EDM Music
Topic Talks About The Success Of ‘Breaking Me’, Being Back On Stage, Having A Signature Style & More!
Very few artists have had such a monumental 2020 and 2021 quite like German artist Topic. With ‘Breaking Me’, he crossed 1 billion streams, an achievement very few within the dance music scene have hit. With the pressure on him, he delivered in style with his official version of classic dance ‘9 PM’. Having just performed on the main stage of SAGA Festival, we had the pleasure of speaking to him about a number of topics, full interview below.
Hey Topic, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. You’ve just finished your set 15 minutes ago. How did it feel to be back on stage after a number of lockdowns?
Bro, so sick! Like, imagine you’re a DJ and you’re in a cage for one and a half years. And finally, you can get back out and see people.
What did you miss most about being on stage?
Mostly how the people react and put their hands up, sing your songs, and all that stuff, yeah.
You say you were in a cage. Is there anything you miss about the past year and a half?
Yeah, of course, it was nice because you had so much time in the studio and everything. But to be honest. No, I just want to tour and go on stage and have a good time.
Speaking about your music, you have recently blown up with lots of hits but you’ve been releasing songs since 2014. Do you feel your experience has helped shape your career?
Definitely. I mean, that you never know what song is going to be hit or not, but I definitely gonna say like, when you produce, you know, more and more, what’s good and what’s bad. And that’s kind of what helped me.
‘Breaking Me’ really blew up, gaining over 1 billion streams. When you were in the process of making it and before it was released, did you feel you had something special?
I didn’t feel I had something special. I didn’t feel like it’s gonna hit a few billion streams, that’s insane!
With this song, it was a blend of deep house, pop, dance, a hybrid of many styles and you’ve been the driving force behind this new genre. How does it feel to be one of the main artists behind this fresh new style?
Feels great man. I mean, to be honest, everyone making music is always looking at their heroes and what they’re doing. I was always looking at Martin Garrix, The Chainsmokers, and everyone. And to be honest, even ‘Breaking Me’ was inspired by Medusa, in a way, you know, like they pitched down a vocal, Regard pitched down a vocal and then ‘Breaking Me’, you know, everything’s just like what did he do and it’s great now that people take ‘Breaking Me’, and it’s like a different style, you know.
This is what I’d call your own signature style. From your experience within the dance music scene, how important is it for you to have your own flavor?
It’s so difficult, it’s so important to have your own sound because everyone in dance music, like, if you go now to dance playlists and listen to it, everything sounds like Medusa, you know, close to that, you have to stick out and just have your own sound.
Since ‘Breaking Me’ was such a huge hit, did you feel pressure to follow up on it?
A little bit, of course, but in the same way, it’s just like when you have such a big hit. It’s just so rare to have that. And, I mean if I have it again, it would be insane. But if I won’t have it it’s not bad.
Speaking of SAGA Festival, you’ve just come from the mainstage. How was it to perform for the very first edition?
That was insane, it was great. I was here already yesterday, it’s such a great festival, it’s so big and the stages are so nice and I cannot wait to be back here next year!
The Romanian crowd really seemed to respond to you very, very well, even early in the day, it was a really good turnout. How do you feel the crowd reacted to you?
Yeah, they were really reactive and no matter what I did, they responded to me and really liked it. They were on it.
Thanks so much for your time! Is there anything you’d like to announce with our readers?
Unfortunately, I would love to announce a new single but I don’t have it yet. I’m looking for it man, but hat’s what it is.
Check out Topic’s latest release below:
Subscribe to our Newsletter
EDM Music
New EDM Friday Aug 7: Hardwell, W&W, Max Styler & More
New EDM Friday Aug 7 brings new music from Hardwell & W&W, MEDUZA, Kevin de Vries, Max Styler and more.
New EDM Friday August 7 brings together new singles, EPs, and album previews covering big room, techno, bass house, melodic house, and electronic pop. From Hardwell and W&W with Turn Up The Bass to MEDUZA and Kevin de Vries with 7 Days, Eli Brown with It’s Like That, Max Styler with I Don’t Think I Can Stop, Skilah with Dance MF, and Jazzy with My People, these are the tracks you should not miss on this week’s New EDM Friday.
