My fourth day in South Beach began with a refreshing and rejuvenating swim in the ocean while it seemed the rest of the world was still asleep. Stopped for an omelet brunch at the Ocean Drive Cardozo patio, indulged in a little people watching, and fended off the vendors selling everything from Caribbean cigars to [...]
At first observation Ultra Music Festival 2012 has more attendance for day one than I’ve ever in past years. Hordes of fans arrived earlier than previous years and to navigate the grounds and stake out good spots for some of your favorite artist’s stages. On arrival to the main stage I caught the last few [...]
As I enjoyed my three-egg omelet and fresh-squeezed orange juice, I reveled in the fact that when you ask for orange juice in South Beach, 95% of the time you automatically get fresh squeezed (it’s all they serve.) And you can enjoy breakfast at many establishments until 1 pm and dinner (a full dinner menu!) [...]
Already enjoying the sounds of the Winter Music Conference and Ultra Music Week during my rejuvenation brunch, Finnegan’s Way on Ocean Drive was pumping out Wolfgang Gartner and Deadmau5. It was a pleasant surprise considering I hadn’t even stepped foot into the hundreds of parties just getting started for the day between South Beach and [...]
The last time Big Shot spoke with British DJ/producer John B he had just settled some legal issues with Nicki Minaj, who had sampled his 2008 track “Red Sky” featuring Shaz Sparks on her chart-topping smash “Here I Am.” A year later Mr. B’s legal issues are well behind behind him, and he’s just released [...]
When I think of Forbes, money immediately comes to mind. Lots of it. Millionaires. Billionaires. Zillionaires. That’s why I was intrigued when I read Forbes was launching a column dedicated to DJs. While music journalists talk intimately with artists about their music and inspiration, the subject of money rarely — if ever — comes up [...]
Trailblazing London dance band Hot Chip will release their fifth album, In Our Heads, on June 11. The album comes after 2010′s acclaimed One Life Stand and various solo ventures by the band’s members. A statement released by the band’s new label, Domino Records, describes the new album as an “unadultered delight… bursting with dynamic [...]
DJs looking for a turnkey mixer to immediately integrate into their setup might want to examine Pioneer’s brand-new DJM-850. Available in black and silver, the mixer boasts four channels, 100 pre-configured effect combinations and lots of audio possibilities. Improving upon the DJM-900nexus, the mixer, which boasts integrated four-stereo-channel sound card making setup incredibly simple, with [...]
UMF, once known to the masses as Ultra Music Festival, have announced their 2012 events that will take place in six countries and four continents. The events are as follows: UMF Miami March 23-25; UMF Buenos Aires May 5; UMF Poland July 13 & 14; UMF Korea August 4; UMF Ibiza May 27 & October [...]
After flipping the script countless times as a DJ/producer/label mogul, Diplo continues to broaden his horizons and keep people guessing. In April, he will publish his much talked about book, 128 Beats Per Minute, a diary of his travels from private beaches in Barcelona to a music studio in Jamaica with photography by Shane McCauley [...]
Legendary guitarist/producer/songwriter Nile Rodgers of Chic has blogged about his first recording session with Daft Punk. Last week, in a blog post titled “Daft Punk Is Hanging At My House,” Rodgers, who has been fighting a public battle with cancer (he says he is thankfully in remission), broke the news about his recording session with [...]
Pioneering British electronic act Orbital — brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll — will release Wonky in April. The full-length produced by producer Mark “Flood” Ellis (Erasure, U2, Nine Inch Nails, Soulwax) marks Orbital’s first studio album in eight years. After dominating electronic music in the ’90s with breakthrough tracks like “Chime” and “Satan” the Hartnolls [...]
2011 was a good year for dance music, but 2012 looks like an even better one. A plethora of dance/electronic releases are on the horizon — everything from albums and mix compilations by up-and-coming artists to full-lengths and compendiums by acts with proven track records. We’ve been meticulously sorting through our promos and listening to streams [...]
