Tramps Like Us Interview with Gareth Emery

Gareth Emery Tramps Like Us
LED: You recently decided to forego campaigning for the DJ Mag Top 100 Poll and decided to donate to a charity of your fans choosing instead. What charity did you end up donating to? Do you think this will set a precedent and maybe have producers thinking twice about launching campaigns for poll positions?

Gareth Emery: I was surprised how viral my statement went, as it was never my intention for it to be such a big thing, and neither was I trying to influence anyone else to do the same. I was just basically saying: this is bullshit and I'm out. There were a few other producers who also decided to pull down their advertising and leave the poll, and whilst I guess it's nice they felt the same way as me, I don't want it to be seen as an attack on DJ Mag, because that isn't what it was. It was just my own personal feelings.

Regarding which charity I donated to, the poll is still open on my Facebook page, so I haven't made the final decision on who gets what, but we picked five amazing charities that people could vote on, a mix of household names and smaller local initiatives: Macmillian Cancer Support, Doctors Without Borders, Ignito Project, Daughters for Life and Brainwave. I actually decided all the causes are so worthwhile, rather than give the entire donation to the winner, I will divide it based roughly on how many votes each charity received, so they all get something out of it.

LED: You’ve played down here in San Diego quite a few times. What’s your favorite part about coming down to San Diego?

GE: Great weather, a truly beautiful city with a more laid-back vibe than most big US cities, and of course the incredible crowds that show up every time I play.

LED: You’ve also been touring non-stop all over the world recently. Any plans to get back in the studio anytime soon?

GE: I've been locked pretty solidly to my laptop writing music at every free moment recently, working on my new album which should be released around the start of next year. In my opinion it's full of the best music I've ever written. So whilst I haven't released that much recently, my live sets are full of beta test versions of tracks I am working on for the album…. so listen out!

LED: What does the phrase ‘Tramps Like Us’ mean to you?

GE: It's a Springsteen lyric right? 'Tramps like us were born to run'. That's what I usually think about it… I grew up listening to the likes of Bruce Springsteen via my parents so that's what it makes me think of.

Don't miss GARETH EMERY at Tramps Like Us on Sunday, September 1st!

>>> TICKETS

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Tramps Like Us Interview with NICKY ROMERO

LED presents Tramps Like Us Nicky Romero

LED: Tramps Like Us is the first stop on your ‘Nothing Toulouse’ tour. What can fans expect from you on this upcoming tour?

Nicky Romero: 4 Weeks of absolute Nicky Romero & Protocol Madness, I am bringing a long some great support acts and am very happy with all the cities we are playing.

LED: You played at the inaugural LED Anniversary last year, what is like to be able to come back to San Diego and play for this crowd again?

NR: I absolutely love San Diego, it is one of my favorite cities in the US. The crowd is amazing the people are so nice and I am happy to come back!

Nicky Romero

LED: Southern California has become a major hot-spot for dance music over the years. What was it like to headline at Coachella this year?

NR: It was my first time playing Coachella, I was very impressed by the festival. Thought it was really cool to see such an eclectic line up, from Blurr to the Jurassic 5. Had an amazing time one of the best gigs!

LED: You are always working with some of the best and brightest artists in the dance music community. Who is next on the list for a collaboration with you?

NR: Well I just release a track with Krewella called Legacy, i have some great tracks with David Guetta on the shelve that need finishing and for the near future I am concentrating on some original work

LED: What does the phrase ‘Tramps Like Us’ mean to you?

NR: AWESOME PARTY!

Don't miss NICKY ROMERO at Tramps Like Us on Saturday, August 31st!

>>> TICKETS

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Win FREE tickets to see Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow at Bang Bang!

