Etikettarkiv: article

Interview: Above & Beyond

Lämna ett svar

It’s HERE! The long awaited interview with Tony McGuinness and Jono Grant from Above & Beyond bejbi.se, together with Viktor Kidson did, earlier this year when they visited Sweden on the Scandinavian leg of their We Are All We Need-tour.

CONNECTION. If one word sums up the phenomenon of Above & Beyond then that is surely it. Whether it’s the thousands of A&B fans singing their lyrics back at them at gigs from Beirut to Brixton, or the millions that tune in for their weekly Group Therapy radio show, connection – real human connection – is at the heart of all things that define Above & Beyond.

Above & Beyond find themselves embedded at the heart of their fans’ lives. Some walk down the wedding aisle to their songs, others ink their bodies with their lyrics, often a proud couple will choose to get engaged at one of their gigs. All that pledge their loyalty to them are moved in a way that goes beyond most electronic music out there.

Above & Beyond is Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamaki and their story is one of constant movement. From their early days as hotly tipped producers to their current global standing, Jono, Tony and Paavo have remained as down-to-earth and determined as ever – always focused on the next goal. Over their 13-year history, this dedication has continually paid off.

We caught up with Tony and Jono right before their gig in Stockholm. We get a deep down, intimate chat with them about their music, and how it feels to create something that touches hearts all over the world. Ours included.

Learn how they see and love the ’Anjunafamily’, and how they don’t produce for people but somehow manage to produce with people. Get a view on their careers before they were Above & Beyond, how both Jono and Tony were in different bands. And how Tony still is! Find out what the music sounds like.

In the summer of 2013 Jono, Tony & Paavo launched another bold musical project, Above & Beyond Acoustic. Rewriting a selection of their back catalogue for a 15 piece ensemble, complete with a full string section, a harp and even a broom, they sold out three intimate shows at the impressive Porchester Hall in London, and in October 2013 will bring Above & Beyond Acoustic to Los Angeles.

Find out how frightening that really was. And what they have planned for the future.

And like just about everything they turn their attentions to, it is a labour of love as well as a collaboration of the trio’s energies. De La Soul weren’t wrong. Three really is the magic number: and in Above & Beyond’s case the magic is spreading faster than ever before.

Bejbi.se & Kidson Media Production presents Above & Beyond!

Interview, research & article: Viktor Kidson, Kidson Media Production
Production & editing: Patric Franksson, www.bejbi.se
Sound: Lars Johnsson, www.bejbi.se

Thank You Jono & Tony of Above & Beyond.

Also thanks to:
Universal Music
Caroline International
Stockholm Waterfront Building

CONNECT WITH ABOVE & BEYOND:
aboveandbeyond.nu
itunes.com/aboveandbeyond
youtube.com/aboveandbeyond
facebook.com/aboveandbeyond
soundcloud.com/aboveandbeyond

CONNECT WITH BEJBI.SE:
twitter.com/bejbi_se
facebook.com/bejbi.se
youtube.bejbi.se

CONNECT WITH #TEAMKIDSON:
facebook.com/KidsonMediaProduction
youtube.com/KidsonProduction
twitter.com/TEAMKIDSON

Contact:
kidson(a)kidsonMP.com
patric(a)bejbi.se

20150124front
If you want to see the pictures Patric took during the concert, check them out here

Classic FTW: Commercial radio hits vs Trance remixes

Lämna ett svar

This week’s article is somewhat different than the others. Instead of writing about one track or one artist, this article will be about alot of tracks with one common thing.
All tracks are trance- or other EDM-versions of ordinary commercial pop-tracks.

My fascination with electronic dancemusic started at an early age. Could have to do with that my brother was into synthmusic or that my family had MTV already back in 1984.

I have never been a radio-person as I think that most tracks played there (especially the commercial radio stations) is played over and over until people are fed up with the tracks.

What I wanted to hear was something else than the ordinary radio-listener heard. I wanted to hear the club mixes or remixes of the tracks. So I started buying 12” singles and later CD-maxis to feed my brain with stuff that most people never heard (if they didn’t go to a club).

I started listening to clubmusic long before I started frequenting clubs as there’s usually an 18 year minimum on swedish clubs. But when my time was in, me and my friends used to go out 1-2 days every week, both to dance and to drink.

Enough about me, now let’s get back to the music.

I got this idea of this article while listening to Evanescence – Hello (Trifactor vs Gabriel & Dresden Remix). If you compare the remix to the original, the original is somewhat of an emo-ballad while the remix seems abit happier but still keeps the original piano and voice.

When you come to think about it, there has been alot of beautiful tranceversions which originated from radiomusic/commercial pop.

Original
Remix

Another track that’s highly thought of in the trance community is Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan – Silence (Tiesto’s In Search Of Sunrise Remix) which is a bang-on trancer while the original is a slow track with gregorian chants but still danceable.


