Tag Archives: Trance

Dakota’s Nine Skies At Dreamstate SF

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Since the release of Thoughts Become Things (2009) and Thoughts Become Things ll (2011), fans of Markus Schulz’s experiment with the darker, progressive side of electronic music have been yearning for a Dakota performance. Those who were at Dreamstate San Francisco 2017 had the privilege of witnessing the reemergence of Schulz’s Dakota alias and the debut of his Nine Skies project.

Schulz told Angus Thomas Paterson in an interview for Insomniac that the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and the “turbulent political developments” of 2016 were some of the events that motivated the Miami-based artist to resurrect his techno infused trance. 

Schulz said about the upcoming project:

“What I’m doing with the Dakota show, it’s almost like a dark dancefloor musical. It’s called Nine Skies, and it’s the nine steps we go through in our quest for enlightenment . . . The live show has big moments . . . But it’s essentially a deeper, more thoughtful affair, and definitely not one of the shows where we’re shooting off fireworks at every drop.”

When the lights finally turned off Saturday night for Dakota, all of the chattering conversations turned into a roar as the screen behind Schulz was filled with bright stars mapping out a constellation of Earth and then of a (trance) baby. An ominous voice introduced us to the first “sky” as hymns filled the room. Everyone’s eyes glistened like the constellations on the screen, reflecting the LED lights projected from behind the man of the hour.

“I have been listening to Markus Schulz for years, and I love his Dakota stuff,” David Lopez, 28, Marin, told me before the set started. “To be honest, I never thought that we would even see a Dakota set. At least not in America.”

Fans were hypnotized by the beautiful visuals composed of vivid color and eliciting images that ranged from political strife to vast landscapes, to lustful bodies falling into carnal temptation. Schulz used symbolic images like the All-Seeing Eye (representing the physical, spiritual, and mental aspect of enlightenment) and the Power Fist to further highlight the message of a “sky” .

Dreamers heard a range of music from the familiar horns of “Mota-Mota”, a new production from Dakota, to classic tunes like “Cafe del Mar”. Schulz set was flawlessly strung together by powerful percussion and heavy synths. The crowd’s bodies became puppets to the string of beats from Dakota’s turntables. Aggressive kickdrums determined the intensity of one’s dance moves while euphoric melodies encompassed lovers to sway back-and-forth.   

Schulz also used lighting as a means to reflect the tone of the “skies”. When the theme contained pain, anger, and lust, shades of red and orange were used on the LED screen and shot through as lasers. Washes of blue and white illuminated the Civic Center during times of happiness and euphoria. A prime example was during Dakota’s recent release “Running Up That Hill” (featuring the angelic vocals of Bev Wild).

Emotions ran high during Sky Five: The Activist, the path of change in humanity. Fans saluted their middle fingers to the screen when a video of President Donald Trump’s inauguration played in black and white. The audio recording of Trump being sworn in was met with thundering anger from the fans. All of the rage in the room was soon soothed by images of Dr. King, Tupac, and the famous Tank Man at Tiananmen Square. Along with the iconic chords of “The Way It Is”, the duality of hate and peace was perfectly put together.

This was the moment in Schulz’s Nine Skies where I felt a connection with Dakota. A connection that I have not felt before in my ten years of festival attendance.

To be honest, I felt nervous during the first red-tinted video of CGI soldiers marching under a red sun. This feeling during a music festival was foreign to me, a little uncomfortable. I’m sure many others were in the same situation. But I realized this uneasy feeling was what Schulz wanted to evoke out of us, something that connects us to his artwork that transcends cliches of DJs and festivals. At the end of the whole journey, I was glad I was able to feel a rollercoaster of emotions at a music festival. Experiences like this are what makes a performance memorable.  

