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![[SONG OF THE DAY] CHILI PALMER - "S.I.T"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671489731474-RRFD48696Z6ENDWAS2JH/chili+palmer.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] CHILI PALMER - "S.I.T"
It’s the kind of vocal performance where I’m so convinced this dude was smiling the whole time he was singing this that I’d eat my headphones if you told me otherwise. David absolutely set him up to shine, too. This beat is just naaaassssstttyyyy in all of the right places.
Something that I have been deeply missing since everything got turned upside down is singing along to music while I walk around the neighborhood if no one else is around. It’s something that I got in the habit of doing after I transitioned to city living and stopped owning a car aka the best place to sing your brains out to shit. In addition to everything feeling really heavy outside, singing with a mask on feels kinda weird.
Enter: CHILI PALMER: a new project from one of my favorite casually brilliant minds, David Gledhill (of SOULS notoriety), in collaboration with a man I’m still not convinced isn’t a literal angel sent to earth, Albert Gold. On Friday the London lads dropped, “S.I.T.”, the debut offering from their forthcoming debut self-titled EP which is slated for a November 13th release courtesy of Fierce Panda Records.
I had bumped it a few times since Friday, but something about strutting through Brooklyn yesterday and this hitting my ears though. I had this on repeat basically the whole walk home.
I will say this: belting the chorus through my mask evaporated basically every molecule of stress out of my body. I’m not exaggerating (or maybe I kind of am) when I say Albert’s voice might make your heart float out of your chest so BE CAREFUL. It’s the kind of vocal performance where I’m so convinced this dude was smiling the whole time he was singing this that I’d eat my headphones if you told me otherwise. David absolutely set him up to shine, too. This beat is just naaaassssstttyyyy in all of the right places. That bassline! Holy actual fuck.
It is impossible not to be feelin’ yourself to this, trust me. I desperately needed this, so I assume you do, too.
I want to make like a billion metaphors about how fucking well these two played off each other on this collaboration and THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST TASTE OF THE EP! Best believe your girl is about to do an electric slide into the DMs to hear the rest of this.
In the meantime, you can have a glance at the tracklisting below and smash that pre-order button because IT’S A PANDEMIC AND NO ONE IS TOURING AND THESE DUDES DESERVE ALL OF YOUR DOLLARS IF THEY MAKE YOU FEEL AS GOOD AS I DO RIGHT NOW TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS.
CHILI PALMER
Release Date: November 13, 2020
1.Intro
2. S.I.T.
3. L.U.C.
4. J.S.N.T.L.
5. A.O.M.L.
6. Unrequited
![[SONG OF THE DAY] Souls - "We Will Walk (feat. Big Zuu)"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671493648844-ZRAXBVCJVKI66RYQN3DY/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] Souls - "We Will Walk (feat. Big Zuu)"
Big Zuu & SOULS
London electronic producer David Gledhill better known to SKOA fam as SOULS has returned with a new flex. For the first time in the history SOULS, David enlisted a modern artist, West London rapper Big Zuu, for a feature on this new track, “We Will Walk”.
As David told Wonderland Magazine, “I’ve been sitting on the music to ‘We Will Walk’ for six years. But it needed a feature and I wanted to wait for the right one. Zuu brought something indescribable to it that was well worth the wait. It encapsulates everything I set out to do with this project. If the song comes out and resonates with people, lovely, but I can die happy just knowing Zuu and I created something special.”
The fruits of their collaborative labor is indeed something truly special. David is always good for meticulously crafting a thoughtful transformative throwback vibe, but the Big Zuu element to “We Will Walk” really connects the past to present day in such a uniquely lovely way. I am absolutely enamored with this.
Still no word on anymore details for this new album that’s on its way, but given how patient David was to find the perfect feature for this track, I guess I will also begrudgingly be patient for updates.
![[SONG OF THE DAY] SOULS - "Hold On"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cb91c18cbd5c31ee4ab0fd/1671498142192-QJ5T8050JLVN09SKKNSP/image-asset.jpeg)
[SONG OF THE DAY] SOULS - "Hold On"
IT’S VIBE O CLOCK ON FRIDAY MY LOVES!! 🙌🏻💖🙌🏻💖🙌🏻💖
Sorry in advance if your speakers end up getting blown out because SOULS is back with a brand new single and it’s the kind of track that you find yourself inching back to turn it up *just a little bit more* but then end up doing that until you can’t turn it up anymore. Neither myself or SOULS are responsible for any hearing loss, speeding tickets, or any other accidental side effects from getting too carried away with yourself while rocking out to this song.
