Having stopped to smell the roses for a few cycles, Roger Shah’s hallmark music compilation series returns to streams, stores and shelves in 2026. Onboard, naturally, is its usual, impeccable prog/trance/house blend of melodic-tropics, harmonic sonics, castaway chords, beachfront character and seaside atmosphere. Ready to do it to the summer, before the summer does it to us, here comes ‘Magic Island – Music For Balearic People 13’ !!
As is his way, Roger Shah’s again pursued a one-hundred-percent exclusive material mandate for his latest ‘M.I.’ excursion. To that end, he’s reunited his singing, songwriting and composing family of ‘Balearic People’ for lucky no.13. Those returning from the last edition alone include Pierre Pienaar, Rafael Osmo, Yelow, Ditoma, Clarks, Aytaro, Spy and, naturally enough, Roger’s Sunlounger alias - all contributing to its compound hybrid makeup.
Adding to that family are actual blood-tied Shahs. Three years further on, Roger’s son Noah Shah has taken on an expanded role in this generational affair, contributing not only a clutch of his own tracks, but also stepping into a curatorial A and R role.
Roger goes on to explain. “While I was spending a lot of time working on the uplifting trance material for mix 2, Noah did a fantastic job on the A and R side, uncovering some amazing tracks and exciting new talent for the opening half. The mix also shines a spotlight on many releases from our Magic Island Deep label, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to bring all these elements together and craft another summer-inspired compilation.”
‘13’ opens in ‘Magic Island’s time-honoured daybreak light—fresh and expansive and melodic, though thoroughly unhurried in its telling. Early cuts such as 'Vanuatu' from Dutch producer Clarks, Rafael Osmo’s spellbinding 'Over Time You Have Become', and 'Your Heart Knows' from Amir Telem establish a heat-hazed outline to its lower-tempo progressivism. That vibe of earlier-morning introspection is further shaped by SidekoDJ’s 'I'm Lost in Love' and 'Lose Your Mind' from Ben Beckman. Those in turn open the door for Noah’s more pronounced stance on 'Your Call' and 'Feel Alright' (alongside NØSH), both of which transmit a clearer, clubbier, more front-footed direction for the mix.
Led by a quad threat of Sunlounger, MOKX, SaedYm and 88Birds, with 'Less Hate More Love', the compilation enters more heart-on-sleeve territory, before progressing further into the shadowlands of Ditoma’s 'Darkest Desires' and 'Destino' from Icotenai Project. As its journey develops, it opens up to later-stage highlights such as Katoff’s 'Burning Shadows', 'Beyond Your Smile' from Andy Woldman, Roger-M’s emphatic 'Meant To Be', and TRIP RGAZZI’s 'Leave It All Behind'.
If its first half charts dawn-through-daytime, Disc 2 burns with the full blaze of a Magic Island night. Higher in intensity, broader in stylistic scope, and with its gaze firmly locked on the heavens, it opens with Roger Shah, Kristina Sky and Evan Henzi’s 'Memories Of Space'. That immediately brings a commanding vocal presence to the mix, which is added to by the crystalline drive of Spy’s 'Eikon'. The pulse climbs further through Ambedoverse’s 'Chasing Grays' (in Roger Shah Uplifting Mix form), while Roger duels (and duals!) with Edwin ‘Yelow’ Tsui on the back-to-back 'A Better Place' and 'Serendipity'.
At Mix 2’s midpoint, Roger broadens the palette further with selections including Yodis’s 'Le Vanda' and Eric de la Vega and Alaera’s 'Cuando El Amor Acaba'. Together they provide the perfect launch point for 'Enchanted Dreams', which sees Roger joining forces with FSOE luminaries Omar Sherif and Philippe El Sisi. Mix 2 closes in the same formation as it began, as 'Hear Me Calling' sees Roger reunite with Kristina Sky and Evan Henzi for the album’s event-horizon finale.
"Summer ain’t been quite the same without a trip to the ‘Magic Island’! Boarding recommences NOW’.
Roger Shah - Magic Island - Music For Balearic People Vol. 13 Tracklist
Disc 1
01.Clarks - Vanuatu02.Rafael Osmo - Over Time You Have Become03.Amir Telem - Your Heart Knows04.SidekoDJ - I'm Lost in Love05.Ben Beckman - Lose Your Mind06.Noah Shah - By My Side07.kkeltii - Eternity08.Andy Woldman - Save Me09.MainDain and Mark Lennon - High10.Sunlounger, MOKX, SaedYm & 88Birds - Less Hate More Love11.Ditoma - Darkest Desires12.Icotenai Project - Destino13.Nord Horizon pres. Zion87 - Horizon Bound14.Noah Shah pres. NØSH - Feel Alright15.Noah Shah - Your Call (Ditoma Remix)16.AÏA - In A Rush17.Katoff - Burning Shadows18.Andy Woldman - Beyond Your Smile19.Roger-M - Meant To Be20.Mario OP - Sky Fall21.TRIP RGAZZI - Leave It All Behind
Disc 2
01.Roger Shah, Kristina Sky & Evan Henzi - Memories Of Space02.Spy - Eikon03.Ambedoverse - Chasing Grays (Roger Shah Uplifting Mix)04.Roger Shah & Yelow - A Better Place05.Roger Shah & Yelow - Serendipity06.Yodis - Le Vanda07.Eric de la Vega & Alaera - Cuando El Amor Acaba08.Roger Shah, Omar Sherif & Philippe El Sisi - Enchanted Dreams09.Yelow & Aytaro - Stargazing10.Roger Shah & Dark Fusion - Ethereal Mystery11.Gabrielle AG, Eric de la Vega & Alaera - Obstacles12.Roger Shah & Aytaro - Majestic Invitation13.Gabrielle AG & Eric de la Vega - Hypnos14.Nicki D - Soulmate15.Pierre Pienaar - Polaris16.Roger Shah & Inoblivion - Midnight Chase17.Bigtopo - The Way We Shine18.Roger Shah, Kristina Sky & Evan Henzi - Hear Me Calling
Pre-order, release date May 9th 2025.Sunlounger Returns with New Double Album Distant Memories
Sunlounger, the iconic project of internationally renowned DJ and producer Roger Shah, unveils his latest masterpiece: Distant Memories – a compelling double album that seamlessly blends soothing atmospheres with infectious club energy.
