Marten Hørger 2017

Reminiscing about slammin' sets I've seen in different cities n who I've witnessed the most of them in different countries, Marten Hørger tops my list. From blazing at Breakfest in the Belvoir bowl in Australia, Feel Festival in the summer fields of Berlin & the hard-to-forget silly Seville experience Spain I now look forward to be adding Canada to that list. With the meeting of my favourite Bacon lovin' German brother on the horizon I caught up on where we left of, talking tunes... 

How would you describe the sound of music you’re producing right now?
I've been thinking about that for a while to be honest. It’s House vs Trap vs Breaks vs Techno somehow. The most important thing for me is that it is unique as I can make it. A friend of mine called it 'ATTIC' the other day...I liked that!

Is it different to what you’re playing out in your sets?
In my sets I play pretty much everything that influences me. That could be House, Breaks, Drum n Bass or Trap. But a big part of it is my own music.

You’ve recently teamed up Canada’s own Neon Steve to deliver 'You Don’t’ is this the first time you’ve teamed up on a track and how did the collaboration come together/what was the process?
Steve stayed at my house while he was touring Europe. He told me that he had writers block. So I said "let’s get in the studio & do something that is purely fun. No boundaries, no genre politics". One night later we had 'You don’t' and his writers block was gone! It stayed at #1 of the beatport bass charts for 4 weeks.

It’s been a big 2 years for Punks Music which you’re signed too. As the label evolves has it’s success contributed to you as a solo artist?
Yes, I’ve been a part of the punks family from the early days. It’s so hard to do stuff that is unique, and once you do something unique it’s even harder to get noticed for it. Now we’re getting recognized on a global scale, it’s so fulfilling. We've created our own sound, festivals and producers as well as music fans want to be a part of it. So yes, it has definitely helped me as a solo artist as well. Thanks to everyone who helped making that happen!

Your returning to Glastonbury again this year. How was your 2016 experience?
I have seen so many festivals over the years. But Glastonbury is in a league of it's own. They sell 250.000 Tickets within hours. It’s crazy. You’re walking around for days, discovering new things. You might walk down a hill and find a stage with Coldplay in front of 30.000 people that you never heard of. Just to find another stage with Fatboy Slim in front of 15.000 behind the next hill. It’s so cool to be a part of such a crazy thing.

You’re one part of Smash Hifi (with ex-Prodigy member Leeroy Thornhill) what can we expect from you guys this year?
The album we just put out did super well... which I’m eternally grateful for. The whole concept of the project is to tour as a electronic live act. Lucky enough, we have achieved that a lot earlier than we thought. Apart from touring with my solo stuff I’m also doing a big European festival tour with Smash Hifi this year.

Your Motion Notion family welcomes you back, for the fifth year in a row! Why is MoNo so special to you and what makes the festival unique?
It’s the whole vibe. The place, the people, the organizers... it’s so awesome. Especially for me, coming from the other side of the planet it’s like nothing else. The whole crew, the regular attendees and me have become a family. I wouldn't miss it for anything!

You’re also playing some other outdoor parties in Canada this summer, where can we catch you?
Hell yeah! It’s Motion Notion, Shambhala Music Festival and Astral Harvest!!!

And lastly, if you could choose any artists (dead or alive) to perform with or play B2B who would it be?
Leeroy Thornhill. I can’t imagine that it could be more fun with anyone else!

Keep in the loop with all things Marten Hørger Here!

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Zeke Beats | Shambhala Series 2017

Coming from Perth, Australia I've witnessed local DJ's touring internationally to hundred of party punters in Bali to Ibiza on the reg. More often than not these are clubs that are going to be poppin' given any cheesy 90's pre-planned playlist. Nice booking if you can get it! But Zeke Beats (originally from Geraltdon, WA) is pulling a different crowd. His own crowd of left field bass lovin' hard core, committed fans!


