[SONG OF THE DAY] Aish Divine - "Common Questions"

image courtesy of Aish Divine

To witness all that is Aish Divine in the flesh is remarkable. It was sheer luck that I stuck around to check out his set at Piano’s last year during Mondo.NYC. It only took a few seconds after he first opened his mouth for me to be hooked and hopelessly devoted. For the next 20something minutes I was glued to his every move. It’s difficult to explain the sensation that washes over you when you share a room with someone that is there to be heard. To clarify, there is a difference between someone hoping to be heard and folks like him who somehow give you no other option but to hear them. As an immigrant, queer, person of color, Aish Divine is here to be heard. It is not a suggestion, it’s essentially command. He will be the first to tell you as he shared recently on Instagram, “I want to undo the injustice, the unfairness, the non-equality, and lack of visibility that I experienced. I will undo it with the rest of us.”

His latest track, “Common Questions”, is exemplary of his ethos. Taken from his forthcoming sophomore album, The Sex Issue, the track examines the world of online dating through a queer lens. From first blush, it’s easy to say that “Common Questions” is another song bemoaning hookup culture, but it’s more than just moving on from one warm body to the next as you may have heard previously from tracks from other queer artists like SAKIMA’s “Apps”. From his experience on dating apps, seeing things like, “no femmes", “no asians”, “muscle only”, etc. on dating profiles are the alarmingly normalized things that possible matches are just causally leaving on their profile. This is of course before being inundated with common questions about dick size, STI testing status (*which to be clear is not a bad thing to ask but not within the first 10 minutes of talking to someone*), and essentially just questions related to solely hooking up.

Meanwhile, as he notes in the song, “Ain’t got time for common questions / I just wanna man with intuition / who knows how to keep my attention / he’s a good fuck and tender affection”.

Oh honey, same same same same sameeeeee.

Not only is the song a fuckin bop that won’t stop, but the video is full of fabulous non-binary folks and was directed by a woman, as are all of the upcoming videos for The Sex Issues singles. It's a dance filled, intersectional view of queer, non-binary, South Asian, American street culture….and I can’t fucking get enough of it.

More details on The Sex Issue forthcoming. For now, get caught up on his debut album Mother, which was released earlier this year.

diSKOAverweekly: Week of July 15, 2020

Tell you what, that week of media deprivation I did 2 weeks ago has resulted in a crazy amount of music going through my ears ever since. I feel like I’ve reverted to MySpace era-me where I just floated around the internet looking for cool songs to snack on. The only difference between now and then is you don’t have to torrent to take a chance on someone you’re just remotely curious in. If anything, it just helps you float down the rabbit hole all the more. I hope y’all are taking advantage of all this downtime in quarantine to find new folks to get invested in. It’s hard to know which baby bands will be able to stick it out until it’s safe to go to shows again, so now more than ever, we need to be taking chances and throwing our $upport accordingly, you feel me?

Okay! Okay! Okay! Yes yes I know!

Less Talk. More Rock.

Here are the 16 ways I love you most this week:

1. Mayer Hawthorne - ”Rare Changes”

   Last week Mayer Hawthorne dropped this smooth little vibe that he co-wrote with SebastiAn long before the pandemic began. As he shared on Twitter: “I can’t believe how inadvertently poignant it is. We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m deeply inspired by all of the positive changes happening out there.”

2. Elle Músa - “Mango Pops”

   Elle is adored by Geowulf which is how I came to know her and this lovely little summertime tune. It sounds just as refreshing as your first bite into a popsicle on a really hot day.

3. Tohu Bohu - “IT.”

   Tohu Bohu keeps making these slick ass indie pop songs so I’m going to keep making sure you hear them. That’s just how this works.

4. Stray Fossa - “For What Was”

   I’ve been meaning to share these guys for awhile. This feels like the right time because with every new track they release they further shape their sound. It’s obvious from the last few tracks they’ve dropped that they’ve really hit their stride.

5. The Nicholas - “Rockshow (feat. Odessa)”

   The Nicholas did some work on the most recent Golden Vessel single and also has just dropped a song with Akurei. Do not let all the Aussie angels confuse you though. He’s currently based in LA, which how I assume he came to collaborate with Odessa on this track. At this rate I’m just torturing myself with songs about shows because I can’t go.