The album is split into two distinct yet connected experiences:
CD 1 – Meditation Versions: A tranquil soundscape of ambient and Balearic-inspired compositions, perfect for moments of introspection, relaxation, or mindful escape. These meditative versions showcase Sunlounger's signature guitar work and cinematic textures, inviting listeners to slow down and breathe.
CD 2 – Club Mixes: The flip side brings the energy to the dancefloor with groovy, melodic, and emotionally charged club edits. Crafted for DJs and electronic music lovers, these mixes reimagine the ambient originals with percussive beats and melodic drops, staying true to the essence of his balearic sound, organic and progressive house.
With Distant Memories, Sunlounger continues to redefine the boundaries between chillout and dance music, offering fans a full-spectrum audio journey.
About Sunlounger
Sunlounger is the beloved alias of Roger Shah, a German electronic music producer known for his unique fusion of Balearic, trance, and chillout sounds. With a career spanning over two decades, Shah has released music on labels like Armada and Black Hole Recordings, collaborating with industry giants including Armin van Buuren, Aly & Fila, and JES.
Sunlounger’s debut album Another Day on The Terrace became an instant classic, and his follow-ups — Sunny Tales, The Beach Side of Life, and Balearic Beauty — further cemented his place as a pioneer of melodic electronic music. Combining sun-drenched guitars, lush pads, and uplifting melodies, Sunlounger continues to be a defining force in the global chill and trance scenes.
A change is as good as a rest’ as they say, and that’s exactly what Roger Shah’s done with the twelfth incarnation of his as-magical-as-ever mixcomp series. For the last decade-plus, his ‘Magic Islands’ have been summer vanguards, heralding those temperate temperatures. This year however, Shah’s timed his ‘Music For Balearic People’ to coincide, not with the opening parties … but the closing ones.
On Oct 20, ‘Magic Island – Music For Balearic People Vol. 12’ brilliantly caps off one season, while raising the curtain on another …
In his pursuit of 100% exclusive material for ‘MI:12’, Roger’s re-banded with his Balearically-oriented troupe of singers, songwriters and musicians. Amongst them you’ll find Pierre Pienaar, Zara Taylor, Corrie Theron, Sergey Shabnov, Clarks, Rafael Osmo, Bob Memphis and Roger’s son Noah Shah again contributing. Together, they’ve built a near 40-track-strong, 240minute-long run of atmospherically captivating music. Naturally, both mix-wise and musically, Roger’s outdone himself again, with productions under his own name and some of his best known aliases.
‘Magic Island 12’s moodier aesthetic might just be your first clue as to its seasonal script-flip. As many know the Balearics are no longer the four-months-of-the-year operation from a generation ago. Retreats, wellness camps, supper-clubs and wine festivals are backdropped by the islands’ orange and lemon trees. With its more laidback pulse, Disc 1 effortlessly taps into alt-season-Balearica with new material from ‘M.I.’ regulars like David Broaders, Clarks and Ditoma. After mix 1’s meridian, its flow starts to feature more of Roger’s own material, as ‘Into The Light’, ‘Mahalo’ and Kalahari’ herald the respective returns of his Sunlounger, Global Experience and High Noon At Salinas.
In a message to Magic Islanders, Roger said: “I want to welcome everyone to Volume 12. It’s been a great year so far, and while I have been busy with my Tribute To Earth project, our Magic Island artists have been super productive. So here we have another mix-album showcasing all the amazing talent we have on the label. Mix 1 is super cool and deep, a wide range from Balearic, progressive and melodic techno while mix 2 is so emotional and beautiful - yet banging uplifting in its own way. I had so much fun working on these and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!”
Naturally enough though, Roger uses disc 2 to embody that final exuberant closing party high. After the first mix’s cooler collabs with Dominik Novak and Omar Vinyl, he ups the tonal wattage, working with Ambedo on ‘Sun And Moon’ & ‘Birds Of Prey’, while partnering Yelow on ‘Campos Eliseos’. At the midpoint George Jema talks Eternity’, while regular Shah muse Zara Taylor teams with Andy Cain on ‘Carry On’. Cain goes on to power the mix towards its event horizon … with ‘Event Horizon’, while Cloudriver, Pierre Pienaar and Ronski Speed apex it with their latest, ‘Stoneflower’, ‘Kiri’ and ‘Never Fall In Love Again’.
