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LYFSTYL Music

BTS Sets New Single ‘Take Two’

The K-pop superstars will drop “Take Two” on June 9.

05/30/2023

BTS
BTS asiste a la 64a entrega anual de los premios Grammy el 3 de abril de 2022 en el MGM Grand Garden Arena en Las Vegas. Amy Sussman/GI

BTS is back.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, the K-pop superstars will drop “Take Two,” a new digital single, on June 9.

The title of “Take Two” is a nod to BTS progressing into “their second chapter,” reads a statement from their reps at HYBE, and is said to be an “ode to their fans” — ARMY.

Bandmate SUGA participated in the production of the new recording, with RM and j-hope contributing to the songwriting, the statement continues.

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As previously reported, the South Korea-formed phenomenon will celebrate their milestone with BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA. The annual event coincides with the date of the group’s debut (June 13, 2013), and will roll out from today, culminating in a grand finale June 17 in Seoul.

BTS FESTA at Yeouido, in the South Korean capital, will be open to the public.

Formed around Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, BTS made its first Billboard chart appearance in 2013, when “No More Dreams” debuted at No. 14 on World Digital Song Sales (before climbing to No. 2 seven years later). Since then, the group has broken numerous records, including the most Hot 100 No. 1 debuts among groups and the most top 10 debuts among groups. All seven members have now scored solo hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

With BTS having tallied six Hot 100 No. 1s, and Jimin notching his first with “Like Crazy,” BTS joined the Beatles and the Supremes as the only groups with at least six leaders and at least one member having led the list solo.

The hits have dropped around the globe. In the U.K., BTS has bagged five top 10 appearances on the national albums survey, including two No. 1s. The septet has also hit the top 10 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart on four occasions.

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LYFSTYL Music

Disney’s ‘Moana’ Live-Action Remake Taps ‘Hamilton’ Director Thomas Kail

The news comes on the heels of Auli’i Cravalho explaining she will not be reprising her role as the titular character.

Moana
Moana© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

With The Little Mermaid making a splash in theaters this past weekend, news regarding another Disney film’s live-action remake is making waves. On Wednesday (May 31), The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Hamilton and In the Heights director Thomas Kail will helm the upcoming live-action version of Moana.

The film was first announced earlier this spring. Alongside Broadway vet Kail directing, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — who will will reprise his role as Maui, the demigod of the wind and sea — will produce via his company Seven Bucks productions with Dany and Hiram Garcia. Beau Flynn is also producing via Flynn Picture Co. Jared Bush, the animated movie’s original screenwriter, wrote the script for the live-action movie alongside Dana Ledoux Miller.

While the titular character has yet to be cast for the film, Auli’i Cravalho — who originally starred as the voice of Moana — revealed that she won’t reprise the role but will instead serve as an executive producer on the project.

“When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career,” she said on Instagram earlier this month. “In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital that casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell.”

She continued, “I can’t wait to find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next woman of Pacific Island descent to honor our incredible Pacific peoples, cultures and communities that help inspire her story, and I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representation to come. Mahalo.”

Source: https://www.billboard.com/

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LYFSTYL Music

Louis Vuitton and 5 other biggest Jackson Wang brand collaborations to date

From Dior to Armani Beauty — luxury fashion houses are steadily embracing Asian celebrities to usher in inclusivity while cashing in on their rising global popularity. South Korean rapper Jackson Wang, who has been roped in by multiple brands in the recent past, is a case in point. Here’s taking a look at some of the biggest brand collaborations of the K-pop artist.

A member of K-pop group GOT7, Jackson Wang is a multifaceted personality, who has been building his legacy in the entertainment world since his debut in January 2014. From entering the Billboard 200 list at no.15 with his album Magic Man (2022) to becoming the face of high-end brands like Fendi and Cartier, Wang’s accomplishments span diverse genres.

With the most recent addition of Louis Vuitton to the K-pop idol’s portfolio of lucrative endorsement deals — on 21 January 2023 — Wang’s tryst with the fashion industry continues to scale new heights.

Here are the most iconic Jackson Wang brand collaborations

Louis Vuitton

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AufFiP48y_U%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

Following Wang’s appearance at the 2023 Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter show in Paris, the luxury fashion house appointed the Hong Kong-born singer as the latest brand ambassador. Wang is considered Louis Vuitton‘s most popular Chinese ambassador after Kris Wu.

Louis Vuitton made the news public on Instagram, saying, “The maison is pleased to announce that the world-renowned singer will be joining as new house ambassador.”

Since his collaboration, Wang has been a part of various campaigns by the brand, including the Horizons Never End collection. It featured him endorsing various Horizon luggage pieces like the classic LV trunk.

Shop Louis Vuitton Horizon Pieces Here

Cartier

https://instagram.com/p/CCDesaVJqxD/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia.com&rp=%2Fhk%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2Fbiggest-jackson-wang-brand-collaborations%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2446%2C%22ls%22%3A1636%2C%22le%22%3A2203%7D


From being their global ambassador to attending the 2023 Met Gala clad in Cartier, Wang can’t seem to get enough of the French luxury house.

It was in 2019 that the brand announced Wang as the “Face of Cartier Global”. As a part of his collaboration, Wang has modelled for the brand’s Juste un Clou and Pasha de Cartier campaigns.

Complete with a Cartier Tank Cintrée Skeleton watch, Juste un Clou earrings and a Panthère de Cartier ring set studded with 242 brilliant-cut diamonds, his Met Gala ensemble made him the poster boy for the brand.

Shop Cartier Fine Jewellery & Watches Here

MAC Cosmetics

https://instagram.com/p/ChYbL4Jsv78/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia.com&rp=%2Fhk%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2Fbiggest-jackson-wang-brand-collaborations%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A2464%2C%22ls%22%3A1636%2C%22le%22%3A2203%7D


Another luxury brand in Wang’s growing list of fashion endorsements is the famed MAC Cosmetics.

On 18 August 2022, he was hailed as the new global ambassador by MAC Cosmetics. The brand made the announcement for the same in a heartwarming post that read, “Singer, producer, designer, director…and now M·A·C Ambassador. Please join us in welcoming @JacksonWang852 to the M·A·C family! We can’t wait for you to see what the future will bring.” The post featured the singer posing with the brand’s Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.

Besides Wang, BLACKPINK’s Lisa is another K-pop idol on MAC’s list of global ambassadors.

Fendi

jackson wang brand
Image credit: Jackson Wang/Twitter

Wang’s fashion label, Team Wang has been in a long association with the Italian fashion brand, Fendi. And it all started when Fendi invited Wang to the 2017 preview of their opening reception of the China Peekaboo Project in Beijing.

In 2019, the brand appointed Wang as its brand ambassador in China. As a part of the collaboration, Fendi also launched the Jackson Wang x Fendi capsule collection the same year.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1155477640419168258&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia.com%2Fhk%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2Fbiggest-jackson-wang-brand-collaborations%2F&sessionId=60510b3a399a5111fe4addace7979a3d6e93458f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&width=550px

Following this, the South Korean rapper was announced as the spokesperson of the Fendi men’s collection in the Greater China area in 2021.

Wang displayed his love for the brand by releasing a music video titled “Fendiman”. He shot the hit 2018 single at Fendi’s headquarters in Rome Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana. It also ranked #1 on two iTunes charts.

Shop Fendi Items Here

Armani Beauty

Image credit: Jackson Wang/Twitter

Wang became a house representative for Armani Beauty in 2019.

As the beauty brand’s Asia-Pacific ambassador, Jackson Wang is the face of its ‘Si’ perfume line. https://instagram.com/p/CouF5-erFrc/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia.com&rp=%2Fhk%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2Fbiggest-jackson-wang-brand-collaborations%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A2478%2C%22ls%22%3A1636%2C%22le%22%3A2203%7D

Wang was also a part of Armani Beauty’s ARMANI/PRIVÉ campaign alongside popular celebrities like Elaine Zhong.

Ray-Ban

https://instagram.com/p/ByzuXLgnEZN/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia.com&rp=%2Fhk%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2Fbiggest-jackson-wang-brand-collaborations%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A4364%2C%22ls%22%3A1636%2C%22le%22%3A2203%7D

One of the world’s most popular eyewear brands, Ray-Ban roped in Wang in 2019.

Tough Asia quoted the artiste saying, “I am very proud to partner Ray-Ban, a brand that never conforms to so-called fashion trends but has been pioneering with counterculture stylishness and technical innovation.”

As the face of Ray-Ban, the musician also featured in the brand’s #ProudToBelong campaign that celebrated vulnerability, empathy, passion and confidence.

