Odesza | The Music Ninja

[Electronica] Odesza – Say My Name (Jai Wolf Remix)

Posted by Ivan Chung - October 3, 2014

Odesza
Say My Name feat. Zyra (Jai Wolf Remix)[Counter Records]

Hopefully you haven’t grown tired of hearing the million Odesza‘s “Say My Name” remixes out there, but this one is right up there with the best ones. New York-based producer Jai Wolf recently released his take on the popular tune, and let’s just say it’s oh so juicy!

Ranges from melodic dubstep to chill trap, Jai Wolf cleans it up with a slower trap beat, while staying true to the original track by keeping its melody and Zyra’s vocals. It starts off with this deep bass which sets the stage for this banger remix, and when the drop comes, these unique oriental sounding synths take the spotlight. It’s one of those tunes that are so catchy that you can’t get enough of.

Make sure to catch him at his first headlining show for “I’m Shmacked NYC” tomorrow at Stage 48! With so many tricks up his sleeve, Jai Wolf is definitely one of the more exciting artists to watch.

[Electronica] Odesza – Say My Name (Slow Magic Remix)

Posted by Ivan Chung - October 1, 2014

Odezsa
Say My Name (Slow Magic Remix)

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Odesza‘s “Say My Name” has officially become one of the most remixed tunes ever since it came out alongside their In Return album. Everybody wants a piece of this delicious cake but not everyone gets a hold of its essence. Slow Magic‘s take on the song is probably, in our opinion, one of the best versions out there.

Featuring his very own father on the guitar solo, Slow Magic manages to put in his own twist to the already amazing collaboration. It starts off with his sweet signature piano chords, with the original chorus fading in the background. When the beat drops, it’s everything Slow Magic represents. The epic synths, the hardhitting drums and the killer guitar solo steal the spotlight for this remix while crediting the original tune. So much is put into the production of this rework that we can’t help but admire these talented musicians whose styles compliment each other so well. So go check it out above, give the other remixes from their ongoing competition a listen here, and tell us what you think!

[Event Review] ODESZA Back-to-Back at Mezzanine, SF 9/18-19

Posted by Ash El Gamal - September 23, 2014

ODESZA
Memories That You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)

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Ninja-favorites ODESZA are in the midst of a meteoric rise with their album, In Return, debuting at the top of the Billboard Top 100 dance/electronic charts last week. So, when they kicked off their supporting tour at Mezzanine in San Francisco, it came as no surprise that a second night was added by popular demand. Being the fans that we are, we were in attendance both nights and their performances were absolutely brilliant.

Well before ODESZA took the stage, a palpable excitement among the sold-out crowd had developed evidencing the brimming fan-base of artists on the cusp of super-stardom. As they emerged, their symmetrical setup included mirroring MPCs and two-piece electric drum sets over the backdrop of kaleidoscopic visuals. Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, the talents behind ODESZA, have a clear on-stage chemistry playing almost perfectly synchronized at times making it clear how they work so well together as musicians. At the same time, they have a sort of casualness on stage, perhaps as a result of their west coast roots, that allows them to connect with the audience in a very personal way. Their electric drum sets were particularly powerful in adding to the live performance as they covered the majority of their library somehow managing to further amplify their stadium-worthy sound.

While it was pretty difficult to establish our favorite songs from the shows, “Memories That You Call,” “Sun Models,” “Keep Her Close,” “Without You” and their remix of Zhu‘s “Faded,” which came out during the encore, stood out as memorable points in their sets. Watch a couple brief clips from the show below and make sure to check out their upcoming tour dates here. Seeing ODESZA at this point in their careers is truly witnessing history in the making. Continue reading →

[Electronic] ODESZA – In Return LP

Posted by TMN Staff - September 9, 2014

ODESZA
In Return Megamix

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Never heard of ODESZA? Well, here’s an album that deserves to make you sit up and pay attention. Released on September 9^th via Ninja Tune subsidiary Counter Records, “In Return” is thirteen tracks of some of the finest electronica to be heard this year. An absorbing and utter engrossing listen from the get go, ODESZA members Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, who formed the outfit back in 2012, have an ear for melodies, samples and beats. There are wistful tracks like album opener “Always This Late”, the choppy funk of single “Say My Name” ft. Zyra, and even tinges of dubstep on the superb “Echoes”.

With guest vocalists such as Zyra, Jenni Potts and British born singer Py, “In Return” balances instrumental and song-led tracks perfectly. A stunning collection of music, “In Return” is a welcome addition in any music lovers collection. You can purchase a copy here.

Electronic

[Electronic] ODESZA – Say My Name ft. Zyra

Posted by TMN Staff - August 21, 2014

ODESZA
Say My Name (feat. Zyra)

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Now available to stream via SoundCloud is the new single from production duo ODESZA. Signed to Ninja Tunes’ sister label Counter Records, this release is in preparation for their forthcoming LP “In Return”, which will drop in September. The label have also just announced they are launching their street team initiative around this release from the Seattle-based duo, counting other artists such as The Heavy, Andreya Triana and Submotion Orchestra on their roster. In exchange for promoting new releases, keen fans can expect to receive new music, exclusive merchandise and access to artist Q&As. Full details can be found here.

“Say My Name” which features Zyra and additional chopped vocals from Madelyn Grant, is a playful and infectious piece of electronica. A groove-filled beat and developing melody highlight the pair’s knack for creating a killer tune, and this one will be played out at the remainder of the summer’s festivals for sure.

If you like what you’ve heard, you can already get your pre orders in for “In Return” here.

Electronic

[Beauty] ODESZA – Memories That You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)

Posted by Andrew Ivan - July 15, 2014

ODESZA
Memories That You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)

Soundcloud

Over eighteen months, Odesza has exploded, and we aren’t complaining one bit. When they came through Orlando, I had an opportunity to catch Odesza, and it was one of my best show experiences. The show sold out, and the room was packed with happy people swaying to their music. Their performance style is amazing! Odesza switches from both jamming on their Ableton controllers, to their synthesizers, and they even do some live drumming! Completely unique performance style, and their music shares that trait. Very beautiful, and inspiration music from these two. Odesza’s new album “In Return” will be coming out September 9th on Counter Records, which you can preorder here. If “Memories That You Call” is a teaser for “In Return“, then we are beyond excited!

[TMN Interview] ODESZA // the boys talk about their pretty music and why it sits well with so many

Posted by Bryn Carter - March 27, 2014

ODESZA
Sun Models (feat. Madelyn Grant)

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The boys of Odesza came into Denver to play two sold out shows. I got to sit down with them before their second show and got to know the two a bit better and how they came to be such a driving new name in the music industry.

TMN: Tonight I have the pleasure of interviewing the duo ODESZA who have returned to the Mile High City for two sold-out show nights. Harrison, Clayton, welcome back and thanks for taking the time to sit down with TMN.

TMN: So, let’s kind of rewind a bit here. Can you boys tell me about your musical backgrounds? Did either of you come from musical households or did either of you participate in any music related activities as kids?

Clayton: My dad was a trained classical pianist so he was playing all the time. So then I started studying classical piano for about eight years and then some jazz. But then I went to college and kind of stopped playing and got more into recording guitar stuff. From recording to the software kind of led me into the production area which led me into getting into dance music and just producing in general.

Harrison: I started, well I basically heard the Gorillaz senior year of high school and I started getting into hip-hop because I heard Del rapping on that song.

TMN: You totally look like a hip-hop guy.

Harrison: (Laughs) Really? (Points at his button up shirt) With this? So, I got really into 90’s hip-hop and I was really into movie scores and hip-hop and everything in-bewteen. I would mess with pianos I got from Goodwill and stuff like that, and then messing around with sampling and started using Reason and then two years in, I met Clay and we started jamming.

TMN: Both of you graduated a few years back from Western Washington University correct? What were your actual degrees in?

Harrison: I was a New Media Design major which is graphic design across different mediums like web aps to websites themselves and motion graphics things like that.

Clayton: I studied physics.

TMN: Ok, I like that, a little jump from physics to music.

Clayton: (Laughs) Oh yeah, a bit of a jump, both a bit mathematical.

TMN: So then, can you tell me when you both kind of had you’re a-ha moment of I want to produce music and make melodies. I mean, usually it’s not a the music gods woke me up one morning and said you are destined to make sick beats but, maybe something along those lines?

Harrison: I think when I was doing design stuff and I would show someone it they would be like “Oh, that’s cool” but that is as far as it would ever go, it didn’t like change anything. But when I made a song and people listening to it were like, “Wow, this is really cool” and you were directly affecting them, like, you have more of an impact on other people. So when I put out my album and had people reach out to me, that was my ah-ha moment, realized that was my thing.

Clayton: I don’t know when that really happened for me. Music has always been a hobby, I never really took it serious until recently. The moment that it got serious was our first show, I had always been making music but had never performed, like I had done piano recitals in high school and shit but nothing like that. To go do a show where people come out for your music was the realization that this could be something real.

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Electronic