Welcome to The Soundtrack, a column where we plumb the depths of our musical knowledge to bring you the best* (subjective) music to listen to for very specific life situations. This week, we bring you music to help you set the sexy-but-not-too-intense mood for your first Adult Sleepover with someone new and promising.
So, you’ve started seeing someone, hey? Good for you, putting yourself out there again. For a while there you were just focusing on yourself, which is also neat, but now you’re set on the idea of a buddy to cuddle while you sip cheap terrible wine and catch up on Luke Cage – and you reckon this new person in your life might be just the ticket. They’re charming, funny, down to earth, AND say “please” and “thank you” to waitstaff. So far, so good. Things are moving just a liiiittle slower than you’d like, so you’ve invited them over for a ~sexy~ dinner (if you’re cooking you might want to check out The Soundtrack from a couple weeks back). You’re keen to set the mood just right – relaxed but not too casual, sensual but not too obviously sexy, and you also really wanna impress them with how cool and eclectic you are BUT you definitely do not want them knowing you’ve chucked on a specific playlist just for this occassion. That’s why you’re here. Jesus christ, can’t you do anything for yourself? Just kidding. I have the goods for you. Happy to help.
Free Weed – High With Me
Let’s face it, you’re probably both a bit nervous. In all likelihood, both of you want this to turn into an Adult Sleepover, but neither of you want it to seem like you’re expecting anything. My recommendation is that you both relax, man. Just chill out. However you’re inclined to do that is up to you. I’m not condoning anything, but I am also not your mum. Regardless of how you reach maximus relaximus (but don’t go TOO far, you don’t wanna fall asleep without banging at least one out first), this song is a very Good and Nice complement to that. Shoegaze-y, reverb-y, underwater-y goodness with a touch of carefree rebellion. Plus chucking this on is a tried and true way to check if your potential paramour is a friend to the four-n-twenty (not the pies).
Portishead – Glory Box
Oh, come on now. Don’t pretend like you didn’t know this song was going to be here. FACT: there is no other track in modern memory with such a pinpoint sense of nuanced sensuality. This song belongs on every single damn playlist you have, actually, but especially ones you chuck on when you think you might get lucky. The one thing to watch with this one (while the person you’ve decided is probably the love of your life is there to impress), though, is the volume. Because turn that shit up and it’s practically obscene-sounding; wind it down to half-way or less and you have a gorgeous subdued dinner-appropriate song.
Little Dragon – Constant Surprises
I’m probably a tiny bit biased here because this track has personal significance, but honestly, it does such a bang-up job of walking that tumultuous line between omg I have feelings, isn’t this sweet and let’s get it on. This works for just about any stage of the night. You answering the door, looking adorably flushed from standing over a stove and them grinning at the sight of you. Them sharing some choice self-deprecating anecdotes about their week as they pour you both another glass of wine. You going to town on each other for the third time at 2am. It’s just so diverse that way. And let’s not ever understate the fucking incredible talent that is Yukimi Nagano. That voice could make anyone fall in love/take their clothes off (same diff).
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Tender Is The Neck
This song is best saved for a verrrry specific moment. You know the one. The delicious meal that you slaved over (or ordered on Deliveroo) has been well and truly polished off. The wine has been flowing freely for a few hours now. You’ve passed through the awkward small-talk right to the deep stuff and you’ve just stumbled upon some really significant piece of common ground that has left both of you somewhat breathless and starry-eyed. You kiss the kiss of people who have just started to think they could maybe, possibly, someday fall in love. RBCF begins to play, wistful and soft and ooooohhh, feel those goosebumps? Things are definitely still in PG-rated rom-com territory right now, but the winds are about to shift and you both know it.
Hiatus Kaiyote – Nakamarra
Well, they didn’t win a Grammy for not making sexy music. And, if your potential beloved is a music person, you’ll likely get a chance to bond over the amazing trajectory of the band too. Share stories of seeing them live. Nothing bonds people quite the way that can. And if your potential beloved is not a music person, it’s time to order them an Uber and tell them how nice it was to meet them. Kidding (sorta). That said, though, have this one queued up waaaaay at the tail end of your playlist so the repeated “I love you, love you, love you I do”s don’t leave a weird heavy feeling in the air. It’s just a song, my dudes. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?
