Balance Selections Podcast

'In deep space. Abandoned. Many crew? Negative.' That is the immortal line from the huge Space Manouevres anthem 'Stage One', an exemplary piece of production which arguably defined the late-90's and early-00's progressive house scene. John Graham played an integral part in that era, not only through the Quivver handle (check 'She Does'), but through monikers like the Space Manouevers, Skanna, Stoneproof and Tilt (from 93 - 2002). You might be even more blown away to learn about his work in Hollywood as a movie scorer: 'The Taking of Pelham 123', Twelve' and 'Shrek Forever After (2010); plus recorded music for video game trailers such as 'Transformers', The Call of Duty' series and 'Batman: Arkham City Riddler'. His credentials speak for itself, and of late a whole new generation is opening itself up to Graham's talent. Last year he became Beatport's third-highest selling progressive artist with 'Mumbo Jumbo' (it also went on to find itself in Beatport͛'s Top 10 best-selling progressive tracks at the end of that year). Released on Bedrock, it also became the label's number one selling single of 2017. His new imprint, Controlled Substance, just celebrated it's debut release with new Quivver track 'Hype', which is certainly living up to its name: 'Controlled Substance is already ranked 88th in the top progressive label on Beatport, after just one release - so it’s pretty hard to be disappointed with that.' And it's not hard to see why the label is charging to the front, 'Hype' is an impressive piece of production. With the news that Quivver will be doing the coveted closing set at the Rainbow Serpent Festival on his upcoming Australian visit, this mix should serve a the perfect primer of what to expect. This is deep, dark and driving in equal spades. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-61-quivver/ Soundcloud: @quivver_john_graham Facebook: www.facebook.com/QuivverMusic/

There can be no doubt that Third Son is a name swiftly becoming more recognisable on global dancefloors. His mixture of deep, brooding melodies and tight, techno productions are starting to find favour amongst many - and his laser-precision DJ sets are in high demand. Joseph Thomas Price comes from good stock, a musical family based in London who trained him as a musician from a young age. As a teenager he developed a taste for jazz before being seduced by rock music, before Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ really showed him the potential of electronic music. (‘That blurring of electronic and rock music was a real revelation for me at the time’) This healthy appetite for all shades of music has developed a sound which has piqued global interest, and he is already traveling the world as a full-time DJ only one year after the conception of the Third Son project. Price’s moody techno can also be found on scene labels like Noir, Einmusika and Syncopate - not to mention his own Polymath imprint. With an EP coming out on Gardens of God's label, Sodai, and Dense and Pika's Kneaded Pains imprint, it stands to reason that interest will only skyrocket more. Price will be heading to Australia to play at the Rainbow Serpent Festival alongside shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Launceston (check dates below). Ahead of his arrival the producer has taken the time to compile the 60th edition of our Balance Selections podcast series: expect deep heat from start to finish. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/third-son-balance-selections-60/ Soundcloud: @thirdsonuk Facebook: www.facebook.com/thirdson.polymath Catch Third Son on his Australian tour at one of these upcoming dates: Friday 19th January: Thick as Thieves Fridays @ Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne Saturday 20th January: The Burdekin, Sydney Thursday 25th January: Our House Resurrection, Launceston Saturday 27th January: Rainbow Serpent Festival, Victoria

Hamburg isn’t the first city you think off when you consider global hubs for nightlife, but Hamburg has turned out to be the quiet achiever. Recently named as the world's number one city for nightlife, Hamburg has well and truly situated itself as a destination for nocturnal activities. And right in the middle of that is local heroes Adana Twins (btw they aren’t real twins)… Formed in 2006, Adana Twins was forged through a platform of laid-back hip-hop alongside techno. Their 2012 Exploited Records offering, ‘Strange’ and ‘Everyday’, really showcased their wide-ranging musical upbringing (‘Strange’ was a tribute towards 60’s act The Doors) - and also opened them up to a global audience. Since then, the duo has been on a production tear, their deep take on house endearing themselves wherever they play. Of late, they have started to dabble with a more muscular techno sound, point in case the recent outdoor festival-sounding throb of ‘Uncompromising, released earlier this year on fellow Hamburg producer Solomon’s Diynamic imprint (it also spent a fair amount of time on the Beatport charts). The duo will be heading to Australia and New Zealand over the new year with dates at festivals like Beyond the Valley and Earth just outside of Melbourne, Space Ibiza in Sydney and also Rhythm and Alps in New Zealand. Other dates include the Tiny Dancer NYD event in Melbourne and Revolver Upstairs the week after. Ahead of their arrival the duo took some time to prepare a mix featuring music form acts like Rodriquez Jr, Margot, Denis Horvat, and recent Balance Selections compiler Tim Engelhardt. Prepare yourself for a double injection of deepness from Hamburg’s finest. Interview + tracklist: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-059-adana-twins/ Soundcloud: @adanatwins Facebook: www.facebook.com/adanatwins

You pay attention when industry heavyweights like Sasha and Guy J name check an artist as a potential ‘one to watch'... and Khen is definitely worthy of that. Through a consistent stream of high quality releases on labels like microCastle, Lost & Found, Sudbeat, Bedrock and Vivrant, the Tel Aviv-native has earned himself a rightful place as an equal in the the group of highly talented artists coming from his home country of Israel (Guy J, Mantzur, Shlomi Aber, Sahar Z). The fans have showed their support too, his ‘One Day of Independence’ debut LP on said Lost & Found went on to peak at number 1 on the Beatport top 100 progressive and overall releases charts. And his tour dairy is becoming increasingly busier, booking requests filtering in from all corners from the globe. There is a lot to like about this podcast, from his own productions to tracks from artists like past Balance Selections compliers Stelios Vassiloudis, BOg and Guy Mantzur, all flawlessly presented in way that should win over a lot of listeners. Interview + tracklist: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-058-khen/ Soundcloud: @khenmusic Facebook: www.facebook.com/KHENMUSIC

A techno storm is brewing in Barcelona - and its name is Shall Ocin. .. Over the last 3 years Shall Ocin has been on a roll with some huge productions, culminating in him becoming a highly valued member of Maceo Plex’s Ellum Audio stable. Not only is his productions filled with laser precision engineering, but his melodies draw inspiration from a subconscious space which only a lucky few inhabit. (Check the busy, care-free structure on ‘Tribute to Summertime’, or the almost stern-like melodic charge of 'Forgive Me’) Recently the producer made headlines with the launch of his brand new label Clash Lion, anticipation stretched to its limits due to the debut track which featured the return of Maetrik (ICYDK who that is, it’s Maceo Plex’s highly popular techno alter ego). Quite the coup... On Balance Selections 57 Shall feature 4 tracks from his label Clash Lion alongside tracks from Maetrik, Fur Coat, Isolee, Fort Romeau and more. Brace yourself for some serious dancefloor action... Interview + tracklist: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-57-shall-ocin/ Soundcloud: @paneoh Facebook: www.facebook.com/shallocin

Being in a production duo with your brother seems like it could potentially be a recipe for conflict, but for Germany’s Monkey Safari this couldn’t be further from the truth. For these two siblings there isn't time for bickering, their name an easy clue into their sunny disposition. Even their bio states that ‘their mandate remains the same, sending sunny vibes to make even the darkest dance floors smile.’ And that they do with ease… They can’t be locked down into one sound either, their discography feature a wide variety of labels from Minus to Bedrock to Solar Distance. (And don’t forget their own imprint Homage who recently signed tracks from Blond:ish and John Tejada). On the collaboration front they can count studio sessions with the likes of Moby, Guy Gerber, Josh Wink and more, the demand by artists to collaborate with them getting stronger by the day. And for good reason too, they currently seem to have the midas touch (their recent release ‘Oxy’, featured as part of John Digweed’s ‘Bedrock Frequencies’ compilation, reached #2 in Beatport’s Progressive House chart.) They also have a brand new album 'Odyssee' which just got released on their Hommage label after a consuming production effort: ’It was a very long process for us, hence the title.’ Monkey Safari will be heading to Australia late in November for a weekend’s worth of dates which includes Strawberry Fields festival (check last week’s Balance Selections with Tim Engelhardt for another Strawberry Fields featured act): ‘We’re playing Ricardo's in Sydney on Friday, Strawberry Fields Festival and XE54 in Melbourne on Saturday, and a secret garden party in Perth on Sunday.’ And just in time they have delivered a fresh Balance Selections mix. Forget about what you think you know of Monkey Safari, with tracks from Ben Klock, Recondite, Tale of Us and more, they once again prove with this mix that they are brilliantly illusive to pin down. Interview + tracklist: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-056-monkey-safari/ Soundcloud: @monkeysafari Facebook: www.facebook.com/monkeysafari