Before Schulz finished his time with Paterson, he spoke of his legacy and what he wanted to leave behind. “I want to create something that will endure for many, many years to come,” he said. “Something that people can look back at whenever they have hard times to listen to, watch it, and hopefully be enlightened by it as well.” It’s hard to not dwell on your own legacy when a man who has traveled the world and achieved many accomplishments in his life leaves you with pondering words.

The audiovisual experience of the Nine Skies sets a new benchmark of storytelling at a music festival. Trance Family SF will remember this masterpiece in their hearts as they reflect on Schulz’s legacy. With promises of a unique Nine Skies experience every show, I can only hope to see what Dakota has in store for the Electric Daisy Carnival.

 

 

Arkham Knights’ “Odyssey” Towards Stardom

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As we enter a new year, we cannot help but reflect on the rising stars of 2016. No other trance DJs have had a better year than Arkham Knights. Fans quickly took a liking to Ben and Stuart’s genre-breaking style that incorporates euphoric melodies with the dark progression of electro and house. Since signing with the Schulz Music Group earlier this year, the two have been bombarding music sites -like SoundCloud- with groovy Afterhours mixes and live sets. The Turner brothers capped off their year with the same fiery momentum that sparked their ascension to fame with a release that pays tribute to their “Odyssey” so far.

Their recent production carries the legacy of the AKs’ sound. A heavy percussion starts off this musical voyage that immediately bangs on the eardrums, leading into the main melody that washes in. Sharp chords establish the rhythm of the track with a continuous loop. A rolling snare kicks-off the drop into an aggressive bassline that pushes the climax to euphoric boundaries, while a reiterating kick drum and tapping hi-hats cycle in the background. There isn’t a lot of bells and whistles to this track, allowing the perfectly orchestrated melody to shine with such sharp precision, leaving a yearning for more.

Although the single was formally released on the 5th of December, fans were first capsized by it’s hypnotizing timbre by Mr. Coldharbour himself at Transmission in Prague. Audiences around the world got an opportunity to hear the track on the Nov. 10th episode of Global DJ Broadcast. Since then, “Odyssey” was heard throughout the Coldharbour families sets. Paul van Dyk also supported AKs’ new hit on his VONYC Session 529, and Armin van Buuren played it on A State Of Trance 793. The fan’s of GDJB showed their love for the track by voting it as the Global Selection (Track of the Week) two consecutive times.

With Ben and Stuart’s freshmen CHRL hit, “Knightfall,” surpassing over 100K plays on Spotify on Dec. 13th, there is no denying that the electronic music world has noticed the two men from the former wool capital of England. Leeds name originally derives from ‘Ladenses,’ an old Brythonic word that translates to “people of the fast-flowing river,” perfectly describing Ben and Stuart’s rise on the trance charts. Insomniac Events, the powerhouse behind the iconic Electric Daisy Carnival, eventually caught wind of the two and featured them in the August episode of Metronome.

Stuart’s visit to the iconic Avalon in Hollywood last April was the start of AKs’ presence in the US. His visit was the start of many world tours in dark nightclubs and on festival stages around the world. The growing list includes the Transmission “The Lost Oracle” Pre-Party in October, sharing the main stage with fellow CHRL DJ Fisherman & Hawkins at the iconic Club Mecca and a gig right in their backyard at Mint Club Leeds. The two showed their hometown some love with a three hour set at the Leeds Trance Family event Trance Awakenings Part 2.

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AKs’ most recent conquest was taking the stage with fellow CHRL mate Dave Neven and Solid Stone this past January. Despite missing Ben on the stage, the lineup was stacked in Montreal as those three warmed up the cold Canadian night for the Boss Man, readying the crowd for some good-ole-fashioned unicorn slaying. Pictures from the January event looked massive as dance music fans covered two floors and over 40,000 square feet of the old coal factory. Lively fans danced the night away inside an old industrial building that contrasted the modern technology of pulsing speakers and futuristic strobe lights.

Odyssey is an epic word that describes a long wandering but fulfilling journey. For many, the word odyssey is synonymous with Homer’s epic poem. The word loses no value here as Ben and Stuart chose it to title their latest hymn. The timing of this release could not have been more perfect as we prepare for new music in 2017. “Odyssey” firmly makes a statement for everyone in the EDM community and TranceFamilies across the world: Arkham Knights are here and are a force to watch out for as they continue their quest to stardom.

You can stream “Odyssey” on Spotify or SoundCloud or download it at Beatport.

Interview: Arkham Knights’ USA Debut at Avalon Hollywood

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On the first Saturday of April I found myself dancing under illuminated neon lights at the historic Avalon Hollywood nightclub. I only arrived in Los Angeles a few hours before on an early Megabus from San Francisco. Prior to boarding the 12 hour overnight bus to LA, I was stepping off a plane from my month long vacation in Thailand. The journey from the other side of the world to the dance floor of Avalon was a long one: my body still jet lagged from the long flight, my mind still trying to grasp the change in time zones and my skin still smelled like a freshly burned tan from the Southeast Asian heat. But I made it to L.A., I made it onto the sticky, cocktail spilled dance floor (which has seen cleaner days) and I finally made it to my first Coldharbour Night in the City of Angels.

As the late Saturday night quickly bled into the dawning Sunday morning, I mentally prepared myself alongside a crowd of trance lovers ­who also craved dark, progressive melodies for the American debut of Leed’s rising star. Once the early clock struck two, the eager fans who had been waiting for hours, dancing their way through four amazing DJs, filled Avalon’s atmosphere with cries of joy, giving a warm California Trance Family welcome for Arkham Knights.

Before Stuart Turner, brother and one-half of AK, got behind the decks, I had an opportunity to sit down with him: getting a chance to peek underneath one of the masks that makes up this trance sensation that has been captivating fans with their techno-­infused style.

Hey, how’s it going?

All good thanks.

Where is Ben at right now?

He’s at home in the studio most probably, I have him chained up in there working 24/7 (laughs). It’s Mainly going to be me on the road playing gigs, Ben is more focused on production, although we are always in the studio together working on tracks. He’s got this real knack of bringing my ideas to fruition…he knows exactly what to do when we discuss an idea.

So I guess, everyone wants to know, where did the name Arkham Knights come from?

Well, (laughter) I was just trying to think of names and I had Arkham in my head for some reason. I used to be a fan of the old Batman comics. And I just put that with knights and bam! It was as simple as that. Then, like literally weeks later the actual game came out. It (Arkham) just really suit’s our style of the dark, groovy, techno-y kind of trance. We both loved the name and it stuck.

You guys definitely do a great job blending those two genres together. I remember I was on SoundCloud, refreshing your page, trying to catch a new Afterhours set, I saw that you posted your guest mix from the Judge Jules show. And it blew my mind. I like how you guys opened up with trance and blended it with techno and back to trance and ended it out with some hard tech-trance remixes. Are you guys like a trance first or techno?

You know, we love the techno grooves. Fuse that with trance and you got something special. We love the big lead lines too because trance was our first love. We focus a lot on grooves and you get a lot of groove from techno. So yeah, it makes sense to fuse the two together. Defiantly for our sets, I love playing techno and trance because it’s a great fusion.

Your last two tracks, “Legacy” and “Knightfall”, are huge success.

Yeah, they did real good. Did better than we thought.

Yeah?

Because obviously when you’re making them in the studio, you’re locked into this track for like two months or so. And you’re hearing it constantly everyday, and over and over, same bits and by the end of it you don’t realize whether it’s big or whatever, you just know that it’s something you like. So, you just go with it. The feedback from fans and of course Markus & the Coldharbour team is awesome…makes it all worth while.

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So how do you find that perfect medium between techno and trance?

There isn’t a script really. It’s hard to put into words, it just kind of happens, it’s just our vision of music built on what we love and are passionate about. We love it dark, lots of percs, heavy bass, driving grooves and in all that dark madness an uplifting lead. When writing a track I always imagine myself stood on a dance floor and getting that feeling you get when the DJ just dropped something special…if I get that feeling i know we are on to a good thing.

So how long have you and Ben been at this craft of blending those two genres together.

Since we started, in about 2008. We both sat down and started producing. Obviously, it took quite a long time to get there because it’s a hard thing to learn and  crafting your own sound is hard too.

Did you face any difficulties when you started coming out with this style?

Yeah sure, when your doing something different it’s always worrying how it’s going to be received. We still worry now, sometimes I think “have we gone to far out of the box this time” but Ben is always the voice of reason (laughs). Markus is such a great mentor, he really gets us & what we do, so we worry less these days since we joined Coldharbour.

I remember reading a quote in February edition of Raver Magazine where Markus (Schulz) compared your guys sound to the old school Tiesto sound. (Laughter) That’s a huge pedestal to be compared to. How did that make you guys feel?

Oh man that was overwhelming to read, because the old sets from Tiesto, the old Tiesto tracks were where we first really got into trance. Myself and Ben were big fans back in the day. I mean, I played around with trance on vinyl back in the mid to late 90’s. Defiantly like the early days of Tiesto & Markus saying that about us was like, “Wow”.

So, that must have been a huge confidence booster.

Oh, absolutely. We’re massive Markus fans. He’s a huge inspiration to us. I’ve followed Markus since 2005. Having him as a mentor and having these kind of comments come from him is just  overwhelming sometimes. And being sign on his label obviously is just…wow, it’s where we always wanted to be. So, it’s a massive achievement. To be honest, he’s  one of a few DJs that I go out of my way to go and listen to and make the effort to go see. His sets are both inspiring and educational.

Are there any other DJs that inspire your music?

We really like Eric Prydz. Another great artist is Solid Stone, He’s just amazing. But there are so many good artist out there, Nifra is blowing up as are Fisherman & Hawkins too. But really for inspiration we  look to the past, rather than the now, because I don’t really think that many people are doing the same thing that we do. We always go for that raw industrial feel. It really takes us back to the old days.

Do you think Arkham Knights are going to stay in the same realm of sound in the future? Or, maybe experiment with another sound?

Oh yes, definitely. But we’re always experimenting. We always try and aim to make each track different, changing the key elements in a track. Like in “Knightfall” you got the drums and “Legacy” has a big focus on a lead. We always try and do something different. In “Blackgate” we got a drum roll that comes out of the breakdown. So we always try and get those main characteristics, that really stands out, to fit in each track. Obviously, that takes a long time because you can run out of ideas. (Laughter).

When you and Ben throw together ideas, do you guys perhaps develop a track that is sometimes a little more techno than trance, or progressive trance, or big-room? Maybe creating another alias to produce those different kinds of music?

I mean, alias’s is good and works well for some, but for us we really want to keep focus on what & who we are. We don’t want to start doing alias’s right now while we are in the infancy of our career and have fans wonder who we are. Then when you start branching out people don’t know whether you’re going to turn up at a gig as this guy or this guy and same goes for tracks. So we just really need to be consistent with what we do, really have that focus on who we are as an artist and what identifies our sound.

And that sound has been doing really well. This week you guys had your debut guest mix on the Global DJ Broadcast and now you’re here for Arkham Knights first Coldharbour Night in L.A., a lot of great things and success are coming your way. Congrats on that. Are there any more goals left for you two?

You know, we never really expected this to be honest. If somebody would have asked us last year would we be here now, I would have said no. Because you just don’t expect it, it all just comes out of nowhere. There is no checklist to be honest, we love music and are very passionate about it. We’ll just keep going with what we love doing and see where it takes us.

Do you guys like to do anything else in your free time?

It really soaks up all your time. There is no free time. (Laughter) It’s the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. Now we’re here at Avalon. A dream come true.

Any words out there for Arkham Knights fans?

Thanks for your support we wouldn’t be here without you. We have now signed to Schulz Music Group so expect to see a lot more of us at future club nights.

Well, thank you for your time and speaking with Schulz Army.

Awesome mate, thank you, anytime.

 

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Artist Spotlight: The Arkham Knights Rises

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Exploding out of Leeds, UK, Arkham Knights quickly gained the attention of trance lovers with their dark, progressive sound. Stuart and Ben Turner are the two brothers under the vigilant name that resembles the one and only DC’s Dark Knight, Batman.

When Arkham Knights started to make their presence in Markus Schulz’s live sets and on various track listings, I, like many others, became intrigued with this mysterious duo; their sound lured my ears to shake my body with unorthodox dance moves, while the strength in their name caught my eyes.

“Stu (Stuart) actually thought of the name a couple of months before the (Batman) game came out and it was just coincidentally called Arkham Knight, ha”, Ben told me in a Facebook message. “But the name is based upon the Batman theme (😀)”.

The name that the Turner brothers chose isn’t just for appearances, their productions and mixes affirms their right for such a strong DJ alias. However, the Coldharbour Recordings Label was not the first to discover the captivating sounds of the Turner brothers. Arkham Knights actually entered the scene a year ago on Infrasonic and Interstate Recordings.

Arkham Knights

With freshmen hits like “Tomorrow’s World” in 2014, Arkham Knights gained the support of DJs like Solid Stone, Paul Van Dyk and Ben Gold. Then in 2015, many Coldharbour fans fell in love with the euphoric percussions of “Blackgate”. It wasn’t long after that their massive hit “Knightfall” was feature on Schulz’s label. This was a dream comes true (as they described Coldharbour Recordings to be their dream label in their Facebook bio).

After it was featured on the Global DJ Broadcast radio show, the track rapidly became a fan-favorite for all the Trance Warriors battling the good fight on dance floors and in festivals worldwide. It’s not surprising that Arkham Knights’ first track on the Coldharbour swiftly won the support of veteran DJs like Mark Sixma, Simon Patterson and Lange.

The success of “Knightfall” is benchmark as their first Top 10 track in the Beatport Trance Chart, reaching up to the #3 spot. Another notable achievement is its featured on the iconic Ministry of Sound compilation: Trance Nation, which is mixed by the Coldharbour label Boss himself.

Arkham Knights’ follow up track on the Coldharbour label, “Legacy”, is no slouch either, and lives up to the track’s name. Many fans loved their second Coldharbour release, voting it up to the #7 spot on the Beatport Trance chart. Their notches of success not only proves that the two brothers from Leeds are no one hit wonder, but they also have the ability to hold their own with the current stars of trance.

 

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The Boss of Coldharbour had some kind words for the new rising stars in February’s edition of Raver Magazine. In an interview with Michael Beas, Schulz explains what he is looking for when it comes to the Coldharbour sound:

“As for Coldharbour and me, I am not just looking for a new track. I am not just looking for a new vibe. I am looking for a new attitude. I am looking for someone who is going to blow me away with the whole package . . . Right now, Arkham Knights is doing that for me. They have really come up with this new Tech Trance old Tiesto sound that is filled with energy. I think that is really what Trance is missing right now. It’s missing that groove and sometimes there is too much standing around . . . I think that Arkham Knights does it perfectly.”

The perfect sound that Schulz described in his interview is the intense techno infused trance that delivers a progressive punch. Their productions are powered by driving percussion, rumbling bass-lines & infectious melodies that is a synergy of uplifting beauty and passionate aggression. Their sets and mixes are composed of songs that contains looping melodies that progressively builds up to release an orchestra of sounds that penetrates the genre of trance, strung together by a techno synth.

