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Say Lou Lou – Julian (The Chainsmokers Remix)

JULIAN (THE CHAINSMOKERS REMIX) COVER ART

 

Winding down from what has been an interesting birthday week I must say I was pleased to find this gem in my inbox Monday morning.  I recently saw Alex and Drew at for a brunch party @ The Highline Ballroom in the Meatpacking district and they made me eat a tequila worm….Ok ok, they didn’t make me, I of course being a fun crazy little vixen did it willingly, but man I forgot how much of a riot being around them and their energy is.  I love seeing people after you haven’t seen them in a year or two, and nothing has changed, still beautiful fun loving people.  There are always people in our lives who are going to judge us, make us feel like we can’t be ourselves, give you a hard time.  And then there are the people that will lift you up, show you loyalty and allow you to be exactly who you want to be at all times, happy, sad, it don’t matter!

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” -William Shakespeare 

It’s important to remember that we are all crazy, lovely, unique human beings all bound up in our own special packages.  Summer is here and you can definitely feel it in the air.  Summer is not the time to take judgement on people, especially your friends, you should never live in fear to be yourself around the people you work with and play with and I am certainly not.  This remix gave me that feeling and a happy energy that I so badly needed, so with further ado here is a word from my crazy dudes:

So, we would like to take a moment to explain why we think this is our best song to date, but the answer is fairly simple…. We always preach about trying to make music that is a beautiful blend of Pop, Indie and Progressive, which isn’t always possible, but we feel like this time, we did it…. So we wrote up a little math equation to make sense of what we did…
 
 Say Lou Lou(Julian) x The Chainsmokers                 Happiness
——————————————————————–         x    ———————-   = This Song
(Indie + Dance) x (Pop Music + Summer Time)             Sadness
 
**(IF YOU READ THIS EQUATION ON YOUR PHONE IT WILL MAKE 0 SENSE)
 
So Play it at a nice level, cause it’ll make you feel like doing something, maybe not dancing, but something special… In our eyes not to sound cheesy, it doesnt matter if you like Mumford, or W&W this song creates a feeling that hopefully in some way connects everyone and summer is here, and this drop is that summer feelings…”
Your feeling that great fun energy now aren’t you?  Well just wait till you press play, enjoy!

Say Lou Lou – Julian (The Chainsmokers Remix)

Free Download @ Soundcloud


Empire of the Sun — Alive

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They say that illusions and delusions are not real, yet our minds conjure both of these “unreal” things up.  They say that things imagined only exist in our minds, yet, the mind is the only “real” thing we have.  Do you understand this Neo?

We are weird if we don’t do what everyone else is doing, at least that’s how our cultures make us think and feel at times.  We are rebels if we question the rules and limitations of the systems we are inserted into, yet the powers that be can constantly change these rules and limitations at will.

Alive, the newest creation from our friends Empire of the Sun comes at a time where the rebels are gearing up for battle, the powers that be are blatantly stealing every inch of the modern world in front of the faces of society, and the rest of the sheep have no real inkling of what’s happening, and even about to happen to the world as they know it.

Alive is the simple breath of fresh air that we normally take for granted as we get so involved with our own personal missions and within our very own personal agendas.  It is simply a dance tune to make us feel Alive, and to remind us that in between all of the hard work and studying we need to do, we also need to live and appreciate the very freedoms we are so desperately fighting for.

The song boasts huge synths splashed all over it that rock hard with the overpowering, and still welcoming falsettos in the upper regions.  They add more magic to the transient sounds that our bodies naturally respond to and which all too much get lost in the midst of modern day compression within mixes.  The beats on this Empire of the Sun track are as big as the vocals and as familiar as the sound in their debut album.

With a consistent level of quirky creativity and equally quirky sound, it’s hard not to continue the party which was paused at the end of their debut album, with Alive.

Hello to our ṗeople
Say hello to the future.”

