Archives for posts with tag: LA

A. Flores Interview (Ssleaze / DJ Guano)

2014/08/26 //

Summer 2014 in Seattle coincided with the beginning of the Disco Droppings monthly at Kremwerk. In keeping with the spirit of the site which pulls together a wide spectrum of sounds, I’ve featured some of my favorite local artists including DJ Veins, Sphyramid, and Bardo:Basho, along with my residents Zoolab, Mascara and Greyspot. This month I will show just how wide my interests are, Dave Segal at The Stranger says it much better than I can..

“Los Angeles trio Ssleaze push a strident strain of synth punk, aggro vocals and all. They seem to play with a perpetual sneer on their mugs and probably find Throbbing Gristle to be too genteel. It’s as if Ssleaze are channeling the disdainful attitude of the cast of Liquid Sky into their craggy, cranky songs. They sound like particularly nasty dominatrices who’ll leave welts on your ears. Fellow LA peeps Egrets on Ergot play uptight, frantic new-wave rock that has similarities to early-’80s groups like Pylon and the Lines—and it’s damned danceable. Seattle’s Ononos make for an ideal opener. What’s curious about these glamorous minimal-synth malcontents is that they only have two songs online and no official releases. Five years deep into their existence, one would think, Ononos should have a sizable discography. But this just makes their club appearances all the more special. They’re one of this city’s most riveting live acts. This extra-raunchy edition of Jimi Jaxon’s Disco Droppings night also includes Jaxon DJing with Dorsia, DJ Guano, and Mascara.”

And here is an extra special gift to go along with this interview with Andrew Flores. The exclusive first listen of “Love Market” off Ssleaze’s upcoming release ‘The Thirst Is Real’. Now onto our fun conversation..

DD Hi Andrew :]] How would you describe your band Ssleaze, and you as DJ Guano?

AF In broad terms I’d say we are an Electro-punk band heavily influenced by the darker sides of music and life. But people have called us “MOLLY GOTH”, “PARTY PUNK”, “BACK ALLEY PUNK” & “RAVE PUNK”. As far as DJ’ing goes, I don’t know how to explain that. I usually try and showcase the history of electro & darkwave.

DD Were you interested in bands first before getting into DJ’ing?

AF Yeah totally. I remember being really inspired in my teens from various bands that made me want to start doing it myself. Dj’ing kinda came into place when I realized I had always thrown super great house parties, and was approached to start doing club parties.

DD And what are your parties like down in LA?

AF Juicy, plain and simple.

DD I’m down.

AF People don’t really get to pick if they are or not. I like to beat them into the beats.

DD We’re similar. I’ll make em’ like it, or it’ll be too weird and they’ll leave.

AF Yup!

DD Last time you guys were in Seattle you played Cockpit. Sad I missed it, you guys had a pretty wild time yeah?

AF Yeah! I knew the night was going to be killer because we had the honor of sharing the night with butcher and Ononos. But I wasn’t expecting the warmth and acceptance we received from the crowd. Everyone was just going so crazy! I honestly to this day still think Seattle showed us our best show ever. I have easily never had more fun before.

DD Hyped to bring you back this month! SSleaze were just recording new material. How’s that feelin? And will you be showing off any of these tracks at this month’s Disco Droppings Presents @ Kremwerk?

AF Yeah we actually just finished last night, and it feels amazing. These songs have so much heart and I couldn’t be any happier with how they came out. We worked so hard on this album. I think the best part is when listening you can tell how exciting and thrilling it was for us. And yeah we will be playing its entirety at Disco Droppings!

DD Special vibez. Well thanks for stopping by the site, if you have any last words feel free. See you ina few dayz Andrew:]

AF Hmmm, when yr highness barks “you bitches better werk,” you better werk. Thanks for having me! Can’t wait to get juicy.

