Author Archives: Ash El Gamal

[TMN Exclusive Interview] Lane 8 On His First Gig, Musical Evolution and Debut Album

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 16, 2015

’Lane 8 – Hot As You Want ft. Solomon Grey’

Among the new wave of House producers who have popped up recently, Lane 8 has stood out as a favorite of ours for quite some time now. The Bay Area-bred, Germany-based producer’s style spans across sub-genres of House, from progressive to bass, all the while displaying an appreciation for genres outside of electronic music. In the last year, Lane 8’s been picking up some serious momentum crescendoed by a performance at Coachella’s DoLab. Following that crucial career moment, Lane 8’s poised to continue what’s been a breakout year with his upcoming debut album, Rise. The singles from the album thus far, “Hot as You Want” probably being our favorite, have seen his sound mature and fill out wonderfully proving some of his strongest work to date.

We had a chance to chat with Lane 8 about his musical background, career trajectory and the making of Rise among other topics. Check out the full Q&A below–you can purchase Rise now here.

TMN: Being from the Bay Area originally, how did you end up living in Leipzig?

Lane 8: I was living in San Francisco and I fell in love with a girl—a German girl—and it was getting to the point about a year and a half ago where I was playing most weekends and starting to get some decent bookings. It seemed like everything was pointing in a positive direction and I was ready to take that leap so we decided to move to Germany and give it a shot here.

TMN: Has living out there had any impact on your music? What’s the scene like in Leipzig?

Lane 8: Yeah, Leipzig is kind of known as the little Berlin, or some people would call it a better Berlin. The mentality can be sometimes a bit similar and the music scenes are quite similar in a way. They’re very techno focused at the moment. It’s not so much being in Germany for me but being in Europe in general and playing these cool little shows that I would never have gotten to play being from San Francisco that has influenced me the most. A lot of the music I play in my sets that I really like at the moment has been coming from Europe so it’s good to be out here and kind of rub elbows with people.

TMN: What was your first musical memory?

Lane 8: My dad is such a music nut. He has thousands and thousands of records. So, I literally had no choice but to be exposed to music from when I was born because my dad listens to music constantly. I have a weird memory of playing the cello in my garage and I know that must’ve been one of the first ones because the first instrument I ever tried was cello. Then I took up piano and that was what I stuck with. So, yeah, garage cello.

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[Hip-Hop] A-1 – Sunday Love (feat. Cole) (Music Video)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 14, 2015

’A 1 – Sunday Love ft. Cole (Kaytranada’s “Seeu Enni Way” Remix)’

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Fresh off the release of a stellar mixtape in Thurlian, San Francisco’s A-1 is keeping the quality content coming with his latest visuals for “Sunday Love,” one of our favorites from the project. Shot fully on a GoPro while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the video perfectly matches the laid-back and radiant energy of the track. If you’re not yet familiar with A-1, this should serve as the perfect introduction to his positive, energetic lyricism as well as the ultimate addition to your Sunday soundtrack. Peep below and check A-1’s upcoming tour dates after the jump.
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[NEW] Mr. Carmack & Kehlani – All In

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 10, 2015

Mr. Carmack
All In (with Kehlani)

Soundcloud

In the latest installment of Yours Truly‘s always-dope Songs from Scratch series, an ongoing project backed by Adidas Originals that fuels artist collaboration, Oakland-bred vocalist/songwriter Kehlani has teamed up with the pioneering Mr. Carmack for a slow-burning jam. Mr. Carmack, whose Red EP is around the corner, has been an omnipresent force in music for the last couple years as a humble, albeit somewhat reluctant, representation of the modern-day renaissance producer. Meanwhile, Kehlani’s debut album, which perfectly captures her unique approach to songwriting and distinct voice, has made her a well-deserving favorite among tastemakers.

“All In,” born out of two artists’ exhaustion from their respective grinds, features a markedly chilled-out Carmack with downtempo percussion, oscillating synths and gorgeous piano. Kehlani’s voice matches the backdrop flawlessly, but her lyrics are what truly shed light on the track’s significance for both artists. A fascinating contrast emerges from the combination that reflects the wear and tear that come with success and the perseverance required to keep going. It’s a deeply emotional, yet valiant, tune that surely marks a point in time of the careers of two promising talents.

If you’re looking for some mid-week inspiration, we’d definitely recommend checking out the behind-the-scenes video below and the full story behind “All In” here.

