HARD Haunted Mansion provides big names and big sounds

JUSTICE: A favorite for clubbers and college students alike, French duo Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé create an arresting mix of catchy beats and choruses with an underlying moodiness. MK

SOULWAX: Soulwax, whose work is an exciting combination of ideas out of seeming randomness from the minds of David and Stephen Dewaele, is an electronic band that samples flavors from other genres in its originality and inventiveness. Their sets seem to consistently drive their core fans crazy, and the performance is guaranteed to be a wild experience. MK

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO: Simian Mobile Disco, a production and remix team from Great Britain, came about in 2005 at Manchester University, when two former classmates found an equal passion for music. Musically, Simian Mobile Disco is known for heavily stylized tracks often with minimal instrumentation. AD

BOYS NOIZE: Despite the plurality of the name, Boys Noize is actually just one man: Alexander Ridha, considered by many a musical mastermind. His music and productions have excited massive interest from artists like Soulwax and Justice and his remixes of Depeche Mode, Feist, Bloc Party and Kaiser Chiefs have thrilled global DJs and crowds all over the world. MK

CRYSTAL CASTLES: Crystal Castles, a Toronto-based duo consisting of Ethan Fawn and Alice Glass, is known for their passionate delivery and performance. Their music is sincere, uncontrived and completely original, mainly because the two are concerned more with creating great music than pleasing society and the media. MK

DEADMAU5: An exciting blend of techno and trance beats, Canadian Deadmau5 is an act not to be missed. Along with the innovative blends of sounds from different genres, his concept-based shows incorporate visual effects and unique costumes to create something unlike generic live DJ performances. Deadmau5’s passionate tracks have resulted in a huge demand for his work as a remix artist, and his performance at HARD will be unforgettable. MK

CROOKERS: An exploration in dance by DJs Phra and Bot, Crookers is a twisted mix of intense house and classic hip-hop beats. The duo has succeeded in crafting music that defies placement in any one particular genre, instead creating tracks that transcend across the stereotypical boundaries of hip-hop. MK

DJ AM: A musical whiz kid and a fixture in the night life scene, A-listers and hipsters alike are dancing to his beats, and he has scratched on albums for everyone from Papa Roach to Shifty. His performance at HARD in San Diego is guaranteed to be memorable. MK

JASON BENTLEY: In addition to his radio DJ duties, Jason Bentley works clubs quite often in the Los Angeles community through which he has perfected his energetic performances. His work as a music supervisor for video games and films should prove him to be an excellent live performer, well suited to the dynamic environment of HARD. MK

DAEDELUS: Alfred Darlington, the man behind Daedelus, has a look and a performance style that conveys his individuality. After being a part of several local rock, jazz and ska bands in his earlier days, Darlington began DJing and soon became an underground hit due to his unique, agressive style. Daedelus is an exciting, up-and-coming artist that should not be missed. MK

N.A.S.A.: Originating in Sao Paulo, Brazil, N.A.S.A., an acronym for North America/South America, draws mainly upon Brazilian funk beats and South-American inspirations, with one interesting contemporary twist: their passion for bringing people together from different musical genres, races, religions, politics and languages while ignoring boundaries that keep people divided. Their debut record “The Spirit of Apollo” conveys this noble idea, and includes an imposing array of notable guest artists, including Tom Waits, Method Man, Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ghostface Killah, M.I.A., John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and DJ AM (also performing at HARD). MK

LUCKYIAM: After releasing solo records with heavy underground acclaim, Luckyiam has evolved into an emcee who knows how to deliver an outrageously catchy hook. He has created his own style and identity in hip-hop, combining mature verses with polished production and indie hip-hop guest artists like Aesop Rock and Mickey Avalon. Having rocked every major hip hop event you can name, Lucky is stepping into a spotlight in front of thousands of hands waving in the air just as the record drops. With a hip-hop hit in his future, Luckyiam is without a doubt an artist to see if you want to be ahead of the game, musically. MK

PAPARAZZI: Paparazzi, often described as complex and difficult to pin down into one specific genre, has truthfully helped to spread indie and electronica to other cultures. He’s performed with electronica names such as Justice, MSTRKRFT, Simian Mobile Disco and Spank Rock. Always trying to set himself apart from the average DJ, Paparazzi has begun to add extraordinary visual elements to live shows – much to the delight of fans and concert-goers. MK

DJ MARSHALL BARNES: The protégé of underground DJ StoneRokk, Marshall Barnes is a favorite among the Hollywood elite. His music is all the rage, not only because of his technical mastery, but also because of his diverse style, which combines both the classic and the innovative. His unparalleled skill, combined with his creativity, is what has put DJ Marshall Barnes in such demand. MK

KEITH 2.0: Keith Wilson, also known as Keith 2.0, has been a club kid, starving actor, runway model and DJ since the ripe old age of 20. His frustration with the music industry and nightlife lead him to create the original LeDisko, Club 82 and Club Moscow, hosting and catapulting careers from Shiny Toy Guns to the Cold War Kids. Keith’s Hollywood clubs have become the foundation of the electro nightlife scene. AD

Special thanks to Mercedes Kastner and Avery Durnan.