Balance Selections Podcast

It's easy to assume that New Zealand's Out Of Sorts came out of nowhere when their spirited first remix made its way into the hands of Kompakt Records, gaining attention from some of electronica's most favoured selectors. Something about their productions showcased that they weren't just one trick ponies, but seasoned studio professionals. In fact, Out Of Sorts has always been there. And now, after huge international success under a different moniker, they have embraced a sound that's difficult to pigeonhole, leaving the past almost irrelevant – except that this is a duo who know how to bring it. From the grimiest clubs to the most revered festivals on the global circuit, somewhere in the abyss, you may just hear something out of sorts. Keep your ears open for their tracks on Beat & Path, a label they co-run alongside Balance member Uone. Ahead of their performance at the upcoming sold out Strawberry Fields festival, the duo found some time to send us an exclusive mix. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-076-out-of-sorts/ Soundcloud: @outofsortsmusic Facebook: www.facebook.com/outofsortsmusic

Terr is the project of Daniela Caldellas, a Barcelona-based DJ-producer who grew up in Brazil’s Belo Horizonte. After spending her earlier years playing guitar in several punk bands, she asked her friends to teach he the basics of “computer music” only to unearth an infatuation with electronic production at the age of 19. Born in 2016 as Caldellas’ first solo project, the TERR moniker stems from the the 1970’s film “Fantastic Planet”: It is the name of the main human character. The debut release, a three-track EP titled ‘Burn the Past’, landed on Scuba’s Hotflush Recordings, followed in early 2017 with ‘Misantropicalia’ which “extended Terr’s musical horizons,” Caldellas explains. Her most recent release on Correspondent Records, the sprawling Neuromancer EP, has elevated Terr to a serious global contender. Stay tuned for her upcoming EP ‘Dust’ which will be released on the 5th of October through her own label Clash Lion. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-terr/ Soundcloud: @terr_music Facebook: www.facebook.com/TERRmusic

As a DJ, Harvey McKay has an exceptional skill to read the crowd and has played at some of the biggest clubs around the world: Space Ibiza, Awakenings, Ultra Music Festival, Fabric, Space Miami and many more. He recently closed the first night of Loveland Weekender and has shows coming up at Intec's Sonar party, headlining the Elrow Stage at 18hrs Festival and also, of course, an Australian tour. With 3 Beatport Techno No.1’s to date, 9 top 10 releases Harvey was also Beatport techno’s 4th best selling artist of 2014. He has released on all the techno stalwarts: Drumcode, Cocoon, Bedrock, Intec and Soma. Described by Mixmag as ‘probably the techno pages most regular contributor’, Harvey McKay has created a distinctive style with a name that is synonymous with driving, soulful techno. Ahead of his Australian tour, the Glaswegian checked in with us for a stomping 60 minutes of hi-energy techno. Interview and tracklist here: www.balancemusic.com.au/podcast/balan…arin-epsilon/ Soundcloud: @harvey-mckay Facebook: www.facebook.com/Harveymckayglasgow

Originally from Chicago and now based in Berlin, Darin Epsilon is undoubtedly one of the most reliable artists within the progressive scene, a fact that has been displayed in his offering to Balance. Dominating music and life in general, Darin has played at venues and festivals all over the globe and signed his work to the likes of Warung Records, Einmusika and his own imprint Perspectives Digital. To put the cherry on top, his work was also recently remixed by scene legend Sébastian Léger. In preparation for the podcast Darin spent weeks on end listening to thousands to tracks in order to deliver the perfect result, he also wrote three new originals exclusively for the mix - two of which made the final cut. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/podcast/balance-selections-073-darin-epsilon/ Soundcloud: @darinepsilon Facebook: www.facebook.com/darinepsilon

Audiojack are the Leeds grown, Ibiza based duo who have built a solid reputation over the last decade as DJs, producers, remixers and label curators. Their original releases can be found on leading house and techno labels like Crosstown Rebels, 2020Vision and Hot Creations. Their remixes on labels such as Moon Harbour, B-Pitch Control and Diynamic, whilst Underworld, Groove Armada and Hot Since 82 are amongst the artists to have enlisted Audiojack for remixes. The duo have been mainstays on Ralph Lawson’s 2020Vision recordings for over a decade, where they released their debut album ‘Radio’, and several bestselling EPs including ‘Get Serious’ and ‘No Equal Sides’. More recently Audiojack signed to Jamie Jones’ infamous Hot Creations label, debuting with the heavily played ‘Vibrate’ EP, and subsequently they joined up with Damian Lazarus and his Crosstown Rebels imprint, starting with their ‘Turya’ EP which brings the words of a guided meditation into a club setting to create a heads-down-eyes-closed hypnotic experience. Audiojack are easily one of the globe’s most popular duos, and ahead of their Australasian tour they found some time to forward us an exclusive mix…. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/audiojack-balance-selections/ Soundcloud: @audiojackofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/audiojackmusic

DJ, producer, graphic artist and A&R manager for the Lauter Unfug label, the multi-talented Pascal Augner AKA Beatamines keeps himself busy. Constantly booked up with gigs, Beatamines colourful and melodic sound has helped him to reach the upper echelons of artists in Germany. In 2016 Pascal started as A&R for the label Lauter Unfug which brought him directly to Luxembourg’s club, Studio 21, where he is a resident for with the `rememberthevibe` parties. In the past few months Pascal has been playing regularly at clubs such as Watergate, Kater Blau and Ritter Butzke Berlin. This year he is celebrating a decade of music as Beatamines, and to celebrate he has put together a selection of beats – a timely reminder to keep taking your beatamines... Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-071-beatamines/ Soundcloud: @beatamines Facebook: www.facebook.com/beatamines.live

When it comes to DJs and producers, Glasgow provides. Yet another one of their favourite sons Gary Beck has reigned as one of the dance communities best since his inception in 2007. Racking up a list of achievements grand enough for any pool room, Gary has shows his worth time again with an Essential Mix, Boiler Room and by signing his music to many genre-leading labels including Drumcode, Soma and his own institution BEK. His big-room sound has had dance-lovers positively drooling for years and they’ll be happy to hear they had better pack an extra hanky, because there’s a new album on it’s way and this mix has the exclusive to a few of its gems. We’re ecstatic to have Gary in for Balance Selections: 070 and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the listen as much as we do. Interview and tracklist here: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-070-gary-beck/ Soundcloud: @garybeck Facebook: www.facebook.com/garybeckmusic

Seven Villas label boss Pablo Bolívar has been releasing music for well over a decade. Taking his first steps toward the electronic music world shortly after his teacher at school played him a Jean Michel Jarre record, Pablo began studying sound engineering, and then went on to begin working in the field in 1998. As well as releasing a conglomerate of releases of his own, Bolívar has also drawn on his skills as an engineer to assist in producing a number of different musicians including Miyamoto and Maurice Aymard. Today Pablo is still frequently releasing his deep brand of music, new work includes his EP ‘Unsurfaced’ and LP ‘Traverse’ written with Sensual Physical. Interview and tracklist here: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-069-pablo-bolivar/ Soundcloud: @pablo-bolivar Facebook: www.facebook.com/pablobolivarofficial

Mannheim’s Nick Curly has been educating club-goers for over a decade. His own brand of tech house and techno is expertly displayed via his record label 8bit, as well as his era-defining imprint Cecile Records. Nick's productions have always been a key factor in his success, where he's signed his work to a multitude of leading labels including Truesol, Hot Since 82's Knee Deep In Sound and Adam Beyer's Drumcode. His touring schedule has him playing hundreds of shows per year which includes slots at large scale festivals and headline shows alike. Nick's month of June is as busy as any with 15 shows in 30 days across the entire expanse of Europe, which also features an appearance in Australia to lead him into the second half of 2018. Among his busy schedule, we caught up with Nick and were lucky enough to have him feature as our 68th Balance Selections podcast. Interview and tracklist here: www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-068-nick-curly/ Soundcloud: @nickcurly Facebook: www.facebook.com/nickcurlyofficial www.balancemusic.com.au

One of the more celebrated releases in the Balance canon is the 13th edition mixed in 2008, compiled by a trio of artists collectively known as SOS: Desyn Massielo, Omid 16B and Demi. Inspired by the music dexterity and skill from music greats such as Laurent Garnier and Danny Tenaglia, to the mixing artistry of pioneers like Sasha and John Digweed, both technique and selection go hand in hand for Demi. Recordings and experimental jam sessions alongside prolific and respected deep house producer Omid 16B as part of the SOS collective, lead to Demi's own development in the studio and ensured his production accelerated to the next level. (Several of those session productions were debuted on the acclaimed Ministry of Sound presents SOS - The Club compilation in 2010) Demi also received engineer credits on the Balance 25 compilation release by Danny Tenaglia who at the last minute whilst on tour in the UK, was called upon to sit in a session to help complete the project. On the 10th year anniversary of Balance 13 mixed by SOS, we have managed to catch up with DEMI (one third of SOS) for a chat and an exclusive podcast. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-067-demi/ Soundcloud: @asoylondon Facebook: www.facebook.com/asoylondon

