LessThan3

Keeping Up With Chordashian

artshikhman@gmail.com — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:39 EST

Where Brooklyn at? Brooklyn is chillin' in the disco with the boys from Chordashian! Felix Feygin and Michael Banks came together in 2011, fusing their diverse musical backgrounds into a hip-hop house funk disco good hair dance machine. In just their first year, the duo managed to play all over New York City, including an appearance at Electric Zoo. By the time 2012 rolled around Chordashian was ready to impress, releasing productions and remixes meant to move the body and soul.

The group's newest release, a remix of Drake's Crew Love, showcases the versatility of this groovy Brooklyn outfit. The Weeknd's crooning vocals mix with sentimental synths that weave their way through a head-bobbing beat, made all the more wonderful with those infectious helicopter hi-hats. This is love-making music at its finest, and the two aren't finished yet. Black Eye is so groovy that I can't help but dance around while writing this! For the New Yorkers, don't miss the duo at nu disco haven Le Bain June 8. And for everyone else, make sure to grab Chordashian's free Space Party EP and start your own dance party.

Falling Into Unpatterns

rfgbiz@gmail.com — Sat, 19 May 2012 14:55:54 EST

Since they burst onto the scene back in 2005, Jas Ford and James Shaw have been making waves as Simian Mobile Disco. The release of their third studio album, Unpatterns, sees them extending themselves in new directions. If you listen to this album, and then go back and listen to their first album Attack Decay Sustain Release, you'll see not only how far their sound has come. One listen through this album and you'll agree, this one's gonna be a chart topper (and it's ripe for remixing too).

Released as Unpatterns' lead single, Seraphim (official video below) is sure to open your ears. Right off the bat, the beat is captivating, the vocals mystifying, and the disco true to form. With A Species Out Of Control, we're brought into a landscape of a thumping bassdrum and a funky beat. My favorite track has to be Interference; it's techy, deep, and dark. All in all, I give this album four stars out of five; the range of sound that Simian Mobile Disco has certainly impressed me.

Delta Heavy's Rabbit Hole

mania@lessthan3.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:22 EST

It's hard to believe that drum'n'bass duo Delta Heavy have only been on the scene for three years. In what was an explosive debut on Viper Recordings back in 2009, Delta Heavy's tune Galaxy immediately turned the heads of the biggest DJs in d'n'b. After only two releases on Viper, DH's undeniable talent caught the attention of RAM Records, who immediately signed the duo to an exclusive deal. Since signing to RAM, DH has remixed huge tunes from Avicii and Nero, and has quickly built an eclectic catalog of tunes ranging from moombahton to dubstep. Now the group is gearing up for possibly their biggest release yet in the form of a huge EP called Down The Rabbit Hole, set to drop May 28th.

The first track on Down The Rabbit Hole is the drum'n'bass edit of Get By, epitomizing the raw energy found in only the most combustible of dancefloor bombs. From its belting, high-pitched lead, to its detonating, mid-bass bursts, this tune sets a new precedent for volatility. Delta Heavy manages to add an additional layer of musicality with a pitched-up vocal sample and a funky piano interlude. For the dubsteppers, Delta's 140 bpm version of Get By keeps the energy bubbling with its minimal house-meets-UK garage intro and seductive analogue melodies. Needless to say, the bass drop on this version is seismic, relentlessly growling underneath the high-pitched lead synth. DH took extra time crafting the lead synth on this edit, adding extra shimmer with subtle high-frequency modulation. Jump to the track entitled Make It Rain for a drumstep rinse-out with a complextro twist. The duo show their versatility on this track, tossing in everything from chirring vowel formants to bouncy, moombahton-styled synth stabs.

In what could be a candidate for EDM video of the year, Delta Heavy's stop-motion video for Get By (see below) is absolutely brilliant. The group is setting a really high standard with two successive videos that tip the scales of creativity and entertainment. For those that missed their previous video for the track entitled Hold On, it is teeming with just as much originality as the video for Get By.

