I’m currently feelin a strong itch to get away. Actually more like full blown poison ivy attack mixed with hives. That’s the kind of all-over full body itch I’m talking about. Maybe it’s partly due to the anticipation of travel that is hopefully (fingers crossed) in my near future. I try not to jinx anything until I have my ticket in hand. I’ve been working steadily on a ton of new music which will surely leak its way onto this site over the next several months, and potentially, I’ll be typing about it from someplace as pretty as the underwater world above. For now though, press play on this big selection of outernational sounds that can help you mentally reposition yourself closer to the equator (unless you’re reading this in Ecuador). I’ve got a touch of Jamaica, Colombia, Brazil, Cambodia and West Africa in the mix, plus some other goodies that should get you moving.

Tarrus Riley :       Burning Desire
one of the finest reggae roots singers doing it today

El Búho :       Pescado Negro
deep and trippy future cumbia vibes from this cat

Castro :       Twitch (ft. Branko & Poté)
big collabo zouk bass tune from this UK producer

Joyce Moreno :       Aldeia De Ogum (Psychemagik Remix)
the Psyche dudes hit home once again- trippy, breezy, and just enough bounce

Afriquoi :       Kudaushe
african future roots outta London

Tony Quattro :       Zulu Carnival
heavy big room tune from this NYC dj for Branko’s Enchufada label.

Davido :       Skelewu
smash hit from Nigeria’s current mega-dude that I slept on for way too long

2face Idibia :       GO ft. Machel Montano
another big name in the Naija scene featuring the undisputed Trini carnival king

Mc Jaja :       Eu Quero é Tu
I hear from Chief Boima this one is making major waves throughout Brazil and I can hear why

Staff Benda Bilili :       Osali Mabe
feel good modern roots music from the Congo

Vieux Gazeur :       Mon Pépé
some drum-heavy zouglou bizniz from Cote D’Ivoire designed specifically to move your rump

Bulimundo :       Santo Antoni la Belem (Hide & Smile Edit)
moving onward to the funky side of Cape Verde, comes this excellent edit from the Sofrito crew

Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra :       Ghost In The Rain (ft. Clutchy Hopkins & Chhom Nimol)
leaving you with a moody psychedelic slow jam featuring the Cambodian songstress front-woman from Dengue Fever. Would love to collabo with her one day…

Attention all my Angelenos! Got a whole lot cooking this week for Grammy festivities, starting tonight. I’m doing a not-so-open event earlier in the night with Questlove & Charli XCX which I’m pretty stoked about, but then the real party will be at Acabar afterwards with my BKLA partner DJ Cato and this month’s guests Aaron DRM & Erik The Red (who collectively run Bastard Jazz Records). We also have some special guests who will be dropping in to add some extra flavor to the mix (I see you Plann B!). If you’ve never been to Acabar, you are sleeping! This spot is seriously gorgeous and the sound system is proper. I had time to put together a quick playlist with a few new joints that will probably get played tonight. Hope to see you there…

Anderson Paak :       Miss Right

ODESZA :       All We Need ft. Shy Girls

Love Taps :       Back For More ft. Maya Killtron

AlunaGeorge :       Kaleidoscope Love (Kaytranada Edition)

Branko :       Eventually ft. Alex Rita & Bison

Full Crate :       Hurt Your Back &       Really Love

Sleey Tom & Gladiator :       Cruise Control

Dengue Dengue Dengue! :       R2

Hiatus Kaiyote :       By Fire

iZem :       Sadeo ft. Feather

Buyepongo :       Mulatu Para Ti