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Watch: Who Is William Onyeabor?

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In 2013, a very mysterious record that packed a powerful punch was ‘Who Is William Onyeabor’ started drawing a lot of attention. This was extraordinary as it posed as many questions as it answered while it introduced the world to the force that hails from the Nigerian electro-funk realm, not that there was one at the time, an enigma if you will - William Onyeabor.   

Noisey spent years trying to track down the elusive Onyeabor who they found to be a born-again Christian and is completely unbothered by the fascination around his music and his past. After speculating as to why he wouldn’t be interested in re-sparking his career, they called it a day and finally the Luaka Bop label followed up their excellent compilation album with a full-length documentary. Watch below: 

The video was created by film-maker Jake Sumner with Noisey, Fantastic Mantraces the long search for Onyeabor from the first collectors to discover his records to Luaka Bop’s attempt to make contact with the man himself in his hometown of Enugu in Nigeria. 

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Pulse Radio Pit Stop: Simone Gatto

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Simone Gatto credits his signature style to a blend of his house and techno influences and his roots - the sounds of the wind and the waves he remembers growing up in his hometown of Nardò located on the coast of Italy as well as his philosophical and sociological studies.  The Out-er label boss is set to play at Sheik 'N' Beik's upcoming party at The Panther Room on March 9th as well as co-produce a party with Sheik 'N' Beik in Miami during WMC.  We had a chance to catch up with him ahead of the two events to chat about his label, how his relationship with Sheik 'N' Beik began, what he's looking forward to doing during his stay in New York, and what he has on his horizon for this year. Be sure to get tickets to both events on Pulse Radio!

You are set to play at two of Sheik ‘N’ Beik’s upcoming parties, one in New York and the other in Miami during WMC. How did your relationship with them start? I met Julio (Shiek 'N' Beik's founder) three years ago during a wedding in Italy. I remember that we spoke about music and labels, and I introduced him to my label Out-er and my artist background. After that we became friends and I started to play often at his parties! This year is going to be the third time for me playing at Sheik 'N' Beik in NYC, and we are also producing the party at WMC together so I'm really excited about that!

What can guests look forward to from your set alongside the Sheik ‘N’ Beik residents on March 9th at The Panther Room? Well, I can't tell you exactly what to expect from my set at The Panther Room! I always like to range from deep house to techno but it always depends from the crowd.

What are some of the things you’re excited to do, see, and eat in the Big Apple during your stay? Like I said before, this is going to be my third time in New York and each time I came before it was for one month, so I started to know some people there and I obviously know the city better than before! It's going to be fun! This year I'll be pretty much focus on making music with Julio in his studio in Manhattan beccause we are thinking about doing an album together!

Are there any young producers that have been impressing you lately? Will we see them on Out-er? Yes definitely. There are good young producers that have been impressing me and we are going to release a lot of new talented artists during 2014 on Out-er. We have just released an EP from my mate Santorini with a Conforce remix that delivered us a trippy dub mix, and I'm really excited to think about the next vinyl releases coming out in 2014 from myself, Summed, Orlando Voorn, LaChriz with a Marco Zenker remix, Buck, Jeroen Search and The Analogue Cops.

What else can we expect from you this year? This year is going to be very intense for me. I worked so hard in the studio last year so now I have some good vinyl releases planned. Next month I'll release a four tracks EP on Night Vision, and then I'll be on Subwax, Reduction, Underground Liberty, Vae Victis, Safari Numerique and others TBA with some important remixers like Orlando Voorn, Terrence Dixon, and the Analogue Cops. It will be busy on the party side too because I'm launching my party Out-Break in Paris and London once a month. Moreover I have planned a season in Ibiza with Sheik 'N' Beik so a lot of stuff is coming - fingers crossed!

Listen to Simone Gatto on Pulse Radio

EXIT Festival Announce 15th Anniversary Tour 2014

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As if 4 days from the 10th to the 13th of July at the magical Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia weren’t enough, today EXIT Festival have announced that they’re embarking on an all-star tour in the UK and Europe from March to May.

Aiming to showcase EXIT artists past, present and future, they have gathered an intergalactic team more than worthy of representing their award winning festival featuring DJs du jour Paul Woolford, Eats Everything, Richy Ahmed and Catz N Dogz to name but a few. This tour is yet another string to the already hefty EXIT bow, which this year sees the original festival joining up with the Sea Dance crew on the beach in Montenegro, thus extending their Adriatic frolics to a full 7 day bonanza under the moniker EXIT Adventure.

For more information on the 8 date tour and on all EXIT’s summer escapades go to the EXIT website right here...

Listen to EXIT Festival on Pulse Radio.

Yes, There Is A Berghain Videogame & You Can Play It Now

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Amidst the Flappy Bird craze, a new version of the popular videogame with a dedicated cult following has popped up, this time based on Berghain and its notoriously tough bouncer. To play “Berghain Bird” and get into the legendary club, all you have to do is navigate your hipster “birdie” through the obstacles plastered with Sven Marquardt’s face. The game comes as a welcome alternative for those dance music fans who may have been devastated when the original version was mysteriously taken down during the peak of its popularity. Try it out below.  It's just as difficult as the original – good luck!

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Gottwood 2014 Reveal Final Lineup

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The full lineup for Gottwood Festival's 5th birthday comes with several major new additions to an already fully stocked and fully stacked lineup. Once again, Gottwood touches on a wider range of genres while maintaining true underground spirit they're known for. Details here.

In addition to the existing line-up, which contains some of today's most forward thinking labels, promoters and artists for this independent boutique arts and music festival in the woods, comes some very special 5th birthday surprises, and quite possibly the best lineup to date. Announced today are Appleblim, Bodhi, Cassio Kohl, DJ Caspa, Gerd Janson, Jay Shepheard (Live), Margaret Dygas, My Panda Shall Fly, Pedestrian,  Sophie Barker (Live),  Zero 7 DJ set, and more, which you can see below. 