Empire Of The Sun — Alive


Ciara – Goodies (BORGEOUS Remix)

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A whirlwind of a week is ending with a whirlwind of a weekend. My 9-5 has me covering the New York City leg of Electric Daisy Carnival and last night’s stages were fire, and tonight’s lineup is even more impressive. Calvin Harris, Thomas Gold, and Afrojack are capping off the festival and I feel so honored that it’s apart of my job to experience this.

Today’s track is a lil’ bit out of the EMPT norm, but it’s so appropriate for this weekend. Think what you want about EDM, but it’s not going anywhere. The electronic festivals are filled with some crazies, but the DJ’s get it. They know a good drop goes down best with lights and pyrotechnics  I talk a lot about soundscapes and the worlds music takes you to, and the DJ’s at these kinds of events make those dreams realities. Walking through the Day-Glo masses and neon rides, you know you’re in New York City but you’re not at the same time. You’ve left the city behind for a day and entered a musical Oz that’s just as colorful with just as many oddities only there’s no yellow brick road. The spirit of the space is alive. It’s throbbing, and it doesn’t discriminate. Bros mix with uptown girls; Texans dance alongside kids from Vermont; democrats and republicans cheers their glowing drinks. Okay, so maybe the latter is hopeful thinking but you get what I’m going for.

Anyway, Ciara. Yes, Ciara. She’s been gone for a minute, but she’s coming back (fingers crossed — I’m a major CC fan). Way back in 2004, C dropped “Goodies” and brought her raspy soprano and killer dance moves to the music scene then suddenly disappeared. “Ride” and “Like A Boy” were fantastic, but never received the praise they deserved. “Goodies,” is her gem, though and BORGEOUS straight kills it with this remix. Turn this mix WAY up. The bass will floor you, and the whistle will get into your body and have you doing moves you never thought you had. This is a jam. It’s a filthy sexed-up Diplo-esque beat that will leave you fiending for more when it’s over.

It’s Sunday after all, and you probably have things to do, but let go today. Tomorrow you’ll be productive, but today you’re going to live. Press play and thank us later.

Ciara – Goodies (BORGEOUS Remix)


Classixx – All You’re Waiting For feat. Nancy Whang

Classixx fondles the inner ears with a pumped up tune that breathes the summer that is slowly creeping down our necks. That’s right fellas, Brooklyn is a whole different place right now as shorts make guest appearances for a day, and skirts appear by the plenty. This song breathes a whole new life to the Classixx that I know. Yes, it’s got the edgy ’80s styled electronic pop(!) but these bass lines…I don’t know, it might just be me, but I feel like there’s more happening here.

Hey wait a minute, just a minute I was ready for the flight
Got my bags packed waiting on the driver curve
So just a minute, take a minute for the change-up
I’m all set to go, set to go.”

I think it’s that feeling of lifting off that this song is on the edge of, lyrically, as it tells its story, but also in its tone. I feel like I’m just about to fly, but something keeps bringing me back to the ground. That’s cool with me, I’m okay with not flying today. I know, everyone says flying is like, the ideal thing to graduate to. We all want to fly I guess, and that’s fun but what about just staying put for a minute? Is life on the ground that hard to deal with? It can’t be. I’m sitting in a cafe working on my last paper of my undergraduate career, and you know what? The last thing I feel like doing is flying. I think that’s why I’m into this song, because I realized that I don’t have to take off.

We can just stay put and enjoy.

Classixx – All You’re Waiting For feat. Nancy Whang


Grizzly Bear — Sleeping Ute (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

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You all require programming.  You are used to it.  You are told what classes to take, what foods you should eat, what clothes you should wear, what songs you should listen to, what colors you should like, what professions you should seek, what salaries you should want, what boyfriends you should date, what books you should read, what artists you should love, and what rules you should follow.  And, for the most part, many of you adhere.

“Sleeping Ute” by Grizzly Bear is simply about a mountain in Utah that guitarist, and lead vocalist on this song, Daniel Rossen has visited only in his mind and dreams. But, the song feels like it carries so much more to it.  When left to the interpretation of others we read a wide range of ideas: from living in nature, to a failed relationship, to a dream that Daniel does not want to awaken from because it seems to be the only place on earth where he can wander freely.  These ideas are fresh and make us think about our very own true meanings, and with the help of Nicolas Jaar and his savvy remix of sounds and instrumentation, we are taken to a place where we can actually reflect and meditate to this tune with.

