In the coming weeks, Truth will kick off a series of events called “The Big Weekend”. The events are centred on some of the largest international acts available alongside the country’s finest selectors and mix masters. To kick off this series Truth has confirmed the man with golden mask and international heavy weight Claptone and Miguel Campbell, all in one glorious weekend.

The Berlin based DJ and producer who plays cloaked under a golden mask has been dazzling audiences all over the world with his music and renowned Dj sets. He has managed to turn out numerous chart topping tracks across a spectrum of well known labels. His ability as a remixer has seen a plethora of memorable remixes that have often left fans and music lovers with distant memories of original. His release on Exploited in 2012 called “Cream” still dominates dance floors even to this very day.
 


Part two of Truth’s Big Weekend will bring the sultry sounds of Miguel Campbell to its corridors. Miguel Campbell has been making music since the early 90’s, he has been a DJ for just as long, Like Clapton he is also a member of Hot Creations, a label who’s merits need not be mentioned.



These two heavy weights will present Truth’s fans with an experience they will never forget. It’s rare to have two great international acts in the country at the same time, having them over one weekend is just astronomical.

Facebook event page 

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Nic Fanciulli and Joris Voorn are bringing a new day party to the White Isle on Sundays.

Having started life as a collaborative effort with ANTS, La Familia is now branching out alone to take over the Sunday spot at Ushuaïa. Alongside the two residents Voorn and Fanciulli, a host of house and techno’s finest DJs will appear, including the likes of Derrick Carter appearing on 7th September, Nick Curly hitting the decks on 14th September, Ame joining proceedings on 21st September, as well as the likes of Breach, Huxley, Hot Since 82 and Mark Fanciulli appearing throughout the season.

Further artists set to appear include DC-10 regulars Matthias Tanzmann and Timo Maas on 19th July and 30th August respectively, whilst Cocoon hotshot Ilario Alicante appears on 16th August. Second City, Ben Pearce and Stacey Pullen will also grace the decks.

La Familia at Ushuaia Ibiza will run from 19th July through 28th September, 2014.

Listen to Nic Fanciulli on Pulse Radio.

As we plunge ever deeper into the Ibiza season the familiar club nights continue to return to the fold. This time it was Guy Gerber’s turn with this party Wisdom Of The Glove. This Friday, the Israeli enlisted DJ Tennis, Soul Clap, and Martin Buttrich to appear alongside him for the first of four parties Gerber is hosting at Pacha this summer.

Pacha is always a great venue to go and have a wander. Over in the side room people were bouncing to a selection of funk and house cuts with singers belting out vocals on the mic. Upstairs on the terrace bar, a giant inflatable dinosaur was sat on the roof whilst a 1930s-style burlesque dancer with a sparkling head-piece turned many heads. There’s never a shortage of things to look at.

Though the act action laid with house and disco selectors Soul Clap, who were finishing up their set in the main room before handing over to Italian Life & Death boss DJ Tennis. Tennis has made a name for himself through his label, and is very much of the emotive brand of house and techno – this set was no different. He took the crowd through thudding beats intertwined with melancholic chords and melodies.

There are two songs that are fast becoming ubiquitous on the White Isle. One of which is Ame’s unreleased remix of ‘From Nowhere’ by Dan Croll, which comprises minimal percussion with a gripping vocal that sucks you in. The other one is DJ Koze’s remix of ‘Bad Kingdom’ by Moderat which contains emotive hooks by the bucket load, more soaring vocals and an infectious buzzing bass line.

In the world’s biggest clubs, people want to be constantly surprised and entertained, not just by the music, but the whole experience of audio-visual production. There are many stories about the inspiration of Gerber’s ‘Wisdom Of The Glove’ and as always Pacha serves as a great venue to show of the trippy decorations.

A giant glittering silver hand with an eye in its palm was suspended from the ceiling, and odd shapes and animal-like creations filled the room as dancers on the podiums kept our senses on their toes. Blasts of confetti covered the dance floor as the lights sporadically illuminated the bodies in the room in hues of blue, red and golden yellow.

The main man Guy Gerber took over on the decks at peak time with sultry spoken word vocals floating above raw house beats. Moving between rough house and melancholic cuts with sublime ease, Gerber took the crowd on an emotive journey.

Occasionally conjuring up something different, at one point break beats scattered across the club’s sound system before morphing back into the thud of four-four beats. Gerber is a versatile (what other underground house and techno DJs have worked with P Diddy?) and intriguing DJ who has a hold on melody where other DJs opt for the power of percussion and raw beats. The grip on melody is certainly something that endears himself to many fans.

Combining enough visual stimulation with a selection of tracks full of melodic emotion, Gerber and his guests provided a perfectly matched atmosphere. With the likes of Cajmere, Magda and Tiga still set to appear, Wisdom Of The Glove is a special one to mark down in the diary.

Listen to Guy Gerber on Pulse Radio.

DJ and producer B Jones is set to release a song as part of the protest against oil exploration in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Ibiza. The track ‘Ibiza Says No’ will be released on Pacha Recordings alongside remixes by Me & My Monkey.

Calls to fight the decision to explore for oil off the coast of Ibiza have been back by large numbers and by a number of high profile celebrities such as Pete Tong, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.

‘Ibiza Says No’ is also set to be included on the Pure Pacha 2014 triple CD compilation. Money raised from the sales of the tracks will be donated to Alliance Mar Blava.

Listen to the track 'Ibiza Says No'here.

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Back in May Aphex Twin fans banded together on a Kickstarter campaign to digitally release a test pressing of the reclusive UK producer's 'Caustic Window' LP. 4,000 fans managed to raise a total of $67,424 and the LP was reborn and distributed to the backers (listen here).

Once the job was done, the plan was to sell the test pressing on ebay. Over 100 people made bids, and the rare item has now been sold for $46,300 USD, reports FACT. The profits are to be split between Aphex Twin's label Rephlex, Kickstarter participants and an unspecified charity.

FACT has also revealed that since the release of the lost 'Caustic Window' LP, two more Aphex Twin test pressings have now surfaced on ebay. The first is an unplayed copy of 'Melodies From Mars' which was intended to be released in 1999 (it only exists as a rare cassette which was given out to friends and unofficially released as a CD-R bootleg in Russia). The second is the rare 'Analogue Bubblebath 5' - recorded in 1995 but never properly released. A handful of copies were given to Rephlex customers in 2005.

Fingers crossed that these two test pressings will also translate into more unreleased music being brought to life.

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The full tracklist for  Marcel Dettmann's 'Fabric 77' has been revealed, following the news last month that the Berghain resident would be mixing the latest instamlent of the London club's popular mix series. The bulk of the mix is made up of unreleased demos from Dettmann's MDR label, as well as cuts from Francois X, Norman Nodge and Dettmann himself.

"I mixed it at home with two CD players, as most of the tracks are not available on vinyl yet," he explains of the mix. "It's mostly based on unreleased MDR demo tracks, which I've carried around with me for the last few years. For example the ROD track, I've had this one for at least three years. Now it is finally a good opportunity to release those tracks and they will all come out on MDR."

'Fabric 77' will be released on August 18. Check the tracklist below. 

Tracklist:
01. Ryan James Ford - 'Arthure Iccon'
02. The Persuader - 'Sun Position'
03. Terence Fixmer - 'Inside Of Me'
04. Marcel Dettmann - 'Apron' (PAS The Rhythm Remix)
05. Answer Code Request - 'Transit 0.2'
06. Dario Zenker - 'Nearlin'
07. Monobox - 'Film'
08. FBK - 'It's Not The Point'
09. Marcel Dettmann - 'Radar' (Byetone Remix)
10. Rod - 'RSPCT'
11. Paperclip People - 'Country Boy Goes Dub' (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
12. Norman Nodge - 'BB 1.0'
13. Francois X - 'Rising'
14. Marcel Dettmann - 'Lightworks' (Phase Remix)
15. Lockertmatik - 'M_Lock 4'
16. Wincent Kunth - 'Carlre'
17. Joey Anderson - 'Repulsive' (Marcel Dettmann Edit)
18. Marcelus - 'Flash'
19. Vril - 'Torus XXXII'

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Following a successful tour of the USA, Australian electro house and big room DJ, Bass Kleph, has returned to Australia and is in the midst of his annual homecoming tour.

