Posted by Scott Willats

What can you say about Kaskade? Complacency just isn’t a word in his vocabulary. He’s like the Energizer bunny of EDM, constantly challenging himself to create innovative music. Little wonder so many of his fellow artists rank him high on their lists of the best in the game.

Currently holding down the number 30 spot on  DJ Mag’s definitive Top 100 list, Kaskade (a.k.a. Ryan Raddon) has always been a music junkie. When I got the chance to sit and chat with him at the release party in Miami for his 2010 album Dynasty, it was obvious just how much this man loves making music., and loves collaborating with other talented artists. He was full of praise for the sounds coming out of Canada, too — and had put his money where his mouth is, teaming up with Deadmau5 on the massively successful “I Remember,” and with Dragonette‘s Martina Sorbara on “Fire In Your New Shoes.”

Something else that was clear: he loves seeking out and discovering new music. I’ve often found that artists tend to stay narrowly focused on their own music, their own sound and genre. And fair enough: this is their career, after all, and you always have to look out for number one. But before they were artists, they were fans — and sometimes there’s a risk of losing touch with the passion that got them into the game in the first place. Kaskade, for his part, is still as much a fan as an artist. He talked fondly of going to the record store with friends every Tuesday (new release day!) and sitting there for hours –maybe with some adult beverages — listening to new music.

He told me he was still obsessed with finding new sounds and new artists, and wondered if fans aren’t missing out on something now that this whole part of the experience has moved from the record stores to the online world. It’s a point open to debate — I happen to agree with him strongly — but what’s enlightening here is the way he approaches music: as a listener as well as a creator.

And then there’s his ability to relate with fans. Let’s face it, a lot of artists in this genre are only around for a cup of coffee. Some even skip out on the bill. But with nine albums under his belt since 2003, Kaskade has proven his longevity. His countless world tours, singles and EP releases have confirmed him as an EDM superstar. If there’s any DJ who would be within his rights to pull a “diva” attitude, it’s this guy. Yet he’s the polar opposite: friendly, approachable and always up for a chat about new music. Very refreshing.

This, by the way, is quite possibly my favourite tour video in the history of tour videos.

Once again, I urge you to grab whatever tickets remain available for the Digital Dreams Music Festival this weekend. With a lineup that has soooo many big names, Kaskade will bring his all. His set will be one to remember — and that alone should be worth the price of admission!

CLICK HERE FOR DIGITAL DREAMS TIX AND INFO.

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Posted by Scott Willats

Tonight’s the night! Porter Robinson will drop the bomb on Toronto this evening at the Sound Academy, courtesy of Embrace Presents. To get you in the mood, and to wrap up our week-long spotlight on the North Carolina prodigy, we’re re-posting bpm:tv’s frontline report from his last TO appearance.

Want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND INFO.

They say you never know the true quality of a producer until you see him live, a phrase I have lived by for the past five years. On Saturday, thanks to Embrace Presents, I finally had my opportunity to see Porter Robinson in the flesh. And I can say with 100 percent conviction that the boy did not disappoint.

It was a good vibe all around. The crowd showed up by the hundreds with plenty of enthusiasm. The line was incredibly long but — as with all shows at The Hoxton — it moved really well. And once you got in the scene was perfectly balanced: a blend of knowledgeable fans, there to catch a memorable performance, and the requisite contingent of gorgeous girls. The chant of “Porter, Porter” rang out before Mr. Robinson approached the tables. Once the young man reached the platform … BAM! A surge of excitement from the crowd, and then it started.

One thing was obvious from the get-go: this kid loves him some Wolfgang Gartner. Many times he used slight remixes or re-edits of Gartner tracks, feeding the crowd perfectly. It’s something I’ve been preaching for a while now: this new wave of American artists take pride in where they come from, and really want to establish their own sound. The set had a strong North American feel — and right now that really is the sound of quality.

Without going into details on each song — because if you weren’t there I wouldn’t do it justice — I’ll just say that it was a proud moment to see how Toronto turned up for Porter. I believe it was his first show in TO, and the city really welcomed him, with a crowd response that would have pleased some of the world’s top DJs.

The concert was so good it took me an extra day to write this report. True story! Just another absolute beast of a show courtesy of Embrace Presents.

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Posted by Scott Willats

In football terms, Group 2 is the UEFA EURO 2012  tournament’s “group of death,” home to global powerhouses Holland, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. In EDM terms, too, this is an impressive stable — but not quite so evenly balanced. While Portugal has a lively, up-and-coming scene and Copenhagen is known to throw down some of the best dubstep concerts, neither can match the firepower of the Dutch and German camps. Let’s break it down.

GROUP 2

Netherlands – Nicky Romero

The Oranje. Total Football. Clockwork Orange. The Dutch have, by far, the greatest collection of offensive players in the tournament — the kind of goal-scoring talents that bring the masses to the stadiums. In the EDM arena, meanwhile, the country fields a similarly formidable team. Just think on these names: Sander van Doorn, Laidback Luke, Afrojack, Sidney Samson, Fedde Le Grand, Hardwell, R3hab, Bingo Players — not to mention the former DJ Mag Top 100 winners Tiësto and Armin van Buuren. That’s one hell of a starting squad. Still, for my money it’s the kid from Amerongen, Nicky Romero, who’s the talent to watch right now. Blending the familiar Dutch and Swedish sounds, he seems to have found a foolproof way to make hits. Heavily respected in the game, as evidenced by his collaborations with David Guetta and most of the DJs on the list above, Nicky Romero is the Robin Van Persie of this tournament: coming off his best year yet, hungry and embarrassingly talented.

MASSSSSSSIVE!

Nicky Romero – Toulouse: LISTEN TO IT HERE

The perfect download …

Nicky Romero – Essential Mix BBC Radio 1: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Germany – Boys Noize

Germany is stacked: ATB, Paul van Dyk, Moguai, Cosmic Gate, Digitalism and Kris Menace — all household names in the EDM world. But there’s one young man from Hamburg who stands out from the pack. Alex Ridha, a.k.a. Boys Noize, has redefined techno — not just with his own innovation in the studio, but through his label Boysnoize Records (BNR), which can boast some of the biggest releases of the past five years. The one thing always synonomous with the German team is clinical finishing; the same can be justly said for this man.

Quick shout-out to Donna Summer: here’s an amazing tribute Boys Noize did for the late, great disco queen!

Boys Noize – Donnastag: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Portugal – Buraka Som Sistema

Style and flair. The Portuguese, much like their Brazilian brethren, are admired not just for their talent and skill, but for the elegance of their play. Fitting, then, that we should choose Buraka Som Sistema to carry the flag for Portugal in bpm:tv’s EDM Euro Cup. The group that messed with African kuduro so thoroughly that they ended up creating “progressive kudoro” is an act you don’t want to miss. While the Portuguese squad boasts boasts Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the tournament, BSS boasts “Up All Night,” arguably the best song out there right now. Never underestimate the Portuguese. Por-Tu-GAL!

Buraka Som Sistema – A$$ (Bootyleg): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Denmark – Medina

It may not be known as a hotbed for house music, but Denmark still boasts an impressive lineup of performers. Trentemoller, Daniel Kandi, Kid Massive and Noir are all the kind of big names you’re likely to see at any festival as an opening act on the main stage. But it’s Medina I’ve chosen to represent the Danes. Maybe, as a Canadian, I’m swayed by her Deadmau5 connection. But there’s just something about this woman’s angelic voice over progressive house chords that gets me every time. It’s always a treat to hear a brand new Medina track, and to look forward to what creative remixers will do once they get their hands on those vocals. Some forget that the Danes have been winners of the Euro tournament before. They may well be poised to strike gold once again — just as Medina did with “You and I.”

Medina – You And I (Deadmau5 Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Next up: Group 3, home to the defending champs, Spain.

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Posted by Scott Willats

It’s been a healthy amount of time since Deadmau5 capped his Meowingtons Hax tour with an epic show at the Rogers Center in Toronto. Since that magical night I have heard and seen performance discussed and dissected everywhere, from talk radio to blogs to pop culture magazines. It seems like nobody fully understood how just how extraordinary that night was going to be until it was over. Until they’d witnessed it for themselves.

Those of us who love EDM and Deadmau5 and Toronto electro never doubted that the evening would be memorable. We didn’t worry if it was going to sell out, if the music would to sound good in such a large venue, if Deadmau5 was really capable of making this performance historic. These questions never passed through our minds. We just knew we had tickets to something special — and that was that.

And special it was. I was thrilled when I heard that Deadmau5 planned to memorialize the occasion with a concert DVD. The night was such a glorious celebration of Toronto electro — and when it was over, I knew there were many people who would one day tell their kids and grandkids about  being there. We needed a visual record. When the “Aural Psynapse” video popped up, it was flashback time for those of us who’d been there — and proof, for those who hadn’t, of just how insane the night really was. After seeing that video, I was practically salivating at the prospect of being able to experience the whole show again.

Now that I’ve seen the DVD, I can say definitively that this is the closest feeling you’ll come to traveling back in time and being at the show. The quality of the camera work is right up there with the meticulously engineered audio. In fact, and I tread lightly here, it almost feels as if you’re getting to see more of the night than you did if you were actually there. Think about it: as soon as most of us arrived at the Rogers Centre, the sheer adrenaline of the night took over. Many of us had never had the experience of being in the same space with so many thousands of others who shared our taste in music. Never had we witnessed a sea of 10,000-plus glowing ears while listening to the likes of “Strobe,” “Ghosts N Stuff” and “These Chords.” When you slip this DVD into the player, you’ll immediately recapture that feeling — and maybe even see a couple of things you missed at the time.

And again, I have to underline the sheer quality of the production. Nothing is overlooked. Every kick and snare and clap and hat is highlighted perfectly. The obligatory shots of the audience are smartly chosen, capturing honest, intimate moments — and s**t, if you were there, maybe you’re in one of them. Even if you can’t stand this kind of performance DVD, let me tell you: this is the exception. You can sit and watch it start to finish, or just enjoy it playing in the background at a gathering. The convenient track listing and the ease with which you can skip through songs helps make this a must for Mau5 fans.

Only one thing I’d change: if I had my wish, there would be a bonus DVD featuring the opening acts. It would have been nice to see the killer sets by MSTRKFT and Crystal Castles one more time. That aside, I’d judge the Meowingtons Hax 2K11 Toronto DVD a success — just like everything else that Mr. Joel Zimmerman puts his fingers on. The attention to detail and superb production values make it a joy to watch. Oh yeah, and it just happens to showcases one of the best EDM performances this country — or any country — has ever seen.

CLICK HERE to buy from iTunes

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Here’s a quick rundown of the holiday specials we’ve got lined up for you through New Year’s Day. Enjoy!

DJ MARKY D’S CHRISTMAS DANCE PARTY
Dec. 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 @ 10 pm ET/PT
Just what you want to find under the tree: DJ Marky D wraps up three solid hours of the hottest club grooves for all the good little boys and girls, and puts a pretty bow on it. Visions of sugarplums won’t be the only things dancing.

BACK @ YA! MARATHON
Dec. 24: 9 am to 5 pm ET | Dec. 25: 8 am to 8 pm ET | Dec. 26:  10 am to 4 pm ET
Jorie Brown wants to spend her Christmas with you! Curl up in your favourite Forever Lazy with a cup of eggnog (and whatever you put in it), while the effervescent host of Canada’s only all-request dance hour plays the music you want to hear, from old-school grooves to big-room bangers.

BEST & WORST OF 2011
Dec. 24 & 26: 5 pm ET | Jan. 1: 5 pm & 7 pm ET
What was the sexiest dance music video of 2011? Which song had the worst lyrics? Who was the best dressed artist? The most overrated? (Could they be one and the same?) Join bpm:tv on a two-hour trip down short-term memory lane, as we walk you through the highest highs and lowest lows of the year that was in electronic music.

TOP 100 DJs OF 2011
Dec. 28: 3 pm to 7 pm ET | Dec. 31: 1 pm & 5 pm ET
From Above & Beyond (#5) to Pete Tha Zouk (#37), Bloody Beetroots (#86) to Laidback Luke (#20), we pay tribute to this year’s finishers in the definitive DJ Mag Top 100. It’s an honour just to be nominated — but it’s better to win.

XTENDAMIX MARATHON
Dec. 31: 10 pm to 4 am ET
No need to fuss over that playlist: we’ve got your definitive New Year’s Eve soundtrack right here: six nonstop hours of the year’s hottest dance tracks — killer beats to keep you dancing long after the champagne’s been drunk and the balloons all popped. Hello 2012!

Don’t forget: bpm:tv is available to all Rogers digital customers in free preview until Wednesday, Jan. 4. You can find us on channel 708. Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!

Posted by Scott Willats

Continuing our tour of 2011′s best visuals, we head to Vegas for the Electric Daisy Carnival. Now, this festival has always been on the map, but something was different this year. Moving it from its usual home in southern California to Las Vegas was the perfect example of location, location LOCATION. The city and the festival brought out each other’s energy and insanity. This year brought the biggest crowds ever for Electric Daisy Carnival, and I expect that if it continues to be held in Vegas it will grow in stature. Hands down, the most amazing festival of 2011! See it here through the eyes of Avicii:

And the track of the festival ….

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Posted by Scott Willats

After an incredible EDM weekend in Canada’s largest city, I think it’s safe to say that electronic dance music is bigger than it’s ever been before — and I can only see it growing  in 2012. This is an exciting time for all fans of the genre.

Best way to celebrate the year that was: a look back at some of the best festivals, videos and tracks of the year!

The Ultra Music Festival is always something to be seen. Miami plays host to this monster event in March, and bpm:tv was there this past spring to soak up some of the action. There was concern this year that things weren’t going to be the same, since Ultra and the Winter Music Conference planned their respective events a week apart. But Ultra has the DJs, so Ultra has the scene — simple as that. With luck, this coming year will be a little more organziee. But no matter what happens, WMC is a must for any EDM fan.

Let’s take a look at this year’s Miami extravaganza through the eyes of Kaskade, the Ultra team, Steve Aoki and the Dim Mak camp!

And the track of the festival …

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Posted by Scott Willats

The festive time is approaching, and with the holiday season comes the annual barrage of year-end reviews. I’ve been seeing a lot of blogs posting their top 10 DJs or top 10 songs of 2011. I’m always torn when I see these posts. One the one hand, as a fan I’m always cheering for my favourite artists to make the cut. On the the other hand, it seems absolutely ridiculous that only 10 tracks or artists could possibly rank as the best of the year.

I was talking to a  fellow electro head the other night who told me he loves our “Sweets of the Week” posts because they place a great deal of importance on variety. Exactly! Every week, I try to deliver six or eight of the most original-sounding new tunes. Can u imagine if I just took ten from the whole year? Impossible.

Anyways, as you can see, I’m rambling a bit — because at the end of the day, I still do like these year-end reviews. The question is: do you? I have a couple of ideas for the coming weeks.  In addition to new tracks, in each post I’ll be dropping a song or two from this past year that should be remembered. However, if you are a fan of the top 10 format let me know — and tell me who you think should be on the list — and we’ll make something happen.

