Last month French producer and DJ Sirus Hood delivered a summery mix for Gray Area’s OCHO that brought us to the sunny shores of Ibiza. Recorded during an epic sunset at White Isle institution Bora Bora Beachclub, he blazed through a set that fluidly drifts through classic Chicago, funky tribal, warped tech house, and disco.





Putting his deep knowledge of house music on display has been a hallmark of his style since he burst onto the scene with releases on CUFF and Dirtybird in 2014 and 2016 respectively. At that point he’d been a student of dance music from the age of 10, when he started listening to mixtapes passed down to him from older friends.





Over the years he’s flexed his skills as a producer on many lauded labels including Hot Creations, Cajual, and Sola. However, his more recent project with Manda Moor is where his focus lies these days.



We caught up with Sirus to chat about Mood Child Records, the challenges of producing vinyl, and what’s to come for the Ibiza regular.









You have a new label with Manda Moor. What brought the two of you together for this project and what's different about this project?



That’s right. Actually, this is the first time that I’m talking about our label. The name of the label is Mood Child. After releasing a series of successful edits with Manda Moor, it seemed natural to evolve to original music from us, from the artists that we love, and to start our party [brand]. The whole concept of Mood Child is to have multiple colors, multiple moods, and multiple cultures. We believe in diversity, and this is what we want to share.





Vinyl has consistently been on the uptick for the last several years. What's the thought process behind putting out a limited vinyl release?



During the pandemic, we created a community on Bandcamp of music lovers who supported our limited stuff. We believe in the scarcity, and we are huge vinyl lovers. By definition vinyl is limited so, we decided to launch our best edits on wax for all the DJs who want to play rare edits on 12”.





Where there any challenges you had to overcome when planning on releasing vinyl?



Producing vinyl is very challenging. The vinyl pressing plants are facing material shortages and a higher demand which increases the costs and delays. Some plants are facing a one-year delay. So, the first challenge was to find a plant who offer a shorter delay and the best pressing quality. Then we had— in a very short time— to remaster the 12 tracks for vinyl because mastering for digital releases and vinyl doesn't have the same requirements.



We called Most Wanted Audio who do analog mastering. It’s very challenging because any change means starting from scratch and re-recording second by second. The final result is amazing.



Then we had challenges of the artwork and label stickers with very specific formats. But our friend Sami Galetto created for us a crazy piece of art. Now we are waiting to see the babies (the vinyl copies).





You have a project with DJ Pierre as well, can you tell us about that?



The legendary DJ Pierre (Phuture) who created the acid sound (acid House, acid Techno) in Chicago in 1985 [asked] me to remix the first acid track ever called “Acid Tracks.” It’s a huge honor for me. It’s gonna be released on a very limited vinyl that is available on pre-order on Diggers Factory.







What's it like being asked to remix such a historical piece of dance music culture?



I’m so proud to retouch such a classic piece that served as a foundation of the music that we make and play today. I had the chance to get an original Roland TB-303 to recreate the acid bass parts as the original track, then I added my groove on it. I love how it came out, a very groovy acid techno version. I can’t wait to have the vinyl in hands.





What's coming up for you this summer?



Mainly Ibiza. Manda and I did our first Mood Child party at Hï in the Wild Corner in June and it was one of the few super magic nights that we had in our lives. The feedback was incredible. Fun fact: The same night, Hï Ibiza was announced to be number one club in the world. After this first success, I’m happy to announce the next Mood Child party at Hï on August 23rd.





I’ll also play Paradise Amnesia on August 10th, The Martinez Brothers event on August 30th at Hï, and very nice gigs and festivals in some of my fav countries like Brazil, Italy and France.







Can you talk about your OCHO mix? What's special about the tracklist?



This OCHO is very special because I recorded it during a sunset at Bora Bora Ibiza for their opening party a couple of weeks ago. You can hear in the background the crowd vibing. The track selection is mainly 90s Ibiza magic vibe. I won’t say more ;)

Sirus Hood Talks Remixing Dj Pierre and His New Label with Manda Moor

It’s only been a week since Fred Again.. ’s debut Boiler Room set hit YouTube, yet it’s already reached over one million views, saturated countless social media feeds, and been widely celebrated as a night for the history books.



The London native used decks and controllers in an action-packed show that merged DJing with a live performance. The multi-genre set showcased Fred’s skills as a selector and kept a passionate crowd hovering dangerously close to the decks for over an hour. And even despite dancer-induced technical difficulties and people of Boiler Room rivaling Kaytranada’s much memed set, Fred threw down one for the books.




Particularly big crowd pleasers included an unreleased collaboration with Skrillex and another unreleased track featuring Skrillex, Four Tet, and Flowdan.









Fred Again.. – aka Fred Gibson – started his career after joining an a cappella group at Brian Eno’s studio in London. After impressing Eno with his production skills, Eno decided to mentor Gibson. By 2014, the two collaborated on Eno’s trilogy of albums alongside Underworld’s Karl Hyde.



Initially making a name for himself as a producer of chart-topping pop songs, Gibson later turned his attention toward creating solo material. He describes his music as ‘Actual Life,’ a trademark sound that utilizes vocals sourced from obscure YouTube clips to personal FaceTime conversations, iPhone video footage of half-remembered nights out, and more.



Fred again.. ’s debut solo single, “Kyle (I Found You),” featured a clip of one of his friends singing and arrived in 2019. In 2020, he landed Producer of the Year at the Brit Awards.




Catch Fred Again.. at Flow Festival in Helsinki, Repercussion Festival in Manchester, and CRSSD Festival in San Diego.










Follow Fred Again.. on Tik Tok | Instagram | Soundcloud

Fred Again.. Gains Worldwide Acclaim for Historic Boiler Room Debut

We are reaching the highest point of the summer season, and all the restaurants, pubs, beach venues, and Ibiza's nightclubs are buzzing this month with plenty of activities and parties.




San Ciriaco Festival | Ibiza Town | Monday, August 8

The week begins commemorating Ibiza's town patron saint, San Ciriaco. It is a practice deeply rooted in the Catholic religion to celebrate culture and Christianity, coinciding with the celebration of the Catalan conquest in 1235, the traditional date when troops invaded the island.

During this festival, Ibiza hosts activities designed for all audiences:



10 am: Concert by jazz band Ciutat d'Eivissa Band followed by a procession to the chapel of Sant Ciriac, a holy mass, and traditional dances.




6:30 pm: Free public afternoon snack (berenada) of typical Ibizan products and paella in Puig des Molins—the world's largest and best preserved Phoenician necropolis— accompanied by music and games.




Midnight: Fireworks display from Ibiza's port to culminate the saints' festival. All the venues around Dalt Vila offer special dinner menus to enjoy the show. You can book your table at Casa Maca, Lío Ibiza, Roto, Mikasa, or Zuma, among many others.









Bloop Art Festival | San Jose, Santa Eulalia, San Antonio & Ibiza Town

Bloop International Proactive Art Festival with a mission to gather the most thought-provoking street art from across the world to display on the streets of Ibiza. Their founding tenant is that "Art is for everyone." This week it celebrates its 12th edition with the theme CULMINATION. 


Bloop creates an open-air gallery in and around the streets of San Jose, Santa Eulalia, San Antonio, and Ibiza town. Bloop "invites people to think" with live and digital music events, video performances, street art, murals, photo exhibitions, sculptures, and contemporary art.




The festival takes place from August 4-24. Mexican multidisciplinary artist SPAIK has decorated the walls of La Sirena shopping center in Playa d'en Bossa with sea creatures in vibrant Latino colors. He will be joined by Helder Cavalcante and Ino, who have participated in past editions.




Follow Bloop Festival on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook















UNA | Club Chinois | Tuesday, August 9

Presenting the feminine side of Club Chinois, Swedish Techno superstar and producer Ida Engberg is headlining and curating this Tuesday's party at the newest location at the Marina. Ida is one of the most versatile DJs on the planet, whether playing big room techno at Drumcode or Awakenings or deep house at venues like Club Chinois.




Ida's brand-new residency UNA is a refreshing event that brings the finest electronic music and artists to unite the dancefloor under its motto "we are all one."




Purchase tickets to enjoy Ida's residency at Club Chinois




Follow Ida Engberg on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud





















SASHA + | Cova Santa | Wednesday, August 10

Alexander Paul Coe, better known as Sasha, is a DJ, music producer, and the owner of the label Last Night on Earth. The legendary DJ hosts an exclusive three-date residency at Cova Santa this season. The Welsh DJ carries out two sets on each monthly date (outdoors and indoors) and invites some of his friends and label regulars to play alongside him outdoors till midnight. Then, the party continues indoors until the late hours.




Sasha has remained at the forefront of electronic music for decades, bouncing between music styles but always returning to trance and progressive house. Over the years, he discovered an interest in Chicago house and electro, exploring other genres like breakbeat and ambient. This is the penultimate chance to enjoy an Ibiza veteran dropping his multifaceted music style from 7 pm this Wednesday at this unique outdoor venue!


Get tickets for Sasha + at Cova Santa.


Follow Sasha on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud







Music For Freaks | 528 Garden | Friday, August 12

528, located at Benimussa Park (an old zoo), launched this season in parallel with dinner and theatrical show. The ultimate alfresco experience features guest DJs and parties in the amphitheater. The Music For Freaks record label hosts the event on Friday. Starting at sunset, enjoy quality underground house-inspired sets. Later the party moves inside for an intimate club night. Affani and John Fritz will be dropping house music alongside special guests.




528 Garden is becoming the ideal place to meet, taste signature cocktails, and eat mouthwatering interpretations of fresh local delicacies while dancing. 



Admission is free, and children are permitted but must be accompanied by an adult till midnight. Children will not be allowed inside.


You can get a credit for €50 to spend on food and drinks and secure a table. Please note that this ticket does not give you access to 528 Show and dinner. Check different options here.


Sign up for the guestlist to enjoy MFF at 528 Garden.



Follow Music For Freaks on Twitter| Instagram | SoundCloud


















El Fabuloso Pool Party | Cova Santa | Saturday, August 13

El Fabuloso was born as a bar located in Madrid owned by Spanish singer, actress, and businesswoman Silvia Superstar. Ten years ago, Silvia decided to bring the concept to the island since El Fabuloso has become one of the most popular events among islanders.




Host DJs Sílvia Superstar and Edu Por Las Noches music style goes through rock, disco, '80s, funk, soul, and indie music. Carlos Areces, Alex de Lucas, Amanda Portillo, Lola Von Dage, Giorgio Bonetti & Fat Gordon, Mr Piro and Simone will also perform. A Hawaiian tropical style and the best atmosphere are the core of the El Fabuloso Pool Party, and Cova Santa is the greatest venue for it!




Get your tickets for El Fabuloso Pool Party at Cova Santa.




