BLONDEX RETURNS TO EXHALE WITH A 4-TRACK DEBUT EP THAT CLEARLY DEFINES HER SOUND

Blondex returns to EXHALE with her debut EP, a powerful four-track record that navigates altered states of perception through her signature fusion of trance-driven emotion, acid-soaked intensity and modern peak-time techno energy. Known for her hypnotic melodies, commanding basslines and high-impact productions, the Spanish DJ and producer continues to carve out her place within the new wave of future-facing techno artists. World building and narrative play a central role in Blondex’s creative vision, with each track designed as part of a larger conceptual journey.

Following her contribution to EXHALE’s latest various artists compilation, Blondex now makes her first full solo appearance on the label with the Twisted Reality EP, an immersive trip through the space between dreams and reality where perception dissolves, time stretches, and the mind drifts beyond the physical world.

‘Astral State’ opens the EP as the entry point into the dream world. Punchy drums, massive basslines and towering trance leads establish immediate momentum, while ethereal vocals and psytrance-inspired elements create the sensation of drifting beyond physical reality. Built around the idea of astral projection and detachment from the body, the track unfolds through a carefully crafted breakdown before erupting into a powerful, high-impact drop designed for peak-time moments. ‘Aeon’ follows by pushing the journey deeper into a timeless space. Squelching acid lines, cinematic choir textures and clean, driving percussion evolve beneath a soaring trance lead, balancing emotional depth with relentless dance floor energy while reflecting the desire to escape time itself and remain suspended within a single moment.

On the second half of the release, ‘2 Shadows As 1’ introduces a more intimate and ethereal atmosphere. Floating vocal textures drift through shimmering sound design and a restrained melodic approach, creating a dreamlike feeling centred around connection and shared frequency. Blondex also makes an appearance as a vocalist herself, adding a deeply personal touch to the track’s emotional core. Closing the EP, ‘Twisted Reality’ dives back into raw intensity through piercing acid sequences, a huge 90s-inspired hoover synth and hefty low-end power. Its explosive drops and alarm-like synth elements represent the final stage of the journey: a fractured awakening where the line between dream and reality no longer exists.

Drawing inspiration from the rich history of trance and techno, Twisted Reality sees Blondex bridge past and present through a distinctly modern lens. Emotionally charged, technically refined and conceptually immersive, the EP captures the timeless spirit of rave culture while pushing it into bold new territory.

Catalog No: EXH020 Release Date: 3rd July 2026

TRACKLIST – LISTEN HERE

01. Blondex – ‘Astral State’

02. Blondex – ‘Aeon’

03. Blondex – ‘2 Shadows As 1’

04. Blondex – ‘Twisted Reality’

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&FRIENDS BRINGS NEW ENERGY TO DJ SNAKE’S “PARADISE” WITH A SOULFUL SUMMER REMIX

One of the standout records from DJ Snake’s latest album Nomad returns in a new form today as &friends officially releases his rework of “Paradise” across all streaming platforms.

Ahead of the release of his hit album “Nomad”, DJ Snake unveiled a series of standout singles that set the tone for one of his most profound albums to date. Among them was “Paradise”, released in May 2025, featuring Bipolar Sunshine, first premiered during his sold-out Stade de France show, offering a modern reimagining of Phil Collins’s iconic “Another Day in Paradise.” Now, &friends brings a fresh sound to the record, transforming it into a soulful, dance-pop remix built for the summer season.

Known for blending emotional storytelling with melodic electronic production, &friends approaches the remix as more than a club record. The track preserves Bipolar Sunshine’s vocals while introducing &friends’ signature melodic sound. The collaboration also highlights the shared artistic vision between DJ Snake and &friends. Both artists draw inspiration from global cultures and musical storytelling, resulting in a rework that bridges the gap between emotional songwriting and dance music. "Paradise" is set to become a standout addition to the summer playlist.

