DEF is Atlanta’s leading underground music and arts collective. The organization is championing a contemporary movement of music and culture with consistently sold-out monthly parties. DEF events often take place in secluded warehouses and unconventional places like skateparks and tunnels.

Filmed cinematically the Boiler Room-esque parties are unruly, engaging, dimly lit, and headlined by tenured and rising talents. The woman-owned and operated collective is uniquely attuned to emerging artists and trends of the underground. 


Artists like Dr. Fresch, Alix Perez, Freak On, Sara Landry, Shades, HELLBOUND, and SOHMI have all joined DEF’s growing roster of performers. Their latest underground events endeavor has finally been unveiled after weeks of speculation online. The ØFFLINE Project is an expansive multi-day music and arts event is taking place in the heart of Atlanta in October.



The two-day event, taking place on October 7-8, will feature some of the most acclaimed acts and emerging talents spanning house, trap, and bass. While information about the multi-day event’s location and complete lineup have not been revealed, what is known is that it will take place at “a warehouse less than ten minutes away from Downtown Atlanta.”

The ØFFLINE Project’s partial lineup includes a plethora of some of house music’s most revered headliners: A-Trak, Boys Noize, Baauer, Chris Lorenzo, and J. Worra.



Drum and Bass music duo Chase & Status, who have taken the reigns of Ibiza's only D&B residency Louder, will also perform.

Also on the lineup is the undisputed queen of Jersey Club, UNIIQU3; King of the spicy edit Wuki, Prospa, Nitepunk, and X&G. South African bass producer Chee and experimental bass act Jon Casey will perform an exclusive B2B session as ‘IT HZ.’



Among the headliners announced on August 23, supporting acts include multi-genre maven Mija, industrial pop producer girl_irl, Kyle Kinch, DJ Craze, MIZE, Township Rebellion, and more to be announced in the following weeks.


Tickets for DEF’s ØFFLINE Project are available for purchase now. 2-Day, 2-DAY PLUS, and 2-DAY (4 Pack) wristbands may be purchased here.

DEF Collective is Atlanta's Underground Gem

Beatport is dealing with fallout from an investigative report on its company culture by Annabel Ross. Black Artist Database (BAD) has suspended its partnership with the download store’s editorial arm, Beatportal.




Writing for Vice, Ross compiled anonymous allegations of sexism, racism, and bullying to paint a picture of a toxic workplace festering in various Beatport offices during the tumultuous years after its parent company, SFX Entertainment, declared bankruptcy. They involved CEO Robb McDaniels, who allegedly said “African tribesmen have been killing each other since the dawn of day” during a meeting on the company’s public response to the 2020 George Floyd protests, as well as general managers Terry Weerasinge and Romain Pouillon, who allegedly accused an employee of having sex with an executive.




“In light of the allegations regarding the safety of Beatport’s workplace for Black employees highlighted in a piece published by Vice yesterday (August 23 2022), alleging racist, sexist, and bullying behaviors by Beatport management, Black Artist Database is immediately suspending the partnership between ourselves and Beatportal, pending further internal review,” reads a statement from BAD. “Once we have conducted our internal review, we will return with a further course of action.”




BAD’s statement went on to say that the platform, a discovery tool for finding music by artists of color launched in 2020, will be forced to pull out of an August 28th event called The Carni Dance “due to a license issue” stemming from the Beatport situation. “Unfortunately, the timing has meant we’ll be unable to secure another venue with as much care as we apply to our events, so we have made the decision to cancel,” it reads.




Beatport was launched in 2004 by Bradley Roulier, Jonas Tempel, and Eloy Lopez in Denver, Colorado, offering an online music marketplace as the proliferation of CDJs increased the demand for electronic music MP3 downloads. It was acquired by SFX Entertainment in 2013; the international electronic music conglomerate rebranded as LiveStyle following its bankruptcy.




Beatport has not publicly responded to the allegations in Annabel Ross’ report at the time of writing.

Black Artist Database Suspends Beatportal Deal Over Racism, Sexism Allegations

Simon Dunmore, owner, and CEO of Defected Records, announced today that he would step away from his position at the helm of the iconic label group and cultural institution. He will hand over the role of CEO and co-owner to his longtime partner Wez Saunders.



In a statement posted on Instagram today, he said, "My last post as owner of Defected & Glitterbox. It’s been a wild but rewarding journey...an incredible ride. 23 years of iconic memories. Way more highs than lows.
Few get the privilege of working on incredible music with inspirational artists and dedicated staff…there are far too many to mention, but I thank each and every one of them. My intuition has guided me well, and I have decided that for the company to continue its progressive journey that it needs a new approach, fresh energy."



