The tandem of Skrillex and Diplo that is Jack U is coming to you live as we speak. The duo is putting on a 24-hour live stream which they called a, “marathon DJ party”. This feels as though it might be a release party seeing that they have their debut EP that is rumored to be released before the end of the week. While we have no confirmation on the actual date of the release of their EP; there is no reason why you shouldn’t just tune in anyways, right? If you do listen in, you might get treated with some new, unreleased music from Jack U. Anyway, the party is happening right now, so let’s stop discussing and tune in below.
R3HAB Set to Headline Gold Room Atlanta | Feb. 28
Over the last couple of years, R3HAB has made his way to the top of electronic dance music’s empire. This Dutch DJ has been producing and mixing music since early 2008, in which he did some collab work with Hardwell and Afrojack. He started out as a Dutch House producer with the likes of Afrojack and Chuckie, and he later changed his style up to more of a progressive and electro sound. It was around 2012 when R3HAB really began gaining momentum. During that time, he was chosen to remix music from Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and more. R3HAB’s work has seen support from EDM’s A-list such as Tiesto, Hardwell, Alesso, NERVO, and Nicky Romero, just to name a few. If you have been to a music festival or show within the last year or so, it is almost definite that you have heard some of R3HAB’s music at some point.
This Saturday, R3HAB will be playing at one of Atlanta’s upscale venues, Gold Room. This newly renovated nightclub has made a statement over the past six months by bringing some top-tier names in electronic music like NERVO, Danny Avila, Sultan & Shepard, MOTi, and even 3LAU coming up in March. Gold Room has a beautiful, lavish design that is not your average run of the mill nightclub. With a DJ like R3HAB performing combined with a venue like Gold Room, you are certainly in for a treat this weekend.
Tickets for this Saturday’s are on sale now, so get your presales while they are still at $25. Please visit www.eventbrite.com to purchase your tickets before the prices increase. Remember that Gold Room has a strict dress code; so be sure to leave your rave outfits at home and dress to impress Saturday!
Here is one of our favorite live performances of R3HAB. This is his set from EDC Las Vegas last year, which is most likely one of his best as of late. Check out this wonderful set and see for yourself how R3HAB won over an enormous crowd at this festival. He always puts on a great show, so you can expect the same out of this Saturday night’s event as well.
Tritonal Brings A Love Triangle to Atlanta on Valentine’s Day
Love was in the air for Valentine’s Day, last Saturday in Atlanta. The closest shape to a heart is that beloved Tritonian triangle that is, Tritonal. So what better way to kick off the day of love than with a balanced set of feel good big room and progressive music from this duo? Atlanta was once again turned into the land known as, Tritonia. These guys are truly making their mark in the EDM community, and it is amazing to watch their success come pouring in from all over the world.
Couples and singles ready to mingle packed out Opera Nightclub to celebrate their V-Day right, and Tritonal could not have performed any better for them. From beginning to end, their set was perfectly blended between the top tracks from big room and electro. Of course, what would a Tritonal set be without their classic crowd favorites, “Anchor,” “Satellite,” and “Colors.” The guys didn’t stop there, they threw in some other notable bangers like, “Raise Your Hands,” “Something Something Champs,” and even my favorite still, “Heroes,” from Alesso. The set was just packed full of energy, and the crowd was feeding off every bit of it. One of the many aspects that I enjoy about Tritonal’s sets is that not only are they extremely animated behind the decks, but so is the music that they play. You just can’t help but lose yourself in the music each and every time during their set. I always enjoy seeing a DJ(s) show emotion and being energetic, and it really shows that they are also having a great time playing for the crowd.
The guys also took the opportunity to unveil their newest track, “Ginsu,” from MainStage Music which was released just less than a week ago. The melody is just wonderful, and it has a hint of that W&W build up that we all know and love. Check it out below and get familiar with it, because you’re going to be hearing this one everywhere soon.
Their newest track wasn’t the only surprise of the night. Up in the VIP balcony, I witnessed something beautiful, a lovely couple got engaged right in the middle of Tritonal’s set. I just so happened to be walking by right as it happened, and it was so amazing to see. What better way to propose to the person you love on Valentine’s Day seeing Tritonal? That was such a special moment for both of them, and I felt that it did not need to go unnoticed.
Their set was perfect in every aspect. They played the best mix of electro hits with a little big room and progressive tossed in as well. Let’s not forget the wonderful visuals and production that went into the performance as well. They just continue to crush their performances every at single show. Tritonal has certainly made a name for themselves over the last two years, and they are not showing any signs of slowing down soon. If you have not yet experienced a Tritonal set, which you should be ashamed for not doing so yet, check out this amazing performance from EDC Orlando. It will more than likely convince you that you should see them live at least once. For those of you that have heard them before, just listen anyways.
