5 Boiler Room Sets To Rescue A House Party

We've all seen that friend of a friend whip out their new DJ controller at an after-party. What's worse is when someone can't decide what they want to hear and the song keeps changing every 45 seconds. Not to mention all of those annoying Youtube ads!

For over a decade, Boiler Room has been broadcasting videos of different DJs featuring a range of music genres, styles, and DJ equipment. With now more than 30 new performances uploaded or streamed every month, Boiler Room has become a reliable source to discover great tracks and talented DJs. Each performance is filmed from start to finish and allows viewers to witness various mixing techniques whilst watching the live audience dance and react to the music. What could be more entertaining? 

For those of you who don't have a sound system, turntables, and an awesome vinyl collection, here is a list of 5 Boiler Room sets to keep the party going. 

1. Motor City Drum Ensemble - London, May 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIBBEggIXBw&t=127s)

Real name, Danilo Plessow, this German DJ currently has 4 performances on Boiler Room's Youtube channel. This mix is his first time in London and his second installment for Boiler Room and it's definitely some of his best work. Not only a genius with 'get up and dance' vibes, it's common to hear electronic disco and rare grooves in Motor City's sets. His own music is made up of soulful and funky melodies with some jazzy/hip-hop samples. His feel-good tracks are somewhere in the 120's bpm range and are guaranteed to entertain you and your guests. 

In the video, it feels like you are there in the room with all of the bottles and drinks surrounding the decks. If Motor City Drum Ensemble has done a good job, any available surface at your party will also be occupied by empty beer cans. 

More recently, at events such as Dekmantel festival, he has been seen using an E&S DJR 400 mixer. This is a powerful addition to his setup and overall sound. The effects include a live high-pass filter and low-pass filter, which he now uses often during his mixes. Along with this, his song choice, and energy, MCDE continues to deliver amazing techno and house sounds. 

'Help Is On The Way' by The Whatnauts was Danilo's last song choice - what a sexy way to end a set!

2. Hunne - Berlin, February 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDX_eYOKe4s)

Who is Hunne or Hun Choi? Only one of the best german-born, feel-good DJs! And what better way to get people dancing than Disco music. According to his Resident Advisor bio, his 'sole goal is to enrich the lives of his listeners.' This guy enjoys what he does and looks good doing it!

This Boiler Room edition is full of electronic beats, acid-house influence, with disco vibes to finish. It is an upbeat and cheerful experience. While it would be much better to attend one of his live events, this mix is sure to keep the two-steppers two-stepping. 

At the end of the set, the host states on the mic, 'I don't think anyone in here can wake with a bad mood for at least the next 2 weeks,' and he's right. 

Hats off to Hunee's top supporter in the white shirt! Dancing from start to finish and feelin' the groove. 

 

3. Kaytranada - Montreal, December 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EQIiabJvk&t=801s)

 

This Canadian record producer started DJ'ing from age 14 and began making his own music and remixes soon after. Kaytranada, (Louis Celestin), has since collaborated with artists such as Craig David and opened for the likes of Madonna. 

This mix definitely contains party vibes along with some cool remixes. His music tends to have glitchy beats and grimey bass lines. No matter what you like to listen to, Kaytranada is sure to get you moving and help your guests get their freak on. 

In this mix, Kaytranada is using a Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2, one of the smallest DJ controllers seen on Boiler Room. But with his 80's feel, recognizable vocal samples, and side-chain skills, Kaytranada can easily get people dancing. 

Music aside, this is one of the most entertaining audiences featured on Boiler Room. This crowd just wants to have fun. Dancers are coming and going throughout the video, with people occasionally getting rejected. If humans were on the discovery channel, this is what mating season would look like. 

Thanks, Montreal. Your crazy moves and camera awareness will go down in Boiler Room history. Keep throwing those shapes. 

4. Skream b2b Disclosure - London, November 2012 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8WVP3ClDsM)

Another famous mix from the golden era. When dubstep was changing, but elements were still being heard in techno music. 

The young Disclosure brothers, (Guy Lawrence and Howard Lawrence), go b2b with Skream, (Oliver Jones), in the presidential suite at W Hotels in Soho, London. Throughout the mix, we can see people stumble up to the decks and have a word with the disc jockeys. The atmosphere here is lively, as viewers basically watch another party take place, encouraging your guests to join in with the audience. 