Follow El Fabuloso on Instagram | Facebook

Ibiza Selects (August 8-14)

Anna Lunoe has been a mover and shaker in dance music since her earliest days in the Australian music scene. She began her music career as host of a dance show at FBi RADIO, an independent youth broadcaster in Sydney. She later became the first woman commissioned for a mix with Ministry of Sound Australia, where she produced three compilations, all of which went gold in Australia and topped the Beatport Indie Dance Compilation chart. Anna proved she was here to stay shortly after relocating to Los Angeles in 2012 and releasing her debut EP, Anna Lunoe & Friends.



Anna hasn’t looked back since the release of that chart-topping debut. She’s gone on to be one of dance music’s most prominent voices, performing worldwide and collaborating with a who’s who of international artists. Last week, Anna added another offering to her list of releases with the drop of her new EP, Saturday Love, where she teamed up with past collaborator, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs on stand out track “Peach Fuzz.”



“Peach Fuzz” finds its footing with a haunting array of distant synths and vocals. The atmospheric bliss we first experience is whisked into high gear at the flick of the wrist as a wall of buoyant subs and rolling bass crank the tempo and the energy into the upper echelons of bass house heaven.



Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs is one of dance music’s most explorative producers, and his knack for forward-thinking sound design is perfectly in sync with Anna’s masterful energy manipulation. This fifth and final track from the Saturday Love EP listeners off with a level head and a post-listening glow that is just so right.



Follow Anna Lunoe on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Follow Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Slip Into Bass House Bliss With Anna Lunoe’s “Peach Fuzz”

Fuelled by support and encouragement from friends, family, and a sense of altruism, many dance artists contribute their time and energy toward philanthropic endeavors. Whether through volunteer work, scholarships, educational programming, or advocating for important issues like suicide prevention and mental health, many of your favorite artists are championing efforts for good across their communities and abroad.




Here are ten artists lending their efforts and wallets to noble causes when they’re not in the studio producing music or commandeering the decks at the club.




1. Ida Engberg and Adam Beyer



Techno, a genre notorious for its hedonistic sounds and stoic noir-clad DJs, isn’t often associated with philanthropy. However, one techno heavyweight who isn’t showy about her philanthropic work is setting out to make this world better with her partner. Since 2019, Swedish DJ Ida Engberg, along with her husband, Drumcode founder Adam Beyer, has headed Drumcode Festival in its efforts to raise money for an environmental cause close to their hearts. The event doubled as a joint Greenpeace project, with funds raised at the festival going directly to Amazon Watch—a nonprofit whose work supports indigenous Amazonians and the rainforest they call home.




2. Avicii



Though he is physically gone, Tim Bergling, aka Avicii’s legacy, lives on through the Tim Bergling Foundation and its charity work. Since his early days of notoriety, Tim’s altruistic nature led him to raise funds for food security in cities across the US. After his sudden death, his family vowed to continue the artist’s philanthropic work by launching the aptly named foundation, which continues to advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention and, most recently, raising awareness to the climate crisis and other environmental issues.




3. LP Giobbi & Lauren Spalding



The Femme House founder has made it her life’s mission to make the world of electronic dance music a more equitable place for women and LGBTQ+ artists to grow and thrive in. LP Giobbi and Lauren Spalding founded the Femme House nonprofit organization in 2019, vowing to “create safe spaces to learn, and always keep marginalized communities first and foremost in our minds,” she explained in an Instagram post announcing new programming aimed at creating new pathways for LGBTQIA+ artists. Through the new Theresa Velasquez Memorial Scholarship honoring DJ and Live Nation executive Theresa Velasquez, LP Giobbi will donate a portion of her booking fee for every LGBTQIA+ centered event she plays.






4. Shimza



South African DJ-producer Shimza’s penchant for philanthropy began at an early age. Today, the award-winning Tembisa-born artist has turned his large-scale philanthropic fundraising event into an annual event. Shimza’s One Man Show is an immense outdoor party in the DJ’s hometown in South Africa and often features the latest and greatest names in dance music. Proceeds from the charitable showcase benefit the town’s underprivileged children and drive job creation.




5. Alok



Brazilian dance music artist Alok is one artist looking to give back tremendously. The producer recently founded the Instituto Alok to combat poverty and other issues in his home country, Africa and India. Alok initially kicked off the initiative with a whopping $5.2 million donation from his wallet. Since its founding in 2020, the foundation has focused on food security, entrepreneurship, and human development.




6. DJ Bone & Ahnne Dulan



World-renowned Detroit artist DJ Bone officially began his philanthropic project in the early 2000s with support and encouragement from his wife, Ahnne Dulan. Together, they run the Homeless Homie charity organization, raising money for local homeless shelters. After years of charitable work, the nonprofit finally caught traction in 2018, as the philanthropic pair raised funds and collected toiletries for local shelters during the Christmas season. In years since, the Homeless Homies initiative has developed into a large-scale music event in Detroit and several other cities, with their biggest iterations happening at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in 2019 and 2021.




7. Porter Robinson



After his younger sibling was diagnosed with a rare iteration of lymphoma, indie-electronic dance artist Porter Robinson founded the Robinson Malawi Fund to raise funds and awareness for the cancer most prominently found in Malawi, Africa. The artist continues to donate proceeds from his Second Sky Festival, now in its third iteration. At the festival’s inaugural event, the dance music producer raised around $150,000. Today, Robinson’s fund continues to raise money for research and directly provides resources for children suffering from the rare form of cancer.

7 Dance Music Artists Using their Platform for Philanthropy

Defected Croatia has chartered a creative path all its own along the Adriatic Coast. Returning for its sixth year this August, the festival brings together more than 100 artists and 5,000 festivalgoers for a self-described “six days and seven nights of house hedonism” from the world’s largest house label.



Featuring Honey Dijon, Vintage Culture, Harry Romero, Gorgon City, Danny Tenaglia, and more Defected has paved the way for an influx of music festivals hosted in Croatia in recent years. But it still has some fresh tricks up its sleeve for this year’s go-round. In 2022, Defected has curated several unique experiences and stages throughout the weeklong festival in Tisno. 

Here are six things that house heads can expect from Defected Croatia this year.



Defected x Detroit Motor City Takeover

Likely the festival’s flashiest new feature, Carl Craig’s Detroit Love will be hosting Defected Croatia's first-ever day-and-night takeover of the iconic Barbarellas Discotheque in Pirovac, a short drive from the festival’s main site at the Garden Resort.

On Saturday, Barbarellas, which regularly functions as the after-hours, will host a curated lineup of DJs and artists from the Motor City, including Moodyman, Ash Lauryn, Octave One, DJ Holographic, Rimarkable, and a live performance by vocal trio Dames Brown, whose groovy hit “What Would You Do?” is currently rocketing through the house and disco charts.







Glitterbox x House of Yes Will Finish Out the Festival

This year, the Big Apple has planted a firm stake in Croatia. New York’s quintessential club-meets-aerial-performance venue, House of Yes, is teaming up with one of the largest disco-exclusive labels in world, Glitterbox, for what’s sure to be a soulful, psychedelic, and glitter-fueled final night on Defected's Beach Stage. The lineup includes New York disco and house icons Louie Vega and Jellybean Benitez alongside up-and-coming talent Anna Collecta (founder of Brooklyn's wildly popular Hot Honey Sundays) and returning artists Natasha Diggs and Jayda G.







Defected’s "Unsung Heroes” Takeover Tisno

In February, Defected announced its inaugural Unsung Heroes competition, supported by Pioneer, offering up-and-coming DJs around the world a chance to become the label's newest residents for 2022. Entrants were asked to submit a 60-minute mix showcasing their ability to warm up a crowd in addition to a recommendation from a club owner, promoter, or established DJ. The judging panel, which included Roger Sanchez, Sef Kombo, Melvo Baptiste, Sam Divine, and others—selected seven rising stars who will play several sets throughout the week in Tisno. 



Winners include LA-based underground house DJ and producer Juliet Mendoza, London-based radio host Melle Brown, and eclectic house DJ Rio Tashan, who, together, will spin at a 3-hour boat party on the festival’s final day.







Brazil Boat Party Takeover

Throughout the week, Defected holds a series of separately ticketed boat parties chartered along the Croatian coast. These parties foster a more intimate experience, allowing fans to commune with some of the festival’s biggest names as well as up-and-coming artists. Announced just weeks ago, the first-ever Brazil Takeover Boat Party will feature the internationally acclaimed Vintage Culture, who is making his Defected Croatia debut this year. Best known for his tech house vocal hits “You Give Me a Feeling” (in collaboration with James Hype) and “Slow Down” (featuring British vocalist Jorja Smith), the artist will team up with fellow Brazilians Doozie and Aline Rocha (another winner of the Unsung Heroes contest) for the sunset party.





Defected x The Remedy Project



In 2021, the face of Glitterbox and dance music tastemaker Melvo Baptiste launched his label The Remedy Project with the mission to further elevate and showcase rising stars in the funk, disco, house, and dance music world. Since, the London-based imprint has released several acclaimed singles, including “Hot Flavor" and “Balance” by the Atlanta-based vocalist Hadiya George, known for her features on tracks by Honey Dijon and Horse Meat Disco. This year, The Remedy Project will host a party at the resort's Olive Grove stage, featuring a DJ set from lo-fi band Girls of the Internet.







PIV Records Takeover

PIV Records was founded in 2015 with a “soft spot” for house music built upon the foundation of its Chicago and New York roots. The imprint, founded by Dutch DJ and producer Prunk, organizes events in the vibrant nightlife scene of Amsterdam. This year, PIV will host a 12-hour takeover at the Olive Grove stage, featuring Prunk alongside German funk and soul DJ, DJOKO, and S.A.M., whose acclaimed cover of Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight” with British vocalist Sarah Ikumu has been one of Defected’s biggest hits of the year.

Six New Stages & Surprises at Defected Croatia 2022

Since its inception in 2015, PIV Records has worked hard to honor and pay homage to the classic era of house music through their releases. Their hope is to have blended releases, ranging from all subgenres of house, such as tech, minimal, deep, and beyond. The brainchild of Prunk, a prolific Dutch producer and DJ, PIV Records strives to expand on the musical groundwork laid out through the 80s and 90s.




Coming out of Amsterdam, PIV Records is known for pushing the musical envelope and producing authentic club music. The label’s residents and staff are a cultural melting pot, so it’s no surprise that inclusivity is essential to the ethos of PIV. How important is it? Well, the acronym PIV stands for People Invited and is VIP spelled backward.




Inclusivity also spreads past their label, as PIV isn’t just about releasing music. PIV also hosts its own festival, is a staple of club nights in Ibiza, and they’ve curated stage takeovers for the likes of Tomorrowland. In addition, Their merchandise stretches beyond T-shirts and dad hats into sample packs to help spread their sound to the next generation of producers. There’s even a PIV Records Limited series that features music perfect for the dancefloor and just a tad groovier than what the OG label releases.




PIV Records has grown to be a formidable force in house music. To familiarize you with the label, we’ve picked ten PIV releases you should know. Check them out below.




