MondayBar had their last party in Kolingsborg with dj’s such as Freddz, Bass Modulators, Noisecontrollers, B-Front, Tim.Win, Amar S, Jonas Hörnblad, Hodel, Djane Mirime, Aladdin, Psyfighter and Lasak
Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures, my camera is on it’s last hours now..
MondayBar Black & White Valborg, Kolingsborg, Stockholm, Sweden, 20120430
Pictures: 40
SWEDISH MIDSUMMER IN ZANDVOORT – THE PREPARTY BEFORE THE FESTIVAL @ CLUB EXPOSURE
FSOS Events™ in collaboration with Bejbi.se and Kidson Media Production, invites you to a Swedish Midsummer Party in Zandvoort on June 22nd!
For 5 years consecutively people have teamed up from all over the globe for the most unique and yearly trance event at Beach Club Riche in Zandvoort, Holland for 2 days of trance and progressive and the best of it! This year the founders of Future Sound Of Sweden™, Bejbi.se and Kidson in joint forces with Trance Family Sweden got the idea to organize a get together for all of us! The PREPARTY the night BEFORE the main weekend festival and celebrate PLUR with a slight touch of the ”Swedish midsummer eve”. So If your in town, want to preparty then join us, we’ve got great music from interesting upcoming producers, a great new venue in Zandvoort with free entrance and atmosphere, loads of atmosphere! So with no further ado we present to you…
Line up:
JONAS HORNBLAD (Alter Ego, Enhanced, EnMass)
JOHAN VILBORG (Silk Royal, Unearthed, Dangerbox)
JP BATES (Infrasonic, Perceptive, Captured)
TATSUMI SUZUKI (Podgressive)
WALD
Where:
CLUB EXPOSURE (MAP)
Kosterstraat 1A. Zandvoort, Holland.
When:
22-05, FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd
Age & Entrance:
18+ FREE ENTRANCE
| NON PROFIT EVENT This event is composed by several Swedish brands and artists from within the EDM scene, all entertainment is performed as support from the DJs as they are visitors for the festival (and we thank them for their contribution) as well as all post-production to make this evening memorrable. And also a big thank to the very kind Club Exposure for welcoming us, we hope to see all of you there on this meet up and launch for what is expected to be the trance weekend of the year 2012! :-) |
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW460WqM3wQ&w=680&h=376]
This weeks article is about a ”one hit wonder”, or atleast the duo only released one original track.
They did do some really awesome remixes though. The track i’m thinking of is Alt+F4 – Alt+F4. (Buy on Itunes)
Goosebump-points:
0.57 when the bass kicks in
1.37 when the bass starts playing before the drums kick in
2.20 when the main melody starts
3.03 when the music has faded
3.16 when the pad kicks in
4.11 when the bass starts just before the drums
4.54 when the main melody starts
Alt+F4 is finnish guys Joonas Hahmo and Matti Kotala. The track with the same name was first released on promo 12” in 2004 and later released in 2005 on Anjunabeats.
Jonas and Matti had been working toghether before under Avanto (with the track The Flute) and Magellan Project (with the track Dive Theme)
Since then, they have done some really stunning remix-work. Or what do you think about these?
Ayu – Unite (Alt+F4 Remix)
Kenneth Thomas & Mike Skye – Varekai (Alt+F4’s Blue Screen Remix)
Orkidea – Beautiful (Alt+F4 Remix)
Peaktwins – Dreamer (Alt+F4 Remix)
8 Wonders – 8th Wonder (Alt+F4 Mix)
Matti Kotala – Missing You (Alt+F4 Remix)
Out of the remixes, I recommend all tracks a good listening. They do all have that special Alt+F4-touch.
The collaboration ended in 2006 and Matti & Joonas went seperate ways.
Joonas first own release was The Fusion, released on Andy Moor’s label AVA Recordings in 2006.
The followup Together / Sound Of Sunday came out 2007 on Above & Beyond’s progressive label Anjunadeep.
The first big impression on me came with the third release, Coctail Bar. The sweet progressive beats together with the housepiano and the trance-stabs makes the perfect combination of all the styles I like.
The followup, Tampere By Night / Radience is also an EP that I recommend a listen. Tampere By Night is a flirt with late 80’s music together with some fresh sounds to make it fresh If you too like that sound, also check out fellow finn Michael Cassette.
The 2009-release Warm Up / Bendbass was the last release on Anjunadeep. Warm Up is a sweet progressive stomper while Bendbass is another flirt to the 80’s
in 2010, jonas set up his own label, Hahmo Recordings which firstly was aimed at release Joonas own material but nowadays they’ve let in a few other artists.
The first release on the new label was the Brainflush / Now Or Never EP. Both tracks on the EP are sweet progressive tracks.
The next release was Pizzi & Section 1 EP. I especially like the Proff & Vadim Soloviev Remix of Pizzi, another progressive stomper.
The last release from 2010 was the single Mojito. I really love the driving progressive beat toghether with the house-piano.
The single Western was released in 2011 and is a sweet and bouncy progressive beat with a nice housepiano over it.
The follow up was the single I Like Chopin. The track was another flirt with the 80’s.
Although I mostly like the early Alt+F4-sound with its trancy beat and phat sounds, the solo-stuff aint that bad. I like the combination of using modern sound with just a touch of the 80’s which brings some nostalgia to us music-listeners. I especially love the use of piano in the tracks.
The future looks good for Joonas and I hope he will continue on the path he’s taken. But I wouldn’t mind a flirt back to the Alt+F4 days with its trancier sound. For that’s the sound my heart truly loves.
Related tracks:
Ayu – Unite (Alt+F4 Remix)
Kenneth Thomas & Mike Skye – Varekai (Alt & F4’s Blue Screen Remix)
Orkidea – Beautiful (Alt+F4 Remix)
Peaktwins – Dreamer (Alt+F4 Remix)
8 Wonders – 8th Wonder (Alt-F4 Mix)
Matti Kotala – Missing You (Alt+F4 Remix)
Joonas Hahmo – Coctail Bar (Original Mix)
Joonas Hahmo – Tampere by Night (Original Mix)
Podgressive & bejbi.se presents
Podgressive Summerjam
9:e June – Slakthuset, Stockholm
Podgressive and bejbi.se felt it was time for a little party, so we booked the most brutal nightclub in Stockholm, Slagthuset.
We have invited a bunch of really great dj’s who will guaranteed make you swing those old Buffalo boots! The theme of the party is ”Back to Basics – 90’s rave”!
See you there!
Lineup:
Kambiz & Amar S b2b (Progressive) [Kambiz – Exclusive bejbi.se mix], [Amar S – Exclusive bejbi.se mix]
Stalker (dubstep/drum n base)
Tatsumi Suzuki (House/Progressive/Techno/Electro) [Tatsumi Suzuki – Exclusive bejbi.se mix]
Technophobia (Techno) [Technophobia – Exclusive bejbi.se mix]
Emrah Celik (Techno) [Emrah Celik – Exclusive bejbi.se mix]
Time: 21-03
Entrance: 120kr, free entrance before kl.22
Theme: Back to basics: 90’s rave.
MondayBar had their last party in Kolingsborg with dj’s such as Freddz, Bass Modulators, Noisecontrollers, B-Front, Tim.Win, Amar S, Jonas Hörnblad, Hodel, Djane Mirime, Aladdin, Psyfighter and Lasak
MondayBar Black & White Valborg, Kolingsborg, Stockholm, Sweden, 20120430
Pictures: 74
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrzCvsORCWA&w=680&h=491]
This weeks track was from the beginning a remix for another group and later re-released from the remixers as their own track. I’m talking about Angelic – It’s My Turn. (Buy the 2009 version on Itunes)
Lyrics:
Why start to worry
About the hands of fate
When right before your eyes
It becomes to late
I’ve learnt to ignore them
When they bring me down
I’m warned that vicious people
Fool around
It’s my turn
It’s my turn
It’s my turn
It’s my turn (It’s my turn)
Goosebump-points:
0:02 when the vocals start
0:30 when the chorus starts
1:48 when the main vocals start again
2:18 when the chorus cames in again
Angelic is Julius O’Riordan (better known as Judge Jules), Amanda O’Riordan (Judge Jules’s wife) and Darren Tate. This article will focus on Darren Tate though.
English born Darren Tates musical background started out as a classically trained musician. His first release came with the Angelic project in 2000 and has since then worked under a few different aliases.
Angelic’s It’s My Turn was released in June of 2000 with vocals by Amanda and became a huge hit and peaked at no 11 in the UK Singles Charts and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks.
Its My Turn was built on Angelic’s remix for Sunscreem’s track called Change which was released in early 2000. It’s My Turn was re-released in 2009 with fresh remixes.
The single was followed in 2001 with 2 new tracks, Can’t Keep Me Silent and Stay With Me, both dis well in the UK Singles charts
After the 3 tracks, the group split up and they all went their separate ways.
While in Angelic, Darren released a 3 releases under the name Orion. Eternity and New World EP was both released in 2000 wile See Me Here came the year after. The project re-emerged in 2011 with the album Electronic Witchcraft with 10 all new tracks.
After Orion, Darren released one track as Citizen Caned called The Journey. If you listen closely, you can almost hear whats up next.
In 2002, Darren worked under the name Jurgen Vries and the first track, The Theme became a major hit all and peaked at no 13 in the UK charts and was played by all major Djs all over the world. The track has also influented many artists over the year, for instance a new track by Filo & Peri called Sub Zero. Cosmic Gate also released an own version of The Theme in 2011.
The second track from Jurgen Vries was The Opera Song (Brave New World) with singer Charlotte Church. When the track first was released, the singing was only credited to CMC when it first was released as Charlotte’s record label wouldn’t wanna be connected to the track if it flopped as it was a big change from her classical singing to pop. There were alot of speculations who sung on the track under the mysterious guise and many people guesses on Kylie Minogue or Christina Aguilera. The Opera Song peaked at no 3 in the UK singles charts in 2003.
After The Opera Song, Darren released the track Destination under the new project name DT8 with singer Roxanne Wilde. The track peaked at no 23 in the UK Singles Chart
The third single from Jurgen Vries, Wilderness came out in 2003 and featured Shena on vocals, It did fairly well and peaked at no 20 in the UK Charts.
The last single from Jurgen Vries was Take My Hand with Andrea Britton on vocals. The track was a cover of Dido’s track with the same name. Peaked at no 23 in the UK Charts.
From 2003, Darren put all his focus on his DT8-project, later named just DT8 Project.
The secnd single from DT8 was The Sun Is Shining (Down On Me) and featured singer Rob Li. The track was another chart-success and peaked at no 17 in the UK Singles Charts in 2004.
Winter, with singer Andrea Britton was released in march of 2005 also became another chart-success and peaked at no 35 in the UK Singles Chart.
African singer Mory Kante was featured on the single Narama released in 2006.
One of my favourite DT8-tracks came out the year after. Hold Me Till The End with singer Alexta. Her moaning vocals makes the track magical. The album Perfect World was released the same year and features another stunning track by Alexta, Tomorrow Never Comes but it wasn’t released as a single.
The album also got voted the most inspiring and original electronica album of the year.
The last single, The Power Of One was released the same year.
While releasing under aliases, Darren has also released quite a bunch under his own name.
Darren Tate vs Marcella Woods – Lifted came out in 2001 and was followed by the epic track Darren Tate vs Jono Grant (of Above & Beyond-fame) – Let The Light Shine In (with singer Shirley Randall). Let The Light Shine In was first released as a double-feature with Darren Tate vs Mike Koglin – Now Is The Time in 2002 and later re-released as an own single.
