Category Archives: dance

Alex Frankel Still Got It

Alex Frankel (Holy Ghost!) released his Still Got It EP with two remixes by France’s Breakbot (La Fiesta Remix and Club des Vedettes Remix), a Choices Remix and the instrumental version of the single. Earlier Alex Frankel shared the video for “Still Got It”, an anthem for embracing the next step whatever it may be, all out now on CASUAL / Ed Banger. Alex celebrates everybody’s return to the dancefloor with a wildly fun video that finds him dancing outside some of France’s iconic dance clubs and reveling in front of party flyers. The photos of French club exteriors featured in the video were pulled from Prost’s book After Party. He teamed up with motion designer Dixsaut to turn them into the dance party on the streets the video invites us to join.

“Still Got It” is a glimpse into Alex’s world as he works towards a full length in 2022.

“Still Got It” finds joy in resilience and celebrates the personal spark each of us has that fortifies our optimism even in hardship. It’s a quick glance back while dancing into the future that invites everyone, “Let’s have a toast to staying young as we get old”. The song plays with some of the hallmarks of classic 80s pop and reimagines them for this moment, with a wave of euphoria that keeps rising as it builds from just Alex’s voice to a choral arrangement performed by the East Coast Inspirational Singers choir. 

The Breakbot remix of “Still Got It” (Breakbot Club des Vedettes Remix) was shared by Adult Swim Singles as part of their 2021 program, and puts a playful and synthy spin on the single. The rework, by French electronic mainstay Breakbot, is especially fitting as the original single marked Alex’s initial release for Ed Banger, rendering him the first American signee to the legendary European label. Listen to it here. Alex also shared a celebratory new DJ mix last week on Magnetic Magazine to kick off the summer with his blend of house, funk and disco. 

Alex says of the songs origins, “I played the demo for Thibaut ( Breakbot) one night at Bernie’s Restaurant while we were outside on a smoke break  (back when, you know… people still ate dinner out) and on the spot he demanded we go try it on the audience at his gig that night. The response was great and after that, I knew I had to finish it. I called the East Coast Inspirational Singers, my favorite gospel group in NYC and they came by to help me get it there.”

Alex Frankel first emerged as one half of beloved NYC duo Holy Ghost! whose hybrid of synth pop, disco, and a range of electronic music made them an international dancefloor and festival staple. Along with their own albums and EPs for DFA and West End, the group have been in demand remixers sought out by their peers like LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, and Cut Copy. Alex has also done remixes for US Girls, Naeem, Neon Indian and Moby.

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Saint Misha – “On Fire”

Saint Misha is a Toronto-based DJ with a growing international following, both online and through traditional radio — he is already being played in multiple countries. An accomplished artist in other mediums, now solely focused on DJing/Production, he has taken his passion to new heights.

His potential to make a global impact is truly felt when he plays live, as he understands crowds and has the ability to both satisfy audiences in the moment, while leaving them wanting more.

As he continues to record and release music, watch out for several new releases from Saint Misha coming in late 2019 and early 2020!

“On Fire” by Saint Misha, released on Enormous Tunes (Nora En Pure, Croatia Squad) has been a deep house smash hit this year, being supported by the likes of Hardwell, and Nora En Pure. With heavy radio play in many countries, the quality of production is evident, Saint Misha is one of the ones to watch for 2020 with many releases to come

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New Music From Holy Ghost!

Photo: Harry McNally

Crafting each sound from scratch with unapologetic, exacting precision, Holy Ghost!’s penchant for in-the-studio perfectionism has delivered hit after hit to the dancefloor. This analog approach to “electronic” music heavily informs the band’s third album Work coming June 21, 2019 on West End Records.

Available for pre-order todayWork features the brand new song “Escape From Los Angeles”(out today) plus previously released songs Anxious” and “Epton On Broadway (Part I & Part II)”. It follows the group’s two previous albums, 2013’s Dynamics and 2011’s eponymous debut (both via DFA) and isfirst full-length LP to come out on the iconic West End Records label in more than 30-years!

