All Entries Tagged With: "Fresh Beats"
Fresh Beats w/ Felipe Callado
I’ve been going the arduous process of sorting through all my music from the past 13 years with the goal of storing everything in one wireless location. I anticipate it’ll take a full year to transfer and tag it all, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end. It’s always been a dream of mine to live in an on-demand oasis of tunes, and when this task’s complete, I’ll finally be in my paradise. You gotta love technology!
Despite the monotony of the job, it’s a rewarding and emotional experience revisiting each era of our EDM adventure. Starting with our rave days and then the Breathe barrage; next was EXPOSED and of course the most-recent trips of bliss at INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND. We’ve been privy to some of the best music ever made and we feel honoured to have so much of it recorded exclusively to share with all of you.
As I sort through all the tunes I can’t help but reflect on how many people have come and gone. What’s happened to him? When did she stop clubbing? And what happened to what this DJ spins?? Our crew, and underground, have gone through many transformations. Some people we miss quite a bit, other relationships were just not meant to be. But the ones you appreciate the most are those you can always count on.
Felipe Callado is one of these friends. His passion for the music parallels ours. He struggles with the direction of the scene and the juggling of his work, private and social life, just as we do. But the magnetism of house music and the warm feelings of a beautiful melody and rolling base line will forever connect us despite living on opposite ends of the planet.
It’s also what compels us to go above and beyond to spread the house music love. His EXZELLENZ project is so similar to ours. They do their best to throw quality parties, because we both know this music is best heard live and loud. However, we appreciate how important these sounds are in our everyday lives, and that’s why the EXZELLENZ podcast is truly at the root of what they do.
With exclusives from some of the freshest and most talented artists in house music today, EXZELLENZ is definitely a series you should be on the pulse of. But if you’ve followed us over the past three years, you’re already well in the know about Felipe and how his mixes are on par with the best of the entire industry. His INTIMATE &UNDERGROUND was one for the ages, and every other promo he’s generously compiled for us has been equally top of the charts. Including this one…
Felipe cruises into this composition with a gentle groove. Once again it’s Vincenzo building the subtle tension and we’re Loving how he struts delectably into dramatic, yet soulful Singing. It’s difficult not to comment on every track, but the transition out of the Horizon is soooo sexy it’s an essential mention. The smooth stretch to the most discrete Sonic Boom ever heard positions the mix perfectly for an epic finale that injects a deeeep craving for more. Thankfully, if our history continues to repeat itself, we all know there will be. Thanks so much Felipe.
Fresh Beats w/ Stuart Johnston
You begin to follow trends when you spend as much time on social networks as I do. As a promoter, I look out for those who Like, retweet and comment on the content I enjoy. I figure these are the people who’d dig the music we provide, or in this case, provide the music we dig.
Obviously, Stuart Johnston is one of these people. We’ve been praising many of the same artists, loving and listening to the best of progressive house for a very long time. Together we support and encourage the legends and fresh talent of our underground even though we’re situated over 5000 km apart. It’s a bond I’ve felt before and is very real to me. It’s one of the most beautiful things about our scene.
After hearing this exclusive, I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. It’s a serious compilation; super tight, skillfully programmed and methodically captivating. I know A LOT of effort was put into this mix; we’re sincerely thankful for such an exquisite gift.
The journey kicks off on a tech / tribal tip with an intro from Scottish maestros Slam. It reaches forward to gorgeous synths from Stelios Vassiloudis, which then melts into the hypnotic strings of Berg. A deep gruuv is the undertone for the second half, rolling into a super-suave conclusion in Vincenzo’s version of Nuribo.
An instant btb classic and an incredible start to what we already know will be a long-lasting friendship. Thanks again Papa Johnston.
I don’t often post artist bios straight up in this forum; I usually just reference them to confirm the facts. But I’m including Stuart’s below because it’s well written and quite frankly he needs to get his money’s worth…
The shimmer of a beat the smooth edge of a flowing groove, dance music that seamlessly emerges from an electronic belly brimming with funk, soul and depth. Sounds which materialise in mixes by Belfast based DJ Stuart Johnston play-listed over the last 6 months by online Electronic Dance Music radio stations such as Frisky Radio and Proton Radio.