Dunmore founded Defected in 1999 with funding from Ministry of Sound. The label's first release, "I Can't Get Enough" by Soulsearcher, was a rousing success hitting number five on the UK Singles Chart. The label has been home to countless club stomping classics like Paul Johnson's "Get Get Down," Dennis Ferrer's "Hey Hey," and more recently, John Summit's breakthrough hit "Deep End."







"We first set sail on January 1st, 1999. Waving the flag for the culture we love, we marauded our way through the music industry," Dunmore continued in his statement. "Our mission was simple. Build a global reputation & a catalogue that someday might be considered alongside the great labels that always inspired me…..Strictly Rhythm, Philadelphia International, Salsoul, Prelude."



Over the last two decades, Defected has had 650 releases and built a label group that encompasses some of dance music's most celebrated imprints, including Glitterbox, Classic Music Company, DFTD, and sixteen others. They've become a staple in Ibiza, and their festivals in London and Croatia continue to wave the flag of inclusivity and universal love.



Dunmore says he will not entirely step away from the label he built from the ground up. "I am not abandoning ship and I’ll continue to be part of the Defected’s campaigns as consultant to the a&r team," he explained.



Wez Saunders, who will take over as CEO, has been with Defected for almost a decade. Dunmore said, "All captains need a first mate to steady the ship and lead the crew. Wez Saunders has been my right hand man for 8 years. Together we navigated Defected into prolific times, built an incredible team and a treasure chest of masters and publishing catalogue’s."



Among the treasured items in Defected's publishing catalog is a credit on Beyonce's recent RENAISSANCE album. The track "Cozy" was co-produced by Honey Dijon, Defected is listed as a publisher.



With dance music moving into a new era, Dunmore explained the importance of passing the torch.



"It is important to me that there is a continuum. A continuation keeping the company structure, maintaining Defected’s approach to quality music and events. To continue to deliver our promises and obligations to our community, our artists, staff, and all those that have helped us get here……Collectively we will discover new treasures. House Music All Life Long!"

Simon Dunmore Steps Down as CEO of Defected Records

London’s fabric is gearing up to celebrate its 23rd birthday in the most fabric-esque manner: with a multi-day 30-hour event. Fabric will host its official birthday party at the venue on Friday, October 14, from 11 pm-6 am, with its massive celebrations beginning on Saturday, October 15-Monday, October 17.









Fabric will be debuting an amapiano-focused celebration this year with South African trailblazer Vigro Deep as the massive party’s host.









Vigro Deep will lead clubbers into the whirlwind that will be fabric’s biggest event yet, on Saturday evening. Helping him rock the decks will be Kitty Amor, Charisse C, and KILLAMANJARO, with the addition of various special guests not yet announced.









Fabric-favorite and somewhat enigmatic Ricardo Villalobos will play his second London event this year. Also headlining the 30-hour party is Craig Richards, Margaret Dygas, KiNK, VTSS, Afrodeutsche, and DJ Tennis.









Fabric residents Anna Wall, Harry McCanna, and Tapefeed will take over the club. And Pleasure Club, North/South Records, and Josh Caffé’s Love Child party collective will also host takeovers.









Since 1991, the Farringdon club has seen emerging artists and talented acts pioneer new music genres and break the mold of what clubbing can look like. Showcasing the best in techno, house, garage, and UK bass, fabric continues to be club-goers' favorite destination for a memorable UK clubbing experience and music discovery.









This year will mark the return of Continuum, their 24-hour plus event series, which debuted in 2021. The event was initially created to pair rising talent with legacy acts, garnering the artists more exposure in 24 hours or often entire weekends.









Early bird tickets for fabric’s upcoming birthday party are available for purchase now.

Fabric will Celebrate 23rd Birthday with a 30-hour Party

Brooklyn’s Public Library has introduced a new vinyl collection at the library for all of its members beginning this month. The collection is located on the first floor, in the New & Noteworthy room.

The room includes several listening stations and hundreds of records to browse and check out. The vinyl library’s stock spans close to 400 records and features a plethora of genres that range from country, pop, hip hop, classical, and many more.

The Grand Army Plaza Central Library, based alongside Prospect Park, will allow its library cardholders to play and listen to the records before borrowing them at listening stations. Per the library’s rules, only three albums may be checked out at a time by cardholders and only f​​or a three-week period. Records cannot be put on hold in advance, and all vinyl must be borrowed and returned in person.

The growing collection at the time of this writing includes offerings by Hye Jin Park, Talking Heads, Erykah Badu, Al Green, Lady Gaga, and Notorious B.I.G., with plenty more to be added soon.