‘Magic Island – Music For Balearic People Vol. 12’ is your perfect sonic slide into autumn! Find it where all good music is sold or streamed HERE!
Roger Shah - Magic Island - Music For Balearic People Vol. 12 Tracklist:
Disc 1.
01. David Broaders – Lightwave
02. Ditoma - Let’s Go
03. Sunlounger - Into The Light
04. Roger Shah & Dominik Novak pres. klangbild.art - Techno Cat
05. Global Experience - Mahalo
06. Dominik Novak pres. klangbild.art - Amari
07. High Noon At Salinas - Kalahari
08. Roger Shah & Omar Vinyl - Freedom (Archers Remix)
09. Davee (ES) & Sun3 - Kill For You
10. Cory Goldsmith & Adam Stark - Portus
11. Clarks - Rivièra
12. Rafael Osmo x Miki Haim pres. MRI (Ofc) - Technologies
13. Global Experience - In A Nutshell
14. Sunflare - Praia Formosa
15. Noah Shah - Pandora
16. Horizon One - Fall
17. DJ T.H. & Cyre - Cala Tarida
18. Bob Memphis – Benidorm
19. Noah Shah & Ditoma – Inferno
20. Binary Ensemble & Soul Lifters - Tones Of Time
Disc 2.
01. Roger Shah & Ambedo - Sun And Moon (Instrumental Mix)
02. Roger Shah & Yelow - Campos Eliseos
03. Aytaro - Into The Sun
04. Corrie Theron - Surreal
05. Roger Shah & Ambedo - Birds Of Prey (Instrumental Mix)
06. Yelow & Binary Ensemble - Jomtien Beach
07. Aytaro - Glacier Flight
08. Andy Elliass & ARCZI - Life Is An Odyssey
09. George Jema - Eternity
10. Andy Cain & Zara Taylor - Carry On
11. Sergey Shabanov - Loafer
12. Thomas Knight - Count On Me
13. Andy Cain & Gregory James - Event Horizon
14. Fredd Moz & Divaiz - Ocean
15. Spy & Amin Salmee - Midnight Sun
16. Cloudriver - Stoneflower
17. Pierre Pienaar pres. Melodia - Kiri
18. Ronski Speed & DJ T.H. pres. Sun Decade with Lyd14 - Never Fall In Love Again
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Sienna Collective: Well first of all we have to explain our background a bit. The whole idea behind Sienna Collective was to be an organic group of musicians that like to collaborate and make chill music. We started out with 4 people, but over the years only two of us really remained. Partly to due to the others having other obligations, but for me and Anja, we really loved working together and creating beautiful music. Our goal is to just have fun making music and if it does well it does well, if not, then not. We know we put all of our passion and love into it and that's what matters. That said, we are kind of proud to have been featured on Roger Shah's famous Magic Island album with our track "Alive"!
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Sienna Collective: I (Mark) started messing with music production when I was 14 or 15 years old. A friend of mine at school was doing it and I was so intrigued that one day I went to his house and we spent an afternoon making something together - I was hooked. My father always had a soft spot for dance music so growing up I've listened a lot to it and that's how I decided I wanted to make that kind of music too.
Anja has a totally different background. She's musically trained, used to sing in a band and makes chill-out and ambient on her own. Our two backgrounds combined is what makes our music so special, we think.
3-Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Sienna Collective: That's a really hard question to answer seeing how we have such different backgrounds. I think what's more important is to be able to hear the passion, love and craft people can put into their music. If that shows, we think it's great. That extends to all genres of music by the way, not just EDM.
4-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your album Unity that will be out 23rd of June. Please tell us how this album came about and what was the idea behind it.
Sienna Collective: We've spent months, well more like years actually, on it and we're super proud to show what we've created. The entire idea of an album came after we've made a few tracks together and since that felt so good, we kept on making and making. At one point we had about 5 or 6 tracks that were still unreleased, so we decided to make a few more and make it an album. It's called "Unity", because we've united ourselves through music but also our musical background and interests. You can clearly hear the inspirations and ideas in this album and we think it's an absolute fingerprint of what we like together.
5-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce Unity and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Sienna Collective: The album in total took about 3 years to produce, but the most productive part of it was spent in the last 12 months or so. We have a very slow work flow, because we work over the internet and use different DAWs. That means it can take weeks before one of use sends their stems to the other and back. Sounds insane, but we like it. It gives us plenty of time to reflect on what we've made so far. Do we really like it? Is it worth spending more time on it? It also gives us more time to spend on other projects and music.
6-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific technical challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome during its production.
Sienna Collective: Well like I mentioned before, we work over the internet so that's already a challenge, but we manage. Other challenges were mainly discussing what direction to take a track in or figuring out what it needed. We've had very little bumps in the road to be honest!
7-Dimitris: Albums are always a very hard and difficult goal to achieve. Did you have moments that you lost your motivation for it and what thoughts have persuaded you to continue till the end?
Sienna Collective: Well, in total it took about three years to produce this album. Of course we had moments without inspiration, but mostly we just took our time and that was the right way to go!
8-Dimitris: Can you pick your top 3 tracks from the album and tell us for each one a short comment?
Sienna Collective: That's like having to pick your favorite child, haha! But, we think Alive is for sure one of our favorites. Impression is one we really like as well due to the heavy synthwave influences and Bliss is a track we consider to be typical Sienna Collective. Relaxing, yet somewhat up-beat. Perfect for a beach club or bar setting!
