Albums | P.O.U x Scott Forshaw drop progressive house rework of “Castles In The Sky”
Posted by VMan on July 2, 2024
Melodic house duo P.O.U have teamed up with Scott Forshaw (Armada / Toolroom) to
deliver a progressive house rework of ‘Castles In The Sky’. Originally a No.3 UK hit for Ian
Van Dahl in 2001, this powerful new version is darker and more club-ready than its predecessor
and lands on the chart-topping Perfect Havoc, just in time for summer.
P.O.U – formerly known as Product Of Us – are Damion Hess and DAYL, two formidable DJs
and producers in their own right. As P.O.U, the duo coined their progressive sound on signings
to Anjunabeats, Nora En Pure’s Purified Records and Miss Monique’s Siona Records,
culminating in three Beatport No.1’s. Their underground sound has been a hit with the
respected outfit, Tale Of Us, who regularly dropped P.O.U’s ‘Just A Little More Love’ at their
Afterlife residency at Hï Ibiza. With residencies this summer at Destino Pacha Ibiza, Eden
Ibiza, and Ministry Of Sound, P.O.U will have crowds in the palm of their hands when they
arrive with this new single.
Joining P.O.U on ‘Castles In The Sky’ is Scott Forshaw, a DJ and producer who stands outs as
one of the foremost artists in the Middle Eastern dance music scene, thanks to his long standing
residency at key Dubai nightspot, Zero Gravity. Scott’s festival-sized productions have
streamed over 15 million times on labels also including Ultra and Perfect Havoc, clocking up
support from KISS FM to David Guetta. Beyond his solo endeavors, Scott has co-production
credits with renowned artists such as John Newman, Altego, Black Caviar, and more, further
enhancing his quality studio prowess across the industry.
As can be expected from these current artists, ‘Castles In The Sky’, takes a fresh approach from
its commercial trance origins. The vocal is used in subtle, hypnotic doses, allowing the focus to
remain on the track’s reverberating bassline and euphoric horns. With both hands-in-the-air and
head-down dancing appeal, this progressive house version will no doubt find its way into sets
this summer across the White Isle and beyond.
With a bigger sound and bigger energy than ever before, an exciting year lies ahead for the
independent label, Perfect Havoc, as it also lines up cuts from Oliver Nelson & Tobtok, Charlie
Hedges, and more. Now in its 9th year, Perfect Havoc continues to define crossover house
music and to build on over 10 billion global streams, six UK Top 20 singles and multiple
platinum, gold, and silver awards.
Albums | Progressive virtuoso K3SS unveils spellbinding two-track melodic techno EP, Real, via Of Us Records
Posted by VMan on July 1, 2024
Progressive house producer/DJ K3SS is commemorating his biggest year-to-date with a string of releases that showcase his knack for developing unique soundscapes.
The San Diego-based artist is known for his ability to evoke emotion and transport listeners to the dancefloor – a distinctive style that has garnered him a passionate fanbase and opportunities to perform at some of the most iconic venues in the United States such as Exchange LA, Musica Club New York City, 1015 Folsom San Francisco, The Midway SF, Nova San Diego, and more. K3SS has built a career around a dazzling array of impactful melodic releases and electrifying performances, which have led him to his recent collaborations “Deeper (feat. Britt Lari)” on Dim Mak and “Goodbye” with Dan Miles and XIMXIA.
Additionally, he has been a four-time Groove Cruise performer over the past 3 years. His stirring releases have been featured on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak, Black Hole Recordings, Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto, Super8 & Tab’s Scorchin’ Progressive, Of Us Records, and more. His recent single “Deeper (feat. Britt Lari)” received heavyweight support from David Guetta and peaked at #4 on the Trance (Main Floor) Beatport chart.
Last month, K3SS unveiled “Climb” on Krafted Underground, a transportive progressive house track that takes fans on a spellbinding listening experience. With a sultry, dark soundscape, “Climb” draws listeners in with futuristic synths and thumping kick drums that evoke the listener’s depth of emotion and desire.
K3SS is shapeshifting from progressive house to melodic techno to release his newest EP, Real. The two-track package aims to leave a lasting impression of seduction, drawing listeners into a world where passion and excitement reign supreme.
