[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2019 Round #5)

Anyone else feel like this is the never ending January? Well, at least we get to squeeze one more Indie Dojo in for the month.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2RrKATQ

Kita Menari – Pretty Sure [TMN VIDEO PREMIERE]

“Pretty Sure” is the firs experience I’ve had with Micha de Jonge’s project Kita Menari. And, I’m pretty sure I’m in for the long haul after one listen through. It’s quite charming, drawing on associations of The 1975 and Passion Pit, yet still maintains a well-defined originality and authenticity.

Today, we’re going one click past the single, bringing you a first look at the accompanying music video. Inspired by Natalie Imbruglia’s video for “Torn” Jonge wanted a similar look and feel, including the crew behind the shoot in the final product.

The end result is organic, entertaining, and the perfect pairing for this enveloping tune. Have a look for yourself.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2RVroTF

Fractures – Reset [EP Review]

I was already very familiar with Australian-based Fractures before Reset came across my virtual desk. My experience stems from my wife’s, dare I say obsession, with “It’s Alright.” Not to say that I don’t enjoy that track, as well, but it’s cemented firmly in her regular rotation. In fact, that very song played in our hospital room, from her pre-planned playlist, right after our son was born.

While the listening experience of “It’s Alright” is slow and ethereal, Reset offers some variance, often more upbeat. This isn’t a huge shift, though, as we’ve seen this style before in tracks like “Eastside.” Yet, in comparison to his most popular offerings, this EP goes off the track of comparisons of Ry X and James Vincent McMorrow, and lines up more so with The Postal Service.

The title track was my favorite from the bunch, set to a quick-hitting synth and Fractures’ alluring vocals. It’s emotional and warmly familiar, enveloping you from the very start. Don’t get me wrong, though, I loved the full collection. It’s the type of listening experience best served sprawled out on the floor, with your favorite person, preferably with it playing via vinyl. That is, assuming it will come out on vinyl (fingers crossed).

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2S7q9A8

[Pop] Sapphire Adizes – Birth

Sapphire Adizes recently released ballad “Birth” is just that, the birth of a new artist on the cusp of something really special. The first ever original single shows off a certain versatility for the upcoming songwriter and producer that hadn’t yet been hinted at in older remixes.

“Birth” is a crossover tune that bounces back and forth into various sectors of music: pop, electronic, indie rock and even some others. Sapphire Adizes debut LP is due out sometime in 2019, so keep a tab on his socials for new music soon. In the meantime, enjoy this sensational single.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2TkGxKM

Sunday Night Soul [Vol. 84]

One week down, and another week ready to begin. The friendly faces at The Music Ninja are here to help smooth the transition as you get back to the daily grind. As usual, Sunday Night Soul is specifically designed to wrap up your weekend the right way, so dim the lights, grab a drink and let the relaxation begin. By the way, dont forget to click the links below to make sure youre alerted as soon as we update the playlists on Spotify and SoundCloud!

Playlist Links:

SoundCloud || Spotify || Spotify Archive

Choker -Petrol Bliss Billy Lemos, Still Woozy & Blake Saint David -Wait Choker -Lily

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2DCIrRI

[Event Preview] BUKU Music + Arts Project – New Orleans – March 22-23

Nestled right in the heart of New Orleans, BUKU Music + Art Project is a wildly unique festival experience. It has the culture of a boutique event, coupled with the organization and production of a large-scale event, topped off with a diverse and eclectic line-up. On top of all of that, it’s in one of the best cities for dining, partying, and history. Unlike other festivals, located in remote forests and deserts across the US, this is one event you can definitely plan a full trip around.

We went down last year for the first time and couldn’t quite find the words for our experience. It’s culturally relevant, musically intriguing, brimming with top-notch art, and has a world of opportunities after the lights go off. It’s unlike anything else out there.

With that being said, it should come as no surprise that we’re heading back down this year. As we’ve seen in years past, the lineup is artfully crafted, boasting a thoughtful collection of all sub genres of dance, a dash of Top 40, and some killer hip hop artists. And, as we’ve seen in the past, there’s some guitar-heavy emo rock gracing the lineup, with Mayday Parade and Dashboard Confessional.

