New Music
“Whale Song” Pays Tribute to the World’s Oceans With Stunning Experimental Electronica
Innovative sound design, a string orchestra and eclectic sampling come together in “Whale Song,” an ode to the ocean by Los Angeles-based producers Carina Nour and Gibs. The grippingly textured “Whale Song” channels the tides with an easy ebb and flow of minimalistic melodic house, classical and ambient inspirations. Scene-setting sonics are as grounding as they are disorienting: muted, thumping rhythms; bright, crackling samples; billowing bass tones. It’s as though you are actually underwater, guided through the depths by tropical drums, a rippling melody, and distorted audio samples. Clocking in at nearly seven minutes, “Whale Song” is brought to an almost overwhelming peak by an orchestral string section, before finally settling to a close...
Angel Olsen Tackles Death, Personal Rebirth on Big Time
Singer/songwriter Angel Olsen ruminates on such weighty topics as coming out as queer and the death of her parents on her new album, Big Time, which will be released June 3 by Jagjaguwar. The organ-flecked first single “All the Good Times” is out now and features Olsen and her partner in the Kimberly Stuckwisch-directed music video. [embedded content][embedded content] Olsen started recording Big Time within weeks of both of her parents passing away. She had also just come out to them, about which she admits, “some experiences just make you feel as though you’re five years old, no matter how wise or adult you think you are. Finally, at the ripe age of 34, I was free to be me.” The album was co-produced by Olsen with Jonathan Wilson at his Fivestar Studios in Topanga, Calif. Longtime bandma...
Chris Lake’s Black Book Records Releases Third Installment of ID Mixtape Series
Chris Lake‘s Black Book Records is once more opening up their treasure chest of IDs to give fans the latest club stunners from their roster. The “Black Book ID’s” mixtape series turned a year old last week—and what better way to celebrate than with the release of a new installment? Spanning five new tracks, Black Book ID’s: Chapter 3 is out now. The record includes mind-bending club heaters from Franklyn Watts, Ango Tamarin, Gettoblaster, DJ Funk, Pimpo Gama, and Lake himself. From Watts’ chunky basslines and analog rich sounds on “Bom Bom” to the frenetic modular basslines on “Play That Bass,” the mixtape features the most exploratory sounds that members of the forward-thinking label have to offer. That includes the head honcho h...
Martin Garrix and Zedd Bring Unrelenting Main Stage Energy In Long-Awaited Collaboration, “Follow”
One of the most coveted dance music collaborations of the last three years has finally been released. Zedd and Martin Garrix‘s “Follow” is a track that looks and feels like a callback to the early 2010’s dance music boom. The two superstar producers have shared a close friendship for nearly a decade, and given the perceived synergies of their styles, this is a collaboration that fans of both artists have been dreaming of for years. By 2019, the prospect of a Garrix and Zedd collaboration began to show real traction. Since that time, the two have been teasing evidence of their time in the studio while continuing to keep the track itself under wraps. With “Follow,” Zedd and Garrix live up to the sky-high expectations. While both have gone on to play an int...
MUST DIE! Returns to Never Say Die With High-Powered Single “ANGELWARE”
After nearly a year after releasing his sophomore album CRISIS VISION, MUST DIE! has returned to Never Say Die for his latest single “ANGELWARE.” “ANGELWARE” is the next step in the evolution of MUST DIE!’s project, taking his hard-hitting sound to new heights. The old-school rave synths that have become a staple of his sound lead the charge, followed by heavily distorted percussion, menacing bass, and a vocal that’ll have fans screaming right up until the drop. It’s yet another showing of the Seattle producer’s undeniable, otherworldly talent—and a bass anthem we’ll be hearing all festival season long. MUST DIE! has long been an unstoppable force in electronic music, releasing countless tunes that will remain staples in DJ sets around ...
Witness the Reincarnation of Kavinsky On His First Album In Nine Years, “Reborn”
On a cold rainy night, a well-dressed man sits behind a desk smoking a cigar. Illuminated by the neon skyline that surrounds his office, he wipes blood from his shirt and counts stacks of money. Suddenly, a thunderous roar and flash of lightning cut all power from the city and the office is plunged into darkness. The man looks to the elevator doors slowly opening across from him and notices a white haze leaking from the cabin. As the doors fully open and the smoke envelops the office, a faint figure can be seen. The man reaches for his gun but before he can open his drawer, he sees the piercing red eyes of Kavinsky shine through the smoke and realizes that his fate is sealed. After nine years, the iconic French producer has awakened from his eternal slumber. Wiping the dirt from his letter...
