Features

Emerging Brooklyn DJ/Producer/Dusk & Haze Label Boss Sophia Saze Shares 5 Artists Who Inspire Her

April 11, 2018Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Espousing a divergent sound that cuts across techno, electro and house, Sophia Saze is a promising talent who is challenging herself to contribute innovative ideas to electronic music.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia and currently living in Brooklyn, she began working as a DJ/producer six years ago. Last year was an important one for Saze: She christened her nascent Dusk & Haze label by way of her well-received Solace EP, featuring remixes from Benjamin Damage and Umwelt, and contributed her stirring downtempo track “Fall” featuring Iro to Get Physical’s Words Don’t Come Easy compilation. Now she’s simultaneously working to release her full-length debut in 2018 and develop a new live show with laser focus.

After headlining Smartbar Chicago on a bill last Saturday featuring techno titans Paul Fleetwood and Jeff Derringer, Saze is set for back-to-back home town gigs at Good Room with Superpitcher, Axel Boman, JDH, and Heathered Pearls on April 13, and Dusk & Haze label’s night at H0L0 in neighboring Queens, where she’ll be joined by Exos, Mary Yuzovskaya and the aforementioned Mr. Derringer in a rare Big Apple appearance.

Before her big weekend, we asked Saze about artists who’ve influenced her musical point of view. Continue Reading →

German House Music Wunderkind Tim Engelhardt Shares 5 US Artists Who Inspire His Fresh & Evocative Sound

April 9, 2018Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Rising melodic techno star Tim Engelhardt will embark on his second pilgrimage to America this week. Only 19, the Cologne-based producer comes to dance music from the realm of classical. His background provides a unique perspective, and he freely uses it as he colors outside of the techno and house music’s lines on each musical outing.

Engelhardt’s debut album, Moments of Truth (Poker Flat), is one of 2017’s most transformative electronic albums. He’s also in-demand remixer, and his recent interpretation of Compuphonic — another house producer with roots in classical — feat. Marques Toliver’s 2012 underground classic “Sunset” embellishes an already flawless track.

Before his set in NYC at The Cityfox Experience at Avant Gardner on April 14 (stream his mind-bending set from his first September 2017 Cityfox appearance here), we asked the rising star to select tracks from five US producers who’ve inspired his sound.

Tim Engelhardt will play a live set at The Cityfox Experience at Avant Gardner in New York City on April 14. The bill also features Âme, Tiga, Mathias Kaden, Ruede Hagelstein (live), Christian Voldstad and bilaliwood. Continue Reading →

In an Interview with Remixers of “Es Est,” Tech-House DJ/Producer Jey Kurmis Talks New Music & How Claude VonStroke Inspired Him To Make Music

April 4, 2018Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Jey Kurmis has been in the game for over a decade. During this time he’s released profile-raising floor burners on top labels like Hot Creations and Moon Harbour.

At the end of 2017 the Leeds-based DJ/producer dropped “Es Est” via ON IT Recordings, which set dance floors ablaze all over the planet. The fiery slab of tech-house has since been remixed by peers Mihalis Safras, Toni Varga, ONYVA, and Mark Holmes, who we cajoled into interviewing Kurmis exclusively for Big Shot.

In a revealing interview, Kurmis tells Mihalis Safras that witnessing a DJ set by Dirtybird boss Claude VonStroke inspired his production career and musical ethos.

“I was out in Leeds around 11 years ago and I heard him play a track of his called ‘Deep Throat.’ It was so wild and creative,” Kurmis recalls. “I didn’t know music could be designed to sound like this? He inspired me to start making music and try and make it quirkier and stand out.”

Read on to learn how Kurmis approaches creating his tracks and how living in the countryside influences his tracks. Continue Reading →

Italian Tech-House DJ/Producer Duo NiCe7 Reveal Their 5 Jaw-Dropping Tracks of the Moment

March 27, 2018Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

NiCe7 — the Rome-based DJ/producer duo comprised of Nicola Daniele and Cesare Marocco — continue to push their evocative brand of tech-house forward.

A decade into their career they’ve worked hard to create a notable discography of original productions and remixes for esteemed labels like Crosstown Rebels, Snatch!, Suara, Great Stuff, and Noir. What’s more is that they’ve grown their profile while running D-FLOOR, a label they co-founded with Pirupa and Leon at the start of 2013.

Daniele and Marocco collectively kick their dark, techy sound up a notch on their awesome two-track Real Love EP, which dropped last week on Rebellion. The title track features an infectious female vocal hook over a raw groove with tribal beats, while “To The Beat” boasts squelchy basslines and synth hooks.

Below they share five new tracks currently dominating NiCe7’s sweaty dance floors. Continue Reading →