Latest Chill Dojo Posts

The Dojo is second only to the Ice Bucket Challenge when it comes to spreading chill across the internet, but our only nomination for you is to sit back and enjoy the infectious vibes we’ve got in store for edition 98. It may not leave you shivering, but you might just need a new change of clothes after this sweltering remix of Bondax’s ‘All I See’. Sultry Frenchman Darius has come up with one of the hottest tracks of the week, driven by a deep groove that pulsates some seriously good feelings. Also contributing to this week’s funk factor is dojo-favorite JNL, who gives us a sneak preview for a future release that’s packed full of classic smoothness reminiscent of the great MJ himself. ‘Only Lover’ is ready-built for an intimate dance-floor experience, so make sure you’ve got all your moves down pat when this jam is getting spun.  We’re shifting into anthem territory with these next two features, and kicking things off are NY duo Sava & Razz, who reignite the love for the 90’s Oasis hit with a tropical house revival. You know all the words for sure, but now your communal sing-along can be accompanied by smooth sax and pool-party vibes, and that is something this playlist lives and breathes every week. The catchy summer fun continues courtesy of Canada’s Shèmce and a rendition of the ever-popular ‘Teenage Crime’ that just oozes happiness. What was once a staple festival track has now been flipped on its head with a fresh nu-disco outfit, and from our point of view it’s never looked or sounded so good.

Goldroom’s ‘Till Sunrise’ was always meant for the tropical treatment though, and Pacifico amplifies the dreamy chillwave style with a captivating sea-disco ambiance capable of picking you up from where you sit and transporting you to the beachfront paradise of your wildest imagination. This is the kind of music we need in our ears all year long. Another welcome addition to the recent stream of ‘Higher’ remixes is another favorite in jackLNDN, bringing a more downtempo feel layered with sun-kissed chords and vocal sampling in all the right places.

It may technically be the final week of summer for some, but the warm vibes show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #98 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists

There’s been a lot of attention on the tropical house genre of late, and certainly a dramatic increase in the amount of producers looking to prove their worth with this style in 2014. Whether you could argue it’s a case of inspiration, pursuit of fame, or maybe just down to the season, we’re just happy to have heaps of quality chill material to feature each week.

But no matter the amount of artists that try their hand at the genre, Goldroom will forever be a name associated with championing the chill disco style, and nothing reinforces that better than his latest release in ‘Till Sunrise’. Luscious synths and floating pads embody the essence of what makes the artist the perfect accompaniment to warm climates and beach surroundings, and the dreamy vocals of Mammals act as the umbrella to this glorious summer cocktail. As we mentioned in the write-up from last week, these stems were actually made available weeks before the song’s release, providing ample opportunity for the inevitable flood of remixes to be put into motion well ahead of time. One of the best we’ve heard so far comes courtesy of disco diehard Justin Faust, who crafts a seriously sexy melody to complement this sun-drenched tune. In a similar fashion, Oliver Nelson and Skogsrå have elevated the latest single from Tobtok to new heights with their amazing edit. There’s a special kind of joy when you read about friends bringing their own elements to each other’s work, and the combined effort of all parties involved here has brought a very big smile to this ninja’s face.

When it comes to the tropical fever which has been rising this year, Norway has indeed been the epicenter of this craze, and Matoma has quickly become a favorite who proudly flies the flag for this style. His latest effort wraps his feel-good vibes around the solid vocal work of Marlon Roudette for another quality addition to his ever-growing arsenal of mellow magic. Oslo has plenty more talent to give though, and Jerry Folk is staking his claim for recognition with a laid-back funky rendition of ‘Wait’ off the recent Lemaitre Singularity EP. The young producer has struck the perfect groove with this lovely little jam, and shown plenty of promise for future success. One man who certainly deserves that kind of praise is dojo favorite Glastrophobie, who provides yet another beautiful interpretation of an indie original. Only this time his stunning piano composition is capped off with the sweet sounds of sax, which is a sure-fire way to get the thumbs up from us. Finally, we couldn’t end proceedings without a shout out to the latest remix from Samuel. His latest piece of summer-ready music takes on the soulful stylings of a Brandy classic, demonstrating a versatility that we’ll continue to encourage from him with each new release.

