Music News

SUPPORT FOR ‘JULIET’

“In many ways, Juliet is quintessential CREO albeit moved forward a few years, taking the pacing indie-rock rhythms that have defined their sound in the past and bringing it forward to 2020”.
– Pilerats (AUS)

“That chorus is a bull in a china shop level energy, it just bursts through the door out of nowhere and causes chaos”. – 4/5 stars
– Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS)

“Don’t think CREO can make a song that’s not epic in scale and energy. Just doesn’t seem possible! There’s a little glam power thrown into the strong brew here.”. – 4/5 stars
– Dave Ruby Howe – triple j (AUS)

Added to Spotify playlist Rock Out. And Fresh Finds: Rock

On Wednesday May 27 7PM CEST, Dutch techno giant Reinier Zonneveld will do an exceptional livestream from his own sunny roof terrace with a stunning view over Amsterdam. What makes the livestream even more special, is that Reinier will perform a lot of long anticipated brand-new music live.

While being in lockdown, he has used the time to get creative in the studio. Reinier says: “As I usually am touring around the world from gig to gig, and now being confined at home for such a long period, it meant there were certain different approaches in my creative process. Usually I used to get my inspiration from performances and travels that I just experienced and now I had to imagine the dancefloor or get my inspiration from different sources. It also gave me the opportunity to work more in depth and experiment more with the hardware and synths I’ve got in my studio, simply because now I had the time to do it, instead of composing new music on the plane.”

One of the tracks that will pass by is Reiniers upcoming remix of the acclaimed classic ‘The First Rebirth’ by Jones & Stephenson, which will be out next month on his own label Filth On Acid in cooperation with the iconic Bonzai Records.

Make sure to tune in via Reinier’s Facebook page.

CONNECT WITH REINIER ZONNEVELD

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?

I’m based in Sydney, my lifelong hometown. Sydney has been “up and down” I think over the past decade or so in terms of its music scene. There was a real golden era in the 90s where every pub was full of bands playing and crowds gathering, with some great bands emerging. Things hit a bit of a brick wall a bit after that though, with venues closing and pokies ruling the pubs, but I think there’s been a gradual resurgence, with small bars opening and lots of interesting opportunities to play. “Pre-pandemic” things were building nicely, I felt. Maybe that will continue once things normalise somewhat/somehow, but it’s obviously all up in the air right now.

How did you first start playing music?

My father was a big band leader back in the Big Band era of the mid-20^th century. He had my brother and I late in life and so we were brought up by going to gigs around the world when he was playing, with music was always “there” for us. But when my brother and I first started playing, we were heavily into early punk music, the Clash, the Pistols etc, and we started playing in bands in our home area of Bondi as a natural extension of that. The surf movies we loved all had epic soundtracks and we loved playing stuff in that vibe, kind of coastal-guitar-punk, with Midnight Oil thrown into the mix.

What’s been happening recently?

We’ve all been laying pretty low due to COVID so have been taking stock and trying to stay healthy and not drink too much and get ready for the release of the new compilation, which has been in the pipeline for several years.

‘The Songs Of Adam Gibson’ is coming out on 29 May 2020, please tell us about this album and how it came about:

This record is a double vinyl / double CD release that compiles a swathe of stuff I’ve written and played with my three main bands from over the past 20 or so years. It gathers together a “best-of” really and puts ‘em all together on one release, being released by legend Brisbane label Coolin’ By Sound. I’ve been involved with up to 10 different albums over the years with Modern Giant, The Aerial Maps and the Ark-Ark Birds and this release plucks tracks from all of those bands and whacks them together as a cohesive overview. It’s been mooted for bloody ages but has just taken a while to get together, so I’m stoked it’s finally ready to come out.

What or who influences your sound, songwriting/lyrics?

