[The Audiofiles] Put Down Your Phone and Pick Up The Groove at ‘This Never Happened’

Have you ever been so lost in the music you could forget where you were? So lost, that you felt the entire venue has been transported into an entirely new plane of existence? So enamored by the moment that you leave your cell phone in your pocket as you dance away your worries? Twenty years ago, before smartphones existed, there was a moment in time where this was the norm – where people bonded over a mutual musical admiration and created new bonds, fast friendships and an unforgettable night to remember. Fast forward to 2016 and you’ll find people Snapchating, Tweeting, Instagraming, Shazaming and even playing Pokemon Go on the dancefloor; whatever happened to being there for the love of music, and passion of truly being part of the community instead of just an observer with a camera phone? Thankfully, one producer has finally had enough – and is bold enough to do something about it.

Still marinating in the awe inspiring success of his inaugural ‘This Never Happened’ event in San Francisco, melodic deep house tastemaker Lane 8 is ready to take his novel concept across North America and into a city near you.

““My team and I were super anxious about whether we could pull an event like this off….We focused on getting the message out – letting people know what our vision is and why we think it’s so important. San Francisco is possibly the most tech-hip city in the US, but not only did 99% of people keep their phones in their pockets the entire night, they also had a noticeably better time at the show. That show reinforced even more what we believe in and that what we’re doing is something that the music community actually wants and needs.” – Daniel Goldstein / Lane 8

 

Presale tickets for ‘This Never Happened’ are on sale on Tuesday, August 2nd while General On-Sale tickets are available starting Friday, August 5th. While you’re (im)patiently waiting to get your paws on a coveted ticket in a major metropolitan area from Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles to Toronto and Washington DC, feast your ears on his latest singles – Divina and Crush, both out now!

For more on Lane 8, head to his socials:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Also featured on The DJ List

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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’

Tiga: Facebook | Website |  Soundcloud

Kenny Glasgow: Facebook  | Twitter | Soundcloud

End the night right with a proper dance party as Kidnap Kid closes out the bash from 4-5am.

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Who will we be seeing on the dance floor?!

Purchase Tickets Here

For more on Twelve.31, head to the event’s social media pages –

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Keep tabs on Insomniac Events for the best in dance music events –

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[The Audiofiles] Usher In Winter with Lane 8’s Latest Mixtape

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With Los Angeles trapped within it’s version of perpetual Summer, I tend to forget that other seasons exist until we’re thrust into them feet first. Thankfully, I’ve begun to anticipate them thanks to timely mixes from none other than Lane 8, a rising star on Above & Beyond’s Anjunadeep imprint. Now with a host of large festival tour dates like Northern Nights, Spring Awakening, What The Festival and Global Dance Festival – not to mention, with his second album ‘Rise‘ and second North American Tour of the same name under his belt, Lane 8 has perfected his stage presence and ability to feel the crowd, which have both forayed into his exquisitely curated mixtapes.

Over the last year, I’ve found myself drawn to both his moody and brooding downtempo original tracks as well as his magnificent mixes that pull inspiration from each and every pocket of House Music. Deep, Indie, Tech – you name it, he’s mixed it into his wondrous works. Though I’d missed out on attending several of his shows around Southern California, I was delighted to be front and center while he brought the house down at Coachella’s DoLab Stage to watch him turn some of my bass buddies into tried and true Lane 8 believers. Each and every time I dive into a mix, I’m absolutely enthralled and blown away by his musical maturity and his latest Winter 2015 Mixtape is an absolute testament to that fact. Dive right in and see what you think!

For more on Lane 8, make sure you keep tabs on his socials –

Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Photo by Daniel Leist

Cross Published on The DJ List

[The Audiofiles] Drift Away on Autograf’s Latest Remix Ahead of Their First European Tour

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For the past few years, Chicago trifecta Autograf has more than left their imprint on the dance music scene. Through a combination of thoughtful reworks that deconstruct the original song as well as solid original tracks, Autograf has graced the stage at Northern Nights, Electric Forest, Hangout Fest most notably Woogie Weekend where they absolutely stole the show on Sunday.

