Movement Detroit has announced a jaw-dropping sneak peek line-up for its long-awaited 2022 return. Fans have patiently waited for details from Detroit's flagship techno festival.

Three veteran techno acts, Sweden's Adam Beyer, iconic Detroit-born DJ and pioneer Jeff Mills, and longtime Movement favorite Richie Hawtin will grace the main stage. The remainder of the teaser line-up includes several show stoppers including the Blessed Madonna, Carl Craig, Claude Vonstroke, DJ Minx, Eris Drew b2b Octo Octa, Louie Vega, Nina Kraviz, Seth Troxler, and James Murphy.  

Paxahau, the festival's organizer, announced the headliners and an initial wave of artists for this spring's event on Wednesday. They said the whole roster will be revealed in phases in the coming weeks.  





The comeback is expected to be filled with special surprises to delight attendees. Among the many remarkable milestones is Detroit native Jeff Mills celebrating the Axis label's 30th anniversary with a unique showcase.  

Mills told Billboard, "Of all the places I've traveled to and audiences I've played music for, Detroit is still the city that remains the barometer of advanced creative knowledge and technique. It's special because of what the long list of native Detroit musicians that have contributed to the world of music. It's a place that is infamous for proposing new ways and ideas as well as a unique and common viewpoint on the future of music. The city taught me to never fear what lies beyond, but embrace it as a means to advance the music art form."

One of the world's most renowned and longest-running electronic music festivals, Movement returns to its urban mecca Hart Plaza on Memorial Day, May 28-30. Three days of cement rattling and immense production in one of the most astonishing metropolitan landscapes.   

Early bird tickets are sold out, but Tier 1 3-Day and 1-Day Passes for both GA and VIP are now on sale here. For more information, check out their website and social media channels here.

Movement Detroit Returns with a Jaw-Dropping Sneak Peek Lineup 

AVA London returns to Printworks for its fifth edition March 18-19, 2022. The Northern-Irish-born festival and conference bring together a day of introspective and illuminating talks with a night of belting techno at one of the UK's most revered venues.

During the day, AVA welcomes powerhouse live act and titan of the hardware, KiNK, who will host a live masterclass. It's a rare opportunity to peek inside the mind of a brilliantly creative force in dance music.

Author of Trainspotting and electronic music enthusiast Irvine Welsh will be the subject of a special keynote interview. The king of techno Carl Cox will dial in for a virtual Q and A. And BBC Radio 1xtra presenter Jamz Supernova and Jaguar Bingham of BBC Radio 1 will be chatting with Niks Delancy of Black Artist Database. 





The daytime program features keynotes speeches, artist Q&As, masterclasses, tech demos, and workshops with over 40 artists and insiders. 

As the industry rebuilds and reaffirms its sense of community, AVA will concentrate on four key themes for the 2022 edition: Innovation, Diversity, Post-Pandemic & Sustainability. A full schedule of the day's events is available on AVA's website.

When the sun sets, and the lights go down, Print Works will turn on the lasers for a night of non-stop techno. The diverse lineup includes Maribou State doing a special Dj set, KiNK and Prospa each throwing down live sets, Roman Flügel, Carlton Doom, Fauzia, Holly Lester, Kessler, Powder, RE:NI, Tailor Jae, and some exceptional unannounced guests. 

Tickets are available now for AVA London.




 

AVA London Conference and Club Night Returns to Print Works 

New York-based artist Proper Villians has reinvented himself throughout his career while always staying ahead of the curve. His latest remix for fellow New Yorker QRTR is another example of how his intelligent sound design and impeccable grooves can elevate an already stellar piece of music.

"Nossa" appears as an interlude on QRTR's 2021 album infina ad nausea. The haunting choral arrangement is accented by clips of dropped calls and an equally haunting backdrop of chimes, swells, and hits. 

Proper Villians take is a warped late-night ride to a dark warehouse lit only by a strobe light. The drums are crisp, and as the vocal sample washes out, a devastatingly dirty descending synth plunges you deeper into the rave. The icing on the cake. The voice asking, "Are you fucking serious?" before the last drop. It's a simple touch that's beautifully effective.

When QRTR finished her album and asked him to pick a song to remix, it seemed like an odd choice to choose a two-minute interlude. However, the choral sample was something he knew he could work with. 

Initially, the remix flowed from him organically. "I spent like one day on it. And like I got the weird string crazy drop thing and then the intro thing. " 

What's remarkable about the source material revealed itself when he asked QRTR for the original sample. You won't find the choral sample on Splice or in any sample library, for that matter.

"I asked her about it. She recorded it in a church. She just took a field recorder and recorded the choir." 

The creativity behind both the original and the remix are hallmarks of these two remarkable artists.




Track Of The Week: Proper Villians Remixes QRTR's 'Nossa' into a Rave Ready Masterpiece

This week, we’ve tagged in the LWE group to curate Mix Of The Week. Since 2010 they’ve held down some of London’s biggest parties, including Junction 2, Ion, and their legendary throw downs at Tobacco Dock. 

In 2020 they pivoted to virtual shows and took Junction 2 digital. It was the UK’s first large-scale virtual underground festival broadcast in over 150 countries. The follow-up, Junction 2: Connections, was a global affair, filmed in the techno trifecta: Detroit, Berlin, and London. While over six million ravers from around the world looked on, they paved the way for a new era of hybrid events finding a union between the IRL world and virtual. 

The UK crew takes us down the rabbit hole with Spanish artist Indira Paganotto. She carries us on a trip that rips through grinding warehouse-ready acid techno. 

LWE had this to say about one of techno’s most fascinating emerging talents. 

