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When one thinks of that cumbersomely inclusive descriptor that is “electronic” music or “electronica” more often than not the average person conjures the image of some fist-pumping 18 year olds sucking on lollipops and pacifiers at a “rave” (perhaps the most misunderstood musical phenomena ever, but that’s a rant for another day). Robert Hood, however, is here to break that mold. As founding father of that elusive genre “minimalist” electronic music which for so long went unacknowledged, Hood has done well to bring electronic music back to its roots and original intentions by bringing a refreshingly cerebral approach to electronic music with a thorough thematic production that gives the listener an enrapturing experience on his recently released album Omega.
Earlier this week Newsweek put out an insightful report on the decline of American creativity. The report profiles the research of professor E. Paul Torrance started some years ago and geared toward measuring the creativity of children. Through a series of tests, children are asked to perform tasks that indicate to psychologists a “Creativity Quotient” of sorts. What’s most interesting is that while the tests are obviously imperfect, the correlation between a child’s CQ and their eventual accomplishments as adults was “more than three times stronger for childhood creativity than childhood IQ.”
Furthermore, Newsweek goes on to describe the importance of “creativity” for success, the overarching theme being that the decline of creativity in the United States not only has individual consequences but implications on a macroeconomic level.
“The potential consequences are sweeping. The necessity of human ingenuity is undisputed. A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future. Yet it’s not just about sustaining our nation’s economic growth. All around us are matters of national and international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace to Afghanistan to delivering health care. Such solutions emerge from a healthy marketplace of ideas, sustained by a populace constantly contributing original ideas and receptive to the ideas of others.”
The lesson here: quit those video games and do something…anything.
About a year ago while perusing random DJ Myspaces, I noticed in a particularly remarkable photo a turntable desk that seemed to be floating in mid air. I took it to be a Photoshop trick and moved on with my day, but thanks to a friend I now know that it was the geniuses at Berlin based design firm Metrofarm.
Their work ranges creating innovative furniture, designing attention grabbing retail displays and packages, design consulting, and curating for galleries and individual clients. Needless to say their high-end DJ desks are my favorite, especially the one that is built directly into the wall (!!!) but their site (www.metrofarm.net) showcases their talent including projects they’ve done for Nike, Absolut Vodka, and Pioneer. Make sure you check ‘em out, these guys are pretty good.
As the latest addition to the Mediated Media writing staff I wanna thank James for allowing me to collaborate with him on this. I’ve always been technologically unsavvy so having something like this site to move with is a small blessing.
For those of you wondering 21/M/Ann Arbor, MI. For everyone else, my name is Bryan D. Davila, I’m a senior at the University of Michigan but am originally from Los Angeles, CA (Alhambra to be specific). I’ve been a music enthusiast since I can remember; thanks to my sister, some early favorites of mine include Weezer “Blue”, RATM’s “Battle of Los Angeles”, and Beck “Odelay” to name a few. However, my biggest life regret to date is making Limp Bizkit “Significant Other” the first album I ever purchased.
I’m a DJ on campus playing parties, small clubs, and on a radio show on 88.3 WCBN FM Ann Arbor (www.wcbn.org). I enjoy dance music when it comes to mixing so if you happen to catch my show (Sunday mornings 3-6am EST) you’ll notice that I often go from electro to house to disco to minimal and back. For a more laidback feel, check me out on WCBN Sunday nights from 11pm-1am where I host while my friend DJ Teddy Ruck-spin plays hip-hop to ease you into the week.
I’m excited to contribute to Mediated Media; hopefully within the next few weeks you will get to know me a little better through my posts and the mixes I hope to put together for the site. For now I’ll leave you all with a small gift:
Yesterday, the production team Special Problems released a video that they did for Flying Lotus’ track off of Cosmogramma title “Mmmhmm”. Featuring Thundercat, “Mmmhmm” is great in itself, but the video takes soothing vocals and an atmospheric melody to another level. Moving between distant astral planes and NES game worlds, Special Problems did well in producing this video for Fly Lo. I trust you won’t be disappointed.
