Review: "Funhouse Mirror" Album by Vinyl Floor
“Funhouse Mirror” shows off the good taste of Vinyl Floor for they deliver an album that has a true sense of timelessness to it. Read our in-depth review of the band’s new project now!
Danish rock band Vinyl Floor craft sophisticated, triumphant chamber pop on the downright lovely album “Funhouse Mirror”. The melodies here have a thoughtfulness to them. Lyricism seems drawn from a life lived to the fullest. Rhythms keep a steady pace always with a laid-back attitude to them. Pop reigns supreme on the album, whether it is indie pop, art pop, and other elements brought into the fray.
Instrumentally vibrant, Vinyl Floor’s interplay feels soul-affirming. So much love gets poured into each moment that is easy to get swept up into their hopefulness. For, right at the very core of thing, is a sense of hope that guides the entirety of the journey along.
There are a lot of reference points in this one. For the sheer level of fidelity that the production presents I am reminded strongly of Grizzly Bear’s early output. You can virtually hear ever single creak in the studio from them for it is that clear. The elegant verses recall some of Jon Brion’s pop work, with the urbane sensibility very much there.
Beach Boys also present a bit of Vinyl Floor’s influence, as the choruses and the emotionally complex arrangements feel just pitch perfect. All of these though are mere touchstones, as what they create from these points is something quite uniquely their own.
The quite literal fanfare of “Anything You Want” opens things up in a majestic sweeping fashion. With a hint of playfulness to it, “Click with No Hands” spins about in a theatrical way. Contemplation reigns supreme on “Between Lines Undone”. Elements of jazz pop on through “Dear Apollon” which has an old-school Ben Folds Five aspect to it.
Aptly named “Ever, The Optimist” rolls on through with gleeful abandon, all the way down to that perfect percussion. Vocals soar up to the sky on the epic “Pretty Predictable”. Easily the highlight comes through on the title track “Funhouse Mirror”. Little snippets of nostalgia poke through. Quite an expansive work they end the album off with the ambitious “Days”.
“Funhouse Mirror” shows off the good taste of Vinyl Floor for they deliver an album that has a true sense of timelessness to it.
Stream and Share “Funhouse Mirror” on Spotify
Interview: Danish Rock Band Vinyl Floor Discuss Their New Album "Funhouse Mirror"
Thomas Charlie Pedersen & Daniel Pedersen of the Danish rock band @VinylFloorband connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss their newly released album “Funhouse Mirror”, and much more.
“During the demo process I brought in the song ‘Funhouse Mirror’ and it kind of seemed to wrap up the entire feel of the album in just three verses. We´ve always tried to come up with album titles which weren´t the title of one of the tracks but this time it seemed to fit.”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new album "Funhouse Mirror"; tell us about your creative process for the development of its ten songs, and how long it took to complete the project.
Thomas Charlie Pedersen: Thank you! I think we started out demoing songs for ‘Funhouse Mirror’ during 2019. When we did the demos for our ‘Apogee’ album way back in 2015/2016 we quickly discovered that we had one batch of rock songs and a different batch of songs & ideas for a somewhat more mellow and melodic album but also material which was a bit more dramatic in texture and which perhaps demanded bigger arrangements.
Thus, we decided to do the first batch for ‘Apogee’ and save the rest for later. I seem to recall songs like ‘Between Lines Undone’, ‘Dear Apollon’ & ‘Death of a Poet’ were already in the 2015 batch. At least as instrumentals. The work on ‘Funhouse Mirror’ intensified and really took off during lockdown in 2020. We don´t do a lot of talking, we kind of instinctively know what to do.
I wrote a lot during that time, mainly as a way for me to stay sane and focused. We also did some writing together and demoed the songs in different versions.
Songs like ‘Death of a Poet’ and especially ‘Pretty Predictable’ have been through many stages and different versions. So, yeah, it actually started out as a left-over project and we always spend a lot of time on the demos.
The album preparations took years but once we hit the studio we knew exactly what we wanted to do and it was recorded fairly quick.
What inspired the title of the album, "Funhouse Mirror", and would you say that there is an overarching concept or theme throughout the songs?
