Tuesday’s Artist Spotlight: Knife Party

Friday the 13th and Knife Party go together like lamb and tuna fish. Or maybe you prefer spaghetti and meatball?

Spring Awakening Music Festival 2014 Day One will certainly be one for the record books. With a headliner like Moby taking to the main stage as the Friday headliner of last year, it’s no wonder that React Presents wanted to step up their game this summer.  Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen are no newbies to the EDM scene. For those unaware (where have you been, brah?), the duo formed simultaneously with the impending departure of Pendulum, their former group. Shattering boundaries and synthesizing unmatched beats is no new feat for these electro-house rocking trailblazers, and I can specifically remember the first time I listened to their debut Summer Mix; it practically launched me headfirst into the electronic scene.

Thanks guys.

Since the groups formation, Knife Party has been one of the most imitated acts in all of EDM. Mr. Swire and Mr. McGrillen are so talented that for the first four years of this decade, new artists and producers have constantly aspired to attain a method such as theirs. We had the privilege to see KP on Halloween in Chicago a few years back. Midgets on stilts and chicks in metal bikinis rubbing chainsaws on their private parts – what more could you ask for? The experienced I had watching Knife Party perform will forever be ingrained in my memory as one of the best show I have, and probably will ever see.

This is why popping in at the Knife Party set on Friday at SAMF will be a no brainer.

See you there.

Who: Knife Party

What: Next-level, fast-paced metal influenced electro house

When: 9:00 to 10:00 PM

Where: Equinox Stage

Why: Really? You don’t know?

Varien & SirensCeol – Moonlight (Feat. Aloma Steele) [Monstercat]

This next jam is simply beautiful.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve championed one of the next two artists, Stephen Burke aka SirensCeol, from the most embryonic stages of his production career. Fortunately for Stephen, both his work-ethic and intellect (the man attends Berkeley University, need I say more?) have catapulted his talents to the forefront of EDM production with his unique approach to melodic dubstep and many other genres.

I vividly remember when SirensCeol opened for another enigmatic, genre-blurring production prodigy known as Savant. Josh Hernandez, the CEO of Alek’s record company (SectionZ Records) also happened to be in attendance as well.

Before the show began, I had excitedly rushed up to him and told him to pay special attention to the opening act, Stephen.

After SirensCeol performed a wicked set and was transitioning to let Aleks set up his gear, I beckoned Josh over to the front of the stage where I was standing.

“You gotta sign that artist,” I yelled over the music playing during the entr’acte, “He’s incredible.”

Josh simply smiled and gave me an ever so cool, “Yeah, maybe.”

Next thing I knew, six months later, young Stephen had released his first full-length on SectionZ Records with Josh.

Funny, huh?

Despite the fact that I love telling people ‘I told you so’, I will try my hardest to abstain here.

However, California-based producer SirensCeol has come quite a long way. This next jam with Varien will only serve to further this fact. Featuring the incredibly dulcet vocals of Aloma Steele (which Stephen himself was incredibly satisfied with), “Moonlight” reached the number one spot on Beatport’s Dubstep charts in virtually no time at all.

Let’s give a congratulatory “follow” to Varien and SirensCeol on their prospective social media outlets. I hope you enjoy this absolutely fantastic track, which was released on Monstercat…go figure.

Great work boys, keep em’ coming.

▼ Follow Varien
YouTube: www.Youtube.com/VarienOfficial
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VarienOfficial
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/VarienOfficial
Soundcloud: @VarienOfficial

▼ Follow SirensCeol
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SirensCeol
Twitter: twitter.com/SirensCeol
Soundcloud: @sirens-ceol
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/SirensCeol

Two More EDM Songs (Minus The ‘D’) [Free Download]

If the title left you scratching your beautiful little head, we’re sorry.

 

 

Please let me explain.

