Meet Justin Prime!
A highly talented Dutch DJ and sound engineer graduate, there’s no doubt this guy has got the skills! Prime and Showtek took over the charts world wide with their instant hit ‘Cannonball’. Justin has received one platinum-plated record and two golden records for this track. He is currently working behind the scene with several top-notch names in the music industry. This super talented DJ/Producer has spent only a few years in the trade so far but he already has released tracks under the highly acclaimed labels like Musical Freedom, Spinnin’, Def Jam and Ultra Records. Prime also remixed Jenifer Lopez, Flo Rida, Rihanna and David Guetta to name but a few. He also worked with the legendary U2 singer Bono. Currently Justin is demolishing dance floors all around the globe with his bangin’ originals like: Thunderbolt, Cannonball and Poing! After teaming up with We Are Loud for ‘Drowning’ and ‘Tomorrow Sounds’, Justin Prime has come forth with a smash song of his own. Through ‘Wasteland’, the Dutch DJ, producer and sound engineer offers a splendid crossover song, released on the Amsterdam-based record label Armada Music. Listen to Justin Prime feat. Cristi Vaughan - Wasteland An infectious blend of electronic music and pop-flavored deliciousness, ‘Wasteland’ is a song that sticks. Comprising the silky vocals of U.S.-based songstress Cristi Vaughan and big-synth melodies that have listeners reeling for more, it not only serves as a testament to the Dutchman’s production skill, but also paves the way for many more of his whiffs of brilliance to follow. 1.Where did you found the inspiration to produce “Wasteland”? At the beginning of 2016 I decided that I wanted to expand my horizon as a musician. I didn't feel happy anymore in my own studio, with the music I was creating and where I was heading to. I'm that kind of person who get's pretty bored after sticking with something for too long. I always want to reinvent and keep developing myself as a musician. I started to feel caged and not able to express myself, based on what I thought people would expect from me. Now I understand that the person who caged me, was actually me. Music must come from the hearth, and that's exactly what I decided to do. So I pushed the reset button and looked into the mirror, searching for myself, who I am as a person, what I feel and what makes me happy. I started to play new instruments, and I don't only produce, but also write my own lyrics now. 'Drowning' and 'Tomorrow Sounds' were one of the first songs were I've set a new sound for myself, and so it only came natural with Wasteland. That doesn't mean I won't make club records anymore, so don't worry ;) 2. Could you elaborate a little more about your collaboration with Cristi Vaughan? I received Cristi's vocal through my manager, and I immediately felt that mellow kinda vibe. I was like “wow.. this vocal is pretty neat, I need to work on this one”. So Basically I just got behind my piano and started playing around with the chords progression and once that was done the rest followed naturally. In most cases you first start off producing the instrumental and then create the top line. With this project I actually worked the other way around an let Cristi's vocal guide me through the whole production. Because the vocals are so dreamy, I didn't want to transform the song into a standard 128bpm dance track, but rather create this laid back kinda vibe which compliments the vocal. 3. How and why you started your music career? Who inspired you the most? In my family it's normal to play music. Everybody plays a piano, guitar, saxophone or sings. My grandfather was a really good musician and he could play so many different instruments that it's actually ridiculous, not to mention he was a really good singer too. When I was 5 years old, my mom told me I had to choose an instrument to play. So I chose the piano (good choice afterwards) , so my mom bought me my first electric piano and my grandfather started to school me twice a week and give me homework. Sometimes I didn't felt like it, and I just wanted to play my Super Nintendo. But he could tell exactly when I haven't done my homework, and as punishment I had to practice for another hour or so hahaha. When I became 16 years old I started to produce my own songs with Fruiyloops and quickly switched over to Cubase. I received my first record deal when I was 18 years old. As a child I used to listen a lot to Michael Jackson and a lot of American pop bands. I also listened to a lot of Dutch dance music and film score music. I think this really influenced my taste for music and is also the reason why I have such a broad view based on my productions. I have two sides, dance related productions but also more pop related productions and I believe both can exist perfectly next to each other. I've actually just finished a collaboration with Onderkoffer where I also bring back a little touch of that 80's/filmscore vibe. (Can't wait to let you hear this one) 4. With which artists or vocalists would you still like to work with in the future? Sia, Adele, Ellie Goulding to name a few. I really like working with great songwriters and artistic people, they really inspire me to also get the best out of myself. 5. Any “hot news” about on your future projects or special gigs around the globe? Yeah I have a lot of new songs coming up. Wasteland has just been released, so for those who haven't checked it yet, it's out now on Spotify, iTunes and every major portal. And on June 16th my next single 'Light It Up' is coming out on Armada. 6. What's your favourite DAW? And which VST or instrument you like to use more? Definitely Steinberg Cubase. I think I'll keep using this DAW for a very long time. I still like using the Sylenth VST and Serum for some of my lead sounds, and I actually used my Virus Ti2 hardware synthesiser again today. Ohh and Kontakt, there are some killer banks out there like Exhale, Signal, Gravity and some more. I also recommend everyone to buy an UAD card for mixing/mastering purposes, because it really makes a difference. Make sure to follow Justin Prime on: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter DJ, producer and remixer: Paolo Ortelli aka Spankers has had over 80 licenses worldwide, a result achieved thanks to his first three singles. The hit "Sex On The Beach" peaked at number one in Japan, South Korea, Israel and the Czech Republic and was included in TV series such as CSI Miami and Jersey Shore. Always in high demand as a remixer for Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Bob Sinclar, DJ Antoine, Pikotaro, Sia and most recently Enrique Iglesias. The track "Main Street Electrical Parade" (Spankers Remix) was included in the prestigious compilation "Electronic Disney Music" together with tracks from Daft Punk and Avicii. Which of your hits has had the most success in the Far East? "Sex On The Beach" sung by John Biancale, sold more than 300,000 copies and was included in Japan's official Karaoke circuit. It was number 1 in Japan, South Korea and still being played at parties in Malaysia, Thailand, the Phillippines and all of Asia. "Chupa Rico" is also popular and there is a version with the chorus in Japanese called "Pelo Pelo", "Shake It" feat Navigator, Adam Clay & Ciljeta, "Party Time" feat Fatman Scoop and Machel Montano which was released only in Japan and South Korea in 2014. I am now ready for a worldwide re-release of a new version produced together with DJ Antoine. Then "Gangsta Walk" feat Snoop Dogg and Coolio and many other tracks from the 3 albums released in Japan in the last years: "365" (2012), "Party Time" (2014) and "Sex On The Beach" (2016) Which of your remixes do you like the most? I would have to say "Slow Down" by Selena Gomez, because it reached number 1 on the prestigious Billboard Chart. Then, of course it was an honor to work on Britney Spears' "Tik Tik Boom", producing official remixes for Bob Sinclar, like "Rock This Party" and "World Hold On", "Cinderella", "Summer Moonlight", "Feel The Vibe" and "Someone Who Needs Me". "Thank You", "Dancing In The Headlights" and now "La Vie En Rose" by DJ Antoine, 2016's viral smash "PPAP" by Pikotaro, the remix of "Strange" by LP and to my great satisfaction "Subeme La Radio" by Enrique Iglesias, which, at this moment, a few days after release is in the Billboard Top 50. You just met Enrique Iglesias during his concert in Milan. Tell us all about it. It was fantastic to receive compliments directly from Enrique, which I want to share with my production team: Max Mylian and Dani Loco. It is impossible to describe the emotion of assisting his concert backstage. I hope to work with him again soon. I would like to thank my A&R Grammy nominated Rodney Hill for making it happen and the guys at Sony Music. You are a superstar in Asia. Where have you played? Since 2010, I have done different tours in Japan and a few in South Korea, in big cities like Seoul and Busan. I must say that it was exciting for me to play at the Ageha in Tokyo, that is sort of a closed arena, which can house thousands of people, the Giraffe in Osaka for the warmth of the clubbers of that crazy city, the Red festival in Nagoya, the Vanity Club, always in Tokyo, located on the top floor of a Roppongi skyscraper and from which, whilst in the DJ booth, you can see all of the city. Is it true that your oriental fans are the hottest? I love my oriental fans, they have no barriers. They show you exactly how they are feeling, are very humble and respectful, as is their culture. The first time I set foot in a club in Japan (it was in 2010) I was shocked by the fact that they were all dancing to "Sex On The Beach", copying the choreography from the official