Hardwell & W&W – Turn Up The Bass
Hardwell and W&W reunite for Turn Up The Bass, bringing together two of the most recognisable names in big room and electro house. The collaboration lands as both acts continue strong runs of live appearances across the summer festival circuit, and the track does exactly what the title suggests, delivering the high-energy floor-focused sound that defined the peak era both artists helped build. Turn Up The Bass opens New EDM Friday August 7 with one of the week’s most direct dancefloor statements.
MEDUZA & Kevin de Vries – 7 Days
MEDUZA and Kevin de Vries join forces for 7 Days, pairing one of melodic house’s most consistent production outfits with one of the genre’s most in-demand selectors and artists. Kevin de Vries has spent the past few years building a reputation across the bigger stages of the melodic and progressive world, while MEDUZA continue to operate across club and festival settings with equal footing. 7 Days brings both together for one of this week’s most polished house releases on New EDM Friday August 7.
Eli Brown – It’s Like That
Eli Brown returns with It’s Like That, the second single from his debut album Panic Attack, due August 7 via Insomniac Records. Built around a defiant vocal refrain, rumbling basslines, acid-fuelled synths, and rave sirens, the track captures the escapism and collective energy of rave culture with a gritty edge rooted in his Bristol upbringing. It follows Electrify and pushes further into the raw, uncompromising sound that runs through Panic Attack. Brown has performed at EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, Ultra, Coachella, Awakenings, and Creamfields, and heads into the rest of 2026 with his largest headline show to date in Los Angeles on November 14. It’s Like That is one of this week’s strongest techno entries on New EDM Friday August 7.
Max Styler – I Don’t Think I Can Stop (EP)
Max Styler releases his six-track EP I Don’t Think I Can Stop through his own imprint Nu Moda, arriving on the heels of his Lollapalooza performance. Built to replicate the arc of his open-to-close live sets, the project moves between blaring sub-bass, handcrafted beats, and hooky guest vocals across tracks including the bass-heavy Uh-Oh!, the crowd-facing Body Shake, and the kaleidoscopic Templo Disko. Styler describes the EP as reflecting the pacing and sonic identity of his live sets, a departure from the more immediate impact of his singles. The release also comes alongside the official video for disco-tinged track Love Forever featuring Kuuda, and coincides with his BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix hosted by Pete Tong. I Don’t Think I Can Stop adds one of this week’s most complete EP releases to New EDM Friday August 7.#
Skilah – Dance MF
Skilah releases Dance MF via Breakaway, continuing a breakthrough year for the 23-year-old DJ and producer. Known for her dark, bass-heavy sound and use of her own vocals, she has built a distinct identity in the electronic space alongside a rapidly growing audience of over 3 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Her live footprint has expanded steadily through appearances at Coachella, Breakaway Music Festival, Foam Wonderland, Ubbi Dubbi, and additional dates across the US and Canada. Dance MF pushes her sound further forward as one of the more exciting emerging voices in New EDM Friday August 7.
Jazzy – My People
Jazzy follows her bass house collaboration Invisible with Chris Lorenzo with My People, released via Chaos Records. Written alongside Mark Ralph, Theo Hutchcraft, and Guillaume Alric of The Blaze, the track is a personal tribute to her hometown of Dublin, weaving euphoric house energy with late-night pop and direct storytelling. It arrives ahead of her debut album Peace and Patience, due October 23, and a headline tour that culminates at Dublin’s 3Arena with a capacity of 13,000. This summer she also joins Calvin Harris as main support across a run of stadium shows in Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, and Ibiza. My People closes New EDM Friday August 7 with one of the week’s most personal and well-positioned releases.
