Amtrac – poetry in an empty coke can

RMX ROUNDUP: Mark Ronson & Kevin Parker + Amtrac & Blu Jemz / Grapell + Blue Hawaii / French Horn Rebellion + Bee’s Knees

Posted on December 10, 2016December 11, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

In what will probably be the last installment of the year, we’ve got a new RMX Roundup for you this week — a bimonthly segment in which we deliver the freshest mixes and electronic beats on the blogosphere. First up is the new ‘night’ mix of Mark Ronson’s hit track “Daffodils” (featuring Kevin Parker of Tame Impala) by Amtrac and Blu Jemz, commissioned by Ronson himself. Speeding up the tempo, Amtrac and Blu Jemz sprinkle some late-night vibes and heavy bass on the nu-disco track, making for a perfect after-hours groove.

Earlier this fall we featured the soulful, slow-burning duet “Some Places” from Swedish act Grapell — now, we’re sharing the fantastic new rework from Canadian duo Blue Hawaii. The Montreal producers have put their own unique spin on the track with their ‘Chop-n-Screw’ edit, trading in the lounge vibes for a palette of bright synths and basslines. Originally off Grapell’s EP Love Chambers, the Blue Hawaii version shakes things up in the best way possible.

And finally, we close out this year in RMX Roundup with the delightfully upbeat Bee’s Knees rework of French Horn Rebellion‘s “Second Opinion.” Off their recent album Classically Trained, the electropop piece gets an energetic facelift from Bee’s Knees producer duo Adam Novodor and Aaron Spiro. This one is being offered as a free download, so pick it up on Soundcloud today. And with that said, we’ll see all you remix lovers in the new year!

The Kite String Tangle – Stone Cold (ft. Tiana Khasi)

Posted on January 3, 2015January 3, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

In lieu of a Remix Roundup this week, we thought to share the latest track and accompanying remixes from Australian electronic producer The Kite String Tangle. Off his debut EP Vessel, “Stone Cold” is an affecting duet between TKST (aka Danny Harley) and Australian singer Tiana Khasi. Stirring vocals with a backdrop of tropical, melancholic synths set the tone for a ballad about that enduring theme of a love gone wrong.

TKST also released a “Stone Cold” Remix EP last month, including standout mixes from AMTRAC and KILTER. We like the juxtaposition of these two in particular, as AMTRAC’s version — utilizing his minimalist deep house production techniques — amplifies the drama of the original by focusing solely on the female’s side of the story.

Meanwhile, fellow Aussie producer KILTER highlights the male vocals/perspective, in addition to a strong drum and bass line. Listen to these two back-to-back for an interesting study in parallels.

RMX ROUNDUP: ZHU + Amtrac / Lana Del Ray + Munk / Alex Adair

Posted on July 12, 2014June 20, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Time for another Remix Roundup — in which we share some of the best new remixes and electronic offerings currently in circulation on the blogosphere.

Last week’s roundup featured the Odesza remix of the ZHU track “Faded,” and now we’ve got another stellar one to share from the Kentucky DJ/producer Amtrac. His nu-disco rendition is a high energy and uplifting take on the original that will ramp up your weekend in no time. Next is a new remix of Lana Del Ray’s “West Coast” from German producer and Gomma label maestro Mathias Modica, aka Munk. While we’re not big fans of the original tbh, the sexy percussion and added bossa nova flavor make this deep house derivative something worth getting excited about.

Lastly, we have a new electronic track by the up-and-coming UK producer Alex Adair. The single, “Make Me Feel Better” will do just that with its uplifting house vibes and sun-swathed synths. Sampling from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” Adair has a knack for combining unexpected sounds in a way that is imaginative and invigorating. Press play on all three tracks below.

Artist Spotlight: Amtrac

Posted on January 29, 2013July 12, 2014 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Caleb Cornett, also known as Amtrac is a DJ/producer from Kentucky who has been gaining momentum as of late and for good reason. His remix of French producer Milwaukee’s (oxymoron much?) single “Alone” is a gorgeous electro/nu-disco number that improves upon the original.

More recently he also reworked the Alex Metric track “Rave Number.” Stream and download this dance floor-ready tune below.