Set to the pace of thundering percussion, “Breathe” is fresh, delicious, and primed for your ears. It comes to you via Dublin-born Christian Cohle, who apparently wears many hats, including producing, singing, songwriting, and expertly pan-searing sustainably caught salmon. Okay, that last one was a shot in the dark, but you never know.
Grounded with a contemporary pop flavor, twisted up with a modern, yet sophisticated electronic backbone, Cohle’s style has a familiar feel, yet stands alone. His vocals should do more than enough for anyone who fancies the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and James Blake and his production skills effortlessly cross boundaries and genres, tapping the virtual shoulders of indie dance fans.
No matter how you choose to approach “Breathe” you’ll walk away satisfied. Seeing as how this is one of his first releases, we can safely assume you’re in for a whole hell of a lot more.
Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, Los Angeles-based Ariza has been turning some heads as of late. From crafting his own tunes to playing guitar with the likes of The Staves, Phillip Lassiter, and more, it’s not hard to see why.
His latest release, which I have the pleasure of bringing you today, is a haunting collaboration with Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Miette Hope. Titled “Find Me” this sauntering glitch-pop gem is the perfect accompaniment to your Halloween plans, best served for after the after-party, as you wind back down into reality from your imbibing.
…It’s a track heavily inspired by James Blake, Portishead, some trip-hop vibes, but also a very modern sound. I think it’s one of my darkest tracks. It comes at a very interesting time of my life, culminating the first stage of recovery of tearing three tendons in my wrist. I can say about a month ago things were quite more heavy, but putting out a track like this and moving on, is incredibly healing in itself. – Ariza
Past post-Halloween activities, this addictive tune is a dark and twisting addition to your low-key playlists. Make sure to add it on Spotify and Soundcloud.
MEUTE is one of the more refreshing things we’ve come across lately. Made up of a collection of 11 talented, traditional drummers and horn players, this German-based group delivers eye-opening, smile-inducing, and thoughtfully crafted renditions of some of the world’s largest dance anthems, including Flume, Deadmau5, and Solomun.
In the midst of their first North American tour and debut album release, we had a chance to connect with Founder/Trumpeter Thomas Buhorn to see how this intriguing outfit came to be.
TMN: Thank you for taking a moment to chat! Let’s start with your ‘origin story’ so to speak. Did this project start off with the intention to do what you’re doing now?
TB: To be honest, yes. We were convinced, that the combination of hypnotic techno music played by an acoustic marching band in a very distinguished and energetic way has the potential to be very explosive. Due to the fact that techno music is international and without borders, we always hoped, that we can travel around the world with it. Now we do, and it’s big fun!
TMN: This tour is your first in the States. What does it mean to you guys to be able to fly across the pond in support of your debut live album?
A: It means a lot to us. The US has a big heritage of brass bands, jazz, and also electronic music. We love all that stuff and combined it with our European way of playing music. So we are very proud to show it to the folks here and are very happy that the people seem to like it a lot.
TMN: You’ve already hit a few cities already. How has the reception been so far?
A: The people went crazy – so did we.
TMN: Backing it up a bit — are you traveling with the full ensemble?
A: We always do!
TMN: That has to be quite the undertaking for a travel planner. Are you bringing instruments with you, or renting some over here?
A: Our Tour Manager is working very hard and very good. So it’s possible to bring our own stuff. Most of the instruments are custom made, so we are happy to have them.
TMN: One of our favorite renditions is Flume’s remix of Disclosure’s “You & Me.” Talk us through that day in Görlitzer Park. It seemed like such an experience for those who were there.
A: It was the day of an evening performance in a club in Berlin. Sometimes we go outside during daytime and make some surprise performances. So always stay tuned on our social media, sometimes we give some hints in advance!
TMN: Looking back, how did you come about choosing larger-than-life dance tracks for your interpretations?
A: Just because they invite people to dance, and we can bring something new to the world. The sound that arises out of that combination is quite special.
TMN: Have you ever received any love or kind words from the original artists?
A: We always ask them, and luckily they’ve always liked it. We already did stage performances together with Laurent Garnier, Solomun, and Stephan Bodzin.
(btw you can find some quotes from some of them here: www.meute.eu/about)
TMN: What’s next for you beyond this tour?
A: We will release a new studio album next year. And hopefully, we go on touring around the world!
Nowadays, with technology and the power of collaboration, a lot of artists utilize a number of people and team members to craft their signature sound and music. However, every once in a while, a golden goose comes by that can do it all and Oliver Malcolm is one of those.
Having started producing on a cracked Logic program when he was only 15, Malcolm has turned into a 100% force that writes, sings, produces, and plays a myriad of instruments to create his unique sound. Starting as a producer under the moniker Big Kidd, the Swedish-UK star has been blazing a trail to take his own name and artist project to the next level.
Inspired by the likes of Eminem and MGMT, Malcolm first started to work with underground rappers like MF Doom and IDK, but has most recently found himself collaborating with a wide range of artists from Cee Lo Green to Masego to D12. This exposure has influenced his own sound to be a mixture of alternative, urban, soul, and even pop. With new music on the horizon, 2020 is the year that Oliver Malcolm is sure to become a force within the music community.
Back in February, I had the pleasure of bringing you a first listen to Thin Lear’s “Guesthouse.” Just a few months later, I’m back with another premiere from this endearing, up-and-coming, Queens-based artist.
A softer, more subtle offering than what we heard previously, “Your Family” is an openhearted take set to soft, acoustic fingerpicking and layers of strings and piano. It’s authentic, speaking clearly from an organic, soulful, and emotive space. When asked about the meaning behind it, Thin Lear had this to say:
This song took me a while to write, and even longer to record, as I don’t think I fully understood what I was singing about when I initially wrote it. At the time, I had recently watched someone close to me lose their partner of many decades, and their resulting grief turned into this pattern of self-punishment and self-imposed exile.
The only way they eventually broke out of it was when they started to remember the foundational love their partner had given them. When they stopped thinking about the loss, and started thinking about what they had received and imparted in return, I could sense that person returning home again. Unfortunately, there’s this self-defeating mechanism in our brains that makes us think we deserve our grief. I watched this person climb out of that, and it was such a hard-earned victory.
We’ve now been introduced to a few tracks off of his upcoming debut album, Wooden Cave, which isn’t quite scheduled yet, but should be coming out at the end of summer. Until then, make sure to follow Thin Lear on Facebook, Spotify, and Twitter.
Hailing from the Mile High City, 888 is back again with another massive, emotive, and encapsulating tune. And, as seen before, they’ve enlisted the help of fellow Denverites, Blurred Pictures, to help with the visual representation of “Pins & Needles.”
Living in Denver, I’ve had the pleasure of being fully aware of members Danny Stills and Danny Cooper as 888, since they emerged onto the scene with “Critical Mistakes” back in 2016, garnering overwhelming local support and some nationally. Though, this isn’t the first taste of success, having previously gained some serious buzz for their heavier work with Drop Dead, Gorgeous and Bleach Blonde.
Though the heavier stuff is behind them, nods to their emo routes are still noticeable with releases like “Critical Mistakes,” a handful of others, and now “Pins & Needles.” With such a unique and modernized sound, it shouldn’t be long before droves of others share the same adoration for this burgeoning, new(ish) act.
Today, we’re bringing you the first look at another extremely well-made music video, which was written, produced, and directed by Blurred Pictures. It’s heavy, dramatic, stars both Stills and Cooper, and is worth your attention for the next few minutes.
When you’re done, make sure to head over to Spotify and drop “Pins & Needles” into your favorite playlists.
Following up an impressive six month stint, which included the release of a debut album, a headline tour, and support of acts like John Butler Trio and Angus and Julia Stone, this lovable four piece from New Zealand is back with another major splash.
Recently released through Spotify’s New Music Friday AU, “Help You Now” has been carving its way through the blogosphere and all major digital streaming platforms. As fans have come to expect from Alae, this track shimmers with Farrell-Davey’s perfectly-trembly verses and easily-recognizable choruses. It’s rife with pop sensibility, at times bordering on what I’ve experienced with American pop country, yet maintains a special uniqueness that could only come from this specific act.
‘Help You Now’ is about facing your fears. It’s about talking about what it is that’s hurting you, what it is that’s scaring you and allowing people to help. The lyrics are an attempt to normalize the process of opening up to others. – Alex Farrell-Davey
Today’s visual offering of this stunning new release comes with some serious star power, featuring Antonia Prebble, one of New Zealand’s most revered talents. It’s shot in renown Avondale’s Hollywood Cinema, which creates the perfect setting for this story to unfold.
Have a look below. When you’re through enjoying, make sure to head over and throw this group a like on Facebook. and a follow on Spotify.
Following up an impressive six month stint, which included the release of a debut album, a headline tour, and support of acts like John Butler Trio and Angus and Julia Stone, this lovable four piece from New Zealand is back with another major splash.
