Adam Beyer & Ida Engberg

Adam Beyer
Adam Beyer’s music is synonymous with all that is exciting about techno. Having emerged as the figurehead of the hugely prolific Swedish techno scene, Beyer’s focused and considered approach to his craft has worked to confirm his position as a globally recognized DJ and producer who headlines the worlds cutting edge clubs and festivals week-in-week-out. However life in music began for Beyer down in the grassroots; making the most of Stockholm’s blossoming techno scene and working in the city’s renowned Planet Rhythm record store. It was here that Adam hooked up with the triumvirate of Cari Lekebusch, Joel Mull and Jesper Dahlback; sharing a passion for dynamic and diverse techno which inevitably led to the beginnings of production experimentation and musical exploration which has maintained to the present day.

Beginning with the debut Drumcode 1 released on Planet Rhythm’s record label, Beyer’s production highlights including releases for Plus 8, NovaMute, Cocoon and Soma; remixes of Underworld ‘Push Upstairs’, Morgan ‘Flowerchild’ and Matthew Jonson ‘Marionette’ and a wealth of material on his own Drumcode, Truesoul and MadEye imprints. Something of an obsessive when it comes to creating his own productions the key to understanding the Swede’s studio method can be traced back his formative years. The beating percussive pulse of his music has been at the heart of his musical taste since adopting the role of drummer in a band while at school. By the time he was a young adult he was fully immersed in electronic music. DJing at friends parties, working in the record shop, playing around with samplers and an Atari computer, investing what money he could in better and more equipment; everything was focused on music. This self-drive and dedication has been central to the development of his sound. Self-taught and instinctively creative; the result is an individual style founded on a patient and natural technique that neatly balances impact and innovation.

The development of his own sound can be seen in the maturity of the three record labels Beyer positions at the heart of his operation. A passionate A&R, Beyer has bucked recent trends as Drumcode, Truesoul and Mad Eye go from strength to strength. Established in 1996, Drumcode was and still is about a very clear musical vision. Honest, forward thinking and functional; the label has stayed on its one true course from the outset; providing a consistent home to core artists such as Cari Lekebusch, Pär Grindvik, Jesper Dählback and Joel Mull while creating a platform for the leaders of the techno new-wave; Paul Ritch, Joseph Capriati and Alan Fitzpatrick. Truesoul pushes the boundaries of the accepted norm with forward-thinking music from artists such as; Heiko Laux, Steve Rachmad, Dustin Zahn and Nihad Tule while Mad Eye is where Beyer showcases his more personal and inventive productions.

Beyer’s progressive approach to his craft transcends into the live arena. A natural and accomplished DJ capable of playing across the range of his genre, his sets are characterized by a mesmerizing fluidity that enhances the power and impact of the music he plays; as witnessed on compilations for Fabric, Music Man and Timewarp. Greeted with the knowing expectation reserved for headline acts wherever he plays, Beyer prefers to share the limelight with the acts he supports on his labels. Nowhere is this attitude more evident than at the expanding network of Drumcode parties that are now a regular event across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

Ida Engberg
A product of Sweden’s seemingly endless conveyor of techno talent, Ida Engberg has carved herself a career as a DJ/Producer through relentless hard work and passion. Now an internationally recognized talent whose taste for stripped back, sweat on the ceiling tech-house and techno has been the driving force behind a career progression; Ida can boast a growing production catalogue and a new events brand, Smörgåsbord, as she continues her elevation through the electronic music ranks.

Having picked up the DJ’ing bug at the age of 14 Ida progressed from playing records in her local youth center to her first gig in a small bar in Stockholm when she was 18. The bar gigs lead to club gigs and to warm up spots for international talent that passed through Stockholm’s infamous Cocktail Club where Ida became a resident. Through contacts and incidents Ida began to secure bookings in outside of Sweden. "My tactic was to say yes to every opportunity I got to play somewhere, I basically just followed my heart and inner path” remembers Ida. While in Marbella, Ida was offered the chance to work as a resident DJ over the summer. This experience gave her the confidence to push things forward by relocating to the Mecca of parties and craziness- Ibiza for a full season in 2005. "Being there was so inspiring, I think taking that journey has definitely lead me to where I am today.”

When Ida arrived back to Sweden she put this inspiration to work and began to produce her own music. The result was ‘Disco Volante’ a track which gained massive support and topped sales charts all over the world. After some further releases on labels like Get Physical and, most recently, Truesoul Ida is now back in the studio working on new original material as well as high profile remix projects.

Summer 2011 will see the launch of Ida’s Smörgåsbord events brand that will be all about Ida orchestrating a series of club shows at U60311 Frankfurt, Air Amsterdam and Café D’Anvers Antwerp featuring guest DJs from the worlds of techno, house and disco. In the meantime, Ida can be found playing her brand of techno and tech house in clubs all over the world every weekend. 2010 saw Ida rock parties at Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Exit Festival Serbia, Extrema Norway, Tomorrowland Belgium, Dance Valley Amsterdam, Miami’s Sunday School for Degenerates, Space Ibiza, Cocoon Frankfurt, Panorama Bar Berlin, Awakenings Amsterdam, Ageha Tokyo and Amnesia Milan amongst many others.