The frenetic world of electronic music is full of distractions and diversions, hindering the ability to find transcendent music. Let Oggie James be your guru and lead down the path to musical Enlightenment.
Album, song and event reviews, mixtapes, and radio shows, light the way to Enlightenment, conveyed by Oggie James.
With the long awaited and always awesome Canada Day long weekend right around the corner, it's only fitting that this week's episode of Bump In The Hump contains not just the biggest and brightest remixes of the year, but also slew of fresh new original tracks. Released as last week's Bump In The Hump went live, local DJ and producer Paul David's three track Fresh EP is an incredible combination of old school vibes and future forward sensibilities. I'll be kicking off this episode with "Shocking!" which blends bass, house and fidget feels. Fresh is available now on Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify.
Every once in a while you come across a track that absolutely nails the sounds and styles that originally got you into electronic dance music. That is the case with "Feelings" from Essentials & Influ.
Immediately overtaken by the buoyant, old-school, ravey synths, poppy percussion and catchy, empowering vocals, "Feelings" is more than the title of this brilliant song, it is in fact what arises from one single play; you'll find you've caught those pesky feelings. So full of vim and vigor, it doesn't matter whether you're in the middle of an all night rave, headed into the lecture hall to write an exam or just waking up, the allure of "Feelings" is far too powerful. Nothing can stop your toes from tapping and your heart from picking up that 124 bpm rhythm. "Feelings" is the perfect combination of bright and bouncy house, heartwarming vocals and soul shattering, swinging synths. The way the snare crackles and the synth is pitch bent in the 'drop' fills my heart with hope and optimism for the future of music. Catch the promise of "Feelings," available now on Hysteria Records,
While the time has finally come for OTF's official release. Dropped Monday on Fly Eye Records, it's my pleasure to finally be able to play one of the biggest collaborations both of the summer and in Canadian electronic music history. Tune in live tonight from 6-7 to hear "OTF" alongside more of the best new Canadian electronic music only on Bump In The Hump on Radio Humber. Until then enjoy the full stream of "OTF" on Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud, below. SUPPORT AUTOEROTIQUE: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER SUPPORT HUNTER SIEGEL: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
Appearing online mere hours ago, amidst a cloud of smoke like a a magician's marvelous entrance, the second track from the forthcoming Gouldian Finch compilation, on San Holo's bitbird label, Belgian producer Taska Black's "Leave Me" is yet another glimpse into the incredible future of electronic music, as Black's track firmly situates itself in a dimly lit, apocalyptic alley, slowly closing in on itself, narrowly avoiding the dark, unseen dangers lurking ever so ominously in the wings.
The perfect combination of live and electronic instrumentation, the initial strings set the mood of a black and white fictional world, where crime and despair run rampant. The soaring leads propel the drop into a further desolate, despondent reality in which the only hope for happiness comes in the ability to escape such melancholy. Whether "Leave Me" is a demand from a disconsolate narrator, who wants to wallow in their sorrow solo, or someone striving to overcome this malaise, by shedding all mortal ties, sending his friends away in defiance of misery's love of company; it excels at injecting emotion into its both organic and electric production. The beauty of the human condition and its contradictory nature is on full display thanks to the genius of Taska Black's production.
If "Leave Me" and the first single from Gouldian Finch, San Holo's "Still Looking," are any indication of what we can expect from this compilation, bitbird and its artists are poised to explode. Stay tuned to the bitbird soundcloud for more info on when the compilation gets its official release, until then grab both the free downloads of "Leave Me" and "Still Looking."
Friday marked the free release of the wobbling depths of the drumline driven, electro-house collab, "Okay," from Spanish producers Abel Ramos and Crusy, exclusively on Kryder's Sosumi Records.
Filtered synths seem to rise from unfathomable depths popping off in a violent stomping fashion, envisioning a kind of cartoon-ish dance of rival gods attempting one up each other with brain busting dance moves. The unholy chorus of "Okay" echoes in ominous intensity, rife with the anticipation of the inevitable explosion of grooving bass. Almost uttering 'sock it to me,' the rough yet lose flowing vocal sounds further the image of "Okay" as a full on fracas; fists flying, bashing, battering, and blasting in rhythm. Great for the gym or smack dab in the middle of a set, Abel Ramos and Crusy have unleashed an unyielding monstrosity; available now, free in full lossless WAV.
