Today, tickets for Coachella 2013 already went on sale. This was just announced a week ago and I’m still sucking in my three day experience that happened only a month ago. Unfortunately, I won’t be attending Coachella next year as I have plans for Ultra Music Festival in Miami. BUT, for those who are planning to buy their tickets for Coachella, I have several tips and some experiences from what I witnessed when I went. I hope you take some of them into consideration as they will make your trip to Indio better and even more memorable.

Check out my recorded videos of Coachella at YouTube.com/user/RoomNoise09/videos

1. Go With a Group of Friends

Luckily, I went with a group of 10-15 people. We all stayed at the same hotel, but went to Coachella at different times throughout the day. We always scheduled a time and place where we could all meet to see a band that we enjoyed. I spent most of Coachella with my best friend but even then, A LOT of people from what I witnessed went with a huge group of friends. It’s harder to maneuver across the huge crowd if it’s just two people. The more friends, the better to get around the crowd. The average was from 4-7 people, I find that going with a medium size is ideal because you have friends to enjoy that live experience with.

Extra tips:

- Have a meeting spot if someone gets lost (Ex. A1 Speakers on Mainstage).

- You will barely get any signal when you text someone, so add the time you texted them.

- People would carry a tall stand or wear a large hat so that you won’t lose track of where your friends are going in the crowd – many people did themes for their group.

- At the end of the night, if you lose your friends – just meet them back at the hotel or camping spot. It’s pretty much a stampede trying to find someone then!

2. Drink Lots of Water & Bring a Hoodie

Thank god they only sell water at Coachella for $2.00, what I did was kept the water bottle (or bring your own) and refilled it at the water stations. Keep a map/schedule with you, because those show you where the water stations are when you’re dying of thirst. You’re in the dessert for god sakes and in the sun from 8-12 hours – you do NOT want to spend $300 on a ticket and get a heat stroke.

During the day it gets really warm (25-30 degrees) but at night, you’ll pretty much freeze to death. So bring a sweater or a scarf to keep yourself warm after sunset.

Extra tips:

- Have someone in your group bring a small backpack or bag to keep essentials (water bottles, sweaters, etc).

3. Save Your Favourite DJ Sets for a 19/21+ Event

One major mistake I made was seeing all the DJ’s that I haven’t seen before at Coachella. You gotta remember that if you’re legal drinking age, then save these DJ’s for your hometown show. Coachella is an all-ages event, so do you really want to be in a crowd with teens who’s never been to a rave for the first time? I found it difficult to enjoy a show when there were teenage girls around me arguing if they should go to another tent.. or taking a shit ton of pictures of themselves (get out). Most of these DJ’s will cater to the crowd, therefore they will only play what people know. I’ve heard the same five tracks at four different DJ sets.

Unless you know that DJ rarely tours or goes to your hometown – then check them out!

4. Pick Your Bands Wisely

Schedule conflicts; it’s bound to happen. Tough decisions must be made and most of the time you gotta plan it out logistically.

To choose between the two bands with the same time slot, ask yourself/friends:

- Which band is most likely going to be doing a show near you? See the one that won’t come to your hometown or ever have the chance to see again.

- Do a vote between your friends – majority wins.

- Which band did you listen to first? See the one you’ve devoted the most listening time to.

5. There’s A LOT to Do, But Barely Any Time to Do All

You’re obviously at Coachella for the music, but there’s also an art gallery, installations, beer gardens and a damn ferris wheel! You’re not going to have enough time to do everything, so when you do have time in between bands, rest and go around to check things out. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to do much, but I know that Coachella schedules artists on certain days for a reason. Best day to take it easy and check things out is on the Saturday. You know you’ll go crazy on the FIRST and LAST day of the festival, so use Saturday to buy merch or get a CD signed by your favourite artist.

