Phoenix, Arizona could be the next place to establish the newest up-and-coming festival destination in the country. With Las Vegas hosting EDC‘s largest U.S. installment and southern California being the home of both Coachella and HARD Summer, it seems as only a matter of time before Phoenix taps into the festival market. The Valley of the Sun is preparing to host the first annual Phoenix Lights Festival on March 22nd, rounding off their headliner announcement with a star-studded cast of performers. The event’s inaugural bill will be lead by Hardwell, Robin Schulz, Route 94, Lane 8, and most recently confirmed, Canadian bass gods Zeds Dead.

Although the full roster of acts has yet to be announced, Phoenix Lights is already promising a colorful variety of performances from some of dance music’s most sought-after performers. The newly announced event is promising to bring leading-edge designs, interactive art, and vibrant lighting displays to the mix. Lead by a very impressive list of headliners, Phoenix Lights is gearing up to deliver what could grow into the next big west coast event.

Grab tickets here.

The post Phoenix Lights Festival Announces Final Headlining Roster For Inaugural Event appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles’ highly anticipated HARD Summer took place in its new home on the radically expanded grounds of the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Outdoing themselves not only in the amplitude of attendees, but with the mind-boggling lineup, Gary Richards (Destructo) and his crew delivered one wild party.

Notorious artists such as the Jack U duo, Nero, Dillon Francis, A-Trak, and Disclosure headlined the overwhelmingly distinguished lineup of artists, although all of the talent could have been headlining acts. Each headliner delivered a wild, main stage primed set, capping off each night of the weekend with a bang. Of course we could not miss the rare union of Skrillex and Diplo coming together to form Jack U, nor could I have passed up on crowd-pleasing funnyman Dillon Francis.

However, since the day the lineup dropped back in April, I was beyond enthusiastic to see the amount of funky deep house and techno house talent that was represented. Don’t get me wrong, witnessing the Jack U closing spectacle the first night in the rain, playing banger after banger, setting off flames and lasers was incredible, but what really got me going was the intense funkiness that characterized this summer lineup.

Watching A-Trak do what he does best on his turntables in complete awe was unforgettable, and Disclosure’s all-out, strictly business live set won’t soon be forgotten either, however, I was mostly grasped by HARD’s heaping dose of groovy garage funk. The acts I boogied down at were marked by surprisingly small crowds in HARD’s multicolored tent stages where I spent most of my time out of the dust and getting sweaty in the massive awnings from group-session groovin’.

Saturday kick-started the funk in the Pink Tent. Representing the badass ladies taking over the scene, JNTM favorite J.Phlip had the Pink Tent going off with her infectious, deep bass lines meshed with bouncy disco elements. J.Phlip throws down a party, never a moment of monotony, and she effortlessly makes the crowd dance as hard as they can as everybody gets down to her bootylicious house. I stayed right where I was in the Pink Tent as J.Phlip came to an end for my most anticipated set of the weekend, Tchami.

This Paris native is conquering the states with his uncanny, groovy take on what he is calling “future house.” Tchami flaunted his melodic, deep basslines making anyone and everyone boogie down, whether they were in control or not.

The Pink Tent was booming and what seemed to be a smaller sized crowd was now a roaring crowd of people reflexively dancing in unison, almost as though Tchami was robotically controlling the entire Pink Tent.

From the visuals and the grooving to his exotically catchy take on deep electro house and addictive hit remixes, Tchami tremendously exceeded my expectations and upheld my every reason for anticipation. I headed over to the Purple Tent for the infamous British OWSLA duo, Jack Beats, initially to catch a quick glimpse of what their hype was about.

It quickly turned into me becoming hooked by their incomparable sound blending everything from hip-hop to drum and bass to dubstep to electro/deep house. Their captivating originality makes Jack Beats’ set one I will not soon forget either.

Sunday’s staggering schedule of performances had me restless before I even entered the festival’s gates. My day started early and I soon realized the incredible inflation in attendees, dust, and intoxicating performances. Australia’s Danny Blanc, known as Wax Motif, brought his fresh and unique mixing technique to the Green Tent.

Wax Motif’s techno house sound had crowds flocking from every direction to get down and dance. His set showcased elements of hip-hop throughout his distinct techno dance style and was the perfect prelude to the Green Tent’s next electrifying star, Hannah Wants.

As one of her premiere US appearances, Hannah’s garage-house sound that incorporates familiar hip-hop and R&B tracks had the crowd boogying down. Her use of heavy bass creates a toxic sound that had me goggle over her and her groovy deep house style that impressively stimulated the entire crowd. Hannah Wants got me and the rest of the crowd so pumped for the style she was creating as well as ceremoniously showcasing the success of women artists across the dance music spectrum.

I moved from the Green Tent to the Purple Tent to experience a different take on deep house by Pittsburg’s own Kastle. His sunset performance brought a soulful edge to grime and garage style dubstep. The crowd was disappointingly small considering Kastle’s love to party that is represented by his accomplished development of underground electronic music fused with hip-hop.

His sound is so clean and precise due to his background as an engineer you can’t help but wonder when people will catch on. Kastle effortlessly warmed up the crowd for Wave Racer to take the decks, flipping the party upside down.

