October 2017

House Music Artist DJ Producer Patrick M

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

Early Life House Music

Born in the coastal town of Punta Alta, Argentina, Marcelo Morana, better known as house music artist DJ Patrick M, played his first club gig at the early age of sixteen. He became active in the Buenos Aires underground scene at El Divino, now Opera Bay, and Clooby in Brazil. His deep funky house style and performances influenced the house music scene wherever he went. His love of house and tech house consequently, made him an excellent fit for the Iberican Sound.

He took what he learned and developed from South America to Miami, Florida, in 2003, and has been a bedrock of the house music scene there ever since. As a result, he expanded his horizons with residencies at Mynt, Rumi, Nikki Beach, Opium Garden, Crobar, Nerve, and Space. His performance at Creamfields in 2005 may be one of his most memorable appearances. He currently can be found spinning in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and South America.

Humility

With all of his successes, Patrick M is humble and gracious, giving thanks to,

First God, my family, my booking agents, promoters, club owners. They gave me always the opportunity. The resident DJs which I learn all the time, you know I go and listen to them. When I have free time I try to go and listen, not only the resident DJs, but the guests, you know, looking online all the time. I’ve been very very thankful for all of them.

He has tracks and collaborations with many of the hottest artists and record labels in dance music, including but not limited to,

Stereo Productions
Younan Music
Sphera
Nervous Records
Subliminal Records
Ultra Records
Xima Records
Incorrect Music

Released this year on Stereo Productions, is the tech house track, ‘Damage.’ The clever use of pads prancing in and out of the thick bottom bassline wrap your ears from the get-go. Never to forget that syncopating vox from high to mid and mid to low drives itself through the traffic in ample subtlety. Combined, the thick bassline, vocals, and mid-low end bass groove fully embody this cleverly crafted monster. This track was purposely engineered to cause sheer damage when dropped upon the masses.

DAMAGE
(Original Mix)
(Patrick M)

Sevillano Artist Rafa Barrios DJ

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

Iberican Sound, Rafa Barrios, tech house

Early Tech House Life

Tech house music DJ/Producer Rafa Barrios was born in Sevilla, Spain, in 1986. Fourteen years later he realized his passion, music. He became a lover of the underground sound of the Iberian Peninsula, which would subsequently become synonymous with Stereo Sound.

Musical Philosophy

Rafa Barrios said,

I think that my music goes beyond a simple track, I work on my tracks as if I were dancing on the dancefloor, thinking what can make many people dance. It’s what empowers me to keep working daily on a dream to reach, and every time I think more that working hard, is how you can get your deserved rewards.

Here is a man whose dream is to find the music that makes people dance. He is a true music lover’s DJ, putting himself on the dance floor with the crowd, feeling the vibe and conveying it through the music, thus creating a shared experience. He believes if one works hard, consequently, one receives his just reward.

His style of music was closely akin to the incomparable Iberican Sound of Chus & Ceballos. When he became aware of Stereo Productions, signing with that iconic label became an important goal. In his mind, Rafa would be a part of the outfit and ignite dance floors by incorporating that sound into his tracks. What he did not realize at that time, is that he was becoming a member of the Stereo family.

The Stereo Family

Like any healthy family, Rafa was encouraged and mentored in the Stereo Groove. The love of and respect for the essence of the music are the driving forces that transcend everything else. Rafa’s work ethic, love of the music, and desire to satisfy his crowds, made him a perfect fit.

Rafa has a remarkable career, releasing tracks on such labels as:

Stereo Productions
Intec Digital
Tronic
KD Music
Suara
Liebe Detail
Toolroom Records
Yoshitoshi
Agile Recordings

As well as his own label, Dood Records.

