The third annual Winter Fantasy is right around the corner bringing world renowned talent to the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX on Monday, December 30th. Tickets for this year’s winter wonderland featuring deadmau5 (unhooked) are available online, buy your tickets today!

For today’s Winter Fantasy Drop, we’ve got Showtek launching a new label and Nom De Strip giving the world some new music.

Showtek ready the launch of Skint Records

Showtek have had an amazing 2013. Their latest single “Booyah” with We Are Loud and Sonny Wilson, has been a worldwide success climbing up the charts in the UK and South Africa; and the boys followed up with an Essential Mix back in November. But the Dutch duo are not the ones to rest on their laurels.

Closing out the year with a bang, the brothers have announced the launch of their next project Skink Records. Drawing its name from a species of lizard, the imprint will be just like its reptilian inspiration. With its elusive and hard-to-pin-down nature, the skink is a survivor, making it the perfect mascot for Showtek’s continuing musical evolution. The Dutch producers will officially launch the label to the world with their forthcoming single “We Like To Party” out on December 30th.

You can expect plenty more music from Showtek and a selection of other artists in the new year.

Nom De Strip releases ‘I Can’t Believe’

With the dust not even settled from his latest collaboration with Congorock in “Minerals,” the ever eclectic Nom De Strip returns to Chris Lake’s Rising Music for the first time since summer anthem “Devil’s BBQ” alongside Nezza.

First premiered back in September when Chris Lake and TJR took over Diplo and Friends on BBC 1Xtra, “I Can’t Believe” is another stellar track to add to Nom’s discography. Packing in the energy, “I Can’t Believe” is a dance floor ready electro house tune. Equipped with intense high pitched synths, the gritty, ominous vocals guide you throughout track. With a bass line that just won’t quit, “I Cant Believe” just solidifies Nom’s reputation as a genre-blending artist and will fit into any high-energy set.

Grab the release today – we’re sure you’ll hear this track when Nom De Strip heads to Hidalgo for Winter Fantasy.

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Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sound of the weekend. Hidalgo’s third annual Winter Fantasy featuring deadmau5 (unhooked) is almost here and soon we’ll be listening to Adventure Club, Showtek, Le Castle Vania and Nom De Strip perform with the mau5 on stage on Monday, December 30th at the State Farm Arena.

Since we won’t get down at Winter Fantasy for another two weeks, our weekends have been filled with mixes highlighting an artist from our lineup to help get you pumped for the upcoming event.

This week’s weekend warrior is our quick-witted headliner deadmau5. The ground-breaking talent always treats fans to his newest edits and productions on the latest tech-savvy equipment whenever he performs. These three sets will give you an idea of the crazy energy and innovation deadmau5 brings to his sets.

Be sure to grab your tickets before it’s too late.

Classic Mixmag Cover CD: Deadmau5

When Mixmag was celebrating their 30th birthday, they uploaded some of their most legendary cover CDs. Chosen by the staff, the mixes chosen rocked the office stereo and sent some of the biggest names in the game on their way to stardom. Our headliner was one of their favorites – and understandably so. The mix weaves artists like Pryda, Tsuba, Joris Voorn and a some of deadmau5’s early tracks like “Complications” and “Arguru.”

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Live at HARD Day Of The Dead 2013

Celebrating el dia de los muertos, deadmau5 closed out the Los Angeles festival a few months ago with an absolute bang. Utilizing his touchscreen Holodesk, deadmau5’s set features both old and new mau5 favorites backed by some crazy energy.

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Live at Lollapalooza (Sao Pãulo, Brasil) 2013

Lollapalooza has been bringing legends and pioneers from all sides of the music industry to destinations around the globe. Our talented headliner lent his talents to the occasion packing in an set of electro, progressive and even a little bit of dubstep. When deadmau5 drops that massive edit of Rage Against The Machine’s anthem “Do What They Told Ya,” we wanted to jump inside our speakers desperately.

