[The Audiofiles] Required Listening for HARD’s DOTD

October 27, 2014October 28, 2014Leave a comment

– Purchase Tickets: 2 Day | Saturday Only / Sunday Only –

Festival Details

Pomona Fairgrounds
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA, 91768

18 to Dance | 21 to Drink

Music starts at 11 AM Saturday and Sunday, ends at 11PM

Back in 2008, a small event called HARD Haunted graced the Shrine Exposition Hall in Los Angeles, and ever since: the dance music scene in Southern California has never been the same. This year’s Day of the Dead marks my 4th Halloween spent with the HARD family – two at HARD Haunted, now my second at Day of the Dead; and it’s a holiday that I personally wouldn’t have any other way. Over the last few years, HARD has migrated all across the greater Los Angeles area – from The Shrine to the Hollywood Palladium, Downtown LA’s State Historic Park and now in their 7th year, they’ve landed some mad luck with the new location at the Pomona Fairgrounds. It’ll be my first time there for anything, so I’m excited to for this new journey that we’ll all be taking together. Since we’ll be at the Fairgrounds, it’s only proper that we act accordingly – and that means Zip-Lining across the festival grounds, an awesome Ferris Wheel dubbed the Century Wheel, and The Typhoon – an awesome looking carnival coaster. And as always, there will be loads of merch stands and over a dozen different food vendors, ready to cater to every type of dietary need: vegan, vegetarian and carnivore.

Over the last few years, as EDM Festivals have been held under exponential scrutiny – HARD has drawn a line in the sand in a push for more mature dance events; their festivals are an 18+ adventure that frowns on ‘Cuddle Puddles’, rave lights, pacefiers and face masks. For some, this might feel slightly disillusioning and a blow to their perceived individuality at said events; but at the end of the day, it’s not just about image but safety, for the patrons as well as the festival itself.

Make sure you have your essentials: ID, Credit Card, Cell, Cash, Robot Ears and Good Vibes.
and some The Pomona Fairgrounds are pretty expansive, with two days and 5 stages to visit you’ll want to opt for comfortable shoes over fancy footwear.
Layers are your friend: It’ll get to almost 80 during the day, but prepare for some blustery wind and nighttime chills. I mean, Winter is coming.
Regardless of weather, if you’re dancing a storm you’re gonna sweat – remember Water is your friend; fill up often and make sure everyone in your crew does the same
Earplugs might dull the bass, but when you’re older – you’ll thank us.
The Buddy System – there’s something said for flying solo at a festival, but if you’re in a group make sure you have a meeting point and a bestie.

[Click to Enlarge]

This year, CamelBakcs and GoPro’s have the Green Light, but as I was saying earlier – there’s a pretty expansive list of Don’ts; besides the very obvious ones (no outside food, no outside alcohol, no ins and outs, no weapons, etc…), here are the highlights for you pretty party people, and then a few from me.

NO Masks
NO Laser Pointers
NO LED Gloves or LED Microlights used for Light Shows
NO Markers, Pens or Spray Paint
NO Large Chains or Spiked Jewelry
NO Balloons, Balls, Inflatable Balls or Frisbees
NO Tents, Large Umbrellas, Chairs or Blankets
NO Stuffed Animals or Dolls (Including Plush Backpacks)
NO Kandi Bracelets or Kandi Necklaces
NO Electronic or Vapor Cigarettes
NO Wubs
NO Totems
NO Bad Attitudes

Mobile App

As a tried and true Techie, I have immense respect for Music Festivals that respect the 21st Century. HARD DOTD’s interactive and immersive mobile app for Android and iPhone is the perfect combination of festival fun and ergonomics, right in the palm of your hand. On the top, you can see the current temperature at the festival and at the bottom there’s a lovely little countdown window, tick-tocking away until the gates open on Saturday morning. Click through the tabs on the left, and you’ll have access to the HARD Mixtapes that have been slowly but surely appearing on Soundcloud, directions to the Pomona Fairgrounds, a site-map and the opportunity to make your own schedule and navigate unexpected time conflicts as you peruse the lineup. There’s assorted details like Set Times, Stage, Artists Details and Socials and last, but certainly not least, you can set a timed reminder so you don’t miss your favorite artists; GENIUS. Between the running tally’s of most anticipated sets and most liked artists through the API, if you pop over to the Discover tab you’ll see the latest and greatest trends – which directly correlates to the biggest potential crowds.The only thing missing from the Official App is something like FireChat, a mobile texting technology that’s proven useful for off the grid events like Burning Man and then gained international notoriety during the recent protest in Hong Kong. The app creates a network of phones that can still communicate with each other on the festival grounds even if they can’t upload their latest Snapchat or Selfie. #Priorities

