ORJAN NILSEN AND MARK SIXMA'S NILSIX ALIAS RETURNS TO DREAMSTATE RECORDS WITH THEIR NEWEST SINGLE, "BURNED"

Orjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma release another peak-time single from their collaborative project nilsix.

Dance music heavyweights Orjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma are keeping the momentum at maximum speed with their fourth single on Dreamstate Records, “Burned,” released underneath their joint alias, nilsix.

A scorching creation built around a melodic techno framework, “Burned” is ripe with emotion. Penned from the perspective of a romantic masochist, the track

touches on the inability to escape the flames of a toxic relationship. Propelled along by recoiling synth leads and sheeny melodic slides, the dark groove unfurls with masterfully executed tension before giving way to haunting vocals that depict the harsh reality. After the vocal-driven breakdown, the dark undertones and thunderous percussion return to the scene to hammer the infectious hook deeper into the heart of this melodic house & techno-powered beast.

Forged by two unstoppable forces in dance music, nilsix is the collaborative brainchild between Orjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma. Since launching the shared pseudonym on the label last year, the potent production pair has released a string of singles, including “The Void,” “Gone,” and their inaugural number “Anhedonia,” garnering live and radio tastemaker support from Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Markus Schulz, Super8 & Tab, Suzy Solar, Judge Jules, Andy Moor, XiJaro & Pitch, Davey Asprey, and Alessandra Roncone.

The project enjoyed its live debut in North America at last year’s installment of Dreamstate SoCal, and have since followed up the breaking performance with stops at EDC Las Vegas and Transmission Festival.

“Burned” is set to be another notch in nilsix’s impressive discography, demonstrating their relentless innovation and mastery of blending genres.

nilsix is a joint venture of two of dance music’s finest – Orjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma. With a combined musical journey spanning 40 years, Orjan and Mark

bring a wealth of experience and innovation to craft. Orjan Nilsen, known as the “king of melodies,” is responsible for some of the biggest trance classics of all time. Mark Sixma, on the other hand, stands as one of the pioneers in the

creation of big room sounds, leaving an indelible mark on the electronic music landscape.

Despite their individual successes, both artists faced the challenges of severe burnout post COVID, which prompted them to go into the studio together to simply “have fun” again. This sparked into an incomparable source of motivation, leading to them completing over 10 demos in the span of just a few months. nilsix made an impactful debut with their single “Anhedonia,” which was signed to Dreamstate Records. This track quickly became the label’s most streamed

record to date, and they followed up with techno-infused record called “The Void”. Shortly after they took on the ambitious task of remixing one of Orjan’s most iconic classics, “XIING”, which released on Armind in November of 2023.

Taking the world by storm, nilsix shows no signs of stopping. Playing major events such as EDC Las Vegas, Dreamstate, Transmission, Euforia Festival, A State of Trance, and Creamfields, to name a few, and releases on labels such as Dreamstate, Revealed and Armind, it is certainly the year of nilsix and the best is yet to come.

Connect With Orjan Nilsen

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Connect With Mark Sixma

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VERKNIPT ARENA SHATTERS RECORDS: THE BIGGEST HARD TECHNO EVENT EVER

40.000 hard techno enthusiasts came to rave all night long for Verknipt ArenA, setting records and a new trajectory for a once-niche music genre.

Verknipt, one of the world’s leading hard techno event organizers, has proven its cultural significance and influence on the hard techno scene, bringing together 40.000 ravers for the biggest hard techno event ever. Held at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday, July 20th, the night was a resounding success, filled with epic performances and a vibrant energy that lasted until well after dawn.

Verknipt ArenA hosted more than a dozen of the hard techno scene’s most prolific performers from 20:30 when the doors opened on Saturday until 08:00 when they closed the show on Sunday morning. Sets that stood out included the opening b3b with Cynthia Spiering, Franky-B and Ketting, as well as epic performances by heavyweights like Sara Landry whose electrifying sound ignited the entire stadium. 

