Enlightened Listening for November 16

I often start these Enlightened Listening posts the same way, talking about Friday this, Friday that. What makes this post different is that November 16th has been marked on my calendar for many reasons. It marks the highly anticipated releases of Humans, Jacques Greene and Tiga & The Martinez Brothers. It also sees the return of both Haywyre and HERO after long absences. Joining those incredible offerings is Alex Metric's marvelous remix of "Electricity," a track he helped produce, Daktyl's dazzling take on What So Not and San Holo, and ANNA's epic twist on Jon Hopkins "Singularity." Rounding out this collection is the masterful Jean-Michel Jarre with Equinoxe Infinity. Enjoy!

Humans - Going Late

Silk City ft. Dua Lipa - Electricity (Alex Metric Remix)

Haywyre - Tell Me

What So Not & San Holo ft. Daniel Johns - If You Only Knew (Daktyl Remix)

HERO - Dirty Work

Jacques Greene - Fever Focus

Jean-Michel Jarre - Equinoxe Infinity

Tiga & The Martinez Brothers - Blessed EP, Pt. 1

Jon Hopkins - Singularity (ANNA Remix)

Flying Themed Tunes

Today I'm off to see my mom's side of the family in the settlement of Thunder Bay, the remote head of Lake Superior. Thankfully I'm flying, but that leaves little time for bloggin (although I believe I'm achieving that offline, as I cruise above the clouds). So while I jettison towards my destination I'm going to compile a list of tracks including keyword fly. And for fun I'm including tracks electronic and otherwise. (Compiling offline and will update with links when I get the chance). Spotify playlist below.

Point Point Live at AccorHotels Arena

I've gushed about Parisian supergroup and Record Record founders Point Point a number of times, both here and on FUXWITHIT, but I'm not sure I've been as in love with them as I am today with the release of their sublime live set from this past weekend. Recorded at AccorHotels Arena in the French capital; Aazar, LH4L, Devoted To God, and Nömak have illustrated exactly what it is I love about them. I knew that their unique brand of 'future bass' spoke to me, whether it be as individuals, as Point Point or in their releases on Record Record, but I see now why it does with this mix. It hits on so many classics and staples of the club, trap, jersey club, hip hop, and even funk scenes. The hour long set really has some of everything: it goes hard, it gets emotional, it features a number of their own tunes and so many of the tracks and artists that they draw inspiration from. Let me now do a quick run-through, below.

The epic arc opens up with sweet strings, easing our ears in slowly before the bright, bleepy vibes burst over the skyline like the first beams of morning light. The energizing opening is the first of dozens of flawless transitions, this one in particular plays into San Holo's "We Rise." Then as if writing this piece for me, the cinematic arc becomes blatantly clear as we get the now classic "Cinema Slasherr" edit from Benzi & Elephante. Following that we get the first of multiple Kanye cuts, this one coming as their own remix of "Power." The flurry of nostalgia stays steady with Sam Smith's vocals from "Latch" leading into the lap of power that is Freekill's remix of Aazar's "Gyal." Minutes later we're treated to the classic Run DMC/Bob James sample, which then transitions into an ungodly edit of KC & The Sunshine Band's "That's The Way (I Like It)," before slipping into Chicago's "Street Player" and then MERCER's "Satisfy." Just writing this has me hyperventilating. Someone get me a paper bag! This is too good.

The first third of the mix concludes some classic grooves from Armand Van Helden before giving way to the gritty genius that is Pyramid's remix of "Utopia." And then here comes your answer as to whether the mix could get better, and astonishingly the answer is yes, as in comes The King with "Beat It." I wish I could line this article with GIFs and emojis to better illustrate just what Point Point is making my face do. This is just crazy and quite simply one of the best mixes I've ever heard. It is incredibly enjoyable and while it leaves me wanting more, it keeps feeding me like Homer Simpson being fed donuts on a continuous loop. And if you thought I was done with the insane play-by-play, how about this transition from the Spice Girls aided "Oooops" of Drippy Dolphin into SOPHIE's "MSMSMSM" and then Carmada's remix of "Right Here, Right Now."

