DEMENCHA » dubstep

The 54th Grammy Awards Set To Showcase EDM Segment [02.12.12 on CBS]

Chris Mills — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:48:27 +0000

The 54th annual Grammy Awards coming up this Sunday, to be hosted by LL Cool J, will now include a special electronica/dance segment performance featuring Lil’ Wayne, Deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta, and Chris Brown. I’m not necessarily sure what Weezy, Breezy and the Foo Fighters have to do with “electronica”, but this year’s Grammy’s should be quite interesting if you’re into that “techno bullshit”. ?uestlove (of The Roots) is also reported to be presenting an award, just an FYI. The Grammy’s will air on CBS this upcoming Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Central.

Wild Weekend Videos: Roy Hargrove @ Foundation, Ces @ Record Bar, Mizzou/KU @ Buffalo Wild Wings

Chris Mills — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:49:29 +0000

Grammy-noted jazz composer and producer Roy Hargrove swung through the Foundation on Friday night, which turned out to be a pretty wild night in Kansas City with a lot of events going down. I first went to see Matty G at the Midland Theater downtown, and his minimal, sub-bass, West Coast-referred dubstep beats had my eyelashes vibrating at more than a couple of times throughout his set, which started rather early on the main stage. I didn’t get to stick around for Caspa because I had to be on my way to Record Bar for the Ces Cru signing party…

…where Ces tore the house down in addition to JL of B.Hood and the Phantastics. Even local band Mr. History had heads nodding to their latest Radiohead cover, which was a pleasant surprise. It was by far the most packed hip hop show I’ve seen at a medium-sized venue in Westport in quite a long time. Tons of Ces fans, both new and old, turned out and caused Record Bar to nearly hit capacity. From there, I headed over to Firefly in Westport for some house music goodness with Pat Nice and LC. I was rather taken aback at how thin the crowd was there, but I guess when the upper echelon of the establishment is accused of running their venue on racist terms, that’s to be expected. It was always a diverse crowd at Firefly, but this past Friday there was virtually no crowd to mingle with whatsoever.

Saturday saw me going to Buffalo Wild Wings in Lee’s Summit (don’t judge me) with some brothers from other mothers to watch the MU/KU basketball game. As you’ll note in this video, it got a little wild in there as well after a KU fan and MU fan got into a bit of an altercation after Mizzou sealed the deal.

All-in-all, these past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun and I look forward to a looming spring concert/show bonanza. I feel good things for Kansas City right now. PEACE.

Demencha Interview/Podcast: Matty G [Dub Police]

Chris Mills — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:56:03 +0000

This is an interview we did over the phone with Northern California-based dubstep producer and DJ, Matty G, last month. Be sure to check him out live at the Midland Theater in downtown KCMO with Caspa and more on Friday, February 3rd.

p.s. The first person who listens to this podcast in its entirety and can spot the whining dog in the background will win a drink on me next time we see you in KC. Haha!

Red Bull asks, “Who’s The Best Party Rocker in KC”? UPDATED

Chris Mills — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:58:51 +0000

~~I’m not sure what this Red Bull Thre3Style business is pertaining to because the “about” section of their website is rather outdated, but~~ this event boasts practically an All-Star lineup consisting of some of our area’s tightest DJs, with recent BET Master of the Mix winner, MO’s own D.J.P. as the headliner. This will be a hell of a show. Area DJs getting into this thing are Bobby Keys, Brent Tactic, Magnum, CEO, SKU, B-Stee, Who and JT Quick. Even though SKU doesn’t live in KC anymore, I’d say he’s probably the favorite. The event is hosted by Shawn Edwards of Fox 4 News with judges from Doomtree’s management team, u:move, and DJ P himself. Each DJ will have 15 minutes to wow the judges and prompt asses to shaking. And apparently, they’re required to include at least three different genres of music in their set. The winner of the KC leg will then go on to test the best from around the country who’ve made it equally as far in Orlando, then Chicago for the Red Bull Thre3style world championship of sorts.

D/L: New Mix From MiMOSA – “FUTURE TRILL MIXXX”

Chris Mills — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:00:25 +0000

Catch MiMOSA with Kastle at The Granada in Lawrence, KS on Sunday, January 29th. RSVP HERE. His latest mix was just sent to us in e-mail, and you can download that below.

