Beats Per Minute: A playlist of club ready tracks as chosen by Solardo

Presenting, our brand new VIP curated playlist feature - Beats Per Minute.

We've linked up with some of the greatest DJs and producers in the business - both emerging and established - to bring you a brand new and regular fifteen track playlist, consisting of some of the biggest and gnarliest tracks in dance music right now. Each playlist will offer an exclusive first look and listen to setlists put together by the selectors themselves, before they've been experienced anywhere else. 

Be the first in the know, discover brand new music courtesy of your favourite DJs, and educate yourself on the plentiful bangers you can expect to hear in venues throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond...

Taking over the playlist for the very first instalment, we are extremely proud to have Manchester favourites and acclaimed house music duo Mark Richards and James Eliot AKA Solardo.

Continue reading to learn which dance floor destroying treats you can expect to hear in a Solardo live set this year, all ahead of their forthcoming weekend of carnage in Croatia at the end of the month.

(Click or tap on the artist, event and venue names below for more info and tickets)

Croatia currently sits on the UK’s Green travel list and it’s looking good for your anticipated return to Dubrovnik this September, as you take over Culture Club Revelin once again for two heady days and nights of partying. Tell us about what we can expect from this show? 

"We're bringing 'HIGHER' to one of the best clubs in the world, Culture Club Revelin in Dubrovnik on the 23rd, 24th and 25th September. It's going to be a full-blown party from start to finish. The club is situated right in the centre of Dubrovnik in the most amazing settings. We'll be hosting parties on the world-famous roof terrace in the evening which looks over the full city and then we move into the club later at night. The club is insane and has a gothic warehouse feel to it with one of the most incredible sound systems in the world. We've got a sick lineup including, Andrea Oliva, Heidi, Nic Fancuilli, Waff, Danny Howard, Max Chapman, Sosa, Wade, Syreeta and loads more. During the day, there'll also be pool and beach parties. Plenty of partying to be had for all involved."

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You’ve recently been tearing it up in the states, at Hard Summer Music Festival in California and in Miami. What’s the atmosphere been like at these shows? Is there a noticeable difference between the fans and the vibe now that the pandemic seems to be slowing?

"Hard Festival in California was incredible. The crowd were so up for it and the atmosphere was amazing. California has been locked down for ages so I think everyone who was there just wanted to go as hard as possible. It was amazing playing the closing set on that stage and seeing the crowd still with so much energy to give. Sometimes at the end of a festival on the last day, people start to slow down a bit and get tired but this was most definitely not the case there. I really think everyone could have kept going for another couple of days. Everyone stayed till the end and no one wanted to leave, with them all calling for one more tune. It was a very special experience."

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In addition to your, Solardo presents: HIGHER show out in Croatia, you’ve also got some big dates coming up back here in the UK - such as Terminal V’s Halloween Festival, the Warehouse Projects Halloween event, Sundown Festival, Inside Out Festival… the list goes on. Is there a particular event you're both looking forward to playing live at again, following a year or so away from the crowds?

"We can't wait for them all! It's just amazing to be back doing what we love and especially in front of such big crowds. I think the stand out one for us would have to be Parklife. I don't think there's much better than playing in The Hangar when it's full. We've had some of our best experiences there and each time the atmosphere has been electric."

We asked you to curate fifteen tracks as part of our new playlist curation feature, Beats Per Minute - to which you kindly obliged - highlighting some of the club destroying weapons we can expect to hear within your live sets this year. If you could choose only three out of the fifteen to spin at every live show, which tracks would you choose and why?

"Solardo x Maur - POWER. In every show, we'll always play our new one with Maur “Power”. This is our latest single and it goes off a treat every time we play it. It has a similar impact as our record 'XTC' did.

"Love Regenerator and Eli Brown - We Can Come Together. Been playing this one for a while now and it goes off every time. It's recently been released and has a huge reaction each time we play it. 

"Hannah Laing - The Records. We released this on our latest compilation album on Sola and it had a massive reaction. All the tracks on the album were incredible but this one was our standout track. The drop in the middle of the track goes off every time we play it." 

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We’re always looking to discover new music, and in our experience, we’ve found that those at the very top of the game always have insider knowledge. You always seem to get the scoop on the next big names before anyone else does. So, are there any talents you’ve got your eye on? Anyone you’re considering adding to the Sola roster? 

"There are a few artists who we're feeling at the moment. Particularly Ben Hemsley who has some huge tunes out at the moment. He's released a couple on Sola and he's someone we hope to have back on the label soon. Also, Maur, who we have signed to Sola for an album. Their tunes just get better and better. The tracks they have had out with us are so good and their new material is even better."

Check out Solardo's setlist selection below and get excited for their upcoming performances at events such as Parklife, HIGHER in Dubrovnik, Terminal V and more...

For more fantastic live events happening where you are, head over to our What's On Guide