Listen: “UR Heart” Breaks Bag Raiders’ Three-Year Hiatus, Marks Launch of New Record Label
It’s been three years since the release of Bag Raiders‘ sophomore album, Horizons, and almost 14 since their would-be viral breakout hit, “Shooting Stars.” Today, the Aussie duo make their return with “UR Heart,” a rapturous exploration of melodic tech house. Celestial arpeggios and filtered vocal samples fill out the track’s hypnotic soundscapes, all underscored by luscious basslines and an undulating percussion break. “It just aims to get the legs moving and the blood pumping,” Bag Raiders said. Scroll to Continue Recommended Articles And there’s more on the way. “UR Heart” is only the first in a “long line” of releases in the pipeline, Bag Raiders has promised, all folded into the next club-oriente...
Karen Elson Enchants on New Country-Pop Song ‘Broken Shadow’
Karen Elson’s life story reads a bit like a backwards country song: World-famous supermodel becomes unknown singer-songwriter. But on “Broken Shadow,” Elson’s new single on her forthcoming third album Green, the road-less-glamourous oddly sounds like the more invigorating one. “When I was young, I let the darkness drag me down, but I’m not afraid these days,” she sings. Following her 2021 single “Lightning Strikes,” “Broken Shadow” is an inviting, country-pop song. But as the title suggests, that charming melody papers over deeper emotional territory. In the lyrics and delivery, Elson throws ambiguous winks at the themes undergirding the music’s vague sense of surrender. “[It’s] about recognizing that we’re all flawed, complicated, and a little bit fucked up,” Elson said in a statemen...
Kehlani Reveals Blue Water Road Release Date
After sharing a steady stream of tracks over the past six or so months, Kehlani has finally revealed the details of her new album. Titled Blue Water Road, the album will be released on April 29 on Atlantic Records. So far, the artist has shared “Altar” and “Little Story” from it. “blue water road is a destination in my mind,” Kehlani said in a statement. “I’m giving everyone access. It’s an emotional journey, a sexual journey, and a spiritual journey. To me, the album is like a glass house. It’s light, transparent, and the sun is shining right through it.” Kehlani’s previous album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, was released in May 2020. Later that year, we went deep with her in a cover story, which you can read here. The album and its singles landed on our best of 2020 lists. This will...
Honey Dijon May Have Catalyzed a “Beyoncé House Music Era”
“Yes, the music is coming!” promised Beyoncé in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar last year. Now, rumors are swirling that some of that music was produced by house music producer Honey Dijon. This is all according to a tweet from Gregory Ellwood, a music journalist known for being, well, in the know about all things Queen Bey. Two of the tracks off her upcoming album, B7, were purportedly produced by Dijon. While neither of the artists have publicly responded to these whispers, it’s no secret that these two icons are friends. Last year, for example, Dijon sent Beyoncé “kisses from Berlin” in a “Happy Birthday Beyoncé!” video produced by Apple Music. “No idea about the actual sound…but holding out ...
MOSKA Taps Markem and LA GURÚ to Deliver a Touching Tribute to Their Roots: Listen
After a prolonged period when millions around the world have experienced separation from family and friends due to the onset of the global pandemic, the pull back home is stronger than ever before. And for every culture, there is a specific sound that can transport people back to their roots. For Latin American producers MOSKA and Markem, and singer-songwriter LA GURÚ, it is this sentiment that forms the central message of their latest single, “Mi Tierra.” Drawing inspiration from the Colombian and Venezuelan culture, the trio crafted a loving tribute to their homeland. Coalescing ancient compositions and ancestral instruments with modern electronica, “Mi Tierra” is an anthemic tune for the next generation. According to Markem, the idea was to “...
Beabadoobee Announces New Album Beatopia
Singer-songwriter beabadoobee announced her upcoming sophomore album Beatopia which will be released on July 15 on Dirty Hit. Alongside the album announcement, Bea also released a brand-new single and video for “Talk.” [embedded content][embedded content] “I wrote ‘Talk” just after my first album. I was obsessed with Tuesday because I thought it was the best night to go out, not too much chaos but just enough to have a good time. Generally, it’s about doing things that aren’t necessarily healthy or great for you, but you can’t help indulging. It’s like that unavoidable feeling that you get. You can’t get rid of it, and you know it’s bad, but you love it really, and its whatever, so you do it anyways,” Bea said of her latest single. Prior to the album release, beabadoobee will be making her...
