I went to Berlin to celebrate New Years. It was an option that won only to Ibiza. But having done that last year, it was preferable to do something more out of the ordinary.

What else was cooler than Berlin?

With history seeping from every building, wall and street; music that filled every crevice and art on every corner, it would be the best destination to practice the infamous eat-sleep-rave-repeat experience.



On the last day - morning rather, we decided it was blasphemy to come to the city of music and not pay respects to it's heart. Berghain. Coming to Berlin and not ( attempting ) going to Berghain was like going to Jerusalem and not making a pilgrimage to the Western Wall.

Excitement almost exploded in our faces when we couldn't find a taxi, braving the Berlin cold on the deserted street of Torstrasse. But alas, out from the foggy distance, the cream chariot with a fuzzy yellow light atop its chassis came reigniting the excitement of our adventure.

Yet that was only the easiest part of the mission. With heavy rumours that only the chosen few pass through the concrete gates of the bellowing post-Stalin structure, we could very well have been back down the frozen gravel pathway as quickly as we'd marched up it.

Thankfully no four hour demonic queue waited us upon arrival. In fact we happily almost skipped to the front at the glee that the railings were hauntingly free. Maybe a little too happily. The four doormen glanced us up and down, a snigger or two were launched unashamedly in our faces. I quickly wiped the smile off my face. I tried to look as nonplussed as I could, searching for the famous Sven Marquardt who was - quite obviously, not present.

If your iPod is struggling for some new tunes look no further. Here are thirty of the best mixes of the year so far, most of them more than an hour and free to download so you can keep your backyard parties going. My contribution was the Flatboys mix which I discovered on Soundcloud. A great compilation of chilled summer tunes to help you ease into a boozy afternoon.

Click here to shake up that shuffle

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is one of those hidden beauties in the heart of often trashy Soho in London. A beautiful escape from the bright lights and drunken zombies. For a few quid you can park yourself in
front of some inspiring music, till the late hours of the morning.

Jazz is poetry. It is one of the most hybrid genres of music, with influences from all corners of the globe.

One of my favourite Jazz composers is Ketil Bjornstad. Melancholic productions that bring up feelings of nostalgia, reflection and appreciation of the beauty of life.

I discovered him after watching a Polish film - Samotność w sieci, for which he composed the entire soundtrack.

Of course, jazz music has influenced house music. Melodies that intertwine with bass beats, high hats, subtle trumpets and highlights the beauty when two genres come together. Here are some tracks to think about:
"Atmosphere" - Kerri Chandler
" Jazz For You" - Chase Buch
"In The Music" - Deep Swing
"Jealous" - Martin Rothbarth

5am. You hit the snooze button. Half an hour later and it’s really time to get up now. You get ready and walk out the door.
Cars beeping.
Buses revving.
Motorbikes whizzing past.

NOT the soundtrack you want to start your day off. Urgh, how uninspiring!

Well, I’ve got you sorted. My new mix is it out and packed with summer tunes that will have you smiling and bopping up and down.

https://soundcloud.com/djizabella/do-it-dance

Just click the link and if you’re on Soundcloud don’t forget to follow me for new mixes !

Here’s to good mornings!

Tuesday May 28th marked the first London concert of Depeche Mode’s ‘The Detla Machine Tour’.

A sold out 02 Arena had people jumping and singing at every opportunity.
I managed to get some standing tickets from a friend who couldn’t attend (read: Ibiza openings priority).
Coincidentally a few other friends also had tickets for the same night so we had a nice team to rock the dance floor.

Here’s a little clip of the classic ‘Enjoy the Silence’. The crowd erupted at the opening riff, Dave Gahan hardly even had to sing ! I remember first hearing this track actually from a Sasha and John Digweed remix. There's something quite ethereal about this techno track.