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‘Beyond Home’ EP Premiere and Q&A: Meet Italian Rising Star Monophaze

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Monophaze is one of Italy’s up-and-coming underground dance music producers. Based in Florence, he is about to release Beyond Home, a two-track EP out on John Norman’s UNT Records. The original is from the young Italian, and the remix comes from label boss John Norman himself.

The EP has had some great early feedback, with support from Mark Grimace, Teknobrat, Peppelino and Noah Pred, and we are proud to be premiering it for you exclusively today.

6AM caught up with Monophaze ahead of the release on January 31st.

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Q&A: Discovering Stephan Hinz

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A prolific producer for over a decade, Stephan Hinz is entering 2017 with a bang by introducing his fans to his brand new Off Numbers EP. Out on Carl Cox’s Intec Digital, Off Numbers follows on Stephan’s hugely successful previous releases on labels such as MOOD and Second State.

Out on the 27th of January, the EP comes in the form of two originals, both centered around heavy basslines and growing, frenzied crescendos. The title track is tenebrous, its hard-hitting drums a throbbing and threatening proposition that is augmented by a repeated melody. On the other hand, “Shaded” focuses far more on its bassline, interrupted by eerie percussions and metallic noises.

6AM caught up with Stephan ahead of the release:

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Q&A: Meet Alexander Aurel, Frankfurt’s Cutting-Edge New School Producer

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Alexander Aurel is one of the cutting edge new school producers hailing from Frankfurt. He has released on Anja Schneider’s Mobilee and Monika Kruse’s Terminal M label, among many. Alexander is about to drop his first collaborative single with Danny Serrano on Leena, his second personal release on the label which has so far received early support from John Digweed, Richie Hawtin, Monkia Kruse, Damian Lazarus, Nicole Moudaber, Nic Fanciulli, Claude Von Stroke and more.

Scheduled for Beatport Exclusive release on January 20th and full release on February 3rd, Collapse is a three-track EP containing a collab and a solo production each from Alexander and Danny. 6AM checked in with Alexander to find out more about his forthcoming work and more:

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Sirus Hood Estimates He Had 100,000 Booties Shaking Last Year Ahead of North American Tour 2017 with Sacha Robotti

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Instagram - ArtworkIn the next coming months, Sirus Hood and Sacha Robotti will be embarking on a 16-stop North American tour beginning on the 3rd of February in Santa Barbara and ending on April 8th at Phoenix’s Lights Festival. In between, the two producers and DJs will visit some of the region’s best known venues, including Bang Bang in San Diego, Webster Hall in New York City and Spybar in Chicago.

Paris’ Sirus Hood has risen the ranks of the French and International house scene thanks to a sound that can be best described by the two main labels he releases on: CUFF and Dirtybird. The first is the brainchild of French ghetto-house movers Amine Edge & DANCE, while the second is the unmistakable global brand spearheaded by LA-based producer and DJ Claude vonStroke. While housed on separate sides of the world, the two labels have one very distinct theme in common: they get people moving and they get booties shaking.

Sirus prides himself on adopting that very same philosophy in his productions and DJ sets, a musical benchmark that has seen him grow in popularity both back in Europe and across the pond here in the States. His latest track — a collaboration with Roland Clark entitled “I’m House” — was recently featured on Dirtybird’s New Years Special Volume 2 compilation.

You can listen to it below and purchase it on Beatport.

We talked with Sirus to discuss how he first met the Dirtybird crew, his love for hip-hop, the legalization of weed in the States and more!

Welcome back to the States! How does it feel to be back?

Thank you! It feels so good, I’m so excited to tour here, every time was a blast, and no doubt that this tour will be amazing.

Your music is definitely inspired by sounds that vary from Chicago Hip-House/Ghetto House to classic NYC house music. Tell us about the first time you came to the US, was it what you expected?

Yes, I was definitely inspired by these movements. The first time I came to the US was in Miami with my best friend, I had in mind the GTA Vice City maps and it was surprisingly similar haha. It was one of my goals to come play in the States and I am so proud to have been able to tour around the country where the music that inspires me took place.

Your music is firmly represented by two record labels, Europe’s CUFF and the US’ Dirtybird. How did you first get involved with Barclay and the rest of his team?

The first time I met him was in Miami at a Dirtybird BBQ a few years ago for the WMC. While I was queuing up to get in, Justin Martin played one of my tracks, and I said at the door “They are playing my track, please can I get in to film !” And they were kind enough to let me in directly. I met Barclay on the stage where I introduced myself. And when I heard Justin playing a second track of mine, I went up to him and told him who I was, he got crazy and carried me in front of everybody haha. Since then, we’ve kept in contact. CUFF invited Claude VonStroke to a Showcase Paris in 2015 and we played b2b. After that I released 3 tracks on his label and I hope to do more with him.

