Been slightly overwhelmed with new music lately, like I’m catching up on all the quality indy releases that I missed while on the road, and there where MANY. It also seems like artists & labels love dropping tons of new material right at the start of the new year. Whatever the case may be, my “New Additions” playlist is all over the place and overflowing. Can’t lie, watching King Kendrick’s Grammy performance also had a pretty powerful effect on me- just being reminded of the level of intense emotion that can be expressed in a song, and the bravery to say it loudly in front of millions of people. I woke up hungry for more music, powerful sounds, thirsting to manifest distant echoes that I hear in my head. I’m hoping today, as always, that sharing these songs here helps feeds your creativity, somewhere out there over the internet, wherever you may be. Today’s photo comes courtesy my homie Ravi Vora who is also a constant source of visual inspiration. Check out his insane insta-feed if you ever feel lacking for dreams. Also, for anyone in Los Angeles area, I’ll be doing a big show on Saturday night at the Globe Theater opening up for 2 legends: Questlove + Gaslamp Killer.

Earth, Wind & Fire :       Drum Song
R.I.P. to one of my all-time favorites, Maurice White

Jamie Woon :       Sharpness

Anderson .Paak :       The Waters &       Light Weight this whole album is FIRE. Do yourself a favor.

Big Grams :       Fell In The Sun ft. Big Boi

SG Lewis :       All Night ft. Dornik

Massive Attack :       Ritual Spirit

AlunaGeorge :       I'm In Control ft. Popcaan

DJ Snake :       Middle ft. Bipolar Sunshine

Katy B, Four Tet & Floating Points :       Calm Down

RÜFÜS DU SOL :       Be With You

Bomba Estereo :       Algo Esta Cambiando (Jamie Prado Remix)

Khruangbin :       Two Fish And An Elephant

Time to dust off your vuvuzela, the sequined bikini, and the feather headdress. All around the world, where Catholics and Christians spread the gospel, people will be getting loose in the streets this week. I don’t fully understand where this tradition comes from, but judging it purely on the visual and musical stimulus it has provided me over the years, I can’t be mad at it. I didn’t actually compile a playlist of authentic global carnival related songs (which is a good idea for some future date), but this week I’m sharing a collection of dance music that could potentially get you and your friends parading through the streets. There’s some Trinidad, some Brazil, some West Africa- plenty of beats and bass to go around. Special shout out this week to my man in Singapore DJ Bhayology for providing a healthy portion of this playlist. Photo above comes from the highly inspiring work of Phyllis Galembo.

Buju Banton :       Champion (Maga Bo Remix)

Pearls Negras :       Pensando em Você

Deela :       Okka Rina

Olatunji :       Ola

Yemi Alade :       Johnny

Afriquoi :       Ningde Jubeh

Madera Limpia :       Loco (Daniel Haaksman Remix)

Ephniko, Deuce Eclipse & Sonido Baylando :       Oye Morena

Snappy Jit :       Bumpa (SpydaT.E.K Remix)

Radioclit :       Secousse (Round Table Knights Remix)

Petrona Martínez :       La Encuera 2.0 ft. Uproot Andy

R. City :       Like This

Had a couple great parties this week in beautiful San Francisco and I was happy to bring out some future funk and nouveau disco that had been sitting in my crates dormant for too long. Shout outs to Will Magid, Zebuel and the Smoked Out Soul crew for throwing down on Wednesday, and big up to DJ Matt Haze for inviting me to rock the Academy of Sciences beer festival (on a stage situated between a man made rainforest and an underwater aquarium)! Now I’m finally going to get my ass back down to LA to my home sweet home and my long lost studio. Truth is, I’m fiending to get back to work. Enjoy this week’s playlist- may it kick off a dance party someplace near you. Pic above comes from one of the many mind-bending architectural achievements that are almost commonplace in Singapore.

Little Dragon :       Pretty Girls (Tall Black Guy Disco Love Remix) yet another heater from Detroit beat maestro TBG

LUXXURY :       Take It Slow listen to these guys and do what the song says

Electric Wire Hustle :       Brother Sun ft. Kimbra (Rodi Kirk & Aron Ottignon Version) one of my absolute favorite releases to come out on Bastard Jazz last year

La Fine Equipe :       Make U Greedy new discovery- heavy duty take on an oft-sampled classic by these funky frenchmen

Dr Packer :       Sunshine there’s a wealth of edits and re-works from this Aussie

Escort :       Barbarians (Rance Muhammitz Dub) keeping the spirit of Studio 54 alive and well in Brooklyn

Tom Of Finland :       Dreamin Again

Space Coast :       Get Away (JKriv Remix) truly irresistible bass line drops at the 1 minute mark

Joey Negro :       Free Bass (Funk Equation Mix)

The Sunburst Band :       Taste The Groove (Hot Toddy Mix) this one for me starts around the 2 minute mark- then get ready for the drop

Nina Simone :       Come Ye (Harry Vanvagen Remix)
new alt-ego from my global bass homie Thornato, really really diggin it

Bibio :       Feeling OOF! Sly Stone gets channeled on this one from an eclectic UK producer

Breakbot :       2Good4Me perhaps my favorite discovery in the past couple of weeks, do yourself a favor and check the video too

After three and a half months traveling in Asia, I’ve returned to California, and I must say, it feels really nice to be eating cheese and drinking wine. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to travel, for the countless eye opening experiences and new friends made, for the raucous parties and the jaw-dropping sights. Somehow it all makes me feel more grateful to come home to a place as special as California, and even appreciative of being from the U.S. (which is not something I’m always proud of). I’m taking it slow right now, getting over jet lag and a nasty eye infection I got on the flight, so rather than hit you with a bunch of high energy dance music, allow me to take you on a little mellow journey around the soundsphere- adding some new stamps to your passport along the way. Today’s playlist has retro sounds from West Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, South America, the Middle East and Europe– a true mix of gumbo funk reminiscent of the old Captain’s Crate days.

Amara Toure :       N'nijo &       Salamouti Guinea Conakry – thanks to Analog Africa

Los Zafiros :       Bossa Cubana &       La Luna en Tu Mirada Cuba

Charlie & The Boys :       Dance With Soul Singapore

Angkanang Kunchai :       Lam Plearn Mee Mia Laew Pai Thailand – thanks to Soundway Records

Thepporn Petchubon :       Fang Jai Viangjan Thailand

Unknown Artist :       Cambodian Mystery Song Cambodia – from one of many burned CD’s I bought in a market in Siem Reap

Mbongwana Star :       Malukayi &       1 million c'est quoi? Democratic Republic of the Congo – one of my favorite records of 2015

Los Corraleros De Majagual :       Sueltala Pa' Que Se Defiendo Colombia

Samir Hanna :       Lbesna Sharawil Jdoudna Lebanon

Ozdemir Erdogan :       Gurbet Turkey

Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba :       Borongoli Ma Kununban &       Fama Magni Mali – another great one from last year

Salvatore Adamo :       En Blue Jeans Et Blouson Belgium – strangely enough, I discovered this one listening to radio in a taxi in Seoul, Korea

Happy 2016 everybody! I hope you all rang it in loud and proud. Apologies for my absence, I’ve been on a serious tour de force for the past month, traveling to South Korea, China, and all throughout India. Mainly INDIA. The wi-fi has been scant, and even when I apparently had full bars of signal, the kilobytes per second of transmission were slim to none, so blogging was basically an impossibility. India blew my mind about 100 times daily. It was overwhelming and discomforting from day one, but thankfully I’m someone who appreciates being out of my comfort zone. From the delicious dosas of Chennai, to the hazy filthy holy madness of Varanasi, to the crowded bustling streets of Bombay, through the maze-like bazaar of Delhi, to the glory of the Taj in Agra, and finally finishing with a bit of relaxation surrounded by picturesque beaches and endless sunsets in Goa– India was very real. I also had the insane opportunity of DJ-ing for the actual Maharaja of Jodhpur in the medieval Mehrangarh Fort (see pic above), while spending several nights at the Umaid Bhawan Palace!!! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve gained about 5 pounds in pure curry, and made many new friends, and I’ve also acquired a hearty stash of Bollywood music which I will begin to share with you today. I’ve had a fair share of old school 70’s Bollywood funk for years, but the newer music on the radio is what I was focussed on this trip. You have to have a bit of a taste for cheese here, and an appreciation for the accompanying videos and movies is helpful too. But if you’re like me, then these songs will find their way into a playlist of yours and provide for an epic dance party (with the Maharaja or not), plus there’s a few mellow come down tunes at the end. Suggestions for more Bollywood bangers in the comments is highly appreciated!

Soumya Rao :       Dreamum Wakeupum

Navjeet Singh :       Ik Wari Nach Le

Arjun Kanungo :       Baaki Baatein Peene Baad

Harpreet Happy :       Neher Wale Pull

Guru Randhawa :       Outfit

Pritam, Amit Mishra, Anushka Manchanda & Antara Mitra :       Manma Emotion Jaage

D. Imman :       Dandanakka

Dhanush Anirudh :       Maari Thara Local

Deepa Zaildar :       Faridkot

Diljit Dosanjh :       Gapuchi Gapuchi Gum Gum

Ravinder Grewal :       Gal Tan Bandi &       Latt Wargi

Uthara :       Azhagu

Bhupinder Singh & Asha Bhosle :       Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezar Aaj Bhi Hai

Ghulam Ali :       Chamakte Chand Ko