Raver Magazine - 016 (September) by Raver Magazine

09.2016

Dirty South

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CRYWOL

E R O G BOR

ER TRAVEL EM

GAN SANJOY LVER U C H A E L

MORGAN

CKE A J S S A B

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Dirty South pg 4

6 E R O G BOR 8 S R E CK 10 BASSJA F L O W CRY 14 B X I AL 16 NIFRA 18 M E N GA N A G R 20 MO Y O J N SA 22 R E V L U LEAH C IANI 24 AV T T O E P 26 P E R S E U L I G TRAVE 30 E G A R OVE C T N 48 E A EV N N JOA L R I G 50 S K C RAVER A NEW TR 2

We created Raver Magazine a couple of years ago because there was no EDM

digital mag out there that had the content we wanted to see – in-depth coverage of the top DJs, producers and festivals with important articles about the artists we love, both the superstars and the rising stars. We were different from the beginning and we will always remain proudly unique. We ask DJs and producers the questions you would ask if you were doing the interview. We search far and wide to find the new tracks that you want to hear. Check out the top EDM websites and you’ll soon discover that there is far too much superficial coverage of the EDM scene; it’s as common as a cold and just as appealing. When I click on an EDM website I want to see dazzling photos, killer videos, original articles and fresh content. Our brand new website, ravermag.com, will debut later this month. We are sure that you’ll love it because we built it with you in mind. Our correspondents in the USA, The Far East, Europe and Australia will constantly be posting on our new site giving you the very best EDM coverage available anywhere. Plus… wait for it… ravermag.com actually looks cool, not like a puked on cable news platform with a few Soundcloud links mixed in. We have all of you to thank for our tremendous success. In the coming weeks and months, let us know what you think of Raver Mag and ravermag.com. Your opinion matters to us. In the end, everything we do is for you. Peace,

MICHAEL BEAS EDITOR IN CHIEF OF RAVER MAGAZINE

EMPLOYEE LIST MICHAEL BEAS – Editor in Chief WID BASTIAN – Publisher AMANDA COWAN – Editor Nhan Tran – Lead Photographer - West Coast Division Chase Morgan – Lead Photographer - East Coast Division

RAVER MAG PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Pfeiffer – Detroit Zach Liebmann – NYC

DIRTY SOUTH interview by: ZACH LEETE

Dragan Roganovic started DJing before many of us even understood the significance of 4/4 repetitions and 128 bpm. He emerged during an era where Tiesto played nothing but Trance, Avicii was in diapers, and Hardwell was well…hardly more relevant than the dropping of a single pin in an ocean of electronic sound. Dragan crafted electronic tunes on the precipice of an event horizon in the world of music that would alter the way people create, listen, and respond to music forever. The Serbian-Australian DJ/Producer better known as Dirty South began his long journey into the hearts of EDM purists at the age of thirteen, but over the last decade he has asserted his position as one of the most coveted House DJs spinning today, using his notoriety to coast through a constantly shifting, nebulous EDM landscape with a timeless sound characterized by clean melodies and corporeal rhythms. A quick Google search reveals that Dirty South began consistently releasing music in 2006, but that’s only half of the story. Dirty South has released an array of charting singles, innumerable remixes, and two critically beloved albums.

In an industry bolstered by one-hit-wonders, where DJs come and go like commuters bustling in the guts of the subway and genre lines become the blurred lines of a Robin Thicke single, the existence of DJs who refuse to sell out, like Dirty South, is becoming a rarity. We sat down with Dirty South after his hallmark performance at Imagine Music Festival 2016 to discuss pre-performance carbohydrates, melancholy music, balancing studio and tour time and more. RM: You sent out a tweet before your set at Imagine Music Festival 2016 saying that you ate a piece of bread. Now everyone wants to know… what type of bread?

DS: (laughs) It’s actually a true story. It was just an old piece of white bread. It was a bun from a chicken burger that I had two hours before. RM: So that’s not a ritual? You don’t eat a piece of bread before each set? DS: No it was just sitting there. I was like “Well, fuck it. I’m hungry” I’m going to have some of this before I get on. RM: What, that was enough to get you through the set? DS: It was enough. I’m good! RM: What have you been up to lately? Have you been spending more time in the studio or touring? DS: Actually a bit of both. I just came from Europe where I did Greenfield. I go to China next week, Dubai, then back to the U.S. In between I’m trying to squeeze in new music. I just put out a couple singles, “Just Dream” with Rudy and “All of Us,” and I’ve got some new ones coming too. It’s the balance between touring and making music. RM: You’ve collaborated with Rudy in the past. However, you often did so under the guise of “Ruben Haze.” Tell us about that?

DS: Ruben Haze is a side project we have. It’s more indie…I guess a more Coldplay-ish vibe. RM: You definitely tapped into that style of music during your set today. DS: I’ve always liked melancholy music. Every now and then I work it into my sets. RM: Melancholy music is the best type of music! Who doesn’t like to be sad? (laughs) Can you confirm or deny the rumor that you have a new album coming out in the fall? DS: I’m working towards that. If it’s not an album, it will be a bunch of singles. The two I just released are part of that. Like I said it’s the balance between touring and producing that makes it difficult. RM: Is it hard to make music while you’re on the road touring? DS: I can do it sometimes. It’s always about inspiration. I can get inspiration from anywhere. It can come to me on the plane, after watching a movie, or after hearing a song. It comes from somewhere; it comes anytime. I try to always be ready to make music. •

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

by: AMBER LYNN AND MICHAEL BEAS Israeli dubstep producer and DJ, Asaf Borger, known to most as Borgore, is changing history with his own sound and vibe. Once a Deathcore drummer in the band known as Shabira, his unique style of music has quickly evolved into something that is on a level of its own. Founder of Buygore Records, his label has taken artists with their signature styles to the top of the charts and beyond. In 2012’s Decisions, with backup vocals provided by international pop sensation Miley Cyrus, Borgore redefined the way we listen to music. He has described himself as “Gorestep,” and rightly so. There is no place that he can’t venture, nowhere can’t he go. When he drops a new beat or sound everyone listens, because while you never know what he is going to bring to the table, you can’t afford to miss it! That’s the magic of Borgore’s music. His cutting edge synthesis can, at times, mix in triplet drum patterns just as easy as he blends in heavy metal influences. We had the opportunity to chat exclusively with Borgore a few weeks after his thrilling set at Imagine Music Festival.

RM: What made you want to transition from creating Deathcore to Dubstep music? BORGORE: I just enjoy the freedom of being a producer. I can take it wherever I want. When I was in a band, there were three other people always saying, “I like this break, I don’t like this break, I like this feature, I don’t like this feature.” With production, no one can tell me anything. RM: There are many talented artists signed to Buygore Records. Can you share any insight into future plans for the label? BORGORE: I opened my label back in 2010, and I’m open to releasing as many genres as possible. I think that the labels I look up to are releasing as many as possible, too. I’ll release anything - Hip-Hop, Pop, to Dubstep. RM: What was your biggest inspiration for arguably one of your most popular songs, Decisions? BORGORE: The inspiration was the transition to Los Angeles from Israel. It was like Decisions, ya know? Like, what’s going on? It was weird for me, I had to get used to it, ya know? I love Los Angeles, I love Israel - it was this whole concept inside of me between my new and old life. It was a culture shock.

