Friday, March 18, 2016

[Indie] Kai Straw – Friction

San Francisco artist Kai Straw is making his return over the upcoming weeks until his album, Toothpick, comes out in full. Prior to the release date on April 12th, Kai will be releasing a few singles for fans to enjoy before the full project is out. He’s kicked things off with “Friction,” which has the artist moving a bit away from his hip-hop sound and more to an indie style.

“Friction” is a ballad that many millennials can connect to. It’s love-laced lyrics are fraught with passion that seeps into the funky beat created by James The Bear, who produced the album in its entirety. Kai has performed a live show in the past, opening for such acts as Big Krit, Clyde Carson and more, but this track is really built around that live band experience, utilizing acoustic components for a life-like expression. We’ve been lucky enough to preview the album in full, and we have to say, you’re in for a real treat. Check back each week until the album drops so you can get some sneak previews into this extraordinary LP.



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Ultra Music Festival: Day by Day Playlist

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Today’s the day! You’ve saved your hard-earned money throughout the winter, putting away dollar-after-dollar for the start of festival season. Now, you get to march proudly into Ultra Music Festival and dance for three days straight. Before you do, though, we’re pretty sure you’ll need an epic pre-party playlist. And, guess what? We have you covered.

FRIDAY21

SATURDAY

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

[Video] Vanessa Elisha – Out of Time (Prod. XXYYXX)

Australian songstress Vanessa Elisha has been on our radar for a few years now, so we’re definitely proud to see her reach yet another milestone in her career with the release of her first ever music video for her recent single “Out of Time”. The addicting tune–which has been in steady rotation ever since it dropped back in November–finds the vocalist pairing with producer XXYYXX as she despondently dwells upon being painfully separated from her significant other. Trapped in an inescapable glass container, the forlorn lover earnestly croons about her agonizing feelings of isolation and her desire to escape before the clock ultimately ticks down to zero. Unfortunately, her surroundings only grow darker and grim over time, as her vision gets cloudier and the box is shrouded in mist. By the end it seems like she learns to accept her circumstances, but we decided to ask the songwriter herself about the song’s somber message and harrowing visuals to see what she had to say:

Conceptually, we really wanted to capture the feeling of isolation. It was all about embodying the lyrics, “running out of time”. For me, the box is the physicalisation of the loneliness or anxiety someone feels when they are about to be left alone for a long period of time. It could represent something different to everyone who watches it, that’s what I love about interpretation.
Peep the ominous Matt Earl-directed visuals below and if you’re feeling the single make sure to grab yourself a copy from iTunes. Stay tuned for more from Vanessa as she continues to prep her upcoming EP, set to drop later this year.



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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Cracking The Code: Delving Into Blue Electronica & Understanding The Mystery Behind The Duo [TMN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]

When we first introduced them as our resident artists for this month, we challenged you to see if you could crack The Code. That’s proven even more difficult with the release of their Blue Electronica EP, as the genre bending duo have continued to defy expectations since their emergence on the scene two years ago. The minute you think you’ve got them all figured out, the pair manage to throw a curveball your way that completely changes the way you view their music. We sat down with them recently to understand their recording process and the inspiration behind their music. See what they had to say about Blue Electronica, and listen to the entire project below. If you like what you hear, make sure you pre-order the album here.

TMN: It’s crazy to think that you’ve been able to amass such a large following without anyone learning your identity. These days there’s a lot of pressure for artists to open up and engage their fans via social media, but at the same time there’s been a growing contingent of reclusive artists trying to keep the focus exclusively on their music. Can you guys discuss some of the reasons why you decided to pursue this path, and some of the challenges that come along with it?

The Code: Well just like you said to focus on the music. At this stage nothing else is important. There are challenges in everything, so by choosing whatever path you should prepare and accept them, positive or negative.

TMN: Like we said, no one’s quite been able to crack The Code just yet, and we’re interested in learning a bit about the significance behind your name: what does it mean to you and what does it represent?

