Angels on Decks Part 4

Angels on Decks || Female DJs 

(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
6. Sydney Blu

Sydney Blu continues to establish herself as one of the top female electronic producers and Dj’s in the world. Her passion for success, hit singles on the Beatport charts, extensive globally touring, and musical creativity has Sydney at the top of the electronic music scene. 

Originally from Canada and currently based in Los Angeles, Sydney Blu's success has been built-upon numerous hit singles and relentless world touring. Following the success of her releases (including the chart-topping 'Give It Up For Me' on Mau5trap Recordings being one of Beatport’s highest selling songs and making Sydney the first female electronic producer to ever have a top 10 hit on the website), Sydney Blu developed and founded her own record label Blu Music, which has produced several chart-topping singles over the years. Steady support from global heavyweights such as Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Deadmau5, Robbie Rivera, & Funkagenda has propelled Sydney Blu and Blu Music to the forefront of the dance music scene, as well as the top of the charts. 

After moving to Miami in Spring of 2010, Sydney Blu quickly set-up her residency with Opium Group and Mansion Miami, the hottest club in South Beach. Quickly thereafter, relentless worldwide touring followed with North American highlights including massive headlining shows at Pacha NYC, Space Miami, Avalon Los Angeles and Beta Denver just to name a few. Sydney also headlined in front of 10,000+ people this past summer in Recife Brazil, and then 25 thousand people this past November 2011 at the Rogers Centre Toronto, closing out the Deadmau5 Meowingtons Hax Tour. The event was the biggest dance event in Canadian history. On the global stage, Sydney Blu has rocked crowds with performances in Europe, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Mexico, Tunisia, Pakistan as well as a headlining slot in front of 5000 people in Egypt over the Easter holiday. She’s headlined some of the biggest clubs in the world including Space (Ibiza), Republiq (Manila), Space (Miami), El Pacha (Tunisia, Africa), Eazy Club (Sao Paulo, Brazil), BPM Festival (Playa Del Carmen, Mexico), Avalon (Los Angeles), The End (Colombia) and Guvernment Nightclub (Toronto) all having fans urning for more from the talented artist.

Sydney Blu and Blu Music consistently hit the Beatport charts over the past year, with releases like Chemistry on Blackhole Recordings as well as her most recent single Another Late Night featuring MC Flipside. Also her remixes of Luciana’s ‘Calling all the Lovers’, ‘Givin it Up’ by The Goodmen and a re-edit of Jefferson Airplane titled 'Want Somebody' topped the charts for weeks. As well, Blu’s label had one of it’s biggest hits this past year with Trent Cantrelle’s ‘I Wanna Freak’ topping the Beatport Top 10 and holding the #1 House song on the website for 3 months. The song was nominated as a finalist for #1 House song of 2011. All of Sydney's releases receive consistent support from global heavyweights such as Thomas Gold, NERVO, Tiesto, Roger Sanchez, Robbie Rivera, Paul Oakenfold, Chuckie, Ferry Corsten, Oscar G, Funkagenda Chris Lake & more.

2013 is already proving to be busy with original tracks and remixes set for release on Dim Mak Records, Spinnin Records, Funkfarm Records and a forthcoming album on Blackhole Recordings. Her full length live album on Nervous Records, 'Sydney Blu: Live at Mansion' raced up the itunes dance charts last year with a massive summer tour that took her all North & South America. 

With an even more explosive touring schedule that is set to push her even further to success across 5 continents, 2013 is looking bright for the super fresh and accomplished SYDNEY BLU.

Connect:

http://www.sydneyblu.com
http://www.youtube.com/djsydneyblu
http://twitter.com/SYDNEYBLU
http://soundcloud.com/sydneyblu

https://www.facebook.com/djsydneyblu

5. DJ GINA TURNER

DJ Gina Turner  is an American disc jockey (DJ). Gina is one half of Nouveau Yorican, a musical side project with her husband Laidback Luke, and half of the DJ duo Staccato. She is also the head of Turn It Records.