BORGORE: Every collab is different, I loved all of them. I don’t think I have anyone specific in mind, it’s just a different experience with each and every one of them. RM: Is it true that you were a significant influence on Miley Cyrus’ change in musical style? BORGORE: I think that Miley was going that direction anyway, eventually. I think I was a part of her journey. RM: Can we expect some new bangers from Borgore in the next few months? BORGORE: Oh yeah, well there’s actually one track that’s not a banger at all. It’s gonna be shifting, music-wise, from my end. I’m gonna release a lot of music, some new videos and some new speakers too. RM: Recently I read an article about the feminist Molly Hankins. What was it like working with a feminist? Do you think it enhanced Booty for Borgore or ruined it? BORGORE: I had a conversation with someone a couple days ago and we realized that feminism is the right way. There is no other way than feminism. You know what I’m saying? If you’re not a feminist, you’re a chauvinist practically - there is no other way. There has to be equality. So I don’t think there is anything special about working with a feminist, it’s just natural and it’s all part of the journey. •

RM: Over the years you’ve worked with many big names including G-Eazy, Miley Cyrus, Diplo, Waka Flocka, and others. Who was your favorite to collaborate with and why?

THE YING & YANG OF EDM: ONE IN THE BOOTH, ONE IN THE STUDIO Bassjackers, also known as Marlon Flohr & Ralph van Hilst, have been best friends since high school. At that age, Marlon realized he could not DJ on his own and recognized Ralphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to produce techno beats. From there, the two friends decided to join up together and create what they are now known as - Bassjackers. This duo is unlike any other in the electronic music scene. After teaming up with Marlon, Ralph discovered that he was more of a producer. He chose to stay behind the scenes while Marlon tours the globe, representing both of their work on stage with high energy and passion for entertaining the fans! We had the opportunity to sit down with Marlon Flohr of Bassjackers during his stop in Charlotte this month. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what he had to share with Raver Magazine.

BASSJACKERS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW interviewed by: HANNAH CARLSON photography by: Michael Beas

Q: Which artist was the most fun to collaborate with on your tracks in the past? A: If I’m gonna name one, I’m going to hurt so many people, but recently we have worked with Breathe Carolina for Spinnin’ Records. One of our other favorites recently is KSHMR. He is a genius! He took over the whole EDM scene, I think he is the best producer and live DJ. Q: Your new release “Destiny” dropped on Sept 20th. What can you tell us about it? A: It is not our first EP, but it is a different genre; something unexpected for our regular fans, not a single 120 track. We did a collaboration with a huge video game and it inspired the track, which is called “Destiny”. I’m really happy that our fan base is accepting our new approach. You can’t release all the same stuff as a DJ these days, it is important to bring something new to the table. Q: How much time do you spend in the studio working on a track? A: This is more Ralph’s field, he never gives up and can spend hours or weeks in the studio working relentlessly on new tracks. We always come together and review his production. I tweak and add my own opinions because I am at the events experiencing the sounds of other artists and watching the crowd’s reactions. Q: What differentiates you as a duo from the other duos in EDM right now? A: Well, we have separated tasks while most duos work together and tour together. Ralph loves producing and being in the studio while I tour and do shows. Of course, we will still butt heads, have some serious discussions and fight like brothers, but we both have to agree at some point and move on to continue our career and love for the music. Q: Where does your inspiration come from? A: I get my inspiration from the shows. I listen to the audience and the environment, watching the growth of EDM and bring it back to Ralph to hear to and understand. We speak different languages with music. Ralph will present a track to me and I will review it, tweak it and send it back to the drawing table if it needs improvement. Q: DJ Mag has ranked Bassjackers as #39 out of the Top 100 DJ’s in 2015. How do you feel about the rankings for 2016? A: We had a lot of responses on social media. For us, it’s not about making it on those lists, but it’s nice to have that recognition and see that our fans are getting involved and wanting to help us out. I have a good feeling about this year’s voting! Q: Do you ever miss the Netherlands, your homeland? A: Ralph is home continuously producing, while I am touring. It’s hard for me to be away from home. We started in the Netherlands during the first 3-4 years of getting into the EDM scene, and we played roughly 5-10 shows a week only in the Netherlands. Of course, our fan base has grown and always shifts, but every time we play at home it feels like a little reunion. We now play 4-5 shows in the Netherlands a year, but it’s always fun and reminds us of the days when we first started. Q: How do you keep your energy up while traveling constantly? A: I work out a lot, simple hotel workouts. Once I get off the plane and to the hotel, I try to do a 45-minute workout so I don’t fall asleep and can be productive. I like to party sometimes, but it’s crucial to take care of your body. With 200 shows and about 150 flights a year, it definitely takes a toll on your body - it’s not healthy. So I try to take care of it with a little exercise and a healthy diet. • SOCIAL LINKS: www.bassjackers.com facebook.com/bassjackers | twitter.com/bassjackers | soundcloud.com/bassjackers | instagram.com/bassjackers

CRYW

WOLF

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

You played a really emotional set at MR. How do you separate yourself from your work? Does it ever get too emotional? A big part of my pre-show ritual is getting into an emotional space where I can be vulnerable in front of a crowd. I think most of those emotions are typically under the surface; it’s not like they’re expressed that often. So when I’m performing I don’t just wanna go through the motions. I think it’d be really easy to get to a point where you’re just singing the same things over and over again and you get a little bit distant; you get a little bit separated from it, you get disenchanted with it. Part of what I always really try to do is to get into a place where I’m genuinely expressing those things as opposed to just sort of singing the songs. Where I’m actually communicating with the audience in some kind of way. So, for me, it’s less of a problem of separating myself from my work, and more trying to get swallowed up by it at the moment and really express those things. Outside of that, a lot of times there are different areas in the music world (or in the life of a musician) when you do wanna be separate from your work. Like when I meet new people, I don’t really talk about being a musician. Only because in that regard I do wanna be separate from my work. I don’t want to be ‘Justin the musician’ at all times to all people. I wanna be ‘Justin the musician’ when I’m playing shows, and when I’m working on music, but outside of that I wanna be ‘Justin the human being’ that’s completely separate from music. In other situations, I do separate myself from myself, but the challenge is letting yourself get swept up in the moment and actually connecting. How do you deal with mistakes on stage? Another huge part of my pre-show rituals is getting in a place mentally where I’m super, super focused because the systems and the entire live rigs that I built are really complicated and there are so many things that could go wrong. Any one thing that goes wrong on the surface could be one of like 30 different issues. So

interviewed by: AMBER LYNN

I really have to be super sharp to play the show and troubleshoot correctly. Any time you’re dealing with CPUs and computers, there’s always gonna be lots of stuff that could go wrong. That’s just par for the course and you have to get used to it. So stuff will go wrong on stage and I have to be able to seamlessly correct it without looking like I’m fixing it. It’s not often mistakes on my part, I rehearse my set to the point where it’s very rare that I’ll make a mistake and if I do I just laugh it off because I almost never do, but it’s more of the technology messing up. Typically if I mess up live, I don’t really sweat it that much. I’ve just rehearsed enough to where it doesn’t happen that often and if it does, it’s just part of performing live and I think the audience typically understands that. I just played Seattle which was super fun and sold out at this place called The Crocodile. At one point I was talking about this song I was gonna play, this new song from the EP, and I triggered something and it was the wrong track. So the last song came on for a second and it wasn’t even like “Oh no! I messed up!” I just laughed it off and said “I didn’t mean to play that song” and everyone just laughed it off. I think when you have fans that are really connected to your art, they don’t really care about stuff like that. I believe that some people when they’re playing soft ticket dates, they’re playing for a lot of people who don’t really know their music that well so if they mess up those people are gonna judge them really hard whereas at my shows, the only reason those people are there are to see me. If people don’t wanna see me, they’re not gonna come. So anyone that’s there is gonna be super supportive. What has been your favorite set or festival you’ve played in the past year or so? I would probably say my first LA show because it was my first time that I’ve done a headlining live set, all my other live sets have just been direct support for Savoy. There was a lot riding on that show, but it ended up

selling out. It was just so much fun. The whole place was slammed with people and every single song that came on I could barely hear myself singing because everyone was singing so loud. It was the first time I had sold out a big venue. It was a special moment for me. I have to ask, what’s the story behind The Home We Made Part 2? I don’t generally talk about the story behind songs. Sometimes with a single I’ll post general events that inspired it. I’m just a big fan of purposeful ambiguity in art like keeping certain things unsaid and certain things ambiguous so they can start to mean certain things to people that they couldn’t mean otherwise. The reason is if I explained some of those situations it really wouldn’t be accurate. The surface of that explanation is such a tiny part of what it’s actually about. In reality, it could be about this way deeper universal truth that I don’t really know how to verbalize and so instead I say “Oh it’s about my exgirlfriend doing this” and it’s like okay, that’s pretty basic. In reality, it’s about all these crazy, deep things underneath what happened, but I write music about it instead of explaining it because I don’t have the words for it. That’s the entire reason I write music to begin with; so trying to explain it, it ends up falling short. If there was no music career, what would you be doing right now? What did you go to school for and where? I was going to school for economics before I started making music. I went to Pace University in New York and my ultimate plan was to transfer to the University of Chicago. So that’s probably where I’d be, I would have graduated by now. So I’d probably be pursuing some sort of Masters’ Degree or some kind of post graduate degree. I think I’d be in some entrepreneurial position like starting a business or something like that. I’ve always really liked business and stuff but obviously it’s completely on the other side of the spectrum from music. Do you ever get nervous before a show? No, not nervous per se. I get really hyper-focused and I have to get hyper-focused, I definitely get in a weird headspace, I just wouldn’t call it “nervous.” I’m never like “Oh, what if something goes wrong?” It’s a general feeling of excitement. I did get nervous before going on at Bass Center when I did that vocal spot with Bassnectar. I definitely got nervous then, but that was mainly because he had asked me to write a new part for the song specifically for that performance and we were supposed to go over it like a bunch of times, and he ended up being super busy, and it ended up being

that we couldn’t go over it at all. So I was basically going in performing this thing in front of 30,000 people without ever having gone over it even once. I went in it thinking so many things could have gone wrong whereas generally before a show I’m taking the risk and most of the things that could go wrong; I’ve already anticipated and know how to fix. How many instruments do you actually play and what’s your favorite? I don’t know an actual count, but there’s probably about thirty instruments I can play. There are a lot of melodic instruments and once you learn the foundational aspects of melody and harmony, you can pretty much play any of them. Anything that makes melodies that you place in front of me I can technically play it. Doesn’t mean I’m excellent but that’s how I am with most instruments. As far as for ones that I’m good at my favorite is probably piano, I always return to piano. That’s what I compose most my stuff on. How old are you and when did you get started out in music? I began playing music at a really early age because my parents dabbled in music and they surrounded us with it growing up. We always sang and played instruments when we were kids. We grew up in Hong Kong so it was a weird smattering of different US music that comes over on CDs. How did you get to where you are now? It was a process of finding my identity in music and finding out what I actually wanted to do with music and sticking to it to the fullest extent of my abilities. A lot of people have a hard time finding out what they wanna do in music and once they do find that a lot of them will do it for a little bit and if it doesn’t stick they just move on. So there were a lot of periods in this journey with Crywolf where I got to the point to where I was like, “I could change it up. This isn’t working.” I’m really glad that I stuck with it because now it’s caught on a lot. A combination of perseverance, creativity, and uniqueness. I was creeping on your IG and saw where you had lost your voice and made it into a breathtaking track. Where did you come up with the idea for that? That was where I was doing a song a day for an EP. If you do one song every day it really pushes you creatively because you have to work every day. I did not think it was a cool sound, but I wanted to make this

terrible sound and make it something cool. That was a challenge. What was it like working with Bassnectar? He is a really incredible guy! It’s easy if you’re that big of an artist to get a little bit jaded with the world. I understand when people are like that, but Lorin is super, super personable and helpful and generous and just really understanding. He’s definitely a really cool guy and it was a pretty surreal experience for me because Bassnectar was the second or third electronic artist that I ever heard. I had only listened to Rusko for a couple of months before I saw Bassnectar. He was one of the foundational artists in my development and the way that it all came about was random. I got an email from his management and from him out of the blue, without me having talked to him at all. I’ve never had a bigger artist co-sign before. It’s always just sort of been me alone in the industry so having somebody as big as him be that excited about my music was definitely a big confidence booster. Are there any artists you base your sound off of? Or influence you? There isn’t anyone who I “go after,” but often I derive instrumental inspiration from ‘alt-J’ or Odesza. Vocally I get a lot of inspiration from ‘City and Colour.’

Who has been your favorite artist to work with?

collaborations, but out of the ones that I have done I’ve definitely enjoyed working with Echos. We’re all really good friends and they’ve helped me work on other things other than music. Any surprises in the near future? There’s a lot of really cool stuff coming up on the horizon! What is your most meaningful piece of music that you made and why? For me either the song Anachronism or Epithelial. I think those are the two that are lyrically mean the most to me. I believe that Cataclasm as a whole piece of content is my standard answer, but if I had to choose a single track it’d be one of those two. I wrote that whole album in a very crucial time in my life and some of those songs are just so meaningful to me and every time I play it, I really feel it. What do you have to say to upcoming artists? Any advice? I think that the most important thing is urging them to be unique in what they do. I always felt like I couldn’t say anything unique because I was always trying to be something. I never really felt like I was expressing myself until I stopped caring about trying to affect people in some way. Make your priority finding your own voice as opposed to making things that other people are gonna like. •

I don’t work with a lot of artists because I’ve been very focused on finding my own unique sound over the last couple of years. I haven’t really done a lot of

B X I AL S D D O L L A G BEAS N L I E A Y H F C I M E y: D interview b Alix B is an energetic and dynamic DJ who has overcome obstacles that would sink less determined people. Most notably, she turned a major health crisis into something artistically beautiful. Alix Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live stream mixes are broadcast worldwide. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a source of inspiration for all her fans through both her personal triumphs and her fantastic tracks. Raver Magazine caught up with Alix B after one of her live performances. This is what she shared with us: Your music is unique, your vibe is unique, and the element that you bring I personally find remarkable. High energy is how most describe you. What is the driving force that keeps Alix going day after day, especially in the world of dance music that is always changing? I am naturally hyper. My sound is unique because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a set genre. It all depends on the mood I am in, to be honest. It is not uncommon for me to go from a Deep House to a more Tech House

Electro vibe to then switch it over to some Dubstep. You just never know because I do everything live for that purpose to keep everything fresh and new for my fans. You are the first American female DJ to rock the world with fans from 175 countries. What is the ride like to be in front of so many people who are going nuts over the Alix B vibe? The first American female DJ of anything is really humbling. Much less to have so much energy to resonate globally through a movement of coexistence is insane. I started mixing when I was sick and got diagnosed with endometriosis. I realized that I had to chill and take a step back from what I love to do the most. It was then that my good friend Aaron Reid told me that I needed to DJ, that I needed to do what I love most. I thought it over while I was sick and then I started to really get into Djing. Had it not been for my good friend opening my eyes and this severe illness who knows where I would be right now.