6. See New Bands – Even if You Haven’t Heard of Them

Say that you really don’t want to look around Coachella, then check out an artist you haven’t heard of before. There can only be two outcomes, you either hate it or like it! Every tent has a different crowd, what better way to meet new people and listen to something you haven’t before. I had the best time seeing Flying Lotus, I must say he was my favourite set. You’d be surprised by taking a chance at a band/artist!

7. Security Lines: They Do Body Checks – Twice

Worst. Part. Of. Coachella. The first day we lined up for nearly two hours just to get in! They did body checks on everyone… twice. Make sure you get there at LEAST an hour before the scheduled band you want to see. The last thing you want is waiting in line while you miss your favourite band on stage.

Extra Tips:

- Drugs, they look through everything: between the legs, under your bra, whatever zippers and sealed items in your purse. Guys, tape it you-know-where.

- They will not allow open commercial water bottles or juices.

8. ENJOY YOURSELF

Try not to get in a fight, I saw plenty of girls cry because they got in a fight with either their girlfriend or boyfriend. Come on, it’s a music festival. Bring a camera, keep hydrated, enjoy the scenery and music.

Modeselektor / Berlin

Flying Lotus – Zodiac Shit

Language by Porter Robinson

Zedd – Stars Come Out (Dillon Francis Remix)

This poster is 100% accurate:

Constance Chan

Within just one month, four major new festivals were announced through social networks with some of the biggest international DJ’s and Producers headlining it. Toronto is used to having to accommodate weekly EDM events throughout the city, but having a two day, 12 hour festival featuring various genres of the EDM community? Never. That’s why I’m more excited than ever to be living in Toronto this summer to experience all four hometown shows, I hope all of you have the same opportunity as well.

To celebrate these announcements and welcoming, as well as promoting international to local DJ’s, I have compiled a list of mix tapes of DJ’s that will be hitting Toronto this summer. Because believe it or not, this summer will be all about the EDM Festivals.

Which one are you most excited for? Tweet at us through @_RoomNoise or Like us on Facebook.

DIGITAL DREAMS:

Kaskade Live At Coachella 2012 by Kaskade

Alesso – Essential Mix – 24.03.2012 by edmtunesTV

Chuckie – Essential Mix 27-01-2012 by edmtunesTV

FULL FLEX EXPRESS:

Sirius XM Blow Your Head 11 by diplo

Eight And A Half – Scissors (TOKiMONSTA Remix) by TOKiMONSTA

IDENTITY FESTIVAL:

Identity Festival Lovers Mix by Arty

Essential Mix by Nero

Alexandra Palace, 26th November 2011 (Full Set) by Eric Prydz

VELD:

Knife Party UKF – Liveset by Knife Party

Essential Mix BBC Radio 1 (28-04-2012) by Nicky Romero

May 2012 Mix by Tommy Trash

Enjoy these mix tapes, it will keep you hyped until you see these guys live!

Constance Chan

BENZI & BLACK CARDS | Moodswing x Karmaloop SXSW Mixtape by BENZI

Tracklist:

01 | Laidback Luke, Arno Cost & Norman Doray “Trilogy (GTA Remix)”
02 | David Guetta & Sia “Wild Ones (Basto Remix)”
03 | Afrojack & Shermanology “Can’t Stop Me (Benzi Edit)”
04 | LMFAO “Sorry For Party Rocking (Diggz Trolled Out Edit)”
05 | Gotye “Somebody That I Used To Know (Hyper Crush Remix)”
06 | Steve Aoki, Chiddy, & Lil Jon “Emergency (Clockwork Remix)”
07 | The Cataracs “Synthesizer”
08 | Iggy Azalea “PU$$Y (Jason Smith Remix)” [DOWNLOAD]
09 | Martin Solveig “Night Out (A-Trak Remix)”
10 | Bailey Smalls “Baby, I Love You” (Get Right Records)
11 | Ingrosso & Alesso “Hands Free Calling (Benzi & Spryte Remix)”
12 | Clinton Sparks & Pitbull “Watch You”
13 | Skeet Skeet “Stand Again”
14 | Dev & Timbaland “Don’t Hurt”
15 | Das Racist “Booty In The Air”
16 | Hyper Crush “Chead”
17 | Willy Joy “I’m Losing You” (Get Right Records)
18 | Dillon Francis & Kill The Noise “Dil The Noise”
19 | Mike Posner “Looks Like Sex (Aylen & Drunkmaster Flex Remix)”
20 | Diplo “Set It Off”
21 | Codes “World Rulin”
22 | Wolfgang Gartner & Bob Marley “The Way The Sun Is Shining”
23 | Example “Changed The Way You Kissed Me (Black Cards Remix)”
24 | Iggy Azalea “My World (Bailey Smalls Remix)”
25 | Siver Medallion & DStar “Stars” (Get Right Records)
26 | The Partysquad & Alvaro “Wataah (Black Cards Remix)”
27 | Sofi & Skrillex “Bring Out The Devil (Enferno Remix)”
28 | Schoolboy Q & A$AP Rocky “Hands On The Wheel”
29 | Donnis “Hello Kitty”
30 | Mike Posner “Chameleon (Prod. Diplo)”
31 | W.E.E.D. (Shwayze & Sky Blu) “Summertime”
32 | Nina Sky “Day Dreaming”
33 | Adele “Set Fire To The Rain (AYB & That Momemt Remix)”
34 | Zak Waters “Fadeaway”
35 | Solidisco “Hooked (Boson Remix)” (Get Right Records)

‘Like’ us on Facebook if you haven’t. I tend to share more news and tracks on there!

Constance

Well, my apologies for not blogging in the the past two weeks. I’ve recently moved to New York City for my internship and what better way to celebrate my stay in this wonderful city than with a Gosteffects single!

So check it out Gosteffect’s first original track which will be released on Beatport on February 14th.

If you’re also in the states you can catch Gosteffects on tour:

Gosteffects – Slave to the Sweat [Out 2/14/2012 on AFTERLIFE] by Gosteffects

One of my biggest regrets was not discovering Bag Raiders until early last year. I must say that their self-titled album is still one of my top 5 favourite albums of all-time. If you haven’t heard their name before, I’m sure you’ve heard their single, ‘Shooting Stars’ in commercials to the ending credits of How To Make it in America (RIP). Earlier this week these Australian duo’s released their monthly mixtape. Enjoy and definitely check out more songs from these guys!

Bag Raiders Monthly January Edition 2012 by bagraiders

Tracklist:

More – Nils Frahm
Baby I Got It – Miguel Campbell
I Can’t Sleep At Night – Daniel Bortz
U Got Me – Lee Foss
Tobago – Jonas Rathsman
Akabu – Life Is So Strange
Rock Me – Russ Yallop
Want You In My Soul (Hot Toddy dub) – Lovebirds
See Blind Through (Mic Newman remix) – Canyons
Love In Me (Maceo Plex remix) – Laura Jones
Mhm, Yeah Yeah – Lazaro Casanova
Home (Tim Green Remix) – M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade
Snooze 4 Love – Todd Terje
Nightwish – BS1
Space Ballad (TEED Remix) – Fur Coat
Better (Arto Mwambe Remix) – Viadrina
Hurting (Tensnake Dub Remix) – Friendly Fires
Get Together – Rene Amesz
Whipped Cream – Homework

- Constance

Enrique Iglesias – Naked (Trevor Simpson Remix)

- Constance

Just yesterday A-Trak released his January 2012 mix from his live recording on Sirius XM Radio. Make sure to keep an eye out on him as he is currently doing a North American tour – stopping in Toronto at the Hoxton on February 9.

In the meantime, check out his mix below as well as a video preview of how his show went last year in New York at Madison Square Garden. Must of been a blast.

