[Soul/Gospel] Aliana Lohan – Without You

Singer, songwriter and actress Aliana Lohan is making her return to music with the soulful cinematic single “Without You.” This gospel inspired original sees her soar and re-establish her space within music after a public hiatus, although Aliana has been working her magic behind the scenes continuously writing.

“Without You” is powerful, yet chill with orchestral instrumentation that gives the song a larger than life feeling to it. Aliana’s performance is stunning, at first luring you in with a subtle verse that explodes into a hook that will leave you with goosebumps. As the weather starts to turn cold, this is just the right kind of song you want to cozy up with as you stay warm inside. Expect more from Aliana as we move into the new year as she has some other releases already locked in. On top of that, she’s also set to return to acting in an upcoming Christmas romantic comedy alongside her sister Lindsay. Big moves incoming!

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Petey Drops Instant Classic ‘Lean Into Life’ LP Amidst TikTok Fame

I haven’t written a blog review/write-up/article/whatever the hell you want to call it in what feels like… well, a long ass time. But Petey, otherwise recognized as PeteyUSA on TikTok, has ripped me out of my journalistic retirement with his twelve track debut album Lean Into Life released on Terrible Records. Even if only one person becomes a fan from this I’d feel accomplished, because this LP is just that good and Petey is just that type of honest talent that deserves everyone’s attention.

We’ve all been going through it this pandemic, and a lot of us have seen numerous changes in our lives that have really just beat us down. Whether we’re using humor, alcohol, food or music to persevere, we’ve all got plenty of crap to cope with and Petey offers up an extremely authentic expression that not only gives us a peak into his relatable life, but a vastly dynamic musical escape and an anthem that will give you a kick in the toosh to push back when life is feeling like the villain of your movie.

Lean Into Life as described by Petey himself is “of the indie-rock variety,” but it’s so much more than that. Sliding through styles with ease, Petey does follow a sonic centerline but infuses a lot of electronic instrumentation into the mix for a clean balance of the organic and synthetic.

What strikes me most about Petey’s music is his authenticity. That word is thrown around a lot but it’s not until you come across someone like Petey you realize what that actually means. We can describe it, we can repeat the definition, but the term’s true nature isn’t something that’s really quantifiable. Not to get too hippy dippy, but it’s truly felt and I can certainly feel it pulsating through from start to finish on this LP.

As someone who was born, left and returned to the Golden State, I can 100% live by Lean Into Life‘s first track whose chant “I’d rather be depressed in California” which has become my go-to answer for everyone who’s asked me about moving elsewhere.

Following up are a string of my other favorites including the quirky “Apple TV Remote,” the previously released hit “Pitch A Fit!” and the heartfelt love anthem “Don’t Tell The Boys” which has literally made me cry several times while listening and thinking about my own girlfriend.

But the song that sticks out to me the most as one of the most genuine, fun, funny, sad, awesome, and unique songs is the title track “Lean Into Life.” It’s a 5 and half minute journey that is structurally different from usual expectations and is the aforementioned masterpiece that has become a mantra for my own life. Petey does everything right on this one and gives us what I imagine is his most deeply personal song. It’s minimal, yet cathartic, it builds in all the right ways. Despite showing vulnerability, it feels like this song – and the full LP – were loads of fun to craft. I could go on and on forever, but I don’t want to bore you with my adoration as you can plainly see I believe Petey to be a special musician.

Petey wants to just be a guy making stuff, and that’s something I can get behind. With lifeless brands taking over, it’s nice to see a genuine creative take the stage and deliver something extraordinary, yet down-to-Earth. I hope Lean Into Life hits you as hard as it did me, and make sure to also check out PeteyUSA on TikTok if you’re into alt-comedy. I could do a whole other review about his hilarious antics as one of my favorite TikTokers, but let’s leave it to the music for now. Enjoy.

Stream/Download ‘Lean Into Life’

PS, Petey is going to be on tour!

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[Future Bass] KANA-BOON – Silhouette (Tokyo Machine Remix)

Sony Music Asia has a new endeavor that is proving to be quite the cultural powerhouse. Sakura Chill Beats is Sony’s new Youtube channel where they are highlighting talent from across the world by giving them the exclusive opportunity to officially remix some of anime’s biggest hit theme songs. Their latest is from Tokyo Machine, who took on KANA-BOON’s hit song “Silhouette” which is the theme for the internationally acclaimed Naruto.

Tokyo Machine delivers a smash hit of a remix that certainly lives up to the legendary status of the original song. We totally understand that music in another language can be hard for some to enjoy, but Tokyo Machine really did a number on this one and created something that sounds so fun that it’s hard not to enjoy. So go on ahead and drop this one into your gaming, driving, partying or whatever other kind of playlists that you got rolling.

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[Folk/Pop] David Frank – When You Know (You Know)

It’s always a pleasure to share a smash hit debut from a new artist and that’s just what we have here from California’s David Frank. Just a head of his wedding in a few weeks, David has dropped his folk pop anthem “When You Know (You Know).” This is for all the lovers out there!

Catchy from start to finish, “When You Know (You Know)” establishes David as a strong new act that has potential to make it as far as anyone. He’s already established himself as a super songwriter working with the likes of Kygo, Merk & Kremon and more, but now David gets to shine on his own, and boy does he shine. Even if you’re not coupled up with a partner, “When You Know (You Know)” still pulls at your heart strings. Drop this one in your Summer playlists and let your friends know that David Frank is here and he’s got plenty more to come.

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The Knocks – R U HIGH (ft. Mallrat) [SUNDRESS Remix]

If you’ve been paying any attention, you’ve likely noticed that I haven’t posted anything in well over a year. In fact, very few people have posted on TMN recently. We won’t get into reason why, as today we’re focusing on why we, or rather I am back with another post.

