Funky Friday Vol. 19

Now I know VCH has been a little slow this week but not to worry, we are making up for our absence now. The cold weather is beginning to come in place of the warm, tank wearing days but I won't let that stop our grooving. I got a key mix from RAC that will dominate your weekend:

Stadium House Friday

Stadium House for you as usual, but on a Friday this time. Unfortunately,'Don't You Worry Child' will indeed be the final single of the Swedish House Mafia. The Swedish trio that came, and raved, and loved as clearly seen above from their Madison Square Garden performance. The bright side - neither of those Swedes are planning to stop making music at all. Today I have proof of that.Today I have music for you... and a lot of it, and I hope you enjoy. I'll start off with a track I have personally been tracking for quite some time now. Steve Angello's 'Yeah!' finally was aired on Pete Tong's show as a finished product. This will be quite the release soon. Following, I've got new Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash, Bingo Players, Fedde le Grand & Deniz Koyu, Third Party, Chuckie, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Nom De Strip from Rising Music, and finally a spectacular set recorded by Thomas Gold, from his latest Governor's Island performance featuring live drummers.



Gets released this month!


Bingo Players' newest addition to their soundcloud.


These two are on a roll. They simply can't put out a bad track.


I got into an argument yesterday about how I thought Daft Punk was overrated... I even said I preferred listening to Third Party over them. Can't help it, these guys make amazing sounds.


Chuckie's been MIA for a little white, here's a snippet of his latest tune.


Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike are over 600k LIKES on facebook. They're doing something right.


Always interested in what Chris Lake decides to drop on his label. Here's the new banger. Wow.


I really wish I could have witnessed this set live. Unbelievable.

Whitnoize's Blazamo ft. Remix by Wild Boyz! & Interview with Wild Boyz!

The dynamic duo, Wild Boyz!, recently released their remix of Whitnoize's Blazamo. The electro house track features grimey bouncey basslines (the ones that make you fidget a little) layered with some groovy synths guaranteed to get you up on your feet. Think of it this way: clean but dirty. It's like that moment when someone is nice enough to offer you some candy, only to throw them in your face! I know, what's that suppose to mean? Check out the track at the bottom of the page, you'll find out.

Together with the release, we had the chance to pick the brains of these two upcoming producers to find out what makes them tick.

VCH: Thanks for doing the interview, can't wait to have you guys tear it up at Trinity soon!

Wild Boyz!: Thanks for having us. We’re really excited to come play at Trinity, too. It will
be our first big show as Wild Boyz! so we can’t wait.

VCH: So let’s start off with a quick intro. Name, birthplace, currently residing, college, the
whole nine yards.

Kean: My name is Kean Bartelman, I was born in Michigan, raised in Indiana, and I’m
currently living in San Francisco. I graduated from the Culver Academies in 2007, and
from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2011.

Jared: Yo! I'm Jared Forkner. I was born here in California but moved to Indiana for
boarding school, coincidentally the same one as Kean, when I was 14. Then I attempted
to go to college, 3 times, in Colorado from 2000-2003 and finally re-emigrated to SF. I've
been living in SF since 2003 and currently live with my wife in SOMA.

VCH: How did you two meet? What sparked the creation of Wild Boyz!?

Jared: I had this annoying liittle brat hit me up on twitter. Just kidding, not a brat. We
chatted on the phone and next thing I know I've got a little brother.

VCH: Describe your ideal sound/vibe when you produce/DJ.

Kean: High energy and in your face, but still danceable. Personally, I’m really into the
glitch electro stuff, so when I play solo gigs you will hear a bit more of that, but the Wild
Boyz! sound is meant for the big room/main stage. It’s big, ravey, and a bit abrasive.

Jared: Ideal…hmmm. I love a variety of things. As a DJ I just wanna see people move.
Whether its to some deep techno or house, or crazy drum and bass. I just love the
reaction of a good crowd. I personally love the more emotional EDM stuff. However, I
love jumpy stuff with fun melodies, too. I guess it all depends on what hat I'm wearing at
the moment. As Jared F I tend to be more big room and dutchy, my alter ego Bubba is
deep and techy, and Wild Boyz! is just hard, fun bangers.

VCH: When you got into producing/DJing, who was your idol/inspiration? Who did you
look up to?

Kean: Nero was my biggest inspiration to produce. The first time I heard their music I
was blown away by how musical it was, even though it was so dark and heavy. Of
course, there’s a long list of artists whose work I really admire, but Nero was the reason
I ever wanted to produce.

Jared: When I was growing up I'd listen to the old electronica show on Live 105 here in
SF. Those days it was “rave” stuff. Lots of Prodigy, Orbital, acid house. Orbital has a
track called Halcyon On and On that I heard in the closing scene to the first Mortal
Kombat movie. I rushed out, got the soundtrack, and fell in love. Lots of industrial music
and trance and such through the 90s, sprinkled with punk & pop. That’s why Kean and I
get along so well. We love that pop punk cheese.

