Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Dutch label AFFIN delivers their upcoming 12ââ vinyl EP, XV | 1. The vinyl will also be the first of a series of records for the label.
La Fraicheurâs EP âReversing Stigmaâ releasing on her label, House of (S)PUNK is a soundtrack that tries to convey those principles of what the rave scene represents for its participants and detractors, by creating moments of tension, release, apathy, celebration, fear, anger and joyful explosion in the shape of cross-genre electronic music. The piece travels between ambient, electronica, electro, house, techno, breakbeat, acid, and EBM.
Born and raised in Sardinia, Italy Ness (also known by his aliases L-3P and The Gods Planet) is a DJ and producer that became interested in electronic music in the late 90’s. Eventually, he began DJing and creating various mixes with trance and other experimental genres. His interest in techno led him into a audio engineering conservatory, which he studied for quite some time. As Ness became more immersed with sound engineering and creating techno, he found his style of the atmospheric sounds of hypnotic techno, and its encompassing rhythms.
Buenos Aires-raised and Barcelona-based artist Squaric was born from the research and creation of new movements in the earthly. The movements that are transmitted by the connections of radiation and particles. Inspired by the Detroit sound of the 1980s, Squaric began to experiment with IDM sounds always keeping Techno in mind.
Once established in Barcelona he developsd his ideas and concepts for music. He played in the best clubs and festivals in the world, such as: Tresor Berlin, GriessmĂŒhle, About Blank, Contact Tokyo, Razzmatazz Barcelona, BRET, HOL0 NY, Under Club Buenos Aires, Radion Amsterdam, KGR Tokyo, Vofol Seul, Agglomerant Moscow, Fuchs2 Prague, Utopia Madrid, and many more. Squaric is also the founder of Diffuse Reality and Teorema Festival.
Connect with Squaric: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinktreeÂ
Glasgowâs Gary Beck is back on Pan-Pot’s Second State with weighty four tracker, Supervan EP. A pillar of Scotlandâs techno scene, Beck has appeared regularly at some of the globeâs most respected venues and festivals including Womb Tokyo, fabric, Output NYC and Awakenings.
Title track “Supervan” opens with bouncing bass and rattling percussion. A chopped-up vocal is introduced and commands the track forward as it ascends, with the kick battling to harden the track over the grooving melody and anthemic keys. Next up is the spirited cut “Psycho Babble”. A resounding sample attempts to cry out over the jacking bass and kick combo, calling out in ecstasy at intervals of the track. A minimal hi-hat jumps throughout but retracts as the track increases tempo and gallops towards the end, where Beck incorporates breakbeat elements for the final leg.
“Sparks” follows with rhythmic shakers and hi-hats juxtaposing each other under the dialogue of two young punters. The conversation adds a narrative to the track as it intensifies along with a gritty buzzing element. The voices become distorted as the track builds to crescendo, with the sample and music working together in unison to unravel the story of the characterâs night. The finale “Pink Castles” is a pacy and hypnotic trip, conjuring up the energy of both a peak-time workout and high-tempo closer. Haunting vocals and icy synths swirl around the driving elements and atmospherics, engulfing the listener into the darkness of this finishing track.
Gary Beckâs Supervan EPÂ drops on Second State on April 15, 2022. You can get it here.Â
Connect with Gary Beck: SoundCloud | Instagram
Connect with Second State: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram
In early February of this year, PolyRhythm presented their remake of Sade’s “Cherish the day”, now they are back with a remake of Sade’s 1986 classic “Is it a crime” with Sheleah Monea showcasing a melodic rendition.
Joining the WORK Resident 2022 roster, Stephen Disario is a multifaceted producer and DJ. Disario’s tracks have been featured on labels such as Planet Rhythm, Liberta Records, Say What, Trau-ma, and many more. His techno sounds take dancers from the genre’s deep and hypnotic realm to the high-octane and peak-time hours.
Hi Stephen, welcome back. Youâre part of the newly launched WORK Residency Program and as part of it, you’ll be playing at selected events throughout the year. What does it mean to you to be invited to be a part of it and recognized as a standout talent?
It is truly an honor to be a part of the WORK residency, alongside like minded peers in this industry. I have worked with the crew since 2018 and it has been such an amazing journey for us all. So much has changed since then, but our passion for this scene stays the same. I couldnât be happier to officially be on board with the WORK team. Everyone is very professional, easy going and we all check our ego at the door, which I think plays a vital part in creating such a pure and genuine vibe for our events.
