Moderat are Modeselektor and Apparat, two electronic music heavyweights who have brought IDM from Berlin to the farthest flung corners of the world for the past 10 years. Released last April, III is the third and final installment in their trilogy of dystopian albums. One standout track from the album came as the song “Running,” which has since been making its rounds in the remix world.
The song’s sonic palette spans intricate percussions, cascading synths, a driving kick drum and a wealth of feel-good vibes. This is a highly emotive kind of pop, built for dancing, but never simple. As described by Sascha Ring (aka Apparat), “Running is about being part of a mass. A mass that constantly needs to move to function, but one that’s not deciding directions by itself.”
Based in Leipzig, Germany, Daniel Goldstein is Lane 8, a DJ / producer / songwriter whose cross-genre approach redefines the boundaries of house music. His singles have repeatedly topped the Hype Machine charts and his remixes for Eric Prydz, Above & Beyond and most recently Odesza have shown a knack for appealing to both mainstream and indie crowds, as well as his deep house base.
What sets Lane 8 apart from the crowded dance music scene is his ability to craft music that succeeds both in the club and on the iPod – a skill that has landed him widespread support from the likes of The Magician, Annie Mac and Pete Tong, who named him a “Future Star”.
Lane 8’s debut artist album, Rise, was released last July via Anjunadeep, one of the hottest electronic labels in the world, with Goldstein himself jokingly describing it as “dreamy back-rub house.”
British-born Berlin-based artist George FitzGerald has already made a name for himself as a star DJ and sought-after producer and he is finally sharing his long delayed debut album Fading Love. Lead single “Full Circle” is a sophisticated and moody downtempo electronica jam (not unlike Kruder & Dorfmeister or Caribou) featuring crooning vocals from Boxed In’s frontman Oli Bayston.
FitzGerald witnessed the birth of the dubstep scene during the mid-2000s in London, but he didn’t begin sharing music of his own until he moved to Berlin in 2010. By 2013, he had released a string of intimate, melancholic club tracks, perfectly blending dubstep and UK garage and slowly evolving towards a more minimalistic techno/house sound. With the release of his debut full-length, FitzGerald uncovers lush house landscapes and addictive grooves coupled with an utterly modern touch and pop sensibility.
More on George FitzGerald via his official Facebook or SoundCloud. The new album is available now on
Formed of German production duo Sister and UK vocalist Domino, Mocki is the outcome of a project – unapologetically indulgent and fun – mixing their different musical backgrounds: punk rock, disco, soul and more. They recently delivered their debut single “Weekend”, an infectious three minute slice of bright, spiky pop with a huge hook, which they apparently put together in only six hours!
The Weekend EP features remixes from New-York based Jai Wolf, Rioux and Young Ruffian. It is also backed by a new video produced and directed by Lucas Posson with the participation of Frenzy.
Haerts is a five member indie pop group based in Brooklyn. Founding members Nini Fabi and Ben Gebert grew up in Germany, meeting as teenagers when they were on a swim team together. They moved to the US to study and ended up settling down in New York to make music, like many other young musicians who seek out Brooklyn as the backdrop to their musical dreams.
Ever since they wrote their first song, the band’s creative core have been moved by the same passion and unwavering desire to find their own sound. “Benny is still the guy that’s the foundation in the songwriting, he’s on that composition element and I’m still the one more interested in melody and words,” Fabi says. Gebert agrees. “I would literally never write lyrics. It wouldn’t occur to me.”
Haerts released their first EP, Hemiplegia, in October 2013 and has toured with bands such as Shout Out Louds, Washed Out and Atlas Genius. You can get tour dates and more on their official website or Facebook.
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