Jaakko Eino Kalevi ft. Farao – Everything Nice (Popcaan cover)

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Farao had one of our favorite albums of 2015, so when we saw she’d collaborated with fellow Scandinavian artist Jaakko Eino Kalevi on a Popcaan cover we couldn’t help but pay attention. If you’re not familiar with Popcaan, you’ve probably at least heard him on his contribution to Jamie XX‘s 2015 smash album In Colour. In any case, it’s a cute story how the collab and cover of Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan came together. Kalevi explains: “I got obsessed with ‘Everything Nice’ about a year ago in Iceland when I met Kari [Farao]. She was singing it all the time and soon I was singing it too, even without hearing the actual song. It became my power song.”

Sprinkling some tropical disco vibes on the original, Kalevi and Farao turn the more subdued Popcaan track into a bright pop banger. Get into this nice lil’ ditty below.

The Arcs – Outta My Mind

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If you haven’t heard by now, The Arcs is the side project of The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach. The supergroup–which boasts the talents of Richard Swift, Leon Michels, Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, along with contributions from Kenny Vaughan, Mariachi Flor de Toloache and Tchad Blake–came together to create the critically acclaimed album Yours, Dreamily. “Right from the drop, Yours, Dreamily, ignites like a cigarette flicked on a stream of gasoline,” declared NPR Music. The LP was recorded in roughly two weeks through spontaneous, informal sessions throughout the country, and spans from garage-rock to psychedelia to the blues. See for yourself by spinning the record’s reverb-soaked first single “Outta My Mind” below.

As part of the album tour the collective will be performing two shows in DC next week–December 14 and 15 at 9:30 Club.

ELEL – Kiss Kiss

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We had the pleasure of interviewing ELEL back in March just before the release of their debut EP, and now they’re back with another delightful track called “Kiss Kiss.” The indie-pop collective from Nashville — whose music is often described as “world pop” is layered with swirling keyboards, guitars, horns, percussion, and rollicking drums, creating a resoundingly catchy and overall affirming sound. Stream “Kiss Kiss” below and look out for the group’s debut album Geode to drop via Mom + Pop Music in early 2016.

RMX Roundup: Empress Of + ABRA / ON AN ON + RAC / Delaire + Delorean

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Semi last-minute edition of Remix Roundup this weekend, because why not. Empress Of produced one of our favorite records this past year, and now her tourmate, ABRA the darkwave duchess has reworked her single “Standard.” While the original is excellent in its own right, ABRA’s edit adds a frenetic, skittering element with a characteristic dark-pop edge that fans of Empress Of are sure to appreciate.

Next is the recent RAC remix of Minneapolis’ trio ON AND ON‘s early 2015 track “Drifting.” Elevated by RAC’s graceful electronic beats, André Anjos twists the track into a fuller, more dynamic recast using the original acoustic-leaning cut as a framework. Notable is Nate Eiesland’s vocals, which even when while yowling “I gotta get out” during the chorus still sound exquisite.

And last but not least is a reinterpretation of a song by newcomer Delaire from purveyors of dreamy electronic music, Delorean. As usual, the Spanish quartet made an outstanding choice by borrowing the beautiful debut track, “Belief” from the UK chanteuse and bringing it into the limelight with their stunning, diffuse and synth-injected rendition.

Tigers Are Bad For Horses – Messenger

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At CCP we love all things local, and we especially love when local entities demonstrate real potential. That’s why when we first heard the sounds of DC-based Tigers Are Bad For Horses, we immediately agreed to feature their new EP. Today marks the release of the alt-pop duo’s debut EP, TABFH, the first compilation since their formation in 2014. Comprised of Mellen and Lyell, Tigers began when the former sang on one of Lyell’s film scoring projects. They quickly became a musical dyad, informed by a range of influences from Bonobo to Bon Iver — but eventually forging their own blend of piano-infused, jazz-influenced electronic pop with multi-layered production and lilting vocals.

Tigers Are Bad For Horses will be celebrating the release of their debut EP in DC tonight, and headlining Rock & Roll Hotel December 19 so if you’re in the area come on out to support this local talent.

Paperwhite – Get Away

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Brooklyn’s brother-sister synthpop duo Paperwhite haven’t released any new music in over a year, and their new track “Get Away” is a welcome return. They’ve been doing just that for the past year, spending their hibernation period writing, creating and generally “going deeper into the Paperwhite world” according to Ben Marshall. Expanding on what that means, he explains: “We’ve been talking a lot about this idea of ‘future tribal’ as an aesthetic. Primal drums, pop songwriting, and instruments from a parallel electronic universe. The music we’ve been working on feels like a step in that direction and we’re so excited to hear what people think.” Listen below.

HONNE – Gone Are The Days

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Premiering as Radio 1’s Hottest Record In The World, HONNE have unveiled their hot new single “Gone Are The Days.” These guys continue to impress us with their brand of electro-soul, and we’re looking forward to the release of their upcoming EP Gone Are The Days (Shimokita Import) January 22 via their own label Tatemae Recordings. The latest effort from the London duo “Gone Are The Days” is an upbeat, shuffling track built around piano and of course those swooning vocals. Get hip to HONNE (if you’re not already) by streaming below.

Chrome Sparks – Ride The White Lightning

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Parallelism, the transfixing new EP from Chrome Sparks shows off the ability of Brooklyn-based electronic artist—otherwise known as Jeremy Malvin to keep the listener hooked in to characteristically long tracks. With “Ride The White Lightning” for instance, Malvin steals you on a near 10-minute journey, fraught with sequencers and synthesizers and a roller coaster of arpeggios. The track is backed by a strong beat and progression of melodies that makes the absence of typically distorted vocals go unnoticed. Listen to the effort, along with “Moonraker” below and pick up the EP on iTunes via Future Classic today. Those in the DMV can also catch Sparks spinning at U Street Music Hall January 15.

Harriet – Bent

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Harriet has the kind of sound that draws you in and makes you want to keep listening—in large part due to the strong storytelling aspect of their music. Makes sense given the band’s influences, which include Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis & the News, Paul Simon and Radiohead according to frontman and founder Alex Casnoff. Named after Casnoff’s grandmother, the promising act is a four-piece from LA whose debut album will be arriving January 2016. The album, entitled American Appetite is purportedly a 12-track collection exploring “the American condition, and the power and greed that it ensues.”

Listen to two varied tracks off the forthcoming LP — “Bent” and title track “American Appetite” below.

BØRNS – The Emotion

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LA-based act BØRNS, aka Garrett Borns is a rising new talent who’s made a splash for his sunkissed indie-pop hooks. The newcomer, who originally hails from Michigan relocated to LA where he wrote (with heavyweight producers like Emile Haynie) and finally debuted his highly-anticipated album Dopamine last month. No doubt his new surroundings affected the singer’s sound, as a press release calls his music “pure Southern California in a bottle.” Listen to the heartfelt track “The Emotion” below for a sample of his sensibilities.

People in the DMV can catch BØRNS live at Rams Head Live on December 1.