As we round into the second half of the mix we get more of Point Point's own productions including "All This" and "Korean BBQ," before a flurry of San Holo, Galantis and Jack Ü. These classics are then followed by a bit of a new music jam session, that neither I nor Shazam are able to identify. We're then beckoned towards the finale with a foursome of Point Point tracks "Life In Grey," "Serious Mood," "Part Of The Game," and "Hands." The grand finale comes in the form of a whistle aided live version of M83's "Midnight City." You're likely left both a shadow of your former self and a more fulfilled, actualized version. I for one know I'll be coming back to this mix many times in the coming days and months, and am grateful to be able to download it absolutely free. Do so here, and follow Point Point below.FOLLOW POINT POINT: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Benzi - Girl Trapz 13

King Benzi is back with the lucky 13th edition of his famed Girl Trapz mix series. Of course it's got the usual "rare edits and world premieres" that it's become known for, but it's just as much about Benzi's rapid fire mixing style and incredible eclectic collection of tracks. There's R. Kelly, Spice Girls and Lil Pump, in the first three tracks alone. There's also regulars San Holo, What So Not and Ookay, who premieres his track "Cool" near the end. This nearly 50 minutes of mayhem once again establishes Benzi as the preeminent purveyor of all things future bass and trap, managing to maintain freshness with familiarity. Download the mix from Dropbox here, find tracklist here and follow Benzi below.FOLLOW BENZI: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

San Holo & James Vincent McMorrow - The Future (Kill Paris Remix)

After already garnering 13 remixes, San Holo's collab with James Vincent McMorrow "The Future" just got one more. Uploaded by bitbird, it seems Kill Paris' remix is also official despite not making it onto the epic package. Its quality makes me think that Kill Paris took his time perfecting the production, thus missing the deadline, but regardless if you can handle just one more remix, give it a spin below.After briefly going by Chill Harris (following the attacks on Paris Nov. 2015), it's this moniker that really describes the sounds of "The Future" perfectly. While production-wise Corey Baker has always been chill, with his laid back, soaring melodies, this remix really exemplifies that funky, feels driven pop proclivity. He's taken the visionary vocals and wrapped them around somber yet sunny synths and oh so shiny steel rhythms. Even further proliferating "The Future" his vocal chops are just that, stylish and state-of-the-art (examples at :44 and 2:22). Re-purposing vocals in this manner is exactly what drew me to future bass in the beginning, and what is so astonishingly absent from so much of the uninspired, copycat stuff that seems omnipresent at the moment. Add to Kill Paris' vivacious vocal chops, some delightful diversions in slapping snares and biting bass, and you've got yourself a radiant remix.

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San Holo vs Kanye West - Lights (Nitti Gritti Remix)

There's remixes, DJ tools, edits and mashups, and then there's what Miami's Nitti Gritti has done here. "Lights" combines the epic brass arc of Kanye's "All Of The Lights" as covered by Alexander Lewis and Brasstracks, while managing to maintain the indie electronic sparkle of San Holo's "Light." To have the horns rise in revelry from out of the ethereal chorus of "I just wanna see the light" is one thing, but to have Rihanna join in is sheer magic. Even when the two tracks are most oppositional (1:17ish), their mixture actually seems strong. Especially towards the end of the track, Nitti Gritti's mixing mastery shines through. He's able to flip back and forth between the two ingredients, whipping together an entirely new and appealing original. Brighten up your day with "Lights," available free via Hive, here. FOLLOW NITTI GRITTI: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

BeauDamian x ZEKE BEATS - Faux Bourdon

San Holo's label bitbird continues to prove that it's one of the most forward thinking and sonically stunning collectives out there. Their latest boundary pushing production comes from BeauDamian of The Netherlands, who's reached all the way across the globe to connect with Aussie, ZEKE BEATS.

"Faux Bourdon" is a thematic triumph of epic proportions. It is heralded by an orchestral opening, and punctuated by a choral call before dropping into a doomsday aesthetic. The darkness of the collaborative synth work is beyond brilliant, it shows a truly incredible production ability to invoke so much depth and life into an entirely electronic sound. But it's not just about the sound's design, it progresses with a dazzling display as the choir and other orchestral elements return.

