FIESTA | bomba estereo

HAPPY PRIDE, everyone! Let the festivities begin.

The latest album release by Colombian group Bomba Estereo is an explosion of vibrant rhythm and sound. The track "Fiesta" is a good example of why their music has been described as "psychedelic cumbia." It combines the cultural characteristics of both into beautiful danceable music.

Press play, and find out for yourself.

Take a look at those visuals, those costumes, those colors! Imagine that at a music festival. I highly suggest they be on the line-up for next year's Coachella and/or Treasure Island Music Festival. They would be perfect.

For now, I will get to see them play at the New Parish in Oakland on Monday, July 20th. 

Happy PRIDE, from SF/OAKLAND.
<3

BLUE | marina & the diamonds

It's here! BLUE is finally here! I've been waiting for this song, ever since Marina began discussing her forthcoming album FROOT in interviews. I'll admit it though, I'm biased. Blue is my favorite color. 

Though the song talks about her relationship woes and regretting breaking up with a past lover, Marina sings it to an upbeat tempo. Let's dance the pain away! Haha. She "doesn't want to feel blue anymore." 

It's great to hear her sing like this - reaching for happiness. Her last few track releases were a little on the darker side of the emotional spectrum. But "Blue" brings us out of the dark, by dancing away from the sadness. You go, girl!

I'm so happy to be seeing her at Coachella in less than a month!!!!! WOOO!! Weekend 1!!

Are you also going to Coachella? Weekend 1? Catch me there, dancing my ass off to Marina! 

FOLLOW | mary j. blige x disclosure

Earlier today, another collaborative track by Mary J. Blige and Disclosure was released. In true Disclosure form, "Follow" has their signature sound all over it. And, I couldn't be happier. Disclosure = happy times. In Mary J's words, 

"Give me all or give me nothing, 

Give me love or give it up"

Disclosure is always one of the best sets I see at music festivals. They never disappoint. I hope they play Coachella again, next year. I'm ready to dance my ass off to them again in the desert.

FROOT | marina & the diamonds

Welcome the return of Marina and the Diamonds. After the death of Electra Heart last year, Marina Diamandis is back with FROOT. As evidenced by the titled-track, Marina is now moving into some new territory -- with a 70s disco-influenced sound.

"FROOT" serves as the leading single for her upcoming album (to be released April 6, 2015). At first listen, I was slow to like the track. However, it grows on you. By the 3-5 listen, I was singing and dancing along. Goodbye Electra Heart, hello new FROOTy Marina.

Earlier this week, Marina wrote on her Facebook page that she will be releasing a new track every month leading up to the album's release in April. I am most excited to hear "Blue,""probably my biggest sounding song" (TheLineOfBestFit). You know what else happens in April? Coachella! Is it too much to ask that she play at next year's Coachella?! 

What do you guys think of her new sound? Like it?

TASTE IT | little boots

English singer Little Boots (Victoria Hesketh) is back, and taking full control over her musical endeavors. Hence, the title of her upcoming EP: Business Pleasure.

"Taste It" is the leading single. The track is true to who Little Boots is as an artist: experimental pop. With years of fine tuning her craft, the track is a refined track of experimental pop.

"Can you taste it on your lips like liquorice?," she asks. To answer your question, Little Boots, I like this first taste of your new material. Now, gimme more. 

With a new album coming out soon, and a tour to promote said album (I hope), here's hoping she also plays at Coachella 2015. 

2 WEEKS | FKA TWIGS

Last night on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," FKA Twigs had her US television debut. And, her performance was everything. Everything, I repeat.

Trained as a professional dancer, FKA Twigs knows how to tie in movement very well into her performance. She's shown us again and again how well she can dance, and in last night's performance she delivered once more. While fabric danced in the air beautifully behind/with her, she sang "Two Weeks" from her debut studio album LP1. That decision could have easily backfired, by running the risk of getting herself caught in the fabric. However, FKA Twigs executed it magically. 

Watch for yourself. 

As Coachella 2015 lineup predictions continue to be speculated about, I would like to see her perform in Indio next year. I beg of you, mighty music gods, to please bring her to Coachella 2015.

NYFW | jimmy kimmel

As he did with Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel sent his crew of fake reporters from Lie Witness News to New York Fashion Week to ask attendees about fake fashion designers, trends, and events. One would think that the attendees would have nothing to say about things that don't exist. However, that did not stop them from sharing their opinions on the matter. One "fashion aficionado" (is aficionado trending now?) is asked about his thoughts on the lesser-known designer Chandler Bing. Yes, Chandler effin Bing! If anyone from Friends should have launched a fashion line, it clearly should have been Rachel or even Phoebe (for trendy boho-chic wear).

Thanks, Jimmy Kimmel, for the video. I hope I never end up on one of your Lie Witness News videos. But if I do see you at Coachella next year, I'll know better than to answer your questions with a false sense of knowledge. 

happy humpday | the knife releases shaken up versions

One of my favorite sets from this year's Coachella was undeniably The Knife, the Swedish electronic music brother-sister duo.

You are probably familiar with them partly or mostly because of their most mainstream song "Heartbeats" :

However, don't be mistaken in believing that all their material sounds like "Heartbeats." 

Their sound is constantly mutating, evolving, and becoming something else. Something ahead of their time. And always original. 

Just take a look below at their live rendition of their song "We share our mother's health." There is feminist talk about dicks and pussy (#pussypower), hand-clapping in unison, screeching, and theater at work here. Their energy and performance has a kind of magic that is quite beautiful.

Just try explaining that. It's challenging. One must experience The Knife.

Here's "One Hit:"



The finger snapping, the costumes, the make-up, the choreography, the politics of it all. Listen. Watch. Enjoy. Take it in. Take it all in. It's more than mere performance. The Knife's electricity manages to tap into something very human in us all - reminding us of our tribal beginnings and the modern ruling of social constructs.

Given the experience that The Knife gave us at Coachella, I wanted to relive it again and again upon my return to civilization. However, the studio versions of their songs were not the same. They lacked the hand-clapping, the screeching, and other minor yet significant differences found in their live performance.

Fortunately, yesterday, The Knife released Shaken Up Versions, a mini album of their classic tracks reworked especially for the band's North American tour. Thank you, The Knife. Thank you, mighty music gods. Of course, I immediately bought it. Now, I get to relive them and their magic. I'm one happy camper - one happy Coachella camper, to be precise. :-)


* Disclaimer: Videos uploaded to the post are not mine. I found them on Youtube. I would like to thank the users who uploaded them to be viewed with everyone online. At the time of The Knife's performance, I was too captivated by them to do anything else. :-)

new track tuesday | "let me down gently" by la roux

It's been five years since La Roux has released any new music. After breaking through with their smash hit "Bulletproof," La Roux rode that all the way to 2013's Coachella where the duo performed singles off their debut album and a few new songs from their upcoming album. But that was over a year ago, and I kept wondering what became of the sophomore album. I remember enjoying their new material during her 2013 Coachella set.

Thankfully, La Roux have just released "Let Me Down Gently," off their just announced second studio album, Trouble in Paradise. And as the album title suggest, the honeymoon stage is over - it is time to re-examine the relationship.

 -/-/-/-

"Let me down gently
That's what I think I need
But when you let me down gently
It still feels hard, hard" 
 -/-/-/-

At over 5 minutes long, "Let Me Down Gently" builds. It is a song nuanced by its changing beat, refreshing the sound that allows the song to go beyond the typical 3 minute mark. After the 2:40 minute mark, it is #dancethepainaway.

La Roux has also released the tracklist for Trouble in Paradise, which is scheduled to be released digitally on July 7, 2014 via Polydor Records.

1. Uptight Downtown
2. Kiss and Not Tell
3. Cruel Sexuality
4. Paradise Is You
5. Sexotheque
6. Tropical Chancer
7. Silent Partner
8. Let Me Down Gently
9. The Feeling

"Let Me Down Gently" was released on iTunes on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. You can pre-order La Roux's new album Trouble In Paradise now. 

disclosure | for the lovers

Just as Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" will forever remind me of Coachella 2013, Disclosure's "F For You" will do the same for this year's. And Mary J. Blige's surprise appearance during weekend 2 makes the song even more special. I remember jumping and screaming when Disclosure welcomed her onto the stage.

After we returned from Coachella, my friends and I could not stop listening to Disclosure and this song, in particular. "F For You" has the power to transport us back to the desert to which we make our annual pilgrimage in celebration of the holy music gods.

Following Mary J. Blige's guest appearance, Sam Smith walks on stage to sing "Latch" with Disclosure. "Latch" is one of the standout tracks from their Settle album. Smith's vocals complement Disclosure's beats to produce a beautiful confession of love.

The music video for "Latch" follows people lusting, coupling, and kissing, reflecting the affection and desire that Smith sings about. And the kissing! It's so beautiful. The kisses are the manifestation of their mutual desire - wanting to be closer to that special someone. When you're high on that lust/love, one kiss is never enough. A good kiss that is.

And kissing brings me to the next song: Disclosure "You & Me feat. Eliza Doolittle (Flume Remix)."

Now that's a KISS! 

The song and its accompanying music video remind me of that first kiss: the waiting, the eye-contact, the build-up, the desire, the flirting, and teasing all leading up to that first kiss with that special girl or dude. Once your lips finally lock, it can feel like it's just the two of you in the world. The video for the Flume remix of the Disclosure song perfectly imagines that scenario. In that moment of expressed passion, there really is only you and me.

lana del rey // "meet me in the pale moonlight"

Breaking news! Just a short few hours ago, new Lana Del Rey has leaked. It's time to press play over and over again. Titled "Meet me in the pale moonlight," she lets you know where to find her to "put your sweet kiss kiss on my lips now baby."

"understand this; I'm not looking

for true love tonight

if you wanna be my little baby

you can meet me in the pale moonlight"

Now someone direct me to the pale moonlight. ASAP.

Coachella cannot come fast enough. Lana Del Rey will be one of the highlights of weekend 2.

Till then, press play and enjoy.