Category: Music

@8tracks playlist: Visions of a Sky 2

I was inspired to create @8tracks Visions of a Sky 2 playlist. It's my second playlist featuring warm, lush synth pads, melodic melodies and vocal stylings to move your mind, body and soul.

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My thoughts on why Apple’s acquisition of Beats By Dre is a winner

In my response to someone who posted their disapproval of Apple's pending acquisition of Beats By Dre and Beats Music on the New York Tech Meetup list, I reference the fact that not only is this a good move for Apple to one-up Spotify, it's also a great move for diversity and an inspiration to kids across the country who will be inspired by Apple helping to make Hip Hop's first billionaire in Dr. Dre.

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Lenny RX and Kenny Summit’s Remix of When Loves The Feeling

Friend and fellow DJ, Kenny Summit, posted this remix of the Terrance Parker's, When Loves The Feeling. Available as a stream on SoundCloud or purchase at Beatport.

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Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It (Martin Luther King Jr Mix)

In 2002, Trax Records released an updated version of the Larry Heard classic, "Can You Feel It" originally released under the moniker, Mr. Fingers. In honor of MLK Day, I always post this version to remind myself and those in my circle of influence of the power of MLKs words. When mixed with one of my favorite house music track of all time, it takes on a special resonance.

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10 Deep Grooves To Make You Move (8tracks.com)

Here's a new 8tracks.com mix I put together with some great smooth and mellow deep house, techno and tech house tracks. Hope you enjoy!

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Trident, Steve Aoki and Duran Duran come together for a social music campaign

No chewing gum signYou know electronic dance music (otherwise known as EDM) has truly hit the mainstream when big brands get into bed with DJs who are rock stars, rock stars who are simply rock stars, or a mash-up of both. Big brands have been down with EDM for some time. Red Bull was practically invented for nightclubs and Absolut has always done cool stuff with the genre for years. Of course, those brands had a vested interest in club culture, because that’s where their products are generally consumed.

For their “See What Unfolds” campaign, Trident, a division of Kraft Foods and makers of the popular chewing gum of the same name, virtually unfolded (pun intended) a YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, which put rock star DJ, Steve Aoki together with true 80’s rock stars, Duran Duran.

Twitter Page for Trident Gum w/ DJ Steve Aoki and Duran Duran
Trident Gum Twitter Page

First, let’s put aside the fact that gum is a virtual anathema to nightclubs. For as long as we can remember, nightclubs have pleaded with punters to leave their gum at home, lest they have to peel the sticky stuff off of the underside of champagne soaked tables. Well, maybe Trident didn’t get that message, but that’s okay. We know big brands don’t really do their homework when it comes to the fine details. Chalk it up to a rookie mistake. Sort of like Justin Bieber’s publicist pitching a scoop on the teen pop-star to XXL Magazine.

It all started on June 13, when Trident published a Tweet on their Twitter account @tridentgum announcing tickets for the first in a series of national “See What Unfolds” events at Brooklyn’s Terminal 5.

https://twitter.com/tridentgum/status/212955208886648833

After an hour of Aoki warming up the crowd, Trident tweeted Duran Duran’s appearance on stage.

https://twitter.com/tridentgum/status/215617649621733376

In preparation for the campaign with Aoki and Duran Duran, Trident put the superstars together in the studio, where they collaborated on an updated remix of the classic, “Hungry Like The Wolf.” The resulting New York Werewolf Mix stays true to the vocal integrity of the original, while soaring, epic Trance-oriented stabs instantly transform the song into something you might hear in a peak-our set at a summer EDM festival.

To spur viral action on the campaign, the video above was released on YouTube and that track was made available as a free download from Trident’s Facebook page.

Trident Gum Free Download of Hungry Like The Wolf
Click image for Free Download of Hungry Like The Wolf – The New York Werewolf Mix

Fans could remix the video using the radio version of the .mp3 and footage and images available for download at Genero.TV. Winners were announced on June 27th.

See the full story in Ad Age here: https://bit.ly/KLa5qh

 

 

 

 

Maya Jane Coles: Watcher

One of my favorite producers of late, Maya Jane Coles, is a rising start in the house music arena. She’s been tagged on a number of lists:

  • ‘Producer of the Year 2011′ by DJ Mag
  • ‘Best Breakthrough DJ 2011′ by Mixmag
  • Debuted at No. 9 on the Resident Advisor ’2011 DJ Poll’
  • ‘Best Newcomer 2011′ at the Ibiza DJ Awards 2011
Here’s her latest track, Watcher, take from a Dogmatic Records EP. This track is a throwback to early Strictly Rhythm, Nervous, and King Street deep house tracks. It’s impossible for me to say whether Maya was actually influenced by these labels, given her relatively young age and the fact that she produced Hip-Hop and Drum’n’Bass earlier in her career. But, I can’t imagine from hearing this track that she wasn’t influenced in some way by early house pioneers to create this melodic and soulful, deep house experience.
You can buy it here on Beatport.

Bon Iver at Air Studios (4AD / Jagjaguar Sessions)

Speaking of the Grammy-winning, Bon Iver, a friend sent me this YouTube video of a gorgeous 24-minute set at AIR Studios. It doesn’t get any better than this. Such a simple concept–piano and vocals with some electronic sounds interspersed. Really, just amazing. One of the most beautiful performances I’ve ever heard.

Bon Iver on SNL

Every once in so often, a band comes along with a magical sound that defies description. In February, I’d caught two performances by Bon Iver on  Saturday Night Live. I’d never heard of the band before, but give props to SNL, once again, for bringing a band to the nation’s consciousness.

As far back as I can remember, SNL has introduced to me to new music. In an era of social media , late night TV shows probably aren’t as popular as they once were. Now that you can see these shows on the web the day after they air, I think they’re going to continue to be a prominent source of music discovery, mainly because of the live performance element that you can’t get with music videos.

Here are there performances. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Beth/Rest

Holocene

Bon Iver’s Holocene Music Video