Originally hailing from New York, Gina Turner grew up with the NYC House sounds of clubs like Shelter and Sound Factory. Drawing inspiration from places such as these, she moved to Boston and gained her own radio shows on 88.9 WERS and  99.9 WECB. She soon became a staple in the Boston club scene and then in 2006 moved to Los Angeles. In LA she formed the DJ duo STACCATO (myspace.com/officialstaccato) and continued with radio and club, and founded an afterhours movement called MAJOR (myspace.com/majorlosangeles). Gina has extended her talents across the pond and has played in such cities as Oslo, Brighton, & Paris. She has caught the attention Laidback Luke, Zoo Brazil & many other european producers, and with that comes collaborations that are legendary. Tiesto's label BLACK HOLE RECORDINGS will be releasing her track "BANG IT" with Zoo Brazil in Late October 2009. Gina's 2009 collaboration with Laidback Luke has birthed a new production duo called "Nouveau Yorican." The tracks that they have coming out can be described as latin inspired shuffle tech house. This is just the beginning for Gina, she plans to release more tracks as Staccato as well her her highly anticipated solo productions.
Connect:
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DJGINATURNER
http://WWW.TWITTER.COM/DJGINATURNER
https://www.facebook.com/DJGinaTurnerOfficial

4. Maya Jane Coles

What a year 2011 was for Maya Jane Coles. Voted ‘Producer of the Year 2011′ by DJ Mag, named ‘Best Breakthrough DJ 2011′ by Mixmag, debuting at No. 9 on the Resident Advisor ’2011 DJ Poll’, scooping ‘Best Newcomer 2011′ at the Ibiza DJ Awards 2011, many magazine covers and the likes of Anja Schneider, Ellen Allien, Damon Alburn and Tricky all queuing up to offer their praise.

Well that was 2011 and this is most definitely 2012 where the bar is set to be raised once more for this rather unique 24-year old, British/Japanese producer; with Maya already scheduled to dj in over 20 countries in the first 6 months alone, some interesting release projects to be announced, some huge remixes and of course – the big one, the release of Maya’s debut album. This is the story so far…

An eclectic daughter of similarly eclectic parents; Maya was surrounded by a mixture of sounds from Dub to Punk to Soul and Jazz to World to Classical music around the house. Having learnt to play a few instruments and started to songwriter, production felt like the natural next step.

First producing hip-hop at 15; Maya was determined that she should be able to learn the skills to realise her own vision at every part of the process from production to performance. That’s why now, on a typical Maya Jane Coles record, Maya will have written, produced, engineered, arranged, mixed and performed every element of the track; sometimes she even vocals and designs the sleeve artwork too!

Driven by a constant urge to push herself and evolve; Maya migrated to dubbier sounds and eventually to drum’n’bass around 16; before a huge water shed moment in her life, Maya experienced good underground house! As a result, Maya started on her current journey as a house producer releasing on labels such as Dogmatik and Loco Supreme as well as chalking up DJ gigs at events like the BBC Electric Proms, Sonar and Bestival along the way.

Maya then created her live dub-electronica hybrid project, ‘She Is Danger’ alongside vocalist Lena Cullen. The band played at gigs from the world largest fetish club Torture Garden through to opening for The Orb with their tracks played everywhere from Radio 1 through to KCRW and Per Se.

In particular, She is Danger received a lot of critical and fan attention for their remixes of artists from Gorillaz to Groove Armada with an acclaimed dubby reworking of Massive Attack’s ‘Girl, I Love You’ included on the band’s ‘Heliogland:Deluxe’ album; picking up plaudits such, RCRDLBL ‘Track of the Day’, Qmagazine ‘track of the day’ and ‘Daily Download’ on NME.com and smashing the Hypemachine top 10 multiple times.

For many though it was “What They Say” on Franck Roger’s Real Tone first switched them on to Maya’s work. Supported by a list of dance floor dignitaries that boasts Laurent Garnier, Tony Humphries, Ekkohaus, Steve Bug and Dj Gregory amongst others; it obliterated both the sales and critics charts on Beatport; with the track enjoying a no1, no2 and no 3 placing on Resident Advisor’s chart in October, November and December 2010 respectively!

Further Maya productions have only added to this success with impressive showings for Maya’s “Humming Bird” EP (Hypercolour), ‘Focus Now’ EP (20:20 Vision) and “Beat Faster” EP (Mobilee) garnering peer support as varied as John Digweed to Miss Kittin to Art Dept and earning Maya the May covers of Mixmag, DJ Mag Weekly and Guestlist Network along the way and coverage in Flaunt, ID, Dazed and Confused amongst others. With radio support coming in over 30 countries world wide!

Maya’s latest release ‘Don’t Put Me In Your Box’ EP on Hypercolour continues to add fuel to the fire and is notable in that Maya not just write, engineer, produce, mix everything on the record as always but this time she also designed all the artwork for the release as well! Again a success the release has seen Maya dominate in charts all around the world, picking up even more support at club, on radio and in the print press such as her covers for Norway’s ‘Smog’ and Germany’s ‘Groove’ magazine’s respectively.

