Name: Pyramid Special - IMS Weekend 2023
Start: 2023-04-28T18:00:00.000+02:00
End: 2023-04-29T06:00:00.000+02:00

Peru

Bastidas

There's never anything overnight about success. The paths we follow to our most treasured goals are often long, winding, and include switchbacks and detours. Peruvian tech-house DJ, Bastidas (né Jose Guerrero Bastidas) has been obsessively consuming everything about music and production for over 20 years. After years of hard work, he's not only writing infectiously lucious Latin-tinged records, he’s uplifting and supporting the South American music community in an effort to pay back the immense support his community has given him.




Bastidas grew up in Lima, Peru with an insatiable appetite for music. His parent’s weren’t musicians, but he cites his uncles’ massive music collection as an early inspiration.









“I was into every type of music, I loved to collect music,” Bastidas said when I spoke to him over Zoom. “I remember having a little notebook, and when I was looking at music videos that was my addiction, just writing the names of the songs and musicians.” It wasn’t long before Bastidas—affectionately nicknamed Basti—discovered electronic music.




After moving to Miami with his family at age 11, Bastidas began an obsession with dance music, much ado to his influential older brother. He bought his first bit of DJ gear when he was 12, and a fire ignited. It was the early 2000s, and the Miami club scene was just about the explode.




But before he could headline the Miami clubs, young, ambitious Bastidas had to hone his craft. He played house parties and high school events before he was old enough to go clubbing. Even from these tender early years, Bastidas was a hustler. “I remember when I was 15, I used to play everything. Sometimes I used to play in restaurants too. Anything, you know, because it was like a hustle.”






He could've waited until he was old enough, but the pull was too great. So, as soon as found a good enough fake ID, he started exploring the local club scene.




Bastidas regularly visited Club Space in Miami, a mecca for dance music lovers craving marathon raves in the Sunshine State. The reggaeton and Latino influence on Miami’s dance music was palpable, especially during one of Erick Morillo’s sets. Morillo wore his Columbian heritage on his sleeve during his sold-out sets at Club Space, and young Bastidas was intrigued. He saw this merger of house music and Latino culture as vitally influential and widely underrated. Those Morillo sets at Space helped shape Bastidas’ trajectory for the next decade.




By 2010, Bastidas was orchestrating his own showcases at Club Space with big-name South American artists and producers (Jean Pierre, and Patrick M, for example). These early iterations of his label and project From the South already had a fully formed ethos: to celebrate and uplift Latino music and producers.




“When I created [From the South] I was like, let's see if I can push more artists from over there that really they keep working hard and producing 24/7,” he said. “Obviously, they sometimes cannot fly because (getting a) visa is difficult for them. But they're such talented people all around.”




The label’s premiere single “Vinotinto” features Bastidas and two other grade-A Latino producers, Luciano and Carloh. Five days after its release, “Vinotinto” was cruising steadily in the #1 spot on the Beatport charts.




Though a debut single reaching #1 is impressive, the pièce de résistance of Bastidas’ career thus far is undoubtably his pop-up shows in Comuna 13 in Medellin, Columbia. Most famously known as Pablo Escobar’s old neighborhood–that was once rampant with drugs, poverty, and violence–Comuna 13 is now a slowly blossoming community. One day, Basti and British producer wAFF, decided to throw a block party in Comuna 13.




“We planned out everything in one day,” he said. “When we started playing, we didn't know what was going to happen and we didn't know if the cops were going to come shut us down. So it was crazy.”




The cops didn't shut them down. Instead, they created a moment of pure communal support and joy. With rented decks on a small rooftop, Bastidas and wAFF converted Comuna 13 into a happy house playground. Children ran playfully through the dancefloor, and local mothers opened their homes (and restrooms) to the guests.


“Everyone was so happy,” Bastidas recalled. They made you know so much money for their families and the community. It was a mix of everything, so it was beautiful.” After a successful rerun of the block party in 2022, Bastidas now hopes to turn the event into a festival.




With such an impressive work ethic, it’s no surprise that Bastidas is keeping one foot in the future. With a successful new record, a blossoming record label, and a passionate purpose driving it all, Bastidas only has one question for himself. “Nobody expect this, you know. When ‘Vinotinto’ was released, we saw the love from the people. It was so organic. Now we're just preparing for the future. ‘So what's next?’”




London-based DJ and producer East End Dubs has an expansive solo catalog, but he’s also delighted the house scene with a range of collaborations and remixes that widen the scope of an already diverse sound. He’s worked extensively with the likes of Rich NxT, who has appeared on East End Dubs’ Eastenderz label, a notion that lends itself to synergy between two familiar artists combining their creative forces.




East End Dubs has also looked north to remix Lauren Lo Sung while jumping across the North Sea to work with Fabe, artistically traveling beyond his London stomping grounds.




While there are plenty of stellar releases to choose from over the last decade, we’ve narrowed down East End Dubs’ top five collaborations and remixes. Prepare for a tight mix of club weapons and otherworldly bliss.




1. Rich NxT, East End Dubs - E3

Released via the essential FUSE London, “E3” is the front half of The Four Slip EP between Rich NxT and East End Dubs. While the subsequent “Bubbles” is a potent cut, “E3” is the undeniable highlight as a stark, minimalist groove gives way to exuberant synth flashes before circling back to a darker aesthetic at the halfway mark. It’s as eclectic as house music comes and marks a key release in East End Dubs’ collection.




2. East End Dubs, Fabe (Ger) - Stargaze

A cross-continental collaboration with German producer Fabe, “Stargaze” lives up to its celestial namesake. Heady, exospheric pads roll across the single with wonderment and take the club off-world. As the first track off the East End Dubs Collaborations EP, it’s also arguably the project’s best.




3. Lauren Lo Sung - Hypnotise (East End Dubs Remix)

From Liverpool to London, East End Dubs takes Lauren Lo Sung’s lush “Hypnotise” and flips it into a sharp, technical slice of his signature house sound. While respecting the original single, he imbues it with unmistakable East End Dubs character and adds to the excitement of a standout release on Lauren Lo Sung’s own LOLiFE UK imprint.




4. Sleek & Cheek - Go Home (East End Dubs Remix)

It requires a deep dive into the back of East End Dubs’ catalog, but it’s worth the digging as his flip of Sleek & Cheek’s “Go Home” is a sludgy highlight. With a weighty, slowed-down groove, the remix feels less like a headline-set stunner and more like an understated staple of an all-night marathon. Sometimes the best music is on the road less traveled.




5. East End Dubs, Cuartero - Static Sea

Bookending this list with the closing track of the East End Dubs Collaborations EP, “Static Sea,” is a glitchy joy of a single that’s downright uncanny in its early stages before evolving into something more familiar (and more catchy). It all makes for a rewarding closing stretch where the oppositional aesthetics fuse into one anthemic outing.



5 East End Dubs Collabs and Remixes You Need to Know 

Spain

Cuartero

Hailing from Malaga, Spanish artist Cuartero began producing at just fifteen in 2009. He achieved rapid success and, by 2015, was awarded Best Newcomer DJ at the DJ Awards, Best Tech House Artist, and Artist of the Year at the Vicious Music Awards in the following years, among others. Beyond the decks, he's a skilled producer, recognized by industry peers, fans, and labels for his rhythmic acumen and slinky basslines.

A little over ten years from the start of his career, he boasts releases on major labels such as Hot Creations, Moon Harbour Recordings, and Waveform Recordings. His sounds have increasingly developed, maturing in-depth and seriousness alongside his career. His most recent release, "Static Sea," in collaboration with East End Dubs, embodies this maturity in the form of a high-energy, moody after-hours groove. 

Cuartero also curates two well-respected labels, Sanity and Cuartero Concept. Founded in 2011, Sanity features energetic deep tech and tech house tracks with a clear intention of prioritizing talent over fame. 

Cuartero Concept, founded in 2017, is a vinyl-only project dedicated to elevating more underground sounds. He's worked with heavyweight techno names, like Bodeler and Cocodrills. 

A man of few words, he seems surprisingly disinterested in vanity or self-celebration. Cuartero has built a serious legacy, one that remains unadulterated in its commitment to platforming raw talent and nothing else.



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Ultra’s return to historic Bayfront Park in Miami gets a touch sweeter today with the announcement of the Resistance lineup. The underground house and techno off-shoot of Ultra has a well-documented reputation for curating forward-thinking lineups. And next March 25-27 they’ve upped the ante with an impressive array of world-class talent that spans the expansive diversity of the underground community.


The Resistance lineup gives some context to some of the incredible artists already announced on the Phase 1 lineup.  Melodic techno duo and Afterlife Records head honchos Tale Of Us join progressive titans CamelPhat, veteran and legend Dubfire, and Resistance champion Carl Cox who debuts his all-new three hours hybrid performance exclusively for Ultra Miami 2022.