One of our recent favorites is the recently released, ‘Horizont,’ out on Stereo Productions. Doused in the groove is one statement that can be made the second you take a listen to this one. A rather playful sub-bass maintaining itself on a mid to low frequency is what embodies this well-received offering. On the breakdown, a crafty progression that some may deem as a melodic arpeggio instantly takes a grip on you and keeps you right on your toes! ‘Horizont’ doesn’t lose its Iberican tech house appeal for one second, and Rafa Barrios maintains the banner flying high for this sound.

HORIZONT
(Original Mix)
(Rafa Barrios)

Spanish Tech house DJ Producer Oscar L

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

Iberican Sound, Oscar L, tech house

The Tech House Spaniard

Spanish tech house DJ-Producer Oscar L is one of the hottest underground artists in Spain and arguably the world. He is underground, but not constrained to one specific genre. The core of his style is house to tech house. However, he includes whatever sound is necessary to complete the production, which makes him versatile. In this sense, his style is free. If he is an artist, then call him ‘Maestro.’ He has an infinite number of orchestras at his fingertips and can release his creativity. He is an experimenter and innovator, thusly not an imitator.

He described the elements of his sessions as,

Siempre un sonido muy pistero con lias de bajo y percusión con mucho Groove que hacen del que el set sea muy rítmico!

Loosely translated, this means he is a mercenary behind the decks. He produces his Groove as he blends percussion and classical vocals with a driving bassline, resulting in a very rhythmic set. He exemplifies the Iberican Sound, pioneered by Chus & Ceballos.

The Consummate Performer

He has that rare ability to interact with live audiences to orchestrate what we love to call the Vibe! The Vibe is the synergistic blend of music with emotion to provide real music lovers with an everlasting experience.

He has tracks and remixes with some of the most prestigious labels in the industry such as:

Toolroom Records
Stereo Productions
Difinitive
1605
Yoshitoshi
Elevate
Hotfingers

The Consummate Worker

As if he isn’t busy enough producing and touring, he has an outstanding weekly radio show called, DMiX. The radio show treats his fans to his live sets as well as performances by some of the world’s finest artists.

One of his latest tracks is a collaboration with Sean Collier, released in January 2017 on the Stereo Productions label. Amply named, ‘Code Red,’ is quintessential Iberican Sound. Amazingly addictive vocal trail chops that echo and pans from speaker to speaker in a truly meticulous fashion. The dark driving baseline cautiously moves in between the realms of tech Iberican house and techno, while multi-layers of bass patches blend in with scorching amounts of ooze.

This original will thaw the Northern Hemisphere and ignite any dance floor south of the equator. Code Red quite simply was fashioned to keep you entertained from start to finish.

CODE RED
(Original Mix)
(Oscar L, Sean Collier)

Electronic Music Awards 2017

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

Awards, EDM

Electronic Music Awards

The first annual Electronic Music Awards were held on Thursday, September 21, 2017, in Downtown Los Angeles. Produced by Paul Oakenfold and Hunt & Crest and live streamed on Twitter announced the winners in eleven categories. The event’s organizers announced before the live steam; the nominees were among,

the leading underground and commercial artists, creatives, executives, and visionaries shaping one of music and popular culture’s most rapidly expanding genres.

The winners were determined by,

leading advisers and executives within the electronic community.

The nominees for Album of the Year were:

Woman, Justice
Memories..Do Not Open, The Chainsmokers
9, Cashmere Cat
Epoch, Tycho
Migration, Bonobo
Humanz, Gorillaz

The winner for Album of the year was Bonobo for Migration.

The nominees for Single of the Year were:

Skrillex & Rick Ross – “Purple Lamborghini.”
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber & MØ – “Cold Water.”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer.”
DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber – “Let Me Love You.”
Porter Robinson & Madeon – “Shelter.”
Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa – “Scared To Be Lonely.”

The winner for Single of the Year was Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MØ for “Cold Water.”

The nominees for Record of the Year were:

Kidnap Kid & Lane 8 – “Aba.”
Kolsch – “Grey.”
Todd Terje – “Jungelknugen” (Four Tet Remix).
Lapsley – “Operator” (DJ Koze Extended Disco Version).
Rufus Du Sol – “Innerbloom” (Sasha Remix).

