SON OF SON, or as he may be more familiar, The Great Blondino, is the artist behind some of the most requested Instagram IDs of the past year.

Combining a myriad of influences from opera to obscure vocals, he has managed to shape his own unique style that pushes the melodic techno genre forward and is deservedly attracting attention across the electronic music sphere. 

He said: “I’m going to keep throwing curveballs all the time, both in my sets and in my releases. Don’t expect me to do what everyone else is doing.”

He’s just released a new big collaboration as his next single, Voices In My Head with Tale Of Us and The Sphere, Las Vegas’ first ever electronic music resident, Anyma alongside acclaimed Greek artist and one of his biggest inspirations, Argy. 

Video: Anyma, Argy, Son of Son – Voices In My Head (Live at Sphere, Las Vegas)

He said: “‘”I just feel total gratitude for everything. Both Anyma and Argy are a huge part of this track.

“It really was a collaborative team effort. Anyma is the undisputed champion and Argy changed my life forever, man.”

To mark the new tune he’s compiled an exclusive playlist of tracks for us which he calls – ‘The ins and outs of Son of Son’ – Music that has influenced his sound and his creativity. Listen and read what he had to say about the music he selected below.

Dave Brubeck – Take Five

The first piece of music that made me realise I wanted to make music when I was 12-years-old.

The 5/4 time signature and the 2,5 minute drum solo was enough to make my mumbuy me my first drum set. The only problem with being 12 years old and being into jazz is that you have no one to play with. Everyone else wanted to play Metallica. A few years later I sold my drum set and bought a computer to start producing electronic music instead.

Deadmau5 – Strobe

In 2011 when I was 15 years old I attended my first ever DJ show. Deadmau5 played in Sweden and it changed my life forever. Strobe was my holy grail. I’ll include the 1 hour looped version here, because why not?


Bicep – Just

Possibly one of the greatest electronic tracks of all time. Possibly. I’ve listened to it too many times. Genius.



Lusine – Two Dots (Nic Fanciulli remix)

I’m generally not inspired by other DJs but Nic Fanciulli’s Remix of Two Dots is a classic that’s been a source of inspiration for me for over a decade. Amazing vocals, very hypnotic.

I can hear some of my track Lost Control in this one, now that I think about it.

Giza DJs – La Città Dei Pensieri

So here’s the story – I did an absolutely fantastic show in Cairo… there were 50 guys fighting outside the club because they wanted to get in, people were fighting next to the DJ booth too, it was like 40C degrees in the club, I played a great set, some hardcore gangsters wanted to take photos with me, I had a fantastic beautiful girl with me, the crowd was great… everyone was sweaty and wild. Raw energy!


After the show our driver didn’t show up to take us to the hotel so we had to go with my girl’s drunk friend driving us to the hotel instead. It was a 1-hour drive through the city and it was the worst car I’ve ever seen. He had even replaced the engine himself haha. We were 7 people jammed into that rusty pile of metal. 


Anyway – we were all passing the aux and I put this track on. We put the volume on max, drove like we were fleeing from the police, and vibed to this track. You know, there I was with my manager and 5 strangers in a shitty car listening to bangers in Cairo. It made me emotional as hell and thankful for even being alive. Then we had sushi at 4am while my manager was getting his hair cut upstairs.



Argy, Omiti, Son of Son – Ritmo

This track sucks.

Off The Meds – Currency Low

I mean, we all agree on Sweden being the best country in the world when it comes to making music, right? …Right? Off The Meds is a Swedish self proclaimed techno boyband and they are phenomenal. I first heard of them through a Swedish ski movie called Is There Time For Matching Socks.

Gregor Tresher – A Thousand Nights

Classic from 2007. Every time I fly to Ibiza I listen to this one on the flight. Of course I listen to it on other occasions too but this is THE definite Ibiza anthem for me.

Michael Nyman – Bleached Jeans and Attitude: Here to There

Oh man, the music from the Alexander McQueen documentary. McQueen is my biggest inspiration in everything I do. I consider him one of the few true creative geniuses. His shows, his designs, his vision, his attitude and ethos. Somehow his spirit lives in Michael Nyman’s music too.


Oasis – Gas Panic!

My number 1 song on Spotify Wrapped and, without a doubt, the most underrated Oasis song. Liam’s vocal performance on this sounds raw, like in their first album, but defined and polished at the same time. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being my number 1 song next year too.

We need more people like the Gallagher brothers in the dance music scene.

Which twenty-six Reds will we see?

A good bit has changed about the nature of the Cincinnati Reds roster mix since last we gave our best guess at who might be included on it come Opening Day.

