10-year-old drumming sensation Nandi Bushell has shared a new original song – listen to ‘Gods and Unicorns’ below.
The track follows a series of back-and-forth drum battles between Bushell and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl across lockdown.
“My heart is full of pride! I am so excited for you to hear my new song I wrote with Zuzu,” Bushell wrote of the song. “On the song I play ALL the instruments [guitar, bass, drums, keyboard] myself. I wrote and recorded the song at home.”
The track’s co-writer, Liverpool-based songwriter and NME 100 alumni Zuzu, added: “GO NANDI!!! Go check out the bop we wrote together! She played EVERY SINGLE INSTRUMENT.”
Last month, Grohl admitted defeat in his long-running battle with Bushell while speaking on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “That kid is a force of nature”, he said, and likened the situation to squaring off with a school bully: “I’d be like, oh my God, I’m gonna get my ass kicked again”.
While meeting for the first time in a video interview organised by The New York Times, Grohl and Bushell agreed to write a new original song together.
“We should make a song together. Do you want to do that?” Grohl asked, to which Bushell responded: “Yes! Yeah, definitely.”
“Well, I’m not playing drums, I’ll tell you that,” Grohl joked in response.
The child rocker was noticed by Grohl after her take on Nirvana‘s ‘In Bloom’ went viral earlier this year. Grohl then responded to a challenge posed by Bushell in August in which the aspiring rocker challenged the 51-year-old to a drum-off through a video she posted of a cover of Foo Fighters’ hit song ‘Everlong’.
Grohl then composed Bushell her own superhero theme, which Bushell then duly responded to, penning Rock and Grohl – The EPIC Battle’.
The not-so-unsung hero of dubstep, Phiso has the attention of just about every major producer and bass-head in the world (and comedian Gilbert Gottfried). With his Never Say Die: Black Label release, “Close Combat,” and a rip-roaring remix of PhaseOne and Subtronics‘ “Demon Hunter,” Phiso has been on quite a tear recently.
Now, the young producer has set the bar even higher with his latest release, “Dot Code.”
The new single is both a tribute to classic gaming and a heavy-as-hell dubstep anthem. Phiso, as expected, holds nothing back in terms of sound design and raw, gritty percussive elements. The eeriness of the breakdown reflects the theme of the monumental advancements in modern technology, while closely examining the necessity of it all.
With a nod to Nintendo‘s “Dot Code” feature from the days of auld, Phiso balances that nostalgic idea with an anthemic release that’s made for 2020 and beyond. It’s dark, heavy, and another shining example of why Phiso has become one of the most highly sought-after artists in the bass music community.
Phiso’s “Dot Code” is out now and can be found on streaming platforms here.
Rapidly up-and-coming bass house act Cloverdale has landed on Tchami’s Confession record label once again. The eastern Canadian’s first Confession offering, the frenetic and funky “My Soul,” first dropped in March; now, several singles later, he returns to the rapidly establishing label for an energetic two-tracker.
The EP fittingly opens on “Open Up,” a festival-ready heater scored with scorching synths above Cloverdale’s signature groove. “Tumblin” takes a bit more of an obscure approach to bass house, as a left-field melody steps into center stage before heavy bass elements take over. The EP comes just weeks after Cloverdale announced his audio-visual label VIBRANCY.
Willie J Healey has shared a new Christmas song – listen to the simply titled ‘Merry Christmas’ below.
The new track follows the British singer-songwriter’s debut full-length album ‘Twin Heavy’, which came out earlier this year via YALA! Records.
“I’ve always loved Christmas,” Healey said of the new track in a statement. “I wanted to write a song for all of the hard working parents out there, working tirelessly to provide without glory or merit.”
Listen to Willie J Healey’s ‘Merry Christmas’ below.
Healey’s debut album ‘Twin Heavy’ came out back in August. A four-star NME review said it saw “the lusty drama of Pulp meet ‘70s psych decadence,” adding: “From the sickly sweet declaration of love on ‘For You’ through the baroque-pop influenced ‘Thousand Reasons’, ‘Twin Heavy’ is an eccentric album that never shies away from left turns.
“An album that’s ready to fall head over heels at a moment’s notice. It’s hard not to get caught up in his absolute lust for life.”
Back in September, Healey hosted an edition of NME Home Sessions from his bedroom, performing ‘Twin Heavy’ tracks ‘Fashun’ and ‘Big Nothing’. Watch the pair of performances above.
Delve further into the creation of ‘Twin Heavy’ with a recent NME interview with Healey around the album’s release. “There are a lot of songs about love and being frustrated,” he said of the debut album. “When I listen back to it now, it’s quite nostalgic.”
Everything’s better with friends, right? Bear Grillz proves this on his sophomore album released this week via Dim Mak, Friends: The Album. Spanning 12 collaborations with the likes of Adventure Club & JT Roach, SIPPY, Spag Heddy, Figure, Dion Timmer, and more, Bear shows off his all-star friends list with equally amazing collaborations.
The album is a clear continuation from his run of Bear Grillz & Friends EPs from 2014 and later, paying homage to the early stages of his career while also providing a much needed creative outlet.
Whether it’s reggae-pop melodies on “Give Em What They Want” alongside Iration, high-charged bass on “Run It (feat. Bok Nero)” with Riot Ten, or dreamlike soundscapes on his Adventure Club and JT Roach collaboration “Where We Are,” Grillz’s skillful collection of a diverse ensemble of musicians shows what friends can accomplish when they come together.
Nitepunk can celebrate another major move in his career now that he has made his HARD Recs label debut with his new single “Flow.” The track is an absolute barrage of breaks and bass that will make you want to host a solo underground dance party in your living room.
The blossoming bass producer held nothing back. With “Flow,” Nitepunk expertly channels the classic breakbeat production skills of his predecessors while morphing it into a beast uniquely his own. The silky smooth interlacing of the track’s drum progressions and vocal samples makes for an earworm that is the perfect escapism song to transport you back to simpler times.
In a recent social post, Nitepunk shared the journey to “Flow” and what he hopes his fans take away from it. “This year got us all in our own way, but with this track I wanted to have a reminder for me and you all that whatever’s happening, there’s still a way to ignore negativity, still a way to find fun and happiness and enjoy things we love doing even if it seems less important, because it never is,” he wrote.
The New York-based producer has been on a roll as of late, releasing tracks on Never Say Die, Subsidia, Disciple, and Circus, among other leading bass music imprints. He also dropped his first-ever EP, Red Turbulence. He’s an artist you are going to want to have on your watchlist.
Stream “Flow” below and across all platforms here.
At the intersection of synthpop, electro house, indie, and melodic dubstep stands Xavi, an Ophelia Records accolade whom the label’s most faithful of followers will recognize from his recent guest spot on Ophelia Presents: Advent Volume 2. After gracing the second volume of Ophelia’s burgeoning EP series with “Breaking Your Void” in November, Xavi is taking another lap around the electronic release circuit, courtesy of “Neverless.”
If “Breaking Your Void” offered a snapshot of Xavi’s versatility, then “Neverless” provides a fuller picture. Derived from his forthcoming debut album, To The Endless Searing Skies, “Neverless” builds on the melodic bass foundation that Xavi laid on “Breaking Your Void” in a twinkling four-minutes and 17 seconds.
An amalgamation of evident Porter Robinson and San Holo influence intermingled with Xavi’s own sensibilities for soundscape crafting, the lead single from the Missouri-grounded producer’s LP can be streamed below. A formal release date for the album—the second to be distributed via Ophelia Records—is forthcoming.
Today (December 5), Yusuf / Cat Stevens hosted a virtual event called ‘CatSong Festival’, which saw famous fans covering classic Stevens tracks.
The special live YouTube broadcast celebrated the 50th anniversary of Stevens’ 1970 albums ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ and ‘Mona Bone Jakon’ and saw the likes of HAIM, Brandon Boyd of Incubus, Jack Johnson, James Morrison, Passenger and many more performing songs from across Stevens’ discography.
“It’s great to see and hear these covers of my songs given new life,” Stevens said of the event in a statement upon its announce.
“There’s no better honour for a songwriter than to have his songs performed by talented musicians with such love and sincerity. Thank you.”
Watch the full ‘CatSong Festival’ broadcast back below.
In September, Yusuf / Cat Stevens released a new reimagining of his original 1970 song ‘Father And Son’.
This new version of ‘Father And Son’ featured on the artist’s recently released album ‘Tea for the Tillerman²’.
Reviewing the updated version of the 1970 album, NME wrote: “Not just a charming – and no doubt quite fun – thing for Stevens to busy himself with, it’s also a powerful way to track the passing of time.”
Longevity in any career field is hard to come by, especially in the music industry. Bands, genres, trends…all of these things can have a short shelf life. The definition of longevity in the dance music sphere is UK producer/DJ Paul Oakenfold. His career has spanned nearly four decades. He helped pave the way for acid house in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s. He became one of the first international superstar DJs in the 90s as well. Additionally, he helped pave the way for dance music in the US at the advent of the 21st century.
Did you know, though, that Oakenfold’s fingerprints extend well beyond the dance music world? Prior to becoming a superstar DJ, Paul was an A&R head championing hip-hop and R&B in the UK. He signed luminary acts like Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince and Salt-N-Pepa to label deals in the UK. Turns out Oakenfold is just as good at A&R as he is at producing hits.
We got the chance to talk to the legendary English DJ ahead of the anticipated 2021 release of his upcoming artist album Shine On. Paul told us all about his history in the R&B world, what fans can expect from his new album, what he’s been up to in quarantine and his thoughts on the industry.
Hey Paul, thanks for chatting with us. Obviously, this has been a year like no other, tell us what you’ve been up to in 2020?
“I’ve finished my album, that’ll be a big move for me. Really working hard in the studio to finish it, so I’ve done that. And then, I started work on another project, I’ve been writing music for a TV show, it’s a documentary actually, it’s based on biohacking. So, I’ve been busy in the studio, writing a lot of music.”
Let’s get right into it, you’re working on your new album Shine On. There’s already been two singles, one with Eve, one with Luis Fonsi. Tell us what’s going to be so different and unique about this album?
“This album is very much, it’s all based like my last two, it’s mainly downtempo, it’s very cinematic. I’ve been working with various different composers and orchestras. So, it’s a very interesting record. It still sheds light on some familiar names and some new names. It’s similar to my last artist albums, where I’ve got people from different genres. Eve is on the single, from the rap world, and the last single, Lusi Fonsi, he’s certainly not the obvious dance act. So I’ve kind of been, and always have been into all kinds of music. So I’ve kind of been touching on various different singers and artists and I enjoy the collaborations.”
Why have you decided to seek out more pop and hip-hop leaning artists?
“Well, since way back, I’ve been working in that space. Like when I was working in the UK for Champion Records. I signed Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince [Will Smith], I signed Salt-N-Pepa, I’ve been running Def Jam in the UK, Profile Records which is Run-DMC, I’ve been in and out of that space for years, and love that sound. That being said, I always like it when I can collaborate with and feature those kinds of artists. My last album, I had Pharrell Williams. So, I’m a big fan of Eve’s, I’ve known here for a while, and we did a collaboration.”
One thing that a lot of fans probably didn’t know, myself included, is that you’ve actually had just as much of an influence on hip-hop over the years that you’ve had on electronic music. Tell us about some of your A&R and label experience in hip-hop?
“I was working in A&R for many years, for Profile Records in the UK, for Champion Records in the UK, I still do A&R for my own label, Perfecto Records. It’s always been a love of mine to find new talent, sign it, and release it. I enjoy that.”
Your long and illustrious career has spanned more than three decades now, what keeps you going and what inspires you at this stage of your career?
“I really enjoy playing music, I enjoy writing music, I love finding new talent. It’s more than a job, music, for me, it’s just my first love and probably always will be.”
Being unable to perform or tour at all this year, what do you miss the most about live shows.
“I miss the crowds, it’s just something special that you have with the audience; the joy and the love. I’m not a real fan of streaming, I like the interaction with the crowd, so for me, that’s always been important. I really do miss that.”
Any plans to maybe expand touring when it’s safe to do so next year?
“Yeah, I can’t wait to get back and start touring. For me, it’ll be good to get back on the road, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Tell us a little bit about the man behind the music, how have you managed to achieve work/life balance and stay so grounded throughout the years?
“I think with work, whatever job you do, if you really enjoy it, I don’t even necessarily see it like work, it’s just a way of life for me. Like you said I’ve been doing this for over three decades, and for me, it’s just wonderful that through music I can travel the world and meet people. I enjoy all that.”
Have you picked up any hobbies during quarantine or have any binge watch recommendations?
“I’ve gone through different stages, I think like a lot of people. I enjoyed the pause on life when it first came around, because I was working so hard. And then I started to catch up on a lot of things. Watched a lot of TV, spent time in my house looking at what I could do to improve the house, some gardening. Now I’m just rearing to go, I’ve kind of had enough like a lot of people, I want to get out and get going.”
What’s your take on the state of dance music and music in general.
“It’s weird because that’s just what it is, dance music, and no one’s been able to go out to clubs and dance. There’s still so much music I’m getting sent and listening to, but at the end of the day, these records, I want to play them out in clubs. So, we’ll see.”
Any words for the fans?
“I miss everyone, I miss going out and going to clubs. I hope that we can all get back to some kind of normal sooner rather than later. Thank you guys, appreciate your support on the record.”
Check out the latest from Paul Oakenfold x Eve x Baby E, “What’s Your Love Like,” out now Perfecto. Stay tuned for Shine On due out in 2021. Also make sure to check out Paul’s awesome home live stream for Sunburn Festival.
Tony Hsieh was a visionary whose connection to dance music uniquely shaped many of his guiding principles in the business world.
Hsieh tragically died last week at the age of 46 due to health complications following injuries sustained in a house fire. While the revered entrepreneur and former CEO of Zappos is no longer with us, his memory lives on among family and co-workers who remember him fondly for his kindness and strength in fostering community.
As a tech executive, Hsiehplaced emphasis on the creation of a synergistic culture, which was a pillar of his business strategy. In a July 2015 interview with Quartz, he explained that his foundational principles in this area were developed through his relationship with electronic dance music. Hsieh, who lived in Las Vegas and regularly attended EDC, explained that the ideals of PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) directly influenced the culture at Zappos. The visionary businessman saw PLUR as a unique code to guide business practices due to its ability to mobilize a tribe to pursue something greater, all while still preserving individual expression.
Hsieh was first introduced to the concept of PLUR during a formative time in his career. Having sold his first company LinkExchange to Microsoft for $250 million, he had already seen tremendous success, but the young entrepreneur picked up a new hobby—attending raves—and was beginning to have new epiphanies.
Hsieh recalled the moment that things clicked during a 1999 rave. “The entire room felt like one massive, united tribe of thousands of people, and the DJ was the tribal leader of the group,” Hsieh wrote in his book Delivering Happiness. “I made a note to myself to make sure I never lost sight of the value of a tribe where people truly felt connected and cared about the well-being of one another.”
Hsieh’s legacy lives on in the infectiously positive culture he cultivated, which has been spotlighted as a model-standard by authors and entrepreneurs alike. As one Fast Company profile on Zappos observed: “Zappos has an employee culture that seems very much of one mind, focused on customer service and not in some sort of cookie-cutter corporate way. Zappos really cares that you’re happy.”
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