This wallop of a new track, “Hold On”, comes from his forthcoming sophomore album, which we have no other details about right now other than it is coming this year and clearly we need to better prepare ourselves if this is what he’s bursting out of the gate with. In true SOULS fashion, the song features sampled vocals from gospel singer Sister Ernestine Washington’s 1954(?) song, “Holding On Parts I & II”. Those of us who have long been hip to SOULS know that project mastermind David J Gledhill is a bit of a prodigy when it comes to transforming vocals from the past into astonishing present day works of art as seen on his 2016 debut full-length, Release. With this new track, however, it’s like he took an already roaring bonfire and backed up a tanker of gasoline to Washington’s vocals. I know that Release wasn’t a subdued album by any means, but damn something about this just FEELS so different.
Basically what I’m trying to say is Geldhill should be walking around East London on this New Music Friday feeling like the fucking badass in the way that I imagine Washington would be if she heard what he did with her already incredible voice. My dude has knocked it out of the PARK.
Listen now but keep scrolling because this isn’t the only thing our hero is up to!
In addition to this new SOULS single, Gledhill has actually decided to make us all look bad for not pushing our creativity to the limit by challenging himself to a weekly songwriting challenge for what he hopes to be all of 2019. Although his primary instrument of choice is typically guitar, he’s decided to return to piano, the first instrument he ever learned to play and write music with, for the challenge. The hope is to write and record one new instrumental piano song every week and as of this fourth Friday in January 2019 he’s successfully kept to the challenge so far. I have to warn you, these songs are quite literally breathtaking.
I had fallen behind a couple of weeks in checking out the pieces, but as I was preparing for this post I started with today’s track, “Once”, and work my way through the others in descending order. Somewhere between the 30 second and minute mark, I realized I had stopped multi-tasking and was sitting very calmly with my hands on my lap listening very intently to every note. They’re so delicate and devastatingly beautiful but remember this is just a random side project he decided to do.
…..fucking showoff…….
LOL. jk jk jk
But in all seriousness, you won’t regret making the effort to spend some time with these songs. In fact, I think I’m going to build a ritual around listening to this playlist once a week as a way to spend some quality time with myself. 🙏🏻💖
[2016 Recap] A Few Of My Favorite Things
bless Topsters for assembling this graphic infinitely easier than prior years
Surpriiiiseee!! I'm going to do my year end wrap up differently than most of the ones I've seen. Mostly because I have so many to share, but mostly because I like to let the music do the talking and help you get better connected to the artists themselves. Instead of recaps of each record, I'm going to point you to my favorite tracks so if any of these are new to your ears you'll have the best starting point I can give you.
Personal Observations for 2016
This was a weird year for me in terms of listening/discovery habits. Instead of fighting against music consumption trends, I decided to play along. I dove head first into my Discover Weekly playlist. I even followed some of my friends' in order to see what I would find and set up an IFTTT recipe to archive everything recommended to me so I could go back and reference it later if I wanted. I barely touched my SKOA inbox, which probably upset a lot of publicists. Anyway, according to Last.FM's data (since Spotify never ended up sending me mine), I listened to 1,919 new artists this year, which is ABSOLUTELY INSANE. But really when you think about how much music Discover Weekly puts in front of you, it's really less than what everyone had the potential to check out (which is 1,560 if you figure we get 30 new tracks a week for a year). I am in the 98th percentile in music listening per Last.FM (meaning I listen to more music than 98% of people who still scrobble to Last.FM) and I found myself panicky and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of music that Spotify thinks I can get through on TOP of the music I already love and want to enjoy, or the random rabbit holes I end up falling into that typically bring me great new baby bands. I guess most people approach Discover Weekly differently than I do, letting artists come and go as they please, but knowing the transformative power that music possesses, I'm always wary of passing on an opportunity to be affected and share those experiences with others.
It's crazy to think that 20% of what stuck with me this year was randomly generated by The Algorithm and not delivered to me by humans. I almost said that the human delivery was through cosmic forces, but really, if music finds its way to your ears/hearts by friend or by Algorithm, both are cosmic in a way, no?
This is my struggle at present. I value the connection that happens when a humans experience music together, whether it be by recommendation or attending shows together. I worry this experience will continue to be diminished the more we silo ourselves into our algorithm-based echo chambers. I really hope I'm just out of touch and someone will point me to where this is the opposite, but I can't ignore how self-serving shows feel now every time I treat myself to a Night Out. This has been on my heart/mind too much lately to ignore it, so expect some changes to how things go down on the site (starting with making more time for this now that my new job isn't crazy busy for awhile).
What music moved you this year? Did you like some of these records but different tracks? I'd honestly love to know so please drop me a comment. Also if you want more than favorite tracks out of me for these records, feel free to bug me on Twitter I am happy to share!
My Favorite Things Of 2016
#skoaradio 11/07/2015 liner notes
Really feeling this week's mixtape you guys.