2003 saw the EP’s Gracelands Episode 1 & Prayer For A God (Gracelands Episode 2) and later the same year another collaboration with Jono Grant called Nocturnal Creatures.
The single-release of Darren Tate vs Mike Koglin – Now Is The Time was also released the same year.
The next collaboration came with Blue Amazon vs Darren Tate – The Other Love. The original version by Blue Amazon is an old favourite of mine and the remix only makes the track better.
The 2005 EP, Horizons 01 was followed in 2006 by the first feature album Horizons 01 which contained all the singles so far.
.
The EP Elephant (Are You Ready) / Pulse came the same year and was followed by the EP Echoes / Chori Chori the year after.
The EP Horizons 02 came out in 2008 and was followed in 2009 by the second artist album with the same name. The EP When The Morning Comes / Reverse The Silence came out the same year.
The Midnight EP came out in 2010 along with Tokyo / Vespers.
2011 saw the release of The Eternal along with the Horizons 03 EP.
In 2011, Darren started on 2 new projects, one with Boy George and Marc Vedo called Funkysober, another one with Harry Diamond called Tate & Diamond.
Funkysober has to date released one single, Sunshine Into My Life (with singer Sharlene Hector)
Tate & Diamond has released 2 singles so far, Turn It Back and Electrified (with singer Nicolai)
If Darren follows the same pattern as before, we should se the new artist album Horizons 03 sometime this year.
As many of these articles, I’d have to say that the best material from Darren Tate came out from 2000-2006. Darren is a brilliant producer and I love the sound that he had in the past. Can’t say that i’ve listened much to his latest material but I guess I have to give it a chance. After all, he’s achieved over 10 top 40 tracks and sold over 10.000.000 units in total. That stands for quality in my book.
Related tracks:
Angelic – Can’t Keep Me Silent (Dumonde Vocal Edit)
Jurgen Vries – The Theme (Long Version)
Cosmic Gate – The Theme
Jurgen Vries featuring CMC – The Opera Song (Extended Version)
Jurgen Vries – The Wilderness
DT8 – Destination
DT8 Project – Winter
DT8 project – Hold Me Till The End
DT8 project – Tomorrow Never Comes
Darren Tate vs Jono Grant – Let The Light Shine In (Jonos Vocal Mix)
Darren Tate vs Jono Grant – Nocturnal Creatures
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko-V7FCHJvA&w=680&h=491]
This weeks classic also comes from two german brothers. Its not often that your first release also becomes your biggest success. The original track was released back in 1999 but this remix is abit newer. Actually, the youngest classic so far. The track i’m talking about is Fragma – Toca’s Miracle (Inpetto 2008 Remix).
Lyrics:
If you’re gonna save the day
And you’re hearin’ what I say
I feel your touch
Your kiss, it’s not enough
And if you believe in me
Don’t think my love’s not for real
I won’t take nothin’ less then a deeper love
[Chorus:]
Let me tell you, you know
Aah, I need a miracle
I need a miracle
It’s more than physical
What I need to feel from you
Let me tell you, you know
Aah, I need a miracle
I need a miracle
It’s more than physical
What I need to get me through
Tell me that you understand
And you’ll take me as I am
You’ll always be the one to give me everything
Just when I thought no one cared
You’re the answer to my prayer
You lift my spirits high
Come on and rescue me
[Repeat Chorus x2]
Goosebump points:
1.01 when that guitarsound comes in
1.41 when the vocals ”Toca Me” comes in
2.40 when the Toca Me-vocals comes in for the second time and later the music fades down
3.10 when Coco’s vocals comes in and the guitar-sound starts again
4.17 when the vocals Toca Me comes in again and the drums restart together with
the rest of the music
5.15 when the chorus starts
5.46 when the music fades down
6.15 when the chorus starts again
Fragma is brothers Dirk and Marco Duderstadt together with monster producer Ramon Zenker.
