Dancing Astronaut’s Top 25 Underground Artists of 2012: 15-6
The underground had a big year in the US in 2012 and we only felt it appropriate to highlight some of these amazing artists independently from potentially bigger or more commercial artists in the dance music world today. We considered the year these artists have had in terms of production, live sets, and overall influence. We also generally picked artists we love and admire; artists we feel are extremely important to pushing electronic music forward. This list of 25 names includes legends and young guns alike, but we can assure you that every single one of these artists is incredibly talented and is well worth a listen or a trip to a club for a live set. Picking up where we left off yesterday, we will continue the countdown with our picks from #15 to the #6 spot.
Dancing Astronaut’s Top 10 Essential Mixes of 2012
Every Saturday night at 1am in the UK, Pete Tong allows an artist of his choosing to take over the Radio 1 airwaves for two full hours. The Essential Mix is legendary and for many of these DJs and producers, the pressure feels immense. A stellar mix can shoot you to recognition, solidify a career, or facilitate a comeback. Although with the generous input of fans, Pete Tong does eventually crown an Essential Mix of the year himself (last year: Above & Beyond), we also put our heads together to decide on the ten mixes from 2012 that made us listen again, and again, and again.
Lee Foss brings pop-tinged deep house to SRB in Brooklyn
The underground is alive and well in Brooklyn, championed by the Verboten brand and the emerging deep and tech house scene. At the forefront of this movement is Lee Foss who, along side Jaime Jones, make up the deep house duo Hot Natured, whose recent release "Benediction" has launched them both into the spotlight. The Verboten parties, with their no nonsense, stripped down aesthetic -- one where the music comes first -- have begun to gain serious traction in the developing New York City scene. While countless other venues have hosted deep and techie artists, SRB in Brooklyn has become the unofficial headquarters of the underground movement.
Good Morning Mix – Rudimental, Kidnap Kid & Gorgon City on Diplo & Friends (11/4/2012)
Takeovers on Diplo's Radio 1xtra show are always top quality electronic music, but this recent contribution from our friends over at Black Butter Records including the likes of foursome Rudimental, Kidnap Kid, and the new Gorgon City collab between Foamo and Rack 'N Ruin, absolutely knocked us out of our seats. The three guest mixes showcase the best of the three artists' work to date, some high-powered and glossy remixes, and even some older swagger from The Fugees, Shuggie Otis, and Michael Jackson. We love it, you'll love it too. Enjoy below and follow along with full tracklist.
Black & White Festival with Jamie Jones, Carl Craig, and Butch (event review)
Last weekend Governors Island hosted the final show of the summer festival season. The people of Ibiza United and Basic NYC put together a star-studded lineup of some of the biggest names in the underground dance music scene for this year’s Black and White Festival. The event featured all-black attire, upgraded sound system, and was a much more intimate experience than past Governors Island shows.
Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler sit in on Pete Tong’s Radio 1 show
Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler -- two of the most notable deep house producer/DJs in the world -- come together to take over Pete Tong's legendary Radio 1 show. This amazing journey of music is a refreshing change of pace from what we'd normally post on DA, but shows what else the world of dance music has to offer. Giving their own commentary and playing their favorite tracks of the moment, this is a two hour mix we recommend you give a listen.