The £95 tickets are now extremely low on supply and with this final release we do not expect them to last much longer. Head over to Gottwood's Facebook page to be in with a chance of winning tickets to every Gottwood event this year! And for more info, head to www.gottwood.co.uk for tickets and other festival info.  

Listen to Gottwood on Pulse Radio.

Emerging Ibiza Launches Exciting New Project

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Today a new concept was launched in Ibiza which will give up and coming electronic music artists the chance to be heard.

Driven by an online platform at www.emergingibiza.com, along with a 5-day break through festival at the end of May, hand picked young artists will be given the chance to showcase their tallents to the world. The most popular artists from both online and live performances at iconic venues across Ibiza will be asked to return for residencies at Ibiza clubs throughout the summer. In addition, a panel of experts including Steve Lawler, Yousef, Ben Turner and Danny Whittle from IMS have been procured as mentors to select and guide the raw talent to what they hope will be the opportunity of a lifetime. The festival will kick off on May 27th at Sands, hitting White Isle favourites like Zoo Project opening party, Hotel Es Vive, Plan B, and finishing things at the brand new Hard Rock Hotel for the festival's closing party on May 30th.

Emerging Ibiza promises to provide and entertain us with the cream of what’s out there and what could possibly be the face of dance music tomorrow.

For more information on how to join or how to get tickets for the festival, head to www.emergingibiza.com

Checking in with Rooz

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For a decade and a half, Rooz has been a key contributor in building the underground music scene in San Francisco as a DJ as well as a promoter with Deep Blue Events.  Deep Blue kicked off 2014 in a big way with shows featuring Carl Craig, François K, and Lee Burridge, among others, and has upcoming parties planned with the likes of Art Department, Marco Carola, and a major triple headliner night with Doc Martin, Martin Buttrich, and Francesca Lombardo.  We had a chance to catch up with Rooz amidst his busy schedule balancing work, his passion for music, and being a father to chat about his personal experiences in San Francisco, where he thinks the scene might be heading, some of his recent party highlights, and the DJs and producers that have been catching his attention lately.

What has your experience been like throwing parties in San Francisco? My experience has been quite diverse. I started out managing promotions at some mainstream nightclubs that were playing house music and DJing at clubs like 1015 Folsom and Ruby Skye. It was interesting because it was only house music and trance and there wasn’t much commercial house music being made. There wasn’t much of a divide between the two styles though. All these guys were playing at the same venues. Stacey Pullen played at the same place that Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish, and Tiesto played. At the same time, there was a very underground scene with the warehouse parties. That’s what makes San Francisco different, the strong underground scene that came from the hippie movement in the 60s and 70s. Because of this, there were a lot of people who were open minded to really different trippy music that tickled your mind.

It’s exactly what happened in Ibiza as well. I talked to this guy who was good friends with the band Jefferson Airplane that did a lot of shows in Ibiza. That forward thinking music was a big central movement there that led to all the house music today. It’s very similar in San Francisco. The old subculture helps keep people open minded about the underground scene today. Some nights you have four or five underground warehouse parties, and when you go to these places people are really there to dance and hear great music. The first underground party I went to was called Community and I realized that this was what I wanted to do. After that I stopped playing at bigger venues and started playing at these smaller underground warehouse parties.

Has it been difficult to balance your career with fatherhood? Yeah definitely. You have this passion for music and it’s hard to balance that out with family because I also run sales for a startup software company as well. I have that, my day job, and my passion for music which came essentially from DJing. I started out as a promoter but I was really into the music so I bought my first pair of turntables from one of our resident DJs in ‘99 and just started playing around. I started playing some gigs because I knew what kind of music I wanted to be played at my events and I couldn’t find the right person to deliver that vision. So I decided to take it in my own hands and do it the way I wanted. That led to booking artists that played the type of music I wanted to hear. I started doing a lot of research looking into who some of these artists were both inside and outside of the US. That’s how it really took off.

You wear many hats in the industry as both a DJ and a promoter. Has having these different perspectives influence how you DJ or throw parties? The more you know about all the bits and pieces, the more you stay in the game. Electronic music itself got really diverse and started breaking out into different genres and scenes, and it’s gotten really massive now. Back in the 90s, there was house and techno and everything was the same; it was all one community. Then trance came and went in one direction, and progressive house came and took some people, then breakbeats and electro. It used to be one group of people going to see one group of DJs and after the 90s suddenly everything started separating into niche markets and cliques.

A lot of the US promoters who weren’t really into the music and were just booking a certain type of folks stayed behind. Some people might say what they’re doing now isn’t interesting because they’re booking the same artists as they were before. It’s benefitted me because I was able to stay where music is going. A lot of times music is like fashion. Bell bottoms were cool in the 70s and made it back in the early 90s. Things come and go. People play a certain kind of music and get tired of it. You have to do something different to keep it interesting and keep that drive going, but there’s also guys who can’t do anything different. Being really into the music as a DJ has helped me not get sucked into that and accept that the music changes.

Do you have any predictions of what the scene will be like in the US in the coming years? It’s tough to say because of all the noise that’s out there. By noise, I mean the media favoring a lot of this electro EDM stuff that has been really popular, the stuff that has been on MTV. The US media tends to push those things really hard so it puts a lot of noise out there about what dance music really is, and the general consumer who is new to this style of music might not get to hear a set from an artist from Circoloco or some of the more housey organic type of music that we love. Instead, they’ll be exposed to Steve Aoki first, which we feel is unfortunate based on the type of music we do. We are nervous about that and we have to do our job to expose the younger generation to the music we love. That being said, with social media, the internet, and having access to what is going on in the world, people are curious and they want to know. Dance music can’t be just dubstep or electro; there’s got to be something else.

The scene is definitely growing because of exposure to pop culture and EDM. People are going to ask what else is out there, what is next. Hopefully they’ll get exposed to these more underground sounds that guys like myself are really passionate about. It could be a good thing; it’s definitely on the up. There’s always an anti-culture – there were the hippies and now the hipsters – which is always looking for what is different. Hopefully something positive comes out of this big push in exposure to electronic dance music.

