This week, from Wednesday to Saturday, Amsterdam is the center of the world’s dance music industry.

I’m Storyteller, and it’s my pleasure to bring coverage of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) to the RV community.

Oddly enough, I wasn’t initially planning to go to ADE because I have so many work-related deadlines this week. I had identified some parties I wanted to check out, but I didn’t get around to actually pulling the trigger. My plans changed about a week ago when RV contacted me to discuss the idea of covering ADE as a guest blogger. This was all the incentive I needed; so I got tickets to some of the events, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with you here on the RV blog! There are tons of parties, taking place in more than 40 locations. ADE is exciting, and I’ve really been looking forward to it!

Last night, I kicked off my ADE week by checking out the Armada Night, featuring Blake Jarrell, Way Out West, Chicane (live), and Armin van Buuren!

I’m a sucker for the old trance/progressive legends. I’ve been an especially big Chicane fan for years. I chose to go to this event just to see Chicane and then I found out, only a couple hours before the party, that Way Out West would be there as well!

When I arrived at the Escape venue in Amsterdam, Way Out West had already started, which meant I was too late to catch Blake Jarrell in action. They played groovy progressive tracks, occasionally sprinkling in Way Out West classics like “Killa” and “Mindcircus,” which are great tunes. I think they also played some tracks from their forthcoming album. The crowd was absolutely loving it, and the atmosphere in general was great.

Next, Chicane stepped up! As expected, this was the highlight of the evening for me. Everybody seemed to reach a state of euphoria as his live act progressed. I sure did, and so did the two girls from Singapore who I met and hung out with for the rest of the night. The roof nearly exploded with every track Chicane performed. Over the course of an hour, I heard all of his big hits like “Bruised Water,” “Offshore,” “Stoned in Love,” and “Don’t Give Up.” I loved every bit of it!

My newly found friends from Singapore kicked it up a notch when Armin started. In fact, the entire audience went mental as Armin took his place in the DJ Booth. After all, he’s still Mixmag’s #1 DJ, and he was probably the DJ most people came to see. Soon, punchy progressive trance was filling the room. The party kept pulsing until the early morning…eventually, it was time to go home.

Until this event, I hadn’t been to any ADE parties, but if this is what the ADE is about, I will be back in the years to come. As I write this article, I can physically feel the excitement as well as the exhaustion from last night. The Armada Night was, without a doubt, one of the best parties I’ve been to in quite some time. It rekindled my love for the music of both Chicane and Way Out West.

Next up for this Friday: Jerome Isma-Ae and Remy – two of my favorite producers – and more…so stay tuned!

Storyteller

I’m writing this post for all of you who want a quick and easy way to find some good tunes…maybe you’re too busy to go browing through the thousands of new releases and just want a few recommendations…here ya go

As usual, you can load all of these tracks conveniently as a playlist in our media player by clicking HERE.

1. Forever July (Original Mix) – Mango [Proton Music] <– WOW! This is a great track! Mango absolutely delivers again. This guy has a unique ability to pull on your emotional chords with a unique, silky smooth ilk of progressive house. Rich melody, lush groove, I really like this guy’s style

2. Last Station (Original Mix) – Jozef Kugler [FeralCode Records] <– This is a FREE download, and (IMO) it’s one of the best track we uploaded last week. I know I already wrote a post about this release, but I can’t say enough good things about FeralCode Records. Once you preview this track, you’ll be sold.

3. Sound (Original Mix) – Storyteller [Toes in the Sand Recordings] <– Storyteller simply gets the job done with this track. If you’re interested in getting more information about him or this release, check out his interview from last week.

4. Round Trip (Original Mix) – Jozef Kugler [FeralCode Records] <– Here’s another FREE track from the Metro Station EP that I’m really feelin’…just a solid piece of craftsmenship.

5. The Night (Original Mix) – Lovebirds [Winding Road Records] <– I know this track from somewhere…maybe it was in a podcast…I can’t remember, but it’s good stuff!

6. Turin Quality Clubbing – Marshall & Libex [303 Lovers] <– I had to add a little variety here…with some heavy, bangin’ techno…great track!

7. Floating (Original Mix) – Marcus Belmar [Ocean Drive Records] <– Yet more variety here…a dose of progressive trance…drive, melody, and a good beat, all in this track.

8. Minor (Original Mix) – Francesco Gemelli [Malatoid Records] <– Good track here from Malatoid Records. Steady beat; nice sound…

9. Argentina Steak (Jacco at Work’s Roodbont Mix) – Jacco at Work and Nicholas van Orton [LuPS Records] <– Jacco is a great industry cat, and I’m pleased to say this release is on point!

10. Fly Away (Original Mix) – Blue Lunar Monkey [Synergetic Records] <– Here’s my last little twist of variety…some quality downtempo to round this list of recommendations out on a chill not

Eddie B

Earlier today, I wrote a blog post sharing an interview of Storyteller, one of the cooler DJs/artists I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. As I mentioned in my previous post, Toes in the Sand Recordings gave us Storyteller’s Soundproof EP as an exclusive pre-release this week, and I’m blown away by the quality of these tracks!

This first track in the EP is "Sound." It starts with a simple drum beat, and gradually new percussive elements are introduced…then, a jet comes in (in true progressive fashion) and you’re elevated into the real sound of the track. Storyteller creates a dreamy, drifty soundscape rife with synths and various ear-delighting sounds. He keeps the energy tantalizingly chill, just on the cusp letting loose…giving the track just enough drive to keep your head nodding and the serotonin flowing This track would make a great starter for a progressive set…it would warm the crowd up and make the right high-quality impression from the start.

The second track is "Proof," and it’s a goodie as well. Even though the two tracks were apparently produced at very different times – see Storyteller interview below for details – they seem to fit together like a hand in glove…as if they were always meant to be released on the same EP. "Proof" gets going right away…you hear the basic motif without a lot of delay or buildup. Both the melody and beat are solid and (just as importantly) unique. The track has that lush, warm, high-quality sound that has become the hallmark of Toes in the Sand releases. I’d definitely drop this in the right sort of set as well.

Overall, super-high-quality tunes here from Storyteller and Toes in the Sand!

Enjoy!

Eddie B

This week, we caught up with Storyteller for an exclusive interview Our timing is particularly opportune because his Soundproof EP just hit our store as an exclusive pre-release from Toes in the Sand Recordings. I’ll give you more information on that in another post soon, but for now, I’ll let you dig into this interview…

Q: You joined the RV DJ roster in September of last year. Can you tell us a little about what you’ve been doing since then?

A: I have been doing a lot of things. I stay busy, especially with music. Getting DJ gigs is still hard, but there are some plans in the works for me to play a cool event in Finland, which would be my 4th gig there in about a two-year period. I also have plans in the works for a gig in Serbia. I’ve also been busy on the production front. I’ve ended an 18-month period of writer’s block with a bang. I finished five tracks in less than two months. Prospects for a couple of those tracks are good, though they aren’t signed yet. I also started on another interesting trancy tech house project with a friend, and that’s given me a much-needed fresh perspective on production.

Q: This week, Toes in the Sand Recordings gave us your Soundproof EP as an exclusive pre-release, and I was blown away by it. Did you have any particular inspiration for creating these tracks?

A: Well, it’s funny you should ask. “Proof” was actually written over two years ago as a remix originally meant for a new label. Due to private circumstances of the label owner, the label launch never actually happened. I recently contacted him to see if I could have the rights to the track. I’ve always been proud of “Proof,” and I wanted to see how it would do once it was released. I should mention that the remix was in no way similar to the original track. The label understood my problem, and the owner agreed without making any trouble whatsoever, which I’m really happy about. Next, I took it straight to Toes in the Sand, and they were more than happy to sign it. So to answer your question, the inspiration would have been the original track.

Then there is “Sound,” which I finished in November 2008. It was a project that I had laying around for quite some time. After I moved to a different house, I really felt like making music. There was no particular thing that inspired me…or maybe there was subconsciously…

Q: What’s the idea behind the title “Soundproof”?

