Perth's dance music-focused NYE festival Origin has finally dropped its lineup which will see a stack of impressive international and local names ring in 2015 at Wellington Square.

Punters can expect bass, house and hip-hop from the likes of Baauer, Hudson Mohawke, Dillon Francis as well as names already announced on NSW's Lost Paradise lineup such as AlunaGeorge and Goldlink.

The impressive Origin lineup is also good news for Sydneysiders, who can expect to see some of these names land on the Field Day lineup on NYD 2015. Tickets to Origin 2014 go on sale this Wednesday September 24 here.

Listen to Pulse Radio

Known as Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art, Sonar is a pioneering event that will visit Cape Town on 15th and 16th of December with headliners The Bloody Beetroots and 2Manydjs, and a selection of top SA acts, for an explosive party.

The event is known for combining a playful nature, the avant-garde, and experimentation with electronic dance music's newest trends. Internationally, the music industry and electronic dance enthusiasts have had their eye on Cape Town, which has emerged as a key destination for the electronic music scene. Cape Town's recent accolade of World Design Capital 2014 also makes it the natural city of choice for Sonar's official South African debut and, along with Barcelona, Tokyo, Reykjavik and Mexico, will make up the quintuplet of cities to host Sonar in 2014.

The Bloody Beetroots have continued to reinvent themselves consistently in the last few years, attracting big attention especially for “Chronicles of a Fallen Love” with Greta Svabo Bech in 2012, which brought them more harmonically-minded fans above and beyond their huge existing following. With a penchant for both the eccentric and euphoric, the Beetroots have featured a host of other acts (including Tai and Bart B More and Steve Aoki) to produce tracks quite vastly varied from each other, keeping our attention.

The innovative 2Manydjs have been praised as a heavyweight act known for their eclectic shows at Sonar already. With a mix of everything from tech and progressive rock to R&B and funk, they also play as well-known live band Soulwax, and with James Murphy as Despacio. "As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2" revolutionised the dance music landscape for its imaginative mixture of artist and genres from all eras. Soulwax also produced some of the most cutting edge remixes ever including Pulp, GTA (Soulwax FM), Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Gorillaz and MGMT.

The UK’s techno and soundtrack producer Jon Hopkins will bring us danceable techno and hypnotic visuals.

South African acts offer a variety of everything from grinding bass to instrumental to thoughtful, with Christian Tiger School, Sibot & Toyota, Trancemicsoul, Fantasma (Spoek Mathambo Band), PH Fat, and Fevertrails.

Buy tickets here.

Listen to Pulse Radio

The UK's South London Ordnance has been gaining huge traction as of late. His dubby take on techno is perfectly suited to parties like ENTER. at Space Ibiza, where he made his second appearance at this August, and his releases have been applauded by the likes of Jamie XX, Scuba, Benji B, Claude Vonstroke, Richie Hawtin and more.

Also having played Space Ibiza's opening fiesta, the island seems to want more of SLO, and so do we. So we caught up with the techno selector to find out more about his jungle days, his recent Hotflush release, his new label, and what's next. 

I believe you listened to a lot of drum and bass in the early days – what drove you towards techno? When I was younger, drum ‘n’ bass, and the tail end of the jungle scene, were still pretty huge in London where I grew up. As a result, that's what I was listening to. I started on the more obvious stuff and then gravitated towards the deeper, more hypnotic tracks. I was always buying techno in the background, but it was more a case of maybe one really good techno record a month, rather than every drum ‘n’ bass promo every week. I think when I grew up a bit and I wanted things a bit slower, with a bit more groove, I started to become more interested in techno and house and slower electronica generally.

‘Contact’ came out on Hotflush recently – how was the reception? Will you continue to work with Hotflush in the future? Yeah, really good actually, I've enjoyed playing that record out a lot. Hotflush is a great label run by a very dedicated team, I'm sure we'll do stuff again in the future.

You’ve played the Space Opening and ENTER. this season – how have you found the reception to your sets in Ibiza? Generally good, I would like to think anyway! The opening was a very different experience from ENTER. to be honest – a very different crowd. I could go a lot deeper at ENTER. and not lose people. I do enjoy playing back-to-back bangers when the time comes, but it can get a bit relentless – I like to go off on tangents...

