XCENTRiC unleashed his new single, ‘Get Down’, on May 9, 2025, further solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the electronic music world. This producer and DJ has made waves with his distinctive tech house sound, spiked with hip-hop influences, marked by propulsive rhythms, sharp synths, and heavy basslines. Leading XCENTRiC RECORDS and signed to Droptone Records, he’s a mainstay in the scene, having performed alongside names like ACRAZE and Sick Individuals at venues such as Kemistry Nightclub and Miami Music Week staples like Kill Your Idol, Clevelander, Astra, and Dream. His career took root at 18, when he left behind a job in electrical work to chase music, securing a DJ residency within a week and building a 15-year career playing clubs and events across the globe.
The track ‘Get Down’ fuses tech house with tribal percussion and urban grit, moving away from XCENTRiC’s minimal tech house origins. Its raw, rhythmic energy and tight production make it a dancefloor weapon, crafted to pull listeners into its relentless groove. The single showcases his knack for blending underground vibes with a street-smart edge, perfect for commanding late-night sets.
XCENTRiC captures the essence of the track: “This track is about letting go completely and giving yourself to the rhythm. It’s that moment when the crowd slips into a trance and no one remembers how they got there — they just remember hearing ‘Get Down’.” His commitment to authenticity and sonic innovation drives this release, marking another step in his mission to shape the future of electronic music with bold, unforgettable energy.
Jacqui’s latest single ‘fries, bb’, released on May 9, 2025, via Beeline Records, highlights her distinctive fusion of neo-soul and Korean heritage. Born in South Korea, raised in China & the U.S., and now based mostly in South Korea, Jacqui’s music reflects her global journey. With over half a million Spotify streams and performances at SXSW Sydney and Bangkok Music City, she’s swiftly gaining recognition. Her tracks have appeared in Netflix’s My Holo Love and Amazon Prime’s BUTTERFLY, earning her comparisons to neo-soul pioneers like Erykah Badu and FKA Twigs.
The song ‘fries, bb’ is a groove-driven track that captures the quiet intimacy of a late-night diner. Its production mixes clean neo-soul rhythms with subtle distorted elements, creating a modern twist. Jacqui’s vocals are warm and expressive, carrying the theme of unspoken attraction with ease. The lyrics focus on ordering fries as a reason to stay longer with someone, blending clever wordplay with a relatable scenario that feels personal yet widely appealing.
Jacqui has said about the song, “It’s set in a late-night burger shop where you order fries just to spend more time with that person you’re crushing on.” This choice shapes the track’s laid-back yet intentional vibe, with the distorted instrumentals adding a layer of tension to the lighthearted premise. It shows her skill in taking a simple idea and giving it emotional weight through production and delivery, connecting her personal vision to a broader audience.
With ‘fries, bb’, Jacqui keeps pushing neo-soul forward, blending her Korean roots into the genre’s core. Stepping off of The Great Escape Festival stage in Brighton on May 15 and 16, we’re excited to hear what influences she’ll weave into her upcoming projects.
Since its release on May 9, 2025, ‘Surely’ by Soft Changa has been a defining moment for the Berlin-based duo, Jo.Ke and ulises. The track, a mesmerizing fusion of indie electronica and experimental soundscapes, has spent the months since its debut rippling through the global music scene. With millions of streams and appearances in festival sets from Ibiza to Burning Man, ‘Surely’ has captivated listeners with its hypnotic beats and raw emotional resonance—an ache of longing wrapped in euphoria. Fans of artists like WhoMadeWho and Monolink have embraced it, while critics have hailed it as a “genre-defying anthem,” cementing Soft Changa’s status as bold innovators in electronic music.
Looking to the future, Soft Changa is poised for even greater heights. The duo’s unique blend of influences—Jo.Ke’s Berlin underground edge and ulises’s Buenos Aires-inspired sonic flair—sets the stage for an exciting evolution. Whispers of an upcoming EP, possibly featuring live instrumentation alongside their signature sound, have already begun to stir anticipation. Their 2026 festival slate, including stops at Fusion Festival and Garbicz, promises to showcase ‘Surely’ and new material to expansive crowds. With their fearless approach to pushing boundaries, Soft Changa is clearly building momentum for a dynamic next chapter.