It’s a promoter’s responsibility to be passionate about an artist and to book them regularly to build the scene. The managers and agencies of these artists need to partner up with the promoters. A perfect example is Dyed Soundorom. Five years ago, people in the US didn’t really know who he was. You had to build him. Start with a small venue and keep doing it by working together. That’s the only way to keep this type of music alive.

You’ve already had events this year with Lee Burridge, Carl Craig, Mark Farina, and more. What have been some of the highlights so far? We had an amazing show with Carl Craig and François K. It’s very rare to get those two guys under one roof. It was funny. François K usually plays some dubstep, techno, and disco in his sets, and it was interesting to see the reactions of people who weren’t aware of that. Carl Craig played a hard-hitting techno set with a lot of classics thrown in there. It was like a history lesson by two of the guys who helped pave the way for the scene we love today. Red Bull Music Academy really helped making that show happen.

The Lee Burridge show was also amazing. We’ve had a great relationship from him since the early days. I remember when I bought his Global Underground Nubreed CD, and was like ‘wow, this guy is doing something amazing, mixing breaks and sounds and basslines that I’ve never heard before.’ I always wanted to work with him since then. I wanted to share his vision of music with our community. Now his popularity in the US has increased to what it never was before so that was definitely a very big highlight – to expose Lee to larger communities and see him have his fan base grow to what it did in the US. It was very exciting for us and for Lee.

Are there any emerging producers that have been catching your attention recently? There’s a lot of guys out there that are up and coming. Some DJs today look for that kind of stuff because they don’t want to play what everyone else is playing. They search really hard to find these guys. Marco Carola does this for his sets. You might have only heard five percent of the stuff he plays before from a professional DJ’s standpoint.

There’s Jesse Perez from Miami who’s been mixing some hip hop elements in with house and techno. Samu.l is an interesting emerging producer from the UK who’s been doing this really cool minimal sound that intersects with house and techno. Music is getting slower and deeper while maintaining that groove; that’s the kind of trend we’ve been seeing in the underground scene.

What about DJs? I mentioned Dyed before who is an amazing DJ and has a bright future. Marco Carola is doing very well. We like the guys who are great producers and have good command of the dancefloor. We try to focus on bringing guys who can do a three or four hour set and keep the dancefloor going. tINI is really amazing; she doesn’t bring it up or down too much. She just maintains this level and consistency and she keeps the dancefloor going for four or five hours and it’s awesome. Guti from the Desolat family is another favorite of ours. He’s been making some beautiful productions and his live sets are really cool where he plays only his own music. Everyone’s talking about Guy Gerber and his melodic sets, it’s not a secret.

You have a lot of upcoming events with Stacey Pullen and Art Department among others. What else is on your horizon? We also have a show with Marco Carola coming in March and one with Damian Lazarus in May. We have a triple headliner show with Doc Maritn, Martin Buttrich, and Francesca Lombardo. We’re really stoked about that! I think those are the ones I can talk about at the moment.

What are some of the ways you like to spend your free time? Mostly with my family. With a day job and with my hobby of music and promoting and producing these shows, it’s tough to have time for anything else. I try to be a very good dad and to be healthy.

Check out Deep Blue's upcoming events:

MARCO CAROLA
THUR MARCH 20
@ Public Works

MARTIN BUTTRICH + DOC MARTIN + FRANCESCA LOMBARDO
SAT. APRIL 5
@ Public Works

STACEY PULLEN
SAT. April 12
@ Monarch

ART DEPARTMENT
THUR. April 17
@ Public Works

DAMIAN LAZARUS
FRI MAY 16
@ Monarch

Listen to Rooz on Pulse Radio 

Portishead Working On Fourth Album

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Bristol trip-hoppers Portishead have begun writing their fourth album, which the group's Adrian Utley has revealed to The Quietus.

"We're clearing our schedules so we can get on with it, otherwise it will be another ten years," he said.

Utley and fellow band member Geoff Barrow are both "really enthusiastic" about the new LP, which apparently "counts for a lot in Portishead world."

Utley also says that Portishead's planned 2014 tour dates will have an impact on the shape of the new album. The band are currently out of contract with any record label, something that Utley sees as a strength.

Portishead were last in Australia in 2011 headlining the Harvest festival, which sadly didn't go ahead last year duie to poor ticket sales, despite Massive Attack on the bill. 

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New Boutique Festival 'Fibonacci' Announced For NSW

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Brace yourselves NSW, for the brand new boutique festival 'Fibonacci' is landing this Easter Long Weekend courtesy of local crew Contemporary Scarecrow, which promises three days of house, techno, disco and deep house in a "beautiful island forest."

International acts Paranoid London (live), Acid Mondays, Jef K, Shit Robot, San Proper have all been announced for the new festival, set to take place at Little Patonga Beach at Broken Bay on the Hawkesbury River, a mere 50 minutes drive from the city. The festival promises two stages; the Pythagoras beach stage and the Euclid pool side area, powered by a Funktion 1 system. Paranoid London fans can expect a world exclusive performance of new material from their upcoming album, set to drop in May.

Fibonacci will also boast creative workshops, art installations, yoga and meditation sessions, reiki, therapeutic massage, fortune telling and more. And the best part? The festival is a BYO event!

A plethora of local talent is to be announced in the coming weeks, along with two more huge international names revealed on Tuesday March 4th (stay tuned to Pulse). First release tickets incuding camping and ferry transfer are on sale now for $187. Cabin accommodation is also available - enquire here.

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For more information head to the Facebook event page.

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Trap Producer Jackal Announces Australian Tour

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23 year-old trap and bass DJ/producer Mikey Pennington, best known as Jackal, is on his way to Australia this March, playing shows in Sydney, Perth and three across Queensland.

Originally from England, Jackal now calls Toronto home. Since the release of his track 'Shakedown', his presence in electronic dance music has quickly risen and continues to make an impression, his beats often finding their way into the sets of artists from Skrillex to Diplo. Having performed just a couple of shows in LA, Florida, New York and Toronto in the past year, his Australian run of dates will be the first real series of his career.

