Sound Selections – Gino's Blog

Rashid Ajami Featured on Anjunadeep, Stealth and Kittball

April 17, 2013 By Gino Leave a Comment

After featuring Jad Atoui, Escape II Venus, AudioLab and Technophile, it’s time to feature a new Lebanese artist making it big in the electronic music world.

Rashid Ajami was born in London and his unique sounds blend in perfectly with the scene there. His expertise includes several segments of the gorgeous house music spectrum but tend to focus on the deeper side of things, the nicer side if you ask my humble opinion.

Apart from being featured on the upcoming Above and Beyond Anjunadeep release, Rashid has had support and remixes from underground heavyweights like Tocadisco, Jerome Isma-Ae and Tube & Berger (who I’ll be seeing live this Thursday at Couture!). I was lucky to have been introduced to Rashid by my dear friend DJ Base right before Rashid’s upcoming EP releases. I’ve embedded “Rule The World” below and in the right column of the blog, released just the other day and doing well on Beatport.

I’m looking forward to listening to the track that will be on the new Anjunadeep album, but so far, I haven’t been able to get my hands on it. As soon as I do, I’ll make sure to feature it here as well!

I hope you enjoy these 10 beautiful minutes of the original mix of the song plus 3 remixes of it.

Keep up with Rashid Ajami on Facebook and SoundCloud

If you wanna listen to the previous features, here’s my SoundCloud playlist:

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Filed Under: Endorsements, Sound Selections

Bye Nesta, Hello Technophile at Uberhaus <3

March 25, 2013 By Gino 1 Comment

Over the years, I’ve made a lot of friends in Beirut. Lots of those friends have now gathered under one roof to create what is my absolute favorite place in the city these days: Uberhaus. Among those dearest to my heart are the dynamic duo Ronin and Nesta, who over the years have gotten a lot of commercial success but have never, ever compromised their underground house music street cred. I have their sets dating back to 2006, and they’ve only gotten better with time and fame, not worse.

One half of that duo, Nabih Esta, or Nesta, is off to London for the next 6 months to push his music-making career even further. I am a huge fan of people pursuing their true dreams, and maybe that’s why I wasn’t that sad he’s leaving for a while despite being able to crunch out massive tracks right here from home alongside Ronin.

So, for the next few months, it’s goodbye Nesta and hello Technophile, his new alias. The track I chose to feature on the blog next, is called Smog Cut, which will be released April 11th. Here’s a 3-minute preview, which I have had on loop all weekend. This melodic, intensely deep track will have you goosepimply for hours as I made sure all my friends who came over this weekend or rode in my car did =P

As for what will happen to Groove Republic, Ronin and Phil are still here and will be going just as hard. Also, we are in talks to create a trio called Under and Below (as in Above and Beyond) that consists of Ronin, Phil and Gino (although Ronin and Phil are not as excited as I am about that venture =P)

Anyway, here’s the track I chose next for the Gino’s Blog features and if you ever wanna check out the previous ones, here’s the SoundCloud playlist that includes all the insane Lebanese artists that have already been featured on the blog.

So, good luck Nabih from all of us here! We’re expecting some massive music from you in the near future. And thanks for everyone at Uberhaus for making last Saturday awesome: Joanna, Nemr, Gus, Ronald, Tarek, Louay, Joana, Tres, Carol, Phil and everyone else <3

Filed Under: Clubs, Leb, Sound Selections Tagged With: ronin and nesta, technophile, uberhaus, uberhaus beirut

For the Love of Dubstep [Free Downloads]

October 16, 2012 By Gino 3 Comments

The Great Divide (Seven Lions Remix) – Velvetine

Eyes on Fire (Zeds Dead Remix) – Blue Foundation

Coffee Break (Zeds Dead Remix)

Derezzed (The Glitch Mob Remix) – Daft Punk

White Satin – Zeds Dead

All I Know (Seven Lions Remix) – Matrix and Futurebound

Game Time – Zomboy

Filed Under: Sound Selections, Uncategorized

Sound Selection: Been A While [9 Downloadable Tracks]

August 20, 2012 By Gino Leave a Comment

Here’s a selection of tracks I’ve been listening to and liking lately.

1- Crave You (Adventure Club Remix) – Flight Facilities - Beautiful remix, really loved this track

2- Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix) – Massive Attack - One of my all time favorites. Zeds Dead don’t really alter the song, they simply add to it, making it truly sublime. Sends chills up my spine this one!