Submerging himself into a world of beats, grooves and rhythms in the early 90s the Belfast DJ frequented clubs such as The Art College Belfast, Kelly’s Portrush, and Circus Circus Banbridge, Stuart was greatly influenced by the DJ’s who played these clubs, David Holmes, Ian McCready, Chris Hurley, Glen Molly and Jacko.
His recent sets span the deep and melodic side of electronica and techier productions by artists such as Tale Of Us, Maya Jane Coles, Solomun, Tigerskin, Maceo Plex & Sasse. He cites DJ’s such as Desyn Masiello, Ricky Ryan, Luke Fair, Tom Morgan, Hisham Zahran and Dana Bergquist as contemporary peers.
Does the world still need DJs we hear you ask ? Just as a disco ball needs to spin and feet need to hit the floor. It appears so.
Fresh Beats w/ Marcos Deon
There’s absolutely no doubt our association with Luke Fair has provided a level of credibility we would’ve struggled to achieve on our own. Almost 100% of the DJs featured on this site list Luke as one of their inspirations.
His influence on the world of progressive house has powered our content from Day 1 and his continued involvement is a key factor why bringthebeats remains relevant nine years after launch.
Who would’ve thought such a low-key guy could inspire so many up-and-coming artists? It blows me away he’s so chilled and focused soley on music, yet he’s managed to touch the spirit of virtually every DJ we listen to on a daily basis.
The “Luke Fair phenomenon” is our ultimate hook up. Finding maestros like Marcos Deon is the proof.
I ask every Fresh Beats DJ to send a bio, a couple promo pics and whatever else they want me to plug in the post. Here’s Marcos’ edited response to what he wanted included:
“On October 29, I will play with Luke Fair, at Moinho Lounge. It will be the first time I will play with him, and this is gonna be a very important gig, because Luke has always been a great reference for me. If you could cite it in the post, I would be appreciated.”
Some extremely cool words about our friend. Can you imagine receiving such praise from one of your peers? It’s a rare experience these days, and definitely a memorable one for all who were around the table when the message was passed on to Luke.
A handful of us headed back to the East Liberty Lounge following INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v10. My personal tradition for each after party is to begin the festivities with the newest bringthebeats exclusive. For this occasion, Marcos Deon was first in rotation.
Sey started grooving in the living room, Erik was head bopping on the couch and the rest were hip shaking around the kitchen island. One by one, everyone asked who was in in the mix, including Luke around the 30min mark (an unforgettable memory because As I Am is one of my favourite tracks).
“Do you like it?” I respond. “Yeah, it’s really good,” Luke says. “It’s Marcos Deon, your opening DJ on October 29th.” As Luke grins ear to ear, I proceed to read the above request from an email on my phone.
I know it’s kind of cheesy – and it was at the time – but after what Luke did in the club that night, and with Marcos’ fantastic set rolling over the Sonos, I think we all shared an internal group hug imagining ourselves in Brazil at the end of the month. At the very least I felt a sinister sense of satisfaction watching Luke squirm while feeling the praise… hehe, that’ll never get old.
What makes this story so very special is the excellence of the mix. Marcos has compiled a composition of modern classics. It’s a systematically thought-out melody of rolling baselines, lush chords and emotional sounds. It’s one of those gems that can be used for relaxation or to amp the crowd.
You can tell it comes from the heart, and there’s no words that describe how much Luke and all the bringthebeats crew appreciates that.
Fresh Beats w/ Dana Bergquist
It’s almost impossible for me to pinpoint exactly what my favourite genre of house is. I love the methodical style of Ricky Ryan and the funky progressive of The Rogue Show. I can’t get enough of Terry Lee Brown Jr.’s tech or the full-bodied sounds of Omid 16B.
But if I was to log listening hours over the past year, I’d have to say the likes of Dimitri From Paris, The Revenge and of course Dana Bergquist would top the list. It’s not because I like these DJs more than the others, it’s because of the accessibility of their music and how it accommodates the changes that have occurred in our lives since we started listening to it.
Back in the day when we were in clubs every weekend and house music was everything to us, it didn’t matter the pace or vibe, we blazed whatever was hot at the moment. Who we were with was never a concern because everyone around us was always in the know.
Nowadays, as we spend more of our free time with family and friends outside the scene, we need to be more selective with our queues. Especially when introducing people to real underground sounds for the first time.