Zeke Beats opening Shambhala Festival 2016 - Amplifier Stage 

I had no idea how much Zeke Beats had blown up in the States until we setup camp at Shambhala 2016. Of course seeing our home grown hero open the festival we were pumped. THEN when we meet the 'Booms & Claps' crew camping next to us & how ecstatic they were too, our momentum grew. We found ourselves standing with hundreds. Our new found Fam Sham. A huge crowd of Zeke Beats Fans. What an extremely magical moment that was! As we both head back to the farm I took some time out with Zeke Beats to get an update since our last interview?

You’re half way through an Australian & NZ Tour supporting you ‘Dispatch EP’, how have the show’s been so far?
The shows have been really fun, seeing people get down to my new music is always a great feeling! Although flying back and forth from Perth takes quite a while, it’s all definitely worth it!

The EP itself has received an enormous amount of support from artists all around the world including Bassnectar, Porter Robinson and Eprom. How does it feel living in the most isolated city in the world knowing those lords are throwing down your tracks to crowds of thousands of people?

I am super humbled and stoked to see my idols supporting the music which I have created, it really is a dream come true and it also gives me a lot of inspiration to keep pushing and believing in my particular production style.

You’ve recently uploaded two videos displaying your talents as a scratch DJ & Turntablist. In your younger years you competed in DJ comps, being crowned many awards including Australasian IDA DJ Champ, Qbert Skratch University Valedictorian/Skratch Champ '10 & Australian Vice DMC DJ Champ. Do you crave the competitive environment of the scratch world and is there any chance we’ll see you participating in these types of event again?

I feel that part for my history has been done, I used to be all about competitive dj’ing and I absolutely love it still, however I have transferred that love and passion to my music production (hopefully you can tell) :) You will most definitely be seeing me flex some of my skills at my shows though!!

You also have are the co-owner of Lab Six an Electronic Music Production & DJ Training Centre based in Perth, How’s it going?

Lab Six is doing really well and have been filling up to capacity every term for 4 years now! Being an artist and also employing other artists as teachers has been hugely valuable, after all if other people see us doing well, we must be doing something right…..right?

In 2016 you played the first set at Shambhala, opening the Amphitheatre Stage, how was the experience?

Shambhala was absolutely mental, as you know Evie, it was my all time goal to be able to play at Shambhala, so fulfilling that dream was a beautiful experience that I was lucky enough to do.

Catching Zeke's set at Shambhala 2016!

And your returning for 2017! For any artists or punters heading to the Farm this year is there and tips or advice you could give them? 

• Get ready to have the best time in your life, it truly is an amazing and unique festival
• Try and get a shady camping spot!
• Also remember to test anything you may be using, as I witnessed a pretty big issue last year where someone bought something which they thought was “x”, and had a really negative outcome because it turned out to be “y”!

Tickets to Shambhala 2017 have sold out but you can try their Ticket Exchange page here!

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Hot Seat | 12th Planet

In the Hot Seat Easter is 12th Planet!

His off-axis beats and subsonic frequencies orbit on the forefront of global bass. Penned “Los Angeles dubstep god” by Rolling Stone and credited by MTV as being the pioneering incubator of bass music in America, 12th Planet AKA John Dadzie and his influential label SMOG Records brought the British movement stateside and collaborated with Skrill (who also called him his mentor), KTN, Datsik and Plastician. He continues to be THE crucial force in the evolution of electronic music. 

Q. CasueL: For us upcoming producers who aspire to one day become an internationally recognized artist, and tour the world, what’s the one most important piece of advice you could give us. when we sit down in our bedroom studios, open up our DAW and get started on a track?

A. The best piece of advice I could give is to make sure you maintain a steady income before you submerge yourself as an artist.  Having a side hustle totally helps, because being a starving artist sucks.  I was a starving artist, and Ill tell you I am most thankful for the ability to be able to purchase a meal whenever I am hungry.   Second piece of advice would be, Use YouTube to answer all of your questions about production. It is by far the cheapest method of learning new techniques.  If you ever have any questions on how to do something in your DAW, or Plug in, you can go to YouTube at anytime, and it will have the proper remedy for it.

Q. The Deep End Collective: Which directions do you see Dubstep moving in the future? The genre has become so diverse, that it's hard to cater to everyone; do you find yourself sitting in the middle?