The crowd was immediately hypnotized by Thomas Purcell’s, a.k.a Wave Racer‘s, playfully distinct sound. His mix of bouncy, animated synthesizers, electro house, and samples of 90’s gaming systems are compiled into an unmatched blend of sunshine that intoxicated the Purple Tent. Wave Racer’s unconventional and whimsical take on future bass and warping of party jams had everyone boogying down.

The final night of HARD ended with a rapid fire round-robin of sets, as we checked on Gary Richard’s funk-laced techno set as Destructo, Disclosure‘s absolutely jaw-dropping live showcase at the main stage, alongside R&B maven Mary J. Blige, DJ Mustard‘s rowdy hip-hop shakedown, and Nero’s festival-ending return to the American festival circuit.

My weekend ended with some of the best sets of the festival, where I got to see some of the freshest talents dance music has to offer. Nero’s set wound down with their famed “Must Be The Feeling,” artfully mixed with Justice’s pounding magnum opus “Genesis.” I let the goosebumps take over as I put my hands in the air, let my head tilt back, and I took a moment to take it all in.

I had survived HARD Summer. As I joined the mass exodus of exhausted fans still buzzing from the festival’s finale, I realized I had seen every set I wanted to see from the lengthy weekend lineup, while also turning myself onto some brand new sounds I had previously never heard before.

Known for their ultra-diverse roster each year, HARD had me at hello, and now the waiting game begins with anticipation soaring high for next year’s big event.

The post HARD Summer As I Saw It: Fresh, Feisty, and Funky appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Like any festival, decisions and sacrifices will be made. With five stages spanning across a much wider venue (Whittier Recreational Park — just north of the Downtown LA area), it’s almost vital to have some sort of personal schedule to follow. Or not…

HARD SUMMER 2014 MUST-SEE ACTS

With this being my fifth HARD Summer (not bragging, just establishing some background), it’s easy for me to say that HARD always brings the most talented DJs and producers around. This year, however, it almost goes without saying. With a multitude of genres occurring across the park, it’s going to be difficult to watch everyone you want, so here are some of the ones you should make an effort to squeeze into your schedule.

Brillstein — HARD always likes to bring some Los Angeles natives into the mix, giving the festival its own home-grown vibe. This time it just so happens to be Thee Mike B‘s most recent and funky project. Since the festival starts so early this year, there’s no reason why you and the homies can’t show up and get things started properly with Brillstein. If you’re into deep, rump-shaking funk, Brillstein will be delivering some serious grooviness that you should not miss out on.

Trippy Turtle — This one is brutal because it lines up with Dillon Francis, but if you’re trying to see one of the best up-and-coming producers live and in action, this is the dude to see. Trippy Turtle has been making some remarkably huge waves as of late, and HARD will be the perfect stage to see him strut his stuff.

He has been instrumental in the rise of the Jersey and Baltimore Club sub-genres and this young gun’s skills are creatively reflected in every live performance he puts on. Trippy Turtle will definitely be a wise choice for anyone looking for bouncy, out-of-the-box goodness.

DJ Mustard — If you were able to watch the live stream of Skrillex’ Mothership Tour at Red Rocks (or even better watch it IN PERSON), you most likely caught DJ Mustard. He’s the man behind some of the most infamous pop/ hip-hop fusion songs you hear on the radio and also is extremely mean on the decks.

Mustard’s set will undoubtedly be one wild party, so if you’re craving a hard, trap and hip-hop influenced sound, and you’re trying to get down with everything you’ve got, leave it all at DJ Mustard’s stage.

A-Trak — It goes without saying that this guy is a living DJ legend. So why see him when you can see other awesome DJs instead? First of all A-Trak has been DESTROYING his live performances lately. If you’ve been able to catch any of his recent Instagram posts, you’ll see that the dude is scratching better than ever and playing out one of the most diverse set lists you will ever see. Fact.

Coming off the recent GoldGoneWild tour, the Fool’s Gold Records boss is white hot, and with HARD coming up, you can most certainly expect this renown veteran to put out an amazing performance this weekend. With a handful of DMC championship titled under his belt, as well as production credits with some of hip-hop and dance music’s biggest names, A-Trak is a marquee act that you absolutely should not pass up on. Trust me.

Jack U — Another fairly obvious choice but, come on. Who would give up the chance to see Skrillex and Diplo share the stage together? They haven’t played a festival this big since Ultra and that was just a shit show (the good kind).

These are arguably the two biggest, most dominating American DJs and producers in the game right now, and I’ll bet the house of the fact that these two are going to deliver a larger-than-life performance at HARD. Not to mention that LA is Skrill’s hometown, so you know he will be putting out for his city in impeccable fashion. Sonny and Wes onstage for an hour and a half? Yes please. Move over Carnage. Go stage dive some more…

HARD SUMMER 2014 SCHEDULING CONFLICTS

Both days are packed to the brim with talent, so naturally there are some pretty major scheduling conflicts. This obviously all depends on what you’re into and who you’re trying to see, and thankfully, HARD is the festival that can deliver a completely unique festival experience to all of its attendees, because of its incredible diversity. Some of these conflicts might not even exist for you because you’re only going to see Tiesto though. Hey, that’s cool too, bruh.