Fool’s Gold Radio – January 2012 Mix by A-Trak

Tracklist: 

1. A-Trak & Zinc “Stingray” (A-Trak Intro Edit) (Fool’s Gold)
2. Hijack “Pudding”
3. Obi Blanche “72 Hours” (NT89 Remix) (Bang Gang)
4. Sacha Robotti “The Major” (Dirtybird)
5. George FitzGerald “Shackled” (Hotflush Recordings)
6. Beyonce “End Of Time” (Claude VonStroke remix) (Columbia)
7. T “Gangster” (Snapped)
8. CSY & Stripes “Speak Easy” (Body Work)
9. Jack Beats “Make The People” (Dubs for Clubs)
10. Bobble “Zefix” (Jan Driver remix)(Guys N Dolls)
11. I:Cube “Transpiration” (Versatile)
12. Para One feat. Surkin “Compute” (Marble)
13. Mount Kimbie “Before I Move Off” (Star Slinger Remix) (Hotflush Recordings)
14. La Fuente “Bang Bang” (Mixmash)
15. Bart B More & Tai “Nobody Canna Cross It” (TWR72 Remix) (Secure Recordings)
16. Astronomar “Back to the Beat” (Jeffries)
17. DJ Naughty “Dangerzone” (Kicks & Snares)
18. MJ Cole “Red and Black” (One-Armed Bandit remix)
19. Justice “On ‘n’ On” (Brodinski remix) (Ed Banger)
20. Drexciya “Water Walker” (Andrew Ross Edit) (Submerge)
21. Bazar “Hard To Find” (Maceo Plex Funk Drop) (Ellum Audio)
22. Gramophonedzie “Number One” (Guesthouse)
23. House Republic “Nuggetz” (Ego)
24. Little Boots “Shake” (Crazy P remix) (679)

- Constance

Iggy Azalea – Ignorant Art

Iggy Azalea – Hello feat. Joe Moses

Iggy Azalea – My World

Imogen Heap – Just for Now (Gosteffects & Rule of Eight “I’m God” Remix) by Gosteffects

- Constance

I must start off by saying I was rather disappointed with my personal selection of my favourite albums of 2011. In my opinion I felt that this year for music went through a huge wave of different trends and hits. And those trends were both good and bad. Obviously, it is pretty much impossible for me to listen to every genre that there is out there, so I try my best to listen to everything I can.. when I can.

Some of the great things that happened this year was the success of many producers and DJ’s that had finally gotten the recognition they deserved. And the way that live music can be experienced at any where and at anytime. With the help of websites such as Turntable.FM and Boiler Room, more and more fans have the opportunity to hear and see what their favourite DJ’s/producers are playing at live shows. Another great event that happened throughout this year is the press and documentation of music trends and collaboration. Earlier this year we saw the release of The Electro Wars - a documentary focused on how the online music world has evolved as a genre and as well as the business side of it. And just a couple of weeks ago we saw the interview clips for the upcoming film Re:Generation The Music Project featuring various collaborations between artists of different genres.

I feel that the downside to this year’s music was how certain genres exploded onto the mainstream group and the creativity of some genres such as Dubstep is no longer what it was. I’ve read several of articles on the history behind it, and I’ve seen this genre from when it just hit the North American music scene. Now, producers such as Skrillex are selling out shows as much as any other popular musicians on the top 40′s chart. Music is music, but I feel that some people are just throwing stuff on top of other music samples and labeling it ‘X genre’… when in reality it’s pure junk.

Overall, I’m not TOO upset about these albums, but I wish I had more time this year to listen to what other musicians had to offer through an album… and not just singles and remixes.

10. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

I’m sure many Coldplay fans would agree that this album felt a bit forced, as in it wasn’t what the band wanted as a group naturally. It felt that Mylo Xyloto was pushed by the band’s record label to just produce another album.

9. Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Despite her massive success in the past three years, I must say I was SUPER disappointed in this album. Yes there were several great tracks, but the whole album just made no sense as a concept. It sounded like one big messy mixtape inspired from different musical eras.

