Female drummers share new track for mental health awareness in young musicians


12 female drummers have come together for a new charity single to raise awareness for mental health issues in young musicians.

‘Little Drummer Girl’ is the brainchild of drummer Charlotte and producer Kerr from The Echo Lab Music Studios in Scotland.

As well as raising awareness of mental health issues, the song also aims to tackle gender disparity in festival line-ups and the music industry at large.

“We’ve been inspired to keep an eye on all of our young students and bands, from hearing about the loss of Frightened Rabbit frontman, Scott Hutchison – whose band inspired me to enter the music business,” Charlotte said. “Scott was so honest in his song-writing and helped so many people through their own struggles.

“This has inspired us to continue his vision and help others that need support in any way we can, but especial supporting the charity that was set up in his name.”

Watch the ‘Little Drummer Girl’ video below, which includes drummers who have played with the likes of Stereophonics, Mogwai, The Darkness and more.

Speaking about the process of getting the track together, Kerr added: “Getting 12 drummers to balance with each other was an incredible challenge. In the final mix there were over 120 individual drum tracks from not only different artists with their own style and technique, but completely different kits that had vastly different sonic characteristics.

“The amount of texture and depth to the final track created by the artists, was a wonder to mix.”

Earlier this year, Scott Hutchison’s brother and Frightened Rabbit bandmate Grant spoke to NME about the first year of their Tiny Changes charity.

“Young people need a lot of help and attention, and it’s something that affects almost everybody,” said Grant. “Not every young person will suffer from poor mental health, but our approach is a preventative one. We want to give them the tools and the skills to deal with it, even when they’re at a point when they don’t need them.”





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A 12-Year-Old DJ Hosted a Rave in His School’s Bathroom During Lunch Break

If you want to be a good DJ, you’ve got to start from scratch. Despite that horrible pun, please continue on to read about a 12-year-old Manchester boy who DJed at his own rave held in his school’s bathroom.





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Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music lovers – Dancing Astronaut


by: Jessica Mao


Dec 22, 2020

As the year winds down into an unprecedented holiday season, the spirit of giving rings more meaningfully than ever. With much of the year in lockdown, lifestyles dramatically shifted in personal, social, and professional spaces as people searched for creative ways to thrive at home. Thankfully, the transition to digital has not only resulted in a greater appreciation of music for many, but also increased inspiration to learn, hone existing skills, and create.

Dancing Astronaut has compiled a list of quarantine-friendly gifts for the music lovers and audiophiles in your life that will upgrade their stay-at-home experience—whether with a new hobby, the latest technology, or a little something for the home. From Tomorrowland‘s New Year’s Eve event to production gear, an online course, and cozy merchandise, the gift guide contains a variety of ideas guaranteed to serve as touching sentiments for the winter months.

Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music loversTomorrowland Nye

Treat a dance music lover to the next best festival experience around. Boasting more than 25 of the world’s most coveted performers, Tomorrowland’s New Year’s Eve celebration will bring five hours of music to four virtual stages with CamelPhat, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Diplo, Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Boys Noize, Charlotte de Witte, and Brennan Heart, to name just a few of those on the star-studded lineup.

Choose between three ticket tiers and several add-ons that will ensure the at-home celebration is fully equipped here.

Apple Airpods Max – $549

Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music loversAirpods Ma Dancing Astronaut

The hottest debut of the season, Apple‘s new over-the-ear headphones are the tech leader’s latest innovation in high-fidelity audio. Featuring a sleek design, memory foam ear cushions, and immersive theater-like sound, the Airpods Max deliver an all-in-one listening experience for audiophiles and every day users. Choose between five versatile colors.

Purchase here. A free engraving is also available with any purchase.

Skullcandy Crusher Evo – $149.99 (Discounted from $199.99)

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While the headphones market presents a competitive range of offerings, the Skullcandy Crusher Evo excels at delivering one thing music fans will be sure to appreciate: bass. Its standout trait allows users to adjust the bass for an immersive sensory experience that mimics a live music environment—ideal for gifting loved ones the ability to transport themselves sonically to shows and festivals in the months before live events return to scale. The Crusher also features app compatibility with optimized sound that can be custom tuned to the user.

Purchase here.

Moog Werkstatt-01 Analog Synthesizer Kit with CV Expansion Board – $199.00

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Electronic enthusiasts of every level of expertise will light up at the upgraded Moog Werkstatt-01, a buildable analog synthesizer kit. Featuring Moog’s classic four-pole filter design, 13-note keyboard, and CV Expansion Board that enables interface with other synths and controllers, the limited-edition bundle lets users build their own Moog synths and explore the iconic Moog sounds.

Purchase here.

Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer – $699.99

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The beat-maker’s essential, the TR-8S Rhythm Performer contains every sound from Roland’s most popular drum machines including recreations and modified versions of the TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, and more. Built for both production and live performance, the TR-8S gives users the ability to create their custom kits and patterns using their own samples.

Purchase here.

Rode RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio – $599.00

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During quarantine, creative endeavors flourished and people took up their recording mics as the podcast craze dominated. Elevate podcasting from home without compromising quality with the Rode’s RODECasterPro, the world’s first fully integrated podcast production studio. The simplified easy-to-use console offers four Class A mic preamps, eight programmable pads, a color touchscreen, and versatile connection capabilities.

Purchase here.

With temperature drops and unpredictability up ahead, retreats into the home are imminent, making now the perfect time to gift merch to music aficionados. Nearly all artists or labels have their own uniquely branded merch lines; the endless options of products and designs, from cozy sweaters to home decor and mugs, make merch an easy but personal way to show a loved music fan some appreciation. Check out a few selects below to get inspired.

Kaskade Limited Edition Holiday Sweater – $65

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Purchase here.

A Moment Apart ODESZA Yoga Mat – $137

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Purchase here.

Ophelia Records Arcane Baseball Jersey – $65

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Purchase here.

REZZ Crowd Face Mask – $13

Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music loversREZZ RedMask

Purchase here.

Dillon Francis Gerald Puzzle – $19.99

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Purchase here.

Anjunabeats 20 x Farrow Hoodie – $65

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Purchase here.

deadmau5 X OG Slick Hoodie – $70

Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music loversImage 2

Purchase here.

Seven-Color LED Face Mask – $29.99

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Although rave culture has been notorious for its rampant mask usage, now more than ever, a mask is a daily necessity. Featuring seven changeable colors and four flashing modes, the LED face mask doubles as safety and fashion—a gift that ravers can wear not only now, but also post-pandemic at their next live show outing.

Purchase here.

Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box Vinyl Subscription – $25/month

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Nothing says “stay at home” like food delivery and tunes. That’s exactly what Turntable Kitchen set out to accomplish with their Pairings Box, a monthly subscription that includes a curated menu and matching vinyl. The package includes three seasonal recipes, premium ingredients, and an exclusive vinyl from a rising artist.

Purchase a subscription gift here.

Dancing Astronaut’s Holiday Gift Guide: 17 quarantine-friendly ideas for music loversDealer Live10 Suite Bo SessionView 71dc2a980a1df22da758ccdf4b7e2705

With the announcement of Ableton Live 11 arriving in early 2021, Ableton is offering a special deal that includes both a 20 percent discount on Live 10 and a free upgrade to Live 11 upon launch. Offered in three editions (Intro, Standard, and Suite) Ableton presents one of the most widely used DAWs.

Purchase here.

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For aspirant or studying producers, Andrew Huang’s Completed Music Production course teaches students how to become versatile music producers through a step-by-step curriculum in just 30 days. Students will be able to deliver three finished songs by the end of the course, mastering an electronic song, a sample-based one, and a vocal-live instrument combination track.

Enrollment ends December 27 and the first day of class begins January 4. Purchase here.

Featured image: Turntable Kitchen

Tags: gift guide, headphones, holiday, livestream, Merch

Categories: Features






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Billie Eilish says she’s getting ready to start “a new era”


Billie Eilish has told her fans that she’s getting ready to start “a new era” in her career.

The singer is currently working on the follow-up to her March 2019 debut LP ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’, and has released two singles (‘My Future’ and ‘Therefore I Am’) and her James Bond theme ‘No Time To Die’ in 2020.

Posting on her Instagram Stories earlier this morning (December 22), Eilish joked to her followers that she wouldn’t put out a new record if they kept “making fun of my hair”.

“I am making you a fucking album,” she said with a laugh. “I will not put it out if you keep making fun of my hair.”

Billie Eilish (Picture: Press)

Eilish continued by saying that she would be changing her hairstyle after the documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry comes out in February, saying that that will signal “the end of an era”.

“I’m gonna give you a new era,” she continued. “I have announcements to make, I’ve got some shit to put out.”

Eilish previously spoke about her upcoming new album in an interview with Apple Music last month. However, her brother and creative collaborator Finneas said back in September that the record wouldn’t be released while the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing.

Earlier this week, Eilish recalled the initial mixed reaction among James Bond fans to the announcement that she would be singing the theme song for No Time To Die, describing it as “a rough period”.





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Zedd Curates Exclusive DJ Mix of Apple Music’s Biggest Songs of 2020

There is perhaps no EDM artist more ideal than Zedd, one of the genre’s true hit-makers, to curate a list of Apple Music‘s biggest songs of 2020.





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Wax Motif delivers fresh new cut, ‘All Black Everything’ with Corrupt (UK) and Scrufizzer – Dancing Astronaut


by: Sami Weisband


Dec 22, 2020

House music royalty Wax Motif has just ushered in his fifth single of the year, “All Black Everything,” via his own imprint, Divided Souls. Wax once again springs onto the scene, joining forces with British icons, Corrupt (UK), and Scrufizzer. This track comes in as the Los Angeles-based producer and Scrufizzer’s third collaborative release, following their most recent track “A1,” and unforgettably, club hitter, “Skank and Flex.”

Laying down a crisp baseline, the track builds up with a forward-driving yet menacing grit, intertwining with Scrufizzer’s unique sound. The bass house hip-hop conjunction falls perfectly in line with Wax’s incredibly well-honed production style.

The Australian purveyor and Divided Souls boss has taunted fans with this track long before its release, playing the record during two livestream events, EDC Las Vegas’ Virtual Rave-A-Thon and HARD Summer’s BBQ Rave-A-Thon. Fans have been waiting patiently for the release of Wax Motif’s forthcoming album, and thankfully, “All Black Everything” has appeased the masses…for now.

Stream below.

Featured image: James Coletta

Tags: a1, corrupt uk, Divided Souls, scrufizzer, skank and flex, Wax Motif

Categories: Music






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Caroline Polachek shares ‘So Cold You’re Hurting My Feelings’ winter remix


Caroline Polachek and A.G. Cook have shared a new winter remix of Polachek’s single ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’.

The aptly-titled ‘So Cold You’re Hurting My Feelings’ repurposes the original track’s lyrics to suit the winter months.

  • READ MORE: Caroline Polachek – ‘Pang’ review: years of experiments pay off

Shared as part of PC Music‘s ‘Pop Carol Christmas’ livestream fundraiser on Saturday (19 December), Polachek sings of mistletoe, Santa Claus and tinsel.

Explaining the idea behind the track on Instagram, Cook wrote: “I remember sitting by the fireplace one eventide, listening to the waxen clicks of the Pang vinyl – as I tend to do in the witching hours between dusk and dawn – when a gift was delivered to the flocculent chamber of my imagination.

“‘Not like I’m counting the days’, she mused through the phonograph, ‘but it’s been twenty-five.’ I caught my breath, ran out of the library, and rushed down the spiral staircase to the solemnly decorated vestibule where I keep the telephone. I cannot recall if it was isolation, invention, or the somnambulant whimsy that holidays are made of, but soon we had struck upon an inversion most wicked, yet somehow both merry and true.

