Varien & SirensCeol – Moonlight (Feat. Aloma Steele) [Monstercat]

This next jam is simply beautiful.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve championed one of the next two artists, Stephen Burke aka SirensCeol, from the most embryonic stages of his production career. Fortunately for Stephen, both his work-ethic and intellect (the man attends Berkeley University, need I say more?) have catapulted his talents to the forefront of EDM production with his unique approach to melodic dubstep and many other genres.

I vividly remember when SirensCeol opened for another enigmatic, genre-blurring production prodigy known as Savant. Josh Hernandez, the CEO of Alek’s record company (SectionZ Records) also happened to be in attendance as well.

Before the show began, I had excitedly rushed up to him and told him to pay special attention to the opening act, Stephen.

After SirensCeol performed a wicked set and was transitioning to let Aleks set up his gear, I beckoned Josh over to the front of the stage where I was standing.

“You gotta sign that artist,” I yelled over the music playing during the entr’acte, “He’s incredible.”

Josh simply smiled and gave me an ever so cool, “Yeah, maybe.”

Next thing I knew, six months later, young Stephen had released his first full-length on SectionZ Records with Josh.

Funny, huh?

Despite the fact that I love telling people ‘I told you so’, I will try my hardest to abstain here.

However, California-based producer SirensCeol has come quite a long way. This next jam with Varien will only serve to further this fact. Featuring the incredibly dulcet vocals of Aloma Steele (which Stephen himself was incredibly satisfied with), “Moonlight” reached the number one spot on Beatport’s Dubstep charts in virtually no time at all.

Let’s give a congratulatory “follow” to Varien and SirensCeol on their prospective social media outlets. I hope you enjoy this absolutely fantastic track, which was released on Monstercat…go figure.

Great work boys, keep em’ coming.

▼ Follow Varien
YouTube: www.Youtube.com/VarienOfficial
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VarienOfficial
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/VarienOfficial
Soundcloud: @VarienOfficial

▼ Follow SirensCeol
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SirensCeol
Twitter: twitter.com/SirensCeol
Soundcloud: @sirens-ceol
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/SirensCeol

Monstercat 017 – Ascension Ascends the Label Even Further

Over the past two years, I have watched this next label transform from the likes of a promising, transgenre EDM collective (with loads of potential) into the fierce jungle feline you see before you today.

Monstercat is most certainly where it’s at when discussing labels that have set the tone for the next few years of electronic dance music releases.

How, you ask?

Well, that next part is a bit tricky.

To begin, this Vancouver-based music label has elucidated talents from some of the most unheard of, eclectic groups of musicians in all of dance music. Not only have they championed said undiscovered artists onto the scene, but these new talents have proceeded to swell their fair share of waves in this vastly expanding ocean we affectionately refer to as the “EDM-o-sphere.” A quick glance at the “current roster” on the official Monstercat web page will reveal a staggering number of widely popular producers you may not have necessarily associated with MCat.

7 Minutes Dead, Astronaut, Au5, Braken, Case & Point, Direct, DotEXE, Dzeko & Torres, Droptek, Falcon Funk, Favright, Fractal, Haywyre, Hellburg, Insan3lik3, Krewella, Lets Be Friends, Mr Fijiwiji, Noisestorm, PIXL, Pegboard Nerds, Project 46, Rameses B, Razihel, Rogue, Soulero, Splitbreed, Stephen Walking, Throttle, Tristam, Tut Tut Child, Varien and Vicetone.

(Just to name a few of my favorites.)

However, words will only get me so far. You need to HEAR what I mean.

Without hesitation, the fat cats over at MC have released their 17th compilation LP to date. So far, “Monstercat 017 – Ascension” has garnered attention from every corner of the EDM world, making this their most supported album to date! With a four-hour laundry list of tracks, fantastic production quality throughout, and loads of prodigal EDM producers on top of it all, Monstercat presents to you a release that will only serve to exacerbate their stranglehold on the EDM industry.

Keep it up boys and girls.

A Change of Pace…No, Literally [Slowed Reaktion Time]

Matt Mayo of Bedfordshire, Britain (UK) is perhaps one of the most intriguing new producers I have had the privilege of stumbling upon. Besides producing some of the most emotive Drum and Bass jams I have ever heard, I strongly admire the maxim or motto Reaktion has synthesized to describe his production method and overall attitude towards life. “EZ,” presumably pronounced “easy”, has an enigmatic definition of sorts, but I think the word applies best when listening to Matt’s music.

According to Reaktion’s SoundCloud, “ez” can mean anything and everything. However, Matt finds the exact definition can be found most appropriately in an ancient Greek saying, “σιγά, σιγά” or “slowly, slowly.” When considering giving a listen to these next few tracks off “Ephemera,” the latest EP release from Reaktion, you absolutely MUST: “take your time, relax, and keep it cool.”

You know how we do, real “ez.”

In an EDM world where almost every other producer is concerned with delivering a “fat drop” onto their audience, Matt Mayo of Reaktion offers fans a change of pace. Each track off “Ephemera EP” comes with a slow, progressive, and introspective build that lightly floats the listener across a whimsical, highly piano-infused drum and bass dream-state. This EP fits perfectly for a late night studying cram session or even a reflective cruise home after a wild night of raging.

I hope you enjoy the “Ephemera EP” by Reaktion.