Original
Remix

When we’re on the subject of Delerium, they have been the remixers choice the last 10 years. The Delerium-single After All came in 2 versions. Original and Svenson & Gielen-remix. The latter usually found its way onto compliation albums whereas the original was only available on the album or as a single.

Original
Remix

Another example is the Madonna-hit What It Feels Like For A Girl where the official radio/video-version was the Above & Beyond Remix. Madonnas music has always been dance-oriented and the last few albums has been produced by the elite in the music industry to give her that dancefloor edge she’s always had strived for.

Original
Remix

Speaking of ladies, another remix favourite is Dido. Her original tracks has always been well-produced as her brother is the all-famous Rollo (from Faithless). Her track Sand In My Shoes got a well-deserved remix-work from Above & Beyond.

Original
Remix

Dido’s Don’t Leave Home got a treatment from Gabriel & Dresden. Both Dido-tracks are personal favourites.

Original
Remix

Another Dido-track to take a look at is Stoned (Deep Dish Remix) which is more housy than the original.

Original
Remix

Last but not least, the Armin Van Buuren-remix of Dido’s Everything To Loose.

Original
Remix

When mentioning Gabriel & Dresden, it’s hard not to mention their fabulous remix of Annie Lennox’s old ballad A Thousand Beautiful Things.

Original
Remix

Also worth mentioning is the Kuffdam & Plant-remix of Annie’s The Saddest Song.

Original
Remix

It’s hard to forget one of the first tracks that made the remix bigger than the original. 99% of the times when you hear Everything But The Girl’s smash hit Missing, it’s the Todd Terry Remix you’re hearing. It was one of those tracks that showed the music industry what power a remix can have.

Original
Remix

Another early crossover-track was the William Orbit remake of classical musician Samuel Barber’s track Adagio For Strings which got an awesome Ferry Corsten-makeover.

Original
Remix

Ferry Corsten also remixed a couple of Moby’s tracks, amongst others Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad.

Original
Remix

Ferry also did a tremendous job on Lighthouse Family – Happy

Original
Remix

It’s not only pop music that gets the dancefloor-treatment. For instance dutch rockers Kane got a sweet remix from Tiesto on their track Rain Down On Me.

Original
Remix

Tiesto also did a faboulous job on Skin’s track Faithfulness.

Original
Remix

I mentioned the Evanescence-track further up and also worth listening to is the Leama & Moor remix of Avril Lavigne – I’m With You.

Original
Remix

Even pop-synth artists like Depeche Mode has some really nice remixes out there.
Only When I Loose Myself gets a progressive remix by Lexicon Avenue

Original
Remix

Depeche Mode’s Peace gets a remix-treatment by Sander Van Doorn.

Original
Remix

The last remix I heard of their material that I liked was the Eric Prydz-remix of Personal Jesus.

Original
Remix

To sum it up. The artists original tracks are made for their original audience while the remixes are made usually to fit a dancefloor or to get the usual radiolistener a chance to hear their favourite track made in a different way to fit other moods. What we have heard the last 10 years or so is that most artists are getting more dancefloor-friendly.

A big example of this is the big crossover for american rap-artists to the european dancefloor with helps of DJs like David Guetta & Calvin Harris. No wonder that David Guetta was chosen the no1 DJ from the readers of DJMAG last year.

We can also see that big Trancemusic-names like Tiesto, Ferry Corsten & Armin Van Buuren is moving more towards housemusic nowadays as the big ”mass” which is into housemusic has taken over the dancefloors. Just look at the big parties like Energy or Sensation White which is more house-oriented nowadays than their origins in trancemusic.

My hope for the future is that some of the people listening to popmusic on the radio could find new listening grounds in housemusic or trancemusic when listening to their favourite artist thru the remixes. If only 5% of the listeners gets inspired, i’m more than satisfied. And I guess the remixers will feel the same.

Classic for the weekend: Chicane – Offshore [Disco Citizens Remix]

1 svar

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mplayysPDZU&w=680&h=491]

Welcome to an all new section on bejbi.se.
This section is going to present an important Tranceclassic just before the weekend starts, all written and presented by a long time friend and a walking wikipeda of music: Niklas.

The first track in this section is my all-time-favourite. I first heard this sometime in 1997 on a mix-cd called Club Mix 97  which contained loads of great tracks that I still listen to.

The track i’m talking about is Chicane – Offshore (Disco Citizens Remix) [Buy it on iTunes!]

The things that stood out most was the atmospheric strings, the piano and the guitar-riff.
The track was originally released back in 1996 and became an instant Ibiza-anthem with the balearic sound that’s captured in the song.