Follow PIV Records on Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud | Youtube




S.A.M - Fury’s Laughter

We had to open this list by mentioning the track that put this label on the map, S.A.M’s “Fury’s Laughter.” This warm, deep house track is a tasteful take on the genre, featuring a familiar and infectious melody and timeless synth. All that coupled together make this an influential club hit. This was PIV’s first number one on Beatport and their best-selling tune for a hot minute. An essential slive of PIV history, it’s full of summertime vibes and made for the dancefloor, so when this track plays, be prepared to dance.

Follow S.A.M on Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud




Kreature & Kellie Allen - Geeta

As part of their fifth-anniversary celebration, Kellie Allen wrote “Geeta” with Kreature. Allen is a DJ, producer, and musician originally from London and now residing in Ibiza, and her songs reflect that. Take this one, for example. It’s minimal yet soulful. It’s stripped down and raw, but it’s deep and funky as all hell. The picture-perfect pairing between Kellie and Kreature resulted in one hell of a tech banger, well matched for a compilation celebrating the cultural legacy of house and tech music.

Follow Kellie Allen on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

Follow Kreature on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter




Prunk & Chris Stussy - Tunnelvision


This list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the first collaborative EP by Prunk and Chris Stussy, the two behind the label PIV. Part of their collaborative EP Brooklyn Tears, it features an unmistakable bassline coupled with silky vocals, creating the ideal dancefloor banger that’s full of soul. While it is a forward-thinking deep house tune, it remains reminiscent of the beloved era of 90s house—perfectly in line with PIV’s mission.

Follow Prunk on Facebook | Instagram |SoundCloud

Follow Chris Stussy on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok




DJOKO - PIV Samples 001 

In 2020, PIV launched their sample pack series, and the first release came from Cologne-based producer DJOKO. One of the most adored artists of the label, DJOKO, is known for his exceptional production and bold, progressive music. This pack contains all you need to begin creating and producing tracks, from sultry grooves to shuffling loops and special FX, all recorded in the highest quality to preserve the analog sound. If you’re a producer, this one is a must-have.



Follow DJOKO on Facebook| Instagram | Twitter




Lauren Lo Sung - Loquacious

Liverpool-based DJ and producer Lauren Lo Sung brings the fire with her release, “Loquacious.” Translating to “excessively talkative,” this track is anything but excessive. Instead, it features just the right amount of vocals and gets you moving and grooving. “Loquacious” was released as part of a compilation that completed a trilogy of PIV’s annual October sampler for ADE and, with its minimalist, deep tech sounds, truly shows what the label is all about.



Follow Lauren Lo Sung on Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | TikTok




Ruze - Chapters

British house duo Ruze’s debut release on PIV was their four-track EP, Chapters. Each track deserves a spot on this list, but according to the duo “Chapters,” was the most impactful. It was the first track they created, and they delved into deep house for this one. It overflows with bass and memorable vocals. Whether in the club or driving to it, “Chapters” sets the mood.



Follow Ruze on Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | TikTok




Iris Menza - Trip Talk

Belgian DJ Iris Menza is next up with her PIV Spring Sampler release, “Trip Talk.” Menza’s had a steady rise, picking up DJing rather quickly and making a name for herself by bringing a fresh take to deep house. Though minimal, the track is joyful, sophisticated, and brilliantly groovy—a running theme with Menza’s music. Even though “Trip Talk” doesn’t have words, you can still feel the deep emotion resonating throughout.

Follow Iris Menza on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter




M-High - Tomorrow is Another Day

M-High is the A&R for PIV, and he’s also one of their rising stars. “Tomorrow is Another Day” is a bouncy track reminiscent of the 90s sound with bright, sunny, soulful vocals and a jazzy synth improv section that leads into a summery piano hook. This track seems to be a fan favorite, but it’s also M-High’s favorite of the EP.

Follow M-High on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter




Robbie Doherty - Moving Rhythms

The next release comes from Ireland’s trailblazing DJ, Robbie Doherty. In 2021, Doherty released his debut EP, Moving Rhythms on PIV, featuring three original tracks and remixes from another heavy hitter, Max Chapman. The titular track is the perfect summer jam, with a catchy groove full of all the deep house vibes.

Follow Robbie Doherty on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter




Jamback - Roaring 20's

Holland DJ Jamback draws inspiration from the Prohibition era and Harlem Renaissance in his recent EP, Roaring 20s. He continues the PIV tradition of pulling on the threads of classic 90s sounds on its lead track. Jamback expertly adds funky basslines and a scintillating piano to heat up the dance. This song has a warm, deepness like reminiscing with an old friend. Give it a spin and soak in the waves of nostalgia.

Follow Jamback on Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud




Artmann - Enter the Wave

The 44th release on PIV is Enter the Wave and comes from Dutch/Indonesian artist Artmann. Entirely representative of the new talent coming from this label, “Enter the Wave,” is warm, bass-heavy, and has a melody you’ll never forget. Artmann grew up around one of the dance meccas of the world, Amsterdam, and this song is indicative of that.

Follow Artman on Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud

10 Tracks From PIV You Should Know

We love finding a fresh new banger. We especially love discovering a fresh new artist behind that banger. This week’s Track Of The Week, “Boom Beat Heart Box,” is a head-spinning tech house cut from up-and-coming producer, Kidd Mike. The UK-based producer first emerged onto the scene in 2009 under the alias, Stealth Labs, but retired in 2013 to focus on fatherhood. Seven years later, the South African artist began pouring himself back into his passion during the Covid-19 lockdown, and the Kidd Mike project was formed.

While the project is still in its growth stages, Mike undoubtedly demonstrates the power of quality over quantity. “Boom Beat Heart Box” is not only a Dirtybird debut, it’s served as a secret weapon of label head, Claude VonStroke’s, Your Dad Plays Great Music Tour. Press play and it’s easy to see why.



This track is deep. This track is weird. This track is filthy. And we absolutely love it. The thumping kicks set a buoyant tone to match the tight claps and razor-sharp kit. The distorted vocal entrances listeners, otherworldly fills spiraling in the background, while the rolling bass line and unwavering beat serve as our only tethers to this reality. You may feel inspired to dance. You may feel inspired to chant. We encourage you to do both.



Follow Kidd Mike on Instagram | Soundcloud.

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Kidd Mike Makes a Dizzying Dirtybird Debut with 'Boom Beat Heart Box'

KiNK fired up the debut edition of Stone Techno Festival with over two hours of texturally rich, varied, and rocket-fuelled house and techno. Taking place at UNESCO World Heritage site Zeche Zollverein – a massive former industrial site and coal mine in Western Germany – Stone Techno also featured the likes of Dax J, Ellen Allien, D. Dan, and more.

Hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, KiNK brought his characteristically interactive live performance to the festival. Amongst his dizzying array of live equipment is a remote that he swings through the air and occasionally hands over to members of the crowd. With each swoop, a percussive sample is released through the speakers, bringing an explosive level of energy.



According to KiNK, it was one the most challenging sets he’d ever played, as the strong sunlight made it impossible for him to read his gear. Nevertheless, the incredible vibe and electric atmosphere never dipped.







KiNK ascended the ladder of the music industry without a support network, campaign, or any media hype, but through his music alone – both live and in the studio. He first gained recognition in 2008 with his collaborative releases alongside Neville Watson on Amsterdam’s Rush Hour imprint. Later, an unassuming video of KiNK tweaking a drum machine at home led him to a slot at Berlin’s iconic Panorama Bar, which was followed by years of global touring.





Catch KiNK at a torrent of upcoming festivals and clubs this year, including Sonus Festival in Croatia, and Contours Festival in Paris.



Follow KiNK on Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud

KiNK Breaches the Gap Between Audience and Performer in Stone Techno Festival Debut

Temperatures are rising for what’s typically the hottest month in Ibiza when we like to spend most of our time outside chilling out by the pool or close to the sea breeze—preferably while listening to music and surrounded by happy vibes! And when the night falls, we kick off August with a wide selection of parties to add to your Ibiza calendar.




Desvarian Pool Sessions | Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza | Tuesday, August 2

The best solution to beat the heat takes place every Tuesday at the Platja D’En Bossa Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. A stylish pool party starring local DJs alongside producer B Jones (née Beatriz Martinez), the first Spanish woman with the rare distinction of performing twice on the central stage at Tomorrowland 2022. B Jones brings her ComeCloser brand and tech house label poolside with two different guests each week. Resident DJs Sita and Hady are paired with some live performances from 3:30 to 8 p.m.

The large freshwater pool at Hard Rock Hotel includes underwater sunbeds from where you can order premium drinks and cocktails. Put on your best swimwear and refresh until sunset! Purchase your ticket or book a Balinese bed for Desvarian at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Follow B Jones on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud















Exhale by Amelie Lens Opening Party | DC10 | Wednesday, August 3

Belgium techno prodigy Amelie Lens holds a mini-residency at DC10 every Wednesday in August. It’s the first time that Lens has brought her label and party-series brand to the White Island. EXHALE will feature familiar faces from the scene and burgeoning techno talent. The legendary techno god, Richie Hawtin, has praised Lens’ music as “A mix of old and new strong techno records, tough but not hard, fast and throbbing, hypnotic and energized.” While DJing was always her first love, she combined modeling with DJing and production for many years, creating soundtracks for fashion shows during her musical beginnings. Currently, Lens is fully focused on her music career with obsessive attention to detail, thanks to being a self-confessed “control freak,” and is ready to drop strong and acid techno sounds when her contagious energy infects the dancefloor this Wednesday at the EXHALE opening event! Get your tickets for the EXHALE opening party at DC10 this Wednesday.




Follow Amelie Lens on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud





















The Zoo Project presents Panther | Bora Bora | Thursday, August 4

The Zoo Project was born in Ibiza more than 15 years ago. It became a hugely successful party made for the local Ibiza industry, originating at Benimussa Park (transformed into 528 Ibiza in 2021), located five minutes from Sant Antoni. Hels in an abandoned zoo, dancers and performers, adorned in animal suits create a wild open-air festival atmosphere paired with legit underground music. The 2022 incarnation of the Zoo Project began the season with a new version as a pool party at Ibiza Rocks with “Goes Bananas.” It’s just moved beachside to the legendary Bora Bora with an animal theme of “Panther.” The party begins in the afternoon under the palm trees at the beach club. From 6 p.m. until late, the screens go up, the volume increases, and all the panthers meet on the dancefloor! The beloved party channels a broad spectrum of worldwide sounds ranging from afro to groovy tech house and beyond. Join The Zoo madness this Thursday at the beach! Early bird tickets are available for The Zoo Project this Thursday.




Follow The Zoo Project on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook















Pikes Presents Fatboy Slim | Pikes | Thursday, August 4

The famed hotel near San Antonio hosts an in-house trio of events called Pikes Presents this August. Like other summers, the one and only Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, offers a one-off show at Freddies and the Sunset Terrace this Thursday from 10 p.m. 




