Adding the vitAl ingredient to your weekend

issue 001 • JANuARY 2013

SASSe PBr StreetgAng AudiojAck PARtY PicS

PLus:audio tonic recordstesting times

CONTENTS

12

15

06

09

09

features

04 Editor’s letter 05 Audiojack07 Sasse 09 audio tonic Gallery10 Quote corner12 PBR Streetgang13 audio tonic Records 15 Testing times: Resident DJs17 Saturday Showcase

from the editor

001issuejAnuAry 2013

welcome to a new year, and welcome to a new

addition to the audio tonic family – this little magazine! it’s a light-hearted fun way to introduce you to the upcoming guests at 360°, letting you into their world and you into ours, with cool features on our ever trusted resident djs, pictures from our parties and other news on the audio tonic records imprint, plus more. 2012 played host to some of the most memorable events in 360°’s history, and since our refurbishment in September, we’ve welcomed an average of 2,000+ party goers every Friday - that’s some serious shuffling! 2013 looks set to be another stomper with our lineup ever-strong, ever forward-

thinking and ever-entertaining. this month we have 2 uAe debuts in PBr Streetgang and Audiojack and a dj/Producer/label boss who’s been in the game for a long, long time: the one, the only Sasse. our fortnightly Saturday Showcase events are also going off, and we catch up with the guys manning the ship to hear what is making the event tick! i must mention a big thank you to all our resident djs for being the ‘rocks’ of our weekly 11 hour sessions, and of course to you reading this now – the life and soul of our parties! have a fantastic year and we’ll contine adding that vital ingredient to your weekends…

Mike ‘Mr Mr’ Bufton

FeBruAry line uP S.k.A.Mkruse & nuernberg Mario Basanov

coMPetition tiMewant to win a table loaded with ‘tonic’ for you and 5 of your friends at 360° on Friday 25th jan? Simply log on to our facebook page (facebook.com/audiotonic), click on photos and find the competition flyer. All the instructions are explained from there on in – good luck!

contact info info@audiotonic.netfb.com/audiotonictwitter.com/audio_tonicaudiotonic.net

audio tonic ‘Sunset Sessions’ – every Friday from 4pm @ 360° | audio tonic ‘Saturday Showcase’ every 2nd and 4th week from 5pm @ 360°

it’s audio squared this january, as hard-hitting leeds duo Audiojack make their dubai debut on Friday january 18. Ahead of that, we spoke to jamie to talk leeds club culture, being carried across korean customs and their ever-evolving sound…

What have you heard about the city, 360° and audio tonic, the night you’re playing?

well it looks like an amazing venue and i understand it’s arguably the best club in dubai. i like the choice of international guests that have appeared previously too, it has all the ingredients for a great party in january.

Your music has evolved during your career, from techno to house, is it still moving and evolving or is this your finished sound? evolving is not only an essential part of keeping things interesting for the artist, which always breeds creative enthusiasm, but also to stop your music from becoming stagnant and predictable. we’ll continue to evolve as our tastes and influences dictate whether that takes us to techno, breaks, house, chill out or whatever.

You’re from Leeds, as are PBR streetgang playing the same month - what is it about the city that makes it such a dance music bastion? good question. leeds has always had a very strong underground music scene especially considering its size in comparison to somewhere like london. you can have 4 or 5 clubs with a couple of headliners in each all full to the brim because in leeds the large student population are all into going out to these events. As a result of this, there’s a plethora of producers constantly coming through. we played in a club in italy recently and within the space of 6 weeks they had booked us, Paul woolford, gavin herlihy and rob james all from leeds. then you have PBr, ralph lawson, Burnski, denney, wAFF and more who all live or have lived in leeds. it’s a hotspot for sure.

audio tonic gets Audioja ck’d

You’ve played some of the best clubs in the world (space, Fabric, Watergate) – what have been the top nights you remember?

it’s difficult to remember as some go back a long time, but our best parties this year have been the into the woods festival in Amersfoort holland, nordstern in Basel, Switzerland and harry klein in Munich. there are so many more, but they’re ones that have popped into the head. years ago after the Fuji rock Festival in japan rich passed out and woke up in korea. i had to carry him through the airport more or less incoherent and only the kind and polite japanese would have let a man in his state on a plane, ha ha!

Your first release was on Leftroom, way back in 2006, which is now one of the most influential house labels around - was it a case of right place, right time? yeah, that’s exactly what it was. leftroom was in its infancy and we hadn’t heard of it at this point but on playing some tracks to jay kilka in a record shop (who i recall was helping set up the label with Matt tolfrey) he said Matt may be interesting in signing ‘robot’, and it turns out he was.

You hit the big time pretty quickly, what was the biggest change to affect you? i guess it was the transitional period where we were still working full time during the week and then trying to meet label deadlines by making music on an evening or on weekends. More often than not though, we had gigs on weekends - our first international gig was in china so we flew halfway across the world and back for two gigs and back to work on Monday. now that we do it full time though, it’s very enjoyable and well worth the hard work.

And how do your DJ sets normally work as there are two of you behind the booth? yeah we play one track each and then can work the effects together in tandem where necessary. But we don’t like to overdo it as it can get annoying if every track is filtered, flanged and echoed to within an inch of its life.

And finally, what can we expect from your set in Dubai? our musical selection is currently very eclectic, it’s centered on deep and jacking house but there will be uk bass, techno and more in there too.

Audiojack play audio tonic at 360°, jumeirah Beach hotel on Friday january 18. 4pm-3am, guestlist only via platinumlist.ae from 4-8pm. tables and reservations: 056 682 6617 (after 3pm).

leeds has always had a very strong underground music scene especially considering its size in comparison to

somewhere like london

AllSas se

this Finnish dj now living in Berlin has become one of the most consistent djs around in recent times, playing a dancefloor friendly mix of deep, tech house that never fails to satisfy clubbers and tune-spotters alike. we caught up with the Moodmusic headhoncho before his gig to find out more…

Welcome back to Dubai – how does the city match up to its public perception do you think? thanks a lot, i’m very much looking forward to come to play dubai again. i love the city as a social melting pot and as a forward thinking city with great architecture and lots of friends.

You played with audio tonic’s Raxon recently in Berlin at your label’s showcase night – how was it? we had a blast playing at our Moodmusic label night at the watergate club in Berlin. he’s a great dj and has great music taste, so having him dj at our night was a pleasure. And at the end we played a back

to back set which was hilarious fun.

How does your set preparation differ between a 4-6am slot and an 8pm slot, as you’ll probably be playing in Dubai?you can start much slower and groovier when starting earlier. i do like peak time slots, but with an early set you can set up the whole vibe of the night and play more varied and get the people into a special mood. i think the venue also plays a big role, i love the 360° club space and can’t wait to see how it’s changed after the renovation.

You’re originally from Finland – sweden and Norway have strong music scenes, but what can you tell us about your home country? Finland has a small but

very intense electronic music scene with lots of bands and djs rocking up clubs and bars in towns like helsinki, turku and tampere. there have been lots of great club nights here since the 90s and it’s always a pleasure to play in Finland. true, we don’t have a big pop culture, but lots of underground bands and crossover artists who tour the world.

You became a resident at the renowned Robert Johnson club in 1999, what was that experience like? Was it as hedonistic as the stories? the first years in Frankfurt and especially robert johnson were very special times indeed. i used to live 5 minutes from the club and went every night, even if i wasn’t playing. i think the most important thing i learned from these nights was to listen to music the right way and to appreciate proper sound systems. the residency was a good learning curve to play international floors and to meet every one in the scene.

You’ve been living in Germany for a long time now, do you feel at home in the music scene there? yes, i do love living in germany. in Berlin you have everything you could ever wish for (a bit more sun would be nice though!) and the scene is still exciting. culturally, the city has lots to offer as well and i think the constant change will keep the city as vibrant and crazy as it ever was. Some people say Berlin is getting stale, but it’s

not true: there are lots of new venues opening and the scene has loads of new talent coming up.

What’s been the biggest tracks in your recent sets? it must be the latest Moodmusic release from Betoko titled ‘not Alone’ featuring Maurice Marshall on vocals. Since i heard the demo and worked towards the release, people have been freaking about the song. i’ve played the original mix this summer and everywhere i go it makes people smile – i think that’s a good sign. And we’ve got great remixes from Maurice Aymard from Barcelona and my new favorites the climbers from new york.

Your record label, Moodmusic, is 15 years old – what’s been the key to your longevity? i try to keep up with the music scene, as well as being true to myself when i sign new music. i think it helps a lot being a

dj as well, you know how things work in a club and can test new things on your travels. But for most of all, i think the key is to love what you do.

