RMX ROUNDUP: Gavin Turek + TOKiMONSTA / AYER + TKDJS / Whitney Houston x Halogen

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halogenrmx

It’s time for another Remix Roundup, and this week we’ve got a full line-up of soul-powered, dance-packed mixes. First up is a retake of a track by disco’s new pop princess, Gavin Turek. Having released her single “Frontline” this spring, the dance homage to Donna Summers has now been given the remix treatment by TOKiMONSTA. TOKi, who is one of our favorite female producers in the biz dials up the drama and dazzling deep house vibes on the original, while keeping Turek’s invigorating vox at the forefront. The remix package for this track drops June 26 via iheartcomix’s new label 1INFINITY.

Next is a rework taken from AYER‘s new EP, In My Headphones. The Brooklyn artist, who’s been featured on our remix segment before has crafted quite the soulful electropop song with the eponymous single off the EP. Fellow Brooklyn group TKDJS turn the track into an energetic house number replete with dark synths and deep bass lines. Pick up a free download for your headphones here.

Last but not least, we’re throwing it back with a spectacular rework of Whitney Houston‘s iconic track, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” God knows how much we loved Whitney in the ’80s, and thankfully Halogen gives us the chance to revisit “The Greatest Voice of All Time” in this century with a new twist on the classic. The Atlanta-based production duo apply a vibrant house backdrop to Whitney’s heart-stopping vocals, and the result is a rousing dance number that will make you wanna feel the heat with somebody — as well as to snag the track gratis on Halogen’s Soundcloud page.

Alpine – Foolish

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Australian act Alpine had one of our favorite albums of 2012, A Is For Alpine. Nearly three years later, the six-piece released new album YUCK this month on Ivy League Records for which they’re already receiving critical acclaim. Their second studio album was inspired by 1960’s pop and built on the group’s repulsive reaction (“yuck”)—and simultaneous exploration of—”first world problems”: awkward dates, a distaste for romance, lust lost, plastic vanity, foolish attraction and ego against egos.

The lead track off the LP, “Foolish” consists of breezy vocals from female frontwomen Phoebe Baker and Lou James, tropical synths and buoyant beats. The band and their particular brand of quirkpop is rounded out by Christian O’Brien (guitar), Ryan Lamb (bass), Tim Royall (keys) and Phil Tucker (drums).

Stream “Foolish” and revisit standout track “Hands” from their debut LP below.

 

I’lls – Let Me Have Just One

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I'lls

Another day, another solid Australian electronic act. The Melbourne three-piece known as I’lls (and pronounced “isles”) is comprised of Simon Lam (drums, vocals), Hamish Mitchell (keys) and Dan Rutman (guitar). The guys, who are classically-trained jazz musicians call themselves “the outcasts of jazz — jazz rogues.” Having enjoyed success in their native Australia, they are on their way to breaking out overseas thanks in part to the support of artists like Chet Faker for their distinctive left-of-centre pop sound. Their new single, “Let Me Have Just One” is an intriguing and evocative track that will be featured on their upcoming EP, Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country.

Stream below and look out for the EP to release July 6 via Solitaire.

 

Miami Horror – Love Like Mine

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Miami Horror

Australian outfit Miami Horror have just released their second LP, All Possible Futures via Dine Alone Records and are currently on tour in North America in support of the LP. The new record is ripe with post-disco dance jams inspired by ’80s rock groups along the likes of Talking Heads, New Order and INXS — as well as iconic pop stars such as Paul Simon and Michael Jackson. The sunny disposition on the album can be attributed to the band’s time spent writing and producing the album in LA.

Listen to the catchy lead single, “Love Like Mine” and check out their stateside tour dates below. DC peeps will have the chance to see Miami Horror live in concert at U Street Music Hall June 19.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
6/19 – U Hall – Washington, DC
6/20 – The Dolphin (DJ Set) – Philadelphia, PA
6/23 – Rough Trade – Brooklyn, NY
6/24 – The Sinclair – Boston, MA
6/25 – Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC
6/26 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
6/28 – Electric Forest – Rothbury, MI
6/30 – Schubas – Chicago, IL
7/2   – High Watt – Nashville, TN

Trails & Ways – Say You Will

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After much build-up, Trails & Ways finally dropped their debut album Pathology via Barsuk Records earlier this month. While recording and producing the LP, the Oakland quartet generated a lot of buzz over the last couple of years, embarking on two national tours and opening for Mac DeMarco, Phox, Stars and Tycho. The second single off the album, “Say You Will” is a sleek and sinewy number steeped in four-part harmonies, rhythm guitar, plucky synths and a syncopated bass.

Written by their bassist Emma Oppen, here’s what she had to say about the song: “Two years ago I met someone very special, and had the experience of falling in love in a matter of hours. In my delirium, I imagined making an ultimatum: Say you will, or don’t say anything at all. A few months later, I wrote the bass line in the back of the van on our first summer tour, and made the first demo recording of the vocal melody against the droning fan of a venue bathroom.”

Stream the song below and say you will pick up the album on iTunes. Friends in the DMV area can catch them performing at DC9 this Sunday, with fellow Oaklanders Waterstrider supporting (full list of June tour dates below).

