Author Archives: Michael Serratore

[MP3 Playlist] The Chill Dojo #21

We’re well into the new year now, about the time where it stops feeling weird writing the number ’13 at the end of the date. Another reason for feeling at ease with the calendar ticking over is the impressive amount of chill tracks that have already begun floating around in 2013. We have assembled a nice line-up for you to cement just how good this year is going to be!

If you’re still not convinced, our track of the week, ‘Only Flaw’, will no doubt turn you around. Having joined Facebook only a few days ago, and with this being the sole piece on show on Soundcloud, there is not much to tell about Wayward besides the UK origins. What is clear from this mellow masterpiece though is that this is definitely a name to watch closely in the weeks to come. Now last week we left you with a stellar array of jazz-infused beats to enjoy as the playlist concluded, so we pick up where we left off with another smooth instrumental courtesy of German beatmaker FloFilz, who has captured all the magic of a smokey lounge atmosphere into 2 minutes of pure delight, which will have you desperately craving more for sure. Speaking of not being able to get enough, the tropical vibes flow once again as we have the pleasure of mentioning the name Goldroom with this feature of Mexican producer Bufi’s official remix for ‘Sweetness Alive’. The combination of guitar and piano is the perfect touch to make this an absolute jam. But our favourite name to drop of late can be none other than Sizzlebird, whose work-rate continues to astound with his ability to slip into the dojo on a regular basis. This week he presented his stunning chillstep entry for the Rameses B remix competition, which is a winner in our books regardless of the result. Finally, the announcement of a new Justin Timberlake album has caused quite the buzz of late, so our next feature revisits some classic JT with a new spin thanks to a brilliant cover from UK future bass group DrDr. There are no words for this one, the gorgeous vocals will say everything.

And now you understand the excitement we have for what this year will bring in the world of chill. Just listen for yourself. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #21 zip

’Wayward – Only Flaw (FREE DL – See description)’
’Toori’
’Goldroom – Sweetness Alive (Bufi Remix)’
’Rameses B – I Need You (SizzleBird Remix)’
’Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River (DrDr Cover)’
’Green Light – John Legend Feat. Andre 3000 (Annie Starlight REMIX)’
’Swv – Rain (Two Fresh Remix)’
’Phoenix – You Cant Blame It On Anybody (Le Crayon Rework)’
’The Blue Train (Dicky Trisco Mix)’
’Final DJs feat. Stee Downes – One Day in the Sun (Extended Mix)’
’Le Youth – Dance With Me (Glam Shell X Vancington Remix)’
’Miguel – Do You (Young Piff & Sandor Trap Remix)’
’Bliss’
’Ultraista – Smalltalk (Whomi Remix) FREE DOWNLOAD’
’XXYYXX & Giraffage – Even Though (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)’
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[MP3 Playlist] The Chill Dojo #20

The Chill Dojo has hit another milestone with edition number 20! So we’re celebrating, or rather vegging out with an equal number of stellar tracks to wind down your weekend and keep things as easy as can be.

Bit Funk kicks off our proceedings with the standout for this playlist in ‘The Long Road Ahead’. With the year just beginning, 2013 certainly does have a long way to go, but if mellow masterpieces like this are the soundtrack to our days then it will certainly be one to look forward to. The vibes keep flowing with our next mix courtesy of Melbourne duo QvsQ, who take the haunting yet chilled original from London Grammar and add a touch of progressive magic to perfectly complement those enchanting vocals. We continue on to some new stuff from familiar names in Sizzlebird and Cross Them Out, who continue to do what they do best in providing absolutely gorgeous sounds. We then revisit an earlier post from the week covering another dojo favourite in Follow Me, with another smooth rework of a classic R&B jam that will quickly have you under its spell. Our playlist concludes with a special treat of 5 of the best laid-back beats from UK producer Vanilla’s latest album of instrumentals, For What It’s Worth. The jazzy touch make these a pure easy-listening delight.

There is definitely plenty to enjoy in this jam-packed milestone installment, so vibe along in whatever way you love most. Peace out!

Chill Dojo #20 zip

’Bit Funk – The Long Road Ahead’
’London Grammar – Hey Now (QvsQ & 30 Day Trial Bootleg)’
’Wanting’
’Exist Strategy – Autumn Breeze (Cross Them Out Remix)’
’Brian McKnight – Back At One (Follow Me Remix)’
’Flight Facilities
Clair De Lune (Them Jeans Edit)’
’ODESZA – How Did I Get Here’
’EVERYTIME’
’Cosmonaut (free DL in description via Juicy)’
’Scott Barman – Young Theme.mp3′
’Miss Me’
’Moon & Walker – Love A Little More (Ride The Universe Remix)’
’me&u’
’Skrillex – Leaving (Coaster Remix)’
’Vegas’
’Vanilla – 02 Azure.mp3′
’Vanilla – 09 Wishiknew.mp3′
’Vanilla – 15 VLNTN.mp3′
’Vanilla – 17 Moonbeamz.mp3′
’Vanilla – 20 Touch.mp3′

 

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[Funkahton] Skullee – Funkmonstah

If you haven’t realised by now, here at The Music Ninja we are suckers for a funky jam and HOT DAMN does beat menace Skullee give us something to rock out to here! Brass and bass will forever be a match made in heaven, and “Funkmonstah” provides a generous slice of just that. Call it infectious, dirty, or even as the artist himself labels it, “funkahton”. It doesn’t matter what name is put to it, because at the end of the day it is good music through and through that will have you moving whether you like it or not. For anyone complaining that electronic music is sounding all the same or getting stale, take a listen to this clear message from Skullee to go and get funked!

“Funkmonstah” is available for purchase now as part of Skullee’s Baddboii EP.

’Skullee – Funkmonstah.mp3′
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[Folk Rock] Matt Walters – I Would Die For You (Video)

The power of sharing music online can be a wonder at times, unearthing hidden gems that serve to connect with an audience that wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to experience it. This could not be more true for independent Melbourne artist, Matt Walters, whose melancholy ballad “I Would Die For You” reached cult status after a fan-uploaded video soared over one million hits on Youtube, touching the hearts of listeners worldwide. Following up on this unprecedented success, an official video for the song has now been released for eager fans. Featuring hauntingly beautiful scenes and mesmerising choreography, the visuals perfectly accompany the mood of the story being told. This is one to lose yourself to during those deep, pensive moments.

Check out a slightly different rendition below:

’I Would Die For You feat. Washington’
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[Electro House] James Egbert – Chopper

It’s fair to say that the past few years have been massive for one of Colorado’s favorite sons, James Egbert, whose popularity continues to rise with every show he rocks and every banging track he produces. This year will surely only yield further glory as he launches into 2013 with another insane original called “Chopper”. The dramatic opening build-up evokes feelings of an impending military battle, with the bombs well and truly being dropped at the 1:45 mark, as an aerial assault of bass and gritty electro synths wreak havoc through your speakers. This is an epic tune that could easily fill the scene of a futuristic war film at its critical moment, and is further evidence of the artist’s ongoing development of his high-energy sound. Bunker youselves down and prepare to unleash the pure sound of blazing glory!

’James Egbert – Chopper (Original Mix) – OUT NOW!’
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[MP3 Playlist] The Chill Dojo #19

Well it’s a new year and hopefully we have all well and truly recovered from the revels of the celebrations that have taken place over the last week. For those still in need of some downtime or just wanting to kick 2013 off the right way, the Chill Dojo makes its triumphant return for the first Sunday of the year. There are plenty of treasures still to find from 2012, and this will likely be the case for many weeks to come, but rest-assured that the new year will deliver a stack of more incredible tunage our way in no time at all.With new names arising and stellar vibes aplenty, this is certainly the time for amazing discoveries.

And speaking of hidden gems, our first track for the year is none other than a remix of one of the breakout songs of 2012 in Seven Lions’ ‘Days to Come’. A collaboration from trio of friends, Slander, 7DeadlySynths, and DireWolfe, this stellar trapstyle take on the original substitutes the heavy bass hits for hi-hats and mellow synths which work just magically with the euphoric vocals of Fiora. Now prepared to get your funk on as we move on to our next few features, the first two being some absolute jams courtesy of Dutch beat-maker Moods, who is a strong prediction to be a name that will continue to pop up in 2013, and we have a good track record with these things. The other is an old-school jazz delight from a fellow Dutch producer in Demouche, whose entire Food For Happiness EP is filled with vintage treats like this and should definitely be checked out. Like, right now. ‘Youth’ has been the inspiration for many chill mixes in 2012, and another one just recently discovered is thanks to German producer Alle Farben, crafting a gentle and hypnotic bassline that perfectly caresses the acoustics of the original and creates vibes that are on another level.  You’ll also find a familiar name in WISKIM with his first release for the new year that bodes much promise for good things for the months to come.

So there you have it, a strong start that makes 2013 seem brighter already. Surely things will only continue to grow from all the wonderful sounds of the previous year. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #19 zip

’Seven Lions – Days To Come (Slander, 7DeadlySynths & DireWolfe Remix)’
’Moods – Love Is Real’
’Moods – Keep It Movin’
’Demouche – Gotcha’
’Daughter – Youth (Alle Farben remix)’
’Miguel – Sure Thing (WISKIM REMIX) (FREE DL)’
’Blond:ish and Climbers feat. Forrest – Back to Back (FREEE DOWNLOAD)’
’BoomBox – Lost Ya’
’Fleetwood Mac – Dreams (Walter Sobcek Remix)’
’Blood Diamonds, Phone Sex (Lemonade Remix)’
’Dry Ice’
’Canyons – When I See You Again (Duke Dumont Rain On Kilimanjaro Mix)’
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[Dubstep] NERVO & Hook n Sling – Reason (FEEX & The Noisy Freaks remix)

When French producers FEEX and The Noisy Freaks collide on a remix, good things are bound to happen. Following up on their recent collab which took Knife Party’s ‘Bonfire’ to a whole new level of filth, this time the combined talents of the artists have taken things in a different direction with ‘Reason’. The uplifting original has effectively been transformed into a reflective dubstep smash, with melodic stabs and heavy bass hits reminiscent of the signature Seven Lions sound. The addition of that electric guitar breakdown midway through the track makes this one an absolute anthem. A freebie given away for the holidays, this is further proof that this holiday season just keeps on giving.

’NERVO & Hook N Sling – Reason (FEEX & The Noisy Freaks remix)’
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