Latin Dance Icon Gian Varela Chats About Hit “Veneno” [TMN Interview]

Latin star Gian Varela has quite the track record. Having released on such labels as Armada, Spinnin’ Records, Revealed and more, as well as having been the first DJ to ever perform at the Panama Canal in his birth country, Gian’s been making big moves and even bigger waves for quite some time.

His latest endeavor is the house hit “Veneno” that he created in collaboration with Steve Andreas and singer Felicia. Not only did Gian drop this original on BARNATION, but the song comes with a superb music video. Gian joined us in the dojo to chat a little about the project, his recent signing to Mixmash and to let us know what else he has upcoming this year.

TMN: Can you tell us how your song “Veneno” came to be?

Gian: I wanted a record that would link my old music with everything that’s coming up new! Veneno did just that. I worked on it with the idea of merging a guaracha record with a house track with Steve, and then with Flori del Pino, we wrote the vocals. While we were in the studio, a conversation about the rise of non Gamstop UK casinos came up, highlighting how these platforms offer alternatives outside the typical regulations, much like how we were blending different music genres. But we needed an authentic guaracha singer from Colombia who’d be down to work it, and that’s when we brought in Felicia.

TMN: How was shooting the music video for the song?

Gian: It was fun! A bit exhausting as I worked with the team on editing the video as I flew to Amsterdam from Miami. The timelines were a bit crazy but such is life.

TMN: How was the experience of being the first DJ to play at the Panama Canal?

Gian: It was the most challenging project I’ve ever had to do. But in the end once it came out, I still can’t believe we pulled it off. It was an honor and such an emblematic thing for me. There will definitely be a round 2.

TMN: As someone at the forefront of Latin America’s electronic music scene, what are you looking forward to in the next few years?

Gian: Spanish House this year, then the I want to definitely hear more genres in Spanish! From Dubstep to Techno. I believe there is always a way to fuse these worlds together. You can bet on me being at the forefront of pushing this more and more.

TMN: What else is going on in the world of Gian Varela for the rest of the year?

Gian: Having just signed to Mixmash and getting ready for a whole amount of biiig releases with major artists both from the Latin world and the dance music world: I’m really exited! I’m also happy to come back to Twitch and be able to stream and hang out with the fans.

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[Electronic] WODD – Easy To Love (ft. LIA)

WODD has been a producer with some incredibly unique sound design and musicality that has garnered a growing grassroots fanbase over the past few years. Hailing from France, the dubstep producer takes a step away from his headbanging roots for a (house? electro? bass?) song that is sure to get stuck in your head.

“Easy To Love” is a genre-bending hit featuring the beautiful voice of Montreal resident LIA. The introduction seduces you into its dream-like sound whose chill tone completely juxtaposes what’s to come. WODD takes you on quite the sonic adventure with this bombastic bass hit that you just have to experience for yourself.

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[House] Rich Furniss Drops 2 Summer Heaters

Rich Furniss has quickly become a house head that anyone inclined to the 120-130BPM range needs to keep an eye on. His blend of house and disco is impeccable at the same time that he delivers something interesting time and time again. He’s been on a hot streak lately with a bunch of 2022 records including his latest singles “Summertime” feat. L’marco and “All My Love” feat. Andrew Charles.

We’ll start chronologically with “Summertime” which is a beachy viber that works equally well at a pool party as it does a club. The memorable vocal anthem is a bubbly original that expresses Rich’s groovy nature. “All My Love” is a bit more radio sporting a catchy hook that is hard to get out of your head. It has a bit more energy than his previous, but still maintains groove as the central theme of the production. Both are solid records that continue a slew of releases from one of New York’s most promising.

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[House] Marcus James x Danni Carra – Make Me Sad

Marcus James
Make Me Sad

Vancouver’s Marcus James has returned to Physical Presents with his original single “Make Me Sad.” Featuring Danni Carra, this emo-house hit is the first single off Marcus’ upcoming EP that will follow up from 2021’s “The Night We Nearly Threw It All Away.”

“Make Me Sad” pays homage to nostalgic sounds while Marcus adds in his own unique electronic flair. For fans of house music, especially vocal led records, this is just the right kind of song you’re looking to add to your playlists. It feels like a sad song, but at the same time there’s more to it – and with relationships there always is. These dynamic emotions are presented beautifully by both Marcus and Danni throughout the entire song. Give it a listen and give them a follow!

