Simon Lee and Alvin

It’s been an overwhelming 2009 for Radio KUL. We’ve churned out approximately 110 hours of solid dance music mixes over 52 weekly episodes in the last 12 months. Now peaking in it’s third year, the official podcast of Malaysia’s Simon Lee and Alvin continues to bring you closer to electronic dance music DJs, producers, and artistes by reaching out to over 50 countries each week without fail (USA, UK, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Canada, India, and Australia clock up the most number of downloads).

We’ve had a string of amazing guests this year on the show.

First up, in February 2009, Zara Taylor guesthosted Radio KUL 073 together with Ernesto vs Bastian. It was a real treat for listeners to have the voice behind the international smash hit “Lost” and “Crawling” speak personally about her music. Zara will be back very soon with a new single!

Zara Taylor and Ernesto vs Bastian on Radio KUL 073

The voice behind “Big Sky” and “Take It All Away”, Audrey Gallagher from Ireland together with Euphonic label bosses Kyau and Albert took control of Radio KUL 082 in April 2009.

Audrey Gallagher and Kyau and Albert on Radio KUL 082

The following week, we had Nadia Ali (“Rapture,” “Crash and Burn,” “Fine Print,” “You Better Run”) together with legendary producers Rank 1 on Radio KUL 083. Nadia revealed the inspiration behind some of her lyrics, as Rank 1 provided a 1 hour exclusive guestmix on the show.

Nadia Ali and Rank 1 on Radio KUL 083

Barely a month later, on Radio KUL 088, in conjunction with her performance with Ferry Corsten here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Betsie Larkin (“Made of Love,” “Stronger Creature,” “Feel You”) guesthosted this episode showcasing some of her tracks, as she spoke about the writing of the songs.

Betsie Larkin and Element One on Radio KUL 088

In August of 2009, Radio KUL celebrated it’s 100th episode milestone with Aruna, Jaytech, Boom Jinx, and Myon and Shane 54 in a massive 3 hour episode that saw DJs, producers, artistes, partners, and listeners from around the world send in their personalised messages to air on the show. In this episode, Aruna also revealed her new project with Myon and Shane 54, to be called, Velvetine.

Aruna, Jaytech, Boom Jinx and Myon and Shane 54 on Radio KUL 100

This episode also marked the launch of Mugasha, a site that helps you listen to the biggest dance music radio shows and buy music and concert tickets.

Aruna Launches Mugasha on Radio KUL 100

We tried something different on Radio KUL 104 by inviting an artiste we really admire, Tom Geiger (“Empty Girls”), to guesthost this episode. We were sent his music and upon hearing it, we knew we had to have him on the show so that you could hear it too. Together with DJ and producer Corderoy, they both made this episode extremely interesting and gave the show a lot of character.

Corderoy and Tom Geiger on Radio KUL 104

Just when things couldn’t get any better, Lo-Fi Sugar (fresh from providing the vocals for the title track from John O’Callaghan’s latest album) guesthosted a wonderful Radio KUL 108 in October together with one of 2009’s most prominent producer, First State. We’re certain you’ll be hearing a lot more from these two in 2010, as they both have had an amazing year.

Lo-Fi Sugar and First State on Radio KUL 108

And the following week, UK superstar vocalist Tiff Lacey (her discography list stretches pages) guesthosted Radio KUL 109 in a 2 hour show dedicated to her music, a big treat for dance music fans all around the world.

Tiff Lacey on Radio KUL 109

In between all this, we had guestmixes on our regular episodes from Leon Bolier (067), Mike Shiver (068), Mark Eteson (071), Tom Colontonio (072), Re-Ward (080), Cosmic Gate (081), Heatbeat (084), Cressida (087), Dave Dresden (089), Nitrous Oxide (090), Ankhen (096), Tritonal (097), W&W (098), tyDi (101), Woody van Eyden (103), Moonbeam (105), Suzy Solar (112), DJ Preach and Marcel Woods in conjunction with the first ever Music Conference Asia (113), Angel Ace (116) and Jerome Isma-Ae (118). It’s been a real honor and an unanticipated opportunity for us to work with the very people who got us into dance music in the first place.

We had some newfound producers on the show too, namely, Roger-M (069), Magik (074), Good Deeds (077), John Merki (085), Jason Creek (086), Pete M (092), John Isaac (093), Dave Surock (094), Aeriah (095), M6 (099), Sebastian Brandt (102), Dennis Sheperd (106), Fast Distance (107), Ilya Soloviev (108), C-Systems (111), Sunchaser (114), and Bjorn Akesson (115). They have all been amazing discoveries and a pleasure to work with.

And of course, we also managed to showcase some really great Malaysian DJs to the world – DJ Love (070), Mufflerash (076), Ali D (078), and DJ Bard (079).

On all of these episodes, you also heard us in the mix every week with exclusive cuts, chart favourites, nasty bootlegs, and world premieres of so many amazing tracks alongside the KUL Anthem (the club banger of the week) and KUL Request (as requested by listeners). We’ve also crafted some tracks that can only be heard on this radio show (don’t forget, you heard Johnny The Pong Fox here first!).

Looking back, the amount of music and artistes we’ve featured have been staggering and quite unbelievable! It’ll be hard to top this year’s highlights. So, which episode was your favourite?

If you missed out on any of these Radio KUL episodes, you can access them through Mugasha, Trance Hub and on iTunes. You can also listen to the show on Radio Hi-Tec (see website for schedule).

Through our e-zine, Radio KUL Extra, we’ve interviewed more than 50 of the artistes featured on the show and movers and shakers in the local and international dance scene, including those in the lists above and Victor G, Nicky C, Roxanne Wilde, Max Angel and Crystal Synergy, Josie, Guy Mearns, Dezza, Dave202, Amurai, DJ Droolotte, Rosie Romero, Randy Boyer, and DJ Faith. We’ve asked them questions ranging from music, their travel adventures, and their personal life. We dug deep in each interview to find out what make these talented individuals tick. Their replies help us appreciate and respect their craft so much more, and have been an outlet for them to reach out to their fans (and make new ones).

This stage that we’ve built through Radio KUL and Radio KUL Extra was designed to bring dance music to a global audience, whether to the ones who know all their music inside out, or for those who have only just discovered this great genre. Each week we continue to have such a great time putting it together for you. It has brought us very close to the brilliant talent featured on the show and to our listeners, a lot of you who have become our close friends. You have all become part of the ever growing community of dance music lovers from around the world who tune in each week.

This Friday on the first day of the new year, we’ll be mixing out selected KUL Anthems from over the last 12 months in a non stop mix. We hope this will jog your memory on some of the musical moments that have made 2009 very special for dance music, as we bring this year to a close.

In 2010, we’ll continue to connect you closer to your favourite DJs, producers, and artistes. As we always say, we hope you’ll join us then.

If you would like to get your music or mixes on the show, send a request, suggest an artiste for a guestmix or guesthost, you can contact us here. If you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this is Simon Lee and Alvin thanking you for your generous support and for being part of the show, and wishing you Happy New Year!

Simon Lee and Alvin

Don’t miss the exclusive mix by Simon Lee and Alvin on Radio KUL 119. This 2 hour special episode will feature the KUL Anthems of 2009 as heard on Radio KUL each week. Airs Friday, 1st January 2010 at http://www.simonleeandalvin.com/ and available as a podcast on iTunes and on Mugasha. Radio Hi-Tec Netherlands will air the show the following week, see website for schedule.