ARTISTS

ALEX ARNOUT
ALEX KENNON
ALEX PICONE
BETOKO
DANI CASARANO
DEAN JON
DESYN MASIELLO
ELECTRONIC YOUTH
ITALOBOYZ
JAVIER GONZALEZ
LUCA FABIANI
MARTIN BUNDSEN
MICHAEL CLEIS
MICHAEL WOODS
NEVERDOGS
NIMA GORJI
ROB MARMOT
YAYA

ALEX ARNOUT Guest Friend


Alex Arnout is a slow burning star with over 20 years experience behind him. Having started his DJ career in Spain, and in the humble surroundings of many a local bar, the nineties were spent learning the basic skills so often lacking in today’s break-through ‘DJs’. Eventually catching the ear of someone that mattered, Arnout began playing more familiar outposts like DC: 10 and Pin Up in Ibiza, Dance Valley in Amsterdam and Circo Loco in London, for whom he has been resident for the last few years.

 

A pure passion for 4/4 (which has been burning ever since first hearing House Sounds of Chicago albums in the mid eighties) naturally lead Alex to begin experimenting with his beloved sound in the studio. Over the course of the last decade there have been releases alongside Daz I Kue from Bugs in the Attic; with an old school friend, Leiam Sullivan, as Ceramix and more recently under his given name on Adam Shelton and Subb-an’s fast-rising Brum label, One Records. The track was 'Vanishing Point' - a prowling deep house record lapped up by the likes of Visionquest that is indicative of his analogue aesthetic overall.

 

Aiming simply to “make great music”, there have also been collabs with Jamie Jones and Clive Henry for the hotter-than-hot Hot Waves crew, whilst EPs for Composite and Vitalik and another collaborative effort with Clive - this time as Black to The Future – are all in the bag. As such, it’s no surprise Alex is currently working on his debut studio album.

Whilst all those accomplishments are commendable on their own, one of the most important roles Arnout plays in the contemporary electronic scene is as label boss and A&R man for his own decidedly individually label, Dogmatik. Having inadvertently launched the career of Maya Jane Coles by releasing her first releases, Dogmatik can also count the likes of Mark E, Peace Division, Afrilounge, Tom Demac, Ed Davenport, Bearweasel, Stojche and Claire Ripley amongst its friends given the releases and remixes they have contributed to the label’s catalogue since its inception in 2006.

 

More and more often stepping out of the shadows of engineering, collaborating or running a label, then, the accomplished Arnout is making himself evermore an impossible talent to ignore.

ALEX KENNON Resident Artist


Alex Kennon was born in South Italy in the late 80’s. Since childhood he has always been interested in music. Accordingly he started studying classical guitar when he was 6, and thanks to his father he approached the world of funk, listening to Enigma’s, The Cure’s and Massive Attack’s music.

 


At 15 Alex starts working in local radio, where begins to lay the bases for his own taste in the musical field. At first he gets closer to house music and deep-tech sounds, and then is influenced by acid and dub styles.

 

Alex joins soon several clubs as a DJ in Italy, and then in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and his reputation grows increasingly in size and importance. He produces a kind of music whose style is difficult to define: he is still inspired by different genres and trends, but doesn’t adapt his style to a particular outline. Alex’s music follows above all what his own feelings suggest to himself, for it is always in progress.

 

Currently he lives and works in Ibiza. Popular labels, like Bondage Music, Recycle Records, Cimelde, Mimique and others, have signed his tracks and many editors are interested in his sounds.


The music is a passion and the passions are in the blood, in the music there are no stars... but the Music is the star.

ALEX PICONE Guest Friend


Italian-born Alex Picone’s passion for deep analogue-sounding grooves is all consuming. Ever since he was a teenager, his whole life has been devoted to feeling, sharing and shaping hip-rolling house and techno. And, of course, it shows; whether he’s laying it down at top Italian clubs like Flow and il Muretto, or blasting it out in Berlin, where he’s now based, his ego-free approach to DJing attracts true underground party heads in droves. 

 

Alex (aka Alessandro Picone) was born and grew up in Padova, where he started DJing in the mid-90s – when he was just 15 years old. His skills quickly landed him regular slots at La Scala in Padova, and from there he began to organise his own house parties before bagging key residencies at Flow and il Muretto. Playing regularly to the clued-up crowds at these clubs, alongside such international talents as Luciano, Richie Hawtin and Ricardo Villalobos, added momentum to his musical evolution and later propelled him into the world of production. In 2004 Alex took his first steps as a producer, hooking up with Kay Sand (Francesco Sperotto) to form Chronic Flakes. 