Can't stop. Won't stop. Can't stop working. But it's chill though, the atmosphere I've been launched into has me surrounded by people who are music junkies just like me! In fact, I found Michl courtesy of one of my dope new friends at the office I'm in right now. (Thanks dude!) Sprout and I also hit up Honne on Tuesday this week where we hung out in the dungeon of a basement at Mercury Lounge and chatted with with James and Andy before they got the entire place pregnant. It's good to be busy. Then we had Flagship at Rough Trade on Friday night. Those guys were super great too. Can't wait to interview them and officially usher them into the skoa fam. But yeah, there's a lot going on but the majority of it is awesome. I guess you could say I'm #stressedbutalsoblessed. I hope you enjoyed this week's show. I'd love to hear from you if I just introduced you to your new favorite song (I know I'm kind of obsessing over SOULS right now).
Until next week!
<3
- The 1975 - "Love Me"
- Last week we had an album name, this week we have a release date!! I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it will be dropping on February 26th!
- RAC feat. Penguin Prison - "Hollywood"
- On tour now with the homey Big Data (we'll be at the Warsaw show tomorrow come hang okay?)
- Speaking of their tour, they released an EP/single where they covered each others songs. It's super fun, you should go have a listen.
- Atlas Genius - "Stockholm"
- Inanimate Objects is out now.
- They've got a few more shows to close out the year.
- VOWWS - "Losing Myself In You"
- GO. BUY. THEIR. ALBUM. OKAY. IT'S. SO. AMAZING.
- They also have limited edition shirts on sale rn that are DOPE.
- Big Data (feat. Kimbra) - "The Glow"
- On tour with RAC!
- Like I said, you should peep their lil cute tour EP/single thing.
- Oh yeah! Here's those Big Data glasses I was talking about.
- Art Brut - "Bad Weekend"
- Singer Eddie Argos is selling a limited run of paintings this week only! If you want to get me something for Christmas this would be the thing to get. Or you could get one for yourself.
- Played this song because I forgot that NME is free now. That's so crazy to me.
- HEALTH - "STONEFIST"
- Get on that DEATH MAGIC fam it is so good.
- SOULS - "I Wait For You"
- There is so much digging to be done on this dude. Apparently he doesn't know who is singing on his own track? That's nutty.
- Holy wow this song though, right!?
- Electric Mantis - "the one"
- You can haz this track for $FREE.99 (you're welcome)
- Kate Boy - "Midnight Sun"
- Omg One is out NOW and it is GORGEOUS!
- You should come out next week and see them with us! They're also playing a handful of dates in the US if you're not in NY.
- Professor Green (feat. Lily Allen) - "Just Be Good To Green"
- So I can't *legally* watch the full documentary that aired on BBC3, but here are some clips from it. Fire up your UK proxy servers US fam!
- Oh and dude just released an autobiography whaaatt!?
- Nodaway - "Hairspray"
- You should grab 500 Days of Whatever (or whatever)
- Synkro - "Changes"
- Got this bad boy on limited edition white vinyl, but you can have it as a digital download (unless you go to Rough Trade, I saw some there last night!).
- Michl - "Kill Our Way To Heaven"
- Oh look another mysterious producer. I'm keeping my eye on this dude.
- You can haz this for $FREE.99 too. :)
- Lucius - "Hey Doreen"
- Still trying to understand this #goodgrief series they've started tweeting. idk
- Mayer Hawthorne - "Where Does This Door Go"
- OMG MSG MAYER I'M SO PROUD OF YOU DUDE! He's. Opening. For. Hall. And. Oates. WHAT!
- Calvin Harris feat. Disciples - "How Deep Is Your Love"
- Have you heard Disciples new EP yet? It's quite nice.
- Bummed I didn't see them during BEMF. I really need a clone.
- Hot Chip - "Started Right"
- Just announced dates in Australia in the new year! Still touring like crazy.
- Jamie Woon - "Skin"
- Seriously this new record is so damn good. Do you have it yet?
- HONNE - "Love The Jobs You Hate"
- How'd you like that interview guys? They were so nice!
- You should grab their new EP! It's fantastic!
- Battle Tapes - "Valkyrie"
- Polygon drops in 2 weeks! (11/20). It's amazing. I can't wait for you all to hear it too!
- Galantis - "Peanut Butter Jelly"
- Flagship "I Want You"
- Saw these guys last night! So good!
- Grab their latest EP Faded okay?
And here's the headlines I rushed through that you can read more about (and you should so you're smarter than everyone else):
- Adele's 'Hello' is the first song ever to sell a million downloads in a week
- Facebook adds song clips from Spotify and Apple Music to your News Feed
As always, feel free to snag the Spotify playlist below so you can listen to the sweet jams I picked out for you on the go!