Posted by Gosia Mrugala

Indefatigable bpm:tv blogger gets to know Greek-born house DJ/producer Orelse (a.k.a. Orestis Papavasiliou) — part of a new generation of rising European EDM talents.

GOSIA MRUGALA: Hey, Orelse! What have you been up to lately?

ORELSE: Hello everybody! Past two months I am always on the road, spreading my “Deep Is Love” parties along Greece. I’ve been to many places, had some great parties, met wonderful people who truly love music. Other than that, when I have time I am in my studio. Just finished a new track of mine and a remix that I am really happy about.

GOSIA: How would you describe your musical style?

ORELSE: My style is always balanced between deep, sexy sounds and groovy ones. I play everything from deep house to classic house, and sometimes a little bit of tech house with tribal elements included. I want every set I make to be like a journey. You start from somewhere and there is always a destination to reach.

GOSIA: So tell me more about “Deep Is Love.”

ORELSE: “Deep Is Love” is a track of mine that was released in 2012. It’s a deep house track that got great worldwide support, so I named my parties after it. Either way, this is the music I play and I found the title more than suitable. The “Deep Is Love” parties will soon be celebrating their one-year anniversary. We’ve been to so many places that I feel blessed. We are also starting to expand them outside Greece soon, with gigs in Europe, the USA and probably Africa as well.

GOSIA: Which producing software do you prefer?

ORELSE: I am a bit of a vintage guy to be honest. I use the old Kinetic, along with Project 6, Virsyn Tera, Darbuka and sometimes Reason. Although I always try new software, these ones just feel like home.

GOSIA: Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

ORELSE: (1) Orelse – Eye Sea You (Original Mix): This one is coming soon on Underground City Music!  |  (2) Stefano Amalfi – Tonk (Original Mix): An all-time favourite!  |  Tim Deluxe – Transformation (Original Mix): A favourite also.

GOSIA: What influences the musical selection for your live sets?

ORELSE: I don’t think there’s something standard about it. I never have a particular pattern that I should follow. I just want to have fun when I play and I am always pushing to that direction. If you have fun, then people will have a good time also, because they get your vibration and positive vibes. It’s a chemical thing like love. You give and you take back and we all get lifted along the process.

GOSIA: How do you find a balance between music and your personal life?

ORELSE: (Laughs) There is no balance, to be honest. Music is life, my mind and heart — wherever I am or whatever I’m doing are combined with it. My friends and family are good with it ! Music is personal, you know…

GOSIA: What is one hobby that your fans would be surprised to learn you enjoy?

ORELSE: I really do enjoy fishing. It feels so calm — the sea, sunset, waves are a combination that makes my mind relax. I don’t really care if I catch any fish — it’s an excuse just to be there !

GOSIA: The summer of 2012 was mind-blowing. Any predictions about summer 2013?

ORELSE: I think this summer will be even better than the previous one. New music, good people. And the Greek islands are a must destination to have a good time and expand your mind.

GOSIA:  Can you tell me about any upcoming projects or collaborations?

ORELSE: I have some new releases that will come out on Wet Recordings, Underground City, Clubshine, Avatone and other labels. Did a remix for Mikael Delta that I am really proud of and honored — it will be released probably in June. Other than that, we have a lot of parties planned in Greece, plus some surprises that will be announced soon!

GOSIA: Where do you see yourself in five years?

ORELSE: Probably in Berlin, still expanding my music and getting the Deep Is Love name out there!

KEEP TABS ON ORELSE:

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  |  SoundCloud  |  Mixcloud  |  MySpace  |  Resident Advisor  |  Beatport  |  The DJ List  |  Top Deejays  |  Deep Is Love Events  |

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

Posted by Gosia Mrugala

bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala caught up recently with Austin, Texas trance duo TRITONAL (a.k.a. Chad Cisneros and Dave Reed) in the wake of a triumphant hometown gig celebrating the 100th and final episode of their acclaimed Air Up There podcast.