 

Their tracks quickly earned respect from the likes of Alex Neri, who released two Chronic Flakes’ 12”s on Bustin’ Loose in 2005/6, prior to unleashing their groovy, loopy tech-house extravaganza, the Omnadawn EP, complete with a remix by Guido Schneider, on Tenax Recordings in 2007. Neri even included ‘Galicia’ from their EP on the 2008 il Muretto compilation mix. Picone was on a roll and, after spending some time in Ibiza, he finally adopted Berlin as his new home, a place from where he had drawn much inspiration.

 

Here he built on an existing relationship with a fellow Italian in Berlin: Lucretio, the label manager of Detroit’s Mixworks. Lucretio had already been sending Alex's output to the mastermind of the Mixworks network, Buzz Goree, which led Alex to release ‘Berlin Dub’ as part of the Persistence EP – Mixworks’ debut release. He followed this up by returning to Mixworks as Chronic Flakes and releasing ‘Numalbix’, which came out on the Dance Tactics EP (the label’s second project). 2008 furthermore saw Alex release his first full EP as a solo artist, Furby Floppy, on Luciano’s Cadenza Records. This won him nods from both peers and press, and ‘Floppy’ went on to feature on Luciano’s Fabric 41 mix, while the slow-burning ‘Berlin Dub’ was included on Âme’s Fabric 42. Around this time Alex also became involved with AltaVoz, a collective/event that nurtures the development of electronic music in Italy, where he DJed with such artists as Carl Craig, Onur Ozer and Vincent Lemieux. Bringing a warmer, more human feeling to mixing than many of his contemporaries, Alex has now played at such clubs as the aptly named Underground in Ibiza and Fabric in London. 

 

As well as at Cadenza showcases around Europe, from Cocoon Club and Watergate in Germany to the buzzing Black Sea Coast of Romania. He also felt firsthand the force of Underground Resistance when he visited the US for the first time to play a couple of sets in Detroit during Movement DEMF 2009. First at a Mixworks’ party, alongside Buzz Goree, Mike Servito and several other real deal DJs, then at an after-hours hosted by the irrepressible Seth Troxler. 2009 sees Alex continue to explore a subterranean landscape of beats through his groove-ridden Motherland EP out on Bosconi Records, and a third cut for Mixworks called ‘No Kiss’, which has already been supported by heavyweights like Luciano, Hawtin, Villalobos and Raresh. Alex is also planning another EP, based around his ‘Mon Amour’ track, complete with an exceptional remix from Chris Carrier. 

 

Then there’s another Chronic Flakes collaboration, this time for Mike Shannon’s Cynosure imprint. Not to mention fresh material born of his friendship with Argentinian adventurer Ernesto Ferreyra. Music. Playing it, producing it, and making it happen, for the true heads. This is the fuel that ignites the passion of Picone. A life lived for, and through,

music.

BETOKO Guest Friend


London based, Mexican born Beto Cohen is Betoko, a producer who has quickly risen through the ranks since first emerging in 2007. Having drummed in bands and played guitar as a teen, he went on to co-founding a modelling agency and production company before moving to London in 2002 – a move which proved hugely important for his musical career.

 

It was here that he discovered a passion for electronic music, immersed deep in the city’s famous scene, before hooking up with the much-lauded Wow! Records – a label run by Amnesia Ibiza legend Mar T. Early releases from Betoko showed the man to have his own distinctive approach, joining the dots between tech, minimal and house music with great style.

 

Now he has an esteemed back catalogue, regularly picks up support from peers like Steve Lawler, Sven Vath and Marco Carola, whilst his tracks have also been licensed for use on TV shows like CSI, a number of advertising campaigns and Madonna’s Sticky N Sweet Tour. Of course, natural progression and a hunger for great new music means Betoko is now the head of his own two labels, Oko and Chilli Mint Music, both of which release quality house and tech on vinyl and digital and get charted by a top list of DJs.

 

The future holds many more releases for Betoko, adding to ones on Diynamic, Get Physical, Moodmusic and Audiofly’s Supernature, as well as many more gigs. In the past these have seen him spin his infectious sounds at Europe’s uber-cool spots like Fabric in London, Amnesia and Ushaia Ibiza, Kater Holzig in Berlin and more. His release “Raining Again” on Diynamic has captured the world’s imagination and he is now set to continue to tour the world far and wide.

DANI CASARANO Guest Friend


Dani Casarano is a bona fide DJ/producer who has traversed this planet in search of perfect beats since the late 90s. His perpetual swing is informed by a seductive musicality that, without fail, lifts spirits and stirs feet. Born in Switzerland, he was based out of Santiago, Chile for over a decade, before returning back to his roots. Now signed to Cadenza, he’s represented the label during showcases at such venues as Ushuaia in Ibiza. He’s also played for Circoloco at DC10 and Cocoon in Chile and holds a residency at Mad Club in Switzerland. Often collaborating with like-minded musician Felipe Valenzuela, together they form a brotherhood that’s produced wave after wave of dancefloor defining tracks, most recently including ‘Tia Anita’ on Andes Music, ‘Will Be’ on Fumalab, and ‘Otra Vida’ on Fumakilla. Then there’s ‘La Tulipe’ on Cadenza, with its eternal bloom of youth that’s touched such makers of taste as Raresh and Ricardo Villalobos as much as label leader Luciano.

 

Dani Casarano was born in Morges, by Lake Geneva, near Lausanne, to Italian parents. At 12 years old, he was absorbing hip-hop and acid jazz. He also soaked in the sounds that resounded at home, which featured, among others, Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Taking his destiny into his own hands, at just 14, Dani was inspired by house music and invested in Technics turntables. He also took guitar lessons and learnt musical notation. After leaving school, which he attended with Luciano, he decided to take the trip of a lifetime. The year was 1997 and the country he chose, after receiving an invitation from long-time compadre Luciano, was Chile. Magical, metaphysical, and volcanic, it was not unlike the rolling grooves that he loved and played. And it was here that he first met Ricardo Villalobos, Dandy Jack and Argenis Brito.

 

Dani soon began making his own productions, a servant to a universal groove. Always approaching electronic music with organic and acoustic elements. Always adapting to new places, faces, ideas and seasonal flavours. Yet always preserving the story and soul of the dance, the foundations of the scene. His debut was a CD album entitled In Transit 8 Track, which he wrote and produced under the alias Tony Mass, released on South American label Sum Records. He also contributed a single called ‘Break Sense’ to the Love Parade Santiago – Chile 2005 compilation on BMG. His first track to land on his beloved vinyl was ‘Oiseaux Sans Ailes’, produced with Ernesto Albacete (Ernie), which came out on Spanish label Deep Explorer in 2006. He then produced the techy, synth-heavy ‘El Zapo Hablo’; ‘the toad speaks’ being a Chilean expression for when everyone knows a secret about you. This was released in 2006 on Germany’s Connaisseur Supérieur, thereby the ‘undisclosed’ became self-evident: the man may be modest but his music was now speaking for itself.

 

Besides solo work, Dani regularly forms a DJ/production partnership with Chile’s Felipe Valenzuela. They are akin to brothers, born just one day apart, and have signed music to such labels as, among others, Bond, Recycle Records, and Metroline, where they were remixed by Oslo Records’ boss Nekes, producing lush funky sounds with earthy Latin American and African undertones – global dance music – that has impacted on heads, from John Digweed to Ben Watt to Nick Curly. Plus, as we speed towards 2010, there’s a boatload of fresh material on the horizon. For example, their ‘Santi EP’ will break on Fumakilla, and a remix will drop for M.in on Berlin-based Waldliebe Musik as well as for Iranzo Lasia on Italy’s Frequenza Limited. Meanwhile, Dani looks forward to kick-starting a second artist album, and even has an ambition to create film soundtracks. He will also continue to build upon his DJing, having already played everywhere from Ibizan superclubs (Pacha, Privilege and Space) to Berlin’s underground (Club der Visionaere) to Latin American hotspots (including D-Edge and Mint) and festivals (such as Creamfields and South American Music Conference (SAMC)).

YAYA Guest Friend


Some notorious electronic music talents have started their careers as percussionists. And so did Yaya, but his tale is different to all the rest. His new release for Desolat takes a unique, upbeat approach to 4/4 beats: combining heartfelt Benin influences – samples from dialogue and traditional ballads – with the stretched-out tension and release of Balearic and the bubbling pops and stutters of tech house, plus the occasional kickback to a Commodore64 high score melody.

 

Raised in Turin, Italy, rhythm was his lifeblood for Yassin Ligali, also known as Yaya, from an early age. His father was the lead vocalist and percussionist for M’Bamina, a band consisting of musicians from Benin, Zaire, Italy and Cameroon. M’Bamina released eight albums, collaborated with artists like Manu Dibango and Salif Keita, were sponsored by Paco Rabanne and played all over Africa, including a show for the presidents of Senegal and France. Their final show was with James Brown in Paris in 1985 – the year Yaya was born.

