Jamie Jones returns to Crosstown Rebels with a EP featuring a new single titled “Moan & Groan” and two remixes to his 2012 hit “Tonight in Tokyo.” With “Moan & Groan,” you see Jamie’s classic production styling emerge with the bouncy disco keys over a groovy and deep bassline. “Tonight in Tokyo” was released last year on Crosstown Rebels and was a staple track in many of Jamie’s sets, but Ben Westbeech’s Breach alias (riding high on “Jack” success at the moment) takes the reigns on the remix, adding a timeless vibe with faint piano flicks and mellow synth work. Cassius dials things down a bit on his rendition with crisp chords and larger-than-life synth lines. (more…)
After establishing a presence in the deeper areas of dance music, The Rebel Agency, has just announced its move to join the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). As the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, CAA already represents David Guetta, Paul van Dyke, Steve Angello, Pretty Lights, Kraftwerk and more. The move sees Jazz Spinder, Matt Kingsley and Inbal Lankry setting up shop in CAA’s Los Angeles office.
“Jazz, Matt, and Inbal are among the most respected agents in the electronic genre,” added CAA’s head of music and managing partner, Rob Light. “Their deep-rooted knowledge of the landscape, ability to identify and cultivate emerging talent, and collaborative approach will be great assets as we continue to expand the agency’s global business.”
Representing emerging and established artists such as Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Hot Natured, Art Department, Lee Foss, Soul Clap and Wolf + Lamb, The Rebel Agency plans to bring its entire client pool over to CAA in the move, including Damian Lazarus’s Crosstown Rebels to further promote and develop the iconic imprint.
“Matt, Inbal, and I are thrilled to join the team at CAA and contribute to its further growth in electronic dance music,” said Spinder. “With its vast resources, existing expertise, and
global reach, CAA provides our family of artists with an expanded range of opportunities,” said Spinder.
As the Hot Natured brand becomes progressively stronger in both underground and mainstream realms, vocalist Ali Love releases new single “Emperor” via Damian Lazarus’s Crosstown Rebels imprint. First premiered on Pete Tong’s Essential Selection, the deep cut grooves etch over a progressive drumbeat featuring Kali’s alluring vocals. Complete with remixes from our third-ranking underground artist Maceo Plex, indie-dance masters Waze & Odyssey, and a deep house dub, the package represents the exact forward-thinking production quality the label has become known for.
Last week, Damian Lazarus’ global Rebel Rave tour stopped by SRB in Brooklyn and alongside Verboten, created a ten hour party experience lasting well into the morning hours. The night featured Culprit label owners Droog, recent Essential Mix inductee Amirali, the Infinity Ink duo, one half of Art Department, and rising underground talent Subb-an. The stacked lineup drew in hundreds of fans and packed out the miniature warehouse space for hours upon hours of the best techno and house music around. With beefed up sound and visual effects, the party will resonate as a memorable occasion for New York house heads. I had the chance to sit down with Lazarus later in the week to discuss his label, the world tour, and some special surprises he has planned for this year’s Beyond Wonderland festival.
As you may well know, there are literally hundreds of events to choose from during Miami Music Week. Pool parties, after hours, label showcases, rare sets, marathon sets — you name it. Maybe parties like Jacked, Size Matters, and F*ck Me I’m Famous aren’t your cup of tea this year, but the sea of opportunities beyond might seem daunting. This list will serve as your guide. These ten parties (as well as a number of honorable mentions) are the perfect blend of old and new talent, exclusive or stacked lineups, day and night time slots, and a wide variety of venues throughout Downtown and South Beach. These are events that fall outside the realm of your run-of-the-mill DJ set, these are the events that will make Miami Music Week what it is in 2013.
If you’ve seen Deadmau5 perform anytime in the last four years or so, it’s possible that you heard James Holden’s remix of “Safari.” Although he doesn’t play it in every set, it seems to be a frequently used weapon of his — particularly during his unhooked sets. Even after almost a decade, the Crosstown Rebels released track is still a powerful dance floor killer. Its heavy bassline and spooky vocals make for an eerily twisted tune — one that may take some time getting used to, but once you have it’s unforgettable.
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This past week on the dance music marathon (which as many of you know includes shows from Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Skream & Benga, and Annie Nightingale), Radio 1 also decided to throw a bit of a curveball for the Essential Mix – Amirali and Felix da Housecat recorded dual live hour-long sets recorded in the BBC Radio 1 studio. Radio 1 has done live mixes before (in Ibiza, at a variety of venues across the world), but this was the very first time the mix was recorded 100% live right in the studios.
Highly-regarded Canadian label No. 19 Music is out this week with the third installment of their Social Experiment album series. Following up Soul Clap’s boogie-down selections from February 2011, Art Department dive head first into the terrific world of spacey house and out-there dance floor techno. Members Kenny Glasgow and Jonny White had been doing their thing quite well before merging into Art Department under Crosstown Rebels in 2009. Now, with several years as a duo — performing both live with Jonny’s vocals and in DJ sets — the pair are very much established among the underground’s titanic talent.
Maceo Plex never disappoints. Our number three underground artist today revealed a subterranean reinterpretation of Ali Love’s “Emperor” that showcases the best of what he has to offer. With his innovative use of white noise and vocoded vocals alongside pensive synths, Plex continues to expertly toe that fine line between experimental and accessible. This track has after-hours written all over it, evident by its prevalent dark tones and patient mind-bending breakdown. Keep your eyes peeled for the remix out on Crosstown Rebels in early March.
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The UK’s premier underground house label is hitting the road. London powerhouse Crosstown Rebels just announced its 28-city REBELRAVE World Tour, set to kick off in Puerto Rico tomorrow. American fans have reason to celebrate the inclusion of seven North American tour dates, including a stop-off in Miami during the height of Winter Music Conference. The tour sports a stacked lineup that reads like a who’s-who of underground dance music, with such marquee names as Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, Carl Craig and Maya Jane Coles joining label boss Damian Lazarus. Catch the full lineup and tour dates after the jump.
