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BOOM / 2006.08.22
« on: August 22, 2006, 03:34:00 pm »
Tracklist will be updated with broadcast.
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Trance, whether you like your trance melodic and uplifting, or hard and fast, trance by any definition is here to stay. From the warehouse parties of the late 80’s to car commercials in 2001, trance has become part of the new millennium, part of our lifestyle. And all because of DJs like George Acosta. George proves every time he puts a needle on a record that "trance”, whatever the label, has changed, evolved, become a lifestyle, a culture… as well it should. With over 15 years of experience as a DJ and producer, George has helped change and evolve trance from an underground movement to massive festival experiences throughout the world. “George Acosta is probably America’s most unique DJ and has undoubtedly been a major force in shaping the sound of trance in Miami and beyond” says fellow DJ Dave Ralph. George Acosta is America’s representative in the global Trance scene.
Coming up playing warehouse parties in his native Miami, he then went on to producing tracks of his own with such international hits like Planet Soul, Emotions, Taking Over Space, R U Awake and The Reaper. He then made the next logical step for a successful DJ/producer and opened his own record store, Grooveman Music in Miami.
He knows his crowds so well because he is just as big a fan as they are of his music. Just like the thousands he plays for, George Acosta lives it. George tries to maintain a close connection to the people who come to hear him play because like them, he discovered the music as a fan first.
It was during his three-year residency at Miami's famed Shadow Lounge that George honed his craft and began educating South Beach to this wonderful emotional roller-coaster ride that was quickly moving west from Europe. Now firmly entrenched in South Beach, George produced his first mix cd, “Awake”. This became the definitive sound of South Beach. It was this same cd that helped propel George on to the world stage.
Facts
Name: Håkon O. Lofthus
Born: 07.04.1985
Live: Oslo, Norway
Occupation: Student, producer, dj
Status: Girlfriend
Aliases: Hawk, HKN, Air Breeze
My biography
So who is this “Hawk” that so many people are talking about? The guy behind those tracks and remixes being hammered by djs as Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Blank & Jones, Armin and on Pete Tongs show on BBC 1?
Well, “Hawk” is actually named Håkon Lofthus, and was born in Gjøvik, Norway, back in 1985, and discovered music at a very young age.
As a 7 year old, he already started playing the guitar, but over the years the guitar has been replaced with computers and synths.
A dj-mixer was bought, and he learned beat mixing the hard way. No pitch or cue involved, only a crappy Sony cd player and a Discman. Gaining status in the area with his friend Thomas Sagstad as the talented, young djs they quickly got bookings on bigger parties like Myth, Fascinated and Payday in Norway.
Production wise Håkon have evolved over the years, and got himself a nice studio setup and found his style of choice: Trance or more defined as a hybrid between progressive and trance.
As a 21-year old Hawk are now signed to major labels such as Anjunadeep, Enhanched, Realmusic Recordings and Active Recordings. Recently he has also remixed tracks for big labels such as Armada, Enhanched, AVA, Red Force and others. His tracks have been hammered from djs like Above & Beyond, Perry O´Neil, Armin Van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Tall Paul, Andy Moor and Matt Darey to name a few. The track “Need For Cognition” was the one that boosted his career and have was played on Pete Tongs Essential Selection, listed on the UK’s Cool Cuts Charts +++
For his young age he already has 6 years of experience as a dj from small clubs to bigger parties. He has arranged some of the most successful parties in Norway, had numerous radio-residencies and guestmixes. November 2005 Hawk did a guest mix for Above & Beyond’s show “Trance around the world,” which was a huge success. People liked the mix so much that it was voted the best radioshow on the official Above & Beyond/Anjunabeats forums. Surely Håkon is now quickly getting a name in the international scene.
With lots of releases coming up, radio-residencies and dj-gigs, this will probably not be the last time you’ll hear the name Hawk.
“It´s one of these tracks we´ve heard once, and then had to hear again, again and again..”
-Above & Beyond about track of the week on TATW: Hawk – Need For Cognition
From the deepest woods in Finland to the hectic city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Matias Lehtola started his producing career at the very young age of 16 without prior musical education or experience. Just a few years later - he has already worked with a handful of major labels such as Universal, AATW & Sony BMG. On top of that, Matias has (together with Maor Levi) topped the MixMag chart with his well known side project "Angelstyle" signed to Elevation Records UK. Today Matias - besides producing - now works as a teacher at Sweden's biggest music education resource - ORCA. In collaboration with the leading dutch singer and songwriter "Gina J" they’ve managed to come up with a beautiful array of melodies including astonishing vocal work set to appeal the a-listers and the rest of the world.