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If you were to guess, how many booties did you get shaking in 2016?

100 parties x 1000 people =

Then there are the streaming booties, we need to find a very complicated formula in order to sum up all the plays on internet, on Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify. Et voila! I would say a few million booties. Not bad

What was your favorite gig of last year? Why?

I can’t decide on one particular gig, but I can say that my favorites were : Truth – Joburg (South Africa). Ministry of Sound – London (England). Decks on the Beach, Beirut (Lebanon). Sankeys – Manchester (England) for NYE.

You’re about to embark on a huge North of American tour and I am sure you’re excited for each stop. Any specific club you’re looking forward to playing?

I’m looking forward to playing again in Bang Bang San Diego, and La Cave in Orange County, next to LA. I’m also looking forward to going to Las Vegas, I’ve always wanted to go there!

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What do you think about the weed legalization movement in the States?

I think that any country that encourages liberty should enable anyone to decide what is good or not for him/her. Anyway, all form of prohibition never really worked, it actually elevated criminal activity. I hope that the other “free” countries will follow this example.

Who is your favorite hip-hop artist of all time?

I’m hesitating between Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Biggie of course. With a slight preference for Dr. Dre because he is a music producer.

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Ok next up I’m going to ask some rapid-fire questions. Favorite food?

Ice Cream

What is your favorite 80’s jam?

Queen – I Want To Break Free

Hats or hoods?

Hats in summer, hoods in winter

Pioneer or Allen & Heath?

Pioneer

Favorite football/soccer team?

On FIFA, I always play with the Barcelona team

What’s your biggest tour pet peeve?

Jet Lag

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Favorite country you’ve visited?

Australia

Favorite non-booty house track?

Long Time – Inland Knights

Small club or mega-club?

BOTH!

90’s hip-hop or current hip-hop?

90’s

 

All photos by Justin Prinz

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Connect with Sirus Hood: Resident Advisor | Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud

Exclusive Premiere and Interview with Francesca Lombardo

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Francesca Lombardo, a multidisciplinary artist who has established herself as a leader in the dance music community, has announced the sixth release on her Echolette imprint with Birds of Mind’s “Ankara”, out on December 23rd.

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The Saunderson Brothers: The Detroit and Chicago Connection

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Dantiez and Damarii Saunderson, known together as The Saunderson Brothers, have a heavy family tradition to uphold when it comes to electronic music. Sons of legendary techno creator and house elevator Kevin Saunderson, the brothers have been heavily influenced by their father’s legacy as well as that of their home city of Detroit and its profound musical heritage.

Last year the duo put on an impressive performance at Movement Festival’s Made In Detroit stage, a well deserved gig that came hot in the heels of releases on KMS Records and a selection of high-profile remixes including a hot one for MK (Marc Kinchen).

Tonight they are performing in Chicago at Debonair Social Club for Obscure002, an event series put on by collective of music enthusiasts that aim to disrupt the city’s status quo by bringing a unique flavor of nightlife to Chicago. I talked with them briefly about the influence of both Chicago House and Detroit Techno, as well as their relationship with Chicago where they lived in the past.

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Interview: andhim Talk ‘Tosch’ EP and Superfriends Records

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Within a couple of years, andhim have skyrocketed to the top of the underground house community. From creating their own “super house” sound to being a very well branded duo complete with beards and quirky shirts, Simon and Tobias now prepare to launch their own Superfriends label with the release of Tosch EP on December 5th, 2016. Hailing from Cologne, Germany, Simon and Tobi(as) are determined to use this step in their career to continue growing as artists and industry leaders.

After they returned home to Kreuzberg from their North America tour — with stops in Miami, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York and more — 6AM had the awesome opportunity to catch up with Simon to talk about the duo’s latest projects.

How did you two meet?

We often answer this question with a lot of lies, (laughs) but we really met at a turntable competition. Tobi was one of reigning champs and I knew I would be up against tough competition. We met that night and immediately clicked.

Where does your name come from?

The Greek Gods sent us the message!

What are your personal interests, and you can’t say making love to one another?

Simon: (Laughs) I love fine dining and cooking at home. Anything that has to do with good food and eating well.

Tobi enjoys flying his remote controlled airplanes, or whatever you call them, with his little brother.

I know you’ve had a hell of two-three weeks, how amazing and difficult was your North American tour? 

I would say it was much more amazing than difficult. We’ve been to the States several times before and we’re always happy to go back. It’s great seeing more and more people come out to support us.

Where was your favorite stop?

