Tag Archives: Saturday Selection

Saturday Selection Vol. 4

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - April 30, 2016

Hopefully the April showers are finally over, because we’re desperately in need of some nice spring weather. A lot of the time, music shifts with the seasons, and we’ve got a few tunes for you this week to mark the change that’s underway. Enjoy!

Pat Lok – You Street

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Pat Lok straight up rocks. He’s been an ace producer of infectious house tunes for a while now, and his collection of remixes speaks volumes with its success so far. The latest tune he’s dropped on us is a funky original, teeming with smooth synths and rocking percussion that could easily become a staple in your poolside playlist during the months ahead. There’s no shortage of grooving with Pat Lok, and “You Street” is a great example of that.

Klangstof – Island

Soundcloud

It’s a moot point by now, but Mind of a Genius continues to push some of the best music. Their most recent signing, Klangstof, has finally followed up their debut tune with the ethereal beauty of “Island.” Something about this group is inherently magical, and their tunes help you to escape to a better place. The entire six and a half minutes of this song is absolutely immersive and spectacular. Don’t miss out their other recent release, “Amansworld,” either.

Kultur – White Door (Ft. Khary)

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Shifting from his normal ambience, Kultur delivers a slick hip-hop tune featuring vocals from Khary. Hopefully there’s more of this in store from Kultur, because it works for him. Whether you’re entirely familiar with his normal material or not, “White Door” already is a standout for the French producer. He prides himself on mainly emotional pieces of work, but this new tune just feels fun and is an intriguing switch-up. It’s no secret that there’s a large amount of talented producers hailing from France, and Kultur is upholding his end of the deal big time.

Elohim – Sensations

Soundcloud

Every new Elohim tune gets us more and more excited for her debut EP due out on May 20th. Even with an abundance of synth-pop artists out there, Elohim has continued to make her mark over the last year with stunning songs and an alluring, mysterious presence. “Sensations” feels more jubilant than most of her previous tunes, and it’s easy to see how she has been able to garner her popularity with ditties like this. She’s captivating, and we’re fidgeting in our seats just thinking about her debut project on the way.

pools – summer sunday (sisasa remix)

Soundcloud

SISASA is in no hurry to be anywhere based on the relaxing tunes we’ve heard. Each of the three songs released so far is wrapped in a tranquil and simple atmosphere, and, somehow, SISASA has managed to transform pools into an an even more serene invention. Complexity and technicality is always appreciated, but constructing a minimal melody and altering a sample in such a way that SISASA has takes a specific and careful type of production that can easily be disregarded. This works though. And it works well. End your day right with this one.

Saturday Selection Vol. 3

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - April 23, 2016

This has already been a tough year for music lovers, and April is just wrapping up. We’ve lost some major icons who were trailblazers in not only their music, but also social and cultural shifts. We’ll miss them constantly, but there’s a bright side. We’ll always have their legacies through their discography, and, even more luckily, we get new and amazing music to enjoy every day. We can at least smile about that. Let’s explore.

Monogem – Take It Slow

Soundcloud

Monogem holds an inherent magnetism throughout her material. “Take It Slow” certainly is one of those pop songs that will make you want to fall in love under the right circumstances, and, even with the atomospheric production swirling back and forth, her crystal clear voice cuts through with a surprising and engaging strength. Get caught up in mediocre pop music can be easy if you aren’t careful, but there’s no trace of that when it comes to Monogem. Even with only a handful of tracks currently out, she has a little something for everyone.

Matthew Riley – YEARS

Soundcloud

Finding the first track an artist posts on SoundCloud is always exciting, and we’re very glad to have Matthew Riley join up. “YEARS” is awash with reverb and gentle, faint synths that float together with his short verses in simple and serene harmony. He’s crafted a fine balance between ambient, pop, and electronic music that manages to provide feelings of both relaxation and reflection. Sometimes that is exactly what you need on a slow morning, and we definitely hope to hear more Matthew Riley in the near future.

The Kount – Only Human

Soundcloud

There’s no contest here. The Kount is a student of the groove. He might even be a teacher of it after hearing this one. If you aren’t somehow feverishly bobbing your head after 20 seconds into “Only Human,” we’re not exactly sure what to tell you. It’s instrumentals like these that stand on their own. No need for bars, verses, or choruses. There’s enough substance and space that allow the instrumentation to speak for itself in the absence of lyrics. It’s a pretty great thing to find when you need a break from constant narration. His style is constantly shifting, so check out the rest of his material when you can.

Robokid – 23

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Nothing predictable comes to mind when discussing Robokid, and that’s great. Being a co-founder of Moving Castle will have that effect on you. On this new tune, which you may recognize from the Coachella LIVE video, there is an entirely different side of Robokid put on display. Shedding his more upbeat style, he opts for a little more sullen and slow approach on “23.” There’s an air of hope matched with escapism that isn’t weighed down with too many elements. It’s wonderful for a myriad of settings, and might just be one of his best creations yet. That’s a bold statement, but “23” is a force all its own.

Bo Rocha – Hold My Gaze

Soundcloud

We’d like to apologize for Bo Rocha managing to fly under our radar for this long. The London native has an undeniable command of her sound as evident from “Hold My Gaze,” and, as she flips from her mighty chorus to double-time verses, she knows her power. Between songwriting and production, Bo Rocha covers it all, and her hypnotic voice complements the ebbs and flows of this sweltering song perfectly. “Hold My Gaze” is such a strong follow up to her Even Green EP from a year ago, and we absolutely hope another project is the works soon that will build upon this radiant single.