There is no doubt that Tim Engelhardt is considered one of the scene's most talented up-and-coming electronic music stars. If you need proof just have a look at his discography: He released his first track at the age of 14, and since then he has gone on to release over 20 singles and EPs before the age of 20 (he is currently 19 years of age). It was the music of fellow Cologne resident Robert Babicz which inspired Tim’s journey into electronic music, and in a serendipitous twist of fate the revered engineer also took Tim under his wing, further inspiring Engelhardt to continue producing. All of his productions have a big emphasis on melody, and it’s this unique melodic sense he possess which has seen labels like Innervisions, Poker Flat, Traum Schallplatten and Babiczstyle all sign Tim Engelhardt tracks. This Balance Selections mix drops just in time for his upcoming Australian tour which includes a highly anticipated slot at Strawberry Fields festival alongside acts like Sebastian Mullaert, Andrew Weatherall, Daniel Avery, Monkey Safari, Frankey & Sandrino.... you get the idea, it's a big lineup. And you won't be disappointed with this effort, it's filled with glorious Tim Engelhardt originals alongside cuts from artists like Trikk and Toto Chiavetta. The future of dance music sure is looking good… Interview + tracklist: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-tim-engelhardt/ Soundcloud: @timengelhardt Facebook: www.facebook.com/tim.engelhardt.artist

Finnebassen might be one of the more well known house cats to come out of his home country of Norway. He is a naturally talented musician who won’t shy away from playing live guitar on his productions, always favouring a hint of nostalgia to permeate his tracks. A regular performer in his hometown since 2008, it was only from 2012 onwards when the rest of the world sat up and noticed. Then again, how you could you not pay attention to the Norwegian’s amazing run of nu-disco and house flavoured productions. His release on Electronique Digital ‘If You Only Knew’ reached number 3 on the Beatport Nu Disco Chart, and the Noir Music-signed track 'Touching Me' reached the number one spot on Beatport’s Deep House chart. Not to mention releases on labels including The House of Disco and even major players like Warner Music. Gig-wise Romania and Belgium are all scheduled for the Finnebassen treatment later this year, alongside appearances at Berlin's Watergate, Amsterdam ADE, and a tour of Brazil in November. As the first Norwegian artist to do a Balance Selections podcast, Finnebassen does not disappoint. And with tracks from Minilogue, Red Axes and Trikk, this mix will soothe many ears. Interview + tracklist: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-054-finnebassen/ Soundcloud: @finnebassen Facebook: www.facebook.com/finnebassen

Canada’s John Acquaviva is one of those behind-the-scene players whose influence spread far and wide. He is a businessman, artist and punter in equal spades, and have dedicated 4 decades to the global dance music industry. As a co-founder of Beatport and Final Scratch, he has helped sculpt the dance music transition from analogue to digital, and from vinyl to CDJs and laptops. (’I think of it as a horse and buggy age in that once you have a car, which in DJ life was both Final Scratch technology and Pioneer perfecting CDs, it’s hard to go back.) A chance meeting in 1989 with fellow Canuck Richie Hawtin, lead to the creation of one of the most pivotal techno imprints, Plus 8 Records (which released music form artist like Cybersonik, Speedy J, Kenny Larkin and Plastikman). They followed that up in 1993 with the more house and tech-flavoured Definitive Records, which, almost 25 years later is still relevant as ever. Today, Acquaviva calls himself a vinyl collector, insatiable entrepreneur, executive film producer and label owner. Yet above all, John Acquaviva is the quintessential performer at heart. His DJ career has surged forward with sets at BPM Festival, Space Ibiza, Output in Brooklyn, Bellevue in Zurich and Crobar in Buenos Aires to name a few. With tracks from Henrik Schwarz, Matthias Tanzmann, Artslaves and more, this is a deep and body-moving tech workout with one the scene’s most reliable and longest-serving pioneers. Interview + tracklist: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-53-john-acquaviva/ Soundcloud: @jacq Facebook: www.facebook.com/JohnAcquavivaOfficial/

Oliver Huntemann... Need we say more? One of the true pioneers, you can trace his roots all the way back to the early 90's as a early member of Humate, work your way through his many accomplishments and end up at today where he is still as relevant as ever. Not only has he added his expert touch to some of the globe's biggest acts (from Underworld, to Chemical Brothers to Depeche Mode), but his label Ideal Audio has been releasing deadset quality since 2008 (and that includes his album H-3). The German is also extremely sough-after as a collaborator, and his co-productions with Dubfire in particular, resulted in some of that year's biggest dancefloor bombs. Of late, Huntemann is constantly releasing quality through his label Senso Sounds, which has grown exponentially in popularity. And as the legend tells us, there are plenty more to come: 'The priority for this year is set on the release of my new album 'Propaganda‘, coming out on Friday 13th of October. The singles 'Poltergeist‘ and 'Rotlicht‘ are already rotating very well and ’m very excited to have the whole story soon available for everyone. Beside this I have just signed great new singles to Senso Sounds from my buddy Hatzler, Brasilian DJ Alex Stein, German producer Carlo Ruetz and some cool tracks from various artists for the succesful Senso Sounds Level Series.' Currently on tour in Australia, we count ourselves lucky that Oliver has found the time to craft a podcast which throbs and pulsates in all the right places. With tracks from Andre Winter, Tale of Us and of course, Oliver himself, this is the sound of a true techno craftsman. Interview + tracklist: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-052-oliver-huntemann/ Soundcloud: @oliver-huntemann Facebook: www.facebook.com/OliverHuntemannOFC

For over a decade now Christian Smith has been at the top of his game, and as one of the world’s leading exponents of techno, he has made his mark as a DJ, producer and label boss. Born in Stockholm, he had his formative years in Frankfurt, after which he spent some time in the USA before moving to Sao Paulo. Currently residing in Palma, Mallorca, you can say that his love for music is on par with his passion for experiencing different cultures, a lust for life which translate into his music and the success of his label, Tronic. Since 1997 Tronic has been the go-to label for serious techno action, releasing tracks from the likes of Chus & Ceballos, ANNA, Paco Osuna, Loco & Jam, Kaiserdisco, Enrico Sangiuliano, Nick Curly and more. It recently celebrated it’s 200th release too, an impressive feat indeed, and is currently the number two best-selling techno label on Beatport. Tronic will also house his upcoming album which is slated for a release in October, a project which will feature collaborations with Victor Ruiz, Harry Romero, 2pole, Wehbba, Drunken Kong, and John Selway: ‘I am very pleased with the outcome of this project. Its mostly club tracks, but they all fit together nicely’. An enticing prospect. Considering that majority of Christian’s online mixes are live recordings, we could’t be more happy to finally tease the label boss to create a special studio mix - and he shares the sentiment: ‘It’s very rare that I actually do mixes at home. I tend to use live recordings only, so this was a special one for me.’ On his Balance podcast you will get to hear some of the unreleased collaborations from the upcoming album, alongside another side to the producer: ‘I prepared a mix that’s still very much me, but also slightly more musical techno.’ interview + Tracklist: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-051-christian-smith/ Soundcloud: @christiansmith Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialchristiansmith

In 2002 the fourth instalment of the Balance Series was mixed by Melbourne favourite Phil K, its combination of the then in-vogue tribal house and nu-breaks regarded by many as one of the highlights in the series. Not long after he was tapped by DJ Mag to be a part of their DJ World Series campaign, and he compiled an 11-track cover mount CD which showcased Australian breakbeat producers. Depending on who you converse with, this mix is considered one the best breaks mixes ever compiled (and in this writer’s opinion it is a very valid argument). Phil is also part of production duo Lo-step (alongside Luke Chable) who in 2007 released their criminally underrated debut LP Because We Can on Global Underground. More famously, their music found heavy support from Sasha who signed ‘Burma‘ for his classic Involver mix. (On that note too, Phil has teased us with the promise of new Lo-step music: “Before the end of the year a couple of new Lo-step remixes which I can’t talk about yet…” ) But when it comes to technique he has few rivals, and this is one of many reasons Phil K is considered one of the best in the world. In his hometown of Melbourne (and for those in the know around the world), Phil is revered as the DJ’s DJ, a technician who’s curiosity and love for new technology is only upstaged by his ability to tame each new item and employ it into his sets as if it’s been around for years. Even Pioneer has acknowledged his innate understanding of technology, and they approached him to help with the development of a prototype for the DVJ-X1 (the first visual and audio live mixer). What we are getting at is that Phil K is a deadset legend and there aren’t many on this planet that can claim the skills or natural talent that he possess. Needless to say, we are ecstatic to finally have Phil compile us a mix, and in light of our mini-milestone of 50 podcasts, just in time too: He is an artist who has played such a vital part in the Balance narrative. With this mix he has delivered a engaging 2 hour extravaganza which in true Phil K style traverse breaks, house, techno, and whatever else. Featuring a mouth-watering selection of forward-thinking artists including Objekt, Pangaea, Kowton plus tracks from Phil’s new production alias Digital Stars… This is something else... interveiw + Tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-phil-k Soundcloud: @peaking Facebook: www.facebook.com/djphilk

A chance meeting between two airplane passengers turn into one of the most enduring techno/house production duos of our time... What would the odds on that be? Well, apparently not that bad, as that is exactly what happened between Dan Duncan and Igor Tchkotoua when, unbeknown to each other, they booked the same flight in '99. That chance meeting set a series of events in motion which has turned them into one of today's most popular techno acts. In the early 00’s their Submission Record label released bomb after Pig&Dan bomb; each release’s minimal and uniquely coloured artwork catching your attention in the record store, the music on it arresting your attention on the dancefloor. Straddling a fine line between techno, progressive, house and whatever else they felt inspired by, those early days set them up for a promising career which payed dividends: Labels like Yoshitoshi, Cocoon and Herzblut all came knocking and the gig invites started to flow in. Today Pig&Dan can easily be considered underground mainstays, and their increasingly tougher techno sound has become a firm favourite with audiences globally. Their label, Elevate, has been responsible for some heavy Beatport chart toppers; just check their latest production ‘Obsession’ which is currently doing serious dancefloor damage. Adam Beyer’s popular Drumcode imprint have also been releasing Pig&Dan productions of late, and as Dan Duncan informs us : 'Next in line is 'La Bruja' which is our newest track about to drop on Drumcode's new A -Sides compilation this August.’ No doubt that will be another bullseye... Ahead of Pig&Dan's Australian tour (Dan Duncan will be flying the flag solo this time around), the duo have delivered a mix with the tough-as nails beats reigned in just a touch: 'In this mix we wanted to project a bit smoother and more melodic side to our sound. Something that's not so peak time and spread our musical wings just to show our versatility.’ Featuring brand new collaborations alongside H.O.S.H. and Monika Kruse, this mix is 100% proof of why Pig&Dan is in such high demand... Soundcloud: @pig-and-dan Facebook: www.facebook.com/piganddan Interview + tracklisting: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-049-pigdan

If you are a dedicated electronic music fan, there really is no need to give you too much of an introduction into the world of 16 Bit Lolitas. For those that are uninitiated, welcome to a whole new world. The Dutch duo of Ariaan Olieroock and Peter Kriek have been around since the early 00's, releasing the sort of productions which always reserved space in many revered DJ bags. They received worldwide recognition with tracks like ‘Murder Weapon’, ‘Nobody Seems To Care’, ‘Sedna’ and remixes for the likes of Sander Kleinenberg and Armin van Buuren. Where many early-00's prog producers faded away, 16BL endured its heyday to stay as relevant today as they were a decade ago. Lately, the 16 Bit Lolitas have been focusing some of that energy into their side project, Cubicolor; a project with Tim Digby-Bell which of late has been gaining some serious momentum, even seeing them receive some attention outside of the club scene (they 'are currently working hard on the new Cubicolor album'). For their Balance excursion the Dutch boys have kept to form with a beautifully crafted selection of tracks and remixes from artists like Patrice Baumel, Trikk, Audiofly, Adriatique and more. And needless to say, 16BL have delivered a masterful mix. Soundcloud: @16bitlolitas Facebook: www.facebook.com/16bitlolitas Interview + tracklisting: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-048-16-bit-lolitas/

Back in 2009 when UNER made his debut on Diynamic Records, the 'Raw Sweat' EP alongside Coyu, you would have been hard pressed to bet against the Spaniard becoming a global player. And as expected, he lived up to his potential, going on to become a recipient of Vicious Awards' Best Newcomer and Artist of the Year categories (Vicious Magazine is a Spanish dance music publication), while sponsorship deals with top brands like Native Instruments, Burn and Adidas showed just how marketable he became. But is the music any good? It sure is, and if you need proof, just go and have a listen to any one of his productions on labels like Visionquest, Cocoon, Cadenza and Cécille. And for a comprehensive understanding of what UNER is about, buy his 2014 debut LP release '432' (released on Diynamic), it really showcased his love for house, techno, melodies and vocal harmonies. The Spainard also play an important role in various party brands around the world, including Ants at Ushuaia, Ibiza (he is the resident), Carl Cox's The Revolution, Berlin’s Watergate, festivals like Sonar, and regular visits to the Americas: "The USA is a place where I have been going to a few times a year, and I am headed to San Francisco and Los Angeles at the end of July." For this Balance Selections mix UNER has called upon melodies brushed with percussion for inspiration. And he has put in some extra effort into creating this too: 'I started out with a normal mix but then playing and adding LIVE parts over the tracks as percussions, melodies and atmospheric sounds. So you could say that I almost did my own rework of every track on this podcast.' With a tracklist which feature acts like Eagles & Butterflies, Third Son and Fort Romeau, this should resonate with many Balance listeners. Interview and Tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-047-uner/ Soundcloud: @uner Facebook: www.facebook.com/unermusic

Romanian native BOg resides in Paris, where he is known for layering electronic beats to atmospheric, optimistic rhythms. His ability to weave together twinkling tapestries of scattered beats almost feels futuristic. The big break for the Romanian came in 2014 after he met John Digweed through the annual DJ competition, Burn Residency, all leading to BOg being signed to Bedrock Records. As one can expect, hanging out with a legend like Digweed has led to BOg progressing his skills swiftly, and word about the producer's forward-thinking productions are starting to get new fans by the day. And after his recent Innervisions-released collaboration alongside Tim Engelhardt, 'No More Words', you can expect his profile to flourish even more. The 46th edition of Balance Selections is a soulful journey across eleven tracks featuring artists like Doctor Dru, Andhim and André Hommen alongside a number of unreleased BOg tracks. With plenty of highs, BOg has shown with this mix that he is a talent to keep tabs on... Soundcloud: @bogmusicoff Facebook: www.facebook.com/bogmusic Interview + tracklisting: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-046-bog/

