I was introduced to The 13th Grade by way of One T. I don’t know how I picked up on his Audible, but I never would’ve guessed the treasures I’d dig up because of it. Shortly after looking into him I looked into his collaborators. Most notably Josh J the freakin guitar wonderist and the rest of the honeypot collectively known as The 13th Grade.
The supergroup is based out of LA and houses 14 musicians, though a few are based in San Diego, Vegas or London. Not only do they have incomparably talented producers, DJs, instrumentals and vocalists, but their music ranges greatly. And they’re well on their way to making a label as sexy as any of their musicians.
So in good fashion we did what we try to do best, made a playlist out of ’em. Unfortunately we couldn’t get all 14 on here for one reason or another, but managed to get most. The list starts off with some funk n soul into jazz and half way through gets into the harder stuff. We end it where we started off, ’cause there was way too much soulful shit to only feature one from each artist. Like I’ve said already enough, there’s a lot of talent in The 13th Grade.
Paris Wells’ Overbite was produced by Eat More Cake, a producer we’ve covered a few times on this little old thing. And his production is only overshadowed by her lyrics, more specifically how Paris Wells says ’em. So many one-liners.
I have no idea what she’s talking about, what the whole story is on Overbite, but she says it with such pizzazz like Gaga. She got that ‘tude like Tove Lo though. Boogie-oogie sliide gets me every time. Shit’s a hook.
About a week back I was reintroduced to Phenom’s Together Forever. And within 24 hours after that I had danced to it at least over 20 times, no bs. In fact, I had listened to it so much for the remaining part of the day that the chorus was burned into my brain, it got real tiresome.
Day after I was back on the bandwagon and I’ve got more obsessed since. I’ll probably get burned out a few more times before my obsession subsides.
That hook! Gonna get me reminiscing for days.
Shormey’s Party Down was meant for some coming of age movie classic from the 70’s 80’s. At a high school dance or some shit, but she’s more than that. She’s a song for reflecting, tapping into the moment and thinkin about your past.
Marvin Gaye has got to be one of the most sampled singers of all time, but most producers pull off a shoddy side step of his original works. It’s hard as hell to find any rework worth saving, but of course Amtrac pulls it off, again.
The man can do deep house unlike most hyped-producers in the genre right now. It’s always fresh, but far from a fad. His latest takes a few lines from ‘Nothing Like The Real Thing’ (baby) and makes mind numbing, gutter house. I gotta dance to this at the club sometime.
Outside Lands begins my favorite time of the year. It’s good weather in San Francisco, except in Golden Gate Park where it’s held, and there are plenty of fun things right around the corner. Treasure Island Music Festival, Beyond Wonderland & SF MusicTech to name three.
This year’s lineup for OSL is looking to be one of its best. I’ve compiled 12 of my favorites, not including Elton, D’Angelo, St. Vincent, Leon Bridges & Toro y Moi. Their SoundCloud presence is lacking and 8tracks doesn’t give us enough numbers to give a damn about dat.
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Below the playlist we have two highlights from the festival, Odesza’s set and meeting Toro y Moi.
I need a good playlist for reflecting on. Especially when traveling long distances. Music that sounds like Toy Box’s Catahoula.
I know alotta people can’t stand a good kick drum when trying to relax, but I almost need it. There’s a lot of little things in Catahoula that doesn’t make it some basic electronic track. Something you should listen for, for the subtleties. The track has heart, texture. And those vocals chops, woof. Wonder where he got em.
I found out about a new band with some sweet female vocals from the latest live TuneIn sessions and it inspired me to create a playlist (everything inspires me to create a playlist). Or rather finish up a playlist I had been working on for a while, Indie Girl.
All of the women on here are backed by some amount of instrumentalists. In other words, it’s not just some electronic producer behind the boards. Basically, it’s not the usual electronic shit I post.
It starts off with a more jazz jam band kind of feel and gets into indie rock a few songs in. I even put a little punk in there. At least I think it’s punk. I don’t know punk. It finishes off with more of the mellower stuff.
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If you’re someone who manages bands or knows somebody who does, give Cloudsurfing a listen. They’re the band I saw at TuneIn and are in need of a manager, bad.
Yves Klein’s Look has a catchy little chorus. Something worth repeating at a club. Even the Lauren agrees. But it took Nam’pa to wrap it up nicely in a lazer y style of house. +The glistening electro bits is a nice sprinkle on top.