Saturday Selection Vol. 2

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - April 16, 2016

As we continue to dig deeper throughout the internet for music, we can get blindsided (in a good way) by a sound or voice we’ve never heard before. Maybe it’s a new style of production or a groove you can’t quite figure out the finer details of. It could even be a remix that completely reshapes your initial feelings of a song. Whatever it may entail, that slight bit of confusion or excitement you feel is the exact moment you know when you’re on to something. It’s a wonderful revelation, and that’s what this playlist is all about. Time to explore!

Diveliner – Catwalk

Soundcloud

It’s been a little over a year since we covered Diveliner last, and the wait was certainly worth it. Diveliner thrives in almost total anonymity, and his newest effort reflect his ability to cut through saturated sounds and build up his own monumental creation. The jarring and filtered vocals scatter across the shadowy production with a robotic flourish. It would almost be disconcerting if it wasn’t so well-made. If you’re looking for something conventional in Diveliner, you won’t find it. That’s exactly what makes his mystery his own. Luckily, he has an EP on the way, and “Catwalk” is an encouraging second addition to his upcoming project.

Chet Porter – tbh ily (Kidswaste Remix)

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Even as Moving Castle continues to explode in size and popularity, they’ve found their sound and stuck with it for a few years now. Recently, Kidswaste has hopped on board, and his first release with the label is a charming and melodic remix of Chet Porter. It reworks all of the best elements of Chet’s gorgeous original into a slightly more upbeat and orchestral tune, while simultaneously allowing the power and precision of Kidswaste’s talent shine through. It’s really just a nice listen and has an undeniable replay value. If you dig it, be sure to treat yourself to the free download also!

Limbic Void – Little Boy

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Some memories are nice. Other are not. Limbic Void constructs “Little Boy” around the latter. It’s really quite an interesting juxtaposition. Even with boisterous production, the lyrics paint a different picture entirely. He sings about a time he wasn’t proud of. That isn’t easy to do. He encapsulates a past pain into something beautiful, and it’s honestly made us do some reflecting of our own. Be on the lookout for his EP dropping on May 26th.

SiR – Tricky (Prod. Rascal)

Soundcloud

Everything about this tune by SiR is phenomenal. From the slick production of Rascal, to the smooth delivery of every pining line, “Tricky” is a triumph. If you’re in need of an excellent late night song, stop right here and hit play. It’s the kind of track that provides an instant calm. Everything slows down and seems much less complicated. You begin to get caught up in the moment. It’s exceptional. End your day right with “Tricky” and absorb every subtle nuance of this sleek SiR invention.

The Blancos – Wild Child

Soundcloud

The Blancos are a wild bunch, as clearly stated by the name of their most recent release. Having premiered with Pigeons & Planes earlier this week, this duo continues the wonderful blurring of lines between genres that more and more artists have taken to applying. With a little bit of rock, alternative, and even a tinge of blues, The Blancos swagger can’t and won’t be stopped. “Wild Child” explores the feelings of an outcast with a grit that is oddly welcoming, and most people catch themselves relating to this sort of thought process at some point in their life. Why not enjoy a great song to soundtrack it with while you’re at it?

Saturday Selection Vol. 1

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - April 9, 2016

We are VERY excited to be introducing a brand new segment here at The Music Ninja! Saturday Selection was created for multiple purposes. From hitting the high points of the releases from the week prior, to exploring an artist or label more in depth, we’re looking to fill your weekend with even more great music than before. There’s no genre hindrances. There’s no boundaries. It all starts with five songs. You won’t want to miss this. Let’s dive in!

NVDES – The Other Side

Soundcloud

NVDES showed up out of nowhere about ten months ago, and it’s a great thing that they did. Incredibly upbeat indie can somewhat seem like a saturated sound, but this LA-based band keeps it just weird enough to find and own their unique voice. It’s about that time to enjoy the nice weather again, and you’ll want to have the newest by NVDES in your playlist rotation.

Midoca – Tell Me Your Lies (Feat. Dark Waves)

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It’s such a relief to have Midoca back. He’s crafted his own sort of electronic pop that doesn’t shy away from brooding topics or heavy and dramatic production. There’s an understanding within his writing and music that resonates on an intangible level when dealing with the fact that everything isn’t meant to be super happy all of the time. And that’s a good thing. He capitalizes on emotion, and Dark Waves is a perfect complement for “Tell Me Your Lies” when it comes to demonstrating gravity in electronic music.

PUSHER – Clear (ft. Mothica)

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With an upcoming EP on the way, PUSHER decided to grace us the first single off of the project that features the heavenly voice of Mothica along with his infectious and bright production. His history of remixes speaks for itself, and his originals reflect several influences from some of the best new names in bass music. “Clear” is quite the first taste of his new project, as he trades in some of his larger sounds for a tightened down creation that shows he can bend his novel approach into whatever he pleases.

Atlas Bound – Softer Still

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These two are so ridiculously smooth. Atlas Bound‘s second helping off their debut EP continues their winning streak of laidback electronic soul that just feels good every time you hit play. “Softer Still” relies on a sublime balance of live instruments and electronic production chops that is slowly but surely becoming more common as many artists began to expand their sound. And that is a GREAT thing. Keep yours ear open for their EP and enjoy this slick new tune for a nice break during your afternoon.

Moon Bounce – Wingman

Soundcloud

The latest addition to the Activia Benz Singles Club comes to us courtesy of Moon Bounce, and it is an absolute trip. There’s something addicting about this tune as it bounces all over the place with a jovial and carefree attitude, thumping drums, and an absurdly catchy groove that punches right through your speakers. It may be short, but it’s certainly sweet. The London-based Activia Benz never fails to show that they enjoy every song they release, and Moon Bounce certainly added more fun to their particularly boisterous mesh of club and pop music.