Browsing Tag

producer

Feel the temperature drop to Absolute Magnitude’s artfully monochrome Drum and Bass single, Cold in November

Posted on 7 August 2023

Sonically signifying that even though the globe is hotting up our modern era of dystopia is growing ever colder in terms of connection, Absolute Magnitude’s latest cinematically monochrome Drum and bass hit, Cold in November, is an arresting sign of the ostracised times.

The magnetic resonance of the release is only matched by the disjointed glitchwavey artfulness of the release that traverses themes of all-encompassing loss that create wormhole-esque voids in our lives. With heartbreak underpinning the futuristic release, Cold in November reaches the pinnacle of visceral vulnerability.

Cold in November is just one of the tracks found on the forthcoming LP, Main Sequence, which is due for release on September 29; it efficaciously sets the tone for the emotionally and intellectually elevated singles that are set to follow in the footsteps of Bjork’s Army of Me Remix.

As you eagerly await the drop of the LP, stream the official music video for Cold in November on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Andrew Bradley advocated for unity in the infectious grooves of his latest single, Everybody’s Welcome Here

Posted on 30 July 2023

Hot on the heels of his debut LP, All Things Considered, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrew Bradley is set to unveil his unifying funk-dripping pop-rock hit, Everybody’s Welcome Here.

After an 80s funk hop reminiscent intro, the single unravels as a kaleidoscopically groovy hit that will leave you itching to hit a dancefloor and move to the intrinsically rhythmic magnetism. With the attitude of Britpop and a perfect pinch of Beatles-esque 60s psych-pop, Everybody’s Welcome Here is a compellingly textured sonic TARDIS of a release that couldn’t be better timed.

In such a divisive era when it feels like the pot is being perpetually shaken to breed antagonism in the atmosphere, Andrew Bradley served an all too welcome reminder that acceptance is one of the highest virtues we should all find a little more time for.

Prior to releasing Everybody’s Welcome Here, Andrew Bradley has gained experience in the industry as an artist and producer. From The Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville to Abbey Road Studios, his multi-faceted talents have graced plenty of the bucket list studios.

Check out Andrew Bradley on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

THE VISION blurred sonic boundaries beyond definition in his latest rocksteady with vibes production, WANNA KNOW

Posted on 25 July 2023

Sonic boundaries blurred beyond definition in the latest single, WANNA KNOW, from the London-based fusionist artist, engineer, and producer, THE VISION. Instead of pandering to arbitrary stylistic parameters, the alternative artist let rhythm and soul take the wheel and drive with the top down while painting a contemporary love story with more twists than a Shakespearean tragedy.

With so many lyrical layers to unpeel in WANNA KNOW, the trap pop hit spills a narrative that keeps giving with every listen; lock into the lyricism or lose yourself in the steamy synthetics of the hit, that provides the ultimate soundtrack to hazy summer nights with the Afrobeat rhythms, pop hooks, trap beats and deeply reverberant RnB vocal melodies.

WANNA KNOW hit the airwaves on the 14th of July; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Freshcobar & Golden Girl released the deep house drop of the summer with ‘Days Long Gone’

Posted on 21 July 2023

Days Long Gone is the latest delicious drop of deep house from the undeniably hot collaborative duo, Freshcobar & Golden Girl; it is summer transcendence in a sonic bottle.

While the bass-drenched grooves dig deep, the Elysian vocal lines will take you even higher as you come up on the builds, which are tenacious enough to leave you on the hook of every ascending beat until the short sharp bursts of euphonic euphoria.

It is only a matter of time before Freschobar ascends from the underground as one of the most revered deep house artists of this era; his passion for the genre is conspicuous in each of his gravitas-graced releases.

Days Long Gone is yet another stellar release from No Ones Safe Recordings; if you want to keep your finger on the deep house pulse, we strongly recommend digging into the digital discographies of artists on their roster.

Days Long Gone will officially release on July 21. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aza.B dawned a new era of electronica in his deep house disco anthem, Funkin’ You Up

Posted on 26 June 2023

Lincolnshire, UK-hailing DJ and producer Aza.B’s raucously funked third single, Funkin’ You Up, grooves with big beats and even bigger blasts of euphoria.

After a blazing sax solo, the momentum starts to build in the vibrant electronica tapestry, which grooves through entrancing disco rhythms and the irreplicable atmosphere of deep house to construct a galvanising anthem that could only have been assembled in Aza.B’s wheelhouse of authenticity.

