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Throughout the week, a whole lot of material gets posted here on XLR8R. And while we know—and love—that some hardcore readers will eagerly pour over every single news story, interview, podcast, video, and MP3 download that appears on the site, we also realize that for most people, it’s impossible to see everything. In the interest of making it easier for everyone to catch up, every Friday we present The Lowdown, a weekly wrap-up of the top post from our site. An expanded version of the The Lowdown is also available via our weekly email newsletter.

Podcast 404: Helena Hauff – roBOt Festival 2015 Edition

Helena Hauff doesn’t really fit the mold of the modern-day electronic musician. She continues to reside in Hamburg and actively avoids the limelight; she doesn’t self-promote or even attempt to communicate with her ever-expanding fan-base; you can’t even find her on Facebook, never mind Twitter.

Q&A: Mr. G

Longevity, consistency, and quality don’t always go hand-in-hand—but for the U.K.’s Colin McBean, that seemingly comes effortlessly. His career dates back to the early ’90s; among other claims to fame, he was the partner of Cisco Ferreira in the British techno outfit the Advent.

Q&A: Dâm-Funk

The spoken-word intro that leads off Invite the Light, the latest full-length missive from Dâm-Funk, comes with a proclamation: “If we invite the light, it will surely come to us,” a processed, distorted voice informs us; “if we invite the funk, it will never let us down.”

Review: Novation Launchpad and Launchkey 61

Novation’s Launchpad—which has now expanded to Pro, Mini, and app versions—has been a staple in the Ableton world (and the rest of the DAW world, for that matter) for many years now.

Ticket Giveaway: Win a Full Event Pass to Decibel 2015

For over a decade now, Decibel Festival has turned Seattle into an electronic music hotspot for one-week out of the year, showcasing some of the most reputable names in the scene at various locations around the city. Acts being featured this year include Marcel Dettmann, Bonobo, Daniel Avery, Dauwd, Nicolas Jaar, John Tejada, DJ Tennis, Lusine, and The Black Madonna, just to name a few.

News: Kode9 Announces Album Tour Dates for USA

September has been an exciting month for news surrounding Kode9 and his first solo album, Nothing, that is slated for release on November 2.

News: ADE Festival Completes 2015 Program

The nighttime program of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is now finalised. Between October 14-18, more than 2,000 artists will be appearing at over 340 events across the 100 clubs and spaces that are participating with ADE.

Weekly Selections: Bacchanale Festival, Symbiosis, Club IHC, and Decibel Festival

The inaugural edition of Canada’s Bacchanale Festival began on September 6 with Lil Louis and September 16 with Pearson Sound, while its main events take place this weekend at Montreal’s Old Port featuring live sets by Octave One, Phuture and Vril, and dj sets by Omar S, Answer Code Request, and others.