A titular emblem of the 2020 zeitgeist, Channel Tres‘ I Can’t Go Outside EP has landed after a cursory October tease (“Skate Depot“). The expectedly kinetic collection of hip-house cuts centers around the Californian’s spoken vocals, which can be found sitting in velvety suspension atop textured instrumentals for the duration of I Can’t Go Outside.
Seventy-one percent of the seven-song parcel finds Tres in solo command of the individual tracklistings; Tyler, The Creator and Tinashe pick up the sole two guest slots on the exclusive affair. Armed with a groove all its own, I Can’t Go Outside is poised to invigorate contemporary sonic circles, as Tres has done all year long through cameos (see SG Lewis‘ “Impact“), and of course, his own re-imaginative (“Gimme Love [Channel Tres Remix]”) and original endeavors. I Can’t Go Outside makes an EP trio for the tastemaker, following 2019’s penultimate Black Moses and 2018’s Channel Tres.
Jack Harlow has explained why he chose not to remove Tory Lanez from his ‘What’s Poppin” remix.
READ MORE: The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020
During an interview with LA radio station Power 106, Harlow was asked why he decided to keep Lanez on the track, with reports of the Canadian rapper allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion breaking soon after its release.
“I don’t think I’m God,” he replied. “I don’t have no room to judge anybody. I wasn’t there when this and that happened, I don’t know anything. Who am I to judge?
“For me it’s music, and there’s a certain integrity you have to keep as an artist. There’s three sides to every story. I don’t think it’s my place to start judging.”
Responding to the interviewer’s reference to “cancel culture”, Harlow said: “Don’t get me started on that shit. People can’t wait to decide who they hate next. [There is] just a lot of judgement and laziness. People aren’t perfect.”
He went on to say that “people should be able to recover from their mistakes”, adding: “They can’t wait for me to slip up. And that’s just what comes with it.”
You can watch the full conversation at the nine-minute mark in the above video.
The official remix for Harlow’s ‘What’s Poppin”, also featuring Lil Wayne and DaBaby, spent 14 straight weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, peaking at Number Two.
Last month, Megan Thee Stallion revealed that she recorded the Tory Lanez diss track ‘Shots Fired’ the day after he allegedly shot her.
Lanez pleaded not guilty to assault with a semi-automatic handgun last month after he was charged in October in relation to the incident. He previously claimed that the “truth will come to the light”.
Cyberpunk 2077, one of, if not the most anticipated game of the year, officially releases tomorrow after having been pushed back multiple times. Featuring a brand new, open world to explore and a brilliant soundtrack, the futuristic game also has a number of interesting characters to interact with — including Nina Kraviz.
Yes, the Russian DJ, in addition to composing music for the game, is also an interactive NPC within the confines of Night City. Her voice-acted character is actually named Nina Kraviz — she’s a “ripper doc” which is like an underground plastic surgeon who enhances people with robotic limbs and organs. An interesting little tie-in with her real life history of being a former dentist.
She also has a whole radio station with her music (done under the fictional artist name Bara Nova).
Check out the video below, and also catch her live stream this Saturday, posted from the F1 track in Abu Dhabi, with local Middle Eastern DJs Kaytek and Hoolz also playing. The first two hours will be beside the race track (with F2 cars driving around the track at the same time as the sets), with the last hour featuring Nina in the desert.
2020 is wrapping up in a huge way for mysterious talent Slow Magic, who has shared more than a handful of vibrant singles in recent months, ultimately leading up to the release of his latest body of work it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok. Having built a career around otherworldly and unique sounds, Slow Magic has emerged as a definitive voice within the electronic music scene, and one who has now capitalized on the momentum he’s built over the years with this new project.
Representing hope for a world in crisis, Slow Magic’s it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok is a truly stunning auditory effort. Out via Moving Castle, the LP runs 12 tracks in length and features the likes of Manila Killa, RUNN, Paperwhite and more. Previously released singles such as “Closer 2 U,” “Carry On” and “Somewhere” are perfectly reinforced within the tracklist, while new gems like “All I Need” and “Wild” add a whole new dimension to the album.
“This album is a collection of songs that I worked on over the last few years that mean a lot to me,” explained Slow Magic in a press statement. “The concept and title started as an optimistic twist on a sci-fi apocalypse, but over this past year the meaning of the album has evolved as 2020 has shown us that sometimes, it truly feels like the end of the world. The idea that there is always light in the darkness rings true, and these songs, while not written for the current events of the world, can hopefully help you find solace and optimism even when things seem out of control.”
Following the release of her 2019 solo album Pang, Caroline Polachek has unveiled a collection of remixes from the LP, one of which includes Toro y Moi‘s rendition of “Hit Me Where It Hurts” featuring Chino Moreno. Ringing in the track with a fade-in of Polachek’s vocals in conjunction with an electronic staccato beat, Toro y Moi institutes a tone that is a darker and more subtle incantation of the original early in the spin. Tapping Deftones‘ frontman Chino Moreno to take over vocals, the track takes on an expansive and creeping tonality.
