BEARLY SESSION #3 - D'LECTRONIQUE

After a two month break we're back with a new podcast. I'm super psyched to have good friend, and DJ, Dominique D'lectronique Top do the third instalment of the BEARLY SESSIONS. I first saw D'lectronique play at a private party in Holland a few years back. She played the closing set and I remember she rocked my socks off. Dominique wasn't just cool and extremely sweet, but that same charisma also transferred through her track selection and that gives a dance floor energy. Lots of it. 

I did a small interview with D'lectronique about her thoughts behind the podcast, her career as a singer and what her favorite bear is.

How and where was this mix recorded? And what were your thoughts behind it?

This mix was recorded in my little studio at home, I have all of my gear set up there. I always record my sets and when I record something at home, I play it the same way as I would do on stage. Two technics, two iPads for midi-controlling and at the base of it all; my computer with Traktor Scratch Pro. I use the record output of my mixer for recording. 

I’d love to expand my setup someday, but the way I have it setup now gives me pretty much all the control I need when I play. On a side note, I recorded the whole set in one take. When I started recording mixtapes, I used to start over and over when I messed it up.
For this mix I really wanted to give you a peak inside my head, these two hours are a pretty decent representation of who D’lectronique is.

Tell us a little bit about the name “D’lectronique”?
I was 18 when I started DJing and I wanted to have a cool stage name, something that would fit me perfectly. So, I started thinking. My name, Dominique, is french. I play electronic music. Musique D’electronique is the french term for electronic music. My DJ name started out as "Dominique 'Lectronique", but I soon decided to skip the 'ominique'. D’lectronique had a better ring to it and has been my alter-ego ever since.

And yes, I love electronics.

I’ve heard some stories about you singing through a microphone while DJing, is this true?
Yes, thats actually true! I don’t sing as much as I used to, but I was the lead singer in a band for years! Sometimes when I’m feeling silly, I grab a microphone and sing when I’m DJing.

What do you have in store for us in the near future?
I’ve been producing my own tracks again, maybe you will see those floating around the interwebs! Other than that, keep a look out on my social feeds for updates on shows and what not.

What’s your favorite bear?
The Cinnamon Bear. Because they are awesome. 

GRAZE - Ripley

Graze consists out of two producers: Adam Marshall and Christian Andersen. They released a small album together in December '13 which was received fairly well and consisted out of bass-focused tracks with a slightly somber touch. From all the eight tracks on the album, "Ripley" is the production that stood out the most for me. 

Marshall and Andersen made the bass sound as filthy as a sewer and worked with a ghastly vocal and some percussion in the background to give the entire track a melodramatic warm feeling. "Ripley" doesn't feel full-on club mode, but a few steps back. After-mode.

DJ TENNIS @ Output Brooklyn, New Years Eve 31.12.13

DJ Tennis does not only own the Life And Death label, which is one of the biggest labels of this moment because of his vision and taste in music, but he's also a boss behind the decks. This three hour set has got some killer up-and-coming Life And Death releases, including Ten Walls - Walking With Elephants and many others.This is three hours of true epicness and must've been the perfect way to start 2014. 

JOEY ANDERSON - Repulsive

WOW.

Starts of as a heavy hands-up banger with crazy synth work but progresses rather deep with a second synth that sounds more gentle and mellow. Andersons hihats have such an creative rhythm. They're full of funk and razor sharp at the same time.

"Repulsive" is original and fun to listen to. You have no idea where the track is going. Excellent release by Dekmantel.

EDUARDO DE LA CALLE - Quasi Calligraphic

Eduardo De La Calle produced "Quasi Calligraphic" with balls and intelligence. It's exciting listening to it because it sounds so original and inventive. The ingenuity with which Eduardo uses his arpeggio, after two-and-a-half minutes, to fire away those amazing chords is fascinating me. This is a masterpiece.

SLEEPARCHIVE - Elephant Island

"Elephant Island" is bleepy hypnotic techno at its best. Sleeparchive's work has been criticised a lot because his tracks are almost unplayable and they sound like they're cut out of a longer session. Critics say his releases are loops that barely seem to evolve and sound airless if you don't listen to them closely. I think his loops are pressed together so tight that they sound different on every listen. It's fascinating to listen to his productions. His approach on techno is unique. "Elephant Island" is outrageously expressive, twice the length of his other tracks and his only track with a vocal. The bleeping hypnotic melody slowly evolves into something that'll mess with your mind if played in the right setting and time. "Elephant Island" is a 5AM club nightmare that will drive you crazy on a proper sound system. 

LEVON VINCENT - ???

Levon Vincent has been in the electronic music scene for ages and is widely regarded by colleagues and fans as one of the greatest. His productions compositions and DJ skills are unmatched. Whether it's house or techno, Levon Vincent has made legendary tracks for both. 