Why do you think the WORK Residency program is an important initiative?
The WORK residency is a great opportunity for Los Angeles and surrounding based artists to get a bit of recognition in our city. With so many local artists it really helps shed light on the producers and DJâs doing something special in our hometown.
Living in these cement walls we call Los Angeles, it is essential to get away and connect back with Mother Earth and remember the planet we are actually living on.
Nature inspires Stephen Disario’s creative flow
Is there a specific moment that made you realize you wanted to pursue music more than just a hobby?Â
The spark for me was NYE of 2014; Some friends and I decided to throw a desert rave in the Mojave Desert. Hundreds of people showed up despite the little promo we did. The energy was electric! The feedback after the event was absolutely mind blowing. At that moment, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue professionally with my entire heart and soul.Â
Are there any artists whoâve really inspired your work as an artist?
There are so many artists that I take influence from, and itâs constantly evolving. In the early days I was in love with artists like Recondite, RĂždhad, Maceo Plex, Noir, and others within that realm of deeper techno back in the day. As I got deeper in the rabbit hole, I met Brennen Grey who has been a huge staple in my journey. He truly helped me navigate the industry as well as in the studio. I am extremely blessed to call him my brother! From there, I started to develop my own sound and these days I am inspired by many artists; I am lucky to call friends like Marcal, Vinicius Honorio, Arthur Robert, Rene Wise, and many others. I am always discovering new artists and that is probably my favorite thing about music. Thereâs an endless world of inspiration out there!
Read Next: Brennen Grey: ‘You Can Break Any Rule as Long as You Do It Really F*cking Well’
Name a track youâve had on repeat recently.Â
Arthur Robert “Kinship”. This track brings out so many emotions. Arthur is a very refreshing take on techno and really locks the listener in on a journey from start to finish.
Youâve said that going out in nature is inspiring to you. Do you have any dream nature escapes or ones planned for the future?Â
I am always plotting new places to explore. Living in these cement walls we call Los Angeles, it is essential to get away and connect back with Mother Earth and remember the planet we are actually living on. Itâs easy to get consumed by the fast pace of life out here, and in that regard it is extremely important to hit the reset button from time to time. Yellowstone is on the top of that list currently, I also really want to explore South America and the Amazon.
I am my own biggest critic and with that comes a double edge sword. The solution: donât stop and continue working. Itâs all a matter of being consciously in tune with yourself and knowing that this is a part of the journey. Itâs all about the passion of creating music, and if more opportunities come out of that then that is wonderful, but I think a great piece of advice is to create without expectation.
Stephen Disario balances work with play
What has been the most challenging aspect of your career, and how have you managed or overcome this challenge?Â
Covid-19 was the most challenging time for me, as I had my biggest releases to date during the pandemic, which was bittersweet. It was amazing to get some recognition in times of doubt, although I didnât get the gig opportunities that may have come with those releases, had it been pre-Covid. The pandemic has completely reshaped me as an artist and revamped my sound. I had a handful of burnout moments with extreme self doubt, but continued to work through it. I am my own biggest critic and with that comes a double edge sword. The solution: donât stop and continue working. Itâs all a matter of being consciously in tune with yourself and knowing that this is a part of the journey. Itâs all about the passion of creating music, and if more opportunities come out of that then that is wonderful, but I think a great piece of advice is to create without expectation.
Anything else youâd like to share?Â
Thank you so much for the opportunity, I am forever grateful for the love and support by the WORK team and community. This collective is one of the most special ones coming out of LA and I could not be more grateful to be a part of it. Cheers to the amazing future ahead! Also there will be new music soon and even bigger news to come toward the end of the year so keep your eyes peeled!
Connect with Stephen Disario: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Beatport | Spotify | Website
The likes of Adriana López, Alessandro Adriani, Alienata, Anthony Rother, Ben Sims, Bloody Mary, Cardopusher, CONCEPTUAL, Kessell, Kwartz, Lewis Fautzi, NÞrbak, Oscar Mulero, P.E.A.R.L., Psyk, Tripeo, Umwelt and Zadig have provided a signature track for the Unique Exercises compilation. The sound spectrum of the Unique Exercises compilation covers each corner of electronic music, precise and hypnotic techno exercises, robotic electro pulses, acid infused atmospheres, cold and harsh EBM or industrial and rude experiments. The compilation will be released April 7 alongside 18 unique NFTs. You can get Unique Exercises here.