Is Ibiza a new experience for you? How do you like the island? I'd only been once before I started playing there, when I was a teenager. I like it a lot, but the more low-key aspects if I'm honest: the quieter beaches, the restaurants that are a little less shiny... When I go, I try and take a place in the north away from too much of the party crowd. It’s great to dip in and out, but I like somewhere I can actually relax. It’s a beautiful island, there’s a lot more to it than beach bars and super clubs.

You recently set up your label Aery Metals – can you explain the ethos behind the label? What plans do you have for the future? It's a place I can put out anything I want, where I can draw in interesting collaborators and there's no particular pressure to make every track for the dance floor. Having said that, I'm sitting on some great dance floor stuff at the moment from UK and US artists that I'll be collating into records pretty soon.

Does the sheer number of labels in dance music worry you or present any challenges? No, it doesn't worry me at all – I love a challenge. I do it because I enjoy the process of putting out music – if people are into it, and buy the records that’s great, but it’s not a competition.

What else can we expect from you in terms of shows and releases? I’m finishing up a few records for my own label, and some other projects. Otherwise I’m back in the US soon for a load of shows in places like NYC and Miami. It’ll be my first time in Mexico City too. Then I’ve got stuff like The Warehouse Project which I’m really looking forward to, plus a load of great pan European stuff.

Listen to Pulse Radio.

Dyed Soundorom delivers a set of deep tech-house with a distinctly after hour flavour for Pulse.191.

It's been a busy summer for the Parisian born, Berlin based jock. He notched up yet another successful residency at DC10, the Ibizan institution that put him on the map. Add to that countless solo gigs across Europe not to mention sets alongside his Apollonia pals Shonky and Dan Ghenacia. And as we discover in our Q&A below, something special from the Apollonia crew is set to be unveiled next month.

Ahead of his debut visit to South Africa this coming weekend, Dyed has turned in a stellar mix recorded in Ibiza for our podcast series. We advise that you turn it all the way up.

DOWNLOAD PULSE.191 HERE

What have been some of the highlights this past summer gigging in Europe? The highlight for me playing solo was at a very intimate party called Rotary Circle in Strasbourg. Just two turntables and a rotary mixer - it was very special! With my Apollonia friends Dan Ghenacia and Shonky, I'd have to say it was our annual showcase at DC-10 in Ibiza. Plus playing the closing set for the opening of Amnesia and our two gigs for ENTER for Richie Hawtin at Space.

What’s forthcoming from you production wise in your solo capacity as well as part of Apollonia? Our first album as Apollonia is coming out on the 20th of October. I've been really focused on this since last year. We’re going on a massive world tour starting in the USA in October. So I will be only be re-focussing on solo projects towards the end of the year.

What is your favorite club and festival to play and why? DC-10 is my favourite club simply because the atmosphere is the best in the world. As a festival this year it was Sonus; incredible sound system and amazing vibe.

You’re heading to South Africa at the end of this month. Is this your first visit to Africa? Any idea what to expect? It's my first time and I'm really excited about it! I've been waiting to come to South Africa for a long time. It's like a dream come true. I heard the scene is on fire there, so I can't wait to discover your beautiful country. I'd like to see Black Coffee playing there. It must be quite something.

The podcast you've given us is rather special. Can you tell us why? The mix was recorded in Ibiza. It's deep with an after hour flavour. Hope you all enjoy!

Listen to Pulse Radio

VIVa Warriors has continued its major success throughout the summer, possibly standing out as Sankeys’ most hedonistic and consistent party. There’s certainly a big draw to the Sunday night session and a collective cult-like feeling has grown – the atmosphere is always infectious and VIVa Warriors bandanas adorn many heads as you make your way through the dance floor. 

Again, as I walked through the doors, I was met by a sea of bodies moving frantically to the sound of Guti’s pulsing low-slung fare. Squeezing through the Basement, bodies were wall to wall – plenty of up-for-it revellers dancing with heaps of enthusiasm is something I’ve come to expect at Sankeys. When you’re moving through the crowd and trying to avoid the flailing arms, you realise that just about everyone is totally lost in the moment and revelling in Sankeys’ raw rave experience.