There’s no shortage of serene sounds in this week’s edition, so immerse yourself in the calm waters of number 97. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #97 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists

Every so often you come across a track which pushes the boundaries of what one would generally consider “chill” music, but there are inherent qualities to the sound which undeniably fit the vibe of what we preach in this Dojo. That so happens to be the case in our leading feature from the talented Haywyre, who has crafted a melody that reaches straight for the emotions. ‘Everchanging’ may hit hard with its moments of glitch hop flare, but there’s no overlooking the irrefutable soul contained behind the writing in this song. There was no such contention in considering this next one from young producer Y2K. Together with the captivating vocals of Mark Johns, ‘White Wine’ is a dose of future sounds that will command your full attention from beginning to end. Even if you had caught the post last week, take this as another reason to keep this one on heavy rotation. Actually, 3 of the remaining features in this write-up aren’t exclusive to this playlist, but they’ve been covered by the ninja crew for good reason, and that’s because they’re some of the best chill releases for the week. There’s the stunning cover of the iconic ‘One’ courtesy of Autograf, transforming the Swedish House Mafia classic into a magical wave of tropical synths and percussion. Kicks n Licks drifted outside their usual style with a piece of ambient delight in ‘Morning Light’, filled with glimpses of pure serenity in the form of echoing vocals and naturalistic soundscape. And of course, there’s no forgetting this glorious rendition of ‘Latch’ from TEEMID and Daniela Andrade. But one you might not have heard is this charming deep house edit from German duo Lakechild, who add their touch to the fresh original from Angus & Julia Stone. It may have only been a minute since the release of the newest self-titled album from the Australian siblings, but summer only lasts so long, and when there’s a remix as perfect as this, we can only be thankful we get to play out the later end of the season with this flowing from the speakers.

Rest-assured, whether you’re a religious music blog follower or not, we’ll have you covered right here with all our favorites for the week. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #96 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists

Whatever the events of your weekend, be it wild or chilled, Dojo number 95 has more than enough material to make sure the wind-down continues well into the working week. Now Joe Garston is a name that you wouldn’t necessarily think of in kicking off a chill playlist, being widely known for his energetic brand of bouncy electro-house. But as many artists have shown us in previous editions, there’s every possibility that elements of your style can be given a mellow feel. Though there’s no thumping bassline present at all in ‘Someday’, the pure happiness embodied in this track is undoubtedly the work of the UK producer. The nostalgic tone is a surreal experience, and will invoke all those memories you hold close to your heart. On the opposite end of the spectrum, New Zealand beatsmith Samuel Truth gives us a soundtrack to a frozen land of fantasy. Well NZ is the land of fantasy after all, and the wintery feel coupled with the palpable emotion is a combo that makes ‘The Cold’ all too real. If that’s way too frosty for your liking, we’ve always got some new Snakehips to breathe the feeling of summer back into your ears. Their latest single ‘After I Met U’ is another jam for your festival season oozing in that signature groove that is so damn addictive, showing just why they consistently provide hit after hit. Another name who delivers one funky tune after the next is none other than Dojo-favorite JNL. The feisty Canadian has outdone himself once again with ‘By Yourself’, bringing a vibe that echoes some serious Daft Punk influences, and will induce some spontaneous dance-floor behavior.

German label Jakarta Records recently released a free compilation of unreleased music from a number of familiar names, and among them was an absolute gem from MURAMASA. Amongst the wealth of smooth beats contained in Summer In Jakarta, ‘Miss You’ immediately stuck out with its lush melody and emotive vocals that reach straight for the heartstrings without any sign of letting go. This will be a go-to song in your library for when you need it most. Hold on tight, because we’re gonna go really deep with this last one. KAASI is notorious for concocting a dangerously deep tune, and you know you’re in for something special when he declares it’s his best yet. We would very much agree with that, because this one flows endlessly into a state of sheer serenity.

