Author Archives: Michael Serratore

Anything featuring Alina Baraz and Galimatias is automatically on our radar when it comes to the Chill Dojo, but when long-time favorite Stwo adds his own tender touch to the sweltering ‘Maybe’, hearts are bound to melt in an instant. If the sultry vibes of the original weren’t enough, the smoothness of this edit has definitely broken the dial where that’s concerned. Tom Misch is no stranger to a soulful beat either, and this week he revealed the first track off his upcoming Beat Tape 2. ‘In The Midst Of It All’ sums up the beautiful simplicity that the young prodigy brings to his music, and it’s this honest charm that has us hooked on everything he’s been doing lately. The quality of this next feature needs no introduction when you see the names Chet Faker and Banks combine. In what will go down as one of the collabs of 2015, ‘1998’ is everything you could want from these two vocal powerhouses together in the silkiest of jams.

Not to be outdone though, ODESZA’s remix of Hayden James was another game-changer for the internet to handle after being teased in their live sets. A slowed-down mellow take on the dance-floor heater, the majestic atmosphere conjured here is flawless in every way. For anyone who’s caught a Wave Racer show in recent weeks, the surfacing of his latest bomb ‘Flash Drive’ will be a welcome relief from replaying mobile footage over and over in desperation to relive the moment. His signature color and joyful melody have been unleashed once again, with a cheeky slap bass solo thrown in to take things to a whole new level of shameless fun.

We’re gonna ride this wave of joy all the way through to next week. Peace out!

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

It’s a double treat from FKJ this week, starting off with a smooth summer jam you can throw straight into your mixtape courtesy of the free download. It’s a simple formula really; the prolific beat-maker lays down his signature vibe while the sultry voice of Tom Bailey completes the sensual experience that ‘Drops’ was made to provide. His second feature is a collaboration with another slick Frenchman in Darius. Where the opening track held nothing back in its declaration of serious funk, this one is all about a rich blend of silky sounds that slowly massage their way through your mind until total mesmerization has been achieved.

Up next we’re moving into some nostalgic territory with a newcomer to the Chill Dojo, VOIA. The NY-based producer wastes no time in painting his scenic beach soundscape and allowing his charming melodic composition gently carry your mind away on a wave of curious adventure. More than that though, it creates the perfect setting for our next track from TastyTreat and NRMИ, aptly named ‘Summers Love’. Warmth and happiness oozes from every chord of this future-filled delight, ready-made to be the backdrop to your fond summer memories. We wrap up our features with a pair of glorious remixes from Royal’s latest Cycles EP. While Lazerdisk and Dream Beach team up to continue this carefree journey we’ve been drifting through, Jai Wolf’s intention is all about bringing the energy to his magical world of melodic bliss.

The ride continues well beyond there though, so feel free to stick around for the whole thing. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

Dojo #141 is headlined by one of the tunes of the year as Cosmo’s Midnight debuted their addictive single ‘Walk With Me’ on the airwaves and subsequently took the blogosphere by storm. While the Sydney twins stole the spotlight, Perth-based songstress Kučka is the one stealing hearts with her glorious vocal input creating an experience reminiscent of AlunaGeorge stylings. Smooth groove and silky vocals are a dangerous combination that will demand to be played again and again. As far as other magical pairings go, the playful lyricism of Lolaby and lush soundscape of Cosmic Quest’s production is once again proving itself to be a celestial force on the rise. Following on from their stellar inception as a promising musical duo, ‘Hidden Charm’ builds on the floating atmosphere of their sound that creates the canvas of their colorful creativity. It’s a gateway to a world of imagination you can’t help but get lost in.

Another artist gifted with the talent of forming landscapes with his sound is the chill-weaver Ma Luca. It takes only a few moments of listening to his latest slow-jam before vivid imagery of gentle sunshine, serene waves and picturesque scenery take over to serve as a brief escape into paradise. It’s a feeling we definitely want to hold onto for as long as possible, so we’re going to continue down the slow road with Blue Satellite’s transformation of ‘Back of The Car’. Where the RAC original went for the classic indie party anthem, this version is all about taking down the pace and creating vibrant electronic melodies and a whomping beat to really drive home the power of the iconic chorus.

It’s a week of features that hero musical exploration, so it’s fitting that you should journey on as far as you can through the list. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

Chill Dojo #140 is going straight for the feels with a charming original from Sable that’s all about celebrating that special someone in your life. Released through a series of short story panels across his Facebook page, the vibrant creativity in this song is clearly not limited to the musical production alone. That said, the glorious vibes emanated through ‘One and Only’ will be the feature that has you putting this on steady repeat. We’re definitely looking for positive vibes this week, and Dojo newcomer Akimoto delivers just what we needed with a lyrical gem whose beauty lies in its purity. Playful piano and a catchy beat belies the makings of a simple jazzy tune, but flashes of electronic flair elevate this into a polished jam that’s all about heart.

It’s this same quality that has rocketed Mura Masa’s ‘Firefly’ into one of the standout features of 2015. It’s no easy task to attempt a remix of this chill anthem, but young Ramzoid has proven he’s up to the challenge with a stunning effort that will no doubt leave its mark. While the overall structure remains similar, the talented Canadian has infused a serious dosage of funked out bass into the original that adds the perfect touch of summer feelings. While we’re chasing those warmer vibes, it’s the perfect time to shed some light on a new up-and-comer in the future game by the name of Jupe. At only 15 years of age, this is one kid that’s set to make some serious waves if ‘Caprisun’ is anything to go by. Jazzy flavors and melodic bliss combine for a sun-drenched experience that’s on point from start to finish. We’ll end on more of a sultry vibe now as another debutant in Skye Chai dishes up a smooth take on the soulful ‘Electric Blue’. Light-hearted sampling will ensure a smile all throughout the journey, but it’s the vocal edit that will shut out everything around you as you’re captured in its tender grip for the full four minutes.

The rest of the playlist will keep that smile from fading for a good while longer than that as well. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic

The weekend was for celebration, but Monday is all about settling down with some sweet tunes for your ears, and for that Dojo #139 has you covered. Renowned beat-maker esta gets the vibe going with a silky take on a soulful Banks original, transforming ‘Someone New’ into a fresh jam that could sit on repeat for hours and never get stale. From there, Tobtok provides a flashback to the weekend’s revelry with a groovy house party-starter that oozes sunshine and good feelings. You wouldn’t imagine similar sentiments could ever come from Robyn’s iconic ‘Call Your Girlfriend’, but Thero and Taylor Wise have teamed up to bring some warmth to the emotional hit. It’s an interesting contrast of somber vocals and summer sounds, but as always the addition of a sax solo will always be our weak spot.

Fans of Aussie group SAFIA will have been waiting for this one to surface for a while, but this week ‘Embracing Me’ officially joined the ranks of quality electronica for 2015. Known for their incredible vocal treatment and ability to craft an anthem, this gentle piece of aural deliciousness will have no trouble holding a crowd in the palm of its hands and moving them to its every ebb and flow.

Time to wind down in the best way possible and rejuvenate for the week ahead. Peace out.

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic