Saturday Selection Vol. 8

Saturday Selection

Long weekends are way more exciting than they should be. That’s alright though, because we’re back with more tunes from this week! And what a week it was. May has been an absolutely absurd month of quality releases. Let’s hope it stays this way for a while. Enjoy!


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Brandon Locher – Slow Steps

As life rushes around and flies by, stress can pile up without you even noticing. Take some time to alleviate it with the newest ambient tune from Brandon Locher. The warmth of “Slow Steps” juggles an ominous, yet comforting atmosphere with an orchestral presence to give the tune a movie score feel. You’ll feel immersed into a different world as soon as you hit play. Given the chance, that’s all we really want to do at a certain point, so enjoy this one when you’re feeling the need to hit the reset button after a long week.


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Manila Killa – Youth (Feat. Satica)

Manila Killa has always managed to create music that instantly improves your day. Between Hotel Garuda and this solo project, he never loses his stride, and the Satica-featuring “Youth” adds another definitive tune to his arsenal. With so many variations of pop music, it gets a little strenuous to pin down an exact style for it, but we wouldn’t want to do that anyway. What we do know is the approach Manila Killa and Moving Castle are taking is equally accessible and compelling, marking a shift into a new wave of genre blending.


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EMBRZ – Breathe

After what seemed like a long silence, EMBRZ returned to our SoundCloud feed five months ago with the beautiful “Home.” Now we have the equitably gorgeous “Breathe” gracing our ears. Shifting from his usual beat-driven and chilled-out creations, this Irish producer breaks out into his own take on deep house. There’s more to “Breath” than what that genre usually entails, and a major part of that lies with Pat Byrne’s vocals. Taking a path of four on the floor mixed with somber synths may be a switch up for EMBRZ, but he’s demonstrated that he can create something magnificent no matter the style.


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Jorja Smith – Where Did I Go?

Following up the massive hit that is “Blue Lights,” Jorja Smith is back with a reflective and soulful mindset. “Where Did I Go?” exercises restraint production-wise to allow Jorja’s vocals to serenade us into a calm demeanor while her lyrics express a sense of vulnerability coupled with contemplation. Without any hesitation, we can say that Jorja Smith deserves all of your attention and then some. Even with only two (known) songs released at the moment, enough statements have been made with this pair of stellar tunes to merit Jorja as a potential breakout artist for this year. We’ll just have to wait and see!


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Crywolf – Slow Burn (Elènne Remix)

This remix gave us shivers. Not only from the already emotional Crywolf lyrics, but also from the careful and calculated transformation that Elénne was sure to masterfully orchestrate. “Cataclasm” was an amazing album from front to back, so reshaping and providing a new context for it is a tall order. Elénne is more than qualified to tackle “Slow Burn,” and we got this wonderful remix as a result. Whether or not you were planning on experiencing a cascade of feelings today, listening to this amazing rendition of Crywolf will do it to you. Enjoy that. It’s a good thing.


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[Event Review] Project Pabst: Denver

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While the influx of major brands into all sectors of independent art over the past decade or so has certainly seen a large swath of fans and critics let out a collective groan; it is events like Project Pabst that at least let us know that some corporations are putting their efforts in the right places. Last Saturday, a pair of us Ninjas set out into one of Denver’s most diversely beautiful neighborhoods, The Five Points/RiNo Arts District (which was conveniently also this writer’s own hood) to enjoy one of the more eclectically diverse days of music we’ve consumed in the Centennial State in years.

We arrived fresh on a sweltering afternoon just in time to see Brooklyn synth-pop outfit Small Black, who if you’ve followed us for some time, know we have developed quite the soft spot for -especially after playing our Halloween TMN Showcase last year. The four-piece paced the day wonderfully, ranging their sound from wistful electro-indie-pop, to chillwave, to lofi 80’s pop, and all of those murky spaces in between. After running through a slate of singles off of last year’s LP Best Blues, Small Black arced their set brilliantly, landing upon their shining star “No Stranger” to wrap up an hour-long set.

Check out the rest of our Project Pabst: Denver review after the jump!

