🔴 Welcome to the new issue of 5 Mag!
This is 5 Mag Issue 223, and this is Ardalan, subject of our latest 5 Mag cover story. Sixteen years ago, Ardalan erupted on the scene like a holy comet with “Mr. Spock,” a hybrid house classic in clubs that its author was too young to enter. In 2026, Ardalan is still lighting up the night sky. 5 Mag talked to Ardalan after the release of “Missin You,” his latest hit on Walker & Royce’s label Rules Don’t Apply, to try to sum up the life and years from 2010 to today. Photo by Pedro Martinez aka Pedro The Human.
Also in this issue: hi energy Berlin native LOVEFOXY took over cover mix and sat for an awesome piece; a Paul Johnson classic mix from our archives; Oliver Dollar’s Contemporary (Rekids) for our album of the month interview, Richard Earnshaw on his new label, deep German media lore and more.
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🔴 CONTENTS — INSIDE 5 MAG #223:
❇️ LOVEFOXY: The Cover Mix.
Informed by 40 years of electronic music and her gritty Berlin roots, LOVEFOXY’s DJ sets are blistering and unforgettable, showcasing a burning passion for ’90s house music.
❇️ SYNC / Paul Johnson: You Want To Dance.
You Want to Dance: a lost mixtape from our Paul Johnson archives.
❇️ Ardalan: 2010—Today.
Sixteen years after Mr. Spock blew up clubs he was too young to enter, Ardalan’s music is still lighting up the night sky. 5 Mag’s latest cover story on Missin You, hype, music in Iran and getting lost & found in the fires and neon nights of LA. Photo by Pedro Martinez aka Pedro The Human.
❇️ Repeat All: Oliver Dollar.
Album of the Month: Oliver Dollar on the making of Contemporary, his new album on Rekids.
❇️ Im/print: Richard Earnshaw’s Artworx.
New Label Profiles: 5 Mag friend Richard Earnshaw tells us about the debut of his new label Artworx.
❇️ Sonic Bloom: The Lovefoxy Interview.
She had a choice but it’s gotta be said that LOVEFOXY was born into this. 5 Mag meets one of the most exciting new artists in house music today.
❇️ Ravenomics: World War Stream.
Google and Spotify are at war over the value of each individual music stream. Artists & labels are caught in the crossfire.
❇️ Elaste: 1980-1968 — 5 Mag Book Club.
This was the sound of the future. In words, pictures and sound, ELASTE 1980-1986 captures the glamor and grime of the New Wave and Post-Punk moment from a (West) German perspective.
❇️ Hands On with the Rane ONE MKII Motorized DJ Controller.
Heavy Machinery: Tightly integrated with Serato, Rane’s latest controller offers unparalleled manipulation of tracks and stems on the fly.
❇️ Yamaha Launches The MODX M Synth.
For play at home, in the club & in the studio, Yamaha’s MODX M is the Swiss Army knife of modern synthesizers.
❇️ FL Studio is Coming to a Browser Near You.
Created with beginners in mind, Image-Line is porting their music production DAW to run in any browser.
❇️ TapeLite Adds a Warm Magnetic Vibe to Your Music.
Free from HoRNet, TapeLite emulates the subtle effects of recordings made on the Otari MX-80 tape machine.
❇️ Music Reviews 223.
Harold Heath, James Duncan and Terry Matthew on new and reissued dance music tracks from Al Smith (Chateau Chepere), Musclecars & Toribio (Rhythm Section), Joe Babylon (Roundabout Sounds), Torre (Musiq Voyage), Damian Rausch, Hercules and Love Affair (Stratasonic Records), Eris Drew (!K7), John Beltran / Placid Angles (Kalahari Oyster Cult), Soulstatejazz (Noire & Blanche), Jennifer Loveless (Aus Music), Chuck Daniels, Mike AgentX Clark and Claude Young (Beatstrong Music), Glenn Davis, Rick Wade, Javonntte (Vibes & Pepper Records), Gerd (4Lux Black), Shur-I-Kan and Juliet Mendoza (Lazy Days Recordings), Session Victim (Delusions of Grandeur), Paris Cesvette, Amy Douglas and Byron The Aquarius (King Street Sounds), Divine Discs, Jaegerossa (Do It Anyway Records), BAL5000 (Citizens of Vice), Lovetempo and Fouk (Lovetempo), Javonntte, Groovement Inc, James Rod (Situationism), Yarni (Stanhope Records), Quiet Village & Vanessa Daou (Quiet Village) and more.
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