Tag: Weird Journalism

TROYBOI – VOYAGER

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Fresh off last month’s Northern Nights–and a few side gigs– TroyBoi continues his prolific career. This week the British producer and DJ dropped “Voyager,” a three minute experience into the mood of sound. The spaced-out intro and violin synth wrap the track in a warm blanket of comforting tunes unlike other artists producing an instrumental track.

Whether you’re looking for something introverted, existential, or just a damn good track to chill to, TroyBoi offers you his best. Even if it’s just something he created in a couple of minutes.

Then again, maybe that’s the point. Afterall, it’s called “Voyager.” Maybe instead of over-analyzing the subtle nuances, and diving into every aspect of the track, maybe it should be appreciated. Maybe, just maybe, it’s one of those songs you  need to hear at 3am with a glass of high class bourbon, a tightly rolled joint of Lemon Tree weed, and a good friend to share the times with.

Shit.

I dunno fam. Maybe, maybe not. However, I do know no matter what state of mind or reference I’m in, I enjoy these three minutes and have replayed them over and over again.

Take the Voyage with TroyBoi and make sure to catch him on his Pacific NorthWest Tour this Fall in San Francisco on October 8th 2016 at the Regency Ballroom in Arcata on October 9th.

 

DJ TRIPP – STRANGER HEATHENS

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What’s better than two awesome things coming together to create perfection? Peanut Butter and Jelly. Whiskey and Coke. Gatorade and hangovers. Ok, maybe that last one works but not in the context I meant. Whatever. Here’s another thing to add to the list of amazing combinations: Stranger Things and Twenty-One Pilots brought to us by the Bay Area’s own, DJ Tripp.

For those who never came back from that last acid trip over the festival season, Stranger Things is the take-off hit Netflix series. Set in the 1980’s the show follows a group of one-day-will-rule-the-tech-world middle school nerds who are trying to find their friend, Will, after he mysteriously disappears. Along with his friends, Will’s mother–played by Winona Ryder–is the only other person who also believes he is alive and joins the hunt. The series chases the viewer into a forest of twists and turns as a strange girl named Eleven shows up followed by Men in Black figures.

Oh, and did I mention the monster from a parallel universe that eats people? Yeah, there’s that too.

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Keeping with the kitsch 80’s theme, the soundtrack to Stranger Things is a tasty soup of hits from the decade and original synth music.

DJ Tripp–who is the resident DJ for 80’s and 90’s night at the Blue Lagoon in Santa Cruz every Thursday and Friday night and DJs Bootie at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco every Saturday–has quite the ear for music. While listening to the latest Twenty-One Pilots song, “Heathens”–written for the Suicide Squad soundtrack–he noticed it sounded eerily similar to the theme music for the Netflix cult hit. When he realized they were even in the same key, he set to work and created this fun remix.

I’ve been blasting it all morning while trying to figure out just wtf happened to Barbara.

 

 

AABO – ALMOST DOESN’T COUNT

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Long Live 90’s R&B! So says Aabo. Or, at least, he subliminally says in his latest track, an updated and remixed version of Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count.”  The San Francisco DJ and member of world-funk collective, Afromassive dropped his latest track on Monday and it digs deep.

Aabo does Brandy’s vocals justice by keeping them on the track. Her soulful cry for a love she realizes will never go anywhere delivers the feels in all the right places. But while the original, 1998 track caries a twinge of hope through the music–even if things can’t get better, Brandy realizes she is an independent woman who doesn’t need a man–Aabo’s remix kills the dreamer’s dream.

While that might sound harsh, I actually love his vision of this track as a down-and-out, the world is painted in a depressing hue of blue. It’s slower. It’s mournful. It’s tragic. And it would go perfectly for that time of night when everyone in the club is winding down and trying to find some sort of deeper connection with that gyrating body in front of them.

Just remember: everybody knows, almost doesn’t count. And never be afraid to let go.

GETTER – WAT THE FRICK

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Tanner Petulla–otherwise known as the artist Getter–has been having a great 2016. The San Jose born, turned Los Angeles, producer has been signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA label for about a year and has released a slew of music. Earlier this year he released the Radical Dude! EP and produced Underground Underdog by Pouya along with $uicideboy$, Radical $uicide, both slamming bodies of work on their own accord. Not to mention the numerous singles, remixes and guest appearances he’s done throughout the year. On top of all that, last month the prolific artist released a high-budget, high-resolution, beautiful and creepy video for “Forget It,” featuring Santa Cruz born artist, TREE.

 

Never one to wait on the sidelines, Getter recently dropped his latest original track, “Wat the Frick,” a 4.5 minute journey back to his dubstep roots. But this is no ordinary bass fest. Getter combines the wompiness of dubstep with high energy and happy, Tetris-like melodies for a track as bizarre and colorful as the track’s art.

 

After a few listens, it’s plain to see the song’s title is spot on.
Keep checking back to see the latest happenings with Getter as the year is only half-way over and it’s sure to bring a helluva lot more from this rising producer. 

 

SIMPSONWAVE

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Tell me if you’ve heard this one: Simpsonwave. Yup, that’s right. The iconic, decades long-running cartoon show now has its own musical genre.

 

Combining clips from the series with chillwave and vaporwave beats to bring you the best soundtrack of the summer. After 10 minutes of meditating with these bad boys, you’ll feel like Lisa when she found Buddhism. Think about it: what’s better than smoking a bone in the sun with mellow beats washing over you to quintessential Simpsons moments?

When the movement began, nobody was sure if it was a joke, one-time thing or the beginning of something bigger. But after a little while, artists like FrankJavCee, Lucien Huges, Lilo XG and BlankBanshee have continued to push the genre quicker than Homer can scarf donuts.

Set the volume on high, grab a Duff and relax with your favorite disfunctional family from the 90’s.

 

 

 

 

BANKS & STEELZ – SPEEDWAY SONORA

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I think it’s safe to say, 2016 has been fucking weird. From Donald Trump’s winning campaign to grown-ass adults catching Pokemon, there has been no aspect of this year that hasn’t raised an eyebrow and the music world is no different.

So far, this bizarro reality of a year has taken from us (RIP Nicholas “Pumpkin” Alvarado, Bowie, Prince and others) and delivered a plethora of  “what in the actual fuck?” moments. In this vein I present to you: Banks & Steelz, one of the strangest, never-would’ve-thought-would-happen-or-work-but-if-Trump-is-winning-anything-is-possible collaborations this year.

Ready?

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Banks & Steelz is none other than Paul Banks of Interpol and RZA. Yeah, straight from the Wu-Tang, aka Prince Rakeem aka Bobby Digital (or did he drop that one?).  Now, I’m all for strange collaborations and recently wrote on here about the Claypool Lennon Delirium. Hell, Sam Working’s review of the new Blink 182 even had me check out a few songs (discovered I still can’t stomach them, but I realized this is the territory Skiba wishes he could take Alkaline these days). However, when I first heard about Banks & Steelz, I raised a very doubtful eyebrow.

Oh me of little faith.

My first exposure to their music was driving to Arcata from the Northern Nights Festival. I was still trying to input, decipher and understand what-in-the-hell had just happened the previous weekend when this track came on.

Damn.

Not only is the music on point with a mix of guitars and electronic beats–the best of both Wu and Interpol–but RZA sounds better than he has in years. After 4 minutes of having my mind blown, the XM DJ mentioned they have already dropped two previous tracks, “Giant” and “Love + War,” so I had to listen.

Holy shit, you guys.

I must admit, RZA is lyrically more on point and spitting fire on these two tracks compared to “Speedway Sonora,” but that doesn’t take away from the fact that all three tracks are bangers. Each will be featured on the forthcoming album, Anything But Words dropping August 26.

