Posted by Gosia Mrugala

bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala chews la graisse with French housemeister NORMAN DORAY

GOSIA MRUGALA: Hey Norman! What have you been up to?

NORMAN DORAY: I’ve been touring quite a lot in the USA recently. I love being here, always a crazy atmosphere. I’m also a lot in the studio, to come back with some new music.

GM: Your track with Nervo, “Something To Believe In,” has gotten rave reviews — congratulations on that. How did the collaboration come together?

ND: The collaboration with the girls was so much fun! We loved what each other was doing, so we decided to get in the studio in London for two days. We worked hard and came up with “Something To Believe In.” It’s a good combination of classic house vocals with progressive sound and vibe.

GM: Tell me about “The Freshmakers.”

ND: My first project, I’ll never forget. I was 23 years old and decided to create this band with Pierre de la Touche and Arno Cost. We came up with [our brand of] French house music, which made us what we are today.

GM: What or who would you say has most inspired you and your music?

ND: I’m inspired by nearly everything in day-to-day life, to be honest! I’m inspired by the people I’m meeting, by the weather, by the places I’m going to. And for sure, listening to other music inspire me a lot too

GM: Your top three tracks at the moment?

ND: Porter Robinson & Mat Zo – Easy | Norman Doray & Nervo – Something To Believe In (Carl Louis & Martin Danielle Remix) | Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin – Don’t You Worry Child

GM: When you’re not touring or producing, what do you do on your down time?

ND: I try to spend as much time as I can with my family and the people I love. It’s so hard to see them and share time with them. That’s my number one priority.

GM: What’s the biggest “Oh, shit” moment you’ve experienced during a set?

ND: When another DJ comes to the booth 45 minutes before his set and starts plugging in his computer, without saying “Hi,” in front of 10,000 people. At that time you have to be really strong, mentally, not to punch him!

GM: How do you feel social media outlets have influenced the EDM scene?

ND: A lot — in every aspect. Now, fans and artists are like a big family. Everyone knows what others are doing. I think it’s really good — but I still think an artist should have a bit of privacy on his own personal life

GM: Any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

ND: New singles: some solo, some in collaboration. More news soon!

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

ND: I hope I’ll be spending more time in the studio! I love touring, but it’s really exhausting!

Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.

Posted by Scott Willats

And here we go. Y’all getting sick of me talking about festivals? Well sorry, but tuff f***ing luck. Because this weekend Toronto the place in the world to be for EDM. Or any kind of music, actually.

Sure, Montreal has Osheaga happening, which promises to be nuts in its own right But Toronto is bringing the heavy, what with VELD and HARD both going down this weekend.

What’s HARD, you ask? Just a little gathering featuring the likes of M83, Buraka Som Sistema, Austra … oh, and Justice. Sorry, let me rephrase that: JUSTICE!!!! The French icons make their looooooooooooooong-awaited return to Canada in style. Fort York is a special place to be this weekend.

And then there’s VELD, the brainchild of Canada’s own EMD titan, Deadmau5. Check out this lineup: Avicii, Kill the Noise, Mord Fustang, Bassnectar, Cosmic Gate and soooooo many others are busy tearing Toronto’s Downsview Park a new one. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, but it’s gonna get real messy long before that. Canada, this is our weekend!

And with that, it’s on to …. THE SWEETS!

This will get your weekend going just right. A free download that hits the spot.

Of Monsters & Men – Little Talks (The Knocks Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

In anticipation of Saturday’s main event: 5omething brand new from the Mau5.

Deadmau5 – There Might Be Coffee: LISTEN TO IT HERE

The second installment of Fools Gold‘s Clubhouse compilation series is just as heavy as the first. No point trying to pick a favourite: here’s the whole thing, amigos. Did I mention it’s FREE?!?

Fool’s Gold – Clubhouse Vol. 2: LISTEN TO IT HERE

I got news for you: this isn’t house.

Dream – This Isn’t House EP: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Big room time!

Zedd feat. Matthew Koma – Spectrum (3LAU Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Eddie Thoneick & Norman Doray – Celsius (Original Mix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

How can you not love Montreal’s Adventure Club? OK, maybe the sound is becoming just a tad predictable. But that in no way means it’s played out. And the fact that it’s free is an added attraction.

Adventure Club – Retro City: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Brand new Sound Remedy!

Ellie Goulding – Hanging On (Sound Remedy Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE 

So glad the full version of this is finally out. This is special.

VISUAL SWEETS

Already a huge fan of Dan Black, but this is trippy. I love it.

Nobody’s quite doing it like Calvin Harris right now. Anybody else thinking it’s time for him to do an album with Example?

August 10th. The Hoxton. You will find me there.

Justice flashback!

… and that’s it, kiddos. Be safe this weekend (but not too safe) and make sure you rep bpm:tv a llllllll weekend long!

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Posted by Scott Willats

Another week, another amazing show. If you’re in Ontario’s capital today, I urge you to head over to Yonge and Dundas Square, where the Mad Decent Block Party is raging even as we speak. Local heroes Zeds Dead will be wrapping things up later tonight, and I predict they’ll be shaking the concrete in such a manner as to have the walls of the nearby Eaton Center clinging on for dear life. It’s an extravaganza, amigos – and it’s FREE!!!  Say no more.

Speaking of Zeds Dead, we start this week’s Sweets with the brand new EP the duo dropped earlier this week — a collaboration with Omar LinX and, as you’d expect, a classic. Elsewhere, Montreal duo Botnek have a heavy-duty remix on their hands and Alvin Risk takes Fun.‘s “We are Young,” plus a few other goodies. Onward!

THE SWEETS

Zeds Dead and Omar LinX – The Living Dead EP: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Fun. Ft. Janelle Monae – We Are Young – Alvin Risk Remixes: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Savage Skulls – Lorimer (Botnek Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Borgore – Decisions (Cedric Gervais Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

THIS. IS. EPIC!!!!!!!!!

Van She – Jamaica (Riva Starr Cut): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Style Of Eye – Devour: LISTEN TO IT HERE

will.i.am feat. Eva Simons – This Is Love (Sidney Samson Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Eddie Thoneick & Norman Doray – Celsius: LISTEN TO IT HERE

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Posted by Scott Willats

“Back to work” seems to be the phrase of the day so far. Without sounding like an absolute loser, I have a serious case of the Munnnnndays. But what can you do? Press play on a couple of these tracks, and maybe that will get us over the hump. Here we go.

Since Boys Noize is heading Toronto’s way in the next couple days, lets play one of his hottest tracks — flipped upside down by our own John Roman.

Lemonade (John Roman Remix) – Erol Alkan, Boys Noize: LISTEN TO IT HERE

A new track from The 2 Bears. Not the biggest fan of it yet, but it’s been growing on me since Friday.

The 2 Bears – Work: LISTEN TO IT HERE

This is a pretty sick song, and made for the masses. Pick it up before the rest of the world does.

Swedish House Mafia ft Knife Party – Antidote (Vocal Edit): LISTEN TO IT HERE

This track is almost too good to be true. Be perfectly honest with yourself: listening to the original is a guilty pleasure for all of us. Add an EDM twist, and this is what you get. I’ll be playing this in my car — with the windows up, of course.

No Body – The Thong Song (2011 Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

And, of course, something for the big room. Beautiful vocals have been added to this progressive monster. Sounds a little familiar, but Norman Doray’s combination of the vocals and instrumental seems effortless and natural.

Norman Doray, Tawiah – Breakaway (Original Mix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Something brand new from the techno villain known as Gesaffelstein. Hands down the release of the week, it’s everything you’ve come to expect from this artist. All that’s missing: a club that looks like Joker’s hideout in the old Adam West version of Batman. Granted and slanted!

Gesaffelstein – Control Movement: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Finally, the first video from one of my favourite artists on my favourite label. Blood Music’s Ado has an absolutely eye-grabbing, bizzaro video for his feature tune “The Ultra.” Check it out:

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