Win 2 tickets to Petit Biscuit next Wednesday in Toronto!

Hot off from his brand new album "Presence", the 18-year old French artist will be coming to Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall next Wednesday on January 17th. Recently booked at Coachella, Petit Biscuit is an artist on the rise. 

EDM Canada is giving a chance to a lucky winner to get 2 free tickets to see Petit Biscuit next Wednesday on January 17th. This contest is open to all ages because it is an all ages event. You can enter on Instagram or Twitter. All you have to do is follow EDM Canada on Instagram and tag a friend in the comment section of the contest post which can be found here

On Twitter, you must follow @edmtoronto, and retweet the following: 

The contest is now open and will close on Friday at 5 pm EST. Enter now and good luck!

We talk “Presence” : 10 questions with Petit Biscuit

By Sinejan Ozaydemir

This week, EDM Canada had the pleasure of speaking with Petit Biscuit about his newest album “Presence” and about his experiences on tour. The 18 year-old, French DJ, who is most well known for his hit “Sunset Lover”, released his second album this November. The album contains songs that are “cinematic” and “eclectic”, featuring an enhanced version of his personal style of production and songwriting. 

Here’s what he had to say about it and his journeys on tour: 

Your newest album is titled "Presence", why did you call it Presence? 

One of the tracks in the album is called "Presence" too. For me it sounds very cinematic, but also quite supernatural, somewhat worrying. It is exactly what I wanted to represent in this album: something as beautiful as disturbing. That's why I choose that track name as title of the album, it seemed fitting to the overall atmosphere.

How would you describe the sound of your album? 

This album is very eclectic, there are poetic tracks, soft and full of love, and there are darker tracks, something I hadn't really unveiled in my previous productions.

On this album, you have had the chance to collaborate with other artists. How do you go about choosing which artist/vocalist to work with? 

The stories behind each artist I chose are very different, and it's what gives this unique touch to each and and every collaboration. For Lido, we met in Paris and hit it off instantly. For Møme, we bounded quickly when touring the same festival during the summer. However I knew what I wanted for each collaboration. This is not just a story where everyone comes and bring his touch on a track - it's rather about trying to come together and create something completely new.

How do you feel about the reaction to the vocal clips that you use in your songs that are almost a make believe language of their own? It must be so interesting to hear people sing along! Do you or would you hide any secret messages in these songs or anything like that? 

For all the voice cuts that we often call ‘vocal chops’, there is no secret message but rather an universal language: melody. At the start of my career I was only interested in melodies and their harmonies, and it’s crazy to see how people can sing these wordless melodies during shows. Today, I try to produce around lyrics, hence my collaborations with singers and also the fact that I started to sing on some of my tracks. There are two on the album with my voice!

The song "Follow me" is such a wonderful example of a musical journey. When you have songs without lyrics, how do you go about naming your songs? (By the feeling you get when you listen to them, or the feeling you felt while you created them?) Do you have a story that emerges in your imagination? Like why did you name that track "Follow me" for example?

It’s true, it’s a story that builds alongside the production process in my head. I close my eyes and listen to the music on a loop to try to understand it not only in a pure producer standpoint, but also with a certain distance, imagining what it could make reference to. On ‘Follow Me’, it is precisely an idea of a journey, to take off towards an unknown destination. From the beginning to the end, we discover new elements, hence this idea of unknown. There is something very comforting in this track. And that's why I ask people to follow me.

Do you feel more comfortable on the stage or in the studio? 

The one doesn’t go without the other in my opinion. I enjoy so much the stage and my progression as a live performer that I cannot live without it now. And those moments of loneliness, self-reflection, but extreme serenity when I'm composing are priceless.

For anyone who hasn't seen you live yet, how would you describe what a Petit Biscuit show looks and feels like? 

Petit Biscuit live is a story of balance between a visual show and an instrumental parts, without losing the dynamism of electronic music. I have my guitar, percussion, but also electronic gear on stage. Concerning the tracks, it is a blend of some that people already know and others that are still unreleased. Moreover, some tracks from the album and EP are reworked in a live way, which leads to re-discovery for the audience.

What is your favorite part of being on tour? 

I can’t prefer one moment or another! I have always been passionate about travel, exploring and music. Today, I travel, discover and grow up, while playing music in front of thousand of people. I live the life I've been dreaming of.

Who are your main influences right now?/Who do you find inspiring in the music scene right now (either within electronic music or other genres)? 

What I enjoy is listening to music from artists, not specific genres. Some artists are types of music by themselves, like Flume or Tame Impala - hybrid music between pop, rock and electronic. It gravitates between a lot of different styles and it’s both confusing and captivating.

Do you have a message we could pass along to your fans in Canada? 