GOSIA MRUGALA: Hey guys, how did your Air Up There 100 show in December go? All good?

TRITONAL: It was such an awesome experience, and although we did have a few hiccups along the way, we had so much fun! One of the CDJs coded during the first part of our set, but the crowd was gracious and we continued right along without incident. Things sometimes happen in live situations, and you really just have to roll with it.

GM: How is it working in a duo?

CHAD: It’s so great to be able to balance ideas off of one another and come to a common ground. It gives us both confidence in what we agree sounds good!

DAVE: It’s great. Especially when you have a solid workflow, you definitely don’t take it for granted; and we do have an awesome workflow together. Having another head in studio to help produce each track, throw around composition ideas — even crazy ideas balances things out quite well. Every day is an enjoyable day in our environment.

GM: Tritonal has really jumped onto the scene and won a lot of praise very quickly. What has been the highlight of your career so far?

CHAD: One of them has to be the Air Up There 100 show. Selling out our hometown at such a huge venue was amazing!

DAVE: What he said! Regardless of how amazing Electric Daisy Carnival Vegas has been each year, or Ultra in Miami, selling out Austin, Texas has to be my personal highlight as well. I loved seeing so many familiar faces, some family and close friends, who had supported us from the very beginning! Especially those who were with us back when we were playing to maybe 15 people in a small room! Loved every bit of it.

GM: How did your show Air Up There get started?

Tri: We started Air Up There originally as a radio show, reaching out to fans, and supporting other musical works as well as our own music. To the very end, it has been an explosive avenue for us! We loved the idea of having a show that put you “in flight” of what we felt was the best music out!

GM: How did you get from there to your new show, Tritonia?

Tri: When we began, we didn’t have our fans: the Tritonians. Over the last couple of years, they’ve become so passionate about the music and are the absolute lifeblood of this collaboration. So we are taking this opportunity to brand them, with Tritonia. It seems to us to be a very natural progression to our career. Air Up There will continue as a record label, and we’ll also keep doing Air Up There remixes from time to time!

GM: Currently, how much time do you spend on your own music versus running Air Up There Recordings?

Tri: Honestly, we spend a WHOLE lot of time on our own music. But that said, we also put in time when we hear something inspiring by another artist that we feel we could rock to on stage. Basically, we love to work with anyone who inspires us, motivates us and tests the musical brains with something unique!

GM: Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

CHAD: (1) Kill The Noise – Saturn | (2) Kryder – Scorpio | (3) Tritonal – Blurple

DAVE: (1) Above & Beyond – Alchemy |  (2) Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child | (3) Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash – Reload

GM: Besides trance, what kind of music are you into?

CHAD: Pretty Lights, M83, and other alternative bands.

DAVE: LOVE chillout music, Burial and Four Tet, The Cinematic Orchestra — anything musically intelligent.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

CHAD: Hopefully on our third or fourth album, Grammy nominated, on a massive North American bus tour selling out arenas!

DAVE: Definitely new albums… playing shows in places we’ve never played before — and yes, perhaps some movie and video gaming soundtracks!

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

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bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala goes one-on-one with WALDEN (a.k.a. John Walden), an 18-year-old Australian house sensation who’s poised for global domination in 2013.

Catch Walden at these upcoming Canadian dates:

January 11 @UNION (Toronto)

January 19 @ New Jack City (Montreal)

GOSIA MRUGALA: You’re something of a young musical prodigy. How would you describe your experiences as an artist thus far?

WALDEN: My experiences thus far are certainly not what I had expected them to be. To be connected with the right people, and already be able to go on tour, despite being relatively unknown, is just crazy for me. I’m walking into venues that I probably shouldn’t be able to get in to, and playing 1-2 hour sets. Right now, I think I have just been taken to a different planet!

GM: Tell me about your school field trip to Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum of technology when you were 12 and how it impacted your future.

W: Well, our teacher took us to the museum, and the guys there gave us a quick lesson on how to use this program called ACID Pro. Shortly after, I got the program and began experimenting with it. I first started playing around with samples and loops, which soon led to actually creating them, which then developed into me getting piano lessons so that I could learn how the chords and scales worked. The idea of composing music just sort of grew on me over the years! I never saw it actually becoming a career.

GM: How would you describe your musical style?

W: I would describe my style as uplifting, feel-good, but almost always emotive. I don’t always produce dance/club music. Sometimes I like to produce DnB or chillout as well.

GM: You top three tracks at the moment?

W: Three top dance tracks is hard — there are so many good ones out there now! If I had to choose, though, it would have be: Axwell, “Feel The Vibe”; Porter Robinson, “Language”; and Daft Punk, “Something About Us.” The last one especially. There’s just something about that track that keeps me going back to it.

GM: Do you prefer DJing or producing?

W: I like both a lot, to be honest. Right now maybe production a little more, as I’m still trying to get my feet on the ground with DJing, in terms of being creative on the decks and really entertaining the crowd. My biggest goal is to get to the level of someone like A-Trak. The way he mixes is amazing.

GM: Who are your biggest inspirations and what have you learned from them?

W: My biggest inspirations are: Mat Zo — I don’t usually play out his music, but I love listening to it. Such a unique sound, and I love the way he arranges his tracks; Miike Snow — Again, I just love the feel and emotion that he puts into his music; Axwell — not only for his mixdowns, but also the feel and emotion that he puts into his music. That’s something that I have always appreciated and tried to replicate; Daft Punk, because … well, it’s Daft Punk. They are from another planet, I swear! Arty – I’ve always had a little bit of a soft spot for trance/trouse productions, and I absolutely love the sonics of Arty’s tracks! He has great melodies and overall such a cool sound! There are many, many more people who inspire, but it would be a list too long to put down.

GM: Which producing software do you prefer and why?

W: I’m currently using FL Studio — not really a matter of preferences, but more of convenience. I’ve been with the program for so long now that I know it quite well, and seeing as I can do everything on that program (i.e. mixdowns mastering, sound design etc.), I don’t really see a point of changing programs.

GM: Outside of house and electro, what other musical styles are you into?

W: Other than house, I love listening to DnB, chillout, bands like U2, Foo Fighters, Supertramp, and all that kind of stuff. Maybe a little bit of Skrillex on the side. Yes, I’m a big fan of his.

GM: Any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

W: Can’t really say about collaborations yet. I’ve got some on the go, but they’re all still works in progress.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

W: In five years, I’d like to see myself producing better music, and playing better live sets that will not only get a crowd pumping, but will also hopefully take them on a musical journey … or a ride of some kind.

PHOTOS: KATIE KAARS

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

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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.

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Vive la france! bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala goes tête-à-tête with Parisian producer/DJ MISS KITTIN (a.k.a. Caroline Hervé).

GOSIA MRUGALA: Hey, Caroline Hervé! what have you been up to lately?

MISS KITTIN: Playing every weekend, Christmas dinner at my place with my Parisian friends, and working on the future live show that will follow the release of my new album.

GM: Where did the name “Miss Kittin” come from?

MK: An illegal party we organized when I was at art school, in a military fort. I was asked to play in the chillout area. They needed a name for the flyer. I said “Kittin,” like “Kick into something.” It has nothing to do with “kitten.” Later on, all promoters started putting “Miss” in front, because it was more fashionable. I could never get rid of it.

GM: How would you describe your musical style?

MK: “Diverse.”

GM: Who would you say have been your biggest influences?

MK: Life in general.

GM: As in “Life is My Teacher.” What are some things you’ve learned from life?

MK: It’s all said in the song.

Miss Kittin – Life Is My Teacher (Original Mix): BUY IT ON BEATPORT

GM: Your top three tracks at the moment?

MK: 1) Nick Curly – Underground (Dennis Ferrer Remix) | 2) George Fitzgerald – Unilateral | 3) Maxxi Soundsystem feat. Name One – Regrets We Have No Use For

GM: When you created your label Nobody’s Bizzness, you said it was about maintaining the maximum freedom with your music. How would you describe the relationship between a label and its artists, and what kind of influence do labels have on an artist’s music?

MK: I always think it’s better to be a label manager if you’re not a DJ or a musician, to avoid ego fights. I’ve seen that a lot. That’s why I don’t release other people yet, because I don’t have time to take care of them properly. I will do it when I am 100% available for them.

GM: Do you prefer playing at clubs or festivals?

MK: Both — good balance. You can experiment in clubs, and throw the big show in festivals.

GM: Any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

MK: My new double album [Calling From The Stars, slated for release April 22, 2013 on wSphere] a live show, a song with Acid Washed, another one with Aquarius Heaven, and more.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

MK: I don’t know!

Miss Kittin’s new digital-only EP Life Is My Teacher is out now! Buy it on Beatport HERE. Buy it on iTunes HERE.

Download the single “Life Is My Teacher” for free on SoundCloud HERE.

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

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Intrepid bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala says “g’day” to Aussie trance producer/DJ tyDi (a.k.a. Tyson Illingworth) in this exclusive one-on-one interview.

Gosia Mrugala: Hey, tyDi! What have you been up to lately?

tyDi: Heya! I’m just about to get on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. My life is just constant traveling!

GM: So what was it that pulled you into the dance music scene and inspired you to pursue a career as a DJ/producer?

tyDi: The music, the rhythm, the melody, the atmosphere it creates. I fell in love with EDM when I was 15 and I’ve never looked back. I love how music can impact your life and change the way you feel. It’s really like a drug — the only drug that isn’t bad for you!

GM: “Glow In The Dark” has received a lot of praise. There’s a very strong positive, message in the lyrics. What was the inspiration for this track?

tyDi: I wrote the song with my friend Kerli. We wanted to make a song that had a positive message and could inspire people. It’s all about making the best of a situation and shining through the darkness. I knew I wanted the video to have a strong message, so I decided to build it around serious life issues that some people go through. I wanted to show that a small favour or kind gesture to someone can snowball on to others. The initial plan was to build it around the schoolyard and a high school bully, but the end result goes much further. All the characters in the video are linked by an act of kindness and positivity that carries across the various situations.

GM: Your top three tracks at the moment?

tyDi: 1. Unclubbed (feat. Sarah Howells) – Hide U | 2. Kiholm – Awaken | 3. tyDi – Fire & Load (Stripped)

GM: On December 4, you tweeted “Falling in love with the world.” What inspired you to post that?

tyDi: Every day I’m in a new city, sometimes I’ll visit four different countries in a week. I constantly meet the most amazing people who I wish I could spend more time with. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with a place or a person; it’s often hard — even heartbreaking — to meet such incredible people, to build a connection with them, and then have to say goodbye.

GM: How does the process of track selection differ between your Global Soundsystem radio show/podcast and your performances at nightclubs and festivals?

tyDi: Well, Global Soundsystem gives me an outlet for all types of music. I can play whatever I want on the radio show because I’m not worried about keeping people dancing or maintaining a level of energy. Global Soundsystem is a way for me to show people new music that they’ve probably never heard before. My live performances are more about keeping a crowd entertained and always dancing, so the track selection and set structure need to be executed carefully.

GM: What is one hobby your fans would be surprised to learn you enjoy doing?

tyDi: Surfing, maybe?

GM: What instruments can you play — and which would you say you are most talented at?

tyDi: Drums and piano, I’m OK at both of them, but drumming is probably something people would be more impressed by.

