EDM Music
Decibel Open Air Announces Paul Kalkbrenner, Amelie Lens, Ben Klock, Richie Hawtin, And More As First Acts For 2021 Edition!
It’s time to say goodbye to 2020 as soon as possible, and it’s time to say welcome to 2021 and to a real renaissance. These are the reasons why today Decibel Open Air 2021 reveals its first wave of acts.
Paul Kalkbrenner (live), 999999999 (live), Amelie Lens, Ben Klock, Fisher, Gioli & Assia (live), Giorgia Angiuli (live), Kölsch, Michael Bibi, Pan-Pot, Reinier Zonneveld (live), Richie Hawtin e Wade: these are the first names announced by Decibel Open Air, the electronic music festival taking place in Visarno Arena in Florence Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th in September 2021. This first act is 40% of the full line-up. Many heavweights will soon be announced.
Decibel Open Air lineup is a spectacle, with many top players on stage. Paul Kalkbrenner is a real superstar, thanks to his 8 albums, his concerts in the most important festivals, his cult movie “Berlin Calling” and related soundtrack; Amelie Lens is a real techno queen: she plays in the best clubs and festivals, her Exhale parties and LENSKE (her label) releases are massive; charismastic and effective Ben Klock is resident at Berghain/Panorama Bar from its kick off in 2004; in 2015 his set won “The Essential Mix Of The Year” (BBC Radio 1); Fisher is considered of the global house superstars behind one of the biggest dance floor anthems of the last 10 years with “Losing It”; Richie Hawtin is a huge electronic music teacher, innovator and experimenter, in 2015 he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of the University of Huddersfield.
Kölsch has built a reputation around his emotional brand of melodic techno, collaborating with the likes of Coldplay, Imogen Heap, London Grammar, Tiga and Michael Mayer; Solid Grooves boss, Dj Awards winner, Michael Bibi is a name a name that resonates with many for quality and something different: making music, playing music & a love for the party scene are the three things that motivate this man; Pan-Pot music placed a primacy on integrating electronic experimentation with minimal stylings while simultaneously establishing the ominous, murky sounds that have since become synonymous with their name; dutch techno master Reinier Zonneveld musical talent truly stands out during his live performances and he’s closing off this year with a new EP on his label Filth On Acid; Wade is practically unique, mixing convincing rhythms along with hip hop details, such as vocals and percussions.
999999999 is an italian techno duo, well respected in Italy and worldwide; multi-talented artists, musicians, producers and live act Giolì & Assia have plenty of strings to their bow; Giorgia Angiuli is a classically trained musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Very early on she developed a strong interest in electronic music and started to experiment with new live techniques.
Deep House
Mazay & HIGH’S COOL Release ‘Weekend’ on Fankee
Mazay and HIGH’S COOL release ‘Weekend’ via Fankee, a euphoric house and french touch single channelling the carefree energy of early 2000s club culture.
Community-driven label Fankee is proud to announce the release of “Weekend”, the new collaborative single by Mazay and HIGH’S COOL.
Born spontaneously during a phone call between Mazay and Federico “Fede” Secondomè of HIGH’S COOL, “Weekend” captures the chemistry of two artistic worlds reconnecting after years of shared creative evolution. The result is a track that channels the carefree instinct and euphoric energy of the early 2000s while sounding unmistakably contemporary.
Built around infectious house grooves, french touch textures and retro-inspired brit-pop vocal melodies, “Weekend” is designed as a soundtrack for collective escape, a song that transforms every weekend into a ritual of freedom, movement and connection.
Mazay, DJ and producer with a strong electronic identity, first emerged internationally as one half of the iconic duo Pink Is Punk, a project that helped define a generation of EDM and electro club culture. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with influential artists and producers including Drillionaire and Benny Benassi, contributing to multiple platinum-certified productions.
Alongside his studio work, Mazay has performed special DJ sets for AC Milan at San Siro, shared stages with Jovanotti during the Jova Beach Party and continues to tour Italy’s leading clubs with a sound that blends house, tech house and high-energy club sensibility. At the same time, he maintains deep roots in the underground electronic scene, with productions regularly supported by internationally respected DJs across the global club circuit.
HIGH’S COOL is an Italian electronic duo formed by Federico Secondomè and Keith Rich, combining early-2000s french touch energy with psychedelic pop influences reminiscent of Tame Impala, the glossy electronic aesthetic of Empire Of The Sun and the brit-pop attitude of Pulp. In a short time, the project has evolved into a wider creative movement spanning music, fashion and nightlife culture.
As producers, Secondomè and Keith Rich have also contributed to major international releases, including VULTURES 1 and VULTURES 2 by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign. Their artistic identity merges playful irreverence, refined sound design and a vivid visual language, positioning HIGH’S COOL among the most compelling emerging acts within Italy’s independent music landscape.
The release also reflects the vision behind Fankee, the revolutionary community-driven label redefining the relationship between artists and audiences. In an era dominated by algorithms, fleeting virality and platform gatekeepers, Fankee gives power back to fans, transforming them from passive listeners into active collaborators in an artist’s growth.
Through its innovative model, fans become instrumental in discovering artists, promoting releases, activating communities and helping shape cultural momentum. Meanwhile, artists retain their independence while gaining access to a collaborative ecosystem built around community participation, shared growth and direct engagement.
With “Weekend”, Mazay, HIGH’S COOL and Fankee come together to deliver more than just a single: they introduce a shared experience rooted in nostalgia, dancefloor culture and the collective energy of modern independent music.
EDM Music
New EDM Friday June 12: Kaskade, HUGEL, DJ Snake & More
New EDM Friday June 12 brings new music from Kaskade, BUNT., HUGEL, DJ Snake, R3HAB, and more.
