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Q&A and Global Vibe Radio 068 feat. Synthek Live at KHIDI

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Synthek is a Berlin based DJ and producer, owner of Natch Records and STK imprint. Always seeking for new influences, over the past years the style of his sets and productions has faced a constant evolution, focusing on deep rhythmics and powerful, introspective vibes.

Following few successful EPs on Natch Records, he released his debut album Unwise, in collaboration with label partner Audiolouis. Unwise, seen as their last co-produced effort, got consecutively remixed by Polar Inertia, Antigone and Varg among others. Synthek started curating the booking of New Faces Wednesdays at Tresor Berlin in 2014, becoming a respected presence behind the decks of the legendary venue and especially so for his closing sets. The idea of creating STK, a self titled imprint and home of his own productions only, gives him the freedom to experiment new approaches to music production and reshape his signature sound. The initial wave of 3 EPs entitled VERSE, launched in July 2015, brought him to look slightly away from the dance floor, and finally orienting towards mind-twisting and psychedelic compositions. Beside releases on STK, since his last appearance on Attic Music, Synthek has released new material such as his MRI EP on Russian label Wunderblock, a remix alongside Svreca on Spanish imprint Redpoint Alert, and a contribution for a compilation on OVUNQVE.

This year Synthek released Transitions of Life on Natch Records, his first solo LP. The 11-tracker came out on April 18th, the unfolding of a two-year transformational period that saw Synthek cross along rough roads and tribulations to reveal an intimate personal journey of revelation through emotional downshift, spiritual upheaval and cerebral quandary.

Synthetk is this week’s guest on Global Vibe Radio, where he presents the last 3 hours of his 7 hour set at KHIDI in Georgia from earlier in 2017. We also took the chance to chat with him about projects past, present and future. Enjoy the mix and read on for the exclusive interview!

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Digging Deeper with Kevin Over

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Although only 25 years old, Kevin Over is an old music soul in a young man’s body. He’s been obsessively collecting music since he was 13, cutting his teeth at Important Records, the store in Essen, Germany, co-owned by Vladimir Ivkovic, who he rates as his biggest earlier influencer/educator. That comes to no surprise to anyone who knows Ivkovic, manager at Desolat and a Dekmantel regular, among other things.

Kevin Over’s major breakthrough came in early 2015 when the stunning Retrovision EP dropped on Noir Music. Detroit legend Stacey Pullen licensed his stunning “2002” for his well- received Balance 028 compilation, and the warmth of the ‘90s embosses the artist’s musical output, as Kevin creates rough-edged, groove-ridden dance floor weapons that appeal to house and techno heads.

Over the ensuing years, he’s made it his mission to learn and dissect 20 years of music culture and channel it into his productions. His music is a sample heavy brand of house and techno, which draws on garage, funk, soul and disco influences – everyone from Roy Ayres and Funk D’void to The Streets.

You can really feel all these influences in the new Back to Back release for mobilee, an ‘album’ of original tracks, remixes and Kevin’s own tracks remixed by his favorite artists such as Soulphiction, Jacob Korn and Marquis Hawkes.

6AM had a chance to talk with Kevin extensively in occasion of this most recent release, which can be purchased via Beatport.

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UMEK: Past, Present and Future Behind the Iron Curtain

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UMEK is undeniably Slovenia’s biggest electronic music export, a literal techno legend personally responsible for kickstarting the electronic music scene in his home country by first organizing illegal raves and then becoming one of Slovenia’s most wanted export products and number one music ambassador to the whole world.

Standing at 2 meters tall, 6ft 5in for us in America, UroĆĄ Umek is a producer, founder of his own 1605 imprint and a globe-trotting DJ. With 100+ gigs per year, UMEK visits almost every continent with each of Earth’s rotation around the sun, his gig schedule taking him from dark underground clubs in Berlin to massive techno stages at some of the biggest festivals in all corners of the globe. And on top of that, he keeps up a popular weekly radio show called Behind the Iron Curtain, which is now featured on more than 150 radio stations across the world.

More recently, UMEK teamed up with  German airline Lufthansa to curate an exclusive 2 hour playlist that will be available on all their long-haul flights and has just released his latest EP, Work It Out, on his own 1605 label.

6AM had the chance to chat with Uroƥ and discuss his many projects, as well as life in Slovenia and the future ahead of him.

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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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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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