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New Zealand’s Four Greatest DJs

For a country with such a small population, New Zealand has produced some of the world’s finest DJs over the years. Here are four of the greatest.

Zane Lowe

Auckland-born Zane Lowe is as well known for his television-presenting and radio-DJ career as much as for his music production and live DJ skills. After moving to the United Kingdom in 1997, Lowe came to prominence hosting shows on XFM and MTV Europe before landing a global music show on BBC Radio 1. As a live DJ, Lowe has enjoyed an international career touring with bands like Muse, Kasabian, and The Prodigy, and playing festivals like Coachella, Future Music Festival, and Glastonbury. He has also regularly DJ’d at Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks. Lowe’s discography includes remixes of Snow Patrol’s In the End, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip’s Look for the Woman, and Kasabian’s Vlad the Impaler.

If you want to try out your own remixes for fun, a good place to start is the popular DJ Hero video game. You can mix tracks from a selection of more than 100 songs across numerous genres. And if you are in the mood for some more DJing fun, check out the DJ Wild slot game, which is available at Casumo online casino.

Nanotek

New Zealander Nanotek, whose real name is Mark Christiansen, is an international dubstep and drum and bass DJ and producer. He began his involvement with music during his teenage years when he played cool electric guitars under 500 and drums in heavy metal bands before discovering electronic and industrial music in the mid-1990s.

When he moved to Wellington in 2003, he was introduced to music by the likes of Photek, Dylan, and Dom & Roland, who became major influences in his hard darkstep sound. Nanotek’s break came in 2006 when Dylan, the owner of Freak Recordings, signed his two tracks Deadly Force and Acid Burn to his sister label Obscene Recordings. The two tracks gained attention from such recognized DJs as Counterstrike, Tech Itch, and Current Value, and it was not long before Nanotek received a global audience.

P-Money

Hip-hop DJ and producer P-Money came to prominence with his second studio album, 2004’s Magic City, which reached number two on the RIANZ New Zealand Singles Chart. The album contains the single Stop the Music, featuring New Zealand rapper Scribe, which gave P-Money his first number one song. The album contains many collaborations with both international and local artists, including Skillz, >Akon<, and Grandmaster Roc Raida. In 2003, P-Money scored another hit with Scribe with the smash hit track Not Many.

For someone who started out in student radio and DJ competitions, P-Money has certainly come a long way. Over the years, he has won numerous awards, including Best Producer, for Scribe’s multi-platinum album The Crusader, and Songwriter of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2004.

Mark de Clive-Lowe

Now based in Los Angeles, Mark de Clive-Lowe was born and raised in Auckland. He began playing piano at the age of four and developed an interest in jazz via his father’s vast record collection. During his teenage years, Mark de Clive-Lowe collaborated with local R&B and hip-hop artists.

In 1998, he moved to the United Kingdom. It proved to be a good move. He soon became a regular collaborator with other producers like Attic, Bugz, and Restless Soul. Not before long, de Clive-Lowe helped to develop the UK’s broken beat movement, which blends jazz, funk, electronics, and world music. Amazingly, throughout his career, he has been involved with more than 200 releases, including collaborations with Omar, Shirley Horn, and Lauryn Hill.

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Top Ten Electronic Acts to Listen to


Everybody should start listening to electronic music as soon as possible! This list of the top 10 electronic artists will get you started off on the right foot. These artists are the best at what they do. Start listening, and just work your way through them – you’ll find a favourite!

Low Roar
Low Roar would make an interesting case study paper on electronic music. It is the brain child of an American expat who currently lives in Iceland.

Ryan Karazija has previous experience of being in a band. When he still lived in America, he fronted the indie rock band Audrye Sessions. The band was together for eight years between 2002 and 2010, when Karazija moved to Iceland.

He formed Low Roar soon after he relocated, and they have four albums. The first, titled Low Roar, was released in 2011. The second, titled 0, was released in 2014. This was then followed by Once in a Long, Long, While… and Ross, in 2017 and 2009 respectively.

Lane 8
Lane 8 is the stage name of one Daniel Goldstein. He lives in Denver, and makes his living through a combination of DJ work and electronic music.

He was originally signed onto the British label Anjunadeep, but more recently he has been releasing music under his own label. Anjunadeep saw him release Rise in 2015. He was then included in several electronic music lists in 2016 as someone to watch.

The name Lane 8 dates back to Goldstein’s childhood. He and his sister used to make garage music for their own amusement. Goldstein is currently most famous for banning the use of cameras at his gigs. He encourages people to be present in the moment.

