MIDNIGHT IN PECKHAM

'TOWIP' - The Only Way Is Peckham as one commenter has stated. Dang! This is what we feel like we've been waiting for. This was discovered on one of SKITs past mixes for Plastician x Rinse FM a few days ago. Kids are fighting for re-presses on Discogs for this jammy little number. Chaos in the CBD aka the brothers that have previously featured for ClekClekBoom and have done a few circuits in the last 3 years, bringing some hussle that for us, echo's a little Kreuzberg - never mind good 'old Pecks. Have a little listen, it'll make you forget where you are for a few minutes. Blissful. 

Words - Anna Jenkins

SOUNDCLOUD ROLLS OUT AUDIO STREAMING SERVICE

Yes Soundcloud! We're pretty stoked about this. The music streaming service is now embedding and launching an Audio Streaming service which will enable us beat lovies to receive some fresh, bespoke un-released stuff . This will be updated to both Android and iOS apps within the year and you can continuously explore and witness some new tracks from an endless list - catered to you and only you. They are launching a 'Station' which essentially determines what you're gonna enjoy based on your previous mixes and re-posts. We'll always be Soundcloud babies. When the weekly Future Beats podcast get's an upload from Mr Complexion it's Westside 89.6FM takeover, easily. I put easily, like easily because there is some shit on Soundcloud and it can be a right assignment to hit the right spot and to find that non-skipping, incredible set from that guy in Ontario, or that kid from Toronto (yeah, they're all Canadian - we wonder what's in the water too). There is some damage on there and this service will (fingers crossed) demolish some the noisebleed that somehow gets on the our re-posts. This isn't on the web yet, but will be making an appearance on our app for the evenings commute for sure. Bravo Soundcloud!

Words - Anna Jenkins
Via - thenextweb

XIV

Just sayin'

EXCLUSIVE - INTERVIEW W/CLEAN BANDIT

This is a recent '13 interview I did in collaboration with UPRAW Magazine with up & coming orchestrated phenomenon Clean Bandit. Here they talk Concepts, Peckham and late night Duck Waffles.

TSL: It's nice to see such a niche take on music for 2013! Can you tell us a little of the origin of the band? How did you guys team up together?  

CB: We started as a string quartet and then Jack made recordings of us playing Dvorak and Shostakovich. He secretly began writing some beats and bass lines around the little snippets he took from these recordings and so Clean Bandit was born. We were at University together at the time and our college friend Ssegawa laid down the vocals for Mozar'ts House. We put on a club night and started to play this stuff live. 

TSL: Last year, artist and producer Benji B and The Deviation String Quartet played on the London Eye for The Red Bull Revolutions in Sound which was a pretty nice idea! Would you guys consider doing something like this? 

CB: Yes! That sounds amazing. Would love to go on The London Eye and play our tunes! 

TSL: You're well known for your live performances with people stating how refreshing it is to witness a visual performance in contrast to the overwhelming scene of DJ's at the moment. What has been your favourite show and memory of performing so far?

CB: Probably on the opening of Frank's cafe on the roof of a 10 storey car park in Peckham. You could see the whole of London behind us and then the sun went down during our set-it was amazing.  

 TSL: Your videos are also very innovative and hold a fresh concept. Can you talk us through a little of the inspiration that goes into creating them? 

CB: Well we think of the visuals as one with the music: both are equally as important to us, so the ideas of the music videos tend to come at the same time as writing the music. Sometimes we think of a visual concept before writing the song: this happened with our video UK Shanty.

 TSL: You also recently did a BBCR1 Live lounge session. Are you set to be collaborating with any major artists coming up? 

CB: That was really fun. We're doing a lot of collaborations and there are some major artists that we love ( of course!) so possibly. 

 TSL: Here in London we've got some hints of sunshine creeping through the clouds and it's getting us excited for summer! Can you tell us what festivals we can find you at this summer?

