The Magician Starts 2021 on an Energized Note with ‘One Vibration’

The Magician Starts 2021 on an Energized Note with ‘One Vibration’

Belgian modern house selector The Magician returns today with his latest single ‘One Vibration ft CLYPSO,’ released as part of the producer’s decennial ‘Magic Tape celebration. For the past decade, The Magician has regularly stunned fans with ninety-nine collaborative mixtape projects, a series that blends a variety of the moment’s best house and indie-dance heaters into an hour long mix. ‘One Vibration ft. CLYPSO’ offers a first taste of the much anticipated ‘Magic Tape 100’ multi-artist album, out January 27 on POTION Records.

Sydney-based producer, vocalist, and instrumentalist CLYPSO adds her own personalized ‘tropo chili flakes’ flare to the record as she bounds into 2021. The feature follows lauded 2020 single releases such as ‘Storm’ and ‘Sidestep,’ as well as notable collaborations with Jamie xx,The Avalanches, and Neneh Cherry. As the first single of The Magician’s ‘Magic Tape 100’ project, ‘One Vibration’ will be released alongside an exclusive music video featuring Silvia Saint Martin, the principal dancer at the Paris Ballet Opera, the most reputable dance company in the world alongside Bolchoi in Moscow.

2020 saw The Magician release his two track “Renaissance” EP in May on POTION Records, and while covid-19 kept him grounded the rest of the year, The Magician’s career has previously taken him to all corners of the earth, gracing dance floors and festival stages with a touch of magic – from Coachella to Primavera Sound Festival, Hideout Croatia, EDC Las Vegas, Warung in Brazil, Printworks London, Trouw in Amsterdam, Zouk in Singapore and many more. His early work included a 2011 multi-platinum remix of Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers,” which led to further massive pop collaborations with the likes of Chromeo and Clean Bandit and record deals with Parlophone/Warner Records.

The release of ‘One Vibration’ further cements The Magician’s position as an esteemed producer with deep ties to the electronic music community and beyond, and is a welcomed gem for listeners, appropriately previewed ahead of his highly anticipated ‘Magic Tape 100’.

The Magic Tape 100 will be available on all platforms on January 27

Steve Darko Announces Debut LP on DIRTYBIRD with a Double-Sided ‘Descending’

Steve Darko Announces Debut LP on DIRTYBIRD with a Double-Sided ‘Descending’

Today, Steve Darko has announced his debut artist album,‘Midnight Swim’ with the double-sided ‘Descending’ single—out now on DIRTYBIRD. The full length effort features fourteen tracks, each building upon the ingenuity and cutting edge sound design that attracted the label to the budding talent just a few years ago.

Darko’s journey to defy expectation begins immediately in both singles out today, “Descending” and “Red.” The former stirs tension with its high reaching pitch before “Descending” into a menacing hook marked with heavy percussion. It fits easily into the darkest depths of the producer’s catalog, a welcomed departure from the producer to watch. Meanwhile, “Red” pays homage to the halcyon days of acid house while maintaining a modernized arrangement. Rising Floridian star and fellow DIRTYBIRD mentee Nala added a futuristic touch to the finished product with her vocal talents. These sonics stand in direct contrast to “Descending,” pointing to just how dynamic and multifaceted a record ‘Midnight Swim’ will be.

The album is not just a platform for sonic exploration to Steve Darko—it’s ultimately a tale of balance in life, of dark and light. Even its title captures those moments of levity amid a pitch black backdrop. Written largely during a time of global uncertainty and forced lockdowns, ‘Midnight Swim’ in itself was a way for Darko to find his own freedom and catharsis despite grim surrounding circumstances. The project is a manifestation of balance in his personal life; though his work as a full time developer with music production software leader iZotope brings him fulfillment, he holds an equal passion in creating and playing out his art to the world. ‘Midnight Swim’ was thus an exercise in perseverance, and of reconciling these two driving forces.

The album also speaks to the power of collaboration, an art Darko has always embraced as an artist. He employs a multitude of guest artists for the affair, including Claude VonStroke, VNSSA, Rachel Alix, and of course, Nala, to name a few. Nearly half of the LP contains guest writers, which work to push Darko further outside his comfort zone. Each collaborator played a unique role in bringing his vision to fruition, helping to shape the eclectic and wide reaching nature of the record.

DIRTYBIRD’s core ethos has always been about pushing innovative music from the brightest stars of tomorrow—an ethos the brand has reinvigorated heavily in recent years. In providing Steve Darko full support to create the album he envisioned for himself, the resulting patchwork of genres, styles, and instrumentation drives in their staunch commitment to this philosophy. In return, ‘Midnight Swim’ is Darko’s way of pushing both himself and his label family into the next chapter.