Yesterday, at the Google I/O conference, tech geek Larry Page discussed creating a whole new country where creators and people could live freely, simply to create.  For now, this is as much of a dream as Sleeping Ute is to Daniel, but if it were to be created, I have a feeling that we would all be there, in a truly free space where no one could ever dictate to you what you “should” and “shouldn’t” be doing.

Escape with Grizzly Bear for the next 8 minutes and let your mind free to whatever corners it wants to go to.

Dreamed a long day
Just wandering free.”

Grizzly Bear — Sleeping Ute (Nicolas Jaar Remix)


Rebecca & Fiona — Dance

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Music has the ability to takes us places.  It has the power to transport us to dreamscapes and imaginary worlds that we could only imagine.  In that same manner, a dance can do the same, just with a lot more intensity.  Of course to dance, we must have music most of the time, but sometimes the dance has very little to do with music, and everything to do with those places in your mind, and heart, that you want to escape to.

Rebecca & Fiona do an incredible job on their single Dance.  They capture us with a slow and sultry production that features beautiful chords, a steady and hard thumping bassline that provides the intensity of an exaggerated heartbeat supplemented so erotically with the kind of vocals anyone would love.  They have somehow figured out how to make us reflect upon the powers of Dance while simply making sweet love to our ears as we listen closely, and as “dancing”, could be the farthest thing from our minds.

Fearless we can talk 
Hopeless girl still walk.”

In the days to come, many of us will become more and more fearless.  We will turn our hopelessnesses into actions that will see them become realities.  We will turn our most beautiful fantasies and dreams into the everyday worlds we decide to live in.  And, we will learn to do these things through the most traditional forms of getting messages across in societies that surpress independent thoughts and ideas—through music, and, through Dance.

Get your feet back on the ground 
We can leave it all behind 
This dance will keep us cold 
This dance will let you know 

It’s all in your mind 
Take your chance and turn around.”

Dancing and music will become some of the only forms of communication for the intellectually elite.  They will show us the possibilities of escaping from the worlds we know today, in which nothing is what it seems, and, in which things are never really any good.  How else will we be able to spread ideas and messages in a world where our own thoughts are already barely private?

It’s all in your mind 
Take your chances 
Turn around.”

Rebecca & Fiona — Dance


Daft Punk – Get Lucky

Well well well, what a gift from the music gods this was.  Apparently I thought I was special yesterday when I received the new Daft Punk ”Random Access Memories” album in an email, but of course all you music heads were right there with me.  It’s amazing isn’t it, how we think and try so hard not to be wowed as though we have heard it all and there is nothing in this world that could be better then what we have convinced our minds is already the best of the best. Somehow our minds have a mind of their own, HA!  There is no denying how impressionable and nostalgic this album is.  I guess the best way to put it is that we are back at Studio 54, that’s the feeling you will get from this and the rest of the album!

You all know Studio 54 right?!  From what my Mom tells me there really has never been anything like it, the disco music, the drugs, the fashion, the people, hands down no insecurities or worries.  That’s what this music reminds me of (although I wasn’t there I can only imagine).  The disco/pop, electronic, funk fusion is nothing less than tastefully satisfying on many different levels.  Many years have gone into the thought process of the music for this album, and it definitely shows.

If you have caught on to this yet, your welcome!  As much as I would like to give every track on the album I am going to just give you one of my favorites. I have a lot going on today from work, meetings and celebrations but this is exactly the energy I need to let the day play out smoothly, enjoy!

