SAM PAGANINI’S UNVEILS FOURTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM TITLED ‘LIGHT + SHADOW’

Sam Paganini is back with the brand new double album “Light + Shadow” on his own Jam label in October 2021. The fantastic 12 track concept is his fourth full length after 2020's Reflections and is split into two halves, Light and Shadow, with each showcasing different sides to his sound.

This superb new album comes presented as six daytime orientated tracks, representing Light, and six tracks designed for clubs, which represent Shadow. This innovative format is a way for the artist to dig even deeper and cook up different moods and grooves for different settings. It comes after nearly 25 years of leading the underground scene from the front and headlining every major club and festival in the world from Berghain in Berlin to Output and Cielo in New York and Fabric in London.

In that time, the Italian has also released on influential labels like Drumcode, Plus 8 and Cocoon Recordings and is never far from the top 10 of the Beatport techno charts. As well as club-ready EPs, he has always showcased his fine studio craft on immersive full-lengths like 2014's Satellite, 2017's Zenith and 2020's Reflections.

Those albums evolved his famously percussive and harmonic sounds and explored downtempo and breakbeat as well as techno. 'Rave' from the Satellite album became an instant classic that has been viewed more than 43 million times on YouTube and stayed for more than 18 months in the overall Beatport Chart after being number 1 for over two months. Next to making techno, he has toured Italy as a drummer with a rock band and had a UK Club Chart #1 'Zoe' under his Paganini Traxx alias in 1996.

This new album opens with 'Bianca', which is dedicated to Sam's daughter, who was a newborn at the time it was written and is now seven months old, so the track is filled with emotion. It is gorgeously uplifting with airy pads and heavenly chords as well as an aching vocal that hangs above the silky breakbeats. 'Overdrive' then traps you in heavenly melodic loops that lift your spirits ever higher, 'The Church' is a thoughtful downbeat track with lush ambient pads and 'Revelation' is a harmonic soundscape with a percolating rhythm and rich chords filled with hope. 'Breeze' then explores a world of tropical cosmic ambiance, with serene pads and leggy drums, glowing keys and a futuristic feel before 'Nocturama' is another exquisite exploration of a cosmic jungle in the sky with new age keys, whimsical melodic leads and bustling broken beats.

The second half, Shadow, takes you straight to the club with deep techno rollers like 'Starlight,' raved up cuts like 'One' with its fizzing bass and cantering drums and 'Flash' feat Zøe, which is a pounding but warm techno track with percolating synth lines. 'Mutron' is percussive and twisted, 'Galaxy' gets you in a trance with its neon synth leads and unrelenting kick drum pressure and 'Heaven' closes out with the darkest mood of all, complete with bubbling acid and tripped out keys way up top.

This is a comprehensive artistic statement from one of techno's finest.

NEW ZEALAND RAPPER WAGUAN & PRODUCTION DUO ICEYGHOSTS ANNOUNCE FORTHCOMING COLLABORATIVE ALBUM ‘HAPPY PLACE’

FIRST SINGLE ‘BLANG’ OUT NOW ON BB MUSIC GROUP

Presenting a sonic escape from reality, New Zealand-based rapper Waguan and maverick production duo IceyGhosts announce their forthcoming full-body collaboration ‘Happy Place’. Giving a first glimpse into their musical musings, the debut single ‘Blang’ is out now on BB Music Group.

Demonstrating their innate musical talents with a masterful first offering, ‘Blang’ sets the stage for their collaborative project. Juxtaposing glistening vocal snippets with darker lyrics, ‘Blang’ achieves the perfect balance between IceyGhosts heavy set production style and Waguan’s mesmerising songwriting style. Speaking about the first single, Waguan said, “it’s very very very dark and twisted when you listen to the lyrics in detail. You’ll find it is evident that I am rapping about being trapped, feeling like my light is being snuffed out, and how much it hurts when you feel like it’s your job to spread that light, but can’t.” – Waguan.

