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

HYPNOTIZED | yanis

The story: I accidentally came across this track on Spotify while searching for something else. However, I am so glad this beautiful accident happened. "Hypnotized" by Yanis is amazing! It is such an eargasm.

Yanis is an up-and-coming artist from Paris. I fell in love with the track at first listen. I could not stop listening to it all weekend. I even woke up one morning with it playing in my head.

Then, I watched the video. The video shows Yanis and dancers dancing under hypnosis. Let go of your inhibitions and let the music move you.

Now, click play below and watch the music video for his debut track. Enjoy.

DANCE LIKE WE'RE MAKING LOVE | ciara

As the release date for her new album Jackie nears, Ciara shares the seductive single produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut. "Dance like we're making love" plays to Ciara's strengths: her breathy vocals over a seductive beat. Where "Body Party" left off, this track picks up. 

Sultry. Bedroom-ready. This song hits all the right spots. Haha. It's no surprise it's Ciara's favorite track off her new LP.

Listen now.

ENTROPY | grimes & bleachers

Grimes has been in such a generous mood lately. Last week, she gave us "REALiTi," a track from the ditched lost album, as a special thank you to her fans who have been supporting her throughout the years. Now, she's given us a whole new track: "Entropy."

"Entropy" is another product of her collaborative efforts with fun. member Jack Antonoff. Because of this, the track showcases both of their pop sensibilities. It is a beautiful result. Listen below. 

Grimes keeps delivering with her music. You go, girl!

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! 

keith & i

Anyone who knows me knows that I love love Keith Haring. LOVE! I've been in love with his work since I was a little boy. So, for this past Xmas, a good friend of mine gave me a t-shirt from the Uniqlo X Keith Haring collection. Opening her gift and discovering it was a Keith Haring item put the biggest smile on my face. 

Shirt: Uniqlo X Keith Haring
Pants: H&M Joggers
Watch: American Apparel by Casio
Hat: Obey Clothing

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW | giorgio moroder feat. kylie minogue

Giorgio Moroder is back with a new album! 74 is the New 24!

The 74 year-old is giving us music for the young at heart, like himself.

As the leading single to his long-awaited album, he released:



And, now, he's released his collaboration with the one and only Kylie Minogue:


Disco is not dead! Remember when Madonna tried to bring it back with her Confessions on a Dance Floor. Moroder is the king of disco. After all, he invented it by producing hits for Donna Summer.

Their collaboration lets Kylie's vocals dance with Moroder's beats. A happy union.

The rest of the album will feature Britney Spears, Charli XCX, Foxes, Sia, and more.

Let the album drop soon already. The world needs to dance to those songs. <3

LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO | ellie goulding

The first post of this year is dedicated to L-O-V-E. Let's start off the new year with some affection. There's not enough love going around. We should always make room for love. More love, less hate.

And, Ellie's contribution to the Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack is beautiful. I don't care for the book, but the soundtrack is looking pretty good. The song is a beautiful love letter. "Only you can set my heart on fire," she sings. 

At the end of it, "What are you waiting for? Love me like you do!" Damn girl. Ellie knows what she wants and is not afraid to tell you so.

INTRODUCING | raury

Though he may have just graduated high school, Raury is talented beyond his years. 18-year-old,  (that's right 18! What were you doing at 18?) Raury hails from East Atlanta and is featured on the new Hunger Games: Mockingjay Soundtrack Pt. 1. His track "Lost Souls" is good. Really good. Thank you, Lorde for noticing his talent. However, don't let that think you have him figured out. He writes, sings, raps, and produces music with various genre influences. He is definitely an artist to watch. Just listen to everything he has done and is capable of doing.

SBTRKT features Raury on his track "Higher." His rhymes flow very smoothly.



Last, but certainly not least, is "Cigarette Song." This is by far one of my favorite tracks by him.

And that hat! Nice!

I would not be surprised if he ended up on the Coachella lineup for 2015. The boy has style, talent, and political/philosophical convictions.

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.

ORIGINAL BEAST | grace jones

Who says Mondays have to be boring? Today, marks the release of the highly-anticipated soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1. That's enough excitement to get us through the week. So, let us rejoice in all the new good music entering our ears and moving our bodies. 

Grace Jones delivers tribal beats on "Original Beast." I don't know about you guys, but this song transports me back to Coachella earlier this year and experiencing The Knife live. I am definitely feeling The Knife vibes on this track by Grace Jones, and am loving every second of it. All I need is my Coachella Tribe, and we can party our asses off to this song as if we were back in the desert. 

"I'm a different animal

Different kind of animal"

Let Grace Jones give you something to dance to. I wonder where in the film is this song playing? Perhaps as they're training for battle or in combat? I'm very excited to see how the movie and music marry? 

After listening to the soundtrack all day, I must say: thank you, Lorde. You have certainly compiled some great talent together and produced something beautiful. 

