[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 89: A Visit from Ninja Clay

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #89: A Visit from Ninja Clay

Soundcloud || Spotify Playlist  || BFF.fm Archive & Tracklist

Episode #89 was a true Ninja affair featuring selections from The Music Ninja’s editor and co-founder Clayton Warwick. Clay has been on a tear with quality premieres recently which made for a diverse segment including Malena Zavala, Vilde, Martin Luke Brown, Moncrieff and White Room. Also featured on this episode is Still Woozy’s latest dreamy pop ballad, a new single from De Lux and highlights from the latest batch of album releases including Moses Sumney, Injury Reserve, Galcher Lustwerk and Shigeto.

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[Event Review] NVDES and RAC Rock The Independent, SF 9/19

NVDES
I Want To Make Out At The Gay Club

TMN favorite NVDES opened up with an electrifying performance in support of RAC last Tuesday night. Playing in the intimate setting of The Independent in San Francisco, NVDES surprised an open-minded crowd that collectively seemed unfamiliar with their work. Frontman Josh Ocean and his long time collaborator, fondly known as Lemon Girl, rocked out with endless energy and charisma.

Attendees jammed out to tunes from NVDES’ most recent EP, La Nvdité Vol. 1. The EP was featured here on TMN and went along with an exclusive interview; check it out here. Highlights included the infectious electro-punk tracks “Dancer from New York” and “May and June”.  Ocean and Lemon Girl also graced us with tracks from their older discography, like “I Wanna Make Out at the Gay Club”. True to NVDES nature as a revolving collective, frontman Josh played a few tracks that bandmate Lemon Girl did not know. Much to his credit, Lemon Girl improvised flawlessly and put up a great performance throughout. Finally, they played some unreleased material, sharing some of their political leanings as well as their love for the Hyundai Elantra. Truly an eclectically enjoyable experience– one of the top 3 shows this Music Ninja has been to this year. Continue reading

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[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 87: Bits & Peaces ✌

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #87: Bits & Peaces ✌

Soundcloud || Spotify Playlist  || BFF.fm Archive & Tracklist

Off the heels of Outside Lands, an incredible set from Washed Out in Oakland and escalating social turmoil, I had a wide array of music to share on this week’s episode–from the left field hip-hop of ZGTO to Photay‘s infectious electronica to straight disco bliss from Folamour and Moon Boots. There’s a lot going on in the world right now and I hope this injection of diverse tunes helps you get through the week!

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NVDES – La Nvdité Vol. 1 [TMN Exclusive Interview & EP Review]

NVDES
Do You Think About Me

LA-based music collective NVDES has made a few appearances here on TMN. Led by frontman Josh Ocean, this free-flowing art project is teeming with joyous energy and has gifted us with many feel-good jams, like this one. NVDES’ music is delightfully fun, meshing pop sensibilities with modern punk vibes.

NVDES received global acclaim for his last EP, Life with Lobsters in 2016, earning a feature on Zane Lowes’ Beats 1, and reaching the Spotify Global Viral Chart. So, naturally, we were excited to hear NVDES’ latest EP, La Nvdité Vol. 1, which is out now on Kobalt.

The opener of the 5 track EP, “May and June”, perfectly encapsulates the infectious energy that NVDES songs display so frequently. Dancy beats in combination with the electro-punk sound of that guitar will make you forget that summer’s coming to an end soon. In juxtaposition with this track, “Do You Think About Me” does an excellent job of showing the emotional range that NVDES possesses. This wistful track inspired by a long-distance romance maintains that summery feel while pondering over a melancholy topic like a strained love. Check out the music video for third track “Dancer From New York” below:

I was lucky enough to chat briefly with NVDES’ Josh Ocean about the collective, and this latest project. Read up below! 
Continue reading

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[Music Ninja Radio] Episode #82: 4:44, Big Fish Theory, Washed Out + Crooked Colours

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode #82: 4:44, Big Fish Theory, Washed Out, Crooked Colours + more

Soundcloud || Spotify Playlist  || BFF.fm Archive & Tracklist

There was a ton of brand new music to share on this week’s episode from Jay-Z’s excellent ‘4:44′ to Vince Staples’ genre-defying ‘Big Fish Theory’ to Crooked Colours breezy indie electronic on ‘Vera’. Mixed in with highlights from those albums, are standouts from Washed Out, NoMbe, Mura Masa x Damon Albarn, Session Victim, Amelia Airhorn & more.

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[Indie Pop] Melis – Flower

melis
Melis
Flower

Half Czech, half Turkish singer/songwriter Melis is giving us a sneak peek of her debut EP Parallels with the release of “Flower”, an emotionally-driven indie track that is dedicated to her father. You might recognize her voice from songwriter duo IYES, which has a more electronic and futuristic sound.

Melis explains that how “Flowers” holds a special place in her heart and leaves behind the powerful message – that if you’re going through a tough time in your life, remember to never give up and remain hopeful because dark times will not last forever. Her soothing vocals bring out the vulnerability hidden deep down, and the lyrics speak volumes about the poignant journey she went through.

If you like the talented Melis, be sure to check out the most recent music video of her track “Love Song Idea” below.

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[Event Preview/Playlist] The Underground Music Showcase – Denver, CO

The 17th anniversary of one of Denver’s most storied music events, The Underground Music Showcase, is just around the corner. What began as a one-night performance featuring just four bands, The UMS has steadily exploded into to a four-day music and art festival featuring hundreds of performances. As the time draws nearer to what will no doubt be another incredible weekend pf performances, it’s time to get our readers familiar with this year’s crop of (mostly) burgeoning artists spanning a plethora of genres and sounds. While this recent slate of participating artists is the second wave, we can assuredly expect one more run of performers to be added to this year’s bill, so stay tuned!

This year’s bill features one of the more eclectic, varied lineups we’ve been privy to for a number of years, including a seemingly heavier focus on displaying the myriad talent spread across The Centennial State (that’s Colorado ya yokels). On the top end of things, The UMS features an incredible slate of headlining performances from the likes of Nika Roza Danilova’s influential avant-pop project Zola Jesus,  New Orleans based Benjamin Booker‘s raw brand of blues/boogie/soul/rock, Red Fang‘s primal-yet-refined  stoner-metal, John Jagos’ lofi pop alter-ego and TMN darling Brothertiger, and the smoothly subdued vocal stylings of Esmé Patterson. In addition to the already excellent pallet of headliners, The UMS also will be presenting countless sets from some of our absolute favorite Colorado artists including Flaural, Povi, RUMTUM, Slow Caves & Dragondeer. To get your ears tuned for next month’s festivities, check out our preview playlist below and get your learn on if you haven’t already. Tickets are still on presale, so hop to it and pick up a 4-day pass on the cheap here!

’Benjamin Booker – Violent Shiver’
’Brothertiger – Beyond The Infinite’
’Zola Jesus – Exhumed’
’Esmé Patterson – Green Green’
’Red Fang – Blood Like Cream’
’Slow Caves – Glares’
’Povi – 4am’
’Flaural – Culture Ghost’
’RUMTUM – Coastal Hustle’
’Dragondeer – When I See You’
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