RENN & AVELLO combine forces with the singer-songwriter Kindred to release their latest single, Never You, on May 22nd, 2023. The hauntingly beautiful song is a poignant reflection on the struggles of mental illness and the pain of feeling alone in the face of it.
Never You gets started with a cinematic intro before Kindred's vocals come in - a touch AVELLO & RENN said they likes to add in their songs. While the vocals are about picking yourself up in tough times, the song overall is relatable to many of us who have felt those things before.
Never You is a heart-wrenching reminder of the isolation and despair that can come with mental illness. The lyrics describe a person who is desperately seeking help but is met with silence from the one person they thought they could count on. It is a powerful representation of the emotional turmoil that can overwhelm those who suffer from mental illness.
Despite the weight of the lyrics, Never You offers a message of resilience and strength where it explores the depths of mental illness and the resilience of the human spirit. The song acknowledges that sometimes, we have to be our own savior and encourages listeners to find the inner strength to carry on in the face of adversity.
Kindred's raw and honest approach to songwriting shines through in Never You, making it a standout track that will resonate with listeners from all walks of life. The song is a testament to the power of music to capture the human experience and offer comfort and hope in even the darkest of moments.
RENN’s album “One Day” is set to be released on all major streaming platforms on June 12, 2023. With this new single that they just released, fans of RENN, AVELLO and Kindred's and anyone who has experienced the pain of mental illness will not want to miss this hauntingly beautiful track.
On December 30, the East Hall of the Olympic Stadium will host none other than Excision and Zomboy!
It's no secret that Excision, the founder of Lost Land and Bass Canyon, is known for his immersive visuals that transport us to a completely out-of-this-world dimension. For a few hours, the world is controlled by the power of headbangers! In this electrifying atmosphere filled with lasers, is also added Zomboy who will know how to ignite the Stadium with his style ranging from dubstep to drum'n'bass and electro-house.
On top of all that, the program continues with Calcium, Hol!, Muerte, Chassi and special guest: Barely Alive! There will also be the talented Stoned Level, Quebec dubstep producer directly from Laval who will perform among all these big names known in the world of bass music.
If I were you, I definitely wouldn't miss the chance to go to this event, because let's face it, FOMO might take over your thoughts! And just to convince you that you have to go, here is an overview of the performance of Excision and Illenium in b2b this summer during the 8th edition of îLESONIQ!
Headbangers, see you on December 30 ;)!
www.instagram.com/battlefieldsmtl/
www.facebook.com/battlefieldsmtl
RSVP : www.facebook.com/events/665681305136504/
Écrit par : www.instagram.com/swany_garrigues/
]]>This Saturday, October 8th, 2022, Audioform's 'RITUAL' is back at The 27 Club for another highly-anticipated edition. To add to the excitement, participants will be treated to several extra special surprises; and it just so happens that we have that inside scoop to share with our Flag fam...
In true Audioform fashion, the team has expertly curated a lineup which includes skilled artists from Ottawa and its surrounding area. This month's bill comprises the likes of PAQS, MEEB REEZY, MOTION SICKNESS, EXST, and DROP DOCTOR.
If you happen to have caught our recent exclusive interview with PAQS, or his dynamic set at Festival Riverside last month, you know this Canadian talent is ready to deliver a high-energy performance, guaranteed to leave even the toughest of critics in awe. Word is, he's about to kick it up a notch even further...
Aside from PAQS, we're personally looking forward to catching EXST's set. This up-and-coming DJ/producer has been making a name for himself thanks to his noteworthy productions, especially in collaboration with the PMP Records bass house/tech house/DnB label. We have no doubts that he'll deliver a killer set!
Although PAQS and EXST are gearing up to unleash their distinct sounds and preparing their sets, the remaining acts are ready to match their efforts as well as celebrate their birthdays during this long-awaited event. If history repeats itself, we can guarantee that extra celebrations will be worth making the venture!
In addition to taking a moment to recognize another year around the sun for these particular musicians and their performances, arguably the most much-anticipated moment of the event will be DROP DOCTOR's debut. As some of you may know, this artist is actually Audioform's owner...
This premiere performance is already extraordinary due to the fact that it will be the first (and potentially the last) of its kind. That said, we've heard through the grapevine that a surprise is in store - one that involves a live instrument! Trust us, you won't want to miss it. Grab your tickets here. See you tomorrow!
]]>
With under a 90 days left of 2022, Dave Summit reminded us that there's still plenty of time to check things off of this year's list, but also to enjoy the ride while we're at it! The Canadian producer unquestionably radiates positivity and his passion for music is evident. We can't wait to share some of his projects with you all, and we hope you will join us in congratulating the rising talent on his ongoing triumphs!
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our one-on-one interview was the fact that there's no harm in breaking out of our comfort zone to pursue new undertakings. Although it can be a reassuring place to be, the reality is that nothing will really develop once we're secured in that space. We must push our personal limits to discover what else the future holds as it will lead to even more rewarding moments.
All things considered, we hope our Flag fam takes a moment to reflect on their own distinctive accomplishments from this past year, and to also take a page from Summit's book to believe that even greater things lie ahead. Unquestionably, the future is bright! Without further ado, check out our exclusive interview below with someone who's been shining for as long as we can remember...
Firstly, thank you for taking the time to sit down with The Flag Gang!
Thank you for having me! It's a pleasure [to speak with you today].
This is actually a full circle moment for me as the first live performance of yours that I caught was at Festival Riverside last year. So, thank you for doing me the honour of interviewing you at one of mine and The Flag Gang's favourite events! I honestly couldn't think of a better way to close out festival season than this moment we're sharing right now...
I really appreciate that. I'm very grateful too!
Speaking of special moments, you've certainly had your dose over the summer! You've played massive shows & festivals like the Festival d'été de Québec, iO Experience, Unity Electro Fest, & Piknic Électronik with the House Call Records crew!
1) What have been some of the highlights from some of these performances & overall experiences for you, & how will they impact your musical journey moving forward?
A big highlight for me was Unity [Electro Fest] because it was held in my hometown. I also had some extra support during that festival as some of my friends and even my family were there to cheer me on. [As you can imagine,] moments like that are very special to me. [In addition,] these [large-scale] events are a great opportunity to test out my newest productions and other things I've been working on such as edits, remixes, and more. Getting the crowd's reaction gives me a good perspective about what I can improve on, and also what's working in my sets. [Truthfully,] I find these moments inspiring - it's like [an encouraging] tap on the shoulder as well a push for me to keep on going. I love connecting with everyone in the [audience] - there's no feeling like it! [Nevertheless,] I'm always thankful for each experience because I get to pursue my [ultimate] passion: music.
The House Call Records show was also fun as I was able to connect with DR. FRESCH, BIJOU and Nostalgix. Although myself and BIJOU had communicated on socials, the Piknic [Électronik] show was actually the first time we met in person. Nostalgix is a good friend of mine. We had played a show together in France and also during the ADEs [Amsterdam Dance Event] - we went back to back during both events. [That said,] these experiences allowed us to build our friendship, and it's been really great to see her career grow! As for my relationship with DR. FRESCH, [following] Escapade [Music Festival] last year, we had performed at the same after-party. It's always amazing to reconnect with everyone and have a big party together.
On the topic of events, we want to congratulate you on your recent announcement where you shared you'll be making your international debut in Cancun!
2) Although Sun Soaked will be taking place in December, we're curious ~ are you able to share some of your plans for 2023 with us as well as some other dream bucket list items that you have on your radar for the future?
Thank you; I'm very excited! My team and I are still finalizing [various] plans, [therefore,] we aren't able to share too many details. [However,] I am able to say that I will be heading to the U.S.A. in the new year! I also want to share that Sun Soaked is the first step before we continue to announce some other really exciting projects...
Some of my dream venues are Red Rocks, EDC Las Vegas, and the list goes on. [On that same note,] I started making music after catching Hardwell's performance at Miami's Ultra [Music Festival] back in 2013. I was watching his set on YouTube, and I [had an epiphany of sorts] because I was in awe of watching a DJ play all of his own productions. That's when I realized that that's what I should be doing! [In other words,] I could make my own music and then play it for everyone. Now, Ultra [Music Festival] is an annual ritual for me; it reignites my creativity and pushes me to follow in Hardwell's footsteps. At [Festival] Riverside, for example, it was a great feeling to play my newest EP [Cescendo], etc.
We wanted to let you know that 'Everybody' was 'Thinkin About You' 'Pullin Up' to Festival Riverside. We know your set will be 'Dynamite' & we are grateful to 'Know You Better' during this interview. Also, know that I will never be 'Wasting My Time' listening to your 'Massive' anthems!
'Between Us', 'You Don't Need Me' to tell you that I incorporated many of your track names into this cheesy intro., haha. But, now that I've already done that, I think this is the perfect opportunity to ask you...
3) When it comes to your upcoming music productions, what can your fans expect?
First of all, I'm shocked, haha! That was super nice! Thank you for putting that [introduction] together. The next single you can expect is called 'Freed From Desire.' For those who attended [Festival] Riverside, you would have been one of the firsts to hear it! The track will be dropping very soon..
[In addition,] if you were a fan of my 'Massive' [by Drake] rework that I did with Bynon, you can count on a bunch of other similar projects as well as collaborations coming soon! Although my team and I are still in the works to finalize which labels they will be released on, I can [proudly] say that one of them will be on Sony [Music].
[Another thing to note,] my productions will be going in a slightly different direction - a more dark and underground style of techno. I wanted to pursue this new [music route] because I like to stand out from the norms of the dance music industry and challenge my creative boundaries.
[Furthermore,] my most techno-focused productions like my 'San Frantechno' edit of Dom Dolla's 'San Frandisco' and the 'Massive' rework seems to be [very well-received]. I want to continue to create music that brings happiness to others and to myself whenever it's played. Techno seems to be the answer for me.
[To give you an idea,] some of the artists who inspire me are Porter Robinson, Zhu, i_o, and all of the other talent who seem to follow their own [creative] paths. [In my opinion,] it's good to be different - you should own it!
4) In your opinion, what is the perfect recipe to producing a best-selling single? Which one of your own songs is your top choice when it comes to the most reachability & why?
That's tough to say as I believe this "recipe" changes every month, even every week, in some cases. I think this is due to the rise of TikTok - it has really changed the music industry. For example, [the platform] can [make its audience] listen to a cover of a classic song, and in most cases, we'll end up liking it even more than the original. That's actually what happened with my upcoming single 'Freed for Desire' - I took a classic EDM song and did a cover of it.
This way of creating music is very popular in Europe as well, meaning to [resurrect] a classic track and breathe new life into it. A great example of this is David Ghetta and Bebe Rexha who remade [Eiffel 65's] 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' into 'I'm Good (I'm Blue'). Clearly, this "recipe" works because it seems to work with the biggest classic songs - throwbacks always come back!
For my music, it's hard to say as I feel like I'm just getting started! With this new direction I'm taking, I think my reachability may increase because of the reasons I mentioned before - techno seems to be working well for my career, and I really love it! So, more to come on this...
5) Is there anything else you'd like to share with The Flag Gang?
I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone who supports my releases and me in general. I also want to give a big shout out to The Flag Gang and the fam for the continued support - I feel like you'll always be part of my career.
[Moreover,] it was a great feeling to see the growth in my socials, specifically my Instagram account, over the past few months. As many of you know, I, [unfortunately,] got my account hacked a few months ago and had to start fresh. I was a little down losing some of the earliest memories of my career as well from my personal life that I shared. [That said,] seeing a lot of my followers join my new account and having the opportunity to rebuild it is rewarding as I have an opportunity to build new memories with you all.
[Furthermore,] when it comes to social media, I think a really important tool that allows us all to connect with our audience. As an artist, I feel like it's a character game; just look at FISHER - he's a master at it! Coming back to TikTok, I also think that's a [crucial] platform [to utilize] as it will help grow your fanbase, [and, ultimately, give you more exposure].
I can't wait for you to hear my new single 'Freed From Desire' - it will be out very soon. I'm also looking forward to announcing more of my shows, and I hope to see you in Cancun, if you can make it! I have a lot o projects in the works - so, keep it locked, and thank you again for all of your support. It means a lot to me!
Cover photo courtesy of Samuel Daly.
]]>Before we unveil some of our most coveted findings, we want to extend our appreciation to Marc-Antoine Massicotte for taking the time out of his busy schedule to meet with us. We were delighted to a get better glimpse into his impressive career as well as the rise of Festival Riverside.
It's not every day that we get to be in the presence of greatness - therefore, we didn't take this opportunity for granted. We asked the hard-hitting questions, and soaked up all of the wisdom that we could. As a result, we were left ready to tackle even the toughest of dilemmas thanks to his truly fantastic advice.
Whether you're passionate about the music and/or events industry, or you want to learn some of the best tricks of the trade to perfect your own profession, you'll want to check out our below article! Unquestionably, Massicotte was born to produce events - it's a pleasure to share his story with you all...
Thank you so much! [In all honesty,] I've been pretty much a ghost on socials. However, I wanted to share this [accomplishment] because even though it's an individual recognition, I also wanted to make sure that I congratulated my team. [In my opinion,] being a good leader is about having good people to guide.
Leadership is quite a special beast as it has really evolved in the past few years. [In the past,] a leader was someone who would simply make decisions and kind of bulldoze everyone. [In other words,] lead the way, but not necessary think about how their actions would impact others.
In our modern world, most individuals want a more transparent and open leadership. People want to collaborate, and be more involved, especially when it comes to the decision making. [On that same note,] they also want to take risks, learn, and improve.
[Additionally,] a good leader is someone who can guide a team to do all of the things they're seeking - [ultimately,] to encourage them to jump on opportunities to learn so we can improve together. Trust, patience, and being attentive, are all equally key factors to ensuring efficiency.
[Moreover,] recruiting great individuals, meaning they're able to consolidate the culture that we're trying to build, is crucial. For me, I'm continuously trying to fill in the gaps with people who I know can bring a lot to the table. With all that being said, I would say this would be my definition of a good leader.
[Festival] Riverside will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first large-scale project that I started. It's incredible to think that was almost 10 years ago now! To give you an idea, ÎleSoniq didn't even exist back then, so it makes me happy knowing that I started something that became so big.
[Furthermore,] it was cool to have a hunch that starting an electronic dance music festival was the right path to take in this market. [Nowadays,] I'm looking forward to involving our new team members so that they can bring the overall event and experience to a whole new level!
As for my past experiences, I've always been passionate about the EDM scene. There came a point where I had to slow down from going out as often as I did so that I could pursue other events and business ventures; and eventually, build my company the way I envisioned it.
Also, now that the pandemic has seemingly been put behind us, it's just so much fun to get back into what I love to do - bringing people together at events. I feel like my passion has been reignited! [Additionally,] I like where EDM is going right now - a sort of back-to-the-roots connection in the past year or so.
As you can imagine, the events industry had been one of the most touched due to the pandemic. It was very trying to keep my employees in house and busy during this unknown period of time. I certainly didn't want them to leave to pursue another job opportunity, but I understood their uncertainties.
Today, I am very proud to say that we've kept our staff. We even hired new employees that has resulted in our team being stronger than ever. If you were to have told us that this would be the case during the pandemic, we might not have believed you. We're thrilled to have such a solid team of people.
On that same topic, we also feel for our vendors because most of them have staff and supplies shortages, not to mention, they are dealing with inflation. Don't get me wrong, we're all dealing with this together, and we have a mutual understanding that things may not get back to "normal" for some time.
[That said,] my best advice to overcome challenges would be to keep surrounding yourself with people that you fully trust, and take care of them in any way that you can. I would encourage others to make their team members feel valued and heard - it will make all of the difference!
Over the past 10 years, I've always [dreamed of being] the guy that you would want to assist; not because you had to, but because you truly wanted to help me out. So, everything that I have, and that I've built, is out of respecting others. [As such,] having others support has been essential to overcoming obstacles.
If we go back to your first question, I am not the type of leader who is conflict-driven; I would describe myself to be very positive. In the events industry, we deal with a lot of organized chaos, so remaining positive and setting boundaries are important "tricks" for me to implement as well.
Finally, having an in-depth understanding of the roles you encounter can be extremely beneficial. In the events industry, we work with all kinds of people such as artists, media, marketing, logistics, production, etc., so we need to be open-minded about their different realities - and them of ours.
Those are great questions! I actually encountered two of my proudest moments [on the Saturday of Festival Riverside]. The first one that stands out involves Oliver Heldens. He's someone that I've respected for such a long time because he's a pioneer in the music industry. He has created his own sound and has really perfected his craft. So, finally booking him was a dream come true!
The other moment that brought a lot of pride for me was welcoming GRiZ to our [Festival] Riverside stage. I believe he is the next wonder in the music industry, and it was also cool that this was one of the only shows he performed in Canada this summer. So, to have him play such a great set was really special.
I also want to say how much I appreciated GRiZ's comments about how much he enjoyed his time at our festival. He shared how much he loved our venue and our team's energy. Hearing this kind of feedback really resonated with me and the team as it reinforced that we're doing great work.
Other things that are worth mentioning are, of course, some of the milestones since the very beginning. One that immediately comes to mind is in 2019, we were sold out for a couple of days. Another is the fact that we're able to keep this event alive in a public institution and in an urban set up right downtown - I mean, that's really special on its own because it's not easy to sustain.
Also, I find [Festival Riverside] is in a sweet spot because we're the biggest of the smallest events, and the smallest of the biggest ones, which means we can tailor more to areas like the overall experience. This also helps us better manage the value for money that our attendees encounter. I'm very proud of the quality/price we're able to offer our participants, especially in an urban setting.
As for the remaining items on my goals list, there are so many! For one, we just celebrated the 25th anniversary edition of the Fireworks Competition. Of course, I wasn't involved that long ago, but this experience reminded me that milestones are a great excuse to try new things...
With that being said, festivalgoers can count on some new added elements during Festival Riverside's 10th anniversary! Our team is looking forward to getting together for some strategic planning. It's also exciting that we have a full year to plan, this time around, now that the pandemic has ended.
I'd like to thank everyone at The Flag Gang for their support. To see many of you in the crowd was a beautiful sight to witness. I'd also like to extend my appreciation to all of our partners and everyone else who made this 9th edition possible. Lastly, I'm aiming to bring many of my projects to the next-level - I can't wait to share them with you all soon!
We had the pleasure of sitting down with the multi-talented artist for an exclusive interview following his charismatic performance at Festival Riverside earlier this month. We discussed everything from his musical journey, inspirations, productions, learning experiences, and much more!
We were truly blown away by the Canadian talent's uplifting answers and his comprehensive outlook on life. Although we've had the opportunity to get better acquainted with PAQS through the Ottawa Rave Community, we must admit that we weren't expecting for our personal energy to shift following this encounter.
We challenge you to read the below article and not to feel immediately better. The way he expresses himself is unquestionably powerful. We genuinely appreciated the fact that he wore his heart on his sleeve. Now, more than ever, it's evident to us why he rose to stardom in so many aspects of his life.
We can't wait to see what else the future holds for PAQS. Until then, here's a glimpse into what you can expect in the near future....
Yes, of course! I got into DJing and music in general through an odd route... When I was playing hockey, I actually had multiple head injuries; [therefore,] I had to end my sports career. [As a direct result,] I was struggling with insomnia; which meant I was awake during a good portion of the night. [Thus,] I decided to download 'VirtualDJ' to help pass the time.
[It really sparked my creativity!] I started to understand which songs worked best together, and I ended up making my first 7-minute mix. I decided to show it to my sister - she [instantly] told me how much she enjoyed it! [To give you an idea,] I started producing back in 2012. To be honest, I made a lot of sh*t music so I could finally create some stuff that sounded half decent...
From there, I kept creating more of these mixes and I was working on my own productions. This [hustle] eventually lead to my first gig, back 2014, where I played for 8 people. It was awesome! That's when I decided to check out Escapade Music Festival. Right away, I fell in love with all things dance music. From that moment, I knew that music was what I was meant to do in life.
[After that experience,] I put in the work, and landed myself a couple of resident DJ gigs at some of the nightclubs in Ottawa. I remember that Liquor Store/Green Room had quite a large capacity - from memory, up to 500+ attendees. [As such,] it was a great learning environment for a number of different reason. I will always be grateful for my first residency!
I also had a residency at Pub 101, where I would play on Thursdays. It was always crazy! These residencies allowed me to get my hands dirty; I haven't looked back since. [Therefore,] to be where I'm at today is a total dream come true! Even though it's nearly a decade in, I still get just as excited to play; the magic only seems to grow.
When it comes to what continues to inspire me, musically, I gotta give it up to everyone - sincerely! Every artist motivates me to push the boundaries of my craft due to their own artistic expression. The diversity and energy is really special. [That said,] if I had to pick a few talents, I would say the OGs like Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix, W&W and Brooks really impacted me.
Great questions! 'Escape' is a track of mine that I had made nearly 4 years ago. I actually dropped it at [Festival] Riverside for the first time, and the crowd went crazy! It was special to notice that some people recognized it. I love mixing in my own tracks during my sets to keep everyone on their toes. I especially love the sound design on 'Escape' - it pretty dark; a real vibe!
Also, I have so much more music that I've been sitting on. I call it my 'vault' - I can't wait to reach into it and allow some of the tracks to see the light of day. At the moment, I am just trying to feel out when and where would be the best place(s) to release these productions. I feel like I'm on my own agenda; it's great to have this creative liberty.
In regards to social media, I would say the biggest thing I'm lacking is a team. I've had a couple of managers in the past; but, that shifted when the pandemic hit as there was no longer a need for me to have one (lack of shows). I would love to work with a new manager moving forward. I really enjoy that comradery. If you're reading this, my DMs are always open.
Thank you! The biggest thing for me is visualization. For example, when I was booked for [Festival] Riverside, I visualized my expectations and my set as a whole weeks prior to the event. That way, when I walked on the stage, it felt like I had already performed a bunch of times over, alleviating all of the potential nerves. [Furthermore,] meditation is also an important tool as it allows me to stay focused and calm.
I would also like to say that it's a practically surreal feeling when you step on the stage due to the overflow of energy you feel as a DJ. So, it's really important for me to visualize and meditate before I take the decks. I encourage others in this field to do the same because when you encounter this influx of energy, it can start to weigh on you if you're not initially prepared. It's a little tricky to describe, but it's always better to be ready for the unexpected vibrations...
[Festival] Riverside was also [an experience I treasured] because my family was in attendance. Although they might not know this world, seeing their smiles and them dancing meant a lot to me. [What made my heart full,] was also seeing my brother at the rail and my sister on someone's shoulders - these are moments I will always remember. [Consequently,] any worries were simply nonexistent.
To answer your [subsequent] question, I would say that I am a pretty calm person. I feel like I feed off of my environment though - so, if there are a lot of people around me, or if there's music playing, that really impacts the energy I give off. In my day-to-day life, I also do multiple practices, like breathing exercises, which tend to bring me back into a generally tranquil state of being.
Another great question! Once again, I would have to say it's visualization. When one [imagines] where they want to go, what they want to do, and what they want to become, it will lead to great things. [In my opinion,] it's also important to trust your gut instinct and not force anything - just be yourself. These are all things that helped me grow in the industry and personally.
[On that same note,] I would also encourage others not to copy someone else. Simply, share what you love and be yourself. From my own past and present experiences, these ways of life seem to be working well for me. Finally, I would say to keep expressing yourself through pure love and good energy - that's what will take you to the top.
Yes! Get ready for lots of new music. I don't plan to stop for the remainder of my life. Like, until I get burred in the ground, I will be putting out my music and playing shows. So, my followers will always have something to look forward to - you better believe that! [Lastly,] I love each and every one of you. Thank you for everything. I just wholeheartedly love you!
Photos courtesy of Lakyn Marie Felix
]]>Recently, we had the absolute pleasure of attending the ninth edition. It's nearly shocking to acknowledge that the festival is approaching it's highly-anticipated tenth anniversary milestone. Ahead of the event, we took a moment to let that reality set in, and we began daydreaming about the soon-to-be epic instances that would await us this year. To add to the excitement, the organizers unveiled, arguably, their biggest lineup to date. Truthfully, our excitement levels were off the charts!
The programming promised performances by some of the biggest names in dance music such as R3hab, GRiZ, Dillon Francis, and more. As a veteran in our community, I can vouch that the founder, Marc-Antoine Massicotte, has been considering booking some of these names since the very beginning. Notably, Oliver Heldens has been on his radar since 2016 - it was a sincere pleasure seeing some of his dreams become a reality this year.
With that being said, we want to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to all of those who played a part in making Festival Riverside an actuality. Every year, we are left practically speechless by the spectacular results. Spoiler: this year was no different - in fact, it continued to blow many of our expectations out of the water! We can't wait to share some of our favourite highlights; so, let's dive right in...
On September 9th, 2022, we were ecstatic to kick-off our escapades during the final festival of the season! Our instincts took over and guided us towards making the most of this experience. We planned some of our most extravagant outfits to date - not excluding Kandi Braids to finish off many our looks. Fully decked out in ravewear, we began our journey towards Gatineau, Quebec, to soak up every minute of this occasion.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff, and even bumped into the festival's opener, Dashi! Instantly, we felt overcome with pride. We had conducted an interview with the up-and-coming producer earlier this year. Thus, seeing him take the decks during his first headlining festival performance was truly special to witness. On that same note, it was fantastic to see how many others, including local talent, arrived early to show their support.
With nothing but positivity flowing through the air, we began to explore the festival's grounds. Following last year's brief location change due to the pandemic, it was uplifting to see the event hosted at its rightful location. Not to mention, there weren't any necessary COVID-19 restrictions in place in comparison to the zones that needed to be enforced last year. In our opinion, that alone was worth celebrating!
As usual, the vast space behind the Canadian Museum of History offered a stunning spot to host many of the elements attendees have come to appreciate. For instance, the jaw-dropping view of Parliament Hill and the Kandies World's stations. This year, participants were treated to complimentary activations such as glitter stations as well as large-scale games like Jenga, Beer Pong, Connect Four and more.
Our prayers to the rave Gods must have been answered as this edition was hands-down the warmest in history. Therefore, it was great having a Mr. Freeze stand available and designated zones by the water to cool down. On the topic of food, attendees were very spoiled this year as a wide-variety of food trucks were on-site. Each vendors offered an excellent selection of items, ensuring to satisfy all dietary restrictions and food allergies. The tacos were our favourite!
Throughout the evening, participants witnessed some mesmerizing visual productions. In particular, Drezo and R3hab's pyro and motion graphics were impeccable! As the weekend progressed, they seem to become even more eye-catching. We'd like to give a huge shout out to the audiovisual and other technical teams for delivering some of the best work we've seen at Festival Riverside so far.
Speaking of unforgettable moments, we particularly loved Dave Summit, Drezo and R3hab's performances based on our own genre preferences and their overall stage presence. Unfortunately, Chris Lorenzo fell ill prior to the festival - therefore, Drezo took his place. It was quite admirable to witness him command the stage while running on zero rest. He even broke the sound system by unleashing his dark/imaginative productions. Simply put, he's a weapon!
Looking ahead at the lineup, we secretly wished for Drezo to extend his stay as Dillon Francis was scheduled to perform at the festival on Sunday as well as at City At Night as DJ Hanzel (his beloved alter-ego). To witness the duo go b2b, once again, would have been iconic! Sadly, this wasn't possible. Nevertheless, we appreciated how the weekend played out and were grateful for the individuals who stepped up to fill in the gaps.
On Saturday, we couldn't get to the festival's grounds quick enough! The lineup was stacked with some of the most sough-after artists in the music industry. We couldn't believe how blessed we were to have the opportunity to see them perform; there were even some we had never seen play live before like Ray Volpe and Frank Walker. That being said, we hurried to scarf down some rave fuel (junk food), and quickly made our way to the stage to catch each set!
Kicking things off was our new discovery, VLOOUE. The rising DJ set the tone for the day by dropping bass and progressive house anthems; ultimately, she kept her audience engaged and grooving to the beats! Up next was the multi-talented PAQS. It was no surprise to us, nor to his family that were present, that he delivered a high energy and captivating performance. We even caught up with the skilled musician following his set - keep it locked for that and also for our exclusive interviews with Dave Summit and Festival Riverside's founder...
The remainder of the festivities that took place on September 10th, 2022, felt like a fantasy of sorts. Even when we're reminiscing about it now, it's almost hard to comprehend the sheer level of epicness that went down that day. Many of the artists played some of their new and even some unreleased IDs; notably, Oliver Heldens tested out the 1st version of his 'I'm Good (Blue)' remix for David Guetta and Bebe Rexha's hit single. Personally, we loved it! Also, his HI-LO-heavy set and him shuffling in front of the decks fulfilled our greatest hopes!
In addition to Helden's monumental performance, there are a few other honourable mentions that we must note. Ray Volpe surprised us by his entertaining stage presence, not excluding his funny speech noting that it was still too bright for lasers, but that he would still be dropping his praised 'Laserbeam' track even without them. The audience roared in delight - nearly as much as when he walked the crowd to meet his fans! GRiZ wowed the crowd with his self-described future-funk productions and saxophone skills.
There's no question that Saturday brought a wave of excitement. The exhilaration didn't seem to come to an end as a curveball hit mid-festival. Our favourite MC, Carl Müren, hopped on the mic to deliver some unfortunate news. He confirmed Habstrakt wouldn't be able to perform due to flight delays, though he would make it in time to play his headlining after-party set that Audioform spearheaded. Consequently, many of the scheduled sets were extended.
While it was no secret that some partygoers were disappointed by the revelation, others, like us, appreciated the fact that the Festival Riverside's organizers quickly found doable solutions to the circumstances at hand. As such, it wasn't long before they took to their official social media channels to announce the glorious news. On Sunday, JOYRYDE would share his allotted set with Habstrakt for a historic back to back performance!
When Sunday rolled around, our curiosity overcame us as we couldn't wait to discover what the future would hold. For some reason, it was clear to us that the final day of the festival would be extra special; our instincts and the atmosphere pointed to endless positivity. The local talent (WAB, Ghetto Birds and TIZI) warmed things up nicely as many festivalgoers got a later start to the festivities.
When Riordan took the decks, we were left smiling from ear to ear! His soulful house and tech house mixes hit us right in the feels. We're looking forward to following his promising career moving forward. This was another artist in which were thrilled to add to our recent discoveries list. Following this memorable set, Vicetone took the stage, and delivered their recognized mainstage worthy performance.
Switching things up from the previous set, AC Slater brought forth his signature "Night Bass" sound. If you're unfamiliar with the label boss' work, it fuses most infectious elements of house music with the dirty basslines of UK garage and sprinkles of old-school rave synths and breaks. In our opinion, he unquestionably delivered one of the best sets of the weekend, hyping up all those who were in a listening distance.
Following AC Slater's dynamic performance, it was time to witness history unfold... JOYRYDE and Habtrakt were about to go b2b! As the organizers mentioned during their announcement, the talented artists are real-life friends. Therefore, this fact was immediately apparent as they both fed off of each other's electric personalities and their praiseworthy musical abilities. In all honesty, it was an incredibly special thing to witness. We were entertained from start to finish!
At this point in time, Dillon Francis took the decks to deliver a fantastic closing set. Moreover, as the ninth edition slowly came to an end, a wave of gratitude swept over us. Festival Riverside has always been a big highlight of our summer. Not only do the organizers and other team members involved deliver an amazing result, but it also allows us a meeting point to celebrate our community. To all of those who shared a hug, smile, laugh, etc., with us, thank you for brightening our life and for sending off festival season/the summer in the best way possible! We hope to see you on the dance floor soon, Flag fam.
Photos courtesy of: @moose.vision & @antonyphoto
]]>
Recently, we had this important epiphany of sorts. Following this realization, we were acknowledged with one of the biggest moments of our career to date! On September 16, 2022, we were invited to be part of a significant press conference.
This opportunity would be different in comparison to the interviews we've done in the past. This chance would allow us to be amongst other reporters to interview one of the biggest names in dance music - none other than Hardwell!
The legend was scheduled to make one of the earliest stops in his 'Rebels Never Die' tour. To mark this monumental occasion, it called for a venue to match its magnitude. Thus, the Olympic Stadium in Montreal was booked.
If you've been following our journalism journey for some time now, you know that we take a lot of pride in our work. That said, as always, we didn't take this opportunity lightly. We understood we needed to ask the hard-hitting questions.
As you can imagine, we put even more pressure on ourselves than usual. We wanted to ensure we allowed Hardwell the opportunity to speak his truth, especially following his four-year hiatus from touring. We couldn't wait to discuss what kind of a whirlwind he had encountered.
Truthfully, we became overwhelmed with emotions as we began to ponder which inquiries we would officially ask him. We reminisced about his noteworthy career, including some of the hardships he faced. The process was incredibly powerful and inspiring.
It was at this moment in time where we knew we had to dig a little deeper into who the man behind Hardwell truly is. Consequently, our instinct and research guided us towards, what we believed, would be especially thoughtful questions.
As fate would have it, we ended up with the opportunity to have a one-on-one discussion with the multi-talented Dutch producer. Honestly, this took us by surprise as we anticipated a quick chat alongside other curious reporters.
The aspect that ended up shocking us the most was how comfortable we felt in his presence. Instantly, his calm demeaner and professionalism made us feel at ease. This baffled us as we were surrounded by very influential spectators.
We didn't waste any time before we investigated some of our biggest inquiries. We dove deep to touch on everything from his relationships in the music industry, to remaining bucket list items. What he shared left us speechless!
We want to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to everyone who was involved in this colossal occasion. Perhaps without realizing it, you also assisted in making other individuals dreams a reality. For that, we are forever grateful.
Without further ado, check out what Hardwell shared with us below. He is sincerely one of the most down-to-earth and luminary people we've ever encountered! We aspire that our interview sparks your personal motivation...
One thing about music that never ceases to amaze us is its way of uniting people. In fact, it brought you and one of our favourite Flag fam members together, Domeno.
Seeing your friendship grow over the years has been incredibly special to witness! You’ve gone from strangers who bounded through your mutual passion for music, to reuniting on the second episode of your 'Revealed Podcast' during one of the most critical times in your life.
That said, it’s no secret that the music industry is very competitive and demanding. Do you have any personal strategies and boundaries in place for gauging which individuals you want to let into your world, and how does this approach aid in your overall success? Feel free to use Domeno as an example – we know he’s exceptional...
I love this question! I think the most important thing about music is connecting people. It's the most universal language on this [planet]. I can make an instrumental dance record, without any lyrics at all, and people can relate to it. It's a feeling - a way of uniting us all. That's how I met Domenic [Pandolfo, as you mentioned] and a lot of others in my life. That's basically the only thing that I [constantly] want to achieve with my [productions]. [So much so,] the name of my first album is 'United We Are' - it's always been my main goal.
With my new productions, I was trying to approach different genres like underground, commercial, big room, etc. so that I could reach more people, and [ultimately,] bring everyone together through music. It's the best feeling in the world! So, I would say my best strategy is if we connect through music, you're one step closer to being welcomed into my life. Success is then mutual as we build together.
On behalf of myself and The Flag Gang, thank you for being one of the biggest universal sounds of music for us all.
Thank you very much! That's a big compliment.
From a professional point of view, what do you have left on your 'Revealed Recordings' bucket list, and what makes these undertakings so sought-after for you?
Time flies! Revealed Recordings is turning 13 this year. There's still a lot that I want to accomplish. I always try to embrace new talent and every genre is welcome [on my imprint] so long as it's dance music. So, we're looking to grow the label by bringing a fresh take to the scene. [On that same note,] we also started 'Gemstone Records' - a more melodic and underground label. [Furthermore,] we're also doing a lot of label management for artists.
I think the future of Revealed is all about embracing the talent we already have and also signing new artists. I feel like we're doing a great job as we're not focusing on radio or commercial dance records, but instead, our goal is to release amazing dance records from really talented people. We don't work with artists who have ghost producers or others with a vision of being famous.
Our labels calls our team members "the family" because, I, myself can relate to everyone who is signed to the imprint. We all have the same vision, even if we don't produce the same genre(s). A lot of exciting projects are underway - we can't wait to share them [with you all] soon.
]]>
As fate would have it, we stumbled upon the most perfect event to satisfy our greatest desires: ELEVATION 002. We had the honour of covering the debut edition earlier this year; therefore, we were eager to see how evenko, NEON, Loud x Clear, Frontrite and Monkey Buzinezz would top the previous successful event; and ultimately, send off the summer in the best way possible.
Our expectations were high as we reminisced about the magic we experienced at ELEVATION 001. In case you missed it, you can check out our exclusive event recap here. To add to our already high anticipations, when we first caught wind of the lineup, we instantly had no doubts that the second occasion in the series would be anything short of spectacular!
Back in March, during the event's official launch, we were truly blown away by the overall production. In all honesty, we were perfectly content with the one stage as it included all of the key points ravers are known to adore: an amazing sound system, impeccable visuals, etc. The second event promised a whopping two stages designed to distinguish the beloved worlds of trance and techno.
We couldn't wait to see how the organizers would double the production value. In fairness, we knew they would live up to our wildest presumptions as two legends were announced to hold down the esteemed slots amongst the programming. The trance stage would be headlined by none other than Armin van Buuren, while Boris Brejcha would headline the techno stage.
Luckily, it took no time for the long weekend to roll around. The moment we had been waiting for had finally arrived! With a suitcase packed with techno gear and a stomach full of butterflies, we began our road trip to Montreal for ELEVATION 002. We expressed to our friends that this event was a marathon and not a sprint due to the 10-hour timeframe - which seemed fitting as it would take place at the Olympic Stadium.
Decked out in a black monochromatic outfit and chains, we made our way to the Olympic Park. It seemed as though we weren't the only ones who shared in the mindset to arrive early as many partygoers flocked to the entrance. Despite the wave of attendees, the line's wait times were more than reasonable. The security team conducted a thorough search before we walked through metal detectors. Like before, we instantly felt safe and well looked after.
