Ones To Watch: SXM Festival

Paradise never sounded so good.

Emulating the formula that made BPM festival so successful; SXM Festival will look to replace the now defunct event as the world’s premier musical destination.

A carefully curated line-up of over 60 of the best international artists will be transported to the pristine shores of the Bahamian island of St. Maarten for a 5-day journey from March 15^th-19^th. A purposely diverse group of attendants will be rewarded for their commitment with a secluded festival experience with multiple parties across the island. Taking advantage of the island’s various settings; SXM Festival will utilize every venue as a way to create unique atmospheres, taking into account the time of day and more importantly the sonic landscapes. If their inaugural year is any indication, their second offering in 2017 should cement their place as a top choice for knowledgeable, jet-setting music fans looking for an exclusive party destination.

With any long list of innovative DJs and artists, it is hard to pick out a few who stand out among the rest. SXM’s line-up is full of such talent and we have compiled eight artists whose creativity and prowess are perfectly suited for the musical island getaway.

YokoO

A purveyor of melodic deep house, YokoO is well suited for the laid-back stylings of island life. He has produced notable records off of Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream imprint, Get Physical, and Musik Gewinnt Freunde. As much as he appreciates studio time, YokoO’s DJ-led journeys are known the world over and bring a dynamic sense of groove to the dance floor. Next March, YokoO’s will bring a much-needed tranquility to the island and create the vibe he’s famously known for.

Matthias Meyer

As all good German-bred techno artists are, Matthias was inspired early on by the hi-tech sounds of Detroit and Chicago which laid the foundation for his intricate and broad sound. Meyer is a production workhouse whose progression has seen several iterations under Hamburg’s beloved Liebe*Detail label as well as Berlin’s Watergate. The popularity of songs such as ‘Tout Va Bien’ and ‘Skipper’ would characterize Matthias’ love for evoking emotion and passion within his music. This sense of drama will translate perfectly to the beach of St. Maarten.

RPR Soundsystem (Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu, Raresh)

SXM dug deep to bring the Romanian DJ collective ‘RPR Soundsystem’ and their experimental house sounds to the island next month. Rhadoo, Petre, and Raresh’s exclusivity is by choice as they are part of the vinyl only Romanian label [a:rpia:r]. The label heads’ cohesion, as a unit, allows them to scour through multiple genres and also endure marathon-long sets lasting well over 4 hours. Their ability to educate and control a dance floor will be on full display next month.

My Favorite Robot

Looking to change the reputation for Canadian electronic music, Jared Simms, James Teej, and Voytek Korab formed the trio ‘My Favorite Robot’ alongside a record label of the same moniker. Their common dedication for creating and promoting quality house and techno has received critical acclaim with such prominent forces such as Sasha, Damian Lazarus, and the Visionquest crew among supporters. The mixture of haunting melodies and the dreamy vocals of their live set is a soothing Caribbean-worthy experience.

The Martinez Brothers

Having carved out a massive worldwide following, the Martinez Brothers’ brand of energetic, groovy house is as hypnotic as it is danceable. Their reputation as party starters, from the days of small block parties in the Bronx to their residencies at Ibiza institution DC-10, has catapulted them to stardom with collaborations with Seth Troxler as Tuskegee to providing soundtracks to the high-fashion houses of Givenchy. Their meteoric rise is not without merit as their years of commitment and fluidity as a duo are evident every time they spin.

Black Coffee

While Black Coffee (born Nkosinathi Maphumulo) has been very much in demand in recent years, his music career spanning more than a decade. He first honed his music knowledge as a jazz student in his native country, South Africa, and later formed Afro-pop trio SHANA (Simply Hot and Naturally African), signing to the ‘Melt 2000’ label. His start in the South African dance music scene began with the release of “Happiness” and continues with the work of his own label ‘Soulistic Music’. With a growing popularity and diverse influences, Black Coffee is able to spread a unique blend of native rhythms, indigenous melodies, and house and techno.

Nina Kraviz

Nina is currently one of the biggest names in the techno world and underground music. She is touted for her versatility, eclectic tastes, and unpredictability in her sets. A controversial figure to say the least, Nina will constantly keep you guessing as she digs deeper within her library while commanding attention with her vivacious dance moves. Since creating her own label in 2014, трип(English: Trip), it has since become an avenue for her creativity as she promotes fellow Russian, Bjarki, as well as her own productions. An apparent not to miss act, Nina will provide SXM with a lifetime of memories.

John Acquaviva

Canadian-born John Acquaviva is truly a living legend in his own right. Creating one of the seminal techno labels ‘Plus 8 Records’ with Richie Hawtin, John helped shape what modern techno is today. He championed a new wave of electronic music in the digital age with the computer software Final Scratch in 2000 and also aided in the launch of Beatport.com. John’s seemingly endless knowledge of electronic music continues to lead him across the world on a perpetual world tour. SXM will be christened with techno royalty when he comes to sunny St. Maarten next month.

To learn more about the artists at SXM and how you can attend visit their website. Get your tickets to the festival here.

Watch the official SXM 2016 aftermovie below:

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