The Fairmount Theater, Osheaga and The Velvet Underground in Toronto were three amazing live shows for me. I can’t wait to come back in 2018 for lots of new shows in Canada, as the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto (01/17) as well as Igloofest in Montreal (01/19)! I hope to play in more cities in Canada for this next year. May 2018 be the year of poutine for me! :)

Later this month Petit Biscuit will be at the Danforth Music Hall on Wednesday, January 17th. It will be a big show, well worth checking out an up and coming artist on a weekday. For tickets, click here. 

Petit Biscuit will also be in Montreal to perform at Igloofest on Friday, January 19th - click here for tickets

Sinejan is Toronto's correspondent for EDM Canada. You can follow her on twitter: @Sinejantweets.

Contact Festival 2017 Sinejan's Top 6

By Sinejan Ozaydemir

B.C Place hosted the Two-day Contact Festival this past week and we had the great opportunity to rave with the Vancouver crowd during the holidays! Here are my top performances of the festival:

1. Cash Cash

The most melodic, dance based set of the festival. Cash Cash chatted with the crowd during their whole set, encouraging them to get ready for the drops, get ready to jump and checking in with them to make sure they were enjoying the party. 

They played a lot of their originals but also did not disappoint us with the remixes played in between. A great range throughout the set, we did not get the opportunity to tune out. The anticipation of what’s coming up next was really there! The set was pure energy and joy with people head banging and dance walking with hands up all throughout the arena floor. The great use of lyrics up on the screen allowed the Vancouver crowd to have a taste of karaoke breaks amidst the dancing. Cash Cash’s flashing vividly colourful visuals which included their logos and cartoon style drawings of their faces were quite entertaining without taking away from the focus- the music. Cash Cash really shook up the room, jumping around the stage, chanting, waving flags and sharing their energy with us. They got the ladies up on shoulders creating a second group of dancing fans that were literally on another level. 

Fantastic energetic set with great music = my favourite of this two-day west coast party! 

Songs/remixes the crowd loved:

All my love (feat. Conor Maynard) – Cash Cash

Millionaire (feat. Nelly) – Cash Cash

Take me home (Feat. Bebe Rexha) – Cash Cash

Surrender – Cash Cash

Aftershock (Feat Jacquie) – Cash Cash

2. Armin Van Buuren

Great headliner, spreading the love and positive energy throughout his whole set. 

It was hard not to be aware of the reciprocal appreciation between the concert goers and Armin on night two of Contact. The ravers who had been enjoying a second full day of dancing did not slow down, and frankly, Armin would not let them! As soon as he started his set, we were all into the state of trance right away. Throughout his set, he encouraged the crowd to feel the moment and the love-he told us how much he was feeling the love and well, we couldn’t agree more! 

Besides the love fest between Vancity fans and Armin, the steady flashing of the light show dazzled, as we felt like we were in a European dance club rather than a big arena. He had great control of the music, especially accentuating with volume to really keep us on our toes. Armin’s fans excitedly reacted to his songs as they lost themselves in the moment. We raised our hands up and waved them around without restraint as the deep bass and flashing lights moved through our bodies and Armin reached out towards the crowd. All aspects of the huge stage were utilized with the use of an echo between the lasers and the main screen video, which fit in quite perfectly with the music. There was a great moment of suspense where he (almost) got us thinking the party may be over when an error message came up on the screen.

Happily the error message was followed by an awesome “test” of the systems on stage along to his track “This is a Test” which felt like a large scale version of the sound system check you would witness at the movies before a 3D movie in the big theatres with the surround sound. The ability to feel so in sync with each other as fans, made this set a great closing statement to the two-day festival. We were all there to have fun after all! 

Songs/remixes the crowd loved:

Adelante (Bobina Megadrive Remix) – Sash!

I live for that energy (Asot 800 Anthem) – Armin Van Buuren

You are (Asot 823) Armin Van Buuren and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano

I need you (club mix) – Armin Van Buuren & Garibay Feat.  Olaf Blackwood

Heading up High (First state remix) – Armin Van Buuren feat. Kensington

3. Destructo

The stadium floor was already full and ready to continue the dance fest when Destructo took to the decks. Henry Fong did a great job of holding down the fort and keeping people moving until Destructo arrived. He started off the set with a “we made it!” and began the party. You could really tell that he was in fact very excited to get up there and perform for the crowd, his excitement and energy came through as he looked up, pointed across the crowd at groups of people dancing and jumped up on top of the DJ table several times during his set to jump around and be one with/closer the crowd.

“Let me see that Bass Face BC style!”: The “Bass face”s were in the house as they jumped and nodded along to his popular track. We also thoroughly enjoyed many other Destructro originals through some flawlessly smooth mixing.