One of our favourite moments was witnessing our friends' reactions while they approached the main room. It triggered our own memories from earlier this year when we first experienced the same moment. Hearing the bass and seeing the glowing lights in the distance was simply sheer bliss. We couldn't wait to begin our newest adventure, especially with this particular group of music enthusiasts...
Upon arrival, we began to take in our surroundings. We quickly noticed some admirable upgrades and changes were made since the previous edition. The overall layout seemed to flow much better. For example, the portable toilets were in a new location and even additional ones were spread out to allow for the attendees to waste less time walking away from the stage.
On the topic of the venue's rework, we spotted various bars and vendors booths expertly spread out throughout the space. Previous attendees could certainly gather that the organizers truly took the time to listen to all of the feedback post-event, whether it may have been positive or negative. The modifications we witnessed were fantastic and unquestionably added to the best experience possible. That said, a wave of gratitude overcame us...
While we were soaking up the atmosphere, one of the things that stood out to us was the influx of balloons. They really added to the general vibe of the space. Adorable and funny characters soared above, adding another visually pleasing aspect in addition to the lasers beaming throughout the room. Props to those who brought them - you all added a special element to the night!
The techno beats were thumping and reverberating off the walls. The talented openers were warming up the crowd nicely. Our curiosity overcame us - we wanted to explore the trance stage; and that's exactly what we did! Just a short walk past the techno stage lead into the other room. We felt a rapid shift from the fast-paced genre to the often melodic realm of trance music. It unequivocally awoken all of our senses...
Throughout the night, we bounced back and forth from the stages as if we were a bouncy ball. We wanted to catch as many sets are possible as the level of talent on the bill was sincerely jaw-dropping. Each artists delivered a memorable set, unleashing their distinct sound and commanding the decks as if it was in their coding. We were sincerely blown away by the various performances!
Some of the highlights for us at the trance stage was karl k-otik working through technical glitches to still deliver a commendable set, Nifra's powerful stage presence, Ruben de Ronde holding the Quebec flag and radiating positive vibes, MaRlo's entertaining visuals matched with his charismatic energy, Aly & Fila's army of dedicated fans chanting their anthems, and Armin van Buuren's dynamic set full of old and new-school bangers!
As for the techno stage, some of our favourite moments included when Ann Clue dropped everything from deep dark melodic to acid and strong basslines, Moritz Hofbauer's physical movements reminded us of Avicii's iconic arm gestures, HNTR played 'Opus' that was masterfully mixed with a filthy techno drop for the ages; and of course, when the sensational Boris Brejcha took the decks to deliver one of the most captivating performances we had ever seen!
Although there were many noteworthy high points throughout ELEVATION 002, the one that unquestionably stood out amongst the rest was observing two of the most beloved music genres in dance music colliding. It was incredibly special to see even the most devoted of fans smiling from ear to ear in appreciation for music as a whole. We feel blessed to have lived this experience and are counting down until the next one...
]]>
The pandemic certainly put a pause on many of our dance music related plans. That said, that didn't stop us from fully taking advantage of this year's events once the restrictions lifted. Although festival season is already coming to an end, there's one event you'll want to add to your calendar to wrap up the summer: ELEVATION 002.
On Sunday, September 4, 2022, get ready to experience two of the most praised worlds of dance music colliding at Montreal's Olympic Stadium (East Hall). Whether you're a trance or techno enthusiast, you'll never have to choose between the two genres as the organizers have created two distinct rooms for all to enjoy.
The trance stage will welcome the likes of the legendary Armin van Buuren, MarLo, Nifra, Ruben De Ronde, kärl k-otik and the recently announced Aly & Fila. Taking the decks at the techno stage will be the acclaimed superstar Boris Brejcha, Ann Clue, Moritz Hofbauer, HNTR, Kev Sunshine, Mike Larry, and Uppercut.
Be sure to wear your dancing shoes as these incredible artists will play until the event's end at 6:00AM! That's right, you'll be able to soak in all of this good music until the sun comes up! Plus, if you're anything like us, you'll be bouncing from stage to stage - comfortable footwear is key...
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of attending evenko, NEON, and Loud X Clear's first edition of ELEVATION. Although the programming speaks for itself, feel free to check out our exclusive event recap to get a better sense of what to expect here. Trust us, you won't want to miss this soon-to-be epic event!
To secure your spot, make sure to sure to purchase your tickets ASAP here. As you can imagine with an event of this caliber, tickets are flying, including the VIP tickets that are now completely sold out. Therefore, don't sleep on getting your GA tickets before it's too late!
We are looking forward to seeing you on the dancefloor, Flag fam! If you haven't had the chance to experience the first edition of ELEVATION, we're truly ecstatic for you to see what the organizers have in store... We are dreaming of how they'll top the last event - we're positive we'll all be pleasantly surprised!
]]>
We always have high hopes ahead of îLESONIQ as the organizers are infamous for throwing one of the highest caliber music festivals in Canada. This year, in addition to the expectation of a memorable event, several new upgrades, activations, and more, were promised. Amongst the lengthy list of updates, the Bell OASIS Mainstage was guaranteed to be 2.5 times bigger, making it one of the biggest mobile stages in Canada! We couldn't wait to witness it ourselves.
In true îLESONIQ fashion, we were well-prepared prior to the festival thanks to its efficient newsletters and social media posts, mainly outlining helpful information such as the site map, set times, transportation, etc. This year, the organizers even offered different Metro ticket options so that the attendees could choose which one would be most economical for their own commutes. As such, we did not have any issues making our way to the festival's grounds by Metro.
Once we exited the station, we instantly felt a wave of positivity due to the contagious sounds of laughter and excitement flowing through the air. It was immediately obvious to us that this weekend was on the verge of becoming extra special. Thanks to the well-laid-out grounds and provided site map, the check-in process was quick and efficient! The staff conducted a thorough search and their friendly nature kicked off our adventure on the right foot.
The groovy baseline were reverberating in the distance. Joel Corry was setting the tone nicely ahead of our must-see performance of the weekend - James Hype! Although we were eager (to say the least) to see the acclaimed British producer's set, we made time to visit the various photo-worthy areas, including a large-scale îLESONIQ sign, at the top of a hill, overlooking mainstage. A quick stop to a bar was also made before wiggling our way through the crowd.
It was from that moment on that our smile was permanently displayed across our face for the remainder of the weekend. While we were surrounded by like-minded ravers, we began to take in just how magical this moment truly was. The power of music, specifically how it unites so many, never ceases to amaze us. We felt an overflow of gratitude as James Hype was about to take the decks. To add to the uniqueness of the occasion, we locked eyes with the artist and seemingly telepathically communicated "this was about to be...epic!"
We've followed his musical journey for some time now. Seeing Hype command the decks in front of our eyes was everything and more that we could have imagined. From beginning to end, James Hype had everyone dancing in sheer delight! The weather was on our side as the sun was shining - perfectly complimenting the sheer heat coming from the decks! As predicted, and as if a dream became a reality, 'Ferrari' was played, and the crowd erupted!
As undeniable bliss consumed our body, we began to further explore the festival grounds. Aside from the Mirage and Neon stages, we passed by the Monster Energy Container, Bell Experience, Bud Light Cooler, Coke Studio, Casa Bacardi, Kandies World and other companies' booths. This was in addition to the other expertly laid out food and alcohol vendors - each offering various options and services. As such, the wait times were very reasonable!
Speaking of timing, we were quite impressed by the amount of sets we managed to squeeze in throughout the weekend. We certainly got our steps in as we bounced from stage to stage! On that same note, we want to give a massive shout out to all the maintenance workers who were tirelessly cleaning the festival grounds, without any complaints. îLESONIQ prides themselves on being environmentally friendly - this was noticed throughout the 3 days.
Mother Nature must have been smiling from ear to ear as she witnessed most attendees filling up their reusable water bottles - another admirable environmental element the organizers encouraged from the very beginning. The water component was unquestionably present. The real MVP of the weekend was the gorgeous water fountain next to the mainstage. The extreme heat wave seemingly came out of nowhere - a refreshing zone was highly appreciated!
On the topic of appreciation, the official programming is one we can't praise enough! The level of talent among the bill was nearly unheard of... We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to the organizers for curating such a thoughtful lineup. Every day, attendees had the opportunity to explore new genres and artists. We believe we can speak on behalf of all festival-goers when we say it was incredible to witness the magic of the music programming unfold...
Some of our all-time favourite sets during the weekend were as followed:
Day 1:
Fisher - his beloved chaotic energy contagiously translated to his stage presence.
Tchami - his chart-topping singles like 'Praise' and 'Adieu', and his beautiful visuals, often making reference to the church, were a match made in Heaven.
John Digweed - a legendary techno set before sunset? We'd love to see this happen more frequently; the vibe was immaculate!
Black Tiger Sex Machine - they certainly did their hometown proud. Their Futuristic Thriller visual production is always a hit, and despite 2/3 tigers having performed, they delivered enough energy for the trio and more!
Day 2:
MARTEN HØRGER - the house music Gods all seemed to be present at this set; it was a spiritual thing! Shufflers united in celebration of this uplifting genre.
DVBBS - the Canadian duo hit us right in the nostalgia with their iconic throwback anthems like 'Tsunami' - the crowd went absolutely wild!
Sean Paul - despite the intensive trek to the Mirage stage, it seemed like more than half of the festival's attendees made the journey to see the living legend perform. The Jamaican dancehall rapper had an extensive production, resulting in a memorable performance for all...
Don Diablo - without a doubt, the Dutch DJ is one of the most consistent artists when it comes to his branding. The future theme was present throughout his entire set and his army of Hexagonions were eating up every minute of it!
Subtronics - not going to lie, our neck is still recovering from this jaw-dropping performance! The bass heads were out in full-force, headbanging in appreciation for his expert mashups and unexpected drops.
ILLENIUM b2b Excision - after watching their historic back to back performance at Lost Lands, we had high hopes for their îLESONIQ set. Spoiler ~ they did not disappoint! It was spectacular to see how well their singles and personas complimented each other's. We feel blessed to have witnessed it in person.
Dom Dolla - wow; we have goosebumps thinking back to this impeccable set! There will never be enough words to describe how epic it truly was... The Australian musician unleashed one of the best house sets we've ever had the pleasure of hearing, dropping some unreleased IDs and his newest heater 'Miracle Maker.' It was one of those sets we wish we could relive again and again. In our opinion, Dom Dolla delivered the set of the weekend!
Day 3:
Dombresky - the French producer set the tone nicely for the last day of the festival by playing some soulful house anthems. When he dropped Stardust's 'Music Sounds Better With You,' he had everyone grooving in unison.
Barely Alive - to say we were always on our toes at this set is an understatement! The genre-bending performance kept everyone guessing, mixing dubstep, pop, trap, rock, drum & bass...honestly, every genre you could have imagined! Our mind was absolutely...blown!
Markus Schulz - a light rain began to sprinkle from above, adding to the magic of this beautifully melodic trance set. We always love moments like this...
Wooli - the American riddim and dubstep producer surprised his fans by bringing out the rising superstar Stoned Level. This unquestionably added to the excitement levels ahead of SVDDEN DEATH's hard-hitting set where he encouraged a wall of death!
Lane 8 - we couldn't have been more proud of the American musician for locking down a well-deserved spot on the Mainstage. It's been a pleasure witnessing his growth throughout the years. His set was nearly a celebration of how far he's come since he first launched his career - it was magic...
Louis The Child - although we were only able to catch part of their set, what we did manage to witnessed was truly incredible! The way the duo feeds off of each other's energy and their skillful music selection is next-level. We can't wait to see them perform again in the future.
Swedish House Mafia - rave royalty was certainly present to close out the festival! The esteemed trio wasted no time delivering their biggest anthems, including 'One,' 'Greyhound,' 'Antidote,' and more. It was incredibly special hearing most of the audience singing their tracks while fireworks were displayed in the distance.
îLESONIQ 2022 was hands down their best edition yet! Although the organizers, artists and staff are what make this event possible, we are equally as grateful to our Flag fam for making this experience memorable. We will cherish these memories for years to come! If you're like us, you're already dreaming of next year's edition... Well, good news ~ the official dates have been revealed. Mark your calendars, next year's îLESONIQ will take place from August 11-13, 2023.
]]>
We felt it was our duty to share this unexpected awakening as this up-and-coming producer is the embodiment of this message. We aspire that this contagious encouragement can be passed along to our Flag fam. Also, we all have special gifts to offer this world; always look for inspiration around you.
Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the Canadian talent for an exclusive interview. We wanted to dive deeper into his effortless insight and the exhilarating world of BUNDARR. We discussed everything from his musical upbringing, various roles in the music industry, upcoming releases, and more!