Scheduling Conflicts and Highlights

Gaining acclaim under the DJ moniker Destructo, Gary Richards – HARD’s proverbial Fairy Godmother – once again outdid himself on the event this year. To curate artists – not just for the event, but for each of the five stages (HARD, HARDER, Pink, Purple and 7UP) for both days, for a specific feel – takes a vision, drive, passion and respect for his peers. That said, if you’re a Tech head, you’ll probably end spend Saturday at the Pink Stage and Sunday at the Dirty Bird on the Purple Stage. Want to get your wubs on – just Enter The Void with RL Grime’s Pink Stage on Sunday. Feeling experimental? Dive into Saturday’s Purple Stage.

Saturday

On a personal level, there are so many great acts on both days, it’s easy to just get lost in the schedule. I was turned on to acts like Sweater Beats and Shakehips at Do LaB events, so it’s awesome seeing them represented here as well. Sweater Beats has a bunch of new tracks that I’ve been lusting over lately, so fingers crossed I get to hear ‘Dark Matter’ live. I love Seven Lions, so that’s a no brainer; between him and Bassnectar, maybe I can even pick up a few hair tips. ! I’ve been crossing my fingers for no conflicts and on Saturday there’s really only one (well, I guess technically, it’s two): Pretty Lights, TEED and ZHU are all overlapping and making my life difficult. I’ll be getting a double dose of PL over New Years Eve for Sea of Dreams, and this is ZHU’s North American debut – so I’ll probably skip PL – head to TEED then ZHU, but man…that’s a tough one; and it’s easier said than done. (Have you ever seen Pretty Lights live, I mean, WOW). To end Saturday night, I’ll be getting weird in Mau5ville as Prydz and Deadmau5 head back to back for an epic two hour dance off. I should apologize to Jamie Jones, Knife Party, Araab MUZIK and Odesza now before it’s Saturday because I won’t be leaving that main stage once those two start going off…

Sweater Beats, 7 Up Stage, 2:05
Seven Lions, HARD Stage 4:30
Snakehips, 7 Up Stage 5:05
AlunaGeorege, 7Up Stage 6:25
Pretty Lights, HARD Stage 6:55 (Alternate)
Tottally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Pink Stage 7pm
ZHU, HARDer Stage, 7:20
Diplo, HARD Stage, 8:15
Deadmau5 vs Prydz, HARDer Stage 8:50

Sunday

If you’re going for only one of the days – I’d pick Sunday. Between the Dirty Bird BBQ on the Purple Stage which promises surprise guests and back to back sets, RL Grime’s Enter the Void on the Pink Stage and a closing set from the man, the myth – the epic hair himself, Sir Bassnectar – the only act that compares in any way on Saturday is the epic Mau5 off: Eric Prydz vs DeadMau5. And that’s some real talk. There’s actually so much musical win on Sunday that I have a bit of anxiety, three times over. First, I have to pick between Eats Everything and RL Grime….at the end, Claude vs Bassnectar but the worst is that Zeds Dead, Cashmere Cat and Booka Shade are on within 10 minutes of each other on the HARDer, Pink and 7Up Stage. And the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae? I finally get to Trop til I Drop with Thomas Jack – I was so bummed to find out he wouldn’t be at Lightning in a Bottle this year (visa issues, I believe) that it’s about damn time I get to see him live.

