Rebel Rave 3 (CRMCD022)

 

 

- The third instalment of the Rebel Rave series cements 10 years of Crosstown Rebels existence and looks back on their last year of prolific achievements

• - Disc 3 is a compendium of the label’s history carefully selected and mixed by Wunderkind, Subb-an named DJ Magazines ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ of 2011

• - Discs one and two highlight some of the best moments of 2012 and feature artists that have grown from and with the label such asArt Department, Mathew Jonson, Maceo Plexand Jamie Jones as well as newcomers destined for great things in 2013 such asInfinity Ink and Laura Jones

• - Accompanied by a global tour to mark a decade of the label that will take in 5 continents, 18 countries and 44 artists.

As Crosstown Rebels reach a decade of existence they look back with pride on one of their most prolific years to date with the third episode of their treasured Rebel Rave series. This three disc compendium of their yield from 2012 walks back together through a year which saw them launch a mystical festival, Day Zero, and reconnect with classic artists from the label’s history such as  Mathew Jonson, Jamie Jones, Tiga & Dinky as well as typically introducing a sea of new faces such as Francesca Lombardo, Amirali, Fur Coat and Aidan Lavelle.
The third disc is a nostalgic journey on the whole label’s history mixed together by rising star, Subb-an. Named as DJ Magazines ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ in their 2011 end of year awards, Subb-an’s prodigious studio talents have seen him in demand for remixes of mainstream artists such as Jamie Woon, Lana Del Ray, Noir & Haze and Hollis P Monroe over recent months. An instigator of the infamous Below events in Birmingham and co-owner of One Records alongside Adam Shelton, Subb-an has gradually become cherished worldwide as a tastemaker and musical innovator.
His mix exudes a flair for winning over the dancefloor with graceful stitching and vivacious grooves. He ducks and dives taking a tripped out mood through mind-expanding choices such as Gavin Herlihy’s‘Witching Hour’ and Loco Dice’s remix of Riz MC’s‘Radar’ before steering back to driving into the midst of the night with glorious choices such as D’Julz’s edit of Solomun’s anthemic Rebellion release ‘Daddy’s Jam’ and Subb-an’s own ‘Misleading’. His peers Jamie Jones, Francesca Lombardo and Amirali also offer highlights to his seamless selection, with Amirali’s ‘Whisper’ adding an epic and graceful close to his episode.
Subb-an will be a main artist featuring on the colossal 10 years of Crosstown Rebel Rave tour in 2013, taking in five continents and eighteen countries alongside the label founder and flagship artist, Damian Lazarus. This global journey will bear fruit to another torrent of mind tripping, off-the-grid events driven by their tight-knit Rebel family of artists.
Rebel Rave 3 proves why Crosstown Rebels have remained the electronic pioneering force of the past decade and hints at their plans for the future

Tracklist
CD1
01. Luca Bacchetti - Tango (Eduardo Castillo Voodoo Remix)
02. Art Department - Touch You Gently
03. Amirali - Beautiful World (Deniz Kurtel Remix)
04. Mathew Jonson - Dayz
05. Infinity Ink - Infinity
06. Maceo Plex - Sex Appeal
07. Laura Jones - Inner Place
08. Francesca Lombardo - Old School Anna
09. Aidan Lavelle - Stronger
10. Dinky - Sealed
11. Fur Coat feat. Cari Golden - You And I (Amirali Remix)

CD2
 01. Amirali - Just An Illusion (MK Remix)
 02. Guti - Jealous Guy
03. Nico Purman - Falling
04. Sis - Faces
05. Tiga - Pleasure From The Bass (Subb-an Remix)
06. Walker & Royce - You’re Not Welcome (Francesca Lombardo Remix)
07. Daschund & Quenum - Mammoth
08. Tim Xavier – Arco Della Devozione (Paint The Sky Dub)
09. Jamie Jones feat. Art Department - Our Time In Liberty
10. Zod - Rise Before Zod (Acid Pauli Things That Fly Fly Remix)


CD3
Subb-An DJ Mix

1. Amirali - Just An Illusion (Accapella)
2. Pier Bucci - Jess
3. Dan Berkson - The Hollow
4. Gavin Herily - Witching Hour
5. Fosky feat. Shiva - Shiva (The Martinez Brothers Remix)
06. Jamie Jones - My Body
7. The Model feat. My Favorite Robot - Still In My  Heart  (Ivan Smagghe Remix Subb-an Edit)
8. Riz MC - Radar (Loco Dice In The Box Remix)
9. Pier Bucci - Congas Pond
10. Subb-an feat. Anomaly Jonez - Positive Expression
11. Solomun - Daddy's Jam (D'julz Remix)
12. Francesca Lombardo - Eyes (Subb-an Edit)
13. 3 Channels - Base Place
14. Subb-an feat. Anomaly Jonez - Misleading
15. Mathew Jonson - Dayz
16. Amirali - Whisper      
  

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRMCD022

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Tue Mar 19th, 2013





LINK TO THE TRACKS

Rebel Rave Tour 2013

Rebels isn’t only synonymous with music. It’s unique and exquisitely produced film series Rebel Rave TV launched in 2009 in collaboration with the highly skilled film-maker David Terranova. The Rebel Rave series has documented Rebel antics on an extensive global tour crossing the USA and Europe and the series is a consistent source of creative and cultural inspiration. 

Follow this link to see the latest REBELRAVE video highlighting our 2013 World Tour: http://youtu.be/G-lEpK20Jfc

As Crosstown Rebels enters the tenth year, they mark the occasion with a world tour of epic proportions illustrating why its become one of the most influential brands in the electronic music world. Taking on five continents and eighteen countries; starting in Puerto Rico, before heading to Peru, Australia, China, Japan, across America and Europe, the four-month voyage carrying the flagship Rebel Rave events are true indicators of the Rebels spirit.

JAN 25    SAN JUAN            PUERTO RICO
JAN 26    EL ROSARIO         LIMA
FEB 16    SYDNEY                 AUSTRALIA
FEB 17    MELBOURNE        AUSTRALIA
FEB 22    TOKYO                   JAPAN
FEB 23    HONG KONG        CHINA
MAR 01   CHICAGO              US
MAR 02   NEW YORK            US
MAR 08   MONTREAL           CANADA
MAR 09   TORONTO             CANADA
MAR 14   SAN FRANCISCO    US
MAR 16   LOS ANGELES        US
MAR 23   MIAMI                US
MAR 30   AMSTERDAM        HOLLAND
MAR 31   BASEL                SWITZERLAND
APR 07    BARCELONA        SPAIN
APR 12    BRUSSELS            BELGIUM
APR 13    MUNICH             GERMANY
APR 19    ROME                ITALY
APR 20    BOLOGNA            ITALY
APR 21    MANTOVA            ITALY
APR 26    LEEDS                UK
APR 27    LONDON            UK
APR 28    MOSCOW            RUSSIA
MAY 04    STOCKHOLM         SWEDEN
MAY 07    PARIS                FRANCE
MAY 08    BERLIN                GERMANY
MAY 11    MEXICO CITY        MEXICO

Artists playing on the tour include

ALEX ARNOUT / ALI LOVE / APOLLONIA / ART DEPARTMENT / AMIRALI / BILL PATRICK / BROHN / BURNSKI / CLIVE HENRY / CARL CRAIG / CRAIG RICHARDS / CASSY / DAMIAN LAZARUS / DENIZ KURTEL / DINKY / DJ THREE / DROOG / EATS EVERYTHING / FRANCESCA LOMBARDO / FUR COAT / HEIDI / INFINITY INK / JAMIE JONES / JOZIF / JUST BE / KIKI & SILVERSURFER / LEE CURTISS / LEE FOSS / MAAYAN NIDAM / MACEO PLEX / MARK JENKYNS / MAYA JANE COLES / MATTHEW STYLES  / PIER BUCCI / RICHY AHMED / ROB JAMES / ROB MELLO / ROSKA / RUSS YALLOP / SHAUN REEVES / SNEAK / SUBB AN / TIGA / TINI

Damian Lazarus - Interview to The Sun

LOVE him or loathe him, you can’t deny Crosstown Rebels label boss Damian Lazarus’s impact on clubland over the past decade.

Known for his enigmatic DJ sets, flamboyant fashion sense and offbeat podcasts, Lazarus has helped shape the careers of superstar spinners such as Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones.
This year marks his pioneering label’s 10th anniversary, a landmark that will be celebrated with a suitably epic world tour and a bumper three-disc compilation.
We caught up with Damian to discuss birthdays, brushes with bankruptcy and rebellious behaviour.

What inspired you to start your own record label? I’m guessing it wasn’t to get rich quick...

After gaining experience in the early 2000s co-running other influential labels such as east London’s famous City Rockers (home of Felix da Housecat), I decided it was time to branch out.
I wanted the creative challenge of running my own label and to continue promoting the most adventurous underground artists.