During the demo process I brought in the song ‘Funhouse Mirror’ and it kind of seemed to wrap up the entire feel of the album in just three verses. We´ve always tried to come up with album titles which weren´t the title of one of the tracks but this time it seemed to fit.
The album had quite a few working titles until Daniel got the idea of making a funhouse mirror the theme for the artwork. During lockdown it felt as if we were living in some kind of parallel world and everything just felt so uncertain. I wouldn´t say we decidedly aimed for an album concept since we did talk about our desires to avoid just that, but again, it seemed to fit. Daniel suggested that we put ourselves on the front cover for once and that we presented some sort of distorted image of ourselves.
The album deals a lot with communication and some of the lyrics deal with how easy it has become to be misunderstood on social media platforms. Humans are generally quick to judge one another and you will set foot on not very solid ground if you don´t tread carefully. I would say there´s a certain theme running through the album – especially during the second half.
At what point when you both were younger did you first discover your love of music and that you were talented enough to make it your career?
Being brothers and being raised in a musical family with instruments laying around everywhere it was something that perhaps was just supposed to happen. I think I started drumming at the age of five and Daniel likewise so.
When I was three and before Daniel was even born, our father took me to a show in Copenhagen to see the Swedish singer Björn Afzelius. That was my first concert and something I still remember vividly. I discovered I wanted to play myself. I spent years just noodling around with instruments, curious, self-taught. It wasn´t until I became a teenager that I found out that songwriting could be the thing for me, the one thing I should try and figure out.
Already in high school I played with people who were much better musicians than me, so I decided that writing songs might make a difference. I´m sure Daniel has felt much the same way. And we still love doing it. Though the band is still pretty much underground, I might add. And by the way, I fricking still love Björn Afzelius.
What does the band name, Vinyl Floor, represent and how did it originate?
It doesn´t really mean anything and some days I think it´s a silly name haha but you’ve got to call it something, right? It probably does represent our love for vinyl records though and if I remember correctly I came up with the name when I visited Daniel one day and he was sorting some records lying on the floor. He lives in an apartment on the first floor so we both thought, well that´s it. We do opt for a vintage sound when we write and record so maybe we could have done worse with it.
With the album now released, what can we expect next musically from Vinyl Floor? Also, with the world opening back up now, are you planning to tour a lot in 2023?
Because we take our time with the preparations for a record we´re always ahead songwriting-wise which means that we already have new songs in the can as we speak. We´re in the very early stages of discovering what exactly we´ve got so I don´t know which direction we will go from here.
The variety of ‘Funhouse Mirror’ can take us down many paths, I believe. I could envision us doing a more low-key, folky record. Or maybe a weird record in which we do some more experimenting. I´d love for that to happen. Either way, I do think we have some wonderful stuff waiting around. And we might go out and perform acoustically as a duo. We´ve talked about that so we´ll see. Come 2023 I´m sure we also will be recording new demos once again.
DJ/Producer Maggie Tra Delivers Her Introspective New Album "Kingdom of Her"
Australian born Khmer/Vietnamese producer @MaggieTra delivers a project filled with substance, graft and timeless Cambodian cultural influences with her debut introspective album ‘Kingdom of Her’ (K.O.H).
Maggie Tra continues to demonstrate why she’s one of the most highly regarded artists today, and it seems that her versatility and creativity knows no bounds. Australian born Khmer/Vietnamese producer Maggie Tra delivers a project filled with substance, graft and timeless Cambodian cultural influences with her debut introspective album ‘Kingdom of Her’ (K.O.H).
Walking through the album, the contrast in sounds, styles and vision is vast and refreshing. From Electronic, Disco, Techno to Experimental to Meditative Ambient, Maggie pours her heart and soul into K.O.H that brings forth suffering, growth and falling into acceptance, softness and eventually being grounded.
Going back to her roots and her foundational sounds, the 10-track album is a homage to her Cambodian upbringing. With her dark Asian skin and strength from growing up with a single mother, the album is a homage to her mum and The Kingdom of Cambodia which is what inspired the album name.
K.O.H has field recordings from hospital visits with her mum and Khmer interpreter in ‘Tra Family,’ a dark eerie ambient track that follows her mother’s heartbeat as Maggie founds out that her mum’s heart is failing her. To ‘Strong Srey’ where the Khmer vocals prayers repeat ‘the right path’ underneath a Techno beat that represents Maggie’s struggle with anxiety and people pleasing, alongside her current need to be better and strong but also soft to survive in the world. The lead single ‘Kingdom of Her’ is a dance-disco beat that channels the fun and ever-loving character that Maggie omits into the world. A song that represents that the foundation she builds are fun, loving and playful.
“This album is me in its purest forms, from working on it during a heart-break, to then my mum suffering from a heart-attack, those elements pushed me to follow my own true path, my own heart as it will. And to no longer suffer at the hands of others, my ancestors and parent’s trauma that they passed down to me”.
“I want this album to represent a lot of first generation kids who grow up wanting to change and break the cycle that our Asian parents bestow upon us. We can learn so many patterns from our families, and this album is me breaking the cycle. It’s me liberating myself from my past”.
K.O.H is the beginning of a new phase in Maggie’s evolution as an artist. From humble beginnings Maggie continues to embrace her culture by representing her birth countries and ancestry bringing forth awareness to South East Asia and beyond.
Following what’s already been a successful run for the multi-talented artist, Maggie’s infamous debut EP ‘U.L.A’ brought the emerging producer to the forefront where she was featured on DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Bandcamp, Mixmag Asia, NTS and Worldwide FM. She’s released singles with labels FuFu Records, Shika Shika Collective & Juba’s Assurance Compilation.
With music as her home, Maggie is also the founder of music label & collective SYS Sister Sounds which aims to release music from Asian female and non-binary music producers. Her persistence to fight for equality and to provide a platform for emerging Asian artists’ stand with the time is unsurpassed.
A weaver of musical fibres, her creations entwine melody, genres and tempos to create her own tapestries.
Vibe out to Maggie’s new album “Kingdom of Her” right now and connect with her on social media.
Connect with Maggie Tra: Twitter | Soundcloud | Facebook
Interview: Los Angeles Based Artist Adonis Faison Talks About His New Project "The Red Eye"
Big shout out to Los Angeles based artist Adonis Faison who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his newly released project “The Red Eye”, and much more.
“Maryland will forever be my home but LA is the land of opportunity and you know opportunities won’t just fall in your lap, so I just took that leap of faith.”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new project "The Red Eye"; tell us about your creative process for its seven songs, and who produced it.
The creative process behind the project was a long stressful one; it actually took me a year to put this project together. I was dealing with a horrible writers block and relationship issues, so there wasn't any kind of inspiration. So I went to LA to visit to take a mental break and clear my head and when I came back home the creativeness was just pouring.
Shoutout to Benji Yang, Flavrboy, and Nathan Spieser for producing the project. Their beats really helped the process as well; they had that perfect sound that I was looking for.
Can you tell us what "The Red Eye", the project's title, represents, and would you say that it has an overall theme or concept?
I could say that the theme is very versatile, like if you in ya feelings on a late night drive, TheRedEye got you. You just wanna chill and relax with a good vibe, TheRedEye got u. You feeling yourself very confident, TheRedEye got you. So TheRedEye is basically a mood, a vibe.
Also, I wrote a majority of the songs on Red Eye flights, so it all just came together lol.
What prompted your move from Maryland to Los Angeles, and how has it impacted you as a music creator in regards to songwriting?
Ahh man Maryland will forever be my home but LA is the land of opportunity and you know opportunities won't just fall in your lap, so I just took that leap of faith.
As far as songwriting goes, it's so much inspiration here that my day to day life at this point I can make song from. I'm used to just hearing a beat and would just freestyle the song and up until now ot worked, but I feel like writing has taken me to a whole different level.
Do you plan to shoot a music video for "Medusa", or any of the other six songs on "The Red Eye"?
As we speak, I actually am in the process of shooting a video for “Medusa” which should be dropping in Oct. The songs “Mike Lowry”, “For Me”, and “Yea Yea” will also have videos coming soon so be on the lookout.
With "The Red Eye" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2022?
Some of my goals would be booking performances and growing my fan base.
And networking with other upcoming artist and potentially rubbing shoulders with some major ones.
Stream and Share “The Red Eye” on Spotify
Connect with Adonis Faison: Instagram
Danish Rock Band Vinyl Floor Unveils Their Fifth Album "Funhouse Mirror"
With the “Funhouse Mirror” album, @vinylfloorband has opted for a warm, vintage sound with a clear and nuanced modern production of songs with a strong emphasis on melody and lyrics. Listen to this great new release now.
‘Funhouse Mirror’, the fifth full length album release by Danish rock band Vinyl Floor (formed in 2007), sees the band returning to the experimental and symphonic expression as found on the earlier albums ‘Peninsula’ (2012) and ‘Vaudeville’ (2014). The band, together with the Swedish producer Emil Isaksson, recorded the basic tracks live at Studio Möllan in Malmö, Sweden during the summer of 2021 and did all the overdubbing and vocals at their own studio in Copenhagen, Denmark. The album was mixed at Studio Möllan during the final months of 2021 and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, Nashville, USA in early 2022.
With this album, Vinyl Floor has opted for a warm, vintage sound with a clear and nuanced modern production of songs with a strong emphasis on melody and lyrics. The 10 songs featured here were all written by Daniel Pedersen & Thomas Charlie Pedersen and the two brothers share the lead vocal duties equally.
The band handled most instruments themselves but invited three additional musicians to play on several tracks - adding different flavors and colors to the songs. The Swedish multi-instrumentalist Bebe Risenfors contributed a selection of horns, percussion and organ to most of the album. Bebe Risenfors has previously played with Tom Waits and his work is featured on the Tom Waits albums ‘Alice’, ‘Blood Money’ and ‘Orphans’. Bebe Risenfors has also worked with Elvis Costello.
Bob Dylan’s former bandleader and bass player, the New York native Rob Stoner, is featured here playing bass on 3 songs. Rob Stoner has played with diverse acts such as Joni Mitchell, Chuck Berry, Don McLean, Link Wray, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen and many more. Finally, the Danish violin player Christian Ellegaard, who is a member of the national Danish symphony orchestra, recorded strings for 2 songs.
Lyrically, the songs touch on different themes and aspects surrounding the state of the world today and most lyrics were written during lockdown.
Stream "The Red Eye", the Newly Released Project by Adonis Faison
Los Angeles based artist/producer Adonis Faison just unveiled his 7-track project entitled “The Red Eye”; check out this DOPE release right now.
Los Angeles based Adonis Faison is a fused rapper/singer, songwriter, and producer originally from Calvert County, Maryland who brings so much versatility to the table with catchy melodies that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head, along with his mixed upbeat/metaphorical rap style. His music is influenced by Kazi, Tobi Lou, Blxst, and Bryson Tiller just to name a few.
Adonis recently unveiled his project “The Red Eye”, which was a long difficult road from writing his songs on planes going back in forth from LA to MD, as well as recording sessions till 3 or 4 am. Along with dealing with personal issues, you could tell it was a rough one. Withstanding all those distractions and obstructions, the 7-track “The Red Eye” was completed, and is backed by the single “Medusa”.
Singer-Songwriter Jessie Reyez Drops Her Brand New Album "YESSIE"
Multi-Platinum, multiple award-winning, celebrated truth speaking, multi-hyphenate - recording artist, songwriter, and electric live performer @JessieReyez is back with her sophomore album “YESSIE”.
Multi-Platinum, multiple award-winning, celebrated truth speaking, multi-hyphenate - recording artist, songwriter, and electric live performer Jessie Reyez is back with her sophomore album YESSIE via FMLY / Island Records. Across 11 tracks, Jessie chronicles the journey and range of emotions from love and loss to healing, closure and happiness. The title – her own familial nickname – gives fans a glimpse of the intimacy on this project. Unofficially christened that name at a very young age, the album balances a world of weariness with the clear-eyed truth telling that many abandon after childhood.
YESSIE only boasts one feature from 6LACK, allowing Reyez to remain the standout on this album. This duo is no stranger to collaborations having put out “Imported” from her 2020 debut Before Love Came To Kill Us leading to a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Jessie performed the album's first single “Mutual Friend” and announced it earlier this summer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Today she shares a VEVO Sessions performance for the album’s focus track “ONLY ONE” - watch here. Jessie also announced a 2022 world tour that starts October 13 and spans across US, UK, and EU with 8 cities already sold out. Dates and information here.
