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Brighton Music Conference Announces Phase One Artist Line-up

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Brighton Music Conference recently revealed phase one of its artist line-up for its inaugural event, taking place April 11-12. While the conference is focused primarily on business, education and music technology during the day; at night, artists like Skream, AND.ID, Dave Clarke, DJ Pierre, DJ Spen, Sebo K, Mat Playford, Psycatron, and Dave Seaman will perform in clubs and venues around the city by night. 

BMC’s phase one line-up also showcases esteemed underground labels and club nights including Wiggle, Mobilee Records, J00F, Black Rock Records, and SKINT, and pioneering London techno promoters LOST.

BMC will also feature over 50 electronic music focused panels and seminars, including a live interview of Eats Everything by Ryan Keeling, Editor of Resident Advisor; as well as Above & Beyond’s Jono Grant, DJ Pierre, Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll and Lisa Lashes also confirmed to speak. Another highlight of the BMC includes the UK premiere of Roland’s highly anticipated Aira product line. BMC has the exclusive UK showcase of all four Aira products, making BMC the first chance for UK producers and DJs to get their hands on all four of these new instruments.

Visitwww.brightonmusicconference.co.uk for more details and ticket information.

Listen to Skream on Pulse Radio.


Hardwell Admits He's 'A Bit Sick Of The Formula In EDM Right Now'

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Dutch superstar Hardwell is getting "sick of the formula in EDM right now." Hardwell, one of the world's biggest EDM DJs, who was voted number one by the readers of DJ Mag last year, joins other big name EDM jocks, including Avicii and Steve Angello, in his distaste of the current trends in big room music. 

In a surprise interview with Armin Van Buuren at A State of Trance 650 live from Utrecht, Hardwell said, "I'm experimenting with a lot of new, different sounds. I'm a bit sick of the same formula that's going on in EDM right now so I'm just trying to change boundaries and look at what's going on in the rest of the world. Even in the hip hop scene and the trance scene and try to combine as much as possible." Interview starts at 03:49:00.

Listen to Hardwell on Pulse Radio.

20 Must Do Festivals Before You Die

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Much like clubbing, over the past half-decade or so music festivals have become not only a mainstream activity, but a popular travel option. The question now isn't which country are you visiting, it's which festival, with backpackers and holidaymakers pinpointing thier must-do events and then planning the rest of the trip around them. And with a plethora of amazing festivals all brimming with eclectic lineups boasting spectacular locations, it's easy to see why.

Here we list 20 of some of the biggest and best festivals that are worthy picks to travel across the globe for. Forget niche and boutique for the time being - these are the big puppies to look out for. Start booking, get packing!

 photo labyrinth_zps1db0e60d.jpg

#20 - Labyrinth [Japan]
Labyrinth festival is unique from so many angles. The festival is held annually in the mountains of Niigata prefecture Japan, famous for its steep and luscious green mountains that are covered with powdery snow by winter. Foreign visitors rush from around the world to get their hands on elusive “international” tickets, though around 95% of the festival tickets can only be purchased domestically.

With an expertly crafted line-up of ambient interwoven with more industrial 4x4, Labyrinth has made a full turn-around stylistically from the trance-fuelled rave that they once were. This transition was done with pure genuineness and the urge to be diverse. Proof is in the pudding; locals return year after year, the atmosphere remains relaxed and intimate, Extrawelt even advised me that they loved playing during the transition period years ago because it made sense to listeners and artists like them. With four hours of Petar Dundov going into Peter Van Hoesen; no one was complaining! So if you are one of the lucky ones at Labyrinth 2014, you’re in for a surreal experience – just don’t forget to pack a rain jacket. [Sonia Miles-Khan]

 photo EE_zps5946c1e3.jpg

#19 - Eastern Electrics [London]
A relatively new kid on the scene, Eastern Electrics, like most successful festivals, had a humble birth in 2008. Since then it has grown into one of the UK’s best and most credible dance music events. Last year saw its biggest edition to date; a two-night, three-day affair at Knebworth Park, just 30 minutes outside of London. This week the festival revealed that it’s “squeezing all the fun into one day,” in 2014, announcing a return on Saturday August 2nd. Better start warming up those dancing shoes. [Pulse HQ]

 photo 21mutek_zps2a2ad0c6.jpg

#18 - Mutek [Montreal]
Since 2000, MUTEK has brought electronic music and the digital arts to cities around the world. Its central platform is a five-day festival in Montreal that generally runs from late May into early June. Over 100 prominent artists, panelists, and industry figures participate in this massive gathering, joining several new talents who gain exposure at the event that oftentimes leads to successful careers. This year, MUTEK is joining forces with Elektra, Montreal’s digital arts festival, to celebrate their combined fifteenth anniversary. EM15, the major two-in-one festival, is set to run from Tuesday, May 27th until Sunday, June 1st showcasing over 100 artists through an “expansive and multidimensional experience.” [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo snowbombing_zps1e7d3d1e.jpg

#17 - Snowbombing [Mayrhofen, Austria]
Currently celebrating 13 years of fun, frolics and music deep in the Austrian Alps, Snowbombing has remained an annual pilgrimage for extreme sports nut-jobs and rave headcases alike. Set across an entire week across the charming and eccentric resort of Mayrhoffen. Roast pork sarnies, apres ski and some of finest, cleanest snowruns in Europe by day; by night, it's an electronic music fan's playground, playing host to legendary artists and labels such as Innervisions, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Booka Shade, Andy C and even Snoop Dogg in 2012. Its all about having the most fun you can have in the space of a week both on and off piste.

Jokes aside, Snowbombing's line up (cherry picked from current and legendary talent), uniwue venues decked out with custom built FunktionOnes and unrivaled atmosphere keep their lofty hijinks a cut above the other alpine romps. And by the end of the week, Jagaermeister will become your best friend. [Joe Gamp]

 photo tomorrowland_zps094b35de.jpg

#16 - Tomorrowland [Belgium]
It’s the festival that sold out in almost an instant in 2013, and upon doubling its capacity in 2014 by holding the festival over two weekends, sold 360,000 tickets in under an hour. It’s stages are of some of the most elaborate and fanciful ever constructed – last year’s main stage was a giant volcano, complete with fireworks and a blowing top – and play host to the biggest DJs in the world, ranging from Carl Cox to Hardwell to Armin Van Buuren, and it all takes place in the quite, beautiful countryside of Belgium. Tomorrowland is about as big as it gets for a dance music festival, and if you ever manage to snag a ticket before they sell out, should be right near the top of your bucket list. [Chandler Shortlidge]

 photo Fuji_zps8f6bcf07.jpg

#15 - Fuji Rock [Naeba, Japan]
Don’t let them name fool you, Fuji Rock boasts just as many cutting edge electronic acts as it does rock and indie. Nestled in the forest at the base of the Naeba Ski Resort, just an hour north of Japan, the festival is one of the major destinations for bands and DJs touring the world circuit, resulting in a large chunk of foreign travellers in attendance. But don’t fret, the bulk of the 100, 000+ attendees are locals, who with their gracious manner truly make Fuji Rock the wonderful experience that it is. Though make no mistake, courteousness aside, the Japanese still know how to party.

