THIS is Aly & Fila’s third consecutive appearance in the Top 100, and as such the Egyptian pair are doing as much for their country’s electronic music scene as anyone out there. As well as gigging at a dizzying amount of different points on the globe in 2012 (think Taiwan, Belarus, Lithuania, Peru and India on top of the usual European and American hotbeds), the pair’s own label, Future Sound Of Egypt, has become a beacon for trance around the world. “The trance scene is certainly growing nicely in Egypt through our own radio show Future Sound Of Egypt weekly on Nile FM, and through our FSOE events with Space in Sharm El Sheik,” state the pair who have also hit it big production- wise in 2012. Most tracks have appeared on their own label, and many have been
tyle: “Uplifting, banging euphoric trance.” Best known for: “Future Sound Of Egypt.” Tune of 2012: “Paul van Dyk feat Plumb ‘I Don’t Deserve You’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Arctic Moon.”
collaborations with the likes of Roger Shah and Jwaydan, but one tune ‘Fireisland’ excited trance titan Tiësto so much he snapped it up for release on his own Black Hole Recordings. “We saw an influx of change within the trance scene this year, a lot of DJs were slowing down their BPMs. This is not what we are about, we have always stuck to our style of trance, the more uplifting side of the genre.” It’s an approach that is clearly working for the pair, with more evidence for fans soon to emerge in the form of a second album, ‘Quiet Storm’ which will likely be a more vocal affair than their debut offering. “We are excited as it will feature many originals, plus some interesting collaborations.” KRISTAN J CARYL
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “I would be throwing the musical symbol G Clef from the DJ booth, this way clubbers can be more open-minded about all forms and styles of dance music.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “50% for the crowd, 50% for ourselves. The crowd should follow the artist, not the other way around.” What does EDM mean to you? “Everything Doable with Music.” Should celebri- ties be DJs? “They can if they love it and have a talent to offer, but if they will look stupid then they better not do it!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Not yet, but I have seen other DJs thrown off the decks.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Well actually there are a lot of famous DJs who don’t beat match.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Sharm El Sheikh hopefully.”
Style: “Progressive house.” Best known for: “‘Calling’, ‘Lose My Mind’, ‘Years’ and my remix of ‘Pressure’.” Tune of 2012: “Swedish House Mafia ‘Greyhound’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Tommy Trash/Hans Zimmer.”
SWEDISH house producer Alesso has had such a big year that even the Daily Mail picked him out as one to watch back in summer. What no doubt brought the 21-year-old to their attention was the fact that Madonna signed him up as her opening DJ on the MDNA World Tour. “Madonna and her crew contacted my management and asked if I wanted to do a couple of shows with her, and I said, ‘definitely!’” excites Alesso. “I thought that this would be something else, something new for me. It was her crowd so it would be different from what I was used to, and it was.”
When not warming up for Madge, Alesso has played everywhere from Coachella to Tomorrowland, EDC New York to the Milton Keynes Bowl ahead of the Swedish House Mafia. No matter the gig, though, the rising star’s aim remains the same. “My main focus is to entertain the crowd of course, and I have and will always do that in my own way. You have to feel the vibe at every show, if they want more melodic, sexier or harder stuff, so it differs from show to show.” KRISTAN J CARYL
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If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “Teleportation, it would be quite awesome to skip some of the longer flights when travelling.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “My job is to entertain the crowd/fans. But I want to entertain them in my own way, so I play the music that I love and the music that I know will make them have a great time.” What does EDM mean to you? “Probably the big- gest thing that happened to music in 2012!” Should celebrities be DJs? “If you are talking about something like Paris Hilton did, then absolutely NO!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Haha, no, and I hope that will never happen!” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “A DJ for me is a person that knows how to en- tertain the crowd and mix records at the same time. Everything doesn’t necessarily have to be done live, but it’s important to shock the crowd and show them that you’re giving them your best.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Stockholm!”