He was born Tijs Michiel Verwest in the Netherlands. And he has had many aliases over the years. But today, he is known the world over by the name Tiësto. The world’s top trance DJ, he became the first DJ to perform live onstage at an Olympic Games in 2004. He has also performed energetic sets that last up to twelve hours. And he had a residency at the largest club in the world for a couple of months in 2008, and again in 2009. Also in 2009, he released his fourth album, Kaleidoscope. In this video, WatchMojo.com chats with Tiësto about his collaborations, his record company and where he’s at in his career.
For more information, click http://www.tiesto.com/
Having just completed a U.S. tour with Fischerspooner, Miami based electronica act OrganicArma will release their second EP, “Awarned” on June 30, 2009 on Acustronic / Rock Ridge Music. “Awarned” is the follow up to “Discordia” released earlier this year. The “Awarned” EP includes the original version of the song “Awarned,” as well as remixes by King Unique and Degenerate. The EP will only be a digital only release and will be available via online music outlets.
“OrganicArma takes its inspiration from minimal techno, techno, house, dub, classical, industrial, and rock, and fuse logical fluent breaks, Afro-Latin beats, time signature changes, and unique sounds to create music that is uncategorizable.”
Fans are also being offered the chance to remix “Discordia” and stand alongside King Uniqe and DJ Spooky, who offered remixes on the “Discordia” EP. Visit their contest’s official website for song stems and official rules. Contestants will be offered the chance to appear on a future release.
Website | MySpace
Pre-order “Awarned” on iTunes for only $2.99
U2 should have got Justice to produce their latest album. In this remix “Get On Your Boots” is transformed from an admittedly boring single to a unique and complex tune that is far better than the original! Check it out at Stereogum:
Get On Your Boots (Justice remix)
Electronica has long been “used” by the American public as background music or dance-hall fodder. The evolution of the genre has brought about Miami, FL’s organicArma - an integrated, intellectual and playful group that invites listeners to experience electronic music for a new millennium. organicArma play electronic music unlike anyone else on the scene today. The band performs their music live on actual instruments, with all three members of the band serving multiple roles (composer, producer, arranger, and performer).
In an in depth interview, organicArma discuss their thoughts about music, reality and philosophy as band.
Q - “organicArma” - It is a very unique name. What is the meaning behind it?
A – phAxas: The name ‘organicArma’ is a reflects our philosophy. The ‘organic’ represents the natural world into which we are born. ‘Arma’ is our drive to build and create a physical society within the constructs of nature.
lhArma: organicArma can also be the brain - our organic tool.
dhArma: It’s how we seek to manage everything that cannot be controlled.
Q - As a band, who are your musical influences?
A - Trentmoller, Gui Borrato, Ritchie Hawtin (Plastikman), NIN, Villalobos, Kraftwerk, Underworld, Gorillaz, Bjork, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Depeche Mode, The Prodigy, Tricky, Beethoven, Mozart, Ravel & Orff.
Q - Are there any non-musical influences for your music, philosophers, etc. And if so - why?
A -
Herman Hesse - because he researched many theologies, compounded effective concepts, and described the importance of learning about oneself through the journey of dual characters.
Malaclypse The Younger - because of his utilization of humor as an intellectual and Discordian tool. He found the goddess and told us what he did to her.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - because he questioned traditions and he expressed things are neither good nor evil nor right or wrong.
Q - You integrate the philosophy of Duality into your music. What is meaning of Duality and why it’s important to organicArma’s message?
A - The concept of Duality is to connect opposites. It combines the world of our imagination into reality. For some, imagination is utilized as an escape from “real” life. Duality helps bridge the gap of those worlds because it challenges us to take risks and play with fears in order to achieve that which seems impossible or unattainable.
Q - Your music video for “Discordia” features cartoon representations of famous political figures like George W. Bush and Hugo Rafael Chávez. Is there a political agenda or message behind organicArma’s music?
A - With Discordia, we explore how opposite ideologies can connect to form a common solution. For organicArma, Discordia is the science inside emotion. For this video we applied this theory to the differences and commonalities shared amongst world leaders. We specifically chose George w. Bush, Hugo Rafael Chávez, and Alvaro Uribe Vélez in order to present the scenario of each band member’s respective native country. Instead of being emotionally affected by an irrational focus on different ideals, through Discordia, there is the possibility of creating practical solutions that impact the world.
Q - With electronic music, there are so many ways to create. What programs and/or hardware do you use in the studio to produce you unique sound?
A - For composing, editing, arranging, recording and mixing we utilize Apple’s Logic Pro along with third party effect and instrument plugins by Arturia, Waves, SSL, Sound Toys, Camel Audio, UAD, and Native Instruments. Many of our instruments are actually software synths provided by Logic, which we engineer to achieve a precise sound. Our favorite hardware instruments are the Access Virus analog synthesizer and, for drum sounds, the Roland Vdrum brain. For vocoding and vocal effects we really like the Korg Kaos Pad KP3 and Antares plugins such as the Harmony Engine and the Duo.
Q - What is your songwriting process like? Does one member craft a song, is it collaborative, improvised?
A - Each song has a different leader and a different concept, which allows for all three members to be protagonists at different times. We pride ourselves on creating through an all-encompassing team effort. Each individual supplements the group’s concepts through their own skill set and philosophies. We all bring different ideas and methods from experience, psychology, philosophy, and literature to the table while combining our own individual musical abilities to produce our songs.
Q - How did organicArma meet and come together musically?
A - organicArma was conceived by dhArma in 2003. The concept for organicArma was born from the need to express art as an evolutionary purpose for mankind through the application of philosophy, linguistics, psychology, science, research and analysis, in order to transmit ideas with purpose and intent,” explains dhArma. The appropriate music mix came together in 2007 with three uniquely skilled band members committed to a unique musical concept. phAxas initially joined the group in 2005 as the band’s studio and live engineer. lhArma befriended dhArma in 2006 during an Apple Logic Course for aspiring music producers. Shortly after, he began to play acoustic bass for the band. After a history of adjustments and learning, all three evolved to become the voice and brains of organicArma.
Q – Unlike most electronic artists, I’ve heard that organicArma takes great pride in their ability to perform and recreate their music live. Why is this?
A - Previously programmed machines traditionally recreate electronic music. We believe that the human performance always give a fresh, spontaneous feeling to the music. Plus, we think music is more powerful and meaningful for human kind when it is played live and personally because we demonstrate to the audience how it is created. There are emotions and experiences that only take place in a live performance. We believe that electronic music is the realm of sound where the unknown is present, where new ideas and concepts bring new emotions and lead us to the future.
Q - What can fans expect at a typical organicArma show?
A - Fans can expect to be immersed in a turbulent sea of music, ideas, action and art. Our show can be a personal lounge experience at home or a danceable-style live concert show featuring state of the art instruments-stations, theatrical costumes and compatible on-stage lights and visuals. Our show is a flamboyant production featuring live instrumentation that inspires creativity and innovation.
Q - Your upcoming EP, Discordia, has tracks remixed by DJ Spooky and King Unique. Are there other artists with whom you’d like to collaborate with for a remix?
A - Trentemoller, Herbert, Timbaland, Hawtin, Prodigy, Orbital, Tricky & Reznor.
Q - Right now, what are the top 5 tracks on your iPod?
A - lhArma: Molotov -”Fiel Por Feo”, Trentemoller -”Flamingo remix (Tomboy)”, Fluke -”Switch/Twitch”, Easy Star All-Stars -”Money(the dub side of the moon)”, Underworld -”Dark And Long”.
phAxas: Thom Yorke -”Skip Divided (Modeselektor Remix)”; Spieltape- ”Lonely Places I’ve Never Been”, Swayzak -”Silent Luv”, Danger -”11h30”, Portishead -”We Carry On.
dhArma: The Knife -”We Share Our Mother’s Health (Trentemoller Remix), Fluke -”Another Kind of Blues”, Tricky -”Christian Sands”, Deadmau5 - ”Sometimes Things Get, Whatever”, Ricardo Villalobos -”Dexter”.
Q - What is next for OrganicArma?
A - Our music is very cinematographic. We see ourselves composing scores and soundtracks for films. Also, we are in the process of writing and illustrating a comic book that would document the stories behind the concepts of each organicArma song. Additionally, we plan on performing at high profile festivals and top universities. Back home in Miami, we would like to build a foundation for a movement by curating art installations and hosting music & multimedia events at our headquarters ,”The Awarehouse.”
Q - Lastly, any messages for your fans?
A - Question reality as presented. Create your own organic reality each time you contemplate man’s existence in nature. These are interesting and complicated times. Where there is discord, there is always an opportunity. Understand what you like, what you dislike, and what you seek to learn. In organicArma we create our own questions, emotions and realities. In organicArma we live our own questions, emotions and realities.
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organicArma’s new Ep, “Discordia” will be available online on February 3rd, 2009 and includes the original version of the song “Discordia,” as well as remixes by DJ Spooky, King Unique and band member phAxas
Listen to a free stream of “Discordia” - Here -
See and hear more organicArma at - www.organicArma.com -
I must say that I like Lady Gaga’s latest track even more than the first one, Poker Face, her new single, is pretty good, here is the video:
And here is her interview with us from a couple of months ago:
In advance of Fist of God, the follow-up to 2006’s landmark The Looks, Toronto dancefloor juggernaut MSTRKRFT is set to release a Maxi Single of club-banging blog fave, and F’N MTV theme song, “Bounce.” The eight-track offering, due via Dim Mak Records on October 7th, features the original N.O.R.E. and Isis of Thunderheist-assisted track, released in April, “Vuvuvu,” and a plethora of remixes from rising stars in the dance community. For the uninitiated, MSTRKRFT is the production/DJ team of Toronto musician Jesse F. Keller and studio wizard Al-P. Their 2006 smash The Looks blurred boundaries between punk, house, hip-hop, grime, electro, and all kinds of electronic experimentation. Since forming, the team of Keller and Al-P have remixed a veritable who’s who of musical trendsetters – John Legend and Andre 3000, The Gossip, Justice, Usher, Wolfmother, The Crystal Method, Chromeo, Armand Van Helden, Kylie Minogue, Annie, Bloc Party, and Metric. The Bounce maxi single finds a few of MSTRKRFT’s friends returning the favor, with “Bounce” remixes from the likes of French up-and-comers High Powered Boys, MK labelmates Bloody Beetroots, and Vancouver-based rising star Felix Cartal, whose contribution to the release was premiered this morning on RCRDLBL and can be downloaded below.
“Bounce ft. N.O.R.E. (Felix Cartal Remix)” From MSTRKRFT’s Bounce [Dim Mak]
In other news, the duo recently announced the aptly-named Fist of God Tour, which kicks off on September 26th at Henry Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, and trucks through the states throughout the entire month of October. Felix Cartal will join MSTRKRFT for the full tour. Dates below.
Fist of God Tour Dates
09-26 Los Angeles, CA – The Henry Fonda Theatre
09-27 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
09-28 Los Angeles, CA – The El Ray Theatre
09-30 Pamona, CA – The Glass House
10-01 San Francisco, CA – The Mezzanine
10-02 Seattle, WA – Showbox Showroom & Lounge
10-03 Vancouver, BC - Celebrities
10-04 Winnipeg, CAN – The Exchange Event Center
10-06 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
10-07 Chicago, IL - Metro
10-08 Royal Oak, MI – The Royal Oak Music Theatre
10-09 Columbus, OH – Boma
10-10 New York City, NY – Webster Hall
10-11 Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College (Students Only)
10-12 Philadelphia, PA – TLA
10-13 Boston, MA – The Estate
10-15 Baltimore, MD – Bedrock
10-16 Charlotte, NC – The (Charlotte) Forum
10-17 Nashville, TN – Mercury Lounge
10-18 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park
10-19 Memphis, TN – Hard Rock Café
10-22 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
10-23 Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
10-24 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10-27 Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall
10-28 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
10-31 Salt Lake City, UT – Salt Palace Convention Center
11-01 Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Arena
Bounce Tracklist
01 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (Radio Version)
02 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (Extended Version)
03 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (Acapella)
04 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (Instrumental Version)
05 Vuvuvu
06 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
07 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (High Powered Boys Remix)
08 Bounce Ft. N.O.R.E. (Felix Cartal Remix)
Experimental Indie electronica band Hercules and Love Affair announce new Canadian dates:
Saturday, October 18, 2008 Toronto ON Opera House
Sunday, October 19, 2008 Montreal QC Les Saintes
Hercules and Love Affair announce Canadian live dates in support of
their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album (released June 24
on Mute/DFA). After hitting some of Europe’s largest festivals this
summer (Glastonbury, Sonar & Pukkelpop), they also met with stellar
reviews and a rapturous audience at their sold-out US live debut at
Brooklyn’s Studio B. TheFader.com declared, “[People] love Hercules
and Love Affair the same way rabid Japanese teens must have loved
Bruce Springsteen in 1986, crush the barricades and cry at the sight
of an icon style love.”
The live show includes Andy manning keyboards, a horn section, drum
machines and providing backing vocals, Kim Ann and Nomi on lead
vocals, live drums, live bass and even more keyboards.
The album and lead single, “Blind”, debuted in the UK Top 40 and were
ranked #1 and “Track of the Week” by the NME respectively. Hercules &
Love Affair is 2008’s most exciting dancefloor concoction, an arthouse
vision of pure pop by way of futuristic electronica and classic dance
music, where beautiful, bruising harmonies and tensile rhythms collide
in resurgent soundscapes and emotive disco workouts.
Here’s what the press have to say:
“…Butler’s debut album journeys through club music’s bent past with
both universal and timeless results that are as sensual and surreal as
a Jean Cocteau film set to a Giorgio Moroder soundtrack.”
SPIN, June 2008
“It’s a little bit Gamble & Huff, a little bit Caligula.”
Blender, July 2008
Hercules and Love Affair announce Canadian live dates in support of
their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album (released June 24
on Mute/DFA). After hitting some of Europe’s largest festivals this
summer (Glastonbury, Sonar & Pukkelpop), they also met with stellar
reviews and a rapturous audience at their sold-out US live debut at
Brooklyn’s Studio B. TheFader.com declared, “[People] love Hercules
and Love Affair the same way rabid Japanese teens must have loved
Bruce Springsteen in 1986, crush the barricades and cry at the sight
of an icon style love.”
The live show includes Andy manning keyboards, a horn section, drum
machines and providing backing vocals, Kim Ann and Nomi on lead
vocals, live drums, live bass and even more keyboards.
The album and lead single, “Blind”, debuted in the UK Top 40 and were
ranked #1 and “Track of the Week” by the NME respectively. Hercules &
Love Affair is 2008’s most exciting dancefloor concoction, an arthouse
vision of pure pop by way of futuristic electronica and classic dance
music, where beautiful, bruising harmonies and tensile rhythms collide
in resurgent soundscapes and emotive disco workouts.
Hercules and Love Affair live is Andrew, Kim Ann, Nomi, Morgan, Jason,
Carter, Guy, and Andy.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette
Just don’t get too carried away with your iPod karaoke.
Published: Tuesday, April 29
Is it just me, or is everyone plugged in these days?
“Nine out of 10 people workout with an iPod or MP3 player,” said Melanie Shernofsky, group fitness coordinator at Montreal’s Mansfield Club.
The same could be said for the many runners and walkers who are tuned in to their own playlist while cruising the streets of their neighbourhood.
Yet despite the apparent spike in music appreciation amongst the fitness crowd, exercising to music isn’t new. People were skating around roller rinks to the tunes of Buddy Holly and jumping to the beat of the Pointer Sisters in aerobics classes long before Amy Winehouse took top billing on the iPod of most gym rats.
Why is music such an integral part of the exercise experience?
“Music takes us away from the physical discomfort and the process of exercise itself,” said Jim Gavin, a clinical health psychologist from Concordia University.
Indeed most exercisers will tell you that music is a pleasant distraction during a workout. Some even go as far as saying they can exercise longer and harder when listening to music than without. And while there is a general consensus that music can make the minutes go by faster when running on a treadmill, there is little data to suggest that you can workout longer or harder while listening to your favourite tunes.
Numerous studies have evaluated the heart rate and time to exhaustion among exercisers listening and not listening to music. The majority noted no significant difference between the two. Which means exercise duration and intensity weren’t affected by music. What was affected, however, was how hard the exercisers perceived they were training while music was playing.
Study after study notes that exercisers perceive their level of exertion to be lower when music accompanies their workout compared to those who exercise in silence. Also interesting to note is that the affect is greater the harder you exercise. In other words, the tougher the workout, the more music helps you hang in there.
“Music tends to separate us from what we are physically doing and leads us further away from how we are feeling,” says Gavin.
Not all music is equal in its distraction, though - at least where exercise is concerned. A 2006 study of 128 undergraduate students noted a preference for faster, more upbeat music as the intensity of the workout increased. No surprise there. Footloose beats out James Blunt’s You’re Beautiful every time when the going gets tough. Nike’s iPod sensor combo even allows runners to program their own “power” song that can be pressed into play when the feet need a little extra incentive to keep moving.
Yet as powerful as music is, not everyone appreciates the distraction. Yet another study noted that among runners, novices were more likely than veteran runners to benefit from listening to music during their training runs. The elite runners actually found music to be an unwanted diversion, which suggests that the disconnect between mind and body is not considered beneficial for runners who use their body’s feedback to continually gauge and modify their intensity.
Of course, there are other uses for music in the exercise field. Yoga instructors often play music as a form of relaxation, helping participants to de-stress and slow down their hectic pace in tune with the mindful approach of the practice.
Group exercise instructors have long been known to count on music not just to motivate, but also to keep everyone in the class moving in synch. In fact, the addition of music to group exercise classes is what characterized the aerobics boom in the 80’s - back in the day instructors spent hours choosing the right music to motivate and the right moves.
Interestingly, with personal MP3 players now all the rage, music lovers don’t need group exercise classes to supply musical motivation. In the age of self-selection, exercisers can create their own workout playlist with their favourite tunes that can be updated at will. This means they can find all the motivation they want on their own iPod, making a solo run on the treadmill just as motivating as a group exercise class.
Shernofsky thinks that’s a good thing.
“For people who don’t like to exercise, music can be a great motivator.”
It also means that anyone with two left feet or an aversion to a Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey re-mix played at 150 beats a minute can now workout to the beat of their own drummer.
That being said, there are some rules that go along with plugging in during exercise. Don’t tune out to the extent that you aren’t aware of your surroundings. Keep alert and listen to your body and what’s going on around you. And whatever you do, limit your iPod karaoke to places where you aren’t likely to be overheard. Not everyone is a fan of Bat Out of Hell sung at full volume on a beautiful Sunday morning (don’t ask).
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008
Arizona Jeans recently launched a contest at azjeans.com to give independent and unsigned bands/artists the chance to become the next sound of AZ Jeans and gain some exposure for their music on their website.
Individual artists and bands can submit up to 3 original songs for potential to win and have their song played in the AZ Jeans jukebox. Plus, each winner will be featured in a band profile.
Check out the details below to enter:
• Go to http://extras.azjeans.com/?ID
• Bands/Artists have until May 2nd to submit their original music and then until May 23rd to get the most votes for their songs to win.
• Visitors to azjeans.com will be given the chance to choose their favorite artist from the submissions, and up to five finalists will be selected based on the most votes.
PLAY
