Lifting the World to the Highest Vibration: Mike Love At ARISE Music Festival

August 10, 2015

Hailing from the island of Oahu, Hawaii Mike Love was a powerful force at the ARISE music festival this weekend. The islander preformed top tracks from his two albums and a few from his upcoming release entitled Love Will Find A Way. This 35-year-old family man is well grounded in his life and career sharing the stage with artist such as Nahko and Medicine For the People, Jack Johnson and the John Butler Trio. His music settles between the genres of conscious roots rock reggae and his presence at Arise was befitting for a festival in which the motto was “More than a festival, it’s a movement.”

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Album Review: Night Beds— Ivywild

Following the success of his debut effort Country Sleep, Yellen gathered his go to collaborators, many of which appeared on his debut. This includes longtime friend and collaborator Benjamin Kaufman, Caleb Hickman (who plays a devilish sax throughout the record), and Yellen’s little brother Abraham, who plays producer on the record. Though the credits on the record reach just over twenty, Yellen credits this small group as the core of the project.

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en espanol: Mc Magic

August 8, 2015

Aunque apenas había regresado de su viaje a Guadalajara, el rapero Sonorense, MC Magic compartió detalles sobre el comienzo de su carrera musical, trabajos actuales, y de su gira nacional, Love & Kush Tour al lado de Baby Bash. Esta gira comenzó el 23 de julio en Salinas, CA. El rapero aclaró el nombre de su gira, que comenzó el 23 de julio en Salinas, CA, declarándose “entusiasta de canciones de amor” y su compañero el que promueve el kush. Nos damos cuenta que MC es promotor del canto romántico con los trabajos originales que lo hicieron arrancar en su profesión como cantautor.

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A New Chapter: The War On Drugs Signs to Atlantic Records

August 7, 2015

The most obvious observation about The War On Drugs is they sound like old Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. However, lead singer and founding member Adam Granduciel would rather have you focus on their progression as a band. Formed in Philadelphia in 2005 with fellow artist Kurt Vile, The War On Drugs put out their first album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008. After a few lineup changes, they released their most recent album, Lost in the Dream, in 2014. Despite its name, The War on Drugs, in fact, does not have a war on drugs.

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Top Tunes Thursday: Quantic Presents The Western Transient — A New Constellation

August 6, 2015

This week, Will “Quantic” Holland released the debut record for a new side project. Holland is a man of many projects, including The Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Limp Twins, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro, as well as numerous one on one collaborations. His latest is called Quantic Presents The Western Transient, and the record, A New Constellation. At seconds under the 3/4 hour mark, the record delivers ten locations for his dream jazz vacation, and is recorded with artists and performers handpicked by the maestro. From balmy Caribbean, to melodic 70’s, A New Constellation is a warm and snuggly love letter to jazz and soul music, with just enough “Quantic” thrown in.

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The Evolution of Derek Smith: Pretty Lights Still Shining

August 3, 2015

Fort Collins, Colorado native Derek Smith, better known as Pretty Lights, started making beats in high school, but eventually found himself at the forefront of the electronic music scene. His first album, 2006’s Taking Up Your Precious Time, 2008’s Passing Up the City Skies and 2009’s Passing by Behind Your Eyes revealed Smith’s ability to seamlessly sew together a blanket of sonic textures, but 2013’s A Color Map of the Sun uncovered his aptitude for actually composing every single musical note of each track. The 34-year-old producer is once again on tour and ascends on the Red Rocks stage August 8 and 9. He took some time to discuss the severity of drug use at EDM shows, the recording process and his outlandish height.

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