Ssleaze – Facebook Bandcamp

– Jimi Jaxon

Tags Back Alley Punk, Bardo:Basho, DJ Guano, DJ Veins, Dorsia, Egrets on Ergot, Greyspot, Jimi Jaxon, Juicy, Kremwerk, LA, Mascara, Minimal-synth, Molly Goth, New-Wave, Ononos, Party Punk, Rave Punk, Sphyramid, Ssleaze, The Thirst Is Real, Zoolab

Categories Interviews

Jhene Aiko – Soul Master

2014/02/09 //

The most recent quote on Jhene Aiko’s Tumblr reads, “Sunshine all the time makes a desert.” This arab proverb is perfect for Aiko’s attitude towards life and music. To paraphrase from a past interview she’s said, “I just believe in progressing through life..I really take things that most people would see as negative as motivation..tradegy etc., those are the things that make me even more motivated and inspired.” It can be easy for some to hear her music, her voice and instantly be drifting away in a kind of bliss. But there is darkness, and complexity within the beauty.

Jhene is about a year older than me, a Pisces, born March 16th 1988 (raised in LA). While I was trading Pokemon cards and playing video games in 2002 (Jhene was probably doing that too:)), she was getting her music career started, contributing vocals to past R&B group B2K. It was fun to realize I had heard her voice way back then and not noticed. You can spot Aiko in their video for “Uh Huh” (my favorite of theirs).

She toured with them for a bit, and took a break from the music industry for several years. During this time, she had a daughter and had a record label meeting that would influence the future creation of the Sailing Souls Mixtape, Sail Out EP and upcoming debut album Souled Out. She was told the classic tale, that you need to sell yourself if you want to get somewhere in the business. A play on words would change “sell” to “sail”, and that attitude of freedom and artistic integrity would fuel her future work.

I admire her energy and perspective on the world within and around her. She doesn’t believe in setbacks and takes each moment good or bad, as energy for her music. It’s that roll with the punches feel that’s helped give her this angelic, as well as raw presentation as an artist and person. In her Sailing Souls mixtape (Prod. by K. Roosevelt, Fistcuffs, J.LBS, Bei Maejor and Tae Beast), the relationship songs are all about one particular, unnamed person. The audience has a window into her life, and that vulnerability and honesty has connected with a massive and diverse group of individuals. That mixtape’s had over a quarter of a million downloads, and features Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Gucci Mane, Lite, H.O.P.E., Roosevelt and Kanye West.

Her productions on that mixtape were smooth demonstrations of R&B, soul and pop, some of my favorites being “Stranger”, “Hoe Feat. Miguel & Gucci Mane”, “Real Now”, “Higher” and “Space Jam.”

Jhene lost her brother Miyagi to cancer in July 2012. She wrote “For My Brother” solely for her dying sibling, and he passed away shortly after hearing it. That fall, “3:16 AM” was released as a single from Sail Out.

In 2013 she was featured on Drake’s “From Time” off his marvelous Nothing Was The Same album, was involved in a car crash with her daughter (who was thankfully unharmed) and released her Sail Out EP (Prod. by Fistcuffs and No I.D., via Def Jam and Artium) in November. With each release, from the mixtape to this EP I hear a mighty evolution that further puts Aiko in her own creative space. It’s refreshing, organic music, that doesn’t sound anything like current mainstream cheese. The same labels that brought Sail Out are now prepping Jhene’s debut album, Souled Out (out May 2014). I’m itchin’ to hear where she takes us next.

* You can catch Jhene Aiko at Coachella 2014 *

Jhene Aiko – Facebook Twitter Tumblr Soundcloud

– Jimi Jaxon

References: Jhene Aiko Interview – The Truth With Elliott Wilson, Wikipedia, Jhene Aiko Interview With Manny Norte

Tags Artium, B2K, Chance The Rapper, Def Jam, Drake, Gucci Mane, H.O.P.E., Jhene Aiko, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, LA, Lite, Miguel, Miyagi, Nothing Was The Same, Pisces, Pop, R&B, Roosevelt, Sail Out EP, Sailing Souls Mixtape, Soul, Souled Out

Categories Uncategorized

Astronomar (Mad Decent / Main Course) – On The Move

2013/07/08 //

My friend Astronomar is wielding monstrous sonic energy with his recent productions. I’m buzzin’ off these recent promos from Marlon and his Main Course label. After some time apart, we’ve reconnected and here’s our conversation. See how he’s doin’ in his new home of LA, the mindset behind some of his tracks and the inner-workings of the super-rad Main Course label.