The iconic British DJ and producer will kick off the special Pikes series delivering his addictive and diverse sound for this intimate gathering. The “Praise, You” producer is known to bring the most incredible energy to the decks. This event usually sells out fast. However, you have another chance to catch Norman’s energetic show this week during the day (read below). Register for the guestlist to Pikes Presents Fatboy Slim.




Follow Fatboy Slim on Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud















Sven Väth Catharsis| Las Dalias | Thursday, August 4

With the release of his first solo album in almost 20 years, German techno maestro Sven Väth has carefully selected some Ibiza venues to present Catharsis in the form of an extended, intimate set. The Catharsis party is a unique musical journey from the founder of Cocoon. Papa Sven arrives this Thursday for the first time to the iconic Garden of Las Dalias from sunset at 8 p.m. in the renovated indoor space called Akasha. It’ll be an exclusive show all night long by one of the most recognized artists on the scene, surrounded by the beauty of San Carlos. No presale—tickets are available at the door only!




Follow Sven Väth on Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud












Flower Power | Cova Santa | Saturday, August 6

The most authentic party on the island lands in Cova Santa for the first time, with a show full of color, fantasy, and great anthems from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s as the soundtrack. Taking care of the tunes will be Ibiza’s legendary DJ Victor Nebot and Ibiza resident DJs kicking off the open-air party at 7 p.m.




Flower Power is the longest-running party on the island. It celebrates four immersive shows this summer with its distinguished decor in the beautiful Ibiza countryside around the famous ancient cave. It’s an ideal setting to take a trip back to the glorious years when parties were explosions of freedom, peace, and happiness—you shouldn’t miss this on Saturday!

Buy tickets to the open-air hippy happiest party on the island this Saturday.




Follow Cova Santa on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

PIC/ARTWORK














Fatboy Slim | Ibiza Rocks Hotel | Sunday, August 7

Ibiza Rocks Hotel has been home to many emblematic parties around its poolside. Norman Cook, better known to ravers as Fatboy Slim, has played host to myriad performances at the Sant Antonio venue, thus becoming a tradition over the summers, where he rocks his high-energy daytime sets while soaking up the sun. Expect his legendary hits and remixes along with some of the hottest dance tracks. Fatboy Slim never fails, so if you feel like dancing with your body deep in the water, head to his exclusive pool party at Ibiza Rocks this Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m.

Check for tickets and VIP options to enjoy Fatboy Slim’s exclusive pool party.




PIC/ARTWORK




Follow Fatboy Slim on Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud

Ibiza Selects (August 1– August 7)

House music is in the middle of a mainstream moment again with the recent release of Drake’s latest studio album, Honestly Nevermind, and Beyonce’s lead single, “Break My Soul.” from her forthcoming Renaissance Act I. The somewhat unexpected foray into house music by these big acts has renewed conversations about the genre’s place in and impact on popular culture.




House is first and foremost Black music. Black queer music, to be even more precise. The genre’s origin story is multi-layered and connects the east coast, midwest, and deep south of the United States with the Caribbean and continental Africa through a story of physical and sonic movement.




Bubbling up in early 80’s Chicago in the wake of disco’s decline and the AIDS crisis, the music and the spaces it created often became sanctuaries for those who society had decided to turn their back on. House music was popularized by such early figures as Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Mr. Lee, Chip E Farley, JM Silk, Marshall Jefferson, Larry Levan, and Larry Heard, aka “Mr. Fingers.”




Often utilizing the Roland TR-808 and the TR-909, early “house music” was so called as it referred to “The Warehouse” nightclub in Chicago’s South Side run by Knuckles. House music allowed producers to create its rhythms without access to a traditional recording studio.







House as a music subculture is mother to a myriad of subgenres of style within it. Often a reflection of their geography (for example, UK garage), Afro house finds its stylistic distinction rooted in the land and histories of continental Africa. The genre finds its beginnings in South African cities such as Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Soweto, combining elements of traditional sounds, deep house, and kwaito.









Kwaito is a genre of music developed in nineties South Africa, which blends house with African sounds and samples. Early style of kwaito, which combines everything from bubblegum disco tracks to traditional praise poetry, is usually played at a slower tempo than traditional house. The term developed from the vernacular of the townships where Afrikaans words weave into the Iscamtho township vocabulary, “kwaai” in Afrikaans means hot, angry.






In 1994 the South African system of apartheid ended with the African National Congress taking power under the leadership of the recently released Nelson Mandela. While its rhythms and lyrics may not be overtly political, Afro house’s development in post-apartheid South Africa spoke to the desire for release and freedom.









While utilizing the traditional tempo of house music, Afro house compositions and sets often take on a narrative quality. Listeners and dancers are taken on a journey from the primordial to the present and into the future. As a result, the music crescendos and abates, often played at a faster tempo (roughly 145-165 bpm) than the deep house and soulful house (roughly 120-130 bpm) that it incorporates into its distinctive sound. This uptick in tempo is especially present in Portuguese Afro house, for example, DJ Firmeza’s “Angola Rijo Na Terra PDDG” or DJ Tatz Bless’s 2018 “Club Controller” mixtape.









Kuduro, an uptempo genre combining electronic sounds with traditional Angolan rhythms, along with Kwaito, influenced the sound and dance culture of Angolan Afro house, which weaves in the local languages of Calão (Angolan Portuguese) and Lingala from the Democratic Republic of Congo.




Afro house has distinctive styles, with some music preferencing traditional tribal sounds and incorporating afrobeat while others incorporate more deep house, Chicago, and New York soulful house to create an even more hybrid sound.




Youth culture in European cities, like Lisbon, where there is a sizeable Angolan diaspora, have contributed to Afro house’s rich sonic palate.




Kuduro, widely popular in Portugal, is an integral component, but the Afro Portuguese style also includes batida, kizomba, funaná, house, afro house, and tarraxinha, genres mostly but not only rooted in Angola, Cape Verde, and São Tomé E Príncipe.









DJ’s Do Guetto Vol.1, released in 2006, is considered a landmark of the genre, with current acts like DJ Firmeza and DJ Liofox paying frequent homage. The unique culture of Afro-Portuguese Afro house developed amid Portugal’s discriminatory urban planning. With most of its African-born or descended residents living outside city limits, economic isolation imposed both hardship and an artistic distance that ironically provided space for musicians to create something entirely their own.









Musicians in the United States have also had a hand in shaping the sound of Afro house. Figures like Joe Causell and Ron Trent have worked the polyrhythms of African sound into their compositions since the mid-eighties. Claussell and Trent’s signature production styles combining electronic effects, live instrumentation, and Caribbean and African-influenced percussion are heard on tracks like “All Loved Out” and “Pop, Dip,” and Spin.”









Afro House’s landscape of influence continues to expand as its sound interacts with the diasporas in the States and the Caribbean. Unique places of reach for the genre are cities in the south, such as New Orleans, where a diverse house scene thrives among the city’s more well-known offerings. Collectives like Ascendance, Idapo, and Set de Flo, led by DJs Chinua, Funke, and Lil Jodeci, respectively, provide space for a community of listeners and musicians to grow.









Afro House has already produced offshoots such as amapiano emanating from South Africa and gaining worldwide popularity. Amapiano blends a slowed, Deep house with jazz, lounge sounds, synths, and percussive basslines.














South Africa’s most well-known Afro House musician, Black Coffee, released his self-titled debut album in 2005. He has become prominent among Afro house producers, including producing several tracks and executive producing on Honestly Nevermind.




The genre only continues to become more popular, raising concerns about appropriation and the potential whitewashing of its history as more people become a part of its listenership and bigger entities look to participate in Afro house. As such, the community built around the creation and appreciation for the roots of Afro house and house music will become an essential part of preserving the culture and continuing to push it forward into the future.

How South Africa Created the Blueprint for Afro House

Anna Lunoe warmly greets me via Zoom, even introducing me to her family in her cheerful Australian lilt as we set up to dig into her upcoming EP, Saturday Love. Lunoe radiates energy that’s as gentle as it is powerful, exuding a calm grace that stands in contrast to the high-intensity club tracks she’s known worldwide for.



Re-writing the rules of the game comes naturally to Lunoe, who first broke into the mainstream with her 2012 EP Anna Lunoe & Friends. A legendary multi-hyphenate of dance music, Lunoe is a songwriter, producer, vocalist, touring DJ, Apple Music radio show host, podcast creator, and mother of two children, who feature on her latest single, “Alright.”






After facing the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, dual lockdowns following her relocation back to Australia, and a cautious uncertainty surrounding live events, Lunoe’s new music is a love letter to past and present selves changed by following life’s unknowable path. Despite adversity, Lunoe muses that “all roads, all the emotions lead back to being able to dance through them.”




Saturday Love releases on July 29th via NLV Records.


Follow Anna Lunoe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tik Tok | Soundcloud | Youtube




With a new EP coming, and a brand-new banger out now, tell me about the writing process—the EP came together over the last few months, right?

It happened in a few different stages. The oldest one is "Saturday Love," the title track. I started that in 2015. "Peach Fuzz" was started in 2016. Those two songs have been on my laptop, waiting for me to work out what to do with them, but I loved them. Every year or so, I check in on them. I have a stack more [songs] sitting on my laptop that I think are special. There's something I want to pursue about them.





Do you feel like you learn different things when you come back from a song that's seven years old? How do you determine when you're ready to do what?

When I wrote "Saturday Love," the other songs I wrote that year were "Stomper" and "Radioactive," which are quite different from that. "Saturday Love" was really emotional and really rolling. It had the same sort of walking bassline, which wasn't a straight four-four beat. It was a bit more convoluted. The sincerity of the vocal wasn't really where I was at with the vocals I was putting out. There were a few elements that didn't fit the story of where I was at.

I go through stages where I'm more into this sound then more into that sound, especially when it comes to club music. It's just like fashion. You look in your wardrobe, and suddenly an old sweater that you never used to wear, that you haven't worn for five years, looks fresh again. It's the same thing with a song.




I love the sample of your son on "Alright." It's such a fun, personal touch.

[laughs] He really did enjoy it. I started it on a Friday. It was literally the week before we were turning in the EP, and I was playing with this song that I had, and I decided to delete 90% of it and make a really directional club banger out of some of the sounds I had. I played it for the kids before bed, and I've got this video of them jumping on the bed, screaming, and enjoying it. The next day, I had a sample in there, and the sample was sounding pretty boring, so I was like, "What can I do instead of a sample?"


The next day, it was a Saturday, and I get a little break when the kids have a nap in the middle of the day. I started fiddling with this song, and Rocky woke up early and came downstairs. I was like, "okay, Rocky, you say it!" I got him to record some stuff, and it sounded fun, and then Willa woke up, and I tried recording the two of them and just played with the vocals to see if it sounded good. I ended up stacking most of our vocals together for the most part, so it's me and both the kids.







Let's talk about the artwork. I love the neon, 90s, and 2000s rave vibe to it.