Sydney’s Stu Tyson has been hard at work in America over the last couple of years to become one of the top Australian EDM exports on the American club circuit. Towards the end of last year Bass Kleph was part of the highly successful ‘Hounds of Hell’ tour alongside fellow Australian artist Tommy Trash and American EDM drawcard Wolfgang Gartner– a tour which saw them travel across the USA on the back of a tour bus for 3 months. His unique brand of DJ-ing incorporates traditional DJ-ing alongside improvised jamming on midi equipment which has made him one of the most unique acts on the planet and a definite must see.

To coincide with his Australian tour, Tyson has announced the release of a new single ‘Let it Rip’ through Big & Dirty Records which is already doing the damage of some of the world’s biggest dancefloors. There are still dates left in the tour which will see Tyson play in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to name a few.

Bass Kleph 2014 AustraianTour Dates
13.06.14 - Soho Nightclub, Sydney
14.06.14 - The Victoria Hotel, Darwin
20.06.14 - Boom Nightclub, Airlie Beach QLD
21.06.14 - Liv Nightclub, Gold Coast
27.06.14 - The Old Adelaide Theatre, Adelaide
28.06.14 - Trak Nightclub, Melbourne
02.07.14 - Mt. Buller, VIC
03.07.14 - Mt. Hotham, VIC
05.07.14 - Marquee Nightclub, Sydney
12.07.14 - Vault Nightclub, Melbbourne
19.07.14 - The Met Nightclub, Brisbane

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Martyn
The Air Between Words
Ninja Tune

8/10

Dutch-born, Washington DC-based flag bearer for eclecticism Martyn is simply impossible to pin down. Three years after 'Ghost People' landed on Brainfeeder with its off-kilter-yet-dancefloor-friendly beats and copious amounts of bassline-led funk, 'The Air Between Words' saunters onto Ninja Tune as a counter-balance of introspective darkness, serious grooves and bouts of emotive warmth. But that’s not to say this is a dreary, “headphones-only” experience - there is still plenty of dancefloor pressure here for ravers to savour.

The first thing that will strike you about 'The Air Between Words' is how serious the tone of the music is. This not a collection of disposable summer club fodder. This is late-night music with intent. From the opening refrains of 'Forgiveness Step 1', which slowly builds layer upon layer of warm keys on top of a scratchy loop of children playing, to the final moments of 'Fashion Skater' where grinding low end combines with melancholy strings and piano chords, the whole album feels meaningful and meticulously-crafted.



As we’ve come to expect from Martyn, the album covers a variety of styles and BPMs. There are deep, soulful house jams like 'Glassbeadgames' which combines growling sub bass with forlorn vocal samples, and tracks like 'Drones', which uses a live bass guitar, jazz drums and Rhodes keys to excellent effect. Then there are gritty, low-down club burners such as 'Empty Mind', 'Forgiveness Step 2', and 'Two Leads & A Computer', which are classy melting pots of analogue drum workouts, quirky leads and grimy basslines. And then there are the warm, uplifting, and blissful cuts like 'Lullaby', which recall the heady days of 80s house music with their floaty synths and engulfing atmospherics. And yet, despite the great deal of variety on offer here, 'The Air Between Words' sounds even better when it’s played from start to finish uninterrupted, thanks to Martyn’s ability to weave a common thread of intellectual (but not alienating) seriousness throughout.

'The Air Between Words' is clearly a Martyn album; it’s eclectic, it’s a natural evolution of what came before it, and it’s just bloody good.

Tracklist:
01 Forgiveness Step 1
02 Glassbeadgames (with Four Tet)
03 Empty Mind
04 Drones
05 Love of Pleasure (with copeland)
06 Two Leads and a Computer
07 Forgiveness Step 2
08 Like That
09 Lullaby
10 Fashion Skater

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Red Bull Music Academy has added more names to its stage at Splendour In The Grass this July which includes a special DJ set from Nicolas Jaar, who is already performing the festival as Darkside with partner-in-crime Dave Harrington.

