JULY 31, 2013
In 2013 Q-dance returns to America, hosting a stage at TomorrowWorld and for the first time in the US, its own dedicated event, The Sound of Q-dance, October 5th in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. More information and tickets can be found here: http://bit.ly/1bKMsAJ
Since its inception in 2001 Q-dance has set the standard for Hardstyle events, and The Sound of Q-dance will be no different, with Coone, Gunz for Hire, Humanoise, Noisecontrollers, Psyko Punkz, Wildstylez, joining MC Villain in Los Angeles. It’s a line-up that reflects the widening influence of Hardstyle artists in America’s EDM culture, and showcases the scene’s biggest stars.
Coinciding with today’s line-up announcement Q-dance is also releasing the first mix from its new ‘Q-dance Presents…’ show heard every Saturday on iHeart Radio’s Evolution. This mix is by the Psyko Punkz.
https://soundcloud.com/qdance/psyko-punkz-q-dance-presents/s-7xxVR
For many of these artists, the Sound of Q-dance will be their first LA performance and their first North American non-festival date. Most of these artists are part of a new wave of producers and DJs representing the harder genres of dance music, aged between their early to mid 20s, developed in and around Q-dance events, and committed to spreading the sound of Hardstyle to a wider audience.
Wildstylez is one of the most recognized artists in harder dance. His collaboration with Headhunterz as Project One was one of the scene’s most successful partnerships, while his Digital Age label with Noisecontrollers is a Hardstyle powerhouse. Wildstylez finished #41 in DJ Mag’s top 100 poll last year, and with Brennan Heart, created the crossover anthem ‘Lose My Mind’. In 2013 he went even further with ‘Year Of Summer’, which became a top 40 radio hit, and the first Hardstyle track to receive Gold Status certification in Holland. His success has not gone unnoticed by the wider dance music spectrum, and he has remixes forthcoming for EDM heavy hitters Hardwell and Nicky Romero.
Another act central to the new generation of Hardstyle artists is Psyko Punkz, the latest act to crash the DJ Mag top 100 poll, coming in at #67 in 2012. Their army of followers, known as the Psyko Soldiers, has been growing and growing over the last three years, as the duo’s live sets have captured the imagination, while tracks such as ‘Bass Boom’ and ‘Psyko Foundation’ have propelled them to the forefront of the Hardstyle movement.
Noisecontrollers is a hardstyle act making major in-roads in North America. Their ‘Get Loose’ collaboration with Showtek on Skrillex’s Owsla imprint has become one of the tunes of 2013, and clocked up an impressive remix from Tiesto. 2013 also saw them produce the Q-dance IQON anthem, and the double A-side festival smash ‘Feel So Good/Trick or Treat’. Eager to showcase the harder sounds of dance to a wider audience their classic Hardstyle combo of pounding kicks and delicate melody is winning over the EDM masses.
Gunz for Hire represent the darker edge of Hardstyle. The duo has had the web buzzing with their controversial noire videos, raw tracks and masked presence. Formed in 2011 by Adaro and Ran-D, the duo has been selling out live shows within minutes and with tracks like ‘Gangsters Don’t Dance’ and ‘Put It On’, have emerged as one of the most exciting and captivating Hardstyle acts.
Coone is one of Hardstyle’s fastest rising artists, selling out 10,000 capacity events in Europe at only 24, and becoming the highest ranked Harstyle artist in the DJ Mag top 100 at #37. His recent partnership with Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak label, which will see them releasing his new single and album, has been causing waves throughout the Hardstyle and EDM communities, and with major collabs with some of EDM’s biggest names forthcoming Coone looks set to elevate Hardstyle to brand new levels.