What are the financial realities of running an independent label, especially in the world of underground dance music?

It’s obviously more a labour of love than a decent money-making business.
Occasionally I sign a record that breaks through and we make ends meet.
Despite physical record sales being at an all time low, we manage to at least cover our costs with most releases.

What's the Damian Lazarus recipe for success?

Make, play and release music from the heart.

Name the record labels which have most inspired and influenced you?

The big indies Domino and XL are a source of inspiration because they prove you can have success and credibility, as are groundbreaking imprints such as Kompakt and Perlon which champion a more melodic style of electronic music.
 
How do you define the Crosstown Rebels sound, and has your move to Los Angeles from London influenced the label's musical direction?

Our signature sound is best described as future-thinking, melodic electronic music.
I have lived in LA for four years now, and as I regularly fly back and forth to Europe, the label has acquired a truly international flavour.

Do you prefer the laidback LA lifestyle to the London buzz these days?

My life in LA offers a more stress free environment than that in London.
I live in a rather isolated house above a beautiful park and keep myself away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
I also visit a Shaman in Mexico, which is good for my spiritual health.

Were there any times when you nearly gave up and shut the label down?

There were three occasions when I felt that the stress and workload had got too much, but I managed to find the creative juices and energy to continue.
Over the past decade we have lost a lot of money as a result of distribution companies going bust, but each time the talent of our amazing artists has convinced me to fight on.

Did you ever imagine you would make it to your 10th birthday and what does it mean to you?

It snuck up on me if I’m honest.
It was only recently that I took stock and realised we’d made it this far.
It’s a cliché but time actually does move fast when you're having fun!

How do you find your artists? Or is it just a case of wading through endless demos?
 
I have a knack of stumbling across the right people at the right time.
I do listen to demos, but my eyes and ears are always open waiting for a new talent to spark my interest.
You have to have something special to offer both musically and as a person to become a member of the Rebels family.

What’s your relationship like these days with two of your most successful signings Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones?
Are you supportive of their label projects or is there a rivalry there?

Crosstown Rebels is a big family that constantly helps and supports each other.
I am extremely proud of their successes, and consider them special people in my life.
As I learnt during my earlier career as a music journalist, there is no place for negativity in music.
 
What releases and parties should we look out for from Crosstown in 2013?

Our anniversary tour starts in February and there’s a big announcement coming soon about something we are planning in the US.
As far as artists are concerned this year is all about Infinity Ink, Ali Love, Art Department, Subb-an, Maceo Plex and Francesca Lombardo.
 
What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in the music industry over the last decade?

While digital releases have revolutionised the industry, people are still dancing as crazily as ever and are just as hungry for the next new record - and that's where I step in.

Fur Coat Feat. Mel Blatt - Fall's Away (CRM107)

 

After the success of their debut album ´Mind Over Matter´ released on Crosstown Rebels earlier this year, Venezuelan duo Fur Coat return with ‘Fall´s Away’; one of the biggest cuts from the album which features the lush vocals of Mel Blatt and a killer pair of remixes from DJ Sneak and Just Be.
Deep warm pads, filtered toms and vocal chops open things up on the original version of Fall’s Away and after the introduction of a groove inflected kick and bass combo it becomes apparent that this one is going to be taking complete control of the dance floor. This notion is accentuated even more once Blatt´s soulful contribution enters the foray with its lyrical and vocal excellence.
On somewhat of a resurgence at present, house legend DJ Sneak does what he has done for the last 20 years and delivers a slice of up front house music straight out of the Chi-town text book. Fat kicks, swinging highs and a deep and driving low end are all in attendance, whilst vocal stabs and swirling samples lead to several hypnotising climaxes. Clubbers beware: this one is relentless.
Just Be aka Bushwacka steps up for the final remix offering and stays closer to the original whilst bringing an otherworldly vibe to the party, with eerie synth melodies and cosmic sweeps taking centre stage. An infectious builder, the track picks up some serious steam throughout and is sure to have dance floors shifting by the end.

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRM107

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Mon Feb 4th, 2013

LINK TO THE TRACKS



Aidan Lavelle - Get Yourself EP (RBL013)

Back once again on Crosstown’s wayward younger brother Rebellion, Aidan Lavelle delivers another three superb cuts of timeless dance music featuring his own haunting live vocals and epic tribal grooves – a hybrid of techno & house styles with deep and moody undertones.