Skream was a major influence on the UK Dub scene and global Dubstep sound throughout the '00s. He released his first album 'Skream!' in 2006 and incorporated more techno-friendly sounds into his mixes in the years that followed. 

In this Boiler Room, you can expect to hear dirty bass synths, compressed beats, and rewinds. You can expect to see general waviness and feathers! Yep... feathers. 

People make various attempts to get the crowd moving more, and eventually, fluff erupts from several pillows. That's when the feathers come. No violent pillow fights, just a lot of distractions and mess for the DJs - fun to watch though. "Lowe the fluff!"

Whether it's pre-drinks or the after-party, this set will have gun fingers pointing and positive vibrations flowing. 

5. DJ EZ - London, February 2014 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OraL6lKoyXE&t=3991s)

This set is the longest one on the list, so if you need over 3 hours of energetic garage beats, look no further! 

For more than three decades, DJ EZ, (Otis Roberts), has graced the world with his musical genius. In 1989, he began DJ'ing on pirate radio at the young age of 15. He has since become a pioneer of the UK garage scene and has helped share this music with the world. From Glastonbury to Coachella, DJ EZ  has traveled the globe with his timeless tracks and trigger-happy cue fingers. 

In this impressive set, DJ EZ uses CDJ's in the first half and finishes off his mix on turntables. Garage MC and resident Kiss FM DJ, Majestic, grabs the mic and keeps the crowd going midway through. 

If you are the unfortunate one to host the after-sesh, we recommend you play this mix. Shoes off and bass faces on ✔ 

There is over 6 hours of great music here to assist your social gathering further into the night, or the following morning. While we wait for clubs and festivals to return to normality, we hope this collection of beats helps you and your friends party through the pandemic with positive and prosperous intentions. 

Bonus mix! 

Channel One - Notting Hill Carnival, London, August 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJMH-tpjmO8)

At the start of the 4th mix on our list, Skream gives a shout-out to Subdub, which is a Dub, Reggae, and Drum n Bass event held monthly in Leeds, UK. Skream has performed a few times at Subdub, which happens to have the biggest sound system in town!

Channel One also have an impressive sound system that is well-known across the UK. These guys play uplifting reggae tracks and dubplates for hours on end. 

There aren't many videos of Subdub online, but this Channel One Boiler Room at Notting Hill Carnival is the next best thing! 

If Brawl Stars characters were chess pieces

Brawl Stars is the third game to be developed by SuperCell and has gained global popularity since its release in 2017. After recently introducing seasons, awards and new brawlers, the game has evolved into a beloved mobile game attracting competitive teams and individuals from all over the world. 

But what if these brawlers were actually chess pieces? Which pieces would they be and why? In this article, we'll be discussing the similarities between chess pieces and brawlers as well as the traits they share. 

In chess, the object of the game is to trap the enemy king to the point where it cannot safely move anywhere else, in other words, check mate. Of course, this is a lot different from any of the various game modes in brawl stars, but the brawlers' moves and gadgets are uncanny to that of certain chess pieces. 

Pawn 

A pawn is likely to be used in the player's initial move to enable other pieces to be played later in the game. The first brawler available to all gamers is Shelly, and although she would make a great pawn, we think this underrated brawler deals too much damage to be a pawn. 

Edgar is our pawn on the board and there's 8 of 'em! Like a pawn, Edgar can only deal damage from close range. However, this is really where the similarities end. 

When Edgar hits an enemy, he heals himself for 25% of the damage dealt, which is unlike any chess piece. To add to the dissimilarities,  if a chess player manages to get a pawn to the opponents side of the board, it can become another queen. Unfortunately, Edgar can't transform into a queen or a different brawler, but his super allows him to jump over walls and brawlers giving the him the freedom to dive around the map at high speed. Of course, the queen has a similar sense of freedom with her moveset, which we'll look into later. 

Knight 

Another piece which can move first in the game of chess is the knight, also known as the horse. This is the only piece which can jump over other pieces to get to it's destination. Other brawlers such as Mike and Brock also have the ability to jump over players and obstacles, although not limited to moving in an "L"shape. 

Our chosen knight at the chess table is Surge. Why? The main reason is because of his gadget, Power Surge. This enables him to directly teleport forwards and even travel through walls to surprise the opponent. Teleporting isn't exactly the same as a jumping horse, but the movement distance for Surge and the knight is uncanny. 

Another reason Surge makes a good knight is because of his primary attack. If his shot hits an enemy, it splits into two other shots that fire off at a 90 degree angle. The knight would move three spaces in two directions, the second direction would go left or right in the same 90 degree angle - as we all know, the chess board has a checkered pattern. 

Rook 

Rooks are the pieces that begin the game in each corner of the chess board. Both players start with two rooks which can move up, down, left, or right, and can move as many spaces as they like in a chosen direction. This chess piece resembles a castle which is a strong and well built structure. With this in mind, a suitable brawler for the rook would be one with a lot of health, such as Darryl or Rosa. However, the rook can cause damage both close up and from far away, which leaves only one brawler perfect to be the rook. 

Bull, the forth brawler players receive on the trophy road, is our rook. This guy has a double-barreled shotgun which can prove to be very lethal at close range. His super, Bulldozer, enables Bull to charge through players and obstacles in a given direction, reaching quite the distance. In some cases, the rook can move from one side of the chess board to the other, mimicking Bull's super attack whilst gaining ground to put the enemy king in a challenging position. 

Bishop 

At the beginning of a match, a player has two bishops standing proudly on either side of the king and queen. The Bishop's moves are similar to that of the rook, only instead of moving up, down, left or right, they can only move diagonally. Their attacks can catch you off guard and can also deal damage from long range. Can ya tell who it is yet? 

Collette is our bishop who can attack from a great distance with both her standard and her super attack. She is also currently the only brawler to deal damage on a percentage basis with their basic or super attack. The more health an opponent has, the more damage she deals. Her super has a slightly longer range than her basic attack and is just as lethal. On the chess board, the bishop can easily be forgotten about and can be strategically positioned to help put the enemy king in check, and with any luck, checkmate. 

Queen 

The queen is arguably the best piece on the chess board, but of course, there's only one queen for each player. She can move in any direction and any number of squares, but like most pieces, the queen can only move in one direction per turn. One candidate for this dangerous chess piece is Max due to her sheer speed and long range attack, which makes players think twice before getting too close. Another possible brawler to represent the queen is Emz who is unlocked on the trophy road after obtaining 8,000 trophies. Emz has a basic attack called Spray, which can deal an impressive amount of damage. Along with her super, she is another brawler players might want to avoid. 

The queen we've selected for our chess board is epic brawler, Piper. She's got a parasol that's also a sniper which increases the overall damage done the further away from her target she is. Like the queen, she can line up her prey and strike from a far. Her super, however, allows Piper to jump out of the way of danger, leaving behind four deadly grenades damaging walls, obstacles and players. It's safe to say, Piper and the queen and not to be underestimated. 

King 

Essentially, the king is the most important piece on the chess board. It cannot be taken by another piece and must always remain out of check. Without the king, the overall objective of chess would be different. It is thereby the one piece which must be protected whilst being able to defend itself. In chess, the king can move in any direction but only one square at a time. This is useful for picking off the enemy's pawns towards the end of the game. The king brawler is likely to be someone whose attack is limited to a short range. El Primo or Mortis make good contestants but their super attacks are far dissimilar from that of any chess piece.

Last, but not least, the king brawler to make it onto our chess board is Jacky. Her strong short range attack is exactly why she is our chosen king. Once levelled up to power level 10, players have access to Jacky's two star powers. The first, Counter Crush, takes 30% of all damage taken and sends it back counter-attacking nearby enemies. Her second star power, Hardy Hard Hat, protects her and reduces any damage she takes by 15%. This isn't an enemy brawler your want to be next to. In chess, the king can also take pieces, which, like Jacky, means you don't want to get too close. Jacky also has a useful gadget called Pneumatic Booster. This conveniently makes her move 20% faster for 3 seconds. If your king was in trouble, you could use the next few turns moving it to safety and make a quick getaway. 

Finding similarities between modern-day mobile game characters and pieces from the historic game of chess isn't easy. If you had to choose your Brawl Stars/chess setup, which brawlers would be fighting for you on your chess board? 

6 Simpsons characters that deserve a spin-off series

Everyone's favourite animated sitcom has been on our screens for over 3 decades and will continue to entertain us for years to come. Along the way, we've seen a vast array of characters, many different personalities, and some intricate backstories. But which Springfield residents would keep us amused in their own spinoff series?

