As reported by The Wall-Street Journal, one of the takeaway points from Deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin’s SXSW panel is the negative effect commercial success is having on the quality of electronic dance music. While the genre has seen a surge in attention and a surplus of money, it’s also seen a rise in mediocre outputs. The two self-proclaimed geeks bonded over their love of technology, but lamented that its advances have made production too easy and, ironically enough, too repetitive. Producers now have myriad tools at their fingertips — certainly more than Deadmau5 or Hawtin did when they started their careers — but instead of choosing creativity they’re opting to copy the proven formulas of successful artists.
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The melancholic collaboration between Deadmau5 and Imogen Heap is an > album title goes here < staple. The pair set to extend the creative vision of releasing “Telemiscommunications” by offering a competition to search for budding animators to create the video. 20 individuals were selected to work in their own style and medium within each part of the animation process. Today at noon EST, deadmau5 and Imogen Heap will be hosting a Google+ Hangout to talk about their collaboration and the unique process behind creating the music video. At the end of the broadcast they will premiere the final video for the first time here.
In addition, the “Telemiscommunications” remix package has also been released today and will feature Crookers, Copy Paste Soul, John Roman and Kölsch, each of whom takes the track for a unique spin through the remix wash. Crookers reimagines Imogen’s vocals with fierce techno beats, Copy Paste Soul take a deep house approach with a bubbling bassline. Kompakt artist, Kölsch’s rendition hypnotizes with rhythmic bass while John Roman’s strips the mix back with tribal drum beats.
Tune in at Noon EST via Deadmau5′s YouTube channel.
At this year’s SXSW festival, the people of Mediatemple are bringing to fruition an unprecedented dance music event. deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin are some of the most iconic and influential people in dance music, and they are poised to make history as they come together to perform a monumental back-to-back set. If you look back on Deadmau5′s past release catalog, you’ll find an arsenal of techno and minimal cuts — making this one-off event a merging of true electronic music giants. Event’s like this are a rarity of sorts, so if you’re lucky enough to be at SXSW, make it your goal to see these two in action. More details on the event can be found here.
Earlier this evening, Deadmau5 uploaded a remastered version of a track he previewed on SoundCloud back in November. This time, as he explained, using a multiband compressor in order to split audio signals and allow for the appropriate tweaks of individual frequencies. “Arcadia” is straightforward, progressive Deadmau5 — melodic in all of the right ways. Listen to the tracks side-by-side, see if your ear is keen enough to spot the improvements in the mastered track.
Who doesn’t love a little old school Deadmau5? At the dawn of Joel Zimmerman’s peak to A-list status, dating back to 2008, he mastered his first Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1. The mix contains nostalgic records such as his breakthrough single “Faxing Berlin,” Kaskade collaboration “I Remember,” a unanimous favorite “Alone with You,” along with other brilliant productions from Random Album Title and For Lack of Better Name. It was the same year he played Ultra Music Festival for the first time, was nominated for his first Grammy for “Longest Road,” and won Beatport’s #1 electro and progressive house artist awards. 2008 established Joel as one of the biggest players in the current dance music scene, one that he continues to dominate five years later.
Like most producers, his style has evolved over time. Some prefer the more trance-infused mau5 classics while others side with his recent harder spin on things. Have a listen for the more classical experience and follow along with the tracklist found below.
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Many people are aware of Deadmau5′ 2012 and 2013 Grammy nominations, but less are acquainted with his 2009 nomination for “The Longest Road” (released in 2008). The track was considered for “Best Remixed Recording, non classical” and although it didn’t win at the awards show, it’s still one of his best offerings. Everything from Lissie’s rapturous, smoky vocals to the tinkling melody and infectious bassline are blissful and calming. With the summer months rapidly approaching keep this song in mind for your top down drives and festival road trips.
Fun fact: Deadmau5′s remix was featured in Tap Tap Revenge 3.
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Purchase: Beatport
It seems Arty has fallen in love with the sultry vocals of Deadmau5’ “The Veldt,” for he’s scooped up singer Chris James for his latest offering, “Together We Are.” The powerful vocal flows effortlessly over Arty’s signature bliss, reminiscent of previous releases “When I See You” and “Kate.” The young Russian earned an ample amount of respect from both trance and progressive worlds, proven by the support that his newest effort has garnered since its premiere last month. Armin van Buuren, Pete Tong, Above & Beyond and Tiesto, to name a few, have featured the track on their respective radio shows, an early indicator that this will become one of 2013’s most memorable tunes.
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Purchase: Beatport
In this month’s cover story for Vibe, Deadmau5 gives his take on everything from Swedish House Mafia and Avicii to Ultra and his respect for Jay-Z. The conversation is typical filterless Mau5, right down to the self-deprecation and shameless honesty. But while the content itself is entertaining what’s most interesting are the reactions. Since the story was posted, numerous media outlets have written articles sensationalizing his comments and fans have been generally angered — or at least rubbed the wrong way. But for anyone who is even slightly familiar with dance music’s morbid Mickey Mouse, this behavior and even many of his bold remarks come as no surprise.
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Always a couple fit for public displays of affection, Kat von D and Deadmau5 have shared a bit of their Valentine’s Day celebration to the Internet. Deadmau5 uploaded to his Soundcloud a track his fiancée and friend Danny Lohner sang and produced for him yesterday saying it was “truly the best gift [he's] ever received.” The song, entitled “LUVnSTUFF,” is a bit of a mashup of Joel’s own “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” — plus lots of strings and a beautiful dark vocal performance from Kat. Check it out below.
While we anxiously await the next new originals from both Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner, the duo is back, in a way, this week with their remix package of last fall’s “Channel 42.” Though Pete Tong premiered Nom De Strip’s dance floor version of the tune on last week’s Essential Selection, mau5trap opted to eschew the more recognizable tune, officially releasing remixes from GTA and Eeekko alongside a reissue of the original.
While the original is a perfect blend of Deadmau5′s chord play and Wolfgang’s technicality, the remixes seem to look to the original more for inspiration than for actual parts, resulting in a package of three completely different songs. To hear electronic’s favorite animals like you’ve never heard them before, listen below.
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