A unique collection of music made by famous New York musicians and producers is now available for checkout, including artists of the likes of Suzanne Vega, The Strokes, George Gershwin, the Velvet Underground, and more.

In addition to the collection’s debut, the library is also offering new programs for those interested in audio production and DJing.

The library will be hosting D.J.s to spin during two sessions of their new 'August Lunch Beats' program, to take place in the Central Lobby on August 18 and 25. Then, on August 30, D.J. Face Control will be spinning the decks in the evening, beginning at 7 pm.

View the entire collection on the Brooklyn Public Library website or visit the venue in person for further information.

Brooklyn Library Debuts New Vinyl Collection

One of Germany's most iconic festivals is endangered due to reports of climbing debt. The organizers behind Fusion Festival, Kulturkosmos Müritz eV, issued a statement on the festival's website citing the debt will land between 1.5 and 2 million Euros after all tallying all calculations.



Fusion Festival 2022 took place earlier this summer and was the first in two years. The company raised ticket prices and received government grants to help with the costs accumulated during the pandemic. However, none of it was sufficient to help offset the reported 20 percent hike for materials, services, and infrastructure at this year's Fusion.




The post issued by the company explained that for Fusion 2023 to go forward, the festival's deficit must be resolved before the year's end.




Now in the face of insolvency, the festival organizers posted a call to arms to the broader international music community and Fusion Festival attendees to raise funds as quickly as possible.




According to the post, Kulturkosmos Müritz eV's options include bank loans, raffling 10,000 early bird tickets for next year's edition (sans price reductions, to go on sale September 26), and private lenders.




The company will also be selling properties, including a 100-year-old house bought and renovated in 2015 to house refugees and nine other plots of land on the outskirts of the Fusion site—at Müritz Airpark in Lärz, around two hours from Berlin.




The land is "ideal for those who have fled the city, are tired of the pandemic, and are Fusion-savvy home builders with children," said the organizers in the post.




Die-hard fans of Germany's longest-running festival may donate to the fundraising efforts through PayPal if they feel inclined to do so. "Fusion-themed shirts, hoodies, and other solidarity items" will be available for purchase mid-September as well, with all proceeds going toward lessening the deficit.

Million Dollar Debt Jeopardizes Fusion Festival's Future

Jeff Mills has never remained confined to his career as a DJ and producer. From orchestral performances to jazz side projects, he constantly works to expand his horizons as an artist. This week, he’ll add a film score for the 1922 film Dr. Mabuse the Gambler to that list.




Dr. Mabuse the Gambler was a silent film directed by Fritz Lang and based on a bestselling novel of the same name by Norbert Jacques. It consists of two parts, the first of which will premiere at UFA Film Nights on Thursday, August 25, with the new score composed by Mills.




This is not Mills’ first foray into film scores. He delivered one to accompany the 2010 update of METROPOLIS at the 2017 UFA Film Nights, and 2019 saw him perform an original score for the 1929 film Woman in the Moon.




Although best known for his contributions to techno (both artistically and philosophically), Jeff Mills has explored innumerable creative outlets since his career started 40 years ago. Originally going by The Wizard as a hip-hop DJ for Detroit stations like WDRQ and WJLB, he went on to form an industrial band called Final Cut alongside Anthony Srock in the late ‘80s. Both of these preceded Underground Resistance, the politically charged Detroit techno collective that would put Mills on the map globally.




In May 2020, Mills announced that his label, Axis Records, would expand into classical, jazz, and film scores. The following year, he and French instrumentalist Jean-Phi Dary launched an electronic jazz group called The Paradox and released a six-song album titled Counter Active on the imprint.




Tickets to the 2022 edition of UFA Film Nights can be purchased via Ticketmaster. The film will also be livestreamed beginning at 9:00 PM CET; it will be available for viewing for 24 hours on the UFA Film Nights website.

Jeff Mills Creates New Score for 1922 Film, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

The Desert Hearts crew is returning to their new home at Lake Perris in 2023 for Desert Hearts Festival on May 5-8, 2023. Tickets are now on sale, and payment plans are also available for those who are already stacking up their festival season schedule for next year.




When you select the payment plan option at checkout, you'll only have to drop $9.99 plus fees ($41.10 total). Nine payments of $37.43 will be charged to your credit card on the first of every month starting in October and ending in May, just before the start of the festival.




You can update the credit card at any time during the payment period. You can also cancel at any time however, doing so will forfeit all funds from previous payments. For more information on the payment plan details and to purchase tickets, visit the Desert Hearts website.




