And here come the summer releases! After announcing a string of upcoming warm weather shows, Brooklyn’s Yeasayer leaked a new track from their upcoming LP and it’s all beaches and bikinis. Unfortunately the only version anyone has right now sounds like crap but that doesn’t stop the songs feel good mantra from getting across -

Oh Henrietta, we can lay around forever…

I love what hip hop has done for all types of music, I mean just listen to the way these drums bang, might as well be the beat for Guess Whose Back. Then again I love the how mashed up all music is these days. This song alone goes from pop to psychedelic with hints Reggea/Dub flavors to chillout – how can you possibly be bored with music these days? This is one sure to make the top of many summer playlists, enjoy.

Yeasayer – Henrietta

Warm enough yet? I think so and apparently so does Ryan Radler who is back in full effect with one of EMPT’s most treasured possessions, the 2012 collectors dream – S U M M E R : a n t i – w i n t e r. Or the best warm weather mixtape you’ll hear anywhere…

This is incredible compared to anything else out there, it looks like it’s from another planet! – Steve Jobs

That’s how the tape starts and I won’t be the one to disagree. I don’t say that because we’re presenting it but because the time, energy and emotion captured in it says so. While we’re on the subject of Apple…

One of the things we’ve really learnt over the last 20 years is that while people would often struggle to articulate why they like something – as consumers we are incredibly discerning, we sense where has been great care in the design, and when there is cynicism and greed. It’s one of the thing we’ve found really encouraging. – Johnathan Ivy

Translation – you can’t fake the funk. Weather it’s song selection, transitions, delightful quotes or the unexpected curve balls (THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA – Bedazzled?! Word) the care and effort Ryan puts in to these shows. It’s one thing to make a tape full of what everyone is listening to already but it’s another to offer something new, challenge peoples taste and enlighten them – This is incredible compared to anything else out there. I could seriously talk about this all day because it really is the best and it makes me very proud that EMPT is bringing it to you. I’ve said it before but I can’t stress it enough, let it play as it was intended. I know all you ADHD having fools like skimming through music but do yourself some justice, press play and take a ride, enjoy.

S U M M E R : a n t i – w i n t e r 1 d :

ARCADE FIRE – Sprawl II (Damien Taylor Remix)
BROTHERTIGER – Lovers (Casa del Mirto Remix)
BEACH HOUSE – Equal Mind
THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA – Bedazzled
ABADABAD – California Birds
MARVIN GAYE – Sunny (Mercury Edit II)
BILLIE HOLIDAY – Speak Low (Bent Remix)
PORCELAIN RAFT – Drifting In and Out
MO KOLOURS – Mini Culcha (Beautiful Swimmers Remix)
MOON BOOTS – Got Somebody
LOVER LOVER – Embers
FM ATTACK – I Saw Her Dancing
METRONOMY – The Bay (Clock Opera Remix)
RINGO DEATHSTARR – Summertime

“We are WEKEED. The wild union of a girl and a boy brought together by life – couldn’t be any different – who write, sing & produce their own tracks. Just like other couples make love, we make music. Sweaty grooves & sensuality are what we’re all about. The stage & your playlist are what we’re heading to. Now.”

That’s their mini auto-biography intro from their soundcloud. What a way to bust the door open and say ‘here we are, and this is what we do.”

I’m supposed to wait for WEKEED to finish their latest work to post about them. Can’t, sorry. This is too good to keep to myself. I’ve heard several remixes of Crystal Fighters’ single plagebut for some reason this one passed me by. After a chance-meeting with the a half of the duo, we finally had the wool removed from our eyes. Voici the only remix you should be listening to on such a sunny Sunday. Nothing but Le French Touch baby.

Wekeed – Wild Child

via SoundSlinger

I was up till about 5 AM last night on the phone talking to an old friend about how far we’ve come, making music, love, the future, regret, you name it. We recalled how in the last few years ours lives have seen more ups and downs than we wanted to remember. But then we realized that after all these years everything, all the experience has led to everything coming full circle…

I’ll tell you folks, no matter how much you love music or how passionate you are about it, you will be tested. I guess all love is tested but music? Man it’s a whole different beast. You’ll be pushed to the point of no return, you’ll think it’s time to quit, you’ll find your love feels jaded and wonder what the point is. Then before you know it you’ve given into the very thing you thought you would never do because your back is against the wall…

I never wanted to work for pieces of paper but I guess that’s all I got!”

But if you really love what you do you’ll eventually find a way. You realize that sometimes in order to win you have to be completely ready to lose and all the things you’ve been doing just aren’t right. Sometimes to live as an artist you just need to reevaluate everything, reinvent yourself, say goodbye to people and places, destroy and rebuild.

Wanna win in this world but it’s pushing me out,

I was born in this house and I’m burning it down!”

It takes courage to let things go and it doesn’t help that we’re creatures of habit but it’s so necessary. When you’re willing to lose everything to find harmony you figure out how to get rid of whatever is corrupting your love and suddenly…

Oh! it’s a miracle, even if it’s in my head

Like a miracle, I’m in love again!”

This song captures that feeling to perfection and it’s a sublime feeling. It’s like someone whose been in a really bad relationship and just feels like all hope for love is gone. Then they meet someone new who lights up their world and brings back those feelings and emotions they thought they would never have again. It’s not the same as the love you once knew, it’s better know because this time you know more about it and you appreciate it that much more. That’s one of life’s greatest pleasures and it’s a beautiful thing. Couldn’t think of a better track to get those weekend vibes in full effect, enjoy.

Ghost Beach – Miracle

I love those lyrics man, couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s no secret that in this vastly changing world there’s a new wave of momentum and demand creating a perceived shortage of time that is quite commonplace for most of us. It seems like these days most of us have a relationship with time that is defined by pressure, shortage and limits. You ever talk to a friend that literally has no time to do anything? When you don’t fully understand the value of time it’s easy to take on more than one can bear. Nothing good about that.

As we all know time is quantifiable, it’s continued progress that we’re aware of and everyone abides by. Time can also be perceived, for example if you’re doing something terribly boring time can seem to go by painfully slow. Think about how time feels when you’re doing something lame, it can be slow and dreadful. Now look back at the last 5 years of your life, how fast have those come and go? It’s a wild concept when you think about that runs so deep it’s almost impossible to comprehend. In Idea of Happiness Van She captured this duality perfectly…

Time, just keeps on slipping away
I can feel the hands of the clock tick, tick, ticking away
But it’s nothing more than my mind slowly giving away
We got so much time, to think about yesterday
Just thinking on yesterday

If you’re not keeping up with time you’re going to be under constant pressure from it, always behind it . That leads to one of the most dangerous time killers I know of – dwelling on the past. Time waits for no man, it doesn’t stop so in order to keep up with it a person has to have a deep appreciation and discipline to make the most of it. Might sound cliche but it’s not something to be taken lightly, enjoy.

Van She – Idea Of Happiness (SebastiAn Remix)

]]> http://www.etmusiquepourtous.com/2012/05/10/van-she-idea-of-happiness-sebastian-remix/feed/ 0 http://www.etmusiquepourtous.com/2012/05/08/little-dragon-ritual-union-bufi-remix/ http://www.etmusiquepourtous.com/2012/05/08/little-dragon-ritual-union-bufi-remix/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 17:16:21 +0000 hec http://www.etmusiquepourtous.com/?p=11430

It’s been a few months since I was in the Dominican Republic. The last time I was there I played the closeout fashion week parties for Dominican Modo 2011 and all I remember is a bunch of rowdy islanders dancing and jumping around so hard that the floor was shaking with my DJ booth about to break down. Had it not been for all the Shave Your Legz cats holding it together as I tried to keep mixing I’m pretty sure things would have gotten ugly. My nostalgia for the good times and my Dominican tastemaker friend led me to their website where I ran into one of their latest mixes and decided to show some love. Below are a few of my favorite tracks for their latest playlists, if you’re not hip to it yet I highly recommend adding it to your list of things to follow, it’s nothing but good jams, enjoy.

Little Dragon –  Ritual Union (Bufi Remix)

Alex Winston – Guts (The Sound Of Arrows Remix)

Here’s Lykke Li’s latest song and video filmed in what looks to be a desert. Equipped with mirrors, the sexy musician herself, echo-y vocals and epic drums, both the visuals and sounds won’t disappoint. The music has taken on more of a Fever Ray feel in this song which leaves me wanting more, hoping that she continues in that direction with the rest of the upcoming album.

Last week RAC released a track featuring Penguin Prisons lead man Chris Glover. I didn’t connect with and that’s why you don’t see it here but in the listening process good ol’ iTunes shuffle led me to an overlooked favorite, Penguin Prison’s Something I’m Not. A good friend of mine once told me that great music has a way of both surprising and delighting us. The way this song develops, the lyrics, Chris’ performance and the vibe is all that and a bag of chips, enjoy.