Shiba San, Purple Stage, 3:30
Aeroplane, 7Up Stage, 4:10
Big Gigantic, HARD Stage, 5:00
Thomas Jack, 7Up Stage, 6:00
Eats Everything, Purple Stage, 7:15
RL Grime, HARD Stage, 7:20
Zeds Dead, HARDer Stage, 8:30
Cashmere Cat, Pink Stage, 8:35
Booka Shade, 7Up Stage 8:40
Claude VonStroke, Purple Stage, 9:45
Bassnectar, HARDer Stage, 9:45

For last minute details, interviews and more – keep it locked on The DJ List; for more information about HARD and their upcoming events, try their socials:

[Artist Spotlight] MNEK + Sam Smith

January 14, 2014January 16, 2014Leave a comment

There aren’t many male vocalists that get me choked up, but over the past year a handful have popped up on my radar much to my excitement. Each time I hear a new song featuring Sam Smith or MNEK, my heart stops until I press play – and what I’ve found with each artists, is that I’m addicted to their soulful sounds.

Sam Smith, named the BBC Voice to Watch in 2014, has slowly but surely etched a permanent place in my heart. I first heard his breathtaking vocals when he lent them to Disclosure for the feel good crooner ‘Latch’; if that single doesn’t take your breath away, try your hand at the acoustic version:

Then, he does it again on the Nile Rodgers x Disclosure Collaboration ‘Together.’

So far, you’ve gotten an earful of Electro – but Sam Smith’s original work is something closer to Indie Rock with a sexy, bedroom twist:

Not to mention, his voice just remixes so pretty! MK does the jam ‘Money on my Mind’ excellent justice by infusing his remix with some signature deep house grooves.

This morning when I jumped on my mandatory morning music safari, I found a new singles under the man’s belt and I’m beyond excited to share. ‘Make it To Me’ – has me wrapped up in all of the feels and almost in tears; his vocal prowess is so beautifully honest and refreshing, and that high register – hot damn that sounds phenomenal:

Stay up to date with Sam Smith across his socials: Webpage | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

Another vocalist that I can’t get enough of is MNEK. Every time I find a new MNEK (pronounced Em-En-E-Kay) cover on Hypem, I’m absolutely enthralled by how he refixes the song by ignoring the original format and laying down his own, silk smooth notes. There has been a host of singles over the past year that I’ve heard MNEK re-do, and each and every one is beautiful and unique in it’s own right. 19 years young, MNEK has the vocal power of an old soul; time after time, he infuses his sultry R&B vocals into deep house rhythms to perfection and I simply can’t get enough. One thing I really enjoy with the singles he’s released, is playing them back to back with the original; if you want to understand the man’s genius, it’s a great jumping off point – so I’ll get that party started for you:

[Original]

[Re-Fix]

[Original]

[Re-Fix]

[Original]

[Re-Fix]

[Original]

[Re-Fix]

And then of course, there are the original tracks he’s lent his stellar pipes to – like with Rudimental, SubFocus and DEVolution – proving that his voice is so much more than just [Deep] House, it’s an instrument that producers across the genres love playing with.

Keep tabs on MNEK across the interwebs – Webpage | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter

[Artist Spotlight] The Magician

December 19, 2013December 19, 2013Leave a comment

My musical appetite shifts pretty frequently and I have to admit, lately my music library just simply isn’t cutting it. I’ve caught myself shuffling through my songs so frequently that in the course of a day, I hadn’t listened to a single song from beginning to end; so frustrating! So, it makes my heart incredibly happy when I stumble across an artist that knows how to keep me interested for more than a few hours, or songs, at a time.

The Magician first popped up on my radar a few weeks ago on Hypem; remixes of ‘When The Night Is Over’ were pouring through the Indie-Electro blogs and the track above caught my ear. After a solid week of various versions of the single on repeat, I retired the track and promptly moved on to newer addictions. But then yesterday, as I was scouring through my social media accounts – I clicked through to a few of my favorite producers and tweet after tweet was directing me back to him and the latest Magic Tape.

Initially, I proverbially kicked myself – “Thirty EIGHT?! How have I inconveniently managed to avoid such an exceptional producer?” But a little bit of research later and a few ah-HA moments later, I realized this absolutely wasn’t the case. Not long ago, The Magician – whose real name is Stephen Fasano, was half of the then-duo Aeroplane alongside Vito de Luca. They’re best known for their Balearic disco and French/Indie House and I’ve been a huge fan of theirs for a few years now. There’s a mix that I play whenever I need to whisk myself to a tropical island and it never fails to disappoint.

After some good runs with Aeroplane, Fasano realized that his interest in the group was fleeting and decided to amicably part ways from Vito. Thus, The Magician was born! Back in 2011 he joined forces with Yusek to form Peter & The Magician and since the he’s managed to break off on his own for some solo project. The Magicianskillfully weaves deep, tech and indie house into a full fledged dance party that I’ve literally been living in for the past two days. The best part about Magic Tape #38? There’s 37 more to go – enjoy!

Tracklist

1. Casino Gold – All I Need

2. Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones – I Got U

3. John Newman – Losing Sleep (Disciples Remix)

4. Chris Malinchak – If U Got It (The Magician Remix)

5. Cheap Picasso – Don’t Play Around

6. HAIM – Forever (TCTS Remix)

7. Kiesza – Hideaway

8. Lancelot – Givin It up feat. Anthony & Cleopatra

9. ??? – ??? 1

0. Klaue & Tatze – Bringing It

11. Disclosure – Voices (Le Youth Remix)

[Rising Star Spotlight] Thomas Jack

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013Leave a comment

Sure, it’s Monday morning – but thanks to the tropical house vibes coming from Thomas Jack, today just doesn’t feel that bad! I discovered the young man less than a month ago when I caught myself in an unexpected cubicle boogie – his single ‘Booka Shake’ had started playing on Hypem and I was getting down with the get down.

The sultry synths combined with Nate Dogg’s seductive voice pave the way for one hell of a funky remix; one thing that I haven’t gotten from a lot of American producers lately is the use of ’empty’ noise – a lot of what’s gotten popular is heavily layered, intricate beats that “whomp” and “untz” throughout. The pieces are chalk full of noises and it feels like your head’s being bombarded with non-stop beats – with Thomas Jack, things are different. There’s breathing room between notes, there’s wiggle room; other guys, take note.

The man garnishes the ability to take folk and indie singles and infuse them with emotion: crafting delightfully dance-able tracks and weaving powerful words and melodies throughout his own unique creations. Thomas Jack successfully creates an ambient atmosphere where only his music exists: if you close your eyes and let yourself drift into the simple yet intricate melodies, you’ll start to float off to your own fantasy island – fully equipped with flirtatiously colored drinks with contrasting, miniature umbrellas. Somewhere between the open, staccato notes and the full sounds of saxophones and pan flutes a sub-genre of deep house reemerges with life. Yes, you read that correctly – real instruments, oh yes!

He’s already done guests mixes for two of my all time favorite music blogs – Earmilk and Gotta Dance Dirty and has been making his way into multitudes of music bloggers hearts – one quick search on the interwebs and you’ll see the recent infatuation with his music firsthand. Bottom line, if you’re curious who to watch in 2014 – your answer is right here.

Keep in touch with Thomas Jack across the interwebs and make sure you know when he’s coming to a city near you:

Soundcloud | Webpage | Twitter | Facebook

[Track of the Week] Rudimental ft Emeli Sandé – Free

October 28, 2013October 28, 2013Leave a comment

Usually, it starts with a melody that won’t migrate or a bassline I find myself rocking out to hours after the music is over. But, my love affair with Rudimental is different: it started with a Youtube video and a carefully woven story that was equal parts beautiful and tragic. Sure – I’d listened to the song before but it takes skill and intention to create something with a message as powerful as this.

Over the course of this past year UK based Drum & Bass quartet Rudimental has found a permanent place in my heart and if there’s one thing you should know about me by now it’s that I’ve set the bar incredibly high for anyone that dabbles in EDM. Rudimental has roots in Hackney, London and is comprised of DJ Locksmith with singer / songwriters songwriters and producers Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor and Piers Agget. They’ve seen some hot rotation on esteemed radio shows like Annie Mac’s on BBC Radio 1 and have been remixed over, and over, and over by some of the most creative minds in the business.

Beyond the inspirational track ‘Not Giving In’, their entire debut album ‘Home’ is solid gold from start to finish. Even though their roots are firmly planted in ‘Drum and Bass’, these 4 hitmakers pull inspiration across the musical board and are on a self proclaimed mission to fuse modern Soul Music into their EDM. And let me tell you – it shows! They sample some Deep House with their liquid Drum and Bass hit ‘Waiting All Night’ with Ella Eyre and the sultry single ‘Baby’ featuring vocals from MNEK and Sinead Harnett. On the other hand, the Summer anthem ‘Feel the Love’ with John Newman has all the makings of a classic liquid drum and bass track.