1. Fat Tony 

The first character in our list is no other than Fat Tony, also known as Don Marion Anthony D'Amico. As the ringleader of the Springfield Mafia, this iconic individual is usually seen with his right-hand men which include mobsters, Louie and Legs. These shady characters are always up to no good, whether they're racketeering, bribing the mayor, or smuggling goods in and out of Springfield. 

Fat Tony is the pinnacle of the Italian-American mobster stereotype. He clearly shares recognisable traits with other fictional characters, such as The Godfather, and is the epitome of the 'intimidating mobster who shows no mercy.' 

A spinoff series dedicated to Fat Tony is one we would all like to watch. With a history of dodgy dealings and violent behaviour, we can expect to see what Fat Tony gets up to outside of Springfield. Of course, the idea has already been attempted many times, however a successful animated mafia series with a touch of 'Simpsons humour' has yet to be produced. As The Simpsons is considered to be comedic viewing for all ages, it would be a great change to see more graphic and adult content throughout Fat Tony's adventures. 

2. Professor Frink 

Professor John I.Q Nerdbaum Frink Jr. is the second character on our list who is voiced by none other than Hank Azaria. Frink can be seen in many episodes throughout The Simpsons saga and he is known for his bizarre outbursts and crazy inventions. 

This mad scientist is a favourite for many viewers because of his wacky personality and weird vernacular. For a smart individual, and a member of the Springfield Mensa, Frink has a habit of explaining the simplest of things in great detail. Sometimes the most obvious or easiest solution is suggested by another person, to which Frink finds absurd and perplexing.  He occasionally blurts out strange sounds after explaining something or to fill in the socially awkward gaps of silence. 

Although we know a few things about Professor Frink's childhood and early achievements, there could be more to this scientist than meets the eye. As a youth, he worked very hard, not only on his projects, but also on his parents' approval. After being neglected from a young age, and forever needing to be loved, Frink's motivation and continuous efforts drove him to success in the realm of science. 

With such intelligence and unique ideas, it would be great to find out more about Frink's occupation, the people he works for, and how he earns a living. 

3. Squeaky Voiced Teen

Also known as Jeremy Freedman, this teenager can often be seen working in different businesses around Springfield. With his goofy posture and permanent acne, our unlucky friend is constantly at the peak the puberty. 

Unfortunately, his screen time is mainly completing mundane tasks in various dead-end jobs for annoying customers and demanding managers. This begs the question, either this guy struggles to hold down a job, or he spends most of his time working and juggles different occupations. 

Whatever the reason is behind this guy having so much work experience, we think he deserves a spin-off. We already know that he's pretty unlucky with both jobs and girls, but finding out more about his family, friends, and personal life could make for a good watch. Lunch Lady Doris is confirmed to be his mother, which could also pave the way for other familiar faces to make an appearance and add to the aesthetic of the show. 

4. Groundskeeper Willie

This Scotsman is the infamous janitor of Springfield Elementary school. Groundskeeper Willie, or William MacDougal, keeps a check on the school grounds, the staff, and the students. As Principle Skinner's subordinate, Willie completes any task that's required of him. Despite his irate manner, he usually fulfils the messiest of duties without blinking an eye. 

In the Treehouse of Horror V episode, Willie makes courages attempts to save the Simpson family in each of the episode's three storylines. This is a great example of his kind loyalty and willingness to help others. 

With many contradictory statements made about his background, Willie's early life in unclear. The true tale of his experience in Scotland and why he came to America has yet to be told. At the end of the day, a Scottish and predated version of The Simpsons would seem appealing to most. 

5. Dr. Hibbert

As a professional medical practitioner, Dr. Julius Hibbert has a big heart, but he has a consistent tendency to laugh at the most inappropriate times. His quick-fix prescriptions and arguable diagnoses add to this character's lovable charm and delightful personality. 

Dr. Hibbert's early life could be explored in a spin-off series taking viewers back to the 70's. A young Julius Hibbert at med school during the disco era has the makings of an entertaining animation. 

The series could be set in a busy town or city to add to the busting and youthful dynamic of the student lifestyle. New characters could be introduced as well as some younger recognisable faces, such as a Dr Nick and Disco Stu. 

6. Kang & Kodos

Regularly seen together, these two alien lifeforms sometimes visit Springfield and often make an appearance in the Treehouse of Horror episodes. Voiced by Harry Shearer and Dan Castellaneta, this mischievous duo spend most of their time plotting the demise of Springfield and it's citizens. Originally from their home planet of Rigel VII, these Rigellians are determined to inhabit other worlds and enslave the population. 