A return to the heady ethos that drove Holy Ghost!’s earliest releases, Work sees New York City natives Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser revisit the freedom from expectations that suffused their 2011 self-titled debut full-length. It was a situation that stemmed partly from circumstances: They dismantled their basement Brooklyn studio and moved to a small room that a few musician friends were renting above a doctor’s office (incidentally the same address where they mixed Holy Ghost!). Due to space limitations, they pared their extensive gear collection down to just two synths, a Yamaha CS80 and a Mini Moog. “Not necessarily the bare necessities, but what would make for the most interesting limited palette,” says Millhiser. “David Bowie didn’t have every fucking synthesizer on earth to make Low. He had two. And that’s one of my favorite synth records of all time.”

The 12-song collection features the buoyant but bittersweet, “Do This” which interweaves ambient chatter from a studio session with a Nile Rodgers-esque guitar, “Nicky Buckingham’s” Fleetwood Mac-inspired riffs and swelling strings are eerily danceable, whereas “Heaven Knows What” – the band’s slowest track to date – showcases an emotional depth and range only hinted at in past releases. Featuring the talents of musical peers including Sinkane’s Ahmed Gallab, Juan Maclean and LCD Soundsystem’s Nancy Whang, Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Paul Simon, David Bowie) and Alex Epton (Neon Indian, David Byrne), Work transcends its physical constraints to capture a spectrum of vibes that remain true to Holy Ghost!’s reverence for the art and craft of dance music.

Work Tracklist:

Epton on Broadway Part I

Epton on Broadway Part II

Anxious

Heaven Knows What

Nicky Buckingham

Do This

One For Pete

My Happy House

Heaven Forbid

Soon

Slow Burn

Escape From Los Angeles

 

Upcoming Holy Ghost! Live Shows:

04-26 San Francisco, CA – The Independent

04-27 Los Angeles, CA – Globe Theatre

05-03 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall

05-09 Guadalajara, México – Corona Capital at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

06-21 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)

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White Panda – “Hands On Me” ft. Loote

So, I’ve been a fan following White Panda for years now. He does some amazing mashups, check out some of it below:

Now, after years of working on his own writing skills, he’s released a debut track titled, “Hands On Me” and features fantastic vocals from Island Records’ emerging pop duo Loote. It’s fun, upbeat, feel-good, party-ready…everything one looks for in summer jams.

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Eric Sharp & Friends EP

Click to listen to the four-track EP

With two lead singles already under his belt it’s now time for Eric Sharp to round things out in one symphonic release.

Over the past four years, Sharp has only released individual singles, so the Eric Sharp & Friends EP is a momentous achievement in his career.

Featuring hit tracks “Too Much” and “Take This Time”, you now also get to enjoy two more tunes, “Call in the Night” and “Some Place I Can Call My Own”. Three of the tracks feature his good mate Zhao, with “Too Much” featuring Brooklyn lads French Horn Rebellion.

Eric Sharp has come a long way since his successful DJ spinning days in the underground house and techno scene, but they certainly shaped his productions for a more focused sound today.

“For the ‘Eric Sharp & Friends EP’ I left that creative constraint behind and just focused on making music as an ends in and of itself. Those who follow my original work will know that collaboration is a big part of my process. I find that there is a nearly magical energy exchange in co-creating music with other artists whom I share a wavelength with,” Sharp said.

The four-track body of work shows a softer moodier side to Sharp’s personality both as a producer and a writer, with a creative flow geared towards the philosophy of surrealist painters like Dali, Magritte and Miro.

“Surrealism involves allowing one’s unconscious to manifest itself in one’s work, maintaining an openness to explore whatever flows through oneself. Because of this I often don’t know what a song is going to be about until halfway through writing it,” he said.

The EP was developed both in his home studio and remotely, with writing sessions at Drew Kramer (Wild & Free) and Zhao’s studios, where the focus was primarily around developing ideas.

“It’s hard for me to take in my productions with a fresh ear, but hopefully on first listen people will hear the tracks as warm, inviting, and hypnotic. My goal is to draw people in my world sonically to have their own experience, and for this purpose, an EP is a better avenue than a single would have been,” he said. 

When you next see Eric Sharp live, listen closely as you will hear snippets of these four singles filter through his set.

“Ironically, now that I have the final masters I find myself sneaking these songs into my DJ sets quite regularly even though they are pretty different from most of what I mix,” he said.

Eric Sharp & Friends EP is available everywhere now including Spotify & Apple Music, with thanks to Little Assembly.

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Annie Mac Presents AMP Sounds AND the 2017 Compilation Album

Britain’s premiere music tastemaker Annie Mac announces the first installment of AMP SOUNDS for February 2018.

Coming home to where AMP started out, AMP SOUNDS will be taking over the place where it hosted so many happy years of parties, London’s Camden. Celebrating all of the music that Annie Mac loves, AMP SOUNDS will encompass nine shows over the course of one month in three venues: The Jazz Café, The Roundhouse and Koko.

Showcasing all sides of the renowned AMP live brand (from the Annie Mac Presents club nights to the AMP Collected gigs), AMP SOUNDS will bring a broad range of the hottest artists and DJs of the moment, both established and upcoming.

“All aspects of our AMP Live events will be represented,” says Annie. “Our raves with the finest DJs, our showcase events with the most exciting new acts and our big closing party with the best of AMP past and present.”

AMP SOUNDS at Koko will see four very special raves held over four consecutive weekends, headlined by Annie herself alongside some very special guest DJs.

AMP SOUNDS at The Jazz Café will continue the theme of the more recently established AMP Collected nights, showcasing some of the best live acts of the moment in one of London’s most renowned and intimate venues. Running each Thursday across the month it will feature four hand-picked, eclectic line-ups including the likes of Tom Misch, Billie Eilsh, Jessie Ware and Superorganism (to name but a few).

AMP SOUNDS will culminate in a HUGE closing party at The RoundhouseEveryone attending a show at the Jazz Cafe or Koko across the month will gain pre-sale access to this spectacular finale. The secret bill will see Annie take to the stage once again alongside THE BEST artists from AMP past, present, and future, making it THE most special party Annie has ever hosted.

Celebrating great music in one of the UK’s most renowned cultural hubs for the month of February, AMP SOUNDS will be THE music event of the year for 2018.

Tickets for AMP SOUNDS are on sale now! Purchase here: http://gigst.rs/AMPSounds

The announcement of AMP SOUNDS comes ahead of Virgin EMI’s release of the AMP 2017 compilation album. Available to download and stream on Spotify now, AMP 2017 features a definitive selection of Annie’s favorite tracks from the past year.

PRE-ORDER THE AMP 2017 ALBUM HERE 

LISTEN TO/ SHARE THE AMP 2017 ALBUM MINIMIX HERE

The AMP 2017 compilation is split across two discs featuring a broad-ranging collection of music that Annie has been playing on the radio and out at clubs, parties and festivals over the past year.

With the music that Annie champions being more ubiquitous than ever, never has an AMP compilation felt more reflective of the popular music zeitgeist.  Featuring Bicep, J Hus, Little Dragon, Frank Ocean, Jorja Smith, Sampha, Wolf Alice and Stormzy to name a few, the tracklisting encompasses both upcoming and established artists, of varying genres. Boasting everything from international floorfillers, through US Hip Hop to UK Grime and Alt Rock, AMP 2017 demonstrates how the dancefloor is breaking down more boundaries and proving more integrated than ever before.

ANNIE MAC PRESENTS 2017 TRACKLISTING

ONE

  1. Tieks – Say A Prayer feat Chaka Khan and Popcaan
  2. Kah-lo – Fasta
  3. Pnau – chameleon (Mele Remix)
  4. Ill Blu – Tribalist
  5. Frankie Rizardo  – Same Man
  6. Gerd and Shan – Surrender
  7. Mella Dee – Techno Disco Tool
  8. Ware and Odyssey – Down With The
  9. Marlena Shaw – Get Together (CAtz and Dogs mix)
  10. Camelphat and Elderbrook – Cola (franky rizardo remix)
  11. Disciples – On My Mind (denney remix)
  12. Gorgon City – Primal Call
  13. Bicep – Vale
  14. DUSKY – COLD HEART
  15. Toddla T – Magnet
  16. Lorde – Green Light (Chromeo remix)
  17. Joe goddard – Home (Eric Kupper remix)
  18. Goldie Vs. Ulterior Motive – I Adore You ( Feat. Natalie Williams)

TWO

  1. Jessie Ware –Midnight (Goldie Remix)
  2. The xx – On Hold
  3. French Montana (feat. Swae Lee) – Unforgettable
  4. J Hus – Bouff Daddy
  5. Mura Masa (ft. A$AP Rocky) – Love$ick
  6. Not3s – Aladdin
  7. Stormzy (feat. Kehlani) – Cigarettes And Cush
  8. Khalid – Location
  9. SZA (feat. Travis Scott) – Love Galore
  10. Little Dragon – High
  11. Childish Gambino – Redbone
  12. Lil Uzi Vert – The Way Love Goes
  13. Jorja Smith – Teenage Fantasy
  14. Sampha – (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano
  15. Tyler, The Creator (feat. Rex Orange County & Anna of the North) – Boredom
  16. Four Tet – Two Thousand And Seventeen
  17. Wolf Alice – Don’t Delete The Kisses
  18. LCD Soundsystem – Oh Baby

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New Music From NVDES – “D.Y.T. (Do Your Thing)”

“Trippy” – NYLON

“Juicy pop banger” – FADER

“A dope punk-infused electropop track” – Milk.xyz

“Infectious and bursting with brazen energy” – Indie Shuffle

LA-based creative collective NVDES announce the Vol. 2 EP and share the 1st single “D.Y.T (Do Your Thing)” feat. REMMI.

On the heels of their La NVDITÉ, Vol. 1 EP released earlier this year, the Vol. 2 EP is the next sequence of their evolution. The 6-track collection is slated for release on December 8th and is highlighted by the work of de-facto frontman Josh Ocean. Brimming with his signature energy-packed influence, Vol. 2 is highlighted by pulsing electronics, hard-hitting beats, and ethereal vocals.

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Check ‘Em Out: LYOD

Check out this debut track from vibrant German producer LYOD, “Run Away”.

The emotional summer single is characterized by driving beats, mesmerizing melodies, and refined effects. Vibrant synths and a tropical drum wrap around Lucas’ soaring lyrics. Despite this comforting sonic escape, British vocalist Alex Lucas croons a repeating sharp line:

 

wasted on a generation fighting for peace, but I’m just now wise enough to see the truth

 

The inspiration for these lines came from reflecting on society. Lucas croons his way through bold statements on how to deal while LYOD layers his warm and playful instrumentals. “Run Away” creates a getaway all on its own.

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Listen: iamBADDLUCK – “Nothing Compares”

“Some people just don’t have very good luck when it comes to love. Los Angeles-based pop artist iamBADDLUCK is one of them, but instead of lamenting her unfortunate romantic karma, she owns it,” Popcrush‘s Erica Russell wrote on Thursday. “The witchy singer-songwriter—whose stage name was born of a desire to find catharsis over her bad dating habits—may be hexed when it comes to her love life, but at least her misfortune makes for some seriously bewitching pop.

“Sweeping, melodic and just a pinch creepy, (her) heartbreaking electropop requiem chronicles the artist’s aching desperation for a previous love that has since crumbled to dust, even as she enters into a lukewarm new relationship.”

The pop music tastemaker premiered the new track yesterday, debuting iamBADDLUCK’s brooding, sophomore single, “Nothing Compares”— a follow-up to last year’s #1 Hype Machine charting breakout, “Oath.”

“My music is a personal invitation for everyone to see the absolute shit show that is my love life,” the singer, who recently signed to iconic Cherrytree Management and has written for artists like Cher Lloyd, told Popcrush. “I was going through a breakup when I wrote this single. ‘Nothing Compares’ came from a moment in a past relationship where I wondered if I would ever love this person the way I did my first love.”

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Check ‘Em Out: Gold Fir – “Night Walk”

Simply known as James and Mabel, the pair’s eccentric, soulful sound is known to be inspired by their favorite places, friends, and films. This love for the latter led to a collaboration on the video with Jack Brown, a London-based animator and director whose credits include Rejjie Snow. Their artistic vision is to celebrate the vibrancy and energy of nighttime, and they achieve this by seamlessly mixing 2D hand drawn animation with digitally filmed environments in their forthcoming video. A strong aesthetic is vital to Gold Fir’s identity and positively reinforces the slick sonic production on “Night Walk”.

The name Gold Fir, as unique as the duo’s style, is symbolic of various ideas. According to the duo, “It can be fun, funky, sassy, serious, sad and amusing…It’s about trying to be bold and to enjoy the writing process as much as possible.” This focus on the sonic personality and the duo’s relative anonymity lets the spotlight fall wholeheartedly on the music’s soul.

Off the back of the soulful sound and forthcoming corresponding artistic visuals with the “Night Walk” video, Gold Fir look ahead to transposing their colorful palette of sounds into a live set to look out for in 2017.

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