Media Contender » Music

Kastle Announces New Label: Symbols Recordings

Laura Dambuleff — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:18:39 +0000

There are few, very few, individuals in the music industry who not only repeatedly one-up the game, but continue to one-up themselves. Perhaps one of my favorite examples of this type of person is San Francisco’s own Kastle. With a sound that remains fresh and exciting while still being able to appeal to audiences across the board, Kastle has been able to develop a strong entity, one that is well-respected by everyone who’s listened in. By presenting such a unique take on bass music, many (including myself) find themselves flocking to Kastle for more. With that in mind, it is with extreme pleasure that I get to help spread the word of his brand new record label, Symbols Recordings.

With the launch of the label comes a mass of music, including a brilliant hour-long mixtape that explores many of the upcoming Symbols releases as well as artists fitting well within the Symbols niche. On top of that, the first three Symbols releases have been announced, the first an EP with four new originals from the newly-titled label boss himself and a remix from British charmers Maribou State. With clear influences from the San Francisco house scene, tracks like “Can’t Explain” and “Don’t Look Back” explore an intelligent blend between soulful melodies and drum-heavy house beats. Funky house vocals from Austin Paul on “You Said” and deep and haunting vocals and synths on “Stay Forever” round out the EP to a bit of a new realm for Kastle, but still with a wonderful Kastle signature to it all. Maribou State’s floaty remix of “Can’t Explain” is a perfect finish to the EP, and likely a perfect finale to anybody’s night, if you catch my drift…

Symbols Recordings, in true Kastle form, is lined up to explode with new music over the coming months, with upcoming releases from Jason Burns, Cosmic Revenge, Sleepyhead, and collaborations between Kastle and his fellow friends and producers. Likely much more amazing mixes are ahead as well, and with a visual aesthetic provided by Symbols’ incredibly talented art director Joyce Su, Symbols is likely to stick around in everyones brains as an outlet that encompasses beauty and charm in art, in music, and in spirit.

Give a listen to the mix and the first EP (which comes out June 5th) below, and you can also check full previews of the first three EPs now through Symbols’ website.

You can follow Symbols Recordings here:
Facebook
SoundCloud
Twitter

ChromaCast 12 – Cosmo Brown

Media Contender — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:24:49 +0000

Welcome back to ChromaCast with episode 12 featuring Cosmo Brown; a name any old-school Los Angeles D&B or House head will recognize from the heydays of Midnite Bombers and Vibeflow. As the 2012 Summer festival season gets started, he dusts off his headphones and comes out of DJ semi-retirement to mix 100 minutes of house music intended to put the smile back in vogue.

Having been rather silent in the scene for a few years, Cosmo is very excited to share The Happiness Meme with the Media Contender audience. It was conceived in two parts as an homage to the days of the mix tape, back when we’d wear out sides A and B on the car stereo as we found our way to the warehouse parties. Times sure have changed (The Happiness Meme is available on ChromaCast in one continuous mix for iPods and other media players), but that feeling we get as we head out to a night of dancing sure hasn’t. Take this music with you on the ride to the good times, and let’s make happy cool again.

[ SUBSCRIBE TO CHROMACAST ]

ChromaCast 12
Cosmo Brown – The Happiness Meme (Full Mix)

Feeling Old-School? Grab the mixtapes!
★ DOWNLOAD SIDE A ★ DOWNLOAD SIDE B ★

Side A

1. Kawatin – 4 Seasons (Original Mix)
2. Jay Lumen – Can You Dance? (Original Mix)
3. Tapesh, Sidney Charles – I Got Ya (Original Mix)
4. Josh the Funky 1 – Everynight (Anthony Ross Remix)
5. Zoo Brazil – The Big Rose (Original Mix)
6. Mario Ochoa – The Indian Express (Original Mix)
7. Matthew Codek, Nader Razdar – Alegria (Original Mix)
8. Antranig – Spank it (Original Mix)
8. Aria, DJ Ortzy, Mark.M – Party in Miami (Miami 2012 Update) (Manuel De La Mare Remix)
9. John Dahlback – Feel It (Original Club Mix)
10. Lorenzo Navarro – So Late (Original Mix)
11. DJ Sneak – BUSTED GROOVE (Original Mix)
12. Frozenman – Fading Outta View (Chillout Mix)

