Author Archives: Ash El Gamal

[Chill] Nick Leng – Playing With Fire

Posted by Ash El Gamal - April 15, 2016

Nick Leng
Playing With Fire

It’s been almost a year since we’ve heard new original material from producer and vocalist Nick Leng but his Tunnels and Planes EP remains a go to for laid-back listening. Earlier this week, the LA-based producer and vocalist announced the release of an upcoming EP and unleashed the first single.

“Playing With Fire” truly engulfs the listener with a pretty piano melody layered with ambient electronic elements. Leng’s vocals are mixed flawlessly managing to avoid overpowering their gorgeous accompanying elements. Just as his voice serves as an instrument, so do the lyrics about being on the verge of an argument as they give way to the head-nodding chorus. Leng’s Drivers EP is due out just in time for summer on June 3rd via B3SCI Records–pre-order it now here.

[Hip-Hop] Tunji Ige – Missed Calls (EP)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - April 4, 2016

After bursting onto the scene in 2014 with his self-produced debut mixtape, The Love Project, Philly emcee Tunji Ige spent 2015 slowly rolling out a slew of impressive genre-bending tunes including collaboration with What So Not and Oshi. Fellow Philly rep Noah Breakfast, formerly known as Xaphoon Jones, has become his go-to producer and rightfully so–their styles could not be more complimentary. Breakfast’s inventive, electronic landscapes blend with Ige’s own atmospheric production chops and melodic flows.

Today, the duo dropped Missed Calls, Ige’s first official project since his debut taking the musical exploration to new heights. While the EP still possess a hip-hop flavor, the influence of dance music is felt on each track. “Change That,” the opener sets the tone with banging, forward-thinking production and a characteristically addicting hook from Tunji. As the project progresses, each track presents a distinct facet–subtle house elements can be felt on the smooth “War,” heavier electro-trap prevails “On My Grind” and “Bring Yo Friends” and “22,” the final track, carries dreary future R&B stylings. Missed Calls proves that Tunji Ige has the talent to become a cross over star with a sound that’s both refreshing and accessible. Give it a peep below–you can grab on iTunes now.

’Tunji Ige – Change That (Prod. Tunji Ige)’

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’Tunji Ige – War (Prod. By Noah Breakfast)’

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’Tunji Ige – Fired Up (Prod. Tunji Ige + Addtl Prod. Noah Breakfast)’

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’Tunji Ige – On My Grind (Prod. Tunji Ige + Noah Breakfast)’

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’Tunji Ige – Bring Yo Friends ( Prod. Tunji Ige + Addtl Prod. Noah Breakfast)’

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’Tunji Ige – All Night (Prod. Tunji Ige + Noah Breakfast)’

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’Tunji Ige – 22 (Prod. Tunji Ige + Addtl Prod. Noah Breakfast)’

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[Chill] Snakehips – Money On Me (feat. Anderson .Paak)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - April 1, 2016

SNAKEHIPS
Money On Me ft. Anderson .Paak

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Snakehips and Anderson .Paak are two artists who have seemingly worked with everyone. Last year saw the UK production duo of Snakehips making hits with artists from Chance the Rapper to Syd (of The Internet), while everything-man Anderson .Paak teamed up with countless rappers and producers on his way to signing with Dr. Dre. So, when a collab between the two popped up in our Soundcloud feeds, we can’t say we were surprised but that didn’t make us any less excited. On “Money On Me,” Snakehips craft a smooth, low-end atmosphere over which .Paak delivers one of his most chilled-out vocal performances. Even as the production fills out, the song doesn’t lose its smooth, summery vibe. Warm up with this tune above and make sure to check out Anderson .Paak’s Malibu if you haven’t yet.

David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Crush Effect Remix) [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - March 29, 2016

David Bowie
Let's Dance (Crush Effect Remix)

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David Bowie’s passing at the beginning of this year prompted an outpouring of genuine appreciation from artists across genres. The legendary English musician traversed the ever-changing landscape of rock / pop effortlessly for half a century helping shape the trajectory of musical history along the way. His various musical and narrative experimentations directly inspired countless artists but his fearlessness in creativity has had an even broader impact. In the world of electronic dance music, Bowie’s legacy paved the way for new sounds in the mainstream and his constant reinvention mirrors the genre’s need to continually push the boundaries.

Today, we’re excited to bring you the premiere of a particularly fun Bowie tribute courtesy of SoCal’s Crush Effect. The production duo have proved versatile with a style that incorporates elements of future funk, dubstep, house and disco. Their rendition of “Let’s Dance” is a proper Nu-Disco jam accompanying the iconic vocals with plucking synths, funky guitar riffs and a healthy horn section. Get your groove on above and check out what Crush Effect had to say about Bowie’s influence below. The duo have an EP due this year so also make sure to keep an eye out.