Right Said Shred

jesse.champ@gmail.com — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:11:19 EST

His name is Shreddie Mercury. Got you smiling right away, didn't it? Think Mord Fustang fused together your favorite 8-bit video game. More than just a clever name, 22 year-old Jonathan Kane combines pounding electro basslines and blazing synths to energize dancefloors. His newest original creation and first major release is titled Balla Deen on Big Mamas House Records. The song is a rollercoaster ride of synths and harmonies; the catchy melody will have you bopping your head before a heavy electro drop explodes out of the speakers. In a similar vein are his rocking remixes of Pendulum's smash song The Island and Night by Night by Chromeo, as The Shredded One injects his signature guitar riffs and melodies to transform two classic tracks into electro joyrides. Both are available for free download here.

I spoke with Shreddie the other day about where he gets his inspiration: "I used to play guitar in a post-hardcore band up until about eight or nine months ago, and a lot of how I write tracks is influenced by how I played guitar in that band. Zedd, Mord, and Porter are obviously three huge influences of mine, along with a lot of old video game soundtracks (Ninja Gaiden II's theme is soooo rad)." The man is busy working on a slew of remixes and originals and expects to release his next single, Mount Cleverest, in the upcoming weeks.

Interview: Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano

kidalien@lessthan3.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:37:58 EST

LessThan3: What’s the story behind your Lethal Industry remix?

Sunnery: It’s actually not a remix—it’s a cover. We had a similar version of the track and we didn’t know what to do with it. One day we found this specific synth in Sylenth that sounded amazing so I recorded the melody from Lethal Industry on it, added it to the track, and then we started playing it in our sets. Then we sent it to Tijs (Tiesto), and he said “you know what, let’s make a cover. Not a remix, a cover.” It was huge for us. He said a lot of people had been trying to do it, but we were the first he liked. Specifically, one of "the Swedes" tried to cover it and it just wasn’t that great. He wouldn’t tell us who, though.

LessThan3: What avenues do you guys use to pick up new tracks for your set?

Sunnery: Friends and deep techno parties. Luciano, Dennis Ferrer, and Marco Carola are huge inspirations for us. When I’m off and go out, I’m going to techno parties. We’re going to Ibiza soon, and we can’t wait to take advantage of their scene. We’ll also be playing at Amnesia, Pacha, and Space while we're there.

LessThan3: What workstation do you use for production?

Ryan: Ableton. We were using Logic a lot, but Ableton is the sh*t so we completely switched. I can’t wait for Version 9 to come out. We don’t use it to DJ though; we moved from vinyl, to CDs, and now we're on USB sticks.

LessThan3: Any upcoming collaborations we should know about?

Sunnery: We have a track with Steve Angello that we did a year ago, but he's waiting until the time is right to release it. Steve can wait a while to release tracks, but he always picks the best time for it to come out.

Ryan: We also just did some business with Nervo in their dressing room, so hopefully a collaboration will come of that. We are possibly going to have them on our upcoming single Finally Here, though it could be called Finally You depending on the vocals.

LessThan3: What is the collaboration process like for you?

Sunnery: We have a studio in Amsterdam that we work out of with other artists sometimes, but nowadays you can work anywhere--even on your laptop. You just have to have a studio and a club to test it in. Axwell made his remix for In My Mind on his laptop.

LessThan3: Who are the artists you've been keeping an eye on over the past several months?

Sunnery: Nicky Romero. He's already big, but we got to see him develop his sound in Holland in his earlier years, so it’s amazing to see him explode worldwide now. We always believed in him. Jaz Von D from Holland is another guy we've been bragging about for a while. I'm convinced Madeon is the next big thing. Considering he’s 17 years old, the sky’s the limit.

LessThan3: What do you think is the biggest obstacle for an artist to break into the top echelon?

Sunnery: A lot of artists are doing very similar sounds, especially in the "big room" scene. Because there are so many of them, it's hard to get your foot in the door, especially when the focus is on a small number of artists.

LessThan3: What are some shows on your radar that you’re excited about?

Ryan: We're playing the mainstage at EDC in New York City, and we're playing EDC Vegas as well. New York is doing some crazy shows these days, as is Insomniac.

LessThan3: Are there any clubs or events companies that you particularly enjoy working with?

Sunnery: The people who run Playhouse in LA are great. We also really enjoy working with the guys at TAO Group and Marquee in Vegas.

LessThan3: If the world were ending in LessThan3 minutes, and you had an iPod with every song ever made on it, what would you listen to?