Until then, some tracks found over the weekend that I think you’ll enjoy …

A friend of mine organised an Adventure Club concert in Sudbury a couple of weeks ago. Apparently it got a little out of hand: unconfirmed eyewitness accounts suggest Leighton may have been running in his birthday suit through the Holiday Inn. This track caused a similar reaction in my house this weekend … and that’s all I’m gonna say. Emily Haines, u so fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

Metric – Collect Call (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Alert the crowd, Benga is on his remix tip. Evacuate immediately. BAM! Full volume …

A-Trak and Zinc – Stingray (Benga Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Heard this track on Annie Mac, Friday in my flat, figured it was beats from Jack. See what I did there? Forgive the corn. This is like a Fake Blood dubstep track … eaaaasy.

Jack Beats – End Of Love: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Brand spanking new. I’m a huge fan of DJ Kue, especially his B.O.B and Lady Gaga remixes. This is another track for the masses. Sometimes you gotta play this at the venue, and most of the time you end up liking it more than you wanted to. Trust me, this is a banger.

This sounds a li’l dirrrty… Dillon, get em!

Chuckie – Who Is Ready To Jump (Dillion Francis Remix) (Dirty): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Chris Lake, Zeds Dead and tons more this week, all at your favourite bookmark……….xx

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Posted by Scott Willats

Another weekend come and gone to much success. Winter is here: for many that means hibernation, while for others it’s time to get into winter party mode. Personally, I’m always up for a good party with good music, but I mostly find myself spending time with small circles of friends until about March. And that’s great, because it means I really get to try new stuff in terms of playing music and seeing what resonates. Constructive criticism from friends is always better than the feedback from a crowd of strangers, so I really search through different sounds and genres to see what type of love they get. Here are some that passed with flying colours — with luck, they’ll make your set or playlist too.

A tune like this isn’t the ideal winter track, but I don’t plan on waiting until March to break it out. The Long Beach City Kids are back with a disco/rap/funky/drumstep track that immediately makes you feel cooler than you are. Try to not dance to this!

LBCK – Real Caviar ft. Chuuwee: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Brand new synthetic funk from Louis La Roche, and it hits all the pressure points nicely. You never quite know what you’re going to get from him, but it always seems to be stylish. He really doesn’t try to do too much to the track — just embraces the simplicity of it.

Louis La Roche – F.U.B.A.R: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Never been a huge fan of Cobra Starship. In fact I’ll be honest: I don’t really like their music that much. They actually seem to be pretty cool people, but their sound has just never connected with me. However, I am a fan of Bingo Players, and with this release they give Cobra Starship a whole new light to shine in. The song is dope, and maybe I won’t skip past them anymore when I see a new release. Btw, this was ripped from Hardwell‘s mix — and no, Mac Miller isn’t on it. (At least, I didn’t hear him.)

Cobra Starship feat. Mac Miller – Middle Finger (Bingo Players Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Just a couple more to keep you warm.

First is the brand new video from the baddest-coolest-flyest-rudebwoi in the game: Dillon Francis. This video is hilarious, and you can see what an easygoing, funny guy Dillon really is. He’s also the elite of the elite. No one has put out hits like he has these past 12 months — and as we come to the end of 2011, he has to be a serious contender for EDM artist of the year. This video is for a track I posted a good month ago: proof that this site needs to be bookmarked, my friend! Enjoy the visuals!

Finally, one of those year-end mash-ups that always seem to pop up in December. You know the story: all of the big pop tracks of the year, blended together so your kid sister and your mom really feel like they understand the art of mixing. As corny as these tracks can be, sometimes they’re good to keep in your catalogue for a wedding or bar mitzvah, when you’ve got to pop out something that’ll satisfy all ages. And besides, they’re good to have around so that in 10, 20, 30 years from now you can listen to a year of pop culture in five minutes. The video for this one puts it a cut above the norm, too. Enjoy!

Kaskade review tomorrow!

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Entertainment industry mag The Hollywood Reporter notices that this whole electronic music thing is, you know, kind of a big deal. Read the whole story HERE.