Preview, Progressive House | Marcus Schossow – Reverie (Preview)
Posted by Middy on July 3, 2013
Axtone is known for releasing a select few quality tracks in each year that will have a lasting impact on the sound of that year. This year we have seen the impact of “Wakanda” and the hardstyle revival in mainstream house music, plus Axwell’s return to releases with his own “Center Of The Universe“. Now a staple of Axwell’s sets, “Reverie” from Swede Marcus Schossow will finally get its final release with a remix from Michael Calfan coming later in the summer. The track combines an ominous, spacey build with a hard-hitting, churning drop that should make this a summer favorite. Watch for this on July 12th.
Progressive House | Michael Calfan vs John Dahlback feat. Andy P – Let Your Mind Go
Posted by Middy on February 11, 2013
Michael Calfan burst onto the scene with his debut single on Axtone “Resurrection” that still continues to see the occasional play and John Dahlback has become known for his prolific ability to produce unique tracks. The duo tab Andy P to add infectious vocals to this soaring melody with quick alternating percussion and a grungy build that has John Dalhback’s name all over it. Michael Calfan rarely puts out singles and when he does, they are quality, and when Dahlback puts his name on a track, you are going to hear something new and “Let Your Mind Go” gives you the mix of both of their talents.
Beatport: Michael Calfan vs John Dahlback feat. Andy P – Let Your Mind Go
Progressive House | Michael Calfan – Mozaik (Hook N Sling Remix)
Posted by Middy on September 11, 2012
Hook N Sling takes this smooth melodic track from upcoming French producer Michael Calfan and adds a dimension that we have not seen too much in Hook N Sling’s recent productions with a harder electro sound. The build gives what was a bit of a flat intro from the Frenchman an added layer, while the drop takes on a whole new dimension, combining the growling electro synths with the playful melodies crafted by Calfan. At points it can seem a little contrasting and offbeat, but generally the formula works. Hook N Sling has had a banner year with productions like “Reason” with Nervo, “Surrender” and more with tracks on Wall Records and Axtone to come.
Progressive House | Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Regi – Momentum (Michael Calfan Remix)
Posted by Middy on August 29, 2012
Michael Calfan follows up his heavily supported “She Wolf” remix with his long awaited remix of Belgian’s Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Regi’s “Momentum“. Michael Calfan adds his progressive flare to this already joyous track by keeping much of the build but adding onto the drop with a piano top line and a more intricate bass line. It is great to see this young Frenchman do so well with his remixes, though he has not been able to make a single with the quality as “Resurrection“, so hopefully we will get that soon. Remixes from Clockwork and Mystique and Amro take an edgier approach to the track with some grungier chords and more of an electro based feel.
Beatport: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Regi – Momentum (Michael Calfan Remix)
Events, Featured, Interviews, Review | Hook N Sling Interview + Lavo NYC Recap
Posted by Middy on August 17, 2012
The Australian producer / DJ Hook N Sling has really made a name for himself since his start back in the early 2000s where he was struggling to get by still working in his dad’s graphic design and working in the breaks genre with his radio show ibreaks.co.uk. He has garnered support for his tunes since the his first big hit in 2007, “The Bump” and his career has shot off from there with hits like “Diamonds In The Sky” with fellow Aussie TV Rock, his remix of Nervo’s “We’re All No One”, his remix of Calvin Harris – I Am Not Alone, and many more. He has upcoming tracks on Axtone, Stealth Records (the below remix of Mozaik) and Wall Records. The future is very bright for this young Australian producer who has shown that success does not come over night and that if you work hard and are patient, good things will come to you.
We caught up with him in his hotel room before his set at Lavo NY to ask him about his upcoming records, his move to the US, his favorite place to vacation, the reason why “Reason” release date was delayed, his history of singing and more. His set at Lavo was superb, bringing his flavor from down under to the upper crust of New York. Lavo NY has some decent openers, but they do like to sprinkle a few too many Beatport top 40 tracks when those should be left up to the headliner to use as crowd pleasers.