Daft Punk – Get Lucky


NaS – Back When

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You love to hear the story, how it all got started…”

Something about this verse hit me hard today. I grew up in Harlem during the 90′s, during Giuliani which means it wasn’t the prettiest of times but it wasn’t the 80s. NYC was tough if you were a sucker, but for most people in the hoods if you were familiar and minded your business it was fine. My adolescence however was a HUGE duality. It was all due to my freak of nature experience as a member of the Boys Choir of Harlem. An experience that provided layer upon layer of privelege to some very lucky kids from the hood. My father took care of the finances but the choir raised me, RIP to my second father, Walter J. Turnbull.

Our lives were crazy growing up man, one day we’re uptown drinking quarter waters, playing basketball in makeshift parks with broken backboards, opening up the fire hydrants in the summer, cars blasting the latest Big, Pac, Mob Deep, Jay & Nas record, getting into fights and the next day we we’re shaking hands with Nelson Mandela, in Holland 2 months later or singing Blackbird with Paul McCartny. That juxtaposition has left a severe impact in my life and till this day has offered me a unique vantage point and perspective that I wouldn’t change for the world. As I look back to the day when the choir came to P.S. 125 and auditioned my 1st grade class, how after not making the initial cut I was asked to re-audition before they left and then I got that letter to come to the choir that summer.

You love to hear the story, how it all got started…”

That moment could have sent my life in an entirely different direction but here I am – from the Choir to Skidmore to Roc-a-Fella, EMPT & The Playlist Generation with sooo much more to do, so much further to go. You love to hear the story…

The ill reminisce and think about the fly days
Nothing like them 80′s 90′s summer NY days
Hop on the MB5 M101 days
Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways
How it all started, fifth twelfth floor apartment
A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects
A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners
Now I chill in resorts, enjoying massages

Check out the oracle bred from city housing
Nas Hec, I arise the dead by thousands
I remember seeing Shan 75 chilling near his Audi
Hollis Brian had Run and them but I proudly
Put a poster up of Shan Pac and Marley Biggie, that was art kid
You love to hear the story how it started
The bubbly I’m pouring wasn’t popped yet

BEFORE THERE WAS AN AUDIENCE TO WATCH US
I ASSURE YOU, IT WAS A PROCESS…”

NaS – Back When


Danger Doom – Benzie Box (Opiuo Rework)

This brings me back to my teen years, scary how time flys by so quickly and yet we are still listening to the same tunes and trying to find ways to give them a little modern flavor without destroying the magic taste that it already possesses.

“The Mouse and The Mask” was a sick album to say the least and a collaboration of genius to put it lightly.  Danger Mouse and MF Doom, or Danger Doom, gave out hip-hop gold.  Methodical lyrics over solid heavy beats and production is something that can definitely be over looked today, Danger Doom has justice.  Even a lot of hip-hop has become super pop, not to say that it’s a bad thing, but it’s good to get back to the roots and what I believe to be hip-hop gold.

Opiuo, Australian native, brings his funk flavor to this track in a way that just brings the tempo up perfectly with out ruining it at all.  You don’t want to add to much salt and ketchup if you know what I mean, but just the right dash of something different still keeps the original mood at it’s finest.  Thank you for this gem dude and taking me back to the good ol’ days!

This is exactly what I needed today, a little old school mixed with some extra sauce.  Mondays are never my favorite, and tomorrow is my birthday so I am trying to get myself pumped and let go of any bullshit that shall now be in the past because it is now a new year for me.

Press play on this one and get your mind right, enjoy!

Danger Doom – Benzie Box (Opiuo Rework)


Autre Ne Veut — Counting

In order to fully appreciate this track you must be in a complete state of bliss, and/or in a completely chilled out state of mind.

Counting, is the falsetto executed love song filled with ambient sounds and energy waves alongside quirky brass work that not only makes it eery in a way we love, but also as abstract as the lyrics, which we also adore.  The song is a plea for artist Autre Ne Veut’s (Arthur Ashin) dying grandmother to stay alive.  It is sad and profound, yet simple and loving much like an opera of an golden age, or a sonnet of the enlightenment.

It is an appropriate song for this Mother’s Day, wherever you may be, to appreciate what you have, and the life that you have so graciously been given.

Enjoy this day.

Autre Ne Veut — Counting