And if people haven’t heard you play before,

what should they expect? i try to play music i love and i think every one else should hear as well. i love house music, but it can be influenced by deeper or more techy styles, i guess people call it deep house but always with a twist - something you can have a good dance to and see a thousand smiles. Sasse plays audio tonic at 360°, jumeirah Beach hotel on Friday january 25. 4pm-3am, guestlist only via platinumlist.ae from 4-8pm. tables and reservations: 056 682 6617 (after 3pm)

true, we don’t have a big pop culture, but lots of

underground bands and crossover artists

who tour the world

audio tonic g llery

“The party was bonkers! It had a great vibe, great at-mosphere and great view, you can’t beat that!”

– Danny Daze

they’re the leeds-based djs and pro-ducers with one of the best residencies in the world, having played at we love Space every Sunday for the past few seasons. they are PBr Street-gang, and we caught up with ahead of their debut dubai gig...

we love… PBr Stree gang

You’ve taken your name from the last words on Apocalypse Now. Was there a ‘eureka’ moment when you realised that should be your name? kinda, we were named by our best friend one night while we were all watching the film together, and it stuck. that was ten years ago.

You’re from Leeds which has an outrageously high hit rate for electronic music – what came first, the club scene or the DJs/producers? we were djs for quite a long time before we started producing – without the great clubs like the warehouse and Back to Basics, you wouldn’t have such a strong culture that breeds making music that it’s known for today. that said there was the beginnings of a scene before the clubs became the stars in leeds, with people like nightmares on wax and lFo.

You have one of the best residencies in the world at We Love... in space, ibiza. How did you get the job, months/years of nagging? well to be honest i just sent [promoter] Mark Broadbent a mix about 6 years ago, he really liked it and the following year asked us to come and play in el Salon, then a few years later on the terrace. it’s been a bit of a fairy tale for us, to play in one of the worlds best rooms alongside some of our dj heroes. every gig there is special.

How do you describe what you do to your grandparents?

doing things to make people dance.

You’re also music makers – how would you describe the music you make?i think we’d prefer other people to describe it and we just make it. But i guess it’s eclectic in its influences but always about the dancefloor.

What was your initial reaction when you heard you’d been booked for Dubai? woo hoo, sunshine and djing outside in january (it’s soooo cold in the uk right now).

PBr Streetgang, audio tonic at 360°, jumeirah Beach hotel, Friday jan 11. 4pm-3am, guestlist only via platinumlist.ae from 4-8pm. reservations: 056 682 6617 (after3pm).

we don’t just play some of the best music in the Middle east, we’re also responsible for some of it, thanks to our record label. this month’s release is from the ever-excellent Spin Science, backed up by a mammoth remix from tom Middleton

Spin Science, At019wonderlandout on Audio tonic records january 14

Audio tonic records have had a stellar 2012 with remixes and original material coming from the likes of the revenge, vincenzo, ian Pooley, jimpster and Florian kruse. the prospect of what’s to come in 2013 is an exciting one as the imprint continues to provide excellence through its musical output, radio show and events at dubai’s infamous 360° club. Ülar Aasmäe aka Spin Science is an estonian producer most notably known for his work with the likes of urban torque, Plastic city, global underground and Proton Music and here he joins the Audio tonic roster. the original version of ‘wonderland’ opens the release, a shuffling house track with a classic feel. weighty off-kilter drums lead the way alongside deep hi-strings, a gritty, hooky electronic bass and smooth rhodes licks. Aasmäe turns in a raw, deep house cut that’s indicative of why he’s grabbed the attention of some of electronic music’s pioneering labels, ‘wonderland’ is tasteful and direct. next up is tom Middleton’s ‘liquatech Mix’ of ‘wonderland’, the British producer who has been heavily involved in the Acid house movement over the years and worked with josh wink’s ovum, delivers melodic, groove-led house music. employing swirling synth lines, sporadic

filter automation and a rumbling low-end movement to create sonorous house full of warm depths and intensities. this is a killer package to kick-start the year for Audio tonic records, Spin Science’ ‘wonderland’ is out on 14th january 2012.

reActionS: tom Budden: lovely stuff! Florian Kruse: Beautiful! Audiojack: Middleton remix is great!Giom: Superb tom Middleton production, nice one guys.

