Elkton, MD, June 5, 2008 — Renowned bassist Derek Jones is going the distance with Elixir™ Cables as he uses the company’s first non-string product for performances during Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. Jones, who has worked with such artists as Sheila E., Crystal Gale, and Nickel Creek says that Elixir™ Cables are proving most beneficial. more
LEGENDARY PRODUCTION TEAM BOMB SQUAD PREPARES FOR UPCOMING PROJECT & WORLD TOUR - DEBUT AT WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE SATURDAY MARCH 29
“In their dub mixes, the bomb squad invent sampladelic electronics at the heart of hiphop that turns up the volume of the world.” - Boomnoise, Dubstep Forum
“The Bomb Squad–the Hank Shocklee-led production team responsible for Public Enemy‘s dystopian sound (is) arguably one of dubstep‘s precursors, in vibe if not in exact ancestral lineage.” - Time Out New York
“I’m well excited to hear what bomb squad have got in store…bomb squad sounds is the most exciting prospect I’ve heard for a long time.” - Thomas E. Griffin, Dubstep Forum
For the first time in their legendary 20+ year career, production team the BOMB SQUAD (Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee) are preparing to perform live in concert in anticipation of their upcoming debut project & world tour.
The BOMB SQUAD and their trademark multi-layered, innovative sonic masterpieces have been at the forefront of electronic music production techniques and they have been heralded as one of the most influential production teams in contemporary music history.
The force behind Public Enemy and some of most significant albums of all time, including It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back and also Ice Cube‘s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, albums which regularly rank as two of the greatest and influential recordings of all time in various publications such as Rolling Stone and Spin, the BOMB SQUAD is also credited with creating seminal recordings for a variety of other highly regarded artists such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Slick Rick, Bell Biv Devoe, LL Cool J, & Run DMC.
After many successful years in the studio, the BOMB SQUAD is now gearing up for their debut solo album this time with Hank Shocklee and Keith Shocklee serving as the front men for an album that will feature a combination of futuristic live electronics, visuals and vocals. Hank Shocklee describes this new venture by saying, “I want to be a hybrid of man and machine as opposed to being a performer that uses machines.”
BOMB SQUAD will be headlining the DESTRUCTION outdoor poolside concert event on Saturday March 29th from 12 noon - 6pm at the Miami Beach Resort & Spa, 4833 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, 33140. For more info: http://www.wintermusicconference.com
Dutch DJ/Producer ARMIN VAN BUUREN received the yearly award for the #1 most popular global DJ in 2007 from the well known British magazine DJ MAG. In the influential yearly top 100, a record-breaking 345,000 votes were cast by dance music fans from more than 220 countries.
Armin has been listed in the DJ Mag Top 100 since 2001. In 2002 he entered the top at the 5th position, after which he climbed even further to the 3rd place. After holding this position for 3 years in a row he climbed up to the 2nd place last year. This year he was able to takeover the No.1 DJ crown from Paul van Dyk and past three year consecutive winner Tìësto.
Now Armin is in the midst of a major US tour for his upcoming mix compilation <
em>Universal Religion 2008: Live from Armada at Ibiza releasing on Ultra Records December 4th. The album was recorded live on August 21 in summer 2007, during the Armada night at legendary Amnesia nightclub. On the live element Armin says, “It adds to the feeling, the experience, so you can feel like you‘re there, having a great time with your friends.” The unplanned set list became the perfect CD release: a spontaneous selection of records that embodies the timeless Balearic sound of Ibiza against the buzz of a crowd enjoying a world-renowned club and their favorite DJ. “I had the first two tracks lined up, and the rest I just chose as I played, gauged on the reaction from the dancefloor,” says Armin. “Tracks like Big Sky, Sunlounger and Daydream are pure Balearic gems. It‘s scary to record something live but once the music starts flowing you lose yourself to it”.
On top of his already vigorous schedule with another Ultra release,
A State of Trance 2007
, earlier this year, Armin continues to host his hugely popular international radio show “A State of Trance” which is broadcast across 40 FM stations in 20 countries and heard by 2.5 million people every week. . For the third time, the show received an award for Best Global Dance Radio Show during Winter Music Conference in Miami.
Armin has been working in the studio for his upcoming artist album which is scheduled for release in early 2008. To support this new album, Armin will tour the globe with a new show around the “Armin Only” concept, in which he plays long sets, supported by several live acts and performances. The success of the two previous editions in the Netherlands, laid the foundation for a worldwide tour in 2008. The kick-off is planned on the April 19th, 2008 in De Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, the Netherlands, which marks the start of the global tour.
Universal Religion 2008 compilation mixed by Armin van Buuren is out on Ultra Records - December 4th, 2007.
ARMIN VAN BUUREN FALL 2007 TOUR DATES
Oct 26 Chicago, IL @ Vision Nightclub
Oct 27 LA, CA @ Monster Massive
Oct 28 San Francisco @ Ruby Skye
Oct 30 Houston, TX @ Bar Rio
Oct 31 Dallas, TX @ Cirque
Nov 2 Scottsdale, AZ @ Myst
Nov 3 Austin, TX @ Sky
Nov 4 Columbus, OH @ Sugar
Nov 6 Atlanta, GA @ Opera www.Liquified.com
Nov 7 Minneapolis, MN @ Spin Nightclub www.spinmn.com
Nov 8 Detroit, IL @ Blue Room www.bleudetroit.com
Nov 9 New York, NY @ Pacha NYC www.made-event.com
Nov 10 Washington DC @ Ibiza Nightclub
www.arminvanbuuren.com
www.armadamusic.com
www.ultrarecords.com
Armin van Buuren is available for interviews and promos available upon request.
For all media inquiries, please contact Plexi PR - info@plexipr.com.
After a successful U.S. run of high-profile shows, UNKLE will make its TV debut as a live band on FUEL TV‘s “The Daily Habit” Tuesday, November 6. UNKLE will perform their second single “Hold My Hand” on the show, which airs today at 9:00pm ET (6:00pm PT), and repeats at 12:00am ET (9:00pm PT). For times and more information, visit: www.fuel.tv.
WITH THE RELEASE OF ‘GREATEST HITS & REMIXES‘ OCTOBER 23
VIA PERFECTO/ULTRA RECORDS
FEATURING ORIGINAL OAKENFOLD PRODUCTIONS AND
REMIXES BY JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, U2, MADONNA, SMASHING PUMPKINS, RADIOHEAD AND MANY MORE
13-CITY TOUR KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 6 IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ MAKING STOPS IN NYC, NASHVILLE, DALLAS, HOUSTON,
ORLANDO, MIAMI, ATLANTA AND OTHERS
The name PAUL OAKENFOLD is synonymous with forward-thinking, cutting-edge electronic music. Few artists in any genre will ever have the degree of influence, power and creative flexibility that his undeniable force has had within the electronic realm. Ultra Records is proud to collaborate with this pioneer and his Perfecto label for the October 23 release of Greatest Hits & Remixes, a 20-selection strong collection of his seminal dance recordings and remixes.
Paul Oakenfold‘s Greatest Hits & Remixes celebrates the career of an artist whose combined releases have totaled almost two million in sales in the U.S. alone. Its track listing ranges from original productions such as his massive singles “Starry Eyed Surprise” as featured in a Diet Coke ad and “Ready Steady Go” from his debut artist album Bunkka to “Faster Kill Pussycat” featuring Brittany Murphy from its follow up A Lively Mind. In addition, there are remixes galore of artists like Justin Timberlake, Madonna, The Smashing Pumpkins and Underworld and soundtrack pieces such as David Arnold‘s James Bond Theme from the motion picture Die Another Day and Oakenfold‘s “Dread Rock” from Matrix Reloaded. Greatest Hits & Remixes also includes four brand-new exclusive remakes of Radiohead‘s “Everything In Its Right Place,” Oakenfold‘s “Southern Sun,” Everything But The Girl‘s “Missing” and Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather‘s “Stop Me.”
A deluxe edition of Greatest Hits & Remixes will be made available on the same day and will include a bonus DVD featuring 20-minutes of live concert footage and a documentary about the life and times of the world‘s defining DJ/Producer. Filmed in Ibiza, London and Los Angeles, the 13-minute film gives fans a peek at the Grammy-nominated artists‘ world including a private tour of the Chelsea soccer stadium in the U.K., his villa in exotic Ibiza and life at home in Los Angeles. Friends, business associates and family are also interviewed in the piece, providing a close look at what makes Paul Oakenfold tick.
In support of his Greatest Hits, Oakenfold will embark on a DJ tour across America throughout November. Beginning November 6 in Scottsdale, AZ, he‘ll set out on a 13- city run of appearances making stops in cities such as New York City, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and more. At each date, fans will get to experience the music featured on the album expertly mixed with Oakenfold‘s current favorite tracks.
From scoring the movie Swordfish, to working with the Boston Pops Orchestra, to holding the claim in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World‘s most popular DJ, Paul has never slowed, never wavered, and continues to break new ground and be at the forefront of not only electronica but the music industry itself. Prior to becoming a world famous DJ and producer, Oakenfold served as an A&R consultant for Profile Records and Def Jam, where he signed artists including Salt N‘ Pepa, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith.
