Author Archives: Ash El Gamal

Three Years of Make It Funky: An Oral History [Event Preview + Interview]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - January 15, 2016

As we kick off 2016, San Francisco’s local music scene finds itself in an interesting and exciting place. While the city is a guaranteed stop on any tour, the shifting culture and demographics have made homegrown music movements somewhat rare. Thankfully, though, there are a number of local promoters, brands and general music enthusiasts dedicated to maintaining and evolving SF’s distinct nightlife. The Make It Funky collective are one of several such culture drivers who we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last year–SF Ninjas may remember our two collaborative showcases in 2015 at El Rio and Brick & Mortar Music Hall or our appearances on their BFF.fm radio show, which led to one of our own!

For the last three years, the collection of DJs and promoters have been bringing house, disco and funk vibes to San Francisco through their own sets and numerous renowned bookings from around the world.This Saturday (January 16th), the Make It Funky crew are celebrating their 3-year anniversary at Monarch with the help of UK-based disco connoisseur Ray Mang. To help you all prepare we’ve decided to revisit some of the most memorable moments of their run thus far. To get the scoop, we caught up with co-founders Michael Fortune (aka Fortune) and Mohit Kohli (OneMoHit). Flip through some epic and, at times hilarious, peaces of Make It Funky history and grab tickets for their upcoming show here.

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Event Preview

[TMN Premiere] Feed Me Jack – Emergency

Posted by Ash El Gamal - January 9, 2016

Feed Me Jack
Emergency

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Oakland’s Feed Me Jack became TMN regulars in 2015–headlining our first ever San Francisco showcase and dropping a fantastic collection of covers. With the release of their latest EP around the corner, we’re excited to be bringing you the premiere of its first single. In typical FMJ fashion, “Emergency” showcases the up ‘n comers’ impressive musicianship while encapsulating their continually evolving sound. One of their more ambitious sonic undertaking to date, the single spans five minutes growing out of a lush, synth-backed opening. That intro recesses into an airy bridge which gives way to an unexpected twist around the 2:25 mark with the emergence of a heavier guitar progression. The sonic journey only gets more compelling in the second half proving a welcome and bold departure from the traditional verse/chorus structure–a common characteristic through out Feed Me Jack’s catalogue.

With its adventurous composition, “Emergency” is the type of track that you can truly get lost in forgetting what you were even listening to in the first place. Having seen the five-piece perform before, we can imagine this being a monster in FMJ’s live set providing opportunities for improvisation at each turn. Feed Me Jack’s Ultra Ego is due out on January 14th. In the meantime, give this a few spins and let it sink in.

Alternative/Rock

[15 To End 2015] Ninja Ash’s Best of the Year

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 31, 2015

When you listen to music as much as I do, your song selections and life experiences become inseparable–each impacting the other in both conscious and subconscious ways. That relationship embodies the uniquely subjective nature of music. You can listen to a song ten times and think nothing of it but then hear it in the right context or headspace and everything just clicks. As such, any effort of making an objective “best of” list proves a fruitless task. So rather than attempt that Sisyphean task, my ’15 To End 2015′ captures the songs that meant the most to me this year: ones that soundtracked my best memories, comforted me at my lowest points or simply possessed endless replay value. Peep my favorites of 2015 below. Hopefully they’ll take on a life of their own in your music collection.

’Beach House – Space Song’

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A trip to psychedelic space land–just close your eyes and absorb.

’The Internet – Under Control’

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A fresh and endlessly relatable take on R&B from Syd & co.

’Thundercat – ‘Them Changes”

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Built on the same Isley Brothers drum sample as “Today Was a Good Day,” this funk-injected jam crescendos a year full of nostalgia for the era of Parliament, James Brown & Sly Stone.

’Main Attrakionz – Ain’t No Other Way’

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Feel good Bay Area hip-hop for and from the soul.

’Raury – Forbidden Knowledge (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)’

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An absolute lyrical gem from a young artist with wisdom well beyond his years.

’Kendrick Lamar – These Walls (feat. Thundercat, Bilal & Anna Wise)’

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My most played song from my favorite album of the year: ‘To Pimp A Butterfly.’

’Jamie xx – I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)(feat. Young Thug & Popcaan)’

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It’s hard to pick a favorite song from Jamie xx’s ‘In Colour’ but this summer anthem flipped pretentious listeners on their heads while showcasing the merits of melodic emcees.

’Shamir – In For The Kill’

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The danciest track from the year’s most pioneering pop vocalist.

’Mura Masa – Lovesick Fuck’

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In 2015 Mura Masa continued to prove his dominance in the realm of emotional future bass. This is easily my most played track of the year.

’Big Wild – Aftergold’

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‘Aftergold’ captures Big Wild’s genuinely organic approach to electronic music–one full of sonic plot twists and playful melodies.

’Lane 8 – Loving You ft. Lulu James’

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Lane 8’s compositions shaped my year and “Loving You,” the opener of his debut album, brings to mind feelings of excitement and new beginnings.

’Kenton Slash Demon – Harpe’

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The capacity for emotional power within an instrumental composition should never be underestimated–‘Harpe’ proves that.

’Tame Impala – Let It Happen (Soulwax Remix)’

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The magnificence of Tame Impala and the rare emergence of Soulwax combine for infinite grooves.

’Billy Kenny – I Eat Beats (Ardalan Remix)’

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This song is single-handedly responsible for piquing my interest in tech-house.