Penguin Prison – Something I’m Not

When I wasn’t on tour somewhere or busy with music, I use to spend every second of my free time riding around New York City on my BMX from dusk till dawn causing havoc, bunny hoping sidewalks, slicing through cabs, showing off for girls and hanging with all the skaters down at Battery Park. 90% of the whole time I’d be listening to the Beastie Boys. They embodied the vibe and energy of New York City in the 90s, you will be missed.

RIP MCA.

The Beastie Boys – Get It Together

Excuse the lack of post lately, I wish I had an excuse but I don’t. To be honest I haven’t felt compelled to write and I’ve never been good at faking the funk so I just had to give the ol’ EMPT time off till I found something that inspired a return. Leave to Shook though, his feel good nu-disco banger Hold Tight brought me right back in the game. Shooks ability to express emotion and vibe through instrumentals never ceases to amaze me. This songs driving melody and bass all come to a climax with that simply mantra – Hold Tight! It makes you think of whatever you believe in or the things you so badly desire and how you just have to keep pushing for it despite whatever obstacles or challenges get in the way. My type of mentality, enjoy.

Shook – Hold Tight

Punks Jump Up, Dave 1 & Gigamesh on one track, f$#k. It’s been a few years since we first featured Gigamesh and from day one the kid from Minneapolis has been on fire. The Posner camp would probably hate to admit it at this point but the Gigamesh version of Cooler Than Me is in my opinion what took that song to the next level. Mike Posner was fairly unknown at that point and so was Gigamesh and his new sound. He made waves with the songs intense pulsating bass line, instrumental breaks and arrangement. At the time  it was all so new, edgy and adventurous. To see it go from the blogs to radio was a true testament to the Space Age. Unlike that remix, this remix of Mister Overtime see’s a return to that bass style but this time with some familiar faces and new tricks up his sleeve. If you were looking for a song to play this weekend, call off your search…

This is it, this is it, this iiis iiit!! – Style Wars

I don’t always drive 100 miles an hour, but when I do I prefer to listen to the thumping bass sounds of Gigamesh, enjoy.

Punks Jump Up – Mister Overtime ( Ft. Dave 1) (Gigamesh Remix)

I haven’t spoken much about my move to LA because I’ve been trying to settle into the new lifestyle, meeting all the music heads out here, just getting my stuff together. I’m finally at that point and for the sake of those who’ve emailed me about it, here’s an update.

I moved myself and EMPT out west to become the Creative Director for a company called The Playlist Generation. You may not have heard of us yet but you’ve certainly heard us. Most of the worlds top brands, high end hotels, restaurants and retailers hire us to create unique sonic identities for their brands. So if you walk into an Intermix in Miami and hear something awesome you never thought a store would play or you’re strolling through the Cosmopolitan lobby in Vegas and you hear Theophilus London and Edward Sharpe instead of the typical Rat Pack show tunes, that’s us.

I started EMPT with the sole purpose of bringing light to undervalued styles of music and art and it’s doing pretty well. The Playlist Generation is that concept on crack. Long story short, the dude who brought me out here, Michael Smith, is a guy who pretty much single handily bought good taste to many of our favorite hang outs. I like to surround myself around rebels and to have success by offering something different in a world ruled by the Top 40 hit making machine is as rebellious as it gets. Not to knock Top 40, I love the fact that so many people can enjoy something together but the way some of these acts make music these days it might as well be an algorithm. In fact, I would probably appreciate it more if I knew a robot had made it, then at least I would know it was sincere. Not just that but there’s more to life, expression and art than “hits.” Like many of my role models, Michael offered more when everyone else was simply trying to get away with giving as little as possible…

Apples problem is it still believes the way to grow is serving caviar in a world that seems pretty content with cheese and crackers. – Joseph Graziano

That’s the “problem” anyone who loves and cares about what they do has. The mentally of people like Joseph Graziano is why crap gets made, in the words of Kendrick Lamar -

Naw-uh f$*k dat…”

I grew up an entertainer under one of the most demanding instructors a kid could have. It sounds tough but it was great and it made me have a deep love and appreciation for giving something unique. Life keeps putting me in a positions that allow me to do that on bigger and bigger scales and for that I’m so thankful. Sometimes my ambition and unwillingness to compromise gets in the way of execution but now I feel like I’m finding a balance. No matter what though, my desire for this only matures so there’s no stopping and…

To make you feel what I feel, I’m gon’ try my best

And if you real like I’m real, you could provide the rest

Everything left out, you could blame it on the brain not the heart, I’m playing my part…” – Memphis Bleek

Blood Diamonds – Heart

t w e n t y o n e songs of Le Miel du Mois! What the f%*k is a Monday blues?