Over the last 10 years Stelios Vassiloudis has released music under various monikers and aliases for labels such as Bedrock, Poker Flat and Audiomatique. Not only has he received support form high profile labels, but some of his most vocal supporters over the years have been luminaries such as Sasha, Josh Wink, Laurent Garnier and Steve Bug. A notable achievement in recent years for Vassiloudis was the release of his debut album on John Digweed's esteemed Bedrock imprint. Released to critical acclaim in late 2011, 'It Is What It Is' spanned across 2 discs of original compositions, and set the global stage for Stelios as an artist with a very unique production style. On his mix for Balance, the Greek producer has opted for a very upfront selection of tracks from artists such as Dauwd, Recondite, dubspeeka and more. No doubt this one will have you coming back for more… For more info: www.balancemusic.com.au

For podcast number 44, Mantzur has stayed true to form with another blinder of a mix which showcase his attention to detail: 'I'm taking my mixes and everything else I do really seriously, putting lots of effort into finding the right music that can complete the journey and express who I am and how I feel at the moment'. Featuring tracks from Dee Montero, Adam Port, and of course Mantzur himself, this is a masterclass from one of the game's top players. For more info: www.balancemusic.com.au

In 2012 Michael Dodman AKA Huxley solidified himself on the global scene through his breakthrough single ‘Let It Go’. The Hypercolour released track went on to become one of that year’s biggest singles, even Resident Advisor gave it their seal of approval with a 4/5 review and a ‘RA Recommends’ stamp. The track’s use of minimal elements for maximum results really showcased his impressive grasp on electronic music, and since then Dodman has become one of the scene’s most booked DJs and producers with further releases on Aus, 20/20, Defected, Rinse and more. It is easy to see why he is so popular as his DJ sets can traverse through the whole spectrum of electronic music, keeping it interesting but never straying too far from the right side of groove. Be it musically or philosophically (his Huxley pseudonym is inspired by famous philosopher Aldous Huxley), Dodman is a real explorer who is always moving forward, and of late he has adopted an harder edged sound. His Balance Selections mix is a perfect snapshot of what the Englishman is all about today. It connects the dots through various dance floor moods that keeps it interesting throughout for a satisfying listen. Soundcloud: @huxley_uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/huxleyofficial Interview + tracklisting: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-043-michael-dodman/

Ramon Tapia is an artist who goes about doing what he loves in a very unassuming way. With career that stretches back to the early 00′s, Tapia is an experienced servant of the global scene and a highly important cog in the local Dutch and Belgium scenes. Whether you are after a rolling techno set or an ice-breaker house set, Ramon Tapia is your man. The Dutchman’s booking schedule is prove of how popular he his with performances in the past week alone including countries like Egypt, Dubai, Beirut and Switzerland. One look at his discography reveals a producer who is very busy, and with over 130 remixes to his name, a producer who is very much in-demand. He has released a diverse selection of tracks on an equally diverse selection of labels stretching from Bedrock to Suara to house mainstay Strictly Rhythm and more. (In 2010 he also mixed a compilation for the New York-based Strictly Rhythm). Of late, his Say What? imprint has been a dependable vehicle for his own productions, his latest being a collaboration EP with Rik Watts. Balance Selections 42 is filled with main room igniters from artists like Steve Lawler, Jesse Perez, Sean Collier and Daniel Steinberg. Also included are two unreleased tracks from the man himself scheduled to drop later this year, plus music from new artists to look out for: ‘One artist who you should watch out for is Gallya, she really makes cool dark stuff and is featuring a lot in my record collection right now.’ No doubt you will enjoy this one… Soundcloud: @ramon-tapia Facebook: www.facebook.com/ramontapiaofficial Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-042-ramon-tapia/

They don’t come more experienced in dance music than Omid Nourizadeh aka Omid 16B. For the last 20 years the Londoner has done it all: manage record labels; releasing on pivotal imprints; performing all over the world, and even compiling mix CD compilations. Back in the early 00’s you would’ve been hard pressed to find a DJ tracklist which didn’t feature a 16B remix or track. Surely, one of the more memorable moments of the whole Global Underground series has to be on CD1 of John Digweed’s Los Angeles outing: Madam’s frenetic ‘Penetration' (Madam vs. Bipath) mixing into 16B’s blissed-out remix of Electric Tease’s ‘Your Lovin’. His productions and remixes on prog house imprints like Hooj Choons, Yoshitoshi and Bedrock included the euphoric 'Driving To Heaven’ and the provocative beats of 'True (The Faggot Is You)’. His outing with Desyn Masiello and Demi as dance trio SOS lead to a mix compilation for Balance, for many a definite highlight of the whole series. Yes, the term legend can get watered down in today’s climate of click bait headlines, but in this case it is extremely justified. For this podcast Omid have opted to go with what he knows best, creating a journey through sound: 'My aim was to find a balance between what makes one move and shake through to being able to lay back and have a musical experience with a story!’ What a treat. Soundcloud: @sexonwax Facebook: www.facebook.com/omid16b Interview and tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-041-omid-16b/

Part of the highly regarded Kompakt family, Blond:ish have carved out their own niche thanks to their original sound and fun-loving approach to life. Better known to their parents as Anstascia D'elene and Vivie Ann Bakos, their productions have found home on labels which include Get Physical, Leftroom and Noir, and they have become a staple on the international club and festival circuit. Learning their trade at Cherry Nightclub in their then home town of Montreal (where they promoted and DJ-ed at their mid-week event called Blond:ish), it was a move to London which lead to a chance meeting with the Kompakt crew through a mutual friend. A series of releases later, in particular 'Endless Games' resonating far and wide, and the Canadians are now card holding members to one of the world's most prestigious imprints. You would be hard pressed to find a better 2015 LP debut release than their 'Welcome to the Present', an introspective musical journey into back-to-nature mysticism and spiritual groove. The release featured a host of shamanic and organic-sounding instruments, and, with its nod to philosopher Alan Watts, strongly alluded towards their holistic approach to life (and music). With our 40th podcast next up, the stars have finally aligned for the duo to deliver us a mix that was put together during some time off. ('We made it in Bali in between our yoga, meditation and spa days lol'). It even includes a fresh new production (the first track in the mix), spawned from a very recent recording session they had: 'We made it in a couple hours and just jammed along the groove track'. Featuring music from Ricardo Villalobos, Tuff City Kids, Dorisburg and more, this mix, as Blond:ish puts it, was made for times 'when you wanna get in the groooooove.' And they have absolutely nailed it.... Interview + tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-040-blondish/ Soundcloud: @blondish Facebook: www.facebook.com/blondish

Looking back at 2016, Jeremy Olander could make a case that it was his biggest year so far... He launched his new label Vivrant which saw 4 out of the first 5 releases make it to number one on Beatport, and he also took the brand on a label tour across 5 continents which included a sold out hometown gig to 1200 people alongside Henry Saiz, Finnebassen and Charlie Don’t Surf. His Talespin EP on Suara made it to number one on Beatport's Top 100 Releases chart, and the B-side, ‘Panorama’, sat at number one on the Progressive chart for impressive 35 days straight. On the remix front, Olander notably reworked ‘LETTERS’, the Sailor & I and Eekkoo collaboration released on Big Beat/Atlantic - a remix which is quickly approaching 1 million streams on Spotify. 2017 is well set to be even better: The ‘Damon’ EP is out now on his own imprint (the first release from Olander this year); upcoming is an collaboration EP with past Balance Selections compiler Cristoph, and a non-stop tour schedule is ensuring the Vivrant label owner is taking his sound globally. For this podcast the Swede has delivered a mix which feature an exciting amount of new Jeremy Olander productions: 'I’ve included a lot of unheard stuff to make it stand out and show people what I’ve been working on lately.’ Olander told us, 'Most of these I haven't played at any shows so I'm excited to try and gauge what people might like by the reactions’. And we can only think the reactions will be positive. Jeremy Olander has gone above and beyond to deliver something special. Interview & tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-039-jeremy-olander/ Soundcloud: @jeremyolander Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeremyolander

In 2015 Emanuel Satie carved a name for himself through a series of dancefloor bombs released on imprints like DTFD, Get Physical and Audiojack’s Gruuv. This good run of releases culminated in him being included in Resident Advisor’s 'Top Charted Tracks of 2015' (that would be the track 'Private Show’ on Get Physical, a track which Pete Tong championed as having 'probably my favourite bassline of 2015’). But Satie were only warming up, and 2016 saw him produce an even more consistent string of successful tracks. His rework of Late Nite Tuff Guy’s remix of DJ Le Roi & Roland Clark’s 'I Get Deep' hit number 1 on the overall Beatport charts and held strong in the top 5 for 6 weeks. Then there is his his debut single on Nic Fancuilli’s Saved Records, 'Come As You Are’, which got a fair rinsing across the scene’s biggest dancefloors. And the transformation from aspiring to full time global player was complete when Mixmag touted him as 'one to watch' 'in their 'Hot 6' feature. For the next Balance Selections podcast the Berlin-based DJ has crafted an immersive tech-house workout which rolls and rumbles in all the right spots. 'I wanted to build a journey out of old and new, but timeless tunes', Satie explains, and with tracks from acts like Reboot, Radio Slave, Photek and even Human League included in the mix, we think that he has achieved that quite expertly... Interview + tracklisting: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-038-emanuel-satie-2/ Soundcloud: @emanuel-satie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emanuel.satie

Enrico Sangiuliano experienced the sort of rise that will serve as inspiration for many a bedroom producer out there. Well known in his native Italy as a class DJ, Sangiuliano played his local circuit for 10 years before the world took notice. After building on his production skills and developing his own sound, the Italian began getting signed to some of the world's top techno labels including Truesoul, Herzblut and Gem Records, but it wasn’t until 2015 that he gained traction on an international scale. His breakthrough track, a remix of DJ Boris’ 'Can You Hear Me', sat at #1 on Beatport’s techno chart for a staggering 14 weeks. Backing it up time and time again, the techno mastermind has almost spent more time in the charts than he has out of them. In 2015 Enrico sat at #8 for the world's best selling techno artist, a feat he then bettered in 2016 when he claimed the #1 spot. More recently he was asked to remix the Moby classic 'Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad', and in typical Sangiuliano-style, he delivered an absolute belter. Fast forward to today, and after taking a four-month break from production, Enrico has recently returned back to the studio. Ahead of his upcoming Australian tour, he’s told Balance that there is plenty of new music on it’s way, some of which can be found in this Balance Selections podcast. The mix is an hour slice from a set earlier in March at the huge Rotterdam Rave in Massilo, Rotterdam (where he shared the bill with acts like Alan Fitzpatrick, Dave Clarke, Joris Voorn and more). Be ready. This one goes off like a bomb from the get go…. Interview & tracklisting: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-enrico-sangiuliano/ Soundcloud: @enrico-sangiuliano Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enricosangiuliano/

Just Be aka Bushwacka aka Matthew Benjamin’s story arose from deep within the UK’s underground warehouse and illegal rave scene. Beginning in the 80s and 90s, he found it a space where he had unparalleled creative freedom to explore and develop as an artist. Just Be’s past has now seeped into the present, and as the years have gone by, we’ve seen him push boundaries of house, breakbeat, techno, downtempo and ambience alike. A collection of styles that have since lead him down a path to become the highly sort-after DJ/producer that he is today. Officially, Just Be’s career kicked off with a 14-year residency in London’s legendary The End, the abandoned train tunnel turned nightclub was a leg up in the dance world and propelled him into the international circuit. Since then, his time as a touring artist has seen him headline some of the worlds leading clubs such as Cocoon, DC10 and the now defunct Space in Ibiza. Clubs aside, Just Be is also no stranger to festival life. He’s featured on the dusty plains of the Black Rock Dessert for a sunrise set at Burning Man’s Robot Heart stage, The BPM Festival and many more. Fast forward to the present and Just Be now has 6 artist albums with another one on its way, 120 remixes and 160 tracks. To top it off he also has another EP soon to be released on Get Physical Music. In compiling this bumping house mix for Balance Selections, Just Be waited until the last minute so he could pick his favourite and most recent tracks from his collection, a mix where he’s managed to squeeze 18 tracks into his one-hour set. When asked about his podcast he told Balance ‘I haven’t actually put my own music on this mix. I meant to, but there is so much good music I had to pass on, and I just went with what felt right’ – and as usual, his feeling was spot on. Interview and tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-034-just-be/

Back in 2001 we can remember buying a Mixmag featuring a free covermount CD mixed by Timo Maas. The opening track on that mix was Ashtrax’s ‘Helsinki’, a gloriously lush electronica track which was uplifting and cosmic in equal doses: it really encapsulated exactly what people loved about forward thinking dance music. Forward to now, and Ashley Casselle (formerly one half of Ashtrax) is always making the sort of music which can make you dance and think at the same time. His recent output shines with a nod to the grand masters of Chicago House Music mixed with an ambience and atmosphere uniquely his own. This Summer a new track emerged and was introduced to the world on John Digweed's Transitions Show, 'Dayrise Stardust', featuring the voice of Nat King Cole, is perhaps a defining moment on this mix. Andrew Weatherall, Guido Schneider & Darius Syrosian have adorned their own podcasts, club sets and radio mixes with his new tracks, many of of which will see a release on the new Dayrise Enterprise label he's set up now. Casselle (as he's often known now) is a real veteran of the scene, and since the Noughties the producer/DJ has played at the world's most prestigious venues including Space in Ibiza, Giant in LA and Womb in Japan; toured the USA and Russia extensively; played on stellar lineups at the world's best events; had his own room at Bedrock, played at premium UK Summer events such as The Social Festival in Kent and made it into the ever controversial DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ poll. He's even had his photograph in the National Portrait Gallery as part of a 'DJ coffee table book’. With this mix, the English selector has gone above and beyond to deliver one of the more intrinsic Balance Selections' journeys to date. With the help of a vocalist (the ever inquisitive Barbarella) drafted in especially for this mix, Casselle has managed to draw upon years of experience to craft something truly special. Trust us. This is first-rate.... Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/ashley-casselle-balance-selections/

With 13 years behind them as a creative partnership Anthony Middleton and Luca Saporito AKA Audiofly have accumulated unparalleled experience through their endeavours and continue to put everything into maintaining their careers at the highest level. After a chance meeting in 2002, the two men have established a creative empire, which includes two record labels, a global party brand and fashion. The first label, Supernature, serves as a platform to represent both their musical vision and their ability to discover and nurture new talent, while Maison D’Etre is evolving into a vinyl-only platform, embodying the more traditional aspects of Audiofly’s ethos, On top of that, their party, Flying Circus, remains the jewel in the crown at many of the world’s biggest music events; WMC, Sonar Week, ADE and more, with a firm emphasis on quality over quantity. They manage to create and find the sort of tracks which force you to dance and pay attention to the finer details. If there is one superlative which consistently run through Audiofly's discography, it is the word 'deep, and with tracks from Dorisburg, Doubtingthomas, Kassem Mosse and more, you can expect more depth on their Balance Selections podcast... Interview + tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-031-audiofly/

Summer 16 is shaping up nicely for Theo Kottis; with upcoming EP releases on Anjunadeep, Moda Black, and Sasha’s Last Night On Earth, plus a slew of festival dates scheduled – he is certainly living up to the hype, created by none other than Pete Tong. Coming from humble beginnings, he has learnt his craft amongst legends at renowned venues, including as a resident at Glasgow’s Sub Club. For Balance Selections 30 we are very pleased to welcome the Scotsman on board for a deep excursion into house and more... Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-theo-kottis/