Most people struggle to connect with tunes as complex as what you’ll find on this site. Commercial music doesn’t contain the layers and depth of underground house. It’s difficult for people who casually enjoy music to get into what they’re hearing when tracks are constructed in a more challenging manner. Most only want one catchy hook, and that’s what commercial songs provide. They’re easy.
The simplest way to bridge the gap that exists between the underground and the casual listener is to find mixes that incorporate vocals. There’s something about a human’s voice that makes all music more accessible. Even I must admit, a groovy verse can take any good track and make it incredible.
As you’ll hear in this Fresh Beats exclusive, Dana Bergquist is the master when it comes to featuring vocals in his sets. Every one of his mixes can be played for any one of my friends or family members without fear of overwhelming ears. He always compiles with a deep, smooth pace and uses selections that we all can relate to. Dana’s music is the ultimate compromise.
Right away Dana drops this mix into some sexy Pillow Talk and continues the vocal symphony to its first climax, a pumping Hot Toddy remix. There are so many cool moments wrapped around stellar transition tunes, but none are more amusing than the Cold as Ice apex. And before you gather yourself, Dana’s back into the groove, closing things out with accessibility no other DJ I know can pull off. No Matter What You Say, everyone can relate to a mix ending with Prince.
Fresh Beats w/ Alex Zeta Paul
“AUSTRAL MIXING… ALEX ZETA PAUL…” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that voiceover stuck in my head. Too many to count. It’s because of the insane number of incredible sets that have been made available through the Austral Mixing Podcast. All thanks to the efforts of our Argentinian ally in the worldwide promotion of funky progressive house, Alex Zeta Paul.
Alex’s radio show on Sonic.fm has become a source to be reckoned with in the electronic scene. Every Sunday night we’ll either be introduced to new underground talent or treated to a very special mix from one of house music’s finest vets. From what we do here and through helping out with Basic Frequencies on Proton back in the day, I know how difficult it is to keep a radio show consistently fresh. With 89 episodes and counting, Austral Mixing has managed to do it with sensational style.
What also intrigues me is that it took 84 episodes for Alex to feature himself. That’s pretty selfless patience for a DJ in today’s fame-seeking culture. I don’t know Alex off the wire, but this fact alone leads me to believe he’s an ace character and one I hope will continue to stay active in the scene for a very long time.
This Fresh Beats exclusive, and debut mix for AZP on bringthebeats, is all Austral. It’s not your older brother’s progressive. This is the good stuff, intelligent house music spun progressively.
Turkos starts things off deep and melodic. It then breaks off into some funky drums, showers down some groove and gets us bouncing Off the Walls before heading into a really dirty stretch with Smash your Face. The track that begins at the 35min mark is the highlight cut for me. You need to have headphones on when this one starts to blaze. Listen to its depth. It has so many layers and is so unpredictable. Close your eyes and imagine being on the dance floor when this one goes off… that’s why progressive house makes a body move like no other music in the world.
Thanks for hosting all the amazing mixes you do Alex and lots of love for this masterpiece of the music you and I love most. Brazilian btb’ers, be sure to check out Alex at the Moinho Lounge in Passo Fundo on Saturday July 30th, you know I’d be there if I could.
Fresh Beats w/ Gabriel Sordo
I LOVE studio promos! Downloading a live mix is cool, especially when you’ve been at the party and you’re reliving the memories. But for me, there’s nothing like a DJ who tests the waters to produce something unique.
It’s so intriguing to hear what DJs come up with for a Fresh Beats exclusive. It’s like Christmas morning every time I play one of these mixes for the first time. Studio promos are created without the pressures of a dance floor and party promoters determining the play list. They’re about representing an artist’s true tastes. We like to like to offer a DJ the opportunity to be who they want to be, something that’s not often available in a nightclub.
Gabriel Sordo is one talent who ceases the moment every time he sends a promo our way. He can rock a room as well any progressive DJ out there, his Soundcloud account proves that with a steady stream of live mix downloads. But when it comes to his promos, he digs deep and provides melodic drama that’s become a signature of his music on this site.
This instalment starts off with a summery vibe. It really kicks in with one of his edits, a sexy little version of the Lovebirds’ Want You in My Sol. Part one – yes, there are two distinct parts in this continuous mix – concludes the groove with a Duff Disco number that has me bouncing around the room like I’ve just been introduced by Cat Deely.