Secret weapon: by raxon

track: igor krsmanovic, ‘Plassma’ (S.k.A.M. remix) i’ve been playing this as my first tune during the summer in many places and always get a fantastic reaction when the bassline kicks in, it really sets the mood for the night.

teSting iMeS

you’ll know them as vas Floyd and julian jinx, two of the longest standing audio tonic residents. But how well do they know each other?

Vas Floyd vs Julian Jinx

What is each other’s favourite (or over-used!) effect on the mixer? VAs: julian doesn’t use FX, i don’t think he’s even heard of them, he’s too old. i saw him using an old electric stove to dj the other week…JuLiAN: vas gets carried away with the fader nobs, they fly off everywhere, i’ve even seen him take out a seagull before.

Who would win in an arm wrestle between you? VAs: Mutual brospect!JuLiAN: For some unknown reason his right arm is over-developed...

How would you describe each other’s DJing and music? VAs: i’d say julian’s got an amazing long-term knowledge of music. he is able to reach for the gems back in the days when i was still learning to walk. JuLiAN: with his lady-pleasing grooves, vas is known as the russian Barry white!

What’s each other’s worst habit? VAs: leaving early after his set and not staying for mine. JuLiAN: well, he... touches me... down there…

What’s each other’s drink of choice? VAs: we are djs, we don’t drink, everyone knows that right…JuLiAN: vas was brought up on vodka, but he’s gone full circle and refuses to go on now unless he has a full pot of earl grey tea.

You’ve both been DJing for audio tonic for years - who knows the names of all of the bouncers? VAs: i only remember the names of the hostess ladies. JuLiAN: i don’t, but i’d like to put whoever thought up these questions in a locked room with a couple of them.

Who’s better at dealing with DJ requests? VAs: we are both pretty diplomatic: we agree to anything and then never play it. JuLiAN: Me as i’m partially deaf and a lot of people think i’m a bit odd, so i just smile and nod a lot.

And if it came to a DJ battle, who would win and why? VAs: i don’t think we would even bother competing, we would just play back to back. JuLiAN: do you think we are rnB djs? A dj battle in the deep house world consists of two guys sitting around drinking red wine and smoking cigars while asking politely after each other’s families.

vAS

Flo

ydju

liAn

jinX

the weekend doesn’t need to end with your sofa and a takeaway – taking place every 2nd week

is the Saturday Showcase, where some of the finest live acts and djs serenade the setting sun,

and make sure your weekend ends on a high. rod lee winters has more.

What’s the ethos with the saturday showcase? Being a sub-brand of audio tonic, our number one focus is to continue delivering incredible music and a great party. having the event on a Saturday opens us up to a broader audience particularly the people that work in media, events and hospitality industries. it also gives us the scope to invite guest djs and acts who may not have played the venue before.

And what can people expect with the music? Musically we have the flexibility to be slightly more diverse than either the thursday or the Fridays at 360°. while our roots are still firmly planted in quality house music, we’re adding different performance elements such as incorporating live musicians and vocalists. this again is one of the great advantages of being on a Saturday, our crowd tends to be musically eclectic and open.

How have you programmed the music upstairs and downstairs? Music programming is obviously a big focus for Saturday Showcase. we have this

incredible new space Below and a really unique opportunity to carve out a niche for it from scratch. the ability to stay open till 3 also gives the downstairs area a natural flow from what is happening upstairs so we try to keep it relevant but differ the vibe and sound. Above would best be described as a journey through the best of the audio tonic sound with regular adventures to the left and right. Below james Field and Bruce hill deliver, in their own words “a rocky road of edgy deep house, with rich creamy basslines, nutty vocal slices, a dash of heineken and a bit of techno on top.”

And who are the resident DJs? our residents Above are the ever impressive tristan Bain and myself. driving the decks Below are the dynamic duo (read: party animals) james Field and Bruce hill.

What time do you get busy, do people come early as it’s a school night? our crowd has the kind of work that means they tend to have a flexible working week so late nights on school nights are the norm. we definitely also have the usual 360° sunset crowd – you can’t really beat a

sunset in that setting! From there it’s easy to get caught up in the music and the vibe and end up having a late one…

Can budding DJs get involved?Absolutely! one of our key goals for the night is un-earthing fresh talent be it singers, instrumentalists or djs. Please do get in touch via audiotonic.net.

Saturday Showcase @ 360°, jumeirah Beach hotel, 5pm-3am, Saturday 12 and Saturday 26 january, 056 682 6617 (after 3pm) reservations.

the Saturday Sh wcase