Marie Dahlstrom Announces "4inARow" EP With Aligo and Dan Diggas, and Shares New Single "Fall Down"
Danish singer and producer @mariedmusic, London-based producer @DanDiggas and Canadian rapper @aligo_batali announce a new EP together entitled “4inARow”, out January 15th 2021. The trio has also just released their single “Fall Down”.
Danish singer and producer Marie Dahlstrom, London-based producer Dan Diggas and Canadian rapper Aligo announce a new EP together entitled '4inARow', out January 15th 2021 via Marie's JFH Records label. Alongside the EP’s announcement, the trio are releasing the EP's lead single "Fall Down".
Originally conceived as an idea to create a four-track EP in just 4 nights, '4inARow' in essence was an experiment in writing, recording and producing purely on impulse. Each track was recorded between 8pm & midnight on those 4 days in January 2020; with each cut having its own story to tell. Dan Diggas provided the beats for the EP, with Marie Dahlstrom and Aligo sharing vocal responsibilities across the 4 tracks.
Speaking on the process, Aligo said: "Marie and I lived in the JFH flat for a little over a year and after a few months we figured out a way for us to really tap in and make music together. We told ourselves every night for 4 straight days we are going to tackle a pack of beats that Dan made while he was on tour with Mahalia. Theme-wise there wasn't a plan at first but we knew we wanted to explore different emotions and feelings with each night that passed. By the end we noticed the songs came together in a cohesive way that demonstrated a four stage cycle of love/relationships."
Lead single "Fall Down" represents the point in a relationship where a couple's resolve is being tested. A delicate blend of hip hop, soul and R&B; soothing late-night R&B-flavoured production provides a luxurious base for Dahlstrom and Aligo's considered vocal interplay.
Marie Dahlstrom went on to say: "'Fall Down' is an ode to arguments that can be common at times, but left untreated could ruin a relationship. Like autumn, this song is a transition period to a colder and more challenging part of the year and symbolic of the changes that can occur when this happens in relationships: 'consequences get the best of you'".
'4inARow' follows Marie Dahlstrom's critically acclaimed debut album Like Sand released in May earlier this year, and arrives hot on the heels of standalone single "Good Thing", released in October – all released via Marie's own label JFH Records - named after the block of flats where Marie, Dan and Aligo all live together.
Previously supported and praised by the likes of Billboard, NPR, The Line Of Best Fit, NYLON, Complex, and Wonderland Magazine, along with substantial radio airplay from BBC 1Xtra DJ’s Jamz Supernova, DJ Target, Toddla T and Rinse FM’s Jyoty, Marie is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary R&B right now.
Listen to “Fall Down” now, and connect with Marie, Aligo, and Dan Diggas on their social media.
Connect with Marie Dahlstrom: Twitter | Instagram
Interview: Slab City Talk About Their New Single "S.T.A.B (Sicker Than Ali Baba)"
We connected with Slab City for an exclusive interview to discuss their brand new single "S.T.A.B (Sicker Than Ali Baba)", and much more.
“When it comes to creating new music, we try to link it up with the story, so we take inspiration from the locations...”
What are some things that inspire your creativity when developing new music and story lines for Slab City?
When it comes to creating new music, we try to link it up with the story, so we take inspiration from the locations, in the next part of the story S3X-CESS in Abu Dhabi, so we worked on incorporating Arabic sounds in to the music and lyric wise it focuses on S3X-CESS’s adventures in the middle east.
The concept for the story was originally based off our love for rebellion and standing up for your rights that we discovered through Hip Hop and Punk. We then mixed that with real life global issues and Marco’s love for 80’s action films, think Van Dame, Schwarzenegger and Star Wars with backdrop of Trap and Dubstep.
Congratulations on the release of your new single "S.T.A.B (Sicker Than Ali Baba)"; it's a great track. Tell us about your creative process when developing the song and was it self-produced?
Ryan: Thank you, we’re glad you like you it. With ‘Sicker Than Ali Baba’ it started with Marco sending me a rough production Trap Rap idea along with some ideas he’d come up with for a rap. I then worked the production around the rap and focused on an Arabic Trap style, to fit with S3X-CESS’s adventures in Abu Dhabi in our Instagram Web series.
Marco: we both have a background in production and songwriting which comes in useful as we can support each other with both sides of the creative process, which is really helpful in enhancing our music further.
How did you two initially come together to form Slab City, and how long did it take to create the backstory of the world encompassing S3X-CESS & Rydon in Koda City?
Ryan: Myself and Marco met at the end of 2018 as part of Musicians Cell Group (a platform, where musicians are placed in to small groups and meet once a week online to share and discuss issues and achievements in their professional music lives. At that time I’d also just started a new project with another producer and we were looking for a rapper to feature on one of our songs and Marco saw our post on Facebook and asked if he could lay something down for it. We instantly loved what he’d done. Not long after the other producer dropped out of the project and myself and Marco decided to work on more songs together.
Originally was going to fly out to Turkey to meet with Marco and work on a music video for one of the songs and create content for our social media together, then Marco had this great idea of creating a fictional story presented as series. We ended up travelling round different areas of Turkey with our smart phones in hand and filming the first parts of the web series and developing the story as we went.
The concept for the story was originally based off our love for rebellion and standing up for your rights that we discovered through Hip Hop and Punk. We then mixed that with real life global issues and Marco’s love for 80’s action films, think Van Dame, Schwarzenegger and Star Wars with backdrop of Trap and Dubstep.
Tell us about DJ Emperor and what we can expect from the interviews and guest performances.
DJ Emperor plays a key role in the Slab City Universe, he connects the revolution to outside world with his radio show and supports S3X-CESS and Rydon in their adventures to take down El Don and bring music back to Koda City. He’s super professional when it comes to the radio show, doing in-depth research in to the guests, which always makes our guests feel welcome and creates a more entertaining show, you can always expect banter, games and lots of laughs along the way.
