Best of 2013 Interview: Robert Vadney

Best of 2013 Interview: Robert Vadney. Robert Vadney (aka Robbie V) is a Greek-American multi-talented music producer/composer, songwriter/singer, DJ/remixer and one of electronic dance music's standout individuals. A true, unique and rare talent, constantly pushing EDM musical boundaries beyond it's perceived norms, with innumerable remixes on high profile labels and critically acclaimed original compositions already under his belt.

From his ground-breaking fusion of Trance with Rock/Goth/Horror overtones, Robert is the first artist to marry these extremes in a unique manner and as a consequence, "Gothic Trance" was born. Affectionately known as the "King of Gothic Trance" for his past dark underground Trance music by his fans worldwide, his work has been supported worldwide by the likes of Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz but his legendary association and work with Paul Oakenfold is most noted.

Best of 2013 Interview: Active Limbic System

Best of 2013 Interview: Active Limbic System. Active Limbic System is a recently formed trance duo from Greece. They're producing high quality tech trance with Psy influences and epic sequences. Active Limbic System is made up of George Tripas and Michalis Patakas. 

George Tripas is the DJ and the frontman of the duo. He's responsible for the massive sets, the deals, the promotion etc. Michalis Patakas is the producer. The guy behind their own sonic magic.

George and Michalis met in a trance event and while they were sharing their love for trance, they decided to try making their own trance music.

Best of 2013 Interview: 2Elements

Best of 2013 Interview: 2Elements. The two ladies met each other in a club and didn`t believe their eyes. They thought they have seen their mirror image and came in contact. From now on they were an inseparable Duo. A close friendship arose through all ups and downs of life and through numerous clubs of the world.

Because of friends they got more familiar with the World of Deejaying and that`s why July and Anie decided to learn how to use Vinyl and CD.

Through their share most of their interests and nearly the same look, the 2Elements realized that they represent different styles of electronic music.

Best of 2013 Interview: Basil O’Glue

Best of 2013 Interview: Basil O’Glue. Basil O’Glue (Haris Vasiloglou) born and raised in Athens, now lives in a small city near Thessaloniki – Northern Greece.

He has studied 3d animation and graphic design, and now works as a photographer.

As a teenager he loved electronic music, especially bands as The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers etc. A few years later he started to produce his own music with some amateur software. His first attempts were really not cool,but after getting his first midi keyboard and some equipment while learning new software, there was an obvious improvement. His producing tools are, Propellerheads Reason, some mastering vst plug-in and a couple of good monitors! 

Now with Styller is the co-owner of the very successful must check record label Saturate Audio gracing support from Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Solarstone and more.

Best of 2013 Interview: Hazem Beltagui

Best of 2013 Interview: Hazem Beltagui. Born on the 6th of August 1988 in Alexandria, Egypt, Hazem has always been fascinated by music ever since he was a child, but its wasn't until late 2008 that he got introduced to Electronic Dance Music in general, and Trance in particular, with the works of the likes of Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Andy Moor, Signalrunners and Solarstone just to name a few.

By the Beginning of 2009, he had already made his mind and decided he would learn music production and hopefully he could make a career in this industry that he has always been extremely infatuated with. His first releases were mainly progressive house but still very melodic, and by the beginning of 2012, he was already being supported by some of the biggest djs in the world and has made a name for himself in the prog house scene.

Best of 2013 Interview: BT

Best of 2013 Interview: BT. "BT mounts mesmerizing journeys with his compositions. He is not only a virtuoso programmer, but an extremely gifted musician.” – Peter Gabriel speaking to the LA Times.

Career

Given his enviable resume and illustrious fifteen+ year career, it is difficult to imagine that platinum-selling artist, visionary producer, film composer and technologist BT may only now be beginning to create the best work of his career. An internationally-renowned recording artist himself, he is trusted by superstars such as Sting, Britney Spears, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Madonna, Seal and Peter Gabriel to produce modernist and memorable hits, with a bleeding-edge electronic flair. He has composed unforgettable scores for films The Fast and the Furious, Partysaurus Rex, Go, Stealth and Oscar-award winning Monster. With his 2011 album, the two-hour, double-disk opus of These Hopeful Machines, BT definitively weaves both the technical prowess and compositional mastery that reminds us all why he’s the composer that all other composers and producers study.

Best of 2013 Interview: Fabio XB

Best of 2013 Interview: Fabio XB. Italy’s dance scene has found its flag bearer. Producer Fabio Carrara has been working himself up since 2007, kicking off with his Alex Bartlett alias and the many jewels that came along with it. Since 2009, he walked upon dance land under a name closer to his own, Fabio XB. Next to collabs with Lange, Yves De Lacroix, Micky Vi, Ronnie Play and Andrea Mazza, he unveiled his first solo release ‘Reflected’ in early summer of 2011. Now that the dust has started to settle and autumn is calling, Fabio XB presents a new ride to keep you warm: ‘Flash of Life’.