Other newly announced names for the stage include Nguzunguzu, Hiatus Kaiyote, Oscar Key Sung, bAnoffee and Warp favourite Africa Hitech, the latter of whom will perform on Sunday night.

RBMA has also announced the line-up for a Thursday night pre-party full of homegrown talent including wordlife, Indian Summer, LDRU, Yahtzel andrecent Pulse Fresh Blood inductee Sable. The party will be held at the Byron site the night before the festival kicks off.

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The voting has opened for the 2014 inthemix Awards, the "annual celebration of the best and biggest in local dance music" which gives you the opportunity to cast your vote for the best artist, club night, festival and more.

One of the categories which caught our eye this year is the 'Most Influential Person in Dance Music' award. Why? Because we have a fitting nominee to put forward. Yes, we can't think of anyone who has influenced dance music in a negative way more than former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, whose 1:30am lockout laws and 3am cessation of alcohol service is attempting to slowly suffocate Sydney's club and nightlife scene.

Unfortunately the influential person category is not open to the public, but decided on by "a panel of industry leaders," which means that our hopes of getting Fatty O'Barrell this award in #1 Xmas song style are pretty slim. Still, we're urging those voting in this category to nominate Bazza! What better way to bring to attention the detrimental effect the lockout laws have had on our industry than to have its pin-up boy win one of the industry's most prestigious awards? Help spread the word!

The results of the 2014 inthemix Awards at the ceremony in early August. Public voting closes on Friday June 27. Head here to have your say.

2014 inthemix Awards:

Public voted categories
inthemix 50 poll of Australia’s favourite DJs and producers
Favourite Touring Festival
Favourite Event
Favourite Club Night
Favourite International DJ

Industry voted categories
Best Album
Best Track/Remix
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Most Influential Person in Dance Music
Label of the Year
Undiscovered Artist of the Year

Key dates
Voting opens: Monday June 23
Registrations close: Friday June 27
Voting closes: Wednesday July 23
Results announced: Early August

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Bob Moses
First To Cry
Domino Records

8/10

It was really only a matter of time until Bob Moses were snapped up by an indie label like Domino Records, their moody deep house combined with catchy pop hooks a canny fit for the label. After two well received EPs on New York’s Scissor And Thread imprint, the Canadian bred, Brooklyn based duo commence their new chapter with Domino (where they now rub shoulders with the likes of Hot Chip, Junior Boys and Animal Collective) via a two-sided single, ‘First To Cry’.

As soon as ‘I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry’ begins its 105bpm chug, it becomes clear that Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance’s mission here isn’t to pull new punches, but instead perfect the sound they began on 2012’s ‘Hands To Hold’ EP. And they’ve pretty much done just that. The smoky guitar riffs have been turned up to eleven, their bluesy wails in the final stretch bringing things to a satisfying climax which hits that odd middle ground between elation and melancholy.

Their knack for delivering clever songwriting within a 4/4 template also shines through heavily, particularly on ‘Grace’, which houses one of the catchiest choruses you’re likely to hear all year. The faster paced and more dance floor leaning of the two tracks, you could easily imagine a DJ such as Dixon dropping it mid-set for some emotional depth. It would also perfectly suit Sunday afternoon recovery drinks; such is the tonal duality of Bob Moses’ productions.

Comparisons to Darkside have already emerged off the back of this release, which is understandable but also a tad unjust. Guitar or no guitar, Bob Moses were crafting their own brand of house music before Darkside had blown up commercially. Perhaps if anything the comparisons are a compliment, as well as a testament to how much fanfare these guys still have coming their way.

Tracklist
I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry
Grace

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Soul Candi is the undeniable leader when it comes to all things related to electronic music, the label has been around for years and has calmly mastered every trick and aspect of the local industry. It also houses some of the biggest artists in the country, with the likes of Micasa, Euphonik, Kent, DJ Fresh and a plethora of other local talents housed in its stables.

In the bid to keep evolving and continue to dominate the local industry, Soul Candi started a series of compilations called “Candi Root”. This series features some of the youngest and brightest musical neophytes in Soul Candi's roster. The series is used a platform and a vehicle to help these artists and grow and break through into the market. Volume 3 of this new age compilation was released a short while ago and is mixed by local underground and deep house practitioner, Soundquest.



The Durban based producer and DJ has amassed a wealth of accolades with his jazzy, techy and deep house sounds. Having worked with a various international and local artists; audiences have come to adore his production and musical skills. The rest of the compilation is mixed by Vincemo andMagic Soul, two thoroughbred producers who are now rising up the Soul Candi ranks. A label's lasting ability lies in its efforts to constantly re invent itself, find new artists, create new trends and above remain relevant. The Candi Roots; series if a perfect way for Soul Candi to keep evolving its brand and stay ahead of the game.
So if you are looking for something new and outside of the current crop of artists, then this edition of Candi Roots is definitely for you.

Download Candi Roots Vol. 3 here 

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Justin Robertson and Terry Farley in a deserted forest outside of London? This whole thing’s an acid house cliché from the word go.

But it does look irresistible.

Along with the aforementioned legends of club culture, a long line up of UK and international DJs and live acts are booked to play this July at Farr Festival, the 5-year-old weekend shindig in the glorious Hertfordshire countryside.

Colourful, flamboyant American headliners Hercules and Love Affair, Innervisions Records duo Âme – who’ll be playing a full live set – and Mount Kimbie are just a few of the artists on a bill that caters for fans of disco, house, techno, reggae, ska, dub, and dubstep.

But with so many good choices, who should you make sure to see? We narrow down 5 can’t miss artists.

Bicep

From consistent resource for mixes, astute record tips, warped, idiosyncratic artwork and photography, to international touring DJs and label owners, Belfast pair Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar are everywhere right now. Much akin to their driving ‘90s house and techno informed productions, which sound like a modern sonnet for the sorts of records that once came out of New York and New Jersey on labels like Swing Street, NU Groove, and Nervous Records, Bicep’s DJ sets are crammed with jacked, juiced, pumping, ovary-rattling Roland rhythms, expansive, ethereal pads, sushi-chef sharp high hats, disco diva vocal samples, and flecks of Italo to boot.

Get acquainted with their blog here, where this week can be found samples from AFX Twin’s ‘Caustic Window’ LP with appropriately dark and comic graphic design. 

Hunee

Hun Choi aka DJ Hunee is another who, like Bicep, has risen to the top of the underground in a very short space of time. A former Los Angeles resident now residing in Berlin, he’s been releasing some of the grooviest, most thoughtful house tracks in recent memory for labels like Rush Hour, Internasjonal, and W.T. Records since 2009.

His heart clearly beats for disco, but his deep, hypnotic, polished yet dusty productions dressed in carefully flipped samples possess all the hallmarks of classic house labels like Prescription and Balance.

Read his blog here.

Move D

Although David Moufang is 47 and has been producing music and DJing for more than 20 years, one could be forgiven for thinking he is less of a veteran than a newcomer, given that he only this year contributed to the illustrious Fabric mix series, and only in the last couple of years began to appear high up the RA Top 100. But while Move D, a charismatic selector from Heidelberg was escaping the fickle glare of the overground, he was busy nurturing a reputation in the underground for releasing elegant pieces of Avant-garde electronic music and playing deep house and techno sets laced with the best grooves and soul of 20th century music.

More recently, Move D has released music on Smallville and Workshop Records, and regularly plays at some of the best clubs in the world.

Andrew Weatherall

He’s remixed Primal Scream and Ricardo Villalobos, was one part of seminal production outfits Sabres of Paradise and Two Lone Swordsmen, and he’s played at the Hacienda. He still plays the finest clubs in the world, and the dirtiest dive bars, week in, week out; and despite looking like the love child of an Iranian mullah and a Hell’s Angel, once lived in a vicarage.

Arguably the finest DJ the UK has ever produced, don’t miss the weird and wonderful world of Andrew Weatherall at Farr Festival. Weatherall’s happenings at the Rotters Golf Club.

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Optimo

They’ve been described as ‘one of the best DJ duos going right now.’ But we can do better than that.

Known most for their genre disregarding DJ sets and no longer with us Sunday club night, Optimo Espacio at Glasgow’s Sub Club, JD Twitch and JG Wilkes are two of the most consistently on it selectors these islands ever begot, and DJs who actually warrant the cliché, DJ’s DJs.

Fishing from enormous record collections, which reputedly run past the 30,000 mark each, Keith and Jonnie play funk, dub, jazz, bleep, indie, disco, electro, psychedelic rock, proper pop, every kind of oddity with a groove; and even just straight up, classy house sets with plenty to work the spotters.

If you’re not convinced, take in their played-with list, and listen to this: 

Farr festival takes place 18-20th July 2014 in Hertfordshire, ‘just along the corn fields and through the gap in the trees..’ Full line up, tickets, and information can be found here: http://www.farrfestival.co.uk/

In order to continue preserving this precious scene of ours, we need to start exchanging ideas and information on a regular basis; we all know that knowledge is power. The vastness of our country and its music business makes it hard to house various figure heads and professionals under one roof, harder still  to get them to talk and share vital information that would benefit any young up and coming artist. That is why we laud the existence of the SAMC; it has been in existence since 2007 and has been a platform for reform, education, expansion and more importantly growth.

Every year South Africa’s top musos, promoters, journalists and pundits gather to innovate and solidify the infrastructure of South Africa’s music industry. This year will be no different; SAMC will run from the 3rd to the 6th of July in Durban, registration is now free and as usual after every SAMC once can expect a grand finale to commemorate this event.
 

To register for the SAMC clickhere 

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intro

Hey Louie, how are you? Pretty good. I've recently moved to Barcelona with most of the No.19 crew and my girl, plus I have a bunch of my closest friends here such as Miguel Puente, Robbie Akbal, etc.

I’ve read you’re not nervous about the release of your new LP, "Autophobia," just excited. Now that the release date is so close, are you still feeling the same? So far I've just felt excited and anxious for it to be released since it's been too long. Maybe when the day comes and I'm just hours away to see its release I might feel a bit nervous, but we'll see...

The first track on the album, "Misunderstood" feat. Aquarius Heaven, has a lot more Latin flavour to it than your previous material. What brought that about, and how was it working with Aquarius? I was touring in the UK at the moment and me and some friends were driving to a pretty dope buffet in Birmingham, and one of my all time favorite songs "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" came on the radio.

I had just tattooed the word "Misunderstood" on my forearm a few weeks earlier, so it got me a bit excited, and as soon as we came down to one of my boys' house (and when I say "house" I mean a proper MTV Cribs mansion) I just looked for the song, sampled it and finished the instrumental that day.

As usual, I sent it to Jonny with a bunch of other tunes and he loved it and sent it to Brian, without knowing that me and Brian had planned during a trip to Tunisia to work on a track together. We both loved what Brian brought to the table and it definitely became one of my favorite tunes from the album.

Was the album named after your track with Luna? If so, what made you decide to name it that? The fact that I left a big chunk of me on that song, more than on anything else I had done before, made me want to use it as the name of the album. Plus that song reminds me so much of my mom and I wanted to dedicate that to her.

You’re obviously a fan of dark, groovy music. Where do you think that comes from? I think the fact that I grew up listening to bands such as Aphex Twin, Portishead, Massive Attack, and Nine Inch Nails sculpted my take on music.

I understand you performed some of the lyrics on the LP. Have you done that before, and what was that experience like? I used to play lead guitar and do back up vocals on a band when I was just a teenager, and it was always a bit nerve wrecking to be honest cause I've always been a bit on the shy side.

I still don't think I'm ready to do a live show where I play and sing all my stuff, but I'm sure it'll happen eventually, and I'm sure that experience will be very gratifying - at least for me!

With the "Autophobia" single, you first branched out to the slower, more experimental sound, but with the LP, tracks like "So Good (Interlude)" and "Hunter-Prey" really shined through. Is that a sound you’ve always wanted to experiment with more? I've actually started doing this kind of slow experimental music around 14 years ago but I went into the 4/4 dancefloor as soon as I became a DJ. House music and techno haven't been my influences, so that's why I wanted to do something closer to me, the kind of music that I used to love and do back in the day.

For instance, the "So Good Interlude" is a track I did for a film score almost 8 years ago, I've just added the samples and some FX.