A lot of your streams and mixes are infused with House Music elements, why is House Music such a huge part of who you are as an artist? The basics started with House. I was exposed to it mostly at an early age in my life in Miami. I love Electro/Big Room. When I first started, I wanted to mix Big Room Progressive Electro House Music and people thought I was crazy. Everyone told me that I had to start my sets with Techno. I knew it could be done so I started teaching myself how to do it. I love big room bangers and bass house. My inspiration came actually from Swedish House vibe like Axwell, Ingrosso and Steve Angelo – those sounds inspired me to play and get everyone in the vibe. The rest, as they say, is history. Your social media streams have shown that you have been going through a rough patch from a health perspective. It has to be challenging to perform and do what you are passionate about, day after day. Health issues come secondary to me. I am a mind over matter type of person. That being said, it was rough when I found out that I had endometriosis, especially because you might not be able to have children. To make matters worse, I was diagnosed

with Ovarian Vein Syndrome. It was a tough go for a while. The American Rave scene really stepped up and supported me. I cannot tell you how many email messages I got and text messages I got to help and support me during this time. I am so in love with music and so many people have tuned into my live sets that honestly my health is just part of me, but it doesn’t define me like the music does time and time again. I have to definitely give a Shout Out to my female and male PLUR Ravers who help me with my music. In the beginning, I messed up so much, but their feedback and support made my podcast and my sets all the better. What’s next for Alix B in the way of new music and mixes? Where can we expect to see you next? I have been talking with different producers and DJ’s. I can’t share their names right now, but let’s just say that I have some excellent things in the works. I am also working on a new EP. As for live mixes, I am putting those out almost daily for everyone to download and enjoy. •

NIFRA

Coldharbour Night

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Avalon Nightclub Los Angeles, California Interview by: ROBROY

Markus Schulz’s Coldharbour Recordings hosted their yearly Coldharbour night in Los Angeles this past month at the legendary Avalon Nightclub. The event showcased the label’s trance duo Grube & Hovsepian, recently signed Dave Neven, vocalist Adina Buter, special guest Bobina and the always genuine and charismatic Nifra. The night kicked off with the club already packed and with the attendees prepared for a special night ahead. Raver Magazine’s Senior Broadcaster, RobRoy, was out to cover the event and sat down for an exclusive interview with Nifra. Read more about her thoughts on the Coldharbour showcase, the success of her producing career thus far, and what else she has in store for 2016.

Hey guys! Here at the Coldharbour night in LA and I am joined by Nifra who is about to take the stage soon. Nifra, first off, how are you doing? And how you feeling about tonight’s Coldharbour night in LA?

Speaking of popular tracks, you have been trending at the moment. You are the artist behind the Transmission theme The Creation, which is still at the top of the charts. How does that make you feel?

Hello to all the Ravers! I am very excited for tonight’s Coldharbour night. I am set to perform in 20 minutes, so I am beginning to prepare for it mentally with what tracks I have lined up for my set. I was able to look into the crowd before coming backstage, and it’s a packed house. I always enjoy coming to this nightclub - great production and a big venue!

I am so happy to see the success of my track created alongside Markus Schulz. As soon as it was complete and Markus heard it, he told me that it was going to be a hit! It was incredible to receive such support from Markus, especially because he is the boss of Coldharbour and also my mentor. You get the reassurance of producing a great track with the backing from your peers, and more importantly, the response from the fans. Markus played The Creation at Transmission in Prague and brought you on stage with him. How was that feeling, being in your home country?

Nifra, how has 2016 been? I see that you have been super busy touring and making some great productions. 2016 has been a highlight year for my career. For starters, the year started off with a lot of touring, which I was super happy about - visiting different countries and playing at various venues. After this show, I am heading to Slovakia for two shows. I am also performing at Dreamstate in New York for my first time, which I am really excited about!

The feeling was best described as “ecstatic” and “a rush of energy.” I am very close to the Transmission team out there and have played there before. For that moment to occur during one of the headliners’ (Markus Schulz’s) set - dropping my track and bringing me on stage to present to the crowd - the feeling was great!

Seeing the fans there in attendance and dancing to your track is why I love what I do. What’s next for Nifra? Next up, I am finishing a vocal track. I have already put out Army of Lights and also a few others, but I am working to finish and release this vocal track by the end of the year. I want to finish my year off strong with a lot of touring, while also supporting Markus at a few of his new album shows.

It’s been tough, and it has always been tough from the start. I have received positive and negative feedback and criticism from both male and female producers. Once you are in the scene and look a certain way, the critics think that you’re a puppet out there. That is not the case at all. I had no one to show me how to mix or perform. I started off enjoying trance music and being inspired by artists such as Markus Schulz and now I’m lucky enough to produce and play on his label. For me, it’s always been about the music and I can see that fans started to notice that in my performances.

Perhaps working on a Nifra artist album? Yes, that has definitely been one of my goals. I’ve had it in the back of my mind and have been working on it. I’ve been thinking about a few good tracks I would like to create and release as an artist album. I am looking to get some free time after the hectic touring of 2016, some studio time where I can really sit down and put together a great album.

Nifra, lastly before we let you go. What is the message you would like to send out to your fans of yours all over the globe? I want to give big thanks for all the love and support that fans have given me throughout this journey, and to the new fans, too! Thank you for giving me a chance and listening to my music. Hope to see you all at one of my shows! •

Nifra, as a female producer/artist in electronic music, how have you adapted to the scene with it being mostly males?

MORGAN GANEM EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW INTERVIEWby byMICHAEL MICHAELBEAS BEAS

RM: Walk us through a day in the life of Morgan Ganem. that it’s necessary to get all of my ideas out of my head and recorded. On days that I’m performing I’m focused on the upcoming performance making sure all of my MG: Every day is a little different depending on if I am tracks are ready and checking to see if the show has focused on production or if I’m out performing. But been advanced with everything in place. Not much time generally I wake up, have a cup of coffee and some to rest and I like it that way! breakfast, check my emails and get straight to work in the studio. If I’m in the zone and feeling creative, usually someone will have to remind me to eat lunch. RM: What is the one thing you want both your existing fans and your new fans to take away from your music? Around mid-day I usually begin to check my social medias and respond to as many fans as I can. To me, MG: I try to make music that is uplifting; when you it’s essential to have a personal relationship with my listen to my records I want you to feel good. Spreading supporters and keep in touch with them as much as possible. Most days I will work well into the night if I feel a positive message both in my music and in my live

MG: Morgan Ganem On The Air is a great platform for me to present new music online. Not only my own new music but also new records that are coming out from RM: Backwoods always has held a special place for my friends in the industry and artist on my label, GX2 you, a feeling of home in some regard. This year’s Records. The show goes live on my Facebook page Backwoods anthem is all you with Forever Young. What’s every two weeks and the listening audience is growing the feeling like to have your track selected by such a every time. Fortunately, my studio is completely mobile prestigious festival? so I can prepare and record the mixes even when I’m on the road. Technology makes it easier to multitask. MG: Honestly, it was one of the highlights of my year. I have played at Backwoods Music Festival for the last RM: Tours, travel, new music… What’s next in the life of three years now and it’s always a great opportunity Morgan Ganem? for me to present new music to my fans. To have the Executive Producers of the festival ask me to pro-duce MG: I will definitely be releasing a lot of new music in this year’s anthem was a real honor! Being able to the next few months and this coming year. Along with perform Forever Young live for the crowd at Backwoods producing my own music, I’ve been recording topline was an incredible feeling. vocals for pro-ducers like Tommie Sunshine, Kastra, and Dietigo. Recently I was asked by Tritonal and Manic RM: Your social media is booming with your new cover Focus to send them my vocals, I’m excited to see what In The Air Tonight which is a tribute to one of the greats, happens. Phil Collins. With so many tracks, so many artists to choose from, why Phil? What’s the inspiration behind We have already booked a lot of dates for 2017. I will be this over the others? updating fans about my per-formance schedule soon. One of my goals for the coming year is to travel outside MG: I have been a huge Phil Collins fan every since I the country more. One of the perks of being a DJ/ was a kid. A few months ago my Mom suggested that I Producer is that the shows allow you to travel the world, try covering In The Air Tonight. So I gave it a shot, and meet new people and make a lot of new friends. ultimately the response from my fans has been great. I was waiting for the right time to release the cover RM: What is the one message that you would like your because there was talk that Phil was coming out of fans to know about you as a person and as an artist? retirement. I saw the oppor-tunity to release the track when Phil played at the US Open this year, I felt like it I want them to know that I love what I do and it really was perfect timing. truly would be impossible for me to be doing what I love doing without their support. So for that I am very RM: Talk to us about On The Air and how you are grateful. My mes-sage is very simple: positive creates able to pump the show out time and time again while positive. Spread good vibes and love. I look for-ward to maintaining such a hectic workload producing and seeing everyone on the road and online more in the next performing. few months! • performance is important to me. Music is very powerful and it should be used to spread good to others.