What’s truly striking is the diversity in the rest of the lineup. The representation of fantastic women in house and techno can’t be undersold. And this year’s lineup includes venerated acts alongside exciting rising stars. Amelie Lens, ANNA, Anfisa Letyago, Nina Kraviz, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Ann Clue, Georgia Anjuli, and Nala will all take the stage.



The lineup is also diverse in sound with a broad sonic footprint, from the grooving bassline of Dom Dolla and John Summit to the sweeping melodics of Hannes Beiger’s live performance. The pounding beats of Adam Beyer to the sun-soaked Beatport topping tech house of Solardo and the legendary progressive sonics of Sasha | John Digweed. The Resistance lineup overflows with talent. There’s so much there that you’ll never have to leave the revamped Resistance area of Ultra Miami.



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Resistance will take residence in a new section of Ultra’s fabled home on the park's northern perimeter. The new location allows house and techno fans to spread amongst multiple areas, including the Carl Cox megastructure and an all-new concept called The Cove. Beneath the palm trees overlooking Biscane Bay, Resistance fans will feel a hint of nostalgia for 2019’s Resistance Island.

Tickets on sale now at https://ultramusicfestival.com/tickets/miami/

Ultra Miami Unveils the Resistance Lineup for 2022

On Saturday, October 23 Gray Area takes over Diplo’s Revolution on Sirius XM to host an eight-hour journey into the many realms of house and techno. The show pops off at 12 noon ET and thumps until 8 PM. OCHO features eight distinctive talents from the many reaches of house and techno including Luciano, Diplo, Blackchild, Tini Gessler, Vintage Culture, Will Clarke, Chelina Manuhutu, and AMÉMÉ.

OCHO marks the first time Gray Area will dive into the world of broadcasting. It exemplifies Gray Area's mission to unite the international house music community connecting the lines between its rich sub-cultures.

“Sirius XM plays an integral role in building the house music community in North America – which happens to also be Gray Area’s mission – by programming this genre of dance music on Diplo’s Revolution. We are very proud to collaborate on Ocho, a program featuring 8 hours of non-stop exclusive sets representing different sub-genres of house music played by both rising and established international artists, and look forward to other collaborative projects with our friends at Sirius XM to spread the love of house music across North America. Let there be MORE house!” says Michael Julian, founder of Seers – the dynamic venture behind Gray Area and other projects in the world of electronic music and live events.

Joey Sutera, Head of Live Entertainment adds, “We are committed to unifying house music culture around the world.”

Ocho airs on SiriusXM on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Listen here.



The Acts

Diplo

Leading the charge is global music icon, ferocious underground champion, and colorful personality Diplo. The ubiquitous and influential producer has touched every genre of music in his well-documented career. Diplo brings an expert level of curation and an encyclopedic knowledge of the culture of dance music to every set.

Luciano

Chilean-born, minimal techno kingpin Luciano has long been one of the genre’s most influential figures. His enchanting sets are informed by his Latin American heritage and always enliven the spirit.

Blackchild

Rising Italian DJ and producer Blackchild’s releases on Solid Grooves and Hot Creations have are supported by Fisher, Todd Terry, Marco Corolla, and Kenny Dope. He expertly blends the sticky funk of classic house with the low-end thump of tech house.

Tini Gessler

Relative newcomer Tini Gessler has made a sharp impact on the Spanish scene with her pumping deep tech house. She's earned vital residencies with Pacha Barcelona and Elrow. And she's flexed the legendary systems of Space and Pacha in Ibiza. Over the last year, she’s firmly asserted herself as a sought-after producer dropping records with the likes of Toolroom, Cr2, and Desert Hearts.

Vintage Culture

Vintage Culture has catapulted himself into the hearts of millions in recent years with a sound that brilliantly straddles the line between underground and mainstream. The Brazillian artist’s music has dominated dancefloors and radio with hits like “Slow Down,” “In The Dark,” and his remix with John Summit of Sofi Tukker’s “Drinkee” all streaming in the millions.



Will Clarke

Will Clarke’s move from Dirtybird Player to techno titan was a natural progression for the veteran English producer and DJ. His taste-making label All We Have Is Now bridges the gap between the nostalgia of the old-school and the intensity and weight of the new.

Chelina Manuhutu

Dutch-born Chelina Manuhutu brings with her the influence of a musical family. Her father was part of the Latin funk band Massada. Her chunky tech-house is full of stuttering percussion, brilliantly funky basslines, and the bubbling effervescence of a summer-time pool party.