GM: The summer of 2012 was an absolutely mind-blowing time for EDM. Any predictions about what the summer of 2013 will look like?

tyDi: Not yet. But there’s plenty of big parties coming up! I’m sure I’ll be just as busy as always.

GM: Can you tell me about any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

tyDi: I have a collaboration with Christina Novelli that comes out on December 17. And then in January I’m releasing an EP with four new tracks: vocals from Sarah Howells, Brianna Holan and also Toni Nielson.

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

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bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala has an enigmatic encounter with house music’s answer to the Blue Man Group: the mysterious masked Dutch DJ duo 2 Faced Funks.

Gosia Mrugala – Where did you two meet and how did you start working together?

2 Faced Funks – We met in a local club in Holland a couple of years ago. There was a DJ contest. From that moment on, we started to play together for fun. After a while we also started producing, and started the whole 2 Faced Funks concept.

GM – How is it working in a duo?

2FF – It’s great! You never have to travel alone, which is a big plus for us. It’s always big fun to be on the road together.

GM – So what’s the meaning behind your “2 Faced Funks” alias?

2FF – Well, with the two of us, we figured there has to be a “2″ in the name. We also have two faces, so that’s where the “faced” comes in. And the “funks” part just kicked in to finish the deal!

GM – How would you descibe your musical style?

2FF - Our style goes from progressive to electro house. We always love to build up our sets!

GM – Why do you hide your identities behind those impressive pink masks, and why did you guys choose to go with this look?

2FF – Well, that actually started as a joke. We wanted to do something different and thought: Let’s try to play with masks so nobody knows who we are! Then we figured that the colour had to be pink, as that really stands out in the clubs!

GM – Who are your biggest inspirations and what have you learned from them?

2FF – We got several. To start with, the Dutchies who are taking over the house industry nowadays. But also international stars like Axwell, Dirty South, Knife Party etc.

GM – Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

2FF – 2 Faced Funks – Arabia; Dirty South/Alesso – City of Dreams; Dannic/Jordy Dazz – Fuego

GM – What is one hobby your fans would be surprised to hear that you enjoy doing?

2FF – Snowboarding with our masks on. (We actually did that!)

GM – What can fans expect from your debut album? Is there a set release date?

2FF – Just like our sets, it will be an album ranging from progressive to electro house. The release is set for February 2013!

GM – Where do you see yourselves in the next five years?

2FF – Hopefully, playing at the biggest events around the globe. We love to travel and see the world. It is great to combine that with what we love to do the most: playing house music!

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

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As a DJ, producer and mastermind of the renowned Night Slugs imprint, South London’s Bok Bok (a.k.a. Alex Sushon) has emerged as one of the most influential figures on the UK bass music scene. Tireless bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala tracked him down recently for a quick one-on-one chat about his musical passions.

Gosia Mrugala: Hello, Alex. What have you been up to lately?

Bok Bok: Lately I’ve been moving studios, lining up some new releases for my label and, as always, playing DJ sets. The last batch of shows were in Paris, New York and Brighton UK.

GM: What’s the meaning behind your alias “Bok Bok”?

BB: I’ve had that name for a long time, way before I was fully focused on music. So it’s a bit hard to remember, at this point, what I was thinking when I conceived it. But I think it’s just supposed to be two quick percussive sounds, like onomatopoeia. I’ve since found out it means a weird variety of things across several languages.

GM: How would you describe your musical style?

BB: Grimy, modular, often stripped-down music for the club.

GM: In your own words, how would you describe grime?

BB: One of the most inventive music genres around, which at its best channels both hip-hop and techno via a collective consciousness. It’s the music style that got me doing what I do today and remains my biggest inspiration. In its early heyday, grime producers were working with no rulebook whatsoever — it was sheer freewheeling creativity in an urban setting. The key to grime is a nervous energy which is undeniable in the club.

GM: When you’re not producing, DJing or working on graphics, what do you like to do on your spare time?

BB: Just normal things like like try to see my friends, catch up with everyone’s latest YouTube favourites, read or watch movies or reality TV. I also like to ride my bike. And I like to go to clubs and not DJ when I get the chance.

GM: So tell me about Night Slugs.

BB: Night Slugs is the crew and label that me and L-Vis 1990 started back in ’08. In 2010 it became a record label, home to such artists as Girl Unit, Kingdom and Jam City. Since the start the focus has been on club music in all its forms, presented with a sensibility learned from raving to grime, garage and early dubstep. The whole thing is very DIY and feels like a family. It’s really special to me.

GM: How much time do you spend on your own music versus running Night Slugs?

BB: Almost the whole of the last year has been taken up with mixing the releases we put out, but lately I’ve refocused on my own production and have been spending a lot more time in my bunker. Balancing the two can be a challenge.

GM: Your top three tracks at the moment?

BB: Jam City – How We Relate To The Body; L-Vis 1990 – Ballad 4D; Fiedel – Andreas

GM: What is one aspect about the music scene you would change?

BB: In general I love that it’s even possible for me to do what I do, so I’m not one to complain. But at a push I’d say: it would be great if, instead of trends being driven so much by genres, we could see more people (especially new producers!) approaching club music in a more abstract way as just different arrangements of interesting sounds.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

BB: Hopefully doing what I do now — but better with another five years of experience; that’s a lot of time to learn and improve. All the mixing and creative direction I’ve done with Night Slugs has made me open to the idea of working with other artists in production and mixing, especially for longer projects where we can really craft something together.

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

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Unstoppable bpm:tv bloggeuse Gosia Mrugala is seeing double after an exclusive one-on-two interview with fast-rising Dutch trance duo W&W, a.k.a. Willem van Hanegem and Ward van der Harst. Check it out.

Gosia Mrugala: Where did you meet and how did you guys start working together?

W&W: We had a mutual friend and through him we started talking online about music production since we were both producing on our own. After a while we finally met at a Dutch festival, we had a good connection so we started to hang out more and more. After we attended another festival, we felt like producing music together. That’s when we made our first release.

GM: How is it working in a duo?

WW: It’s great! You always have someone around who’s opinion you can ask for when working! It’s also good to be on the road together, we can imagine it must be very boring to travel by yourself all the time.

GM: Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

Willem: Rick Mitchells – Sub Zero; Alvaro – Make The Crowd GO!; Deadmau5 – Fn Pig

Ward: David Gravell – Fire Away; W&W – Lift Off; Above & Beyond vs Hardwell – Thing Called Spaceman (W&W Mashup)

GM: Outside of trance, what kind of music are you into?

Willem: I have a very broad range of music that I like, I listen to everything, from hip-hop to rock to dubstep and all other kinds of EDM.

Ward: I love artists like Coldplay and Ed Sheeran.

GM: So how are things going with your Mainstage radio show?

WW: Mainstage is doing really good! It’s broadcast on Sirius XM. Also, the podcast gets more and more downloads! We get so many reactions from people listening to our show! It’s great when you read on Twitter that somebody from Australia, Canada or South America is listening to your radio show when sitting on the train or metro.

GM: How did it feel hearing your track “Invasion” was voted to be the official A State of Trance 550 anthem?

WW: That is actually a funny story! We were on our way to Los Angeles from Argentina where we were standing in the customs queue. We checked our Twitter and saw that we were a trending topic worldwide! As soon as we checked the @ mentions we noticed that we won the competition, amazing news of course!

GM: Any memories/moments from summer 2012 that stand out for you?

Willem: The past summer has been great! Definitely our best and busiest summer so far! The whole summer and all its festivals were actually one big highlight! We played so many great gigs!

Ward: Exactly like Willem says, it’s been such a fantastic summer! It was an honor playing festivals like Global Gathering, Tomorrowland, Nature One, Nocturnal Wonderland and Electric Zoo to name a few!