The winner for Record of the Year was Rufus Du Sol for Innerbloom (Sasha Remix).

The nominees for Remix of the Year were:

Flume – “Say It” (Illenium Remix).
The Man – “Feel It Still” (Medasin Remix).
Rufus Du Sol– “Innerbloom” (Sasha Remix).
Lapsley – “Operator” (DJ Koze Extended Disco Version).
Ed Sheeran – “Shape Of You” (NOTD Remix).
Ed Sheeran – “Shape Of You” (Major Lazer Remix).

The winner for Remix of the Year was Flume for Say It (Illenium Remix).

The nominees for Festival of the Year were:

Electric Daisy Carnival – Multiple Cities.
Tomorrowland – Boom.
Electric Forest – Rothbury.
Movement – Detroit.
Lightning In A Bottle – Bradley.

The winner for Festival of the Year was the Electric Daisy Carnival – Multiple Cities.

The nominees for Club of the Year were:

Berghain / Panorama Bar – Berlin.
DC-10 – Ibiza.
elrow – Barcelona.
Fabric – London.
Omnia – Las Vegas.
Output – New York.
XOYO – London.
XS – Las Vegas.

The winner for Club of the Year was Output, Brooklyn, New York.

The nominees for Radio Show of the Year were:

Above & Beyond – Group Therapy.
Annie Mac – Annie Mac Presents.
Claude VonStroke – The Birdhouse.
Danny Howard – BBC’s Radio 1 Dance Anthems.
Diplo – Diplo & Friends.
Liquid Todd – Beta BPM.
Nicole Moudaber – In The Mood.
Pasquale Rotella – Nightowl Radio.
Pete Tong – The Essential Selection.

The winner for Radio Show of the Year was a draw, both Diplo – Diplo & Friends and Pete Tong – The Essential Selection shared the prize.

The nominees for New Artist Of The Year were:

Alison Wonderland
Kungs
Marshmello
Mura Masa
Rezz
San Holo

The winner for New Artist of the Year was Alison Wonderland.

The nominees for DJ of the Year were:

A-Trak
The Black Madonna
Claude VonStroke
Diplo
Eric Prydz

The winner for DJ of the Year was Eric Prydz.

The nominees for Live Act of the Year were:

Bob Moses
Bonobo
Eric Prydz
Flume
Porter Robinson x Madeon
Rufus Du Sol</li?

The winner for Live Act of the Year was Rufus Du Sol.

The nominees for Producer of the Year were:

Cashmere Cat
Hot Since 82
ODESZA
Sasha
The Chainsmokers

The winner for Producer of the Year was Cashmere Cat.

Spinnin’ Records Acquired by Warner Music Group

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

EDM, Spinnin

Spinnin’ Records is a Dutch record label founded in 1999 by Eelko van Kooten and Roger de Graaf. Spinnin’ matured into one of the leading music labels in electronic dance music, claiming to be

the world’s leading record label.

EDM in recent years is no longer a niche, but a prominent genre in music.

Spinnin’ Records boasts an impressive roster of artists and sub-labels as well as a massive social media following numbering over 26 million, making it a prize in the eyes of the world’s largest music companies. Warner Music Group (WMG) rose victorious. WMG acquired Spinnin’ Records for 100+ million dollars, defeating Sony Records and Believe Digital.

Warner Music UK’s Chairman & CEO and soon to be named WMG’s CEO, Recorded Music, Max Lousada, was quoted,

Warner’s past, present, and future are all about creating an environment in which incredible artists and entrepreneurs thrive. That’s why I’m pleased to welcome Spinnin’ to our growing family of labels, each with its own cultural identity. Roger and the team aren’t just world leaders in dance music, but pioneers of new ways to break artists and build music brands. Together, we’ll nurture and expand Spinnin’s global community of hit-makers, DJs, producers, songwriters, and millions of passionate fans.

