Freshly Social

Dutch DJ/producer Hardwell has not disappointed expectant fans following a smashing remix of Swedish electro outfit, Dada Life’s, latest track ‘Fight club is closed (it’s time for rock n roll)’.

Championed by house music heavyweights David Guetta (“Hardwell on fire”) and Dimitri Vegas (“Hardwell for me”), the young DJ’s latest mix complements a growing fan base, which follows his current successful North American tour with house music legend Tiesto.

With an innovative and progressive take on dance, Hardwell has enticed an industry awash with acts eager to stand out. Productions include the recent mesmerizing collaboration with his fellow Dutchman Tiesto on ‘Zero 76’, to his acclaimed ‘Eclectic Beatz’ sessions, which have fast-tracked his graduation to one of the most sought after DJs on the scene.

Fresh faced mix master Nicky Romero has delighted fans with news of an array of imminent releases, including the immediately available ‘Play n stop’, as well as a recent Facebook post stating he is finishing tracks for superstars Enrique Iglesias and Usher.

Out now on Beatport, ‘Play n stop’ is a sure fire smash, having already been championed by the likes of David Guetta (“tasty”), Fedde le Grand (“support from me”), Roger Sanchez (“nice”) and Robbie Rivera (“cool track”). The release marks a continued creative high for Dutchman Romero, who laces the track with a stomping bassline, complementing a dynamic and summery funky house vocal.

Another confirmed track is ‘Sliced’. Due for release by Hysteria on 16 May, ‘Sliced’ sees Romero team up with fellow Netherlanders, and fantastic DJ/production duo, Bingo Players. Furthermore, with his mix of Flo Rida’s ‘Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1)’, and his massive bootleg of the Taio Cruz smash ‘Dynamite’ both available, Romero is cementing his credentials as one of the most exciting young DJs to emerge from Europe’s thriving dance scene.

In music, there are those who provide vocals, and there are vocalists; and from that select group, there are a few that can connect the soul, feet, heart and mind of all those in attendance with a goose-pimple-inducing, stand-up-and-be-counted sense of euphoria. Now, with new track ‘Stronger’ about to drop, Shawnee Taylor yet again proves she is very much one of that rare breed: an artist who leaves nothing and nobody out.

‘Stronger’, a collaboration with two of Taylor’s biggest fans, friends and advocates, super producers Erick Morillo and Eddie Thoneick, continues the trio’s spectacularly successful recipe for uplifting, gospel-tinged electro music, which they’ve mixed to near perfection, dominating radio, charts and dance floors worldwide for the past twelve months. Previous smash hit successes ‘Live your life’ with Morillo and Thoneick, the soaring Morillo/Richard Grey/Jose Nunez track ‘Life goes on’, as well as Nunez’s ‘Yesterday’, have cemented Taylor’s credentials as the name to feature – leading to her being proclaimed Vocalist of the Year 2010 by beatmyday.com.

Jon Pearn, legendary DJ who along with Nick Bridges completes stomping house music production outfit Bodyrox, has delighted fans with news that the new Bodyrox album is now complete and due for release later this year.

Although it’s been a busy year for Pearn, who along with Bodyrox, is also a partner with Michael Gray in the Grammy Award-nominated house music team Full Intention, news of the new album will excite clubs and radio worldwide – as well as indulge the appetites of Bodyrox fans, who have been waiting for the release for some time.

The album features internationally adored vocalist Luciana, who last teamed up with Bodyrox for the smashing track ‘Rubba Dubba’, released earlier this year.  Equally exciting, is news that a forthcoming Bodyrox track is a spectacular remix of The Clash classic, ‘Rock the casbash’ – a special collaboration with Funkagenda that is sure to make a mark on dance floors, as well as music charts, worldwide.

Royal wedding fever may be gripping most of the world right now, but for house music fans in Northern Ireland, the only date worth noting is 4 June, when DJ and multiple Beatport chart topper David Jones hits premier Belfast club, mono.

Launching brand new club night, Zuul, Jones will perform a live DJ set that will electrify the dance floor with a string of hits and remixes; and with support from local progressive house hero, Chris Cargo, Zuul on 4 June promises to be the dance event in Belfast this summer.

It’s the news that followers of Jones have been waiting for. Having ruled the Beatport charts for nearly two years, Jones has cemented his credentials as one of the most exciting dance industry talents around.

Truly on-trend, Jones’ particular, vocal-laced productions feed from his encyclopaedic musical knowledge, blending genres and packing dance floors.

