​5 dance music legends dominating Secret Solstice

As the history of music continues to expand with each new release, material produced by iconic artists of the past proves to stand the test of time. With that, legacy acts, veterans of the music industry and experienced tastemakers who have already left their mark are currently seeing a resurgence on festival lineups, and Iceland’s Secret Solstice is leading the charge.

Taking place in Reykjavik from June 15 - 18, Secret Solstice features an eclectic lineup of both local and international talent from across the musical spectrum. Judging by the enlisted artists, the festival recognizes the importance and relevance of those who laid the foundation of a culture as well as those shaping the future of the industry progress.

In the event that a respected and essential artist is overlooked on the Secret Solstice lineup this year, Mixmag has outlined why each is an absolute must see. Whether they pioneered a genre or innovated with rhythm and sound, these acts stand out as dance music legends. And their past accomplishments are only half of it...

Find more details and ticket information regarding all Secret Solstice events here.

For many seasoned dance music fans, The Prodigy needs little introduction. The trio of Maxim, Liam Howlett and Keith Flint helped pioneer a hard hitting electronic style called big beat, which swept across Europe in the early 90s. They can be credited with bringing the genre to the mainstream due to a series of chart topping tracks, but it was their live performances that allowed them to truly stand out.

In 1997, the year they released their third album ‘The Fat of the Land’, The Prodigy headlined Glastonbury and made a major statement during the performance. ‘Firestarter’ was of course a clear standout and the essence of that memorable evening stayed with them throughout their career. Today they hold nothing back from delivering the high-octane, lively, raucous nature of their music.

The band’s producer Liam Howlett talked about their ethos in more recent years: “The Prodigy right, we’re proud of our roots and we can not be lumped in with the fuckin’ formula dance music by numbers crew. They’re the fuckin’ jokers that stop this music getting taken seriously. Skits on Saturday night live takin’ the piss? That’s where it’s ended up… That’s not what electronic music is about. The lazy DJ’s, they have to be exposed. I’ve gone out of my way on this album to not have any of those things that people attach to dance music now… there’s no fucking typical snare builds or that bollocks.”

Expect the trio to pull out all stops at Secret Solstice to showcase how it's properly done.

With ten Grammy’s and a catalogue of releases touching on a variety of styles and genres, Chaka Khan is one of the most influential pop artists to grace the charts. Of course ‘I'm Every Woman’ is an easily recognizable hit, but also ‘Through The Fire’ -which was sampled by Kanye West- ‘Aint Nobody’, ‘Love You All My Lifetime’ and numerous collaborations and covers proved her vocal prowess was in high demand throughout her career.

During Chaka Khan’s live performances she delivers an electric and captivating show, revealing her broad range and soulful energy. This was on full display with her band Rufus’ live album ‘Stompin' at the Savoy - Live’, which made ‘Aint Nobody’ a major hit. Although her performances occur less frequently today, she still proves to have the chops to turn heads. Khan hasn’t toured in some time, but 2017 will see her on a major world tour making stops in the UK, Finland, the United States and of course at Secret Solstice in Iceland.

The term “legend” gets tossed around a lot in today’s music scene, but the title is perfectly suited for Kerri Chandler. The New Jersey native stepped out in the early 90s, right when foundational house was taking over the dancefloor, and made waves in the club circuit with essential hits like his first release ‘Get It Off’ as well as ‘Get Up’, ‘Mystery’, the ‘Atmosphere’ EP, the ‘Raw Grooves’ EP, ‘Rain’ and the list goes on and on. There’s too many gems in this man’s catalogue to mention and the influence he had on house music is unfathomable.

Looking back, Kerri himself recognized that his hard work has produced a steadily successful career. He shared his sentiment in Mixmag's cover feature: “I’ve never had a lack of work, that’s what I can tell you. I’ve stuck to my guns regarding what I’ve played and how I’ve played it, and I’ve never veered off to follow a trend.”

As Mixmag’s cover star in April 2017, it’s clear Kerri hasn’t missed a beat and is still very much in his prime. During his DJ sets he touches on all mediums, CDJs, turntables and even adds his own flair with keyboard solos throughout the performance. Not to mention that he still has his ear to the ground, staying true to the essence of his own sound while delivering contemporary music via his labels, Madhouse Records and Kaoz Theory.

Since he emerged in 1991, Dubfire has been a pioneer of techno and house, pushing the boundaries whether with live performances or original productions. Early on as Deep Dish, his collaborative project with Sharam, the Iranian producer who grew up in Washington DC showcased a more energetic and progressive style of electronic music that helped evolve the genre. With his work gracing labels like Desolat, EMI and Toolroom, as well as his own SCI+TEC label, Dubfire's place among dance music’s elite is firmly established.

Later on in his career with his solo project, Dubfire recognized he could create a masterful live show with the technological advances that were taking place. In more recent years his Dubfire:Live HYBRID performance proved his visionary status as he experimented with projections to create a 3D audio visual experience. Proving to continue with strong momentum, Dubfire is one of the busiest DJs in the industry and in 2017 his touring schedule is stacked.

At Secret Solstice Dubfire’s presence will be strongly felt as his SCI+TEC label is curating a showcase to take over the HEL Stage on the final day. He will be joined by Shaded and John Acquaviva.

Canadian DJ and producer John Acquaviva is a veteran of the dance music community who during the early 90s launched an essential record label that would strongly influence the future of techno and house. We are of course talking about Plus 8 Records, the label Acquaviva co-founded with fellow Canadian artist Richie Hawtin. Although Hawtin’s material under his Plastikman alias is recognized as some of the label’s best, Acquaviva’s influence was strongly felt as he helped usher in talent like Speedy J, Kenny Larkin, Ian Pooley and more whether through Plus 8 or its sub-labels.

Not to shy away from releasing quality music himself, Acquaviva had a hand in acclaimed projects like Cybersonik and States Of Mind, both of which were responsible for Plus 8’s first releases in 1990 and 1991. He’s also landed a few tracks that topped the Beatport charts throughout his career, including a collaboration with Lutzenkirchen titled ‘Zombie’, a remix collab with Damon Jee of Olivier Giacomotto’s ‘Gail In The O’ and Steve Weber’s ‘First Stroke’.

Today his skill as a DJ is praised by both fans and peers, often referred to as a “DJ’s DJ” by many, and as an avid record collector he’s amassed over 50,000 records. His accumulated knowledge of dance music is unparalleled and he’ll share this when he links with Dubfire at the SCI+TEC showcase at Secret Solstice to close out the festival.

Find more details and ticket information regarding all Secret Solstice events here.