Over in the Lab, Manchester’s finest, Oli Furness, was on the decks, and whilst the room could have benefited from a few more people filling the floor, Furness delivered a salvo of rugged and raw house cuts with a fine touch. These were the kind of jacking power house cuts which are often pushed out by the dominance of tech-house on the White Isle. As people filtered in and his set progressed, he was grabbing attention with his heavy selections supplemented by his own tracks such as the infectiously bumping ‘Overjack’ and the frantic synth lines and emotive pads of ‘Gone Fishin’.

Back in the basement Guti was laying down his signature bass-heavy live set as the crowd became increasingly energetic and locked into the steadily grooving sounds. Whether it’s the low ceilings, the intimacy, the hot red glow of the lights or the dirty crunch of the sound system, Sankeys certainly induces an atmosphere that isn’t always commonplace on the island. Guti does the rounds in Ibiza, you’ll often see his name on posters for a plethora of different parties, yet he always slots into proceedings comfortably and with conviction.

With Guti twisting and turning buttons on his array of equipment and pumping out his tracks on the fly, the revelry stepped up a notch as we plunged into depths of peak-time, perfectly building towards the main man’s slot.

As Lawler took over, the vibe was absorbing and the party-goers full of anticipation, the VIVa boss launching into a selection of rolling tech-house bass lines that rattled through the dark room. Steve Lawler is a crowd pleaser, not in the pejorative sense, but solely in the way that he commands dance floors and builds the biggest of moments.

You know he’s going to have smiles on faces, hands in the air, and a rocking dance floor. It’s always a sign of the DJ’s talent when it’s not necessarily the individual tracks which are doing the damage, but the way they’re shaped together to form a solid journey of grooving house cuts – you don’t have to think about dancing, it just happens.

It’s safe to say Lawler is now the King of Sankeys.

Buy tickets to next week's VIVa Warriors Closing Party featuring a 5-hour set from Steve Lawler here. 

Listen to Steve Lawler on Pulse Radio.

Platform, a popular South African music website dedicated mostly to electronic music, is throwing its second event. This round will feature LA’s glitch-synth-electronica wizard Mndsgn, and take place in both Jozi and Cape Town (25 and 27 September respectively).

After Platform’s futuristic success of their April event, (John Wizards and Thibo Tazz played Glastonbury, Beatenberg released their album and Felix Laband released an EP), they are presenting “one of the leading figures in the current beat capital of the world, Los Angeles”, at two parties, one in CT and one in JHB. Having recently signed to the legendary Stones Throw Records (the label of Madlib J Dilla), Mndsgn released his debut LP, the blissful ‘Yawn Zen’. Platform’s Sean Magner heralded the album as a display of his “undoubted technical mastery” which were originally “evidenced by his brilliant live sets”.

He will be joined by some of South Africa's finest hip-hop, breaks, and electronica acts: JakobSnake, Damascvs, White Nite, and Daddy Warbucks.  

Buy tickets here

Listen to Pulse Radio

We've seen what Paris Hilton does behind the decks. We've also seen what models can do. Now watch the armless Pascal Kleiman put both to shame with no arms.

Pascal Kleiman got his start from the explosion of French free radio during the 1980s, showcasing underground rock and punk on his show, Virus. Though when the acid house boom hit, Kleiman began producing and DJing at raves around France in the early '90s.

Today he's known as "The Amazing Pascal," and as this video shows, he's got real skill. No computer, no Traktor - not even first rate CDJs - just pure skill. Watch below.  

[Via Dancing Astronaut]

Listen to Pulse Radio.

A skilled producer and intuitive DJ, Mark Jenkyns' rise to stardom has been slow and steady. First inspired to make music by a 2003 trip to the White Isle, the DJ diddled about with production for a number of years before finally hitting it big with his Hot Creations anthem, "Wind It Back". Since then, he's scored a residency at Jamie Jones's Paradise party, released a several well received originals and played a slew of impressive festival dates, including two sets at Belgian mega-festival, Tomorrowland.

He's set to step up to the decks on October 4th for the launch of new London venue, The Qube Project, as well as creating an exclusive mix especially for the event. We sat down with Mark this week to talk club nights, future plans and the White Isle.

Hi Mark, you’ve been touring the world this year, playing everywhere from Belgium to Russia. Talk to us about your schedule over the summer? I’ve been back and forth to Paradise in Ibiza every couple of weeks, which I’m resident for, and I’ve got a residency now in Newcastle for a party called Loop. I’ve played Moscow and Paris, as well as Tomorrowland, twice.