In terms of our guest performances we always stay in our lane of Trap, EDM and Hip Hop. The DJ sets are compact to 30 minutes, which always allows for our guests to smash out their greatest hits mixes, with one of the sets charting in the top 80 global EDM mixes on Mix Cloud last month.
Will "S.T.A.B" and your previous two releases “I Want More” and "You Got Jeep’d" be appearing on an upcoming Slab City EP or album? If so, what can you tell us about it?
We’re still in the thought process stage of releasing an album, but our initial ideas are that after Saga one has finished of the Web series we’ll release a 10 track album, that will be an official soundtrack to the web series, with the 5 singles that will have been released and then 5 unreleased songs.
Creativity Over Perfectionism: Endlesss Brings Spontaneous Collaborative Music Creation to Pro Audio Platforms
Music-making platform @Endlesssfm has launched its next-level desktop app and plug-in, Endlesss Studio, a cloud-connected looper bringing rapid composition flow to your studio setup, making it possible to build tracks and sculpt sounds at lightning speeds.
Collaborative music-making platform Endlesss has debuted its next-level desktop app and plug-in, Endlesss Studio. The new application builds on their hit music-making app for iOS, integrating seamlessly with digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live and Logic Pro to bring the award-winning Endlesss music creation workflow to the heart of professional studios.
“Endlesss is an instrument designed not for perfection but to keep you in a forward motion of creativity. It reframes music as an activity we do together rather than a product we consume alone” said Tim Exile, founder and CEO of Endlesss.
Endlesss launched their iOS app in the middle of the first lockdown in March 2020, attracting critical press acclaim from music and tech media (Pitchfork, Techcrunch, Engadget among them). It won over a host of celebrity early-adopters including US comedian Hannibal Buress, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Imogen Heap, indie-rockers Broken Social Scene, and electronica legends Underworld.
“The Endlesss team is aiming to bring an even more ambitious version to desktop Macs and Windows machines, including VST/AU compatibility for integration with your favourite DAW. Dubbed Endlesss Studio, the idea is to retain the accessibility and sense of play that the iOS app delivers, but couple it with a more involved studio setup so the music-making possibilities really are endless.” --Steve O’Hear, Techcrunch
At the heart of the Endlesss philosophy is founder Tim Exile’s vision to bring back music-making as a shared activity that deepens connection with our fellow humans: “Before Edison recorded sound, music was an activity we came together to do rather than a product we consume alone,” Exile explained. “We believe everyone is on a musical journey - even those who only listen - a journey which helps us find belonging and meaning. Endlesss is here to connect, deepen and amplify those journeys.”
Tim’s journey started with picking up the violin as a child before falling in love with the sounds of the early rave scene as a teenager. He learned to DJ and produce and went on to forge a successful career as an electronic music artist. After world tours and critically-acclaimed albums on record labels such as Warp and Planet Mu, Tim realised he missed the very thing that got him into making music in the first place: performing and spontaneously improvising.
Fed-up with the perfectionistic world he found himself in, Tim abandoned his recording career, taught himself to code and began developing tools to bring playful communicative spontaneity to electronic music creation. He started by building an electronic improvisation instrument, ‘The Flow Machine’ and toured every continent with it, performing live with musicians such as Nitin Sawnhee, Nile Rogers, Imogen Heap and Beardyman.
After realising that “the person having the most fun in the room was often me,” Tim decided to pivot from building an artistic career around his Flow Machine performances to making the Flow Machine available to everyone.
This spontaneous expression and performer-fan interchange is what makes Endlesss different from the other music collaboration apps out there. At its core, Endlesss is an electronic instrument: You can tap out a beat on a lightning-fast interface using single notes, drum beats, bass riffs, and more. On top of that, Endlesss is a cloud-connected social space with a full history of your riffs and beats collected together and accessible for you to archive or for everyone to hear. And beyond that, Endlesss is also a live music collaboration world; a virtual creative space for artists, fans, audio engineers, DJs, and music lovers of every stripe and experience level to share and participate in music creation together — much like a back and forth WhatsApp convo, but with music instead of words.
Already being used by some of the top names in EDM, Endlesss is looking to change the way audiences and performers experience and create music online. “The simple concept behind Endlesss is that it’s about doing music instead of composing, mastering, mixing, and distributing it in a perfectionistic process,” said Exile.
“It’s got an intuitive layout that makes it feel as much like a game as an audio workstation, making it easy for users with little to no musical training to jump right in.”--Noah Yoo, Pitchfork
Endlesss Studio is available from its release day until 31st March 2021 at $99 / €99 / £79, a 50% introductory discount of the usual price of $199 / €199 / £159. A Windows version is under development and will be available in summer 2021.
Singer-Songwriter Ren Liu Releases Her New EP "Prayer For a Stranger"
Singer-songwriter Ren Liu has just released her new EP "Prayer For a Stranger", as well as the music video for her song "Sweet Dreamland".
For singer-songwriter Ren Liu the most satisfying adventures in life have come from clearing emotional hurdles. Her new EP “Prayer For a Stranger” inspires those who continue to dream.
Ren was born in Urbana, Illinois and grew up in the midwest with parents who immigrated from China. For Ren and many others, America is a "Sweet Dreamland," where musicians and artists can live their lives creating inspiring and beautiful songs.
"Sweet Dreamland" is among the tracks on the EP. The other tracks on the impactful record are "Endless," "Take My Hand" and the title track "Prayer For a Stranger."
Speaking about her new EP, Ren says "The title track, ‘Prayer For a Stranger’ was my love letter to the Al-Anon community (loved ones of alcoholics) because of what that group did for me and my own healing," she said. "So I do really hope anyone within that community can resonate and feel peaceful in regards to that song."
Listen to “Prayer For a Stranger” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Ren on her IG.
Stream and Share “Prayer For a Stranger”
Connect with Ren Liu: Instagram
Interview: Brussels Alt Rap Duo Holoboy Eskaton 115 Discuss Their Single/Video "Mystery Mekanix"
Major salute to SVDU and VINCO of the Brussels based alt rap duo Holoboy Eskaton 115 who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss their new single/video “Mystery Mekanix", VINCO’s upcoming EP "Imaginatrix” and much more.