Spencer Steer’s shoulder maintained its issues, and he received a cortisone shot back on March 1st. Andrew Abbott, though, has seen his shoulder progress well enough that he threw a pair of IP in a AAA game just yesterday. Rhett Lowder is still behind schedule, unfortunately, but at least it looks like he’s moving forward and not backwards. Speaking of ‘back,’ Tyler Stephenson headed for an MRI after lingering back pain.

Rule 5 draftee Cooper Bowman was sent back to the Oaksacvegas Athletics, while former top prospect Noelvi Marte was officially sent down to AAA.

That’s a lot to process, as are the risks of losing players in camp as non-roster invitees if they aren’t selected to start the season. Same goes for players with no options remaining, as they very well could be scooped up on waivers if not placed on the roster from day one.

With Opening Day now less that two weeks away (!!), here’s our latest, greatest estimate of which Reds will make up the Opening Day roster.

Catcher

I’ve got Tyler Stephenson (1) still on here alongside Jose Trevino (2), as all initial reports on Ty Steve’s back are that his issue is minor. It may mean we see more of Jose in the lineup early on, so far there’s nothing to suggest these aren’t the two backstops they’ll carry from day one.

Infielders (5)

Elly De La Cruz (3) and Matt McLain (4) are the cornerstones of this team, and they’ll form the middle infield. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (5) and Jeimer Candelario (6) seem to be locks in the corner rotation, while Santiago Espinal (7) has solidified his spot as the do-it-all infielder in reserve.

Gavin Lux

Gavin Lux (8)! He’ll see time at 3B, 2B, LF, and even at DH when the time is right. Since I’ve got Spencer Steer beginning the year on the IL, Lux’s versatility will help offset that usually created by having Steer on the roster for the time being.

Outfielders (5)

TJ Friedl (9) is back and healthy and poised to be the everyday CF and leadoff man all 4-WAR style once again. He’ll be flanked by Jake Fraley (10) and Austin Hays (11) most days, with Stuart Fairchild (12) a RHH option on days when Terry Francona wants to stack those up against southpaws. That brings us to Blake Dunn (13), whose RHH ability wins out in this mix over Will Benson since Lux, a LHH, is filling the ‘move anywhere when it’s time to switch’ role previously occupied by Steer, a RHH. In other words, I think Francona will choose to have one more righty bat around than another lefty.

Starting Rotation

Hunter Greene (14) will start on Opening Day, as well he should. He’ll be flanked in some order by each of Nick Martinez (15), Brady Singer (16), and Nick Lodolo (17) for sure at this point. Since the season is long as all heck, I just don’t think the Reds will rush back Andrew Abbott at anything less than ‘full stretched out,’ so I expect him to begin on the IL and miss a turn or two through the rotation - if anything, that may make him even more valuable down the stretch in August/September. I think the Reds carry Carson Spiers (18) as something of ‘starter on an expected bullpen day’ for the time being.

Bullpen

I don’t believe Graham Ashcraft (19) starts the year in the minors - rather, I think he’s carried as the piggyback guy for Spiers’ turn through the rotation with the expecation that he can fill-in for multiple IP when needed in a role akin to how Martinez began last year. Brent Suter (20), Sam Moll (21), and Taylor Rogers (22) form the LHP corps in the ‘pen, while Alexis Díaz (23) will resume his role as the closer. RHP options Emilio Pagán (24) and Scott Barlow (25) have guaranteed money on their deals, so they’ll be down there until they prove ten times they shouldn’t be, leaving one final spot that I’m expected to be filled by Tony Santillan (26) - he pitched well enough last year to deserve it and he’s out of options, so that’s a no-brainer.

Notes

Steer and Abbott are the two notable omissions here. Despite how dismal the Reds have begun seasons in recent memory (and how much that has folded any and all optimism entering those years immediately), I just think they’ll play it safe with them (and Lowder). Abbott getting ~27-28 starts is still very much viable, as is Steer surpassing 550 PA.

Ian Gibaut being back in camp is cool, and he’s fanned 8 against a lone walk in 7.0 IP so far this spring. He’s not on the roster, however, as a NRI on a minor league deal, so I don’t expect him to beat out the rest of the options above. That said, I do think he’s showing enough right now to firmly be in the mix as the first bullpen arm promoted when the inevitable dings happen to the rostered names ahead of him.

Chase Petty has looked really, really solid so far in camp, and at this rate he’ll make his debut (and more) as a Red at some point this year...just not on Opening Day or in the first few turns of the rotation, assuming all goes well elsewhere.