Fuzzy and Pulse Radio are teaming up to give you and a friend the chance to head off to Listen Out 2013 with a VIP ticket in either Sydney, Perth, Melbourne or Brisbane, where you'll be able to catch the likes of Disclosure, Duke Dumont, Miguel Campbell and many more.

Entering is easy - simply follow the prompts in the Punchtab competition below. The more options you choose the better your chances are of winning. Winner announced at 6pm on Friday September 6, so there's no time to waste!

Listen Out 2013 Lineup:
Disclosure (Live)
Azealia Banks
Tnght (Live)
Duke Dumont
Alunageorge
Classixx (Live)
Miguel Campbell
John Talabot (Live)
Just Blaze
Rüfüs
Touch Sensitive
Laura Jones
and many more...

Listen Out 2013 Dates & Venues:
28.09.13 - Centennial Park, Sydney
29.09.13 - Ozone Reserve, Perth
05.10.13 - Observatory Precinct, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
06.10.13 - Cultural Forecourt, Southbank, Brisbane

Listen to DJ mixes on Pulse Radio

Thomas Ferrare from France also known as Tommy Kid who came out on top in the burn Residency competition this year. He’s living the dream in Ibiza this season and has his second EP release coming out on the 15th of September on Sounds of Sumo. Pulse talks to Tommy Kid on what the island life has been like, where he sees himself in a few years time and what he’s been working on…

How was the competition building up to winning? Firstly the competition had a very fair approach to select the mix off finalists in each country by listening to all the 5000 mix selections. Unfortunately most other online DJ contests are based on amount of plays or shares on social medias.

In February I saw the ad on Mixcloud. I had loads of new music to play at that moment, especially Trap music which I thought could be the kind of new music that would work here in Ibiza. 

Then, among the 5 submissions that had been selected in France, an additional round of listening and judging was done to find the best mix and choose which French contestant would go through to the bootcamp in Ibiza. 

In comparison to other countries, there was no mix off event in France. I really don’t know if this would have made a difference, but I think my mix was chosen because of its freshness and the wide selection of electronic music I played (mainly different genres of bass music).  

Once on the island I met some really great people amongst the contestants, especially my Bosnian friend El Karinho, a great music lover and digger. The team in charge of the event (Popshop) and the production (Vice and NOA) were lovely, supportive and always available for us. It was a really good (and actually unique) feeling to be cared for by people because of your passion and your commitment in this program. That’s a feeling that I had never experienced before: being recognized for my music. I think this also contributed to my decision to leave my current job at the time; an account executive in an advertising agency.

I was playing Hip Hop, Dubstep, UK Funky, Jackin’ House, Drum’n’bass, ghetto-tech, Bmore Club music…etc. I also got some precious points on production skills with my track being selected by Solomun as one of his favourites and also by winning the Maceo Plex remix competition. 

Ibiza is the party capital of the world, how has the island been treating you so far? Since my first day at bootcamp, I have had the feeling that this island has a magnetic pull on me. I now know that I have a special, mystical relationship with this island (at least not as physical as Robinson Crusoe had when he was in the heart of his island…). It’s now a kind of second home. I had already been to Ibiza twice before, and each time was under special circumstances. I count on it to be the start of a big change in my life turning now that I am fulfilling my passion.  So far I have experienced some great moments during the bootcamp and afterwards with the two winning residents and the other people I have got to know.

What people don’t usually expect of Ibiza is that 70% of the island is a kind of wild land with amazing landscapes and peaceful places. I have already done some quad motorbike rides around the island and discovered some great local restaurants and paradisiacal beaches.

What have you been working on? I had to work on mixing with different supports. The standard DJ set up in Ibiza is a CD player, so whenever I couldn’t get vinyl turntables, I had learn more about, and get very familiar with, CD decks. But it’s actually quite easy and fast to become at ease with them.

I have been, and am still working on, adapting my sets to the context of the place where I’m playing. For instance, we have a regular afternoon slot at Café Sands, which is a beach bar so we have to play chill out music. It’s actually a really great exercise to play different music whilst making sure it’s still coherent with the usual music you play. For instance, I usually play bass music in clubs but at Sands, or during my afternoon residency at Ibiza Rocks hotel, I play a kind of chill out music 2.0 such as Ryan Hemsworth, Ta-Ku, James Blake, Flume… etc (which is actually the main music I used to listen to on my iPod).

Are there any parties you have played at recently where you learnt something new or experienced something amazing? The last party I played was Together at Amnesia and it was the most amazing slot I have had so far. It’s been such a big step to share the decks with artists that I’m a huge fan of, such as Bondax, Katy B, Redlight or Rudimental. These are big names and I played right after them. I also experienced the DJ booth of Amnesia’s Main Room, which is just an amazing place, and also said to be one of the best venues on the island. I feel very lucky and proud of that.

