CTRL is still relatively early in his run, but he’s been picking up cosigns from names that matter in the rave and techno circuit. Amelie Lens, Trym, Hannah Laing, and Panteros 666 have all thrown support behind his output, which says plenty about where his sound sits right now within the harder-edged side of techno and rave revival that’s been dominating festival main stages and warehouse lineups alike.

‘Riser’ does what its title suggests. It’s built for the peak-time slot, leaning into a relentless, high-BPM structure that favors adrenaline over subtlety. Expect pounding kicks, a tension-heavy build, and the kind of stripped-down rave intensity that’s become Exhale’s calling card since Lens launched the imprint. There’s no slow burn here, just a straight shot of energy meant to detonate on a packed floor.

Exhale Records has built a reputation as one of the more consistent outposts for the current wave of hard techno and rave-influenced dance music, largely thanks to Lens’ own ear for the genre and her ability to platform newer talent alongside more established names. ‘Riser’ fits comfortably into that lineage, and its inclusion on EXHALE VA008 suggests the label is continuing to use its compilation series as a launching pad for artists on the way up.

The full EXHALE VA008 compilation lands July 31, with ‘Riser’ serving as one of the standout entries heading into that release. For now, CTRL’s latest is available to stream, giving listeners an early look at what’s shaping up to be one of Exhale’s stronger group efforts this year.

Stream ‘Riser’ below.

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Pregnancy Announcement

The ‘Young Forever’ producer shared on her social media that baby number two is on the way. Alongside a beautiful carousel of pictures and reels that feature her husband, Farrago, and daughter Kiki on vacation and on tour. Although she did not mention when her due date is, she posted a temporary story expressing that she had been hiding her baby bump. However, she joked that her belly was huge this time around, making the secret harder to hide than when she was expecting her firstborn. Last year, Lens had deeply talked about her experience with miscarriages and loss, which had occurred before and after her daughter’s birth. Nonetheless, she is ready to bring more life and happiness into this world, showing her resilience and her strive to be a mother and role model to others who may have had the same experience and felt alone.

Reaction

The Techno community came together to congratulate the couple. Heartfelt messages poured into Lens’s comment section. Artists like Sara Landry, Charlotte de Witte, and Indira Paganotto all gave the two-time mom their best wishes for this new stage of her life. Other supportive artists include Adriatique, OTTA, Maddix, Nina Kraviz, Adam Beyer, Daria Kolosova, Flour, Anfisa Letyago, Miss Monique, and many more.

Up Next

Amelie Lens is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As she did during her first pregnancy, she is scheduled all Summer long at major festivals all around the world. Tour stops include Kappa Futur in Italy, Awakenings in the Netherlands, DOUR in Belgium, Tomorrowland, Monegros, Hard Summer in Los Angeles, and Amsterdam Dance Event. Furthermore, the producer is also releasing her debut album AURA on September 4th.

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The event marks a historic moment for both Lens and the city of Antwerp. Organizers will transform Leopold de Waelstraat into a massive 14,000-capacity dancefloor for the first electronic music event ever held at the landmark location.

The show arrives just one day after the release of AURA, the long-awaited debut album from Lens. The album drops on September 4 through her own label, EXHALE.

A Landmark Moment for Antwerp

Known for powerful productions and commanding live performances, Lens has become one of the leading names in modern techno. Hosting a large-scale hometown event in front of one of Belgium’s most iconic museums feels like a defining career moment.

The event will run from 2 PM until 11 PM and will feature a lineup of supporting artists personally selected by Lens. Organizers plan to announce the full lineup at a later date.

The show comes through a collaboration between Chaos in the City, the City of Antwerp, and the teams behind WECANDANCE and On The Beach.

Celebrating the Release of AURA

AURA will feature 11 original tracks produced entirely by Lens, alongside one unrevealed collaboration.

Fans will be able to purchase the album digitally or on a special gatefold double vinyl pressing in blue and white. The release represents an important milestone for the Belgian artist, who spent years building EXHALE and LENSKE into globally respected platforms for techno music and emerging talent.

Her latest single, ‘Our Frequency’, is available now.

Ticket Information

Fans can join the presale waitlist beginning Tuesday, May 26. The presale starts Thursday, May 28, before general sale opens Tuesday, June 2.

Tickets will begin at €39 and increase to €59 during the final sale tier.

With a historic location, a hometown crowd, and the release of AURA all happening in the same weekend, this event could become one of the standout techno shows of 2026.

The post Amelie Lens Announces Massive Open-Air Show at Antwerp’s KMSKA Museum appeared first on EDMTunes.

The tracklisting for AURA by Amelie Lens is as follows:

1. aura_v4_final_intro.wav
2. our frequency
3. run
4. the only one
5. 4am at RSO
6. drift away
7. a track at 150bpm
8. falling into acid dreams
9. come closer
10. the energy is us
11. whatever you do

‘our frequency’

To celebrate the announcement of her debut album, Amelie has also released a brand new single ‘our frequency’, out now via EXHALE.

Amelie brings her own vocals into ‘our frequency’ setting the tone for what AURA will deliver. Pulsing drums and driving basslines build early, then open into a wide, uplifting synth that hits both festival stages and underground floors. The hook — “aura dominate, frequency activate” — feels intentional, almost like a teaser for the full 11-track journey ahead. She leans into contrast here, blending the cinematic with the raw, the intimate with the massive — something that continues to define her sound, both on record and in her live sets.

Amelie recently unveiled a brand new chapter of AURA: an evolved live experience that pushes her creative vision even further. Blending immersive visuals with a powerful exploration of light, contrast, energy and emotion, the new AURA show expands the world she first introduced in Santiago into a more ambitious and cinematic performance concept. Designed to heighten the connection between music, movement and audience, the show marks a bold new era for Amelie as it begins its global rollout across headline events and major festival stages throughout the year.

AURA’ is my story. Aura is about the connection between the crowd and me. Music has always been my escape, my way of turning my emotions and energy into something new. When I was younger, I would disappear into nightclubs and create my own world in my head. Being in the nightclubs gave me this feeling of belonging somewhere, I felt connection and freedom I had never experienced before. That feeling changed my life completely. So this album really reflects that whole journey. From playing tiny local clubs and driving myself through the night for gigs, to standing on huge festival stages, becoming a mother, building EXHALE and learning how to balance it all in life.

I wanted AURA to feel emotional but still powerful, uplifting but raw. From big festival tracks to the trippy tracks I’d play at 4am at RSO. Although making this album is one of the biggest things I have ever done in my life, I wanted to keep it light and somehow playful. Because that is also how I am as a person. This is the most honest version of myself I’ve ever shared. I hope it brings some light, happiness and connection to others as it does to me. Because Aura is and always will be about my connection to you.

amelie lens

For up-to-date live dates, please visit www.amelielens.com.

AURA, the debut album by Amelie Lens, will be released 4th September via EXHALE. Her new single ‘our frequency’ is out now.

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Located in Vinkuran, just outside Pula, Cave Romane is a 2,000-year-old limestone quarry that once supplied stone for the Pula Arena. The site features rock faces rising up to 50 metres, forming a vast natural amphitheatre with strong acoustic properties. Its scale and geology have made it an established location for large-format electronic music events in Croatia.

The event brings one of techno’s most recognisable contemporary figures to the quarry. Lens has remained at the forefront of modern techno with high-intensity, precision-led sets and a global touring presence. Her recent releases including ‘Whatever You Do’ and ‘Falling Into Acid Dreams’ reflect her club-driven focus.

BSH Events will present the show, debuting a new visual concept featuring laser projection mapping designed to interact with the quarry’s vertical stone surfaces. The production aims to enhance the scale and texture of the space, transforming the ancient site into a fully integrated audiovisual environment.

BSH Events specialises in large-scale electronic music events staged in historically and architecturally significant locations across Croatia. The company has previously presented a sold-out Black Coffee performance at Pula Arena, establishing its reputation for pairing international artists with landmark venues.

The show starts at 22:00 with tickets available via entrio.hr starting from €24. Given the unique venue and Lens’ drawing power, this promises to be one of Croatia’s standout electronic music events this summer.

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New additions include Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, DJ Snake, AFROJACK, Adam Beyer, CamelPhat, Jamie Jones, Oliver Heldens, Subtronics, Nico Moreno, Maddix, and HALO. They join a Phase 1 lineup featuring Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, FISHER, John Summit, Amelie Lens, and Sara Landry.

The new announcement gives fans a clearer look at the 2026 edition. Once again, the festival balances huge mainstage acts with underground house and techno through its RESISTANCE programming.

Since launching in Croatia in 2013, Ultra Europe has grown into one of Europe’s biggest destination festivals. The event stands out for its massive production, waterfront setting, and Destination Ultra events across Croatia. These include beach parties, boat parties, and island takeovers throughout the week.

Meanwhile, several Phase 2 artists have strong ties to the festival. Armin van Buuren, Hardwell, AFROJACK, and DJ Snake have all played major sets at previous editions. At the same time, artists like Adam Beyer, Jamie Jones, and CamelPhat continue to strengthen the festival’s techno and house side.

One notable addition is Subtronics. Bass music has never been a major focus for Ultra Europe, which makes his return stand out even more within this year’s lineup.

More artists are still expected to be announced before July. Even so, Ultra Europe 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the festival’s biggest editions yet. You can stay up to date with all event released on the official Ultra Europe Website here.

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