Driving over eight hours to work together during New Zealand’s first COVID lockdown, Waguan travelled from his home in Wellington to Auckland city, where IceyGhost were based during the pandemic. Tuning out the world and channeling all their energy into the studio, they pushed their boundaries and discovered new sonic territories.                                                               

Zimbabwean born, New Zealand raised, 21-year-old Waguan is destined to turn the music scene on its head with his undeniably potent energy. Inspired by the likes of Kanye West and Russell Brand, Waguan takes a radically artistic approach to music and life in general. Gaining interest in music during his junior years in high school, Waguan started to participate in rap battles. His determination was ignited when a school teacher refused to enter him into the talent show, saying his rap skills were not good enough. Dedicated to proving her wrong, and fuelled by an inextinguishable passion, he spent endless hours producing and writing verses from his bedroom. Gaining rapid recognition, he started collaborating with bigger names in the NZ scene such as Jess B, Church & Ap, Soraya Lapread and many more. Leading him to perform all over New Zealand at various festivals and private events, Waguan’s intrinsic talent and magnetic personality have seen him rise at breakneck speed.

Globally renowned for their slick arrangements and heavy drums, production pair IceyGhosts have made waves internationally with co-writes for the likes of Jess B, Pharoahswami, Nauti, Waguan, Mo Muse and the BLK City Crew, and many more. Hailing from the streets of Pretoria (South Africa) and Kiel (Germany), IceyGhosts began their individual musical journeys through traveling and interacting with artists worldwide. Knowing that rapping and singing wasn’t their niche, the duo invested their energy as beatmakers and engineers, hoping to enter the industry and shake up the notion that the producer must remain the background. Brought together by fate, Zyl and Lion worked together on a track through a mutual friend’s recommendation. Drawing influence from absolutely everywhere, IceyGhosts have used music as a vehicle for not only processing their own perspectives and emotions, but also providing a platform for other artists to find and express themselves through the groove.

Connect with:

Waguan II IceyGhosts II BB Music Group

BRITISH SYNTHWAVE DUO MAXIMUM LOVE DEBUTS ON MANTA RECORDINGS WITH SOMETIMES EP

FEATURING REMIX FROM GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER LATROIT

Boasting a impressive stream of dynamic, forward-thinking records from label partners Idoru and Sian (amongst others) since its inception back in 2019, burgeoning Indie Dance imprint Manta Recordings now looks to continue its prolific run of first-rate label output with the announcement of its latest EP release, this time from hotly-tipped British Synthwave duo, Maximum Love.

Speaking about the upcoming release, label head Idoru commented:

“We are truly excited about this next phase for Manta, we are really trying to step it up a notch. With a massive release from one of our favorite artists, Maximum Love, and a remix from Grammy-award winning artist, Latroit, I couldn’t be more stoked and honoured to be heading up the label” – Idoru

Warmly welcoming the budding fraternal outfit for their eagerly anticipated label debut, Maximum Love join Manta this October with their blistering New Wave cut, Sometimes. Over 25 million streams to the good since emerging onto the scene with their critically acclaimed debut EP Midnight Astronaut back in 2014, brothers Jordi and Taylor now pull out all the stops with this latest retro cut, combining classic 80s influences and evocative, melancholic vocal lines with their unmistakably hazy retrospective soundscapes to masterful effect.

“We wanted to make something that you could get totally lost in…” said the brothers, “something that was dreamy and ethereal but hit hard enough to keep coming back to. It’s been a tough year or so for everyone and we’ve had plenty of time for reflection, the track is about capturing that feeling. We’re really honoured to be able to work with Manta and Latroit on this project, and we can’t wait for everybody to hear it” – Maximum Love

Out now, the double-sided package is bolstered by an exquisitely crafted remix, courtesy of Grammy Award-winning producer, composer and Double Platinum selling artist Latroit. Returning to Manta following his impressive label debut Confess back in 2020, the prized LA-based artist steps up to the plate with a pulsating and energetic disco-tinged interpretation, drawing on his remarkable studio experience to conclude the emphatic two-part package in style. Speaking about the remix and his return to Manta, Latroit commented:

“I listened to the original version only once, and I liked it so much that I wasn’t sure that I’d have anything to add to it. Over the course of the following week, I couldn’t get the melody out of my head…it would not leave me alone. When I listened to the original again a week later, I realized that the way I’d been singing it to myself throughout the week was not at all how the song actually went and thought ‘right… I guess I’ll just do this, then…’ This was a real joy to work on and I hope that people have as much fun listening to it as I had making it.” – Latroit

Maximum Love:

Latroit:

Manta Recordings: