i_o Releases ‘Hello Friend 015 :: ALL ACID mix’

For the latest release on UPPERGROUND label owners ARTBAT team up with KAS:ST and Losless to deliver a heavyweight club banger titled “Pull Out,” which is set to ignite dancefloors worldwide. ARTBAT have been delivering recent heavy-hitting collaborations with Another Life, Armin van Buuren, and John Martin whilst remixing the likes of Meduza, The Chemical Brothers, and Kölsch, which has kept them as one of the scene’s most in-demand electronic music artists. Their UPPERGROUND label, launched in 2021, has quickly risen to prominence, showcasing visionary artists and putting on events around the world, including dates in Mexico, Poland, and Spain, most notably with their recent UPPERGROUND event in the brand new Real Madrid Sanitago Berbebau stadium. French artist KAS:ST is known for his atmospheric soundscapes, intricate melodies, and powerful beats, with highly regarded releases on labels like Afterlife, Cercle, Sapeins, and his own imprint Flyance. KAS:ST has collaborated with the likes of Kerri Chandler, Gordo, and Be No Rain whilst remixing world-renowned artists like Moby, Agoria, and Monolink, which has led to an increasingly busy tour schedule with upcoming dates in the US, UK, Ibiza, and all around Europe. Rounding out the collaboration is French-born artist Losless, who is known for pushing style boundaries within his own techno spectrum. With releases on influential labels such as Siamese, Habitat, Bedrock, and UPPERGROUND, Losless produces music that is an ever-evolving blend of energy, leading from the front in bringing avant-garde sounds and influences from Rave culture to his music. Together, this trio of artists delivers the fierce and contemporary single “Pull Out,” fusing influences from dubstep, melodic house and techno, and breakbeat. With a rebellious, youthful spirit and infectious energy flowing through the track, “Pull Out” stands tall, loud, and proud, inspiring a sense of freedom and liberation and is destined to become a dancefloor anthem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CA2inNnuIk  

Techno powerhouses HI-LO and Space 92, the #1 and #2 best-selling techno (peak time) artists on Beatport over the past year, have joined forces once again for their latest single, “PEGASUS.” This collaboration follows their previous chart-topping releases “Mercury,” “Arpeggio,” and the “GENESIS EP.” HI-LO, the techno alter ego of Dutch producer Oliver Heldens, brings his signature dark and gritty beats to the mix, while French techno maestro Space 92 enhances the track with his rhythmic textures and atmospheric layers. Oliver Heldens elevates the track with his Vocal Mix, infusing it with a sexy and sultry vibe. His delicate vocal additions contrast beautifully with the pulsating rhythms and driving beats, while maintaining the essence of the original instrumental version. “PEGASUS” continues the successful partnership between HI-LO and Space 92, which has garnered support from industry giants such as Adam Beyer, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, deadmau5, Eli Brown, Hardwell, Paul van Dyk, Steve Aoki, and Tiësto. Their previous collaboration, “Mercury,” not only topped Beatport’s Techno chart for several months but also reached the top 10 on the overall chart. “PEGASUS (How We Know) [Oliver Heldens Vocal Mix]” is now available via HILOMATIK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dhCZQ68izE    

Trance icon Armin van Buuren and techno virtuoso HI-LO join forces on one of 2024’s most exciting collaborationss. Introducing ‘Now Love Will Begin,’ the genre-bending collaboration between trance icon Armin van Buuren and techno virtuoso HI-LO. Premiered on “A State of Trance” and a standout track included in Armin van Buuren and HI-LO’s much-talked-about B2B set at A State of Trance Rotterdam,  ’Now Love Will Begin’ is a groundbreaking fusion of techno’s pulsating rhythms and trance’s euphoric melodies. The song takes listeners on an exhilarating journey through the realms of both genres, igniting dance floors and hearts alike. “HI-LO (Oliver Heldens) and I just click so well. It was apparent during our back-to-back live set at A State of Trance in Rotterdam, and many others were able to see it as well when we connected on stage again in Miami during the Ultra Music Festival. I’m so happy that this natural flow between us extends to our studio work as well. We’re both so passionate about dance music, and I’m having such a great time being producer-nerdy in the studio with him. ‘Now Love Will Begin’ is what came out of it, and I’m so excited for the world to hear what we cooked up together!,” Van Buuren says. “In the last half a year, it’s been awesome working with Armin on several collabs and preparing for our b2b sets. Probably the highlight so far was when all of that came together during our b2b at A State of Trance Rotterdam, and even though the b2b set at A State of Trance Miami didn’t happen in the end due to severe weather conditions, we still had a lot of fun preparing for that set, and in general, it’s been lovely to connect on a deeper level. Our first collab, ‘Now Love Will Begin,’ definitely captures that spirit; I think it’s a meaningful banger of a tune that crosses boundaries, uniting the worlds of techno, uplifting trance, and psy-trance. Enjoy! :),” HI-LO adds. Get ready to experience the ultimate union of techno and trance, where love and music intertwine to create pure sonic ecstasy.  