CEO & Co-Founder of Spinnin’ Records, Roger de Graaf will remain as the chief executive officer of Spinnin’ Records within WMG. His statement regarding the acquisition is,

Spinnin’ has found the perfect home at Warner Music. Max, Stu, Bart, and the team really believe in our culture and commitment to artist development. They share our vision for growing Spinnin’ by creating even bigger opportunities for our artists and their music. It’s been an incredible journey so far and, as we look to the future, everyone at Spinnin’ Records would like to thank our close friend Eelko for everything he’s done for our company, artists, and industry. His partnership and leadership mean he will forever be part of the Spinnin’ family.

Eelko van Kooten, Co-founder of Spinnin’ Records is leaving to pursue other interests. His statement about the acquisition is,

Each of the Spinnin’ companies has matured successfully which makes it a good moment for me to step down. With pride and joy I look back on 25 exciting years in the music industry and feel grateful to have worked with so many talented artists and an incredible team at Spinnin’. I want to thank them for their dedication and unlimited efforts. A special thank you to my business partner and best friend Roger de Graaf for all the laughs, the challenges and the success we’ve experienced together. As I look ahead at the next chapter in my life, I remain confident that the team will continue to accelerate and that Spinnin’ will enjoy continued success.

The aforementioned quotes were taken directly from Warner Music Group’s official statement of the acquisition.

EDM and Trance DJ Producer Mark Sixma

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

EDM and Trance DJ Producer Mark Sixma

EDM and Trance music DJ Producer Mark Sixma, aka M6, was born in Breda, Netherlands in 1983 and studied classical piano as a child. The name Breda derived from the convergence of two rivers, the Mark and the Aa. Breda as a result of its location, made it strategically important to the Holy Roman Empire, both politically and militarily. It is known for its stunning medieval castles and the Gothic cathedral, Church of Our Lady. It is also known for being the home of some of the top DJ/Producers on the planet, including,

Tiesto
Hardwell
W&W
R3hab

Mark recently gave an interview to EDMIDENTITY where he described his music as,

I’ve always enjoyed multiple genres of music, electronic and otherwise. For instance, I listen to classical music quite a bit and that definitely inspired some of the more anthemic tracks I produced. For me combining different (sub)-genres in one track is always a creative challenge which I enjoy a lot! For instance, ‘Requiem’ combines a classical choir with EDM elements and trance music.

Mark began his DJ career at 13 and in 2007 released ‘Destination 6,’ which became Tune of The Week on A State of Trance episode 322. Mark signed with Armada Music shortly after. In 2008, Mark released ‘Fade 2 Black,’ and it also became Tune of The Week on ASOT episode 353. These two tracks secured Mark’s place in the world of trance music.

In 2008, 2009, and 2010 Armin van Buuren chose three of Mark’s tracks released under the alias M6. They are respectively,

Amazon Dawn
Paradise Lost
Days of Wonder

In 2010 Armin van Buuren released his fourth album, Mirage. Mirage reached number 5 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Armin collaborated with Ferry Corsten on the track, ‘Minack’, and allowed Mark to remix it in 2011.

Mark continued his success with releases on labels such as,

Armada
Armind
A State of Trance
Who’s Afraid of 138
Perfecto
Blackhole Recordings
Revealed
Mainstage Music
Vandit
Ultra
Spinnin Compilations
ArisaAudio
Metanoia Music

Mark has toured the globe with the biggest names in trance,

Armin van Buuren
Ferry Corsten
Gareth Emery
Judge Jules
Markus Schulz
Paul van Dyk
Sander van Doorn
W & W

Mark has performed at several festivals including,

Stereosonic
A State of Trance 550 & 650
Nature One (two times)
Electronic Family
Escapade Music Festival
Ultra Music Festival Miami

In 2013, Mark released ‘Requiem,’ which became the most played trance track of the year. His three releases, ‘Character,’ ‘Refused,’ and ‘The Saga’ scored in six of Beatport’s Top 10 records. The other three were remixes of Orjan Nilsen’s ‘Mafioso,’ Cosmic Gate’s ‘Crushed,’ and Jorn van Deynhoven’s ‘New Horizon.’

