LISTEN ♥ Standing On The Shore [Dirty Disco Youth Mix]
by Empire of the Sun [2009 | Thanks to Disco Demons]

IMAGES ♥ Trevor Tondro & Le Love

These last few weeks, I have been working 9-5 in an office, and I’m really not used to the silence. My entire life revolves around listening to something – anything to stop the silence. I sleep listening to music. If I’m on my own, I will walk listening to music. So the silence is intimidating, especially when you only have paperwork to distract you. But in the silence, I find I keep hearing certain songs over and over again in my head. This was a particular problem back at school when I was taking exams, trying to write about William Pitt The Elder and other areas of British history I didn’t care about whilst my head would seem to scream my favourite Pavement songs.

Last week, I simply could not get Jens Lekman out of my head. Particularly the song Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song.

The song paints Jens as a romantic, and how could he not be when you consider the combination of his sampled dream instrumentation and crooning voice. I only found out afterwords that the song was based upon a film, which initially disappointed me, until I found out that the film was based upon a true story. The lyrics entertain many ‘perfect’ scenarios, like riding horses into the sky, fondly remembering childhood memories, and, my favorite, the idea of showing colours to a blind girl you once fell in love with. I don’t feel the need to explain why I love this song so much, because the lyrics are so emotionally evocative that no further words are needed:

blind girl i missed you
i’ve missed you so much
i’ve been sending you letters
trying to call
but i can’t seem to get in touch

i think back upon summer camp
and i think i want to show you more colours
here’s white
here’s black
here’s the colour of my heart as it started to crack

LISTEN: Jens Lekman – Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song

ATJ presents SUCKERS, Sunday, August 30, 2009, at After the Jump Fest ‘09. This year’s 3rd annual festival is a three day extravaganza of independent music, and will take place at Brooklyn NY’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space.  Individual and weekend passes are available to purchase online here.

Listen :: Suckers – It Gets Your Body Movin’

In preparation for After the Jump Fest 2009, Music Is Art asked bassist Pan of Suckers to answer our ATJF Interview questions, and below are his special replies.

Please share your earliest memory involving or creating music.

Pan: As a kid, my brother and I would create our own “mash-ups” on tapes… we would takeout of bits and pieces of some of our favorite songs and link them all together.. I distinctly remember using Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home” with the end of Metallica’s “One”

May you share about your academic background concerning music? Did you study formally? Any special mentors?

Pan: I took bass lessons for a minute, but the dude just taught me how to play “Under The Bridge” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.  Other than that, I basically taught myself.  Quinn and Austin (who are cousins) learned a lot of guitar from another older cousin and Brian is pretty well trained in drum theory.

If you had to explain your music to a stranger, how would you do so?

Pan: I do it all the time.  “Experimental Pop Music” seems to be the easiest thing to say.

What are your favorite instruments to work with and what aspects do you like most about using them?

Pan: Well, this is always changing, but lately working with samplers has been my favorite. You can make really interesting and original sounds with electronics.

What are your inspirations?

Pan: Honestly for me it’s everything, where I live, my friends, current music, old music, art, film. I try to apply all of that to creating sounds and making music.

On average, how long does it take for you to create a song?

Pan: It seems that our best songs usually resolve themselves in 1 or 2 practices.  The longer we work on a song, the less natural they tend to sound.

On the website Music Is Art, our mission is to show how music and art are simply connected. Which albums do you credit as having the biggest influences as far as your life and creativity are concerned?

Pan: This list goes on for miles.  David Bowie’s Low, The Beatles’ Rubber Soul, Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Aphex Twin’s The Richard D. James Album, Talking Heads’ Speaking In Tongues, Tom Waits’ Bone Machine, R. Kelly’s Double Up, and Hall & Oates’ Essential Collection.

If you could have a drink with one musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you like to ask them?

Pan: Tom Waits.  I would ask him to produce our next album.

What do you hope people take from seeing you perform live?

Pan: Last time we played in Chicago, there was this kid who said we completely blew his mind.  He wouldn’t stop talking about what an amazing experience he had and how we melted his brain.  He later told us he was on mushrooms, but that’s basically the reaction I would like to get from everyone.

What has been your favorite experience thus far in your career?

Pan: I don’t know, this past SXSW was pretty awesome.

What would your number one suggestion be for someone who wants to do what you do?

Pan: Just Do It!

What exciting projects do you have coming up?

Pan: Writing/recording our first full length is probably the most exciting. Also, we’re having someone do a special remix for us.

May you have a particular inspired quote, statement or favorite words to live by?

Pan: “Sometimes, playas get lonely too.” – R. Kelly

Please share a mix tape within a theme of your choice.

Pan: The theme is just my favorite songs that I’ve been listening to constantly for the past month.

Listen ♥ I’ll Be Your Mirror
by The Velvet Underground & Nico [1967]

Images ♥ Chris Craymer

ATJ presents FREE ENERGY, Saturday, August 29, 2009, at After the Jump Fest ‘09. This year’s 3rd annual festival is a three day extravaganza of independent music, and will take place at Brooklyn NY’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space.  Individual and weekend passes are available to purchase online here.

Listen :: Free Energy – Dream City

In preparation for After the Jump Fest 2009, Music Is Art asked frontman Paul Sprangers of Free Energy to answer our ATJF Interview questions, and below are his special replies.

Please share your earliest memory involving or creating music.

Paul: Hearing melodies in my head then playing them on the family piano.  They were probably inspired by cartoon theme songs and Bon Jovi.

Paul: Scott showed me how to play in drop d and I never looked back.  I did a lot of 4 track experimenting on my own and learned through trial and error.  I think I’m pretty against any kind of rigid academic schooling of any kind, but particularly in matters of intuition and inspiration, which seem to be hampered by strict training. I personally learn best through experience, not being taught.

Paul: Imagine Bob Seger making love to Christine Mcvie while Mick and Keith (tattoo you-era) watch. Then imagine this all taking place within a crystal amulet hanging from Phil Lynott’s neck as he drifts through the galaxy searching for Marc Bolan so they can play pinball.

Paul: I enjoy the look and feel of a solid Steinberger bass. They’re perfect for “slapping it out,” and headstocks are overrated.

Paul: I’m inspired by this crazy, spinning globe and all the jokers living on it!  I’m inspired by my bedroom, the girlfriend I share my life with,  collaborating with Scott, the amazingly talented dudes that play in our band, my sweet cat, lucid dreams, Philly, trying to understand myself, the prospect of becoming a mature human being and a positive force in this world.

Paul: I err on seeing and hearing what does not already exist.  I think the key to success is being present and fully involved in whatever you’re making or doing, always.  I’m bad at that but I’m good at acting on ideas and inspiration when they strike.

Paul: Sometimes an instant, sometimes many years.  We seem to have a mix of some very old and thoroughly fermented songs, while others are written and recorded quickly so they retain that energy of being “new.”

Paul: I credit Alien Lanes, Last Splash, Telephono, Helioself, Crooked Rain, Nevermind, INXS Kick, Slippery When Wet, Appetite For Destruction, He’s the DJ I’m the Rapper, Hanging Tough, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, Raw Hamburger, Spiderland, Surfer Rosa, Daft Punk Discovery, Midnight Vultures, Tusk, This Beat is Technotronic, 3 Feet High and Rising, Apocalypse 91 the Enemy Strikes Black, and on and on and on.

Paul: Maybe Springsteen?  I would want to ask him how he was able to “get it,” at such an early age. I’d also ask Bruce “what did you go through that gave you such incredible strength to believe in yourself and your words? how do you not get discouraged by the world and all the sleepwalking people who create so much pain?”

Paul: Is this a set up?  Obviously as much merch as they can stuff in a fucking bag. But I also hope they leave as psyched as I am.  Ultimately, we create music to heal and inspire ourselves, but we believe it attracts and inspires other people that are on the same wavelength as us.  Especially people who are trying to learn and grow and understand themselves.

Paul: Every experience good and bad is so enjoyable and enlightening, it’s hard to pick one.  Recording with James was like being at a ridiculously fun studio summer camp. Moving to Philly and meeting tons of people has been incredible. Practicing with the band has been really tough and really rewarding.  Having really talented and experienced people work with us and guide the band.  People at every level who get our music and feel as strongly about it as we do — that blows my mind.

