[new] Koreless- 4D//MTI

The amount of young musicians starting to tackle the music scene has really begun to impress me. The Weeknd, James Blake, Nicolas Jaar, and Tyler the Creator, to name a few, have created music that has created immense buzz in the music industry all before the age of twenty-three!

Meet nineteen year old Lewis Roberts. He is a producer who performs and creates under the moniker "Koreless." He lives in Glasgow, and just recently released a two song EP that is simply a must listen. I guess I would classify his sounds as "post-dubstep" (what ever that means) along side James Blake and Mount Kimbie. Needless to say, the kid has serious talent. Check out the two tracks below, and share them with your friends. I am sure we will see much more of this guy in the near future.

4D


MTI


Lots of love,
Aaron

XXX

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[preview] Brett Dennen @ the Republic

This Sunday night, following the conclusion of yet another New Orelans jazzfest, Brett Dennen will perform a show at the Republic in the CBD, hosted by Winter Circle Productions. This show is part of Dennen's tour to support his fourth studio album, Loverboy, which was released last month. The evening will begin with a set by local act MyNameisJohnMichael.

Presale $18, Door $25. For more info and tickets, visit the Republic's website.

Brett Dennen-Sydney (I'll Come Running) by Dualtone

[preview] Thievery Corporation @ The Sugar Mill

Rest up for Saturday evening, because New Orleans is truly in for something special. Thievery Corporation is in town to play a live set at The Sugar Mill. I've never been to The Sugar Mill, as it seems like concert events there are rare, but from their website I can tell the venue is massive. And its got a big courtyard. Beyond that, I got nothing for you. I can tell you this though: Thievery Corporation is not to be missed.

Beginning as a production duo, Rob Garza and Eric Hilton expanded their sound by inviting a large array of musicians and singers to accompany them on stage. Large percussion set ups, sitars, and many guests vocalists make every show a truly remarkable experience. The sound is reminiscent of world music (specifically Middle Eastern) with an electronic/jammy twist. When the act tours, they generally don't play too many shows, so this is a unique opportunity to jump on. I feel like most of our readers have heard of Thievery Corporation already, but if you haven't, I have added a track below.




Opening for Thievery are The Hot 8 Brass Band and Toubab Krewe. Hot 8 needs no further explanation for those of us living in New Orleans. There are a bunch of guys with horns playing brass music. Toubab Krewe on the other hand, is certainly worth talking about. Their sound is reminiscent of African music, specifically that of Mali. On stage they not only play traditional instruments, but a kora (21-string harp-lute), kamelengoni (12-string harp-lute), soku (Malian horsehair fiddle), and African percussion. The jammy beats are unique and sure to bring the energy to an all time high before Thievery takes the stage. Be sure to give the Toubab video below a quick watch.





To purchase tickets click here.

Hope to see everyone on the dance floor!
Lots of love,
Aaron

XXX

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Thom Yorke back-to-back FlyLo

Last night, May 4th, Thom Yorke made his second secret appearance at LA's Low End Theory Club. This time he went back to back with Flying Lotus. Those in attendance really saw something special. The sound on this video is just okay, but its the best I could find. Check it!

tyler the creator - yonkers

PS - goblin leaked

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Prince Rama and metaphysical yoga

Prince Rama's sister duo Taraka and Nimai Larson are already mesmerizing enough as it is. These Brooklyn beauties are extremely talented, and watching a live performance is like witnessing an elaborate tribal ritual, complete with festive attire and glittery glam. I constantly find myself getting lost in the layers of sound I hear resonating from their album. This entrancing little snippet is just a taste of the soon the be released VHS(with cassette included) entitled "15 Minute Exercise", out on Impose. The girls guide you along a motivational workout to soft drum driven music complete with verbal instructions, while bursts of images such as vacant deserts and elaborate colors smear across the screen. Grainy goodness and superimposed glitchy backdrops make this throwback style rather spectacular. Available for pre-order now, with a new album completed and expected to drop in the very near future.

[interview] Smith Westerns

Within the first couple weeks of this year, Chicago youngsters Smith Westerns put out what is sure to be considered one of the best albums of 2011. Dye It Blonde perfectly exemplifies that bridge between the late teenage years and the early twenties with its jangly guitar glam rock.

Tomorrow, Thursday the 5^th, the band will be playing a JazzFest after show at One Eyed Jacks with Bass Drum of Death and Brass Bed. Doors are at 8. Art/Official spoke with Smith Westerns’ co-founding member and guitarist Max Kakacek about the band’s recording process, being on tour with Wilco, and what they think of New Orleans.

art/official: How did you guys first get together?

Max Kakacek: We were just childhood friends. I met Cameron (bassist) and Cullen (guitarist) in high school, and we started playing music together.

a/o: For someone who has never heard your music before, can you give a firsthand description of it?

MK: What we try to do is make really catchy guitar pop that’s a little more complex than just straight up pop music, but at the same time keep the listener reeled in. We take ideas from all kinds of guitar bands that have existed over the past 30 years or so like any classic rock from the 70’s like David Bowie, southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd even, 90’s bands like Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, Teenage Fanclub, and combining them into our own thing.

a/o: What was the inspiration for the title of your most recent album, Dye It Blonde?

MK: It comes from the last song off the album. Cullen had a lyric for it, and we all thought it sounded really good. It was short, sweet, and classic.

a/o: It seems like everyone received that album extremely well. Do you guys feel more successful after having released it?

MK: I think we all feel pretty good, but I don’t think there’s any kind of complacency. We’re just motivated to do more.

a/o: How was its recording and writing process different from that of your self-titled debut that came out in 2009?

MK: The writing process was similar. Cullen and I pretty much write all the songs half and half, and record them on to our computers to make demos of parts of songs and then combine them later on. The recording process for the second one was different. We had a much bigger budget to work with so we got to go into the studio with a producer. We really lucked out with Chris Coady (TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Massive Attack) who helped with lots of sounds on the record. This is compared to the first record where we just did it in my basement with a tape recorder and a 4-track.

a/o: Do you think any kind of collaboration could come out of your tour with Wilco?

MK: We’re just about to meet up with them. It’d be pretty cool — two Chicago bands working together. I have no idea, though. I’m really looking forward to just sharing a bill with them, and am really flattered they liked us enough to take us on tour with them. I hope we can develop some sort of mutual respect where we can talk to each other and hang out a little bit.

a/o: What’s been your experience with playing shows in New Orleans in the past?

MK: We played one other show there a while ago with Magic Kids and Girls. It was really cool. We had a couple days to stay in New Orleans. We drank lots of hurricanes [laughs].

a/o: What are your next steps and future plans?

MK: After this tour, we’re going on another tour with Yeasayer for about three weeks. We’re playing some festivals, and then we have time off in the summer.

Watch the video for "Weekend," Dye It Blonde's awesome lead single:

Smith Westerns - "All Die Young"

Smith Westerns - Imagine, Pt. 3

Watch a mini-documentary on the band:

Article and Interview Composed and Conducted by: Connor Crawford