9-Dimitris: Do you have any collaborators in your album? if yes can you please tell your opinion about them and how it was the experience to work with them.
Sienna Collective: For this album we haven't collaborated with anyone, but in July we will be releasing a remix album of "Unity" with 10 remixes in all kinds of different genres! So stay tuned for that.
10- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Sienna Collective: Everything mainly gets produced in FL Studio by me (Mark), but Anja uses Logic Pro. We don't really have an opinion on the second part of the question, but we do like to use analog gear as in real instruments ;)
11-Dimitris: Do you prefer instrumental dance tracks or you adore vocals? Please explain to us your position and if in your latest production you have vocals tell us how did you choose the specific singer and if it was great to work with her/him?
Sienna Collective: We like vocals, especially since Anja uses to be a singer, but for our tracks we want other sounds to take the spot light.
12-Dimitris: If you really like to produce vocal tracks which vocalist/singer or lyricist on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Sienna Collective: Hard to say. There are many good ones.
13-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Sienna Collective: It's something we thought was cool and fit the theme of our album. If it speaks to us, then it's good. We don't really care if other people like it or not to be frank. We like it.
14-Dimitris: Can you pick your top 3 record labels including the one released the track that we discuss in this interview and give us a short comment about them?
Sienna Collective: So we mostly release our music ourselves, including our album, but we have to give a shout out to the folks of Black Hole and in particular the sublabels Magic Island and Elpida. They are excellent!
15-Dimitris: Do you have your own record label? if yes tell us when did you set it up, the reasons behind this decision and your top 3 releases on the label so far plus 2 or 3 releases that we should look after from your label.
Sienna Collective: Well, no, but also yes? Since it's so easy to publish something yourself nowadays you can kind of look at it as being a private label, right? That said, we've been busy contacting a lot of people and there will be remixes of our album tracks coming. More on that another time, but I think that's a bit like having a label!
16-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Sienna Collective: Social media has ruined the music industry. Good music used to find itself to the top, but now it doesn't even matter if your music is good, if your social media skills are on point you have a chance. Obviously we do social media too, because you have to. For that we like Instagram most.
17-Dimitris: Many DJs who are producers too they offer online masterclasses or teach to music production courses. If you are offering any of these services please tell us about it.
Sienna Collective: Yes, I (Mark) run a mixing and mastering service called Green Heart Audio. You can contact me through my linktree! https://linktr.ee/greenheartaudio
18-Dimitris: Can you describe your music as certain music genre such as trance, house, techno or your music exempts these categorizations? What is your opinion about hybrid styles and the artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Sienna Collective: I don't think we really can define it to one thing, but we like to call it organic house or trance ourselves. A housy or trancy foundation with organic instrument on top of it - Yeah that sounds like it, alright.
19-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks)? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Sienna Collective: Definitely not!
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Sienna Collective: Thanks for reading everyone! We hope to have piqued your interest in our album and we hope you'll love it as much as we did making it.
Thanks to Sienna Collective for this awesome interview.
Thanks to Janco Krale at Elpida Music for arranging this interview.
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
[item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
[item value="10"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Dancefloor Efficiency / Festival Arenas Effectiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[item value="10"]Roger Shah & Taucher - Skyarium[/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]The Balearic trance legend Roger Shah collaborates with the beloved Taucher for a very special track called Skyarium. The original is straight forward dynamic powerful uplifting trancer with great groove and drive that lead us nicely to the long, teasing and truly atmospheric breakdown that Pink Floyd style of guitar riff is introduced along with Jean Michel Jarre synths. The climax is euphoric and anthemic with the guitar riff becoming the most notable part to highly the unique flavour. The result is extremely pleasurable and will bring back nostalgic memories for sure. Taucher well known in the recent years for deeper progressive sounds service the much more moody dark deep progressive trance with tribalish grooves, pulsating basslines and incredible feel good drive and magical dreamy atmosphere. The breakdown has a lot of nice drums & percussion along with newly introduced synthy layers. The climax continues on the same mysterious sacred vibe while very cool distorted and echoed synthy riff is introduced to hypnotize and get you full on right in the middle of the dancefloor demanding for more while you mind travel away with that ultra strong guitar riff. I wish Taucher to release more tracks on Magic Island as it seems sounds like his natural space. #PureGold Love It [/content]
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
[item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="9"] Melody [/item]
[item value="9"] Synths [/item]
[item value="9"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="9"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="9"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="9"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="9"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Dancefloor Efficiency / Festival Arenas Effectiveness[/item]
[item value="9"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="9"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[item value="9"]Aaron Sim - Eternity[/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Magic Island Elevate unleashes the superb production Eternity. The track has all the right ingredients and all the right technical expertise to capture audience imagination and captivate their emotional world. It is very uplifting and truly anthemic with strong orchestral influences. The only reservation with it can be the taste that you have after listening to it that you have heard it before and that it may sounds a bit formulaic without any new ideas that will make the track to stand out the test of time. It's great and the audience will respond to it but that's all! Love iT[/content]
It’s always summertime somewhere in the world’… or so the saying goes. Inside the musical mind of international DJ & producer Roger Shah however, it’s more than that. Quite simply it’s the season that never ends. Having once again raised the ‘Magic Island’ bar, with the extraordinary eighth edition of his ‘Music For Balearic People’, the last couple of months have seen him place new singles both under his own name and that of his most recognised alter-ego, Sunlounger. This October however Roger introduces an entirely new - and to a degree unforeseen component - to his forever-summer system...
‘Beach Grooves Vol.1’ is the first album-sized drop of music to come from Shah’s High Noon At Salinas alias. Coinciding - more by chance than design - with the tenth anniversary of High Noon’s first release (2007’s The Iberican Way Of Life’), he’s developed the long-player as part artist-album/part mix-comp. ‘Beach Grooves Vol.1’ is available to pre-order here and is released Oct 13th.
Of ‘Beach Grooves Vol.1’s path to the sun, Roger said: “A High Noon At Salinas album has been on my ‘want-to-do’ list for several years now. I work with distinct album plans in mind - often two or more years ahead. This one though came as a bit of surprise, even to me. As 2018 and ‘19’s album diary is already ‘full’, in May I realised that there might be an element of ‘now or maybe never’ to recording one. Having spent a good deal of the Northern hemisphere’s summertime in Ibiza and around the Balearics, time, atmosphere, environment and all seemed to come together. So here we are - a bit of a last minute surprise maybe, but I feel a happy one nonetheless. Including 15 brand new recordings, I’m delighted to present you with the first High Noon At Salinas album”.
To get an idea of the tone, tip & vibe of ‘Beach Grooves, Vol. 1’, imagine Roger’s music scaled across the notches on a sunlounger. High Noon At Salinas’ material, you’ll find, resting on that the super-chilled, near horizontal groove right at the back! In its opening minutes, the album ebbs, sways and flows, all but exclusively between the Beach and Lounge-house areas. Through the esoterically wistful guitars of ‘Tarida’, the more marimba-oriented ‘Almond Trees’ and Hawaiian singer LeiLani’s effortlessly beautiful lilt on ‘Hale Kula’, it leaves for the most chilled of early impressions.
As it progresses - through numbers like ‘Espalmador’, ‘Balearic Bells’, ‘Aqua’ and others, it introduces distinct themes of deep house, alongside more tribally aspects. ‘Aloa’s vocal evokes a decidedly North African / more equatorial vibe, while ‘Call Me Home’s espiritu exists somewhere altogether more lush and tropical.
Shifting into its second half, the album continues to draw from an evermore-eclectic pool of house diversities. ‘Beautiful People’ channels in some early Axwell; ‘Muchacha’ groove & percussion has an almost NY/Masters At Work accent to it, while the tongue-in-cheek titled ‘No Sunburn, No Cry’ riffs off reggae vocals and dubbier instrumentation.
So whether your summer is just getting started or is reaching its dénouement, ‘Beach Grooves, Vol. 1’ is at hand to provide the super-heated soundtrack you need.
1. Bilal El Aly featuring Juliet Lyons - After You (Melodic Intro Mix) [Magic Island - Trance]
2. Denis Sender - Santa Monica Sunset [Magic Island - Trance]
3. Arcania - Rhodes (Original Mix) [Magic Island - Trance]
4. Andrew Henry - Hermos (Original Mix) [Magic Island - Trance]
With the ascension of the second disc, ‘Music For Balearic People Vol.8’ moves seamlessly from a day to night-time footing. The Juliet Lyons-sung/Bilal El Aly produced ‘After You’, ‘Santa Monica Sunset’ from Denis Sender and Roger’s MI8 Mix of JES’ ‘Photograph’ all showcase Magic Island’s clubbier virtues. Elevating its altitude higher are the latest from Dirkie Coetzee & VioLika’s ‘Adagio In F Minor’, ‘Colour My Eyes’ courtesy of Mark Norman and David Broaders epic ‘Giant’s Causeway’. In its latter stages, Roger & Inger Hansen’s choir-led revision of ‘Castles In The Sky’ captivates the mix before ‘Fallen Angel’ from Rene Ablaze and Pierre Pienaar ‘Emirembe’ brings it to its rapture-filled zenith.