video. It was incredible! How did your love affair with the Far East start? Naturally and through my frequent visits. Everything happened thanks to the success of "Sex On The Beach". I love their sane and at the same time crazy desire to have fun, but always respectfully! In June your "Football" remix will be released. I immediately loved the idea of "Papu Dance" which is influenced by the dances that the Argentine footballer Papu Gomez always does after scoring goals, that have become viral. A track born from the collaboration with DJ Matrix and the comedy trio Autogol, profits of which will go to charity. My official remix of the track will be released this month. Another track will be ready this month: "Heart Of Mine" with Chris Willis, made together with Marco Farouk. Also, check out my tune and video for "Cock It Up" on Youtube, sung by Timeka Marshall and which features choreography by the amazingly talented Tanisha Scott, who also appears in the video. Tanisha choregraph for Rihanna and was the one who did Drake's Hotline Bling video and many more. Amongst your next releases/remixes we can find one produced with the Korean DJ Second Night. Yes, I had one of my crazy ideas, that was to use the word "LOL" as a "sample" in a record. A real viral hit! Hilarious! I decided to make this production at "4 hands" with the famous Korean DJ and model Second Night and with the voice of Zelig comedians Kevin James Beetlestone and Leah Dawson. I am sure that the best starting point for these kind of products can only be found in the Far East! Make sure to follow Paolo Ortelli on: Facebook - Instagram - Twitter - Youtube - Youtube by Spankers - Soundcloud Press Photos Credits: Sabrina Conforti SCstile Paolo Ortelli and Enrique Iglesias Photo Credits: Francesco Prandoni
BLVCKPRINT, Belgium based DJ/Producer is driven by a persistent love for music. No matter where he is performing or what tracks he is playing, He always focused on the synergy between music and audience. Along with his undeniable mixing skills, BLVCKPRINT has the talent to gauge a crowd by dropping the perfect beat at just the right moment. BLVCKPRINT signed tracks on Armada Music/Universal Music, with huge supports from some of the biggest DJ's in the scene like David Guetta, Tiesto, Danny Avila, Wolfpack, Blasterjaxx, Bassjackers and many others. - First of all, we want to know. How did it all start for you? For me it all started at home like most dj's and producers. Buying my first set-up and playing small time events getting a name for myself. This all changed in a Fast-Tempo when i got signed on Armada Music and got supported by legends like David Guetta, Yves-V, Wolfpack, Swanky Tunes, Blasterjaxx... That same year i signed my second record deal at Universal Music for an official remix for Bizzey (Yellow Claw). Keeping the level high with releases on Ensis Records and even releasing my first music video for my latest release -Got To Be There-. Getting in contact with the big boy's in the game felt like an honor to me and even working with them in the studio is still a dream come true. I went from my small bedroom studio to a big mainstage to perform and even getting invited on stage as New Blood by Wolfpack during their Festival show. - At the beginning of your career, what was the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome? Getting on stage was never really hard for me, the hardest part or most fragile part is playing a track you just made and never played before. Looking how the crowd react's to it and adjusting it afterwards until it's perfect to release. - What would you say the most exciting aspect of today’s dance music scene is? I like where the scene is going because nobody play's a single genre anymore. All genre's are thrown together in a high level set and this offers the crowd a hell of a exciting experience of dj set to listen to. This also means for my latest release i got the support from an artist who would may not play this kind of style of track in their set a few years ago. Artistes like Timmy Trumpet, Danny Avila, Yves-V,.. they all supported this tropical house track . - What else do you have in store for the following months? I am working on a follow-up for my latest release -Got To Be there- Focusing on the Summer-Tropical kinda vibe with a groovy vocal on top of it. Also at the end of may my newest track together with the guy from Stereo Troopers is releasing on Arrogate. For this track we focused on the upcoming Belgian Festival Summer for a mainstage vibe to it. We are also planning to perform a live version of Got To Be There on some other festivals with Oliver Lord starting at Dreambeats festival. Follow BLVCKPRINT: www.facebook.com/blvckprin https://twitter.com/teamblvckprint https://www.instagram.com/blvckprint_
London born multi-threat Charlotte Devaney is a woman who wears many hats.
