Category Archives: Ministry Of Sound

Win your own Trance Nation

Posted on by
Reply

It’s Monday and that means competition time…so fix up, look sharp! Today we’re very excited to release Trance Nation: The Collection, 4CDs of all-time anthems that will take you on an epic, euphoric, emotional journey through all the biggest trance tracks ever, the cutting edge of new trance talent and the future classics that will be pounding your ears in the months to come!

And to celebrate its release, we’re giving you the chance to win your very own trance nation in the form of all our biggest and best trance releases – including of course a copy of Trance Nation: The Collection. Trancetastic (sorry…couldn’t resist)! Anyway, to enter, simply click here!
Ministry of Sound

We interview…’Take Over Control’ vocalist Eva Simons

Posted on by
Reply

Oooh, we do love a good interview – there’s nothing like a chance to get artists to dish a bit of dirt! This week we were lucky enough to pin down the gorgeous, lovely and uber-talented Eva Simons, the Dutch vocalist who features on Afrojack‘s new smash single, ‘Take Over Control’, which is one of the hottest dance tracks of the year and is scorching its way up the charts!

Eva was born to musician parents and has been singing her whole life, having had an early induction into the industry with her girl band Raffish. She then went on to win the Dutch version of Popstars in 2004, but believe us, there’s absolutely nothing manufactured about this singer! In May 2009, her first solo single ‘Silly Boy’ was leaked on to YouTube. Within just a couple of months it had attracted a huge online fanbase, generated over 10 million listens and Eva’s voice drew comparisons with none other than global superstar Rihanna. Not bad for a debut release!

When we caught up with her, Eva was happy to give us the lowdown on how she met Afrojack, her solo plans and a forthcoming collaboration with Roll Deep, who she’d still love to work with and what she would do if she go to take over control of Planet Earth for a day…

‘Take Over Control’ is out now – get your copy here.

For more information on Eva Simons and Afrojack, head to:

www.evasimons.com
www.afrojack.com

Ministry of Sound

Get your skates on – Ministry of Sound comes to Somerset House!

Posted on by
Reply

When the sun sets the atmosphere builds as DJs play live from 8pm until late at the stunning setting of the ice rink at Somerset House…DJ nights at Somerset House is running from 26th November to 15th January on selected Friday and Saturday nights, and of course Ministry of Sound is in on the action!

On Saturday 4th December, our SpaceStation docks at Somerset House to bring you our resident space cadets Cosmonauts, who’ll be spinning their trademark uplifting disco vibes, and Leftside Wobble who’ll be serving up a piping hot slice of disco house.

On Friday 10th December, The Gallery will be on ice with Gavyn Mytchel – weekly resident and a regular at leading clubs worldwide – joined by the other Gallery Residents to create a unique party at Somerset House before going onto play at Ministry of Sound later that night. And during each session, the best dancer on the ice will win two tickets to go on to Ministry of Sound and carry on dancing the night away! So get those skates on, because there’s no experience which can quite match the fun of dancing on Ice to the perfect party soundtrack!

Listings:

Skate at Somerset House
Presented by Tiffany & Co.
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2 1LA
23 November 2010 – 23 January 2011
Book online at http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ice_rink/default.asp or
Call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1520

DJ Nights at Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2 1LA
26 November 2010 – 15 January 2011. Selected Dates Only
Session Times: 20.00 – 21.00; 21.15 – 22.15; 22.30 – 23.30
Tickets: £15
Book online at http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ice_rink/200910/1061.asp or
Call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1520

Watch a trailer for the ice rink at Somerset House 2009…

Ministry of Sound

Listen: to a free mix from Sasha

Posted on by
Reply

DJ/producer/remixer Sasha is renowned as one of the world’s most innovative icons of the electronic genre. The word ‘legend’ is applied to many DJs, but Sasha is one of the few who truly deserve such praise. He propels listeners into the future of electronic music by constructing forward-thinking concept albums (Airdrawndagger, Involver, Invol2ver) and live events (Delta Heavy, Fundacion, V_rtek), which blur the boundaries between artist and DJ. Refusing to limit himself to DJ work, Sasha has continually explored his various interests as an adept remixer, songwriter, and producer, and has become one of the dance scene’s most formidable remixers by reconstructing tracks from an incredible array of artists such as Depeche Mode, Madonna, Seal, UNKLE, The Chemical Brothers, BT, Thom Yorke, and Orbital.

And he never stops – he’s as in-demand as ever and, having played a storming set at Ministry of Sound for this year’s DJmag Top 100 Awards back in October, we’re chuffed to bits to welcome him back this Saturday for what’s going to be another epic journey into the magical mystery music land that is a Sasha set! Get your tickets here, cos you most definitely don’t want to miss this one!

In the meantime, listen to Sasha’s Top 100 set to get you going…ooh, our toes are starting to tap already! See you down the front on Saturday night!


Sasha @ DJ Mag Awards 2010 by Sashaofficial

www.djsasha.com

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

We interview…Afrojack

Posted on by
Reply

Tell us the story behind Take Over Control?

I just really wanted to do a semi-commercial bleepy style radio record, like David Guetta did with ‘Love Has Gone’ – just a bassline and kick – that had never been heard before on the radio. I wanted to do that but with bleeps and my own favourite chords.

How did the collaboration with Eva Simons come about? Did you know each other before making the track?

My publisher introduced me to her, and when we we’re in the studio everything fell into place so easily, it just felt right!

If you could take over control of the world for a day, what would you do and why?

I would give all the 3rd world country people a normal life, give them a chance to go to clubs and actually experience all styles of music.

Congratulations on entering the DJmag Top 100 this year at #19 – how did that feel and did you expect to rank so highly?

Thanks! It felt good ofcourse, being up there with those other legends (next to Laidback Luke, Judge Jules and Sebastian Ingrosso), but for me it’s most important to see all the happy people at clubs and festivals, that’s the best thing! I never expected to rank so highly by the way! Everyone was telling me top 30 for sure, but I was like naaaah, maybe 50+, you have to remember that all those other guys in the Top 100 have been doing this for so long!

You played at Ministry of Sound on the night of the Top 100 awards – how was it for you?!

It was a good party, the awards weren’t really awards though, I hope that next year they do a bigger awards ceremony followed by the party. It was still an honour of course to be invited though!

Who are YOU rating at the moment, both in terms of DJs and other artists?

I’m not rating anyone, my music isn’t in any specific genre so its not up to me to judge anyone as such, but as artists right now I really like Deadmau5, David Guetta and upcoming production genius Apster.

Who would you like to work with that you haven’t already?

Definitely Deadmau5.

Who’s the most influential DJ/producer you’ve met to date? Do you ever get star struck meeting other artists/celebrities?

David Guetta of course! And I’ve only been star struck once, last night when I was standing at a U2 concert next to Bono – that was pretty impressive!

How would you describe your musical style, which is famously very eclectic? How would you say it’s evolved over the years?

I can’t say, it’s just evolved with mainstream and club music, I think my style is a mix of electro, trance, techno, electro pop and just trying to evolve constantly.

What can clubbers expect from a live Afrojack DJ set?

AFROJACK MUSIC !

Where’s the best place in the world you’ve DJed so far? Do you have a favourite club to play?

EDC America was really crazy, Stereosonic Australia, Creamfields UK, these were like the biggest festivals I’ve ever played and were so much fun.

You had some help in your career from the likes of Laidback Luke, Sidney Samson and David Guetta – who would you say has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

Laidback Luke in the studio and David Guetta in my career!

What’s been your recipe for success?

AFROJACK MUSIC ;-)

What software do you like to use when producing?

FL Studio 9 and a little Ableton Live 8.

What’s your best advice for young DJs just starting out in their careers?

Only do it if you really want to, if you wanna do it only a little bit you’re not gonna get far. Go all the way or don’t do it!

