We Are FSTVL is returning to its home at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex aka The Airfield of Dreams. For almost a decade now, We Are FSTVL has been one of Europe’s most highly regarded electronic and urban music festivals. Set to take place in London over the weekend of August 6-7, We Are FSTVL has unveiled their complete star-studded lineup, headliners and all, for this year’s 2022 iteration.

This year’s We Are FSTVL event, presented by fashion website PrettyLittleThing,​​ will feature performances by Adam Beyer, The Blessed Madonna, CamelPhat, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, Luciano, The Martinez Brothers, Deborah De Luca, TSHA, Rudimental, LOCO DICE, Dennis Cruz, Michael Bibi, Ferreck Dawn, Sonny Fodera, John Summit, and many more.Five expertly curated stages will be hosted by a plethora of today’s acclaimed artists as well as many of your favorite labels and brands of the likes of: Ibiza’s CircoLoco; label heads from Afterlife and Tale of Us; Defected and their disco offshoot Glitterbox; and UK Drum and Bass heads, CruCast.

Don’t miss out on one of the UK’s biggest FSTVLs to date—get your tickets now at wearefstvl.com.

WE ARE FSTVL Announces Full 2022 Lineup

Desert Hearts announces the lineup for its 10th anniversary of Desert Hearts Festival, to take place April 28-May 2, 2022.

The festival is sure to deliver its ethos of “house, techno, and love” as it boasts a star-studded lineup including Carl Craig, Doc Martin, Francesa Lombardo, Kevin Knapp, Mary Droppinz, Tara Brooks, Yulia Niko, and, of course, the Desert Hearts crew itself: Mikey Lion, Marbs, Lee Reynolds, and Porky Plus. Indeed, the lineup keeps in step with the eclectic style that the crew is known for.

House and disco will soundtrack beachside daytime raving, with DJ Harvey, Juan MacLean, Ann Foxman, DJ Heather, and Doc Martin delivering the vibes the Desert Hearts community craves. In addition, the melodic subsidiary of Desert Hearts’ parent imprint, Desert Hearts Black, will get behind the decks, growing the music curation. Techno tastemakers Township Rebellion, Yulia Niko, Oscar L, and RINZEN are also slated to perform, as well as recent Desert Hearts Records signees Kevin Knapp, Lubelski, RYBO, Andreas Henneberg, Evan Casey, and Beth Lydi.

The love-swept global community relocates to Lake Perris, Calif. this year—the event has was previously hosted at Los Coyotes Indian Reservation. The new destination in Southern California is less than two hours from Los Angeles and San Diego. In addition, the location boasts more amenities than ever before, including premium campsites, bathrooms with showers, and an endless grass dance floor beneath snow-capped mountains adjacent to a beach and lake for swimming access during the daytime festivities. From the crew’s first renegade party in the Mojave Desert to the snow-covered hills of Apple Valley and more, the Desert Hearts community has proven to expand its festival footprint. 

Tickets are available here.

Desert Hearts Celebrates 10-Years of Desert Hearts Festival

ARC Music festival will return to Chicago's Union Park Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4. After a massively successful first year, the event has grandly announced its expansion from two to three days.   

As with its inaugural year, ARC is paying homage to the city by featuring a large majority of Chicago-born acts, including Honey Dijon, Derrick Carter, DJ Lady D, Gene Farris, Green Velvet, Chip E., Ron Carroll, Mike Dunn, and up and coming Chi house artist, Kryptogram. 

Alongside the Windy City vets, the lineup features industry-heavy hitters such as Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Fatboy Slim. Ricardo Villalobos, Ann Clue, and The Other Side label head Maher Daniel. The festival will also feature modern house sounds, melodic house, international techno artists, and Chicago house music.


"Part of our mission was to take all the artists that are part of the Chicago house music community through the years, people without whom this sound would not be around, and put them right next to the larger artists that are playing this music nowadays." Says an Arc rep of the event.  

They are accomplishing their mission; not only did they up the ante from last year's production with the stellar lineup and the added day, they are also bringing back the beloved Elrow stage known for its colorful dance floor experiences. Who knows what other goodies will be announced in the months to come. ARC Festival is quickly becoming one of the most crucial house and techno festivals to grace the United States.  

Do not sleep on your ticket as the ARC ticket unlocks rewards courtesy of the festival's promoter, Auris Presents. Giving pass-holders will gain access to tickets to sold-out shows, private pre-sales, exclusively priced tickets, and guestlist adds to over 40 of the company's events in spring and summer. 

General tickets will release on March 17th and can be purchased here.

