![20120131 233601 [Electronica] St Lucia We Got It Wrong (Xaphoon Jones Remix)](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/20120131-233601.jpg "[Electronica] St Lucia We Got It Wrong (Xaphoon Jones Remix)")
South African electronic artist St Lucia has had one of his hit tracks, ‘We Got Wrong’, remixed by none other than Xaphoon Jones, one half of Philly rap duo Chiddy Bang. Taking a leaf out of chillwave’s book, this reworking is glitchy, with joyous handclaps delivering a contrasting rhythm. Add in some vibrant vocal samples and powerhouse synths, and you have ‘We Were Wrong’ gone dancefloor filler. Let this tropical-infused track warm you up this winter. Watch this space for more from St Lucia and his forthcoming record on Neon Gold.
St Lucia – We Got It Wrong (Xaphoon Jones Remix)
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![gramatik e1328050927918 Gramatik Itz Over (F.A.Q Remix) [Instrumental]](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gramatik-e1328050927918.jpg "gramatik")
F.A.Q. released a remix of Gramitik’s Itz Over from Street Bangerz Volume One this week. The slow, soulful instrumental makes me want to do what Gramitik admits is one of his favorite things to do: smoke weed. Not normally a fan of tracks with no lyrics or verses, but this smooth rendition caught me off guard and before I knew it I was clicking replay. As for my disdain for remixes, dare I say, “Itz Over”?
Download: Gramatik – Itz Over (F.A.Q Remix)
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Late last year we came across one of the most wonderful dubstep remixes of Lana Del Ray’s “Blue Jeans” from (at the time) an obscure up and coming producer called PatrickReza. PatrickReza’s enthusiasm for creating powerful well-structured dubstep basslines, along with his attention to melodic detail took us utterly by surprise. What came next, is quite honestly something we will note in Music Ninja History. PatrickReza’s powerful yet-equality-soothing rendition of “Midnight City” by M83 automatically set him apart from the rest. The tasteful build-ups, none overbearing drops and the delicate balance to not cross over onto the brostep world has given his music immunity in the dubstep scene, with only 18 years old.
This brings us to what you have seen (or are about to see) at the very top of this post. New York/San Francisco-based content creation/production company Bodega director Jimmy Diebold has teamed up with PatrickReza to match “Midnight City” with the visuals it deserves. Between each beat and every wobble, they light up the Seattle night paying tribute to the Seattle Seahawks and their home stadium. Diebold explains, “I wanted to create a piece that was an architectural appreciation and provided a sense of place, but also captured the raw energy and excitement of what happens there.” An interesting marriage between lights and music makes the Seattle stadium come alive in this midnight city.
We proclaimed that Skrillex, by virtue of doing a remix on Levels, in fact killed the already overplayed track. We have seen more remixes of Levels in 2011 than people wearing chuck taylors. Yet, time and time again, the melodies in Avicii’s masterpiece of a house anthem just keeps coming back. If Skrillex did in fact kill the track, then prepare to see it rise from the dead, as a wonderful zombiedisco track that producer TheFatRat takes to the Next Level (pun intended).
Avicii – Next Levels (TheFatRat Remix)
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Via our friends GDD
![Die Antwoord Tensions Die Antwoord Ten$ion [Album P/review] + I Fink U Freeky Video](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Die-Antwoord-Tensions.jpg "Die Antwoord Ten$ion [Album P/review] + I Fink U Freeky Video")
South African hip hop trio Die Antwoord (Afrikaans for “The Answer”) first appeared on the scene in 2009 with their debut album $O$. They became a viral phenomenon after the release of the video for the album’s first single “Enter The Ninja”, teaming up with cinematographer Rob Malpage. With the first video the band introduced themselves, their music, and their Zef style to the masses… and got so many hits to the Die Antwoord website that the host couldn’t handle it and the site was shut down. The band became a sensational internet meme that boosted their sales and got them signed to Interscope records. It’s been about two years since they’ve released anything new and the world can’t help but wonder what they’ve been up to.
Ten$ion is the answer.