“Star on the rise, Indira Paganotto delivered a blistering techno voyage for number 176 in the LWE mix series. Impressing with standout sets on lineups with the likes of Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, and Ben Klock, Indira is quickly stamping her mark as one of Spain’s most exciting new exports. Delivering acclaimed releases for the likes of Second State, OFF, Octopus and UNCAGE, her latest EP on Charlotte De Witte’s KNTXT capped off another prolific year for the young talent.”

Mix Of The Week: Indira Paganotto's Scorching Acid Techno

Flesh is launching as the United Kingdom's first-ever LQBTQIA+ electronic music and camping festival. All of the acts will be underrepresented artists, championing a spectrum of gender minorities and ethnicities. This two-day celebration of house and techno music will occur over Bank Weekend on May 28th-29th, 2022 at Springfield Farm in St Albans – about 25 minutes from central London. 

"The festival addresses long-term issues in festival programming, which is dominated by cis-male straight artists, breaking the cycle and allowing emerging and underrepresented talent to break through on a worldwide platform," Flesh Queer organizers said in a statement.

The outstanding of up-and-coming House and Techno DJs over three stages includes Aisha Mirza, Raven, Lady Shaka, Jaguar, SPFDJ, object blue, and more. 

Not only is Flesh looking to create visibility for minority artists, but the festival also strives to create a safe space for people from all walks of life. One of the critical features of the festival is a sober tent hosted by Riposte London will host workshops, panels, and hold place to share experiences in a calm environment comfortably. 

Organizers also launched an open call for on-the-rise QTIPOC (Queer, Transgender, Intersex, People of Color) to apply for scholarships to the London Sound Academy. Winners will also have the opportunity to perform at the festival. Those interested in applying can do so here before the February 3 deadline.

2-day general admission and camping tickets to the festival are now available on Flesh Queer's website.



Flesh: The United Kingdom's first-ever LQBTQIA+ Electronic Music Festival

Ibiza is finally opening its nightclubs and epic parties for a season that will be the White Isle’s longest ever. This year will be slightly different as nightclubs will open earlier than usual, in April, two weeks before the typical opening week. They continue into October and November.

With only a handful of clubs able to open last year under strict regulations all of the influential party outlets are said to be in full force. There will be restrictions in place for opening this year—65% capacity guidelines and COVID passport which officials are confident will aid against shutdowns this year.

Here are some of the Baleric island’s most banging events to look forward to.    




International Music Summit 

The traditional kick-off event, Ibiza's annual International Music Summit happens a little early this year, April 27-29. Co-creator of IMS Pete Tong and BBC Radio 1 broadcaster Jaguar will host the three-day event. The series of keynotes, lectures, conversations, workshops, and sessions at Destino Pacha Ibiza Resort will have a 'no-panel' policy this year. There’s a lot to discuss as the industry begins to take steps towards rebuilding after (or amidst) the pandemic.

Information on attending can be found here. 




Amnesia 

As predicted one of the most iconic nightclubs in Ibiza is coming back with a bang. The long-awaited announcement of their May 21st 18-hour opening party has travelers salivating as the venue’s curation is always in top form.  The line-up is yet to be announced, but if you fancy a warm-up, on April 29 they're hosting Amelia Lens in the main room, Luciano on the Terrace, and East End Dub Dubs with Seb Zito  in 3R Dimension.

You can purchase tickets to Amnesia's 2022 Opening Party here.




Repopulate Mars at Eden

After a 10 year ban from Ibiza, Lee Foss has announced he will bring Repopulate Mars to Eden as a weekly residency. “The Arrival” will take place every Tuesday from June 21-September 20. Over the last decade, Foss has worked with everyone from Jamie Jones, as Hot Natured, to MK. And Repopulate Mars has released music from Vintage Culture, John Summit, Ferreck Dawn, Miane, and Dillon Nathaniel so the lineups for these shows will most definitely be a who’s who of tastemakers in house music. A

Tickets for every night at Eden club with Lee Foss’s Repopulation Mars are now on sale via tixr.com.




Ibiza Clubbing Season for 2022 Gets an Early Start

This Track of The Week comes from John Barry from Analog Agency’s North American office. Analog manages the bookings of a stellar lineup of house and techno acts omes including Carl Cox, Chelina Manuhutu, Jeremy Olander, Francisco Allendes, Matthias Tanzmann, Andrea Oliva, Cassy, Yousef, Joseph Capriati, and Deborah de Luca. Barry received a bachelor’s degree in business enterprise management from Wake Forest University. And after only eight years in the industry, he established himself as a driving force in building a stronger house music community worldwide.

This week he’s chosen “Only Love” by GRAMMY award nominee Tycho and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service. The emotionally reverent lyrics are inspired by Naomi Klein’s book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, Gibbard told Rolling Stone in July 2021. Combined with Tycho’s lilting, atmospheric synths, it translates a brilliantly uplifting message. W

“While the messaging and lyrics resonate with the ebbs and flows of the past two years
globally, I’m also a long-time fan of Scott’s production and music,” Barry tells Gray Area. “Live & recorded instrumentation can elevate a song to a new level, which Tycho has been doing for years. A tactile notion... it’s like pulling paint off a picture. Dive into Tycho’s music catalog and there are plenty of gems.”





 





 





 





 









Track of The Week: Tycho and Benjamin Gibbard's "Only Love" has a Powerful Message

Brooklyn is arguably New York City dance music’s beating heart. Large venues like Avant Gardner and Music Hall of Williamsburg host some of the biggest events in the city. Yet hidden gems like Nowadays, Mood Ring, and Bossa Nova are among the few that hold the scene together day by day. Tragically, on the night of January 12, the apartment atop Bossa Nova Civic Club caught fire, leaving one tenant seriously injured.