SANJOY

by ENARA NAZARO VA

New up and coming Indian EDM producer Sanjoy is taking the world by storm one beat, one

sound at a time. With the success of his album Dancing Under The Influence, which reached #26 on the Billboard Charts, and his most recent release ‘Slip Away’, Sanjoy is literally unstoppable.

Raver Magazine caught up with Sanjoy soon after the filming of his music video which you can watch right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJAWDS6xpmc RM: Hi Sanjoy! Thanks for stopping by Raver Magazine today. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you were introduced to music? SANJOY: Hey! Thank you so much for having me. I am Sanjoy, born in Bangladesh and brought up in California. I started learning Indian classical music at the age of three and moved to the U.S. when I was 11 years old. I didn’t get into sports and other extracurricular activities. Music was my only escape. I never consciously knew that I was good at making music. I would always write tunes in my head and try to put them together in a song form. I was gifted a laptop for my 13th birthday and that’s when I discovered the DAW Reason. I’ve never stopped making music since then and now I’m here interviewing with Raver Magazine! RM: Who would you say is your biggest musical influence?

RM: What other tracks would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music? SANJOY: Why You Run, Barriers, Lights, Lost in My Own World, Set Me Free - also check out the JOYCAST mixes. They are 30 minute long mashups of all my favorite records. Also, I record it live to give people a teaser of how I play. RM: What advice would you give to up and coming musicians? What helps you stay focused?

SANJOY: I take inspiration from many different artists. It ranges from Yanni, Hans Zimmer, A R Rahman to Skrillex, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris and more. Aside from other artists, I think my multi-cultural background entirely shapes my music and me as a person. The melodies and harmonies I create while writing music and my choice of instruments are definitely influenced by the music I grew up listening to. You can hear an Eastern touch in my music and my cultural influences are what sets my music apart from others and makes my sound unique. RM: Your track “Slip Away” is doing really well! What inspired you to write it? SANJOY: Huge thanks to everyone for the support on Slip Away! I wanted to create a fun, nostalgic record that just about anybody could relate to. Inspiration definitely stemmed from being at Miami Music Week this year. Meeting passionate industry individuals, connecting with my favorite artists and the Miami vibe - summer, beaches, beautiful people all played a role in shaping the idea for the sound of Slip Away. I just wanted to produce a song that anyone can fall in love with and attach memories to. Getting out of your spring fling and finding your summer love. That’s what the song is about, slipping away with that special person. Shout out to Stephen Rezza for penning the lyrics with me.

SANJOY: Just put your heart and soul into the music you’re making. Break boundaries, make things sound and feel real yet keep it interesting so the listener comes back to discover new things in the same record. Make music only when you feel inspired. I’ve noticed that when I try to make something and I’m not feeling it at the moment of creation, it always sounds robotic and forced. Connect and network with as many people as possible and try to have something relatable about you. When you’re out of sight, they should remember how interesting of a person you were. You need everyone’s support you can get, so go out and meet people in person. Build an excellent team and a support system. Also, hit me up if I could be of any help! RM: Are there any upcoming releases or collaborations in store for the fans this year? SANJOY: Oh so many! I can’t wait for you all to hear the new music. I’ve been working non-stop around the clock writing new songs. My next record will be with one of my fav singers Elliott Yamin! I’m also doing a record with my buddy Gazzo. The one after is going to be with a massive artist too, just can’t say who yet, but you’ll be the first to know! RM: Where can you see yourself perform next? SANJOY: Let’s throw a Raver Mag party right now! •

R E V L U C H LEA IMF 2016

ACH LETTE interview by: Z HAN TRAN photos by: N

Atlanta’s Leah Culver is quickly becoming a household name in the EDM world. Her raw talent as a vocalist, latent DJ abilities, and natural compatibility with other artists has garnered support from all over the scene. We caught up with Leah at Imagine Music Festival last month to discuss her genre-bending live performances, pop-punk inspirations, and DJ dance moves. RM: It’s hard to conjure up the right words to describe your performance at this year’s Imagine Music Festival. It included a live element that set it apart from a lot of the other talent gathered that weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. To be blunt, we were blown away. Can you tell our readers about this collaboration? LC: I definitely planned this one as far as wanting to bring in more live instruments. John Wilkes is my roommate (former drummer of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus), and we did Imagine last year, that’s how we met, and I just thought it would be awesome to have him again. RM: So meeting at Imagine was like…destiny. Now, you’re back at Imagine again with an even bigger production than last year, including help from IMF favorite FYER. What was that like? LC: FYER is just so awesome. I’ve played with them before and we talked about doing this at IMF 2016. They were all in. They hopped on as instrumentalists for my original tracks. As you saw, they killed it. They’re so talented. RM: It’s always amazing when instrumentalists collaborate on another artist’s song, especially when that collaborator is FYER. The first half of your set was strictly business, a true blue DJ set, but when FYER and Wilkes joined for the second half of the set, it morphed your performance into something almost Warped Tour-esque in spirit. Are you more

inspired by your old interests in pop-punk, as far as vocals go, and now you’re bringing them into the EDM realm? LC: That’s absolutely what I’m doing. I’m inspired by Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco and Haley Williams from Paramore. I like all of those older bands, but I also like Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Rihanna. RM: So who is your favorite female vocalist? LC: (immediately) Haley Williams. It’s cool because I’ve been watching her since 2004 and her voice has just gotten so much better and better. RM: You’ve been working on new music, some of which we were lucky enough to see live at IMF 2016. Tell us about what you’ve been working on. LC: I just finished my Radiance EP and I have another 3-song release I’m planning on dropping in the fall. I played a lot of material from the Radiance EP today, it’s mostly 128 and 140 bpm. The new release will be a bit faster, 180 bpm, I realized that I like to jump around a lot. RM: I saw the dance moves behind the decks. You move more than a lot of DJs out there. You started head banging like two seconds into your first song! LC: (Laughs) I should learn how to head bang properly. There has to be a method where you don’t mess up your neck. RM: At least you’re home in Atlanta where Mom can look after you. Thanks, Leah! LC: Thanks! •

AEL by: MICH interview

BEAS

wo-time Trance Award Winner for Best Live Act, DJ and Producer Giuseppe Ottaviani is making headlines once again with his latest release of ALMA - or “soul”, as the Spanish word translates into English. Ottaviani began playing the piano at the age of four. He studied and attended music school throughout his childhood and started to DJ in 1995. Every musician develops over time to find a unique sound. In Ottaviani’s case, his musical hobby quickly turned into a lifelong career of making music for all of us to enjoy. “Linking People”, “Through Your Eyes” and “No More Alone” are just some of the masterpieces that Ottaviani has carved deep into our hearts. ALMA rings home to many. The vibe is deep and heartfelt on a personal level that all of us can relate to. ALMA resonates strength, willingness and the ability to overcome all odds through a quality of pureness. Raver Magazine had a chance to catch up with Giuseppe Ottaviani this month. This is what the talented producer shared with us.