The Desert Hearts Festival celebrated its tenth year in 2022 with an expanded celebration at Lake Perris, California. Leaders of the transformational festival movement, co-founders Mikey Lion, Marbs, Porky, and Lee Reynolds have cultivated a family-like community united under the mantra of "House, Techno, Love – We Are All Desert Hearts" since their first renegade in the Mojave Desert in 2012.




Last year's highly anticipated event came after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. And while their in-person parties may have been on hold, the purveyors of judgment-free self-expression grew their community immensely by cultivating an online army of Desert Hearts faithful through their popular Twitch channel.




The 10th-anniversary event featured underground heavyweights like DJ Harvey, Carl Craig, Omar-S, Danny Daze, Township Rebellion, Atish, and of course, the core crew Mikey Lion, Marbs, Porky, and Lee Reynolds.




The lineup for the 2023 edition has not yet been released, but if last year is any indication, it will be an expertly curated cross-section of the finest underground talent.

Tickets for Desert Hearts Festival 2023 Are Now On Sale

When the Nintendo GameCube title Metroid Prime came out in 2002, fans of more challenging electronic music noticed that the names Sean Booth and Rob Brown, known professionally as Autechre, appeared in the credits. Booth has finally said that Retro Studios initially enlisted them to soundtrack the game, but Nintendo decided on longtime Metroid franchise composer Kenji Yamamoto.




As VGC first reported, Booth confirmed the rumors during a Twitch AMA. “Well I can now [explain my mention in the Metroid Prime credits],” he said. “Even though I am violating an NDA technically by saying this, but basically we got asked to do the soundtrack by [Retro Studios]…”









“We met up with them in Austin. They were really keen and we were really keen, because it’s fucking Metroid… the best game ever. And then Nintendo borked it for some reason and wanted their guy to do it, so that was that really.



“I don’t know how much involvement they had in the sound of it, or whether they intentionally tried to make it sound a bit more [like] us, but I don’t think so really. I’ve read people saying they think it sounds a bit like us, but I don’t think it does. But it’s subjective really.”



In his 1998 book Energy Flash, dance music journalist Simon Reynolds describes the music of Autechre as “unlovely but queerly compelling sound-sculptures: abstruse and angular concatenations of sonic glyphs, blocs of distortion, and mutilated sample-sones, with occasional light relief in the form of pretty pulse-scapes of chime color.” While the duo’s musique concrète-reminiscent execution may have certainly complemented the otherworldly imagery of the Metroid franchise, perhaps Metroid Prime’s developers decided it would clash too significantly with the melodic in-game music of previous installments.



Last month, 11 tracks later confirmed to be Autechre and Gescom compositions were leaked and uploaded to YouTube.

Sean Booth of Autechre Says Group was Supposed to Score Metroid Prime

24 years have passed since hard house icon Tony de Vit passed away at only 40. He is now the first DJ to be honored with a blue plaque in Birmingham to commemorate his contributions to the arts and culture.




The Birmingham Civic Society commissions each plaque to recognize an individual who has “achieved greatness” and “made [the city] what it is today.” The blue plaque for de Vit, who was born in nearby Kidderminster, will be installed on September 24 at Digbeth’s Custard Factory to coincide with a ceremony.V2 Recording Studio — previously located at the Custard Factory — is where Tony de Vit produced more than 100 tracks in the years leading up to his passing. Between 1994-1998, 11 of them entered the U.K. singles chart.




"I’m so delighted that a historic institution like the Birmingham Civic Society is recognizing the contribution that Tony de Vit has made, not only to Birmingham’s dance and music culture, but also the influence he’s had on a generation of DJs, clubbers, promoters and audiences," said Jez Collins of Birmingham Music Archive. "Not many people realise that Tony started his career in Birmingham DJing at the seminal Nightingale Club where he would take his music from a predominantly gay audience into the mainstream.”




In late June, 1998, de Vit collapsed while on vacation in Miami. He was taken to Heartland Hospital in Birmingham, where he passed away of bone marrow failure and bronchial pneumonia on July 2.




While de Vit is the first DJ to receive an official blue plaque, fans have taken it upon themselves to honor others in a similar way. Since his passing, plaques for acid house legend Andrew Weatherall have popped up throughout London.




Following the Birmingham Civic Society’s ceremony on September 24, a Pride party will take place at the Custard Factory. Tickets to both are available via Eventbrite.

Tony de Vit Posthumously Awarded Blue Plaque in Birmingham

Techno blossomed in Berlin in the heyday of the early 90s, beginning with the genre's arrival at the famed Berlin club, Tresor. The club will release an archival book celebrating this rich history on September 9th, coinciding with the esteemed venue's 31st-anniversary festivities.