Mark held the Beatport number one spot in 2014 for his remix of ‘Adagio For Strings.’ He lost his number one spot to himself, an uncommon accomplishment for sure, for ‘Falling Back,’ which supplanted ‘Adagio For Strings.’

In 2015, Mark toured North America for the first time. He collaborated with Armin van Buuren for ‘Panta Rhei,’ which appeared to solidify his position in the trance music elite.

There are many reasons why Mark Sixma has continued success, but I’ll point out only two. First, he loves the journey of producing music. Second, he maintains an intimate relationship with his fans via social media.

His latest collaboration is with Emma Hewitt for ‘Missing’ by Everything But The Girl first released in 1994.

MISSING
Mark Sixma and Emma Hewitt

The Tech House Spaniard Dennis Cruz DJ

October 31, 2017 by PrimeEV

Dennis Cruz, Iberican Sound, tech house

The Tech House Spaniard Dennis Cruz DJ

The Tech House Spaniard Dennis Cruz DJ began his career at the age of 17, like many of his countrymen, while also studying to be a sound engineer. By his early 20’s, he had experience in the studio producing tracks for hip-hop artists and rock bands.

He honed his musical style over the years by molding his many diverse influences. He channeled his style, influences, and experiences into his Iberican Sound. He takes his fans on a musical journey in each of his DJ sets that brings emotions to life on dance floors across Europe to Russia, the Mediterranean, the Americas, and Australia.

In time, he became a pillar in the tech house world, setting trends and creating sounds. He earned accolades from Beatport, Resident Advisor, and Vicious Music Awards in 2015 and 2016. 2017 looks to be another exciting year for him and his fans.

He has tracks with some of the hottest labels in the scene, including but not limited to,

Stereo Productions
Snatch!
Moan
Deeperfect
Suruba X
Solid Grooves
Glasgow Underground
Suara
Lemon-Aid

One of our favorites is the tech house track, ‘Mad,’ out on Stereo Productions. A catchy vox intertwine in and in between the percussion on this monster track can be quickly deemed as pristine and bright as the Blue Lake of South Australia. The new offering from the musical mind of the incredibly diverse Dennis Cruz has a driving force behind the drum patterns that can steer a locomotive off its rails. The layers of white noise embedding this piece have enough tension to make the bravest of late-night alumni surrender.

MAD
(Oiginal Mix)
(Dennis Cruz)

Monthly Archives: October 2017

House Music Artist DJ Producer Patrick M

Early Life House Music

Humility

Sevillano Artist Rafa Barrios DJ

Early Tech House Life

Musical Philosophy

The Stereo Family

Spanish Tech house DJ Producer Oscar L

The Tech House Spaniard

The Consummate Performer

The Consummate Worker

Electronic Music Awards 2017

Electronic Music Awards

The Eleven Categories:

The nominees for Album of the Year were:

The nominees for Single of the Year were:

The nominees for Record of the Year were:

The nominees for Remix of the Year were:

The nominees for Festival of the Year were:

The nominees for Club of the Year were:

The nominees for Radio Show of the Year were:

The nominees for New Artist Of The Year were:

The nominees for DJ of the Year were:

The nominees for Live Act of the Year were:

The nominees for Producer of the Year were:

Spinnin’ Records Acquired by Warner Music Group

EDM and Trance DJ Producer Mark Sixma

EDM and Trance DJ Producer Mark Sixma

The Tech House Spaniard Dennis Cruz DJ

The Tech House Spaniard Dennis Cruz DJ

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