“I think the biggest mental breakthrough came after a shared lsd-experience, we had a pretty strong psychedelic experience together and we kind of concluded it by a transcendental music-jam.”
We're totally blown away by your new "Mystery Mekanix" music video; tell us about your creative process for the song's development and what inspired you to write it.
SVDU: The creative process went pretty intuitively as Vinco sent a production he was working on and that inspired me to write on. It was initially to be conceived as a part of his animated series Mystik Mekanix. I tried a variety of texts but ended up choosing one that I had already written five years ago and that fitted with what he was saying. It was a dense text that I had written in a period where I was strongly influenced by my esoteric research and practices, trying to connect with a transcendent principle.
VINCO: Well, regarding the animation of the video and its particular style, there was only one kind of way to continue making movies for me in this first lockdown period, and it was most probably animating stuff you know, I'm used to shoot real time footage and create scenography in studios and work with real people but here the only way to really get the message out there, was clear...I needed to animate.
I'm not an experienced animator you know, I just wanted to fool around with my drawings, and many of them were about space travel.
Aside of the video process, the beat and the texts have been both inspired by multiple conversations with some friends; shout out to my friend Seba also, who inspired the process.
You were both members of the multidisciplinary artist-collective CHPT.01; what led to your decision to come together as a musical duo?
SVDU: It isn’t something that was thought of like one day to another we decided that we would make a musical duo. I think there were many consecutive steps and the fact that we’d been friends this whole time and often creating side by side.
VINCO: Yeah it's true, it kind of gradually happened. Music came to us through our community, we noticed we liked similar stuff, we enjoyed deep conversations. To describe you the atmosphere of that time; We had done quite a few rave parties in the royal park, we lived with musicians who had nice equipment, every day friends would just come over and jam and create or do whatever they'd like at any time at our place, so it was pretty normal to suddenly face a microphone in front of our faces , and thereby we started rhyming and producing.
I think the biggest mental breakthrough came after a shared lsd-experience, we had a pretty strong psychedelic experience together and we kind of concluded it by a transcendental music-jam.
What are some things, people or places that influence your creativity when working on new music?
VINCO: Well I'm really lucky to be part of an amazing platform which is called Knoop, and I have the luck to end up in pretty unconventional places, where I can stay, live, and create. That's why I believe architecture, and abandoned buildings have become a big part of my inspiration. I need to feel as if I can just get into my zone somewhere where nobody really disturbs me, and that can really happen here.
In the midst of a city, we have managed to find a place where there's a lot of tranquility, and momentum to create and do our own stuff. Sometimes I feel like a truck driver roaming alone on the roads you know, sometimes I meet amazing people that I connect with and definitely inspire me, but I can also be really inspired by solitude, the dreams, the subconscious.
SVDU: Apart from the people I collaborate with, artists who generally dare to step out of their personal and collective comfort zones to create something more unique. Emotional entanglements through which I learn a lot also inspire my texts.
How did you come up with the duo's name Holoboy Eskaton 115, and what does it represent?
SVDU: It came out of not trying to take ourselves too seriously and twisting around the common lil’ something that 90 percent of cloud rappers have obtained for.
Going from there with a few twists we then added the Eschaton which was reference to Terence Mckenna and Robert Anton Wilson, two writers who both highly influenced our works. The idea to ‘Immanentize the Eschaton’ could be somewhat translated by bringing heaven on earth, though that is a great simplification.
VINCO: We were laughing with the name-wave of Yung-rappers and Lil-mc's so we thought... shit fam, what do we represent.
We're all about space, futurism, shamanism, psychedelics, philosophy, mystery, alternative ways to live in a progressive society...
So we needed a name to represent all that, so we connected to some keywords such as Holograms, The Eschaton, and element 115 which is also connected to the element Moscovium, and this element has a very special story to it, I'd suggest the readers to dig more into it. In the end we also just wanted to find something nothing too serious.
What can we expect sonically and thematically from the upcoming EP "Imaginatrix", which is dropping very soon?
SVDU: A cosmic bomb. Don't expect just listen.
VINCO: I'm looking forward to drop it; it's a very spaced out EP. So yeah cosmic suits well as a description.
Monstercat Unveils Their Anticipated "Best of 2020" Album
@Monstercat has just unveiled their anticipated "Best of 2020" album, which spans 40 tracks selected by fans. Check it out now!
Monstercat is one of electronic music's most influential independent record labels. Founded in Canada in 2011, its mission has remained the same: to empower a creative and passionate community of artists and fans through innovation.
Championing a cadre of world-renowned artists including Marshmello, Vicetone, and Tokyo Machine, Monstercat celebrated over 1.9 Billion audio streams in 2019, and exceeds 150 Million global streams monthly. With 4 releases a week across the Uncaged and Instinct imprints, Monstercat has topped radio and streaming charts worldwide.
Monstercat has just shared its annual Best Of album, showcasing 40 of the biggest tracks in 2020 as decided by the community. Last week, over 25,000 votes were cast by fans selecting the songs that impacted, influenced, and inspired them the most this year. Clinching the number one spot, Bossfight & Philip Strand’s hard-hitting “Voices” was the crowd favorite, followed by REAPER’s relentless “BARRICADE” and the Infected Mushroom & Bliss psy-trance collab, “Ani Mevushal.” Joining them in the top five, Au5 makes an appearance twice, with his gorgeous collab “Always in a Nightmare” featuring Nytrix, and the game-inspired “Voidwalkers” with Chime. There’s no doubt that we loved every release, but the Best of 2020 collection will forever soundtrack a year where music was central to connecting and recreating the joy and energy that we missed on the dancefloor.
Listen to the “Best of 2020” list below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Monstercat on their website and social media.
Interview: Toronto Emcee Chris Cachia Talks About His New Album "My Re:Collection"
Big ups to Toronto based rap artist @ChrisCachiaAKA who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his new album “My Re:Collection”, which was produced exclusively by Charlie McEvoy.