After stumbling upon both of these tracks in the very same day, I thought it proper to share them with you. The particular quality or motif that both of these songs share is a very simple concept to understand, however its role may be vitally important to the music industry as a whole. As stated in the title, both of these jams are EDM (Electronic Dance Music) without the ‘D’ or, more simply, Electronic Music.

Yeah, I get it. “EM,” as it shall be called, is most assuredly not a new concept in popular music. Hipsters have been doing it since they started making corduroy pants and fixed gear velocipedes (quintessentially indie way of saying “bicycles”)…and that’s a long time.

Trust me.

However, both of these tracks by artists AFK and Matchbox Orchestra incorporate particular qualities of Electronic Music that are more closely related to those heard in Electronic Dance Music. More often these days we are beginning to witness these electronic sounds pop up in any and every other genre of already established popular music. Instead of boring you with the details of what I mean exactly, I figured it might be more fun if you just listened. Try and tease out these concepts yourself. See if you can understand exactly what we are talking about.

Both “I forget” by Matchbox Orchestra featuring CubeKin and AFK’s remix of “Bride Side” by Protohype and Ras feature a more minimalistic “electronic” approach than most EDM productions. I say this because both artists are EDM producers by trade.

If anything, the two songs sound more like regular old rock jams than anything. In my opinion, this method serves to make the individual breakdowns all the more dulcet and indicative of the emotion the vocalist is trying to convey in their lyrics. Instead of being stagnantly satiated with overwhelming electronic arrangements, they are saved for a time when the song truly NEEDS it.

Good luck getting either of these tunes out of your heads.

1. Protohype – Bright Side ft. Ras (AFK Remix ft. DKS)

2. Matchbox Orchestra – I Forget ft. CubeKin

Monstercat 017 – Ascension Ascends the Label Even Further

Over the past two years, I have watched this next label transform from the likes of a promising, transgenre EDM collective (with loads of potential) into the fierce jungle feline you see before you today.

Monstercat is most certainly where it’s at when discussing labels that have set the tone for the next few years of electronic dance music releases.

How, you ask?

Well, that next part is a bit tricky.

To begin, this Vancouver-based music label has elucidated talents from some of the most unheard of, eclectic groups of musicians in all of dance music. Not only have they championed said undiscovered artists onto the scene, but these new talents have proceeded to swell their fair share of waves in this vastly expanding ocean we affectionately refer to as the “EDM-o-sphere.” A quick glance at the “current roster” on the official Monstercat web page will reveal a staggering number of widely popular producers you may not have necessarily associated with MCat.

7 Minutes Dead, Astronaut, Au5, Braken, Case & Point, Direct, DotEXE, Dzeko & Torres, Droptek, Falcon Funk, Favright, Fractal, Haywyre, Hellburg, Insan3lik3, Krewella, Lets Be Friends, Mr Fijiwiji, Noisestorm, PIXL, Pegboard Nerds, Project 46, Rameses B, Razihel, Rogue, Soulero, Splitbreed, Stephen Walking, Throttle, Tristam, Tut Tut Child, Varien and Vicetone.

(Just to name a few of my favorites.)

However, words will only get me so far. You need to HEAR what I mean.

Without hesitation, the fat cats over at MC have released their 17th compilation LP to date. So far, “Monstercat 017 – Ascension” has garnered attention from every corner of the EDM world, making this their most supported album to date! With a four-hour laundry list of tracks, fantastic production quality throughout, and loads of prodigal EDM producers on top of it all, Monstercat presents to you a release that will only serve to exacerbate their stranglehold on the EDM industry.

Keep it up boys and girls.

Artist Spotlight | KASBO [Future Beauty]

Coming from one of the biggest dubstep (and overall heavy, bass driven music) fanatics – it was rather difficult to make the transition to a more downtempo, hip-hop influenced type of production method. With friends who just wouldn’t stop playing artists like Flume, Cashmere Cat and 123mrk – I was prepped to groove straight into a style of music that I was previously too closed-minded to ever give a chance.

