For Sam Walker and Gavin Royce, the question is the fundamental test of their studio output. Simple as it may sound, for this perfectionist pair it’s anything but. Their innate dance floor intuition, combined with years of experience behind the decks, drives them to create music that isn’t just playable — it’s irresistible.
First introduced by way of New York City’s early-aughts dance music scene, Sam Walker and Gavin Royce first teamed up for a remix in 2011. The duo found early success on tastemaker labels like Crosstown Rebels, OFF Recordings, and Moda Black, scoring an Essential New Tune nod from Pete Tong with 2014’s “Sister.” The indie dance and deep house sounds that informed Walker & Royce’s earliest work soon gave way to something different. Quirky accents and bouncy synths, previously deeper in the mix, leapt to the forefront, backed by a propulsive new energy. The success of their November 2015 “Bright Lights” remix was a clear indication that they were onto something.
In October 2017, Walker & Royce released their debut album Self Help on Dirtybird, which both showcased and expanded upon their now-signature sound. The guys enlisted numerous vocalists, including Green Velvet, Dances With White Girls, and Sophiegrophy, to make Self Help feel like a packed house party – while leaving no doubt about who was hosting. Self Help was followed by further experimentation and growth. Sam and Gavin have collaborated with Claude Vonstroke, Ardalan, Chris Lake and VNSSA just to name a few as well as remixed Channel Tres, LP Giobbi, The Knocks, Justin Jay, Gorgon City, Mindchatter; and put out music on Relief, Black Book, HotBOi Records and more. Their Rave Grave EP was the inaugural release on Diplo’s house-focused imprint Higher Ground. Continuing to push boundaries, they have launched their own label Rules Don’t Apply Records, with the ethos just as the name states…No Rules, just good music.
Walker & Royce have spent years honing in on their one-of-a-kind style, meticulously crafting the sounds they want their fans to hear in clubs, at festivals and in their headphones. The result is a cohesive, career-defining body of work that firmly places the duo at the forefront of dance music’s future.
Cdigi
An expert weaver of melodic house and uptempo electronic drive, Cdigi pushes each performance to the limits. Creating a palpable tension between artist and audience, they ask for an open mind as many become one within the structure of sound. Beginning as a concert photographer, Cdigi has a unique perspective on what a crowd looks for in a performance. They know how to tap into the intensity of the audience by mixing heavy-hitting breakdowns with a healthy dose of radiant, lively energy that grows and moves with the people on the other side of the deck. By creating an even playing field where up-and-coming artists battle it out with chart toppers in a frantic, pulsating dance, they craft sonic landscapes ready to be traversed at speed. Looking to experience the rush of the crowd? Ready to feel the stage lights in your eyes and the heat of the moment? You need Cdigi.
Effy K
Effy K is a Boise local house DJ that currently has two residencies at The Balcony Club and Amsterdam Lounge. She’s been spinning tunes for 10+ years and has worked with various local collectives over the years such as We Out Here, Duck Club, The Funky Kind, Wavelength Club Series, Flow Dojo, Illuminated, Kaleidisco, Western Proper, Altitude Lounge, Studio Maude Boise, Charlatan, Persona Productions, Xanadu Idaho Burners Alliance, Konnexted Club Night, Properganda and Audio Thrill Productions. She’s played at various local festivals such as Treefort Music Fest, Yogafort, Drag Brunch, Pussycat Ball, Sensory Illumination, Illumibrate, Horns N’ Halos, Goat Head Fest, Idaho Decompression and Idaho Pride Parade. When she’s not playing an open format set at either one of her residencies, she loves to play many styles of electronic music from Deep and Progressive House to Tech and Bass House. She also has a strong love for Trance, DNB, Jungle and Breaks. Her favorite part of DJing is making connections with people on the dance floor, seeing their inhibitions fall away and finally allow themselves to move their bodies to the music freely. It’s an incredibly beautiful moment of celebration and, for her, a deeper meaning emerges when a group of disparate individuals come together and share in that celebration as a collective. Bringing people together to celebrate like that is always her end goal.