diSKOAver weekly: Week of July 8, 2020

OH SHIT LOOK WHO’S LOOKIN’ SNAZZZAAYYYYYYY. Yeah last week during my week of media deprivation I decided to pretty up some things around this web log. You like? 🥰

Also I found
so
much
good
goddamn
music. 🙏🏻

We’re back to 16 tracks a week. That whole doubling up thing was really adorably ambitious of me, especially now that I want to post about all of the things again I don’t want to dread doing this playlist because tbh it’s one of my favorite things to do. It is a labor of love, emphasis on the labor, but you know, whatever.

With that, here are the 16 ways I love you the most this week:

1. Woodes - ”How Long I’d Wait”

   Tumbled into Woodes while checking out last year’s Golden Vessel record (more on him in a few). There’s something so captivating about her that I haven’t been able to put my finger on just yet. She’s practically mystical. Is she secretly a nymph? I need answers. Also she’s got a new song dropping on Friday called “Euphoria” and of course I will make sure you hear it when I do.

2. Arlo Parks - “Eugene”

   When I say that Arlo Parks had me SOBBING for days after I found her that is not even remotely an exaggeration. In addition her penning some of the most deeply personal experiences in a way that will knock the wind out of you, there is something so tenderly piercing about her voice that whatever her words don’t do explicitly her voice is like, “hold up I got this imma make you feel EVERYTHING ok ok”. She recently did a really striking cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” that’s worth checking out, but you definitely have to hear “Black Dog” so you can have a good cry, too.

3. Nelson Kempf - “Hourglass”

   So this is one of 3 tracks that are currently out right now from Nelson Kempf’s upcoming debut album Family Dollar (out on July 24). Apparently Kempf used to be more of a folky kinda musician, but after a decade of hardships he went more experimental. The record touches of the overlooked emotional experience that surrounds poverty. You could say it’s kind of a dark record, but I liken it to how sometimes light finds a way to pierce through a really dark room. Yeah, I guess it’s like that.

4. Tourist x The Range - “Last”

   This is a cool little collaboration that’s a reflection on grief. Apparently as they were writing this they each heard the lyric differently. Tourist could hear, “you know you’re lost”, while The Range was hearing, “you know you’re last”. As Tourist notes, “The duality of that truth resonated with me, as both meanings are applicable when someone leaves us. It has struck a more personal chord recently, as recently one of my dearest friends passed away very suddenly.”

5. Georgia - “Started Out”

   Last year I dropped another track from Georgia in this very playlist series and at some point I somehow reminded myself to check back to see if there was an album , finally got around to listening to Seeking Thrills, and y’all…. what a fucking cool record. I feel like this is a real launching point for her, so you should probably get in on this now.

6. Teenage Bad Girl - “Keep Up With You”

   I’m sorry to be doing this to you, but I am absolutely giving you a band that will probably never make another thing again. I just fucking love good French electro way too much to not pass this along. Teenage Bad Girl existed between 2007 and 2011. I’ve spent the most time with their last record, Back Wash. This track (much like the entire album) has split me between elated and enraged because it slaps so fucking hard but like…this is it. Anyway it’s fucking awesome and you deserve to have this in your arsenal, too.

7. Cora Novoa - “over & done”

   While trying to figure out every last detail about Teenage Bad Girl I crossed paths with their labelmate Cora Novoa (both are on Citizen Records). This Barcelona based bad bitch kinda does it all tbh. In addition to obviously being a music composer and a DJ, she also is the founder and creative director of her own label called SEEKING THE VELVET, which is for electronic and experimental pop music. She’s also an Abelton Official Trainer, music curator, etc. etc. She does a lot. She’s creative as fuuuuck. And she makes really fucking cool techno.

8. Sam I - “wishin’ (feat. bipolar sunshine)”

   Here is me nagging you again to go listen to Random Shit From The Internet Era. This record has something for everyone in it. I would not lie to you. Also like, going to take a moment to throw Sam I some more love because like, all the features on this record are great. Hadn’t heard bipolar sunshine before this. Really loving him.

9. The Kickdrums - “Sunshine Guy”

   I’m always a happy kid when Fitts surprises us with new music. Also dude dropping a track with a lyric “all these nights are blurring together” in the middle of quarantine is so goddamn spot on.

10. Marlana - “The Right”

    So I’m just getting caught up to Marlana but don’t stress that means there’s more than enough time for you, too! She’s got an EP dropping on July 24th called At Least I Tried (which is quite excellent I must say). That said, I would be very fucking rude to you if I did not make sure you heard “The Right” before I get you squared away on everything else going on with this EP.

