5 Tracks You Need To Know for Verboten StageONE: Maceo Plex, DJ Tennis, and more
5 Tracks You Need To Know for Verboten StageONE: Maceo Plex, DJ Tennis, and more
For those who have yet to be indoctrinated, Verboten StageONE began in summer 2013 is an effort to bring underground electronic music culture to the forefront in New York City. The inaugural series delivered a monumental roster of heavyweights including Sasha, Guy Gerber, Four Tet, Luciano, and many more – long before Verboten transformed from merely a party concept to an iconic, Brooklyn-based haven. Since then, StageONE has curated an all-encompassing experience not only for audiophiles, but fans with an appreciation for the culinary world. In featuring artisanal food vendors and often taking place adjacent to New York’s signature summertime favorite, Smorgasburg, the musical showcase has inched its way to the top of dance music fans’ bucket lists.
We present five tracks you need to know before Maceo Plex, DJ Tennis, David August, Rebolledo, and DJ Koze prepare for their coveted return to Williamsburg.
Photo Credit: Razberry Photography
Maceo Plex - Solar Detroit (Original Mix)
On the heels of unveiling his two-track Solar Sampler EP, composed of “Wash Away My Tears” and “Solar Detroit,” Maceo Plex has much to celebrate as he awaits the arrival of his sophomore album, Solar. A followup to his 2011 debut release, Life Index, Solar was proudly named after Eric Estornel’s newborn baby of the same name. Though the album won’t be out on Ellum until October, “Wash Away My Tears” and “Solar Detroit” give fans a taste of what to expect on his forthcoming LP – the latter inspired by a trip he took with Solar to Detroit in May. Reminiscent of Laurent Garnier’s “Acid Eiffel” and Underground Resistance’s “Final Frontier,” Maceo cites the track as a tribute to a couple of techno and acid house’s leading musicians.
Caribou - Mars (DJ Tennis Rework)
DJ Tennis is one of the more influential figures in electronic music in the last few years, having earned the status as an accomplished producer, label owner, and performer. In an effort to display his deep appreciation of Dan Snaith, best known as Caribou, the Italian producer tried his hand at re-imagining “Mars,” the eighth track off of Our Love. Largely inspired by “The textures and the organic elements of his compositions,” Tennis’ edit of the original flaunts a more subdued flute alongside graceful percussion – making for one of his stronger recent works.
The Acid - RA (David August Remix)
David August’s haunting remix of The Acid’s “RA” arrived nearly three months ago in the form of a cinematic sequence composed of gritty synths and hushed basslines. The chilling record relies heavily on chopped vocals and distorted beats, bearing numerous hallmarks of his more minimal tendencies.
Dino Lenny - Living In A Song (Rebolledo Remix)
Few have familiarized themselves with Mexican DJ and producer Mauricio Rebolledo, who simply performs beneath the alias, Rebolledo. Other days, Mauricio can be found performing alongside Superpitcher as one half of the more widely-known Pachanga Boys. Having fostered a love for synthetic basslines and polished rhythms, Rebolledo’s latest undertaking of Dino Lenny’s “Living In A Song” affords the track razor-sharp beats paired with complex, yet sultry breakdown.
DJ Koze - XTC (Original Mix)
A shimmering burst of chimes open up into what becomes a deep tech anthem of sorts, composed of a stagnant chord progression and a spoken-word clip that repeats itself twice throughout the track’s full eight minutes. “Many people are experimenting with the drug ecstasy,” an eerie, female voice says. “I heard you say once that a lie is sweet in the beginning and bitter in the end, and truth is bitter in the beginning, and sweet in the end. I have been meditating, but I don’t have the experiences people report from the drug ecstasy. Is the drug like the lie, and meditation the truth? Or am I missing something that could really help me?” As one of the more thoughtful tracks influenced by the popular club drug, “XTC” encourages listeners to ponder drugs’ positioning in our lives and in society as a whole.