Jackal Australian Tour Dates
14.03.14: Sydney - Chinese Laundry
15.03.14: Townsville - Flinders Social
20.03.14: Sunshine Coast - The Factory
21.03.14: Brisbane - Oh Hello!
22.03.14: Villa Nightclub - Perth

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We're Not Going To Run Another Daft Punk Non-Tour Story

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So as you may have read, neither Daft Punk, nor the agency that represents them, have submitted a proposal to hold a concert in Wyoming. So we're not going to tell you they might be touring, nor are we going to tell you there are rumours. 

 

In fact, this all started, as Pitchfork dutifully reported, because an agency who does not represent Daft Punk, ICM, "approached the National Park Service regarding an event which would be held on private property but would include proposed lighting elements at Devils Tower," (pictured above) as released in a statement. It goes on to say that, and this is the part that really matters, "The agency submitted more than a dozen suggested performers, including Daft Punk, as a sample lineup to the National Park Service. As is the usual case with a music festival, the acts proposed were simply performers and not involved with the planning of this event." 

So, Daft Punk's 2014 tour plans are still non existent. Like every other tour we've heard about since 2007. So we're not going to report on it. Like, at all. Thanks for reading. 

Listen to Pulse Radio. 

What’s Happening SA?

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What’s happening South Africa!? With our finger on the proverbial pulse of this beast that spawns-off event after event, each weekend, week-in and week-out, we like to put together a list of ‘don’t miss’ events each and every Friday for our series called - What’s Happening SA? From ramblings on the net, to conversations in the bathrooms of our favourite clubs, from the inside-info that finds its way into our inbox, to straight up just searching for what we’re looking for in a dancefloor, Pulse offers a selection of events mostly in the Cape and Gauteng regions that demands your attention, and really shouldn’t be missed. 

What’s Happening Cape Town? 

Bassmint

Bassmint time! Get down there early to celebrate one of South Africa's well-respected DJ's both locally and internationally - Dean Fuel. He will be playing alongsideChris Jack and the Bassmint residents Dan C and Matt Blitz. 

The Sideshow featuring Das Kapital, Leechi, Blitzkrieg, Grimehouse and more. 

Filth carnage and mayhem on tap at The Side Show every Friday - with 2 dancefloors playing the most up front, in-your-face dance music - from the minimal tech, progressive, deep house vibes in the VIP Upstairs to the madness and thundering basseline of the downstairs floor where you'll get a dose of electro, house, filth, dubstep, D&B and Trance.

Fiction Fridays

This Friday they have yet another GREAT combination of some of South Africa's most talented artists along with an international artist from the UK. Expect a night of the finest music played by some of the top artists SA has to offer! Forget about genre's and embrace music to the fullest!

Bridges for Music & Kinky Disco: Charity Event in Langa

KONNEKTION! A 9-Hour daytime gathering in Langa at the cultural centre of Guga Sthebe to support the non-profit organization Bridges for Music and raise funds to build a new music school in the area.

Soul Clap & David August in Cape Town

After a busy 2013 with acts like NTFO, Sishi Rosch, Stimming, Thyladomid & The Mekanism, 'Strange Loving'& 'The Warehouse Movement' have teamed up again to find lost and forgotten indoor venues, and bring them back to life with unique concepts and one of a kind musical acts. 

 

What’s Happening Johannesburg? 

Toy Toy February

This Friday we welcome, Björn Wilke (Kaato, Get Physical Music) – Germany. The fifth and last international artist of the TOY TOY 5x5 Series. Supported by Andi Dill, Phat Jack and Craig Placid.

Truth presents Soul Clap and David August

TRUTH
Corner of Old Pretoria Main Road and James Crescent, Midrand.

Truth on BBM: 28D33496
Truth on Twitter @Truthnightclub
www.truthjhb.com

City Soul Addicts Saturday Sessions

Your weekly dose of lounge, jazz, funk, classic, deep and soulful house is at Lamunu Restaurant, Bar & Meeting Rooms this Saturday afternoon from 2 p.m. until the evening. The venue is just across The neighbourgoods market in Braamfontein. Entrance is free, music is dope, People are good & venue is brilliant.

Sugar

Sugar presents an ALL BLUE pool party, with 2 for 1 cocktails poolside all afternoon, 12-hours of the best house music around. The door opens 2 p.m. and is FREE FOR ALL till 4 p.m. Guys and gals feel free to come in your swimwear and enjoy the amazing pool. 

Listen to Pulse Radio 

 

Butch: 'you can become the greatest DJ in the world without much of an idea about DJing'

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Famed for his tireless and exacting approach to production, Bülent Gürler, AKA Butch, is renowned as a chameleon of electronica, dabbling in a multitude of styles and genres. His new EP, "The Persistence of Memory,” sees the legendary German beat maker explore his softer, more psychedelic side, and is set for release on the Visionquest imprint, founded by the much lauded Visionquest crew of Ryan Crosson, Seth Troxler, Lee Curtiss and Shaun Reeves.

The EP opens in a predictably spectacular fashion with the A-side, “Peyote,” a tinkling twelve-minute epic of beautifully bubbling melody and dense futuristic percussion. The second track “Ozymandias” kicks the EP into a higher gear with its combination of hypnotic synths, soaring FX and powerful bass groove. Track three, “Missing Channels,” is a collaboration with Butch’s latest protégé, C. Vogt, and signals a brief return to Butch’s darker techno roots. A menacing belter of intermittent bleeps and chugging bass, it’s a tune seemingly designed for the Watergate dance floor. The final track of the packet is a welcome reprise of the EP’s stunning opener that transports “Peyote’ to a deeper and even more dulcet soundscape.

A fusion of Eastern inspired melodies, swelling percussion and space-age synths, “The Persistence of Memory” is a blissful, tripped-out journey worth investing in from start to finish. In wake of what’s set to be yet another widely acclaimed production, we sat down with Butch to discuss his latest work, new psychedelic direction and the revival of his collaboration with Riccardo Villalobos.

You’ve had a phenomenal amount of releases since 2007 and now you’re back with a new EP “The Persistence of Memory.” With such an impressive back catalogue, where do you continue to find inspiration for what you create? And with such an obvious wealth of ideas, how do you manage the issue of quality verses quantity? To be honest, I’m thinking all the time about music and I can’t switch off. It’s a good thing but it’s also a problem. It’s bad for your social life because I’m pretty focused. I have produced a large quantity of music, and I do a lot of music, but I’m not fast. I spend so much time in the studio. I wake up at 7 a.m., I’m in there by 9 a.m., and I don’t leave again till seven at night. I can make a track in one week minimum, and sometimes it takes up to three. Quantity comes from a lot of work and focus, some people can do a track in two hours, but I can’t.

On the EP you’re collaborating with Hohberg - a percussionist and close friend of yours. Can you tell us about your creative dynamic? And do you feel collaborative projects usually render better results than solo work?The thing is, I’m not good with collaborations. I’ve tried this with many people, but there are few people I can really work with. Hohberg can do stuff that I can’t do. He is good at percussions and playing instruments. I am more the programmer and the computer stuff. But ultimately, he needs somebody who to lead him. When I do work solo, it sounds completely different than what we do together because of Hohberg’s classical influence. He is a studied pianist and his father is a professor of classical music. He is one of the most intelligent people I know. 

You’re also creating an album with Hohberg, which has been descried as a “Psycho-Acoustic” LP. In layman’s terms, what does that mean? And how will this been different from your previous two LPs? The album will be more home listening stuff. Maybe we’ll do some club versions but we’ll see. The music is trippy. You have many layers of music in your brain, and when you’re in a sober status, your brain filters out everything you don’t need. But if you expand your listening and open your mind, you’ll hear more than you ever have before. That’s what we’re trying to do with the LP.

I like the idea of tricking the brain. We use some special psycho acoustic tricks to do this on the LP by playing with tone and frequency. It’s not easy to do. We have also taken some pop tracks and reworked them in our own way. We’ve done about ten reworks. But only two or three will make the album.

Fans all over the world will no doubt be delighted to hear that you’re set to collaborate once again with Ricardo Villalobos under the ButRic moniker. Can you give anything away about what you’re working on together? More trippy music; it’s what I like at the moment. I wasn’t always into this type of music, but when I discovered it and started to make it, I loved it. With Villalobos, there is never much preparation to be honest. I just go to his studio and we start jamming, we just see what happens. It’s all very organic and it’s fun, but it does require a lot of editing afterwards!

 

You’re known for having a rawness and fluidity about your sets, a real sense of unrehearsed magic. What do you think about the balance between technical nous verse innate music ability when it comes to DJing? Do you think there is an element about being a great DJ that can’t be taught? There are a lot of things that make a good DJ. Of course, the selection of music is key but more importantly, it’s the time you play it. Some people have a great selection of music, but the time they play it and their order is not good. So you have constant ups and downs. There is no flow to the music.

There are some people that have an incredible technical knowledge, like Richie Hawtin for example. I don't like his music but he knows how to play with all the machines and he knows everything about the equipment. How to make the sounds and how to create.

And if you mix up all these things, track selection, timing, knowledge, then you can be perfect. Funnily, there are some people who have none of those things but they have a good vibe. A good energy. And people like it. Some people have a amazing music but they stand there like a machine and it kills the vibe completely. It is all about balance.

With all these exciting releases on the horizon, where can we see you play this year? Is there a touring schedule, or are you planning to focus more on the production side of things? I’ll be playing this year of course. But I don’t really check my touring schedule and I just go where I need to play. I go where I go. But I never take time off. I don’t really do tours as such. Lots of DJ’s go to the States for weeks but I usually make mine a quick trip. When I went to Australia I was there only a very short time. I don’t stay, I’d prefer to come back here and make music.

I can’t make music on a laptop, I don’t know why. I’ve tried so many times. I think I need space and I need the big speakers. I need all my tools, I have all my samples and everything I need. But when I’m travelling I don’t have everything. I can’t do it.



Speaking of travelling, you’ve played in many incredible venues around the world including Fabric in London, Sankeys in Ibiza and Watergate in Berlin, to name but a few. Where is your favourite place to play? Where do you feel most at home? Watergate in Berlin. The best thing about Watergate is that it’s in Berlin so I always see friends from all over the world. If anyone wants to have a party, they go to Berlin. You will catch them there. I love the lights and the vibe of Watergate. It’s the best.

For any aspiring DJ, playing at Watergate must be a dream. How did it feel when you first started your residency, and how did it come about? The thing is, the first time I played there, it was my friend’s birthday and they didn’t even book me. But they liked me so they kept me in mind for future gigs. And then they booked me again. And they liked me again. And so it continued like this. They just kept booking me because they liked the music so much. And this is a special thing, because usually you get booked because of the numbers and how many people you can bring through the door. It’s about the business. It’s really nice to get book just for the music you do.

“Lullabies to Paralyse,” which was released on Visionquest in 2013, has more of a house vibe in comparison to some of your more techno driven work. Do you have a favourite genre ultimately? And how do you think you’ve managed to bridge the gap between dance music genres so successfully? I have a favourite type of music but it changes constantly. Sometimes the music I used to love when I first started, I listen to it now and I could vomit. There are some people who play exactly the same stuff year after year and continue to love it. For me, I fall in love and then after awhile I don’t like it anymore. I like change. I love it. I think life is process of change and I don’t want to be stale. It is a difficult thing to keep changing and to find something new, but it’s a challenge.

Speaking of Visionquest, label cofounder Seth Troxler has famously created an outlandish identity for himself in the media. How important do you think PR is for a producer? Is it imperative to create a public identity or should it just be all about the music? When I started playing, I went to places and they didn’t even know what I looked like. In the beginning they just cared about what I played. I got booked for my sound and for my mixes. And now, everything has changed.

