The Chillout Lounge Mix - Freedom

You will hear a freedom in this mix with a mixture of emotive chillout, breaks and deep cinematic soundscapes.

Stella Polaris is the world’s largest, free chillout event; and their 16th album release features some incredible material from both upcoming Danish artists and exclusive Stella Polaris remixes of established names. The second installment includes huge Stella Polaris remixes of Indian Crane, Erasure, Der Dritte Raum and TOM and his computer. Hale Bopp (BSB's Stella Polaris Remix) was my favourite, a track built around a looming crescendo of different emotions, the long, immersive intro ends with an extraordinary evolution of the remix; the drums are accompanied to perfection by a spatial arpeggio and a compelling bass. Scottish producer Tagavaka returns to Anjunadeep with his four track Extrapolate EP - his first standalone release on the label. Oxygen features cascading synths and bold vocals and has lastability. Shire T (AKA Chris Davids, one half of celebrated electronic duo Maribou State, who released their latest album Kingdoms In Colour to widespread acclaim in 2018) has released his debut solo album Tomorrow’s People, arriving as the inaugural long-player on Maribou’s own Dama Dama imprint. With support already coming from across BBC 6 Music (where lead single “Blue Kiss” was playlisted), Radio 1 (with plays from Nick Grimshaw, Danny Howard and Jack Saunders), Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe and many more, a special limited vinyl edition via Dinked sold out all of it’s 500 copies in a matter of hours. After a whirlwind 12 months, electronic music star, French Canadian live act, CRi, returns with his first original solo EP since his acclaimed debut album Juvenile, a JUNO Award nominated and NAAC Electronic #1, alongside the string of A-list LP remixes that followed from the likes of Gerd Janson, DJ BORING and Kornél Kovács, total over 14 million streams to date and awarded the young producer international praise from DJ Mag, Clash and NME. Lead single No Mission, debuted during his spectacular live performance from La Ronde theme park in Quebec in February this year, CRi now shares his full three track EP To You, featuring two previously unheard originals, To You and Lonely Romance. Fraser T Smith has released a brand new version of Future Utopia’s track Freedom with a new contribution from south London singer, Greantea Peng. The original edition of the track is taken from Future Utopia’s 2020 album, 12 Questions, and features appearances from former Black Panther Albert Woodfox and grime legend Kano who provide food for thought on the topic of freedom. On this latest version of the track, Greentea Peng uses her silky vocals to complement Kano’s sharp flows and adds to the powerful feel of the song, giving it a new lease of life in the process. After the success of the first edition in 2016, Atomnation decided to make Unfold an ongoing Various Artists compilation series. Unfold vol.2 is another carefully curated mix of new label signings and more established names. The nine stylish tracks cover lush deepness, silky synths and hooky melodies that provide a real listening experience, no matter the context. The rolling depths of new artists Blomfelt & Narby bring this collection of sounds way beyond the dance floor - Unfold is packed with fresh new music and grooves laden with spine-tingling emotion. Ross From Friends, AKA British producer Felix Clary Weatherall, returns with Tread, his keenly anticipated new album, due for release via Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint. Lead single The Daisy exemplifies the spirit of the album. A bewitching track that skips out of the speakers, the peppy 2-step drums cosying up to swollen pads that tug on your heart strings. Drawing its name from one of the opening steps in solving the classic Rubik’s Cube puzzle, the single also comes alongside a video which peers into the world of competitive speed-cubing. Directed by Rudá Santos and commissioned as part of Crack Magazine’s ‘Three Minutes’ program, the video also features a cameo from Felix as a speed-cubing competition judge. Industry heavyweight Alan Fitzpatrick demonstrates his production versatility with his track Waves under his 3Strange alias, superb sounds. Since it was founded in 2005, Stil vor Talent has continuously striven to evolve, enable and further countless artistic careers. Reinier Zonneveld, Sascha Braemer, KlangKuenstler, Moonwalk, Teenage Mutants or HVOB are just a few of many names that inextricably link to Oliver Koletzki’s Berlin-based label. Hot on the heels of the first volume, episode two of their special #300 triple package, lots to enjoy but my favourite was Jiggler & Vincent Marlice - Union which ushers you in a dancing circle of pop-indebted vocals, laid-back oriental pads and mesmeric synth loops. A truly tripped-out jaunt, perfect for waving your arms as the sun rises past the sleepy skyline. One of my favourite labels DeepWit Recordings releases Feels Right by the label head Alvaro Hylander which features some truly impressive remixes from Satoshi Fumi, Manuel Costela and Ivan Garci who’s remix I included in this mix, but the original has intense meaning for the couple behind the label. Alvaro produced this song towards the outset of founding DeepWit and the start of what became the family driving it, deep, groovy and sensual as always. TSHA released her new EP OnlyL, a confident showcase of her impressive production capabilities, it’s a perfect marriage of live musicianship and electronics that takes in the genre-defying, classy electronic pop of its title track alongside the melancholic downtempo of I Know and the exhilarating and dancefloor-primed Power. “I started writing 'I Know' a while ago and didn’t touch it again for a long time, but decided to pick it back up again in what was quite a reflective time for me in lockdown. I’d like for people to interpret the music in their own way, but for me this transports me to that point in the night where things slow down, and transition into the afterparty. Some of the experiences at that time have been very special to me. It’s been a real journey the whole thing, so finally being able to share it is a real pleasure.” - TSHA.

"It all began when one of us was Leaving Laurel". For Pierce and Gordon of Leaving Laurel, their music is a story of an old friendship that over many years, almost accidentally, blossomed into a musical collaboration. One day in Laurel Canyon, California, the pair were sharing their own unfinished music with one another. Pierce always envisioned the music they made together in California as an album, and after having released many of their early songs over the past year on Anjunadeep, they set out to finish everything they had started during that time. In revisiting the rest of their ideas from that era, they had realized - it all felt like one moment in time. One feeling. One chapter. The pair finished their debut album Leaving Laurel at the start of 2021, just prior to a horrible tragedy. Pierce passed away in April of this year after a tragic struggle with his mental health. This album is dedicated to his memory, and has come to represent much more than two friends making music together in the Laurel Canyon neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Pierce's struggles were very private, and with this album Gordon and Pierce's brother and manager Griff want to let the world know simply this:

It's ok to not be ok.

It's for anyone who can relate to his pain, and to know you are not alone.

Finishing this mix off with an epic piece by Rival Consoles (Erased Tapes) who scores the music for Alexander Whitley's latest dance project Overflow. The long awaited sold-out London premiere of Overflow featuring an original 70 minute score by Rival Consoles took place at Sadler's Wells on May 21. Live audiences were immersed once again in a striking work showcasing the contemplation of a world that threatens dystopia as imagined by cutting edge choreographer Alexander Whitley. The score written by Ryan Lee West evokes a sense of unrelenting bleakness and isolation that remains consistent with West's desire to uncover the organic, humanised sounds that lie beneath the electronics. West generated a haunting base layer by connecting a mobile phone to an electromagnetic pickup and capturing the noises made by scrolling through social media. "There is something apocalyptic about the music that will please fans of Ben Frost, best known for his work in the TV series Dark, another work that references dystopia." The Upcoming.

Tracklist:

Hale Bopp (BSB's Stella Polaris Remix) - Der Dritte Raum

Oxygen (Extended Mix) - Tagavaka

London. Paris. Berlin - Shire T

No Mission - CRi

Freedom feat. Albert Woodfox (Franky Wah x Future Utopia Extended Remix) - Future Utopia, Kano & Greentea Peng

Kevin Has Been Thinking About His Taxes Too Much (Original Mix) - Blomfelt & Narby

The Daisy - Ross from Friends

Waves (Original Mix) - 3STRANGE

Union - Jiggler, Vincent Marlice

Feels Right (Ivan Garci Remix) - Alvaro Hylander

I Know - TSHA

Maybe We’re Different And Everything Is Still The Same - Leaving Laurel

Flow State - Rival Consoles

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