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Saturday Selection Vol. 1

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - April 9, 2016

We are VERY excited to be introducing a brand new segment here at The Music Ninja! Saturday Selection was created for multiple purposes. From hitting the high points of the releases from the week prior, to exploring an artist or label more in depth, we’re looking to fill your weekend with even more great music than before. There’s no genre hindrances. There’s no boundaries. It all starts with five songs. You won’t want to miss this. Let’s dive in!

NVDES – The Other Side

NVDES showed up out of nowhere about ten months ago, and it’s a great thing that they did. Incredibly upbeat indie can somewhat seem like a saturated sound, but this LA-based band keeps it just weird enough to find and own their unique voice. It’s about that time to enjoy the nice weather again, and you’ll want to have the newest by NVDES in your playlist rotation.

Midoca – Tell Me Your Lies (Feat. Dark Waves)

It’s such a relief to have Midoca back. He’s crafted his own sort of electronic pop that doesn’t shy away from brooding topics or heavy and dramatic production. There’s an understanding within his writing and music that resonates on an intangible level when dealing with the fact that everything isn’t meant to be super happy all of the time. And that’s a good thing. He capitalizes on emotion, and Dark Waves is a perfect complement for “Tell Me Your Lies” when it comes to demonstrating gravity in electronic music.

PUSHER – Clear (ft. Mothica)

With an upcoming EP on the way, PUSHER decided to grace us the first single off of the project that features the heavenly voice of Mothica along with his infectious and bright production. His history of remixes speaks for itself, and his originals reflect several influences from some of the best new names in bass music. “Clear” is quite the first taste of his new project, as he trades in some of his larger sounds for a tightened down creation that shows he can bend his novel approach into whatever he pleases.

Atlas Bound – Softer Still

These two are so ridiculously smooth. Atlas Bound‘s second helping off their debut EP continues their winning streak of laidback electronic soul that just feels good every time you hit play. “Softer Still” relies on a sublime balance of live instruments and electronic production chops that is slowly but surely becoming more common as many artists began to expand their sound. And that is a GREAT thing. Keep yours ear open for their EP and enjoy this slick new tune for a nice break during your afternoon.

Moon Bounce – Wingman

The latest addition to the Activia Benz Singles Club comes to us courtesy of Moon Bounce, and it is an absolute trip. There’s something addicting about this tune as it bounces all over the place with a jovial and carefree attitude, thumping drums, and an absurdly catchy groove that punches right through your speakers. It may be short, but it’s certainly sweet. The London-based Activia Benz never fails to show that they enjoy every song they release, and Moon Bounce certainly added more fun to their particularly boisterous mesh of club and pop music.

[Funk/Soul] Charles Bradley – Good to Be Back Home

Posted by Jordan Coburn - April 6, 2016

Charles Bradley
Good to Be Back Home

Maybe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but in the case of Charles Bradley, an old dog can certainly teach us a whole lot of stuff. Like how to release an album at the age of 67 that will bring a gaggle of millennials to their knees, and re-instill the power of funk and soul into a generation that needs it. I’m talking, of course, about Bradley’s latest Changes, and the song that epitomizes the power of Charles Bradley and funk in general, “Good to Be Back Home.”

Upon first listen we couldn’t believe our ears. From the first shout we had to convince ourselves that James Brown, the artist that Bradley largely credits his motivation to, hadn’t miraculously returned. But then you keep listening and get the essence of Bradley himself very quickly– an artist with power, passion and a voice whose tone alone speaks wisdom. This song is an epic return track that’s placed perfectly in the beginning of the album and serves as a doorway to the soul/funk journey ahead; and even better, it doesn’t just take us back down memory lane. It brings the lens of soul into a piece of modern music, and it’s so great that we’re able to experience the vantage point from a legend himself.

Soul

[Indie/Soul] Kai Straw – Hurricane

Posted by Tyler Trew - March 31, 2016

Kai Straw
Hurricane

Kai Straw continues his string of pre-album single releases with “Hurricane,” the third single from his forthcoming Toothpick LP. We first encountered an indie tune, then moved to Kai’s more hip-hop centered sound with “The Business,” and now we get something different from either of those first two songs. “Hurricane” has Kai stretching his vocal abilities to deliver a soulful jam that may just be the song you need to throw on repeat and relax to.

