[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 90: Girl Power + Overheard at Campout

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio .
Episode #90: Girl Power + Overheard at Campout

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With the Dirtybird Campout vibes still strong, Friday’s show was half random new tunes and half tech-house slaps. The front side features a chilled out, moody vibe highlighting new projects from Yumi Zouma, Kelela, Blue Hawaii and Four Tet. The back side is a straight party with me reminiscing about the various phenomenal sets from Dirtybird Campout last weekend.

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[Event Preview] One Love Festival – Lake Perris, CA – 10/20-10/22

It’s tough to keep up with the seemingly endless supply of festivals. With only a limited amount of disposable income, it’s a challenge to pick and choose which ones are worth your time. The heavy hitters are always a good route, whether it be Coachella or Lollapalooza, but those come with a hefty price tag, and an endless sea of people all jockeying to get closer to the stage.

Lately, we’ve been checking out a few festivals that fall into the “Transformational” space. Aside from offering up a solid line up, they have a little more too offer — yoga, bonding ceremonies, healers, live painting, and more.

In a few weeks, we’re going to head out to Lake Ferris, California, which is about two hours outside of Los Angeles, for the One Love Festival. It covers all the bases mentioned above, delivering programming that goes well beyond music. Not to say that we’re not excited for a few of the acts playing — Moby, Mark Farina, and Alex Cruz are a few that we’ve highlighted. But, the thought of a deeper meaning to the festival experience is something we’re excited about, especially after hitting so many that are just about the music over the years.

To switch our usual routine up even further, we’re going to skip the camping, luxury hotel packages, and the AirBnB rentals, instead opting for a completely unique experience. It’s called the Lost Hotel, and it’s unlike anything that we’ve ever heard of.

You set the scene – each cube tent is a blank canvas. At the Lost Hotel we take an expansive notion of the word art. Surprise us. Shock us. Illuminate us. Do it however you please, and the floor, or at least one square cube of it, is yours. We’re specialized at vacation de-programming and, if needed, can help co-create a new story tailored just for you.

If you’re feeling lucky, or if you’d just like to help out with a great cause, our friends at Cadence & Cause have a handful of ways to get into the festival and support Fuck Cancer, a charity that helps with prevention, early detection, and emotional support for those battling breast cancer. From artist experiences with Alex Cruz, to the ultimate festival experience for four people, you have a chance to have the time of your life, all while helping something that affects us all.

While you’re checking that out, feel free to jam on the little playlist we’ve curated below, and get amped for your time out at Lake Ferris.

’Mark Farina & Homero Espinosa – Mistreated (Original Mix)’
’Xavier Rudd – Follow The Sun (Alex Cruz Official Remix)’
’Alex Cruz – Rubberband (ft. Tania Zygar)(short edit)’
’Rocket Heart Ft Katie Gray’
’Moby – Porcelain’
’Washed Out – All I Know (Moby Remix)’
’The Polish Ambassador, Mr. Lif, Ayla Nereo – Terra Bella – 01 Shine Bright’
’Karma Fields
’Liquid Love Drops and An
ten
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[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 89: A Visit from Ninja Clay

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #89: A Visit from Ninja Clay

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Episode #89 was a true Ninja affair featuring selections from The Music Ninja’s editor and co-founder Clayton Warwick. Clay has been on a tear with quality premieres recently which made for a diverse segment including Malena Zavala, Vilde, Martin Luke Brown, Moncrieff and White Room. Also featured on this episode is Still Woozy’s latest dreamy pop ballad, a new single from De Lux and highlights from the latest batch of album releases including Moses Sumney, Injury Reserve, Galcher Lustwerk and Shigeto.

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[Event Review] NVDES and RAC Rock The Independent, SF 9/19

NVDES
I Want To Make Out At The Gay Club

TMN favorite NVDES opened up with an electrifying performance in support of RAC last Tuesday night. Playing in the intimate setting of The Independent in San Francisco, NVDES surprised an open-minded crowd that collectively seemed unfamiliar with their work. Frontman Josh Ocean and his long time collaborator, fondly known as Lemon Girl, rocked out with endless energy and charisma.

Attendees jammed out to tunes from NVDES’ most recent EP, La Nvdité Vol. 1. The EP was featured here on TMN and went along with an exclusive interview; check it out here. Highlights included the infectious electro-punk tracks “Dancer from New York” and “May and June”.  Ocean and Lemon Girl also graced us with tracks from their older discography, like “I Wanna Make Out at the Gay Club”. True to NVDES nature as a revolving collective, frontman Josh played a few tracks that bandmate Lemon Girl did not know. Much to his credit, Lemon Girl improvised flawlessly and put up a great performance throughout. Finally, they played some unreleased material, sharing some of their political leanings as well as their love for the Hyundai Elantra. Truly an eclectically enjoyable experience– one of the top 3 shows this Music Ninja has been to this year. Continue reading

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[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 87: Bits & Peaces ✌

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #87: Bits & Peaces ✌

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Off the heels of Outside Lands, an incredible set from Washed Out in Oakland and escalating social turmoil, I had a wide array of music to share on this week’s episode–from the left field hip-hop of ZGTO to Photay‘s infectious electronica to straight disco bliss from Folamour and Moon Boots. There’s a lot going on in the world right now and I hope this injection of diverse tunes helps you get through the week!

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NVDES – La Nvdité Vol. 1 [TMN Exclusive Interview & EP Review]

NVDES
Do You Think About Me

LA-based music collective NVDES has made a few appearances here on TMN. Led by frontman Josh Ocean, this free-flowing art project is teeming with joyous energy and has gifted us with many feel-good jams, like this one. NVDES’ music is delightfully fun, meshing pop sensibilities with modern punk vibes.

NVDES received global acclaim for his last EP, Life with Lobsters in 2016, earning a feature on Zane Lowes’ Beats 1, and reaching the Spotify Global Viral Chart. So, naturally, we were excited to hear NVDES’ latest EP, La Nvdité Vol. 1, which is out now on Kobalt.

The opener of the 5 track EP, “May and June”, perfectly encapsulates the infectious energy that NVDES songs display so frequently. Dancy beats in combination with the electro-punk sound of that guitar will make you forget that summer’s coming to an end soon. In juxtaposition with this track, “Do You Think About Me” does an excellent job of showing the emotional range that NVDES possesses. This wistful track inspired by a long-distance romance maintains that summery feel while pondering over a melancholy topic like a strained love. Check out the music video for third track “Dancer From New York” below:

I was lucky enough to chat briefly with NVDES’ Josh Ocean about the collective, and this latest project. Read up below! 
Continue reading

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[Music Ninja Radio] Episode #82: 4:44, Big Fish Theory, Washed Out + Crooked Colours

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #82: 4:44, Big Fish Theory, Washed Out, Crooked Colours + more

Soundcloud || Spotify Playlist  || BFF.fm Archive & Tracklist

There was a ton of brand new music to share on this week’s episode from Jay-Z’s excellent ‘4:44′ to Vince Staples’ genre-defying ‘Big Fish Theory’ to Crooked Colours breezy indie electronic on ‘Vera’. Mixed in with highlights from those albums, are standouts from Washed Out, NoMbe, Mura Masa x Damon Albarn, Session Victim, Amelia Airhorn & more.

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