VCH: I’m sure you’ve seen the articles and opinions (Deadmau5’s We Push Play, A-Trak
on Huffington Post, Z-Trip on inthemix.au) on the current state of DJing. What’s your
take?

Kean: I’m honestly tired of hearing about this. In my opinion, the setup you use is up to
you. I think everybody in this debate has a valid point to some extent, but they all come
from different backgrounds as far as live performance is concerned. As long as you
aren’t acting like the second coming of Christ on stage while a pre-recorded mix is
playing, I don’t care what you use. Just play good music, and play it well.

Jared: I push play, then I do stuff. I get bored too easily so my performance setup is
always growing & evolving. I do use sync but I played vinyl for 10 years. Anyone has
beef…bring some wax and lets battle.

VCH: What’s your setup when you play out? And what’s your most ideal setup to have?

Jared: Kean keeps it from getting too crazy…well, so does my wife because I'd spend
every penny on gear & plugins if I could. These days we keep it kinda simple…laptop
running traktor, X1 and an iPad (iConnect MIDI so we don't drop connection) & a DJM
900. As soon as I'm permitted, I'll get a F1 and start incorporating more sample decks.

VCH: I’m sure you guys have big plans ahead. What should we look out for in the next 6
or 9 months?

Kean: Our debut EP and some small-scale touring in the near future. We’ve also got a
bunch of ideas for our second “Illegal Remix EP,” which we’ll be giving away for free
once it’s done.

Jared: Tons of new music & hopefully some dope shows!

Midweek Trance Tracks

Traaahhhnce.

After seeing Above and Beyond at Tomorrowland,  I have been conducting the trance train across my college campus ever since.  Everyone was so into the house anthem thing since last year (Levels...), but trance just brings cleaner, more intense energy.  The beats per minute in an average trance song is usually higher than that of house tracks, but this keeps the crowd moving faster.  To me, a trance set live is a journey with the people next to you in the crowd. DJ's and groups like Above and Beyond,  Armin Van Buuren,  Paul Van Dyk, and Jaytech provide fans and concertgoers around the world with trance tunes that pump adrenaline through their bodies and uplift them.  This all sounds really majestic, but Above and Beyond did that to me at Tomorrowland.

Check out some of my top trance tracks for the week.

First, here's Jaytech's remix of "If I Could Fly" by Above and Beyond.



This is a classic track, but some many not have heard the club mix. Above and Beyond's sound is too beautiful.



"You Got to Go" is a great Above and Beyond track that uplifts.



Here is Paul Van Dyk's new album, Evolution! Its magic.



Enjoy and dance.

Electro Madness Monday

I apologize for my extended absence. The beats have been coming except I have not been writing. Very selfish of me i must say. But I am back with a host of new beats for your aural pleasure. If your into getting jacked up Monday is your day here at VCH caus I got a stable of crazy electro hau5 beats for you.

Been meaning to post this track for weeks but its title is on point. Electro Heat coming. Money vocals add just enough flavor to the raunchy drops. Me like.


Download Neon Stereo, Cold Blank Fire (Original Mix)


2nd Post I have been secretly selfish about. Deorro formarly TON!C makes it rain. This one gets me going like Kangaroo does....and Kangaroo does something unnatural to my head and stomach. So let it happen.


Download Cratesz Shotgun (Deorro Remix)

I love that Firebeatz is at least making an effort to move out of Crunchy bass madness. I like it.


Download Firebeatz, Schella Dear New York


Dyro has been doing some very solid work with vocals lately, Same old crazy shit. But I'm not mad about it. The Remix of Feed the Dada is a solid notch above the original in my book.

Download Amba Shepherd, Dyro Sky High (Original Mix)



Download Dada Life Feed the Dada (Dyro Remix)


And just because I have been totally off the ball lately I figured a downloadable version of "Feed the Dada" would be accepted


Download Dada Life Feed The Dada (Original Mix)


#gethard

Stadium House Saturday

Round of applause to these two Swedes, who've just released their debut, highly anticipated, album  "People of the Night." I have been tracking this album like the hip hop community has for Dr. Dre's "Detox." And to those Dre fans I say, "Good luck." Both Max Vangeli & AN21 abruptly announced that their album had come out this previous Monday, through Facebook status' and twitter-tweets. And as I checked Dancing Astronaut for some Electric Zoo set downloads I stumbled upon an album review for People of the Night! Bought it immediately... abused the headphones... you know the deal I'm sure. I love this album. I wish they had promoted it better before the release of the album (a countdown of sorts...), regardless, it's out and I couldn't be happier with effort the Size Record's artists have given. Dancing Astronaut gave this album a 2.5/5 - I would give this album a 4.5/5. I've listened to it all the way, forwards and backwards a plethora of times, and as a prospective DJ myself, it gets me excited for the future. These guys are still underground in the house world! Max Vangeli might have got a promising DJ for 2012 article on the MTV website, but that does not mean people know this guy outside the edm world. AN21, so many people still don't even know he's brothers with Steve Angello! These two do not have a long discography of tracks made, but they do have a long list of tours they've accomplished. Including headlining Sensation White. They make loud, progressive bombs like most Swedes do. Exactly what the SIZE camp has been putting forth, month after month. This album truly deserves a purchase from anyone who loves house music. I have two songs for you today (along with new AVICII, Wolfgang Gartner & Kim Fai!). The range of talent in this album is brilliant. They can produce an emotional track, a banger, a softer but amazingly catchy track, an electro-glitchy-house track, the list goes on... and when collaborating with the likes of Moguai, Tiesto, Julie McKnight, Steve Angello, Congorock and Michael Woods, you can't really go wrong... am I right or am I right? 

