Tag Archives: electronic

October 17, 2017 · 12:20 pm

New EP from Metacara Released Today

Kyla Rae and Vince Nania are Pittsburgh based duo Metacara and today they’ve released their 2nd EP, Car Talks. I can’t really nail down a genre for them because they incorporate many. But, if you’re a fan of Phantogram, Purity Ring, and Wolf Alice (I’m thinking the Blush EP), you will definitely enjoy Metacara. In comparison to their first release in 2015, Stone Love, they feel like Car Talks is more mature. The name of the band itself means, “Many Faces,” which is super cool and appropriate for a group that feels their music is growing as they grow themselves.

When I hung out with Kyla and Vince recently, they told me this EP was inspired by the kinds of talks that you have in the car. You know, like when you’re going on a road trip — you’re in the car for a long period of time, why not talk about something deep that’s been on your mind? And bonus: your travel mate can’t escape you, mwaahahaha.

Check out the video for one of the new tracks, “Pilsen” below:

After you’ve watched that, check out the rest of the EP below via Soundcloud:

When you listen to the title track, make sure you pay attention at the 1:48 mark where the song changes it up a little bit. I love when one song almost sounds like two different songs AND IT WORKS. That’s what happens here. Magical.

“Over the Edge” has a little bit of a darker feel, which I especially appreciate at this time of year. The air is crisp and fall has arrived, Halloween is coming, and I usually feel a teeny bit bitter that the bitter, cold weather is approaching. Sometimes that’s what puts me “over the edge,” not sure about you. Juuuuuuust kidding. Sort of. Anyway, all of the tracks flow very nicely with each other and the EP ends with “Ceilings.” At 1:38, this song brings another beat that I’ve fallen in love with. The sound is blues-y and adds another level of anticipation followed by a rock vibe that carries out the rest of the song. After checking out Car Talks, you’ll see what I mean about nailing down a genre. Maybe I’ll make one up just for them.

The Car Talks EP is available on all major music platforms, so go grab it on whichever one strikes your fancy!

AND if you’re in the Pittsburgh area this Saturday, go check them out for their release party at James Street Gastropub!

 

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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 28, 2017 · 2:14 pm

Listen: TR/ST

“…the verses where Alfons mutters his incantations of discordant, metallic noises create a mood venomous enough to linger over the hook’s explosive synthy turn-up.” – FADER

“TR/ST, is another one of those breaking Canadian acts that seems to have appeared fully-formed with a heap of brilliant, deviant, electronically infused tracks” – NOISEY
Check out the new song from Toronto based musician TR/ST. The track is entitled “Bicep” and will be part of a release due out early 2018. When talking about the track TR/ST (Robert Alfons) says, “This song and much of the album was written in isolation in a farmhouse in rural Canada. It’s about the journey of a figure — essentially a narcissist — fighting with ideas of impurity and worthlessness. It’s about the struggle between accepting and resisting shame, as well as an expression of sexual fantasies.”

After years of extensive touring, and garnering glowing praise from top international critics at Pitchfork, VICE, and The Guardian UK for the 2012 Juno-nominated debut album TRST, the follow-up album Joyland is out now on Arts & Crafts. Joyland is an eruption of guts, eels, and joy.

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July 21, 2017 · 3:25 pm

Check ‘Em Out: The Kite String Tangle

Australian electronic artist and producer The Kite String Tangle has dropped his debut self-titled album, and it is an absolute work of art. (Check it out below!)

This latest addition to the solo project of Danny Harley is an exploration into the idea of what success and happiness truly mean. The honesty that flows throughout the 11 tracks is crystal clear, with a heavy emotional quality reflected throughout the brave production choices and unburdened lyrics.

“It’s a dynamic album that I hope shows many sides to the music I make and what I’m trying to do with The Kite String Tangle, which is essentially to reach people and hopefully provide a soundtrack for their own existential crisis,” Harley said.
The album was written in his bedroom in order to retain that ‘bedroom producer’ ethos, wanting to create something honest, something of which he could be really proud.
“I think throughout the album you can hear me trying to find my sound and my place in the world, and whilst I wanted to create something timeless and cohesive, I think there’s also a clunky charm to when it sounds a little lost and confused. To be honest, it’s a good representation of how I was feeling throughout a lot of the process,” he said.
Having just released the visuals to “The Prize” there’s no denying fans will be dusting off their dancing shoes right in time for his Splendour in the Grass set. It’s a party tune that will have you working up a sweat on a hot summery day, and will keep you warm during the cold winter nights.