“More than anything, I’m proud I’ve used the album to share a bit of my story, and mainly my struggles with mental health, anxiety, and OCD”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new album "My Re:Collection"; tell us about your creative process for the development of its songs.
Thank you. I really appreciate it. This project had a long evolution. I first started writing songs for the album in 2013 when I was struggling with some personal demons. These were challenges I’d faced for a long time, but things were definitely escalating. So, as I usually do whenever something big is happening in my life, I started writing.
Some of that writing was to process what I was feeling and some of it was just to escape. The writing process then went through a few stages. The tracks “Listen”, “My Addiction”, “Street Writer”, and “Victory” all came out of the earliest stage, which was also a time in which I was feeling a bit hopeless as someone concerned with social injustices. Then, when I found-out my wife was pregnant with our first child, I began to reach-out for help and was officially diagnosed with several anxiety disorders including OCD. That began the second stage, when I wrote “Look”, “My Diagnosis”, “Elemental”, and “Night Less”.
This was also a time, probably because of the birth of my oldest daughter, that I was feeling a bit more hopeful about social movements and the potential for change. The last few tracks were written when I was in a much better place, but also when I was feeling very determined to make a difference, and probably because I now have two amazing daughters. That’s when I wrote “Stop (Me)”, “My Resolve”, “Champion Rendition”, “Rumble”, and “Thirteen (Thoughts)”.
The album took-on this really hopeless to hopeful and determined arc, but that wasn’t initially the plan because, of course, I had no idea where life was going to take me. I did want to make a change, though, and I wanted my art to be a part of that change.
The album was produced exclusively by Charlie McEvoy. What made his beats perfect for what you were looking for to match your lyrics? Also, how did you go about selecting Charlie's beats?
Charlie and I’ve been friends since childhood, plus he’s the most gifted musician I know. We came-up with everything together, and he’s really collaborative and willing to try-out new ideas. We’ve been out on the street recording car tires pulling out, we’ve had children in the booth doubling lines, and Charlie’s played everything on these tracks from bass to piano to drums. He’s also super experimental and pushes me in really creative directions. He always asks what I’m trying to accomplish and what my vision for a song or project is.
I think we used almost all of the beats Charlie actually finished for this album. That’s because, if he was working on something and I didn’t think it meshed with what I had in mind, we’d start again or readjust. I’d trust Charlie with my life, so trusting him with music stuff is easy.
The music video for "Thirteen (Thoughts)" is epic. Who directed the visual and how did you come up with its treatment?
Wow, thanks. I have to laugh, I did all of that, and I have no idea what I’m doing. I made visuals for a number of cuts from the album, and I just use whatever’s at my disposal.
The video combined clips I’d recorded on my camera and cellphone with animation under creative commons and old movie trailers now in the public domain. I’m trying to remember, I used clips from trailers for Dracula and Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster and a bunch of other cult classics.
Rather than having a concrete treatment or storyline, I tried to capture a mood. I always love when artists repurpose and reimagine old pop culture to create something new.
What are you most proud of with the "My Re:Collection" album and do you plan to release any more music videos from its songs?
I’ve posted teaser videos for different tracks and have a few other full music videos up that are also kind of mash-ups of different elements, but I do have this idea of putting together a visual for excerpts from all of the tracks on the album, sort of like a short film.
More than anything, I’m proud I’ve used the album to share a bit of my story, and mainly my struggles with mental health, anxiety, and OCD. Because of the project, I’ve had a lot of folks reach-out to talk about what they’re going though and to ask questions about how to access support, so that’s been really meaningful to me.
I want to keep trying to be a better man for myself, but also for my family and especially my beautiful wife and daughters, and I think creating the album has helped with that.
With the album now released, what are some of your goals musically for 2021 and what next can your fans look forward to from you?
I’m always writing and plan to start work on a new album in the new year. This might be a bit overly ambitious, but I’d like to release another project this summer. I just try to make the most honest and dope music I can, and I let the other pieces fall into place.
Stream and Share “My Re:Collection” on Spotify
Connect with Chris Cachia: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp
Review: "Nowhere Fast" Single by Phil NDL
Check out our in-depth review of @philndl DOPE new single “Nowhere Fast”.
Phil NDL. A fellow friend and producer of Dominic Fike. What a guy. I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with him personally.
He’s a great dude. Honest and cool.
But aside from his personnel, his music speaks for itself. On November 13th, Phil released his newest single, “Nowhere Fast”.
An instant jam. For me, it took me back to my youth. The idea of sunshine, friends, and freedom.
It’s that time you and your friends get dropped off at the mall. Just you and your friends. You give a middle-school-angst-induced-attitude goodbye wave to your mom. You plant your feet sturdy on the pavement the mall parking lot, and you’re on your way to freedom.
You gather your troops and head to the store which holds your coolness, highness, and self-worth: Hollister. And with all due respect, for a girl from the Maryland, Hollister was the coolest store there ever could be, ever.
Why? Because Hollister captured the idea of juvenile freedom. It did! You could see the store from ions away! AND you could smell it! Hollister stood for freedom. The kick off your shoes and run through the sand type of freedom! Forget your problems and live in the present and have fun!
That’s where this song takes me personally.
And though I’ve only been to the store, and not the physical location. I imagine that the store is exactly what it’s like in Hollister, California.
I can’t put my finger on what it is about this song, that takes me back. But if I had to guess I think it comes down to two distinguished features: the funk of the electric guitar, paired with the subtle and naturally fun riff, topped with Phil’s swangy tonality.
It’s the slurred notes into the next. It’s how the back-beat hits perfectly in between the lyrics.
Phil NDL has a particular and peculiar cadence of beats. Similarly, to Jon Bellion. The same way that Bellion curates his songs to fit perfectly snug between beat pockets. Phil NDL has that same gift; the ability to create movement throughout this song.
It’s nice.