How important were the mentors in the bootcamp to winning the residency? Every mentor, from the big DJs to Valentino Barioseta or James Rand, influenced us during the bootcamp. They all talked about their personal history and obviously none of them are similar which made you understand that your difference, your personality, is your key to success. 

Regarding the mentors in detail, I liked almost all of the masterclasses, but I really enjoyed the Fatboy Slim one. This guy was a part of my teenage years; he definitely blasted radiowaves with anthems like "Rockafella skank" or "Right here, right now". It was really unreal to personally get to know his story and see what a huge contribution he has made to electronic music. This was the most "symbolic" masterclass for me but I would say that the more production-dedicated classes from Joe Goddard and Maceo Plex were the most helpful and concrete.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Any plans now that you have this platform to launch your career and anything else related? I will try to take as much as advantage as I can of this season in Ibiza. So far, I’ve met big DJs and have now got some visibility among them and promoters.  I will keep doing that until end of September. I really hope that after this I will get more dates in the world (indeed Ibiza is definitely a place for global opportunities). I also have this project to launch a label, called Resources, with my friends in October. So I’ll try to combine my musical tastes, communication/advertising background and network in order to develop this.

Words and Interview by Hayley Illing

Tommy Kid Mix For Pulse radio by Tommy Kid on Mixcloud

It’s Monday morning, you still hear that faint bassline and snare you fell in love with over the weekend ringing in your ears, feeling as if you’ve just run the comrades from dancing all weekend. Mondays - we bring you the Fresh series - this time round we catch up with Marcela Ospina to find out what she has been up to whilst putting out the mix she did at the Toy Toy Vs Series. 

Where are you from originally and how did you come to find yourself in South Africa? I am from Colombia. I first came here 10 years ago to do my Masters degree. I have lived here on and off since. 

When did the love affair with electronic music begin? What's your earliest memory of electronic music? It started when I still lived in Colombia in early 2000s. I remember me liking Air and French electronic music in general, Kruder and Dorfmeister and Thievery corporation. 

Describe your sound to someone who has never heard you play before? I would say it can be dark but also very warm and emotional, bassy and driving. 

Who has and does influence and inspire you musically? When I first started liking electronic music, I was drawned towards minimal techno, so my early influences were German artists such as Dominik Eulberg and Gabriel Ananda. My music spectrum has broaden quite a bit since and now I listen to different genres from minimal wave to techno. In the techno scene I respect Marc Houle, Tomas More, and Rødhåd. I recently discovered a female dj, Veronika Vashicka who runs a label called Minimal wave and has her own radio show in Brooklyn. She rediscovers obscure music from the 70s and releases it. 

Name your 5 favourite tracks so far of 2013 to play out?

1. No one is out of touch (Lauderbach remix). Tomas More. Get the curse. 

2. Falling skies. Dubspeeka. Truesoul. 

3. Red line. Mr G. Phoenix G. 

4. Dark star. Marc Houle and Miss Kittin. Items and things. 

5. Best friend. Nina Kravitz (DVS1 Forever mix). Rekids. 

Who’s your all-time hero and why? I am not sure he is my hero but  he’s certainly an influence and his work has stayed with me since I am 20 years old. He’s a writer, Milan Kundera. His most well-known book is “The unbearable lightness of being”, which is an exploration of existentialism in life, of emptiness and the emptiness that relationships leave you with. Definitely an important theme if you are as fascinated by understanding human nature as I am. 

As a female in the industry what has your experience been? Does sex matter? Do you think its more challenging for the fairer sex to succeed and earn respect? It is a tough question and it can’t be answered objectively as I am a girl myself.  I personally think that the electronic music scene, and the techno scene in particular are male dominated. It seems to be a matter of taste as women in techno tend to go for progressive techno, or tech house, but not commonly for techno as such. I think the industry is niche, regardless, and that leaves djs, both females and males, with a few options in terms of parties and venues to play at. I think that yes, being a girl is not always easy in the industry, but being a techno dj in South Africa is challenging too.

I believe that if you want to be respected as a dj, regardless of your gender, you need to produce your own music, organise your own parties, and/or be very well connected as well. It is a tough industry, and you have to stand out in terms of musical taste and skill in order to be respected. 

What can’t you live without? The Internet and music.

What’s your vice? Chocolate, lots of it, and once again, music. 

What’s the best club you’ve ever been to and tell us about the experience? It sounds like a cliché these days but I love experiencing the Berghain. It is a place that truly depicts what electronic music is about. The level of engagement with the music is undescribable, plus it has the best sound system in Europe, I love the fact that the club still maintains a strict music and people’s policy as not everyone plays and not everyone goes in there. I always enjoy watching people and there are always weird things happening around you, which I will tell you about at another time. 

Carl cox and Jon Rundell shall be bringing the Intec label to fabric nightclub in October for a special club-night.

Taking place on Thursday 3rd October, it's the first time that the label - spearheaded and manned by Rundell - shall be taking over the main room of fabric. Running from 10pm through till 3am, Carl and Jon shall play for the duration of the five hours, bringing with them a blend of techno, house and more. It's the latest event in the label's clubbing wing, which launched at XOYO in Shoreditch in April and has since landed at Fabrik Madrid and Space Ibiza.

“Pure Intec is about the music and nothing else,” ensures Jon in an official statement. “This event will be no exception. Fabric is renowned for its no nonsense music policy, amazing sound system and being able to create an intense atmosphere – making it the perfect fit for our ethos. It’s going to be another great night in the city for Techno.”

See below for details and tickets and help give Carl and Jon a warm welcome.

Pure Intec & fabric Presents
Carl Cox & Jon Rundell
Thursday 3rd October
Fabric, London

Line Up
Carl Cox
Jon Rundell

Tickets

Listen to Carl Cox on Pulse Radio

He may be the richest DJ in the world but Scottish jock Calvin Harris is still capable of having his feelings hurt, judging from this video of him reacting to a fan's heckles mid-set.

In the video above, a fan watching him play at LIV nightclub in Miami began to heckle and berate the DJ, before he stopped the music, picked up the mic and called the disgruntled fan out. “Let this girl up, I want to hear what she has to say," said Calvin, to which the audience member urged him to play an original, which he informed her he had just done. They continued to exchange words until Harris called her a "dumb f--king b----."

To add insult further to the now-embarrassed spectator, Calvin then proceeded to have her ejected from the club before continuing with his set. We know it must be annoying to be receiving heckling from your fans, but was having her booted from the club a step too far?

Watch for yourself in the video above.

Listen to Calvin Harris on Pulse Radio.

Nico thanks for joining us. What was the motivation for you to start your own imprint? The motivation was all the unfinished music I had that needed a proper home and to combine this with the artworks from Melina Pecharki,my partner, she´s in charge of all graphic works, covers, and also a bit of A&R. I showed many different tracks to her and she selected 4 and I finished those. It took me a while to find the right mixdown for each track and specially with Logan´s Dream, that has so many different sounds, it was hard to make them fit together.

So main motivation was to make something that goes together music and artwork, we also work in the same space, and exchange and discuss a lot the projects we have in mind and then check how we would like to present it, cover materials, finishing’s, how many tracks we put on vyinl, A side or B side.

What is the ethos behind the label? To champion new music? Our idea is to combine good artworks with good music, but we´re not following any trend or style, we just want to release the stuff we really like. Every cover will be different and every release will be different and we try to keep each record very special. And to release a nice package of well done covers and good sounding vinyls. We decided to put 3 tracks on vinyl as the A side Logan´s Dream track sounds better and more open in 45 RPM and takes the whole A side, that´s why we had to leave the track Slow Burner to digital exclusive. We could do 2 EP´s with 2 tracks each but we preferred to do this way, because the 4 tracks together works better than splitted and it tells the whole story that is resumed on the artwork cover.

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The first release 'Logan's Dream' is produced by yourself - but what's coming up? Can you reveal anything about future releases and plans? Im working on a second release, We´re selecting the tracks as I did many unfinished stuff and recorded sessions, then I need to arrange them and mix. It will be on a different direction. And next releases could be by other artists but we need to find the right music, it doesn’t matter style and it doesnt have to be on the same sound or direction as the first release.

The new EP is being described as a your most melodic work yet and your influences are cited as New Order and Giorgio Moroder - what is it about this period of music that interests you and offers inspiration? Its not about a certain period that interest me, I always listen music from many different periods so it affects me in a certain way. Every track has a different inspiration, Logan´s Dream has guitar feedbacks atmospheres that could relate with New Order,but not in the same way, really. I was listening a lot The Smiths, and I became instantly a big fan of Johnny Marr, his way of playing guitar its so melodic, arpeggiated, and beautiful, that really captured me. I´ve always been fascinated by those artists who made everything we hear right now.

Finally, while you're running this label, can we expect to see more productions from you on the lieks of Curle and Crosstown? Right now I'm focused on finishing the tracks for the next ep on Art Of Memory but could it be in the future. I never planned too much ok i´ll release here or there, I prefer to finish the tracks and then if it swits certain label I like then i´ll send to them too.