Gabby then breaks off into a second part of ambient progression that’s super deep and tribal, building insane tension before Running on Fumes. James Blake, of all people, sets up another deeeeep section of methodical beats before transitioning into a dreamlike state that eloquently comes to a close with the mystical Piano Final.
This really is an incredible gift Gabriel has made for us. We hope you find it as special as we do.
Fresh Beats w/ Felipe Callado, Fran Bortolossi & Pedro Bueno
It’s really amazing my strongest connection musically is with people on the other end of the earth. The South American vibe will forever be close to my heart and it only seems to get stronger as the years pass.
Our trips to Argentina and Brazil have only strengthened the bond. And every time one of the suave South Americans visits us here in the north, we hang on to a little of their spirit to keep us inspired through the trials and tribulations of promoting our shared style.
This isn’t to say our mates in the south don’t struggle with the same issues we do. Electronic hasn’t become popular by remaining underground. So many artists and venues have compromised cutting edge for fame. It’s the same all over the world. Underground enthusiasts like us may always be on the outside looking in when it comes to widespread success.
I’m not sure of the specifics of the situation, or maybe it’s just an accumulation of consistent disappointment from the commercialized scene, but Pedro Bueno’s temporary thrown in the towel on his DJ career. And how can you blame him? I’ve felt many of the same frustrations throughout the past several years, but I love the music so much, I always seem to get drawn back in. I truly hope the same for Pedro.
Felipe Callado is dealing with his own set of complications with his newly launched brand Exzellenz. He’s done everything right. Exzellenzmusic.com is a slick promotional tool for the event series and bi-weekly podcast (which has already featured two incredible instalments from Add2Basket and Fran Bortolossi). When we were in Joinville the Exzellenz launch attracted 700 people to Moom, and another 1000 were outside wishing they could get in. It was a seriously in-demand party. But convincing people on the dance floor to buy into a music-first concept is a whole other ball game.
This is why I love Felipe. He could be satisfied with numbers, but without vibe, numbers mean nothing. I know that, he knows that, and anyone who truly respects the scene knows that. Its unfortunate most people pulling the strings don’t.
There’re two extremes: ones who are in it just for the money and others who are trying to escape a real job. These people are either never on the dance floor or partying so hard they let special moments slip by unnoticed.
The harsh reality is it probably won’t change anytime soon. If these guys want to continue to play music, if I want to continue to promote music, we’ll all have to fight the power right to the bitter end. We’ll need to let the music speak for itself and do whatever we can to show the underground the proper love and respect it deserves. Hopefully the others will follow suit one day, but we can’t hold our breath.
This two-hour extravaganza from Felipe, Fran & Pedro is the best example why people need to take notice of what’s quality and what’s made just for quantity. This mix was prepared over three months and was handled with so much care it couldn’t be passed on until it was absolutely perfect.
Each guy completed a section and then passed it on to another. Then they went through it again to ensure the flow was absolutely seamless when compiled as one. Through the wonderful powers of the internet we have one cohesive set from three geniuses separated geographically, but connected musically and therefore emotionally.
I’m the fourth musketeer, so happy to have it on the site and so appreciative they’ve allowed me to put the bringthebeats brand on it. Who knows this could be the last mix they do together? I sure hope this isn’t the case, and after you’ve heard it, I know you’ll hope not too.
Fresh Beats w/ Ricky Ryan & Shlomi B
It seems like forever since we offered an exclusive to the bringthebeats crew. Thanks to everyone who’s remained tuned into what we do on Facebook and Twitter and have continued to check in here with the faith we’d provide another mix made with all of you in mind.
After such a long break we figure there’s no better way to resume Fresh Beats than with two of the freshest of all, Ricky Ryan and Shlomi B.
Even though our club nights are fewer and farther between, the availability of great tunes sure hasn’t diminished. Progressive house continues to evolve, and maybe sounds better today than ever before. The constant flow of incredible tunes coming from Ricky is excellent proof.
I’m amazed how month after month he puts together press worthy compilations and of course the selections we heard from Ricky at the MOB Festival were absolutely mind bending. It’s a testament to the passion and skill of the producers creating this audio gold because let’s face it; they can’t be making a lot of money from the studio or booth these days. Just like Ricky’s motto, it’s all made strictly for the love, and that’s amazing for you and me.
Hope you enjoy my new mix broadcasted xclusively on bringthebeats. From deep n’ gentle beats to bright n’ funky anthems, a mix of fruity loops from the Caribbean republic of Samana! – ricky ryan
Music that’s made to be heard, not to earn, comes from the heart. These grooves are pure and organic, unlike the synthetic stuff produced with only fame on the brain. Shlomi B is a guy who definitely follows Ricky’s motto. This mix was sent to us with no time frame to be released, no expectations on how we’d put it out there or if we would at all. He just said he made it special for us, do what you’d like with it. That’s strictly for the love.
Shlomi delves into some classic house vibes within a deep, soulful tech-house groove. The pace is perfect from the first track to the last. It’s an ideal mix to have bringthebeats’ name on it and we’re incredibly appreciative it does.
Fresh Beats w/ Shlomi B
I set myself up for disappointment in so many ways. I’m the type of guy who’ll forever gravitate toward the underdog. I’ve always thought David was so much cooler than Goliath. In music, in sports and pretty much everything else in life, I’m on the side of the little guy every time.
To me, it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s definitely how you play the game. When it comes to the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, there are so many dudes that have no clue what this means. It blows my mind to read that people have been caught stuffing the ballot… several times!! I totally understand money can be generated by making this list, but is it worth the minimal wealth to compromise your integrity AND legitimacy?
Not as drastic, but definitely just as cheesy are the relentless “Vote for me!” messages that litter our email this time every year. I’m totally cool with a DJ sending out a reminder that the poll is open, but a campaign style attack on the inbox is incredibly weak in my opinion. And for DJ Mag to make a “Vote for me!” downloadable kit just confirms how far this scene has slipped pass me over the years.
I’m gonna stick to listening to the underdogs of the underground no matter who makes the list. DJs like Shlomi B are the kind of artists I’ll support until the end of my time. He’s the type of person who sends music our way just to have it heard and for the love of putting it all together. There are no strings attached when listening to these beats and that’s just one of things I like most about guys like Shlomi. His mix will explain the rest.
Fresh Beats w/ Hernan Cerbello
What would life be without house music? When I’m up and when I’m down, when I’m working hard or chilling out, it’s always been there… when I need it the most and even when I don’t. House music is my security blanket, my crutch and unconditional friend. It’s everything I want and need it to be and thankfully it’s something that will forever just be.
But even house music can be overdone. I honestly believe I’ve overdosed on beats more than once. Many times I’ve had to pick myself up and tuck the headphones away because my body and mind have told me in unison I’ve listened too much.
It’s a weird sensation to get so totally locked into the groove that you lose all concept of where you are and what you’re doing. I guess too much of anything isn’t good for anyone and unfortunately for me, house music is no exception to this rule.
I had one of these “Oh my God this is way too much!” moments while jamming to this Fresh Beats mix from Hernan Cerbello. I was at my desk working on some mundane shit and before I know it I’m coming around with the kick calling my name from behind. Let me tell you it’s super embarrassing to be caught in your cubical, totally zoned out with your head bouncing around in the middle of the afternoon… by your coordinator! Who knows how long I was doing that for and if others may have come and gone before? All I know is my desktop was a mess when I finally got back to being focused on work. Fine example I am.
It doesn’t really matter because I can’t help but be excited that progressive house DJs like Hernan aren’t sitting around sulking over the explosion of techno like I’ve been. They’re embracing it and incorporating cool tech sounds into their program and whether I can believe it or not, I’m actually totally digging it.
I remember in Lisa’s Inside the IM with Naveen G he quoted Lee Burridge saying that Lee doesn’t play progressive, he plays music progressively. Hernan is one of these super cool artists that are following Lee’s lead and it’s really opening my ears to tracks that I might not have ever given a second listen if they weren’t so clinically fit into a progressive mix.
I asked Hernan to make this promo because I think it’s amazing how he’s adapted to the sounds of today and even more incredible how that music continues to impact my life. If I strip it all down to just the tunes, all of this influence is positive… even if I’m caught making a fool of myself within the process.
Fresh Beats w/ Fran Bortolossi
Last weekend, after a four year hiatus, we returned to the floor of the most fantastic club we’e ever had the privilege to dance in. Stereo in Montreal is a shrine to everything we love about the nightclub scene, and it’s only become more incredible after renovations that were initiated by a devastating fire in the summer of 2008.