June 2015 Tour Dates:
6/12 Atlanta – bit.ly/TWAtlJun12
6/13 Chapel Hill, NC – bit.ly/TWChapelJun13
6/14 Washington, D.C. – bit.ly/TWDCJun14
6/16 Philadelphia – bit.ly/TWPhillyJun16
6/18 New York City (Manhattan)- bit.ly/TWNYCJun18
6/19 Boston – bit.ly/TWBostonJun19
6/20 New York City (Brooklyn) – bit.ly/TWBknJun20
6/22 Cleveland – bit.ly/TWCleveJun22
6/23 Chicago – bit.ly/TWChicagoJun23
6/24 St. Paul, MN – bit.ly/TWStPaulJun24
6/26 Denver – http://bit.ly/TWDenverJune26
6/27 Salt Lake City – bit.ly/TWSLCJun27

Hibou – Dissolve

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hibou

Hibou is the handle of young Seattle-based artist Peter Michel who recently signed to Barsuk Records. Last week he shared the lead track, “Dissolve” off his forthcoming record, due for release September 18. The self-titled debut LP was written, recorded and played by Michel in the walk-in closet of his apartment — fueled by summertime fancies such as surf-pop melodies, ’80s synths, and soda pop! “Dissolve” is a dusky, warm, and luminous electronic track fused with distorted vocals, sonically similar to Trails & Ways.

Hibou will be touring across North America this summer opening for Cayucas, so be sure to scope out the tour dates below.

2015 Tour Dates:
7/14 – Casbah – San Diego, CA
7/15 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
7/16 – Bunk House – Las Vegas, NV
7/18 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
7/20 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
7/22 – Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
7/23 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
7/24 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
7/25 – Loving Touch – Detroit, MI
7/26 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON
7/28 – The Hollow – Albany, NY
7/29 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
7/31 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
8/01 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA
8/03 – Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
8/05 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
8/06 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
8/07 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX
8/08 – Three Links – Dallas, TX
8/09 – The Parish – Austin, TX
8/14 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA
8/15 – Soho – Santa Barbara, CA
8/16 – Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
8/17 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
8/20 – Electric Owl – Vancouver, BC
8/21 – Barboza – Seattle, WA

Shura – White Light

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Shura1

British songstress Shura has been captivating us with her singular sound since the release of debut single “Touch” just over a year ago. “It’s like someone’s taken something really shiny and rubbed it with sandpaper,” Shura says speaking of her ’80s-esque pop sound which reminds us of early Madonna. On her new number “White Light,” Shura combines influences diverse as Arthur Russell-inspired disco and the undulating psych-rock of The War On Drugs to create another dynamic and refulgent effort.

While Shura is currently at work on her debut album, look out for “White Light” to drop July 24 via Polydor. Stream the single along with the equally dreamy track “Just Once” below. Those in the Tristate area can also catch Shura performing at Mercury Lounge in NY July 28.

Public Service Broadcasting – The Other Side

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PSB

Following their 2013 full-length, Inform-Educate-Entertain, Public Service Broadcasting returned with new material this year, launching their second album in February. For those not familiar with PSB, the London duo use samples from archival footage and public information films to create guitar-driven electronica with an unusual but compelling and historical landscape.

In their new LP, The Race For Space, the astral act fly us back to the historic events between America and USSR in the quest for outer space from 1957 to 1972. The suspenseful track “The Other Side” — about Apollo 8’s orbit around the moon and their momentary loss of contact with NASA ground control — shows how the instrumentation seamlessly adapts to the spoken word to create a cinematic and inspirational tune.

PSB also recently released a remix EP of their single “Go.” Listen to LA-based producer Kauf‘s minimalist and stellar take below, and look out for PSB to be revisiting North America on tour sometime this fall.

Little May – Hide

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littlemay

Sydney trio Little May has a handful of select US tour dates this month, gracing the District with their presence this Sunday, June 7 in support of The Vaccines at 9:30 Club. The indie-folk outfit has a sound that has been compared to First Aid Kit, Fleetwood Mac and Haim. Stream their single “Hide” for a sample of their sweeping acoustic production and delicate three-part harmonies, and look out for their debut full-length to be released via Capitol Records later this year.

As a bonus, listen to the Duncan Murray bootleg of the lauded Little May track below. The London producer flips the vocal and ups the tempo, giving it a completely new and equally enchanting vibe.

Little May US Tour Dates:

6.6.15 – Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Tour – Seaside Heights, NJ
6.7.15 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
6.8.15 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
6.10.15 – The High Watt – Nashville, TN
6.11.15 – Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN
6.13.15 – Rough Trade – New York, NY

Louis Weeks – Fire

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louisweeks1

Today marks the release of Local DC artist Louis Weeks‘ independent sophomore album, haha. Whereas the last album, shift/away was a solitary affair — his latest effort shows him embracing “togetherness” and a bigger, more spontaneous and joyous sound overall. Employing the talents of fellow local musicians Noah Berman (guitar), Ethan Helm (woodwind), and Matt Honor (drums and cymbals) to play on the record, Weeks was able to achieve a more robust and full-band sound.

Although we love the full spectrum of Weeks’ sensibility, the lead single off the LP “Fire” is a prime example of this new dynamic with its orchestral horns, saxophones and swinging percussion. Aside from the obvious levity that the album title suggests, ‘haha’ is meant to represent two halves, as well as a sense of cohesiveness. Weeks tells the Washington Post: “The record is also about the joys and difficulties of trying to articulate the world around you. When you write ‘haha,’ you’re trying to express something that is inexpressible. In that moment, your feelings have reached the limits of language, and you’re free.”

Support the ingenious composer by purchasing the album on his bandcamp page here.