RM: You said, and I quote, that ALMA “Brings memories from my childhood.” Why was crafting music so close to your heart and soul important for you to do? Do you feel that because it was so personal that’s why it has been so successful? GO: This album was born with the particular idea of bringing the enthusiasm, emotions and spirit of a child into the older age. I’ve been inspired by watching my two little children grow and noticed how music can actually mark a precise moment in their lives. This brought me back to when I was a little kid and I remembered all the types of music I was listening to. It’s hard to explain since it’s a personal feeling, but there are many melodies and sounds that are strongly related to specific moments of my childhood. Especially with the instrumental tracks like “Primavera” or “Alma” or “Aurora”. If I close my eyes I can actually see and smell those moments, so yes, it’s an entirely personal album this time. RM: Talk to us about the inspiration behind “Firefly” with Kyler England. There are a lot of hidden meanings throughout the music that can be profound and uplifting. What does “Firefly” mean to you and what message do you hope it resonates the most to those who hear it? GO: Well, I think everyone can reflect on a different personal experience to those lyrics. When I got the

first draft from Kyler, I just loved it. It fitted perfectly with the moment when I left my first stable and safe job to start my music career with an uncertain future. I literally jumped into a black hole for the love of music and my girlfriend (wife now) really supported and helped me to take the right choices. RM: Growing up did you ever think that music would be your destiny or your place in the world? What challenges did you face along the way? How has overcoming those challenges made you into the international musical sensation that you are today? GO: No, I never really thought music would become my job just because it was and it still is my favorite hobby. I would keep making music even if I had a different job. Luckily my hobby became my job and this is due to many various factors. One of the biggest factors is Paul Van Dyk. He discovered me in 2001 and introduced me to the business; the rest of the story, as they say, is history. RM: What is in store for the future of Giuseppe Ottaviani and will you embark on a tour anytime soon? GO: I already have new plans, but at a very early stage. For now, let’s enjoy the new album and of course I’ll bring my album on tour starting this October. Check out www.giuseppeottaviani.com for tour dates, I may be in your city soon.

T S I L K C TRA tia ith Chris w ( t r a e ighth

) n Burns

CT: m CONNE viani.co a t t o e p giusep aviani viani m/GOtt o c . r ppeotta e e t s t u i g twi / m viani loud.co ppeotta e s soundc u i g / k.com faceboo om gs rdings.c o c e recordin r le le o o h h k k c c bla gs m/bla loud.co recordin le o h k c soundc la k.com/b oleRec faceboo kH c om/Bla twitter.c

interview by: MICHAEL

Following the success of truly masterful remixes of Queen & David Bowie’s Under Pressure and Ashanti’s Foolish, DJ duo TRAVELER, consisting of Zander and Peitzke, is making massive moves in world of dance music.

Rocking the airwaves, TRAVELER’s feel-good summer jam, Do It (Traveler Music/Stones Throw Recor is yet another testament to musical diversity. Raver Magazine had a chance to catch up with the dynamic duo, and this is what they shared with us. RM: The first question that comes to mind is how did Zander and Peitzke meet to form TRAVELER? What’s the backstory on how you both connected? Zander: Peitzke and I have known each other for a long time and we both grew up in Santa Barbara. I founded TRAVELER while I was in college about seven years ago with my friend Blair. The project was always meant to be a live electronic band, but I began performing the TRAVELER shows by myself as DJ sets. Last spring when Peitzke came onboard, we re-launched the project. Peitzke: When I first started hanging with Zander, he was already an established club DJ and producer, so we eventually decided we wanted to create a new project together. We spent close to a year trying to find a good name and branding for the project, but we didn’t find anything that we were set on. RM: Talk to me about the TRAVELER Remix of Tuxedo’s “Do It” by GRAMMY® nominated artists Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus). From the outside looking in, it is a seductive throwback that is leaving fans of TRAVELER’s music open mouthed. They wonder... how can such an outstanding track ever be made better? Yet it is breathtaking on many levels and it begs the question, how did it all come about?

Zander: Thank you! Yeah, we love this track. We met Mayer Hawthorne’s manager at some parties in Los Angeles and got the stems for Do It through a mutual friend. Ryan was pretty stoked when we got the stems for this and he started working on it right away. Peitzke: I wanted the remix to be unique while keeping the upbeat funkiness of the original. I immediately loaded the stems into a new Ableton session and started messing around on keys. First I played those melodic chord stabs and that arpeggio that can be heard throughout the intro and breakdowns. Then I built out a rough arrangement and passed the project off to Zander. Zander: Peitzke did a great job getting this one started. I worked on the sound design and the mix and added the second drop with the 808 bass line and the funky melodic lead. When I brought the track back to Peitzke, he jammed a killer solo over the final build up. From there it was a lot of tweaking and editing. We’re very happy with the way that one came out! RM: Emotion, emotion, emotion is how best I can describe TRAVELER’s music. Fans love this and the fact that when you play, the level of originality far outweighs everyone who attends expectations. Why are both originality and taking people on an

BEAS

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inspirational emotional journey important to your style of music? Zander: The TRAVELER sound has always been about taking listeners on a journey, we like to write multiple chord progressions in our tracks and rely heavily on melodic elements. This is probably where the emotion comes from. TRAVELER is all about taking a variety of sounds and styles and mixing them together in a unique way. We try to keep our tracks relatable to a broad audience as well as dancefloor appropriate. Peitzke: Originality is a crucial aspect of our sound as well as our general philosophy while writing music. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus on any particular genre but instead strive to produce music that is always evolving and moving in new directions. Music has had a profound impact on both of our lives, so we try to write music that connects with people and affects them in the same positive way that music has affected us. RM: The musical component of your music is also setting TRAVELER apart from the rest of the pack. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not an easy task to understand and bring in instruments like guitars, percussion and keyboards while playing live, especially while blending in the visuals that are spellbinding. What goes on before your set to prepare and be in sync with each other?

Zander: It’s very important for us to deliver a more captivating live experience than the average DJ set. TRAVELER live sets contain all original music and are never pre-planned. Nearly every song is a special edit just for live. We play a lot of unreleased material and are always changing our sets. Currently, Ryan plays guitar and drums and I play keys and mix the tracks together. Peitzke: The live set is a lot of work and we practice constantly. Our catalog contains close to 100 songs spanning across many popular electronic sub-genres and covering the entire tempo spectrum. This gives us a ton of diversity and flexibility allowing us to cater to a wide variety of audiences. RM: Zander, you have been opening up for the majors like Seven Lions and Flume, and you are playing at mainstream festivals like Burning Man, EDC Vegas and Beyond Wonderland. With all of the newfound popularity, what is it like to be one of the hottest up and coming DJs/producers?

Zander: [laughs] Well, I don’t think I’m one of the hottest DJs/producers yet but I’m very happy with where I’m at. I owe a lot of it to my friends. I’ve been DJing for over 10 years and I’ve been lucky enough to meet some amazing people. Growing up in Santa Barbara was a blessing because it’s a small, tightly-knit community with a great music scene. When the bigger acts come through town I’m often asked to open up because the promoters know that I’m experienced at playing a wide variety of music and I’ve got a lot of friends who will come out to support me. I have to give a huge shout-out to Chase, Bix, Matt, Josh and David for hooking me up with so many incredible shows over the years. RM: Your new remix of LEV’s Shadow just dropped on September 13th. Every track and remix has a story behind it. What’s the story of Shadow and what message do you want to resonate the most with that remix? Zander: We were connected to LEV through a mutual

friend. She has an amazing voice and we loved her song, Shadow, the moment we heard it. As it turned out, LEV already had the stems for Shadow printed out and was looking for remixers. I wanted to make the track more dancefloor appropriate while keeping the chorus intact. I started working on the chorus first, adding fat drums and a groovy bassline. Once I had a basic arrangement, I handed it off to Peitzke. Peitzke: When Zander sent me this track there was already a strong foundation. The chorus in the original has so many strong elements that it didn’t need much more. I added a few percussive elements, jammed some guitar and keys and created some vocal chops before handing it back to Zander. He took all the elements that I added and scattered them throughout the song. Zander: This song is meaningful to me because I feel it truly represents the original intention of TRAVELER: To create pop-sensible, dance

floor friendly music using elements of the underground to take listeners on a journey.