         With Calvin Harris winning two shiny moon men at the VMA's and a brand new album outfrom Max Vangeli & AN21, I couldn't be happier to see house music getting so popular and reaching new heights. Congrats Calvin Harris, from everyone on the VCH team! And now, for the music you all come here for, enjoy! 

Classic Avicii sound. Catchy. A tad on the more emotional / end of summer feel to it.


1/2 of the tracks I chose from the POTN album to share with you today ft. Michael Woods!


New Kim Fai preview :)


2/2 from POTN ft. Kim Fai. The three make a brilliant sound together.


And 2 new Wolfgang previews for you electro house lovers. His new EP drops September 17th!

Funky Friday Vol. 18

School has begun for everyone doing hitting the books. But by now you are done with that horrid three hour class with a the professor that speaks in a monotone voice (don't talk to me about it). Time to get loose and get weird:

I was pretty bummed not to be able to see Destructo this past weekend with works like this re-edit of "Supah Freak":



I also got two big teasers for you to look forward to from Bromance Records. One from Monsieur Monsieur and the other from the legendary Jacques Lu Cont. What a squad they have over there at Bromance!





Duke Dumont is coming at you with the B-Side production on his newest collection, For Club Play Only Vol. 2. Enjoy the soulful, funky techno track, "The Giver":



And I leave you with a little FatRat remix of the always awesome Knocks to get the night started:

VCH Exclusive Interview with Codes

Brooklyn has always been a hotbed for music. First with Jazz, then Hip Hop and now Electronic Music. The very humble and easy going Codes, aka Cody Codes, is on the rise alongside the infamous Slow Roast Records run by Kill The Noise and Craze. Take a listen to any of Codes productions or remixes and you can feel all those influences Brooklyn provides. And playing at big festivals such as Hard Summer and Camp Bisco, it's obvious you need to take a moment to get to know the man behind the music:

VCH: I typically ask artists something along the lines of ‘how did you find your sound?’.  But I’m having trouble defining ‘your sound’ so to speak because it is so diverse. Can you help me out? How would you describe yourself as a producer?

Codes: I first started off making mainly House music (that's where "Codes' House" comes from) then dabbled a bit in Moombahton and some faster BPM stuff. I like to be consistent with big kick drums and get really funky with my sample jacking. Definitely jumping back into a lot more House music production as of late.

VCH: How did you hook up with Slow Roast Records? And what’s it like working alongside awesome talents such as Craze and Kill The Noise?

Codes: I linked up with Slow Roast a couple years ago after I sent my record "Dying" over to Kill The Noise. He played it for Craze and he loved it. They ended up asking me to do a full EP and to be part of the team. It's been great those guys are good friends and extremely talented artists. 

VCH: Favorite grub spot in Brooklyn (I need a new food place)?

Codes: Crif Dogs, Momo's and Walter Foods

VCH: Meeting you on an off chance encounter at a rooftop party in the Lower East Side, do you make an honest effort typically to go see other artists playing around NYC even when you aren’t playing?

Codes: Yeah totally. I think it's lame when producers and DJs don't go out especially in a city like New York where there is always great talent coming through.

VCH:Ever considered playing one of these ‘pop up clubs’ around Manhattan or Brooklyn?

Codes: I don't exactly know what a pop up club is but as long as there's a proper sound system I am in :)

VCH: What’s been your highlight of the summer?

Codes: So far the biggest highlight of summer has been playing the Harder stage at Hard Summer in LA. 

VCH:  What was it like playing in the Fools Gold Clubhouse at Camp Bisco? What’s your relationship like with A-Trak and that crew?

Codes: Camp Bisco was right up there with the Hard Fest. The crew waving a flag with my name on it was awesome. That whole FG Clubhouse stage was super fun and the Fool's Gold team is great to work with. Not only do they run one of the raddest labels in the game but they are all really cool down to earth dudes as well.

VCH: Aside from being on the decks, do you play any other instruments?

Codes: I play a little guitar and bass. This past weekend I actually played guitar at a show before my set - we did a cover of the Beastie Boys "Sabotage" a tribute for MCA.  

VCH: What lies ahead for Codes?

Codes: I have a record on some liquid house vibes called "Deeper" which I produced with Craze coming out on Slow Roast in about a month. I also did a track with Treasure Fingers and Amy Douglas titled "Blowing Up" which will be out on Hed Kandi soon. Besides that I'm working on a new EP for Slow Roast that's forthcoming later this year.  Keep up with my Soundcloud for new bootlegs, remixes and mixes by yours truly.