Having cut his teeth over the years coming up through Brooklynâs now imperiled warehouse scene. Auspex has solidified himself as a regular fixture and contributor to its strong underground techno community, very much at home in the city’s vibrant queer nightlife scene. Read more
New year, new release. Melbourneâs favorite DJ and producer prepares to make the full transition to techno. Kicking off 2022, DANZAH sends out one last tech house release on Erase Records with his brand new EP. Equipped with heavy bass and chunky percussion topped off with searing synths after tension is released in the vocal and arp-filled breakdowns. A banger on all dancefloors, its track that will the scene full-force.Â
Spanish DJ and producer Massa is one of the main names in the local Deep Techno scene. His sound is elegant and high level. He’s also a fine mixer, an upright artist and a lover of what he does. Massa joins this week’s 6AM Guest Mix and delivers his signature dose of deep techno in all-vinyl mix.
Soma Records begins 2022 with Volume 4 of the Collective Process series that links new and upcoming artists to the global scene. Twisted & hard-hitting techno from Spanish-based DJ and producer Oxygeno via Collective Process Vol. 4.
Saltwater and sand dunes have shaped the artistry of Ignez from an early age. The artist grew up near the north coast of The Netherlands, where hypnotizing waves and infinitive beaches helped shape his indefinable techno sound.
The Berlin-based DJ and producer, owner of Somov Records, and Eerste Communie resident is a prolific creator. He’s released five EPs on Somov, and he will release on Setaoc Mass’s label SK_eleven in January. With every musical venture, Ignez aims to articulate the unconscious energy that guides individuals to a higher form of being and transforms the dance floor into a collective oceanic feeling.
We now dive deep into the sea of sound, creativity and mindfulness of Ignez. The artist reveals his unique vision and inspiration behind his new EP, SMV005.
Thanks for chatting with us from across the pond, weâre looking forward to learning about you and your work. Do you have any exciting events coming up?
At the moment I’m focusing on a series of events with my label Somov Records. They will take place throughout Europe and maybe even the US. I’m working on a live set myself where I will collaborate with a cellist. That’s all I can share for now, so stay tuned for the future.
You grew up near the sea. Can you speak more about how nature has shaped the choices in your life?
Nature, and especially the ocean, is the biggest symbol of freedom for me. Growing up as a surfer shaped my ultimate sense of liberty. I tried to hold this feeling close to me and that had a big impact on my future life decisions.
It can be overwhelming to make the right choices with current high performance expectations from society. Many people are suppressed by it. Although they feel like they’re free, the reality is that they’re not. I think in this way I created my own reality within this reality and thus felt closer to myself.
For my fifth EP I selected four emotive tracks that I made whilst being surrounded by nature. I designed these tracks to invite the listener to engage not only with the music, but with themselves as well. I hope they encourage you to connect with the very core of your being, to liberate you and reveal your intrinsic freedom.
Ignez speaks about his new EP, SMV005.
Just like the tide, techno also features iterations and loops. How would you characterize the oceanâs impact on your music?
It’s mainly a place to recharge my creativity. Itâs important to take a break from the studio. No better place than at the beach, to reflect and let the sound of the ocean neutralize my ears, come up with ideas, and take them with me.
Can you describe the environment that inspired you to create SMV005?
Most tracks I created on a roof terrace last summer on a Spanish island. Seeing the sun go down in the ocean created a unique atmosphere. It’s those emotions and reflections of my surroundings that created the EP. That’s the magic of music for me.
Here’s a photo of the exact moment:
Thereâs an Om symbol à„ in your Instagram bio. What does this symbol mean to you?
Om is a foundation of Hinduism, where it is considered the very first sound of the universe. I prefer to let this be a symbol to serve as a reminder of my connection to the universe, as well as the unification of the mind, body, and spirit.
During your DJ sets you aim to guide individuals on the dancefloor to realize another spiritual plane of existence. What does it mean to you to realize a higher form of being?
Connecting to our higher self and creating new paths is an important part of taking care of ourselves physically and mentally. For me, being at a good party truly helped me to be in sync with myself, my body, and the people around me. No judgments or limiting beliefs, nor a reflection of your expectations. Just dance.
The rising German techno star, Patrick Scuro, is back on his own label Animarum Recordings together with the Californian techno queen Marie Vaunt. After the success of their last collaboration, “The Ritual,” the pair have produced a new single called “Creatures on Acid.” It is a mixture of a massive kick, driving arpeggio melodies from Scuro, and great acid and vocals from Vaunt.
First Shot delivers a high dose of dark bass-lines, lofty atmospheres, and textures characteristic of young visionary artist BlackTextured. The idea for the EP came from a typical malevolent character stealing the listener away into the dark and chasing to the end of the line…”Nowhere to run⊔ The two tracks include solid bass-lines, dark saw hoovers, and minimal drums.
This has been a monster year for former Tresor Berlin resident, Vince Watson. The artist released new tracks on Get Physical, Tronic, SushiTech, All Day I Dream, his own Everysoul Audio alongside a slew of remixes. Watson rounds out the year by kicking things up a notch with his labelâs biggest and most adventurous release to date: DnA [re]Sequenced.
Philly-native Matt Altman is an emerging DJ and producer who’s carving out a niche in the world of trance and techno. His sound is dark, experimental, and hypnotic. It also makes you want to dance, and dance hard.