» »

RM: Apart from your remix of LEV, Shadow, what’s in store for TRAVELER in 2016?

Zander: 2016 has been a big year for TRAVELER. Our next release will be the first TRAVELER original production since the re-launch of the project, a single called Forget Me, coming out this month [October] on our new label, Outside In Records. We have releases planned through December and more shows to close out the year. We’ve also got lots planned for 2017…. it’s exciting times. • For more information, travelermusic.com

ELECT THE

C I S MU

My Lord, I cannot tell you how amazing this weekend was. I arrived at a fairly reasonable time on Friday, allowing me to catch half of Anna Lunoe’s set and before quickly migrating to Zomboy’s. I thought Zomboy had an incredible performance, but it was short lived due to the set times and it being scheduled for earlier in the day. After catching the end of these two talented producers, I quickly made my way over to the mainstage … ahh, the mainstage!

The party animals came out Labor Day Weekend at Randall’s Island in New York City, and party down we did! So far, I have been to four really fantastic festivals this year, but I have to say that Electric Zoo was by far my favorite festival to attend. The weather was perfect despite everyone’s fear of a hurricane hitting for the second year in a row and the music was exceptional. You could generally find me at the mainstage listening to some of the best headliners that the electronic music world has to offer.

THE YAYS OF EZOO I never felt like I was too pressed for space, which is rare to come by at festivals nowadays. Everyone had a great time and seemed to have enough room to dance. There was plenty of food around, but it was expensive. It was reasonably priced for how much they gave you but let’s face it, a McDonald’s with a dollar menu at a festival is never gonna happen.

I have been to many festivals, but I always missed Carnage. I couldn’t believe it, I was finally front and center for Carnage! I couldn’t resist but to throw down! Soon to follow up with another amazing performance was the Bass God, Bassnectar, and I was lucky enough to experience it VIP. I was underneath his feet and it was worth every second of it. Recently I have been debating on whether or not to go back until he “cleaned up his act.” Bassnectar has two styles, either full on bass, which everyone expects, or very slow and trippy “heady” sets. I prefer the full on “bass in yo face” sets opposed to his slower and more meaningful music, but to each their own. I cannot express this enough to readers - go to the nearest and next Bassnectar show in your area. If not, travel! Again, I’ve seen him a handful of times and can’t tell you enough how beautiful his music is. I believe he started “falling off” at one point, and his music got a bit boring, but he has definitely picked himself up this time around and has returned to being to the old Bassnectar we know and love.

TRIC DAY

On day two of Electric Zoo, we arrived mid-day and wandered around the festival, exchanging kandi and conversation with other festival-goers. We wanted to take it relatively easy since we went hard on day one. We caught various sets but found ourselves back at the mainstage (of course) where they let out the zoo creatures of the night during Borgore’s set. Borgore brought out Getter to join him in the booth, which was awesome. After leaving the main stage, we made our way to the Hilltop Garden stage, where we caught some of Big Gigantic. In all honesty, I was kind of disappointed that we didn’t completely skip out on Borgore to see the full set. They absolutely brought out the fire, along with all the energy they had for their performance. I noticed that their set was more “dubby” than funk, which is what I’m used to hearing from Big Gigantic - it was a nice change up from the norm. Leaving the Big Gigantic set, I caught a few minutes of Steve Aoki on my way to see Porter Robinson at the mainstage. Steve’s set was inspirational and full of energy, as per usual, but seeing Porter do his thing really had me in a state of euphoria. To top it off, who better to see close out day two than the man himself, Tiesto. I’ve been lucky enough to catch him a couple of other times at various festivals, but never forced myself to see him like I did at Electric Zoo, and am I glad I did! His set was freeing, magical, with a perfect mix of old and new tunes.

ZOO by: AMBER LYNN

3 Y A D I wasn’t sure how day three could top off the first two, but it did. Electric Zoo planned some of the biggest names in EDM for Sunday. After mingling and making new friends, my first stop of the day was to see GTA (Good Times Ahead). We stuck around for Juicy J, who I knew was a legend. I never actually sat down and listened to his music, but I sure am glad I stayed. His set was straight fire, and tons of fun! Feeling pretty tired, we wandered around to the main stage yet again and listened to The Chainsmokers throw down. After rejuvenating and quenching our thirst, we caught up with Hardwell. He definitely wowed the crowd, and there were even some times I had to stop and catch my breath, in between shedding a tear or two. Beyond outstanding - his set made me feel warm and weightless. His music hit my soul just right. It’s hard to say which set of the weekend was my favorite: Hardwell, Bassnectar Tiesto or Big Gigantic. Another festival for the books and Electric Zoo gets two thumbs up. The weekend was not only magical and beautiful, but I felt something more than I have ever felt and that was love - love between the people, love from the artists for their fans, and most importantly, interconnected and universal love that was shared by everyone in attendance. I love you, New York. Until next time!

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6 1 0 2 T S E WE THE F

During the second day of WTF16, the crowd came in preparation with rain coats. When Sheila On 7 performed, the rain poured again. Like the first day, it didn’t stop the audience from having fun and enjoying their time at the festival. We went back and forth between WTF Stage and This Stage Is B.A.N.A.N.A.S!!! to watch Breakbot and Ta-Ku featuring Wafia. These artists became some of the most- watched artists for the young audience in WTF16. Back to WTF Stage, Temper Trap entertained festival-goers with songs from their latest album. Fans were swept away with Dougy Mandagi’s unique voice. The 1975 also satisfied us with their relaxing performance. The rainy night was closed with a set by Mark Ronson. The England-based artist made the audience get up and groove with his hit songs. WTF16 was a party to celebrate any genre of music. With three stages, festival-goers got to choose which music they wanted to hear. The rain that poured down didn’t discourage the crowd, and the spirits remained high. We can’t wait to see you at We The Fest 2017!

editorial by MADDY PERTIWI photos by ISMAYA LIVE

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NHAN TR AN

Huntington Beach

BURNING MAN photography by ENARA NAZAROVA

BLACK ROCK

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BURNING MAN photography by ENARA NAZAROVA

thrival innovation + music festival

photography by: MICHAEL PFEIFFER - DIGITAL RACKET

carrie furnaces - pennsylvania

Thrival

Raver Girl

JOANNA photography by: NHAN TRAN

Model at Nhan Tran Models of Eclipse Model and Talent 49

New Tracks of the Month

MOMENTUM editorial by: MADDY PERTIWI

early four years ago, Indonesian protege Louis Tan (aka LTN) and American songstress Arielle Maren were connected through mutual acquaintances in the Trance and Progressive worlds to work on a remix. From that, a shared musical vision emerged. After Arielle lent her vocals to three tracks on LTN’s People I’ll Never Forget album, the two still had several unfinished tracks they couldn’t put aside. Those tracks soon turned into five, then ten, and now more than they can even count. After two years of collaboration from two very different parts of the world, the energy Arielle and LTN started comes full circle as a 13-track album of their own. Momentum is out on Ruben de Ronde’s Statement! Recordings. “Momentum speaks to this dualistic nature of the world we live in, as we struggle to find the balance between fear & love, dark & light,” says Arielle. “Louis and I hope to remind people to stay focused on the good in life. Together, we can help one another to continue moving forwards and upwards.”

