2019 Rewind: Francesca Lombardo

Francesca-Lombardo

How was 2019 for you?
Francesca Lombardo: 2019 was definitely a busy year for me. I had plenty of releases out starting with my last album single “Rain” back in January, followed by my album Life of Leaf in february. In March I released for Mixmag a remix of “Do Me” by Teddy Pendergrass on Sony Music Legacy Recordings. It was such an honor to be part of the project and the release was well received on Spotify as well as other music platforms. In July I had my collaboration track “A Million Souls” with Hannes Bieger released on Bedrock Records, which I am happy to see still dancing in the charts, and in September I released my Flumen EP on Poker Flat Recordings, a label that I loved and followed for years so that was a very great achievement for me.

I also just released a remix for Mihai Popoviciu track called “Sleepwalking” also on Poker Flat Recordings. All of this was of course happening while touring the world DJing nonstop! During this year I also started Life of Releaf, an environmental campaign in partnership with One Tree Planted aim to mobilize the dance music community into supporting global reforestation around the world.

Highlights?
My live show “Life of Leaf” at Giant Steps in April to present my album. It was my first finished show and was really important for me. We presented the show with the final visuals, and we are hoping to start touring it next year. The full show was filmed and will be soon presented on social media.

Lowlights?
Sometimes the music business can be tough when you are not surrounded by a good team of people working with you. Unfortunately, I had to switch from one team to another and this way, at times, you can make enemies even if you don’t want to. However, everything resolved pretty well and I am very happy where I am now.

Song of the year?
808 State – Tokyo Tokyo

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To focus on myself and being able to take a break for this new life I am carrying till I am back in full force!

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2019 Rewind: Hunter/Game

Hunter_Game

How was 2019 for you?
Hunter/Game: Last year was focused on our project/album, Silence, but we released it on our label just this year. It’s a compilation of some of our best tracks [produced] over the past six years. The tracks are remixed in ambient and downtempo mood, and the final result is very different from the way we work on our club-oriented tracks.

Highlights?
We played a Boiler Room in Shanghai a few weeks ago, which for sure was a night for the books. It was our first time in China as musicians and tourists, and we hadn’t played a BR since 2016.

We played live, and we prepared for months to do it in the perfect way. We couldn’t expect a better energy and performance there. The crowd reacted very well during our set and fortunately we didn’t make any big mistakes during the show.

Lowlights?
During Episode festival in Vietnam last year it started to rain very bad and we had to finish our set after 30 minutes. The festival unfortunately closed our stage and the DJs who had to play later didn’t [get to] perform. We were with some DJs and friends though anyway and we had a load of fun dancing in the other indoor stage where Villalobos was playing.

Song of the year? 
Our Italian friend My Flower released on our label last January with one of our favorite work on the catalogue. The EP comes with Vatican Shadow Remix and we played very much the two original tracks “Rea” and “Haumea” around the world. The EP expresses the taste we were looking for since many years with its melodic, fast and mysterious music.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
We are working on Hunter/Game for more than eight years and [now] in this part of our life we are focusing more on the studio. We want to spread our artistic taste with the music and the Just This label. We want to play more live to let the people know our tracks and our style.

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2019 Rewind: Dj Musique

DJ Musique

How was 2019 for you?
Dj Musique: 2019 has been a major spectacle for me as I witnessed my lifelong dreams and goals unfold in my music career. All thanks to I Am House Records.

Highlights?
Being the first [artist] to release under Crystal Waters‘ new label. My first international release; a remix package with my all-time favorite DJs/producers Sandy Rivera and DJ Vivona; reaching Top 5 on the Traxsource Afro Charts 100; my debut single “Tongues” making it onto the Grammy ballot for Best Dance category considerations; being featured on Spirit Of House (the single got over half a million streams on Spotify).

Lowlights?
There were absolutely no lowlights in 2019.

Song of the year?
DJ Angelo & Da Mike – Way Out

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To release a full body of work and start touring/gigging.