HOT VIBE CHECK | KAAZE

We sat down this month with Mick Kastenho aka KAAZE who is a DJ/Producer who has created music that keeps the good vibes going, as well as working with a lot of our favorites from Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Britney Spears, to name a few! We wanted to know more about his upcoming exciting projects; where we will see him play his next sets; how he approaches creating his music; and how he stays fit!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

KAAZE: With music in general? Oh wow, my father is a musician actually. So, it came I think if I remember when I was around between 1 and 2, I grabbed a CD which was a Queen record when I was very young and it was my favorite record. Since then, I was obsessed with music! My mom was also very into disco and groovy music so they fed me a lot of music in the home. So it definitely comes from my parents.

AM: It’s a cool idea to think of you as a 1 year old grabbing that record as we love that band as well.

K: Oh yeah and Queen is still my favorite! Freddie Mercury is still my hero to this day. It’s kind of an odd role model to have in terms of my music choice. But I don’t know, he inspires me so much.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ/Producer?

K: I think I was 15/16, I discovered David Guetta on MTV, and it was definitely when I heard the first records from David Guetta. I was like what is this? I dived right into it and was just like, I think a week later I bought this little CD mixing thing and then it started. So definitely, the answer is David Guetta.

AM: How would you define your sound? You have done the Groovy Electro House, you’ve also done Underground Techno, and you have now pioneered the concept of Hot Teknō. Can you tell us more about what this is and to describe the genre?

K: I mean, Hot Teknō is something that I give credit to my fans. I used that term in a funny way and they caught up on it on my social media. They kind of named it. I would describe Hot Teknō as a more groovier and a little bit more of a touch of mainstream techno, than a traditional techno that we have. It leans more towards the harder side of the techno as opposed to the melodic techno based on higher tempo.

Whatever style I have been doing whether it is Progressive House or Pop, I have always been driven by energy so I love energetic music – something that keeps you going. It was just me a couple of years ago, trying to find something new and at the same time, I was going back to my roots, because I started 18 years ago with a lot of techno. So in finding that balance, between something melodic and fun that’s still way more harder than what I have been doing the last 10 years.

AM: When we think of EDM and what we enjoy listening to regardless of the subgenre, Sweden has had just a number of our favorites in general – Swedish House Mafia, Alesso, Avici, and Galantis! What is the music scene like in Sweden and how do these artists influence your work?

K: I would say that the Swedish artists very much influenced me in the beginning of my career.

I would say that the music scene in Sweden in general – I have not technically performed in Sweden yet.

AM: Oh wow!

K: I’ve had opportunities, but I’m waiting for that perfect moment where I feel that that would suit me.

The export from Sweden is just unbelievable. Everything from obviously, the DJs to even songwriter/producers like Max Martin (Shake it Off/Taylor Swift, Dark Horse/Katy Perry, Problem/Ariana Grande), who is responsible for 90% of the American market. I don’t know what it is but, Swedes are really, really talented at making music, but of course, that inspired me a lot. I’m pretty proud to be Swede because of it without sounding patriotic.

AM: It’s pretty cool. Because in thinking about going to Sweden as we have never been, we have always wondered what it would be like from a music perspective due to how much music comes from there.

K: Especially since it is so small!

AM: Right!

K: It’s such a small country. It’s the size of California, minus all of the people!

AM: What is your creative process like when it comes to working on your music and where do you like to start?

K: Oh, it’s always different. I’m that type of artist that it kind of comes to me. Not all the time, but it comes to me. I hear something on the radio. I love to go over really, really old music on my playlist. I don’t listen to electronic music privately, I only listen to everything else. That’s a lot of times where I find inspiration, whether it is a sample or a melody. It could be a vibe, it doesn’t matter, but I find everything outside of the electronic world. A few times, I do sit down with a clear mind and I don’t know where to start and I will just play around with sounds and sometimes, nothing happens.

The only cool thing I do is sometimes when I start my productions, I have always done this and it works really well for me, I know some other DJs do – such as Fred again.. I put a timer on myself for 35 mins and within those 35 mins, I need to come up with something solid. It can be super rough but as long as it has something to work on, and if after 35 mins I’m still like waa – I delete it and I restart. I reset the alarm and I do it until I find something. It puts a little pressure on really activating every single cell in your brain. I think at least for me. So that’s kind of how I do it, but a lot of times I do have a little idea from some old playlist or some old song and I try to take that idea and put it into 35 mins and see what happens.

AM: In hearing you say that that is your process, you would have so many snippets that if those didn’t go forward, you would have to delete them, but it’s interesting because if you did keep some of them – maybe there would be things that would bud back together again!

K: Yeah you know, obviously, there could be something that is tiny tiny tiny that I’m not sure about so some of them I do save. But if it is too nonsense, then I just let it go. Because if the idea is good and I delete an idea, that idea is most likely going to come back at some point. And that has happened a couple of times where I had an idea, I scratched it and I am sitting down 2 months later, and I was like wait – I have done this melody before and that was a sign that it was better then what I thought.

AM: That’s really cool.

Well you have collaborated with a lot of phenomenal artists from David Guetta to Britney Spears to Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris and more – what do you look for when it comes to doing a collaboration?

K: Not much really! It’s just a song pretty much. The song is the most important. I don’t really mind if it’s David Guetta or a very young up and coming artist. It comes down to the material and the potential of that song. Of course, I am extremely grateful and blessed to have worked, and to have songs coming up, with names like David Guetta and stuff! I would never believe it if I told myself that 18 years ago. So that is really really cool, but in the end, the song is what is most important and it always will be. I just try to always focus on the song and whoever is a part of it, great. It’s about making the best result of the song.

AM: You ended 2025 last year with dropping Head Rush with Steve. Tell us about the project and what was it like working together again with him?

K: We have been working on the project for about a year. We had already planned a year back that we were going to drop an EP together. We were going back and forth between a ton of demos and which ones should we include. Overall, I just love to release music with Steve. Mainly because he is a great, great friend of mine and is the closest friend that I have in the industry in terms of DJs. He is what I call, a proper G. He is such a sweetheart and he cares so much for me and everyone else and it’s very, very rare that someone on his level acts the way that he does. I have never heard anything bad about him. Everyone just loves him and I understand why. So that’s why I love to work with him so much because of the friendship and we have so much fun. He invites me to shows and he really believes in my sound and he believes in my vision with myself. That’s really cool. He’s not trying to take shine, he’s like, I want to KAAZE in this direction and he feels that’s cool and he wants to be part of it. That’s what makes making music with Steve so fun. This is why we have such a great friendship.

AM: This month, you’re dropping Antidote which is also exciting! Tell us about this song!

K: I really, really love Antidote, especially the vocal! The vocal is absolutely phenomenal. It’s 2 guys Mentum. I worked with them before on an album called Mick, so this is our second song together. Amazing songwriters. The cool thing about this song is, I had a demo of a song that I have been playing since 2023 and I have just been playing it on my sets, as a mashup with Travis Scott on a vocal on it or something and then Mentum reached out to me with a ton of new ideas including Antidote. They had the vocal and everything with a rough idea of the track and I heard – this just happens, a few times, but sometimes it happens that I hear that this song could really fit this song and it was very similar in the arrangement, the key, and the overall vibe. So, I literally took parts of that song and I put it on top of my 2023 demo and it was just done so it was like 45 mins and the track was just complete. So that vocal was really just meant for that demo. It was pretty cool that I have just been having it for 3 years laying around and playing it here and there and now we have a full track! So that was really dope and I am looking forward to that track. I think that the coolest thing with that song is that it has that Hot Teknō kind of energy. It’s a techno track and it also has that vocal and melody which is very poppy in a way as well as commercial so it is very hard to pinpoint exactly what type it is if you want to put a genre on it. It’s really really hard. I think that it is really to experiment and you don’t really know what kind of a song that it is. It’s a party and still vocal.

AM: You’re constantly traveling for shows and festivals. Do you have anything scheduled that we should keep an eye out for?

K: Schedule wise, yes a couple of shows. I can’t say just right now. I have some shows that I have dreamed of doing – some festivals which is a dream come true that I am going to do and it will be announced soon. So you should look out for that! I think that people can read between the lines on which ones they are. That’s going to be super dope and I have been waiting for that moment.

I have a lot of cool projects that I have got going on as well. I’m working on my record label SE7EN Records. I have some other really cool side projects as well. I’m working on a big project for KAAZE that’s a bit outside the music world, but still a very strong passion for me which I’m excited to share more info about very soon.1 It’s been a hobby from the beginning.

AM: You just mentioned your record label SE7EN. Tell my why you wanted to do this and what has that process been like?

K: For SE7EN it has been a dream of mine since the beginning to have a record label. Ever since I understood that other DJs had record labels and why, it was always a dream come true. I could have done it earlier, but I wanted to do it the right way at the right time. It takes a lot of effort and things to make it happen. It feels like now is the right time and I have a vision for how I want to go about SE7EN Records. It’s dedicated to my daughter because that is her name. I think it is a really good time to do it. I do it to be free and have fun, to build a community, and to find new talents, especially finding new talents. I would like to finally be that person who helps others because I have been in that position with Tiësto and Hardwell, who have helped me throughout my career. Then I have experience from that and a vision for how I would do it. I really want to give other kids that opportunity as well.

AM: How important is fitness to you? Clearly when we look at your IG, you work out.

K: I’m a gym rat!

AM: It’s quite clear! How important is it to you to incorporate that into your routine?

K: I mean, it’s really important. Of course I love like everyone that you love to look good and you go to the gym. The key reason why I go to the gym is that since I really took it seriously, it really improved my workflow and traveling and DJing in general, it really puts – if I have a hectic work schedule, I go to the gym every day it doesn’t matter if I am in Australia, Tokyo or home in Sweden I go to the gym. I do not drink alcohol. I eat very good and by doing those little things, it really made me look at my career as more of a sport than a party! It’s very easy to fall into the party life of a DJ. Of course, I have responsibilities and I’m a father. I want to be my best for my daughter. So that is kind of the 2 reasons that I work out for my daughter and a stable sporty kind of look at my career.

AM: It’s about longevity!

K: Oh yeah!

AM: Are there 3 workouts that you enjoy doing that you can share with us that our readers and community can consider putting into their routines?

K: Maybe not a workout per se, but what I love to do which I found really, really effective for me is something called a Push-Pull system. This is where on Mon I do all things push. So they are all push movements and then on the next day, I do all pull movements and then on the Wed, I do all legs for example. Then I go back to the days of Push and Pull. So that includes everything that is Push which is chest, shoulders, triceps and so forth. The Pull is back and biceps you know? Then, you split it with a proper leg session and it is up to each individual to think about the break that they want to take. But I love to go jump because I keep the muscles activated and you still let them rest enough where it works. As long as you eat enough, the Push-Pull method has been the best set up for me when working out. I feel like sometimes you have a schedule where you do chest on a Mon but then the next chest is on Fri – for me that is way too long for a rest period between that group!

AM: This is interesting and it makes sense.

K: For me, the Push-Pull Method is a highly recommended for you to try out at least.

AM: When you’re saying it, it totally makes sense, because we’ll do a series of movements that focus on a group on one day, then there are 2 to 3 days before we go back to that group. But in hearing you talk about your workout, the body has just enough time to come up and then goes right back into it which is really smart!

K: It’s also about that the muscles are eventually going to adapt. If people are hearing this and thinking that it is so intense, it’s all about making the body used to a certain weight, a certain time frame, and eventually, your body will adapt to that as well.

AM: Right.

K: Then you can push the envelope even more. The gym is about pushing the envelope. I really recommend this and you should at least try.

AM: Just hearing it makes sense so we’re going to try it. It sounds like a much better flow.

Obviously, you love fragrances and collecting them. What do you love about collecting scents and how did you get into this?

K: It’s actually a very funny story. The reason why I am obsessed and have perfumes and different kinds of them as a little hobby is when I was 16 and I just started making music, my dad helped me get this little studio. I decorated it and I put some IKEA scented candles in there. I was just a guy and I didn’t know a lot about scented candles, but I found a vibe with it. I remember I was smelling cinnamon or something like that, and I was smelling it and it was giving off a great vibe. I was making music and that led me to realize that I loved scents, and then I had a perfume once that I was spraying it on in the studio and I got inspired by it! I was like, “oh shit!”

