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In conversation with Darude
178

In conversation with Darude

Music Famed for the global platinum-selling smash ‘Sandstorm’, Darude is recognised by many as one of the most influential artists to emerge from the dance scene in the past decade. With a DJ style that is a mixture of progressive and uplifting trance, fused with elements of tech, breaks and house, Darude’s music delivers a dynamic energy that gets any dancefloor moving. With over 15 years heavily touring North and South America, as well as leading shows in Asia and Australasia. His resume of accolades is a testament to the exponential growth of his profile as an international artist. Over the years he’s appeared on TV channels such as BBC, NBC, CNN and MTV, as well as having won a number of prestigious awards such as 2 x German Dance Awards, Dance Star Award, USA Golden Turntable DJ Award and he is a 3 x Finnish Grammy Award winner. His name has also appeared in numerous public-voted polls with previous entries in Top 100 DJs Poll and Americas Favourite DJ. We had a delight speaking with Darude about the current situation in the world and his new music.    How is the current situation in the world affecting you and other artists? As every other DJ & artist, I’m not touring until the coronavirus situation calms down and it’s safe for people to come together again. When I’m not on the road, my typical work weeks are not that different from this, though, everyone in the family being home now throughout the entire day presents some challenges to us all. Arranging and overseeing home schooling for our 10-year old takes a good bit of time, and trying to stay on top of a productive and positive family routine is taking a good bit of brain power and capacity, but so far we’ve stayed healthy - and relatively sane – so I guess we’re doing ok! :)    You’re lucky enough to have made a career out of the thing you love doing, and a lot of that has been down to successes such as ‘Sandstorm’, do you look back at the track with fondness at the opportunities it has given you?  Of course! I’ve done quite a lot since ‘Sandstorm,’ but it’s what started it all – it gave me the opportunity to tour and show people what I do and what I am about. Every time I hear the track or play it myself, I am extremely proud and happy!   What did it feel like representing your country at last year’s Eurovision? What was the experience like? It was a great honour to get to represent Finland! The whole journey was something I’ll never forget and I wouldn’t change it for anything! Getting to work with and share the experience with my dear friend Sebastian was great, and looking at my production methods and approaches from a different angle was a welcome change. I got to work with a great team of Finnish TV professionals for the Finnish national final and then on to Tel Aviv to be a part of one of the biggest live TV productions in the world – those experiences are invaluable both personally and professionally. Meeting the Eurovision fans was great as well, what a loving and excited bunch of people from all walks of life. Connecting with the fellow contestants was absolutely amazing as well – it lead to collaborations and even friendships!   What is the favourite place you have ever performed at and why? 2016 NYE at Kansalaistori in the city centre of Helsinki, Finland. I got to kick off 2017, the year we celebrated 100 years of Finnish independence, playing ‘Sandstorm’ to 100,000 fellow Finns, followed by an hour-long DJ set to keep the party going!    How would your year have looked differently if the current situation would have been different?  I’d be out on tour, US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, etc. We had a worldwide tour planned to start this summer, but it has, of course, been postponed, so we will also have to shuffle some music releases as well.   After so many years in the industry, what things have changed in those times? Is it now easier or harder to make it as an artist?  Available, advanced technology has made it more affordable for almost anyone to get their hands on some sort of recording and production tools, so I’d say harder, as there’s so much more competition now. I don’t mind that, though, because not everyone wants to or needs to be a superstar, but just to have fun expressing their feelings and talent through music. Also, I’m a prime example of someone who didn’t even know they wanted or could be a musician, but through technology I could actually program rhythms, chords and melodies that I was not able to play live at that point, and so getting creative in that way was possible. Anyone today finding something similar through mobile apps or computer software is probably feeling similar joy and exhilaration as I was, so I’m all for it!    When creating new tunes, how do you approach it? What is the first thing you start with? So many different ways! I used to be more of a grid based programmer in the beginning, like drum machine programming and I used arpeggiators a lot as well. I used to always start with drums and some bass, to get a monotonous driving foundation going first, then I’d start finding melodic elements to it, just listen to that until I started hearing things in it, then trying to get them out of my head and play or program on top of the beats. These days I sometimes still do that, but quite often I go through sounds and samples and start finding chords and melodies first, then come up with the beats and other production later. Sometimes I send instrumentals to singer-songwriters to write to and sometimes I get vocals from them first and create my music around it. Sometimes I have someone or many people in the studio, or over Skype, and we’ll vibe it out real time, come up with ideas or full songs from scratch.   What is next in store for you? Any new releases or projects you can tell us about? I’ll be putting out a bunch of original tracks this year. We’re shuffling our release schedule due to the pandemic, but stay tuned to my socials for the latest info. Hopefully fans will be excited about what I’m doing this year!    How do you think this summer will be in comparison to previous years with everything that is going on in the world? Well, it is certainly looking like it is going to be different than we’ve ever experienced in our lifetimes. In the grand scheme of things, I’m not worrying about missing out on performances and parties, because everyone in the industry is in the same boat right now. What I AM worried about is my family’s, my friends’ and my loved ones’ physical & mental health – not only because of the virus itself, but because the financial struggle that will be so tough for so many as a result of this world crisis. I worry about every person’s capacity to withstand the hardship in front of us, which is why, more than ever, we need to look out for each other, and do our part now. Especially for the heroes on the frontlines of this crisis doing the painstakingly hard work to save us all. I am incredibly grateful for the immense sacrifice they make for all of us daily.     Lastly, what is your favourite thing about being creative and what makes you happy? I simply love coming to my studio and sitting down and letting ideas flow. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it takes days, but I’ve learned not to be too frustrated about time and to trust that something good, fun, touching, positive, etc. will come out eventually, however long the detour is! Music and family are what bring me happiness.  Famed for the global platinum-selling smash ‘Sandstorm’, Darude is recognised by many as one of the most influential artists to emerge from the dance scene in the past decade. With a DJ style that is a mixture of progressive and uplifting trance, fused with elements of tech, breaks and house, Darude’s music delivers a dynamic energy that gets any dancefloor moving. With over 15 years heavily touring North and South America, as well as leading shows in Asia and Australasia. His resume of accolades is a testament to the exponential growth of his profile as an international artist. Over the years he’s appeared on TV channels such as BBC, NBC, CNN and MTV, as well as having won a number of prestigious awards such as 2 x German Dance Awards, Dance Star Award, USA Golden Turntable DJ Award and he is a 3 x Finnish Grammy Award winner. His name has also appeared in numerous public-voted polls with previous entries in Top 100 DJs Poll and Americas Favourite DJ. We had a delight speaking with Darude about the current situation in the world and his new music.    How is the current situation in the world affecting you and other artists? As every other DJ & artist, I’m not touring until the coronavirus situation calms down and it’s safe for people to come together again. When I’m not on the road, my typical work weeks are not that different from this, though, everyone in the family being home now throughout the entire day presents some challenges to us all. Arranging and overseeing home schooling for our 10-year old takes a good bit of time, and trying to stay on top of a productive and positive family routine is taking a good bit of brain power and capacity, but so far we’ve stayed healthy - and relatively sane – so I guess we’re doing ok! :)    You’re lucky enough to have made a career out of the thing you love doing, and a lot of that has been down to successes such as ‘Sandstorm’, do you look back at the track with fondness at the opportunities it has given you?  Of course! I’ve done quite a lot since ‘Sandstorm,’ but it’s what started it all – it gave me the opportunity to tour and show people what I do and what I am about. Every time I hear the track or play it myself, I am extremely proud and happy!   What did it feel like representing your country at last year’s Eurovision? What was the experience like? It was a great honour to get to represent Finland! The whole journey was something I’ll never forget and I wouldn’t change it for anything! Getting to work with and share the experience with my dear friend Sebastian was great, and looking at my production methods and approaches from a different angle was a welcome change. I got to work with a great team of Finnish TV professionals for the Finnish national final and then on to Tel Aviv to be a part of one of the biggest live TV productions in the world – those experiences are invaluable both personally and professionally. Meeting the Eurovision fans was great as well, what a loving and excited bunch of people from all walks of life. Connecting with the fellow contestants was absolutely amazing as well – it lead to collaborations and even friendships!   What is the favourite place you have ever performed at and why? 2016 NYE at Kansalaistori in the city centre of Helsinki, Finland. I got to kick off 2017, the year we celebrated 100 years of Finnish independence, playing ‘Sandstorm’ to 100,000 fellow Finns, followed by an hour-long DJ set to keep the party going!    How would your year have looked differently if the current situation would have been different?  I’d be out on tour, US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Australia, etc. We had a worldwide tour planned to start this summer, but it has, of course, been postponed, so we will also have to shuffle some music releases as well.   After so many years in the industry, what things have changed in those times? Is it now easier or harder to make it as an artist?  Available, advanced technology has made it more affordable for almost anyone to get their hands on some sort of recording and production tools, so I’d say harder, as there’s so much more competition now. I don’t mind that, though, because not everyone wants to or needs to be a superstar, but just to have fun expressing their feelings and talent through music. Also, I’m a prime example of someone who didn’t even know they wanted or could be a musician, but through technology I could actually program rhythms, chords and melodies that I was not able to play live at that point, and so getting creative in that way was possible. Anyone today finding something similar through mobile apps or computer software is probably feeling similar joy and exhilaration as I was, so I’m all for it!    When creating new tunes, how do you approach it? What is the first thing you start with? So many different ways! I used to be more of a grid based programmer in the beginning, like drum machine programming and I used arpeggiators a lot as well. I used to always start with drums and some bass, to get a monotonous driving foundation going first, then I’d start finding melodic elements to it, just listen to that until I started hearing things in it, then trying to get them out of my head and play or program on top of the beats. These days I sometimes still do that, but quite often I go through sounds and samples and start finding chords and melodies first, then come up with the beats and other production later. Sometimes I send instrumentals to singer-songwriters to write to and sometimes I get vocals from them first and create my music around it. Sometimes I have someone or many people in the studio, or over Skype, and we’ll vibe it out real time, come up with ideas or full songs from scratch.   What is next in store for you? Any new releases or projects you can tell us about? I’ll be putting out a bunch of original tracks this year. We’re shuffling our release schedule due to the pandemic, but stay tuned to my socials for the latest info. Hopefully fans will be excited about what I’m doing this year!    How do you think this summer will be in comparison to previous years with everything that is going on in the world? Well, it is certainly looking like it is going to be different than we’ve ever experienced in our lifetimes. In the grand scheme of things, I’m not worrying about missing out on performances and parties, because everyone in the industry is in the same boat right now. What I AM worried about is my family’s, my friends’ and my loved ones’ physical & mental health – not only because of the virus itself, but because the financial struggle that will be so tough for so many as a result of this world crisis. I worry about every person’s capacity to withstand the hardship in front of us, which is why, more than ever, we need to look out for each other, and do our part now. Especially for the heroes on the frontlines of this crisis doing the painstakingly hard work to save us all. I am incredibly grateful for the immense sacrifice they make for all of us daily.     Lastly, what is your favourite thing about being creative and what makes you happy? I simply love coming to my studio and sitting down and letting ideas flow. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it takes days, but I’ve learned not to be too frustrated about time and to trust that something good, fun, touching, positive, etc. will come out eventually, however long the detour is! Music and family are what bring me happiness. 

