LAYTON GIORDANI / BART SKILS - DEADLY VALENTINE

A true artist in every sense of the word, Layton Giordani stands firmly as one of the most popular taste makers of techno’s new school, with his pioneering musical vision serving as a contemporary voice for the younger generation. Spending years acquiring knowledge from musical greats, the 28 year old possesses a wealth of experience far beyond his years and has now undeniably earned his rank in the upper echelon of techno. With a repertoire that knows no bounds, the dexterous New Yorker has explored a new dimension of scope with each passing year, nurturing a monumental discography that echoes staunch dedication to his craft. Giordani’s palpable successes can be largely credited to his extensive stock of knowledge, garnered through an insatiable work ethic and years spent earning his keep in the industry. Solely focused on his passion for music from the age of just 13, Giordani’s path forever changed at 19 years old after watching Danny Tenaglia perform live at Pacha NYC. Deeply inspired by the formative experience, Layton began to master his craft behind the decks, landing a pivotal residency at Brooklyn’s Output NY that would consequently steam-roll his career into quick maturity. Thanks to the faith they instilled in him, Layton turned heads and began making a name for himself through his deft touch and sharp ear. Seeking further guidance from another of the long-standing greats, Giordani spent countless hours under the mentorship of Adam Beyer, honing his composition talents and studying the cardinal cuts of techno’s rich history. The affiliation resulted in Giordani’s first releases under the Swedish maven’s storied imprints; an EP titled Unspoken on True soul followed shortly by Rivington, his input to Drumcode’s celebrated A-Sides series. News of the untapped star’s fresh sensibilities circulated and in 2017, Giordani erupted onto the scene with his aptly-named debut album contribution to Drum code in the form of Where It Begins. The 12-track LP served as the first seismic indication of his capabilities and subsequently received critical acclaim from artists, new fans and industry specialists alike. These nascent experiences take on greater meaning when you consider Giordani would collaborate with Tenaglia just a matter of months after the LP’s release, dropping the standout Live Again before 2017 would dawn. Today, the cut is still considered by many to be a modern-day Drum code classic. Just one short year later and the advancement of Giordani’s career showed no signs of slowing as he teamed up for a distinguished three-way collaboration alongside Beyer and Chicago legend Green Velvet for Space Date. The single was the sound of the summer and matched the prosper of his touring schedule, which now included main stage appearances at Drum code Festival, Melt! Festival, Warehouse Project, Motion Bristol, Resistance Ibiza, and the Gashouder for Awakenings x Adam Beyer presents Drum code, among many more. Another stellar solo EP titled Phase II soundtrack Ed the year and led to several more resume-building releases, such as his 2019 hit Chrome, which dominated Drumcode’s A-Sides Vol. 8 compilation, as well as another collaborative effort with Green Velvet on Fuzion; his inaugural release for Relief Records. Replete with creative aspiration and further seeking to express his unique perspective on the genre, 2020 saw the delivery of Giordani’s most complete and robust offering to date, with his sophomore album New Generation. Crafting a critically acclaimed sound through inspirations far removed from techno, the hyper- talented producer presented an opus that favoured ambiences and immersive city soundscapes. Giordani distilled the future into album form with these 11 tracks, citing a refined sound palette built on artistic vibrancy. The LP marked a decisive pivot in Drumcode’s production output, advocating Layton’s nouveau strain of modernized techno in its most tailored form. Diving headfirst into his career with unmatched tenacity, Layton Giordani has achieved more in a matter of years than most artists will in a lifetime and yet he’s still barely skimmed the surface of the possibilities that lie ahead. His unapologetic approach to composition and thirst for knowledge has ensured his seminal status as one of techno’s elite, as he continues to entrench himself as the industry’s new school luminary. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Bart Skils' career started in 1995 when he moved to Amsterdam and started working for Outland Records. First playing in Amsterdam's legendary Mazzo club he became resident with his own weekly Voltt nights. Known for his smooth mixing and dynamic sets he steadily developed into one of Amsterdam's finest and most respected DJ's. His style ranges from techno to electro, always funky and danceable. He is also founder and host of the highly respected Voltt and Traffic events, both situated in Amsterdam. Traffic is based at the famous Melkweg venue and focuses more on the true techno sounds while his Voltt events, based in Dutch poptempel Paradiso, are more minimal and smooth. With his regular appearances along guests such as Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Heiko Laux, Oscar Mulero and Ricardo Villalobos. The Traffic and Voltt nights are seen as one of the leading club nights around with a great fan base and good atmosphere. Recently Bart Skils has teamed up with fellow colleague DJ/producer Jerome to hit the streets with their "Take one, know one" EP which was picked up by Pure Plastic Records. This London based record label is one of the leading techno labels around featuring artists such as Surgeon, Ben Sims, Oscar Mulero and label owner Mark Broom who also did a slamming remix of their "Take one, know one" EP. With his residencies in clubs like Paradiso, Melkweg and Mazzo, tight productions and regular gigs at all the major dance events, club nights and festivals like Awakenings, Lowlands, Innercity, Pinkpop, Dance Valley, Extrema, Impulz and 05 Days Off he's built himself a strong solid reputation for quality music. More info: http://www.bartskils.com/ Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.