The morning after, word spread over social media about the devastating situation. The community worried about the victims, as well as dance music’s little home on Myrtle Ave. Dweller Festival and Discwoman founder Frankie Decaiza Hutchinson, also known as Frankie Fat Gold, gave insight into the state of Bossa Nova after the event. 

She tweeted, “I just got off the phone with John in regards to bossa, he told me the fire was above bossa, bossa didn’t burn but the water damage and the damage to the whole building means it won’t be opening for a very long time and may not reopen at all but still figuring this out.” 

The venue confirmed this in a now-vanished Instagram story, rehashing that “the building sustained significant damage” and “will be closed for a notable amount of time.”

She continues, “I’m extremely heartbroken over this, this space really gave me everything. we all know how meaningful this club has been for so many of us. I really don’t know what to say. Will be posting a GoFundMe soon.”

A GoFundMe has been created. The description states that the money raised will go to “the staff, bar, and tenants. Distribution of funds will be broken down as we approach the goal.”

It also says, “This space is a second home to a lot of us and has cultivated many careers, friendships and chosen families. Bossa has endured but survived an extreme amount of adversities, during a pandemic no less. This level of harm needs the full backing of the community to restore.”

Bossa Nova is indeed a hub for dance music DJs from all over the city, continuously pushing the incredible local talent that New York City offers. 

DJ SWISHA commented, “So heartbroken about the news that an apartment above Bossa caught fire. We gotta do everything we can to keep this institution afloat once they further assess the situation. Also, please be careful with your words and don't just call this ‘the bossa fire’ it’s not a meme.”

Mood Ring, a club that sits only a block away from Bossa, showed their support on their Instagram in a caption that reads, “Our hearts go out to our friends and neighbors @bossanovacivicclub & everyone in the building affected by the fire. Please consider donating to their Restoration, Tenant & Staff fund.”

If you have the means, please donate to the Bossa Nova Civic Club Restoration & Staff Fund.



Brooklyn’s Bossa Nova Civic Club Closes After ‘Sustaining Significant Damage’ in Fire, Crowdfund Begins

It's about time again for our monthly takeover of Diplo's Revolution. Yes, that's right, OCHO 3 is coming on January 22, 2022, to Sirius XM. We're serving up eight hours of non-stop exclusive sets by eight extraordinary artists from across the globe.

This month's diverse lineup features eight artists from across the spectrum of house sub-genres. Andrea Oliva, Cloonee, J. Worra, Layla Benitez, Meduza, Paco Osuna, Shermanology, and Wax Motif all come from different corners of the worldwide house music community. And while their sounds may vary, each one encompasses the words of Chuck Roberts from the 1988 anthem "Can You Feel It" by Fingers Inc., "house music is a universal language."



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022









Andrea Oliva

Born in Switzerland, Oliva taught himself to DJ at the tender age of 13. The young DJ found a job in a record shop and quickly established himself as a skilled selector, building a carefully curated library of promos and white labels. It wasn't long before he was booked in Switzerland's best clubs and throwing his legendary sold-out Banditz parties. He's since become a staple of the Ibiza scene cemented by residencies with elrow at Amnesia, Music On at Amnesia, and ANTS at Ushuaïa. His lauded production skills have seen him on remix duties like Luciano and releasing club weapons on Defected, Moon Harbour, Relief, Hot Creations, and 7Wallace.







Cloonee

One of the tech-house scene's most potent stars, Cloonee, has seen an unprecedented rise since the release of his 2017 Estes EP on Elrow. What's followed in an unstoppable tear of genre-defining releases on labels like Sonny Fodera's Solotoko, Desert Hearts, Big Beat, Michael Bibi's Solid Grooves, Mark Knight's Toolroom, and Chris Lake's Black Book Records. With an unsurpassed sense of rhythm and soul-shattering basslines, his releases regularly break the Beatport charts making him one of the site's top-selling tech-house artists of 2021. His back-to-back set with Andrea Oliva at elrow Rowsattacks! in December blew us away; we can't wait to see what tricks he has in his bag for OCHO.







J. Worra

Even before being named the 2019 Breakthrough Music Producer of the Year by DJ Mag, J. Worra's technical abilities, trademark swag, and imitable ability to create body grinding beats were well known. Her performance in December at Rowsattacks! in New York was a showstopping moment, proving once again why she's rocked major festivals like EDC and Coachella as well as every major club in the US. She discovered house music in Chicago and, while she may LA-based, brings a hint of that classic vibe to everything she does. Her dynamic catalog includes releases on labels like Higher Ground, Realm, Sweat It Out, and Sink or Swim. And her remixes for GRiZ, Gorgon City, and deadmau5 have elevated their work to new heights.



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022









Layla Benitez

It's clear from watching her perform that Layla Benitez has a potent understanding of how music moves people. Her visceral connection to dance music extends beyond the dance floor. It's in her soul. Her father, Jellybean Benitez, is an acclaimed DJ and culture-defining producer who was a pillar of New York's nightlife community throughout the 80s and 90s. Yet Layla's abilities are more than a legacy. Her distinctive blend of afro house, deep house, and world beats create peak dance floor moments for fans from Ibiza to Miami, New York to London, and Mykonos to Los Angeles.