My whole idea is basically “storytelling with music” combined with articulating a sense of particular landscapes, so I am naturally drawn to people who have that storytelling aspect to their music, or are able to create a “landscape” that speaks to a place and space. Midnight Oil were an early key influence, with bands like the Triffids, Not Drowning Waving also being important. Then there’s the punk rock sensibility of The Clash and Joe Strummer, combined with evocative emotional heft of the likes of Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits. The latter being important because I essentially do “spoken word”, similar or at least influenced by a lot of Tom Waits’ stuff.

How do you usually go about writing music?

I create a kind of emotional or psychological landscape of what a song might be about and I work with people such as my brother Simon Gibson or the likes of fellow Aerial Map-pers Alannah Russack, Pete Fenton and Mark Hyland to create the music around that. Over the years I have developed a pretty punk rock way of working, not overthinking anything and just getting it done, and the people I’ve worked with over the years have really responded to that.

What do you have planned for this album?

We plan to tour as The Aerial Maps in general support of this record but god knows when that will be able to happen. In a weird way, the pandemic has allowed us to concentrate on getting the album out and not have to worry too much about the touring aspect just yet, so it’s quite ok really.

What do you like to do away from music?

I’m a journalist and copywriter so I manage to eke out a living by doing that to the best of my energy and ability. Surfing and travel are also central to my life so if I can manage to do a surf trip on a regular basis, things are good.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

A disparate selection really, ranging from Laura Marling’s latest album to things like early Big Audio Dynamite – one of my favourite bands – plus some Americana, things like Sun Kil Moon and Smog. Pretty all over the place but that’s Covid living for ya!

What’s planned for 2020?

Basically to get the album out, survive, surf some good waves, tell stories, be happy if possible.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I am somewhat reclusive right at the moment so I stick fairly close to my home neighbourhood, so pretty much the local RSL is my go-to of choice (when it’s open!) But I do tend to bust out every time I can and travel to favourite spots overseas. My brother now lives in Bali so I have a good place to stay and hang out there – that’s always a great place to escape to overall and also a good place to write songs in general.

To celebrate the release of MorningMaxwell’s new single ‘Complications’, MorningMaxwell will be conducting a 2-week campaign with the Partae celebrating the topline over alternative beats (One new beat a day) from samples the legend has recorded around his house.

Kaskade and Project 46 once again joined forces for their new track “Chains,” a cathartic sonic journey through the myriad of emotions that are so prevalent in our lives today. It begins with angelic vocals crooning the line “Running out of ways to run away, I cover it up, but I can’t escape,” setting the stage for a progression of gentle melodies and rolling basslines into a bouncy, big-room influenced climax. “Chains” pulls at the heartstrings of anyone who has felt trapped or restrained in life, either by others or themselves. By the time the track’s drop comes, it’s as if the chains themselves have been released, and the weight has been lifted. “Chains” is Kaskade & Project 46’s follow up single to 2013’s “Last Chance,” the opening track from Kaskade’s “Atmosphere” album and Project 46’s most-streamed single to date.

As a household name in electronic music for nearly two decades, Kaskade needs no introduction. His list of achievements is a mile long: 11 studio albums, 7 GRAMMY nominations, the first solo electronic dance artist to sell out both Navy Pier in Chicago and the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the first DJ to ever secure a Las Vegas residency, and the first electronic artist to headline Coachella. Less tangible but even more important has been his influence on dance music tastes and culture for generations of listeners. Often Kaskade is one of the artists who introduced now-veteran listeners to the genre, and such fans are usually fans for life. In 2019, he worked with multi-award winner Meghan Trainor on “With You” and Gorgon City on “Go Slow,” among solo releases, such as “My Light,” “Come On,” and official remixes for the likes of Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwen Stefani earlier.

