Mt. Wolf is a four member band based in London, but have been gathering significant attention internationally. Although now city folk, each of them were born by the sea – Kate and Stevie in Guernsey, Bassy in Dorset and Alex in Brighton. This dual experience of living in two different locations play a huge influence on their music, which conjures a dark and isolated but beautiful world.
Their music is described as ‘dreamfolk’; a fusion of Folk and Electronica. They take the best elements of sequenced synths, melodic strings, deep UK bass grooves and soulful vocals and combine them all into a cinematic hybrid of heart-melting harmonies and contemporary, endlessly danceable electronica. The band draw on influences such as M83, Little Dragon, Sbtrkt, Bon Iver and Youth Lagoon. Front woman Kate Sproule draws inspiration has been compared to Bjork and Martha Wainwright, with her voice capturing the attention of the most restless of audiences.
The band is currently working on material for a upcoming EP as well as live shows. Mt. Wolf will be flying to the US to perform at this year’s Symbiosis Gathering, Nevada alongside James Blake and Little Dragon.
Inspiration musically for their upcoming EP and songs comes from a fusion of bass and electronic music with the ethereal and earthy sounds of folk. This reflection is of the band’s influence as four friends who grew up by the sea but who now live in big cities.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Mt. Wolf will come to LA sooner rather then later, be sure to keep this European band on your music radar.
Recently discovered Grimes, Montreal electro-pop artist (aka Claire Boucher). Surprised and delighted to find her genius, unique sounds. The buzz: “Late-night driving songs, hangover antidotes, exotic lullabies … They are atmospherically intoxicating and often quite catchy” – obscuresound.com.
The red lights burned brightly at The Colorado in Pasadena on a Monday night, one of C-Horse’s favorite dive bars to get a drink and unwind after practice.
Songwriter and front woman Cecilia Enriquez formed C-Horse in 2007 as an outlet for her 60’s inspired pop songs. What started as a one woman band and a Myspace music page soon became a humble, talented band of four.
In 2009 the band became who their fans see them as today and although their choices in music crisscross, its Enriquez’s lyrics and the bands melodies that bring them together, “We all have a distinctive taste in music, but at some point we all intersect and come together,” says Courtney Olsen, C-Horse’s drummer.
“There is something for everybody [in C-Horse],” says Lindsay Mancha, who plays bass in the band. The music attracts people who grew up in the 60’s who like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but also younger, indie audiences who likes pop music inspired by the 60’s, she says.
“I’ve heard our music being describes as ‘magical mermaid music’,” says Olsen.
Before keyboardist Mack Marquard joined the band, Enriquez says that one fan called C-Horse a, “female version of The Beatles, the featles.”
When it comes down to it, C-Horse is a group of people who share the same passion for music, “We’re four people who enjoy making music together,” says Mancha
“Anybody can appreciate the songs, we don’t fall in to a specific category and that allows us to reach a broader audience,” says Olsen.
This summer C-Horse will be releasing a 7” inch with two new songs, which includes Tongues. The band also hopes to do some touring along the west coast, their next show is tomorrow, Tuesday April 24 at the SliverLake Lounge.
What followers can also expect is their favorite C-Horse songs polished, says Marquard along with new merchandise.
“There is a lot involved in being in a band then people realize,” says Olsen, “but as artists it’s important we make time for things like this in our lives.”
Quantic is an umbrella name for UK-born, Will Holland: acclaimed Producer, Musician and DJ for over 15 years evolving and involving styles like Funk & Jazz to Electronic & Folk music through to Latin, Reggae, Dub & Cumbia. This instrumental is perfect for lounging at a dinner party or background while you work. As a huge musical fan, I’ve realized sometimes the vocals are not necessary and one can get lost instrumentals! Here is one case.
I usually only listen to Adele on the radio, so I’ve never heard this song until now. LOVE. She needs no introduction… ADEDLE.
I knew there wouldn’t be original Adele tracks for free downloads, why would there be, but I did, of course find something good from our friends over at Record Download Label. A little mix below from Friends Electric.
Free download:
A new artist, and I mean new. Isabel’s first single is released on itunes and she’s defintely one to watch. Young, talented and nothing short of unique – her quirky personality reminds me of Ellen Page, different enough to notice, with a humble sweetness that makes you just fall for her.
Isabel’s captivating voice, thoughtful lyrics and real presentation are all the ingredients she needs to shine above the rest of them. Not only that, she’s only 16, only 16. Isabel has the world at her hands. No free download this time, but a great opportunity to support a rising star, most deserving of a chance to spread share her musical talents & wisdom upon us. If you like Joni Mitchell, you can’t go wrong with Isabel Wing.