From the bright lights of Hollywood where she starred in hit film ‘How To Lose Friends and Alien- ate People’, to spinning at some of the world’s most prestigious nightclubs, Charlotte added another notch to her belt, taking her passion for music & unique sense of humour into the studio. Since beginning DJ’ing on the club circuit, Charlotte has taken her unique sound to all four corners of the globe, regularly playing to packed crowds from Croatia to Qatar, Thailand to Turkey, India to Italy, Bali to Barbados and everywhere in between! She has DJ’ed at prominent events for many high profile people and brands such as Fashion TV, Carlsberg, GQ Magazine, Vogue Magazine for London Fashion week, Beats by Dre, Roger Taylor from Queen, Nikki Beach and R&B star Akon. Always innovative and game changing, a set from Charlotte can contain a mix of anything from House, EDM, Trap & Hip Hop... anything that gets her fans going wild and having a great time! With Charlotte also MCing and performing live vocals throughout her sets, she has become notorious for her high-energy performances that guarantee to get a crowd rocking!
Through her well-established DJ career, Charlotte has developed a deep understanding of what makes a great dance hit. With this knowledge, Charlotte’s new take on quirky but crossover dance music comes to life on her new single, ‘Flip It’, featuring none other than Snoop Dogg. The track is bass-loaded, bounce-playful and injected with Ibiza-style vibes. Just try to get that whistle hook out of your head!
At the start of 2016 Flip It was certified Gold by ARIA the Official Australian Charts Company, in March 2016 it was certified Platinum. It reached no.12 in the singles chart, no.1 in the Dance Chart and continues its way around the world!
Our interview with Charlotte
1. When did you start DJing - and what or who were your early passions and influences? I started Djing in 2010 but have been going out and loving various genres from a very young age, my early influences were mainly drum & bass artists such as Fabio & Grooverider, DJ Randall , LTJ Bukem, Bad Company, DJ Fresh and many more, but ive also taken alot of influence from artists such as Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes. House music i fell in love with when i used to podium dance at Pacha in London, where dj's such as the Freemasons turned my head and made me fall in love! 2. What single night out has been the most memorable for you? As a DJ? As an attendee? Now your asking!! Ive had many amazing nights over the years , ive been lucky enough to travel all over the world and play at some sick parties!. If i had to pick one would probably be a festival i played on the beach in Barbados that was dope or when i played for Carlsburg for Wheres the Party festival on a paradise island in Malaysia! As an attendee you cant beat Ibiza clubs, Amnesia , Space, Ushuaia etc or Miami WMC , festivals such as Ultra had some amazing times over there. 3. If you could eternally be stuck in one year's music scene, which year would it be? Id probably go back to 2004 , House Music was fun with tracks such as Call on me , and Hip Hop was also in an amazing place. 4. What’s your favourite artist in the dance music scene at moment? I have quite a few, my taste is very versatile! Autoerotique, Mark Knight, Arman Van Helden, Moksi, Tujamo , Steve Aoki , Diplo, Oliver Heldens, Carnage, Makj, Calvin Harris, Flaremode, Jax Jones and many more! 5. Who would you love to DJ with & why? Id love to DJ with Busta Rhymes on the mic, that would be a great show, as he would hype up the crowd to another level! 6. What's your backup plan if there's an equipment malfunction? I use Serato to DJ with , but always got my usb and hard drive if that fails! 7. If you could stage a rave anywhere, where would you choose? Id love to do a rave on one of the bridges in london overlooking the thames during the summer with all my friends around me, that would be cool! 8. What do you do outside of the music scene? I love animals and do alot of work for animal rights, i also manage and develop other artists. 9. What advice would you give to up and coming Dj's/MC's? Take advise from others, but always listen to yourself and what you feel is right, also never give up as in this business you never know whats round the corner! As we know, Charlotte Devaney's super hit single "Flip It" featuring Snoop Dogg, received several remixes from big names like Erick Morillo, Tommie Sunshine, Wideboys, Flaremode and others. In additional for 2017, Charlotte comes up with 2 brand new exclusive remixes from Hard Lights, R-Cue, BLKWHT & Gummy Kid.