Well, I worked with an artist called Adam Dal Pozzo, who is an Australian designer and is very accomplished. Really incredible at what he does. We came up with this mood board of concepts. I selected all these images, and then we came up with this palette of what I like, which was interesting for someone to analyze what you like. It was like, "okay, you like blur mixed with sharp edges," and I realized that's exactly like my music. I like blurry big bass mixed with the sharp edges of the perc. It was quite cool to analyze what I like visually and see how it mirrors what I like sonically. Each song is like a spirit wave, a sine wave.


Each song has this energy, this color palette, and this texture and font. So each individual artwork is like a burst of that spirit. The main artwork for the EP is all those spirits weaving in together.







You mentioned that you're working on more environmental approaches to your merch for this EP. What's inspired you to pursue this model now?




If you've been following me online for the last few years, you've seen me get progressively more vocal about environmental issues and the actions that I'm taking. Before the pandemic, I was really passionate about a lot of things with the environment but wasn't living in line with a lot of those passions just by pure necessity. I was so busy that I wasn't even able to give it the headspace it needed to unpack. In the same way that breaking everything gives us a chance to rebuild it when I broke my life apart, it gave me a chance to rebuild it more in line with how I feel about my energy provider, my bank, and the way that I cook and find food, the way that I buy food, where I buy my food, what it's packaged in. I was very mindful of how I put my life back together.




When it came to re-doing my merch game, I absolutely didn't want to do what I was doing before. One t-shirt requires two years' worth of drinking water. We have to be mindful that the things we make have a cost.




I wanted to do vinyl, but I didn't want to do it if it was going to put a lot of waste in the atmosphere. It was really important to me to find a provider that was using recycled materials. We found a great provider in Canada. We actually found a few, and I would encourage any artist who wants to do it this way to reach out, and I'll give you information. We found a t-shirt provider who's using recycled jerseys and not using heaps of dyes and chemicals that wash into our water. [They also use] a closed loop production system, which is where everything is re-used.



You do so many different creative things. I love that you're like everywhere, and you do everything well. How do you recharge yourself in between all these creative projects?




It's funny that you think that I'm everywhere because I feel like I'm pretty selective with what I do now. I feel like I say no to a lot. I have very strong limitations. Over time, I've learned where the boundaries are of what I can commit to, and I give myself very strict deadlines to do things. I do my best to do them to the best of my abilities to a certain point, and then I promise myself to let them go.




Before I had kids, and before I had the responsibilities and restrictions that I have now, that [lack of limitations] was not my friend. I wasn't as productive because I didn't have those deadlines. So I think that the less time you have, the more time you use.







When you're not creating, what do you do to rebalance?

I go for a walk. I have a bath. I cook food. I go to the farmer's market, buy heaps of vegetables or food, and cook soups. I just try to nourish and calm everyone down. It's very boring, but it's what I have to do to keep it all even.





Was it emotional to be back in the clubs on your tour earlier this year?




It was very emotional for me to be back in the clubs, especially in America. I walked away from my home, not knowing what was going to happen. When I went back, I didn't know what I was going to see. I didn't know if I was going to have people that wanted to see me play anymore. So to go back and feel the love, and feel [that] the connection was still so strong, was very emotional for me. I felt like a part of my heart belongs there and is just at home there.




I've spoken to a lot of artists too on my radio show about how they felt, and I think a lot of people did what I did. They just wanted to connect with their more emotional songs as well. They had time to dig into these songs that had more emotion because they were in a place of flux and uncertainty. Some of us made songs that are really chill and not for the club at all, which is beautiful, but somehow in the journey of the two years that I fiddled with these songs—I took breaks on them and did the podcast and stuff, but they all ended up coming to the club on that journey, so that was cool too. I gave them the chance to be total weirdo, not-club songs but they sort of all ended up coming back to the club.




All roads lead back to the dancefloor. That's the new slogan.




All roads, all the joy leads back—all the emotion leads back to being able to dance through them.

[Interview] Anna Lunoe Dances Through Her Emotions with the 'Saturday Love' EP

Throughout the planet's history, people have found the ocean inspiring, wondrous, and fascinating. Being what it is—an ecosystem that humans have explored less than the surface of the moon, is filled with millions of creatures, and supports all life on Earth—anyone could claim tertiary relationships like fascination, wonder, or inspiration. Such is not the case for Nora En Pure. The ocean is a part of her. It’s her deeper purpose. It inhabits her mind, her soul, and her dreams.




“I am not sure why, but I dream of the ocean, of dolphins and whales almost every week and those dreams feel very real. So something definitely got stuck in my mind or my soul,” says Nora En Pure (née Daniela Di Lillo) in answers provided over email.




From Di Lillo’s original music to her DJ sets, her label Purified Records, and most directly, her oceanic conservation efforts, that emotional connection has fueled her career.




Di Lillo is an ambassador for Only One, a global conservation platform that provides education and strategies that encourage conservation. And since 2020, she has worked with Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization dedicated to implementing technology-based solutions to advance ocean health.




The release of “Aquatic” ahead of World Ocean’s Day in 2021 and her Purified Radio 300 live stream from the Bahamas were both in support of Beneath The Waves. And while she is proud of these efforts, she connects with the work on a far more profound level.









“This is one of the coolest things I have been able to reach or get into through my work and gives everything a deeper purpose,” says Di Lillo.




Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, she discovered this deeper purpose at a young age. She explored the various topographies of the African wilderness. Still, some of her most cherished memories are of the time she spent on South African beaches with her family, running from the waves and taking a boat out to get a closer look at the whales and dolphins they would see from the shore.




“I have a huge passion for nature in general, it's also where I draw a lot of inspiration from for my music, so it feels like a very organic fit,” says Di Lillo. “The ocean is deep, raw, untamed, dramatic, so powerful yet peaceful and playful. Pretty much exactly what I want my music to be. If a piece pulls those heartstrings in me, makes me feel overwhelmed with euphoria, happiness, and almost a touch of deep sadness at the same time, that’s when I’m truly connected with a track. ”




Listening to Di Lillo’s catalog clarifies her artistic vision in this regard. Her music rises and falls like the ebb and flow of the tides. Her 2013 hit, “Come With Me,” is a piano-driven appeal to the loneliness within. 2017’s “Tears In Your Eye” provides relief after a long period of struggle and pain.




The oscillating nature of emotion is just one aspect of humanity that relates to the movement of the ocean. Di Lillo seeks to translate that connection on all levels with her brand, Purified. Her label, radio show, and events acknowledge that darkness exists yet ultimately offer a respite from it.




“The [Purified] symbol should remind you of a water drop but in a crystallized, preserved form. Musically, it should make the listener feel free of worries and stress. Make them connect with the music on a pure level, just feel the rhythms, get lost in the melodies, and experience freedom.” says Di Lillo. “I think humans struggle a lot these days. We are so much more fragile than what we are trying to portray, I try to focus on that and make the listener feel an honest and positive feeling, like everything’s going to be okay.”




Di Lillo’s drive to bring light to a situation that seems only dark punctuates her work in oceanic conservation. However, she is not naive to the grueling task ahead and often feels hopeless and overwhelmed even with her advanced means to contribute.




But this sense of realism has always been paired with Di Lillo’s relationship to the ocean. It is inseparable from her favorite oceanic creature, the humpback whale.




“Looking at a whale’s eye, it feels like you look at the soul of the ocean. I find it hard to describe, but it causes an uneasy feeling in me, a feeling that us humans let them down, didn’t take care of their habitat and the planet in general,” Di Lillo says.




This uneasy feeling is a motivator for Di Lillo. In her various conservation efforts. She seeks to demonstrate the lasting beauty of the ocean paired with a sense of urgency, displaying what needs preservation while providing hope to preserve it.




Di Lillo’s manifested this balance with the Purified Radio 300 live stream from Exumas, Bahamas, the location of the world’s first land and sea park. She set up the decks on the Beneath The Waves research vessel, playing as the boat coasted on crystal clear waters.




“Playing on Beneath The Waves' research vessel and situated in one of the most stunning locations just made so much sense to highlight our partnership, linking mesmerizing views with our emotional music and give the whole stream a deeper purpose,” says Di Lillo.




Soon Di Lillo will explore that deeper purpose again through a multi-part mini-series documenting her connection to the ocean.




The first episode, “A Love For The Sea,” is live on the Nora En Pure Instagram and YouTube pages. It features Di Lillo swimming along the seafloor as she shares her thoughts and feelings on the aquatic force that is a part of her dreams.









“In the end it’s the source of life. The source of our planet that keeps everything in balance,” Di Lillo says in the video.




Now it's humanity’s responsibility to honor that balance and do their part. Di Lillio recommends an attitude of engagement.




“I know us DJs are not the best example, so without changing this lifestyle completely and giving up our jobs, I think the best way is to engage in the topic, maybe decide a monthly amount you are willing to give back to nature, this could be for any kind of projects. I sometimes choose shelters in India, bear rescues in Russia, rhino sanctuaries in Africa, Rainforest programs, ocean conservation, replanting of trees or mangroves,” Di Lillo says.




Beyond the dance music industry, Di Lillo recognizes that the individual impact only goes so far but that collective conscious living can make a big difference.




“Don’t waste, take only what you need, use several times, fix things rather than buying new, source locally, educate yourself on policies, stay active on petitions that give back to nature, make your voice heard,” Di Lillo says.

[Interview] Nora En Pure's Ocean Conservation Efforts Bring Deeper Purpose to Her Music

We are in peak holiday season here and this last week of July is one of the busiest moments for the White Island. It’s a great opportunity to have the time of your life if you choose Ibiza, as anything you do will be accompanied with music and great vibes anywhere you go! We want to help you decide what to do among all the different options thanks to Balearica Music, so read below and don’t miss a thing!



Sacro by Mëstiza | Cova Santa | Monday, July 25

Spanish models, DJs, and music producers, Belah and Pitty Bernad—known by Mëstiza—have created a completely different proposal: Sacro. An exquisite fusion of the purest flamenco genre with Arabic, African, and Latin electronic sounds, their intention to pay tribute to such an important form of art and enhance that music knows no limits. By listening to their latest release “Deserto Rosso,” you can immerse yourself in their unique style and get taste of what to expect from their Sacro parties. This Monday will be the second of three appearances on the White Island at Cova Santa where the brilliantly fashionable duo merge flamenco with deep house in Ibiza’s most beautiful al fresco venue. They will be ajoimed by house music DJs and a cast of flamenco artists.



Experience an original flamenco fusion show at Cova Santa by Mëstiza

Follow Mëstiza on Instagram | SoundCloud













Circoloco 23rd anniversary | DC10 | Monday, July 25

More than ten artists reunite this Monday to celebrate 23 years of Circoloco. Circoloco is synonymous with underground and techno forward-thinking music and gathers a mixed crowd of partygoers with the intention to enjoy memorable moments. And while Ibiza is the best place to experience Circoloco, they’ve become a stalwart worldwide brand with pop-ups from Miami to London and beyond. The incomparable party brand brings renown DJs together like family every Monday. This week, fans and artists commemorate more than 20 years of Circoloco’s history at its home in Ibiza, DC-10, to remind us what clubbing should be all about!



