After offering up several singles this past year, Brooklyn outfit Paperwhite have finally released their debut EP Magic as of yesterday via Duly Noted Records. The album unveils a couple of new songs, including new track “Gold” below. It’s another shining example of the 80s-inspired synthpop sound the sibling duo Katie and Ben Marshall have been cultivating over the last year. Stream below, along with other standout track from the EP, “Take Me Back.” Looks like a promising future for this brother-sister duo.
XO, the UK producer/songwriter otherwise known as Sunil Heera has received a good amount of acclaim this past year from tastemakers such as Pitchfork, Noisey, and Mixmag. Premiered by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 last weekend, his new single “Pulling Me Under” is a haunting piano-driven house groove with featured vocals from fellow UK newcomer Leo Kalyan. The soulful track, which was co-written by MNEK, is sure to pull you under with its seductive chords and undulating melodies.
Listen below and look out for XO’s debut EP, Through The Night to drop December 1 via new UK label He Loves You Not Recordings.
Tei Shi is the sobriquet of Valerie Teicher, the Brooklyn-based, Argentinian-born songstress who’s been generating a ton of buzz as of late. Having inhabited Buenos Aires, Bogota, Vancouver and Boston at various stages throughout her life, her multicultural background is reflected in the complexity of her music and the texture of her voice. She recently released her first single, “Bassically” with the Mom + Pop imprint Mermaid Avenue. The compelling track is confected of high notes, low tones, and lush melodies — all backed up by Valerie’s soft reverberated vocals and a strong synth bassline. Stream this gem below.
For the locals, Tei Shi will be performing tomorrow night at DC’s U Street Music Hall with Gems and VÉRITÉ as part of the All Things Gold concert series.
This week’s installment of Remix Roundup features some mixes that have been on our back burner for awhile. But that doesn’t make them any less appealing, so let’s get started with Danny T‘s rework of AlunaGeorge‘s track “Outlines.” The Sydney-based producer takes the low-key original and smathers on some sick house vibes, rendering it dance-floor ready. And all you have to do to snag the track for your collection is ‘like’ his Facebook page here. Thanks, Danny!
As if there wasn’t enough good music coming out of Australia, the next cut comes from rising Melbourne-based singer/songwriter/producer Oscar Key Sung. Off his Holograms EP released earlier this year, “All I Could Do” is an explosive dance track with masterful production from Key Sung, who uses pitched-down samples, aching soulful vocals, and a shuffling beat to propel the track forward. One listen and you’ll be singing Sung’s praises.
Last but not least, we’ve been digging this Joywave edit of HAERT‘s “All the Days” as of late. Taking the ardent original and transforming it into a propulsive deep house number, NY production team Joywave set the stage early in the track with sinister sounds of saxophone, creating a melancholic mood until the last chorus comes crashing in around 3:33. Stream below.
Meet Highasakite, the Norwegian indie-pop outfit whose name derives from the Elton John classic “Rocket Man.” The five-piece released their debut album, Silent Treatment earlierthis year. With unique vocals and intricate instrumentation, Highasakite inhabit a “rare musical landscape, a place of long dark shadows, sudden flashes of glittering light, brooding silences and unexpected explosions of fierce percussion,” as their bio goes.
The group was scheduled to perform tonight with Louis Weeks at DC’s Gypsy Sally’s, but unfortunately was forced to cancel last minute due to illness in the band. Stream “Since Last Wednesday” below, available for free download on Soundcloud.
On Chromeo‘s latest LP, White Women (released May 2014), the Canadian electro-funk/disco duo teamed up with Solange to create soulful single “Lost On the Way Home” — an 80s-inspired synthy duet about a relationship gone sour. Dave 1 of Chromeo and Solange duel it out on the track, but it’s the gripping vocals of the Knowles songstress that steal the show with her repeated refrain ‘And you know it’s gonna take time’ — which sounds like it was sampled straight out of an 80s pop song.
Stream the melancholic gorgeousness below, along with a more upbeat remix from Mat Zo. The british producer ups the tempo and transforms the track into an uplifting drum and bass electro-affair. Snag the mix gratis on Soundcloud!
Louis Weeks is a Baltimore-bred, DC-based composer and songwriter who produces music for tv/film by day, while crafting his own material by night. His debut LP, shift/away, released January 2014 is a masterful compilation of innovative indie pop that was put together over the course of two years. Weeks weaves together different instruments, sound effects and layering on the album to create a fantastic dreamscape, reminding us of the artistry of Owen Pallett. Listen to the compelling single, “Fold” below and check out his Soundcloud page for more. The word is that Weeks has a new album in the works, so we have that to look forward to as well.
Local DC brethren will have the chance to catch Weeks live next Wednesday, November 5 at Gypsy Sally’s, a show curated by Communion Records.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the NZ duo BROODS released their debut LP Evergreenearlier this month — and in celebration of the occasion we’ve got a few CDs and other goodies to give away. Produced by Joel Little (the not-so-little producer behind Lorde), it’s no wonder that the album debuted at #1 on the charts in New Zealand, as well as earning plaudits on the international stage. The brother-sister duo demonstrated range in the array of singles they released leading up to the album, including the somber “Mother & Father,” the more lighthearted “L.A.F,” and of course standout track, “Bridges.” Fans needn’t fear about the quality of the remainder of the album, however, as evidenced by tracks like “Everytime” below.
To add to their list of accomplishments, the group recently went on tour supporting UK crooner Sam Smith. We had the good fortune of attending their DC show in September, where BROODS effectively warmed up the audience for Sam, who proceeded to melt the crowd with his masterful vocal chops, bashful British charm and powerful pathos. But we digress.
For your chance to win a copy of the BROODS LP Evergreen and other paraphernalia — including a BONUS CD of Sam’s — leave a comment below or send a tweet to @CokeCanPoetry!
With Halloween less than a week away, we decided to dedicate this week’s Remix Roundup to some of the darker house mixes currently in our rotation. First up is the a/jus/ted Remix of Blood Orange‘s “Uncle ACE.” The edgy Dev Hynes original — described by Pitchfork as “mysterious, desperate, [and] empathetic” — is a tribute to NYC’s destitute youth who seek refuge on the ACE subway line at night or else doomed to wander the streets at “the witching hour.” In the a/jus/ted rework, NYC duo consisting of legendary producer Justin Strauss and cohort Teddy Stuart craft the harrowing tale into a nearly nine-minute exercise in synth wizardry.
And what artist screams All Hallows’ Eve like the mask-adorned faces of Disclosure? Check out beat farmer cln‘s retouched version of Disclosure and AlunaGeorge‘s collaboration, “White Noise.” The Australian producer Callan Alexander puts his own unearthly spin on the rapturous original through the use of distorted vocal effects and dramatic synths.
Finally, UK singer Sam Sure — whose vocals we heard on the TCTS track “You” — has already seen his sole single “Hunger” (released October 20 via Black Butter Records) reworked by a handful of producers. We’re partial to this Jaded edit though, with its deep house groove, entrancing basslines and downright eerie looped vocals. Stream below as you get your pre-Hween dance on.
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy rocketed to international success this past year with the help of breakout single, “Riptide,” which rose to the top of the HypeM charts within hours of release and the Billboard Alternative Songs chart soon after. The indie folk artist (born James Keogh) abandoned a career in law to pursue a more creative path, playing open mic venues in Melbourne until eventually scoring a deal with Atlantic Records.
His debut album, Dream Your Life Away released this September is pure raw folky goodness with infectious hooks and pop influences. Listen to his single “Mess Is Mine” along with “Riptide” below, and pick up the album on iTunes.
Vance will be playing to a sold-out audience at DC’s 930 Club this Saturday, October 25.
poetry in an empty coke can 