Friday 2 November 2012

Mat the Alien




If Mat the Alien truly is an alien, he is more than welcome to stay.


Born in the UK,  Mat grew up in his family’s record store,  which opened when he was just 4.  Music was always a big part of Mat’s life, but it wasn’t until he moved to Canada in the mid 90’s that he began to hone his skills on the turntables.  Lead to Whistler by his other passion, snowboarding, Mat found himself playing to varied crowds of people visiting the snow-sport destination from all over the world. It was playing regular club nights in Whistler that Mat adapted and originated to create his style, unique to his ability to seamlessly blend a massive list of genres like Dub, Dancehall, Hip-hop, breaks, rock, funk and DnB, with unparalleled mixing, driven by earth shaking basslines.


In recognition of his considerable musical talent and unique selection, Mat has landed regular nights in Vegas and spots on massive festivals like Ultra in Miami and Shambala in B.C.  Mat has clocked many miles on his spaceship, travelling the world over, with shows in the Philippines, Moscow, Seoul Korea, England, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Iceland,Italy and almost every city you can think of in North America.  


Confirmation of Mat’s astounding genre-blind abilities is the list of artists he has played alongside. Far too long to list in its entirety, here is a sample selection: A-trak,  Baauer , Bassnectar, Caspa , Cut Chemist , Datsik, Doctor P, Downlink, Jack Beats,  Jurassic 5, Kid Koala, Mix Master Mike, No Fx, Roots Manuva , Rusko, Snoop Dogg, 2 Live Crew , Naughty By Nature, The Glitch Mob, Talib Kweli and Zeds Dead.

Mat the Alien seems to have more hours in a day than us humans. With over a decade of touring and gigging all while producing and remixing incredible tracks. He has also found time to run and operate Really Good Records, and revolutionize turntablism with Mat’sMat’s slipmat for 45’s. Tirelessly creating and innovating,  it is safe to say Mat the Aliens talents are out of this world.

Head over to Mat The Alien on soundcloud to grab some free tracks HERE

Grab Merch HERE

Thursday 18 October 2012

Shiny Toy Guns



In 2002, Carah Faye Charnow (vocals), Chad Petree (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Dawson (synth, bass) and Mikey Martin (drums) became Shiny Toy Guns.

With a unique indie-rock meets synth-pop sound, and a mad max approach to touring (touted as the first band to tour Alaska by ground), Shiny Toy Guns had already been touring for 2 years before their re-worked  studio release of  “We Are Pilots” in 2006. The Album earned the quartet a Grammy nomination, and a number of hit singles, including “Le disko”, “Rainy Monday” and “You are the One”, all of which remain a staple in the soundtrack of my life.


The group kept busy in 2008 and 2009 releasing “Season of Poison”; which featured hit singles “Ricochet and “Ghost Town” as well as a compilation album “Girls Le Disko”  featuring collaborations with some of EDMs most notable artists like HervĂ©, Ferry Corsten,  and Kissy Sell Out. 

The group went on to find their music in an unbelievable number of placements in film, television and videogames.  Over the recent years, I have been able to find Shiny Toy Guns signature sound everywhere, including games like Guitar Hero and Grand Theft Auto,  A Smurfs feature film, and countless network television shows like Gossip Girl,  Ugly Betty and Dancing with the Stars.  Most noteably was a Lincoln MKZ as, which featured their rendition of the ’80s classic “Major Tom (Coming Home), which won awards in the ad community, and garnered over 600,000 digital sales of the song.




Today, I find myself, looking down the barrel of a Shiny Toy Guns third studio album, simply titled “III”.  This album marks the return of the original members, and has Shiny Toy Guns fans, like myself, feverishly monitoring the countdown they have posted on their official website.  If the singles “Fading and Listening” and “Waiting Alone” are any indication of what to expect, I will undoubtedly be prepared to make room in my life soundtrack for more Shiny Toy Guns.

You can pre-order their new album and merch HERE

Available at: http://www.kt8merch.com/store/pages/5098

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Datsik



The Canadian producer and DJ Troy Beetles, better known as Datsik, is set to Embark on the FirePower tour.  Let me tell you why you should care.

With the recent and ever-growing success of dubstep in the world of EDM and beyond, it’s easy to find yourself lost amidst a sea of DJs, producers and remixes.  Sorting the good from the bad is as simple as listening to everything and picking out the best, I'm just trying to save you some time.  If you can’t take my word for it, there is no doubt Datsik’s resume and references will convince you; our home grown Kelowna boy is at the top of the bass game.



Datsik aka Troy Beetles
Kelowna, BC
Age: 24

Work History: 2009 - Present

After collaborating with fellow Canadian Excision on several noteable tracks, 
Dastik stormed Beatports’ hot list with several #1 releases including remixes 
of The Crystal Method, Wu-Tang, Noisia and Diplo

Datsik’s undeniably addictive blend of future-tech and hip-hop lead to shows
all over North America, playing with the likes of Steve Aoki, Rusko, 
Bassnectar, Skream, DJ Craze and Nero, at festivals like Coachella, Electric 
Daisy Carnival and the World Electronic Music Festival.

In 2012, Datsik released Vitamin D, on Dim Mak Records, founded by the 
eminent Steve Aoki  himself in LA. This record featured 12 tracks of 
absolutely punishing bass with guest artists like Downlink, Z-Trip, Infected 
Mushroom, Jonathan Davis, Messinian, and Snak the Ripper.
               
            References:

            



The days spent sifting through records at a store looking for a gem are all but gone, replaced by a Blogs, Beatport, hypeM, and Juno all pushing a million artists from a trillion genres.  Save yourself some precious time and get some Datsik on your headphones.  Once you are hooked, go have your ribs rattled and retina ripped by 50,000 watts of PK sound married to the Visual Vortex live on the Firepower Tour with Getter and Bare Noize.

Click HERE for Tour Dates

Click HERE for Merch





Thursday 2 August 2012

Prepare to be Shpongled!




Simon Posford and Raja Ram are the musical minds behind Shpongle.  The project has been captivating listeners since 1996 with an undeniably unique blend of eastern ethnic samples masterfully fused with western synth based psychedelic music.  Their unique sound is perhaps best described in Shpongle’s own words:

“A strange hybrid of electronic manipulation and shamanic midgets with frozen digits squeezing the envelope and crawling through the doors of perception”

1998 marked the release of their first album “Are you Shpongled” which justly landed the duo at the forefront of the psychedelic trance movement.  Posford’s  wizard like studio production provides synthesizers, and live instrumentation while Raja provides musical concepts, art, and the notable flute arrangements found in their work. Both Simon and Raja coordinate their talents when composing their sounds, stating, they often visualize the music together in its entirety before they even begin to compose a track. Rich with psychedelic hallucinatory references, conscious vocal samples and captivating sonic textures, it would be hard to imagine a live performance that could translate the complex layers of Shpongle’s music into a live performance… think again.





Shpongle has taken its live show from Tokyo to LA and everywhere in between, captivating audiences with sold out shows and an incomprehensibly elaborate musical and visual experience.  The Shpongletron Experience Tour, as seen above, was a truly unique musical, and visual experience.  Posford performs in a DJ booth surrounded by multiple custom-made, video-mapped projection surfaces, dancers and lights, while the audience,  adorned in psychedelic T-Shirts and Light Necklaces, are enchanted by the rhythm of Moroccan drums and diverse sound production.  It suffices to say, seeing Shpongle live is much more than a concert, it is truly an experience, which is why the announcement of a fall tour, entitle Shpongle Presents The Masquerade has fans so excited to get Shpongled!  Click HERE to see the tour dates. Click HERE to see their merch!

Monday 30 July 2012



Ink, the people who brought you celebrated events like Labour of Love, Decadence and Freedom, have embarked on a mission to bring the biggest and best names in EDM to Toronto with Veld Festival.  The 2 day event kicks off on August 4th in Downsview Park, and will undoubtedly be the EDM highlight of the summer boasting an unrivalled, star studded line-up. Here is a teaser...





Steve Aoki
Founder of Dim Mak records, the label often accredited for launching the careers of bands like MSRTKRFT, Bloody Beetroots, The Kills, Block Party and many more, Steve Aoki will take the stage with his renowned stage presence, and a typically untypical set.  Expect raining Champagne and Crowd surfing…err… sailing, in actual boats.



Steve Angelo

Touted as the godfather of modern house, Steve Angelo’s music currently serves as club fuel worldwide.  His long and successful career is a testament to his unyielding work ethic and an astonishing ability to produce sounds that make standing still an impossible task.  One third of the universe’s most prominent electronic  trio, Sweedish House Mafia, Steve has infallibly filled any venue he has played,  and will certainly have the masses in Downsview sweating.






Bassnectar

After a summer of amassing enormous crowds at the nation’s top festivals including Coachella, Wakarusa, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and EDC Vegas, Lorin Ashton’s unwavering dedication to his open source style of genre bending entertainment will bring him to Veld to unleash Bassnectars’ crushingly heavy bass, juxtaposed by undeniably lush, refreshing, soundscapes.



Avicii

After a massive 2011, with smash hits like “my feelings for you” and club obliterator “levels” there is no doubt, 22 year old Tim Bergling is at the top of his game.   Headlining major EDM festivals through 2012, with special guests you may have heard of, like Madonna.  The “Swedish Wonder Kid” has been flexing his ability to pack the house all over the world.  This is Toronto’s chance to experience Avicii at the largest EDM show Canada has ever seen.





Deadmau5

After having his trademark Mau5head grace the cover of last month’s Rolling Stone magazine, labelling homegrown Joel Zimmerman aka Deadmau5 an A-list name in EDM would be an understatement.  Packing stadiums comes easy to the 28yr old these days.  Focused more on the live performance of his original material than simply a playlist of current club anthems has garnered a fiercely dedicated global fan base. Assembling his own music, live, choreographed with retina shattering visuals, designed and coded by himself, Joel has rightfully earned his spot as a headliner for the festival.





As the superstar line-up continues on and on with “house”hold names like Mord Fustang, Knife Party, Mark Oliver, Cazzette, we are left to wonder if the 572 acre Downsview Park is going to be able to contain the excitement.  If you haven’t already, get your tickets here and be ready for the 2 day sweat-fest with some fresh gear here


Friday 6 July 2012

All Aboard!



Inspired by Janis Joplin’s Canadian train tour in the 70’s, with The Gratefull Dead and The Band, Grammy winning artist Skrillex, and some notable friends are set to choo choo across Canada spreading love and bass on an intensely anticipated summer tour dubbed the Full Flex Express Tour...



This past summer, Skrillex and friends climbed aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic for a 3 day music festival called Holy Ship, complete with a stop at a private island for unbridled partying.  Shortly thereafter, Skrillex and Diplo announced their intentions for a train tour across Canada, with the intention of re-imagining performances and tours, throwing practicality to the side in favour of simply enjoying the ride.  

Diplo and Skrillex have invited some incredibly talented friends along; big bass duo Koan Sound, genre bending Pretty Lights, indie music’s sweetheart Grimes, and the enigmatic hip-hop producer Tokimonsta to name a few.  The artists will be travelling on a private train, meeting fans at stops  in Toronto, OttawaMontreal, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg, each with its own festival, each expecting tens of thousands in attendance. Take a listen below to some of the artists you will be seeing then get your tickets Here



Skrillex - Bangarang feat Sirah by Skrillex


Barely Standing feat. Datsik & Sabi by diplo


Look Who's Back feat. Foreign Beggars by KOAN Sound

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Mean and Green


Mean and Green: The Electric Forest Festival

Back in 2008, the Rothbury Festival, held at the Double JJ Ranch, set out to combine music and art with environmental awareness, to categorical success.  After winning the greener festival award 2 years running, and being nominated for greenest festival worldwide, the festival took a year hiatus, and returned as the Electric Forest Festival in 2011 in full force, boasting a star-studded lineup, and the founding theories of green sustainability.

Magic Forest

This year the Ranch intends to host over 30,000 people on 1,000 acres, boasting a Magic Forrest, 3 lakes, multiple stages and a water park from June 28th to July 1st. The lineup has been announced and features some incredible talent.  Here are some artists you might want to check out: Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead, Datsik, Mimosa, Eoto and Dumpstafunk




Fantastic by BigGigantic


Colin Munroe ft. Pusha T - The Fight Of My Life (Zeds Dead Remix) (Preview) by zedsdead


Datsik - Napalm (feat. Messinian) by Datsik


Lekah by EOTO


Shake It Off by Dumpstaphunk


Sanctuary - Free Single by TigranMiMoSA

Friday 22 June 2012

Pretty Lights




Derek Smith, got an early start in the game writing and producing hip hop while attending high school in Colorado, which lead him down a musical yellow brick road.  Smith found  the Courage to deny the constraints of typical genres, blending hip hop, glitch, and bass, with the Heart of the vintage soul and funk samples he utilizes. Thanks to the Brains used to compose the undeniably addictive sounds, we have Pretty Lights:

Pretty Lights - Playlist by Pretty Lights
 

Pretty Lights has been electrifying audiences at major festivals like Bonaroo, Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival and DEMF, with his state of the art laser and light show and live percussion sets, while filling some of the scene's hottest venues worldwide. Pretty Lights has left no question about his ability to light up the deck and flood the dance floor.  Smith’s feverish fans are no doubt fans he has earned through accessibility: everything Pretty Lights has released since 2006 is available free on his website.   So grab some tracks here, snag a tee here and track down the next show near you to catch Pretty Lights amazing set complete with state of the art light show.

Thursday 14 June 2012

NXNE Kicks Off!




The 18th annual 5 day festival kicks off today, June 14th and will feature hundreds of bands from all over the world, in over 50 venues, primarily located on Queen West, College St and the Bloor St. annex.  Wristbands range from $50 to $250 for the festival, and allow you free cover to any NXNE show, at any venue.  Some choose to hit the festival with a detailed itinerary, squeezing in all of your favorite bands, while others wander aimlessly in hopes of finding a new favorite, or catching an enigmatic secret show, either way, with over 780 bands descending on the city, your music needs are covered.


No Wristband? No Problem!

The Festival in its 18th year, is hosting a number of must-see artists for FREE at Dundas Square. 

Thursday:  Bad Religion is set to headline Thursday evening with trademark 3-part vocal harmonies and the punk sound that inspired the revival of punk in the 80’s.


Friday:  Next up, the homegrown Matthew Good, former frontman of The Matt Good Band, one of Canada’s most successful alternative Rock bands, will undoubtedly have the square at capacity on 
Friday evening for a night of rock .


Saturday:  Young Street will be shut down, to make way for the Flaming Lips and their endlessly entertaining live show of confetti, costumes, complex lights, mind blowing projections, and the famous plastic bubble, frontman Wayne uses to traverse the audience.

Sunday:  Closing up the Dundas Square festivities on Sunday will be the highly anticipated performance from Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, undoubtedly two of the most prominent members of the seminal Wu-Tang Clan.  Grab a tee for $9.99 to wear at the show HERE


Check out the full lineup at: http://nxne.com/schedule/#navsrc=music

Friday 8 June 2012

Big Gigantic


Big Gigantic

This “livetronica” act out of Boulder Colorado should undoubtedly be on your playlist for the sunny days of summer.
  After a day on the patio, nodding your head to Big Gigantic, you may think nothing can top it.  You would be wrong.  See them live!
   

