Tracklib, the world’s first and only service for quickly finding and legally clearing samples, and Chillhop Music, one of the world's leading platforms for instrumental hip-hop, have announced Timezones, a globe-spanning series of instrumental albums each focusing on a different area of the world--to be composed entirely of samples from Tracklib’s vast catalog. The first album, Timezones: Saudades do Tempo, features eight songs showcasing the sounds of Central and South America. Released last week, the album has already achieved 1M+ combined streams.

“This is the first time a full album has been released, where every single song is made with samples from Tracklib,” said Pär Almqvist, Tracklib CEO and co-founder. ”And love that it’s a compilation with some of the best artists in the lo-fi world.”

With 2.75M followers on YouTube and nearly 2M monthly listeners on Spotify, Chillhop Music is one of the world's leading platforms for instrumental hip-hop and lo-fi beats. In 2016, they were the very first to start a 24/7 lo-fi live stream on YouTube. In the last few years, Chillhop has moved from working with sample-based tracks to involving more original compositions and live instrumentation, which to save themselves from the headache that used to come hand-in-hand with the use of samples.

“Chillhop has previously stayed away from releasing music with samples of original music because of the legal complexities, which is something that Tracklib solves,” said Bas van Leeuwen, CEO of Chillhop Music, in the video linked above. “I think there's a lot of aesthetic and dynamic of a recording from a specific place and time that's hard to create from your own bedroom or studio. Sampling adds culture and authenticity, and perhaps even story, to a track. It's a way of creating music that we haven't been able to do for a long time. Now we can dig into this awesome music from the past and celebrate music that otherwise wouldn't be heard by our audience. This new Timezones series also allows us to work with talented beatmakers who just kill it when it comes to using samples in their music.”

Producers contributing to Timezones: Saudades do Tempo include Psalm Trees, Brous One, Scarlett, Planty Herbs, VYNK, Mo Anando, Misha, and Philanthrope, who made the album’s opening track together with Moods by sampling “Musica Suave” by Hermanas Nuviola.

“It’s great that Tracklib is encouraging people to make use of samples again,” said German producer and Chillhop Head of A&R Philanthrope. “It gives me a better feeling to know every sound is cleared, and that the original artist also profits from it.”

About Chillhop Music

Chillhop Music is one of the world's leading platforms for instrumental hip-hop and lofi beats. In 2016, they were the first YouTube channel to launch a 24/7 lofi livestream. Chillhop Music curates one of the world’s largest Spotify Playlists “lofi hip hop beats - music to study/relax to (lo-fi chill hop)” with over a million subscribers.

About Tracklib

Tracklib is the world’s first and only digital platform for legally clearing samples, solving a big problem in the music industry: a vast majority of all sampling is done illegally because of the complexities and high cost usually involved with sample clearance. Tracklib's extensive library consists of over 100,000 original recordings—everything from Mozart to Isaac Hayes—and can be licensed for sampling for as little as $50.

Tracklib’s revolutionary solution has been embraced by artistic and industry giants such as Ludacris, Questlove, Jazzy Jeff, and Zaytoven, who have publicly praised the company. Artists who have released songs with samples from Tracklib include DJ Khaled, Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne, BROCKHAMPTON, Phantogram, and J. Cole also used a Tracklib sample for his 5x Platinum single “Middle Child”. Tracklib launched in 2018 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with representation in New York City and London.

Stream and Share “Timezones: Saudades de Tempo”

Connect with Chillhop Music: Website

Connect with Tracklib: Website