After getting a taste of different EDM scenes and cutting his teeth in many of them as a DJ and producer, Aza.B developed an understanding and passion for a myriad of genres before melding them into bespoke testaments to his boundless creativity. While other producers are attempting to go mainstream or fit into the confines of niches, Aza.B took the less pedestrian route with his interstellar productions to dawn a new era in electronica.

Funkin’ You Up hit the airwaves on June 16th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Interview: Dar.Ra opens up the Blood N Treasure on his much-awaited new EP

Posted on 14 June 2023

With a pure sound and meaningful lyrics abundant in each of his well-crafted tracks, London-based author, music writer, producer and remixer pioneer Dar.Ra kindly opened up his busy schedule to have a quick chat with us. Telling us more about the much-loved new EP Blood N Treasure, stories from the music world, and charting worldwide, he also kindly provides valuable advice for all musicians out there who want to be the best.

Llewelyn: We’re super excited to speak with you Dar.Ra. Firstly, how has your 2023 been so far and please tell our readers what it takes to be a successful musician in this stream-friendly world we live in.

Dar.Ra: The year has been flying by, I get up early, stay creative, try not to react to the global madness and meditate as much as possible. I think being successful in this industry is a measure of how you see success. I’ve been making music since the mid-1980s I got a job as a vocalist in a Reggae band called Bass Culture at 16 and went on the road to avoid working in a factory soldiering PCB boards. I think if you’re still going after that long and you’re still putting out good records then that’s success in my book.

Llewelyn: Secondly, let’s chat about your upcoming EP Blood N Treasure. Where did the process begin and what’s the vision behind the new project?

Dar.Ra: ‘No Time For Tears’ came first I wanted to do an epic ballad which moved around arrangement-wise and ended up with a 7-minute tour de force. It was inspired by the story of the last Russian Tsar and how the love they had for each other couldn’t be stopped by bullets that assassinated them. I believe we go on after this. I have experienced other dimensions through sleep paralysis, I know there is something else beyond this third-dimensional experience we call reality. When you ascend from your body and see yourself asleep you explore what your astral self can do which is beyond the physical experience. It’s happened quite a few times and each time it reminds me we are more than this body or ego or car we drive around in. ‘Cure For Jealousy’ came out of left field I had a jam going in C minor for a while and the lyric came into my head as I felt a pang of jealousy when some guy was chatting to my G friend in a club I was DJ ing at. I was being cool but I could feel that uncomfortable fear someone was trying to move in on my Goddess. I was jamming at home the next day and thought I wonder if there is a ‘Cure For Jealousy’. It’s a hard one to crack however much of a Zen master you think you are, it’s the universe’s way of testing you to say you’re not as cool as you think you are. The thing is when you’re too detached from people and things, the less you care about stuff like that, but when you’re connected to something its easy to get triggered when other people aren’t playing by the same rules. I’m still working on it and unless I go live in a cave and meditate all day and night I’m going to get triggered by people not showing respect for you or the things you care about. It’s hard to get the balance, but that’s why we are here on Earth to work through these things. The remixes for both tracks on the EP are equally awesome, both were done by Sri Lankan-born and based Viduala who also did ‘Lights’ which is one of my favourite tracks I’ve worked on to date and features on the ‘New Kinda Normal’ album.

Llewelyn: You are known worldwide for your music and the much-loved Kusha Deep Radio show. Do you still feel the rush of being on such an incredible show and what do you love most about what you do?

Dar.Ra: I go through stages with all things, sometimes I’m buzzing sometimes I’m chilled about things. I love putting together a killer set, be it Tech House or Reggae, when I hear tracks that take me to that next dimension, I’m diving in the deep end to get things rocking. If you’re happy though I’m happy. I’ve always been a crowd-pleaser when I’m out and about, I just want to see you having the best time of your life. I remember playing Camden Palace London in the 90s with my band Bliss I had a number 1 dance record called ‘New Dawn’ and we had 1500 people all unified and rising up as one, total love mixed with euphoria that’s what it’s always been about for me. It’s more than Music it’s a connection of human energy and when it ignites with Love the place explodes. If you come to a Dar.Ra / Kusha Deep show you’ll get what I mean.

Llewelyn: You’re known as one of the best writers in the game and have penned worldwide hits for various EMI and 21st Century Artists. What do you feel makes a truly great song and do you go into a different zone when writing or does it just flow when you want?

