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Exclusive interviews with DJs and electronic music artists.

2019 Rewind: FLmm & Time Traveler

Ian Fleming Leave a Comment

FLMM_&_Time_Traveler

How was 2019?
FLMM & Time Traveler: 2019 was a year full of changes. We met new people and started a lot of new collaborations. We can definitely say it has been a really interesting year which gave us the power and right mindset to achieve our goals. So yeah, stay with us and you will see so many things happening in the next year.

Highlights?
The amount of releases that we’ve been able to plan with so many great artists that we never imagined would be involved in the label. The biggest satisfaction will be the first V/A that we have planned for March/April 2020 that involves 18 artists and it will be printed on three vinyls. Of course I have to mention our first collab as FL/TT on our label, “Power Levelling Sequence,” with another one in the works for the new year.

Lowlights?
We didn’t really feel connected to the scene. As you know, there have been so many changes and it was hard to keep up, we even considered stopping everything. We were too focused on what people around us were thinking rather than sticking to our passion and minding our own business as we always did in the past. Surely this job is really tricky and affects you mentally, even with everything that’s going on with social. We started to see that we’re not the only artists facing this conflict, so yeah it was a bit discouraging but it’s important to remember where you come from and let those thoughts prevail instead. Now we’re finally back in the business and our music will be louder than ever.

Song of the year?
One of the tracks you won’t ever miss in our sets is definitely Mätäsism’s “MF” on Emerald Records.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To be even more focused in our projects, and definitely put more quality music out.

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2019 Rewind: Bill Coleman

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Bill Coleman

How was 2019 for you?
Bill Coleman: It was insightful. I definitely understood the need to set boundaries. Our world continues to get faster and faster – yet the numbers of hours in a day remains the same. In order to remain effective, at peace, flexible, creative and operate on any level of excellence required I [am now] okay with letting go of certain people, things and expectations. The only constant is change. And music. It’s truly been my solace, my voice and my spirit throughout the year.

Highlights?
There’s been quite a few, fortunately!

  • I feel honored to be a new member of The Red Hot Organization as A&R/producer. The Red Hot Organization is celebrating their 30th Anniversary. We are still committed to creating global anthems for humanitarian charities. It’s time and effort well spent. Red Hot + Love!
  • Had a glitter ball of a time providing and curating music anthem mixtapes for DJ Andy Cohen and Bravo for their very first Pride float over the Summer.
  • Got to create a massive R&B/funk DJ party mix with Nona Hendryx for Black Artist Retreat’s Sonic Imagination exhibit and Tribute to Grace Jones at The Armory in NYC
  • Dancing for Cyndi Lauper on stage at Barclays Center for World Pride Opening ceremonies was definitely one for the books!
  • We co-produced a sold-out event this summer for Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing outdoor series featuring Escort, DJ Mike Q, DJ Lina! And have been asked to return this season.
  • A blast DJing and getting the crowd loose for the grand re-opening of Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) this past autumn.
  • It was satisfying to be able to feature a genre-fluid selection of guest DJ mixes with the acclaimed The Voice Of Cassandre European radio series. Really great to flex some favorite selects across genres from ’80s new wave retro to reggaeton to Americana in various episodes.
  • I’ve had a great time tapping back into my producer/remixer brain again. Its been a minute. So being creative and working on original productions and a few remixes have been a gratifying exercise. My remixes of Lizzo’s “Juice” and Elle Fanning’s Robyn cover “Dancing On My Own” with the whiz kid John “J-C” Carr did the bizness here and abroad with both DJs and radio. We are super excited to have more releases in the works and on deck under the moniker 808 BEACH. Bass. In. Your. face.
  • As a proud card-carrying AARP member, I feel fortunate to still be asked to rock a party. I’ve been a student of NYC nightlife for decades and I’m happy to represent. There’s a lot of shoulders I lean on. That’s never lost on me. My monthly DJ residencies throughout the year at The Rosemont in Bushwick, Ritz in Hell’s Kitchen, Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco and GBH Events theme parties keep me in line.
  • My birthday present to myself was not watching any cable news for over six months. Totally saved my nervous system.
  • Through our management and production company Peace Bisquit with Angelo “Pepe” Skordos. I’m looking forward to our mission of continuing to develop and assist a wide variety of talent. We don’t take it for granted the phone still rings. We’ve been working on a lot of projects. Totally excited to come out of the kitchen in 2020 and serve a bit.
  • Learning when to keep my mouth shut was a divine emotion.