Phil NDL, I am forever grateful that I get to review your work. What a fantastic way to grow both of our careers, and I’m excited I get to be a part of your journey.
RUN DMC Release Limited Edition Album "VINYLWORK" in Tribute to Jam Master Jay
Cultural icons and hip-hop legends @OfficialRunDMC and @12on12vinyl have released “VINYLWORK”, their first in a series of collaborations in tribute to Jam Master Jay.
Cultural icons and hip-hop legends RUN DMC and 12on12 have released their first in a series of collaborations in tribute to Jam Master Jay.
The pioneering New York group have curated the exclusive limited edition 12" vinyl only compilation with bespoke artwork by rising LA artist Reena Tolentino, aka 'RT'.
The 12on12 deluxe, double disc package is limited to 500 hand-numbered editions and embodies the story of RUN-DMC's legacy within the handpicked iconic track-listing, featuring songs that inspired, affected and changed the ground-breaking group’s music.
The first release in celebration of the 35th anniversary of seminal 1986 album Raising Hell, RUN DMC pay tribute to their late bandmate Jam Master Jay and dedicate this project in his honour.
12on12 has formed a partnership with RUN DMC and this record is the first project they will release together in tribute to Jam Master Jay.
The release offers a fascinating insight into RUN DMC, one of the most influential groups of all time. Alongside tracks by early rap trailblazers The Sugarhill Gang and Afrika Bambaataa, the group have also highlighted songs that helped form the sonic foundations of the nascent hip hop sound as it emerged and evolved in New York in the early 1980s, including the breaks-goldmine of MFSB’s Love Is The Message and Kraftwerk’s game-changing Trans-Europe Express, a song rarely licensed for any compilation.
Talking about the project RUN DMC say “There are so many things that influence and inspire us. Music is one of them. It’s a never ending process. We are happy to showcase where some of it comes from! It all starts and ends with vinyl! If it ain’t vinyl...Then it ain’t vinyl!”
The unique work of art for the record has been designed by one of the most exciting names on the LA art scene, Reena Tolentino. A visual artist and actor, RT’s work rose to prominence after her acclaimed mural of late basketball icon Kobe Bryant. In addition to providing artwork and portraits of RUN DMC for the project she has also reinterpreted one of the most iconic hip-hop logo's of all time with a rework of the classic RUN DMC logo.
The release continues to cement 12on12’s reputation for unique ‘vinylworks’ and bespoke collectors’ editions that live at the intersection of music, art and pop culture, providing a unique canvas for cultural icons to curate the soundtracks to their lives.
With global trends growing around nostalgia and legacy artists dominating consumption both within rising vinyl sales and across streaming platforms, 12on12 continue to prove themselves an exciting creative brand capturing an incresingly powerful part of the zeitgeist.
12on12 RUN DMC limited edition vinyl is available - www.12on12.com
Los Angeles Based Alternative Soul Artist KiNG MALA Releases Her Debut EP "GEMiNi"
Los Angeles' KiNG MALA has just released her debut EP “GEMiNi”. The six-track release delves into the songwriter’s alter egos - one which is powerful, confident and unapologetic, and the other which appears more vulnerable, soft and honest.
KiNG MALA is the moniker of El Paso born, Los Angeles based alternative soul artist Areli Castro. Touching on themes such as lust, recklessness and badass femininity, KiNG MALA isn’t afraid to spill her guts. Setting out with the intention to create brave and unapologetic music, the bold and brazen artist is delivering her own distinct sound, just the way she wants it. Castro shares, “That’s really the inspiration for the name KiNG MALA, king cuz fuck being someone’s queen, and mala literally means “bad bitch” in Spanish.”
KiNG MALA doesn’t hesitate in spilling her feelings. Her music narrates letting go of fear, being honest with yourself and those around you and ultimately living your truest self. Life is messy and we shouldn’t feel ashamed to show our emotions and speak our mind.
Her debut EP “GEMiNi” features six songs giving us an insight into who KiNG MALA really is. Castro shares, "When I listened to the songs when they were finally done, I realized that two distinct characters stood out to me. The version of myself that is powerful, confident and unapologetic (I like to think of this as my alter ego). But then there was this unexpected version of myself that started to appear the more I wrote which felt vulnerable, soft and honest. I realized that as different as each song is, the whole EP is just 2 sides of the same coin playing out over and over again, 2 versions of the same character. So that is the reason I chose the name gemini, to represent the balance and chaos between two halves of the same thing."
Produced by Rob Auerbach and mastered by John Greenham (Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, Katy Perry, Banks), her music evokes a youthful energy while maintaining a musical sophistication.
KiNG MALA hopes her music may allow others to feel confident and cool, confiding, “I hope it helps people feel okay with what they feel, I'm a person with very intense feelings and it took me a long time to realize that that's a gift not a weakness.” Raised in a Hispanic home, the artist is passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+, POC and Indigenous communities and being open about mental health.
Listen to “GeMiNi” right now, stream it on Soundcloud and connect with KiNG MALA on her social media.
Sydney RnB Artist Jessica Jade Reveals Her Eagerly Awaited Debut EP "BET"
Proud western Sydney sensation Jessica Jade drops her eagerly awaited debut EP "BET", as well as the hard-hitting feature track "Driveby".
Proud western Sydney sensation Jessica Jade drops her eagerly awaited debut EP 'BET', as well as hard-hitting feature track 'Driveby'.
'BET' is a bold omnibus from the young R&B artist, showcasing every facet of the multi-dimensional act. Opening with the vulnerable, pop-leaning 'You', it includes further singles 'Taste' - a sludgy empowerment anthem - and ballad title track 'BET', alongside feature track 'Driveby'.
Speaking on the vulnerability of the creative process Jade acknowledges "I feel like I've been really lost over the past few years but finally working on something solid has taught me to take time with my art and trust the process as well as trust myself. I've learned that music is my way of reassuring myself that I am on the right path and where I am meant to be."