Dar.Ra: I think just being as real with what you’re channelling is key, not getting in the way of inspiration and letting it flow without censoring and editing it before you’ve let it flow out of you. There is this space that we can all go into when we silence our thoughts, it’s in that space where genius lies, where all ideas come from it’s a frequency or a universal matrix of vibrations. All ideas come from that silence. You never solve any challenge by thinking about it, it’s when you turn off from thoughts that the ideas flow. Think of any great idea, Tesla for instance would go into that space and feel the energy grid then find the alternating current for instance that makes your car work. He also understood the power of vibration and how to harness it to create endless energy. You can have anything you want you just need to know how to ask for it.

Llewelyn: Cure For Jealousy certainly has our attention. It’s ridiculously infectious and mega catchy (in a good way). Is this your favourite song off the new project and may you kindly provide the A&R Factory readers with some further insight into this terrific track?

Dar.Ra: It is a cool tune and one which I enjoyed making, once they are out I’m on to the next thing though writing the next thing of hearing a new melody in my head, I do not look back too much once they are mastered. It’s fun though to go back and re-learn how to play them if you have to do it live. Each track brings a new challenge and that’s what keeps me interested in making music. I remember meeting Debbie Harry when I was at Chrysalis and I remembered her Heart of Glass track and how Georgio Morroder, produced it and got vibed up on that live Disco/ Rock feel, and I just went down that road with it. It’s got a lot of flavours on the track which you are not hearing on a lot of tunes out at the moment. It’s real and all played live. I do not rely on loops, auto tune or AI to make music, it’s all 100 organic like a Veggie Stir Fry.

Llewelyn: Do you have any funny or wild stories you’re allowed to share from a past gig or a moment in your career that makes you laugh or cringe a little?

Dar.Ra: I played a gig in Queensland Australia in 2003 and the place had been used as a wake for a person who had died earlier in the afternoon. When we came on the coffin was standing on the side of the stage in the wings but you could see it every time you looked right. We just got on a rocked the place, everyone dancing and going off and the coffin was moving to the vibrations of us playing, I was praying it didn’t fall off the stand and the dude roll out into the crowd. That was a weird one. I wrote a book called ‘Road Tales’ (Darragh J Brady) about being on the road with all the crazy people I met from 1995 to 2007 who all had incredible life-changing experiences. It’s on Amazon and tells you more about that kind of intense but cool moments. It goes from the UK to Australia to America and Central America, worth a go if you’re looking for a good read. My other book is the ‘Night That Jimi Died’ which is about a girl who can channel the Spirit of Jimi Hendrix, she changes the world through using certain types of frequencies that alter people’s DNA in order to awaken them to the great takeover of human freedom from the powers that be. They both have 5-star reviews on Good Reads.

Llewelyn: Lastly, do you have any plans for the rest of 2023 and what exciting projects or shows are scheduled?

Dar.Ra: I’m recording some Audiobooks, producing a new album later this year and looking to leave England for pastures greener setting up a well-being centre which will hold music and yoga and meditation workshops. You will all be welcome!

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Check out the video for the lead single Cure For Jealousy on YouTube.

Follow this experienced artist on all his adventures via IG.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

Take a trip with GeoMike122’s synthwaves in ‘Mode’

Posted on 8 June 2023

Ride the synthwaves in GeoMike122’s latest single, Mode, right through the 80s nostalgia and into the electrifying escapism the alt-electro single provides. The trippy tendencies of the pulsating basslines are only amplified by the official music video, which distorts reality as much as the oscillating trance-y EBM beats and synths that put a myriad of EDM genres under heel to knock you off an even keel.

When GeoMike122 isn’t orchestrating alchemy in his studio and allowing his audience, affectionally dubbed ‘the travellers’, to sonically arrive at new destinations, he’s sating his desire for wanderlust or enriching minds by the more conventional means of being a teacher. Mode is a scintillating convergence of his adventurous tendencies; grab your passport and sink into the cinematic sci-fi-esque tones.

Check out the official music video for Mode, which premiered on May 15, via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DJ CoolRex grooved through the depths of desire in his tech-house debut, I Want

Posted on 8 June 2023

After the debut single, I Want, from DJ CoolRex, it is safe to say tech-house has a new iconic architect. While encompassing the epitome of desire, the techno kicks and basslines punctuate the soul-soaked house synthetics to create an authentically immersive atmosphere that electro heads will want to drench themselves in time and time again.

His future-ready flair, noted through the bass-drenched deep cuts, effortlessly set him apart from his contemporaries and the tech-house pioneers Laurent Garnier and Carl Cox. DJ CoolRex may be new to the scene, but on the basis of this deliciously strong debut, the Ohio-born and raised innovator has exactly what it takes to make his ascent from the underground an ephemeral trip.

Check out the DJ CoolRex debut by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Interview: DJ CoolRex loves that hard-to-get energy on the dance floor winner, I Want

Posted on 7 June 2023

Seducing us into a whole new vortex of discovery, DJ CoolRex rips off the band-aid of the past and drops us deeper into his speaker-shuddering new single, I Want. The Ohio-born tech-house producer reveals to us the inner workings of the music business, surviving 2022’s disastrous Hurricane Ian, future plans, selling cars and how it feels to be completely uplifted by a 24-hour rave in the mountains of Tennessee.

Llewelyn: Welcome to A&R Factory and we’re absolutely delighted to be speaking with you today. Firstly, how did you get in the music game and your DJ name..we love it..what is the story behind it if you don’t mind sharing?

DJ CoolRex: Hi, thanks for having me! It’s really nice to be doing a feature with you guys! I have been making music since I was a kid and actually made a song back in high school that I tried to get our principal to play when our team came out of the tunnel, so you can see that I always had a business-like mindset. I went on to make some songs in my early twenties and got to a point where I had about 50,000 monthly listeners under a different name that had started as a group and ended up becoming a solo act because the guy I made the songs with (who shall remain nameless) after ghosting me three years prior came out of the woodwork demanding all this stuff from me. Then shortly after that the songs were removed by my publisher and that was that, but I learned a valuable lesson. I knew that moving forward if I was gonna make music again in the future I would do it by my own hand. So I moved towards producing and fiddled around with trying to make beats for the next few years just here and there. It was funny though I remember right around when Covid was really taking off I was working at a dealership and would be watching youtube tutorials on beat making or watching some lecture on EQing while waiting for clients because I was really trying to learn. It was always nerve-racking because in car sales you’re kind of always supposed to be on the dealership phones calling clients or sending follow-up emails, and car sales managers are always super inquisitive which makes it extra embarrassing if you get caught.

You might be surprised to hear that I picked the name and had it all mapped out before I even got a DJ controller. The name at first was just going to be CoolRex but one of my best friends Steve told me it should be DJ CoolRex so I made that change. I picked the name because I’m a laid-back guy most of the time unless I’m inspired about something which truthfully doesn’t take all that much but the Rex part is actually a double entendre because it is like a dinosaur like a T-Rex but Rex is also a synonym for King and I think subconsciously that kind of gives a sense of empowerment to the name on top of it already being like a T-Rex, a Cool, T-Rex, DJ CoolRex. I figured also everyone loves dinosaurs so, in the worst-case scenario people are just vibing heavily to some dinosaur visuals with lasers, smoke, and crazy bass which to me sounds like something I would want to do!

Llewelyn: DJs are God-like figures to many who just want to dance and forget their worries. What has been the best experience in the music world, be it with a fan or meeting a youngster who is so inspired to be behind the decks and rock a crowd into absolute delirium?

DJ CoolRex: This is funny to me as well because I just got back from a 24hr rave in the mountains of Tennessee that my brother Jake who is also a DJ he goes by Specs had invited me to last minute. I wasn’t scheduled to play or anything so it was just listening to other DJs for 24 hrs. Lots of dancing and mingling, it was great to be a fan of other people and just be a part of the crowd. I’m sold on the rave scene, I love the people, I love the energy, it’s a blast!

Llewelyn: Covid destroyed many dreams in the music world. Do you feel like everything is ‘back’ in your local area or is there more work to be done to ensure the long-term success of the venues?

DJ CoolRex: Yeah post covid it definitely seems like gatherings have been smaller at those venues but I think things are getting better over time. I think people just got used to not going out for a while so we have to give them a reason.

Llewelyn: Hurricane Ian almost destroyed your family and life. Firstly, we’re so happy you and your loved ones are okay.
Career-wise: You used to sell cars, how has the transition to being a full-time music producer/musician been and do you miss anything about your previous career?

DJ CoolRex: It’s going to take years to rebuild down there. The smaller towns around that area, their structures were like wooden houses on wooden poles extended out of the water. I mean they crumbled; I saw them. I remember not too many days after the hurricane, I was at the dealership helping move the cars back and clean up debris. The cars were ok but the dealership had taken some damage like the shop doors were smashed in. Anyway, This lady showed up in a frenzy asking if she could buy a car and we didn’t have power so we couldn’t sell her one. She was saying that she was from one of the smaller areas like the one I just mentioned and that she needed to buy a car to get out of the state because they had found a dead person in her front yard after the storm. We didn’t have power for weeks, other people went longer than us without power or running water. I miss certain aspects of it. I miss hanging out with my friends but this is better for me. I have more control over what I want to do. I can market/sell how I want and nobody is above me. That’s one way in which it’s similar. It’s still a business. I still manage it like I did in my car sales career. The difference is that I didn’t love selling cars, I love making music.

Llewelyn: If you met an alien tonight who had never heard music before, how would you describe your sound and craft to them?

DJ CoolRex: If I met an alien tonight firstly, I’d be amped and want to know all about their story and what it’s like where they’re from! If I had to explain my sound to an alien I would first have to ask them what it is they’re hearing, if they can hear. Then I would ask them what they mean? Then as they’re explaining to me through their own words my reactions would tell them if what they’re saying is what I think too. The more fellow earthlings I meet the more I have learned that people hear very differently. So I’m always more interested in how others are interpreting my sound rather than actually giving them a foundation to base their beliefs off on.

Llewelyn: You’ve just been given the keys to crafting a massive festival lineup with an unlimited budget. Who is on the lineup, what is the vibe and where is it?

DJ CoolRex: It’s going to be somewhere that is not too hot or cold so people are comfortable. I’d have to research venues. I’m bringing Fisher, Martin Ikin, Chris Lake, David Guetta, Morten, Skrillex, James Hype, Diplo, Matroda, Noizu, Pauline Herr, DOBe’, John Summit, Chris Lorenzo, Oliver Heldens, Tom Budin, Merk & Kremont, Justus, Header, CamelPhat, armnhamr, Ray Volpe, Wax Motif, Dombresky, Flow Dan, Fredagain, Gorgon City, Zeds Dead, Blasterjaxx, Dom Dolla, Arminvan Buuren, Subtronics, Jay Eskar, Elif. I’m sure there’s more because there are so many dope artists all over the world oh and my brother Specs. The vibe is lots of lasers, bubbles, some fire, a gigantic screen for visuals, it’s a multiple-day festival. There are food trucks, lots of artists with tents to showcase their work, and all just love and fun.

Llewelyn: Lastly, what does the future hold and where do you see your sound headed? Also, where can our A&R Factory readers see you live next?

DJ CoolRex: In the future, I definitely plan to play festivals, and other big venues, and I have more songs in the pipeline so stay tuned! My social media is active and I’m always sharing other music artists’ content on my stories from all over the world so there’s fresh and exciting content daily! Also, please go to my website and subscribe to the mailing list so you can stay in the loop about new shows, merchandise, discounts, giveaways etc.

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Turn this up on Spotify and forget all worries.

See the journey expand further on IG.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

DDRMR dropped the biggest rap hit of the year with King Shit featuring GYZ

Posted on 22 May 2023

If you are looking to discover the biggest hip-hop track of 2023, there is absolutely no point in looking past the latest single unleashed by DDRMR. Created in collaboration with GYZ, King Shit, is a riot of galvanizingly layered ingenuity.

After a prelude of droning synthetics which harbinger cinematic doom, King Shit quickly becomes a multifaceted masterpiece of duality with the gospel-ESQUE backing vocals that have been amplified to the nth degree to enliven the juggernaut of a rap track with a sense of soul that you will want to savour time after time.

The Russia-born, Canada-based artist crafts his genre-fluid hits under the heavy influence of Linkin Park and Mike Shinoda, Buckethead, Kanye West, J-Cole, Hans Zimmer, Odesza and Japanese composer Yuki Kajiura. By having complete creative control over his tracks, from writing to production, he actualises his rhythmic poetry in his monolithic urban soundtracks, which always come complete with storming rap bars that are dominant enough to make your speakers shiver.

While nothing comes close to a live performance from DDRMR, watch the official music video for King Shit on YouTube until he rocks the stage at a venue near you.

Review by Amelia Vandergast