Academik Records

Academik SXSW 2012 Event - First Look

2012-02-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Servo vs Colossus - Out NOW on Beatport!

2012-01-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

"Servo vs. Colossus" - the long-awaited collab between prog legends, Gabriel & Dresden, and synth guru, Francis Prève - has arrived exclusively on Beatport. Here's the link to buy it.

In addition to being featured on Benny Benassi's podcast last week, support for "Servo vs. Colossus" has come from a huge range of world-class DJs including Blake Jarrell, Noel Sanger, Tyler Michaud, Matt Lange, Jan van Lier, MC Flipside, Dan Tait, and Andy Perring (Pulser).

Blake Jarrell
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Thanks!

Matt Lange
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Cool! Thanks!

MC Flipside
Rating: 4/5
Comments: This is huge.

Tyler Michaud
Rating: 5/5
Comments: This is an excellent track! Full support! Have been waiting for this one since their 'Mixed for Feet' compilation.

Andy Perring
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Cool!

DJ Ron
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Absolutely amazing

Dan Tait
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Nice ruff track - lots of energy!

Noel Sanger
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Yeah. Huge. Can't wait to drop this one!

Jan van Lier
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Bangin!!!!

Coming January 30, 2012 - Servo vs. Colossus

2012-01-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Beatport - January 30, 2012

Expect more surprises this year.

SXSW Is Coming...

2011-12-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

Big news coming soon on the Academik party at Lanai, Austin's coolest rooftop venue.

We'll be announcing the artist and DJ line-up on February 1, 2012.

If you thought last year's event was over the top, just wait...

Vibelung: 'Circuitflu' - Now available at Beatport.com

2011-07-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Changing things up a bit, Academik's second EP veers into techno territory with the contagious vibe of 'Circuitflu'.

The original mix is a mutant hybrid of minimal techno fused with hints of clever IDM, courtesy of Dallas-based electro/techno DJ, Vibelung (aka Jimmy Freer). With 'Circuitflu', Freer's approach to minimal blends clever robot voices with pounding 808-style kicks and a synth riff that evokes the Knight Rider theme without reeking of irony or litigation.

Francis Prève's reinterpretation of 'Circuitflu' turns up the boom with his infectious brand of techno, gene-spliced with a strand of DNA from the better strains of electro. Starting with a handclap-heavy dark groove reminiscent of classic Peace Division, Prève's remix builds to a massive peak that bounces and throbs its way into one of Preve's trademark rising leads. The result is a big room monster that's guaranteed to pack summer floors both at peak-time and after-hours.

Here's what DJs are saying about the Circuitflu EP:

"Simple and quirky.. Francis Prève remix for me."
- Blake Jarrell

"Francis' remix does it for me."
- MC Flipside

"Both tracks are great!! Will play both at different times. THANKS!"
- Jan van Lier

"I love this release! Will definitely be supporting both mixes."
- William A

"Cool Francis Mix!"
- Sean Tyas

"Like the energetic Francis Prève mix."
- DJ Ron (About.com)

"The Original takes the sounds on a minimal journey whereas the Preve Remix gets your innards rumbling from the kick and bass groove all the while keeping the funk. Solid!"
- Jason Jenkins (Hypersonic.com)

As with all Academik releases, the Circuitflu EP includes individual audio tracks as part of the full album download, so producers and DJs can remix and remake the track according to their own vision.

Check out the Circuitflu EP on Beatport.

William A: Alpha - Now available at Beatport.com

2011-06-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

William A's new single, "Alpha", is now available at Beatport.com

Here's what some of the world's top DJs are saying about "Alpha":

Gabriel & Dresden - "'Alpha'" has been rocking out sets for months!!"

MC Flipside - "Sentinels remix is slamming."

Blake Jarrell - "Very nice first release...JG remix for me."

Guy J - "Nice one, thnx good luck."

Dan Tait - "Just the right shade of prog. Nice."

Josh Dupont - "Love it. FULL Support from Nightshade Music!"

Tyler Michaud - "Josh Gabriel & Sentinels mixes are both great! 8/10"

As Academik's first release, William A's "Alpha" is a bold new step into prog-tech territory.

SOUNDCLOUD PREVIEWS:
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Original Mix - William A
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Josh Gabriel Remix - William A
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Sentinels Remix - William A

CLICK TO BUY AT BEATPORT

Academik Sessions @ Kingdom Austin

2011-05-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

This Friday, May 27, 2011, Academik Records kicks off its residency at

Austin's white-hot new EDM venue:

Kingdom

More info

Exclusive Preview: William A - "Alpha"

2011-05-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Academik's debut release arrives in the form of William A's new single, "Alpha".

With a package that includes festival-tested, crowd-approved remixes from Josh Gabriel and Sentinels - this release covers everything from sweat-drenched small rooms to massive arenas.

Here's what some of the world's top DJs are saying about "Alpha":

"'Alpha'" has been rocking out sets for months!!" - Gabriel & Dresden

"Sentinels remix is slamming." - MC Flipside

"Very nice first release...JG remix for me." - Blake Jarrell

"Nice one, thnx good luck." - Guy J

"Just the right shade of prog. Nice." - Dan Tait

Following up on the success of his recent remix for Dave Seaman & Josh Gabriel's "Vorahnung", William A returns with another slice of progressive tech. His latest single, "Alpha", artfully blends stellar chord stabs, swinging beats and a bittersweet melody, crescendoing to a dark energetic peak before returning the listener safely to earth.

Josh Gabriel's reinterpretation of "Alpha" rockets the groove to Warp 10 while the original's signature chords whirl around in its orbit, culminating in a powerful breakdown that will send even the most jaded crowd into euphoric hyperspace. This remix has become a staple on Gabriel & Dresden's current tour and is poised to be an essential part of intelligent progressive and trance sets this summer.

Rounding out the package is the debut of Sentinels - a collaboration between tech guru Francis Prève, and Texas techno newcomer, Billy Jay. Their remix is a muscular romp that takes the musical essence of the original and fuses it with punchy beats and pulse-pounding bass, culminating in a massive peak that will launch tech house audiences to new heights.

As Academik's first release, William A's "Alpha" is a bold new step into prog-tech territory.

SOUNDCLOUD PREVIEWS:
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Original Mix - William A
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Josh Gabriel Remix - William A
Exclusive Preview: Alpha - Sentinels Remix - William A

Academik - April 2011 Podcasts

2011-04-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

In the past two weeks, Francis Prève, Billy Jay, William A and Shreddward have all released their April podcasts on Soundcloud.

Here are the links:

Download Francis Prève (Academik Records) - April 2011 Podcast

Download Billy Jay (Sentinels) - Billy's Discount Robot Emporium

Download William A - MiniMix04

Download Shreddward's Hypersonic Radio Podcast (4/23)

Enjoy!

SXSW Interview with Francis Prève

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the Avid SXSW interview with Francis Preve, talking about Academik's artist roster.

SXSW 2011 Music Conference Interview with Francis Preve of Academik Records from Avid on Vimeo.

Academik SXSW Label Launch Event

2011-03-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

- - -

On Friday March 18, 2011...

In the heart of the SXSW madness...

At Lanai, the hippest rooftop ultra-lounge in downtown Austin, Texas...

Academik. Will. Launch.

From 9:00pm to 2:00am, we'll be merging technology with tech house under the stars, with DJ performances all night and massive synthesizer giveaways every hour.

Best of all: No cover. No wristbands. No attitude.

(Just a looooong line, so get there early!)

Featured Performers

Francis Prève (Academik, Toolroom, Different Pieces/Armada)
The success of “Yin/Yang” with Wolfgang Gartner may have propelled him into the spotlight, but #1 remixes and sound design for legendary synths have solidified Prève's status as EDM's foremost polymath.

William A (Academik, Different Pieces/Armada)
William A's original tracks and remixes have received kudos from legendary DJs ranging from Pete Tong to Dave Seaman. His single “Alpha” will be the initial release on Academik, featuring big room remixes from Josh Gabriel and Sentinels.

Secret Panda Society (Academik, Different Pieces/Armada)
Different Pieces/Armada Dubstep upstarts, the Pandas, have remixed Dave Seaman/Josh Gabriel and Winter Kills. In 2011, they'll join forces with Academik for a series of remixes and singles that redefine the possibilities of dubstep.

Peter Kirn (CDM)
As the mastermind behind leading technology blog, CreateDigitalMusic.com, Peter Kirn is at the forefront of modern electronica. His new synth, the hackable MeeBlip, is making waves on both sides of the pond.

Sentinels (Academik)
Hot off their remix for William A's "Alpha", Francis Prève and Texas techno newcomer Billy Jay bring the noise with their indelible brand of robotic musclefunk in the debut single “Tentacle/Squid Ink".

Shreddward (Academik, Black Hole)
The genre-bending Andain guitarist and DJ/producer puts his unique spin on deep tech house with tracks like “Ambiguous”. What's more, Shreddward's new blog combines learning music theory with an emphasis on chops.

Product Giveaways Throughout the Event

Every hour, we'll be giving away world-class hardware and software from the biggest names in the industry, along with tons of t-shirts and subscriptions to Keyboard Magazine. Here's a rundown of the grand prizes of the event.

M-Audio Venom by Avid
The Venom 49-key synth combines the warmth of vintage keyboards with modern digital processing for an aggressive new sound. The built-in audio interface makes it a perfect complement to a laptop studio.

Propellerhead Reason + Record
Reason has been the core software for countless electronica hits. Version 5 introduces features like Kong Drum Designer and Dr. OctoRex. Record gives you unlimited audio tracks, world class effects and mixing gear. We'll be giving away several copies of the Reason + Record Duo bundle.

Korg Legacy Collection
The MS-20, Mono/Poly and PolySix are classic analog synths that defined an era of electronic music - as well as modern EDM. Now available as immaculate software versions in the Korg Legacy Collection, their legacy lives on. As if that weren't enough, Korg Monotrons will also be given away.

Bleep Labs Thingamagoop 2
Cute and smart, these little analog robot noisemakers have won the hearts of DJs and producers worldwide, including Wolfgang Gartner and Francis Prève.

Keyboard Magazine Subscriptions
Throughout the night, we'll also be giving away subscriptions to the legendary Keyboard Magazine - the longest running periodical devoted to the art of making music with synths and keyboards.

In addition to gear, we'll also have free copies of the latest issue of Keyboard Magazine on hand.

Sponsors

This event is made possible by the generosity of the following manufacturers:

- Propellerhead Software
- Avid
- Korg
- Ableton
- Bleeplabs
- Keyboard Magazine
- CreateDigitalMusic.com

Doors will open at 8pm and the event begins at 9pm sharp, so put on your dancin' shoes and get there early, 'cause it's going to be an unforgettable night.

Download PDF event flyer