Also, I’ve done a few other festivals as well and mostly travelling up and down through out the UK. It’s been quite hectic but it’s been really nice.

Everyone knows Ibiza is a mecca for electronic music. Why do you think the scene has survived so long in Ibiza? What makes it so special? It’s something I’ve never been about to put my finger on. In a way, it’s still a mystery to me. I guess the place itself is amazing, it just captivates you as soon as soon as you get there. There’s just something about it that grabs a hold of you and makes you want to come back.

The parties are just getting bigger and bigger. I feel the island is changing a little bit but it’s becoming a super island. For the size of it, it’s really special. Lots of people just go and let their hair down. It’s getting a little more intense with the police but it’s still very free – it’s the place to go to be free.

With so much travelling, where is your favourite place to play? Where feels most like home? DC-10! Cliché, but true. Outside of that, Tomorrowland in Belgium was really good. You’ve got every spectrum of music from EDM, to techno, to house, and it’s just crazy. The production of the place is unreal.

Now that everything is wrapping up for the party season, what have you got planned over the next few months? Well I’ve been finishing off the summer, then I’ll get in the studio because I’ve got about 20 projects that I need to finish. I’ve got my new EP coming out on Hot Creations, which I’m assuming will be coming out in February.

I’ve just signed something for Steve Lawler’s ViVa and now he wants another two tracks, or maybe a full EP. Now I’m not backwards and forwards so much I can just take time to go in the studio and be a nerd! By some more equipment!

I’ve released less this year but I’ve not had a sound as such, it was just what came out, so I’ve been trying to define that a bit. Now I’m trying to work on things, get everything finished.

Out of all the tracks you’ve produced and released, which one is closest to your heart – do you have a favourite? I’d say, “Wind It Back.” Just that one. I’d like to say that one. That was the one that gave me my break really. I had a few releases before that but that one was the one that really set it off for us.

You’ve put together a mix for The Qube Project London, can you tell us a little about it? It’s a journey, I don’t like it to be full on straight away, I just think it sounds crazy when it goes berserk straight away. It’s just too hectic. A few deep things, few club things, few quirky numbers! It’s a surprise!

You’re playing the grand launch on Saturday the 4th of October with Sam Divine, Simon Baker and more. What would say it takes to make a great venue in the UK? The crowd. That’s one thing. A crowd that are ready and up for it. Of course, the music has to great, but the crowd, they have to be up for it, first and foremost! Oh, and the sound system is always important. A great tune on a bad sound system doesn’t do anything! 

Mark Jenkyns plas The Qube Project opening on October 4th. More info here.

Dynamic duo Axwell /\ Ingrosso (two-thirds of the now disbanded supergroup Swedish House Mafia) have recently announced a record deal with Universal Music Group. They will release their debut album as soon as early 2015 via Def Jam Recordings.

The album will likely mark a milestone in their music careers as they never released a full length album as Swedish House Mafia. The pair had a busy summer holding down their “Departures” residency at Usuaia Ibiza and making appearances at a selection of some of the world’s biggest festivals.

Listen to Pulse Radio

While Armin van Buuren and Afrojack are busy plotting gigs up in space, Rudimental and Gorgon City are teaming up for what will be the first-ever show to be streamed live from above the Atlantic Ocean. Called #FlightDecks, the performance will mark Virgin Atlantic 787’s inaugural flight from London to Atlanta with a special b2b set by the two popular artists.

The action will take place in a month on October 23rd. A select group of lucky passengers will be able to experience the fun first hand 30,000 feet above the ground. For everyone else, the show will be streamed live via wifi so you can enjoy it from the comfort of your living room couch. Enter Virgin Atlantic’s contest to win a seat on the flight.

Listen to Rudimental on Pulse Radio

Lights All Night Music Festival is returning to Dallas, Texas for its fifth anniversary edition this winter. Set to take place over two days on Friday, December26th and Saturday, December 27th at the Dallas Convention Center, it’s the perfect way to round out your 2014 with one more EDM festival.

Headliners this year include Skrillex, Zedd, Armin van Buuren, and Disclosure. They will be joined by the likes of Destructo, DJ Snake, 12th Planet, Boys Noize, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciao, and Christian Martin. Check out the complete lineup below featuring over 45 different electronic music acts.

Last year Lights All Night attraced over 40,000 music fans to downtown Dallas and it looks like 2014’s iteration will be even bigger. General admission and VIP tickets are now available to purchase on the festival’s official website.

Listen to Skrillex on Pulse Radio

Apple made headlines when it revealed that it was acquiring Beats Music back in May. Now, TechCrunch reports that they have heard from five anonymous sources that Apple plans to shut down Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre’s music service. They didn’t have a timeframe as to when this would all happen, but the sources at Apple and Beats agreed that it will happen.

Since news broke about the rumor, Apple has made a statement to Re/code that it is not “shuttering” Beats. Sources who are familiar with the situation told Re/code that Apple “may, however, modify it over time, and one of those changes could involve changing the Beats Music brand.”

The statement is rather ambiguous and it’s possible that what Apple is trying to say is that it will eventually further integrate Beats technology into iTunes. The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus do not come with a pre-installed Beats Music app and Beats was hardly a focus at the launch event earlier this month, which could support this claim.

Listen to Pulse Radio

Melbourne nightclub Poof Doof, the self proclaimed "gay club for homos", has launched a zero tolerance campaign against the use of destructive drugs ice and GHB, threatening lifetime bans to clubbers caught with the substances on its premises.

A statement issued by the club reads:

"Today POOF DOOF launch their ZERO TOLERANCE campaign against GHB and ICE.

After seeing how these horrific drugs have effected the community, POOF DOOF has decided to take action.

Far be it from POOF DOOF to tell anyone what to do - they’re certainly not the fun police - but they are putting our foot down with regards to what goes on whilst individuals are in their care on Saturday nights.

Any Doofer caught with GHB or ICE inside Poof Doof will be banned for life via the Scantek security system. This means that individual will also be banned for life at all other Scantek venues (of which there are around 60+ including Trak, Tramp, Inflation etc.)

All venue staff and security will be assisting them to identify, eject and ban those individuals who have not heeded their warning.

Make no mistake: POOF DOOF are serious. And the lifetime bans will be irreversible."

We at Pulse commend the club for taking a tough stance and looking out for the well being of their punters. For more information about the Chapel Street club or its campaign please head here.

Listen to Pulse Radio

Despite pleas from harm minimisation advocates last week to cease the use of sniffer dogs at this year's Defqon.1 festival in Sydney following the tragic death of James Munro in 2013, NSW Police were out in full force at the festival over the weekend, resulting in 83 arrests for drug possession.

The police presence at the 20,000 strong festival held at the International Regatta Centre in Penrith was in fact doubled to over 200 officers from Penrith Local Area Command, the North West Metropolitan Region and the Dog Squad. The operation led to 372 person searches with 83 drug detections. Of the drug arrests, seven were for drug supply offences, while one person was arrested for having 250 pills of what is alleged to be MDMA.

Around 350 people also received medical treatment for drug and heat-related illnesses with seven taken to Nepean Hospital for further treatment.

It seems that both the Police and Government are just not listening to reason.

[Via Tone Deaf]

Listen to Pulse Radio

We have to admit we're super excited about the newest boutique glamping festival in town (or NSW to be exact),Lost Paradise. Boasting a killer lineup combined with art, community and yoga set in a stunning location, it's the fresh new festival people have been longing for.

With a stack of awesome live acts on the lineup we've selected five who we deem to be unmissable in our eyes. They're heavy on the hip-hop / electronic tip, but hey, that's our bag here at Pulse, innit?

#5 Goldlink

Despite a selection of cuts on Soundcloud and his excellent debut mixtape ‘The God Complex’ which dropped in March, Virginia rapper Goldlink might not have a huge amount of material in his arsenal just yet, but as they saying goes, it’s all about quality, not quantity. His rhymes are solid as f*ck, cannily paired with forward-thinking beatsmiths like Ta-Ku and Kaytranda which only add to the all round deserved kudos flowing his way. And he’s even collaborated with best beard in Australian pop, Chet Faker. If you want to witness a fresh artist who’s on the cusp of blowing up, look no further.