Maya Jane Coles remixes were equally in vogue in 2011 with releases on labels such as Crosstown Rebels, Leftroom, Defected and Real Tone within the house scene though spreading her genred wings Maya also tackled tracks by Little Dragon, Tricky and The Orb.

Whilst under her dub alias Nocturnal Sunshine; Maya has also delivered remixes such as that of emergent talents as well as the release of ‘Can’t Hide The Way I Feel/Broke’ to make fans out of Joy Orbison, Skream, Benga, Craig Richards and Scuba to name but a few!.

Indeed, Maya also saw the start of her work as a producer for other acts with the Polydor released cover of Carly Simon’s ‘Why’ by Alpines who she had early remixed under the Nocturnal Sunshine moniker.

Maya is of course also known for her djing and mixing skills which blend her own productions and remixes with the work of other producers she respects. Alongside guest mixes for the likes of Resident Advisor, Louche, Trace A Line and Defected; Maya started an unbelievable summer with a much lauded Essential Mix which dropped in July and a cover mount mix for Mixmag’s ADE edition where Maya also played Studio 80 to launch the edition!

Indeed, capped off by winning the fan voted ‘Best Newcomer’ gong at the 14th Ibiza DJ Awards at Pacha; Maya’s summer has seen her more than hold own alongside world renowned names such as Joris Voorn, Jamie Jones, Nick Curly and Seth Troxler. Maya’s jam packed gig schedule in 2011 has taken in the world’s best parties and clubs including Space (Ibiza), Panorama Bar (Berlin), Fabric (London), Amnesia (Ibiza), Electric Pickle (Miami), WHP (Manchester), Warehouse702 (Tokyo), Studio 80 (Amsterdam), and Watergate (Berlin).

Festival season also enjoyed it’s fair share of Maya outings taking in many events including Glastonbury (UK), Awake (Germany), ADE (Holland), Robot Festival (Italy), Telekom Bónusz Electronic Music Festival (Hungary), Global Gathering (UK), Bestival (UK) and Exit (Croatia) in 2011.

Indeed, heralded in by a New Year’s Eve set that saw Maya take over the Room One decks at Fabric for the midnight hour and followed by the New Year’s Day party at Manchester’s WHP the next day. Maya will play in over 20+ countries over the first 6 months of 2012 and has already been announced as the Sunday headliner at Bugged Out Weekender, as well as for festival appearances at Field Day and Hideout with MANY, MANY more international dates to be announced including a UK Tour, Asian Tour, Miami Dates and of course a return to the White Island of Ibiza….

For most people the mere mastery of music would be enough but not for Maya, her brain just wasn’t built to be constrained so in the future we may more of Maya talents from the world’s of fashion, photography and art but for now Maya is clear – MUSIC definitely comes first!

What will crown 2012 is Maya’s album and the only thing we can tell you about it at the moment is that it truly does not sound like anything else you have heard before but, in what we would like to think is; in a very good way indeed.
Connect:
www.mayajanecoles.com
https://www.facebook.com/mjcofficial
https://soundcloud.com/mayajanecoles/
https://twitter.com/mjcofficial

3. Audrey Napoleon 

Life is but a dream for producer and performer, Audrey Napoleon. Whether she expresses it onstage at clubs and festivals around the globe – or on runways and in short films – her inimitable approach to music, visual arts and style stems from a place all its own.

Twelve months in the Los Angeles-based producer’s life reads more like a decade than a year. “I don’t think I’ve come down from what’s happened to me in the last year,” she confesses in a recent interview. In that time, Audrey released six singles, with teaser films to match, alongside her EP, Ornamental Egos, while she played out nearly non-stop. Her touring schedule included the 18-city Identity Festival in 2012.

Add to that, several notable side projects and you have a prolific amount of work. These include composing music for major film and television projects, as well as an ongoing brand ambassadorship for Heineken’s #MySunrise campaign, currently airing in 28 countries. In film, Audrey composed music for Fredrik Bond’s directorial debut, The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman (starring Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood). For television, her track, “Only You” was played as the season’s finale for Naomi Campbell’s “The Face.”

In music, her Ornamental Egos EP was met with aplomb by both fans and fellow musicians. It includes the hard driving, yet buoyant single, “Poison,” and another infectious club hit, “Banana Soda Es Muy Loca,” that continues to be featured in sets by Tiesto, Eric Prydz, Adrian Lux, Dada Life and other major international DJs.