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We are so close to dancing in a winter wonderland as Hidalgo’s third annual Winter Fantasy takes over the State Farm Arena (outdoors) on Monday, December 30th. Disco Donnie Presents, Global Groove Events, and Sugar Society are excited to have deadmau5 headline the holiday event and perform his unhooked set. What’s an unhooked set? We’re glad you asked.

Though critically-acclaimed, deadmau5’s unhooked sets are a rare occasion. While most of the unhooked shows are in a small space with fewer than 400 people to fill the space, for Winter Fantasy we’re lucky enough to experience the show with thousands of our closest friends. Armed with a Mac, CDJs, a mixer, and an effects unit, fans will get to see the electronic wizard work his magic behind the scenes as there is no LED cube to obstruct your view. Most sets begin without the iconic mau5head, but if we’re lucky enough, we’ll get a little “head” action later on in the set. Simply put, unhooked is more a DJ set than it is anything else.

So come get intimate with deadmau5 on Monday, December 30th for the third annual Winter Fantasy. We’re sure you’ll get an explosion of energy as he delivers his signature electro laced with big drums beats and even bigger bass lines.

Tickets are still available online but going fast! Grab yours before it’s too late.

Representing Los Angeles by way of Scotland, Winter Fantasy talent Nom De Strip has been has been infecting the world with his personal flair for the last four years. Armed with a ridiculous amount of sarcasm and the support of some of the industry’s biggest names, Nom De Strip is in a class all his own.

Born Chris Elliot, after buying a set of turntables in 1999, Elliot was officially hooked, “They were ropey enough to almost put me off for good, but then after one sweet mix with ‘Beachball’ and ‘Meet Her at the Love Parade’ I realized I was a turntabling rudeboy.”

Though the world first met Nom De Strip in 2009, Elliott had been a part of the dance music scene long before then. After meeting Tod Hodge in 2005, the two formed the outfit Stupid Fresh and released a handful of tracks. After gaining a decent amount of success with tracks like “Ho,” Elliot started his solo project Nom De Strip. And if you’re wondering where the name came from, “[It’s] an Urban Dictionary entry. I always find it difficult to name songs and especially come up with a phony alias for myself. We were struggling, I went on there and had a look around. That was one of the things that I saw which I thought would suit me quite well because all it means is your porn name or your stripper name. I figured the music fit that name and it kind of stuck. But my mom really does call me Nom.”

Nom’s solo project had great success early on. Releasing his underground hits on the revered mau5trap imprint, acclaimed EP’s Clouds Vol. 1 and Clouds Vol. 2 were met with much buzz online. Not to mention his official remix of Tommy Trash’s “Monkey See Monkey Do” which helped solidify his name on the house circuit.

Dance music fans weren’t the only ones who were mesmerized by Nom’s style. Jumping at the opportunity, house music veteran Chris Lake grabbed Nom up for his Rising Music label in 2013. The combination has seen Nom’s career skyrocket. Tracks like “Devil’s BBQ” with Nezzo and “Nippleodeon” with Hatiras had a huge impact in the music blogosphere dubbing Nom a one-to-watch by many industry heavyweights.

With a sound that is still evolving, inspiration comes from many places, “I like kind of emotional music, music that I find emotional. For me, Massive Attack’s “Mezzanine.” I grew up really loving Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, things like that. I really love 80’s, 60’s and 70’s too… the 80’s. I don’t really know what happened to music after that. When you’re growing up it affects you more. But there’s a lot of old music that I still listen to. A lot of songs are really sad songs but I don’t sit there and get really depressed. I enjoy the songs.”

As we march into 2014, the producer has been greeted with massive support from his latest release “Minerals” with Congrorock. This track makes it easy to fall into a groove and cuts deep into the melody as it builds intensity. We’re sure you’ll hear this banger when Nom De Strip makes his way to Winter Fantasy on Monday, December 30th. Tickets are still available online, but selling quick! Grab yours today!

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We can’t wait for our mini-vacation on Monday, December 30th as Hidalgo’s third annual Winter Fantasy featuring deadmau5 (unhooked) takes over the State Farm Arena (outdoors).

Even though we won’t be walking in a winter wonderland for another few weeks, that doesn’t mean our weekends won’t keep pounding. We’ll be bringing you three mixes every week from an artist on our roster to help get you pumped for the upcoming event.

This week’s weekend warrior(s) is Québecois duo Adventure Club. Finishing up their massive nationwide tour, the two are still celebrating the release of their Calling All Heroes EP. Here are three sets that are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you might expect to hear from the boys at Winter Fantasy.

Tickets are still available online so grab yours before it’s too late.

Superheroes Anonymous Mix Volume 1

The boys originally debuted this mix on This Song Slaps earlier this year. To call this mix eclectic would be an understatement. Featuring some classic tunes revamped, we’re digging the “Sun and Moon” remix and the cameo from Gesaffelstein’s “Control Movement.”

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Superheroes Anonymous Mix Volume 2

This Superheroes Anonymous volume also premiered on This Song Slaps. For this particular mix, the boys do an amazing job of creating a jam-packed mix full of various genres from beginning to end. With a tracklist that features some familiar friends like Winter Fantasy artists GTA and of course a long list of tracks from the boys themselves, this mix will get you in the mood for the upcoming holiday event.

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Superheroes Anonymous Mix Volume 3

Armed with red capes and spandex, this mix is a snapshot of the tracks that the boys were playing out over the summer. Always testing varied BPMs, this mix ventures into big room house, trap, all while staying true to their dubstep roots. This mix also features their recent smash single “Gold.”

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It’s December, which means the third annual Winter Fantasy is right around the corner. Poised to bring in world renowned talent to the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX on Monday, December 30th, with several weeks remaining until the gates open for the anticipated event, we have plenty of time to stay up-to-date with our talented lineup.

For today’s Winter Fantasy Drop, we’ve got Adventure Club raising money for cancer awareness and the brothers Showtek taking over South Africa’s charts.

Winter Fantasy tickets are available online, buy your tickets today!

Adventure Club donates $7,000 to F*ck Cancer

Back in August, Québecois superheroes Adventure Club teamed up with dance music clothing retailer Electric Family to release a custom series of Adventure Club wristbands. These aren’t ordinary fan wristbands though. The red and blue threaded bracelet is giving fans the opportunity to be real life superheroes. Each product sold directly benefits F*ck Cancer, a Canadian-based charity whose purpose, though could inferred to by the title, is to educate youth and adults about cancer.

To date, with the aid of their fans, Adventure Club has been able to donate over $7,000 from bracelet sales to the organization. Due to popular demand, the bands were temporarily sold out, but not anymore. Head over to Electric Family and grab your Adventure Club wristband today. Be sure to wear yours at Winter Fantasy!

Showtek’s ‘Booyah’ reaches #1 in South Africa

The brothers Showtek are on roll. Back in November, we reported the duo’s rise to the top of the UK’s Top 40 with their massive release “Booyah” featuring We Are Load! and Sonny Wilson. Now, the Dutch powerhouse outfit has taken the #1 spot on South Africa’s most popular radio station 5FM. With 5FM being the most popular contemporary music and entertainment platform in the country, it’s safe to say that the brothers are on their way to total world domination.

Venturing outside of their original hardstyle roots, “Booyah” starts differently than the standard four-to-the-floor beat. As you’re grooving to the a half-time beat intro, some massive stab synths greet you that are later joined by the vocals of We Are Loud! and Sonny Wilson. We’re loving this, this reggae-infused big room track – it is definitely festival ready. We’re sure you’ll here it at Winter Fantasy later this month.

Internationally known Winter Fantasy talent Le Castle Vania has been building his empire for quite some time now. Still infecting audiences with his intensely, high energy sets filled with his signature, horse-powered tracks, seeing Le Castle Vania perform is always an exciting experience where nobody gets out alive.

