Bogota Records celebrated the approaching summer with their seductive, previous "Twilight Room" single. Well, summer is here and Bogota have effectively turned up the heat with another special vocal-driven hit, the kind that just doesn't come along very often. As a long time planned collaboration between Ivaylo and Slammer, as well as singer Renate, the Guide Line EP is a statement of intent and the start of a new perspective from the label.

Ivaylo is a Bulgarian native based in Oslo at the head of Bogota Records and Slammer is the label's sound technician, and the two have numerous projects planned. Renate is a good friend of Ivaylo and they have worked together previously, highlighting her delicate vocal delivery over smooth house productions. It's a combination that just feels right every time, so it's not surprising the two have set a goal of eventually performing live together.

"Guide" is a piece poised to take beaches by storm and dark clubs by night, all just in time for Ibiza and beyond. Renate's performance for this song is truly one in a million. Think Zero 7's prodigious "In the Waiting Line" met with club speed and deep acid production from Ivaylo and Slammer. Half of the track is spent building around the vocals with ambient floating pads, acid swirls, and the shuffle of a 606 drum machine. When it does finally hit, the acid shifts into a tug-and-pull relationship between mid-range stabs and low end groove. The lyrical content is full of metaphor, exulting freedom, independence, and exploratory self-resilience.

Each of the release's three remixers take the track into a more DJ friendly club territory. First up is Demarkus Lewis, a name where the colloquial "just to name a few" doesn't even do justice to a shortened list of the iconic labels, compilations, and releases he has graced, including his own imprint Grin Music. Needles to say, Demarkus is a name that's familiar and his remix also -- in a way -- is that ever familiar, pure and perfect lush house sound. Just the fantastic bass line in a seven and a half minute loop would probably get the job done, so the inclusion of his shortened Rockit Lab Dub is definitely a welcome touch. South Londoner Tom Gillieron (RvS) is a friend of Ivaylo's from his days frequenting Bulgaria and it is in these good hands that the listener can really feel the special attention given to his dubby tech remix. Tom really gives the package that extra Ibiza push, this time appealing to the cool driving force of big room underground dance floors. Another friend of Ivaylo, Brokesteady DJ group member Andre Bravo finishes off the release in yet another direction, full of a cosmic darkness with a heavy bass growl. Be on the look out for a future Andre Bravo original release through Bogota.

All in all, a stunning performance from the Bogota crew and indications of a bright summer ahead. 

Guide (Tom Gillieron Remix) Preview

Ivaylo is a DJ, producer, and curator whose musical journey spans decades and borders. A central figure in Oslo's club culture, he holds a long-standing residency at the iconic Jaeger club, releases music through the esteemed label Full Pupp and steers his own imprint, Lab Cleaning Jams – a platform for forward-thinking, club-rooted electronic music.
Born and raised in Bulgaria during the final years of the communist regime, Ivaylo's early encounters with music were shaped by a scarcity of access and a deep hunger for sound. From jazz tapes smuggled into the country to beat-up drum kits, his formative years were spent chasing rhythm and discovering emotion through music. As Bulgaria opened up to the world, so too did Ivaylo's musical palette – quickly embracing Drum'n'Bass, and eventually finding his true voice in House and Techno.
In the late '90s, he became a key architect of Bulgaria's electronic music scene, programming and DJing at the legendary Comics Club in Varna. Here, he not only honed his skills behind the decks, but also helped bridge the gap between the burgeoning Eastern European scene and international deep house circles, forging lasting relationships with artists and labels that continue to influence him today.
Relocating to Oslo in the 2000s, Ivaylo quickly became a fixture in Norway's tight-knit music community. As resident DJ and in-house host at Jaeger, one of Scandinavia's most respected clubs, he curates lineups, mentors talent, and consistently delivers immersive, genre-spanning DJ sets – weaving together the deeper sides of house, techno, broken beat, and leftfield electronica.

As a producer, Ivaylo's releases are marked by an understated sophistication – music crafted with the dance floor in mind but layered with texture, emotion, and intent. He's released music on Full Pupp, Kwench, Mhost Likely, and through his own label, Lab Cleaning Jams, which serves as both a creative outlet and a collaborative space for like-minded artists pushing boundaries within club music.
Behind the scenes, Ivaylo continues to shape the sonic direction of Nordic club culture. He works as label manager for Full Pupp and its sub-labels, contributing to one of Norway's most iconic musical exports. Whether through his meticulous DJ sets, studio work, or artist development, Ivaylo remains a passionate ambassador for deep, soulful, and uncompromising electronic music.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present