8. Adele – 21

Adele has put so much passion onto every single, it’s definitely a beautiful album to listen to when things isn’t just going right. I’m sure the millions of fans who bought her album would agree.

7. The Strokes – Angles

Some great tracks on Angles but there were many other singles that made me wonder how they managed to put this album together. This album’s sound is definitely a bit different compared to their older albums.

6. Frank Ocean – Nostalgia/Ultra

This whole album is just purely beautiful. From singing about Coachella to sampling Coldplay and MGMT. This 24 year old has already earned writing credits from John Legend, Beyonce and even Justin Beiber. You’ve probably seen Frank Ocean in Odd Future, but this mixtape is completely different from what he might sound like when he’s with Tyler, The Creator. Definitely a must listen if you haven’t had the chance to check it out. Ocean is listed as one of the top musicians to look out for in 2012.

5. Theophilus London – Timez Are Weird These Days

LISTEN TO: All Around The World, Stop It, Wine and Chocolate

 

I was absolutely a huge fan of Theophilus London in 2010 and finally he released a full-length album this year. I couldn’t get enough of it. He got even more recognition because of HTMIIA (RIP) as his single “I Stand Alone” was featured in one of their promotional trailers. Theophilus London will stop by Toronto on February 17th at Wrongbar.

4. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne

LISTEN TO: No Church In The Wild (feat. Frank Ocean), Lift Off (feat. Beyonce), Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson)

I must admit, when I first heard this album I was kind of disappointed…but it was definitely one of those albums that grew on me throughout the months of listening to it at parties, events and just when I needed some sort of ‘hype’. Musically, they had great collaborations and major sampling from various electronic/dubstep artists such as Cassius (‘Why I Love You’) and Flux Pavillion (‘Who Gon Stop Me’). I guess when two major hip-hop artist collaborate.. it won’t be a let down.

3. Kaskade – Fire & Ice

LISTEN TO: Turn It Down, Ice (feat. Dan Black), Room for Happiness (feat. Skylar Grey)

I have always been a huge fan of Kaskade, he is one of the producers who have been working endlessly on this genre from the beginning. And because of the recent trends in Electro he’s finally getting huge recognition by everyone. I definitely loved the collaborations in Fire & Ice, mainly because most of the guest vocalists are still up and coming musicians who need this great exposure. Check this album and his previous ones to see where I’m coming from.

2. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

LISTEN TO: Intro (feat. Zola Jesus), New Map, Claudia Lewis

Absolutely speechless. M83 had surprised me. I heard Midnight City and my first impression was “just another one hit wonder”. It wasn’t until I checked out the entire album and was 100% blown away by it. From the short instrumental tracks to the big band sounding singles with synths and sax, it’s one of those inspirational albums that makes you appreciate music in a whole different level. Anthony Gonzalez mentioned many times in his interviews that Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins played a huge role in the sound of Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. It’s great to hear inspirations from 90s’ bands mixed into the current trends of music. I have so much more respect for a band like M83 because this two disc, 22 track, hour long album had the ability to make anyone feel a mix of various emotions by simply just listening.

1. Foster the People – Torches

LISTEN TO: Houdini, Waste

Foster the People has become one of those bands that blew up in the span of less than a year. I remember listening to their single ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ in an Entourage episode back in 2010. And it wasn’t until the summer of 2011 that they hit the radio waves with that same song. Now they’re selling out shows across the globe and despite their popularity, they did earn it no matter what. They are the perfect example of how successful bands can become with the help of music blogs/aggregators and music supervisors. Most of their success came through sending their EP to music licensing companies to air on television shows. And because of more hype from blogs, it instantly led them to a record deal. FTP has only been together for two years, so I hope their next album won’t be a let down.

Honorable Mentions:

Metronomy – The English Riviera

Feist – Metals

Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix

- Constance