While most of the time these days you’ll find me sharing newer music here on the site, don’t get it twisted, I still freak out about finding obscure 70’s records like the skinny-necked 18-year-old nerd that I once was. Sometimes I have to return to what it was that got me into all this DJ business to begin with, and the sounds that inspired my early beat making experiments. Maybe it’s the Singapore haze that’s getting to my head, but I’ve been thinking a lot about how to put into words what separates the music I really love from all the crud- the cheese, the plastic pop, the wanky lounge- the music that I say lacks “soul”. It’s a pretty difficult thing to pinpoint, and there’s certainly a multi-dimensional spectrum where songs or artists can find themselves. Perhaps the beat is killing, but the lyrics are cliche. Could be that every note is played right, and all the pieces fit together where they should, but the whole concept and feel of a song is just off. How does one articulate that properly? Sometimes I have to even check in with myself and ask- why do I like this? What makes this stand out from the endless stream of other music out there that I want nothing to do with? I don’t really have any answers today, except that being a professional “selector” for me relies first and foremost on an almost instantaneous gut reaction. All of today’s tunes hit me hard from the opening bars the first time I heard them, and continue to put me in a good place with every listen since. Without further ado, scoured from the 4 corners of the globe, here are a few of my favorite things…

Phil Ranelin :       Vibes From The Tribe

Arthur Verocai :       Dedicada a Ela &       Na Boca do Sol

Nino Nardini :       Tropical

Open Sky Unit :       Sunshine Star

Emilio Santiago :       Bananeira

Alhaji K. Frimpong :       Kyenkyen Bi Adu Mawu

Gnonnas Pedro :       Yiri Yiri Boum &       La Musica En Verite

Los Mirlos :       La Danza de los Mirlos &       Sonido Amazonico

Les Gypsies de Petion-Ville :       Patience &       Pacole

Minoru Muraoka :       The Positive And The Negative

Tabu Ley Rochereau :       Pitié

Mulatu Astatke :       Yekermo Sew &       Ene Alantchie Alnoren

Today marks the official release for “Back To Me”, the album I produced for the very talented singer/songwriter Shana Halligan. We worked on these songs for over a year and a half together- taking many creative twists and turns along the way. Any of you who are familiar with my production history can hear that this project was a swing in a new direction, but I feel lucky to have learned a lot in the process and I’m definitely proud of the outcome. Moody, sexy, sultry, electronic soul. One song is co-produced by T.M. Juke and another is by up-n-comer Yngcult. Shana, who you may know from her previous work with Bitter:Sweet or Thievery Corporation, knows how to find her sweet spot on a beat in a matter of minutes. I think my favorite song on the album is “Something Real” (which I’m sharing here today), but I encourage anyone who likes this track to listen to the rest of the album. there’s also a bonus track “So Crazy” that didn’t make the final cut, but is available as a free download on her soundcloud. If you’re in LA you can check her out at the KCRW sponsored release party at Hotel Cafe on Nov. 12. Please support if you dig it and tell a friend to tell a friend!

Couple of setbacks and detours postponed my travel plans, but tomorrow I get back on track and head off to Asia for 3 months with my new wifey. Home base will be Singapore, where I’ll be residing and DJ-ing weekends at the newly established Hotel Vagabond, doing some playlist curation (professionally for the first time- woohoo!). Then the plan is to hop around the continent a bit and hopefully have some savings left for a proper month of India exploration. We shall see… I’ll be keeping music & gig updates on here as much as possible. Anyone in Singapore or Southeast Asia hit me up! I’m looking to meet people and throw good parties. Bunch of funky new songs for you this week including some uptempo dancefloor burners and a bit of left-field funkiness. Artwork today comes courtesy of the always trippy Clayton Brothers.

Miami Horror :       Sober ft. Queen Magic (Childish Gambino cover)

OverDoz. :       Last Kiss ft. Pharrell

Monika :       Secret In The Dark

Seven Davis Jr. :       No Worries &       Sunday Morning

Tame Impala :       Let It Happen (Soulwax Remix)

Hnny :       For The Very First Time

Psychemagik :       Mink & Shoes

Public Service Broadcast :       Gagarin (Psychemagik Remix)

Crazy P :       Echo

Disclosure ft. Sam Smith :       Omen (Claptone Remix)

Metronomy :       A Thing For Me (Breakbot Remix)