A: I worked on a couple previous projects with Tasadi. He launched a label called Sedna Recordings and asked me if I would like to help him out by setting up a progressive/tech-house division. I loved the idea, and I respected Tasadi’s dedication to the music…so I had to think of a label name and grabbed a dictionary. After a couple of minutes I came across “Soundproof.” In the end I pulled back from the sub-label due to the limited amount of time I have. It did release an EP but that was not my work; Tasadi did that. Anyway, that’s were the name was born. Before this, I already had come up with the track title “Proof,” and I needed one for the second track. Calling it “Sound” was nice and easy and, for me, the mark of a new era. The quality of the music I have produced lately, starting with the “Soundproof EP,” has been high. I’m really happy where I am now, but I’m still aware of some aspects that need improvement.

Q: I can’t resist asking…Did any of our Thomas Penton Essential Series samples make their way into the Soundproof EP?

A: First of all I was honored to do the promo track on part three of this sample collection. Honestly, I can’t think of a sample that did not originate from the Essential Series. I’ve been a happy owner of part one and two for quite some time and I’m using it abundantly. I’m going to sound like a commercial here, but they’re really great – full of character, detail and punch. They just sound rich and work better than any sample pack I have come across thus far.

Q: You’ve really honed your skills and gained a reputation as a solid progressive producer. In what ways do you think your production style will evolve going forward?

A: Lately, I’ve been leaning a bit more toward minimal and techy music. I still think it’s quite recognizable, and it has certain elements that I consider to be my thing. It’s just a bit different. The new project I’ve started shows more of a techy influence. I think it’s important for me now to expand my array of styles, so I’m working on that.

Q: It seems there are fewer progressive releases these days – compared to say, 2004. Do you think the genre has fallen out of favor to some extent? How do you see the future shaping up for the progressive sound and community?

A: Tough question. First of all it would depend on what is considered progressive music. I agree that there is less “real” progressive music coming out. I think that progressive house is now slowly being replaced by slower paced trance. Thing is, I like both a lot. My personal preference, for the music I DJ with, lies in the deep, techy, progressive house and trance. There is a lot music out there that I enjoy, and I actually think that, since about 2006, the innovation in dance music started to pick up again as a new generation of producers are entering the music industry. I’m amazed by the vast amounts of quality music that’s being put out these days, and my intent is to enjoy that! The problem is that it takes some good searching before you find the real gems out there. Even though the older type of progressive house seemingly had its peak, it has definitely demanded its own spot in modern dance music. I think it will last albeit in slightly changed form as music evolves.

Q: If you could say one thing to every visitor to the Resonant Vibes website, no matter what nationality, age, gender, or level of appreciation for electronic music, what would it be?

A: I’d say look on the bright side of things in life, and have fun!

Eddie B

Well, October is gone, and November is here…and that means it’s time to introduce a new RV DJ blogger…

But before I talk about our new DJ blogger, I want to take a minute to say THANKS to Storyteller for being last month’s RV DJ blogger and for giving us some really engaging, throught-provoking posts!

…and now, it’s time to introduce this month’s RV DJ Blogger [drum roll please...] …we’re tapping none other than Mr. Thomas Penton to be this month’s DJ blogger!

Of course, Thomas is no stranger to the RV community; he’s one of those industry figures that’s been a friend of Resonant Vibes since the early days. In fact, our relatioship with Thomas actually pre-dates the launch of the RV website! Sam booked Thomas back in December of 2004 to play a gig at a club called Atmosphere here in Louisville, Kentucky. Thomas came down and played an absolutely killer set. I remember the night clearly…my girlfriend had come to town from New York City, and I actually lived next door to the club…I had a group of folks over at my place; we had some drinks and generally got into a party frame of mind and then we went over to the club. A DJ named Trevor Lamont opened for Thomas, playing some great house music, and we were getting down. Then, my man Thomas got on the decks and absolutely blew the club up …at one point, he invited me and my girl to step into the DJ booth, and the sound was off tha hook….definitely a great clubbing experience.

