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Exclusive interviews with DJs and electronic music artists.

2019 Rewind: Monarchy

Yehouda Silverman Leave a Comment

MONARCHY

How was 2019 for you?
Ra Black: Quick. My grandmother used to tell me that life speeds up the older you get. And I used to think that was because generally as you get older you do fewer different things and it’s the different things that create the sense of time in your brain. But Monarchy did a lot this year but it still felt like the year went by very fast. So, not sure what’s going on there.

Andrew Armstrong: This year was good. We did our first big European tour, every night a different city, and we released another album. Any year that we release an album is a good year. Next year is looking good already! Ha ha.

Highlights?
Ra: My favorite gigs were at Joy Eslava in Madrid and Supersonic in Paris. I was really not expecting Paris to be so fun. The crowd was very enthusiastic. And in Madrid, to have so many people singing along was pretty special. Also, we’re just putting the finishing touches on another album so that’s a nice feeling of achievement.

Andrew: For sure I would agree with Ra. Joy Eslava in Madrid and also the Paris gig was amazing. We got a lot of travel in this year so that was a big highlight.

Lowlights?
Ra: Jetlag. I get over it faster these days. But it has a lingering affect for at least a couple of weeks. And this year I was in-between Australia and Europe twice.

Andrew: Politics in general is getting my goat at the moment. Brexit. Trump. Boris Johnson. Vox party Spain. It’s unbelievable we find ourselves in this position globally.

Song of the year?
Ra: “Hey” by Vetta Borne. It makes me all pouty.

Andrew: “Work It” by Marie Davidson (Soulwax Remix). It was my jam, and me and my friends had so many special moments to it. It also reminds me to leave the party so I can work the next day.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Ra: To lose ambition. It’s probably a bad idea, but I feel like there’s something destructive about ambition sometimes. It can lead to poor decisions.

Andrew: Read more. Watch Netflix less. There’s so many amazing books out there, on every subject, and I love learning from them. I used to read fiction, but I’m all about non-fiction now.

2019 Rewind: Richy Ahmed

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Richy AhmedHow was 2019 for you?
Richy Ahmed: It’s been an amazing 2019. DJ- and music-wise it has been one of the busiest years I’ve ever had playing amazing gigs and festivals. The music I’ve been producing as Richy Ahmed, and through the Love Hrtz concept I have been doing with Jansons, is definitely some of my favorite stuff I’ve ever done.

My label, 432HZ, has been going from strength to strength, and I am on to my 14th release. I’m super happy with them and the remixes I have been able to do while the releases have been amazing: Roman Flügel, Kalexi, Dennis Ferrer, Mella Dee and Special Request to name a few.

The parties also have been going really well. I had a residency over the summer at Watergate which was amazing. I’ve recently had another 432 party in London E1which absolutely went off. Plus, I’ll be topping off the year with my first 432 at WHP in the new venue which I’m super happy about. We will definitely be scaling the frequency of the parties and size in 2020 – gonna take the brand worldwide.

Highlights?
So many to mention but at first thought is that Glastonbury was amazing – all three gigs I had were next level and just the experience itself. It’s always my fav party and this year was an especially good one.

All three of the open to close sets I played at amnesia this year for Elrow were amazing. Getting to have main room in Amnesia to yourself for nine hours is very special, and when the place is rammed from 1130 makes it even better.

WMC was a real highlight for me this year. I haven’t been back for six years due to visa issues. It was my first time not only playing in Space but actually going there – defo one of my favorite clubs in the world. I think I was in there for around 40 hours in a three-day period.

Lowlights?
Can’t complain about anything really. With my schedule being so busy sometimes the travel can get a little intense but it’s a job at the end of the day you have to take the rough with the smooth. Oh, and my visa renewal got delayed for my last U.S. tour in November, and I had to cancel some gig.s I was super excited for so that was a bit of a nightmare.

Song of the year?  
Too many to mention. I love Gene On Earth and his track “Like a Glove.” It’s one of my faves – amazing fast-rolling bass, bleepy top line and quirky vocals you can play in any type of set.

Another fav of mine is Matrefakt’s “Back F’amour” feat. Poppi. These boys are ones to watch out for – amazing big-room disco track with original vocals by Poppi I thought it was a sample. I was so blown away by her voice. I’ve hit her up and we will be doing something in the studio this month plus hopefully the boys will be releasing on 432 in 2020.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
It’s a common one: I need to pack in smoking!!!!

2019 Rewind: Josh Garrett

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Josh Garrett

How was 2019 for you?
Josh Garrett: 2019 was good. It was a bit of a year of recalibration and renewal for me. Between 2015 and 2018 I was pretty nose to the grindstone across a number of projects and activities. In 2019, I took some time to take a look at all of that and refocused my energy a bit. I released EPs this year with Dirty Minds and SubSensory, both of which got really solid support, but mostly 2019 was about remixes.

After my appearance on Perc Trax last year on the digital edition of Forever 1 and Dax J playing my track “Malediction” a bunch this year, I’ve been getting a consistent stream of remix requests. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some really cool tracks and reach some new audiences through that. In between that, I’ve put together several more releases that will be seeing light next year on Gobsmacked, Mindburn, and Omen… and I’ve got a bunch of other requests for release from other labels that I’m working on. Feels like I’m getting a solid foundation together for where I’m heading next.

Highlights?
January was pretty great between Dax J playing my track Malediction in a high profile set at the Monnom Black NYE event and then I opened for I Hate Models in LA a few days later. That was a great night and the crowd in LA was fantastic. Movement in Detroit was pretty special this year. I played the Perc Trax showcase party put on by Omen, SubDivision, and Aerotek. It was great to catch up with folks there and get to meet a number of people in person for the first time.

I also played Detroit Promo TV’s The Bassment backyard BBQ broadcast again this year, which was a lot of fun. I did a little versus session with DJ Disc at the end of my set, which was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. Suburban Knight closed out that night … and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital dropped by with an entourage. Butcher and Body Mechanic are family, so it’s always good to drop in on those guys. I was back in Michigan for some family stuff in the summer, and I met up with some friends while I was there and took Claude Young up to check out The Bassment. That was a killer afternoon.

Lowlights?
The venue situation in Vancouver keeps getting tighter and while there are some alternatives starting to pop up in response, I think most of the promoters that work outside of club spaces are feeling the pinch.

Song of the year?
Uun – Between the Lines

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Keep things fun and keep everything in perspective.

2019 Rewind: Iñigo Vontier

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Iñigo Vontier

How was 2019 for you?
Iñigo Vontier: 2019 was probably my favorite year so far.

Highlights?
Of course my album release. Plus, playing some amazing festivals like Burning Man at the Mayan Warrior or Fusion fest in Germany.

Lowlights?
Well, there is always some kind of lows specially the part of traveling all the time alone.

Song of the year?
My favorite dance track that killed every place I play was Odopt’s “Frapol Porger” on Hivern Discs.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To get rid of bad habits and focus on getting things done.