Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | Tom Swoon Interview [FNT Exclusive] + “Asura” Edit
Posted by Middy on August 19, 2013
Polish producer / DJ, Dorian Tomasiak or Tom Swoon, formerly Pixel Cheese, has been on a meteoric rise in the past year or two, with his brand of melodic big-room house that has seen strong support from the likes of Avicii, Nervo, Paul Oakenfold and others. Just two years out of high school, he still can’t believe that 3 years ago he was making bootlegs and remixes as Pixel Cheese and here he is now headlining his own shows and playing main stage at some of the biggest festivals in Europe. He has had a busy summer, touring the globe playing in Ibiza, the European festival circuit, some shows here in the US, with an upcoming gig at Creamfields. Last week he was in New York for a show at Lavo and we had the chance to ask him about a variety of topics from his DJing style, advice for new producers (Digidoric was his very first producer name) and what he has coming up. Read the full interview after the jump and check out his free edit with NYC duo, Filtercrush of their impressive track with Jack & Jordan “Asura”. If you don’t like the “Clarity” vocals on top, the instrumental mix will be coming soon.
Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | The Art of DJing, Beginnings, Living with Pasquale Rotella & more with Morten [FNT Exclusive]
Posted by Middy on August 14, 2013
Danish DJ / Producer Morten Breum, now Morten, because “it is easier”, has been around music all of his life. His father, a music teacher back in Denmark, put Morten in an environment where music was king, and this led Morten to enter DJ classes at his school at 13. From there he was hooked, soon playing gigs at local bars and soon local clubs, elevating himself to becoming the icon he has become in Denmark, scoring commercial endorsements with Pespi and Red Bull (and even his face on Pepsi bottles) and playing at a royal wedding, what up Armin. He moved to LA two years ago, where he has become much more anonymous and enjoyed the LA life.
We caught up with him on the tail-end of a busy week of meetings with labels, media and other people in New York, that was to finish off with a show at Lavo NYC that Thursday night. Later that day he was going to get an additional tattoo (he has A LOT of them) with Vice filming the whole thing. Seems a bit weird to watch someone get punctured with needles and ink, but hey, to each their own. His production “Look Closer” was supposed to come out on the 6th of August on PRMD, but it was not releasing in Denmark on that date because of territory restrictions, so Morten decided to put it off until Denmark could be put in the original release, to stay true to his original fans, and so it is coming in 5 days. Click the jump to catch our interview where we talk about ditching university for DJing, playing hits, crazy people in Vegas, living in Pasquale Rotella’s house and more.
Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | Adrian Lux Interview [FNT Exclusive]
Posted by Middy on July 30, 2013
Prinz Adrian Johannes Hynne aka Adrian Lux has had a long, winding road to where he is now, rising to his well-respected status in dance music. First getting into music around the age of 16, he started as a hip hop DJ before moving into the more underground realms of dance music that were popular at the time in his native Stockholm. He eventually found his sound, becoming heavily influenced by indie pop and a wide range electronic artists in Sweden from Andrew Beyer, to Axwell, to Eric Prydz.
We had the chance to talk about his tour and his show last Saturday, his early DJ life, moving to America and what he is in store for the future. Having just released his debut album last spring, and another on the way soon, it will be very exciting to see everything he has in store for us.
Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | Moska Talks Beginnings, His Future and Dishes Advice to Other New Producers
Posted by Middy on July 26, 2013
Colombian producer Moska is a name being heavily supported by some of the biggest brands in the industry. At just 19 years old, his talents are nothing to ignore. Having already released tracks on Musical Freedom, Mad Decent and Mixmash, receiving heavy support from each of the label bosses, Tiesto, Diplo and Laidback Luke, and played or been scheduled to play at some of the biggest venues worldwide, Moska has his sights at the top of the dance music echelon. His genre-blending sound allows him to cross over to so many different styles, having already collabed with Tiesto on their remix of “Century”.
He plans to move to Miami by the end of the year to move his base of operations to one of the meccas of dance music today. One issue that has held him back is visa problems, specifically the O-2 visa that holds back his ability to work in the US. The O-2 is designed for people in the entertainment industry, notably individuals new or unrecognized in the industry as per the US government. Because of this, he has to be working alongside Laidback Luke, his current sponsor and any other work would be considered a violation of his visa. So shows, studio time and any professional work has to go through Luke, which can really hinder his growth as an artist here, especially when promotors want to book him. However all of this should be resolved with by the end of the year with many fees paid, lawyers hired, letters sent to the government by Tiesto, Laidback Luke & others, and pages, upon pages of documents sent, he should be fine to go on Laidback Luke’s Fall bus tour in October.