11. Nick Leng - “LEMONS”

    Thanks to The Algorithm™ last week I came to know Nick Leng, who put out a record called LEMONS a couple of months ago. Things I have learned since thoroughly enjoying the South African born now LA-based singer-songwriter: the album is the result of an emotional breakup, the loss of a friend, and his house burning down - basically all at the same time. 😑 LEMONS. You get it now? Not for nothing though, the record put such a pep in my step that it made me teach myself how to make some bomb ass lemonade within a few hours of digesting the record. There’s a metaphor there, somewhere. I’ll let you find out for yourself what I’m saying.

12. Golden Vessel - “Hesitate (feat. Emerson Leif)”

    I am going to do my very best to not turn this web log into a Golden Vessel fan site, but goddamn it was a really fucking good day when I put on last year’s SLOWSHINE last week. Funny enough, this is not on that record. I just like taking advantage of a 2 for 1 special in showing you new stuff. That said, Emerson Leif’s vocal + the magical vibeyness that is Golden Vessel’s production = yes please.

13. otta - “Near Enough A Woman”

    otta has an EP dropping on Friday! (7/10). This track is not on it! Why did I do that? I don’t know. I guess I wanted to start with the basics with her so you could build to bumping Songbook? And this is like, definitely the basics compared to what you’ll hear on Songbook, which swings in a much more experimental direction. She’s expanding her musical palette and honestly with a voice like hers, she can get away with it.

14. Diplo - “do si do (feat. Blanco Brown)”

    Man I don’t know. Sometimes you just gotta go with the hype. This song is really fun even though my thoughts on Diplo are a mixed bag. I’m trying to occasionally participate in mainstream-ish moments. This was what my ears agreed to this week? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

15. Tall Tall Trees - “Deep Feels”

    I listened to A Wave Of Golden Things when it came out but hadn’t put it on in a minute. Lotta records are hitting different in quarantine and this one is no exception. I guess the minimal distractions made me notice the little details of this record that I likely missed on the pre-pandemic passthroughs on this album. There’s too many to share in this baby blurb, just trust me. Anyway “Deep Feels” specifically is just a quintessential summer feel good jam IMO.

16. Stilljill - “Some People”

    LA indie psych-pop trio Stilljill recently dropped their debut EP, Waterslides, which celebrates the fluidity of femininity. As they told Ladygunn last week, “Womxn have historically been analogous to water – Sirens, Venus being born from seafoam, water and women as the birth and source of life. Womxn are often conditioned to be fluid or amenable when others won’t in ways that do not always serve us; i.e. compromising needs and desires, shifting ourselves or voices to suit spaces and male egos. Fluidity also means resilience, strength, and adaptability and we find power in that.” Take a second glance at the single artwork for their tracks, specifically the “river”. They are really thoughtful in every last detail of what they’re doing and I really appreciate that.

PS now would be a good time to remind you that you can sign up to get pinged every time I update this playlist, which means a post like this with my liner notes will be sitting in your inbox the literal second I smash that PUBLISH button and drag over the new tracks into the playlist. I am just saying. 😊

[Listen] Diplo Teams Up with Mike Posner and Boaz van de Beatz for "Crown"

This year, Diplo's focus has been fixed on his Major Lazer project. That's why it was a nice surprise when he returned out of the blue with a new track under his own moniker. Teaming up with rapper Mike Posner and producer Boaz van de Beatz, "Crown" is loud, very loud. It begins with glitzy synths and Posner's echoing verses, only to throw that superficiality out the window with a bombastic drop. When that hits, shit gets real grimy. Stream it below.

[News] Major Lazer Delays 'Free the Universe', Releases Mixtape in the Meantime

Bad news for Major Lazer fans, as Diplo has announced that Free the Universe has been delayed. The Diplo-led project was supposed to deliver their sophomore LP on February 26th—it was previously delayed till that date from November 6th—but now the album is without a firm release date. In a statement to fans, Diplo said:

We never want to disappoint our supporters but circumstances out of our control have made us unable to keep the intended date. For anyone disappointed, we are truly apologetic and we promise that this hiccup has only made what we have planned for the album stronger. We tried extremely hard to keep the date but it was ultimately decided that rushing the album would have been unfair to you and everyone who worked so hard on it."