(Hero and Feature Image credit: Louis Vuitton/Jackson Wang/Instagram)

Source: lifestyleasia.com

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LYFSTYL Music

‘Despacito’ to ‘See You Again’: 10 most-liked YouTube videos of all time

From epic music videos of Despacito and Baby Shark Dance to some bizarre, viral clips, including Would You Fly To Paris For A Baguette?, the video streaming platform YouTube has treated us with the best possible content. These videos have resonated with the masses, who have stamped the like button as a token of appreciation.

YouTube is undoubtedly the best place to witness what creators across the globe have to offer. People worldwide scour through travel and beauty content, official music videos and trailers, social experiment clips or just unfiltered vlogs daily, resulting in the platform minting billions of dollars.

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Many such videos have managed to break records, clinching top spots with the most likes. We’re sure you must’ve seen some of them at least once, owing to their immense popularity, but if not, we’ve got you covered. Check out the list of the 10 most-liked YouTube videos of all time. EntertainmentThe 10 most-viewed YouTube videos of all-time EntertainmentThe 10 most-liked Instagram posts of all time

Most liked YouTube videos of all time

1. ‘Despacito’ by Luis Fonsi, featuring Daddy Yankee

Number of likes: 51.39 million

Release year: 2017

Despacito had us all singing in an alien language, proving that music transcends all barriers. The music video of Luis Fonsi’s Despacito doesn’t just have the maximum likes on YouTube but is also the second most-viewed video on the platform.

The video transports you to your dream vacation. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee groove alongside model Zuleyka Rivera on the stunning island of Puerto Rico. It is the first Spanish track to have clinched the top spot on Billboard Hot 100 list since 1996. The track’s popularity grew wider with Justin Bieber‘s remixed version. However, the Spanish original continues to be a fan favourite.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kJQP7kiw5Fk%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

2. ‘See You Again’ by Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth

Number of likes: 40.88 million

Release year: 2015

As a parting tribute to Paul Walker, the song perfectly encapsulates the pain of losing a loved one and the hope of reuniting with them in the afterlife. While Charlie Puth originally curated it, Wiz Khalifa was invited to include rap verses, adding so much depth.

The emotionally charged lyrics and video take us through Paul Walker and Vin Diesel’s friendship filled with thrills and fun. Despite the deep sense of grief, the song emphasises that the late actor is in heaven as his entourage awaits their reunion.
Especially the parting scene at the end, where Paul and Vin go their separate ways, leaving many of us teary-eyed every time we watch it.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RgKAFK5djSk%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

3. ‘Baby Shark Dance’ by Pinkfong

Number of likes: 40.18 million

Release year: 2016

The song is still minting millions from billions of views and likes on YouTube. The viral children’s song curated by South Korea-based Pinkfong is the most-viewed track on the platform, and we bet you’ve grooved on it at some point.

A 2022 report in Forbes cited data from BonusInsider, which claimed that the creators earn $283,000 each month from the additional views it garners. That’s $9,400 daily!

The video showcases cute little kids against an animated aquatic background singing about a shark family who is all set to go hunting. Its doo doo doo doo’ beats caught the fancy of children as well as adults across the globe, making it the biggest viral sensation.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mmkxfco9GNk%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

 4. ‘Dynamite’ by BTS

Number of likes: 36.36 million

Release year: 2020

The South Korean boy band BTS has a fan base like no other, which translates into the groundbreaking popularity of their songs. One such track that blew up was Dynamite, the band’s first song to be fully recorded in English. Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dynamite is a ‘feel good’ track imbued with positivity, energy and hope.

The song is all about finding joy and appreciation in the little things that make life worthwhile. Don’t miss the pop references throughout the track as well as the boys paying tribute to their favourite musicians from LeBron James and Michael Jackson to Rolling Stones and King Kong.

It’s only a matter of time before Dynamite enters the list of the top 10 most-viewed videos on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=gdZLi9oWNZg%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

5. ‘OMG Best Teacher’ by Dednahype

Number of likes: 34.88 million

Release year: 2021

For all of those who’re unaware, Dednahype is an uber-cool Latvian YouTuber and TikToker who thrives on comedy and drama sketches. You can a find variety of Tiktok videos as well as vlogs about his efforts towards the homeless people of Latvia on the internet. The artist has collaborated with a number of other viral stars in his hometown including the Latvian sisters.

The OMG Best Teacher clip is set against a classroom setup, chronicling a right-versus-wrong tale where the bad guys get their lesson at the end. The interesting storyline grabbed the attention of many, making it the most-liked non-music YouTube video.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=4MjzAPYi2CM%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

Culture‘Blinding Lights’ to ‘Shape of You’: Top 10 most-streamed songs on Spotify

6. ‘Would you fly to Paris for a Baguette’ by Mr Beast

Number of likes: 34.09 million

Release year: 2022

Imagine going on an all-expense paid trip to Paris, just to get a baguette for a stranger. Sounds bizarre right? That’s exactly what YouTube sensation Mr Beast did in his video, which blew up on the internet.

Mr Beast offered a man $300 to travel to the French city and buy him the bread, which the latter gladly accepted. The video chronicles his journey across Paris, following which he gets much more than $300 from the creator just to complete the challenge. We’re sure this has left some of you wishing for a rendezvous with Mr Beast!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=se50viFJ0AQ%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

7. ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran

Number of likes: 31.51 million

Release year: 2017

While Ed Sheeran has many iconic songs to his credit, Shape of You has undoubtedly become his most famous curation. The song not only spent 33 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 in 2017 but also became the most-streamed song of the last decade.

The video showcases a budding boxer, Ed Sheeran’s blossoming romance with a more experienced athlete Jennie Pegouske and how she leaves him one fine day. The second half is quite interesting as the singer begins to train hard and comes face-to-face with a gigantic sumo wrestler. As Sheeran faces defeat in the ring, his love interest springs from the crowd and packs a punch on the sumo wrestler. The girl is Sheeran’s hero in disguise, whose charm he couldn’t resist.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JGwWNGJdvx8%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

8. ‘How Zach King Gets Away With Doing Graffiti’ by dollarbill

Number of likes: 31.12 million

Release year: 2019

Created by Zack King and re-uploaded by dollarbill, this video comically plays around with optical illusion. It showcases Zach churning magic with his graffiti when an officer catches him spraying the walls. The artist then magically uses his art to escape the cop, leaving the latter in disbelief. There’s no better way to know the genius other than seeing it firsthand.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=R1Ehb3JA-cM%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

9. ‘Our MOST INTENSE Balloon Popping Race’ by How Ridiculous

Number of likes: 29.47

Release year: 2019

This video featuring the balloon-popping race got massive likes on YouTube, which is unsurprising! The fun, balloon-popping race video also went viral on Tik Tok. In the video, two participants race to pop balloons, which looks fun.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8uiUz_IUkpo%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

10. ‘Boy with Luv’ by BTS, featuring Halsey

Number of likes: 28.45 million

Release year: 2022

The song talks about feeling love within and finding happiness in your own company before loving others. Just like other BTS songs, this one also screams positivity, giving you a much-needed boost on your bad days.  It comes as a parallel track to their 2014 hit Boy In Luv, which dealt with love on the outside, a nascent, teen version of love that happens with a companion.

The track garnered over 74.6 million views within a day of release, making it the most-viewed online music video in 24 hours as of April 2019.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XsX3ATc3FbA%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifestyleasia.com

Save these videos for your next binge-watching session.

Source: https://www.lifestyleasia.com/hk/entertainment/streaming/most-liked-youtube-videos-of-all-time/

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LYFSTYL Music

SKATING AN EMPTY WATERPARK IN DUBAI

LYFSTYL STAFFAPRIL 12, 2016

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What do you do when it’s time to drain a waterpark of hundreds of thousands of liters of water and shut it down for maintenance? Invite three world-class skateboarders in for some epic dry runs and slides, of course.

Alessandro SorgenteMilton Martinez and Jan Hoffmann got to carve out 17 beachfront hectares of waterscape at Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai during this amazing #waterparklockdown.

The trio of intrepid skateboarders took to the temporarily dry slopes of Atlantis to make some concrete waves – quarter pipes on the water pipes.

Take a look above!

Source: Red Bull

DUBAIRED BULL

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The Monocle Travel Guide to Istanbul

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.”

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Jesse Boykins III @ Toronto: A Vicious Cycle of… | LYFSTYL

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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Pariah – Rift EP (Review) Although releases from… | LYFSTYL

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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Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Trouble… | LYFSTYL

“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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Holy Other – Love Some1 FINALLY HOLY OTHER IS… | LYFSTYL

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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Onra – L.O.V.E. Parisian… | LYFSTYL

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

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Releases | LYFSTYL

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.



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Magazine | LYFSTYL

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 | LYFSTYL

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.

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About Us

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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interviews | LYFSTYL

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JAMES BLAKE IS ETHEREAL MUSIC THAT MAKES YOU FEEL

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TORO Y MOI – ANYTHING IN RETURN

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TA-KU – MAKE IT LAST EP

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A$AP ROCKY – LONG.LIVE.A$AP

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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.



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Features | LYFSTYL

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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Watch: RÜFÜS DU SOL – Say a Prayer For Me

RÜFÜS DU SOL have debuted the music video for “Say A Prayer For Me”, the latest single off their sophomore album Bloom out now on ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective. “Say A Prayer For Me” is one of the most emotive songs off Bloom, offering listeners a glimpse into RÜFÜS DU SOL’s poignant world while tugging on themes of sentimental wants and needs. The video sets an abstract, futuristic setting for the band’s unmistakable soundscape of melancholic yearning.

“A lot of the record was about being at home and then leaving that place that you know so well and are comfortable in. ‘Say A Prayer For Me,’ in particular, feeds off that feeling of what you would say to the people around you if you had to say goodbye to them for an indefinite amount of time, whether it’s a partner, a loved one or whoever…what would you say to that person?”

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Micro Cluster Cabins by Architecture Firm Reiulf Ramstad

Architecture firm, Reiulf Ramstad was commissioned by a client of theirs who wanted a cabin for the whole family, but at the same time needed it to be divisible in some way. The solution was a cluster of three structures, which can be used individually. Each of the buildings is defined as a clarified geometric volume, organized around the outdoor area that binds them together as one unit.

Toward the northeast, a hill borders and defines the site, together with the view in the opposite direction. The spatial interaction between landscape and the structure creates a beneficial microclimate. This is reflected by the structures’ southwest orientation, where the gable end is glazed. In the other directions the buildings appear more closed.

Illustrations by Lars Petter Pettersen / D2 and RRA.

Reiulf Ramstad: Website

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Watch: Tyler, The Creator – PERFECT (feat. Kali Uchis & Austin Feinstein)

Tyler, the Creator has the released the self-directed official video for “PERFECT from his most album Cherry Bomb. The song features accompanying vocals from Kali Uchis, and Austin Feinstein on the guitar. Watch above.

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Win a pair of ticket to see Future – Friday July 11th @ Sound Academy, Toronto

If you’re interested in seeing Future live in Toronto this Friday night at 8pm (Sound Academy) we’ve decided to hook up one lucky reader with a pair of tickets.

To win two tickets to see future we just need to make a connection, be it by Twitter or FaceBook… or both! Once we’re officially connected, do one of the following:

  • If you follow LYFSTYL on Twitter, click the ReTweet button (at the end of the post) and include the name of your favorite Future song.
  • If you fan us on Facebook, Like/share this contest (button at the end of the post) and go to our FB Page and comment your favorite Future song.
  • Or leave a comment below with your favourite Future song

We’ll pick the winner by Thursday (July 10th) morning.

SOUND ACADEMY: 11 POLSON STREET – TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

Note: this is a 19+ event.

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The Die Antwoord Dilemma: Should Musicians Be Held Responsible For Hateful Lyrics?

Music holds an incredible power to move and influence the listener, taking control of the mind and body to initiate a beautiful reaction within us all, but as Die Antwoord taught me recently the input and output aren’t always beautiful. Performers have been pushing the boundaries of social tolerance and acceptability for generations and with every decade the bar is raised. However, lately a number of musicians from Tyler, The Creator to Justin Bieber have explored these boundaries and encountered varying degrees of consequences, but they raise a greater question: where is the line? Or more accurately, is there a line at all?

When Tyler, The Creator was named to the Sasquatch 2014 lineup I knew that his live performance was a must-see, but not necessarily due to the merits of his music. His performances have a reputation for flirting the line between rowdy and violent, and I needed to see the live product for myself. I made sure to re-familiarize myself with his music, and despite the wave of depression that followed every listen I still managed to make it through Bastard, Goblin, and Wolf a few times each.

The South African trio Die Antwoord landed on the bill with a similar reputation: one of shock and awe visuals paired with a sound that brutalizes listeners into submission. I’m game, I figured. Hell, I once listened to a good chunk of Metal Machine Music just to see what it was like. I can handle it. While I had to wait to see the visual extravaganza, the audible explosion I heard on $O$ and Ten$Ion came as advertised. The beats were heavy, the rap was fast and furious, and the lyrical content was abrasive, rife with the braggadocio that has become so commonplace in rap it transcends cliche. It didn’t strike me as something I would enjoy sober, I figured before I switched to something more soothing after only a few painful songs.

On the opening night of Sasquatch, however, I heard something I had missed on Ten$Ion. DJ Hi-Tek opened the set with the heartwarming banger “DJ Hi-Tek Rulez” which is at best an act of sonic instigation/trolling, and at worst a boastful expression of homophobia and misogyny with a pinch of rape culture tossed in for good measure. The crowd buzzed with the usual excitement a final performance of the night is traditionally welcomed by, however as I listened more closely to the (extremely NSFW) lyrics my blood began pumping for a much different reason as I stood still with my arms crossed.

In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group.

I couldn’t be the only one in the crowd irked by the man asserting he would rape me until I conceded, I thought to myself, and yet everyone in sight continued to bounce along with the beat as the show stomped through it’s opening track. I knew Die Antwoord were out to offend, so I had my guard up, but the more I thought about it the more I realized the sole purpose of “DJ Hi-Tek Rulez” is to offend and instigate, justified only by a thin element of musicality. Sure, there’s a beat, but we all know what is going on here. A group like Die Antwoord are calculated in what they do, and it is no coincidence that “DJ Hi-Tek Rules” is the opener for their sets.

This struck me as especially strange to hear at Sasquatch of all music festivals, where only a year previous Macklemore had closed out the opening night with a set that featured “Same Love” the pro-LGBT ballad that took over the music world last summer. While standing in front of the Bigfoot stage in 2014 I wondered how Mary Lambert, the (lesbian) vocalist featured on “Same Love” would feel about opening the festival on the same day DJ Hi-Tek was to close with hate speech layered over a beat. I wondered how any of the other LGBT performers would feel sharing a bill with Die Antwoord. But most of all I wondered how the LGBT listeners would feel as DJ Hi-Tek’s voice spat acid-rain over the dark, pulsing throng.

During the long walk back to the campsite I contemplated the ramifications of playing such vile music to thousands of people. I wasn’t personally offended, so I tried to move past it, but I found the performance had burrowed a hole into my brain (as was surely intended) and I couldn’t let go. It didn’t help that Yolandi Visser was more obnoxious in person than she manages to be on Die Antwoord’s recordings, but I digress.

So where is the line between artistic expression and hate speech? What differentiates Donad Sterling’s hateful and moronic rant from one pumped through speakers to a crowd of eager (and often impressionable) listeners? Creative works are given certain freedom of interpretation and can’t be accepted as literal testimony (despite this insanity) however the boundaries are vague and often completely ambiguous, relative only to society’s level of tolerance at the time. I for one appreciate the testing of these boundaries of tolerance when it comes to harmless things like profanity, however homophobic and racist musical content can have serious implications down the line.

Just as musicians move the crowd at their performances the content of their songs can influence minds and shape the worldviews of listeners. It’s no surprise there are still ignorant assholes wearing headdresses around at festivals like it’s a fucking fashion statement while we have musicians like Lana Del Rey and Pharrell Williams appropriating culture in the spotlight. Both artists received some well-deserved criticism for their transgressions, however the greater issue is that with every step an artist takes in the wrong direction another wave of impressionable consumers are marching along behind them.

Luckily for listeners we can pick and choose the art we consume, and needless to say Die Antwoord is no longer a part of my playlist, but should musical curators and taste-makers like radio DJs, editors, and festival organizers hold art to a higher standard while selecting content for the masses? As with the music itself this choice ultimately comes down to the individual curators behind each endeavor, but I can’t help but wonder if it is time we all start holding musicians and other artists responsible for their content as if it was encountered in everyday life.

Is this music hateful towards a certain race, gender, or sexual orientation? Would I still be listening to this song if those slurs were about me? Do I want this musician influencing my life? These are the questions to think about the next time you catch yourself doing a Mike Tyson impersonation along to DJ Hi-Tek or any other musician inciting hate with their music.

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Album Review: Kimbra – The Golden Echo

A household name with a Grammy to call her own, Kimbra established herself in the world of music with the vocals on Gotye’s smash-hit ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ in 2011. On her second album The Golden Echo, Kimbra Lee Johnson (who co-produced the album with Rich Costey among others) steps out on her own with a bombastic effort that occasionally demonstrates her vocal talent while ultimately echoing the sonic properties of her pop competitors.

The Golden Echo opens with the soft and tender ‘Teen Heat’ which strikes as an odd choice to lead the overwhelming ’90’s Music’, a track that demonstrates the album’s best and worst qualities all in one single.

’90s Music’ is catchy-as-could-be with production likely to create a head-bob in most listeners, but ultimately the repetitive and familiar track has little resonance beyond Kimbra’s whiny interludes. We already know the Kiwi vocalist can sing, however tracks like ’90s Music’ and the bubble-gum burst ‘Miracle’ fail to play to her strength, instead forcing her voice to take a backseat to a sonic clashing of production.

It’s no surprise the song’s theme revolves around listening to music on the radio, just as Russell Simmons understood back in the 90s when advising LL Cool J Kimbra’s crew has also recognized the importance of playing to their audience. It’s simple: if you sing about the radio they will play you on it. And in this case Kimbra seems very aware of all the elements that went into making The Golden Echo such a bold miss-step into over-produced pop mediocrity.

“There wasn’t one moment on this record that wasn’t important.” 

Kimbra’s bold statement to The Guardian regarding The Golden Echo make the album’s demise quite predictable: by attempting to give importance to every moment on the album she has created an effort that is entirely devoid of important moments, constantly bogged down by a crowd of musical elements shouting over each other. Take into account a lack of lyrical substance Kimbra’s lengthy second effort gets old fast, leaving listeners to only hope the echo won’t come back quite as clear.

Speaking of lengthy, The Golden Echo’s list of collaborators (Thundercat, Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth, Mars Voltra’s Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Bilal, John Legend, Foster The People’s Mark Foster, and many more) offers another hint as to how the album became such a clash of sounds without the necessary room to breathe. Whereas ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ and other Kimbra singles like ‘Settle Down’ (especially this live version) left space for the singer to showcase her beautiful voice, she has clearly failed to provide herself the proper space to demonstrate her talent on The Golden Echo.

http://twitter.com/LYFSTYLmusic/status/510221497483665408

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LYFSTYL Music

Create & Explore 010 – Matthew Lawless x Com Truise

Create & Explore unveil their 10th video, made in collaboration with San Diego-based videographer Matthew Lawless and NY-based electronic artist Com Truise.

From the Director, Matthew Lawless

I’ve been a fan of Com Truise since I discovered his music through the ISO50 blog years ago. I’ve always really enjoyed his music because it has a retro-spacey vibe to it. While making this video I kept that vibe and the words “Create and Explore” in mind and for that reason most of the filming took place in the desert two hours from San Diego. Some of the locations were not only out of GPS range but were also inaccessible without a four-wheel drive vehicle. The combination of the terrain and the location’s seclusion made it felt as if I was exploring another planet.

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Listen: Pretty Sister – Drive

“Drive” is Pretty Sister’s new release that embodies everything there is to love about Los Angeles and those sunny days driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway with the top down blasting Tupac.

“I wrote this song from the perspective of someone who just moved here. Although i’m from LA, i did spend a two-year stint from age 13-15 in Toronto. I’ll never forget coming back here, smelling the smog and seeing the hazy sunsets over the 405. So when writing the song i thought about what must it be like to have just moved here from michigan or new york or detroit? Driving through laurel canyon with the palm trees and then sun and the warmth…the feeling of endless possibility and beautiful people all around you…it must be pretty exciting. I grew up in it and shit, it still excites me every day!”

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Listen: HWLS x Ty Dolla $ign – Plays

Ty Dolla $ign and Australian electronic duo HWLS (Ta-ku & Kit Pop) collaborate for the first time on “Plays” for #songsfromscratch, a series from Yours Truly & adidas originals.

“What I’m used to is making music at the back of my Grandmothers house, that’s how it started with me, and just the homies, so that’s how it has to be. — Ty Dolla $ign

Witness the making of this, and other #songsfromscratch by Fetty Wap, Chance the Rapper, Jeremih, Shlohmo, Chet Faker, Danny Brown, and many more at http://songsfromscrat.ch

HWLS Kit Pop Ta-Ku Ty Dolla $ign

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Listen: Nao vs. A. K. Paul – So Good

A.K. Paul the brother and longtime collaborator of mysterious U.K. songwriter Jai Paul has emerged from the shadows with his own debut song featuring London-based singer Nao. Check it out below. Enjoy!

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LYFSTYL Music

Listen: Flume – Smoke And Retribution (feat. Vince Staples & Kučka)

Flume is back with the third single from his upcoming sophomore album Skin. The new song is amply titled “Smoke & Retribution,” and is a collaboration with Vince Staples and Kučka. It follows “Some Minds” and “Never Be Like You.”

Flume’s new album Skin is due out later this year on Mom + Pop.

Listen to “Smoke & Retribution,” below.

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Watch: J. Cole – Love Yourz

Yesterday J. Cole celebrated his 31st birthday by releasing Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC. The album was recorded live from Cole’s sold-out show in his hometown of Fayetteville, N.C. last fall. Today Cole is back with a music video for the powerful single “Love Yourz” which was filmed during the same show at Crown Coliseum. Watch the music video above then stream the entire album below via Spotify or purchase it on iTunes.

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LYFSTYL Music

The Monocle Travel Guide to London

To celebrate the launch of Monocle’s travel series the publication has produced a cinematic portrait of this exciting metropolis of London. From great examples of urban design and lofty gardens to culinary discoveries and the best music venues, this film journeys to Monocle’s favorite places in the city they call home.

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LYFSTYL Music

KAWS Previews His First-Ever UK Museum Exhibition

Yorkshire Sculpture Park presents the first UK museum exhibition by KAWS, the renowned American artist whose work has sparked global attention. The expansive Longside Gallery features commanding sculptures in bronze, fibreglass, aluminium and wood alongside large, bright canvases immaculately rendered in acrylic paint. The Park’s landscape becomes home to six imposing sculptures, including a new six-metre-tall work, which carry KAWS’ idiosyncratic skull and crossbones features upon almost-recognizable character.

This behind-the-scenes preview shows the installation of KAWS’ ten-metre-tall sculpture SMALL LIE (2013) ahead of the opening of new Yorkshire Sculpture Park exhibition (6 February 2016–12 June 2016).

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Watch: A$AP Rocky – JD

A$AP Rocky has been busy this Wednesday night. After dropping three brand new tracks, Rocky is back with the moody visuals for “JD” taken from his excellent sophomore album At.Long.Last.A$AP. Watch the visuals above which showcase the New York native explore the streets of London before transitioning between live action and animation.

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A World Unseen: Behind-The-Scenes on The Revenant

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

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The Monocle Travel Guide to New York

Monocle is back with their ongoing travel series, this time around the publication highlights the city that never sleep New York City. The Monocle Travel Guide to New York is a celebration of all that Monocle loves about the city.

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Kanye West Just Unleashed An Onslaught On Wiz Khalifa

Yesterday Kanye West announced that he was abandoning the name SWISH and changing the name of his album to Waves. Wiz Khalifa took offence to this and posted a few tweets stating that Kanye West should not name his album Waves due to it being disrespectful to incarcerated rapper Max B.

Read the exchange below:

The tweet that started it all:

— “#Waves the album formally known as Swish”

Wiz proclaimed:

— “Please don’t take the wave.”

— “Max B is the wavy one. He created the wave. There is no wave without him.”

— “Im a wavy baby for sure and I’m not having it.”

— “He’s the reason I sing on all my songs. That’s the wave. If theres nothing wit that sound ITS NOT WAVY.”

— “Hit this kk and become yourself.”

Kanye Went then proceeded to fly off the handle:

— “First of all, you stole your whole s*** from Cudi.”

— “Your first single was corny as f***.”

— “You let a stripper trap you”

— “I know you mad every time you look at your child that this girl got you for 18 years.”

— “I am your OG and I will be respected as such.”

— “Don’t ever in your f****** life speak sideways about a n***a that’s fighting for us. I do this for all of us.”

— “I showed you respect as a man when I met you. You wouldn’t have a child if it wasn’t for me.”

— “Don’t even hint at mentioning me my family or my wife I am your OG”

— “Thank you for the extra promotion #WAVES available February 11th”

The rebuttal (Wiz):

— “KK is weed fool. Reason’s why your not wavy. Go bacc to Swish.”

The rebuttal (Kanye)

— “Man it’s a sad a day… Wiz lost 2 million followers since I tweeted I didn’t mean to either him like that.”

— “I’m happy that I now know that KK means weed… please excuse the confusion … now back to #WAVES”

Don’t forget about Amber Rose: 

— “Awww @kanyewest are u mad I’m not around to play in ur asshole anymore? #FingersInTheBootyAssBitch”

— “Lol @kanyewest Now u wanna delete ur tweets cuz Muva has arrived? #TwitterFingers #UrGettingBodiedByAStripperNigga”

Things to note: Amber Rose is a SAVAGE…

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LYFSTYL Music

Music & Misery: Double Dating Music and Depression

The longest stable relationship I have in my life is with  depression. We’re going 22 years strong out of the mere 25 years of living outside of my mom’s womb and I’m gunning for another few decades of living together. I can depend on my depression (which has now manifested into personification) to emerge at the most convenient of life circumstances and hinder any normal human function necessary to, er, living.

