Illario Allicante needs no introduction, being a firm member of the Cocoon family and pushing the boundaries of house and techno since 2005. He has wowed us with his energy and depth within his sets and music therefore cementing his place in clubbing folk law. Ready to drop some heavy cuts on DJ Deeps Deeply Rooted and the aforementioned Cocoon we chat to Illario about his first steps at the mecca that is Timewarp and his relationship in London. This weekend sees him return to Egg LDN for Familia – www.egglondon.co.uk How has your year been so far? What has been good, what has been bad? Everything was really good so far. I had a nice break...

Global brand, Piknic Electronik have been throwing parties in Montreal for the last 10 years and have become a staple of the Sunday party scene. Having recently branched out to Melbourne last and having also thrown events in Barcelona Piknic have upped sticks and set up shop in Sports City, Dubai for a 4 week stint. The action kicks off this Saturday 28th February 2015 and Picnik have pulled no punches on their opening party. Headlining the launch party is Joachim Pastor who will be performing live and Maher Daniel. With Dubai having such a wealth of local talent each party will feature supporting sets from the best residents from Dubai’s...

It’s not often that we come across a record that we’re absolutely digging on the first listen, but Danzoo Shem’s latest release really was a record that knocked us for 6 right from the get-go. Released on the Spanish label Depaart, the Dirty EP is in fact very suitably named, with its two tracks both full-on dancefloor destroyers. A Catalan now residing in Berlin, Danzoo is seemingly very well versed in what it takes to move the dancefloor. We caught up with him recently for a quick chat, as he gave us a fascinating insight into his world… Tell us about Berlin where you are based right now. What are the main plus points and minuses of...

The Red Bull Music Academy has been pairing music legends and emerging beatsmiths since 1998 in cities such as Berlin, Cape Town, Melbourne, Barcelona, São Paulo, London, New York City and Tokyo. This unique combination of old school knowledge and new school sounds is unrivalled for its creative exploration and achievement. Each yearly Academy edition leaves behind structures to encourage musical collaboration and creative exchange for years to come. By the end of 2014, there will be eleven fully equipped Red Bull Studios around the world. Recently the Red Bull brand were on their Road to Paris tour in where they stopped here in Leeds to...

Scuba will perform at Hotflush present Reflexion with Scuba, Dense & Pika and Function at The Steelyard, London on Saturday 28th March and DGTL Festival Amsterdam on April 4/5th – www.dgtl.nl Scuba and his Hotflush imprint have been an integral cog in the techno empire over the past few years. Drafting in the likes of Dense and Pika, Paul Woolford, George Fitzgerald and Mount Kimbie to his ranks have catapulted his label to the forefront with huge tracks paving the way for new talent to aspire to. Not one to rest on his laurels and often looking for fresh scope within the vast depths of our musical environment, Scuba offers the...

Belgian producer Felix Cage is a individual who impressed us recently when we heard his remix for Anja Schneider, and even more so when we checked in with his work on his label, Electronical Reeds. His latest release, Secret Lover, is out now, so EQTV caught up with him for a quick chat… So how has the winter been so far? Many highlights? Mobilee Records has just release my remix for Anja Schnider’s “Dubmission”. I am very happy to be part of this release giving my interpretation together with guys like Lee Van Dowski, William Kouam Djoko and Alexander Aurel. I guess it is a good highlight to start this year! How do you look back on your...

SPRING/SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE If you are looking for something to look forward to this spring/summer, there is no better way than to get booked up for some of Europe’s amazing electronic festivals. We have kindly done the homework for you and have collated 5 of the best… Timewarp – 5th April 2015 Link – http://www.time-warp.de/germany/line-up/index_eng.html After celebrating their massive 20th anniversary last year and Sven Vath’s 50th birthday, Timewarp are back at their original stomping ground in Manheim. Again, Timewarp have pulled no punches in booking one of the strongest lineups found at a day event. Top draw bookings are...

Dean Demanuele is part of a small but spirited Maltese scene that’s helping to put his small country on the map with regards to electronic music. With releases on the likes of Mobilee and his own Dazed & Confused outpost, he’s undoubtedly a man on the rise, while his country’s stock is only set to rise even further this summer thanks to Annie Mac’s Lost & Found festival, which takes place in April. We checked in with Dean to see what he had to say about it all recently… You’re from Malta, right? Was it a good place to experience electronic music as a teenager? What were your first experiences of...

Ralf Kollmann, alongside Anja Schneider is the figure head of the illustrious Mobilee imprint. Coming into their 10th year as of 2015, evolving and adapting to the current climate is a given, but sticking to their roots and aspiring to further their brand is a must. We ask Ralf to confess his outlook with 5 simple questions… 1. Best label party I have been involved and why is… Definitely our own event series in Barcelona at the Hotel Silken Diagonal rooftop. Its a very special atmosphere with a stunning view over the whole city. A very intimate happening with random people from all around the world that all make friends towards...

French producer Acumen has resided over a period in house music where both minimal, tech-house and more recently, straight up house music were the norm. As such, the Time Has Changed owner if well qualified to chat about the perils of modern day dance music and the state it finds itself in. And as it happens, he’s quite optimistic about where it’s all going – which is no real great surprise when we consider the wealth of brilliant music that both he and his two labels (the  other being Thrill of It) have summoned up in recent times. Considering all of this, we settled down with him recently for a quick chat to discuss his new EP, life in...

Bugged Out!’s 2015 was set to raise the proverbial bar even further that the previous years. The newly crowned best DJ in the UK Jackmaster offers a supporting role alongside best friend Skream, Daniel Avery, Mike Skinner, Leon Vynehall. However the main catalyst for you to take notice is that of the legendary duo The Chemical Brothers who have been drafted in to front the bill, the big beat survivors who were responsible for some of the 90s most memorable dance hits (as well as a slew of unfuckwithable full-lengths). Update: folktronica survivor and Brit dance poster boy Four Tet has now been added to the lineup, and he’ll be providing a...

Steve is playing at Fire and Lightbox, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ, on January 1 from 6pm-6am. Admission: £10-£50. www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?640380 Since launching his label Viva Music in 2006, Birmingham born and bred ‘King of Space’ Steve Lawler has gone from strength to strength. Now with summer behind him the DJ talks about quality over quantity and why people need to put down their phones and enjoy the music. Following a busy summer touring South America and the US where he played 20 gigs a month, Steve has finally got a chance to put his feet up. “I’ve got six or seven gigs in December, then only five in January and February....

Rob: Hey Joris, how are you? I heard you were in Leeds the weekend just gone? Joris: Yeah was a great show and a really great night? Rob: Do you like the Leeds scene? It’s got quite a big crowd over there. Joris: To be honest I just love the UK in general. It always has such a good energy and people are really into the music and just love to party. It’s always just really positive vibes! Rob: Lets start off with your album ‘Nobody Knows’, obviously that has just dropped, what was it like creating the full length, how long was the process? Joris: It’s been quite a long process actually, I probably started it all off in about 2008. I was just...

Tell us about your summer this year, how has the Ibiza season been for you? The season has been great so far. Circoloco at DC10 club has been packed every Monday and I have spent some wonderful days enjoying the island. Better Lost Than Stupid had their recent performance, how was that show? It was very well received. The party was the first of five at the DC10 club on Saturdays over the month of August. Each one has been hosted by a different crew. We have been playing that all night long party for four years in a row now and I have the feeling it is getting better with every season. Can you tell us about Moon Harbour right now, I see you...