In conversation with Ferry Corsten
172

In conversation with Ferry Corsten

Music   Hailing from Rotterdam, Ferry Corsten’s illustrious career is exemplified by a passion for music that began as a hobby and spiralled into a full-blown profession, as he continues to push the boundaries of trance music, rising 15 places to #59 in last year’s DJ Mag Top 100 poll. While synonymous with dance music and songs primed for the dancefloor, Ferry has always harboured a love for the more stripped back forms of sound, be it cinematic, orchestral or ambient, highlighted by him completing his first film score for David Gleeson’s 2018 thriller ‘Don’t Go’, which was released as a soundtrack early last year. Ferry continues to explore the more ambient side of his creativity with a new album under his FERR alias, ‘As Above So Below’, which was released last Friday, and sees Ferry reveal some of his most personal work to date, coming at a perfect time when people around the world are looking for ways to keep their cool.  Alongside hit global exploits as a DJ, chart scaling achievements in the studio, Ferry continues to have a day-to-day involvement in his Flashover Recording simprint, who recently announced they will be partnering with Armada Music for future releases. Launched back in 2005, Ferry’s label enables him to scour the world for fresh talent and release music by cutting-edge producers, giving them a voice on the world stage, alongside hosting his own label parties everywhere from Amsterdam Dance Event to Miami Music Week.   We had the opportunity to speak with Ferry about his change in direction, the inspiration behind the album, and the current situation the world is facing.   Could you tell us more about your new ‘As Above So Below’ album that is released this week? It’s a far cry from your previous output, what was the reasoning behind this change in direction? I’ve always had a big passion for this type of music. I love to listen to it myself when I want to disconnect from the usual music productions. Sometimes, I find myself having an hour here and there that I can use to just create other music than the usual thing. I noticed at some point that I had accumulated a lot of tracks that I had been making over time and thought of sharing this with the rest of the world.    What did you want to achieve with this new album? Was there a creative vision that you wanted to realise or was it a completely blank canvas? It was a completely blank canvas. I specifically told myself not to switch back into auto pilot…meaning the formulated, structure way of producing that I do for a lot of my dance stuff. This album was completely free reign and literally going with the flow.     After so many years in the industry, what keeps you motivated? I think I’ve managed to remain for so many years in this industry because I really love what I do. I am one of the very lucky people in this world to have been able to make my hobby into a fully-fledged career. I’m also very lucky that people enjoy what I produce and play. Without them I would not be able to do what I do. Although it is a dream job, every job has its difficulties and this job is no different than others. You are constantly on the go, always working. You don’t have as much family time as you wish. But knowing as well that there are people that want to hear your music and watch you play definitely keeps me (and my family) motivated.   What is the most exciting part of releasing this new album to the world? The most exciting part is that it is what people never expected from me and seeing their reactions to it.      What is the message you are trying to send with this new album, which feels especially important with the difficult times we are going through at the moment?  Yeah, the timing seems impeccable but of course the release date was planned months before. I could never have foreseen a world that we are in today. The whole motivation behind this album and this music is to tell people that it’s ok to slow down every once in a while. To sit back, relax, zone out, and recharge.   What were your inspirations for the album? Can you name a couple of recommendations for people new to this sound who may want to explore a bit deeper? A good reference is the music you can find in my stillpoint by Ferry Corsten playlist. This playlist features artists that are in this same realm of music, notably Olafur Arnulds, Nils Frahm, Jon Hopkins, to name a few.     How do you find new sources of inspiration and musical discovery to keep your music fresh?   Keeping your music fresh starts with a big imagination. The sky is the limit. I like to listen to different genres that are somewhat close to my original style of music and look for elements that I can bring in to my own genre.     What is next for you after the new album release? I’m currently working on my new Ferry Corsten album. At the minute I’m using the time that I have being locked up during these hard times as an opportunity to work on this!           Hailing from Rotterdam, Ferry Corsten’s illustrious career is exemplified by a passion for music that began as a hobby and spiralled into a full-blown profession, as he continues to push the boundaries of trance music, rising 15 places to #59 in last year’s DJ Mag Top 100 poll. While synonymous with dance music and songs primed for the dancefloor, Ferry has always harboured a love for the more stripped back forms of sound, be it cinematic, orchestral or ambient, highlighted by him completing his first film score for David Gleeson’s 2018 thriller ‘Don’t Go’, which was released as a soundtrack early last year. Ferry continues to explore the more ambient side of his creativity with a new album under his FERR alias, ‘As Above So Below’, which was released last Friday, and sees Ferry reveal some of his most personal work to date, coming at a perfect time when people around the world are looking for ways to keep their cool.  Alongside hit global exploits as a DJ, chart scaling achievements in the studio, Ferry continues to have a day-to-day involvement in his Flashover Recording simprint, who recently announced they will be partnering with Armada Music for future releases. Launched back in 2005, Ferry’s label enables him to scour the world for fresh talent and release music by cutting-edge producers, giving them a voice on the world stage, alongside hosting his own label parties everywhere from Amsterdam Dance Event to Miami Music Week.   We had the opportunity to speak with Ferry about his change in direction, the inspiration behind the album, and the current situation the world is facing.   Could you tell us more about your new ‘As Above So Below’ album that is released this week? It’s a far cry from your previous output, what was the reasoning behind this change in direction? I’ve always had a big passion for this type of music. I love to listen to it myself when I want to disconnect from the usual music productions. Sometimes, I find myself having an hour here and there that I can use to just create other music than the usual thing. I noticed at some point that I had accumulated a lot of tracks that I had been making over time and thought of sharing this with the rest of the world.    What did you want to achieve with this new album? Was there a creative vision that you wanted to realise or was it a completely blank canvas? It was a completely blank canvas. I specifically told myself not to switch back into auto pilot…meaning the formulated, structure way of producing that I do for a lot of my dance stuff. This album was completely free reign and literally going with the flow.     After so many years in the industry, what keeps you motivated? I think I’ve managed to remain for so many years in this industry because I really love what I do. I am one of the very lucky people in this world to have been able to make my hobby into a fully-fledged career. I’m also very lucky that people enjoy what I produce and play. Without them I would not be able to do what I do. Although it is a dream job, every job has its difficulties and this job is no different than others. You are constantly on the go, always working. You don’t have as much family time as you wish. But knowing as well that there are people that want to hear your music and watch you play definitely keeps me (and my family) motivated.   What is the most exciting part of releasing this new album to the world? The most exciting part is that it is what people never expected from me and seeing their reactions to it.      What is the message you are trying to send with this new album, which feels especially important with the difficult times we are going through at the moment?  Yeah, the timing seems impeccable but of course the release date was planned months before. I could never have foreseen a world that we are in today. The whole motivation behind this album and this music is to tell people that it’s ok to slow down every once in a while. To sit back, relax, zone out, and recharge.   What were your inspirations for the album? Can you name a couple of recommendations for people new to this sound who may want to explore a bit deeper? A good reference is the music you can find in my stillpoint by Ferry Corsten playlist. This playlist features artists that are in this same realm of music, notably Olafur Arnulds, Nils Frahm, Jon Hopkins, to name a few.     How do you find new sources of inspiration and musical discovery to keep your music fresh?   Keeping your music fresh starts with a big imagination. The sky is the limit. I like to listen to different genres that are somewhat close to my original style of music and look for elements that I can bring in to my own genre.     What is next for you after the new album release? I’m currently working on my new Ferry Corsten album. At the minute I’m using the time that I have being locked up during these hard times as an opportunity to work on this!        