3- Toot Toot (Zeds Dead Remix) – DJ Vadim - Cool track by Zeds Dead

4- Strobe (Redial Remix) – deadmau5 - This track has been so remixed so many times, I’m surprised I like this rework

5- I’m Not Yours (Patrick Reza Remix) – Angus and Julia Stone - Fun remix, very nice drops and transitions

6- Happy Violence (The Sonixx Remix) – Dada Life

7- Reconcile (Original Mix) – Fornax - Really chill dubstep, sort of makes you want of walk slow motion through a crowd looking all bad-ass

8- Youth (Adventure Club Remix) – Foxes - Nice vocals, lovely track

9- Cosmic Love (Seven Lions Remix) – Florence and the Machine - Made Florence and the Machine bearable for me =P

Filed Under: Sound Selections

6 Tracks You Must Download Now

April 23, 2012 By Gino 1 Comment

Strobe (Redial Remix) – deadmau5

This remix, or rather remake, is awesome. I love the mellowness and smoothness at the beginning, which becomes the awesome, down and dirty House music we all love.

Paradise Circus (Zed’s Dead Remix) – Massive Attack

Massive Attack might not be what you’d expect me to listen to necessarily. But, Zed’s Dead’s remix makes it one of my all time favorites. The vocals coupled with the really unique loops guarantee you an instant trip full of emotions, whether you’re actually high or not. Listen to it, you’ll know what I mean.

Reconcile – Fornax

When I’m writing, this song is perfect. It is a fairly simple and soft song, with what could be described as very soft and mild dubsteppy elements. It’s calm and slow though, and sets just the right pace for things when you want a soundtrack to whatever mundane task you’re doing.

Isis – Seven Lions

This track starts off with an evil-ish Oriental beat, but quickly transforms into a decent Dubstep track. The real treasure though is towards the end, when a beautiful melody becomes the backbone of bass drops and hard loops, sort of like, melodic dubstep with a tinge of emotion?

HYFR (AC Slater Remix) – Drake

I always confuse lil Wayne with Drake, but now I am very familiar with Drake thanks to this pretty decent remix of Hell Yeah Fuckin Right.

The Hour of the Wolf (Stark Sound Remix) – Zoobi

This song is dark, messed up and plain scary. With lyrics like “at the hour at which people die most” and “demons and ghosts are their most powerful” coupled with the deep and dark loops and bass lines, makes this ideal for when you’re stuck in traffic and hate the universe, or if you wanna freak out an English-speaking hitchhiker or maybe even a bad date? =P

Filed Under: Sound Selections Tagged With: deadmau5 redial, download free music, drake dubstep, isis, massive attack, paradise circus, zeds dead

Sound Selection – Labrat Dubstep

April 12, 2012 By Gino Leave a Comment

Rapture – Labrat

Take Over – Labrat

Vortex – Labrat

Year of the Dragon – Labrat

Stardust – Labrat

The Funk – Labrat

Darkness – Labrat

Stephy Peppers – Labrat

Feelings – Labrat

Fresh Fitted – Labrat

Spacemonkey – Labrat

This Plane – Wiz Khalifa (Labrat Remix) - for dubstep newbies

Filed Under: Sound Selections Tagged With: download free dubstep, download labrat, labrat, labrat dubstep, wiz khalifa dubstep

The Top 20 Trance Tracks of 2011 (Downloadable for Free)

December 26, 2011 By Gino Leave a Comment

1- Aly & Fila ft. Jwaydan – We Control The Sunlight

This is the number one, definitely my number one, but a cool track nevertheless. It’s not as awesome as previous number ones like Sunlounger’s Lost or Tuvan by Gaia, but heck, what do I know? =P

2- Alex M.O.R.P.H. ft. Sylvia Tosun – An Angel’s Love (Vocal Mix)

This track has a Tiesto’s Forever Today feel to it. So, I LOVE it, very emotional track… Gets the skin tingling and the blood curdling. MUST-DOWNLOAD

3- Above & Beyond ft. Richard Bedford – Sun & Moon (Club Mix)

This is my favorite track in the list. Bedford’s lyrics can be transplanted into any remix, and they’d make my head and face numb. This track by Above and Beyond is definitely my favorite of 2011, even though I prefer the original mix, and I’m not just saying that cause Paavo and I are tight =P

4- Shogun – Skyfire

Love the melody on this one. If it were in a massive stadium event, I’d be jumping up and down and turning round and round. Super uplifting track.