Honorable mentions:
A Little Sound & Kelvin 373 – Same Thing
Adriatique, Genesi, Emmit Fenn – Closer
ALPHA 9 – Ascend
Amelie Lens & Angèle – Run
AN21, Fiction, O1, Fouren – Stay With Me
Aspyer – Alive
bradeazy, Öwnboss – Louboutin
Chuckie, MC Ambush, Mosimann – Move It 2 The Drum
Crankdat, Wooli, TiaCorine – Fux with Us
Da Tweekaz – Step Into The Madness (Into The Madness 2026 Anthem)
Darren Porter – Taurus
D-Sturb – Good Old Days
Ellie Goulding – Ravers
Flux Pavilion & The Freestylers – Cracks (2026 version)
Giuseppe Ottaviani, Diana Goldberg – Hold On
Koven – wHERE the rhythm goes
Krewella – the blueprint
Lee Foss, GS5 – Separation
Liquid Soul, Captain Hook – Liquid Hook (Victor Ruiz Remix)
Marlon Hoffstadt – Das ist Daddy (Album)
Marshmello, Viperactive – How I Feel
Nifra, KEVU – Hardwired
Noizu, Amira Eldine – Feeling
NOME. & Merow – Alive
Phuture Noize x Deezl – My Misery
R3SPAWN – Adagio For Strings
Rank 1, Notelle – Serotonin
Ray Volpe – THROW IT UP
Route 94, Mellizos – 4Get The Girl (Mellizos Remix)
Said The Sky, ILLENIUM & Heather Sommer – When The Light Breaks
Sara Landry, Alex Farell – Angel Dust
Shermanology – Let’s Go
Solomun, Inéz – Raider on the Storm
Spencer Brown – Storm Chasing
Thomas Newson, Siege, I Jah – Pitcha
Timmy Trumpet ft. Moa Lisa – Wanna Be Loved
Toneshifterz & Dimatik & Weaver – Rise Of The Phoenix
UMEK – Vibrancy (Kos:mo Remix)
Vivid – The After Party
Watermat, James Mac – Daydream (EP)
Stream all the new music on Spotify and Audiomack to hear the full New EDM Friday playlist.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Afro House
Dennis Ferrer to Headline ¿PorQuéNo? Toronto’s Tulum Day Festival at Evergreen Brick Works
Dennis Ferrer headlines ¿PorQuéNo? Toronto, a two-stage daytime festival at Evergreen Brick Works on August 29, 2026, bringing Tulum’s beach party energy north.
¿PorQuéNo? is bringing its signature Tulum Day Festival concept to Toronto this summer, in partnership with Puzzles Presents with house music veteran Dennis Ferrer topping the bill at Evergreen Brick Works on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Doors open at 4 PM for the 19+ event, which runs seven hours across two stages and is expected to draw over 2,000 attendees for a full day-into-evening celebration of house music in the city’s historic industrial park setting.
Dennis Ferrer Headlines ¿PorQuéNo? Toronto

The Dennis Ferrer ¿PorQuéNo? Toronto booking brings one of soulful house’s most respected names to the daytime festival stage. The New York-based DJ and producer built his reputation through soulful, gospel, and Afro-house influenced production, co-founding Sfere Recordings with Kerri Chandler before launching his own label, Objektivity. He remains best known for his 2010 Defected Records single “Hey Hey,” a record that helped define the sound of soulful house for a new generation of dancefloors, and his catalog includes long-running collaborations with Masters at Work and Little Louie Vega.
Full Lineup at ¿PorQuéNo? Toronto 2026
Dennis Ferrer headlines a stacked bill that includes Ashkan Dian, Azul, Bardia, Different Human, Chism, Johnny Khan, Razaq El Toro, Ry, Saint X, Shayne Mags, Singhara, and Tristan VanGrant. The full roster leans into the same soulful, groove-driven house sound that defines the ¿PorQuéNo? brand, setting up a day of continuous music across the festival’s two stages.
View this post on Instagram
Venue & Event Details
¿PorQuéNo? Toronto takes place at Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, a former industrial brick factory turned community and event space known for hosting outdoor markets and festivals. Key details for attendees:

THE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Featuring:
• Afro, tribal and organic house & techno
• Immersive production and Tulum-inspired design
• Live performers and dancers
• Body art and curated pop-up vendors
• Food and drinks available for purchase
• Boho chic and elevated summer style encouraged
- Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
- Doors: 4 PM, running through 11 PM (7 hours)
- Age restriction: 19+
- Capacity: ~2,000
- Parking: Paid parking available on site
- Refund policy: No refunds

Tickets for Dennis Ferrer PorQueNo Toronto are on sale now through Eventbrite.
The Team Behind the Party
Bringing this one to life is a lineup of Toronto promoters as strong as the one on stage. Puzzles Entertainment, known for their deep, progressive, and melodic house nights around the city, joins forces with AYRA Collective, a regular co-host of ¿PorQuéNo? Tulum Day parties across other cities, and FLOWSTATE, a local house music events crew built around giving DJs of every level a platform. Together, they’re the crew making sure Evergreen Brick Works feels every bit like Tulum for the day.