Today, a smattering of electronic dance music producers possess their own unique approach when it comes to creating a downtempo, hip-hop or trap-influenced track. And, based on their own individual idiosyncratic takes on the genre, the method will garner a name. Productions such as these and the ones that follow from this next producer, Kasbo, have been labeled as: Future Bass, Garage, Love-Trap, 2-step, Chill-Trap, Chillout, Crunkwave, Flume-Step (ironically), Midtempo, Trap-Step, Moombahtrap, Future Garage, Deep House, Future, Ambient, IDM and way too many others.

For the sake of my own sanity, I will usually refer to it as Future Bass…unless I’m trying to keep ya’ on your toes. Stagnation can be so, well boring really.

If you don’t like it, sue me (please don’t, I have no money).

Kasbo, an 18 year-old EDM producer based out of Gothenburg, Sweden (go figure), has certainly caught the attention of the bold, beautiful, bulbed-brethren here at FTWubz HQ (I’m so modest). Filling out the frequencies with heavily melodic and lush productions, this young up-and-comer looks to have a bright future in this game we call the EDM industry.

I am sure you’ll agree after listening to the four elegantly composed pieces below.

LINKZ:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kasbo/219160718225442

https://twitter.com/Kasbomusic

https://www.youtube.com/user/KasboOfficial

 

Jantsen & Dirt Monkey – Ice Cream Sound [Dub Summer Anthem]

Personally, for this Rager, this next jam has been an unabashed pleasure of mine over the past week.

Capturing an unbelievably catchy tune in a four and a half minute track seems entirely effortless for musicians Jantsen and Dirt Monkey, two of the most promising up-and-coming American dubstep producers. Setting aside my unhealthy obsession with two other dub production masterminds (Spag Heddy and EH!DE), Boulder residents Patrick Megeath of Dirt Monkey and Jantsen Robertson additionally possess the rare ability to produce the filthiest, nastiest of beats while still managing to keep their chord progression unique and extremely melodic. I fear that as of late, simple qualities such as these are far too often ignored in an narrow-minded attempt to synthesize the ultimate “drop.”

Utilizing a classic rolling bass melody, which to me, sounds a lot like old-school Doctor P, and a unfathomably catchy reggae hook, this tandem of Colorado DJs have struck gold with “Ice Cream Sound.” Pay special attention to the way these two have incorporated the vocal chops as an instrument and how it elegantly intertwines with the original, “Slightly Stoopid-reminiscent” vocals.

The perfect song for the perfect summer playlist.

Enjoy.

Another from Jantsen…

Another from Dirt Monkey…

Mat Zo and Kill The Noise Present: Kill The Zo

Well eat my foot and call me Sally!

Honestly, I never thought these next three words would ever be uttered in sequence, let alone be actualized into a serious collaboration between two of my favorite, yet, in their own regard, entirely different EDM producers.

Kill

The

Zo

That’s right. You heard me correctly.

In what may be one of the strangest electronic dance music alliances I have ever seen, Matan Zohar, aka Mat Zo and Jake Stanczak of Kill The Noise have officially joined forces and dropped their premier release as a single entity. Appropriately titled “Part 1,” this next five minute, enigmatic composition is soon to be the talk of the electronic dance music community (and not solely because of who produced it).

How do I know this?

Tossing aside the obvious notion that these two producers’ prior endeavors and resulting fame will greatly aid in the success of this menagerie of strange bedfellows, it’s the track’s jaw-dropping uniqueness that speaks the loudest toward its merit. There’s simply no point in classifying it. Just open your ears to the future.

Now, I’m not saying this is what every EDM musician will be on after they hear it, but, you bet your ass we will be hearing a bevy of follow-up releases from these two.

Taking you around the world in a freshly constructed, incredibly complex, multi-cultural, electronic dance music flying machine, I warmly welcome to the scene, Kill The Zo.

http://killthezo.com/

10 Tracks Your Mom Can Get Down To On Mother’s Day [In No Particular Order]

Ok, now stop.