Steph is back with this installment of LMDM and it’s another wonderfully eclectic blend of everything you didn’t even know you loved. Stephs all-embracing approach to music is one of the reasons why LMDM has been and continues to be one of the most interesting mix tapes on any side of the globe. I don’t know about you but I get bored quick fast listening to the same music or style over and over. Musical monogamy is not a concept I can get behind. Our minds are capable of processing anything we throw at it so to limit yourself to just one style of expression or one type of artist is a crime of the highest order. Thankfully, once a month Steph delivers like that perfect lover everyone dreams of – unpredictable, surprising, interesting, risky and totally in tune with your wants and desires at the moment without you having to say a word. Gotta love it.

I have listened to Youth Lagoon on repeat more times than you should really repeat anything in one hour/day/week/month. Same for The Drums,  who are playing in New York this Sunday if you are in NY, go. Other monthly obsessions include the sun and no-reason car rides so I can listen to whatever I’m listening to (probably Youth Lagoon) longer before having to go inside. And here we go…

Le Miel du Mois at work? That’s much better than work at work! Download

Tracklisting:

1. Midi Matilda – Day Dreams (MyKill Remix)
2. Craft Spells- Party Talk
3. Neon Indian – Hex Girlfriend
4. Germany Germany – Sleeping Pills
5. Beach Fossils – Calyer
6. Teen Daze – The Future
7. Yppah – Film Burn (Feat. Anomie Bell)
8. Wise Blood – Loud Mouths
9. Young Liars – Colours (Teen Daze Remix)
10. Youth Lagoon – Afternoon
11. Phantogram – Don’t Move
12. Oberhofer – Heart
13. Grimes – Vanessa
14. Slothpop – Magenta (WAY YES Remix)
15. The Drums I Dont Want To Go Alone
16. Caandides – Sun Way Too Low
17. Niki and the Dove- Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix)
18. Ornette - Crazy Extended Club Version (Noze Remix)
19. Young Wonder – Orange
20. Kindness- House
21. Troubleman – Electric Guest

I was in a thrift store today and heard this song playing over the speakers. I immediately recognized it from somewhere, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly where, so I asked the gal behind the register for the name. Apparently we were on the same wavelength, because she said she had just written down the name after having asked someone else. I remembered why I recognized the song though: Kate Bush. Both are oddly similar, but I personally prefer this one a little bit more. It’s catchy and fun, but it still captures that older sound. The vocals are creative too, just obscure enough where you can sing it in the shower but not necessarily sing along with your friends. Or maybe you can.

Anyways, it was a really nice thing to come home and listen to, and I’m thinking you guys will love it just as much as I do. It’s the perfect way to end the week

Chrome Canyon – Suspended in Gaffa

BONUS:

Kate Bush – Suspended in Gaffa

For all the newbies, this is some vintage EMPT. I’m reposting after a conversation with an old friend, enjoy.

I’ve been listening to a lot of ’60′s French Pop and ran into this amazing song about one of the worlds most common creatures – the flip flopper. While a serious topic indeed this song makes light of the consistently inconsistent nature of some people and I couldn’t agree more with that approach. Recently I’ve been feeling like Peter from Office Space, I got hypnotized and realized just how much we worry about some things that do nothing to help whatever problems or issues we may be having. I’m going start treating life like the interview with the Bob’s…

La vie! pour moi elle est magnifique
Faut pas que tu la compliques
Par tes hésitations“

I’m starting to see that life is about love and that doesn’t really leave much room for anything else. Give it however you can, if it gets reciprocated cool if not still give it, if it gets misunderstood make it clear and if they don’t want it give it to someone who does. I guess it’s more a state of being than an understanding so it’s hard for me to explain.

I wish that we could talk about it, but there that’s the problem.” - LCD Soundsystem

Anyways, Bardot is a former model, actress, singer and animal rights activist most famous for her role in the controversial film by Roger Vadim Et Dieu… créa la femme (And God Created Women). While extremely vauge and playful, there’s something about this songs lyrics that just makes sense of the people who think so much they can’t feel and feel so much they can’t think. La vie!