It is at this point that I cannot help but hear the much discussed Ramin Djawadi piece "Light Of The Seven" for Game Of Thrones, in part because of the instrumentation, but more so because of the incredible interplay and progression. "Faux Bourdon" has an uncanny ability to add and subtract elements while continually progressing. It never feels jumpy or disjointed; it's a wild ride, that you just don't want to end. And it doesn't have to end, as it's been made available for free download here.
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Grandtheft on Diplo & Friends (Jan 29, 2017)

At the end of January Grandtheft graced Diplo and Friends for another guest mix, just over a year since he made his last appearance on, arguably one of the best mixshows in the world (a set I also covered here). A lot has happened since last year, but we can still count on Grandtheft to deliver a dope mix with a bunch of new and forthcoming records as well as his trademark edits.Just in the first 10 minutes we're treated to a slew of genres and styles, all mixed together not just in a fluid manner, but almost so as to tell a story. From the rap intro of "Pull Up Hop Out" and "Gang With Me" to house with "Prophecy," "Rude Boy," and "Devotion" mixed with the vocals of "House Work," Grandtheft shows off his mixing chops beautifully. But for me the way he goes from his collab with Sleepy Tom to the instant singalong of Mr. Fuzz's "Bel Air" is what really gets me. And that's only the first 10 minutes.

Things then get more clubbed out as he hits up Jersey, before heading back to the 6ix with "Fake Love" followed by his "Heroes x Feel It" edit and Shaun Frank flip of "Easy Go." And while this is a really nice touchy feely section. it quickly devolves into too turnt trap with back to back Slumberjack, followed by Ekali and KRANE then his gritty "Waiting x Keep It 100" smash edit.

As if that weren't enough, we get a glimpse of his remix of "Let You Get Away" (hopefully forthcoming) returning the favour for Shaun Frank. Then it's more of the dudes Keys N Krates and their KRANE collab, followed by two more fire edits. Like really, who doesn't love the vocals to "In For The Kill." But still we're not even close to being done.

One of the things that makes Grandtheft so great is his ear for new talent and willingness to support it. His last Diplo & Friends mix introduced me to Dom Dias, who has become one of the most played artists on Bump In The Hump and made one of the most musically sound sets for My Mixtape. This time I notice Grandtheft has gone to the west coast to feature Juelz and while he's not new to me, I still feel he's incredibly underrated. His "Whine & Kotch" is fire and works perfectly with Grandtheft's set, but it's only one of many dope releases under his belt.

Of course the way the mix is rounded up further shows off Grantheft's expertise. He goes back to back with two of my favourite tracks of 2016 Jackal's "Ice" and San Holo's "Light" before letting us down gently with Francis and The Lights "Friends." Of course having Kanye doesn't hurt, but it is the combination of Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat that really seals it for me. This kind is the kind of quality I've come to expect from Grandtheft, and truly I've never been let down. Both live and pre-recorded the man is something to behold. Enjoy the stream above and check out the tracklist here.

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12 tracks for the last weekend in August

With summer drawing to a close, it seems people are rushing around trying to take advantage of whatever time is left under the empowering and freeing summer sun. This being the last weekend August, I too am feeling the push to post up lakeside and relax. So before my family and I head to the cottage for this last stretch of summer, I've compiled a list of 12 new tracks that will make your time pass that much more enjoyably. Even better, the majority of these tracks are up for free download. The first three or four tracks are rough, raw and hard hitting trap numbers from big names Masayoshi Iimori, Slumberjack, San Holo and Josh Pan. Slumberjack and San Holo are back with new originals, while Iimori and Pan build on their already inimitable styles with two massive remixes. After taking on Kanye West earlier in the week, Josh Pan now takes on Amerie's "1 Thing." Following that is a brilliant bootleg from German producer, Bibo of classic Skylar Grey "Love The Way You Lie." The next four tracks are extremely bright, futuristic tracks from Italian, Mordecai, Frenchman Offramp, Pluto and Ye. and Sweater Beats. The following track from Bonnie and Clyde is somehow able to combine many of the styles from the previous tracks. "Tonight" is part future bass, part house, part trap, part tropical; a blissful balance between pop and bass.  The duo of Los Angelenos, DJCJ and Bloodtone rework Kevin Gates' "Really Really" to perfection, calling me back to Dr. Fresch's "Gangsta Gangsta." Rounding things out in the best way I know how, with UZ's joint remix with MYRNE of his own "Trap Shit 16." It's always awesome when an original artist remixes their own work but the touch of MYRNE takes it to the next level, as a true work of art. Follow through for all of the download links and get your own copy of the tracks above.

San Holo - Still Looking (Cesqeaux Remix)

Two of the Netherlands greatest exports have cross pollinated their already potent careers. After San Holo jumped on Cesqeaux's #EAUXMYGOD3 with "Who Am I" the Barong Family member returned the favour by remixing the bitbird founder's "Still Looking," now up for free download. I've always been a fan of San Holo's more upbeat, turnt and raucous tracks, which means the addition of Cesqeaux's wylin' style adds a little more oomph to the already brilliant and powerful chords of "Still Looking." It does lose a little bit of that San Holo shine, buffed up by Cesqeaux's buoyant bass, although I believe that is the strength of San Holo's work. Take for example his classic "The Next Episode" remix, its raw chiptune style grips your heart with an unwavering strength, even further "We Rise" follows much of that same tilt, absolutely obliterating eardrums with that sweet, yet somehow sour lead synth in the drops. I believe the combination of Cesqeaux and San Holo is a force to be reckoned with, ever so delicately straddling the line between glittering glory and wacky wildness. After having become addicted to "Who Am I" for more than a week now, it's more than a pleasant surprise to get another 'San Qeauxlo' track, it's a sheer necessity.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Triple Play

Starting this week, my friend Kayj has committed to making me teaser promos for each upcoming episode of Bump In The Hump. This week, I've got three tracks lined up for your listening pleasure, ahead of their play Wednesday on Radio Humber. First, Apashe continues his hot streak remixing the monstrous collaboration of Mr. Collipark, Atom Pushers, DJ Wavy and the vocal stylings of Ying Yang Twins, "Booty Bounce Pop." 

After playing Holl & Rush's remix of A-Trak and Phantogram's "Parallel Lines" last week, it's Blu J's turn to put their spin on the undeniably awesome track. Finally, I've got an exclusive first play of an absolutely brilliant track, that somehow combines the swirls of San Holo with the kind of deep house that will leave you dancing for days. "Outcry" is only the third release from the elusive and entirely unknown Toronto producer, 404. All this and more on this week's episode of Bump In The Hump on Radio Humber. Listen live Wednesday from 6-7 EST, stream after the fact here, or catch the rebroadcast Friday, 11-midnight.

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Taska Black - Leave Me

Appearing online mere hours ago, amidst a cloud of smoke like a a magician's marvelous entrance, the second track from the forthcoming Gouldian Finch compilation, on San Holo's bitbird label, Belgian producer Taska Black's "Leave Me" is yet another glimpse into the incredible future of electronic music, as Black's track firmly situates itself in a dimly lit, apocalyptic alley, slowly closing in on itself, narrowly avoiding the dark, unseen dangers lurking ever so ominously in the wings. The perfect combination of live and electronic instrumentation, the initial strings set the mood of a black and white fictional world, where crime and despair run rampant. The soaring leads propel the drop into a further desolate, despondent reality in which the only hope for happiness comes in the ability to escape such melancholy. Whether "Leave Me" is a demand from a disconsolate narrator, who wants to wallow in their sorrow solo, or someone striving to overcome this malaise, by shedding all mortal ties, sending his friends away in defiance of misery's love of company; it excels at injecting emotion into its both organic and electric production. The beauty of the human condition and its contradictory nature is on full display thanks to the genius of Taska Black's production.

If "Leave Me" and the first single from Gouldian Finch, San Holo's "Still Looking," are any indication of what we can expect from this compilation, bitbird and its artists are poised to explode. Stay tuned to the bitbird soundcloud for more info on when the compilation gets its official release, until then grab both the free downloads of "Leave Me" and "Still Looking."

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Filet Mignon Volume 4

The time for massive compilation from French label Record Record's Filet Mignon series has finally arrived, with it's fourth installment, including tracks from Madeaux, DZZ, Dombresky, Masayoshi Iimori and Birdy Nam Nam, among others. I've been waiting for this ever since I first heard, what I called at the time, the track of the summer, Point Point's "True Summer." The aim of this series is to shine a spotlight on "tomorrow's new talents" with the backing of more experienced artists, through a coherent and clear artistic direction. There's no question Record Record has achieved this feat, as they've lead me to discover talents like LigOne, Araatan, Aazar and Valy Mo. They were able to get my attention by giving San Holo's "BWU" a place in their third installment, and it was because of it's inclusion that I found two of my favourite tracks, the aforementioned LigOne's "Uprising," and the Little Freaky Things, L'homme aux 4 Lettres' "in2." Once again they've compiled a great combination of tracks, working together to create a consistent and thematically succinct 15 track album. I can truthfully say there are no holes in this massive compilation. Each track works both on its own but truly together in the album. When you can start with a Madeaux, DZZ collaboration and only build upon that foundation with each following track, you know you've got greatness on your hands. Devoted To God's "Burning Bridges" is worthy of worship not only for its pious production quality but Goldilox's voluminous vocals.