The EP kicks off with the title track “Real,” which is defined by its dark, propulsive bassline and progressive house elements that drive the song forward. The track captures the electric atmosphere and the initial spark that ignites when two people connect on the dancefloor, serving as a brooding tone-setter for a game of “cat and mouse.”
The journey continues with “Come Home With Me” – a track that mirrors the anticipation and excitement that build as two individuals navigate their burgeoning chemistry. Characterized with rhythmic pulses and spellbinding melodies, “Come Home With Me” immerses the audience in the climax of the encounter, where the electric tension finally gives way to the raw, unfiltered emotions of passion and excitement.
With compelling beats, provocative undertones, and hypnotic melodies, the Real EP offers an immersive experience that echoes the exhilarating highs of new romance and the seductive pull of the dance floor.
Fans can catch K3SS playing his new Real EP at YOLO Nightclub in San Francisco, CA, where he will be performing alongside DUBVISION on Friday, July 12. The artist is also slated to perform on the biggest edition of Groove Cruise on the Allure of the Seas from Wednesday, January 23 – Sunday, January 27, 2025.
Albums | comets near me Share Debut EP ‘Don’t Pick the Flowers’
Posted by VMan on June 26, 2024
Rising San Jose-based duo comets near me have just released their debut EP, Don’t Pick the Flowers. This four-track collection, crafted entirely by Maria and Kyle in their backyard shed, showcases their unique sound and heartfelt songwriting.
Maria and Kyle’s journey began in December 2022, when Maria crashed Kyle’s birthday party. They instantly connected over their shared love for Green Day and Bright Eyes, sparking a creative partnership that quickly blossomed. By early 2023, they were spending every moment together, creating music in their shed. One night, they spotted a bright light in the sky, later identified as a comet. Sharing this story with their friend, Patrick, he jokingly asked, “Did you guys Google ‘comets near me’?” Inspired, Kyle responded, “That would be a good band name”, and comets near me was born.
The EP kicks off with “Pedestal”, the first song comets near me ever recorded together. It’s a playful diss track directed at folks that overcompensate for their own shortcomings by judging other people from the moral pedestal they crafted for themselves. The track doesn’t take itself too seriously and approaches the conflict with an open-door policy – “You’ll never change or see my point of view. But if you do, I’ll leave the door unlocked.”
Next is EP focus track “Hallway Light”, a reflection on childhood lies and their impact on adult life. The song questions the purpose of certain teachings and societal expectations, with no clear answers, only a lingering sense of pondering and yearning. Why were we told to believe in Santa? Why were we taught cursive in school? Why am I working this job? These are just some of the questions brought up in “Hallway Light”, which stands out with its juxtaposition of dreary vocals and sparkly bells in the background.
The emotional depth deepens with “The Last Time I Saw Him”, a delicate, finger-picked guitar track about losing a friend to a destructive path. It’s a poignant reminder of the helplessness one feels in such situations. The EP concludes with “Purgatory”, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the melancholic melodies. This track explores the struggle of being stuck in a transitional phase of life, where even simple tasks feel insurmountable. However, it carries a message of resilience and acceptance, encouraging listeners to take things at their own pace: “Maybe in a month, maybe in a year.”
Commenting on the EP, comets near me explain, “We came up with the title for Don’t Pick the Flowers at a photoshoot. One of the photographers knew some of the themes of the EP were growth and loss of innocence, so they suggested we pick some flowers for some shots. Moments later, we got reprimanded by a park ranger and thought it was funny. As a kid, picking flowers is a rather innocent thing. As adults, we continuously pick (or buy) flowers just to watch them die. Don’t Pick the Flowers to us means you don’t need to show off your growth to the world to prove it happened. It’s much better to let the natural growth cycle continue versus potentially cutting it short.” Don’t Pick the Flowers is available to buy/stream now on all platforms.
