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Digging Deeper with Italy’s Stiv Hey

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On July 14, techno’s ascending leader, Stiv Hey, unchains three gripping tracks for his Interference EP on Loose Records. Characterized by hexing rhythms and villainous basslines, Hey’s sound is best described as tantalizing, futuristic techno. Additionally landing himself on Dubfire’s SCI+TEC label, Hey has received support from such torchbearers as Richie Hawtin, Marco Carola, and Adam Beyer. Now, Hey debuts a refined, dark, and groovy triple-threat in the release of his first solo EP which available for pre-order via Beatport.

We have the pleasure of premiering “Transitions” from the EP, a track that immediately takes off with a rolling bassline and mesmerizing rhythm. Synths circulate and add further depth to the record, resulting in a overall deep-seated effect.

Listen to it below and read on for our interview with the Italian-born producer and DJ.

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Digging Deeper with Bosnian Techno Producer Mladen Tomic

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Bosnian Techno champion Mladen Tomic has certainly been making waves on the scene winning big fans such as Richie Hawtin, Nicole Moudaber, Dubfire, Adam Beyer, Umek and more.. With his awesome new Hot Moog EP dropping on My Favourite Freaks, he just gained another set of fans – 6AM!

We check in to find out more from the man himself.

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Behrouz: Do Not Sit On The Furniture and the California Connection

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On 4th of July weekend Los Angeles promoters Underrated Presents return to the scene with a follow-up day party to their successful Flying Circus rendition last month. Set to take place at a new location called The Viaduct, the July 1st afternoon-into-evening event will be a Do Not Sit showcase ideal for the summer afternoon sunshine in the City of Angels. Scheduled to perform are Do Not Sit head-honcho Behrouz, crafty track selector DJ Three, the deep and melodic Gab Rhome, local favorites Human Resources and more TBA.

This is a follow-up Los Angeles visit for Miami’s Do Not Sit On The Furniture brand, the second after their successful Thanksgiving Eve debut last year. The event will essentially be an extension of the Miami outfit’s very own club, aiming to provide an intimate experience filled with luscious sounds, captivating art and electric vibes.

Enter here for a chance to win VIP tickets to the day-into-evening party and read on for our interview with Do Not Sit boss Behrouz, who will be headlining on Saturday!

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An Interview with Headless Horseman: The Man Behind the Mask

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Something about anonymity makes Headless Horseman intriguing. But did you know he has been producing for more than 20 years and only recently, became one of the most talked about techno artists?

A well-seasoned producer and an equally great performer, Headless Horseman removed his mask to speak with us after his brilliant Movement performance at the Underground Stage.   

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Q&A: Deepbass Discusses His “Multiverse” EP out on Kontrafaktum

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There is no denying that Darren Roberts aka Deepbass has been enjoying constant recognition both with the public and with his peers – as a producer by releasing records on labels the likes of Edit Select Records, Dynamic Reflection, Ascetic Limited and Soma, and also as owner of Informa Records, a label whose output includes music from names such as Reggy Van Oers, nAX_Acid, Claudio PRC, Takaaki Itoh, Ness, NX1 and Hironori Takahashi.

Whether by lieu of his own productions or the releases on his imprint, Darren continues to be a constant source of quality music for those who crave expansive, deep and rolling soundscapes..

Multiverse is the third outing of the label Kontrafaktum, an EP released on April 28th with two cuts that can be found both in digital formats and on vinyl. Find it for purchase on Juno, Discogs and deejay.de. Both tracks are a testament to Darren’s signature sound, filled with emotive, thundering techno.

We caught up with the Scottish born producer who now lives in Barcelona to discuss his recent gig in LA for Ascetic Limited, the EP and his connection to his home country.

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Monika Kruse: Still a Raver at Heart

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Things are pretty exciting for Monika Kruse these days, and that’s saying something for an artist that has been making waves for over 25 years since she came to the scene in 1991.

A pioneer of Germany’s dance culture in the early ’90s, Monika has done it all, from organizing raves in abandoned Munich WWII bomb shelters, to launching her revered Terminal M label in 2000, right through to her DJing schedule which sees her perform at some of the best venues and festivals around the world.

2017 has been no different for her, and in fact some may say it’s been one of the best years of her career to date. She is fresh off the release of her EP Get Me On in collaboration with brothers-from-another-mother Pig&Dan, has already played Time Warp and Dockyards, is scheduled to perform at Awakenings Festival and was a guest on Pete Tong’s celebrated BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix show. But that’s not all, she is throwing her debut Monika Kruse & Friends party during OFF Week in Barcelona, where she is going to play back-to-back with Andrea Oliva and also feature friends UNER and Victor Ruiz on the lineup.

