South Africa may be a far flung outpost of the beat revolution but it’s that very same isolation that has allowed it to keep that old skool exuberance and the freedom that sparked the electronic dance music uprising in the first place. It’s natural then that the DJs and producers the country has spawned have those same attributes, mixed with the precise technical abilities they’ve been exposed to by the numerous international names who’ve fallen over each other to experience this unique colony of electronica first hand.

At the forefront of the international Diaspora of S.A. talent into the world at large is Eric McCallaghan who, through, his Beats Me Records label has tracks released on more than a million printed CDs through 85 compilations, 16 singles, 3 albums and 18 12″ vinyls and more than 30 songs licensed to various international companies. But, it’s not the achievements that should receive the praise, it’s the maestro’s music.

Think of hooks as sharp as Zulu spears that ride the sort of primordial rhythms that first drove our earliest ancestors to get up and dance around their fires, while eloquent, emotional melodies play across the soundscape in ways that must make the Gods themselves smile. And then, of course, there are the angelic vocal talents Eric has the knack of discovering and nurturing to the point where their voices can do justice to the poetic lyrics that give Eric’s tracks their meaning and cohesion.

The Johannesburg native’s natural talent, technical genius and his obvious passion for his music quickly led to him becoming one of Africa’s foremost producers, remixers and DJs. And, it was that early success in his home territory (at one point Eric had 3 songs break into SA’s largest radio station’s Top 40 in less than a week) that gave him the drive and determination to fulfill his vision and break through onto the international scene.

Costantino Padovano aka Funky Junction is a DJ/Producer, remixer and CEO of the VOTU Productions group, home of the labels Sheeva Records, Tendenzia Records, Voice of the underground Records.

His special sound contains Tribal Tech and Electro grooves with a great club energy. His recording studio in USA has been home to many collaborations with international labels, artists, and producers.
Costantino was born and grew up in Italy and moved to New York when he was 16. He was addicted to Funk & Disco music at 16 years old and got his first turntables at 17. After 1 year of intensive self training he started his mix sets in clubs. In 1980 Costantino changed his style to New wave music, fell in love with it and has been producing since 1990.

His first big hit was the house track “Shimmy Shake” on Cutting Record that was a huge success and was placed in numerous top 10 dance charts all over the world. Shimmy Shake was release on all the major labels around the world and received a Gold Record for 100.000 sold records.

Costantino became well-known in such New York clubs as Plato’s, Infinity, Studio 54, The Palladium, Limelight, and Tunnel.

Combining his knowledge of cutting edge dance music with his own fresh style, Costantino laid the foundation for New York’s underground sound. He was one of the originators of the House music movement.

His original music productions and remixes are regularly released around the world on such respected labels as Hed Kandi, Buddha Bar, Café del Mar, OM, Subliminal Records, Ministry of Sound, Global Underground, Hooj Choons, Renaissance, Alternative Route, Houseworks, Tommy Boy, Yellorange, Peacebisquet, Eight Ball Records, Cutting Records, Sheeva Records, Universal Records, Warner Bros, Motown, and Mercury Records.

A revelation that has developed from two musical masterminds of Amsterdam, Quartzpeople is the result of the passion, precision, and proficiency it takes to perform on another level, bringing an innovative sound and a massive vibe. Rafi Levin and Vitor Fernandes combine their skill and experience in electronica, psychedelic trance, and rock-n-roll to introduce a powerful, progressive source of music to European sound.

Through their aspirations of enhancing the hottest sounds and rhythms with their extensive audio knowledge of studio equipment, Quartzpeople is on its way towards becoming an icon for the electronic music industry.

Quartzpeople are DJ/Music Producer Rafi Levin and DJ/Music Producer Vitor Fernandes, they are both currently organizing parties in Holland and spreading the word for new Electronic Music has much has they can.

Quartzpeople wants to bring its own genre to the Electro / Punk music scene. Funky beats with a great drive, at about 130 bpm with an array of different environments, themes, and melodies. The ambience is great, and the mixture of all of these characteristics, set the listener to transport itself into nice movements and sensations at any dance floor

. If you are up to Electronic music, consider Quartzpeople synchronized with you.

Black Plug is a collaboration between four top Italian DJ’s and musicians with different musical backgrounds and experiences during the last decade as producers and DJ’s in all Italy and the rest of Europe.

Das Kamel, DJ and audio engineer; Simon Tailor, DJ and musician; Berryson, graphic designer, model and singer; and Too-Sick, DJ and producer met each other during an electronic music festival in their hometown of Urbino and from there they began to work together using the alias “Black Plug.”

“Summer massacre E.P.” is the first release for Quartz Lock Records, and it consists of two songs: “0-0″ and “Drive by M.” “0-0″ is a pumpin’ electronic slammer with hard sounds and explicit lyrics, “Drive by M” is a catchy techno stormer with fat beats and a killer hook.

“I believe in the Driving force of Electronic Sound Waves”

Vernand, spins Tech House beats with Electro Pumping Bass synced between 127 & 134, melodic environments, theme´s and legato.