During his dj sets Fabio XB focuses his attention on the dance floor and he loves to play extended dj-sets in order to build up better the atmosphere of the performance and let everybody live a unique special experience through the music.

Best of 2013 Interview: Mike Danis

Best of 2013 Interview: Mike Danis

Mike Danis' last three tracks "We Are True," "Majestic" and "Remember" have all charted in the top 30 of Beatport's Trance chart and received enormous support from Armin van Buuren, (ASOT) & Above & Beyond (ABGT) and Dash Berlin. The 24-year old producer signed his first track at 18 and makes his home in the town of Budapest, Hungary

Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist Radio/DJ

Best of 2013 Interview: Eminence

Best of 2013 Interview: Eminence. Eminence, aka Dillon “DLN” Wong and Matt“Kazmo” Kazmierowski currently call Vancouver home. Their musical talent and taste for the live experience has garnered them worldwide attention, grabbing them DJ Mag’s Top 100, #20 in Canada, #35 Trance, #89 Progressive House, #169 Overall. The group has shared the stage and performed with the likes of Tritonal, Showtek, Marcus Schossow, Jochen Miller, Myon & Shane 54, and more!

The Eminence United Podcast and Radio Show has expanded its reach and audience to tens of thousands of listeners each week on YouTube. This success has translated into future expansion of the show, which will start airing on FM and online radio dials worldwide in the summer of 2013. Each week’s show seamlessly weaves in between Trance, Big-Room, and Progressive House tracks that are handpicked by Dillon and Kazmo. Already approaching 10 million YouTube views be sure to look up the podcast on iTunes and radio outlets everywhere!

Best of 2013 Interview: Steve Brian

Name: Steve Brian

Location: Hildesheim, Germany

STEVE BRIAN FACTS

1. DJ-sets in Central America, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and a lot of Germany's cities (esp. Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Hanover, Halle, Dortmund to name a few)

2. Released tunes on Euphonic Records, Armada Music, Enhanced Recordings, Lange Recordings, Tool Trance, Planet Love Recordings & Infra Recordings. With his releases he reached several Top 10 hits at the Beatport Trance charts (and other charts like itunes)

Best of 2013 Interview: Ron with Leeds

Best of 2013 Interview: Ron with Leeds
Ron with Leeds. 1mix listeners can win 1 of 10 signed CD copies of Sam / Kim in Ron with Leeds during their radio show Levitated Sessions that is streamed this  Friday 27th of December at 19:00 hrs GMT/20:00 CET

It's always big pleasure to give exposure to talented  upcoming artists like the German trance duo Ron with Leeds from Bochum.  Their Breakthrough EP impressed many and attracted the interest of well known artists. Now they are ready to release the full concept single Sam / Kim that will definitely attract your attention and you will be more than happy to include in your dj sets and digital collections. Let's check their Best Of 2013 list cause they will rise high in 2014.

Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist & Radio / DJ

Name: Ron with Leeds

Location: Bochum, Germany

Best of 2013 Interview: Felix Leiter

Felix Leiter holds the main room residency at Digital (Newcastle, UK)

Recently Voted 'Best Large British Club'

and 11th 'Best Club In The World' by DJ Mag

With ten years experience in the dance music world under your belt, you are already ahead of much of the competition.

As such, Felix Leiter has been a promoter, DJ and more recently a producer, his exploits include playing alongside, and learning from, the likes of Armand Van Helden, Pete Tong, Faithless, Calvin Harris and Laidback Luke to name a few. He has rocked the Metro Radio Arena to over 15,000 strong crowd and the main stage at the Evolution Festival in Newcastle… 50,000 people were in the palm of his hand as he warmed up for Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal.

Also in the Newcastle, Felix is the weekly, main room resident for Love at the cities super club Digital, his club brand Elektriqa also at Digital has recently launched with sell out shows from Calvin Harris & Laidback Luke...

With such experience of what works on the floor, it’s no wonder Felix’s first productions have been snapped up by the scene's biggest labels and can count Tiesto, Roger Sanchez, Mark Knight, Laidback Luke & Fedde La Grand as fans of his work... Felix has gained significant radio support from BBC Radio 1, Capital, Kiss FM & Ireland's RTE.

Best of 2013 Interview: KURA

Portuguese Rising Star KURA is one of the most successful upcoming DJ’s & Producers.

Supported by names like Roger Sanchez, Tiesto, Chuckie, Hardwell, Thomas Gold, Steve Aoki, R3hab, EDX, Sidney Samson, Ferry Corsten, Hardsoul, Paul Oakenfold, among other big names in the industry, signed by labels like Cr2, 4kenzo, Revealed Recordings, Kontor Records and of course Flashover recordings.

Owner of a unique sense of musicality, his productions are filled with infectious beats and lovely melodies that please thousands of fans & dance music lovers.

Known for tracks like "Ammonia", "Night & day" "Follow your dreams", "Brazil", "We Keep Moovin", "Beautiful lie (KURA Festival Mix)", "Love you better (KURA Anthem mix)" and with latest megasmash Bumbershoot on Flashover recordings.