The music doesn’t matter that much. If you focus on your personality and have a strong PR image, you can become the greatest DJ in the world without much of an idea about DJing. Just look at the mainstream. I could take a good-looking girl from the street, produce a great track for her and get a good manager and within a year she will be headlining festivals. Everywhere. This is the truth. Right now this is what’s happening. It can be good or it can be bad, but it is like this. For me it makes no difference. I just keep playing and doing what I do. 



Finally, I’m sure many budding producers would love to emulate your journey and the worldwide recognition that you have gained. What advice would you give to young up-and-comers who are inspired by your success? People should just take music that they like, put it in a music program and try to rebuild it. This is how we learnt in school and this is how you can learn with music. Try to remake it, and when you come to a point where you can make it sound the same then it’s time to make your own.

There are some people who say don’t copy others, but this isn’t true. You need to copy and to copy a lot. And when it comes to a time when you have all the tools, then you can realise your own creativity. You need technical ability and you need creativity. This is the key.

Butch's “The Persistence of Memory” EP will be out on Visionquest on March 17th, 2014.

Listen to Butch on Pulse Radio.

Enigmatic Ella G: Overhauling The Scene In South Africa

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One can literally count the number of female Drum ‘n Bass DJ’s in South Africa on one hand…Joburg-born Jami Ella Gavin, or Ella G, is not only one of them; she’s also fresh on the block and already rocking it. Ella G has already played some respectable events in the scene showcasing her hard-hitting talents. To name a few, Tomorrow Never Happened, One Festival and Addictshun. Ella G is hot, smart and she loves her bass - What more could we ask for? She reckons that Nike Airmax shoes are the best things ‘before’ sliced bread, likes movies with good soundtracks, has a pet goldfish named O.G and has just completed her Honours degree. Hottie with a brain. Her musical background includes playing bass guitar in one of those ‘teen’ bands and with all that in mind, we got to business to learn more about this boomtown rebel.

What did you grow up listening to? Being a 90’s kid I started with Spice Girls (I still listen to Spice Girls!) and boybands. But there were also external influences to what I was listening to as both of my parents work in the music industry there was always music a vast array of music playing such as Bob Dylan, Abdullah Ibrahem, The Clash to Dr. Dre.

You’re one of the very few female DJs the scene has to offer. What’s it like to work in a male-dominated profession, and what are the challenges involved? Is it hard to be taken seriously as a female DJ? Working in a male dominated profession is hard because you have to work extra hard to prove yourself as a DJ, and not one who is just getting by because you are a female - something which we have all seen at times. However, all the DJ’s in this scene are so supportive and are always giving positive feedback, which makes being one of the only females super chilled!

Do you remember the first dnb/dub/whatever track that made you fall in love with this music? I started of listening to dubstep mostly Caspa, Benga and Rusko. From there it progressed into dnb, I really fell in love with the old school sound after hearing an old DJ Hype track Rinse Out.

What’s it like to live with Mr Green? Funny, because he is a major sleep talker. Sometimes I don’t even know he’s asleep… skills.

You’ve gone from the typical basshead on the dance floor to being the bettie behind the decks; which do you prefer? Both are equally awesome I would say. I have more experience on the dance floor and it is, naturally, less nerve-wrecking! Being behind the decks I am still easing myself into, right now I come across as the stoic mixer haha, the rad thing about that is when you look down to mix and then look up and suddenly there are so many people jamming.

What albums are you embarrassed to admit owning and rocking out to? Someone else might find my love for cheesy R&B funny or embarrassing, but I don’t.

What artists (local and intl) have you loved seeing live? Little Dragon of course! DJ Fresh (U.K), Dubphizix, Grandmaster Flash and Rammstein!

What would you not do for a million dollars? Play on virtual DJ live at a party.

Who was your teacher? Mr. Green, two CDJ’s and myself.

Who would you want to collaborate with? Aw Mr. Green of course, also them other up and coming ladies!

Tell us about your mix? It’s fun, girly but also rolling mixed with old and new tracks. Hopefully something for everybody!

What jumps to mind when I say...

B-boy and dance crews… Are 90’s!
Nothing kills the vibe like… Being hungry.
Camel-toes are for… Primary school teachers.

There you have it. Female bass-bomber in the hood thumping out tunes from her corner demanding respect in a male-dominated industry. We hope you enjoy the mix! 

Listen to Pulse Radio 

 

Watch Parents React To Seeing Their Kid Behave Badly At A Festival

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A festival spinoff of three-year-old 'Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents' aired this week on BBC Three, and it's just as cringe worthy as the original. Maybe even more so. If you're unfamiliar with the show, parents spy on the idiotic behaviour of their kids while on holiday in places like Ibiza (San Antonio, mostly), eventually revealing to the unsuspecting youngsters that they've been watching the whole time. It's made for a few bonding moments, and many more "I don't know who you are anymore" moments as they see their kids making out with strangers, getting wasted and acting foolish, and generally behaving like kids do whilst on their first holiday abroad. Now they've gone to festivals, and the results are just as gruesome. Watch here. 

Watch the show in its entirety below.

 Listen to Pulse Radio. 


The Lazarusman VS David August ahead of SA Tour

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As a DJ, David August is a very charismatic and enchanting figure. His knowledge in music production and his passion for soulful music gets him to combine old electronic classic with the freshest releases in tech-house, house and techno creating a soulful symbiosis that always focuses on the dancefloor. His mixing has already led him to play clubs such as Romy S Stuttgart, Rote Sonne Munich, Speicher Rostock, Berlins new hot spot Horst Kreuzberg or the prestigious Watergate, among others. In the lingo of music journalism David August would probably best be described as techno’s new ‘wunderkind’. Whatever you want to call him, the young and talented musician David August is more than one to watch.