If you’re still on the fence, we recommend tuning in to Music Ninja Radio on BFF.FM this Friday from 4-7PM PST. We’ll be dedicating the first half of the show to everything BUKU.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2CO3UFz

mxmtoon – My Way [TMN PREMIERE]

I spent my childhood soaking in classic crooners like Sinatra, Martin, and Prima, thanks to my 2nd-generation Italian-American grandfather. Those songs are timeless to me, which is why I had some pause when I first glanced at this submission. It only took a few seconds to shift my perspective, though, falling in love within a few bars.

If you’re not hip to mxmtoon, now’s the perfect time to get acquainted. Having soared to immense heights over the course of last year, this soft-singing, Oakland-based, 18-year-old indie songstress has an endearing style that’s worthy of your attention. Admittedly, this is my first experience with her music, but it certainly won’t be the last.

Her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” is wonderfully unique, which is necessary when approaching a larger-than-life track. What drew me in particularly, was the inclusion of building vocal harmonies over the chorus. It was a clever way to deal with the power from Sinatra’s vocal prowess. But, that’s the mark of a well-done cover, right? There has to be something that’s ownable and different than the original, with enough remnants to pay respects to the creator. And, mxmtoon has executed that perfectly.

Frank Sinatra has always been a personal favorite. ever since i started playing ukulele, i’ve been singing his songs and “My Way” was one that really resonated with me! So much so, I wanted to do formal cover of it. I’m excited to be releasing this cover and to have been able to put my own spin on it as well, and I hope people love the song just as much as I do. Hope I did Frank proud! – mxmtoon

While tickets are sold out, I’d like to still mention that she has an upcoming tour this March, with dates listed below. You’ll be hard pressed to get in, but it’s always worth a shot.

Chicago – Schubas – 3/6
Brooklyn – Baby’s All Right -3/9 – SOLD OUT
Seattle – The Crocodile – 3/13 – SOLD OUT
San Francisco – Rickshaw Stop – 3/14 – SOLD OUT
Los Angeles – The Echo – 3/16 – SOLD OUT

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2sIVRVR

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2019 Round #4)

Hey. It’s another Tuesday, which sounds pretty whatever, UNTIL you remember there’s a brand new indie dojo waiting for ya. Here to make things a little less ‘eh. You can thank us later.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2RJYeGY

Sunday Night Soul [Vol. 83]

One week down, and another week ready to begin. The friendly faces at The Music Ninja are here to help smooth the transition as you get back to the daily grind. As usual, Sunday Night Soul is specifically designed to wrap up your weekend the right way, so dim the lights, grab a drink and let the relaxation begin. By the way, dont forget to click the links below to make sure youre alerted as soon as we update the playlists on Spotify and SoundCloud!

Playlist Links:

SoundCloud || Spotify || Spotify Archive

James Blake -Barefoot in the Park (feat. ROSALÍA) Harrison Brome -Shelter SWANES -Cozy Charli XCX & Troye Sivan- 1999 (Stripped) Shy Girls -This Is Your World Harriet Brown -Drivers Seat Maggie Rogers- Say It

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2AVLpPw

Various Blonde – Smoke [TMN PREMIERE]

Brought to life by multi-instrumentalist Joshua Allen and drummer Mark Lomas, Various Blonde is Kansas City’s best kept secret. Cooked up in 2009, this outfit has taken on many forms, working with a revolving cast of musicians and producers. Most recently, the pair has teamed up with Long Beach producer and bassist Brandon Eugene Owens, who has performed with acts like Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill.

My first experience with “Smoke” brought up associations of one of my all-time favorites, Absofacto, another uber talented multi-instrumentalist. Personally, that was all I needed. From there, I spent more time with it, digging into the complex soundscape and subtle nuances. It’s a dark and cosmic ride, spun up with so many rich textures and layers. The heavy bassline, dark and haunting synths, quick-hitting hi-hats, and Allen’s alluring vocals, all come together to create an enveloping experience.