Recently selected as one of FBi Radio's Independent Artists and performing as a part of their Independent Play Series, she's already been tapped on the shoulder by Converse, Champion and JD Sports. She's also struck a chord with tastemakers Complex, Life Without Andy, SNIFFERS and Project U along with Tone Deaf who dubbed her a 'future R&B legend'.
Flourishing in the digital realm her previous releases have clocked spots in Spotify's New Music Friday AU/NZ & Denmark, R&B Connect, Pop N Fresh and Apple Music's Best of the Week and Mood.
Interview: Toronto's Streets To Ourselves Talks About His New Single/Video "Turning Tables"
We connected with Toronto based singer-songwriter and director Daniel Peachy aka @streetsto for an exclusive interview to discuss his single/video “Turning Tables”, which is featured on his album “Suspension Of Disbelief”.
“To me the name Streets To Ourselves is supposed to invoke an intimate and inclusive feeling. That’s a special moment when you and a few friends or a partner are out on foot and have the streets to yourselves, especially if they are normally busy streets. ”
We're huge fans of your new single/video "Turning Tables". What was your creative process for the development of the song itself, and how did you come up with the treatment for the visual?
Thanks so much! As is often the case I wrote the template of the song on guitar first. Next I came up with the vocal melodies and then wrote the lyrics. The first line in the chorus “Or you’ll never know the place you came undone” just sort of popped in to my head while I was thinking about someone I know. Lyrically I worked backwards from that line. I figured out the Bass and Drums last.
As for the video, I had decided to compose and perform this album entirely myself and I wanted the video to carry on this concept. I thought it would be cool if I played three different characters, each with different looks: the singer/guitarist, the bass player, and the drummer. I wanted it to look as believable as possible, so I committed to the bit.
I grew my hair and beard out for years to make the video. Once everything was ready, we shot all the scenes of myself as the drummer with long hair and a beard. Then I cut my hair shoulder length and kept only a mustache, and we filmed all the bass player scenes. Lastly I cut my hair short and got rid of the last of my facial hair, and we filmed the singer/guitarist parts. It’s either that or I shot the video with my two brothers.
"Turning Tables" appears on your newly released album "Suspension Of Disbelief"; how long did it take to complete the project and what were some things/people/places that inspired you artistically during its creation?
I started writing most of the songs that ultimately made it on to “Suspension Of Disbelief” many years ago. They are essentially a collection of songs that didn’t fit with the other musical projects I was a part of at the time. I made Streets To Ourselves my main artistic focus and started refining the songs in 2017. I recorded the EP “Pitch Correction” in 2018, and I recorded the full-length album “Suspension of Disbelief” in 2019. Unfortunately a videographer cancelling on me at the last minute and then the covid-19 pandemic delayed the filming of the music video until summer 2020.
“Suspension Of Disbelief” is a very personal record to me, both musically and lyrically. It is largely inspired by both the positive and negative events that have happened in my life in the last decade or so. The death of my father, the highs and lows of friendships as well as romantic relationships, and also the successes and failures that come with having ambition and pursuing my dreams. Lyrically it focuses a little bit more on the things I’ve struggled with, but there is also a recurring theme of hope and optimism throughout the album.
What does your solo project's name "Streets To Ourselves" represent?
I think it’s open to interpretation, in the same way that lyrics are open to interpretation. To me the name Streets To Ourselves is supposed to invoke an intimate and inclusive feeling. That’s a special moment when you and a few friends or a partner are out on foot and have the streets to yourselves, especially if they are normally busy streets.
It usually only happens late at night or very early in the morning, and I find there’s a certain romantic feeling to it. That’s the same kind of feeling I’m trying to convey with the music that I make, as if it’s super late and the listener and I have the streets to ourselves.
How would you say that "Suspension Of Disbelief" differs from your 2019 EP "Pitch Correction" thematically and sonically?
I think thematically “Pitch Correction” is somewhat similar to “Suspension Of Disbelief”, and that is by design. In some ways I thought of the EP as a trailer of sorts for the full-length album.
Sonically they are also similar in that they are both very dynamic: quite loud and full in some spots and then quiet and striped down in others. However I went for much more of a raw sound in regards to the production on the EP, whereas on the full-length the production is supposed to be more polished.
Production-wise the louder parts on the EP are more Garage Rock, and the louder parts on the full-length lean towards more of a slick Pop Punk production style.
With 2020 close to conclusion, what are some of your goals musically for 2021?
It’s hard to set attainable goals because no one knows how long the pandemic will last. However I’m planning on recording a follow up full-length album to “Suspension Of Disbelief” in 2021. I would also love to start performing live as a solo acoustic act.
I’d also like to recruit a bass player and drummer to form a live band. At the very least I plan on composing more music and growing as a singer, songwriter, and musician.
Stream and Share “Suspension of Disbelief”
Connect with Streets To Ourselves: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
MF Tomlinson Announces His Debut Album "Strange Time", and Shares the Title Track Single/Video
@mf_tomlinson, the project of London-based Australian singer-songwriter Michael Tomlinson, announces the release of "Strange Time", the title track from his debut album of the same name due for release in 2021.
MF Tomlinson, the project of London-based Australian singer-songwriter Michael Tomlinson, announces the release of "Strange Time", the title track from his debut album of the same name due for release in 2021.
Arriving alongside psychedelic visuals courtesy of visual artist Tomas Jefanovas, "Strange Time" is a stark, at times brutal reminder of the confusing and distressing situation the globe finds itself in, delivered with Tomlinson’s signature wry humour; "I'm trying to fathom the tragedy now and hereafter" he admits at the track's moment-of-realisation midpoint.
Those words are a good marker for what MF Tomlinson quickly realised he was concocting with his debut album. Quickly following his debut EP 'Last Days of Rome', Strange Time was written slap-bang in the middle of 2020; Tomlinson, confined to his home, created a stripped-back home studio set up and the songs immediately began to flow.
Commenting on the process, Tomlinson said: "Lots of things started to click, not just in terms of the songs but on a deeper level - it was a time of immense growth as a writer. I felt a new level of freedom in the music I was making."