Battling depression this long has made me battle-weary, I’m acutely aware of how I will need to prepare for each episode. I can feel the stirrings months before actually descending into full-blown, catatonic depressed Rupa (she’s a lot of fun to hang out with) and can usually curb the worst of it before I lose all functionality. But, at least once or three times a year, I can’t stop myself from burrowing into the belly of the beast.

When I’m finally really in it a number of fun things happen:

  • I sleep erratically
  • I can’t remember anything which isn’t an exaggeration – I can make myself a meal, eat it, and 20 minutes later completely forget what was consumed
  • Nothing gives me feelings of any kind. Joy, anger, sadness, neutrality, excitement, you name it and I will feel none of that. It’s a dense fog of emptiness where nothing can penetrate through
  • I watch a nauseating amount of anime and play videogames for hours on end and not engage with any of it
  • New music sounds even more dull than usual
  • All I play is sad music at parties

My best days are what most people would call their worst. I wake up at -50% and hope to hit 0 by the end of the day where others can go from 20~100%. The hardest part, though, is knowing that my long-term likelihood of getting to that +20% range is arduously slim. The more I hear from friends and strangers that I will win my fight and one day it will get better irritates me beyond the scope of rationality. Depression is my other half. We’re symbiotic, a cute couple, so cute even my ex-boyfriend was jealous of it.

The number-one part about being this depressed as an adult is that you can’t even do your job. My work entails writing about music, think pieces, listening to and analyzing new music, and attending events / shows. But I can’t do it. Everything gives me anxiety and I can’t write, absorb new music, and any normal activity seems bothersome. All I can do is listen to old(er) music that I already know is good and enjoyable and proceed to obsessively dance to witch house.

This recent bout of depression, though, is one of the most crestfallen I’ve had in years. I’m at a crossroads of being unsure about career paths, a yearning for scenery change, being a recent woke woman of colour and my place in a society I feel uncomfortable in, and siphoning out friendships which are unsupportive and unhealthy. Digesting life, circumstances completely out of my control, actual situations I can’t simply work through feels impossible. And sometimes, it is impossible.

That’s the thing with severe depression. Your worldview is distorted and normal life is perpetually five feet in front of you no matter how you approach it. Music is the embodiment of nostalgic exes and depression is that asshole who comes around a few times a year to wreak havoc and piss off everyone around me. I’m still figuring out the angles, but until then I’ll be over here, forcing myself to listen to music and write but also playing too many video games (ahem, watching anime). Find me on Playstation and so we can continue to be URL friends but please, I beg of you, do not look into my Hulu recommendations.

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Rita Ora's Nude Shoot For ‘Lui’ Magazine (NSFW)

American photographer Terry Richardson shot the British singer Rita Ora for the latest cover of Lui Magazine. The Lo-fi shoot shows Rita scantly clad, rocking pieces from german sportswear brand Adidas.

Pick up the new issue of Lui Magazine from newsstands now and check out some behind-the-scenes shots in the gallery above.

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LYFSTYL Music

The Monocle Travel Guide to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the few global cities that strikes a balance between cosmopolitan hub and natural wonder. As well its openness and unique mix of people, the city has a wide range of galleries, restaurants, and world-famous beaches. Monocle’s new travel guide will help you discover every pocket of the city.

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LYFSTYL Music

Martin Shkreli Debates Destroying New Wu-Tang Record

The enigmatic Martin Shkreli is back giving interviews where he ponders whether or not to destroy the $2 million dollar Wu-Tang record he purchased earlier this year. Talking with Allie Conti of Vice, Shkreli weighs the possibility of destroying the record entirely, as well as other options:

“With the Wu-Tang album playing in the background, Shkreli says he vacillates between wanting to destroy the record and dreaming of installing it in some remote place so that people have to make a spiritual quest to listen. ‘I’m not just the heel of the music world,’ he says. ‘I want to be the world’s heel.”

Allie Conti later told Noisey about her take on the record (which only a handful of people have actually heard.)

“I barely got to hear it, because I was also interviewing him while it was on. From what I heard, it was definitely better than their last album, although I wouldn’t say it’s worth $2 million necessarily. I really hope Shkreli decides to release it to the public rather than destroy it, which is something he’s mulling over right now.”

Here are a few cringe worth excerpt from interview:

He used to chuck basketballs at the “facade of Pfizer’s world headquarters and get into arguments with the security guards there, describing his hatred of Big Pharma as an inspiration for his small company—the millionaire as underdog.”

He claims his scheme “can’t be Ponzi-like because the people he paid back with Retrophin stock profited: “The nutshell is that people were possibly misled into making a lot of money.”

During the interview “he opens a magnum of Bordeaux he says cost $15,000 and rolls around the vinyl floor on his hoverboard while taking $120 sips.”

Read the full article on Vice.

I am confident I will prevail. The allegations against me are baseless and without merit.

— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) December 19, 2015

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Listen: Peverelist – Roll With The Punches (Majid Jordan Remix)

Majid Jordan has just dropped a remix of the Peverelist hit song “Roll With The Punches”. The duo debuted the song during their mix on OVO Sound Radio show on Apple’s Beats 1 station. Listen below – their self titled debut is out February 5th preorder it now.

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Listen: Raveena – You Give Me That

22 year-old New York-based vocalist Raveena has announced herself as a feminine force to be reckoned with on her debut single, “You Give Me That”. It’s a really smooth soul/R&B track reminiscent of Erykah Badu, Sade and D’Angelo.  Pooling together a textured blend of soul, R&B and jazz that instantly leaves the listener wanting more.

“You Give Me That” is out now with Limited Health.

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Listen: Rihanna – Work (feat. Drake)

Rihanna lets loose the lead single from her anticipated upcoming album ANTI, a collaboration with Drake called “Work”. The track produced by Boi-1da, Vinylz and SEVN Thomas has a Caribbean inspired riddem that will no doubt all over the radio waves in the coming days.

Sadly “Work” can only be streamed via Tidal HiFi or purchasing the single on iTunes.

Rihanna – ANTI (Tracklist)
1. “Consideration” featuring SZA 2. “James Joint” 3. “Kiss It Better”

4. “Work” featuring Drake

5. “Desperado” 6. “Woo” 7. “Needed Me” 8. “Yeah, I Said It” 9. “Same Ol’ Mistakes” 10. “Never Ending” 11. “Love on the Brain” 12. “Higher”

13. “Close to You”

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Leap Of Faith

I came across a quote recently that said “the destination is not what’s important; what’s important is the journey.”

We are urged throughout our life to be cautious and aware of our actions. But sometimes, we need to let loose, we need to take chances and risks. Trial and error is an important part of our social development and emotional growth. We can’t truly appreciate our successes without understanding failure.

So today I urge you all to try something new. It could be as small as taking a different route on your way home. Maybe you’ll find a new coffee shop or restaurant along the way. It could be as large as sky diving or climbing a mountain. It could be something that enhances your character like learning a new language or taking dance classes. Or even something that feeds your soul like volunteering.

Try something. Experience everything. Learn from your mistakes. Take a leap of faith!

Post originally appeared on our sister site SCL SCN.

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LYFSTYL Music

VICE Autobiographies: Pusha T

In VICE Autobiographies, Pusha T talks about his rise in the music industry, the pivotal moment that lead to the dissolution of The Clipse, his relationship with his brother and the subject matter of his music.

Tune in to Vice’s Autobiographies series on Verizon’s go90 streaming service. Other artist highlighted: Vince Staples, Ty Dolla $ign, D.R.A.M., and many more.

Watch the trailer below:

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Listen: AlunaGeorge – I'm In Control (feat. Popcaan)

British pop duo AlunaGeorge have just shared their new single, “I’m In Control,” a dancehall influenced track that features Jamaican artist Popcaan. “I’m In Control” will appear on the duo’s sophomore album, which is out this spring via Interscope (US) and Island (UK).

Follow AlunaGeorge here.

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Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2013

2013 has been a huge year for Hip-Hop. We saw the release of some outstanding records, ate up the controversy surrounding Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse, enjoyed the many rants of Kanye West and debated over the June 18 showdown between Kanye West, J. Cole, and Mac Miller to name a few. But who had the best hip-hop album of the year? Find out in our list below.

10. J. Cole – “Born Sinner”

After all is said and done and the dust finally settles sometime after the June 18 releases of Kanye West’s Yeezus and J. Cole’s Born Sinner, most critics will be quick to point out Kanye’s unique progressive vision and make the claim that his stands as the better overall album — which might be true if that’s the way you judge things.

As a pure hip-hop experience, however, Born Sinner is a superior album that shows immense growth in Cole’s talents as a rapper and even more so as a producer. It’s far from perfect, but the North Carolina native has sharpened all his strengths on his sophomore outing and created a body of work that represents nostalgic appreciation as well as a refreshing outlook on a genre he’s clearly passionate about. Read the full Review: HERE

9. Dom Kennedy – “Get Home Safely”

8. Mac Miller – “Watching Movies With The Sound Off”

Never in my life have I ever watched a movie with the sound off but if the experience is anything like the level of the creativity and passion evident on Mac Miller’s sophomore album — I might hit the mute button next time I’m watching Bulworth.

Following his commercially successful but critically lukewarm 2011 debut album Blue Slide ParkWatching Movies with the Sound Off shows significant strides in Mac’s lyricism and beat selection. The result is a cohesive body of work that floats seamlessly from track to track with a head-bopping psychedelic vibe that runs all the way through. Read the full Review: HERE

7. Childish Gambino – “Because the Internet”

Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino has out done himself with ‘Because The Internet’. Glover has moved past music and past the concept album to create an interactive world for his fans to immerse themselves in through one of the most imaginative rollouts (movie and screenplay) in music ever.

The music is creative and no song is the same. They might seem fragmented, unconnected, and much like his actions over the past year, leaves the listener with many questions about what the artist meant and what it means to be alive today in the age of the internet. His lyrics are catchy, witty, and although the music is unconventional, it often reinforces the contemplative feeling that accompanies his work. Read the full Review: HERE

6. Tyler, The Creator – “Wolf”

Legions of high school fanboys salivating over every Odd Future release aside, a lot has changed for Tyler, The Creator in the two years since the release of his 2011 breakthrough album Goblin.

The 22-year-old has branched out and appeared on tracks with mainstream hip hop artists including Game, Pusha T and Waka Flocka Flame. His buddy Earl Sweatshirt is back from Samoa, he’s got a show on Adult Swim and people have finally stopped using “Yonkers” as the only example of his work.

Tyler’s latest offering, Wolf, is not only a reflection of his growth as a rapper and producer but as a creative entity trying to hold on to his artistic integrity as his popularity continues to rise. Read the full Review: HERE

5. Drake – “Nothing Was The Same”

On his critically acclaimed sophomore album, Take Care, Drake proved his signature blend of rap and R&B as a formula for success and his work on the project resulted in numerous accolades — including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

The Grammy was not only a symbol of how far Drake had come from his days as a child star on the set of Degrassi, but it also showed a shift in the overall hip-hop landscape. Someone who conveyed superior rapping and singing abilities, coupled with honest lyricism grounded in stories about his own life, was able to break boundaries in the genre – far removed from content about the hardships of growing up in ghetto America.

It’s been nearly two years since Take Care, and Drake has since become hip-hop’s brightest star, surpassing the current success of icons like Jay-Z, Kanye West and even his mentor Lil Wayne.

His latest album, Nothing Was the Same, is a view from the penthouse, an ode to having finally made it and a statement that he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Needless to say, the new album is also a musical departure from Take Care, as the slick R&B flavoured samples of Jon B. and Playa are largely dropped in favour of grittier Wu-Tang Clan beats that play an important role influencing the ‘90s hip-hop sound on certain tracks. Continue reading the full review: HERE

4. Kanye West – “Yeezus”

I’ve been struggling with this review for over two weeks. I’ve had discussion after discussion with friends and colleagues, analyzing the details of Yeezus ad-nauseum. The road behind me is littered with the bloody corpses of false starts and abandoned ideas. After some serious searching, I realized that I was trying to create a masterpiece of critical musical writing, sweeping and eloquent. I was trying to follow the all-encompassing model of grandeur Kanye West laid out in his magnum-opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy when I should have been looking right in front of myself and gone for the polar opposite, sleek and stripped-down approach West has employed on the dark, minimalist Yeezus.

Yeezus shares its skeletal form with West’s most divisive album, 808s & Heartbreak. But where that album was a desolate wasteland that found West pouring his heart out, Yeezus is an unrelentingly bleak record that finds West angrily amplifying his personality by lashing out at everyone.

West has proven time in and time out that he is a top-tier producer and Yeezus is no different. The sound of the album is one overflowing with aggression and rage, never letting up from the opening moments. Continue reading the full review: HERE

3. Pusha T – “My Name Is My Name”

Even after finding critical success with the release of his first official GOOD Music EP Fear of God II: Let Us Pray in 2011, Pusha T was still stuck in a transition period being less than two years removed from the last Clipse album Til the Casket Drops — the Virginia duo’s final project together before their current hiatus.

Despite having already paved a solo career for himself with GOOD Music, Pusha was still mostly being billed as member of Clipse rather than being recognized as the individual talent Kanye West believed him to be.

After Fear of God II dropped, Pusha still wasn’t getting much attention outside of Clipse diehards. Last year, he appeared on the GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Summer where the 36-year-old rap veteran was forced to share the spotlight with younger stars like Big Sean, Cyhi the Prynce and Kid Cudi.

Thanks in large part to the success of his second mixtape, Wraith of Caine, at the top of the year, Pusha’s position as one of the game’s finest lyricists was beginning to solidify. His album single “Numbers On The Boards” took him over the top and proved that a hip-hop song with a high level of word mastery could still attract a mainstream following.

Pusha has finally released his first full-length studio debut My Name Is My Name and the finished product is one of the most lyrically dense, furiously delivered and brilliantly produced pieces of hip-hop in recent years. Continue reading the full review: HERE

2. Chance The Rapper – “Acid Rap”

20 year old, Chicago MC, Chance the Rapper has been making quite a name for himself as of late. Last year, he dropped an incredible mixtape, titled 10 Day, during his own 10 day suspension from high school. He went on to tour with Childish Gambino and had a much buzzed-about set at this year’s South by Southwest festival. Capitalizing on his momentum, Chance dropped his second mixtape, amply titled “Acid Rap“ earlier this year. Acid Rap has taken the music world by storm due to innovative production and a breathtaking display of lyricism. The mixtape features guest appearances from Action Bronson, Childish Gambino, Ab-Soul, Twista, BJ The Chicago Kid, and more. Head over to ChanceRaps.com to download the entire mixtape for free.

1. Killer Mike and El-P – “Run The Jewels”

This daring hip-hop album features amazing production, accompanied by great rhymes. If you are fan of good hip–hop then you need this in your life. Run the Jewels‘ is available for free digital download via Fool’s Gold. Click the following link to download Run the Jewels.

Read our review: HERE

What was your favourite Hip-Hop album of 2013? Did we forget an album?

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Listen: Shlohmo – Emerge From Smoke

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Yesterday, the L.A based producer known as Shlohmo released this dark, ethereal track.If ever there was a song deserving to be featured on a True Detective’s trailer, this would be a top contender.

New to Shlohmo? Check out Rupa’s review of his latest EP, Laid Out.

Mark @wkndhours

any given tuesday emerge from smoke new music Shlohmo

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Listen: Anderson .Paak – The Dreamer

Last but not least, The Dreamer is a gem of a track that wraps up Anderson’s latest album, Malibu. It’s an anthem for millennials and all who can remember watching way too much TV back in the 90s. Nowadays, the youth have video clips on YouTube.

“And, who cares your daddy couldn’t be here Mama always kept the cable on. I’m a product of the tube and the free lunch

Living room, watching old re-runs.”

– Follow Mark on twitter

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Common Projects SS16 Collection

New York-based luxury minimal footwear brand, Common Projects unveil its Spring/Summer 2016 offerings featuring outstanding colour pallets on their trademarked silhouettes. Additionally CP unveils a new variation of their Achilles Low by adding velcro straps.

Head over to Common Projects official site to view all the styles offered for SS16.

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Calvin Klein S16 Campaign Starring Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner & More

For Calvin Klein’s Spring 2016 underwear campaign, the American luxury brand has teamed up with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. The campaign features Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, FKA Twigs, Kendrick Lamar, Fetty Wap, and Abbey Lee Kershaw.

Check out the campaign below.

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Take a Journey Through the Tham Khoun Xe River Cave in Laos

Shot by Ryan Deboodt during a two day kayaking trip, this film takes you on a journey through Tham Khoun Xe on the Xe Bang Fai River in beautiful Laos. 

Tham Khoun Xe is a river cave carved by the mighty Xe Bang Fai River and is located in Hin Nam No National Protected Area in central Laos. At 7 km long and with an average width and height of 76m and 56m respectively, it is considered one of the largest active river caves in the world.

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The Monocle Travel Guide to Bangkok

Monocle is absolutely killing it with their travel series. The Monocle Travel Guide to Bangkok will steer you to our favorite hotels and retailers, lesser-known neighborhoods, tasty restaurants and street-side bars where Bangkok’s bright young things party until the early hours.

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The Monocle Travel Guide to Tokyo

The Monocle Travel Guide to Tokyo will navigate you through some of Monocle’s favorite corners of this vast metropolis. Expect to fall in love with the dazzling food, sumptuous shopping, and the most courteous residents you’ll ever meet.

