It’s 2012. “Levels” is blasting through every house party. Big room house music is dominating the club circuit. Avicii, Skrillex and Pretty Lights are headlining Ultra Music Festival. Life is good. That year, the EDM bubble looked more like a 5 Gum commercial, a mind-bending maelstrom of fantastical electronic music festivals and totemic tracks. Rave culture bubbled up from the underground and exploded through the mainstream, leading to a collective serotonin rush that still remains. And while the EDM ecosystem is still thriving, it’s markedly different from those days, when DJs and producers pumped out hits like a broken printer. 2012 gave rise to a slew of generational dance anthems, which are now relics of a bygone era. Read on to turn back the clock a ...
Creem Entertainment has announced a raft of new hires, led by former VICE publisher John Martin as CEO, the company tells Billboard. Additionally, BMG Cypress Ascendant Holdings — a partnership between music manager Tautua Reed, former music executive/agent Paul Coyne and investment fund Cypress Ascendant led by businessman Bill Trzos – have come on as investors in the venture. In his new role, Martin will work alongside Creem Entertainment chairman JJ Kramer — son of Creem magazine’s co-founder and publisher Barry Kramer — as well as the magazine’s original editor Jaan Uhelszki. Martin worked in senior leadership roles at VICE Media for 18 years, starting in sales and events before working his way up to publisher. While at the company, he co-founded Munchies, a food and drink joint ventur...
Since launching in 2016, STMPD RCRDS has become one of dance music’s most esteemed record labels, stewarding the careers of some of the scene’s brightest production minds. So it’s hard to believe the imprint has just now launched its first remix contest featuring the music of founder Martin Garrix. STMPD this morning announced the competition, which invites music producers to rework the Dutch superstar’s collaboration with Matisse & Sadko and John Martin, “Won’t Let You Go.” Garrix and the label’s A&R will pick multiple finalists to be considered for two categories: Jury (STMPD’s team) and public (determined by poll voting). According to a press release issued by STMPD, prizes include a chance to win an official release...
Since launching in 2016, STMPD RCRDS has become one of dance music’s most esteemed record labels, stewarding the careers of some of the scene’s brightest production minds. So it’s hard to believe that Martin Garrix‘s flagship imprint has just now launched it’s first-ever remix contest. STMPD this morning announced the competition, which invites music producers to rework the Dutch superstar’s collaboration with Matisse & Sadko and John Martin, “Won’t Let You Go.” Garrix and the label’s A&R will pick multiple finalists to be considered for two categories: Jury (STMPD’s team) and public (determined by poll voting). According to a press release issued by STMPD, prizes include a chance to win an official release ...
Longtime collaborators Martin Garrix and Matisse & Sadko have always had a magic touch when it comes to electronic music. So when they threw the iconic dance music vocalist John Martin into the mix, expectations were high. And to the surprise of no one, they all delivered. Martin’s signature cadence is as strong as ever in “Won’t Let You Go,” a euphoric progressive track designed for music festivals. The riveting tune quickly became one of Garrix’s most anticipated unreleased tracks over the course of the pandemic. He dropped it live as early as August 2021, when he threw down at Austria’s Electric Love festival. It seems “Won’t Let You Go” is a bellwether of a huge 2022 from Garrix. According to a press ...
During his headlining performance at Austria’s Electric Love Boutique Edition festival, Martin Garrix dropped a pair of high-profile, unreleased collaborations. Fans were stunned to see the Dutch dance music superstar open his set by dropping a brand new collaboration with John Martin, the revered vocalist behind some of Swedish House Mafia’s most influential tracks. Luckily for those who weren’t able to see it in person over the weekend, fans have shared a generous portion of the song via social media. Martin’s vocals can clearly be heard alongside dramatic, uplifting chords from Garrix, forming a perfect introduction to his first performance in almost two years. Considering the duo’s work on “Now That I’ve Found You” and “Higher ...
Since early last year, David Guetta and MORTEN have been presenting their freshly minted “future rave” sound to the masses. They recently collided on “Save My Life” with Lovespeake, followed by “Dreams” with Lanie Gardner. Today they return once again for “Impossible” with John Martin. The unmistakable fusion of distinct and varied sounds acts as the centerpiece of “Impossible.” Martin’s signature tenor effortlessly guides listeners through a pounding bassline and whirling synths, putting all three artists’ signature sounds on display. Over the past year, Guetta and MORTEN have unveiled a handful of hit collaborations to propagate their patented “future rave” sound, including a massive EP. Fans can ex...
Martin Garrix is back in the studio with two of his past collaborators, who have appeared on some of his most popular tracks. Garrix recently shared a photo on his Instagram Stories from a studio session with John Martin and Michel Zitron, the renowned Swedish singer-songwriters who joined forces with him back in 2016 for his STMPD RCRDS single “Now That I’ve Found You.” The Dutch superstar tapped Zitron again in December 2019, closing out the decade with the Matisse & Sadko-assisted track “Hold On,” before once again teaming up with Martin for “Higher Ground” in the summer of 2020. Garrix unfortunately didn’t share any videos from the session, so fans are unable to hear what they may have worked on. However, after Garrix told us he&...
Dawn is equipped to deliver the house remix this song was born to have. Martin Garrix had fans on the edge of their seats when he announced he would be collaborating with John Martin on the single “Higher Ground.” The track was a callback to the mainstage progressive house sound that helped to establish Garrix as the global superstar he is today. He has now passed the production torch to Ferreck Dawn, a gifted Dutch producer who is equipped to deliver the house remix this song was born to have. Dawn’s production stays true to the emotive aspects of the lyrics while transforming the track into a club-ready jam. He amps up the groove on the beat, with vocal chops that echo the inescapable and repetitive mental confines that Martin touches upon in the message of the tr...
Just a few days after announcing his “first record of the next chapter,” renowned future bass and dance pop producer Gryffin has dropped the curtain, unveiling his new single “Cry” with John Martin. On July 28th, 2020, Gryffin tweeted that he started work on the track “with the intention of making a timeless dance record.” There is perhaps no collaborator more suitable for such an ambition than Martin, the iconic voice beyond a bevy of the most inescapable songs in electronic dance music, like Swedish House Mafia‘s “Save The World” and “Don’t You Worry Child.” “Cry” is a scintillating future pop record that tugs at the heartstrings through Martin’s poignant vocal effort. If Gryffin’s sentim...
Last week, a cryptic tweet from Gryffin read, “a new era is coming.” Fans were left guessing for most of the weekend as to what that could mean, but Gryffin has now revealed the news that his collaboration with John Martin arrives this week. Gryffin is touting the forthcoming single “Cry” as the start of his next chapter. While the significance of that messaging has not fully been revealed, it’s safe to say that Gryffin is aiming for new heights with his upcoming music. Many will recall that Gryffin debuted “Cry” to a massive audience during the virtual Digital Mirage music festival back in April. Dropping at the close of his set, Gryffin made a lasting impression with “Cry” with over 75,000 concurrent live viewers at the ti...