Stella's Way

This track resurrects a vocal sample from the late 90's that used to rock the raves of my youth. I quickly got over the quick nostalgia trip thanks in part to the monstrous beat that this song brings. The build and break are completely epic, this is that killer song every DJ dreams of dropping at exactly the right moment to blow the roof off the house. Have a Happy New Year, and Enjoy!

Stella's Way - Maxxi Soundsystem  (download disabled per request)

Maxxi Soundsystem

Select Sundays: Fade Into Darkness

Now, house music is hardly my thing but for our pre-NYE New Year's Eve, we went out to a local club and this was the featured artist. Well, Andreas Moe, the Bieber hair-a-like who sings the hook, was the featured artist. Here's an acoustic version he did, which I think I like better, but it's less dancey. And we know how important dancing is on pre-NYE New Year's Eve, right?

Fade Into Darkness - Avicii (right click to save as)
Avicii

Safe and Sound

Find yourself sining along to the words "Saaaafe aaaaand Ssssssound". It's fun, this indie-pop track is short, light, and inspiring. Enjoy!

Safe and Sound - Capital Cities (right click to save as)
Capital Cities

We Run The Nite

For me, just Christmas winds down New Years Eve seems to be only moments away. This track has me past over eating and giving presents, and into strobe lights, bass cabinets, and sweaty walls. I love how this song's choppy delivery goes in sync with my desire to shake my head and stomp my feet. Of course, I'm a sucker for a children's choir and organ synths, which this song delivers on both accounts. Enjoy!

We Run The Nite (Night Dimension Remix) - Tonite Only (right click to save as)
Tonite Only | Night Dimension

It's Not Over

I love how three minutes into this track everything drops and the piano picks up, the song is reborn at the halfway point. I listen to this song as a burnout song, one that helps me unwind from a long day or night. My mind can wander while the track stokes reflection for the past, while subtly telling me over and over that "it's not over". Inevitably another day will come tomorrow. Enjoy!

It's Not Over (Ejecta's Rave To The Grave Remix) - Panama (right click to save as)
Panama | Ejecta

Thirteen Thirtyfive

More so than the lyrics to this song, I love how she enunciates the words as she sings them. It is hard to ignore how socially unacceptable a physical relationship between a 13 year old and a 35 year old is today, but I don't see that as the focus of this beautiful song. The song finds beauty in attraction, daydreaming, and desire. I dig this remix especially, really brings the lyrics to life. Ha, Merry Christmas eh? Enjoy!

Thirteen Thirtyfive (niceFingers Remix) - Dillon (right click to save as)
Dillon | niceFingers

Alive And Kicking

This silky song caught my ear right away. The vocals come off so casual, even subdued a bit. I love how the lyrics are question after question in an almost creepily suggestive manner, yet don't come off that way from the mood and tone of the music. The soft synths, and minimal percussion give this deep house song just the right amount of groove. Enjoy!

Alive And Kicking Feat. Jasper Vergeer (Zimmer Remix) - Jean Winner (right click to save as)
Jean Winner | Jasper Vergeer | Zimmer

The Burning Circle

When I hear the first 3 minutes of this song, and that beautiful guitar plucking, I can't help but hear the soft voices of Simon and Garfunkel singing the lyrics to Sound of Silence.
"Hello darkness my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again"
And then the lyrics show up and blow you away, the effects on the vocals are perfect. Enjoy!

The Burning Circle - Hidden Orchestra (right click to save as)
Hidden Orchestra

Need U (100%)

The attitude on this track has me strutting with confidence.  The humming at the beginning and the strong synths lay a great path for when the lyrics come smashing out of the gate. It's a great combination of soul, attitude, and danceability. Enjoy!

Need U (100%) Feat. A*M*E - Duke Dumont (right click to save as)
Duke Dumont | A*M*E

The End Starts Today Mixtape #6

The process of making a mixtape varies each time for me. This is my 6th, and so far making mixes hasn't necessarily gotten easier, nor do I feel that the quality is increasingly better. However, I do feel plenty of growth after each one, learning about myself while trying new things.  The goal is always the same, put together a mixtape that I'd like to hear. I like hearing this mixtape. I hope you do too, Enjoy!

Tracklist:

1. Inside (Oliver Remix) - Black Van
2. Freestyler - Bomfunk Mc's
3. DIY Disco (Greg Wilson Version) - Groove Armada
4. Bright Lies (Rip Tide Remix) - Sumera
5. Whatever U Like (Original Mix) - Kolombo
6. Joanna (Champione Remix) - Little Comets
7. Taxi - O Safari
8. World On Fire - The Royal Concept
9. Let's Go Home (Sound Remedy Remix) - Carousel

The End Starts Today Mixtape #6 - Ameer Says (right click to save as)
Ameer Says

Plush

I love it. "I don't need a calculator, to know I'm going to see you later". This track is upbeat and fun, but is serious about moving the floor. I also love the breathy vocals repeating Tiga's name over and over at the beginning, a pretty ballsy move to say your name over your song (unless you're a hip hop artist i guess?). Enjoy!

Plush (Jacques Lu Cont Remix) - Tiga (right click to save as)
Tiga | Jacques Lu Cont

Song For Zula

This song speaks to me. There's not some catchy melody or infectious hook that keeps me playing this song back. It's the subtle power and raw emotion that make this six minute song go by in two minutes. I love the heavy reverb'd percussion against the strings in the background, but best of all is his voice and the emotion that pours from it. Enjoy!

Song For Zula - Phosphorescent (right click to save as)
Phosphorescent

Select Sundays: Hardcore Girls

After reading this Atlantic article about female rappers, "The Novelty of Up-and-Coming Female Rappers Isn't That They're Females," I checked out all the artists mentioned and am already a big fan of Rye Rye. She obviously pairs nicely with Azealia Banks, who I loved already. Now if only I could hear this somewhere out on a dance floor!

Rye Rye - Hardcore Girls (right click to save as)
Rye Rye

Hands In The Sand

The track starts off silky and smooth, you think you know what all 6 minutes are about after the first thirty seconds. There's a beautiful deep sound that slowly builds. The track turns into a bit more than an instrumental deep house song, there's a bit of wobble and bounce that joins in and pushes the track to a bit more of a dance element. Enjoy!

Hands In The Sand (Lauer Remix) - Walter Jones (right click to save as)
Walter Jones | Lauer

Love In Vain

This track has a raw Lykke Li slash Reggae feeling. From that description alone you can tell that I love this track. El Perro Del Mar means the dog of the sea, which may explain the beachy vibes I'm getting from the tune. The slow bass line and raw vocals oddly pair well with the ambient background noises like heavy machinery clanking and spraying steam in the background. Enjoy!

Love In Vain - El Perro Del Mar (right click to save as)
El Perro Del Mar

What Can I Do

This beautiful track opens up at the minute and a half mark. I like the subtle aura this song gives off, the beginning is quiet and very DJ friendly. If you are able to notice the synths dancing between the left and right speaker then make sure to pay special attention to that when they come in, I really enjoy details like that. Shake Shake Shake. Enjoy!

What Can I Do (The 8th Era Remix) - Kai Urig (right click to save as)
Kai Urig | The 8th Era

Yellow

I've been re-watching the Chapelle Show, so when this last verse said "fuck yo couch" and followed up with "yea, remember that Dave Chapelle shit". Besides some the amazing rhyming that happens in this song, I'm attracted to the stripped down production. There's a drum machine, some hand claps, urban ambient sounds, and heavily chopped vocals. Enjoy!

Yellow Feat. Heems - Weekend Money (right click to save as)
Weekend Money | Heems

Beta Love

It is beautiful when a band that you admire drops a new track that rekindles your love for their work. This song has lots of positive pop and falsetto working for it, though singing along may prove to be a negative experience for those in earshot of me. I could have used about a minute more of this track, as it ends just under 3 minutes. I guess that's the sign of a good song, repeat. Enjoy!

Beta Love - Ra Ra Riot (right click to save as)
Ra Ra Riot

Select Sundays: Sympathique

It's no "Zou Bisou Bisou" but this track is just as likely to get stuck in your head. If I had done better in high school French, I would know what lead singer China Forbes is saying, but it really doesn't matter, I like the mystery. Tragically, this track crept up to me from a movie but now I can't remember the film. Help? Contrary to what you may expect, Pink Martini is a "tiny orchestra" from Portland and their sounds seemingly changes by the song.

Sympathique - Pink Martini (right click to save as)
Pink Martini

I Am A Ghost

He sounds so monotonous and down in the dumps for the first few minutes of the song, as if he really is a ghost. Eventually some emotion starts to pour out and he opens up a bit, the instrumentation paints a brighter picture and before you know it the song is closing out. I love when he first says "and I am a ghost". Enjoy!

I Am A Ghost - The Farewell Circuit (right click to save as)
The Farewell Circuit

Slow Notion

There's a magic soul embedded in this song. The vocals have a slowness to them, which I find paradoxical as the lyrics say "traveling at the speed of light". The song carries quite the groove, as told by the electric guitar riffs. The true beauty is realized with those long sweeping synth chords, I just can't get enough of them. Enjoy!

Slow Notion (Dubka Remix) - L'Equipe du Son (right click to save as)
L'Equipe du Son | Dubka

Your Kisses

My friends have a music share meet up from time to time, where we bring 2-3 songs that connect with a pre-chosen theme. In light of Hurricane Sandy, we chose "Weather the Storm" as our theme. This is one of the tracks I brought. Elena's melancholy voice and vivid imagery of a hollow relationship remind me of the sad movie scene that is almost always filmed with heavy rain fall. She also mentions tears quite a bit, which my mind's eye sees as rain. Enjoy!

Your Kisses - Daughter (right click to save as)
Daughter

It's Not Over

There's a blend of new and old that I get from this song. The slow violin notes and mid-track piano remind me of tracks produced 10+ years ago. But there's something new-ish that this song brings, maybe just the overall feeling of the song speaks "new" to me. Regardless of the time origin of this piece, it is done very well, and I have been appreciating it from the first listen. Enjoy!

It's Not Over (Ejeca's Rave To The Grave Remix) - Panama (right click to save as)
Panama | Ejeca

Pump It Up

There's a decent amount of attitude pouring out of this banger. Nyemiah doesn't hold back, she pushes up into your face and makes you 'pump it up'. That's not all, the production on the track with quick punching synths and a hard popping beat up the energy on the track. The I don't quite the finger snaps that accompany the bass at the song opening, I'm still deciding whether I dig it or I don't. Enjoy!

Pump It Up feat. Nyemiah Supreme - A.N.D.Y. (right click to save as)
A.N.D.Y. | Nyemiah Supreme

Select Sundays: Boylife in America

It's been over a decade since Cody Chesnutt's released a full length album. On my first few listens, Landing On A Hundred is great but it's made me nostalgic for my favorite track off 2002's Headphone Masterpiece. It's got Cody's dirty dirty lyrics but also his incomparably sweet and soulful voice. Juxtaposition!

Boylife in America - Cody Chesnutt (right click to save as)
Cody Chesnutt