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Jan 12, 2022
R3WIRE Welcomes A State Of Dance Music 2021 With Mega 50 Track Exclusive Mix
As we celebrate the biggest moments in electronic music over the past year, R3WIRE steps up on Exclusive Mix duties to elevate the party to a whole new level! Showcasing his true skills behind the decks, he records our 2021 A State Of Dance Music Mega Mix in one live take mashing up the Top 50 Tracks of 2021 in a thrill ride 60 minute session! Crank the speakers up for this one, and read on to learn more about the STEREOHYPE label and brand manager, as he recaps what was a massive year for himself and the label!
Cam, thanks so much for joining us today, and thanks as well for making the A State Of Dance Music 2021 Mix! What did the opportunity to make the mix mean to you?
Completely honoured if I’m honest. I feel 1001 really represents the DJs and producers, so being able to showcase my skill set and be part of that movement in history is actually a blessing.
If you had to categorize 2021 as a year musically in a few words, how would you describe it?
2021 saw a lot of main room tech house dominating the scene, but also a surge in techno! Untz untz untz!
Talk to us about how you approached making the Mix.
This mix was particularly challenging so there were a lot of elements that went into the planning. Because I was covering the top 50 tracks and they span all across the house genres, I first had to structure the set so it flowed well for 60 minutes. I also had to consider the pace throughout, leaving space for epic mixes whilst making sure I got some energetic quick mixes in there too! Then I had to consider how the tunes actually mixed together, keys of tracks, vocals, genre of tracks etc…lol..it’s a lot. Once I had it all in place, I made a few edits and acapellas, did a lot of work in Rekordbox and then just went for it. As you see, the mix is done completely live in one take.
Anyone who watches your regular live streams knows you’re a prolific DJ. Can you share some of your tips and tricks for anyone out there working on their mashup/mixing game?
When it comes to mashups…make sure the tracks are in key! Too often I hear mashups that are out of key…music is about sonics and vibrations, if they don’t work in harmony, it's not going to sound or feel good!
I use Rekordbox to see which tracks are in key with each other, but always use your ears to check! Then just think about how you would actually use it in a set…I like using acapella intro/ outro’s.
Mixing is an art and expression of yourself as a DJ. Anyone can “mix”… tell the story in your own way.
Can you highlight three tracks, artists, or edits you included in the Mix and why they stand out to you?
Although it’s such a hard choice, Tita Lau - “The Sequel” was probably my tune of the year, it hit differently! It’s unique, completely fresh and the vocals make it so well rounded.
If I could choose an artist, I’d have to say James Hype. This guy puts the work in and is always pushing the scene forward…I see it first hand.
The first mix in the set using DONT BLINK - “808” and Shouse “Love Tonight” just hits the right spot, especially for an opener. I was hyped when I did it.
Let’s reflect on your 2021 a bit, what were some of the R3WIRE highlights last year?
Definitely not catching covid or breaking my wrist! Yeah, that happened lol. Truthfully I had a lot to be thankful for. Digging my heels into Livestreaming was really important to me. 100x streams through the year really helped me keep sharp and stay in tune with the scene.
I released five tracks which all received high profile support. This was really special for me. Whilst I don’t make tunes for recognition, it’s always good to know people are truly feeling your music to the point they are willing to play it on main stages at huge festivals…this led to me making some big connections with people like Alesso and Tiësto to name a few.
For anyone who may not know, you are the label and brand manager for STEREOHYPE. The label has taken immense strides during the pandemic, can you talk some more about your guys growth over the past year and half?
Yep, that’s me…I’m that guy behind the scenes. STEREOHYPE has performed amazingly as a brand and label. You know, when I first started the label with James, I would hustle everyday just to try and get records signed… not many people would even pay me attention in truth, but I’m persistent! 2021 was all about making an impact on the scene and setting a firm foundation, I feel like we’ve achieved this, but ultimately I dunno, you tell me! What I will say is, there is definitely a high calibre of artists and brands reaching out to work with us now if that’s anything to measure it by.
2022 will see more music, live events and international growth…I’ve said too much already lol.
I do have to mention though, there’s a team of us that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the engine run, and everyone plays an important role. Special mention to James, Tita, Sabion, Rashun and Ines X.
What have been some of your proudest moments with STEREOHYPE and what are some goals you have for the brand and label in the future?
I’d have to say the epic store launch we did in November 2021. We put on a live event with a whole host of DJs including James Hype, Chapter & Verse and Goodboys as well as STEREOHYPE favourites.
The event took A LOT of planning! In the end, everything ran so smoothly from the camera’s (special shout to EVPro) to the venue setup, to the DJs and everything in-between. The most special part of it was being able to invite a select amount of Hypefam along and meet them in person. I can’t tell you how good that feels after “speaking” with them online for so long.
Goals for the brand definitely include international expansion, more Beatport Top 10s and live events.
Looking closer at your own music, how are the tunes shaping up for R3WIRE in 2022?
I’ve got a lot in the pipeline. I’m planning on stepping it up a gear this year with more releases and remixes. I have some really good collaborations dropping with some amazing artists too!
And as we look ahead, what’s keeping you motivated and on track on a daily basis? Are there any things on the horizon that have you excited?
Honestly, I’m driven by my passion for music and more recently the people around me. I can’t stress the importance of having ambitious, driven, like-minded people around it. There’s always so much to do, so I don’t really get a chance to stop anyway.
This year, you will start to see my name on high profile festivals…I can’t say more right now, but watch this space!
View the 1001Tracklists A State Of Dance Music 2021 report: https://www.1001tracklists.com/astateofdancemusic/
short link 1001.tl/cztfwu
