Following his debut solo EP as Dilly Bombastik, Dragoș Ilici returns to Tonomat with his first release under his own name — Mercy EP, a four-track trip that captures the evolving depth and character of his sound.

On the A-side, “Rammer” kicks things off with a raw, percussive Detroit-inspired techno workout, anchored by a heavy sub and hypnotic drive. It's followed by the title track “Mercy” — a lo-fi, emotive exploration textured with warmth and grit, drawing influence from Cristian Vogel and Cari Lekebusch.

Flipping over to the B-side, “Chaga” dives into deeper territory — a meditative blend of trance-laced techno, nodding to the sonic signatures of Dustin Zahn and Mike Parker, and weaving in fragments of Tchaikovsky’s Hymn of the Cherubim for a haunting, timeless effect. Closing the EP, fellow Romanian producer ardb (Bogdan Ardeleanu) reworks “Chaga” into a stripped-back, rolling techno/trance tool — expansive, breaky, and primed for late-night floors with its stretched-out breakdown and sense of spatial vastness.

An EP crafted for introspective moments and peak-time pulses alike — Mercy marks a bold step forward for Dragoș Ilici.

Release date: July 10th 2025 on all platforms

A1, A2, B1 written & produced by Dragoș Ilici between 2022 and 2023. 
A1, A2, B1 mixed by Dragoș Ilici & Cristian Munteanu.
B2 remix and additional production by Bogdan Ardeleanu.
Mastered by Justin Drake at The Bakehouse Studio.
Distributed by One Eye Witness.

Dragoș Ilici - Mercy EP (TONOMAT003) incl ardb remix

art:cast °183 | Manata

From countryside calm to cosmic dancefloor calls, Manata digs for nuggets of gold - both musical and metaphysical. Having grown from small-town gigs in central Portugal to sunrise closings on Berlin’s Hoppetosse and label showcases in Brooklyn, João Manata's journey is one shaped by persistence, dusty grooves, and a Fantom 06 that rarely leaves his side. The DJ/producer’s story isn’t one of overnight buzz, but of careful curation, endless digging, and a love for records that started with Stevie Wonder and unexpectedly found its way to ‘90s Trance gems.

Now with the launch of his new label Red Beryl Records – a spiritual successor to his Nugs On Board imprint – Manata revisits the past to shape the future, uncovering unheard treasures from decades gone by. “Since Nugs is all about precious gems, I got the idea for Red Beryl after doing a small research about rare stones… it’s one of the rarest minerals on Earth,” he explains. 

In this candid and wide-ranging interview, Manata opens up about vinyl-fueled upbringings, the early Lisbon hustle, hazelnut cookies in the studio, and the joy of seeing a dancefloor respond to a long-forgotten Belgian trance record from 1995.

“For me, producing or playing music is like telling a story. I love to get vocal samples from old movies or NASA space journeys and build my tracks around that.”

Prepare to dig deep with Manata - because the gold’s always there for those willing to unearth it.

Read the full interview: https://torturetheartist.net/2025/06/20/interview-artcast-183-manata

Artist & label information
Manta: @manatamusic // https://www.instagram.com/joao_manata
Nugs On Board: @nugsonboardlabel // https://www.instagram.com/nugsonboard

Visit & follow Torture the Artist at:
https://torturetheartist.net 
https://facebook.com/torturetheartist 
https://soundcloud.com/torture-the-artist
https://instagram.com/torture_the_artist 
https://linktr.ee/torture_the_artist
https://youtube.com/torturetheartist 
https://tiktok.com/@torturetheartist

interview

art:cast °183 | Manata

Snippets of our forthcoming release on Pariter, Terry Francis - El Tel Collection.

B Terry Francis - Hello, Acid Dathera (Retake) (Pariter)

Pedro Goya returns for his second EP on Carpet & Snares with four cuts of electro-disco. ‘Bosac’ and ‘Dopalow’ make up the lean and mean A side, matching Chicago drums with italo arpeggiators and moody pads. Pedro turns up the funk on the B side with the French house swagger of ‘Paean’ before the bittersweet acid and deep bassline of the closing track, a memorial to his beloved dog ‘Nikita’.



Buy here

[CARPET13] Pedro Goya - "Paean" EP [OUT SOON!]

Artist: Schadenheimer
Title: Der Lärm in meinem Kopf
Track Title: Der Lärm in meinem Kopf
Label: R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings
Cat #: RM7001
Release date: 18.07.2025
Format: vinyl, digital

@rand_muzik_recordings

Schadenheimer fled Syria for Europe in 2016, eventually finding refuge in Germany. While working through personal challenges, they began exploring new wave, electronica and the raw aesthetics of post-punk, all of which shaped the sound and feel of this release.

Their first single, "Der Lärm in meinem Kopf / Selbstliebe ist egal" reflects a state of inner unrest. Drawing from experiences of war, migration and personal struggle, Schadenheimer shares a direct and honest take on what it means to live with constant noise/war within.

This release comes from something deeply personal but speaks to a broader experience. While rooted in the trauma of displacement and emotional conflict, the songs touch on something many can relate to. They explore self-doubt, emotional numbness and the quiet pull of self-sabotage.

According to Schadenheimer, despite the weight of these themes - there was always a sense that something within could carry them forward. That feeling doesn’t remove the struggle, but it helps to keep moving.

"Der Lärm in meinem Kopf / Selbstliebe ist egal" will be released on 18.07.2025 on 7" vinyl and digital via the Leipzig imprint, R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings.

grab your 7"

Premiere | Schadenheimer - Der Lärm in meinem Kopf (RM7001)

Registro del set que hizo nuestro gran amigo Nico Lampariello para nuestra fecha formato Showcase en uno de los clubes emblematicos que tiene la ciudad de Buenos Aires

Pryma Showcase @Dunepark | Nico Lampariello

BUY HERE ---> https://foehnandjerome.bandcamp.com/album/macho-madness-pffd003-2

Foehn & Jerome feat. @sonyazlo - Macho Madness [PFFD003]

Berlin, Summer 2025 - A raw, hypnotic, and deeply conceptual collaboration is about to make waves. Austrian DJ and producer duo Foehn & Jerome, residents of Berlin's iconic Club Der Visionaere and founders of the Perfumed Freedom label, team up with Ukrainian artist and producer Sonya Zlo to present "Macho Madness" - a wild and genre-bending release born from an unfiltered studio jam that spiralled into something bigger. In addition to their experimental project Space Curls, with which the three artists also perform live shows, Sonya, Fabian, and Jerome have been working on their new techno/house project.

In a world where stereotypes wrestle for power, "Macho Madness" challenges everything we thought was normal. Overblown masculinity, the illusion of strength, and staged rituals of dominance – that is what we call the "Macho Madness".

Foehn & Jerome, known for their electrifying DJ sets, have been shaping Berlin's underground scene for over a decade. Sonya Zlo, who moved to Berlin from Kyiv in 2022, stumbled upon their gig by chance - and what started as a conversation about track ID's turned into a full-on collaboration.

"Working with Foehn & Jerome has taught me so much," says Sonya. "I come from a jazz background, so this was completely new territory for me - but bringing my melodic instincts into this heavy, industrial sound was crazy exciting".

Following Perfumed Freedom's recent releases "The Frisbee of No Return" and "Hermanngirl", the new record "Macho Madness" will be released in summer 2025. Play it, stream it, or pick up the limited vinyl - just don't expect anything ordinary.

Title: Macho Madness
Label: Perfumed Freedom
Cat No: PFFD003
Tracklisting:
A1. Whistle
A2. Bloody Friday
B1. Tornado T1
B2. Samurai

Format: Vinyl
Release Date: July 2025

Distributed exclusively by Bikini Waxx Records
Distribution order: hallo@bikiniwaxxrecords.com

Foehn & Jerome on Instagram: www.instagram.com/foehn_and_jerome/
Foehn & Jerome on RA: ra.co/dj/foehnjerome/

Sonya Zlo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sonyazlo/
Sonya Zlo on RA: ra.co/dj/sonyazlo/

Perfumed Freedom on Instagram: www.instagram.com/perfumed_freedom/

[PFFD003] Foehn & Jerome feat. Sonya Zlo - Macho Madness (snippets)

2h59" djset by @alessio_barletta for Rebus After Masada 
Set time: 2pm-5pm 

"It was my first time at Masada, and the moment I walked in, I thought: “Wow, what is this place?!”
It turned into one of those rare moments of deep connection between the dance floor and the artist — the kind you don’t easily forget.
Huge thanks to all my friends from Milan, and to everyone who traveled to be part of this beautiful experience.
But most of all, massive love to the Rebus crew for the invitation."

by Alessio Barletta

Alessio Barletta @ Rebus After Masada (18/05/2025)

Blissmix 009: Felina

Recorded live from the Radio Vilnius booth - a laid back b2b session with Black Feeling! 🖤

Energija w/Black Feeling b2b Tourman @ Radio Vilnius, August 6th 2025

permvac 155-3 Woolfy vs. Projections - The Benjamin Fröhlich Versions out now

Woolfy vs. Projections - Not My Lover Benjamin Fröhlich Downtown Mix

Dj, producer and co boss of Permanent Vacation.for booking please contact james@sweatlodgeagency.com  Need more infos about something ?  get in contact benjaminfranzfroehlich@gmail.com please no demos to this adress.

Woolfy vs. Projections - Not My Lover Benjamin Fröhlich Downtown Mix

Benjamin Fröhlich permvac