Born Dylan Eiland, the Atlanta native began DJing at warehouse parties and raves when he was only 16. The Southern metropolis had a booming music scene which greatly inspired the budding talent. Encouraged by his surroundings, Dylan developed a passion for music and nightlife. But having a successful career wasn’t the original goal, “I never really set out to do this professionally. I thought it would be cool, but I didn’t even have that picture in my head at all. I never thought, ‘yeah, I’m gonna be a huge DJ, and I’m gonna tour all over the world’ – I wasn’t thinking that at all. I was just having fun.”

Fun turned career in 2006 when Eiland was asked to remix a song called “Black Eyes” from friends and fellow Atlanta musicians Snowden. Jokingly using the name of an old video game “Le Castle Vania” for the remix, once the track hit the music blogosphere and audiences responded with massive impact and the name stuck. Carving out his signature sound of a well-balanced blend of gritty electronic beats, melodic synth leads, and punk-rock aggression, Le Castle Vania’s music is known for its dark and dirty style while equally uplifting as seen in hits like “Awake,” or his remix of Vitalic’s “Stamina.”

As a producer, Le Castle Vania has amassed countless originals and remixes, giving many of those away to his dedicated fans. Akin to the grassroots approach, Le Castle Vania is constantly on the prowl for new artists and tunes – which is why he developed his very own label, Always Never. The imprint is a fresh outlet for which he can release both his own music as well as his friends and newcomers to the scene. We love his self-made approach to the music industry and more importantly, his individuality, “I’ve always just kind of done my own thing. I didn’t want to be seen as one of those artists under another artist, or like being steered by someone else. I’m just doing me, music is a creative thing that comes from the individual.”

If he’s not on the road, then Le Casle Vania is probably in the studio fine-tuning his tracks. Having just released his debut EP Prophication on mau5trap September 2nd and an artist album due out in 2014, we’re sure you’ll get a preview when Le Castle Vania takes the stage at Winter Fantasy this year. Tickets are still online so buy yours today.

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It’s quite exciting to watch the dominating Winter Fantasy duo Showtek continue to charm the world with their talent. In the past decade, the two have influenced a vast audience across the globe, as they continue to skyrocket dance floors and sell out big shows with their eclectic and distinctive sound.

Native to Eindhoven, Netherlands, brothers Wouter and Sjoerd Janssen started producing music in 2001 as a hobby in their late teenage years – Wouter played piano while Sjoerd made beats using a computer to remix tracks and make studio mixes. Their hobby turned career when the two released their debut single “Defqon 1 Anthem 2006” followed by their debut album, Today Is Tomorrow.

Initially producing and playing techno, the two have expanded their music style throughout the years by blending a variety of genres including hardstyle, progressive/electro house and everything in between. Known as the “Kings of Hardstyle,” the brothers have evolved to become some of the leading producers in the industry with a most unique sound. “Our sound is catchy, melodic and harsh. Sometimes it’s well thought out, but it can also be spontaneous and loose. Nevertheless our sound is always recognizable as being a typical Showtek track.” These words rang very true in 2009 when Showtek became the first within their (then) music style, to lend their talents to the famous BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix.

Within their years of experience, the Showtek brothers have had a rapid rise to fame. Since 2012, they’ve continued to build the series of collaborations, under the project called Crazy Collabs, “So after all of those years we said we were going to start up a new project called Crazy Collabs. The first collab, ‘Hell Yeah’ with Tiësto was a massive track. The second was with Hardwell, ‘How We Do.’ And the next is with Bassjackers. It’s going to be on Musical Freedom.”

The duo keeps the momentum going by delivering massive hits like their latest single “Booyah,” which features We Are Loud and Sonny Wilson. And since they produce everything from techno to hardstyle, there is no telling what madness Showtek will bring when they perform at this year’s Winter Fantasy in Hidalgo, Texas on Monday, December 30th. Tickets are still available online but selling fast.

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Producer, hitmaker and Winter Fantasy headliner deadmau5 (unhooked), has made a name for himself by going beyond his music productions and talent behind the decks and playing his own eclectic progressive and electro house music edits and originals on cutting edge computer technology. Outside of his efforts in the studio and behind the decks, deadmau5 keeps fans coming back for more with his sarcastic approach to comedy and not to mention that giant LED strobing mouse head in his performances. It comes as no surprise that deadmau5 continues to fill dance floors around the globe after all these years.

