Month: July 2019

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Monocle is back with another great video as part of the ongoing travel series. This time highlighting the ancient city of Istanbul.“Beneath its inimitable skyline, Istanbul is a teeming, triumphant metropolis that is constantly being remade and reimagined – as our cinematic portrait explores.”

Last night (June 11) in Toronto was the Main Ingredient presentation of Jesse Boykins III at Revival Bar on College Street. Rolling stoned along Ossington Avenue, backtracking from a ‘green P’ across from the Exclaim! offices, where I had ditched my father’s car, I looked to the sky: storm clouds. I trudged along, weary of the looming darkness, and paused a beat when I reached College. Down the road I could make out Revival, a relatively new venue with a brick front. As I went to the cross the road, avoiding the slick streetcar rails, I somehow caught a whiff of an open sewer. Only when I reached the interior of the club did the stench begin to fade, and even then, the impression lingered.

Upon entering the club, the girl selling tickets directed me down a flight of stairs into a lounge-like room that was really the cellar, but was being used as a holding cell of sorts. This was not where Jesse Boykins III would be performing tonight. With my nerves already on end, I walked up to the bar with the intention of buying a beer. But there was no bartender. I scoffed momentarily at the facts that were aligning themselves in my head: One, it was 10:30, 30 minutes prior to Jesse’s alleged set time, and we weren’t even in the real venue yet. Two, if I had paid for my ticket, which I didn’t, it would have cost me $20, or as the advertisement read, more money after midnight. So, that means, $20 to stand in a cellar and not drink beer, or, (perhaps) $30 or more to come at midnight and still be early for the show. I shook my head profusely as the bartender came on duty, and then purchased a Budweiser for $8 including a $1 tip (pushing my hypothetical sum to $28).

Come 11:10 the doors at the back of the cellar finally opened, and everyone in the room was led up a flight of stairs, through an atrium, into the main concert hall, which was more or less the size of a high school gymnasium. I took a seat along the far wall, where there were leather benches, and proceeded to observe my fellow concertgoers. I promptly concluded that you could tell everything about a person based on what they were drinking. At the bar across the room, there were the loners, White Belts, and caucasian people. They were drinking Stella Artois: trying to fit in. Beside me on the leather benches were one brand of hipster, mostly black or brown, nursing rum and cokes while they browsed their favorite blogs and Twitter accounts in the candlelight. The third group, which would arrive later on, were the would-be artists. Upon making his ‘entrance’, hand-in-hand with a beautiful girl, a black chief in a denim jacket and burgundy trucker hat gradually made his way over to where I was sitting. He gripped his Budweiser (low-brow meets high-brow) and addressed the girl next to me, who wore an afro and a funny hat like Bob Dylan. “You know, everyone’s here because they think it makes them cool,” said the black chief. “You see, he doesn’t even have a band set-up.” The chief motioned towards the stage, where there was a laptop set up in place of musicians. The chief sneered, then he asked the afro chick whether she would ‘bounce’ with him.

After nearly two hours of waiting, and enough anticipation to permanently dishearten a small child, Jesse Boykins III climbed onto the stage just after 12:30, to a generous applause from the 300 plus fans. Under the lights, Jesse’s attire resembled that of Jimi Hendrix – clad in a tribal headband, skinny purple slacks, layer upon layer of distressed fabrics, and of course, his signature hair. Pushing his so-called ‘Romantic Movement’ of Soul, Jesse skipped any and all exposition and jumped straight into an energetic and passionate set. According to my correspondence with his on-road manager, Saint, Jesse performed songs, “Amorous (Afta 1 Remix)”, “Back Home (Mermaids & Dragons)”, “I Can’t Stay”, “Her Throne”, “B4 The Night Is Thru”, “Tabloids (Machinedrum Remix)”, “Plain”, and “Show Me Who You Are”. If I had to pick a standout, it would probably be “Her Throne”, Jesse’s latest collaboration with DJ, composer, and sound designer, Full Crate. The record seems to embody Jesse’s musical inclination as of late, which is heart-wrenching soulful lyrics combined with bass-friendly, space-age soundscapes which recall early Y2K garage music. In a nut, Jesse has assembled his own brand of soul by arranging the remnants of any flower-power ethos still alive in New York City, alongside the sparse computer vibrations championed by most new blog sites. Which is why, for good or ill, Jesse appeals so insatiably to hipsters. In a culture so caught up in its own narcissism, any musician, artist, or plain punk who is confirmed by ‘the system’ becomes a totem in the eyes of the blogging public.

And so, upon the conclusion of Jesse’s set, which included a powerful encore, I did not have the gall to stick around and enjoy the rest of the party. After all, it was not my place. Instead I blew off a post-concert interview with Jesse himself, and retreated back to my car to go look for food. As I cruised down along Shaw Street, one or two blocks over from Ossington, heading South, I purposely caught one last glimpse of Revival. Under the moonlight – the storm had since passed – people still lingered around the entrance, going in and out to keep tabs on their friends. I rolled down my window and took in a deep breath… It still stunk like sewer. So I hit the gas and got the hell out of there, abandoning the idea of food altogether.

In retrospect, I regret not sticking around after the show to meet Jesse… if only to ask him which kind of drink he prefers… if he prefers one at all.

Words by Peter Marrack 

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Although releases from the Pariah moniker have been sparse as of late, this is not to say that London based producer ‘Arthur Cayzer’ hasn’t been keeping busy fuelling the UK Bass music scene in other areas. Having released an EP as well as setting up the SheWorks label with co-producer Jamie Roberts aka Blawan in the interim, Cayzer’s is back to deliver a three track EP as Pariah for the legendary Belgium come London label – R&S Records. Whilst rips for all three tracks have existed online for a while now, the specific release details have only recently been announced.

Whether through its droning bass textures, hissing atmosphere pads, or slow building ambient synths, opening track ‘Rift’ shows a strong semblance with Pariahs contribution to the recent R&S compilation (IOTDXI) ‘Left Unsaid’. Percussively the track suggests Pariah’s endeavours producing warehouse strength Techno as one half of Karenn have bled over to his solo project, Rift making extensive use of raw Industrial hits.

The second EP track ‘Signal Loss’ is my undoubtable favourite from the EP showing much more in common with the style usually associated with Pariah’s productions. Signal Loss is an appropriate title as the track is caked in grainy radio static and lo-fi textures. Underpinned by melancholic James Blake-esque piano, Signal Loss is given its hook by emotive R&B vocal samples that’d probably sound tired and overplayed in most other contexts.

As a non-beats orientated track ‘Among These Metal Trees’ may seem like a bit of a curveball next to the other two tracks on the EP. Despite this it captures a fantastic mood, utilising howling atmospheres and Oneohtrix Point Never style synth swathes.

Although the EP may not be the most cohesive example of Pariah’s works, it instead goes to showcase the producer’s versatility & willingness to experiment with different production styles. The short length of the EP may give some clue as to why the EP doesn’t gel together too well, and I imagine Pariah’s seemingly unrelated outlooks on this EP would make significantly more sense on a full length release, which this release certainly generates anticipation for. For now you can pick up the Rift EP over at Boomkat, and stream ‘Rift’ & ‘Signal Loss’ below.

Article provided by Theo Darton-Moore.

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LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online-magazine with a focus on new emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe thats what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

Its a LYFSTYL.

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“I hoped to make a record that felt free from the frequent short-lived trends in dance music, and that made sense to a dancer and a listener.”

If you have been following LYFSTYL you would realize that we are absolutely in love with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, the project of UK electro producer Orlando Higgenbottom, who’s been serving up brilliant tracks for some time now. If you are at all like me then, you’ll have been patiently waiting for his first real record,Trouble, to drop.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen its out NOW.

A while back I was watching a fantastic interview TEED did with 4Play for Channel 4, which has stuck with me to this day. It perfectly describes his view on the type of music he makes: “Well I say, I make dance music, Most people who make dance music say they make house or techno or tech-house or trance or drum’n’base…If we kind of just woke up tomorrow morning and there were none of these genres, you just had your record collection  infront of you and you didn’t know what any of it was called or where any of it came from it wouldn’t matter…..you would probably love some music that you never heard because all the connotations and weird ideas you would have about whether its cool and where it came from, what scene it is…..would be gone…I like that idea.”

This is what has always impressed us with TEED. He always marched to the beat of his own drum, so to speak, I believe that this view of not worrying about what genre he falls into is what makes his music quite amazing and does not limit his creativity to just one style. Orlando has successfully managed to make a proper dance record, so be prepared to dance your ass off. No doubt you have heard a few of the tracks from the album, such as Household Goods, Trouble, Garden, and Tapes & Money. Admittedly I was a tiny bit worried about these tracks appearing on the album. Since I seemed to own these tracks foreverr. However Orlando has managed to find the perfect spot for them on the album, which somehow kept those songs quite refreshing and without them seeming outdated. 

There is no doubt in anyones mind that Trouble was long over due. However listening to this album, I had a sort of awakening moment and realized that, I am thankful that Orlando took his time with making this album, if he rushed it I probably would still have enjoyed it, but no where as much as I currently do. 

To me TEED is the complete package. He has an amazing sound, phenomenal costumes and his desire to create pure dance music, is what I believe separates him from the throng of the over saturated electronic music producers the world has to offer.

THE WAIT FOR TROUBLE WAS…WELL WORTH IT…Thank you.

Score: A-

ITUNES

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online-magazine with a focus on new emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe thats what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

Its a LYFSTYL.

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FINALLY HOLY OTHER IS BACK WITH A NEW JOINT.

‘Love Some1′ comes off Holy Other’s debut album Held, due out on August 28 via Tri-angle.

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online-magazine with a focus on new emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe thats what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

Its a LYFSTYL.

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Parisian beatmaker Onra’s has finally released the official version of his funky tune “L.O.V.E.”. This track will be apart of his upcoming new EP, entitled “Deep In The Night”, which drops on June 12th via Fool’s Gold Records.

Tracklist:1. After Hours (feat. T3)2. L.O.V.E.3. Somewhere (Deep In The Night)4. V.B.B. (feat. Jay Kin & Amalia)

5. Hold Tight

Welcome to LYFSTYL’s Release section! Click the photos to navigate thru this area.

“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” 
Jimi Hendrix 

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online magazine with a focus on new, emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe that’s what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

It’s a LYFSTYL.

Tweets by @LYFSTYLmusic

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online-magazine with a focus on new emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe thats what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

Its a LYFSTYL.

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Guest Posts

Coming Soon!

A series of post where we ask a music blogger to introduce themselves to us and gives us a tiny round up on what they are currently listening to and a short description on what their blog is all about.

WHAT IS LYFSTYL?

LYFSTYL is an online publication and record label dedicated to discovering and sharing the best in forthcoming trends in new and independent music, fashion, art, and culture. Together, the LYFSTYL team continues to cover a wide spectrum in today’s culture by creating original and distinctive content to serve our loyal and expanding readership from across the globe.

The website (which is updated daily with at least ten new articles) attracts a loyal, international readership of approximately 50,000+ unique users a month.

For any questions on ways of working together head on over to our masthead for contact information.

For submissions submit: HERE (only here)

DISCLAIMER

All MP3s and videos are for promotional purposes only. If you are the owner of an MP3 or video and would like it removed, please contact us and we will do so.

Pictures seen on the magazine are from various sources and LYFSTYL does not own them, unless specified otherwise. If we have posted something of yours and you would like it taken down, please email us – lyfstylmusic[at] gmail [dot] com

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Toronto’s Michael Imperial recently released the follow up to his outstanding 2011 release ‘Secret Drugs: Volume 1’. LYFSTYL recently had the chance to catch up with him to discuss the inspiration behind Secret Drugs: Volume 2 and some of his previous musical endeavours.

