Eliza Shaddad – Wars

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A descendant of a long line of artists and poets dating back to the 1800’s, half-Scottish, half-Sudanese songwriter Eliza Shaddad has a rich cultural and artistic heritage to draw from (her great great grandfather was James Paterson, one of Glasgow Boys). Shaddad’s latest EP Run, which releases tomorrow on Beatnik Creative marks an evolution of sound for the UK-based singer, from folk rock to a grittier, more complex and synthesized soundscape. Lending support to the EP were the talents of Mercury-nominated Chris Bond on production, Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice, Foals) on mixing duties, and John Davis (Blur/FKA Twigs) on the mastering of the EP.

Stream the withering lead single “Wars” below.

Andrew Bird – Roma Fade

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Beloved singer-songwriter and world-class whistler Andrew Bird is back with new material, whose ninth album Are You Serious comes out via Loma Vista April 1. The record is professed to be his most personal yet, with less abstruse wordplay and a more vulnerable side of the multilayered artist on view.

Bird muses: “What happens when real ordeals befall someone who has always been happy writing from their imagination and the distance of the third person? Who has time for poetics while grappling with birth and death? What’s the role of sincerity for a songwriter who doesn’t really go in for the confessional thing? This is what I struggled with for this record. I suppose the title could be poking fun at my own foray into the confessional realm.”

The result is a distillation of distinct, unguarded arrangements and ideas that resonated with Bird over a three-to-four year period. In advance of the LP he’s shared a few tracks — including “Roma Fade,” a song about the nervous tension of romantic attraction, propelled by his signature pizzicato on the violin and a propulsive drum beat. The track also comes accompanied by classic artwork from conceptual artist John Baldessari.

Bird will be hitting the road at the end of March in support of the new album, performing to a sold-out crowd at DC’s 9:30 Club April 5.

RMX ROUNDUP: Alpine + Pikachunes / Natalie Prass x Classixx / Alison Wonderland + Happy Accidents / Autograf / Dagny + Atella

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Today we’ve got a supersized edition of Remix Roundup — a segment in which we bring you the latest and greatest mixes and electro jams on the market. To begin we have Australian artist Pikachunes‘ rework of Alpine‘s “Crunches” from their prized 2015 LP Yuck. On this extended official remix, Pikachunes reconstructs the sonic soundscape and injects some intricate textures, adding some serious dimension to the original.

It should come as no surprise that we’re digging Classixx‘s cover of Natalie Prass’ “Bird Of Prey,” one of our favorite tracks of 2015. Joe Keefe lent his vocals to the track, who joins the ranks of Ryan Adams (under the sobriquet Natalie Sass) doing a male rendition of the nu classic.

It was also somewhat of a happy accident (haha) that we came across this Happy Accidents revision of Alison Wonderland‘s hit song “Run.” The bicoastal producers did a nice job infusing their signature nu-disco sounds and driving synths into the original. Pick up a free download of this one on Soundcloud.

Autograf captured our attention with their exquisite rendition of Stevie Wonder‘s “Superstition,” and just yesterday they dropped the new EP Future Soup. The lead single “Heartbeat” below features a soulful vocal sample from what sounds like an old song that we failed to uncover. In any case, check it out below and if you have any idea as to the original sample help us out in the comments below.

And finally we have an energetic edit of Dagny‘s pop track “Backbeat” by Norwegian producers Atella that’s sure to get you in the dancing mood. Enjoy!

SOFI TUKKER – Hey Lion

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With only three tracks to their name, NYC indie dance duo SOFI TUKKER has already set the blogosphere ablaze with their bossa nova and house inspired sounds. Leading up to the release of their forthcoming EP Soft Animals, this week they dropped latest effort and EP opener “Hey Lion.”

Formed by Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern in 2014, SOFI TUKKER has established their aural presence in the animal kingdom through their entrancing South American and Afrobeat rhythms — sort of a cross between Francis Bebey, Glass Animals and Jungle sonically, but with female vocals. According to singer Hawley-Weld, “‘Hey Lion’ is like the opening chant to Soft Animals. We want to welcome people into our version of this animal-world, where strength is soft and nobody is boss.”

Stay tuned for their EP, and check out their showcases at SXSW if you’re so lucky as to be going. Stream “Hey Lion” along with a rad ADDAL remix of previous dizzying hit and Portuguese-sung track “Drinkee.”

Prince Rama – Bahia

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Brooklyn’s sister psych duo Prince Rama began writing their forthcoming record, Xtreme Now while living on a black metal commune in Vȫrmsi, a remote island off the coast of Estonia. There, according to a press release, Taraka Larson had a near-death experience inside an ancient Viking ruin which sparked a recurring sense of time-schizophrenia — or the physical sensation of existing in multiple time periods simultaneously. Through this out-of-body experience, Taraka and her sister Nimai conceived of a futuristic, new adventure genre for their album they’re coining as “extreme sports.” Did we mention their journey was also fueled by Monster Energy drink?

