Category Archives: Check ’em Out!

March 6, 2014 · 11:56 am

Newest Love: Little Racer

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“Sounds like California with a Brooklyn edge. It’s LoFi goodness that’s hard not to warm up to.”
– The New LoFi

“Meet New York’s Little Racer.  They make some fantastic pop music… like Talking Heads if they cut their teeth in casino lounges.”
– Sippy Cup Everything

“Little racer are the latest band to sign to the, frankly spot-on, Young & Lost Club label…. Lo-Fi, fast paced, skittering surf sounds for the ADHD generation. Think Surfer Blood crossed with The Strokes.”
– S//S//N

Little Racer is a four-piece from Brooklyn consisting of Elliot Michaud (vocals, guitar), Ish Nazmi (bass), Wade Michael (guitar), and Dave Tedeschi (Drums). Shortly after forming in 2010, their eponymous single Little Racer found it’s away across the ocean to the BBC and London imprint Young and Lost Club, who subsequently released the 7″ single  The Town/Split for the Coast in late 2011.  After a short visit to London to support the single, they returned to New York to write and record a follow up EP.  With influences ranging from New Order to Cat Stevens, their ringing guitars and choruses will most definitely take you away from it all, even if only for 24 minutes.

Download: Little Racer – “Vanessa”

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February 27, 2014 · 2:28 pm

Check ‘Em Out: DWNTWN

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DWNTWN signs with Jullian Records and will be releasing their new self-titled EP on April 29.  This marks the first EP release through a label for the LA based indie-pop band.

In celebration of the announcement, DWNTWN debuted the first track, “Til Tomorrow” from above mentioned EP, on USA Today’s Pop Candy. “We need all the sunshine we can get right now, and DWNTWN has it in spades,” Pop Candy glows.

French tastemaker label, Kitsuné, first put DWNTWN on the map in 2012 after they debuted the band’s first single “See My Eyes”, and in 2013 they included a collaboration track (with Giraffage and Jhameel), “Move Me” on another compilation album.  Both songs reached #2 on Hype Machine’s popular chart.

DWNTWN first formed in 2010 when Jamie Leffler and Robert Cepeda, both dealing with bummer breakups (Jamie, from Robert’s brother!), spent their weekends getting drunk and writing depressing folk songs, which they recorded onto their iPhone. It wasn’t long before Jamie and Robert recovered from their heartbreak and transformed those early demos into full-fledged, indie-pop songs, which were all written and produced themselves.

While their last EP, The Red Room, was very synth heavy and reminiscent of the Drive soundtrack, their forthcoming EP has a lot more guitars and live instrumentation.  Their new single “Til Tomorrow” feels more closely related to the Garden State soundtrack.

Over the years, the band has expanded live from a duo, into a trio, and now fills the stage as a foursome.  Having just completed a successful LA residency with over 400 people in attendance each week, and having toured previously with some heavy hitters, Capital Cities and Gold Fields, DWNTWN is excited to get on the road again next month with El Ten Eleven.  

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Tour Dates with El Ten Eleven:
3.12 @ Strummers, Fresno, CA
3.13 @ Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
3.14 @ Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA
3.15 @ SLO Brew, San Luis Obispo, CA

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February 25, 2014 · 11:08 am

Newest Love: Bleachers – “I Wanna Get Better”

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“Bleachers’ ‘I Wanna Get Better’ Is Basically the Song Of the Summer In February.” – HUFFINGTON POST

““I Wanna Get Better” is a great first effort; it’s exciting to imagine what else Antonoff has up his sleeve.” – TIME

“…heavy-hitting pianos, pulsing percussion and grandiose vocals…” – ROLLING STONE

“…the song is 100% anthemic alt-rock gold with some major production value, as well as a chorus that will have you singing along by your second listen.” – HILLY DILLY

“…bright bit of retro-futuristic pop-rock…” – STEREOGUM

Bleachers live: 
3/12 – Austin, TX @ Palladia’s EPIC. AWESOME. SHOWCASE
3/13 – Austin, TX @ 2014 mtvU Woodie Awards and Festival – info HERE
3/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour – info HERE
3/27 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
6/ 6-8 – New York, NY @ Governor’s Ball – info HERE
6/19-22 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival – info HERE
7/5-6 – London + Birmingham, UK @ Wireless Festival – info HERE
7/1-12 – Bilbao, Spain @ Bilbao BBK Live Festival – info HERE

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February 19, 2014 · 6:30 pm

The Melker Project Is Back With ‘Trill Collins’

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Riding high on the critical and internet success from November’s Ballin’ Oates, The Melker Project is at it again with Trill Collins. This time, Scott Melker is blending Phil Collins with Gucci Mane to the Pharcyde to Jay Z, and everyone in between.

Listen/download: The Melker Project – “Ballin’ Oates”

His 4th EP focusing on a single classic artist, Trill Collins was a formidable project. “I’ve been obsessed with Phil Collins since I was a Young Melker, and have always wanted to tackle his catalogue. The task was daunting, as a number of Phil’s songs are basically rock/pop perfection, particularly ‘In The Air Tonight’,” Melker says.