Kennedy Jones: The Samurai on Datsik’s Ninja Nation Tour | Atlanta
During an interview at Iris last Saturday, Mija discussed several artists that she felt were talented DJ’s with great music. AC Slater, Motez, Anna Lunoe, and Phantoms were some of the artists she raved about, but Kennedy Jones stood out as the #1 artist to look up on Soundcloud right now. A little research revealed that Kennedy streamed a virtual DJ set at Quad way back in January of 2014. In fact, local artists HPNTK, Sylo and Chris Kry were all booked to open for him. [Here’s the Link]. Coincidentally, I was already scheduled to do an article about Firepower Record’s Ninja Tour the following weekend at Opera Nightclub, and guess which ginger bearded DJ was listed right below Datsik on the Flyer? Those who attended this stellar Liquified event will tell you how Datsik performed one of the grimiest Dubstep sets that Opera has seen since Cookie Monsta and Doctor P stopped by back in March of 2014. Barely Alive and Trolley Snatcha’s sets both proved that they have harnessed the true energy of Firepower Records, but judging by crowd reaction alone, Kennedy Jones stole the entire show.
Kennedy showcased plenty of tricky DJ techniques that could only have come from experience. At several points during his set the audience started singing along to trap edits of their favorite songs. Right in the middle of his mix he spun the record back and hard cut the crossfade over to some goofy Mexican polka music that you’d only hear on FM 105.3, (¡EL PATRON!) The whole crowd stopped dancing immediately and stared at Jones with the same expression of what in the world am I listening to? On stage you could see him doing a little dance to the tune as he cued up his next song, wearing a tactful smirk that was trying not to turn into a full-faced grin. Before the crowd could figure out what was happening, Kennedy dropped one of the trillest, phfattest, most sluggish trap songs that Opera has ever heard, causing the whole club to throw their hands up in the air and the scream OOOOH!!!!
You’ve really got to hand it to Datsik, though. It was not so long ago that he was just some producer from Canada who wanted the music scene to get its Swagga back. Now he’s got enough leverage to book a national tour with cool artists worth their salt on the decks. The next day he had an open spot on the lineup for his show in Detroit. Meaux Green happened to be delayed at the airport and contacted Datsik via Twitter, offering to fill in for Lookas who was unable to make the show. Datsik pulled some strings and Detroit got to enjoy a surprise visitor. With 27 dates left on the docket, this tour is far from over for these three artists. Even if you’ve seen Datsik before, Kennedy Jones is just too good to pass up.
Thriftworks/Russ Liquid Bring Bay Area Bass To Terminal West
This year in Atlanta on Friday the 13th instead of Jason coming out to kill, Russ and Jake aka Thiftworks murdered it at Terminal West. If you don’t know their sound it comes from the Bay Area of California. The same bass breeding grounds that produced Bassnectar.
TomorrowLand 2015 First Phase of Artists Announced
“Friends, behold the first phase of artists for this summer’s melodious adventure. More artists will be announced soon.”
The line up includes many great names such as Alesso, Avicii, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Tiesto and more! Check out the full first phase line up below!
Lotus Brings The Gilded Age Tour To Atlanta
The only constant in Lotus is that they are changing. They have been around for over 10 years and it is harder than ever to categorize their sound with any other label than evolving. Lotus tends to bring something different to every festival they attend. They play EDM at jam band festivals and bring guitars at EDM heavy festivals.
Mija Says No to Genres in Atlanta | Feb 7th 2015
Imagine that you’ve just arrived at your very first rave. The line to get inside is 40 people deep, sub bass is rattling the metal structure of the venue, and you’re struggling to figure out how to pronounce the “j” in Mija [Mē-hä]. After you’ve been patted down by security and manage to separate your arm hair from that sticky white flap on your wristband, you finally get to enter Rush Lounge and witness OWSLA’s newest DJ in action: Mija
She was born like this, into this—a splash of blue hair in the crowd. Her All-Black-Anything wardrobe accentuated by the tye-dye, “Vibes” shirt from Electric Family. “Most of the shirts I wear are from Above Heaven,” she said, a clothing company out of Phoenix, her home town. Arizona’s electronic music scene is significantly smaller than Atlanta’s, but it has the same vibe as Los Angeles where Mija currently lives. Although not the type to actively try and be the center of attention, you can’t help but notice her. Clubs are her natural habitat, the Mixer & CDJ are her instruments of choice. She pulled an all-nighter after finishing her second show of the night before, snagging what little sleep she could on her flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Her internal clock runs on a 36 hour schedule, and she would probably loath working some 9-5 job.
