M.I.A. FOSTER THE PEOPLE
CHROMEO LITTLE DRAGON
SOFI TUKKER SAINt JHN ALLAH-LAS POND
AMTRAC LONELY C (OF SOUL CLAP) PILLOWTALK
NIGHT DRIVE B.A.G. (BLIMES X GIFTED GAB) KAUF
MR. PAUER JAIALAI CESAR SANTALO LOVE, ABBEY ARI CHI
DELSONIDO (DJ SET) MILLIONYOUNG (DJ SET) Richie Hell (DJ SET)
KIKE ROLDAN NII TEI NAUFER ENNIO SKOTO ADOBO
FRECKLES Terrence Tabeau Erhan Özkaya PUMA
M.I.A. // A.I.M.
Survivors of war, conflict and genocide live on as IDPs and refugees, dispersed across their homelands and the globe. They embody the violence that has displaced them into the unknown, into uncertainty and into camps and council estates. Survivors crossed countless continents, countries and borders, leaving behind their homes, lives and dead: only to be rendered invisible, silent and forgotten in exile; only to be told that their bodies might have travelled but their stories have not. Their narratives are construed as exchangeable, mutable and nuisance while their bodies are considered collateral damage. Survivors are treated as a surplus people whose very presence destabilises the status quo, whose voices unsettle the known.
As border-crossers, modern day nomads, governments worldwide have tried to clamp down on their movements by criminalising them and locking them up into camps and into poverty. The demobilisation of survivors led to the creation of new states for the stateless, separate and legally distinct from the territory they sought asylum in. BORDERLANDS. Borderlands are places doomed as hopeless, lifeless and futureless, where joy can never be traced, where dreams cannot be woven, where the everyday is thought to be absent. They are places where new global orders are created, where new encounters occur, where new cultures are formed, where new people are
born: REFUGEES.
British Tamil artist M.I.A, a survivor of Sri Lanka’s decades-old genocide against Tamils, is one of Borderlands’ many people. Surviving a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Tamils, she arrived in London in the mid 1980s as part of the first wave of Tamil refugees. Following her displacement, she was raised in a women-led household inSouth London’s impoverished peripheries. Life in a council estate exposed her to a patchwork of marginalised peoples and cultures, which later came to influence her art practices and created her unique refugee sound.
M.I.A is driven by the idea of rendering the nightmare of becoming a refugee into a dream. Though placed at the margins, M.I.A learnt to speak against power and its complex technological arms with the humble tools available to her. She mastered the art of creating music out of nothing, of rendering disenfranchisement into a powerful catalyst for resistance.
Album after album, from Arular, Kala, Maya to Matangi, she returned with power power and raised her refugee voice to create a global sound for those deprived of a voice. She taught others that she is broader than a border.
With her fifth studio album, A.I.M., M.I.A returns to her own roots as a Londoner of Tamil refugee heritage. She provides a future template for today’s refugees to narrate their own lives beyond the many deceased and beyond catastrophe. By centring the living, she forces us to look beyond the sensationalist news headlines and question what happens when refugees get out of their tents and become our foreign friends. She encourages us to think about the struggles in our very backyards, spaces that are kept in order by overworked and underpaid shadow workforces made up of refugees who ought to be void of stories.
A.I.M. gives us the tools to finally move from abstraction into a clear vision for a world where the refugee is no more an anomaly, but makes up a powerful majority. It aims to overthrow categories that she, as other refugees, do not fit into anymore and envision a world where the sky isn’t synonymous for death anymore, where the sea is no more the home of nameless cemeteries. A.I.M. is not just any ordinary album, it’s the climax of a musical journey which has taken us through a geography of exile to bring us right back into the backstreets of London, where survivors meet the living.
Founded in 2009, Foster the People achieved success with the 2011 release of its debut album Torches, which has sold nearly two million albums and over nine million singles worldwide. Torches features the #1 hit single “Pumped Up Kicks,” which was declared “the year’s anthem” by SPIN. Foster the People garnered three Grammy nominations for its monumental debut, including Best Alternative Album, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Pumped Up Kicks” and Best Short Form Music Video for “Houdini.” Supermodel was the second full-length record from Foster the People. Influenced by frontman Mark Foster’s world travels and shifting perspective, the album was recorded in studios around the world and features fan favorites including “Coming of Age” and “Best Friend.” The band’s third and latest album Sacred Hearts Club, released in July 2017, is a 12-track effort that joyously flexes the group’s creative powers, fusing neo-psychedelia, punk, funk, electronic, dance and hip hop. Foster points to the polarized global climate as being a catalyst towards a more thoughtful approach on the album, inspiring them to make something that was joyful and unifying. The band’s current single “Sit Next To Me” was described as “pure shimmering pop” by the Associated Press, hit Top 5 at Alternative Radio and recently debuted on the Top 40 airplay chart.
World leaders, powerful CEOs, and other fat cats could learn a lesson or two from electrofunk duo Chromeo, namely: know thyself, know thy vibe, and stay thy course. The rest of the population will catch up. Indeed, Chromeo is really good at being, well, Chromeo. The mission, the package, the vision — it’s been a straight shot of pure intentionality from the jump. Funk a game plan, Montreal natives Dave 1 and P-Thugg had a ten-year battle strategy: from cult 80s fetishists on 2004’s She’s In Control to indie blog darlings on 2007’s Fancy Footwork, to international touring sensations on 2010’s Business Casual, to bona fide pop stars on 2014’s White Women.
And guess what? Pee (still looking a smooth criminal in a Coogi) and Dave (ever the Semitic/Gallic heartthrob in tight pants) are back. Early 2018 will mark the release of the Funklordz’ fifth studio LP: Head Over Heels. The album not only elevates Chromeo’s blueprint of ass-targeting beats, melodic honey and clever lyrics about the foibles of contemporary love…it augments it with unprecedented conceptual cohesion, booming sonics and more collaborations than ever before. Session legends such as Pino Palladino and Jesse Johnson (The Time, D’Angelo) coexist alongside the likes of DRAM and The-Dream on this intricate and ambitious ode to funk music, orchestrated by modern day masters of the genre.
Consider the first single “Juice”, a hilarious paean to female power set to a buoyant California bop: it’s Chromeo at its biggest and baddest.
Grammy-nominated Little Dragon have announced their long-awaited new album Season High, out now digitally on Loma Vista Records (CD + LP in stores May 5th). This is the first new music from the electro-pop band since they released their acclaimed 2014 album, Nabuma Rubberband. Season High was produced by Little Dragon, with co-production and mixing by James Ford, in their hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Discussing the process behind recording Season High, Yukimi muses, “We have grown through the years but the making of this album has been a struggle. As much as our band is based on a deep friendship we are four strong wills who find it really frustrating to compromise. We have gotten better at that though, but it’s still a real battle. It gets harder and harder for us to make records but we still love it. Sometimes it feels like we have 100% passion and life or death emotions yet there’s a pointlessness with everything. We want to exist in our own bubble where we can stay curious about sounds. The magic feeling that sounds can sprinkle over any boring day is what got us all hooked. That feeling of escapism …maybe because Gothenburg is a grey place for most of the year, our curse and blessing is that we never quite succeed.”
When asked to describe the various elements that came together to form their first full-length record, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern—the duo better known as SOFI TUKKER—both let out a simultaneous laugh. “Lots of craziness,” says Sophie, “It’s the sound of traveling and excitement and new friends and endless shows and total exhaustion and learning more about ourselves through it all. It sounds like our lives.”
It makes sense that Treehouse, SOFI TUKKER’s sparkly new album, would encapsulate the sound of so much wildness. Since releasing their debut EP, Soft Animals, back in the summer of 2016, the New York duo have ridden a wave of attention that neither could have ever anticipated. The band was catapulted into the spotlight by the success of their first ever single, the genre-smashing “Drinkee,” which, after being featured in an ad for the Apple Watch, quickly went on to rack up over 45 million Spotify streams and snag a Grammy nomination—no small feat for a song adapted from a piece of Brazilian poetry and sung entirely in Portuguese, one of the languages that Sophie speaks and has a particular passion for. Before they could fully make sense of what was happening, the two found themselves playing in front of increasingly larger audiences, wowing clubs and festival stages all over the world. “The whole thing became a big exercise in learning to just go with it,” says Tucker, “The same thing was true about making new music.”
Recorded in various places around the world, the ten tracks on Treehouse reflect the wily, nomadic nature of its two makers. “We just worked whenever we had time, wherever we happened to be, “says Tucker. “We wanted to keep our forward momentum going, which meant recording and writing at odd hours between shows and on days off, no matter how exhausted we were.” The result is an album that takes the eclectic poetry-pop sensibilities of the band’s debut EP and blows them up to stadium-size. “An important aspect of the record is that we made it while we were on the road and playing shows,” says Sophie. “We tried the songs out with audiences, which really inspired us. If something didn’t connect the way we thought it might, we’d go back and re-work it the next time we were in a studio.”
The mania of touring and live-wire enthusiasm of the band’s live show are evident in tracks like “Fuck They”—the record’s emphatic first single—as well as songs like the Portuguese-laden “Energia,” the slick electro of “Baby I’m a Queen,” or the pulsing “Batshit,” a searing, bass-heavy pop banger that the duo finessed in their live set before recording. “For that song, Tucker gets to take the mic and I play the guitar,” explains Sophie. “When we have a huge audience of people screaming ‘I’m batshit crazy!’ back at us, it’s hard to explain how much fun that is. It’s really fucking fun.”