Best of 2013 Interview: Fred Baker

Fred Baker is the artist behind a plethora of productions over the past decade, from (GrooveZone "Eisbaer" / Y-Traxx "Mystery Land" / Fred Baker vs Nyram "Confirmation" / Fred Baker "Total Blackout" / Terry Bones vs Fred Baker "Introspection" / Fred Baker vs Greg Nash "Lunar Eclipse" / and many  more !!!). Fred is back and has been delivering a range of productions ranging from progressive house to trance on labels such as Black Hole, Magik Muzik, In Trance We Trust and more

Monday 16th of December his new single Jump will be released on the legendary label Magik Muzik / Black Hole recordings

Best of 2013 Interview: Tiddey

Best of 2013 Interview: Tiddey. The legendary Tiddey from Poland was, is and will ever be part of the big trance family. Recently he rentered the dj mag Top 100 at number 84. In his interview on the same magazine is quoted to say:  Read in full here

“My plan is to continue to work in trance,” he says resolutely. “Armin released 'Who’s Afraid of 138BPM' this year, which is a sign for producers to carry on.

I don’t want to change style just because something else is more popular at the moment.”?As well as releasing his own trance concoctions, he is also on a mission to bring more of the euphoric stuff to his homeland. ?“The Polish scene is very commercial. 2002-2008 here were the best years of trance. My dream is to bring trance back to mainstream clubs and I think being back in the Top 100 will help me do this.”

Best of 2013 Interview: Greenflash

Best of 2013 Interview: Greenflash.

Dimitri:  Can you tell us about your achievements in your music career in 2013 as DJ &/or producer?

Greenflash: I set up my own label (Freakwave) and that Fedde Le Grand has played my track at Ultra!

Dimitri:  If you look back on 2013, are there any events in your music career that you wished you had done differently in order to get a better outcome?

Greenflash: No, not really

Best of 2013 Interview: Sied van Riel

The last 50 weeks have seen Sied van Riel track-blasting his way around the electronic dance universe’s most prominent clubs, arenas and festivals. December 16th will see him transit 2013/2014 through the release ‘Rielism 2’. The follow-up to his much-champed 2011 debut mix-voyage, it’s worthy successor in every right and respect. The second realization of ‘Rielism’ brings a heritage-return to Sied’s best-known-for sound - that of atmospheric, floor-thriving progressive and powerful, cultured trance. 

Seamlessly, harmonically and thrillingly mixed to perfection, it includes numerous box-fresh, never-heard-before tracks from some of planet Earth’s most talented electronic musicians. Incoming is music from the artisanal studios of Corsten, Tyas, O’Callaghan and Ottaviani, as well as hot-ticket audio from Aly & Fila, Bobina, Arctic Quest, Protoculture, Sneijder and a dozen + others besides.

Best of 2013 Interview: Extravagance SL

Extravagance SL, a project, founded in the late summer in 2009 by the 2 DJs and Producer Philipp Leske and Marcus Schleickmann.

Long before they were on several events as DJs together behind the turntables and realized very quickly that they are on the same shaft. They share not only their preference for Trance and progressive trance, they also know exactly how this should reflect in their own productions.

Since the end of 2010 they found their musical homebase in FENology Records, the well-known label of Woody van Eyden, where their second Release *Rebuild 3.0* was directly grapped by Talla 2XLC on his Techno Club Mix Compilation Vol.39 and played by many big player such as Paul van Dyk, Alex M.O.R.P.H, Claudia Cazacu and Woody van Eyden to name a few. Moreover it was reviewed from 2 big magazines in Germany (Raveline, DJ Mag) and another big one in the USA (DJ Times Magazine).

One month in front of *Rebuild 3.0*, their track *Nightshift* with a bomb remix of Dan Stone, released on Tool Trance, was *TUNE OF THE WEEK* on Armin van Buuren/s *A STATE OF TRANCE 570*. The track reached the TOP 20 in the Beatport Trance Charts and was also played from big players like Above & Beyond, Solarstone, Cressida, Max Graham, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Woody van Eyden and many more.

Best of 2013 Interview: The Upcoming Duo Corti Organ (Daniel & Nikola)

Corti Organ started as a DJ and producing project of two young guys, who want to share their passion for electronic dance music. Influenced mainly by the rising of Trance in the mid to late 90s, the two guys constantly wanted to experience new sounds.

The passion for electronic dance music originated from the tremendous spectrum of sounds — the clear atmosphere of Trance music, the straight line of Techno, the flexibility of House. Besides those three generally defined genres and their subgenres, there are a lot of other styles, other then the EDM, which arouse their interest.

The huge spectrum of musical influences led from DJ’ing to actually producing music. 2010 was the year of the first releases and already the playground for different genres. Progressive Trance, Uplifting as well as more Techy approaches got their way through. And with the help of a lot of talented people and labels around Corti Organ got the platform to release all their musical output.