SXSW 2012

DJ/promoter Alex English is a mainstay on the New York club scene. The co-creator of Girls & Boys at Webster Hall, English (who hails from Houston, by the way) has booked everyone from Skrillex to A-Trak to Steve Aoki to play his popular night. Since he keeps such good musical company, it’s no surprise that he’s also quite the DJ, rocking dance floors with his seamless mixing skills.

The musical partnership that started between Alex Crawford and Paul Baker, AKA The Others, a number of years ago has proved to be an endlessly creative and fruitful one that has continued to herald exciting results both in the studio and in clubs. What started off as a one time collaboration between the pair brought to light a musical kinship that has been the driving force behind an impressive and substantial back catalogue of music and a hectic touring schedule that has seen them travel the world over. Fast forward to 2011 and having decided to part ways, Alex continues to take The Others forward as a solo project and has a whole host of exciting new projects in the pipeline which will emerge over the coming months.

From coast to coast and beyond, the electronic music spectrum has shifted radically to the low end, generating ribcage-rattling blasts from the underground on up. Tucked away in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder-Denver-Ft.Collins triangle is the epicenter of this low-frequency onslaught, producing some of the biggest names in the game. At the top of the heap is Aaron Holstein, a.k.a. VibeSquaD, a musical juggernaut and fearless vanguard in a flourishing scene. Circling the globe with his wholly original brand of bass exploration, VibeSquaD is reaching wider and wider audiences with his studio tracks and out-of-control live shows.

The Los Angeles-based electronic-music Don known as Kraddy has always brought the undiluted sound of the underground to new audiences. From his work as a founding member of the infamous Glitch Mob to his groundbreaking solo work, Kraddy (born Matthew Kratz) has always been known for shattering genre conventions while moving crowds everywhere from Red Rocks to L.A.’s famed Low End Theory club. From his breakthrough 2008 hit “Android Porn” to the innovative bangers comprising his latest e.p. Labyrinth (Alpha Pup), Kraddy continues to hybridize hip-hop, dubstep and dancehall with face-melting panache and rock and roll bravado. But the man himself was as surprised as anyone when the mainstream crossed over to him.

Unconcerned with a world obsessed with categorization as a means of definition, Tigran aka MiM0SA crafts music for its own sake, defying expectations with genre bending soundscapes. MiMOSA recently released his album Sanctuary on his own label, False Idol Music. The album has some incredible textures, tones and is brilliantly produced, with comparisons to Massive Attack bring made. Blessed with an abundance of talent and an ear for sonic experimentation, this fan-favorite has quickly developed a name for himself as one of the West Coast’s top exports. And the word is spreading fast. To say that MiM0SA is on the rise is to miss the mark. Rather, MiM0SA has arrived.

Singer and producer Alvin Risk's talents have earned him instant recognition amongst the dance music Illuminati. Since posting his first songs just months ago, he has already garnered support from artists like Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Nero, Designer Drugs, Chuckie and Pendulum among others.

Now placed at the forefront of electronic music, his catalog continues to grow steadily with a host of original productions and collaborations as well as remixes for artists as diverse as Matt & Kim, Ali Love, Example, Skylar Grey, and Jamaica.

When Trevor McFedries, a country kid from Iowa, realized the college he received a football scholarship to was not helping him achieve his goals, he decided to pack his bags and head to LA. A few too many nights out on the town coupled with an affinity for Lil Jon resulted in the birth of DJ SKEET SKEET and before he knew it, he was spinning all over the place from celebrity hot spots like Hyde Lounge in Hollywood and hipster hangouts like NYC's Studio B to casino mega clubs like Rain and Surrender. In 2007, SKEET teamed up with LA natives and longtime friends Shwayze and Cisco Adler to complete the "Shwayze" outfit and were quickly signed to Geffen Records. During his time with Shwayze, he became the first DJ to play the entire Vans Warped Tour.
Along with his stellar live DJ sets, SKEET SKEET stays at the forefront with remixes for acts like Katy Perry, Fergie, Broken Social Scene, John Legend, The Ting Tings, Mike Posner, Jessie & The Toy Boys, Boys Like Girls, Shop Boyz and Shwayze, plus the free mix tapes he offers through his FaceBook (www.facebook.com/djskeetskeet). Most recently, SKEET's remix of Ke$sha's "Blah Blah Blah" was featured on her I Am The Dance Commander + I Command You To Dance: The Remix Album and was the music director for her live performances. Additional highlights include a guest appearance as a contestant with longtime buddies 3Oh!3 on MTV's “Silent Library,” two nominations for Paper magazine for DJ of the Year (winner in 2008), a feature in Katy Perry's documentary on E! and was touted "LA's Best DJ" by BlackBook. Commented Charlie Amter of BlackBookmag.com (12/9/10), “…Skeet Skeet doesn’t follow trends, he sets them.” Check out the full BlackBook.com story at: http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/is-skeet-skeet-las-best-dj/23827.
Meanwhile, fans can keep up with SKEET’s favorite dumb jokes, social commentary, videos and other posts of interest on his blog www.eatskeet.com. “I basically post things I find interesting or funny on the internet. Feel free to link here and if you do so, let me know so I can return the favor,” he adds.

FELIX CARTAL / BIO:

Almost out of nowhere, Los Angeles' Dillon Francis has broken from the throng of young electronic music dj/producers. With a stream of world-class remixes and releases, Dillon has caught the attention of some of the top players in club land, including Steve Aoki, Diplo, Will.I.Am, Drop the Lime, Sinden and Tittsworth, to name some.

Scenes often move as one, driven by a core of determined, likeminded enthusiasts. Wherever the core headz are is where the movement is at. Sometimes, however, the most creative individuals sit on the edges, orbiting in their own sphere…

Skream and Benga, the creators of Dubstep, pioneered this genre of music and have been working on it over the course of the past ten years. The two have focused on their solo careers, but also have collaborated together to form the group Magnetic Man, alongside Arthur "ARTWORK" Smith.

France’s Joachim Garraud has seen the future and it has it’s roots in the past.

The popularity of bass-heavy dance music is spreading like wildfire across the world, with many producers crafting their own styles of dubstep, grime and garage. In the humble city of Pittsburgh, PA DJ/producer Kastle has cultivated his own style of bass-heavy beats with a soulful twist reminiscent of classic Chicago house.

Tom Holroyd also known as Comic Strips is an Electro House producer hailing from Pittsburgh, PA. Debuting at the young age of 18, now at the age of 19, is currently making a mark on the dance music community. Known for his distinct, edgy, and complex sound, he has the tendency to combine elements of heavy Electro House with anything from delicate chord progressions, intricate melodies, and of course, Monstrous bass lines. Taking the listener on a thrill ride filled with ambitious breakdowns and intense build-ups that ensue crushing anticipation. Such a sound has caught the eyes of blogs, labels, DJ’s and fans from LA to Hong Kong. Comic Strips tunes have been supported by the likes of Steve Aoki, Spencer & Hill, Cold Blank, Lucky Date and Far Too Loud. His first EP, “That's My Sh!!” released by Rot10 Musik received instant attention internationally; Earmilk.com claimed Comic Strips to be their “Breakout artist of the year.” Following “That's My Sh!!” artists from all over the world have sought Comic Strips out for his unique ways to remix tunes. These artists include, Vengeance, Subvader, Microprophet and many others. In a short time, Holroyd’s musical styling’s have been featured on over ten releases on Beatport in just five months. ­Recently, his Remix of Skrillex’s “Ruffneck Bass” Jumped into the Top 10 Hypem Chart in just three days after being posted by Tiltmag.com, neck & neck with the likes of Avicii, Knife Party, & Diplo.
Tom’s two latest releases received a warm response on Beatport, with “Party Zone” released by Bazooka Records, Home to Zedd, Spencer & Hill and Porter Robinson, jumping up to the number 9 spot on Beatport’s Top 100 Releases, and “Dark Movies” released by LA based DJ Duo, Cold Blanks record label, Burn The Fire Records, Both songs gracing the Top 100 Electro House single chart at the number 50 spot. Outside of Beatport, The blogosphere praised both releases even higher than his first, debut EP. It seems the second Tom drops a new tune; blogs eat it up instantaneously and give nothing but high praise. Check out what the Untz.com has to say about his latest remix of Gotye’s Somebody I used to Know “Tom does a great job at creating his own feel to the music, while still keeping a large portion of the vocals to help convey the incredible emotion the song contains. The cut kicks in the emphatic vocals immediately to snag the listeners attention from the very start. He mixes them with melodic synths and incredibly captivating snare drums, and they combine to make an emotive exciting build up. The drop displays some of Tom’s most impressive and ample wobbles of any of his cuts, and does a great job of bridging the verses together with chopped up vocals that mix up the phrase, “Now you’re just somebody that I used to know.” After the drop climaxes, we get a taste of Kimbra’s beautiful and touching vocals that add so much to this song. This remix does an incredible job at making her voice sound even more passionate by matching it with a slow synth buildup that perfectly compliments it.
Overall, this Comic Strip remix is a gem. At around 5:30 minutes long, it keeps the listener entranced with all the components of a good remix. He’s received over 2,000 plays on his Soundcloud in the first 2 days, and his fans are thoroughly satisfied”
November of 2011 marked a pivotal point in Holroyd’s career, he completed his first tour ever 10,000 miles away in Australia. The 4-show tour was successful to say the least with pulling 500+ people into packed clubs in Sydney and Perth. In the mean time, he has been popping up on some massive shows, sharing the stage with legendary names like MSTRKRFT, Rusko, Wolfgang Gartner, Pretty Lights, Excision, Designer Drugs, Bass Jackers, Le Castle Vania, Lucky Date & others. Comic Strips has been sought out quite aggressively due to his unparalleled energy & his captivating ability to interact with the crowd.
Holroyd’s deep passion & dedication for music will continue to drive him to the forefront of the Electronic Dance Music world. Expect only great things to come.