So I realized that it made total sense because your ear and your nose are connected right? That’s why you can hear something and bring a memory. You can smell something and get a memory. I started an experiment with different scents in terms of what idea or vision that I had. So, if I woke up one day and I wanted to make something super Summery or something that was like Ibiza with all of these ideas in my head like palm trees, I would spray something very citrusy or Summery on my skin or on my hand. I would sit and breathe this in and I would produce and find it. That became really a thing for me and I started to find things to add to my collection, which has everything from citrus to woody. I have the whole shebang just for the sake of finding the right inspiration. So that technically is why I love it, because it really helps me with my music, and then of course, it became an obsession! But in the end, it was for music. I think that it’s pretty cool because some people use pictures or travel, but you can do that with smells as well!

AM: You also enjoy fashion and once again, in looking at your IG, we see that you’re a well put together individual.

K: Thank you!

AM: What is your approach to your style whether you are doing a set or you’re out and about?

K: I don’t think too much about the clothes, I have just loved fashion and clothes since I was a kid. My mom was so good with fashion and she taught me a lot as a kid. So I have always liked to experiment through clothes. If you look at me throughout my career, I have had rock inspired to more sway oversized Balenciaga style to now that I am a little bit older, I’m a father now, I dress a bit more mature which I really love. I just love to experiment with it and I don’t think too much about it. I love that it comes with me along with my personality. I really love it and I always think a little extra about!

For example, my New Years show in Warsaw, I wanted to wear a tuxedo but I wanted it to look a little bit different. So, I customized a tuxedo that was cropped to my belly button and then I had really high waisted pants with a bow tie to make it a bit different, but classy still. Those are the things that I think about. But I really enjoy that, I guess I would say that KAAZE is dressing more like Mick now. It has a little bit more of a touch of being a father and a little bit older as I said. Then I try to bring in some kind of a formal artist touch into it when I’m KAAZE, compared to when I’m out and about. But it’s fun and I hope that one of my goals in the future is to do my own clothing line or work really seriously with a brand to make my own collection of stuff. I hope that is going to happen one day.

IG @iamkaaze

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | KAAZE

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see HOT VIBE | KAAZE in mag.

HYPATON | MASTERING THE REMIX

Even though we’re in the thick of the Winter season complete with a snowstorm to close out the end of January, we all dream of warmer days ahead which includes lighter layers, eating outside, long nights, and enjoying our favorite music festivals! We caught up with Giorgio Ortenzi aka HYPATON, an EDM DJ/Producer who has been making music that includes some of our favorite classic songs remixed and giving it club life vibes!

We wanted to find out more about his passion for music, his approach to creating his style of music, working with mentor David Guetta, and upcoming dates as well as music that we should have an eye out for!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’re a little jelly as we’re connecting with you here in NY and you are in Dubai right now! It’s really cold here in NY and we wish that we were in Dubai right now!

HYPATON: The weather is so nice right now! It feels like Summer! It’s going to be a trauma tomorrow when I am back in Italy!

AM: Haha yeah, here in NY it’s 18 degrees at the moment.

H: That is very cold!

AM: When did you first fall in love with music?

H: It was easy because I grew up in a family where music was a little bit of the center of everything! Even my parents, who are not musicians, music was really important to them. At the age of 4, I started taking lessons for the electric guitar.

AM: With music being such a big deal in your family, you were also in the family business of dentistry as well! So how did you transition from that to being an EDM DJ/Producer?

H: It was fun because I was always in the mindset that I would be a musician in my life – an artist, a DJ, and a producer. I literally started making music everyday right after school and then I went to University, and the activity was the same there as well. After I finished the University, I went back on to the music. I always tried to do 50 and 50 – music wasn’t taking over, University was not taking over.

AM: You had a nice balance!

H: Exactly! I’m here thanks to social media of course – Tiktok and IG. Everything started with social media and everything went so fast. I’m lucky because I had the chance to go from 0 to 100% right after University.

AM: That is insane and we know that your cousin, Giuseppe Ottaviani is a renowned trance DJ and producer as well. How did that influence you?

H: It was and it still is really important. He’s part of the family and I always listen to him a lot. As I say, I started with the electric guitar, and then the more that you see your friends going to the club, you see the cool pictures and you say to yourself, “woah, I have Giuseppe in my family let me talk with him about the electronic music scene!” He started giving me a master class, helping me to choose the right plug-ins, the right sound, and then we go!

AM: What can you tell us about what Future Rave Rework means?

H: Future Rave Rework is, of course, at the core of the rework is taking a big track – it doesn’t matter if it is from the past –

AM: Like the really past!

H: Yes, the really, really past. But the core is having one of those really big hits where people can sing the hook, lyrics and then turning them into a club work with all of the big energy without losing the soul of the original track – this is really important!

AM: When you’re doing these, because you’re known for working on 90’s classics, where do you start when it comes to doing these kinds of projects.

H: First of all, I always start by looking really precisely at the vocals. I like big tracks that have meaning – always filled with happiness and love – this is the secret sauce. So vocals comes first and then around vocals, most of the time, I start pitching them up and down and kind of exploring. Sometimes I start chopping the track and I reverse it and make a bit of a mess with it, and then I develop the full picture with a lot of energy and club elements.

AM: With all of this, you caught the attention of David Guetta which is amazing! How did that happen and what do you enjoy about having him as a mentor?

H: That was probably one of the best days of my life! The amount of happiness I had on that, I can’t even scale it! I wish that everyone could experience that happiness once in their life because it’s really amazing and it happened on IG actually.

AM: Of course!

H: I woke up one day and I saw that he sent me a DM and at that point –

AM: It was off to the races!

H: Oh yeah!

AM: What was it like for you to make your DJ debut with him at Hï Ibiza? Once again that is such a phenomenal moment!

H: Yeah it was really amazing and it was kind of a test for me, because I had never DJ’d before, and it was my first show ever to play in front of a crowd. So he was telling me that I could do that. I was like, “I know David, but you know –“ He kept saying that I could do this and that he trusted me. If you trust me, then you’re my mentor and I’m going to make you proud of my work, and I trained so hard every day, I don’t know how many hours, but I did it every day, every week. Then we smashed the night!

AM: You did the remix of the iconic, Be My Lover, which we are fans of this song and we love your version. What was it like working on such a major song, having it blow up in so many ways, including Juventus playing it on their social platforms which is crazy!

H: Yeah! It’s an amazing feeling even the chance to work on those big records – big hits from the past! You get really nerdy about it. Having the chance to listen to the original master and the original stamp of the track is just so special. Juventus of course is my humble team so it was a mix of wow and crazy stuff!

AM: When we saw it, we knew it was a big deal! We had the pleasure of having Paul Pogba (il Polpo Paul - PogBoom) as a cover for our AUG ISSUE #80 in 2022 when he was with Juventus – so we know how massive this soccer club is.

What lessons have you learned from working with David Guetta, as it’s such an experience and relationship to have with him.

H: This is really good and I always love this question, because he’s teaching me the way of the hard work. It’s all about working, working, and working. Once you get your dream, you’re on a mission. The mission is to keep working on the dream, you can’t disappoint the dream, so you’re always working on the dream. It’s all about perseverance and discipline.

AM: All of those which David Guetta has in spades and he is always working!

So your remix of RAYE’s Where is My Husband with David Guetta, which is yet another one that we loved – it was added to our playlist the minute that we heard it. It’s so great to listen to when you’re out and about, working out or just hanging at home. What did you love about working on this track? It’s such a crazy song and you hear it everywhere!

H: First of all, thank you for listening, loving, and adding it to your playlist. It was fun because I was actually scrolling through my good friend’s IG and the track was everywhere – everywhere! It came up to my mind where I said, let’s try to do something with it. I did a short snippet of it like just 30 seconds and it went crazy on social, and then I sent it to David because I was feeling that it was really powerful and really cool. When he heard it, he was like, wow! So RAYE is his friend and so thanks to David, we have the remix accepted due to his friendship with her and we were able to release it super fast! I was really happy about that because normally when it is a remix or a rework, or a cover –

AM: It takes time!

H: Exactly and this one was like woop.

AM: It was fast! We downloaded the original and yours came pretty quickly after it! Although both are so good, yours is the one that is on constant rotation.

When you’re not DJ/producing, we hear that you’re an avid gamer which is amazing. Where did this passion come from, what are you playing, and how does gaming influence when you are DJing?

H: This is really fun because I’m not the guy that was going out every night. I was more the chill guy at home and of course, after doing my music, the way of relaxing was gaming with my own friends. That’s how it started actually and it has kept going for life and I’m not sure if I am going to stop gaming.

AM: Of course.

H: I can say that gaming when I am speaking about music, it is inspiring, but most of the time it helps me to disconnect from the world because I am so focused on what I am doing because I am not focused on music or anything. In this way, my brain and my ears can relax and can reset.

AM: In talking about gaming and music, we’re reminded of Father Guilherme Peixoto who is a priest and is known as DJ Padre. We first found out about him when he did the techno remix of the Super Mario Bros. theme song which was phenomenal! As someone who is a gamer, would you ever do a remix to a game?

H: I would love it!

AM: Right?

We can’t say how many times we have replayed it or looked at other places that he has played it as it’s crazy good!

So what is going on with you in terms of your schedule for upcoming dates? Will you be coming here to NY, in the States, etc?

H: We are working a lot on that and we’re still in the planning stages to make sure that everything is happening. This year, we are doing more than last year!

AM: Are there any festivals globally?

H: Yes, I can announce that my debut at Tomorrowland is happening!

AM: That’s amazing and of course, we can continue to watch your IG to see other places you’ll be at as well!

Obviously, you’re on the road quite a bit. What are 3 items that you like to bring with you in order to feel like you’re at home?

H: My sweatpants that is my pajama! My gaming controller so I can play from my laptop and my flip flops!

AM: You have to be comfortable.

H: Exactly, I feel like I’m in my home outfit and I’m more relaxed.

IG @hypaton

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | HYPATON

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see HYPATON | Mastering the Remix in mag.

DRINKS WITH BENEFITS FESTIVAL NYC

We caught up with The Daily Pour (formerly Bottle Raiders) Founder/Publisher, Dan Abrams, and VP Marketing, Amanda Paul-Garnier, to chat about the exciting Drinks With Benefits, the first Zero Proof Festival, coming to New York (Altman Building, September 27, 2025).

At Drinks With Benefits Festival guests discovered 50+ Non-Alc brands to sip and savor. They tasted innovative and sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages, botanical spirits and functional elixirs in the Tasting Gallery, and met and connected with industry innovators. Attendees strolled through the Non-Alcoholic Beer Garden and Hemp Beverages with music. They experimented in the interactive Mixology Lab, with non-alcoholic cocktail mixing demos. Guests took in the immersive experience in the Drink Rhythms Lounge DJ Sets, Podcasting Lounge, and mindful experiences in the Meditation Tent. They paired their drinking journey with 3 Omakase-style courses by top chefs for VIP Ticket-holders. In the Cipriani Cafe, their Chef will serve up complimentary pasta tastings. Reknowned for pioneering the Bellini, Cipriani paired these dishes with their Bellini Zero Cipriani! The Drinks With Benefits Festival also featured the Zero Proof Choice Awards, crowning the best winners in Non-Alc and Functional beverages. Prior to the event, we sat down with them to talk about this inaugural event.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So what led you to start the first Zero Proof Festival in NYC?

DAN ABRAMS: We had started a spirits media company that was initially focused on whiskey. And we were planning on expanding, and we did, to gin and rum and tequila. And as we were building out the business, we realized that functional beverages are becoming just an enormous part of spirits. And we can't really create a forward-thinking spirits business without making functional beverages a serious part of what we're doing.

And so as we came to that realization, we started talking about and thinking about events, in addition to doing content. Because we had acquired a company that was doing at the time 12 events around the country for whiskey and tequila. We've now expanded that to 15, so events were in the DNA of the business.

But now we were thinking, let's go big! We were stunned considering how significant a business non-alcohol and functional beverages have become, that there hasn't been a major awards in New York. There hasn't been a major event in conjunction with wellness in New York, almost anywhere. And so we thought, what a great opportunity to be on the forefront of this. And those were the seeds behind Drinks With Benefits.

AM: So what types of non-alcoholic or functional beverages would be showcased at this specific event?

AMANDA PAUL-GARNIER: So we have over 60 brands covering non-alcoholic wines, non-alcoholic beers, functional hemp and functional non-hemp products. Brands, probably, you know, like Ghia, Kin Euphorics, Athletic Brewing Company, Bero, But also brands you probably don't know that are very high quality, like Opius Elixirs, which is probably one of the best brands out there.

AM: Yeah, I would say on a personal note, I was diagnosed with gout in the middle of college. Beer is my kryptonite. So I've had to drink clear alcohol spirits or non-alcoholic beverages personally. So when I tried Ghia, for example, I couldn't believe the complexities that they put into a beverage like that.

So the space is growing. But in addition to growing, the formulations are getting better and better. Isn't that true?

APG: Yeah, I would definitely agree with that. We actually just talked with Melanie Masarin, from Ghia. And she was talking about her inspiration for starting the product. But just her integrity in terms of the quality of the ingredients she uses, she's very inspired from the Mediterranean, but she's also French and Italian. So nothing in Ghia is fake or superficial. But she also teases the whole concept that, you know, of like fake ingredients or say, people concerned about the sugar content with non-alcoholic beverages. But she was like, there's a difference between synthetic sugar and actual real sugar. And, you know, what she's trying to create and she believes the next forefront of the frontier for non-alcoholic beverage will be with people seeing those quality ingredients, real ingredients over anything processed. And I think that's one of the driving forces behind this, is that we're seeing in the non-alcoholic spirits industry that people are clamoring for an evaluation of quality. And they're basically the industry folks are saying we care about quality.

DA: This isn't just non-alcoholic wine. We want people to be thinking about what are our ingredients? How are we doing this? How are we distilling this? The same way people do with spirits. And I think that's why both our awards and Drinks With Benefits are really resonating.

AM: And, you know, in preparing for discussing the event, so I came up with the notion of things need to be tasty, but also things need to be useful or new and exciting also. So what kind of categories or different types of vendors or drinks are there available at this Drinks With Benefits Festival as this is new to a lot of communities.

APG: The festival is tiered as far as different categories with the space laid out exactly to respond to that, as for a lot of consumers, this is new and we wanted to kind of guide them through the experience.

So upon arrival, they'll get a consumer discovery map where all the non-alcoholic wines are in one area, all the non-alcoholic spirits and bitters are in one area. And then as you go downstairs, you will find the alcohol-free beer garden and then the hemp and functional space. So we've set this up so that they can discover it by category.

AM: That's great. And then there's also immersive wellness experiences as well, right?

APG: Yes. So we partnered with Sage and Sound, whose Upper East Side wellness studio has a meditation experience. And that will be led by Dara Hart, who's a Reiki master and spiritual guide. So we wanted to have, you know, something wellness adjacent within the experience to really bring to life that, you know, drinking less but better is about overall wellness. It's not just about drinks, even though they're a huge part. It's an overarching thing.

And additionally, we will have live podcasting with Samantha Feher from the podcast Caps Lock, who will be covering different topics on wellness; helping educate the consumer on different aspects of wellness; and transparency and ingredients.

AM: And what types of attendees do you foresee coming?

DA: You know, we see it being a mix. This is not an industry event, but we certainly expect some industry folks will be there. But this is primarily a consumer event. We're targeting a bit of a younger demographic. I mean, that's part of it. We just did a big redesign for our website and our app, now called The Daily Pour. And part of the reason for that is our doubling down in the Non-Alc space, but also the fact that we really are trying to target the 25 to 40 year old demo of people, who have expendable income but who care about health and wellness.

And by the way, it doesn't mean that they don't drink alcohol. Right. It just means that for a lot of them, they do drink alcohol. They just are trying to drink less.

AM: That actually leads me into my next question about Gen Z and millennials in particular and whether they're seeing this as a specific intentional choice versus a substitute. So as people are looking to what to imbibe or include in their lifestyle routines, how do you see the difference if there are between different types of consumers that some are just looking for this and others maybe are moderating alcohol consumption?

DA: So we think the targeting is the same. Which is, it's about quality beverages. Whether you are trying to drink less; whether you don't drink at all; whether you are moving from alcohol to hemp; whatever the case may be - we think that the piece that's been missing is focusing on the quality. And that's how we started this business.

We started this as a consumer facing business to say to people, we're going to help you drink whiskey and tequila and rum smarter and better. All we're doing is applying that same philosophy to non-alcohol and functional beverages. So it applies to all of them with regard to and again, that's why I think it's so important that I keep emphasizing that we're doing these awards in conjunction with the event. Because it's the same focus, which is quality. What is the quality? What are the ingredients? Because that's what drinking fine spirits is all about.

AM: And you guys are having a Omakase Food Hall at the event, which I think would get us to go to most events. What's involved with that?

APG: So we wanted to recreate experiences for consumers where they would normally have alcohol, but really show them they could have fun with non-alcoholic and alternative beverages. So we created a pairing experience with well-known restaurants in New York, including the Butcher's Daughter, Ado Lei, and Seatopia. Basically with that VIP ticket, consumers will get to go to two different counters and have a pairing experience where they have a light bite paired with an alternative beverage.

AM: There's also a mixology area for the Drinks With Benefit Festival. What kinds of things would guests be able to mix?

APG: So yes, we have the mixology lab. And we really wanted to bring to life, have a space within the event that made education fun. So The Pathfinder, For Bitter For Worse, FLUÈRE, those are some of the brands that have taken over the space. And they'll be doing education, cocktail making sessions, guided tastings.

The Alchemist Kitchen, which is in Soho, they will do a lot of elixirs, and a guided education with how to make cocktails with different plants and herbs and things like that. It'll be a really fun space for consumers to have a hands-on education or edutainment experience.

AM: For non-alcoholic consumers, are they generally narrow-minded towards the areas they're focused on? Or are they very open-minded, where they would like to try the different categories from beer, to a CBD, to maybe a sparkling spritz or something?

DA: So look, yeah, obviously, it completely depends on the person. There are some people who simply don't want anything that is in any way mind-altering, right? So they don't want functional alternatives. They don't want alcohol. That's one. And that's probably a much smaller base of consumers. There's still people we're appealing to, but they are a much smaller group. The much larger group are the people who drink a little.

They also try functional beverages. They try non-alcohol. They're interested in different areas. There are some folks who only want functional beverages and not alcohol. So it really depends. But what we're finding, based on the studies, is that most of the people who drink these non-alcohol and functional beverages also drink alcohol.

AM: That's super interesting. The space is definitely booming as consumers are finding multiple winners, in multiple categories, as open-minded in trying new things. And there might even be new categories that come out in the future. What are some untapped areas you could see now? Or do you think pretty much we're hitting where we would be for several years to come?

DA: I'd say the untapped is really the increase in the quality and the focus on ingredients. In a way that’s 10 years, 15 years ago, it was, ‘oh it's just a non-alcoholic wine.’ Or hey, I mean, ‘you probably know this from it as a non-alcoholic beer or whatever it is.’ And it's like, ‘OK, is it good? What is it made from?’ So that's the difference.

And I think that's the future in terms of where people are going, which is why we're trying to ride that wave of particularly younger people who have been brought up, focused on quality in a world where the evaluation of quality hasn't been so focused on non-alcoholic spirits.

AM: Sure. And do you see that a lot of these consumers are somewhat sophisticated where the benefits will be worth the price points?

DA: They're becoming more sophisticated. And I think that is the whole philosophy behind what we're doing, is that we're trying to help them become more sophisticated. We're the place that can say to them, we know you want to be more sophisticated. Now let us help you get there in a really accessible way.

AM: Yeah. Master edutainer, Dan. I see that totally. I learn stuff from all your other groundbreaking shows, I just know a couple of things what to do, not to do now because of you.

DA: My strengths are condensing complicated information into a pretty simple and accessible way to say it. We're kind of doing the same thing here with drinks. We are taking a confusing world of drinks and trying to make it a lot more understandable and to help them make choices.

And that's not completely dissimilar from what I do in my TV world. Sure. And then also some humor here and there.

AM: Totally. So and then after New York, are there other cities you're looking to take this festival to?

DA: Yeah, we haven't figured it out. I mean, we definitely are thinking about doing more. We want to first get this one under our belts before we start actively planning the next one. We want to see what went right, what went wrong, where could we improve? And that will help us determine, should we do another one in New York? Should we think about one in a different city? Our whiskey and tequila events, we're seeing great success recently in launches in some smaller cities like Scottsdale, Arizona or Austin, Texas and places like that. And so would that be our next? I don't know yet.

New York is a big swing. You know, and honestly, if we weren't kind of first to market on this, we probably wouldn't have started in New York. But I think that's why we felt comfortable starting in New York, because we were stunned that this hasn't existed yet.

AM: Tell us more about The Daily Pour, the organizers of the Drinks With Benefits Festival.

DA: Yeah, it's a consumer guide to drinking better. And so it has what we do - we have an app that aggregates reviews and ratings, some of which we do, some of which is from other places. But it allows it to be a kind of one stop shop to tell you, is this any good? I mean, I use it all the time when I'm thinking about buying a whiskey or something, because it allows me to see numerous aggregated reviews. And a lot of these are enthusiasts who've done reviews who might not have put a number on it. And we translate it into a number.

So the app is very useful. The website covers different issues in the spirits industry. We've recently been focusing on one particular beverage in a particular week or a particular month, which is another new thing we've done.

But, you know, the Daily Pour literally went live two days ago (formerly Bottle Raiders). And it's just a fundamentally different vibe. Bottle Raiders was initially designed based on a whiskey drinker.. And now you're in a much brighter, more vibrant place because we want it to be more inclusive of the non-alcoholic and wellness community as well.

APG: I think The Daily Pour is meeting the consumer where they are today, covering cross categories. So it's covering ‘I do still want to drink, but I want to drink better.’ So it's covering spirits. Also, it’s ‘I want to have that great margarita, but I don't want to have that during the week.’ Additionally it’s covering functional beverages, ‘and I want to learn about Non-Alc.” So I think that a lot of the other websites treat Non-Alc and alternative beverages like a footnote. Like it's really hard to find them. If you go to certain websites, they have it hidden under culture. I'm like, I don't know how anyone would find that. So we don't want to treat it like that.

I think about the scoring. I think that's extremely helpful to have this kind of meta score, our signature rating system that aggregates everyone's point of view and just gives space that is sometimes hard to understand.

AM: And the app is free. Are there premium plans to it or features?

APG: Yes, and then if you get the premium subscription, that's like $5 a month. And what are the benefits of that, so it saves your taste list. You get access to certain events and kind of discounts on certain things that we offer, exclusive content, things like that.

AM: That's terrific. And I also wanted to ask about Ev & Em Vineyards, Dan.

DA: So Ev & Em is a winery that I acquired in early 2021. It was right in the heart of COVID and the winery owners had kind of given up in COVID. And I had a friend who is one of the pioneers of the North Fork wine scene who called me and said, hey, you mentioned that you were interested in buying a winery. Were you serious? And I said, yeah, I was serious. Because I told you if I ever saw something really interesting that I would let you know.

And this is really interesting. It has one of the oldest planted vineyards on the North Fork. It has a beautiful location. It just needs some love. It needs some new thoughts about how to do the winemaking. And you could have an A-list vineyard.

And he was right. Even by the ‘22 Vintage, which was released in some of it in ‘23, some of it only now for the Reds, we're creating luxury wines in Long Island. So these are wines that we think can compete with California, Oregon, Washington, et cetera, in really all varietals. And so that's been super exciting!

AM: And there are multiple offerings. There's a Reserve, correct?

DA: There is. Yeah, we're making everything from Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris. I mean, we've got a whole range of offerings.

And in some of those, we have a Reserve. So depending on the year, for example in ‘22, we had a number of Reserve wines on the Reds, some of which actually haven't even been released yet. But our Reserve Red ‘22, super proud of that.

‘23 was a tougher year for us, but ‘24 was amazing. So we're very confident about that ‘24 Vintage that's coming out. And ‘25 looks great as well.

Stay tuned for an upcoming THE 9LIST of some of our (new) faves. We especially enjoyed Non-Alc Mixed Mocktails from The Pathfinder, Mad Flora, Junglee; Non-Alc Sparkling Wines from Society De La Rassi and Wölffer Estate; THC/CBD Gummies and Drinks from Studio TBD, Ayrloom, and Wynk; and Alice Functional Mushrooms Functional Mushroom Chocolates.

Please use responsibly. Follow the age, laws, and other restrictions in your state. Do not drink and drive while empaired.