We want to thank this skilled artist for being an open book. We truly can't wait to see what the future holds for his promising craft. To find out why we believe BUNDARR is one of the hidden gems in our local dance music scene, check out what he shared with us below...
It all started with PMP Records. A friend of mine released on [the imprint] and it got my wheels turning. At the time, I had only released on one label, and I wanted to see if it was possible for me to release on PMP. So, I sent them over a few songs - they ended up loving them! After that, the team offered me long-term deal. From there, I wanted to jump right in ~ basically, get involved with anything that I possibly could.
At that point, [the label head] COLLINS and I started discussing some of the skills I could offer. I've always enjoyed listening to music and dissecting it. I would call myself a critic. That's when we came to the mutual decision that I should take on the role as A&R at PMP. During this time, UNDERCOVER was about to host an event. That's when I started to get involved with them. We all became close [because of our common interests].
[To put you into perspective,] this was all happening during the pandemic. I was working on [various projects] with a bunch of different people. Someone I spent a lot of time with was Marshall [Mcmahon] (A/V technician). In time, it lead me to working with Audioform. I had a good foundation because of my schooling and prior interests. Like I did with PMP, I offered to help with whatever I could. I ended up learning a lot! Nowadays, I help out where I am needed.
From a production standpoint, I started when I was about 16 years old, but I dedicated myself to it when I was 19-21; that's when I really [began] to believe that I could do it! I work full-time in the government, but my mind is always on music. I am constantly making as many songs as possible - some good, some bad. [That said,] sometimes I feel like I've made a "polished turd", haha! I always do my best to make sure the productions I release are up to my standards.
[Why is it important for me to assist? Well,] it helps our community, especially when you have a lot of dedicated people involved! This was [apparent] to me when I started helping Audioform's team. The things the company does are really impressive. It's also at the top of my list to be able to focus solely on producing and events in the future - as my main career, I mean.
As of right now, my proudest moment is my upcoming release on CruCast! [TFG: more on this below.] It was validating to know that I am doing something right, especially in the UK baseline world. Now, I feel like I can't go back because I was able to land such a big [imprint]. I also felt this way when Dr. Fresch played my music in front of a huge crowd... Before this happened, I put my track on his Discord; it was so cool to see it blow up like it did! I wasn't expecting it - it's lead to some big exposure and opportunities.
Thank you! I'm so excited about it. It will be releasing on July 29th [TFG: this Friday]; it's called 'Crave.' Fun fact: it doesn't have anything to do with the song, I just thought it sounded cool, haha! As for the creative process, I started making the track like I usually do: building the drop and then going from there. This time, I started to make the drop, but I couldn't figure out what to do with the main melody. That's when I got my roommate [COLLINS] to listen to it and see what he could do to [improve it]…
When he was messing around with the drop, I ended up hearing this one [particular] note! I immediately knew what to do with it from there. I took over, stripped everything, but I kept that one note. As I was building around it, I loved the UK baseline feel of it - gritty and aggressive. It was one of those moments where you just know it was about to turn into something special... I had a feeling it would be a quick song to finish from there on because I was so inspired by that one note. [And that's exactly what happened.]
If I were to describe my sound, I would need to start from the beginning. About 4 months ago, I would have explained it to be very underground/house kind of vibes. I wouldn't say it was very "busy", it was more a minimal sound with a groovy base and hard-hitting drums.
Now, I am actually switching over my branding because I've been getting a lot more excited over more aggressive and heavy-hitting house tracks - UK baseline falls into that, in my opinion. The songs I've been making lately have fit the re-branding and are being made because I've gained more skill to actually produce this style of music now.
This will be my first-ever EP! I've always loved Latin house; [in fact,] it was what first influenced my tech-house productions [in the early stages of my career]. It wasn't until my girlfriend went to Mexico that I really felt the need to create something with this Latin feel. I was hard jealous when she went on her trip because I also wanted to be in the on the beach/soaking in the sun. While she was there, I ended up making three songs in one day! The last song [on my EP] was made a few days after that.
[I must admit,] it may not be the "craziest" thing ever... [However,] I really enjoy the Latin sounds. I am excited for everyone to hear it, and maybe you'll start to enjoy it too (if you don't already). Some of the songs are more party vibes, while the others are more chill. The EP is called Quiero Bailar, which means: "I want to dance" in Spanish. Another fun fact is that I don't speak Spanish. I just wanted the EP to stick to that Latin feel... It will also be out on July 29th!
I also wanted to say that there are couple of collabs on my EP. One of them is with my other roommate, DELVOIE. We sampled 'Feel Good Inc.' by Gorillaz. The vocal sample just seemed to fit the groovy melody that we were already producing for my EP. So, we ended up grabbing the vocal, chopped it up a bit, and started to fill the gaps. The other [collaboration] is with another skilled local and friend called exst.
Pre-Save BUNDARR's Quiero Bailar EP here.
[Performances wise,] I will be closing for No Thanks at KULTURE on July 29th (big day for me)/performing alongside the entire PMP crew and other incredible artists. This show is really special for me because I will not only be performing, but I have also been involved with the event's organization from start to finish. Although I can't give away the location, I do want to say that it's a really cool venue! I think it's going to be really promising.
Also, on August 12th, I will be headlining RITUAL with DELVOIE at The 27 Club. After that, I will perform at two other shows that are still unannounced... What I can say is that the second show is probably the biggest one of my career; it will be held in Ottawa. It's going to be absolutely insane! I'm super excited for that.
Yes! Don't sleep on BUNDARR, haha! I also want to give a big shout out to everyone who's working hard in our scene. I think that everyone in Canada should have their eyes on Audioform, FMG, UNDERCOVER, PMP, and so many other events companies.
At first, I felt that everyone doubted us; but, now, look who's laughing! I would say these companies are throwing the biggest shows in the area, likely in the two nearest provinces as well! I feel so blessed to be part of it all...
]]>
Are you looking to attend an event that's guaranteed to be out of this world, but you don't want to planet? Look no further! EDX Productions, Audioform and Campus Vibez uOttawa (CVUO) have got you covered. They've found the perfect space to launch a party called Cosmos. Trust us, it's going to be a blast!
On July 16, 2022, get ready to experience one of the most highly-anticipated events of the summer. 202 Sparks Street is gearing up to welcome some of the hottest talent for an extra-terrestrial-themed house music event like no other.
The night will kick off with some historic b2b performances by VANPAGE and JJ as well as Meeb Reezy and WAB. Surgeon S' long-awaited set will follow. Locking down the headlining spot is the one and only CastNowski!
In case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with CastNowski here to get a glimpse into his artistry and recent brand reorientation ahead of his performance. A little birdie told us he'll be playing some of his new and unreleased productions. You won't want to miss it!
Be sure to grab your tickets ASAP as this event will sell out. These incredible artists are eager to deliver memorable sets, and with top-tier production/entertainment companies behind Cosmos, you know it will be stellar!
Lastly, make sure to wear an outfit worthy of space to fit the theme. You never know, you may walk away with a constellation prize for being the star of the event...
]]>The world seemed much darker during the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, times are brighter now, and it's matched with the summer's rays. In addition, the light is shinning on Ottawa's Bluesfest as it's making a 'historic comeback' in the words of the organizers.
Despite its hiatus dating back to 2019, the hardworking team behind the festival is eager for it to make its triumphant return. Starting today, July 7th, 2022, dedicated fans will flock to the beloved LeBreton Flats grounds to participate in this monumental occasion!
Although an abbreviated version of the festival took place last fall at Landsdowne Park, something simply felt off for a lot of its devoted partygoers. Like most, we've discovered that this was due to it being held at another location other than its original home..
As one can imagine, after a 2-year interval, there will be some changes on the horizon. This year, Bluesfest is going cashless; therefore, all vendors (food, beverages and merchandise) are equipped to accept Interac, all major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Additionally, there have been some recent changes to its lineup. To our delight, the one highly-anticipated dance music act we've had on our radar has not been modified: Marshmello. The praised producer is set to perform on July 12th, 2022! We look forward to hearing some of his biggest singles live.
Regardless of these adjustments, if you purchased a pass in 2020, the organizers have guaranteed that it will be honoured this year. Keep it locked to Bluesfest's official app, website and socials for more related details. We look forward to feeling 'Happier' on the dance floor 'Together' very soon!
]]>
His musical journey has led him to share the stage with some of the biggest names in house music. If that weren't impressive enough, the Canadian talent also runs his very own imprint. In true CastNowski fashion, he recently took the time out of his busy schedule to sit down with us for an exclusive interview. To say this artist has remained humble despite his ongoing triumphs is an understatement. We discussed everything from his craft to life. Check it out...
It would be four words: good to be back! It's been about 2 years since we've been able to have a full-on festival; as in, no restrictions. To see the crowd in front of me without [them sporting] any masks, no sections nor barriers in place, etc., was a really special moment.
Another reason why I enjoyed this comeback was because I was able to preview a few new songs in front of an audience. They ended up getting a great reaction which in turn made me really happy! I recently produced them; so, I haven't pitched them to any record labels yet. I hope to get them out there soon to eventually release them to my fans...
[On that same topic,] I'm actually in the midst of doing a fresh rebranding which showcases more melodic and vocal pieces, but, at the same time, I'm still trying to keep my underground sound. The rebrand is a lot of fun - I'm starting to include more horns and a Latino type of flair that I felt was missing before.
I pride myself on sticking to a "dad vibe" kind of style nowadays. I'm excited to share it with you all soon.
I'd have to say some of the best moments for me happened behind the scenes. Having the opportunity to reunite with some other people in the industry, that I haven't seen since the beginning of the pandemic, was great! I will never take these [occasions] for granted ever again.
In my opinion, right now is a rebirth of the entire music industry - not just of my label. I've noticed a huge rollout of new artists, teams, venues...everything. I would say the revival is more of a "reorientation." The reason why I chose this word instead of the other is because I want everything about my craft to be more accessible.
I used to create more underground/bass-heavy productions. Now, I would prefer my sound to be more usable on the radio. I've already seen a shift in people reaching out to me on social media - it's proving that I'm on the right track of becoming more accessible to a wider audience.
[Furthermore,] seeing as how the music industry is going through this rebirth, I figured this was the perfect time to go on the journey together. Some may say that this period of time is emotional, in a sense, and I would agree with them. This is also why I've tried to shift my sound to be more melodic and vocal.
As for the future of my imprint, I want to keep it as a platform for myself and for up-and-coming artists that I personally think are amazing. I don't foresee it becoming a label that's exactly "by the books." I want to run my imprint by the way that I envision it, not by the way someone else pictures it to be. It's really important to me to be in control of my whole career.
[Moreover,] I have my business plan in place (spending, marketing, etc.) - I'm not just winging it. [That said,] I want to keep the label and my team close-knit. Over the years, I've met a lot of hardworking and passionate people. As time goes on, it becomes more and more important to me to surround myself with people that I can rely in. I'm really grateful to have met them.
Lastly, this is a really exciting time for my label. Not only because of the people that I've brought on to assist me with it, but I also have a brand-new track dropping on July 8th [this Friday]! It's going to be called 'Anywhere You Go' - you may have already heard a preview if you follow me on Instagram.
Fun fact: the first track was actually supposed to be 'Anywhere You Go,' but, unfortunately, it was a little bit more complicated to finalize. [Everything happens for a reason,] I'm happy 'Call My Name' ended up being the first track because I've always had this sort of attraction to piano house. I feel like this song is more fit for the summer because it hits home with that emotional side I have been leaning more towards lately. It all worked out for the better!
I'm really looking forward to my show in Ottawa on July 16th! I hope you can all make it. It will be at The 27 Club and it will be hosted by EDX Productions [Secure your ticket here]. For the Flag fam in Quebec, I'll be playing at the Unity Electro Fest (UEF) on August 13th and then at Ørigins Music Festival mid-August.
Aside from performing, I'm mostly just producing and spending time with my cat. I love him to death! I've been really focused on the rebirth of my label. Some people ask me why I chose the name Fraudulent Records - well, I wanted to find a word that wasn't overly used during that dark/underground era.
When I first launched it, it was when artists like Malaa started their careers. I was looking to match the criminal kind of vibe. That's when I came across the word "fraudulent" - it sounded sketchy in the best way! Now, I look at the word like a keepsake; it's holding me to my roots even though I've started to shift my sound.
To most, this desire may seem unattainable; but, for The Flag Gang, we've discovered a way to bring it into existence once again! The possibility is simple - by us sharing our favourite festival memories with you all, we can make this wish a reality. Without further ado, check out our 2022 event recap below...
On Friday, June 24th, 2022, we were busy putting the last-minute touches on our festival outfit and eagerly anticipating the experiences that would lie ahead. After a final glance at the set times, we began our venture toward the festival grounds. The sun was beaming almost as much as we were!