The give and take with audiences—and the feeling of creating a kind of ecstatic communal space—is at the heart of Treehouse, a record that seamlessly marries the vibe of classic house music with deft guitars and exotic percussion. “A Treehouse is this magical place where you can allow yourself to return to this childlike state of awe and creation. Anything goes in a Treehouse. We loved that idea because that is what we’re always trying to create—a safe space where everyone can experiment and be themselves. It’s this elevated space in nature that can bring you back to those childhood impulses and freedoms.” In a display of experimentation on stage, SOFI TUKKER play an eight foot tall MIDI drum sculpture of their creation called “The Book Tree.” Sophie and Tucker also bring this creative, community spirit to their sweaty, intimate DJ sets. “Whether playing live or DJing, we’re trying to bring that Treehouse mentality with us everywhere we can. It’s important to us to create a space where everyone in the room is expressing themselves with abandon, not just us on the stage.”
At a time when the world feels particularly chaotic, pop music not only provides a temporary escape, but also serves to connect us—even if it’s just briefly—to our core values of friendship, community, and togetherness. As Sophie and Tucker explain it, the music isn’t meant just to distract us, but to activate something. “So much of this record is about friendship,” says Tucker. “We made some really amazing friends in these different places around the world. You get thrown into these crazy situations and you become fast friends, but in the best sort of way, that way in which you immediately fall in love with each other and then you miss them when you leave. The energy of new friendships is one of the best feelings ever and that was something we wanted to harness on the record: this feeling of endless possibility.”
Those fast friendships manifest on the record both in terms of subject matter and collaborations. “Good Time Girl” is a collaboration with the band’s friend Charlie Barker, who also contributes artwork for the band, and on “Best Friend” there are appearances by the likes of Nervo and The Knocks. “It’s a bit like summer camp,” explains Sophie. “You meet people and in a few days you feel bonded for life. We go a couple months without seeing these people, and then you cross paths again and there is all of this excitement and inspiration, like ‘What have you been up to? How can we collaborate? Jump on stage with us! Let’s play on a song together!’ We just want to celebrate that feeling!” In the case of “Best Friend,” that spirit of friendship was infectious, as the song went on to become a Top 20 US hit at Pop and Alternative radio and earned all bands involved their first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 and US network television debut.
“One of the things that always fascinated me about dance music—house music, in particular—was that it came from this place of freedom,” says Tucker. “It came from these rooms where people went to feel liberated. When we felt this connection playing music for people, whether it was a hundred people in a tiny room or 20,000 people at a festival, we realized that connection is the ultimate goal. I don’t know if we really knew that when we first started touring, but once we did, that changed how we thought about making music. That became the biggest inspiration on our music moving forward. I hope this album shows that.”
SAINt JHN is the shadowy, slow jam-oriented recording alias of Brooklyn native Carlos St. John. A rapper, singer, and songwriter, St. John kick-started his career during the mid-2010s by co-composing material for Kiesza (“Bad Thing,” “The Love,” “Piano”), Nico & Vinz (the single “Praying to a God”), Gorgon City (“Doubts”), and Usher (“Crash”), a sequence of advancements catalyzed by industry veteran Zach Katz, who had heard an early song St. John granted to a fellow fledgling artist. As St. John continued to rack up songwriting credits for other artists, he started issuing his own material independently in 2016. Among the tracks that caught on most were “Roses” and “Reflex.” “3 Below” and “Some Nights” followed in 2017, the year he also co-wrote “Helicopters/Beware” for Jidenna and “Can’t Wait” for dvsn. St. John’s own “I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night” was released in 2018.
Following their 2016 album Calico Review, Allah-Las return with Covers #1, the first in a series of EPs exploring tunes near and new to the band. For the debut EP in the series, the band offers renditions of George Harrison’s “Fish On The Sand,” Kathy Heideman’s “The Earth Won’t Hold Me”, 90s LA cult band Further’s “JO Eleven”, and Television’s “Hard On Love,” an unreleased song from the band’s Marquee Moon recording sessions.
Allah-Las recorded Covers #1 at the Pump House in Topanga Canyon while working on material for their next full-length release. The selections are comprised of old faves and newly discovered tracks that became ubiquitous sounds in the studio between album takes. The EP will be released on Mexican Summer on Nov 3, 2017 as limited edition 10” encased in a high quality embossed jacket and through all digital formats.
Allah-Las is composed of Miles Michaud (vocals / rhythm guitar), Matthew Correia (drum / vocals), Pedrum Siadatian (lead guitar / vocals), and Spencer Dunham (bass / vocals). On the road the band has built a dedicated following with extensive, sold-out tours and high profile festival dates.
What do you call a group of psychedelic songsters all grown up? A group who were often considered the younger sibling, who have come into their own? Artists who just released their best piece of work yet, and musicians who unleashed one of the rowdiest and strongest live touring sets 2014 witnessed? You call them POND.
