EDM news
Pollen Presents, The Cityfox Experience, And The Brooklyn Mirage Announce Departure in Playa Del Carmen!
Teaming up, Pollen Presents, The Brooklyn Mirage, and The Cityfox Experience present Departure, a five day and night travel experience in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, from January 6-11, 2022. Featuring a custom build mirage and two further unique stage builds, this innovation in creativity will host performances from the leading international names in electronic music, as well as fully immersive production created by the team behind New York’s beloved venue The Brooklyn Mirage and event curators The Cityfox Experience, the new experience represents an exciting new addition to the dance music calendar.
Departure’s phase one lineup is an eclectic line up of who’s who on the international circuit. From, South African house hero Black Coffee, former RA #1 Dixon and his long time partner and collaborator Âme for a special B2B set, Belgian techno sensation Amelie Lens and a plethora of other superstars. Michael Bibi, Solardo and CamelPhat represent the UK’s vibrant tech house sound, while there are performances from festival stalwarts and Mirage favorites Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers. Damian Lazarus returns to his spiritual home of Mexico, while there are special performances from a string of the leading artists in the global scene. Nora en Pure, Nicole Moudaber, Jamie Jones, Lee Foss, DJ Tennis, Andhim, Matthew Dekay, Monolink, Stephan Bodzin, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Zombies in Miami and many more round off a star-studded line up heading to the Mayan Riviera in January. Expect unique performances to match the unparalleled settings, with a string of exciting new names and collaborations guaranteed for Phase 2.
The production credentials of The Brooklyn Mirage, Cityfox and Pollen need no introduction, fans heading to Playa del Carmen in January can expect to discover a new Mirage in the Mayan Riviera sunshine. This venue will be custom designed and built for those attending Departure, alongside two further new venue space build outs, making this a unique and exclusive experience for all in attendance. Since the dawn of time, humans have celebrated the earth’s revolution around the sun and this cycle of new beginnings is intrinsic to our circadian rhythm and the cadence that governs the natural world. We celebrate this cycle with Departure.
This will all be set across luxury accommodations at a string of premium hotels including The Grand Hyatt, The Thompson, The Hilton, Panama Jack and Yucatan resort, all serving gourmet food & beverages. The unique experience eschews larger crowds for something far more intimate, combining the stress-free environment of high-end travel with the thrill and adventure of a one-of-a-kind festival.
Beyond the music itself, travelers heading to Mexico can revive themselves each morning with daily yoga and meditation at the beachfront Grand Hyatt, swim laps in each of the hotels’ swimming pools and eat their way through the gourmet food options available. Daily excursions are available to purchase, from cenote trips, to boat parties, scuba diving, jet skiing, hiking in ruins and more.
Perched on the Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the bright yellow sand and azure sea of Playa del Carmen make it an ideal destination for some winter sun. A short drive from Cancun International Airport, guests will have accommodation options at five different hotels, with options for all budgets.
Departure represents a new standard in music and travel. An immersive experience with the world’s leading names in house and techno, partnering with behemoths in the North American scene, it’s the chance to experience once-in-a-lifetime performances in unparalleled settings.
For more information about the event, including payment plans, package upgrades and FAQs, visit pollen.co to stay up-to-date with the latest in lineup, pricing, and event news.
EDM Music
Unheard Music unveils its second release, ‘Your Retreat’, from Malandra Jr. & pizzaaftersex
Unheard Music is back with its second release, ‘Your Retreat’, a collaborative house anthem from Malandra Jr. and pizzaaftersex.
Unheard Music continues its journey of artistic freedom and underground expression with its second label release. Italian producer Malandra Jr. joins forces with Unheard label head pizzaaftersex to present ‘Your Retreat’, a track that captures the label’s commitment to music that is uncompromising, experimental, and charged with underground energy.
Carefully crafted around a rolling house groove and uplifting melodies, ‘Your Retreat’ is designed to connect with listeners and energise dancefloors from intimate club rooms to open-air festival sessions. Musumeci and Kirik expand the release with remixes that bring distinct perspectives, with Musumeci adding his signature Italo Indie Dance touch and Kirik injecting raw drive and club-focused intensity, creating a versatile package for DJs across a variety of different styles and settings.
Beyond the release, ‘Your Retreat’ reflects the ethos of Unheard Music. Launched by Far&High, pizzaaftersex, and Mona Chrome last year, the label was born from the belief that dance music should be more than trends, algorithms, or safe formulas. Unheard Music provides a platform for artists to experiment freely, break boundaries, and be heard in ways that feel raw, honest, and true to their vision.
pizzaaftersex comments:
“For me, this is a very special piece of work. The release turned out to be dual – there is an incredibly strong mood that Malandra brought into the track, there are amazing remixes by Musumeci & Kirik, and there is also my original vision of the track, which dissolved within the interpretations of other artists. It is an incredible experience to live through this process, to accept it, and to fall in love with what it became. This is an extremely positive experience, and I hope everyone will be able to feel all the shades of our new release on Unheard Music.”
Pizzaaftersex is a new name on the electronic scene, with a background as a producer and sound designer. Having achieved success in cinematic music, including a soundtrack credit for a world-renowned international gaming project, he now turns his focus to club and dance music, a space close to him both as a DJ and as a producer.
Malandra Jr. comments:
“This project was born between Italy and Dubai. It comes from deep mutual respect and from a fresh, sparkling melody that immediately pushed me to create something that could make it even lighter and more enjoyable to listen to. At first, I thought of something indie but then house music showed up. I hear summer in it, good vibes. A driving loop that releases into drops full of groove. Don’t look for overthinking here, this is about holding a glass in your hand and enjoying life.”
Malandra Jr. comes from a family steeped in music and art. Raised listening to his father’s saxophone and exploring technology from an early age, he began composing on an Atari and working with DAWs like Cubase before mastering classical piano and studying clarinet at the Academy of Teatro alla Scala. His early electronic releases, including ‘Conquest’ on Cocoon Recordings, captured the attention of DJs and promoters, leading to subsequent releases on labels such as Dfloor, Stil Vor Talent, and R&S. Over the years, Malandra Jr. has performed at major festivals and clubs worldwide, from Tomorrowland to Watergate, delivering DJ sets that are varied, rhythmic, and immersive, blending light and darkness while captivating audiences across the globe.
Unheard Music is planning activities beyond recorded output, with events, podcasts, video mixes, and off-site sessions in unique locations, all curated to form part of the vision to connect people through sound and offer music as culture rather than an algorithm. ‘Your Retreat’ is a clear statement of the label’s philosophy, showcasing the creativity and freedom at the heart of Unheard Music, while reaffirming its commitment to supporting underground expression and artistic exploration.
EDM Music
STBAN Leans Into Hope With New Single ‘Esperanza’ On FLAMENCA Records
FLAMENCA Records boss STBAN continues his surge into 2026 with his latest single, the stand-alone flamenco house groover ‘Esperanza’. A traditional Spanish word for “hope”, “esperanza” symbolizes optimism, faith and aspiration for a better future.
It’s fitting, with the world’s energy as it is, that STBAN releases the track alongside an official video that feels both cathartic and hopeful. ‘Esperanza’s’ video follows the journey of its protagonists from heartbreak and loneliness, through radical self acceptance, towards healing and ultimately, through closure of the emotional cycle, a new chapter.
Musically, ‘Esperanza’ continues the label’s push to bring Flamenco House to a global audience. Undulating synth and percussion sections combine to create a relentless rhythm that bubbles under the evocative topline. Beautifully Hispanic, it manages to be both ethereal and club ready at the same time, STBAN’s composition weaving hypnotically across pulsing 4×4 tempo, a driving sense of movement that pulls the listener to the heart of the dance floor.]
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EDM news
DJ Snake Revives Pardon My French: 10-Year Anniversary Global Tour 2026
Pardon My French 2026 officially returns this March as DJ Snake relaunches his iconic event series for a global 10-year anniversary tour starting in Miami.
Global icon DJ Snake has officially announced the return of Pardon My French (PMF), his influential event series and cultural collective, marking 10 years since the brand’s first tour launched in 2016. After several years without a full touring run, following its last major era of shows in 2019, PMF returns this March, officially relaunching on March 26, 2026 in Miami, FL at Toe Jam XL during Winter Music Conference. The 2026 run continues on April 18, 2026 in Indio, CA with a major takeover during Weekend Two of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Quasar Stage, before heading to France for two landmark summer events: June 27, 2026 at Matmut Stadium de Gerland in Lyon, France and August 9, 2026 at Les Plages Électroniques in Cannes, France. Together, the four dates mark a full-scale reintroduction of PMF across the U.S. and France, reaffirming its status as one of dance music’s most anticipated live concepts.
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Known for massive production, surprise back-to-back sets, and relentlessly high-energy crowds, PMF positions DJ Snake alongside close collaborators, international heavyweights, and rising talent. The Miami edition will feature appearances from A–Trak, Dillon Francis, TroyBoi, Flowdan, REMK, and Chuwe, with more artists to be announced.
Founded in 2015, Pardon My French was created by DJ Snake to champion French electronic culture on a global stage. Originally formed alongside fellow French artists Tchami, Malaa, and Mercer, the collective united a new generation of French talent and presented it with confidence and edge, with its 2016 debut tour introducing international audiences, particularly in the U.S., to a unified, high-impact French electronic movement. Beyond music, PMF has evolved into a broader lifestyle platform extending into fashion and streetwear, using bold design and selective collaborations to reflect its unapologetic, global, and community-driven ethos.
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