Jessie’s debut Before Love Came To Kill Us charted Top 5 on Billboard’s R&B Album Chart and amassed over 1.2B global streams. She received high praise from The NY Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Variety, and more, and performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Earlier this year she performed at Coachella and opened on Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever world tour.
Born in Toronto, Canada to Colombian immigrants, Jessie was raised between worlds. Linguistically and culturally fluid, Jessie has always had music as a universal grounding point. Taught guitar by her father at a young age - Jessie would explore various means of expression from instruments to voice to dance. In a banner career thus far, Jessie released two critically acclaimed EPs, Kiddo & Being Human In Public, has been nominated for a Grammy award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for her sophomore EP, won 4 Juno Awards for R&B/Soul Recording of The Year, Best Video, and Best New Artist, earned the title of Top Female Debut Album and Top R&B Album of 2020 for her debut album, and made a cameo in Beyonce’s Black is King visual album.
Listen to Jessie’s new album “YESSIE” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with her on social media.
NYC's Iceblynk Announce Self-Titled Debut EP and Share Lead Single "Tragic"
Queens, NY-based trio, Iceblynk, announce their debut, self-titled EP will be released on October 21, 2022 via A Secret Brand. To celebrate the announcement, the band has shared their lead single “Tragic.”
Queens, NY-based trio, Iceblynk, announce their debut, self-titled EP will be released on October 21, 2022 via A Secret Brand. To celebrate the announcement, the band has shared their lead single “Tragic.” “Tragic” is a nostalgic indie-pop tune that expertly showcases singer Andrea Lynn’s cheery vocals as well as the instrumental prowess of Martin and James Newman.
“The EP is titled ‘Iceblynk,’” shares co-founder Martin Newman. “It’s our introduction to the world and represents who we are in the present and hints to where we’re headed in the future and what to expect from our full-length next year. It’s also an introduction to the name change.”
“We chose to release ‘Tragic’ as the introduction to our EP as its driving force and evolving richness of tightly interwoven guitars lock in the listener from the start,” adds vocalist Andrea Lynn. “While the vocal melody has a light and bright feel, the lyrics hint at a growing sense of despair/dissolution, creating a playful dissonance.”
“Production-wise, ‘Tragic’ began as a clean, jangly-pop song with a slightly quirky chord progression,” Newman continues. “But as the recording process went on and our pandemic spending increased, we added Gamechanger’s Bigsby pedal and Mastro Valvola’s Lysergic Energy Module to the mix, and the guitars warped into something more along the lines of My Bloody Valentine crossed with Emma from Lush, which gave the song more of its edge and dreamy textures. By chance theremin extraordinaire Pamelia Stickney happened to be in town while we were recording, so to break up the onslaught of guitars, we had her lay down a solo during the bridge.”
Goldpark Announce New EP Out October 21st and Release New Single “Summer In My Head”
Indie-rock trio Goldpark are announcing their sophomore EP, “Goldpark Two”, out October 21st on Hazel Street Records. Alongside the announcement, Goldpark are also presenting the final pre-release single, “Summer In My Head.”
Indie-rock trio Goldpark — the project of Nashville-based musicians Wes Hunter (vocals), Andrew Smith (guitar) and Kyle Neblett (drums) — are announcing their sophomore EP, “Goldpark Two”, out October 21st on Hazel Street Records. Alongside the announcement, Goldpark are also presenting the final pre-release single, “Summer In My Head,” a glistening, feel-good track about being young and reflecting on all the moments that have made up your life so far.
Goldpark Two is the much-anticipated follow up to the band’s debut EP, “Goldpark One”, which was released in 2021 on Hazel Street Records. For Goldpark Two, the band honed in on their energetic rock sensibilities with the help of producer Jeremy Lutito (Ingrid Michaelson, Colony House, Joy Oladokun). The result is a project that feels confident, inspired and panoramic. After over a year of consistent touring, it’s clear that the trio have found their identity as a band.
In a statement about the EP, Goldpark write: “This EP is special for so many reasons. We had the right songs, the right producer (Jeremy Lutito), and the right spirit. This body of work is the best representation of who we are and where we are going. We hope this EP makes people smile.”
Listen to “Summer In My Head” now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Goldpark on their social media. Most importantly, be ready for “Goldpark Two” to be released on October 21st.
Ghanaian-Canadian RnB Artist Kofi Releases His "On Me" Remix EP
Rising R&B artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist @jmgkofi has released a remix EP for his song, "On Me." The Ghanaian-Canadian talent aligned with some of his favorite Afrocentric producers for a collection of tracks reimagining the buzzy single from his latest album, “Why Not”.
Rising R&B artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kofi has released a remix EP for his song, "On Me." The Ghanaian-Canadian talent aligned with some of his favorite Afrocentric producers for a collection of tracks reimagining the buzzy single from his latest album, Why Not, which dropped May 21, 2022 via Red Bull Records.
The EP features four new remixes of the Afrobeats-inspired original, including a track with Afrojack protégé DISTO, a two-step into retrofuturism with SORENA, and an AmaPiano mix with multi-platinum South African producer Yumbs. For the fourth remix, Kofi tapped Nigerian super-producer KDDO, who helped usher in the international breakthrough of Afrobeats with Davido's hit single "Fall." The jazzy mix also features a fiery verse from Nigerian rapper/singer Peruzzi.
In early September, Kofi will head to Africa to perform the KDDO and Peruzzi remix live in Lagos at the Red Bull Dance Your Style Nigeria National Finals. Following the release of the remixes, Kofi will start rolling out new music from his forthcoming EP, fans can keep their ears out for a single in late September.
Listen to the EP now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Kofi on his social media.
LA-Based Songwriter Cimo Fränkel Releases the Deluxe Edition of His Debut Self-Titled Album
LA-based platinum-certified songwriter Cimo Fränkel has released the deluxe edition of his debut self-titled album, “Cimo Fränkel”. The album includes his emotive live cover of Cam’s hit single ‘Burning House’.
LA-based platinum-certified songwriter Cimo Fränkel has released the deluxe edition of his debut self-titled album, Cimo Fränkel, via Cimo Fränkel / AWAL. The album includes his emotive live cover of Cam’s hit single ‘Burning House’. Cimo Fränkel finds himself among the stars, having collaborated and toured with Armin van Buuren on their song ‘Strong Ones’, reaching #37 on Billboard Charts. He has also helped create several global hits, including the Multi-Platinum single ‘Sex’ by Cheat Codes & Kris Kross Amsterdam, which has been streamed globally over 1 Billion times.
Cimo has received support from well-known industry publications Notion Magazine, iHeart, Medium.com/ Authority Magazine, EDM.com, CLASH Magazine, Your EDM, and Dancing Astronaut to name a few, and has been aired by none other than BBC Radio London’s Judi Love, contributing to his stream count of just over 2 billion worldwide. The songwriter has won a Buma National Award for the Double Platinum release ‘Mooie Dag’ (‘Beautiful Day’) with Jayh Jawson. Additionally, Cimo Fränkel co-wrote Hardwell’s track ‘How You Love Me’ featuring Snoop Dogg and Conor Maynard. Other favourites include Yellow Claw’s ‘Shotgun’, R3HAB & A Touch of Class’s song ‘All Around The World (LaLaLa)’.
Cimo Fränkel was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He grew up around his father who was a funk musician who would invite Cimo to join him in the studio and enlightened him on the DIY ethos of funk culture. At the age of fifteen, Cimo would explore music production and collaborate with other young and passionate Dutch musicians. The musician has cited the works of Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis as highly inspirational to the artist he is today. This latest collaboration draws strong comparisons with The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean and Tate McRae.
Swooning with soul, the deluxe edition of Cimo’ Fränkel’s self-titled debut album brings listeners several previously unheard remixes, acoustic versions, and more. While the original project brims with alt-pop goodness, the new edition exposes Cimo’s vulnerable side. Up close and personal, we are invited to his world and introduced to a blend of confessional lyricism and intimate instrumentation.
Cimo Fränkel shares how the album came together: “This album is special to me because it wasn’t written and produced in one place. I traveled the world during that time which makes it feel like an adventure. I had to open the album with a song I wrote and recorded with my father because he is one of the main reasons I am in music in the first place.”