DD Whatsup man? It’s been exactly a year since I had you on Disco Droppings. How are you doing?

AST I’m doing very well thank you! Hard to believe a whole year has passed!

DD Originally from Alaska, we met during your time in Seattle where I’m still at. Your now in L.A., and I’m happy the Emerald City is part of your list of hometowns. How has your most recent move impacted your life?

AST Yeah man I love Seattle! Still come to visit and/or DJ relatively frequently. Being in LA is amazing. Creative energy is through the roof, and it’s so easy to feel inspired.

DD The new tracks of yours that first perked my ears up were Like This / Pay Attention. These two sit between a few styles in their own distinct and fun way. Equally playful and demanding. To me, you are a breath of fresh air to the dance community and a formidable producer/DJ coming up. It doesn’t surprise me that your tracks have sparked the interest of DJ’s playing clubs and festivals all over. What was your intention with this release? These tracks seem perfectly made for the environments I mentioned above.

AST Thanks dude happy you like them! Ya I kind of imagine them fitting perfectly somewhere in the middle of a banging club set. Not over the top face melters nor are they very deep; rather something wide & hopefully groovy enough to help people get loose and prepared for a more demanding set of tracks.

DD I think “Untrapped” is a brilliant little term and you really nailed these 3 remixes for your self-released Untrapped Vol. 2. My favorite is your edit of Djemba Djemba’s “Stahp”, really kool! These all seem very fun to put together. What’s your mindset like in the studio? Is a high fun factor something you aim for? I keep coming back to this theme of your productions being colorful and also filled with attitude.

AST I really enjoy making edits! There is so much inspiring music coming out all the time I can’t help but want to ruin them, haha. The whole untrapped thing started from liking what was happening in EDM trap, and I wanted to incorporate those into house paced sets. So the mindset is really to destroy/rebuild while still respecting the original piece, as well as pushing my personal genre boundaries. For Untrapped 2 I made an old school jungle edit of DJ Fresh VS Diplo “Earthquake”. I sent it to Diplo, then a couple days later I got an email chain back from Diplo with Ministry Of Sound guys saying they wanted to do something with it. I doubt anyone would ever expect me to make a jungle edit of anything, but it was a personally enjoyable musical exercise and to have it be embraced is pretty rewarding.

DD One thing I notice in a lot of interviews are the same questions being thrown around like, “where does your name come from?” I like that your playing with people a bit, based on these different responses you’ve given to different people. No question there, I just think it’s funny.

AST f you want to know where my music name comes from its in a different interview lol!

DD I think we are kindred spirits in a few ways, one of them being that we both operate labels. You now have Main Course; which is co-run by Neoteric and Bot. I relate to your guy’s approach of getting good music out there, regardless of genre. How is the work load split in the running of Main Course? And how has this area of management improved other areas of your artist world?

AST Main Course is awesome! I run it with two guys I have great respect and admiration for. There are very few clear lines as to where the duties are split; we all help where we can, when we can, and make decisions on a 3-way basis most of the time. My role is a bit of a mover & shaker on the ground, listening to lots of promos and talking with the artists whom naturally grow into friends (if they aren’t already). But I feel like working with a lot of the incoming music has helped me listen much deeper than I used to, and has helped me give clearer and unbiased feedback. Then, I turn that same ear to my own productions.

DD How was your trip to EDC Vegas 2013? I went in 2011 and 2012 and I wish I could’ve seen you at that time!

AST EDC was incredible!! was unreal and hope to make it back to play again in the future.

DD I’d say you are a highly passionate and motivated individual. Are there reminders or pieces of wisdom you use to stay on your desired path?

AST Ayye I appreciate that! I am just grateful that my output is appreciated & realized. Any success no matter how inconvenient is one worth pursuing. Nourish the vibes where you can, shake the hands and recycle the cans.

Astronomar – Facebook Twitter Soundcloud

maincourse.me

– Jimi Jaxon

Tags Alaska, Astronomar, Bot, EDC Vegas 2013, LA, Mad Decent, Main Course, Neoteric, Paradiso Festival, Seattle

Categories Uncategorized

Mear One

2013/02/09 //

A couple days ago I was inspired by an episode of Breaking The Set with Abby Martin. She is an artist, founder of Media Roots, B.O.D. of Project Censored and host of my favorite news program, RT’s ‘Breaking The Set’. She has a fearless attitude toward investigative journalism, presenting her stories with a burning passion. I think some people watch the show and think that she’s coming on too strong, or too radical. Unfortunately, many newscasters read their teleprompters in such a robotic, insensitive fashion, that they make others appear over the top. It reminds me of an M.I.A. interview from a few years with Q TV. I’ve mentioned it in the past, and continue to return to her words, as I think she nails this topic. She says, “The only reason why you think I’m causing a stir is because no one else is doing it. Like, that’s why you think I stick out like a sore thumb as someone whose obviously so wrong..”.

In the episode posted above, at 7:51, Abby begins her “Artists’ Duty” segment. Nina Simone once said, “An artists’ duty is to reflect the times.”. Abby goes on to say, “In today’s society, art is going through a transformational crisis. Contemporary artists are becoming victims of the consumer culture of mass commercialization and corporatization.”. She empowers and challenges artists to carry on with Nina Simone’s message, instead of becoming another victim of a twisted system. One such person exemplifying this attitude to a T is LA-based street artist and muralist, Mear One. Abby Martin interviewed him for ‘Breaking The Set’, starting at 19:08. This was my first time seeing his work, and I was completely blown away by his politically charged art.

They discuss a few of his pieces including “Freedom For Humanity”, “Humanity vs. The Machine” and “Allegory of Complacency”. These political satires depict the socio-economic system that has a stranglehold on our lives. This system is often hidden from the majority of the public, and sadly, conversation about these issues can result in people being dismissed as crazy and/or conspiracy theorists.

The remedy for this lack of conversation often comes in the form of art. It can speak in ways that words cannot, conveying messages that penetrate deeper than any argument. It has the ability to reach and challenge people across all borders of language, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political affiliation.

Since 1986, Mear One aka Kalen Ockerman has been building a body of work that has gained him the title of “The Michelangelo of Graffiti”. His bio states, “He is considered by many to be Los Angeles’ most prolific graffiti artist because of the way he revolutionized graffiti with his fine-art realism, breaking out of traditional 2D letter forms, and using perspective to develop complex characters with dynamic backgrounds in epic scale.”. He takes his inspirations; ancient technology, science, philosophy, mythology, mysticism, political and cultural revolution and the apocalypse, and blends them into deeply powerful statements through the medium of visual art.

Mear One – Twitter Tumblr Facebook

mearone.com

– Jimi Jaxon

Tags Abby Martin, Breaking The Set, Graffiti Artist, LA, Mear One, Muralist, RT

Categories Uncategorized

Disco Droppings Showcase Choice for dB Festival Day 5: Friends of Friends @ The Baltic Room (9.30.12)

2012/09/18 //

For the final day of Decibel, I choose the Friends of Friends showcase (Fb). This 21+ party happens at The Baltic Room, with sets from Shlohmo, Salva, Groundislava, LOL Boys and Lazy Brow. Back in 2010, I met Henry Laufer aka Shlohmo outside of Neumos after his Decibel set. He wasn’t 21 at the time, so the venue booted him out. On the positive side I got to hang out with him, and soon after, a Shlohmo interview appeared on Disco Droppings. Those that get hyped on variations of hip-hop, and the environments created by The Weeknd, Flying Lotus and Baths should swing by The Baltic Room on 9/30.

It’s difficult to create a worthy remix for Wheez-ie’s “Keep Yer Chin Up”. I say that because the original is so fucking incredible. Leave it Salva to come up with something magical. Groundislava has a new album out entitled Feel Me on Friends of Friends. His superb XLR8R mix can be heard ova here. The track selection, mixing and dreamy narrative fit snugly together. Lazy Brow is the label head of FoF, and he starts off the night with a DJ set.