Kai is one of the most dynamic musicians you will come across. This is clearly evident for anyone who’s been following his Toothpick releases, or have been a fan since his beginnings. “Hurricane” isn’t really like any song Kai has done before. Here we get a down-to-Earth record that as powerful as it is subtle. The minimalist tone is one of the song’s strengths, as is its organic sound that could easily be played in a live set up with a band. Kai has been unveiling something special one week at a time, and soon the full project will be out. We have one more single to share next week before the full release on April 12th. For now, stream “Hurricane” and if you haven’t checked the other tracks out, head over to the hyperlinked pages above.

Indie
Soul

[Electronic] Bonzai – Sleepy Hungry EP

Posted by Ash El Gamal - March 28, 2016

There’s something personal about discovering music through your favorite artists–either via remixes, tweets, Soundcloud likes or official co-signs. In the case of Bonzai, it was wunderkind producer, Mura Masa, who introduced us. The Irish vocalist first popped up on Mura Masa’s debut album, Soundtrack To A Death, and subsequently became the first artist signed to his label, Anchor Point Records. Following up a strong 2015 debut EP in Royah and a more recent appearance on Mura Masa’s latest single, Bonzai dropped her sophomore EP last week and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorite projects of the year.

Backed by production from John Calvert, Royce Wood Junior, and Mura Masa, the Sleepy Hungry EP is a project built on jarring, yet well executed, juxtapositions between beautiful sonics and harsh, glitchy low-end elements. Bonzai’s versatile vocal chops are what truly reel in the chaos, adjusting flawlessly with every twist and turn. Her fearlessness in both songwriting and delivery helps bridge the gap between between alternative R&B and underground UK electronic music. “Daniel Gets It Wrong,” the opener, begins with a bright, fluttering signature Mura Masa progression before quickly dropping into a heavy, minimal UK-garage bass line–truly encapsulating what’s to come on the remainder of the project. While “No Rest” and “Kassi” follow that heavily contrasting feel of the intro, songs later in the EP like “Lights On” and “Where Are U Now” provide a breather with their gorgeous, addicting textures.

The avant-garde nature of the Sleepy Hungry EP demands that you truly immerse yourself as a listener: the mark of a truly unique piece of work. So, do yourself a favor and give this one a full listen from start to finish below. You can purchase a digital copy of the project over at iTunes now.

’Bonzai – Daniel Gets It Wrong’

’Bonzai – No Rest’

’Bonzai – Ravemeister’

’Bonzai – Stepping’

’Bonzai – Kassi’

’Bonzai – Faze’

’Bonzai – Lights On’

’Bonzai – Sick’em’

’Bonzai – Where Are U Now’

[Video] Vanessa Elisha – Out of Time (Prod. XXYYXX)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - March 17, 2016

Vanessa Elisha
Out of Time (prodby. XXYYXX)

Australian songstress Vanessa Elisha has been on our radar for a few years now, so we’re definitely proud to see her reach yet another milestone in her career with the release of her first ever music video for her recent single “Out of Time”. The addicting tune–which has been in steady rotation ever since it dropped back in November–finds the vocalist pairing with producer XXYYXX as she despondently dwells upon being painfully separated from her significant other. Trapped in an inescapable glass container, the forlorn lover earnestly croons about her agonizing feelings of isolation and her desire to escape before the clock ultimately ticks down to zero. Unfortunately, her surroundings only grow darker and grim over time, as her vision gets cloudier and the box is shrouded in mist. By the end it seems like she learns to accept her circumstances, but we decided to ask the songwriter herself about the song’s somber message and harrowing visuals to see what she had to say:

Conceptually, we really wanted to capture the feeling of isolation. It was all about embodying the lyrics, “running out of time”. For me, the box is the physicalisation of the loneliness or anxiety someone feels when they are about to be left alone for a long period of time. It could represent something different to everyone who watches it, that’s what I love about interpretation.

Peep the ominous Matt Earl-directed visuals below and if you’re feeling the single make sure to grab yourself a copy from iTunes. Stay tuned for more from Vanessa as she continues to prep her upcoming EP, set to drop later this year.