We had the chance to talk to him about his bright future, how he got into electronic music, working with Tiesto and some advice he gave for young producers, like himself.
Indie, Interviews, Progressive House | ASTR – Operate (The Chainsmokers Remix) + Exclusive Interview
Posted by Mel on June 20, 2013
It has been roughly four months since my hand slightly grazed my sister’s friend’s thigh. Coincidentally, it has also been about four months since I first heard of The Chainsmokers. Since then, my hand has been many places but none as sweet as that. I have also watched The Chainsmokers grow from two decent looking guys to two excellent looking guys who make awesome music. Their first remix that got my attention was of Jonsi’s “Around Us”. That track… it made me feel for the first time. Sara B, the girl who had a crush on me in eleventh grade, I get you now. The Chainsmokers taught me how to love. Since then I’ve learned to take it, roll it up into a ball, toss it in the air and if there’s not a steady current of wind, I smash that into oblivion.
Picture yourself walking through the city late one night when you see a beautiful girl sitting in a coffee shop eating a plum. She is facing outward toward the street and the store’s walls are glass so you two can see each other. You want to go talk to her but you can’t find the door to get in. Not being able to figure out where the entrance is, you go up to the glass and relentlessly stare at her. Upon closer inspection you realize that she is in fact eating an oddly shaped apple not a plum. “Why are you eating an apple?” you mouth to her. You can hear her say through the glass while turning the apple “no no, this is a plum”. After seeing the flesh of the fruit it is indeed a plum. You then turn around to go home and find $20 on the ground.
The combination of slight disappointment, confusion, and joy that night brings is what I think of their latest remix.
We also had a chance to talk to them about life’s most important questions, such as “If you were to suddenly wake up in the middle of the night for seemingly no reason and upon looking to the nearest wall saw a hole that has never been there before the size of the middle, cardboard part of a roll of toilet paper, would you stick stuff in it?”. Click past the break if you want to laugh, cry, and be inspired.
DJ-Set, Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | FNT presents #SomethingBIG #023 – Stafford Brothers & Moguai + Exclusive Interview
Posted by Middy on June 14, 2013
We have had them on before, LA based duo, by ways of Australia, The Stafford Duo are back with another episode of their radio show, Something Big. We have partnered with the entrepreneurial duo to present Michael Jordan’s episode of their show with German vet, Moguai on the guest mix. During his guest mix Moguai unveils the curtains on the process behind some of his most prized recent tracks, including possibly the biggest track of the year thus far “Mammoth”, his own single on Size Records “Champs”, and more. He also reveals info on collabs with Tiesto, Moby and a big pop singer in Germany that he says is one of favorites to date.
The Stafford Brothers are more than DJs / producers. They own several nightclubs back home in Australia, they have their own reality TV show, which is licensed in Australia, South America, Canada and Europe. They are the first dance music acts to be signed to Cash Money Records and their first single “Hello” has gone double platinum in Australia. We had the chance to ask ask them a few questions about their busy lives, Cash Money Records, the future and more. Interview and tracklist after the jump.
Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | Good As Gold: Thomas Gold Talks Beginnings, Labels, Weird Food and 2013
Posted by Middy on May 19, 2013
Thomas Gold has been one of the most consistent guys in dance music. His live sets are always some of the best mainstage material, with impeccable mixing and his signature mashups that keep you on your toes at all times. He has become a favorite of Axwell and Axtone’s, recently putting together the Axtone 2012 compilation that featured plenty of his own material, new and old, in addition to showing off the label’s impressive recent discography, while also dusting off a critically acclaimed Essential Mix to finish off 2012. He has been a cornerstone of recent festivals such as UMF, Coachella & EDC New York and has taken his Fanfare tour all across the globe. He will be at Tomorrowland, for all you lucky festival goers who snuck in there in during the one second sellout. His remix for OneRepublic’s “Feel Again” was recently released for free, to the delight of everyone who had been waiting many months for it to be released. What he has coming up on the docket is relatively unknown, but he is known for his quality with each release and as he stated in terms of his productions, “There will be some surprises in 2013”.
We had the chance to talk to Thomas Gold a few months back about his plans for 2013, including the OneRepublic remix, his first gig, weird food experiences, possible label ventures and more. Check out his set from Ultra below and the interview after the jump.