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Watch: Zayn – Pillowtalk (feat. Gigi Hadid)

Ex-One Direction member Zayn Malik has finally released his debut solo single “Pillowtalk” showcasing the new direction of his music. It’s certainly more provocative and grown up compared to the boy bands music and will no doubt resonate with new audiences.

“I think I’m pretty black and white about what it’s about, everybody has sex, and it’s something people wanna hear about. It’s part of everybody’s life, a very big part of life! And you don’t wanna sweep it under the carpet. It has to be talked about.” – Zayn

Watch the music video for the single above directed by Bouha Kazmi, starring girlfriend and supermodel Gigi Hadid.

Gigi Hadid One Direction Zayn Zayn Malik

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Review: Savages – Adore Life

Adore Life is a confrontational record. From the instant one is exposed to its raw sounds and earnest sentiment, one thing remains clear: Savages have something to say, and they fucking mean it.

The title, Adore Life, is less of a title and more of a commandment from band lyricist and vocalist, Jehnny Beth. This, in itself, should serve as no revelation given the name of Savages’ debut record Silence Yourself, however there is a fundamental difference to their most recent release. “The last one was the problem,” Beth told journalist Laura Snapes during the recording of the album. “This one’s the solution.”

As Savages’ take on the solution, Adore Life naturally begins with ‘The Answer’, a driving declaration in the form of a ferocious three-and-a-half minute single. The associative music video, which itself is brilliant, is unrelenting from the opening line in which Jehnny Beth ponders the way sex can influence relationships.

“There are things I know we should Better not do, but I know you could Sleep with me And we’d still be friends Or I know

I’ll go insane”

As is the case throughout Adore Life, Savages take on love in a way that seems light-years away from the constellation of cliches that have been created, reused, and recycled over the years. From the perspective of Jehnny Beth, love isn’t simply a positive feeling, but rather a volatile chemical that must be respected and handled carefully at the risk of endangering others in the process. Beth doubles-down on the sentiment on the third track, ‘Sad Person’, in which the metaphor of love as a dangerous element is drawn again:

“Love is a disease The strongest addiction I know What happens in the brain Is the same as the rush of cocaine The more you have

The more you crave”

If love is the answer, then Adore Life is a record in which Savages grapple with their solution. The title track, ‘Adore’, serves as the album’s thesis, in which Jehnny Beth laments over her decisions in life, only to leave the listener with the lasting refrain “I adore life.” Faced with the finality of death, Savages scream back at the void as if to adore life while in clear defiance of its boundaries.

“I understand the undergency of life In the distance, there is an edge that cuts like a knife

Maybe I will die, maybe tomorrow, so I need to say

I adore life”

As much as Savages settled on love as the solution, the realization is one that seems to create equal parts anguish and hope. Looking at the lyrics of ‘Adore’ a little more closely, it is hard to ignore the hint made during the hook, especially after having heard the third verse.

“If only I had been more shy And hid every tear I cried If only I didn’t wish to die

Is it human to adore life?”

If love is fleeting, then so too is the solution. This serves as both the source of frustration and spirit of celebration found on Adore Life, an album which masterfully casts love as a dark force in order for Savages to properly grapple with it. Savages have written an album full of songs about love, but these are not “love songs” as we understand them. While setting out “to write the loudest songs ever,” lyricist Jehnny Beth happened to settle on one of the most powerful concepts known to humanity, and the result is a brilliant album that reflects both the raw joy and frustration that can be associated with love.

But fear not, dear listener. Love is the answer. If love fails, at least we’ll have Savages.

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Listen: Drake – Summer Sixteen

OVO SZN is in full effect. Drake premiered the lead single from his much-anticipated Views From The 6 album during tonight’s episode of “OVO Sound Radio.” It’s called “Summer Sixteen.”

“I used to wanna be on Roc-A-Fella, then I turned into Jay / Now I got a house in LA / Now I got a bigger pool than Ye / and look man, Ye’s pool is nice / Mine’s just big is what I’m saying.”

Purchase the new single on Apple Music now.

 Views From The 6 is out sometime in April.

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Music Video Monday: 32

For this weeks instalment of Music Video Monday we have visuals from Beyonce, Allan Kingdom, PJ Harvey, Kano, and Django Django. Enjoy!

Beyonce – Formation
Directed by unknown

Allan Kingdom – Northern Lights
Directed by Kron

PJ Harvey – The Wheel
Directed by Seamus Murphy

Kano – Endz
Directed by Sam Wrench

Django Django – Life We Know
Directed by John Maclean

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Album Review: Majid Jordan – Majid Jordan

A chance meeting between two students – Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman (while attending the University of Toronto), blossomed into a great friendship due to their love of music. After dropping  their 2013 debut EP, After Hours, under their Good People moniker; they caught the attention of OVO Sound label co-founder Noah ’40’ Shebib 24hrs after it was posted to their SoundCloud page. This led to their signing and inevitable destiny as musicians. After captivating our hearts on the 2013 Drake hit, Hold On, We’re Going Home; they did it again on their debut EP, A Place Like This. Fast forward to February 2016, and Majid Jordan have finally released their much-anticipated self-titled debut album. As expected the results are sublime!

The album is moody, incredibly spacious and hypnotic – perfect for the after hours. Majid and Jordan’s chemistry is contagious; the album perfectly plays to both of their strengths. Jordan’s intricate, minimalist beats allow for Majid’s vocals to be front and centre by not drowning them out and letting them breathe. Their distinct fusion of R&B, minimal house, pop, funk inspired production is present throughout the album and instantly pulls the listener into the duo’s dark world. Majid’s delicate falsetto provides a sense of comfort and reassurance that everything will be alright. Other than the outstanding production, Majid has all the hallmarks of being a fantastic pop song writer. Even if you have never heard a song, you somehow know the lyrics and you cannot help but sing along.

The duo has without a doubt delivered with their debut – the album is a cohesive body of work that showcases Majid Jordan finding their place as musicians, after leaving the more experimental place found on their EP. With their incredible knack for crafting pop magic by utilizing various genres and sounds, Majid Jordan will one day, without a doubt, conquer the music industry as a whole. The album is simply a step in their evolving journey as artists and superstars in the making – hurry up and buy your tickets before this bullet train leaves the station and you’re left behind in the dust.

Essential Tracks: “Learn From Each Other”, “My Love”, “Day and Night”, “King City”, “Shake Shake Shake”, “Something About You”, and “Every Step Every Way.”

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Top Tracks: Part 3 of 2014's Best

As 2014 comes to a close the LYFSTYL Music Blog will be counting down our top tracks of the year. Follow along every day as we release ten more of our favourites building towards our top-100. In no particular order, here’s what we at LYFSTYL were listening to this year with numbers 21 – 30.

“Music is a medium formed by silence and sound” – this is what opens the video for Jamie xx’s ‘Sleep Sound.’ He collaborated with a dancer who decided to dance together to ‘Sleep Sound’ with volunteers from The Manchester Deaf Centre, after a deaf girl on a train told her she could feel the music. It’s beautifully poignant, gripping, and full of love, and no matter how many times I’ve watched it I can’t help getting misty eyed. Paired with Jamie xx’s signature piano, altered guitar riffs, and trilling drums flitting with airy vocals chanting “oh,” “yeah,” “c’mon” in hypnotic fashion. It’s one of the most overwhelming songs I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in recent memory, reiterating the brilliance that is Jamie xx. – Written by Rupa Jogani

QT – Hey QT

Whether you chose to jump on board with PC Music’s jarringly excitable (i.e. cracked-out) vibes, they’ve undoubtedly and rapidly changed the direction of recent electronic music. With last year’s ‘Bipp’ by Sophie making dancers go wild with its lack-of-a-discernible-drop, dirty synths, and ‘Barbie Girl’ esque vocals, A. G. Cook’s label is throwing open the door to insanity. A. G. Cook and Sophie paired up for their sugar-coated dance number, ‘Hey QT’ under their stage name, QT. With nostalgic, juvenile lyricism, clean 90s synths, and happy claps this really is a pop song. It’s borderline annoying but that’s all a part of its charm – also, playing it when someone walks into a room will make them jump out of their skin with, er, excitement. – Written by Rupa Jogani

iLoveMakkonen feat. Drake – Tuesday

It was a year of memeable songs and between ‘No Flex Zone’ and newcomer iLoveMakkonen’s club hit, ‘Tuesday,’ my social media outlets were riddled with people getting turnt up. With the catchiest hook for going out on a weekday and steezin’ with your squad, club life got a lot more rambunctious. I don’t have much else to say on this except 1. it’s annoyingly stuck in my head 2. I appreciate dark, feel good humor in videos and 3. Drake. – Written by Rupa Jogani