Image: YouTube/Fox Animation
If two is better than one, eleven is definitely better than ten and such is the case for your beloved weekly playlist of top songs. Sure, one came out last week (looking at you, Cub Sport) but we can’t help that it was so good it still deserved a spot in this week’s cut as well!
We’ve got a lot of local flavours in this week’s list, with three acts hailing from Brisbane – the aforementioned Cub Sport as well as Emma Louise (who was remixed by Little Dragon) and Feki (who remixes Anna Of The North). We’ve also got some surf-psych jams from WA (Gunns), a couple of Melbourne acts (Hoodlem and Private Life) as well as Sydney’s Tigertown. Not to mention some international takes like a Louie Lastic remix of Kelela featuring GoldLink, some Bishop Nehru, a collab between Katy B and Kaytranada and not to mention a lit remix of Tory Lanez by Shlohmo and we have once again got you covered with the top songs you should have heard this week!
Gunns, Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog
WA darlings Gunns have a lot to be happy about right now. They’re about to join Albert Hammond Jr on tour (yes, the guitarist from The Strokes), they’re releasing their debut EP on February 12th AND it’s on the same label as a few fellow Western Australians like POND and that tiny band called Tame Impala. They’ve also shared a brand new single this week, titled Who’s Gonna Be Your Dog. Sounding like an Aussie version of Temples in the best possible way, this dreamy psych-surf band are bound for great things, and this song once again proves it.
Kelela, Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix ft. GoldLink)
Kelela was just in the country for a mindblowing whirlwind mini tour, and GoldLink is just about to touch down for Laneway. Although they didn’t cross paths in the literal sense, they certainly have in the sonic sense with this latest release. Jumping on a guest verse for producer Louie Lastic, the two have spun Kelela’s huge single Rewind into an old-school jam, complete with upbeat, bubbling synths, skittering beats, and a groove that just won’t fucking quit. It’s a total jam.
Anna Of The North, The Dreamer (Feki Remix)
Brisbane producer Feki has once again shown he really means business, and has remixed the hell out of Anna Of The North’s The Dreamer. We’ve had our eye on him for a while and each and every time he releases something, he sucks us in even more with his forward thinking, future-RnB production. He capitalises on the sad vibes and hones in on it, amping up the dark vibes and heaping on the emotion. Anna Of The North said it best herself when she told Nylon, “The Dreamer is already a sad song, but I like that Feki’s remix is darker. He makes it ok to cry at the club.” Damn straight.
Hoodlem, Kintsugi
Melbourne duo Hoodlem blew me away when I stumbled upon them at last year’s BIGSOUND in Brisbane, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Thankfully, they’ve finally released some new music this week, which earned them a spot in this playlist instantly. The duo are a powerhouse in a live setting, and have been bringing their A-game with each release since they dropped their tremendous single Through last year. Now they’re gearing up for the release of a new EP coming in March and they’re sounding better than ever. Kinstugi is the first taste of that record, and its glitchy, soulful vibes with their typically fantastic production skills makes for a very exciting release indeed.
Tigertown, Lonely Cities
Tigertown have an uncanny knack of making you think you’re listening to an unassuming indie track, but then catching you by surprise and blowing you totally out of the water with how great they sound. It’s a risky move but they always seem to pull it off, so why the hell not? The band return with their second single of the year, Lonely Cities, and it’s huge. Although the lyrics aren’t exactly celebrating the feeling of being lonely, they’ve juxtaposed them with some totally liberating, joyous and borderline euphoric singalongs, guitar melodies and sharp drums. If only all loneliness felt this good!
Bishop Nehru, Forever And A Day
You might know Bishop Nehru from his feature spot on Flight Facilities‘ excellent debut album, Down To Earth, on the track Why Do You Feel, but it is about time everyone knew him for his capabilities on his own as well. This song is a sultry, inviting, groovy number with some fierce verses and Nehru’s easy flow, he talks about his rise to fame and how his drive keeps him go. He doesn’t sound like he’s quitting anytime soon judging from this track, and that is some very good news for Nehru fans new, old and those still to come. It’s only up from here!
