LIGHTNING COLLECTIVE

Honestly good b-roll music.

Pretty much go travel with whoever, your S.O., friends, it doesn’t matter. This song has enough feel good vibes going on.

Lightning Collective URL is dead but the Tumblr still lives.

I’ve been on this Japanese bass, glitch, and bubblegum pop nonsense lately. Whenever people ask what I’m listening to, it’s basically something like this (above). 

Iglooghost is a producer from the UK and I’ve been following his content for quite sometime. He posted this long mix which he runs to and then hinted that he had a lot of new content coming out. Well, here it is and it’s insane. To a normal person this may be crazy stuff but to me, it’s gorgeous material. This is honestly the stuff I would want to DJ with if my friend Daylen ever has a slot for me to DJ his “Internet Friends” event here in Chicago.

Whoa, it’s been awhile guys!

I think this site deserves some love here and there, right? Don’t worry, I’m still engaged in the music and the community but I’ve been busy with...well, life. Things have changed in the blogosphere but look, my purpose for this website still lives on - no critiques, no review, no grades, etc. Just sharing what I like and hope you will too. I hope to keep this up a bit more but we’ll see. If I don’t, feel free to message me.

Anyways, here’s one that I stumbled upon years ago. It’s one of my favorite remixes of “Lindsay Lowend - GT40″. The original is great but what ABSRDST has done put an entire new flair of a chiptune style meets trap. It’s shimmery, fun, and it’s fun AF.

Miami Horror is back and they’re streaming their new album ‘All Possible Futures’ on Spotify a week ahead of their 4/21 release on Haven Sounds / Dine Alone Records!

After touring the world multiple times over and internationally repping their Australian brand of electronica, Miami Horror are set to return in 2015 with their new album All Possible Futures, a record showcasing their eclectic mix of influences, newfound identity and focus on developed songwriting sure to cement their position in the electronic music world once again.

All Possible Futures showcases Miami Horror's growth over the past five years, reflecting influences from their worldwide travels, while still retaining the band's funky yet sophisticated style. From the easy groove of "Real Love" to the ecstatic rhythms of "Love Like Mine," (video premiering next week) All Possible Futures is destined to become one of the brightest soundtracks of summer 2015.

"If your summertime to-do list consists of BBQs, pool parties, dancing, hot days, wild nights, kissing, or all of the above, then you need to make Miami Horror your soundtrack." - Nylon

My goodness, this song is so psychedelic funky fun! I’m excited to see them in Chicago @ Schuba’s on 6/30 and ready to get my dance on - anyone wanna join me?

Bring us back, bring us back, to our very first breath

Listen, Hudson Mohawke is back! It’s been months since he released the ever so popular Apple 'Stickers’ commercial featuring his song ‘Chimes’. Of course, it was naturally a hit. Almost any song featured on an Apple commercial, that artist or band is bound to get popular in so many media outlets. Hudson Mohawke (truly Ross Birchard) intertwined hip hop and electronic music, essentially cultivating an unique sound that was different. That sound blew up ten-fold and resonated to everyone's ears.

I recall hearing Hudson Mohawke for the first time at BURNS opening set for Deadmau5 in Philadelphia many many years ago and Shazam’ed it realizing it was called ‘Fuse’. The song was so different than what I was normally listening to and it was a new addiction. That new addiction brought him to create a side project with DJ Lunice called TNGHT - famously known for trap music. I honestly don’t know what happened to them and Lunice but Hudson Mohawke is back with a new track off his sophomore album “Lanterns” called ‘Very First Breath’ 

What I admire the most about this new material is that he collaborated it Breakbot’s (Ed Banger Records) vocal guy - Irfane. It’s been so long since I heard something from him and I’m glad the two are together collaborating now. 

“Honestly I can’t remember all my teenage feelings and their meanings.”

Taken from the third track “Honestly?” sung by Mike Kinsella off of their only album self titled in 1999. But if you listen carefully to the next line “They seem too/ See-through/ To be true.” is just expressing his years of constant teenage emotion through music and eventually defining a mature self of what he’s today. American Football’s music (self-identifying emo music) was so raw, refined, and much more explanatory - honestly one of my favorites of the time. 

