Posts

Per Hammar Talks Us Through 8 Years of Kiloton

/in , , , /by

Parties, naturally, are at the heart of electronic music culture. So much more than a setting for great music, parties are where friendships blossom, lifelong partnerships are made and a place where the daily grind of life can be temporarily forgotten for a couple of hours each weekend.

In a new series for 6AM, we gather up a bunch of influential DJs and give them an opportunity to wax lyrical about the parties that have influenced them the most. For our inaugural edition, we got in touch with Per Hammar, a Sweden-born, Berlin-based DJ/producer who runs two labels, Dirty Hands and 10YEARS, but also helms the Kiloton party in Malmö, Sweden, a party that has featured international guests such as Bicep and Nina Kraviz as well as local talent such as Genius of Time, Abdulla Rashim and Mr. Tophat & Art Alfie.

With the label celebrating 8 years this weekend (with Hammar playing alongside Noha and longtime Kiloton party affiliate Kajsa Lindström), out timing couldn’t have been more better. We’ll leave it to Per to take it from here, as he talks us through his history with the party and also picks a definitive track for each year of Kiloton.

Read more

Digging Deeper with Anfisa Letyago

/in , /by

Siberian born Anfisa Letyago is fast becoming one of the leaders of the new school when it comes to delivering cutting edge dance music.

Already set for an exciting 2019 with 2 EP’s lined up on Intec and currently making big waves with her brilliant Bright Lights EP on Nervous, 6AM checked in to find out more.

Read more

In Interview with MANT

/in , /by

Underground London duo MANT have kicked off 2019 in style with a landmark new EP titled Higher Self on Solardo’s inimitable Sola label.

Featuring two heady house and techno cuts Higher Self is a bold statement of intent from the pair, whose distinguished house and techno sound has been attracting attention throughout the industry, tipping them for big things in 2019.

2018 was a seismic year for MANT. The duo’s highly respected productions have found their way onto labels like Cr2, Solotoko, Sola, and VIVa Music while their raucous DJ sets left a mark on festivals and clubs up and down the country. 2018 saw the boy’s support from tastemakers grow too, including the likes of Hot Since 82, Jamie Jones, Steve Lawler, Joris Voorn, Claude VonStroke, Nic Fancuilli, and many more.

MANT possess a committed work ethic and drive for all things house and techno, which means it comes as no surprise that 2019 is looking even brighter. Not afraid to hit the ground running, Higher Self marks their first release of the year and does so with hypnotic grooves, acid-inspired melodies and club-ready atmospherics that draw on the pair’s eclectic range of influences.

Read more

6AM Guest Mix & Digging Deeper with Rex The Dog

/in , , , , /by

Kompakt producer and live act Rex The Dog has been around for decades and is coming over to our side of the world for gigs in Guadalajara and Queretaro, Mexico this weekend and then at The North Door in Austin on February 1st and then at San Francisco’s Phonobar on February 2nd.

Rex The Dog makes and performs music with analogue electronics and a self-built Modular Synthesizer, carrying his machinery around the world for his gigs, bringing his idiosyncratic sounds to packed crowds at the best clubs, festivals and parties.

With a busy touring schedule and four North American gigs looming, we thought it fitting to ask Rex The Dog to send us a mix from the road, as well as to sit down for a chat with us about his relationship with the American scene and his artistic passions beyond electronic music.

Read more

In Interview with Mike Weiss

/in , /by

Mike Weiss is Nervous Records and in many ways Nervous Records is Mike Weiss.

Mike Weiss is co-founder of the label along with his father, Sam Weiss, who himself was a founder of noted 1970s–1980s disco record label, SAM Records. Mike Weiss graduated from Stanford University in 1983 with a degree in economics, and from Syracuse University School of Law with a JD in 1986, and from Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications with an MFA in 1986.

As one of the longest standing independent record labels in the US, Nervous Records has built its reputation through a willingness to take chances on new sounds and new producers. The label is noted for early productions by notable artists including Armand Van Helden, Mood II Swing, Masters At Work and Josh Wink.

The label was famous almost immediately when it started back in 1991 because of its eye-catching, very distinctive cartoon character logo. Nervous’ first major dance release came in 1992, with “Feel Like Singing” by Sandy B. It was not until 1994 that the label decided it was time to move into the electronic genre, and signed Josh Wink, who went by the artist name Winx. While Winx’s debut release was a critical success although not a major seller, Winx’s follow-up release “Don’t Laugh” became the American dance community’s most talked about single, and ended up selling several hundred thousand units worlwide.