Can we expect more of that kind of sound from you in the future? For sure. As soon as I'm settled here in Barcelona and I have a working studio ready I will definitely start working on a second album, which I want it to be more experimental than this one. I'll leave the dance floor stuff for the EPs.

Finally, now that your album is finally out, what’s next for you? Just keep working on new music and keeping shit tight with my No.19 crew. I'm also really excited about future gigs such as DC-10 in August - that's really something I wasn't expecting yet.

Louie Fresco's "Autophobia" is out digitally on No. 19 Music. July 5th.

Listen to Louie Fresco on Pulse Radio. 

According to the Gaia Theory of the 1970s, Earth is a single, self-regulated, sentient organism. Unity Consciousness takes the idea a step further. Simplistically speaking, it sees the entirety of the Multiverse as one infinite, unending entity. In many ways, Detroit's miraculous Movement Electronic Music Festival is a microcosm of these concepts, reminding us all of our congenital connectedness. For three magical days in May, festival-goers from around the globe come together like astral atoms to form one functional being, firing on all celestial cylinders. The music merely serves as a catalyst, creating opportunities for cosmic connections and enigmatic experiences to occur. Being that the spirit and soul of every single person to populate Hart Plaza is a piece of the proverbial puzzle, we found it only appropriate to survey those who attended the annual affair in order to encapsulate and epitomize the essence of the event. It can certainly be said that Movement is as great as the sum of its parts, and that's precisely why it remains unparalleled. 

Responses rolled in for our survey from across the country, giving a well-rounded representation of what Movement means to the many who made their way to the musical Mecca over Memorial Day. Whether they've been every year since its inception, or only just got their first taste of Technotown USA, there was a unanimous sense of community associated with the weekend. Beloved characters like Granny Techno and Disco Vest Dude are annual fixtures we all look forward to seeing, members of our extended festival family. For many, it is one of very few annual opportunities to dance and romance with friends from around the globe, anticipated eagerly for 362 painstaking days. Many respondents cited memories made and special moments shared with friends as their personal highlight, as opposed to a particular performance. Sheena from Metro Detroit tells us, “Movement is more than a music festival. It's a reunion. Every time you turn around you see someone you know.” Miranda from Los Angeles says “I connected with friends old and new through the medium of music.” She goes on to describe Movement as “the best festival in the United States. It leaves you inspired and recharged.”

Kevin Saunderson

The innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the Motor City is contagious. Many in the music industry leave Movement with a revived appreciation for their craft, ready to grab more gear and create with a newfound focus. Jose from Detroit came out of the weekend motivated to start his own clothing line. Lisa from Detroit, who has attended and been uplifted by the event every single year, told us “I come home with my heart and soul refreshed at the liveliness and ability to share Detroit [with others]. I always vow to do and live better.” Back for his second dose of Detroit, Dale from Los Angeles agrees, saying “the festival replenishes my musical soul.” Maggie from Metro Detroit told us, “My whole world in music aligned with what I have been doing for the past 18 years into what my future will be. I have decided to start a whole new business in this industry.”

When prompted to pick three words to describe the event, attendees used such adjectives as spiritual, life-changing, utopian, healing, transcendent and transformational. Regardless of where they may reside, the city was welcoming to all, making everyone feel absolutely at home in and around Hart Plaza. Remarkably, nothing about the festival feels forced, as the Detroit experience was further depicted as organic and genuine. While there are always a handful of locally-made art installations around the grounds, and a few of the stages are equipped with LED walls for visuals, the focus really remains on the music. The understated setup allows for an atmosphere in which the audience's soul is able to awaken through the acoustics. Of note, there wasn't a single arrest at this year's event. Authorities are truly there to oversee safety, enabling harmony, freedom and expression to be felt and actualized.