The complete track listing for PAUL OAKENFOLD‘s Greatest Hits & Remixes is:
NATIONAL BATTLE ENSUES AMONG UP-AND-COMING HIP HOP PRODUCERS-Red Bull Big Tune Regional Qualifiers End and Top 12 producers Advance to Finals
in Seattle on November 1-
Brooklyn, NY - (September 14, 2007) - Brooklyn-based nightclub Southpaw is known for showcasing premier musical talent such as the outspoken KRS-One, Prefuse 73, and TV on the Radio but last night a crowd of 500 packed the club to see the Northeast‘s freshest up-and-coming Hip Hop producers engage in a heated battle known as Red Bull Big Tune.
“Big Tune was one of the dopest shows I’ve been a part of in a long time,” said DJ Maseo Plug 3 of De La Soul who performed a head-bobbing closing set at last night‘s event. The excitement and energy in the room was electric. It was a truly inspiring event.”
Also supporting the Brooklyn Red Bull Big Tune battle was featured producer Hi-Tek and special guest performer Sean Price.
WHERE‘S THE BEAT?
Started in Seattle in 2005 as a partnership between event producers Vitamin D and Jonathan Moore, Big Tune was created as a way to showcase the musical talents of emerging and established producers in a fresh and forward thinking way. The spirit of the Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall culture, where battles such as this occurred nightly and were commonly referred to as “clashes” is the inspiration behind Big Tune.
This year was the first time the battle went national with competitions hosted in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Seattle and New York. At each stop, hundred‘s of producers applied for 12 coveted battle spots. The head-to-head competition format is simple. Each producer is given one minute to throw down their illest beat. They go blow for blow for 2 rounds. What makes Red Bull Big Tune truly unique is the integral role the crowd plays in determining who advances and who goes home. Only the producers that elicit the largest response from the audience will make it to the next round. The last person standing will be the one with the big tune.
Last night was the final qualifying event to determine who would represent New York in the Red Bull Big Tune National Finals taking place on November 1 at Neumos in Seattle. The night began with twelve producers who brought heat with their beats, despite having various levels of experience. For some, this was their first battle. For others, it was a means to showcase years of grinding out raucous beats. After several rounds of contentious clashes, seasoned beat maker Marco Polo and up-and-coming producer Algorythm were the last producers standing. That was until Algorythm threw down a “boom bap” that reverberated through the crowd and got everybody shouting, throwing up fists and ultimately naming him the crowd favorite and champion of Red Bull Big Tune -New York. At this stage of the competition, there is room for two at the top. Both Algorythm and Marco Polo will advance to the National Finals to go up against the first and second place producers from the other 5 qualifying events.
ON AN AMERICAN TOUR WITH A BEAT IN MY HAND
Since April, 2006, Red Bull Big Tune has toured San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Seattle and New York in search of talented music producers and the next Big Tune. On November 1, Algorythm and Marco Polo will represent New York against Babu (World Famous Beat Junkies) and Swiff D from Los Angeles; Cambo and Beat Rock from San Francisco; The Are and Joe Traxx from Houston; Tall Black Guy and Rio from Chicago; and Sabzi and Brainstorm from Seattle.
To learn more about the battles and to listen to tracks from Red Bull Big Tune producers, visit http://www.redbullbigtune.com. For press inquiries, contact nyla.hassell@us.redbull.com or sarah.chambliss@us.redbull.com.
Andy Smith was the first DJ to release a multi-genre mix album on a major label. When his mix-CD The Document hit the streets back in 1998, it became the soundtrack for a generation who had heard Coldcut’s “Journeys By DJs” but needed to hear more - The Document filled the void.
It segued tracks from artists such as Tom Jones (way before he came back in vogue with Reload and newer tracks such as recent top ten hit Stoned in Love); Peggy Lee (sample source for the Beastie Boys single Ch-Check It Out); The Jungle Brothers and even The Spencer Davis Group. This was new to record buyers but for Smith a mixed bag of treasures has always formed the typical contents of his DJ set.
This appreciation of different genres made Smith the ideal person to provide sample material for Portishead on their first two albums. He went on to make his name as the band’s international tour DJ - reflecting their respect for both the art of digging for breaks and Hip Hop DJing. sound.
Production: Since the Portishead tours he has established himself as an underground producer of some of the most irresistible Hip Hop breaks-based music around, working with Scott Hendy (Boca 45) under the name Dynamo Productions. Their album Analogue, which notched up a top-ranking five out of five in Mojo magazine, featured San Diego-based MC Profile from the much respected Sound Providers Crew.