Monday sorrows are nothing in the face of this seriously chill tunage. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #95 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists

Get set for an edition stacked with vocal delights and enough groove to last well through the week. German pair Gamper & Dadoni have been building momentum with each successive release this year, and their latest remix might just be their best yet. We were calling game over when Oliver Nelson and Tobtok unleashed their version of the Naughty Boy hit single, but this dance-floor igniter looks to have the final say on the matter. With all the trimmings of their signature style, the duo have re-invented this track to give the original a run for its money. Speaking of remakes, Sam Smith’s cover of ‘How Will I Know’ is another fitting tribute to an iconic piece of music history, and this deep house touch from London’s Chris Meid serves to accentuate the emotion even further. Again, it’s summer melodies and sax which are the heroes of this effort, bestowing a heavy sense of nostalgia on every line of these well-known lyrics. There is equal praise for the original works released this week as well, and Toronto’s Tep No caught our attention with this tune which is ready-built to be a summer anthem. The folks at SuicideSheep are always on point with their selections, and to have this picked up by their label, Seeking Blue, is a testament to the potential of both this song and the artist behind it. It’s not hard to picture the vivid image of festival crowds swaying in the afternoon heat, soaking up the feel-good vibes encapsulated here. French Kiwi Juice is no stranger to these kind of feelings, and every track posted from his recent Take Off EP has been oozing the sexy smoothness he’s famous for. This week’s reveal was ‘Higher in Love’, and as the name suggests, it’s one to share with that special someone for sure. We couldn’t end this week’s proceedings without a good dose of the tropics, and luckily dojo-favorite Manila Killa is happy to oblige with something truly beautiful. If this marks what he’s capable of at just 21 years of age, then we can’t wait to hear how his craftsmanship continues to evolve in the future to come.

As for now, that’s another edition in the books, but we’re steadily creeping towards a milestone of our own. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #94 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists

As chill as this dojo is, we all need a holiday once in a while, and thankfully Ninjette Brooke was kind enough to step in during my break to make sure that the vibes kept flowing. Let’s pick up exactly where we left off and launch back into some of the best new music that has this summer thriving.

There’s no better style than tropical tunage to get things going, and no better man than Viceroy to kick-start this sun-drenched playlist. Now you’d be forgiven for anticipating the lyrics of Nicki Minaj to enter after hearing the first few chords of ‘The Life’, but thankfully it’s the sweet vocals of Penguin Prison that greet us in this 2014 anthem from Mr “Summertime All the Time”. This is the quintessential track for any beach party this year, no questions asked, but would you have expected anything less when these two names combine? I may have been on a break for a little while, but Oliver Nelson is a man who never stops pumping out one tropical gem after the next. His fiendish disco frenzy continues with his latest remix of ‘Busy Baby’, complete with those trademark slapping drums that never fail to induce some serious head bopping. Long Beach duo LBCK are another group geared up for a big summer this year, and they’re firing things up with a remix of a burning classic from Mariah Carey. The perfect combo of soul, funk and warm groove make for one hell of a start to their campaign, and it’s one we’ll watch with eager eyes.

It just wouldn’t be a summer playlist without a good showing of some Norwegian talent, and once again Bearson demonstrates that he has it in spades with another mind-blowing remix. We knew this brand of mellow house would make him blow up very soon, and we’re sure it won’t be too much longer at all before he reaches the heights he deserves. Not to be outdone, fellow countryman Matoma is another Scandinavian superstar who wields a nu-disco vibe to be revered. No stranger to a golden hip-hop acapella, his latest slice of paradise is seamless in its treatment of those untouchable lyrics, and will ensure they’re enjoyed for countless years to come. While we’re talking about stunning revivals, this Damian Marley cover from EFIX will take things to a whole new level of chill. With amazing control and pace, every minute of this delightful journey will take you to a completely new place, and is truly a marvel in musical construction. That guitar and violin partnership is absolutely mesmerizing. Rounding out this wrap-up is the latest bootleg magic from DJ AA, which hits all the right notes in its use of Sam Smith together with some dance-floor heat from 1up.

Whether you’re gunning for a holiday or just the weekend, this playlist will set the mood right to get you there. Peace out.

Chill Dojo #93 zip

Related items:

• Chill Dojo
• Electronic
• Playlists