Mix 1
01 Cullera featuring Ne/Re/A - Sonido Del Mar
02 Jackie Bristow - Without You (Roger Shah’s Campfire Mix)
03 Bob Memphis - Stars Above
04 Brian Laruso - Killa
05 Brian Laruso - Okushiri
06 Raul Pablo Sanchez - Turnschuhe
07 Electric Dunes - Crossfire
08 Bob Memphis - Distant Shores
09 NotAndrew & Alain Ducroix - Unstoppable
10 High Noon At Salinas - Aqua
11 High Noon At Salinas - 12PM
12 DIPNOI - Central
13 Sunlounger & Eden Iris - Dancing With A Ghost
14 Clarks featuring SJS - White Shores
15 Martin Graff & Triple S - Vulgaris
16 Clarks - Sanya
17 Torio & Darkmada - Ascending
Mix 2
01 Bilal El Aly featuring Juliet Lyons - After You
02 Denis Sender - Santa Monica Sunset
03 Arcania - Rhodes
04 JES - Photograph (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
05 Dirkie Coetzee meets VioLika - Adagio In F Minor
06 Mark Norman pres Celine - Colour My Eyes (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
07 Andrew Henry - Hermos
08 David Broaders - Giant’s Causeway
09 Sergey Shabanov - Follow The Orange Light
10 Phil Dinner - Playing With Your Heart
11 Andy Elliass & ARCZI - Neli
12 Bernis - Lucida
13 Sergey Shabanov - Wasted
14 Roger Shah & Inger Hansen - Castles In The Sky
15 NavidN2M & Nathia Kate - No More War
16 Aaron Sim - Eternity
17 Rene Ablaze & Suzanna Dee - Fallen Angel
18 Roger Shah presents LeiLani - Eternal Time
19 Pierre Pienaar - Emirembe
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
[item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
[item value="10"]Vocals and Lyrics[/item]
[item value="10"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Dancefloor Efficiency / Festival Arenas Effectiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[item value="10"]Magic Island Vol. 8 Album Sampler 2 [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Magic Island and Roger Shah present the extended versions of 4 more great tunes taken from the latest compilation. Bilal El Aly featuring Juliet Lyons with After You (Melodic Intro Mix) is a beautiful slice of melodic proglifting trance with sensitive melodies, balearic guitar riffs and romantic piano chords with airy pads and great full on hands in the air climax with electro basslines and pumping grooves. Denis Sender moves on the proglifting side of trance with Santa Monica Sunset. Pulsating basslines, bouncy grooves, electric guitar riffs in the breakdown and slow build up towards the euphoric colorful and very pleasantly intense climax. Arcania with Rhodes provides a majestic cinematic breakdown with heavenly female voices, floating synths and big room climax with sharp synths and orchestral strings for the ultimate explosive moment. Last Andrew Henry give us Hermos that moves on the same proglifting mainstage trance sound with thumping in your face basslines, rolling grooves and great synthy riffs that lead the track towards its spiritual breakdown with piano theme that crawls under your skin combined with big orchestral like part and give you instantly goosebumps. Quality from start to finish on these 4 new gems. #PureGold Love IT [/content]
On his process for the eighth ‘Magic Island’ compilation series, Roger says: “I‘ve again spent 4 months working on this new edition, going through more than 600 tracks to pick out those special ones, as well including a couple of my own new tracks. All the tracks/mixes are again 100% exclusively handcrafted for this album.
This time my wide range of sound selection goes from chilled and deep Balearic house tracks, to underground tech and sexy tribal grooves, before shifting up to proggier vibes on Disc 01. Disc 02 kicks off very melodic and then turns into uplifting euphoria. I mixed and recorded this album during my tour in Australia. City credits go to Sydney and Melbourne”.
Mix 1.
01. Cullera featuring Ne/Re/A - Sonido Del Mar (MI8 Intro Mix)
02. Jackie Bristow - Without You (Roger Shah’s Campfire Mix)
03. Bob Memphis - Stars Above
04. Brian Laruso - Killa (MI8 Mix)
05. Brian Laruso - Okushiri (MI8 Mix)
06. Raul Pablo Sanchez - Turnschuhe (MI8 Mix)
07. Electric Dunes - Crossfire (MI8 Mix)
08. Bob Memphis - Distant Shores
09. NotAndrew & Alain Ducroix - Unstoppable (Extended Mix)
10. High Noon At Salinas - Aqua
11. High Noon At Salinas - 12PM
12. DIPNOI - Central
13. Sunlounger & Eden Iris - Dancing With A Ghost (MI8 Mix)
14. Clarks featuring SJS - White Shores
15. Martin Graff & Triple S - Vulgaris
16. Clarks - Sanya
17. Torio & Darkmada - Ascending
Mix 2.
01. Bilal El Aly featuring Juliet Lyons - After You (Melodic Intro Mix)
02. Denis Sender - Santa Monica Sunset
03. Arcania - Rhodes
04. JES - Photograph (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
05. Dirkie Coetzee meets VioLika - Adagio In F Minor
06. Mark Norman pres Celine - Colour My Eyes (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
07. Andrew Henry - Hermos
08. David Broaders - Giant’s Causeway
09. Sergey Shabanov - Follow The Orange Light
10. Phil Dinner - Playing With Your Heart
11. Andy Elliass & ARCZI - Neli
12. Bernis - Lucida
13. Sergey Shabanov - Wasted
14. Roger Shah & Inger Hansen - Castles In The Sky (Extended Uplifting Mix)
15. NavidN2M & Nathia Kate - No More War
16. Aaron Sim - Eternity
17. Rene Ablaze & Suzanna Dee - Fallen Angel (Magic Island Mix)
18. Roger Shah presents LeiLani - Eternal Time (Uplifting MI8 Mix)
19. Pierre Pienaar - Emirembe
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
[item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
[item value="10"]Vocals and Lyrics[/item]
[item value="10"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Dancefloor Efficiency / Festival Arenas Effectiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Radio Friendly[/item]
[item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[item value="10"]V/A Magic Island Vol. 8 Album Sampler 1 [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]The Magic Island compilation mixed by Roger Shah is one of the most anticipated each year with large global following and faithful punters who can not think their summer without the Magic Island magic tricks. The great samplers include the extended versions perfect for DJs to play and give just a nice byte of summer. Firstly Cullera ft. Ne-Re-A deliver the stunning Sonido Del Mar. Tribal Balearic deep house beauty with great organic arrangement with top notch tribal drums along with nice Balearic guitar riffs and the Spanish female vocals that hypnotize the listener nicely. It will take you back on the Cafe Del Mar style of tracks that sound perfect early morning with the first sunrays. DIPNOI give us an excellent deep progressive beauty with super strong memorable melodic themes and cool understated energetic synthy hook for the needs of Central. Dreamy mysterious dark and haunting is the kind of track that its warmth can only remind you of the summer breeze in your favourite beach. The breakdown includes typical balearic guitar riff with the needed dose of sunkissed themes along with nice vocal chops. Lastly Martin Graff & Triple S collaborate for Vulgaris. The track is a warm melodic progressive trancer with Ibiza like synths and very sweet progression of melodies that absorb your senses nicely. The breakdown reveals the melancholic moody piano followed by euphoric hands in the air climax that will awake your soul and make you feel transcended to another space and time. #PureGold Love IT [/content]
Musically encapsulating the summertime is something that’s held musicians’ rapt for decades. To some an art form, to others something approaching a science even, but to Roger Shah, it’s more like a calling. In his career that purpose has manifested in many forms. None have been more steadfast and successful than his ‘Magic Island: Music For Balearic People’ compilation series though.