CONNECT WITH LTN Facebook: facebook.com/djltn Twitter: twitter.com/Louis_Tan_LTN Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/dj-ltn CONNECT WITH ARIELLE MAREN Facebook: facebook.com/ArielleMarenOfficial Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/arielle-maren Twitter: soundcloud.com/ariellemaren

Each song on the album is teeming with personal reflections, harmonious magnificence and striking vocals, not conforming to one genre but to a spectrum of Deep House, Trance, and Progressive House vibes. LTN and Arielle Maren’s drive and relentless teamwork give us an unforgettable listening experience that will never lose momentum. You can grab the album on Beatport, iTunes and Google Play Music. You can also listen to the album through Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer.

Momentum speaks to this dualistic nature of the world we live in, as we struggle to find the balance between fear & love, dark & light...

New Tracks of the Month

ifted with the ability to cross genres and provide listeners with his own signature sound, Franz Zimmer a.k.a. Alle Farben has continued his meteoric rise as both a DJ and producer over recent years. In 2012, he achieved a national breakthrough playing for 35,000 people at Berlin’s former Tempelhof Airport, marking a stand out point in his career as an artist. With multiple award nominations under his belt, including Newcomer to Star in 2015 at the Newcomer Contest Bayern as well as the Dance National Award for Echo, Alle’s unique talents have now been widely recognized by the dance music community. In early 2014, Alle released his first studio album Synesthesia, which generated a tremendous response and achieved huge success in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. However, the success of his album did not diminish his passion for festivals and live performances. He kept touring in 2015 to provide music lovers with memorable nights and spectacular sunrises. Whether it’s New York City, Bangkok, Paris, Zurich, Beirut or Kuala Lumpur – Alle Farben is welcomed planet-wide. His phenomenal success has been partly due to his ability to experiment in the studio. Alle rejects the rigid boundaries of music genres by fusing all kinds of elements including live musicians with a hint of classical or swing while lingering between Techno, Minimal and House. With shows at top tier locations such as Lollapalooza in Chicago, Frequency Festival in Austria, SonneMondSterne and Theaterfabrik, Alle’s demand behind the decks continues to rise. Alle’s ability and flair in the studio has resulted in a string of massive releases. His 2014 debut single She Moves achieved platinum status with 17 million views on YouTube and almost 2 million on Soundcloud, as well as receiving support from highly respected artists including Moguai, Roger Shah and more. 2015 saw Alle release the hot summer track Supergirl with YOUNOTTHIS and Anna Naklab. Supergirl achieved Platinum status in Germany and Poland, as well as Gold status in Spain, Austria and Switzerland. In 2016, Alle released the highly anticipated offering Please Tell Rosie, the first single from his second album Music Is My Best Friend on ULTRA music. Please Tell Rosie achieved 14 million views on YouTube and catapulted Alle toward mega star status.

ALLE FARBEN editorial by: AMBER LYNN

New Tracks of the Month

ue vibe that cribe the uniq es d t es b n ca ngle is how we BØRNS’ hit si of ix m ark and deep re e h T BØRNS’ dance music. of all remixes. ix AWAY brings to m re e th , m for his ey is a real ge inantly known om d re p e American Mon or m es ed via Mind g massive mov ley Crue’ releas ot ‘M music is makin e gl n si ’s 1.7M+ mix of THEY. art, #2 overall, ch ix m re hard-hitting re eM #1 yp 2M+ Streams, ich hit #1 on H ith h w w s ed iu at en in G a om of ” that d Kiiara’s “Feels Streams), and re. e Lowe premie an Z , eM yp H on g us ill travel to brin w AY W A e id w us to how far and and connects it lf se lim o er n n is in r e er ou Th ltivates element that cu that essential music. gh the love of u ro th er th ge to Magazine! om us at Raver fr t or p p u S ll u F

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editorial by: M

“AMERICAN MONEY (AWAY Remix)” Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/bornsmusic/ american-money-away-remix iTunes: http://smarturl.it/AM_AwayRMX Apple Music: http://smarturl.it/AM_AwayRMX.ap Spotify: http://smarturl.it/AM_AwayRMX.sp

Connect with AWAY: www.facebook.com/awaynotfound soundcloud.com/awaynotfound twitter.com/awaynotfound www.instagram.com/awaynotfound

New Tracks of the Month

BIG MIX 3 BIG CHOCOLATE editorial by: AMBER LYNN

eep, Dark and Tantalizing: It speaks of the beauty of the bird. Its graceful flight, and beautiful music it makes. This dark, new and edgy EP is out on Soundcloud now. I can definitely appreciate this underground sound. Listening to Big Mix 3 by Big Chocolate has got my vibe on another level. It’s different and bold, but I guess that’s to be expected from a former death metal vocalist. He has vocalized for bands including Burning the Masses, Misericordiam, Abominable Putridity and is the founder of the deathcore solo project Disfiguring the Goddess.

“Big Mix 3” Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bigchocolate/big-mix-3

New Tracks of the Month

PLASTIK FUNK editorial by: BRADLEY CALLISON

Plastik Funk Serves Up Two Fresh and Funky Tracks In A Week

lastik Funk has been tearing it up this year and the German duo show no signs of slowing down. After already releasing five tracks already to this point, Plastik Funk has proven time after time that they have what it takes to be in the industry’s top tier of producers. The month of August saw the Funk getting down yet again. Continuing their hot streak amidst the warm summer months, on August 22nd they unleashed a club version of their recent single Love & Affection. With a new interpretation and outlook, the track breathes a new light for the dance floor to get the party started. As if that wasn’t enough to keep listeners on their toes, on August 26th their remix of Embody‘s With You was unleashed on Armada Deep. Their remix of the London producer’s original track can easily stand on its own and also pays an enormous amount of respect to the original. soundcloud.com/armadatrice/plastik-funk-love-affection-club-mix-out-now Plastik Funk’s remix of With You also marks yet another release under the Armada umbrella for Plastik Funk. After also releasing on Flamingo Recordings earlier this year with Tight, to say that Plastik Funk has honed in on their sound would be an understatement. Their productions are funky, fresh and full of good vibes, so it’s no wonder why they have garnered support from the likes of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, Don Diablo and Nicky Romero. With upcoming tour dates this month including multiple festival stops in their native Germany, August shaped up to be something special for Plastik Funk as they keep their momentum going on and the energy pumping. soundcloud.com/armada-deep/embody-feat-barnaby-with-you-plastik-funk-remix-out-now

HAYDEN JAMES RELEASES OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR JUST A LOVER OUT VIA FUTURE CLASSIC

inger, songwriter and producer Hayden James is on a mission to deliver nothing but the best as he drops his new release “Just A Lover.” His vibe is like nothing on Earth. With an infectious flare he delivers not only a redefining track but also a video that speaks to the heart and essence of temporary love - love that most have experienced or desired to experience, one that makes you wish the night would never end. Heartbreaking at times, “Just A Lover” touches upon the vivid memories that shake the inner core of who we are as individuals in moments that shape the decisions we make through those we encounter. These memories are sometimes difficult, at times spellbinding, nail biting and yes unforgettable.

“Just A Lover” stems from an inner desire to act out on our passions and begs us to the point of desire which can sometimes be beyond control. Hayden James has once again created a magical allure though the sound of music. “Just A Lover” is more than a song, it is captivating on a deep level that will make you smile and leave you wanting more.

TOUR DATES

The official video to accompany his infectious jam was directed by Leigh Newman of Splintr, and the track is available via Future Classic. Hayden James is completing his run of shows in Australia and Asia, including a sold-out show at Metro Theatre in Sydney, and has a mammoth 19 date US tour which is set to kick off in October.

HAYDEN JAMES editorial by: MICHAEL BEAS 55