Markus Schulz – ‘In Bloom 2019’
The briefest of glances outside your window will tell you all you need to know on the ‘is spring/isn’t spring here?’ question. Should you still need convincing however, here’s Markus Schulz to make it empirical. Out of the dark, into the light, through his annual Global DJ Broadcast In Bloom show, spring mainlines.
One of his GDJB quarterly specials (the Sunrise set, the Afterdark Edition and the Classic Showcase making up the others), In Bloom turns up the contrast on vocal-centric trance. Picking the freshest, choicest cuts from the current, recent and close horizon crop, Markus — in typically masterful form — has weaved them into two hours of dazzlingly fine music.
Befitting the mix’s profile, you’ll find the tones of many of trance’s most lyrically adept and emotionally charged summoning that In Bloom esprit. Emma Hewitt, Christina Novelli, Richard Bedford, Adina Butar and HALIENE are just some of those behind the mic. Backing them in the studio, well it might be quicker to tell you who’s not on the list! To give you some idea though Armin Van Buuren, Above and Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Cosmic Gate, Gabriel and Dresden and ATB are just some of those adding their production punch to the mix.
A mix that masterfully lifts every voice to divine the essence of the season into two breathtaking hours — In Bloom is all vocal, all trance, all spring and all here!
Mark Sixma – ‘Beats Knock’
Mark Sixma is churning out quality tunes like a madman and this is the next in line. Armed with thumping beats, a rocking bassline and dirty synth work, ‘Beats Knock’ will tear the walls of any club down.
Sneijder – ‘Afterdark 002: Los Angeles’
After his ‘Buenos Aires’ inaugural popped Afterdark’s mix comp cherry last August, the spring of 2019 sees label honcho Sneijder ready for a second drop. Doubling down, the album expands to two discs and finds Afterdark bringing the sound of the underground to Los Angeles. Capturing every fader-flip, drum-kick, synth-soar and reciprocal crowd cheer, in the liveliest of live forms Sneijder’s ‘Afterdark 002’ defines the trance divinity of the City of Angels.
Packed with exclusive music from the likes of Giuseppe Ottaviani, Key4050, Stoneface and Terminal, Simon Patterson and others, with finger-on-pulse intuition ‘002’ shifts between the melodic, the uplifting, the tech and the out-and-out tough. Boasting a track list rammed with upfront, cutting edge club music from the Afterdark roaster and seasoned artists across the trance and tech spectrum.
If you’ve not clubbed in LA before, this compilation will all-but secure those credentials for you. Across its 30+ tracks, two or more musical hours and disc deuce, Sneijder musically divines LA to a forensic level.
Purple Haze x KhoMha – ‘We Come In Peace’
Landing on Armind with an otherworldly trance production, Purple Haze and KhoMha offer a massive display of power with ‘We Come In Peace’. With staccato-like melody builds and pulse leads that take over for extra impact, this cut is meant to make any crowd go ecstatic.
KSHMR – ‘Devil Inside Me’ (feat. KAAZE and Karra)
Following his recent sold-out KSHMR LIVE performance in NYC, KSHMR releases collaboration with Swedish DJ and producer KAAZE on new single ‘Devil Inside Me’.
Featuring the dramatic vocals of New Jersey native Karra, ‘Devil Inside Me’ is an anthemic slammer that comes fit with two mammoth drops. This track further cements KSHMR’s reputation as a producer capable of collaborating with a diverse range of artists and producing the same devastating outcome.
Scott Bond and Charlie Walker – ‘Can You Hear The Sound’ (feat. Murica)
Hitting hard like a thunderstorm, Scott Bond and Charlie Walker’s ‘Can You Hear The Sound’ wreaks havoc right off the bat. Featuring a vocal-and-string-led breakdown that beautifully contrasts the devastating basslines and killer melodies, this high-octane masterpiece bears the Who’s Afraid Of 138?! mark for a reason.
Borgeous and RUNAGROUND – ‘Better Anyway’
After previously finding the creative chemistry working together on 2017 single ‘Coffee Can Money’, which clocked up over 8 million streams on Spotify since its release, Borgeous and RUNAGROUND are back in all their collaborative glory. This time, the L.A.-based electronic music mainstays whipped up an appealing and empowering record called ‘Better Anyway’. Both the track itself and its accompanying music video show that the proverbial light at the end of the break-up tunnel may just be a single play away.
Engineered to inspire and empower listeners at every turn, Borgeous & RUNAGROUND’s ‘Better Anyway’ is one of those upbeat masterpieces radiating enormous crossover potential. From the uplifting chord progressions to the amazing vocals and crunchy beats, this is one of those singles that adds that extra bit of color to the dance music world.
*Featured image via Sander van Doorn, KhoMha, Mark Sixma and Scott Bond*