With the same certainty that May turns to June, Roger’s yearly Balearic dispatch tells us that summer’s well and truly arrived. The eighth in the halcyon series sees him team up with Magic Island music makers, both new and established. Its tracklist sees familiar names abound, with fresh compositions from the likes of Brian Laruso, Raul Pablo Sanchez, Dirkie Coetzee, Pierre Pienaar and David Broaders all featuring. Equally quick to MI8’s discs are newer bloods, including music from trance souls like Bilal El Aly, Mark Norman and Rene Ablaze.
Both under his own name and that of his best-known/most-loved pseudonyms, no trip to the ‘Island’ would be complete without a wealth or Roger’s own latest studio creations. Across its two discs/mixes, the album heralds a pair of new High Noon At Salinas’ productions, as well his latest Sunlounger excursion. You’ll also find many a built-for-the-album MI:8 remix (including his heroic rework of JES’ ‘Photograph’) along with Roger’s latest with LeiLani (‘Eternal Time’) and his inspirational update of the classic ‘Castles In The Sky’.
Roger sees ‘Balearic’ not as a latitude/longitude point, but as a state of mind. Putting that into the clearest perspective, the first disc of Vol. 8 sees Roger address Music For Balearic People’s daytime attributes. Reclined tempos, swaying rhythms and cooler grooves abound as Brian Laruso debuts two new productions (‘Okushiri’ and ‘Killa’). They’re bookended by ‘Turnschuhe’ by Raul Pablo Sanchez and ‘Stars Above’ from Bob Memphis. With ‘Aqua’ and ‘12PM’, the mix’s midpoint serves two outstanding new High Noon At Salinas creations. Marking a subtle but perceptible shift in tone, Sunlounger, ‘Dancing With A Ghost’ enraptures, before a brace from Clarks (‘Sanya’ and ‘White Shores’) and Torio & Darkmada’s ‘Ascending’ sign Mix 1 off on a high.
On his process for the eighth ‘Magic Island’ compilation series, Roger says: “I‘ve again spent 4 months working on this new edition, going through more than 600 tracks to pick out those special ones, as well including a couple of my own new tracks. All the tracks/mixes are again 100% exclusively handcrafted for this album.
This time my wide range of sound selection goes from chilled and deep Balearic house tracks, to underground tech and sexy tribal grooves, before shifting up to proggier vibes on Disc 01. Disc 02 kicks off very melodic and then turns into uplifting euphoria. I mixed and recorded this album during my tour in Australia. City credits go to Sydney and Melbourne”.
With the ascension of the second disc, ‘Music For Balearic People Vol.8’ moves seamlessly from a day to night-time footing. The Juliet Lyons-sung/Bilal El Aly produced ‘After You’, ‘Santa Monica Sunset’ from Denis Sender and Roger’s MI8 Mix of JES’ ‘Photograph’ all showcase Magic Island’s clubbier virtues. Elevating its altitude higher are the latest from Dirkie Coetzee & VioLika’s ‘Adagio In F Minor’, ‘Colour My Eyes’ courtesy of Mark Norman and David Broaders epic ‘Giant’s Causeway’. In its latter stages, Roger & Inger Hansen’s choir-led revision of ‘Castles In The Sky’ captivates the mix before ‘Fallen Angel’ from Rene Ablaze and Pierre Pienaar ‘Emirembe’ brings it to its rapture-filled zenith.
A summer-summarising album of the highest order, Order here
Tracklist: Mix 1.
01. Cullera featuring Ne/Re/A - Sonido Del Mar (MI8 Intro Mix)
02. Jackie Bristow - Without You (Roger Shah’s Campfire Mix)
03. Bob Memphis - Stars Above
04. Brian Laruso - Killa (MI8 Mix)
05. Brian Laruso - Okushiri (MI8 Mix)
06. Raul Pablo Sanchez - Turnschuhe (MI8 Mix)
07. Electric Dunes - Crossfire (MI8 Mix)
08. Bob Memphis - Distant Shores
09. NotAndrew & Alain Ducroix - Unstoppable (Extended Mix)
10. High Noon At Salinas - Aqua
11. High Noon At Salinas - 12PM
12. DIPNOI - Central
13. Sunlounger & Eden Iris - Dancing With A Ghost (MI8 Mix)
14. Clarks featuring SJS - White Shores
15. Martin Graff & Triple S - Vulgaris
16. Clarks - Sanya
17. Torio & Darkmada - Ascending
Mix 2.