Let’s to back in time for a moment. One album and this song - Never Meant, arguably the best of the entire album came out in September 14, 1999. The band members were attending University of Illinois at the time. So let’s jump to present day, it is 2015 and it makes the song officially 15 years old. Crazy, right? Now to flashback when this came out again, I recall being a teenage of the music scene in my middle school years. This genre of music was perfect and provided an outlet to many emotionally. 

They recently released a Deluxe reissue of their self titled album and now touring the world (one event which I’ll be seeing them at - Primavera Sound). I can honestly admit, I've been listening to this song over a decade now and American Football will always resonate with me.  

 Let’s get lost tonight.

Louis Futon does it again. Taking the Philly bounce to his remixes and this time to G-Eazy’s “Lets Get Lost” feat Devon Baldwin. G-Eazy (truly Gerald Earl Gillum) has been under the spotlight for quite some time - opening act for Drake, his album “These Things Happen” peaking at #3 in the Billboard 200, and doing a remake/updated version of 1961 "Runaround Sue" by Dion DiMucci.

Since Chicago has been heating up, I've been on that summer mood lately. Though the original is much more sensual/baby make material, this is purely just another flair that you can dance to. I won’t lie, I do like the original a lot too - he has ridiculously good flow/delivery. 

Mark John's (no, not a dude) is actually a freshly 21 year old as of 5 days ago. Well, at least according to her Soundcloud track post.

I feel like everyone could enjoy a vibrant song like this '5 South'. Whether you work stuck at work (like me) or soaking in the sun at home, this really hit the spot. Alexander Lewis feat. Brasstracks collaborated on this piece of work and it's clear of their distinctive styles. My take on it is that Alexander laid the rhythm and ground work and Brasstracks added the fun flare - this is purely on listening to their other work on Soundcloud. Somehow, someway, the mash of the two uniquely blended their styles and created one hell of of a groovy track that will make you want to vibe out wherever you are.

Monday. The day we all hate the most. We can all somewhat agree to that, right?

Since I've been back on the grind of blogging and sharing content with all of you, I'm happy to share a personal favorite of mine. Here's a funky flip that I like to use on my DJ sets to get all of you pretty ladies and gents bodies moving -- Disclosure - Latch by Stwo & Phazz. Here's a bit of a story why I love this track so much on sets.

...I used this on a set during the hot summer for a friends art gallery viewing and I was lined up to play music throughout the night. The mini-bar was packed like sardines and the eclectic crowd filled up the gallery space. It was a very typical - barista's, ad-agency peeps, creative designers, artists, curators, musicians, business people, and even writers of all sorts. Honestly my kind of scene that I typically get into.

As night drew on, the space was getting dark, dimly lit, and everyone started to let loose - you just knew the the dance floor was born. When the time was right, Latch (Stwo & Phazz Edition) had to be played. From a distance, I could see the entire floor was filled with sweaty bodies bumping and grinding against each other. The beat was perfect and when things slowed itself down @ 1:05, I kid you not, you could see so many intertwining themselves into one another making out, getting freaky, and shit. 

I swear, the song just gets better and better after every listen. The chorus, I can't even describe. You simply just have to experience it on the dance floor with your boo, bae, whatever it is. 

I was going to post something a little more crazier but I wanted to start off the week with a track that's worthy listening to.

Phantogram (duo - Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel) are one of very select few duo bands that I appreciate. Reasons being

Josh Carter is a solid producer

Sarah Barthel knows how to seriously own the stage, mic, and crowd

Their music is beautifully crafted studio and or LIVE

I saw Phantogram @ Metro in Chicago a year or two ago(?) by myself and I must admit that it amazing. At one point I was on the balcony overseeing the entire venue, took a gander at everyone from my left to right, and everyone was just sweating and dancing the night away. Looking up, Sarah was pouring her heart out to the crowd while everyone synchronized to the beats was quite the view. You could tell everyone was in a deep trance of fun - what we all need, right?

OK, for all of you Danny Brown fans, this is for you. This track, Black Out Days is basically a hyper flip version with Danny Brown but hella better. When I say that, the first thing I thought was

"wow, I hope they do this LIVE at a show some day. this is festival worthy."

...I hope they do.

The Code | Her

Before I go MIA this weekend, you know that Valentine's stuff. I wanted to share a track that is sensual as fuck. 

The Code (duo from the UK) really knows how to turn the heat on with "Her". Inspired by Spike Jonze cinematic release of the same name, it will captivate you with so much emotion. Blending both R&B with so much soul, lustrous deep throbbing lows, and minimal vocals where you can barely make out of what they're saying - it truly makes it flawless. 

One may think the meaning of this song correlates to the void of loneliness not being noticed. Vice versa, it may provoke the deep love you have for one another. It draws you in and however you perceive it is what you'll make of it.

Happy (early) Valentine's. <3

xx

--

Zhu - Faded (Lido Remix)

Slowing things down a bit tonight. 

Zhu (Steven Zhu) is the banksey of the EDM world. If you guys don't know banksey, he's notoriously known for his street art work. Thus ZHU is that for the EDM world, purely keeping his identity a mystery but only depicted by his material. He will remain anonymous and it wasn't purely for the sake of the music but ultimately to feed the public the desire of to want what they can't have - his identity. 

Featured is the Lido remix (another great producer imo) and it gives a whole new flair of the original. If I had to relate him to another producer, perhaps classic CMYK James Blake(?) The original is more house oriented and Lido doing what he does best, change the whole dynamic of the song but keep the roots getting the best of you somehow - you'll never know. 

ODESZA - All We Need (feat. Shy Girls) (Louis Futon Remix)

I wanted to apologize for my major hiatus. Recently met someone great and out of the blue she said "you should get back into it" and it honestly kind of hit me hard in a good way. Crazy how that little phrase can change so much or inspire you back to the roots. I was looking back at mixes (yeah, I used to DJ), curated playlists for myself and for friends, and then scrolling through all of my favorites on Soundcloud made me miss it - nostalgia feelings. Anyways, I'm back and here's my first post of 2015.

Odesza consists of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight (music duo hailing from Seattle). I won't lie, they came out of nowhere and took off in the scene with their most famous song "Say My Name (feat Zyra)". All of their content is catchy, the vocals are spot on, and they know how to grab your eyes and ears live too. Seattle has such a hidden talent in electronic scene and when they come alive, they always surprise me. The song featured is my most recent stuck on repeat track called "All We Need" remixed by Louis Futon. Formerly a duo but a recent departure made the name into one. All the way from east coast, my home city of Philadelphia, Louis Futon knows how to change the entire song into a gem. This song (FREE download) really gets a good grasp of you and seriously makes you wanna bust a move. 

Bipolar Sunshine knows how to flip the gloomy rainy day upside down. I can't stop listening to this.

...we go all night long, all night long. sometimes through the day. 

Lightning Collective turned 5 today!

...holy shit, time flew by.

Maxwell - Ascension (aywy. & Sh?m Edit)

Dear reader -

I've been on a hiatus because I had a Tumblr copyright infringement (#20). I've been in contact with Tumblr Support for a month and they've acknowledged my request with...

Hello,

Thank you for your note. We're really sorry. The email you received was due to an automated DMCA notification processing system that may have gone awry. We're currently investigating the situation and will get back to you with more details about this as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please review our Community Guidelines around copyright infringement, and in particular, our policy prohibiting repeat infringement:https://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/community

Thank you – Tumblr Trust & Safety

No response came back after all. Since I'm on high alert, I will do my best to share the music that you all deserve through Soundcloud so I don't get anymore infringements. I got a slew of new tracks to share and here's one of my favorite classics with a funky flip 'Maxwell - Ascension (aywy. & Sh?m Edit)'

When you really wanna get into some funk...open your ears, and vibe out to this. I listen to every morning and it starts my day off on the right foot. I mean honestly, it doesn't matter where you're at, this is perfect to dance to. Enjoy.