Tresor: True Stories is a treasure trove of first-hand accounts of the club's history, spanning over three decades of artifacts, personal anecdotes, and exclusive images.




The book includes event flyers, vintage record sleeves, and notable news clippings pulled from the club's archives. Boasting over 400 photographs by photographers Gustav Volker Horst, Marie Staggat, Oliver Wia, Susanne Deeken, Tilman Brembs, Wolfgang Brükner, Tresor: True Stories is the most extensive archival print work ever compiled by the institution.




Over 40 contributors were tapped for the specially curated book, giving detailed accounts of Tresor's origin story and the burgeoning techno movement that began in the 80s West Berlin. After the Berlin Wall fell, it proliferated through the underground and permeated above in clubs and venues that sprouted around a newly reunified Germany.




The repercussions of social and political movements were reflected in the music and culture of the times—Tresor: True Stories is a printed time capsule showcasing the humans and music that established techno's legacy in Berlin.




The new historical work will also include exclusive commentary from the institution's co-founders Dimitri Hegemann, Achim Kohlberger, Johnnie Stieler, and the late Regina Baer—whose recent death in July 2022 continues to be mourned by her Tresor family.


Tresor: True Stories features additional contributions from veteran DJs and Underground Resistance founders Jeff Mills and Mike Banks. Commentary by artists Carola Stoiber, Electric Indigo, Mark Reeder, and Alexandra Dröhner is also featured.




A handful of photos from the special project are available to preview below. Preorder the new archival work in English or German on Tresor's website.

Tresor Unveils Archival Book on Techno and Venue's Origin Story

Amnesia, Ibiza’s White Isle institution notorious for being one of the leading all-night venues on the island, was the first of several clubs to test out a new charitable rave app. Tequila-flavored beer company Desperados launched the Rave to Save app to fund nightlife venues across Europe by calculating club-goers’ steps via their smartphones as they dance the night away.




“We’re calling on the party community to support nightlife venues across Europe by doing what they do best – dancing. By bringing people together, we can all support the venues we love…” said Rutger van der Stegen, Desperados Head of Marketing in an interview with Beatportal.




One euro will be donated for every thousand steps to support the local club venue. Rave to Save app users can also directly contribute by donating through the app. Desperados will match each direct contribution up to 30,000 euros.




Purple Disco Machine played the first party in Berlin, party brand elrow joined in with a special event at Reineke Fuchs, Cologne, featuring David Hasert and Franca on April 4. In July, Amnesia attendees took part in the campaign.




Club-goers downloaded the app and paired it with a wristband given to them by the venue to monitor their dance steps taken throughout the charitable event. Collectively, they accrued close to one million steps—raising over 30,000 euros, or $30,500 US dollars, for charities supporting diversity in nightlife.




An exclusive invite to an afterparty hosted by Peggy Gou was extended to those participants who garnered the most steps.




“The Rave to Save campaign highlights the fact that every partygoer has the power to positively impact the future of entertainment,” shared Nicole Barsalona, the President of Women in Music, whose nonprofit received a portion of the funds raised at the charitable event. Elrow Town London is gearing up to partner with the Rave to Save app on August 20, followed by Hype Festival, Elrow Island, and Elrow Town Amsterdam.

Amnesia Clubbers Dance to Raise Funds for Charity

A five-part documentary series that highlights Black music in the U.K. has premiered on BET UK. The Evolution of Black British Music has thus far featured notable figures like Fabio & Grooverider, Goldie, and Roni Size — and it’s only an episode in.The pilot episode premiered on August 11th, focusing on jungle’s origins in Hackney, East London. The August 18th episode deals with the history of UK garage, and subsequent documentaries in the series will explore grime, AfroBashment, UK funky, road rap, and drill.









The Evolution of Black British Music is directed by Femi Oyeniran and Nicky “Slimting” Walker. The two previously worked on Against All Odds, a film on grime centered around the story of MC Active.




“We will show that beyond just being dance floor fillers, the genres reflected their time,” reads a description of the series. “Jungle was born out of post-Thatcherite youth disillusionment; U.K. garage rose to prominence during the heady days of New Labour; grime grew in prominence in youth clubs; U.K. funky and Afro swing were born out of a yearning for the good times and coincided with the coming of age of second-generation Africans; while drill is arguably born out the years of austerity, the closure of youth spaces, and the digitalization of the world.”




Dance music’s roots in Black culture are certainly not exclusive to Britain. From disco to house music to techno, U.S. dance culture largely originated in gay, Black and Latino communities (of New York, Chicago, and Detroit, in therespective case of each genre).




The influence of dub, reggae and sound system culture had been steeping in Jamaica long before that. When cross-pollinating with offshoots of the American dance music that gained popularity in the U.K. in the late ‘80s, it planted the seeds that would later become jungle and drum and bass.




Each of the five episodes of The Evolution of Black British Music run one hour in length.

The Evolution of Black British Music Docuseries Debuts on BET UK

Forced to cancel both its 2020 and 2021 iterations because of the global pandemic, UK’s largest independent festival Boomtown Fair was awarded £991,000—a little over one million US dollars—last year via the Culture Recovery Fund provided by the UK government. Boomtown organizers previously stated this generous award would enable them to secure the event in the coming years.




Now, the Hampshire festival has unveiled that juggernaut promotion company Live Nation has acquired a minority stake in the festival, though both parties have not commented on the deal at the time of this writing. Founded in 2009, Boomtown has hosted talented acts such as Lauryn Hill, M.I.A., Wu-Tang Clan, Gorillaz, Cypress Hill, and Chase & Status, among many other revered acts spanning several genres.




Documentation recently filed in Companies House revealed that last month, Live Nation’s UK & Ireland chair Denis Desmond and its COO Stuart Douglas became the official directors of the Boomtown event and became the heads of parent company Circus of Boom. Boomtown’s co-founders, Luke Mitchell and Christopher Rutherford remain on the festival’s board.



Boomtown’s latest iteration transpired on August 10-14 at the Matterley Estate and saw close to 76,000 festival-goers in attendance. Boomtown Chapter One: ‘The Gathering’ included artists of the likes of Four Tet, Kool & The Gang, Shy FX, De La Soul, and Kae Tempest.



Live Nation’s latest stake acquisition in Boomtown is one of several big moves the promotion company has made this summer. The company hired London music and arts IME Music owner Ian Evans earlier this year and further catapulted its reach in the UK by acquiring London-based live events company Parallel Lines Promotions. Additionally, the company’s concerts division saw a change in leadership with the promotion of Maddie Arnold as its new head.



Arnold, who had worked with Festival Republic and WME in the past, has been with Live Nation UK for five years. Now, her growing (almost) all-female roster includes Ashnikko, Jazmin Bean, Lauren Sanderson, Ellie Dixon, and Jazmine Flowers, among many more talented artists. Live Nation UK continues to dominate the live events space as a leader in promotion with its clever leadership additions and high-profile festival grabs.

Live Nation Acquires a Stake in UK Festival Boomtown Fair

Early Saturday morning, high winds caused part of a stage to collapse at Medusa Festival killing one and leaving at least 40 others injured. Organizers halted the remainder of the event out of safety concerns.




The BBC reports that the deceased was a man in his 20s. Three of the people injured suffered serious trauma, having remained in the hospital by Saturday afternoon.




Spanish national weather agency AEMET reported “strong gusts of wind and a sudden rise in temperatures” during the night per Reuters. Wind speeds of 51 miles per hour were recorded at Alicante Airport in Valencia, Spain.




"We are completely devastated and saddened at what happened this morning," wrote Medusa’s organizers in a statement. "At around four in the morning unexpected and violent strong winds destroyed certain areas of the festival, forcing management to make the immediate decision to vacate the concert area to guarantee the safety of attendees, workers and artists."Medusa Festival’s 2022 lineup included not only EDM acts like Afrojack and Steve Aoki, but also house and techno mainstays like Carl Cox, Ben Sims, and Oscar Mulero. A Spanish DJ named Miguel Serna was performing onstage at the time of the collapse.




“It was a very tense few minutes, I’ve never experienced anything like it before,” Serna wrote in an Instagram post, according to Reuters. “The tragedy happened just at the end of my session on the main stage, just below it, which was the most affected. It was a few moments of horror. I am still in shock."




Medusa Festival takes place in the town of Cullera on the east coast of Spain. It debuted in 2014 with headliners like Christian Smith, Cristian Varela, and Fatima Hajji. The 2020 and 2021 editions of the event were both canceled on account of restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medusa Festival Stage Collapse Leaves 1 Dead, 40 Others Injured

The new generation of Atlanta house music fans filtered through the EDM wave of dance culture seems tragically unaware of the city’s rich legacy in the genre. It couldn’t be a better time for Ultra Naté to school them with a brand-new album.




NATE, as it’s titled, is the tenth such effort delivered by the Atlanta icon in just over 30 years. It comprises 14 songs that she wrote over the course of the pandemic, speaking to the versatility of her time-tested sound. Artists like Gianni Romano, Emanuele Esposito, Henrik Schwarz, and Osunlade boast production credits on the album.