#4 Elizabeth Rose

We’ve been waxing on about Elizabeth Rose on Pulse for a good two years now (check here and here) and with good reason, as she’s one of the best electronic pop artists Sydney has produced in the past decade. She’s no slouch at DJing either! Check her two mixes for us here.

Her newest EP which dropped just this week is a collaboration with fellow Sydney producer Frames; two slices of warm house grooves. It’s awesome, though we have to say it’s her recent cover of the ‘90s classic ‘Rhythm Of The Night’ that’s still tickling our eardrums. Check it out below.

#3 AlunaGeorge

Addictive pop beats via their debut album 'Body Music' (which was nominated for a BRIT Award, no less), a collaboration with fellow UK hit makers Disclosure, performances at iconic festivals around the globe including the one and only Glastonbury, the list of accolades for AlunaGeorge go on and on. The duo blew away Aussie audiences during their debut visit to the country last year and their popularity has grown tenfold since then. This is one headliner you're not gonna want to miss.

#2 KiNK

In the world of electronic club music, Bulgarian producer KiNK is without a doubt the name on everyone's lips at the moment. Blending and contorting the lines between techno, acid, house and bass music, Strahil Velchev has captured the ears and minds of a raft of fans, all enchanted by his uncompromising mastery of analogue and digital instruments, delivered through his talked up and energetic live shows. With such accolades and the album 'Under Destruction' having just dropped, catching this machine manipulator in the flesh is highly advisable.

#1 Sylvan Esso / Bob Moses

Choosing between these two acts was so tough that we decided to tie them at #1. Two of the newest and most exciting names in electronic music at the moment, their fresh takes on their respective genres reminds you of why you fell in love with music in the first place.

Sylvan Esso have crafted one of the most original and vibrant albums of the year; a collection of electronic pop combined with distinct vocal stylings from Amelia Meath. Meanwhile Vancouver duo Bob Moses, having just signed to Domino Records, are crafting smoky, R&B flavoured deep house grooves that feels like the future of pop.

Listen to Pulse Radio

Rocking the Daisies goes TROPICAL. WIN TICKETS!

LET’S GET TROPICAL –
1. Post a photo of yourself getting tropical
2. Tag Pulse Radio and Rocking the Daisies

DONE!

We can’t wait to see you sweltering hot people in your crazy pics – and on the dancefloor!!!

Check out more about Rocking the Daisies here
Listen to Pulse Radio here

Over and out. 

Pulse got a chance to chat to Tim Green ahead of his SA appearance at Rocking the Daisies, to hear about his love for underground adventures, his rocker side, eccentricity, and SA music. 

Some of your music sounds psychedelic – and by that I mean from a psychedelic rock band. Were you ever a rocker? Can you play any instruments?

Yes I am a guitar player mainly. I started from a very early age playing in bands. Listening to jazz, rock, folk, metal, blues, soul etc…. I also sing and play the piano. I’m still heavily into a lot of rock music. I listen to all of these genres more than electronic music.

Tell us about the rumours of you having a band.

Yeah it’s true. I have begun the process of forming a band to perform songs from my debut album. The album is a totally new project I have been keeping in the side-lines for many years now. It’s basically myself writing all the music with a few guest vocalists. The album is almost finished now thankfully, after a long and hard gruelling time. It’s been hard to work on this project all alone whilst still trying to continue the electronic dance music side of things people already know me for.

There’s a lot of eccentricity in your music. Do you think you’re weird? Are you trying to be funny, or serious?

Haha… I’m not sure really, I often ask people this about my music as well. It’s hard for me to have an outside perspective obviously. So I’m always keen to know how others perceive my music. I know I really like to push songs as far as they can go, and probably sometimes push the songs too far and over complicate things. But I get bored really easily and like to experiment. Maybe that’s weird to some people? But I never take anything too seriously, as I like to enjoy writing music and performing it.

What’s your selection process for vocalists? And instrumentalists?

I know straight away if I like the vocalist or musician. It’s all about if (the person’s performance) connects to me or not. They need to have a really high technical ability, but not something you would notice firstly, as the musicality and talent is what’s coming across from them first and foremost. Then the technical ability is what backs them up.

You’ve been to many of the most amazing festivals. What was the best, or craziest, thing about Burning Man?

