[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (October 2015 Round #2)

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There comes a time in the season where the thought of stepping foot outside is terrifying. But unlike Summer FOMO, we have absolutely NO guilt in holing ourselves up when the temperature drops to ungodly degrees. Really though, what is the point of going outside when we have a sweet Indie Dojo to cuddle up to?

”Oyster Kids
Creepy”‘
’Kyler Slater – Black Eyes’
’Lewis Del Mar – Wave(s)’
’Kalle Mattson – Hotline Bling (Drake Cover)’
’Figaro – Brain Operator’
’Stahsi – Solo Hunter.’
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[Electronic] Mura Masa – Love For That (feat. Shura)

Mura Masa
Love For That

Following the release of his outstanding Someday Somewhere EP back in April, Mura Masa has everyone wanting more. Today, we get some long-anticipated new material with the first single from the UK-based wunderkind’s upcoming sophomore album. “Love For That,” in part thanks to fantastic vocals from Shura, displays yet another facet of Mura Masa’s sound coming about as close to a slow jam as he’s gotten. Even so, his always-inventive techniques and distinct sounds continue to shine–from the intricate string section that starts the song to an enormous, yet perfectly placed, breakdown half way through. The smooth percussion cultivates a playful bounce that, despite the track’s somber tone, make it a great contender for late-night club play. There’s no release date or title for Mura Masa’s sophomore album quite yet but we’ve certainly got our eyes peeled.

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[Trap] Grace – You Don’t Own Me Ft. G-Eazy (Candyland Remix)

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You Don't Own Me Ft. G-Eazy (Candyland Remix)

Candyland hasn’t lost any steam since the two became one. Josie has kept up with solid productions, and entertaining crowds with live performances as though nothing has happened. Most recently, Candyland was tapped for an official remix of “You Don’t Own Me,” the single by Grace featuring G-Eazy. In a Facebook post about the remix, the Santa Barbara act stated that the two knocked the original out of the park, and we believe the same can be said for the remix. Candyland delivers a vocal driven edit that makes use of vocal chopping and modulating to create the melodic phrase after the drop. Prior to the climax, we get a thugged out version of the original that will have trap lords and queens bowing down for a long time to come. Continue reading

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[R&B] JARAMI – Wings (Feat. Jesse Boykins III & Pell)

JARAMI
Wings (feat. Jesse Boykins III & Pell)

Feeling the Monday mid-afternoon blues? Well, we have just the cure to lift your spirits. “Wings” serves as the debut single from Swedish production duo JARAMI, but the pair are no strangers to the industry, already having songwriting and production credits for tunes with Skizzy Mars and Marc E Bassy under their belt. That experience pays off in a major way as the two manage to craft a blissfully uplifting tune with the assistance of soaring vocals from Jesse Boykins III and a rousingly poignant verse from New Orleans spitter Pell. If you’re anything like us you’ll catch yourself singing along by the three minute mark–as a side note, you may also find you have an inexplicable craving for chicken wings as well. JARAMI are currently preparing to release their debut EP later this year, but in the meantime you can download the track above and stream it through Spotify.

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Khai Introduces Himself & His Upcoming Octal Sound EP [TMN Exclusive Interview]

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Last month we had the pleasure of sharing two amazing records with you from a new artist who goes by the name of Khai. Octal Sound is releasing his If You EP, which both previous records are taken from, this Friday October 16th. As an instrumentalist and singer, Khai takes charge on the project that takes from several styles of music, resulting in intriguing sounds that are sure to mesmerize. We had a little chat with the Austin resident, who got to introducing himself, along with his upcoming solo EP, If You, which includes a collaboration with the Chicago singer CYN that we, and the Hypem charting Justin Abokhai, are super excited for. So, without further adieu, here is the exceptional musical talent we call Khai.

’Khai – Do You Go Up’

TMN: How did you originally get into music?

Khai: I’ve been listening to and playing music since I was a little kid. I started out playing the piano, moved onto the guitar, and eventually started singing as well. I didn’t start producing music until I moved to Austin. I was living with my brother, and a producer friend of mine and I was using an old PC to produce these simple melodic beats in Fl studio. Eventually that evolved into me meeting a few Austin electronic producers and getting more involved in the scene.

TMN: What artists did you grow up listening to?

I actually grew up listening to a lot of English Rock. I used to teach myself a lot of older music on guitar. Bands like: Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Who, The Clash, etc. Towards High School I started listening to more electronic music and a lot of Hip Hop. I was influenced by music like Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Coldplay, and The Gorillaz.

TMN: What artists are on your radar right now? Any people you’d want to collaborate with?

Khai: I’m watching a lot of music right now. Way too many to list, but I really love BAILE’s project. His EP was really amazing. Lucian has been consistently putting out fire tracks. I love Manila Killa’s sound, his tracks are always so melodic and well executed. As far as people I’d like to collaborate with, I’d love to work with Flume, Porter Robinson, or Odesza.

TMN: When did you feel you really had something special, and wanted to break away with your solo project?

Khai: Very shortly after I decided to get more serious about production. It gave me the ability to create my own sound, which isn’t always easy when working with other artists.

’Khai – Into The Dark’

TMN: How did you get connected up with the people at Octal Sound?

Khai: I was actually featured on a Bronze Whale track “Love To Feel”, that they released. I sent my EP to Dexter Palmer (one of the partners at Octal) and he really liked it, so we started talking about the future. My manager has a pretty great relationship with them as well, so it made a lot of sense for us to work together.

TMN: What can we expect from your upcoming If You EP?

Expect to hear a lot of different sounds. It’s an eclectic EP that showcases minimal production. Personally, I’m really excited to release my collaboration with CYN. It was amazing to work with her. Most importantly expect a stepping stone. These are my first steps as a creative.

TMN: How was performing at SXSW for the first time this year?

Khai: I did a session with Samuel Proffitt for Daytrotter, which was fun. SXSW is a fantastic opportunity to network. Especially for new artists. At a time when the internet is such a fundamental part of our lives, as an artist you tend to build these relationships with people via web. It’s amazing to meet groups of those people in one place. I love SXSW.

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TMN: Has living in Austin shaped your sound at all?

Khai: Living in Austin definitely made a lot of impressions on me. I have some amazing friends there, and it’s where I first experienced music on that scale. Austin has so much live music and culture. It’s truly an amazing place.

TMN: What are some of your goals for next year?

Khai: I really want to start releasing visuals. Hopefully we can deliver some music videos next year. I hope to also give a much broader picture to listeners of who I am.

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[House] option4 – Vibe On ft. Michael O/Say Woo

One of our favorite beacons in the Denver dance scene is back after a long hiatus with two freshly delivered originals, and we frankly couldn’t be any happier about it. For those of you who aren’t familiar with The Late Night Legend, aka option4, now’s a perfect time to start bolstering up your catalog with his always soulful, often groovy, and unfailingly dance-inducing tunes. Also, we should note that the aforementioned nickname was completely fabricated for this post. While it certainly has a ring of truth to it, you might get a strange look if you address him as such on social media, or face-to-face.

“Vibe On” is the first track on this newly released EP, and it features singer/songwriter Michael O, who you may recognize from Pitch Perfect 2. Positive, uplifting, and inspiring, the iconic lyrics glide along a sexy-as-hell bassline effortlessly, giving listeners something to both dance and sing along to. As the song progresses, well crafted and placed vocal samples and chops add to the memorable persona, leaving us wanting to hit the replay button a few more times.

“Say Woo” leans a little more to the lighthearted side, boasting vocal samples that shouldn’t come as any surprise. Coupled with those playful “woos” and “yeahs” is a very organically derived house style, which goes heavy on the kick and well-accentuated percussion. It’s not overly complicated, and still perfectly maintains that soulful experience we’ve come to know and love from this Denver-based Producer/DJ.

“Vibe On” will most assuredly be a great addition to a long, arduous day, and “Say Woo” is the perfect fit to a rowdy after-party. You can pick both up on beatport, via Nurvous Records, and have both on hand for when those occasions arise.

’option4 – Vibe On ft. Michael O’
’option4 – Say Woo’
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[Festival Preview] Treasure Island 2015

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’Music Ninja Radio #11 – Treasure Island Preview’

Welcome back, October.

Festival season has officially wound down to a close and we Californians are bundling up for another frigid winter – which may eventually dip into the 50s (gasp!).

Music fans near and far look toward cloudy skies and feel a deep nostalgia for carefree summer days spent romping through fairgrounds from Detroit to San Diego to Washington to Chicago and even here in San Francisco. Fortunately, there is one last hurrah every year to hold us over: Treasure Island Music Festival.

Continue reading

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