Have you ever felt that a remix of one of your tracks has bettered the original?

Yup, but sometimes the whole world will hate something and only I might like it.

What is it about Holland that consistently produces top DJs?

It’s in the grass maybe? Or in the air?!

What’s next for you, and what are your goals for the future?

Making more music with my favourite artists and having a great time all around the world.

Where do you see yourself in a year from now and what plans do you have for 2011?

I hope next year I’m back in the same place with loads of fun and a great year behind me – just remember this, you only live once so you only get one chance to do whatever you want! So do it now!!!

‘Take Over Control‘ is out now – get your copy here!

www.afrojack.com

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

Watch the brand new video for Yasmin ‘On My Own’

Posted on by
Reply

So, you may have heard us mention a certain lady called Yasmin quite a bit lately…but you might be wondering, who dat? Fear not – we have the answers! Yasmin Shahmir is a 21 year old singer-songwriter who grew up in Scotland with a huge passion for hip-hop and R&B music. Having started DJing in her teens, she left her first year of university at 19 and relocated to London to focus on her DJing career; the move soon paid off and before long she found herself touring alongside hip-hop heavyweights including N*E*R*D, Will.i.am, Taio Cruz and Eve while also regularly hosting her own club night in London, ‘Bad Intentions’. Gradually through her work she made friends with the some of the hottest producers on the scene, including Labrinth (Tinie Tempah), Future Cut (Lily Allen, Devlin) and Shy FX (Dizzee Rascal), who through studio sessions helped to discover Yasmin’s amazing voice and songwriting skills.

Those skills didn’t go unnoticed and she signed to Levels Entertainment, an imprint of Ministry of Sound Recordings, in April 2010. Since then Yasmin has continued to go from strength to strength; in recent months she has DJed at numerous festivals including Ibiza Rocks with Dizzee Rascal, put in a killer performance at BBC 1Xtra’s Live event at Wembley Arena, featured on Devlin’s hit single ‘Runaway’ and supported Example throughout a 17-date UK tour – as well as being hard at work in the studio on her debut album. She’s already received huge support from BBC 1Xtra, Radio 1 and Kiss FM, and they’re not the only ones to be impressed; some of the hottest UK urban stars are also lending their support, including Tinie Tempah who turned up to her most recent gig in north London on Friday night!.

So what is it about Yasmin that makes her so special? Well first of all her sheer talent; with an ethereal rawness to her voice that evokes memories of Massive Attack & Portishead, her fragility and imagination combine with lyrical wit and candid choruses which reflect her independence and genuine, unique song-writing ability. She’s also totally original and very much her own woman; fresh, funny and feisty, she’s the kind of person you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with! Have a watch of the brand new video for her debut single ‘On My Own’ – which with its stunningly heartfelt vocals layered over a fiercely fresh hip-hop beat reflects her totally unique style – and you’ll see what we mean!.

Stay tuned for ‘On My Own’, which will be released on 30th January 2011 – plus we’ll have more news from Yasmin plus a chat with the lady herself very soon!

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

We interview…Sander van Doorn

Posted on by
Reply

Hello Sir, how has your week been?
Not bad thanks! I’ve been over in the US doing a few dates which have gone really well so far.

It’s your last London date of the year, on reflection how has it been?
It’s been a good year! I’ve had several singles out, a compilation album, I’ve been touring all over the place – particularly in America.  It feels like this year has been even better than the last.  I’m especially pleased about taking ‘Dusk Till Doorn’ to more new places and pushing the brand even further.

Friday sees a special three hour offering. Being no stranger to The Gallery, any surprises in store?
If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise would it! I have prepared a couple of things…

Your ‘The XX’ bootleg is smashing all dancefloors! How did it come about – and what software did you use to produce?
I used Logic.  I’d been listening to the album and that first track particularly stood out for me.  A great vibe and no lyrics, which made me think about trying some kind of remix.  The pace of it was also spot on, so it really was quite easy once I’d started.

You play the ‘Knockout’ festival in Malta soon. How will you differ your MOS sound to the big festival occasion?
I’ll play more of a party set I think, something for everyone rather than those who live and breathe this kind of music.

You are on the bill with Koen Groeneveld. Are you a fan?
A big fan, I often play his tracks…

Candidate for the one tune to smash it in 2011?
Starkillers, Dmitry Ko & Smashbox – Odessa (Doorn Records).

What has SVD asked from Santa this year?
An iPad please!

Finally, three Xmas themed words to describe your set?
Prancer, Dancer and Blitzer…

Sander will be headlining The Gallery this Friday alongside Koen Groeneveld and Gavyn Mytchel – get your tickets here!

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

Chris Lake mix and interview

Posted on by
Reply

It’s your first time playing for the KM faithful. Can you describe in 5 words what they can expect from a Chris Lake set?
Groovy, ass-shaking, ballsy, epic moments.

We have admired your work for some time, even featuring your first major hit, ‘Changes’ on our first compilation album several years ago. What has been your biggest ‘pinch me, I must be dreaming’ moment since those earlier days?
Nobody believes me when I say this, but it’s when I was walking through Aberdeen airport 4 years ago, and I saw Steve Davis (Snooker legend) walking through the terminal. I don’t know what came over me, but I genuinely became starstruck when I saw him, and headed over to ask him how he’d done in a tournament he was playing in Asia that I was watching whilst touring China. I missed the semi final as I was travelling to Japan that day and I couldn’t find the result online. I must have looked crazy as he was edging away from me as I was asking him, then he replied that he got ‘absolutely mullered’! End of conversation……

You rocked the main stage at SW4 this year, how do you find DJing at festivals and do you enjoy small, sweaty clubs as well as playing to tens of thousands of people?
Basically, I love them both. Big crowds obviously get the big attention, and when it’s going off, there’s nothing like it, but the same can be said of a small club, when you have every single persons full attention, and the vibe is electric, having complete control of the crowd. Those shows are amazing!

You’ve recently brought out an album, ‘Cross The Line’, with regular collaborator Lys. For a house music producer, releasing a full artist album must be a proud moment? How did you find the whole process of getting an album together – was it a more organic approach or did you have to force it sometimes?
No this one was organic, but at the same time a lot of hard work. We had basically put a few tracks together, and decided to put together an album, but we set ourselves a date to finish it, and we actually managed to meet it for once. We literally worked our asses off to finish it, but had so much fun in the process. I think you can hear it in the final results though, as I think it sounds very positive. I’m definitely massively proud of this album.

You’ve worked with a couple of people whose surnames/names have begun with an L (Sébastien Léger, Lys), that keep up the catchy sounding ‘Lake & L…..’. Can you give us another person you’d like to work with who’s name begins with an L?
Haha, good point, I never even noticed that! Lauren Hill – what a voice, what an artist. Her ‘Killing Me Softly’ cover is one of my all time favourites.

You are totally to blame for me (and probably countless others) humming and whistling the ridiculously infectious hook from La Tromba regularly, even to this day. When you created it, did the hook ingrain itself into your mind too?
Definitely. I wrote it, turned to Lys, and said this is going to really bug people. I then sent a working clip to some mates of mine, and they said it sounded like the Rocky theme tune. I nearly scrapped the record after that description!

Thanks Chris!

Get your Kinky Malinki tickets here, and listen to our exclusive Chris Lake mix here, which is guaranteed to get set your dancing feet on fire!

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

We interview: Judge Jules

Posted on by
Reply

Hello good man. Have you had an enjoyable week?
Yes thanks, you find me at 38,000ft en route to Hurghada in Egypt – to play the mighty Ministry of Sound (Egypt branch).  They’ve got internet access on the plane.  It’s the future!