Regardless of what you make of Taraka’s prophetic vision, there can be no doubt of the ensuing creativity that came of the duo’s exploits. With the help of acclaimed dance producer Alex Epton (Björk, Panda Bear, The Kills), the Larson sisters have created a fearless record that “celebrates the ephemerality of life, dancing just at the edge of death’s gilded smile.” The LP’s first single “Bahia” (below), recalls the Italo-disco beats of Giorgio Moroder with its emphatic flourishes and eminently danceable melodies.

Xtreme Now is out March 4 on DC label Carpark Records, accompanied by their record release show at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. The following day they’ll be performing at Comet Ping Pong in the District, a seemingly perfect venue for their vision to come to life.

Prince Rama 2015 Tour Dates:

March 4th – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
March 5th – Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong
March 6th – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
March 9th Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
March 10th – Durham, NC – The Pinhook
March 11th – Savannah, GA – Savannah Stopover – Club One
March 12th – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
March 13th – New Orleans, LA – Siberia
March 22nd – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
March 24th – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
March 25th – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
March 26th – Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer
March 29th – Los Angeles, CA – Resident
March 30th – Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club
April 1st – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
April 2nd – Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
April 3rd – Seattle, WA – Barboza
April 7th – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
April 8th – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
April 11th – Detroit, MI – Marble Bar
April 12th – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
April 13th – Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo
April 14th – Allston, MA – Great Scott
April 15th – Philadelphia, PA – Ortileb’s Lounge

ELECTRO ROUNDUP: Mood Robot / Ellie Herring / LOYAL

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Trying something a little different this week. Rather than our usual Remix Roundup segment, we’re rounding up a trio of recent electronic numbers that caught our ears and will serve as a complimentary companion for your Saturday night. The first offering is from the nascent LA-based act Mood Robot, who take bedroom beats to the next level with their single “Drip.” Sedative synths and addictive hooks is enough to put this group–who just released their debut EP The Story We Tell Ourselves on your radar.

Next is newcomer Ellie Herring, an up-and-coming producer from Kentucky whose catalog consists of distinctive, impressionist style beats with an homage to hip hop. “Why’d You,” from Herring’s latest EP released this fall, is a pounding, acid-trip of an electronic piece with textured twists and a seemingly possessed looped vocal. In other words, hypnotizing AF so stream below.

Last but not least we have LOYAL, a new six-piece from the UK who resurrected from a shared love of disco, Kate Bush and Kubrick. They just released their second single, “House For You” and it’s an evocative electronic gem. Stereogum said it’s akin to “a Rhye piano ballad infused with a subtle four-on-the-floor heartbeat.” Swoon.

Happy Hollows – Way Home

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Two years plus after the release of their album Amethyst, the LA-based act Happy Hollows have just finished recording a series of songs with producers Lewis Pesacov (Best Coast) and Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, Interpol). One of the resulting efforts released this week, “Way Home” utilizes analog-synth based melodies and angular guitars to create an ode about the anxiety of being away from home while on the road. The framework for the single was written by singer-guitarist Sarah Negahdari during her time spent on tour with the Silversun Pickups, and fleshed out with the other band members Charlie Mahoney (the band’s co-founder and DC transplant), Matthew Fry, and Dan Marcellus in the studio. It’s an instantly infectious and warm track with vocals reminiscent of Stevie Nicks — recommended if you like HAERTS and Pure Bathing Culture. Listen below.

Deep Sea Diver – Secrets

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As a former touring member of Beck and The Shins, Jessica Dobson has obviously cultivated a sharp sense of craft with her adept guitar skills and formidable vocals. Dobson’s current project, a Seattle-based quartet called Deep Sea Diver released their sophomore effort, Secrets February 19 via the band’s own label High Beam Records.

The record’s title track is a six-minute long exploration in experimental indie, blooming from a bedrock of shuffling bass and tropical-like percussion into a tranquil interlude, eventually swelling into an all-out anthemic pop-rock banger. Stream “Secrets” below.

Deep Sea Diver is currently on tour supporting Radiation City, with whom they’ll be stopping at DC9 February 9 — so pick up tickets to see these two standout bands today.

L.A. Girlfriend – XIV

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Bred on new wave bands like New Order and Iron Maiden, L.A. Girlfriend‘s music has come to reflect an ’80s counterculture sound in a genre best described as “romantic nouveau.” This is evidenced by the L.A. fuzz pop act’s new record, Neon Grey released earlier this month. Throughout the album, LAGF founder Sydney Banta plaits sharp synths, propulsive drum tracks and a traditional house beat into energetic, edgy lo-fi arrangements. Get acquainted with these newcomers by listening to album highlight “XIV” — and “Runner” (off their Varsity EP) below.