Hello, Welcome to blog post 26! Today I'm going to be letting you all know about an artists who goes by the name of 'Lost Midas' aka Jason Trikakis. An artist who started out as a rated hip-hop drummer in his 20's, is now a fully fledged producer of his own electronica beats. Signed to the label Tru-Thoughts, his debut album "Off Course" has caught the attention of many radio DJ's from the likes of XFM and BBC Radio 6 Music. He has been writing music all his life, but hasn't had the opportunity to express his musicality when he was drumming for other bands. So once he decided to climb aboard his solo career and also learn many other instruments, he managed to find his sound he has been searching for as "Lost Midas".
His music is described as "electrofusion" to which he describes it as because there simply is no other word or description of his music to him. With electronic production becoming his main love, as well as a passion for playing keys. Trikakis found himself in LA where his over-lapping sounds have created a vibrant and unique sound. Each individual track displays his unique blends of electronic production and songwriting. I enjoy the guest appearances on the album to give it more of a dynamic range throughout the record. The album features appearances from Audris, Taylor O'Donnell and NuTrik. The track "Head Games ft. Audris" has impressed many DJ's and magazines alike such as DJ magazine and Radio 6 Music. Other tracks that have been in the radar of radio is "Archetype Forgotten" with plays from Huey Morgan and Steve Lamacq. "Head Games" is a personal favourite of mine because the vocals are given a lot of space in the track to which then the audience can listen to the music being produced too. Lost Midas is a very gifted musician with a lot of ideas and knowledge to create his own sound. Using pads, keyboards and the drum kit all at once when he performs requires a lot of concentration and perfection to get the right sound. I really admire Trikakis' admiration and ambition towards his music.
This is what other people are saying about the rise of 'Lost Midas': “Beautiful, dreamy sounds coming out of LA courtesy of Lost Midas.”... “Amazing… absolutely brilliant.”- BBC R6MusicLauren Laverne’s Headphone Moment and MPFree“This is fluorescent, fragrant electronic music.” - CLASH
Lost Midas will be doing a mini tour in October starting off at Low End Theory. Then ending up at the Tru-Thoughts 15th Anniversary show featuring The Seshen and Alice Russell as headline act at the Skirball Cultural Centre in LA on 24th October 2014.You can grab his debut album from the Tru-Thoughts Etch Shop and Itunes.
Hello! Today I will be telling you all about a fantastic group called 'Youngblood Brass Band'. This little quote from their website sums up their music in such a great way, its better than how I could describe them! "Youngblood Brass band, taking the form of a New Orleans brass band and morphing it into a punked-out hip-hop behemoth of groove and purpose". Yeah...that's about right! These guys have brought brass bands into the 21st Century with some outstanding work from their EP 'Ain't Nobody'. The album 'Pax Volumi' is available now, but I wanted to focus on the EP as the songs they have taken from the album are the three best songs to sum this band up. So, what does the band consist of?
Well, its 2 trombonists, 2 trumpeters, 2 saxophonists, 3 drummers, 1 vocalist and 1 sousaphone player! Sounds tasty!
Starting out in high school in 1995, the band was formed making their first album in the same year. Though the Youngblood name wasn't founded until 1998, these guys are a force to be reckoned with! They mean serious business and have been accoladed for their work over the past 15 years, but are now taking things to the next level with their latest album. Signing to Tru-Thoughts for the first album in 5 years, in 2013 they released 'Pax Volumi' which certainly packs a punch. I found out about this band through my internship at Tru-Thoughts and was blown away by the standard these guys are at. This is half the reason I am doing this blog is because they deserve so much credit for the sound they're producing! From the EP, the track "The Plank Will Nod, And You Will Go" is my personal favourite. There are so many different genre's going on in it and definitely blows you away with the sheer noise that they produce at the beginning. There is a rapping section and with the type of drum beat its being turned into an R&B song, but in the background you can hear the brass section reminding the audience this is still all about the brass! High tempo, high energy. Pure joy to listen to and making me want to hit that damn replay button!
Its fantastic for a band to blend these types of genres together, it works so well! The drumming is ridiculous and such a pleasure to listen to. The 3 drummers work together in unison in such an indescribable way. They break apart a kit, there is at least one guy playing the bass drum patterns, one snare and hit-hat, the other the same but with the cymbals. Incredible. The other tracks on this EP are called "Ain't Nobody", which a clever cover of the Chaka Khan song to give it that boppy edge. The other songs are "E La E" and an instrumental version of "The Plank Will Nod, And You Will Go". The instrumental is recommended with headphones to really listen to each part of the brass section. A very clever set up and structure for each instrument and this was definitely a brilliant move by them.
Listening to this high octane energy is giving me massive cravings to see what they are like live as I'd imagine it is certainly a spectacle! Go have a listen to their work to understand where I am coming from! I don't think I have been more excited to see a brass band in my life! So go check this brilliant brass band to have your socks knocked off! Thank you very much for reading. Lewis :)