Hard Lights (DJ Mag MY resident) teamed up with Australian well established DJ/Producer R-Cue with a low tempo remix, features heavy synths and high pumped basslines, uplifting vibes would most certainly be a crowd mover.
Flip It (BLKWHT & Gummy Kid Remix)
Gummy Kid, upcoming Malaysian talent combines forces with Italian rising duo, BLKWHT to deliver a big room touch, with heavy sub basslines and striking synths, definitely an overwhelming amount of energy for any stage. The 2 remixes will be available as “FREE DOWNLOAD"! Now don't forget to listen and share this exclusive mix that Charlotte did for us this week! Continuing to rise as one of the leading lights in the music industry, 23-year-old Dutch star Sam Feldt has fully emerged as one of the most exciting artists of recent times.
At the early age of 12 Sam started his DJ career with his own DJ drive-in show, playing at birthday parties in the neighbourhood. A decade later his earliest efforts received strong tastemaker support & Spinnin’ Records picked up the joyous ‘Bloesem’ in summer 2014 and released it as his first official single together with De Hofnar, followed by ‘Hot Skin’ alongside Kav Verhouzer. To date, ‘Bloesem’ has had over 4 million plays across Spotify, YouTube and SoundCloud, making it an impressive debut. However, it was his smart reworking of Robin S’ ‘Show Me Love’ that truly catapulted him into the big leagues. First released by Spinnin’ before being picked up by Polydor / Universal, the track was an enormous hit, entering the UK Chart at an impressive #4 position, staying in the top 10 for 4 weeks, sitting pretty at No. 1 in Beatport’s Chillout Chart for over four months and hitting #1 on Shazam’s Chart – its now sold over 1 million downloads and amassed over 130 million streams to date. A Hype Machine No.1 followed in his remix of Sander Van Doorn & Firebeatz’s ‘Guitar Track’, with his remix of Naxxos’s ‘New Orleans’ reaching the Beatport Deep House Top 15, and a slew of hits on Spinnin’ followed. Tracks like ‘Midnight Hearts’ with The Him and ANGI3, ‘Drive You Home’ with The Him & The Donnies The Amys and ‘Been A While’ have continued to dominate charts and rack up many millions of plays. Following original material & remixes for the likes of Avicii and Icona Pop, the time was right for Sam to work on his first EP. Following the release of ‘Been A While’ EP - 2016 has been a monumental year for Sam, having already showcased the new live elements for his performances at Ultra Miami, Coachella & EXIT festival. Amidst Ibiza residencies alongside Kygo, Klingande & Bakermat – he performed debut sets at Tomorrowland & played several debut shows in Asia, as part of his Asian Tour. Sam completed his US Tour with fellow Dutch producer Bakermat for their ‘From Amsterdam With Love’ Tour. The two-month tour saw the duo play spectacular shows in various cities across North America, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Houston, Toronto and Vancouver to name a few. In addition to his weekly Heartfeldt Radio shows which have collectively amassed over half a million streams online, as well as his re-edits for Birdy’s ‘Wild Horses’, Janiek ‘Feel The Love’ & Rob Thomas ‘Pieces’, Sam’s collaborative release alongside Lucas & Steve for ‘Summer On You’ feat. Wulf dominated the charts & radio airplay in native Holland. ‘Summer On You’ reached #7 in the NL Shazam chart and later amassed nearly 6 million Spotify Streams and received platinum status in Holland. October 2016, marks a number of firsts for the Dutch hitmaker. Ahead of this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event, Sam launched his brand new fan engagement portal, ‘Heartfeldt.me’. In collaboration with Fangage.me, Sam is the first artist to have his own fan engagement site, which contains new and exclusive music, competitions and behind the scenes footage of Sam’s life on the road. Also during this year’s ADE, Sam hosted his successful ‘Heartfeldt & Friends’ pool party at Sloterparkbad, Amsterdam. Bringing his tropical paradise to ADE, ‘Heartfeldt & Friends’ was the first indoor pool party in the history of the conference and events series. With a wealth of forthcoming material on the horizon, Sam Feldt is set to build on his incredible success in the new year.