Following the world premiere of ‘Running’, the latest track by super DJ Fedde le Grand, on Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 show last week, followers of the Dutch house music maestro have inundated his fan pages with praise.

With the dance world still reeling from his massive remix of the Everything but the girl classic ‘Missing’, as well as his dynamic track ‘Autosave’, 2011 continues to be the year that le Grand cements his credentials as the most exciting talent in the industry.

Released through Beatport on 25 April, ‘Running’ sees le Grand work with Sultan and Ned Shepard, and joined by outstanding vocalist Mitch Crown for what is described by one fan, Krisztián Mayer, as an “Amazing track with amazing vocal:)”. The reaction to ‘Running’ is typical of fans, whose descriptions revolve around ‘fantastic’, ‘great’, and ‘awesome.’ It seems that ‘Running’ has the typical le Grand magic, which will beckon clubbers, radio and charts across the world this summer.

Fresh from the enormous success of his current smash hit ‘Live your life’, German super producer and DJ du jour, Eddie Thoneick, has just finished another massive remix – this time for iconic and multi-lateral artist, Moby.

Thoneick has remixed Moby’s latest track, ‘The day’, which is the first to be taken from the artist’s new album, ‘Destroyed’. ‘The day’ is released through iTunes on 9 May in a remix package that includes contributions from Basto, Gesaffelstein and Funkerman, as well as Thoneick.

Of the track, Moby wrote on his official website: “‘The day’ was written in a hotel room in Spain at dawn when I hadn’t slept. It was a beautiful hotel room, a beautiful perfect hotel room and it was six or seven in the morning. I wrote it on a acoustic guitar and recorded it on my phone, brought it home and re-recorded it with old broken down electronics that I have in my studio.”

Clubbers visiting Ibiza this summer have more than usual to look forward to, following confirmation that New York-based house music impresario Dennis Ferrer will play a residency at the plush new Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel.

Ferrer will join his Bronx-born protégés, the Martinez Brothers, every Sunday, between 26 June and 25 September, for the ‘USA House – Citizens of the world’ club night. It is billed as ‘the coolest party in Ibiza’, and with both Ferrer and the brothers famed for their dedication to embracing, honing and crafting DJ skill, Sundays at Ushuaia promise to be one of most energetic and engaging events on the party isle in 2011.

The news comes hot on the heels of Ferrer’s recent Facebook post, that he will be playing a soon-to-be-announced show in the UK. Ferrer wrote: “For all the UK cats, mark down July 2nd. Comin to town!!” The statement spurred a excited reaction from his sizeable UK fan base, eager to see one of the most iconic names to have emerged from New York’s significant house scene.

Grammy Award-nominated house music production outfit Full Intention continue their 2011 creative high with a stunning remix for pop/dance princess Alexis Jordan.

‘Hush hush’ will be the third release from Jordan, following her debut smash hit singles ‘Happiness’ and ‘Good girl’, both of which made a significant impact on UK charts and dance floors.

The Full Intention remix of ‘Hush hush’, from Jordan’s debut album of the same name, will be part of a stellar EP package, which includes remixes from other top-tier producers, including Tom Neville and Cahill. Released on 8 May, ‘Hush hush’ is destined to dominate radio and club playlists this summer.

Full Intention continue to be one of the music industry’s most in-demand production duos. Consisting of house heroes Michael Gray and Jon Pearn, the partnership has performed remix miracles for music A-Listers, such as George Michael, Bob Sinclar and Jennifer Lopez. Recognised as one of the most innovative and pioneering remix teams of the past decade, their productions are coveted by every genre-DJ worth their salt – fans and advocates include Eric Prydz, Tom Novy, David Morales and The Shapeshifters, to name four.

House music frontrunners Technotronic have delighted fans with news of a major comeback tour in 2011, promising to electrify fans with shows across the world.

Kicking off with a string of hot appearances in Brazil next month, the band, credited with bringing house music into mainstream homes, will ignite global audiences throughout the tour, which is expected to hit almost every continent.

Whilst their signature track ‘Pump up the jam’ is likely to be one of the highlights of the shows, the Technotronic tour promises a consistent translation of high energy performances, ensuring all bases are covered for an audience eager to party.

Responsible for some fifteen million record sales and having recently celebrated their twentieth anniversary, Technotronic are keen to remind fans just why top industry figures still consider them one of the pivotal acts in the genre’s history. Since their 1989 breakthrough ‘Pump up the jam’, the Belgian group have produced an array of standout smash hits, which also include ‘Get up! (before the night is over) and ‘This beat is technotronic’.