5- Orjan Nilsen – Between The Rays

Melody’s awesome, but all in all, I feel this is a very forgettable track… But, I will trust the world #trancefamily on this one and include it!

6- Gaia – Status Excessu D (ASOT 500 Theme)

The epicness of the Gaia-style vocals at the beginning bring back warm memories of ASOT 500… There’s no doubt this track should be on this list and this far up!

7- Arty & Mat Zo – Rebound

This track is very elaborate, with the sophisticated melody combined with Mat Zo’s not-always-trancy brew of electronic music. It’s a cool track, comes in strong after the build-up.

8- Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Be Your Sound

I adore this track, it would definitely qualify as one of my top 3. Emma Hewitt and CG have made a truly powerful track that gets the sentimental side of you all pumped up for some spiritual Trance.

9- Ferry Corsten ft. Armin van Buuren – Brute

I hate this track. It’s so below Armin and Ferry standards… But, for some reason, it keeps coming back =/ DO NOT RECOMMEND this…

10- Bobina ft. Betsie Larkin – You Belong To Me

I love the Dgrow and Dub Head remix, so I’ve linked to that. Great track, love Betsie Larkin!

11- Andain – Promises (Myon & Shane 54 Summer Of Love Mix)

Another beautiful build-up to a powerful entry. Would be a superb addition to any Trance set. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!

12- Andy Moor ft. Sue McLaren – Fight The Fire

Cool track, I miss Andy’s stuff =D

13- Gaia – Stellar

Gaia? Stellar! Looks like Armin can only do magic when he takes on that alias! Energetic track, fluid transitions just like AvB has gotten us used to.

14- Dash Berlin ft. Jonathan Mendelsohn – Better Half Of Me (Club Mix)

I love it when a seemingly non-electronic track makes a sexy transition into a Trance track. Dash Berlin’s ability to turn me into a sobbing sissy is not a secret, his set at Dance in the Summer this year in Beirut made the whole concert worthwhile. This track is beautiful addition, with the guy on vocals giving a more real, american-ish feel to the vocals

15- Headstrong ft. Stine Grove – Tears (Aurosonic Progressive Remix)

Another track I would’ve chosen as one of my top 3! Has a Lost (sunlounger) feel to it with the consistency and subtle changes in the track. Vocals unobtrusive too, perfectly complementing the melody. So, wipe away those tears from your eyes!

16- ATB with Dash Berlin – Apollo Road (Club Version)

AMAGAAAAAAD! ATB! WITH DASH BERLIN! Absolutely magnificent, emotional track. Must-download, definitely must-download.

17- Dennis Sheperd & Cold Blue ft. Ana Criado – Fallen Angel (Dennis Sheperd Club Mix)

Cool track, love the loops and melodies and the combination with the bass lines. The vocals are superb too, my favorite element in the track. Worthy of a spot on the top 20

18- Emma Hewitt – Colours (Armin van Buuren Remix)

You know that track you hear in an Armin promo? Those epic ones you’re like “What’s the name of that track in the de3ayeh?” Well, this is definitely one! LOVE.

19- Gareth Emery & Ashley Wallbridge – Mansion

The kind of Trance track where jumping up and down with hands in the air will not be enough. Uplifting, diverse and dynamic.

20- Armin van Buuren ft. Laura V – Drowning (Avicii Remix)

Drowning is one of my favorite tracks on Mirage. Avicii, that naughty boy who made all the hits this summer, remixed it into an even more godly version. Though, I still prefer the original mix!

Filed Under: Sound Selections Tagged With: download asot top 20 2011, top 20 trance songs 2011

The PAWAS Live in Lebanon Sound Selection

October 22, 2011 By Gino 2 Comments

Again and Again – Basto [Sarine Babikian]

Strobe – deadmau5 [Rudy Antonions]

Shake Ur Tech-Ass – Secret Cinema [Michael Feghali]

GPM 149 – DJ T [David Maouad]

Simon & Shaker and Groove Garcia – Soultech [George El Hachem]

Guy Gerber – Timing (Kollektiv Turmstrasse Remix) [Cesar Sy]

Hinojosa & Zambrano – Viciosa (New Hit 2010 Spanish version) [Hussein Itany]

Thanks guys!