Saturday:

GRiZ vs Bro Safari — Does one get funky as fuck or so turnt your face hurts? This is a toss up because I’m a huge GRiZ fan but I also love making that “who just shat in my lap?” face when Bro Safari drops something too nasty. With GRiZ making sweet electro-soul laced with sexy saxophone, and Bro Safari bulldozing masses with waves of head-crushing bass, taste plays a big part in making this tough call.

Tchami vs Alex Metric — The real question here is, “how much booty shaking do I want to do?” Either way you’re making a great choice. Are you going for that future-house sound Tchami has mastered over the past year or that silky, ultra-soulful, funky kind of booty shaking only Alex Metric can provide?

Flosstradamus vs Dusky vs What So Not vs Oliver — Woof. Turn up or boogie down? If you’re a ratchet bitch, go to Floss, obviously. But, if you’re into What So Not’s ambient, yet party-fueling sound, it’ll prove to be another tough call up against the likes of Oliver’s unmatched funky, nu-disco finesse. To make this even more difficult, Dusky will be serving up hot, fresh booty-house vibes right at the same time. This one is about to be a doozie.

Baauer vs Justin Martin vs Jack Beats — Good Christ. First off, after the “Harlem Shake” phenomenon, Baauer chilled out for a little bit, and now has returned with some pretty incredible tracks. On the other hand, Just Martin killed in the Dew Lab at this year’s Coachella, and he is one of the unparalleled masters of the booty bumping goodness that is DirtyBird Records.

But then there is Jack Beats. The UK-bred OWSLA duo is known to spin a wide variety of different sounds, but are always known to bring a good time, as well as a raucous set. These two vets are definitely a force to be reckoned with too, making this triangle of heavy-hitters an incredibly difficult call to make.

DJ Snake vs Kill The Noise — Another tragically difficult decision to be made here, although it really once again comes down to taste. Kill The Noise is going to offer his OWSLA/Slowroast Recs hybrid sound; a mix of head-splitting dubstep and wild electro-house. KTN will surely deliver the one-two punch with his veteran experience performing at HARD, and will undoubtedly put on one of the grimiest sets of the weekend.

Next, consider DJ Snake. The Parisian Mad Decent superstar has taken over the world this year with a handful of twerk-inducing collabs and originals that turn dance floors into saunas instantly. Taste remains key, but for those just looking for a good performance, this one is nearly impossible to call.

Seth Troxler vs The M Machine vs Jack U — This one might be the most difficult call on Saturday. Diversity, as welcomed and appreciated as it is on a lineup this large, is coming back to bite us in the ass as Saturday’s final sets pose this incredibly tough decision. Off to party with forward-thinking beat maker Seth Troxler, or will you make your way to one of the biggest, most anticipated headlining sets of the entire festival circuit over at Jack U? 

And as if that wasn’t hard enough to call, throw the M Machine into the discussion and it becomes all the more difficult. The OWSLA championed trio will be throwing down their brand of futuristic, fresh, hard-knocking bass music at the same time. 

Sunday:

Milo and Otis vs. Wax Motif— Sunday afternoon offers its first conflict as Wax Motif and Milo and Otis take the decks at the same time. To choose between the up-and-coming trap duo who are fresh off Skrillex’s Mothership Tour, and funky, techno guru who frequently collaborates with Destructo will prove to be a difficult test of tastes.

Mercer vs. Hannah Wants– Both of these performers have some serious talent to showcase at this year’s HARD. Both bred in the house genre, these two have respectively taken club music to their own realms, and each pack some noteworthy talent.

For the type looking for an immerse, deep house experience, look no further than Hannah Wants (who is making her first US appearance this weekend). However those looking to party down to some of the hardest electro-house out there, Mercer will absolutely be the set for you.

Clockwork vs. Shiba San vs. 2manydjs–  This conflict might be overlooked, however, with some thought, you’ll find this one to be just as tough as most of the others. Shiba San is going to take his crowd through a variety of different deep and funky soundscapes, while Clockwork is going to do what he is best at. Clockwork is going to deliver a mind-bending, teeth-grinding set that will be an absolute party from start to finish.

Then there is 2manydjs. The Belgian duo have been around forever and have produced some of dance music’s most creative outputs in the last two decades as either 2manydjs or their live collective Soulwax. Anyone who appreciates where all of this came from should definitely give 2manydjs a gander, I promise it’ll be worth your time.

Trippy Turtle vs. Dillon Francis– Probably the hardest toss up of the whole weekend here, folks. Cat master and festival headliner Dillon Francis is slated to play at the exact same time as on of the most promising up-and-coming names in all of dance music, Trippy Turtle. Both will surely deliver amazing bouts from behind the decks, however unfortunately this painstaking decision will have to be made.

Trippy is going to offer a bubbly, light, bouncy experience, complete with dripping synths and bedroom-rattling remixes. Dillon is going to bring the party like only Dillon Francis knows how. Who knows, DJ Hanzel, or even DJ Rich As Fuck might even make an appearance at Dillon’s set. Either way, this one will most likely be a game-time decision.

