Loco Dice commemorates five years of Desolat with a Beatport Mix

By Emma Robertson

Dusseldorf-born Loco Dice began DJing in the ’90s, and although his roots were originally planted in hip-hop, he’s become one of the most respected and recognized figures in contemporary techno. An early partnership with fellow techno DJ/producer Martin Buttrich in 2002 led to the founding of Desolat Records five years later and since then it has grown to become one of the foremost labels in electronic music today, featuring a stellar crew that includes tINI, Guti, Hector, Shlomi Aber, and Pulshar, to name a few. Today, the label is commemorates its fifth anniversary with a Beatport Mix comprised solely of Desolat releases. We caught up with Loco Dice to chat about hip-hop, artistic performance, his favorite tracks, and how it feels to be celebrating five years of Desolat.

Beatport Live

Beatport Live presents a 1605 label showcase with UMEK and Uto Karem this Friday, December 14th

By Ross Jackson

We’re excited to announce that this Friday, December 14th, UMEK and Uto Karem will join us for a 1605 label showcase for Beatport Live. Umek is a true superstar in the techno scene, known for selling out huge venues all over the world with his signature forward-thinking style. His 1605 label has a knack for picking out the best and brightest new techno and tech-house talents, one of whom happens to be Uto Karem, who will also join us on Friday. Hailing from Italy, his uncompromising beats have landed him on such labels as Plus 8, Sci+Tech, Minus, and many more.

Interview

Layo & Bushwacka!'s Just Be talks up his favorite tracks and new artists

By Dan Cole

Between releasing their latest album, Rising & Falling, on Olmeto, announcing their impending break-up, and one half of the duo, Matthew Benjamin, putting out the amazing Annabelle single on Crosstown Rebels as Just Be, Layo & Bushwacka! have had quite a 2012, to say the least.

With everything going on in his world, we consider ourselves lucky that Benjamin would take some time to talk with us about his influences, his favorite records, and which emerging artists are on his radar.

Video Premier

Loco Dice says goodbye to CNTRL: Beyond EDM with a final tour-diary entry

By Ken Taylor

Well, it’s been a long road for Loco Dice on Richie Hawtin’s CNTRL: Beyond EDM tour, and today we present to you the last day of his tenure, in Ann Arbor, where he takes a look back at his great time heading through the east and midwest on one of electronic music’s most innovative traveling shows.

Interview

Richie Hawtin exits ENTER. and goes beyond EDM with his upcoming CNTRL tour

By Ken Taylor

Most folks head into Ibiza with plans for a pretty chill summer—but that’s not really Richie Hawtin’s style. The Minus label head and constant re-inventor of what we’ve come to know as techno doesn’t ever really stop, and this past season saw him rachet up the activity as usual, with his first-ever residency on the island (at Space) and now, a 17-day-and-night tour of the US and Canada called CNTRL: Beyond EDM. The tour, which he’ll embark upon with friends like Loco Dice and DJ TechTools’ Ean Golden, and which will feature guests speakers and DJs such as John Acquaviva, Carl Craig, and Kevin Saunderson, will find Hawtin hitting college campuses by day to teach a bit of techno’s history and technology to students and then by night connecting all those dots in a club atmosphere in the same city.

The CNTRL tour is set to kick off next week in Buffalo, NY, and will take him through his hometown of Windsor, Ontario (full disclosure—it’s also my hometown, where I formerly worked for Hawtin’s Minus label years ago) and other midwestern cities, but before it does, we checked in with Hawtin to get more insight into the upcoming road trip and his just-completed Ibiza residency.

Morning Roundup

Ben Klock defends immigrant partiers, Rob Da Bank sets up a fund, and an eight-year-old DJ rocks the party

By Ken Taylor

Some people in Berlin seem to be getting pretty testy about the waves of young urbanites showing up from non-German countries to get in on the current hipster land-grab. Well, longtime Berliner Ben Klock’s got plenty to say on the topic. Check it out and more in today’s news.

5Qs

Heartthrob drops an official Beatport Mix for ENTER. and talks about his Ibizan summer

By Ken Taylor

Richie Hawtin’s ENTER. residency at Space Ibiza has been a rousing success this summer—and it’s not even over yet. In fact, tonight’s installment of the weekly event takes place in conjunction with Luciano’s Cadenza night, and next week, Maya Jane Coles, Ambivalent, Marc Houle, Magda, and our own Clark Warner will take over the decks as the Ibizan summer slowly gives way to fall.

Morning Roundup

Video edition! Calvin's VMA win, Hawtin's & Luciano's big announcement, Skrillex's new clip, Todd Terje and Bryan Ferry in the studio + more

By Ken Taylor

Much ado about videos today, from Calvin Harris’, MIA’s, and Skrillex’s wins, to the latter’s new vid for “Make It Bun Dem,” to in-the-pool fun with Richie Hawtin and Luciano, to in-the-studio fun with Todd Terje and Bryan Ferry—so let’s get watchin’!

Richie Hawtin’s ENTER. residency kicks off August lineup tonight

By Ken Taylor

In July, Richie Hawtin and his Minus compatriots kicked off a very special Thursday-night residency at Space Ibiza, which saw guests of all stripes—Dubfire, Paco Osuna, Gaiser, and Magda among them—hitting the Balearic island for a 12-week-long takeover called ENTER.

In the pool with Richie Hawtin, Clark Warner, and Ambivalent, for Minus’ Enter event in Ibiza

By Ken Taylor

As you may know, Minus’ Enter residency just kicked off last week at Space Ibiza. Tonight’s installment, however, is a special one for us at Beatport as it features our own creative director, Clark Warner (who used to manage the affairs of Minus and Plus 8 back in the day), among other guests like Ambivalent, Marcel Dettmann, and Ben Klock.

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