In South Africa's burgeoning ballroom scene, pioneering figures and DJs are finding their own ‘Ha’ in the country's past, and in the contemporary sounds of gqom, amapiano, and Afrobeats. Tazmé Pillay learns more “DJ, cut the beat.” The room falls silent — an unforgivable sin anywhere else, but this is no nightclub. This is a [...]
We close out the year with festivals in Australia, India, Brazil and beyond. Meredith Music Festival Meredith, Australia December 8 - December 10 Nothing encapsulates the warmth of Australia's Meredith Music Festival more than the fact that all of the communications come from "Aunty Meredith"—except maybe the animated koala bears that clamber up the home [...]
Are Kraftwerk music's most influential band? **This article was originally published on May 15, 2020, after the death of Florian Schneider What a legacy the late Florian Schneider, whose death was announced last week, has left us. Along with the man who still keeps the Kraftwerk fires burning to this day, Ralf Hütter, the duo can legitimately [...]
We speak to the people behind some of the best-sounding speakers, bars, and club nights in the UK – discussing vintage audio gear, a truly eclectic musical ethos, and the tech that makes it all sound so good. For the at-home enthusiast, audio gear from the 70s and 80s is highly prized [...]
Uganda passed a draconian anti-LGBTQ law in March, sending the county’s queer community into turmoil and marking another brutal step in the homophobic and transphobic backlash sweeping the globe. Marke Bieschke speaks to some of the musicians affected about the new realities they face, how their art has changed, and what we [...]
Got an idea that could help nightlife to progress? Apply before November 30th. The application window for the #SaveTheNight 2023 fund has been extended by 30 days. Applications are welcome from anyone around the world working in nightlife who has an idea or a project that can help nightlife to develop and progress. [...]
Defected has promoted Melvo Baptiste to director of music, Glitterbox, overseeing the label’s recordings schedule, talent and curation across its global repertoire of events into 2024 and beyond. Baptiste steps into his new role after seven years at Defected as part of the A&R team. He has also presented and curated Glitterbox’s radio show. “An authoritative voice [...]
With 500,000 attendees anticipated, the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the world's largest electronic music gathering. Amsterdam Dance Event, also affectionately known as ADE, is the Slush of the electronic music industry. What started out as a weekend gathering of just over 100 individuals back in 1996 has grown in size, scope, and reputation, and [...]
Amsterdam will be ALIVE with the sound of music this week as the Amsterdam Dance Event kicks off on Wednesday. My House Radio will be well represented at ADE, with its Bulldog Palace takeover. If you're attending ADE, be sure to get yourself to the Bulldog Palace for a week of STELLAR music, dancing, and [...]
The London-based label Nice 'N' Ripe kickstarted one of the UK's most celebrated sounds. On its 30th anniversary, NME speaks to the key players One September evening in 1993, a 22-year-old Grant Nelson, his cousin Dave Thackaray, and his mate Si Firmin sat in a kebab shop basement amid cables and vinyls, experimenting [...]