6. NIMMO - “Dancing Makes Us Brave”

   Got better acquainted with NIMMO this week. I’m now well read up on their exit from their deal with Sony and all the work that went into their debut LP, The Power, that came out last year. I keep coming back to “Dancing Makes Us Brave”. Every time it comes on it has my full an undivided attention.

7. Birdee - “Rumors (feat. Andre Espeut)”

   Decided to catch up on what Birdee has been up to since he’ll be dropping a remix for Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue's latest track this week. I found last year’s LP Then Came the Sun to be quite nice. This track was my favorite.

8. Phony Ppl - “Why iii Love The Moon”

   I finally held still long enough to listen to more than just like 2 Phony Ppl songs. It’s cool watching "Fkn Around” take off right now. It feels like everyone is talking about that song. I hope folks are taking the time to dig around in their catalog and really get invested.

9. Ruel - “Painkiller”

   I’m genuinely confused how someone like Ruel can be huge seemingly everywhere else but the US. This man would easily dominate the radio over here. Instead, I had to find him while checking out who Taka Perry remixed and get knocked on my ass at the original (in addition to the other songs of his I checked out). Also - this is why I get so weird about hearing remixes before the original. You might not connect to the rework as much as the original. Do the extra legwork and peep both. It’s even more fun when you love both.

10. CUT_- “Cry”

    I have been following along with CUT_ since I came to love “Undertown” back in 2017 (as seen in the DW archive). After releasing last year’s A Small Group of Individuals, the duo has returned with this new number. Fun fact: their artwork for this single comes from one of my favorite artists on Instagram: Slime Sunday. As someone who has had some really fun times grabbing random albums because its artwork looks cool, nice to feel a little validated that cool shit really does attract each other.

11. Oklou - “SGSY”

    Came to know Oklou courtesy of the Flavien Berger track she contributed vocals for at the beginning of the year and decided to see what her solo releases were like. Her production chops are just as gorgeous as her voice is.

12. Dombrance - “Poutou”

    It’s so wild tumbling into someone like Dombrance, who just seems to be low-key hiding in plain sight. I’m still working to fill in the gaps of his whereabouts in his release timeline, but regardless there’s a massive spike in activity from Parisian producer and I am paying the fuck attention to his every move.

13. Lxury - “Guess”

    Lxury’s No Real Rush EP dropped back in May on Fools Gold. It was one of those things I tumbled into hopping around on Instagram. Pretty sure A-Trak was singing their praises. ANYWAY. The EP is very good, but “Guess” is the kind of song that’s so enchanting in its own dancetastic way that while I’m getting lost in the moment it feels like it ends way too quickly, which is impressive given that it’s almost 6 minutes long.

14. REBEL YELL x R-T-FAX - “Anti Club Music”

    Boyboy was plugged the feature his friend Marcus Whale did on a track with REBEL YELL’s latest album, Fall From Grace and lemme tell y’all….she makes me nervous like in the best possible way. She makes that bomb ass dark techno, you know?

15. DDm - “Pull Up”

    My beloved Miss Eaves was singing DDm’s praises on Instagram in an attempt to get him to 10k followers over there and I took to him very quickly. His lyrics are witty AF, so it should be no surprise to you that he used to be a battle rapper. Also his beats are fuckin siiiiiick. I’m genuinely surprised that I haven’t seen his name in passing before now.

16. J GRGRY - “Don’t Ever Give Up”

    I’ve been meaning to call out this track for awhile. The Seattle singer has a new single coming out next month so you have plenty of time to get yourself acquainted in time for “China Creek”, which is coming out on August 14th.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue - "Diamond Man"

photo credit: Keegan Westervelt

If you haven’t already, you should get to know the solo project of Eric "Doc" Mendelsohn, Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue. If the homey looks familiar it’s because he’s been making the rounds in the Brooklyn music scene at least since 2014 (he’s possibly best known as 1/2 of Ghost Beach). He’s also been hitting the road with Des Rocs as their bassist. This week he released his latest track, “Diamond Man”, on what is increasingly becoming my favorite local label: toucan sounds.

“Diamond Man” is a glitzy funktastic little nu disco number that is sure to make these scorching summer days more tolerable. Fair warning though: that guitar solo near the middle of the song might temporarily melt your face off if you’re not prepared. I suppose that’s there to make sure you know he is here to funk you up something fierce. If you’re like me and cant’t get enough of “Diamond Man”, a remix courtesy of LA’s Birdee will be dropping in a week-ish (7/17). That gives you plenty of time to also go back and get well acquainted with everything that Mendelsohn’s been releasing under PFRR for the past couple years. You could also check out Des Rocs or Ghost Beach if they weren’t previously on your radar. Blonde got a hell of a lot of love in my household when that dropped.

Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue · Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue - Diamond Man

[SONG OF THE DAY] LP Giobbi - "Meet Again (feat. Little Boots)"

IT’S
VIBE
OCLOCK
ON
FRIDAYYYYYYY 🎉💃🏼🕺🏼

Y’all know how much love I have in my heart for LP Giobbi. In addition to her consistently dropping back to back bangers, it’s been so inspiring to watch how her FEMMEHOUSE initiative has really taken off. I’m constantly seeing new sessions coming up to help empower women with the tools to be their very own badass.

Today we’ve been blessed with a new track, a piano house #posiparty anthem titled “Meet Again”. The track itself came together pre-covid while LP was riding a train in Vienna on the way to a show last winter. Then while in lockdown, she sent it over to Little Boots to get her creative take. As timing would have it, Little Boots had just recently heard Queen Elizabeth II’s speech where she implored the nation to keep hope alive during these dark times we’re living in, reassuring everyone that, “We will meet again”. The rest, as they say, is history. “It’s such a simple line, but I felt pulled to share it as a meaningful message across the world to everyone feeling lonely, disconnected or sad,” shares Little Boots. 

LP has also shared an accompanying video for the song, featuring a montage of simpler times from her childhood. There are a lot of adorable *BB Giobi* moments in the montage, a lot showcasing just how much she was raised around music (but you already knew that because you read my interview with her 😘).

If Mark Ronson’s recent cover of Richard & Linda Thompson’s 1974 classic, “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight” (as seen on diSKOAver weekly) was hitting you right in the Yearning For The Dance Floor Feels™, “Meet Again” is the [for now] bedroom dance party banger you need to get you to the other side of this pandemic. It definitely has me daydreaming of my next outing with LP Giobbi filling the floor with her selects and originals. That last show at Elsewhere dancing and hugging with TC from Crush Club and LEFTI was def one for the books.

Speaking of bedroom dance parties. LP Giobbi is keeping busy on Twitch during the week, spinning hella house a whopping five days a week. Schedule for all of her upcoming livestreams are below in addition to tonight’s FEMMEHOUSE session.

LP GIOBBI’S WEEKLY SCHEDULE ON TWITCH

Wednesday 1:30 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s Club Set
Thursday 1:30 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s World House Party
Friday 1:30 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s Techno & Coffee House Party
Friday 9 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s Chicago House Party
Saturday 1:30 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s Piano House Party
Sunday 1:30 PM EST: LP Giobbi’s Gospel House Party

OTHER UPCOMING LP GIOBBI LIVESTREAMS

July 11th: LP Giobbi @ Rave Family Block Party - Femme House Stage [TICKETS].

July 11th + July 12th: LP Giobbi @ Retrospektfest (exact time TBD)

[SONG OF THE DAY] Akurei - "SUCKER"

photo credit: Maxwell Byrne

You should get well acquainted with Aussie bb Akurei. At first he was a name I caught in passing on “DOWN” from BAYNK’s latest EP, A STUDY IN MOVEMENT, along with Golden Vessel who y’all got a taste of yesterday if you bumped this week’s diSKOAver weekly. Recently he released his latest EP, SEROTONIN, which also happens to be the debut release on the recently launched indie label sumoclic, which is co-owned/operated by Akurei & Golden Vessel.

The first of three EPs that Akurei plans on releasing in 2020, SEROTONIN follows his September EP, which was released near the end of last year. “I wanted to share a few bite sized projects, and the three track format was an exciting idea to me,” he explains. Almost immediately after releasing September he began working on new material, but nothing really starting coming together until February when he went on a writing trip with two of his good friends, Golden Vessel and Emerson Leif.

Why yes, I’ve wandered myself into another nice little collective of talented individuals down under. Glad you noticed that, too. 😘

These guys are keeping busy and there’s already more to share since this EP dropped that is forthcoming, but given how quickly I’ve taken to Akurei and his tender unassuming voice, I just wanted to take a second to make sure he had at least one moment of your full and undivided attention. Although I thoroughly love the whole EP, “SUCKER” has really come to be my favorite.

Enjoy the SEROTONIN EP below. 💖

Akurei · SEROTONIN

[SONG OF THE DAY] Terrell Hines - "Wu Dirt"

Happy to report that Terrell Hines is keeping busy in quarantine. Which is wonderful, because 2019 was really him putting his best foot forward. He released his debut EP, St. Marks Rd., which saw the track “Get Up” get featured in the 2019 Apple keynote. He also had a lovely on Beck’s Hyperspace, which we know I’m a little biased on, but really I thought it was a nice pairing for what Beck was going for.

Now he’s been gearing up for the release of his forthcoming mixtape, Portal One: The Mixtape, which is out on August 7th courtesy of Capitol. He’s been cranking tracks leading up to the official release, including a Y2K Remix of “Get Up” (in addition to a version of the original featuring a verse from Vince Staples), “St. Marks Rd.”, “Promise”, and most recently, “Wu Dirt”, which also has the accompanying video below. Hines is a hologram after my own heart, with the concepts driving his music being in the postmodern + post-apocalyptic. A sampling of some of my favorite lyrics from, “Wu Dirt”, to show you what I mean:

Some type of way we got caught in a hyperlooper
I portal drifted all the way to the future
I feel like we in a high-speed computer
Unlock myself inside my crazy dreams
Now I’m roaming all through these metallic streams
Propaganda yea that’s the new dopamine
Damn I think I like postmodernity

When he’s not shooting his own music videos courtesy of a green screen, you can find him devouring books on linguistics, synesthesia, or evolutionary psychology in his downtime.

I’m probably gonna have to chase down an interview with him fairly soon. I feel like we could spend at least 15 minutes talking about algorithms.

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. 😊

[WATCH] Miss Eaves - "Belly Bounce"

photo courtesy of Miss Eaves herself :)

While we’re on the subject of dance filled music videos today…

Y’all, when I say that I love Miss Eaves, I’m talking like, more than just typical artist adoration where I wanna put her in my hoodie pocket and keep her safe. I think at this point I would crawl over hot coals and/or broken glass for a mile if it meant she’d be safe and happy indefinitely. There’s so much to love about this truly one of a kind DIY artist. Her willingness to be vulnerable and commitment to authenticity regardless of whatever life throws her way is something we probably all should be taking hella notes on. Also I appreciate that we both really wanna be good at speaking French but we’re convinced we totally suck at it.

Further cementing her place on my Most Precious People list, last week she dropped a video for a song, “Belly Bounce”, which comes from her upcoming EP How It Is, which drops on July 10th, 2020. The video, which was a collaborative effort that includes videos of fans of all shapes and sizes dancing gleefully along to the track, is her way of responding to years of invasive questions about her body.

“Ever Since I was 13 people have asked me if I am pregnant. This caused me to be extremely ashamed of my body/belly and try everything in my power to eliminate it (HELLO AB ROLLER!).  I want to live in a world where everyone feels free—even joyous—expressing themselves genuinely, being truly comfortable in their bodies and minds just exactly as they are today.”

DO YOU SEE WHAT I’M SAYING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL SHE IS!? 😭 As someone raised in the era of the Calvin Klein models that were referred to as “heroin chic” in their hay day, the idea that there are teens out in the world today that have the opportunity to be exposed to this level of fierce body positivity just warms my heart so much. I feel like we all need to become door to door EAVESangelists.

“Excuse me [sir/ma’am], do you have a moment to hear the good word of Miss Eaves?”

Like seriously.

Especially right now where everyone keeps bringing up that they’re putting on the “dreaded COVID 19” aka 19 pounds of extra lovin’ to carry around, we need to be kinder to ourselves and this is the bop for belly lovin’.

If you need more body positivity bangers so you can further spread the gospel of Miss Eaves and are new to the fandom, be sure to give “Thunder Thighs” a listen from her 2017 album Feminasty while you’re at it. If I’m being honest that song definitely kicked the door wide open for me to the journey to self-acceptance for my wounderous thunderous thighs.

Now go give that woman your money on Bandcamp RIGHT NOW.

How It Is

Release Date: July 10th, 2020

1. Belly Bounce
2. Stacks
3. 3 Jobs
4. Cactus Killer

Pre-Order