New EDM Friday June 12 brings together new singles, remixes, and EP releases covering melodic house, bass music, trap, tech house, and crossover electronic music. From Kaskade and BUNT. with Comes Back Around to HUGEL, Big Sean, and Scott Storch with Body Drop, ISOxo getting a DJ Snake remix on FUCK THE SPEAKERZ UP, and Rova releasing the Undisputed EP, these are the tracks you should not miss on this week’s New EDM Friday.
Kaskade & BUNT. – Comes Back Around
Kaskade and BUNT. release Comes Back Around, a collaboration first played live during Kaskade’s solo return to Coachella earlier this year. The single continues Kaskade’s ORIGIN // era, following Meet Again with Natalie Jane and Layton Giordani, the official EDC Las Vegas 2026 anthem, and lands during a busy run that includes Electric Forest, X Games Sacramento, Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge, Tokyo, Las Vegas, and more. For BUNT., Comes Back Around adds to a breakout stretch that has already included Coachella, EDC Las Vegas, Lollapalooza, a Wynn Las Vegas residency, and recent official remix work for Taylor Swift and Zedd. With Kaskade coming off one of his biggest creative resets and BUNT. entering 2026 as one of dance music’s fastest-rising names, Comes Back Around gives this week’s New EDM Friday a collaboration that connects Kaskade’s ORIGIN // chapter with BUNT.’s current rise.
Afro House
Afro House and Afrobeats Unite as Lohrasp Kansara and DJ Power Breathe New Life Into Afro B’s Hit ‘Joanna’
Lohrasp Kansara “Joanna” Afro House remake lands on TH3RD BRAIN alongside Afro B and DJ Power.
There are records that simply update a song. Then there are records that fully reimagine one. Lohrasp Kansara’s new single “Joanna,” released May 29th on TH3RD BRAIN Records, belongs firmly in the second category. Built from the ground up alongside DJ Power and co-released with the original artist Afro B himself, this is not a remix of the 2018 Afrobeats global hit. Instead, it is a brand new production with a completely new identity. It is built for where Afro House and the dance floor are in 2026. For fans intrigued by the collaboration of Lohrasp Kansara, Joanna, and the surrounding contributors, this release is a must-hear.
The production centres on deep, groove-forward percussion, uplifting chord work, and a refined melodic structure.This structure takes Afro B’s beloved topline and repositions it at the crossroads of Afro House credibility and mainstream dancefloor appeal.
Breaking Down the Artist Behind the Record
To understand why this collaboration carries real weight, you need to understand where Lohrasp Kansara sits in 2026. The Swiss-born, New York-based DJ and producer has logged over 6,000 shows across 60+ countries. He has played five clubs currently ranked on the DJ Mag Top 100 and opened the year with his first headline at Marquee New York to a packed room. In addition, Pete Tong personally signed two of his singles to his imprint Places & Spaces, including “Sandstorm,” which Tong played from the Creamfields main stage. Black Coffee has ID’d eleven of his tracks across his official Spotify playlist.
“Sandstorm” peaked at number 3 and held a spot there for 209 days. His catalog has reached 175+ chart placements and 13M+ playlist reach. Moreover, it has received support from the likes of Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Dom Dolla, Adriatique, and Keinemusik, among many others. This broad global reach positions the Lohrasp Kansara and Joanna collaboration as a key moment for both artists. For fans following the rise of Lohrasp Kansara and Joanna, this collaboration marks an important milestone.
Beyond the touring and catalog, Lohrasp runs LOCO CARNAVAL, his weekly Sunday experiential party at Somewhere Nowhere NYC. He has hosted the likes of Shimza, Moojo, Awen, and Kintar there. This event is a platform that speaks to his curatorial vision as much as his artistry. It is a self-built room in one of the world’s most competitive music cities. Having a hand in unique experiences like LOCO CARNAVAL shows how Lohrasp Kansara’s creativity runs through everything he does. From Joanna to his collaborations with global artists like Afro B, his innovation is clear.
The Release and the Buzz So Far
Since its May 29th release, “Joanna” has already made early moves on Beatport. It landed on the Weekend Picks Melodic 2026: Week 22 at number 47, while currently sitting at number 67 on the overall Afro House chart. Additionally, it is at number 20 on Latest Releases: Afro House, with momentum still building. It has also picked up support from the respected editorial platform Madorasindahouse. This buzz surrounding Joanna and the rise of Lohrasp Kansara Joanna in the scene showcases a momentum that is only growing.
The live energy around the record has matched its momentum. Lohrasp ran the record across two nights at Somewhere Nowhere NYC. This included a Saturday night release party with Afro B performing live to a packed room. Furthermore, it was followed by a Sunday Cenote Project daytime rooftop session that carried the same energy across the weekend. Moreover, the excitement surrounding these events reflects Lohrasp Kansara and Joanna’s influence on fans and the Afro House community.
Why “Joanna” Matters Right Now
Lohrasp Kansara’s “Joanna” arrives at a moment when the line between Afrobeats and Afro House continues to blur. This trend is evident among both mainstream and underground audiences. What makes this release different is the full involvement of the original artist. That participation gives the track a level of cultural authenticity that a standard remix process could never achieve. It takes a song already embedded in the cultural memory of millions and gives it a new home on the dance floor. At the same time, it preserves the qualities that made the original resonate. For anyone tracking the continued rise of Afro House as a global genre, this release deserves close attention. Notably, the collaboration between Lohrasp Kansara and Joanna reinforces their influence on the direction of Afro House.
Where to listen and connect:

Website: Lohrasp Kansara
Instagram: @lohraspkansara
YouTube: @LOHRASPKANSARA
Spotify: Lohrasp Kansara
Soundcloud: LOHRASP KANSARA
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