Don’t Forget to Follow ¿PorQuéNo?
Stay connected and be the first to hear about future dates, special offers, and behind-the-scenes moments. Follow ¿PorQuéNo? across all platforms:
Instagram: @porqueno.vancouver and @porqueno.tulum
Facebook: PorQuéNo? Tulum
Eventbrite: PorQueNo Organizer Page
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Afro House
Casa de Afro Same Language Meets a 24-Hour Mission
Casa de Afro Same Language single drops July 24th, followed by a 24-hour Venezuela charity set from founder Dr. ADO next Saturday.
Casa de Afro Same Language marks a defining moment for the label arm of the Mexico City-born Afro House brand. It is landing July 24th as a modern reworking of a platinum-certified record. Additionally, it arrives days after founder Dr. ADO takes on a 24-hour DJ set to raise funds for Venezuela.
From Mexico City to London: The Casa de Afro Story
Casa de Afro was built from the ground up in Mexico City as a music-first Afro House residency. It was founded by Dr. ADO and Bud Lee. What started as a single residency has since grown into a 15-plus event history with consistent sell-out attendance. Moreover, the brand has since expanded into London, running alongside its ongoing Mexico City residency.

The mission behind Casa de Afro has stayed consistent throughout that growth. It is to bring authentic Afro House, Amapiano, and gqom culture to the dancefloor. In addition, the goal is to connect the African diaspora creative scene across Mexico City, London, and Ghana through music-first events.
Most recently, Casa de Afro ran a World Cup Edition at Level B, Bombay Club Roma, in Mexico City. There was also a London edition at Maison Close, Mayfair. The brand is continuing to grow both cities in parallel through 2026.
Meet the Founders: Dr. ADO and Bud Lee
Dr. ADO is the founder of Casa de Afro, with a broadcast history spanning BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, Kiss FM, and SiriusXM. Bud Lee is co-founder and creative partner. He helped build the brand from Mexico City up into the two-city operation it is today.
Casa de Afro Same Language: A Statement of Intent
The label’s key upcoming release, “Same Language,” comes from Dr. ADO, Bud Lee, and Paperboy Fabe. It is a modern-day Afro House adaptation of the platinum record originally by Paperboy Fabe and Brent Faiyaz. It’s out July 24th on the Casa de Afro label.

The release doubles as a statement of intent for the label. It is reworking a platinum-certified record through an Afro House lens. As a result, Casa de Afro’s identity is cemented as both an events brand and a fully-fledged music label.
Casa de Afro’s 24-Hour Charity Set for Venezuela
Alongside the release, Dr. ADO will perform a 24-hour set with Casa de Afro next Saturday to raise funds for Venezuela. This adds a philanthropic dimension to an already packed month for the brand. Between the record release and the marathon charity performance, Casa de Afro is using this moment to spotlight both its musical output and its community values.
Why Casa de Afro Continues to Matter
Between an expanding footprint across Mexico City and London, a growing label catalog, and community-driven initiatives like the Venezuela charity set, Casa de Afro is positioning itself as more than an events brand. With “Same Language” out July 24th and a 24-hour set following shortly after, the Afro House scene has plenty to watch from Dr. ADO and Bud Lee heading into the rest of 2026.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
-
Editorial3 weeks agoThe Most Played Tracks From Tomorrowland 2026 Weekend 1
-
Creamfields News2 weeks agoEDM Festivals August 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss Worldwide
-
EDM Festival News2 weeks agoThe Most Played Tracks From Tomorrowland 2026
-
Editorial3 weeks agoThe Evolution Of Tomorrowland’s Mainstage From 2005 To 2026
-
EDM Festival News3 weeks agoTomorrowland Weekend 2 Cleared for Limited Fireworks
-
Editorial3 weeks agoUNVRS Power Outage Leaves Hundreds Stranded in Ibiza
-
EDM Festival News4 weeks agoApple Music to Livestream Tomorrowland Belgium 2026
-
EDM news4 weeks agoTomorrowland Receives Fireworks Ban for Weekend One of 2026 Edition

