IN / ROTATION presents the 13th installment of its longstanding ‘Rotate’ compilation album, releasing on June 25th. IN / ROTATION has created a cult-like following around
its ongoing ‘Rotate’ compilation series, a celebration of house and tech in all its various forms, shapes, and sounds. Volume 13 delivers on all fronts, offering up its most diverse and well-rounded collection of tracks to date.
Checking all the boxes, the 10-track offering is taking househeads for another spin around all manner of club-focused cuts. Ranging from UK garage, melodic techno, Latin house, and minimal tech, the package runs the gamut with exclusive singles from Plastik Funk & Toxic Joy, Amal Nemer, TEKO, Draxx (ITA), Ares Carter, Galo, Jewel Kid, VENGA, MLE, and Sven Lochenhoer. Bringing together an international roundup of artists from numerous genres, ‘Rotate Vol. 13’ continues to honor its ethos of championing the future generations of house producers.
Kicking off the compilation, Spanish-born, Germany-based producer Plastik Funk teams up with Toxic Joy on “Skank.” This high-octane UK garage collaboration takes on a dancefloor-ready shape, with its catchy vocal hook surrounded by shuffling beats and a dark, grooving bassline perfect for primetime.
Toxic Joy touched on the significance of this collaboration, saying “Plastik Funk and I have been working for a few years now! We wanted to make a dirty song with a dark and deep bassline, but still keep the groovy tech house drums. A few sessions later, ‘Skank’ was born.”
Venezuela-born Amal Nemer is a groove architect that has been buzzing nonstop within the Miami dance scene with her world-infused, minimal tech productions and charismatic personality. With “Burning,” Amal encapsulates her culturally-enriched vibe with infectious Latin-inspired beats and a hypnotic spoken-word vocal line.
Amal Nemer describes her situation leading up to the creation of the track, saying: “I was at a point in my life where I felt stuck. I wasn’t in tune with my energy and had this deep, burning desire of undergoing an internal transformation. I was looking for some type of release and my music really helped with the release of so much pent-up energy. I want my fans to understand that change is constant and to embrace it with a positive mindset. Hopefully, this track can help them get in tune with their emotions while grooving to a catchy beat!”
Picking up the pace, Brazilian-born TEKO’s “Keep It Going” infuses low-slung, relentless rhythms with an assertive vocal loop. Tapping into his roots, he incorporates infectious Brazilian beats guaranteed to keep the energy levels soaring on any dancefloor.
TEKO gave us a deeper look into the creative process, saying, “I was inspired by the energetic rhythms of Brazilian music and the infectious beats of tech house. I wanted to blend these elements, so I crafted a track with a driving bassline, rhythmic percussion, and a vocal hook that says ‘keep it going.’ The goal was to capture the spirit of Brazilian music festivals and create a track that keeps the dancefloor alive.”
Draxx (ITA) delivers a compelling track with “Myself,” blending a full-toned, bouncy bassline with clean, R&B-infused vocals and shuffling percussion. The track contains a message of self-empowerment at its core, depicting the notion of moving on from a relationship and making a shift towards personal growth.
With its infectious energy and euphoric vocals, Ares Carter’s tech house roller “Air,” strikes the perfect balance between catchy and classy. The dynamic beats and captivating melody make it a surefire crowd-pleaser, seamlessly fitting into house sets of various forms, from daytime festivals to late-night club play.
Ares Carter shares his excitement about releasing with the label, saying “I couldn't be more excited to join the IN / ROTATION family with ‘Air.’ It’s easily one of my favorite records I have produced to date and it fully represents my current sound.”
Transitioning into deeper territory, Galo’s “Can't Get Enough,” flips on the timeless switch via its commanding diva-esque vocal and a driving bassline that injects the track with unfaltering energy. Adding to its allure are polished, sultry synth lines woven throughout the mix, lighting up the mix at just the right moments. The track follows his “Running Back” collab alongside the mighty Wenzday, as part of her follow-up four-track ‘Heartbreaks Club’ EP released last year.
Galo touches on his anticipation of releasing on the label: "I’m really excited to be on IN
/ ROTATION with ‘Can’t Get Enough.’ This label has been on my radar for years. While I’ve previously released with them as a part of a collab, it feels great to have landed this solo record. I am really proud of it."
Hailing from the sun-kissed shores of Malta, Jewel Kid is fast becoming one of the most sought-after tech house artists in the game. With “Fogo,” he expands on his versatile discography, skillfully blending his signature tech house sound with rhythmic elements borrowed from baile funk and favela-inspired music, resulting in a dynamic and innovative number that bounces and buoys with unexpected twists and turns.
Jewel Kid touches on his influences behind the track, stating, “I've recently been digging a lot into the Brazilian funk scene, so it was only a matter of time to infuse those vibes with my own signature grooves.”
French producer and DJ VENGA is making her mark on the global stage, maintaining a steady output of toughened tech house and dark techno grooves. Her newest single, “Disobedience,” is a pummeling techno track layered with thumping kicks and a moody synth line broken up by gargling tones and spellbinding AI-like monologues.
VENGA speaks to the vibe of the track, saying, “‘Disobedience’ is a very energetic and powerful track, which I created with a percussive kick and a voice like that of an artificial intelligence to give this robotic side. The bassline is deep but with a house vibe. I also added techno synths that give the track a darker mood."
Deviating from her debut drum & bass track “Come Over” via Insomniac’s STNS imprint, MLE is set to captivate listeners with her latest tech house track, “MWAH.” The track fuses samba-driven rhythms with bright, overlaid bongos and a dynamic exchange between trading Latin guitar and trumpet lines, creating a cohesive groove with a lot to offer. The varied vocal samples glide over the rhythmic backdrop, adding layers of depth and emotion throughout the track.
Closing out the compilation in fine fashion is Canadian producer Sven Lochenhoer with his spellbinding track, “Abduction.” True to its name, the track envelops the ear with its mesmerizing journey characterized by pulsating rhythms that drive the momentum forward, accompanied by ethereal synth textures that bubble and weave, while shifting vocals push the energy through the wonderfully weird whirring tones.
Describing the source of the track’s creation, Sven Lochenhoer says, “‘Abduction’ came to be while prepping for a warehouse party in Windsor. The party had a spooky alien theme, so I knew immediately I wanted to write a track for it that made you feel like you were about to bear witness to an alien invasion. I love creating the feeling of a visual landscape in my music, and this one on the breakdown totally gives me that ‘big saucer flying overhead while in a dark field’ feeling.”
The ‘Rotate Volume 13’ compilation showcases fresh, exciting talent from across the spectrum of house music, each slated to stand out at the top of their class.
‘ROTATE VOL. 13’ Track List:
01. Plastik Funk & Toxic Joy - Skank
02. Amal Nemer - Burning
03. TEKO - Keep It Going
04. Draxx (ITA) - Myself
05. Ares Carter - Air
06. Galo - Can’t Get Enough
07. Jewel Kid - Fogo
08. VENGA - Disobedience
09. MLE - MWAH
10. Sven Lochenhoer - Abduction