You’ve had a hectic year, now back in the ‘DJ Mag’ Top 20. What do you attribute this to?
Well, in the past few years I’ve had a fairly relaxed attitude to my ‘Top 100′ position, but this year I decided to really ramp it up and run a more ‘election’ style campaign.  I’ve got 300,000 podcast subscribers, a database of near 100,000, half a million Radio 1 listeners, and 50,000 people come to Judgement Sundays Ibiza each summer, so it seemed kinda silly that my placing had slipped three years in a row.  Just about all the other big DJs run huge campaigns around ‘Top 100′ time, and this year I felt compelled to do the same – which has yielded results! The past 12 months has also been great for my style of music, and my weekly show on Radio 1  helps me to showcase the music I love and believe in…

What has been your favourite gig of the year?
It’s hard to say, there have been just been so many great DJ outings. I think it would have to be Global Gathering in Russia. My set was open air to a huge arena, just in the transition between daylight and nightfall.  This really made for a cracking atmosphere.

The Gallery Xmas party is hotly anticipated in clubland. What makes it different from the normal weekly parties?
One thing you are always guaranteed with the Gallery – whether it’s the Xmas party or a normal club night, is that the atmosphere and appreciation for new music is immense. And folk tend to get just that bit more stupid during the festive spell (stupid in the good sense of the word)!

New track ‘Verano Loco’ is receiving widespread acclaim. What software did you use to produce – any downsides?
I’m really pleased with the reaction its received.  The advantage of modern day software is that one can make a tune in the studio and test it out in the clubs the same night. Verano Loco was made just before Summer 2010, meaning I could thoroughly road test it at Judgement Sundays -  ahead of passing the tune to other DJs. I made it in Logic 8 using my ‘Nord lead 2′ plus plenty of cool VST’s – including Vanguard & Gladiator to create the main hook.

Having been involved in all our major events this year, why do you think you hold such an affinity with The Gallery faithful?
Being my hometown, London’s naturally a very special place to me – it’s where my career started and where my heart lies. Whilst other club promotions have come and gone, The Gallery has stood the test of time.  This is the result of the familiar faces on the dancefloor and a constant influx of new ones (plus of course, some rather good DJs).

Track to smash it in 2011?
Thomas Ulstrub – Rubberdub, huge track forthcoming on Spinnin’ Records. Gets an awesome reaction and combines a bit of Dubstep within a Trance record, which is an unusual fresh vibe!

What are your Xmas day plans?
Gonna be on a plane flying to Asia, where I’m playing an assortment of gigs in Thailand and Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur on New Year’s Eve.

Celebrity chef Rick Stein is your uncle. Will he be cooking the Xmas turkey?
No, but I am having dinner with him and the rest of my family this Saturday at my brother’s new restaurant – The Jam Tree in Olympia, South West London.

Thanks Jules! Look forward to seeing you on Friday – readers can get tickets here!

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Eric Prydz ‘Niton (The Reason)’

Posted on by
Reply

Eric Prydz stands alone in his ability to mix commercial success with underground credibility. A household name with a No.1 and two No.2 UK hit singles under his belt, Prydz has enjoyed one of his best 12 months to date, remained Beatport’s biggest-selling producer and now he’s back with his latest epic offering, ‘Niton (The Reason)

A supremely uplifting anthem featuring the deliciously distinctive vocals of Jan Burton, it’s already bearing all the hallmarks of becoming his 4th UK hit, having grown from an underground instrumental smash into one of 2010’s biggest club anthems. The track has been a Zane Lowe ‘Hottest Record In The World’, a Cool Cuts No.1, Essential New Tune for Pete Tong, and been championed by Annie Mac, Scott Mills, Vernon Kay, and many more.

So needless to say, we’re very proud and excited to give you the WORLD EXCLUSIVE of the brand new video! Like nothing you’ve seen before, it was created by the brilliant Immersive, who have done tour visuals for the likes of Deadmau5 and Pendulum and who will be doing them for Eric himself on his 2011 tour – full details to be announced very shortly. Feast your eyes and tell us what you think!

‘Niton (The Reason)’ will be released on Ministry of Sound Recordings on 6th February 2011.

Content Supplied by Ministry of Sound