It’s Been Awhile…
Haven’t done a blog post in awhile, but I’ve been listening to some really dope stuff lately so I figured I ought to share.
I have a super eclectic taste in music. I grew up playing classical music on the piano, with a few years of flute and trumpet mixed in there as well. I think learning how to play those instruments, playing with other musicians, and learning how to read music, gave me a greater appreciation for music as a whole. Whether I’ve been sad or happy or angry or heart broken or whatever, I’ve always turned to music. Maybe I was just super lonely growing up because I’m an only child but we’ll pretend that’s not the case.
My parents grew up in the 60s and 70s (and were major hippies, like my dad had long hair for like, awhile) so I grew up listening to some of the greatest rock musicians of all time. My favorites being Hendrix, Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, The Who, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, The Stones, BB King… I could go on but I won’t.
I think my parents own something like 500 CDs. There’s an entire floor to ceiling bookshelf in our house filled with them. So I guess I could blame my obsession with music on them.
My true love is house music (obviously), but on any given day you can catch me listening to anything from jazz to hip hop to indie rock to moombahton. Some of my favorite bands of the moment are Of Monsters and Men, Tame Impala, Alt J, Local Natives, The xx, Alabama Shakes, etc.
I’m also totally obsessed with hip hop and rap. I have yet to stop listening to Kendrick’s new (and old) album and I love me some 2 Chainz and A$AP Rocky as well.
So you see what I mean.
Actually, if you really want to see how widely ranging my taste is, check out some of my playlists on Spotify here.
Between my hour long commute, sitting at a desk all day, and hitting the gym after work, you will rarely find me headphone-less. Lately I’ve been super into essential mixes and podcasts, especially Diplo and Friends on BBC Radio 1, because you get an hour (or two) long mix that a DJ has specifically crafted for you. A lot of the time it’s stuff you wouldn’t necessarily hear if you saw that person live (Avicii’s mix for Diplo and Friends is a perfect example of that), but rather music that the artist enjoys themselves or is inspired by.
With all of that being said, here are some mixes I have not stopped listening to in the past few weeks, as well as a link for Araab Muzik’s new mixtape, because it’s just fucking bomb.
What all of these mixes have in common (and why I can’t stop listening to them) is that they all combine songs and sounds from different genres, to create a final product that is interesting and different, not just the 20 same electro songs every DJ is dropping in their sets right now.
Nicolas Jaar’s Essential Mix is really fucking weird (and I love every minute of it), while Mat Zo’s just makes me super happy, and Prydz’s is magical (as expected). Even Avicii’s mix on Diplo’s show is funky and fun and the exact opposite of what you would expect from Mr. Levels. One of my favorites is definitely Diplo’s “got stoned and mixed really old records for half an hour”. I mean, the guy is a legend. ENJOY!
Max Vangeli Podcast feat. DJ Bambi
Nadastrom on Diplo and Friends
Dillon Francis on Diplo and Friends
Flosstradamus on Diplo and Friends
Araab Muzik - For Professional Use Only
Diplo - Got Stoned and Mixed Really Old Records for Half an Hour
![WHY I LOVE DIPLO
One thing I’m definitely NOT shy about is my obsession with Diplo. Let me break it down for you. Not only is he a SMASHINGLY good live DJ, he’s an insane producer (please, just google it), his voice makes me melt, and he has a tendency to take his shirt off during his shows and well, I’m not complaining.
After seeing him on Sunday at Pier 94 in NYC, alongside Rusko and Afrojack, he is officially not only my favorite DJ, but probably my favorite man on the planet, and DEFINITELY the sexiest. We all know how much I love Afrojack, and Diplo crushed his set at Pier 94. There’s not even a comparison. I’ve been trying to see if that ish was recorded so I could re-listen but so far no luck. If I find it, I’ll make sure to share it with ya’ll.
In the meantime, if you’ve never listened to his Diplo & Friends show on BBC Radio 1, you gots ta check that shit out. Here’s one of my favorite episodes (thanks to EDM Tunes for the downlink):
DOWNLOAD: www.edmtunes.com/2012/11/congorock-gta-diplo-and-friends-11-11-2012/
TracklistZeds Dead – Cowboy (Congorock Remix) [Ultra]Congorock – Bless Di Nation (feat. Sean Paul and Stereomassive) [Ultra]Congorock – Bless Di Nation (Clockwork Remix) (feat. Sean Paul and Stereomassive) [Ultra]Congorock – Untitled [unreleased]The Astronomer – Gargoile [unreleased]Javier Estrada – Oroco [unreleased]Cryogenix – Fire Like This (Daddy’s Groove Re-Beats) [Spinning]MixHell – Exit Wound (Savage Skulls Remix) [Boys Noize Records]Tommy Trash – Truffle Pig [Fool’s Gold Records]Calvin Harris – Let’s Go (Wallrocker Remix) (feat. Ne-Yo) [unreleased]Congorock – Monolith [Ultra]Benny Benassi – Perfect Storm (Clockwork Remix) (feat. Pink Is Punk) [Ultra]Felix Cartal & Maja Ivarsson – Tonight (Botnek Remix) [Dim Mak Records]Congorock – Agarta [Ultra]Tittsworth & Valentino Khan – TNT [Mixmash Records]Crookers – A GOGO [unreleased]Phat Deuce & Big Makk – ID [unreleased]Congorock – Ivory [Ultra]Congorock – Ivory (Slow C00kers Remix) [Unreleased]Congorock – Bablylon (Cesquax Remix) [Unreleased]GTA – Grand Theft Audio (GTA Intro Edit)GTA, Henrix & Digital Lab – Hit It (Original Mix)GTA, Paris & Simo – Eclipse (Original Mix)GTA – AuroraJacob van Hage & Saint Liz vs Modjo – Voodoo Lady (Jacob Van Hage Mashup)Breakdown & Korn – F****** Lose It (GTA Remix) vs Got The Life (GTA Edit)Alvaro, Crookers & Nero – Pay Laughing Attention To The Fugue (Ken Loi Mashup) [unreleased]Chuckie & Junxterjack – Make Some Noise (Original Mix)Chris Lake – Sundown (Fyor Remix)GTA, Paris & Simo – Canadia (Original Mix)Jordy Dazz & Dannic – Fuego (Original Mix)Paris & Simo & Charlie Darker – ID (Original Mix)D-Rashid & Blasterjaxx – Reborn (Original Mix)GTA & Paris & Simo – Sunburn (Original Mix)GTA – Sunshine (Original Mix)GTA – Ai Novinha (Moska Remix)Gregor Salto & Franky Rizardo – Azumba Black Out (Jacob Van Hage Mashup)GTA – Shake Dem (Original Mix)Skitzofrenix – Respek Di WomanDJ B-Stee – Whip (Original Mix)Sl0w C00ker – Bubbles (Original Mix)Hardwell – Spaceman (Carnage Festival Trap Remix)Rihanna – Cockiness (Headspin & Grandtheft Remix)GTA – U&I (VIP Mix) (feat. Zashanell)Major Lazer – Jah No Partial (Original Mix) (feat. Flux Pavillion)UZ, Buju & Theory – Crazy TalkBenga – Electro West (Original Mix)Kill The Noise – Mosh It Up (Original Mix)Jamtech, Bounty Hunter & Rick Ross – Dedicated vs BMF (Acapella) (GTA Edit) (feat. Styles P)Missy Elliot – Loose Control (Lucky Beard and Stabber Remix)A-Trak, Zinc & Lil Jon – Stingray (JWLS Trap Flip) vs Snap Yo Fingers (Acapella) (GTA Edit)Steve Aoki – Emergency (Laidback Luke Remix) (feat. Lil Jon)GTA & P.Diddy – Zero Bad Boys (GTA Bootleg)2 Chainz – Birthday Song (The Reef & 2Deep Remix)Clockwork – BBBS (GTA Remix)GTA – Booty Bounce (Original Mix)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/50ce8b11466b8050a4c20295e7b0f36f/tumblr_mg2a05shlI1qdr77xo1_500.jpg)