Hook N Sling stepped on around 1 and got the party going with a mixture of his own hit tracks such as his recent single “Evermore”, his remix of We’re All No One”, which got a good reaction from the crowd and “Diamonds In The Sky”. He played recent songs from others like fellow Aussie producer Walden’s remix of “In My Mind”, which was fitting as the young producer stopped by for a short time that night. He played a good blend of progressive as well as some lesser known house tracks that worked very well in the set, displaying Hook N Sling’s ability as a DJ and his intelligence behind the decks. He finished around 3, leaving the nearly full crowd still wanting more. Looking forward at Lavo, Dash Berlin will be there next week the 23rd. Tickets are sold out, but if you are a regular, get to the show. Below is the start of the interview and the rest is after the jump.
FNT: You recently moved from Sydney (Bondi Beach to be exact) to LA — was that tough for you, anything you miss from Australia?
Hook N Sling: It was tough setting up a whole new life. I had to sell my car back home, kind of pack everything up and think about stuff I really love and and don’t give a shit about anymore and sold the stuff I hated. It was like boiling your life down to bare essentials and then picking up and leaving. In that part leaving home was the hard part, getting over here doing stuff like Social Security, drivers license, which I still don’t have and I hope I don’t get pulled over until I get one. All that kind of stuff has just been a big deal, but as I was just saying to someone the other day, it wouldn’t bother me if the shows are doing well, I am busy, so I don’t really think about it, but it was awfully stressful coming over.
FNT: DJs are known for never sleeping or rarely sleeping, how do you deal with that?
Hook N Sling: I slept 9 hours last night. But I needed that because the night before was like 4 hours. It’s ok, I can deal with it, the alarm goes off, I know I am going to get out of bed otherwise I am going to miss my flight and I kind of hate dealing with airports so I like to get it over and done with as easy as possible. It’s alright, the more you think about it, the more you hate it. So I don’t think about it.
FNT: Since you were in a choir as a kid (Hook N Sling laughs), would you ever do vocals for one of your songs like Calvin Harris?
Hook N Sling: I knew I shouldn’t have said that in an interview haha. I do, I have done a couple of vocal parts, but nothing I do makes it to the final record. I would put down an idea and I would give it someone else and go “what do you think” and can you make this sound better and put some words to it, I am obviously not to good with that stuff, but yeah, I have been known to step in front of a microphone.
More of the interview after the jump
Progressive House | David Guetta ft. Sia – She Wolf (Falling to Pieces) [Extended + Remixes]
Posted by Middy on August 7, 2012
David Guetta has released the follow up to his worldwide hit “Titanium” with Sia accompanying him on vocals. It is to be released as part of his re-release of Nothing But The Beat this September. No one has accused David Guetta (or his writing and producing team) of being very creative so do not surprised when you recognize the melody from “Metropolis” in here, however this song is going to be absolutely massive. It has just the right amount of dance flair to keep the haters at bay, while adding the radio friendly twist with Sia’s gorgeous vocals to continue his stranglehold of the airwaves.
While the dance piano sound has been beaten down to the ground and then some, Michael Calfan found a way to resurrect it for his remix and reconstructs the chorus using said dance piano, layering eloquently, keeping the sound fresh. Sandro Silva keeps the builds, interludes and vocals from the original, like Michael Calfan, but adds a drop that sounds almost identical to the ever potent “Epic”, though the progression is a bit different. I could see this one becoming popular for those who want to get the “Epic” sound in their set as this remix almost sounds like a bootleg. All of the mixes are great in their own right — from the radio friendly, yet dance leaning extended cut from Guetta, the blissful remix from Michael Calfan and the “Epic” remix from Sandro Silva, this is an impressive package from top to bottom.
Progressive House | Michael Calfan – Mozaik
Posted by Middy on April 16, 2012
Young up and coming French Dj / producer, Michael Calfan most known for his massive production “Resurrection” championed by Axwell and his remix of David Guetta & Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On, is back with a massive single “Mozaik”. I do no think this is another “Resurrection”, but this is still a massive single that has flown under the radar a bit. The track starts with happy piano key work that crescendos into a break of a pulsing bass line, that same piano melody and a layered synth chord progression that creates a uplifting euphoric feeling that will surely put a smile on your face and force you to start dancing. Michael Calfan has been quiet so far this year, but when he makes tracks they are top notch works every single time. Also included is a free remix of SHM’s Greyhound from Cegor that flips the drop into progressive chords creating a different feel with much of the same energy. Buy is just a link to his Facebook page to download there.