Dallas electro: the unlikely story of the hard-hitting Texan underground
Dallas, Texas is an unlikely nerve centre of electro music. The city’s small but tight knit cabal of producers and DJs have been releasing essential underground tracks since the mid ’90s to rival anything made in Detroit or The Hague and, despite indifference from the dance mainstream, several of Dallas’s biggest electro names have acquired world renown.
Get to Know: Olivia
It’s fair to say that Oliva changed the face of her local scene, and she’s now making her mark around Europe. The Kraków native came up at a time when drum & bass was the predominant sound of the city, but years of her own hard work as a DJ and promoter mean it is now about so much more. Olivia first went to legendary local club Kanty with her older brother and “had to bribe bodyguards” and “sneak in through the fence”.
On Cue: Sync 24
And certainly, the label is showing no signs of slowing as 2019 hits its midpoint...
“In the near future the label is about to drop “12s from Brooklyn based SC-164 and Silicon Scally and we are also launching a new vinyl only sub-label called CE Limited with the first release being from Ekman.”
Reflecting on his history with electro, Bolland’s first encounters spread from the Detroit originators and UK stalwarts to Scandinavian outliers.
Speaking of the recent popular revival of the sound he and his contemporaries have been dedicated to for years, Bolland is elated by the waves of new artists and labels breakthrough through.
“Yeah the scene has had a nice lift over the last few years which I feel it really deserves,” he explains. “For me the hottest new acts I have been enjoying are Jensen Interceptor and Assembler Code, No Moon, Solid Blake, Volruptus and Animistic Beliefs as well as labels like Craigie Knowes, Private Persons and Mechatronica.”
Sync 24 and Cultivated Electronics show no signs of slowing. With a busy summer lined up with sets at for Brooklyn party Nails and Wax, Houghton festival, the label’s annual bash at Berlin’s Griessmuehle with the Mechatronica crew in October, and a big party lined up in London’s Village Underground, it’s remarkable to think that Bolland is also working on his first solo LP.
“So watch this space,” he says.
Special Request announces four new albums, shares track, ‘'SP4NN3R3D’: Listen
Paul Woolford has a busy year in store with his Special Request alias, with four new albums set for release via Houndstooth.
The first one is titled VORTEX, while full details on the other three albums are as-yet unconfirmed. Woolford says he "had a right fucking doss" making the records, while Houndstooth's - the label that will be releasing the LPs - press release describes the tracks on the albums as "strictly bowel-evacuating bangers".
You can listen to the lead track from VORTEX, 'SP4NN3R3D', below. The album's out on May 31st.
Techno pioneer Juan Atkins is rewiring his electro legacy
Juan Atkins has always been, in his own words, “a music lover”. Growing up in Detroit, he would treat his parents’ dinner parties as an opportunity to act as DJ for the night, taking control of the record player to share what was catching his ear as a young, impressionable teenager. This was some years before he would first be exposed to synthesizers and electronic music, and go on to form countless essential partnerships as a producer, DJ, label owner and mentor.
“There’s something about Cybotron, in the name, that has picked up a cult status over the years”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Premiere: Marlon Hoffstadt ‘Captains Announcement’
Marlon Hoffstadt will release his new EP, ‘Ready For Take Hoff’, on 19th April via his own Midnight Themes label.
The Berlin-based producer, DJ and Savour The Moment party founder follows February’s ‘Simple Communication’ with a four-track outing of euphoric electro and glimmering proto house with more than a few moments of blissed out trance.
Listen to DJ Stingray’s BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix
He may already have over two decades of DJing under his belt, but last weekend saw DJ Stingray finally step up to make his debut on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix.
Over the course of his two-hour mix, the Detroit DJ tears through 54 tracks, drifting between steely techno and breakneck electro. His contribution to the show takes in tracks from Solid Blake, Dax J, Rebekah and Surgeon amongst many others, before naturally coming to a close on the Drexciyan classic Cascading Celestial Giants.
Premiere: Aloka ‘Convex’
Welsh electro producer Aloka will launch his new Typless label with the release of his ‘Concave/Convex’ EP this Friday 1st March.
The emerging producer breaks some heady ground on this two track release, announcing himself as a name to keep your ears well and truly perked for in the coming year.
We’ve got the release’s B-Side ‘Convex’ premiering below and, as you’ll soon hear, it’s a dark, sprawling cut of razor sharp electro that does more than enough to set a dancefloor alight. Check it out.
Premiere: DMX Krew ‘Drum Machine Pt.2’
DMX Krew will release his new album ‘Glad To Be Sad’ this Friday 1st March.
The prolific UK producer – real name Edward Upton – returns to Hypercolour with his 19th (19th!!) LP and, unsurprisingly, it’s another varied and vibrant collection from an artist whose been honing his craft for well over two decades now.
Fresh Kicks 93: Reka
Featuring Madrid-born, Berlin-based DJ/producer, Reka, in our Fresh Kicks series might feel a little strange. In truth, she’s been embedded in electronic music for over 15 years. After several eras of change though, it has only been in this decade that she has truly found and flourished in her artistic identity.
