Videos | Armin van Buuren Joined on Stage by Dutch King and Queen; Everything Makes Sense Again
Posted by Spice on May 1, 2013
Here is a video of Armin van Buuren being joined on stage by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, who made an impromptu pit stop at this apparent rave while probably en route to a ball and/or palace.
This video is perfect. Several things:
1) There are currently multiple comments on YouTube alleging that Armin is, in fact, the real King in the North King of the Netherlands and the other guy’s an impostor. Interesting theory.
2) I’m assuming that this is the Dutch equivalent of the Obamas getting on stage with Skrillex at Ultra. Awesome; also excellent visual.
3) In that vein, I’d really like to live in a country where Armin van Buuren is backed by a symphony orchestra and kings and queens come out to wave to the adoring populace as the dulcet sounds of trance and violins fill the air. Armin van Buuren: Dutch National Treasure.
4) The Queen is kind of a babe, no?
5) Coolest royal family ever. Sorry England — until Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles are photographed waving glow sticks at Ministry of Sound, I don’t want to hear about it.
BREAKING: I’ve just been informed that this is a video of King Willem-Alexander’s inauguration, where Armin was specifically asked to perform. However, what King Willem-Alexander isn’t telling you is that the whole inauguration thing was actually a ploy; he really just wanted to see Armin drop his Dead London edit of “Stresstest.”
Electro-House | Dyro – Leprechauns & Unicorns
Posted by Middy on April 30, 2013
Dyro has been creating quite the buzz recently, with his single with Hardwell “Never Say Goodbye” getting its world premier at Ultra, his collaboration with Bassjackers, “Grid” remaining a staple of sets for months and having released a slew of remixes for the likes of Tiesto, Gabriel & Dresden & more.
“Leprechauns & Unicorns” gives us a new spin on the gritty, Dyro sound that we have to come to love and behold with brooding, pulsing saws, a thumping bass line and pitched synths that round out the formula for Dyro’s next massive track. The two fairytale animals seem too nice for such a grimy, intense track, maybe Dyro has been watching the “Leprechaun” movies of late on his long flights around the world. Leprechaun in the Hood with Ice-T and Leprechaun in Space are both quality films, 5 stars, if anyone was wondering.
Beatport: Dyro – Leprechauns & Unicorns
Progressive House | Laidback Luke & Hardwell – Dynamo
Posted by Middy on April 23, 2013
This collaboration came a bit out of left field. Laidback Luke and Hardwell on one track should produce magic, especially at this stage of their careers. Coming off his massive Ultra set, Hardwell brings it back the classic Hardwell sound that catapulted him to fame in 2011 with tracks like “Cobra”, “Encoded” and “The World”. Laidback Luke has also been pretty quiet lately only with the release of “Pogo” bringing him production success recently, as his Dutch sound is imprinted on this track. It may just be me, but with these two talents, this song seems a bit rushed and something is missing to make it great. It is a very good song, but it seems like it could have been better. Also, the virtual DJ air horn is just a bit much.
Beatport: Laidback Luke & Hardwell – Dynamo
Progressive House, Videos | Hardwell Miami 2013 Aftermovie “Never Say Goodbye”
Posted by Middy on April 17, 2013
Hardwell had easily one of the standout sets at Ultra Music Festival with an awe inspiring set of largely unreleased tracks from himself and his label, putting the world on notice that Robbert van Corput is without a doubt one of the premier DJs in the world. He not only rocked the MainStage, but he also had his own Revealed Records showcase during the week and then took over the Worldwide stage the following weekend, all of which is documented in the video.
The video starts with his performance in 2012, which was as he described one his best ever and then takes it to 2013 and his set this year on the MainStage, showing the growth in just one year of this rising superstar. One of the many new songs premiered at Ultra, his collaboration with Revealed Record running mate, Dyro and Bright Lights on vocals, “Never Say Goodbye” is given a full preview in the video. The track will be out May 20th on Revealed Recordings.
Events | Electric Zoo MainStage Lineup Announcement
Posted by Middy on April 9, 2013
In its 5th Year, Made Event‘s Electric Zoo recently announced its plan to create two main stages to try and augment the festival-goers experience and cements its place among the premier festivals nationwide. We are in the midst of a production and creativity arms race by various promotion companies like Ultra and Insomniac that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible every year. This latest attempt to do so by Made Event as it tries to compete with Ultra and EDC and their festival experiences is a great step in the right direction. Logistically, it will be interesting to see how they pull it off with the limited space on Randall’s Island. Today they announced the acts gracing the “East” and “West” main stages and they are working to give you your 330 dollars worth with names like Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Avicii, W&W, Tiesto, Madeon, Bassnectar, Hardwell, Diplo, Sebastian Ingrosso, and many more all heading to New York City for this Labor Day Weekend extravaganza. We are looking forward to seeing what comes from the rest of the stages. You have to give credit to E Zoo for announcing artist info so early, something very rare nowadays. Tickets are on sale now, so get them here.
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.
Progressive House, Trance | Armin van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie – This Is What It Feels Like (Original + W&W Remix)
Posted by Middy on April 8, 2013
With his fifth studio album “Intense” set for release May 3rd, Armin van Buuren has released the first single “This Is What It Feels Like” from the album with Trevor Guthrie on vocals. Getting its premier on Pete Tong’s Essential Selection, “This Is What It Feels Like” is a departure from the more traditional trance roots that has made Armin van Buuren the beloved figure he is today, but as he has stated time and time again “Don’t be a prisoner to your own style”. I was a little skeptical at first, but the emotion and big melodies won me over and after seeing Trevor Guthrie perform it live at Madison Square Garden, I could’t help but love this tune.
There are few producers hotter than W&W right now. Their bombastic beats have taken the world by storm, becoming staples of mainstage and hard core trance sets alike. Their remix of “This Is What It Feels Like” got its fitting premier on the main stage at Ultra and has been a potent weapon for Armin at all of his shows since. W&W continue to show with this remix that their thunderous bass lines and booming synths are some of the most effective being made right now and show no signs of letting up. In other news, Armin revealed the tracklist for “Intense”, which you can check out after the jump.
Beatport: Armin van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie – This Is What It Feels Like (Original + W&W Remix)