DOWNLOAD HERE.

TRACKLIST:
1. NiNA SiM0NE – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
2. THE T0UCH – Bodies Waiting (FRENCH FRiES REMiX)
3. DARK SKY – Be Myself
4. MiM0SA – Pink Sprite
5. DiSCL0SURE – I Love… That You Know
6. STAGGA – Wild For The Night (D0SHY REMiX)
7. LUNiCE – I See U (GiRL UNiT REMiX)
8. TEETH – Shawty
9. JAY-Z KANYE WEST – Niggas In Paris (MiM0SA REMiX)
10. MiM0SA – Ice Box
11. AFRiKA HiTECH – Out In The Streets
12. MiM0SA – Dirty Money
13. Sleepyhead – Summer Lovin

D/L: Todd Howard – “Gone for Good” [DJ Mix]

Chris Mills — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:32:57 +0000

Courtesy of Kansas City Techno comes Todd Howard’s latest mix. There’s some plush grooves in this mother. When it comes to Todd Howard mixes anymore, I don’t even preview the soundcloud embeddings, just go straight to the download button. You should too. Do it. Now!

Todd Howard- Gone for Good- January 2012 by Todd Howard

Tracklist:
Hamid- If I feat Valentina (Jay Shepheard Remix)
Jona- Quadrant
DJ T. feat. Khan- Leavin’ Me (Daniel Bortz Remix)
WhoMadeWho- Every Minute Alone (Life & Death Rework)
Avatism- Upon The Daze
Fink- Make It Good (Tennis & Tale Of Us Remix)
APP- Smiling Faces
Pawas- Micro Bomb
Fur Coat- Space Ballad feat. Argenis Brito (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Kyodai- Mi Rumba (Genuis Of Time Beats)
Yapacc- Bad Girl feat Fadila (Wildkats Remix)
Balcazar & Sordo- Everynight 24/7 (Catz ‘n Dogz Remix)
Bazar- Hard To Find (Danny Daze Love Dub)
My Favorite Robot- Forest Fires

D/L: The Floozies – “At Dusk We Launch” [New Album]

Chris Mills — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:34:58 +0000

The free holiday party that The Floozies headlined at the Beaumont Club in Westport alongside EZ Brothers just a couple of weeks ago was the best band show I’ve been to in quite a while. I don’t know if Matt Hill is getting better at guitar, or if he’s just playing more difficult routines, but he and his brother Mark on drums absolutely killed it. Without hinting any disrespect to their recorded works, I think their live shows are ridiculously more enjoyable. That’s not to say that this latest album from The Floozies duo (released today) isn’t a fun listen just as the rest of their stuff is. But it is a testament to their improvisation skills, being able to adjust their own recorded songs based on how a crowd is reacting.

The Floozies – At Dusk We Launch [New Album]
DOWNLOAD HERE.

Morri$ Featured on Salva’s Fader Mix

Chris Mills — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:41:16 +0000

[pictured: Salva]

Lawrence kid, Morri$, just had his track “Fishy Riddim” featured on Salva‘s latest DJ mix for The Fader. This whole mix is really dope, in its uniformed future funk fashion. Also, be on the lookout for our Artist of the Month feature on Morri$ shortly.

Download Salva’s Fader Mix HERE

Tracklist:
Greeen Linez, “Palm Coast Freeway”
Jesse Boykins III, “B4 The Night Is Thru” (Prod. By Machinedrum)
The Starship Connection, “More Than Just A Dream”
Krystal Klear + Olivier Day Soul, “Never Thought U Would Go”
Mark Ronson f. D’Angelo, “Glass Mountain Trust (Teeko & B. Bravo RE-FUNK)”
Royalty, “Halley’s Trail”
Arp 101, “Groove”
Quitter, “French Press”
Devonwho, “Strange Brew”
Salva, “Obsession (feat. B. Bravo)”
Morri$, “Fishy Riddim”
Dam-Funk, “Inside Of U”

Connectorville Presents: Caspa, Matty G, Antiserum, Ill-Esha, Spankalicious, WickIt – LIVE @ The Midland [02.03.12]

Chris Mills — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:04:44 +0000

[pictured: Caspa]

Some of the first tunes I heard out of this dubstep phenomenon came from one original dubstep don, Caspa (London) and West Coast bass delegate, Matty G, back in the summer of 2007 where the Bassline Pressure night was going down at Jilly’s on Broadway here in KC on Wednesday nights. I’ve propped up the Bassline Pressure events many times on this blog over the years, partially due to my own initial fascination with the sound and partially to let you know that dubstep didn’t first hit me through my laptop speakers or some blog, however mute. Now that dubstep is the premiere international club sound, with tracks appearing in Verizon commercials, etc., consider this Connectorville event at the Midland on February 3rd an example of where dubstep has been and where it’s at now. The guys who spun at the Bassline Pressure night were listening to dubstep “when it was called UK Garage”. I do not go near that far back with the sound, but I do have high hopes for this event (RSVP HERE).

The facebook event description reads, “3 stages of choice electronic music with an emphasis on Dubstep from its beginning to current day.” Basically, if you’re wondering what dubstep sounded like before the bro-shit, you need to be here. It’s a 16+ event rocking until 2:00 a.m.

Now for some of my favorite dubstep tracks from the ’07 era…

KC-Based Beats/Electronic [2011 Music Picks]

Chris Mills — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:26:59 +0000

With more artists in KC doing experimental, beat music derivatives this year, I thought this separate chart would only be right. I don’t think I had near as many favorite local beats to refer to when the Demencha writers put together their 2010 music picks last year. But in 2011, some said that electronic music exploded with more bang than in any other 365-day span, and somehow I imagine Skrillex being some kind of poster boy for this resurgence. Seems to me like music is easier to create nowadays and all these kids in their 20s who’ve been messing around with earlier versions of Fruity Loops in their bedrooms for the past five years are finally getting the hang of it and cranking out some real jams. I also think that dubstep’s BPM tempo (particularly arriving in Verizon commercials while the Dirty South still reigns in rap) has helped its crossover appeal in the United States much more than any style of electronic music has seen in years.

I did forewarn a lot of people that dubstep was about to see a big backlash in 2011, and it proved to be true. Am I happy to see Matty G at the Midland here in in a few weeks? Yes. Do I like the vast majority of dubstep tracks and mixes I listened to this year? No. I intentionally refrained from downloading or seeking out much dubstep this year, and seemingly every time someone referred me to something “so sick”, I couldn’t help but cringe after the drop.

For this local beats/electronic chart I’ve come up with to round out 2011, I’ve included 10 really slick compositions and official releases. The Excision, Datsik and whatever else that I’m still not sure how to dance to was left at home in my external, though. Beyond that, these were my favorite beats out of our area this year. Thank you for reading and listening on Demencha.com…

10. Leonard DStroy – “Sunnshine”
Sunnshine by Leonard Dstroy

This was my personal favorite from Lenny’s Inner Exit EP, which came out earlier this year. But with a brand new album out on Elm & Oak today, 2012 looks to be shaping up quite nicely for Lenny. “Sunnshine” sees him incorporating some jazzy horns and KRS-One’s “Woop, woop!” vocals which he’s using as a kind of territorial track marker on much of his recent work and live sets since crossing over from the local underground hip hop base, and breaking new ground for himself amongst an audience of glowstickers.

9. FreeKing – “Unreal” (DJ Mix)
FreeKing-Unreal by FreeKing

HAM. This mix plays out like a workout tape that FreeKing (FKA Rob Lee) made for a friend in need of a cardio soundtrack. Not only that, but this guy absolutely reigned at one of the Kansas City Techno parties at The Union in Westport over the summer. This brand of unrelenting techno is exactly what I needed for a lot of my long drives and work day motivation.

8. Archi & B-Stee – “Can’t Stop”
Archi & B-Stee – Can’t Stop by Think 2wice

Locals DJ Archi and DJ B-Stee cooked up a really cool moombahton flip of After 7’s “Can’t Stop”, hanging on to the chorus for the most part. While I decided that I did in fact like moombahton this year, I’m still not sure if this music is going to stick around very long. I still think moombahton is best appreciated when it’s played in a club and girls are getting down to it. In those instances, it can be pretty electric. But aside from David Heartbreak’s “moombahsoul” derivative, you might not be able to get into moombahton by just listening to it in your headphones at home. Archi and B-Stee have great anticipation for what can work on a dance floor. Trust in these two to stay on top of burgeoning club sounds in 2012.

7. Moodymatic – “Ampex Frequency” EP
Ampex Frequency EP by MOODYMATIC

The super-weird beat music movement gained even more steam in 2011 and showed everyone that current bass music doesn’t have to clock in at exactly 70 BPM and be completely ridiculous. I munched on these crunchy, glitched-out beats from North KC-based, Bmoody, and Midtown-marinating, Dan Matic, for a good part of 2011 and almost broke a tooth in the process. The whole Footclan are constantly making beats and putting them up for free download.

6. Sinjin Hawke & Morri$ – “One Kiss”

Barcelona-based dream beat weaver, Sinjin Hawke and Lawrencian, Morri$, came together on this “One Kiss” track just a few weeks ago. I’ve really been feeling this rush of melodic bass music that became more blogged about in 2011. A lot of the Team Bear Club sound (Morri$’ crew) comes out in this really shiny, fun take on trap-styled beats. After interviewing Morri$ at his crib in LK just about two weeks ago (check back for our Artist of the Month Feature in mid-January), it sounds like this guy could start making some rather massive moves soon.

5. Topp Boom – “Planet L.O.V.E.”
Topp Boom (aka Luke Rocha) – “Planet L.O.V.E.” by DEMENCHA MAGAZINE

Our Featured Artist of the Month for December, Luke Rocha aka Topp Boom, is still on that analog tip, but that doesn’t mean this track (and a lot of the music on the Symbol Heavy crew site) isn’t fantastic. Depending on how you look at it, the dustiness of the sample-based, “Planet L.O.V.E.”, may even enhance its beauty. With very little use of modern computer programs and technology, Topp Boom really turned out a gem here. But you will need to turn it up.

4. Motorboater – “Lessons”

This joint came out on Motorboater’s 2011 album, Sport, through the local indie champs at The Record Machine. I’m still not exactly sure how this guy performs when he plays out, but “Lessons” really hit the spot.

3. Miles Bonny – “We” [DRplus2 Remix]
We [DRplus2 REMIX] by Miles Bonny

DRplus2 (FKA Dr+) churned out an amazing beat disc over the summer. Oddly enough, I can’t remember if this track is on it or not, but that doesn’t matter because you can grab all of the official “We” remixes on Miles Bonny’s bandcamp page (including flips from Tactic and Chrissy Murderbot). But DR’s beat disc was never released online. If you don’t have one, and can enjoy any kind of hard, glitchy beats, you might want to hit him up. DRplus2 remains one of the most brilliant young producers out, and his remix of Miles’ “We” was one of my favorite local tracks of 2011.

2. Ghost – “Autoscopy” (beat album)
Fallen by Ghost_816

Citing Dr. Dre, 9th Wonder and Oscar Peterson as some of his main influences in an interview with us earlier this year, the classically-trained, 21-year old hip hop producer known simply as Ghost flew under the radar of a lot of local hip hop heads this year. But I fully expect business to start picking up for him a lot more in 2012. There’s not necessarily much pop potential in his beats yet, they’re just really solid hip hop jams intended for really solid rappers. But until Ghost starts serving more beats out to vocalists, I’ll hope and pray that none of them fuck anything up because these tracks stand out on their own already.

1. Nezbeat – “Children of the Ghetto”
Children of the Ghetto by Good Hair (Nezbeat & Joe Good)

One half of Lawrence hip hop duo, Archetype, and wonderful beat-maker, Nezbeat, really outdid himself here. I distinctly remember my jaw dropping at my desk as I got to the 1:45 mark shortly after getting his Good Hair project (a lost album of sorts, featuring former KC rapper, Joe Good) this year. Nez leaves plenty of room for his own singing throughout the melody-drenched airiness and bent-up bass. Deep and inspiring, “Children of the Ghetto” is one of the most rewarding tracks I’ve heard out of KC/Lawrence (and beyond) all year.