Taking care of the label consumes me a lot of time, also doing the music, and checking every step from vinyl manufacturing, check the masters, check the test pressings, contracts,etc.It´s exciting, stressing and I will learn a lot of this difficult to understand market.

Listen to Nico Purman on Pulse Radio.

From being a young township talent DJ Black Coffee has taken himself around the globe with his DJ skills earning huge respect from some of the biggest names in the industry. DJ Black Coffee has accrued some crucial information through observing the steps that got him to where he is in the industry today and decided to talk about it at TEDx Johannesburg. He talks about how Africans need to take responsibility for the big decisions that need to be made in order to bring the about the change they need in their current situation. 

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. 

DJ Black Coffee is a true South African gem and international icon of the House music scene. DJ/Producer Black Coffee defies convention as we know it in the scene “side-stepping the Afro-House clichés and staged-managed highs in favour of restrained sophistication”. Despite all of Black Coffee’s successes he is still putting in the time and working incredibly hard. 

Watch the video below of Black Coffee at TEDx Johannesburg. 

Mixtape from DJ Black Coffee on Pulse coming soon!

Rhythmatic are celebrating their 6th birthday taking place in an East London warehouse on the 19th October and featuring underground techno's finest. Get your tickets to Rhythmatic here.

On the 19th October, two of the most exciting names in house and techno will be playing their only London warehouse shows this year. Rhythmatic have come a long way since their first ever warehouse party and they have a reputation for bringing the biggest artists to the exciting London warehouse scene. Moritz von Oswald, a techno artist who has been highly influential since the 1990’s, will be flying in from Berlin to give you a masterclass in true techno sound. For those that need a refresher, Oswald is one half of both Basic Channel and Maurizio.

The second is an artist who has already partied with the Rhythmatic entourage – Petre Inspirescu. As owner of the very important label [a:rpia:r], alongside Rhadoo and Raresh, Inspirescu knows the house scene inside out. His fascination with deep house and eclectic rhythms within the scene means his DJ sets are guaranteed to take you on a journey. He will give you a lesson through the times and guide you through the deeper sounds of house.

Get Tickets to Ryhthmatic's 6th Birthday Here.

As if that wasn’t enough, there's also the official after party: Rhythmatic presents Un:Rated. Wristbands will be available at the main event and the capacity for the after party is set to a strict capacity of just 100. Full details of the Tickets are available on the Pulse website via the link above and below.

Keep checking the Rhythmatic website for specific details on location.

Rhythmatic 6th Birthday
19th October
TBA Secret Location
10pm - 6am

Line Up
Moritz Von Oswald
Petre Inspirescu
Stathis Lazarides B2b Archie Hamilton

http://pulseradio.net/events/view/3904

Listen to Rhthymatic on Pulse Radio.

From the 3rd to the 6th of October 2013, the Mainstay Beach Bar gets tropical and brings the heat to the white sands of the Daisies. The line-up selected is of exquisite design and adding to the magic this year is Jimmy Chronic. 

Jimmy Chronic has crafted a unique style, which is regarded as synonymous with the Minimal, Tech House and Techno scene in South Africa. This unique style, sound and energy have easily made him one of the most recognisable and best-loved DJs in South Africa.

Latest production from DJ/Producer Jimmy Chronic - Fisherdragon

James Cells (AKA Jimmy Chronic) is one of the hardest-working DJs in the South African club scene. His reputation and status as a crowd-rocking DJ and kick-ass producer place him at the forefront of South Africa’s underground dance music scene. Constantly evolving and working towards bigger things, Jimmy Chronic is now working with a visual artist to incorporate visual element to his sets— merging music and art into powerful and provocative experiences.

A taste of big things in the future from this undeniable and determined talent. Be sure not to miss Jimmy Chronic vs Nick Lumb tear it up on the Sunday!

Listen to Jimmy Chronic on Pulse

Welcome to Sziget Festival – the Island of Freedom on Óbudai Island, a week long music and cultural festival in the middle of the Danube, right on the edge of the cool and cosmopolitan city of Budapest. The Budapest-based giant fest is in its 21st year and has something for every musical palette from Franz Ferdinand, Blur, Bat For Lashes and Dizzee Rascal to some top drawer dance acts like David Guetta, Sebastian Ingrosso, Nicky Romero, Nero, Gesaffelstein, Erol Alkan, Digweed and Feed Me - just to name a few. And so the epic week of partying began along with some cracking Hungarian gypsy folk dancing.