“Ty [Caroline] for making this with me, the finale to last night’s Pop Carol. Also ty to everyone who attended & took part, was a genuinely heart warming eve.”

In the wake of the ‘Pop Carol’ livestream, A.G. Cook’s PC Music also shared a new Christmas album, ‘Pop Caroler’s Songbook’. The album features contributions from Cook, Hannah Diamond, Banoffee, umru, Aaron Cartier and more.

‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’ appears on Polachek’s debut album ‘Pang’, which came out last October.

Reviewing ‘Pang’, NME wrote: “Bold and brazen – a yearning pang in sonic form – this album is a concentration of Polachek’s previous releases. She’s combined the joy of Chairlift, the atmospheric mastery of Ramona Lisa and the experimentalism of CEP. The result is a Caroline Polachek record in its most distilled and fully realised form.”

Back in April, Polachek shared an instrumental version of ‘Pang’, available for purchase on Bandcamp. Last month, she released a cover of The Corrs’ ‘Breathless’, and will release a deluxe remix LP called ‘Standing At The Gate: Remix Collection’ on April 16 next year. Included on that EP will be a Toro y Moi remix of ‘Hit Me Where It Hurts’ featuring Deftones‘ Chino Moreno.





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Watch Madeon’s Intimate Acoustic Fireside Performance for LA Gives Back

We’re running out of superlatives for Madeon. With each new song or performance, he seems to somehow one-up himself.





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US Congress passes COVID-19 stimulus bill that would make illegal streaming a felony


The US Congress has passed a COVID-19 stimulus bill that includes an anti-piracy proposal that would punish for-profit, illegal streaming services with felony penalties of up to 10 years in jail.

Passed by Congress on Monday night (December 21), the US$900billion stimulus package will revive unemployment benefits and launch a round of $600 stimulus payments to many Americans, among other provisions.

The 5,000-page bill also includes a proposal by Republican senator Thom Tillis, introduced less than two weeks ago, that aims to increase the penalty for operating a for-profit illegal streaming service, writes the Hollywood Reporter.

The bill proposes criminal penalties for operators of commercial sites who “willfully, and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain, offer or provide to the public a digital transmission service” of unauthorised media.

Those penalties include fines and prison sentences of up to three years, or five if “the person knew or should have known that the work was being prepared for commercial public performance”. The sentences rises to up to 10 years for multiple offences.

This will not apply to individuals who access pirated streams or “unwittingly” stream unauthorised copies of copyrighted work. People who might use pirate streaming services will not be affected.

“The shift toward streaming content online has resulted in criminal streaming services illegally distributing copyrighted material that costs the U.S. economy nearly $30 billion every year, and discourages the production of creative content that Americans enjoy,” Tillis commented in a statement.

Public Knowledge, a Washington-based organisation that promotes freedom of expression and an open internet, responded to Tillis’ proposal earlier this month. Its Senior Policy Counsel Meredith Rose commented, “As a general matter, we do not see the need for further criminal penalties for copyright infringement.

“However, this bill is narrowly tailored and avoids criminalizing users, who may do nothing more than click on a link, or upload a file. It also does not criminalize streamers who may include unlicensed works as part of their streams.”

As Deadline points out, the passing of such legislature would mark one of the first wins for anti-piracy campaigners in the US in years, after the industry’s attempt to push the Stop Online Piracy Act in 2012 was met with backlash and eventually dismissed.

The bill also reportedly seeks to introduce a small claims court for copyright holders to pursue. The CASE Act would see cases heard by a board established through the United States Copyright Office. Participation would be voluntary.

The Case Act had previously passed the House with a 410-6 vote, but was blocked in the Senate by Oregon senator Ron Wyden.





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Destructo Announces Special New Year’s Day Sunrise Sermon DJ Set


Let’s be honest—there’s a chance that 2020’s hideousness will spill over into 2021. It’s a thought that we’re all trying to avoid in the name of optimism, but it very well may happen thanks to nationwide lockdowns that become more stringent by the hour. Before 2021 goes off the rails, though, Destructo is kicking off the year on a rosy note.





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