Whether you want to sit by a beautiful creek cradling a beer, get your mosh on with ‘Hello Kitty’ adorned teeny-boppers, dance the night away in a huge field to world class DJs, or just get lost in the beautiful surroundings, Fuji Rock has got even the most discerning of festival-goers covered. Read our review of Fuji Rock 2010 here. [Henry Johnstone]

 photo 21movement_zps9a14c62f.png

#14 - Movement [Detroit, USA]
One of the clear favorites of dedicated house and techno fans, Movement Electronic Music Festival is a staple in many of our festival seasons. The three-day extravaganza takes place in Detroit each Memorial Day weekend and features an all-star lineup of dance music pioneers as well as talented emerging artists. Past editions of the festival have brought legends such as Richie Hawtin, Carlo Cox, Loco Dice, Dubfire, Art Department, Carl Craig, and many more to the birthplace of the music we know and love. 2014 marks the ninth year of Movement, set to run from May 24th to May 26th – don’t miss out! [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo Melt_zps24dbf632.jpg

#13 - Melt! [Ferropolis, Germany]
Some festivals rely on their unique location as major drawcards. You could accuse Germany’s Melt! Of this, with it’s jaw-droppingly surreal location of Ferropolis (an open air museum of old huge industrial machines) certainly a major factor for punters to consider. But Melt! certainly doesn’t rest on its aesthetic laurels, boasting some of the best electronic music lineups on the planet. How’s 2014 looking? How does Tiga, Brodinski, Dixon, Moderat, Boys Noize and Portishead sound? Yeah, we thought so. [Pulse HQ]

 photo 21edc_zps8309c9d8.jpg

#12 - Electric Daisy Carnival [Las Vegas, USA]
Kicking off in Los Angeles back in 1997, Electric Daisy Carnival has since moved to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and grown in scale with over 300,000 attendees at the most recent iteration. Several spinoff events have been held in North American locations including New York, Puerto Rico, Orlando, Texas, and Chicago, with a festival planned for Mexico City this spring. EDC is known for bringing in the world’s biggest artists such as Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Svicii, Afrojack, and more for three days of great music while still focusing on the experience of guests, which it dubs its true “headliners.” The 2014 edition is scheduled for June 20th to June 22nd directly following Insomniac Events’ third annual EDMbiz conference and expo. [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo 21kazantip_zpse499ca70.jpg

#11 - Kazantip [Ukraine]
One of the most unique experiences around, The Republic of kaZantip is a 14-day gathering of music lovers in Crimea, who have chosen to disconnect from everyday life for two weeks of raving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The party takes place along seven miles of beach lining The Black Sea. The massive main stage and surrounding smaller venues host parties and showcases all day and night including Circoloco, Paradise, Ellum Audio, Armada, Diynamic, Flying Circus and more. All it takes is a viZa and a journey to the remote beaches of Ukraine to take part in this truly one-of-a-kind unforgettable experience! [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo 21bpm_zps15115930.jpg

#10 - BPM [Playa Del Carmen, Mexico]
Although The BPM Festival is relatively new, it has quickly gained notoriety as a personal favorite among many in the dance music community. Launched in 2008, this annual, ten-day-and-night party happens in beautiful Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and begins just after New Year's Day. This year, thousands enjoyed jungle parties, sunrises and sunsets on beautiful beaches, and many more of the lovely magical experiences one can imagine would occur at a festival in Tulum, from January 3rd to January 12th. BPM is smaller and more relaxed than festivals like WMC and Burning Man, but offers equally amazing events like All Day I Dream, Music On, Wisdom of the Glove, Circo Loco, Enter. and many more. Check out the video recaps on The BPM Festival’s Facebook page to get an idea of how this crowd vibes. [Sonali Sen Sharma]

 photo stereosonic_zps840deb1d.jpg

#9 - Stereosonic [Sydney, Australia]
The grand-daddy of Australian electronic music festivals, Stereosonic dropped another monstrous line up last year that ran the gamut of genres from dubstep, deep house, trance and everything in between (Pulse Radio even hosted a stage in Sydney with s Maceo Plex, Solomun, Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Fritz Kalkbrenner and Hot Since 82). It also successfully transitioned into a two day event in each capital city across the country, a luxury afforded to organisers after being acquired by American events giant SFX Entertainment. This year Stereosonic is returning once again for #twodays, and looks set to prove that it’s got the right toys to play with the big boys in USA and Europe. [Henry Johnstone & Marissa Demetriou]

 photo timewarp_zps03be8b6e.jpg

#8 - Time Warp [Mannheim, Germany]
One of Germany’s biggest dance music festivals, Time Warp has been running since the mid 90s. Initially putting on its first parties in various cities around the country, the festival has grown into one massive event in Mannheim with 20,000 ravers frothing over techno and house music’s biggest DJs. This year Time Warp once again welcomes back usual suspect veterans like Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Cox and Sven Vath alongside your newer generation names a la Seth Troxler, Tale Of Us and tINI. Do yourself a favour and get there. [Pulse HQ]

 photo dimensions560_zps11fd1152.jpg

#7 - Dimensions [Fort Punta Christo, Croatia]
The only word to adequately describe Dimensions Festival in the infamous Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia, even at just two years old, is 'flawless.' Every aspect has been executed with loving care. From the breathtakingly adventurous location, to the indisputably flawless (there's that word again) sound-systems, and the to the meticulously sharp programming – which fuses beach parties, boat parties, and the best music from across Europe, the UK and US – every detail has been painstakingly planned. Years past has seen Dyed Soundorom and Andrew Weatherall take over Fort Arena, Ben Klock, Steffi and the Osgut Ton family in the glorious & notorious Moat Stage, and Moodymann's red wine-fuelled charisma adorning the Outside Arena. With its sensational considered delivery, Dimensions Festival ticks every conceivable box for a true house and techno lover. [Sophie G James]

 photo bestival_zpsc251cca1.jpg

#6 - Bestival [Isle Of Wight, UK]
Without a doubt one of the UK’s best festivals, Bestival each year blows punters away with its top-shelf and varied lineups. You’re just as likely to catch massive pop names like Elton John or Flaming Lips as you are underground techno from Berlin’s Marcel Dettmann. Each September, Bestival takes over Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle Of Wight, curated by BBC Radio 1 host and DJ Rob Da Bank. This year the dress up theme is Desert Island Disco and so far the lineup boasts Outkast, Disclosure and Major Lazer. Expect a DJ lineup to drop in the coming months that will have more jocks than you can poke a stick at. [Pulse HQ]

 photo 21coachella_zps102a7562.jpg

#5 - Coachella [Indio, USA]
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in the California desert over two weekends in April. Launched in 1999, the festival was originally only one weekend but due to popular demand, it expanded to two in 2012. Coachella is both different and amazing because it offers a little something for everybody; there are a variety of genres and artists performing each year. With acts like AFI, Beck, Blood Orange, Art Department, Bonobo, Dixon, Fishbone, Flosstradamus, Lana Del Ray, Kid Cudi, Lee Burridge, and many more, rap, hip-hop, techno, pop, dubstep, trap and several other genres are represented. Coupled with a beautiful setting featuring a variety of rides (ferris wheel, anyone?), tents, lights and art pieces, Coachella is truly a sight to be seen. Unfortunately, even with the expansion, tickets disappear very quickly. This year’s event is already sold out, but don’t lose hope - there’s always a way to finagle something. [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo sonar_zpsdf5d0ef5.jpg

#4 - Sonar [Barcelona, Spain]
The middle of June has been Sonar’s preserve in Barcelona for over twenty years, and the Catalan capital has something for even the most veteran festivalgoer. While the more laid-back (comparatively) and eclectic daytime program showcases everything from tech demos to big Euro DJs and esoteric Latin performance art, the nighttime is all about industrial-scale electronica.

Spread across Fira Gran Via’s cavernous arenas, a swathe of contemporary acts sit alongside luminaries (think New Order, Yazoo, Orbital and Madness in recent times), all surrounded by bumper cars and oddball projections – not to mention the explosion of ‘off-Sonar’ parties that have cropped up in recent years. For a week in the summer, Barcelona is the place to be, and nowhere better than the Sonar Pub at sunrise on the Sunday morning. [Guy Hornsby]

 photo exit560_zpsf4361cf2.jpg

#3 - Exit [Novi Sad, Serbia]
Housed in a medieval fort on hill overlooking the Danube, Exit’s location in Novi Sad can lay claim as one of the most breathtaking on the festival circuit. Started as a musical protest at the turn of the millennium, it’s grown yearly in size and reputation. But the relative ease of movement across its quirky hilltop arenas mixed with the overwhelming local hospitality means there’s still a real community feel.