In the meantime though, Diplo and co. will offer up three free mixtapes made up of unreleased and rare material. The first, Lazers Strike Back Vol 1., is available now, and you can grab it here. As well, the next single from Free the Universe, titled "Watch Out for This (Bumaye)", will be offered up for free to those who pre-order the album through iTunes. Pre-orders start on February 26th.

Major Lazer will be hitting the road soon, so make sure to check out their full tour docket here.

[Watch] Diplo - "Butter's Theme" (Official Video)

Diplo's Express Yourself EP slipped through the cracks a bit, overshadowed by the Major Lazer hype train. Plucking one of the lesser known tracks from the 2012 EP, Diplo gives some visual glamour to "Butter's Theme". The trippy, kaliedoscope clip features plenty of booty shakin' babes and balaclava-donned belly dancers. Catch the replay above.

[News] Major Lazer Announce Massive 2013 Tour

Major Lazer's long-awaited sophomore album Free the Universe is set to release (hopefully) at the end of February, and following that the Diplo-led collective will carry out an extensive worldwide tour. Starting on February 28th in Toronto, the tour will take Diplo and friends all across Canada, the U.S., South America, the United Kingdom, and numerous countries throughout Europe. The tour will also see Major Lazer joined by a star studded supporting cast, including Angel Haze, Lunice, Starfucker, and Dragonette. Check out the full tour schedule after the jump.

Free the Universe is out on February 19th via Diplo's Mad Decent label.

Major Lazer 2013 Tour Dates:
01/10 – Montreal, QC @ New City Gas
01/27 – Aspen, CO @ X Games
02/01 – Morrison, CO @ Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks
02/05 – Las Vegas, NV @ 1 Oak at the Mirage Hotel and Casino
02/28 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
03/01 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre ^
03/02 – Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater ^
03/03 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues ^
03/05 – Nashville, TN @ The Cannery Ballroom ^
03/07 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
03/08 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade ^
03/09 – New Orleans, LA @ BUKU Music & Art Project
03/11 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues ^
03/12 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues ^
03/12-17 – Austin, TX @ South by Southwest
03/15-17 – Miami, FL @ Ultra Music Festival
03/17 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre #
03/19 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *%
03/20 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *%
03/21 – St Louis, MO @ The Pageant *%
03/22 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre *%
03/22-24 – Miami, FL @ Ultra Music Festival
03/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue *%
03/26 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo *%
03/27 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater *%
03/28 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *%
03/31 – São Paulo, Brazil @ Lollapalooza Brazil
04/07 – Santiago, Chile @ Lollapalooza Chile
04/25 – Paris, FR @ Bataclan
04/26 – Rouen, FR @ Le106
04/27 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
04/29 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
05/01 – Sheffield, UK @ The Plug
05/02 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy
05/03 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy
05/04 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
05/07 – Brussels, BE @ AB Hall
05/08 – Zurich, CH @ Maag Halle
05/09 – Milan, IT @ Magazzini Generali
05/10 – Bologna, IT @ Link
05/11 – Marseille, FR @ Cabaret Aléatoire
05/14 – Prague, CR @ Lucerna Music Hall
05/15 – Warsaw, PL @ Palladium
05/16 – Berlin, DE @ Berghain

^ = w/ Dragonette
# = w/ Starfucker
* = w/ Angel Haze
% = w/ Lunice

[Listen] Diplo - "got stoned and mixed really old records for half an hour"

Honestly, this one is pretty self explanatory. Need I say more?

[Listen] Flying Lotus - "Flotus"

This past weekend Flying Lotus dropped a few gems in his mix for Diplo's BBC Radio 1 show Diplo & Friends, including unreleased tracks, his remix of Frank Ocean's "Binge Eating Without You", and a remix of Kanye and Jay-Z's "Niggas in Paris". One of those unreleased tracks is a mellow instrumental titled "Flotus", a dreamy hip-hop cloud where all your thoughts and worries float away with the beat. This is the kind of song where you press play and you become lost in the music. Stream it below, and head here to listen to the entirety of FlyLo's BBC mix.

(via PinBoard)

[Download] Diplo feat. Jahan Lennon - "About That Life"

Straying from his usual dance-friendly style, Diplo drops a new track titled "About That Life" that seems more suited for a hippe communion in the forest than a dance floor. Taking a note from Hot Chip's book, Diplo brings flutes into play, juxtaposing them with the soothing vocals of Jahan Lennon. Pull out a joint, light some incense, and stream the song below.

UPDATE: The song now has an accopmanying music video that features vibrant colors and psychedelic images perfectly fitting to the song itself. Watch it above.