Listen to the deluxe edition of “Cimo Fränkel” now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Cimo on his website and social media.
Review: "Chapel Ceilings" EP by Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the God
“Chapel Ceilings” shows a wide range of Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god’s ability to tie together a whole plethora of emotions, from outright fire to quiet contemplative moments. Check out our in-depth review of this DOPE EP now.
Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god spit incredibly wild bars on the DOPE collaborative project “Chapel Ceilings”. Already sounding downright classic with the clever deep-cut sampling, the flows on here are fantastic. The lyricism has a tremendous wit behind it, one that informs the entirety of the journey.
Here, Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god forgo the contemporary trends to come up with something a lot more classic. Elegant, stately, the presence on here reveals a series of rappers that run through creating a completely engrossing universe one entirety of their own creation.
Their ability to blend the highbrow and lowbrow gives them a literary bent. Nods to great storytellers like Biggie Smalls certainly appear over the course of the journey. Everything about it feels fully lived in and raw. An intimacy is introduced over the entirety of the EP, one that seems almost uncomfortably close at times. Part of this is due to their delivery style – quiet, subdued, yet absolutely nimbly running through the verses.
For the rest of the sound, Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god incorporate a noir-jazz setting, that at times brings to mind the well-listened ears of MF Doom. Yet, for all of these reference points, theirs is a sound that does essentially feel so completely unique compared to a lot of hip-hop out there today.
“Super Lemon Row Boat” starts things up with an easy listening clip before the lyricism proves to be a compelling counterpoint. A confrontational spirit bursts onto the scene with “Been Nuts”, Yung Next and JubElectron, for he commands the mic. Much dreamier with its attitude, “See the Stars” embraces an ethereal quality with the song simply floating on into the infinite. Drums have a dusty flavor on the nimbleness of “Sam Porter Bridges”, with Yung Next.
The highlight serves as the title track “Chapel Ceilings”, featuring Sayzee. Starkly real, the song’s darkness and meditative quality feels harrowing. Like a track melting away “Double Barrel” seems to be transmitted from a whole other world. On “The Golden Ratio”, with DJ K-Flip, they end things on a triumphant note.
“Chapel Ceilings” shows a wide range of Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god’s ability to tie together a whole plethora of emotions, from outright fire to quiet contemplative moments.
Stream and Share “Chapel Ceilings”
Tracklib Increases Producer’s Access to Real, Original Music, Delivering 5X the Value of its Current Subscriptions
With 5 times more downloads, Tracklib’s subscription plans now grant producers access to more tracks, as compared to Tracklib’s previous subscription tiers.
With 5 times more downloads, Tracklib’s subscription plans now grant producers access to more tracks, as compared to Tracklib’s previous subscription tiers.
Tracklib is the only online service available for artists and producers to automatically sample and legally clear real, original music that is accessible to every music creator. Tracklib levels the playing field with affordable options, so anyone can mix like the top producers, and have tools to help them do so.
Tracklib has now improved its subscription model, adding additional track allowances to each tier, without increasing the cost of any level. Plans still begin at $5.99 per month, but now at the the most affordable Essential tier, producers receive 25 track downloads instead of the previous 5 tracks. Their other subscription tiers reflect similar changes, offering more tracks to enable creativity and inspiration in producers worldwide.
Subscribers have access to an impressive catalog of 100,000+ previously released songs and multitracks from amazing labels, artists and publishers such as Bob James, Isaac Hayes, Bandai Namco, Karen Records, Luaka Bop, Sun Records, Acid Jazz, Habibi Funk / Jakarta Records, and Tru Thoughts, who join many more on tracklib.com. Artists including Kendrick Lamar, IDK, KAYTRANADA, Felix Jaehn and many others have released new music with samples from Tracklib, in recent months.
“To the benefit of all the producers and artists that use Tracklib, and all the labels and publishers that supply music to our catalog, we decided to look further into how the model could be improved,” says Pär Almqvist, Co-Founder & CCO at Tracklib. “With more tracks at their fingertips, producers can dive broader and deeper into music discovery.”