The following track from rising star Dombresky is yet another awesome track from him, and perhaps my favourite of the collection, with its swinging strings, soaring in loving beauty. Nomak's "What About Us" showcases a naughty and nasty touch that feels as though the couple in question is bickering in some infernal give and take. Pyramid follows that up with a rave worthy get down track, that just begs unsuspecting listeners to cry out, "Damn son, where'd you find this?" Asan & Halpe's "Amber" is an incredible piece of production prowess that's cinematically cool and sure to sweep you off your feet.

The enigmatic Masayoshi Iimori once again delivers a track that seems miles ahead of anything even the most future forward producers are making. You can be sure DJs the world around will be adding "Down" into their sets for surefire screwfaces and cries of "What in the world is this?" The following track from Birdy Nam Nam is perhaps the best example of the importance of track placement, there is an inevitable let down following Masayoshi's mastery and "Sad Boys Club" emotes that so brilliantly with the downtrodden, depths of his sorrowful synth work.

The aptly named "Don't Let Them Stop You," leads the compilation out of despair, before BeazyTymes "Get Hit" beams it back into oblivion, and in my opinion ought to be named "Get Lit." Once you are indeed 'lit', the best thing for you is a refreshing, cool breeze, and there's no track that better elicits that feeling more than Point Point's "True Summer." The following track from Brunelle, "Chemistry," rivals Dombresky for my favourite of the collection. As though crafted by a scientist in a lab, it truly lives up to its name, as a perfect mixture of so many of the elements we've heard in this massive compilation; groovy, beautiful and as dance-able as anything in Filet Mignon.

The penultimate track from Araatan, "Zereglee," utilizes a guitar and piano better than any electronic track I've heard and runs so brilliantly into the final boss track of Ateph Elidja's "TRRN." Things turn violent as it seems even the artists don't want the compilation to end. Once again utilizing cinematic sweeps, "TRRN" seems to be a triumphant and beautiful finale that caps off an amazing collection of tracks with an echoing slamming of a door, until the next installment.

I'm truly in awe of Record Record and this incredible album, not just because of the sheer number of great tracks, or their unbelievable cohesiveness, but the way they've been so thoughtfully compiled and showcase so many talented artists in a way that other labels can only dream of. You can stream or download Filet Mignon 4 on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music, Deezer and Amazon.

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San Holo, Haywyre and Grabbitz at The Hoxton

Last night three Monstercat artists hit the stage at The Hoxton. First up was Grabbitz who dropped his new collaboration with Pegboard Nerds "All Alone" as I first entered the club. I was late arriving and unfortunately missed the majority of his set, I did however catch his track "Better With Time" and his finale "Float Away," while he high-fived, shook hands and fist bumped his appreciative fans. You can hear each of the above tracks, in the playlist below: Crowd interaction was certainly one of the themes of the night, as following his set, San Holo joined the crowd for an impromptu meet and greet. Throughout his set, as you'll see in the videos below, many people in the crowd were trying to grab him, get his attention and make requests showing him their phone. He certainly seemed to oblige many of these ravenous fans, both with his incredible tracks selection and professional mixing. The video (below) of the beginning of his set will help to establish the atmosphere. Even better imagery of the incredible hype that San Holo's set induced, with this guy going crazy. His tracklist featured all of his most well known productions, "We Rise" and "Fly" in the videos above, as well as "BWU," "Donkey Kong," "Victory," "Hiding" and "New Sky," but the biggest ovations came when he dropped his Don't Touch The Classics remixes "Ride Wit Me" and "Ms. Jackson," which followed "The Next Episode" in the video below. He complimented his already swirl and sparkle ridden set with Flosstradamus' Jack U, Post Malone mashup, Rustie's "Big Catzz" and his forthcoming official remix of DJ Snake's "Middle." Once again I've compiled a playlist of many of the tracks he dropped last night, below. Finally it was Haywyre's turn to take the stage, and boy did he ever deliver. It was an unbelievable sensory experience, watching his fingers flying over his keyboard, and the incredible visual display behind him. Of course this is without mentioning his obvious talent and artistry. It was absolutely mesmerizing watching him move from track to track so flawlessly pouring his heart and soul into his performance. Adding a couple of covers, including Daft Punk's "Robot Rock" and Oliver Nelson's remix of "All Cried Out," he was able to bolster his massive library. He played his tracks "Do You Don't You," "Impulse," "Moment," "Memory," "Endlessly," "Back And Forth" "Crimson" and "All We Need." Once again you can attempt to relive the night with the playlist below, although it won't be able to hold up to the energy of his incredible live performance. SUPPORT GRABBITZ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Chet Porter & Autograf Live at The Hoxton