IG @drinkswithbenefits

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Paul Farkas

ORANGE GLOU '25

We enjoyed attending Orange Glou Fair, which is founded by Doreen Winkler who owns Orange Glou, which connects you to phenomenal Orange Wines from natural wine producers from around the world! Her expertise in the industry whether she is consulting as a somm or simply sharing wines with her community of enthusiasts, is what we have enjoyed! We always enjoy hearing from her!

At this year’s Orange Glou Fair, over 200 Orange Wines are available to taste whether you purchase a ticket for their first or second session! We wanted to know what to expect from this year’s event taking place on Oct 26th!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed attending the Orange Glou Fair a few years ago and are looking forward to the next one! For those that have yet to attend what is Orange Glou Wine Fair?

DOREEN WINKLER: Our Wine Fair celebrates top orange and amber wines from around the world, with a special focus on the Republic of Georgia and Europe this year. It’s a relaxed walk-around tasting where winemakers share the stories behind their wines. Only top orange wines from the best producers will be tasted, so it’s super selective. Guests can expect to taste over 150 wines this year.

AM: What can we expect for this year’s event and is there anything new that is taking place that we should know about?

DW: This year, the fair will be held over two floors at Home Studios in Flatiron. One room will host producers primarily from Austria and Germany, while another will feature Hungarian, Italian, and American wines. The third room will showcase Georgian wines. Georgian restaurant Chito Gvrito will provide warm Georgian bites available for purchase, and we will offer cheese plates for purchase again this year. Also, we will host a panel about Georgian wines with producers and a wine journalist in the first session.

AM: Are tickets still available and is there a difference between the two sessions?

DW: Yes, tickets are live now! Our first session is from 11am to 2:30pm and everyone who attends it will also have the opportunity to join our Georgian Wine Panel from 1:45-2:45pm. The first session tickets are only $49. The second session is from 3pm-6:30pm for $59. All tickets also include an Orange Glou Fair glass to keep!

AM: For those who are unable to attend this year, is there a way that they can purchase wines that were available at the event?

DW: Fair attendees will receive a booklet with the wines being tasted and it will be noted where to purchase them. We will email this information after the event to attendees as well so those who cannot attend this year, can email us at info@orangegloufair.com.

AM: Tell us more about the Orange Glou Wine Club.

DW: Orange Glou launched in 2019 as the world’s first subscription dedicated solely to orange wines. We offer a range of exceptional orange wines spanning the entire spectrum from sparkling to light to fuller-bodied still wines, featuring mineral, floral, and tropical notes, from young and ready to drink to older vintages. Every month, a special curated box will arrive at your home. 3 bottles are $105, 6 bottles are $195, and 12 bottles are $385. We work with many up and coming natural wine producers as well as established superstars. Each subscription comes with notes about all the wines and club members get access to special events for free. The club is highly curated and planned months in advance - our members get access to the best orange wines in the world.

AM: Are there any upcoming events coming up that we should know about?

DW: We’re currently focusing on the Orange Glou Fair as it is our biggest annual edition yet! However, we are planning some smaller events and tastings at wine bars and wine shops. They will be announced closer to the Fair on our Instagram @orangeglou_fair.

AM: Are there 3 Orange Wines that we should have in mind as we begin to enjoy our favorite Fall dishes?

DW: We just had a sparkling wine called Cotar Bela in the club, the wine is made in Karst, Slovenia from Malvasia and Vitovska grapes and has some real density. It is medium-bodied with notes like ripe apricot, pineapple, and white flowers and pairs perfectly with fried chicken with autumn spices like smoked paprika, ginger, and thyme and some fall vegetables and gravy. Markus Altenburger from Burgenland in Austria makes a blend from Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Neuburger, which he calls Skins and Stones. The wine has juicy stone fruit, zesty citrus, nutty tones, and herbal complexity, it pairs well with a warm butternut squash salad. And then there is a wine from Ruth Lewandowski called Chilion - a very aromatic blend with notes of baking spice, oregano, and ripe apricot. This pairs perfectly with a whole chicken with roasted root vegetables. All of these producers will be at our fair!

IG @orangeglou_fair

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Nina Scholl

Read Athleisure Mag’s SEP ISSUE #117 and see Orange Glou ‘25 in mag.

NYCWFF '25

We’re excited that next month we’ll be attending and covering this year’s Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ from Oct 15 - 19th which will be held in their brand new home at The Seaport! It’s an event we enjoy covering as we connect with a number of our favorite chefs who have been previous covers, inbooks, etc. over the past few years. We love being able to enjoy a number of restaurants that are local to this city as well as giving us tastes from other eateries as well. It’s about the love of the community coming together from TV personalities, cookbook authors, and more.

To get an idea of what it’s liking being at the NYCWFF, you can see our coverage from last year (we’ve included a few of our favorite moments from last year here). We’re looking forward to tasting a number of great dishes, connecting with our favorite chefs, and a number of surprised along the way.

There are a number of events throughout the 5 days of this food festival! We’re excited that we will be attending A Taste of the Tin Building: A Culinary Journey hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Gregory Gourdet, Asian Night Market hosted by Padma Lakshmi and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, The Agave Experience: Fine Tequila, Mezcals and Mexican Flavors hosted by Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom, FoodieCon, and Sunday Supper presented by Peroni hosted by “The Pasta Queen” Nadia Caterina Munno and Lil Mo Mozzarella.

Next month, in our OCT ISSUE #118, we will recap this event as well as share interviews that we did during this time as well!

IG @nycwff

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Paul Farkas

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see NYCWFF ‘25 in mag.

DRINKS WITH BENEFITS | DAN ABRAMS + AMANDA PAUL-GARNIER

We caught up with The Daily Pour (formerly Bottle Raiders) Founder/Publisher, Dan Abrams, and VP Marketing, Amanda Paul-Garnier, to chat about the exciting Drinks With Benefits, the first Zero Proof Festival, coming to New York (Altman Building, September 27, 2025).

At Drinks With Benefits Festival guests will discover 50+ Non-Alc brands to sip and savor. Taste innovative and sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages, botanical spirits and functional elixirs in the Tasting Gallery, and meet and connect with industry innovators. Stroll through the Non-Alcoholic Beer Garden and Hemp Beverages with music. Experiment in the interactive Mixology Lab, with non-alcoholic cocktail mixing demos. Take in the immersive experience in the Drink Rhythms Lounge DJ Sets, Podcasting Lounge, and mindful experiences in the Meditation Tent. Pair your drinking journey with 3 Omakase-style courses by top chefs for VIP Ticket-holders. In the Cipriani Cafe, their Chef will serve up complimentary pasta tastings. Reknowned for pioneering the Bellini, Cipriani will pair these dishes with their Bellini Zero Cipriani! The Drinks With Benefits Festival will also feature the Zero Proof Choice Awards, crowning the best winners in Non-Alc and Functional beverages.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So what led you to start the first Zero Proof Festival in NYC?

DAN ABRAMS: We had started a spirits media company that was initially focused on whiskey. And we were planning on expanding, and we did, to gin and rum and tequila. And as we were building out the business, we realized that functional beverages are becoming just an enormous part of spirits. And we can't really create a forward-thinking spirits business without making functional beverages a serious part of what we're doing.

And so as we came to that realization, we started talking about and thinking about events, in addition to doing content. Because we had acquired a company that was doing at the time 12 events around the country for whiskey and tequila. We've now expanded that to 15, so events were in the DNA of the business.

But now we were thinking, let's go big! We were stunned considering how significant a business non-alcohol and functional beverages have become, that there hasn't been a major awards in New York. There hasn't been a major event in conjunction with wellness in New York, almost anywhere. And so we thought, what a great opportunity to be on the forefront of this. And those were the seeds behind Drinks With Benefits.

AM: So what types of non-alcoholic or functional beverages would be showcased at this specific event?

AMANDA PAUL-GARNIER: So we have over 60 brands covering non-alcoholic wines, non-alcoholic beers, functional hemp and functional non-hemp products. Brands, probably, you know, like Ghia, Kin Euphorics, Athletic Brewing Company, Bero, But also brands you probably don't know that are very high quality, like Opius Elixirs, which is probably one of the best brands out there.

AM: Yeah, I would say on a personal note, I was diagnosed with gout in the middle of college. Beer is my kryptonite. So I've had to drink clear alcohol spirits or non-alcoholic beverages personally. So when I tried Ghia, for example, I couldn't believe the complexities that they put into a beverage like that.

So the space is growing. But in addition to growing, the formulations are getting better and better. Isn't that true?

APG: Yeah, I would definitely agree with that. We actually just talked with Melanie Masarin, from Ghia. And she was talking about her inspiration for starting the product. But just her integrity in terms of the quality of the ingredients she uses, she's very inspired from the Mediterranean, but she's also French and Italian. So nothing in Ghia is fake or superficial. But she also teases the whole concept that, you know, of like fake ingredients or say, people concerned about the sugar content with non-alcoholic beverages. But she was like, there's a difference between synthetic sugar and actual real sugar. And, you know, what she's trying to create and she believes the next forefront of the frontier for non-alcoholic beverage will be with people seeing those quality ingredients, real ingredients over anything processed. And I think that's one of the driving forces behind this, is that we're seeing in the non-alcoholic spirits industry that people are clamoring for an evaluation of quality. And they're basically the industry folks are saying we care about quality.

DA: This isn't just non-alcoholic wine. We want people to be thinking about what are our ingredients? How are we doing this? How are we distilling this? The same way people do with spirits. And I think that's why both our awards and Drinks With Benefits are really resonating.

AM: And, you know, in preparing for discussing the event, so I came up with the notion of things need to be tasty, but also things need to be useful or new and exciting also. So what kind of categories or different types of vendors or drinks are there available at this Drinks With Benefits Festival as this is new to a lot of communities.

APG: The festival is tiered as far as different categories with the space laid out exactly to respond to that, as for a lot of consumers, this is new and we wanted to kind of guide them through the experience.

So upon arrival, they'll get a consumer discovery map where all the non-alcoholic wines are in one area, all the non-alcoholic spirits and bitters are in one area. And then as you go downstairs, you will find the alcohol-free beer garden and then the hemp and functional space. So we've set this up so that they can discover it by category.

AM: That's great. And then there's also immersive wellness experiences as well, right?

APG: Yes. So we partnered with Sage and Sound, whose Upper East Side wellness studio has a meditation experience. And that will be led by Dara Hart, who's a Reiki master and spiritual guide. So we wanted to have, you know, something wellness adjacent within the experience to really bring to life that, you know, drinking less but better is about overall wellness. It's not just about drinks, even though they're a huge part. It's an overarching thing.

And additionally, we will have live podcasting with Samantha Feher from the podcast Caps Lock, who will be covering different topics on wellness; helping educate the consumer on different aspects of wellness; and transparency and ingredients.

AM: And what types of attendees do you foresee coming?

DA: You know, we see it being a mix. This is not an industry event, but we certainly expect some industry folks will be there. But this is primarily a consumer event. We're targeting a bit of a younger demographic. I mean, that's part of it. We just did a big redesign for our website and our app, now called The Daily Pour. And part of the reason for that is our doubling down in the Non-Alc space, but also the fact that we really are trying to target the 25 to 40 year old demo of people, who have expendable income but who care about health and wellness.

And by the way, it doesn't mean that they don't drink alcohol. Right. It just means that for a lot of them, they do drink alcohol. They just are trying to drink less.

AM: That actually leads me into my next question about Gen Z and millennials in particular and whether they're seeing this as a specific intentional choice versus a substitute. So as people are looking to what to imbibe or include in their lifestyle routines, how do you see the difference if there are between different types of consumers that some are just looking for this and others maybe are moderating alcohol consumption?

DA: So we think the targeting is the same. Which is, it's about quality beverages. Whether you are trying to drink less; whether you don't drink at all; whether you are moving from alcohol to hemp; whatever the case may be - we think that the piece that's been missing is focusing on the quality. And that's how we started this business.

We started this as a consumer facing business to say to people, we're going to help you drink whiskey and tequila and rum smarter and better. All we're doing is applying that same philosophy to non-alcohol and functional beverages. So it applies to all of them with regard to and again, that's why I think it's so important that I keep emphasizing that we're doing these awards in conjunction with the event. Because it's the same focus, which is quality. What is the quality? What are the ingredients? Because that's what drinking fine spirits is all about.

AM: And you guys are having a Omakase Food Hall at the event, which I think would get us to go to most events. What's involved with that?

