VOLAC Veers Underground on ‘Preach’
March 7, 2023
March 7, 2023
Artist Spotlight: Boogie T
No EDC? No problem! We’ve got a party of our own going on this weekend. For starters, we’ve got MAKJ and Sultan + Shepard at Talking Stick Resort on Saturday by day, and Sango at Crescent Ballroom by night. Sunday you’re in for a treat; VOLAC and Gerry Gonza will be kickin’ it at Shady Park in Tempe.
5/19: MAKJ & Sultan + Shepard @ Talking Stick Resort
American DJ and producer Mackenzie Johnson, who goes by the name of MAKJ, got an interesting start in the industry. As a teen, he was living in China pursuing a career as a race-car driver. He quickly discovered the art of DJing and began experimenting with equipment, and by age 17 he was back in the United States performing a number of gigs. In 2013, he embarked on his first major U.S. tour, followed by a series of gigs at major festivals like Electric Zoo, Coachella, and TommorowWorld. Five years later he’s still dominating the industry.
Joining MAKJ will be Grammy Award-winning Sultan + Shepard. After a chance meeting in Montreal in the mid-2000’s, Ossama Al Sarraf and Ned Shepard quickly discovered that they had a natural musical chemistry. They soon began collaborating on original songs, remixes, and songwriting, officially forming Sultan + Shepard in 2010. From collaborations with revered EDM artists such as Dillon Francis, Tiesto, and Fedde Le Grand to remixes for major pop acts like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, and Madonna, the duo established themselves as one of dance music’s leading partnerships.
Connect with MAKJ: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Connect with Sultan + Shepard: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
5/19: Sango @ Crescent Ballroom
Seattle-based DJ and producer Sango has been all over the map when it comes to talent. The DJ not only produces original music, but has produced tracks for an eclectic range of artists, including Tinashe, Bryson Tiller, Wale, and more, and has remixed major artists like Aaliyah, Drake, Little Dragon, Nas, and The Weeknd. Sango’s music generally focuses on hip-hop and soul-influenced beats, but he’s managed to take these influences and form a distinctive, original sound, unique to Sango alone. About his sound, Sango says, “They’re beats. Regular, real beats. Beats influenced by American hip-hop music, southern, black gospel, 70s/80s soul, straightforward dance music, funk carioca, etc. I could go on, but my point is that when you listen to my music, it’s for you to label if you want. It’s everything I hope you love.” As if this wasn’t enough, the producer is also a graphic designer and he’s self-designed all his releases to date.
Connect with Sango: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Coming at us all the way from Moscow, VOLAC has consistently done exceptionally well at bringing a fresh and colorful sound to the House genre since they first began in 2014. Their style comes off as upbeat, fun, and the kind of music that demands movement. One of their breakout hits “Drug Dealer” was released by CUFF and they’ve been nonstop hustling since. In 2015 VOLAC started working with AC Slater’s Night Bass imprint, having released 2 EPs with them thus far. VOLAC kick-started 2017 in fashion with their Do Ya Thing EP. Currently, they’re on their Russian Style tour, that’s been accompanied by their latest EP of the same name.
Connect with Volac: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