Hello David and welcome to Pulse Radio. You’re busy visiting South Africa for the first time, what have you heard about our land you will be playing in?
Thank you for having me. Of course I am excited. It's a country I’ve always wanted to go to. I just heard beautiful things about this place actually. A couple of friends have done holidays for a few times and everybody came back with a smile. I have the feeling SA - a bit like Australia - is a country which might be so far away from the centre of the world but is still so European. At least this is my first impression. Before I will head to Joburg and Cape Town I will have a show in Durban. So let's see how this first stop is gonna be.



You are member of one of the most forefront labels of our time, Diynamic, can you tell us how that came about? Where did you meet? I started sending promos to Mladen (Solomun) in 2008/09. He liked what I was doing and supported me from the very beginning. In 2009 then my first release on Diynamic came up and the wheels started to roll.

What is it like being part of the label with such artists as Stimming, Solomun, Hosh and others, is there a level of pressure and are there high standards for you? It's not a feeling of pressure at all. Having such talents around you inspires you and motivates you to always move forward and develop. It's really a great thing. And besides that, we’re all friends which gives you energy instead of having a group of anonymous guys for example. We always search for feedback from the other and support each other in a very natural way.

You are fairly young and if I am not mistaken still studying, how do you deal with all the hype, attention and the constant need to be travelling and playing all over the world? I am not the kind of guy who could travel for the whole year. I always travel in periods. When I have university I travel much less and in Europe only. As soon as I have a holiday from school I can do bigger tours, like right now. I always try to communicate that to the people. Beside the school aspect, I just need enough time for myself and my music. On that point, I am a kind of homeboy. I love being at home and doing my music or other things.

You once mentioned that your sound is always changing and that you are always looking for new and fresh ideas. What are your influences and where do you draw inspiration from? I draw inspirations from everything. Movies, places, cultures and of course music as well. I don't wanna do the same music for years. There should always be changes. Even if they are strong changes, it always makes sense for me at the end.

You've recently started playing live sets, how has that transition been for  you and why did you feel it necessary to make this move? Starting to play live was probably the best move I could have done in my career so far. It's exactly one year ago I did my first live appearance and after that year I start to have the feelings that I feel settled and secure about what I am doing. The tough thing about such a change is that the amount people you play for doesn't get less. The expectations are the same of even higher. But what people forget, for me these first gigs were like being born new. Like a child which has to adapt and get used to his circumstances I had to do so as well. I felt it was necessary because of the kind of music I do which can only hardly be performed in a DJ set. It makes so much more sense performing that live.

Catch the man himself tonight (28 Feb) in Cape Town on 84 Harrington Street playing alongside Soul Clap and local heroes and again in JHB on Saturday (1 Mar) at the longstanding, dance institute - Truth Nightclub.

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The Martinez Brothers, Moodymann, Steve Lawler Set For Sankeys Manchester Spring Lineup

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After a small hiatus last year, Sankeys Manchester is back in full swing and looking better than ever, once again the city’s most essential destination for underground music fans. They've recently released their Spring line up, and it doesn't get much bigger than this. 

 

Kicking off March 1st with Enzo Siragusa and crew for Fuse, Sankeys is holding nothing back, bringing The Martinez Brothers to Darius Syrossian's Tribal Sessions on the 7th, an extended 4-hour Art Department set on the 8th, Moodymann and Levon Vincent on the 14th of March, and in April, highlights include Crew Love on the 17th, Steve Lawler and Viva Warriors on the 25th, and Amnesia Ibiza opening headliners Apollonia on the 26ths. Taking thins back to the heyday of sweaty basement parties and intimate gatherings that focus on atmosphere and ambiance over flash or fad, Sankeys just might be the only spot you need every weekend. But don't take our word for it, check out full listings here.

Listen to Sankeys Manchester on Pulse Radio.

Make-Believe presents Lucid Illusions in Review

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What a performance! From all parties involved that made Make-Believes latest instalment ‘Lucid Illusions’ at the Nelson’s Creek Wine Estate, Paarl such a success. There, I said it before I said anything else. It was that good. 

In running up to the weekend of the 22nd of February, anyone looking for a party was going to be faced with this ole chestnut “Which bloody party should I go to? It was one of those weekends where somehow, all the organisers, old guys and new guys on the block decided to throw a party on the same weekend, so answering that chestnut wasn’t to be that easy. Not for me. I was hungry for, and had been for a while, a party that was to boast a slightly older crowd in a venue that gave you the sense of intimacy. Make-Believe's Lucid Illusions was the right choice. 

It was a day/night event. So if you were one of the early ones by car, or came on the bus that Make-Believe had organised because of the no-drink drive ethos they so solemnly swear by, which is of course, a great thing, you were to be welcomed by the beautiful Nelson Creek vineyards that lead you into the venue. Picture this, the lushest of lawns, over-hanging trees, a crystal-clear swimming pool and on the horizon a mountain range that only the Cape can supply. We had it all. 

The beats were thumping and as crystal as the swimming pool itself. That’s what you get when you hire the full German engineered D&B Sound System for an outdoor event. Like the Pied Piper who lured his victims, the sound system did the same filling the floor in no time, except this was a place where only smiles and a party etiquette that demonstrated absolute decorum, existed. The fact that the litter at the end of the night was all neatly tucked to one-visible side for the cleaners to take away reiterates this, and speaks multitudes for the kind of reveller that Make-Believe attracts. 

I’m not sure if there was anything going on behind the scenes that were of concern to Make-Believe, but I can tell you that if there was, it certainly was not obvious to the guests. Everything was running smoothly. From the friendly, professional but easy-going bar staff supplied by Blend Event Life to the food that was ‘cheffed-up’ by none other than that famous Lotus Food Truck, us revellers if you like, had no other obligation other than to just enjoy ourselves in this majestic setting. 


That guy on the left might have had the best time of his life...I remember. 

All of the above is fine. Bloody lovely, in fact. Perfect, almost. But what is it without the music? For some, for most, the most important part of the party is the music. The line-up was for the win! 

