June 2013
4 posts
May 2013
8 posts
Artist Feature: DJ Koze
Hamburg-based DJ, musician, and remixer DJ Koze has been a force on the electronic music scene for some time, and has built a legion of fans with his skills at live shows. His latest album is Amygdala, which you can stream the album in full via the Groovebug iPad app. Fans of Caribou, Matthew Dear and Ricardo Villalobos should all check out the album.
Q: Introduce your sound in five words:
A: Warm, organic, detailed , colourfull, genius.
Q: What can fans expect from DJ Koze in 2013?
A: I just released my album Amygdala and will play a lot DJ gigs around the world in 2013. This is all i can offer in the moment.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on the Amygdala album?
A: Most of the Album was composed in a small village in the north of Spain. Isolated from urban influences, walking with the drafts of my songs over the mountains was inspiring me more than anything else from the modern world.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: I can’t remember, my brain gets old. Fun writing a song? I’d actually say that is always both pain & pleasure for me.
Q: Who has encouraged you the most to pursue a career in music?
A: Well… the music career chose me I’d say.
Q: What advice could you give a new musician wanting to pursue a music career?
A: Try to be unique and keep on doing your own thing: the muse never visits an empty studio.
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: A big one, because I was able to travel through different countries all over the world, meeting nice people and see so many other cultures. These kinds of experiences are always enriching me, which as a result directly influences my music. The borders really are disappearing.
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: I like both, but suffer from both in the moment. I’m stuck in one and wish i could do the other.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: To let go. That’s a difficult one though.
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: Gorillaz performing the song ” Hong Kong” live in Manchester. Or, a Beatles concert.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for DJ Koze music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
Artist Feature: Josh Krajcik
Singer-songwriter Josh Krajcik has performed solo, in groups, and formed his own band - all showcasing his unique gravelly voice and musical talent over the last 14 years. Then in 2011, he reached a new audience by being the runner up in The X Factor USA, and never looked back. His latest album, Blind, Lonely, Lovely has just hit the stores, and showcases a mix of rock n roll, R&B, and soul music. You can stream the album in full via the Groovebug iPad app. Fans of Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan and Bill Withers should all check out the album.
Q: Introduce your sound in five words:
A: Honest, bluesy dark soul music.
Q: What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
A: Well I’m extremely excited to get out on the road. Playing in front of people is my favorite thing. I’m also gonna keep trying to film little videos and keep as much on the road content as possible.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on the new album?
A: I think just being on my own inspired me a lot. Being a stranger in a strange city can do a lot for the creative process.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: I had so much fun writing “Don’t Make Me Hopeful” ,”Nothing”, and “When You Go” with Eg White. His process was chaotic and I like that. We really clicked.
Q: What advice could you give a new musician wanting to pursue a music career?
A: It’s not an easy job. Be prepared for that. Always remember why you do it. For me I love people seeing me perform for the first time.
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: I had the opportunity to tour in my mid 20s Really taught me a lot about hard work and perseverance. Life on the road is good, but its tiring.
Q: Some fans may know you for your extraordinary performances on The X Factor USA. Talk us through what goes through your mind before performing on a TV show?
A: For me I didn’t think of it that way. I had an audience in that studio. I played to them. That was a comfort zone for me, made it easy.
Q: Would you like to do any other kind of TV work?
A: Sure. I’d enjoy that maybe.
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: I love them both, but performing is why any artist does it. In the studio you’re like the prep cook. Playing live you are the chef.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: If you can’t afford six of them you can’t afford it.
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: Beethoven’s premiere of his 9th symphony in Vienna.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for Josh Krajcik music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
Artist Feature: My Tiger My Timing
UK new-wave pop outfit My Tiger My Timing have acheived a lot in their few short years; playing at festivals and nightclubs across the UK and Europe including the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury, picking up airplay on the BBC and Xfm, and fans in the press from NME to Clash. 2012 also saw the release of their debut album Celeste in 2012, which you can now stream in full via the Groovebug iPad app. Fans of Vampire Weekend, Talking Heads and Blur should all check out the album.
Q: Introduce your sound in five words…
A: Guitar. Rhythm. Melody. Heart. Soul.
Q: What can fans expect from you in 2013?
A: We had an amazing 2012 with the release of our debut album Celeste and a load of touring so now we’re back in the studio writing and recording a new album. It’s really exciting to be writing new stuff again and we can’t wait for people to hear it later in the year.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on the album?
A: I guess it’s inspired by London because that’s where I grew up and where the band was born. But we’ve travelled around so much and met so many incredible people along the way, so it’s really inspired by all of them.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: Most of the songs have a bit of a melancholy heart, so sometimes the writing process can be a bit painful, but it’s always fun once that bit’s over when we get into a room as a band and inject some passion and energy. I think Endless Summer was a bit of a moment when it all came together, it’s like you become more than the sum of your parts when that happens, as a band.
Q: What advice could you give a new musician wanting to pursue a music career?
A: Write! I know how impatient you can feel wanting to get out there and get heard, but you’ll be in such a better position in every way if you’re sitting on an album’s worth of material. Don’t get distracted by trends and other people’s successes - your wave is coming, be patient and work hard in the meantime!
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: It’s made it much more fun and much more exhausting. But really it has made us exist for real - it’s so easy to overestimate (or underestimate) your real world following online, but when you’re out there on the road you see the true size of it… and often you can be pleasantly surprised. There’s nothing better than rocking up in some small town in Germany and everyone somehow magically knowing all the words.
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: Both - for us they are two sides of the same coin. Being on the road is great because the emphasis is on fun and energy, but it’s also a lot of work. Studio is intense and sometimes you hit a dead-end, but the results I guess can be more long-lasting and rewarding.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: Don’t go for a curry before the show (unofficial band motto).
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: Nirvana… their whole career.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for My Tiger My Timing music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
April 2013
6 posts
Play
Artist Feature: IO Echo
The LA-based IO Echo have made some huge waves this year in the run up to their debut full-length album Ministry of Love (which you can now stream in full via the Groovebug iPad app). The band is the project of Ioanna Gika and English producer Leopold Ross, and beautifully morphs dreamy synth pop with Asian instruments with unique and stunning results. Fans of Garbage, The Cure and Velvet Underground should all check out the album.
Q: Introduce your sound in five words:
A: Heavy Petal Pastel Doom.
Q: What can fans expect from IO Echo in 2013?
A: We will be touring, playing Coachella, Lollapalooza, and will release visuals, singles and remixes in support of our debut album Ministry of Love.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on the new album?
A: There is a theme of escapism that runs through our music. Ioanna and her mother lived in Southeast Asia for a time, and that had an impact on the music as well.
Q: Who has encouraged you the most to pursue a career in music?
A: My parents had a very open and supportive nature when I was growing up, which I am very grateful for. It wasn’t that music was particularly encouraged over anything else, we were just encouraged to pursue what we were passionate about.
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: Touring has definitely helped us to become a better band, in terms of musicianship and performance. And it has also helped to shape some of the songs. It has also informed my knowledge of 2 star motels across the nation.
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: There is a unique feeling of collective togetherness when you are playing a show and connected with the audience. It’s something that’s quite rare. When you are writing and recording, the rewards are more internal. For example, when you make a breakthrough while working on a song, and you write something that you feel is new ground for yourself as an artist, it can be euphoric. I love both recording and playing live, but usually after a long spell of doing one of them, I wish I was doing the other.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: When The Lillies Die is fun to look back on because it formed over a period of time when we were travelling a lot, so I have specific memories of different stages of the writing and recording process that relate to different places and people. The whistle for example was something that we recorded pressing our face up to the laptop microphone while we were staying on someone’s floor, and the vocals were recorded in a hotel in Brooklyn.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: It’s better to regret something you have done than something you haven’t.
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: Nirvana headlining Reading Festival in 1992. I used to have the bootleg cassette.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for IO Echo music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
Artist Feature: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Austin, TX musicians Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears employ a classic blues / rock / funk sound that is both instantly addictive and somewhat timeless. The band recently finished a huge tour of the US, including a stop at Metro in Chicago where the Groovebug team were in attendance. The tour was a secondary run supporting his last album, Scandalous, which you can now stream in full via the Groovebug iPad app. Fans of The Black Keys, Jimi Hendrix and Charles Bradley would all be interested in checking out the sounds on the album.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for Black Joe Lewis music, news, videos and more.
Q: Tell us about the tour you just wrapped up… how did it feel to sell out iconic venues such as Metro in Chicago?
A: The tour was a good one for us. We don’t have a brand new record out now [Scandalous was last year] and all the shows were still packed so that’s bad ass. Selling out Metro blew my mind. I didn’t expect that. It was a giant stoic Chicago crowd.
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: We do this for the live shows. We love it and it is what we are best at so touring is my favorite thing. I saw the mountains and the ocean for the first time on tour. I hadn’t been to many places prior, so it’s bad ass.