Buy her single and make her glow even more HERE. Discovered and created by Kelvin Parker, from Avenue 34 Studios – avenue34studios.com. Check back to see more of his work and rising stars.
For Diego Garcia, 2011 might just be ‘the’ year. His new album Laura has been voted one of NPR’s top 25 albums of the year and it’s been a long time coming, 5 years in the making. Formerly the front man of Elefant, Billboard magazine says “Garcia emerges with a stellar solo debut!”
Anxiously awaiting my phone call with Diego, wondering what he was going to be like, my expectations were low, especially as a New Yorker at the top of his game. I picked up the phone to hear a soothing friendly voice on the other end – laid back like a surfer, eloquent like a writer and gentle like the father he is.
Diego originally made his mark on the indie music scene as front man for the popular indie act Elefant prior to his successful solo career. His new album, Laura, is named after his French-Brazilian wife, previously a successful fashion designer, and recently made a splash in the interior design world after the birth of their child. They’ve been featured in Casa Sugar and The Glow – as if their story wasn’t already cute enough!
The album explores his Latin heritage but also explores dealing with love, heartbreak and coming of age. He explains, “I began to write this album shortly after they broke up, to deal with the pain, to ask questions and get a few things off his chest. The album deals with the melody of love but also becoming a man in New York City and growing up.”
His culture and upbringing also allowed a self-assure man to explore the depths of love and explore his eternal side. “It’s natural to sing about in love in Argentina, the same way a kid on long beach signs about surfing. In my culture it’s okay for a man to sing about that subject of love. The album is not about a first kiss, it’s about a lot heavier – macho, grown-up, mature love.”
However he did make a point to say, the 80s killed the love category, further explaining the balance of the arrangement felt raw, dirty and the early 70s offered an edgy dark side to music. Thankfully, for you and for I, he has brought back melodic music about love and with no better way than his album Laura.
The album debuts a man of confidence, security in himself, and sincerity in his words. When speaking to him, I gathered a sense he knew exactly who he was – at peace with where he was at in his life. He has lived a full life, rich with culture, adventures, highs and lows. Diego admitted to not achieving his first goal in life, which was to become a professional soccer player. Music was a back-up plan, which at first he admits was something he enjoyed for the fame, the women, and the spotlight. Now, it’s a passion and as a grown up responsible man, “a way to put food on the table,” Diego tells me.
His mother was a musician, though she didn’t play enough. He remembers her having a old nylon Spanish guitar that she played as a teenager. Diego looked at it every day when he would go to get his shoes in the closet, before going outside. At times his mother would strum it after dinner.
While some of Diego’s music explores heavy issue, he himself was upbeat and happy. He told me some great stories, one having the opportunity to cook for Karl Lagerfeld, and it’s apparent he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We closed with a question of dreams. I asked him if he had the opportunity o have dinner with 5 people, living or dead, he said he would have dinner with – Diego Maradona – the greatest soccer player to this date, Karl Lagerfeld, Elvis, Oscar Wilde, Steve Jobs. I wouldn’t mind having a seat at that table either!
Check out Diego Garcia’s remix for download:
And his new album Laura is one don’t want to miss. You’ll have that on repeat..
Anthem Facility is the latest creation of NYC-based producer Stephen Hermann, who has been making music for over 20 years. He first emerged in the industry as a member of the group Sukpatch, whose lo-fi pop was recorded at home with cheap keyboards, samplers, and a 4-track cassette recorder, long before elaborate home studios would become commonplace. After signing to the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label in 1997, the group disbanded, but Hermann continued to work with Sukpatch’s original label Slabco.
Despite being a competent multi-instrumentalist, Hermann hardly considers himself a musician. He spends countless hours experimenting with modem and vintage recording methods, production techniques, and synthesizer programming. His meticulous approach and dependence on outsourced session musicians can be compared to Steely Dan’s pop craftsmanship that transcends genre. Some sonic influences are the dense atmospherics of My Bloody Valentine, Brightblack Morning Light and the bouncy, breezy French House sounds of Etienne de Crecy or Daft Punk.
With the release of Anthem Facility’s debut EP Trace, the diversity of those influences is evident. With Malay offering her distinct lead vocals throughout the five songs on the EP, the same chemistry that drew so much attention and acclaim in their song’s first appearance is on full display.
Trace is the first in a series of releases planned from Anthem Facility. It also marks the first full release from Hermann’s label exro.fm, which will be releasing the EP digitally and on vinyl in late summer 2011.
