Tag Archives: disco

June 29, 2021 · 11:18 am

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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November 9, 2017 · 3:11 pm

Check Her Out: Alissia

Multi-disciplinary musician Alissia is making her debut from behind the boards as a producer. The funk and R&B-tinged “Get Away” video is out now — with the full support of Alissia’s number one fan, the inimitable Bootsy Collins, who raves, “I’m digging Alissia’s new song because it makes me want to pull up a chair and sit with you, baba!”

This young woman has enough talent to have been called to produce, play bass, write and arrange on Bootsy Collins’ upcoming album World Wide Funk, also featuring the likes of Kali Uchis, Bernie Worrell, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh and Musiq Soulchild. “Working with Bootsy has been an incredible journey and definitely a challenge to push myself harder everyday. Definitely one of the most inspiring projects I have worked on. ‘You got to keep it funky at all times Baba!’”

In addition, Alissia has also been in collaboration with Khalid, Q-Tip, Anderson Paak, Havoc, and more. Given the company she keeps at her Soho-based studio dubbed “The Spaceship,” it’s certain that this young bass prodigy-turned-producer is primed to begin the next chapter in her musical career.

Her latest track “Get Away” carries listeners from hip-hop to disco to funk and beyond. The mood is chill and the groove is locked. Expect more from Alissia this year; whether solo, collaborating with the greats, or teaming up with new talent, she consistently proves that whatever music she creates just feels right.

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August 14, 2017 · 2:52 pm

Obsessed: VHS Collection

NYC-based VHS Collection shares their new track “Fire“. The track, recorded in London with Chris Zane (Passion Pit, St. Lucia), is from their forthcoming debut LP, more details to be announced soon. “We all have a devil on one shoulder and ‘Fire’ is dedicated to him,” explains the band’s Conor Cook, “The song celebrates our evil ways. It sonically blends synths and guitars in a way that is both nostalgic and modern. The groove of this tune is one that you don’t typically hear these days, which sets his track apart.” The band’s James Bohannon explains that “’Fire’ paints a descriptive vision of rebellion, religious confines, and pent up desire. It’s a seedy jam that has elements of classic southern rock, evolved into our signature synth/guitar soundscape.”

VHS Collection is a rock band from New York City that has gained a reputation for high energy live performances and a unique blend of rock, electronic, and disco influences.

VHS Collection’s songs have been streamed over 20 million times on Spotify and the band has seen festival performances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bunbury Festival, and Okeechobee Festival in the last year.  VHS also sold out a headline show at Bowery Ballroom in February and Music Hall of Williamsburg in June, in addition to sold out club dates throughout the mid-west and throughout the west coast.  The band has released two EP’s to date and will release its first full-length record late this fall.

“Lean” the single off the band’s first EP hit #8 on the Spotify Viral Charts last January.  “Waiting on the Summer” the single off of the band’s 2nd EP Stereo Hype hit #14 on the Spotify Viral Charts and has been streamed over 12mm times to date.  The “Waiting on the Summer Dave Edwards Remix” was also #1 on Hype Machine in April.

VHS Collection got their start in the winter of 2014 but the three members, James Bohannon, Conor Cook, and Nils Vanderlip have been playing music in one form or another together since they were kids.  Conor and James grew up across the street from each other in NYC and attended the same grade school where they began jamming on acoustic guitars; Nils and James met in high school, where they started their first band together and recorded an album.

Years later, with all three members back in NYC, VHS pulled together a collection of electronic rock-influenced bedroom recordings and posted them on Soundcloud.  Encouraged by the volume of hits the tracks received, VHS began performing a live set at friends’ parties and around NYC’s small clubs.  2015 saw multiple sold out nights for VHS at the Lower East Side’s indie-rock launching pad, the Mercury Lounge.

2016 saw the band’s first major festival performances at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, in addition to sold out club dates on both coasts in addition support dates with Bloc Party and Powers.

VHS has remained independent and is self-managed. They are able to reach a growing audience via Spotify and other social media outlets without a label and have also built a live following by word of mouth.  The band sold out Bowery Ballroom and NYC’s 700 cap Music Hall of Williamsburg in the last 6 months and also played several major West Coast headline dates, including LA’s famous Troubadour.