Katy B x Kaytranada, Honey
Anything that Kaytranada lends his hand to has a 99.99% chance of being amazing, and this latest track is no exception. Working with Katy B, this is a smoky and smooth number that shows B’s impeccable vocals and Kaytranada’s flawless-as-ever production. It’s the first taste from her forthcoming Honey LP (which has a tracklist that features everyone from Craig David, Major Lazer, Four Tet, Floating Points and more), and it’s impressive to say the least. It’s got a groove that is perfect for the bedroom, and Katy B’s sexy hook doesn’t go too bad either for the bedroom vibes. Thank us later.
Tory Lanez, Say It (Shlohmo Remix)
There was a time where Shlohmo was making some of the most experimental music of his career, and the days of him working with Jeremih felt like a bygone era. However, this latest remix is Shlohmo back to his RnB remixing best, as he takes Tory Lanez’ Say It, and makes it fucking lit. It’s still got his trademark dark sounds, and has an air of mystery about it, but it’s also got some token hip-hop drums, crashing cymbals, trap leanings and more to keep it dance-y and fun. Is this a sign Shlohmo is heading back towards his hip-hop roots?
Private Life, Dragon
Melbourne indie two-piece Private Life are fighting the good fight to make “pop” not such a dirty word anymore, and their latest track, Dragon is a perfect example of how well it can be done. Showcasing some huge vocals, crashing cymbals, a hook that won’t quit and some unpredictable production courtesy of Nicolas Lam (from Red Bull Music Academy), Private Life sounds like Australia’s answer to CHVRCHES with one less member and one hell of a knack for good songs. Dragon is explosive yet gentle, uplifting yet fragile, and seriously, SERIOUSLY impressive. We’re expecting big things from these guys.
Emma Louise, Underflow (Little Dragon Remix)
I mean, if you are going to get anyone to remix your comeback single, surely Little Dragon are pretty high up on the list of desired artists to do so. Brisbane artist Emma Louise has achieved just that, with the Swedish band stepping up for rework duties this week on her track Underflow. It was already an absolutely stunning single in its own right, so it’s only fitting that it gets an equally stunning remix, and it sounds like it was in pretty safe hands with Little Dragon. A racing almost-heartbeat like thump keeps the track running along as more and more is carefully poured into the mix. Splashy cymbals, vocal loops and subtle synths carry it along as Emma Louise’s vulnerable original vocals remain in tact. This marks the first remix in four years for the band, so if that alone doesn’t tell there is something great about this track, we don’t know what will.
Cub Sport, I Can’t Save You
Brisbane band Cub Sport fell off the grid for a while there, but towards the end of 2015 it was confirmed that their absence was indeed intentional as they returned to the fray with the release of Only Friend. Back on form, the band have now shared another brilliant track titled I Can’t Save You – another exciting cut from their forthcoming album, This Is Our Vice. A glimmering exercise in synth-driven indie-pop, Cub Sport are wasting no time in reminding us who they are, and keeping our excitement levels at worryingly high levels in the lead up to This Is Our Vice‘s March 4th release.
Image of Hoodlem via Facebook
– Read our interview with Odesza
ODESZA have released a lovely collaboration with Little Dragon, and it is called Light. It is the product of their intermittent and protracted attempts to combine their musical mastery, dogged by busyness and incorrect vocal samples. Luckily, both artists have been able to find time in their full-to-the-brim schedules to produce this machine-drum, Nagano-cooing piece of art.
Light is a beautiful song. Yukimi Nagano’s soft, soul-flecked voice rises and falls in ODESZA’s many-tiered soundscapes. Something has to be said for their sensitivity to sound: they bundle wooden beats, glassy flicks and vivid-with-colour synths in this unassuming yet sophisticated way. The chorus is a marvelous crescendo, with multiple sonic streams gyring in union as Little Dragon croons and swoons.
