[The Audiofiles] Dive Down the Rabbit Hole at Beyond Wonderland

March 18, 2016March 18, 2016Leave a comment

One day in 2006, a wide eyed, wanderlust fueled, dream weaving music maven was thrust into the world of electric skies and daisies, unabashed personalities paired with unapologetic beauty, a mixture of hefty bass and ethereal trance with what felt like an unlimited supply of good vibes and good times. Now, a decade later – the young woman that evolved from the chaos of the last few years will be entering a new adventure: diving down Insomniac’s fabled rabbit hole and into my first Beyond Wonderland.

Returning for it’s 6th year, Beyond Wonderland and it’s headliners return to the San Manuel Amphitheater and Grounds in San Bernadino, California for an epic adventure into the heart of dance music. Between the interactive art installations, costumed creatives roaming the grounds, free hydration stations and an incredible array of performers on four stages spread out among the grounds – Beyond Wonderland has something special up it’s sleeve for all in attendance.I can tell you right now that my Trance Arms are ready and roaring to go for the Outer Realm hosted by Dreamstate where FERRY CORSTEN will finally debut his live GOURYELLA set on Friday, and then I’ll be right back again the next night for some Bass and booty shaking with DOCTOR P and DELTA HEAVY. Check the set times (and potential conflicts!) below.

Even though Insomniac’s events were where I evolved into the audiophile I am today, I actually haven’t been back to San Bernadino since How Sweet It Is 2009 – when HSII still existed; and I haven’t been to an Insomniac festival since their first EDC in Las Vegas back in 2011. I can’t wait to be back, back with my neon brothers and sisters in a vibrant setting surrounded by fantastic music.

In the past few years, Insomniac has paved the way for some festivals to transform into camping utopia’s for festival squadrons from near and far – this year at Beyond Wonderland is no different! Dare to dream and wish upon a star in the decorated nooks and crannies of the campground, including access to morning yoga and a Silent Disco.

To enter the camping areas, you must have a valid festival ticket and be over 18. The tent areas measure 10′ by 10′ and there is a maximum of 5 party people per tent. Though you can park remotely and walk in, note that there’s a free lot specifically for tent camping purposes and the lot is limited to 1 car per tent spot.

“These Wonderland events were born and raised in Southern California, and so much of their unique style is inspired by the Headliners who attend them…the magical spirit of our Headliners continues to make Beyond Wonderland a special experience.” – Pasquale Rotella, Founder and CEO of Insomniac.

Feeling the festival FOMO yet? Don’t fret, there’s still time to join in the fun!

Purchase Tickets Here | RSVP on Facebook and bring the squad!

For more details, follow Beyond Wonderland and Insomniac Events on their socials –

Beyond Wonderland: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Insomniac Events: Website | Facebook Twitter | Instagram

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Article cross published on The DJ List – and stay tuned for a full recap and a plethora of pictures from my fantastic fiance 🙂

[The Audiofiles] Insomniac Returns to Their Rave Roots for LA Warehouse Series This Summer

March 17, 2016March 23, 2016Leave a comment

As the dance music circuit bubbles over with large scale events where you can lose yourself within a welcomed sensory overload of sound, color and personalities, it’s about time that a production company come and turn the scene on its head again.

Literally just the other week, I was craving a Los Angeles warehouse party – you know, one of those parties where you have an address but not the address, are ushered away in a hush hush manner to a dimly lit, intimate and industrially inspired location to dance the night away as music echos around you. So, it’s no surprise to me that others share the same sentiment.

Last Thursday, Insomniac Events company founder and tastemaker Pasquale Rotella took to his Facebook page for an extra special announcement that has the city of Los Angeles roaring to go:

“Going back to our roots with a special series of warehouse parties this summer…More info coming soon.”

Let’s be honest, the Kandi Kid inside me is bouncing up and down with joy. I spent a good three years in my eight year stint bouncing between warehouse parties in downtown Los Angeles, hoping each wouldn’t be swarmed by cops who were thwarting our efforts to have an unabashed, good ol’ time. I remember one night when the cops came right when my friends were setting up at 10pm, they gingerly urged us to vacate the property – throwing a fit over how we knew about the event. “You have friends…?” He asked a group of us, “Well, so do we…” alluding to a secret network of false social media profiles. We took a deep breath and packed up while they exited the venue, only to hear the production team giggle: “..and this is why we booked four venues for the night! The party must go on!”

And go on it will – now, with a reinvigoration that only Insomniac can provide.Details on Insomniac’s highly anticipated upcoming party series are still under wraps, until I know more – it’s best to keep your eyes on Insomniac’s website and socials for more information.

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[Tech Talk] Feel The Bass With SubPac’s M2

January 28, 2016Leave a comment

An electric rumble that started in the base of my skull is propelled forward, pulsing into my veins as frequencies are projected throughout my entire body. Goosebumps overwhelm every inch of my skin as an amused grin creeps across my face. Every nuanced note and each rhythmic rumble, from the smallest synths to blossoming batches of booming bass, encased the world around me.

With my eyes closed, I become the pulse of the dance floor. It’s only when they open again that I’m rudely reminded that I’m not marinating in the music and mayhem of Coachella’s Sahara tent, bouncing around a world class nightclub like Avalon in Hollywood or entrenched in Drum and Bass at Shambhala‘s Village; instead, I’m dancing by myself with my headphones on in the middle of my living room, gleefully rocking a high-tech vest that feels like it came right out of Tron, only it’s the the latest and greatest in high tech, wearable tactile bass systems.

Launching just this past October, the patent pending SubPac M2 is the latest and greatest in wearable tactile bass systems, gifting users a fully immersive, auditory experience that parallels the live experience on a grand scale while silencing the world around you. Featuring plug and play controls, a Bluetooth receiver, a high capacity rechargeable battery and a slimmer control box, the M2 is made for movement, allowing the wearer to dance the way they feel – and let me tell you, you’re about to feel some kind of way.

Currently used by industry leaders and international taste makers within the music industry, SubPac has more application than music creation, audio testing and pure enjoyment. SubPac’s technology was integrated in the Virtual Reality enhanced premiere of Jurassic World as well as the “Fractal” concept car designed by Amon Tobin. The brand also offers a 21st century approach to hearing lost, tinnitus and deafness, finding use at this year’s Rock in Rio festival in Brazil where the SubPac’s campaign granted the hearing impaired a boost of bass. While the human ear can only hear to down to a minimum of 20hz, the body can receive the rest as vibrations through your bones, and the SubPac can make you feel frequencies as low as 5hz – dishing out layers in favorite songs that you might not have known existed otherwise.

“We are on a mission to introduce the physical dimension of music and sound to the world. With the SubPac M2, we have created the most immersive wearable audio experience to date. Anyone can now experience audio the way the creator intended – full immersion, anywhere, anytime.”

– John Alexiou, SubPac CEO and co-founder

SUBPAC M2 TECH SPECS

Frequency Response: 5hz-130hz
Wired Input: 3.5mm stereo
Headphone Out: 3.5mm stereo
Wireless Input: Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP Streaming
Charger: 15V 1.6A 24W
Charging cable: Intl IEC-c7
Rechargeable Battery: 10.8V, 2300mAh Li-ion battery // 6+ hours a charge
Dimensions: 17” x 12” x 1.5” // 43cm x 30cm x 4cm)
Weight (including battery): 4.8lbs // 2.2kg

The Wearable M2 and Seatback S2 are available for order now from SubPac’s website here.

With their patent-pending new wave audio technology, the Los Angeles based SubPac by StudioFeed is changing the game – one low frequency at a time.

For the latest and greatest in all things SubPac, head to their site and socials –

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

[The Audiofiles] Paul Oakenfold to host Inaugural Electronic Music Awards & Foundation Show

January 28, 2016January 28, 2016Leave a comment

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (& roll), you’ve been privy to the near over-saturation of the Electronic Dance Music circuit in the last five years. The lineup for multi genre festivals like Coachella has seen a higher proportion of dance acts overflow the Sahara tent and into the Gobi Stage, Yuma Stage and even the Main Stage, while you can find Dupstep, Trance, House and Bass anywhere from run of the mill television commercials, professional sporting events, and even in a video made by the White House concerning the President’s State of the Union.