From the retro synth lead of “LAZER” to the warm instrumentals of “SUPERNATURAL” to the rubbery bass line of “SOLD OUT,” each of the tracks comprising NATE offer a slightly different style. Naté’s anthemic lyrics and sparkling vocals tie them all together into a cohesive whole — and apparently gave the artist a much-needed release.









“This ULTRA album, unlike any other, was the most cathartic and anchoring experience,” explains Ultra Naté. “Pandemic isolation and grief over the loss of many friends unraveled the protective walls I had built around myself. Stripped bare emotionally, confused, and weary of the world, I needed to remind myself every day, who I was at my core. Writing, recording and shaping this collection of songs, physically alone, but with a team of people also committed to bringing this 10th album to life, was the gift.”




After debuting with the 1989 single “It’s Over Now,” Naté released her first album, Blue Notes in the Basement, the following year. She became one of the first house music artists signed to a major label when she entered into a deal with Warner Records UK. Her last album arrived in 2017; it resulted from collaboration with Quentin Harris under their Black Stereo Faith project.




Ultra Naté also formed a DJ duo called The Girl Squad alongside fellow Atlanta artist Lisa Moody. In 2003 the two launched a local event brand called Deep Sugar that billed the likes of Tony Humphries and Louie Vega. Moody passed away in October 2021 of as yet undisclosed causes.




If you plan to dive deep into the discography of Ultra Naté, her latest album is a fitting jumping off point. Stream or download NATE across platforms here.

House Icon Ultra Naté Releases 10th Studio Album

Following the announcement of his fall Orchestra European tour and the release of his recent remix of Armin van Buuren’s “One More Time,” Worakls has dropped his latest original production, “Pipeline,” inspired by climate activism occurring throughout France and around the world this summer.









The story behind “Pipeline,” which Worakls released on his label, Sonate, is fascinating and salient. Activists and artists recently took to the Paris streets in peaceful protest of French-based multinational petroleum company and one of the nation's largest gas suppliers, TotalEnergies. Activists called for the end of what they call the company’s “lethal” oil and gas project, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), between Tanzania and Uganda. The non-violent demonstration saw activists express themselves through dance, music, and spoken word.




Leading French environmental activist Camille Etienne reached out to Worakls with the idea to create the song, and the idea behind “Pipeline” was born.




This single begins with a heavy bassline and a deep, heady electronic melody. Eventually, the bassline gives way to a flourish of strings which leads into an ethereal bridge and percussive crescendo. It’s an optimistic track that still captures the seriousness of the world’s ecological emergency — and the hope that lies within the beautiful and powerful efforts to defend our planet.




“We feel committed to this fight and at the same time full of hope,” says Worakls.







With “Pipeline,” Worakls yet again demonstrates he is a composer above all, his music meant for a live context. Following his North America solo tour, the Worakls Orchestra will hold performances in 16 cities throughout Europe, starting in Lyon on September 23 and ending in Munich on December 11, 2022.




French-born DJ and producer Worakls has paved a unique path in dance music. Blending his background as a conservatory-trained classical pianist and composer with his love for electronic music production, the artist has seen astounding success globally with the release of two acclaimed studio albums, Orchestra (2019) and Sur Le Front Des Animaux Menacés (2020), nearly a dozen EPs, and multiple world tours as a solo DJ and alongside his eponymous Worakls Orchestra.

Worakls Releases "Pipeline" Inspired by Multinational Climate Activism

Speakeasy-style hot spot Floyd Miami is hosting one of its biggest nights yet on August 12. JSloane Creative will be celebrating founder Jaime Sloane’s 30th birthday to commemorate three whirlwind decades of the music publicist’s life and career while generating funds for a cause that is dear to the creator’s heart: reproductive rights.


“I couldn’t celebrate my 30th rotation around the sun frivolously while 33.6 million reproductive-age women live in states at risk of losing access to abortion without Roe,” explained Sloane. “I’m using this occasion to channel dance music’s inclusive roots and do some real good by fundraising for these essential nonprofits. It’s a privilege to combat one of the most pressing issues of our time with my friends, family, and colleagues by my side. I’m beyond grateful to the Floyd team for supporting my vision, and booking an incredible roster of homegrown talent.”


Expect to hear the hottest cuts in house, disco, and funk brought to you by a plethora of Miami’s most esteemed underground vinyl players. Miami’s femme vinyl crew, Waxy, will provide the soundtrack to the festivities—Hiltronix, House of Pris, and Phaxas are on the lineup, as well as Prisma Artists’ talent agency founder-DJ, Inbal Lankry.