Accompanying this release, ODESZA has announced that a new version of their 2014 album In Return (Deluxe Edition), will be out on POD through Inertia this September 18. It will be revamped with three new live performance (Say My Name (feat. Zyra), Bloom and IPlayYouListen) and instrumental versions of all the In Return tracks.
Straight after the deluxe re-release of In Return, ODESZA will begin a world tour in New Zealand and Australia. Get excited my Australian comrades, ODESZA will be tearing up Listen Out with a main stage set.
ODESZA Australian Tour Dates:
Sat. Sep. 26 – Listen Out Festival, Melbourne
Sun. Sep. 27 – Listen Out Festival, Perth
Sat. Oct. 3 – Listen Out Festival, Sydney
Sun. Oct. 4 – Listen Out Festival, Brisbane
Buy tickets via odesza.com and listenout.com.au
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival may well be one of, if not THE, best lineup 2015 has and will see. Packed full with some of the biggest names of recent times, this is going to be one hell of a day (in whichever city you are)! One name in particular that has everyone buzzing was Sweden’s Little Dragon. Having released their fourth studio album, Nabuma Rubberband, last year, touring the world and playing oh so many dates, it’s safe to say Little Dragon are doing pretty well for themselves!
Having met in 1996, they released their first self-titled album in 2007. Seven years later and three more albums down, one of the most admirable things about Little Dragon is that they’ve never changed to suit trends or to “get famous”. They’ve stuck to their guns and put in the hard yards, and are now reaping the well-deserved rewards having become one of the most exciting acts on the planet. They even scored themselves a big tent nighttime slot for Coachella last year and will play at the Sydney Opera House whilst they’re here.
They did things a little differently this time around, having signed to Loma Vista. One particularly different event was the conscious decision to upload their album onto YouTube for fans to stream. It was promotional strategies like this that helped the band reach countless new pairs of ears to work their way into, and saw their fanbase continue to grow, as it still does.
We were lucky enough to have a chat with keyboardist Fredrik Wallin ahead of their trip Down Under to talk about the changes he’s seen in the music industry, work to life balance, and hopefully catching some time with a platypus this time round!
You’re back in Australia very soon, can we expect anything particularly different this time around? Any surprises you can fill us in on?
We have some things planned. I guess there are always new scenarios with new crowds.
You were here recently last year, and you’ve been before of course – is there anything different you want to get up to whilst you’re here this time?
One thing we always want to try and do is go and see the platypus, but we never have time to do that!
Hopefully you get some platypus action this time around!
Yeah, that would be great! Also, some surfing would be nice!
Can you surf?
Mmm, no. But I can work on it!
One of the most notable parts of your upcoming trip is of course playing at the Opera House. How do you feel about that?
Yeah, I’m super excited! I remember seeing it and hearing about it as a kid. It’s so renowned, I’m super excited to play there!
Do you have a preference for venues?
I kind of like club shows myself; like small, dirty, dark rooms! *laughs*
Do you get to play many dirty, dark clubshows now you’re on your fourth album?
*laughs* No, actually not! Once in a while in places we aren’t well known.
Does your set list differ much depending on where you are playing? Will you be changing things up for each of your Australia shows?
Well, at a festival you have to be a bit more direct and try and get the people that are just passing by, so you want to touch the crowd in a different way. In a club show or a venue, you can take people on a journey and be a bit more daring I feel. You can take it down or go other places with the music.
Let’s talk about the album now – things were done a bit differently for Nabuma Rubberband since signing to Loma Vista, especially in terms of marketing – will you take some of those practices for the next album release do you think?
We have actually started the process a little bit right now, and we decided to do it a bit differently. We have some ideas, but I don’t want to say too much!
With the decision to put the album up on YouTube for streaming – did you notice any significant benefits from doing that?
It’s hard to say actually. It feels like nowadays, it ends up on YouTube for streaming anyway unless you have a lot of money to take it down constantly. It’s a nice way to share it, but I can’t tell the differences or benefits. It already happens.
Did you have to compromise anything on this release now that you’ve signed to the label, as opposed to your previous self-produced work?
They were very collaborative and it was a good vibe! There is always a compromise when you have 4 people in a band, so that’s enough to deal with! They’ve been super helpful.