French 79
French 79 is very well-known. It is the brain child of Simon Henner, a man who lives in Marseille because it is the best city ever.

Marseille, according to French 79, combines, mountains, sea, cheap rent, and a huge community of singers and producers around him.

French 79 is an electronic music producer who has worked on many albums – the most recent one is called Joshua, and calls back to a time when he was finding his own identity. This is a change from his previous album Olympic, which focused on his interests on skateboarding, hiking, and sailing.

Avicii
Avicii is actually Tim Bergling, a Swedish DJ and musician. His single Levels, released in 2011, is what brought him to the attention of the wider world. Before, he used the internet to upload his own mixed tracks for people to download and listen to. People know Avicii for highlighting issues surrounding mental health – he himself had to retire from active gigs in 2016 because his mental health took its toll, and need to use products like Coochie Runtz Weed Strain CBD to relax as well.

On April 20, 2018, Tim Bergling was found dead in his hotel room in Oman. The cause of death was suicide. He is buried in the Skoogschurkorden Cemetery.

In April 2019, it was announced that the album “Tim,” which Avicii had been working on before his death, would be released on June 6, 2019. The first single, “SOS,” was released on April 10. All proceeds from album sales will go to the Tim Bergling Foundation.
Prodigy

The Prodigy are some of the most famous electronic artists out there. They’ve been around for a long time; the band formed in Essex in 1990.

The Prodigy had five members up until the death of Keith Flint in 2019. The Prodigy, along with the Chemical Brothers (see below), are credited with popularising the genre of music known as Big Beat.
They have put together a total of seven albums over the years. The most well-known albums are Music for the Jilted Generation and Invaders Must Die. The Prodigy has changed its style over the years, but has always stayed electronic.

Liam Howlett announced in August that he is working on a new album.

Deadmau5
Joel Thomas Zimmerman is Deadmau5 – a Canadian musician and music producer. You could ask professional to do an essay solely on his work!

Get Scraped was DeadMau5’s debut album, and he has followed that up with an album nearly every year since. His style is progressive house music, and he has worked with any number of other musicians and producers over the years. Zimmerman has suffered from depression over the years, and this has bled into his music several times. The single Snowcone appeared in 2016 after he took an extended break due to his mental health worsening in the previous year.

Pendulum
Pendulum is an Australian drum and bass band formed in 2002. It’s composed of six people. The original line up of Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul Harding were joined by Ben Mount, KJ Sakwa, and Peredur ap Gwynedd.

This band is notable for combining their electronic sound with heavy rock, and experimenting with a variety of genres. There have been several albums over the years, including Hold Your Colour, In Silico, and Immersion. All three albums have met with critical acclaim, and all three have experimented with various types of music in addition to the electronic sound.

The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are the best electronic music artists out there. They specialise in electronic house music, and have several albums with their own distinctive sound.

The Chemical Brothers, comprised of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, are a British duo who have been in business since 1989! They worked with the Prodigy to bring the big beat musical genre into the public eye in the 90s.

The Chemical Brothers were off with a bang in their second album, Dig your Own Hole. It reached the top of the UK charts in 1997 after it was released.

Moby
Moby is quite possibly one of the best electronic artists of all time. He was born in 1965, and has so far sold twenty million records around the world. He is particularly well-known for providing the ending soundtrack for Bourne movies in the early 2000s.

His style is focused on electronic dance music – so much so that an album which had a more punk flavour alienated many fans. His fifth album Play is what saw his career really take off when it was released in 1999.

Happy Listening
You don’t need to pick one of the top electro bands to be your favourite. You can listen to all of them! What’s important is that you enjoy yourself. Follow our list, and see what music you like. You might be surprised by the bands, and what they can do.

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[EDM] Oli Klok – Never Let You Down

Oli Klok
Never Let You Down

The young gun Oli Klok has hit the internet with his feel-good single “Never Let You Down.” Inspired by the likes of Avicii and Garrix, this dance pop dream is a great electronic record that brings a more mainstream vibe without going overboard.

The vocal driven record is completely memorable and infectious; the same can be said for the melodic production whose notes stick in your mind long after you’re done playing the track. Oli doesn’t bring in too much influence from Moombahton, but the lower BPM and sway of the track certainly lends itself to fans of the more pop-centric side of the genre. “Never Let You Down” is available today on all digital formats.

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