At the start of 2015 Innervisions released a new EP from Rancido, a relatively unknown producer who, up to that stage, only had a handful of releases to his name. 'The Journey' EP featured 4 beautifully crafted tracks, showcasing Rancido's penchant for longing melodies and soft beats. It's these soft rhythms that demand the most attention; listen closely, tucked away between the grooves you'll notice the gentle pulse of Africa-influenced percussive flair. Taking inspiration not just from the mother continent, the Rotterdam-based producer's first release was a track called 'Salsa Sundae', more evidence that the producer favours interesting rhythms over the more standard house structures. His predilection for loose percussion were always going to attract interest from a certain sect within the industry, and, true to form, he has worked with acts and brands who favours a bit of swing in their music: Black Coffee, Louie Vega, Boddhi Satva and DJ Gregory are just some of the names he has collaborated or worked with. With such a wide ranging interest in different rhythms, and his ability to craft a 10/10 melody, it's easy to see why Rancido would be picked up by one of the most important labels going around. But don't expect this podcast to be a throwback to early African House, his mix is as contemporary as any of our past mixes: Rancido has put together a masterful journey which features as much brood as it does interesting drum patterns.... Interview and tracklist: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-029-rancido/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/rancidomusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rancidomusic/?fref=ts

In 2013 Daniel Bortz released his debut album 'Patchwork Memories', an 11-track selection of deep cuts bleeding with melancholy, black keys and nostalgia. Bortz's laser-precision production skills were in full flight here, and his ability to use very little elements to fill out each track is the work of a serious professional. The album was filled with the sort of low-slung house which could easily double up as a downtempo soundtrack to a lazy Sunday afternoon. Look into his back catalogue you will find that his debut album was no anomaly: his discography is loaded with brooding melodies and infectious rhythms. As you can expect, he follows the same route in the club where Bortz tend to favour the cuts which make you feel as much as dance. Of late, the German has been injecting a darker sound into his DJ sets which might come as a surprise to those who know him for his 'deep house', but Perlon is one of his favourite labels, and that influence is definitely starting to become more relevant in his productions. (This should come as no surprise, the back catalogue of his Pastamusik imprint is loaded with his appreciation for the microhouse/minimal techno label) On the verge of an Australian tour (dates at bottom of article), Bortz has delivered the next Balance Selections podcast. It's safe to say that you are in good hands... Interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-028-daniel-bortz/

Chris Fortier delivered one of the more interesting Balance compilations when he dropped compilation number 7 in the series. It was 3 CDs deep and filled with the sort of moody, tech-filled music which on first listen was bewildering, yet strangely alluring. It featured many artists at the early stage of their careers (Mathew Jonson and Alex Smoke come to mind), and showed that there was more to the progressive house sound which was so prevalent back then: It even received a strong 4.5/5 on Resident Advisor. Indeed, the Fade Recordings owner's keen ear for a great underground track, and his eagerness to do some decent crate digging were on full display. Then again, Chris Fortier is a true professional who have traveled the world playing at the best venues and events. He has tasted success in the club and and in the studio: Fortier’s remix of Delerium's "Silence", was the first and original remix and sold in excess of one million copies worldwide, and he has one full length album to his name, "As Long As The Moment Exists”. In 2005 Chris Fortier compiled his acclaimed Balance compilation - and 11 years later we welcome back the American selector for a very smooth Balance Selections podcast... Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-027-chris-fortier/

An artist who has been going from strength to strength over the last year has been Newcastle’s Cristoph. With productions that are always epic-filled tech workouts (with a healthy nod to the past), it’s no surprise that his music is getting rinsed from a wide selection of DJs which include Hot Since 82, Leftwing & Kody and everyone in between. The considerable amount of time spent sharpening his mixing and production skills has definitely started to reap rewards, and DJ bookings have been coming in thick and fast in across the globe. 2016 has already been a massive year for the Geordie with key signings in the form of his immense ‘Genesis’ EP for Adam Beyer’s Truesoul imprint, and ‘Divvina’ with VIVa MUSiC. There really is no doubting Cristoph’s talent and technical skill, and his Balance Selection mix is filled with the sort of moments that will demand repeated plays. Interview + tracklisting: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-026-cristoph/ Cristoph FB: facebook.com/CristophMusic Cristoph soundcloud: soundcloud.com/cristophmusic

Nico Stojan calls himself a global citizen, which is a very apt description for this Berlin-native who is known for his residency at the city’s infamous Bar 25. He has a lust and curiosity for life which translates into his music and DJ sets, making it hard for any punter to not engage in his performances or music. He is part of a very unique group of DJs who can be booked for the bigger festivals alongside the smaller outdoor events too, his sound very much suited for any occasion. His recent album ‘Twisted Manners’ showed his diversity with a selection of tracks that was organic and warm sounding, and really showcased his studio prowess. For his Balance Selections podcast Stojan has delivered one of the series’ more deeper excursions to date – and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate podcast number 25. Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-nico-stojan/

For podcast number 24 we bring it down a notch to bring you the slo-mo groove of the underground. 40 Thieves is a San Francisco based dance music collective consisting of Corey Black, Layne Fox and Jay WIlliams (aka Jaswho?) who has been creating their magic since 2005. You might know know their remake of the obscure 70's disco classic by Hot Chocolate, 'Don't Turn It Off (feat. Qzen), which was named #2 in 2009's track of the year by DJHistory.com, and also landed at the top of Beatport's best of the decade in 2010. Their musical output can range from psychedelic disco and blues to proto-house, acid and beyond, but regardless of the genre, a 40 Thieves track is always embedded with enough funk, groove and sex appeal to keep the most stubborn dancefloor moving along. We were lucky enough to secure a rare mix from Layne Fox who, under his new moniker Musik Nonstop, will represent the Thieves' on his debut Mexican tour (and if you're Down Under, don't forget to catch Corey Black on his debut Australian tour later this month). Don’t play too loud: This mix will induce involuntary dancing to anyone within a mile radius of it... Tracklist and interview: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-24-musik-nonstop/

There isn’t much music on the musical spectrum which Englishman Chris Barratt aka Eagles & Butterflies doesn’t draw inspiration from, and it shows in his productions which can range from downtempo to techno. This diversity has lead to the Englishman releasing on some of the world’s most celebrated labels including Get Physical, Innervisions, Noir Music and Southern Fried. Earlier this year he also signed a couple of productions to Bedrock records which included his re-work of DK8’s classic techno banger ‘Murder was the Bass’. There is no doubt that Eagles & Butterflies are starting to confirm that he is an artist with some serious longevity, and his Balance Selections podcast is one that will sit with the listener for while, emotive without ever being too obvious. Strap yourselves in… Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/podcast/balance-selections-023-eagles-butterflies/

You could say Chymera is a veteran of the underground electronic music scene; after all, he has been producing and releasing since the early 00’s. Known for pushing a more melodic and introspective sound which always float on top of warm and inviting techno beats, it is no surprise that the Irishman have had productions featured on past Balance compilations (2008’s epic 3 disc effort from SOS, and Funk D’Void’s 2012 release), alongside other mix series’ like Global Underground and Renaissance. The producer have a knack for earworm melodies which have found him favour with some of the more discerning techno labels including Delsin, Ovum, Figure, Outpost, and even Papa Sven’s Cocoon Recordings. A regular on the European circuit, the Berlin-based producer has this year alone featured in clubs like Tresor and Watergate alongside festival appearances. We are very excited to finally release his Balance selections podcast: A 60 minute deep techno excursion which is hypnotic and full of depth... Interview and tracklisting here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/balance-news/balance-selections-022-chymera/

