EVENT RECAP + INTERVIEW | TOPHER JONES at ELECTRIC CANDYLAND
After a great night hosted by Electric Candyland Events at Stage 48 in NYC, we could not be more impressed. The attention to detail in regards to producing the event were simply incredible. A state of the art lighting system, a sound system that rivals even the best that NYC venues have to offer, beautiful dancers with snazzy costumes, and consistent, high-caliber DJ bookings combined to bring us and the rest of the Electric Candyland-ers an experience that is unique and truly enjoyable.
We were able to experience awesome sets by Rhafa Madrid, NY native George Garcia and by the high-octane headliner and creator of the massive track "Brohammer", Topher Jones. To top it all off, we managed to coordinate with Topher and meet him backstage for an interview before his set. Without a doubt, Topher is one of the nicest guys with nothing but a positive outlook and a serious love for all types of music. We got the tip on some of the big events he will be hitting this summer, including Spring Awakening, and were given a little insight into what fans can expect from Topher and Ultra Records in the near future.
Topher's talent and creativity were on display from the beginning of his set to the end. Like he said in his interview, much of the material that he played for the rowdy crowd was new or unreleased. It was really refreshing to not hear the same songs that we hear being pounded out by most DJ's. Topher explained that he is heavily influenced by music you wouldn't find on the dance floor and his genre-hopping, crossover mixes and live sets truly reflect that mentality. He is able to retain that hard-trance sound he is known and loved for with remarkable ease, moving between bangers and alternative rock remixes seamlessly.
Stage 48 is looking and sounding fantastic, and with fine acts like this continuing to grace the stage, we expect nothing but great things from the venue and from Electric Candyland events. Keep reading for the interviews and enjoy this live recording of Topher's set from that night at Electric Candyland.
F: Topher, how are you doing tonight?
T: I'm doing well how are you doing?
F: Good man thanks. The sets tonight have been great so far, what can we expect to hear from you?
T: A lot of unreleased stuff, that no one has heard yet so that will be fun to play. Ill play some known stuff: brohammer, hello chicago, save me and all the records that I'm really enjoying right no. I don't have a set playlist so Im just gonna kinda wing it from track one, feel the vibe of the room, and kinda go from there.
F: Well we're all totally excited to hear "Brohammer" and "Save Me".
T: Haha good, the original or remix?
F: Tough one, but I think I like the original better. We were bumping it in the future office today to get ready for tonight.
F: So I see you're playing a few big events this summer including spring awakening, which must be big because its in your home town of chicago. Which one's are you excited about?
T: Im really excited for spring awakening. I fly back to Chicago tomorrow, Im playing the after party tomorrow night, then I play the festival on sunday. It will be cool. Its a city where, you know, my individual shows sell out and I have developed a really good following then. I have a special connection with the city, you know, with Hello Chicago so being able to play the festival on a massive scale will be a really fun day.
F: So how many times will we hear Hello Chicago at Awakening?
T: Haha, you know everyone's been asking me. Im slightly torn because I feel like if there is ever a time to open a set and close it with the same song, or maybe 2 different versions, this is the whow. And I wouldn't feel bad doing that, because it is chicago. I might do that, we'll see.
F: Well we are all excited to hear it.
F: Well man, you killed it with brohammer and save me, can we anticipate any new released from Ultra and Topher in the future:
T: Yes absolutely. There's a lot of new material coming. The next single is called talk about it. And You'll get to hear that tonight.
F: Yeah, we just heard rumors backstage now
T: Haha exactly, yeah you'll get to hear that tonight. And I'm really excited aout that. I was actually at Ultra today, working on an album and going over some things and they said "I think this is the best thing you've ever done".
F: So we can expect a full EP?
T: Actually, a full album yeah coming out late this fall.
F: Right on man we can't wait to hear it. Who are the big acts and big releases that you are excited on right now?
T: Mannn… well anything Alesso does is golden. He pisses me off he's so good. I really like Sultan and Ned Shepard's recent stuff. I think their remix of Bruno Mars' "Locked Out Of Heaven" is maybe the best song of the year. Um…You know I'm trying to think who else I've been really into. There's a track called on Boom that came out on Size, I'll be playing that tonight. There's so much good music right now, its early difficult. Producers put a track out every 2 or 3 weeks now a days.
F: Especially with festival season going on..
T: Yeah, exactly. There's a lot of good stuff right now, I don't know, I love all kinds of stuff so its hard to answer that question.
F: We've noticed your heavy crossover style, especially with the remixes you've been so successful with recently.
T: Yeah I love, for example, if there's a pop song or a band that Im like "I love this track" I will find a way to make a remix or to throw it in my sets. With the Rihanna Remix, the original is so emotional, It's just too good, I have to make a version. The Fun "Some Nights" track, Im like "This is so fun and catchy, how can I make a mix?" Bangerang, I think its the coolest thing Skrillex has done but house DJs can't play that version so I made a mix that I can and its been so fun.
F: So the name Topher is becoming synonymous with American dance music and DJs even the whole American scene right now, what do you think of the American Dance Music scene?
T: I think its the best place in the world right now for big room house music and its so cool to see America finally embracing Dance Music . Now its a legitimate genre u there with Rap and Rock and Country and all that stuff so its pretty neat to see how far its come since I got into dance music. So many opportunities and so many places to play. It's really cool, I think Dance is going to be this generation's music. When I grew up it was all Hiphop and Rap like that was the big thing, so thats kind of our generations music. Dance music is going to be this upcoming generations music and thats really cool that that's taking place in America.
F: Yeah absolutely. Well, what can Ultra and Topher fans expect in the future?
T: Lots of big tracks, some really cool album tracks that aren't necessarily meant for the dance floor but are beautiful, beautiful pieces of music. Lots of cool remixes coming up, I can't announce a lot of them yet because we're still in the final process of getting everything finalized. Its gonna be a busy second half of the year with tons of touring and tons of releases.
F: Alright man, thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
T: No thank you guys I really appreciate it. You sticking around?
F: Yep, Im recording your set so Ill see you on stage!