In conversation with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
162

In conversation with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike

Music  After regaining the #1 spot in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll last year, capping off what was an impressive year that included releasing their huge single ‘Instagram’ alongside David Guetta, Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee and Afro Bros, which stands out at over 150 million streams, and also collaborated with Paris Hilton on ‘Best Friends Ass’, which featured a music video starring the likes of Kim Kardashian West. Dimitri is also passionate about film, and recently featured in Rambo: Last Blood, while Mike also has aspirations in the urban music world, and has released a number of solo releases over the past year, as well as recently announced a new label, ‘Green Room’, for his solo music and other music in that style. The duo have also previously collaborated with the likes of Wiz Khalifa.    We had a delight to speak with Mike and Dimitri:    How does it feel to be listed at the top of the Top 100 DJ’s poll again?  Dimitri: We’re really happy to have the fans continue to support us like this. We work really hard to keep engaged with them and always try to give them something new and exciting, whether that’s new music, a new aspect to our shows or new projects that we get involved in, so it’s great to see their love and appreciation. Without them none of this would be possible, so we’re truly grateful.    Mike:We’ve always had a special relationship with our fans. They fuel our passion and drive to always push forward.     How does COVID-19 affect your work and cancelled gigs?    Mike:We’re all in this together right now and it’s the only way we’re going to get back to how life was before this, by sticking together. For us, it’s been a change because we’re so used to being on the road for weeks at a time, travelling and playing shows, so we’ve had to adjust just like the rest of the world has. For touring musicians, this gives an almost unprecedented opportunity to write new music with so much free time, and I expect to hear a ton of amazing new music coming out of this.    What do you do and suggest to our readers to do during quarantined time?   Dimitri: We’re used to being flexible and try to maintain a routine whilst on the road to keep us in the best state physically and mentally, and I think that is especially important during this extraordinary time. People need to carry on exercising and eatting healthy, and spend time communicating with their friends and family. There are so many ways to keep in touch, so it’s been fun seeing the new creative methods that people are using to stay in contact with one another! The most important thing in all of this is people’s health and wellbeing.    How does the huge success of your single “Instagram” make you feel?   Dimitri: It’s a great feeling. The song took a while to write, but we all were really happy with the outcome, and to see that being received so well by our fans means everything to us. It was great having so many talented artists work on ‘Instagram and just bouncing off each other.   Mike: We love to collaborate with artists and producers whose work we admire. For this project everybody brought something different to the table and the synergy was really smooth.   What do you guys have in store for the future?   Mike:We’ve spent a lot of time in the studio recently, working on new music and finishing projects, so we have a lot of new sounds ready to drop in the next few months. We’re really excited about our upcoming music schedule, fans can expect some interesting collaborations and a bunch of new singles from us too.    You were recently featured in Rambo: Last Blood. How is it like trying something new like acting? How was the experience & do you have any other similar projects that you are working on?   Dimitri: I’ve always been fascinated by film, conveying stories and emotions on screen the same as you would when working on music. Being involved on different sets and working with hugely skilled actor/actresses in the film industry has taught me a lot about showcasing different themes, and I think that has had a knock-on effect on our music as a result. Getting to work alongside big screen heroes like Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Bouncer and Sylvester Stallone in the latest Rambo movie are highlights of my side career in the film industry and push me on to achieve more. I’m always looking at new projects to be involved in, I will be announcing some more soon!    You have recently announced your new label “Green Room”, congratulations! How do you source artist for your new label and tell us more about the launch.   Mike: Thank you! This has been a project I’ve been working on for a while, which is centred around my love for urban music. I’ve been releasing a number of solo singles over the past year, so launching the label felt like the next natural step for this. I am constantly on the lookout for new music and listening to new talent and different styles, so the aim of the label is to nurture these guys and give them a platform to express themselves, as well as for me to release my own music. The label launched with my single ‘High Off Love’, which fans are really digging at the moment.   Lastly, what would be your favourite thing about performing live in front of a big crowd like Mysteryland, Tomorrowland and similar?   Mike: For us it’s all about the back and forth with the crowd that makes it so special. The connection with the fans is so strong and is always a two-way thing, we feed off their energy and that shows in the performance, and in turn the crowd reaction to that is memorable every time.  Dimitri: Playing our music to people and seeing them react has always been one of the most important things in what we do. To see our songs making so many people happy, creating memories and having an effect on their lives makes what we do worthwhile, I don’t think we’ll ever get tired of that and will be forever thankful for the position we are in.    For the weekend we suggest you listen their new track: https://open.spotify.com/track/00JoqMc5KZFLpdrtymo6f0  After regaining the #1 spot in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll last year, capping off what was an impressive year that included releasing their huge single ‘Instagram’ alongside David Guetta, Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee and Afro Bros, which stands out at over 150 million streams, and also collaborated with Paris Hilton on ‘Best Friends Ass’, which featured a music video starring the likes of Kim Kardashian West. Dimitri is also passionate about film, and recently featured in Rambo: Last Blood, while Mike also has aspirations in the urban music world, and has released a number of solo releases over the past year, as well as recently announced a new label, ‘Green Room’, for his solo music and other music in that style. The duo have also previously collaborated with the likes of Wiz Khalifa.    We had a delight to speak with Mike and Dimitri:    How does it feel to be listed at the top of the Top 100 DJ’s poll again?  Dimitri: We’re really happy to have the fans continue to support us like this. We work really hard to keep engaged with them and always try to give them something new and exciting, whether that’s new music, a new aspect to our shows or new projects that we get involved in, so it’s great to see their love and appreciation. Without them none of this would be possible, so we’re truly grateful.    Mike:We’ve always had a special relationship with our fans. They fuel our passion and drive to always push forward.     How does COVID-19 affect your work and cancelled gigs?    Mike:We’re all in this together right now and it’s the only way we’re going to get back to how life was before this, by sticking together. For us, it’s been a change because we’re so used to being on the road for weeks at a time, travelling and playing shows, so we’ve had to adjust just like the rest of the world has. For touring musicians, this gives an almost unprecedented opportunity to write new music with so much free time, and I expect to hear a ton of amazing new music coming out of this.    What do you do and suggest to our readers to do during quarantined time?   Dimitri: We’re used to being flexible and try to maintain a routine whilst on the road to keep us in the best state physically and mentally, and I think that is especially important during this extraordinary time. People need to carry on exercising and eatting healthy, and spend time communicating with their friends and family. There are so many ways to keep in touch, so it’s been fun seeing the new creative methods that people are using to stay in contact with one another! The most important thing in all of this is people’s health and wellbeing.    How does the huge success of your single “Instagram” make you feel?   Dimitri: It’s a great feeling. The song took a while to write, but we all were really happy with the outcome, and to see that being received so well by our fans means everything to us. It was great having so many talented artists work on ‘Instagram and just bouncing off each other.   Mike: We love to collaborate with artists and producers whose work we admire. For this project everybody brought something different to the table and the synergy was really smooth.   What do you guys have in store for the future?   Mike:We’ve spent a lot of time in the studio recently, working on new music and finishing projects, so we have a lot of new sounds ready to drop in the next few months. We’re really excited about our upcoming music schedule, fans can expect some interesting collaborations and a bunch of new singles from us too.    You were recently featured in Rambo: Last Blood. How is it like trying something new like acting? How was the experience & do you have any other similar projects that you are working on?   Dimitri: I’ve always been fascinated by film, conveying stories and emotions on screen the same as you would when working on music. Being involved on different sets and working with hugely skilled actor/actresses in the film industry has taught me a lot about showcasing different themes, and I think that has had a knock-on effect on our music as a result. Getting to work alongside big screen heroes like Jean-Claude Van Damme in The Bouncer and Sylvester Stallone in the latest Rambo movie are highlights of my side career in the film industry and push me on to achieve more. I’m always looking at new projects to be involved in, I will be announcing some more soon!    You have recently announced your new label “Green Room”, congratulations! How do you source artist for your new label and tell us more about the launch.   Mike: Thank you! This has been a project I’ve been working on for a while, which is centred around my love for urban music. I’ve been releasing a number of solo singles over the past year, so launching the label felt like the next natural step for this. I am constantly on the lookout for new music and listening to new talent and different styles, so the aim of the label is to nurture these guys and give them a platform to express themselves, as well as for me to release my own music. The label launched with my single ‘High Off Love’, which fans are really digging at the moment.   Lastly, what would be your favourite thing about performing live in front of a big crowd like Mysteryland, Tomorrowland and similar?   Mike: For us it’s all about the back and forth with the crowd that makes it so special. The connection with the fans is so strong and is always a two-way thing, we feed off their energy and that shows in the performance, and in turn the crowd reaction to that is memorable every time.  Dimitri: Playing our music to people and seeing them react has always been one of the most important things in what we do. To see our songs making so many people happy, creating memories and having an effect on their lives makes what we do worthwhile, I don’t think we’ll ever get tired of that and will be forever thankful for the position we are in.    For the weekend we suggest you listen their new track: https://open.spotify.com/track/00JoqMc5KZFLpdrtymo6f0

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In conversation with Martin Jensen
148

In conversation with Martin Jensen

Music Martin Jensen originally wanting to take more of a ‘behind the scenes’ role as a lighting engineer and designer, but his unmistakeable talent as a DJ quickly placed him in the spotlight as a creative powerhouse. “I’m drawn to the songs that get into your head and seem to stay there. That’s the music that I love to create”says Martin, whose uncompromising and unorthodox production style has garnered listeners from all over the world and racked up millions of followers on Facebook.   His first few singles launched him into the musical stratosphere, showcasing his innovative way of crafting sounds and tracks that resonant with fans from all over the globe. His breakthrough viral track “Sí” featured a sample of famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. And follow up single, “All I Wanna Do”, cemented his position as one of the world’s leading hit makers as he has also gone on to collaborate with names including The Vamps, and #1 artist James Arthur. Continuing his meteoric rise, “Solo Dance” has gone down as one of the most-recognised tracks in recent years, from pop chart plays, to keeping the dancefloor on fire, it also featured a young singer that wanted to remain unknown. “She wanted to be anonymous and we kept our promise.”  Says Martin Jensen, who goes on to explain the idea behind the song’s lyrics.“It’s about going out clubbing, and that it is really only a great night if you’ve been dancing all night long.” – an ethos that no doubt many fans can get behind. With an unbelievable upshot in its popularity receiving over 1 million streams daily upon release and hitting over 1 billion streams and counting; ‘Solo Dance’ is quickly converting new listeners to fans and beyond around the globe, but it doesn’t stop there. Lending his golden touch to remix work for Rita Ora, Ava Max and artist of the decade Ed Sheeran, the sky appears to not even the limit to Jensen’s skills. Martin was also named one of DJ Mags top 100 DJs in the world in 2016, the first Danish artist to enter since Trentemøller in 2007,a very well-deserved feat as he is not only at the midst of his heights, he’s just getting started with an extensive dot-to-dot of tour dates to boot. “It’s a massive achievement for a DJ. It’s just as awesome as reaching the charts in the US or the UK” says Martin Jensen. “It’s amazing and extra awesome because DJ Mag’s top 100 is created by its readers – the fans that actually listen and dance to the music.” Continues the 25-year-old Danish DJ and Producer phenomenon. “Next I’m going to conquer the world!” .  As well as performing atTomorrowland, Lollapalooza and the largest party venue on the planet, World Club Dome, he has not only proven but exceeded the level of quality to his shows and live achievements at a selection of some of the most heralded events on Earth.  Wrapping up 2019 with an extensive US bus tour and set to white-knuckle ride his way through 2020 with a timeline of exclusive new projects and dates across his calendar, get poised for Martin Jensen’s biggest and best year yet!   We had a delight to speak with Martin:   How would you put/ describe your work into past, present & future? What I did in my past was about music touring and all that kind of stuff as you know me from and the present is sitting  home and gaming staying safe! The future is hopefully getting out there again really soon and start playing shows again, the Corona is a hard time for everybody and we have to respect it but it’s especially hard when you’re living as an artist where your income comes from playing live shows. Right now, all the artists and friends I know, none of them have anything they can do but sit in the studio and produce new stuff but we also like getting out and doing the shows. To be honest, that is what pays the bills! So for now, it’s a pretty hard time for all artists and DJs but hey, this thing isn’t gonna stay forever!     How did you first get involved in making music? I’ve been playing as a DJ for many many years and one day I was like “Hey I don’t just wanna be a DJ playing in cubs, I wanna be the guy in the main lights so I started producing, too, to see if it would work. My first track was ‘Night After Night’ which I released to craziness! After I released it, a few months later I got a record deal and everything went super fast. It was nice to try to do “the impossible”, a lot of people said to me “Martin you’re never going to be a DJ, you’re never going to make it as that”, so it was a good feeling to try and to prove them wrong – I must say that.   When making music, what is the first thing you do or process you turn to, when creating a new tune? The first thing I do when I’m creating new music is definitely starting out refining with singer/ songwriters in a session and then just trying to jam out of that; if we hit something , let’s go for that  and if we don’t, we need to find  new way to create it. I never really just start out with making a beat, for me it is more important that everything is just about the lyrics and the melodies and if you just start with the production, for me, it’s not my natural way of creating a  track.      Tell us about your new track ‘Carry On’ with MOLOW, how did that come about and what inspired the single? It’s quite funny because I had no idea who MOLOW were before the single, but the whole thing came out of the record label I’m signed to. They came to me asking if I wanted to be a part of the single and after I heard the early stages of ‘Carry On’ from them I was like “Woah, this is a dope single, I need to be a part of this!”. I liked it but could see a few things I wanted to add so I asked if they would be open – everyone was happy with our final track and then we actually released it kind of fast. They were super easy to work with and it felt super easy to create once the inspiration flowed. Especially now in the time of Corona, it sends a message with the lyrics to ‘Carry On’, so you know it feels inspiring with the times that were in at the moment.   What can we expect from you in the coming year? Right now, who knows if I’ll be sitting in my studio for the rest of the year or if we’ll all be back out touring, I’m hoping by the end of the year things will look good with touring and I can see everyone smiling when I get back out there. That is definitely my #1 goal!   What is your career highlight so far? My highlight to be honest would be everything I’ve been doing at the moment; playing the clubs, releasing music, that is it, every day is a highlight! Yu know, I appreciate it so much to be able to do what I’m doing and now being back home, it makes me realise how awesome it actually is that I’ve built my career to this. Now, when I do get back on the road, I’ll appreciate it so much more, not just sitting at home but being able to get out and show the world why I am here.   What is the funniest fan gift you have ever received? It is a bit of a weird gift! There was a girl at one of my shows who came up to me and asked me for an autograph and I said “Yes, no problem, of course!” but she wanted me to autograph her leg and I was like “Oh, ok” – I signed her leg and then she said “I want to have it tattooed!”! When I got home from tour two weeks later, I had a note on Instagram with a picture and she actually got it tattooed, I was like “Oh my gosh!” because I didn’t just give her my autograph I gave her my signature so after that, I made a new one but she saw it as something special. It wasn’t just a gift to me but a gift to her, also.    You also just started a new fashion merchandise line – tell us about how the process was creating that, and why you decided to do so? I have a merch line right now where it has my name and logo across the arms, or the chest, or the back and I wanted to create something else, so I wanted to create something fashionable for my fans. This line of merch I have now is something you’d wear going to a concert or being casual, it’s not something you’d wear to go out on like Christmas Eve or whatever, but this line is for going to school, hanging with friends, so I wanted to create a fashion line and my manager Marc, he also has a very good eye for design, and Natasha my girlfriend is a model, so she also knows a lot about fashion, they helped me with a full team effort to create the pieces. It felt really great to work together as a team away from being in the studio, or being on tour, so we could be different and I think the results are great. It’s now available online!    How is it like being one of  DJ MAGS top 100 DJs? For me, to be one of the it’s just absolutely insane, if you’re sitting down and thinking about it for a second, I’m one of the 100 best DJs in the world but I’m actually also in the top 50 DJs in the world which is just absolutely insane compared to how many DJs and people are actually out there! For me to have this recognition from the industry and my fans is amazing and crazy and I appreciate it every day. I love you guys for that, really!     Who would your dream collaboration be? There is no doubt about that, that would definitely be Taylor Swift! For me, she is the most inspiring and genius musician we have on earth, her lyrics, melodies, everything is just so on point with every track and I really admire how she handles all the pressure.    Thank you for having me and see you with some new music soon! Bellow a new tune: "Carry On"  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hn18kuDh8o&feature=emb_logo   Martin Jensen originally wanting to take more of a ‘behind the scenes’ role as a lighting engineer and designer, but his unmistakeable talent as a DJ quickly placed him in the spotlight as a creative powerhouse. “I’m drawn to the songs that get into your head and seem to stay there. That’s the music that I love to create”says Martin, whose uncompromising and unorthodox production style has garnered listeners from all over the world and racked up millions of followers on Facebook.   His first few singles launched him into the musical stratosphere, showcasing his innovative way of crafting sounds and tracks that resonant with fans from all over the globe. His breakthrough viral track “Sí” featured a sample of famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. And follow up single, “All I Wanna Do”, cemented his position as one of the world’s leading hit makers as he has also gone on to collaborate with names including The Vamps, and #1 artist James Arthur. Continuing his meteoric rise, “Solo Dance” has gone down as one of the most-recognised tracks in recent years, from pop chart plays, to keeping the dancefloor on fire, it also featured a young singer that wanted to remain unknown. “She wanted to be anonymous and we kept our promise.”  Says Martin Jensen, who goes on to explain the idea behind the song’s lyrics.“It’s about going out clubbing, and that it is really only a great night if you’ve been dancing all night long.” – an ethos that no doubt many fans can get behind. With an unbelievable upshot in its popularity receiving over 1 million streams daily upon release and hitting over 1 billion streams and counting; ‘Solo Dance’ is quickly converting new listeners to fans and beyond around the globe, but it doesn’t stop there. Lending his golden touch to remix work for Rita Ora, Ava Max and artist of the decade Ed Sheeran, the sky appears to not even the limit to Jensen’s skills. Martin was also named one of DJ Mags top 100 DJs in the world in 2016, the first Danish artist to enter since Trentemøller in 2007,a very well-deserved feat as he is not only at the midst of his heights, he’s just getting started with an extensive dot-to-dot of tour dates to boot. “It’s a massive achievement for a DJ. It’s just as awesome as reaching the charts in the US or the UK” says Martin Jensen. “It’s amazing and extra awesome because DJ Mag’s top 100 is created by its readers – the fans that actually listen and dance to the music.” Continues the 25-year-old Danish DJ and Producer phenomenon. “Next I’m going to conquer the world!” .  As well as performing atTomorrowland, Lollapalooza and the largest party venue on the planet, World Club Dome, he has not only proven but exceeded the level of quality to his shows and live achievements at a selection of some of the most heralded events on Earth.  Wrapping up 2019 with an extensive US bus tour and set to white-knuckle ride his way through 2020 with a timeline of exclusive new projects and dates across his calendar, get poised for Martin Jensen’s biggest and best year yet!   We had a delight to speak with Martin:   How would you put/ describe your work into past, present & future? What I did in my past was about music touring and all that kind of stuff as you know me from and the present is sitting  home and gaming staying safe! The future is hopefully getting out there again really soon and start playing shows again, the Corona is a hard time for everybody and we have to respect it but it’s especially hard when you’re living as an artist where your income comes from playing live shows. Right now, all the artists and friends I know, none of them have anything they can do but sit in the studio and produce new stuff but we also like getting out and doing the shows. To be honest, that is what pays the bills! So for now, it’s a pretty hard time for all artists and DJs but hey, this thing isn’t gonna stay forever!     How did you first get involved in making music? I’ve been playing as a DJ for many many years and one day I was like “Hey I don’t just wanna be a DJ playing in cubs, I wanna be the guy in the main lights so I started producing, too, to see if it would work. My first track was ‘Night After Night’ which I released to craziness! After I released it, a few months later I got a record deal and everything went super fast. It was nice to try to do “the impossible”, a lot of people said to me “Martin you’re never going to be a DJ, you’re never going to make it as that”, so it was a good feeling to try and to prove them wrong – I must say that.   When making music, what is the first thing you do or process you turn to, when creating a new tune? The first thing I do when I’m creating new music is definitely starting out refining with singer/ songwriters in a session and then just trying to jam out of that; if we hit something , let’s go for that  and if we don’t, we need to find  new way to create it. I never really just start out with making a beat, for me it is more important that everything is just about the lyrics and the melodies and if you just start with the production, for me, it’s not my natural way of creating a  track.      Tell us about your new track ‘Carry On’ with MOLOW, how did that come about and what inspired the single? It’s quite funny because I had no idea who MOLOW were before the single, but the whole thing came out of the record label I’m signed to. They came to me asking if I wanted to be a part of the single and after I heard the early stages of ‘Carry On’ from them I was like “Woah, this is a dope single, I need to be a part of this!”. I liked it but could see a few things I wanted to add so I asked if they would be open – everyone was happy with our final track and then we actually released it kind of fast. They were super easy to work with and it felt super easy to create once the inspiration flowed. Especially now in the time of Corona, it sends a message with the lyrics to ‘Carry On’, so you know it feels inspiring with the times that were in at the moment.   What can we expect from you in the coming year? Right now, who knows if I’ll be sitting in my studio for the rest of the year or if we’ll all be back out touring, I’m hoping by the end of the year things will look good with touring and I can see everyone smiling when I get back out there. That is definitely my #1 goal!   What is your career highlight so far? My highlight to be honest would be everything I’ve been doing at the moment; playing the clubs, releasing music, that is it, every day is a highlight! Yu know, I appreciate it so much to be able to do what I’m doing and now being back home, it makes me realise how awesome it actually is that I’ve built my career to this. Now, when I do get back on the road, I’ll appreciate it so much more, not just sitting at home but being able to get out and show the world why I am here.   What is the funniest fan gift you have ever received? It is a bit of a weird gift! There was a girl at one of my shows who came up to me and asked me for an autograph and I said “Yes, no problem, of course!” but she wanted me to autograph her leg and I was like “Oh, ok” – I signed her leg and then she said “I want to have it tattooed!”! When I got home from tour two weeks later, I had a note on Instagram with a picture and she actually got it tattooed, I was like “Oh my gosh!” because I didn’t just give her my autograph I gave her my signature so after that, I made a new one but she saw it as something special. It wasn’t just a gift to me but a gift to her, also.    You also just started a new fashion merchandise line – tell us about how the process was creating that, and why you decided to do so? I have a merch line right now where it has my name and logo across the arms, or the chest, or the back and I wanted to create something else, so I wanted to create something fashionable for my fans. This line of merch I have now is something you’d wear going to a concert or being casual, it’s not something you’d wear to go out on like Christmas Eve or whatever, but this line is for going to school, hanging with friends, so I wanted to create a fashion line and my manager Marc, he also has a very good eye for design, and Natasha my girlfriend is a model, so she also knows a lot about fashion, they helped me with a full team effort to create the pieces. It felt really great to work together as a team away from being in the studio, or being on tour, so we could be different and I think the results are great. It’s now available online!    How is it like being one of  DJ MAGS top 100 DJs? For me, to be one of the it’s just absolutely insane, if you’re sitting down and thinking about it for a second, I’m one of the 100 best DJs in the world but I’m actually also in the top 50 DJs in the world which is just absolutely insane compared to how many DJs and people are actually out there! For me to have this recognition from the industry and my fans is amazing and crazy and I appreciate it every day. I love you guys for that, really!     Who would your dream collaboration be? There is no doubt about that, that would definitely be Taylor Swift! For me, she is the most inspiring and genius musician we have on earth, her lyrics, melodies, everything is just so on point with every track and I really admire how she handles all the pressure.    Thank you for having me and see you with some new music soon! Bellow a new tune: "Carry On"  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hn18kuDh8o&feature=emb_logo  