Dominic Lalli (Saxophone/Producer) and Jeremy Salken (Drums) bathe electronic beats in live instrumentation in the form of Saxophone, Drums and Synthesizers. Since 2009 the duo has been performing live, surrounded by dynamic light installments, improvising and captivating audiences at festivals like Bonnaroo, Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Forest Festival to name a few.  Their highly anticipated remix of tour mates,  Adventure Club’s “Do I see Color” has bass-heads a buzz, infusing their undeniably addictive sound to an already spectacular track.

Do I See Color (Big Gigantic Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Their most recent release, Nocturnal is a genre defiant romp through jazz inspired funk carried by body shaking bass.   It is because of the bass that Big Gigantic is often categorized under the far-reaching dubstep canopy, but the music, and their live show set them apart, and ahead of the “wompwomp” goldrush currently being sighted in the blogosphere.  Visit their website for a free download of their most recent release “Nocturnal” or check out their awesome merch here.

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Electric Daisy Carnival


No Plans for the weekend?

Head to Vegas…  Not for hangover style bachelor party hijinks with bearded buffoons and borrowed babies, rather, make the trip for Bass, Bass and more Bass.

I submit for your perusal: The Electric Daisy Carnival: Las Vegas

Now in its 16 th year,  EDC is not your run of the mill festival.  One look at the lineup is enough to get any bass-head’s heart racing at a Drum n’ Bass  bpm.  The Electronic Daisy Carnival is stage to the absolute forefront of the Electronic Dance Music.  With over 100 of the world’s best DJ’s in Electronic Dance Music EDM on multiple stages, and over 300,000 in attendance, this is the Superbowl,  of EDM.  Not sold yet? Check out the promo video




 


As you can see, the Carnival is a treat of sights and sounds, a truly surreal experience.  Performance artists in wild costumes surround you as you make your way through an interactive light dance floor towards an 86 foot  fire breathing serpent made of steel, all while being blasted by the sounds of Excision, Datsik, MSTRKRFT, Bassnectar, and Zeds Dead to name a few.

Excision X Sessions Volume 1 by Excision Zeds Dead - Guest Mix For MistaJam by zedsdead Vuvuvu - MSTRKRFT by chasper

Monday 4 June 2012

Purity Ring

Purity Ring’s Megan James and Corin Roddick have announced their debut EP “Shrines”… Why should you care? Here is why…



Roddick and James have been experimenting with R&B and Hip-Hop beats, deep 90’s influence, and  astonishingly clean soprano vocals to create what is an exciting, fresh and original "future-pop" sound.  Opening for Neon Indian, being named Best New Band by both Pitchfork magazine and New York’s CMJ are just some highlights of the bands overwhelming hype.  Considering the duo has released only 2 singles in the last year, the press and buzz is unbelievable, creating throngs of feverish fans that cannot wait for more.

With “Shrines” dropping in July, a busy summer schedule jet setting around the world and a spot in NXNE’s lineup, the Edmonton natives are undoubtedly an act to see.   Roddick drums live on a custom lights and triggers, as James’ chilling vocals sail sweetly through the air, with  both artists adorned  in original outfits hand-made by James, the experience is nothing short of chilling.

Check them out at NXNE - Wrongbar Thursday, June 14 @ 1AM, be amazed, and pre-order their vinyl available HERE. 


Friday 1 June 2012

Huarotron


Finland's Huoratron (Aku Raski) is undoubtedly at the forefront of the Chip-tune movement.  If you are unfamiliar with Chip-tune, the sub-sub-sub genre features 8-bit sounds, often borrowed from antiquated technologies like the original Nintendo and Commodore 64. These defining bleeps and dings are backed by intense driving bass, glitchy samples, white noise and the consistent yet simple layered percussion.  If this has you confused, just imagine the offspring of a gameboy, a fax machine, a 56k modem and an old dot-matrix printer hosting a rave.

Still confused?  Check out his megamix of his most recent release "Cryptocracy"
Huoratron - Cryptocracy Album Preview by Last Gang Entertainment


Now you've got it.

Check out Huorotron on CD or Vinyl or snag a gnarly Shirt!