 

Well-versed in his father’s legacy, Yaya grew up playing drums and djembe, and at the age of 15, began performing as a percussionist in Turin clubs. Just one year later, he was already DJing, playing funk, soul, afrobeat, house and garage. Manu Dibango and Fela Kuti found a spot in his crate next to records by Masters at Work and Dimitri from Paris: contrasts of rhythm and structure that pervade his music to this very day. From playing in Turin discos like Pier and Doctor Sax, word of the Yaya sound spread and he began playing nights at Amnesia, Lime Light and Pulp in Milan, and Tenax in Florence. 

 

Pretty soon he was headlining at clubs across Europe: from Fellini and City Hall in Barcelona to Seven in Croatia. Notably, he played at Space in Ibiza – Carl Cox’s Tuesday night party with Angels of Love. There’s something about the atmosphere of Ibiza that suits Yaya to a tee. In his words: twisting, empathetic, joyful and wild.

ROB MARMOT Guest Friend


Resident dj for Pete Tong’s international club brand ‘Wonderland’ its no wonder the talented Rob Marmot is a regular DJ at many of the world's most glamorous parties and clubs. After returning from his tour of Asia, Rob returned to the UK to DJ for Eric Morillo for the lauch of his Luggage range Knomo and then at The Ministry Of Sound alongside Pete Tong for his Wonderland residency, Rob is now working hard in the Studio After receiving ha accolade for "The Essential New Tune" Carpe Diem on Radio 1 at the end of 2009 and has his new release Baghdad Boogie coming out on "Spinnin" in the next few weeks with his other collaboration with Juan Kidd "Summer Breeze" being signed to Eric Morillo's Subliminal label for release this Summer, he has other releases scheduled over the summer, This Summer Rob is weekly main room resident at Pete Tong's Wonderland @ Eden, and has dates for Subliminal at Pacha, Rob will also be hosting the Wonderland Radio show every week in Ibiza on Ibiza Global Fm, and many other dates confirmed at various venues. 

 

Last years Ibiza summer residency at Pete Tong’s ‘Wonderland’ saw Rob tearing up the main room’s dance floor alongside host Pete and guests djs Fatboy Slim, Luciano, Groove Armada, Timo Maas & Deadmau5 and many more, Rob’s profile is going from strength to strength. Rob’s Ibiza residency for ‘Wonderland’ has also been extended to their nights @ Ministry of Sound in London where Rob is the only dj trusted by Pete to perform in both the main room and the bar on the same night. He also played before Groove Armada and then After Groove Armada to finish off the night in Ibiza, this shows Rob's ability to read the crowd and play alongside the worlds best.

 

Rob had a busy 2008 which credits include his residency alongside Pete Tong and Groove Armada for Wonderland @ Eden playing alongside Eric Prydz, Deadmou5, Tania Vulcano, playing on the terraces of Miami and Ibiza, being personally invited by Erick Morillo's to perform at his birthday party at 2008 WMC. Other highlights include playing alongside Carl Cox at Pete Tongs birthday, getting flown to Jamaica to perform alongside 50 Per Cent, Jay Kay and Kimani Marley (Bob Marley's son) and DJing alongside Eric Morillo, Sven Vath, Behrouz, Dave Dorrell and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys.

 

amongst others. Rob kick-started 2008 playing the NYE full moon party, Thailand before a five week country tour and a concentrated stint in the studio prior to flying out to perform at the Azuli party at the WMC. He also was a regular guest dj on the weekly ‘Ibitronic’ radio show Global FM.

When not jet-setting around the world Rob regularly plays at the UK's top venues including Pacha, Egg, Kissdafunk, Azuli and a regular dj at the legendary London nightclub The Cross.

 

Rob's knowledge, versatile music style, energetic upbeat persona and profile releases as a producer and remixer are the some of the reasons why he has quickly become a rising star on the scene. Able to excite the ears of the world's most musically astute djs and producers at underground parties in Miami, UK and Ibiza, he can a equally be found rocking the most audiences on more accessible dance floors.

 

Rob’s also an established name as a prolific music producer who has gained a lot of attention and awareness on the radar of the industry's elite. Pete Tong has just made Rob's new track Carpe Diem - Radio 1's Essential New Tune and has been playing his latest release Summer Breeze almost every week during the summer in Ibiza and still now and has aired on radio 1 as well, his other track has been signed to Floor Play and is due for release in the next month. With Spinnin also signing Rob's remix of "Turn It Around" and a new release Bagdad Boogie coming out very shortly. Rob has also had releases on Floor play , Berwick Street and Very Very Wrong label and his third release 'Long Dark Tunnel' on Newstate's IIO T- Minus reached no.2 in the DJ Download chart, Look out for new releases from Rob this year and collaborations with My Digital Enemy and Pete Tong.

 

Over the past six months Rob's profile has escalated at a speedy pace. Recently being invited to mix the third CD on incredibly popular Fantazia Club Classics series which was released by Ministry of Sound. The compilation went on to sell over 40,000 copies and topped the UK national compilation

chart at number six.

NIMA GORJI Guest Friend


Nima Gorji, was born in Teheran in 1972. His father being a guitarist, Nima got into music very young. At the age of 5, he was already listening carefully to his father while staying in the backstage with his mother. After the iranian revolution in 1979, his family escaped from the country, and after several trial to live in germany, they finally settle down in Denmark in 1984 where he got his citizenship.

 

In Denmark his passion for music got bigger , and Nima started to play keyboards in a band strongly influenced by Depeche Mode, New Order and such like. In 1989 he does his first demo recording in a professional studio , meantime attending classes at the music school of Denmark.

 

Right after the school, in 1990 he meets his "mentor" who teaches him to spin vinyl.

 

From that moment his love for vinyl never stopped. For the next couple of years Nima concentrate only about djing. In 1998 he releases his first tracks as menimax on logic records, and starts achieving great success in Scandinavia through his own productions as black powder and events as verydisco.

 

But somehow, he got tired of Denmark and decided to settle down in Ibiza in 2005 where he plays regularly in all the clubs like Space, Pacha and Privilege, and receives the Ibiza resident dj award in 2010. Since 2 years he became a permanent resident of Monza Ibiza @ Sankeys.

 

He also produces various tracks released on his own label Welt recordings, and many others like Murmur, Cecille, Oslo, International Freakshow, Off recordings or Tanzbar, and of course Monza Ibiza Records, to name few of them. Meantime, you can find him spinning worldwide ... Always, his sets are unique and surprising, ... non obvious ... seamlessly blending old school music with new productions, whilst implementing his timeless love of vinyl in his legendary performances.

NEVERDOGS Guest Friend


Tommy Paone & Marko Kay are the Neverdogs...

the two artists started to play separately in the early nineties. They met each other in 2000 in Florence where the Neverdogs project was born.

 

Breaking into the electronic/dance circuit in 2005, this Italian duo has continued to advance their incredible reputation as both djs and producers. Now renowned in underground and influential industry circles, their dynamic sound is sought after by the most clandestine gatherings in Italy, Ibiza, London, Miami and beyond. They regularly headline the globes finest establishments and seminal parties, and have honed their production skills with several exceptional releases. It’s been a special journey and mind-blowing trip...

 

Catapulted into the limelight during the summer of 2005 via a collaborative project with Italy’s most sought after events, the DocShow (a decadent melange of music, art & performance), the Neverdogs were suddenly on the radar. Next, taking flight to Ibiza and London, they relocated for the summer and winter seasons in 2006. On the white isle, the first of many residencies and regular appearances began at Ibiza institutions Privilege, Space, Zoo Project & Underground. In 2009, their already burgeoning Ibiza status exploded with the launch of the most exclusive Katamaran parties. Hosted by Sexy’n’Chic, guests including Villalobos, Jose De Divina, System of Survival and a host of others, joined Marko & Tommy for a musical voyage marvelled as one of the islands not-so-best-kept secrets...

 

Back in London for the winter months, they soon established regular appearances at two of the Capitals coolest parties, Retox (RIP!) & Follow Me, the latter of which they still hold down today along with it’s sister event, the elite and super secret ‘costume’ parties...

 

In 2010, Pacha invited them to mix & compile the first “International VIP compilation”, a year that also marked Marko & Tommy’s production debut. Keeping their first material to themselves and only to select dj friends, artists such as Pascal Feos, G-Pal, Steve Lawler and Satoshi Tomiie became instant fans. Now releasing their productions onto labels, current material on Idea and Eukatech Records have found homes within Richie Hawtin, Timo Maas and Bushwacha!’s playlist’s. Watch out for their collaborative project on Pleiadians Records with Circo Loco duo, Jose De Divina and System

of Survival...

AVALANCHE Next Event


08.10.2022 @ Asal

Passeig Joan Carles I, 17

Ibiza, Balearic Islands

+34 971 80 68 06

LAST Podcast


Maxinne, 24.09.2022

Zam Stuart, 02.06.2016

Martin Bundsen, 02.06.2016