Maya Jane Coles vs. Tiesto vs. Nero vs. Brodinski– Oh, brother. We have the return on UK-trio bass masters Nero, going on at the same time as Bromance authority Brodinski throwing down his own meshing of deep, dark techno and filthy hip-hop.

As if that wasn’t difficult enough, you also have to choose between one of the biggest DJs who ever lived, Tiesto, playing at the same time as Maya Jane Coles. Tiesto will bring the world-celebrated house and club sounds that he helped create and popularize over the last twenty years, while MJC will bring her meticulous brand of silky, sexy deep house to the mix. This four-way talent cluster caps off the festival, leaving one of the hardest calls for last.

HARD SUMMER 2014 VENUE LAYOUT

One of the best things about this year’s HARD Summer is the new venue. Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is almost three times larger than the Los Angeles Historic Park (HARD’s former home) and offers guests a much GREENER atmosphere. I think I speak for most of the HARD ticket-holders when I say I’m very much looking forward to leaving the festival sans dust and wood chips.

The new venue offers guests a TON of strolling area compared to the Historic Park’s high-traffic try-not-to-run-into-people areas. My hopes are that with so much additional space, the festival will be able to accommodate attendees with plenty of bathroom areas. Although last year was fine (for me at least) there still seemed to be an alarming number of drunk white girls screaming “I’M GONNA FUCKING PISS MYSELF!”

TRAVELING TO HARD SUMMER 2014

As always, HARD makes it incredibly easy for you and your crew to get to the festival. By train, cab, uber, or hooves, you can get to Whittier Park for next to nothing. Or absolutely nothing. Take a look at this dope ass pic:

Welp, that about sums up everything you need to know about this year’s HARD Summer. Have fun, be safe, and dance your little tush off!

The post The Ultimate Guide to HARD Summer 2014 appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

This morning, HARD Summer released a bit of news that will get festival-goers all giddy. OWSLA will take over one of the stages for this year event, and will include artists Jack Beats, Kill The Noise, What So Not, Alex Metric, The M Machine, Henry Fong, Valentino Khan, David Heartbreak, Alesia, and Etnik. Damn.

Not sure what the other stages will look like, but I for one think that the OWSLA Tent is worth the ticket price alone.

The good people at HARD also released an official OWSLA Tent Mixtape by none other than Alex Metric. 

Alex Metric Mixtape Jun 2014

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TRACK LIST:

Alex Metric & Oliver – Galaxy
Tensnake – Love Sublime (Ewan Pearson Remix)
Appleblim – Silencio (Prins Thomas remix)
Soulphiction – Mind & Body
Duck Sauce – Chariots of the Gods (Alex Metric re edit)
Sonic Future – Bring it on
Riton – ??? (Aeroplane remix)
The Alexanders – Pwoin Pwoin Pwoin
DJ Wank – 106 miles away (Amine Edge Remix)
Little Dragon – Paris (TEED Remix)
Arveene & Misk – Don’t Stop
Alex Metric & Oliver – Hope
London Grammar – Hey Now (Alex Metric Remix)
Klaxons – Love Frequency (Tom Rowlands Remix)
Alex Metric – Spiritism
Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Soul Clap Remix)

For more info on HARD Summer, check out their Facebook, Twitter, and Website.

The post HARD Summer Releases OWSLA Stage Lineup + Alex Metric Mixtape appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

HARD came through with their full lineup announcement for the August 2nd and 3rd festival, at it’s new location, and the two-day roster is boasting what should be the biggest party of this festival season. Headlining bouts by dance music royalty tag-team Jack U, Nero, Mad Decent don Dillon Francis, and Disclosure are set to make waves, along with HARD newcomers Tiesto and former Swedish House frontman Axwell set to make stellar HARD debuts as well.

The genre bending fashion that HARD lives for comes through in full effect with performances by everyone from the likes of A-Trak to What So Not, Dirty Bird Player Justin Martin to Bro Safari, back to young gun Martin Garrix and so many more in between.

Spanning the entire electronic spectrum, leaving no taste left unsatisfied, the summer festival of the year is here. From Kill The Noise to J.Philip, Brodinski to Kry Wolf, A$AP Mob to Clockwork and back, HARD knows no bounds. Check out the official trailer below and get your tickets to HARD here.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
JACK U| A$AP MOB | AXWELL | FLOSSTRADAMUS
BAAUER | TOMMY TRASH | DJ SNAKE | CARNAGE | JACK BEATS
SETH TROXLER |KILL THE NOISE | JUSTIN MARTIN | PUSHA T
TIGA VS. AUDION |  THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS |  JOSH WINK | GRIZ
WHAT SO NOT |  TCHAMI |  OLIVER |  DUSKY |  RUSTIE | BRO SAFARI
ALEX METRIC | LUNICE |THE M MACHINE | CYRUL HAHN | HENRY FONG
GOLDROOM (DJ SET) |  J. PHILIP | AEROPLANE |  JUAN MACLEAN (DJ SET)
JUSTIN JAY |  SHIFT K3Y | TWRK | VALENTINO KHAN  |  DAVID HEARTBREAK
LOUISAHHH!!! | SHAROOZ | WORTHY | EPROM | HARVEY McKAY |
ALESIA | ETNIK | CUT SNAKE | ALIX PEREZ + MORE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
TIESTO | DISCLOSURE | NERO |DILLION FRANCIS
2MANYDJS | MARTIN GARRIX | A-TRAK | CHASE & STATUS | MAYA JANE COLES
RUDIMENTAL (LIVE) | SUB FOCUS | BRODINSKI | CLOCKWORK
DESTRUCTO | JULIO BASHMORE | DJ MUSTARD | THE CHAINSMOKERS
GORGON CITY | CASHMERE CAT | MERCER | HUCCI | BREACH
JESSE ROSE | CLAPTONE | DANNY DAZE | WAVE RACER | JACQUES GREENE
KASTLE | JIMMY EDGAR |SHARAM JEY | 100S | DJ SLINK
TRIPPY TURTLE | BRANCHEZ |MILO & OTIS | ETC! ETC! | KILL FRENZY
SHIBA SAN | HANNAH WANTS | BLOOD DIAMONDS | MR. CARMACK
VANILLA ACE | DJEMBA DJEMBA | WAX MOTIF | VINDATA
KRY WOLF | CORY ENEMY | BONES + MORE

As always, check back right here to Just Noise To Me for updates! And go ‘LIKE’ our Facebook page, ya dingus!

The post HARD Summer 2014 Delivers Their Best Lineup to Date appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Earlier this morning, Gary Richards aka Destructo began posting clues about the HARD Summer 2014 lineup. After heading over to hardsummer.com, we found nine boxes with spinning question marks.

We’re not sure if all the artists are going to be announced today or as the week continues, but stay tuned! This is going to be big!

UPDATE: Cashmere Cat has been the first artist to fill one of these boxes.

Norwegian musician/producer Cashmere Cat will be making his second appearance at HARD Summer in 2014, and has already been added to multiple festivals across the globe this summer.

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Cashmere Cat

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UPDATE: Shiba San has been added to the lineup (4/3/14)

A member of the Dirtybird players, Shiba San will be bring some SUPER deep house to this year’s HARD Summer. With a combination of hip hop influences and ghetto house, Shiba San is definitely an interesting addition to the HARD Summer 2014 lineup.

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Shiba San

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UPDATE: Seth Troxler has now been added to the HARD Summer 2014 lineup (4/4/14)

Some think he’s an alien, some people think he’s God’s gift to techno, but everyone knows that Seth Troxler is one of the dopest DJ/Producers of the last few years. Having played in venues across the entire globe (and universe?) Seth Troxler will be bringing his funky/deep/weird-as-fuck styling to this year’s HARD Summer. AND, he is the first artist to release a mixtape for this year’s festival:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/142948027″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Seth Troxler

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UPDATE: DJ Snake has been added to the lineup! (4/7/14)

Parisian producer DJ Snake has been making incredibly huge waves this year with collaborations with Dillon Francis, Mercer, and Diplo, and had one of the best sets of Ultra 2014 in Miami. DJ Snake has been blowing up the mainstream media with his tracks “Bird Machine” featuring Alesia and “Turn Down For What” with Lil Jon.

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DJ Snake

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UPDATE: Julio Bashmore has been added to the HARD Summer 2014 lineup

Born and raised in one of the original birth places of bass music, Bristol-native Julio Bashmore has been making music that would eventually lead him to releasing on Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird label since 2009. Since then, Julio has been mixing live all across the world, becoming as influential as the VonStroke himself.

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Julio Bashmore

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UPDATE: The Chainsmokers are not performing at HARD Summer 2014! (4/9/14)

After years of producing and touring the globe, The Chainsmokers have found recent success with chart-topping track “#Selfie,” along with other remixes and an awesome Ultra 2014 set. The New York duo is definitely one of the biggest acts HARD Summer will be hosting this year, and we’re excited to see how they are integrated with the rest of the somewhat “underground”artists.

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The Chainsmokers

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UPDATE: Rustie is now part of the HARD Summer 2014 fam! (4/10/14)

Best known for his tracks “Slasherr,” and his most recent collaboration with Danny Brown, “Side B (Dope Song),” Glasgow producer Rustie is by far and away one of the most underrated DJ/producers of our time. Inspiring artists like Cashmere Cat and Wave Racer, Rustie will bring his unique and emotional set filled with everything from wonky to hip hop to HARD Summer this year. This will be an act you do not want to miss!

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Rustie

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UPDATE: Pusha T has been added to the lineup! WHAT!? (4/11/14)

Just when you thought this announcement couldn’t get any crazier, Pusha T gets added into the mix. Keeping up with their history of being a diverse music festival, HARD Presents adds one of hip hops biggest artists to this year’s show. Recently on tour with 2 Chainz (who appeared at HARD Summer last year), Pusha T has been killing the game with his newest album “My Name Is My Name” featuring artsist like Kanye West, Pharrell, and Swizz Beatz on the prodcution team.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/110831711″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Pusha T

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UPDATE: Six more question boxes and J. PHLIP have been added to the HARD Summer 2014 lineup announcement.