‘Rumour has it that while Clarian was institutionalized at a human testing facility in the North Coast, he began song-writing as an occupational therapy to reconstruct visions of unknown origin.’ When an artist’s bio starts like that you know you are dealing with someone who is not operating on the same frequency as the rest of the pack. And in Clarian North’s case, he is so far left from centre he is pretty much off the chart. The Canadian has been moving and shaking at his own pace over the last 3 years or so, producing the sort of music that is uniquely his own but fresh at the same time. He first came to the attention through his Footprintz moniker (alongside Addy Weitzman) which resulted in multiple singles and one full length release on Visionquest Records. Since then Clarian has gone on to carve out a career as a solo producer with releases on labels like Life and Death, My Favorite Robot, Supplement Facts, Turbo, Natura Sonoris and many more. Last year’s ‘Mission To Bars’ release on Kompakt showcased his flair for aural drama, especially the epic ‘Space Noir’, and we can only imagine what else he will bring to the table in the future. His Balance Selections podcast is a suitably smooth leftfield/chill out/whatever mix which should soundtrack many an after party.... This one is pretty special. Interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-021-clarian/

We are going to Switzerland (by way of Argentina) for our next podcast to welcome techno artist Barem into the Balance Selections family. Best known for his releases on Richie Hawtin’s M_nus label, the producer has really made a name for himself with his warm, stripped back techno and house productions, a style which he feels encapsulates a feeling more so than an actual genre: “Minimal is not really a sound… it’s just a way of making music. It represents good taste, stylish sounds, the underground, after hours… Whatever native roots you have, whatever music you like or liked in the past, it all fits in there and it’s not dying in my opinion. It’s just arrived at the point where we’ve rediscovered how free and amazing the concept and the reasons behind it are.’’ But as with all good artists, career growth and change is essential to the soul, and last year the producer announced his departure from the M_nus crew to pursue new projects. And he did just that with the announcement of FUN Recordings, a new label co-founded by Barem which is already 2 releases deep with tracks from Barem, and fellow Argentinean producer and label co-founder, Alex Cabrera. Having played at some of the biggest global events cites including Detroit Music Festival, Timewarp, Miami, Ibiza and ADE, there really is no doubt that Barem is considered a major player in the global scene – and the Argentinean has delivered a suitably quality mix which should keep listeners coming back for more. Interview and tracklisting here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/barem-balance-selections/

If you ask any house/techno promoter in Australia worth their salt to put together a lineup of the country’s best credible and underground DJ’s, you can bet on it that Melbourne’s Mike Callander will top that list. He is the man for any occasion, be it warming up for an international, taking the event home with a closing set, or even headlining the event, Callander is always technically proficient, never missing a beat. Cutting his teeth as a resident at the world famous, but now defunct, Honkytonks, he now resides at Australia’s most infamous haunt Revolver, alongside regular guest bookings all over Melbourne, Sydney and beyond. But it’s not just Australia where Callander has made a career; he is regularly invited internationally to play at global clubs such Rex Club in Paris and Berlin’s Watergate. (Get Physical’s DJ T personally invited him to play in Berlin for DJ T’s 20 years of DJing anniversary event.) On the production front Mike is known in Australia as an well-respected producer who has had solo releases signed to compilations mixed by David Seaman and Phil K, one full length album under his belt (‘Antarctica’), and he also co-runs and founded the highly esteemed Haul Music label. Recently he released the first remix under his new Zero Percent banner (a project alongside The Presets’ Kim Moyes) for indie act The Jezebels (the remix can also be found on this podcast). And to top it all off he also co-runs the School of Synthesis production school alongside international production veteran and legend, Davide Carbone. We can go on and on as Mike Callander really is that decorated, but in the end it’s all about the music so sit back and press play. We can’t be more excited to have one of Australia’s best (if not the best in our opinion) as our next guest… Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/podcast/balance-selections-019-mike-callander/

Back in 2006 one of the more popular Balance editions hit your local music store: Balance 009 mixed by Paolo Mojo. Spread over 2CDs, the release went on to receive critical acclaim and went on to become a fan favorite. In the time after his Balance release, Paolo Mojo has achieved many accolades, including 2 Essential mixes for BBC1, and travelling the world playing at pretty much every popular club the global scene has to offer. He is a former recipient of Pete Tong’s ‘Top Tunes of the Summer’ (twice), and he has been signed to a ‘who’s who’ of electronic music labels: Bedrock, Saved, NRK, Cr2, Toolroom, Renaissance, Great Stuff, Positiva, EQ Recordings, Factomania, Little Mountain, Curfew Nervous, Ego Records… the list REALLY goes on. It has been a decade since the release date of his Balance, so the time seems right to re-visit Paolo Mojo and see where he is at, not only musically, but also physically: “For lots of reasons I decided to take the plunge and move to South America, a part of the world I love and know well. I’m currently located in Bogota although I continue to tour around - particularly the Americas at the moment, but I’ll be heading back to Europe in June to see family and do some gigs. I’m lucky enough to have a residency at one of the best clubs in the world as well, Baum in Bogota, which allows me to stretch my DJ legs 2 to 3 times a month in all sorts of styles. This move was exactly what he needed to inspire him too, and it is looking like we are on the verge of receiving a whole batch of new Paolo Mojo music: “In the last two years I got a bit jaded. Things were the same, and I was doing more and more things in the studio that I wasn’t necessarily in love with. I needed to do something new and get back to what I’m all about. I finally have the space to write the new body of work I’ve been promising to do for the last 3 years, and that’s what I’m busy doing right now. And that is exactly the appeal of Paolo Mojo - never stagnating, always transforming and taking it day by day: “I don’t know where the future will take me, but I’m happy to live in the moment again.” We are very pleased to have Paolo back with a stunning podcast (which may or may not have been inspired by David Bowie), and should keep all the familiar fans happy whilst introducing him to a whole generation of Balance listeners. What a treat. Interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-018-paolo-mojo/

In his home country of Brazil they don't come much bigger than Gabe. Just one look at his social media stats will confirm an artist at the top of his game (160K FB Likes and 92K Soundcloud followers) , and his latest project, Gabe Live, has been a long anticipated shift in his career. Acquiring an enviable booty of hardware -samplers, a collection of keyboard and a small audio laboratory designed specifically for touring- Gabe has upped the ante when it comes to the live arena. In his home country of Brasil, Gabe has played at festivals like Dream Valley, XXXperience, Tribe, and clubs like Field, Warung, D-Edge, and have guested at the likes of Eclipse, Rainbow Serpent and Ageha amongst many more. His renowned Wrecked Machine project saw him experiment with his passion for psy-trance, releasing two albums under that moniker. Receiving support from the upper echelon of tastemakers including Sasha, Solomun, H.O.S.H. and John Digweed, Gabe delivers music that appeals to fans globally. Recently announced as one of the acts at Tomorrowland Brazil in April, Gabe will also be making his way to Australia for a whirlwind tour which includes a slot at the CHI WOW WAH TOWN festival near Melbourne. In the meantime, we have been lucky enough to secure a mix from Gabe for Balance Selections podcast which should ensure his reputation as one of the world's best stay in tact. Interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/gabe/

Known as one of the Netherlands's most technically proficient producers, Secret Cinema is preparing to celebrate his 25th year in the music industry this year. Responsible for classics like 'Sonar System' (as Meng Syndicate), 'Mary Go Wild' and 'Watch me Now' (as Grooveyard), 'Timeless Attitude', 'Gung Ho' and 'Shake Ur Tek-Ass' (as Secret Cinema), Jeroen Verheij is still as relevant in techno as he was in the 90s. As an integral part of the global dance community, he has dominated main stages around the world, as well as all of the other global haunts such as Womb, Pacha, Air and Sankeys. To add to this, his label Gem Records has been garnering more international recognition with every release. Today Secret Cinema is regarded as one of the mainstay's of the scene, and he will be bringing his highly respectable reputation and extensive catalogue to Australia to kick off his worldwide Silver Tour, which will include performances at Rainbow Serpent Festival and Piknic Elektronik. To coincide with his 25 year anniversary, he has released a luxury box entitled SILVER, which includes his entire discography, DVD documentary and all new remixes from the likes of Christian Smith, Heiko Laux and Joris Voorn to name a few. Celebrate one of the scene pioneers with this Balance Selections podcast which ticks all the right boxes... Interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-16-secret-cinema/

