A music insider tipped me off to NY newcomer EVVY awhile back, and since then I’ve been eagerly anticipating the public premiere of her new track, “Got Me Movin’.” Produced by Mickey Valen & The King (aka Chris Wallitsch), the new production duo strike all the right chords with this melodic and shimmery synthpop number. Stream below, and look out for EVVY’s debut EP to drop later this summer.
Brother/sister duo BROODS has made quite the impression on the blogosphere, and with their hit debut single “Bridges” it’s easy to understand why. Produced by the Grammy award-winning (and Lorde producer) Joel Little, the New Zealand siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott are clearly poised for international success with their ethereal atmospheric sound. What’s really blowing me away though is the below remix from NY production duo ASTR, who apply a breathtaking balearic beat and melody that manages to elevate the original in my mind. If you’re in the DC market, you can catch BROODS at U Street Music Hall this Friday, May 2 and ASTR opening for The Knocks at 930 Club June 16.
Skyes are a new outfit out of Brooklyn currently working on their self-titled EP. Their debut track, “A Girl Named Jake” is a sizzling pop song with fluttering synths and dreamy vocals from DA Knightly that stun in the final chorus. If you’re in the NY area, catch the quartet this Saturday at Brooklyn’s Glasslands Gallery with Fenech-Soler and Junior Prom.
Another installment of Remix Roundup to get your Saturday night started off right. In a brilliant move by Bonobo, Simon Green uncovers the 1977 track “Les LaBas” by French jazz instrumentalist Henri Texier. With a South American-feel to it, this epic recast will transport you to someplace tropical in no time. Next up is The Knocks remix of HAIM‘s “If I Could Change Your Mind,” which transforms the original pop number into a seductive after hours edit. Finally, continuing the tropics theme is Sydney-based Thief, whose track “Closer” gets dressed up in calypso vibes by New Zealand duo Weird Together. Fresh off a showcase at SXSW and the release of his EP, Thief’s PJ Wolf is poised to bring his minimalist electropop sound to the masses this year. Best of all, every single one of these tracks is available for FREE DL by following the respective Soundcloud link below. You’re welcome.
Sharing the first single from her upcoming album, Sharon Van Etten reveals the plaintive, downtempo track “Taking Chances.” In a departure from her traditional folk sound, the Brooklyn singer-songwriter employs an exquisite blend of electronic drums and layered vocals on the track. Her LP Are We There will be released May 26 via the label Jagjaguwar (Angel Olsen, Bon Iver, Unknown Mortal Orchestra).
Sharon has quite the busy agenda this summer:
5/08 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
5/09 Hudson, NY – Helsinki Hudson
5/10 Providence, RI – Columbus Theatre
5/11 Hamden, CT – Ballroom at the Outer Space
5/25 Brussels, Belgium – Le Botanique
5/28 Paris, France – Café de la Danse
5/30 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival
6/01 Cologne, Germany – Studio 672
6/02 Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
6/03 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Bitterzoet
6/05 London, England – KOKO
6/11 Boston, MA – Sinclair
6/12 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg (Northside Festival)
6/13-14 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
6/17 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
6/18 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
6/19 Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s
6/20 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
6/21 Nashville, TN – Exit In
6/24 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
6/25 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
6/28 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
6/29-30 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
7/02-03 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
7/05 George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
7/06 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rickshaw Theatre
7/08 Calgary, Alberta – Republik
7/09 Edmonton, Alberta – Starlite Room
7/14 Fargo, ND – Aquarium
7/16 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
7/17 Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin
7/18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
8/14-17 Wales, England – Green Man Festival
Having a strange name for a band, Elbow is an alternative rock group that hails from Manchester. This month they released their sixth studio album, The Take Off and Landing of Everything. Another exquisite song about the capital of the world, “New York Morning” was inspired by Elbow frontman Guy Garvey’s recent time in Brooklyn last year. The accompanying video — detailing the lives of New York City couple and CBGB scenesters Dennis and Lois — is a love sonnet to the city in itself and well worth a viewing.
https://soundcloud.com/mmmusic/elbow-new-york-morning
Upcoming Tour Dates:
3/31, Birmingham, LG Arena
4/6, Glasgow, SSE Hydro
4/8, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
4/9, Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
4/11, Leeds, First Direct Arena
4/12, Liverpool, Echo Arena
4/14, Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
4/16, London, The O2
US Tour:
5/11, Washington, D.C., 930 Club
5/12, Boston, MA., Royale Night Club
5/13, Philadelphia, PA., Electric Factory
5/16, New York, NY., Webster Hall
5/17, Toronto, ON., Danforth Music Hall
5/19, Chicago, IL., House of Blues
5/20, Minneapolis, MN., First Avenue
5/23, Vancouver, BC., Commodore Ballroom
5/24, Portland, OR. Wonder Ballroom
5/25, Quincy, WA., Sasquatch Music Festival
5/27, Oakland, CA., The Fox Theater
5/28, Los Angeles, CA., The Wiltern
Whether you intend on celebrating Valentine’s this year or plan on canceling the holiday all together, today’s roundup of electronic servings can be enjoyed regardless of romantic status. First up is San Francisco’s Lane 8, aka Daniel Goldstein’s newly released deep house production “The One,” featuring vocals by Patrick Baker. Also, French producer TEEMID has teamed up with Canadian singer-songwriter Daniela Andrade to cover Flight Facilities‘ “Crave You.” TEEMID’s take on the classic dance track is a sexy and refreshing rendering — pick up this pure cover gold for free by following the link on Soundcloud. The last one I’ll leave you with is an oldie but a goodie from house favorite Nicolas Jaar, one half of the New York duo Darkside. Sampling from The Searcher’s “Love Potion No. 9,” his slow-building edit “Stay in Love” is a shimmery and deliciously addictive disco-y number that will make you want to procure some of this mysterious elixir…
Another Saturday night is upon us, which means it’s time for a roundup of this week’s finest electronic offerings. EXROYALE, a mysterious new group (self-described as a glow in the dark game of truth or dare), have a track called “Give It Up” that has been given the remix treatment by Ra Ra Riot‘s Milo Bonacci. Pick up a free download of the energetic track here and play it on repeat. Also, the Irish electronic producer EMBRZ has just released a melodic new track, “Make Your Way.” Lastly, the Sydney-based group Mitzi have released a rad reinterpretation of Mayer Hawthorne‘s “Reach Out Richard.” Grab the garage disco track gratis here.
Whether you’re looking for a groovy tune to get in a festive spirit this Christmas Eve, or perhaps for an upcoming holiday party — this upbeat number by Slovenian electro-soul pioneer Gramatik should do the trick.
Upcoming tour dates to accompany the imminent drop of his LP The Age of Reason below.
Gramatik Upcoming Tour Dates:
12/30/13 Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
12/31/13 Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
1/16/14 Toronto, ON @ The Hoxton
1/17/14 Quebec City, QC @ Imperial de Quebec
1/18/14 Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Télus
1/19/14 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
1/21/14 Brooklyn, NY @ Output Club
1/23/14 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
1/24/14 Providence, RI @ Lupo’s
1/25/14 New York, NY @ Best Buy Theater
Brooklyn-based duo Holy Ghost! have just released a dance-floor bootleg version of Blood Orange‘s hit single “You’re Not Good Enough,” to coincide with the announcement of their upcoming tour dates (see below).
The original track — produced by the talented songwriter Dev Hynes (known as Blood Orange) — is quintessentially 80’s in style. Dev has worked with the likes of Florence and the Machine, Solange (“Losing You”), and Sky Ferreira (“Everything is Embarrassing”), so he clearly knows how to craft a good pop song. The track, which was released on his album Cupid Deluxe last month has been compared to the pop stylings of Prince, but my mind keeps going to Sheila E. What do you guys think?
See for yourself and pick up the free Holy Ghost! bootleg below as well.
Upcoming Holy Ghost! Tour Dates:
1/10 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
1/11 Miami, FL @ Bardot
2/07 Philadelphia, PA @ The Dolphin
2/08 Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
2/13 Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
2/14 Toronto, ON @ The Hoxton
2/21 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
2/22 Chicago, IL @ Smart Bar
poetry in an empty coke can 