APG: So we wanted to recreate experiences for consumers where they would normally have alcohol, but really show them they could have fun with non-alcoholic and alternative beverages. So we created a pairing experience with well-known restaurants in New York, including the Butcher's Daughter, Ado Lei, and Seatopia. Basically with that VIP ticket, consumers will get to go to two different counters and have a pairing experience where they have a light bite paired with an alternative beverage.

AM: There's also a mixology area for the Drinks With Benefit Festival. What kinds of things would guests be able to mix?

APG: So yes, we have the mixology lab. And we really wanted to bring to life, have a space within the event that made education fun. So The Pathfinder, For Bitter For Worse, FLUÈRE, those are some of the brands that have taken over the space. And they'll be doing education, cocktail making sessions, guided tastings.

The Alchemist Kitchen, which is in Soho, they will do a lot of elixirs, and a guided education with how to make cocktails with different plants and herbs and things like that. It'll be a really fun space for consumers to have a hands-on education or edutainment experience.

AM: For non-alcoholic consumers, are they generally narrow-minded towards the areas they're focused on? Or are they very open-minded, where they would like to try the different categories from beer, to a CBD, to maybe a sparkling spritz or something?

DA: So look, yeah, obviously, it completely depends on the person. There are some people who simply don't want anything that is in any way mind-altering, right? So they don't want functional alternatives. They don't want alcohol. That's one. And that's probably a much smaller base of consumers. There's still people we're appealing to, but they are a much smaller group. The much larger group are the people who drink a little.

They also try functional beverages. They try non-alcohol. They're interested in different areas. There are some folks who only want functional beverages and not alcohol. So it really depends. But what we're finding, based on the studies, is that most of the people who drink these non-alcohol and functional beverages also drink alcohol.

AM: That's super interesting. The space is definitely booming as consumers are finding multiple winners, in multiple categories, as open-minded in trying new things. And there might even be new categories that come out in the future. What are some untapped areas you could see now? Or do you think pretty much we're hitting where we would be for several years to come?

DA: I'd say the untapped is really the increase in the quality and the focus on ingredients. In a way that’s 10 years, 15 years ago, it was, ‘oh it's just a non-alcoholic wine.’ Or hey, I mean, ‘you probably know this from it as a non-alcoholic beer or whatever it is.’ And it's like, ‘OK, is it good? What is it made from?’ So that's the difference.

And I think that's the future in terms of where people are going, which is why we're trying to ride that wave of particularly younger people who have been brought up, focused on quality in a world where the evaluation of quality hasn't been so focused on non-alcoholic spirits.

AM: Sure. And do you see that a lot of these consumers are somewhat sophisticated where the benefits will be worth the price points?

DA: They're becoming more sophisticated. And I think that is the whole philosophy behind what we're doing, is that we're trying to help them become more sophisticated. We're the place that can say to them, we know you want to be more sophisticated. Now let us help you get there in a really accessible way.

AM: Yeah. Master edutainer, Dan. I see that totally. I learn stuff from all your other groundbreaking shows, I just know a couple of things what to do, not to do now because of you.

DA: My strengths are condensing complicated information into a pretty simple and accessible way to say it. We're kind of doing the same thing here with drinks. We are taking a confusing world of drinks and trying to make it a lot more understandable and to help them make choices.

And that's not completely dissimilar from what I do in my TV world. Sure. And then also some humor here and there.

AM: Totally. So and then after New York, are there other cities you're looking to take this festival to?

DA: Yeah, we haven't figured it out. I mean, we definitely are thinking about doing more. We want to first get this one under our belts before we start actively planning the next one. We want to see what went right, what went wrong, where could we improve? And that will help us determine, should we do another one in New York? Should we think about one in a different city? Our whiskey and tequila events, we're seeing great success recently in launches in some smaller cities like Scottsdale, Arizona or Austin, Texas and places like that. And so would that be our next? I don't know yet.

New York is a big swing. You know, and honestly, if we weren't kind of first to market on this, we probably wouldn't have started in New York. But I think that's why we felt comfortable starting in New York, because we were stunned that this hasn't existed yet.

AM: Tell us more about The Daily Pour, the organizers of the Drinks With Benefits Festival.

DA: Yeah, it's a consumer guide to drinking better. And so it has what we do - we have an app that aggregates reviews and ratings, some of which we do, some of which is from other places. But it allows it to be a kind of one stop shop to tell you, is this any good? I mean, I use it all the time when I'm thinking about buying a whiskey or something, because it allows me to see numerous aggregated reviews. And a lot of these are enthusiasts who've done reviews who might not have put a number on it. And we translate it into a number.

So the app is very useful. The website covers different issues in the spirits industry. We've recently been focusing on one particular beverage in a particular week or a particular month, which is another new thing we've done.

But, you know, the Daily Pour literally went live two days ago (formerly Bottle Raiders). And it's just a fundamentally different vibe. Bottle Raiders was initially designed based on a whiskey drinker.. And now you're in a much brighter, more vibrant place because we want it to be more inclusive of the non-alcoholic and wellness community as well.

APG: I think The Daily Pour is meeting the consumer where they are today, covering cross categories. So it's covering ‘I do still want to drink, but I want to drink better.’ So it's covering spirits. Also, it’s ‘I want to have that great margarita, but I don't want to have that during the week.’ Additionally it’s covering functional beverages, ‘and I want to learn about Non-Alc.” So I think that a lot of the other websites treat Non-Alc and alternative beverages like a footnote. Like it's really hard to find them. If you go to certain websites, they have it hidden under culture. I'm like, I don't know how anyone would find that. So we don't want to treat it like that.

I think about the scoring. I think that's extremely helpful to have this kind of meta score, our signature rating system that aggregates everyone's point of view and just gives space that is sometimes hard to understand.

AM: And the app is free. Are there premium plans to it or features?

APG: Yes, and then if you get the premium subscription, that's like $5 a month. And what are the benefits of that, so it saves your taste list. You get access to certain events and kind of discounts on certain things that we offer, exclusive content, things like that.

AM: That's terrific. And I also wanted to ask about Ev & Em Vineyards, Dan.

DA: So Ev & Em is a winery that I acquired in early 2021. It was right in the heart of COVID and the winery owners had kind of given up in COVID. And I had a friend who is one of the pioneers of the North Fork wine scene who called me and said, hey, you mentioned that you were interested in buying a winery. Were you serious? And I said, yeah, I was serious. Because I told you if I ever saw something really interesting that I would let you know.

And this is really interesting. It has one of the oldest planted vineyards on the North Fork. It has a beautiful location. It just needs some love. It needs some new thoughts about how to do the winemaking. And you could have an A-list vineyard.

And he was right. Even by the ‘22 Vintage, which was released in some of it in ‘23, some of it only now for the Reds, we're creating luxury wines in Long Island. So these are wines that we think can compete with California, Oregon, Washington, et cetera, in really all varietals. And so that's been super exciting!

AM: And there are multiple offerings. There's a Reserve, correct?

DA: There is. Yeah, we're making everything from Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris. I mean, we've got a whole range of offerings.

And in some of those, we have a Reserve. So depending on the year, for example in ‘22, we had a number of Reserve wines on the Reds, some of which actually haven't even been released yet. But our Reserve Red ‘22, super proud of that.

‘23 was a tougher year for us, but ‘24 was amazing. So we're very confident about that ‘24 Vintage that's coming out. And ‘25 looks great as well.

 You can find out more about Drinks with Benefits Festival and get your ticket (General Admission is still available as VIP is sold out) by visiting their site. In our SEP ISSUE #117 which drops on Sep 30th, we will also recap this event as well.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

FANATICS FEST 2025

Fanatics Fest NYC was exhilarating in its second year, bringing top athletes and fans together like never before.

The festival presented a massive card and collectibles show, autograph meets, athlete and celeb photo opps, interactive experiences, panels, and shows, over three days, June 20 to 22, 2025, at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan.

We loved seeing the break area, as well as cards of of favorite players, 1of1s, signed logo patches, vintage HOF rookies, and so much more. Signed jerseys, sportswear, sneakers, hats, memorabilia sprawled throughout the room.

The Activations and Fanatics Fest debut “Fanatics Games,” were next level. The new skills-based sports competition this year for athletes and fans had $2 million in cash and prize for pros and fans to compete. A mix of pros and fans took the top 10, with the event won by Tom Brady. After winning the allaround, Brady went on to purchase the 3rd prize Lebron 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Rookie Gold Refractor card, that was such poetic justice making this year super special. He went on to drop knowledge on panels, throw balls to fans, coldplunge with Kevin Hart.

The highlight for us was the Panel and Special Surprise with Tom Brady, Travis Scott, & Michael Rubin, moderated by Oakley Global President, Caio Amato. Like hitting a major trifecta, it proved to be an insane microcosm of Fanatics Fest.

WHO RUNS NY PANEL: DEREK JETER, AROD & MORE DISH ON THE MAKING OF DYNASTIES

It was an honor to catch the end of the Only in New York: 27 Rings panel in the theater just before. Yankees legends, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and special guest Spike Lee dove into what makes dynasties; the legacy of the NY Yankees; BTS stories, and more. It was hosted by CC Sabathia & AJ Andrews.

It was cool to hear about being on winning teams; having the discipline and grit to go train and go through the ups and downs; and anecdotes like Reggie Jackson strikeouts; city rivalries and more.

There were thousands of people, but the vibe in this room was family - well until someone asked a corny question and you might get sprayed by a super-soaker courtesy of Spilke Lee's call. It was pointed out that one guy who asked an awkward question was wearing two hats, so sometimes it's too easy.

LEGENDARY PANEL: BRADY, RUBIN & TRAVIS SCOTT TALK ABOUT ATHENTICITY & PARTNERSHIP COLLABS

Michael Rubin talking about The Art of Partnership & Collaboration is always a masterclass. Proud and exuberant, he navigated some follow-ups of Oakley Global President, Caio Amato's questions, which peppered the audience with nuggets on business strategy and whimsical anecdotes on style splurges and even quick destination travel just to lock it in.

Beyond bling, Rubin fondly volunteered that Travis gets a blank-slate for his creative genius to flow and that they put together a quick collab just six days before the show, from the vision, to making it, to the many layers and partners quickly getting on board by phone executing with joyful precision.

Brady acknowledged his genuine love for cards; elaborated on CardVault and nodded about the vision and working with Fanatics and Topps that it's a great way to have serious collectors, fans, kids and hobbyists of all ages involved.

Congratulations to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg, who recorded a short video that played celebrating the Oakley Meta HSTN Performance AI Glasses before what ensued, and Scott took the stage.

OAKLEY META HSTN EXPERIENCE AMPED THE SURPRISE TRAVIS SCOTT PERFORMANCE

[Smoke] Bang! We went from Panel to Performance! His DJ walked on. The crowd rushed the stage. It was on!

I slid on the Limited Edition Oakley Meta HSTNs Performance AI Glasses that I had been fitted for before the panel/show (thanks Meta). The HSTN (pronounced "HOW-stuhn") fit well and I felt that they were stylish and sporty, great for adventures, around town, and upscale special events to capture moments you may come by surprise hands-free.

I felt more front row with a refreshing phone-free flow, who wants to be chained down behind a chunky mobile device. Instead, hands-free means instantly transported and I was right up in concert-mode and enabled to take in Travis' energy and capture it in a more intimate way.

Livvy Dunne was a couple seats down, taking in the panel and show. We noticed she did some cool haggling buying a Paul Skenes card in some of the fest recap.

Seeing the content later, the video was supersharp (3K UHD), and boasted superb audio quality where you can enjoy those memories. The super stabilization scored with well-grounded video, in spite and revelry of the loyal bouncing crowd and being mosh-pit adjacent. It was easy to use in a noisy, crowded environment with short and longer press button on the frame (otherwise, you can use voice command).

Amazing to later see how the show looked from Travis' POV! As he laced across the stage we see overjoyed fans raging and soaking in some of our favorite hits. His pop by beyond the smoke was fierce as always. It's been ages since I'd seen him by Z's Pent.

It was great to be guests of Oakley Meta! You can see more first hand from Paul Farkas about this epic concert from his POV by checking out the videos on Athleisure's YouTube Channel or go directly here, here, and here.

IG @oakleymeta

@meta

@fanatics

@fanaticsfest

ON THE GROUND COVERAGE | Paul Farkas

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 38 - 42 Getty Images Assignment | PG 45 - 49 Matt Monath MetaXOakley | PG 50 Oakley Meta HSTN | PG 52 - 65 Paul Farkas |

Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag and see FANATICS FEST 2025 in mag.