From that event, our relationship with Thomas – or I should really say, Sam’s relationship with Sam – really started to develop. We talked to him about Resonant Vibes, and he was always supportive…so I feel like it’s only fitting to give Thomas the keys to the blog for a month

…of course, now is also a particularly appropriate time to hand Thomas the keys to the blog because we recently released volume three of his Essential Series sample collection. He might have some interesting thoughts to share on that…

Thomas has always been a straight-shooting industry player who just calls things like he seems them, so I’m sure he’ll have some entertaining things to discuss on our blog (if he can work in a few posts between playing his international gigs, etc.)

Well, that’s it for the introduction…from here, I’ll let Thomas speak for himself…

Enjoy!

Eddie B

Ok, so Eddie B keeps raving about Thomas Penton’s Essential Series, Vol. 3: 2008 Update….well now I have an opportunity to show you why

Storyteller has taken the time to concoct a killer 2-minute preview for the pack…and this short clip of music should spark your imagination and creativity to show you the kind of tightness that can be assembled using Essential Series, Vol. 3 samples. ….I’m not even a producer, and I started getting excited listening to this clip.

You can check it out by clicking the play icon below.

It starts off on a cool rising note, with a nice proggy-electro-housey foundation that gets your head nodding…then more rising sounds are introduced in crescendo-like fashion until Storyteller introduces a mini-breakdown around the 37 second mark. Then the track falls into a steady groove and reaches another build up around the 1 minute 25 second mark. After the buildup the track segues into a new motif, which is really Storyteller’s clever way of showing you a bit more of the sample pack’s potential.

…if you’re the creative type, you could probably mix this two-minute clip into a set or playing around with looping it….or, better yet, download the Essential Series, Vol. 3 samples, and make your own track!

Eddie B

It’s time to introduce the RV DJ blogger for the month of October…but before I do that I want to say thanks to my man Paul Dailey for writing some great posts as our last DJ blogger; his posts were thoughtful, insightful, and (in classic Paul fashion) straight from the heart.

Whereas my man Paul was giving us the thoughts of a seasoned veteran, this month we’re opening our blog up to a rising young artist: Storyteller. At just 24 years old, he has already amassed more than 13 years of experience producing electronic music. He’s had releases on labels like Enhanced, Deep Blue Records, Currve, and Toes in the Sand. Storyteller has also drawn attention as a DJ. His mixes have gotten significant play on Internet radio stations, and he’s been rockin’ venues at home and in cities throughout Europe.

Storyteller brings a new and unique perspective to our blog……….so let’s hear what he has to say over the course of this month

Enjoy!

Eddie B

It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog post, and I’ve got lots to talk about! …topic number one on the agenda is the addition of Storyteller (Matthijs Breijer) to our Meet the DJs section!

As with all of our other DJs, we asked Storyteller to give us an exclusive free mix (which I’m listening to for the upmpteenth time as I write this post), and it’s Rock Solid I’m not going to delve deeply here into his bio; we’ve prepared a profile page for him that does that. I will, however, mention the basics…

Storyteller is from the Netherlands, and he favors the progressive genre – though some of his more recent materials seems to operate on the fringes of the genre. A lot of the RV community probably already knows Storyteller for his massive productions on labels like Toes in the Sand. He’s a young artist, just 24 years old, and he definitely has a exceptional feel for the music.

Now for a few tidbits you won’t find in his profile…

The RV team clearly knew Storyteller’s name (since we’re selling his tunes in our store), but our interest was piqued in getting him on the site after one of his mixes aired on the Shake Down Podcast. That was the first time I’d ever heard Storyteller the DJ, and I must say I was quite impressed! (In fact, if you haven’t heard that mix, you should go grab it at www.shakedownpodcast.com.)

I asked Chris Reddick, the host of the Shake Down Podcast, to put me in touch with Storyteller and to float the idea of his joining our site. Storyteller was receptive to the idea, and from there we just made it happen. …working with this guy has been a real pleasure.

I can honestly say that the RV DJ roster has some super cool people on it, and Storyteller is one of them. After corresponding with him, it’d be really cool if we could go grab a beer and chat about music, etc., but alas we’re on different continents. Working with Storyteller and getting him on our site starkly reminded me about one of the best parts of my job, namely that of meeting and working with great people who are dedicated to electronic music.

I hope you enjoy Storyteller’s mix as much as I have!

Eddie B