Side B

13. Kirsty Hawkshaw, Liquid Kaos – Back In Time (John Dahlback Remix)
14. Deadmau5 – Fifths (Max Zotti Remix)
15. Stephan Bazbaz, Kobb – Lost In Shangri-La (Original Mix)
16. Maxi Valvona – Pictures (Original Mix)
17. Joe Garston – The Promise (Original Mix)
18. Avicii – Levels (Original Mix)
19. Dragonette – Let it Go (Faustix & Imanos Remix)
20. Wolfgang Gartner – There And Back (Original Mix)
21. Cicada, Third Party – Feel (Original Mix)
22. Umek, Stefano Noferini – Goes On (Original Mix)
23. Swedish House Mafia – Greyhound (Original Mix)
24. Tiesto, Luciana, Wolfgang Gartner – We Own The Night feat. Luciana (Original Mix)

About Cosmo Brown

Cosmo Brown has been enjoying slicing and dicing electronic music for almost two decades. With stints in the Los Angeles underground scene of the mid to late 90s that ran the gamut from acid house to Goa trance to drum and bass, he eventually settled on the dark steppers that got the dance floors moving. Feeling the urge most DJs eventually feel to write and produce their own music, he launched Lush Recordings, releasing three well-received drum and bass singles under the imprint.

Putting all the studio gear in storage as he pursued other creative endeavors, he kept his finger on the pulse of Electronic Dance Music by continuing to collect great tunes – and dancing his ass off at the best parties. Just about every year or so, his closest friends get an email with a link to a new Cosmo Brown mix, a tradition that has kept his intuitive ability to program an inspiring musical journey about as sharp as the first time he figured out how to mix two 4/4 beats together. He now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has officially begun the search for a DJ residency in his new home town.

Whiskey Pete’s 10 Dub Commandments

Laura Dambuleff — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:20:17 +0000

LA’s notorious dub MC Whiskey Pete always seems to be on his hustle, churning out verses left and right and collaborating with various individuals all over the bass music scene. With a flow and aural aesthetic that envelops the LA hustle in the gritty, aggressive but still full of emotion sense of the term, Whiskey Pete has created an image that people can love or hate, but no matter what, can find some sort of common ground with.

His latest venture, a drumstep tune called “The 10 Dub Commandments” brings along with it a music video, both of which are premiering here for your viewing and listening pleasure. The video ventures across the US on Pete’s many adventures (err… shenanigans perhaps) and presents a lineup of exactly what the title itself presents: ten commandments. My only amendment: party on.

Whiskey Pete
10 Dub Commandments (William Van Dyke OG Mix)

Kelly Dean & Kemst: I Got You EP

Media Contender — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:16:39 +0000

Just last week a few of SMOG‘s artists released a brand new EP on San Francisco’s Sublife Recordings. The 5 track release features five different takes on the title track, a collaborative effort between Kelly Dean and Kemst. The track is deep and and features sounds signature to Sublife, along with classic dub inspired vocals from Kemst. Pawn‘s remix goes even deeper and darker, while Lukeino brings a D&B vibe to the mix. Both the original and the Pawn remix feature dub edits as well, rounding out the EP to all ends of the dub spectrum.

Kelly Dean was nice enough to provide us with his latest mix for KROQ, as well as handing us a new remix he whipped up for download FREE through Media Contender.

The Widdler
Manhunt (Kelly Dean Remix)

Tonight: Media Contender @ Dance Right w/ Flinch

Laura Dambuleff — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:53:51 +0000

Tonight at Dance Right, Media Contender once again is taking over downtown’s La Cita bar to keep the energy at peak-levels after Artwalk. Headlining the evening is SMOG’s own not-so-secret weapon, Flinch. If you’ve been following him at all on twitter, you know he’s been hustling in his studio as well as back at the compound with 12th Planet, so be ready for a barrage of unreleased, and potentially unheard new tracks sprinkled over the course of his fired up set.

To add to the evening, The Juggernaut will also be making an appearance in celebration of the release of his new EP “The Hustle” on the SMOG imprint. Finally, one half of CAMO UFOs and arguably the man with the best beard in Los Angeles, Nate Day will be there to open up the evening. If tonight is anything like last time we took over La Cita, you’re not going to want to miss it. The best part? It’s FREE with RSVP until 11, and only $5 after. Score.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Dell Harris: Right Now Volume II

Laura Dambuleff — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:45:51 +0000

Although it’s a fairly new explosion of rappers joining forces with electronic producers to put together an album, Dell Harris is no stranger to this kind of collaboration. Having worked with Party Like Us mastermind AC Slater for some time now, the two have really been able to create a strong and efficient bond that showcases their efforts and unique abilities on quite a few releases. Many are familiar with their AC & Dell collab, “Right Now,” and this time Dell Harris is back with a full album. Having AC on the production tip allows for a noticeable and exciting flow, and the ATLien raps with an intelligent but slightly cheeky demeanor over ACs signature bass lines and engaging instrumentals. With production cameos from Xaphoon Jones and vocal cameos from Megan Thomas, Ced Hughes, and Stephan Christopher, the album travels through 9 tracks that truly envelop Dell’s “Right Now” demeanor. Be it raps about his girl or his difficulty remembering last night, the underlying presence of “living in the now” leaves the listener with a deeper appreciation for the present.

Our friend Cru Joness headed over to Atlanta to meet up with Dell and friends in anticipation for the record, capturing the charm and friendship shared between everyone on the album. From the graphic designer to the partiers to the producers and everyone between, Dell seems to have a strong team under his wings.

You can, of course, go ahead and purchase the album through iTunes here. But as an added bonus, AC and Dell have kindly provided the title track “Volume II” for you to download for free. Get hyped.

Check Yo Ponytail 2: Tiga, Light Year, Damian Lazarus, & more!

Laura Dambuleff — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:27:36 +0000

This Thursday Check Yo Ponytail has an extremely special lineup coming through the Echoplex, one so great you’d be making a huge mistake to miss it. As many attendees of Check Yo’s shows know, it’s always been a great platform for artists from every corner of the world, in every genre, to play, especially the ones who don’t come around very often. Unified by forward-thinking and a passion for music, bands, rappers, DJs, and everyone in-between has graced the stage. So, to kick off May, a selection of electronic talent from around the globe is ready to show Los Angeles what they’re made of.

★ ★ ★ ★ CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ★ ★ ★ ★

Tiga, head of Turbo Recordings and generally one of the most awesome musical personalities of all time, is heading the night, along with Crosstown Rebels’ brilliant Damian Lazarus, and Australia’s champion Light Year. Of course, let’s not forget CYP2′s resident badman Franki Chan will be there to kick off the night as well. Each of these four men have been holding their own in the music game, with names that no DJ nor fan will soon forget. Forging their way past trends, cliches, and pigeonholes, they’ve all been creating music that continually raises the bar and pushes the scene forward.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for this show. Everyone on the bill is an amazing performer with a keen ear for great music and the skills to match. In anticipation for the evening’s festivities, Light Year has provided an excellent hour-long mix to hype everyone up. It’s a lively and tasteful travel through Light Year’s style, with tinges of the styles Damian Lazarus and Tiga have in the mix as well. Enjoy, and see you all Thursday.

PS- As an added bonus, if you haven’t seen Tiga’s “Ciao Means Forever” interview series… you need to. Seriously.

SPL: Free Triage Remix for Download

Media Contender — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:18:41 +0000

SMOG’s roster is proving to be a battalion of artists with strong prowess, and one of their heavyweights and newest member of the SMOG family SPL has been a large contender of the scene with multitudes of releases and shows throughout the year. Playing over at Miami Music Week as well as SXSW, and releases on his label Hollow Point as well as others like Play Me and Position Chrome, the Portland native has been quite the busy man. And like all true bad-asses, he’s sharing his efforts with the world in the generous gesture of handing over one of his tunes for free.

The remix of Triage‘s “Radium” is SPL’s first venture into the 110 BPM realm, and as you’ll quickly discover, it’s a big one. Grab the remix while you still can, as it’s only being offered up for free download for a limited time. Triage’s EP drops tomorrow, with appearances and remixes from SPL, Antiserum, The Bassist, Chewie, Riskotheque, and Jaden.

Meech: Exclusive Mixtape & Interview

Laura Dambuleff — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:16:37 +0000

Ah, Canada. There must be something in the air up there, as over the past few years Canada has made a more than notable name for itself in the upbringing of a very large number of talented producers. Everywhere I turn, every lineup, and in the depths or surface of every music blog on the interwebs, Canadian producers. And they’re all so amazing at making music. Share the wealth, Canada! With all of that being said, Toronto has raised a strong new upcomer on the house music scene, and his name is Meech. With some of his first releases on strong house labels like Discobelle and Demento Mori, Meech has already created a solid foundation for himself on the musical front.

We got Meech to hand us over a lovely hour long mix through an exciting and energetic selection of bonafide house tunes. Keep an eye out for Meech’s upcoming return to the US with a selection of tour dates in California and the west coast. Lots of love from Canada on this one!

Sup Meech? How are you? How was WMC?

Hey! All is great! Wishing I was still in Miami, as the weather in Toronto does not compare! WMC was awesome this year, it’s always a good time to meet up with old friends, make new ones & really let loose.

Tell us a little about your musical venture, Meech.

I’m a dj/producer from Toronto, Canada with a never ending appetite. I started to DJ a very long time ago, when “EDM” was only allowed to be played in sketchy lofts and the only drink of choice was Pabst… Some things never change, eh? I finally started focusing on producing in the past few years, and here I am now!

What do you think is the biggest hurdle in learning to produce, or in releasing your records?

Finding your “sound” is probably the biggest challenge when first starting out. Once you figure that out the second hardest hurdle is finding a “suitable” label. I feel a lot of artists lack a sensible business side and just release anywhere for the sake of releasing. I’ve been fortunate to have received early support from the likes of Discobelle Records and Demento Mori, labels which care about the product as much as they do about the artist.

Any studio or pre/post set rituals?

This one is simple… Food, food & more food.

You’ve definitely got the breezy and charming house sound down… where do you derive that inspiration from? Is there a particular element/vibe/sound you like to keep prominent in your stuff? Or another you’re leaning towards mixing in?

I love house music, especially the classic Chicago-driven sound. But I also love techno and I would be lying if I didn’t say I loved electro midst its hype a few years back. The one consistent element I like to maintain is making all tracks “DJ-friendly” with an intro/outro for it to be mixed in/out easily.

What’s one piece of equipment or software you wish existed for DJing? For producing?

Hologram synths!

Dream festival/gig/place you’d like to play?

New Years Day in Sydney, Aus!

What’s up next for Meech?

I’ll be heading out to Europe in June and doing some US tour dates in the Summer. I’ll also be part of Fool’s Gold new compilation “Clubhouse” and I have an upcoming remix for Krazy Baldhead which will be out on Ed Banger sometime in the Spring/Summer.

Tell us a bit about what you’ve provided for us at Media Contender.

I am providing you with a mix that should take you in a journey of highs & lows featuring a few exclusives with some old and some newer jams.

Meech
April 2012 Media Contender Mix

Tracklist:

Rhythim is Rhythim – Strings of Life
Maelstrom – House Music
Trevino – Derelict
Meech – Somethin
Rene Kuppens – Star Drumz
L-Vis 1990 – Video Drone
Joyce Muniz & Shanti Roots – Maluca
Zombie Disco Squad – Danca Do Zumbi
Meati & Meech – Favela
AutoKratz – Splinters (Keith & Supabeatz remix)
Clouds – Sucker
DJ Pierre – Acid Beats
F+S – Acid One
Larry Heard presents Mr. White – The Sun Can’t Compare

CYP2 with Hype Williams, Gatekeeper, James Ferraro & Whitecar TONIGHT

Media Contender — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:52:17 +0000

Tonight Check Yo Ponytail 2 is back and this time we’re bringing the long-awaited show with Hype Williams, Gatekeeper, James Ferraro, Whitecar, and Slow Motion DJs to the humble grounds of the Echoplex. We’re very excited for the show and as a little appetizer for the night, Whitecar has provided a little mixtape in liu of tonight’s festivities. The Chicago-based duo slang together a 30 minute selection through the dark, goth-influenced techno wave realm, all too appropriate for the eve and definitely for the stage at Echoplex. Hope to see many of you out there tonight, and in case you missed it, the link to buy tickets is below.

★ ★ BUY TICKETS TO CYP2 4/24 ★ ★