AZARI & III Releasing North American Debut Album 'Azari & III' Due Out 10/30; Joining Sonar Tour in October

Already establishing themselves as one of the breakout artists of 2011, Toronto house collective AZARI & III are making their North American invasion with the release of their self-titled debut album, out October 30 on Dim Mak Records. Available for the first time in North America, AZARI & III will feature all the original tracks including the velvety refrains of "Reckless (With Your Love)," the creeping melancholy of "Manhooker" and the unhinged technopera of "Undecided," along with previous hit releases "Hungry for the Power" and "Manic."

Heralded by tastemaker outlets (Pitchfork, XLR8R, NME) and mainstream media (BBC, The Guardian) alike, AZARI & III is a nod to classic house revivalism combined with a modern sound. The group's unique blend of moody electronica, dark yet hooky vocal choruses and analog-thick rhythms has earned them a hardcore following worldwide. The group-producer/musicians Dinamo Azari and Alixander III with vocalists Fritz Helder and Starving Yet Full-have crafted a defining sound that relishes in its references while maintaining a futuristic perspective. AZARI & III possesses an individual classic-future feel with trademark, lush synthesizer textures, biting soulful choruses and ominous overtones.

Originally formed in 2008 in the burgeoning Toronto electronic scene, AZARI & III made their debut with the release of their early singles "Hungry for the Power" and "Reckless (With Your Love)," both of which erupted a storm of awe in the underground music scene and global electronic community. The group later collaborated with Friendly Fires on the track "Stay Here." In 2011, they released their self-titled debut album in Europe. Known for their astounding live shows, AZARI & III have performed at numerous world-renowned festivals, including Glastonbury, Sonar and Lovebox.

The AZARI & III signing marks Dim Mak's future endeavors into the indie/rock/pop world. Established as one of the leading independent labels in music today, Dim Mak has developed into a genre-defying powerhouse with influential reach in the worlds of electronic/dance, indie rock, punk/hardcore and more. AZARI & III is the latest development in Dim Mak's global reach.

"This album already stands the test of time. This is a sophisticated house record with pop sensibility and laden with groove," says Steve Aoki, founder of Dim Mak Records. "It brings up sounds from the past, but it's what I think the future sounds like. And Azari & III are beyond any trends, which makes this one of the best albums of our generation."

In support of the album, AZARI & III are joining Die Antwoord, Seth Troxler, Tiga, Gesaffelstein and more on the Sonar North American Tour, a traveling event in association with Sónar Festival, an annual three-day music festival held in Barcelona, Spain. The Sonar Tour marks AZARI & III's first North American tour and will feature Dinamo Azari and Alixander III performing live electronics, accompanied by vocalists Fritz Helder and Starving Yet Full. Look for more tour dates to be announced soon.

AZARI & III's tour dates as part of the Sonar North American Tour are as follows:

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Wed	10/31	Chicago, IL	Congress Theatre
Thu	11/1	Toronto, ON	Sound Academy
Fri	11/2	New York, NY	Roseland Ballroom
Sat	11/3	Montreal, QC	Metropolis
Sun	11/4	Boston, MA	House of Blues
Wed	11/7	Denver, CO	The Fillmore Auditorium
Fri	11/9	Oakland, CA	Fox Theater
Sat	11/10	Los Angeles, CA	Shrine Expo Hall

 

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