Ramon Zenker is well known name in musical productions as he’s been apart of some cool projects like Bellini, Fragma, Interactive, Hardfloor, Mega’Lo Mania, Paffendorf, STFU & Tom Tom just to name a few. He has also done remixes for the likes of Mike Oldfield, Paul van Dyk, The Shamen, Scooter, Mylene Farmer, Jam & Spoon, Depeche Mode, Yello & New Order.
This article will focus more on the Duderstadt-brothers though, known under the Fragma-name aswell as Inpetto and Duderstadt.
Dirk & Marco Duderstads first release ever was the now-epic Fragma – Toca Me. The track did well in the charts and topped several charts worldwide including the no 11 position on the UK Single Charts.
A fun fact is that there was an original mix done in 1999 with almost the same name, but then spelled as In Petto Remix
But then something wierd happened. Around this time, it was very popular to do mashups i.e. taking the backingtrack of one track and re-arranging it with new vocals from a different track.
A DJ named DJ Vimto did just that and took Toca Me and put on the vocals of gospel-singer Coco Star’s 1997 hit single I Need A Miracle (written by the legendary producers Rob Davis & Victor Imbres) and named it Toca’s Miracle. The original bootleg was supported by legendary DJ’s Pete Tong and Judge Jules.
The track did so well that Fragma’s Label, Positiva decided to release it with re-recorded vocals by Coco which was possible due to both artists were under the same label.
The track, released in April 2000 became a monster all over the world and went straight to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart as well as in most of the worlds dance charts. With the success of Toca Me/Toca’s Miracle, Fragma became a name known all over the world. In fact, the original version was the 7th best selling single of 2000 in the UK and was promoted Worldwide in live sets by official vocalist Coco Star.
The second single, Everytime You Need Me (with singer Maria Rubia) also did well in the charts and spiked the UK Singles Chart at no 3. The third single, You Are Alive (with singer Damae) also did well and ranked no 4 in the UK Charts.
All three singles were featured on the 2001 album, Toca which landed the top 20-spot in Scandinavia and the top 40-spot in the UK.
At the same time as the Fragma album and hit singles, the brothers decided to work on a side-project, producing under the name Duderstadt. The first releases were remixes of other artists tracks.
2000 – Monoculture – Light Of My Life (Duderstadt Remix)
2001 – Fragma – Say That You’re Here (Duderstadt Remix)
2002 – Fragma – Time And Time Again (Duderstadt Remix)
2002 – Fragma – Embrace Me (Duderstadt Remix)
2002 – Mega lo’Mania – Emotion (Duderstadt Remix)
In 2002, Duderstadt also set up their own studio called Evergreen-Terrace and also started working on the second Fragma album, Embrace which spawned the singles Say That You’re Here, Embrace Me, Man In The Moon and Time And Time Again.
My favourite of these is the 2003 single Man In The Moon which is a remake of one of my biggest personal favourite-tracks, Energy 52 – Cafe Del Mar, but with vocals by Damae. The track isn’t a good as the original Cafe Del Mar-track but still worth noticing. The release was also known as Mar In The Moon (which implies on the Cafe Del Mar-connection).
Between 2003 and 2006, the brothers mostly worked under the Duderstadt-moniker.
First single, Sunrise was released in 2003 and followed by Mahananda in 2005.
2006 saw the release of third Duderstadt-single, Muhanjala. The same year also saw a new Fragma-release with singer Kirsty Hawkshaw, called Radio Waves. This was also the year that they changed record label to the fast-growing german imprint Afterglow Records. The new tracks and the move to the label also gave Duderstadt major DJ support by the likes of Paul Van Dyk, Armin & Ferry Corsten.
The fourth Duderstadt single, Smile (with singer Anita Kelsey) became a big club hit and was named both the Tune of the Week & Future Favourite on Armin van Buuren’s A State Of Trance-radio show. It also was voted Web Vote Winner on Above & Beyond’s Trance Around The World-radio show, The single was followed by Beatitude (with singer Kirsty Hawkshaw) which also got major DJ-support all over the world.
