Publisert 13. Juni 2010 10:45 av ThomasR
Clublife.NO har vært så heldig og fått pressemeldingen for First States album Changing Lanes og manager Shane Halcon var behjelpelig med dette slik at norske klubbere skulle få et godt inntrykk av First State og det nye albumet.
Her kommer først litt generell info om First State:
Artist Biography:
Without a doubt, First State is one of the most exciting and talented producers in Electronic Dance Music at the moment. Sander van Dien has cemented his place in the record boxes and sets of the biggest and most influential Progressive and Trance acts across the globe.
Under the FIRST STATE guise, he has been able to produce some of the biggest and most renown tracks over the past 3 years. Until recently, “FALLING” (featuring Anita Kelsey) was somewhat of an anthem, and gained monumental support from fans to world top 10 djs.
From the very beginning, FIRST STATE’s releases have been nothing less than extraordinary, especially more popular hits, such as “Evergreen”, “Your Own Way” (feat Elliot Johns), “Off the Radar” (Beatport #1) and “Brave” (feat Sarah Howells)
Recently, global chart domination came in the form of “MY SANCTUARY”, being chosen as the opening track for the eighth edition of ”IN SEARCH OF SUNRISE” (Made famous by superstar, DJ Tiesto). May 2010 saw the track at the top of the Trance charts, while simultaneuosly enjoying a position in the overall top 100 downloads on Beatport.com
It’s been a steady rise for FIRST STATE and the last year was no exception. Every track produced and remixed by Sander in 2009 charted in the Beatport top 10, and featured on A STATE OF TRANCE radio show , graced the track lists of hundreds of Top DJ’s and CD compilations.
Since the inauguration of the CROSSROADS radio show, demand for the FIRST STATE name has sky-rocketed. The show is now syndicated to over 20 partner stations spread across every continent, and gains popularity and listenership with every broadcast.
FIRST STATE can also boast to having an impressive tour schedule. During the last year, bookings came in from across all corners of the globe, with debut performances in Australia, South Africa, Northern Ireland and the USA. Sander has also appeared on lineups of some of the biggest events around, such as TRANCE ENERGY, GODSKITCHEN, GATECRASHER and TOMORROWLAND and many more.
Albumet Changing Lanes:
Tracklist;
1. My Sanctuary
2. Exeo
3. Surrounds Me (Featuring Elliot Johns)
4. Cape Point
5. Cross The Line (Featuring Relyk)
6. Mojave
7. Reverie (Featuring Sarah Howells)
8. Butterfly Effect
9. Breathe On Me (Featuring Elliot Johns)
10. Brave (Featuring Sarah Howells)
11. Primate
12. As You Were
Between the manic touring schedule, and committing to what seemed like a tidal wave of remix requests, Sander found time to create somewhat of a masterpiece in his latest offering, CHANGING LANES.
Early tests of tracks during FIRST STATE dj sets seemed very promising, as single releases such as “Cape Point” and “My Sanctuary” proved that Sander was indeed on to something very special with this album. “Cape Point” was originally produced with the sole purpose of being an exclusive track for the Cosmic Gate “Back 2 Back” compilation. The track received tremendous support from masses of fellow djs and fans alike, prompting the single release in February.
“My Sanctuary”, produced as the intro to CHANGING LANES, was selected as the opening track for the eighth installment of the “In Search Of Sunrise” dj mix compilations (made famous by none other than the superstar, DJ Tiesto). That was only the beginning for this work of art. “My Sanctuary” reached #1 on the Trance charts, while enjoying a placement in the Top 100 downloads on Beatport. The track, is currently standing firm for a fourth consecutive week in the Beatport top 10.
Another track release from the album, that was entirely experimental, was Tech-Trance banger, “As You Were”, released in April. This too, had received some big support from all over, and has been on the Audiojelly top 10 downloads chart for close on 4 weeks.
While the sounds of the Psychadelic basslines of “As You Were”, the serene strings of “Cape Point” or the angelic whispers of “My Sanctuary”, may be just what the doctor ordered for many a Dance Music lover, Sander proves to us yet again, that he is well capable of breaking boundaries in an impressive fashion, and he does so with much authority in CHANGING LANES.
FIRST STATE has managed to carve a unique fusion of Electronic Dance, Rock and Pop, whilst managing to maintain a “NO CHEESE” approach. While the afore mentioned tracks do the necessary justice, they barely scratch the surface of what CHANGING LANES really offers: a unique blend of quality dance music, with the intelligent fusion of Indie Rock & Pop vocals and elements which simply brings FIRST STATE’S “CHANGING LANES” to life.
Fans for the gentler, uplifting and almost “pop-like” vibe, will be drawn into the amazing “Cross The Line” which features the vocals of Relyk (the new alias of Kyler England). For those who opt for a slightly darker undertone, with a more “edgy” feel, there’s the pleasantly haunting voice of Elliot Johns, with a double header in, “Surrounds Me” and the ground breaking “Breathe on Me”.
Still not convinced? Well, the ever popular and much loved voice of Miss Sarah Howells will surely do the trick then. Not only does the album include the globally renown , almost anthem-like, smash hit, “Brave”, but the pair of FIRST STATE and Sarah collaborated a second time and the results were an equally, if not even more impressive number entitled “Reverie” .
If there was a mould as to which Electronic Dance Music is supposed to be written, FIRST STATE has just smashed it to pieces , with an album that’s as impressive as the extent of the travels that his music has taken him on. CHANGING LANES may well be the bench-mark to which budding producers look to bridge the gap between the Electronic Dance and Pop/Rock cultures, while maintaining the all important “No Cheese, Please” approach that can so easily be overlooked.
FIRST STATE’S “CHANGING LANES” is set for release on June 21st, 2010 on Black Hole Recordings.
Takk til Shane Halcon, First States manager.
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