Returning to SPFDJ‘s Intrepid Skin after her brilliant debut EP & following on from a string of acclaimed releases since then on Anetha’s Mama Told Ya imprint, Mala Adh, Haven & more, Berlin-based DJ/producer & label owner Valerie Ace presents four new cuts of powerful hard dance and techno.

The EP entitled ‘Strass & Stress‘ will be released on March 1st, 2024 in Vinyl 12” & Digital formats. Stay Tuned.

Lead single ‘Anxious Not Afraid’ is already out, giving a preview of the EP. Listen below:

Pre order Vinyl: Bandcamp

“With a background in organising DIY raves and a commitment to community-led efforts in electronic music, Valerie carefully fuses references from a range of genres into a singular, contemporary take on techno. Guided by an instinctive ear for experimental, groove-driven frameworks, her strain of dance music is hard-edged but mischievous, playful but heartfelt.

Diving straight into the peak hours, opening track ‘Taking a Risk’ is a swirl of hard kicks, frantic alarms and distorted leads; a statement of intent for what is to follow. Hot on its heels is the aptly-titled ‘Slay’- a marching roller with double drops of acid, warped sonics and echoing glitches. Plunging into a hazier zone, ‘Anxious not Afraid’ takes an intoxicated spin on psytrance, building a vast acoustic space with equal parts tension and release. Closing off the EP, ‘How To Fit In’ jumps back onto the floor with an unrelenting spiral of industrial-leaning hard drum chaos.

Valerie has been touring globally from London to Beijing gracing the booths of illustrious club and festival institutions such as Fold, Tresor, Boiler Room & Stone Techno Festival, to name a few. Valerie’s vision for techno extends beyond producing and DJing; in 2022, she established her label, Hardwon, which features original productions from Ace herself alongside Biia, Nara, New Frames, Ryan James Ford, Vel etc.”

Tracklist.

A1 / 1. Taking A Risk
A2 / 2. Slay
B1 / 3. Anxious Not Afraid
B2 / 4. How To Fit In

All tracks written and produced by Valerie Ace
Mastered by Tim Xavier at ManMade Mastering
Artwork and design by Mauro and Janu
Photograph by Charlotte Ernst
Cat. No. SKIN006 – All rights reserved
℗ & © 2024 Intrepid Skin

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