Canadian duo Ryan Henderson and Thomas Shaw, better known as Project 46, is known for their melodic, progressive sound that never fails to inspire and uplift listeners. They began Project 46 in 2011 and were active until 2016, with releases on Ultra Records, Monstercat, Armada, Mixmash, and collaborations such as “Last Chance” with Kaskade, “Collide” with Laidback Luke, “Crime” with Avicii, “Daphne” with Paul Oakenfold, and “Home” with Feenixpawl, to name a few. 2020 marks the comeback of Project 46, and we are looking forward to more beautiful, vocal-driven dance tracks coming from the talented duo later this year!

JOIN THE JOY CLUB

Inspired by the changing decades of Dance Culture and widely regarded as an original cornerstone house and TECHNO legend (we don’t use that title flippantly), the Jersey DJ Harry ‘Choo Choo’ Romero remixes Joy Club’s ‘In The Night’. Giving it a distinct stomping underground and fluid house rerub, Romero treads a fine line between house and techno – something of a signature sound for the internationally respected artist.

This is Harry Romero at his best – stripped down tough and bouncy house groves, a track that oozes quality, much like the artist himself who has released classic club cuts like ‘Tania’, ‘Night @ The Black’ and ‘I Go Back’ with Robert Owens. He has also worked for decades with Erick Morillo’s Subliminal label, has released on many imprints including Crosstown Rebels and Hot Creations, and is supported by almost every DJ from Luciano to Danny Tenaglia and everyone in-between.

The Joy Club ‘In The Night’ original continues to grow with over 3.5 million streams across all platforms to date, received support from BBC Radio 1 and Kiss FM and is included in a host of influential power playlists across Spotify and Apple Music. With a new colourful and fun video to drop in the coming weeks, this track is capturing the imagination of the masses.
 
Joy Club ‘In The Night’ Harry Romero Mix is out now Virgin EMI

Connect with Joy Club

Connect with Harry Romero

May 22, 2020 0 comments

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KKYIV-BASED ELECTRONIC ARTIST, KOLOAH, UNVEILS ‘BORDERLINES’ EP  WITH
NEW MUSIC VIDEO ‘ELYSIUM’

RELEASED VIA THE NEWLY FOUNDED,
KYIV LABEL, 1000XXPLACE

Kyiv-based producer and rave hero Koloah has been a hugely influential figure in his local scene for more than a decade, responsible for pushing the reputation of Kyiv’s rave culture to a global scale. Producing music under a number of different guises, his music has always spoken of the raw energy that runs through the Kyiv underground. He now lands with his brand new ‘Borderlines’ EP on newly founded Kyiv label, 1000xxPlace (Thousand Kisses Place), that focuses on pushing breakbeat in varying forms. Koloah’s first outing on the label follows the strong debut of label co-founder, Hidden Element with ‘Comparisons’ EP.

Taking inspiration from Greek mythology and his own observations of our planet, Koloah explores the existence and often blurred function of ‘Borderlines’ on his new EP. Offering a transcendent message of mindfulness, punctuated by contrasting eerie breakbeats and bright textures.

“I’ve been thinking about borderlines a lot lately. The lines that separate the world, separating good and evil, separating life and death; why some of them are thinner than others. How crucial it is to get rid of some boundaries and accept others, in order to evolve and improve your creative freedom.”
Koloah

Emerging with airy melodies, iridescent arpeggios and near-meditative breakbeat on ‘Elysium’, Koloah plays with the Ancient Greek idea of ‘Paradise’, before delving into otherworldly club-centered moods on ‘Borderline’ with misty synths and dense rhythms. Elsewhere, the suspenseful ‘Deep Blue’, brings together heady beats and glistening synth sequences, whilst ‘Stelakis’ offers a playful collage of glitched percussive sounds and idyllic notes.

Escaping genre boundaries throughout ‘Borderlines’ EP, the work of Koloah is complimented by two remixes from comrades Hidden Element and Nocow. Label co-founder, Hidden Element serves up a hearty 136 BPM hardcore rework of title track, ‘Borderline’; bringing in sure UK bass and jungle influence. From Russia, Gost Zvuk crews Nocow closes out the EP with a thick electro mix of ‘Deep Blue’.

