It’s been a while since Flashbaxx released his critically acclaimed The Changing Tides EP (Blackfish Productions / BaxxBeatMusic). Flashbaxx mastermind Daniel Stenger began working on an album to follow the EP in 2008, but inspiration was fleeting and music making was difficult, and Daniel was not satisfied with his early drafts. He seemed to lose his enthusiasm, so the producer decided to take a break from Flashbaxx and devote himself to other projects.

Not that Daniel was resting … rather, he was restless. He expanded his record label BaxxBeatMusic, produced and recorded other bands and artists, composed music for commercials, and frequently performed as DJ. From time to time a Flashbaxx loop appeared on his sequencer, but he still was not able to complete the puzzle. But after a few years of all this activity and exposure to the music of others (in the clubs as well as the studios) Daniel’s inspiration returned and he was finally ready to push the Flashbaxx musical vision into 2013.

The fog first lifted in 2011 when Daniel produced “So Close To Midnight” in a single evening, signaling a triumphant return to the studio. In the next eighteen months Daniel prodded Flashbaxx back to life, track by track. It was like awakening from long creative hibernation, and Daniel’s newfound creative joy is evident in the album’s music.

After the foundation was set, the work on the album concept began. When the Aschaffenburg-based producer couldn’t find a sonic connection between two songs he remedied this by producing a new joint to fill the gap and complete the desired arc of the record. Eventually the thirteen tracks formed a cohesive excursion, and Daniel’s feeling of accomplishment inspired the album’s title: Something To Believe.

Certainly the strength of the album lies in its versatility. To begin, Stenger combines soulful downtempo and smooth soul with brass kicking nu-funk. The album then takes a trip down the coast of Latin America while grooving through disco and deep house-influenced club tracks. Eventually, things resolve surprisingly in a Bill Conti manner, transporting the listener to when the movie Rocky had just appeared in cinemas. Following his passion for funk and jazz Daniel gave much attention to the organic details, combining this with more loop oriented songs, settling for a sound somewhere between the couch and the dance floor. It’s a bit ‘old school,’ but far away from being frumpy … sometimes laid back, sometimes demanding body motion. Flashbaxx isn’t reinventing the wheel, but the truck now has some cool new slippers.

Besides guest musicians like The Haszlbeatz and Christoph Matyaschek, Flashbaxx worked with vocalists Tanja Proessler and Mathias Fischer as well as the very brilliant Seth Sharp from distant Reykjavik. The appearance of guest musicians and vocalists marks a first for Flashbaxx and gives Something To Believe the stamp of a producer album. Flashbaxx is back … and he’ll make you a believer.

Whatever You Want feat. Tanja Prössler & Mathias Fischer (Preview)

- 𝘼𝙇𝙒𝘼𝙔𝙎 𝙈𝙊𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 -

1. CDMX
2. MAMAO
3. DETROIT LOVE LETTER feat. @byrontheaquarius 
4. ELECTRICAL feat. @marlena.dae 
5. SYNESTHESIA
6. LSD feat. @marlena.dae 
7. EXPERIENCE feat. @marlena.dae 
8. PLEASURE RIDE feat. @harveysutherland and @marlena.dae 
9. TIME SPACE MATTER
10. INTERCOURSE
11. SLOW JAMZ
12. GOOD BYE BERLIN

All tracks written and produced by Riccardo Paffetti aka Black Loops

Additional keys, bass, guitars, synths and vocals by Declan McDermott, Rossano Snel, Nikos Haropoulos, Daisy Benson, Harvey Sutherland, Byron the Aquarius

Mixed by @nelson_of_the_east 
Mastered by @thecarverystudio 
Album cover by @jamie.jar 

Out on @freerangerecords 9.5.2025

Always Moving

Mamao

- 𝘼𝙇𝙒𝘼𝙔𝙎 𝙈𝙊𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 -

1. CDMX
2. MAMAO
3. DETROIT LOVE LETTER feat. @byrontheaquarius
4. ELECTRICAL feat. @marlena.dae
5. SYNESTHESIA
6. LSD feat. @marlena.dae
7. EXPERIENCE feat. @marlena.dae
8. PLEASURE RIDE feat. @harveysutherland and @marlena.dae
9. TIME SPACE MATTER
10. INTERCOURSE
11. SLOW JAMZ
12. GOOD BYE BERLIN

All tracks written and produced by Riccardo Paffetti aka Black Loops

Additional keys, bass, guitars, synths and vocals by Declan McDermott, Rossano Snel, Nikos Haropoulos, Daisy Benson, Harvey Sutherland, Byron the Aquarius

Mixed by @nelson_of_the_east
Mastered by @thecarverystudio
Album cover by @jamie.jar

Out on @freerangerecords 9.5.2025

Detroit Love Letter feat. Byron The Aquarius

Stockholm pals and soulmates Ari Bald & CJ Scott have built a solid reputation for their infectious, sample-heavy and sought-after disco house cuts formerly released on label Studio Barnhus. Now, the dynamic duo returns to their beloved local label, Bænger, bringing their signature nostalgic and feel-good sound back home for a fresh outing, ready to blow your socks off for the summer. 

Their anticipated new four track EP 'Dime Girl' arrives as BÆNGER0011 and strictly limited to 200 vinyl copies.

instagram.com/basicframe_distribution
distribution@basicframe.it

Order Now!

BÆNGER0011 / Ari Bald & CJ Scott - Dime Girl

Set It All Free EP
Label - Quintessentials
Released - 25th April 2025
BUY FROM - https://quintessentials.bandcamp.com/album/set-it-all-free

Yessss! Here it is! The comeback we have all been waiting for! Borrowed Identity is back! This classy producer and DJ from the German Black Forest has been making his mark some years ago (well it has been nearly a decade now) with releases on labels like Quintessentials (3 EPs to be precise), Circus Company or Foul & Sunk to name but a few. Now he teams up again with his Sandkastenbuddy Mechanical Soul Brother to present some super groovy, deep yet powerful and uplifting House tunes! Grab your copy and enjoy a hot summer!

Support ➟➟
https://soundcloud.com/quintessentials
https://www.instagram.com/qemusic/

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Bandcamp

PREMIERE: Borrowed Identity & Mechanical Soul Brother - Set It All Free [Quintessentials]

Manuel Darquart - Soft Energy

60 minutes of deep jazzy house music.  Sit back and enjoy :)

Mixed by Maslow Unknown

DEEP JAZZY HOUSE MIX

Rhode & Brown - Hop On

New spirit EP
A1 Ain’t no stoppin’
A2 New spirit
B1 No minions allowed
B2 Whatchu want is all I got
B3 New spirit (Juzz beatz)

House music doesn’t get much funkier than Demuir’s ‘New Spirit’ EP. Whether it’s the classic sampling on the title track – an homage to his mother-, or the rolling funk bass and vocal chops on ‘Ain’t no stoppin’ ‘, Demuir brings an unstoppable groove with his 2nd release on Heist.

The man behind so many great house records has kept himself rather busy with building his own fanbase, openly debating the role that big platforms play and the firm grip they have on talent. Rather than conforming to the standard route, Demuir chooses to navigate the winding road of building his own following through his production classes, engineering and music releases through artist-first channels like Patreon.

His recent move from Toronto to Chicago feels perfectly in line with the sound&nbsp;Demuir is bringing forward on his first record on Heist since his 2019 classic ‘Werq, feel, gruv, vogue’. Those 6 years were well worth the wait: The ‘New Spirit’ EP&nbsp; is a perfectly-balanced mix of creativity, confidence and character. The Demuir sound is instantly audible throughout the release and he’s not afraid to make bold choices. Each track has its own identity, its own place on the record and it’s one of the things that make this record stand out in the best way possible. The forward-leaning grooves, the tight mixing and the classic use of soulful samples are a treat to listen and dance to. There’s hints of the 90s New York sound (New Spirit), soulful disco-tinged grooves his new home-town is known for (Ain’t no stoppin’), lean-back and summery melodic grooves (No minions allowed) and deep, bassheavy dubby grooves (Whatchu want is all I got) to remind everyone that Demuir is an absolute master of modern day house music.

We’ve been playing all these songs for a while and we’re happy to finally share these with you.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars &amp; Maarten&nbsp;

New spirit EP

Buy vinyl here!

Demuir - No minions allowed

Demuir - New spirit (Extended dub)

Download/Vinyl/Stream: https://toy-tonics.lnk.to/RealRio

Introducing a New Toy Tonics Artist: Martha Pinel!
Brazilian DJ, vinyl digger, party starter, and style icon Martha Pinel has officially joined the Toy Tonics family.
Based between Rio de Janeiro and Berlin, Martha is the founder of Assembleia, a laid-back Rio party that’s become a Carnival sensation. She also co-founded Croma, a project fusing music and fashion that helped shape Rio’s alt-scene. Featured on the cover of GQ Brazil, she was named one of “13 artists changing the world.”
Her dynamic, non-linear DJ sets blend Afro-Brazilian rhythms, Middle Eastern grooves, Italo, disco, house, and Balearic sounds - with a bold, emotional touch. She’s performed at Boiler Room, Paris Fashion Week, KALA Festival, DGTL, and more, alongside names like Hunee, Antal, and Prins Thomas.
Martha Pinel’s debut EP, Real Rio, was born during a moment of rediscovery in her hometown, Rio de Janeiro, after spending a long time abroad. This project is a celebration of that reconnection, capturing the city’s most authentic and visceral aspects - a place where beauty and chaos coexist, with dramatic highs and lows.
The first single "Espírito de Estado" embodies the spirit of the Carioca Carnival, the greatest party in the world. 

Released 11.08.25

Espírito de Estado

Martha Pinel - Espirito de Estado

Since being discovered by the Mainz-based lounge label “Wohnton” in 2003, Flashbaxx’s jazz and funky beats have been featured on international compilations—including releases on Sony Music, EMI, and Ministry of Sound. His productions appear alongside artists such as Moby, Jazzanova, Blank & Jones, Die Fantastischen Vier and Bonobo and are regularly played by renowned DJs and tastemakers like Rainer Tru by (Compost, DE), Robert Luis (Tru Thoughts, UK), and Mark Farina (OM Records, US). 

His latest EP Take Care My Friend (NuNorthern Soul, UK / 2022) was enthusiastically received by the scene. For the remix EP (NuNorthern Soul, UK / 2023), he brought on board renowned producers such as Atjazz and Moods.

In his "feel-good" DJ sets, he effortlessly blends various styles, ranging from downbeat to house with elements of disco, boogie, jazz and funk. Since 2024, Flashbaxx has been performing again as an electronic live act, showcasing his unique mash-ups of disco and house classics. His high-energy performances have already taken him to legendary clubs like the KitKat Club and Heideglühen in Berlin. In June 2025 selected tracks from his live set will be released as “Gazelle” EP on the newly founded label Groovers Trax (Leipzig), fulfilling his longheld dream of creating an uncompromising house record with a disco twist. 

From 2016 to 2025, Stenger was part of the podcast Proseccolaune, where he further honed his comedic talent. Today, this is reflected in his own comedy and music content on social media, striking a balance between accessible entertainment and subcultural authenticity—earning him a steadily growing fanbase.
Daniel Stenger lives in Aschaffenburg (DE), works in his studio where he produces music, podcasts, content and musical projects for the advertising industry. His musical expertise has made him a sought-after collaborator. Prestigious companies—including RTL, BERTELSMANN, GARNIER, PANTENE, OLAZ, MERCEDES BENZ, PHANTASIALAND, AIRBUS, and VERIVIOX—regularly Stenger for their brand’s music production.