Mazde – Battas feat. LissA
Off Mazde’s new three-song EP Mazde x LissA, Battas represents a subtle shift towards a smoother, darker vibe for the Berlin producer. While you can still find his signature trip hop sound in the latest project, Mazde’s new exploration with melodic house (and at times orchestral segments beaming with cinematic grandeur) really sets this EP apart. When trying to define Mazde’s varied sound, perhaps try following his bio’s instructions: “Take his dad’s obsession with Jack Johnson, mix it with East Europe’s obsession with dance music, add some Chrome Sparks, Ta-Ku, Jamie xx, Hayden James and more and bake for 10 minutes, then you have Mazde.” That’s a combo we can get behind.
Check out Mazde here.
HONNE – Baby Please
For those who’ve been anywhere near me for the past couple of weeks, you know HONNE has essentially been on repeat. HONNE, the English duo comprised of James (producer) and his university bud Andy (singer/producer), formally began about a year ago. Nevertheless, their silky downtempo R&B is reminiscent of Chet Faker and has already opened doors for the young group. These guys have real potential to do big things, especially after signing with Coda – the prominent London booking agency whose live roster boasts some of our favorites including Disclosure, Flume, AlunaGeorge, FKA Twigs and many others. In addition to their three previous EP’s and a few fire remixes, HONNE just released their latest EP Over Lover and announced a predominately UK tour. Throw on HONNE when you want to unwind during a late night drive – you won’t regret it.
Check out HONNE here.
Beauville – Letting In (Prod. by NoMBe)
An acoustic guitar hook that refuses to let go, coupled with a soulful sundrunk vocal melody. Letting In is the debut release from Beauville, singer/songwriter Josh Bovill and guitarist Robert Coronado from LA. NoMBe, the mind behind California Girls, handles the production perfectly with dry acoustic percussion and the softest saw-synth support. Really stoked to see where this project goes.
Check out Beauville here.
Tuxedo – Without Your Love
Damn. This song sounds like something you would hear on one of those old Soul Train YouTube videos. When looking for more information about this 1980’s-influenced funk band, I was honestly surprised to discover Tuxedo’s members are no other than Jake One (Jake Dutton) and Mayer Hawthorne (Andrew Cohen). Their authentic old school funk distinguishes them from the rest of the nu disco pack, a fact the two powerhouse producers discovered for themselves shortly after exchanging mix tapes. Just now finding time for a pause from their highly successful individual careers, the guys from Tuxedo are joining the recent disco revival in a huge way. Tuxedo’s silky vibe is a bonafide throwback, so play on the duo’s new single Without Your Love if you’re really trying to groove. Bonus if you know the lyrics to Number One off the duo’s debut 2015 album Tuxedo.
Check out Tuxedo here.
Froogle & Alexa Harley – Falling Down
Sophisticated. Contemporary. Therapeutic. It’s hard to put an exact word on Froogle, but his mature downtempo fusion of jazz, R&B and ambient electronic is perfect for relaxation and introspection. From what we gather, Froogle’s Andy Ricardo released his first self-titled EP about a year ago. Since then, Froogle has continued to pursue future soul through a few notable remixes and debuting his second EP Tunnel Vision. Of the collection, Falling Down truly stands apart – London newcomer Alexa Harley’s soul delicately oozes out, meanwhile Froogle’s liquid accents pull you underwater around 1:24 and lead your mind deep into the abyss. Finally, you get more than just a DJ with this young Texan producer. His bio reads: Read More…
Dom Dolla & Go Freek – Define
Yesterday I had one of those unforgettable LA nights I keep hearing about. We danced our asses off to Hayden James, were surprised by a special guest set by SNBRN and Hotel Garuda, and even got to meet SNBRN as we left Sound’s artsy backyard lounge to catch our Uber. Yet despite all this, the night’s major takeaway still has to be Define. Released a mere 3 days ago, Dom Dolla & Go Freek’s thick deep house track is downright addicting. Melbourne’s Dom Dolla, a rising heavyweight in the Australian circuit and recent EDC vet, joined his buddies Go Freek from Sydney to drop what is already being deemed one of the biggest deep house anthems of the year. Per Dom Dolla’s bio, Define will undeniably join his repertoire of “currency accepted on all dance floors”.
Veens – Irezumi
Veens is a new Parisian DJ that’s gaining notoriety for his ultra vibey, slow trip hop sound. Veens most recently released a solid mix with Chill Music, a popular French tastemaker known for throwing showcases in Paris that have included European artists Matoma, TEEMID, LCAW, and Nora En Pure. Irezumi, an original released earlier this year, highlights Veens’ superb Cashmere Cat-esque production style that’s attracting listeners far beyond French borders.
Check out Veens here.
Cura – Theory of Dreams
It seems like the mystery-producer aesthetic has become somewhat of a phenomenon over the past few years. The masked artist looming behind some artistic facade, whether it be a robot suit, mouse head, or (in this case) a gray hoodie, really gets listeners interested and elevates a brand–but it makes it hard as holy hell to write a post about them because there’s no damn information to be found, even from the artist him/herself. Anyways, meet Cura. He’s from Norway. That’s all we know. Oh, and also that his first release Theory of Dreams kicks ass. Listen to this if you’re an Odesza fan. And if you’re not, listen to it anyways.
Check out Cura here.
Gallant – Weight In Gold
Premiered on Zane Lowe’s notorious “World Exclusive” slot on the new Beats Radio 1/Apple Music, Weight In Gold’s breakout artist Gallant is quickly catching fire. A graduate of NYU and new client of Jake Udell (manager of Krewella and Zhu), 23-year-old Christopher Gallant’s soulful falsetto is joined by a powerful electric flare to create the emotional ballad Weight In Gold. Though he’s just beginning to perform in LA and NYC, Gallant’s mature songwriting chops and passionate vocals position him to become a real treasure in modern R&B.
Check out Gallant here.
imari + sakuraburst – outside
We’re fairly confident you’ve never heard of imari or sakuraburst (to be honest, neither had we until this week), but you should give this small sample a listen. 1:33 blew me away. It’s an experimental ambient track full of lo-fi charm, with bitcrushed synths, ringmod oscillations, delicate percussion and spoken word samples from GLaDOS — an extremely well-crafted soundscape for a liberation from Aperture Laboratories. Listen for the birds in the background, we almost missed them on first listen.
Aeble – Better By Your Side ft. Tom Aspaul
The first release from fledgling independent label Estate, based in London, Better By Your Side is a collaboration between fresh new British producer Aeble and vocalist Tom Aspaul. Read More…
Matt Woods – In The Dark
Matt Woods grew up classically trained in Cornwall, on the southwestern tip of England. Leaving his home behind, he packed up and moved to London three years ago to pursue a completely new musical direction. With the help of Sticky Management, the now soulful singer-songwriter has made an astonishingly strong declaration of talent with In The Dark. Co-written by The Confect and recorded in the booths at Sticky Studios, it’s a stunning introduction to Woods’ raspy timbre and soaring falsetto, and an undeniably well-written piece.
Check out Matt Woods here.
Dan Lissvik – Airwalk
Swedish electronic duo Studio disbanded in 2012 with a short parting message to fans from member Dan Lissvik: “Thanks to all involved, see you in another shape and form.” Three years later, he’s now working under his own name and with the support of Smalltown Supersound, an Oslo-based indie label focused on promoting alternative jazz, rock, and electronic blends. Sitting on Side A of his new Shuvit! EP (the first in a series of 12″ releases leading up to a full-length LP later this year), Airwalk is the announcement of Lissvik’s return to the scene.
Check out Dan Lissvik here.
The Knocks – Dancing With Myself
After wrapping up their tour with RAC, DJ B-Roc and JPatt of The Knocks are back at it again with Dancing With Myself. With a dangerously sexy downtempo bassline, mesmerizing sax riffs, and suave vocals, Dancing With Myself boasts a thick groove that is sure to make your head bop into the early morning. 2014 marked a great year for the duo as they rolled out a string of fire remixes (including Haim’s If I Could Change Your Mind and The 1975’s Girls) in addition to releasing their silky summer anthem Classic. Keep an eye out – The Knocks seem ready to strike gold yet again with their upcoming debut album.
Check out The Knocks here.
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