Compliments of newly added Mediated Media member/author Bryan Davila (a.k.a. Thelonius Funk a.k.a. DJ Funk It). I’ve got some sick new new from English guitarist, producer, and co-founder of Allido Records. Ronson has produced some of the hottest albums and artists of the past decade including: Sean Paul - Dutty Rock, Teriyaki Boyz - Beef or Chicken, Ol’ Dirty Bastard - Osirus, Amy Winehouse - Back to Black, Wale - 100 Miles & Running, Wale - The Mixtape About Nothing. It comes as know surprise to see that for his new single “Bang Bang Bang” he enlisted the talents of none other than Q Tip. One thing is for sure, Ronson knows how to put out hits.
Enjoy the video and check out his Myspace for more tracks.
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If there is one thing I love about Summer it’s mixtapes. Today I’ve got one more for you listening pleasure, this time from Miami native Lazaro Casanova. Casanova pumps out some serious House tunes latent with Funk and Afro-Cuban roots. I was interested to read his bio on his website and learn that
“He is a regular at Club Aura in Monterrey Mexico, where he holds a residency and plays an infamous 7 hour set, which ends at about 11 am. Aura is responsible for many great acts coming to Monterrey including, Matthew Dear, Seth Troxler, Magda, Richie Hawtin and more.”
I guess I know where I’ll be making an appearance in Monterrey as I make the move to Mexico in the coming months; I’m pretty thrilled to catch this dude live and dance ’til daybreak.
Enjoy Mr. Casanova himself as he keeps it sweltering for the Summer.
I used to be a huge hip-hop head. Used to be. Until discovering this mix from the good folks at Discobelle it had been quite some time since hip-hop/rap had managed to hold my attention for more than 3 songs at a time with the singular exception of Diplo’s Free Gucci mixtape. So you can imagine how refreshing it is to hear this superbly blended and well thought-out mixtape by French DJ/producer Brodinksi. This latest mixtape is a two-parter the first half of which is addressed to hip-hop/rap that I surprisingly found more enticing than the B side of straight up electro mixes (shocking, indeed). Be sure to take a listen and follow the links to check him out some more.
If you couldn’t get enough of it the first time on Frank Chan’s This Summer Vibes mixtape on the post before this, here you go. Great video for a great song.
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I think I’m in love. I feel like I say this at least once a month but Mad Decent up and done it again. Whose the latest attraction on world-renowned record label Mad Decent’s site this month (besides Diplo himself and Major Lazer)? Franki Chan. I honestly feel like it’s not even fair that Mad Decent exists in the electronic music world anymore, they just consistently attract too good of talent. Somehow (please don’t ask me how or hold it against me), I had never heard of this enchanting Midwest’s own Master of the Mix from Indiana but no doubt after some proper listening he now holds a spot in my top electronic artists.
I was awaiting it long before it ever came out but somehow ended sleeping on it so on a beautiful summer’s day such as today I bring you the LA Riots Spring Mix 2010. Also as a bonus I’m throwing in my favorite mix of the year so far which flew significantly under the radar of many, Jamaica’s “Mixtape II” released on MadDecent.com.
Jamaica is that duo who brought you the hit single “I Think I like U 2″ under French fashion/record label Kitsune earlier this year. They’ve got a very sensible funk and boogie sound about them calling back to early dancehall hits of the early 80’s and late 70’s with an edgy electronic feel that keeps you wondering if you’re really just stuck in a time warp or somehow being fooled by the tunes. Throw this mix on at the pool as you sip some Miller High Life in a coozie, and rock those Wayfarers with Croakies.
Similarly, the LA Riots mix takes a step away from their usually harder and edgier electro sound in the direction of equal parts funk, house, and late 80’s pop. These guys are serious DJ’s and have been fast rising on Fool’s Gold Records as two of the top DJ’s in the nation.
Take a listen.
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