[Nu-Disco/Synth-Pop] Tundran – Kimono [TMN Premiere]

It’s pretty safe to say that whenever independent dance label PRMD Music signs an artist, they’ll be pretty special. Of course with their track record of being home to the likes of Avicii, Cazzette and iSHi, as well as the recently established sub-label ICONS, it’s clear to see why we’ve put so much stock in them. While much of their roster operate within the larger sounds of dance music, their newest act, Tundran, falls into an entirely different mold. Tundran is the indie-dance, disco and pop infused musical pairing of fellow Swedes Felix & Jakob who have professed their sound “…as a stepson of Fleetwood Mac, or maybe that weird cousin to the early Daft Punk… Definitely related to Earth, Wind and Fire too.”  With a sonic aesthetic so tightly wound and only one single (which caught on like wild-fire) released under the Tundran moniker, the duo’s musical prowess plays lightyears beyond what their modest catalog would suggest. Tundran’s latest release “Kimono” is yet another polished piece of their expanding production puzzle, blending delicate vocals with warm and nostalgic instrumentation that already has us conjuring up comparisons to the subdued reverby shades of Day Wave with the kind of technical indie precision of Holy Ghost! “Kimono” is a consummate example of pop structuring; rolling itself out upon a delicate backdrop of airy pads before rolling guitar licks and a simplistically sticky kick-clap drumline opens up the perfect amount of room for those airy vocals to permeate and round out the entire movement.

We’ll surely be keeping our eyes, and ears for that matter, towards Tundran as we wind down 2015, and we have a strong bet that 2016 will be a year with the name ‘Tundran’ emanating from countless music critics’ tongues. Enjoy “Kimono” above as a shiny new ‘TMN Premiere’ and try not to get lost in a hazy sea of electronic-indie-pop bliss. Forgive us while we swoon for a moment.

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[Folk] Jack the Fox – Brother

In our latest deep-dig session through the cavernous recesses of SoundCloud, we happily stumbled across an extremely charming folk tune. It’s the first we’ve heard from Jack the Fox, but it certainly won’t be the last.

“Brother” has an ultimately classic feel, one so many people are familiar with – subtle fingerpicking, powerful lyrics, and an welcoming allure. While we would have been perfectly content with just that structure, this Melbourne-based duo brings in an intricate breakdown towards the end of the song, which throws listeners for a delightfully inventive loop.

These two only have one song out, and you’re currently listening to it. So, make sure to follow them on SoundCloud to keep up with new releases.

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Crywolf Dives Into Cataclasm Project & Teases New Live Show [TMN Interview]

One of the most widely talked about albums of the year coming from an independent artist is Cataclasm. If you have yet to hear this mystifying musical undertaking from Crywolf, then you better do it as soon as possible. Luckily, we have a few tracks off the album to share with you, along with an interview where we chat about the LP, Okami Records, and what’s to come from Crywolf’s new live show.

Justin Phillips was at a turning point in his musical career; one that led him to a true getaway for the creation of the twelve track project called Cataclasm. Instead of simply taking things easy once he had success, as well as support from artists like Ellie Goulding, Skrillex, Crystal Method and more, Crywolf decided he needed to make a change and push himself, along with music in general. The result was a extraordinary indie meets electronic LP that has truly shaken things up in electronic music. We welcomed Crywolf to the dojo to share more, so check out what he had to say, along with some of our favorite singles from Cataclasm.

TMN: How did you get into music originally?

Crywolf: I always loved music, but I was never that great at it. I made some random acoustic and rock stuff growing up, but it was… pretty cringe-worthy. I went through this sort of personal renaissance when I was 20 and it changed a lot of the ways I saw art. I started making stuff I was super proud of, and really channeling deeper stuff. I started making electronic music as a hobby while I was going to school for economics, and it just really clicked. The stuff I was making caught on, I started touring a lot, and eventually had to drop out cause I was touring too much of the time.

TMN: How would you describe the development of your sound over the course of your career?

Crywolf: I think it has all just been a process of digging down and finding my original sound, as well as getting brave enough to go for something super original instead of just making stuff similar to everything else. When I started producing I was always making heavy dubstep bootlegs and shit like that – just trying to have a good time with it. It was fun live, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I always had this idea in my head, though, of what I wanted Crywolf to be ultimately, and I’ve slowly been inching more and more towards it. I think, with this album, I have finally arrived there.

TMN: When did you decide to do something really different with your music, and take the trip to Iceland to create the Catalcasm LP?

Even though I’ve been, for the most part, making my own unique sound for a while, I guess I still felt like I was settling. I was still trying to make tracks that would hit hard at a show, still trying to make stuff that was heavy enough that it would be played out by other DJs. I was still confining myself in a big way. At the beginning of this year, I decided this would be the year I make 100% what I want, with no reservations or criteria imposed on it. I just got so tired of doing it any other way – if I’m going to succeed at music, I’m going to do it my way. Anything less would be an insult to all the work I’ve put into this, and it wouldn’t be genuine.

TMN: Why did you start up Okami Records?

Crywolf: I started Okami Records back in 2014 when I released Runaway EP. I just got fed up with label politics, and decided it would be way better just to do it myself. It’s definitely paid off. I’m looking to expand it a lot in the future (I am in talks with some *super* sick acts right now), but for now, it’s just for releasing my stuff.

TMN: I recall seeing your set during the Mitis tour, and you played a wide variety of music. Can we expect the same variety on this LP?

Crywolf: There’s definitely a wide variety. However, there isn’t really any EDM stuff. That’s just not me anymore. There is still the same intensity in certain tracks, but it’s much more refined… I like to think that my stuff doesn’t need to use growl basses to get it’s point across anymore. I can achieve the same thing with the instrumentation that I like.

TMN: Did you originally set out to make this project with no collaborations, or did it just turn out that way?

Crywolf: I really wanted this album to be 100% me. It’s not like I was opposed to having any collabs on it, but I just don’t collaborate with people very much cause I’m busy making my own stuff. I am friends with lots of sick artists, but it takes a very particular type of artist to work well with my sound. I also just really like having control over the direction of a track, so I’m not a huge collaborator, at least in the 50/50 sense.

TMN: Is Cataclasm a concept album, or simply a collection of works?

Crywolf: It’s a concept album, for sure. Every EP or album I’ve made has been a concept piece. I love when a release has a central theme. Those are the sort of albums I grew up loving, and that’s what I always end up making. I think it makes the album so much more gripping and real.

TMN: Who are some artists, in and out of dance music, that you’d like to collaborate with?

Crywolf: My top choices would be… Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, Fever Rey, SOHN, Porter Robinson, Dawn Golden, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Glass Animals, Odesza… Off the top of my head.

TMN: What’s the plan for 2016?

Right now I’m building my first live set, with live vocals, keys, sampling, percussion… All kinds of cool stuff. I’m going to be touring with it in the spring and am super excited about it. It’s a ton of work, and it’s my first time ever doing something on this scale, but I am ridiculously excited to finally be able to create my art live in front of my audience instead of just playing it from CDJs.

If you would like to stay up to date on all your Crywolf news, including music and touring, subscribe to his mailing list over at his website, http://ift.tt/1D95QTb. Lastly, if you want to buy Cataclasm for yourself, or a friend, head over to iTunes!

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Taylor Thomas – Heartbreaker ft. Lauren Cole [TMN Premiere]

There’s a new act on the scene that we have the pleasure of introducing to you in this Music Ninja Premiere. Taylor Thomas of Dallas is taking his first step with his project, and it’s a big one. His single “Heartbreaker” is a hybrid bass production that is complete with vocals from Laruen Cole. You can’t really ask for a better first song from an artist. “Heartbreaker” shows not only the technical aptitude of a seasoned producer, but also the creative ability of someone who’s looking to forge their own space in the industry and not simply feed off a sub-par popularized sound. From beginning to end, Taylor’s composition on this track is absolutely stunning, going from soft piano all the way up to hard-pressed bass aggression. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we do, and stay up on this dude, as he’s surely got more fire in the chambers.

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[Deep-House] Thousand Fingers – Down (Loulou Players Remix) [TMN Premiere]

From the moment  Jérôme Denis -or Loulou Players as we’ve come to know him as both an artist and label boss-  unleashes that pulsating, subterranean kick-drum,  which came careening through our monitors with the amount of force of a raging waterfall, we knew we were in for a proper underground house romper. Taking the stems from Thousand Fingers, (whom you most likely have heard via his other project as one-half of the almighty Paradisko) and his debut single “Down”, Denis has added another brilliant official remix to a burly and pristine dance catalog. Both Loulou Players and Loulou Records‘ entire stable have for years displayed a fondness for the rough-n-tumble analog bass sounds associated with the most thumping  tech-, deep- and G-House, and that aural aesthetic shines through brightly on his revamping of “Down”. Loulou Players rides a distinct line between dark atmospherics and accessible, contagious bounce; tactfully pinning a cathartic bassline to Thousand Fingers’ wonderfully malleable stems which both keeps the original’s soul intact while reshaping it into an underground monster. And who can resist that pitched down, and desolately hypnotic vocal loop? Not us. We’ve been hearing Thousand Fingers’ original record and this thumping remix in the clubs for months, and it was high time we got to bestow it upon our lovely readers.

Thousand Fingers’ debut EP Down is set to release on December 14th via High Above the Ground, which includes the aforementioned Loulou Players remix, Thousand Fingers’ original and another revision via Mexican techno bender Mijo. For now however, you can stream Loulou Players’ remix in the form of a ‘TMN Premiere’ before anyone else.

 

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[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (December 2015 Round #1)

There is a first time for everything. Maybe this is your first time stopping by the good ol’ Indie Dojo. Maybe you’ve been here before, but this is the first time you have heard any of these jams. Maybe it’s the first time you have ventured out of your normal genre and decided to test the indie waters. Whatever your first maybe, we promise to to take it easy on you. After all, we would love it if you came back for seconds, thirds and fourths.

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[Electronic] Ark Patrol – Primo (Album)

Ark Patrol first teased his foray into an experimental approach with ‘At All’ at the start of the November, but now that his latest album Primo has dropped, the full realization of that style is on display for all to hear. There’s certainly an eclectic mix of influences at hand here, and it’s impressive just how skillfully he is able to manipulate the intricate electronic sounds to bend to the emotions he wants to emit. An array of sophisticated melodies flow from the eerie, to the pensive, and even back to the chill style we’ve come to know him by in the title track. Such variation is testament to the artist’s confidence in composition, with the willingness to break the comfort zone of the formulaic structure that is all too prevalent in the electronic game today.

For those yearning to explore a musical world outside of the norm, do yourself a favor and stream the entirety of the album below, or go one further and pick up the release to add some complexity to your collection.

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