Cracking The Code: Delving Into Blue Electronica & Understanding The Mystery Behind The Duo [TMN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - March 16, 2016

When we first introduced them as our resident artists for this month, we challenged you to see if you could crack The Code. That’s proven even more difficult with the release of their Blue Electronica EP, as the genre bending duo have continued to defy expectations since their emergence on the scene two years ago. The minute you think you’ve got them all figured out, the pair manage to throw a curveball your way that completely changes the way you view their music. We sat down with them recently to understand their recording process and the inspiration behind their music. See what they had to say about Blue Electronica, and listen to the entire project below. If you like what you hear, make sure you pre-order the album here.

’The Code – Launch’

TMN: It’s crazy to think that you’ve been able to amass such a large following without anyone learning your identity. These days there’s a lot of pressure for artists to open up and engage their fans via social media, but at the same time there’s been a growing contingent of reclusive artists trying to keep the focus exclusively on their music. Can you guys discuss some of the reasons why you decided to pursue this path, and some of the challenges that come along with it?

The Code: Well just like you said to focus on the music. At this stage nothing else is important. There are challenges in everything, so by choosing whatever path you should prepare and accept them, positive or negative.

’The Code – Electronica’

TMN: Like we said, no one’s quite been able to crack The Code just yet, and we’re interested in learning a bit about the significance behind your name: what does it mean to you and what does it represent?

The Code: It’s more what we are, not who we are. It represents the music, and our visual compass.

’The Code – Loving You (ft. P Reign)’

TMN: You guys have basically created your own signature sound, blending elements of electronica with R&B rhythms and hazy melodies. Can you talk to us a bit about your inspiration and how you came to develop this style?

The Code: Organically. Just creating what makes sense to the mood at the time, whether that be something energetic or chilled. Inspired by everything, not just music. In this day there is so much going on in the world its hard not to be inspired by everything.

’The Code – F**K’

TMN: You recently released your Blue Electronica EP, and the color seems to be a pervasive theme in both your music and artwork. What is it about the color blue that makes it so prominent in your aesthetic?

The Code: Blue is a calming color which can be dark, light, soothing and irate. It can also represent so many different things and the contrast between our interpretation of the color “blue” and “electronica” really fits.

’The Code – Azure’

TMN: In 2014 you introduced yourself to the world with the release of your debut mixtape, 1|11. This last project though, was much smaller in scope. Were there any changes in your approach when it came time to record Blue Electronica?

The Code: Not really, it all comes down to timing, both were made at different times in different moments.

’The Code – Mood (Find You)/Time’

TMN: There’s a lot of exciting talent emerging on the UK music scene lately. It seems like every time we turn our heads we find someone new. Are there any names you guys are keeping your eyes on, or anyone specific you’d like to collaborate with?

The Code: Anyone who wants to make music, any who is positive. If the time is right then anything is possible.

’The Code – Wolf (ft. KasFlow)’

TMN: Now that you have two projects under your belt, what else is on the horizon for The Code? Do you guys plan on doing any touring?

The Code: More of everything. It’s all been absolutely amazing so far.

’The Code – Breath’

TMN: Is there anything you’d like to say to someone who’s just hearing your music for the first time?

The Code: We appreciate your ears.

’The Code – Sedative’

TMN: The biggest misconception people have about the UK is ______

The Code: Not really sure, every area has stigma’s and stereotypes, good and bad.

’The Code – 16th Element’

TMN: If you could teach a robot to feel emotion through music, what album would you show them?

The Code: Daft Punk – Discovery

’The Code – IIIII’

TMN: If your music was a drug, how would it make people feel?

The Code: You’d have to ask the listeners that one.

[Electronic] Mura Masa – What If I Go?

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - March 15, 2016

Mura Masa
What If I Go?

After a short five month silence, Mura Masa is back. Shifting from the orchestral approach of “Love For That,” he calls on Bonzai to bolster the more soulful and dynamic instrumentation of “What If I Go?” with her immaculate vocal presence. This song stands strong as a second single for his upcoming album, and, unsurprisingly, captures some of the best nuances of Mura Masa and his fastidious method of production.

The impact of his noteworthy Someday Somewhere project continues to thrive throughout each new release, and that is the sort of delicate balance between consistency and innovation that electronic music has been moving toward more and more. Mura Masa has been an integral part of that change, and his merit in that regard is undeniable. In case you were unsure, you’re listening to the future here, and it’s a great thing to witness.