The Code: It’s more what we are, not who we are. It represents the music, and our visual compass.

TMN: You guys have basically created your own signature sound, blending elements of electronica with R&B rhythms and hazy melodies. Can you talk to us a bit about your inspiration and how you came to develop this style?

The Code: Organically. Just creating what makes sense to the mood at the time, whether that be something energetic or chilled. Inspired by everything, not just music. In this day there is so much going on in the world its hard not to be inspired by everything.

TMN: You recently released your Blue Electronica EP, and the color seems to be a pervasive theme in both your music and artwork. What is it about the color blue that makes it so prominent in your aesthetic?

The Code: Blue is a calming color which can be dark, light, soothing and irate. It can also represent so many different things and the contrast between our interpretation of the color “blue” and “electronica” really fits.

TMN: In 2014 you introduced yourself to the world with the release of your debut mixtape, 1|11. This last project though, was much smaller in scope. Were there any changes in your approach when it came time to record Blue Electronica?

The Code: Not really, it all comes down to timing, both were made at different times in different moments.

TMN: There’s a lot of exciting talent emerging on the UK music scene lately. It seems like every time we turn our heads we find someone new. Are there any names you guys are keeping your eyes on, or anyone specific you’d like to collaborate with?

The Code: Anyone who wants to make music, any who is positive. If the time is right then anything is possible.

TMN: Now that you have two projects under your belt, what else is on the horizon for The Code? Do you guys plan on doing any touring?

The Code: More of everything. It’s all been absolutely amazing so far.

TMN: Is there anything you’d like to say to someone who’s just hearing your music for the first time?

The Code: We appreciate your ears.

TMN: The biggest misconception people have about the UK is ______

The Code: Not really sure, every area has stigma’s and stereotypes, good and bad.

TMN: If you could teach a robot to feel emotion through music, what album would you show them?

The Code: Daft Punk – Discovery

TMN: If your music was a drug, how would it make people feel?

The Code: You’d have to ask the listeners that one.



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Sam Paye & Eleventy Million – The Yoga Pose [TMN Premiere]

Sam Paye of Seattle has brought forth his latest original single “The Yoga Pose” as a premiere for us ninjas. We present to you his creation with rapper Eleventy Million. “The Yoga Pose” is a danceabale mixture of hip-hop, pop and electronic music. There’s a lot going on in this three minutes of audio that is tailored for the eclectic taste.

Sam delivers an instrumental whose sound jumps around with different sounds ranging from progressive synths to 80’s basses to saxophone. On top of the diverse beat is Eleventy Million’s vocal performance that, for the most part, isn’t just straight rapping. We get a crowd-controlling expression that is more akin to a hypeman than someone spitting lyrics; although there are phrases of straight rap. After all, this is a party record. “The Yoga Pose” will be available through Bomb Recordings on March 25th. For now, stream the full preview until it’s up for grabs.



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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

[Future Funk] SwAy x Willdabeast – On My Mind feat. Sinclair Hucke

Super Best Records has something dope coming next week. SwAy and Willdabeast have teamed up for the Crossing Borders EP that is set for release on March 22nd. One of the tracks on the EP, “On My Mind” has come early, so fans can get a taste of what’s to come.

“On My Mind” is a soulful future funk original that features Sinclair Hucke. Willdabeast is known for fusing the live with the electronic, whether it’s in live format or with tracks, and that’s what we get here. Fans of GRiZ are going to be jiving with this one, as it shares a similar vibe to some of his records. “On My Mind” is just one glitch-ridden piece of a whole project; one that is coming in full soon. Stream “On My Mind” and check back next week for when Crossing Borders is out.



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Ninjas At Ultra Music Festival: Our Must-See Acts

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There’s no doubt about it – Ultra is a massive, sprawling festival featuring numerous well curated and impressively put together stages. Close to 200 acts will be populating these stages throughout the three-day festival, playing every single kind of dance music you could possibly think of. It can be daunting, at times, but fear not. We’ve taken the time to hand-pick a handful of our absolute must-see-acts, and included a sample set from each.

Make sure to stay tuned later in the week, too. We’ll have an artfully crafted playlist for each of the three days at Ultra Music Festival.

John Digweed | Friday @ Resistance

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When I think of sets that are guaranteed to be an epic time, John Digweed is one of the first that comes to mind. He has slowly built a DJ empire over the years that’s acclaimed as being one founded on quality over hype, and for many years (as many as 10 some could argue) existed as an undiscovered talent in his UK home. That stealthy Digweed. Thankfully he’s now on a global touring circuit of grand proportions, and Ultra is the perfect time to catch him. Check out his set “Live in Cordoba” and try to not have the insatiable desire to see him live immediately. I dare you. – Ninja Jordan

Gryffin | Sunday @ Live Stage

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Recently shifting into original material after a slew of successful remixes ranging from Years and Years to Bipolar Sunshine, Gryffin takes to the live stage for what is guaranteed to be an uplifting experience. He’s garnered quite a following already, but still seems relatively under the radar considering his millions of plays and impressive renditions of pop and alternative tunes. After working with Hotel Garuda and Josef Salvat, his stock continues to exponentially grow as a possible household name for indie dance and electronic music as a whole. – Ninja Mitch

Party Favor | Friday @ Worldwide Stage

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If you’re looking for a diverse set centered around booty shaking beats, Party Favor is your guy. There’s a reason this dude has been co-signed by the likes of Dillon Francis, Diplo, Brillz and Flosstradamus, he knows just how to turn things up. He already rocked major festivals last year, including EDC and Ultra, and now he’s back to make an even bigger impact. Expect an unforgettably wild experience as he returns to Miami to top his momentous 2015 live set. – Ninja Ren

Black Coffee | Sunday @ Resistance Stage

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The unofficial leader of Johannesburg’s booming and eclectic electronic dance scene (check out the mini-docs about Black Coffee and Johannesburg, put together by Resident Advisor for an in-depth look), Nathi Maphumulo is a national icon in his home country, known much more widely as Black Coffee. In the past few years, Coffee’s finally been receiving the global acclaim and credit that his artistic counterparts have been heaping on for years. A true programmer, Black Coffee’s sets display house music that simply oozes with soul. His take on house draws inspiration from the indigenous music of his homeland, blended with a penchant for classic hooks and simplified song structure. It’s a blueprint that’s helped him inspire a generation of South African producers, and it’s high time you got in know. – Ninja Matthew

Patrick Topping | Saturday @ Resistance Stage

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If you’ve got co-signs and collaborations from the likes of Claude Von Stroke and Green Velvet, chances are you’re doing something right. UK-based producer Patrick Topping has done just that on his meteoric rise to the top of the tech-house scene. “Voicemail,” his 2014 collaboration with Green Velvet, remains in regular rotation for DJs worldwide, but Topping’s sound has continued to expand making every new release an adventure–ranging from dark and ominous to uplifting and soulful. His DJ sets have been hailed as some of the best on the biggest stages so he’s definitely an act worth catching at this point in his career. – Ninja Ashraf

Miike Snow | Friday @ Live Stage

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After a three-year hiatus, the Swedish indie pop trio is back in full force. Their long-awaited album “iii” was finally released, including hit singles like “Genghis Khan” and “Heart Is Full”. It will be interesting to see these veterans get together again and perform at Ultra Music Festival. Their immense energy and entertaining live sets will definitely bring down the house as the Friday headliner of the Live Stage. – Ninja Ivan

Tycho | Friday @ Live Stage

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I’ve been a massive fan of Tycho for quite some time. His passion for ambient, multi-layered electronica and graphic design is inspiring, keeping me anxiously awaiting each time he plays. I know a lot of you are heading to Ultra to rage, but please trust me. This is one act of electronic mastery you don’t want to miss. – Ninja Clayton


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