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: Like I said, the live sh*t is the best.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: I guess Ballad of Jimmy Tanks. I just read the story in the paper about an old man that had a gun battle with the repo men and took one out but they got him too. The song just wrote its self.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on the Scandalous album?
A: She’s So Scandalous was about this scandalous b*tch that always cheated on me but I kept going back for more
Q: What can fans expect next from Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears? Time off to relax? Back in the studio?
A: We just finished recording the next album and it’s our best work yet. So… expect us to be in your town again soon.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: My dad said I need to learn to be patient. My rush attitude has bit my ass a lot of times. In a lot if different ways.
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: To see Jimi Hendrix at Monterey Pop.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for Black Joe Lewis music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
March 2013
9 posts
Artist Feature: Ssssnake
One of the many musical outputs of Noah Tabakin, Ssssnake is a hip hop-, funk- and soul-fueled project with a wild, joyous vibe and one heck of a live show. Twenty-plus years of singing and making music has helped the multi-instrumentalist perfect his latest persona, who is probably most at home on stage than anywhere else in the world. The first album from Ssssnake is Hostile Snakeover, a 10-track rollercoaster tinged with sexual edge, humor, and pure grit, and you can now stream in full via the Groovebug iPad app. Fans of Cee lo Green, Jamie Lidell and Justin Timberlake should check it out.
Q: Introduce your sound in five words…
A: Hip-hop soul, big beats.
Q: What can the fans expect from Ssssnake in 2013?
A: A national tour with the New Belgium Brewing Company’s Music festival the “Tour De Fat”. Album number two, tentatively titled “ssssnake tracks”. As many videos as possible to accompany the album release. Treefort Music Festival in Boise, ID. Lots of West Coast shows.
Q: Which places or people inspired the songs on your last album?
A: The last record had a few tunes I used as a place to process the darkness around my divorce, Blood and Cut Till My Blade is Dull were inspired by my ex-wife for sure. A few celebrated the upside of my new relationships in the tunes Slow and When I Lay you Down. Under the Snow is about how things turning out in the aftermath of problems and def had images from Chicago winters with the green grass waiting to spring out. Deep Down was inspired by watching the documentary “American Hardcore”, It reminded me of my early musical days and the power of aggression in songs, so that one is a little rough and tumble.
Q: What is the most fun you’ve ever had writing a song? Either actually writing it or the situation that inspired it?
A: Recently I had been working on a number of new tracks and feeling like none of them were jelling. I decided to stop working and working them to death and try to make a new tune from scratch. I was in Austin in my girlfriend’s living room and a few hours later the song Poseidon from my forthcoming record was done! It felt way better than the tracks I had been working for months. I love it when tunes just fall out of you. I usually work and re-work the hell out of track so it’s refreshing for a tune to pop out quickly.
Q: Who has encouraged you the most to pursue a career in music?
A: My family have all been super encouraging. My step father managed my first band for 10 years which would probably make him the most supportive, but mom, non step dad and even my grandparents always fully backed me. I’ll never forget my grandfather when he was in his 70’s being at a show with a bunch of young folks, he came up to me after and referenced a song specifically and said how he liked the lyrical content. I was amazed that he was paying that much attention, that he wasn’t just there to show face, that he was interested in what I was doing.
Q: What advice could you give a new musician wanting to pursue a music career?
A: You can do it! Go hard after it and fail a bunch. If you still want to pick up the mic after some pretty tough/embarrassing experiences, then don’t ever stop. It’s super challenging but life is lived in the challenging moments.
Q: What impact has touring had on your career?
A: I love the road. I have build my life around touring. I went in on a building with a friend and rented it to tenants before ever living there. I used the advance money I got from the Tour De Fat to buy a big Sprinter touring van and hit the road and I’ve been living in man van touring hard for over a year now. I say I’m home free not homeless…
Q: Which do you enjoy most - performing live or recording in the studio?
A: I like all aspects of music a lot, but performance is by far my favorite. The pure focus that comes from executing the music as perfectly as possible and nailing engaging performance is where I feel truly in the moment. The most present I get in life is during performance.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A: I had a great piece of advice handed to me when I was in college from Ben Harper, who was just starting his career at the time. He told me if you want to make it your job treat it like a job, put in your 40 or more a week. Music is a lot of fun but to make it work you got to work!
Q: Which historical musical moment do you wish you were present for?
A: I would have loved to have seen Ray Charles in his prime.
Check out Groovebug for iPad for Ssssnake music, news, videos and more. Also, Like Groovebug on Facebook to receive music and news artist, and Groovebug updates and recommendations.