The Document mix-CD series: Following on the success of The Document, which sold in excess of 100,000 copies, Andy released Document 2 and Document 3 to critical and popular acclaim. Vinyl copies of all three are sought after and regularly go for a king’s ransom on Ebay!
New releases: The Document series gets Reggae flavour with the release of The Trojan Document (Sanctuary Records). The release presents another mix album first - with Smith giving the listener a live sound system experience complete with rewinds, shout outs and reverb sounds. The Trojan Document takes you on a journey from early Ska, Rocksteady, Roots, Dub, DJ tracks and Dancehall - it’s set to be yet another classic. Andy has also produced the single Sounds Start Rockin, as featured on Kiss FM’s Joe Ransom show. This is taken from Andys new mix CD ‘DJ Andy Smith’s Freestyle Mix’. They are both out now on Freestyle Records.
London and International Residencies: Smith regularly appears in clubs across the world and his strong cult following has secured him constant DJ bookings including several residencies at:
Cargo (London) Andy Smith presents The Document Live Sessions
Jazz Café (London) Andy Smith’s Northern Soul
Madame Jo Jos (London) Lost and Found (w/ Keb Darge)
As much as he is a heralded multi-platinum producer, DAVID GUETTA is also one of the world‘s top in-demand DJs who makes music that satisfies mainstream pop radio and discerning dance floors alike. Perfecto/Ultra Records–the label releasing his new album Pop Life in the U.S.–has announced it is moving the album‘s release date from October 23 to November 13 to coincide with the French pop/dance music superstar‘s upcoming November DJ tour. On his “Pop Life” U.S. trek, Guetta will pass through eight major markets for special engagements at the hottest clubs in support of his new release.
These dates will highlight the dancefloor maven‘s stellar DJ sets, emphasizing remixes and special edits of album tracks from Pop Life along with his favorite underground club cuts. They kick off November 15 in Denver at Church with back-to-back stops at On Broadway in San Diego, Vanguard in Los Angeles, Slide in San Francisco, crobar in Chicago, Cielo in New York City and The Estate in Boston. The tour will be rounded out with two appearances in one night at Cameo and after hours at Space in Miami.
Earlier this year, Guetta‘s foray into the U.S. as a DJ included outstanding showings at Coachella (USA Today tapped him as one of the key highlights of the festival) and the Ultra Music Festival. He packed the country‘s biggest nightclubs including Ruby Skye in San Francisco, Vanguard in Los Angeles crobar in Chicago and Cielo in New York. Along with his wife Cathy Guetta, he also transported his world-renowned ‘F*** Me I‘m Famous‘ party–which draw the likes of P Diddy, Penelope Cruz, Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, Damon Dash, James Blunt and Prince to their events in Paris, Ibiza and London–to Cameo in Miami during the Winter Music Conference which Billboard tapped “Best Party Of The Conference”).
Pop Life is David Guetta‘s third artist album overall and second full-length offering in the states following the release of Guetta Blaster earlier this year. Just released in the U.K. August 20, Pop Life debuted at #3 on iTunes Dance Album Chart, with international taste-maker magazine Zoo stating, “Guetta‘s third album is a rare beast: a dance music album with heart. Each track boasts soaring vocals that suck you in, alongside chart-friendly rave beats that you can‘t write off as generic mixing mash-ups.” In France, the album debuted at #2 marking it Guetta‘s largest yet. In the U.K., Pop Life‘s first single “Love Is Gone” with Chris Willis on vocals charted at #9 on the national pop charts and is garnering major attention with heavy radio play on Radio 1, Capitol FM and Kiss FM. Across Europe the song ranked in the top 10 and in the U.S. it‘s charting at #5 on Billboard‘s Hot Dance Airplay chart. Prior to heading west, Guetta will serve as the closing headline DJ at the prestigious Ibiza club Space, heralded by many of the biggest turntable talents as #1 club in the world, wrapping up the most successful season for a DJ/producer ever recorded there.
The complete dates for DAVID GUETTA‘s Pop Life DJ tour in the U.S. are:
Date City Venue
Nov 15 Denver, CO Church
Nov 16 San Diego, CA On Broadway
Nov 17 Los Angeles, CA Vanguard
Nov 18 San Francisco, CA Slide
Nov 21 Chicago, IL crobar
Nov 22 New York, NY Cielo
Nov 23 Boston, MA The Estate
Nov 24 Miami, FL Cameo
Nov 24 Miami, FL Space
For DAVID GUETTA: www.davidguetta.com or www.myspace.com/davidguetta
For F*** ME I‘M FAMOUS: www.fmif.fr
www.ultrarecords.com
www.myspace.com/ultrarecords
# # #
Images of David Guetta photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and advance copies of Pop Life are available upon request. For more information, contact: