Author Archives: Michael Serratore

It’s been a solid year for collabs already as far as the Dojo is concerned, and this week a combination of French beatmakers add their stock to the list in a big way. Today marks the release of the Almeria LP from EVERYDAYZ and Phazz, and the title track is the perfect mix of slick groove and punchy chords to make their statement heard loud and clear. An all-round smooth number that glides seamlessly through orchestration and jazzy breakdowns alike. While we’re talking big releases, it would be remiss of us not to once again highlight the unmissable Galaxies Between Us album from the master of future funk, Kill Paris. He may be messing around with an array of new flavors lately, but one listen will tell you this is undeniably the product of the Kill Paris kitchen. Cooking up everything from the irresistibly dancey ‘Gonna Get High’ to the almighty roar of the ‘Tropical Dinosaur’, he even manages to put together an ‘Interlude’ that we consider a legitimate tune.

A little more unorthodox method of releasing music took place at Coachella last week, as a handful of USBs went soaring into the crowd containing this gem from Kygo and Dillon Francis. Together with the vocals of James Hersey, all three musical influences come together here in wonderful harmony for the ultimate slice of chillout music at its very best. It won’t be the only thing taking listeners by surprise in this edition though, as next up is an unconventional blend of Manilla Killa and The M Machine in this remix of ‘Don’t Speak’. Though seemingly coming from opposite ends of the musical spectrum, the contrast between bubbly tropical vibes and gritty electronic beat is as intriguing as it is catchy. It certainly had our attention earlier in the week, and is definitely a unique addition to playlist #128.

Just one of many eclectic ingredients in this giant melting pot of mellow delights. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

All focus may be on Coachella for the moment, but this past week has served up its fair share of amazing releases for everyone else playing along at home. It’s not hard to imagine why new Flume would be top of the list as far as music news goes, but thankfully for the Dojo his latest flip of Sam Smith is saturated in the vibes that make him top of ours as well. If we’re talking collabs though, this collective effort from Towkio, Chance the Rapper, Lido and Eryn Allen Kane may just be the hottest we’ve heard from 2015 so far. As the names promise, your ears are in store for soulful vocals, slick lyrical skills and a production game that is as mind-blowing as always. That’s not all you’ll get out of Lido from this edition though, because this week also saw the release of his collaborative Superspeed EP with partner-in-crime Canblaster. Having already been treated to the intriguing sounds of ‘Rush Hour’, we’ve gone ahead and included the rest of the stream, each track dishing up a completely fresh experience to the last.

Carrying on a very similar theme title-wise, Californian producer KRNE showcases his abilities with ‘Never Stop’. A charming melodic opening may be extremely pleasant to the ear, but that’s just a prelude to the insane production that is about to be unleashed here. This is the kind of music that makes us urge the artist to take heed of his own words and keep those sweet tunes a’ comin nonstop. An unlikely contender ends the write-up for this week, as Dojo newcomer IMLAY manages to revive the genre-confused mess that is the original track from Palisades. Thankfully, this remix knows everything it’s meant to be, and the trap-filled future style actually makes for quite a nice fit to the poppy vocals.

That’s just the tip of it though, because there is a wave of other releases to sink your teeth into from the Hebinomichi Vol. 2 collection to the latest EP from mura masa. It’s almost festival-worthy in itself! Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

If the Easter weekend hasn’t left you as rested as you’d liked, as always we’ve got the perfect playlist to help ease you into the coming working days. Future maestro WRLD was at it again with another instant favorite in ‘Razor Leaf’. As you’ve come to expect from the talented producer, the uplifting melodies leave nothing wanting and deliver all the right vibes you’ll need to get you through anything that lies ahead. Similar inspiration can be found from this next track from a Dojo newcomer in Hyleo. If ‘Whispy’ is any indication of future potential, then we definitely have another youngster to be adding to our watchlist. With blissful bounce and sampling galore, this one is just made of pure fun. The head bopping continues with a super chill jam from another fresh name in Vancouver native SYRE. The soft vocals of Kendra Dias work in glorious harmony with the smooth groove laid down here, melting together to form a song that is asking for Summer to arrive much sooner than scheduled.

If the last song was asking, then this next one is screaming for the season, as young Melbourne talent Baro introduces himself to our humble Dojo with a mellow hip hop anthem in the making. ‘Bears’ is a delight for the ears from the sweet lyrical game to the lush acoustic soundscape and everything in between. With the promise of more fire in his EP to come, you’ll no doubt be seeing his name popping up to bring more good feelings to future editions. Milwaukee producer Melvv rounds out this week’s write-up in a fitting tone with his latest remix of Didrick’s ‘A Part Of You’. Where the original’s highlights came from it’s energetic electro style, Melvv brings new life to the vocals with a slower majestic vibe that floats through its melodic journey, showcasing all sorts of charming elements along the way. Those plucks are an absolute treat!

So even if the weekend was full of chocolatey regret this year, you can take comfort in there being no downside to the sweetness we provide in every edition. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

A playlist 45 tracks strong means a huge week in music has just passed by, and we really mean it when we say Dojo #125 is a journey through sound. Kicking off this epic adventure is the combined handiwork of Lido and Canblaster, bringing together their genre-bending skills for a taste of their highly anticipated EP. ‘Rush Hour’ is no simple task to define, equally dark in sections as it is uplifting in others. It’s curious, unsettling, but the seamless transition between the two opposite ends of the emotional spectrum is what makes it a display of true craftsmanship. On the flip side, this next collab from B.Lewis and Brasstracks wastes no time in declaring which side it’s on, gripping the listener in a state of joyous celebration and never letting go. Watch out if you’re wearing headphones, cos your body is about to be doing weird things that won’t make sense to anyone not currently in tune to these unreal sounds. Another duo in ABSRDST and Diveo are going to capitalize on these present feelings of glee with a charming vocal delight in ‘We’re Beautiful’. Don’t be disarmed by the first minute of magical elements and whimsical lyrics, because what lies in wait is a wave of future sounds that will burst like colorful fireworks around the expanse of your aural ability. Following this, it felt only necessary to continue onto the next phase with similar vibes from Midnight Snack’s ‘Majora’. Those familiar with the title’s reference can guess the style likely to be involved here, and it will no doubt be music to the ears of all the Wave Racer and Pusher faithful. Sydney’s Kilter has been on the rise for a good while now, and this week he solidified this point in his career with a glorious remix of Hermitude’s ‘Through The Roof’. It’s quite a moment for him to take on official remix duties for artists he’s idolized since the beginning, but he does so with a mature sound that stays true to his signature style. Creativity like this promises even more success in the near future for sure.

This week’s journey is far from over at this point though, so make sure to keep it locked until you’re through the whole thing. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic