Coming off three Ultra performances, his own pool party and nightclub showcase, and appearances all around South Beach, Afrojack turns his focus towards his forthcoming artist album after wrapping up a busy Miami Music Week. Just as “As Your Friend” has hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, his lead single with Chris Brown has received its official music video. Afrojack sits high on a throne of LEDs that resembles his live stage set up, summons an eagle, and co-producer Leroy Styles makes a motorcycle donut-burning cameo with the absence of Chris Brown.
“Do you guys know my name?” A strange question coming from a man who introduces himself with powerful shouts just about every time he touches down on stage. “The reason I’m playing as Nick van de Wall is because not everybody knows my real name.” If that had truly been the case, it no longer was after Friday of Ultra’s second weekend. The dark sky began to pour at Bayfront Park and the Jacked stage was the perfect storm. “I’m going to play shit I don’t always get to play, some of my favorite songs.” Shocked, I thought “Is he not going to play… ” but before I had finished my thought, he had finished it for me; “but that doesn’t mean I won’t play that Afrojack music!”
The second weekend of Ultra Music Festival kicked off with an even bigger bang than it closed the first on. Country legends on the main stage and disco legends back stage. Back-to-back sets and back-to-back-to-back sets. New track premieres and new albums premieres. Jump below the break for all that you need to know about Ultra day 4.
When every DJ on the planet descends on Miami in mid-March there is never a shortage of surprise appearances and unbelievable collaborations. The concentration of talent in South Beach always guarantees that the top producers in the world will be rubbing elbows with one another, usually behind the decks. Yesterday, during a live broadcast of SiriusXM’s “UMF Radio,” Calvin Harris was joined by Afrojack at the W Hotel to spin a back to back set of their biggest hits. It was the first time that the two juggernaut producers have spun together and could possibly be the early start of a collaboration in the future. Be sure to tune in live today as Sirius continues their broadcast from the W Hotel – things are bound to get interesting.
Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for SiriusXM
With the annual Size Matters pool party manned by Steve Angello set to take over Miami’s Fountainebleau tomorrow, we take a look at the 2010 event and recognize how much has changed over the past three years. Without a pool party for his own brand, Afrojack had opened for Steve in 2010 after releasing “Pacha on Acid” via Size Records. Standing among a DJ booth and production settings that are far less complex than modern arrangements, Afrojack closes his set with “Hide & Seek” and introduces Steve Angello, who had just begun heating up with Swedish House Mafia.
Afrojack is undoubtedly one of the most popular DJs in dance music. Playing to huge crowds of adoring fans has become the norm for the 25-year-old Grammy winner, and in an attempt to give back he’s offering his musician fans a chance to meet him in Miami. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Afrojack explains,
“I’ve had so many mentors in my life that inspired me and I want to give that opportunity to you all. For all of my fans that are producing music if you’re in Miami on 3/18 I wanna meet with you and give you feedback on your tracks!!”
All you have to do to enter is email him some of your productions and personal story to afrojack.fans@gmail.com.
As Afrojack heads down to Miami for his Ultra appearances both weekends and parties in between, it has been announced that he’s signed a worldwide deal with Island Records and Universal Music Group. Under the deal “As Your Friend,” the first single off his debut album released by Wall Recordings, will have Island Records manage the track’s promotion and sales in the U.S. and it will be released internationally by Wall Recordings, Islands Records UK, and UMG’s PM:AM Recordings.
“I want to take my music to the next level, both creatively and from a business point of view. Partnering up with Island Records will give me the chance to do both, so I am very happy we were able to make a deal. Island/UMG will promote my releases with very strong support and with great people working my music around the world.” – Afrojack
By weekend two, you’re probably looking for any excuse to hit the snooze button. The week of pool parties and late nights at Mansion are starting to catch up, but the festival isn’t stopping for anyone and there is no shortage of exciting acts during the early hours. Yesterday we filled you in on why exactly you should wipe your eyes and hop out of bed early for Ultra Weekend One, and now we present the same for Weekend Two.
From unidentified bootlegs at EDCNY to anthem status at Ultra, the saga of Afrojack’s “Air Guitar” has finally come full circle with its official release. The production is trademark Afrojack; melodic ups, rumbling downs, and bulky Dutch bleeps combine for your ideal electro offering. “Air Guitar” comes in the midst of material from Afrojack’s new album, between “As Your Friend” and “Rocker,” and Ultra anthems, Tiësto, Quintino, & Alvaro’s ”United” and Avicii’s “UMF.”
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It has just been announced that Afrojack and Diplo are scheduled to perform during the 97th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The duo follow in the footsteps of Benny Benassi who performed there last year – a combination that may seem a bit odd, but is proof that electronic music’s influence continues to grow. Presented by Miller Light, the event is scheduled to take place at Turn 3 in “The Snake Pit.” The party will start at 7 am, with Indianapolis native Topher Jones, opening for the event.