Last night, local Chet Porter and Chicago trio, Autograf graced The Hoxton with truly awesome and unique sets. As you likely know by now, I'm a big fan of Chet's productions, mixes and overall aesthetic, which he delivered on quite successfully. Despite Sigala's unexplained absence, which forced set time to change, I was lucky enough to have made it through the lines and have picked up my first drink at the same time Chet played his first track, the Hitmane Kokirimix of Juicy J's "Bandz A Make Her Dance." Lighting candles to amplify the atmosphere and mood, Chet's set cruised along, garnering several  cheers from the captivated crowd. Perhaps the most well received section of his set came relatively early on when he combined his euphoric "Over U" remix with the vocals of Blink 182's "Feelin' This" before mixing into San Holo's "Victory." I caught the video here:
I was able to compile a list of 17 tracks he played during his approximately hour long set, but was left scratching my head more than a couple times wondering what bootleg/exclusive/edit he dropped. If I can figure any of them out, I'll be sure to update this post but for now you'll just have to enjoy this playlist:  There was of course a break between the two sets to transition between the DJ decks and Autograf's three person live set, which included an electronic xylophone of sorts, surrounded by three electronic symbols, several drum pads and high-hat, kick combination. In the middle was a mixer and sampler, presumably for changing the tuning for each of the many tracks the played. And on the opposite side, was the synth. Having seen several different live set ups, from Duke Dumont, Keys N Krates and Lido, Autograf's was the most unique and seemingly complex. This only magnified the truly amazing artistry and interplay between the three performers. Throughout their set I was truly in awe of the unity and interplay between the three. There really is nothing like music being made live and the playful performance. That really is the key to the allure of live music the playful nature and showmanship of performance, making it that much easier to connect with the audience. Good music performed live beats great studio music everytime. The way Autograf brought their originals, covers and remixes to life was absolutely amazing, and although I was able to compile a large playlist of what the trio played it cannot do justice to the live versions they played.
Apparently DJ Mag Canada had a live stream of their set, I can only hope that it becomes available so that we can relive their truly futuristic performance. Highlights for me included their remix of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," and their covers of the Soulwax remix of  Tame Impala's "Let It Happen," Coyote Kisses' "Ferrari" and Swedish House Mafia's "One." The trio showed incredible endurance playing for well over an hour, and playing a 4 or 5 track encore. I will definitely be attending their next show and cannot wait to relive the awesomeness of Autograf.

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My Musical March Madness

What I'm going to look like March 26

After a February free of shows, each of my weekends in March is fully booked with events, setting the stage for my craziest month ever. Starting this coming Saturday (5th), I'll finally be back in the club and out of the basement, losing my hearing, enjoying Chet Porter, Sigala and Autograf. If you've ever heard any of my Bump In The Hump episodes it's highly likely that you're familiar with my passion for Chet Porter's productions, so it should be no surprise that my musical hiatus comes to a screeching halt when he returns home to play the Hoxton. Whether it's his originals (Aluko River, Awakening or tbh ily) or his remixes (Over U, It's Strange or Do You Remember) his library is full of simply sparkling magical music that is sure to invoke euphoria. He's easily my most anticipated set of the whole month; what a way to start the madness that is my March. Expect his set to sound something like his mix for Too Future, below. CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT. The fact that Chet isn't the headliner makes the 5th that much more exciting. While I can't say I'm that familiar with Sigala, it's quite clear that love is their main inspiration for their music; 4 of the 5 tracks on their soundcloud account include love in the name. The only track that doesn't, is their forthcoming single with Imani and DJ Fresh, "Say You Do."  The headliner, Autograf, has been on my radar since early 2014, when they began dropping remixes of classics like Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and Swedish House Mafia's "One." Since then, they've captured worldwide attention with their futuristic productions with massive originals "Dream" and "Running." They've even released the first two tracks from their forthcoming EP, Future Soup.  The following weekend (11th-13th), is the CDJ Show at The Hilton. While I'm still unsure about many of the details. I do know that it will feature seminars, roundtables and VIP style events. It will undoubtedly be a great opportunity to mingle with many of the elite DJs and behind the scenes brains. So far the highlights as I see them include Vekked and Brace's live turntable seminar, a massive exhibit hall with booths from Ableton to GoPro and KRK to zipDJ. CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT.

