August 1 BrEaCh / Worthy / Anna Lunoe
Following the release of his debut album Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life, vocalist, DJ, and producer Ben Westbeech, also known as BrEaCh, toured the world both as a live act and as a DJ at prestigious events and clubs around the world. Now, following the success of his late 2013 hit “Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)” featuring Andreya Triana, BrEaCh embarks on a summer tour with his first August stop at Verboten.
With an in-depth knowledge of production, mixing, and performance, Worthy has the insight to play for his audience, cultivating intense positive energy on the dance floor that can only be portrayed as superhuman. His sound can be described as organic breakbeats with a mix of future house, 80’s, booty bass, and techno. Worthy has an original flavor that will amp you up, leaving you fiending for more.
Combining her broad-scope view of pop culture, with a love of dance music old and new, Anna Lunoe combines deep knowledge with an innate instinct and passion for what is next. She juggles a variety of genres, always seamlessly, with sophistication and originality – and she always keeps the dance floor moving, adding a feminine edge to club music in a way that only she can.
August 2 Ejeca / Urulu / Scarlett Etienne / John Dill + Reka Nyari Art Show
Ejeca may be based on the outskirts of the nu-house music mecca of Belfast, however, his musical roots have been firmly planted from an early age being brought up on 90s garage house. Experimenting with many genres, his trademark vocal driven emotive sound flows in all of his productions. Now firmly established as a reputable purveyor of high-quality house and techno, Ejeca takes a further step in his career with the recent launch of his brand new label Exploris. It’s safe to say Ejeca has got his hands full as he maintains a worldwide DJ tour schedule, continues to keep us guessing with his musical output and lays the foundation for the next stage of his career with Exploris.
With evocative and emotive productions showcasing a stripped back, classic feel, Urulu’s sounds are a throwback to the lost generation of smoother groove-makers. Resident Advisor best describes him as someone with “an impressively complete grasp of what makes a classic house cut.” His forthcoming releases include the anticipated release on the forward-thinking label Manucci’s Mistress and a second helping on Jacques Renault’s Let’s Play House (US).
August 7 Night Slugs ∞ Fade To Mind: Phuture [live] / L-Vis 1990 / Kingdom + more
Phuture is a Chicago based group founded in 1985 by DJ Pierre, Spanky and Herb J. The group’s 1987 release “Acid tracks” lay claim to being the first-ever Acid house record using Roland’s TB-303 that kick-started a whole new genre of music that has been emulated by countless artists around the world. After a 20 year break apart, original members Pierre and Spanky are back together. Now with newest member Lothario Lee, they plan on picking up where they left off. Creating music that changes the game once again and pushing their sound even further than before.
As L-Vis 1990, James Connolly has been releasing a singular brand of club music free of rules and genres since dropping his eponymous debut EP in 2008. Yes, we understand if you’re skeptical—everyone claims to be a rule-breaker these days. But try putting into words the music on his and Bok Bok’s inimitable Night Slugs label or any of his tracks and remixes over the past few years and it should quickly become apparent that L-Vis 1990 has been doing things just a little bit differently. 2014 looks set to be the year that James and Night Slugs reaffirm their place at the forefront of progressive club music.
Los Angeles-based DJ / producer Kingdom rose to public acclaim with his debut single “Mind Reader” (released on Fool’s Gold in early 2010), a collaboration with big-voiced NYC diva Shyvonne. But even before “Mind Reader,” Kingdom had been deeply involved in Bok Bok & Lvis-1990′s London-based Night Slugs collective, having had his European debut at their second-ever club night. It was his mixtapes that first alerted Night Slugs’ attention. His debut 2006 mixtape fused grime, crunk, US club, and house with his unique adaptations of R&B vocals. On his debut Night Slugs EP That Mystic, Kingdom delivered five tracks that reference many of the aforementioned genres, but also possess a completely individual, otherworldly gleam.
August 8 Cajmere [residency launch] / Motez / Shiba San
Green Velvet (aka Cajmere) studied chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, where he exposed himself to the energetic culture and lifestyle of house. In 1991, midway through graduate school, Cajmere returned to Chicago to pursue his dream of producing house music. Following the success of his #2 Billboard Dance Chart and International dance hit – “Brighter Days,” Cajmere decided to start Cajual Records over 20 years ago. Having his own label gave Cajmere the autonomy to attain his goal of developing a sound that was representative of Chicago – thus, putting Chicago back on the map. Verboten is excited to announce the launch of his residency in August. Listen to Cajmere’s alter-ego Green Velvet’s Essential Mix
here.
