Christian Smith celebrates 100 Tronic releases and a second artist album: "No rest for the wicked just yet."

By Dan Carter

From investment banking to underground taste-making, Tronic Records head honcho and club veteran Christian Smith has traveled the globe with unprecedented musical stamina. With a catalog of Beatport chart-toppers under his belt and a long-standing reputation for making cutting-edge music, his attempts to play past the pigeonhole of techno has made him a tough artist to box, but all the more fascinating, naturally.

Having recently reeled out the label’s 100th release and dropped his second full-length artist album, Omakase, there was never a better time for Beatport News to quiz the Swedish producer/DJ on his new record and numerous goings-on.

Interview

An early Burial interview: "So for the record, I’d first like to ask you to state: are you Basic Channel?"

By Ken Taylor

It’s been seven years today since Burial released his debut self-titled full length album on Hyperdub. And while it wasn’t what you’d call an immediate hit, it set off one of the most pivotal reactions in the hardcore continuum—and of course has inspired hordes of half-baked imitators. But all the same, what Burial let loose with on May 15, 2006 has changed modern music for the better, and he’s done so in near secrecy.

Interview

Carl Cox on catering to the American market: “It’s my way or the highway.”

By Dan Carter

At 50 years of age, Carl Cox remains a techno provocateur on all counts. From scaling the globe’s biggest festivals and the UK charts over the years, he’s had an iconic reign over dance music, one which began by fueling London’s rave culture decades ago. Since then, he’s racked up four albums, countless singles, and even more nights behind the decks—all with that unmistakeably winning smile. With no plans to retire and a strong second wind behind his Intec imprint, Cox’s sense of preservation is not only one for the history books, but an inherently relevant case study in keeping your cool in the face of universal adoration.

Back on track for 2013 with fresh Ibiza plans and the return of his Pure Intec compilation series, Cox pulled up a chair with Beatport News in London to talk bringing Intec back from the dead, his consistent run on the White Isle, and taking America on his own terms.

Beatport Sounds

Dot Bustelo drops Sounds To Sample's latest chill-out pack, Dot's Martini Lounge

By Steven Dermody

Ready to dive into Sounds To Sample’s latest pack, Dot’s Martini Lounge? It comes from producer, sound designer, film composer and Logic Pro software specialist Dot Bustelo, who not only makes chill-out music as Perfect Project with vocalist Cica, but has even penned a pair of Amazon best-sellers about Logic Pro. Grab the pack here, and check out what Bustelo has to say about it below.

Interview

Roul and Doors on house music: "There is no one-size-fits-all scheme"

By Dan Carter

Behind the strange moniker, Roul and Doors are two artists united by a love for house music. From ambitious dreams in the face of a life of desk jobs, the leap of faith has served the Dutch duo considerably well. Their rhythmically refined house music has graced Defected and Flamingo, and their recent remix of national legends Hardsoul has made for a satisfying diversion from their nation’s more stereotypical sounds. During a brief pit stop at London’s Ministry of Sound, the duo sat down with Beatport News to talk alternative rock influences, remixing their idols, and why one size doesn’t fit all.

Interview

Pierce Fulton on "Wanna Be" and getting weird on the status quo

By Dan Carter

Vermont’s Pierce Fulton chats about his weird but wonderful reign upon American club land and latest single “Wanabee” for Cr2 Records.

Interview

Breach on making "Jack": "I went back to the vocal and wrote the tune in about four hours"

By Brittany Gaston

If you happened to attend the dirtybird Players BBQ during this year’s Winter Music Conference in Miami, you were likely treated to Breach’s “Jack” during a very special B2B set with label bosses Claude Vonstroke and Justin Martin. After the second I want your body/Everybody wants your body /So let’s jack line, everyone, myself included, was shouting the lyrics and acting them out—in a rather suggestive manner. And when Laidback Luke played it during his set at Ultra Music Festival, the song became the unofficial anthem for the music week.

Whether it’s the memorable bassline, or the even more memorable lyric, “Jack,” which made its way into our Top 10 just days after its release, is just one of those tracks that has “instant classic” stamped all over it. We caught up with the Brit behind the song, Ben Westbeech (aka Breach), who is currently posted up in the Netherlands, to talk about making hits, studio tricks, and the dream that inspired the infamous “Jack.”

Interview

San Francisco producer Kastle finally releases his self-titled debut album

By Emma Robertson

With more than 14 years of production experience under his belt, it may be surprising that Barrett Richards, known by the moniker Kastle, only just released his debut album in April—on his own label, Symbols Recordings, no less. His self-titled full-length is proof, though, that good things come to those who wait. A stunning release that features vocals from the likes of Ayah Marar and JMSN, Kastle is a spectacular distillation of his futurist take on R&B. We caught up with the San Francisco-based producer to talk about his new album, his North American tour, how it feels to run his own label, and the meaning of the fortress.

Interview

Californian dream-team Norin & Rad reflect on the journey so far and their latest Anjunabeats single, "Aldo"

By Dan Carter

Over six years of collaboration and invariable shifts in taste across the spectrum, Norin & Rad have asserted themselves as an eclectic benchmark in modern dance music. The Anjunabeats-approved duo (real names: Bruce Karlsson and Nick Sember) properly exploded onto the radar in 2012, with a gush of uplifting club fuel that ignites all sorts of genres.

With their latest single, “Aldo,” offering no exception to their spotless track record, California duo sat down with us ahead of their UK debut for Ministry of Sound to trace their daring footsteps and creative influences.

Interview

Size newcomers Wayne & Woods tease forthcoming material

By Dan Carter

Swedish House Mafia alum Steve Angello always had a secret weapon up his sleeve for 2013—a year that signaled a decade of investing in talent from across the globe. Already making a big splash and now maintaining the hype with the promise of long-overdue studio material, Swedish duo Wayne & Woods have brought a fresh breath of excitement the their nation’s club scene. The support of the Size Records head honcho aside, Iman Gilani and Simon Widman have been formally inserted into the label’s family, and their latest track, “Revolt,” alongside Chris Avantgarde, proves they’re more than worthy. Beatport News sat down with the fresh-faced duo to talk European influence, their forthcoming material, and the studio ethic that never sleeps.

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