GOVBALL 2025

Earlier this month, we made our way to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the home 3-Day home of of Governors Ball, a music festival that brings various genres of music together to Queens to kick off the Summer as well as a number of culinary vendors that are some of the favorite eats to enjoy across the boroughs. In addition, there are activations with beauty, alcohol and tech brands that people can enjoy!

We made our way to the festival grounds as we were fortunate that the 3 acts that we came to see would be taking place on one day. Our first stop was heading over to Gotham Burger Social Gotham Burger Social Club which is located on the LES as well as Greenpoint, BK. They're known for their collaborative hamburgers that they do! As we love a great burger and fries, we have no idea how we have never had the chance to check them out. We can report that their Gotham Smash burgers were juicy and their fries hit the spot - we can't wait to check them out soon as we're already planning another Gotham Smash Double, Frickles, Loaded Tots, and Limone Spritz.

In addition to staying properly hydrated thanks to having stations populated throughout the grounds, a great meal ensures that your energy will remain high at whatever festival you may be attending. Our press passes gave us access to the VIP viewing areas to catch the acts as the sets we watched were on the Kiehl's Stage and the Governors Ball stage. It allowed us to go back and forth between the stages and even had food and beverage vendors so that we could stay there while we waited for the next act!

We have enjoyed seeing Tyla for the past few months between hearing her music, videos, and her appearances on Awards Shows and red carpets. So we were excited to see her on stage and she didn't disappoint. In addition to enjoying her music, she had great dancers and choreography, and she kept the crowd going without a dull moment in between each song. We can't wait to see future performances as she puts on a great show!

While Tyla brought the sultry vibes on a warm Summer day with her amapiano X pop X R&B X Afro Beats, T-Pain brought all of the classics throughout his 45mins set! Seeing the crowd singing along to each song across generations and the energy that he gave made you see how much his songs have impacted us!

As the golden hour took place, we were really excited to see Benson Boone. Of course we knew that we had songs that were on our playlist and that he has a penchant for flipping. From the time he hit the stage he set the vibe as he went through a number of songs as well as performed those that are on his latest album that he dropped. Of course he showed us how many ways and things he could flip on and even had heartfelt moments that let us get to know more about him.

Although there are a number of festivals to enjoy around the globe, we really love the kinds of acts that come to this show. As we also had time sitting in the press lounge, whatever acts we didn't catch on their respective stages, we saw them there and it was great to see them before and after their sets. In addition, watching the crowds in general and seeing how they were taking in the activations, sets, and just enjoying the grounds - it was a great weekend to disconnect from our typical days and to link in with the love of music and discovery.

IG @govballnyc

@tyla

@tpain

@bensonboone

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 68 Charles Reagan | PG 71 Tylaby Deanie Chen | PG 72 - 73 Taylor Regulski | PG 74 Roger Ho | PG 75 Dusana Risovic

Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag and see GovBall 2025 in mag.

BCB BROOKLYN 2025

This time of year is one that we enjoy because there are a number of events in this month that are filled with meeting new brands, enjoying those that are already on our radar and being able to take in unique experiences!

BCB Brooklyn gives us all the Summer vibes with the ability to hit Industry City for an expansive trade show that also includes their courtyard as well as events that take place around this event. It's about celebrating the hospitality community, educating, and of course getting in great sips and bites!

The day before this 2-Day event, we headed to City Winery at Pier 57 for Wine Enthusiast’s Sip of South America which showcased wines from Chile, Brazil, and Argentina! We listened to an informative panel about wines in this region, the terroir, their pairings, and where the industry is going! We also sampled a number of wines while talking to the winemakers!

IG @wineenthusiast

Later that night, we made our way to Mister Paradise in NYC for a pre-event for BCB Brooklyn, Mixing with Mexico presented by William Grant & Sons showcasing Milagro Tequila. In a bit of a bar takeover, Bar Maruo (listed as a top 50 North American bar in Mexico City) created a series of Italian aperitifs with a tequila twist.

We also enjoyed an intimate tasting with Stilo Pimentel, who is an ambassador of the brand. He walked us through their portfolio as well as talking about what sets them apart from other Tequila brands.

IG @milagrotequila

We were definitely ready to hit the tradeshow of BCB Brooklyn on Jun 10th. As we have navigated this for the past few years, visiting the booths are a mix of 1:1 Tastings and simply visiting what speaks to you. We always like mixing it up and taking breaks in between. Last year, we sat down to talk with Jackie Williams who is the Event Vice President of BCB Brooklyn. Since we caught up with her after the tradeshow, she can provide great insights on a number of things that we saw this year as well as looking ahead to what we can expect next year!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed this year's BCB Brooklyn from the tradeshow to the external events! We've had the pleasure of interviewing you last year as well as attending the show which was amazing. What can you tell us about new additions to this year's show that you were excited to execute?

JACKIE WILLIAMS: So glad to hear you and your team enjoyed this year’s event, and thank you for joining us! There were quite a few new elements this year, but one of the biggest was the spotlight on growing the “No and Low-Alcohol” category. From low-ABV spirits to non-alcoholic cocktails, it was amazing to see so many brands in this space have a strong presence at this year’s show. This growing movement was also on display in our education programming, which really speaks to how BCB Brooklyn serves as a hub for industry trendspotting and forward-thinking conversations.

Two other standout additions this year were our first-ever Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition and the Cirque de BCB Brooklyn event. Both reflected some of our core values at BCB Brooklyn: championing emerging brands and creating fun, meaningful ways for the community to gather.

AM: What are 3 brands that were new to the show we should have our eye on?

JW: There were so many incredible brands that activated this year, including Volans Tequila, Parch Non-Alcoholic Agave Cocktails and BŌKEN, to name a few. These newcomers made a strong impression, alongside many others who came from all over to showcase their gins, tequilas, liqueurs, aperitifs, no and low products, and more. While we’re seeing new names entering the space and participating in BCB Brooklyn, it’s also inspiring to see how returning brands continue to evolve and raise the bar each year.

AM: From an educational standpoint, what kinds of trends and hot topics were shared/discussed at this show?

JW: We had a phenomenal education line-up this year, thanks to our Head of Education Lynnette Marrero and our 2025 Education Committee. Some of the topics that resonated most included the continued rise of low-ABV and non-alcoholic offerings, entrepreneurial growth, and deeper conversations around cultural identity and representation in the hospitality space. Every year, we aim to provide programming that’s both practical and inspiring, where industry professionals walk away with more knowledge than they came with.

AM: The Courtyard Bar Takeovers are always a great highlight! What can you tell us about this?

JW: The Courtyard Bar Takeovers were such a fun part of BCB Brooklyn this year! We had a great lineup of people serving up drinks behind the bar, including rapper Ja Rule, who co-founded Amber & Opal, as well as The Original Pickle Shot and Jack Sotti from Renais Spirits. Beyond the cocktails, the courtyard became a space for connection and gatherings. One of my favorite moments there was the “Sip with PRIDE Meet-Up” with drinks provided by ALB Vodka in front of the BCB letters in Courtyard 7/8. It was a vibrant space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to network, exchange stories and build new relationships.

AM: We also enjoyed going to Ja Rule's lounge booth where we literally bumped into him which was a fun moment for us - what is your favorite moment of this show?

JW: It was great to have Ja Rule and his Amber & Opal Co-Founders join us at BCB Brooklyn this year. On top of having his amazing team onsite, one of my favorite moments from this year’s show was the first-ever BCB Brooklyn Brand Accelerator Pitch Competition, Presented by Women of the Vine & Spirits® & Diverse Powered Brands™. The finalists brought a ton of passion and innovation to the stage, and the winner received a prize package worth over $50,000 in services to help grow their brand. It was incredible to witness how impactful our show can be for businesses looking to grow in the industry.

AM: What were you most excited about at this year's BCB Brooklyn?

JW: There was so much to be excited about at this year’s show. From the high-energy Courtyard Bar takeovers to the depth of conversations in our VIP+ sessions, it’s hard to pinpoint only one thing I was most looking forward to. I will say, I always love seeing how each brand activates at their exhibitor booth and this year, brands like Barr Hill (showcased live bees), Ritual Zero Proof (had an ice cream machine) and Ketel One (had a pre-batched espresso martini machine) set the bar high for next year’s booth activations.

AM: Is there anything you can tell us about next year’s BCB Brooklyn as we’re already pumped for it!

JW: Believe it or not, we have already hit the ground running with planning for next year’s BCB Brooklyn, which will take place on June 9th and 10th at Industry City. While I can’t reveal too much yet, I can say we’re building on the momentum from this year and pushing to make 2026 even more impactful, inclusive and unforgettable.

IG @barconventbrooklyn

As the end of Day 1 came to an end, we made our way to Williamsburg, BK to attend Une Petite Soiree presented by LPM Restaurant and Bar at Bar Blondeau which is located at the Wythe Hotel. This restaurant has locations all over the world and at this event, they showcased 4 of their mixologists that are from these global destinations! We enjoyed sampling the beverages, taking in rooftop vibes and more! Attendees enjoyed cocktails from Michter's Whiskey, Farmer's Gin, and Mezcal Los Siesta Misterios.

IG @lpmrestaurants_us

@lpmdubai

@lpmrestauranthk

@lpmlimassol

Getting a taste of French Riviera style was definitely a great time for all of us. Interestingly enough, we were able to go across the street for one of the biggest opening parties to kick off BCB Brooklyn! William Grant & Sons had a Block Party: Bowling Bash at Brooklyn Bowl where they showcased their portfolio of brands which included Hendrick’s Gin, Monkey Shoulder, Milagro Tequila, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch, The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch, Tullamore D.E.W., and Reyka Vodka. In addition, we had a number of savory bites, bowling, and listening to a live band that kept the energy going. It was great to talk to the hospitality community, meet up with others in the industry and to find a few cocktails that we had never considered and to put them in our rotation!

After a great day filled with walking the floor and enjoying great parties, we started the next day back at Industry City to continue navigating the show floor as well as to join our 1:1 Tastings with Hendrick’s Gin and Tullamore D.E.W. Being able to talk with the brand to find out more about the history, new items in their portfolio as well as how they will continue to connect with those that enjoy their brand is always informative and is one of the things that's great to find out and you never know how you'll know more about those brands within our Athleisure Media community as well.

IG @brooklynbowl

@hendricksgin

@monkeyshoulder

@glenfiddichwhisky

@thebalvanie

@tullamoredew

@reyka_vodka

As BCB Brooklyn came to a close, it wasn't quite over yet as we took a seriously immersive experience to bookend the past two days with Don Julio’s Por Amor: An Immersive Tasting Experience at Mercer Labs in Lower Manhattan. Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology is known for their cutting edge technology that allows you to see screens and a full multi-sensory journey. We were able to experience the first-ever full brand takeover that took place here.

Via an interactive tasting we smelled and sipped Don Julio 70, Reposado and 1942 and we were served them in unique ways.

We saw and heard Don Julio's origin story through immersive video projection, 4D sound, and atmospheric storytelling.

We also had the opportunity to create our own signature cocktail at a hands-on mixology station guided by expert bartenders and to name them. Although our event was press only, from Jun 12 - 15, there were limited complimentary tickets that were available to the public.

IG @donjuliotequila

PHOTO CREDIT | PG 102 + 105 BCB Brooklyn | PG 106 - 113 Don Julio |

Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag and see BCB Brooklyn 2025 in mag.

GOV BALL 2025

As we close out the month of May, we're looking ahead to June which is filled with a number of events that includes NY's 3-day music festival - Governors Ball (Jun 6th - 8th), Bar Convent Brooklyn a trade 2-day event that showcases the spirits and hospitality (Jun 10th + Jun 11th) as well as the Summer Fancy Food Show (Jun 29th - Jul 1st) - another trade event that allows us to connect and sample foods from brands that are new to market as well as those who we have enjoyed previously.

We have always enjoyed covering Governors Ball as this music festival takes place in NYC that kicks off the Summer in many ways. This festival takes place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. What makes this festival unique is that over the course of the 3 days, you have a number of genres of major acts such as Hozier, Olivia Rodrigo, T-Pain, and Benson Boone. But you will also find up and coming artists or those that are on the brink of being names to know that may be new to you!