The Turner brothers have an ability to travel through both genres that is refreshing to fans. This is the reason why fans are quick to jump on the dancefloor when they hear the hypnotizing drums and hi-hats of Arkham Knights. Don’t believe me? Check out their Twitter page that is filled with complimenting Tweets. As for their ability to travel in between genres, check out their guest mix on Judge Jules radio show, Global Warm Up. If trance and techno had a musical baby, this is what it would sound like.

If you want to get more acquaint with the sounds of Arkham Knights, be sure to catch their weekly radio show: Arkham Knights Presents: Arkham Afterhours. Every month, their hourly show features new music that incorporates the deep and progressive side trance. Be careful that you don’t fall into their rabbit hole, fair warning.

 

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Don’t miss your chance to catch these two as they join fellow Coldharbour DJs Fisherman & Hawkins, MIKE EFEX, Dave Neven, with special guest, the legendary Ronski Speed for another Coldharbour Night at Avalon in LA, April 9th. Tickets are cheap, so they’re sure to sell out.

Tickets: http://bit.ly/avalon49

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Follow Arkham Knights
Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Beatport

Review: Coldharbour Recordings Best of 2015 Top 20

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It was an amazing year for Coldharbour Recordings. The Miami based label did not cut any corners in 2015 as they satisfied the thirst of trance fans with stunning releases. Whether it be in an intimate clubs until the early morning of the next day, or at a festival with thousands of strangers who are connected by the same beat, or at home for your own convenience, the sounds of Coldharbour was there helping people groove. Just in case you missed it, Black Hole Recordings made it easy to enjoy the top Coldharbour Recordings tracks of last year. The list of future favorites does not disappoint as it contains elements of progressive, dark, uplifting and everything in between.

The list contains a great number of talents. Fisherman & Hawkins, who destroyed the ceilings of dance floors with “Skypunch”, and Klauss Goulart, stealing hearts with his hit “Bashert (We’ll Meet Again)”, are some of the recognizable names on the list. Then there’s a new rising stars under the Coldharbour banner like UK’s Arkham Knights, rocking the world with their hit “Knightfall”, and Chicago’s Dave Neven, letting dancers everywhere know that the world could use more cowbells with his single “Drifter”.

To ask me to rank those 20 tracks and choose my favorite would be a crime against trance music. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t put one or two or 20 of those songs on repeat as I went on a run or cleaned the house. Plus, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I’m sure that applies to ears, as well, or something. So give this compilation a listen and arrange your own list of which track tugs at your heartstrings the most. With so much to choose from, it’s ok to be lost and confused, I know I was.

‘Coldharbour Recordings Best of 2015 Top 20’ is available on Beatport or iTunes.

Here’s the tracklist:

  1. Markus Schulz – Destiny (feat. Delacey)
  2. Dave Neven – Drifter
  3. Nifra – Army of Lights (feat. Seri)
  4. M.I.K.E. Push & Rank 1 – Zenith
  5. Arkham Knights – Knightfall
  6. Klauss Goulart – Bashert (We’ll Meet Again)
  7. Markus Schulz – Avalon [Los Angeles]
  8. Tenishia – Don’t Let Go (feat. Adina Butar)
  9. Ron Alperin – Knockout
  10. Fisherman & Hawkins – Skypunch
  11. Dimension – Cima
  12. Markus Schulz – Bayfront [Miami]
  13. Dan Thompson – Stealth
  14. Mr. Pit – Hit Me
  15. Solid Stone – Unlimited
  16. Nifra & Artisan – Rampage
  17. Purple Stories – Hot Harbour
  18. Judge Jules – Turn On the Lights
  19. Mike EFEX – Typhoon
  20. Danilo Ercole – Format

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Review: Mr. Pit vs. Fisherman & Hawkins “Doppelbanger”

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One of the most successful Romanian music producers, Mr. Pit is known for his energetic live DJ set and amazing original productions. He has remixed for some of the biggest talents in the electronic music world and has built a fantastic name for himself. Since signing with Coldharbour, this heavy hitter has taken off. Fisherman & Hawkins have been in the EDM scene for quite a while. Performing, producing and organizing events is what they have done over the past few years. Since late 2011 they decided to combine their forces on the production level and the tracks began to flow. Mr. Pit and Fisherman & Hawkins have shared many nights on stage together in the past year,  both contributing heavily to the Coldharbour Nights worldwide. Their friendship developed further with this collaboration in the studio which accents all the artists perfectly. The deep, dark and devilish, “Doppelbanger” was then born.

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Fisherman&Hawkins

 

Right out of the gate “Doppelbanger” has a nice deep drive that lures you into the track almost immediately. The bass line used is so powerful while being subtle at the same time. About two minutes into this track the original drive softens out to a beautiful melodic creation that resonates through your ears. The notes used blend so well together it is almost indescribable. After this part of the track imprints into your brain you are brought right back into that dark drive that you’ll love. Once you finish riding that out you can’t help yourself other than to replay it again to take another journey through “Doppelbanger”.

Adrian, Isaac and Rob really outdid themselves when creating this track. Recently I incorporated “Doppelbanger” into one of my own sets and the crowd loved every second of this masterpiece as I suspected. Take a listen to the track below.

“Doppelbanger” is available on Beatport: Mr. Pit Vs Fisherman & Hawkins – Doppelbanger

Video: Markus Schulz featuring Lady V “Winter Kills Me”

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“Winter Kills Me’ was the final closing track of several of Markus Schulz’s most memorable shows in 2014 including the last set of his 2014 summer residency at Amnesia in Ibiza, his last ever appearance at Toronto’s Guvernment in September 2014 and his set at Transmission in Prague in October 2014. These special moments will be remembered for life every time the track “Winter Kills Me” is heard. This is Markus’ second collaboration with Grammy award-winning songwriter and vocalist Lady V (aka Victoria Horn), who was also featured on the ‘Scream 2’ stalker anthem sequel “Erase You”.

Markus Schulz feat. Lady V “Winter Kills Me” is available at:

iTunes: http://bit.ly/clhr200it
Spotify: http://bit.ly/clhr200sp
Beatport: http://bit.ly/clhr200bp
Plus additional remixes by Solis & Sean Truby can be found here.

 

Lyrics to “Winter Kills Me” by Markus Schulz featuring Lady V:

You took me for granted
You didn’t keep the fires burning
You let them all die out

We turned to ashes
and just like dust you stepped right over us
I watched you change before my eyes

Cause your hand are made of ice
Your kiss is paralyze
And it hurts to breathe your name
Winter kills me

As the cold reaches my heart
I stumble in the dark
And it hurts to breathe your name
Winter kills me

Winter kills me
Winter kills me

Cause your hand are made of ice
Your kiss is paralyze
And it hurts to breathe your name

Somewhere in the silence I’m lost for words
and you still say nothing
You leave me numb inside
I should’ve felt the warning
The last falling like autumn leaves
Now all you do is just stare and watch me freeze

Cause your hand are made of ice
Your kiss is paralyze
And it hurts to breathe your name
Winter kills me

As the cold reaches my heart
I stumble in the dark
And it hurts to breathe your name
Winter kills me

Winter kills me
Winter kills me

Cause your hands are made of ice
Your kiss is paralyze
And it hurts to breathe your name
Winter kills me

Winter kills me
Winter kills me
Cold

Winter kills me

 

Markus Schulz feat. Delacey “Destiny”

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“How to describe Destiny?

When I first heard Delacey’s vocal, it was as if it was a one-to-one conversation with my soul; it resonated immediately. So the most important thing for me was to build the musical elements that would carry the emotion through to every single person who would hear it. I have been roadtesting it since my solo sets in New York and Miami during the Christmas period, and the amount of messages on social media asking me about the identity was overwhelming. I think that it’s going to be one of those special legacy tracks for me; something that connects people of differing countries and boundaries. When I put the track in Global DJ Broadcast for the frist time, I still got goosebumps even though I had listened to it over and over for months. So I hope it’s something that the fans will embrace for a very long time.” – Markus Schulz

[updated] “Destiny” was released in April 2015 on Coldharbour Recordings and is available on:

Beatport: http://bit.ly/clhr206bp
Spotify: http://bit.ly/clhr206sp
iTunes: http://bit.ly/clhr206it

Here’s the cut from GDJB with a little dedication from Markus:

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Lyrics to the track “Destiny” by Markus Schulz featuring Delacey: 

Hello, how did you find me?
Where have you been hiding?
I know, that you remind me
This fire inside me

Feels like we met somewhere before
Saw you, my heart just hit the floor
This time I’m following the signs
This moment could flash before your eyes

So if we just can’t get it right
Then maybe we’ll try in another life
If I died in your arms tonight
Then baby I’ll see you on the other side

So if we just can’t get it right
Then maybe we’ll try in another life
If I died in your arms tonight
Then baby I’ll see you on the other side

So alone, that I’ve been waiting
I’ve been, anxiously patience for
Our love to rule the nations
The future is what we are facing

What if we choose to turn the page?
Will that lead to the end of days?
That’s why you are the missing piece
Theres no way to run from destiny

So if we just can’t get it right
Then maybe we’ll try in another life
If I died in your arms tonight
Then baby I’ll see you on the other side

So if we just can’t get it right
Then maybe we’ll try in another life
If I died in your arms tonight
Then baby I’ll see you on the other side

So if we just can’t get it right
Then maybe we’ll try in another life
If I died in your arms tonight
Then baby I’ll see you on the other side

 

New Music Review: Mike EFEX – Machine City

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California native Mike EFEX is no stranger to regular Coldharbour followers, and he makes a welcome return to the label with a track primed for those dark and dirty moments late into the night, entitled “Machine City”.

Let me start this music review by saying wow! From the beginning this track really had my jaw on the floor. The mesmerizing percussion reverberates through every orifice of your body! Mike’s signature sound is made evident from the beginning. This track can be played in a festival, club show or just sitting at home. “Machine City” takes you on a ride that not many tracks have taken me on and it’s so different in every way. “Machine City” circumferences you in a cloud that will take you higher and higher, then dump you into the realm unknown called pure bliss! The combination of sounds is one of the best that I’ve heard recently and I’m sure will be blasted across stages everywhere.

I personally had a chance to incorporate Mike’s amazing sound into one of my recent sets and the crowd reacted just as I thought. It left them wanting more and more until it finally fell right into that sweet spot that we all desire at any show. All I can say after listen to this track is bravo! The originality is clear and I can’t wait to hear many more from this amazing producer.

“Machine City” is available on Beatport at beatport.com-machine-city

New Music Review: M.I.K.E. Push – Astrolab

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Producing and DJing under the name M.I.K.E., he has been releasing records under the guises: Solar Factor, M.I.K.E, The Blackmaster, Return of the Native, Plastic Boy, Šand, and Push. In total, there are around 85 different aliases that span his career, because of either collaborations with other artists or adapting new aliases simply to suit the nature of a particular track. As a DJ, M.I.K.E.’s style is very similar to the music he makes, progressive trance with a techy-edge.

The track “Astrolab” is another fantastic creation coming from M.I.K.E. The drive in this track is incredible and will keep you engaged second after second. The overtly mechanical sound in the initial build gives it that little bit of extra we always look for in M.I.K.E.’s music. This track has so many different aspects of trance that I love its hard not to keep on hitting repeat! After listening to this track on my home system I could only imagine the magic that would happen if this were played at a festival or any large show. I guarantee this one will leave your ears ringing, in a good way. M.I.K.E. has done it again with this perfect blend of sounds we call “Astrolab”. I truly look forward to any music he releases and under the Coldharbour label, you can’t go wrong.

Purchase Astrolab Here!

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