With barrels of beer and Pálinka (the local fruity moonshine), and restaurants equipped with the best accoutrements to the all-American hot dog stand, festival goers were certainly spoilt for choice.

Best of all (besides the satisfied festival belly) are the bevy of acts, a buzzing atmosphere and the mixture of nationalities to boot. During the day thousands of revellers would soak up the sounds and rays at the main stage followed by some serious R&R, lounging by the banks of the Danube sipping cocktails that not even my Pinterest board has seen.

As night falls, the party crowds flit between the banging party arena and A38 tent, the surreal Cirque du Sziget performances, shisha pipe sessions, insightful chats with a Protestant Pastor, partaking in a Jäger-train and watching scantily clad women flinging themselves off bungee-jumping platforms.

Sziget Festival definitely has the weirdness / quirky factor and way too many activities to digest. So with the riches of a loaded memory bank of festival snaps, let us share with you the live acts, party crowds, the finest festival frocks, random acts of WTF and tanned booty to fuel your summer Euro festival envy...

Photographs by: Jordi Girones & Carine Buncsi [delinquentvalley.com]

Listen to Erol Alkan on Pulse Radio.

London promoters and club night Krush may have shut shop, but they've announced details of a new party, (Art Of The) Muse, kicking off on 23rd November with Tale Of Us to launch proceedings. Get your tickets to see Tale Of Us here.

As one door closes another one opens - for former party Krush, it's all about un-waivering sense of intimacy and ambiance as they wave farewell to the brand and begin their latest clubbing venture. Dr. Nikos talks to Pulse in-depth about his dedication to quality music, his experience in the promoter game and what to expect from exciting new initiative, (Art Of The) Muse, an event that's guaranteed to add more flavour to London's clubbing landscape.

You've been running Krush for a couple of years, you must have some great memories from the night, what stands out for you? Every single one of them. the people always were and will be the soul of the party. Krush people are absolutely amazing and without them it wouldn't mean anything

Can you tell us a bit about whats next? Krush was fantastic but the time has come for it to end. Art of the Muse is the new thing. A night 100% dedicated to the art of music, the art of the muses.

What are you looking forwards to with (Art of the) Muse that will be a change from Krush? To begin with, the night will be focusing on the musical element and the literature of it. the muses were goddesses, protectors of literature, dance and music. literature, in our case, means we will be delving a little deeper into the theory of music and the story behind each player. then comes the main dish, which is the music that will be performed by both the resident and guest musicians. they are all hand picked to meet the party's standards. so there will be less parties with more emphasis on the sound and the way it reaches the audience. there won't be an elaborate decoration or visuals, no. Art of the Muse is all about the music and how it affects our body and soul. Simple as that.

Get Your tickets to see Tale Of Us Here

Are there any mistakes you've made as a promoter you'd like to share, that in the long run have been beneficial, or that you definitely won't be making with the new party? Mistakes are made on a daily basis. You can't improve yourself unless you have the ability to detect your mistakes and try to correct them. the biggest mistake I ever did, long ago, when I was starting out as a kid, was not to listen to the people and what they had to complain about. I was young and I thought I'd be the biggest chestnuts in the World.

It's not an exact science, party making, especially since the location is not the same every time, there's always going to be something to complain about. Nowadays, after almost 14 years in the game, I will listen very closely to everything every single person has to say, right or wrong. We shouldn't be forgetting one thing though; mobile parties don't offer the luxuries of a steady built club. It's a completely different form of entertainment which comes with some flaws - but that's the spice of it. Imperfect perfection, in other words.

Which track would you most like to hear at the opening party? It's hard to tell. By November I'm sure there will be some more fine music out already. Ask me again nearer the time.

(Art of The) Muse Launch Party
23rd November 2013
TBC Location, London

Line Up
Tale Of Us
Dr Nikos
More TBA

Listen to Tale Of Us on Pulse Radio

As spring arose on the garden fair, like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere, each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast, rises from the dreams of its wintry rest - Percy Bysshe Shelley - "The Sensitive Plant" 

Episode 3 of our Sharp Tools collection gets you ready for warmer colourful days of happiness.  

Tracks by: Plastikman, Alex Smoke, Tobias, Patrick Chardonnet, Aer, Guillaume & The Countu Dumonts, CJ Weaver and The Mole.

Listen to Sound Sensible on Pulse

Its not very often a DJ can claim two residencies in Ibiza, especially in two clubs that are both legendary in there own right, as well as being polar opposites in just about each and every way. However, Solomon has done just that this year, owning both Tuesdays at Sankeys for Diynamic Neon Nights, and Sundays at Pacha for Solomun +1.