As we approached Landsdowne Park, we began to take notice of the immaculate site layout that was efficiently mapped out. The box office was our target and we aimed to reach it amongst the sea of festival-goers. Thanks to an army of helpers, the check-in process was a breeze. We could have jumped in delight!
It was at this moment in time that we began to fully soak in the dynamic atmosphere. From an aesthetics point of view, the festival's organizers truly went the extra mile to stay on-brand with their signage which was all presented in both official languages - huge props to the team for that!
While hundreds of thousands of ravers flocked to their desired stages, we were still in awe of the overall format. Despite the three stages being close in proximity, the sound didn't interfere. Each designated location offered useful and exciting elements to discover, such as water stations, merch tents, and more!
We ended up at the Main Stage where MIKAL was expertly commanding the decks. It was a pleasure to see him on such a noteworthy platform, especially after witnessing him perform at Hypeak Entertainment's CLOSER a few weeks prior. The growing crowd was grooving in unison. It had us smiling from ear to ear!
As undeniable happiness was flowing through the air, we introduced a festy newby to rave culture by giving them their first piece of kandi! PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) is an ideology we stand by, and to continue to pass it on means everything to us, especially in the realities of today's society.
We caught the beginning of Holy Goof's set, and then decided to swing by the Stadium Stage to see our friend Draeden's performance. As we wiggled our way to the front, we were instantly captivated by the stage's design. It was evident that hours of work went into the final concept. As always, Draeden through down!
Among the crowd, ILLENIUM's devoted fanbase was visibly present thanks to his beloved merch. Like many Illenials, we made our way to Main Stage to take part in the ILLENIUM Meet-Up at the top of the hill. It was a blessing to be introduced to so many die-hard fans and like-minded individuals. Lost Kings played in the distance.
After squeezing in a few more hugs, we made our way down the hill and over to the Trance Stage. Upon entering the pavilion, we couldn't hold back our permanent smile. The audience's energy matched with NIFRA's set was incredibly special. It was clear that each stage offered a unique experience. This one was our favourite!
Although Mother Nature was kind to us that Friday, we ended up spending a lot of the remainder of the day indoors at the Trance Stage. Despite it only being one half of Cosmic Gate performing, he delivered a set worthy of enough energy of two people combined! Audien also blew us away with his stage presence and skillset!
Speaking of talent, we had to check out part of Nicky Romero's set - we were not disappointed! There's a reason why this producer is at the top of his game; his crowd control and throwbacks seemed to tickle even the toughest of critic's fancy. Back at the Stadium Stage ATLiens impressed us with their genre-bending tracks.
Shortly after, the Belgian duo Ganja White Night unleashed a killer bass set, perfectly accompanied by the trippiest visuals. We were thrilled we caught their set as the sun was setting! We managed to squeeze in part of Tiësto's performance before heading back into the pavilion. His iconic anthems are always a hit!
When Andrew Rayel took the Trance Stage, we knew the crowd would be in for a treat! We've had the opportunity to catch his performances in the past, and can truthfully say that they get better every time! The legend even took the time to take photos with his fans at the rail following his set.
The positive vibrations were electrifying - they lead us towards Main Stage where ILLENIUM was dropping his biggest chart-topping singles. Although his performance was top-notch, we ended the night at Escapade by watching deadmau5 from the bleachers while sampling some of the food vendors' items.
Our heart was full going into day 2. Despite getting a late start to the day, we managed to get there to see one of our most highly-anticipated acts of the day: Westend. As fate would have it, we caught up with the talented musician before his heavy-hitting house set. We'll never forget his down-to-earth nature.
On the same topic, Dave Summit appeared from the backstage shadows. He was undeniably 'Pullin Up' with nothing but positivity and gratitude. It was a sincere pleasure to meet this superstar. We can't wait to catch his set at Riverside Festival this coming September...
What stood out to us at this moment in time was the seemingly endless support provided by the artists. No matter one's "status", many DJs were present to show their appreciation for one another's craft. This was especially obvious when Prok & Fitch were performing. We spotted many fellow musicians cheering them on!
In true Prok & Fitch fashion, they took the time to meet their dedicated fans at the rail following their jaw-dropping performance. Their kindness is always contagious - one couldn't walk away from them without leaving happier. The energy at the House Party Stage was giving us goosebumps. House music is incredibly healing.
We quickly dipped out of the pavilion to catch part of Deorro's set on the Main Stage. The Mexican-American DJ delighted his audience with a perfect mix of mainstream bangers and remastered classics. His Latin American roots shined through in many of the tracks he was unleashing. He had everyone grooving!
As soon as Gordo took the House Party Stage, the energy in the room shifted. The Guatemalan-American DJ left the audience in awe thanks to his seemingly endless house music anthems and high-energy transitions - a distinct difference from his notorious Carnage bass alias. Simply put, Gordo is an absolute beast!
While Solardo was throwing down some soulful house songs, several security guards were distributing water bottles...for free. There's no question Escapade did everything in its power to keep its attendees hydrated throughout the weekend. There were quite literally dozens of cases of water for anyone who wanted some.
Although we greatly appreciated the water bottle, we made our way to the bar for some extra hydration...The serving staff were always so professional and clearly passionate about all things dance music. Shout out to whoever hired the staff at this year's edition - they undoubtedly found some of the best individuals to assist.
With water in one hand and an alcoholic beverage in the other, we made our way to the Ophelia Records Stage to check out the long-awaited Seven Lions b2b Kill The Noise performance. Alan Walker's set played in the distance, creating a magical stroll through the festival grounds for us.
Hilarious enough, upon arrival at the distant stage, we were offered Monster Energy drinks for free. Hydration was unquestionably on our side that evening! If we were to guess, we'd say a few hundred of energy drinks were distributed without any related costs over the weekend. How spoiled were we?
The beverages were definitely taking effect as our energy levels were through the roof! While we sipped on our drinks, the crowd was headbanging in unison. Seven Lions and Kill The Noise were a match made in heaven. Their distinct sound expertly complemented each others. Their chemistry was next-level.
We dashed through the various lively areas, catching part of Kaskade's set, before returning to the House Party Stage. The pavilion became a house music temple and we couldn't wait to worship Duke Dumont! This God's visuals were the best of the weekend, especially during 'Red Light, Green Light' - just wow!
We ended day 2 by attending Audioform and FMG Collective's official Escapade after-party with Kill The Noise. It's hard to describe just how epic the stage was - it was worthy of the festival grounds! The artists matched the stage's magnitude by delivering monumental performances. Congrats to everyone involved!
Going into day 3, we felt like something extra special was about to occur. Although we didn't quite know what was about to happen, we knew the House Party Stage was calling. Before stepping into what felt like a 2nd home to us, we kicked off the day by interviewing CastNowski - stay tuned for that, Flag fam!
Although we were also supposed to interview BISCITS that Sunday, we, unfortunately, didn't link up due to a miscommunication with his team. Thus, we began our adventures by witnessing his impeccable set. As he gushed in a recent Instagram post, 'Wait A Minute' "still does the trick." The crowd roared in delight!
The vibes were high on the last day of the festival. In our opinion, there are a few factors that come into play: house music is a spiritual thing, the pandemic is coming to an end, and Escapade sure knows how to throw a good party! The gratitude we felt all weekend is sincerely unmatched...
We believe this feeling is mutual amongst the talent as we spotted countless DJs sticking around to soak in all the good vibrations at the House Party Stage. CID was up next; little did we know he was about to throw down one of the best house music sets we would ever witness...
One of the highlights during CID's set was hearing his and WILL K's hit single 'OoooH' live for the first time. The audience sang in a beautiful harmony while many onlookers also shuffled to show their appreciation of the track. CID truly doesn't miss - we can't wait to hear more of his productions moving forward.
Another massive name was not only about to take the stage, but also make his Canadian debut: Joel Corry! Instantly, the English DJ wowed the crowd by dropping high-energy house bangers, including his very own acclaimed productions such as 'Head & Heart', 'Bed', 'Liquor Store', and more!
We believe it's safe to say that Joel Corry should be an honorary Canadian after that monster of a performance! We managed to wiggle our way backstage to catch the set we were most looking forward to all weekend: John Summit! No words can begin to describe how excited we were to see the magic unfold...
As predicted, the rising powerhouse commanded the pavilion thanks to his captivating stage presence and iconic productions such as 'Thin Line', 'Sun Came Up', 'Make Me Feel', and 'La Danda,' We raise a bottle of tequila to you, sir. That was outstanding!!!
During John Summit's performance, we stood beside a friendly individual. We asked them who they were...only to discover it was BISCITS, the artist we were supposed to interview that day! The cosmos works in truly miraculous ways. We can't wait to share our exclusive interview with you all soon - keep it locked.
The remainder of the festivities completely revived our soul. We managed to squeeze in Dom Dolla, SLANDER, Above & Beyond, and Martin Garrix's impactful sets. Looking back, each artist had such a profound influence on our life and continues to do so through their music. In short, Escapade was sheer bliss...
We closed off this incredible weekend with one of the sickest after-parties we've ever attended: Malaa at City At Night. We immediately knew this was why we were feeling like something extra special was about to happen earlier that day. Thank you to everyone who made the weekend so memorable! We'll cherish these memories for years to come.
Photos courtesy of Samuel Daly & Brandon Hebert
]]>If you've got a serious case of the post-festival blues, we have the perfect cure for you! From September 9, 2022, through September 11, 2022, Riverside Festival will be making its triumphant return to the Canadian Museum of History. In celebration of its highly-anticipated comeback, the organizers have curated its biggest lineup to date. Trust us, you won't want to miss this monumental edition...
Get ready for special performances by some of the most acclaimed names in the world of dance music, including Chris Lorenzo, Dillon Francis, GRiZ, Oliver Heldens, R3hab, Brooks, Eptic, Frank Walker, Habstakt, JOYRYDE, Ray Volpe, Vicetone, and Wax Motif. The support is also unmatched with Michael Sparks, Riordan, Dave Summit, Ghetto Birds, Dashi, PAQS, TIZI and Vlouue on the bill.
Be sure to grab your ticket as soon as possible here! With a stacked lineup, stunning location, and a hardworking team of passionate individuals behind Riverside Festival, it will sell out! We are counting down until the 9th edition, and can't wait to see our Flag fam back on the dance floor once again. Keep it locked to our official social media channels for more related updates and potential giveaways...
]]>"Working with Kamas and Dani King was such a learning curve for me because I had to deal with everyone’s personal music tastes, preferences, and way of working, while incorporating my own spin on it. I’ve learned a lot from [this] experience, which I’m very grateful for. Working with these two amazing artists was such a unique experience and I’m really happy with the way that the song turned out!" -RENN
When we met Nick Packer, better known by his stage name [Nic]eotope, we immediately knew that we had to share his story. Instantly, his down-to-earth nature allowed us to get a glimpse into his legacy. As such, we are delighted that he's now part of our Flag fam for years to come.
Recently, we sat down with the Canadian talent for an exclusive interview. We discussed everything from his musical background, proudest career moments thus far, his views on social media and the overall competition in the music industry, upcoming performances, and much more. Check it out below...
Thank you! If we start with my events coordinator role, I have a little story to share with you all. The other day, my friend sent me a photo of me at our first-ever UNDERCOVER event at the House of PainT. It took place under a bridge during the pandemic - which is when we launched the company. We wanted to find a way to keep events alive when a lot of the traditional routes got closed temporarily because [of the state of the world].
At the time, there were a lot of laws and regional restrictions, but our team felt there was still wiggle room within them, and we were able to host them in a safe matter at that. We felt it was important to bring the community together - in fact, it was more important than ever! Although I know that may sound backwards, it was a really hard time for a lot of people (and we're still feeling the effects of it).
So, just to be able to give our scene a few hours where they could come together, forget the world's reality for a short time, and most importantly, give them a sense that everything will be okay, made all of our hard work worth it! The photo was candid, and it really means a lot to me because it represents a starting point of a lot of the growth that I've had since it was taken. I believe the first step is always going to be one of my proudest moments...
[On that same topic,] I'd also like to mention the fantastic event called 'New Beginnings.' It was a huge undertaking between our group at UNDERCOVER, FMG Collective, and Audioform. Seeing all of the different aspects come together, and working with so many amazing people was very rewarding.
As for producing, very recently, I signed my first label release! Although it's not out yet (likely by the end of the year), I believe it's a moment in any artist's career that is always going to be very important. I hope to look back on it as motivation for the future. I'm also so excited about this [occasion] because the imprint will also be doing a vinyl run! So, not only will the track be released, I'll also be receiving a wax record as a keepsake. Honestly, that's been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I truly can't wait to see what else is in store - getting booked for huge festivals is something else I am very proud of...