Cultural icon DJ Snake has shaped the global music landscape with hits like “Let Me Love You,” “Middle,” “Lean On,” and “Taki Taki.” Collaborating with leading names across pop and urban music including Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Future, Travis Scott, Jung Kook, J Balvin, Peso Pluma, Don Toliver, Stray Kids, LISA from BLACKPINK, and Amadou and Mariam, he has built a cross-genre catalog with lasting worldwide impact. With over 52 million monthly Spotify listeners and more than 40 billion streams, he has sold out arenas globally and redefined the modern electronic artist.

Rooted in the French underground electronic scene, DJ Snake emerged as a pioneer in blending electronic music with trap, hip-hop, and modern pop, reintroducing vocal chops and high-impact drops into mainstream pop production. Breakthrough tracks like “Bird Machine,” “Turn Down for What,” and “Propaganda” became cultural landmarks, reshaping electronic music and ushering twerk, trap, and hip-hop influences into the global mainstream.

His rise from clubs to stadiums includes headlining Accor Arena and Stade de France, selling over 100,000 tickets between the two Paris shows in minutes, while dominating markets across Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. In 2025, he released Nomad, a globally influenced project that earned major international covers and a GQ Man of the Year award, alongside continued expansion into fashion through global brand collaborations and his Pardon My French collective.

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HOT SINCE 82 IGNITES A NEW OBSESSION WITH A NEW SINGLE OUT NOW, ALBUM ANNOUNCED

There’s a moment, somewhere between the noise of the club and the quiet that follows it, where everything becomes clearer. Where ‘Obsessions’ was born.

Landing on the 4th of September via his own imprint Knee Deep In Sound, ‘Obsessions’ is less a traditional dance record and more a reckoning — with where Daley Padley finds himself now, as an artist and as a person. Written across a period of constant movement, touring and introspection, the album holds the push and pull between intensity and stillness that has come to define his world.

This is an artist who started making music in Barnsley — long nights, small rooms, total commitment to sound. Those early marathon sets weren’t a stepping stone to something else. They were the foundation of everything that followed, a career built entirely on instinct rather than expectation. Hot Since 82 has never followed a fixed path. He’s carved out a space that sits somewhere between underground credibility and global reach — and it’s that same restless, uncompromising approach that shaped this album.

The first single ‘Shaded’ from the album is released on the 12th June, takes a sample from Shades Of Rhythm’s classic ‘Sound Of Eden’. The UK’s electronic trio were asked to make a theme track for a rave called ‘The Garden Of Eden’, created by their old school friend Ziggy Chowdary. It started out a simple deep house track but went on to form the base for the original chord progression and vocal hook for ‘The Sound Of Eden’. Whilst the rave never went ahead, Sounds Of Rhythm later heavily remixed the original; a new bassline, new drum breaks, and an inspired vocal by Jo Middleton, this was the version everyone knows today. And Ziggy? Well, he went on to manage four young lads, better known as ‘The Prodigy’.

Shades Of Rhythm are pioneers of the UK rave and house movement, emerging from Peterborough in the height of the 80’s underground explosion, formed by Kevin “Lanx”

Lancaster, Nick Slater and Rayan Gee, the trio quickly became a defining force in the early 90’s, helping shape the sound and spirit of a generation. The track remains as one of the most recognisable anthems of the rave era, and decades on Shades Of Rhythm remain active and relevant, educating generations of ravers. Bridging the gap between the original rave movement and today’s global electronic scene.

‘Sound Of Eden’ has special kind of magic element, that Daley wanted to reimagine for his own sets. Daley’s edit ‘Shaded’ taps directly into classic house lineage while feeling unmistakably current — a bridge between where this music began and where it’s heading.

“Moments like this don't come around often. Taking a record you've loved for years, being invited inside it, and then helping introduce it to a new generation of dancefloors is something I'll never take for granted” - Daley

For Padley, this is simply what making music has always looked like. Guided by feeling, shaped by experience, resistant to formula. This first single has the power of a timeless record and couldn't be a better way to kick off the string of singles to come ahead of ‘Obsessions’ later this year.

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