For the past week, I’ve been on a new Rudimental kick – this time, with their single Free featuring one of my new favorite female vocalists Emile Sandé. Even though this track is incredibly fresh off the press it already has a smorgasbord of remixes and no – I’m not complaining! Hip-Hop heavy hitter Nas jumps in the mix and belts out a verse on a fresh version, Deep House maven Maya Jane Coles gives it her signature spin and Jack Beats creates a club worthy anthem. As this track gains remix steam, there’s no telling how big it’ll get but here’s a clue: huge.

For kicks, you can download the original and the Maya Jane Coles remix for free on iTunes – I’d call this an early birthday present for sure!.

If you’re as hooked as I am, keep in touch with Rudimental across the interwebs:

Soundcloud | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

[Artist Spotlight] Lane 8 + Russ Chimes

August 23, 2013September 26, 2013Leave a comment

It’s not often that I’m moved enough to share a favorite artist with the world, but when credit’s due – credit is due; I’ve been digging around through the deepest of house music for the past year and I feel like I’ve finally found my niche in it. Just a little bit of bass, some soulful lyrics, a killer bridge and a dance-able beat – I’ve found it before so I know that it’s possible. It’s the music Kaskade was giving us back in 2004 with his artist album ‘In the Moment’ and again with his last US tour, which he dubbed the ‘It’s You, it’s Me Redux. The Deep House that is doled out nowadays can have a generic beat and at times, it can be hard to tell where a song begins and ends….and doubly so during a deep house set. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and I have turned to each other and asked ‘Is this still the same song?’ So, when I discovered this latest artist I was beyond stoked. I’ve been listening to my fair share of Finnebassen, Cyril Hanh and the guys on Crosstown Rebels but the one thing I’ve been craving is original work from a deep house artist. Both Cyril Hahn and Finnebassen are more more than adept at remixing (or as I love to say, mixing down) oldies and goodies alike, including but not limited to: James Blake’s Retrograde and Jessie Ware’s Sweet Talk.

Over the last few months ‘Perfect Form’ and the B Side have come out – giving Cyril his first singles which were amazing; A+! In the meantime, I’ve had a golden opportunity to discover two amazing new (at least to me) artists in the scene. Russ Chimes and Lane 8 have been giving me chills for a few months now – between their adept remixes and ellquently catchy singles, I’m surprised these two haven’t blown up more than they already have! They’ve been dishing out hit after hit recently and it would take a real asshole to not enjoy their sound. Perfect for a BBQ with friends, weekend getaway or poolside – catchy lyrics, dance-y beats, non-repetitive structures; totally my thing! Nothing like having a diamond in the rough, but I’m the type that loves seeing that lesser known artists start popping up in mixes, live sets and finally into festival lineups in my area. There’s no sense in talking someone up who can speak for themselves, so without further ado – here’s a few mixes and original singles from Russ Chimes and Lane 8. I guarantee you’ll be sailing smoothly into your weekend in no time!

Lane 8

Russ Chimes

Friday Fun: MDW Ready!

May 24, 2013May 28, 2013Leave a comment

If there’s one thing I need to own up to at the moment, it’s that I’m a sucker for a three day weekend – and truth be told, it’s even better when everyone can join in on the fun! Sunshine, cocktails, good vibes and great friends; there’s simply nothing better! I’m not entirely sure what my weekend plans are, but as John Lennon so eloquently phrased it: life is what happens when you’re making other plans. The only thing that you really need to bring to the table during a weekend like this is a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Well, and maybe a few more things – colorful nails, the threat of a good time and an epic playlist.

Who says you need to stay with the Red-White-and-Boring trend this Memorial Day Weekend?!

I love the pop of neon colors and bling and shimmer of sparkles, so pairing them together – absolutely perfect.

No one will ever accuse you of being unprepared to party if you carry one of these suckers around in your purse; for an even better treat, fill it with champagne, or your favorite mixed drink!

Lazy day vibes and deep house seem to go hand in hand, and for great reason – when the work goes away, your soul comes out to play! And every soul digs that soulful, and so funky, sound of deep house.