“Underplayed” documentary: An Interview with Stacey Lee

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By Dominic Wren

Once again, Bud Light Canada has invested into the EDM industry to add another piece of art that will hardly be forgotten. Underplayed is a documentary that discusses the topic of gender equality within the electronic music industry. Set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in April (though it’s been postponed due to COVID-19), the documentary is directed by Stacey Lee who has amassed a wide range of successes, such as picking up awards from Cannes, One Show, D&AD, AWARD and ranking 9th in the world at the Young Guns Advertising Awards. To check out some of Stacey Lee’s past projects: https://vimeo.com/staceylee.

I had an opportunity to have a chat with the film director, Stacey Lee, about her new documentary Underplayed. This isn’t her first film for the music industry. Stacey has made short films and music videos and for various musical artists in the past and has mentioned that the film industry and the music industry have many parallel gender issues when it comes to integration, opportunities and access. Her last input in the EDM scene was her project with Black Coffee where she directed a music video for the DJ about four years ago and mentioned that when Bud Light approached her about the Underplayed documentary she thought “surely things have gotten better since last time.” The fact is that not much has changed at all in the EDM industry.  In the 2019 DJ Mag Top 100 list of 2019, 5 women had made it onto the consequential list. Furthermore, a study from the Annenberg Institute show that women make up less than 3% of the production and technical roles in the music industry and that in the top 150 clubs, the annual rate of females DJs in around 6% according to Djane Magazine. “These stats are concerning”, says the director.

Stacey Lee

To create the documentary, Stacey followed and studied many female DJs, such as Nervo, Alison Wonderland, Suzanne Ciani, and many more during the 2019 festival season. Lee mentions that during her time following the artists, it was very important to her to hear all of the different perspectives like Nervo’s birth of their babies, Rezz and Alison Wonderland’s new found success in the modern age of electronic music, Tokimonsta’s long road to the top, and more. “This film isn’t about the negatives of the issue but more about the solutions,” states Lee.

The film director mentions that there are many artists who appear in Underplayed that push to help the issue in different ways, such as Alison Wonderland who played her original songs with an all female string and percussion band at her 2019 Temple of Wonderland at Red Rocks in 2019. Lee also points out Suzanne Ciani for “connecting her legacy” to show that women have been there all along and others of the like who will refuse to play at events that don’t have enough females names in the lineups. “Tools like these create pipelines where it gives women more opportunity” she says while also adding that “it’s not about putting women there because we have to, it’s about allowing women the opportunity to be there.” Raising awareness is her intent with this film.

The title of the film, Underplayed, serves as a symbol of the under representation of women in the EDM industry. Lee affirms that it is a “representation of women in the EDM world who have been there all along but have never been recognized.” She also explains that the House and Techno scene was born in the Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ communities who were using this as a form of expression and to come together.

Digital Mirage: The Pandemic’s First True Virtual Festival

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By Ryan Hayes

In recent weeks live streams have become important for both artists and music fans. The current pandemic has presented the music industry with an unprecedented level of uncertainty; luckily for fans, many artists have chosen to respond to the overwhelming shutdown by staying connected with their passion and their fan base via social platforms. For everyone stuck at home artist live streams have become a beacon of normalcy that help tether our sanity to a community we all feel akin.

Music has always been important, but it has become essential.

Not only have individual artists delved heavily in to live streaming, but we have already seen a slew of Virtual festivals emerge. First was SirisuXM's Virtual Ultra which presented fans with a few new mixes from artists set to play the 2020 edition of Ultra that never was. Then we had Insomniac's Beyond Wonderland & Countdown's Virtual-A-Thon which featured fourteen and sixteen artists respectively. Finally Beatport brought us ReConnect, a fundraiser hosting twenty four artists over twenty four hours.

This weekend Brownies & Lemonade have teamed up with Proximity to change the virtual festival landscape. Digital Mirage Online Music Festival takes place April 3-5, and currently bolsters a lineup of forty six artists—with more to be announced. Comparatively speaking Mirage's lineup, in terms of pure numbers, stands toe-to-toe with some major Canadian festivals, including; Veld, FVDED in the Park, Bomfest, Escapade, & Chasing Summer.

Digital Mirage is the pandemics first full-fledged online music festival. Not holding punches it features; Kaskade, Alison Wonderland, Don Diablo, & Adventure Club. Along with special back-back sets, and acoustic performances. Brownies & Lemonade have always had a a flare for the dramatic and their special guests are sure to put on rare and truly one of a kind performances. There is also a good chance that Digital Mirage will unveil additional artists leading up to April 3rd.

This year dance music fans didn't get an Ultra weekend to rally around their computer screens and simultaneously experience all of our favourite artists at their best. However, making the best of a bad situation, this year we do get Digital Mirage.

Not only will this upcoming weekend provide us with hours of social distancing at its best...it is all for a good cause. 100% of proceeds from Digital Mirage will be going to the Sweet Relief Foundation to help support musicians and music creatives who are suffering from financial instability.

RSVP to the festival now, and a streaming link along with all information for each day will be sent to you on the morning of.

See you all on April 3rd!

Update: Here is the official schedule - starting tomorrow!

The Evolution of EDM: Here & Now Quarantine Set Edition

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Source: David Guetta’s FB page

By Ryan Hayes

In the second iteration of The Evolution of EDM we take a small detour to focus on the present. With the global entertainment industry coming to a grinding stand still and millions around the world undergoing self-quarantine you'd think the constant flow of music we are used to may turn to a trickle of releases and live sets. Artists around the world have risen to the occasion and taken the opportunity to provide their audiences with premium live content. In some cases debut artist sets, in others mixes years in the making—regardless here are 12 essential sets from the last seven days of quarantine.

First up—David Guetta. Currently experiencing a massive renaissance, he was supposed to close out this year's Ultra, and he came through for fans with a new mix for SiriusXM Virtual Ultra Music Festival. If you are expecting pop Guetta this isn't it. The set leans towards his Jack Back alter-ego and his current collaborative efforts with Morten. It's worth listening to for the intro edit of Titanium alone. A new main stage Guetta, taking inspiration from his roots, for a new house focused generation.

Drezo

Last weekend Insomniac gifted ravers with a Virtual Rave-A-Thon featuring artists from the postponed Beyond Wonderland. While there were a slew of artists worth listening too Drezo stands out with his pulsing dark bruting version of house. It's all consuming and the perfect mix to drown out the world for just a little while.

Madeon

His inaugural Ironing Board Session (he hinted it may become a weekly fixture for the time being) is just something you have to experience. Genuine to the core and immensely talented. The stream will put a smile on your face and turn you day around...it is that simple. Just listen to it.

Corona Sabbath (Diplo)

Diplo has been hitting quarantine life hard, bringing music to the people multiple days a week. Last Saturday for his weekly Corona Sabbath he had Dillon Francis swing by for a back-to-back set. The two have obviously played together before, but a new mix from them is always welcome. The entire stream is over two and a half hours long and focuses on house music. It's laid back, and perfect to have on during the day while you attempt to be productive.  

Destructo

All My Friends head honcho Destructo blessed fans who have been following ship adventures for years—Holy Ship through Friendship—with a six hour long Sunday Sermon from his living room. Usually we get a live Sunrise Sermon set once a year, so this was a very welcome journey for fans. If you are looking for a quarantine musical pilgrimage, this is it. 


Calvin Harris - Love Regenerator Livestream

We don't typically get anything live from Harris these days. Outside of his Vegas residency and a handful of headlining festival spots, none of which are streamed, he keeps to himself. So the inaugural live performance by his Love Regenerator side project was a very welcome surprise. This isn't the sticky pop Harris that fans have come to know over the last decade. This is a departure, a deep dive that mixes the past and present to revive rave sentiments of old with a modern twist.

Morgan Page

Page's Quarantine Sessions have been hitting in full force for the last week. With regular broadcasts, always accompanied with a different wine pairing, Page has been showing audiences he is capable of spanning numerous genres/styles. This particular mix is more of a deep dive and a deviation from Page's more regular big room focused sets.

Disclosure

Live from Self Isolation F.M. this is Disclosure's first Kitchen Mix. After many year's of relative obscurity the brothers recently returned from their hiatus with a slew of new tracks. The mix showcases their current frame of mind and may be an indication for what we can expect moving forward.

Odesza

The long awaited NO.SLEEP Mix.12 has finally arrived. It has been over two years, before the release of A Moment Apart, since the duo has released a mix. Atmospheric and ethereal, the mix showcases Odesza's signature sound and it is the perfect rainy day escape.

Paul Van Dyk & Chris Bekker

Live from Berlin, as part of DJ Mag's House Party series, these two trance producers are bringing quality long form trance sets to the masses. Their DJ Mag stream came in at just over three and a half hours. They also have a  PC Music Night back-back that lasted for over five hours. Don't miss one of the god fathers of trance doing his thing—perfect for getting you through long days.

Purple Haze (Sander van Doorn)

A true Purple Haze set—in my opinion—is always a treat. Sander is a world class technical DJ and although his style has drifted over the years Purple Haze is pure unfettered trance at its very best.  Fast paced, enthralling, and seamless...don't miss this one. Click here to watch it.

Oliver Heldens

Why? Because the man has fun. This is his Virtual Ultra set, and to be honest the announcer and set up of the SiriusXM stream provides a sense of normalcy to these uncertain times. But mostly, its just fun to listen to. Give it a listen, it will give you a jolt or energy and put a smile on your face when you may need it the most. 

The Evolution of EDM: Sets Throughout a Decade (Featured Artist Tiesto)

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Photo Credit: Tiesto’s FB

By Ryan Hayes

With the global entertainment industry coming to a grinding stand still and millions around the world undergoing self quarantine it seemed like the perfect time to reflect on dance music's evolution. More specifically the musical journey of some of the scene's most important icons. From humble beginnings to main stages around the world and legions of fans; each retrospective will fill your ears with hours of live sets spanning decades, continents, and genre changes.

First up—the undisputed king of EDM—Tiesto!

We start on November 10, 2007 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Performing one of the stops on his  Elements of Life tour to a sold out audience of over 25,000 people. This is Tiesto at the commercial height of his trance phase, generating unheard buzz around the world, especially in North America where he managed to fill stadiums before EDM even remotely broke mainstream consciousness. 

Jumping ahead just under three year's and Tiesto has fully entered his 'trouse' stage with the release of his fourth studio album; Kaleidoscope. Cautiously stepping away from trance, Tiesto had his first Canadian radio hit with the Tegan and Sara helm-ed Feel It In My Bones. His sets still rely heavily on trance, but pop is creeping in. This particular set is from April 30, 2010. The Kaleidoscope tour included 150 dates, spanning 5 continents—and Tiesto solidified his spot as the king of dance music.

Four years later at Ultra 2014 a very different Tiesto performed, showcasing just how much had changed. His next single was Wasted  featuring Matthew Koma; a sticky hook laden pop track that could not be further away from his trance past. At this point he was referring to tracks like Escape Me and Feel It In My Bones as classics, essentially working to erase his trance past in an effort to focus on garnering future fans with big room tendencies. This was a Tiesto working hard to solidify a musical transition. 

Just two years later, October 21 2016, Tiesto performed to a sold out crowd at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam during ADE to celebrate the 500th episode of Club Life. The set was a six hour juggernaut hearkening back to days of old; the average set duration for both the Elements of Life & Kaleidoscope world tours was four hours. This was the first time that Tiesto really delved back to trance classics and performed a set that genuinely represented the entirety of his career. It was a rare one off and he quickly switched back to his big room ways.

The last major festival for the foreseeable future EDC Mexico 2020 took place a few weeks ago now. The modern iteration of Tiesto's persona continues to reign supreme as the king of the main stage. With a mix of pop, thundering bass, remixed classics, & a little hardstyle—Tiesto still holds a commanding presence and draws commendable crowds dueing a time when EDM's popularity continues to wane.