Dance music is literally everywhere, and while I certainly don’t mind, it’s an observation worth nothing; and it seems I’m not the only one. This April, the station that brought us American Idol presents the inagural Electronic Music Awards & Foundation. Airing April 23rd at 8pm, the first EMAF will be hosted by none other than Trance legend Paul Oakenfold.

“Experience the excitement of the world of electronic music as the biggest names in the industry, from across the globe, celebrate the year’s best music, artists and creative talent.”

The real question on my mind, that should really be on everyone’s at this point – with the amount of commercialism pumped into the industry in the last few years, exactly what facets of dance music will be hitting syndicated television, how much homage will the underground culture, community and artists be paid and how will underrepresented demographics like women and minorities within dance music be displayed?

For more on Paul Oakenfold or the Electronic Music Awards & Foundation Show, head to their socials –

Paul Oakenfold
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

EMAF
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Cross Published on The DJ List]

[The Audiofiles] Shpongle and Alex Grey Grace the Stage for California’s Gem and Jam PreParties

January 6, 2016January 6, 2016Leave a comment

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This year, as the 10th Annual Gem and Jam Festival prepares to touchdown in Arizona – two extra special evenings of creativity and consciousness will be ushered in around California in celebration. On Thursday, January 14th and Friday, January 15th, the foremost artistic creators and psychedelic thinkers will join forces under one roof for two nights of epic proportion; first at San Francisco’s 1015 Folsom and then at the Belasco, located in the heart of Los Angeles.

From the moment the doors open, dancers, prancers and merrymakers alike will dive in feet first to the true ethos of the Gem and Jam Festival. A bohemian bazaar of vendors adorn the walls with finest wares, including some of the magnificent specimens you’ll find at the Gem show in Arizona, handmade festival wear and illuminated flow toys that they’ll be happy to show you the ropes on.

Prepare your dancing feet and head for a delightful treat as Simon Posford delivers a body moving, soul grooving DJ set as Shpongle, accompanied by Ott., Russ Liquid, Andreilien and Soulular. If one stage of music was phenomenal for the last Gem and Jam PreParty, then three are even better for this year! Los Angeles booty shakers and tastemakers the The A BUN DANCE stage features bass for your face from an-ten-nae, Mimosa, Huglife Music, Stylust Beats while The Cruz Coalition has curated a dance floor that focuses more on those four to the floor beats featuring Worthy, Sacha Robotti, IAMNOBODI, divaDanielle, DJ Loomer and RYBO

The multitude of music textures and performances are mirrored perfectly with live painting from the genius of visionary artists Alex Grey + Allyson Grey, among other local and festival circuit favorites like Sam Flores of Upper Playground, Amanda Sage, Gabriel Welch, Benedigital, Anthony Sirios West and Jef Logan. Visuals for the event will be done by none other than the esteemed Johnathan Singer of Tipper and Greatful Dead 50 fame.

Calling All DJs and ProducersThe team at RE:CREATION LA has an amazing opportunity for those that fancy themselves musical inclined. For your first chance at fifteen minutes of fame, Gem and Jam style playing alongside some of the most sought after names in the festival circuit.

To Enter: Submit a Short Bio, Photo and Link to your best work to eventagency.redefine@gmail.com by Friday, January 8th at 12:00 PM PST.

The team at RE:CREATION LA will select their top 5 submissions to share for voting this weekend; the voting process begins Saturday, 1/9 at 12PM PST and will end Sunday at 12AM Midnight with the winner announced Monday Morning, 1/11.

For more information on the Gem and Jam Pre-Party in LA, visit the Facebook page here.

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Not in California? No problem! Colorado will be hosting it’s own Gem and Jam PreParty at the end of January with Exmag, Defunk, and Mikey Thunder on Thursday, 1/28 at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom with headlinres Jason Burruss and Sassfactory in Denver and 1/29 at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins with headliners iLL Banks and Jason Burruss.

More Details HereFor more on the Gem and Jam Festival itself, head to their official website and social media channels:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[The Audiofiles] Bonobo Announces New Studio Album for 2016

January 4, 2016Leave a comment

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On New Years Eve, fireworks illuminated the sky as clocks from each corner of the world counted down to a brand new year to the delight of partygoers around the world, and one of the most celebrated musicians within Dance Music took to Twitter to make an extra special announcement. Known for his unique soundscapes of ethereal downtempo beats mixed with trip-hop, electronica and a world music backbone, Simon Green – better known as Bonobo is hailed as a true innovator through his enchanting studio albums, one of a kind DJ sets or my personal favorite – accompanied by a full band. And now, for 2016 – he takes the main stage again in a very welcomed light.

On New Years Eve, Bonobo took to the Twittersphere for one last hoorah in 2015:

This new album would mark Bonobo’s sixth studio album, and his first release since North Borders came out back in 2013. If his last album is any indication, this too will be released on the Ninja Tune imprint.

If you’re itching to get some new Bonobo material in your life, make sure you check out his new radio show – OUTLIER Radio. The first episode premiered back in December, but it’s still so fresh – not to mention it includes his latest mesmerizing remix of George Fitzgerald’s Full Circle.

For more on Bonobo, head to his socials –

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

[The Audiofiles] Countdown to 2016 with Insomniac’s Twelve.31

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015Leave a comment

Now that the slow crawl of the holidays has clamored back to a regular roar around Los Angeles, New Years Eve is approaching at lightning speed and I’ve had the itch to come out of my annual post-festival season hibernation and paint the town all sorts of technicolor. In a city equally basked by sunlight and spotlights, New Years Eve has become a choose your own adventure extravaganza, and Insomniac Events most certainly takes the lead in this respect with events in each and every corner of Southern California.

It’s hard to believe that almost a decade ago I was celebrating a decade of Electric Daisy Carnival, but in June 2006 that’s precisely where I was – diving headfirst down the rabbit hole at the good ol’ NOS Center in San Bernadino. Twirling under an electric sky with strangers that manifested into friends, I felt myself unfolding into self like a flower that blooms, blooms and blooms again in what’s become a semi-permanent state of self-evolution. Slowly but surely, I’ve drifted away from the large scale massives and events over the last few years and into the realm of boutique and transformational festivals; believe me when I say that my love for the former them hasn’t waned – it’s simply that I’ve been on a personal, perpetual hunt for something new, something different. Maybe it’s some new age form of chasing the evolved dragon, but I’m on the prowl for that perfect ‘je ne sais quoi’ of the musical experience – a special combination of musicianship, creativity, production value and community that sits delightfully smack dab in the center of their Venn Diagram, and this year – it’s called Twelve.31.

Tomorrow night, Insomniac Events is pulling out all the underground stops at the legendary Hollywood Palladium as Minimal, Tech and Deep House legends grace the decks for one unforgettable evening of dancing and decadence in the city of angels.

Start the night off right as the duo Divine Minds in Time grace the decks from 8 to 9pm. Recently transplanted to Downtown Los Angeles from upstate New York, the pair have already made quite the name for themselves playing popular local events around the city such as Clinic Wednesday and Sounds Like. Keep your eyes on them next year as they’ll be releasing their debut EP on their very own record imprint – Akashic Records.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Soundcloud

Then from 9 to 10:30, Washington DC transplant turned West Coast House phenom Jon Charnis takes the stage. Throughout the years, Charnis has produced under many different monikers but now that he’s found his true calling within the darker, deeper production – there’s no going back from this one; plus, since it’s his birthname he’s basically stuck with it – so why not rock it?! If you’re a tried and true Angelino, you’ve probably seen him at All Day I Dream or Capsulem.

Facebook |Twitter | Soundcloud

Say one final goodbye to 2015 the Dirtybird way as Shiba San’s French House flair and grooving tunes countdown the last drops of the year from 10:30 to Midnight. After a year of what felt like chasing him around from Lightning in a Bottle to Focus, to Shambhala – I’m excited to finally see him in LA – and I know a whole hell of a lot of other people are too.

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Kick 2016 off in an official capacity with London production duo Dusky as they hit the stage from midnight til 1:30AM. The pair recently released their latest work – a three track EP titled ‘Lydia’ – on the label 17 Steps this past November

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From 1:30 to 3am, bear witness to the epic back-to-back set from Canadian DJs Tiga and Kenny Glasgow and prepare to lose yourself to dance. Though Glasgow is best known for his influence in the sphere of dance music as half of the duo Art Department, this past spring the two split ways to further develop personal projects, including his latest ‘In Too Deep’