THE LINEUP
Sadhu Sensi 
Helmut J
The Skene Brothers
Black Book
PHAT JACK (The Warm-Up / Jhb)
One Track Mike   
Bruno Morphet
SOUND SENSIBLE (Toy-Toy / Jhb)
Afterlife AV set


Phat Jack (The Warm-Up | JHB)

Phat Jack (The Warm-Up) from JHB was a highlight for me, possibly my favourite on the day. He broke away from the typical 4/4 beat (I think) and got a little funked up in there. It was just perfect for the moment. At this stage of the game, revellers were really starting to soak up the magnitude of this production. One Track Mike followed with a set that I’m sure led to an inundated inbox of gratitude for dealing such a pleasurable set. Well played Mike. The Van Rensburg brothers, also known as Sound Sensible (Toy Toy) and also guests from JHB were deep. To say the least. The brothers took us on a journey. It was my first time to catch this family on stage and the experience will not easily be forgotten. Not that I would ever want to. Dear SS, Please play Cape Town more often. Sincerely, All of Cape Town...

 
Sound Sensible (TOY TOY | JHB)

Closing the night, closing Make-Believe Lucid Illusions was Afterlife. This was a live performance that included Marcia Alves on the mic. I think it was a combination of things that lead to what looked like a floor of mesmerised drones to the music, but in short, they were exactly where they needed to be on the line-up and they performed. I couldn’t find a single person not enjoying and getting deeply into this sophisticated set that was ‘double-gunning’ us with the visual experience, as well as the audio. 

The D&B Sound System complimented all, and all complimented the system. Adding, the visuals and mapping was supplied and operated by Afterlife - An absolute spectacle. While standing under the stretch tent stretched out by Stretch Inc. (Did you get that?), barefoot with lush green grass in-between your toes, you would watch scenes and images move with the music on a 12mm mesh. This was as effective during the day as it was night. Truly exceptional. 


Visuals on the building at night.

As the night came to an end, revellers slowly started to trickle out and make their way back to the City. The bus was there, ready and waiting to take those who were incapable, or unwilling to drive home. The cars in the parking lot were still in one piece, thanks to the security. The venue was left in a respectable state, fair play to all who attended – that’s your doing! That’s what a production like Make-believe promotes and attracts. We will certainly be at the next one. 

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Pulse Radio Pit Stop: Manic Brothers

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Swedish twin brothers Mats and Niclas, born only 23 minutes apart, are better known as Manic Brothers, the dynamic techno duo that has been impressing the likes of Adam Beyer Joseph Capriati, Dustin Zahn, and more with their original productions as well as their talent as DJs. Since becoming a part of the Drumcode family, they have had the opportunity to play legendary festivals and venues such as Awakenings and Berghain. Now they're touching down in New York for the second time ever for a highly anticipated gig on March 6th presented by Dance.Here.Now.  We sat down with them before they make their Cielo debut to chat about what they're looking forward to doing during their stay in the Big Apple, how they manage to spend so much time together and still get along, working with Adam Beyer and Drumcode, and what else they have in store for 2014.

You are set to play at Cielo on Thursday, March 6th for the first time. Have you heard anything about the club? What can guests look forward to from your set? We are really excited to have the opportunity to play at Cielo on March 6th. From our understanding, over the years Cielo has made its mark in the electronic music scene. We love NY so it's good to come back and bring some techno with us. We have been working a lot this long winter on music so we are anxious to try out some new tracks.

Other than the gig, what are you excited to see, do, and eat in New York while you’re visiting? We have only been to NY once last spring so we have a lot to still discover. Of course when in America burgers are always at the top of the list. We plan to see some friends old and new, and just enjoy the city for a few extra days.

As twin brothers who spend a lot of time together producing and touring, are there ever any points of conflict? What are some of your secrets to getting along while seeing each other all the time? Day to day we really just get along. Of course we have our outbreaks at each other but they don't last more than a few minutes. We're just on the same page almost all the time. There isn't really a secret to us getting along; to us it's just natural. It's like having yourself next to you through your life. It's nice and we appreciate how lucky we are.

What has your experience being part of the Drumcode family been like so far? How did the relationship begin? Our experience so far with Drumcode has been exceptional. They included us on two major nights this past year: the Drumcode Stage at Awakenings in Amsterdam and Drumcode Total Night at Berghain in Berlin. This was really a dream come true along with releasing our second EP 'Praying Mantis.'

We met by us going to all the Drumcode showcases around Europe and WMC in Miami for quite a few years. Adam asked us to send over some music and that's when 'Custom Illusion' was born, our first EP on Drumcode released in September 2012.

What else is on your horizon for the coming year? We are just finishing our months in the US which have been great. A lot of new cities and a lot of music produced. We have some new remixes coming out on Soma Records, Wall Music, Sleaze Records, and Driving Forces. Of course we are always looking forward to playing and visiting new cities.

Listen to Manic Brothers on Pulse Radio

Die Antwoord Collaborating with Aphex Twin?

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South African rap and rave duo Die Antwoord already revealed that their forthcoming ‘Donker Mag’ album will be completed shortly. Now, they’re hinting that they’ve enlisted the help of Aphex Twin for a very special collaboration. Die Antwoord’s Ninja took to Facebook to update followers on the status of the new album:

"NINJA and ¥O-LANDI r in HI-TEKS studio erryday workin hard on our most poweful spell yet. we’v been workin on DONKER MAG 4 about 2yrz now. we thought we wud b finisht by dis time. but we kept makin up new songz by accident. dis shit iz so good. sooooo so good. i want 2 get stoned and bump da fukn shit out of DONKER MAG worse dan any1. again. dont worry. u wont b sorry 4 long. our 1st single features 1 of my dearest friendz in da hole universe.1 cannot rush such powerful magick. thank u 4 yor patience. dont hate me x"

The accompanying photo shows Ninja with Aphex Twin’s symbol tattooed onto his arm, suggesting that the English artist may be the one Ninja’s referring to when he states: “1st single features 1 of my dearest friendz in da hole universe.”

Learn more about the forthcoming album from the controversial polarizing duo here.

Listen to Die Antwoord on Pulse Radio

 

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