If you had to categorize your music, what genre would it best fit in and why?

I want to say Post Future Step, but I’m just on some Toronto shit.

As a child growing up, music surrounds us; what type of music did you hear the most back then? How does it differ from what you listen to now?

I was raised in a home with a great appreciation of rock, which is very much a key influence in my musical sensibilities; Santana’s rhythms, The Doors’ energy, the Beatles’ song writing. Then I followed a strange musical path of Nirvana, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang, Cassius, Def Jux, Jon Brion, Zero 7, Jorge Ben Jor, Peter Bjorn & John, Gui Boratto. Jamie XX.

Have you been part of any other music projects?

I have a rock album I did with my older brother Art Imperial (an uber-talented songwriter), as Strider Hero. And a rap EP, that was a 100 cd pressing. Please don’t go searching for the rap EP, I do highly recommend the Strider Hero EP.

Tell us a little bit about your secret drugs volume 2 release. What were your main inspiration behind this body of work?

Volume 1 was about vulnerability, Volume 2 is about revelry. Volume 3 will be about my love for salted fish chicken fried rice. As for my inspiration for music it’s my girlfriend, my family, my friends.

What can we expect from you in 2013?

Secret Drugs Volume 3 & maybe 4, more mixes & more gigs. Also a collaboration with my homie, George Jetson.

Lyfstyl caught up with singer/songwriter Craig Stickland before his concert at the Drake Hotel, Toronto on Tuesday, December 18th, 2012. 

Stickland was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but moved to Markham, Ontario at the age of 3. He realized that music was his passion when he was 16, as he became less interested in sports and school and gravitated towards playing instruments. He alternates between playing guitar, piano and the harmonica at his shows but also plays bass and trumpet. 

When and how did you know that music was it for you?

It’s something you discover; I’m not sure when it actually happened for me but definitely around puberty. I wrote my first song when I was 16 years old.

How do you describe your sound?

Harmony driven introspective pop.

Is it frustrating to have to cover artists like Taylor Swift to help promote your own music on YouTube?

I don’t think it’s frustrating, there’s opportunity there for sure. I feel like the state of the music industry, the popular mainstream, is at a very strange place, and dealing with those same experiences with people in bars… I have a hard time relating to the music being played in bars. But it is that music that has the most search-ability on Google and YouTube. So it works; I mean, it’s slowly working. If you look at a band like The Beatles, they barely have any YouTube traffic at all compared to someone like Justin Bieber, but they’ve sold way more records.

So it sounds to me like you’ve had your heart broken. Is that what has inspired most of your recent music?

I have! A large number of songs were written after a heartbreak. There’s times when you can be in love with somebody and be let down by them and have a moment of weakness where I find music pours out more so than when I’m in a happy go lucky mood. I’m not the guy that sits down and writes the happiest songs all the time. But my inspiration changes week to week. It’s not all about heartbreak, a lot of it is just my take on situations and things I’ve observed.

What can we expect from you in 2013?

World domination. (Laughter) …and my debut album in the first quarter and I want to shoot a music video for every single one of my songs.

Facebook / Twitter / Website

Interviewed by: @princessa_the1

It probably does not come as a surprise that Kodak To Graph is a buddy of mine you probably caught on with the share amount of Kodak related posts. Kodak To Graph and I have worked on countless projects for various compilations, and continuously share music back and fourth via Facebook. So you would think that by now we would have already done an interview with him. Well thats not the case as you can see by this post. I reached out to Kodak during one of our many convos with these 5 Questions for LYFSTYL’s little interview series. 