Lowlights?
Navigating, navigating and being reminded…
– That everyone is not here forever. You don’t always have tomorrow.
– Folks don’t always choose to do the right thing.
– Bad things sometimes happen to good people.
– Sometimes you have to truly fight for Your value. Your worth. Your recognition. Your respect. It’s not a given. Watch yer backs people!

Song of the year?
YUNA – “Blank Marquee” (ft. G-Eazy)

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To be more present and enjoy the blessings and good times more!
Love more. Worry less. Be open to change. Revel a bit in that Peace Bisquit is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020. I left Billboard magazine as singles reviews editor/dance music editor in 1990 to manage Deee-lite and Ultra Naté! We’ve been able to work with and collaborate with so many great artists and projects in varying capacities throughout the years. I want to soak in that a bit while looking toward the future.

Image by Andre Wagner

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2019 Rewind: Boding

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Peter-Boding

How was 2019 for you?
Peter Boding: 2019 was an amazing year for me. Actually, I think it has been my best year regarding music. I have definitely reached out to many more people through my music than I ever thought.

Highlights?
Most definitely my debut EP release on Pattern Abuse. It really helped me reflect on my own music which is something i have to get used to.

Song of the year?
Yangze – “Mutation.” Fresh out of my own country, Yangze is one of the most innovative pop-ish artists in Denmark in my opinion. He represents such futuristic ways of structuring and creating a song and his sound is definitely something else. The track is from his new Event Horizon EP. Go check it out – it bangs.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Maybe taking better care of myself for next year! And of course to make a lot more music!

No paywalls, free to all. Help us remain 100% independent and unbiased. Please give to Big Shot by making a secure one-time donation to help us continue covering DJ culture and electronic music like we’ve done since 2003.



2019 Rewind: Brunetto

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

brunetto

How was 2019 for you?
Brunetto: Well, as usual, and at least throughout the last decade, [it was] very, very intense. 2019 was loaded with experiences in all areas related to music in which I usually work (composing, press and communication, writing), with most of them very satisfying. Clearly I can get used to this so hectic music business life, where professionals are constantly mutating. If you don’t, you’re out! It is insane how fast the days, weeks, months fly lately. .. that happens when you’re a music junkie, a passionate of dealing with new projects, challenges, artists, ideas … a truly but satisfied workaholic! 2019 has been no less than 2020, you’ll see!

Highlights?
As a musician I lived a beautiful experience first composing and then filming the video for “Humanity” in an incredible place as Bardenas Reales here in Navarra (Spain). Game of Thrones was there! I’m very happy of how special the EP released on Sincopat worked out. All this has given me strength and confidence to start preparing a new EP – with more original tracks this time – for this label which I really love. Glad also [about] the remix for Daniel Van Lion’s “Amaina.” I had the chance to express myself with that Boards of Canada mood I love so much.

Another remarkable point in this 2019 has been my great time in a new Sitges Festival edition. Music and sci-fi/horror movies are my greatest passions. Musically speaking, I have much to say in this regard yet… My very first time at L.E.V. Festival (Gijón, Spain) also worth mentioning!

Lowlights?
At work level, within the musical field, I have no complaints. At least to call them lowlights, just the usual ones that must be solved immediately. While it is true the political and social earthquake that the entire planet is experiencing do not help much when it comes to concentrating … at least not always. On the other hand, I want to believe the union of communities will achieve a fairer and better world. If the planet Earth did not die before, that is another. I am very concerned about how rulers as Bolsonaro, Trump and in general the nationalists are ignoring climate disaster. They all are blinded by greed.

Song of the year?
Alessandro Cortini – “La Storia” from the Volume Massimo album on Mute Records.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Keep my desire to continue learning and growing intact. Do not stop discovering new music daily. This is something I always loved. Eat less chocolate? (This is for me what smoking is for other people), spend more time experimenting/working in the recording studio and breathe more fresh air in some mountains. Ah, and if possible, have a dog puppy with me while I do all that.

Image by MP Hubaczek

No paywalls, free to all. Help us remain 100% independent and unbiased. Please give to Big Shot by making a secure one-time donation to help us continue covering DJ culture and electronic music like we’ve done since 2003.