“Tracklib has become the go-to service for sampling producers and artists – both upcoming and established,” adds Almqvist. “This upgrade will only prompt more creativity and inspiration, and we’re excited to be a part of that.”
About Tracklib
Tracklib is the world’s first and only digital service for clearing samples, finally solving a huge problem in the music industry and leveling the playing field by making sample clearance accessible and affordable. Their catalog consists of over 100k all-original recordings from over 400 record labels and publishers around the world. The catalog includes everything from Bob James and Isaac Hayes to Mozart. Samples from Tracklib have been used in major songs from artists like J. Cole, Phantogram, Mary J. Blige, Lil’ Wayne, DJ Khaled and BROCKHAMPTON.
Tel Aviv Hip-Hop Artist Benjamin Elias Debuts His Concept Album "Prana"
Tel-Aviv based hip-hop artist, Benjamin Elias' goes beyond boundaries in his highly-anticipated concept album, “Prana” - out now.
Tel-Aviv based hip-hop artist, Benjamin Elias' goes beyond boundaries in his highly-anticipated concept album, “Prana” - out now.
Featuring artists, TraVoYn, Tony Millions, Guyku, and Soul Special (who is credited as a producer on all seven of the album's songs), Prana taps into the creative flow state as Benjamin wrote the album during a one week creative binge, telling the story of what it feels like to truly live in the now.
Deeply tied to his yoga practice, the album is supported with short, lyrical breakdown visuals (Genius style) alongside some videos explaining how falling in love with yoga inspired him to discover to explore new subject matter in his music and will include a Yoga teacher demonstrating and explaining some positions: exposing the listener to the yogic concept of "Prana".
Swoosh God Releases His New EP "Echo Son" and New Video “Do Ya Sh#t"
Valley Stream, NY based rap artist @SwooshGod returns with his new EP, “Echo Son”, and a new video for “Do Ya Sh#t.” Check out both now!
Swoosh God (AKA “Swoosh Jesus”) is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Valley Stream, NY. A cultural shapeshifter and iconic tastemaker, Swoosh originally made waves during the “Soundcloud Rap” era, and created a virtual cult following before he was discovered by Playboy Carti; who inked Swoosh God to his label imprint at Interscope Records.
After departing his deal with Carti, Swoosh got back on his independent grind and continued to release the music that displays why he was so heavily sought after and labeled a future star; including collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, Juicy J, Rich The Kid, Famous Dex, Matt Ox, placement on the NBA2K Soundtrack and an appearance (“Swoosh Me Up!”) on A$AP Rocky’s AWGE DVD release.
Now, with major ties to the A$AP Mob & AWGE, Swoosh God returns with his new EP, Echo Son, and a new video for “Do Ya Sh#t.” Check out both below and connect with Swoosh God on his social media.
Ezza of Choom Gang and Kadaj the god Drop Their Collaborative Album "Chapel Ceilings"
@ezza905 and Kadaj the god have created an epic reunion for the ages with “Chapel Ceilings”, an 11 track journey through the minds of two enlightened emcees with a synergetic chemistry that did not miss a step after nearly 10 years of separation. Check out this DOPE album now!
As classic east coast underground hip hop experiences a triumphant renaissance in this post-pandemic era of rap, emcees from Buffalo, NY have been major torch-bearers for the style’s new-age resurrection.
Now, out of the surrounding Niagara area come two rappers who originally linked up across borders in 2009 under the guidance of the late creative pioneer chuck Nyndees. Around the time of chuck’s passing, Kadaj the god (originally from St Catharine’s, ON) would relocate to North Carolina for a nearly decade-long hiatus while Ezza of Choom Gang held things down in their mutual birth town in Southern Ontario.
In 2022, the two have created an epic reunion for the ages with “Chapel Ceilings”, an 11 track journey through the minds of two enlightened emcees with a synergetic chemistry that did not miss a step after nearly 10 years of separation. The album, which is an absolute treat for any fan of the art form, was just released alongside their debut video “Sam Porter Bridges”.
Check out the visual below, as well as the “Chapel Ceilings” album, below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Ezza of Choom Gang on his social media. Also, be on the lookout for our in-depth review of “Chapel Ceilings” coming soon.
Stream and Share “Chapel Ceilings”
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