But who is Mija? In high school, she was that My Chemical Romance-looking chick that showed you screamo bands worth listening to; she introduced you to new music that you’d never heard of before, and she was probably the reason that you discovered Dubstep in the first place. In person, however, Mija is just Amber Giles. The cool thing about Amber is that she’s 100% herself, a rare trait in a scene where many people pretend to be anything but their true selves. Think about it: at raves there are all these people frolicking about, draped with neon clothing, introducing themselves as Cloud or Rainbow or Lotus Petal. Spare me. Too many people in the music industry try to climb the rave pyramid by faking their way to the top. Talking with Mija is refreshing because she isn’t trying to be anybody but Amber Giles.
A lot of Mija’s progress over the past year was ignited by Skrillex’s tag set with her at Bonaroo back in 2014, but make no mistake, her success has been fueled by her love of music and her ability to feel comfortable in her own skin. As a Grammy award winning musician that has raised the bar for electronic music, Sonny Moore’s opinion carries great weight, but it’s no surprise that Sonny has shown support for this talented young DJ. Mija has a great ear for music, and her live sets are SPECTACULAR. She played the best trap and deep house set Atlanta has seen so far in 2015. Tempos meant nothing to her. When Mija’s set was over and Eddie Gold began to take the stage, Amber mentioned to me that she swapped between Trap and Deep House a total of 4 times during her 2 hour mix. Mija played several songs that were atypical for the environment she was in, yet she did so seamlessly and with such style that she had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. Her Motto? “F*ck Genres.” Why does every DJ and his “squad” thinks that they can rock the Quad (may it rest in peace) by playing 2 hours of straight trap bangers? OR NAH
Amber Giles was signed to talent agency AM Only earlier this year, the same label as Zedd, Grandtheft, Krewella, Mr. Carmack, and all your other favorite acts. She has planned to release several singles with multiple big name artists over the next few months, so keep an eye on her. Amber Giles has a very interesting future ahead of her, and if one thing’s for sure, once she drops her first EP in 2016, Nothing’s Gonna Change Her World.
Check out her latest mix on Republic Radio below to get a little taste of Mija’s style.
Boombox Sells Out Terminal West (Recap)
After a 4 year hiatus Boombox finally quenches our thirst for something funky with their new album, “Filling In The Color.” Their accompanying tour this winter was well received and many shows including this Atlanta stop sold out. I met travelers from multiple states who were following the funk around the South. So many are here because the sound Boombox produces is infectious and very accessible. Their groove is warm and funky and they pump just the right amount of bass to get everyone dancing but yet you can hear after the show. They covered much of the new album during the show. “Filling In The Color”, the title track of their new album features a guitar riff that would fit in a 70’s rock song. Zion Rock Godchaux’s signature vocals that sound as crisp live as they do on the album. This is because this album was created over the past two years on this road.
Photo credit: DV photography
Russ Randolph always lays down a funky beat foundation for Godchaux to build on but Boombox describes their new album as “more evolved”. I would describe it as authentic because of the way it was created. “We want the listener to be able to play the record front to back, not just a few tracks,” Godchaux said. “To enjoy the album as a whole. Day or night, happy or sad, from the speaker on their phone to the thumping sound system. We are song makers. That’s what we do. And this record should be confirmation that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing with our lives.” These are men that know their purpose in life.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/32078299″]
Boombox shows offer a lot of variety and improvisation at times. Both Russ and Zion Rock are multi-instrumentalists. The funky groove that Russ puts down is always driving the show but at various times in the show both had switched from their primary duties to get into drum solos. They at times work outside the bounds of a normal show and have put music to a Bob Dylan poem, “Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie.” It all works because the of the common denominator that is their signature funky groove.
Check out the Bob Dylan cover below and if you missed the show expect Boombox to be back within the next year.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rNsgNBUBBA&w=560&h=315]
Adventure Club Headlines Opera Nightclub (recap)
Atlanta was once again treated with the beloved Canadian duo, Adventure Club last Friday, January 30. Although Adventure Club has been to Atlanta many times within the last year, they are still able to have sell out crowds each time the appear. Their shows are always highly anticipated, and they never fail to deliver a great set as well. A key component to Adventure Club’s success in playing in Atlanta is their multi-genre style. They bring tons of energy to a crowd time and time again.
The guys opened up with that grimy, floor-thumping dubstep which seemed just like classic Adventure Club. What helped make their set even better was the all new Pure Groove sound system installed for this night. It had incredible sound quality with some deep bass and minimal distortion. Their set included a lot of their hits like “Crave You,” “Wonder,” and a few other tracks from their album, “Calling All Heroes.” They even played their latest track, “Fade,” which was definitely a crowd favorite.
I was both impressed with Adventure Club’s set and the new Pure Groove system. They had yet again brought a sell out crowd to Atlanta. It honestly feels like these guys are building a residency here with these successful turnouts. This past Friday’s show will certainly not be the last you will hear from Adventure Club in Atlanta.
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