One of the original members of Dirtybird Records and by far one of the hippest producer/DJs on planet Earth, J. Phlip, will be playing at this summer’s biggest festival. With a quiet and shy off-stage persona juxtaposed by a heavy hitting live set, J. Phlip is definitely going to be one of the coolest acts to catch at this year’s HARD Summer.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/75001803″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

J. Phlip

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UPDATE: Wave Racer will be making his first HARD appearance this summer!

Time to bring some Fofofadi to Los Angeles! Wave Racer, who has been added to the Mad Decent Block Party and Mad Decent Boat Party has been having an insane past few months, needless to say. This young Australian talent is a rising star with his signature “Fofofadi,” Jersey Club style that is sure to blow minds at this year’s HARD Summer.

Wave Racer

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UPDATE: DJ SLiiNK added to HARD Summer 2014 lineup (4/16/14)

One of the most creative and influential producers in the Jersey Club/Baltimore Club scene, DJ SLiiNK has officially been added to the HARD Summer 2014 lineup. Best known for his remixes of Kanye West, Major Lazer, Dog Blood, as well as his most recent collaboration with Flosstradamus, DJ SLiiNK is a young gun that will definitely be on our do-not-miss list this summer!

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DJ SLiiNK

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UPDATE: Jack Beats returns to HARD Summer! (4/17/14)

No strangers to HARD, Jack Beats will return to this summer’s festivities. Also known as Niall Dailly and Ben Geffin, Jack Beats is known for their unique sound that marries deep house club favorites with bizarre guttural wobbles. Having toured around the entire world, JB has also released records on monster labels like OWSLA, Fools Gold, and Mad Decent. You can catch them on tour right now.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/62303663″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Jack Beats

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UPDATE: Sub Focus has been added to the first round of the HARD Summer 2014 lineup announcement. The page also got rid of extra “?” gifs, so I’m assuming this will be the last announcement until the full lineup is released. (4/18/14)

The lineup for HARD Summer 2014 continues to diversify as Drum n’ Bass legend Sub Focus joins the fam. London-native Sub Focus is known around the world as one of the biggest and most influential artists in the realm of DnB music. One of the hardest working producers in the biz, Sub Focus will surely bring his cult following to the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area for what is stacking up to be one of the coolest HARD Summers I’ve ever been to.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138890069″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Sub Focus

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The post HARD Summer 2014 Lineup Announced (Round 1) appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

The reason for the switch is unknown; whether it’s due to the rapidly growing size of the festival or the park not being able to handle another two-day thrashing, there’s probably good cause behind it.

UPDATE: After further research, it seems as though the LA Historic Park will be closed for an entire year due to renovations, hence the switch. Many are still waiting confirmation from the head of HARD, Gary Richards aka Destructo, who mentioned on his Facebook that there would be “big news” regarding the summer festival. If the rumors are true, Whittier Narrows would actually be a great place for the festival due to its massive size, convenient access, and unique layout.

UPDATE: HARD Summer will in fact be held at Whittier Narrows, according to a press release from Mitch Schneider Organization:

The 7^th Annual HARD SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Los Angeles’ largest music event, will return Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3.  The 2014 edition escalates as the festival will be moving to a new location, the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.  Early bird tickets go on sale this Friday, February 28 at 10:00 am pt at www.hardfest.com/hardsummer.

The new location for HARD SUMMER will allow for more stages, more talent and more fans.  Just 10 miles away from downtown, the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is an urban oasis, a beautiful park boasting over 100 acres which will be converted to a major festival area.

Five stages with over 75 performers will take the HARD SUMMER experience to a whole new level. “I can’t believe HARD summer will turn 7 this year!  The HARD team is looking forward to producing a festival at Whittier Narrows,” says Gary Richards of HARD Events..  “It’s such a great park with more room to do things that have not been possible for HARD in the past.  Plus it has tons of trees and grass which makes a great setting for the festival.”

Last year’s HARD SUMMER took place at the Los Angeles State Historic Park and drew over 70,000 fans.   Performers included leading artists in the electronic and hip-hop worlds, including Knife Party, Justice (DJ Set), Duck Sauce, Dog Blood, Bassnectar, Empire of the Sun, 2 Chainz, Zedd, Crystal Castles, Baauer, Dillon Francis and many more.  Look for the line-up for the 2014 edition to be announced in the coming weeks.

HARD Summer 2014 Teaser Video:

Tickets for HARD Summer 2014 go on sale this Friday, February 28th. For more information check out the HARDfest.com. Stay tuned for more updates!

Presale tickets for HARD SUMMER 2014 at Whittier Narrows have gone on sale! Click here!

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Typically, this is where I introduce to you a mix that I’ve heard throughout the week and provide various reasons why it kicks ass. More often than not, it’s because the mix is notably danceable, easy to listen to, and sonically ambitious.

This week is no different.

Except for the fact that this Tuesday, I’d like to offer a strenuously brief explanation as to why I’m not featuring Dillon Francis‘ recent “GET LOW” Triple J Mix. Here’s the disclaimer: I am a long-time admirer of and beyond happy for Mr. Francis. His rise to EDM stardom, in my honest opinion, is both hard-earned and well-deserved. It’s a great mix and I’m still recommending you have a listen at some point!

