Anjunabeats is the “world’s most consistent trance label” and home to acclaimed producers / DJs Above & Beyond. Above & Beyond consists of three friends Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamaki.
Anjunabeats was formed when Jono Grant and Paavo Siljamaki met at Westminster University and discovered a mutual love of electronic music. The pair kicked off the label in 2000 with "Anjunabeats Volume 1", a massive club success which instantly ear-pricked the likes of Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyk. The bomb had dropped and the Anjunabeats name was firmly on the map.
Anjuna is the name of a beach in Goa, on India's western coast, which was a popular hippie destination in the 1960s and 70s, and is still popular with backpackers and other tourists. Also, Jono and Paavo were inspired by Paul Oakenfold's "Goa Mix", after which they discovered their love for electronic music.
Soon afterwards Jono and Paavo became friends with fellow producer Tony McGuinness and together the three went on to form Above & Beyond. When the Above & Beyond Remix of Chakra ‘Home’ reached number one in the UK club charts, the trio had many of the world’s leading labels knocking at their door, offering some interesting remix opportunities. The most exciting came from Madonna, who invited the boys to give ‘What It Feels Like For A Girl’ the Above & Beyond treatment.
As Above & Beyond’s profile as artists grew, so did the Anjunabeats label. It provided the perfect outlet for their numerous production projects – Oceanlab, Aalto, Freestate, Nitromethane, POS, Rollerball and Tranquillity Base – and every release was warmly received by elite DJs and club goers across the globe.
In late 2002 James Grant joined the Anjunabeats management team and the label began to expand its output, signing a series of fresh artists. The first external track to be released was Rusch and Murray’s much talked about ‘Epic’ – a track made entirely across Internet forums by two producers who’ve never met –, with subsequent signings including Finnish trance maestro Super8 (who later joined forces with DJ Tab), talented UK duo Smith & Pledger and Dutch Deep Tech Genius, Stephen J Kroos.
Since then, the roster has expanded to over 30 artists and Anjunabeats has earned a reputation as one the most consistent dance labels in the world, with its releases proving to be essential tools for many of the world’s top DJs. In February 2008, the label achieved the rare milestone of 100 vinyl releases and celebrated with a series of Anjunabeach parties, including a return to the label’s roots in Goa. These days Anjunabeats also has a younger sibling in the form of Anjunadeep, a melodic house offshoot whose regular fans include the likes of Eric Prydz, Sasha, Desyn Masiello and James Zabiela to name but a few.
More than just a record label, Anjunabeats has become a global community for like minded fans of electronic music, and today ranks as one of the most influential forces in Dance Music History.
Their very successful Radio Show "Trance Around the World" airs each Friday at 7PM - 9PM UK time, broadcasting directly from Above & Beyonds studios in London. It is presented by Above & Beyond themselves, but rarely all three members and includes a guest mix in the final segment of the show, in which fellow DJs and producers are given 30 minutes of air time. The show debuted as an iTunes podcast on show 227 (1st of August 2008, recorded live set from the Global Gathering in Russia).
Anjunabeats Worldwide, another epic two hour show, airs weekly on WorldSpace Satellite Radio channel 202 The System and di.fm. This program is hosted by James Grant, Oliver Smith, Mark Pledger, Super 8 & DJ Tab, Daniel Kandi and many other guests.
Forthcoming Releases Include:
> Adam Nickey "Callista (Stoneface & Terminal Remix) / In Motion (Andy Blueman Remix)"
> Above & Beyond "Anjunabeach" Original Mixes
> Super8 & Tab "Irufushi" Original Mix / Ashley Wallbridge Mix / Sean Tyas Mix
> Mat Zo "Nuclear Fusion" Original Mix / Rex Mundi Remix
> Oliver Smith "Cadence / Pacific" Original Mixes
> Mat Zo "Default / Rush 2009 Remix" Original Mixes
“Above & Beyonds Anjunabeats label is one of the most innovative dance music imprints around… they have brought through a raft of hot electronic talent, shattering listeners’ pre-conceptions of what trance can be” - DJ Magazine
“I cant remember my last set that didn’t have an Above & Beyond production in it. They sound great on the radio and rock any dancefloor. I think all the Anjunabeats tunes are in my box at the moment.” – Armin Van Buuren
“The UKs new dance superstars” – Pete Tong
“One of the top trance labels out there” – Ferry Corsten
“They are a great team and have released some fantastic tunes” - Paul Van Dyk
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