The aptly named ‘Fundraiser for Reproductive Rights’ will benefit the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Florida Access Network. The National Network of Abortion Funds diminishes financial barriers to accessing abortion and is one of the nation’s leading advocates for reproductive justice. The Florida Access Network directly enables pathways for abortion access by providing abortion resources, logistical support, and funding abortion care.




Sloane has shared that all ticket proceeds raised and 20 percent of bar sales will be split evenly between the two nonprofit organizations. Tickets to the event are available for purchase now.

JSloane Creative to host ‘Fundraiser for Reproductive Rights at Floyd Miami

Globetrotting DJ, producer, and Do Not Sit mastermind Behrouz has been hospitalized after suffering two strokes. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help cover his hospital stays and treatments.




According to the description of a GoFundMe page launched by family friend Sasha Jensen, Behrouz (full name Behrouz Nazari) first experienced a hemorrhagic stroke on April 24. He was flown to a hospital where doctors induced a coma, and the “Painted Walls” artist remained unconscious for two weeks. The swelling in his brain subsided, but the stroke caused paralysis in his right side. Nazari repeatedly visited the hospital in the months since, the fifth and most recent time being when he suffered the second stroke.




“While he had already started to undergo rehab therapy and was making progress, his family is struggling to deal with the second stroke and the unforeseen setbacks it will have on his prior progress,” writes Jensen. “We hope to assist Behrouz and his family with medical bills for his multiple hospital stays and related treatments that are crucial to restoring his health and independence.”




Additional speech, physical, and occupational therapy will be required to restore Nazari’s quality of life. “Behrouz's most important goal is to return home and lead a joyful and fulfilling life with this second chance,” Jensen continues. “Based on the skills he develops and the milestones he achieves, that roadmap may shift; but his goal is to be home in Miami and one day out on the dancefloor, putting smiles on your faces again.”




Nazari Grew up in San Francisco, where he held down long residencies at Club DV8 and 1015 Folsom. It was there that he met the house duo Deep Dish, who signed his music to their labels, Yoshitoshi and Shinichi, and represented him through their booking agency. He moved to Miami in 2007 and opened his club Do Not Sit On The Furniture in 2012.




At the time of writing, the fundraiser has cleared just less than half of its $350,000 target. Sven Väth, Timo Maas, Seth Troxler, Guy Gerber and Damian Lazarus are among the contributors. Donate and find additional information via GoFundMe.

Fundraiser Launched After Behrouz Suffers Second Stroke

ARC Music Festival organizers have announced a multitude of afterparties highlighting both its diverse set of headliners and the strong Chicago talent on the lineup. Highlights include Eric Prydz, Derrick Carter, Carl Craig, and Vintage Culture, to name a few.


Chicago is a city ripe with incredible music venues, and ARC is taking over the best of them on Labor Day weekend after the lights go off at the festival.



Radius, a massive purpose-built warehouse-style venue, will host Boris Bejcha, Get Real, Eric Prydz, and Adam Beyer. While its next-door neighbor Cermack Hall sees ANNA, Derick Carter, Ricardo Villalobos, and Gorgon City taking the decks.


On the North Side, Concord Music Hall will host Cloonee and Miane on Friday and a rare Ben Böhmer DJ Set on Sunday.


The legendary Spy Bar, open since 1995, welcomes Skream and Eats Everything on Friday, Seth Troxler and Carl Craig at Spybar, and Gioli and Assia performing a DJ Set on Sunday to close the festival weekend out.


ARC Music Festival held its inaugural event in 2021 and quickly expanded from two to three days in 2022. The festival exclusively books underground electronic music, focusing on the brightest names in house and techno with an emphasis on interactive art exhibits, honoring the roots of Chicago and strong brand partners like Elrow.


Combining top-level underground talent with local legends, ARC lets old-school techno cross paths with new-school tech house. The ARC team is committed to creating an event memorializing all that is good about Chicago.


Read below for the full afterparty lineup.






Friday 9/2/22

Boris Brejcha at Radius

ANNA at Cermak Hall

Cloonee & Miane at Concord

Nora En Pure at Prysm

Skream & Eats Everything at Spybar




Saturday 9/3/22

Green Velvet & Claude VonStroke at Radius

Derick Carter and Ricardo Villalobos at Cermak Hall

Joseph Capriati at Prysm

Seth Troxler and Carl Craig at Spybar

Honey Dijon at Smartbar

Mike Dunn and Mark Farina at Primary




Sunday 9/4/22

Eric Prydz and Adam Beyer at Radius

Gorgon City at Cermak Hall

Ben Böhmer DJ Set at Concord

Vintage Culture at Prysm

Gioli and Assia DJ Set at Spybar

Acid Pauli at Primary

DJ Three BTB Oona Dahl at No9

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