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Saturday Selection Vol. 7

Saturday Selection

This week has been slow. Very much so, in fact. We’ve got some tunes today that reflect that feeling and it’s a nice little switch-up from our previous installments. A trace of soul, melodic ambience, and gorgeous piano-driven pop are the high points of the week, so let’s go ahead and listen in.


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Jordan Rakei – Blame It On the Youth

Few are smoother than Jordan Rakei. It’s no surprise he has worked with Tom Misch previously, and “Blame It On The Youth” is a prime example of that. Four on the floor kicks, strutting basslines, and a silky voice all work together in harmony on this short, but sweet cut that precedes his upcoming album, Cloak. If this tickles your fancy, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for that project. Bump this one to hold yourself over in the mean time.


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Izzard – Ghost Naps

When you need to clear your mind and float away without a second thought, Izzard has you covered. The Soda Island affiliate should be scoring movies and video games by this point, because, within every release, a world is created. It’s tough to bottle it up in such a succinct manner, but Izzard’s work is something to be experienced, not simply listened to. It’s amazing how much emotion can be discovered with no lyrics at all. “Ghost Naps” prove this with aplomb.


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POLO – nightbloom

As played out as the term “future” may be to some people, sometimes it’s the only fitting definition for certain electronic music. POLO‘s style of rapid-fire and pitched samples speed over the massive drums and thundering bass to exemplify a sound that isn’t roped into any one particular genre. Exploring something as wild as this is always a good choice because you’re hearing something complete fresh. From the structure to the progression to the My Chemical Romance sample (listen carefully, you’ll hear it), POLO really is here to have a good time making crazy stuff. We’re here for this. Don’t miss it!


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Coast Modern – Guru

“Guru” will put a smile on your face. That’s basically a guarantee. Meshing pop, electronic, and a slight bit of reggae, Coast Modern has essentially just soundtracked part of your summer already, and it isn’t even June! It’s getting time to bust out the refreshing drinks on the beach and/or poolside, and this tune is tailor-made for all of these settings. Everyone needs a feel good song at SOME point. “Guru” is a great place to start with the weather warming up in the near future. Throw on your sunglasses and enjoy.


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Luke Cusato – Breathe

Get your tissues ready. It’s no secret that Luke Cusato. “Breathe” is beautiful. There’s not another word for it. Swelling orchestral elements bolster the powerful piano and lift Luke’s voice into an celestial fervor. When you get chills on the first listen of a song, you know something special is happening, and “Breathe” hits all of the right spots without any semblance of artificiality. Thank you for this one, Luke Cusato.


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[Denver Event Preview] Project Pabst – RiNo Arts District – 5/21

Already an established and highly praised festival in Portland, Project Pabst is set to touch down for its first ever stop in Denver, and we’re chomping at the bit for their all-day lineup featuring the likes of TMN Favorites Best Coast, Small Black (who headlined one of our TMN Showcase parties back on Halloween), K. Flay, and local Denverites turned national darlings Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; along with classic staples including the Violent Femmes, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires and loads more across seven stages on Saturday, May 21st in Denver’s booming and eclectic RiNo Arts District. We’ve been watching Project Pabst pick up steam as it nears closer and closer, and with the announcement yesterday that all tickets have now been sold out, it’s shaping up to be a beast of a day for music in the Mile High City.

In anticipation of this weekend’s Denver debut of Project Pabst, check out our playlist below featuring some of our favorite tunes from each headliner, start hydrating, and put aside your beer snobbery before loading your system with cheap domestic beer in the greatest craft-brew city in the U.S. We’ll be out in full force all day tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for our post-event review, and get in the spirit a little early with our official Project Pabst Preview Playlist (say that five times fast) below.

’Best Coast – The Only Place’
’Small Black – No Stranger’
’Best Coast – Do You Love Me Like You Used To’
’Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
S.O.B.’
’Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun’
’FIDLAR – No Waves’
’Big KRIT ft Trinidad James – My Trunk’
’Lights – Same Sea (K.Flay Remix)’
’Metz – Can’t Understand’
’Baroness – Shock Me’
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Saturday Selection Vol. 6

Saturday Selection

These past two weeks have been an absolute GOLDMINE for music fans everywhere. We’ve honestly never seen a month this stacked with releases both from established legends and exciting newcomers in a long time. It doesn’t stop, and we’d be fine it never did really. Even with all of the hype, you may have missed a few things, and we’ve got some highlights that you definitely need to hear. Switch up your taste a little today and show the talented folks below some love.