YELLOW FLICKER BEAT | lorde

"Yellow Flicker Beat" is beautiful. Lorde is a poet. She doesn't write songs, she sets poetry to music. It's art. Very much like Fiona Apple, Lorde knows how to write. I respect their talent for writing - and writing inventively. 

"This is the start of how it all ends
They used to shout my name, now they whisper it"

It is impressive the way Lorde describes Katniss's journey from her rise to fame and into infamy. From a first-person narration, Lorde articulates Katniss's strong, defiant personality. She gives words to Katniss's actions. Supported by the production, "Yellow Flicker Beat" captures the dark thoughts and emotions running through Katniss's head as she falls from grace.

The music video sees Lorde going into darker territory. But how could she not? This is the Hunger Games we are talking about. They're not rainbows and butterflies. Mortality is a constant reminder. 

I love that she is growing as an artist. #teamlorde 

XYLAPHONE | david andrew sitek feat. tinashe

Even though this track was released earlier this year, it is necessary that I write about it still. It is so good. It reminds me of the music that Tinashe was self-releasing through her EPs Reverie, In Case We Die,  and Black Water. It has her breathy vocals, sultry lyrics, and alt-r&b beats. There's something very seductive about this track. Together, these are all the things that made me fall in love with her.

I only wish her album debut-album Aquarius was more like this. Less hip-hop, more alt-r&b. But I must say: I love love "How Many Times."

"How many times can we make love in the night?"

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. 

SOLO DANCING | indiana

Introducing: British singer-songwriter Lauren Henson, aka Indiana ("the girl not the state"). Thanks to my good friend Kat who sent me her track "Solo Dancing," I now have it on repeat. 

"Solo Dancing" builds up so perfectly. Her voice, the beats, the composition of it all work so well. There are moments in the song where I think of "Tick of the Clock" by the Chromatics. I love the build up in both tracks. You can call it hipster make-out music, if you want. Haha. What can I say? I love the build up.

Check out the video. There is so much solo dancing: choking the chicken, hitting the meat, petting the pussy, flicking the bean, and even flicking Mr. Bean himself. As suggested by the title and the music video in particular, the track is about wanking. Watch as Indiana plays with the metaphors below.

Sometimes, when you want the job done well, you have to do it yourself. As much as we can try, sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

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.

HEAD UP HIGH | oh land

Danish singer Oh Land is back with a new hairdo and a new single. "Head Up High" is the lead single off her upcoming fourth studio album, Earth Sick, scheduled for an early November release. 

Written as encouragement for her close friend who was dealing with some romance woes, the track is a power anthem for keeping one's "head up high." Oh Land is back, stronger and more powerful than before.

Watch the music video for her new single below. 

Luckily, I was able to catch her perform at The Independent in San Francisco earlier this year while she was on tour promoting her previous album, Wishbone. Unsurprisingly, Oh Land is amazing live. My friend whom accompanied me left the show a fan. :-)

HIGH | FEMME

Introducing: Femme, British singer, songwriter, and producer whom you should be listening to right now. She just finished supporting Charli XCX on her tour, alongside Elliphant. Talk about girl power! With her pink hair, killer moves, and innovative electro-pop, Femme opened the show this past Saturday night at Slim's in San Francisco. 

Earlier this month, she released "High." Layered, upbeat, and fun, the track showcases her ability to beautifully blend together different sounds in an infectious harmony. Girl knows how to have fun, and how to infect that fun spirit into her music.

"Double Trouble" is a track from earlier in her career. You can hear the layering, see the pink, and feel the DIY attitude. You go Femme! I'm rooting for you.

 

Femme, I'm glad to have been able to see you perform at this stage of your career. You were great, and I see you only getting bigger. Keep doing what you do, because it is effin fantastic.

Love you girl,
FELIX | Aesthetic Aficionado

*fanboying my ass off, i know. guilty, as charged.

SLOW LOVE | MØ

MØ was one of my top three acts to see this past weekend at Treasure Island Music Festival, and she did not disappoint. Actually, she performed so well that she earned new fans. Despite suffering from an eye infection, she gave it her all. Her protective eye-patch fit in well with the theme of the festival: pirates, matey! 

"Slow Love" is one of my favorite tracks by her, and I was very happy when she started playing it this past Saturday afternoon. True to her sound, the track pairs her barely understandable voice (a la Grimes) singing over innovative electronic beats. MØ sings,

-\-\-\-

Let me love you
All night long to a slow beat
Singing our song

-\-\-\-

As suggested by the title, the track speaks of wanting to slow down love so as not to let it come to its inevitable end too quickly. MØ wants to enjoy the ride for as long as possible. She wants to make love last longer. It's beautiful to listen to her comparing love to a song --- a song so good that you don't ever want it to end. "Why is the rhythm always making me high?" she asks. 

Listen for yourself. Press play. And those visuals! All her background visuals during her TIMF performance resembled the one below. They were beautifully edited. My friends and I fell in love with them.