Music
Flash Festival is all about community. The Tuscany event combines great music, delicious food, and incredible people – begun as a birthday party, it retains that celebratory air, with fans returning year-in and year-out to absorb the one-off atmosphere.
With yoga, cooking tutorials, and all manner of wholesome activities on site, Flash Festival serves up some excellent ice-breakers, but in the end, it’s all about the music, and the atmosphere on the dancefloor.
This year’s line-up is packed, and ahead of the gates of Flash Festival swinging open once more CLASH invited maverick turntablist Mr Scruff, French guru Myd, and English riser Scarlett O’Malley to pick out songs that will unify the dancefloor.
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Mr Scruff…
Brothers Guiding Light – ‘Getting Together’
Beautiful Philly dancer from 1973, arranged by Vince Montana. A lovely, soulful, sentimental and positive tune about getting yourself together and appreciating what you have. A hug for the whole dance floor!
Bob Marley – ‘Is This Love’ (Bill Laswell Remix – Danny Krivit Edit)
Mr. K’s edit of the Bill Laswell ambient translation of ‘Is This Love’ from 1997. I love the way that this creeps in and builds, and the cheers of recognition as the elements gradually come into being. A masterclass in teasing & pace, and lots of eye contact and singing on the dancefloor by the time this one gets going.
Sylvester – ‘Over & Over’
I can’t really think of a more perfect, joyful song than this ashford and Simpson penned classic. Nine minutes of unbridled soulful energy and beautiful arrangement. Sounds like they were having a real party in the studio recording this.
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Myd…
Harun Kolçak – ‘Gir Kanima’
I love to get people on the dancefloor by getting them to do weird dances. Let’s start a party like a wedding on a beach at sunset.
Yoong – ‘It’s Easy’
Let’s get the crowd in the vibe by talking with them (NOT WITH A MIC). This one says it all: IT’S EASY.
Rex The Dog – ‘Sicko’
With this song : 1 – People look at each other, 2 – They look at me 3 – They close their eyes and dance!
Scarlet O’Malley…
Scarlett O’Malley – ‘5am Operator’
My most recent track out on fabric records. A little more moody and minimal from me, I love the percussion in this track, you’ll never hear a track from me without a ton of congas and bongos. I also love the vocal and the fact it’s 128bpm, my current favourite bpm. Very groovy, very smooth, very me!
Tino – ‘Tinto!’
I love this whole EP from Tino on Garrett David’s Global Swing label, but this track in particular I think has really special elements. Again great percussion and really nice use of vocal samples and vocal fx to create a really cool groover. This track in particular stands out for me with the Latin drum breaks, and really dramatic piano and stabs, it really is just cool as fuck. I am a Tino Stan and proud!
Scarlett O’Malley – ‘Juice Break’
Another one from me but I feel like ‘Juice Break’ is really doing the rounds again recently with a lot of my favourite DJs playing it out so big special mention to my baby! I created this track really for the club and the dancefloor and to see it getting such a great renaissance a year and a half post-release has made me fall in love with it all over again! Sassy, driving full of vocal chops always, it’s ‘Juice Break’ for the win!
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Flash Festival takes place in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy between May 13th – 16th.
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