Nevertheless, “GET LOW” hardly invokes Dill’s trademark panache, at least in comparison to his monumental HARD Summer performance last year. Nearly the entire first half is saturated with a butt ton of anthemic moombah/trap cuts we’ve all grown to love over the past few years, but there’s nothing new.

And of all places on the interwebz, TurtleGravy Tuesday, is where you can expect to discover those zany, left-field tunes that might just end up being kind of cool in six months or so. Everything on “GL” has been cool for some time now; let’s keep it moving, shall we?

So, having inadvertently featured Dillon Francis’ mix after I said I wouldn’t, I would like to present to you this week’s official feature: DJ Slow‘s As the World Turns Slow Chapter 1 Mix (a mouthful, I know; goes great with an earful).

Not to be confused with the Finnish DMC champion who bears the same name, DJ Slow is a Belgian artist signed to pelicanfly, a label with which he shares a home country. He begins with an unlikely homage to one of Southern hip-hop’s Meccas, Houston, TX. We’re taken on a purple-hued, chopped and screwed excursion through the Lone Star State before Slow effortlessly advances with a slew of melodic hip hop, love trap, techno, and club jams. This mix is diverse and incorporates plenty of unheard tracks, which is why it won out over the Dillon mix.

Something to note is DJ Slow’s affinity for alternating between upbeat footwork beats and a variety of more intimate sounds. This mix isn’t overloaded with back-to-back bangers. Instead, it offers a well-paced selection of uppers, downers, and all-arounders.

You might consider throwing this on at a kickback with your closest homies. Sit around and reminisce about all your freshman year hijinks, all the close calls you had in the dorms and the stunts you pulled that even your present self is impressed you survived. Then you’ll remember how much cooler life is after college and how glad you are you finished early…. Wait.

(TurtleTip: Too much nostalgia is unhealthy. Toss on this mix and let the future vibes ease your mind. Besides, some people don’t remember college at all. So at least you’ve got that going for you maybe.)

I sincerely hope you enjoyed this week’s TGT Mix! Be sure to tune in next week to catch some more of the latest underground collections brought to you by your friendly neighborhood EDM blog.

Stay PLURsty, mis compadres! <4

P.S. Here’s the Dillon Francis Mix if you’re that set on listening to it. Chances are you’ve heard it before.

DJ Slow Soundcloud

The post TurtleGravy Tuesday: DJ Slow (NOT Dillon Francis) appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

The saying goes, “everything is bigger in Texas.” Lights All Night in Dallas was no exception. Taking place in the Dallas Convention Center (literally one of the biggest venues I’ve ever seen an indoor festival take place), Lights All Night was two days full of top-billing artists, awesome visuals, and a whole lotta PLUR.

Day 1

I started the day off arriving in Dallas with just enough time to drop my bags off, grab a quick bite to eat, and hop in a cab before catching Icona Pop at the main stage, “The Mothership.” Before the all-girl duo took stage, I honestly had my doubts. I’m typically not a fan of live vocals (or live instruments for that matter) during an EDM show, but as soon as they took the stage I was blown away. With impressive vocal harmonies and fantastic stage presence, Icona Pop was definitely the best way to start off the night.

Before too long I decided to mosey on over to the next stage, “Boombox,” to see Le Castle Vania who was someone I’ve heard great things about but never actually had the chance to see. He definitely lived up to his reputation, playing a high energy, progressive set.

Next on my list was Carnage. Not only is the dude a big guy, his set was just as huge. Blending trap and big room, Carnage was definitely in my top 5 favorite sets of the entire weekend. And, with some insane pyrotechnics blasting across the stage, things were definitely starting to heat up.

Zomboy was another surprise of the night, playing a strictly dubstep set. I really had my doubts about this young talent, but seeing him live was one of the most fun experiences of the weekend. His energy was absorbed by the crowd and made his set more than just an auditory experience.

After a quick set change, Grizmatik took the stage at Boombox and threw down one of the funkiest sets I’ve seen in a very, very long time. With a combined effort from Griz and the two-man troupe Gramatik, the room was full of sax, guitar, and huge beats. It was so much fun seeing these three truly enjoying themselves in front of a packed audience.

I wrapped up the night with one of the biggest (and most outspoken) producers in the world — Deadmau5 — whose set was a perfect combination of old and new. After some minor technical difficulties, the mau5 was up and running, and before long had the crowd screaming the lyrics to “Ghosts ‘n Stuff.” “Oh, come on! Don’t act like you don’t know the words!”

Day 2

The second day of Lights All Night started off after another late start — a little sightseeing in Dallas never hurt anyone! I got to the show just in time to catch Nom De Strip, another act I had heard great things about but never had the chance to see. He also lived up to the hype with a set full of a little bit of everything — disco house, progressive house, big room, etc. I could tell he was humbled a bit when he looked out and saw the massive amount of people that had gathered to watch him play. 

Next up was Kill Paris who was also on his funk game, even more so than when we saw him at the True Music Festival in Phoenix. With huge tracks and an even bigger stage persona, Kill Paris was another fun one to watch for sure.

After Kill Paris I pretty much set up camp at the Boombox stage to see four of my favorite artists from 2013. First up, Paper Diamond. PD was one of my surprise favorites at HARD Summer, and was in my top 5 from LAN as well. His set was full of some of the best trap tracks of the year along with a new collaboration with Arizona native Protohype. I also later found out he performed his entire set with a broken foot, and when asking him about the injury he stated, “broke my foot but I’m still out here partying!”

Once the dust had settled from PD’s set, the one and only A-Trak took the stage. Now, I’ve seen A-Trak multiple times within the past few years, but no set came close to the one he played at LAN. Playing all his hits while catering to the raver audience, A-Trak was one of the hardest sets and definitely my favorite of the weekend.

Legendary duo Above & Beyond took to the Boombox stage next, playing a set consisting of their hits including their Blue Monday remix, giving their crowd some very much needed Group Therapy.

To end the night, I stuck around to catch one of my all-time favorites, Major Lazer. The trio could not have made for a better way to end my weekend in Dallas. Their set included their most recent hits like “Jet Blue Jet,” along with their classic ML antics like Diplo roaming the crowd in his Zorb ball.

After leaving the venue that night, I ran into two older women with “Rave Mom” printed on their shirts. I asked if they were picking up their kids and, in a very southern accent, they responded, “Oh hell nah, we were here partyin’! We just love Kaskade and Above and Beyond. We would’ve stayed all night but it’s already way past our bed times!” Definitely the highlight of my entire trip.

Lights All Night 2013 Review

Lights All Night was a well-organized production with very little to complain about. One thing I noticed was the fact that the Silent Disco stage was almost completely hidden. To be honest, I actually still have no idea where it was.

Security was just tight enough, and there seemed to be little to no medical emergencies. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy put in place by the festival was also a great addition.

While not everyone is addicted to cigarettes, I still found the “smoking lounge” (basically just  fenced off area outside the venue) could have had a bit more organization. Separate “in” and “out” doors would have been a great idea.

As promised, the sound was on point and the stages all had fantastic visuals. The Dallas Convention Center was a perfect place to hold the venue, as attendees could cross over from stage to stage with ease, relax in the lobby area, and purchase food, drinks, and souvenirs from vendors surrounding the stages. There was never any overlap of sound from either one of the stages, and guests seemed to be having a generally awesome time throughout.

All in all, there was still that one thing every festival would suck without — unity. As lame as it may sound Lights All Night was a look inside the Dallas EDM scene which, judging by these two nights, is alive and well. Everyone got along just fine and there were zero fights, arguments, etc. The love for EDM was in the air and it was truly a PLUR-tastic time.

If given the opportunity, I would ABSOLUTELY head back to Dallas for Lights All Night. Thanks for having us!

More photos on the way! Sit tight. 

The post Lights All Night 2013 Review appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Friday night, international trapstars and frequent Yeezus collaborators, TNGHT, released a brief video entitled “Waning Moon” which may or may not imply an indefinite hiatus.

The video is an ominous depiction of the group members Hudson Mohawke and Lunice performing live peppered with flickering images of menacing storm clouds and their trademark crescent moon. It ends with a clip of the two producer/DJs  saying thanks as they close out their HARD Summer set with OutKast‘s “Int’l Players Anthem”.

The YouTube clip was released with a message that reads “Until Next We Meet” which many speculate is a clear indication of a permanent split. That would seem logical had Lunice not tweeted just hours after the video went up:

There’s a difference between a break up and quality control. Think about it.

— Lunice (@Lunice) December 28, 2013

Plot twist: it’s not a breakup. Then what in Yeezus’ name is it? And is it final? The tagline does sort of suggest that we will be seeing more from the trap lords in the future.

We got to experience TNGHT at both Coachella and HARD Summer, as if we weren’t already fascinated by their dark, innovative approach to instrumental hip hop. The group is revered for combining their heavy hitter trap sound with intense minimalist visuals during their live performances, making them one of our favorite acts to watch in 2013. It’s safe to say we were quite concerned upon hearing the rumors.

But let’s all just calm down for like five seconds and think this one through, okay?

Canadian-born Lunice and his Glaswegian parter in crime, HudMo, are clearly still on the rise— this summer they produced tracks for Kanye’s tour de force and there have been talks of a Watch the Throne 2 collab. Not to mention, they have yet to produce a full-length album of any sort. Nevertheless, they threw some of the most mesmerizing sets of the past year.

Could “Waning Moon” just be a brief pause in the seemingly overnight rise to stardom of two EDM underdogs? Or perhaps the symbolic end of an era, giving rise to a new incarnation of the TNGHT project christened TMRRW? Or maybe it’s the duo’s way of reining in the new year with some of that “y’all ain’t ready for this 2014 next level type shit”. Like when all your friends stop eating Ben & Jerry’s and wear matching tanks to the gym on January 1st (though a boastful New Year’s Twitter Resolution doesn’t quite seem like TNGHT’s style).

Regardless, we’re all waiting anxiously to see what other information will surface in regards to the group’s whereabouts whether they remain a group or not. Be sure to comment and let us know what your thoughts are regarding the message behind “Waning Moon”.

With that, we send you all our best regards and wish you a Happy New Year.

Regards.

You can access TNGHT’s twitter account here, as well as their Soundcloud.

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