Truthfully, I believe this is a question that's at the forefront of pretty much every artist's mind. During the past couple of years, there's been such an importance placed on social media. In my opinion, it seems as though every artist has had to take on a second job as a content creator.
Personally, I love all social media, and I think it's important to always have a positive relationship with the concept! I find it's really easy to fall into a hole where you feel constantly pressured to make content and can be tempted to stare at the amount of engagement you receive on your post. This can cause a lot of anxiety as some may worry about not hitting a goal.
[However,] we all need to keep in mind that everyone lives different lives - you cannot take the engagement personally. I know a lot of people in my network who are struggling with taking on this role, especially with the rise of TikTok. It's unfortunate, in a sense, because every big person in the industry will tell you that if you want to succeed right now, you have to be posting on TikTok or making Reels on Instagram.
In my opinion, I don't think it's reasonable for these big leagues to push the expectation of artists posting 2-3 times a day. I would like them to keep in mind that people are still people, meaning they have other things going on that may limit them from continuously working. This is why it's so important to have a balance in one's life - separating business from pleasure when applicable. Simply put, don't let it consume you.
As for the competition in the industry: when it comes to artistry, I think it's a bit ridiculous, in all honesty. If there are any small producers reading this, my advice is to not look at other musicians as a threat. Look at it as a collaborative opportunity. You have to stop comparing yourself to others as you'll likely feel defeated. I encourage you to look at what they're doing, and try to find a way to make it mutually beneficial for the both of you. Approach competition as a productive opportunity...
To start, I remember coming across this saying that read, "lift as you rise" - I thought that was genius! It reminded me that I wouldn't have any of the opportunities if it weren't for others. I recognize that, and I think because of that fact, it's like a torch that you have to pass on. So, if you get an opportunity because of someone else, you have to pass it forward so it ends up benefiting them. Better yet, that it ends up rewarding them and others in the long run.
As an events coordinator, it's always been about the community. Even when we first launched [UNDERCOVER], we didn't push for any promotions. Every day, I am in awe of the way our scene comes together - the proof is seeing the UNDERCOVER page continuing to grow organically. One of my favourite things is receiving messages from our followers, especially when they express how they've enjoyed their experience at one of our shows. I can't even put that feeling into words...The support we receive from the community is how we've been able to host these events. [Therefore,] everything we do, is for the individuals that complete this magical scene.
I think that most DJs would tell you that playing a solo set is more comfortable. The reasoning behind this statement is because you have more control over everything that is going on. You are also able to get into a zone - your own zone, nobody else's. [Furthermore,] you're able to bring more of your personality into the set compared to when you're playing with someone else.
When you go back to back with someone, it's just like any other relationship: you need chemistry. Unfortunately, there are times where you just don't vibe with the other artist; it becomes a dead set. I've been in both positions. It's always amazing when you do find someone that you can feed off of each other's energy and deliver a memorable set. I am so fortunate to go back to back with some truly amazing artists this summer...
The first b2b that comes to mind is with Chefnier. Although I've said it before, I will say it again; in many ways, he is a mentor of mine. We've played together in the past, and I always look forward to sharing other experiences with him in the future. I can't wait for you guys to hear our set at Escapade!
The other b2b [performance] will be with one of my great production friends - STYL. To me, he's an extremely underrated producer out of Montreal. He has a handful of accolades under his belt; [that said,] I'm telling you, he has many more to come! Since we've been friends for a while now, I am not at all worried about performing with him. Knowing each other really helps getting into a good flow.
Festival sets are completely different than a club set - mostly because they are outdoor. Right off the bat, the environment makes it a complete contrast. For example, at a club, you're sort of boxed in, and the sound will reverberate. It's essentially designed for music and dancing in general.
The festival grounds just offer a much more pleasant overall experience, in my opinion. You have room to roam and breathe in fresher air...I absolutely love going to fests as an attendee for these reasons. There's just so much to explore and live.
On the flip side, I'm going to try to live up the perks of my artist passes this year. I'm not going to be shy to ask some of my favourite artists for a selfie, haha! At Escapade in particular, I'm really excited to potentially meet ATliens. My ultimate dream would also be to meet deadmau5. I grew up listening to his music, and it's inspirational to see how many people he [swayed] towards discovering the world of dance music.
Earlier, I had mentioned showcasing one's DJ personality during a set. If I had to describe mine to someone it would be whimsical. I tend to play some more experimental music when I'm on stage. When I first started to perform, I found my sound to be very melodic, with many chords and harmonies. I always aspired for my sets to sound positive - which is why I leaned more towards future bass and lo-fi genres.
If you were to dive into my background, you would discover that I grew up playing in bands. Funny enough, in high school, I also sang! Don't get too excited though - any singer will tell you that your voice is an instrument and you need to practice it. Although there are a few songs on my computer that have original lyrics and vocals, I don't think they will ever see the light of day...It takes a lot to put yourself out there, especially from a vocal point.
All that said, my entire background is extremely musical. I think that's why I understood being one part of composition (like when you're in choirs), and also all of the music I loved was pretty wacky/all over the place, haha. So, my musical goal has always been to find a way to combine the two. I've wanted to blend cutting edge sound design with bass forward music, but present it in a very musical way. I've felt that I've been on the right path, but haven't quite figured it out yet. But, it's okay - that's all part of being a musician. I can't wait to really, truly, discover my sound.
Lastly, I'd like to say thank [The Flag Gang]. A lot of these blogs are part of the culture, but aren't necessarily part of the music...it's what keeps it all alive! So, to be able to have a platform to speak my own story, and connect with my followers in another way, is really appreciated. I can't wait to meet you all in the future!
]]>
Ever since festival season kicked off, there's been an undeniable electricity flowing through the air. The excitement followed us as we approached the familiar entrance of City At Night as the scheduled house music event was on our agenda. We sensed something special was about to materialize in a matter of minutes. Spoiler: it did!
All of the touches that the organizers put into the event are truly remarkable. For instance, the CLOSER flyers are continuously eye-catching! One of the graphics was efficiently displayed above the staircase, leading party goers inside of the venue, stating "tonight we get closer." Two of the most sought-after local artists, Chefnier and HAMRO were also pictured.
Advertised as "HAMRO'S B-Day Bash" - many of this rising superstar's dedicated supporters and equally devoted followers of this event series flocked to celebrate! This fact was instantly made evident as the dance floor was practically packed right at opening. We were happy we got there early to soak in the charismatic ambience.
Performing first was PMP Records label boss and acclaimed artist COLLINS. Known for his bass house, bassline, and tech house productions, the skilled musician certainly didn't disappoint! Throughout his set, he unleashed some hard-hitting anthems that his imprint would be proud of; not to mention, he expertly snuck in some unreleased IDs (keep it locked to his socials).
Most opening acts take a more laid-back approach to build the energy in the room. We were delighted that COLLINS didn't hold back his signature sound and passion for what he calls often "underrepresented genres in Ottawa." It was instantly dynamic! It was also very sweet to see his loving girlfriend front row cheering him on alongside his army of supporters.
Now that the power of music had filled the intimate venue, the audience was eager to see what MIKAL had in store. We knew this Canadian act had earned his spot amongst the programming thanks to his residency at the ALÉA nightclub and his other impressive accomplishments under his belt. But, would he deliver a memorable experience?
Within seconds of jumping on stage, MIKAL captured everyone's attention! Not only did he command the stage thanks to his confident nature, but he also delivered a well-thought-out set. His many years of experience was quickly apparent. Between his track selections and adept transitions, he kept us all dancing from start to finish! We're counting down until we can see him again.
Speaking of dancing, the Ottawa Shufflers Community brought out all of the moves! Take it from someone who's been following their journey since the beginning - their footwork has continued to improve, and it's a joy to watch them come alive on the dance floor. They also must have been extra hyped because their debut event Neon Nights was exactly one week away. Grab your tickets!
At this point of the night, everyone was mingling, and no one was without a smile on their face! The event's photographers, Brandon Hebert AKA @613digitalclicks, Sam Daly AKA @samuel_daly, and Anthony Doniewski AKA @anthonyphoto smoothly swooped in to capture all of the best moments of the evening's festivities. Huge shout-out to them for their hard work and indisputable talent!
As the cameras lights were flashing almost as big as the participants' smiles, HAMRO took the decks. We wouldn't have doubted it if the other provinces heard the crowd's eruption in excitement of his arrival! If you caught our exclusive interview with this local legend, you know his star is shining bright, and he is loved by many. Last Friday was no exception!
The riddim and dubstep-loving artist sported an epic birthday-themed hat. As one of his sole house music sets progressed, fitting enough, the "chapeau vacances" energy truly took the cake. At midnight, the entire club sang 'Happy Birthday' to HAMRO, while he grinned in appreciation. There's such a unique star quality about him - it's captivating to witness.
Although we could attempt to describe the energy during his set, Hebert truly captured the moments perfectly. Be sure to check out the photos below as they give you an exclusive glimpse into the magic that unfolded that night. Time and time again, we are blown away by what CLOSER always delivers - uniting music enthusiasts in the best way possible!
While the vibes were high, Chefnier took the decks. This performance would mark his first-ever entirely house set. The up-and-coming producer is established in the music industry due to his melodic/experimental and generally lyric-heavy singles. Hearing him play house dominant tracks was quite refreshing! We can't wait to see what he has in store for his b2b set at Escapade Music Festival.
We'd like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the team behind Hypeak Events, the photographers, acts, staff, participants, etc. - without you all, this exclusive house experience wouldn't be the same. Thank you for your immaculate vibes! We'll continue to cherish these memories. See you at the next edition (announcement coming soon)!
]]>
Despite the challenges the staff has been faced with, such as a pesky pandemic, they have overcome these obstacles with admirable grace. Their perseverance is undeniably unmatched and has resulted in ongoing triumphs. They say, "when you focus on the good, the good gets better," and this couldn't be more true in their case. These bumps in the road have only made their team that much stronger and even more passionate. As such, they believe it was a fitting moment in time to expand their abilities into a brand-new undertaking.
Mark your calendars; on Thursday, June 9, 2022, City At Night will officially be opening its sibling bar! Christened Afterlight, the underground lounge & listening bar will welcome some of the Canadian Capital's most prominent DJs/producers. These highly-anticipated events will take place exclusively on week nights, notably Tuesday through Thursdays. Participants will have the opportunity to try a variety of cocktails, natural wines, and snacks - not to mention, it's an ideal destination for downtowners after sunset.
We couldn't be more proud of the hardworking team behind this fresh venture (S/O Jordan & Makayla). In particular, we want to extend our appreciation to Farid Dagher, mastermind behind these projects. His sheer passion for all things music, support of the community, and praiseworthy work ethic have not only been beneficial to his own visions, but subsequently rewarded his followers. We absolutely can't wait to experience Afterlight next week, and equally hope you will join us during its thrilling unveiling. Lastly, be sure to give their official socials a follow to stay in the loop!
]]>
The dance music scene in our National Capital Region is undeniably booming! In our opinion, it's thanks to the influx of passionate individuals who are striving for the betterment of our community. They are continuously offering their expertise and collaborative nature to fulfill each of their unique musical goals. Most recently, this fact has been made evident due to the recent unveiling of KULTURE.
The brand-new show series, presented by PMP Records, will shine the spotlight on the arguably underrepresented worlds of bass house, bassline, and tech house in Ottawa. Label head and artist Collin Post, better known by his stage name COLLINS, has been hard at work to make sure these music genres get the representation they deserve. He shared with us that this new undertaking will aim to bring the rave KULTURE to Canada's capital. So, get ready for something very special, Flag fam!
With this new perspective in mind, the team behind KULTURE will step away from the generic club-focused events, and will bring forth their vision with larger stages and venue productions. They also plan to showcase their own label's talent and other Canadian DJs and producers who they believe are often forgotten in the house music communities, especially locally.
Furthermore, they disclosed that after being part of the Ottawa Rave Community for years now, they felt that other genres like techno were well represented. However, the genres that PMP Records curates the most are often left out. Therefore, they felt that it was necessary to bring forth the other genres and the overall KULTURE that they felt were lacking in our community.
“I’m most excited to be able to give some of these amazing bass house and bassline producers the opportunities they deserve, and also bring Ottawa something a little different than the usual club show.” -Colin Post, founder of PMP Records
Mark your calendars; the first-ever edition of KULTURE will take place on Friday, July 29, 2022! The highly-anticipated event will take place in a large warehouse space, and will aim to bring forth their vision in the best way possible! The location will be revealed the day of the event - so, be sure to keep it locked to KULTURE's official social media platforms...
Today, the organizers revealed their long-awaited headliner! Despite their name, you'll be saying, "yes, please"...Get ready to witness a special performance by the talented duo No Thanks! Fresh off the heels of their killer EDC Las Vegas performance, we have no doubts they'll bring their acclaimed positive energy and distinct sound to the KULTURE stage. Stay tuned for the remainder of the lineup. We can't wait to tell you more about this soon-to-be epic event series!