Brigitte Bardot – Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas

Tu veux ou tu veux pas
Tu veux c’est bien
Si tu veux pas tant pis
Si tu veux pas
J’en f’rai pas une maladie
Oui mais voilà réponds-moi
Non ou bien oui
C’est comme ci ou comme ça
Ou tu veux ou tu veux pas

Tu veux ou tu veux pas
Toi tu dis noir et après tu dis blanc
C’est noir c’est noir
Oui mais si c’est blanc c’est blanc
C’est noir ou blanc
Mais ce n’est pas noir et blanc
C’est comme ci ou comme ça
Ou tu veux ou tu veux pas

La vie, oui c’est une gymnastique
Et c’est comme la musique
Y a du mauvais et du bon
La vie, pour moi elle est magnifique
Faut pas que tu la compliques
Par tes hésitations
{au Refrain}

La vie, elle peut être très douce
A condition que tu la pousses
Dans la bonne direction
La vie, elle est là elle nous appelle
Avec toi elle sera belle
Si tu viens à la maison

Tu veux ou tu veux pas ? hein !
Quoi ? Ah ! tu dis oui
Ah ! a a a a a a a
Et ben moi j’veux plus !
Ouh ! la la

Basic Translation

This song just came out and it bangs like few love songs do. John Newman has a passionate, raunchy and gritty voice. How does it sound on a drum & bass/dub step track? Amazing.

This video was shot in one take. There are no edits, no visual effects and no pre- planned choreography.”

This video was released yesterday and it features  Marquese Scott aka Nonstop known for his skills in natural stop-motion/slow motion dancing, pretty cool. Nothing gets my Friday going like natural talent and good music, enjoy.

Rudimental – Feel The Love (feat. John Newman)

Chances are you’ve never heard of Cordova but don’t hit yourself over the head for it, this is one of those side projects that we can only hope see’s the light of day again. The group is a collaboration between Vancouver’s U-Tern and AGK’s Roxy. The two came together and made one of my favorite dream/synth-pop records to date, Paradigm. This adventure of a love song is about a girl dealing with a dude stuck in a pattern of thinking that gets in the way of her love for him. She’s aware of the problem and makes exceptions hoping that he’ll break out of it and be the person she fell in love with but eventually realizes that she’s living a pipe dream…

You’ll never be the same it’s hard for me to let you know. But you’re never gonna change it’s time for me to let you go…”

We’ve all dealt with people who live deep in their paradigms, completely oblivious to anything anyone else might be dealing with. In a world where strong will and character is a rarity I admire people with those qualities. However, the second you believe you’ve found the way is the second you stop growing and that’s not something I can’t get down with.

Having seen all the true principles, do not keep any of them in your chest. Let go of them cleanly, making your heart empty and open, and do what you do in an ordinary unconcerned state of mind. You can hardly be called a maestro unless you reach this stage.” - Miyamoto Musashi

No matter how smart you are, how much you learn or what you think you know, if you let those thoughts define you and they become your paradigm the consequence is dangerous. Instead of flowing like water, being able to adapt and move through life you become like ice, stiff and breakable if you fall. Translated to love that means you have the potential of limiting what you can experience, closing yourself off to certain emotions and feelings. Moral of the story keep your mind and heart empty and open, enjoy.

Cordova – Paradigm

I’ve been rocking with the new Miike Snow album but for some reason haven’t felt compelled to post anything. Then this morning Penguin Prison sent me their remix of Paddling Out and well that’s a different story. Penguin Prison brings the song about surfing to the dance floor with their beloved brand of disco-infused synth stabs, a pulsing bass line and a high energy arrangement made for movement. All I can think of while listening to this song is getting to the beach, gotta get there asap, enjoy.

Miike Snow – Paddling Out (Penguin Prison Remix)

Wow, Madi Diaz’s sultry voice and Jensen’s vintage flavored production just turned this Tuesday morning into an ethereal experience. Everything about this song is beautiful. The arrangement is so seamless it’s hard to believe the song is actually four minutes short. The bass line, synth pads and guitars are a perfectly executed modern version of those classic 80s R&B love songs. The love song’s lyrics are about the one of the most important concepts in any type of relationship – trust. I’m a romantic but not in the Top 40 type of way. I tend to fall in love with character traits, people who are passionate about what they do, artists, purity, champions, honest expression and self-awareness. The older I get the less tolerance I have for anything less, it just seems lazy.

We’re in the business of hard work over here and one of the definitions of trust is ability. Someone who works to be reliable and responsible, a person you can depend on to step it up when their expected to, that’s romance to me. Anyways, you gotta love the way this track feels, enjoy.

Madi Diaz – Trust Fall (Jensen Sportag Remix)