EDC Thailand marks a new chapter for the electric sky, set to dazzle in just six months. EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) is set to make its debut in Thailand, bringing its iconic festival experience to the stunning shores of Phuket. The inaugural EDC Thailand will take place on January 17, 18, and 19, 2025, at the picturesque Boat Avenue Lakefront. What began as a humble underground event in Los Angeles has grown into a global phenomenon. EDC now hosts festivals in major cities including Las Vegas, Orlando, Mexico City, Tokyo, and EDSEA, and Thailand is the latest addition to this illustrious list. Each EDC event uniquely combines top-tier electronic music, intricate light displays, massive art installations, and a profound sense of unity and love among attendees, who are affectionately known as Headliners. The announcement of EDC Thailand in early July sent waves of excitement through the EDM community. The official confirmation came via the creation of an Instagram account for the festival, with the first post stating, “Hello #EDCThailand. Hello Thailand. Stay tuned for official updates! EDCThailand.com.” Founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella had previously hinted at this new location during an interview for the EDC Las Vegas 2024 lineup announcement. He mentioned, “And then we toured around the world. I mean we’ve been to China, Thailand,” followed by a noticeable pause, realizing he had let slip this exciting news. The official dates were announced a month later, solidifying plans for the festival. “We’ve been all around the world and are excited to invite you to our next EDC chapter! Presenting #EDCThailand: Jan. 17+18+19, 2025 at Boat Avenue Lakefront, Phuket. We cannot wait to create unbelievable memories with all of YOU under the Electric Sky, Headliners!” read the post from EDC. As the countdown to January 2025 begins, fans from across the globe are eagerly making plans to attend this historic event, as reflected in the enthusiastic comments on the festival’s social media posts. The Thailand chapter promises to be a significant milestone in EDC’s storied history, offering an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Ultra Japan has announced the first phase of its lineup for the festival’s 9th edition in Tokyo. Scheduled for September 14-15, Ultra Japan will bring some of the most sought-after acts in techno and house music to Odaiba Ultra Park. This year’s festival will feature two stages – the Ultra Main Stage and the Resistance Stage – both packed with electrifying performances by renowned dance music icons. The Ultra Main Stage will host trance legend Armin Van Buuren, electronic music stars Afrojack and Alesso, as well as Steve Aoki. Additionally, ISOxo and Knock2 will join forces once again, known for their unique blend of trap and bass house. The Resistance Stage, focusing on techno, will feature top-tier artists such as Eli Brown, Richie Hawtin, and Anfisa Letyago. Fans can also look forward to performances by Massano, known for his melodic techno, Hot Since 82, and progressive house artist Miss Monique. The lineup is further bolstered by Subtronics, Brennan Heart, and Disco Lines. Ultra Music Festival, a global leader in music events, hosts festivals in approximately 20 countries, including Brazil and Australia. Japan was added to the roster in 2014 and has attracted around 100,000 attendees in past years. With this initial lineup announcement, Ultra Japan 2024 promises to deliver two days of exceptional music and an unforgettable festival experience. Passes for Ultra Japan are now available. For more information and future lineup updates, visit the official website. In the meantime, prepare for an epic celebration of dance music and check out the festival’s official recap video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqdBBYwJRWQ  

