In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU Special Playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/4TV8iJ7WtlfjUvruWFha0x This time @Staxwell, one of the most participative members of #Music community and a great Hip-Hop connoisseur, joins us and opens our horizons. Music showcased in this episode: 1. Ka - That cold and lonely 2. Wowflower - Likeme (https://soundcloud.com/speakwithbeats/wowflower-likeme) 3. Mick Jenkins - Spread Love 4. The Gaslamp Killer - The Butcher 5. Reks - Plane Gang 6. The New Birth - I can understand it

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. Jacob Forever - Hasta Que Se Seque el Malecón Viva Cuba 2. Christian Scott - TWIN posted in #jazz by @slmcdee and @jimmiehu 3. Bear Mountain - Badu posted on #chill by @slmcdee 4. Ya Own Way, by Mndsgn. Posted by @armand on #disco-_-funkyness 5. Lyk Dis, by NxWorries posted by @staxwell on #hiphop 6. Ross From Friends - Talk To Me You'll Understand posted by @adamsplitter

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. toots and the maytals - Pressure drop posted in #reggae by @jus10henderson Moving on to some #reggae, if you haven’t heard of the Toots and The Maytals, it’s time. Credited with having the song that introduced the word “reggae” to the world, their impact in the genre is unmistakeable. The lead singer, Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, even made it on Rolling Stones list of Top 100 Singers...so yes, you may want to listen. S/O to @jus10henderson for giving us another one of their most successful songs, “Pressure Drop”: 2. My Troubles Are So Hard to Bear-Ethel Davenport posted in #soul by @newmerator Over in #soul, nothing has slowed down and we’ve began to dip into gospel music. Nobody can deny the influence church music has had (and continues to have) on the music scene in general so we choose not to shy away from it. Thanks to @newmerator, we’ve got some more of it to feed our ears. There’s not much info around the interwebs about Ethel Davenport, but it looks like she’s from Jacksonville, FL and was putting out gospel music in the ‘40’s and 50’s. Presenting “My Troubles Are So Hard To Bear” 3. Novos Baianos - Brasil Pandeiro posted in #brazilian by @ruoso The Olympics are well underway and some activity has definitely gravitated towards #brazilian. We welcomed yet another Brazil native, @ruoso, who put us on to a group of sounds. The first of which is by a “collective” of musicians that did everything together...including make awesome music. Novos Baianos got their start in Salvador, Bahia in the 1960’s and started to see some public success in the early ‘70’s and throughout. If you’re looking for the most genuine crossover between samba and rock, this is for you. Here’s a 40 minute documentary that plays more like a visual full album broken up by commentary 4. Isaiah Rashad - Free Lunch posted in #hiphop by @staxwell Isaiah Rashad. You may have heard that name once before on the #theneedle, but it’s time for a proper introduction to the man. A hopeful preacher as a youngin, talented lyricist from Tennessee, and line of sight for many strong #hiphop fans; it’s a good time to wake up. Signed to TDE, you have to believe they know what they’re doing when making the investment in the 25 year old. On Sep. 2, he’s due to release a long awaited album (via TDE) and that’s what much recent hype has been around. But you don’t have to wait until then to grab ahold of good music, he’s released plenty over the past couple of years. For now, here’s the most recent, Free Lunch: 5. Kadhja Bonet - Honeycomb posted in #rnb by @velvor A singer “born in 1784 in the backseat of a sea-foam green space pinto” by the name of Kadhja Bonet; she is also releasing her debut album, The Visitor, towards the end of October 2016. Whether she is very old or channeling a bit of Sun Ra is TBD, but one thing that’s unmistakable is her voice. Like most artists that make their way here, it’s hard to box her music into a certain genre, but she describes one song as “orchestral soul”. Thanks to #velvor over in #rnb, here’s the first release off of her upcoming album, ‘Honeycomb’. 6. Kingpin Cartel - Ghetto posted in #techno by @cixxxj Starting off, it’s been awhile sing we’ve given #techno a shout, but good reason to this week as @cixxxj gave us a little something to tap our feet to. A tune that’s been slowly making it’s way around several dj sets for the past couple years by a duo that goes by Kingpin Cartel: Mark Broom and C.J. Baker. ½ of them, Mark Broom, has been doing his thang since ‘95. This joint, “Ghetto”, was released back in 2006, but it’s never too late for music to catch fire.