VHS has created a writing process which is unique and serves them well.  It starts primarily with each member individually writing and producing dozens of bits and pieces of songs on their laptops.  The band spends months working on these initial song ideas virtually, sending each other files and collaborating via Dropbox.  Every few months, the band heads to a cabin in upstate New York where they lock themselves in for 7 days at a time to complete the songs during intense writing sessions.  During these sessions, the three members collaborate on every element of the song, with each member playing various instruments on the tracks.  The band then weeds out the best of these home produced tracks to bring into the studio.  For their upcoming record, VHS is working with producer Chris Zane who has also produced albums for Passion Pit, St. Lucia, and Friendly Fires.

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July 13, 2017 · 2:53 pm

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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June 14, 2017 · 12:16 pm

Video: Fujiya & Miyagi – “Impossible Objects of Desire”

Check out the video for Fujiya & Miyagi’s track “Impossible Objects of Desire”. It is the 9th track off their recently released self-titled album. When talking about the video lead vocalist David Best said, “The song is a hymn to vinyl and the rush that music can provide,” offers vocalist David Best. “It loosely began as a homage to  Bowie’s ‘Be My Wife’ Video, but then morphed into something else. The song is also about the physical and chemical reaction music has on the mind and body.” You can order the self-titled LP here.

Many musical projects approaching almost two decades of existence begin to show signs of stagnation or perhaps start to crook their neck as looking over their shoulder becomes a more common stance than focusing on the horizon. However, for the Brighton-based, genre-hopping, Fujiya & Miyagi the opposite can be said as they see in 2017 by wrapping up a unique year-long musical project that represents one of their most adventurous to date.

Two EPs join a third to make up this album, a carefully staged project that sees the group traverse disco, electro, pop, and the now synonymous 1970s Germany-inspired groove they so seamlessly ooze. Whilst the EPs all contain a distinct personality and fluidity of their own, the new dynamically focused position of the tracks as a full album embodies a long-term plan. “From the beginning, I have always thought of this as an album rather than three separate records, ” Singer David Best says.The now melded album is a vast one stylistically with influences and references that span from Arthur Russell to JG Ballard, yet the undercurrent that connects it all into one universal groove is one of honesty and joy, a surging sense of euphoria and hope that attempts to cut through the foggy world that welcomes its release. “On this album, I have tried lyrically to find the positives and not rely on my factory setting of a general contempt for the world around me.” Best says.

The positivity and propulsive energy of the record is not only carried by its natural rhythm, lyrics, and sparkling melodies but is also a reaction. “The album is a really strong resistance to societies compulsion to suck the energy out of everything. It’s a really good thing to provide an antidote to all the scary stuff that is going on, even if it’s just for 5 minutes.” Best says although the album proves to be more than a five-minute distraction and more like a 45min escape.

Fujiya & Miyagi – S/T tracklist
01. Magnesium Flares
02. Serotonin Rushes
03. Solitaire
04. To The Last Beat of My Heart
05. Extended Dance Mix
06. Outstripping (The Speed of Light)
07. Swoon
08. Freudian Slips
09. Impossible Objects of Desire
10. Synthetic Symphonies
11. R.S.I.

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February 20, 2017 · 5:40 pm

Brand New: Equal + LEFTI – “The Way I Move”

equal-lefti

Check out this sparkly new disco collab track from DJ’s Equal + LEFTI (at the bottom of post).

About Equal and LEFTI:

Equal is a New York City DJ and music producer originally from Asheville, NC. He’s previously spent his nights wooing crowds all over the world, from New York City’s hottest parties for the downtown-club kids and fashion elite, to large scale events and festivals such as Bonnaroo. As a lifetime drummer from a musically inclined family, his transition to production from solely DJ’ing was a natural one. He first garnered attention as a producer with the release of his single, “Lost in the Evening (ft. Gary Jules),” and his recent hit “Shakedown” has garnered worldwide DJ support alongside placement in outlets such as Vogue UK and a collaborative ad-campaign from Ciroc for Zoolander 2. Equal will continue to release exciting collaborations featuring indie music’s elite as the year continues.

LEFTI is a Brooklyn based Producer / DJ / Musician and Songwriter by way of Florida. Mainly known for his thrilling remixes for artists such as Anoraak, Gallant, CID, Big Data, ASTR, French Horn Rebellion and Solid Disco, LEFTI has been titled “a disco-house hero” by Dancing Astronaut and has “richly layered productions that tread the line between house, funk and indie dance” by Billboard. With only a handful of original material released (Big Beat, Atlas Chair and Mix Mash) LEFTI has already been supported by top tier DJ’s (Don Diablo, Laid Back Luke, Martin Solveig..) as well as placement in digital marketing synchronization through the likes of Hulu and Vanity Fair. LEFTI is currently set to release a string of singles in the months ahead.