Albums | THMPSN drops new track “Nicole Aniston”
Posted by VMan on June 19, 2024
THMPSN unveils the first single of this new era, “Nicole Aniston,” an official collaboration with Memphis hip-hop legend Kingpin Skinny Pimp, who has become the heaviest sampled artist in the entire phonk genre. Named after the adult film star (who also recorded vocals on the track), “Nicole Aniston” is a drift phonk banger that combines the genre’s signature aesthetic with elegant string arrangements.
“Nicole Aniston” kicks off with haunting piano arpeggios and deep bass tones underlying a spoken passage from Aniston talking about the healing power of reiki. The track then drops into its central phonk beat – a cacophony of trunk-rattling kick-drum patterns, spacious snare hits, and bursts of stuttering hi-hats driving over Kingpin Skinny Pimp’s smooth rap verse.
The track then builds to its cinematic climax, an emotional medley of thumping beats and swirling, lush violin lines.
The track release coincides with an official music video self-directed by THMPSN, who flexes his filmmaking chops on a propulsive, high-energy montage. Kicking off with a shot of THMPSN in a reiki session with Nicole Aniston, the music video then transitions to provocative images of women working on cars spliced with high-speed, aerial shots of drift car racing – an appropriate combination of visuals that emblematize the drift phonk vibe of the track.
The video is also emblematic of THMPSN himself, who, in addition to his loves of electronic music, violin, fitness, and animals, has immersed himself into the drift car world as an amateur driver – yet another addition to the THMPSN lore, a layer that solidifies him as a one-of-a-kind individual.
Albums | Australian newcomer drops first taste of upcoming EP
Posted by VMan on June 13, 2024
Eli is a new project from Melbourne, AUS based upcoming artist/producer Luca Pascucci who is making a unique blend of alternative-dance music with energetic-club and hyper-pop/punk influences, which can be likened to a mix between Skin On Skin, Bladee, and Nia Archives. His eclectic vibe is uplifting and the new music you can check out above now is a very impressive introduction to his sound. Read a quote from him on the release after the jump!
“This first song was the last one I wrote and produced. I made this one quite quickly over just a couple sessions while sitting on a friends couch in their apartment overlooking the shops and busy streets. I had been listening to Scan’s “Bees” on repeat for days and felt like I wanted to make something like that; high energy, rhythmically chaotic with a sense of ‘politely, fuck you’, and as I wrote the lyrics it became clear this was not going to be a typically written track; less ‘verse, chorus, verse’ and more of a continuous train of thought, almost as if it was freestyled. I wanted this track to open the ep as well as showcase the beginning of this project because I feel it very quickly represents what Eli is about. Energetic electronica, more modern club-inspired production, and self-reflective lyricism. The lyrics represent the way I feel about making music and what it means to me—the doubtfulness of creating and the feeling of being out of your depth.” ~ Eli
Albums |
Posted by VMan on June 12, 2024
ZUSO is a project from Australian producer Gabriel Cuenca, who is crafting an invigorating atmospheric-house sound that is incredibly infectious. His new single “Amber” is the perfect vibe to wrap up your week to, so enjoy it now above!
“I’ve really gone for that liquid dnb vibe with this one, combining those fast paced rhythms and drums with my smooth melodic sound. Inspired by the sounds of nature, it almost gives off a jungle type feel, allowing you to escape and get lost in the rhythm and music of the forest. The atmospheres created aim to play off that andI really hope it does the same for you.”~ ZUSO
Albums | Dublin-based rapper Graham releases new LP
Posted by VMan on June 12, 2024
Dublin-based rapper Graham, a key figure in Ireland’s burgeoning hip-hop scene, is set to release his highly anticipated sophomore album, FACTS. This 11-track project, produced entirely in collaboration with his long-term partner Hikii, promises to be a breakout moment, showcasing Graham’s exceptional lyrical talent, intricate penmanship, and dynamic, soulful production style.
FACTS features a vibrant list of Irish collaborators, including prominent female artists such as Becky McNeice, Hugh Hempner, and Ellen Lyons. The lead single, ‘Falling’, features established and rising alt-pop singer-songwriter Becky McNeice, whose lush, pop-woven melodies and glittering lyricism provide a perfect platform for Graham’s introspective rhymes and flows. The track delves into the complexities of relationships, offering a nostalgic lens that resonates deeply with listeners.