 “Waiting” on the other hand is an underground pulsating banger with a more melodious insight into the light and shade of what electronic music means to this producer. It’s simple in lyrical content but intricate in production conceptualisation.
As you go on this musical journey with The Kite String Tangle you’ll hear a strong presence of strings and horns, something Harley longed to record for a long time. You’ll even hear organs, pianos, drums and all manner of acoustic instruments dotted throughout.
“I’ve always wanted to record strings and horns but have never had the opportunity to up until now. I’ve always been trying to marry the worlds of more traditional song writing like Bon Iver, James Blake, London Grammar and Broods, with artists that are more heavy handed with their production like Odesza, Flume and Purity Ring,” he said.
The Kite String Tangle’s debut album is available everywhere now via Exist Recordings, and Australian fans can catch him performing at Splendour in the Grass today on the “Mix Up Stage”.

And if you weren’t quick enough to snatch up Splendour tickets, not to worry. The Kite String Tangle is hitting the road shortly after for a national tour with ODESZA in September and some boutique festivals in Wollongong on August 19 and in Brisbane on October 14 at Red Deer Festival. For tickets and further info, head to http://www.thekitestringtangle.com.

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July 13, 2017 · 10:42 am

Newest Love: Kamaliza

 

Sydney artist Kamaliza has released a rather powerful and lyrically charged track called “Zanzibar”.

Having decided to quit his office job and pursue music full time, Kamaliza is wide-eyed and ready for whatever the future holds.

Inspiration is key when creating music and that was no exception for Kamaliza as he wrote this song.

I woke up feeling extra inspired one morning in mid-January this year. It took me about five hours to complete the bulk of the song; when a song writes itself so quickly it’s usually a great sign. Most importantly is that I felt so emotionally connected to the song.

Beginning with a whimsical flow of R&B electronica, the song develops into a multi-layered work of rich productions colored in with percussive rhythms and scorching synths.

I used a mixture of software and hardware to get it done and recorded it in my home studio in Western Sydney. I played the song a couple of days later at my first gig under Kamaliza and it got such a great response, so that added fuel for me to polish the song.

Given Kamaliza’s recent career change, there’s no wonder the song blossomed from personal experience and feelings.

The song is about taking the next step in the direction you feel you were destined for, even if that means saying goodbye to those that you care about. I believe there are unknown forces that guide us; in this tangible world of science and fact, it’s the unknown that I’m learning to trust.

To compliment the track, Kamaliza teamed up with Cape & Monocle to create a narrative-based video that continued on from their previous project “Zermatt”.

There was a scene where a robot was used. We wanted to build off that scene and this time create a narrative to go along with it. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where technology has consumed society entirely. Our main character is a robot searching for something that has been missing from their life.

 

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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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April 17, 2017 · 2:13 pm

Check ‘Em Out: LINES

Introducing your next obsession, LINES – a brand new Stockholm-based four-piece who are coming out swinging.

LINES debut song, “Weekends,” is the first taste of their beautifully twisted music, comprised of chaotic synths placed perfectly over pounding bass lines and melodies that rise but never seem to set. To kick things off, they’ve released the ultimate weekend anthem that channels an intensity that will bring dance parties to its knees.

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February 28, 2017 · 12:58 pm

Video: Daily Holla – “Waves” ft. J Fitz

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Gold Coast Producer Daily Holla, AKA Harry Deadman, has today released a brand new track with a complementing video. “Waves” is an emotionally charged piece of work with layers of dynamic production contrasts.

What started out as a chilled synth-based track, has now become somewhat of an identifier for Daily Holla, and a beautiful mistake.

“‘Waves’ was the first track I wrote off what eventually became the second Daily Holla EP. I started writing the song back in mid 2015. It all started with a plastic sounding arp loop, which was initially meant to be a placeholder, but it’s still there! I completely forgot about replacing it later on and I both love that silly mistake and hate it.” – Daily Holla

Teaming up with newcomer J Fitz has given this melodic banger a juicy ambiance that really enhances the delay and distortion effects of the overall song. This duo clearly has their mojo in sync, as they continue to create a cohesive vision.

“I’ve never seen someone work like her. She came in and listened to a rough mix of the track, half an hour later the vocals were cut and we were eating some Vietnamese take away. I was so used to doing everything on my own in my bedroom that sitting in a studio in Sydney felt so surreal.” – Daily Holla

Having studied film at university and loving the combination of music and film, Daily Holla brought his two passions together for “Waves”. Enlisting the help of former uni mate, and now film director/cinematographer Mark Desiatov, the video follows the struggles of ballet dancer Jade Moris, as she suffers through injuries and anxiety leading up to a final performance.

This short-film style video is the perfect way to show the strength and willpower it takes on both sides of the spectrum in creating a work that translates to an audience. The imagery is raw and will have you gasping for air, much like J Fitz’s powerful ending.

“I’ve always wanted to mix the fluidity and timeless beauty of ballet with more of a modern and contemporary sound which I thought Harry (Daily Holla) has. The concept revolves around the lyrics and the idea of self-belief through adversity; a common theme that most people can connect with. I believe there’s nothing more breathtaking than a live ballet or dance performance where the artist defies the pain and physical hardships throughout their routine; which is a reflection of the underlying theme of the clip,” – Mark Desiatov

Daily Holla’s upcoming EP has been shaped around “Waves,” with the new track available now on Spotify & iTunes through Inertia Access. 

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February 23, 2017 · 1:13 pm

Check It Out: Tre Coast – “I Can’t Let You Go”

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Tre Coast, an 18 year old North Carolina native, has been playing the piano since the age of seven, and recording music in his own bedroom since he was 13. He’s known for combining elements of pop, R&B and electronic music with well-told stories that capture the feelings anyone and everyone can relate to. Tre Coast found early success online, garnering over 25 million of views and streams of his music.

Of this song, he says:

I wrote “I Can’t Let You Go” about an on again, off again relationship I was in for three years. She would lie, cheat and make things difficult at all times, but I continued to go back to her. That’s what “I Can’t Let You Go” is truly about. Being so attached to someone that you can’t move on from. You can’t let them go. I’ve been able to move on since writing this song, but it’s still a reminder to never go back to that relationship.

Check out the track below:

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December 22, 2016 · 11:09 am

Newest Love: Uppermost

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French electronic artist and producer Uppermost has been busy preparing for the release of his new album Origins (2011-2016) coming February 2017. In anticipation, he has already released two brand new tracks – “Thousand Colors” and “Constellation”. Today, he releases a never-before-seen live video of his cult single “Reminder” and announces his career-defining track “Beautiful Light” will be available as an immediate download with album pre-order.

In-line with the important conversation that’s taking place currently in the electronic music scene about live performance, the video gives viewers some insight into the various instruments and technologies that are part of making some of our favorite jams come to life.

Uppermost says of the video:

“The live video was shot in the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, located in Paris-Le Bourget airport – a beautiful and inspiring place for space lovers like myself. The guitar player is Mathias Di Gusto. I really love his instinctive creativity when it comes to efficient funky riffs. He’s also the player of famous french rapper Maitre Gims, playing on France’s biggest stages such as Paris Bercy. The bass player is Klem Aubert, a very talented slap bass monster and member of the awesome band Minuit.

The idea of a live performance grew in my mind after I started to feel constrained by the limitations I’d meet in my DJ sets. I wanted to be able to change the structure of my tracks on the fly, to create a beautiful interaction between every part in my mix.

So I’ve decided to build the live performance in a way that I can rearrange my tracks live but most importantly sample, loop and apply effects on what the guitar and bass players are doing at any moment. It took a lot of time to build the right workflow, and a lot of repetitions with the players in order to set up specific effects racks on each instruments according to which section of the track I trigger on the midi controller. For example, the guitar player instantly knows that whenever I trigger an atmospheric section of the track, his guitar will be going through a huge reverb and delay. The creative possibilities are really endless and that’s what makes the performance so exciting!”

The sick track is played using various instruments and controllers, including electronic music tools such as a Behringer BCR-2000 and iRig Keys 37Pro, as well as some more traditional instruments including a Fender Precision bass and a Gibson SG guitar.

“Reminder” will be featured on the new LP along with “Beautiful Light”, available as an instant download with pre-order today, and “Mistakes”. Combined, these songs have over 30 million streams. Also featured will be Uppermost’s recently released singles “Thousand Colors” and “Constellation”.

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