Mix, Trance | Markus Schulz 2-Hour Sunrise Set
Posted by Middy on July 23, 2013
It is currently 3am here on the east coast. That means the sun’s rays will be peaking up over the horizon in just under 2 hours. What a better way to get ready for the imminent arrival of the sun then a set specifically curated for the occasion by none other then Markus Schulz. He has his own stage at Tomorrowland where he will be playing for 12 hours, so just assume there are few guys as crazy / hyper boss as him. Sit back and listen to this set and let the soothing melodies and rhythms take you away. Tracklist after the jump.
Electro-House, Trance | New World Punx – Romper
Posted by Spice on June 10, 2013
The New World Punx, aka Markus Schulz and Ferry Corsten, have finally dropped their first single, which they debuted to great effect at ASOT 600 in New York. The kicker? As a token of their appreciation to their fans they’ve decided to release it for free. “Romper” is textbook NWP — dark, edgy, and high energy. Preview a live cut below and be sure to snag the free DL.
Free Download: New World Punx – Romper
Events | Electric Zoo Phase 2 Lineup Headliners
Posted by Middy on May 7, 2013
We are starting to get a full picture of how Electric Zoo will look this year after the announcement that it would have two mainstages. Electric Zoo is slowly releasing the names for those who will be coming to Randall’s Island on Labor Day weekend, following the first wave of artists who will take over the mainstages. Phase 2 fills in some of the gaps for the rest of the tents that give the festival its character and diversity, from the Sunday School tent to the Riverside Arena. As suspected, the festival has expanded from 4 stages to 5, so there will be more artists, more choice and inevitably more painstaking, heart-wrenching conflicts over artist time slots (Laidback Luke vs. Steve Aoki is not one… I hope I don’t have to tell you why).
Repeat from last year the Riverside Arena will see Dim Mak take over on Sunday, while Friday will see the joint takeover of Riverside by OWSLA and Boyz Noise Records and A-Trak’s Fools Gold Records on Saturday. The Sunday School Grooooove tent will have new proprietors with Adam Beyers’s Drum Code coming to town on Sunday to bring some techno in your face. There does not appear to be a trance stage, which is a bit disappointing, though Armin, Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond and Markus Schulz are all on the lineup separately. Nobody as of yet has made their claim to any of the Hilltop days, but the lineup’s seem eclectic enough that they would lack a clear label owner. There are more artists to be announced, so do despair if you feel it is lacking in trance or house or dubstep, just wait, especially for the label tents. There is also the option to buy a Friday combo pack, where you buy a ticket for Friday + either Saturday or Sunday, so decide your festival experience. Tickets are on sale now, so grab them below. Check the full lineup after the jump.
Electro, Trance | Ferry Corsten – Black Light // F*ck The Bull$h1t [Preview]
Posted by Spice on May 1, 2013
2013 has been good to Mr. Corsten. Since January, he’s celebrated the 300th episode of Corsten’s Countdown and the 100th release on Flashover Recordings, has played a series of absolutely massive gigs (including Madison Square Garden), and of course launched the New World Punx with good buddy Markus Schulz. He even got a wild new ‘do — a nod to the New World Punk lifestyle, perhaps? Somehow, in the midst of all of this, he has managed to find time to hit the studio; “Black Light,” which dropped yesterday and will be immediately recognizable to anyone who’s seen Ferry live this year, is merely the first in a string of giant upcoming releases.
Simply put, “Black Light” is a banger. In the grand tradition of much of today’s trance, it borrows heavily from electro house — but to great effect. The hook is dark and ominous, the bassline packs a serious punch, and the fact that it all goes down at 132 bpm gives the track an added urgency. I’m also loving how the pitch on the leads drops off — very reminiscent of “Mammoth,” which has been a mainstay in Ferry’s recent live sets. If you’re loving “Black Light,” look for “F*ck The Bull$h1t” to hit Beatport on May 17th — it features a stirring, eerie, almost yearning hook and a drop that’s totally unexpected and built to get you in the zone. F*ck the bull$h1t indeed.
Beatport: Ferry Corsten – Black Light
Preview: Ferry Corsten – F*ck The Bull$h1t
Events | Markus Schulz Kicks Off the North American SCREAM Tour with Support from KhoMha and The M Machine
Posted by Spice on April 10, 2013
Hot off of his monster New World Punx set at Madison Square Garden at the end of March, Markus Schulz takes to the road this evening to kick off his massive (and first ever) U.S. bus tour. With coast-to-coast stops in a number of major cities, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch Markus, KhoMha, and The M Machine over the next month. What can you expect? Markus’s distinctive brand of dark, relentless trance, some hard and techy goodness from Coldharbour protege KhoMha, and the fascinating and high-energy cocktail of house, electro and dubstep that The M Machine are rapidly becoming known for. All told, this is a diverse lineup comprised of artists notorious for pushing the envelope musically. Well, and in other ways, too; to quote Markus, “Am I going to be getting behind the wheel of the Markus Schulz tour bus at some point? Damn straight.” Hope you’ve got a CDL tucked away somewhere, Unicorn Slayer.
For tickets and a full list of dates, go to www.markusschulz.com.
Events | Ultra Music Festival 2013 — Weekend 2 Recap (Or, If I Never Hear “Clarity” Again, It Will Be Too Soon)
Posted by Spice on April 9, 2013
“You know, the mainstage doesn’t look that awesome this year. In fact, it kind of looks smaller than it did last year.”
I was sitting on a friend’s couch drinking a lukewarm Bud Light and watching Nicky Romero’s Weekend 1 set on a Macbook. We didn’t have the good speakers plugged in because someone was napping upstairs, so the sound was tinny and easy to talk over. The TV mounted to the wall was tuned to NCAA basketball with the volume off. It was early on Friday evening and I was in the process of getting over bronchitis. A bag of Doritos was making the rounds.
“Shit guys. This stage is bullshit.” I grabbed a fistful of Doritos and gestured at the computer. “Look at it. It’s just sitting there, being purple. God, the mainstage is going to effing suck this year.” My friends nodded sagely. I leaned back, satisfied that my point had hit home, and turned my attention to the basketball game.
Of all the things I’ve been wrong about in my life, this has got to be top three.
Interviews | Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz (AKA the New World Punx) At A State of Trance 600 NYC
Posted by Spice on April 7, 2013
Last weekend, we sat down with trance legends (and noted bromance) Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz before their massive set as the New World Punx at A State of Trance 600 NYC. On the dockett? EDM, bank robberies, and the story behind those hilarious New World Punx comics. The Expedition tour had its explosive finale last night in Den Bosch, and while we’re sad that it’s come to an end, we’re very excited to see what Ferry and Markus have in store for us in 2013. From what we gathered in New York, these two definitely have some serious tricks up their sleeve.