Baghdad-born, honorary Southern Australian Motez is breaking all kinds of rules and winning over hearts and ears in the process as one of the freshest electronic producers to come out of Australia. Widely respected for his ingenious, innovative remixes of some of R&B and pop’s biggest names, Motez is a computer whizkid who also happens to be a devoted musical appreciator, and his mixes have been the backbone of most DJ sets you hear out there.
With a background in hip-hop going back many years, DJ and producer Shiba San has been creating quite a stir recently with his deep house/ghetto house influenced productions. His recent release “Okay” effortlessly became a contender for our 2014 summer soundtrack, and it’s currently making some serious rounds on the club circuit. It’s fair to say that Shiba San is primed and ready to blow. You can’t escape the feeling that this could be the start of something big.
August 9 Fur Coat / Amirali / Walker + Royce / Scarlett Etienne
Hailing originally from Venezuela, and now based in Barcelona, Fur Coat’s story is one of passion for salsa and soul, blended with love for electronic music. Since the release their debut EP in 2010, Fur Coat has seen success from their track “You and I” featuring vocals from Cari Golden in 2012, and remixes for heavy hitters like Timo Maas and Robert Owens. September 2014 will see their much-anticipated return to Crosstown Rebels as they release a killer four-track EP that you are already hearing across dance floors globally.
It was early 2012 that ripples of hype started to reverberate around an unknown artist by the name of Amirali. Since then, he continues to astound his fans with killer remixes for the likes of Bpitch Control, My Favorite Robot & Distiller Records. He also released brand new music in the form of ‘Melancholia EP’ on Crosstown Rebels, which received widespread support from BBC Radio 1, culminating in him being invited to perform live at the very first video broadcast of the highly coveted BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix. Major plans are already afoot for 2014 for Amirali. He is preparing to launch his own record label this summer, which promises to be an extension of his broad musical palette.
Since their remix of SAARID’s “Future Lately” launched them into the dance music mainstream, Walker & Royce’s music has been supported by Sasha, Maceo Plex, Pete Tong, Catz N Dogz, Danny Daze, Tensnake, Jaymo & Andy George, Maxxi Soundsystem, Hector Romero, Jozif, Kolombo, Treasure Fingers, and Waifs & Strays, to name a few. Now, the Brooklyn natives are back in New York City to give fans more of the emotive, subdued and groove-heavy deep house that they love.
August 14 Moon Boots / Stadenco
Moon Boots has been traveling the world finding solace in the soothing sounds of underground disco and R&B boogie records, taking Verboten on a galactic groove ride this month. Check out his latest track “Whatever You Need” on
SoundCloud.
After receiving a music education from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, with a focus on music production and engineering, Stadenco gradually transitioned to playing the quirky, dirty house that he is known for today. Stadenco has shared the decks with the likes of Craig Richards, Loco Dice, James Zabiela, Chris Duckenfield, Tom Middleton, Stacey Pullen, Damian Lazarus, Pete Heller, and Kevin Saunderson.
August 15 Verboten + Push The Night: Nick Curly / Santé / Just Be [Bushwacka!] / Eelke Kleijn / Omid 16B
Nick Curly’s productions and the music released on his labels has come to be known as the Mannheim sound – a deep tech house style that is loopy and involving, folding you into the groove with each rotation as various elements of soul and melodic beauty infuse the spaces left behind.
Berlin’s Santé emerged as part of a wave of new producers with a different cut to their electronic jib around the time that deep house was losing its way somewhat. His productions ooze character, charisma, soul, color, humor and above all a sense of humanity. With his impressive release schedule to boot, including his long-awaited debut artist album, he’s looking to be bigger than ever over the coming months.
Just Be was swept up by the electronic revolution and since, his output has been phenomenal. With six artist albums and a seventh due this year, he has produced over 120 remixes, and 160 tracks for labels such as XL Recordings, End Recordings and his own labels Olmeto, Plank and Oblong. He has held many guises in his journey through electronic music. Launching his career as Matthew B in the midst of the UK acid house explosion, and more recently Just Be, and Bushwacka! his continual evolution and thirst for new sounds has ingrained his many identities across the international club scene.