ARC Music Festival Announces Stellar Full 2022 Lineup

The wait is finally over. Detroit’s Movement Festival returns to the mecca of techno for Memorial Day Weekend 2022. With over 110 acts set to perform, this year’s festival lineup is one of its best to date.

Over three days of music by today’s rising techno talents and revered producers, await you at downtown Detroit’s beautiful waterfront, inside Hart Plaza from May 28 through 30.

Headliners announced today include a surprise b2b set from Detroit Techno legend Carl Craig and LCD Soundsystem’s frontman James Murphy, a performance from Kevin Saunderson under alias E-Dancer, and a b2b set from UK Drum and Bass icons Goldie and LTJ Bukem. 

Traditionally, the festival is notorious for celebrating techno music and its subcultures—this year's lineup isn't straying far from tradition. Movement has selected some of the most prominent artists of the techno genre, and many rising talents from its own city and beyond. 

With a genuine commitment to showcasing genuinely diverse lineups, this year’s scheduled acts are many of your festival favorites and hottest up and comers—perfect for an audience that’s composed of both new and old generations of Movement devotees.


Joining Movement’s headliners Memorial Day Weekend are acclaimed artists of the likes of: Jeff Mills, Richie Hawtin, 2 Chainz, Adam Beyer, Natasha Diggs, Anfisa Letyago, Blawan, DRAMA, Blaaqgold, Claude Von Stroke, Jon Hopkins, Skrillex, Waajeed, The Martinez Brothers, Maya Jane Coles, Duck Sauce, Chris Lake, Joe Kay, Hiroko Yamamura, The Blessed Madonna, ANNA, Stacey Pullen, Sama’ Abdulhadi, DJ Minx, Louie Vega, Loco Dice, Maceo Plex, DJ Tennis, and so many more. 

Weekend and Single Day Passes for General Admission and VIP are available now at movementfestival.com. Payment plans are available.

Movement Detroit Drops Its 2022 Lineup

The dance music capital of the world is about to begin one of its most awaited seasons ever. After a two-year hiatus, the mega clubs on the White Isle are announcing their opening events. So start planning that dream holiday and pack your dancing shoes because Ibiza is back!

The Mediterranean breeze and mild temperatures make Ibiza a great choice year-round. The mecca for hedonists has been the ultimate summer clubbing destination since the mid-1980s, when the Balearic island became a music paradise. 

Yet, the musical footprint of the island dates back even further. The hippies arrived in the '60s, bringing the psychedelic beats of the era. Some of the island's most prominent clubs were born a decade later. 

Pacha Ibiza anchored the scene with its opening in 1973. Amnesia followed in 1976. Privilege (now the world's biggest nightclub) opened as Ku Club in 1978. And by 1986, the legendary Space Ibiza transformed Ibiza from a hidden gem into a clubber's paradise. 

By the '80s, the big raves arrived. The '90s ushered in the growth of Balearic Beat. And since the turn of the Millenium, Ibiza has been a mecca for everything from disco to techno. Ibiza is a magnet for clubbers and music lovers from all over the globe.

This season is promising not just for party goers but also for the entertainment and hospitality industries. Many bars and restaurants on the island are already open. Beach clubs and hotels will welcome guests from the beginning of April. The pre-season excitement is palpable throughout the island. Happiness and positive vibes permeate the air as everyone is more than ready to embrace a new music era in Ibiza after two consecutive years of postponements. 

To start Ibiza's 2022 summer season, the long-delayed premier platform for business, culture, and education in global electronic music, International Music Summit, will host its thirteenth edition with the theme "In Pursuit Of Purpose." 

IMS has long been the traditional start of the summer season. From April 27-29, a series of keynotes, workshops, and lectures will be led by thought leaders in dance music, including IMS founder Pete Tong. For those in the industry, it's an excellent opportunity to network and build connections. 

The Grand Finale party in the ancient walls of Ibiza's old town, Dalt Vila, will close the conference out on April 29.

Ibiza is almost ready to celebrate the return of large-scale music events and reunite the global community of music fans. Live music returns with a  very special concert from Duran Duran. The famous 80's new wave band made up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, and Roger Taylor will perform together in Ibiza for the first time in 30 years. 

Here's some more of what's in store during Ibiza's most anticipated opening weekend:




IMS Ibiza Summit - April 27-29

The International Music Summit April 27-29 at Destino Pacha Ibiza. IMS Ibiza badges are now on sale. There is tiered pricing ranging from 163-740 USD.

Pacha Grand Opening - April 29

Solomun plays all night long on Friday, April 29 at Pacha, Ibiza. Tickets are available now for $76.27 GA. You can also book a VIP table.
     