Follow Circoloco on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud















Happy Birthday Joseph Capriati | Cova Santa | Tuesday, July 26

Italian techno star Joseph Capriati chooses the White Island each summer to celebrate his birthday party in the most extravagant way. After a successful start to his distinguished Metamorfosi residency last week at Amnesia, Capriati has decided to throw a special and intimate celebration this Tuesday at its sister venue, among the hills at Cova Santa. The daytime affair sees Joseph goimg B2B with Paradise creator and beloved friend, Jamie Jones.



Wan Issara and Kidoo will also perform together, kicking off the birthday party at 6 p.m. at the stunning venue. 



Every time Jamie and Joseph share the booth, they deliver an amazing dose of fresh techno and fun vibes. Listen to their B2B at Ultra Music Festival from 2019 to start buzzing… Happy birthday, Joseph!



Join Joseph Capriati on his Birthday this Tuesday outdoors

Follow Joseph Capriati on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud













Back To Mine with Faithless | Pikes | Wednesday, July 27

Back to Mine—the house music album series featuring the likes of New Order, Groove Armada, Faithless, Carl Cox, Pet Shop Boys, and many others—began with party events at Pikes Ibiza in 2019. The brand is all about track selections made for the afters. The cozy vibes at the iconic finca founded by Tony Pike will include a very special and personal DJ set.



This summer Back to Mine returns to Ibiza for three dates between the hills of San Antonio at the iconic venue. The debut brought Eats Everything to the decks and this Wednesday is Faithless founding member Sister Bliss’ turn (aka Ayalah Deborah Bentovim). She will dive deep into her five-decade spanning record collection to deliver the magic over at Freddie’s Room for one night only.



Horse Meat Disco will lead the last event on August 11. Back to Mine describes itself as “the best house party you’ve ever been to” where artists are invited to play whatever they like. If you love dancing like no one is watching and have an open mind when it comes to music, this event is for you!



Follow Back to Mine on Twitter| Instagram | SoundCloud





Ethereal Art Lab Festival Auditorium | Las Dalias | Thursday, July 28

Ethereal is a unique socio-cultural project blending a music lab and art gallery in collaboration with Las Dalias. The concept was created by Vito Masci—the mind behind Ibiza People Dance Culture.



Since its conception last winter, Ethereal has become a real festival with multiple stages, like an auditorium with various art forms that go from reggae, rock, blues, soul, jazz, and much more, to original art experiences like painting, sculpture,and theatrical performances Live. This Thursday, Ethereal invites you to dress with freedom and let your creativity flow around the legendary venue. Outside in the garden and inside at the magical Akasha club, visual art displays will lead guests on a route mapping, colorscapes, and, of course, music.



Enjoy Ethereal at Las Dalias from 7pm and get your ticket to Akasha Club for the afters.

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Ibiza has always been a remarkable destination for music, sound, production, and its super clubs. However, there is something about smaller, less crowded venues that have a free-entry policy. The island is also the greatest for pre-parties with no need to wait till midnight and queue, book in advance, or pay entrance to enjoy music by renowned DJs and brands. And it all happens at Café Mambo.



An authentic family business for decades, it established itself as the perfect destination for food, drink, and sunset views. Located along the San Antonio Bay sidewalk, the legendary restaurant and bar is open throughout the day and when the night falls, it becomes the pit-stop for top artists where they warmup with a more intimate vibe and create the hype before their big nights ahead.

Monday - Felix Da Housecat before Lío Ibiza

Tuesday - The Martinez Brothers before Hï Ibiza

Wednesday - Fisher before Hï Ibiza

Thursday – El Baile before Pacha

Friday – Defected Records before Eden

Saturday – The Masquerade by Claptone before Pacha

Sunday – Glitterbox before Hï Ibiza







If you want to have dinner at Mambo, we strongly recommend reserving a table ahead of time. Otherwise, just stop by any time after the sun sets and join an amazing party atmosphere. Plenty of options await you when the celebration ends at Ibiza's hottest pre-party spot!


Follow Cafe Mambo on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud

Ibiza Selects (July 25-31)

Oh, genre labels. Love them or hate them, some heads live and die by discerning the subtle differences assigned to descriptors. Whether it be to break it down on Beatport charts, cultivate a Spotify playlist, decipher which festival stages have certain vibes, or even to be the ultimate electronic music nerd to win friends and influence people. It can be entertaining to dig a bit deeper. And when we say “deeper,” we’re not just talking about a blanket term referring to non-commercial EDM, but the nuances of more cerebral sounds. That being said, let’s talk about deep tech.




Is it techno? Is it deep house? Tech house? Deep techno? A combo abbreviation of deep-and-tech house? Underground, “urban,” or “shuffle house?” An amalgamation of all those sounds—or its own thing entirely? Though the name “deep tech” is obnoxiously vague, for this article, we’re referring to the house music offshoot that sprung up in the late 2000s, i.e., deep tech (house).




Where Chicago, IL is the undisputed birthplace of house music, the subgenre of deep tech is decidedly UK in its roots. Rising to prominence around the same time the younger audiences reimagined the Running Man and shape-cutting as shuffling, the underground nature of deep tech’s emergence mirrors the path of its more mature sonic sibling. Like house music before its roots were white-washed, deep tech was also birthed on club nights attended by predominately Black audiences. Stemming partly from the UK funky scene, deep tech provides a more warm-and-fuzzy feeling compared to another UK staple in the form of grime tunes.




However, the vagueness of the moniker expectedly leads to debates amongst fans and DJs alike. Some prefer to stick to calling the subtle offshoots “house.” At the same time, heads often dissect the subtle nuances of BPMs, incorporating melodic elements and even the feel of the bass when hugging the subwoofers. With a low-end that permeates one’s soul, deep tech provides those darker—but still danceable—beats. Whereas those with a discerning ear often thrive on delicate differences between the vast expanse of possible descriptors for the multitude of music that falls under the electronic umbrella, most electronic dance music fans can still enjoy deep tech as it avoids being too heady.




For those in search of the details of deep tech, one is immersed in four-on-the-floor basslines with a melodic groove that regularly samples classic R&B vocals. Weighing in at 120 to 124 BPM, deep tech is in that sweet spot to get people swaying even if they have two left feet. Deep tech carries on the UK rave roots of incorporating soaring diva songstresses, hip-hop rhymes, ragga, jungle, and garage with a decidedly sexier edge that sonically delights the physical aspects of attendees as well.




Who are the standouts in the subgenre? Much like when attempting to describe deep tech, pigeonholing an artist as solely deep tech doesn’t do the music justice. Even when perusing Beatport for deep tech tracks, the music retailer lumps “Minimal/Deep Tech” together as a category, likely much to the dismay of DJs and producers.


To begin your deep tech journey, check out record labels such as Cuttin’ Headz, Eastenderz, Locus, and PIV. As far as deep tech DJs and producers, one of the scene staples we dig includes Satoshi Tomiie. The Japanese legend embraced house music early, ultimately adding deep tech to his repertoire. With a background in classical and jazz piano studies, his career launched in 1989 with a collaboration alongside Frankie Knuckles, aka the “Godfather of House.” The pioneering Tomiee is still a force in the studio and regularly releases deep tech tracks to this day.




Much like Chicago house has its originators, for deep tech the expanding popularity can partially be traced back to Mark Radford and his Rinse FM Saturday night show. Raving since the late 1980s, he first absorbed the UK’s jungle, acid house, garage, and drum-and-bass sounds. Christening his Audio Rehab record label in 2012, Radford fostered many new deep tech talents and has even produced a few tracks of his own.




Speaking of deep tech denizens, veteran producer Steve Bug channels earlier progressive house, deep house, and tech house effortlessly. His Poker Flat Recordings celebrated 20 years in 2019. He has also amassed numerous successful releases on labels, including Bedrock, Cocoon, Defected, Knee Deep in Sound, and Minus.




Discerning tastes will appreciate the 2021 Traxsource Deep Tech Artist of the Year, Sidney Charles. With releases on the aforementioned deep tech labels (plus his own Heavy House Society imprint), Charles hails from Germany and has over a decade of chart-topping tunes, including “Cabo” on PIV, “There is No Time” via Locus, and “Grindin’” on Eastenderz.




Another fan favorite in the realm of deep tech is the mononymous Toman. The Dutch DJ/producer brings his drummer roots to his electronic beats that pay homage to UK tech house. Earning accolades as one of the highest-selling minimal/deep tech artists on Beatport, Toman is an artist to keep an eye—and ear—on when seeking fresh deep tech tracks.




As deep tech has carved out a dedicated legion of fans, remember that thinking about too many details of a subgenre can distract from the dancefloor. And at the end of the night, as a party turns into day, as long as it makes people move, isn’t that what house music is about?

Let's Talk About Deep Tech

Any list of movers and shakers in present-day dance music would be incomplete without Shiba San. The Parisian producer has been behind some of dance music’s most defining sounds. Who could ever forget the iconic bass line of his breakout hit, “Okay?” He’s built the Basement Leak record label into a hub for some of the finest tech house in the game. And recently, the Beatport chart-topper took a moment from a full summer schedule to officially drop his first new track of 2022, “I Wanna.”



Addictive bass lines have always been the calling card for Shiba San. His taste for the infectious is at an all-time high on this latest offering as skittering drums pound out an undeniable pulse for the cheeky dance of atmospheric fills and pining vocals. But no Shiba San track would be complete without an irresistible low end, and this bouncing bi-tonal bass is no different. This undulating treat is unflinchingly sensual and ready to inspire all the proper movement on the dance floor.



“I Wanna” is Basement Leak’s third release of the year, following the Pass That EP by Get Bad and “Listen” by Tim Baresko, Trallez, Shiba San, and Millad. Keep an eye out for more from the tastemaker imprint by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.



Follow Shiba San on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Shiba San Turns Up The Heat For His First Release Of 2022, 'I Wanna'

On Saturday, July 16, Claude Von Stroke—aka Barclay Crenshaw—brought his Your Dad Plays Great Music Tour to an unassuming secret warehouse in Oakland.




It seemed perfectly appropriate for the tour to stop where his journey in dance music coalesced. "I came to the Bay from Detroit in 1999, and it opened up my mind to new levels of creativity, community, and fun that I was not able to find in Detroit at that time," Crenshaw remembers about his 15 years in San Francisco.




After a decade and a half of running the stalwart label and releasing groundbreaking music, the head of the Dirtybird flock has ascended to legendary status in dance music. And while he's grown to be a staple on the massive stages of the festival circuit, he seemed perfectly in his element in a tiny DJ booth at the center of a dark and dingy warehouse just a few miles from where he first lived when he moved to the Bay Area 23 years ago.




The limited engagement tour sees him playing open to close sets and trading larger-than-life production for the simplicity of the old-school rave aesthetic. It's just a DJ and his records all night long with plenty of time to build the vibe.