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LED presents has some tickets to give away to Andrew Wyatt's DJ Set at Bang Bang next Tuesday but wants to make sure these end up in the hands of a true fan. Although Andrew Wyatt just finished up his first solo album, he has had a hand in producing tons of music alongside other artists. For a chance to win a pair of tickets to Andrew Wyatt (DJ Set) at Bang Bang:

1. LIKE the Bang Bang Facebook Page.
2. SHARE the Andrew Wyatt flier on Facebook

Winners will be announced Saturday. Good Luck! ‪#‎myLifeEveryDay‬

ADAM F INTERVIEW

UK producer and label head ADAM F has been making the rounds in the US this year bringing his talents to dance floors and festival grounds all across the country. Between producing countless genres of music, running the highly successful Breakbeat Kaos label and touring all over recently, it's no surprise he find himself in the upper echelon of the dance music world yet again. LED  presents was able to catchup with ADAM F before his upcoming show in San Diego this weekend and pick his brain for a bit. Check out the interview below and be sure to catch ADAM F performing at Voyeur this Thursday!

LED: Most people probably first heard of you through your first artist releases producing Drum & Bass music, so some may not realize that you also produce Hip-Hop. Is Hip Hop where you first started producing? Any major artists you have worked with in the hip-hop industry?

ADAM F: Hip Hop is definitely one of my early loves listening to music but not where I started producing. It’s often I meet producers , artists and D.J’s who make or play Complextro, Trap, House, or Dubstep that first got into electronic music through Drum & Bass and loved hip hop at the time of starting to make music. I have always liked the challenge of producing something different involving Hip-Hop. After my first artist album Colours came the Drum and Bass Warfare project  involving Hip-Hop artists which I took on the road with DJ Craze. I have worked with a lot of the classic Hip-Hop artists that I grew up listening to including Redman, Missy Elliot, De La Soul, Guru, Method Man, M.O.P, Capone n Noreaga, L.L. Cool J, and Dead Prez.

LED: What drew you from hip-hop to the more electronic spectrum of music? Was it an easy transition or did it take some time to really find your sound?

ADAM F: Going to the bigger outdoor festivals and raves that were all electronic music and of course the more intimate underground clubs. I wouldn’t say there was a transition as such as electronic music was evolving then as it always is but producing electronic and Hip-Hop developed simultaneously for me. I just found myself getting into a lot of other dance genres both as a producer and as a DJ and  I just saw it all as an exciting time to combine and evolve music at club level.

LED: With the dance music culture in America differing from Europe it’s often difficult to make the jump overseas and still have a successful career and maintain your sound. Did you find this to be a very daunting task or did you find a way to make it work pretty easily in the US. Do have any advice for others looking to do the same?

ADAM F: Personally I think both sides of the pond have influenced each other at different times and will continue to do so, you can see that now in the more deeper sounds of House and over the last few years in Dubstep. Radio stations are playing more varied dance music than ever before supporting artists from everywhere.

I had a vision one day to try get some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop to work with a UK producer at a time when that just didn’t happen which was daunting at the time and it took going to many shows and handing out CDs and patience but from it came some of my first releases in the US. Those went on to be singles for Redman and L.L Cool J’s first Billboard #1 and opened a world of production opportunities.

So I would say if you have a vision as a producer or artist that seem against the odd’s go for it, now more than ever the worlds ears are open and ready for experimenting and taking the jump.

LED: You have been hitting the festival circuit pretty hard but have also been playing more intimate club gigs. Do you prefer one instead of the other?

ADAM F: I play a mixed set of genres when I DJ. Festivals are always a special experience for me playing to big crowds with mixed music taste and with all the different themes, locations, and stage production. Intimate shows always feel more personal though with a stronger connection to the crowd.

LED: You also run Breakbeat Kaos. What’s it like being a producer, traveling all over on tour, and trying to run a label at the same time?

ADAM F: Traveling and playing out has always been the best way to hear new music and discover new artists for the label.

LED: You’ve released some of the biggest names on the scene on your label such as Pendulum, Chase & Status, and Nero. Are there any other big names with upcoming releases on Breakbeat Kaos that people should be keeping an eye out for?

ADAM F: We have always wanted to work with artist’s that have a vision for the future and can perform live and we feel will naturally evolve their sound. Pendulum who also produce as Knife Party are a great example. Nero and Chase & Status are both amazing artists that perform live, make great albums and continuously produce quality and cutting edge music that keeps the underground movement and true fans excited. At the moment both DJ Fresh and myself are focusing on our own projects, so no new plans for BBK releases at present.

