Kehlani | The Music Ninja

[Chill Trap] Charlie Puth & Kehlani – Hotline Bling (DATHAN Flip)

Posted by Ivan Chung - October 2, 2015

Hotline Bling
Charlie Puth x Kehlani (DATHAN Flip)

Check out this bootleg of “Hotline Bling” by the talented DATHAN. The bay area-based producer takes a stab at Charlie Puth and Kehlani‘s cover of the track, and totally elevated it into a fun and upbeat version. It’s always interesting seeing the evolution and different takes on the Drizzy track, as it goes from the original cha cha remix, to Charlie and Kehlani’s emotional cover, and now to this chill trap hotness. With the use of heavy synths and discrete vocal samples, Dathan’s flip is as good as it gets. It’s the perfect dance track to show your friends if they’re looking for some variation of the popular original.

Dathan is definitely coming out with more stuff in the near future, so stay tuned til his next feature.

[Chill] Kehlani – Jealous (Mr. Carmack Remix)

Posted by Dominic Powell - July 15, 2015

MR•CAR/ACK
kehlani, jealous (carmack remix)

Soundcloud

Mr. Carmack has always maintained a peculiar aura, even amidst his recent surge in fame. In many ways, he has intimated the qualities of a pseudo- ghost writer for progressive and future music as a whole (TMN has chronicled many of his releases here and here and here). Moreover, his guiding influence has been felt far and wide without direct connections to many artists, in large part, due to his staying power over the years. He may have been better suited to call himself Mr. Consistency.

To that point, Carmack is held in unanimous high esteem by his peers, despite lacking a level of popularity or notoriety (among general music fans) which would typically accompany the talent and reputation of works as great as his. By setting the bar within the Soulection crew and the music producing community at large, Carmack has been releasing tracks this summer at a break-neck pace.

Following up his #SongsFromScratch collaborative release under Adidas+YoursTrulySF with Kehlani last month, Carmack has revealed a remix to the songstress’ latest hit, “Jealous”. Kehlani’s massively popular hip-hop/soul track receives a complete revamp in this latest rendition; Carmack introduces a deep bass line and smooth vocal oscillation techniques, giving the remix a dreamy and ambient quality.

Fluctuations in the dynamic scheme and timely interjections of future elements throughout the tune keep the listener engaged with the instrumental aspects of the song and steal some of the attention away from Kehlani’s moving vocals – which is no small feat. “Jealous” really comes together at the 3:12 mark after Lexii Alijai‘s fast rapping third verse, when Carmack is able to merge the style of the original with his own distinct impression of the song.

Keep tabs on Carmack this summer: music festival enthusiasts can catch his sets at Camp Bisco in Pennsylvania, Hard Summer in L.A., and at the Canadian music festival Shambhala.

Photo credit: GL Askew II

[NEW] Mr. Carmack & Kehlani – All In

Posted by Ash El Gamal - June 10, 2015

Mr. Carmack
All In (with Kehlani)

Soundcloud

In the latest installment of Yours Truly‘s always-dope Songs from Scratch series, an ongoing project backed by Adidas Originals that fuels artist collaboration, Oakland-bred vocalist/songwriter Kehlani has teamed up with the pioneering Mr. Carmack for a slow-burning jam. Mr. Carmack, whose Red EP is around the corner, has been an omnipresent force in music for the last couple years as a humble, albeit somewhat reluctant, representation of the modern-day renaissance producer. Meanwhile, Kehlani’s debut album, which perfectly captures her unique approach to songwriting and distinct voice, has made her a well-deserving favorite among tastemakers.

“All In,” born out of two artists’ exhaustion from their respective grinds, features a markedly chilled-out Carmack with downtempo percussion, oscillating synths and gorgeous piano. Kehlani’s voice matches the backdrop flawlessly, but her lyrics are what truly shed light on the track’s significance for both artists. A fascinating contrast emerges from the combination that reflects the wear and tear that come with success and the perseverance required to keep going. It’s a deeply emotional, yet valiant, tune that surely marks a point in time of the careers of two promising talents.

If you’re looking for some mid-week inspiration, we’d definitely recommend checking out the behind-the-scenes video below and the full story behind “All In” here.

[Chill Trap] Charlie Puth & Kehlani – Hotline Bling (DATHAN Flip)

[Chill] Kehlani – Jealous (Mr. Carmack Remix)

[NEW] Mr. Carmack & Kehlani – All In

[Hip-Hop/Soul] Chance The Rapper & The Social Experiment – Lady Friend