Meduza

House music's recent domination of commercial radio is bookmarked by young producers who understand what underground dance music fans have known for decades. That house music is a feeling. Leading the charge is GRAMMY-nominated Italian trio, Meduza. Their debut single "Piece of Your Heart," with Goodboys, was a worldwide phenomenon topping charts throughout Europe, US, and Asia. The boys have gone on to dominate the charts with radio-friendly beats that have touched millions, streamed in the billions, yet pay homage to house music's underground roots. They masterfully walk the tightrope between the often protective, tight-knit house music community and the mainstream with grace and style, effortlessly bouncing from remixing for the likes of Ed Sheeran to releasing on legendary imprints like Defected.










Paco Osuna

For over two decades, Paco Osuna has steadily built a reputation as one of dance music's most respected and revered selectors and producers. The Mindshake Records founder has been a fixture of the Ibiza scene since the late 90s and held down residencies Richie Hawtins ENTER, Sven Vath's Cocoon series at Amnesia, as well as an endless array of prestigious events all over the world from Electric Zoo to Space Miami, Time Warp to EDC, and Watergate Berlin to WOMB Tokyo. In the studio, his imitable rhythmic timing, sophisticated sound palate, and imaginative spirit have made him a sought-after award-winning producer with releases on Mood, Plus8, Minus, Defected, Moon Harbour, and Get Physical.










Shermanology

Brother sister duo Andy and Dorothy Sherman's ability to inject tech-house with the soul and spirit of their Caribbean heritage has made them a uniquely genre-defying pair. Dorothy's distinct and stirring vocals transport the dance floor to the days of diva house. And Andy's production and DJ experience have traversed genre barriers from UK garage to bass house. Together their sound is boundless, impressing the underground and the mainstream alike. Their 2020 release "Boyz N Da Club" was an unstoppable club slumper. Yet they continue to prove their diversity working with artists like Will Clarke on the emotive "Searching" and scoring over a million plays on "Bon Bini," performed entirely in Papiamentu, their native language. 













Wax Motif

Known as a leader in G house and UK Bass, Wax Motif has more recently established a wider range of sounds. His recent release "Koalack" on his Divided Souls imprint shows a softer, more reflective side. And while Waxy continues to move dance floors with his trademark dirt nasty bass house, his emerging diversity proves his talents in the studio. He's also recently stepped out as a leader in blockchain and community building as one of the first dance music artists to create his cryptocurrency, $WAXM. The industry-leading move gave fans access to exclusive music, one-on-one Zoom sessions, and even the chance to collaborate with the producer who has released on labels like Confession, Night Bass, and Musical Freedom.



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on January 22, 2022



Get Ready for Another Bumping OCHO on Diplo's Revolution

As COVID drags on, the music industry continues to battle with uncertainty, especially in nightlife. Before the pandemic, many creatives still couldn’t rely on their craft to pay for basic needs. According to Catherine Martin TD, Irish Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, the solution is Basic Income for the Arts. A form of Universal Basic Income.

In a statement on Ireland’s government site, she said, “This is a once-in-a-generation policy intervention, a measure that I believe will redraw the landscape for the arts for hopefully many years to come. Our culture and the arts are a fundamental expression of who we are as a nation. Our rich cultural heritage is one of our greatest assets, and our artists weave a sense of identity, creativity and belonging into the fabric of our communities. The intrinsic societal value of culture and the arts was particularly evident during the pandemic, where it provided colour, light and hope in uncertain times.”

Ireland will commit about €25 million ($28.3 million) to the program, which it expects to implement in February or March. Two thousand artists, actors, musicians, and other performers are expected to receive a basic income of €10.50, or $11.89  an hour over three years. This is equal to Ireland’s minimum wage. However, the living wage in Ireland (the lowest amount needed to cover basic needs) is €12.90 ($14.61) an hour.







In an interview with The Irish Times, Martin explains, “Obviously this is post the Covid-19 restrictions but the goal here is twofold: it’s to support jobs and businesses in the night-time economy and but also to support the new and emerging acts. We could be looking at music, we could be looking at poetry slam nights, local theatre groups, traditional music, classical music, and of course, our electronic music.”

Venues and cafés expect to receive grants of at least €10,000 “to support hundreds and hundreds of events with new acts” through night-time events. Martin adds, “If we look at how far behind we are, look at Berlin where culture thrives at all hours, why does the city’s heartbeat have to end at midnight or one in the morning.”

Mixmag spoke to Dublin DJ Aiden Thompson about the pilot scheme. He tells the publication, “In my opinion, I would like it to go ahead, however, I’m skeptical about who they’ll deem ‘eligible’ for it.

"Judging from stories from my friends I probably won’t be eligible and instead, the people making large amounts from sales and tours anyway will be those who receive the payment, which I sincerely hope is not the case."

While Thompson is hopeful, he acknowledges that other DJs he knows will “believe it when they see it.”

Irish producer and DJ Air Jackson also commented on Mixmag’s initial report of the online consultation with, “PR spoof and nothing more. The Irish government literally couldn’t care any less about music & arts and it has been this way for decades. Musicians, artists & venues have been thrown under a bus for the past 22 months with little or no supports [sic].”



Irish Government Will Pay a ‘Basic Income’ to 2000 Artists, DJs Are Skeptical

Destination festivals have been all the rage in recent years. And Tulum was at the center of it all, where even through the pandemic, the party seemed to continue. Last year a brain trust of lauded promoters came to imagine a new festival experience in Playa Del Carmen called Departure. Conceived by Pollen Presents, The CityFox Experience, and Brooklyn Mirage, the five-day event promised an impressive lineup including Adam Beyer, Cassy, Lee Foss, The Martinez Brothers, Jamie Jones, and Dubfire. 

The rise of the Omicron variant has cast a shadow over the world as cases rise to unprecedented numbers. And as festival-goers made the journey to Tulum to escape the winter's chill, festival organizers were forced to postpone the opening day of the festival on Thursday.