AMÉMÉ 

West African-born AMÉMÉ transports his cultural heritage into all that he does. The leader of One Tribe, a global dance community, seamlessly blends compelling melody, sultry soul, and the driving rhythms of his homeland.



You can tune in to OCHO on SiriusXM here. For updates on set times, follow Gray Area on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Gray Area Partners With Diplo's Revolution for OCHO

Hispanic artists have played a prominent role in dance music since its inception. Their contributions to the culture can’t be understated. Dance music history is synonymous with the rise of Latinx producers in mainstream music. And as music has evolved, those artists have continued to be the backbone of the culture growing into global superstars.

 Hispanic DJs played a vital role in developing dance, hip hop, and pop acts. People like DJ Charlie Chase paved the way for the DJs of today. He was a member of the Bronx hip hop crew The Furious Five. Led by legendary DJ Grandmaster Flash, they were architects of the hip hop movement in the late 70s and early 80s.

David Morales, the DJ turned super-producer, helped change the face of remix culture with his multiple credits for Mariah Carrey. His work on "Fantasy" earned him a GRAMMY. He was one of the first producers to work in parallel with an artist on a remix, completely reworking their music. Before Morales, it was unheard of to have the remixer in the studio with the original artist.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we'd like to shine a light on the icons who continue to influence house and techno.

 

Louie Vega 

Bronx-born Luis Ferdinand Vega Jr. was born into a musical family. His dad was a jazz saxophonist, and his uncle was a singer in a salsa band. “Little” Louie started DJing at 13, and over three decades changed the face of dance music countless times. He held residencies at New York institutions like the Sound Factory and Studio 54. Vega was also one-half of three-time Grammy-award-winning duo Masters At Work with Kenny Dope. They became sought-after remixers when dance music was still in its infancy and worked with Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Earth Wind & Fire, and Madonna. He continues to etch his mark on global dance music culture today. His 2020 release, “Let It Go,” is the perfect example of the Nuyorican Soul sound he established with Kenny Dope in the mid-90s. A masterful blend of classic soul, Latin sensibilities, and house music.

 

 

Oscar G 

Award-winning DJ and producer Oscar G’s sonic footprint has endured for over three decades. The Cuban-American artist kicked off his career as one-half of the group Liberty City. Tracks like "Some Lovin,'" and Interceptor's, "Together," on their label Murk quickly found their way into the sets of Danny Tenaglia and Junior Vasquez. The four-time ASCAP songwriting award winner has officially remixed pop icons like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. He continues to educate dance floors on the intersection of Latin American music and dance with residencies at Space Miami and Pacha, where he regularly transports dancers on 12-hour marathon journeys. 

 

Rebolledo 

Mexican-born, multimedium artist Rebolledo is noted as a forward-thinking artist and self-described Experience Creator. His creativity expands beyond his bass-forward psychedelic beats. As one of the creative minds behind the Burning Man art car, the Mayan Warrior, he exhibits how music, visual art, and cross-continental collaboration coalesces in one epic ode to movement and sound. He also brings a unique slant on music as part of Pachanga Boys with German producer Superpitcher. Their lilting tribal beats are the perfect engine for sunrises over the Playa. In 2014, FORBES Magazine named him one of 50 Mexican creatives with the most worldwide influence.   

 The Martinez Brothers 

The Martinez Brothers were born for a life of performance. Their father instilled a love for a diverse set of influences early on. He put Steven and Chris in church bands and encouraged them to collaborate with older musicians. Growing up inspired by house, disco, salsa, and soul, their musical selection is always ahead of the curve and versatile. They were noticed early on by New York legend Dennis Ferrer, who became a mentor and signed them to his label Objektivity. In 2011 they began their decade-long residency at DC-10 in Ibiza. They have become fashion icons, producing music for Givenchy and starting their own line with Seth Troxler, Tuskegee. In 2014 they did percussion for the Nile Rodgers album, It’s About Time. They were the only artists not associated with Rodgers band Chic invited to contribute.

 

Luciano

Luciano was born in Switzerland but moved to Chile when his parents divorced at age 11. He carved the path for dance music to flourish in Chile. When Luciano began DJing in the late 90s at 16 years old, rock music was the sound of the clubs. He worked tirelessly to legitimatize techno in Santiago. In 1999 he moved to Europe, just after he DJed for Chile’s installment of Love Parade, proving his years of hard work paid off. His work is heavily influenced by his Hispanic heritage. He incorporates the rhythmic sensibilities of traditional Chilean music into his music, be it minimal techno or tech house. 