 

 

 

 

 

LABRAT – LEMON TREE

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Fresh off the producer’s board and straight to your earholes we present Labrat’s latest track, “Lemon Tree.” The 29 year old Santa Cruz producer broke into the scene six years ago with his remix of XX’s “Crystalized,” which went viral on YouTube, earning him an international audience. In 2011 he dropped his debut EP, “Test Subject,” and has continued pushing the boundaries of the EDM scene to last year’s three song EP, “Break The Cage.”

“Lemon Tree” is Labrat’s freshest and most organically local material, named after the Santa Cruz medicinal strain turned brand. The track itself is a euphoric high of reggae with dubstep break downs and electronic build-ups. Floating over and throughout are mellow vocals reminding the listener to take a breath and chill in a cloud of the citrus goodness. Trust me, homie. You’re gonna wanna hear this shit.

Hit play on this fire track and prepare for Labrat’s sets at Northern Nights, this weekend on the–you guessed it–Lemon Tree stage,  and Organic Fest (August 12-14) in Wilseyville, California. Don’t be that person who won’t have anything to talk about with your crew because you slipped.

 

 

SCHOOLBOY Q – “BLANK FACE” LP

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Are you ready? Because the new Schoolboy Q album dropped two days ago and South Central L.A. artist pulls no punches.

The 29 year old rapper started writing rhymes when he was 16 but didn’t become serious about his career until around 2008. A year later he joined forces with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock to form Black Hippy and released his first solo album, Setbacks in 2011.

However, it wasn’t until 2014  with the release of  his first major label debut, Oxymoron, that the press HAD to pay attention.  In Q’s own words, “Kendrick [Lamar] left me no choice but to drop a classic.” Four years later, it’s hard to find anyone who wouldn’t put it on a list of best hip hop albums released this decade. Of course everyone was wondering what else Schoolboy had waiting.

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Blank Face is here and goddamn, it’s good. I’m usually wary of modern hip hop albums with a list of guest artists, but this one includes E-40, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Jada Kiss and others that masterfully add icing to this cake of an LP.

Musically, the beats are fresh and the lyrics are as dark, introspective and as real as anything on Oxymoron. Go listen to it now on Spotify. Seriously. It’s not just what hip hop needs right now, but could supply some of the soundtrack for what’s currently happening in the streets of America.

 

SNAFU – “PIPETTE UP” BY HEROBUST (SNAFU REMIX)

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Fans of Drum & Bass, get ready for this one. San Francisco DJ, Snafu, recently remixed Herobust’s “Pipette Up” and it sounds like the most insane night on drugs I’ve had in a while.

While the original is more on the lean side, as in sizzurpy slow, Snafu injects the track with a dose of molly and quicker timing.

The track comes a month before his appearance at the debut, Organic Fest, in Northern California. Click on the link but make sure you get to a safe place with some comfort food before you do.

TROYBOI – “SENSEI”

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He might have trap beats, but don’t call Troyboi a “trap producer.” In an interview 2 years ago on EDM.com, the 28 year old Londoner said:

“I feel I’m still evolving, and I can’t wait to take it a step further. I couldn’t think of anything worse than being labeled as a ‘Trap Producer’ in a non-evolving genre, stuck making the same old beat pattern, same drum kit, same 808, same synths with the same old formula. I don’t believe in being a one-trick-pony; I’d rather be a five-trick-platypus.”

and over the past two years he’s pulled out more than five tricks.

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Taking inspiration from the entertainment media–along with his India, Nigerian, Chinese and Portuguese heritage, the platypus of EDM creates intricate and strange beats that flow with Middle Eastern influence for a modern world.

His latest track, “Sensei,” is three and a half minutes of uncommon sounds stirred to electronic perfection. True, the foundation lies on a trap beat, yet Troyboi builds the structure out of flutes, violins and rhythmic chanting culminating in a track that shows he still has a lot to teach the rest of the music world. Smoke some sensimilla, and listen to “Sensei” in that euphoric state of mind.