How was 2019 for you?
Nadja Lind: Magic.
Highlights?
Being invited to Burning Man & Trig Fardust’s video art on our latest Klartraum ambient music.
Lowlights?
I wasn’t able to work on music as much as I wanted to.
Song of the year?
Just one? Spettro’s “Lunch With Kerri” (Lucidflow)
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
“To get my shift together.”
How was 2019 for you?
Siege: 2019 has been amazing. Released more music on some of my bucket list labels; played more and bigger shows, and bought a house so nothing to complain over here.
Highlights?
Offf, that’s a difficult one. I’d say closing down Fuse in Brussels after Hot Since 82 early on in 2019 was one of the highlights for sure! I played somewhere between three or four hours and could build my set from Daley’s vibe to banging out techno till 7 in the morning. Then there was Toolroom’s residency at Eden in Ibiza. It’s a childhood dream to play on the Island and what a way to fulfill that dream. Playing the last set at the closing party was magical. If I can pick one more it must be playing the peak-time set at Elrow in Belgium a few weeks ago. It’s one of the best party concepts in the world and yet again a massive bucket list thing to tick off. Oh, and seeing Carl Cox play my music all summer long must be a highlight too.
Lowlights?
None. I can’t and won’t complain about anything.
Song of the year?
Hmm, there’s so many but if I’d have to pick one I’d say Eli Brown & Will Clarke’s Our Love EP on Adam Beyer’s Truesoul label. Both tracks are MASSIVE and they always go off. Eli Brown has been releasing so many tracks and they’re all quality. Truesoul is one of my favorite labels too with the perfect blend between house and techno.
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To finish the renovation works in my house, studio and move to it in 2020!
How was 2019 for you?
Michele Chiavarini: 2019 was indeed a very productive year. Although I have been mostly releasing remixes and not much of my own material, I have also been involved in many musical projects outside of dance music. For the most part, however, I have been working together with my partner, Fernanda Reis, on launching our label, SPRY Records. This has meant finishing many records in the various music styles that we will be releasing, ranging from soulful house, jazz house, gospel house and other genres outside house music. Many people I know have been waiting for this label for a very long time! We truly cherish the opportunity and we will definitely endeavor not to disappoint them.
Highlights?
As I am not a performing DJ, although I am working toward that too, my highlights are mostly associated with working in studio with fellow producers and musicians. For a big part of my career, I used to perform live as a musician. I then decided that I prefer the creative environment of the recording studio. This year I have travelled extensively, meeting some amazing musicians, singers and wonderful people in general. It has been extremely rewarding.
Then there is the first offering on our SPRY label called “Express Yourself” and it features a truly exceptional singer-songwriter from Alabama, Carmichael Musiclover. It was released on the 13th of December.
Lowlights?
I see many fellow musicians and producers, talented people, struggling financially, because music sales are low (at least in the case of more specialist genres), streaming is dramatically underpaid, budgets are often non-existent, etc. We live in a time where the opportunities to share one’s music are truly endless. There are no barriers to entry, especially if you make popular music. I am not sure whether this devalues the work, but it certainly saturates the market, making music highly disposable. One truly needs to adapt and embrace change. Easier said than done.
Song of the Year?
Way too many to choose from! I shall go with Raquel Rodriguez’s “We Go Together (Joey Negro Club Mix).”
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To make the best possible music that I can make.
How was 2019 for you?
Fouk: Pretty awesome! We’ve had a very creative year in the studio. We also both became fathers this year, but we found that the less time we had this year the more creative we got. So yeah pretty inspiring year for us.
Highlights?
Our U.S. tours; it’s always amazing to meet fans across the pond. Also playing at E1 London was pretty great!
Lowlights?
Not playing as much festivals as we would have wanted this year.
Song of the year?
Girls Of The Internet’s “U Changed.” The minimalism of the track works fantastically. The haunting synth melody together with the vocals give this a grimy pop vibe. Instant earworm!
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Hans: Lose a little bit of weight – haha! I love great food and nice beers, which aren’t exactly helping with staying in shape.
Daniel: Since becoming a dad giving attention to my body’s health in general hasn’t been my main focus. So that’d be a good one to pick up! Being a DJ staying up all night during the weekend doesn’t really help as well.
Image by Lennard Heijer