Sankeys is a small, underground sanctuary with a grimy feel, taking you back to your favorite hometown club, transporting you miles away from the island of super clubs and over the top production. On the flip-side, Pacha is the epitome of what someone might expect each and every club in Ibiza to be like – beautiful, big, bright white walls, expansive VIP area, a maze of corridors with rooms tucked away underneath stairwells, and hidden garden areas to escape the hustle and bustle that is the main room.

Normally to the right of the main dance floor upon entry to the club, for Solomun’s night, the DJ booth saw a move to the center of the main room just above floor level, giving things a more involved feel, and Solomun the opportunity to really connect with the crowd. Throughout the entire night he could be seen high-fiving, shaking hands and nodding to all the fans that pushed there way up front and center, as Keith Haring-esque artwork adorned the ceilings high above the crowd, completing the magic touch.

The main room is of course the center of attention, but the side room, known as The Funky Room, is a nice little escape from the masses. Small, with just a bar and a few areas to sit, island favorite Graham Saraha smashed out familiar house tunes laid over groovy, funky bass lines, while we chilled out, cooled off with a beer and got ready for another trip back downstairs to all the action.

Solomun is known to most as a deep house artist, and rightly so, as most, if not all of his productions would fall into the deep house category on Beatport or another similar online music library. His sets at Sankeys are what I’d consider classic Solomun – deep, heavy tracks that keep the crowd rocking but not necessarily jumping. We got to see a different side of Solomun on Sunday though, as he brought out bigger, more upbeat, energy filled tracks, while still maintaining his roots in the deep house sound. He pumped it up with Cajmere’s throbbing, hypnotic ‘Coffee Pot (It's Time for the Percolator),’ everyone mouthing the familiar words along with the track.

From there, he headed over to big room territory with Dennis Ferrer’s newest bomb, ‘Mind Ur Step,’ it’s booming and sensual vocals filling Pacha’s main room with ease, cascading down into the plucky 2005 breakthrough hit ‘Rej’ by Âme, which has been seeing quite a bit of play time this summer. From there, he headed to more funky and euphoric territory with H.O.S.H.’s remix of ‘Skin And Bone’ by Marlon Hoffstadt & HRRSN, it’s howling vocals pushing hands up and keeping eyes closed, trapping everyone deep in the moment. A massive fan of the genre himself, there was also a theme of hip-hop inspired house grooves during Solomun’s set, with tunes like ‘Wine & Chocolates’ by Theophilus London providing funk and class, a perfect blend of the two genres.

A confetti filled room by the end of the night, Pacha’s main dance floor was in constant buzz, alight by the non-stop energy given off both by Solomun’s ripping track selection, and the Diynamic boss’ non-stop dancing, smiling, fist pumping and anything else he could squeeze in between builds and drops. The man truly looked like he was having the time of his life, and I think that energy reflected onto the crowd, who were unwavering in their joy. Not seeing a single attendee skip out early means your doing something right, and when you can do that twice a week every week for an entire summer, it’s safe to say the sky is the limit.

Listen to Solomun on Pulse Radio.

Five years on since being crowned as Australia's #1 DJ in 2008 (when he was just 21, no less), Queensland bred Tyson Illingworth continues to be at the top of his game. When we caught up with the man known to his adoring fans across the globe as tyDi, he was in the midst of an Australian tour which is to be closely followed by shows in South East Asia and then the USA. We spoke with the trance and electro house young gun (though as he informs us he has a distaste for genre pigeonholing) we had a chat about his recent work with his idol BT, DJing around the world and being a romantic.


(Download here)

Pulse: There was a new album from you which was planned to come out this year. Is that still happening? tyDi: I’m not sure about this year because there’s just so much going on. It’s practically finished and I’ll be dropping a single in about a month’s time with Universal, but we don’t have a release date as yet. It looks like the album will be out early next year.

You recently worked with BT on a track - ‘Tonight’. How did that come about? BT was a really big idol of mine when I was 15, I was so into his music. I thought his production was just outstanding – he’s one of the most incredible songwriters and producers around. I just got lucky one day when he asked me to do a remix for him a few years ago for a track called ‘The Light In Things’. He liked it so much that he wanted to start working together and so we developed a friendship over the years. So we’ve been writing a lot of tracks and ‘Tonight’ is one of them.

He’s a bit of a legend in the trance world. You could say he’s one of the pioneers of progressive trance and breaks. He’s a legend amongst any producer really. My fans who know me well know that I don’t really care for genres – it’s so restricting. BT’s definitely one of those people who helped me through that because he writes everything from progressive breaks to trance to house, he’s got some pop tracks as well. He even writes some movie soundtracks for Pixar.

