Local Rockstars: Sandrien about pulling all-nighters and her rocking Barbies
Whether it’s Sonar in Barcelona, Berghain in Berlin or Awakenings in the Netherlands, Sandrien and her eclectic techno sets have already made the crowds go wild within and across the borders. She’s been turning tables as one of Amsterdam’s regulars in the scene for 13 years now, alone and in a duo with Carlos Valdes. Sandrien told us how she survives six hour sets like the upcoming Imprint at Trouw, what it means to be a female DJ and why she thinks that being famous is actually overrated. (..more)
Expat Gone Wild: I am no tourist
There is something I have to admit. Even though I've been living in the Netherlands for almost two years, I sometimes catch myself strolling on the bike path like a tourist. It might only take a few seconds until I realize it, but still, it happens. So what, you think? You have no idea. That's a major issue. In moments like these I feel sorry for myself, to say the least. It basically justifies my Dutch friends doing the 'You're such a tourist!' thing on me once they've shown me their amazing sense of orientation in this city or their professional drunken cycling skills. (..more)
Los Angeles meets Studio 80 – The Culprit Sessions with Droog
Dancing on a rooftop in the last glow of the sunset sounds pretty much like something you would want to do always. At least that's what you should do if you'll ever get to see the Culprit Sessions in Los Angeles. That's where Droog performs regularly at their famous Standard Hotel rooftop gatherings. This Saturday, Studio 80 invited the Droog trio Andrei Osyka, Brett Griffin and Justin Sloe to introduce some of that LA vibe to Amsterdam. (..more)
Local Rockstars: Bart Skils about his baby VOLTT
If you get something tattooed on your body, you are most likely committed to the cause. So that’s exactly what Bart Skils (37), the founder of Voltt did. He perpetuated the festival’s logo on his arm. This Saturday, he is staging his traditional gig at Paradiso with Ricardo Villalobos. We met up with Bart to learn a bit more about the meaning of the name Voltt, how the event became his baby and why Ricardo Villalobos refuses to be a mainstream celebrity. (..more)
Expat Gone Wild: Broken Dutch Survival Kit
They ride their trashy Dutch bikes like die-hard rickshaw cyclists in India, they know that going Dutch is synonymous for "baby, pay your own bill" and they stalk their naked neighbour in his curtainless flat just like he is stalking them. They are expats gone wild in Amsterdam and I am one of them! Let me share my stories about a foreigner's life in this glorious town. You're in La La Land before you know it (..more)
Local Rockstars: Daniel Sanchez is ready for a long weekender
If someone is half Spanish and half Dutch, he most likely won that certain kind of party gene by default. That’s probably the reason why Daniel Sanchez (27), DJ and founder of BlaBla Records was already setting up his first big parties at the age of 15. From Thursday until Saturday, he is celebrating the 5th anniversary of BlaBla in Studio 80. And before he gets that long weekend started, I met up with him to learn why underground events like BlaBla are just as important for the electronic music scene as David Guetta. (..more)
Expat Gone Wild: Choosing life in La La Land
They ride their trashy Dutch bikes like die-hard rickshaw cyclists in India, they know that going Dutch is synonymous for “baby, pay your own bill” and they stalk their naked neighbour in his curtainless flat just like he is stalking them. They are expats gone wild and I am one of them! Let me share my stories about a foreigner’s life in the glorious town of Amsterdam. You’re in La La Land before you know it. (..more)
Guest of Honour: Robert Babicz about the origins of techno
I was six years old when Robert Babicz released his very first record in 1992. Back then, I wasn't even allowed to go clubbing yet, although I'm pretty sure I would have wanted to. That being said, I was even more excited to meet Robert Babicz at Next Monday's Hangover and learn about the origins of techno. And once he told me his relationship with electronic music was so passionate that it made him want to cry sometimes, I immediately knew Robert and me had something in common. (..more)
Local Rockstars: Ten things you should know about ONNO
If you are still recovering from Next Monday’s Hangover where ONNO delivered a wicked set next to Robert Babicz, La Vondèl, H.O.S.H. and many others, then let me tell you one thing: I am with you, friends. Just before I let loose on Saturday night, I met up with ONNO to learn more about this 28-year-old DJ who says he “never wanted to do anything else in his life”. For an inside scoop on ONNO’s story, check out my top ten list of things you should know about him. (..more)
Guest of Honour: M.A.N.D.Y.’s never ending after-hours
Since I'm writing these words, I obviously survived this year's Amsterdam Dance Event. Although.. wait. Who had no sleep and was almost dead after CLICK's awesome sets at Westerunie? Yeah right, that must have been me. And I wasn't the only one. Philipp Jung, one of the two faces behind M.A.N.D.Y. felt pretty much the same. (..more)