GM: So, any predictions for summer 2013?

WW: Well, we think and hope 2013 will have an even better summer! It’s going to be hard to top this last year, but always aim for the stars!

GM: Can you tell me of any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

WW: Our latest mix compilation, Mainstage Vol. 1, just got released and the reactions on that are overwhelming! We didn’t expect this at all! Next up are a few very strong releases on our label Mainstage Music, and after that it’s time for our new single ”Lift Off”! We have some huge collabs coming up as well, but we can’t reveal those yet.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

WW: Hopefully in five years we’ll still be doing what we love to do: making music and playing it for as many people as possible!

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

Posted by Gosia Mrugala

Intrepid bpm:tv bloggeuse Gosia Mrugala dons her space suit for an otherworldly encounter with NYC techno producer BLACK ASTEROID (a.k.a. Bryan Black).

GOSIA MRUGALA:  Hey, Bryan Black — what have you been up to lately?

BRYAN BLACK: I’m currently in Paris for Fashion Week. I often collaborate with designers (Rick Owens, Raf Simons) on runway music, and in return they provide inspiration for the visual identity of my musical projects. The promotional video for “Black Acid” was directed by Anna October, who is also a fashion designer. The girl in the video (Nadiia Shapoval) is a fashion model from Kiev. After Paris, I will go home to New York and finish recording my next EP.

GM: You started off as a sound engineer for Prince. What influenced you to pursue a career as a DJ/producer?

BB: I was always fascinated by electronic music. For me, electronic music has a bigger spectrum of expression and sounds than rock and roll, which is essentially limited to four traditional instruments. The first real exposure I had to pure dance music was via acid house coming from the UK back in the late 80s. So when I started making electronic music for myself, it always had some classic song structure and a strong visual identity, which I learned from growing up with Prince, Depeche Mode, etc.

GM: Tell me a little about Motor and how you went from that to Black Asteroid?

BB: Motor in the very beginning was essentially techno, but it changed and grew over time into a more of an electro act. I was also a techno head. So last year after finishing the new Motor album, I decided to get back into underground techno because that will always my favorite style music to produce.

GM: What’s the significance behind the project name “Black Asteroid”?

BB: “Black” because of Bryan Black perhaps, but not intentionally. “Asteroid” because I’m fascinated with space and astronomy. On my new EP, there is a song called “Lunar Landing.” It’s a theme that will always be present with Black Asteroid.

GM: How would you describe your musical style?

BB: Techno / experimental techno.

GM: How did you wind up with the title “Black Acid” and what influenced the production of this track?

BB: The song titles usually are chosen because they best describe in words how I think the music sounds. I try to give the music a visual identity through the titles. The main synth bass in “Black Acid” was vaguely like an acid techno sound, but it was darker and more dangerous, and thats’ probably the inspiration for the title. The production was inspired in part by Laurent Garnier‘s “Crispy Bacon,” which has all the elements that I find fascinating in techno.

GM: Who have been your biggest inspirations and what have you learned from them?

BB: Prince: Work hard. Never stop writing and performing. Believe in yourself, don’t listen to others. Nine Inch Nails: That electronic music mixed with the energy of rock is a great combination. I always admired how much soul and energy came from the early NIN albums. And sound design. Depeche Mode: Classic songwriting with well crafted synth sounds.

GM: Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

BB: 1. Rrose – “Waterfall”; 2. Truncate – “Dial”; Monoloc – “Shame.”

GM: Can you tell me of any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

BB: The Black Acid EP and video was just released. Next will be the Black Acid remix 12″/EP featuring Perc and a few other of my favorite techno producers. I’m also working on an EP with Dave Clarke. We finished the A-side and it sounds amazing. We don’t even have a name for the project yet, but I’m really looking forward to this release.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

BB: I would hope to be doing what I am now: making techno and collaborating with people I respect from all different art mediums — fashion, film, music, art, etc.

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