Markus Schulz explains to his fans why he needs to create commercial vocal tracks

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Because commercial vocal tracks are played on the radio and more radio plays = local promoters will book you. ​That's what Markus Schulz told his fans on his own message board who were critical of the more commercial sounds coming from his new Album Scream.

Guys like Dash Berlin, Avicii...etc have all blown up seemingly overnight just because of radio play. Many of these "producer" type DJs are playing mainstage sets ONLY because of their radio presence. Whether or not they can even mix is irrelevant.​

He also makes the point that the new album is 23 tracks long which gives a little something for everyone: ​

I realized that not every track will be for everyone. That is why I made an album diverse and with 23 tracks. most albums are 10 tracks. I am sure you guys can find 10 tracks on here you would put on your ipod and enjoy.​

Markus gives us some added insight into the dog eat dog world of DJ bookings and how it feels as a DJ when he plays something that does not please the crowd: ​

If I do not have a big enough presence in the scene, you can forget about listening at home because the radio show will be cancelled. You can look at Sirius as the first example of that. They have cut the GDJB down to only the first hour to make room for guys who have radio hits right now. There is now big pressure to keep up or be pushed aside. The sad fact is 90% of the tunes I play on a normal GDJB (which are amazing), flop in a live set. When I say flop, I am talking nobody moving on the floor, people leaving, people flipping you off and yelling to play harder. I have seen it all. This is a pretty uncomfortable feeling when you have the promoter who books you standing in the booth with you. You either realize quickly that you better rock the club or you will not be booked back.​

I sincerely hope that the Global DJ Broadcast will keep on playing on forever, if you must charge me for this opportunity I would gladly pay it because it's that good. Markus digs deeper than most Trance podcasts that I know of to bring us some fresh tunes to listen to every week. If that goes away I believe the Trance scene would actually suffer a major blow. ​

I have a thought.... Maybe Trance music is heading back underground? Just as long as I still have TATW-ASOT broadcast events and podcasts, and amazing clubs like Circus Afterhours, Guvernment, and Stereo then I'm good to go.

This is what I know, Markus Schulz tickets at Stereo Nightclub in Montreal were SOLD OUT at least a month in advance so that shows me that there is strong demand for his rabbit hole style sets.

Keep on doing what you're doing Markus, you have my full support.

(Source: Markus Schulz Message Board)​

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Dirty South announced 'City of Dreams' Tour that include Canadian stops in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary

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​Dirty South announced a North American tour named after his latest single collaboration with Alesso named 'City of Dreams' which currently sits at #2 on the Beatport 100:

Dirty South's Canadian tour stops include: ​

Click on these links for ticket information. 

Armin Van Buuren DJ setup + interview

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Armin shows the world how he can DJ live with proper video syncing:

​If you go around the world and make crazy money with pre-programmed sets then you're doing it wrong and eventually we will all find out. If you are to convince me to go out to your show then I fully expect to see live DJ'ing with a point of view that I won't get anywhere else. Is that too much to ask? I hope not.

And here's a GREAT interview from the man himself talking about his passion for the craft while giving out advice to the next generation of DJs:

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I wish there was more Trance at Electric Zoo

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Looking at this year's Electric Zoo lineup makes me a little sad as a trance fan. With the exception of Above & Beyond and the Group Therapy tent on Day 1 I feel there is far too little trance at one of the largest outdoor festivals in North America. 85,000 fans will descend to New York over Labour Day weekend and I fear that most of them will not be able to experience the euphoria and downright pounding beats that one can take in at a bona fide trance event.

At last year's Electric Zoo I found that the bookings struck just the right balance of trance acts vs. the other genres with Markus Schulz and Gareth Emery at the Hilltop Arena​ on Day 1; A&B on the main stage while Ferry Corsten/Andy Moor/Mat Zo/ATB/Sean Tyas B2B Simon Patterson on Day 2; Gabriel & Dresden, Kyau & Albert and others were playing at the Red Bull Riverside while none other than Armin Van Buuren was the final headlining act on the Main Stage to round out the weekend. Not bad.

What do we have this year? Above & Beyond will be headlining the Group Therapy Stage with Ferry Corsten, Mat Zo, G&D, and others will be supporting the trance friendly tent while Marcus Schossow will be the sole trance representative playing an early time slot on the Main Stage​ on Day 1; Above & Beyond will receive double duty honours as they will be one of the main headliners on the Main Stage while Eco and Kyau & Albert receive earlier time slots on Day 2; W&W and Dash Berlin will be the only acts spinning trance on Day 3. 

So what's the big deal? At first glance it seems like there are even more trance acts on the main stage than last year​ so why am I even complaining? There are a few reasons. For one, there is a high likelihood that there will be nothing close to 140 BPM styled trance or any tech trance played whatsoever at Electric Zoo this year. Sean Tyas & Simon Patterson brought that in spades last year.

Anjunabeats have a huge presence at this year's Electric Zoo but where are some of the acts from other major labels such as Coldharbour Recordings, Subculture, Vandit, and Perfecto Records? I wish someone like Giuseppe Ottaviani or Arnej would have made the cut. One saving grace are the official after parties as some of the trance heavyweights are set to appear like Markus, JOC, Aly & Fila, and super hot producer KhoMha. Many trance fans will flock to these events but will the EDM newcomers follow along? I'm not so sure.

​Where's Armin this year? Our greatest trance ambassador and the man responsible for spreading trance all over the world thanks to this ASOT broadcast and events will not be at Electric Zoo for the first time since its inception in 2009.

Last year I had a great time being able to jump from one tent to another to discover new genre and DJs previously unknown to me. Electric Zoo is such a great festival to discover new sounds and talents that I find myself a little sad that to see 85,000 fans, many of them newcomers to the genre, will not be able to discover more trance acts this year.

Felix Cartal's 'Ask Me Anything' + Pics from Bluesfest

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Felix Cartal was kind enough to do a 'Ask Me ​Anything (AMA)' on Reddit a few days ago. If you are a fan then you should check it out.

Someone asked him what his favourite up and coming Canadian producer was and Felix responded with Botnek, so here are a few of his tracks from Soundcloud: ​

​Felix Cartal recently performed in Ottawa last month for the Bluesfest Festival, here are some pics I took as he warmed up the crowd for Wolfgang Gartner:

​My favourite tune of that night was 'Felix Cartal - Tonight feat. Maja Ivarsson (Autoerotique Remix)' - what an absolute banger.

​​(Source: Reddit)

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