Ootkeen - Meteor Shower (master)

Alexander IV is the latest moniker of Dutch man for all seasons, Joris Feiertag. Largely known for his dance floor facing work, this multi-talented artist from the culturally rich city of Utrecht can also be found behind the drum kit for forward thinking funk & soul outfit Kraak & Smaak, and has worked in several pockets of the electronic music scene, under numerous pseudonyms, for over a decade. 

In his latest incarnation, Joris uses the Macedonian monarch’s title to dig deep into the noble influences and roots of his musical output - namely hip-hop, jazz, funk and soul. 

Working with an extended family of renowned musicians (Tessa Rose Jackson on vocals), What Moves Me, the debut single from this new project, combines boom-bap beats, wordless vocals, enchanting piano loops, filters and synth stabs to create a perfectly jubilant yet understated soulful summertime jam.

Alexander IV - What Moves Me

WAAN - Open

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and live-act from Utrecht in the Netherlands who makes music that is a finely balanced combination of organic and synthesised elements, often using ingenious syncopated rhythms combined with instruments such as the harp and
kalimba.

Later this year he will release Roots, his third album on Sonar Kollektiv. Having concentrated his attention on catchy hooks and a number of guest voices on his first, and deeper breakbeat workouts on his second, Joris felt it was time to deliver something that sat comfortably in a space somewhere between the two. The LP features not only a plethora of vocalists from across the globe including Noah Slee, Falle Nioke, Rhi, Nego True and OSHUN, but also sees the producer playing with obscure samples and sounds, as he does on re:solution, the debut single to be taken from the album.

As a song about dealing with the prospect of personal loss, it’s probably one of the most poignant and emotive tracks on the record. Its pitched down guitars and hollow drums, along with hypnotic synth patterns, create a fierce energy that perhaps couldn’t be conveyed outside of Joris’ musical output. When combined with inspiritave African choir samples, as well as vocals from Dutch recording artist Leonard Luka, it delivers something quite intangible - perhaps even spiritual.

Nevertheless, what remains is an uplifting, electric slice of modern dance floor facing music, very much in the vein of fellow luminaries Bicep, Four Tet or Floating Points. Whatever follows for this tireless music maker, his never ending mission to discover the old and reinvent the new will surely see Feiertag break new ground and gain new followers for years to come.

New album 'Roots' out October 2023.

Feiertag - re:solution

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and live-act from Utrecht in the Netherlands who makes music that is a finely balanced combination of organic and synthesised elements, often using ingenious syncopated rhythms combined with instruments such as the harp and kalimba.
In 2023 he will release Roots, his third album on Sonar Kollektiv. Having concentrated his attention on catchy hooks and a number of guest voices on his first, and deeper breakbeat workouts on his second, Joris felt it was time to deliver something that sat comfortably in a space somewhere between the two.

The LP features a plethora of vocalists from across the globe including Berlin based Noah Slee; Rotterdam’s Robin Kester; Guinea born Falle Nioke; young spoken word artist from London, Nego True; Afro-futuristic U.S. hip hop outfit OSHUN, and Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Rhi, who appears here on Queen & King, the second single to be taken from the album.

Joris came across Rhi, as he has done with many of his collaborators, via Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlists. Already a fan of soulful UK independent imprint Tru Thoughts, to whom Rhi is signed, her voice was soon a regular fixture on the Feiertag studio speakers - in particular the very sultry favorite Plain Jane. It wasn‘t long before the producer got in touch with the London based artist, and soon the duo found the perfect pairing within the murky yet mighty Queen & King.

It’s a song that took quite a convoluted journey to get to what you hear today - starting off as a straight up hip-hop track, albeit with leftfield, quirky vocal samples. Over the course of a year though, and with Rhi’s vital input, it was transformed into a nebulous yet compelling tale of striving for independence and the understanding of self worth. With its shades of Tricky and Massive Attack, it’s one of the most powerful, and at the same time intimate, pieces of music on the album. 

It’s also a very personal one, as Rhi describes: „Queen & King is about being content on your own, putting yourself first and not settling for anyone unless they enrich your life.“

Once again, Joris creates new challenges for himself by working with artists outside of his immediate musical sphere. His seemingly endless search to shine a light on new and exciting talent, as well as his tireless work to discover the old and reinvent the new will surely see him break new ground and gain new followers for years to come.

 Feiertag – Roots out October 2023.

Feiertag - Queen & King feat. Rhi

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and live-act from Utrecht in the Netherlands who makes music that is a finely balanced combination of organic and synthesized elements, often using ingenious syncopated rhythms combined with instruments such as the harp and kalimba.

This autumn he will release Roots, his third album on revered German imprint Sonar Kollektiv. Having concentrated his attention on catchy hooks and a number of guest voices on his first, and deeper breakbeat workouts on his second, Joris felt it was time to deliver something that sat comfortably in a space somewhere between the two. The LP features a plethora of vocalists from across the globe including Afro-futuristic U.S. hip hop outfit OSHUN; Berlin based Noah Slee; Rotterdam’s Robin Kester; Guinea born Falle Nioke; Tru Thoughts recording artist Rhi, and young spoken word artist from London, Nego True, who features on the new single, Feel Me.

More than just a rapper, he’s a true poet as exemplified on this single. Feel Me is one of the most personal tracks on the album as Nego opens up on a close relationship in his unmistakable tones. Encouraged by Joris with his personal situation taking the next step, here Nego writes and raps about moving in with his partner and his ambitions to raise a family.

Once again, Joris creates new challenges for himself by working with artists outside of his immediate musical sphere. His seemingly endless search to shine a light on new and exciting talent, as well as his tireless work to discover the old and reinvent the new will surely see him break new ground and gain new followers for years to come.

New album 'Roots' out October 2023.

Feiertag - Feel Me feat. Nego True

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and drummer from Utrecht in the Netherlands who makes music that is a finely balanced blend of organic and synthesized elements, often using ingenious syncopated rhythms combined with instruments such as the harp and kalimba. 

This autumn he will release Roots, his third album on revered German imprint Sonar Kollektiv. Having concentrated his attention on catchy hooks and a number of guest voices on his first, and deeper breakbeat workouts on his second, Joris felt it was time to deliver something that sat comfortably in a space somewhere between the two. The LP features a plethora of vocalists from across the globe including Rotterdam’s Robin Kester; Berlin based vocalist Noah Slee; Tru Thoughts recording artist Rhi; young spoken word artist from London, Nego True; Afro-futuristic U.S. hip hop outfit OSHUN and Guinea born Falle Nioke, who features on the new single, Ballon Sogni. 

As has often been the case, Joris discovered Nioke via Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist. The West African artist, now based in Margate, Kent in the UK south-eastern coast, is known for his sophisticated blend of electronic and pan-African music on his own releases, and the pair achieve much the same here with a song that roughly translates to “Football Dream”. The result is a rough African bass driven workout, complete with traditional balafon sounds which give way to something more ethereal as celestial choirs and chants take the dream somewhere quite otherworldly. 

Once again, Joris creates new challenges for himself by working with artists outside of his immediate musical sphere. His seemingly endless search to shine a light on new and exciting talent, as well as his tireless work to discover the old and reinvent the new will surely see him break new ground and gain new followers for years to come.

Feiertag - Ballon Sogni feat. Falle Nioke

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and live-act from Utrecht in the Netherlands who makes music that is a finely b alanced combination of organic and synthesized elements, often using ingenious syncopated rhythms combined with instruments such as the harp and kalimba.

This autumn he will release Roots, his third album on revered German imprint Sonar Kollektiv. Having concentrated his attention on catchy hooks and a number of guest voices on his first, and deeper breakbeat workouts on his second, Joris felt it was time to deliver something that sat comfortably in a space somewhere between the two. The LP features a plethora of vocalists from across the globe including Berlin based Noah Slee; Rotterdam’s Robin Kester; Guinea born Falle Nioke; Tru Thoughts recording artist Rhi; young spoken word artist from London, Nego True, and Afro-futuristic U.S. hip hop outfit OSHUN, who feature on the new single, Law Of Attraction.

Feiertag first discovered OSHUN, who hail from Washing D.C., when the duo guested on Nightmares On Wax’s sublime track from 2021, Breathe In. Inspired both by NOW’s laid back beats and OSHUN’s gorgeously drowsy vocal delivery, Joris set out to make something that sat in the Feiertag universe whilst drawing sounds from the more soulful corner of the hip hop realm, with it’s chopped up piano samples. Niambi Sala and Thandiwe, the two members of OSHUN, were in exactly the same headspace and the result is a somehow simultaneously laid back and urgent delivery that talks of the joys and challenges of becoming a parent and being “born to live long & love the life that I’ve created.”

Feiertag - Law of Attraction feat. OSHUN

Insistent vocal samples, Korg piano stabs and a weighty bassline give this shameless dance floor heavy hitter a Caribou meets Jamie XX feel, yet it’s also something one can listen to at home. A timeless and uplifting piece of electronic music - not just for the listener as for Joris, this track represents the happiness of discovering what the new direction of Feiertag will be! The joy of making dance music that satisfies “the search for simplicity”; that inhabits that space somewhere between major and minor; new and old; dark and light; pop and soul.

From the upcoming album 'Roots'. Out 20.10.

Feiertag - Come Back

Erogenous Summer 2023

Mizo (Original Mix)

Luke Neptune - I Would Die 4 U (Moss Baker Remix)

Sonar Kollektiv was founded in 1997 by Jazzanova. Designed as a platform for own releases it soon attracted numerous new discoveries and like-minded musicians to lead their trumps right here. Still it was never the intention of Sonar Kollektiv to pursue one specific sound or provide an already existing scene. Each and every release on the label (450 and counting) was at all times meant to illustrate the musical taste of the collective, its flavourful development and recollection of past sounds. The various compilations and label showcases played a big part of it. From the renowed „Secret Love“ compilation (No. 6 will be released these days), the „Computer Incarnations For World Peace“ edition, the  „...Boadcasting“ and „....Mixing“-series to the „Romanian Jazz“ label showcase Sonar Kollektiv continuously cares about broadening its own and the horizon of any type of music lovers. How broad this horizon can be expanded showed the release of Âme’s „Rej“ in 2005. Shorthandly minimal techno was redifined and at the same time the sublabel Innervisions (runned by Dixon) was leveraged to worldwide fame. Other milestones in the eventful history of Sonar Kolletiv were the discovery of the New Zealand reggae soul combo Fat Freddy’s Drop (2005), the debuts by Micatone (2003), Benny Sings (2005), Clara Hill (2003) and Eva Be (2004), the first releases by Dimlite (2003), Tricksi (2006), Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson (2007), as well as Georg Levin (2005) and his collaborative project with Dixon, Wahoo (2004). Also for some of today’s legends of more sophisticated electronic music, like Ulrich Schnauss, Ben Klock and Marcin Kozlowski (now a member of Whitest Boy Alive) Sonar Kollektiv offered a stepping stone to their international careers. And in 2003 a certain Eric Wahlforss released his first record here, just before founding Soundcloud.

When at the end of 2009 the rate of fire ceased some thought the label is running on empty or lost touch to contemporary sounds. But the releases of this year so far should prove doubters wrong. The remix album „Jazzanova Upside Down“ (released in January) gathers the who’s who of the currenty most happening and game-changing DJs and producers (Henrik Schwarz, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Filippo Moscatello, Manuel Tur, Mark E, and more) to catapult Jazzanova classics into the future. By signing Phil Gerus from Moscow, the new project Hot Coins out of the UK, EnaWadan from South Africa and the pan-Geman duo Paskal & Urban Absolutes four of the most promising new acts slantingly offside the dancefloor have been added to the already impressive roster. And once again all true pop aficionados with an addiction for soul and a genuine craft in songwriting are pierced to the heart with the brand new albums by FETSUM („The Colors Of Hope“) and Micatone („Wish I Was Here“).

But what is the formula of success of the Berlin based label? A dance music imprint that – with a few exceptions – actually doesn’t release club music? Is it even after all exactly this? Delievering music for prior to, succeeding and one day after a club night?

There’s no other German record label that can boast such an adventurous range of styles: reggae, folk, electronica, jazz, funk, calypso, house, techno and now also chillwave, dubstep, dream pop, and so on. At Sonar Kollektiv there’s somehow room for everything. Still, all of the 250 and counting releases have one common denominator: It’s music made out of passion - without any financial aim or attemps of ingratiation. From and for music lovers.

Feiertag - Come Back

Sonar Kollektiv

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