In essence, MF Tomlinson is the solo work of Michael Tomlinson. Dig a little deeper though and you uncover an intriguing new layer to the project. Calling upon a global network of collaborators and musical friends to bring Strange Time to life – a network he refers to as his "MF's" – Tomlinson and his MF's explore a rich tapestry of sounds and influences.
"My solo project is definitely a group effort," Tomlinson says. "I’m incredibly lucky to collaborate with a wide network of creatives - I like to call them the MF’s because they’re all insanely talented mother fuckers. They come from all over the world - Turkey, Japan, Finland, New Zealand as well as of course the UK. The recording process for this release basically involved sending out a demo, having a chat on the phone and waiting to see what came back. I was never disappointed - god bless the internet."
At times tapping into the sardonic Americana of Father John Misty, at others aligning more with the considered folk of Bill Callahan, Kevin Morby and Aldous Harding; across its 6 tracks and 32 minute run time MF Tomlinson joyously dissects a time in our lives where happiness has often been so difficult to uncover.
Speaking more on the release of the new single and album title track, Tomlinson added: "Strange Time is the phrase that you can’t escape these days - it’ll come up in almost every conversation you have. It’s a purely autobiographical song, in a world so bizarre that it almost feels like writing in character. I was driven, almost to an unhealthy extent, to get this song out. As things shut down I felt I was sinking into a sleepy, anxious, twilight world that these languorous chords seemed to capture. I just had to find the right words."
Luckily, the right words came. "Strange Time", and its name-sake album both capture a time that we would all perhaps prefer to forget – but these 6 tracks will certainly be ones to cherish and remember upon a (hopeful) return to normality.
Review: "Good News" Album by Megan Thee Stallion
Check out our in-depth review of Megan Thee Stallion’s DOPE new album “Good News”.
We listened to Megan’s new album “Good News”, which was highly anticipated due to the diss track towards her ex best fiend Kelsey and Toronto artist Tory Lanez. Raunchy as ever, Meg tackled this track and the rest with ease. Not letting her pettiness get the best of her, Thee Stallion shifts her focus on other tracks to her classic brand of body positivity and female sexual empowerment a la Lizzo. There’s a pandemic going on, and unless you’re married or living with a partner, the body you’re getting closest to is most likely your own.
“Shots Fired” is unforgettable with a minimalist, old school inspired beat sampling “Shots Fired” by Notorious BIG. She savagely rips apart those from her team that betrayed her and the man in the industry that attacked her and tried to discredit her truth "You shot a 5'10" bitch, with a .22/Talkin' 'bout bones and tendons like them bullets weren't pellets.” It’s a narrative that we’re missed in a lot of ad-libs based rap from the last few years, and Megan does more than borrow this B.I.G beat - she makes it her own.
“Circles” speeds things up with a New Orleans bounce backbeat and flow that channels a female Drake as she airs all of her grievances. Again, she explores fake friends and disloyalty, something that a lot of people can relate to: “Bullet wounds, backstabs, mama died, still sad at war with myself, in my head, bitch, it's Baghdad (Yeah)/New nigga tryna come around and play clean (Hmm)/And my clothes fit tight, but my heart need a seamstress.”
“Cry Baby” turns a baby cry into an addictive sample that’s catchy as hell - it’s a bummer clubs re closed, because this track would be everywhere. As Da Baby lists off the names of his conquests, we get reminded of the bassy beat behind this duo’s last famous feature, “Cash Sh*t.” it’s clear that these two have chemistry and we’re on the edge of our seat waiting for a full collab. Some female rappers get overshadowed by their male features, but it seems like the competition just fuels Megan to be her baddest - especially when she’s trying to prove a point to Tory Lanez. As she chronicles her spicy bedroom romps, she reminds her lover (and female listeners) to speak their mind and prioritize their pleasure: “Don’t fuck me like that, fuck me like this!”
She swaps gender roles and champions equality in “Movie” featuring Lil Durk, where she reminds us “I'm a boss, I could buy the same thing my man bought.”
Then Meg switches things up with a melodic SZA chorus that croon us a romantic 90s melody while Megan gets naughty with jaw-droppers like “Freaky bitch, I do this, suck it like I'm toothless” as she retorts to the haters that say she’s “too tall” for a man: “Long legs, he intimidated, Amazon, I'm elevated/Lil' people make lil' people/stallions breed prize babies.”
Our favorite tracks are all hidden gems - they’re not the catchy singles off “Good News” that are sugary pop or radio friendly. They’re the ones that scream classic Meg: racy, ruthless and unapologetically loving herself, but most importantly: encouraging her fellow women to do the same.
Stream and Share “Good News” on Spotify
Toronto Rap Artist Chris Cachia Releases His New Album "My Re:Collection"
Check out the DOPE new 13-track album “My Re:Collection”, by Toronto based emcee @ChrisCachiaAKA, produced exclusively by Charlie McEvoy.
Good art usually comes from difficult places. A Canadian emcee, Chris Cachia, has used his personal struggles to create his latest project, “My Re:Collection”. 13-tracks deep, the album collects previous EPs along with new material to create an emotional kaleidoscope full of hard-hitting and introspective rhymes that are sure to engage listeners who value classic-sounding beats and pure lyricism.
Charlie McEvoy, who has been friends with Cachia since childhood, produced the album. Cachia tells of how they first recorded music at eight-years old in Cachia’s basement on his father’s tape deck. Decades later, they’re still making music and honing their crafts.
McEvoy’s impressive musicianship is obvious, and his often-understated beats are the canvas on which Cachia uses wordplay as paint to create varied images of adventure, battle, and contemplation. The track list is well-planned, as in the sequence of songs titled “My Addiction,” “My Diagnosis,” and “My Resolve.” On “My Addiction”, Cachia gets philosophical: “Most would rather deny truth than like me/Pen on point and I swing my sword mightily/Might break givin’ sight to unsightly/Night break a new dawn I shine brightly/Strike thee down as God curse my verses/One life lived boundless like universes/Life revived and seen through two eyes/Night consumes one try or one lie.”
