BeyondTheDrop

Rødhåd Brings Berlin Techno to Coda, Toronto

For Toronto techno fans, Friday night can’t come soon enough as Rødhådbrings a piece of Berlin to Coda. Known for his balanced style, blending dub, tech and house, the DYSTOPIAN label boss has made a name for himself throughout Germany and is gaining international fame with each passing year. Whether playing an early morning set in the darkness at Berghain, or headlining major festivals like…

CTM Festival Remains Consciously Uncomfortable

The idea of experimental music is becoming increasingly ambivalent. Most contemporary experimental music is in response to music that was also untried upon its initial release. The idea of experimentation is rooted in constant flux, or as CTM Festival believes, in turmoil. That was theme for the 19th edition. Since 1999, CTM has continued to experiment. In 2018, it took risks, asked questions of…

After 19 years of experimental art and music supply, curation and performance, CTM Festival has developed a reputation. But that doesn’t stop it from maintaining an art-first attitude, even in the face of greater attention and demand.

The Berlin-based festival has announced that the theme for the 2018 festival — which guides its programming and artistic direction — will be Turmoil.

Within that…

Meet N/UM, a three-piece experimental, improvisational outfit from New York City who are pushing the boundaries of dance music, one live show at a time. The team is comprised of guitarist Elias Meister of world-renowned rap group Residente, Jeremy Loucas, a Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer and producer, and Emil Bovbjerg, a Danish multi-instrumentalist and producer – such a diverse trio…

When Ozmozis and Embrace first announced Danforth Music Hall as the venue for Last Night on Earth with Sasha + more, it rose more than a few eyebrows and generated an equal number of questions. “Isn’t that a concert venue?” “What time will it close?” “What will the sound be like” “Isn’t there a slanted floor?”

I’ll admit, I had many of these same questions floating in my head, so on top of my…

Somewhere between Mexico and New York lies the world of Sainte Vie. The producer is a master at providing a glimpse into a post-genre universe, a bridge between memories and music and an emotional soundtrack to his life, which he is graciously sharing with all of us on his latest release, his Estación Inmortal EP. Beyond The Drop got a chance to chat with Sainte Vie about the upcoming release,…

Each year around this time, you can hear the same complaints from jaded old ravers everywhere. “I just don’t want to deal with New Year’s Eve crowds anymore. It’s so expensive. It’s impossible to get a cab. It’s too cold. I’m too old for this.” More often than not, these complaints lead to large groups of partiers opting to stay in at quaint little house parties, indulging in chips and dip…

On Saturday night in Kreuzberg, a packed Prince Charles had punters dancing on the bar, even before midnight. But the ardor wasn’t from a pumping bassline or a thrashing hi-hat. In fact, there were no records spinning at all. Instead, Leroy Burgess and his live band had just started playing his 1983 boogie classic, “Heartbreaker.”

It would have been excusable to forget the scene took place in…

It was sometime near 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday as Moodymann embarked on his hit parade to close out the Detroit Love marathon in Amsterdam. From Nina Kraviz’s Taxi Talk to Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Got Your Money and then yes, even to Blue Monday, Kenny Dixon Jr. was definitely having fun with it.

His crew behind him and Craig sipping on a glass of red wine by his side, they smiled and embraced…

On a cold, windy Tuesday evening in the basement theatre of the Japanese cultural museum in Krakow, Siksa brushed by her audience, turned around and spit on the crowd. It was a typical midweek performance at Unsound, Poland’s long running experimental music and arts festival.

Musically, Siksa was a combination of aggressive, accusatory vocals and a powerfully distorted bass. It was definitely…

On Friday, October 20th, Toronto club Maison Mercer opened its doors to the one and only Black Coffee. Tucked away beneath King St, waves of fans lined up down the block and filed into the dance floor until it was packed to the brim, all to see the South African maestro deliver a jaw-dropping performance.

Warming up the room were some of Toronto’s finest. Sam Haze and Night Vision threw down a…

Kickoff Halloween Weekend with andhim @ Coda

Halloween weekend kicks off Friday night, with a frighteningly good time at Coda. German duo andhim are returning to the venue, nearly a year after playing one of 2016’s best sets, which featured a relentless mix of progressive and techno, lasting deep into the night. Following that performance, the self-proclaimed “super house” duo will have to combat high-expectations, but history suggests they…

From Tresor to Jeff Mills, ADE 2017 brings techno’s finest back to Amsterdam

Since 1995, Amsterdam Dance Event has been bringing world-class vinyl pop-up shops, state-of-the-union musical development talks and of course, the best in dark, sweaty, basement raves. The five-day festival and conference returns to the Dutch capital from October 18 to 22.

The world-renowned fall festival is one of the music industry’s networking meccas.

With programming to serve all facets of…

Black Coffee Takes Over Maison Mercer October 20, 2017

He is a man that has transcended a number of genres and made a name for himself in both the mainstream and underground markets – on October 20, 2017, the creative minds behind the deep. party series are bringing none other than Black Coffee to Maison Mercer!

The versatile DJ-producer has a wealth of accomplishments under his belt. He is the first South African to receive a BET Award (2016), he…

Drinking Techno Champagne with Stiv Hey

Stiv Hey is quickly becoming one of the most sought after new voices in the global techno scene. Currently residing in Barcelona, the Italian DJ and producer is bringing his own interpretation of techno to dance floors and festivals around the world, a sound that he dubs ‘techno champagne’. His brand of tantalizing melodies has earned him nods from some of the biggest names in the genre, as well…

Maya Jane Coles Takes Flight With New Album and Remixes

Not that this is news to most of us, but Maya Jane Coles is a force to be reckoned with. For years, the UK native has been gripping us with her unique sound, sultry grooves with trip-hop influences and eerie vocals that always keep us wanting more. Maya has graced the decks all over the world – more than 40 countries and counting – and all of the worlds largest festivals and clubs, always…

Experimental performance haven Unsound Krakow releases comprehensive program ahead of 15th edition

As Unsound Festival prepares for the 15th instalment of its experimental music and arts program, expectations abound in Poland’s medieval city of Krakow.

It’s not only the musical displays that set Unsound apart, but more importantly the venues and manner with which they are presented. Think decrepit cathedrals and eerie cinematic style à la David Lynch.

Unsound has repurposed buildings across…