In conversation with GRiZ
135

In conversation with GRiZ

Music GRiZ’s sound is a mixture of electronic elements, funk, hip-hop and bass. Last year saw him release his acclaimed ‘Ride Waves’ album, which featured collaborations with the likes of Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg. He completed two tours of the US around the album, taking in over 30 shows in the process.  To give a bit of background, Last year  his collaboration with Subtronics, ‘Griztronics’, hit huge success, becoming the #1 trending song on Tik Tok and was placed in a number of end-of-year lists, including Billboard’s Top 50 dance songs of the year. GRiZ’s message is all about showing love and spreading love, and every year he launches a GRiZmas initiative , consisting of a number of events to raise money for local causes (including group meditation etc…), amassing over $100,000 this year, and he is an advocate for LGBTQ+ community, after coming out in an open letter via the Huffington Post. GRiZ has also just been announced high on the bill at this year’s Coachella, which was moved to a later date this year, and performed also at last years’s Electronic Family festival in the Netherlands.    I had the opportunity to speak with Grant about his work and his life. See below the full interview:   What were your beginning with electronic music like? I think that the best things in life come to you  out of places that are unexpected and out of leaving yourself open to putting energy into things & letting that energy flow you into the next space instead of trying to push against the currents. I'm putting energy out there and if it's not resonating back to me,  then i'm gonna switch it up.  When I was 14, my friend's older brother introduced me to music production software and electronic music, so we got it all in once and I was already musical at the time playing an instrument and I loved working on music. It was always just easy to do it, I did not have to sit myself down and push myself to do it so it kind of came naturally. And here we are now, still feel the same and that hasn't changed.    Could you firstly tell me more about your twelve day festival called GRiZmas?   I think that the most important thing is an invention to bring fans into Detroit from even the times when Detroit was less populated city as compared to a lot of other cities, Detroit is many things and for sure a very musical city as well.  Due to the amount of fans we really wanted to engage with the fans and have fun besides the primary objective which is to raise money for charity.  When I was in elementary school I was offered to play a musical instrument like many other kids. Back in 2009 many music school programs were cut in public schools in Detroit. We can contribute by creating an solution which is GRiZmas. With the primary objective to raise money for charity. What the charity then does is that they offer after-school music programs and arts programs as well as computer technology programs to kids.  We hope this can be as inspiration also for other people to get involved as well. While it won't fully solve the problem, as the education issue is way larger than anytime before.   How did you become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and what are the positive outcomes since you have started?   I saw my position in the music scene as a place of visibility, people see me on stage. When i was growing up, I did not have many role models to look at that i could particularly relate to. I represent myself, therefore I needed to be first comfortable with myself and what was going on with me. So I wanted  to find myself in the good space with it and now I use this platform as an extension to show kids that it is cool to be gay, and it's lame to be gay & and it's normal to be gay. I think that by exposing different lifestyles it becomes more "normal".    Describe Amsterdam with your own words.   Hazy but on point. Dream-like in a way for sure. It surely changes in different seasons and it's always a cool experience.   What are your expectations of Coachella as this year sees you make your debut?   I'm excited. I've been playing at festivals for almost a decade and this is one I have never played at, as we were waiting for it to be the right time besides being in the right mental space with what the festival has to offer. Playing this year it's really fantastic to come at it from a place of ownership of my brand and who I am, which also comes to a great realisation that GRiZ is counter culture and at a place like Coachella that is really cool. I think that people from Coachella try to think outside of the box and keep it new and fresh. I’m also excited about releasing some new tracks there and show people that dance music has so many different faces and put our  flag on the moon, check it out.   What is your message with creating music? I just want it to be emotional and reflecting of my feelings and honest. Positively, inclusivety and pride of course. Deep down the surface for it to be emotional. I want you to come to my show and cry, get chills, give somebody a hug... music is all these different things to me.   How was it like collaborationg with the likes of Wiz Kalifa, Snopp Dogg to name a few on your new album?   They're cultural icons and I have been listening to their music forever. I never though I would have an opportunity to even have a conversation with them let alone have their vibe mingling with my music. Still the experience hasn't sunk in yet. It's such an honor.   What else do you have planned this year? Among many festivals internationally both completely new shows or some I have played before, also releasing a lot of new music this year. Continue to keep things fresh and come out with new music and enjoy the experience.   GRiZ’s sound is a mixture of electronic elements, funk, hip-hop and bass. Last year saw him release his acclaimed ‘Ride Waves’ album, which featured collaborations with the likes of Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg. He completed two tours of the US around the album, taking in over 30 shows in the process.  To give a bit of background, Last year  his collaboration with Subtronics, ‘Griztronics’, hit huge success, becoming the #1 trending song on Tik Tok and was placed in a number of end-of-year lists, including Billboard’s Top 50 dance songs of the year. GRiZ’s message is all about showing love and spreading love, and every year he launches a GRiZmas initiative , consisting of a number of events to raise money for local causes (including group meditation etc…), amassing over $100,000 this year, and he is an advocate for LGBTQ+ community, after coming out in an open letter via the Huffington Post. GRiZ has also just been announced high on the bill at this year’s Coachella, which was moved to a later date this year, and performed also at last years’s Electronic Family festival in the Netherlands.    I had the opportunity to speak with Grant about his work and his life. See below the full interview:   What were your beginning with electronic music like? I think that the best things in life come to you  out of places that are unexpected and out of leaving yourself open to putting energy into things & letting that energy flow you into the next space instead of trying to push against the currents. I'm putting energy out there and if it's not resonating back to me,  then i'm gonna switch it up.  When I was 14, my friend's older brother introduced me to music production software and electronic music, so we got it all in once and I was already musical at the time playing an instrument and I loved working on music. It was always just easy to do it, I did not have to sit myself down and push myself to do it so it kind of came naturally. And here we are now, still feel the same and that hasn't changed.    Could you firstly tell me more about your twelve day festival called GRiZmas?   I think that the most important thing is an invention to bring fans into Detroit from even the times when Detroit was less populated city as compared to a lot of other cities, Detroit is many things and for sure a very musical city as well.  Due to the amount of fans we really wanted to engage with the fans and have fun besides the primary objective which is to raise money for charity.  When I was in elementary school I was offered to play a musical instrument like many other kids. Back in 2009 many music school programs were cut in public schools in Detroit. We can contribute by creating an solution which is GRiZmas. With the primary objective to raise money for charity. What the charity then does is that they offer after-school music programs and arts programs as well as computer technology programs to kids.  We hope this can be as inspiration also for other people to get involved as well. While it won't fully solve the problem, as the education issue is way larger than anytime before.   How did you become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and what are the positive outcomes since you have started?   I saw my position in the music scene as a place of visibility, people see me on stage. When i was growing up, I did not have many role models to look at that i could particularly relate to. I represent myself, therefore I needed to be first comfortable with myself and what was going on with me. So I wanted  to find myself in the good space with it and now I use this platform as an extension to show kids that it is cool to be gay, and it's lame to be gay & and it's normal to be gay. I think that by exposing different lifestyles it becomes more "normal".    Describe Amsterdam with your own words.   Hazy but on point. Dream-like in a way for sure. It surely changes in different seasons and it's always a cool experience.   What are your expectations of Coachella as this year sees you make your debut?   I'm excited. I've been playing at festivals for almost a decade and this is one I have never played at, as we were waiting for it to be the right time besides being in the right mental space with what the festival has to offer. Playing this year it's really fantastic to come at it from a place of ownership of my brand and who I am, which also comes to a great realisation that GRiZ is counter culture and at a place like Coachella that is really cool. I think that people from Coachella try to think outside of the box and keep it new and fresh. I’m also excited about releasing some new tracks there and show people that dance music has so many different faces and put our  flag on the moon, check it out.   What is your message with creating music? I just want it to be emotional and reflecting of my feelings and honest. Positively, inclusivety and pride of course. Deep down the surface for it to be emotional. I want you to come to my show and cry, get chills, give somebody a hug... music is all these different things to me.   How was it like collaborationg with the likes of Wiz Kalifa, Snopp Dogg to name a few on your new album?   They're cultural icons and I have been listening to their music forever. I never though I would have an opportunity to even have a conversation with them let alone have their vibe mingling with my music. Still the experience hasn't sunk in yet. It's such an honor.   What else do you have planned this year? Among many festivals internationally both completely new shows or some I have played before, also releasing a lot of new music this year. Continue to keep things fresh and come out with new music and enjoy the experience.  

In conversation with KANDY
128

In conversation with KANDY

Music NERVO and newcomer KANDY deliver what is sure to become one of the biggest dance floor bangers of 2020. Coming off their recent Grammy-nominated collaboration with Sofi Tukker, “Best Friend”,and consistently placing as the highest-ranking female artists in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs year after year, NERVO joins forces with Brooklyn-born DJ/Producer KANDY to create “Supermodel”. KANDY has recently blazed a trail both within the LGBTQ community and the US dance scene by releasing musicon the likes of Diplo‟s Mad Decent label, and with his latest single, “Let Me Down”, breaking into the Top 10 of the US Billboard Dance Radio Singles chart. Now, on „Supermodel‟ out March 6th, NERVO and KANDY‟s worlds collide to produce a unique soundnot heard from either artist before. Pumping house and 4/4‟s, punctuated with clicks by camera flashes and a deep dubstep-influenced drop pushes the electro factor way past 10. The NERVO girlscommand listeners to “Strike A Pose” before KANDY‟s vocoded delivery of “Flashing for the cameras baby, we should be in Vogue” paints a sickening vision of confidence. Speaking on the release, KANDY muses that “The inspiration for “Supermodel” comes from theBallroom scene in NYC, specifically the energy it brings to the dance floor. That energy allows people of all kinds to express themselves authentically. Working with NERVO was especially fun because they brought a whole new flavor to the record. We hope that the listeners feel the same genuine energythat we feel when listening to it!", with NERVO just as excited exclaiming “We just made the perfect tune to do your make up to, so turn it up and strike a pose, people!”! You better believe the dancefloor will be put to werk...   We had a delight speaking with KANDY about the tune:     Tell us about yourself and the music you make! I started this whole thing as a raver in the crowd watching my favorite artists play live. That inspired me to start making my own music. After coming out publicly I felt the need to encourage everyone to be themselves since that was a huge struggle for me when I first started. The club scene should be your getaway from reality & that's what I hope to take away from all of this.   What made you decide to work on this collaboration together? While starting the record, I knew I wanted some strong female presence. Who better to ask than NERVO?   What is the story behind the title and the inspiration for the track? We’re all born with a fierce presence inside of us. This record is about pulling it out and wearing it on your sleeve for the world to see. With inspiration drawn from Lady Gaga & Madonna, this record pays homage to the LGBT community.    How was it like collaborating with the amazing Nervo? It’s honestly still crazy to me! The NERVO girls were one of the first artists I went & saw live back in 2011 so working with them after being a fan in the crowd is a huge honor!    What can we expect next? Will there be more collaborations coming, or can we expect some fresh solo releases? My next record is a solo release called “Upside Down” & I’m extremely excited for everyone to hear it! Other than that, you can expect tons of collaborations & exciting new solo records.     Make sure you get your hands on „Supermodel‟ and vogue your way to the elite – out since March 6th via Thrive Music and Universal!   See the music video on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9GWlLHsbK8   For more information check socials bellow:   www.facebook.com/thisisKANDY/ www.facebook.com/NERVOmusic NERVO and newcomer KANDY deliver what is sure to become one of the biggest dance floor bangers of 2020. Coming off their recent Grammy-nominated collaboration with Sofi Tukker, “Best Friend”,and consistently placing as the highest-ranking female artists in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs year after year, NERVO joins forces with Brooklyn-born DJ/Producer KANDY to create “Supermodel”. KANDY has recently blazed a trail both within the LGBTQ community and the US dance scene by releasing musicon the likes of Diplo‟s Mad Decent label, and with his latest single, “Let Me Down”, breaking into the Top 10 of the US Billboard Dance Radio Singles chart. Now, on „Supermodel‟ out March 6th, NERVO and KANDY‟s worlds collide to produce a unique soundnot heard from either artist before. Pumping house and 4/4‟s, punctuated with clicks by camera flashes and a deep dubstep-influenced drop pushes the electro factor way past 10. The NERVO girlscommand listeners to “Strike A Pose” before KANDY‟s vocoded delivery of “Flashing for the cameras baby, we should be in Vogue” paints a sickening vision of confidence. Speaking on the release, KANDY muses that “The inspiration for “Supermodel” comes from theBallroom scene in NYC, specifically the energy it brings to the dance floor. That energy allows people of all kinds to express themselves authentically. Working with NERVO was especially fun because they brought a whole new flavor to the record. We hope that the listeners feel the same genuine energythat we feel when listening to it!", with NERVO just as excited exclaiming “We just made the perfect tune to do your make up to, so turn it up and strike a pose, people!”! You better believe the dancefloor will be put to werk...   We had a delight speaking with KANDY about the tune:     Tell us about yourself and the music you make! I started this whole thing as a raver in the crowd watching my favorite artists play live. That inspired me to start making my own music. After coming out publicly I felt the need to encourage everyone to be themselves since that was a huge struggle for me when I first started. The club scene should be your getaway from reality & that's what I hope to take away from all of this.   What made you decide to work on this collaboration together? While starting the record, I knew I wanted some strong female presence. Who better to ask than NERVO?   What is the story behind the title and the inspiration for the track? We’re all born with a fierce presence inside of us. This record is about pulling it out and wearing it on your sleeve for the world to see. With inspiration drawn from Lady Gaga & Madonna, this record pays homage to the LGBT community.    How was it like collaborating with the amazing Nervo? It’s honestly still crazy to me! The NERVO girls were one of the first artists I went & saw live back in 2011 so working with them after being a fan in the crowd is a huge honor!    What can we expect next? Will there be more collaborations coming, or can we expect some fresh solo releases? My next record is a solo release called “Upside Down” & I’m extremely excited for everyone to hear it! Other than that, you can expect tons of collaborations & exciting new solo records.     Make sure you get your hands on „Supermodel‟ and vogue your way to the elite – out since March 6th via Thrive Music and Universal!   See the music video on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9GWlLHsbK8   For more information check socials bellow:   www.facebook.com/thisisKANDY/ www.facebook.com/NERVOmusic

Awakenings Festival celebrates 20th Anniversary this year
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Awakenings Festival celebrates 20th Anniversary this year

Music   Awakenings Festival, the world’s largest outdoor techno festival, has just announced the line up of its 20 year anniversary. The iconic festival will return to the festival grounds in Spaarnwoude on June 27 and 28 for two full days of techno. Starting as an underground community, Awakenings has established itself over the last two decades as one of the leading brands in the techno industry. With over 100 artists performing in eight different areas at the biggest outdoor techno festival in the world, Awakenings Festival will once again showcase a broad spectrum of techno artists, from the pioneers of techno and international headliners to new and upcoming talent. Similar to last years’ sold out editions, Awakenings Festival will welcome an international crowd of 80.000 visitors. The festival’s all-star line up includes pioneers like Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Kevin Saunderson, Robert Hood, Richie Hawtin & Carl Cox. Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Reinier Zonneveld andDax J will also return to Spaarnwoude to play on both days. On top of that, Maceo Plex will host his Mosaic area for the third year in a row and Joris Voorn will return to the festival grounds with ‘Joris Voorn & Friends’. Awakenings will as always offer a platform to a new generation of artists. This year, upcoming names like VTSS, ONYVAA, Park Hye Jin, SAMA’, Chris Stussy and Kevin de Vries have been added to the line up. Other widely-respected names that have been announced for the anniversary edition include Adam Beyer, Joseph, Len Faki, Sam Paganini and Tale Of Us. In addition to the jaw-dropping line up, Awakenings Festival’s anniversary year will once again feature innovative and groundbreaking stage designs and next level production during this massive weekend. Today at 18:00 o’clock, Reinier Zonneveld played a unique role in unveiling the full 2020 line up, performing a live set from a boat on the Amsterdam canals, broadcasted on Awakenings’ Facebook and YouTube page. Prior to Awakenings Festival, the festival organisation will host three nights and one full day of techno during Awakenings Easter in the Gashouder, a perfect way to get in the mood for the 20 year anniversary with over 60 hours of techno in one weekend. For the full line up, tickets and more information, visit www.awakenings.com/festival Awakenings Festival 2020 Date: Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th of June Time: 12:00 - 23:00 CEST Location: Spaarnwoude (near Amsterdam)   Awakenings Festival, the world’s largest outdoor techno festival, has just announced the line up of its 20 year anniversary. The iconic festival will return to the festival grounds in Spaarnwoude on June 27 and 28 for two full days of techno. Starting as an underground community, Awakenings has established itself over the last two decades as one of the leading brands in the techno industry. With over 100 artists performing in eight different areas at the biggest outdoor techno festival in the world, Awakenings Festival will once again showcase a broad spectrum of techno artists, from the pioneers of techno and international headliners to new and upcoming talent. Similar to last years’ sold out editions, Awakenings Festival will welcome an international crowd of 80.000 visitors. The festival’s all-star line up includes pioneers like Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Kevin Saunderson, Robert Hood, Richie Hawtin & Carl Cox. Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Reinier Zonneveld andDax J will also return to Spaarnwoude to play on both days. On top of that, Maceo Plex will host his Mosaic area for the third year in a row and Joris Voorn will return to the festival grounds with ‘Joris Voorn & Friends’. Awakenings will as always offer a platform to a new generation of artists. This year, upcoming names like VTSS, ONYVAA, Park Hye Jin, SAMA’, Chris Stussy and Kevin de Vries have been added to the line up. Other widely-respected names that have been announced for the anniversary edition include Adam Beyer, Joseph, Len Faki, Sam Paganini and Tale Of Us. In addition to the jaw-dropping line up, Awakenings Festival’s anniversary year will once again feature innovative and groundbreaking stage designs and next level production during this massive weekend. Today at 18:00 o’clock, Reinier Zonneveld played a unique role in unveiling the full 2020 line up, performing a live set from a boat on the Amsterdam canals, broadcasted on Awakenings’ Facebook and YouTube page. Prior to Awakenings Festival, the festival organisation will host three nights and one full day of techno during Awakenings Easter in the Gashouder, a perfect way to get in the mood for the 20 year anniversary with over 60 hours of techno in one weekend. For the full line up, tickets and more information, visit www.awakenings.com/festival Awakenings Festival 2020 Date: Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th of June Time: 12:00 - 23:00 CEST Location: Spaarnwoude (near Amsterdam)

1017 Alyx 9SM and Bang & Olufsen's collaboration
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1017 Alyx 9SM and Bang & Olufsen's collaboration

Lifestyle   1017 ALYX 9SM and Bang & Olufsen are collaborating on a pair of limited-edition BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK wireless earbuds and leather charging case.    The collaboration has launched  during the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop up on January 16th and featured in the Autumn/Winter 2020 show that took place during Men’s Paris Fashion week this January. 1017 ALYX 9SM’s focus on the concepts of modern craftsmanship and innovation forms a unique perspective on modern fashion. With craftmanship and innovation at its core, the collaboration beautifully bridges fashion and technology.   The BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK is an exclusive edition with ALYX and B&O monogram logos printed on the earbuds, logo embossed on the leather charging case and engraving on the aluminum inside   The earbuds are finely tuned by Bang & Olufsen sound engineers for a dynamic and authentic listening experience. With the Bang & Olufsen App you can adjust the sound profile of the earbuds to match your current activity. Different sizes of ear fins and tips let you customize the earphones to find a comfortable and secure fit. Touch controls give you access to essential features on your smartphone, and Transparency Mode allows you to tune into your surroundings.    The BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK ( 400 EUR) will be available at the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop Up, alyxstudio.com, highsnobiety.com, bang-olufsen.com and select Bang & Olufsen accounts in Denmark, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, US, Canada and Japan.     The collaboration also includes a leather mini bag for the E8 motion earbuds which features a double strap and the iconic 1017 ALYX 9SM buckle ( 400 USD). This is available exclusively at the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop Up, and select Bang & Olufsen accounts.    Follow the conversation at @bangolufsen on Instagram, Facebook, Twitterand YouTube and @alyxstudio on Instagram using #BangOlufsen1017ALYX9SM   1017 ALYX 9SM and Bang & Olufsen are collaborating on a pair of limited-edition BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK wireless earbuds and leather charging case.    The collaboration has launched  during the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop up on January 16th and featured in the Autumn/Winter 2020 show that took place during Men’s Paris Fashion week this January. 1017 ALYX 9SM’s focus on the concepts of modern craftsmanship and innovation forms a unique perspective on modern fashion. With craftmanship and innovation at its core, the collaboration beautifully bridges fashion and technology.   The BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK is an exclusive edition with ALYX and B&O monogram logos printed on the earbuds, logo embossed on the leather charging case and engraving on the aluminum inside   The earbuds are finely tuned by Bang & Olufsen sound engineers for a dynamic and authentic listening experience. With the Bang & Olufsen App you can adjust the sound profile of the earbuds to match your current activity. Different sizes of ear fins and tips let you customize the earphones to find a comfortable and secure fit. Touch controls give you access to essential features on your smartphone, and Transparency Mode allows you to tune into your surroundings.    The BEOPLAY E8 MOTION 1017 ALYX 9SM EDITION BLACK ( 400 EUR) will be available at the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop Up, alyxstudio.com, highsnobiety.com, bang-olufsen.com and select Bang & Olufsen accounts in Denmark, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, US, Canada and Japan.     The collaboration also includes a leather mini bag for the E8 motion earbuds which features a double strap and the iconic 1017 ALYX 9SM buckle ( 400 USD). This is available exclusively at the 1017 ALYX 9SM Paris Pop Up, and select Bang & Olufsen accounts.    Follow the conversation at @bangolufsen on Instagram, Facebook, Twitterand YouTube and @alyxstudio on Instagram using #BangOlufsen1017ALYX9SM

Beyond Sensation
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Beyond Sensation

Music Dance-lovers can indulge themselves! Legendary promoters ID&T stir millions of memories this week as they announce that on Saturday night July 4th 2020, they will bring a brand new show to the Johan Cruijff ArenA: Beyond Sensation. Inspired by the most groundbreaking dance concepts of the organization, ID&T is taking the next step with Beyond Sensation. It will be a premium dance experience that focuses even more on live entertainment, show and spectacular production. Beyond Sensation marks the start of a new chapter for ID&T and will be the prologue of something even bigger. On the 4th of July, the creators of Sensation will give a preview of how they envision the future of live entertainment. Organizer Eric Keijer: “When we started the Sensation adventure in 2000, we had no idea it would become that big. In 2017 we stopped at our peak because we felt it was time for something new. With Beyond Sensation we’re going to take the first step in that direction.” Register now on the website to be the first to get your tickets in February & March. Hotel packages are available from December 16th. More information and details about the event can be found at Sensation. Dance-lovers can indulge themselves! Legendary promoters ID&T stir millions of memories this week as they announce that on Saturday night July 4th 2020, they will bring a brand new show to the Johan Cruijff ArenA: Beyond Sensation. Inspired by the most groundbreaking dance concepts of the organization, ID&T is taking the next step with Beyond Sensation. It will be a premium dance experience that focuses even more on live entertainment, show and spectacular production. Beyond Sensation marks the start of a new chapter for ID&T and will be the prologue of something even bigger. On the 4th of July, the creators of Sensation will give a preview of how they envision the future of live entertainment. Organizer Eric Keijer: “When we started the Sensation adventure in 2000, we had no idea it would become that big. In 2017 we stopped at our peak because we felt it was time for something new. With Beyond Sensation we’re going to take the first step in that direction.” Register now on the website to be the first to get your tickets in February & March. Hotel packages are available from December 16th. More information and details about the event can be found at Sensation.

DGTL Amsterdam creates blueprint for a circular festival
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DGTL Amsterdam creates blueprint for a circular festival