CB: Glastonbury, Beatherder, Blissfields, Secret Garden, Reading & Leeds, Creamfields, Wireless and many more! And we have our own show at XOYO in London on July 7th! 

TSL: And lastly, we see you guys are London based, any hot spots in the city we should know about? Where can we find you guys when you're not on tour?

CB: We like Duck & Waffle a 24 hour restaurant on the 48th floor of the Heron Tower, Liverpool St. It's nice to enjoy a leg of duck on a waffle with syrup at 5am after a long night in the studio! We think the best club is Plastic People.  

TSL // UPRAW MAGAZINE

IMA

People take YouTube too seriously. Bassy and nice. Kinda reminds me of The Bug/Flowdan vibes and probably one of the sickest videos I've seen in a long time. 

BOYS

My four absolute favourite producers right now. Music for me hit a dry note for a while and now I literally cannot get enough of these boy's music. T-B Onra, Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross, Clams Casino & Shlohmo.

Onra is a Paris based Hip Hop producer with influencial Vietnamise roots 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inpKcke4hQU

Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross is the project from producer Dexter Tortoriello. Discovered him through Wangs recent campaign feat. A$AP Rocky/ Diplo which I recently posted-

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dkX0pKFsfw

Clams Casino-Electronic/Hip Hop beaut, notably instrumental producer co-siding with A$AP Rocky & The Weeknd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjBR92XlorQ

Shlohmo- Dreamy/Experimental LA based producer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpwpTnDH8yY

Enjoy .

†††

So Chino Moreno's much rumoured side project has arrived and I want to like it, really I do. However I think, after Team Sleep nothing can dominate this wave of music. I think it's too lyrical for me and slightly boring. Easily identifiable as Moreno, it seems a completely different step to Team Sleep's experimental side. LA based Crosses have stated they are witch-house, which is to highlight that the branding and aesthetic behind the name is not religious, nor satanic, just purely for artistic reasoning. They have come out at a pretty good time, considering everything seems to be a symbolic wave of Illuminati triangular messaging and backwards imagery.  

In regards to Team Sleep, apparently Chino stated in an interview early this year that the project is still very much alive and new material is possibly underway, minus Crosses. Team Sleep notably co sided with glitchy trip-hop/dream pop with a bit of post-hardcore with elements of classical Deftones drifts creeping through which proved a huge hit with a devoted fan base but it was an introduction into the non-metal kids who were seeking something a little different. 

So maybe it's just me, I mean looking at sources such as Youtube, Crosses has received a pretty positive response from fans which surprises me as it seems completely unfitting to the history of Chino's music. Maybe I'm just stuck in 2005.

ANGEL HAZE

So I got introduced to this little layd's music over the weekend and I am in love! I did a little blog post for Teenbook Magazine on her and if you would like to see click here. Haze is gonna be huge, excelling some beats with her Michigan born tones and NYC base. I wouldn't compare her to others but it's safe to say that it's obvious girls are dominating the rap scene above the boys right now. Amen. Check out her  track 'New York' above. 

Also, I'll be posting on the Teenbook site once a week now, so keep an eye out!

HAPPY

Keep coming across really nice quotes. Really simple, easy. 

SPITSHINE

Check out my girl Lily's new baby Spitshine www.spitshine.co.uk 

Spitshine is a new company which will be hosting nights in the UK playing some fresh beats. Jonphonics & K15 are playing on 10/10 in Bournemouth, be there or be SQUARE.

FORMANT

On repeat, think it's a fan made video but it's so so nice. Especially in the summer months. Chino Moreno's project is still ongoing, though he's now produced new material with LA band 'Crosses' ††† which I'm trying to like, but really I don't.

BETH IS BACK

Forgotten how much I used to listen to Best Coast, been listening to so much hip-hop recently , the hazy girl bands have kinda taken a back seat. Their latest album 'The Only Place' was released this May and it continues to thrive in sweet harmonies and talk of the beach, summer and boys. It's pretty grounded material, these are beach babies, they don't pretend to be something they are not. The Vivian Girls have kinda disappeared slightly off the map too which I'm kinda sad about as when I saw them last year they were really cool, hopefully be hearing some new projects and material from those girls soon. I'll always have a love for those soulful little voices.  Dreamy adolescent garage style bands are such an early 90's wave that will never be extinct.  I can easily still listen to Violet with my windows down and catch some Beavis & Butthead sketches of The 10 Thousand Maniacs and Smashing Pumpkins originals Billy Corgan et al. I'm prepping for Coachella next April and I just want to explore a bit more of California. My cousin has a new place near San Jose city so will be dropping by. Something about this dreamy music and California. Perfect road trip ingredients. 

A$AP ROCKY CHANNEL 4 DOCUMENTARY FILM

Film maker Luke Monaghan has documented Rocky through footage this year set to be premiered in August on Channel Four. Rocky, said to be 'changing the face of New York' is captured from the rise of career through the promotion of the highly-anticipated LongLiveA$AP LP.

http://vimeo.com/44668750

PUNX

Continuous shoot, planned or not- good video.

MARIBOU STATE INTERVIEW

MARIBOU STATE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.

 Side project w/ Maxumi. ( www.maxumi.co.uk)
Words : Anna Jenkins

Maxumi would like to introduce duo Maribou State. From bass to tropical beats, Maribou State’s noise is fastly erupting onto our playlists. Set to delight the crowds this summer, their garage undertones and eerie, playful vibes are taking the underground by storm. Having already received recognition from the likes of Norman Cook, these boys are ones to watch out for this year. Anna Jenkins caught up with the boys to talk Lana, Mr Cook and the influences behind their latest video for EP ‘Olivia’.

AJ:First of all, really like the name. Can you explain?

MS: Thank you. There isn’t really too much of a story behind it to be honest. I happened to be a reading a book called ‘Marabou Stork Nightmares’ at the time, kind of just stemmed from that. We were stuck at the time for a name and simply liked the sound of it, so we adapted it

When did you start to produce together and start working as a duo? When did you recognise each others similar tastes?

MS: We started working together as a duo just before last summer because we both lived together in Leeds. So we would be going out to all the same nights and sharing the same music etc. So i guess it just came from there.

You have recently just joined Southern Fried and are set to release some new E.P’s, What is the rest of 2012 looking like for Maribou State?

MS: Yep. Got 2 E.P’s set for release with Southern over the summer. Then we have a project on the go with a producer called Pedesterian which we have a few vocalists featuring on. Really excited about that project, as it’s veering away from our usual sound. by bringing in a lot more organic elements and creating a more ‘home listening’ vibe. 

So we hear you have received support from the likes of MJ Cole and Cook! Exciting stuff. What was it like to receive such great recognition from such a reputable names within the industry?

MS: Yep its really great. I mean its a great feeling when anyone says they are into your music, so getting support from big names in the industry is extremely flattering.

Really liking the video for your EP Olivia. What inspired the darkness of it? 

MS: Well we teamed up with some good friends of ours from a theatre company called Lissom Lilt, and a production company called AMP Films. Lissom Lilt developed the narrative that was kind of connected to a play they had previously written, then pretty much winged the rest of it on the day – which was amazingly impressive. We never really planned for it to look that dark, but as we carried on filming it just sort of went in that direction

I’ve also had a listen to your remix of Lana Del Ray’s Blue Jeans and fell in love with the sound. Would you guys ever float towards collaboration with any major artists possibly on Southern Fried? Who would you love to produce with or do you guys like to stick to your own roots?

MS: Yeah, we actually have a collaboration on one of the next Southern Fried E.P’s with Groove Armada’s vocalist Becky Jones, who is now writing some amazing music as a solo artist called Saint Saviour. There are a lot of people out there we would like to work with. We are always keen to branch out, as you learn so much from working with other people. I’m sure there will be a lot of collaborations still to come.

What other outside interests influence your particular style of music?
 
MS: Being at festivals, out with friends, summertime, anything mood lifting really influences the music we make. 