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Multidisciplinary graphic artist Patti Hazel has been in charge of the art design of the complete Unique Exercises collection and created 18 unique pieces for each song. Visual artist Efren Mur digitally adapted and animated the audio and art pieces creating 18 unique audiovisual NFTs.
You can already view the complete NFT collection at the Source Artists Open Sea page. It will be available for sale starting April 7 and will sell three NFTâs per week. If you complete the 18 NFTs collection, then youâll get a printed edition collage with all individual artworks on high-quality printed poster.
On top of that, be sure to tune into an exclusive mix by Alienata will also be broadcast on April 7 at 8PM CET to celebrate the release.
A true driving force of the Stil vor Talent fold since the landing of his debut EP “Nandoo” in 2018, Sam Shure has cemented his position as one of today’s finest names when it comes to shape shifting , polyamorous soundscapes. Using his background in traditional music to take club music into unheard directions, Sam keeps carving out a lane of his own, and his newest four-track delivery for Stil vor Talent. Malfunction proves a new tour de force in his quest for time and space-transcending material.
Having started his love affair with music from a young age onwards, Sam Shureâs native talent and his ever-evolving skillset dot him one of the stand-out artists making their mark on the global scene since 2016. Pairing adventurous electronic sound design with highly harmonic, melody-driven songwriting, Samâs output is continuously developing as he adds new textures and layers to his signature, pushing his own creative boundaries.
Sam grew up in central Germany and started playing the piano at the tender age 4. His acoustic upbringing was under the tutelage of his father, the Egyptian Jazz musician Basem Darwisch, who cultivated his appetite for musical creativity and artistic expression. After relocating to Berlin, Sam initially channeled a variety of world-music influences into a string of downtempo productions released on MUKKE, before he found a permanent home for his tracks on Stil vor Talent. Here, Sam quickly established himself as a rising voice with the breakthrough releases “Kasra” and “Nandoo”. His 2019 debut album Lanconia showcases his impressive maturity as a songwriter and keen ear for sound design, while representing a shift from the organic lower tempos of his first tracks to a more energetic, club-focused sound.
“333”, which followed in 2020, further emphasized that shift into next gear. While his tracks tend to create ‘that one moment’ on the floor when played by the likes of Dixon, Damian Lazarus, Ăme or Patrice BĂ€umel, seeing Sam himself behind the decks really encapsulates the essence of his artistic endeavor. When it comes to his DJ style, the charismatic Berliner channels his creative diversity into versatile sets, playing the likes of WooMoon in Ibiza and Tulum, ADE for Gardens of Babylon, Epizode Festival in Vietnam or hometown gigs at Watergate, KaterBlau and Sisyphos.
From Berlin to Moscow, London to Bangalore or Cairo to Cape Town, Sam has put a spell on the crowd with his very own definition of contemporary club music. Looking back at the leaps he’s made in the short space of five years and knowing his passion for pushing the envelope, it is anyone’s guess what comes next. One thing’s for sure though: Sam is always ready for more.
Connect with Sam Shure: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram
Brussels-based DJ and producer MARHUÂ brings her dark, energetic and powerful sound to the forefront of her debut EP titled Obsession on Arkham Audio. The project is centred around thumping kick drums, obscure and aggressive sounds, all tied together by intoxicating acid synths with D.A.V.E The Drummer and Cri du Coeur both contributing remixes to the EP.
Over the few past years MARHU has been honing her skills and focusing on her music production. Originally a Swiss rider for the dressage team, MARHU later transitioned to a music-oriented career. With the discipline she developed throughout years of sports she has demonstrated her creative ability to not only break the rules â but create her own rulebook entirely. MARHUâs music combines the force between dark energetic and powerful techno.
Influenced by Dax J, Ben Klock and many more, MARHU’s dynamic style is crafted from both obscure and aggressive sounds which brings an extensive and innate sense of rhythm, and compositional elements which burst forth with relentless energetic expression on every set.”Nothing” is the second track on her Obsession EP and has a bit more depth and groove to it. The massive low end grooves beautifully with the flowing acid synth as well as the bright variations of hi-hats.
D.A.V.E. The Drummer rains down pure destruction in his remix of “Nothing”. Waves of noise wash around you as the drums and acid synth continue driving you forward. As the filter on the acid synth gets turned higher, the track becomes more intense by the second, resulting in pure dance-floor devastation.