The stage at Verknipt ArenA also proved to be the perfect venue for artists to release all new tracks. Shlømo debuted “Meet Me In São Paulo,” which is part of the special release Verknipt ArenA album by Verknipt Records. DIØN also unveiled the official Verknipt ArenA anthem during his set, a masterful rework of Tiësto’s legendary track ‘Traffic,’ which you can also find on the Verknipt Records Album.

As the night progressed, the energy only intensified. The crowd was treated to a series of stellar performances from Onlynumbers, CARV, Basswell, Alignment, DYEN, Oguz, 6ejou, Raxeller and KARAH, each artist bringing their unique style and passion to the stage. The closing set by Fantasm was nothing short of spectacular, keeping the energy levels high until 08:00.

This monumental, all-night-long event not only showcased the incredible scale of the hard techno movement but also Verknipt’s pivotal role in its growth and evolution. The overwhelming success of Verknipt ArenA is a testament to the thriving global hard techno community and the unifying power of music. 

The Album: Take home a piece of Verknipt ArenA
Verknipt ArenA also illustrates how Verknipt as an organization is continuing to push boundaries and elevate the hard techno scene, creating spaces where emerging talents can shine and established artists can explore new creative heights with the most enthusiastic and dedicated crowds out there.

This sentiment is most evident at Verknipt ArenA itself, as well as with their latest project, the release of an exclusive Verknipt ArenA album by Verknipt Records and Be Yourself Music. This Verknipt Records special album was made to commemorate the world’s biggest hard techno rave and showcase both established names and rising stars in the scene.

"Verknipt Records is thrilled to unveil the Verknipt ArenA album, a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of hard techno and the scene,” Mer Hajbarati, Verknipt founder explained. “This album not only showcases the immense talent of our contributing artists but also embodies the energy and spirit of this landmark event. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation in the hard dance scene."

The album features big hitters like Shlømo, Fantasm, CARV, PER PLEKS, ANSBRO, and Luca Agnelli amongst exciting newcomers like Franky B and Ketting. The album is available both as a digital release and a vinyl for €34,99 (excl. shipping and service costs) — the vinyl will be delivered to customers by the end of September. You can listen to the Verknipt ArenA album here or listen to Spotify’s Hard Techno playlist curated by the hard techno organization this month.  

After last weekend’s success Verknipt ArenA is confirmed for 2025, more info will be released later this week.

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FIRST LOOK AT AHM CLUB - CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LEBANESE NIGHTLIFE

For the past 10 years, AHM has been a landmark of Lebanese nightlife. The club saw the inception of iconic club nights such as 2ND SUN, Love Night and House Of Pop and became a place where partygoers of different tastes and preferences would gather and create timeless moments around music and art. Having endured a pandemic and a devastating blast, AHM was rebuilt, brick by brick for a celebratory farewell season last summer. This summer, Factory People gear up for a new chapter in the AHM story as they unveil a bigger, more impressive club. 

AHM relaunched on Friday July 12 and Saturday July 13 at Beirut Waterfront which overlooks breathtaking scenery. The entertainment group’s new project promises a summer programming curated to appeal to the city’s most loved sounds as well as its bubbling subcultures.

Built in collaboration with the award winning Carl Gerges Architects, AHM is more than a club, rather a monument in the heart of the Lebanese capital. High-end not only in terms of aesthetics but also functionality, the club is a modular space with Factory People’s signature three-room offering. This time, however, the experience will allow more space for discovery, especially with some of its predecessor’s staples coming back, while others introduced for the first time this season. 2ND SUN, a weekly ritual around techno music, will continue hosting the world’s hottest electronic music talent with the likes of Adriatique, Mathame, Stephan Bodzin and Folamour. Love Night, a tribute to the 80s and its glam with the spirit of today, remains your go-to place for all the cheeky flirters and the sexy disco lovers. House Of Pop gets an uplift and presents a summer spectacle, GLOW, which features live performances by a roster of phenomenal singers and dancers. Last but not least, the club introduces Milkshake, a place for all lovers of afro-house and house remixes and blends. The rest is to be discovered only through the maze that is AHM.