While this Best Major European Festival winner always boasts big names, it’s also a rewarding chance to see some of Europe’s less heralded (and local) musicians fly the flag. Roasting temperatures mean it’s strictly an evening gig, giving revelers the chance to soak up some rays on the man-made beach in town all afternoon.15 years on, and post sundown is a spectacular and pleasingly unsullied festival experience, with the dance arena’s natural bowl providing the magical send-off to every night’s revelry. [Guy Hornsby]

 photo glastonbury560_zpsec42bcf6.jpg

#2 - Glastonbury [Pilton, UK]
It’s a British festival that’s as big as a decent-sized town, has stages that host anywhere from 70,000 people to 10, in fields, tents and even buried underground, covering every genre of music ever invented, and that barely scratches the surface.

Pilton’s finest is an experience everyone has to do once, and preferably many times more: even being washed away is part of its unique lustre, but so is climbing to the stone circle for dawn, getting a massage in the green fields, staggering around the Shangri-La in the darkness, shuffling to the silent disco in mid afternoon, and getting misty-eyed on Sunday evening in the middle of a swaying mass of flags and muddy faces at the Pyramid Stage after a day on the spiced cider. Nothing else, festival-wise, comes close. [Guy Hornsby]

 photo 21burningman_zps3763e647.jpg

#1 - Burning Man [Black Rock Desert, Nevada]
Burning Man is a truly unique experience. Set in the heart of the Nevada dessert, it has been described as life changing by many. Music, art, hedonism and spirituality collide under the blistering sun and cold nights to form a melting pot like no other. It is a place of extremes, expression and community. Driving a hundred miles out of Reno you are welcomed by a sea of amazing stages, decorated art cars and scantily dressed Burners. At the centre point, there is a giant woodman Man that is burnt on the penultimate night, celebrating new beginnings and also a Temple, torched on the last evening.

Founded in 1986. itt is based on ten principles; radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leave no trace, participation and immediacy. You cannot buy anything there apart from ice and coffee and you must take everything else with you that you need for the week-long event. This creates a feeling of community between the participants that is seldom found in our corporate world. Coupled with the workshops, orgy tents, talks on quantum physics and sunrise raves at the Robot Heart Bus – where you can catch names like Lee Burridge, Damian Lazarus and Pachanga Boys - Burning Man is an experience that really needs to be seen to be believed. [Robert Friggieri]

Listen to Pulse Radio

Festivals To Do Before You Die

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0

Much like clubbing, over the past half-decade or so music festivals have become not only a mainstream activity, but a popular travel option. The question now isn't which country are you visiting, it's which festival, with backpackers and holidaymakers pinpointing thier must-do events and then planning the rest of the trip around them. And with a plethora of amazing festivals all brimming with eclectic lineups boasting spectacular locations, it's easy to see why.

Here we list 20 of some of the biggest and best festivals that are worthy picks to travel across the globe for. Forget niche and boutique for the time being - these are the big puppies to look out for. Start booking, get packing!

 photo labyrinth_zps1db0e60d.jpg

#20 - Labyrinth [Japan]
Labyrinth festival is unique from so many angles. The festival is held annually in the mountains of Niigata prefecture Japan, famous for its steep and luscious green mountains that are covered with powdery snow by winter. Foreign visitors rush from around the world to get their hands on elusive “international” tickets, though around 95% of the festival tickets can only be purchased domestically.

With an expertly crafted line-up of ambient interwoven with more industrial 4x4, Labyrinth has made a full turn-around stylistically from the trance-fuelled rave that they once were. This transition was done with pure genuineness and the urge to be diverse. Proof is in the pudding; locals return year after year, the atmosphere remains relaxed and intimate, Extrawelt even advised me that they loved playing during the transition period years ago because it made sense to listeners and artists like them. With four hours of Petar Dundov going into Peter Van Hoesen; no one was complaining! So if you are one of the lucky ones at Labyrinth 2014, you’re in for a surreal experience – just don’t forget to pack a rain jacket. [Sonia Miles-Khan]

 photo EE_zps5946c1e3.jpg

#19 - Eastern Electrics [London]
A relatively new kid on the scene, Eastern Electrics, like most successful festivals, had a humble birth in 2008. Since then it has grown into one of the UK’s best and most credible dance music events. Last year saw its biggest edition to date; a two-night, three-day affair at Knebworth Park, just 30 minutes outside of London. This week the festival revealed that it’s “squeezing all the fun into one day,” in 2014, announcing a return on Saturday August 2nd. Better start warming up those dancing shoes. [Pulse HQ]

 photo 21mutek_zps2a2ad0c6.jpg

#18 - Mutek [Montreal]
Since 2000, MUTEK has brought electronic music and the digital arts to cities around the world. Its central platform is a five-day festival in Montreal that generally runs from late May into early June. Over 100 prominent artists, panelists, and industry figures participate in this massive gathering, joining several new talents who gain exposure at the event that oftentimes leads to successful careers. This year, MUTEK is joining forces with Elektra, Montreal’s digital arts festival, to celebrate their combined fifteenth anniversary. EM15, the major two-in-one festival, is set to run from Tuesday, May 27th until Sunday, June 1st showcasing over 100 artists through an “expansive and multidimensional experience.” [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo snowbombing_zps1e7d3d1e.jpg

#17 - Snowbombing [Mayrhofen, Austria]
Currently celebrating 13 years of fun, frolics and music deep in the Austrian Alps, Snowbombing has remained an annual pilgrimage for extreme sports nut-jobs and rave headcases alike. Set across an entire week across the charming and eccentric resort of Mayrhoffen. Roast pork sarnies, apres ski and some of finest, cleanest snowruns in Europe by day; by night, it's an electronic music fan's playground, playing host to legendary artists and labels such as Innervisions, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Booka Shade, Andy C and even Snoop Dogg in 2012. Its all about having the most fun you can have in the space of a week both on and off piste.

Jokes aside, Snowbombing's line up (cherry picked from current and legendary talent), uniwue venues decked out with custom built FunktionOnes and unrivaled atmosphere keep their lofty hijinks a cut above the other alpine romps. And by the end of the week, Jagaermeister will become your best friend. [Joe Gamp]

 photo tomorrowland_zps094b35de.jpg

#16 - Tomorrowland [Belgium]
It’s the festival that sold out in almost an instant in 2013, and upon doubling its capacity in 2014 by holding the festival over two weekends, sold 360,000 tickets in under an hour. It’s stages are of some of the most elaborate and fanciful ever constructed – last year’s main stage was a giant volcano, complete with fireworks and a blowing top – and play host to the biggest DJs in the world, ranging from Carl Cox to Hardwell to Armin Van Buuren, and it all takes place in the quite, beautiful countryside of Belgium. Tomorrowland is about as big as it gets for a dance music festival, and if you ever manage to snag a ticket before they sell out, should be right near the top of your bucket list. [Chandler Shortlidge]

 photo Fuji_zps8f6bcf07.jpg

#15 - Fuji Rock [Naeba, Japan]
Don’t let them name fool you, Fuji Rock boasts just as many cutting edge electronic acts as it does rock and indie. Nestled in the forest at the base of the Naeba Ski Resort, just an hour north of Japan, the festival is one of the major destinations for bands and DJs touring the world circuit, resulting in a large chunk of foreign travellers in attendance. But don’t fret, the bulk of the 100, 000+ attendees are locals, who with their gracious manner truly make Fuji Rock the wonderful experience that it is. Though make no mistake, courteousness aside, the Japanese still know how to party.