Australian breakout drum and bass producer Luude today announces the launch of his new imprint No Instruction in partnership with his long standing management company Cloak, distributed by Virgin Music. The new imprint is about creating legitimate moments for artists using the live platform and global network of the team. Luude shares “we want to throw good parties, put out records we like from people we like and we want to have a good crack at doing all those things as best and big as possible.”  To mark the debut, No Instruction presents its first release, ‘Fun In The Sun,’ by Luude & Perth based producer Harry Bee. The left field club heater has quickly become one of Luude’s most requested songs of the year, with videos of the record posted across ID pages amassing over 3 million views and generating widespread anticipation. The track perfectly encapsulates the essence of No Instruction, it’s a bit weird and made for the dancefloor. Sharing his excitement about the release and the launch of the label, Luude shares “I’m really happy to be launching this imprint with a collab featuring one of my best mates from Australia – having an outlet to do things like this is sick. We’ve got some mental records coming from some of my favourite producers,  some parties around the world, we’re doing vinyl and just going back to doing things for the club, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Cloak, the management team behind No Instruction, emphasises the label’s mission to embrace creativity and innovation, “people told us this was a stupid idea, launching a new imprint by releasing a collab with one of Luude’s mates from back home – with some pretty high-profile collaborations that could have been first. But being able to do things like this is what this label is about. The fact that it’s been one of the most requested tunes of the year for Luude is testament to the fact that buzzing records can come from anywhere.” In addition to its innovative approach to music, No Instruction will launch with a series of underground parties across the UK, Europe and Australia throughout 2024. The inaugural event, a secret pop up party at a very coveted London location, will kick off on July 31st, featuring performances by Luude, Bushbaby, Efan, Willo and Denham Audio. Australian producer Luude has firmly established himself on the global stage with back-to-back hits like ‘Down Under’ and ‘Big City Life,’ which have sold millions of copies and earned multi-platinum certifications worldwide. His achievements include an ARIA award for Best Dance Release, a nomination for the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award, “Best International Artist” at the 2022 Drum and Bass Awards, 3x BBC Radio 1 Hottest Records, and multiple platinum, gold, and silver certifications. Luude’s relentless touring and dynamic performances, including his recent sold out run with Chase & Status across Australia and New Zealand, have cemented his status as one of Australia’s most in-demand artists. Luude & Harry Bee’s new single ‘Fun In The Sun’ is out now on No Instruction. Follow No Instruction across socials for info on all upcoming shows and releases.

Roughly 100,000 people will experience Anyma’s unprecedented, six-night residency, delivering the Sphere’s first-ever electronic dance music shows. The acclaimed Italian DJ and producer will be the first electronic dance music artist to perform at the world’s largest spherical structure, the $2.3 billion Sphere. Following the announcement of a landmark New Year’s Eve headlining show, the venue added five additional events due to “incredible ongoing demand,” according to a press release. All six concerts, scheduled from December 27th to January 1st, sold out in less than 24 hours. Anyma, co-founder of the Afterlife label and touring brand, is renowned for his haunting and immersive visuals that push the boundaries of live electronic music. His residency at the Sphere will feature his signature blend of techno with innovative visual elements, utilizing the world’s largest and highest-resolution wraparound LED screen inside the giant orb. This residency marks a significant milestone for the Sphere, which has previously hosted only a few legendary rock and jam bands such as U2, Phish, Dead & Company, and The Eagles. As Anyma prepares to deliver an EDM-fueled spectacle in this iconic venue, he has promised “the best show” of his career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anyma (@anyma)

Cercle Odyssey to Offer a No-Phone Experience for Deeper Audience Connection The esteemed Parisian production company and event organizer, Cercle, is set to unveil an innovative concert series under the title “Cercle Odyssey.” Imagine entering a vast concert arena where you are encircled by enormous screens. These screens, towering up to 40 feet high and stretching as far as 180 feet, envelop the audience with high-definition visuals that harmonize seamlessly with the music. This setup is designed to make attendees feel as though they are part of the performance, rather than mere spectators. To enhance audience engagement and foster genuine connections, Cercle Odyssey will implement a strict no-phone policy. This decision aligns with a growing movement within the electronic dance music community, where many prominent artists and organizations are advocating for increased presence and interaction during live events. Scheduled to debut in 2025, Cercle Odyssey aims to bring its unique, immersive experience to dance music enthusiasts worldwide. According to Billboard, this 360° spectacle promises to draw fans closer to the distinctive experiences that Cercle is known for offering. “My current obsession is to create the shortest connection between the music played by the artist, the video narrative that we will present live on the screens, and the audience’s emotions,” said Derek Barbolla, Founder of Cercle. “I want to connect these three things together at the deepest level and I believe this is still underdeveloped in the entertainment industry. If, by the end of a Cercle Odyssey show, I see people on the dance floor literally moved to tears, then I will consider it a success.” For more information about Cercle Odyssey, watch the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMoaFnrCQQA