N'to live

N'to's Cercle performance from the summit of the Tour Saint-Jacques in Paris offers a panoramic view of the city, mirrored by a panoramic journey through melodic and progressive house. The vibe is elevated in every sense, with the night lights of Paris twinkling below as the music ascends. Technically, N'to builds his set around a comfortable 123.8 BPM, using the uplifting, major-feeling key of 12A as a home base, with excursions into 5A and 10A for contrast.

The energy skews towards the low-end, providing a warm, pulsing foundation over which he layers emotive melodies and catchy vocal hooks, creating an accessible yet sophisticated sound. His mixing is smooth and harmonic, favoring long blends that let the emotion of each track resonate. Highlight tracks for collectors include the ubiquitous but effective 'Ride It' by Regard, which gets a deeper, more driving treatment here.

Aero Manyelo's 'Senseless Woman' brings raw, South African house flavor, while his own 'The Hound' (in a short version) is a melancholic masterpiece. The inclusion of Armin van Buuren & AVIRA's 'Sirius' shows a keen ear for crossover melodic techno. He opens the set with an unknown track that sets a cinematic mood, builds through anthemic moments and deeper grooves, and delivers a closing statement for the ages with a stunning, extended rework of Radiohead's 'Everything In Its Right Place,' transforming indie rock into deep, hypnotic house over 20 minutes.