A cartoon universe full of endless systems, planets and possibilities has the potential for another engaging and comedic animated series. A 'Rick & Morty' style show with The Simpsons creators is a just what we need. With Kang and Kodos as the main protagonists, viewers can expect to see more failed attempts at taking over colonisations. The reign of Kang and Kodos could be foretold in their own show displaying galactic chaos and conflicting worlds. 

5 PS5 games to be excited about

Since the release of new generation consoles, gamers are looking to the future once again and eagerly awaiting upcoming releases. As always, Sony has a few exclusive and soon-to-be-released games to boast about for the Playstation 5. 

GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a first-person action-adventure game which is expected to be released in late 2021. After the vast majority of Tokyos’ population disappear, the city is overcome with strong powers and mysterious spirits. With your own range of supernatural abilities, players can expect to be put to the test facing creepy enemies and surprising danger. 

The game is developed by Tango Gameworks, responsible for The Evil Within, and published by Bethesda, who are known for The Elder Scrolls franchise and Fallout. For a limited time, Ghostwire: Tokyo will only be released on PS5 and PC, however, it is likely to make its way to Xbox after the exclusivity period. 

Creative Director and Art Director, Ikumi Nakamura, left Tango Gameworks in September, shortly after she promoted the game at E3 2019. This has left fans speculating as to whether they will still be able to own a copy of Ghostwire: Tokyo later this year. The company's renowned founder, Shinji Mikami, has assured the project will continue as planned with Kenji Kamura and his team's best efforts. 

FAR CRY 6

Far Cry 6 is set in the fictional Caribbean country of Yara, which has been in a dictatorship for the last 50 years. The leader, Antón Castillo, and his 13 year old son, Diego, are first seen in the game trailer, and we are lead to believe they are the main villains in the storyline. Castillo's voice is played by Giancarlo Esposito, an actor best known for his roles in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian. The game takes players back to a warm, tropical environment where you play as rebellious revolutionary, Dani Rojas. 

This game will be available on most platforms; PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows. Despite the initial date being postponed, February 18th, 2021, Ubisoft are still planning to release the game later this year. Although an official date hasn’t yet been announced, the release is predicted by bloggers to be sometime during the summer season. This is due to alleged leaked information which recently came about on the internet. 

STRAY

Stray is set to be released in October 2021, and yet we still know very little about the game. Initially uploaded in summer 2020, the teaser trailer is still all we have for a visual insight into the game.

Developed by BlueTwelve Studio, Stray is a third-person exploration game where one plays as a stray cat in a city without humans. The neon-lit environment and humble robotic community has the makings of a beautifully unique and visually appealing game. 

We know from the games' website that the cat is accompanied by a friend, "a small flying drone, known only as B12." Customisation aspects and the vastness of the presumable open-world are details we will need to wait longer for. 

GOD OF WAR: RAGNAROK

One of the best video game series to reach the Playstation consoles is the God Of War series. The previous release went on to win several awards including Best Game at The BAFTA Awards in 2019. 

The unconfirmed title for the ninth and newest edition to the series is God of War: Ragnarok. 

After the success of the 2018 release, Santa Monica Studio are set to give us a sequel at some point this year. The Norse mythology-inspired, action-adventure game will likely not disappoint as fans expect another engaging plot, witty voice overs and more breathtaking scenery. These hack and slash games have a graphic history of blood and brutality, which means the newest title may also be rated mature and not suitable for the faint-hearted. 

SKATE 4

Creative director, Chris ‘Cuz’ Parry, and game director, Deran Chung had the honor of confirming that a new Skate game was going to happen. This statement came during EA Play 2020 where it was officially confirmed another project was in the works. As is the case with God of War: Ragnorok, there is no evidence to suggest that the game will be called ‘Skate 4’ or even if it will be connected to the video game series. 

Since Skate 3 was released back in 2010, EA has kept fans waiting patiently for over a decade. When sales were down, the prospects of a new game were put on hold. There is no official release date for the next EA skateboarding game, and it may be another year or two before we get any confirmation. At this stage, it's unclear as to which platforms the game will be available on. What we know is that it's coming and it’s definitely one to watch. 

Even with limited information, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about what's to come. With the Playstation 4 turning eight years old in November, we have still only recently embarked on the PS5 journey.