Story of a track: Nikolauss - Lifdagar [Subculture]
How many times you wondered how a producer came up with a melody? What is the inspiration behind a specific track? How much did he/ she worked on it? What were the challenges?
Even if I live with the producer, even if know most of the challenges, a track is still a mystery for me at first listen. I usually replay it for a couple of times, to give it a proper listen. I usually replay it for a couple of times to give some proper feedback. And with Nikolauss's tracks this challenge is the strongest one. He is too close to my heart, so sometimes talking about his work with him can be quite harsh. Or too nice.
Lifdagar means "life" in old Icelandic. And this track means "life" to me too. It is all about what love, joy, energy, pure bliss. It was one of the fastest melodies that took life in my mind, but the most challenging one to put it in a track. - Nikolauss
When I first listened to Lifdagar, I was in a teambuilding with my colleagues and Andrei was home alone for the whole weekend. He sent me the link, and instead of "I miss you', he said "Please, let me know what you think about this track. Before thinking bad of him, for not saying "I miss you", you have to listen to the track again. Also, sometimes, many times actually, this is his way of expressing with no words. Sending a track and amaze me with what he can do. With how brilliant his mind can be.
This is pretty much our conversation about it:
Me: Mmmmmmm. New sounds.
Andrei: Yes. Do you like it?
Me: It sounds interesting. There is a "thing" in the track at the beginning. It feels like the track is going backwards for a moment. Is that intentional?
Andrei: Yes. I tried to to get out of the usual.
Me: Sounds nice. I really like the melody.
Andrei: Sure?
Me: Yes. Thought of a name yet?
Andrei: Lifdagar. Old Icelandic word. Do you like it?
Me: Mmmmm.. It sounds a bit heavy.
Andrei: I don't think so.
(2 days later, still away)
Me: I really like Lifdagar. It sounds amazing!
Andrei: :D So you like the name then?
Me: It grows on me.
Andrei: I love it. It is nothing common about it. It's different.
Me: I fell in love with it. Madly. Like I did with you 5 years ago.
Andrei: Come home.
Me: Coming to pick me up?
Andrei: YES.
That was pretty much it. I hit play and magic happened. I hit play and instantly fell in love with the melody, the vibe, the everything of the track. I put it on repeat, again and again and enjoyed every second of it. Every note of it. Lifdagar means to me, to Andrei , to us a lot. It is something different from him. Something mystical. Something to challenge his career and make him pursue this dream even more.
When he signed it with Subculture, when we saw John liked it, Neal liked it and they want it to the label, that was another special day for us. I usually show my joy like crazy, and Andrei is more quiet. He is happy with the results, but lets me show it. Lets me exteriorize all those emotions and pop the bottle of wine to celebrate.
I always joke with him about this, that I should leave him alone more often, if he does such amazing tracks like Lifdagar. But he always shuts me up when he insists that me being away was not the reason at all. It was the heat of the creative process. The moments, the special ones, when he opens Ableton and everything goes smoothly. All planets are aligned and work seems easy. If only every time would be like that!
Lifdagar had an amazing path till now, reaching no.3 on Beatport the other days, and still going strong in Top 10! It is amazing how much support it has from the trance community. It is great to see it played on amazing stages like Mainstage at Luminosity Beach Festival by John O'Callaghan (I was crying like crazy while in the crowd trying to see how people receive it, and they enjoyed it a looot!), at Subculture Australia by the same music man, and everywhere else around the world!
Hope you grabbed your copy: subculture.choons.at/lifdagar and checked its journey through Andrei's socials: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.
Remix of the year: Cold Blue for Joint Operation Centre feat. Kate Miles - Behind The Silence [Subculture]
When I first heard the original I fell in love with it and had it on repeat for days. Literally on repeat. There was no other track that could make me feel what this one made me feel: A deep good darkness. Buuuut, when I heard this remix there were some serious goosebumps involved.
Cold Blue released this on August 24, with Subculture. You can grab your copy too, from here: subculture.choons.at/behindthesilence-coldblue .
If the original meant darkness to me, the remix is something else. As usual, Cold Blue managed to spin the track, the melody, the vibe of it into something le-gen-da-ry. Don't get me wrong. They both are legendary. And could easily be named some of the best tracks of this year. But Cold Blue made me love this even more. If that is possible.
This music man's touch is out of this world. I know. I sound like a complete Cold Blue junkie again. But I can't handle it. I really like how he played with it and gave it a special light. The remix sounds a little bit more playful. A little bit dreamier. At least to me. At least to my soul. Just hit play and you' hear exactly what I mean. You'll see the dance party from my heart. The happiness, the joy, the eargasm this track gives.
Enjoyed it on the dancefloor this year at Luminosity. I enjoy every second of it every time I hit the play button. It is one of my favorites for this year. Actually a lot of Subculture tracks are in my favorites this year. Really hope some are in your playlist too. They are doing great in the scene. They do this music justice.
facebook.com/coldbluemusic
twitter.com/cold_blue
soundcloud.com/coldblue
instagram.com/coldbluemusic/
New Track: Craig Connelly feat. Kate Miles - Lost without you [Subculture]
There is no doubt, Subculture is one of THE trance labels to follow constantly. There is no doubt they release choon after choon and that they never settle for less than greatness. And their latest release: Craig Connelly feat. Kate Miles - Lost without you, makes no exception. He definitely knows how to start a new year! After releasing last year his debut album - One Second Closer (a master piece of an album), he kick starts 2018 with this very nice collaboration with Kate Miles!
With her voice instilling its emotional core, ‘Lost Without You’s lyrical theme will resonate with many, and far beyond the walls of a club. Craig equalizes Kate’s lament with chord & pad empathy, a prime time chiming tempo, and synths, strings & bass that speak directly to the dancefloor. Trance elevation cut from classic production cloth, if you’re in need of New Year uplift, step this way!
Of course, I had the track on repeat today. To write about it, and to dream. To dream about love, happiness and pure joy. Because that is the vibe this track is giving me. Kate's dreamy voice perfectly completes Craig's power within the instrumental. It is an emotional track, and of course quite uplifting. I am pretty sure, a lot of voices will be lost singing along this on the dance floor. Because is it that good.
The track was out today and you can grab you copy from here: subculture.choons.at/lostwithoutyou. I grabbed mine and an sure I will be listening to it for the next days literally EVERYWHERE. Will test it at the gym to, but in my mind it already works pretty well with some cardio.
What about you? What do you think about the track?