While Audrey remixed C.C. Sheffield’s, “Long Brown Hair,” and Adrian Lux’s, “Damaged,” for Ultra Records – plus Parker’s, “So Beautiful,” on Interscope – Nero did the same for her cinematic track “#MySunrise.” This led to Audrey and Nero performing together at the American Music Awards party to celebrate the newly added and groundbreaking Electronic Music category.

On the runway Audrey was recently spotted as a celebrity model at NYC Fashion Week for Malgorzata Dudek’s 2013 collection. At London Fashion Week, she attended as part of her ongoing collaborative project with The Rodnik Band x Audrey Napoleon S/S 2013, alongside England’s Queen Elizabeth II, Elton John and Katy Perry. The project was recently featured in Vogue Italia.

Today, Audrey Napoleon’s outpouring of expression includes a singer-songwriter role heard on her latest spellbinding single, “Dope A La Mode.” The dark, epic track is set for repeated play in clubs and festivals throughout the summer and beyond. Its June 25, 2013 release will be followed by two other new songs, “Better at Night Featuring: Justin Tranter” (Semi Precious Weapons) and “Can You Hear Me.” With each new single, Audrey will create a short film to match.

The film treatment for “Dope A La Mode” was written by Audrey and produced by boundary-defying creative duo F&F (Formento and Formento). Think: Edgar Allen Poe, blood, marriage and human hearts. “It’s my version of a love story,” she confesses about the film that is set in an abandoned mental institution in East Los Angeles. “The concept came to me, as most all my ideas do, in my dreams – whether they are daydreams, sweet dreams or nightmares. I will now start incorporating F&F’s stunning visuals into my performances. They are the gateway drug into what I am building and what you will see as the year progresses… as part of Napoleon Nation.”

Whatever form of expression Audrey embraces, it is steeped with extraordinary style, an innate dramatic flair and musical prowess that uncovers a dark beauty from within. “When I am on stage, I am transformed,” she explains. “My fans mean everything to me. I’m obsessed with them. They are amazing and I talk to them in social media all the time.” When asked about her biggest influences, she will again defer to her fans. “They are the most influential and inspiring for me. They have no fear. They help me fight everyday to be fearless for them in my art and in my music.” Musically, musicians like PJ Harvey, The Beatles, Placebo, The Doors, Bowie and The Cure also influence her, as much as the music she hears in clubs.

From childhood, Audrey sees her father as the biggest musical influence in her life. “He bought me my first guitar when I was 13 and sent me to a vocal coach four times a week,” she reflects. “I was always watching him in awe as he played instruments. It was a sort of voodoo. It was magic and I wanted to know how to be the magician. Ever since I can remember, I have always been a performer… always putting on a show and trying to get my sisters to do dance routines anywhere they would let us perform.”

So what’s up ahead for Audrey Napoleon? As always, it will be a continuous stream of music production whether it’s original tracks, remixes or collaborations and performances. “Only now, I will be donating another one of my organs,” she promises, “by writing lyrics, melodies and singing on the new material.”

She adds, “Music hasn’t necessarily changed my life so much as it is my life. Without my music, my art, my fans – I am nothing.”

Connect:
http://www.audreynapoleon.com
http://twitter.com/AUDREYNAPOLEON
http://soundcloud.com/audreynapoleon
https://www.facebook.com/AudreyNapoleon

2. Miss Nine

Beginning //

Miss Nine was born in Germany as Kristin Schrot and at the age of 16, she started her career – not as a DJ, but as a model. Shortly thereafter, she secured a worldwide contract with Elite Model Management. After moving to Amsterdam, she discovered the art of DJ’ing and her passion for music eventually led her become a DJ as well. In 2003, only a few months after touching the decks for the first time, she became a resident DJ at the legendary Motion parties where she evolved as an artist and DJ while playing alongside masters such as John Digweed, Dave Seaman, Nick Warren and James Zabiela. 2005 was also the year that Miss Nine took to the decks as the youngest artist at the 10th edition of Dance Valley (renowned Dutch Dance Festival). At the end of 2005, Miss Nine was then asked by Grammy Award winning DJ duo, Deep Dish to join Bullitt Bookings, the reputable agency of A-list DJs. This allowed Miss Nine to enter the forefront of the international DJ scene for the first time.

925 Music //

Fronting her own recording imprint, 925 Music, Miss Nine has created a home for her own releases and a vehicle with which she can sign and bring to prominence artists and music she strongly supports. Through both 925 Music and its sub labels 925 Digital and 925 Global, the Nine brand takes another leap forward in servicing the dancefloor with heavy rotation music. In 2011 Miss Nine unveiled the labels mix compilation series ‘Around the World’, which featured music exclusively from the 925 imprint. The albums release was accompanied with an ‘Around the World’ tour which spanned 12 months and took in countries such as China, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Australia and America.

