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Freddy Be To Release “Holding Back” EP on Perspectives Digital

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Photo courtesy of Monday Social

Photo courtesy of Monday Social

The latest and 41st release on Darin Epsilon’s Perspectives Digital comes courtesy of one of LA’s longstanding DJs and promoters, Freddy Be. If you’ve partied on the West Coast during the last two decades or are in any way involved with the house music industry in the United States, it is likely you’ve heard of Freddy’s infamous Monday Social parties, which celebrate their 20th year as North America’s longest running weekly house music event later in 2016.

Freddy has been an integral part of the house music scene since the early 90s, in no small part thanks to his superb skills as a track selector and his ability to play to a wide array of crowds and rooms. His residencies have included such esteemed venues as Exchange LA, Audio SF, and Sound Nightclub, his proficiency behind the decks also landing him playing time across the nation and at major festivals the likes of Coachella, Desert Hearts, BPM, and Minus Zero.

As a producer, Freddy Be has seen previous tracks receive play by Carl Cox, Hernan Cattaneo, James Zabiela, Danny Howells, Sander Kleinenberg, Quivver, and John Digweed on his massively popular ‘Transitions’ radio show. It is on Digweed’s show that Freddy’s latest track, “Holding Back” was first introduced to the world. The track is finally receiving a much deserved official release with remixes by Betoko, Soul Trader, and Deep Tribe featuring Violin Girl.

The first re-work of the track comes from Betoko, who has taken the spacial original and added the touch that has seen his music released on Get Physical, Diynamic, Suara, Kittball, and Supernature. The result is a high-octane and dance-floor-ready remix perfect for peak-time play.

Next up, it’s Soul Trader‘s turn to offer his take on “Holding Back.” You wouldn’t be mistaken in not knowing much about the producer, for little has been said about him other than the limited info his mentor and cohort Funkagenda has given us. He has had a spectacular debut EP on Incorrect Music and has remixed for Quivver and Deep Tribe. His last touch sees him add deep, throbbing techno influenced sounds to Freddy Be’s original to great effect.

The last edit comes way of LA duo Deep Tribe featuring Violin Girl. Dimitry Rozental and Andrew Knopf add strong waves of brooding emotion to the tracl, transforming it into a beautiful, sensual and slow piece of music interspersed by powerful violin chord progressions.

The EP is set for release on Beatport this coming Friday May 27th, 2016. You can preview it below via SoundCloud:

Connect with Freddy Be: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

David Scuba & Finley Team Up for ‘LeNinj’ EP on Superfreq

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Superfreq Logo - Black on White

The latest release on the esteemed Superfreq imprint comes from Mr. C’s label partner David Scuba, who has teamed up with Finley for a brand new EP  set to come out on May 30th entitled LeNinj.

Scuba and Finley’s discographies are both as prolific as they get, the former cataloguing tracks on Deserts Hearts, Family Grooves, Design Forms, NOSI Music, Veryverywrongindeed, Riff Raff, Compatible & AA Trax, while the latter sports releases on labels such as Get Physical, Nervous, Superfreq, Touch of Class, Motek, Faceless & Sullivan Room.

Their collaboration EP kicks of with “Scoofin”, which as you may have guessed is a play on the two producers’ names. The result is a great track with heavy bass, peculiar horn samples, and quirky melody sequences all coming together on a haunting pad for a dance-floor ready piece that is sure to be perfect material for any true house DJ’s arsenal.

The EP release includes a brilliant remix by Chicago’s very own Kate Simko that sees “Scoofin” transformed into a funky tech house track armed with an impressive bassline, catchy synths and bouncy sound. The result is yet another perfect peak-hour track worthy of play.

Rounding off LeNinj  is the EP’s title track. Bass is once again the name of the game here, coupled with spaced out effects and obscure vocals. The funky drums peppered throughout work extremely well, leaving the listener with no doubt as to why the track title is ninja-inspired.

LeNinj cements David Scuba and Finley as successful collaborators, as well as  Superfreq’s spot as a true forward-thinking label that is able to perfectly marry both producers’ styles and mischievous influences.

SueprfreqLeNinj

Connect with Superfreq: Online | Discogs | Facebook | Twitter

6AM Exclusive: Rony Seikaly – “Sword” EP out on Yoshitoshi Recordings

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RonSeikaly

Rony Seikaly is no stranger to Yoshitoshi, having released his upbeat single “Holdin’ On” and its techy B-side “Faces” on the imprint last year. What “Sword” confirms, however, is both Seikaly’s music production acumen and his well-deserved place in today’s house music scene.

This two-track EP, exclusively premiered through 6AM, has everything it should have. The bass is decidedly heavy, yet both tracks remain relentlessly melodic and easy on the ear. “The Sword” is tribal in nature and packed-full of groove, a perfect track for the early hours of the morning. “All Of A Sudden” completes the EP perfectly, following suit with interlaced chords and a heavyweight kick over elegant percussions.

Make no mistake, Seikaly’s strength and experience as both a producer and DJ have been paying off, as his recent billing alongside Music On chief Marco Carola prove. “Sword” is the ultimate testament to that, delivering the ideal dance floor selection for any DJ looking to get a crowd dancing into sunrise.

The digital release is available for purchase on Beatport and for your listening pleasure below:

Connect with Rony Seikaly: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Connect with Yoshitoshi Recordings: Online | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Beatport

Matador Launches New Record Label with “The Enemy” EP

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MatadorEnter

Matador has announced the launch of his own record label Rukus, debuting to the world with a four-track EP of his own productions.

Featuring Felix da Housecat on the title track vocals, The Enemy is set to come out on February 15th. The Irish techno producer chose the imprint’s name to reflect the no-holds-barred style of his own productions, as the last three tracks of the label’s first EP confirm.

The label has made The Enemy available for listening below:

Tracklist
1. The Enemy feat. Felix Da Housecat
2. Nocturnal
3. Remember
4. Dinkys

Follow Rukus on Facebook | Soundcloud

Follow Matador on Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Joel Mull Delivers the Second Release on PARABEL

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Joel Mull Press Pic

When talent and passion combine, the result is extraordinary. Joel Mull has demonstrated this throughout his career appearing on esteemed techno labels and making frequent appearances at some of the most renowned events from the Klubnachts at Berghain to the marathons at Space, and even the occasional warehouse rave. Continuing his exposition of techno craftsmanship can be found in his recent Halogen EP on the freshly founded Swedish label, Parabel. Joel Mull’s vinyl-only release on Parabel is a sonically pleasing EP, and in true techno fashion, will certainly satisfy the dance floors for many nights to come.

The A-side of the release is dedicated to the title track, Halogen. A brooding atmosphere is complimented by a tense high hat arrangement, with epic pads and strings providing a serious sense of euphoria before giving way to the welcomed techno arrangement. Joel Mull follows up on the B-side with two equally alluring tracks. As far as techno goes, Joel Mull has a natural ability to convey deep emotions through these sounds, textures, and arrangements. Close the Curtains is a fine piece of work that covers these bases, and leaves the listener with a complete and contemplative feeling. Gefärlich is the closing track on the Parabel release, and if the translation is any bit correct, it really is dangerous (thanks again, Google Translate). Yet again, the feeling is one of tension, but with more of an “ebb-and-flow” type atmosphere. With several elements at work, each gives and takes in a way that provides the proverbial journey for the audience and listener.

To get a feel for the release, have a listen to the previews below. Halogen EP is available now on vinyl through Juno Records and Decks.de

Connect with Joel Mull on Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Resident Advisor 

Phil Asher and James Massiah’s Forthcoming “Time & Space” on Rekids

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Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 1.48.27 PMPoetry meets the eyes and ears of electronic music in an extraordinary collaboration between UK house producer Phil Asher and London poet musician James Massiah. A chance meeting at a performance at Dalston’s Servant’s Jazz Quarters has given birth to the three track EP titled Space & Time. Read more

Take Me to the Moon with taMe’s Quantum State EP

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London based duo ‘taMe’ release their new ‘Quantum State EP’ on their own imprint taMe Music next month to get listeners ready for the longer nights of the cold season with some scorching dance tracks. Read more

Calculus’s upcoming “Vaporizer EP” on Anemone Recordings

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Anemone Recordings head hancho Calculus is making his debut with Vaporizer EP this October 26th 2015 with two tracks “Vaporizer” and “Sacred Gudgeon”. Browsing through the labels recordings, you’ll notice this label is constantly shelling out some very abstract and future sounding techno. If there’s one major thing to appreciate about any label it would probably be the labels consistent originality and true reflection of the sound it wants to portray. The tracks “Vaporizer” and “Sacred Gudgeon” are definitely a raw reflection of the sound that many DJ’s, such as Len Faki and Nikola Gala, are starting to appreciate about this label and it’s artists.

Vaporizer: It’s always fun to hear a hard classic 4/4 techno track with consistent hard bassy kicks. The melodic chords dangling themselves above the track teased with a filter give the track an immaculately crafted tension that makes you crave what’s coming next. The deep and abstract sounds that lay within the various layers of the track give it a type of mysterious, industrial, and disorienting aura.

Sacred Gudgeon: The atmosphere and effects were crafted so well in this track. You feel like your in a suspensful part of some pixar movie about alien invasions.The bass-line that comes in later in the track is very unruly and is filtered up and down throughout the track to build tension. The rolling synth gives the track its dose of higher end frequencies that sprinkle the track nicely to give it that other worldly type of atmosphere.

This EP will be available for your downloading pleasure October 26, 2015 on Anemone Recordings.