’Sonny Fodera & Gene Farris – We Work It’

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I listened to this every time I worked it in 2015.

JR JR – Gone (The Knocks Remix) [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 18, 2015

JR JR
Gone (The Knocks Remix)

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Detroit indie-pop duo JR JR have had quite the 2015. Their self-titled album, which dropped in September, feels like their most polished work to date proving cohesive both sonically and in its lyrical content. “Gone,” the project’s lead single, exemplifies that refinement striking a flawless balance between inspirational and downright addicting. Seeing as JR JR have found themselves in regular rotation with the TMN staff, we’re beyond excited to be bringing you a remix of their hit single from fellow-Ninja favorites The Knocks.

The Knocks have been seemingly everywhere this year as well starting with the release of their So Classic EP which has been followed by numerous stellar remixes and the first singles from their upcoming debut album. Although more electronic in sound than JR JR, the Brooklyn duo similarly toe the line of mainstream without sacrificing a drop of integrity. While The Knocks’ recent originals fall squarely in the realm of electro-pop, their take on “Gone” sees them flexing their versatility crafting a massive bass-house tune. Contrasting vastly from the original’s playful sensibility, The Knocks’ re-imagination is fueled by a massive, brooding bass line that brings to mind their recent collaboration with Alex Metric and takes the song from a sunny summer day to a club dance floor. Kick your Friday off right with this one above–you can buy JR JR’s 2015 album here.

[TMN Premiere] Tyler Hawkins – From That Land (EP)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 16, 2015

’Tyler Hawkins – The People’

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You might recognize the name Ninety if you’ve been following us over the last couple years. The Bay Area-based duo, which consists of Tyler Hawkins and Mikey C the Man (MCM), first caught our attention in 2014 with their unique brand of sunny, west-coast hip-hop. Today, we’re excited to bring you the premiere of emcee Tyler Hawkins’ debut EP, which both establishes and serves as the perfect introduction to his sound.

With all production handled in-house by MCM (of Ninety) and oft-collaborator Yung H33M, From That Land plays out like a dedication to the past, present and future of the Bay’s hip-hop scene. Each of the project’s seven tracks possesses its own vibe without losing site of that broader mindset. Laid-back, classic-styled cuts like the “The Come Up and “101 (Cruisin’)” find contrast on harder-hitting tracks like “Options,” which has a subwoofer-rattling bassline. Aside from a diverse set of beats, Hawkins’ various emotive flows, which hit their most ambitious on “Dreamin,” are what truly tie the project together and further contribute to that overall Bay sound.

The EP’s finale, “The People,” with its addicting Last Lynx sample sees him taking that inspiration a step further carving out a sound all his own. Stream the rest of project below–you can also grab a free download on Bandcamp.

’Tyler Hawkins – From That Land (Intro)’

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’Tyler Hawkins – The Come Up’

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’Tyler Hawkins – Options’

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’Tyler Hawkins – Yakkums’

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’Tyler Hawkins – Porn Beat (Interlude)’

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’Tyler Hawkins – 101 (Cruisin’)’

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’Tyler Hawkins – This Is For…’

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’Tyler Hawkins – Dreamin”

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Hip/Hop

[House] Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique – Love is Free (Moon Boots Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 15, 2015

Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique
Love Is Free (Moon Boots Remix)

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As the TMN team works hard on putting together our end of the year lists, Moon Boots is a name fresh in our minds. The NYC deep house/nu-disco producer has made a name for himself this year providing us with both remixes and originals with endless replay value. To round the year out, he’s dropped a remix of Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique’s “Love is Free” injecting it with his groovy ethos. While the original is a hard-hitting, and fantastic, electro-pop tune, Moon Boots switches it up with a four-on-the-floor backdrop and a series of bouncy synths. It’s a remix that works equally well on and off the dance floor. Give it a peep above.

Electronic

[Event Review] ODESZA’s Dazzling Victory Lap at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium–SF, 12/10

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 15, 2015

ODESZA
Memories That You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)

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Since the release of their 2014 album, ODESZA have grown into an omnipresent force in dance music appearing at nearly every major music festival and making their way across the globe on an extensive headlining tour. This year has been particularly pivotal for the Seattle duo—they’ve dropped several massive remixes, continued to expand their live set (including a full marching band at Lollapalooza) and launched the Foreign Family Collective. Through Foreign Fam, they’ve helped introduce like-minded artists such as Big Wild and Jai Wolf to larger audiences. As huge fans, the Ninja staff have had the pleasure of covering the Seattle duo’s upward trajectory and interviewing them a couple times along the way.

In the last two years alone, the TMN writers have probably seen ODESZA a combined 20 times—my best guess for myself is 6. So, going into their show last week, I frankly wasn’t sure there was much more to see and, even if their performance hadn’t evolved, I would’ve admittedly left happy. Once again, though, ODESZA put together an awe-inspiring set fit for Bill Graham Auditorium’s grand stature. As the set began, members Harrison and Clayton emerged with their parallel MIDI and drum setup offering some words about their admiration for the SF crowd, who have shown out every time they’ve come to town. Musically, “Koto,” a gorgeous and low-key track, set the tone before the first high point hit with their remix of Sia’s “Big Girls Cry.” Granted a nearly 2-hour set, ODESZA was able to dig deep in their catalogue playing standouts from their oft-overlooked debut, Summer’s Gone, such as ”Above the Middle” all the way through the fan-favorite remixes of opener Hayden James’ “Something About You” and Zhu’s “Faded.” Continue reading →