Los Angeles, kick December off right! On Thursday, December 1st, the International music collective – The Flex Up Crew is partnering up with Showcase Monday’s for an unforgettable night at Union Nightclub for the latest installation of LA’s Future Dancehall Night. Featuring the delectable sounds from Bad Royale, the locally loved Two Seven Clash, Ackee Juice Rockers and the evening’s special guests – Big Fish, you’ll be moving and grooving to the funky riddims all night long.
Tickets Available for $10 from TicketflyPushing the boundaries of bass, dubstep and moombahton – Southern California based Bad Royale has blossomed within the Dance circuit and honed in on their own unique brand of sound – Kingstep, while the Italian duo the Ackee Juice Rockers deliver a dancehall fusion of hip hop, electronic and ethnic rhythms within their DJ sets. Hometown heroes Two Seven Clash come Diplo approved and prepared to move, with one foot firmly based in the belief of Rastafari and the other planted on the streets of Los Angeles. Last but certainly not least, the night boasts beats from none other than Bid Fish – indisputably one of the most influential producers and DJs in Italy’s Urban and Hip Hop music scene, with various tracks and remixes released on Mad Decent.
Event Details
19+ to Dance, 21+ to Drink Union Nightclub – Jewel’s Room
4067 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
Feast your ears on a taste of the weekend and get your dancing shoes ready – this is one event you won’t want to miss.
Over the last decade, the scope of the music industry has been a’changin. Not only do we live in an era where social media is king and YouTube stars receive as much praise as multi platinum rockstars, but with the influx of a menagerie of streaming music services – including Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and the like – over, the past five years there has been a severe decline in album sales. While many artists depend on well calculated content calendars and PR specialists to passionately promote and push their music, the truly talented have the ability to be propelled to centerstage based on their craft alone.
Invariably, a collection of past tracks that have finally seen the light of day, ‘untitled unmastered’ is an 8 track lyrical introspection layered with textured instrumentals and a grimy feel. Each track is labeled with an ominous ‘untitled #’ with a date ranging from 2013 to 2014, except for track 7, which appears to have been touched again in 2016; and if we look at his artist path in a linear fashion, these tracks appear to have been born around the same time he was working on ‘TPaB‘, and potentially are demos that never made the final cut.
Take it for a spin – let me know what you think in the comments below!
Hailed by the California Senate as a ‘Generational Icon’, Kendrick Lamar continually champions the voice of the ghetto and the underground while pushing the auditory landscape of Rap and Hip Hop with his honest lyrics, experimental instrumentals and raw artistry.
Last Weekend, when Danny and I gallivanted up the California Coast for our friend’s beautiful wedding at the Falkirk Cultural Center – we took a necessary deviation from what’s seemingly become our standard road-tripping playlists, bass heavy, glitch infused tracks that more often than not lack a vocal track. Don’t get me wrong, I thrive on the complexities, deviations in structure and the plethora of noises that stem from Electronic Music. But, now that I’ve had my ‘Robot Ears’ on for the better part of the last decade – songs from individual genres seem to blend together effortlessly into musical amalgamation of Dubstep, Deep House and Trance.
If it weren’t for the varied live groups like Modestep, Odesza, Keys n Krates, EOTO, Emancipator Ensemble and STS9, expertly fused live DJ sets from the likes of Bassnectar, Andy C, Beardyman, Kastle, Disclosure, Bonobo and Shpongle and exceptional one off live Trance shows like Armin van Buuren’s Armin Only and Above & Beyond’s Acoustic at the Greek – I wouldn’t lost my faith in the umbrella genre of EDM long ago. So, for this 10 hour cruise – we put up our disco duds and busted it old school thanks to some help from Spotify, and a whole lot of great memories from our childhood. On my infinite list of things I love about Danny, it’s that even though we didn’t grow up near each other nor share any childhood memories – we both used to rock out to the same ol’ songs and that fact brings us so much closer together. Music, as it already stands, is a building block of our relationship (hell, we met EDC weekend 2010, said the magic words at LIB then got engaged at Shambhala) – but it’s also an emotive, binding force.
As only children, a lot of the time we were left alone with music and our own thoughts – meaning that these artists had a substantial impact on our childhood, as well as our world view. For the drive, we listened to it all. From Rock and Roll like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sum 41, blink182 and Sublime to Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and the Barenaked Ladies to Hip Hop and Rap from Run DMC, A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Nas, Puff Daddy (back when he was actually Puff Daddy), Notorious B.I.G. and some guilty pleasure pop music a la Celine, Whitney, Mariah, Alanis and Fiona – we went back, way back – and it was the best time ever. So good, in fact, that I’ve made a collaborative playlist on Spotify and y’all can add your favorite 90’s tracks, too! So take your hair down, put your feet up and let’s kick it old school for Throwback Thursday.
What’s your go to 90’s track? Leave it some love in the comments below – or better yet, head on over to Spotify and add to my collaborative playlist!
For the last few weeks while I’ve been moving, I’ve been making a point of slowly but surely migrating from the bottom right of the Lightning in a Bottle flyer up to the top left just so I could really understand the entire breadth of the line-up. I made it about three lines up until I had to stop myself because my ears were swimming with a new sound; something that found it’s identity somewhere between the groovy rhythms of MoTown Soul, the raw emotions of Hip Hop and our new age electronic influences. Originally from Houston but now residing in Denver, Late Night Radio – known to friends as Alex Medellin – puts a fresh take on old favorites; transforming classics into revamped masterpieces in incredible Vinyl Restoration series as well as his EP’s – Far Into The Night and Concrete Collage. They’re so funky and retro, but with a unique flare of Electro Soul that keeps you dancing minute after minute.
Each time I’ve gone back to the lineup, I find myself going right on back to LNR – and each time I listen to his mixes, I find a new moment to covet or song to obsess over. I’ve even converted my boyfriend and our housemate into fans – and as it stands, we’re more excited about LNR at LIB than almost everyone else on the lineup. His collaborations with Robotic Pirate Monkey are obscenely amazing but I’d have to say, my current favorites are ‘For Dreamers’ – and his latest mix in the VR series.
I can picture it now: a lazy Saturday afternoon in the beautiful, Monterey sunshine – hundreds of smiling faces, of every age and every type of music lover – grinnin’ and groovin’ to some of these LNR sounds…
Keep up with Late Night Radio across their socials –
“I keep it playin’ while some choose to play it safe…”
As I cruised through the lineup for Lightning in a Bottle, a wave of confusion washed over my body – I recognized about two thirds of the entire line-up but the closer I got to the bottom of the bill, the more questions I had: who are you, how did you get here and can you move my head,heart and / or feet? Moby, Phantogram and Little Dragon grace the topline and rightfully so – they’re household names that you actually have the chance of hearing on mainstream radio. Then you work downwards: Amon Tobin, Gold Panda, Simian Mobile Disco, Beats Antique, Gramatik, Chet Faker, Thomas Jack, Random Rab, Desert Dwellers; those names might cause some to scratch their heads, but if you’ve been on the outskirts of indie electro or in the electronic underground – they’re just as familiar, if not more so than the latest work from the ‘headliners’.
Slowly but surely, I’ve been chronicling the artists starting from the bottom right corner and heading up that bright headline of familiar faces. Over the past few years, this process has become more of a tradition – starting with my first Coachella and leading me here – to my second Lightning in a Bottle experience. And now that I’ve gotten aquanited with some of the lesser known acts, let me just ooze with excitement for a second: between the world music out of Natasha Kmeto, the delightful deep house grooves of Marley Carroll and the groovy, jam-band Plantrae – the bottom of the lineup has just as much, if not more talent than the top. And of course, I already have a steady list of favorite artists that I’m delighted to be sharing with the world. The cherry on top of my ice cream sundae is that two artists that I’ve featured in my Rising Star Spotlight series made the line-up – Thomas Jack and Flume, who’ll be performing as half of the duo What So Not.
The original plan was to meander through the artists repository on Soundcloud and throw a few tracks into my LIB Prep Playlist; but then, I put on The Polish Ambassador – and somewhere between the one woman dance party that started in my living room, rocking out in the car and then sharing my favorite jams with my friends, I’d realized that I’d been on a 2 hour kick and wasn’t planning on coming out of it anytime soon. From the funky soul grooves to the ambient, ethereal soundscapes, The Polish Ambassador has effortlessly and successfully crafted music for any occasion. My current favorite called ‘Girl Control’; it’s an oldie, but a goodie – and I’ll bet your bottom dollar you won’t stop booty shakin’ til its over.
As the festival gets closer, I’ll be shining the spotlight on the artists, entertainment, live talks and music that will be filling the hills of the San Antonio Recreation Area in Bradley, CA. I can’t wait to share what makes this festival so amazing with everyone, and hopefully I’ll be seeing your beautiful faces in the mountains!
If you’ve been following this blog since its inception, you’re more than aware of my affinity for all things EDM; from festivals to intimate clubs, amazing remixes to fresh artists I can honestly say that I love it all. However, one thing that’s been driven into my head lately is that there really is too much of a good thing. One of my favorite quotes goes ‘Everything in moderation, including moderation‘ and I should have been more willing to apply that to my taste in music. Over the course of this year, I’ve found myself with more than just a hand in the music industry’s ‘cookie jar’. Back in January, my good friend and I co-founded Beatnet EDM to provide a fun forum for EDM fans and concurrently, I began penning articles and reviews for The DJ List, one of the largest Global DJ resources since ’97. Suffice it to say, I’ve essentially over-saturated this precious brain of mine in untz, driving basslines and the sound of sweet synths and I’ve been yearning for something more.
Now, I haven’t always been an EDM junkie – once upon a time I listened to everything under the sun; not that I don’t still appreciate all of it, but I do have a method behind my madness. Back in the late 90’s and in early 2000, I’d just discovered Trance and House – DJ Encore & Angelina, Tiesto, Benny Benassi – but spent most of my time listening to acts like the Dixie Chicks, Yellowcard, Eminem, New Found Glory, Montgomery Gentry, TI, Outkast, 50 Cent. Over time, the Pop lyrics were simple and the melodies repetitive; the Alternative guitar shrills, Punk drum snares and Emo noises blended together; the lyrics coming out of the Hip-Hop and Rap camps were overwhelmingly misogynistic, drug fueled and money hungry. Needless to say, at the time I wanted something more – and that something more was Electro. I was sick of people dictating my emotional state with every quarter note and EDM gave me the opportunity to feel something absolutely different each and every time I listed to a track like Tiësto’s ‘Flight 643’.
Little did I know that I was more or less creating a bouncing, breathing EDM monster; there’s no way around it, I was hooked….but like I said earlier, everything in moderation – including EDM. I’ve gotten to the point that I’ll listen to five or six songs in a row and they all blur together – artists that are completely unrelated sound absolutely synonymous and my worst fear has actually come true: I’m bored. No, let me extrapolate – it’s far more than that: I’m not being mentally stimulated or driven to feel a profound emotion like I was before; I don’t get lost in the music – I simply find myself wanting more. More than those monotonously repetitive chord progressions, more than beats that bombard you with bass , more than music that inspires the people around me to rage face and get plurnt. I like music with a message – whether it’s telling me one or I can derive one – I like music with a purpose, music with meaning. And lately, it’s been harder and harder to find it.
And let’s face it, it’s not just me – my boyfriend is a shining example of a faithful festival goer who loves his dirty beats and vocal trance, but over the course of the past year he’s become fed up with the monotony of the music industry and has more than begged me to diversify my tastes and branch back out into other genres. A few weeks ago, we went up to San Francisco for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and I was immediately reminded why I used to love acoustic music, crystal clear vocals and real instruments. So, I thought it’d be the perfect time to branch back out into the genres I’ve formerly loved and see what else is out there. I’ve been doing some prowling over the past few days and I’m excited to share what this bouncy kitty has dragged in.
I literally just stumbled on her today and already have to confess something: I have the tinniest little girl crush on her! Her sultry voice feels like silk on my eardrums and her seductive r&b infused indie rock sound is absolutely refreshing. I’ve been riffling through her discography and she’s worked with an all star production cast including two of my personal favorites, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Jamie Woon. Yes, there’s admittedly an electronic influence – but it’s just that, an influence – an afterthought. Banks reminds me of Jesse Ware, Landa Del Rey and Fiona Apple – but with more of a bite.
Little known N9ne fact for yea: you might know him for his ridiculous flow, but the veteran rapper is gaining recognition in the business world as being the mogul of the Hip-Hop Industry. Between his record label, Strange Music, tours, merchendising company and recording studio – he came in as the 18th highest paid rapper in the business last year. Tech N9ne has been around as long as I’ve been listening to rap, and based on the sound of his new album – Therapy – he and I share similar feelings, just about different industries. He’s reached out to several people in the Rock and Metal scene including Limp Bizkit frontman Wes Borland and the multi talented producer behind the likes of Slipknot, Korn and At the Drive In – Ross Robinson. His vocals still pack the same powerful punch as when I first started listening to him – but now, with the combination of the 808 and live instruments I’m completely enthralled and drawn in. I’m impatiently counting down the days til November 5 when Therapy hits iTunes and can’t wait to hear what he does next.
You’ve been up since 6:30 am and it’s been a long, arduous day.
Maybe you went to the gym before work you little go-getter, you.
Maybe you’re attempting to be frugal and you’re spending your downtime doing daily meal prep so you can save some scrilla.
Maybe you’ve been hitting the snooze button on repeat and have no desire to open your black-out blinds and realize it’s a gorgeous day.
Regardless, the fact of the matter is the world did in fact decide to go on without you; and there’s been some ridiculous stuff going on. Here are the stories, websites and blogs you should have wasted some time on today….
Education
Too Cool for School: DJ Afrika Bambaataa, one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop, has just accepted a position as a visiting scholar at Cornell. Fun fact: Cornell has the largest living archives on Hip Hop Culture. Now that’s something I’d go back to school for.
For-Profit Colleges: In a recent statement, the Senate has released a dense and critical report on the state of ‘For Profit’ colleges in this country; with the final word being that For Profit Universities have an elevated drop out rate and are far more likely to place a student into debt than a State or Private college.
Entertainment
Checkbook DJs: We’ve all heard of the “laptop” DJ; they’re great at button pushing and don’t know what beat matching is. Well now, there’s a new breed. The TOP 100 DJ Poll, once considered the Holy Grail of DJ status, has proven itself to be faulty. Now, anyone who saw Guetta at the top of the list last year probably has a head start on the sentiment; but consider this new information. DJ’s are now cheating on their DJ mag poll; buying placement in the magazine and buying votes.
Science + Technology
Mars: Being a science geek growing up wasn’t exactly considered cool; but living in a time where we can go and explore another planet definitely is! Click any of the links below for pictures, articles, etc on the great discoveries happening on the Red Planet.
Summer Olympics Roundup: In case you’ve been hiding under a rock these last few weeks, you should be well aware of the Summer Olympics in London. There was Mean Girl Makayla, and that really gorgeous idiot that can swim; but most of all there were some ridiculous moments during the opening and closing ceremonies for the games. James Bond and the Queen; Mr. Bean; The Spice Girls; Horrible humor. It was very, very British of them. Below you’ll find some of my favorite Olympic inspired blog posts and memes…
Science + Technology
The Bouncy Kitty 
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