Filed Under: Sound Selections

The Top 20 Tracks of the Top 20 DJs of 2011

October 21, 2011 By Gino 18 Comments

1- David Guetta - Avicii – Levels meh, he has dethroned Trance from the top and replaced it with… pop

2- Armin van Buuren Between the Rays – Orjan Nelsen Questionable choice… ASOT 500 had a ton of better tracks

3- Tiesto Maximal Crazy – Tiesto He’s so full of himself, and proclaims he is an “electro-progressive” DJ now, that’s cause the Trance Family booted him out =P his favorite app is Whatsapp too

4- deadmau5 Tommy’s Theme – Noisia This mau5head-wearing dude called joel is my lord and savior, hopefully at the top very soon! I’ve also embedded the soundcloud for this track, cause it’s so awesome.

This man’s never touched a CDJ… He’s technically not a disc jockey, which as he states “To say you become this massive up-on-a-podium performer by playing other people’s productions at the same speed as someone else’s productions and fading between the two of them, I don’t get it.” he MAKES music, LIVE. I LOVE HIM!

5- Above and Beyond Sun and Moon – Above and Beyond – These guys chose LEBANON for the Trance Around the World 400th episode, what more do I need to say?

6- Avicii (Tim Berg) Save the World Tonight – SHM This swedish dude is not in a house mafia, but he’s the guy that brought us “Bromance” and “Levels” and SKYROCKETED 33 places to number 6… Completely unexpected, but a welcome change I’d say to the Top 10

7- Afrojack Calling - Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso SUPER FAIL! COMPLETELY RUBBISH! 7th?! REALLY?! WTF is take over control?!

8- Dash Berlin Sun and Moon - Above and Beyond – I love this man, his music. His 2011 set in Beirut brought tears to my eyes

9- Markus Schulz Rotunda – Markus Schulz and Jochen Miller Glad to see the guy behind “Perception” still hanging on

10- Swedish House Mafia Save the World Tonight – SHM Well-earned, not arguing about that

11- Paul van Dyk Sunday (PvD Remix) – Hurts I loved the man once, glad to see he is still visible here!

12- Axwell (SHM) Save the World Tonight – SHM confusion much?

13- Gareth Emery Into the Light – Gareth Emery He’s coooooming in November! =D

14- Fedde le Grand Metrum – Fedde le Grand He opened White this year!

15- ATB Rebound – Arty and Mat Zo he FINALLY released a new album… I thought he’d retired or something

16- Sander van Doorn Coming Off – Cirez Diddie Ok

17- Headhunterz Wake Up – The Prophet Who?

18- Ferry Corsten Punk (Arty Remix) – Ferry Corsten I met him, I love him

19- Skrillex Unknown, but I’ll put this one: First of the Year – Skrillex Dubstep’s on the rise baby!

20- Laidback Luke Avicii – Levels his tweets are fun!

Filed Under: Sound Selections

A Really, Really Big Party’s Sound Selection

October 14, 2011 By Gino 4 Comments

As promised, here are over 15 downloadable songs submitted by you guys to the blog’s Facebook page!

Ghostdog – Stimming & Solomun [Antoine Gemayel]

dOP – Your Sex (Paul Ritch Remix) [Mario Malkoun]

Ghosts and Stuff – Deadmau5 [Nassim Njeim]

Mr Brightside (Marco V Treatment) – The Killers [Bernard Douaihy]

Milky Way (Original Mix) – Yves LaRock [Rami Panayoti]

Irminsul Le Pilier Du Monde – Damabiah [Roni Roukoz] (my favorite new discovery in this sound selection)

Castaway – Bennassi Brothers [Dany Kandarian]

Plastic Dreams (Koen Groeneveld Remix) – Jaydee [Sami J Tahan]

Calling (Original) – Ingrosso & Alesso [Raffi Zambakjian]

Walk And Talk (Original Mix) – Benoit & Sergio [Geroger El Hachem]

Rave N Roll (Original Mix) – Steve Angello [Elie Salameh]

John Dahlback & Henrik B – Senses (Original Mix) [Hrag Jawichian]

Levels – Avicii [Fahed Leo]

Latter-Day Methods – In Flagranti [Hassan Nasser] (couldn’t find a download link)

The Way We See The World (Vocal Mix) [Ali El Dali]

Counting The Points (Matt Lange Remix) – Andrew Bayer [Michel-Leon Khalil]

Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem) – Marshall Jefferson [Johnny Boghossian]

U Got Me – Lee Foss [Sarine Babikian]

Filed Under: Sound Selections

9 Dubstep Tracks You Need

October 3, 2011 By Gino 8 Comments

Many people have been asking me lately for some Dubstep tracks or where they can download them from. So, here are a few tracks I absolutely adore, but the artists I personally like, I’ve just embedded as videos so that I feel at ease, ethically =P