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CAFUNÉ – Don’t You Forget

We love CAFUNÉ. After having the amazing opportunity to premiere their debut EP, Love Songs For Other People, we’ve been hooked on their pristine style of electronically tinged pop. They continue to demonstrate their mastery of the genre with “Don’t You Forget” in a positive minded approach, both lyrically and production-wise. They’ve even been given praise from Pharrell Williams himself, so, even if you haven’t heard of them yet, you will. From their amazing covers to their catchy and sweet original material, CAFUNÉ show that pop music isn’t all formulaic, and we’re lucky to get to hear them break that barrier.


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Mura Masa – Lotus Eater (Tonton Remix)

Simply put, this is a stunning rendition of an already phenomenal song. Remixing Mura Masa is no small feat, and Tonton made it look effortless. The defining features of the original were kept, but this “Lotus Eater” update has skyrocketed into popularity on its own merit. Finding a way to still make your speakers go through a workout and maintaining a cool and collected sense of calm is quite the balance, but this remix handles both without fail. Keep your ears open to for more Tonton.


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Anna Straker – Late Night Swimming

We’ve got even more great pop coming at you this week, and it’s here courtesy of Anna Straker. Debut tracks on SoundCloud are always great to come across, and “Late Night Swimming” continues this trend without a hitch. You can soak up the sun with this one, or cruise around with the windows down as the breeze whips around you almost in time with the song itself. Anna Straker is enchanting throughout the tune, and, even with the strong production, her voice is the anchor holding “Late Night Swimming” together. We are VERY ready for more from her.


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Mishegas – Home

Building an emotional appeal with no words is something to be admired, and Mishegas‘ sophomore tune channels a similarity to artists in Foreign Family in this regard. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let “Home” transport you into another dimension of heavenly synths, swaths of reverberating drums, and a serendipitous melody that makes you feel like everything might just be alright. We’re catching onto Mishegas early, but there’s no stopping him if more tunes like “Home” are on the way.


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YOKE LORE – SAFETY

What do you get when you put a little bit of banjo into electronica? YOKE LORE. At first glance of that sentence, it may seem like a silly combination, but “SAFETY” has proven it can work, and very well at that. The group vocals chant harmoniously along with a strumming banjo, thumping kicks, and resounding synths that culminate into something extremely unique. This is one tune you’ll just have to listen to to believe. Grab their EP here!


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Saturday Selection Vol. 5

Saturday Selection

Hopefully you weren’t living under a rock this week, because it was a new music Friday for the books. We were lucky to get some HUGE albums, plentiful surprises, and a collection of music that continues to make the case for 2016 being a great year when it comes to quality releases. Even with all of these stellar projects, there’s plenty of gems to be found, and we’ve got some wonderful tunes primed and ready for you today. Enjoy!


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Jai Wolf – Drive (feat. Chain Gang of 1974)

Jai Wolf has come a long way since No Pets Allowed, and watching his rapid ascent to success has been quite the trip to say the least. Since his recent foray into original material with Indian Summer, he’s shifted to creating songs that make you feel like you could just jump and fly away whenever you want. “Drive” is his wonderful second original offering and it exists as a dreamy counterpart to Indian Summer, stacked from top to bottom with breathtaking production and effervescent vocals from The Chain Gang of 1974. In short, it’s miraculous. The Foreign Family Collective continues its winning streak with “Drive,” and we’re all better off because of it.


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Slow Shudder – Call You Back

A timely repost on SoundCloud can be an awesome thing, and, thanks to AObeats, we were given the opportunity to hear the debut tune from London’s own Slow Shudder. She’s already on to something with “Call You Back.” She effortlessly delivers each verse with her lofty and light voice before the tune quickly turns to a combination of club kick patterns, fluttering synths, and chirpy vocal chops that exhibits a level hand and production standard of more established artists before her. “Call You Back” is a strong statement to start with, and now we’re certainly ready to hear more from Slow Shudder.


