STORIES

Cercle is one of the most respected live-streaming platforms in dance music, broadcasting performances in breathtaking locations to tens of millions of viewers across the globe. From hot air balloons to mountain tops, waterfalls, world-heritage sites, and under the Northern Lights in the arctic circle. 

Part videographers and music curators, part adrenaline junkies, @cerclelive blend sound with mind-blowing images and aesthetic, creating audio-visual experiences in which viewers are immersed from start to finish. 

I follow founder Derek Barbolla and his team of creatives for nine months, as they plan and broadcast a show under a waterfall in a remote part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. What makes it a perfect location? How is the artist selected? And with multiple cameras, drones, and a live audience of one thousand, how difficult is it to capture? From the importance of colour to the best time of day to film, we uncover the technical and logistical challenges of pulling off a production of this magnitude...
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Aired on In The Studio on BBC World Service Radio on 28.06.2022
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0chhj3v

Cercle: Dance Under a Waterfall [BBC World Service]

I've spent the last five years discovering exciting pockets of dance music culture around Asia. In this documentary I'm taking you on tour with me across India, playing in six cities and meeting the people responsible for making dancefloors move. Mixing with the DJs, producers, promoters, agents and visiting an online community radio station, expect personal insight into the colourful Indian electronic sound, the country's vibrant dance music scene and the challenges faced by some of its key players today.
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TRACKLIST
Hamza & Vipul ‘House Music Soldiers’
Soulspace ‘Lotus Easter’
Host ‘I Wanna Be Your Friend (The Mekanism Remix Instrumental Dub)’
The Knocks ‘Best Friend (Amine Edge & DANCE Remix)’
Stalvart John ‘Killipattu’
Small Town Guy ‘Oasis’
wAFF ‘Sick Pleasure’
Unnayanaa ‘Chimmy's Theme (Raag Malkauns)’
Unnayanaa ‘P9’
Unnayanaa ft. Irfan Rainy & Ibitsam ‘Taht Min Aini’
Kim Ann Foxman ‘E4 Energy’
Sandunes ‘Does Bombay Dream of NOLA’
Sandunes ‘True That’
George Fitzgerald ‘Outgrown Bonobo (Sandunes Remix)’
Danny Daze ‘Fall Away From Love’
Soul Reductions ‘Got 2 Be loved’
Salty Prawn ‘Fallen Villain’
Lorenz Rhode & Purple Disco Machine ‘Birds’
Triple Pack ‘What A Feeling (DJ Molting’s Edit)’
KiNK ‘Perth’
Farhan Rehman & Stalvart John ‘Khwatta Ceremony’
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First aired on Worldwide FM on 9.04.2019: www.worldwidefm.net/episode/global-electronic-music-stories-from-indias-colourful-underground-09-04-19-2

India's Colourful Underground [Worldwide FM]

As the pandemic hit India earlier this this year, musicians looked for creative ways to keep themselves inspired despite the uncertainty looming on live events. But the effects of one of the world’s toughest lockdowns has been felt much further that closed doors and empty dancefloors. A group of electronic music producers got together to create the 22-2 Beat Challenge and raised funds for some of the country’s worst affected. 

Having played around India and fallen in love with the country I felt really touched by this story and made a radio piece about it which aired globally on BBC World Service recently. 

Huge thanks to @oceantiedmusic & @ayushmakesmusic from @22-two, MUKTI charity who are doing incredible work with rural communities in West Bengal, and Newshour, Weekend and The Newsroom programmes for giving this story the attention it needs 🧡

Indian DJs Support the Needy (22-2 project x Mukti charity) [BBC World Service]

Has coronavirus changed the landscape of China’s underground electronic music scene? I speak to leading DJs and promoters about the collaboration and creativity that is transforming the country's electronic music scene after lockdown.

Featuring @Kaishandao, Cookie Zhang (Eating Music Records) and Carmen Herold (Zhao Dai club).
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Aired on The Cultural Frontline on BBC World Service radio on 12.12.2020: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cszj9b
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Resident Advisor: www.residentadvisor.net/news/74180
DJ Mag: www.djmag.com/news/covid-19-s-impact-china-s-electronic-music-scene-explored-bbc-podcast

Covid-19 and China's Changing Club Scene [BBC World Service]

Broadcaster and music journalist telling the tales around the sounds, celebrating real scenes, cultures and movements; and sharing his findings with you...

STORIES

Frank McWeeny