The road ahead for Soft Changa brims with potential. ‘Surely’ has laid a strong foundation, proving their ability to craft music that’s both deeply emotional and irresistibly danceable—a rare balance that echoes the trajectories of acts like Bonobo or RÜFÜS DU SOL. Whether through cross-genre collaborations or deeper dives into experimental territory, the duo’s creativity knows no limits. As they continue to blur musical and geographical borders, fans and critics alike are eager to see what’s next—and with Soft Changa’s track record, it’s sure to be a thrilling ride.
On March 28, 2025, the innovative electronic duo AIGEL unveiled their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Killer Qız. The album marks a significant milestone in their evolution as artists, delving into themes of loss, rebirth, and the complex journey of cultural assimilation. The album’s focus track, ‘Barısı Da Bezdä’, exemplifies the vibrant energy and emotional depth of the project, offering a unique blend of pulsating electronic rhythms and thought-provoking lyrical narratives. With this release, AIGEL continues to push the boundaries of genre and storytelling, showcasing their ability to capture both the personal and the universal.
AIGEL, formed by Tatar poet and vocalist Aigel Gaisina and electronic musician Ilya Baramiya from St. Petersburg, has established a reputation for their groundbreaking music that merges sharp, evocative lyrics in Russian, Tatar, and English with experimental soundscapes. The duo rose to international prominence with their hit single ‘Tatarin’, which has accumulated over 140 million views on YouTube. Their track ‘You Born’ garnered a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions Festival, while their 2023 Tatar-language release ‘Pıyala’made history, topping charts in over 10 countries and reaching the Billboard TikTok chart. After taking a public stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, AIGEL’s performances were banned in Russia, prompting the duo’s emigration. Aigel now resides in Berlin, and Ilya in Montenegro, with their contrasting environments influencing the sound and atmosphere of Killer Qız.
Killer Qız is a compelling exploration of emigration and personal transformation, telling the story of a DJ killer who dances until a high-ranking official’s death, then escapes with her lover, watched by figures from Russian society. The album presents a powerful metaphor for freedom and departure, with the refrain “no matter what they do, no one will take them along,” encapsulating the theme of defying authority. While the album’s energy is vibrant and rebellious, it also remains introspective and emotional. A standout track features a child’s voice transitioning from Tatar to German, reflecting the painful process of linguistic and cultural assimilation. The album’s closing moments offer a poignant reflection on the meaning of “home,” with Aigel reciting her thoughts in German, further reinforcing the album’s thematic depth.
Among the surprises on Killer Qız is a dance track in English, written for a short film by renowned clown Vyacheslav Polunin. This wordless song carries the refrain “life is a comedy,” offering a brief moment of lightness amidst the album’s heavier, more contemplative themes. Aigel speaks about the period of creative stagnation that followed their emigration, noting how the first language to emerge for her was Tatar: “It was like a system reset, returning to my default language.”
The track ‘Assimilation’is one of the album’s most emotionally resonant moments. It follows the journey of children who, over time, transition from resisting emigration to fully embracing their new culture, replacing their native Tatar with German. The track begins with the sounds of the Berlin subway, and, serendipitously, the voice of the subway announcer declares, “The train is heading towards Ruhleben”—which translates to “peaceful life”—an uncanny reflection of the song’s themes of finding peace in displacement. Ilya Baramiya incorporated diverse influences into the production of Killer Qız, blending elements from K-pop to hard bass, with an intentional departure from hip-hop to create a fresh and immersive sound that reflects the duo’s ongoing creative evolution.
With Killer Qız, AIGEL boldly steps forward, combining energetic beats with deeply personal stories that speak to the universal experience of transformation, cultural struggle, and the quest for belonging.