Call it serendipitous. Call it kismet. Whatever you label it with, it’s a strange and rather comical reason why I’m here, writing up a song. It all started four nights ago, as I was watching the Nuggets’ playoff game, enjoying a cocktail, and scrolling through NBA twitter. In a moment of jubilation, celebrating the Nuggs somehow stopping Dame Lillard from sinking an endless amount of threes, I tweeted something snarky. That snark (seen below) was followed up by a brutal ratio from a guy named Jack–a Trailblazer fan and one half of the Portland-based SUNDRESS.

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After a bit of playful Twitter sparring, we both followed each other, and came to find out that he had read TMN in high school. And, that I was a big fan of what Jack and Khal were making.

So, that’s why we’re here today, taking a peek at their latest release, a remix of long-time TMN favorite The Knocks‘ latest tune, “R U High?” Loaded with vibes for days, this flip of what was originally a moodier piece is reimagined as more of a warm weather take. Driven by well-sampled vocal cuts, and a fresh lead synth that walks the line of feeling trop, without going overboard, this stellar remix is primed for this weekend’s Memorial Day pool party.

This is SUNDRESS’ third release, but more are on the way soon. I recommend following them across your favorite social channels and staying tuned in. I’ve had the pleasure of previewing it, and they’re pretty damn fantastic.

I guess the only thing I have left to say to these two is Go Nuggets. See you on Twitter for the rest of the series.

SUNDRESS · The Knocks – R U HIGH (ft. Mallrat) [SUNDRESS Remix]

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[Indie Alternative] Little Dume’s “Human” Leads Global Citizen’s #VAXBECAUSE Campaign

Malibu’s Little Dume (the band, not the beach) is making waves with their latest alternative anthem “Human.” Not only is this record leading a charge toward the debut album as a quartet, but it’s also principal in Global Citizen‘s international #VAXBECAUSE campaign whose aim is to raise awareness about vaccine equity.

“Human” is a smash hit all around and is deserving of such an illustrious partnership for a great cause. In this day and age, if you’ve got a great song and a meaningful yet fun AR filter challenge, you can cover a lot of digital ground. Armed with such, Global Citizen is taking a stand in a major way, especially given the fact that on May 8th they’ll be going live for their Concert to Reunite the World. Hosted by Selena Gomez, this massive show will feature performances by Foo Fighters, Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, J Balvin and more.

Check out “Human” below and make sure to join in on the #VAXBECAUSE challenge on Instagram!

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New Zealand’s Four Greatest DJs

For a country with such a small population, New Zealand has produced some of the world’s finest DJs over the years. Here are four of the greatest.

Zane Lowe

Auckland-born Zane Lowe is as well known for his television-presenting and radio-DJ career as much as for his music production and live DJ skills. After moving to the United Kingdom in 1997, Lowe came to prominence hosting shows on XFM and MTV Europe before landing a global music show on BBC Radio 1. As a live DJ, Lowe has enjoyed an international career touring with bands like Muse, Kasabian, and The Prodigy, and playing festivals like Coachella, Future Music Festival, and Glastonbury. He has also regularly DJ’d at Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks. Lowe’s discography includes remixes of Snow Patrol’s In the End, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip’s Look for the Woman, and Kasabian’s Vlad the Impaler.

If you want to try out your own remixes for fun, a good place to start is the popular DJ Hero video game. You can mix tracks from a selection of more than 100 songs across numerous genres. And if you are in the mood for some more DJing fun, check out the DJ Wild slot game, which is available at Casumo online casino.

Nanotek

New Zealander Nanotek, whose real name is Mark Christiansen, is an international dubstep and drum and bass DJ and producer. He began his involvement with music during his teenage years when he played guitar and drums in heavy metal bands before discovering electronic and industrial music in the mid-1990s.

When he moved to Wellington in 2003, he was introduced to music by the likes of Photek, Dylan, and Dom & Roland, who became major influences in his hard darkstep sound. Nanotek’s break came in 2006 when Dylan, the owner of Freak Recordings, signed his two tracks Deadly Force and Acid Burn to his sister label Obscene Recordings. The two tracks gained attention from such recognized DJs as Counterstrike, Tech Itch, and Current Value, and it was not long before Nanotek received a global audience.

P-Money

Hip-hop DJ and producer P-Money came to prominence with his second studio album, 2004’s Magic City, which reached number two on the RIANZ New Zealand Singles Chart. The album contains the single Stop the Music, featuring New Zealand rapper Scribe, which gave P-Money his first number one song. The album contains many collaborations with both international and local artists, including Skillz, >Akon<, and Grandmaster Roc Raida. In 2003, P-Money scored another hit with Scribe with the smash hit track Not Many.

For someone who started out in student radio and DJ competitions, P-Money has certainly come a long way. Over the years, he has won numerous awards, including Best Producer, for Scribe’s multi-platinum album The Crusader, and Songwriter of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2004.

Mark de Clive-Lowe

Now based in Los Angeles, Mark de Clive-Lowe was born and raised in Auckland. He began playing piano at the age of four and developed an interest in jazz via his father’s vast record collection. During his teenage years, Mark de Clive-Lowe collaborated with local R&B and hip-hop artists.

In 1998, he moved to the United Kingdom. It proved to be a good move. He soon became a regular collaborator with other producers like Attic, Bugz, and Restless Soul. Not before long, de Clive-Lowe helped to develop the UK’s broken beat movement, which blends jazz, funk, electronics, and world music. Amazingly, throughout his career, he has been involved with more than 200 releases, including collaborations with Omar, Shirley Horn, and Lauryn Hill.

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