Amnesia Pre-Season Warm-Up - April 29

Pyramid's pre-season warm-up pops off at Amnesia featuring Luciano, Ben Clock, Amelie Lens, and more. Tickets are available now from $49.94 for GA to $244.16 for bottle service.


 Defected Opening Party - April 29 

The lineup is yet to come, but with Defected's stable of stellar in-house residents, it surely going to be a banger. They've also priced tickets at a reasonable $23.97. 

Speaking on the price point Defected said on their website, "Making clubbing accessible for all generations has been a core part of our Ibiza offering since launching our weekly residency at Eden in 2017, allowing clubbers from all walks of life to enjoy the unique brand of house party and DJs of the highest calibre."

Better Together - April 30 - May 1

On Saturday afternoon, April 30, the 24-hour Better Together extravaganza begins at Ushuaïa and will continue at Hï in the evening through Sunday, May 1. The lineup includes Paul Kalkbrenner, Adam Beyer, Anfisa Letyago, Kölsch, Damian Lazarus, Charlotte de Witte, The Martinez Brothers, and more. 

Tickets are available now. Separate Day and Night passes are $87.17 or you can do both for $182.55.

Duran Duran - May 1

Duran Duran's first concert in Ibiza in 30 years is being presented by Pollen at Ushuaïa. . All-inclusive packages with hotel, tickets to the event, and an outdoor film screening are availlable from $260.67.




Circoloco at DC10 - May 2

Circoloco at DC10 opens on May 2 at 4 pm with Maceo Plex, Peggy Gou, Red Axes, Seth Troxler, Tale Of Us, &Me vs. Rampa, Adam Port, DJ Tennis, Ellen Allien, Luciano, and many more. 

Tickets are now available from $73.24.

You'll have plenty of opportunities to party in Ibiza this season as the island will be alive until the closing parties in late October. However, after the two-year wait, you may want to plan to experience Ibiza's openings. You'll be in for a treat!

Ibiza’s Most Anticipated Season Kicks off With a Massive Opening Weekend

COVID-19 vaccinations have been mandated in New York since summer 2021 for those looking to gain entry to any of the city’s nightclubs. 

New York was the first US city to implement the requirement. Now, as the virus continues to mutate and preventative measures shift local and national policies, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on March 4 that vaccination proof would no longer be mandatory to attend live events in the city.

At a Times Square news conference, Adams stated that beginning March 7, vaccination status would no longer be necessary to attend New York concerts or patron restaurants, bars, and gyms. 

Based on data analyzed, Adam explained that the rates of Covid cases in New York are currently low enough to justify removing current COVID mandates set in place for businesses and nightlife venues in the city.

“We’re going to follow the numbers and the science, that’s how we got here. [New York] is far from out of the woods, and COVID is still here, but we are beating it back. New York is back,” said the Mayor.

Large-scale festivals of the likes of Coachella and Stagecoach announced last month that they would no longer require attendees to show proof of a negative test prior to entry, leaving many to wonder if the recent overhaul of mandates will set a precedent for other festivals to follow suit with scrapping COVID-19 preventative measures and entry policies.

Adams also stated that New York restaurants may choose to keep preventative policies if they choose, but overall the city-wide restrictions will be removed.

Watch the press conference in its entirety here.

New York Mayor Lifts City-Wide COVID Mandates

Highly respected UK-based house label, Defected Records will be returning to the US while laying plans for its busiest year of shows yet. After kicking off 2022 right with Defected Malta and Croatia completely sold out, it's clear Defected is on a serious tear. The crew is gearing up for its first tour since the pandemic started, and it is sure to be a doozy.   

The seven-date, seven-stop tour spans March and April 2022 and touches down in house music's most stalwart cities, LA, San Francisco, Miami, NYC, and Austin. Then it migrates south to beautiful Brazil. The tour will feature many A-List artists, including A-Trak, Floorplan, John Summit, Catz' N Dogz, Ferreck Dawn, Eats Everything, Sam Divine, and others. Celebrating the first time the London-based music institution has performed in the United States since 2019 and the first time in Brazil in over a decade.

 

Key Stops in the Americas 

The tour stops at epic locations in superb venues such as the West Coast's Los Angeles' expansive Hollywood nightclub Sound and futuristic warehouse-style venue Halcyon San Francisco. Going cross country for a pitstop at Miami Music Week to throw a pool party of epic proportions during the festival at the enchanting Island Gardens before heading to renowned Brooklyn warehouse The Great Hall at Avant Gardner. Defected's conclusive stop on the United States tour is The Concourse Project in Austin, a massive space with world-class production capabilities.

All this before making its way down south to stunning Brazil for their first time, hitting up the beautiful country in over a decade. Making this one for the books, the first stop is taking over for the first time ARCA, a 6400 capacity venue in the heart of So Paolo. The following night, Defected will perform at Cambori's Green Valley, located in the heart of the Brazilian jungle, a truly unique clubbing experience often described to be closer to that of a festival. Green Valley has been an unmatched success story in the Brazilian electronic scene.

To learn more about the tour taking place March 12th-April 2nd, including tickets and further information, head to the Defected Website. 

 

Defected North + South America Tour 2022 – Dates & Venues:

Saturday, March 12 – Sound – Los Angeles

Saturday, March 19 – Halcyon – San Francisco

Thursday, March 24 – Island Gardens – Miami

Friday, March 25 – The Great Hall at Avant Gardner – New York

Saturday, March 26 – The Concourse Project – Austin

Friday, April 1 – Arca – Sāo Paolo

Saturday, April 2 – Green Valley – Santa Catarina

Defected Records Announces Seven-Date Tour of North America

Richie Hawtin, AKA Plastikman, has reworked his classic 1998 album, Consumed, with the help of Grammy Award-winning pianist Chilly Gonzales. The new project will release a triple vinyl set via Turbo Recordings on April 1st, 2022. 

This contemporary reinterpretation is presented as a new record called Consumed In Key. Like the original, it features ten atmospheric techno tracks but with reenergized piano parts composed by Gonzales.  

This innovative project goes back to the 20th anniversary of Consumed, released in 2018. Gonzales heard the album and thought it could be worked within his repertoire. So he created demos using unique loose melodies, time structure, and flow, creating piano-led counterparts within the standing tracks.  

After pitching this to Tiga, a mutual friend of Chilly and Hawtin, the project began to take shape. Tiga, as executive producer, became a sounding board for ideas, helping to translate the thought processes of two artists coming from distinctly divergent worlds. 

Chilly recorded his solitary arrangements, and upon completion, Hawtin came on board to meld the new combined work. This process allowed each artist their own space within the project, allowing them to have a "sonic conversation" rather than a conventional collaboration or remix. 

Consumed in Key will be available digitally and as a deluxe triple vinyl LP on April 1st, 2022. The artwork is a reinterpretation of the original album sleeve, flipped to black and white and with the cutout size transposed to the dimensions of a piano key. The vinyl and packaging were made with recycled materials.

You can now hear the first song from the LP "Contain (In Key)."

Classic Plastikman Album Gets Reworked

Defected has long been the gold standard for house music. The UK-based label had a strong start in 1998 with Soulsearcher's debut record and an undisputed disco-house classic "I Can't Get Enough." Over the years, the lauded imprint helmed by Simon Dunmore, a fierce champion of house music culture, expanded to include 18 sub-labels, including Glitterbox and DFTD. They also run a series of fan-favorite festivals and one-off events worldwide. 

They have a fierce group of resident DJs, including veterans like Sam Devine, Low Steppa, and Gorgon City. The label is now offering the opportunity for up-and-comers to join the flock for the 2022 festival season. Unsung Heroes "will give up-and-coming DJ talent access to Defected's growing community of dedicated house heads and residencies across our offering of overseas events and live streams," said Defected. 

They are asking all entrants to submit a 60-minute mix along with a recommendation from a club owner, promoter, or established DJ that supports their efforts to push the culture forward in their scene. 

A panel of esteemed judges including Roger Sanchez, Cinthie, Yousef, Sef Kombo, Melvo Baptiste, Sam Divine, and Mambo Brothers will judge the entires.

Being an opening DJ is an often unrecognized art. Setting the vibe for the night is a talent that comes from years of experience and understanding what it takes to start the journey and successfully build a dance floor. 

"Unlike any other DJ competition or search for talent before it, Unsung Heroes is all about recognising the vital part resident DJs play in the makeup of clubland and giving recognition to the often under-appreciated art of the warm-up set," Defected explains. "Winners will be welcomed into the Defected family, contributing to parties across the globe from London to Ibiza, Croatia and Malta. With an array of judges across the breadth of the house music spectrum recruited to help with the search, Unsung Heroes is a statement of our ongoing dedication to investing in fresh talent and club culture as a whole."

You can enter the Unsung Heroes content via the Defected website.

Defected Is Searching For a New Resident DJ

On Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian missiles assaulted the country's capital Kyiv as families hid in shelters and subway stations. Harrowing video of bombings has come in from across the country as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis mounts. 