Music After making great strides in the field of circularity for years, electronic music festival DGTL is taking a crucial next step during its upcoming eighth edition. As a pioneer in the field of innovation and sustainability, DGTL has created a circular blueprint that can be applied to both a festival and a city. DGTL Amsterdam, which kicks off the festival season on April 11th and 12th at the NDSM Docklands, is therefore the world's first electronic music festival that pursues full circularity.   The DGTL sustainability program has been running since 2013 and has been aimed from the outset to close cycles in the areas of energy, water & sanitation, food, commodities (waste) and mobility. As the aim this year is to close the entire DGTL circle, organisers have deemed the term ‘CYCLE’ their overarching theme for the 2020 edition. DGTL will close the cycles for a number of on-site systems, including energy, commodities, water and sanitation.    Of course, DGTL remains first and foremost a music festival, and for years have been working with a sustainable way of programming, combining international headliners with local talent. With over 65 artists spread out over seven stages, DGTL focuses on deepening and broadening the music line-up. For the broader audience, the Modular and AMP stages create a real festival vibe. Connoisseurs and purists can find their way to the techno stage Generator or the more underground-focused Filter. An increasingly prominent part of the program is set up for live performances on the large LIVE stage. View the full line-up at https://dgtl.nl/artists/line-up.   Collaboration with the city of Amsterdam It’s entirely feasible toview a festival as a temporary miniature version of a community. People work and consume, move, eat and sleep. Much like in a community there are all kinds of different flows such as money, energy, food, exchange of knowledge, water and creativity. For this reason, DGTL sees its festival terrain as a living lab for circular innovation in neighbourhoods and cities. By entering into partnerships with, among others, the City of Amsterdam and the Central Government, the festival takes on urban challenges on themes such as the energy transition and a new more sustainable form of sanitation.   Energy neutral With regard to energy, the objective this year is simple: during show days, energy consumption must come entirely from renewable sources. This means from sun, wind or other inexhaustible sources. The City of Amsterdam has invested in the event facilities at the NDSM Docklands; for example, the construction of additional power boxes has increased access to the main power grid. This means that all energy-demanding parts of the festival - such as bars, lighting and the food court - can simply use the sockets on the NDSM Docklands for their power supply. DGTL's energy system will be completely energy-neutral and emission-free during show days and the festival is parting ways with traditional diesel generators.   From urine to water, from poo to compost DGTL has also started a pilot together with the City of Amsterdam, researchers, toilet suppliers and processors to realize a circular sanitary system at the event. Urine is converted into (gray) water and faeces are processed into compost. DGTL hopes that this pilot offers a blueprint which neighbourhoods, cities and the music and events industry can learn from.   Plant-based menu After the introduction of a meat-free food court in 2016, in recent years DGTL has moved towards a menu consisting of rescued food and imperfect products. This year DGTL is taking astep further by offering a fully plant-based (vegan) menu put together by a select group of chefs.   Mobility Another important spearhead is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of mobility movements. By far the largest part of DGTL's greenhouse gas emissions is caused by the travels of visitors. Artists’ flights, transport of suppliers and the use of machines during the festival build and dismantling process also produce emissions through burning fossil fuels. DGTL is closely looking at ways to make mobility (visitors, suppliers, artists) as efficient and sustainable as possible.   Regarding the fuel used for the machinery used during the set-up and breakdown of the event, DGTL will switch completely from diesel to biodiesel this year. With this, the festival reduces the CO2 emissions in that area by 89 percent. This year, DGTL also focuses on making traveling by train attractive for both national and international visitors. The festival offers special ticket deals, promoting national and international train transport when purchasing a ticket for DGTL Amsterdam. DGTL aims to direct as many visitors as possible towards travel by train instead of flight travel.   About DGTL: DGTL is a global electronic music festival with editions in Amsterdam, Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), Barcelona & Madrid (Spain), Tel Aviv (Israel), Bangalore (India) and during the Amsterdam Dance Event. Besides the focus on music, the organisation brings a mix of unique art installations and revolutionary sustainability projects. Their sustainability program distinguishes them within the festival landscape. For the full line-up and more information please visit www.dgtl.nl   DGTL 11 & 12 April 2020, NDSM Docklands, Amsterdam TICKETS: https://dgtl.nl/mydgtl/tickets FULL LINE-UP: https://dgtl.nl/artists/line-up FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/421732865305915/ After making great strides in the field of circularity for years, electronic music festival DGTL is taking a crucial next step during its upcoming eighth edition. As a pioneer in the field of innovation and sustainability, DGTL has created a circular blueprint that can be applied to both a festival and a city. DGTL Amsterdam, which kicks off the festival season on April 11th and 12th at the NDSM Docklands, is therefore the world's first electronic music festival that pursues full circularity.   The DGTL sustainability program has been running since 2013 and has been aimed from the outset to close cycles in the areas of energy, water & sanitation, food, commodities (waste) and mobility. As the aim this year is to close the entire DGTL circle, organisers have deemed the term ‘CYCLE’ their overarching theme for the 2020 edition. DGTL will close the cycles for a number of on-site systems, including energy, commodities, water and sanitation.    Of course, DGTL remains first and foremost a music festival, and for years have been working with a sustainable way of programming, combining international headliners with local talent. With over 65 artists spread out over seven stages, DGTL focuses on deepening and broadening the music line-up. For the broader audience, the Modular and AMP stages create a real festival vibe. Connoisseurs and purists can find their way to the techno stage Generator or the more underground-focused Filter. An increasingly prominent part of the program is set up for live performances on the large LIVE stage. View the full line-up at https://dgtl.nl/artists/line-up.   Collaboration with the city of Amsterdam It’s entirely feasible toview a festival as a temporary miniature version of a community. People work and consume, move, eat and sleep. Much like in a community there are all kinds of different flows such as money, energy, food, exchange of knowledge, water and creativity. For this reason, DGTL sees its festival terrain as a living lab for circular innovation in neighbourhoods and cities. By entering into partnerships with, among others, the City of Amsterdam and the Central Government, the festival takes on urban challenges on themes such as the energy transition and a new more sustainable form of sanitation.   Energy neutral With regard to energy, the objective this year is simple: during show days, energy consumption must come entirely from renewable sources. This means from sun, wind or other inexhaustible sources. The City of Amsterdam has invested in the event facilities at the NDSM Docklands; for example, the construction of additional power boxes has increased access to the main power grid. This means that all energy-demanding parts of the festival - such as bars, lighting and the food court - can simply use the sockets on the NDSM Docklands for their power supply. DGTL's energy system will be completely energy-neutral and emission-free during show days and the festival is parting ways with traditional diesel generators.   From urine to water, from poo to compost DGTL has also started a pilot together with the City of Amsterdam, researchers, toilet suppliers and processors to realize a circular sanitary system at the event. Urine is converted into (gray) water and faeces are processed into compost. DGTL hopes that this pilot offers a blueprint which neighbourhoods, cities and the music and events industry can learn from.   Plant-based menu After the introduction of a meat-free food court in 2016, in recent years DGTL has moved towards a menu consisting of rescued food and imperfect products. This year DGTL is taking astep further by offering a fully plant-based (vegan) menu put together by a select group of chefs.   Mobility Another important spearhead is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of mobility movements. By far the largest part of DGTL's greenhouse gas emissions is caused by the travels of visitors. Artists’ flights, transport of suppliers and the use of machines during the festival build and dismantling process also produce emissions through burning fossil fuels. DGTL is closely looking at ways to make mobility (visitors, suppliers, artists) as efficient and sustainable as possible.   Regarding the fuel used for the machinery used during the set-up and breakdown of the event, DGTL will switch completely from diesel to biodiesel this year. With this, the festival reduces the CO2 emissions in that area by 89 percent. This year, DGTL also focuses on making traveling by train attractive for both national and international visitors. The festival offers special ticket deals, promoting national and international train transport when purchasing a ticket for DGTL Amsterdam. DGTL aims to direct as many visitors as possible towards travel by train instead of flight travel.   About DGTL: DGTL is a global electronic music festival with editions in Amsterdam, Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), Barcelona & Madrid (Spain), Tel Aviv (Israel), Bangalore (India) and during the Amsterdam Dance Event. Besides the focus on music, the organisation brings a mix of unique art installations and revolutionary sustainability projects. Their sustainability program distinguishes them within the festival landscape. For the full line-up and more information please visit www.dgtl.nl   DGTL 11 & 12 April 2020, NDSM Docklands, Amsterdam TICKETS: https://dgtl.nl/mydgtl/tickets FULL LINE-UP: https://dgtl.nl/artists/line-up FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/421732865305915/

In conversation with Lost Frequencies
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In conversation with Lost Frequencies

