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Azealia Banks – No Prisoners

2013/03/30 //
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Azealia-Banks

 

All this negative talk about Azealia Banks is annoying to me. Yeah, yeah..she doesn’t get along with people sometimes, but isn’t that true for all of us? Sometimes people pick and choose when they want to be offended, and all that passive aggressive judgment is so tired. I know when I pull up someone’s music if they are the real deal or not, and Azealia is more real than most. She’s young, she’s got attitude and she’s still learning about herself and how she relates to the world. Give her a break, calm down and enjoy the music.

 

 

P.S. Her debut album, “Broke With Expensive Taste” is set to drop in the very near future..

Azealia Banks – Facebook Twitter Soundcloud

azealiabanks.com

– Jimi Jaxon

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Blind Prophet

2012/05/07 //
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Thanks to Kid Smpl, who mentioned Blind Prophet in his recent Disco Droppings interview. I went over to this producer’s Soundcloud and was hyped on the overall atmosphere (There are currently 55 Blind Prophet tracks uploaded!). I’ve talked with Blind Prophet about the releases that stood out to me most, as well as his show on Sub.FM, which you can hear Friday’s from 9-11pm EST / 6-8pm on the west coast. Oh, and at the very bottom you’ll see his dreamy track “Coastline”, which can be downloaded for free via XLR8R

DD Welcome to Disco Droppings, Blind Prophet. What’s going on in your world right now?

BP Hello! I’ve been really busy with music lately – which is always a good thing. I’m in the process of exploring new genres, BPM, and techniques so that’s been taking up much of my time.

DD I wanna go way back to October, 2010, when your Open The Cut EP was released on Car Crash Set. The synth pad in the title track has a lot of clarity, and “Lag” has a nice bounce and smooth rolling sub. Do you remember your mindset back when this release was coming together? 

BP When the “Open The Cut” EP came out I was pretty much only making 140/dubstep type music. Lately I’ve been shying away from that tempo but I can remember approaching Ill Cosby, the owner of Car Crash Set, about the possibility of doing another EP. He was down for it so I sent him some tunes and we settled on the ones that appear on the release. I didn’t set out to make an EP when I made the tunes that are on it, it just so happened that they sounded cohesive together so it worked out nicely. Maybe it was a subconscious type thing….

DD A more recent release, your Shortage EP on Gradient Audio also stood out to me. I really like the edginess of “The Choice”. Is this a distinctly harder sounding track for you? 

BP Yeah, “The Choice” was kind of my ode to the more harder/aggressive dubstep tracks that I’m a fan of. Sadly, though, this sound has been hijacked by producers that are claiming they are making “dubstep” but, in reality, are making some of the worst music I’ve ever heard. I actually wouldn’t even call it music – it’s just shit.

DD You’ve got a show on Sub.fm Friday’s, who are some artists getting lots of play when you’re on the air?

BP I always seem to play tunes by Subreachers, HxdB, Wen, and Volatil every show. They are four of my favorite producers so it’s only natural that I would support them.  

DD This “Replica” track you did with Mirror State is so rad, I must get this one to play out. Did you first connect with Mirror State through Sub.fm, since you both have shows?

BP I first came across Mirror State about a year ago on Soundcloud. I really dug his stuff so we started swapping tunes and talking on AIM. We actually tried to collab prior to “Replica” but it just wasn’t in the cards. Then one day I came up with a drum groove and some synths and sent it to Thomas. I felt the tune could benefit from his artistic touch and I think I was right – the tune turned out great!

DD Will you be making it to the west coast anytime soon? I’ll be in your state later this year if i’m accepted into RBMA 2012.

BP I was out on the west coast this past January doing a mini tour, hopefully I can come back soon to play some more shows. 

DD Last words?

BP Thanks to anyone that has supported me and my music, shout out to all the labels/producers/DJs – you know who you are! And thank you to Disco Droppings!

 

Blind Prophet – Facebook Twitter Soundcloud 

– Jimi Jaxon 

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21 Yr. Old Filmmaker Raises Money For Lithuanian Beat Scene & Corrupt Government Themed Film “We Will Riot”

2012/05/01 //
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Today, Americans in over 100 cities protest for economic justice and workers/human rights with a ‘General Strike’. While this is happening, a young filmmaker  named Romas Zabarauskas, living in New York, is trying to film a movie about the Lithuanian beat scene and corrupt governments entitled “We Will Riot”. Feels like a fitting day for Disco Droppings to profile Romas and share his ideas. Check out my interview with this progressive talent below. If his vision connects with you, head to the project’s Kickstarter where you can view a short video by Romas, learn more about the story line and most importantly, donate to the project. By Friday, May 4th at 6:05PM, this project must raise 10k, otherwise Romas will not receive any of the money pledged to support his film. Currently the project has just under 6k pledged. 

DD Hello Romas, how is the hustle going for “We Will Riot”?

RZ It’s going well! I came to New York last August for an exchange year of film studies at Hunter College, knowing that I want to start shooting my debut feature while I’m here. I had a pretty concise idea for a story about a hip New York DJ who goes to Lithuania in order to experience something real for the first time… and ends up causing a riot. I’ve met plenty of people whose feedback helped to finish the script, including John Cameron Mitchell (Shortbus, Rabbit Hole), but little by little I realized that because of the film’s subject it’s gonna be tough to find a bigger producer even with all the support I had from him, Gus Van Sant, Berlinale and others. So I decided to fundraise for the first part of the shoot and start making the film on my own. After I shoot the New York part, I’ll come back to Lithuania, where I’ve just established my own public enterprise, and try to finance and shoot the rest. 

DD What makes the Lithuanian beat scene special? Who are some of the artists featured in this new film?

RZ A few things are special in the Lithuanian beat scene: first of all, these kids are super young but they’re reaching out all the world because of new, cheap technologies. Second, many of them have classical music education and are experimenting with beats from a very musical perspective. Also, I think the Lithuanian context is exceptional in a way that the beat music is really “hip” – all the beautiful and edgy boys and girls listen to that in Vilnius.

The beatmaking scene in Lithuania little by little has drawn the attention of such “tastemakers” as Mary Anne Hobbs and Radiohead..But these musicians haven’t yet been discovered by a wider audience, and I’m hoping to increase their exposure through my film. 

 

Also I’ve to say I’m not that knowledgeable in music myself – but I work with the experts and made my research. British music promoter and internet entrepreneur, Stableface.com owner Mark Splinter works as a music supervisor for We Will Riot, and we’re also collaborating with one of the beat/bass community leaders Vaiper Despotin. I can’t name the artists yet but for sure we’ll aim for all the best ones – and most of them are already excited and supportive.

DD How has the process to raise money for thus film challenged you? 

RZ It’s extremely difficult to raise money on Kickstarter.com – I didn’t expect it would be so difficult. It’s definitely a tiring full time job. But at the same time it’s extremely rewarding to see that people are so supportive and excited about my film. It inspires me and makes me want to deliver the best I possibly can. 

DD How do you feel this film, if it goes into filming, will impact the political atmosphere and underground music community?

RZ I hope it would bring more attention to the beatmakers – the attention that they deserve. For the political atmosphere – my aim isn’t to invite everyone to riot, but rather to discuss how can we authentically protest against the system that most of us are involved in one way or another – the use of Gmail being one example. I also wish to shake “hipster” apolitical views so common to the young people everywhere in the world. We need to be political – no one else will change the world for us.

DD Last words? Cheers to you for such a progressive, right on the pulse idea.

RZ Thanks! Happy May Day! Go to the streets!

Romas Zabarauskas – Twitter Facebook

http://wewillriot.com/

– Jimi Jaxon 

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