S2
S2 has been working hard this year, searching the globe to make his unique blend of bass, metro and world music. His sets are known as a journey through mid-tempo genres ranging from polite and beautiful to rude and sexy. You can find S2’s mix from last year’s set at Shambhala to have an idea of what he’s all about. It’s still reaching far and wide and you’re guaranteed to be brought along on a musical journey like no other.
Sam Binga
Sam Binga has been placed firmly at the center of the ongoing evolution of the faster side of dance music, first started out by dBridge and the Autonomic podcasts. Binga has seen releases on some of the most respected underground labels: 50 Weapons, Exit Records and Critical Records. His sound has caught the attention of artists like Zed Bias and CHVURCHES, and they both got in touch with him for remix work. Not only that, but Kode9 featured his time 11th on his critically acclaimed CD release Rinse. In a short period of time, Sam Binga has been scoring gigs all over the globe.
As a DJ, he has become known for his fearless style, blending juke and jungle with classic crunk and dancehall. His unreleased tracks Sambaata and Crackney Parrot are just a couple of the tracks that DJs such as Friction, Machinedrum and Alix Perez utilize for their live sets. If for nothing else, see him for his unparalleled ability to blur the lines between genres.
Shaun Frank
Shaun Frank has collaborated with artists like Steve Aoki, Oliver Heldens, DVBBS, and KSHMR and all the while he’s been putting out his own smash hits. On the touring side, Shaun has been stacking up air-miles with over 160 tour dates in North America alone 2016. This includes multiple headlining tours which saw him selling out prominent venues in Los Angeles, New York & Toronto, and making festival appearances at Tomorrowland, Tomorrowworld, EDC Las Vegas, Electric Zoo New York, Paradiso, and many more around the world.
While the track Closer (a hit song he wrote with The Chainsmokers) was receiving a Grammy nomination, he released his first solo album. His album Let You Get Away was a huge success. It remained in the top 20 at Top 40 radio for three months in a row, and it received over 15 million streams online. With his first single of 2017 titled Let You Get Away already being released, a massive North American tour,expect Shaun’s music to be heard on radio stations and festival stages across the globe this year.
Shield
Alex Skjold, aka Shield, is a Danish producer, DJ and drummer that has a Masters Degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, playing classical percussion. He’s received inspiration from a wide variety of electronic music, and paired with his background in classical composition it makes for a hugely unique sound. His debut track Horror Movie garnered a lot of attention. Ivy Lab played it during their Critical Sound show on Rinse FM and the track received support from Noisia as it made it’s way on their ‘Favorites of 2015’ playlist. All of this support, along with the support of DJ Hype and Alix Perez, makes him an unstoppable force in the hip-hop and drum and bass scenes.
Skiitour
Skiitour’s live energy shows would not be complete without a snow machine and retro skiing gear. Having been producing and performing together for over six years, the duo blast through a wide array of genres. Their tracks have been on festival stages all over the world, charted by Miguel Mig, & even dropped into Bondax’s sets. Skiitour has acquired headlining slots at festivals all over the globe. Last summer, they made their 5th consecutive appearance at Shambhala at two stages: Fractal Forest and AMPhitheatre. Their tracks have been released on many prominent labels and they have enjoyed chart success on Beatport.
Skratch Bastid
Skratch Bastid made his first appearances in the DJing scene with competitions like DMC, ITF and Scribble Jam. Eventually, word of him spread all over the globe and he started gaining recognition for being a true master. He has a reputation as being one of the hardest working Djs out there, and at an average rate of 100 shows per year, it’s no wonder why. He celebrates his Canadian culture and community in his home base of Toronto and throughout Canada with the annual Bastid’s BBQ held every summer.
In 2011, he officially began his ambassadorship of the widely-popular Red Bull Thre3style competition and has since been an integral part of its international success, touring with it globally. His approach to producing Canadian hip-hop including the Juno nominated Situation album with Buck 65 and Shad’s Flying Colours, among others. The turntable champion and crowd favorite is steadily taking his craft to new heights and bringing his audience along for the ride. Having rocked the bar many times, Skratch Bastid is always the first one to raise it.
