Category: Music

The Audiofiles: Chilled Out

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It’s officially the calm after the Music Festival Storm – last Saturday was Day of the Dead presented by HARD Fest; and with the likes of Maya Jane Coles, Justice, Knife Party, Soul Clap, Tommy Trash and Diplo it was not to be missed.  We’ve all been putting the glorious pieces of our weekend back together and are coming to the same conclusion – we had such the excellent time!  Sure, there were some hang ups and things that could’ve been handled better – the line to get in was awful, and there were moments we thought we might get trampled – but once we got inside the festival…it was magical! Per usual, I had the time of my life bouncing, rocking and raging to the sounds of my favorite DJs….but now that it’s Monday, I’m ready to chillout again.  Below is a mix of my favorite chilled artists Blackmill, Seven Lions and Phaeleh; Seven Lions gets a little harder and dirtier than the rest,  Phaeleh us full of sweet and delicate rhythms Blackmill rests beautiful somewhere in between the two. Enjoy, and hope your Monday is as relaxed as mine is about to be!

Tracklist

  1. Blackmill – Miracle
  2. Phaeleh – Natural Feeling
  3. Seven Lions ft. Shaz Sparks – Polarized
  4. Blackmill – My Love
  5. Phaeleh ft Soundmouse – The Cold In You
  6. Seven Lions ft. Birds of Paradise – She Was
  7. Blackmill – Friend
  8. Seven Lions ft Fiora – Days to Come
  9. Phaeleh ft Soundmouse – Afterglow
  10. Blackmill – Lucid Truth
  11. Florence and the Machine – Cosmic Love (Seven Lions Remix)
  12. Blackmill – Home
  13. Above & Beyond – You Got To Go (Seven Lions Remix)
  14. Phaeleh – Lounge
  15. Blackmill – Evil Beauty
  16. Superbus – All Alone (Seven Lions Remix)
  17. Phaeleh – In The Twilight
  18. Blackmill – Skippin’ ‘n’ Trippin’
  19. Phaeleh – ft Indi Kaur – Healing
  20. Blackmill – Spirit of Life
  21. Above & Beyond ft Richard Bedford – On My Way To Heaven (Seven Lions Remix)
  22. Phaeleh – Think About It
  23. Carly M Burns – New Obsession (Blackmill Remix)
  24. Blackmill – Fortune Soul
  25. Velvetine – The Great Divide (Seven Lions Remix)
  26. Phaeleh – Should Be True
  27. Blackmill ft Veela – Let It Be

The Audiofiles: Required Listening for HARD’s Day of the Dead

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Halloween is a magical time of year for most people but once you’ve been to Santa Barbara to celebrate the holiday Gaucho style, there’s really no turning back. Instead of just one day of tricks, treats and costumes you can spend the better half of the month in costume.  Now that I’m a little older and a tad more mature, I don’t feel the need to party the way I did for it in college.  I still have a hard time saying no to fun, but I’d like to think that I pick and choose my battles a little more wisely at this point.

Like I always rave about LA, there are so many – almost too many options when it comes to getting down with your bad self.  I tend to be swayed by the social factors – like which of my friends will be there and who would be down for group costumes; but it also comes down to taste in music, how far you’re willing to travel and preferred venue – house party, festival or club. And since I’ve moved to LA, I’ve basically covered all of the bases.  My first year, I went to Monster Massive, Hard Haunted and spent the week in Santa Barbara; in 2009, I stayed in to study for the GRE and hang out with my kitties; in 2010 I went to Avalon for Dirty South and last year it was a combination of a great house party in Newport thrown by close friends and seeing Nero slay it at the Music Box. And finally  this year I’m going back to my festival roots and hitting up HARD Presents Day of the Dead.

I have somewhat of a lovehate relationship with festivals – they’re crowded, the lines are terrible, lots of pushing and sound systems failing, the beer cups are small,  the drinking area is in an undesirable location and lets not even get started on the bathroom situation.  But then, there’s this glorious flip side: magical experiences with new friends and old, ridiculous people watching, amazing costumes, incredible performances, surprise guests and celebrity sightings. Over the past few years I’ve been known to say the phrase “Never, ever again…” while leaving but I just keep coming back for more.  I went to HARD summer and had a fabulous time so I figured why not give it another whirl – the Metro is free to ride and runs until 3am, perfect for us nocturnal kittens who thrive on the freaks coming out at night.

To better prepare myself for next Saturday’s mayhem, I’ve made a little playlist of the artists I want to see next weekend. Let the countdown to Day of the Dead begin!

Tracklist

  1. Knife Party – Internet Friends
  2. Justice – Genesis
  3. Zeds Dead ft Omar Linx – You and I
  4. Major Lazer ft The Partysquad – Original Don
  5. Blue Foundation – Eyes on Fire (Zeds Dead Remix)
  6. John Dahlback ft Erik Hassle – One Last Ride (Tommy Trash Remix)
  7. Tiesto vs Diplo – C’mon
  8. Jack Beats ft John B – All Night
  9. Dillon Francis & Kill the Noise – Dill the Noise
  10. Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix)
  11. Moguai & Tommy Trash – In N’Out (Tommy Trash Remix)
  12. Jack Beats – Get Down
  13. Bo Saris – She’s On Fire (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
  14. Chris Isaak – Wicked Games (Soul Clap Remix)
  15. Clockwork – Airflow
  16. Diplo ft Lazrdisk Party Sex – Set It Off
  17. Dillon Francis – I.D.G.A.F.O.S.
  18. Zedd – Stars Come Out (Dillon Francis Remix)
  19. MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
  20. Knife Party – Centipede
  21. Major Lazer ft Nina Sky – Keep It Going Louder
  22. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
  23. Felix Cartal – Love (Clockwork Remix)
  24. Knife Party – Rage Valley

Mellow Monday: Finnebassen

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This past summer was probably one of the, if not the busiest I’ve had in 27 years of existence. Sure, as a child my time would fill up with camps, sports and sleepovers – but those were all ridiculously fun endeavors that I simply didn’t have to pay for out of my own.  The older and more mature I become, the more I realize that absolutely nothing from childhood can compare to the harmony any of us have to sustain in our adult lives.

Weeks are spent negotiating an 8-to-5 job, gym sessions, and extended family dinners; the better part of the weekend is spent finding an equilibrium between the dance floor and downtime. Well, this summer I spent a lot of momentum bouncing from rooftop, warehouse and boat parties all around the great city of Los Angeles.  Maybe it’s the fact I finally did my financials, or it could be the shift to Autumn weather – and by Autumn I mean that the temperature in LA is below 90 for now – perfect for catching some Indian Summer sun by the pool and devouring a great read – but lately I’ve shifted from ballin’ on a budget, so to speak, to kicking back with a good soundtrack, some drinks and my close friends.

One of our favorite pastimes is sharing music – which is convenient because we all have an immense love for music and  overlapping, phenomenal tastes.  One of the up and coming artists we’re all enthralled with is Finnebassen from Norway.   What hooked me on his music were  the R&B vocals delicately layered over his deep house beats, which is perfect for floating through the day to 5 o’clock.

Tracklist

  1. Finnebassen – Monday
  2. Finnebassen – Touching Me
  3. Finnebassen – If You Only Knew
  4. Finnebassen – When Doves Cry
  5. Teenage Mutants – Out of Time (Finnebassen Remix)
  6. Finnebassen – Such a High
  7. Finnebassen – Bleedin Out
  8. Finnebassen – Repeat
  9. Finnebassen ft. Gundelach – When It Rains
  10. Caribou – Jamelia (Finnebassen Kose-Edit)
  11. Finnebassen – I’m In Love With You

Music Monday: Movin’ and Shakin’

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I think we’ve all been here before:

You’re all packed and ready to head out the door; your hands are full and your head is swimming with excitement over your weekend vacation.  With the trunk packed and some snacks in the passenger seat, you head out on your journey….only to be accompanied by everyone’s mom and dog because it’s 4pm on a Friday and you live in the heart of ‘insert-major-metropolitan-city-here‘.  Traffic on city streets is a little slow but that’s okay for you, you can handle it.  You start to merge onto the freeway and suddenly you’re engulfed into a parking lot of metal, exhaust and horrible moods. Oh, no!

I grew up in the Silicon Valley, and let me tell you – even with all those Freeways (101, 85, 87, 280, 80, 180, 680, 880….) we had some of the worst rush hour traffic I’ve ever been in.  And then I moved to Los Angeles.  If traffic in the bay is deplorable, traffic down here is like being in the second or third layer of hell – respectively.  Good thing this potentially awful experience has an antidote: music.  When I know I’ll be stuck in traffic, I get on my computer the night before with a purpose – if my car isn’t moving, I think my body should be. I’m one of those creatures who hates sitting still, so if I’m not tearing rubber having a one girl car rave seems like the next best logical choice.  Before I left for San Diego, I had a feeling I’d be sitting in traffic for a long, long time.  So, I scoured my iTunes library and made a kickass playlist with new and old favorites that I could belt out and dance to.  Chances are, I was “that” girl in my car – that girl having too much fun considering the situation at hand.  But when you compare that to the people that looked beyond miserable, I’ll take it – life might not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we may as well dance!

Tracklist:

  1. Craig David – Hot Stuff (Chase & Status Remix)
  2. Kaskade ft Haley – Llove (Dada Life Radio Edit)
  3. Chromeo – Night by Night (Shreddie Mercury Remix)
  4. Michael Jackson – Speed Demon (NERO Remix)
  5. Deadmau5 – There Might Be Coffe
  6. Pryda – Shadows
  7. Flight Facilities ft. Grovesnor – With You
  8. DJ Fresh ft Dizzee Rascal – The Power
  9. Rusko – Everyday (Netsky Remix)

The Audiofiles: Let’s Get Mellow

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I don’t know about y’all, but I had a busy, busy, busy weekend.  Several friends were enjoying birthday celebrations and to boot – the weather was absolutely phenomenal!  It’s been nothing but heat wave after heat wave, but with gorgeous blue skies and pools, playful friendships and a city to paint all sort of neon colors – I don’t think I have any business complaining.  

My head’s been in the clouds all day running through the hilarity of the weekend and I could use something mellow to soothe my soul (and my new tattoo!); these are the jams that are currently making my Monday more enjoyable.  Enjoy!

 

Tracklist

  1. Waifs & Strays – Body Shiver (Hot Natured Remix)
  2. Solomun – After Rain Comes Sun
  3. Infinity Ink – Infinity
  4. Maceo Plex – Ain’t That Love
  5. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner – Sky and Sand
  6. Jan Blomvist – Something says
  7. Maceo Plex – Frisky
  8. OXIA – Harmonie

The Audiofiles: Ready for the Weekend

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Live music might be one of my favorite things in the history of ever.  I know that’s a bold blanket statement, but believe you me – I stick by it 100%.  Whether it’s Folk, Indie, Rock, Hip Hop, World Music or Electro – there’s nothing quite like the live experience.  I eat up the energy in the crowd like it’s my job and the music fills me up like a balloon; it’s one of the only times I can say that yes – I’m truly satisfied with my surroundings.

Last weekend was no different than any other weekend for me; bouncing around from location to location, experiencing so many different types of music. On Friday night, I went and enjoyed Beats Antique, Bones, Russ Liquid and Jeremy Sole at Club Nokia thanks to the Do Lab; with that much it was such a phenomenal display of musicianship, bouncing from electronic world fusion to glitch and trap. Saturday, I found myself at Dim Mak studios in Hollywood getting my Superfreq on to some amazing deep house and tech house sounds and then ended my night at the infamous Secret Cinema, a warehouse party that doesn’t start until 1 am and doesn’t end…well, ever.  And things were finally wrapped up that evening at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood for some typical Sunday Funday shenanigans.  Each event boasted a completely different type of sound, crowd and vibe – and that is one of the reasons I love this city: there are so many nuanced, musical subcultures that there’s literally something for everyone to enjoy.And now, being Thursday – it’s time once again to prepare ourselves to take on the weekend; these are the songs that are currently getting me excited for the clock to hit 5pm tomorrow night…

Tracklist

  1. Noosa – Walk On By (Sound Remedy Remix)
  2. Metrik ft Reija Lee – Freefall (xKore Remix)
  3. Sub Focus – Out of the Blue (Xilent Remix)
  4. Sub Focus – Falling Down (Kaptain Bootleg)
  5. Krewella – One Minute (DotEXE’s Dopest Dope Remix)
  6. Spencer & Hill ft Nadia Ali – Believe It (Cazzette’s Androids Sound Hot Remix)

[Wednesday Watch] Daft Punk Interstella 5555

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It’s not so often that you can find your favorite movie in a hat trick like this – for free, in its entirety, and online.  Well, someone’s gone and done it for Daft Punk’s Interstella 5555.  Set to their album, Discovery – this is one of my all time favorite animated flicks to pop in during a lazy day.

Hands down, they’re one of my favorite DJ Duos (ironically, I had to explain their musical influence to my team at work to better market the movie Tron for Walt Disney Studios);  if they were start touring again, believe you me: I will spend my last pretty penny to see them do their thang.

So, without further ado….the video that started it all for me:

 

Interstella 5555 by pyke369