Born Joel Thomas Zimmerman in Niagara Falls, Canada, the phenomenon first became involved with music playing the piano at age 15 and simultaneously was also introduced to technology, making chip tunes from old computers. After a few years of being influenced with electronics and hardware, he started working in animation and web design. “I was playing MS Golf and Minesweeper. And getting blown away by the amazing effects that Corel Draw could provide. At the same time, my parents were sending me to piano classes. I went to a school for eight years in Niagara Falls, where I got a lot of classical music pounded into my head.”

In 1999, Zimmernman’s chip tunes finally grabbed the attention to Mötley Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee, which led to contributing in Lee’s rap metal album Methods Of Mayhem. After years of friendship and collaboration they released two electro-house singles, under the name W.T.F.? called “Chicken” and “Redic.” Though Zimmerman made his debut with Tommy Lee, his breakout year was when he entered the music world as a co-producer for the Niagara Falls radio show and released his first album in 2005 with Get Scraped.

Collaborating with Steve Duda under the alias B.S.O.D., deadmau5 earned his first #1 on Beatport with “This is the Hook.” By 2008, deadmau5 had three self-released albums and the breakout success of Random Album Title under his belt. And the hits just kept on coming. deadmau5’s collaboration with Kaskade for tracks “Move for Me” and “I Remember” reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay making mau5 the 1st Canadian to have three #1 tracks on that chart after also releasing the classic “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” (later with Rob Swire) on For Lack of a Better Name.

This year is closing out well for deadmau5 with banging single “Suckfest9001” being championed in clubs and festivals around the globe. Though his social media antics as of late may be grabbing peoples’ attention, as a musician, deadmau5’s passion for sound and technology is unmistakable. Treating us to a special Unhooked set at this years Winter Fantasy, get ready for the ultimate holiday treat as deadmau5 makes his way to Hidalgo’s State Farm Arena (outdoors) on Thursday, December 30th.

Don’t miss your chance to catch deadmau5 (unhooked) in Texas, buy your tickets today!

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We’re looking forward to Monday, December 30th when we’ll be listening to great music with thousands of friends as Hidalgo’s premier holiday event, Winter Fantasy featuring deadmau5 (unhooked), returns to the Rio Grande Valley area at the State Farm Arena (outdoors).

Even though we won’t get down at Winter Fantasy for another few weeks, we’re still gonna jam out and help get you pumped for the upcoming event. This week’s weekend warrior is electro king Le Castle Vania. Having just released the anticipated Prophication EP, when it comes to Le Castle Vania’s crazy eclectic sets, nobody gets out alive. Here are three massive sets that will give you an idea of the frenzy you’ll experience at Winter Fantasy.

Tickets are flying off the shelves so be sure to grab yours before it’s too late.

Bulletproof Tiger Mixtape Volume Two

Le Castle Vania’s Bulletproof Tiger series was always a favorite of ours because they never stop delivering on crazy electro energy from start to finish. In his own words, “As with the first mixtape, I tried not to over think it too much and just selected some of my favorite songs from my own catalog, some stuff from my friends, and some stuff from a few newcomers that I have been feeling.” You’ll hear some (then) brand new and exclusive material as well as exclusive unreleased remixes like D.I.M.’s popular track “Is You.”

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Radio Control Mixtape Volume 1

Atlanta-based radio station Prototype Radio kicked off their Saturday sessions by enlisting another member of the ATL family, Le Castle Vania to take control of the airwaves. The best part about this mixtape is that it was the start of his new residency at the station. This mix has a tracklist that could best be described as Vania Mania. Nearly every track is an original, a remix or one of his edits.

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Mix for Mau5trap Records

The title of this mixtape alone has a lot of clout behind it. With Winter Fantasy headliner deadmau5 in his corner, this mix features some tracks from Le Castle Vania’s latest EP Prophication, which is out now on mau5trap Records. You’ll hear some familiar classics and tunes from some his friends.

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