Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Kid Astray, Kilo Kish, Milkman, and RAC

With Summer in full swing, many artist are releasing brand new music that is making everyone's summer even better. They're releasing everything from singles and EP's to full blown albums and compilation's.Some artist are going to become massive for what they release at this point in the year, while others will stay in the pond of artist working to make their way into the mainstream.



Kid Astray


This band of Norwegians have been around for some time now, and everything they have released, I've had on repeat. Most recently, Kid Astray has released a brand new EP titled "Taking You With Me". This is an excellent followup to their first EP "Easily Led Astray" that features their first big hits like "The Mess" and "Like You Care". This band is heavy on syths, which I personally, am perfectly okay with. They bring strong synths, great drum beats, and soothing vocals from Benjamin Giørtz accompanied by Elizabeth Wu.
With much hype going their way, Kid Astray released a single off of the new EP titled "No Easy Way Out". The song is helped start my summer off right, and it continues to be a song I find myself blasting as loud as my laptop speakers will allow. Following the single, the "Taking You With Me" EP came out with a "No Easy Way Out" as the second track following the song song titled "Taking You With Me" which seems quite appropriate. The song isn't as fast paced, but it tends to give a slight bubbly feeling in your stomach when you listen to it.
The EP also holds an unexpected surprise for a third track. The track, titled "Magic" is not sung by Benjamin, but led by Elizabeth with backup vocals by drummer Jakob Bechmann Hansen. This song brings a whole new element to the band due to Wu's powerful vocals that bring a smile to my face. Along with 'Magic", the EP also holds some remixes of both other songs by artists like Unicorn Kid, 1987, and Alizzz. The band is now working on their debut album, that is set to be released soon.




Kilo Kish


I first heard of Kilo Kish when Maison Kitsune's compilation album "New Faces" was released with the Track "Turquoise". The track starts out with a powerful sound that drops into Kilo's strong and soulful vocals that had me captivated. This is different kind of hip hop. It brings in a bit of a new wave alternative and slightly jazzy vibe to it.
Now, Kilo Kish is out with her "Across" EP. This EP has been highly anticipated by fans due to the creation of an Instagram account specifically made to promote the EP along with a few little teasers here and there. Unlike the typical EP, this EP features only the music by her. There are no remixes. But this is in no way a bad thing, because each song seems to phase into each other beautifully, placing you in a bit of a daze of good feelings and total relaxation. This EP is a total gem, and I am excited to see what she puts out in the future.




Milkman


Being able to say you've seen an artist go from a small act making mash-ups to a full blown producer with a full length album is a great feeling. And Milkman is someone I've been watching for a great amount of time. Originally making mash-ups of big name hip hop, pop, and rap artist, Milkman started gaining recognition from many people along with myself when he started making full length albums completely comprised of is mash-ups and putting them out on Soundcloud for anyone to hear and download for free. After getting recognized for his work, he set out to make his first EP. In the time that he took to put out his first EP, he did work with artist like Flula, and put out some original singles like "Neon Eyes", and "Breaking Free". Milkman then released his first EP "Fragments", which has one of his most popular songs as the second track. "Revelry",  a great piece that upon listening, you'll understand why I love looking for new artist and following their progress in the music industry. 
Following the "Fragments" EP in 2012, Milkman set out to make a full length album. But this time, not mash-ups. On June 6th 2013, we got this album. "Machines and Dreams" is it's title, and it is a hard hitting album that is full everything you'd expect from a seasoned electronic artist, but with some more that makes this album extra special. The album starts off with a song titled "Origins" that gets you right in the mood for some hard hitting drops, intense twists, and an all around great listening experience. The album goes on to give you just that with songs like "Our World (feat. Curtis People)", "Get Weird", In Search of a Place", and "Sypo". 
Since the release of "Machines and Dreams", Milkman has done numerous remixes with artists such as Jaymes Young, Youngblood Hawke, and Misterwives. But it's time for a new EP! Earlier this week Milkman realeased a teaser for his new "Reboot" EP. From the sounds of it, his sound has evolved some more, but we can't be one hundred percent sure yet. We do have a taste of whats to come though, because yesterday,  the first single off the new EP was released for all to hear on Soundcloud. The track "Summertime (feat. Brandon Skeie)" fits the name perfectly. With the new EP set to be released in less than two weeks, I'll be blasting "Summertime" until then in high anticipation!





RAC


If you have never heard a remix by RAC, you most likely haven't felt some sort of physical attraction to a song. If you think I'm joking, I'm not. RAC has been making remixes of many artists we all know, like London Grammar, Foster the People, and Two Door Cinema Club. Along with making some of my favorite remixes of all time, RAC has some other music. But he got a little help. His debut album followed the "Let Go (feat. Kele & MNDR) [Remixes]" EP. The EP featured the song "Let Go" that has a great beat, a deep bass, and some wonderful vocals. This track has done so well that it landed itself on RAC's debut album "Strangers" as the first track. Each song on the album was created with the help of some other band or artist, which is great when each person to be included in this album, is either fairly well known, or on their way to a big career. Some of the artist included are St. Lucia, Kate Herzig, Matthew Koma, Penguin Prison, and even his wife who is known as Pink Feathers to most. Each track is unique to the artist involved, but each track also helps create an amazing album that captures so much musical talent that it's almost too much to handle trying to listen to it all at once. 
One track on the album is currently standing out more than the others right now. And that song would be, "Cheap Sunglasses (feat. Matthew Koma)" This is because the music video premiered last Thursday. Now, last time RAC put out a music video it was for "Let Go", and it made cannibalism somehow look slightly enticing. Obviously it has a deeper meaning, but we all take something different out of what we see. So, after seeing that video, I approached this one with an open mind. 
The video is perfect. It fits the song perfectly. RAC, Matthew Koma, and Pink Feathers all performing for a bunch of rich mannequins at a pool party in a mansion. But instead of spoiling it for you, I'll let you witness the greatness for yourself:







My Top Five Songs of the Week













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