Sunnery: Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.

Ryan: The Ghetto by George Benson.

LessThan3: Describe your sound in LessThan3 words.

Sunnery & Ryan: Sexy, Groovy, Bangin’.

LT3 @ Seven Lions

meshblorg@lessthan3.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:24:46 EST

LA and bass music are beautifully married to one another. Being the big Seven Lions fans we are, we were excited to hear about the free show he headlined on Tuesday, May 15th at Hollywood's ROXY Theatre courtesy of Bassrush, Bass Union, and Circle Talent Agency. The Santa Barbara producer has released some of the most polished beats in bass music this year, most recently on his Polarize EP.

The party was going off hard from beginning to end, with rowdy mosh pits full of some of LA's most dedicated bassheads. Around 11PM, SoCal native Cyberoptics dealt quite an impact on the crowd with grimy tracks like Pimpin' off Reid Speed's label Play Me. At midnight, Schoolboy took to the stage and had everyone going crazy to his remix of Da Funk by Daft Punk as well as his slamming moombahton release on Rottun, Zombies Ate My Neighbours. Party Panda also showed up, continuing his streak of onstage appearances at EDM shows all across the West Coast. Lastly, Seven Lions closed off the night with Smooth's incredible dnb version of Below Us and his dubstep remixes of Above & Beyond including Satellite, You Got To Go, and On My Way To Heaven, which I suspect will be releasing soon on Anjunabeats.

For pics from the event, check out our photo album on Facebook. If you're already hungry the next major dubstep show in LA, grab your tickets now for the Bassrush vs Circus Records party starring Flux Pavilion and Doctor P on Sunday, May 27th at the Hollywood Palladium.

We Beez In The Trap

artshikhman@gmail.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:35:06 EST

Big bass kicks, helicopter hi-hats, synths, and snares. Sounds like we've got a Dirty South hip hop jam on our hands. Or is this just the newest EDM subgenre? Made prevalent by artists such as T.I. and Young Jeezy, trap music is getting a closer look by some major players in the scene and being twisted by these top producers and influencers. Trap generally has a slow 75-80 BPM but seems much quicker because of rapid hi-hat patterns, snare rolls, and layered synths. These elements result in dramatic tracks with high energy that can be easily mixed into dubstep, hip hop, and everything in between.

Some of the major players in the trap scene include Mad Decent head Diplo and his buddies Flosstradamus (pictured above), who just recently released the trap-heavy EP Jubilation 2.0 on Fool's Gold Records. Genre support also comes from Lunice, Melé, RL Grime, Machinedrum, and many other rising stars. Even huge dubstep acts like Skrillex are getting in on the fun, as anyone who's seen him play live knows he loves to drop Ludacris' Move B*tch in between his creations.

The tracks included here highlight the flexibility of the subgenre. Flosstradamus' remix of Original Don is the best example of trap music, constantly evolving, sounding bigger and bigger with every drop. Make sure to check out the video below of Flux Pavilion dropping this remix on a screaming crowd in NYC. Trap On Acid by RL Grime is a fun trap-house take on Afrojack's Pacha On Acid that will surely get widespread play throughout the year. My personal favorite, the Diplo & Lunice remix of Deerhunter's Helicopter is a roller coaster of synth-heavy melodic trap, with big beats contrasting emotional vocals to full effect. Support from such huge names means that trap music is ready for a big breakthrough.

Carl Craig's Disco Techno

fooboi@lessthan3.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:32:00 EST

By far one of my favorite techno DJs has go to be Carl Craig. That's why I'm excited to share his most recent remix entry with you today. It was released last month, but for some reason has not garnered that much attention on the blogosphere. My goal is to change that today.

C2 takes us on a trip to the funky '70s with his remix of Tom Trago's Use Me Again. Whether you're a fan of the minimal Detroit techno sound or the disco grooves your parents listened to, this remix has something for everybody. Funky instrumentals, soulful lyrics, and good clean beats make this one a surefire success for any lighthearted house or nu disco set. I'm also adding a tune from Carl's label, Planet E Communications. It's a smooth remix by Tokyo Black Star of Psyche's Neurotic Behavior. This is just as good as techno gets. Enjoy, folks.

