Sun City Music Festival Artist Profile: French Fries
Uruguay born Valentino Canzani Mora, grew up in southern Paris listening to the sounds of West-Coast Hip-Hop and Southern Crunk blaring through his headphones. So when it came time to chose a DJ name, he chose a beloved US food, French Fries. With his father being a sound-engineer and producer of Latin music, by the age of 10, French Fries was already making rap beats in his dad’s studio. It wasn’t until he was 14 that he would start DJing.
French Fries recalls, “…this guy, Ministre X – Tchiky Al Dente, use to date my sister years ago, and he’s a DJ. And I was like ‘Eh, DJ. That looks so cool!’ I was like ‘Can you teach me [how to] scratch and stuff?’ And I just went to his club, Favela Chique and he taught me how to play. I stayed there for basically two years — had a residency.” French Fries immediately received bookings playing everything from Brazillian Baile Funk to hip-hop. During this time, he began to take an interest in house music production, developing that signature ghetto sound he is known for today.
French Fries has been called “a name at the forefront of the ‘nouvel scene’ of bass-orientated beats sweeping through the clubbing world.” In 2011, his debut Champagne/Hugz EP on his own imprint ClekClekBoom, charted in Beatport’s Top 10 and sold out on vinyl almost as soon as it had been released. His track “Yo Vogue,” co-released with the Bay Area’s dirtybird label in 2012 is one of his most successful releases to date, featuring an equally popular remix by another label boss, Claude Vonstroke.
We’re hoping to see some vogue-ing on the dance floor when French Fries makes his way to Sun City Music Festival this coming Labor Day weekend. Have you bought your tickets yet?
Das Energi Festival Artist Profile: Hardwell
The largest dance music event to ever hit Utah, Das Energi Festival, is back for a second time at the Great Saltair. Join us for the “The Current That Connects Us,” as we gather for a full spectrum of dance music set to cutting-edge production. Have you bought your tickets yet? One of the acts headlining our journey is internationally known producing DJ, Hardwell.
Robbert van de Corput hails from Breda, a city in the Netherlands that fellow Dutchman Tiësto also calls home. Hardwell was signed to a major Dutch label at the age of 13. Shortly after being signed, Hardwell had the privilege to spin at all the major clubs across the Netherlands. Hardwell’s international breakthrough success however, first came from his “Show Me Love VS Be” bootleg which became one of the most played dance tracks of 2009.
That was just the beginning though. In 2010 he formed his own label Revealed Recordings which allowed him to release versatile tracks whether they be progressive, tech house, techno or electro influenced. In the same year, Hardwell launched his much celebrated compilation series Hardwell Presents Revealed, which gives listeners a good dose of imprint’s stance on the trends currently driving dance music.
Solo, Hardwell’s sound has been described by its complex and rhythmic drum layers, punchy synths, and melodic chords all creating the perfect mixture for his signature Big Room house style. Early tracks like “Encoded” and “Zero 76” both hit the #1 Beatport and #1 US iTunes spots, establishing him as a new heavyweight contender. Further cementing himself in the top ranks of talent, Hardwell launched his own radio show and podcast in 2011, Hardwell On Air, which is now broadcasted on over 25 international radio stations. Moreover, the podcast is a mainstay in the iTunes’ Top 10 Podcasts in more than 30 countries.
With a jump from #24 to #6 DJ on DJ Mag’s Top 100, you can currently find Hardwell touring around the world, still high off the success of his hit song with Amba Shepherd,”Apollo.” We’re sure you’ll hear it when Hardwell takes the stage August 17th for the second annual Das Energi Festival. Buy your tickets today!
Sun City Music Festival Weekly Playlist: Bang the Drums
One of our favorite parts of a festival is that moment when the crowd starts clapping together. The DJ will turn down the volume, and all you can hear are the voices of thousands around you singing acapella while keeping time with that steady “clap.” We’re sure you’ll get a dose of the “clap wave” when you join us at Sun City Music Festival this Labor Day Weekend at Ascarate Park. Have you bought your tickets yet?
This week in our Sun City Weekly Playlist, we’re paying homage to percussion and all of its forms. Whether you’re a fan of the acapella clap like we are, or you’re a fan of broken beats, we’ve got five tracks by our talented roaster that will get you in the mood to bang the drums.
Droog, Inxec – Mountain Drop (Original Mix)
Out on the Last Night on Earth label, Droog teamed up with Inxec for their Wide Open EP. Mountain Dew is the B-side.
Why We Love It
Instantly transported to the beautiful beach shores of a dream vacation spot, Mountain Dew has that island tribal vibe from the moment the song starts. As the pulsing horns guide you throughout the piece, the layers of percussion gradually multiply. We’ve listened to “Mountain Dew” over and over, and we still seem to hear something new every time.
Stefano Noferini – The End (Club Mix)
The Italian king of tech house Stefano Noferini is back on the revered Spinnin’ Records with brand new banger “The End.”
Why We Love It
The psychedelically driven percussive track, features a sample from classic rock group, The Doors. With a rolling bass line, chatty snares and a pounding beat that you can’t help but to dance to, this track is fit for banging on any drum.
Huey – Pop Lock N’ Drop (Candyland’s OG Remix)
In celebration of their performance at Escapade Music Festival, Candyland gave away their latest OG remix for “Pop Lock N Drop.”
Why We Love It
We love a good throw back. And Candyland’s edit of Huey’s “Pop Lock N Drop” is on point. Utilizing their signature sound, fully equipped with yes, you guessed it, claps, this track has been known to induce a “clap-off.”
Sven Stout – Genie (GTA Drop The Bass Edit)
To celebrate breaking 20k on Twitter, the boys of GTA decided to release a pack of bootlegs and special edits. Genie (GTA Drop The Bass Edit) is one of our favorites.
Why We Love It
The techy house intro for GTA’s Drop The Bass edit of “Genie” is a little bit misleading, but in the best way possible. We love the bassy kick drum-driven breakdown. Very future bass sounding.
Iamamiwhoami – Y (Brodinski Remix)
Brodinski releases a brand new remix for Iamamiwhoami
Why We Love It
We hope you guys like a hard, broken house beat because Brodinski’s revamped version of “Y” is definitely an ode to the older schools of breaks, techno and electro. The crisp snares also make for clap-worthy, back alley party. Let’s go to the warehouse with this one.
July 4th Ticket Special for Sun City Music Festival!
You won’t have to search for very long to find the best deals this July 4th weekend because Disco Donnie Presents and SMG Events have a fireworks special that you can enjoy right at home.
For a limited time only, you can grab four General Admission tickets to Sun City Music Festival for the price of three. Lock in the best deal for the highly anticipated event coming to you this Labor Day Weekend in El Paso. This deal is only good from the start of July 2nd at midnight to end of July 5th at midnight. So let’s have a little red, white and boom this July 4th. We’ll see you on the dance floor!
Take advantage of this limited time offer, buy your tickets now!
Join Sun City Music Festival and the Bob Moog Foundation to Inspire the Next Generation
When you purchase a Sun City Music Festival ticket and donate $1 to the The Bob Moog Foundation, SCMF will match your donation to double the impact of your gift toward the Foundation’s mission of inspiring innovation in future generations.
The Foundation, which carries on the legacy of Dr. Bob Moog’s groundbreaking contribution to electronic music, also runs Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, a program dedicated to igniting creativity in children through the intersection of music and science.
The work of Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool is especially timely, as music and arts programs across the country have experienced sizable cuts to their funding. Together, the Bob Moog Foundation and the SCMF community can make a positive – and lasting – impact.
“The electronic music community is a very giving group and supporting the Bob Moog Foundation is a great way for our community receive recognition for it. I’m pleased to match all donations made through the ticketing portal to double the impact of the Foundation’s important work.”
-Donnie Estopinal, CEO of Disco Donnie Presents.
Matching donations can also be made at:
http://bobmoogfoundation.eventbrite.com
To learn more about the Bob Moog Foundation’s projects, please visit: http://moogfoundation.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Evan Bailey, Communications Director
SFX – Disco Productions
evan@discodonniepresents.com
Featured Updates
- Women of the Disco: Part 16
- Celebrate the women shaping the electronic music industry in Women of the Disco: Part 16, featuring stories, insights, and career advice from behind-the-scenes leaders.
- Women of the Disco: Part 15
- From local scenes to worldwide signals, women are setting the industry's frequency.
- Women of the Disco: Part 14
- Women of the Disco is a celebration of these fierce women who are not just participants but innovators, defining the future of the scene.
- Women of the Disco: Part 13
- Women of the Disco is a celebration of these fierce women who are not just participants but innovators, defining the future of the scene.
- Women of the Disco: Part 12
- Women of The Disco is an initiative to highlight some of those powerhouses who are trailblazing the path and shaping the future of EDM.
- Women of The Disco: Part 11
- Women of The Disco is an initiative to highlight some of those powerhouses who are trailblazing the path and shaping the future of EDM.
- Women of The Disco: Part 10
- Women of The Disco is an initiative to highlight some of those powerhouses who are trailblazing the path and shaping the future of EDM.
- Announcing OUTLET - A Mental Health & Wellness Resource
- Providing information, tools, and resources relevant to mental health and promoting the continuance of mental health initiatives.
- Announcing Disco U!
- Disco Donnie Presents has always been in the business of furthering lives with the power of music, and we've recently extended that idea with the formation of our Disco U program.
- New Scholarship at Blair School of Music Honors Music Promoter Leon Jackson
- A new scholarship fund has been established at the Blair School of Music in honor of Leon Jackson, the late music and event promoter who introduced a generation of Nashvillians to electronic dance music.
- Disco Donnie Presents Honors First Responders, Veterans, and Gold-Star Families with $1,000,000 Ticket Donation
- Disco Donnie Presents Honors First Responders, Veterans, and Gold-Star Families with $1,000,000 Ticket Donation.