Since 2007, mosr effort has been put on remixes. And man, have they released some quality stuff.
Here are some of my favourite picks:
2007 – Boom Jinx – Remember September (Duderstadt Remix)
2008 – Oceanlab – Breaking Ties (Duderstadt Progressive Remix)
2008 – The Thrillseekers – The Last Time (Duderstadt Remix)
2008 – Mr. Pit – Shana (Duderstadt Progressive Dub)
2008 – Armin van Buuren – If You Should Go (Inpetto vs. Duderstadt Remix)
2008 – Solarstone – Spectrum (Duderstadt Uplifting Remix)
2008 – DJ Shog – Feel Me (Duderstadt Uplifting Remix)
2008 – George Acosta f. Aruna – Falling Backwards (Duderstadt Uplifting Rmxs)
2009 – Cosmic Gate feat. Aruna – Under Your Spell (Duderstadt Remix)
2009 – Ferry Corsten – Made Of Love (Duderstadt Progressive Remix)
2010 – Oliver Smith – Chordplay (Duderstadt Progressive Mix)
2010 – Ronski Speed pres. Sun Decade – Lasting Light ft. Emma Hewitt (Duderstadt Remix)
2010 – Mike Shiver & Aruna – Everywhere You Are (Duderstadt Remix)
2011 – SHato & Paul Rockseek – Wonderfooled (Duderstadt Remix)
2012 – Mark Eteson & Meredith Call – Together (Duderstadt Remix)
If I had to pick one favourite of the Duderstadt Remixes, I’d have to choose Mike Shiver & Aruna – Everywhere You Are (Duderstadt Remix). Released in 2010 and already a classic in my mind!
2008 saw Duderstadt collaborating with Store N Forward for the single Broken. I especially love the Nitrous Oxide Remix which is a pure uplifting monster.
The 2010 single Stranded In NYC was a sweet progressive track in the style of the recent Duderstadt-remixes.
In 2011, Duderstadt collaborated with legend Nic Chagall (of Cosmic Gate fame) and singer Relyk for Alone With You. A really sweet vocal track imho.
The same year also saw the singles Yanooa and Painted Red (with singer Hannah Ray). The latter, another sweet progressive vocal track.
2008 saw the re-release of Toca Me/Toca’s Miracle with fresh remixes from the brothers-side project, Inpetto aswell as remixes from Richard Durand. Again, the track did well in the charts and a new Video for the single was also produced. The new single Memory was also released the same year, Memory sounds more like an Impetto-track as its sound is based on the re-release of Toca Me/Toca’s Miracle.
Since Memory, most releases has been fresh versions of old singles.
Everytime You Need Me got a 2011 re-release, Even Tocas Miracle got a 2012 re-release.
2012 has also seen 2 new singles so far, Thousand Times (with singer Damae) and the newest track, Where Do We Go (with singer Damae).
I can’t say that I like the new Fragma-sound, it’s way too commercial for me. But I definately love the Duderstadt-sound, especially from 2008 and onwards. Let’s hope that they will continue on both projects side by side. Atleast so I can get my daily dose of quality Duderstadt-remixes for a while longer.
Related tracks
Coco – I Need A Miracle (Piano & Vocals Bar Room Mix)
Fragma – Toca Me
Fragma – Everytime You Need Me
Fragma – You Are Alive
Fragma – Man In The Moon
Duderstadt vs. Store ’n’ Forward – Broken (Nitrous Oxide Remix)
Duderstadt & Anita Kelsey – Smile (Duende Dub Mix)
Mike Shiver & Aruna – Everywhere You Are (Duderstadt Vocal Mix)
Cosmic Gate ft. Aruna – Under Your Spell (Duderstadt Remix)
Oceanlab – Breaking Ties (Duderstadt Remix)
It’s time, the brand new Podgressive EP029 is here!
