Black & White Red Rocks (img: Sean Hartgrove)

Kostas Kouremenous has been searching The Mile High City high and low for the perfect set of pipes. Kostas isn’t a plumber, though, he’s a producer–a DJ and dance music producer, to be exact. Although he’s had his fingers in different Denver pots over the years–a shoe store, a modeling agency and a number of nightclubs now (Amsterdam, Pure, Lotus, DC10, Zen)–partnering with Triad Dragons’ Ha Hau on Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks was probably his single most in-the-black business decision to date. Global has been selling out annually for years now, finally expanding to two full days this July. The dance music event brand is even expanding to other markets including Kansas City, Honolulu and Kostas’ old stomping grounds–Athens, Greece. Global Dance grosses have left Kostas free to pursue music at his leisure. When not fulfilling resident DJ duties for Beta’s NRG Thursdays, he’s been scouting for talent. Elijah, the Denver vocalist featured on Kostas’ upcoming Ultra Records debut, is proof positive he found it.

Ultra is an award magnet. Billboard Dance Airplay Label of the Year, Best American Dance Label and a Grammy have all gravitated to Ultra’s mantel. David Guetta, deadmau5 and Kaskade are just a few of the unit-moving heavyweights on their roster. Needless to say, getting a track signed to Ultra is a prestigious achievement. Kostas has re-rubbed Jes (with Gift’s assistance) and twiddled knobs with Triad mascot Dragon (among others), but upcoming Ultra release “Into the Night” is a big step towards making a name for himself in the greater global dance music community. To commemorate the Mile High milestone, he is changing his name. Ecotek is the recording alias on the single. Fortunately, Mother Earth has no friendship ceiling–the more the merrier.

Home-base Beta hosts Ultra Records’ “Into the Night” release party, featuring Elijah live, this Thursday, June 3. Patron-fueled or not, patrons should wear their dancing shoes for the opportunity to be extras in the former-shoe-salesman-turned-DJ’s first ever music video.