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Phake and Haley Maze Release Hot Boys Cry
Phake and Haley Maze Release Hot Boys Cry as a dance track spotlighting men’s mental health through speed garage and electro pop
Phake and Haley Maze have teamed up again for Hot Boys Cry, a new Beat Dealer Records single that turns its playful title into something with more meaning behind it. The track puts men’s mental health at the centre, touching on the pressure men often face to hide what they feel or act unaffected. Instead of making the subject feel too heavy, the duo bring it into a catchy dance release with a lighter sense of humour in the writing. Following their previous collaboration Yesterdays, Hot Boys Cry continues the emotional songwriting thread between them while moving into a faster direction. With speed garage and electro pop influences running through the production, the single gives Phake and Haley Maze another release that feels personal without losing its club focused edge.
Phake And Haley Maze Continue Their Run Of Emotional Dance Collaborations
Before Hot Boys Cry, Phake had released Live Big, Love Fast, Bad Influence, and Yesterdays through Beat Dealer Records, giving his recent catalogue a clear link between fast dance production and more personal songwriting. His profile has also grown outside streaming, with appearances at PAROOKAVILLE, SonneMondSterne, and San Hejmo, along with a sold out show at Bootshaus Cologne. Those details help place Hot Boys Cry within the same run of releases, where his music is not only made for short, catchy formats, but also for ideas that carry some emotional weight.
Haley Maze brings her own dance music background into the collaboration as well. After working with Phake on Yesterdays, which passed over 2 million streams on Spotify within seven months, she returns with a vocal part that keeps the writing direct without making the song feel too serious. Her catalogue also includes releases with Blasterjaxx, Neptunica, W&W, and AXMO, so Hot Boys Cry sits alongside a wider list of electronic music credits, not just one previous collaboration. That matters here because the song needs the vocal to carry both the joke in the title and the message behind it, and Haley Maze gives it that balance through a delivery that feels playful but still clear.
Inside The Lyrics And Production Behind Hot Boys Cry
By the time Hot Boys Cry gets into Haley Maze’s vocal, the title starts to feel less like a joke and more like the entry point into the song’s whole idea. The writing takes aim at the expectation that men should stay guarded, using lines like “Hey why you gotta act so bulletproof” and “therapy would look so good on you” to make the point without dragging the track into a lecture. That is where the humour in the song becomes important, because it lets Phake and Haley Maze talk about opening up without making the record feel weighed down by the subject. Haley Maze keeps that balance in place through melodic phrasing and a cheekier edge, making the lyrics easy to catch without losing the meaning behind them.
The production gives the single just as much detail, with Phake taking Hot Boys Cry into a faster direction influenced by speed garage and electro pop. The gritty arpeggiating bassline gives the track its movement, while robust kickdrums and vocal chops keep the arrangement busy around the hook. Compared to Yesterdays, which leaned into a more sentimental feeling, this release feels brighter and more restless, especially in the way the instrumental rushes around the vocal. At just over two minutes, the track keeps its structure tight, but there is still enough going on between the bassline, vocal chops, and hook to make the song feel complete instead of rushed.
By the end of Hot Boys Cry, the strongest part of the single is how naturally Phake and Haley Maze bring two different sides of the record together. The song has a title that catches attention quickly, but the writing gives it a reason to stay in the listener’s head beyond that first reaction. Haley Maze keeps the message direct through lines that call out emotional guardedness without turning the track into something overly serious, while Phake keeps the production active with speed garage and electro pop influences, vocal chops, kickdrums, and a gritty bassline that give the song its faster pace. After Yesterdays, Hot Boys Cry feels like a stronger continuation of their collaborative direction, taking the emotional writing that already worked between them and placing it in a brighter, more cheeky dance record. For a track that runs just over two minutes, it gives Phake and Haley Maze enough space to make the idea clear, keep the hook memorable, and add another well timed release to their growing run on Beat Dealer Records.
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The heavy sound of underground techno has officially taken root in the Southeast and Atlanta is about to become ground zero for its biggest event yet.
This Labor Day weekend, Twisted Lines will make history by hosting the city’s first-ever techno festival. Taking over Atlanta Utility Works on September 4th-5th 2026, this massive concept promises to set a new tone for electronic music events in the Peach City.
The weekend gathering will feature two specially curated stages spread across both indoor and outdoor spaces. Beyond the music, attendees can expect to completely lose themselves in immersive art installations and exclusive merchandise designed for this milestone weekend.
A Lineup Worth the Hype
Twisted Lines leans heavily into booking unique, boundary-pushing artists who are notoriously rare sights in the U.S. The headliners for this debut edition represent a masterclass in modern, fast pulse techno.
Friday:
Kobosil
Ueberrest
Emilija
Fenrick
YSNXS
Saturday:
Onlynumbers
BAUGRUPPE90
Madwoman
Sam Wolfe
SELECTIVE RESPONSE
Each artist on the roster brings a fiercely distinct sound ranging from high-bpm industrial grit to hypnotic groove. Festival organizers have confirmed this is only the beginning, urging fans to keep their eyes locked on their feeds as more details are announced closer to the date.
The Brains Behind the Beats
For those tapped into the local scene, it’s no surprise that Twisted Lines LLC is the mastermind behind this historic movement. The crew has long established themselves as absolute pillars of the Atlanta underground scene. They have built a reputation for treating every single warehouse party and club night like a monumental occasion.
Twisted Lines dedicates themselves to bridging the gap between local, underground talent and the most dominant international DJs in the techno scene. Their track record speaks for itself, having previously brought titan-level headliners like Basswell, Cloudy, Klangkuenstler, and Sara Landry to the city.
What You Need to Know
Tickets are on sale now. Given the massive demand for techno, you don’t want to hesitate and buy last minute. This event is 18+ to enter and you can expect a space that perfectly mirrors the gritty and industrial spirit of Twisted Lines.
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New EDM Friday August 14 brings new music from Skrillex, Anyma, Armin van Buuren, What So Not, Tape B, and more.
New EDM Friday August 14 brings together new singles, collaborations, EP releases, and crossover records covering bass music, melodic techno, trance, trap, house, and dance. From MPH and Skrillex with Mirage to Anyma and Volkoder with Other Dimension, Armin van Buuren and DIØN with Burn It Up, What So Not with I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, and Tape B with Zaytoven on Signature Sound, these are the tracks you should not miss on this week’s New EDM Friday.
MPH & Skrillex – Mirage
After being teased by MPH at EDC Las Vegas in May, Mirage now gets its official release with Skrillex through DisOrder and Capitol Records. The track brings together MPH’s place in the new wave of UK Garage with Skrillex’s long history of pushing electronic music into different directions, while also sampling Red Rat’s early 2000s Jamaican dancefloor classic ShellyAnn. The collaboration was made in one afternoon, with MPH explaining that he and Skrillex passed the laptop back and forth until their sounds came together. After a summer that included Parklife, Lollapalooza, and Outside Lands, plus upcoming dates at CRSSD Festival, EDC Orlando, Seismic Dance Event, and headline shows across Europe and North America, MPH comes into Mirage at one of the biggest points in his career so far. With its UK Garage base, Jamaican sample, and long-awaited Skrillex connection, Mirage opens New EDM Friday August 14 with one of the week’s biggest releases.
Anyma & Volkoder – Other Dimension
Other Dimension brings Anyma and Volkoder together during the next phase of Anyma’s visual and melodic techno world. The track had already been circulating online as an unreleased ID before appearing on release lists, with earlier setlist references also pointing to the collaboration under the title Another Dimension. For Anyma, it continues the move from Genesys into the new ÆDEN chapter, which has become the focus of his 2026 shows. Volkoder adds a Brazilian producer presence to the release, with a background connected to house, techno, and club records. With the track now tied to Anyma’s current visual world and Volkoder stepping into that space, Other Dimension gives New EDM Friday August 14 a melodic techno entry alongside the heavier and bass-focused records on the list.
Armin van Buuren & DIØN ft. Scrufizzer – Burn It Up
After first being premiered during Armin van Buuren’s Amsterdam Dance Event 2025 show, Burn It Up now gets its full release with DIØN and Scrufizzer through Armada Music. The track later appeared in Armin van Buuren’s Tomorrowland 2026 set, giving it a clear live history before release day. Burn It Up connects DIØN’s harder production style with Armin van Buuren’s long-running place in electronic music, while Scrufizzer adds a grime vocal that gives the record a sharper edge. The single also includes an extended mix, which fits the way the track had already been moving through live sets. With DIØN coming off releases such as Come Alive, Taka Tribe, and Pulsation, Burn It Up brings a harder techno and hard dance entry into New EDM Friday August 14.
What So Not – I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY
What So Not’s new EP I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY looks back at the early trap, beats, and future bass culture that helped shape his sound, while placing those ideas in his current creative world. The project follows the singles EVEREST with Alina Pash, MONA LISA with Mr. Carmack and Benni Ola, and Candy Flipping with Jack Blom, NERVE, and Alina Pash. Across six tracks, the EP brings in Alina Pash, Mr. Carmack, Jack Blom, Elohim, Christian Patey, Losco, Michael Christmas, and Caliph, moving between cinematic songwriting, bass experimentation, and the kind of collaborative energy tied to that earlier internet-era electronic scene. The project also connects to What So Not’s North American tour under the same title, a smaller-room run focused on community and direct connection with his audience. With the EP revisiting the sound that first changed his path without simply repeating the past, What So Not adds one of the week’s main bass projects to New EDM Friday August 14.
4B – SWITCH
4B returns to Deadbeats with SWITCH, following his June label debut WHAT IS THIS. The single moves further into dubstep while keeping the Jersey Club influence that has been central to 4B’s sound, pairing heavy basslines, hypnotic vocals, and harder drops with the high-energy approach he has carried across his career. The release comes during a busy year for 4B, including headline performances in Los Angeles and Bangkok, along with his residency at Hakkasan Nightclub Las Vegas. His wider catalogue includes the breakout single Pop Dat, the 2018 release Whistle, and remixes of Fetty Wap’s My Way, DJ Snake’s Middle, and J Balvin’s Mi Gente. With support from Tiësto, Skrillex, Diplo, Steve Aoki, RL Grime, and I Hate Models, SWITCH brings 4B’s Jersey Club and bass music sound into New EDM Friday August 14.
Tape B ft. Zaytoven – Signature Sound
Tape B links with Zaytoven on Signature Sound, a collaboration that brings his nostalgic dubstep influence together with one of Atlanta hip-hop’s most recognizable producers. The track was inspired by the famous UKF dubstep tutorial and the 2010–2012 era of dubstep, with Tape B using Zaytoven speaking about the “wub” sound as part of the idea behind the record. Zaytoven’s production history includes work with Gucci Mane, Future, Migos, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and 21 Savage, making the collaboration a natural extension of Tape B’s long-running connection to hip-hop through edits, flips, and his 2024 Juicy J collaboration Trippy Land. The single has also been part of Tape B’s live sets since his fall 2025 bus tour, where it was used as an intro before becoming a regular favorite in his shows. With Tape B continuing a major run that includes sold-out Summer Program dates with Levity and a nearly sold-out two-night Red Rocks headline later this year, Signature Sound adds a bass and hip-hop crossover to New EDM Friday August 14.
Wax Motif & Spin Off – Naked Girls
Wax Motif and Spin Off team up on Naked Girls, a new bass house single released through Divided Souls. The track follows Wax Motif’s recent House of Wax II album and keeps the focus on the heavier side of his sound, using blaring sirens, hard-hitting basslines, and a playful hook. Spin Off brings his unconventional house approach into the collaboration, with his sound taking influence from the Blog House era. The release also comes ahead of Wax Motif’s upcoming Grand Park headline show in Los Angeles, which is set to be his biggest production so far and will include new visuals, outdoor production, and unreleased music. With Wax Motif continuing to connect house, hip-hop, R&B, and bass house through his own releases and Divided Souls, Naked Girls gives New EDM Friday August 14 another house entry with a rowdier edge.
Honorable Mentions:
Above & Beyond, Victoria Horn – When You Believe (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
Adam Beyer, DJ Jock – Let Loose
AFROJACK – Monopoly Man
Bassjackers, Space 92 – I’m On Acid
Ferry Corsten, Leon Bolier, Mostly Cloudy – Bring Me Back To Life
Joris Voorn, Xavier Rudd – Spirit Bird
LSDREAM, Kill the Noise – Belong to Me
LSDREAM, Kill the Noise – Stink Mode
Lucas & Steve x Mike Bond – Be Like Bob
MaRLo – Give Me Tech Energy
Matisse & Sadko, SIX40TWO – Whole Again
Matt Sassari, HNTR – Short Stop
Moby, BLOND:ISH, Kiko Franco, Jacob Lusk – Natural Blues (TECIE)
Olly James, Caroline Roxy – Trance, Acid, Techno
Restricted – Like To PARTY
Robin Schulz & Watermät – Take It Slow
Sarah De Warren – Lokah
ShockOne, Indy Skies, SLESS – Golden Hour
Space Laces – Hazard Pay
Stella Bossi – Sonic
Steve Aoki & Sub Zero Project – Promises
Subtronics – Birdphone
Van Murten – Doppelgänger
Van Snyder, Kevin Krissen – Alive
VASSY, RICHIE ROZEX – Make Me
Vluarr – What It Is
Walker & Royce, FENIK – Utopia
WILL K – Treat You Better
Wu-Tang Clan, Michael Bibi, Kettama – MYSTERY OF RAW
Zerb & Khalid – Faded Eyes
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Breakaway Music Festival unveils phase one of 2027 festival tour with Tampa, Atlanta, Ohio and Minnesota announced
The nation’s leading independent live music and entertainment platform, Breakaway Music Festival Presented by CELSIUS®, today announced the first four festival weekends of its 2027 schedule. As the U.S. touring festival series approaches the conclusion of a record-breaking 2026 season, Breakaway is making its biggest investment yet in each market, raising the bar across talent caliber, production quality, and the overall fan experience.
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Breakaway Music Festival Announces First Four 2027 Stops
Next spring, Breakaway Music Festival will kick off in sunny Florida with Breakaway Tampa on April 16-17, ushering in the season before traveling through a series of signature markets across the country through November. Following Tampa, the nationwide tour will continue with Breakaway Atlanta May 14-15, Breakaway Ohio over Memorial Day Weekend on May 28-29, and Breakaway Minnesota June 25-26. Additional cities will be announced later this year.
“Our festivals will always be the foundation of Breakaway, and in 2027 we’re investing more than ever to make each stop on the tour bigger and better than ever before,” said Adam Lynn, Breakaway Co-Founder & CEO. “This is a sneak peek at what’s ahead, with much more to be announced this fall.”
Breakaway Continues To Expand Its Platform
Breakaway continues to expand its platform through several growing business verticals, led by Breakaway Studios, its media arm focused on developing and producing original content and IP, and Breakaway 360, the in-house experiential agency. Together with its concerts division, Breakaway Presents, and its record label and artist development arm, Breakaway Projects, these pillars shape Breakaway’s broader entertainment ecosystem and create new ways for the brand to connect with fans year-round.
Breakaway Music Festival Continues Its 2026 Season
With the 2026 season still underway, Breakaway Music Festival has already welcomed nearly 160,000 attendees across its first seven event weekends, with six festivals still to come, including Breakaway Michigan August 14-15, Breakaway Mass August 21-22, Breakaway Philadelphia September 11-12, and Breakaway Carolina September 25-26, before concluding in Breakaway Utah October 2-3 and Breakaway Houston November 13-14, both first-time stops for the brand.
This year also marked Breakaway Music Festival’s landmark debut in New York City at Under The K Bridge Park earlier this summer. 2026 lineups were anchored by globally renowned electronic music artists including FISHER, John Summit, KETTAMA, Subtronics, Tiësto and more, reinforcing Breakaway’s reputation for delivering world-class talent and unforgettable live experiences to fans nationwide.
Breakaway Music Festival 2027 Tickets
Tickets for Phase One markets will go on sale to the general public on August 19 at 10 AM ET. Fans who sign up for presale access today will have the opportunity to purchase tickets one day early, on August 18 at 10 AM ET.
Register for presale access here: breakawayfestival.com/2027-season
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