Amelie Lens’ EXHALE imprint returns with the 8th edition of its celebrated compilation series, bringing together 15 tracks from a new generation of artists pushing the label’s high-impact techno sound forward. Spanning trance, acid, rave and peak-time energy, EXHALE VA008 showcases both familiar names and exciting newcomers from across the global dance scene. Bringing together seventeen producers from across the harder spectrum of contemporary electronic music, the release captures the label’s ever-expanding vision, uniting techno, psytrance, industrial grooves and rave energy into one cohesive statement.
The campaign begins on 17th July with the first single from Brazilian producer VE/RA with her track ‘Out Of My Mind’, a track that shifts into hypnotic acid-laced psytrance, pairing piercing synth work with subtle schranz influences and immersive rhythmic movement.
Soon followed by ‘Critical’ on 20th July from Liverpool’s Alex Farell, an artist who is returning to EXHALE after making an appearance on both the label’s 5th and 6th editions of their VA series. He delivers a dark, relentlessly driving hard techno workout powered by pounding kicks, evolving percussion and constant forward momentum.
The final single will be released the week before the VA drops, on 24th July from an exciting French talent in the rave/hard bounce scene – Ctrl. His tracks have been heavily supported by Trym, Hannah Laing and Panteros666. His single ‘Riser’ is a high-impact festival weapon built around soaring rave-inspired saw basslines, blistering energy and peak-time dancefloor intent, before the complete fifteen-track compilation arrives one week later.
Beyond the advance singles, the compilation showcases the remarkable breadth currently defining EXHALE’s sound. Contributions from BRÅWN, Flour, Blondex & Portex, Jose Bonetto, PALOMA, Franco Smith, Aundreja & Kode, Milio Ruando, Ellen Trenn, Khira Li, Molothav and RUBIØ move effortlessly between ethereal techno, industrial warehouse cuts, psychedelic rave hybrids and tribal grooves. Each artist brings their own distinct perspective while remaining unmistakably aligned with the uncompromising energy that has become synonymous with the imprint.
EXHALE continues to demonstrate why it remains one of the most influential platforms within modern hard techno. Rather than presenting a single interpretation of the genre, the compilation embraces its constantly evolving identity, celebrating the artists pushing it into new territory while remaining firmly rooted in dancefloor functionality. The result is a collection equally suited to cavernous warehouses, open-air festival stages and the world’s biggest club systems.
Across 15 tracks, EXHALE VA008 captures the many shades of the label’s ever-evolving sound, bringing together a band of emerging talent through a shared passion for intensity, emotion and uncompromising club music, built for dark basement clubs.
The eighth EXHALE Various Artists compilation lands on 31st July 2026 via EXHALE, and will be available to stream & purchase here.