When Revolvr pulls the trigger, you feel it. Revolvr a.k.a. Touvan Sughiarto officially entered the electronic music world in 2011. Collaborating with Donald Glaude, he dropped an incendiary and infectious remix of Scooter and LaVelle's "Beats Inside My Head" that set Beatport ablaze. Spreading like wildfire, "Beats Inside My Head" peaked at #2 on the site's Electro House Chart and #16 on the Overall Chart. Meanwhile, Tiësto added the track to his podcast and the live set of his mega-successful Club Life tour, exposing the remix to thousands nightly. It was Revolvr's first bona fide hit.

A group shrouded in almost complete secrecy, The M Machine continue to reveal themselves across some of electronic music's biggest stages. After summer gigs at EDC, Electric Zoo, and Global Dance Festival and opening slots for Empire of the Sun, Miike Snow, and Pretty Lights, the San Francisco trio is inching closer to unveiling their debut album, "Metropolis". With rave support from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Benny Benassi, Skrillex, and Porter Robinson, The M Machine are proving themselves to be as captivating and original as they are mysterious.

Reid Speed has been a dancefloor destroyer for over a decade and is recognized worldwide for her skillful ability to throw down all genres of bass music in transcendental manner. She is currently most known for helming the Play Me Records and Play Me Too brands. 2011 saw her produce and co-headline the US portion of the groundbreaking Play Me Records Bass Monster Tour with FS & Cyberoptics, which was sponsored by leading EDM retailer Beatport. The tour spawned a #2 charting hit of the same name ("Bass Monster") by Reid & FS as well as their "Pussy Weed Money" Remix of "Die Famous" for Burn the Fire which also clocked in at #2. The success of the US portion of the tour has resulted in an upcoming Play Me Bass Monster Europe Tour, which will lead the brand and Speed to Europe in 2012 with Dubsidia, The Unik and Tha Trickaz. In just over 2 years, Play Me Records and Play Me Too have indisputably taken the Beatport charts by storm, with a string of #1 hits and top 10s, with nearly every release charting in the top 100. They have broken more new artists than any other label of its kind, helping to launch the careers of artists like Cyberoptics, FS, J. Rabbit, Run DMT, Twist, Figure, and Bare, to name just a few. 2010 saw Play Me Records voted Dubstep Label of the Year by Beatport and Symphonic Distribution.
Since 2001 Reid has released a consistent stream of well received mix compilations and a slew of well charting original and group productions and remixes of many genres: drum & bass, 2 step, breaks, fidget house, electro, dubstep and even moombahcore. Those who love her label, have listened to her mixes or seen her live agree, whether controlling the floor, in the studio, or behind the decks, Reid pushes the music forward every step she takes.