In the wake of their first Europe tour, they’re back with something a little more brooding than fans are used to as homage to one of the most influential European electronic acts: Faithless. Founded back in the original mecca of dance music, Faithless sprung onto the dance scene in 1995 and there was simply no looking back until Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo went their separate ways in search of solo success in 2011. Now, almost 5 years later – a new era is here: Faithless 2.0. Their sixth remix album, Faithless 2.0 is available for purchase on Amazon or iTunes, and can be streamed via Spotify.

A pulsing, haunting spin on a tried and true track- Autograf punched up the original melody while spiraling into a darker, and much appreciated, tone. If this past year is any indication of their artist talent, I’m excited to see what else these gentlemen have under their belt for 2016.

Tour DatesNov 6 – Berlin // Gretchen
Nov 7 – Paris // Showcase
Nov 11 – Amsterdam // W Amsterdam
Nov 12 – Oxford UK // Emporium
Nov 13 – Parma, Italy // Pulp
Nov 14 – Liverpool UK // Chibuku
Nov 14 – London // Cafe 1001

Purchase Tickets Here

For more on Autograf, follow their socials –

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram

Cross Published on The DJ List

[The Audiofiles] “Rise” and Shine with Lane 8’s Debut Album, Out 7/17!

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Hot off the Festival Circuit with an amazing set at The Do LaB’s stage at Coachella, the ever fantastic Lane 8 is at it again – this time presenting his debut album “Rise”. Releasing on the Anjunadeep imprint of Anjunabeats, “Rise” will fall into our little paws on July 17th. The 10 track musical adventure fuses ethereal melodies with deep seeded emotions and effervescently lifting moments. From the Hypem #1 charts to expertly crafted remixes from EDM giants like Above & Beyond and Eric Prydz, all true music lovers should stop, drop and snag this beautiful album. From impeccable instrumentation, down to the vocal prowess of Solomon Grey, Matthew Dear and Patrick Barker, “Rise” celebrates the entire breadth of dance music in it’s most beautiful form.

Track Listing

1. Loving You
2. Diamonds feat. Solomon Grey
3. Klara
4. Ghost feat. Patrick Baker
5. Cosi
6. Hot As You Want feat. Solomon Grey
7. Undercover feat. Matthew Dear
8. Sunlight
9. The Great Divide feat. Ara Scott
10. Rise
11. Diamonds feat. Solomon Grey (Live Version)

The first single, “Ghost (feat. Patrick Baker),” is another classic Lane 8 vocal moment in the vein of past hits “The One” and “Nothing You Can Say.” “Ghost” will be available as an instant download alongside the Rise pre-order via iTunes. Starting next month, Lane 8 will be out and about touring the world, with festival season stops at Spring Awakening, Bestival, What The Festival, Global Dance Festival, Northern Nights Music Festival, Ilesoniq and more. A forthcoming world headline tour will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tour Dates
Sat. May 16 – Helsinki, FI @ LE BONK
Fri. June 12-Sat. June 13 – Toronto, ON @ Bestival
Fri. June 12-Sun. June 14 – Chicago, IL @ Spring Awakening 2015
Fri. June 19-Sun. June 21 – Dufur, OR @ What The Festival
Sun. June 28 – Novalja, HR @ Hideout Festival 2015
Fri. July 17-Sun. July 19 – Morrison, CO @ Global Dance Festival
Fri. July 17-Sun. July 19 – Piercy, CA @ Northern Nights Music Festival
Fri. Aug. 14-Sat. Aug. 15 – Montreal, QC @ Ilesoniq FestivalStay in touch with Lane 8 through his socials:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Cross Published on The DJ List

 

[The Audiofiles] Unleashing Legends with the Lucent Dossier Experience, MartyParty and the Desert Hearts Crew

Over the past decade, the Lucent Dossier Experience has left a legacy of excellence in and around Southern California.  Just the other weekend, the troupe descended back onto their home turf at Club Nokia located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’ LA Live. From the second party go-ers descended through the front doors, minds were expanded and hearts were opened.  Vendors adorned the walls, while live painters – including West Coast Festival favorite Ngene – were catalyzed by the creativity that was rotating through.

As we billowed out of the elevators into the second story of Club Nokia, the sultry Deep House sounds of the Desert Hearts crew blissfully blasted through our eardrums.  Graced by the presence of Mikey Lion, Marbs and Deep Jesus, the groove was just sexy enough to make you forget that there was an entirely different party happening just a few feet away from us.  In the main arena,  Nico Luminous kicked the night off with some funky fresh wobbles and drops, gracefully passing the torch onto David Satori and Evan Fraser, respectively from Beats Antique and Stellamara.  For the night, the dynamic duo joined forces as Dirtwire, crafting delicious electronic soundscapes through rustic beats.

Through a unique fusion of fire-dancing, aerial acrobatics, body contortion, audience immersive characters and a cast that effectively blends in with their creatively costumed cohorts, our worlds were illuminated and legends were unleashed as Lucent Dossier once again stole the show.   Side conversations came to a halt as dancers glided harmoniously in a showcase of human agility and grace.

For seventy minutes, we were enraptured in the magic and ethereal wonder that the Lucent Dossier Experience brings to the table. A powerful performance embodying the feminine mystique and the constant push for both internal and external creation, the music from the aptly titled Unleash Your Legend  is also featured on their sophomore artist album – Light of the World. With beautiful artwork from the ever talented Venice artist Chris Saunders, the album is currently available for both purchase on iTunes as well as streaming through Spotify or Soundcloud.

Closing the night, we found there just ain’t no party like a MartyParty.   Tapping into his new ‘Black House’ sound, a delicious, melodic take on G-House heavy with Hip-Hop lyrics, we simply couldn’t have asked for a better follow-up act for Lucent Dossier. For the final hours at Club Nokia, worlds collided and the weird went pro – as Lucent Dossier troupe leaders joined in on the stage antics for MartyParty and I have to say, I hope this fusion of live entertainment and music transcends into more and more shows.

For more on Lucent Dossier, head to their Website, Facebook, Twitter or Soundcloud.

Wanna see them soon? Catch Lucent at Lightning in a Bottle!

Did you love the Desert Hearts Tribe? We know we did! Stoked to be covering them in a few weeks for Desert Heart’s Spring Fling, if you’re fiending for some fabulous deep house and tech house beats under the stars, come kick it with a stellar group of humans – including myself!

For info on Desert Hearts – head to their websiteFacebook, Twitter or Soundcloud.

For tickets to Desert Hearts, click here!

For the full Facebook album, head to The DJ List

Shot by Daniel Leist Photography

[The Audiofiles] Music Monday: Go One Deeper

I know Monday’s can hurt, but Music always helps!  My musical taste ebbs and flows like an irreverent tide – but lately I’ve been attracted to a deeper, darker side of ‘Deep House’; the kind of music you’d find at at DirtyBird BBQ, at an early morning yoga sesh at Lightning in a Bottle or in a dark warehouse at 3am with 300 of your newest, closest friends. Hailing from France, Shiba San is the latest in a slew of DirtyBird producers that just tickle my eardrums.  His heavy bass infused deep house is perfect; from the dancefloor to the car stereo and more, he intricately layers Hip Hop, House and a little bit of soul into a whole lot of fun.

And then the Robot Heart Community, known for their epic NYC parties and Burning Man Sound Camps, released a historic set from Above & Beyond that I get incredible FOMO over; yes, the rumors are true – my favorite trance triumverate put together a deep house ‘yoga set’ for Elena Brewer and the result is pure magic.