2014 unveiled the full-formed POND and the Northern Hemisphere barely survived. POND supported the Arctic Monkeys throughout Australia and then jumped on the next plane to Europe. There, POND stunned audiences at Primavera Spain + Portugal, UK festival Field Day, and brought the house down, every night, across their UK/EU headlining tour. Touring with Nick Allbrook (Vocals / Guitar / Astronaut), Jay Watson (Drums / Vocals / Dad Jokes), Joseph Ryan (Guitar / Bass / Vocals / Actual spaceman), Jamie Terry (Keys / Good vibes) and with barely a breather between, POND tore through North America, with sell-out shows ranging from one coast to the next, bouncing between countries like a pogo-stick. Pond’s 6th album “Man, It Feels Like Space Again” hit the shelves January 23 (AUS) / January 26 (UK/EU) / January 27 (US) 2015, with more festivals and headline tours booked around the globe to showcase the new tunes and support this stellar album release.
“Man It Feels Like Space Again” was recorded in Melbourne Australia and once again mixed by buddy Kevin Parker. The band showcased “MIFLSA” songs throughout their first headline tour of the US in October. Starting at a festival in Mexico, heading to New England, traipsing through Canada, and back down the west coast, POND pondered, why stop there? After their sold-out Los Angeles Halloween show, POND ventured south to play music festivals in South America, where audiences exploded upon hearing “MIFLSA”‘s hits and partied-hard with the melodious entertainers.
Hailing from Perth, Australia’s POND formed in 2008 after good friends Joseph Ryan (Mink Mussel Creek), Nick Allbrook (Mink Mussel Creek, Allbrook/Avery, Tame Impala, Peter Bibby & His Bottles of Confidence), and Jay Watson (Tame Impala) hit upon the idea of an all inclusive, ego-free collaborative, so the boys immediately recorded their debut album “Psychedelic Mango” with a little help from good friend Kevin Parker (Tame Impala).
Since the beginning, POND wrote music and produced records faster than a label could release them. POND followed up “Psychedelic Mango” within months, releasing “Corridors of Blissterday,” a frenzied effort recorded live with an eight-piece band in 2009. A year later, their third album “Frond,” a kaleidoscopic classic, dripping with funk and falsetto, loosely inspired by a diet consisting only of Prince and Fleetwood Mac, delighted audiences Australia-wide. “Frond”‘s release finally realised industry attention and praise, solidifying the band and their music in its own right. “Beard, Wives and Denim,” their 4th album, was recorded on a farm a few hours South-West of Perth. “Beard, Wives, Denim” is a triumph of the eclecticism and good humor that drives POND.
Upon “Beard, Wives, Denim” release in March 2012, global attention shined its light upon the Perth gang. A North American tour ensued, smashing through 31 shows — including 8 at South by South West — where they were one of the most talked about bands of the festival. From there, they returned home to Australia and sold out a national tour before storming UK and Europe, causing NME to tout them as the “hottest band in the world right now” as well as proclaiming “Beard, Wives, Denim” as “quite possibly the best album released so far this year.”
In August 2013, POND gifted to the world their 5th LP in as many years, “Hobo Rocket.” “Hobo Rocket” is 40 minutes of perfectly imperfect emotion, challenging veteran listeners and music reviewers with an evolved and vigorous sound. Singer Nick Allbrook describes the release as the “…kind of mindset of finding our own little place in music, and being more of a functioning band, which is what makes it noisier and denser. This one we went as brutally hard as we would at a show. We wanted the songs to sound loose and live.”
Enthusiasts and music aficionados world-wide agree MIFLSA is POND’s most focused composition to date. This mirrors their touring efforts, dynamic and enthralling live show, media buzz and essentially, the maturation of a musical career a long time in the making. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing growing up, especially when it’s this much fun!
With the titles of producer, musician, DJ and vocalist to his name, versatility has become Caleb
Cornett’s calling card since the release of his debut LP Came Along in 2011. Raised on an
eclectic palate of musical influences from Pink Floyd, The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers
since his childhood in Morehead, Kentucky, his vast musical exposure has led to an unrivaled
diversity in his performances as well as across his own productions.
Never content to settle, Amtrac’s musical mood and influences change with each passing
season, spanning across disco, indie-dance and deep house. From the Stevie Wonder sampled
“Those Days” to the house-fueled “Hold On,” – which broke into the Top 10 Beatport House
charts – Cornett has only continued to push his creative limits and receive praise across BBC
Radio 1 titans Pete Tong, Annie Mac and Danny Howard. As impressive as his original works
may be, one can’t discuss the producer’s body of work without mentioning the Amtrac remix, a
coveted commodity in today’s music business. Sigur Ros, Duke Dumont, Alex Metric, Two Door
Cinema Club and more have all requested the Amtrac treatment, and each time the producer
has delivered and then some.
With a resume carrying the names of noted tastemaker labels including Toolroom and Kitsuné,
his most recent EPs have come through Kidnap Kid’s Birds That Fly imprint and Waze &
Odyssey’s Street Tracks, noting another step in his sonic evolution. His ambition and curiosity
keep him locked on the edge, always happy to experiment with new techniques and sounds. His
music is what he feels in the moment. Simply put, his constant evolution comes from a hatred
of boredom and a love for his labor.
Lonely C is the brainchild of Charles Levine (Soul Clap), an emotive psycho-naught who came of age during the 90’s rave days and is currently splitting a time share on planet Earth.
With 20 years of DJ experience he is most at home in the DJ booth, but that has not stopped him from taking it to the stage to sing, play keys/synths and beyond. From House music, to electro, disco, funk, soul, R&B and dub, musical eclecticism is his key to moving bodies and shaping minds.
Lonely C is typically associated for his work as one half of the DJ/Production duo Soul Clap who spent the past decade touring the world (collaborating with legends such as George Clinton (Parliament-Funkadelic), Nona Hendryx, Louie Vega and Midnight Magic to name a few) and are founding members of the Brooklyn based musical collective Crew Love; however Lonely C is Charles’ latest solo endeavor and with a recently finished full length album titled “Lonely C – Charles & Tribulations” 2018 is looking to be a very exciting year for new growth.
You know the words to their songs every time you hear them played, so much that you might even feel like you know them or have glimpsed into their closets.
PillowTalk is more than a whispered chat before bed but it’s that groovy, soulful, electronic music band who have been gifting you songs from the heart since 2011. Born that summer in the Lower Haight District of San Francisco by original members Sammy Doyle, Michael Tello and Ryan Williams, and recently joined full time by longtime friend and collaborator Shane Duryea, their music fuses the sounds of classic R&B, boogie and disco with underground house and indie dance.
These gentlemen are known for their hard work in the studio with releases out on Crew Love, Visionquest, Life & Death, Wolf + Lamb, Circus Company, Kompakt, D-Edge, and remixes for Groove Armada, Kasper Bjork, DJ Tennis, HVOB, Laid Back, Soul Clap, W+L, Nick Monaco, Frivolous, Midnight Magic, Future Generations, Set Mo and Lonely Boy. With non-stop touring around the world, PillowTalk never ceases to
surprise their listeners with classic edits and collaborations with artists such as: Ruede Hagelstein, DJ Tennis, Thugfucker, Deniz Kurtel, Tone Of Arc and Navid Izadi, just to name a few.
2018 is shaping up to be a huge year for the band with the launch of their own imprint, PillowTalk Music. The boys kicked things off with the first release, Hold Me Down, in December of 2017 and have another original release, Been A Long Time, out now worldwide, before releasing All People, the follow up to the classic 2014 album Je Ne Sais Quoi.
PillowTalk’s music is as much a soundtrack to long nights as it is to lazy days —there is something about each of their records that covers the span of living: sun-splashed jams, peak-time party tunes and low-lit moments of intimacy. This is music to suit all times, and that is what PillowTalk is all about. These artists realize that some of your deepest secrets are revealed whilst pillow talking and feel lucky enough to listen in.
Inspired by sci-fi cinematic landscapes, Night Drive creates modern synth-pop that explores the darker currents of abstract emotion. Infectious melodies wrapped in thoughtful lyrics with pulsing dance beats unveil a stylish, energetic sound that has been featured in film, tv and radio around the world. Touring and opening for international bands such as CHVRCHES, YACHT, Robert Delong,Tesla Boy, Miami Horror and The Psychedelic Furs, Night Drive has quickly garnered a reputation as a captivating, must see live show.
Blimes (SF) and Gifted Gab (Seattle) breathe life back into the game with this classic back and forth. The witty duo play off each others words effortlessly and their chemistry is undeniable on “Come Correct”. Expect to see more of these two in 2018.
GIFTED GAB
Gabrielle “Gifted Gab” Kadushin was born and raised in Seattle, WA’s Central District. Growing up in the church and singing in the choir, she was composing melodies and playing instruments at a young age. As well as music. Freestyle rapping in elementary school turned into Gab professionally showcasing her skills in major venues and festivals across the US. She’s opened for legends such as DJ Quik, Rakim & Slick Rick as well as write ups in major publications like XXL, VH1, Dope & TIME magazine. In 2016, she curated & headlined her own 8 city tour. Gab’s latest video gained viral attention. “Come Correct” The collaboration with San Francisco’s Blimes Brixton has gained 10 million views across platforms & counting.
BLIMES BRIXTON
From the heart of San Francisco, Blimes Brixton is an MC and vocalist armed with an unmatched passion for artistry. Her musical background extends two generations to a blues musician father and jazz musician grandfather which could justify her keen attention to musicality. Her distinctive voice is globally appreciated; early on in her career, the lyricist joined the likes of Too Short, Adam Vida, & France’s Scratch Bandits Crew on various releases and co-headlined a 25 city European tour with LA rapper Gavlyn. Most recently, Blimes’ undeniable talent and unique history as a battle rapper sparked collaborative efforts from hip-hop icon Method Man on their release of “Hot Damn” Blimes’ latest videos have gained viral attention. “Come Correct” the collaboration with Seattle’s Gifted Gab has gained 10 million views across platforms & counting. In 2016, Blimes established her own imprint label, Peach House Records, which is focused on highlighting talented women in the industry. Now in 2018, Blimes gears up to release a full length solo album Castles.
With his original productions Kauf has achieved the near impossible feat of making dance music that is also song led and lyrically deep. The rhythms, informed mostly by slowed down disco, support simple, emotive chord progressions with a melancholic bent. Dense layering, his own echo-laden vocals, and a penchant for distorted, imperfect sounds create the dominant motif, where the words sometimes ring out as if emerging from a barely remembered dream. His debut album ‘Regrowth’ was released in October with massive support from Spotify and iTunes, landing on 7 official Spotify playlists including ‘New Indie Mix’ & ‘Chill Vibes’, and 2 spots on Apple’s ‘Today’s Chill’. We’ve seen 5 singles alongside equally staggering remixes from some of the electronic world’s finest talents (Fort Romeau’s edit was released on vinyl via Permanent Vacation). Four singles charted on Hype Machine’s Most Popular Top 10 with Key to Life reaching #1, which resulted in Kauf entering the Top 10 of the HypeM 2016 Zeitgeist Chart. And ‘Regrowth’ peaked at #15 on the NACC’s electronic radio charts. He self-released his first single in 2011 – “Relocate” b/w “When You’re Out,” which quickly found its way into the hands of Dan Whitford of Cut Copy who released the “As Much Again” EP on his own Cutters Records. Kauf have previously supported Cut Copy, Elderbrook, Com Truise, Goldroom, Maribou State, Zimmer, Ceu, Public Service Broadcasting, and The Big Pink.
After the dissolution of his early experimental rock bands spurned the dive into electronic production and synth collecting, he is equal parts studio rat psychedelia obsessive and art-pop traditionalist. The rhythms, informed mostly by slowed down disco, support simple, emotive chord progressions with a melancholic bent. His forthcoming Regrowth LP mostly explores the small fractures within his closest relationships. They are the kind that have long been there, but were either willfully ignored or conveniently missed, like a tiny crack in the windshield that slowly creeps across, but eventually demands you take notice and make the repair before it shatters completely. There is the realization that a relationship with an ex-boyfriend was entirely superficial (“A Ruin”) and truly understanding why you’re in love (“Through the Yard”). Complicated family issues are the focus on “Turning,” “Key to Life” and “Pacify.” Though themes of denial and doubt run through the record, there is a palpable sense of beauty and hope. This is not an angst ridden record like the punk and alternative albums he grew up on, but one questioning the way forward. After the success of the previous singles ‘Through The Yard’, ‘A Ruin’ and ‘Key To Life’ all making the HypeM Top 10, and an LA residency @ The Echo with support from artists like Your Friend, Clara-Nova, and Vōx, Kauf is set for a promising year ahead. We are looking forward to building on that momentum in the coming months.
Mr. Pauer™ (Toto González) is a Latin Grammy® Nominated artist, DJ, producer and re-mixer, born in
Venezuela and based in Miami for over 21 years with an artistic career of over 25 years.
He is considered the creator of Electropico, which mixes “sounds from dancehall,
electronica and dub, filled with tropical essence and
danceable beats” (SXSW).
He is a music connoisseur and researcher of percussive rhythms from around the world.
Relevant Shows:
Latin Grammy® 2014, 2015, 2017 Official Afterparty (Las Vegas)
Central Park Summer Stage (New York)
Red Bull Music Academy “Siempre Fresco” (Miami)
La Liga® (Barça vs. R. Madrid) official watch party (Miami)
Supersónico Festival (Los Angeles)
World Music Festival (Chicago)
Jack Daniel’s House Siete Tour (10 cities)
Target® Food & Wine Festival (South Beach)
Festival Siete Mares (Peru)
National History Museum (Los Angeles)
DJ set opening for:
Manu Chao, Hot Chip, Amigos Invisibles, Buraka Som Sistema, Bonobo, etc.
“Extremely fascinated (with the album)… an extremely catchy beat” – CNN En Español
“Spearheads Latin America’s tropical electronic music” – Thump/Vice Mexico
“One of the most interesting projects in electronic Latin music” – Variety Latino
“2015 Best Latin Alternative Songs” – iTunes
Jaialai is an American Rock band from Miami, FL, formed in 2016. It’s members are Jose Adames (Guitar/Synth), Richard Boullon (Drums), Mario Lemus (Bass) and Oscar Sardiñas (Guitar and vocals). They released a 4 song ep called “When I’m On The Run” in 2016 and have released more standalone singles afterward. The band are currently finishing their first LP which they recorded with Fabulosos Cadillacs producer Carlos Imperatori. Though their sound is self described psychedelic, they tend to lean toward shoegaze and have some garage rock undertones. With members of the band from Venezuela, El Salvador and of Cuban heritage, hints of their respective backgrounds and their local Miami culture show in their music and art.
Abbey is the 21-year-old multi-instrumentalist mind behind the Miami-born project, Love, Abbey. Her debut EP, Lost at Sea, contained everything from indie pop and alternative, to folk and orchestral ballads. In her upcoming releases, Love, Abbey continues to embrace this concept, performing with a full five-piece band. Playing every instrument and singing on every track, Love, Abbey hopes to bring a sense of authenticity into the music industry.
Ari Chi is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist & producer currently based in Florida. In January of 2015 Ari started entertaining audiences with her ukulele and velvety voice. Her eclectic catalogue of music ranges from folk, soul, r&b, indie, and chill wave making easy for almost anyone to enjoy.
Delsonido is a multicultural Brooklyn-based band that brings a fully saturated sound to the global music scene. They build, almost inconspicuously, from a laid back, anchored energy into arms-waving, hips-swaying dance parties that navigate through a global spectrum of music with seamlessly intensity. The real time collaboration of each musician fuses into a next level sound that inspires a free spirited explosion of festivity, from the front of the stage to the back of the room.
Millionyoung is the pseudonym of Floridian indie/electronica producer Mike Diaz.Described as chillwave.
Millionyoung’s sound includes electronic and sampled elements coupled with vocals from Diaz.
RICHIE HELL is a musical citizen of the world. In his native Argentina he’s widely known as a DJ, musician, radio host, and producer. He began winning over US audiences in 2015 when he moved to Miami to serve as Music Director for the renowned Faena Hotel. A lifelong record collector, Richie’s original compositions throb with a steady universal beat, evoking everything from South American psychedelic obscurities to Madchester and P-Funk. At his eclectic live shows one can expect driving percussion and bass, very special guest vocalists, and the occasional 12-foot-tall inflatable cobra… The broad appeal of his tunes has led him to play festivals, boutique theaters, and underground warehouse parties, and to open for artists as diverse as Dimitri From Paris, Miike Snow, Del The Funky Homosapien, Alt-J, Metronomy and Arto Lindsay. He’s still a regular behind discerning DJ booths throughout the region and with two EPs out and a full-length LP on the way, Richie Hell is ready to soundtrack today’s global dance party.
Kike Roldan started his career at the early age of 19, after taking Piano classes in Colombia which inspired him to get into music.
In 2003, after playing in all the major clubs in Bogota (Colombia), he went over to Miami (USA) looking for a better life and more involvement in the electronic music scene.
Whilst in Miami Kike started knocking on doors and showing his skills with a natural and patient progression, at first it was almost a struggle as his progressive style of music wasnʼt fashionable at the time.
In 2008, after several attempts, he finally started a production company called ʻSpeaker Box Productionsʼ, helping him bring artists like Marco Carola, Lee Burridge, Steve Lawler, Timo Maas, Omid 16B, SOS amongst many more.
In 2010 after he had met Omid 16B, Paolo Mojo & Oliver Moldan, his friendship with all three inspired him to further open his mind and expand his musical knowledge.
In 2011 Kike joined forces with close friend Atom Yard leading their relationship to being now both part of ʻSpeaker Boxʼ allowing further growth of their company and conceptual parties.
Till this day they have both managed to play with other recognized and respected names in the industry like Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Marco Carola, Oxia, Re.you, Dj T, Satoshi Tomiie , Steve Lawler, Leon, DJ Sneak, Desyn Masiello , Dave Seaman, Omid 16B, SOS, Balcazar & Sordo , Fairmont, Andrew Grant, Mano Le Tough, Guido Schneider , Djuma Soundsystem, 16 Bit Lolitas, Chaim, Till Von Sein, Francesca Lombardo, Christian Loffler, among many other great artist and Djs.
Currently, Kike Roldan is one of the most in-demand names in Miami (USA), seeing the past year as his most successful so far.
With a full diary almost every weekend, its no surprise Kike regularly plays clubs like Space, Bardot, Treehouse, Mansion, Do not sit on the furniture, Electric Pickle, and private events including some of the most talked about boat/island parties like CASTAWAY and ON DECK.
With his charisma and unique sound, a dash of humour and not taking life too seriously, Kike Roldan has certainly made Speaker Box an influential and relevant brand in the electronic dance music circuit .
Crediting his Ghanaian roots as the soul of his music style, Nii Tei is a Miami-based Dj who has been a music enthusiast since birth.
More than being an eclectic music selector, Nii Tei’s craft consists on building an environment. His sets take you to a place that feels similar to being on a beach of a remote island, caressed by a cold, soft breeze while listening to drums under the black sky.
The foundation of Nii Tei’s sound is composed of the deep, dark, bass sounds of minimal techno, kissed by delicate, beautiful melodies and the playful percussion rhythms of afro house. His sound is a refreshing, unique blend that brings cultures together, both theoretically and practically.
Cristóbal Marte, aka Naufer, is a Miami-based producer from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
He is the singer and bass player of Mama’s Mistake and the former frontman for the Dominican punk rock band Pericles. Touring the globe with Pericles in 2008, while stuck on long bus rides and endless flights, Cris began experimenting with DAWs and the rest is history.
Naufer’s deep, moody, melodic techno productions and live sets draw on his longtime skills as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. His engineering expertise was honed at the ripe young age of 12, when he would accompany his older brother, a DJ himself, to gigs and help set up sound-checks. In this setting, Cris came face to face with the powerful emotion that music can inspire in people.
Under his Naufer alias, Cristóbal has released productions on Alfa Romero Recordings, Phantomdeck Records, and his own label Nosso. He has shared the decks with the likes of Tale of Us, Luciano, Victor Calderone, Danny Howells, Bedouin, Oliver Koletzki, Thugfucker, Nick Höppner and many more. Today Cris finds himself living in South Florida, producing and djing, and holding residency at the iconic Club Space Miami.
Raised in the Dominican Republic where his career initially started, Ennio Skoto is a House & Techno
Dj and Producer currently based in Miami. This is your grand profile of a coastal artist; color
schemed tunes, craft and know-how musical wit. Island living perfectly merged with city ways.
Ennio Skoto’s music and live sets are well known for sounds such as energetic bass-lines, organic
grooves, and succulent melodies, telling a story that makes you travel through sounds in space and
this journey takes you to the rhythm of an astounding pleasure; all of this fed upon the influence of artists such as: Maceo Plex, Dixon, Ricardo Villalobos, and Richie Hawtin, to mention a few. His
tasteful music have led the dancing masses in local known venues such as Treehouse, The Electric
Pickle, Floyd, Bardot, and Do Not Sit On The Furniture. Outside of the Miami area, he has also
performed in Dominican Republic’s own Guacara Taina (Santo Domingo) and Ojo (Cabarete). Ennio
Skoto have had the opportunity to share stage with talents such as Lee Burridge, Bambounou
Ryan Crosson, Sebastian Mullaert, Christian Löffler, Enzo Siragusa, Archie Hamilton, just to
name a few.
On November 2015, Ennio Skoto released his foremost EP “Shifter” under Nosso Records, giving
him the right exposure locally and worldwide. Among these, the inclusion of releases with
Phantomdeck Records and Cedez Music, both made public in 2016. Kicking off the 2017, Ennio
released “Fallen” EP with Dominican Label “Mitel Dico”. Ennio Skoto releases a monthly podcast
recorded live from his studio, consisting of favorite tracks played during his established monthly
gigs. An artist that always brings to game his tuneful novelty and cleverness. Follow, listen, savor; art is in the making!
Adobo is a Miami based DJ/Producer. Their vibe has allowed them to bless the best dance floors in the city. Known for a proper interactivity with the crowd, energy that resonates
throughout the dance floor.
Over the years they have shared booth with artists such as Enzo Siragusa, Archie Hamilton, D’Julz, Janeret.
Lately they’ve been collecting vintage drum machines and synthesizers looking for the perfect sound in the studio. Having upcoming releases on sight, they are just getting started. With love, they have been curating their own events under the “Social Lubricant” name.
DJ’ing career dates back to 1995 , he has been spininning since than.While following and listening to all different styles of world music he continuously worked and concentrated on creating an eclectic sound.
His goal has not only been doing what he has been doing for years -expressing and feeling the fun side of the music – but also his goal has always been contemplating on all feelings that could ever be felt through music and gathering them alltogether under one roof yet in different time zones.
While popularity in world music keeps on shifting, ERHAN has opted out and choose to spin just the way he feels: Consistent, persistent yet going with the flow with the different styles of music in different time periods of life .
In his professional DJing career ERHAN had the opportunity to share his style with audiences at many widely popular venues such as Private Room, Vogue, Ghetto, Salomanje, Sortie and Ajia, located in Istanbul.
In Miami He was resident at Segafredo Orginale for years.Also He played at Delano Hotel , Bardot and III Points .Now stationed in Miami,ERHAN is compiling different genres and tunes from worldwide cultures . His main goal is to carry his style to an international platform…
Born in Venezuela, Alo Gonzalez, aka Puma, is a DJ and producer known for his carefully curated, groovy sets that perfectly interplay between various styles, working on his session´s progression with the skills and precision of a surgeon.
Since moving to Miami in 2014, Puma has become obsessed with the craft of being a DJ, while never forgetting the pleasure and passion that attracted him to music in the first place. His sound and charisma have reaped many a reward, getting him widely noticed in the club circuit.
In his young career he has gained the respect of his local peers and built a group of followers who never know what to expect and are always excited to find out. Blending genres as diverse as Romanian techno, French, New York and Chicago house, techno, and minimal, Puma focuses on delivering quality tunes while keeping complete control of the dance floor, creating unforgettable memories for those who get to dance to his sets from the build up into the late hours. With a residency at Miami’s top underground institution, The Electric Pickle, and frequent gigs at clubs like Do Not Sit On The Furniture, Treehouse, Floyd, and parties like Secret Garden, Castaway, and Electronic Groove’s Mixing, Puma continues to inspire dancers and music lovers all around.