His visuals were active and easily distinguishable from any other artist – I mean no one else had the bass melting off their face, only Destructo can do that! It seemed the crowd was in awe because every time he looked up they would react without being asked to! Just and overall great vibe in the room throughout the set. I dare you to try not to move to the beat at a Destructo concert – not possible.

Songs/remixes the crowd loved:

Bass Face – Destructo

Loaded – Yo Gotti

Catching Plays – Wax Motif, Pusha T, Starrah

Party Up – GTA Remix

4. Alan Walker

Great follow up to Ekali, Alan Walker really read the room well as his bright and unique visuals along to the great discography made this a set very enjoyable.

Stunning futuristic (at some points almost looking like a video game and at times almost apocalyptic looking) visuals included sections of music videos, lyric videos, artwork of a glowing globe/earth view from space, industrial scenes, geometric shapes (some exploding like fireworks up on the screen), as well as the AW logo in different colours. Not to mention sweeping lasers that were so well done that they looked like they were dancing along with the crowd rather than just flashing, when seen from the back of the stadium. Although he wears his mask, he did use the stage camera so everyone in the stadium could see his reaction to the music and feel like they are right next to him up in the booth. Large parts of the crowd were full of ravers excitedly dancing around, making way for each other all spread out across the floor. He also played a lot of his originals like many artists at the festival, but also included some popular remixes like (Sia’s move your body) with transitions that kept the crowd moving throughout the set. Great transitions and overall flow from slow to fast tracks throughout the whole set. His songs also allowed the crowd a great opportunity to sing along- we just couldn’t stop ourselves!

Songs/remixes the crowd loved:

Drop the Beat- DJ Kuba & Neitan ft. Nicci

Sing me to sleep- Alan Walker

Sia – Move your body (Alan Walker Remix)

Need you (Brillz&Trav Piper Remix)- Dillon Francis & NGHTMRE

Alone- Alan Walker

All falls down – Alan Walker

Faded- Alan Walker

5. Marshmello

“Everybody know me, Everybody know Marshmello”- Marshmello started off his set full of his originals with his song “Know me”. The day one headliner seemed to be ready to entertain the crowd as he stepped up to the decks. There were tons of Marshmellos in the crowd dressed in the classic Mashmello head and all in white. The Marshmello army clearly appreciated the originals that he played almost fully through (played most of each song). This was the moment they were waiting for all day and they gave it their all. I think that he was one of the artists that really delivered what the crowd was expecting which made him the perfect headliner for day one. His fans were also not disappointed by the visuals. I personally really enjoyed the visuals for “Wolves” and the bubble style lyrics he used for his song “Alone”. I think the familiarity of the songs and the cartoon-like visuals brought out the kid in all of us and it was a great pleasant set to close off day one of the festival.

Songs/remixes the crowd loved:

Know me - Marshmello

Congratulations (Bkaye X Telykast Remix) – Post Malone

Silence – Marshmello

Hello – Adele

Wolves – Marshmello

Alone – Marshmello

6. Tails

Tails’ set contained some well known top 40 tracks and a lot of great throwbacks.

Very cool, colourful visuals that had his logo and also, from time to time, incorporated the use of the stage camera set up on the FVDED stage which was amplified on the screen behind him.

He was very natural with the crowd and had great crowd engagement throughout the set. The crowd seemed to be enjoying starting off day 1 with his throwback remixes as well as Rap/RnB base of songs, Kanye seemed to be one of his go to artists, the crowd really reacted to the can’t tell me nothing remix.

The beautiful “aliens”/“spacewomen” of contact came in near the beginning of the set and excited any who happened to turn around (usually while dancing).

The vibe was chill but there was a lot of movement with the crowd slowly pouring in. It was a great opener to the FVDED stage. The design of the stage allowed the fans to get real close and have a clear view of Tails and engaged with him when he looked up. The lights were few in number but set up very well at the front of the stage and near the middle of the floor. When all were going at the same time, it really felt like you were possibly being abducted (which went along well with the whole theme of the festival).

All of the lights (Nitti Gritti Remix)- San Holo

Wolves- Kanye West

Murda- Snavs

Riot Call (Snuf Remix)- Quix

Honorable Mentions: 

Tchami - For letting his music speak and being able to keep the crowd moving without saying a word

Henry Fong - Starting day 2 off with a bang and holding down the fort for Destructo

Say My Name & Parker - For moving with us and engaging with the crowd non-stop 


Sinejan is Toronto's correspondent for EDM Canada. You can follow her on twitter: @Sinejantweets.

Read Ryan's Top 6 of Contact Festival 2017!