Have a listen below, and then head over to Various Blonde’s channels and support.

Facebook | Soundcloud | Spotify.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2FBfCaz

[lo-Funk] daste. – Sober

Hot damn. Within a few seconds of “Sober,” I was hooked. The smooth bassline, the cool-as-James-Dean vocals, and the funky lo-fi synths create an undeniably addicting (pun intended) atmosphere.

“We don’t follow any specific recipe approaching each track. It all evolves from a hive mind of ideas and refining them into the mood we’re feeling. ‘SOBER’ came about quite quickly. Pretty much within a day of writing the basis of the songwas done, and we then started doingour thing on the productionwhich is often when we like to take our time focusing on the smaller details. As Tyler likes to say “The ‘d’ in daste. stands for detail.

This is just the second release from this brand-spanking-new act, and what a doozy. We’ll high-key have it on repeat until we get the next sampling. Hopefully, that happens sooner than later.

In the meantime, make sure to follow these guys on Facebook, so you can keep up.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2MdLnH3

[Pop] Manila Killa ALL – 2 U (feat. Sara Skinner)

The new year brought a fair amount of change for Manila Killa (Chris Gavino), as he embarked on his first year as a solo artist. Aside from a shift in his career path, he’s also showcasing a glimpse at a shift in his musical style. Maybe this is the true Chris? Whatever it is, we’re all about it.

“All 2 U,” which features Sara Skinner, is the last single from his upcoming EP. A through-and-through pop gem, this track exudes pure authenticity. It’s catchy as hell, not overdone, and extremely well put together, complete with organic guitars, playful percussion, and approachable vocals. Simply put–you won’t be hard-pressed to put this one on repeat.

If you’d like to catch this tune live, make sure to pick up tickets to the 1993 tour, which makes 11 stops across April and May. Tour dates are posted below, for your convenience.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2AREdnl

[EDM] Juicy M vs. Subshock & Evangelos – Psyhaus

Now, the term “EDM” isn’t something we like to use to describe a record as a whole, however if we wrote psytrance and bass house, you might think us crazy. You might think Juicy M and Subshock & Evangelos crazy for making a track that smashes those sounds together, but they did it anyway and it’s a heater.

Released on Spinnin Records, the aptly named “Psyhaus” is basically two tracks in one. At first I thought it was a mash-up, but turns out this original came hot out the studio as is, sewing together two genres you wouldn’t really expect to hear together in this fashion. They took a risk and it worked out because this all out barrage of energy is just the kind of weird, unexpected thing dance music needs right now.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2HdNHyP

[Pop] TRXD – Vice

The TRXD duo have only been making music a few years together, but time and time again do they prove they can rival some of the best veterans in the game. To kick off 2019, TRXD have dropped their single “Vice” through Sony Norway.

The Norwegians have been known for their EDM/pop crossover style, which is highly evident in this catchy single. The two creatives team up with the incredibly talented vocalist Caroline Ailin whose work with Dua Lipa on “New Rules” was a huge step for her career. Now she’s taking center-stage on “Vice” with a beautiful musical backdrop provided by TRXD. Overall, killer tune, definitely add this one to your playlists asap!

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2RX5wXq

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2019 Round #2)

How’s 2019 going for you so far? Good, great, don’t want to f’n talk about it? Cool. You don’t have to. Here’s the 3rd Indie Dojo of the new year. No need to say a word.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2RsbRuh

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2019 Round #2)

Before you hit play on this Indie Dojo, be sure you are fully committed to chill, cuz we’ve got a sexy, kick back, chillax’, no worries about a thing, kinda thing going on here. We just want to make sure you fully enjoy.

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2CYFfzt

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (January 2019 Round #1)

Here it is. The first Indie Dojo of 2019. Couldn’t think of a better way to ring it in. Cheers to a new year full of indie goodness for all to hear!

from The Music Ninja http://bit.ly/2F0IA2q