Music Felix De Laet, better known by his moniker Lost Frequencies, has soared to success in the international music industry on many levels. Releasing his global smash hit ‘Are You With Me’ back in 2014 and quickly cementing himself as a name to watch, the track rapidly ascended by hitting multi-platinum status and taking the #1 spot in 18 countries.  Lost Frequencies was the first Belgian artist to secure his first 5 hit singles charting at the #1 spot on the Ultra top official Belgian charts, as well as the first Belgian artist to hit #1 in the UK, he went on to release his long-awaited debut album ‘Less Is More’ in 2016 via Armin Van Buuren’s iconic Armada imprint that dazzled globally, certifying a future star for the next generation. Lost Frequencies also firmly established himself as one of the strongest, fastest rising talents with his debut entry into the 2017 DJ Mag poll at #26, the highest new entry of any artist that year. You touch people's hearts with your music, which's great. I would like to ask you about the show, since this was your first live tour. What could you tell us about it?  Yeah, it's different from what you're used to, because all three of us were going to be on stage; the drummer, a guitarist and I. Everything was more electronic sounding and I had two guest singers coming up and down from the stage. So in total five and it's a completely different approach. I was playing 100 % Lost Frequencies music, including also some remixes that I did for some artists.   How did you mix that the way you did? Like where did it come from as a new show?  It was hard to put everything in session.When I was in Miami with my manager we were going from A to B during Miami music week and then suddenly a track comes up and he goes like »this is a good track to remix«. So I started talking with some guys in London, where they will record everything, like the vocals, the trunk beds, the guitars, everything. And so I get all the stems and I can really work out an umbilical remix.    You released your second album »Alive and Feeling Fine« in October 2019. Could you tell us more about this album and your new projects?  So under the new album I wanted to put two CDs. There is one CD, which is more straightforward, more of the typical Lost Frequencies sound. Like maybe you are expecting it with a little bit more electronic sounding strikes. And then on the second CD it's more the Lost Frequencies sound in the clubs and festivals, in any of the live shows, which is really more electronic music, but still with the end vocals. Now for the last two, three years I've been playing more electro in my sets than on my first album. And I think people got used to it now.   You have also released your own label under Armada, »Found Frequencies«. How do you source talent yourself for finding new DJs and new talents?  I tried to work also with bigger acts to release tracks on the label. But I have a demo address, where I get a lot of demos from everywhere in the world. But it's funny, because most of the artists I sign, they don't come through demos, they come through connections from people like »Hey, maybe you should listen to this« or »Oh, this guy on SoundCloud's putting up some tracks and it sounds nice«. So we signed him and we released some music, but it's mostly if I like the music then I'm going to release it. It can be very indie dance and it can be more deep house. It stays very melodic and for me it's important that I have to be able to play the message.    What is your integral role with Tomorrowland and how does it make you feel performing at such a big festival?  My manager works with Tomorrowland, so he has a good connection with the guys and thanks to that I've been able to perform for the last four or five years at Tomorrowland. For me, of course, it's an amazing experience because it's only 40 minutes away from my home, in my homecountry. It's one of the biggest festivals, atrium music in the world. It's an amazing festival and the vibe is really great. I've never been as a festival goer, so the first time I went as an artist and I played. I was so scared, I was just looking at the texts for the most of the set. Now, I know the guys from the organization, so I go there and it's super relaxed and I have such a great time. It's bigger and bigger every year, it's crazy.    Based on your social media and everything you are very fashion involved as well. Could you perhaps say, where do you source your inspiration for fashion from?  I have the chance to travel a lot and every time I travel maybe someone promotes a store, like which is the store I need to go to. Then if I find something I like, it is it. There's one really good one called Four, it's one of the best I think and would highly recommend it.    What else can we expect from you after your new album and your tour? Is there anything else exciting coming up? I want to challenge myself and I've been in contact with more underground people in the last few months. It's funny because I feel like all the boundaries between genres are kind of blurring and going away, because the techno scene before was really like you have to be a techno DJ to be able to be in that scene. But now I have some techno guys or melodic upcoming underground guys that talk to me and they say »Oh, we like your music« even though it's not completely their genre. I'm going to try to work with them and try to do something out of the box for me and most of them and try to do a little EP, like four tracks, which will be more clubby.   Lost Frequencies is such a cool name. I know a little bit about the story behind it, but can you tell me yourself?  In the very beginning, I had a few different projects and then at some point I really wanted to work with vocals, but I was only a bedroom producer. So the only way for me to get vocals, it was to do remixes. So I started to do releases of all tracks that I used to love and take them back and do like a clubby version of those tracks. And those old tracks would be the Lost Frequencies.   At what age did you realize you were passionate about music and when did you start to produce by yourself?  In Belgium and also in Ireland illustrate music is really big. So since I was very young, when I was 11 or 12 years old, I was the only one in my class listening to electronic music. It was when Fedde Le Grand came out with Put your hands up for Detroit. I was like »this kind of music is pretty nice« and so I really started to get into it. Then I went to boarding school and when I was at the boarding school, there were only boys. Everybody was really into electronic music, I had five DJs in my room. It was a thing to go back home for the weekend, then you came back and everybody had new tracks, we shared a lot of this music and that was when Avicii and all those guys were coming up and it was really an exciting moment, you know. And then when I came back from boarding school, I got my first laptop and on there was GarageBand, so I started working on GarageBand, finding out how everything worked. My piano teacher was also a sound engineer and since I'm a keyboard player, that really helped me.   If you weren't a DJ, what else would you do in life?  Now with the live show, I discovered something that I really like is a front house sound engineer, mixing the show. Like when we mix the live show, I go in front of house, I listen to the mix and I do the mixed show. You can do a kick louder, you put the vocal rebuttal, you compress little things and I really love to play with the sounds. Long story short; I think I would still be in the music industry. For tour schedule please visit - https://www.facebook.com/LostFrequenciesMusic/app/123966167614127/ Felix De Laet, better known by his moniker Lost Frequencies, has soared to success in the international music industry on many levels. Releasing his global smash hit ‘Are You With Me’ back in 2014 and quickly cementing himself as a name to watch, the track rapidly ascended by hitting multi-platinum status and taking the #1 spot in 18 countries.  Lost Frequencies was the first Belgian artist to secure his first 5 hit singles charting at the #1 spot on the Ultra top official Belgian charts, as well as the first Belgian artist to hit #1 in the UK, he went on to release his long-awaited debut album ‘Less Is More’ in 2016 via Armin Van Buuren’s iconic Armada imprint that dazzled globally, certifying a future star for the next generation. Lost Frequencies also firmly established himself as one of the strongest, fastest rising talents with his debut entry into the 2017 DJ Mag poll at #26, the highest new entry of any artist that year. You touch people's hearts with your music, which's great. I would like to ask you about the show, since this was your first live tour. What could you tell us about it?  Yeah, it's different from what you're used to, because all three of us were going to be on stage; the drummer, a guitarist and I. Everything was more electronic sounding and I had two guest singers coming up and down from the stage. So in total five and it's a completely different approach. I was playing 100 % Lost Frequencies music, including also some remixes that I did for some artists.   How did you mix that the way you did? Like where did it come from as a new show?  It was hard to put everything in session.When I was in Miami with my manager we were going from A to B during Miami music week and then suddenly a track comes up and he goes like »this is a good track to remix«. So I started talking with some guys in London, where they will record everything, like the vocals, the trunk beds, the guitars, everything. And so I get all the stems and I can really work out an umbilical remix.    You released your second album »Alive and Feeling Fine« in October 2019. Could you tell us more about this album and your new projects?  So under the new album I wanted to put two CDs. There is one CD, which is more straightforward, more of the typical Lost Frequencies sound. Like maybe you are expecting it with a little bit more electronic sounding strikes. And then on the second CD it's more the Lost Frequencies sound in the clubs and festivals, in any of the live shows, which is really more electronic music, but still with the end vocals. Now for the last two, three years I've been playing more electro in my sets than on my first album. And I think people got used to it now.   You have also released your own label under Armada, »Found Frequencies«. How do you source talent yourself for finding new DJs and new talents?  I tried to work also with bigger acts to release tracks on the label. But I have a demo address, where I get a lot of demos from everywhere in the world. But it's funny, because most of the artists I sign, they don't come through demos, they come through connections from people like »Hey, maybe you should listen to this« or »Oh, this guy on SoundCloud's putting up some tracks and it sounds nice«. So we signed him and we released some music, but it's mostly if I like the music then I'm going to release it. It can be very indie dance and it can be more deep house. It stays very melodic and for me it's important that I have to be able to play the message.    What is your integral role with Tomorrowland and how does it make you feel performing at such a big festival?  My manager works with Tomorrowland, so he has a good connection with the guys and thanks to that I've been able to perform for the last four or five years at Tomorrowland. For me, of course, it's an amazing experience because it's only 40 minutes away from my home, in my homecountry. It's one of the biggest festivals, atrium music in the world. It's an amazing festival and the vibe is really great. I've never been as a festival goer, so the first time I went as an artist and I played. I was so scared, I was just looking at the texts for the most of the set. Now, I know the guys from the organization, so I go there and it's super relaxed and I have such a great time. It's bigger and bigger every year, it's crazy.    Based on your social media and everything you are very fashion involved as well. Could you perhaps say, where do you source your inspiration for fashion from?  I have the chance to travel a lot and every time I travel maybe someone promotes a store, like which is the store I need to go to. Then if I find something I like, it is it. There's one really good one called Four, it's one of the best I think and would highly recommend it.    What else can we expect from you after your new album and your tour? Is there anything else exciting coming up? I want to challenge myself and I've been in contact with more underground people in the last few months. It's funny because I feel like all the boundaries between genres are kind of blurring and going away, because the techno scene before was really like you have to be a techno DJ to be able to be in that scene. But now I have some techno guys or melodic upcoming underground guys that talk to me and they say »Oh, we like your music« even though it's not completely their genre. I'm going to try to work with them and try to do something out of the box for me and most of them and try to do a little EP, like four tracks, which will be more clubby.   Lost Frequencies is such a cool name. I know a little bit about the story behind it, but can you tell me yourself?  In the very beginning, I had a few different projects and then at some point I really wanted to work with vocals, but I was only a bedroom producer. So the only way for me to get vocals, it was to do remixes. So I started to do releases of all tracks that I used to love and take them back and do like a clubby version of those tracks. And those old tracks would be the Lost Frequencies.   At what age did you realize you were passionate about music and when did you start to produce by yourself?  In Belgium and also in Ireland illustrate music is really big. So since I was very young, when I was 11 or 12 years old, I was the only one in my class listening to electronic music. It was when Fedde Le Grand came out with Put your hands up for Detroit. I was like »this kind of music is pretty nice« and so I really started to get into it. Then I went to boarding school and when I was at the boarding school, there were only boys. Everybody was really into electronic music, I had five DJs in my room. It was a thing to go back home for the weekend, then you came back and everybody had new tracks, we shared a lot of this music and that was when Avicii and all those guys were coming up and it was really an exciting moment, you know. And then when I came back from boarding school, I got my first laptop and on there was GarageBand, so I started working on GarageBand, finding out how everything worked. My piano teacher was also a sound engineer and since I'm a keyboard player, that really helped me.   If you weren't a DJ, what else would you do in life?  Now with the live show, I discovered something that I really like is a front house sound engineer, mixing the show. Like when we mix the live show, I go in front of house, I listen to the mix and I do the mixed show. You can do a kick louder, you put the vocal rebuttal, you compress little things and I really love to play with the sounds. Long story short; I think I would still be in the music industry. For tour schedule please visit - https://www.facebook.com/LostFrequenciesMusic/app/123966167614127/

Mysteryland reveals their line-up
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Mysteryland reveals their line-up

Music Mysteryland is a colourful collaboration of party animals, artists, DJs and creatives. Together we are Mysteryland; the leading electronic music festival in The Netherlands. Year after year, they reunite to celebrate our friendship and love for music. In between sparkling ponds, rivers, and forestry hills of the Floriade terrain near Amsterdam, we welcome more than 100.000 fellow festival friends from over 100 nationalities. Musical diversity is deeply rooted in their DNA. More than 300 artists perform for 22 Stage hosts, covering all genres within the spectrum of electronic music: from House, Big Room, Bass, Techno, Deep-House, Trance, Trap, and Minimal to Hardstyle, Hardcore, RnB, and Hip Hop. Our handcrafted stages range from outdoor dance floors to massive tents filled with LED screens, laser shows, and the world's most advanced sound systems. On Saturday and Sunday night, we close Mysteryland with a bang during the renowned end-shows on our 3 most significant areas: The Main Stage, Q-dance stage, and our Big Top tent. Expect lots of fireworks, confetti, and goosebumps! This Summer artists like Armin Van Buuren, Bizzey, DJ Snake, Purple Haze, Sam Feldt, Gareth Emery and many more will be headlining.  Next to the dance floors, the various paths through forests and grassy fields will guide you to hidden chill-out spaces, art installations, food courts, and unexpected encounters with like-minded travelers. Our Healing Garden on the Southern festival terrain offers treatments for all spiritual seekers among us, from chi gong to cacao ceremonies, to massages, yoga and meditation sessions. To sum it up: forget time and let yourself flow through the tantalizing and open-minded energy that is present all over Mysteryland. The most dedicated party animals stay with us from Friday until Monday: on the Mysteryland camping grounds! Here, we fully break free from everyday pressure and social expectations and live the days and nights just as they come. The campsite is fully equipped with ordinary facilities and everything you need to quench your hunger and thirst. There's a market street where you can pimp your festival outfit or style your hair, to get ready for the summer of a lifetime. On the camping plaza, morning yoga awaits the early birds, and late-night silent disco prolongs the nights for everyone that can't get enough. At Mysteryland, we have over 27 years of experience in organizing dance events. In fact, we are the longest-running electronic music festival in the world. We have learned how to optimize event facilities and logistics. This is why customer service, visitor health, and safety are crucial to us when it comes to festival production. All you have to do is enjoy the ride, we'll take care of the rest… Come and embark with us on the journey of a lifetime! The 2020 Mysteryland will take place between 28th and 30th of August. For tickets and more information pelase visit mysteryland.nl Mysteryland is a colourful collaboration of party animals, artists, DJs and creatives. Together we are Mysteryland; the leading electronic music festival in The Netherlands. Year after year, they reunite to celebrate our friendship and love for music. In between sparkling ponds, rivers, and forestry hills of the Floriade terrain near Amsterdam, we welcome more than 100.000 fellow festival friends from over 100 nationalities. Musical diversity is deeply rooted in their DNA. More than 300 artists perform for 22 Stage hosts, covering all genres within the spectrum of electronic music: from House, Big Room, Bass, Techno, Deep-House, Trance, Trap, and Minimal to Hardstyle, Hardcore, RnB, and Hip Hop. Our handcrafted stages range from outdoor dance floors to massive tents filled with LED screens, laser shows, and the world's most advanced sound systems. On Saturday and Sunday night, we close Mysteryland with a bang during the renowned end-shows on our 3 most significant areas: The Main Stage, Q-dance stage, and our Big Top tent. Expect lots of fireworks, confetti, and goosebumps! This Summer artists like Armin Van Buuren, Bizzey, DJ Snake, Purple Haze, Sam Feldt, Gareth Emery and many more will be headlining.  Next to the dance floors, the various paths through forests and grassy fields will guide you to hidden chill-out spaces, art installations, food courts, and unexpected encounters with like-minded travelers. Our Healing Garden on the Southern festival terrain offers treatments for all spiritual seekers among us, from chi gong to cacao ceremonies, to massages, yoga and meditation sessions. To sum it up: forget time and let yourself flow through the tantalizing and open-minded energy that is present all over Mysteryland. The most dedicated party animals stay with us from Friday until Monday: on the Mysteryland camping grounds! Here, we fully break free from everyday pressure and social expectations and live the days and nights just as they come. The campsite is fully equipped with ordinary facilities and everything you need to quench your hunger and thirst. There's a market street where you can pimp your festival outfit or style your hair, to get ready for the summer of a lifetime. On the camping plaza, morning yoga awaits the early birds, and late-night silent disco prolongs the nights for everyone that can't get enough. At Mysteryland, we have over 27 years of experience in organizing dance events. In fact, we are the longest-running electronic music festival in the world. We have learned how to optimize event facilities and logistics. This is why customer service, visitor health, and safety are crucial to us when it comes to festival production. All you have to do is enjoy the ride, we'll take care of the rest… Come and embark with us on the journey of a lifetime! The 2020 Mysteryland will take place between 28th and 30th of August. For tickets and more information pelase visit mysteryland.nl

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