Early today, festival organizers posted a social media update announcing the total cancelation of the festival. They said, "It is with an incredibly heavy heart that on the weekend of our show, after ten days of building and months of planning, we have been instructed that we cannot operate Departure."

The festival team has worked closely with local authorities in Playa Del Carmen. They stated that "with the recent severe rise in the cases of Omicron in the past few days, the Governor announced last night that Playa del Carmen is returning to yellow tier COVID restrictions and therefore we cannot continue with a show of this size as planned."

All tickets will be refunded, and Polen offered a $200 credit towards a future experience. Hotel bookings will not be affected for anyone who has already made the trip.  

The festival team went on to express, "it breaks our hearts that we can't put on the incredible experience that we had planned. For those that are already here, we sincerely hope that you can continue to enjoy the incredible location."

For more information on refunds, please contact Polen's live chat in the Pollen app or text 25931.






Departure Festival Cancelled Amidst New Covid Rules in Mexico

One of the best parts about live music is crowded spaces sharing community, freedom, and most of all, love for the dancefloor. In 2021 when restrictions began to loosen globally, dance floors again became packed and shined as a bright beacon of recovery.

SWG3, an arts center in Glasgow, hosts the city’s immense dance parties — post-pandemic tickets for club nights sold and had energy stronger than ever. Which got the team behind the art center thinking. What if the well-being dance floor supported the sustainability of the planet?

In partnership with TownRock Energy, SWG3 will begin installing an innovative and first-of-its-kind renewable heating and cooling system which recycles the body heat of attendees. The plan estimates a reduction of SWG3's total carbon output by up to 70% and is showing a high demand to be replicated.   







In 2019, managing partner of SWG3 Andrew Fleming-Brown expressed interest in exploring low-carbon energy systems for SWG3. As a result, the idea was born to capture the energy from the attendees and trap it into the ground for future use storage.  

Photo Credit: Michael Hunter



The Science Behind It: 

The human body produces about 100 watts of energy while resting. Vigorous dancing can quickly multiply that output by five or six. Dancing generates the same kinetic energy power as running, which is a decent amount of human control. 

To store the energy, TownRock developed an application for a heat pump custom to SWG3. It utilizes similar energy transfer to the standard household refrigerator; however, instead of cold to warm transfer, the process implemented in SWG3 will be warm to cold. The system is called Bodyheat, which will transfer the heat of dancing clubbers into 12 boreholes. This will turn a large cube of underground rock into a thermal battery storing the energy heat for venue temperature and water.   

The system development began in 2019. Then in 2020 fueled by pandemic shutdowns, the SWG3 team focused on a full-scale sustainability plan for the venue, setting the goal of achieving "net-zero" carbon emissions by 2025. 

When work resumed in the fall of 2020, Bodyheat is the central component of the plan. The first installation phase should be complete by early spring and provide heating and cooling to SWG3's two main event spaces. The final stage will offer hot water to the bathrooms and central heating, ridding the venue of its central boilers.   



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The Future: 

The system is not cheap as Bodyheat costs approximately ten times the amount of a conventional heating and cooling system. However, this will be recovered in full as it balances out the cost of energy bills within five years. 

With these statistics, this system has become extremely attractive to event spaces and businesses. Multiple spaces in different industries are exploring the technology behind Bodyheat. Interest is already building in Berlin and Scotland.

This is not the first use of dancing to generate sustainable energy. A Dutch company called Energy Floors developed a line of tiles almost a decade ago that converts dancers' steps into electricity installed at Club Watt in Rotterdam in 2008. Although in comparison, Kinetic dance floors make only small quantities of electricity. While Bodyheat will have a meaningful impact on carbon output.   

"We did not initially think that dance would be such a big part of this project," Fleming-Brown said. "But you need a visual language to communicate an idea, and it quickly became apparent that the emotional connection people have with live music and dance was a winning streak."

For nightclubs and events, environmental consciousness has been a theme in the community. The next logical step is this fantastic innovation that will enable us, party people, to do tremendous good for sustainability and the environment.  



A Glasgow Venue is Creating Renewable Energy From Dancing

Next year in Frankfurt a new museum dedicated to electronic music.   

The Museum of Modern Electronic Music (MOMEM) previously planned to open in October but was postponed due to funding. It will now open its doors on April 6th, 2022.

MOMEM announced the project in 2015 and held a pop-up trial in 2018. The museum is under the stewardship of Alex Azary, a pioneering Berlin techno and electro artist who has produced music under several monikers for more than two decades. He was inspired to create the museum by Technoclub founder Andreas Tomalla aka DJ Talla 2XLC, who came up with the initial vision for the museum back in 2011.

The final design of the museum will feature exhibits, performance areas, and installations, as well as a library that will allow people to sift through a vast chronicle of electronic music history. 

One of the opening exhibits at MOMEM will feature an exposition of Sven Väth titled It's Simple To Tell What Saved Us From Hell. The show delves into the German techno Producer and DJ's private record collection, art, photographs, show flyers, and more.



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"There is no better opening exhibition for MOMEM. Because Sven Väth and Tobias Rehberger have each, in their own way, taken electronic music culture from Frankfurt to the world," said Azary on the opening of MOMEN.

The museum describes itself as "a place to explore, conserve and relive the historical dimensions and influences of Electronic Music. A journey from the beginning to the future. A place of continuous movement and transformation, turning from museum into stage into bar into academy. A reactive environment in the heart of Frankfurt. A museum not for visitors but for guests."

Visit the Museum of Modern Electronic Music website and donate here to learn more. 