Slushii
Slushii is no stranger to music production. Before he took up the moniker Slushii, he was one half of the duo Monsters With Tiny Moustaches alongside his partner MHKAZ and was a part of the band Deuteronomy before leaving in 2012. When he initially became involved with dance music, he had a SoundCloud account under the name of DJ Swoon. SoundCloud took this account down due to an unauthorized remix he posted. Reeling the loss of 8,000 followers, Slushii needed a bit of convincing. The convincing wasn’t for naught, it game him just the push he needed. In his words, “It ended up being the greatest thing that ever happened to me. It pushed me to create Slushii”.
With his dubstep and trap remixes of popular artists, he started getting a following and gained the attention of some big names like Skrillex, Diplo, Jauz and Marshmello, to name a few. In February of 2016, he was signed to Red Light Management and his debut EP Brain Freeze had almost two million streams across all platforms. This March, he released his house-inspired and bass heavy track Catch Me and had another collaboration with Marshmello for the track Twinbow.
Slynk
Slynk has a natural gift for music and as he grew up he learned a wide range of instruments including piano, guitar and drums. He made his first international appearance at Shambhala in 2009 and has become a resident Dj ever since. He’s been receiving a lot of support from the world’s most respected breaks and bass producers, and he now has quite the reputation. After having his work climb the charts on many occasions and having his name associated with many respected labels he made the move to British Columbia for another chapter of his career.
Smalltown DJs
The Smalltown sound is fun bass-heavy house music, combining the spirit of Canada’s outdoor electronic music festivals such as Shambhala & Bass Coast, with the sound they cultivated at the legendary Hifi Club in Calgary (which they own and operate). The boys have released music most recently on various labels including Fool’s Gold, Sweat It Out!, Mad Decent, Main Course, and more. They have played shows across the globe from the Mad Decent Block and Boat Parties, to Fabric in London & U-Hall in DC, and Bestival in Toronto.
With highlights that include appearances on Diplo & Claude Vonstroke’s radio shows, a one-year stint in Las Vegas, the yearly Mountain Magic Tour with Christian Martin (of Dirtybird) and friends, and their collaboration with Shad & Wax Romeo “Boom Ha” being featured in the HBO show “Girls”.
Soohan
Soohan just released his fourth studio album this year Archetapes, which includes appearances by David Starfire, Jackson Whalan, and HÄANA to critical acclaim. He is a must-hear artist for fans of instrumental hip-hop, all electronic music, and sample-based music. Garnering streams in the hundreds of thousands and a slew of festival appearances over the last few years, SOOHAN has quickly established himself as a foremost presence in the global bass and electronic music scenes. His style is a signature blend of outlandish trap-influenced production, dashed against the backdrop of regional folk music selections that span the entire globe.
Space Jesus
Less than a year after Jasha Tull created the alias of Space Jesus, he released his first self-titled EP Space Jesus. He started building a loyal fan following on the East Coast, but it wouldn’t be until his release on San Francisco label MalLabel Music that the West Coast would hear his sound. Soon after the release of PLANiTS, Space Jesus started working with Supersillyus on a new project entitled Schlang. Do Androids Dance (an online music blog that has since been bought out) called their Little Information Deposits EP “one of the best intelligent psychedelic bass records of 2013”.
Space Jesus has become known for his high-energy live sets and his signature sound is alien basslines, gangster beats and future feels. After amassing quite a following, of fans and fellow producers, he’s become the backbone of many major festivals, including Tomorowworld, Mysteryland, Beyond and of course Shambhala Music Festival.
Stanton Warriors
The Stanton Warriors came onto the scene with their compilation The Stanton Sessions in 2001. The compilation won many awards and the Stanton Warriors’ signature sound has become the soundtrack to some of the world’s biggest and best parties. Over the past 13 years, they’ve been partaking in Miami boat parties, illegal Detroit raves and have made their way to the stages of festivals like Glastonbury, Shambhala Music Festival, Burning Man, and many more. With sold out tours all over the globe and a consistent talent for topping the Beatport Charts, Stanton Warriors show no signs of slowing down.
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts!