]]>
The rising superstar continuous dedication to his craft has resulted in the ultimate alignment with the universe! The Canadian producer has strived to live in the moment, focus on his passions, practice gratitude, and has followed signs that have lead him to where he is meant to be.
Known for his groovy classic house sets and undeniable stage presence, GESES has unquestionably caught the attention of many supporters, including the legendary Laidback Luke. As fate would have it, the two musicians' paths collided, and a masterpiece was born...
Today, one of Mixmash Records's most highly-anticipated remixes has been released. Streaming on all major platforms, GESES' remix of Laidback Luke and Eva Simons' chart-topping single 'Flexin'' is now available. We caught up with the skilled DJ to dive a little deeper into how the track came to be.
Check out what he shared with us below...
"The song came about while my management was at the Mixmash Miami Pool Party. Laidback Luke discussed remix options with my manager. We all thought it was a great fit for a high-energy GESES re-do. The lyrics can be interpreted in many ways. [The way I see it is that] it reflects the ridiculous "flex" culture in the nightlife scene.
[Following this interaction,] Laidback Luke invited me to play the record with him at The Summer Club in NYC while I was on tour in that area. Luke is a genuine, funny, and humble act. I can now count this legend as a friend." -GESES
In addition to this exclusive perspective, he expressed how much it meant to him to have Laidback Luke as his mentor due to his connection to the rise of artists like Avicii and Afrojack. Once this opportunity presented itself, he shared how motivating it was to not only build this relationship, but also create a track that would live up to these names.
In a nutshell, the cosmos is truly fascinating. To think every decision lead to this specific moment in time is simply miraculous! We're so thrilled that two of our favourite artists have joined forces, and a new version of 'Flexin'' has been created. Be sure to give it a listen below, Flag fam.
Spoiler: it will kick off your weekend on the right foot!
]]>
Festival season is officially in full swing! If you're like us, you're quickly mapping out your summer calendar, and we have another event you'll immediately want to jot down. On Friday, June 10, 2022, through Saturday, June 11, 2022, Délirium is back with its highly-anticipated second edition. Trust us, you won't want to miss it!
The bass/dubstep festival is making its triumphant return in Papineauville, Quebec. Get ready for a weekend of camping with some likeminded individuals, and some serious bass in your face! If you've been to Lost Lands, you may be familiar with Sound Camps; Délirium promises their own version, guaranteed to satisfy your lingering bass desires.
Some of the hottest names in the world of bass are gearing up to take the decks. Due to the intimate setting, you'll have the opportunity to catch exclusive performances, and perhaps even mingle with some of the talent. The organizers have curated an impressive lineup. A truly jaw-dropping programming with over 30+ artists is in store. Check out the official lineup below...
Since the festival is but a mere couple of weeks away, the extra early and early bird tickets have sold out. However, regular bird passes remain available for purchase here. In addition, there is a slight cost discount on Friday compared to Saturday should you wish to attend only on one day.
Keep it locked to Délirium's Facebook event for more details, including rules, vendors, camping FAQs, and more. Another thing to note is the soon-to-be epic giant campfire that you won't want to miss! We look forward to hearing about your experience; reach out to us on our socials. Have fun, Flag fam!
]]>If you've attended a dance music event in Canada's capital, you've likely come across a member of the Ottawa Shufflers Community (OSC). Their passion for the style of dance and endless positivity is truly contagious. You've heard the quote, "let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier," well, we couldn't think of a more fitting saying to describe these joyous individuals!
In addition to radiating sheer bliss and passing along the knowledge of cutting shapes, the flourishing community has been hard at work to make their name known. On top of frequently hosting shuffle meetups and event giveaways, OSC recently unveiled a brand-new undertaking. On Friday, June 10, 2022, the group is teaming up with Bytown Blog! (BTB) for their first official EDM Rave, christened Neon Nights!
This unexpected collaboration is a true match made in heaven! For over a year now, the 'Bytown Blog!' has been hosting local music and poetry shows that highlight the local black cultural scene. When combined with the OSC's equal love of music, we have no doubts that their upcoming event will be anything short of spectacular. To add to the excitement, the location will remain a secret until the morning of the official event.
"I wanted to try something different. After hosting 4 hip-hop showcases, I started to get interested in EDM. I’ve learned to love the music and culture. A friend invited me to join the Ottawa Shufflers Community, and I loved it! So, we decided to collab to make an event for both brands. I’m super excited and proud of this event! I can’t wait to bless the city with a great show." -Jean-Luc Ducamp, founder and organizer of Bytown Blog!
Despite the mysterious location, it has been disclosed that the venue will be located somewhere on Rideau Street. It has also been revealed that local talents Hunter Haze, Huntingdeng3r, Matfroninja, and Heavy K, will be taking the decks. These skilled musicians will be unleashing a vast array of music genres such as bass house, techno, afro-house, bass, and house. You'll especially want to get your dancing shoes ready as OSC member @shufflinsara will be teaching a special beginners' shuffling class from 11:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
“I’m just so happy to see how much the Ottawa Shufflers Community has grown to the point that we’re even hosting our own event! This is just another opportunity to bring Ottawa closer together for a fun night.” -Sydney Switzer, Shuffler
Be sure to grab your tickets for this highly-anticipated 4-hour event (10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.), before it's too late. Trust us, with the promise of ideal collaboration, a stacked local lineup, professional shuffle class, and a killer neon theme, we have no doubts it will sell out...All that's left to say is, see you on the dance floor, rave babes! Who's ready to dance?
]]>
As we quickly approach the long weekend in Canada, many of you may already have your plans locked. But, what about the following weekend? Are you already dreaming of an event post relaxation? Well, look no further - we have just the event to satisfy your post long weekend blues!
On Saturday, May 28, 2022, Neptune Events will welcome the legendary Champagne Drip to Le Belmont in Montreal, Quebec. This will mark his debut performance in Quebec! The American producer is known for his impressive musical abilities stemming from his musical upbringing, and his extensive discography. He's undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with!
Participants can also count on special performances by BEATCORE and LVWZ. In addition, some of the hottest rising local superstars will also take the stage in support. Get ready for soon-to-be epic performances by MHOLY and KAT2KAT! Be sure to get there early, Flag fam - you won't want to miss a single set!
As you can imagine with a stacked lineup like this, tickets are already flying. Be sure to grab yours here before it's too late. We're always happy to hear your feedback, especially when it comes to a highly sought-after show and venue like this one! Send us a message via our official social media channels. See you on the dance floor...
On Friday, June 3, 2022, these skilled musicians will perform at the next edition of Hypeak Entertainment's praised CLOSER event. Bonus fact: you can watch one of Hypeak's main event organizers, Matthieu Poirier, perform at Escapade next month under the Ross X Class DJ duo. You won't want to miss it!
Although catching these impeccable acts in an intimate setting is cause enough for celebration, there are a few other exciting elements to highlight! As an unexpected spin on the norm, participants will witness exclusive house sets from notable bass artists Chefnier and HAMRO.
Furthermore, despite City At Night's manager (Chefnier) taking the decks, the beloved venue will be in excellent hands, offering their usual high standard of customer service. This edition will also mark HAMRO's birthday celebration; we wouldn't be surprised if shots were already lined up on the bar!
Also, don't sleep on the supporting acts, Flag fam. COLLINS is fresh of the heels of a jaw-dropping announcement...a huge secret warehouse rave called KULTURE (more to come on this). With a revelation like this, you know he'll pour his passion for music into everything he does, including his upcoming set!
MIKAL may be a name you're familiar with due to his extensive hard work in the local music scene. It has certainly paid off as he's been a resident DJ at Gatineau's Mardi Gras and the Hilton Lac-Leamy's ALÉA nightclub. We're expecting club ready bangers from this experienced DJ.
Lastly, this is a friendly reminder that you'll need an exclusive invitation in order to attend this highly sought-after event. So, reach out to Hypeak on their official socials, or a performing DJ, to lock in your spot - before it's too late. That said, who's ready for one of the biggest parties ahead of Escapade Music Festival? It's almost time to celebrate...
]]>
Are you still searching for plans this Canada Day long weekend? Look no further, Flag fam - we have the perfect event! From July 1, 2022, through July 3, 2022, get ready for a bass camping festival of your dreams! Two acclaimed bass music companies, RoyalDub Productions and GnuckSquad, collaborated to bring you PicnicRoyal Festival! Trust us, you won't want to miss this one...
Many die-hard bass enthusiasts may have already caught wind of this beloved festival. Last year, participants raved about the custom-built UFO stage, and the delicious Explosion Food Truck. This year, party goers can count on an even higher caliber of production and entertainment, including a revamped custom stage design that's twice as large as the previous edition's, and more lights!
With a brand-new stage concept in mind, the organizers aren't putting the sound quality on the backburner. PK Sound will be on-site to deliver their top-notch robotic line source systems. Their unmatched control of the sound field is like no other - so, get ready for some serious bass in your face! Friendly reminder to always wear your hearing protection - you'll certainly need it at this festival...
This year's lineup is truly jaw-dropping as it features a wide variety of bass music artists - many of which have taken the stage at Lost Lands Music Festival. Be sure to check out the official lineup below to get a taste of what you can expect. You can also count on TEMINITE's Canadian debut in which he'll be presenting his highly-anticipated Raise the Black Flag Tour.
The countdown is on until bass lovers flock to a special location approximately 1-hour from Montreal, Quebec. Early bird tickets are officially sold out - don't sleep on getting yours as limited quantities are available for purchase. For more information, including rules, frequently asked questions, carpooling, and more, check out PicnicRoyal Festival's website. See you on the dance floor!
]]>When we arrived at City At Night, we were greeted by some familiar faces. This intimate venue has become like a second home to us, making the staff feel like part of our extended family. As always, we appreciated the level of professionalism and enthusiasm the security guards, door, and coat check attendants each provided. Thanks to these qualities, it instantly kicked off the night on the right foot!
We made sure to arrive early to support the event's opener. When we caught our first glimpse of the dancefloor, we were delighted to see that others shared the same mindset. It was apparent as the venue had already reached half capacity. We were also thrilled to see the stage back in its original central position as it took us back to the pre-pandemic era; ultimately, it brought us all CLOSER together.
The Ottawa Rave Community was out in full force last Friday, May 6, 2022. Among the crowd, we spotted shufflers, kandi kids, rave couples, music enthusiasts, and many more individuals who make our scene so special. We instantly had a permanent smile following the realization that music is what brings us all together. The CLOSER event series is the epidemy of unity...
Maxime Baker, AKA Baker, was setting the tone nicely for the event. He played an expert mix of soulful house tracks all while unleashing unexpected bass-heavy singles! The crowd was loving every minute, especially when he dropped 'It's A Killa' by FISHER. It seemed to perfectly describe his debut set in front of a live audience. We couldn't have been more proud to see him succeed!
At this point in time, the crowd was roaring in delight! The Ottawa Shufflers Community took over the front of the dancefloor with their high caliber footwork and contagious energy. It's a continuous match made in heaven when DJs and shufflers collide. The other spectators cheered and joined in the celebration - a noteworthy one, in fact, as Baker had just finished his inaugural performance.
With the excitement flowing through the air, the talented Anthony Cole took the decks. This is an artist who has consistently been at the forefront of our local dance music scene due to his impressive musical abilities. He's proven time and time again that he's a force to be reckoned with. We had high expectations ahead of his set. Spoiler: we were not disappointed!
In true Anthony Cole fashion, he delivered a high energy performance, enough to give anyone an instant adrenaline rush! From start to finish, he showcased his undeniable skillset. His experience in the industry was made obvious by his trained ear for music and crowd control. No matter the track he chose, he spiced things up by mixing in some of the biggest anthems of our time. The set was simply epic!
As the night progressed, we wiggled our way backstage to meet the Ghetto Birds ahead of their performance. They spoke to us about their excitement to be playing in Canada's capital; noting how impressed they were by both Baker and Anthony Cole's sets. When we asked why they were playing with a mini skateboard, they shared their name originates from the ghetto bird skate trick.
The Montreal duo blew us away by their down-to-earth nature, but won us over by their bass-heavy tech-house productions. It wasn't long before we had our Auto Shazam listening in the background - we're so glad we did because their discography is truly spectacular! They even have collaborations with our Flag friend CastNowski. Be sure to check out their impeccable productions.
As the night wrapped up, we could have probably used a defibrillator...because the music kept hitting us right in our heart! There's always something so special about house music; but when you add some bass, it's just sheer perfection! Congratulations to all artists on delivering killer sets, and an even bigger round of applause for Hypeak Entertainment on another triumphant edition!
Thank you @613digitalclicks, @antonyphoto, & lakynmfphotography for capturing the night!
]]>