The second official remix of Pusher's track "Clear" with Mothica, dropped today, one week ahead of the full remix EP's release on Black Butter Records. First Graves upped the intensity with rattling future bass slaps, now Shawn Wasabi has added his trademark kawaii sensibilities. Like the beyond brilliant lyrics, these remixes are great combinations of "so dark but delicate" and "rough around the edges" production from the original that lends so perfectly to both Graves and Shawn Wasabi's styles.
I had thought Henrik The Artist's remix of Shawn Wasabi's "Burnt Rice" was the best combination of producers, but Wasabi's remix of Pusher and Mothica might just have upped the game. Pitting artists and tracks against each other is actually the opposite of the ethos of these tracks. These artists share the same taste and often share each others tracks. Most recently I caught Pusher pressing play on Henrik The Artist's "Lose You" during his set at Bestival. In fact my dream lineup would feature those three alongside Mija, Vindata, Mura Masa, Flume, Ryan Hemsworth, Chet Porter, Lido, LH4L, Danny L Harle, Dombresky, SteLouse, and Wave Racer. If only I had to power to bring all these people together; that's the dream. Anyway, get excited for next Friday, as there's sure to be even more exciting remixes of the already incredible "Clear."
Justin Jay has done it yet again. Teaming up with frequent collaborators Josh Taylor and Benny Bridges, "Climbing Trees" is set to be released on Lee Foss' Repopulate Mars label. It seems a forgone conclusion that when this trio enter the studio together, something magical finds its way into our ears. Between the live instrumentation of Bridges on the guitar, Taylor's dreamy vocals and youthful yet philosophically driven lyrics, all combined under the guiding touch of Jay's astronomically awesome and engrossing production, "Climbing Trees" is the kind of song that gives you faith in the electronic music scene, and even humanity at large. Brilliantly beautiful and adventurous, it urges you to shed the stagnation of growing old, view the world through open and un-jaded eyes, and just live.
Take advantage of the beautiful weather, feel the grass between your toes, climb a tree and let your imagination get the better of you, just be sure to have some friends around for increased enjoyment.
Twice in the last few days has Soundcloud's "Related Tracks" stepped up big time, delivering a great playlist half a dozen tracks long. First I got lost back in 2008, listening to "Lulu's Theme" by Lulu Rouge, and was led into the likes of Modeselektor's "The White Flash," Vessels' remix of Nils Frahm "Says," Pantha Du Prince "Saturn Strobe," and finally Moderat "Out Of Sight." The deep rolling vibes seemed endless, as my basement bedroom was transformed into a full on warehouse rave.
And just today I was checking out Hatch's latest remix for Kuren "Home," when Soundcloud sent me through a number of beautiful, chill, downtempo, thought-provoking, vocal-driven tracks like Mall Grab's remix of Dro Carey "Queensberry Rules," auram "Lost Time," Golden Vessel "Never Know," and "Wave," and finally Lastlings "Chills," and "You."
Despite much consternation with Soundcloud, and many moving over to Spotify, I still find Soundcloud is my best option for find new, and especially independent music, specifically stuff I can download. On that note, there's a number of free downloads in both of these playlists, so go grab those now.
After back to back weeks with exclusive sneak peeks at BADLQQK's RQQKIE compilation, with WWRD and Ponsolo & Ledisko, Bump In The Hump is back to basics, with an all new hour devoted to the best, new Canadian electronic music. This week features a particularly bass heavy show, with the last half of the episode showcasing banger after banger. Perhaps the surprise of the week comes from the usually banging IDGVF, who in his latest collaboration with Philadelphia producer Dimebag, has created the loving and beauteous future bass track "Things I'd Do."Grab your copy of the free download, and tune in tonight to hear it alongside the best new Canadian electronic music, live from 6-7, only on Bump In The Hump, Radio Humber.
My body is worse for wear, but my mind has never been so satisfied. This year's edition of Bestival exceeded even my grandest expectations. From Maddmon's opening set under the Big Top Saturday, to The Cure closing down the Main Stage Sunday, and all of the surprises in between, the ethos of BestivalIncrease The Peace rang true throughout. I've never been to any festival that can rival Bestival's family-friendly inclusiveness, genius curation and undeniably loving atmosphere.
I was disappointed to leave the island venue, in spite of the frustrating ferry service, but Woodbine Park actually ended up being as good, if not better than last year. The stages were significantly closer than last year, with a little bit of sound bleeding from the Big Top to the Main Stage; enough to cause Robert Smith to have his headphones at maximum volume, so he could stay on beat. The Bollywood stage was a brilliant reprieve, removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the venue. Even further removed, in a quiet, wooded corner of Woodbine Park, the Sunday Best Balearic Beach Bar was the ultimate chill zone for people to relax, lie under the shade of the trees and refresh your soul with therapeutic, ecstasy inducing vibes. Rounding out the Bestival atmosphere were a Dr. Suess-esque bicycle with dozens of drums and noise makers for people to play, the infamous Inflatable Church and Cosmic Commune, which hosted plays and other intimate performances. Standing on the hill that held the I<3BESTIVAL sign, you could take in all three stages with Toronto's skyline in the distance.
The sound system under the Big Top was quite simply bonkers, and although there were less 'bass acts' and less room under the tent (than the previous year), the lineup utilized it to the fullest with standout sets from locals Maddmon, Thugli, Shaun Frank, HRMXNY, and Pusher, legendary live performances from Porter Robinson and Madeon, banging bass from Smalltown DJs, 4B, Malaa, Unlike Pluto and Tchami, welcome changes of pace from Giraffage, Skylar Spence, Classixx and Thomas Jack. But the standout performance from the Big Top came from Reeps One, who absolutely blew me away with his unfathomably awesome beat-boxing skills.
The Bollywood Stage's visual marvel was only surpassed by its monstrous musical magnitude. Throughout the weekend I found myself going back to Bollywood more often than I had planned; its open air allure was led by an anything goes, never-ending dance-off. On my first journey around, exploring the festival grounds, I caught the end of Jonathan Rosa's set and the beginning of Rob Da Bank's which, apart from Lee Foss dropping MK's "Reverse Skydiving" remix, was my Bollywood highlight. Welcoming the early crowd, the Bestival founder led off with Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover," in perhaps the most fitting set starter possible.
What sets Bestival apart from other festivals, is its unwavering commitment to fostering rising and local talents, and showcasing acts that otherwise would not play Toronto festivals, especially alongside electronic acts. The Main Stage saw alternative, rock, new-wave and cross over acts from Tame Impala, Odesza, Jamie XX, Grimes and The Cure. It would be nearly impossible to put together a lineup that so perfectly bridges the gap between the sounds of the Bollywood and Big Top stages, while maintaining a slightly more rock focus. I don't know that the real EDM heads would venture from their bubble, but I can say that those five acts mentioned above strike me as the perfect stepping stones, to a wider appreciation for music and art as a whole. For in the end that is what Bestival does best, showcasing the infinite possibilities of art in all its forms, and expanding your mind.
I went to Bestival to see The Cure, among a number of electronic acts, but came away having rekindled friendships, met dozens of like-minded music lovers, and sharing in the experiences of a lifetime. I cannot wait for next year's edition of Bestival; if there were such a thing, I'd buy a lifetime membership.
My most anticipated weekend of the summer has finally arrived. Ever since Bestival announced their day splits, the buzz has been all about the Saturday lineup, and I plan on taking advantage of every second of it. I'm hoping I can manage to get up and arrive at Woodbine Park for the opening set, as I've been wanting to see Maddmon for some time, and his forthcoming BADLQQK track "Diagnose That" has cemented his status as a must see. Obviously I'll be spending a lot of my Saturday under the Big Top, only leaving for Joris Voorn and a touch of Bestival founder Rob Da Bank's set. Following Maddmon, one of my favourite duos Smalltown DJs have been on fire as of late, and I wouldn't dare miss them. My love for Thugli is also well established and I'm tremendously excited to see how they handle the festival atmosphere. Following a brief respite with Rob Da Bank, I'll be taking in Giraffage in hopes he'll be this years surprise act, energizing us with a second wind. Having already seen Shaun Frank, I've made the tough decision to take in Joris Voorn in his stead, in part because of latest remix of Florian Kruse & Hendrik Burkhard's "The Ground." I'll be back under the Big Top for the three-headed monster of Malaa, Madeon and Porter Robinson. I've also got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to catch one of those three at The Hoxton's after-party, specifically Porter as I hope to relive last year's Monstercat Showcase DJ set (the last track in the playlist below).
Of course the Sunday can also boast a number of big names, Dubfire, Tchami and The Cure headlining their respective stages, but after the most jam-packed day of likely the whole summer, it's going to be interesting to see how early I can get back to Woodbine Park. I hope to start my day once again under the Big Top, with either HRMXNY or Pusher, two great Toronto talents that are poised to explode. After that I'll be looking to the Bollywood stage for some Catz 'N Dogz and Lee Foss. But if you've read my post when the lineup was first announced, it is The Cure, ahead of all electronic acts that I'm most excited for this weekend. Once again I leave you with a playlist, and The Cure's full set from Bestival on the Isle of Wight back in 2011.
You can now listen to Ponsolo and Ledisko's mix for Bump In The Hump in its entirety, without my inane banter and with the original, NSFW, lyrics from Sweet Pussy Pauline in their track "Hurtin Me."
However, if for some reason you enjoy my voice on-top of their mix, or you're like me and preferred the clean 'gibberish' edit of "Hurtin Me" you can still get that and the full episode here. Don't forget to grab yourself a copy of BADLQQKRQQKIES June 14th exclusively on Beatport, with tracks from WWRD, Alien Grant, Maddmon, Psalms, Kases & Mosis, John Pac, and of course Ponsolo & Ledisko.
The BADLQQK love affair is set to continue this week on Bump In The Hump, Radio Humber. After receiving an exclusive interview and mix from WWRD last week, we've re-upped for another double dose of forthcoming RQQKIE goodness. This week, I spoke with Montreal based production and DJ duo, Ponsolo and Ledisko, whose track "Hurtin Me," you can now hear in its entirety below.
Less than a week from the EP's official release (June 14th, exclusively on Beatport), you can now stream the entire EP from BADLQQK's soundcloud. Furthermore, you can checkout fellow RQQKIE, Maddmon, who is playing Bestival this Saturday from 12:45-1:45 under the big top. Don't forget to tune in to Bump In The Hump tonight from 6-7 EST to hear directly from Ponsolo and Ledisko, and their mix alongside an hour of the best new Canadian electronic dance music.
As promised, I've uploaded the full 25 minute conversation with WWRD, from which the 5 minute Bump In The Hump interview was pulled. We spoke about her name, her DJing and production history, her passion for tech and deep house, the varying atmospheres in different genre nights, her connection to Anna Lunoe, her love for the Chris's Lake and Lorenzo, how she got in touch with BADLQQK, her forthcoming track "Blitzen," her 15 minute mix for Bump In The Hump, a summer of festivals, the first shows we ever saw, and the explosion of Canadian DJs and producers.
The full episode will run again tonight on Radio Humber from 11-midnight, but of course you can listen to it anytime you like via Mixcloud. Stay tuned to Bump In The Hump for more exclusive previews of forthcoming BADLQQK, ahead of their new RQQKIES EP.
Today's the day! Bump In The Hump returns for its fourth season on 96.9 FM Radio Humber. As promised, I've got three tracks to get your hyped for this groundbreaking, episode. Two weeks ago I had WWRD in studio for an interview, in which we chatted about her connection to Anna Lunoe, who she would most like collab with, how she got signed to BADLQQK, and her forthcoming track "Blitzen," among other things. Below is a quick snippet of what you can expect from our laidback conversation. I'll also be uploading a behind-the-scenes, uncut version of the interview later tonight.
As I have been doing all week, I've once again uploaded another Kenan Habibovic produced promo, the third and final for the fourth season. This one showcases something I'll be focusing more heavily on this season, festivals, and with it a new weekly feature replacing the Fire Finale. That new feature is called the Weekend Warm-up. Always ending Bump In The Hump with a track from a Canadian artist that will be performing at a festival or club night that weekend, in the immediate area, whether it's Ever After in Kitchener, Wayhome in Oro-Medonte, Osheaga in Montreal or Bestival right here in Toronto. As a final teaser for tonight's season premiere, you can listen to this week's Weekend Warm-up, Rezz's remix of Kill The Noise "Without A Trace." You can catch Rezz at Ever After this Sunday, and you can pick up her remix free, now.
Don't miss the fourth season premiere of Bump In The Hump live tonight from 6-7 EST on 96.9 FM Radio Humber, alongside the Weekend Warm-up, WWRD interview and mix, as well as the best new Canadian electronic dance music. Get it all, follow along as I live tweet, and listen live here.