So what’s next for an artist like Monika Kruse who has seemingly done it all and more? We had a chat with her to find out!

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Discovering Circle of Life: Serbia’s Up-And-Coming Techno Producer

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While Circle Of Life may be a fairly new name in the global techno scene, the Serbian producer and DJ has been in the scene for over 20 years.

However, it is under this current moniker that he is seriously moving heads in the industry. He began strong with his first release on D-Nox’s imprint Sprout, then started 2017 with his debut EP on Coyu’s Suara, all the while always continuing to develop his own style and sound to create catchy, driving percussive tracks that truly encapsulate the motto that keeps his project going: “Till we find our place, On the path unwinding, In The Circle, The Circle Of Life”

We caught up with Circle of Life to discuss life in Serbia and his upcoming plans.

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Hector Couto Shares His Top 5 Tracks of Summer 2017

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Thanks to his blend of Chicago house and old-school techno, Hector Couto has been busy making waves within the dance scene for the past seven years. His groove-thickened vibey DJ sets have seen him throw it down at some of the biggest clubs and festivals in the world, while his prolific work in the studio has landed him successful releases on labels such as Hot Creations, 20/20 Vision, Get Physical, Moon Harbour and Defected, also releasing on his own label Roush. All in all, it’s safe to assume that he has been building up quite an impressive resumĂ© as both a producer, DJ and label-owner.

Couto, who’s commanded respect from the industry through his achievements, in no time at all has appeared in the Resident Advisor’s Top 100 Most Charted artists and nominated as one of the best house artist for the Vicious Music Awards in 2015.

Lauded time and time again for his “unique” style, Couto decided in 2013 to launch his own record label Roush and believes that with his ability to balance established artists and emerging talent is what makes the imprint standout in the genre’s hugely competitive market.

We caught up with the Spaniard, who is based in Tenerife, ahead of his North America Mini-Tour this weekend, and asked him to share five tracks that he believes embody the spirit of summer 2017.

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Q&A: Eagles & Butterflies Spreads His Wings and Lands on The Ark Festival

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From releases on monster labels such as Innervisions and Bedrock to remixing everyone from Underworld to Moby, there is no doubt that LA based producer and DJ Eagles & Butteflies has caused quite the stir in the last 12 months.

Chris Barratt, as he is known to family and friends, does it all: from downtempo to techno to house, we have seen him rise up the ranks to become one of the most respected and sought-after talents of the moment. Spreading his wing beyond Los Angeles and the United States, he has landed on coveted lineups at the likes of Circoloco at DC-10, Awakenings, Sacred Ground, Secret Garden Party, The BPM Festival and Watergate Berlin, just to name a few.

This coming summer his voyage is taking him to The Ark Festival, a brand-new and massive cruise festival that will host 4000 people and 1400 crew members in total on Royal Caribbean’s immense ship: Freedom Of The Seas. From August 31st until September 3rd of this year, the ship will start off in Barcelona, sailing further to Marseille, Ibiza and a final return back to Barcelona, covering four days and three nights of wonder for a lifetime memory.

There, Chris will perform alongside a lineup full of techno and house A-listers such as Belgian brothers 2MANYDJs, Cocoon label head Sven VĂ€th, Studio Barnhus frontman Axel Boman, Radio 1’s B.Traits, CLR techno chief Chris Liebing, French house pioneers Cassius, the legendary house pioneer Felix Da Housecat, Hot Creations partner Richy Ahmed and Innervisions man Henrik Schwarz and Irish techno talent Matador, both with a live performance.

We caught up with Chris while on the road to summarize his past year and look forward to what’s in store for the future, including this incredible one-of-a-kind cruise festival he will be a part of in September.

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Q&A and Premiere: Circular Vector Patterns Releases “Be” EP on Darko Esser’s Wolfskuil Limited

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After DJ Red’s successful “Raw Cacao” EP last year, that included a remix by the mighty Ricardo Villalobos, Darko Esser’s Wolfskuil Limited now presents a solid four-tracker from the Dutch newcomer Circular Vector Patterns.

“Be” inaugurates the A-Side with a mellow opening, gradually evolving to a more upbeat club pulse, a dynamic combination, followed on the B-Side by “Dawn”, a track which delivers rhythmic beats, balanced with a placid sensation. “Eclipse” reveals its mysterious morphing pads, reflecting the artist’s spaced-out facet & the EP’s digital bonus track, “Total Bliss” concludes this sonic exploration with a more settled groove, yet perfect to move any dance floor. A very promising debut from Circular Vector Patterns, who combines moody atmospheres & flowless production throughout the EP.

Enjoy the premiere of “Total Bliss” herein and read on for our brief chat with up-and-comer Circular Vector Patterns.

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