The analogue based sound is unbelievably exceptional, one of a kind. Being amidst its delicate power can easily trigger an out of body experience; it has for me many times. The classy and sophisticated decor is absolutely how we’d outfit an underground space and the clubbers the Stereo legend attracts are seriously intent on an uninterrupted session of non stop grooves. Picture the super sexy people of Montreal, armed with running shoes and cool, comfortable styles; Stereo is most definitely our kind of place, hosting our kind of people.
Unfortunately for us, the bliss ends there. Outside a couple inconveniently scheduled appearances by Danny Howells, a few Harem Records parties and a rare underground booking of Claude Von Stroke, Stereo simply doesn’t give a second look to the fresh talent of progressive house. Yes, over the past four years we could have traveled for a commercialized Sander Kleinenberg or any of Stereo’s old school New York House residents, but the thought of being back inside the newly renovated temple of sound and not enjoying what was coming from the speakers was (and is now confirmed) a completely empty feeling.
This most recent return came out of the blue as our trip was planned for months and it was only a spur of the moment decision that we attended Danny Tenaglia’s 20 years of DJing anniversary. I’ll try not to waste too much of this post complaining about Danny’s skills, track selection and total lack of direction, because that’s not what the piece is supposed to be about. But I have to say every minute of our time inside Stereo was spent consumed with unfulfilled dreams of developing a proper music policy for such a legendary venue.
Knowing this Fresh Beats promo from Fran Bortolossi was on its way, many of my thoughts revolved around the quality sound we were sure to expect within this mix. I imagined the groups of people hovering around each other actually facing the booth and not one another. I tried to feel the melodies and smooth grooves of Fran’s selections heard over the warmest sound system in the world, not the banging and monotonous build ups that were effectively wearing me down and were the only way Danny could get through a mix. I yearned for a DJ who would be paid a fraction of Tenaglia’s fee but would perform to a level actually deserving of the coolest club on the planet.
Fran is without a doubt a perfect example of the new breed that should be given the opportunity to express their interpretation of today’s electronic music in the marquee clubs of the industry. No, he won’t be playing for 30 hours over a weekend, but he’d give you five hours of undivided attention and focus. He’d tap into every bit of the musical training he’s developed since the age of eight and would respectfully pay homage to his greats, influences like Nick Warren, Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha & John Digweed. Fran would provide the South American soul that is so desperately lacking in the North American sound and I know the Stereo faithful would absolutely adore what he’d do for them.
I’m under no illusion that for now Fran Bortolossi at Stereo is anything but a dream, but for just one hour humour me. Close your eyes and listen to this mix in your headphones. Envision yourself in Stereo or simply on your favourite dance floor and truly embrace the emotion created by this budding Brazilian superstar. If you’re anything like me I think you’ll agree, this is the music that should be heard in the right place at the right time.
Download (left-click and unzip):
Fran Bortolossi – bringthebeats – July 2010
Fresh Beats w/ Gabriel Sordo & Memo Insua
Electronic Dance is the World Cup of music. No other style connects the four corners of the earth like EDM, just as no other tournament in sports has more global appeal than the World Cup. By far the best thing about being deeply entrenched in this industry is the bonds we’ve formed with passionate fans from all over the planet.
We can virtually watch every game of the World Cup and have allegiances to one or both of the teams because of someone we’ve met in the house music scene. There’s no better example of this than Sunday’s match between Mexico and Argentina, a rematch of the top contest of Germany ’06.
Of course our bond with the Argentinians is no secret and our trip to Buenos Aires in 2006 created lasting memories of a beautiful, lively city inhabited by equally gorgeous and energizing people. But our friends in the Northern part of the Americas are just as amazing and if anyone deserves a victory on the world’s stage it’s the Mexicans, especially after what they had to endure with the H1N1 bullshit.
Gabriel Sordo is the original Mexican in the bringthebeats crew. For a few years now Gabby’s been providing us with some of the most musical and intricate compilations we’ve hosted. This mix may be the most complex to date, as I believe it’s the first ambient set we’ve promoted on the site. What makes it increasingly special is that he made it with our audience in mind, knowing we would definitely appreciate such a work of art… and we absolutely do!
Ironically we were introduced to Memo Insua through Ricky Ryan, and on Sunday the two will be cheering from opposite sides of the pitch (Ricky literally speaking as he and his bro are in South Africa for the games). We approached Memo for this submission after hearing the many incredible productions coming from his very active SoundCloud page. This guy is a straight up wizard when it comes to deep and funky tech house and this mix is no exception. If you were to ask me what the coolest and hottest sound is for me right now, I’d pass on this promo from Memo.
Best of luck to our Mexican and Argentinean friends this Sunday and to all who are cheering on their country in this amazing spectacle of sport and pride. As Canadians we know what its like to achieve greatness with our Olympic success in Vancouver, it must be just as fantastic for all who are locked into the World Cup.
Fresh Beats w/ BroKen DJs
I can’t say music is my life, but it’s certainly shaped much of it. My styles, my friends and my attitude have always been a reflection of the tunes I’m currently listening to. I was a baggy pant wearing, b-balling hip hopper as a teen, a plaid drunken grunger in university and an angry punk the couple years after.
It wasn’t until I found house music that I finally felt good, acted good and in the most humble sense, looked good. I contribute this to a scene where you’re allowed to be yourself, with nobody telling you how to act, what to wear or who to hang with. You just make peace with who you are and on the dance floor you can be whoever you want to be.
It’s in the club environment where I’ve made my deepest connections with the like-minded. When you’re in a room listening to a DJ you love, there’s a great chance the people around you are from the same kind of crew. So as you can imagine, listening to Luke Fair for so many years has introduced us to some of our coolest and closet friends.
The BroKen DJs, Jon Passey and Jamie Scott, are two such dudes. Some of our highlight memories from Miami’s past are with these guys and it all came together through our mutual love for what Luke Fair does. Extremely modest and incredibly fun, Jon and Jamie have transitioned their overwhelmingly positive energy into a disco deep, funky progressive house sound. Go figure, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.
The duo has found great success DJing in and around their home base in the UK. Their residency for Neustra Casa, one of London’s most revered house nights, has landed them in the booth at some of the city’s most renowned nightclubs including Ministry of Sound and the sorely missed Turnmills. They’ve also secured gigs in Norway and will be playing in Lithuania later this summer.
This Fresh Beats exclusive has been compiled with our warm weather in mind. Knowing we love the poolside vibes 24/7, 365 days a year, Jon and Jamie have provided a mix that is super groovy, expectedly smooth and absolutely guaranteed to put you in a great mood. So without further ado, we introduce to you introduce to you the BroKen DJs and their perfectly suited bringthebeats debut.
Fresh Beats w/ Royce Haven
You can’t have one great thing without the other. Hosting a Fresh Beats w/ Mike Haddad and not following it up with one from his Witty Tunes partner Royce Haven would be like scoring chocolate without the peanut butter. Alone they’re sweet, but together they’re delicious!
Add Dr. Kucho! to the mix and you have a potent production trio who sat in Beatport’s Top 10 downloads last week with their release ‘Lloraras‘ on Haiti Groove Recordings. Yes, things are looking pretty great for Royce Haven right now and it couldn’t be happening to a cooler guy.
Of course we’re completely bias. Royce and Mike were two guys that made an incredibly positive impression on us while meeting them for the first time at this year’s WMC. Royce is a zany dude, with phenomenal energy. You can’t stop the smile while in his zone. I can’t emphasize enough how much fun we had at the Witty Tunes / Add2Basket Rooftop Party and I contribute a lot of our good times to the amazing attitudes of the hosts.
But what really astonishes me about this guy is the versatility of his music. When reading over some of the supporters of his production, the likes of Roger Sanchez, Chus, Richard Dinsdale, Saeed Younan, Sandy Rivera, Kris Menace and Pablo Ceballos, you wouldn’t think his sound would have much cross over appeal to our preferred brand of progressive house. But it does and that is definitely reflected in the Fresh Beats mix Royce has made exclusively for us.
Royce has hit it right on the nose when it comes to the btb vibe. This is funky progressive house at its finest – with a heavy emphasis on ‘house’ – exactly how we love it. It begins with a smooth chug and a sweet female vocal sample, then transitions into some groovy horns and back to some sexy lady, booty shaking rhythms. Mid way he moves into some grittier, more driving selections and concludes back on the soulful tip, but with a little dirtier undertone.
As you can tell, this is a promo that has definitely caught my ear in a big way. I’ve honestly had it on repeat for days. What I utterly appreciate is that Royce catered the mix specifically to our crew. It’s a sign of a true professional when an artist takes notice of the crowd he’s playing for and in this case, he’s reached expert status through his keen observation. Fresh Beats w/ Royce Haven is a truly tasty treat for bringthebeats.
Fresh Beats w/ Mike Haddad
This site is pretty much made up of music from DJs we’d love to book if we lived in a perfect world. A world consisting of open minded, funk loving, house music junkies… a world filled with more Witty Tunes. Continuing on with our WMC inspired desire to explore our dreams, we present to you Washington DC’s Mike Haddad, a dude near the very top of our list of DJs we’d love to host in the very near future.
Let’s face it; North Americans haven’t taken to funky progressive like clubbers have in other parts of the world. We’re a small niche in this continent, so we need to stick together and support each other whenever we can.
This past year we’ve helped spread the word about the ‘Jody Wisternoff Remix Competition’ put on by Mike and Royce Haven’s super successful Witty Tunes label. And we supported and attended the ‘Witty Tunes / Add2Basket WMC Rooftop Party’ where we finally met the entire Witty crew in all their styles. It was definitely a highlight of our week; for sure the funkiest, coolest music we heard start to finish at any event. Now Mike’s returned the favour by compiling this spectacular club-ready promo exclusively for bringthebeats.
In the brief time we were able to talk shop in Miami, Mike and I realized we have a lot in common when it comes to our struggles pushing underground sounds in our respective cities. But it also became clear we don’t only feel each other’s pain, but we also share an identical love for proper progressive house. After listening to this mix I can confidently confirm we’re on the same page about this.
Mike my brother, thanks a lot for taking time out from your extremely busy schedule as a new pops to put together this phenomenal example of how pumping tunes are groovier, sexier and smoother on our side of the underground. Let’s hope we can get our dance floor rolling with these ultra Fresh Beats very, very soon.
Fresh Beats w/ Liluca
Music truly transcends borders; in electronic music more than any other style without a doubt. Nobody I know outside the scene has developed global connections like we have in the underground. It’s amazing that we’ve developed relations with people from all over the globe; most of whom we’ve never even spoken to face to face.
It’s the common ground of funky melody and deep bass that instantly makes an artist our friend. It’s listening to a set and realizing that the person who compiled it actually ‘gets it’. It’s when you know, that they know it should be heading somewhere and you have enough trust to allow this relative stranger take you there. That’s a bond as strong as I’ve ever known.
Gabriel Sordo was the one who formally introduced us to Luis Caparroso, one half of the legendary Columbian duo Liluca, alongside Farid Char Yidi. But it was through both Ricky Ryan and Luke Fair that we first heard of these genius music makers.
See I don’t know anything when it comes to production or individual tracks. I’m one of those guys that reference a tune by the twenty-fifth minute of the Summer Promo or the second track on the Balance. I most enjoy music in the flow of a compilation, so I’m left to pry info on the best producers from guys like Luke and Ricky and on multiple occasions the name Liluca has come up in conversation.
Thank God it has because I feel like we’ve hit the jackpot scoring a set from these two. In the game together since 1998, Luis and Faird are production heroes to many our favourite DJs including Tom Morgan, Desyn Masiello and Add2Basket. As live performers Liluca’s held residencies at clubs Gotica, Cha Cha and Cinema in their hometown of Bogota¡ and have appeared at the Summer Dance Festival and Ultra Music Festival in Cartagena.
They’ve traveled for gigs in Mexico and Guatemala and will be making their second appearance at the WMC in Miami aboard the Sunrise at The Bay cruise headlined by SOS, Paolo Mojo and Jody Wisternoff. It’s going to be amazing to strike Liluca’s name off the list of artists we love but have yet to meet in person. It’s one of the things we’re most looking forward to at this year’s conference.
The word that first comes to mind when describing this exclusive is crisp. The beats, the mixing and the programming are so tight they’re crisp. It moves from ambient techno to pure house to pure techno and mid way there are some massive floor-filling bombs. There’s hip hop influence and smooth groovy progressive house. It’s surely one of the most eclectic mixes we’ve hosted and absolutely one of the best. You’re in for a treat with Liluca’s debut on bringthebeats.