Discography //

Miss Nine was the first female artist to mix a compilation for Washington based Yoshitoshi Recordings, the renowned recording home of Deep Dish. The highly anticipated Yoshitoshi Ibiza: Mixed by Miss Nine was released in September 2006 and made it to the #1 spot on US iTunes. In June of 2008 Miss Nine also released an album on the world famous Armada label: Dancefloor Sessions. Over the last few years her studio work has featured on famed labels that include Spinnin’, Garuda and Blackhole Recordings, whilst having remixed artists as varied as Timo Garcia, Eelke Kleijn, Solarstone, David Puentez, Sultan and Gareth Emery. Her most recent releases - Miss Nine & Baggi Begovic ‘Hit the Road’ and Miss Nine feat. Kyler England ‘Stranger’ - have been signed to Zouk Recordings (a sub label of Armada Music), maintain and reaffirming her global presence within the house community.

Nine Sessions //

Nine Sessions is Miss Nine’s monthly radio show which is broadcasted in more than 35 countries, including DI.fm, Proton, Frisky and Dance Paradise. Since January 2011, Nine Sessions is also available as a podcast on iTunes.

Campaigns //

Alongside her soaring DJ career, Miss Nine is also an international model under her real name Kristin Schrot having worked on numerous campaigns for iconic brand such as Tommy Hilfiger, Absolut, Mia Lingerie and Be Yu Sunglasses and has runway shows for fashion houses that include Diesel, Pepe Jeans, Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana. Over the years Kristin has appeared in magazines as varied as Elle, L’Officiel, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Blend Magazine, CYL Magazine and many more. Today she is an ambassador of the revolutionary Levi’s® Curve ID line and which even led to her mixing a compilation album for the Levi’s® Curve ID brand. As the face of the Pioneer 350 series she received European-wide promotional gaining extensive coverage on MTV. Kristin is also an ambassador for Plan Nederland; an organization that assists children all across the world, mainly in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Kristin presently sponsors 4 girls in Haiti, Bolivia and India, with her work with the charity ongoing.

Present //

Today her tour diary continues to be punctuated with performances all around the globe, spinning at clubs such as Privilege in Ibiza, Avalon in Los Angeles, Warung in Brazil, Ministry Of Sound in London and Pacha worldwide. She has also graced the main stage of Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, joining a line-up of, among others, Tiësto and David Guetta. Her recent headline tour of India, alongside Avicii, was another insight into the rising star of Miss Nine as dance music’s leading female DJs.

Connect:

http://www.miss-nine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MissNine

https://twitter.com/djmissnine

1. Nicole Moudaber 

Propelled to the forefront of today’s scene by her flawlessly executed sleazy house and techno sounds, Nicole Moudaber is now an unstoppable force.

Two of her recent remixes topped the Beatport Techno Chart for weeks on end. The Moudaber mix of Sian & Mladen Tomec’s ‘Front Pocket’ on Octopus and her version of Carl Cox ‘Chemistry’ on Intec, which also scooped a prestigious IDMA at Miami’s Winter Music Conference, winning the award for ‘Best Minimal/Techno Track’.

Killer original tracks for other labels including Drumcode, 8Sided Dice, Kling Klong, Leena Music and Waveform Recordings have all furthered her reputation for phenomenal ass-shaking music built around tight production.

Out in the clubs, her technical ability has turned heads from Rio to Montreal. Working the mix from the off, locked into her distinctive groove, Nicole on stage is a sight to behold.

With key 2012 residencies including a fourth season at Carl Cox’s weekly parties at Space Ibiza, plus regular headline slots at Cielo and Pacha in NYC, her global calendar is in rude health.

The logical next step is her own imprint, and work on MOOD Records is nearing completion, so get ready for the next chapter in this incredible story to unfold.

Connect:

● Twitter - http://bit.ly/TMCFeg
● Myspace - http://bit.ly/14Ri94g
● Facebook - http://on.fb.me/TMEwzN
● Soundcloud - http://bit.ly/TMCYG0
● Resident Advisor - http://bit.ly/TMD0hb
● Beatport - http://btprt.dj/TMD5kN
● Youtube - http://bit.ly/TMDdRs
● Mixcloud - http://bit.ly/TMDmUV
● Google+ - http://bit.ly/TME8RZ
● Official FM - http://bit.ly/TMDILa
● Beatport DJs - http://btprt.dj/TMDm7s
● Tumblr - http://bit.ly/14RieF8