Anemone Recordings: Facebook | Soundcloud | Beatport

From Drum and Bass to Techno Revival on Zia’s Void EP

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The enigmatic Leeds-based producer Zia has risen from the ashes of a drum and bass past with an upcoming release titled Void EP (TT034) on Turbo Recordings. The EP includes two original techno tracks as well as a polished minimal remix by Alexi Delano, who coincidentally has returned to the Canadian label that released his LP fifteen years ago.

The first track titled Recall is riddled with sweltry vocal cuts and has a liberatingly bassy drumline that conjures an animalistic drive deep in the crevices of the mind. It’s a good balance of high and low elements that elicits a body high and some trippy contemplations. Read more

UDM Records Releases First EP with Josh Billings, Manik, and Nonfiction

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Perspectives

As one of the chief visionaries behind the iconic Focus party in Costa Mesa, it was only a matter of time before Josh Billings stepped back into the realm of production. His Perspective EP will mark the first release for UDM Records, and is accompanied with remixes by fellow Focus visionary, Nonfiction, and the ever talented producer, MANIK.

Starting with a consistent foundation, the original mix employs a catchy vocal hook with resonate stabs and a growling bass. Taking a less is more approach, the elements of the track can breathe easily among each other which would certainly help drive the party into a favorable direction.

MANIK steps up on his remix of Perspective with a certified dance floor thumper. Gated vocals from the original mix are used throughout, with hi hats running through a series of phasers that complete change the atmosphere of the groove. With the inclusion of some sustained strings and a heavily modulated synth lead the track turns into a proper club affair.

Nonfiction rounds off the EP with his growling interpretation of the original mix. It’s a no-nonsense groover that is sure to be a go-to track for setting up proper club room vibes. A labels first release is always a memorable occasion, and UDM brings forth a great EP package with these artists to start their journey.

Perspective is now available on Beatport, Traxsource, and Juno Download. For more information, and for an exclusive interview with Josh Billings and Nonfiction, take a look below.

“Perspective” is the first release on UDM Records. Can you tell us about the label and what it means to be featured as the initial release?

Josh Billings – Jose (Nonfiction) and I have been friends and DJ partners for 12+ years. He had been talking about starting a label for a while and when he finally put everything together, he told me he wanted me to do the first release. I had been working on something for a little and I really didn’t want some random label to just throw it up on Beatport, post it on Facebook and say “marketing complete.” I knew UDM Records would do it proper, so I decided to go with it.

Nonfiction – He’s super talented and I wanted to promote him properly
really happy that we had the opportunity to put this out and as the label’s first release no less!

What motivated you to create the EP? Has this release changed or inspired you to keep creating more music?

JB – I had something going before the label was finalized, but once it was, I tailored the track to fit more with the label’s sound. Jose (Nonfiction) wanted a more urban / underground direction and I wanted to explore music with more space. This track ended a little busier than I originally intended, but honestly, came out perfect.

NF- I’ve seen this song do some serious work on many a dance floor.  Josh truly fine tuned it and it’s been one of his standout tracks every time he plays it out.  The end product is exactly what we wanted, and I don’t say that very often.

What were some of the primary tools used for this EP?

JB – I used Cubase as my main DAW, Guru for drums and percussive bass (pitched samples) and Ozone for the master signal chain. My monitoring setup includes the Samson Rubicon r6a + a Rokit 10” subwoofer with an external EQ/delay to align the speakers.

 As a producer, what do you favor – short and intuitive sessions or long studio marathons?

JB – I do LOT of short – medium sessions. I think I was on revision 70 by the time I called this track finished. The long marathons don’t work well for me, because I hear the same thing over and over again and it just starts to lose meaning. Kind of like when you say a word over and over again…it doesn’t make any sense.

Can you share with us your studio essentials? What do you always need with you when working on a track?

JB – Cubase and the Guru plug-in is how I start every track. I swear by Guru for drum and sample programming although I think they came out with a new thing (Geist) that’s probably a lot better, but I just haven’t had the time to upgrade. I do like to work with an L2 on the master chain just to kind of hear how things sound. Having coffee in the studio is always nice though.

How will the Perspective Release Party at Focus differ from other nights at the venue? Focus naturally draws a very dedicated and local crowd – what are your expectations for the Release Party?

JB – Personally I just want it to be as close to an anniversary party as possible. These events are where all of our friends from over the years come out of the woodwork to show some love. This is the first big release I’ve ever done and I’m putting everything I’ve got into it.

Thump dubbed the Focus party “California’s best kept secret” – not many would argue. Looking back on Focus, what are/were some of the key things you guys did to achieve the success of the Tuesday night party?

JB – Love is the main thing that has kept it going. If you love something, it doesn’t feel like work. It was just something I wanted to be doing all the time…and I wanted it to do well.  I also quit my “day job” and that gave me a lot more time to focus on…well…Focus. It was a risk, but one that I’m glad I made. Creating something exciting and fun 52 nights a year is tough, but something we try and achieve every Tuesday. We also make sure to ONLY do stuff we’re personally excited about. We never do events strictly motivated by whether or not we can make money.