Before you click “Pay and Proceed” on that Edible Arrangements bouquet you were just about to purchase, why not reconsider?

What would you say if I told you that you could give your mom something totally wicked this mothers day? Not only would this gift be over-the-top incredible and possibly the most notable gift anyone has bestowed upon the person who squeezed the gifter in question out of her vagina, but, it would also be free of charge.

I know what your thinking…

And yes. I’d love it if you’d hook me up with your mothers.

And yes. Below I have provided the gift in which I was discussing above.

You can thank me later.

10. John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads (Pretty Lights Remix)

Take me home, John Denver. And you too, Pretty Lights.

 

9. Kill Paris feat. Marty Rod & Alma – Falling In Love Again (Kill Paris & Bee’s Knees Keytar Mix)

The love machine known as Kill Paris fits any Mother’s Day celebration. Just make sure it’s the right kind of love.

 

8. Soulero – Burning Down (Nymus Remix)

Picturesque. Play this one while strolling through the park with mother on your daily walk.

 

7. Coyote Kisses – This Is How You Know

A delicate hymn proper for that car ride over to church. Thanks Coyote Kisses.

 

6. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (Big Sandz Remix)

Marvin Gaye + Big Sandz = A Kiss From Your Mother

 

5. The M Machine – Tiny Anthem (Shinichi Osawa Remix)

A tiny anthem your mom can sing you to sleep. The perfect lullaby.

 

4. Skrux and Felxprod feat. Complexion – Find You (Skrux VIP)

Who said maternal figures can’t like dub?

 

3. Ellie Goulding – Hanging On (I SEE MONSTAS Remix)

Ellie Goulding has the heart of an angel. Like your mom. HA.

 

2. Grizmatik – Digital Liberation Is Mad Freedom

Tell mom to save this track for behind closed doors. Nobody wants to see that.

 

1. Sigma – Nobody To Love

Got nobody to love on Mother’s Day? Sigma’s got you covered.

The Top 5 EPs of This (1/3) Year

These are never easy. Besides dealing with the inevitable bickering that occurs between the FTWubz crew members, I get a lot of shit from my sixty year old mother actually. She likes that super grimy shit, you know? The kind of music you get down and ultra dirty to. She’s really into free love these days. Look her up.

However, I’m probably going to get a frying pan upside the head for this next list…maybe the LAXX will save me.

5. LAXX – Step One [Never Say Die]

Going hard in the paint, err…I mean studio.

4. Various Artists – Prophication Remix EP [Mau5trap]

Giant remixes to an even bigger EP from last year.

3. Kill Paris – Foreplay EP [OWSLA]

Thank you for another awkward music boner KP.

2. Seven Lions – Worlds Apart [Casablanca Records]

You kidding me, Seven Lions? You’re not of this Earth.

1. Galantis – Galantis EP [Big Beat Records]

Christian Karlsson of Miike Snow and Linus Eklow aka Style Of Eye = Galantis

Honorable Mention: Barely Alive – Lost In The Internet EP [Disciple]

Just about every producer and their mother have attempted to remix a piece of Barely Alive’s latest masterpiece.

Top 10 Songs of April 2014

We don’t have a lot of time so let’s keep this short…

 

What did I tell you?

10. If Death Cab for Cutie made Trance, this would be it.

9. Holy Urchin.

8. “This doesn’t sound at all like Daft Punk…how dare you Dillon?” Said every comment on this track.

7. Downtempo, modded vocals, straight Future kill.

6. One of my new favorite artists. Trap produced well, go figure.

5. What a great remix. Ever heard love oozing through your speakers?

4. Audien, just stop it. You nasty thing, you.

3. I was missing this Australian, Future Bass trailblazing phenom.

2. The ladies will love this one. Better find one…

1. Unfiltered perfection by Mr. Fijiwiji.