The situation is unlikely to improve any time soon. Below you will find a list of nongovernmental organizations providing aid and help on the ground. Please head to any of these websites if you'd like to donate.

We stand in solidarity with our community in Ukraine. Several Ukrainian artists have posted messages of shock and solidarity, we've included some of them below. Our heart goes out to them.

United Help Ukraine

United Help Ukraine collects and distributes food and medical supplies to Ukrainians displaced by war. Their fundraising also helps wounded soldiers and their families.

Donate to United Help Ukraine via PayPal




Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross, alongside the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, helps ensure that food is still being produced and aids in infrastructure repair. They also rebuild damaged homes, hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and community centers.

Donate to the Red Cross once or become a monthly contributor.




Voices of Children

Voices of Children provides psychological support to children affected by the war in Ukraine. They also offer family services coping with the difficulties of rehabilitating children.

Donate to Voices of Children




UNICEF

UNICEF is the United Nations-backed agency that provides aid to children in over 190 countries. They support health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education provide safe drinking water, sanitation, and safe harbor to families in Ukraine.

Donate to UNICEF




Médecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders

Unfortunately, Doctors Without Borders had to halt all activity within Ukraine. However, they are mobilizing in bordering countries to provide humanitarian medical assistance to those displaced. 

Donate to Doctors Without Border as a one-time fee or monthly gift




Sunflower of Peace

This nonprofit is preparing first aid medical backpacks for frontline paramedics and doctors. The packs are designed for groups of five to ten and include bandages, medicine, and medical instruments.

Donate to Sunflower of Peace

Continue reading for messages from Ukrainian-born artists.


Korolova

Nastia

Artbat

Woo York

Miss K8

Juicy M

How You Can Help Ukraine

World-renowned techno brand Awakenings grandly announced earlier this year to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2022, and they would be changing locations and adding a second festival, Awakenings Summer edition.   

The new festival edition will take place over three days, July 29-31. The summer festival in Hilvarenbeek expands on their previous festival’s two-day affairs and will include camping allowing you to enjoy the entire weekend without a fret in the world.   

Full lineup details were dropped today, and they are phenomenal. This is a techno wonderland.   

Friday will kick off the festivities with techno’s power couple Charlotte De Witte and hubby Enrico Sangiuliano, Joyhauser, Klangkunster, Kolsch, and Patrick Mason.  

Saturday keeps you going with Adam Beyer, Apollonia, Archie Hamilton, Ida Engberg, Mind Against, Nina Kravitz, Panpot, and Patrick Topping.   

If that isn’t enough to entice you to go, then the third and final mind-blowing day will surely solidify your plans. Sunday will see the likes of Amelie Lens, The Blessed Madonna, DJ Rush, Eats Everything, Jackmaster, Skream, and Stephan Bodzin with one of his unique live sets. 

Awakenings already hold the international throne when it comes to Techno events. The summer edition boasts plans to host nine fantastical stages, with all of the usual bells and whistles that set them apart, including impressive light shows and unparalleled sound design. 

This is an event you do not want to miss. Preregistration is live on the website, giving you early access to the ticket shop.

Awakenings Announces Summer Festival Lineup

Experiential party purveyors elrow have just announced the theme for their hotly anticipated Spring North American tour. The Spanish party crew will bring their Sambodromo Do Brasil concept to Miami on Saturday, March 26th, for Miami Music Week. And for the first time, a two-day stint in New York at Avant Gardner on April 9th and 10th.

You might be wondering what's in a name? The Sambodromo (or Sambódromo in Portuguese) is the given name for the exhibition space that Samba schools perform in for Carnaval in Brazil. Elrow is known worldwide for immersive environments, incredible performers, and a radically inclusive fan experience. And this theme is no different. Expect to be plunged into a world of dense Amazonian jungle, wild animals, roaming explorers, and Samba dancers decked out in a rainbow of colors.

Among elrow's twenty-plus themes, Sambodromo Do Brasil is one of its most colorful and lively. The theme also has a deep history with the brand dating back to their earliest days in Barcelona at a monthly event called Rowshow. In 2009 at their fourth event, they decided to transform the club into a jungle complete with Brazillian-themed performers, food stalls, fruit areas, and juices. 

It's a longtime favorite that has traveled to Amsterdam, Ibiza, Taiwan, Zurich, and Dubai. This will be the first time since 2017 that the theme has been state-side. 

Tickets are available now for both New York and Miami.

Elrow Brings a Slice of Brazil to New York and Miami

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.

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