sound gives the tune a sizeable amount of character. The infectious riffs in this one will surely have many holding the repeat button. Follow this link and select the tracks tab on his Facebook page to download “Shinjuku.”

Funkagenda – Shinjuku (Original Club Mix)

Shinjuku [Free Giveaway] by Funkagenda

In staying with the subject of free high quality tracks, Spinnin’ Records, home to Wall Recordings (Afrojack), Doorn Records (Sander van Doorn), Tone Diary (Markus Schossow), Streamlined (Leon Bolier) and other popular sub-labels, is giving away some of their classic tracks in exchange for a ‘like’ on Facebook. This is not a one-time deal, as the classics are updated bi-weekly. Follow this link, ‘like’ the page, choose the “Tracks to Like” tab and check back every 2 weeks for new offerings.

Bundel-Tracks-To-Like-Issue002

This post’s last track is from Sied van Riel. The Dutchman has been spending ample amounts of time cooped-up in his home studio with the sole purpose of finishing up his artist album. “Telephone Junkies,” the upcoming single from said album, is a progressive track that holds influences new to Sied. In comparison to his previous releases, this tune is much softer, deeper and if not for strong big room undertones, could probably be put in a category with tunes from Anjunadeep. It is a calming and soothing track which displays the artists’ limitless musical versatility. It is a song heavy on melody which is sure to please the pickiest of Trance lovers.

Sied van Riel – Telephone Junkies (Original Mix) Released on Beatport on March 15th

Have a great week and be sure to stay tuned to The Hawt for an exclusive interview with Super8 & Tab!

Super8 & Tab Show + Exclusive Interview + Gareth Emery Show = Great Night

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Pardon my tardiness, but our take of Gareth’s Emery 3-hour set at Circus in Montreal has finally arrived.

Gareth3

Because of the exclusive interview we conducted with Finnish superstars Super8 & Tab, we showed up late to the party. Late enough to piss off Ellis, to miss the first 10 minutes of the show and to miss Ashley Wallbridge’s remix of “Arrival.” It seemed like word of Gareth’s mixing prowess had spread like wildfire as the main room was jam-packed with lots more party-goers than his last trip to our fair city. Since the contrast in temperature between the club and the frigid Montreal outdoors was literally like summer and winter, large parts of the crowd had abandoned their clothes. I regret having worn a long-sleeved shirt. In essence, the night was a microcosm of the past 7 or 8 episodes of the Gareth Emery Podcast. Nearly all of the songs the crowd was graced with had previously appeared on his weekly 1-hour installment of new fresh tracks. These tunes included Gareth’s classics, many future releases on Garuda, recent monster hits from the likes of Sander van Doorn, Ummet Ozcan, Wippenberg, Mat Zo and lots from the long awaited Northern Lights Re-Lit album. As soon as I had gotten a Red Bull into my system and made my way to the head of the mass of Montrealers, the acoustical energy sent me into a trance and time passed by so quickly that I almost missed the half-naked girls dancing on the table tops lining the DJ booth. My brain told my legs: “Fuck it, it’s Gareth.” So they went numb and followed the beat until the break of dawn.

Gareth4

Here’s a tracklist, in no particular order, courtesy of Garuda Nation’s Samson:

Gareth Emery - Sanctuary (Paul Thomas & Myke Smith Remix)
Gareth Emery - Full Tilt (Beltek Remix)
Gareth Emery feat. Jerome Isma-ae - Stars (Hardwell Remix)
Nadia Ali, Starkillers & Alex Kenji - Pressure
Gareth Emery - Citadel (Super8 & Tab Remix)
Gareth Emery ft. Roxanne Emery - Too Dark Tonight (John O'Callaghan Remix)
Gareth Emery ft. Mark Frisch - Into The Light (Lange Remix)
Gareth Emery ft. Brute Force - Arrival (Ashley Wallbridge Remix)
Gareth Emery ft. Activa - All Is Now (Jorn van Deynhoven Remix)
Wippenberg – Phoenix (Original Mix)
Yves-V vs. Fred Baker - Start Again
Tritonal ft. Cristina Soto - Lifted (Mat Zo Remix)
Craig Connelly - Absolute Electric
Sander van Doorn ft. Carol Lee - Love Is Darkness
Nadia Ali - Rapture (Gareth Emery Remix)
Solid Globe - North Pole (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)
Gareth Emery ft. Lucy Saunders - Fight The Sunrise (Daniel Kandi Remix)
Above & Beyond pres. Oceanlab - Lonely Girl (Gareth Emery Remix)
Lange, Andy Moor, Komytea & Tiesto - Lethal Stadium Four (Gareth Emery Re-Edit)
Above & Beyond & Gareth Emery pres. Oceanlab - On A Good Day (Metropolis)
Gareth Emery vs. Markus Schulz ft. Jennifer Rene - Not The Same Citadel (Armin van Buuren Mashup)
Super8 & Tab - Helektra
Gareth Emery vs. Delerium - This Is Silence (Myon & Shane 54 Mashup)
Pendulum Vs. Rank 1 Vs. Nic Chagall Vs. Wippenberg - The 100 Islands (Triarchy Edit)
Dustin Zahn vs. Mark Simz - Forbidden Stranger (Gareth Emery Edit)
GTR - Mistral
Tiësto vs. Diplo – C’mon
Tritonal & Sibicky – Suzu (Original Mix)
Gareth Emery - Global (Jordan Suckley Remix)
Mark Eteson - Blackboard (Jon O'Bir Remix)
MEM - Invictus (Original Mix)
Gareth Emery vs. Motorcycle - As The Exposure Comes (Gareth Emery Mashup)
Lange pres. LNG - Brandalism (Lange Mix)
Ummet Ozcan – Indigo (Original Mix)

One of the night’s best highlights came when Gareth proceeded to put on a Habs jersey. His name was written on the back and the captain sign was replaced by a subtle D-J.

Gareth2

Here are a few of our favorites from the night:

Ummet Ozcan - Indigo (Original Mix)

Beatport

Tritonal ft. Cristina Soto – Lifted (Mat Zo Remix)

iTunesBeatport

Tritonal & Sibicky – Suzu (Original Mix)

Sander van Doorn ft. Carol Lee – Love is Darkness

iTunesBeatport

Sidenote: Sander van Doorn, co-author of Love is Darkness, received the prestigious Silver Harp yesterday. The award is handed out at the yearly Harpengala and is meant as an incentive for emerging Dutch DJs. The prize was handed to him by last year’s winner, Armin van Buuren.

Gareth is a special DJ. I’m guessing it gets incredibly annoying to replay the same songs over and over and over again, yet he somehow manages to keep a smile on his face and dance along with the rest of his followers. I’ve been to a decent amount of shows and I realize that nearly all DJs do the same, but our beloved Englishman adds a little extra. Although I hate to sound cheesy, it’s as if he connects with the music, thus plugging himself into the CDJs, making sure that every carefully selected song gets its due praise. The guy is such a good producer that the number of hits that he is “required” to play (i.e.: “On A Good Day (Metropolis)”) outweighs his set time. Therefore, his of DJing equipment and his knowledge of every rise, fall, drop and build-up of each track that he mixes combine to offer an orgiastic feast for the senses. His productions are aptly qualified as Trance, because that is the exact state you are in when you listen to his tunes. Finally, the adoration he delivers onto the crowd makes his sets such an enjoyable and memorable experience for all. I think I speak for all when I say: “I LOVE YOU GARETH!”

The Super8 & Tab interview is nearly completed and will be posted sometime in the close future. Our technical advisor is hard at work trying to finish the editing process as quickly as possible. Keep posted and have a great week.