01. Bilal El Aly featuring Juliet Lyons - After You (Melodic Intro Mix)
02. Denis Sender - Santa Monica Sunset
03. Arcania - Rhodes
04. JES - Photograph (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
05. Dirkie Coetzee meets VioLika - Adagio In F Minor
06. Mark Norman pres Celine - Colour My Eyes (Roger Shah MI8 Mix)
07. Andrew Henry - Hermos
08. David Broaders - Giant’s Causeway
09. Sergey Shabanov - Follow The Orange Light
10. Phil Dinner - Playing With Your Heart
11. Andy Elliass & ARCZI - Neli
12. Bernis - Lucida
13. Sergey Shabanov - Wasted
14. Roger Shah & Inger Hansen - Castles In The Sky (Extended Uplifting Mix)
15. NavidN2M & Nathia Kate - No More War
16. Aaron Sim - Eternity
17. Rene Ablaze & Suzanna Dee - Fallen Angel (Magic Island Mix)
18. Roger Shah presents LeiLani - Eternal Time (Uplifting MI8 Mix)
19. Pierre Pienaar – Emirembe
02. Balearic Session - Into The Morning Light (Original Mix)
03. High Noon At Salinas - Beautiful People
You may have already heard these tunes before, but now they're coming back on an EP that will make your winter feel a little less cold. From Coconuts & Pineapples, to Into the Morning Light, to Beautiful people, these deep house jewels will remind you of those warm summer days like nothing else!
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
[item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item]
[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
[item value="10"]Breakdown[/item]
[item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item]
[item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item]
[item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item]
[item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item]
[item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]Dancefloor Efficiency / Festival Arenas Effectiveness[/item]
[item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item]
[item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item]
[item value="10"]Magic Island Vol. 7 Album Sampler 04[/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Taken from Magic Island vol.7 the 4th sampler includes 3 very beautiful tracks that will definitely bring warmth and sunshine on any DJ set. All 3 tracks can be characterised as deep balearic progressive trance beauties with strong deep club house elements. Firstly Sunlounger with Coconuts & Pineapples (High Noon At Salinas Remix) is hypnotic and dreamy with tribal grooves and organic percussion along with the romantic sun-kissed addictive guitar riff and the trancy driving synthy hooks underneath. Next Balearic Session with Into The Morning Light which is smooth deep trancer with certain 3 Drives On A Vinyl influence in the main synthy hook that runs throughout the track. Within the breakdown the incredible harp like melody is revealed that drives the track to its very sweet and spacious climax that will carry away the listener for an incredible journey. Beautiful People is tribal balearic progressive trance at its best with fantastic exotic percussion while on top the Beautiful People vocal is added along with the various synthy layers that lead us smoothly in the breakdown when the guitar hook is unleashed and we nicely move to the final section that is equally floating and sexy! #PureGold Love It [/content]
Santa has heard your longing for some brand new Sunlounger chill-out, Trance fans! Considered the consummate master of Balearically-inclined music, this December sees the return of electronic music composer Roger Shah’s best-known sobriquet.
Three years on from the original release of ’Balearic Beauty’, Shah is ready with a new wave of captivating sun-tipped audio, all primed to take the world’s lounges, chillout areas and more cultured dancefloors subtly by storm. Featuring all originals, remixes, and brand new tracks the final chapter of the most successful Sunlounger album hits the stores on December 16th!
Through 53 carefully selected originals and remixes, Shah has once again involved the vocal talents of many, including the likes of Inger Hansen, Yoav, EDM singer/songwriter/hit-maker JES, Sason Bishope Parry, Chase, Alexandra Badoi, Kingseyes and Suzie Del Vecchio. Arriving in brand new colours and tones, ‘Balearic Beauty (Deluxe Edition)’ picks up exactly where the original left off and closes another chapter of Loungers in musical delight.
Roger Shah who first appeared in the dance-phere with his chill-out alias ’Sunlounger’ in 2007 crafted a deluxe edition of a beautiful Magic Island classic where even ’deluxe’ is still an understatement. - A true beauty to end the year with.
“I wanted to close Balearic Beauty with something special. We had so much material that we decided a digital release that features everything, even all remixes of each track, is what would be the best surprise for the fans. Topped with some brand new tracks I am really proud to deliver this special Christmas gift to you on December 16th.“ Roger Shah adds.
With the first single release ‘Come As You Are’ in collaboration with Berlin-based singer and songwriter Inger Hansen the duo proofs once more its striking bond. Known from previous hits such as ’Don’t Wake Me Up’ and ’Breaking Waves’ the alliance of the fabulous brings back the pure balearic sound. Strong Deep House influences combined with the strong, angelic voice of Hansen make ’Come As You Are’ iyour chance to just escape to your Magic Island right on time for Decembers winter vibes. Coming in 5 versions including the Coconuts & Pineapples Remix, the Hello World Uplifting Mix and two remixes by Raul Pablo Sanchez and Brian Laruso the single is dropping on December 5th worldwide.
Only available as digital copy ’Balearic Beauty (Deluxe Edition)’ takes you on a journey of balearic finesse with epic throwbacks, douzens of goosebump moments and pure relaxation.
Shining bright in Coconuts & Pineapples manner, Balearic Beauty (Deluxe Edition) is now available for pre-order on itunes click here
