Blog Archives
Video: Agoria – You’re Not Alone feat. Blasé
Following the release of his recent single ‘Embrace’, widely acclaimed producer and composer Agoria (aka Sebastien Devaud) reveals ‘You’re Not Alone’featuring Blasé (half of French act Haute), hailed by Agoria as “the perfect portrait of an open-minded generation.”
Directed by Latin Grammy Award winner Hernan Corera (“Best Director” in 2016 for his video ‘Gallo Negro’ for IKV) with Cornas & Cavia as co-directors, the video introduces a tribe bidding farewell to their young leader who passed hastily. The deceased’s girlfriend and his faithful comrade are appointed to assist him through his final trip.
During this funeral motorcycle trip through the desert, we discover the story that led them to this moment uncovering the strong and special links within the trio.
“Nobody is alone, even in the unknown country of death. Life never goes away. Memory, fraternity and hope are the doors that connect the territories of mystery.” says Hernan Corera. “That is why I wanted to tell the farewell of a leader, a journey under the halo of a magical ritual. The myth as the rite, is always the same. A man is all men. The duality of good and evil coexist within our spirit and is strengthened depending on the glass with which you look, that’s why this story and its characters really unfold depending on who sees it, our characters rule realms to explore. So whoever sees love at the same time can see another betrayal. Who sees death can also see birth.”
Michael Mayer, Agoria – Blackbird Has Spoken
Michael Mayer is one of the leading tastemakers in dance music and his DJ sets have influenced a generation (or two) of musicians and fans. As an artist, Mayer remains tirelessly motivated behind the DJ decks, in the studio or behind his desk at KOMPAKT, the label he co-owns. His recording career spans four albums, 23 EP’s, nearly 170 remixes and the legendary DJ mixes for fabric and Immer. His own productions are always passionate and personal, while speaking as broadly as his DJ sets – embracing his genre-busting love for music, rhythm and atmosphere – and the dancefloor in front of him.
Agoria one of the leading French electronic producers and DJs. Co-founder of InFiné and Les Nuits Sonores Festival. In recent years, alongside his DJing in clubs and high profile events like the Cannes Film Festival, he’s also written scores for film and is working on his 5th studio album.
For those who like to read song titles as a part of a bigger story then “Blackbird Has Spoken” is the perfect reflection to that. Agoria and Mayer team up for a track is about taking all the time on the world. It’s a track with that fills the room with a distinctive pop ambient flavoured twist on modern club music. It’s a track intended to go on forever.
Agoria writes “Michael was one of the first artists I asked to remix one of my songs (“Sky is clear”) when I began making music.We are on the same boat, sharing miles and smiles all over the world since years, I’m so happy we finally managed to sit down together making our first common piece of music: Une eau de Cologne de Paris”.
New Order – Restless (Agoria Remix)
The Agoria remix of ‘Restless’ is taken from ‘Restless’ single package – released on Mute on 9 October. Restless is the first single from New Order’s upcoming album, Music Complete out September 25th on Mute.
The Restless single package features an extended 12” Mix, and further remixes from xxxy, RAC & long-term collaborator Andrew Weatherall. Pre-order the bundle here and get an instant download of the Agoria remix. Pre-Order Music Complete & get an instant download of ‘Restless’: iTunes – po.st/NewOrderiTunes.
Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons – Vermillion (Agoria Remix)
Here’s a great deep, minimal remix of Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons’ “Vermillion” by Agoria. The original track is the lead single off the forthcoming album, Message From the Other Side.
“I’m doing very few remixes at the moment, but when Damian sent me “Vermillion” just before christmas I immediately fell in love with the vocals,” Agoria says. “I had no other choice but to cut my holiday short to make this remix. We exchanged a few tracks and ideas in the past but the timing never fit. I’m happy that we finally found the time to collaborate with each other.”
The “Vermillion” single and remix package is out now on Crosstown Rebels, with the full album landing May 18.
Agoria – Baptême EP
One of the most accomplished and revered producers in electronic music today makes his solo debut on Kompakt: French mastermind Agoria presents his new mesmerizing floor epic Baptême.