Museum of Modern Electronic Music Will Open In Frankfurt in April 2022

Grammy-nominated South African DJ and producer Black Coffee (aka Nkosinathi Maphumulo) has been named Executive Music Producer for a project directed by Hicham Hajji of the film Redemption Day. The upcoming feature film called God is a DJ. It focuses on two up-and-coming minority DJs in the electronic music space.

The movie follows a Jewish man and Moroccan imam who begin a partnership as a DJ duo. As they gain recognition within their local communities, the story details the tribulations of collaboration as a musical duo, how they learn to trust each other despite their cultural differences, and the trials of taking a musical act on the circuit.   



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With this film, producer Hajji stated that he "aims to bring this nice music to the world through the minorities that understand it."  

This is the second feature film project Black Coffee is helming the music for, after the 2017 film 2017's Wizard. And with the nuanced understanding he holds for the story of a POC navigating the music industry, he will undoubtedly impact the movie in the best of ways. 

The film is in the pre-production phase, with the release date still unknown.





Correction (1/5/22): A previous version of this story reported Black Coffee as the Executive Producer of the film. It has been updated to reflect his role as Executive Music Producer.

Black Coffee is Producing Music for a Film Directed by Hicham Hajji 

Music collective Girls Don't Sync headlined at Liverpool's newly established venue STN LVP on opening night.

Presented by Mixmag and Coors, the first iteration of the Lab at brand new venue STN LVP featured sets from talented DJs and foundation.fm residents Matty Chiabi, G33, Sophia Violet, and Hannah Lynch. 

The GDS DJs welcomed Lucid and Beccas Vernon, who brought with them plenty of good vibes and house bangers for the crowd to enjoy.

The girl gang played an energetic session at the party's launch in true GDS style.

Kicking off the night was the inimitable Matty Chiabi, who brought the vibes with her mixing talent and irresistible Afrohouse selections—one particular highlight was Wande Coal's absolute house banger, "ISKABA."

G33 smoothly segued into Duke Dumont's "The Giver" and followed the track with some tech house and UK garage sounds to many clubgoers' delight.



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Sophia Violet brought the session's sound back into Afrohouse with Conducta's remix of Wiley's "Boasty," and Hannah Lynch drove the crowd wild with her percussive selections and detailed mixing.

The set features some of the freshest tech, afro house, and D&B cuts, mixed and specially curated by GDS' best talents. Tune in to the entire two-hour session on YouTube here.

If you're a local, you'll be happy to know that STN LVP will be hosting more in-house events and weekly livestreams soon with some of Liverpool's local talents and upcoming artists and DJs.

Stay tuned for more information on future events by following the venue's Instagram.



Watch: Girls Don't Sync in The Lab Liverpool

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

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


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



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

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

Ultra Miami Unveils the Resistance Lineup for 2022

In October, Gray Area launched OCHO, an eight-hour journey through the global sounds of modern house and techno. In partnership with Diplo's Revolution and Sirius XM, listeners expanded their sonic palates with a day of diverse music and fresh beats. On December 11, 2021, OCHO returns to the airwaves with a new lineup featuring Dennis Ferrer, Yulia Niko, Gioliì & Assia, Dennis Cruz, John Summit, Dombresky, Archie Hamilton, and Arielle Free.

The lineup of innovative and forward-thinking artists is another shining example of Gray Area's mission to unite the international house music community and draw lines between its rich sub-cultures and sub-genres.

Dennis Ferrer

New York-born house music legend Dennis Ferrer heads the lineup. Ferrer established his footprint in the 90s as part of the early New York techno and gospel house scene. The genre-defining producer has throughout the years continued to push the envelope with a wide-spanning output that includes hits like "Hey Hey," "Sinfonia Della Notte," and "Whisper" with Disciples and James Yuill.

Follow Dennis Ferrer on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Yulia Niko

Yulia Niko's worldly sound is likely a result of her travels. The Russian-born artist discovered dance music in Sochi, wrote her breakthrough music in Greece and New York, and finally settled in Berlin, where she became a resident of the iconic Watergate nightclub. Her Detroit-inspired deep minimal tech has received acclaim from Jamie Jones and Lee Foss and earned her releases on Get Physical, Crosstown Rebels, and Objektivity.

Follow Yulia Niko on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud



Tune in to Gray Area OCHO on December 11, 2021



Giolí & Assia

Multi-hyphenate's Gioli & Assia combine their deep-seated background in live instrumentation and traditional music for a lush, passionate melodic experience like no other. What started as a manager/ client relationship has grown into a creative partnership that has developed beyond their imagination. Assia's lilting vocals float over the top of scintillating sonics that exemplify the lengths to which techno can be pushed.

Follow Giolì & Assia on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Dennis Cruz

Dennis Cruz is a singular force in house and techno. By the time the Spanish DJ and producer was 17, he'd already been in the studio with hip hop artists and rock bands crafting hits. However, he found a home in dance music weaving together thumping basslines, Latin-tinged beats, and a wide array of musical influences. Named the Beatport Most Charted Artist of 2016, his music draws support from icons like Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Roger Sanchez, and Marco Carola.

Follow Dennis Cruz on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud



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John Summit

John Summit has been on a two-year tear, dropping hit record after record and dominating the festival circuit. Incredibly, the Chicago-based DJ broke through amid the pandemic with "Deep End" on Defected—the longest-running Beatport #1 of 2020. He has since collaborated with everyone from Gorgon City to Sofi Tukker and has seen releases on the industry's most lauded labels.