Whether you want to sit by a beautiful creek cradling a beer, get your mosh on with ‘Hello Kitty’ adorned teeny-boppers, dance the night away in a huge field to world class DJs, or just get lost in the beautiful surroundings, Fuji Rock has got even the most discerning of festival-goers covered. Read our review of Fuji Rock 2010 here. [Henry Johnstone]

 photo 21movement_zps9a14c62f.png

#14 - Movement [Detroit, USA]
One of the clear favorites of dedicated house and techno fans, Movement Electronic Music Festival is a staple in many of our festival seasons. The three-day extravaganza takes place in Detroit each Memorial Day weekend and features an all-star lineup of dance music pioneers as well as talented emerging artists. Past editions of the festival have brought legends such as Richie Hawtin, Carlo Cox, Loco Dice, Dubfire, Art Department, Carl Craig, and many more to the birthplace of the music we know and love. 2014 marks the ninth year of Movement, set to run from May 24th to May 26th – don’t miss out! [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo Melt_zps24dbf632.jpg

#13 - Melt! [Ferropolis, Germany]
Some festivals rely on their unique location as major drawcards. You could accuse Germany’s Melt! Of this, with it’s jaw-droppingly surreal location of Ferropolis (an open air museum of old huge industrial machines) certainly a major factor for punters to consider. But Melt! certainly doesn’t rest on its aesthetic laurels, boasting some of the best electronic music lineups on the planet. How’s 2014 looking? How does Tiga, Brodinski, Dixon, Moderat, Boys Noize and Portishead sound? Yeah, we thought so. [Pulse HQ]

 photo 21edc_zps8309c9d8.jpg

#12 - Electric Daisy Carnival [Las Vegas, USA]
Kicking off in Los Angeles back in 1997, Electric Daisy Carnival has since moved to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and grown in scale with over 300,000 attendees at the most recent iteration. Several spinoff events have been held in North American locations including New York, Puerto Rico, Orlando, Texas, and Chicago, with a festival planned for Mexico City this spring. EDC is known for bringing in the world’s biggest artists such as Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Svicii, Afrojack, and more for three days of great music while still focusing on the experience of guests, which it dubs its true “headliners.” The 2014 edition is scheduled for June 20th to June 22nd directly following Insomniac Events’ third annual EDMbiz conference and expo. [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo 21kazantip_zpse499ca70.jpg

#11 - Kazantip [Ukraine]
One of the most unique experiences around, The Republic of kaZantip is a 14-day gathering of music lovers in Crimea, who have chosen to disconnect from everyday life for two weeks of raving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The party takes place along seven miles of beach lining The Black Sea. The massive main stage and surrounding smaller venues host parties and showcases all day and night including Circoloco, Paradise, Ellum Audio, Armada, Diynamic, Flying Circus and more. All it takes is a viZa and a journey to the remote beaches of Ukraine to take part in this truly one-of-a-kind unforgettable experience! [Liz Mallalieu]

 photo 21bpm_zps15115930.jpg

#10 - BPM [Playa Del Carmen, Mexico]
Although The BPM Festival is relatively new, it has quickly gained notoriety as a personal favorite among many in the dance music community. Launched in 2008, this annual, ten-day-and-night party happens in beautiful Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and begins just after New Year's Day. This year, thousands enjoyed jungle parties, sunrises and sunsets on beautiful beaches, and many more of the lovely magical experiences one can imagine would occur at a festival in Tulum, from January 3rd to January 12th. BPM is smaller and more relaxed than festivals like WMC and Burning Man, but offers equally amazing events like All Day I Dream, Music On, Wisdom of the Glove, Circo Loco, Enter. and many more. Check out the video recaps on The BPM Festival’s Facebook page to get an idea of how this crowd vibes. [Sonali Sen Sharma]

 photo stereosonic_zps840deb1d.jpg

#9 - Stereosonic [Sydney, Australia]
The grand-daddy of Australian electronic music festivals, Stereosonic dropped another monstrous line up last year that ran the gamut of genres from dubstep, deep house, trance and everything in between (Pulse Radio even hosted a stage in Sydney with s Maceo Plex, Solomun, Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Fritz Kalkbrenner and Hot Since 82). It also successfully transitioned into a two day event in each capital city across the country, a luxury afforded to organisers after being acquired by American events giant SFX Entertainment. This year Stereosonic is returning once again for #twodays, and looks set to prove that it’s got the right toys to play with the big boys in USA and Europe. [Henry Johnstone & Marissa Demetriou]

 photo timewarp_zps03be8b6e.jpg

#8 - Time Warp [Mannheim, Germany]
One of Germany’s biggest dance music festivals, Time Warp has been running since the mid 90s. Initially putting on its first parties in various cities around the country, the festival has grown into one massive event in Mannheim with 20,000 ravers frothing over techno and house music’s biggest DJs. This year Time Warp once again welcomes back usual suspect veterans like Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Cox and Sven Vath alongside your newer generation names a la Seth Troxler, Tale Of Us and tINI. Do yourself a favour and get there. [Pulse HQ]

 photo dimensions560_zps11fd1152.jpg

#7 - Dimensions [Fort Punta Christo, Croatia]
The only word to adequately describe Dimensions Festival in the infamous Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia, even at just two years old, is 'flawless.' Every aspect has been executed with loving care. From the breathtakingly adventurous location, to the indisputably flawless (there's that word again) sound-systems, and the to the meticulously sharp programming – which fuses beach parties, boat parties, and the best music from across Europe, the UK and US – every detail has been painstakingly planned. Years past has seen Dyed Soundorom and Andrew Weatherall take over Fort Arena, Ben Klock, Steffi and the Osgut Ton family in the glorious & notorious Moat Stage, and Moodymann's red wine-fuelled charisma adorning the Outside Arena. With its sensational considered delivery, Dimensions Festival ticks every conceivable box for a true house and techno lover. [Sophie G James]

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#6 - Bestival [Isle Of Wight, UK]
Without a doubt one of the UK’s best festivals, Bestival each year blows punters away with its top-shelf and varied lineups. You’re just as likely to catch massive pop names like Elton John or Flaming Lips as you are underground techno from Berlin’s Marcel Dettmann. Each September, Bestival takes over Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle Of Wight, curated by BBC Radio 1 host and DJ Rob Da Bank. This year the dress up theme is Desert Island Disco and so far the lineup boasts Outkast, Disclosure and Major Lazer. Expect a DJ lineup to drop in the coming months that will have more jocks than you can poke a stick at. [Pulse HQ]

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#5 - Coachella [Indio, USA]
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in the California desert over two weekends in April. Launched in 1999, the festival was originally only one weekend but due to popular demand, it expanded to two in 2012. Coachella is both different and amazing because it offers a little something for everybody; there are a variety of genres and artists performing each year. With acts like AFI, Beck, Blood Orange, Art Department, Bonobo, Dixon, Fishbone, Flosstradamus, Lana Del Ray, Kid Cudi, Lee Burridge, and many more, rap, hip-hop, techno, pop, dubstep, trap and several other genres are represented. Coupled with a beautiful setting featuring a variety of rides (ferris wheel, anyone?), tents, lights and art pieces, Coachella is truly a sight to be seen. Unfortunately, even with the expansion, tickets disappear very quickly. This year’s event is already sold out, but don’t lose hope - there’s always a way to finagle something. [Liz Mallalieu]

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#4 - Sonar [Barcelona, Spain]
The middle of June has been Sonar’s preserve in Barcelona for over twenty years, and the Catalan capital has something for even the most veteran festivalgoer. While the more laid-back (comparatively) and eclectic daytime program showcases everything from tech demos to big Euro DJs and esoteric Latin performance art, the nighttime is all about industrial-scale electronica.

Spread across Fira Gran Via’s cavernous arenas, a swathe of contemporary acts sit alongside luminaries (think New Order, Yazoo, Orbital and Madness in recent times), all surrounded by bumper cars and oddball projections – not to mention the explosion of ‘off-Sonar’ parties that have cropped up in recent years. For a week in the summer, Barcelona is the place to be, and nowhere better than the Sonar Pub at sunrise on the Sunday morning. [Guy Hornsby]

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#3 - Exit [Novi Sad, Serbia]
Housed in a medieval fort on hill overlooking the Danube, Exit’s location in Novi Sad can lay claim as one of the most breathtaking on the festival circuit. Started as a musical protest at the turn of the millennium, it’s grown yearly in size and reputation. But the relative ease of movement across its quirky hilltop arenas mixed with the overwhelming local hospitality means there’s still a real community feel.

While this Best Major European Festival winner always boasts big names, it’s also a rewarding chance to see some of Europe’s less heralded (and local) musicians fly the flag. Roasting temperatures mean it’s strictly an evening gig, giving revelers the chance to soak up some rays on the man-made beach in town all afternoon.15 years on, and post sundown is a spectacular and pleasingly unsullied festival experience, with the dance arena’s natural bowl providing the magical send-off to every night’s revelry. [Guy Hornsby]

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#2 - Glastonbury [Pilton, UK]
It’s a British festival that’s as big as a decent-sized town, has stages that host anywhere from 70,000 people to 10, in fields, tents and even buried underground, covering every genre of music ever invented, and that barely scratches the surface.

Pilton’s finest is an experience everyone has to do once, and preferably many times more: even being washed away is part of its unique lustre, but so is climbing to the stone circle for dawn, getting a massage in the green fields, staggering around the Shangri-La in the darkness, shuffling to the silent disco in mid afternoon, and getting misty-eyed on Sunday evening in the middle of a swaying mass of flags and muddy faces at the Pyramid Stage after a day on the spiced cider. Nothing else, festival-wise, comes close. [Guy Hornsby]

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#1 - Burning Man [Black Rock Desert, Nevada]
Burning Man is a truly unique experience. Set in the heart of the Nevada dessert, it has been described as life changing by many. Music, art, hedonism and spirituality collide under the blistering sun and cold nights to form a melting pot like no other. It is a place of extremes, expression and community. Driving a hundred miles out of Reno you are welcomed by a sea of amazing stages, decorated art cars and scantily dressed Burners. At the centre point, there is a giant woodman Man that is burnt on the penultimate night, celebrating new beginnings and also a Temple, torched on the last evening.

Founded in 1986. itt is based on ten principles; radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leave no trace, participation and immediacy. You cannot buy anything there apart from ice and coffee and you must take everything else with you that you need for the week-long event. This creates a feeling of community between the participants that is seldom found in our corporate world. Coupled with the workshops, orgy tents, talks on quantum physics and sunrise raves at the Robot Heart Bus – where you can catch names like Lee Burridge, Damian Lazarus and Pachanga Boys - Burning Man is an experience that really needs to be seen to be believed. [Robert Friggieri]

Listen to Pulse Radio

Breathe Sunshine Unity Jam – People Unite

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On Sunday 16 February 2014, Cape Town changed forever. The Breathe Sunshine Unity Jam achieved its goal of uniting people through music in a way never seen in the city - bringing people of all ages, races and backgrounds together at Marakana Park in Langa Township. The event attracted a significant white audience, many of whom had never been into a township before, making a positive step to breaking down the psychological barriers that still divide the city. (Header image photo credit: Belia Oh Photography


Photo credit: Belia Oh Photography

International German reggae superstar Gentleman had the crowd in frenzy with an energetic, electrifying performance. It was the headliner performer’s first time in South Africa, and his appearance formed part of an African tour supported by the Goethe-Institute. A line-up of talented local artists such as Jeremy Loops, Ifani, Driemanskap, Diloxclusiv ft. Jimmy Dludlu, Trenton and Free Radical, Mighty, Fosta, Youngsta, DJ Realrozanno, Teba, Crosby and West Geez and Mawezza delivered stellar performances, further showcasing the power that music has to unify people. 


Photo credit: Belia Oh Photography

“We have achieved 20 years of democracy this year, and it is disappointing that the city is still so divided and disconnected. The Breathe Sunshine Unity Jam exceeded my expectations and proved that we can create platforms where people of all races can meet and celebrate our diversity. It has been one of the most inspiring moments of my life,” says Trenton Birch, founder of Black Mango - the social enterprise responsible for the event. 

The Unity Jam event was held on the third day of the Breathe Sunshine African Music Conference, which, after a second successful year has firmly cemented itself as one of the most important industry events on the calendar. New additions to the conference this year proved successful, notably an invite-only indaba session that enabled the City of Cape Town to meet with a number of promoters to assess ways of working while also breaking down communication barriers across the city. 


Photo credit: Belia Oh Photography

The Bridges for Music Electronic Room was hugely popular, as well as the Technical Demonstrations room, hosting Pioneer & Serato, Ableton, Bundi Productions and Akai, showing off some of the world’s most cutting-edge music software and hardware. Workshops backed by SAE Institute provided a platform for young up and coming artists and industry players under the ‘Empowering Your Art’ banner, while back-to-back DJs in the networking lounge ensured that the energy never faltered. The Unity Jam had social media channels buzzing with positive feedback, setting the scene for an even bigger and better event in 2015.


Photo credit: Belia Oh Photography

Website - http://breathesunshineconference.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/BreatheSunshine?fref=ts      
Twitter - @BSunshineAfrica

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Pan-Pot: 'In the end, you’re an entertainer'

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To say that techno duo Pan-Pot have had a successful few years would be a bit of an understatement. These two Berlin beauties have been setting the electronic music scene on fire as of late with their special brand of big room techno, their stellar soundscapes and an unwavering passion for what they do.

March sees them start a new chapter as they launch their own label, Second State – aptly named as they move into the next stage of their careers. After a long day of recording, they found the time to sit down with a beer and reminisce on their sell-out tour, their London Showcase in March, and give me the skinny on what we can expect from them and their new imprint.

Last year you celebrated your 10-year partnership with your sell-out X-10 tour. How do you think your sound and attitude towards making music has evolved since you started playing together? Tassilo: When we started together 10 years ago, it was a very precise music taste we had; very minimal oriented. Over the years we’ve definitely opened up a lot, which we are really happy about. We’re getting back to real techno, tech house. We also love to do housier stuff; we had some deep house tracks out too. We’ve become more open minded.

After touring you’ve continued to play all over the world. Has there been a place on your travels that you’ve been to that has really inspired you? Thomas: Luckily we had the first two weeks of the year off! But I’d say, this year we were so inspired by Australia. It was the first time we’d been there. We rented a car and drove this great ocean road from Melbourne to Twelve Apostles. It’s great to get some time together when were not sitting in the studio or DJing, and it was a completely different surrounding for us, more like a buddy tour! And Rainbow Serpent festival was so inspiring. Last year I’d have said Burning Man. I had no clue what to expect, and it was a crazy fucking thing! Then Hawaii years before... There are so many beautiful places on earth that have inspired us.

You’ve got your biggest London show to date coming up with London Warehouse Events on the 15th March. How you feeling about it? Tassilo: Very excited! The whole period we have right now is so exciting. We’re starting our own label, and it’s our baby. We’ve tried to do as good a job as we can. This London Showcase is the third showcase we’re doing with our label, so we’re excited and nervous! Over the last few years our love for London has grown so much. We love going there, have a lot of friends there, and always have a great time there.

So you’ve got your own label, Second State, due to launch in March... Exciting! Where did the name come from? Why did you feel now was the time to launch your own imprint? Tassilo: We decided at the end of 2012 to do our own label, but we wanted to take our time with everything, including choosing the right name. We had so many evenings of brainstorming. Second State references the second stage of our career. We’ve been sticking to Mobilee for ten years; that was the first part and this is the second. This is our own little world, our own little state where we can do whatever we want to do, with whoever we want to do it. It’s a little bit of an ego driven thing, but in a good, honest way. Secondly, we’d had ten years as artists with time to think. Five years ago I thought about it, but it would’ve been too early. We were collecting so much experience within the Mobilee corporation. Then in 2012, Thomas said, “Let’s go for it.” We felt it was the right moment to do something of our own.

Thomas: With a label, you have to do it once and you have to do it seriously. Five years ago, we didn’t have enough power or experience – now we have the contacts and the money, and it’s just the right choice right now.

What can we expect from the label? Is the plan to use it primarily as a platform for your own sound, or to discover new artists? Tassilo: Originally we wanted to release our own music at first then slowly look out for other artists. This has changed a bit, as our very good long-time friend Clint Stewart has actually become our first artist. He’s given us some amazing tracks to release. Other friends have given us some great tracks too. We realised when we start the label, people are going to give us great music, and we can’t just not release it because we’ve said it’s for our own stuff. So now we’re keen to do a great A&R job. But we don’t want too many artists initially; we want to let it be gradual but consistent. We have two other fresh and unknown artists at the moment too.

Thomas: We both want to have a family thing, not like a supermarket label where you bring releases out from anyone. We’d love to have just a few artists behind us. Two is enough to start with, then we can concentrate on them and grow slowly. It’s really important to us that we take care of them. We want to have a core of artists, friends and good people.

You smashed it at Amnesia Opening last year... Any chance we’ll be seeing you on the Terrace this time round? Tassilo: Well we actually have a Music On residency for the Fridays. We’re playing six times with them. We’re definitely playing the main floor and maybe even the Terrace...

Thomas: (Laughing) The Terrace, everyone wants to play there. You have to do something to get to play the Terrace! You seem to have to play the main room for a few years first.

Tassilo: We also have a couple of dates with Carl Cox at Space again, and we’re going to invite him to Berlin. I think there’s another party we’re playing too... We’re playing way more gigs than last year anyway, so we’ll see you there!

Some DJs keep themselves to themselves and it’s purely about the music, but when I see you play you let your personalities show. As DJs and producers, how important do you think personality is in this business in comparison to the music? Tassilo: It’s everything!

Thomas: Yes, you shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Tassilo: In the end, you’re an entertainer. You’re not just the nerdy guy behind the decks mixing two tracks into each other. Those days are over, sorry! When I go to a club, I want to be entertained and have fun. I can’t have fun when the guy up there isn’t interacting with the crowd. We love it up there. It’s very exhausting, we have to travel all the time and all that bullshit, but it’s all totally worth it for the two, six, whatever hours. There shouldn’t be a disconnection between the DJ and the crowd; they should be one.

Thomas: We always have fun because to us that’s our rave time. We don’t go out at the weekends because we’re playing so we rave behind the decks!

People compare a musical duo to being like a marriage. What would you say was your best moment and your biggest fight? Tassilo: Ha! Well I can tell you about the biggest fight... It was about five years ago, standing in our studio, and we had this fight about, I don’t even remember what it was, and we were seriously standing in front of each other almost punching each other’s faces! It took two days before everything was okay again! But we don’t have these bad moments anymore. I mean sometimes yeah, we have off days, Thomas is moody or I’m moody (Thomas: Er, I’m never moody!) But we just accept it. After ten years we both feel so confident about our partnership that we totally accept each other’s moods and situations. We’ve had so many good times, nothing else matters! We’ve had so many great parties; I can’t even pick the best. That’s the reason why we still enjoy it so much.

Finally, what can we expect from Pan-Pot the rest of this year? Thomas: Well we’re booked until the end of the year, we’ve got Kazantip Festival, we’ve got our own Sonar parties again, and some personal exciting things going on. Looks like it’s going to be a good year!

London Warehouse Events present Pan-Pot Showcase on March 15. More info here.

Listen to Pan-Pot on Pulse Radio.

Cocoon Ibiza Announces 2014 Dates

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Celebrating 15 years of Cocoon in Ibiza, the island's oldest and most successful techno fiesta returns to Amnesia on Mondays in 2014. While there were rumours, and more rumours on top of those, it's now confirmed that from Monday, June 2nd to Monday, September 29th, once again Sven Vath and the Cocoon team will call Amnesia home for the summer. While line-up is yet to be confirmed, one can likely expect the party's key players to return for all night marathons, early morning terrace sweat sessions, and a healthy dose of new blood to round things out. Mondays, roll on. 

Opening party kicks off June 2nd. 

Listen to Cocoon on Pulse Radio

 

Ultra Music Festival & Swedish House Mafia Sued By Lighting Technician

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The Miami Times reports that a lighting technician whose legs were broken during an accident at the 2013 edition of Ultra Music Festival is now suing the festival as well as a list of others including EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia. Joey Green claims that he was installing the festival’s signature “U” LED lights when one of the panels fell on top of him and several others. The accident occurred on March 14, 2013.

The lawsuit is just one of many that have been filed surrounding the popular Miami electronic music festival. One from 2011 involved a couple getting arrested and tased, all because of a glow stick. More well known, Ultra’s own co-founders are still involved in a legal battle.

Listen to Swedish House Mafia on Pulse Radio

 


Kubicle Presents: Miguel Campbell & Outcross Records For One Night In Rio

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Underground London party brand, Kubicle is set to bring the glitz and glamour of Rio Carnival to a new home this month with the announcement of their latest London party extravaganza, “One Night In Rio.” A collaboration with Miguel Campbell’s celebrated Outcross Records and headlined by the man himself, “One Night in Rio.” will light up iCan Studios on February 28th.

The brainchild of Liz Mendez and Sonia Anderson, Kubicle is famed for its cutting-edge music policy and extravagant dress code, hosting eclectic, intimate parties in the capital since 2005.  A real treat, “One Night in Rio” corresponds with the release of the “7 Years of Outcross Compilation,” and the event will be held in association with Love Support Unite, who will be selling their Lovespecs to support Tilinanu Orphanage in Malawi. On the brink of what’s set to be one hell of a party, we sat down with Miguel to talk all things Outcross, his illustrious career thus far and his big plans for future. Buy tickets here.

Your label Outcross Records is set to team up with seminal London party brand Kubicle next month, tell us how the collaboration came about? I have been friends with the ladies who run Kubicle for a few years now and they’ve always supported me. The music I play also suited their parties very nicely, and so we have been wanting to make this collaboration happen for some time. With our imminent 7 years of Outcross anniversary compilation, now seemed the perfect time to make this happen.

Titled “One Night in Rio,” we’ve been told Kubicle will bring Rio’s colourful carnival vibes to a new London home. Do you have anything special in mind for the unique night? I have played for Kubicle lots of times at different venues, and the girls always put on a great event and create a unique atmosphere at their parties, so I can only expect bright colour and glamour! Our music on the night will reflect this, and the Outcross DJs have lots of unreleased music to play, a lot of which will be released on our label this year.

The Kubicle party coincides with the release of the 7 Years of Outcross compilation, out on Feb 17th. With such an impressive release catalogue, how did you select the tracks that made the final cut? When selecting the tracks that made the compilation, I wanted to be sure to encapsulate the classic sound of the label, and capture the essence of our recent releases. Whilst doing this, I thought it was important to play tracks that were found to be favourites. Not just favourites of mine but favourites of the whole Outcross Family. I also thought that this was a good way to introduce listeners to some of the tacks on our label that may have been missed.

What is the ethos behind Outcross Records and what inspired you to start the outfit in 2006 with your production partner Matt Hughes? At the time I set up the label, the boom of digital labels was happening and releasing on successful labels was just a dream to us. Most of the popular labels that I had contact with were releasing minimal tracks, however I knew that we could create our own platform to release our music in the style we wanted. At the time we had very few fans and supporters, but hey, you can't stop the funk, and so we just kept on making music and putting it out there.

You have a strong relationship with Hot Creations, your album Back in Flight School was their first ever LP, what do you think are the defining factors that have made the label so successful? I think there are many reasons why Hot Creations has become successful. But above all of them, I think it’s down to passion and hard work. The music released has played a massive part in the success of the label. As real music became a part of the popular house music scene again, the tracks selected for the label were perfect representations of a cutting edge, melancholic style that was being championed on the dance floors, and this continues.

You’ve been in the production game for some time now, and your track “Something Special” was arguably the biggest song of 2011. What are your thoughts about the ongoing rise of mainstream house music and the Stateside EDM phenomenon? I really don't give this a second thought at all. But my first thought is that I really enjoy house music, and if more and more people are beginning to enjoy it too, whatever it's guise, that can only be a good thing.

You’ve travelled and DJed all over the globe, however you are originally from Leeds, a city with a strong underground music scene. Where is your favourite place to play? Where do you feel most at home? There are lots of cities that I enjoy playing in, but if I had to choose a favourite, I would have to say Paris. I always enjoy arriving in Paris and seeing my friends there, shopping, dining and hitting the clubs early! I always love playing on home ground in the UK, and I always feel really at home in Mexico. The people there are so nice, and whilst my Spanish is not great, I always get along everywhere I go and I always enjoy spending time with la gran familia!