The Good-Time Lighthearted Lean Peaks -- Patrick Ethan, Ellen Rutt, Allen Sedghi, Eiji Jimbo, Simon Anton & Rachel Mulder

In addition to advice like packing ear plugs, pacing yourself, getting some sleep, and drinking lots of water, attendees had some wise words they wished to impart. Ahlam from Metro Detroit implores you to “Free yourself from the experience you are trying to have.” Linda from Detroit urges you to “Consider going by yourself – it's an amazing experience when you can just float where you want at will, without being worried about what 'the group' wants to do.” Cole from Detroit says “Go with the flow. Don't plan ahead.” With so much to see between the five stages and nonstop after parties, don't be afraid to go against the grain, check out someone you haven't heard of, and feel free to get lost in a set, even if it means sacrificing another on your schedule. Not sure where to go? Many respondents mentioned the Made in Detroit Stage as never failing them, hosting many of the festival's most favored sets, including Golf Clap, Mike Huckaby, and Kevin Saunderson b2b Seth Troxler.

Golf Clap

Another beautiful thing about Movement is the lack of conceit amongst the crowd. Despite being in a sea of, arguably, some of the snobbiest when it comes to the sounds, the elitism doesn't extend beyond the music. You're much more likely to hear murmurs about the track selections and the mixing itself than paltry opinions of the people around you. In a past interview, Ted Krisko of Ataxia summed it up sublimely when he said Movement “is an ego-leveler, and everyone that is under the umbrella of our music scene gets to come together for one reason, and that is to have a giant dance party with amazing music.” VIP passes are primarily purchased for the access it allows to amenities like proper bathrooms and additional places to perch, rather than being seen as a sort of status symbol or hierarchy. Hart Plaza is for the heads, and any sense of entitlement is left at the gate.

Josh Dupont, Maceo Plex & Gabe Sandler

Asked to describe any especially synergistic experiences, “the whole weekend” was not an uncommon response, some claiming they had “too many to name.” The weekend makes wildly evident the wavelengths on which we operate. Despite being amidst over 100,000 people, it's not unusual to look around during a set and find yourself standing next to the same person you struck up a conversation with at another stage on another day. Connections are made and friendships are fostered.

Leaving it to fate tends to be the best way to ensure you'll see your friends at the festival. Says Beatrice from Los Angeles, “I didn't even have to look for my friends. It seemed that the people I wanted to see just showed up at all the right times.” Andrew from the suburbs of Detroit shared an anecdote with us that really puts it in context, “I was sending my friend a text message to tell her it was pointless for us to try to meet up, and that if we are meant to find each other we will. As I tried to come up with the right way to word it, I looked up. At that exact moment, my friend walked past me. My point had proven itself without even having to hit send.”

Dixon & DJ Tennis at Old Miami

Miracles, magic and manifestations are just as much a mainstay of Movement as the impeccable music. It's the annual pilgrimage that proves time and again that Detroit is someplace special, and the locals are proud to share it with those who come with open minds and hearts. It's where we “leave our troubles on the dancefloor,” are reminded to “do what you love” and feel truly “connected to the universe.” Like the serendipitous cells of one creature, we create our own dreamworld for three days, where the improbable is all too possible, the whimsical is welcomed, and music provides the foundation for the truly fantastical. Who needs hype and hyperbole when you can have all that inherently?​

Tale of Us

Tale of Us

Green Velvet

BMG

Ataxia

Golf Clap

Secrets

Secrets

Move D

Move D

Julio Bashmore & Bicep

Julio Bashmore

DJ Dez Andres

Malik Alston feat. Javant Garrett

Malik Alston feat. Badriyyah Sabree, LaRae Starr, Javant Garrett, Gabe Gonzales, Sean Blackman, Buzz Fiddler & Keith Beber


Malik Alston feat. Keith Beber

AvA

Kevin Reynolds with Sam Beaubien & Shaun Reeves

Shaun Reeves

Seth Troxler

Seth Troxler

Seth Troxler

Underground Resistance Presents Timeline feat. Mark Flash, DeSean Jones & Jon Dixon

Underground Resistance Presents Timeline feat. Mark Flash, DeSean Jones & Jon Dixon

Maxxi Soundsystem at Love the D

Doc Martin at Crew Loves House of Efunk

Bonobo

Kevin Saunderson

Kevin Saunderson with sons Dantiez & Damari

Kevin Saunderson b2b Seth Troxler

Kevin Saunderson b2b Seth Troxler

Dantiez Saunderson, SethTroxler & Kevin Saunderson

Octave One

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