FKA twigs – Pendulum

It comes as no surprise that FKA twigs’ game-changing debut LP, LP1, is short-listed on every major publication’s top albums of 2014. Her entire being exudes the avant-garden from her provocative live performances to her eyebrow-raising Google Glass commercial, twigs proves she’s an artist. She paired up with some of the industry’s top producers for the album (Clams Casino, Blood Orange, Sampha) including UK’s finest, Paul Epworth, with whom she worked on ‘Pendulum.’ With knocks calling back from her mesmerizing single, ‘Water Me,’ she moves into choral vocals and moving lyricism. It’s clean, raw, and all consuming, highlighting her technicality and penchant for pushing the bar that much farther. Her genius is making the seemingly unrelatable, well, relatable, and she draws us in again and again to hold us in her understanding arms. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Hudson Mohawke – Chimes


2014 was one, giant raucous cry of gratitude when Hudson Mohawke came back on the radar with his huge number, ‘Chimes.’ With an indefinite hiatus on his TNGHT project with Lunice, we’ve been missing their massive sound for a hot minute. On ‘Chimes,’ he has a Rustie influenced intro until dropping into a body-shaking bass synth mindfuck making strutting down city blocks infinitely more bad ass. He’s been picking up more this year which makes me wonder if we can expect an LP or side project from him in 2015. Until then, I’m gonna go destroy something fragile and yell into the night. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Chance The Rapper feat. The Social Experiment – Arthur Theme


There is something incredibly charming about Chance The Rapper’s boyish confidence, and ‘Wonderful Everyday’ seems to be the closest audible representation of that flare so far. Backed by his band The Social Experiement, Chance The Rapper breathes new life into a song many will remember, but few will have heard recently. It was a bold musical step that seemed unnecessary at first, however the resulting track is so uplifting and enjoyable it’s hard to question the decision to record. ‘Wonderful Everyday’ is a musical journey that takes me back to an age when watching Arthur after school was at the top of my priority list, and it feels good to feel like a kid again. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

Shad & Dj T.Lo – Hang On


It’s hard to top Shad when it comes to intelligent, well-crafted rap coming out of Canada. The Boarding Pass EP, which features Shad spitting over the production of long-time tour partner Dj TLo, is a brilliant collection of beats and brilliant flow. ‘Hang On’ is the EP’s standout track, providing listeners with a one-two punch of T.Lo’s slick ‘Hang On’ sample and Shad’s thoughtful, cutting lyricism. “Maybe they don’t play too much music on Much Music because there ain’t much music out here, or much to it.” Damn right. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

King Tuff – Madness


“King Tuff is my name /  I’ve got madness in my brain / Please to meet ya /  I’m gonna eat ya, ‘cause I’m batshit insane.” Kyle Thomas sure knows how to have fun with his alter-ego. The Vermont-born rocker is a whole new animal when he becomes King Tuff, and ‘Madness’ is the track that best demonstrates the irresistible fury King Tuff has become known for. Rather than hide his wild side, King Tuff celebrates his insanity for all to hear before taking a drag and chugging a beer. He’s not ashamed of it, he’s proud of it. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

Ex Hex – Don’t Wanna Lose


As with many of the tracks on Rips, ‘Don’t Wanna Lose’ is a fast-and-furious rock and roll track that makes the most out of a short span of time. Ex Hex didn’t break the mold with ‘Don’t Wanna Lose’, but they didn’t need to. The garage from trio from Washington, DC are comfortable in their sound, and that is evident throughout ‘Don’t Wanna Lose’ as well as the 11 other tracks that follow on Rips. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

Chet Faker – Cigarettes and Loneliness


I remember hearing ‘Cigarettes & Loneliness’ for the first time while driving into Vancouver with the top down and the sun shining. It was an immediate “turn it up” moment, and all the way up Oak street I made sure the houses that line the street got a little taste along the way. ‘Cigarettes & Loneliness’ is a crushing song of a love lost, in which Chet Faker wonders how to go on, or what to do next. And while the track itself may be a couple minutes too long, the meandering nature of song parallels the emotional state the singer seems to be stuck in, and when that pain sounds as beautiful as it does on ‘Cigarettes & Loneliness’ it’s hard to complain about a few extra minutes. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

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Top Tracks: Part 10 of the Best of 2014

http://lyfstylmusic.com/top-tracks-part-10-best-2014/

As 2014 comes to a close the LYFSTYL Music Blog will be counting down our top tracks of the year. Follow along every day as we release ten more of our favourites building towards our top-100. In no particular order, here’s what we at LYFSTYL were listening to this year with numbers 91-100.

Bearcubs – Touch (Panda Remix)

https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112117if_/https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F176539989&show_artwork=true&maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000

An absolutely beautiful gem of a remix from a favorite UK producer trio, Panda, came out in November setting up for a mesmerizing winter jam. They took Bearcubs’ jungle oriented original and added layer upon layer of shimmering synths to take it into majestic territory. I can’t stop playing this on repeat especially with its contemplative allure which is perfect for long, winter nights. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Shlohmo & Jeremih – No More

https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112117if_/https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F134564515&show_artwork=true&maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000

We waited for this EP for so long after Shlohmo and Jeremih initially hooked up on their glorious collaboration for ‘Bo Peep (Do U Right).’ My mad Chicago pride mixed with deep love for Shlohmo’s dark production style couldn’t be contained once their No More EP was finally released. Alas, the EP as a whole wasn’t very strong BUT ‘No More’ lived up to the hype and made me stunt for months to come. – Written by Rupa Jogani.

Spectre Waltz – fffocusss

Chicago native by way of Connecticut picked up his quiet, musical reins this year with releases around the clock. My personal favorite was this little doohickey which pulls hyper experimental hip hop infused beats with floor rumbling bass synths to close it out. Both blissed out and dark in nature, this track made legitimate sound waves appear, much to the dismay of strangers around me. Keep your eyes on this dude in the coming year. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Torus – 2 Faced

https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112117if_/https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F177331148&show_artwork=true&maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000

“What just happened to my speakers?” was the first reaction I had to the bass shattering track by Torus. ‘2 Faced’ is one of those songs you have to turn up and let destroy your rib cage otherwise you’re not doing it justice. Malevolent in its kindest moments and soul crushing in its darkest, ‘2 Faced’ will reverberate from your mind for days to come. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Sam Sure – Hunger

https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112117if_/https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F165183494&show_artwork=true&maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000

Sam Sure came onto the scene in 2014 with his huge collaboration with UK producer TCTS. His first solo song to go live was the painfully sweet, ‘Hunger.’ His clean lyricism and gentle croons are intoxicating and makes me wanna seduce someone. The background vocal samplings complement the track well, creating a poppier sound in an otherwise darkly tinged song of love and longing. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Les Sins – Why (feat. Nate Salman)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-V5AY2d1h7Q%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Chaz Bundick, better known by his moniker Toro Y Moi, released his debut album for his DJ side project as Les Sins. The album teeters between exploring his dancefloor ready ideas and continuing to embody his carefully curated sound as Toro Y Moi. Consequently, this weakened the album as a holistic piece, but his single ‘Why’ with Nate Salman stood out as a clear winner. It has the classic funk vibes we’ve grown to expect and love, seriously dance appeal, and the music video features Bundick as the cutest dude around. – Written by Rupa Jogani

Julio Bashmore – Simple Love (feat. J’Danna)

https://web.archive.org/web/20160305112117if_/https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F165327724&show_artwork=true&maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1000

This was one of the best feel good songs I heard in 2014 which continually graced my playlists. The hi-hats and methodical kick drum set with simple and clean synths made for a truly beautiful song. J’Danna’s vocals are sweet and complimentary adding extra depth to an already gem of a track. Julio Bashmore, you’re a damn fine producer. – Written by Rupa Jogani

St. Vincent –  Digital Witness

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mVAxUMuhz98%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

While it doesn’t morph into a guitar-rock scorcher like ‘Huey Newton’, the next track on St. Vincent’s excellent self-titled album is as infectious as its predecessor. The music video is where ‘Digital Witness’ especially stands out, featuring a host of automatons working their way through director Chino Moya’s pastel future. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

Vince Staples – Fire

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dhjl2j8BZqA%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Vince Staples makes it very clear on ‘Fire’ – the dude gives no fucks. Or at the least, he has none left to give by the time he’s done this two-verse blast. A gansta-rap anthem for Crips in all its glory. – Written by Kevin Vanstone

Action Bronson – Easy Rider

https://youtube.com/watch?v=58RSC7HO9aU%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

OK, I’ll admit it. I kind of chose this one for the music video. But hey, a track is a track. And this one was OVER THE TOP. Watch and listen as Action Bronson does his best Dennis Hopper / Hunter Thompson / Slash impression in this ridiculous mini-movie. Outrageous rap braggadocio at its best. – Written by Kevin Vanstone