The Melker Project’s methods are truly a labor of love, as he replays all of the individual instruments with updated sounds and synths. He then used these new sounds to remix the tracks, and later reincorporated samples from the original Phil Collins songs. After all of this was done, he combined his  new versions with appropriate vocals. Melker explains, ”In the case of ‘Invisible Touch,’ I decided to do a straight up remix with the vocal being the only element of the original track.”

In his 16 year career, Scott has played gigs around the world alongside notable DJs and acts, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ AM, Public Enemy, Slick Rick and Dougie Fresh, Kanye West, Wu Tang, Q-Tip, Ne-Yo, TI, The Ying Yang Twins, Jet, among others.
Combining his genre-savvy music selection – from Hip Hop, Trap, R&B, Rock, House, 80s, Funk, EDM Soul and Classics – with his razor sharp skills on the turntables, Scott Melker is among the few selectors challenging the traditional assumption that DJs simply play records.

In addition to entertaining crowds live, The Melker Project is hard at work in the studio. His remixes are coveted by DJs and music aficionados around the globe. A number of his recent remixes have reached number 1 on the hypem.com popular charts, and have been spotlighted by Billboard, VH1, Fuse TV, Earmilk, The Los Angeles Times, and a number of other notable music publications.

Besides having the entire Trill Collins EP available for streaming, fans can currently download the mp3 of “In the Air ToNas” for free. The Melker Project will also be releasing a new track from Trill Collins, once a week, on his Soundcloud page for fans to download.

Listen/download: The Melker Project – “In the Air ToNas”

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February 17, 2014 · 11:52 am

Stream: The Kin – Get On It EP

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Popular alternative rock band The Kin kicks off yet another nationwide tour on February 5, 2014, in support of their new five-track EP Get On It (Interscope Records). Fresh off their Australian and US tours supporting P!NK, the power trio amps up to headline their own two month tour, bringing their explosive live shows to 27 cities across the US in February and March 2014.

The Kin, comprised of Isaac Koren (vocals, keys), Thorald Koren (vocals, guitar, keys), and Shakerleg (drums, percussion), have enraptured live audiences worldwide with their powerful vocal harmonies, hard-driving guitar and percussion and captivating stage presence. It was only a matter of time until major labels took notice and Interscope signed on to help promote their current EP Get On It, released in October 2013.  The Kin teamed up with legendary producer Tony Visconti (best known for his work with David Bowie and T.Rex), as well as former Record Plant staff engineer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith) and Nic Hard (Joey Ramone, The Church) to capture the group’s gritty, propulsive rock sound that comes across best during their live performances.  The Get On It EP is currently charting in the US and Australia and went gold in New Zealand, reaching #2 on the Pop charts there.

During their tours, The Kin also are known for causing trouble with their signature “Musical Robberies” where they burst into a randomly chosen high-traffic public area, such as a diner or airport, and surprise innocent on-lookers with a spontaneous live performance. The Kin have launched several of these “musical robberies,” including at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Soho House, Seven Grand Whiskey Bar in Los Angeles, and a French airport. “We’re looking to surprise people and give them a musical experience,” says Isaac. “Even if it’s just for a split second, it’s a rush for everyone involved.”

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Listen: The Kin – Get On It EP

Tour Dates:

2/18/2014        7pm     Columbus, OH             A&R  Bar

2/20/2014        7pm     Pittsburgh, PA             Club Cafe

2/22/2014        6pm     Cambridge, MA           TT The Bear’s

2/23/2014        8pm     New York, NY             Bowery Ballroom

2/24/2014        8pm     Vienna, VA                  Jammin Java

2/26/2014        8pm     Philadelphia, PA          World Cafe Live

3/9/2014          9pm     Indianapolis, IN           Deluxe at ONC

3/15/2014        9pm     Denver, CO                 Larimer Lounge

3/17/2014        7pm     Salt Lake City, UT       Kilby Court

3/19/2014        7pm     Seattle, WA                 The Crocodile

3/20/2014        9pm     Portland, OR               Doug Fir Lounge

3/21/2014        7pm     Sacramento, CA          Assembly

3/23/2014        9pm     Santa Cruz, CA           The Catalyst

3/24/2014        8pm     Fresno, CA                  Strummer’s

3/26/2014        8pm     Santa Ana, CA            Constellation Rm

3/27/2014        830pm San Diego, CA            Soda Bar

3/28/2014        8pm     Los Angeles, CA         Troubadour

3/29/2014        5pm     Las Vegas, NV            Container Park

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February 14, 2014 · 2:48 pm

Video: Phebe Starr – “Tonight”

Photo credit: Myles Pritchard

Photo credit: Myles Pritchard

Riding high on the wave of critical success in Phebe Starr’s native Australia, the Sydney-based electro-pop artiste has made a splash in the US with her debut EP, Zero– out now!

The Zero EP features tremendous vocals atop tribal beats, dramatic electronic chimes & sincere passionate refrains. Phebe just unveiled the striking video for EP cut “Tonight,” which introduces symbolism with an entirely whitewashed set, aside from the sausages, steak & colored knives. On the color scheme, Phebe elaborates: “there is something so thought provoking about meat. It is so offensive, yet there is a fragility that encapsulates the human experience. I like to ingest a part of my heart and thoughts without spelling it out.”  

Phebe previously unveiled Icelandic trio Steed Lord’s deliciously club-ready “Tonight” remix – an irresistible cut to power a dance-fueled trip into the night. Influenced by the likes of Kraftwerk, Bjork, The Cure, Beck & ‘90s beats, Phebe Starr has quickly become renowned for her effortless blend of organic sounds & ethereal electronic pop. Zero EP cut “Alone With You” garnered an impressive 50k downloads as the iTunes ‘Single of the Week’ in Australia & New Zealand.

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February 12, 2014 · 3:55 pm

Newest Love: Hollow & Akimbo

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“…10 tracks of awesome!” – NYLON Guys

“ …a buoyant and impeccably layered sound full of vibrant little melodies, chirpy electronics and choppy beats” – WNYC

“Newcomers Hollow & Akimbo have been treated to a typically synth-soaked remix of their “Singularity” single by Ghostly affiliate Com Truise.” – XLR8R

Hollow & Akimbo construct a peculiar- yet enthralling- brand of cerebral electronic pop. Today, the trio releases their self-titled debut LP via Quite Scientific Records and share album track “The One Who Has to Carry You Home” as a free download!

Having previously unveiled LP cut “Singularity,” which features deliciously fuzzy guitars & earnest, yearning vocals, “The One Who Has to Carry You Home” further showcases the trio’s skill at creating pop songs with a unique electronic-meets-rock edge.

Written, recorded, mixed and mastered entirely by the band, Hollow & Akimbo features gritty textures layered over intricate arrangements. Combined with a special blend of looped rhythms, the group- Jon Visger, Brian Konicek & Mike Higgins- have created a collection that is difficult to categorize.

Recording together at home in basements, bedrooms, attics, and closets, Hollow & Akimbo have amassed an ever-evolving archive of musical snippets, song fragments and a fair share of noisy four track experiments.

Listen/download: Hollow & Akimbo – “The One Who Has to Carry You Home”

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February 12, 2014 · 12:47 pm

Download: Mighty Mouse – “Shaker Faker”

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Following the release of his disco ballad “In Front Of Our Friends,” Mighty Mouse has unleashed the first single from his upcoming EP, “Shaker Faker.” A surging instrumental track featuring cosmic synths and warm Balearic percussion hypnotizes as it builds anticipation. Let the beat wash over as the continuously sunny melody merges with a seriously funky piano-house line. Stay tuned for the release of “Space Face,” the corresponding single from Mighty Mouse’s new EP coming soon via Nightfilm.

Listen/download: Mighty Mouse – “Shaker Faker”

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February 4, 2014 · 11:30 am

Video: patten – “Agen”

“Abstract” is a word that often gets thrown around when talking about experimental music, but patten’s sounds are genuinely intangible, amorphous and seem to be constantly in flux. Familiar sounds become foreign, foreign sounds seem familiar, and it’s impossible to say where one thing ends and another begins.” – FADER

“juggles multiple rhythms, moving at drastically different BPMs through its distorted drum beats, airy pitch shifted vocals, and choppy editing like a sunnier take on Actress” – Stereogum

The video for “Agen”, taken from upcoming record ESTOILE NAIANT, is an elegant exercise in typology, directed by regular collaborator Jane Eastlight. Trawling hundreds of image search terms to create a unique vision of a fever-dreaming stream of consciousness, Eastlight’s ultra-modern psychedelia perfectly mirrors patten’s entrancing and opulent sound.

ESTOILE NAIANT, patten’s debut album on Warp will be released on February 25. The full-length sees him step out of the shadows and into full focus as a producer of impending resonance. patten has already performed in front of thousands at the Tate in London, and played in the US for the first time in early January in NYC with shows at Joe’s Pub as part of an APAP showcase, Output, and participated in the first 285 Kent farewell show along with Laurel Halo and Autre Ne Veut.

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ESTOILE NAIANT
01. Gold arc
02. Here always
03. Drift
04. Winter strobing
05. Softer
06. Pathways
07. 23-45
08. Key embedded
09. Agen
10. LL2

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January 29, 2014 · 4:21 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Bravesoul

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LA based trio Bravesoul has a new EP, The Infinite Hourglass that will be released on 2/18.

The band recently won a Whole Foods Music contest and will be featured on VH1’s first ever “You Oughta Know” compilation that will be sold in WF stores. The track “If The Morning Ever Comes” is featured on the compilation and the band just released a new music video:

Stream: Bravesoul – The Infinite Hourglass

Bravesoul blends gritty soulful vocals with anthemic, adventurous rock sounds. They have been compared to Imagine Dragons, Kings of Leon, Muse and Young The Giant. Their single “Keyhole” from early 2012 tallied over 300K plays on Youtube in over 3 months.

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