LED: After this tour, what’s next for Adam F? Do you have any collaborations coming up or in the works?

A: Next on the music front is a new single, released on Circus records called ‘The Pit.' It’s a collaboration including myself and Doctor P featuring Method Man. Also a release on Dim Mak as a collab between myself and Cory Enemy called ‘Strike Gold’ You can hear some previews of new music on my soundcloud page.

LED: Lastly, with the dance music scene and culture constantly shifting and changing, what direction to you think is in store for us next? Any new styles or sounds you think will breakout in the next year or so? Maybe a revival of a specific genre?

ADAM F: Yes it’s definitely shifting and changing and that’s what keeps it alive in my opinion. I definitely see the organic side of song structures, emotion and sounds coming through more in some styles of the dance scene. We have seen that in acts like Disclosure and I see more of the 90’s influences becoming more present. Its felt more like a singles or E.P lead market over recent times so this may produce some more great artist album projects, music for inside and out of the clubs. Exciting times!  See you at Voyeur on Thursday night!

BRAZZABELLE x gLAdiator - No Scrubs Remix

LED's resident Brazzabelle is back at it again, this time teaming up with Los Angeles trap duo gLAdiator to put their spin on the classic TLC track 'No Scrubs'. Upon immediately listening to this mix of the throwback 90's jam, the smooth and soulful filled vibes along with the added trap snares shows the meshed influences from both parties collectively. A great use of the original vocals keeps the heart and soul of this track while spicing it up with some of today's latest music trends. Don't be surprised if this gem slips into some summertime pool party sets over the next few months.

For a FREE DOWNLOAD be sure to visit Brazzabelle's FACEBOOK PAGE.

Share the stage with TJR at Voyeur

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Think you have what it takes to share the stage with TJRLED Earmilk Wavo are all teaming up to give one lucky producer a shot at opening for TJR at Voyeur on July 27th! If you have been working hard in the studio and think your productions deserve to be played out in the hottest club in San Diego now is your chance to prove it!

Here's what you have to do to enter:
1. Produce an original track that displays your production skill and distinctive style.
2. Submit your original track to Earmilk's micro-site, HERE.
3. Promote and share the link to the micro-site with all your friends, family and fans - make sure to have them vote!

Contest submissions are due July 15th, the voting period will occur from July 15th to July 22nd, and a winner will be announced July 24th. The winner will be chosen on the basis of popularity and the expert opinions of our LED panel of judges.

CONTEST QUALIFICATIONS:
-Contest open to residents of the USA
-No contestants under the age of 21
-All genres within EDM are welcome for submission
-Transportation will not be provided by LED or Voyeur

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LEDtv Interview: Audrey Napoleon

Check out this LEDtv interview with Audrey Napoleon recorded right after her set at OMFG! NYE 2013 and hear all about her collaboration with a fun designer and what she has coming up!

LEDtv Interview: TJR

Check out this LEDtv interview with TJR recorded right after his set at OMFG! NYE 2013 and see what he has to say about his producing style and what his bizarre daily routine includes.

Axwell at my Life Every Day USA [track list]

Axwell my Life Every Day USA

On the second day of My Life Every Day USA, international superstar Axwell was one of the biggest draws.

As expected, Axwell played a heavy Swedish House Mafia set, but he also dropped a few gems into his set. The new Don Diablo & Matt Nash song “Starlight (Could You Be Mine)” was great to hear live for the first time. Nicky Romero’s new collaboration with Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano—which has a working title of “Jack To The Sound Of The Underground”—was another impressive song choice by Axwell.

About midway through his set, Axwell played his new song “Center Of The Universe.” A good portion of the crowd knew the lyrics to the song despite the fact it had yet to be officially released. “Center Of The Universe” was officially released on May 30, and it currently sits at #1 on the Beatport Top 10 chart.

Hearing Daft Punk’s new song “Doin’ It Right” was a welcomed curveball from Axwell. He mashed the song up with Deniz Koyu’s “Rage” in order to make it a bit more festival-ready.