Armin van Buuren's Electro Beast

UndergroundGorilla@lessthan3.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:20:03 EST

Raise your clenched fists in the air and prepare for a beastly electro house tune by Armin van Buuren. The aptly titled We Are Here To Make Some Noise shows absolutely no mercy as it slams down with full-force kicks, aggressive basslines, and ravey airhorns. The track is so wild that it's been crowned the official anthem of the European Football Championship!

This big room banger has landed itself on Armin's personal Armind imprint. The king of trance has stood proudly by his mantra of "don't be a prisoner of your own style," and this latest surprising creation stands as a testament to this. Be sure to get it here on Beatport and rage on!

LT3 @ Group Therapy Chicago

michele.damaro@lessthan3.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:52:38 EST

After an amazing time at my first Group Therapy show almost a year ago, I was thrilled to hear that Above & Beyond would be back in Chicago at the Congress Theater, this time with special guests Cosmic Gate and Mat Zo in tow. React Presents offered an epic lineup that surely provided musical therapy to all via a combination of uplifting basslines and melodic vocals that spread euphoric emotions throughout the crowd.

Anjunabeats star Mat Zo came out in full force with his rework of Radiohead’s Codex and Justice mashup We Are Mozart’s Friends. However, the track everyone was most excited for him to drop was definitely his newest single The Sky with Linnea Schossow. Her angelic vocals coupled with a brilliant climax are making this one of the hottest new releases on Beatport. Next up was Above & Beyond, who opened with all of their quintessential Group Therapy hits and even treated one lucky fan to press play on the CDJ for the climax of Sun & Moon. Their set also laid down Maor Levi's upbeat version of Swoon by the Chemical Brothers and Eric Prydz’s massive remix of Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode. Closing the night was Cosmic Gate, a duo who holds a special place in their hearts for Chicago since so many fans sing along when they perform there. See our our photo album here for pics.

This upcoming weekend, Above & Beyond will be performing at The Shrine in LA for three consecutive nights (17th, 18th & 19th). If you are attending any of these nights, be sure to film your own unique Group Therapy experience for a chance to win a spot on the next episode of A&B TV! Get the full scoop on their Facebook.

Spring Awakening Festival Giveaway

michele.damaro@lessthan3.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:39:22 EST

The best part about summertime in Chicago happens to be the plethora of electronic-based events the city houses. From Perry’s Stage at Lollapalooza to North Coast Music Festival, Chicagoans have continually showcased a dedication to their roots. This year, React Presents and The Congress Theater are proud to present Spring Awakening, the first all-EDM festival to ever hit the birthplace of house music, happening June 16th and 17th!

For the first time ever, the inside of the massive Soldier Field football stadium will be converted into a booming mecca for dance music enthusiasts with a broad array of talent ranging from popular big room beats to old school underground grooves. Headliners include the Grammy award-winning Skrillex, Dutch house maestro Afrojack, dirtybird’s Claude VonStroke, and Moby. The rest of the artists run the gamut of genres, with the likes of Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Carl Cox, Dillon Francis, Laidback Luke, and Kill The Noise. Chicago house innovators such as Derrick Carter, Willy Joy, Green Velvet, and Midnight Conspiracy will also take stage, alongside local up-and-comers Team Bayside High, Zebo, and NORdjs. If you’re coming from out of town, the VIP section is worth the splurge as you can observe the whole festival from the colonnades around Soldier Field, overlooking the downtown skyline and Lake Michigan.

In celebration of Spring Awakening inaugurations, we’re giving away a pair of GA tickets to one of our lucky fans. To enter, just send us an e-mail at contest@lessthan3.com with the subject “Spring Awakening” explaining why you should win. Prices have just been announced to go up soon, so don't delay and grab your tickets here today.

Infected Mushroom Is Back!

meshblorg@lessthan3.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:37:23 EST

Pardon me but I'm still trying to piece my mind back together after Infected Mushroom's insane performance last Saturday, May 12th at Hollywood's Avalon. From the moment I first walked into the massive room I could feel the hairs on my arm stand up as the crowd's biting excitement swelled and a platoon of photographers lined the upper balcony. Right after the stroke of midnight, my jaw dropped as the curtains finally opened to unveil their enormous new stage built by one of the world's leading production houses, V Squared Labs. The term trippy just doesn't even begin to describe how intense and strange the visuals were; it was nearly impossible for anyone to avert their attention from the mayhem (see video below).

The boys from Israel rocked some of their most recognizable hits including Becoming Insane, Cities Of The Future, and Heavyweight, as well as music from their new LP Army Of Mushrooms, out now on Dim Mak. Early on they dropped their new dubstep experiment U R So F*cked, a track that got progressively crazier every second they played it (official video here). The energy increased tenfold when they played their celebrated drum'n'bass cover of The Pretender by the Foo Fighters, a track they've been dropping for quite some time now. Serve My Thirst saw a more traditional Infected vibe swell from those in attendance, with frenetic four-to-the-floor rhythms filling the venue.

Be sure to grab Army Of Mushrooms off Beatport and check out our photo album of the show.

Joakim Remixed

toothless@lessthan3.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:00:52 EST

Joakim is a distinguished producer out of France, with several full length LPs to his name starting from way back in '99 on Versatile Records. His latest LP, titled Nothing Gold, dropped last year, but it isn't until just a few weeks ago that we began seeing its remix EPs, and oh how sweet they are.

Rising techno producer Lone signed on for a remix of Joakim's Labyrinth. This remix ventures off on a different path than most Lone tracks, giving us something a bit more downtempo than usual, yet just as bold. Stretched vocals and a string-inspired melody drive this tune into a hypnotizing Lone lullaby. Also coming through with an incredible remix was none other than Todd Terje. His take on Nothing Gold has all of the funk you'll need for the week, building a modern jam that is, to my knowledge, impossible to disagree with. Nine minutes can be a stretch for an EDM track, but in the hands of Mr. Terje I'm always excited for such a worthy endeavor.

Insomniac Launches EDMBiz

kidalien@lessthan3.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:58:57 EST

Now that EDM is the new rock'n'roll, the industry has been in need of a forum to discuss prevalent topics and emerging business models in this previously under-explored space in American music. EDM festival stalwart Insomniac Events has answered the call by launching a three-day conference called EDMbiz, set to take place at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas on June 5-7. The conference has been strategically placed in the three days prior to Electric Daisy Carnival, giving electronic music executives the opportunity to easily attend both events.

The lineup of speakers for EDMbiz is a veritable "who's who" of the industry, including Beatport CEO Matthew Adell, William Morris Endeavor music head Marc Geiger, Turntable.fm CEO Seth Goldstein, Insomniac CEO Pasquale Rotella, and artists like Steve Angello and Kaskade. Panel topics include EDM brand partnerships, the role of labels in the current and future landscape, artist development, and the growth of the dance music scene in Las Vegas. Of course, in this world, business is always closely associated with pleasure, proven by the variety of afterhours events at clubs like the Cosmopolitan's own Marquee, Lavo, and TAO. The events will feature such DJs as Benny Benassi, Dash Berlin, Knife Party, Excision, Hardwell, and Bassnectar. If you are in any way associated with the electronic industry, this is an absolute can't-miss networking opportunity. For tickets, please click here.

In The Beginning, We Danced

jesse.champ@gmail.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:17:58 EST

James Egbert has been on my radar since the release of his 4-track Blackhawk EP last year, and so it brings me great pleasure to announce his first full-length LP In The Beginning. Since exploding onto the scene in 2011, James has played alongside industry heavyweights such as Skrillex and Wolfgang Gartner and has already seen Beatport success, including a #1 hit with his remix of Blood On The Dancefloor. In The Beginning is an eleven-track tour de force that combines euphoric, trance-like melodies with heavy-hitting electro and dubstep. It’s a mix of hard and mellow, and the result is glorious.

The LP starts off with the title track, which sets the tone for the rest of the album with uplifting vocals from James' sister Brittany before wobbles and bass take over. Back To New is a wicked electro house jam that transitions into a downright crazy dubstep drop, while You Got Me is a melodic, synthy joyride that should please dancefloor fiends. Light Up The Stars shows off James’ calmer side, and features beautiful vocals from Laura Brehm. Egbert also throws us two dubstep tracks, Milky Way Warsand Halo, the latter finishing off the album on a pulsing high note.