DJ Kim have also played on many major festivals in Asia and of course the States. As it is in Malaysia, she have played at Play, Prime Luxury Touch, Providence, Future Music Festival and It's The Ship. Also she was featured on the cover of FHM Malaysia.
An Exclusive Interview with DJ Kim Lee
1. Tell us your journey on how you landed as a touring DJ all around Asia and the states.
Everything started about end of 2012. Before Dj'n I was doing a lot of modeling and was on the cover for magazines like FHM and Maxim all over Asia and I won #1 FHM 100 sexiest women in Singapore and I also did loads of cameos in music videos for Kanye West, Steve Aoki, LMFAO, Far East Movement just to name a new. I was also really close to the Black Eyed Peas at that time and Apl De Ap wanted to manage me as a dj and my friend Kat was like why won't we become a duo. We were barely getting shows in there was a massive press release about me being Dj'n in Asia and it was over night I was getting phone calls from my cousin said omg you're on the front page of Yahoo in Vietnam. I remember my email was full of messages from different venues trying to book us. From there we played all over Asia people were just curious about us and this is when EDM was still very new to Asia. It was very exciting for me because I got to see Asia and bring something that was going to be really big there. I remember calling Steve Aoki and was like hey! I wanna open up for u! And he was totally supportive and down for it and also Diplo supported me as well having us play at the Mad Decent Boat party twice. I'm very blessed to humbled to have many of the big respected artists support me. It definitely helps but I always knew it wasn't gonna be easy. I've learned so much these past years from being on stage touring and seeing the business side of things. 2. What are your plans for this 2K17? I have lots of stuff lined up for 2017. I'm doing lots of solo shows as well as KimKat stuff. I've been in the studio working on music. Everyone has for years been telling me to release music. I play the piano so I'm definitely gonna create my own music now. I mean I knew I had to but I wasn't ready and was so caught up with touring. I also don't want to release tracks just cause people feel like I should. My music has to be good! I gotta admit I'm very picky haha but that's a good thing. But I'm excited on what I've been working on and feel really confident about this. 3. Do you have a routine or like a "thing" you do before being on the decks? Yes! Gym before showtime! No matter how tired I am. It helps me because if you've seen my shows I'm not just on the decks. I go on stage and Mc and dance and turn the show into a PARTY! So my shows isn't about me Dj'n but I make sure you're gonna have a good time. Again I've mentioned this before Dj'n isn't like how it used to be. People come to see you and it is a performance. People like Diplo ( Major Lazer, Steve Aoki and Skrillex gets it and their shows are just on another level with dancers and production that's just amazing. 4. What was the most breakthrough moment that kept you keep going till this day? Playing at major festivals like Ultra Korea, Ultra Japan and Life in Color. That feeling of being on stage and feeling everyone's energy and it's just great vibes. I love music and I'm happy when I see people happy. 5. Who are your inspiration or who do you look up to? And why. Martin Garrix, Diplo and Steve Aoki are people who I'm great friends with. I've learned so much from them. They've been supportive of me since day one. Anyone that personally knows them will tell u they are some cool down to earth guys, hard workers and just great people with an insane work ethic. 6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I see myself settling down and running several business and I wanna help other upcoming artists. Since I came from nothing to even get where I'm at now which is just the beginning. I feel like I wanna help others out there who has big dreams, passion and ambition. 7. Any advice for the people who look up to you and wants to be like you? Have thick skin before anything because there will be people who doubt u that's just the way it is. Be consistent be original and just keep going until u get there. Learn from people who inspire you and practice on your craft and everything will fall into place. 8. 5 things that you can't live without. My family, phone, music, gym and food Kim Lee's Latest Track |