Throughout Axwell’s set, the crowd was subjected to an absolute sensory overload. In addition to the mind-bending lasers on display, Axwell brought pyrotechnics that went off on several occasions. Each time the pyrotechnics lit up the Valley View Casino Center, the crowd’s eyes grew wide in utter amazement. All of the fantastic visuals paired with Axwell’s fun set made for an awesome overall experience.

For your viewing pleasure, here is Axwell’s full set courtesy of Cristian Luna. Also included is a handy dandy tracklist below the videos so that you know exactly what songs Axwell played.



Axwell’s My LED USA track list

A-Trak + GTA Review

A-Trak GTA Voyeur my LED USA

 

I arrived inside Voyeur and the crowd was already buzzing with excitement. Chrome Sparks finished up his set with the tasteful remix Disclosure provided for Jessie Ware’s track Running as more guests continued to file into the venue. As the music slowly faded out, cheers started to emanate from the crowd. The time had come and GTA made their way into the booth and were ready to kick things off.

The energy in the room was almost palpable at this point. Attendees crowded the booth to get a prime view of one of Miami’s hottest duos. Sensing the crowds excitement and somewhat rambunctious demeanor, GTA chose to forego opening with one of their own tunes and started their set off with an absolute explosion coming in the form of Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name.

A-Trak GTA Voyeur show

With the crowd now on their side and in an absolute frenzy, GTA had some room to work with in their set. Known for playing (and producing) all different types of genres, the boys continued doing just that with the rest of their time. Moving through hip-hop to trap to moombahton to electro, GTA left no genre untouched throughout their set. Playing tracks from the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Empire of the Sun, Biggie Smalls, and TNGHT, GTA made sure that everyone’s musical tastes were adhered to. As the time drew closer to midnight, the boys snuck in a few more tracks before their time was up. Their own track alongside Henrix and Digital Lab ‘Hit It’ was another crowd favorite and set the tempo perfectly for them to close with 2 Chainz ‘I’m Different’ accompanied with some moobah beats.

After an extremely high energy set from GTA, the man of the night, A-trak took over on the turntables. Donning his standard attire consisting of a leather vest, nice jeans, and brand new Nikes (surprisingly no fedora on this night), Trizzy began his set by putting on display some of his scratching skills. After demonstrating why he is a World Champion DJ, A-trak began with an onslaught of tunes. Blowing through tracks pretty quickly, he was able to keep everyone guessing with what would be coming next.

A-Trak Voyeur San Diego

Having checked my phone at this point, I was delighted to find that it was still only 12:30. A-trak still had a good chunk of time left and I was more than content with dancing for longer.  Slowly the sounds of The Big Bad Wolf crept up and it wasn’t long until the crowd was howling along with the track. Following up with some more Fool’s Gold releases, Tuna Melt sounded better than ever on the rumbling speakers and Kid Sister’s Pro Nails provided a bit of nostalgia for those who remembered the track.

Moving on with some more of his own productions, his remix of Martin Solveig’s The Night Out had the crowd grooving along with his collaboration with Oliver on Disco Nap. Catching everyone by surprise, A-trak mixed into Roscoe Dash and Soulja Boy’s hit All The Way Turnt Up. With a cheeky grin on his face, it was clear A-trak was definitely enjoying himself on stage and having fun with the crowd.

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As his time was winding down, A-trak made sure those in attendance would not forget this night, ending with an all out barrage of huge tunes that were just what the crowd wanted. Starting with his always recognizable Heads Will Roll remix, the entire crowd joined him in belting out the Karen O lyrics along with the music. After a nice run through of The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, he continued on with Ode to Oi from LED’s own resident TJR. With everyone now bouncing on the dance floor at this point, ending his set with his own remix of Piss Test mixed with Oliver Twizt’s remix of Money Making was the absolute perfect way to close the night out.

 

Be sure to catch A-Trak AND GTA at my Life Every Day USA over Memorial Day weekend at the San Diego Sports Arena!

 my Life Every Day USA