Brian Cid is a Brooklyn-based DJ & producer with a level of musical talent that has taken the underground electronic music scene by storm. With a style that has no boundaries whatsoever, his productions touch upon deep house, techno, progressive house and more, and have been signed to a number of the most credible tastemaker record labels. This catalogue of innovative, genre-defying tracks has given Brian the opportunity to grace the decks at some of the best clubs, parties, & events across the globe, and has led to a DJ Mag nomination for 2017 Best Breakthrough DJ in their Best of North America awards. He is easily one of North America's most credible producers. The next chapter in the musical journey of Brian Cid is the recent launch of his project Endangered: a deep journey to the eclectic side of electronic music. The Endangered concept is both a record label for Brian to showcase his own music as well as other high-caliber artists he respects, but also an event series that combines music with live performance & art. Also watch out for his upcoming album which will be released on Balance Music, a deep and dark journey through the more cerebral parts of techno. Interview and tracklist here: www.balancemusic.com.au/podcast/balance-selections-066-brian-cid/ Soundcloud: @briancid Facebook: www.facebook.com/briancidmusic

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Max Cooper - Balance 030 (Part 1) [Preview edit] For more info: www.balancemusic.com.au

Max Cooper - Balance 030 (Part 2) [Preview Edit] For more info: www.balancemusic.com.au

20th April sees Canada’s electronic maestro Clarian release ‘Television Days’ – the second single taken from his same-titled debut LP, ‘Television Days’ (Balance Music). The track, which has been remastered especially for this release, is one of the album’s standout moments – with its mellow synths and other synthetic effects providing the perfect backdrop for the Canadian’s nonchalant, 80s inspired vocals. For More info: www.balancemusic.com.au

David Hasert is a key figure in his hometown of Cologne, Germany’s local scene. Not only is he the label owner of LIKE Records, but as booking agent he is also the face of local club institution Reineke Fuchs. Known as an established DJ who performs weekly across Germany (and internationally), he is also a respected producer who has released on LIKE, Beats In Space and Dantze. Alongside Michaela Dippel he has even released on Kompakt Records under the production moniker DAMH. (A release that also featured DJ Koze and Matt Hamil remixes) The Cologne-native has crafted a mix that will be on your playlist for a while to come. Filled with deep, dark and introspective tracks this mix will introduce David Hasert to whole new audience... Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-064-david-hasert/ Soundcloud: @david-hasert Facebook: www.facebook.com/david-hasert

He might not be as well known as some of his peers, but Oliver Schories is quietly becoming a star that might just outshine them all. With countless global shows and a discography which is increasingly getting longer, Schories' appeal lies in his ability to deliver undeniably infectious tracks, and deliver bang-on sets every time he performs. His 2016 album Relatively Maybe was the perfect introduction into the German's world; that is a world filled with lush melodies and tight productions. Last year he was also the first choice for Global Underground to reboot their famous Nubreed series, a job he completed with aplomb. But there is no rest for the wicked and Schories just released Blitzbahn, his fifth studio album. And on the upcoming album we are promised '13 expansive cuts that showcase his incredible knack for straddling that House/Techno mid-point with consummate ease'. Count us in. To celebrate the release of 'Blitzbahn', we present you the latest Balance Selections mix from the man himself... Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-063-oliver-schories/ Soundcloud: @oliverschories Facebook: www.facebook.com/OliverSchories

Christopher Mohn and Reagan Denius aka Dance Spirit have built their own sound with a focus of rhythm, timbre, melody and movement as their driving force – a sound that has lead them to many of the worlds leading festivals, a list that includes Coachella, Desert Hearts, Piknik Electonik, City Fox, Lightning in a Bottle and Sacbe. They’ve been signed to record labels Bedrock, Kindisch, Culprit, Akbal Music, Superfreq and more, and they have just signed an EP to Get Physical. Indeed, the Flying Circus residents are slowly becoming a name you can’t ignore. As this mix showcase, their sound is one that is deep, affecting and stomping all at the same time. This is proper underground sounds which will impress. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-063-dance-spirit/ Soundcloud: @dance-spirit Facebook: www.facebook.com/DanceSpiritHyperspace

Dave Seaman is one of the original movers and shakers of the UK house movement. He has been DJing for over 25 years playing in over 70 countries around the world. He was the first editor of the clubbers bible, Mixmag, and has remixed and produced for everybody from U2 to Kylie and David Bowie to the Pet Shop Boys. He has also done over 20 mix compilations for the likes of Global Underground, Renaissance and Radio 1's Essential Mix, and also been the main man behind the independent dance music labels, Stress Records, Audio Therapy and now his new imprint, Selador Recordings. Quite simply, Dave Seaman is one of the legends of electronic house music. Interview and tracklist here: https://www.balancemusic.com.au/news/balance-selections-dave-seaman/ Soundcloud: @daveseaman Facebook: www.facebook.com/daveseamanofficial

'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/