WatchTheDJ

From the WatchTheDJ archive

DJ Mag

DJ Mag

Featured sets

Sep 2016

Christian Smith - Live @ DJ Mag HQ 2016

Christian Smith is one of the world’s leading exponents of techno, both as a DJ and producer he is always bold and innovative, leading rather than following. With his output in recent years it is hard to imagine a list of prolific producers without his name towards the top. He has consistently dominated charts and DJs playlists with a steady flow of releases on high profile labels like Drumcode, Plus8/Minus, Cocoon and his own Tronic imprint. Christian Smith has operated at the top of his game for over a decade now, with his trademark housy techno. His latest album "Input-Output" (Tronic 2016), the follow-up to his critically acclaimed ”Stranger Than Paradise” (Tronic, 2014), has secured worldwide praise with a superb dancefloor orientated selection of tracks that explore and showcase his various styles within the techno genre: musical, peak-time and minimal. Christian’s Tronic label is also one of the top 3 selling techno labels in the world according to Beatport and Christian has also recently celebrated the landmark of Tronic’s 200th release. Another success story is Tronic Radio, a weekly show now syndicated to over 100 stations around the globe. Christian’s touring schedule is busier than ever, including regular Tronic parties in London, Miami, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Amsterdam, New York, Madrid. With yearly guest spots at Richie Hawtin’s “Enter” events, and many Festivals around the world it is certain that Christian will maintain his relevance and position as one of the main ambassadors of techno.

Sep 2016

Groove Armada & Riva Starr - Live @ DJ Mag 2016

Groove Armada, are rooted in dance music’s seminal movements, with Andy Cato taking in Castlemorton and the free party scene, and Tom Findlay regularly attending the Hacienda during his formative university days in Manchester. When they met in London in the mid-90s, little did they know they would go on to make history themselves. Groove Armada came to fruition as the name of a club night where Tom & Andy each hosted a floor, and the duo adopted the moniker when they started producing music together for Tim ‘Love’ Lee’s Tummy Touch label. A week spent in the remote countryside resulted in their debut album ‘Northern Star’ and breakthrough hit ‘At The River’, which was to prove the catalyst for major label recognition, million-selling albums, Grammy and Brit nominations, and a pioneering live show, establishing Groove Armada as one of the planet's best-loved dance acts. However, throughout their two decades of global success, they have remained as comfortable in sweat-soaked basements as on the big stages. Indeed, Tom & Andy began DJing properly as a duo in fabric’s Room 3 during the club’s early days, whilst more recently they have made Room 1 their own. ““It’s in Room 3 that we effectively wrote Superstylin’, or at least the idea for that track took serious shape. They were magical times, really. It’s been amazing returning to the club, a sense of coming home. A lot of the people involved when we first played there are still involved, so it felt easy to come back, it’s an overused description but fabric is family.””

Aug 2016

Le Youth - Live @ Skyline Sessions x W Hotel Penthouse 2016

90s sounds refracted through a thoroughly modern aesthetic. Tracks that are serious about moving a dance floor full of people without coming on too strong. Breezy California vibes touched by a twist of European flair. Wes James is the artist behind Le Youth. Song’s like “C O O L, Dance With Me, and R E A L” pull a listener back to the pre­millennial, pre­Internet days when dance music offered a transcendentally blissful brand of hedonism that’s harder to find in today’s macho­tinged EDM landscape. Le Youth has attracted the attention of taste­making dance music bloggers and DJ’s the world over, and his music has continued to impress with each successive release and well­received remixes for the likes of Disclosure, Sam Smith, Katy Perry, Sia, RAC, Jess Glynne, Tensnake, and Chromeo. Le Youth is continuing his hot streak in 2016 with new hits on the horizon.

Jul 2016

Billy Kenny - Live @ DJ Mag HQ 2016

British producer, DJ and engineer Billy Kenny is widely accustomed to the lower, more aggressive frequencies in the amalgamation between UK Garage, House and Techno. His hit track “Work” has reigned the bass heavy side of festivals ever since it’s release in August 2014 and continues to do so while more recent releases on Dirtybird, Sweat It Out and his co-run imprint “This Ain't Bristol” circulate the globe. Hailing from Leeds, Billy now resides just across the channel in Germany although his sound still remains more Radio 1 than Berghain. This prolific writer now has to be seen as one of the most influential ambassadors in Germany for the sound he represents, despite the fact that over the last year he's been touring more than ever across four continents. He and friends hold the reigns to their flourishing label This Ain't Bristol, which has turned more than a few well respected heads since it's launch in late 2014 and continues to pump out high quality releases to their ever-growing audience. Unlike many producers on the circuit, Billy has perfected his craft behind the decks. His endless edits, live sampling, looping and unexpected choices of weaponry always make his unique set’s one to remember for those listening.