Cachia is open about how the project was first conceived after managing a particularly challenging period of obsessive-compulsive disorder. As the hook on “My Diagnosis” explains: “Ultimately on three, what I’m dreamin’ of/This is my plea I be, never me enough/Wait and see the key, we the meanin’ of/O-C-D, I never think it’s clean enough.”
And the opening of “My Resolve” attests to ongoing survival: “I beg your pardon, you mean he’s alive/Once seen in a grave, before that in a dive/Get away, I’m wanted dead no breaks/My style Notorious, why my wife keeps Faith.”
An engaging live performer who has charted on Canadian college radio and uses his love for Hip Hop in his work as an educator, Cachia's latest project figures the past as present and history as a living force that can be harnessed to reimagine and rebuild one’s self and surroundings.
Listen to “My Re:Collection” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Chris Cachia on his website and social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with this talented emcee coming soon!
Stream and Share "My Re:Collection" on: Apple Music | Bandcamp
Interview: NYC/Paris Based Artist Théo GOUDE Discusses His New Single/Video "Angelic"
Major thanks to NYC/Paris based artist @ThoGoude who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his self-directed music video “Angelic”, his upcoming project "Fishes in the Tank", and much more.
“Perspective just opens one up to new experiences and feelings. It’s a never-ending waterfall filled with content. I think the more you’re willing to try to understand the other side of a story (not necessarily agree), the better it is not only creatively but humanly, for everyone.”
We're totally blown away by your new single/video "Angelic". Tell us about what initially inspired you to write the song and how you connected with Pacific and Yann N?
Firstly thank you, that means a lot! I wrote "Angelic" for the first time with one of my past relationships in mind. I actually "used to be so jealous" which created and enhanced a lot of personal insecurities inside of me. Instead of talking about these insecurities, I would keep them in and either act foolishly or say some stupid sh*t.
I found Pacific's beat on YouTube and immediately knew that this was the song I had to write; I have had my fair share of romantic drama in the past couple years, and these untold insecurities have played a huge role in this drama. So I had this melody that kept coming back to mind and I wrote a first draft of the song, but wasn't too happy with it; it kinda fell flat lyrically.
Yann N is a friend I met in high school and we both took on the same musical paths for some reason. When visiting one of my other close collaborators, Lil Didi, in Montreal, I touched base with Yann and knew I wanted to make a song with him. This was after having listened to his first single "I was 11"; I quickly figured out that Yann had a way of finding pockets for melodies, some I could never find myself. So after I had a couple drinks and Lil Didi had passed out on his bed, I asked Yann if he would like to write a second verse for this song I really wanted to make but wasn't satisfied with.
I waited a little and he suddenly came up with harmonies for the chorus which immediately confirmed that he was the perfect feature for the song. I bought the lease to Pacific’s beat and we recorded in a beautiful studio in Montreal, “Planet Studios” (which I payed for myself with all of my Christmas money lol). The perspective of two people with big egos and huge insecurities was, I would say, the reason why "Angelic" works so well in my opinion.
"Angelic" will be featured on your upcoming project "Fishes in the Tank"; what can you tell us about it and do you have an ideal release date in mind?
“Fishes in a Tank” is an album that will have much of the same nostalgic feel as “Angelic” in ways but it will be a 360 experience in terms of musicality. The album is solely based on collaboration with people I’ve met all over the world.
So far, I’ve released featurings with Yann N (Lille and Montreal), A.C.F (New York City), and Laetitia Hugues (Paris) for this album and on the 8th of December, you’ll get to meet thirteen more of these featuring! It’s one of the projects I’m most proud of to this day. It feels complete, it encapsulates all kinds of energies and even has a couple songs in French.
You live in both Paris and NYC; how would you say that these locales influence your creativity as a songwriter?
I’ve had my double nationality (French and American) since birth and was raised in a household exactly like that of my nationalities. I’ve taken in as much French culture my whole life than American (also Korean though my Mom is second generation), and I would say these acted as my superpowers.
Coming and living from/in such rich cultural places has given me perspective. This has helped me think more critically of the world that surrounds me and thus has definitely translated into my songwriting. Perspective just opens one up to new experiences and feelings. It’s a never-ending waterfall filled with content. I think the more you’re willing to try to understand the other side of a story (not necessarily agree), the better it is not only creatively but humanly, for everyone.
2020 is almost over; what are you most proud of when it comes to your musical output this year?
I’m really proud of this next album I gotta say. That is certainly what I’m most proud of. I’ve been working non-stop, you could ask anyone close to me. I’m just really proud of everything I’ve accomplished on this album. Seeing “Fishes in a Tank” come to life will definitely be my pride for 2020. It’s gotten me to do this interview for one haha.
Following up on the last question, what are some of your goals musically for 2021?
For 2021, my only goal is to work as hard, if not harder than 2020. I want to start working on my official debut album, I can’t wait.
I don’t know if my goal would be to finish it, but definitely musically my goal will be to grow my fan base and put everything into my album.
You did an incredible job directing "Angelic"; what was it your first direction and do you look forward to doing it again for yourself and/or other artists?
Thank you! That also means so much! “Angelic” wasn’t my first directory endeavor as I’ve directed every one of my videos from the day I started making music (apart from Lividus and Love is at your Fingertips, directed by the great Apolline Pilley and Johann Akogo).
I’ve co-directed a couple other videos like “Falling 404” with Noah Kim, and other older ones with D2V. I hope I’m not forgetting anything or anyone… I’ve released a lot so I can’t always remember well haha. Anyways, yeah actually almost every song on this next project I want to make a music video for. I hope I get to make them, it’s all a matter of timing, budget (even though I’m mostly low-budget) and COVID.
I would love to work with other artists on these; it’s really only about finding the right fit for the right video. My passion for music videos and film in general is huge, so that means as much to me as making music itself. It’s almost as if I make music for the videos. I can’t wait to get back at it!!!