Recently the band has left Interscope records after refusing to succumb to a more generic sound and release anything “wack”. Die Antwoord’s sophomore effort is set for release February 7th on the band’s own Zef Imprint, which begs the question: what could they have been doing that even Lady Gaga‘s label (Interscope) couldn’t handle it? I have had the opportunity to preview the album, and am actually really happy that the band stayed true to their roots. Instead of transforming their sound into something more marketable to the American hip hop market, Ten$ion feels almost like a continuation of $O$ with only minor changes.
As the album starts it is immediately clear that the group has put enormous effort in maintaining the energy and momentum they found through $O$ while simultaneously maturing their sound. Each song moves flawlessly from track to track, skits included, and never falters in delivery. The band has elected to include nine actual songs on this record, which means that every song earned its placement in the track listing, and every one is as over the top as its predecessor. Songs like “I Fink U Freeky” and “U Make A Ninja Wanna Fuck” are prime candidates for singles and make this record shine like Ninja’s jewelry. Considering DJ Hi-Tek’s hard hitting beats, Yo-Landi Vi$$er’s creepy vocal melodies, and Ninja’s incredible flow, Ten$ion is unforgettable… and damn catchy.
Die Antwoord ‘Fok Julle Naaiers’ Music Video from Ross Garrett on Vimeo.
Ten$ion is out 2/7 on ZEF Records.
![[EmoStep] Coldplay Paradise (System Remix)](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/artworks-000011471051-s1yt3d-original.jpeg "[EmoStep] Coldplay Paradise (System Remix)")
Love them or hate them, it is hard to deny the emotional potency of London’s Coldplay. When Chris Martin pours his heart out on stage and his band belts out their epic string and guitar ballads, even the toughest music fan feels their emotions rise to the surface in one way or another, even if they manifest themselves in a distain for Coldplay. Most likely their anger is only masking some other emotional condition buried deep inside. In any case, Coldplay’s songs are the perfect material for making remixes of due to their rich melodic and vocal content. Fellow UK artist System took Coldplay’s latest single “Paradise” in a whole new direction that could possibly win over even the most apprehensive listener. By staying true to the festival ballad feel of the original while adding in some of the nastiest machine-like bass synths in the business this upcoming dubstep producer came up with something simultaneously beautiful and ugly, vulnerable and tough. The perfect emotional dichotomy for listeners out there who haven’t decided if they are sad or angry or whether they love Coldplay or want to destroy them.
Download: Coldplay – Paradise (System Remix)
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![anthonygreen11 [New] Anthony Green ft. Nate Ruess Only Love](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/anthonygreen11.jpg "[New] Anthony Green ft. Nate Ruess Only Love")
Indie favorites Anthony Green (Circa Survive) and Nate Ruess (Fun.) have teamed up for collaboration that was long overdue. The talents meet in harmonious union on “Only Love” from Green’s new solo album Beautiful Things. “I never wanted to be your only love” sings Green in the song’s hook, summarizing the general tone of both vocal parts in a way that is undeniably catchy. The song is more electronic than anything I’ve heard from either Nate or Anthony, so it’s kind of cool to see their versatility.
Beautiful Things released January 17th 2012 from Photo Finish records. Stream it HERE.
![indie dojo music ninja [MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo January Part #5](http://www.themusicninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/indie-dojo-music-ninja.jpg "indie-dojo-music-ninja")
Being the human beings that we are, we sometimes think we know it all i.e. hearing the first 2 seconds of a song and immediately turning it off without even giving it a chance. But one thing we all come to realize at one point or another (sometimes days, weeks, and yes, years later) is that we just missed out on something completely bad ass. The first step is admitting we were wrong. Yup, lessons are usually learned the hard way. But enough with the philosophical insight on human behavior. This is a freakin’ music blog. So all we are really saying is give songs a chance. ‘Cause seriously, you don’t know nothing till you try…
Download Zip: Indie Dojo January Part 5 [Mediafire]
Keaton Henson – You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are
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Town Hall – Just Watching My Breath
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The Wooden Sky – Child of the Valley
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Dave Dixon – Candles Burning Time
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The Record Company – Don’t Let Me Get Lonely
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