After the disbandment of her former band—mid-2000’s indie sensation, Chairlift—Polachek received critical acclaim for Pang, and remixes of the album’s inclusions have been slowly but surely trickling onto streaming platforms since.
Garnering more than 1 million plays on A.G. Cook‘s lauded rework of “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings,” the remix pack has now revealed outputs from Toro y Moi, George Clanton, Oklou, and umru. Polachek is set to release a full vinyl remix record, Standing At The Gate: Remix Collection, on April 16, 2021.
Stream Toro y Moi’s remix of “Hit Me Where It Hurts” below.
Featured image: Rick Kern
Tags: Caroline Polachek, chino moreno, Deftones, hit me where it hurts, remix, Toro y Moi
Following an impressive string of releases this year, Chico Rose now closes off an eventful 2020 with his brand new single ‘Do It Like Me’. Featuring a cool 80’s vibe and the sultry vocals of B-Case, it’s a tune that seems made to highlight playlists in the most sensual way. An exciting next step in Chico Rose’s continuously evolving sound, it’s out now on Mentalo Music.
Dutch DJ/producer Chico Rose has seen an incredible rise to fame these last years. Often teaming up with mentor Afrojack, with whom he reached a climax last year when the guys released ‘Sad’, a hit record that by now counts over 60 million Spotify streams and over 5,8 million views on YouTube.
Then 2020 came, a crazy year which at least resulted in more Afrojack collabs in the shape of popular tunes ‘Cloud 9’ and ‘Speechless’ (both released on Afrojack’s own Wall Recordings). In the meantime, Chico Rose released more big records, including his second-biggest hit to date: ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ (a team up with 71Digits).
‘Do It Like Me’ follows this triumphal path. Not bound to any particular genres, Chico Rose surprises his audience with a smooth piece of electro pop, using warm synth pads and delicate mid-tempo beats to set the mood into easy going. While the soulful vocals of B-Case and dreamy synth lines provide the tune with a cool 80’s vibe, the bassline nicely plays catch with the drum section, keeping things flowing and catchy – making this a real dance tune in its essence.
It’s a record to keep you warm this winter. And above all, to deliver the energy and good vibes Chico Rose and B-Case are all about.
“Do it now. Sometimes ‘later becomes never’.” – Chico Rose
“The idea behind ‘Do It Like Me’ was to create a backflash into the 80’s, the listener should feel like taking part in an 80’s movie, driving down route 65 with a white ferrari testarossa and partying until the sunrise. Our goal was combining these emotions with current dance elements and energetic basslines.” – B-Case
Tame Impala have taken to triple j’s Perth studios to perform a cover of Edwyn Collins’ ’90s hit ‘Girl Like You’ for the Australian radio station’s Like a Version segment.
The psych juggernauts were faithful to the original in their rendition, even down to Collins’ vocal filter. They performed in the same trio configuration of frontman Kevin Parker, Jay Watson (aka GUM) and Dom Simper (aka bambi) playing samplers and sequencers that they debuted for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series in August – a setup Parker dubbed “Tame Impala Soundsystem”.
Watch it below.
In a post-performance interview, Parker spoke about his love of Collins’ original, saying he’d loved it since he was a teenager.
“For me it’s a really emotive song. It’s kind of bluesy and soulful, but for me melodically it’s more than that. It’s a really unique song because it doesn’t sound like it’s from any one particular time,” Parker said.
“I remember the very first time I heard the song, I was being driven, sitting in the backseat. I think my friend’s mum was driving us home and it was late at night, and we’d been at a school excursion to Sci-Tech [a science information centre in Perth] and I just remember that vividly.”
Parker also discussed the sound of the trio setup Tame Impala have been playing with, due to coronavirus border closures in the state of Western Australia.
“I wanted to make it sound a little more like a Chemical Brothers remix. A lot of the stuff we’ve been doing with this setup has been like that. Even with our own songs, it sounds like a remix and more electronic,” he said.
As is customary of the segment, Tame Impala also performed an original: ‘Breathe Deeper’ from this year’s ‘The Slow Rush’. Watch that performance below.
In a recent interview, Parker said he was keen to play some smaller venues over the Australian summer.
“I miss those smaller shows, those sweaty, intimate shows – it’s a vibe that can’t be replaced,” he said.
“It’s not the same in an arena or a stadium. This year has been all about having a good excuse to do something you wouldn’t normally do so if it’s an excuse to do some smaller shows, I would love that.”
Tame Impala released their fourth studio album ‘The Slow Rush’ back in February of this year. In a four-star review, NME called the album a “57-minute flex of every musical muscle in Parker’s body”.