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. “Beach on Kaui” - William-Lydgate posted by @clcmusic in #reggae “As the curtain rises we find Will Lydgate in an introspective mood, contemplating the yearning of a far away love dearly missed, with memories of sun, salt, sea, monoi, and tanned skin. Transport yourself to the pristine blue waters and sandy beaches of Kaua'i's north shore for the prelude. Who can stop love? Yet it has been stolen, the beautiful mermaid kidnapped by mysterious ancient and evil spirits, the night marchers” 2. “No Sass” - Photay Anyone remotely into the #experimental scene may have heard of (or soon will come across) Photay. He’s been putting out eclectic electronic tunes that touch on sounds and moods not heard everyday, but feel like they belong in your ears anyways. He’s just gotten off a European tour and hopefully has some things cooking for us in the near future. For now, here’s something he released back in 2014, “No Sass”. 3. “Heavy Traffic” - Foans posted by #cmyk in #house Taking it over to #house @cmyk gave us something that represents the genre nicely. Introducing, Foans, out of Colorado with his tune “Heavy Traffic”. You most likely have not heard of Foans before...but one listen of this song might make you believe the dude has something here. Although young, it sounds like he’s been around the dance scene for ages. We’ll let you hear for yourselves: 4. “Welcome to Vulf Records” - Vulfpeck posted by @brady in #discofunkyness #disco-_-funkyness cannot be ignored lately. Introducing the high-energy group out of MIchigan known as Vulfpeck. These guys will lead you to believe funk is alive and well which it may very well be. Give that #general seems to be on the topic of Spotify royalties, Vulfpeck released a completely silent album of songs just over 30 seconds (required in order for a royalty to be paid) and garnered enough streams to fund an entire admission-free tour...well played Vulfpeck. It turns out their music that consists of audible sounds are pretty good too. S/O @brady for the drop. 5. “Lonely Lover” - Xenia Rubinos posted by @lauraglu in #indie Xenia Rubinos. The Brooklyn transplant with afro-caribbean roots does #indie music right. Signed to the Anti- Record Label, she released her last project, Black Terry Cat, earlier this summer and some of us have seen bits and pieces of it pop up in our Discover Weekly’s. From the viewpoint of one NPR representative: “It all sounds heady, even heavy, but underneath it all, she and her band lay down serious grooves designed to move both your body and your intellect.”. Hear for yourself: 6. “Again” (Scratch 22) Remix by Electric Wire Hustle posted in #soul by @pedronunes Music for the #soul was not scarce this past week. @pedronunes even crossed us over to a bit of music found on a Motor City Drum Ensemble mix done with DJ Kicks. Originally by Electric Wire Hustle (remixed by Scratch 22), we bring you a gem called “Again”. EWH is considered to bring some of the most forward-thinking music; Scratch 22 out of NZ did a great job re imagining it without losing the song’s original integrity; and Motor City Drum Ensemble lifted it for the world to hear.

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. De La Soul - “Royalty Capes” posted by @lyle in #hiphop 2. Through You by Seefeel posted by @dipes 3. Zammuto - It can feel so good posted by @bruisedblood #indie 4. One More Night - Michael Kiwanuka @davehawkins #soul 5. Do you believe - Supreme Jubilees @armand #soul 6. Ghost - VHS Collection posted by @clcmusic in #electronic Contact us or join the #music community: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU

This is Episode 10! A great milestone for The Needle. Thank you for the feedback. In this special occasion we have a special guest with us, a member from the community since the very beginnings: @davehawkins. The whole selection for this episode is from him: Because I'm me - The Avalanches Familiar - Agnes Obel Black Crow - Beyond the Wizards Sleeve Cashmere - BadBadNotGood Choreograph - Gilligan Moss Vapour Trail - Lone It'll all be Over - Supreme Jubilees Contact us or join the #music community: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. “Inca Yuyo” by PerotaChingo by @velvor Perotá Chingó is a group of two girls and two boys: Dolo and Maju from Argentina, Diego from Uruguay and Martin from Brazil. They have a very acoustic and vocal sound and as you can imagine the message of their music is deeply connected with messages of nature and peace. If you are into new sounds this one is an interesting option 2. Aves de Leme (feat. Daniel Casimir) Gilles Peterson presents @armand On a Gilles Peterson Presents release called Tam Tam Tam Reimagined being released on July 15. He always puls together great artists and in this case, the focus is Brazil. 3. Karriem Riggins - Summer Madness @davehawkins #disco-_-funkyness has been slightly over steady for the past couple of weeks so it’s time to give shouts. Enter Karriem Riggins who you may have not have heard of but probably should. Not many can say they’ve worked with Diana Krall, J-Dilla, Kanye West, Kaytranada, Gilles Peterson, Common, Slum Village, and more, but this man can. Out of Detroit and somehow combining all of those sounds in one, here’s “Summer Maddness S.A.” released on Stones Throw for your listening pleasure. Extended S/O to @davehawkins 4. In Your Eyes (Feat. Charlotte Day Wilson), by BADBADNOTGOOD #jazz If you’re ever poked your head into the #jazz channel, the name BADBADNOTGOOD is probably not foreign to you. Last week, they released their long awaited album, IV, and it is all it’s been made out to be. With guest appearances by Sam Herring (Future Islands), Kaytranada, Charlotte Day, Mick Jenkins and more, the 11 tracks are well worth the listening. 5. Cliche, by Jeff Parker Sticking with Jazz, a couple weeks ago, a cat by the name of Jeff Parker released his second (at least) solo album on the Chicago-based record label, International Anthem. He’s been “lead artist” on at least 5 other albums sharing musicians that Robert Glasper, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino all call into the studio. He relocated from Chicago to LA and became exposed to the rejuvenation of the jazz scene and that was enough to spark his creation into this project, The New Breed, which is named after a clothing store his late father ran. If you dabble with #jazz in the present day, this is a must The New Breed 6. Titus Andronicus - "I Don't Care [Icona Pop Cover]" by @cmyk @cmyk injected some life into #punk this past week. Artist: Titus Andronicus...not to be confused with the Shakespeare play. Song: “I Don’t Care”...not to be confused with the Icona Pop song, “I Love It”. If it’s been awhile since you’ve listened to some #punk, this might be your perfect segway. Titus Andronicus is out of Brooklyn and are punk in genre, but much more in musical style and they’re not messing around: “Meanwhile, in the hallowed halls of Shea Stadium, New York City’s longest-running active all-ages DIY space, [Titus Andronicus] was doing the unthinkable again, becoming the first band in the history of NYC DIY to sell out five consecutive nights at the same venue.”