The best thing for me is its ability to provide so much freedom and possibilities in one vast amazing place. You can go to the festival and make it whatever you want it to be. From one extreme to another. If you just want to chill for a week, drink tea, eat good food, get a lot of rest, do yoga, hang with friends etc etc - you can. If you want to lose your mind, get lost in the desert, don’t sleep and have no memory of the week etc - again you can. You meet so many different people there, everyone was doing completely different things with different agendas. Playground for adults!

What kind of set did you play there?

I played a few different sets, all at different times. Robot Heart was great as it was a couple of hours before sunrise. So I enjoyed playing a little trippy, dark but still with a bit of drive and push behind it. But like usual I don’t like to play one sound or one style. I tried to play some really musical stuff, mixed with some stripped back stuff etc… It was one of my most enjoyable experiences of my life. I really enjoyed what I played, had such a good time there. But like a lot of gigs, its hard to completely know what to play in advance as I’ve never been there before. Which is what being a good DJ is all about I think, adapting and playing for the moment. Which is not an easy thing all the time. At least not for me anyway. But I always enjoy the challenge.

For those of us who weren’t there, what actually happened at the infamous bedlam parties at The Tunnel?

Our Bedlam parties was an awesome underground rave feel about them. We held the parties at the Tunnel venue, which was an old Napoleon Fortress in Kent south of England. It was a lot of fun for so many different reasons. Mainly for me, I enjoyed the large amount of friends at the parties. It was always like the home-coming gig for me. I always looked forward to it so much, being able to hang out with friends that most year round I don’t get to see due to travelling and work. We had some incredible guest there over the years. Like Dixon, Claude Von Stroke, Appolonia, Martin Buttrich, Lee Burridge, Seth Troxler, Cassy, Ame, Tobi Neumann, Matthias Tanzmann, Martinez Brothers etc.

What do you honestly think of the South African music scene - what you’ve seen, and the reputation we have in other countries? Be brutal. We want to learn.

I have absolutely no idea, I have never been to South Africa before! So really can’t comment on the scene without being there. So I’m really excited to go along and check it out! Thanks!

Thanks! We can’t wait to show you.

Listen to Pulse Radio
 

Pleasurekraft's double bill show with Mischa Daniels will be held at Truth club in Johannesburg in Saturday 27 September. They will also be playing on 26 September at Era, Cape Town and 27 September at  Undersea Club, Durban.

Pleasurekraft, described as “a simultaneously visceral and cerebral experience induced only by the seductive, deep, groove heavy, underground techno inspired music that you hear the kids listening to”, returns to Truth to play an exclusive four-hour set on the terrace. Supporting him will be Pimp Squad, Ricardo da Costa, Ryan Dent and Vimo. Besides running on a ridiculously busy tour this year, and the hot remix of ‘The Bumps’ (Pete Tong & John Monkman) 22 days ago, Pleasurekraft also owns label Kraftek which has just released a beautiful debut EP for new act Wild Culture.

In the basement Mischa Daniels will have Lloyd, Royal K, Paul Bingham, Mark Stent and Leonardo playing alongside him, while the upstairs section will host Metro Ticket, Andi Dill, Lady M (CPT), Kanan K7 (CPT), and Justsmart.

Mischa Daniels will also be playing in Cape Town the same night (Saturday 27 September) as headliner at the Electric City outdoor music festival, with a very exciting and full line-up of electro, drum ‘n bass, house and other acts, who are the cream of the crop in terms of multi-genre electronic music in SA. Check out the event and full line-up here.

Get details and tickets for Pleasurekraft and Mischa Daniels at Truth here.

 Listen to Pulse Radio

Four years ago, Native Instruments introduced its Traktor Kontrol S4, which quickly became the go to product for today’s DJ generation. The MIDI controller competition eventually caught up with equipment like Serato’s DDJ-SX and Numark’s NV. Now, Native Instruments has posted a teaser video of the next Traktor controller, the Kontrol S8.

The video is short and only gives us a sneak peek at the new controller at a private launch event in Ibiza. It has already gotten the support of the likes of Luciano, Davide Squillace, and Carl Craig, who sing its praises and believe that it represents the future of DJing in the digital generation.

While the Kontrol S8 has yet to be fully revealed, take a look as this leaked image that is believed to be authentic.

Listen to Pulse Radio