So finally the spring has come to town. After what seemed like an endless pit of darkness, the days has become a little longer, the weather a little sweeter and the grass seems to have become green over night. It’s finally here, SPRING 2012!
This means that it’s time for another episode of the greatest podcast in the world: Podgressive!
This time Tatsumi has invited the American DJ Austin Leeds, and the Swedish upcomming supertalent Johan Malmgren to make a show worth listening to!
And what have we done the last month? Me and Tatsumi has been planning for a party here in Stockholm, Podgressive Summer Jam! The venue is Slagthuset and the date is 9/6.
We open the doors at 21.00 with free entrance the first hour, and after that it’s 120 SEK. We close the doors around 3.
The lineup is a wide range of styles, progressive, techtrance, dubstep/dnb and techtechno with the following Dj’s: Tatsumi Suzuki, Kambiz, Amar S, Stalker, Technophobia and Emrah Celik. All our favorites at one club!
The full info will be online in the following weeks, so don’t plan anything that date! :D
Are you ready for some music? Head over to Podgressive.com and download the latest episode!
– Patric
(DON’T FORGET TO GIVE YOUR SUPPORT BY WRITING A COMMENT, SHARE AND LIKE THIS EPISODE. ALSO INTERACT BY USING THE VOTE AND SEND US YOUR SHOUT OUT AND REQUESTS.)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bxz-8g5ePg&w=680&h=376]
This weeks article is focused on two brothers from Germany. They have both been involved in various projects over the years but the project and the track i’m thinking of is York – Farewell to the Moon (En Motion Remix). (Buy on Itunes)
York is German brothers Jörg and Torsten Stenzel. Both have been active in the music scene since the early 90’s.
Torsten Stenzel started playing the piano at the age of 5 and later turned to church organs where he recieved his organist diploma at the age of 15 when graduating from the prostentant church in Frankfurt. Meanwhile Jörg focused on stringed instruments.
Torstens first step into dancemusic came with the 1990 release Recall IV – Contrast, though he’s not credited as a writer on the track because his partner at the time forgot to mention him because of his lack of knowledge of the music industry.. Only ”mixed by Torsten Stenzel” appeared on the credits.
After becoming A&R for the record label Crash Records, he released N.U.K.E. – Nana with partner Zied Jouini. The track went straight to No1 in Italy and No3 in Benelux.
His collaboration with DJ Taucher came in 1993 with the single, Happiness but it wasn’t until the release of the second single, Atlantis that the real rise to fame came.
Later in 1993 he formed his first own underground label, Liquid Records just to be able to release whatever he choose to. It was also at this time he started collaborating with Oliver Lieb with the project, Paragliders.
Except from Oliver Lieb, he also worked with Booka Shade, DJ Tatana, Dj Taucher, Talla 2XLC and DJ Sakin.
In 1995 Torsten bought the rights to Planet Love Records to focus on developing a trancier sound together with Dj Taucher. Their first release on the label, Fantasy was licensed to Sony Dance Pool and later became a top 50-single in the german charts.
Toghether with Dj Taucher, Torsten had remixed over 52 different artists and was named ’worldwide third best remixers’ in 1997 by Raveline magazine. An example was their remix of Faithless – God Is A DJ, a huge success which topped the charts worldwide.
The project York was born in 1997 with their first single, The Awakening released on Talla2XLC’s label, Suck Me Plasma. The single reached no 11 in the UK chart. What did the track special was that it was the first trance track ever to be released with an electric guitar as a lead instrument. The single sold over 250.000 copies The guitar, played by Jörg has been a key instrument in all York-releases.
The second release, York featuring Jamila – Jastamba was another guitar-driven track. Though not as successful, it established the York sound. The same year, Torsten collaborated with Sakin Bozkurt a.k.a. DJ Sakin for the project DJ Sakin & Friends. Their first release, Protect Your Mind was a clubversion of a James Horner-track off the Braveheart-soundtrack. The track became an instant success and was played by every major DJ all over the globe. Protect Your Mind hit the No1 spot on the German dancechart and also No3-position on the German music sales chart. It sold Gold, Silver & Platinum in most european countries. The track sold over 700.000 copies worldwide.
The second single from DJ Sakin & Friends, Nomansland did pretty well but not near the success of Protect Your Mind. It landed on No10 in the German charts and No16 in the UK charts.
The track was a rework of the track Vladimir Cosma – David’s Song.
They had a hard time struggling with the success of Protect Your Mind to find so they trashed the project after the album Walk On Fire was released. The Album itself did pretty well in the charts.
The really big breakthough for York came in 1999 with the release of On The Beach, which is a remake of Chris Reas old anthem with the same name. The first vinyl was On The Beach and on the B-side was the track The Reachers Of Civilisation but later the same year there was a real release with alot of remixes. The mix that made the video-edit was the CRW remix (by italian Mauro Picotto amongt others). The single reached no 4 in the UK charts and became a worldwide hit. Chris Rea was amazed that this version had outsold his 1986 original that he pushed for the single and later performed with York at the British Top Of The Pops-show.
At this time, Torsten had moved to Ibiza and established his studio there.
The followup to On The Beach was the 2000 single Fields Of Love together with André Tanneberger a.k.a. ATB who also sings on the track. The track became another huge hit worldwide.
The same year also saw the single Farewell To The Moon (with vocalist Pat Appleton). Farewell To The Moon became another big hit and its also my favourite from York, especially the En Motion-remix by Steve Helstrip which gives me that summery feeling and a driving beat that just makes you wanna dance. The single also features remixes by Watergate and ATB.
2001 saw Yorks first album, Experience and later the single-release of The Reachers Of Civilization. First released as a B-side to On The Beach but now with an awesome remix-pack from Rank 1 and Push. The same year also saw the release of the single Silence which contains a sample from Héroes del Silencios single Entre Dos Tierras. Silence was re-released 2002 with vocals by Alaska and renamed Yesterday (Silence).
In 2004, York released I Need You and later the same year, a collaboration with Roger Shah under the name DJ Shah Meets York – Sunset Road / Dead Drummer. When Roger Shah later released his Sunlounger-singles, White Sand & Aguas Blancas Jörg was featured on Guitar. He was also featured on most of the Sunlounger 2007 album, Another Day On The Terrace
The year after saw the new album, Peace and the single York feat Angelina – Iceflowers
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In 2006 York released their last single, Mercury Rising and later York took a break.
Jörg worked on some productions with Roger Shah and Torsten worked on various projects which included Finnish rock singer Tarja Turunen (from the group Nightwish), Jennifer Paige, All Saints, Nelly Furtado & Joss Stone together with production partner Rick Nowels.
2010 saw the return of York. The first single, DreamMan featuring York – Moonrise On The Beach released on Laurent Veronnez’s label, Green Martian.
In 2011, York moved to Armin Van Buuren’s Armada Music Label and released York feat. Brandon Jones – Wanna Be Known and in 2012, the release Touched By God saw the light of day. Later in 2012 will see the release of the new album, Islanders
I still think the typical York-sound sounds fresh even today. As long as Jörg plays his typical guitar, you can still hear the distinct York-sound which once made them famous. The future looks bright for them and hopefully they’ll keep their sound for many more years.
Related tracks:
York – The Awakening (Extended Mix)
York featuring Jamila – Jastamba
York – On the Beach (Mauro Picotto’ s CRW Remix)
York – On The Beach (Original Mix)
Atb Featuring York – The Fields Of Love (instrumental)
York – Reachers Of Civilization (Rank 1 Remix)
York – Farewell To The Moon (Watergate Club Mix)
DJ Sakin & Friends – Protect Your Mind (Braveheart)
Moby – Porcelain (Torsten Stenzel Remix)
York – Touched By God (York & Steve’s Vocal Radio Mix)