|
Words + Shutter: Nick Fiorucci  Amsterdam Dance Event The recent 10th edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) succeeded in bringing close to 400 DJs and acts to a stage in one of the more than 30 participating night clubs. For three days in October, the conference, with registered participants numbering in the thousands, more or less took over the city: with numerous special events, exhibitions, guerrilla gigs, awards shows and even a true dance opera, the streets of Amsterdam were covered in ADE flags and colours. The biggest names in dance music head to Amsterdam every year and this year was no exception. Sets by DJ superstars Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Burren, Ferry Corsten and Tiesto were highlights of the week. Bangin’ house sets were featured by trendsetters Full Intention, Sharam Jey, Seamus Haji, Sebastien Leger and Axwell, as well as smaller events featuring up-and-coming underground electro-hipsters The Glimmers, Legowelt and Canada’s own Solvent. The international dance music scene is a relatively tight-knit community spread all over the world, and events such as ADE give participants the opportunity for an annual meet and greet. Make no mistake, it’s all about the music, but ADE is also where business gets done. Label heads rush from meeting to meeting, usually lasting about half an hour each, in a mad rush to exchange greetings, demos and tips. Licensing deals, distribution deals and publishing deals large and small are signed in a flurry of activity on site at the festival and in the months following, effectively setting the stage for the trends of the coming year. “Hitting it big at the festival,” to the uninitiated, is often considered a fantasy cliché, but every year, new stars and new hits emerge directly as a result of the deals swung at ADE. Much like the Winter Music Conference in Miami in the Spring, it becomes clear very quickly that ADE is where the major trends and upcoming sounds are identified and validated. Dance music is ever evolving, and from this year’s event, it seems that the sound is shifting away from the “Trance” sound that prevailed for the last few years to more of an ’80s-influenced electro-tech-house vibe. Aside from gigs and corporate meetings and events, there is also the conference portion of ADE, with panels and symposiums on the latest hot topics in dance music, hosted by influential industry players. Discussions range from industry-specific topics including digital distribution, marketing and promotion to studio production techniques and new products, as well as Question and Answer sessions with legends of the electronic music scene. This year’s speakers of note included Derrick May, Paul Van Dyk and Dave Clarke. To top it all off, for those unsigned future stars, there is also a demo critique session hosted by Adam Freeland (Marine Parade, UK), and Lars Brandle (Billboard, UK) and remix clinics with Futureshock, remixers of Green Velvet, Moby and New Order. No matter what your focus, be it producer, performer, label or music fan, ADE is a top-notch, high-profile event for the world of dance music. Coupled with the fact that it is held in Amsterdam, a vibrant city where culture meets innovation and tradition and is balanced by a fledging party scene, laid-back attitudes and the all-important coffeehouses, ADE should be a destination for anyone whose heart pounds to a dance beat… Nick Fiorucci President/CEO, HI-BIAS RECORDS INC. (www.hibias.ca)
|