Musically David Bowie was always on the cutting edge and was such a big influence throughout the years. Around the same time that he passed away, we were preparing our set for the Gem & Jam Festival and wanted to write a couple new dance tracks. ‘Let’s Dance’ is just such a great song and worked perfectly into the Nu Disco context. It seemed like the right time to pay homage to Bowie.

[Electronic] Bonzai – Sleepy Hungry EP

Posted by Ash El Gamal - March 28, 2016

There’s something personal about discovering music through your favorite artists–either via remixes, tweets, Soundcloud likes or official co-signs. In the case of Bonzai, it was wunderkind producer, Mura Masa, who introduced us. The Irish vocalist first popped up on Mura Masa’s debut album, Soundtrack To A Death, and subsequently became the first artist signed to his label, Anchor Point Records. Following up a strong 2015 debut EP in Royah and a more recent appearance on Mura Masa’s latest single, Bonzai dropped her sophomore EP last week and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorite projects of the year.

Backed by production from John Calvert, Royce Wood Junior, and Mura Masa, the Sleepy Hungry EP is a project built on jarring, yet well executed, juxtapositions between beautiful sonics and harsh, glitchy low-end elements. Bonzai’s versatile vocal chops are what truly reel in the chaos, adjusting flawlessly with every twist and turn. Her fearlessness in both songwriting and delivery helps bridge the gap between between alternative R&B and underground UK electronic music. “Daniel Gets It Wrong,” the opener, begins with a bright, fluttering signature Mura Masa progression before quickly dropping into a heavy, minimal UK-garage bass line–truly encapsulating what’s to come on the remainder of the project. While “No Rest” and “Kassi” follow that heavily contrasting feel of the intro, songs later in the EP like “Lights On” and “Where Are U Now” provide a breather with their gorgeous, addicting textures.

The avant-garde nature of the Sleepy Hungry EP demands that you truly immerse yourself as a listener: the mark of a truly unique piece of work. So, do yourself a favor and give this one a full listen from start to finish below. You can purchase a digital copy of the project over at iTunes now.

’Bonzai – Daniel Gets It Wrong’

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’Bonzai – No Rest’

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’Bonzai – Ravemeister’

’Bonzai – Stepping’

’Bonzai – Kassi’

’Bonzai – Faze’

’Bonzai – Lights On’

’Bonzai – Sick’em’

’Bonzai – Where Are U Now’

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Noise Pop 2016: 7 Acts We Loved–SF, 2/19-2/28 [Festival Review + Playlist]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - March 4, 2016

All photos by Dom Powell except for photos of DIIV, which are by Ash.

Over the last few years, San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival has grown into our favorite week for music in the Bay Area. Taking place at venues across the city, the logistics can get tricky, but the venue hopping and set-time speculation is completely worth the broad variety of music the lineup offers. As is true for any festival. there’s no way to catch everything and there was plenty of FOMO to go around between the surprise guest filled late night Cafe Du Nord shows to the various events at Noise Pop’s home base, Swedish American Music Hall. With a couple years of experience under our belt, we definitely feel like this was both our best go-around thus far as well as the festival’s. The one great thing about the staggering number of events is that every publications experience is slightly different, each choosing different favorite takeaways based on their schedule. Take a trip back with some of our favorite sets, songs and moments from the week below. Continue reading →

[Electronic] GRiZ – Stop Trippin’ (Louie Lastic Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 26, 2016

Griz
Stop Trippin (Louie Lastic Remix)

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All Good Records CEO and musical pioneer GRiZ has become a true 21st Century ambassador for funk–not only in sound but also in his approach to collaborations. One of the attributes of the OG funk movement that made it so successful was its inclusive nature–Parliament / Funkadelic constantly cycled new young musicians into their band while cycling others out as established solo artists. GRiZ has kept that inclusion alive by signing a diverse set of artists such as The Floozies, SunSquabi and Muzzy Bearr to All Good and working with seemingly all artists who cross his path irregardless of genre. It comes as little surprise that his approach has led to collabs with some of funk’s legends as well–most recently The Floozies collaborated with George Brown of Kool & The Gang on a remix of “She Ain’t Yo Girlfriend.”

Just in the past few months we’ve seen GRiZ commission official remixes from up n comers Big Wild, Chill Harris, Autograf and more–giving exposure to budding producers and creating some fantastic music along the way. Today, we get the latest remix of “Stop Trippin” from DMV-based producer Louie Lastic, who opened for GRiZ at a few recent shows and is most well known for cultivating Goldlink‘s ‘future bounce’ sound. His rendition transforms the original implementing the bouncy, house-leaning vibe that has become signature Lastic. The result is a fantastic collision of forward-thinking, genre-bending styles–kick off your weekend right above.