As the hits grew in number in the coming years, so did the value of the catalogue for sampling purposes. Nervous songs have been sampled in major hits by Mariah Carey, New Edition, Coolio, Flip Squad, Basement Jax, George Michael, Soulsearcher and more.

In the past few years Nervous has linked forces with Miami’s premier House Music Brand Murk Records. Acting as distributor of Murk and releasing 6 outstanding albums from Oscar G, along with his anthemic singles “Back To You,” “What You Need,” and “Your Love.” Nervous has also collaborated with Oscar in producing one of Miami Music Week’s most important annual events The Made In Miami Pool Party.

With an almost 30 year history on his shoulders as head of Nervous Records, and with the landscape of New York City’s nightlife constantly changing, 6AM took the chance to sit down with Mike to discuss all of this and more.

 

Read more

Q&A and Global Vibe Radio 146 Feat. Drumcomplex (Live at Toy Club, Stuttgart)

/in , , , , , , /by

Drumcomplex aka Arnd Reichow is a techno DJ, producer and label head of Complexed Records.

Active since the late 90s, he is one of Germany’s most dedicated techno purveyors with a body of work reaching crowds in his home country as well as beyond.

Hoarding two and a half decades-worth of music experience under his belt, Arnd Reichow has been crafting his space within the techno industry, as artist and producer and adding label owner to his accolades since 2014.

Read more

Lupe: 5 Dutch Producers Who Have Influenced My Career

/in , /by

A monthly resident at Amsterdam’s globally-renowned Red Light Radio, Lupe also helms the Parish Gaynight parties at PiP Den Haag, an LGBT-friendly night that’s attracted guests of the calibre of San Proper, William Djoko and Sandrien.

From a DJ perspective, Lupe has played at practically every major Dutch venue and festivals, not least Trouw, Paradiso, Studio 80, 5DaysOff, Mysteryland, NOW&WOW, Dance Valley, ID&T’s Inner City, Shelter and even Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour after-party at Heineken Music Hall. Clearly someone who is well qualified to talk about the scene in his native Amsterdam, we asked him to pick out 5 Dutch producers who’ve massively influenced him over the years, just as his latest release, the exceptional ‘The Prince & The Pilgrim’ dropped on Shaun J Wright & Alinka’s much-respected Twirl label.

Definitely a man who’s set for a big 2019, here’s what he had to say when we checked in with him recently to discuss 5 Dutch producers who have influenced his career.

Read more

In Interview with Sizeup

/in , /by

In a bid to put York on the musical map, northern producer and DJ, Sizeup, served up some tasty peaktime goodness with his debut on Hot Creations titled Perplexer, out today!

When making the EP, Sizeup explains that he wanted to create three tracks that were individual and different from one another. He “wanted a track with impact, something groovy, and something to sit nicely in the middle of the two, which would work peak time, or early on in a set”.

Sizeup, the alias of Jamie Burley, has had a passion for electronic music from a young age, hauling a bag of vinyl to his school discos with choice wax from legendary producers including Frankie Knuckles, Kevin Saunderson and Todd Terry.

We took the opportunity to talk to him about this fervent passion that continues to burn within him right through to this day.

Read more

In Interview with MiSinki

/in , /by

MiSinki, real name Mike Molokhia, is a London-born British producer. Signed to various labels for a plethora of genres, MiSinki is best known for his work within the Techno and Tech House arena.

Coupled with regular DJ appearances, MiSinki is fast building a reputation for quality, locked-tight production.

Read more

In Interview with Alex Dolby

/in , /by

With 15 years of industry experience under his belt, Alessandro Salvatori aka Alex Dolby’s underground sound has been released on Emmanuel’s ARTS, DJ Emerson’s Micro.fon as well as Shinedoe and 2000 and One’s Intacto imprint, beside his own Affekt Recordings.

Fault System is Alex’s fourth studio album, a powerful, esoteric experience, encompassing a variety of techno styles like sparse experimentation, raw beats, rough textures, dystopian influence, and that most certainly has an overall analogue heart.

We had a chat with him about the album and what is forthcoming in 2019.

Read more