Paul: Look at yourself as honestly as you know how.  Spoiler alert: miracles will happen.

Paul: More web shows featuring our drummer Nick Shuminsky. A Bass Instructional Video with Evan. Making healthy meals. Getting album art done. We’re working on a hush hush comedy/reality series with James Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg.  It’s kind of like Mad TV meets Emeril.  There’s a lot in the works right now stay tuned — we”ll be tweeting all about it.

Paul: A wise man once told me this:  “No rules.”

Paul: Full disclosure, these songs were on a mind-blowing mixtape made by our friend Neil.

ATJ presents DRINK UP BUTTERCUP, Saturday, August 29, 2009, at After the Jump Fest ‘09. This year’s 3rd annual festival is a three day extravaganza of independent music, and will take place at Brooklyn NY’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space.  Individual and weekend passes are available to purchase online here.

Listen :: Drink Up Buttercup – Young Ladies

In preparation for After the Jump Fest 2009, Music Is Art asked vocalist/guitarist Jim Harvey of Drink Up Buttercup to answer our ATJF Interview questions, and below are his special replies.

Please share your earliest memory involving or creating music.

Jim: I’d probably say my first memory involving music is dancing and singing Michael Jackson songs on the highest surface I could get up onto as a 5 year old at the mall. I’m not even just saying that cause it’s so cool to like Michael Jackson again now that he’s passed away.

May you share about your academic background concerning music? Did you study formally? Any special mentors?

Jim: I studied voice formally, but like everyone else in the band learned my instrument (guitar) on my own. I went to school for classical singing but ended up playing my guitar and writing more than focusing on interpreting arias and studying theory. I kind of taught myself some kinda backwards theory after school though.

If you had to explain your music to a stranger, how would you do so?

Jim: I’d probably keep it simple and say aggressively played poppy songs with lots of harmonies and deceptively perverted lyrics.

What are your favorite instruments to work with and what aspects do you like most about using them?

Jim: For me personally I like messing around with vocals. The human voice is for sure the craziest instrument. I love layering and adding effects too. The possibilities are endless.

What are your inspirations?

Jim: Harshness. Dark perspectives disguised by bright colors. Deals on people’s used stuff. Old school video games.

When you’re working are you fully involved in what you’re doing or is your mind already planning ahead?

Jim: I’d say the idea of how somethings should sound as a whole is usually  what comes first. In your head. Then you try to figure out how to play it on an instrument and fine tune it till it sounds like your originally internal concept.

On average, how long does it take for you to create a song?

Jim: Just a few minutes for the original idea of it sounds, then endless tinkering to perfect it. It’s always fun to change things up live to. You gotta mix it up on the fly to keep things interesting if you are showcasing a certain group of songs to keep it interesting for yourself. Maybe even just a new way of presenting that doesn’t change the sound tends to keep things interesting. If that makes sense.

On the website Music Is Art, our mission is to show how music and art are simply connected. Which albums do you credit as having the biggest influences as far as your life and creativity are concerned?

Jim: I’d say that classical music and whatever people really seem to be digging currently are what affects me as a musician. The classical music shows how it was done first and best, in my opinion. The current stuff, take a band like Dirty Projectors, who I’ve actually been digging for years before they really started to get hyped up, still shows you that there are new and exciting places to go. Also, just good pop songs. Even if a band has a similar sound to other bands out there or other bands from the past, if a song is a good song it’s a good song. Everyone loves a good song.

If you could have a drink with one musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you like to ask them?

Jim: I’d probably want to have a drink with Bob Dylan. He has so many freaking words! I have a pretty easy time coming up with music, but words tend to give me a little more trouble. I’d just love to ask him some pointers on how, besides being the most naturally gifted lyricist ever, he comes up with all those words.

What do you hope people take from seeing you perform live?

Jim: We’ve always had the goal as a band to put on a live SHOW. We really want to entertain people and give them their money’s worth. We take pride in it. So I’d say, I guess all we really want is for people to have an experience and not feel ripped off.

What has been your favorite experience thus far in your career?