Paco Osuna is one of the most renowned artists in the industry with a career spanning over 20 years. Blazing a trail for his fellow Spanish techno artists to become a vital cog oin the Spanish electronic dance music scene, Osuna has been recognised with several of the most important local music awards: Best Artist, Best Techno DJ and Dj of the year (Vicious Music Awards, from 2011 to 2014); Best Producer and Best Remix: Plastikman-Ethnics (DJ Mag Sp 2011). Production-wise Osuna has released techno on some of the global scene’s most legendary labels including Plus 8 and Minus (check the 2014 album release ‘Long Play’ on Minus), and he is also one of the most in-demand remixers going around. We can’t be more excited to have a legend like Paco Osuna on board for our final Balance Selections podcast of 2015. Enjoy! Interview and tracklisting here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/balance-news/balance-selections-015-paco-osuna

Never one to be pigeon-holed, Jay Tripwire is an artist that effortlessly straddles the line between being a crowd-pleaser and an underground favourite. For over 2 decades now the Canadian producer/DJ has entertained and educated global crowds with his ‘signature fusion of deep Detroit textures and intricate rhythms’. He is an always an in-demand remixer with an average of 10-15 remixes per year, and in 2010 the producer was honoured by Future Music by being named alongside Frankie Knuckles, Larry Heard, Charles Webster, Atjazz, and Tom Middleton as being one of the most influential innovators in-house music. On the verge of releasing a new album, we are extremely pleased to have an underground mainstay like Jay Tripwire deliver us a 2 hour Balance Selections journey … Interview and tracklisting: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-014-jay-tripwire/

One of the more ear-catching producers to come out of Spain of late has been the Barcelona-based Dj/producer Miguel Bastida. His sound is one crafted for the underground: Deep, rolling techno that is as moody as it is groove-based. Check out his productions on labels like Sci+Tec, Toolroom, Bedrock, Trapez and Deeperfect to understand why some of the scene’s biggest hitters all approve of Bastida’s heavy dancefloor gems (Paco Osuna, Dubfire, Riche Hawtin and Umek are just some of those on the Bastida-train). He also runs the techno label Be One Records which has silently churned out some of the more interesting techno to date since its inception in 2011. For his Balance Selections podcast the Spaniard has turned in possibly our most driving podcast of the series, a selection of techno and tech-house cuts that is meant for the big rooms, all crafted together in a one-take live recording which showcases his talented CDJ skills with fx and smooth transitions... Interview and tracklist here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-013-miguel-bastida/

Over the last 5 years German Brigante has risen through the underground techno and house fraternity to become a genuine headline booking. The Spaniard (he is only German by name) is known for a impressive back catalogue of tough and moody productions which always display an air of suspense about them. Proof of Brigante's rising popularity was most evident in 2103 with a series of releases leading him into RA’s most charted artists list that year through a very respectable placing at #57 (and support form a host of big name selectors). Recent releases have seen Brigante signed to a who’s who of labels including Get Physical, Saved, Form, 100%Pure, MBF and many more, and of course, many more charting positions from the world’s biggest names. Currently in the studio working on his new album to be released on Get Physical, the talented producer has taken the time to mix our next Balance Selections podcast. And what a ride it is: Deep and engaging, but never losing sight of the dance floor. With tracks from labels like Kompakt, Noir, Visionquest and more, there will be something for everyone here. Tracklisting and interveiw here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/balance-series/balance-selections-012-german-brigante-2/

One of the more enduring house labels over the years have been Tsuba Recordings, a label incubated in the UK and celebrated world-wide. Known for pushing and releasing the more underground side of house, Tsuba has developed into a label that is pretty much played by everyone who loves a good groove, with producers like Detroit Swindle, Spencer Parker, Sebo K, Galcher Lustwerk and more, all boasting a Tsuba guernsey. Just have a listen to ‘Kung Fu Cantona’, arguably the labels biggest track (it did spend 2 months at number 2 on Beatport’s Deep House chart), to get an idea of the what Tsuba is all about - it’s smoky and hypnotic groove is hard to resist. The man behind that track, as well as the Tsuba label, Kevin Griffiths, is also next in line to deliver the next Balance Selections podcast. Over the past 8 years Kevin Griffiths have toured around the globe, and has graced the decks at the world’s most prestigious venues ranging from London’s fabric to Berlin’s Watergate. Now based in Adelaide, Australia, the Tsuba main man is showing no signs of slowing down with his productions and label, announcing projects like the vinyl-only pseudonym Midnight Special, a collaboration with ex-Peace Division main man Justin Drake, and also various Tuba releases (singles, EPs and compilations). Kevin Griffiths is truly a house disciple, and his podcast is a fine representation of all different degrees of house, from deep to tech to acid. It’s time for a session of some proper underground, head-down and hazy house vibes. Tracklisting and interview: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-011-kevin-griffiths-tsuba/

If you walked into any club worth its salt back in 2009, chances were pretty high you would encounter one of the most outrageous tracks to be released that year. Patrice Bäumel’s ‘Roar’ (on Get Physical records) was a perfect slice of techno/house/electronica madness, a track so woundly tied up that you could physically feel the anxiety rise up in your body in anticipation for what was about to happen. That release heralded a new force on the scene and can rightly be considered as Bäumel’s breakout track. Fast forward 6 years later, and the ex-Trouw resident has attained a level of maturity with his sound that few artists reach, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by major players like K7, Systematic, Diynamic, Trouw and Turbo, all of whom has released his music at some point. Part of the Kompakt stable now, Baumel has been spreading his house/techno gospel all around the world, delivering the sort of epic, yet somehow restraint sets, that will make you seek all of his online mixes afterwards. He really has been going about his business in a way that is admirable and non-fussy, describing what he does as ‘techno music for grown-ups’ – a very apt description indeed. One read of his excellent interview below really paints a picture of an artist who just LOVES music, and it really shows in the tracklisting which features a host of obscure, yet excellent selections. And we are pleased to say that his Balance podcast might just go down as a stone cold classic. Interview and tracklisting here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-patrice-baumel/

Australian DJ /producer Uone is the next guest to step up for a Balance Selections podcast. Known for his fun and energetic DJ sets, Uone has become a regular on lineups for some of the more upfront global festivals and events. With a sound that initially drew on elements from all genres of the electronic sphere, he has now found his niche in producing and playing deep, chunky and twisted tech house - and it is with this resolve that he has managed to carve out a name for himself on the international circuit. Raised in Melbourne’s Peninsula Coast, demand for Uone's sets has truly transgressed the borders of Australia with invites to play at Burning Man (Nevada), Fusion (Berlin), Glade (UK), Universo Paraleo (BR), Boom (Portugal), Ozora (HU), Eclipse (AUS), and more recently, the Rainbow Serpent Festival in Australia. He will be returning to Europe and the United States for a string of events over the Northern Hemisphere summer which includes Burning Man in the United States, the Secret Garden Party in the United Kingdom, and the Heinz Label Night in Berlin. Production-wise, Uone has released a steady stream of dance floor weapons which has led to him being signed with Beef Records and Chameleon Recordings, and his array of deep house and techno tracks has found a home on labels like Katermukke, Heinz, Light My Fire and Tonkind Records. As Uone celebrates his 15th year of Dj-ing, he delivers a mix that is filled with audible nostalgia as he opts for orchestral melodies and percussive blends that signal to the old and new. Watch out for tracks and remixes from a diverse group of artists like Tube & Berger, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles, and of course Uone himself – all bookended by a special Balance Intro and Outro which Uone has produced exclusively for this podcast. Tracklisting and interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/compilations/balance-selections-009-uone/