Of the song:

“Collaborating on this song was a fun lil’ journey. Initially we were hanging out working on an edit which turned into a fun sample based disco track that ignited the idea to reach out to Adeline as a feature. Writing together was a blast and once we got her vocals in a great place, we realized we needed to change the instrument bed into something with a little more bite.” — Equal + LEFTI

 

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August 17, 2016 · 4:27 pm

Falcon Punch – “Higher”

Falcon Punch

Falcon Punch is delivering his first original work as a collaboration with LA-based duo, Wild & Free. After sitting on the instrumental of the song for 3 years, Falcon Punch teamed up with Wild & Free who delivered the vocal performance he’d been patiently waiting for. The combination leads to an easy to love but hard to forget late summer jam.

The cosmic grooves of Falcon Punch are steeped in no particular musical tradition, but rather in a multi-genre background ranging from soul and funk to house and disco. A lifetime musician, producer and DJ Avery Henderson (Falcon Punch) got his start in the electronic/disco scene producing from his tiny dorm room while living in Amsterdam in 2010. The now Colorado based musician, has crafted his sound into what he calls “Dark Island Funk”, a layered guitar melodies, keys and airy vocals, and has had the fortune of spreading it through a multitude of successful digital and vinyl releases.

 

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February 17, 2016 · 3:12 pm

Listen: Monika – “Secret in the Dark” (Juan MacLean Edit)

Monika

“…a bright but bass-heavy tune, with a strutting disco vibe driving its keyboard loop that calls Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to mind.” – The New York Times

 ” …disco-indebted art pop.” – FADER

 “Hear Monika’s synth-sational fidelity-fuck…”  – Impose Magazine

 ” …soaring vocals from Monika and a glittering yet dark-hued web of synthesizers, all propelled by a strong dance groove.” – WNYC Soundcheck

 “Monika’s wavering, Florence-esque voice anchors [Shake Your Hands’] heavy dollop of twinkling synths and toy-keyboard interjections… “ – SPIN

Listen: Monika – “Secret In The Dark” (Juan MacLean Edit)

With two platinum records under her belt in her homeland of Greece, Monika emerges with a cunningly crafted collection influenced by ‘80s art pop and organic leftfield disco tones. Her new critically acclaimed album, Secret In The Dark is out now via Other Music Recording Co. The Stereogum-dubbed “musical sensation” is taking her captivating live show on the road. The stint of dates includes a stop at Making Time in Philadelphia, a support slot with Carly Rae Jepsen and kicks off on February 23 in Los Angeles.

With accolades ranging from  Pitchfork, SPIN & Stereogum to NPR Weekend Edition & The New York Times, + a GenF feature in the next print issue of FADER, Monika has made a major splash with Secret In The Dark. DFA’s Juan MacLean put his unique touch on the album title track which premiered with Consequence of Sound today.

Secret In The Dark breathes generational genre-spanning influences. Amassing a dream-team of musicians, Homer Steinweiss, Thomas Brenneck, Nick Movshon, Victor Axelrod, Leon Michels, and others from the Brooklyn scene join Monika on Secret In The Dark. Recorded at the Daptone-renowned Dunham Sounds Studios (Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Dan Auerbach) and produced by Dap-Kings & Menahan Street Band founding member Homer Steinweiss, the album exudes generational and genre-spanning influences. Monika’s live show is a force to be reckoned with.

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July 9, 2015 · 11:44 am

New Song From Mighty Mouse!

luna

Listen: Mighty Mouse – “Luna”

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June 30, 2015 · 10:21 am

Free Download: Lodato – “Check It Out”

check it out

Listen / download: Lodato – “Check It Out”

Making some of the freshest and most inventive progressive house sounds out of NYC, Lodato has been steady making waves amongst DJs and keen listeners for several years. Expanding his musical reach to wider horizons, Lodato has released “Check It Out,” a banging party jam that combines elements of disco and electro house for a feel-good anthem filled to the top with hands-in-the-air vibes. True to his style as a party-rocking DJ, Lodato keeps the same amp in his productions, complete with ultra-clean finish that sounds sonically excellent while maintaining max hype.

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