You’ve always been a lover and ardent supporter of the French Touch sound. In light of Daft Punk’s Grammys sweep, which artists would you recommend to listeners only just discovering the scene? Some of my favourite records are on Roule & Crydamoure, the two respective records labels of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (aka, Daft Punk). Other artists I would check out would be: Cassius, Alan Braxe, Fred Falke, Break Bot, Super Funk.



Finally, what can we expect from you in 2014? What are you hoping to show fans that they haven't seen before? This year I will be releasing new music, and I'll continue to focus on touring. My residency on Radio FG is also something that will continue throughout the year. I’m enjoying working with several artists at the moment and so a few collaborations and new releases on my label are in the pipeline.

Buy ticktets to Kubicle Presents: Miguel Campbell & Outcross Records For One Night In Rio Here:

 

Listen to Miguel Campbell on Pulse Radio.

Carlo Lio & Stuck on Earth at Sankeys NYC

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As usual, Sankeys NYC has a massive weekend planned with a special birthday set from Carlo Lio alongside Julian Perez, and Rafael Berr on Friday night and the highly anticipated Stuck on Earth Entertainment reunion on Saturday night with an all-star lineup!

Kick off your weekend right with the birthday celebration of Toronto native Carlo Lio. The Rawthentic co-founder has consistently impressed fellow DJs, producers, and club goers with his numerous high quality hits. Joining him on this special day are Spanish DJ Julian Perez ahead of his Treehouse appearance in Miami as well as Jean Pierre, Keith John, and Amo in Spektrum.

The fun continues on Saturday with the Stuck on Earth reunion! Founded back in 1994 by Chris Love and Jeffrey Cohen, the famed production company has achieved great success in the New York scene. Relive some of your amazing memories with a musical soundtrack provided by a collection of legends – Derrick Carter, Doc Martin, Bad Boy Bill, Frankie Bones, and many more.

Don’t miss out on these two events featuring big names in the Big Apple. Are you ready?

Listen to Carlo Lio on Pulse Radio

Mos Def, Tim Renner, Dr Jones & Sipho Mabuse backing the Music Exchange 2014

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Returning to the Cape Town City Hall between 7th and 8th of March 2014 will be South Africa’s premier music, film, and entertainment programme we know as the Music Exchange 2014. It’s to be the fourth annual event and will be hosting investors, patrons, musicians, students and peers all gathering for music, film, and of course, entertainment. 

Let it be known, the World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow recipient Tim Renner’s keynote address promises to offer global insight on the latest economic trends in the music markets. (via www.onemusiccity.co.za). Tim Renner, Managing Director of Motor Music has been at the helm of developing globally recognised artists to the likes of Philip Boa, Tocotronic, Absolute Beginner, Portishead, the legend 2Pac Shakur, A*Teens, The Cardigans and German superheroes Rammstein. Suffice to say, you might learn something new. 

Legend (We don’t throw that word around too often) Hip Hop artist and actor, Mos Def will also be speaking at the Music Exchange 2014, along with Dr Trevor Jones who will be one of the esteemed board-members. Worth a mention, Dr Jones is so committed to the Music Exchange 2014 that he has turned down an invite to this year’s Academy Awards to be at the Music Exchange 2014. Also, Hotstix Mabuse, Steve Harris and many more will be at the event this year, so be sure to get down to the City Hall in Cape Town during the course of the weekend. Get your tickets!!

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Exclusive: Stream Monokle Remix of Christian Loeffler's 'Notes'

Listen: Paul Oakenfold Remakes Trance Classic “Café Del Mar” For New 'Trance Mission' Album

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Trance fans, prepare to grab a pitch fork and storm the castle, or rejoice with open open arms, because Paul Oakenfold's remake of the 1998 classic "Café Del Mar" will either send you running for the hills or hugging the speaker. Listen here.

Oakenfold's big room remake of Energy 52's classic, which will likely ruffle a few feathers for old school trance lovers, is the first single on Perfecto Fluoro, released in preparation for the forthcoming "Trance Mission," out on March 10. The album is said to feature cover versions of ten of Oakenfold’s all time favourite trance records. Voted “Best Tune Ever” by Mixmag in 2001 and BBC Radio 1 listener voted best dance track of the last 20 years in 2011, the original, named for the iconic Ibiza seaside cafe, has one of the most recognisable riffs in dance music. And while remixed many times over, now Oakenfold himself, who helped make it such a huge hit with his seminal "Tranceport" mix album, has given it his touch.

 

Listen to the original here:

So, does it stack up to the original, or should it have been left well enough alone? You tell us.  

Listen to Paul Oakenfold on Pulse Radio.

Fresh Blood: Patrick Topping

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Patrick Topping is a DJ and producer from Newcastle. He’s only been DJing for a few years but has already made some serious waves in the industry. With two well-received releases on Hot Creations (his ‘Any Amounts’ EP was one of the most successful of the year for the label and 'Get Beasty' is currently No. 1 on Beatport's Tech House chart) and an upcoming release on Defected, Patrick’s career is on the rise and all the signs are only pointing higher. We had a chance to chat with Patrick about how he got started as a DJ, some of his dream gigs and plans for the future. Give his mix a listen and catch him at his club night, Motion, in his hometown.

For those who don't already know, tell us about yourself. I’m 24 and from Newcastle, England. I’ve been DJing and promoting around Newcastle for the past 4 years, but I started releasing music in the last year and since then it’s been mental, really! I’ve been into house and techno for so long, but never imagined I would be getting booked all over the world!

How did you get into DJing and electronic music? I’ve been into it since I was about 17, so nearly 8 years. Initially I was into house, trance, electro, all sorts but things like the first Cocoon In the Park festival in Leeds, really pushed me towards techno and house.

You've already played some legendary spots (like DC 10), what are some dream gigs? Yeah, DC10 was amazing! Clubs such as all the obvious ones that everyone dreams of playing, like Panorama Bar, Amnesia and Warung would all be amazing, but I just love playing anywhere really if the crowd and sound are good.

You've been working closely with the Hot Creations crew but are there any other labels you'd like to work with in the future? Yeah, I have something that's about to drop on Defected, called 'Holiday' and then a few remixes on some wicked labels too, but to get a track on Cocoon would be amazing! As Sven is one of my favorite DJs and has class taste. He doesn’t really play a bad record! So to have something on Cocoon is an ambition. 

Who would you like to collaborate with? wAFF is my favorite producer and we are actually planning on making a track together at some point. Suppose a collaboration with Jamie would be daft too!

You're from Newcastle, any plans to head back home in the future? Do you miss your hometown when you're on the road? I still live in Newcastle and run my club night there called Motion. It's been going nearly 4 years and it the biggest its ever been, so defo going to keep that going. It's amazing to be able to play in Newcastle every couple months at my own night and bring other DJs I love to the city as well.

Tell us a bit about the approach you took to the mix you made us. The mix has two tracks from my current EP in it, two of my unreleased tracks that I’ve made recently and then some tracks that I’m playing out at the moment. It's a fair reflection of my DJs sets, but condensed and without the odd techno track, which I like to play in clubs.

What else is on the horizon for you? I have so many gigs coming up, which is great. I'm all over the place, like two festivals in Belgium, an Australian tour and loads more exciting places that I’ve never to been before. Music-wise, I’ve got those remixes I mentioned, then I have another Hot Creations EP about to drop soon, which I’m really excited about. Jamie reckons it’s my best yet, so buzzing for everyone to hear it. Then I’m going to do my first season living in Ibiza! Can’t wait to share my Ibiza dates, just a couple things getting tied up.

Listen to Patrick Topping on Pulse Radio

Sasha, Jamie Jones Among First Acts Announced for SW4

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South West 4 returns to Clapham Common from August 23-24 in 2014, and the first names for Saturday night have been announced. 

This year, three time headliner Sasha will make his return. Sasha has headlined more than any other DJ, and will be joined on Saturday night by SW4 newcomer Jamie Jones. Also billed for Saturday night is Items & Things cofounder, Magda, who's also making her SW4 debut, along with trance act Above & Beyond. Above & Beyond will be putting on their largest biggest London event to date, and the only performance in the capital this year on August 23rd. 