Jim: Probably the whole process of getting our full length album done. So many ups and downs. So many decisions. So much love and hate. So much arguing. Fun! But as things are finally getting all tied up, it was all totally worth it.

What would your number one suggestion be for someone who wants to do what you do?

Jim: Record your first album before you start really getting out there and playing shows. It makes everything easier. I don’t know from personal experience, but watching other bands who took this route it just seems mind-blowingly easier.

What exciting projects do you have coming up?

Jim: We have a new single and video coming out in October that we are really excited about. Also, now that the full length is basically finished we are gonna really start hitting the road and playing outside of the North East.

May you have a particular inspired quote, statement or favorite words to live by?

Jim: “You drink that drink! Alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years. What do you think, you’re going to sit here tonight and reinvent the wheel?” – Scott Campbell, as Roger Dodger in the movie Roger Dodger.

Please share a mix tape within a theme of your choice.

Jim: Gonna break the rules a little here. This is a two song mix I put on at parties to annoy people. I just put the mix on repeat, so I mean, you literally might hear these two songs at least a dozen times each. As much as music snobs might make fun of me for this mix. Whatever, I love it.

1.  R. Kelly – Remix to Ignition
2.  Shwayze – Buzzin’

Playing with a downtempo, nu-jazz, trip-hop sound that isn’t too much of a distraction from The Avalanches, Lemon Jelly, or Mr. Scruff, Organ Morgan should be whipping up a storm soon. I’ve been listening to this sampling E.P. quite heavily for a number of weeks now, and as the U.K. has finally been regraced with some sunshine, there seems like no better time.

Matthew Mayes, a.k.a. Organ Morgan, has been producing dance-related music for over seven years now; having had experience with house, trance, minimal techno and ambient, with tracks released on label such as Oxyd, Cuba, and Nike. Mayes is no stranger to electronic music, yet with Organ Morgan he seems to have found his element.

Playing with the sounds of summer the ‘Cocaine Afternoon E.P.’ features three tracks following letters of the alphabet Broke Heart, Cocaine Afternoon, and Do Not Disturb, and acts as a sample E.P. for a forthcoming, ambitious 26 track full-length ‘Alphabet’.

Like the Avalanches, Organ Morgan is sample driven, re-imagining Mayes’ vinyl collection in a new light. The E.P. shows diversity already; Cocaine Afternoon peaks like a June afternoon, while Broken Heart shows a darker hip-hop edge that removes seasonal specificity from the songs. Metaphor aside, Organ Morgan plays on a formula that in the past has worked well, yet instead of simply imitating the likes of The Avalanches; it resolutely shows a promise of escaping their sample-laden shadow.

Listen :: Cocaine Afternoon

From Philadelphia, Amanda Blank is a breakthrough female hip hop artist.  Best known for her musical collaborations with M.I.A., Spank Rock, Diplo, Santigold, Ghostface Killah, and even Britney Spears, Amanda has been adding her own saavy and unique style for years.  On August 4, 2009, Amanda Blank released her debut solo album called I Love You, produced by XXXChange and released on Downtown Records. Her first single is Might Like You Better, taking a partial refrain reminiscent from the 1980’s band Romeo Void’s track Never Say Never.

Enjoy Amanda Blank’s new video below!

ATJ presents DINOSAUR FEATHERS, Friday, August 28, 2009, at After the Jump Fest ‘09. This year’s 3rd annual festival is a three day extravaganza of independent music, and will take place at Brooklyn NY’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space.  Individual and weekend passes are available to purchase online here.

Listen :: Dinosaur Feathers – History Lessons

In preparation for After the Jump Fest 2009, Music Is Art asked vocalist/guitarist Greg Sullo of Dinosaur Feathers to answer our ATJF Interview questions, and below are his special replies.

Please share your earliest memory involving or creating music.

Greg: My dad would always play old records (the Beatles, the Stones, the Kinks), and my sister and I would dance around the living room like maniacs. It was awesome. I was like 3 or 4. My favorite album was the Beatles’ Second Album. I also had an Everly Brothers cassette and a Silver Beatles (Hamburg-era) cassette that I would listen to all the time. Under these influences I would make up songs, strumming my plastic Fraggle Rock guitar with 50’s rock inspired lyrics such as, “Don’t take my love away from me – don’t take my girl-uh-url,” – that one’s on video tape.

May you share about your academic background concerning music?

Greg: I started taking violin lessons when I was four, and I continued taking lessons until I was 18. Derek has taken a ton of music theory classes – he knows his stuff much better than I do.

If you had to explain your music to a stranger, how would you do so?

Greg: I would start with the obligatory, “Wow – that’s a really hard question to answer,” and look really pensive. Then I would probably say tropical indie pop. Or just pop.

What are your favorite instruments to work with and what aspects do you like most about using them?

Greg: I should probably say guitar because that’s what I “play”, but like most guitarists I would much rather be a drummer. It’s really fun to beat the heck out of drums. Also – I love playing with the drum machine we have: manipulating the sounds and coming up with new ways to think about things.

What are your inspirations?

Greg: Ha! A girl. But also the Ruby Suns and Tropicalia music and a million other things. Also – my bandmates. I spend a lot of time working out these songs with my guitar and the drum machine, then I bring the songs to them, and they breathe new life into them and come up with things I never would have thought of – that’s pretty inspiring.

On average, how long does it take for you to create a song?

Greg: I really have no idea. It may depend on how lazy or inspired I am at any given moment.

On the website Music Is Art, our mission is to show how music and art are simply connected. Which albums do you credit as having the biggest influences as far as your life and creativity are concerned?

Greg: This is a dangerous question, as I could go on forever. As I said earlier, definitely the Beatles’ Second Album. Other big ones include Arthur by the Kinks, the Stranger by Billy Joel, ‘77 by the Talking Heads, Paul Simon’s self-titled album. As far as Dinosaur Feathers are concerned, Strawberry Jam by Animal Collective and Sea Lion by the Ruby Suns spurred a ton of creativity.

If you could have a drink with one musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you like to ask them?

Greg: It seems impossible to single out any one musician from the last 60 years, so I’m going to do something really pretentious and say Antonio Vivaldi. I’d ask him about his writing process and after playing him some contemporary music, ask him what he thought. I would set up fictional hangouts for my bandmates as such: Derek with Nina Persson and Tom with Harry Nilsson.

What do you hope people take from seeing you perform live?

Greg: Sweat. From dancing and singing along.

What has been your favorite experience thus far in your career?

Greg: We had a really great practice the other day and came up with some really cool ideas for some new songs. That’s my favorite part – when you’re just discovering how wonderful a song is. Also, just meeting lots of cool musicians and playing new and interesting venues around the city. It’s cool to feel like you belong to something, but there’s no one particular experience that stands above the others.

What would your number one suggestion be for someone who wants to do what you do?

Greg: Make music you like. And make friends with people whose music you like. Then just have fun and share your stuff with people and then the worst thing that happens is you end up playing music with people you like.

What exciting projects do you have coming up?

Greg: We released an EP on August 18th. It’s available at www.dinosaurfeathers.com as a free download. And even more exciting – we’re working on recording a full-length album right now, which hopefully we’ll release in the winter.

May you have a particular inspired quote, statement or favorite words to live by?

Greg: When my sisters and I were little, our dad would say, “Follow your bliss.” I think that’s pretty good.

Please share a mix tape within a theme of your choice.

Greg: I decided to consult my bandmates for this one. The theme we chose was cooperation, as inspired by a video for the Muppet’s Cooperation:

Image ♥ Holga

Everything, everything, everything, everything..
In its right place, In its right place
In its right place, In its right place

Listen :: Radiohead
Everything In Its Right Place (Gigamesh Remix v2.0)

ATJ presents THE OCTAGON, Sunday, August 30, 2009, at After the Jump Fest 2009. This year’s 3rd annual festival is a three day extravaganza of independent music, and will take place at Brooklyn NY’s Littlefield Performance & Art Space.  Individual and weekend passes are available to purchase online here.

Listen :: The Octagon – Weekends

In preparation for After the Jump Fest 2009, Music Is Art asked The Octagon’s drummer/vocalist Will Glass to answer our ATJF Interview questions, and below are his special replies.

Please share your earliest memory involving or creating music.

Will: 1985, going to Eastland Mall and buying the cassette single of “Touch of Grey” by the Grateful Dead. On the playing side: Christmas 1988, letting loose on a new sears drum set. It would be a solid two years before I realized drums kept time, so until then, I was basically a free jazz drummer.

May you share about your academic background concerning music? Did you study formally? Any special mentors?

Will: I took lessons 1994-2002 and studied music theory 1998-1999 but found bandmates and musician friends to be the more informative teachers. Zack and the Bunny from our band have both had stints in lessons but would probably cite more distant, inspirational musical mentors like R. Pollard or Jerry Garcia.

If you had to explain your music to a stranger, how would you do so?

Will: “Stranger, our music comes from within. It is for our enjoyment and yours, and for all. We have life experiences transmitted sound. Come, stranger, and listen.”

What are your favorite instruments to work with and what aspects do you like most about using them?

Will: The Octagon is a Rock and Roll band favoring the traditional instrumentation of electric guitar, electric bass and trap kit, which we like because they’re our means of expressing ourselves. Our upcoming full length has a few horn cameos, used in a soloist fashion to bring another creative voice to the mix.

What are your inspirations?

Will: Music, friends and life experiences. Also literature and film. For example, Zack’s new composition “Clew Haywood” is named after a ball-player character of that name in the film “Major League”.

On average, how long does it take for you to create a song?

Will: I’m the drummer, and only recently started writing songs. I’ve written eight songs so far, in 2 or 3 years. Most of mine have been a melodic kernel that’s been in my head for years, which it takes a couple weeks to get out into a full song. But a couple just kind of shat themselves out, once I had my bandmates help me figure out chords and stuff. Zack will come up with a song all at once then fine-tune it over a week or two, but sometimes they emerge from his head fully formed.

What would your number one suggestion be for someone who wants to do what you do?

Will: Do it yo!

On the website Music Is Art, our mission is to show how music and art are simply connected. Which albums do you credit as having the biggest influences as far as your life and creativity are concerned?

Will: Sticking to albums relevant to The Octagon as a whole…. Guided by Voices, esp. Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes, records that inspire us to write a lot of songs and get them recorded and then keep doing that. Dinosaur Jr’s Green Mind, the product of one tuneful man. The Minutemen catalog, esp. Double Nickels, for, among other things, its ongoing narrative of a true friendship. The Feelies’ Crazy Rhythms – gotta stay fast and true. Exile on Main St.

If you could have a drink with one musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you like to ask them?

Will: Sun Ra. Question: “So, what’s your favorite Miles Davis album?”

What do you hope people take from seeing you perform live?

Will: “Hey, that band was great. I like their songs, and they have a winning stage presence.”

What has been your favorite experience thus far in your career?

Will: Making our forthcoming third record, Warm Love and Cool Dreams Forever, which we did ourselves on four track cassette.

What exciting projects do you have coming up?

Will: We’re entering the era of non-physically manifested music by releasing a download-only EP for free. It’s called Arm Brain Heart and Liver and it comes out on September 1st on Serious Business. We have a release show Sept 3rd at Bruar Falls with Kleenex Girl Wonder. The EP is a kind of precursor for the 16-song vinyl full length that comes out in early 2010, Warm Love and Cool Dreams Forever.

May you have a particular inspired quote, statement or favorite words to live by?

Will: “Uh!” -James Brown

Please share a mix tape within a theme of your choice.

♥ anna kieblesz ♥

The Walkmen’s 2008 album You & Me is one of those beautiful records that after each listen, the haunting sounds and electrifying details keep getting stronger. Personally, a favorite track from The Walkmen’s fourth album is On the Water, as the melody brings to mind the complete feeling of a warm summer night, sitting near the ocean while watching the blue waves crash against the shore. When lead vocalist Hamilton Leithauser nonchalantly sings “Oh you know I’d never leave you, no matter how hard I try”, the discomfort of his lyrics translate into an honest struggle of holding on to a relationship. Today Pitchfork presented The Walkmen’s dark new video for On The Water, under the animated direction of Nir Ben Jacob.