While the CDJ Show is going to be a busy weekend, it might not be as busy as the double dose of debauchery due for the 18th and 19th. Firstly the Friday night kicks off with Haywyre, San Holo and Grabbitz at the Hoxton. Monstercat's Grabbitz is slated to open up the night in the middle of his spring tour supporting his December album, Better With Time. 

The second part of this three-headed Monstercat beast is San Holo, who will be making his Toronto debut. Expect to hear a full compliment of his now infamous Don't Touch The Classics series, which features "The Next Episode," "Lose Yourself" and "In Da Club." Combined with his swirling and sparkling originals and his bitbird label, there aught to be no shortage of awesomeness in his time on the decks. I can only hope that it somewhat resembles his mix for Annie Nightingale. Finally, the headliner, Haywyre hits the Hoxton stage in support of his masterpiece, Two Fold Pt. 2. Expect his unique live performance to showcase his unbelievable artistic ability. EVENT INFO HERE.While following up that finely curated lineup is incredibly difficult, Hunter Siegel's No Neon night is set to return the following night (19th) complete with locals Booshay, RYME and Autoerotique with the deep and dark Drezo making his No Neon debut. Booshay is quickly making a name for himself with his ever growing list of free downloads, including his latest "Rave Weapon." Veteran duo RYME are always primed and ready to go. Their vast musical knowledge and mixing skill make them some of the best opening acts you could ask for. Expect them to have their set loaded with exclusives from their BADLQQK label. As a matter of fact they just released their own remix to Sinden's "Step Back." There is no one out there that can rival the sheer amount of new bass blasting tracks that Autoerotique is pumping out. It seems like he's been dropping at least one new track per week for months now. Fresh off his Kids Don't Care EP release, you can expect to hear those and more exclusive new content, including his forthcoming collab with Hunter Siegel "On The Floor."  The only out of town DJ, Drezo, has been busting his way into playlists and mixes alike, with remixes of Snails, Jackal, Lil Wayne and Dr. Dre and massive originals "Guap" and "Heaven." Expect the No Neon aesthetic to reach its darkest when Drezo drops his Drowning Pools, "Bodies" remix. Tickets are sure to go fast for this fan favourite, find the link and more on the Facebook event page.  The last weekend, is the one that I've had tickets the longest for. Keys N Krates make their triumphant return to their hometown following the massive Midnite Mass tour. The energy of their live show is incredibly infectious. Each time I've seen them they've impressed me more and more. There's no doubt in my mind that their homecoming performance will amaze. Expect some special surprises in store as the trio have been tight-lipped and have yet to announce any supporting acts. Once again expect tickets to go quickly as the appetite for Keys N Krates always seems to be at an unbelievable level. Tickets and more at the Facebook event here.

San Holo - Can't Forget You (ft. The Nicholas)

The Norwegian music scene has gained tremendous worldwide attention in the past year thanks in large part to the rise of Kygo, Rytmeklubben, Cashmere Cat, Lido and San Holo, who first broke into public consciousness with his "Don't Touch The Classics" remixes, especially when his "Next Episode" remix was featured in TWRK's fifth installment. Holo's inimitable style and sound have catapulted him and his continually growing library into countless mixes and a worldwide tour. SH has his own label, bitbird, but he's also released tonnes of free music, a 3 track EP on Monstercat, an OWSLA single, big names remix credits for Tchami and Porter Robinson, and now he's picked up his very own Spinnin' release: His last release, a collab with Father Dude, was also on Spinnin', and as you might expect with Spinnin', it has marked a move to a slightly more poppy, easily consumable sound and feel for the heavenly, chiptune inspired producer. Both "IMISSU" and "Can't Forget You" lean on sparkling vocals and less on heavily tuned drops or glitchy builds, and what I feel is almost a stripped down, rather confined version of the San Holo I've come to know and love. My only hope is that, because of Spinnin's huge reach, more and more people get into San Holo and he floods us with new music; nothing wrong with that.

SCORE
Composition 2/3
Dynamics 2/2
Improvisation/Progression 2/3
Melody/Harmony 2/3
Originality 1/2
Sonic Quality 2/2
Lyrics 2/3
Vocals 2/2
TOTAL 15/20

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