2018 Rewind

How was 2018 for you?

2018 was a pretty crazy ride. I got the chance this year to be the support act for many of my personal favorites like Mind Against, Woo York and Hunter/Game, released three EPs, a remix and a single which all did really well on their own. Especially the DJ support grew from some local stars to international heavy weights like Sam Paganini, Nicole Moudaber and Joris Voorn now playing my music on the biggest stages.

Highlights?

Making my debut at Awakenings in the Gashouder Amsterdam on December 29th.

Lowlights?

Occasionally a gig gets cancelled, or a spot is promised but the promoter decides to book someone else but that’s just how it works. Also labels turning down demos is something every aspiring artist has to deal with every year unfortunately. This causes some frustration at first, but I mostly end up being more motivated to prove I need to be on that spot the next time!

Song of the year?

I just checked my Spotify statistics to see which song I streamed most and it has to be this one by Mind Against – Cloud Nine. I guess what attracted me most in this record was the synth work in the big breakdown of the track. There is a big buildup and it never gets boring, the way they play with space and energy on the drop is very inspiring for me.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Trying to look less at what other people do, and improve what I do myself. Also getting my drivers license, so I can drive to my own gigs instead of having someone to do that for me.

@VNTM

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.

How was 2018 for you?

DJs from Mars: It was great! We toured a lot and discovered new areas in Asia, and we received some huge support by top DJs like Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Oliver Heldens and more!! We are super happy about 2018.

Highlights?

Tiësto asking us to create a “Tiesto Greatest Hits Megamashup” was unreal and totally unexpected!! We believe that this is probably one of the best achievements if you focus your DJ career on bootlegs and mashups (like we do). But also, speaking about original releases, we were climbing the Billboard Chart up to #15 and this was also a big moment for us in 2018!

Lowlights?

Hmmm, nothing to mention here. Actually we are so happy about last year that we cant find any lowlights.

Song of the year?

Speaking of big hits, definitely Tiësto & Dzeko ft. Preme & Post Malone – Jackie Chan

In the underground, we’d pick “Impulse” by Oliver Heldens and Mike Cervello as one of the best club tracks (also the video is hilarious!).

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

More good music, more great shows, more fun!!!

@DJsFromMars

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.

How was 2018 for you?

Beat Movement: It was great. We focused on working on our music productions that we’ll release during the next year and a series of events which mix visual arts and electronic music in a great club in Berlin.

Highlights?

Probably our “Hermetic Acid” remix for Tin Man released on his label, Global A; the upcoming releases on Polegroup’s sister label, Aine; and our gig at KitKat Club in Berlin for the Gegen crew!

Lowlights?

Fortunately no lowlights this year — everything happens for a reason!

Song of the year?

There are so many tracks that could be considered as “track of the year”

M: For me one of them for sure is: CNC – Canto VII.

S: Reeko – El Libero Segreto De Gala

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Make connections with artists and musicians that you respect. There are many talents around the globe that can inspire your creativity and let you evolve in many aspects.

@BeatMovement

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.

How was 2018 for you?

Christopher Kah: Good, very good! And the year is not over yet. After my Limited Resource concept album in April, with Laurent Garnier as Godfather, I have fine-tuned this concept, and renamed it RE:SOURCE. The main idea is still to get the artistic creation process to its the maximum with the minimum gear. I regularly put my experimentations on video and post them on my Facebook page. More than 1.5 million views so far. Native Instrument invited me to test the new Traktor S4 live at Paris Electronic Week in October. And, for the end of the year, a second album, on December 14th.

Highlights?

This would be my upcoming album called Second Nature. It really is the outcome and climax of this year’s work for me. The tracks are already played all over the world, specially (again) by Laurent Garnier! I wanted to focus on the very essence of techno: dance floor! From wild electro sounds to Detroit-inspired techno, I aimed at serving up an energy-filled workout that barely if ever pauses for breath! That’s the spirit.

Lowlights?

As 2018 has been very positive, I would’t know how to answer this one. Well, it is not really a lowlight, I could mention the art of mixing … I know that I still have work to do and a lot to learn on that matter. I need to find more harmony in my compositions.

Song of the year?

KYO w/ Jeuru – All The Same Dream. I was on the train when this track appeared randomly on my playlist. My trip took another dimension. The whole album is absolutely stunning.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Create more music! And, of course, more releases!

@ChristopherKah

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.