Seeking to push his musical vision further than ever before, the tracks encased within Koloah’s ‘Borderlines’ EP stand as both a collection of club-ready hitters and pieces of sonic storytelling.

Koloah’s ‘Borderlines’ EP is out now on 1000xxPlace

Connect with Koloah

Connect with 1000xxPlace

May 22, 2020 0 comments

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R3HAB teamed up with British pop sensation HRVY for his new single “Be Okay,” a dance-pop gem that is sure to lift your spirits. With organic, breezy melodies that softly roll into a groovy breakdown, “Be Okay” evokes images of those times spent with loved ones and friends old and new that can seem so far away given the current state of the world. HRVY‘s soulful vocals give the heartfelt lyrics life, and the track’s accompanying music video is just the type of feel-good content we need right now. The song sends a simple and yet powerful message – that we’re all in this together, and everything is truly going to be okay. R3HAB and HRVY weight in on the new single below:

“When Harvey reached out to me, I sent him the song, and he recorded his vocals in no time. From the first time I heard it, I knew we had something special to give to our fans. I hope they like the end result as much as we do, and ‘Be okay‘ will make the quarantine period more bearable for everyone who listens to it.” – R3HAB

“I heard this song months before I recorded it, and it put a smile on my face. I reached out to R3HAB to be on the song and recorded it to see how I sounded. Everyone really liked it, so I’m super excited to see “Be Okay” coming out. I hope this puts a smile on everyone’s face during quarantine, excited for the video too, as its a homage to the fans.” – HRVY

Over the last eight years, the Dutch/Moroccan artist Fadil El Ghoul – better known as R3HAB – has established himself as a leader at the forefront of modern electronic music. His talent has been called the “future of the craft” by the likes of Forbes and Billboard, and he’s circuited the globe’s best clubs and festivals, all without the backing of a formal record label. In 2017, R3HAB independently released his debut album “Trouble” through his imprint CYB3RPVNK, which amassed over a half-billion streams globally and officially placed R3HAB among electronic music’s heavy hitters. He made number 14 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 list in 2019, topping the charts with tracks like “Lullaby” and “Hold On Tight,” while his sophomore album “The Wave,” revealing more complex, emotional and experimental layers of himself, has amassed over 250 million streams on Spotify alone. In 2019 R3HAB‘s “All Around The World” with A Touch of Class quickly became his biggest ever record already topping 200M streams across platforms and achieving gold & platinum status in 8 countries. It was followed by “Flames,” R3HAB‘s collaboration with ZAYN. Stay tuned to see what this ever-evolving artist has up his sleeve next!

Wellington, New Zealand based Giantess create dark indie pop with alluring vocals, pounding rhythms, and surprisingly heavy riffs bubbling underneath the surface.  Heart-songs that are steeped in floods and fires, rendered out of the bones of witch-rock outfit HEX.  Giantess released their debut album ‘Big Woman’ on the 14^th of May 2020.

Following up the singles “The News”  and “Gone, Gone Golden” the new full-length “Big Woman” features the third single “Good Looking Girls”^.

Kiki explains the record

“Big Woman’ is a breakup album, an endeavour into deep feeling, and a paean to growing up in a world that only wants you to shrink. Written and recorded over two gruelling years, ‘Big Woman’ charts the course of grief through to vision, braiding together feminine rage, ecology, ethics, and hope.

History

From 2015 – 2018 HEX toured throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the USA, opening for major acts including Dinosaur Jr, Shonen Knife and The Kills. 

The ep ‘Calling to the Universe’ (May 2016) and recent album ‘The Hill Temple’ (February 2018) were both critically well received, garnering extensive support from College Radio across Australasia and the U.S. The band was featured on NPR, Billboard Magazine. in the Chicago Tribune and Noisey.