“I’m very happy that Baptême will finally be released“, says the producer, “it’s a very special tune for me, representing a lot of changes in my personal life these last two years. It signals my ‘second life’, if you will“.
Meaning “baptism” in French, the cut’s title is indeed a perfect fit for its particularly festive spirit, exuding both solemnity and sheer pleasure, hallmarks of Agoria’s unique brand of emotional and versatile techno. Bouncy, minimalist percussion is joined by an extensive, dub-styled sub-bass and floating shards of atmospheric synths, quickly escalating into a high definition mover fitted with gorgeous swabs of piano and a keen sense for emotional space.
On the flipside, the original track gets a fascinating rework from DJ Tennis and The Rapture’s Luke Jenner, whose Lucky Blue Eyes Version adds more wiggle room to the proceedings, bolstering its loosened grip with enticing new vocals. In yet another step forward, Agoria himself revisits the remix, sharpening its blurry edges and successfully putting the vocals to work in a prime time environment: “my friend Patrice Bardot – the chief editor of Tsugi Magazine – even said that this one sounds like The Doors for the 21st century“, he adds – and indeed, it’s next level dreaming for those who need a little bit more from their floor than just another knock on the head. (via kompakt)
Metronomy – I’m Aquarius / Love Letters (Edu Imbernon & Agoria Remixes)
The sophomore release from Edu Imbernon’s new project Fayer comes in the shape of one of the most respected bands of the last 5 years, Metronomy. On the back of their forth studio album, “Love Letters” comes two stellar remixes from the label boss himself, and French electronic music producer, composer and DJ, Agoria.
Edu’s remix of “I’m Aquarius” starts in relaxed fashion, echoing the vibe of his recent remix of Qtier’s “Set Me On”. Synth layers build slowly, the instantly recognisable vocals of Joseph Mount teasing in, before the track erupts, refusing to let go until things break down again before another eruption at the 5 minute mark.
Agoria comes with something a little different on his “Love Letters” remix. Stripping out all vocals from the original, instead digging out a previously unused vocal, Agoria creates an off kilter, uneasy, loop driven yet epic monster that has already seen early support from Dixon, Joris Voorn and Gesaffelstein.
“Metronomy – I’m Aquarius / Love Letters (Remixes)” is released 8th December 2014 via Fayer.
“The concept around the Fayer label is to bridge the song based sounds of indie and electronica and the more club friendly sounds of house and techno. As such I looked to retain Metronomy’s more indie leaning sounds while making something more electronic and club friendly – whilst trying to make a remix that will surprise the listener, full of energy and eclecticism.” Edu Imbernon
Edu Imbernon America Tour:
21st Nov – Jimmy Woo, Mexico City, Mexico
22nd Nov – Toika, Toronto, Canada
23rd Nov – Audio, San Francisco, US
24th Nov – Sound, LA, US
28th Nov – Baum, Bogota, Colombia
29th Nov – Lost Beach Club, Montanita, Ecuador
Video: Martina Topley-Bird feat. Mark Lanegan – Crystalised (The xx Cover)
Here’s a downtempo excellence from No. 19 Music‘s next release, Art Department presents Martina Topley-Bird featuring Mark Lanegan & Warpaint in ‘Crystalised’. The track is a complete re-imagining of The xx’s modern classic of the same name. Here though, it is masterfully re-built from the bottom up with Warpaint’s instrumentation and vocals from Martina Topley Bird and celebrated American singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan. To accompany the release, there is a fantastic video (produced by Los Angeles’s 1/60 STUDIO, directed by Javier Badet) that pairs the singing-heads of Lanegan and Topley Bird with hi-budget animation and suitably overcast imagery. The release will also include a series of remixes, including one by Directors Cut (a.k.a. Frankie Knuckles and Eric Kupper), plus ones by Agoria, Deniz Kurtel, and Tone of Arc. Check out the tracklist below the video and preview here.
Tracklist:
01 Crystalised
02 Crystalised [Directors Cut Signature Mix]
03 Crystalised [Directors Cut Unmarked Dub]
04 Crystalised [Agoria Remix]
05 Crystalised [Deniz Kurtel Remix]
06 Crystalised [Tone of Arc Remix]