Watch the video for Edward Maya’s Stereo Love, with Mia Martina

Edward Maya. Alexandra Stan. Inna. Why are the Romanians taking over the dance music charts? This AFP wire service story takes a stab at explaining how a corrupt and impoverished former Communist country became one of the global capitals of club music.

Watch the video for Inna’s Sun Is Up

According to Inna (a.k.a. Alexandra Apostoleanu) — whose predilection for wearing as little as possible in her videos has made her a big favourite here at bpm:tv — the twentysomethings who have grown up after the fall of Communism ”really want to make party music, something that gets people on the dance floor.” In other words, it’s all about dancing away your socioeconomic cares and woes.

Watch the video for Alexandra Stan’s Mr. Saxobeat

The article also identifies the principal architects of the deliciously Eurocheesy Romanian sound:

Industry figures … point to a basement studio in a house in a leafy residential district of the capital. There, a determined 20-something trio called Play & Win mix sound for hours on end in a room with a piano, a large table and some powerful computers.

The three, Radu Bolfea, Marcel Botezan and Sebastian Barac, all born in the mountains of Transylvania, are credited with creating a “Romanian” sound that has turned out some of the country’s biggest dance music hits, by Inna and others.

“Club music did not really have melody so we tried to introduce more melodic lines in it,” they said modestly.
For Terry, the artistic director — who goes by one name — at the famous Loft Metropolis club near Paris where Inna and Alexandra Stan have played live, the Romanians have come up with a sound that’s “very efficient and dedicated to the dance floor”, even if it’s “nothing extraordinary.”

… they don’t hide their delight at success. “Yes, sometimes we are proud that from here, a country sometimes described as Third World, we are trend setters in Europe and in the US,” Play & Win said.

Paul Lester of The Guardian has some thoughts about Inna over here.

Prepping the bpm:tv guide to new music in June, and we’ve found a new song for your summer playlist. “2 Hearts” is the lead single from German dance-punk duo Digitalism‘s new album I Love You, Dude, due out the week of June 21. Love the video, too: the cheap Eighties-style sci-fi cheese is somehow the perfect complement to the song’s yearning electro-pop vibe.

Watch it here!

Tonight’s bpm Spotlight is a favourite from a while back: a profile of stylish Brit electro-poppers Ladytron. It’s a well-timed rebroadcast, as their greatest-hits comp, Best of 00-10, just hit stores at the end of March. We’ve been fans of this Liverpool four-piece since their debut album 604 and the early singles “Playgirl” and “Commodore Rock,” so it’s tough to pick a standout track, but we’ll vote for “Destroy Everything You Touch,” from the 2005 long-player Witching Hour. The official video is four minutes of surrealist awesomeness:

The band’s fifth studio album, Gravity the Seducer, is due out in September from Nettwerk. You can preview the single “White Elephants,” along with the cover art and track listing, over at Pitchfork.

You can read singer Helen Marnie’s brief interview with The Skinny here. (Fun Ladytron fact: synth player/singer Mira Aroyo was born in Bulgaria, and sings some of the band’s tunes in Bulgarian.)

So our friends over at Z103.5 have a new compilation CD out. HIT MIX 2011, presented by Z103.5 personalities The Hammer and DJ Danny D, is available now in stores and online, and it slays all the competition — except, ahem, for our own bpm:tv DANCE 2011 collection. Check out the killer tracklisting below: Alexandra Stan‘s “Mr. Saxobeat, Martin Solveig‘s “Hello,” Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke‘s “Turbulence, Tiesto & Diplo‘s “C’mon” and … well, why aren’t you running-not-walking to your friendly music dealer right this very minute?

Obviously, it goes without saying that when you’re not watching bpm:tv, you should be tuning in to Z103.5. You can listen live right here.

Tracklisting:

1. Chris Brown, Yeah 3X

2. Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette, Hello (Sidney Samson Remix)

3. Afrojack feat. Eva Simons, Take Over Control

4. Tiesto vs Diplo feat. Busta Rhymes, C’mon (Catch ‘em By Surprise)

5. Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke feat. Lil Jon, Turbulence

6. Swedish House Mafia vs Tinie Tempah, Miami 2

7. Ibizatim Berg, Seek Bromance (Avicii Vocal Edit)

8. Deadmau5, Raise Your Weapon

9. Remady feat. Craig David, Do It On My Own

10. Destineak, Calling Your Name (Ian Carey Remix Radio Edit)

11. Alexandra Stan, Mr. Saxobeat

12. Folk Tapes,`O Sarracino

13. Future Fambo & Beenie Man, Rum & Red Bull (Danny D Remix)

14. Lucenzo feat. Big Ali, Vem Dancar Kuduro

Miss Raquel hosts electronica on bpm:tv. Visit the show page here.

D-Unity – Stereo, Montreal
By: Samhouse / Photo: 2B Magazine

There’s something to be said about getting the opportunity to play an open to close set at Canada’s number one after-hour venue, Stereo in Montreal. D-Unity did just this with well suited musical armour.

Releasing their first mix compilation, Vol.1 A Journey Through the Underground, combined with a 10-hour set at Stereo, the pressure factor raises tenfold. Read more on Scenester Magazine!

Stereo Nightclub – Montreal

Stereo in Montreal is the elite in the Canadian after-hours scene. There’s not a scratch on their shiny buffed wooden floors due to the no gum policy. The seating is clean and comfortable, the washrooms are clean, and the staff and security are pleasant. Read more on Scenester Magazine.

Scenester Channel

Watch DJ interviews and event coverage with me as your guide. Meet DJs such as Yoji, Paul Oakenfold and Scumfrog, to name a few. Have a look and subscribe!

Miss Raquel’s Poppock! On GGT

Upcoming Event

Miss Raquel appears in House of God, a fascinating new documentary about the spirituality of house music, from director Layal Al-Haidari. Screening: Thursday June 9 at Bell Lightbox, Toronto.

Check out the trailer!

Miss Raquel’s Video Pick of the Month

My monthly video picks are classic throwbacks or current vids which I find to be creative, risqué, different, even sexy!

My April pick is Enigma, “Beyond The Invisible” (1996). Directed by Julien Temple, it features Finnish ice dance couple Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko skating in a forest. The ice rink was constructed especially for the video and took more than a week to freeze properly.

Watch the video

See you on the dancefloor!

Miss Raquel