Title track ‘Get Yourself’, finally unleashed after getting hammered by Damian Lazarus in recent sets, builds with solid claps and humming bass tones leading up to a break where Aidan’s pitched down vocal winds its dark path into the mix along with the murky bassline and off-key echoing bleeps and chimes. A master of sonic layers, Aidan sets the tone of the EP here with striking lyrics, chugging groove and sharp shooting synths.

Flip over to the B-side and you have two more worthy lead tracks. ‘Abyss’ is a more urgent floor burner with plenty of tension and mood, swirling, spooky overlapping melodies and the effect of spiraling into darkness. ‘Unreal’ is another bomb with momentous dancefloor potential exuding from the main riff of off-kilter chimes, weaved into epic synths and punching through the solid groove. Aidan’s gothic voice remains a beguiling force.

Prolific composer and producer, Aidan Lavelle (brother to James) has worked with a number of world-class artists including U.N.K.K.L.E Gorillaz, Ian Brown, Queens Of The Stone Age and Massive Attack. Having since built up an illustrious body of work in television and film music, debut solo release on Rebellion ‘Tinnitus EP’ back in May firmly marked Aidan’s return to underground dance music. The ‘Get Yourself EP’ is further evidence of the solo producer’s magnanimous style.

 

 

Label: RebelLION

Cat no: RBL013

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board

Released: Mon Dec 17th, 2012

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Damian Lazarus talks about Day Zero

How on earth did Day Zero come about? When did the idea come to you and what’s the process of bringing it to fruition been like?
“Back in January I had something of a cosmic experience which led to me creating Day Zero. I had been told by a Shaman that I needed to place myself underneath the moon with my arms raised towards it for one hour between 10 and 11pm in order to draw power from the Universe. And so one night my friends and I were hanging out on the beach in Tulum and I decided to give it a go.
“With my legs apart and feet digging into the sand, I raised my arms to the sky and within seconds I felt the strongest sensation: the universe was sending a very powerful energy through my hands, arms and entire body, and I was locked into this electric forcefield. And finally when I let it go after some 15 minutes, as it was so strong, I fell to the beach exhausted. I re-joined my friends and everybody could feel a bizarre heat coming from my hands hovering over them. They told me that it was a sign and I needed to realise what it meant – with Mayan ruins just further along the beach to where we sat, I decided there and then to create Day Zero.
“Day Zero has been on my mind every day since. It’s tough but fun work organising an event of this nature but I’m very lucky to have a great team of people around me working on this. There is a lot of love and good vibes surrounding this event so whilst it makes me frightened of the scope of it, I feel very positive that we’re going to pull off a once-in-a-lifetime event.”


Tell us a bit more about the location, and what’s being done to it to make it special for Day Zero.
“I discovered this incredible place shortly after, along with some friends who run Sacbe, an eco/artist community in the jungle in Playa del Carmen. Our location for the event has three pyramids, two lakes and four swimming pools – it feels like stepping back in time with the Mayans to the 10th Century. This place is so beautiful it just felt like the perfect place to celebrate the end of the Mayan calender with 24 hours of the best electronic music in the galaxy.
“We’re working with Secret Productions who create the Secret Garden and Wilderness festivals in the UK and with one of the world’s leading video mapping/visual designers, Sila Sveta from Moscow. We have invited Mayan elders and their families from Mexico and Guatemala to join us and lead our ritual processions and ceremonies during the event. The artwork was brilliantly conceived by Ana Rifa and the incredible animated film on the website by David Terranova.
“The people helping us on the ground with logistics and organisation are friends who run another very successful festival and the stage designers have been friends of mine in Mexico for some years. The whole thing for me is an attempt at making a dream come true, it is a very ambitious event and I’m confident we’re about to make some very special magic happen.”


Do you believe there’s some kind of transformative power or special energy that’s going to be unleashed on the occasion? How does the event align with your own spiritual beliefs or sympathies? What does it mean for your personally?
“On this day there will be a very rare alignment of the planets. We’ve been feeling the energy leading to this moment for a while now. 2012 has already been looming in our consciousness for some time and many people around me have been talking about their recent life-changing experiences. It feels like we’re on a path to something new, something as yet undetermined, but it feels like a positive force is guiding us there. The mystics and soothsayers believe we are about to enter into a new dimension, a new chapter – others believe this is the apocalypse, the end of the world. I figure that whatever may or may not happen at this moment in time, what better way to spend it than with amazing friends from all over the world celebrating, dancing and enjoying life together for 24 hours to a soundtrack perfectly orchestrated to take us to this next stage.
“I believe this is an amazing opportunity for us to come together and take stock of our lives, our loves and set about on a new, better journey from here. I’m not a spiritual person in the hippie/yoga sense but I like to think my life is being guided by the stars and the planets, I like to think the signs for positive progression are all around us, and that we just need to notice and realise them.”