Here is this conversation:

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
Kodak to graph began as a post-rock project back in high school and has slowly evolved into it’s current form. It was the logical outlet for me to turn to electronic music coming from making that type of music. It made more sense as a solo artist to be making electronic music being that its a much easier and faster process in regards to spilling out ideas and/or emotions. I think ultimately my ‘sound’ takes from everything that I come across. More or less, its just a huge collage of daily activities, going on trips, getting sick, meeting new people, hearing rustling around the house, listening to hip-hop, jazz, mo-town, drone, etc. It’s my sponge-like tendencies of soaking everything up that has created my sound, which i’m not sure i’ve found yet or ever going to find. Its going to be something that is consistently evolving and never staying the same, which could either be a good or bad thing.
If you had to describe your music in three or four words, how would you describe it?

Excavating ruins at dusk.

What do you think makes you and your type of music unique from other artist?

I think for the most part, you will always be taken somewhere new. I try my hardest to bring in new elements with every idea/or song. Im always all over the place with genre’s and try not to give myself boundaries. I promise that you will never hear the same song twice from me, but will keep the common thread flowing. I believe its important that an artist should let the thread take new form over time.

When you started producing music did you ever imagine that you’d be on tour and playing music professionally so to speak?When I first started this project I would have never imagined touring, making a living off of music or even seeing it grow as much as it has. Im incredibly thankful to the people who have been into the music, supported me and/or even given it a chance. I am constantly blown away at the fact that I have the opportunity to share my music to people across the globe; when people are receptive to it, it helps bring meaning to this. Its what keeps me making music, to know that maybe someone out there will find something in the music that speaks directly to them or help them get through hard times.

What’s coming up for you in late 2012 or 2013?

Im going to leak out a single from my full length, featuring some remixes, sometime around January, then working on getting my band “isle’s” record out to the public sometime around late spring, and have a collaboration album in the works right now. If all goes as looking forward to an exciting and productive 2013 of music! Working on getting some US and EU dates in there as well!

Azekel is the Nigerian-born, alternative pop artist based out of East London. His music is laced with experimental beats and soulful melodies. For a fairly new artist Azekel already has numerous achievements under his belt. He was featured on the Mercedes-Benz Mix-Tape, opening for a number of UK acts, and performing on the Roundhouse Rising Festival 2012. LYFSTYL had the opportunity to ask this talented song writer 5 questions, this is what we came up with.

What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music?
When I was around 12 watching a Little Richard performance on a old tv show. I was amazed by how his music had an influence on me and the audience. Once I got started in song writing, I wanted to do the same.

If you had to describe your music in three or four words, how would you describe it?
Alternative. Raw. Soulful. Pop. What do you think makes you and your type of music unique from other artist? I express myself in my music. I believe that as long as I present my true individual self in my art, it’ll be unique because were all uniquely created.
As a child growing up, music surrounds us; what type of music did you hear the most back then? How does it differ from what you listen to now?Back then as a child I heard alot of afro beat and Gospel because of my parents, nowadays I listen to anything and everything worth listening to, from Rick Ross to Peggy Lee to the XX. But I guess when listening back to my music, the music I heard when I was a child has had an influence.

When can we expect an EP or LP?

My E.P is finished, It will be out in some months tim. Its called The Visit, its sounds dope. Just for fun….fill in the blanks!

1. Without music, I would be “A robot”
2. Music is “Spelt cisum backwards”
3. My music makes me feel “Lighter”
4. I write the songs because “I’m suppose to”
5. Support music because  ”Supporting artist makes the world go round”

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online magazine with a focus on new, emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe that’s what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

It’s a LYFSTYL.

Tweets by @LYFSTYLmusic

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LYFSTYL Music | Powered by Music – Kiss Your Speakers Goodbye

LYFSTYL (Lifestyle) is an online-magazine with a focus on new emerging artists. We write articles about what is amazing in the world of new music, as well as stuff that will just make you think.

We believe thats what music does to you. It makes you think. If you don’t think, you cease to exist. So, dive in, open your ears, open your eyes, and open your mind to LYFSTYL. Because this isn’t just another music publication.

Its a LYFSTYL.

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