ADE is just around the corner. To honor this special week in dance music, Insomniac Records has put together their ADE Compilation that will be released tomorrow, on October 14th. Today, we give you a first listen to one of the singles off the project from Dirtybird’s own Worthy.
It’s not hard at all to imagine “Pull It” being played aloud through a Dirtybird Campout. It’s chill, yet groovy mood is perfect for the atmosphere. Worthy put together an original that is both wacky and straightforward. Not sure if it’s the San Francisco in Worthy our what, but the dichotomy of those two things in this track is positively uncanny. On a compilation with tremendous talent, Worthy stands out with “Pull It” in a big way. Stream it exclusively through this premiere, and ready yourself for the full LP tomorrow!
Fans of Stylust Beats can expect new music soon. In fact, they get a little something now through this Music Ninja Premiere with “Bandana.” This single is the title track for the Los Angeles act’s forthcoming EP, due out on October 13th through Sleeveless Records.
“Bandana” is a cool hybrid original, blending the sounds of trap and dubstep together in a way that few have done before. Usually when that happens, producers opt for a heavier, harder sound, but Stylust Beats switch things up for a more thugged out vibe. It’s got groove and attitude. Fans will surely be digging this one in a live atmosphere. It’s a dynamic record that can be played at anytime and have people embracing it to the fullest. Expect more great tracks from Stylust Beats on the Bandana EP. For now, download this single today for free.
When you think electronic music in Chicago, you think house music. That’s not the case with the Windy City’s COFRESi, who’s bringing some quality beats to the table that aren’t bumping four-to-the-floor. COFRESi has been pushing boundary-breaking tunes for a couple years now, and today we’re happy to present to you another high-quality tune in today’s premiere. That tune is COFRESi’s remix of Imogen Heap‘s “The Dumbing Down of Love.”
COFRESi has several unreleased remixes out that you’ll get to hear over the next few months, but today you get an incredible take on a classic record from Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth’s project Frou Frou. The song’s ethereal sound is easy on the ears, while COFRESi’s cool grooves are easy on the body. He uses his unique sound design and expert songwriting abilities to put together one of the dopest remixes of the year. It’s really that good. One of the best things about it is that it’s available as a free download. Do yourself a favor, don’t sleep on it.
One of our favorite Colorado creators is Dirt Monkey. Recently he released his CHROMA album that featured a collaborative single called “Super Sayain” with Harvey J. Dirty Monkey didn’t stop there as he enlisted a fellow animal loving producer to flip his single into something new. That producer is Wooli, and his remix can be heard for the first time in the dojo with this Music Ninja Premiere.
In its original form, “Super Sayain” was a strong hybrid tune that straddled the fence between trap and dubstep, something Dirt Monkey does often. With Wooli’s take, he keeps some of the trap influences, but brings in a more future driven style to the mix. Airy synth-scapes weaved into the classic vocal chops and subtle wubs make this one a straightforward, yet massive remix. If there was anyone who wasn’t jiving 100% with the more heavy style of the original, then this remix will be perfect for you. It still has that big, encompassing attitude, but the tone of Wooli’s remix is much less in your face. Wooli did an amazing job with this tune, which you can download for free. Chances are, you’re looking forward to more Wooli just as we are!
International fame and critical acclaim have attached themselves to everything Ta-Ku has released for an unprecedented amount of time. With a stacked resume of late containing the release of Songs to Break Up To in late 2013, the foundation of Create & Explore, releases under the moniker HWLS, collaborative efforts with HW&W and Street Dreams Magazine, while also having a hand in the success of Australia-based Weston’s Barbershop, the Perth trendsetter has been hard at work creating a multimedia empire off of his many talents. Your favorite Music Ninja writers has covered multiple Ta-ku releases over the years: Frogs, I Miss You, Down For You, Long Time No See, Love Again, No Reason, and Help Me Lose My Mind. His June 2015 release – appropriately titled Songs To Make Up To – exceeded all expectations in its depth and composition. As impressive as his catalog has been up to this point however, the recently released EP may overshadow them all in complexity – thanks to the lyrical infusion.
Median, stylized as (m)edian, is a concept album in the form of an EP; it’s short, succinct and tell a formative story of the dual protagonists Ta-ku and Wafia. Starting in 2015 and after much collaboration, the duo, Regan Matthews and Wafia Al-Rikabi, released their breakout take on Estelle’s “American Boy” with their aptly titled “American Girl, along with a collaboration with Charles Murdoch on “Frongs”. Shortly after, they debuted their joint live act during Ta-ku’s MoMA PS1 show. This spawned the duo’s (m)edian EP sessions in early 2016 that also included Wafia’s trusted collaborators Thomston and Ben Abraham. After solidifying a bond around their experiences with their fathers, they poured those feelings into (m)edian, which resulted in a raw confessional that unearthed a bedrock of complicated emotions.
Lyrically, the album focuses on several themes: strength in the face of adversity, maintaining a balance emotionally, and the space between familial love and forgiveness. As one of our first glimpses at Ta-ku the vocalist, the dynamic range of his singing is a welcome addition to the repertoire. While listeners are processing the limitless talents of Ta-Ku, Wafia comes into the fold, seductively harmonizing her lines intermittently throughout Median. On the introductory track, “Treading Water” a sparingly light sequence of piano keys sets the scene, before a dynamic lyric-infused ballad takes hold and finishes painting this masterpiece. Tracks two and four act as instrumental bridges between one, three, and five – accentuating the storytelling vibe of the album. Taku and Wafia sat down with TMN to discuss their experiences putting the album together, as well as inspirations behind the project, in great detail: Continue reading →
Back in late July, People premiered an original single by Denyse Tontz called “United States Of Anxiety” that really struck a chord with millennial listeners. Today, we’re happy to present to you a premiere of Mr. Kristopher‘s take on the single, which will be a part of a full remix EP that is coming soon.
Mr. Kristopher stayed true to the original’s groovy vibe, but he turned up the bassline with a bit more energy, as well as a darker tone. He pays homage to the old-school electro sound that paved the way for a lot of producers. He manages to keep things fresh, despite taking a bit more of a traditional approach to this remix. The result payed off, as it is a song that both electronic fans will enjoy, as well as fans of the original who may not be entirely into the dance music scene. Mr. Kristopher’s accessible creation is a great song that plays off the actual process of anxiety that many individuals feel. Check out the single today, as well as the exclusive free download for his remix of “Sweet Dreams” below.
Los Angles emcee Hoody Time is bringing more than just any old rap project to the internet. He’s bring ripe beats, hot lyrics (actual lyrics, not just mumbling) and art to anyone who’s willing to dive into this rich chasm of creation. He’s already released an EP, a handful of collaborations, and now he’s here with a massive music video for his single “…to be reckoned with” that you will view first here in the dojo.
After watching this music video for the first time, we knew we had to jump on it for a premiere. There’s so much going on in it, you’re going to have to watch it at least a few times before you catch everything. Technically, it’s a lyric video, but it’s much more that just that. Hoody Time went a head and put together a true visual art piece that took a ton of time and effort. The result is worth it, as it expresses Hoody’s brand and creative direction nearly perfectly, if not perfect. From memes, to snacks, to movies, to games, you’ll find a bit of everything packed into this extraordinary video.