Just another kid from 84 that was converted to Electronic music… Aka Vitor Fernandes.

Like many other artists, he was always enthusiastic about music especially with rhythm. How can one song become you or a part of a memory or a true feeling? His mind focused into studying sound and instruments.

He started with a couple of dj gigs and rock bands during his life in Portugal. He moved to Amsterdam after deciding to pursue studies in Music Technology, He soon got converted to the Electronic Spectrum so he learned to Dj and started to organize parties in Amsterdam at Winston and Twstd Dj Cafe, He then co-created a record label Quartz Lock Records. Vernand also produces and remixes Electronic music, and has different projects like Quartz People and Parallel Phenomena. His remixes can be founded among names like EricM, RTJ and oneoone, He also got support on his music from Franco Bianco, Richie Hawtin, Dubfire and more.

Alisio Delgado was born in Madrid in 1984, showing interest in music at an early age. His first contact with electronic music was at the age of 15 when he experienced the first techno events that amazed him. An unforgettable experience that led him deep into that kind of music.

He was only 17 when he got his first payment devoted to buying his first decks and mixer with great enthusiasm. It was then when he began playing in different raves in north and east of Madrid, Spain. At the age of 18, he enrolled in Old School (phrenetic society). At that time, quite young, he was  playing in different clubs in Madrid standing out individually from the rest of the DJs, accompanying himself on his favourite tool “Final Scratch” since then. When he was 19 he was invited to play in the well-known “Soma Experimental Club”, that had been a reference place for electronic music for years in Madrid nightlife. This event and his ability with the three decks gave him the opportunity to play in other cities in Spain. Restless and looking for his next venture, one year later, he decided to launch his career to the world of music production with one of the best producers in Spain, Daniel Soliva. Moreover, he began to organize tech-house events in different Clubs in Madrid gaining great success.  Afterwards, in order to grow and in a necessary search for change and constant evolution, Alisio Delgado decided to move to London. The city, vanguard of electronic music scene, had great influence in him through its cosmopolitan atmosphere and musical supply and variety. It is there where he began to experiment with new electronic sounds especially with minimal style performing live acts.

In 2006 he left the British Capital returning to Madrid to create Mad-Mail projects  with Pablo Gonzalez and David Garcia. It is worth highlighting the live-acts  he is doing this year where he expresses his more experimental and creative view of electronic music. He focused his performances at the end of that year in “Flash Dance” club in Madrid.

In 2007 he decided to move to Amsterdam, Netherlands where he continued his studies of sound engineering. He was involved in several projects especially with surround sound. “Night in my mind” was his most successful project during that time. In 2008 he successfully graduated in audio engineering. He then founded his own label, Sone Recordings. At the end of the year he moved to Berlin, one the most important cities in the electronic  music scene. Alisio keeps releasing music on Sonar and Quartz Lock Records.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Elina started classical piano at the age of four. By nine, she moved to Miami, FL continuing her musical life,  dominated by the classical world. After years of roller coasters, playing piano turned into song writing, which led Elina into starting a soft rock band called The Breakup Season. Even thought it was short lived, the band played around Miami’s hottest nighclubs such as Transit Lounge, Tobacco Road, and Van Dykes Cafe. The experience led her music to be heard and picked up by Raoul Music Productions company in Amsterdam (www.raoulmusic.com), recording her first single and video, Book of Lies.  This opportunity has taken Elina’s music to a foreign route of electronic music scene. She took a new direction and collaborated with Rafi Levin, Funky Junction and Johnny A. to create a new track, Need Your Love,  released on Quartz Lock Records and Sheeva Records. Stay tuned for more up coming music.

Estonian-born DJ and producer Rafi Levin spins a unique hybrid of powerful progressive and electro house. Within the electronic music industry, Levin has built a reputation as not only a successful DJ but also as a promoter. He is also co-owner of the rising young label Quartz Lock Records.

His resume includes spearheading some of the best club promotional teams including Nerve, Steam and The Marlin. As a DJ, he has also graced the decks of hot spots across the US including Boston’s The Roxy, Highlands in Los Angeles, Atlanta’s Compound, as well as South Beach’s Rain, Nerve, Steam, Blue, and Pawn Shop. Levin used those skills while based in Amsterdam to put together a series of eclectic events called UMBRELLA with live bands in the evening and Quartz Lock artists at night. The parties built a devoted follow and Levin honed his razor sharp DJ skills there. Now residing in Miami, he has also produced his own music with Justin Johnson, Funky Junction, Aquabooty, DHM, DJ Booggee, Vitaly to name a few.

Levin is also one half of the production duo Quartz People with releases out on Quartz Lock Records and San Francisco’s Cable Recordings. He and musical partner Vitor Fernandes combine their skill and experience in electronica, psychedelic trance, and rock to introduce a powerful, progressive source of dance music. A revelation that has developed from the two musical masterminds is the result of the passion, precision, and proficiency it takes to perform at another level, bringing an innovative sound and a massive vibe. Through their aspirations of enhancing the hottest sounds and rhythms with their extensive audio knowledge of studio equipment, Quartz People are on the way to becoming a shaping force in the industry.