Eelke Kleijn is a rare talent. With work stretching across movie trailer scores, deep live shows and incredibly well formed production, he crosses a boundary from electronic producer and in to a true modern day composer. With peers and tastemakers standing up for this unmistakable imagination, the Rotterdam based music maker’s potential has no bounds.
Omid 16B: As a DJ and producer, songwriter, musician and label boss, Omid 16B has forged a unique and prolific career as one of the world’s most talented and respected musicians and producers. With an impressive discography of singles, LPs and compilation albums released on his own imprints, Omid has maintained the highest quality throughout his prolific career without any commercial compromise.
August 16 Trouble & Bass + Say Yes: DJ EZ / NEVERMIND / DJ Technics / UNiiQU3 / Star Eyes / Tony Quattro / Jubilee / Copout
Working his magic behind the ones and twos since the late 80s, DJ EZ started his career at the age of 15 and, like many of his contemporaries, playing out the latest house and hardcore rave jams on Tottenham’s short-lived yet influential pirate radio Dimensions FM and Freek 101.8 FM, before becoming a major voice on Kiss 100. At the advent of UK garage and bassline, EZ was one of the burgeoning scene’s main proponents with his “Pure Garage” mixtape/compilation series, making sure the uniquely British and gritty blending of house, rave, sweet R&B, and gutter aesthetics has never lost its grip, two decades and counting.
NEVERMIND is made up of Grenier (aka DJG), who has released deep dubstep on Tectonic and Transistor and 4×4 sounds on Salva’s Frite Nite, as well as producing the latest Archie Pelago album; and Petey Clicks, who has broken away from his Clicks & Whistles duo and is currently pumping out some quality UK-style house for AC Slater’s Party Like Us label. The duo’s debut release, Part One, is out on Trouble & Bass on July 29, with a second EP forthcoming late August. Meanwhile, check out their debut mix on THUMP
here, which highlights everything from grime to UK garage to bassline house.
DJ Technics was the creator of the legendary Madhouse / Clubtrax mixtapes on clear cassettes which were the prototype for Baltimore Club evolution. His unique brand of Baltimore club is very strongly rooted in Baltimore’s history of soul, funk, house, and disco. He’s a veteran of music and renowned vinyl lover who has provided the sample sources for many Jersey club classic tracks over the years. His vast knowledge of music makes him one of the most versatile and skilled DJs and producers.
With her signature style of Jersey club, UNiiQU3 holds an enviable mix of impeccable production skill and tempered, rhythmic eccentricity, along with her confident rap flow on her own cuts, that distinguishes her tracks. When it comes to her DJ sets be sure to expect the unexpected as they’re composed with a wide range of genre’s from Jersey/Philly/Baltimore club, juke, hip hop/trap, pop, ballroom/vogue, moombahton, reggae & more.
A founding member of the world-renowned Trouble & Bass crew, Star Eyes causes mayhem around the world with DJ sets that swiftly connect the dots between house, grime, dubstep, and American underground sounds from Miami, New Jersey, Chicago and beyond. With world-class skills and a troublemaker’s attitude to match, Star Eyes has definitely earned the title “Brooklyn’s queen of heavy bass.”
New York native Tony Quattro has established himself on the local scene, signed to Trouble and Bass along with Sheffield’s Bad Taste Records. His records, referencing a variety of styles but settling at none, have helped Quattro to develop a sound of his own. With continued support from the likes of Diplo and A-Trak, Tony Quattro is in a perfect position to blow-up.
Jubilee is a producer/DJ and member of the Mixpak family. A transplant from South Florida, she mixes her foundations of Miami bass with sounds she’s picked up along the way, ranging from house to grime to hip hop and dancehall. Be sure to check out her recent JMZ Riddim and Pull Ova EPs on
SoundCloud and tune into her Mixpak Sound System show every Tuesday on
Radio Lily.
August 17 The dirtybird BBQ: Claude VonStroke / Justin Martin / Kill Frenzy / Christian Martin / Justin Jay / Ardalan + special guest
Verboten is pleased to present the Brooklyn edition of the infamous dirtybird BBQ at a special location TBA with an afterparty at Verboten to follow.
