Melodic Dancers - Dive into the heart of electronic dance music culture

Five issue printed with Pôngo on the cover

REF Festival brings Nice’s underground scene to life through electronic music and culture

Between industrial architecture, underground culture and an increasingly international electronic scene, REF Festival is turning Nice into a meeting point between the Mediterranean and contemporary club culture. Its seventh edition, held from May 8 to 10, 2026, confirmed the ambition of a project that goes far beyond the traditional music festival format. Just a few kilometres away from the polished image of the Promenade des Anglais, REF reveals another side of Nice: rawer,

News

Five issue printed with Pôngo on the cover

Issue five looks beyond the dancefloor to the people, ideas and movements shaping electronic music today. A snapshot of a scene in constant transformation, told through voices, releases, culture and creative exchange. Five issues in, Melodic Dancers continues to evolve as a space for discovery, conversation and movement — reflecting an electronic music landscape that never stands still. For our fifth print edition, Pôngo take centre stage as the main cover artists, marking th

Printed Issue

With Love and GALACTICA close the season with a special Hard Techno event in Catania

On Sunday, September 20, Afrobar will host a special end-of-season event featuring Holy Priest, Kistenbrügger, COLOR K!D, Mattia Trani and leading artists from the local scene. Catania, September 2026 – With Love’s summer season at Afrobar ended with Franky Rizardo, but Catania’s Playa is set to light up once again. On Sunday, September 20, the local promoter will present EXXXTRA Date, a special event organized with GALACTICA, running from 4:00 p.m. until late. Hard techno ha

News

B Jones’ family launches fundraiser to support her recovery after cancer

The Spanish DJ and producer continues her recovery after being declared cancer-free earlier this year. Spanish DJ and producer B Jones’ family has launched a fundraising campaign to support her ongoing recovery following her battle with cancer. Earlier this year, the artist was declared cancer-free after undergoing treatment for lymphatic cancer, which began at the start of 2026. Despite the positive news, she still faces several months of rehabilitation and medical care. The

News

With Love closes the Afrobar summer with Franky Rizardo

From sunset to nightfall, With Love celebrates the final dance of the season on Catania’s coastline. On Sunday, September 13, With Love returns to Afrobar for "The Sensational Closing", the annual event marking the end of the summer season on Catania’s coastline. Starting at 6 PM, the party will move from sunset into the night, with Dutch DJ and producer Franky Rizardo leading the closing celebration. Known for a sound that moves between house and techno, Rizardo has built hi

News

Pandaja shares his latest single "Sabor"

The Hungarian producer keeps the pressure on with a stripped-back, groove-heavy club track. Hungarian DJ and producer Pandaja is back with "Sabor", a new release that pushes further into the groove-heavy sound he has been developing across his recent work. Blending house and tech house with rolling percussion, punchy low-end and a clear focus on the dancefloor, Pandaja has been steadily building his catalogue through labels including Material Series, Baikonur Recordings, Be O

News

Amelie Lens releases debut album "AURA" on EXHALE label

From underground clubs to festival stages, "AURA" captures a decade of raw energy, emotion and late-night techno Amelie Lens has released her debut album, "AURA", via her own EXHALE label. The 11-track record stays close to the Belgian artist’s sound, mixing high-energy techno with acid and hard techno influences. It features recent singles whatever you do, our frequency and run, her collaboration with Belgian singer Angèle, who is the only featured artist on the album. For L

News

Anyma’s Istanbul show cancelled over ÆDEN controversy

The decision puts the spotlight on the growing tension between electronic music, visual art and cultural boundaries. Anyma’s highly anticipated Istanbul concert has reportedly been cancelled. The show, scheduled for September 12, 2026, at Ataköy Marina Arena, was set to be one of the key dates of his ÆDEN world tour. The controversy reportedly centers on the show’s visual content, featuring futuristic figures, digital characters and dystopian imagery. Some social media users

News

Julio Vellaré: "I want to create a world that people can step into, feel represented by"

Originally from A Coruña, Spain, Julio Vellaré brings together the electropop sound of the late 2000s and a deeply personal approach to songwriting. Lady Gaga’s work from that period is a central influence, particularly its combination of electronic production, strong melodies, and a distinctive visual identity. Drawing on these foundations, Vellaré revisits the era through his own experiences, emotions, and memories. The project took shape in collaboration with an Italian pr

Interviews

Santè: "I want soul, vocals, swing and something people can actually remember afterwards"

Santé has built a career spanning music production, DJing and label curation. His roots in Berlin’s electronic music scene have taken him to clubs and festivals around the world, while his sound continues to move across different shades of house and techno. In 2012, he founded Avotre, a label that has become an important platform for artists across the electronic music scene. Alongside his own releases and performances, curating the label and its events has remained a central

Interviews

Bubba Brothers: "The real balance reveals itself when you play it live"

From the sun-soaked shores of Portugal's Algarve to some of the most respected stages in international electronic music, Bubba Brothers has built a reputation for innovative productions and memorable performances. Following the project's evolution into a solo act led by Eliseu Correia in 2025, Bubba Brothers continues to push boundaries with a distinctive blend of House and Melodic House, combining emotional depth, dancefloor energy and a strong artistic identity. Crowned Vic

Interviews

Chambord: "The emotions and vibrations we absorb become part of our sound"

Chambord is a French DJ and producer duo from the Centre region of France. Friends since their teenage years, they began making music together at 18, with their very first gig being their high school prom. What started as a natural extension of their friendship gradually grew into a professional project, one that today reaches far beyond their hometown roots. Their music blends melodic depth, organic textures, and electronic energy, creating a sound that feels both expansive

Interviews

The Illustrated Man: "Rhythm should serve the emotional narrative, not dominate it"

The Illustrated Man - DJ and music producer whose work blends deep emotional resonance with modern electronic music. Mikhail actively experiments with genres such as Afro House, Melodic Techno, and Progressive, crafting unique tracks that resonate with a wide audience. The Illustrated Man’s musical vision is shaped by influences from cinema, art, and literary science fiction. His alias is inspired by Ray Bradbury’s iconic book The Illustrated Man, reflecting Mikhail’s aspirat

Interviews

Benny Benassi: "The challenge is continuing to evolve without losing your own identity"

Benny Benassi, born Marco Benassi on July 13, 1967, is an Italian DJ, record producer, and composer widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern electronic dance music. Born in Milan and raised in Reggio Emilia, he rose to international prominence in the early 2000s with his distinctive blend of electro house, progressive house, and techno influences. His breakthrough single, Satisfaction (2002), became a global hit and remains one of the most iconic tracks in electronic

Interviews

In conversation with Eli Matana

ELI MATANA & ADIDOR represent a powerful collaboration between two distinctive forces in the global electronic music scene. Born from Tel Aviv’s thriving nightlife culture, their sound blends experience, creativity, and a deep understanding of the dancefloor, bringing together refined musical identities and high-energy performances. With years of experience performing at major events, festivals, and international venues, ELI MATANA has earned recognition as one of Israel’s mo

Interviews

In conversation with Teho

Born in the south of France, Teho has become one of the leading voices of the French melodic electronic scene, developing a signature sound that blends powerful electronic textures, emotional melodies and cinematic influences. Supported early on by artists such as NTO and Stephan Bodzin, who released his music internationally, Teho has built a unique path through his own label Labo T. and acclaimed albums including Polytone, Infinity and Shifting. His immersive live performan

Interviews

In conversation with Oscar Rosmano

In this conversation, the artist looks back on how his relationship with electronic music and the dancefloor has evolved since the late 90s, when DJ sets were built more slowly and focused on storytelling, compared to today’s faster and more immediate club culture. He reflects on the shift in how crowds listen and connect with music, and how reading energy and emotion has become more important than technical precision alone. The discussion also explores his EP "Away", its cre

Interviews

In conversation with Max Hefele

After more than two decades behind the decks as a hip-hop DJ, Max Hefele has come full circle with "Call Me", his debut solo EP on MYR Records. Blending the uplifting spirit of '90s house with the emotional depth of melodic techno, the release is much more than a collection of club tracks—it is a deeply personal statement shaped by a lifelong connection to electronic music. In this conversation, Hefele reflects on the memories that inspired the record, the emotional narrative

Interviews

In conversation with GHEIST

After a period of reflection and creative redefinition, GHEIST return with a renewed sense of direction. The Berlin-based trio has always built its identity around the balance between emotional depth, hypnotic grooves and the energy of the dancefloor, but their latest releases reveal a more instinctive and open approach to production. With “Paradise” and “Side By Side”, the group enters a new chapter shaped by a stronger connection to their roots, a deeper relationship with t

Interviews

STRlighT - Ever Lasting

STRlighT’s second album, "Ever Lasting" (永·恒), gives nostalgia a restless pulse. Across thirteen tracks, the Chinese producer brings piano, strings and guitar into a sound shaped by future bass, dubstep and electronic pop. Written over two years, the record circles around youth, separation and the memories that remain difficult to put away. Its quieter arrangements give those subjects room before the heavier passages take over. "December" provides the clearest example: a stri

Reviews

Renegade Soundwave - The Phantom (Carl Cox Rewire) [Jack Said What]

Carl Cox puts Renegade Soundwave’s "The Phantom" back to work with a faster breakbeat and a forceful bassline. Released on Jack Said What, his Rewire retains the rough character of the 1989 original, adding urgency to its mix of rave percussion, dub weight and punk attitude. Barry Ashworth of Dub Pistols supplies the new chant, bringing a coarse vocal presence to the dub treatment. Against the bass and broken rhythm, it adds an unruly human edge. Cox keeps these central eleme

Reviews

Parcel - I'm On One [DistroKid]

PARCEL’s "I’m On One" puts its vocal hook at the centre of the action. It’s a phrase that sticks, riding a driving bass groove with the slightly reckless confidence suggested by the title. The track’s appeal lies in that mix of focus and excess: being deep in the rhythm while letting the night get away from you. Melodic synths give the groove another shade, bringing a sense of feeling to its party mood. The combination offers more to latch onto than the vocal alone, with bass

Reviews

Pandhora, Selima Terras - Njoum Ellil [Pandhora]

With "Njoum Ellil" Pandhora and Selima Terras bring Tunisian poetry into an organic house setting. Drawing on Abou el Kacem Chebbi’s 1927 poem "Fi Soukoun Ellayl", the song takes questions about darkness and an uncertain tomorrow as its starting point. That gives the collaboration a subject with weight beyond the usual dance music themes. Terras’ vocal carries the connection between the poem and the present. The lyrics move from a distant, setting sun towards stars and borrow

Reviews

Oxia - Domino (Ares Carter Remix) [Armada Music]

Ares Carter revisits Oxia’s "Domino" with its familiar synth melody firmly in place. Released on Armada Music, the remix shifts the track towards Carter’s house and indie dance style, keeping the original hook as its centrepiece. The bassline is the main change, built to support the melody without crowding it. That relationship gives the remix its direction: a recognisable theme set against a different groove, with enough room for Carter to leave his mark. The approach is res

Reviews

Nopra - Poison [Cafe De Anatolia REC.]

French producer NOPRA’s "Poison", released on Cafe De Anatolia, brings together Afro House percussion, melodic textures and a distinctive male vocal. Its theme is attraction with an uneasy edge: wanting something you know you should resist. That premise gives the track a personal focus beyond its dancefloor setting. The voice is central to the release’s identity. Described as intimate and mysterious, it carries the emotional tension, while organic grooves provide movement. Th

Reviews

loveoleglove - I Need Light

loveoleglove’s "I Need Light" takes a direct emotional premise into progressive house: feeling alone and searching for a way forward. Its dark textures and steady rhythmic movement give that search a musical setting, with the gradual progression reflecting the uncertainty behind the title. The vocal brings the subject into focus. Accounts of the track describe an exposed opening centred on isolation, followed by a growing desire to escape it. That gives the words a purpose be

Reviews

Hemel - Let the Drums Talk [Vibecore Records]

Hemel puts percussion at the centre of "Let the Drums Talk", released on Vibecore Records. This Afro house cut takes a direct approach: a steady house pulse, interlocking drum patterns and melodic touches that leave room for the rhythm. The title gives a clear indication of where its priorities lie. Parkett’s description points to congas, shakers and swinging percussion as the track’s main ingredients, with bass and sparse synth accents supporting their movement. That balance

Reviews

Girls of the Internet - Heavenly Sea (feat. Eva) [House of the Internet]

