Anske-Suncatcher [Coldharbour Recordings]

 

One of Lithuania's leading dance music icons is without any doubt Andrej Anskinas, better known to the dance music populous as "Anske". This talented music producer and DJ has realized many of his dreams already by performing at some of the world's biggest events such as "Luminosity" in the Netherlands. A creator of catchy yet intricate tunes with lots of emotional depth "Anske", continues on in full force constantly on the move. If you are familiar with tunes such as "Space Howl", "Epika", "Xplorer" and "Blue Lagoon" you definitely know the vast potential of this artist. His latest tune brings him to "Coldharbour Recordings" shores once more with the incredible "Suncatcher". It was such a hit that "Markus Schulz" included it in the latest edition of the illustrious DJ mix compilation "In Search Of Sunrise", bestowing this grand honor on "Anske" for the third time!

 The listener is instantly captivated from the very first moments of play as they are surrounded by tough, edgy basslines, rhythmical high strung percussion and upbeat harmonies. When we reach the break in the track we are gradually overcome by a feeling of wonder, awe and splendor. Uncanny melodies emerge, casting an aura of positivity all around as visions of tropical landscapes, hidden waterfalls and lush vegetation capture the heart of our very imagination. When the leads kick in pairing up quite eloquently with the rest of the key elements, our hearts shore with joy much like the fiery red sun rising in the distance as the dawn of a promising new day approaches. 

Magical tuneage once more by "Anske", who lives up to his sheer potential and will definitely see loads of love from the fans and his peers alike for this one!

Released: 1/10.2021

Label: Coldharbour Recordings

https://www.beatport.com/release/suncatcher/3530169 

  

Exclusive Interview with Rinaly!

One of the fastest emerging talents in the orient comes to us from the land of the rising sun. A Japanese female DJ/Producer known to her peers and the wide world of dance music as "Rinaly", has been making her very own ripples in the scene which have grown larger with the passing of time. Responsible for energizing the crowd with her dynamic yet euphoric DJ sets at some of Japan's finest venues as well as honing her skills on her unique flavored productions. Each track she has worked on has that fine blend of uplifting and pure melodic trance qualities which she has become known for. 

Slowly yet steadily she has gradually won over the hearts of many of the trance faithful around the globe! An artist who surely lives for her art, "Rinaly" has not missed an opportunity to entertain her long legion of fans on the "Twitch" platform during the pandemic and long after, giving the audience her pure dedication and wild assortment of gripping tunes. Definite highlights in her career include getting a mass amount of  support on "A State Of Trance" and world premiers by none other than Dutch maestro "Armin Van Buuren" himself as well being selected to mix the renowned DJ Mix compilation "Techno Club" alongside founder and DJ "Talla2xlc". 

It is with great pleasure that I get to welcome "Rinaly" aboard "MusicTalk15" for this exclusive interview! An honor and privilege and I in turn thank her most graciously for her time!

 

Question 1:

What was the deciding factor that got you into dance music? Were you interested in music and its production from a tender age?

A: I was hearing trance as ‘love-filled’ music, I've been besotted with its emotional depth and textured sound since I first discovered it aged 20 in a Japanese nightclub.

When I was a teenager, I played bass in a band, and I learned composition from the age of 14.

Question 2:

What would you say was your biggest break in the scene after being involved with dance music for a good amount of years?

A: "Ronski Speed & Rinaly - Horoscope", released in 2016, got "ASOT" support for the first time and I started to feel confident in the sound I made. After that, I started touring abroad and became busy.

Question 3:

Could you please share with us the story of how you became involved with “AVA Recordings” and in time became a part of the “AVA family” of artists?

A: My first release on AVA was "Rinaly - Wave of Affection" released in 2017, which got # 1 on the Beatport Trance Chart.

In 2018, I organized "AVA Night Tokyo" and deepened my ties with the AVA team. I’m honored to be part of them because they are very kind, warm and always supportive.

Question 4:

When working on dance music, what do you enjoy? Creating originals where you play the leading role in all ideas and creativity or do you perhaps prefer collaborations with fellow artists?

A: I enjoy expressing my emotions with sound. Also, I have some collaboration projects because I learn a lot from collaborations and it is inspiring.

Question 5:

As a producer what software lies in your studio? Which is your “daw” of choice and the virtual instruments that frequent your productions?

A: I use "Logic Pro X" as my main DAW, but occasionally I also use "Studio One". "Spire",

"SERUM" and "Sylenth1" are used a lot in my productions.

Question 6:

A recent highlight in your career is of course having the honor to mix the second disc of the prestigious “Techno Club” series by none other than “Talla 2XLC”. How did all that come to be and could you please share some insight into your ideas and music you decided to showcase within?