Barclay Crenshaw created the quirky alias Claude VonStroke in 2005 and went on to become one of the most well-respected label owners and DJs in dance music. Since the creation of dirtybird, Claude has continued to be the dedicated A&R man, signing over 100 EPs and demonstrating his incredible ear for what works on the dance-floor. This September, a much-anticipated third artist album will come from the dirtybird chief. Check out a preview of his new single “Eye I Eye”
here.
Justin Martin initially pricked the ears of the electronic music community in 2003 with his first record “The Sad Piano” on Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly label. Mentored by fellow super producer Claude VonStroke, Justin was intrinsically involved with the development of dirtybird records, appearing on its first four releases. His sound is typically described as “melodic and tough” with his music encapsulating both melody and emotional depth yet always with enough undeniable ass-shaking properties to translate to the floor.
Kill Frenzy worked his way into the production game rather fast after discovering the fast dirty booty house tracks coming from Chicago and Detroit at the age of 17. Not wanting to limit himself to just one style he started working on producing various styles including house, techno, tech-house, and minimal. In 2012 Kill Frenzy debuted on dirtybird with “Make that Booty Clap” featuring DJ Funk, which became a track widely known across the world.
Since 1995, Christian Martin has been exploring electronic music from full-moon parties in the deserts of California to the thumping, dark corners of the London club scene. He set the standard for a new era of die-hard dedicated DIY producers in 2003 when he bought his first sound system, and since then his devotion to large-scale bass has allowed him to champion the dirtybird sound out of the park and onto giant sound systems at clubs and festivals worldwide.
After catching ears in 2010 when he won a DJ contest sponsored by DJ Mag, Justin Jay landed an apprenticeship at Atlantic Records with DJ Frank E working on dance-infused pop and hip-hop. With a true calling for a groovy deep house and raunchy tech, Justin is back to making all sorts of unique electronic music within the underground scene of the industry.
Ardalan possesses a fresh perspective on music genesis without even trying. His mixes, remixes and dubs are known for their sass and energy, but his original tracks are where his efforts shine. His ability to whip out hits that work equally well from the dankest basements to the most opulent dance floors is the greatest strength in his music.
August 22 Acid Pauli / Subb-an / Bedouin / Scarlett Etienne
Acid Pauli started to play bass guitar in a punk/indie band in the late eighties, while at the same time he started to be interested in the evolution of electronic music and their instruments. A member of The Notwist, taking care of electronic sounds and touring the world, solo project Acid Pauli is a club-oriented liveset that over the years morphed into an advanced DJ set, incorporating not only techno and house, but all different kinds of music, whilst always remaining on the dancefloor.
Subb-an’s rapid rise to prominence as a DJ, producer and one of the most exiting new British live acts of recent years is testament to his hard work, natural talent and wholehearted commitment to electronic music. Named as DJ Magazines ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ in their 2011 end of year awards, Subb-an’s prodigious studio talents have seen him release on Crosstown Rebels, Spectral, Saved and My Favorite Robot and deliver much lauded remixes of Jamie Woon, Lana Del Rey, Noir & Haze and Hollis P Monroe over recent months. Outside of the studio he is a regular feature at clubs and festivals all over the world.
Tamer Malki and Rami Deejay (Abousabe) are staples on the East Coast, with long-standing residencies in Boston and New York City, separately honing the craft alongside the scene’s most recognizable names. But when they joined together as the production and DJ duo Bedouin, the sum of their parts led to something on another level. Their productions speak for themselves, with recent releases on Supernature and Get Physical, forthcoming on All Day I Dream and Kindisch.
August 23 Safer At Night: Felix Da Housecat [residency launch] / Curses
After reinventing himself and spearheading an entire new genre with his 80’s-inspired album Kittenz (And Thee Glitz) which remains a stone cold classic to this day, Felix Da Housecat is back in a big way. Brimming with passion for music once again, and with so much in store including a global tour, a live BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and his own signature headphones, this is the year that Felix Da Housecat reclaims his position amongst the upper echelons of dance music. Verboten is excited to announce the launch of his residency in August.
Following singles “Watch & Do” and “Deliver” Curses expanded his fan base massively, and ended 2013 on a high note. With EP’s lined up for Let’s Play House and Throne Of Blood, 2014 should prove to be an exciting year for the Brooklyn native.