All of our shows were really great. The SAKE.Enter gig with Richie Hawtin was probably the most unique since we’ve never done anything like that before. We opened up for Richie and we were just playing really chill stuff; opening set type of stuff. We really enjoyed that experience.

In San Diego, it was rainy and wet (the only day it was like this), but it was nice to see everyone stay and have a great time. Thanks for that!

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In regards to your new Superfriends label, what is the vision for it? What inspired you to create your own thing?

We wanted something that could be about us. Our style. It’s so much easier having our own label, platform, and being able to manage ourselves. This is, also, of course about money. When you release music on third party labels, you are forfeiting your rights to that piece. Just absurd. So we made Superfriends Records.

How can people submit tracks?

They cannot. We are the only ones who will be featured on the label. Maybe remixes by some, but for now, the platform is solely for our output. Maybe down the line.

What about your new Tosch EP? 

It’s the first release on our new Superfriends label, and we wanted to do something that was completely our “super house” sound with a heavy bass-line and vocals.

Purchase Tosch EP

Listen to the Tosch single here:

What else is in the pipeline for you?

We are touring in Australia and South Africa after the holidays. I, Simon, am going on a solo adventure in New Zealand. Going to rent a car and just get lost there. I heard it was a breathtaking place.

Tobi is flying back home after the Australian tour for his girlfriend and extending his South Africa stay to adventure there together.

What’s the word with your beards? Do you ever plan on shaving it?

I probably can shave it, but I won’t. I have had it for about 10 years now. It’s a part of me.

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What’s your favorite german beer?

In Cologne I love drinking Kölsch out of a small caliber glass.

What’s your favorite spot to eat when you are home (in Cologne)?

I love to eat at my Grandma’s house. There are these meatballs she makes that are incredible. And, of course, she doesn’t let me leave until I’m sick from eating. It’s great.

Connect with andhim: Beatport | Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud | Twitter 

Connect with Superfriends Records: Beatport | Facebook 

Q&A: Edit Select Releases ‘Visitors – Projections’ Album with Antonio Ruscito

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This coming November 25th, Scottish techno producer Tony Scott, aka Edit Select, is releasing a collaboration album alongside Antonio Ruscito on his own Edit Select Records imprint. The album will be available via Juno, Decks and Deejay.

While both the Scottish and Italian artists are fantastic in the studio in their own right, Visitors – Projections combines their prowess as producers to form a transcendental techno journey filled with haunting atmosphere, emotive structures and spatial ambience.

We caught up with Tony ahead of the ten-track release to discuss his collaboration with Antonio, Scotland’s techno scene, the influence of technology on the production of techno over the last few decades and more. Read the interview below but first enjoy this exclusive premiere of ‘Projection 2″ right off of the forthcoming LP:

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Coyu on Donald Trump, Suara’s New Fashion Store, His Favorite Genre and Playing in Los Angeles

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It’s ADE and Amsterdam is buzzing. The mid-October air is crisp cold yet everyone is still biking as if it’s summer out. I am rushing and weaving through late-morning traffic as, admittedly, I am running late for my interview with IvĂĄn Ramos, artist name Coyu, due to some unforeseen complications I ran into that morning.

Walking into the Miracle Management hub for ADE week I am greeted warmly by both Coyu and Bruno, who was kind enough to set up the interview during one of the craziest weeks of the year. I know Coyu doesn’t have much time — he is running a label and has a Suara showcase in Amsterdam that night, is opening a fashion store in Barcelona, oversees the Suara Foundation which benefits cats and of course is a successful producer and DJ in his own right. Literally just over a week following the interview (this weekend) he is scheduled to play Suara showcases in San Francisco first and then in Los Angeles for Underrated Presents’ Minimal Effort Halloween — a one-day festival in the heart of the city’s downtown area.

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Humble Beginnings with Butane

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Sometimes we get so engrossed by our favorite DJs that we forget to even think about the person behind the persona on stage. Where did they come from? Who are they outside of the club? What do they do when they are not performing on weekends? How did they even begin on this strange career path that led them to be where they are now, spinning in front of thousands of revelers until the early hours of the morning?

Andrew Rasse is nothing short of an interesting man. Known to underground dance music aficionados as Butane, Rasse boasts an impressive list of hobbies, passions and experience that far transcends his work in the studio or in front of a weekend crowd. Yet, he maintains as busy as ever as a producer with a heavy schedule of releases planned for the coming months. He begins with a landmark 250th outing on his own Little Helpers imprint, a collaboration between label bosses Rasse and Sean O’Neal aka Someone Else. Scheduled for exclusive Beatport release on October 25th and general release on November 8th, Little Helpers 250 contains two collaborative tracks as well as two individual cuts from each producer, all of which perfectly underscore the label’s penchant for quality thriving techno and house.

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