A. I see Dubstep in the present moving in about 3 different directions.  You have the very "Deep" movement which is influenced by Deep Medi, and the original vibe of Dubstep.  You have the "Riddim / Swamp" movement, which is influenced by Hench & Subfiltronik, and is kind of the new underground Dubstep movement.  Then you have the "EDM" influenced Dubstep, which is pretty much taking the formula of Big Room House, and applying it to Dubstep.  The EDM influenced dub-step in my opinion has the highest production value, and the best producers, maybe in the world.  With all of this diversity, I definitely find myself walking right down the middle of all 3.  I am influenced by all versions of Dubstep, even the garage stuff from back in the day. It is impossible to cater to all fans of Dubstep, so I guess the only thing you can really do is be true to yourself, and play or produce the songs you want.  Making the crowd happy is one thing, but making yourself happy is the most important thing in making music.

Q. Axen: What was the biggest opportunity that paved the way for you to move from being a local act to an international one?

The biggest opportunity that paved the way for me to move from being a local act to an international one was when my production level got high enough for other artists to play my music out live.  Once you have Dj's from around the world playing your original music, you will start to notice that the gigs will come in.

Q. Evie: Which up n coming producer are you diggin’ right now?

Right now I am working a lot with Lumberjvck from LA. We have made about 6 songs this year, and finished 3. He is an LA native and a graduate of The Icon Collective program, and he has inspired me the most while making music.  In fact, I should give a shout out to The Icon Collective program in Los Angeles.  They are a school that teaches you how to use DAW's and  Plug in's, and also teaches you about what it is to be an artist, and how to market yourself.  I would have killed to have been able to go to a school like that when I was younger, and I am impressed with the curriculum.  Some artists that have matriculated there in last 4 years are Protohype, MAKJ, Jauz, NGHTMRE,  SLNDR, and Init.

Catch 12th Planet this Easter Sunday at Ambar Nightclub!

The Deep End Collective + CasueL on support.

RSVP HERE

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Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop

Whilst researching digital content I stumbled across this quote from Cut Chemist on his upcoming Renegades of Rhythm 

tour with Cut Chemist...

“I’ve always tried to tell people that hip-hop isn't one type of music; it's all kinds of music and how it's presented. The music made you think while it made you move."

And it did do just that. It made me think how much I surround myself with hip hop. Not just the music either.Though I'm not attending many local hip hop events on a weekly basis, streaming fresh exclusives or reading Rappers biographies on a daily basis (like I once was), Hip hop is still a very big part of my life! At this point and time this is how hip hop is influencing my life through my job at Boomtick Events…

Philly Blunt’s (Ambar Resident, Chief at Force Majeure, The Bootleg Blog) re-work of Danny Brown’s Dip I have used to promote the upcoming gigs he's playing in our venues! One being this Friday as he supports TWRK! More deets here: http://goo.gl/LKw3tQ

Rob Lake’s launches a new local hip hop event on Wednesday 25 Feb called Mom’s Spaghetti at Flyrite! Giving local MC's, Vocalists, DJ's and producers a chance to have crack performing live to a home grown local audience. Support WA Hip Hop and head along!

Deets here:http://goo.gl/D6gH6d

Paul Deej is well known for his illustrations in P-Town, many can be found as the cover art for hip hop artist's including Draft, Mr.Grevis and the late Hunter (RIP Homie) along with a heap of other SBX crew. This beautiful piece below (painted in the Ambar Alley) is up for grabs now by uploading a pic from Ambar Nightclub on Instagram with #AmbarNightclub  

Lastly the Reneged of Rhythm Tour which is less than a month away! Perth fans are in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience when turntablists supreme, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, celebrate the legacy of hip-hop vanguard and Universal Zulu Nation founder, Afrika Bambaataa. This vinyl-only tour will see the two maestros utilize 6 decks and real-time effects to honour Bambaataa’s influence on hip-hop’s beginnings through handpicked selections, all taken from his original and highly influential record collection. More Deets Here:http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=47848 

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