We arrived early to the nostalgic thump of the bass through the walls of the warehouse. Crenshaw stood in a simple DJ booth at the center of the room, beaming from ear to ear, lit only by a cadre of electric votive candles, the cool LED glow of the CDJs and a few strands of white Christmas lights.







From the moment the doors opened for the night, he was establishing a relationship. When the DJ booth is that close, it feels like you're dancing with the DJ. It solidifies the connection and democratizes the dancefloor. The DJ is our guide for a night of musical exploration. However, he's also one of us.




"This is the best tour I've ever done simply because the pressure is off to play all my bangers in 90 minutes," Crenshaw tells Gray Area. "I can really explore all my favorite music from deep cuts to breaks to bangers to tech house and techno. I get into the funk, the jungle, all kinds of stuff… I can create a mood of camaraderie with the audience all night long when we are on a mission together. We are all there as a community having fun without all the pressure of busting it all out in an hour."




While a frenzied hit it and quit it festival set doesn't leave much room for musical worldbuilding, the open-to-close is a true test of the skills of a selector. Crenshaw took the challenge in stride, building from cool and funky deeper cuts as the dancefloor filled up to brutal sub-thumping techno as the feeling of a full-on rave began to take hold. There were moments of transcendent melodic bliss, growling bass-fueled euphoria, and times when the entire crowd felt like we moved as one collective unit.




When he dropped "Jolene," his collaborative hit with Green Velvet, there wasn't a person in the room who wasn't singing along to the quirky lyrics. And when the wonky synth line from an ID he's been playing from Dirtybird up and comer (and San Francisco local) n808 shook the warehouse walls, the dancefloor exploded. As he flawlessly moved from the syncopated Latin rhythm of "Cubism" by Davide Squillace to the pumping groove of "Strike" by Realsortis and the funky minimal shimmy of his debut on Sven Vath's Cocoon, "Moody Fuse," hundreds of us raged around the DJ booth. It was giving Boiler Room, but make it Oakland.









Being at the center of an entire night of memorable moments is a massive responsibility. And while there's a beautiful spontaneity to a well-curated DJ set, there's also a lot of preparation.




"The way I prepare is by creating tons of genre folders of music and then drifting between the folders as I read the room. Sometimes I feel like the room will respond to really latin vibes or really hard techno vibes or really bassy vibes - I'm super prepared for anything."




But beyond the masterful DJing, there was something almost spiritual at work. Without the spectacle of cryo blasts, LED screens, and light shows, we returned to what brought us all into this community in the first place: the love of music and movement. It was beautiful to see so many people dancing.






And when I ask Crenshaw how being so close to the dancers changes the energy of the performance, he says, "You called the people 'the dancers' instead of 'the fans.' That's kind of the key difference. At a festival 'the fans' are there raging for a short burst of time, but at these all-night warehouse shows people are there to dance. It's not all about me. It's about actually dancing and experiencing the music. It's not just fist pumping. Its grinding, stepping, shuffling, spinning, and enjoying life. "



It's not hard to understand how impactful a night like this is for the Bay Area community (and Crenshaw). Dirtybird hatched in San Francisco. Before there was Campout, there were free Dirtybird parties in Golden Gate Park and quarterlies at Mezzanine. The singular energy in the room rivaled the feeling of camaraderie in the early days, and Poppa Claude was always at the helm.




"I lived in Lower Haight during a real golden era of house and jungle where lots of people were DJing just for fun and starting labels," he says. "We were outcasts at first but then eventually won the city over and I will never ever forget my amazing time living in the Bay for 15 years and starting Dirtybird hand stamping vinyl on the floor of my studio apartment on Belcher Street."

[Interview] Claude Von Stroke Reminds Us Why We Dance

As one of the Magic City’s most beloved clubs prepares to close shop, many are grappling with what it means for the 305’s underground dance culture moving forward.







It’s 4 am in Miami, and the collective sweat is so thick you can practically pluck it from midair. As clubgoers throw their appendages across the dance floor of ATV Records, a nightclub nestled in the downtown area, the sheer kinetic energy of the bunch has rendered the cool air of the venue’s A/C and CO2 machine all but inert. Local party crew Jezebel is hosting Tim Reaper alongside DJ Swisha and Kush Jones for its last proper night at the club, and it feels fitting that this brief-but-vital era of Miami nightlife is going out with this much vigor.




As Swisha and Jones go b2b, the Juke Bounce Werk pair steer the sold-out crowd on a breathless tour through footwork, juke, and techno, gradually upping the ante even as they weave in playful cuts like a snippet of ATC’s Eurodance classic “Around the World (La La La La La).” Machinedrum, fresh from his DJ set at Club Space nearby, looks on in approval.




Once the BPM has gotten high enough for Tim Reaper to take over the decks, the DJ-producer’s blend of jungle punctuated by hardcore rave makes one clubgoer effectively enter goblin mode, flinging excess energy out of his chest and into the crowd from the perch of an elevated booth, eyes closed, teeth gritted all the while.




This past Sunday morning’s shenanigans were the latest in an ongoing procession bidding farewell to ATV. The 150-person club recently announced it would close its doors for good at the end of July, prompting a period of reflection by Miami’s local music scene. As ATV goes under, so too does one of the city’s few remaining dance floors catered to the underground crowd. ATV is also the most recent in a long line of mid-sized Miami venues to shut down since March 2020, joining the ranks of cherished hangs like Churchill’s Pub, Las Rosas, Oak Garden, and others that have kicked the bucket. Besides leaving few stages on which to perform and attract an audience, this drought of dives has left the 305’s creative community with meager pickings in places to call home and, in turn, gather with others.




“ATV stands for [offering] a low barrier entry for people… if you say ‘Hey, I want to go and enjoy a night out,’ you can only think of places with a $40 entry, and that’s not an intimate type of setting,” says Luis Yepez, co-founder of Jezebel and a manager at ATV. “The Jezebel nights cater to a younger crowd that doesn’t really have a space to enjoy something for their demographic. [Recurring party and ATV fixture] SALEM had a recent pop-up, but there’s no place — especially with Las Rosas closing – for them to [organize events]. It seems like the music scene is only being catered to one specific demographic, which loses the essence of community… and community is anyone that wants to be involved in the nightlife scene.”




Jezebel was founded in early 2021 by Yepez — then a server at Melinda’s, the now-closed bar and restaurant adjoined to ATV — alongside collaborators Juan Mejia and Camilo Cano. Although the first edition started as an excuse to DJ and organize a birthday party for friends at ATV, Jezebel became a beacon of post-social distancing nightlife, attracting many back into a club for the first time since COVID-19 upended the world. Hosting the likes of Perel and duo AceMoMA and champions of Miami dance culture, including Bort, Nick León, and Jubilee, Jezebel’s parties helped cement ATV as a communal hub at a time when people craved beat connections more than ever.




“We’ve always been clubgoers going to [shuttered venues] like Electric Pickle and Trade, so we were always in tune with that sound,” Yepez says. “But as the years went on… it seemed like ATV became the pillar of the community for Miami’s underground music scene.”




ATV established its prominence with little time but a lot of power behind it. After being known as 1306 — named after its street address — and largely hosting live concerts since 2016, the venue rebranded as ATV and Melinda’s in late 2019. Both the club and restaurant components were imported by Will Renuart, who’d previously operated Melinda’s on the first floor of the Electric Pickle, the venue he co-founded in Miami’s ascendent Wynwood neighborhood. After the much-loved den of decadence closed in June 2019, Renuart and other Pickle alumni like Alo Gonzalez — known on the decks as Puma — were brought into the space’s fold by Aramis Lorie and other partners.




For those invested in Miami’s after-hours culture, this arrangement signified a momentous meeting of the nightlife minds. As the people behind long-running party series and event production group Poplife, Lorie and longtime collaborator Jake Jefferson brought extensive experience from engineering some of the best gatherings Miami has ever seen. Poplife’s 20th-anniversary party in November 2019 was one of ATV’s first proper events and set a high standard for the gatherings to follow. Even Win Butler of Arcade Fire fame showed up.





Considering the pandemic, it’s a miracle the Pickle-Poplife partnership lasted for as long as it did. According to Lorie, cultural shifts and financial fallout from Miami’s ever-rising property values ultimately led to ATV’s demise.




“Miami’s become extremely expensive on the real estate level… and that trickles down into everything,” Lorie says, calling it the “growing pains” of an increasingly prominent city. “It puts a lot of pressure on us because we’re not trying to appease the masses.”




Many locals are concerned about the ripple effect, both overt and understated, of Miami’s affordable housing crisis on the city’s underground dance culture. This includes Alex Del Campillo, who DJs under the moniker Alexx in Chains and has thrown parties at ATV as co-founder of the collectives Gay Underground Network Inc. and GAZE Miami.




“Everyone I know is working really hard to make it,” Del Campillo says, adding that many in the scene are juggling two or three jobs simultaneously. “Now we’re reaching a tipping point where it doesn’t matter how hard you work because it’s just a rich person’s city. People are being priced out, and I’m scared that those who come from low and middle-class backgrounds won’t continue to be here to create culture.”




However, resiliency is intrinsic to the roots of dance culture, and Del Campillo, Lorie, and Yepez all remain optimistic about the underground’s long-term viability.




“I think there will be really interesting pop-ups happening,” says Lorie, a sentiment shared universally among the trio. There’s also ample talk of alternative spaces, such as the Boombox stepping in to fill the void by providing additional resources to artists and expanding on programming.




But in the meantime, ATV still has a few memorable nights left, including Thursday night’s extended set by Shermanology co-presented by Gray Area. The last party, on Saturday, July 30, is set to be a Miami family affair.





"For the closing on July 30, Jezebel, SAFE, Miami Community Radio… we’re all doing a day party across the outdoor and indoor areas, and it’s going to be one big farewell to ATV,” Yepez says, adding other local collectives including Dream Vacation, Sarah Tonin, SURFACE, Tropico Virgo, and yes, Poplife, are all getting in on the action.




“We’re all in communication right now to see how we can provide space for the continuation of our programming and the underground music scene,” he says. “Pressure creates diamonds, and I feel like once these things start unfolding again, the crowd ATV was catering to is going to come back with a vengeance.”

Miami Doesn’t Want the Music to Stop at ATV Records

Nightmares On Wax | Pikes | Monday, July 18

George Evelyn, aka Nightmares On Wax, decided to settle down on the island long ago with his family to experience Ibiza’s DJ culture properly. Nightmares On Wax started as a group in 1989, blending elements of jazz, soul, funk, electronica, hip-hop, dub, and techno. Evelyn is back at the iconic boutique hotel for six dates only, digging in the crates for a one-of-a-kind performance.

Join the guestlist to experience a musical journey at the legendary Pikes

Follow Nightmares On Wax on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud









Repopulate Mars by Lee Foss | Eden | Tuesday, July 19

Lee Foss has brought his Repopulate Mars party and record label to Ibiza for the first time. Every Tuesday, “The Arrival” transforms Eden into the red planet and plays host to some of the best in underground tech house. The tastemaker label has released upfront bangers from Matroda, John Summit, and Solardo. Travel to another galaxy with Lee Foss and guests this Tuesday night at San Antonio’s super club!



Purchase your ticket for Repopulate Mars at Eden this Tuesday.

Follow Lee Foss on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud











elrow Outdoors | Ushuaïa | Wednesday, July 20

elrow and Ushuaïa join forces this summer to throw a daytime carnival like no other for three dates only. The famous Barcelona entertainment brand is based at Amnesia every Saturday night this season, but its limited-edition day party at the luxury open-air venue has settled as the craziest and most popular of the summer since elrow arrived on the island years ago. The two powerful global brands come together again this season, opening Wednesday, July 20, with their Kaos Garden theme. The line-up will see appearances from Hot Since 82 and Joris Voorn with support from elrow residents DJs.



Get your tickets to elrow at Ushuaïa this Wednesday.

Follow elrow on Twitter| Instagram | SoundCloud





Holotropia | Las Dalias, Ibiza | Thursday, July 21

Art, music, and spirituality converge during four summer dates at Las Dalias. The ceremony begins at 7 pm in the garden and moves indoors at 11 pm at Las Dalias newest club Akasha. Holotropia is a project by Ida Engberg, Filipa Lazary, Foz, Oren, and other great talents such as the filmmaker Giancarlo Canavesio. This event is a journey through all senses connecting art, live painting, performances, inspiring talks, and incredible music. The cozy Las Dalias features a centrally located DJ booth surrounded by an incredible dance floor, outstanding sound, and amazing vibes.

Follow Holotropia on Instagram







Joseph Capriati Presents Metamorfosi | Amnesia | Friday, July 22

This season, Joseph Capriati is bringing a fresh, personal concept to the San Rafael super club. The Italian techno DJ and producer presents Metamorfosi, an introspective reflection of his journey over the last decade. Capriatti will share the trademark thumping techno sound that has made him a sought-after artist, the music that’s inspired his musical journey, and the incredible artists that have supported him along the way. So reinforce your passion for electronic music and join Joseph Capriati and friends this Friday night, the first of only three special dates.



Tickets to Metamorfosi at Amnesia

Follow Joseph Capriati on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud











21st Anniversary Party | Underground Ibiza | Saturday, July 23

Celebrate 21 incredible years of the most authentic underground-style club on the Island. Underground Ibiza is in a traditional Casa Payesa (country house) between San Antonio and Ibiza Town. It’s (purposely) difficult to find and barely promoted, so it remains one of Ibiza’s few under-the-radar spots. Here the parties are for true clubbers, and music does the talking, offering a friendly and intimate vibe. It features a sizable outdoor terrace. Inside is a small bar room and a larger space with a DJ booth and a cozy dance floor. If you want to be part of the Underground family, go to San Rafael this Saturday and celebrate 21 years of this unique gem.



Celebrate Underground Ibiza’s 21st anniversary

Follow Ibiza Underground Club on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud







Green Velvet | Blue Marlin |Sunday, July 24

Blue Marlin is one of the island’s most glamorous beach lounge clubs. This season the chic venue is hosting Showtime Sunday events featuring some of the most outstanding international DJs. This week the American vocalist, DJ, and record producer Green Velvet headlines the Sunday show at the cosmopolitan open-air space, spinning an adrenaline-soaked set of tech house and techno. Alex Kennon and resident DJs will kick off the party in the afternoon. Arrive early to sample the excellent food and cocktails while enjoying the sea from a hammock. Blue Marlin opens its doors at 10 am.



Don't miss Green Velvet at Blue Marlin

Follow Green Velvet on Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud

Ibiza Selects (July 18 – July 24)

When the third season of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty premiered in 2017 with the episode “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” the writers included a throwaway story arc about Rick searching for Szechuan sauce at McDonald’s. The sauce was long forgotten, as it was only meant to be a promotion for the debut of the Disney film Mulan in 1998. The fast-food chain retired the sauce, and everyone forgot about it for over 20 years….until 2017 when “The Rickshank Rickdemption” episode premiered. Without giving the show’s creators a heads up, McDonald’s decided to bring back the sauce for a one-day promotion.




Already having a bit of a reputation, Rick and Morty’s incredibly passionate fanbase was elated to hear about the Szechuan revival, but that excitement was short-lived. With limited quantities of the sauce available only at specific locations, Rick and Morty fans’ delight quickly turned into violent anger against McDonald’s employees once they realized their franchised location ran out before they could dunk their nugs.




The show’s superfans gave Rick’s throwaway story arc an absurd amount of importance. When you scroll through tweets, you can sense the hoards of people genuinely felt real anger over not getting their sauce and subsequently took it out on McDonald’s employees. The fast-food chain received so much backlash that it quickly apologized and pledged to bring back the sauce, adding, “any fan who’s willing to do whatever it takes for Szechuan Sauce will only have to ask for it at a nearby McDonald’s” in a since-deleted tweet.




A second round of dip drops came in 2018, again in limited supply but nearly not as hostile of response compared to the previous year. The fifth season of Rick and Morty premiered in 2021, but on March 31st of, 2022, the sauce made yet another comeback, available exclusively via the official McDonald’s app.




Though the fans of Rick and Morty have come to be associated with toxic rhetoric, the fact is, as a collective unit, they still hold a lot of power. They brought a multi-billion dollar company to its knees, practically forcing McDonald’s to spend millions in production, marketing, distribution, and app development.




Mainstream culture isn’t the only target of zealous fans. Fandom in dance music has affected underground culture as well. Over the years, fandom has been as many different things, be it hype, genuine admiration, short-lived trends, and yes, sometimes even obnoxious and/or toxic. But how you look at it depends on where you stand.

Dirtybirds and Dirty Beats



In 2014 on my flight from Los Angeles to Detroit for Movement Festival, I noticed my window seat was next to a couple, both of whom were wearing black T-shirts and hats with a cracked egg logo on them. Anyone who’s been in the scene long enough knows the logo belongs to the Dirtybird record label.




“Are you guys going to Movement too?” I asked the couple, noticing they also had the Dirtybird egg logo on the back of their phone cases.




Of course they were. Their outfits gave them away. Throughout the flight, we talked about who we were excited to see at the festival and where we could buy weed. The ease of conversation is something I’ve come to associate with the Dirtybird crew and fans.




The Dirtybird label has developed a positive, festive reputation and is now one of the most recognizable entities in dance music, with label head Claude Vonstroke describing the brand as “not pretentious” and “just not taking itself too seriously.” And for over 15 years, it’s done just that. Merging bouncy, irresistible tunes with oddball samples and effects to solidify the fun aesthetic. This aesthetic spills over into live events such as Dirtybird Campouts, their infamous barbecues, and even the brand’s merchandise. On numerous occasions, the online store and the merch booth at live shows have run out of nearly everything they had in stock within a few hours.




Yes, Dirtybird fans are not only a lively bunch but hardcore Stans willing to spend money to show off their Dirtybird pride. Both Vonstroke and his wife, Aundy Crenshaw (who helps helm the brand), have alluded that eager fans buying merchandise have helped keep the label running. Which is why the label and its leading artists continue to emphasize how vital the Dirtybird community is to their success. Moreover, citing their fans as some of the nicest people, they’ve come across in the dance music community. But not all Fandom comes from a place of positive energy.



The Fish Rots from the Head

Bassnectar fans had developed a reputation long before their leader became embroiled in controversy. I first caught wind of the fandom attending Starscape Festival in 2011 after noticing people camping out in front of the stage Bassnectar would be playing many, many hours later. The fans didn’t care which acts were poised to play during the day - they just stood there all day and night, taking space from other fan groups who may have wanted to see their favorite DJs up close.




This became common foder as Bassnectar’s fame accelerated. The fandom became known for chanting “Bassnectar” on repeat during the middle of other DJs’ performances. There are numerous Reddit threads discussing Bassnectar fan’s ruinous effect on the festival scene, with users like Nectar613 noting, “Some of these kids are so aimless and have no concept of ‘reality’ outside of the festival/rave scene; they kind of just act like drugged up animals, with a severe lack of morals. Hopefully, with time, they learn from their mistakes.”




But how could they learn from the mistakes when the behavior was almost encouraged. After every show, Bassnectar would pull the event photographer to take an epic “Family photo,” reinforcing the idea of community and giving fans the desire to be up close in the snapshot. Plus, the times Bassnectar would stop playing music, it was rarely to police any behavior but rather wax poetic about how enlightened he was. Now with multiple allegations and lawsuits outlining his predatory behavior, the fandom of Bassnectar remains silent, waiting for a verdict.




In some cases, the head of the fandom has as much to do with the behavior of their fans as the fans themselves. It’s easy to posit the toxicity of Bassnectar managed to spill over into the fandom as well. But the pack leaders can also change the direction of their fandom.







At the beginning of Borgore’s career, you could hear fans enthusiastically shouting lyrics like “the thing I love most is cumming on your face, suck it bitch!” from the top of their lungs at bass stages across the country. Despite claiming not to be a misogynist, Borgore’s fandom often had difficulty distinguishing his lyrics as “jokes.”




A femme-identifying contestant at one of Borgore’s Most Ratchet Pageants said, “His music’s so much fun. I don’t see it as woman-hating.” At the same time, a male-identifying fan explains Borgore’s gospel as, “Look around; you can see a bunch of bitches. Look at how they act. They’re never gonna get anywhere, they’re never gonna find the right guy,” he shouts emphatically. “You have to be sophisticated and classy. And if you don’t choose that path, then you’re a bitch.”




But that was many years ago, and Borgore has come a long way since his #bootyforborgore days, going so far as releasing a jazz EP in 2018 and, more recently, a big room house track in the Fall of 2021. The “Bitches Love Cake” and #bootyforborgore hype has shifted, and the feuds between Borgore and his fans versus everyone else have faded to mind. Borgore fans are settling down, even making patchworked quilts of the album art.




Artists have the ability to shift the mind frame of their toxic fandom. Though, to be fair, fandom isn’t always negative.

The Fabric of Our Lives



Fandom doesn’t just revolve around the artists. There are many clubs and institutions like Berlin’s Berghain or Movement Festival in Detroit, where fan culture has also had an effect on the industry. Like when London’s licensing sub-committee decided to revoke Fabric’s liquor license, stating, “There is a culture of drugs at Fabric which management cannot control.”




With alcohol sales being the livelihood of most if not all nightlife establishments, Fabric faced permanent closure until the underground community of artists and fans decided to do something about it. The Nightlife Industries Association launched the Fund For Fabric in 2016 to fight the city’s decision in hopes of changing the fate of the iconic institution. The #saveourculture campaign raised more than £330,000 and ended with the club striking a deal with police and Islington Council to reopen in January of 2017.







Fandom can be toxic or have the power to make life-altering decisions. The choice of who should bear the responsibility of what the fandom does with that power remains to be seen.

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