You most recently played XOYO with Deadboy in London last weekend, any other hot spots you guys like to play in London? Any secret locations?

MS: We always love playing at Corsica Studio’s. Cable is also a good club to play.

Where would be your dream place to play?

MS: Burning man. Or the Arcadia Stage at Glastonbury just for the surreal experience.

Maxumi is based in Brighton, have you guys played here before? If so, where? and what do you think of the city?

MS: We have actually, but not as Maribou State. We played at Audio but the night was so empty that it was shut down! Aside from that, I absolutely love Brighton. Would love to move down there one day.

What are your top 3 favourite records circulating right now?

• Hint – Aliens Feat T Fly
• Shlohmo – Rained the whole time (Nicolas Jaar remix)
• Polica – Lay Your Cards Out

We see you're playing a few festivals this summer like Farr and Glade. Any in particular you’re looking forward to?

MS: Really exited for Secret Garden Party. We have never been before but have heard so many good things. Plus we are hopefully going to have a few live featuring performances for that show.

Any great festival memories you guys fancy sharing?

MS: Glastonbury 2010 was pretty nuts. We got snuck in, in the back of some Irish man’s van. Then Half way through our set the generator blew up and all the guys that were running the tent we far to mashed on Acid to deal with the situation. The rest of the festival was unbelievably hot which resulted in one serious case of sun stroke but some of the best memories to date.

Thanks boys!

Check out one of Maribou States latest mixes here:   

And their video for 'Olivia' here:

GIVE IT SOME TIME

Here's a lovely video featuring my friend & actor Jimmy Dunne. It's by Reuben Keeney feat Glenn Rosborough called 'Give It Some Time'. 

PeACE x

HELLO?

When are they touring? Are they even still a band? They're such mystical creatures. I can't exaggerate how much I have listened to 'Round and Round' the last few weeks. I'm kind of embarrassed I've only just discovered them now. I'm just a late comer with music at the moment, I have dead ipod and I'm rotating the use of housemates laptops to feel in touch with society. It's kind of nice being out of the box with technology for a while and then you realise how much you rely on it. Two Thousand and Twelve.

PURO INSTINCT

I heard this band kinda a while back now, I posted 'Luv Goon' on here when they were under the name Pearl Harbor. Now as Puro Instinct, these girls are known as LA's haziest sisters, Skylar and Piper Kaplan. Kinda dreamy, kinda Miami Vice, kinda 80' s, All American High School brings to mind. Similar to College or Lovefoxx, the vocals are combined with new synths and psychedelic guitar waves and these minor Russian cultural references . There seems to be a new wave of female fronted, nostalgic showcases of music now. We have suddenly been presented with the likes of Vivian Girls, Best Coast- to name a few. 2011 for PI meant the release of their debut LP 'Headbangers In Ecstasy'. I guess it's easy to compare these Southern Californian sounds of garage-girl bands but notably, it's clear to see that Best Coast perform at a more tunnel for 'radio for beach goers' as PI is more a poolside lounge, kinda scenario as Pitchfork have stated. I like these sisters, I think they're gonna be big.

ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI

Collaborating with Puro Instinct follows Ariel Pink from Haunted Graffiti, which can easily be mistaken for a beautifully eerie band from the early eighties, this new wave of heavy synths and kinda off vocals, ever so trippy and freakishly too good to be heard now for the first time. It's kinda reminiscent, for truthfully soulful music and pleasant harmonies while driving along to Ariel Pink's haunting and crazy vocals. Pink's kinda influenced a lot of glossy glam pop bands that he's now known underground as the founder of 'Chillwave'. I've always liked this style of music, from Jean Wilder to a thrashier Vivian Girls, Ariel Pink seems to be dominating the lead into throwing this music out on the radio's again. Good boy.

This video 'Round and Round' is a favourite off the 'Before Today' album released in 2010.

SONG OF ELEVEN

I listened to this song a ridiculous amount last year. Will be hard to beat for this year.