"???" is a stripped back, raw and funky house track that is sexy and elegant in its musical spirit. If you listen to the melody here you might think your twelve year old kid brother could create something similar on the trumpet. I agree. But Vincent lays it on the track in a way that it feels boss and powerful like hell. 

The only complaint I have is that "???" ends too quickly.

SOULPHICTION - When Radio Was Boss (Jackmate Remix)

"When Radio Was Boss" is a killer track with an old school touch. Incredibly funky bassline that just bounces up and down continuously and progresses in the most groovy way imageable. The track only has a few short breaks and because of that it feels unstoppable. A killer release by Pampa Records.

MAHER DANIEL, JON CHARNIS - Lonely Stars In Open Skies (Luca Bacchetti Endless remix)

Summer is approaching and everybody wants to produce the next summer jam (read:"Gotham"). If anything, this has to be the biggest contender yet. Luca Bacchetti made one hell of a remix. Gently building for about three-and-a-half minutes, then there's a humongous break which reminds me of Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal. Hopkins created an unexpected shift in the melody there and Bacchetti did the same here during the break. This is exciting stuff. 

I'm psyched because this isn't your typical feel good summer jam. "Lonely Stars In Open Skies" isn't dripping with happiness and joyful feelings. Instead, It'll put a dirty smile on your face and you'd wanna dance your ass off. 

JOY ORBISON - Big Room Tech House DJ Tool

Straight up dirty stuff. I haven't heard anything like this in a long while. Found "Big Room Tech House DJ Tool" in one of Midland's sets and was blown away by Orbison's creativity. Would love to see a floor react to this kind of magic.

PVS - Arsenal (Ctrls remix)

Ctrls with a sharp edged techno track released on M_Rec. "Arsenal" has a 3/4 beat which gives the track a drum and bass feeling and makes it attack from a different corner then what you might expect. The distinctive electronic sounds make this the perfect dancefloor monster.

LITERON - Freak Function

Literon, Gerd's techno disguise, created a raw beastlike sound that has a shit load of solid funk and is designed for dancing. "Freak Funktion" sounds ridiculously cool.

TRIPEO - Untitled #1

Hypnotic techno. As soon as you think you've figured "Untitled #1" out, it just sidesteps on you. You're always one step behind, whether you like it or not. Those seven minutes of playtime are definitely worth it because you can never predict the direction Tripeo's going with his track. 

MY #1 TRACK FOR 2013

Almost ten months ago I posted "Siglum" as the second track ever on the Muziekbeer. For me, this remix by Duyster has never lost it's magic. Every time I listen to it I'm stupefied by the synthesisers. They scream and shout so loud it's ridiculous yet Duyster finds room to let them sound peaceful and serene. 

The other tracks of my list:
- #2
- #3
- #4
- #5

MY #2 TRACK FOR 2013

Max Cooper is one of the most influential deejays at this moment. With his experimental electronica he either hits an emotional snare or he just blows you away. And when I first listened to "Walls" I was blown away.

The other tracks of my list:

- #3

- #4

- #5

MARCEL DETTMANN - Lightworks

In an old interview with Ben Klock I learned how fascinated Dettmann and him are with the whole idea of minimalism. I suddenly understood why Klock titled his album One and Marcel named his I. Putting as little as possible in your tracks and still make them sound challenging and fascinating is an interesting process. How much, or how little, is needed to grab your attention? Only Marcel Dettmann knows the answer to that question.

TREVINO - Juan Two Five

Heard Steffi play this on the mix CD Panorama Bar 05. Which is the most recent release from Ostgut Ton.

Trevino produces both house and techno. I didn't realise at first how different he sounds when you compare his stuff. "Forged", for example, is one-hundred percent techno and  "Juan Two Five" is more peaceful, spacious and houselike. And guess what? Both are released in 2012 and both are spot on.

JOSH WINK - Sprung Minimism

End your year with a bang. End your year with "Sprung Minimism". It's the biggest bang that I've ever heard. It's so big that Josh Wink almost self-destructs it after three minutes.

MY #3 TRACK FOR 2013

Makson's "Oeuvre" is a masterpiece. One of the most impressive tracks I've heard this year. Nine minutes of experimental electronic music with crazy synthesizers and some Max Cooper-like glitches. 

This is what a modern-day Beethoven would sound like. 

The other tracks of my list:
- #4
- #5

ROD - Hux

ROD has a keen eye for techno. His dj-sets are filled with literally anything. Whether it's deep and more dubby or droning and dark as hell. ROD has a wicked taste for music. 

"Hux" is a more deep and slow acid techno track then "Anindica" which is the other tune by ROD on Klockworks 11. The acid groove isn't very present and just lurks in the background for quite a while. If you listen to "Anindica" you'll notice these tracks are complete opposites of one another. I really like the sharp hihats and loud snares with their ever-changing rhythms. They never interfere with anything else on the track. It's all perfectly balanced. 

You can listen to the other track on Klockworks 11 here.