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Annabel Jones – Happy

You know good pop when you hear it. It isn’t hard to decipher. However, Annabel Jones makes something better than just good pop music. “Happy” proves it. Something about her delivery and soothing voice meshes well with any and all production, even the unpredictable instrumentation of this newest tune. Juggling angelic synths and almost PC Music-esque elements, “Happy” manages to completely change course multiple times in only four minutes, but the cohesiveness is maintained throughout. When it comes to following up a huge hit like IOU, it can be a difficult time, but Annabel Jones didn’t have any trouble at all creating a sweet new single for all of us to enjoy. Grab her debut EP on iTunes here!


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Thalab – Wreck

Everything about this Thalab song is gorgeous. This is the sort of crazy and beautiful result you get when you smash together the best of electronica, alternative, folk, and even a little soul. The sound design is second to none, and the spacious atmosphere created manages to also stay grounded because of the tactful use of acoustic guitar juxtaposed with careening and lush synths. We’ll be the first to admit we aren’t entirely familiar with many producers from Spain, but these Barcelona natives have managed to pique our curiosity into expanding our exploration into a more international approach. End your day on the perfect note with this one.


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Commandeur – Wasted (Ardency Remix)

We love Ardency. They’ve pulled together a reputable collection of remixes and a handful of originals, and their latest project stems from the former. Fun Fact: Commandeur is the side project of the drummer from the great Australian band Panama, and this duo snagged a chance to give their own spin on his tune “Wasted.” There’s a classic, almost revamped 80’s edge to Ardency’s production that makes for an emotional rollercoaster on certain occasions, and this is absolutely one of times. It’s hard to deny the power of an electronic pop tune like this, and Ardency prides themselves on demonstrating their abilities in reshaping an older sound into something fresh and new. Do yourself a favor and snag the free download their remix here.


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Saturday Selection Vol. 4

Saturday Selection

Hopefully the April showers are finally over, because we’re desperately in need of some nice spring weather. A lot of the time, music shifts with the seasons, and we’ve got a few tunes for you this week to mark the change that’s underway. Enjoy!


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Pat Lok – You Street

Pat Lok straight up rocks. He’s been an ace producer of infectious house tunes for a while now, and his collection of remixes speaks volumes with its success so far. The latest tune he’s dropped on us is a funky original, teeming with smooth synths and rocking percussion that could easily become a staple in your poolside playlist during the months ahead. There’s no shortage of grooving with Pat Lok, and “You Street” is a great example of that.


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Klangstof – Island

It’s a moot point by now, but Mind of a Genius continues to push some of the best music. Their most recent signing, Klangstof, has finally followed up their debut tune with the ethereal beauty of “Island.” Something about this group is inherently magical, and their tunes help you to escape to a better place. The entire six and a half minutes of this song is absolutely immersive and spectacular. Don’t miss out their other recent release, “Amansworld,” either.


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Kultur – White Door (Ft. Khary)

Shifting from his normal ambience, Kultur delivers a slick hip-hop tune featuring vocals from Khary. Hopefully there’s more of this in store from Kultur, because it works for him. Whether you’re entirely familiar with his normal material or not, “White Door” already is a standout for the French producer. He prides himself on mainly emotional pieces of work, but this new tune just feels fun and is an intriguing switch-up. It’s no secret that there’s a large amount of talented producers hailing from France, and Kultur is upholding his end of the deal big time.


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Elohim – Sensations

Every new Elohim tune gets us more and more excited for her debut EP due out on May 20th. Even with an abundance of synth-pop artists out there, Elohim has continued to make her mark over the last year with stunning songs and an alluring, mysterious presence. “Sensations” feels more jubilant than most of her previous tunes, and it’s easy to see how she has been able to garner her popularity with ditties like this. She’s captivating, and we’re fidgeting in our seats just thinking about her debut project on the way.


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pools – summer sunday (sisasa remix)

SISASA is in no hurry to be anywhere based on the relaxing tunes we’ve heard. Each of the three songs released so far is wrapped in a tranquil and simple atmosphere, and, somehow, SISASA has managed to transform pools into an an even more serene invention. Complexity and technicality is always appreciated, but constructing a minimal melody and altering a sample in such a way that SISASA has takes a specific and careful type of production that can easily be disregarded. This works though. And it works well. End your day right with this one.


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