A: Talla and I are working hard on streaming on Twitch and it makes us get along.

Talla surprised us by announcing during the stream that he chose me for "Technoclub vol.62". I was so honored to lose my word!

Question 7:

Being from Japan you have certainly witnessed a whole different clubbing experience. What was your favorite club to play at there? What would you say the difference is between clubbing in Asia in accordance to Europe and their club culture?

A: In my experience, melodic and vocal tracks are preferred in Japan, and more danceable and driving tracks are preferred in Europe. But it really depends on the event and crowd.

Question 8:

Which artist or artists were your early influences or inspiration when you first began to produce your own music? Which artists inspire you today in 2021?

A: When I first started making Trance, I was influenced by "Andy Moor", "Omnia", "Ben Gold" and others. Today I'm experimenting with Tech Trance artists like "Alex Di Stefano" and "Paul Denton" etc. to create my own unique sounds.

Question 9:

What five songs are your favorites of the moment and you would love to play out when returning to your clubland and regular DJ performances?

A: Other than my own tracks:

#1 David Forbes, Paul Denton - Out Of Order

#2 Somna & Jennifer Rene - Stars Collide (XiJaro & Pitch Remix)

#3 Sean Tyas, Darren Porter - The Potion (Metta & Glyde Extended Remix)

#4 Steve Dekay, Emanuele Congeddu - Origami

#5 Everlight - Obelisk feat. Emma Chat

 

Question 10:

During lock down you have been a steady force of sanity and inspiration for the clubbers who lost their favorite pastime. You were there week in week out, entertaining us all and achieving new heights while doing so. Pure dedication and passion which will not go unnoticed! How did you enjoy your Twitch sets and did they in turn fuel you with well needed positive vibes to restart your life once all settles?

A: I've always focused on playing fresh and perfect sets, but perfectionism has plagued me so I decided not to overwork in the last few months and it's easier and much more enjoyable than before. I learned how to deal with myself during lockdown. I’m so proud to have built a warm community that always encourages me. 

Question 11:

Do you enjoy traveling and discovering new lands and cultures? If so what are your dream destinations and for what reason?

A: Yes I do. I have longed for Scandinavia for a long time. I decided to live in Sweden and I am mentally much better than before. I was inspired by different cultures and beautiful nature.

Question 12: What are your plans for the future? Any upcoming events you wish to share with us or perhaps other exciting music related news?

A: I have both Trance and Techno releases in the coming months.

The closest release is "Rinaly - In The Predawn Darkness" on "FSOE Clandestine" which was released on the 29th of October.

Question 13: Being an avid producer for quite a spell is there any chance we may see a “Rinaly” artist album in the near future?

A: I cannot say for sure but, I definitely want to make an album in the future ;)

 

 

 

Ali Wilson-Tabula Rasa (Album Review)

Ali Wilson over the years has rapidly become a household name in the dance music world. He has built for himself a solid artillery of releases on labels such as "In Charge", "Freezing Point", "Nukleuz" and his very own label "Tekelec Recordings" among others. This musical visionary from the UK certainly has music coursing through his veins and has not sat still even for a minute. Dedicated to his craft, he has unleashed two phenomenal artist albums so far. His third artist album saw inception during a dark and difficult period of his very own life. The tragic loss of his beloved father was the main inspiration for his third album which is called "Tabula Rasa". It boasts seventeen glorious tunes created mostly by Ali and features friendly collaborations with artists such as "Andy Farley", "Matt Smallwood", "Phil Able" and "Martin Begley".

Uno: Latin, funky rhythms with a carnival essence and classic house influence running strong through this one.

Feel The City Breakin': Deep male vocal one liners, darker undergroundish grooves and an emphasis of old school raving are definitely the ticket here.

Piranha: Disco house influences, female vocal samples and proper house grooves find their place in 2021.

Alien: Deeper grooves, mysterious subterranean melodies and buzzing basslines are all here in full swing.

Cognate: A tribal feel, curious female chants and ecstatic rhythms are in full force here.

BOD: Futuristic nu-retro vibes complete with a male and female vocal complex and a golden house melody to tie it all in.

Rhythm: Aptly titled tune as one easily gets lost in the glorious labyrinth of grooves and overlord style vocals.

Thundergroove: Creepy melodies, semi distorted patterns and nature's elements at their finest.

Hands Up: Preacher-like vocal one liners perfectly decorate this enthralling tune, captivating us further.

Roborock: Male robotic vocal samples are thrown in amongst loony bird-like caws alongside an up and at 'em funky approach.

Rawkus: Distorted synths and chaotic rhythms are large and in charge while imagery of lost in traffic emerge here.

Tatami: Percussion heaven with a tribal essence and tribal vocal chants running wild throughout this one.

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll: Deep, dirty grooves complete with a guitar riff, drums and female vocal shots.

Take Me Away: Classic disco house grooves and piano melodies are dominating this one alongside the male vocal shots.

Keep On Lovin' Me: Rhythmical and energetic as they come. Memories of old school clubbing are definitely here, rare grooves re-emerge alongside a female/male vocal duet of vocal exhales and one liners at synth heaven.

Big Beat: Tumbling drums and mind moving grooves are accentuated by monkey-like chants and a fusion of breakbeat and early disco rhythms.

Give It Up: House grooves complete with male vocal outbursts, anxiety driven beats and intriguing strings. A curious delight of a tune.

 Ali amazes once more with his "out of the box" attitude. Taking a trip down the golden years of raving and clubbing alike he has reinvented the sound, influences and ideas of the scene, breathing new life into an era and sound that has been more or less pushed aside in favor of the current trends. Unafraid to explore his identity as a producer and his large quantity of musical taste, this dance music hero dives in deep and succeeds in updating our current musical tastes track by track. "Tabula Rasa" will easily find a way into your hearts as you unravel the mysteries of each tune.

Label: Untidy

https://www.tidytrax.co.uk/product/tabula-rasa-by-ali-wilson-usb/

Maria Healy-Kismet [Subculture]

 

One of Ireland's most prominent artists in the dance music field is without any doubt "Maria Healy". Maria has been known for her vigorous performances at esteemed venues and festivals such as "Luminosity", "Synergy" and "Planet Love" among many others. Her ever steady flow of releases on labels such as "Subculture", "Regenerate Records", "Blue Soho Recordings" and "Extrema Global Music" have brought to light some real gems. "Dreamer", "Clouds", "Desiderata" and "Mimosa" are only some of the pure hits this talented woman has offered to the dance music public. Inspiration never runs dry for this one and so she is back with a solid new single on fellow Irishman "John O' Callaghan's" label "Subculture". "Kismet" is the name and it is a riveting tune indeed!

 Pounding basslines, acid-like melodies, squelches and energized percussion serve as the appetizers before the main melody joins in. Bright, majestic and pure with a certain note of melancholy it turns it all around. Moments of reflection and deep thought arise within our soul. Questions seeking answers and choices made in haste are ever so evident in our mind. When the energy fueled leads arrive and seamlessly blend in with the main melody, a blissful matrimony of musical harmony arises and everything around us becomes as clear as daylight.

 Another aural pleasure from an artist who's story is ever so blossoming in the scene that we love. Uplifting, energetic, melodic goodness that will soothe and supercharge your life!

Released: 17/9/2021

Label: Subculture    

https://www.beatport.com/release/kismet/3493896

NOMADsignal pres. Isotapes-Spellbound [Coldharbour Recordings]

 

One of  the artists to keep an eye on is most definitely a particular fellow that goes by the intriguing name "NOMADsignal". Nicholas Andrew Schwab has been on a definite roll this past year entertaining us all with his weekly radio shows over at "NOMADCity" on the "Twitch" platform and being mighty busy in the studio as well. The artist that has brought us some brilliant musical offerings such as "Exclusion Zone", "Pitchblende", "Somatic Effects" and so much more is back in action with a fresh tune under his "Isotapes" alias. His previous tune "Thorium-238" under that alias was a huge hit and was even featured on iconic DJ mix compilation "In Search of Sunrise 16"mixed by none other than Coldharbour's very own "Markus Schulz". His new tune "Spellbound" has already been snatched up and included on this year's edition of the iconic series by Markus once more. "Spellbound" is out now on "Coldharbour Recordings" and is quite the aural delight as you will soon discover.

 Pumping basslines and ecstatic hi-hats are there from the start gearing us up towards what lies ahead. Setting the pace accordingly we already begin to feel the groove that follows deep in our bones. Riveting melodies tumble in like falling leaves on a late autumn's afternoon, decorated all the while by melodic tinges like glimmers of the last fading light sparkling and enhancing the majestic atmosphere further. When the break arrives we are swirled within magical, lush, spellbinding melodies wrought of goodness, hope and undeniable cleansing properties. Emotions run wild as a sort of sundown moment escapes its captivity as the track builds and unleashes its untouched beauty upon the world! 

Exciting, thrilling and awe inspiring, this one invokes a million feelings within one's soul! The listener can't help but feel rejuvenated after witnessing first hand the healing properties of this rare tune. Another sure hit for "NOMADsignal", who has given us yet another reason to dream with eyes wide open!

Released: 17/9/2021

Label: Coldharbour Recordings  

https://www.beatport.com/release/spellbound/3497517