SW4 Saturday and Weekend tickets on general sale Friday, February 21st at 9am. For more information visit www.southwestfour.com/tickets

Listen to Magda on Pulse Radio.


Bonnaroo Reveals Massive 2014 Lineup

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Whether you’re a seasoned Bonnaroo veteran or are considering attending the festival for the first time, you know that Bonnaroo is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and the highlight of many music fans’ festival seasons. The four-day festival takes place each summer in Manchester, Tennessee and is known for featuring a large variety of performers from several different musical genres, both big international names as well as talented emerging artists. This year is no exception.

The massive 2014 lineup includes Elton John, Kanye West, Jack White, Lionel Richie, Vampire Weekend, Skrillex, Kaskade, Disclosure, Cut Copy, James Blake, Chromeo, Zedd, Chvrches, The Glitch mob, and many more… the list goes on. Bonnaroo 2014 is set to run from June 12th to June 15th.

The lineup was revealed last night at the BLAM (Bonnaroo Lineup Announcement Megashow) with hosts Taran Killam and Hannibal Buress and performances by The Flaming Lips, Ben Folds, Dave Matthews, Kings of Leon, Phish, .fun, The Lumineers, Tenacious D, and more.

Listen to Skrillex on Pulse Radio

Union Jack Records: Under the Inverted Triangle

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Since 2010, Union Jack Records has released a collection of well-received material by "bringing together artists of different styles" and exploring the "deeper, funkier, and groovier side of electronic dance music."  In only a few years, label managers Memo Insua and Frank Kenfold have worked with several talented emerging artists such as Sex Tape, Luis Leon, GoingDeeper, Suptil, Lessovsky, and many more.  The label's first release was proudly featured on "Balance 017," put together by Timo Maas.  We had a chance to sit down with Memo and Frank to chat about their vision for Union Jack, getting the label off the ground, which producers are inspiring them at the moment, their most gratifying moment, and what we can look forward to from Union Jack in 2014.  Union Jack is offering two free track downloads on Pulse Radio - Sex Tape's "The Way She Moves" as well as an unreleased tune, "Nothing Left" by Memo Insua and Daniel Cantisani.

Union Jack has been growing throughout the past few years - who else is involved in the label? We, Memo Insua and Frank Kenfold, are piloting the label for now.

What have been some of the most difficult challenges you've faced in terms of building your label, managing it, etc.? Trying to be as enjoyable as we can to our listeners - we like to keep them craving every release. We ponder on the possible steps to give before actually giving them; the whos and whens are in fact extremely important to keep everything as tidy and organized as we possible can. Fortunately, the formula we're using to approach the artists and at the same time keep the listeners interested is working and that really pays off for us. We wouldn't like to be a label that suddenly stops releasing music, and that's why we continue to work daily - so we can thrive.



You've described your overall sound as new age indie/nu dance, deep, weird, techy sound with funk, vocals and heavy bass lines.
Has your sound evolved at all over time or mostly stayed the same? 
Without a doubt the new age indie dance/nu disco thing ''was'' and not ''is,'' and indeed it was truly helpful for the label to expand our brand sound, but we do belive everything has a beginning and an ending. This doesn't mean we changed our sound. To us it is growing with the music, and evolving into a more landed idea of what we truly want for the label musically. We consider trends, hypes and fashions as an endless argument like the Arsenal against Manchester argument (Memo believes Arsenal is better and Frank is thinking if he should eat a sandwich or two).

Union Jack is based in Mexico and has worked with artists all over the world are there any places in particular that have heavier influences on your sound? We assume not, but maybe we're guessing wrong. We'd like our listeners to tell us that!

Are there any new artists who have caught your eye? Will we see them on Union Jack? Shall Ocin, Martin Roth, Pezzner, Will Saul and DJ Koze would be our picks to work with. Will we see them here? It's said nothing is impossible. Hopefully things continue to be as they are so we can have the proper offer for them.

How has your vision for the label evolved over the years? It has changed indeed. We had a vague idea of what to do when we started, but we both knew we needed to start with the right foot as timed passed by (4 years now) and we've continued to grow and see far more than meets the eye.

What has been the most gratifying moment for Union Jack so far? So far, getting our first release in a Balance Compilation. That really pumped us up. Secondly, getting producers like Kellerkind, Roland Appel, Jorge Takei, Nick Devon, Sasse,,Arthur Oskan, Thomas Langner and Atnarko to work with us. Meeting our production heroes while they make good comments about our work really makes it for us. That's when we know we're down the right path. Finally, the most obvious would be having really cool DJs play our stuff - you may get to watch Betoko playing back to back with Sasha here :


Adam Banks - Undercover (Kreature Remx) - Union Jack Records

What is on the horizon for Union Jack in 2014? We have so many great things to deliver this year. We start off with a new image and a fresher sound. Our forthcoming release by Nick Devon feat. Lazarusman with remixes from Kellerkind, Roland Appel including a 'dub' version, and Jules & Moss. Thomas Langner, Atnarko, and Patrick Podage are also preparing a release on ''The Triangle'' (That's what we like to call the label). Mikalogic will have a release around June with a possible Pezzner remix. We don't know what happened but somehow Pezzner decided to remix one of our tracks! We have an EP coming from the duo of Broombeck and Michael Schickert which we totally dig.  We have showcases planned around the world (so expect us saying "Hi" personally to some of you from time to time). We have an extra project cooking as well with one of the label's amigos, Luis Leon, who calls Union Jack his second home. The main idea is to work closely with certain artists on both Luis Leon's Blankhaus label and ours. We're building up a family and we're planning on developing projects together... a few names to shoot: Sex Tape, Nikolas Noam, Luis Leon, Memo Insua, Pedro Martins, and Night Wolves.

Listen to Union Jack Records on Pulse Radio 

Free Music: Olivia Newton John - Magic (Shiny Objects Rework)

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Who doesn’t love free music? Especially when there’s some old school flavor involved. Check out Shiny Objects’ spacey rework of ‘Magic’, the classic Olivia Newton John track. The track was released on May 23rd, 1980 and was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks. Billboard magazine ranked the track as the third most popular single of 1980. We know we’ll be listening to it on repeat for the next few days!

Christopher Smith, also known as Shiny Objects, is the San Francisco native who’s been making music since 1994. He is the founder of the deep house/nu-disco label, Smoke n’ Mirrors as well as Om Records, featuring artists like Groove Armada, Mark Farina, People Under the Stairs, Underworld and Kaskade, to name a few.

Listen to Kaskade on Pulse Radio

deadmau5 Accuses Hardstyle Producer Wildstylez Of Ripping Off “Some Chords”

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The copyright violations in the music industry keep on coming - this time it involves Canadian DJ deadmau5 accusing hardstyle producer Wildstylez of stealing the chord progression from his hit track “Some Chords” in the recently released “Straightforward.” After listening to both tunes, it seems that deadmau5 does have a point – the chords are essentially identical. Listen below and let us know what you think.

Naturally, deadmau5 took to Twitter to voice his frustrations about the situation with the same sense of humor he’s become known for. “if youre going to rip off “some chords” rip off SOME chords... not ALL OF THEM. IN THE SAME FUCKING ORDER. Lol” He then goes on about how he is going to make a hardstyle track on his new site, live.deadmau5.com, claiming “should only take about an hour.”

Listen to deadmau5 on Pulse Radio

Julio Bashmore Readies His Debut Album

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Bristol producer Julio Bashmore is gearing up to release his debut album, which he revealed to FACT is "pretty much finished."

Bashmore has been working on the album for the past two years, with the LP set to see a release this European summer on his Broadwalk label.

In the lead up to the album, a preview of the forthcoming single 'Peppermint' has surfaced, to be officially released on February 23rd. Listen below.

Bashmore has already been announced to appear at several festivals this year including Movement in Detroit, Longtiude in Dublin and the Bugged Out Weekender in Southport.

Listen to Julio Bashmore on Pulse Radio

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