On that topic of genres; something that I discovered about you which is quite interesting is that you were going to put out an album of ambient music called ‘Hotel Rooms’. Did that ever eventuate? Yeah that album is done as well and I’m going to release it around the same time as my new album. I’m thinking of making it a double-disc release but I’m not sure yet. That one got held up - we were going to release it just recently but then I had those two tracks with BT come out, plus a single called ‘Something About You’ and it was just a bit too much to be flooding the market with. So we put the chill out album on hold. It’s a completely ambient album that was written in hotel rooms.

I suppose it’s not that surprising – the kind of emotive sounds in ambient/chill out and trance are very closely linked. Yeah that’s true. Not necessarily tempo wise but you could definitely say that trance and chill out definitely share that emotive element where the listener feels something as opposed to a big room electro track where its primary purpose is to make you dance. You can do a lot more with chill out and ambient I think - you can go completely acoustic with it or have no percussion at all.

Were you into any of that more emotive, ambient kind of trance in the early 00s a la James Holden? I didn’t really know any James Holden, but there was an album by Sasha called ‘Airdrawndagger’ which was just brilliant.

That is an amazing album. Yeah it’s really cool. There are some iconic songs on there, I loved that album.

I read that when you DJ you mostly play your own music, which generally seems to be the same for a lot of big name DJs who also produce. Do you feel your fans expect that of you when they come see you play? Absolutely. If I had a residency in one city where I was playing every week then that probably wouldn’t be the case, I’d be focusing more on playing other people’s music and improvising in the sense that I’ve always got fresh new tunes to play. And it’s not like I don’t do that now, but the difference with touring is that I’m in a different country every week. I’ll do tours where I’m in seven cities in seven nights, so those fans may only see me once a year so they’re coming out specifically to hear me play tracks on my album. Much like when you go to see a band play, if they don’t play their big songs you’re kind of a little disappointed. I try to make sure I always please the fans by playing my bigger tracks as well as throwing in a few surprises too.

I guess you could say that in a way they’re more like concerts as opposed to DJ gigs…Yeah exactly they’re more like big room concerts.

Have you ever considered going down the live route? I’ve definitely considered it. I’ve done a few shows with guitarists, vocalists and I’ve had string quartets too, but I’m very passionate about DJing and in between that producing my own music and film scores too, plus a weekly radio show, there’s only so much I can fit in!

What film scores have you been working on? I have to keep that secret at the moment. Unfortunately I can’t talk about it yet but I’m doing some big things at the moment which is exciting.

Your new single ‘Something About You’ - how did you hook up with with vocalist Kerli on that one? We’ve got a few other songs together too. One called ‘Glow In The Dark’ and another unreleased one called ‘Perfect Crush’ which will be on the new album. Kerli is a friend of mine from L.A.. She’s got a great fanbase – she’s originally from Estonia but is quite well known in America now. We crossed paths and our music worked really well together so we started writing.

Can you tell us a little bit about ‘Our Little Secret’? It’s a great idea. So the basic concept is that I’ve written a song – a song I’ve probably spent more time on than any other actually – that I’ve uploaded to an ipod nano which I’m going to give away to just one fan. It’s up to them whether they want to keep it or share it – they can do what they want. They could potentially be the only other person on the planet, besides me, that has heard it. Not even my manager, friends or family have heard it. I just thought it was very sentimental. I thought what’s more special to a fan than having a track and knowing you’re the only person to have heard it besides the person who made it?

Do you think you’re a sentimental person? [Laughs] Am I a sentimental person? In what sense?

Well your music and the track titles and everything – it seems like you’re someone who is in touch with their emotional side. I’ll put it another way: Do you think the type of music you make is a reflection of your personality? I think if you’re not making something that you believe in then you’re selling out. What annoys me is when artists try to write tracks that sound like everyone else’s purely because that’s what sells – that is definitely not me. My music reflects what I want to do artistically. So, I dunno, I guess you could say I’m a bit of a romantic. I don’t know if that comes across a little in my lyrics or songwriting or whatever - I’ll leave that for the listeners to decide! I guess life experiences and emotions play a big role in how I write my music. I don’t just sit down and write to a formula.

You had a chat with Beatport’s Executive Creative Director Clark Warner in Brisbane recently as part of the EMC. How did that go? Anything interesting come from it? I had the opportunity to present to the audience how I write my music and things that I find special about production. It was interesting – Mark drove the conversation and asked questions in an effort to provoke my creative spark, and I would then show the audience the inside layers of some of my tracks. I showed them how I record parts and how it’s not just all synths, but layers of strings, cellos, bass and all sorts of string sections too. It was a good way of being able to show people the importance of what goes into making a good song – not just a bassline, kick-drum and a snare.