Girls of the Internet bring a touch of disco warmth to "Heavenly Sea", featuring EVA, released through House of the Internet. Its house foundations and bright keys give the song an inviting character, while the vocal keeps the focus on songwriting. There’s a clear affection for older soul records in the combination of melody, rhythm and feeling. EVA’s contribution gives that familiar sound a personal voice. Her expressive phrasing and disco-influenced delivery suit a song who

Reviews

Fede Micioni - SYNTEZI [Big Doings]

Fede Micioni gives "Syntezi" released on Big Doings, room to develop across seven minutes. A steady techno pulse anchors the track while electronic textures gradually change around it. The arrangement draws its momentum from small adjustments, giving each sound enough space to register before the next shift arrives. Changes in tone and rhythmic detail carry the progression. Synthetic layers grow denser or recede, while resonances alter the space around the beat. Micioni descr

Reviews

Premiere: Dekova x Yung Toro - Dust [Hood Stories Records]

" Dust " by Dekova and Yung Toro immediately grabs attention with its clean production and confident mood. The collaboration between the two artists results in a trap track that perfectly balances urban energy and melodic vibes, positioning itself as a promising release in the contemporary underground electronic scene. The sound foundation stands out with a sharp, rhythmic beat, deep bass, and a percussive structure that drives the listener from the very first second. The u

Premieres

Premiere: Pischinger feat. Miss Sushi - Me & You (Ken Hayakawa Remix) [Leisure Music Productions]

With his remix of " Me & You " by Pischinger feat. Miss Sushi , Austrian producer Ken Hayakawa demonstrates his ability to transform a track into a deeply immersive sonic experience rather than just a typical club tune. Released on Leisure Music Productions , the remix steps away from the immediacy of the original, embracing a more intimate and sophisticated aesthetic where every sound element feels carefully measured. Miss Sushi ’s vocals are drenched in reverb and delay,

Premieres

Premiere: Trancendent - Genesis (ZAIS.D Remix) [Big Toys Production]

ZAIS.D ’s remix of " Genesis " by Trancendent is an immersive and captivating audio experience. The track immediately draws you in with an atmospheric introduction that leads into deep, resonant bass and bright, expressive melodies, striking a perfect balance between tension and lightness. Every detail is meticulously crafted: transitions flow naturally, layers intertwine without ever feeling crowded, and the energy builds gradually without ever feeling forced. It’s a track

Premieres

Moog announces limited-edition Minimoog Model D in tribute to Bob Moog

Moog has revealed a new limited-edition version of the Minimoog Model D, created to honour the legacy of the company’s founder, Bob Moog. The release, titled the Bob Moog Tribute Edition Minimoog Model D, will be restricted to just 500 units worldwide, placing it firmly in collector territory while still offering a fully functional instrument for musicians and producers. The new edition keeps the core identity of the Minimoog Model D intact. This is not a redesign or a modern

Tech

Korg Phase8: a synth that moves under your fingers

Korg ’s Phase8 isn’t just a new synthesizer—it’s a completely different way of thinking about sound. Instead of the usual oscillators, it has eight mechanical resonators that physically vibrate, producing tones you can actually feel. You pluck them, tap them, or brush them, and each gesture changes the sound. It’s not just about pressing keys or turning knobs: you’re shaping the tone with your hands. Add the sequencer and modulation controls, and you get a palette that’s ali

Tech

Seedj is redefining the path for new DJs: training, contests, and global connections.

Seedj is reshaping the future for emerging DJs and producers by providing a unique platform that blends education, opportunity, and com-munity. Designed to break down barriers in the electronic music industry, Seedj empowers artists to develop their skills, connect with key industry players, and showcase their talent through merit-based contests. With a growing global user base and innovative partnerships, Seedj is setting a new standard for how electronic music careers a

Tech

AlphaTheta revolutionizes music production with SLAB

AlphaTheta has officially launched SLAB , the first-ever MIDI controller created specifically for Serato Studio , the popular music production software that debuted in 2019. SLAB is designed to streamline the creative process for producers and beatmakers, featuring 16 velocity-sensitive RB pads that provide responsive, expressive playability. The controller also includes a large multifunction dial for intuitive browsing and a built-in step sequencer with grid editing, veloc

Tech

Tracks of Week

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