 

DJ Sneak

Dj Sneak may be a polarizing figure in house music, but the Puerto Rican artists’ contributions to the culture are clear. Sneak was one of the many Chicago legends who worked the counter at Gramophone Records. He met Cajmere—aka Green Velvet— while working there. He helped launch his career as part of the second wave of house music makers in the Windy City. Sneak has released over 10 albums since 1996. He was name-checked on Daft Punk’s 1997 record, “Teachers.” And went on to write the lyrics for their 1997 release, “Digital Love.” His rapid-fire mixing skills continue to make him a crowd favorite around the world. His infamous I’m A House Gangster brand is all about bringing house music back to its roots and drawing the focus away from the sounds of commercial dance music.

 Ricardo Villalobos

Ricardo Villalobos is a Chilean-born DJ and producer who came up in the early 90s in Germany. While he never envisioned himself as a musician, he eventually forged a path that saw him travel the world studying percussion, a skill he applied to his expansive music. Known for his winding compositions, his gorgeously minimal tracks stretch and swell, incorporating influences of his home country and organic worldly soundscapes. His 2006 single “Fizheuer Zieheuer,” is a 37-minute long epic based on a horn sample from a Roma folk song “Pobjednički Čoček" by Serbian group Blehorkestar Bakija Bakić. It’s evidence that Villalobos is one of the few in dance music to push the envelope. Renowned for melting the dancefloor into a mass of liquid minimal bliss, he was selected as Resident Advisor’s top DJ of the year in both 2008 and 2010.

 

 Hernan Cayetano 

The Colombian-born DJ founded BAUM nightclub in Bogota. Before it closed its doors in 2020, it was Bogota's premiere spot for house and techno. Built in an old home that sat abandoned at the center of the capital city, Cayetano envisioned a nightclub and community building project. The tree growing through the middle of the house became the central focus of the DJ booth. And the community that coalesced around the club was truly unique. Despite the club's closure due to increasing residential complaints, Cayetano continues to produce BAUM Festival, which returns to Bogota on May 21, 2022. As a musician, he blurs the lines between house and techno. He can be found on the exclusive circuit of global festivals captivating dancers with his compelling sound.  

Kenny Dope 

Kenny Dope came up in the 80s DJing for block parties in Brooklyn under the name Masters At Work. He famously let Todd Terry borrow the name to record two releases. Todd returned the favor by letting Kenny borrow a drum machine and introducing him to “Little” Louie Vega. It sparked his career as a producer. His 1994 release under the moniker the Bucketheads, “The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind),” is an iconic piece of house music. But his career stretches beyond one hit. He was among the first dance music DJs to be commissioned for remix projects from the major labels and helped pave the way for the remix culture that persists today. His expansive catalog includes remixes for Luther Vandross, Daft Punk, Geroge Benson, and Tito Puente.

Nicola Cruz

Ecuadorian artist was born in France and spent his first three years there until he moved home to Quito. His parents encouraged his musical leanings and gave him a drum kit when he was 12. At 25, he collaborated and toured the US with the iconic Nicolas Jaar. His interest in the oral traditions of his ancestors and the rituals of native South Americans inform his explorative music. Highly organic, intensely creative, and strikingly beautiful, Cruz melds the worlds of the traditional with modern sound design masterfully. His blinding creative output saw him release five albums in the last five years while touring regularly. At only 33 years old, Cruz has a lot of musical experimenting ahead of him. 

10 Influential Hispanic House and Techno Artists

Layla Benitez

Switzerland

Luciano

Romania

Arapu

Belgium

Amelie Lens

Italy

Luca Donzelli

Germany

Mathias Kaden

for a super special, early season warm-up party to mark the return of the yearly 

Amnesia

 performs a one-off B2B with Romanian minimal star 

 holding down the decks in the famous warehouse.

Klangkuenstler

Pyramid Special - IMS Weekend 2023

Pyramid claims its rightous spot at Amnesia Friday April 28 for a super special, early season warm-up party to mark the return of the yearly International Music Summit affair to the island. 

Kicking off the season, techno legends Amelie Lens, Klangkuenstler, Luca Donzelli and Mathias Kaden head up the Main Room, while Luciano performs a one-off B2B with Romanian minimal star Arapu in the Terraza, as well as Cuartero and Layla Benitez holding down the decks in the famous warehouse.

Pyramid Special - IMS Weekend 2023

Sierra Vandervort

Mike Giegerich

Kiran Armanasco

Alexander Dias

Alexander Dias

Alicia Baron