With phenomenal music scheduled, it's also a great time to take in activations that are available as well as food and beverage vendors that give a depth of variety across dietary lifestyles. It's one of those events that you definitely feel the music community and there a number of memories that are built during this time of year. Last year [Editor's Note: you can check our our pre and post coverage], we enjoyed SZA who was the final act for this festival and we were mesmerized with her performance. We can't wait to see this year's acts and in our JUN ISSUE #114, we will share with you what we saw and will also share interviews with you as well.

IG @govballnyc

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Governors Ball/Paigge Warton

Read the MAY ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see GOV BALL 2025 in mag.

9PLAYLIST | PAUL VAN DYK

Read the DEC ISSUE #108 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST Paul Van Dyk in mag.

DOUBLING DOWN ON THE TRACK | TAI WOFFINDEN

We love when worlds collide and this month's cover does just that. Tai Woffinden is a 5x Speedway World Champion and an open format DJ/Producer. We wanted to know more about Speedway racing and how he got into the sport, how he stays in shape for it, his passion for music, and why he became a DJ.

Since signing onto Armada Music, he released Body, a collaboration with Grammy nominated Gabry Ponte and vocalist Yasmin Jane. This was followed up by Feeling Super Naughty with CERES which just dropped recently. With all of this movement, we took some time find out more and to see what we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We're excited to be able to talk with you as your background as an athlete as well as a DJ and a producer is such a great mix! When did you fall in love with being a Speedway Rider?

TAI WOFFINDEN: I first got into Speedway way way back in 2002. I went to my Dad’s mate’s house to ride on their private track and there was a speedway bike tucked away in the corner. I said to my dad at 12 years old, “I wanna try that” so we sold my MX gear and went all in from that day on.

AM: You are a 3X World Champion in this sport. What do you love about racing?

TW: It’s hard to explain but there is a feeling when you’re railing the fence on a nice little dirt line as fast as the bike will go and you’re on the complete limit of what you’re able to do on these bikes and you either make it around the corner or bury it into the wall. There is no better feeling in the world (not that I have found yet anyway) and I chase that feeling every time I race.

AM: Can you tell us about Speedway racing from what the bike is like and what races are like?

TW: They’re a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, built to only go left, 500cc, methanol-burning bulls with no breaks!

The races are super short and fast averaging about 1min per heat (4 laps). In a Grand Prix, we do 5 heats and the top eight go to the semi-finals and the 1st and 2nd place from each semi qualify for the final. It’s a wild sport! In Poland it’s huge in Warsaw we race in front of 55,000 inside the national stadium.

AM: To optimize yourself as a racer, what kinds of workouts do you do to stay in shape and meet the goals you need to be a champion rider?

TW: I won’t bore you with this too much but 5 days a week strength work, 6 days a week running or cycling, and a good nutritional plan to get through the workload and recovery.

AM: Your season is over this year. Are there any races that you are preparing for in 2025?

TW: Yes, it’s all done now so full focus on 2025 prep. Next year I will race most weekends in Poland, most Mondays and Thursdays in the UK, and some in races in Sweden on Tuesdays. Plus, four qualification rounds for the Grand Prix and possibly the European championship.

AM: What was the first song that you heard that made you fall in love with music?

TW: I can’t remember exactly, but it would have been something my mum had on in the car when I was a kid. My first hook on EDM specifically would have to be the Old EDM. Specifically it would have to be the Old Skitz Mix CDs back in the day.

AM: What led to you becoming a DJ and a producer?

TW: I went to watch Fisher headline his own show in Perth, Western Australia, and as Fisher was a surfer before he became a DJ, I was just watching him thinking well if he can do that, so can I. So, the week after I started my DJ course with Lab Six.

AM: How would you describe the Tai Woffinden sound?

TW: It’s been varied as I navigate and find my sound, I started out with some Tech House, but I’m a Techno guy so I want to focus on that Mainstage vibe after my first release on Armada Music with Gabry Ponte. But, my current track with CERES and my next single are still slightly different in sound so I’ll continue to play around with it all and see where it takes me.

AM: What would you say are the similarities between racing in front of large crowds and being able to DJ in front of them?

TW: For now, the biggest crowd I’ve played to as a DJ has been 12,000 people at Forestland Festival. It’s hard to say if it’s the same level of intensity as when I race, but from my history, the bigger the crowd, and the more pressure, is exactly where I thrive.

AM: How do you get inspiration for your music?

TW: Same as most people I would guess. Hearing a track I like that sparks an idea, or an individual sound. In the world that we live in today with everything at our fingertips it shouldn’t take too long to be inspired by something.

AM: Tell us about Body and what it was like to collaborate with Gabry Ponte and vocalist Yasmin Jane?

TW: So my A&R at Armada sent over the vocals, I then made a little demo and we sent it to Gabry’s team to shoot our shot. Four days later he said he loved it and wanted to work on it and a week later got it back, we were all stoked with his influence on the production! From my side, one, it was huge to have my first release secured with Armada, and for that track to then be a collaborative with Gabry Ponte was just amazing!

AM: Feeling Super Naughty is your latest with CERES - what is the meaning behind this song?

TW: Again, I heard the vocals and just immediately thought there was something about it. The track was a bit more Techno originally, but I was listening to some track at that time from Indira Paganotto and starting to play with that sound myself so that’s how it came to the final song you hear now. I’m super happy with it. I guess the track is just about having a great time!

AM: You were at ADE this month - what was that like?

TW: ADE was wild…it was my first one and I really made the most of it. I met some great people, made lots of new connections, and did a lot of partying. I already can’t wait until next year and hopefully I can get a few DJ sets locked in as well.

AM: You will be at You&Me Fest, a multi-day NYE fest in Australia. How excited are you to be performing there?

TW: Yes, I am! I’m super grateful that Bailey and Isaac called me up! I’m in Australia all summer and I’m ready to build my presence in this part of the world so why not kick things off there with the local boys. They’re killing it over here in West Australia, I mean you only have to look at this year’s huge line-up to see!

AM: Who are 3 people that are on your bucket list that you would like to work with?

TW: Timmy Trumpet would be one. We have chatted about a track and getting him on one of my race bikes which would be wild!

Also Maddix for sure. I love his sound. Finally, Will Sparks, I'm just a fan of Will. I met him in Newcastle UK this year and we chatted for ages backstage. He is a great guy and a beast at what he does. I also love his DJ performances. Anyway, enough fanboying haha!

AM: Do you have any upcoming festivals or tours that we should know about?

TW: Not right now. I’m in the studio and You&Me is my next big one. However, I have an important meeting coming up which I hope brings big opportunities and parties into 2025.

AM: You do a lot of traveling. What are 3 things that you like to have with you when you're on the road?

TW: I'm a simple man! As long as I have my passport, phone and USB, I can do everything I want…

AM: Whether you're racing or hitting the stage, are there routines you do?

TW: Maybe this comes as a surprise, but I have no routines, pre or post events. I literally just live in the moment and enjoy whatever is surrounding me, be it the stage or the racetrack, I soak it all up and enjoy the process.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

TW: I have one track that’s just come back from clearance, and I think could be my biggest yet but can’t say much right now. I plan to host my own event again in the UK next year. I threw a one-off this summer and we sold 12,000 tickets in just 11 days and it was fully sold-out which was insane.

My full focus now is on getting ready for the 2025 season ahead.

IG @twoffinden

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Front/Back Cover + PG 16 - 21 Tai Woffiden| PG 22 Tai Woffiden Press |

Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see DOUBLING DOWN ON THE TRACK | Tai Woffinden in mag.

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2024

This month, Athleisure Mag also hit New York Comic Con which took place Oct 17th - 20th. We enjoyed navigating the booths and experiences at the Javits Center, hearing about new series and movies that we can't wait to attend those press junkets that will begin over the next few months!

In addition to navigating the show floor, costumes, and large exhibits, we also sat in on a panel of Apple TV+'s Shrinking. To hear the cast share that the show has been greenlit for a 3rd season, to share a few minutes from an upcoming episode, and to just listen to them chat about this incredible show was a lot fun to listen to.

Other panels of interest included HBO's The Penguin, HBO's Dune Prophecy, STARZ's Outlander, and Prime Video's Cross. It was just as much fun to watch enthusiasts of the shows as they listened to the cast share their experiences and thoughts, how they truly enjoy being able to get to know more about these programs and to meet those that are involved.

We're defintiely looking forward to next year as it's a great opportunity to enjoy programs that have an avid and engaged fan base as well as to check in with some of the best prestige TV shows! For those planning ahead, mark your calendars for Oct 9-12th in 2025!

IG @newyorkcomiccon

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 186 + 190 Kimmie Smith | PG 188 The Penguin Panel + PG 192 Outlander Panel Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop |

Read the OCT ISSUE #106 og Athleisure Mag and see New York Comic Con 2024 in mag.

NYCWFF 2024

We're looking forward to one of our favorite times of the year in terms of the culinary calendar - the 2024 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) presented by Invesco QQQ! Much like Chef Aarti Sequeira mentioned in her cover interview, there is something about gathering and community! Being at these events allow you to see a number of Food Network stars, celebrity chefs, food personalities, mixologists, culinary creators and more! You will be able to enjoy master classes, panels, wine tastings, your favorite restaurants through tastings and intimate dinners, as well as to try new ones to get an idea of their menu. We enjoyed attending last year's event which you can check out what we did here from our OCT ISSUE #94.

This year, we're excited as NYC's ultimate wine and food festival takes place Oct 17-20th and will include over 80 events over 4 days that will be in NYC and in Brooklyn that allows you to join them in their mantra of EAT. DRINK. FEED NYC! This includes 500 restaurants, bars, and 200 sponsors. On average, approximately 48,000 fans a year attend this event along with 3,000 volunteers that are involved to support this event.

As we're days away from kicking off the 17th annual event, a number of these events will take place at the Invesco QQQ Campus at Brooklyn Army Terminal. By including the borough of Brooklyn into the festivities, it centralizes the signature events, Pier Parties, and the Grand Tasting (which is one of our events that we will attend on the Trade Day) into one expansive 450,000 square foot campus. Regardless of whether it's raining or not, this will be a tented experience at this location so that you know the good vibes, bites, and sips will happen uninterrupted! It also highlights the diversity of culinary tapestry that also exists here and it's exciting that they are making their debut at the NYCWFF.

While we celebrate food and what it means when we're together, 100% of net proceeds from NYCWFF will support God's Love We Deliver which is NYC's only provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals who are living with severe illness. To date, NYCWFF has raised more than $14.8 million for its charitable partners to make a significant impact in the city. In 2023, God's Love We Deliver delivered 4 million meals to nearly 15,000 individuals.

Make sure to read our OCT ISSUE #105 which drops on Oct 30th where we will have a recap on events we attended during NYCWFF which includes: Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Trade Day hosted by Wine Spectator at Grand Tasting, Meet Cutes NYC presents Tacos & Tequila, and JJ Johnson’s The Cookout: A Hip Hop Celebration hosted by Rev Run and Angela Yee.

IG @nycwff

@godslovenyc

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Paul Farkas

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see NYCWFF 2024 in mag.

GOV BALL 2024

In last month's issue we looped you in on a fun music festival that kicks off the Summer season in NY. From Jun 7th - Jun 9th Governors Ball kicked off with 3 days of music across genres at Flushing Meadows in Queens. We enjoyed being able to hear from our favorite acts across 3 stages throughout the days on an endless sunny weekend. Nestled in the park, attendees had the ability to feel like they left the city to be transformed into a musical oasis with sets filled with their favorite songs.

With acts that included The Killers, Post Malone, SZA, Peso Pluma, Sabrina Carpenter, and Reneé Rapp to name a few. While we hung out at the festival we took in the sets from our VIP that also included food and beverage vendors that kept our taste buds engaged and our energy up.

The last day defintiely included our favorites and with good vibes flowing throughout the weekend, we were transfixed all the way to the last song played by SZA who closed out a successful weekend. We're already looking forward to next year's lineup although we're months away from knowing who will perform, but if this year was any indication, we can't wait to see who it will be!

IG @govballnyc

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 137 Phelphs | PG 138 Paigge Wharton | PG 139 N Bradley | PG 140 Charles Reagan | PG 141 Sambalaban |

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see GOV BALL 2024 in mag.

NYC PRIDE 2024

Athleisure Mag has been a Media Sponsor of NYC Pride for the past 7 years and it has great to continue our sponsorship for an 8th year in a row to support the community which brings people together through an array of events throughout the city! There have been a number of fun events that have taken place over the past few weeks and if you're still looking to support and enjoy the festivities, we suggest that you head out to Mets Pride Night sponsored by Citi on Jun 28th as well as to make a day of it on Un 30th where you can enjoy the iconic March as well as Pride Fest!

What we have enjoyed this month is that there have been a number of events to take place so make sure that you check out these events and more by visiting the site so that you can coordinate with friends and family.

This year's theme of Reflect. Empower. Unite. focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community and marks the 55th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising as well as the 40th Anniversary of the Heritage of Pride, the organization that puts on NYC Pride. This theme aims to highlight the importance of The March as an intersection for liberation and joy of the community as well as looking at the activist history that created the movement as well as to reflect whether you're an individual, ally, community leader, activist to understand the challenges that have been overcome as they find ways forward.

These events aim to bring the city together across the boroughs in the city as well as the world at large together. Last year, we talked with Sandra Perez (MAY ISSUE #89 in 2023) Executive Director of Heritage of Pride. She talked about how NYC Pride started, why it is an important event, and how they use their platform.

IG @nycpride

PHOTO CREDIT | NYC Pride

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see NYC PRIDE 2024 in mag.

PRE-COVERAGE NYC PRIDE

Athleisure Mag has been a Media Sponsor of NYC Pride for the past 7 years and are excited to come back for our 8th year in a row to support the community which brings people together through an array of events throughout the city! There is something for everyone that kicks off on Jun 1st with the Road to Pride Bar Crawl in Chelsea, Queens Night Market for those who have enjoyed the culinary vendors throughout the year, the NY Yankees Pride Night will take place at their stadium on Jun 18th, on Jun 22 another Road to Pride Bar Crawl will take place in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, Mets Pride Night sponsored by Citi on Jun 28th, and of course The March will take place on Jun 30th. Make sure to check out these events and more by visiting the site.

This year's theme of Reflect. Empower. Unite. focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community and marks the 55th Anniversary of the the Stonewall Uprising as well as the 40th Anniversary of the Heritage of Pride, the organization that puts on NYC Pride. This theme aims to highlight the importance of The March as an intersection for liberation and joy of the community as well as looking at the activist history that created the movement as well as to reflect whether you're an individual, ally, community leader, activist to understand the challenges that have been overcome as they find ways forward.

These events aim to bring the city together across the boroughs in the city as well as the world at large together. Last year, we talked with Sandra Perez (MAY ISSUE #89 in 2023) Executive Director of Heritage of Pride. She talked about how NYC Pride started, why it is an important event, and how they use their platform.

IG @nycpride

PHOTO CREDIT | NYC Pride

Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see PRE-COVERAGES | Pride NYC in mag.

PRE-COVERAGE | GOVERNORS BALL

Next month, we're looking forward to making our way back to Queens to take in great performances, activations, food/beverages and the experiences that we enjoy when we're at one of our favorite music festivals that kick off the season here in NY for this year's Gov Ball taking place Jun 7-9th! Last year we had the pleasure to chat with Co-Founder, Tom Russell (MAY ISSUE #89 in 2023) about this music festival which includes an array of genres. They kicked off their newest home at Flushing Meadows in Queen which is an immersive park setting.

This year, with headlines that include: Post Malone and Rauw Alejandro on Fri, The Killers and 21 Savage on Sat, and ending with Sza and Peso Pluma on Sun, there is something for everyone with 60+ artists across the weekend and 3 stages and a number of acts from Sabrina Carpenter, Sexyy Red, Doechii, Reneé Rapp, and more!

With all of the music that you'll get to enjoy, you want to ensure that you have a number of options for you and your friends who will be attending. From an array of wine and spirit brands, Luke's Lobster, Sweet Chick, Magnolia Bakery, Stella X Hot Ones - there is something that reflects diverse culinary interests that will keep you going!

Make sure to visit the website to see what tickets are still available and to see how you can elevate your experience if you're interested in VIP options. For those that want to keep the party going, there are After Dark shows taking place throughout the city with artists you'll want to hear. Each of these performances have separate tickets and will allow you to truly get an immersive experience.

In the JUN ISSUE #102, we'll share more interviews and experiences from Gov Ball.

IG @govballnyc

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 140 Henry HWU | PG 142 Roger Ho | PG 144 Charles Reagan |

Read the MAY ISSUE #101 of Athleisure Mag and see PRE-COVERAGE | Governors Ball in mag.

MAKING THE WORLD HAPPY WITH MUSIC MARTIN GARRIX

We're always thinking about the upcoming festival season and we have a number of people that we hope to see on stages we're heading to! Martin Garrix is a legendary international EDM DJ/Producer with residencies around the world, that we love rocking to. His passion for bringing people together with his music and those that he has collaborated with is undeniable! Just in the last few days alone, he has dropped tracks, revealed his full sets for performances at Amsterdam Dance Events - ADE last fall, and has announced his summer residency in Ibiza which he is currently in the midst of his South American tour. This artist is constantly on the move and we took a moment to find out about how when he fell in love with music, how he approaches creating his music, collaborations, recent releases, his residencies, and how he truly loves when people are able to enjoy his music and the vibe he presents!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

MARTIN GARRIX: I have always loved music. I grew up in a musical household and started playing guitar by the age of 8. However, the moment I fell in love with electronic music was while seeing Tïesto perform at the 2004 Summer Olympics, for the Opening Ceremonies. They were airing this on tv, and I remember my mom calling me over to come and watch it. The energy that I felt from the music was amazing. After that, I started experimenting with electronic music myself.

AM: How would you define the Martin Garrix sound?

MG: I would say it’s energetic, uplifting and melodic. The most important thing for me is to make people feel something with my music.

AM: What's your creative process when it comes to making your music - where do you start and how do you get inspired?

MG: I can get inspired by basically anything, and inspiration can come at the most random moments. That’s why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me most random moments. That's why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me humming new song ideas while I’m on the road. Then when I get into the studio I usually start with melody lines either on guitar or piano. Especially the songs with lyrics they always start with a guitar and vocal or piano and vocal and then afterwards I produce it out. I much rather start with stripped-down versions so the song is strong on its own and not relying on the production. I really enjoy the songwriting process and have a soft spot for beautiful chord progressions and melodies. If the song sounds good with just a vocal and guitar, you can produce an electronic version, rock version, anything. Every song starts and ends differently. I do need to be in my own home studio to finish a song, that’s the place where I work the most comfortable and know the sound system the best.

AM: You have collaborated with a number of artists from Bebe Rexha, David Guetta, Dua Lipa, Khalid, Usher, Tïesto, to name a few. What do you look for when it comes to creating with other artists?

MG: I really need a certain connection with an artist, otherwise I can’t be in the studio with them making music together.

AM: We’ve been fans of your music since Animals and have enjoyed In the Name of Love with Bebe Rexha, Scared to be Lonely with Dua Lipa, Summer Days featuring Macklemore and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and Carry You with Third Party, Oaks, and Declan J Donovan. What are 3 of your favorite songs?

MG: It's impossible for me to choose. All my songs have different memories attached to them which make them special to me. Of course Animals will always be special because that song really kickstarted everything for me. At the moment I’m really loving playing the new songs live and seeing the crowd’s response to it.

AM: I’ve had Carry You on a loop since it came out! What's the backstory of the song and how did it come together?

MG: The song was in the making for quite some time before we released it. Third Party and myself created the lead melody a year ago and I premiered it during Ultra Music Festival. After that it become a staple in my sets and I even used it as intro to my sets every now and then. The response from the crowd has been amazing every time I played it, so we just had to finish it. The vocals from Oaks and Declan really pushed the song to another level and I’m super proud of the end result and the responses we have been getting so far.

AM: Last fall you dropped Real Love with South African singer/songwriter Lloyiso. You guys teamed up here in New York and created this song. How did this song come about and why were you so excited to work with him?

MG: I found an Adele cover from Lloyiso online and was immediately blown away by his amazing voice. I reached out to him, but due to travel schedules and visas we weren’t able to meet in person for two years. We finally hit the studio together when we were both in New York and recorded Real Love there. He has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard.

AM: You just dropped Breakaway with Mesto and WILHELM. How did this song come about?

MG: Mesto has been a really good friend of mine for years and we have worked together before. We had an early version of the song which I also premiered at Ultra and we both played it in our sets throughout the summer. A few weeks ago we decided to finish the song and added in vocals from Wilhelm.

AM: A few days ago you dropped your 3 hour set, IDEM for ADE from last fall and we thoroughly enjoyed it! What's it like to perform at that event, especially being in your hometown?

MG: ADE is always a special one for me as it is in my hometown. It had been 4 years since we last did my ADE solo shows at the RAI and it was so special to bring them back. We always have a show for all ages as well which is so amazing. The young kids have the craziest energy! It’s also very special to be able to invite all my family and friends to the show and celebrate together after, that doesn’t happen often.

AM: How do you approach putting your setlists together and what's that process like?

MG: I don’t have a fixed setlist for my shows as I like to feel the energy and responses from the crowd and play whatever song feels like the best fit for that moment. As a starting point I have my intro and last song. Of course there are certain songs that can’t be left out of my set, and I usually have some new music lined up that I would like to test.

AM: Ushuaïa Ibiza just announced that you are back for a residency that will run Jun - Sep! What are you looking forward to for 15 Thursdays this season?

MG: Performing at Ushuaïa feels like coming home. It’s been the same team we have been working with for years and no matter how many shows I’ve done there, it will never not be special. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to test out new music and I’m really looking forward to the shows.

AM: You travel a lot! Just looking at 2024, you rang in the New Year in Bali. You hold residencies in Ushuaïa Ibiza and Omnia and Wet Republic in Vegas. You also have festival dates for Creamfields in Hong Kong and Ultra Miami along with your personal show schedule and special events like Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to name a few!

Where are some of your favorite places to perform?

MG: I am currently in the middle of my South American tour and the love I am getting there is overwhelming. People really know how to party and bring energy which is amazing. I also did an India tour last year which was absolutely crazy. A big part of my most loyal fanbase is over there so that always makes it special. But to be honest, I'm super grateful to be able to play in all these amazing countries. I'm still nervous for the shows because I want every show to be the best and for everyone to have a good time.

AM: What are 3 things that you must have when you're traveling to feel like you have a bit of home with you?

MG: I don’t really have those items to be honest. For me my headphones, laptop and phone are the most important items to have with me on the road.

AM: Do you have any pre-show routines that you do prior to hitting the stage?

MG: I usually like to wind down a little before the show, go through some of the songs I have lined up and then I’m all good to go. I don’t have any superstitious things I do before I get on stage or something.

AM: Do you have any post-show routines that you do after coming off the stage?

MG: I’m usually on a high and like to debrief some things with the team in the dressing room.

AM: When you're on stage, if we could bottle the feelings that you have, what would it be?

MG: I honestly wish I could share it with you because it is the most amazing feeling ever. It’s a burst of adrenaline and happiness mixed together.

AM: You founded STMPD RCRDS back in 2016. Why did you want to launch your label and what should we keep an eye out for as we head into the Spring and the Summer?

MG: I wanted full creative freedom over my music which was the main reason we started STMPD RCRDS. We quickly also started signing other artists and the label grew into this creative hub for all kinds of artists. I’m so proud of the label and all the amazing artists that are releasing on there weekly. We have signed really talented artists like Eleganto, Mesto, DubVision, Julian Jordan but are also releasing S.Salter which is neo-classical music for example.

AM: How do you stay in shape as we're always looking to add to our fitness routines?

MG: This can be a challenge for me, but the last couple of months I have found a routine that really works for me. I try to eat healthy and be in the gym almost every day for a workout. I also really enjoy sports such as padel and wind surfing whenever I have the time.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

MG: It’s difficult but I do try to take time for myself to do sports or spend time with family and friends. As weird as it may sound, making music is also something I really like to do in my time off. It’s my biggest hobby so making music really doesn’t feel like work to me.

AM: Are there any projects that you can share that we should keep an eye out for that you're working on?

MG: We released Carry You and Breakaway as surprises the past two weeks, but there are two more releases coming up the next two weeks because we are releasing an EP called IDEM. The EP has the same name as the live show because it represents the period leading up to the show where I premiered and played all the songs that will be on the EP. The next release will be Biochemical together with Seth Hills.

AM: What do you want the Martin Garrix legacy to be?

MG: All I want is to make people happy with my music.

IG @martingarrix

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Louis Van Baar

Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see MAKING THE WORLD HAPPY WITH MUSIC Martin Garrix in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | HONEYLUV

Read the OCT ISSUE #94 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | HoneyLuv in mag.