444

444 is a music blog curated by members of Gramophone Media, a TriBeCa-based music company

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First Intern Post//GM TRAX

Playlist – EDM & Uptempo

Hi Guys,

I couldn’t pick just one artist/song to talk about in this post... hope that’s okay. I made a little playlist here where you can listen to some of my favorite EDM tracks of the moment. 

Starts with a couple of chill beats, which gradually moves into more and more hype & turnt tracks. I imagine some will love, and others will totally hate this kinda stuff – but I wake up to 128 or faster... so that’s a little fair warning before you dive into my lil’ mixtape on this beautiful Thursday morning. 

If you like the tunes (and use Soundcloud), hit me with a follow for a regular dose of playlists/reposts/huge collection of likes to browse for more. 

And I’ll hitcha with a follow back 😉

– Kevin Westergaard, Gramophone Media 

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Sydney Renae

Two days ago during an admitted YouTube binge, I stumbled across an amazing female vocalist, Sydney Renae, doing a remake of Tyrese’s How You Gonna (an oldie but a goodie). If her cover alone didn’t catch my attention, two hours of listening to her EP Sleeping with Enemy on repeat definitely did. 

Sydney Renae is a soulful combination of Keyshia Cole and a female Bryson Tiller. The embodiment of putting her heart on the track, I suggest that you all stay on the lookout for Sydney. 

In the meantime, check her out here:  https://soundcloud.com/sydneyrenaem 

-Laissa, Gramophone

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Noise and Hip Hop - Clipping

I’m a big fan of music that stands out from the rest of the pack. I’m always thoroughly impressed when a musician gives me an experience rather than just their music. This is how I feel about the group, Clipping. Clipping is an experimental hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group consists of MC Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes. I first got to know Diggs because of his role as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway musical, Hamilton. I was perusing his co-star Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Twitter when i happened upon a Tweet of one of the tracks on his album, CLPPNG. I took one listen and I was hooked. My favorite song of that album is “Story 2″ where Diggs spends 2 minutes and 12 seconds rapping in 9 different time signatures while telling a story about a man who goes straight after a life of crime, yet cannot escape the violence of his past.

https://youtu.be/XbU9UUwxBxA 

Their second album, titled Splendor & Misery, was released in September, features the industrial musique-concrete-like sound and the signature fast rap by Daveed himself. Check it out! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5eC0cRYhgBcaiDhJerBcT3

--Sarafina, Right Angle PR

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A recent artist that has sparked my curiosity is the enigmatic producer k?d. He delivers hypnotizing synths and melodic, R&B infused vocals from RKCB in his latest record “Discover”. I first heard his music by way of his stellar remix of soulful and damn mesmerizing RKCB’s original record titled “Elevated”. “Discover” was released by forward thinking, independent label PRMD and is in good company along with their other excellent releases from artists such as Cazzette, Throttle, and iSHi. This is the very first song on his Spotify account which currently has 84 thousand listeners, mostly from Paris, and his fresh productions have been creating an internal buzz throughout the industry. There is no public information on his upcoming live shows but I am very curious to hear a set/ show produced by k?d.

Listen: https://soundcloud.com/whoskid/discover-feat-rkcb-1

-Ashley 

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At.Play is a group from Denver Colorado. I first found them when I was looking for young, up-and-coming artists to fill out the roster at a small up-and-coming festival. They had just three tracks on their soundcloud back then, but have since scrapped all of those recordings and completely focused and reshaped their sound. 

Having followed their career from the beginning, I have been constantly impressed by their musicality, focus, and unique hip-hop/soul/chillwave sound.

They are building a passionate scene around themselves in the growing Denver beat scene and I am so excited to watch them grow both in talent and following. Their next EP is due in late 2016.

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Clams Casino Releases Highly Anticipated Debut Album 32 Levels

Over the past few years, Clams Casino has cemented himself as one of hip-hop’s most talented producers. His extensive back-end work on A$AP Rocky’s debut mixtape Live.Love.ASAP ushered in a new trend of chill wave hip-hop music and changed dynamic in rap music. The New Jersey native, who’s produced for everyone from A$AP Rocky to FKA Twigs, shows no signs of slowing down after releasing his highly anticipated debut album, 32 Levels. His signature ethereal production meshed with chopped vocal fragments and hollow synths help set the foundation for collaborations with artists like Lil B, Kelela, and long-time friend Mikky Ekko.’

All in all, 32 Levels shows that Clams Casino still has room to grow as an artist, while still being able to offer new music for his die-hard fans.

Clams Casino - 32 Levels (iTunes)

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Originally “Mo Lowda & the Humble”, this Philly-based trio takes indie rock’s most agreeable sounds and spices them up with subtle but tasteful musical adventurousness. Act Accordingly, the band’s second EP, appeals just as strongly to the casual music fan poking his head into a bar as it does to the seasoned musician. Singer/guitarist  Jordan Caiola’s hooky vocals are irresistible, but a closer listen to the punchy, jazz-tinged guitar riffs, the swirling basslines, and the unpredictable jam-band grooves behind them reveal world-class musicianship and a determination to be different. 

- Ryan

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Flume - Say It ft. Tove Lo (Illenium Remix)

Waiting to see if a highly-anticipated remix will live up to its hype to similar to wondering if a movie will be as good as the book itself. Fortunately for Illenium, his future bass overhaul of Flume’s hit single, “Say It” feat. Tove Lo, went above and beyond expectations. The Colorado-based producer has always placed a heartwarming emphasis on the music rather than gimmicky branding tactics to win over potential fans.

Buzz around the release first began in July when he began teasing it in his sets. The dance music community soon flipped into a frenzy of tweets, hashtags and snaps. Illenium’s remix currently stands at 3.5 million streams strong on Soundcloud and continues to spread like wildfire. We encourage you to dive into the production’s lush chord progressions and blissful accents. Enjoy!

- Dave

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Rainbow Kitten Surprise

About four years ago a band called Rainbow Kitten Surprise was created on my college campus of Appalachian State University. Due to their peculiar name I immediately shrugged them off thinking they weren’t my “type.” It wasn’t until my friends began harping me about their music that I decided to give into peer pressure and go to one of their shows. Almost instantly I was, for a lack of a better word, obsessed. I was captivated by their unique sound and the energy they brought to the stage. Their lyrics are powerful, passionate, raw, and extremely catchy. Some of my favorites include “Devil Like Me,” “Shameful Company,” “Cocaine Jesus,” and “American Hero.”

“Devil Like Me” now has over 3 million views on Spotify and they just finished their summer tour, which included two sold-out shows in New York and Boston. Needless to say, they are my hometown heroes. It has been almost two years since I gave into peer pressure that fateful night and my ears and soul have thanked me ever since.

Don’t waste time like I did, check them out NOW on Spotify or on their YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/rainbowkittensurprise

- Hannah Treman, Gramophone

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Porches Release New EP, Water

Aaron Maine’s Porches are one of this year’s biggest buzz bands. They’ve garnered acclaim from stalwarts such as Pitchfork, Spin and Consequence of Sound. On first listen, their critically-vetted 2016 LP Pool borrows melodic structures and textures from 80’s synth-driven pop and reworks these sounds to fit Maine’s shy voice and modern aesthetics. The record toes the line between introspection and danceability, a balance which calls to mind previous chillwave acts of the early 2010’s like Toro y Moi and Washed Out. But what sets Pool apart is Maine’s quavering, pleading voice, nestled within an atmosphere of glistening digital bells and reverbed-out snares. Punchy bass lines and neon synths will make you want to dance to this record, but the hush of Maine’s voice recalls more of a quiet night in. While the production on the record is smooth and immediate, the imperfections and catches in Maine’s singing lend expression to a spotless and sometimes sterile atmosphere––and the contrast between the textures lends the record a level of challenge and depth.

Although Pool came out in 2016, Porches already has a new offering: the Water EP, a collection of some of the songs from Pool in a far more embryonic stage. Almost like a B-Side album, the new EP provides insight into how the LP was made. Highlights “Car” and “Glow” present markedly different moods than their polished versions. “Car”, in its earlier iteration, has a much slower tempo and lacks the driving bass line that defines the finished version. It lacks the shimmer of the polished version, and instead there’s an angsty, sulking moodiness characterized by hollow synth stabs and a noisy arpeggio that stays the same throughout the whole 2:10. “Glow” similarly appears darker and moodier, lacking the bell-like synth and crisp hi-hats of the Pool version. 

I managed to catch Porches at the tail end of their set at a private SoFar Sounds performance in Bushwick. Aaron Maine was dressed in a highlighter-yellow t-shirt, light-wash dad jeans and beat-up Nike AF1s, and his shock of white-blonde hair recalled the replicant Roy from Blade Runner. I asked Aaron about the difference between the two versions and how “Car” evolved from a slow dirge to the triumphant, angsty anthem of the finished product. Leaning on his guitar case, he explained the process to me. “I brought [Car] to rehearsal one day and we just sped it up. I don’t really know how it happened.” He then chuckled. “It went from being a slow car to a fast one, and fast cars are better than slow cars.” 

Check out the “slow car” iteration of Porches’ music on the stripped-down Water EP here. And then, speed things up a bit and listen to the bright and shimmering LP Pool.

– Harrison, Good Cop PR

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About a week after they played my hometown, I discovered The White Noise through this video which was a sponsored post that found its way on to my newsfeed. After unusually clicking through a sponsored ad, I found myself head banging and wanting to hear more than this featured track; to my surprise, I was quite pleased. 

The White Noise has the perfect combination of generic hardcore to put them in the spotlight, with just enough stylistic approach and heavy pieces to their music that gives them an edge over the traditional ‘Rise-core’ sound we all know in the hardcore scene. 

I strongly recommended giving their debut EP, Aren’t You Glad? a listen. It’s worth the time. Furthermore, I will stay updated now on their locality to me for any upcoming performances. 

http://thewhitenoiseband.com http://facebook.com/thewhitenoiseband http://twitter.com/thewhitenoisela http://instagram.com/thewhitenoise

- Jeremy, Gramophone

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Had the pleasure to see Overcoats at Rockwood for the American Singer/Songwriter and Reverbnation free show, before they tuck themselves away in the studio for some months to create their first full length. Pleasantly surprised by the duo, they have no problem creating harmony and a live experience for fans. After the show I found Overcoats’ music online, I now am eager to hear more than the few songs they offer via web, and would urge everyone to keep an eye open for the new album.

- Jeremy, Gramophone

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With a 1 min 30 sec video, you only get a glimpse in to Bamskelly’s lyrical and artistic vision. Living across from this young man during our last year at SUNY Purchase, I had the great fortune to hang in his room and see the progress and growth from song to song. 

In the vein of the new trap sound one can hear by tuning to Hot97, Bamskelly creates his own sound while telling a story opposed to bragging about the money and girls he doesn’t have; his genuine lyrics are refreshing to hear juxtaposed with this sound/genre of music.

Brandon Brown, aka Bamskelly, is the type of artist that can not be predicted with what they will release next,; I would suggest keeping your eyes peeled and watch him start to gain traction. 

- Jeremy, Gramophone

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Receive Much

Listen to Receive Much by The Hand That Wields It #np on #SoundCloud

When I started my internship here I had sworn off alt/indie music and had no interest in it. Lo and behold my first artist, The Hand That Wields It, had exactly that sound. I listened to the track we were working on, got maybe halfway through. Pressed pause, it wasn’t the kind of music I like. But out of curiosity I went back an hour later and listened again. I was feeling melancholy that day and suddenly the drooping, sad tone of the song made sense. And the clash of the acoustic instrumentation and the electric elements of the song gave it an interesting texture. I listened at least 10 more times. The complexity of the song was cool. It changed my ear a bit and made me more receptive to this type of sound. -Aron

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I know Ezra personally and his backstory is phenomenal. Ezra will not let anything get in the way of his passion. For example; his entire house has been converted in to studio space for recording and other art alike (which probably allowed him to make this video in 2 short days to meet the submission deadline). In the past I have worked for his management team, and had the pleasure to sit in on a Live Album recording session in the greater Dallas, TX area, which from what I know is being packaged up for release pretty soon! 

Enjoy Americana artist Ezra Vancil & his congregation of family and friends as they perform ‘Peace On The Morning’ as part of the tiny desk concert series, put on by NPR. 

Ezra's Twitter: http://twitter.com/ezravancil FB: http://facebook.com/ezravancilmusic

- Jeremy, Gramophone