Follow John Summit on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Dombresky

Dombresky has established himself as a dynamic purveyor of classy, uplifting, vocal-driven house music. The French-born, LA-based artist has dominated the Spotify playlists and festival stages in 2020 with landmark performances at Lollapalooza and EDC Vegas. And future classic releases on Insomniac, Armada, and Toolroom.

Follow Dombresky on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud







Archie Hamilton

In 2019 Archie Hamilton released his debut album Archive Fiction, a milestone and breakthrough moment for the producer who'd already spent years grinding and building his two record labels, Moscow Records and Moss Co., from the ground up. His rough and tumble basslines and floating synth work were the first signal that a new brand of European house music maestro was taking over the game.

Follow Archie Hamilton on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Arielle Free

BBC Radio 1 presenter, producer, and DJ Arielle Free has risen to be an influential tastemaker in dance music. Often referred to as Scotland's answer to Annie Mac, she's diligently spent years creating her own space in dance music. Aside from being the daytime ambassador for Radio 1's iconic dance programming, her career as a DJ exploded in 2020 with performances at Printworks, Parklife, Glastonbury, and Creamfields.

Follow Arielle Free on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud



Tune in to Gray Area Presents OCHO on December 11 from 12 PM to 8 PM ET.







Gray Area OCHO Returns to Diplo's Revolution in December

Over the weekend, we learned the devastating news that Louis Vuitton's designer and creative director, Virgil Abloh, tragically passed on November 28. His camp posted, "We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues." 

The visionary had been battling cardiac angiosarcoma—a rare form of cancer—over the last two years. The Medicine Journal reports, "Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is rare, but it is the most aggressive type of cardiac malignant tumor. When disease is confirmed it is often late in its stage resulting in a poor prognosis." 

Like Black Panther protagonist Chadwick Boseman, Virgil Abloh hadn't publicly stated he was dealing with the illness. His team added that Abloh "chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture."

Virgil Abloh was a mogul in every realm, never boxed into one category. And his work in each medium encompasses everything the world loves about hip-hop culture. So while he gained prominence for founding luxury streetwear brand Off-White in 2012, his love of art plausibly began with music.

Inspired by names like A-Trak, Benji B, Gilles Peterson, and the X-Men versus Invisibl Skratch Piklz scratch-battle series, Abloh began DJing house parties in high school. He tells HYPEBEAST, "The plan for me has always been to never formally define. I've always been into different genres of music, so playing [music] has been something I've been doing since high school. It's been 15 years now. I've been DJing since I was 18, 19, through high school and college. This has always been one of my favorite pastimes — representing different genres of music and bases of nightlife."

While a notable name in hip-hop, Virgil was no stranger to dance music. But although his roots are in Chicago, Detroit techno is what got his feet wet. He adds, "I'd transition from hip-hop scratching, in the vein of DJing, to listening to Gilles Peterson. I'd link my dad's fascination with jazz and soul to the hip-hop I was listening to. I grew up listening to hip-hop such as Common and Tribe Called Quest. House electronic music wasn't at the forefront, and it's a shame [seeing that] I'm from Chicago. I learned [about] Detroit techno [through] Benji B. For a kid, that was the way you learned in the '80s. There was no music education in those genres, just hip-hop."

Abloh released his first single "ORVNGE" with Boys Noise in 2018, becoming the titular track for a 3-song EP. From there, his DJ career finally skyrocketed. He shared his love of music by securing coveted gigs at Hi Ibiza, Tomorrowland in 2019, and a residency at XS Nightclub in Wynn Las Vegas. He seamlessly blended his passions into one and partnered with Pioneer to design a transparent CDJ-2000NXS2 and DJM-900NSX2 for his "FIGURES OF SPEECH" exhibition.

However, his music arguably would have never made it into so many of our playlists without Virgil's fashion career. The trendsetter interned at Fendi alongside Kanye West in 2009, paving the way for their early collaborative relationship. As Abloh's meteoric rise in the fashion industry began, he caught the attention of Louis Vuitton CEO Michael Burke. 

After Abloh was named the creative director for the brand (and the first African-American one at that), Burke told the New York Times, "I was really impressed with how [Virgil Abloh and Kanye West] brought a whole new vibe to the studio and were disruptive in the best way. Virgil could create a metaphor and a new vocabulary to describe something as old-school as Fendi. I have been following his career ever since."

But the way Virgil Abloh became a household name was through his trailblazing in streetwear after founding the iconic Off-White label. Known for its in-your-face branding, jam-packed with bold sayings in uppercase letters, highlighter yellow coloring, and clean, transparent materials, Off-White became a brand every hypebeast yearned for. The label's collaborations with IKEA and Nike were instant sell-outs. People lined up just for a chance to get their hands on a piece.

Only two years after starting the brand, Abloh premiered at Paris Fashion Week. And in 2015, Off-White was named a finalist for the LVMH Prize— awarded to designers under the age of 40—calling back to Burke's eye on Abloh's career trajectory. In March 2018, Virgil became artistic director of Louis Vuitton's men's ready-to-wear line. And by the end of 2018, Off-White zoomed past Gucci to become one of the world's hottest labels based on sales and consumer loyalty.

Abloh's imaginative vision transcended any one art form, and he was always open to collaborating with creatives in every medium. For example, his work with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami was showcased in Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art and several of Murakami's galleries. He also had solo exhibits in Chicago, Tokyo, Boston, and Brooklyn.

Although Abloh is an indisputable genius, he didn't go without controversy. He received heavy criticism on his cover art for Pop Smoke's posthumous album Shoot For the Stars, Aim For The Moon. He was also under scrutiny for only donating $50 to bail funds and speaking out against looters during this generation's most significant civil rights movement. But there is something we can all learn from Virgil's mistakes. Always taking it in stride and never taking jokes too personally, he always used his critiques as a learning experience, with actions to back up his growth.

Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design. He often said, "Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself," believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations.We thank you all for your love and support, and we ask for privacy as we grieve and celebrate Virgil's life.Virgil AblohSeptember 30, 1980 – November 28, 2021

On June 7, he Tweeted, "I appreciate the open mind, room to resolve the volume on my approach, grow, ultimately succeed and then lead. i can't get to be 100% in real-time without passing thru 99%. but we'll hit 100% for sure…"

Abloh effortlessly encompassed true artistry. And while we can list Virgil Abloh's accomplishments spanning fashion, music, and visual art, these are stops on the road map of his career. What makes him so impactful is how he touched the hearts of so many. He showed us that regardless of any measure of success, he was always open to having conversations, collaborating with others, and making room to learn and grow.






Remembering Virgil Abloh and His Artistic Legacy 

The announcement of the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sparked heated debate in recent weeks. The event billed as the largest festival in Saudi Arabia includes a lineup of house and techno's biggest names, including Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Carl Cox, Chris Lake, Eli & Fur, Black V Neck, Nora En Pure, Ricardo Villalobos, and Solardo. 

As reported by Selector News, "The 2019 debut of Riyadh festival MDL Beast drew significant backlash for having been funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, a regime associated with a long history of human rights grievances."

Berlin-based promoter Michail Stangl of CTM Festival first rang the alarm on Twitter, stating, "Sure there is no objective morality and all, but if you like money so much that you take it from a government that kills journalists and has the death penalty for being gay, you really should ask yourself some serious questions."

The house and techno community quickly pointed out dance music's early and continuing role in the social justice movement. Many expressed shock that the lineup also included techno pioneer and Underground Resistance founder Jeff Mills.

Mills responded to his fans and followers via Facebook post today. 

"By now and in the political events that have happened in the World over the past 6 years, most of you should know that it's senseless to judge citizens by their actions of their government. The same applies to judging an audience by the actions of a promoter or organizer. If that were the case, the World would have cut off diplomatic relations and isolated America during the whole Trump Presidency, banished all Chinese citizens or Russians for both their government's human rights crimes. And all Cuban people would be categorized as fascists," he says.

He addresses the issues surrounding the long list of human rights violations the Saudi government is known for, including arrests without due process, outlawing feminism, and the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

Recently public outrage has prompted the Saudi government to spend billions of dollars reinventing its image and cast the country as a prime tourist destination. The country has financed large-scale music events and booked top-line talents like Nicki Minaj and Justin Beiber, often paying them several times more than their regular booking fee. The government has also invested $500M into Live Nation in 2020, which has doubled in the last year, giving them a 5.7% share.

Mills urges his followers to put it all into perspective, arguing that despite the horrible track record of the Saudi government, the citizens should be allowed to dance and enjoy music.

"Yes, the Saudi Arabian government and the conditions they impose are primitive, violent and abusive and just out right evil, but it shouldn't cloud the idea and question why some there seem to think that by having such a large event and inviting DJs to play unrestricted might make some difference. Most of you can probably remember a time or an occasion in your past when you first realized the power of music and if you're reading this, it's likely that it happened while on a dance floor, listening to a DJ. What makes you think an event in SA would be any different? In fact, if there is any place where the people might need to mentally escape, it would be there. How could a Saudi Arabian dance floor be so different from yours?" 

Mills expands on how necessary music is to help heal a population that is so often in turmoil. He argues that boycotting events will only hurt the Saudi people and cut them off from an important cultural touchstone. Mills, an activist since the early days of techno, explains how engagement is a more powerful tool.

"There are people in SA right now that are in desperate need, suffering, afraid, isolated, victimized, traumatized, abused and have been killed for what they believe in. Some of you seemed to think that it's a good idea for international DJs to boycott and not go which would further isolate the young people there. That, we (all of us) in Electronic Dance Music don't care about them - it's their problem. I'm positive there isn't a single DJ booked for this event that agrees with the SA government and what they're doing, but yet, some try to connect DJs as if they're somehow complicit. That's outrageous, but hey, it's social media - anything goes! Until we fact-check, right? There can be isolation or dialogue. Both have proven to be effective. "



Jeff Mills Responds to Concerns over Saudi Arabia's Soundstorm Festival 

While everyone is still reveling in the collective buzz from GRAMMY-nominated trio RÜFÜS DU SOL's new album, Surrender, and their recent US tour dates, the group announced a new festival to take place in Mexico in 2022. The group announced they will bring their other-worldly soundscapes to the pristine beaches of Tulum for Sundream Tulum, an immersive, four-day experience on March 10-13, 2022, presented in partnership with Papa Playa Project. 

The closely curated lineup showcases an international bill of electronic music's most illustrious stars, including Bob Moses playing a club set, fellow live electronic icon Monolink, and eclectic, experimental pop trio WhoMadeWho.

The Australian masters of deep melodic beats also called on frequent collaborator Cassian, Diynamic music's Magdalena, prolific Dutch remix king Eelke Kleijn, and fellow Aussie brother-sister duo Lastlings. Recent Rose Avenue signing Paraleven will also join the diverse lineup alongside Mexico's Sante Vie and Life and Death upstart Carlita. 

Attendees can look forward to uninterrupted music, including not one but two performances from RÜFÜS DU SOL. They are showcasing their diversity with both a tear-inducing live performance and a DJ set. They've also planned a host of wellness activities to restore the body and soul, including yoga, meditation, and breathwork. 

Passes and travel packages are on sale now at www.sundreamtulum.com. 



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