[Electronic] Jai Wolf – Indian Summer

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 9, 2015

Jai Wolf
Indian Summer

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Jai Wolf had been killing it for quite some time before his performance at Coachella made him a poster boy of sorts for the group of up ‘n comers that make the DoLab so special. As he continues his ascent in the world of dance music, Wolf hits an extra special landmark today becoming the third artist to release a single through the Odesza-curated Foreign Family Collective. Just as Foreign Fam’s last release, “Aftergold,” served as the perfect culmination of Big Wild‘s production approach, “Indian Summer” serves as an anthem that succinctly captures Jai Wolf’s style.

As its name suggests, the single features a distinct influence from Indian music primarily fueled by the vocal sample that emerges into a radiant drop driven by percussion that fans of Odesza are sure to appreciate. It’s a gorgeous tune that’ll contribute to Jai Wolf’s quickly surmounting momentum as he hits more festivals and solo dates around the country. Give “Indian Summer” a listen above and make sure to save it for your summer playlist.

[Chill] Illenium – I’ll Be Your Reason

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 8, 2015

Illenium
I'll Be Your Reason

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Denver-based producer Illenium has made a name for himself on Soundcloud over the last year or so as a leader in the sub-genre of EDM that’s been dubbed “future bass.” Although it’s become a rather overcrowded space, Illenium has distinguished himself with a marked versatility and diversity in sounds earning himself a release on Skrillex‘s Nest HQ.

Departing from his typical production style, “I’ll Be Your Reason” displays exactly what it is that makes Illenium stand out. Rather than go for a trend or generic production style, the San Francisco native teams up with Irish singer/songwriter Eden to create an atmospheric, chilled-out production. Even with its somber undertones, the track still breaks into a chorus reflective of Illenium’s style making for an interesting juxtaposition that pairs relaxing melodies and downtempo vocals with heavier bass elements. If you’ve had a long Monday, this should help you unwind but is equally fitting for a post-work or study drink. Unwind and grab a free download above.

[NEW] Goldlink – Dance on Me (prod. Milo Mills & Hasta)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 8, 2015

GoldLink
Dance On Me

Soundcloud

Since his rapid rise in 2014, Goldlink has hit the road playing festivals along with solo dates around the country. His unique brand of quick-hitting raps over dance-influenced production translates amazingly to live performance as we recently experienced at Sasquatch Music Festival in Washington where he had the crowd moving his entire set. Today, we get some much-anticipated new material from the DMV-bred, Rick Rubin-approved artist and it, once again, reasserts the fact that he’s in a lane all his own.

On “Dance on Me,” producers Milo Mills and Hasta craft a soulful intro that’s quickly transformed and chopped to create the perfect uptempo, future bounce backdrop for Goldlink. As agile as ever on the mic, Goldlink creates his own version of a feel-good, summer-fling anthem without losing the punch packed in his cadence. A little past the one-minute mark, the production flawlessly transitions into a slowed-down, breezy vibe over which Link takes a break from his rapid delivery in favor of layered vocals. That interlude adds to the sunny feel of the song all the while displaying Goldlink’s versatility before he rips into his second verse.

“Dance on Me,” which we’re pretty sure we actually heard during his Sasquatch set, seems like the perfect fit for his current tour so look to hear it out at his shows–check his upcoming dates below the jump. We’re always hopeful of new music from Goldlink but, every time he releases something, it proves well worth the wait and this one’s no different. Peep above. Continue reading →

[Soul] The Internet – Special Affair

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 8, 2015

The Internet Music
Special Affair

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The Internet, an Odd Future-affiliated band spear-headed by Syd and Matt Martian, have continued expanding on their neo-soul, funk-influenced style since first hitting the scene back in 2011. With two studio albums out, The Internet are already a step ahead of similar groups that have been popping up as of late, and the polished sound on their latest single certainly reflects that. Keeping genre boundaries as ambiguous as ever, “Special Affair” contrasts with some of The Internet’s more complex compositions proving a minimalistic tune fueled by a down-tempo, organic bass line and Syd’s silky, seductive vocals. As its name suggest, the track is a lustful and intoxicating ballad that, once again, demonstrates that, with Syd on the mic it’s virtually impossible to falter. On The Fader‘s premiere, Syd talked a bit about stepping out of her comfort zone with this late-night anthem:

I wasn’t sure I was the one who wanted to say those lyrics. With our first two albums, I don’t really say fuck what’s in your phone, let me take you home. It took me being like, so what? I’m 23, this is what I’m supposed to be talking about, this is how I’m supposed to be feeling. Our group is so funny, because people don’t even realize it’s a girl singing about a girl.

Along with “Special Affair,” The Internet’s also announced their upcoming third studio album, Ego Death, which drops June 30th and can be pre-ordered here.