The track was later re-released under the name Offshore ’97 with vocals. Offshore ’97 was originally a bootleg made by Anthony Pappa with vocals from a track called ”A Little Love, a Little Life” by the group Power Circle, which later became the official vocal version called ”Chicane with Power Circle – Offshore ’97”

Lyrics:
A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
Let it show
A little love, a little life
Let it show
A little love, a little life

I feel in my mind, I’ve got to let go, I’ve got to unwind
I need a good time, I need to find love, I’ve got to get high
I feel in my mind, I’ve got to let go, I’ve got to unwind
I need a good time, I need to find love, I’ve got to get high

You’ve got the passion to feel inside
A little love, a little life, now you decide
There ain’t no reasons why we can’t share
A little love, a little life can take us there

You’ve got the instincts and now you know
A little love, a little life will let it show
Just take a hold of what you feel
A little love, a little life will make it real

I feel in my heart, I want to let go and make a new start
I have got to break free, I’ve got to unwind, I’ve got to believe
I feel in my heart, I want to let go and make a new start
I have got to break free, I’ve got to unwind, I’ve got to believe

You’ve got the passion to feel inside
A little love, a little life, now you decide
There ain’t no reasons why we can’t share
A little love, a little life can take us there

You’ve got the instincts and now you know
A little love, a little life will let it show
Just take a hold of what you feel
A little love, a little life will make it real

A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
And I feel it
A little love, a little life

You’ve got the instincts and now you know
A little love, a little life will let it show
Just take a hold of what you feel
A little love, a little life will make it real

You’ve got the passion to feel inside
A little love, a little life, now you decide
There ain’t no reasons why we can’t share
A little love, a little life can take us there

You’ve got the instincts and now you know
A little love, a little life will let it show
Just take a hold of what you feel
A little love, a little life will make it real

You’ve got the passion to feel inside
A little love, a little life, now you decide
There ain’t no reasons why we can’t share
A little love, a little life can take us there

You’ve got the instincts and now you know
A little love, a little life will let it show
Just take a hold of what you feel
A little love, a little life will make it real

A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
Let it show

A little love, a little life
A little love, a little life
Let it show
A little love, a little life

I started looking for other tracks by the same group and later found alot of wonderful songs that I still got on repeat on my stereo. The album, Far from the Maddening Crowds, which was released in 1997 contains loads of gems like Sunstroke, Red Skies and Lost You Somewhere.
The next album, Behind the Sun, which came out in 2000 contained loads of gems like Saltwater and Dont Give Up (with Bryan Adams). The colaboration with Bryan Adams started with Chicane remixing the track Cloud Number 9 which was initially a rocktrack released in 1998 and later remixed for the compilation album, The Best Of Me.

A fun fact was that ”Dont give up” was first relased as a hidden track on Bryan Adams Compilation (see the last track on the discogs-link). The fun thing is that I found the track by mistake whilst making the album into mp3. The track contained one song more than on the index and didnt start immediately.

Dont Give Up got its first radio play on december 31st 1999 by DJ Pete Tong on his radioshow Essential Selection and was dubbed ”Essential New Tune for the millennium”. When the track was played they didnt name the vocalist but was later official with the release of the single.

The biggest commercial success came in 1999 with the release of the single Saltwater which used the vocals of Máire Brennan from the group Clannad. The original track was called Theme From Harry’s Game and later re-written and re-sung to fit the Chicane-track. It became Chicanes biggest hit and was played on almost every radiostation in the world and topped alot of charts worldwide.

A fun fact: Justine Suissa, famous singer in the trance-genre was first made famous after singing on Chicanes track, Autumn Tactics back in 2000. After that she sung for Oceanlab, Armin Van Buuren and Markus Schulz just to name a few.

Since then, Chicane has released loads of tracks and albums with special guests as Tom Jones and also remixed tracks for people like Cher, BT, Natasha Beddingsfield, Armin Van Buuren and loads of other great artists.

Nick Bracegirdle who’s the main man behind the moniker also released some really good stuff under the name of Disco Citizens. The track ”Offshore” was co-written and co-produced by Nick Bracegirdle and Leo Elstob.

Chicane has released 5 albums so far. In my humble opinion i’d say that the first 2 albums were the best as they had the original chicane-sound with the ibiza-influences that I like. The cool thing is that the last 2 album is more back-to-basic and I hope that Nick will continue working in the same direction.

I had the opportunity to see Chicane live [BejbiGallery: 1 2 3] last year and it was one of the best nights ever. FutureSoundOfSweden arranged the night [poster] which also included The Thrillseekers Live plus Ferry Tayle and Airwave playing live as Cape Town. I was standing right beside the stage and had goosebumps all over my body!
 
A few top tips if your´re into the older Chicane-sound:

Luce Drayton – To Be Loved (Disco Citizens Remix)
Billie Ray Martin – Honey (Chicane Remix)
Disco Citizens – Nagasaki Badger
Disco Citizens – Footprint
Chicane – Lost You Somewhere (Heliotropic Mix)

Sources: My own mind, Wikipedia, Discogs

– Niklas