LINK TO THE FREE MIX DOWNLOAD

Damian Lazarus - Day Zero Sound Of The Mayan Spirit (CRMCD021)

            

- Assembling thirteen exclusive unheard tracks made for this special release for Crosstown Rebels

- Marks the debut Day Zero festival happening in Mexico on the special Mayan calendar prophetic date 21^st December 2012

- Day Zero features the label’s past, present and future artists such as Jay Haze, Acid Pauli. Mathew Jonson, Fur Coat & more

Damian Lazarus, the Crosstown Rebels spearhead infamous his idiosyncratic nature embarks on a daring new project with Day Zero. On 20^th - 21^st December 2012 he will stage a festival in sun-soaked Playa del Carmen, Mexico that will celebrate the momentous end of this world cycle, as decreed by the ancient Mayan civilisation.
To commemorate this enigmatic event he asked thirteen artists to create a new track for a special Day Zero compilation. His peers and comrades stepped up to the challenge with Rebel’s artist past, present and future contributing to this momentous collection compiled by Damian Lazarus.
Pier Bucci opens with the eerie and captivating ‘Mayas’ full of his Latin-American spirit. He was introduced to the music world by Crosstown, releasing his first two albums on the label. Next up, Quenum shares his ‘Prophecy’ and Mathew Johnson returns to the label with the driving pulses of ‘In Search Of A New Planet With Oxygen’. Johnson delivered a huge remix early in the label’s history from Hiem ‘She’s The One’ and is a pioneer of the underground house movement.
Listen closely to the messages hidden in the knocking drums and trembling tones of ‘Jeel, k´eex’ from Mexican native Metrika. Crosstown’s newest first lady Francesca Lombardo’s contribution ‘Cosmic Dancer’ swells with femininity and allure while Fur Coat, who concocted the last artist album for CR, explain a little more about the significant date in their cut ‘Greed, Insanity’.
Fosky & Bog and the newcomer to the label Jay Haze both contribute epic dancefloor monsters to the collection. Haze is boss of legendary techno imprint Contexterrior and has been living in South America of late, fascinated by its mystical pull.
Supernatural cuts from Eduardo Castillo featuring his baritone opera trained voice and the Israeli Navid Izadi ft KMLN align up with Mike Shannon for his ‘Sunrise’ and the closing moments from Thugfucker & Shaun Reeves and Acid Pauli & Nu bring this otherworldly assembly to a flourishing close.
The Day Zero album arrives on the dawn of the 24 hour event that brings together the best electronic music and entertainment from some of the world’s finest DJs as they embrace a new moment in time. The occasion will mark the end-date of a 25,625-year-long cycle and the final cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. At this moment the galactic alignment will occur, the earth will align with the centre of the Milky Way creating a moment for transformation, renewal and change.
Joining Damian Lazarus at the event are Massive Attack’s Robert “3D” Del Naja, UNKLE’s James Lavelle, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Jamie Jones, Trentemøller, Art Department, and more alongside artists from the album including Metrika (live), Acid Pauli, Francesca Lombardo, Amirali (live), Fur Coat, Thugfucker, and outstanding alternative performances, workshops, games from Mayan Culture, and jaw-dropping 3D visuals and projections.
The Crosstown Rebels started their mission in 2003 powered by a modern electronic canon spearheaded by Damian Lazarus. The label has inspired countless unforgettable dance floor moments and nurtured many universally adored music makers. Soon to be entering its tenth year at the forefront of future-moving dance music, Crosstown Rebels remains the electronic pioneering force of the past decade.

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRMCD021

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Mon Dec 3rd, 2012

Tracklist:

01. Pier Bucci - Mayas
02. Quenum - The Prophecy
03. Mathew Jonson- In Search Of A New Planet With Oxygen
04. Metrika - Jeel, k'eex
05. Francesca Lombardo - Cosmic Dancer
06. Fur Coat - Greed, Insanity
07. Fosky & BOg - Chestionabil
08. Jay Haze -2012
09. Eduardo Castillo - Ahometa Kuyaxi
10. Navid Izadi ft. KMLN - Kurandero
11. Mike Shannon - Sunrise
12. Thugfucker & Shaun Reeves - Timewave Zero
13. Acid Pauli & Nu – 12






LINK TO THE FREE MIX DOWNLOAD