Yukimi actually lives in the studio you created Nabuma in right?
At the moment, yeah she does.
Did that have an effect on your productivity, either good or bad, to have someone there whenever you wanted to go in?
Well, she is notoriously late so we don’t have to wait for her to get there!
I imagine it could get quite hard to maintain work and life balance as you continue to rise in your careers – do you find that’s the case?
Actually, for me, it’s been a little bit easier. You get to a point when you realise you have to have a life apart from that. Of course, that’s easier when you are more successful because you can lean back and rely on that work, but in the beginning you are so filled with passion and you just want it to work so you work really hard. It’s harder to have a balance with normal life at that stage.
So, the more successful you are, the more balanced it is?
Yeah! For me, at least!
I’m curious – I’ve read mixed reviews of Nabuma, although mostly positive – do you take these into account or are you one to remain completely oblivious from critics?
Mostly oblivious, but sometimes you read something and you realise people have different views… The thing that bothers me the most is that you can kind of feel there is something else. It’s not like an analysis of what they hear, it’s more personal or there is something else there like a weird feeling when the person writes. Especially in Sweden actually. I guess that’s the beauty of it though, when it becomes personal because they’ve heard something personal. But at the same time, it may not be the most objective painting or representation of the music.
Do you ever consider what you’d like listeners to take from your records when you’re creating them?
It’s a little bit of what you want to take from it yourself. If you surprise yourself and get some stuff you like and want to play, it might transfer through the music.
I’ve always wanted to ask one of you this, but being in the band since 2005 – what are, if any, some of the biggest changes you’ve experienced within the music industry? Do you have any thoughts on where the industry is headed, or what’s going on, from what you’ve seen?
I guess the whole Internet thing, I guess it was a really big shift in the industry. You can see how labels were really struggling from it and how they were kind of surprised by it and people sharing stuff. At the same time, though, it has helped the live part grow as that’s what the artist has to do now for income. It’s cool because you should love live music!
What can we expect still to come from you guys? Are you wrapping up the Nabuma tour shortly?
Well, we are coming to Australia and New Zealand, and then we are having a little break and perhaps some writing time. But then, we’re doing a US tour. We might release some remixes later in the year.
There was quite a break between Ritual Union and Nabuma, can we expect similar this time around?
I don’t think it will be as long this time. For Ritual Union, we toured for quite a long time off that album, and then we had to have some downtime. I think now we are more in tuned to keep on going, so hopefully it won’t take as long this time!
Little Dragon tour dates:
Monday 26 January – AUCKLAND – SILO PARK
Saturday 31 January – BRISBANE – BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS (16+)
Sunday 1 February – SYDNEY – SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (SCA), ROZELLE
Friday 6 February – ADELAIDE – HART’S MILL, PORT ADELAIDE (16+)
Saturday 7 February – MELBOURNE – FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) AND THE RIVER’S EDGE
Sunday 8 February – FREMANTLE – ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END
So last night The Opera House got a little bit nutty. They announced (yep, I’m calling it) the best summer program for Music At The House that could possibly be announced. International sensations are going to be caressing the ears of Sydney for months of bliss, heat, and top tier music.
Should we go through it? Alright.
For starters, they’ve got Flying Lotus and Caribou playing on the same night (Feb 3). THE SAME NIGHT. This means you can listen to ‘Ready Err Not’ and just follow it up with a bit of ‘Our Love’ without leaving the freakin’ venue. Like this, but live:
Lykkie Li (Feb 2), the Swedish songstress to beat all others will also be playing, as well as Little Dragon (Feb 5) and Mogwai (March 2).
Just to reinforce that Nothing Compares 2 This Line Up, Sinead O’Connor (March 19) is on the bill, showing off that she’s not bossy, just at the bossest venue out.
Neneh Cherry‘s (March 11) is going to be slathering some 90s style synth across the stage, to get us ready for the killer crooner Ben Howard (March 29). AND, for all the mum band lovers out there, Gipsy Kings (7 & 8 April) are going to be making a casual appearance as well.
There’s more if you can believe it, so go have a geez at the full Music At The House program.