“It is, overall, an exhilarating listen… This band aren’t rock music’s saviours; they’re so much more than that.”
It’s been three years since the last album from Slow Magic, 2017’s Float. Now, the aptly titled it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok is out and it’s a much needed breath of fresh air in an overwhelmingly stressful time.
Originally planned as a 4-part release throughout the year, plans changed with COVID and the accompanying tour and release schedule had to be amended. The first single, “Home,” dropped on March 27 so it’s been a long wait for this one. In the meantime, he dropped the Closer 2 U EP, at least one part of the album we have available now.
it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok spans 12 blissful tracks, featuring names like Manila Killa, RUNN, Paperwhite, Women in Hiatus, and Mariya Stoeva.
“This album is a collection of songs that I worked on over the last few years that mean a lot to me. The concept and title started as an optimistic twist on a sci-fi apocalypse, but over this past year the meaning of the album has evolved as 2020 has shown us that sometimes, it truly feels like the end of the world. The idea that there is always light in the darkness rings true, and these songs, while not written for the current events of the world, can hopefully help you find solace and optimism even when things seem out of control.” – Slow Magic
NILSON brand beat bars has been manufacturing some truly impressive MIDI software and hardware since 2015. Experts in 3D modeling, electronics, and computer engineering are the minds behind some of the brand’s work, including MIDI pedals and footswitches that are perfect for musicians who wish they had four hands instead of two.
Pedals and footswitches are nothing new, but beat bars’ quality products have consistently garnered positive reviews and have been an effective tool for music makers across the globe for years now.
beat bars recently took things a step further, crafting something that is new. The Cardboard Expression Pedal and Cardboard Footswitch are 100% environmentally friendly, using only cardboard and other biodegradable material. That’s right—your new favorite MIDI pedals are made out of cardboard.
beat bars Cardboard Expression Pedal
The first question that comes to mind, obviously, is “How will cardboard hold up with the weight of a human leg and foot pressing down on it?” Fear not. Intricate and well-engineered design ensures that the footswitch and pedal are structurally sound, and the pads on each switch and pedal are actually quite comfortable in socks or shoes.
Another burning question: “How does cardboard interact with my computer?” The Cardboard Expression Pedal and Cardboard Footswitch operate using an iPhone application that communes with your digital audio workstation (DAW) of choice via USB adapters. Using heat-sensitive fabric, each press of the pedal strikes a button on the app when the iPhone is placed in an adaptable tray, and in turn allows the user complete control over changing or adding effects using only the foot.
These pedals free up hands for playing and recording instrumentation in real time, allowing for seamless transitioning between effects in the musician’s DAW without the need for stopping to change effects. To program those effects, users will need to adjust the MIDI settings in their DAW of choice.
beat bars
Much of the fun of using the beat bars Cardboard Expression Pedal and Cardboard Footswitch actually comes from the construction of each device. The products come flattened out, with punch-out holes and step-by-step instructions for assembling each pedal. Model and LEGO builders will enjoy the assembly of the pedals, and it only takes a few minutes to do.
Those seeking an innovative, unique, and environmentally-friendly studio product that’s not too hard on the wallet need look no further. If finances are a barrier, beat bars also offers a free template for the construction of the pedals for users to craft with their own cardboard, pen, and scissors. Only the free iPhone app and a DAW are needed to enjoy beat bars’ latest offering.
The app is supported by all iPhones from the first generation SE model onward, and the Expression Pedal and Footswitch include a built-in tray that will fit any of those models’ size.
To learn more about beat bars’ Cardboard Expression Pedal and Cardboard Footswitch or to order or download the free template, visit the official beat bars website.
After a long string of singles, anonymous veteran Slow Magic has finally released his fourth studio record, it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok. The Moving Castle release features the likes of RUNN on vocals, label co-founder Manilla Killa, and even sees Shallou pick up a production credit on “Somewhere.” Though the title may sound bleak, the record’s core themes focus on positivity and moving forward, Slow Magic explained:
“This album is a collection of songs that I worked on over the past few years that mean a lot to me. The concept and title started as an optimistic twist on a sci-fi apocalypse, but over this past year, the meaning of the album has evolved as 2020 has shown us that sometimes, it truly feels like the end of the world.
The idea that there is always light in the darkness rings true, and these songs, while not written for the current events of the world, can hopefully help you find solace and optimism even when things seem out of control.”
it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok is Slow Magic’s first full release since 2017’s Float, and more recently follows the producer’s 2019 EP, Dreams. Slow Magic teased the record in his recent Digital Mirage Friendsgiving performance, which is now available to relive on YouTube.
Featured image: @ILikeYourFace/Instagram
Tags: Manila Killa, Mariya Stoeva, moving castle, paperwhite, runn, shallou, slow magic, Woven In Hiatus
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