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Christopher Schwarzwälder may be a fully trained chef who started out spinning hip hop records in his home town of Frankfurt but he's now made his mark as a DJ and producer on the rise. The release of his 'Mirrors' EP on Katermukke and 'Akumal' on Laut & Luise were released to wide-spread acclaim and only cemented Schwarzwälder as a name to watch while his remixes and co-productions, released through Nu and Acid Pauli confirm his precocious talent. 

Luckily, Schwarzwälder will be bringing his definitive style to the Burdekin Hotel in Sydney Saturday September 7, supported by a host of local talent. You can find tickets through Pulse Radio here; sleeping on these would be inadvisable. You can find more event information via Facebook here.

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Thought that Paris Hilton's residency at Ibiza's famed Amnesia was just a one off? Think again. As reported by TMZ, the socialite-come-DJ is set to return to the club as a resident once again next summer after she "killed it" there this season (her own words).

Amnesia owner Martin Ferrer told TMZ he was initially "nervous" booking Hilton as a resident but his fears were allayed once she entered the booth and the crowd went nuts.

"The number of people attending kept on growing and the positive word of mouth in Ibiza was just phenomenal," he says.

In case you missed our interview with Paris from the opening night of her Amnesia residency you can re-live the dream - or nightmare, depending on how you feel about the whole thing - below.

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St Jerome's Laneway Festival may be preparing for their inaugural launch in the USA next week but the dates for Australasia as well as some venue changes for 2014 have been unveiled.

Punters in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Singapore, Melbourne and Auckland will be returning to the same venues as 2013 but Adelaide and Perth revellers will be enjoying new sites at Harts Mill and Esplanade Park respectively. 

The line up for 2014 is set to drop on September 24 (mark that one in the diary too) and although line up whispers have been circulating, thanks to the festival organisers themselves, it seems we'll have to sit tight until September 24. Laneway 2013 featured an all-star line up with the likes of Flume, Jessie Ware Nicolas Jaar and Shlomo gracing the bill. 

Stay tuned...

Laneway Festival 2014 Dates
25.01.14 - Singapore, The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay.
27.01.14 - Auckland, Silo Park.
31.01.14- Brisbane, RNA, Fortitude Valley
01.02.14- Melbourne, Footscray Community Arts Centre & The Rivers Edge.
02.02.14 - Sydney, Sydney College of the Arts.
07.02.14 - Adelaide, Harts Mill 
08.02.14 - Perth, Esplanade Park & West End.

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Are you a bedroom DJ or producer who loves to dig deep? Do you happen to follow the Balance Mix Series with feverish reverence? Well, today might just be your lucky day. Balance Series has featured some of the best underground DJs and talent over the last 13 years, with the likes of Henry Saiz, Will Saul, Timo Maas pulling together mixes and more recently Guy J having represented the Balance Presents Series with high praise. 

Balance are giving the bedroom DJs of the world a chance to feature their mix on the Balance Website. Once a month, the same panel that chooses who will compile the next Balance Series will pick a stand out mix for the website that will run alongside an interview with the month's winner. 

Entering is easy; post your mix in the Balance Forums with a quick introduction and a few words on the mix (no more than 200 words); although be warned, mixes recorded in clubs will not be looked upon favourably. Check out the full submission guidelines here - good luck! 

Meanwhile, the next Balance Series DJ is to be announced very soon. Stay tuned to Pulse for updates. 

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Chinese Laundry and Pulse Radio are once again giving you the chance to win a double pass to the iconic Sydney club this weekend; and the line up is practically bursting at the seams. 

Friday sees OWSLA signed producer Nick Thayer heading up The Mane Event. Thayer has been laying down explosive sets at festivals such as Creamfields and Ultra Music Festival Miami; he's joined by residents The Mane Thing, Audiobotz and Them Kids to name a few.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Ministry of Sound Clubbers Guide To Spring 2013 launches with The Only and Danny T headlining to help you dance away the last of your winter blues; Melbourne underground hero Luke Chable will be taking care of things in The Cave. 

To score yourself a double pass to one of the two massive nights below, email us here with your name and the event you wish to attend. Winners will be notified by email Friday September 6 by 6pm. Good luck!

Friday September 6 Full Line Up
Nick Thayer
The Mane Thing
Audiobotz
Them Kids
Nemo
Yolo Swaggins & Empress Yoy
Oski

Saturday September 7 Full Line Up
The Only
Danny T
Spenda C
A-Tonez
Keyes
Luke Chable
U-Khan
Alleviate
Fingers
King Lee
DJ Eko

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