In few words: Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. “Magenta” by PAZMAL posted in #chill by @liambws Thanks to @liambws, #chill has been resurrected. Introducing Pazmal who hails from Miami where you might be able to catch him at the Electric Pickle on Tuesdays playing music with others in his circle. Chill is indeed one great way to describe his sound. His Soundcloud banner would hint towards “ethereal” which works just as well. Seemingly pretty new to the scene, Pazmal has the consistency of an artist who knows exactly what his sound is. 2. Jamiroquai - “Little L” posted in #chill by @newmerator 3. “Let me be me” DAM FUNK in @disco-_-funkyness 4. “Make it fast. Make it slow” - ROB posted by @newmerator in #afro #afro was an energetic place this past week. One of the songs that caught our eye was something out of Ghana originally in 1978. If memory serves, the song was first dropped in #afro towards the beginning of the channel’s lifetime, but @newmerator did the honors of laying it down for us again. “Make It Fast, Make It Slow” says Rob Reindorf; born in Accra in 1949 and consistently hovered around the afro-funk style of music. As you can imagine, there’s not too much documented about the dude, but thanks to Analog Africa and Soundway, the records have been made available to us again. 5. “Get Away” - Y-Bayani And His Band of Enlightenment, Reason And Love posted in #afro Coming off the always solid Philophon label, this is the first I’ve heard of the guy. He is from Ghana. Clearly a bit of reggae you here in there. This comes off of a 2 track release, with the other track due to release on Friday. 6. “Prayer for My Children” by Brian Owens “The second coming of Marvin Gaye”, Brian Owens. A bold claim about the St. Louis native and most likely, the closest we’ll get to a Marvin Gaye reincarnation. You’re going to have to hear this one to believe it, but it won’t take long to hear the connection. The vocalist has been putting out music since 2008 (at least) and now performs in an event called the Marvin Gaye Experience that is meant to preserve the sound of who is considered to be one of the greatest musicians of all time. You have big shoes to fill, Brian.

Contact us or join the #music community: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. BADBADNOTGOOD - TIME MOVES SLOW FT SAM HERRING in #jazz BADBADNOTGOOD from toronto. Makes jazz music. Usually instrumental. But brought some vocalists on. Album is called IV. out out July 8 2. The Imaginations - Ballad of Matheia #music_dna by @staxwell #music_dna took us on a little journey this past week starting with a tune by a dude named K.A.A.N., to a Ghostface joint called ‘The Forest’ and ultimately landing on ‘Ballad of Matheia’ by The Imaginations. The track appears on a self-titled LP released in 1974 that has other just-as- solid (if not better) tracks on it. S/O to @staxwell for tracking it down. 3. J.Sham - Di Pinggir Kali in #worldmusic by @lauraglu The creation of #worldmusic was not in vain. With music from Mongolia and Malaysia to Sudan and Brazil, you’re most certainly going to come across something new for your eardrums. To start off, @lauraglu would like to introduce us to J. Sham who’s music is somewhere in between psych and folk. Apparently, in Malaysia, they call it Pop Yeh Yeh and it’s not hard to get lost in it after you get going with a couple songs. J. Sham teaches music nowadays so let's hope his pupils infuse a bit of the sound in what they work on. Pop Yeh Yeh revival anyone? 4. Runaway by Nice As Fuck by @velvor Jenny Lewis’ new supergroup Nice as Fuck surprise released their self-titled album today, and it’s an interesting treat: skeletal rock that’s almost entirely devoid of guitar. "Runaway" opens the album. Jennifer Diane "Jenny" Lewis (born January 8, 1976)[1] is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She was the primary vocalist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley,[2] and has released three solo albums.[3] She performed as part of the duo Jenny & Johnny with boyfriend Johnathan Rice. 5. Jordan Rakei - Talk To Me by @davehawkins A very impressive musician from Australia named Jordan Rakei who’s been steadily honing in his sound over the past couple of years and ready for the next level. Towards the beginning of the month, he released his latest album, Cloaks, and bits and pieces have dribbled on to #music since. Australia still does not cease to impress...this time, with #soul music. 6. That’s OK by jonwayne Jonwayne. It was only a matter of time until the dude appeared here on The Needle as he’s been a steady topic of conversation over in #hiphop over the past year or so. The producer/rapper who’s released music through Stones Throw got his start in poetry and ended up being damn good at it. He’s worked with Flying Lotus, Jeremiah Jae, Anderson Paak and more over the span of his career. Jonwayne seems to be one of those guys to put his true self out there via his music. It’s always refreshing to come across artists that care more about their artistry than their reputation.

Contact us: [email protected] Subscribe to the Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/velvor/playlist/5BqWFz5tLzB2VKwIPeFwtU The music showcased in this episode: 1. Max Graef & Glenn Astro - 'Magic Johnson' With their recent release of “The Yard Work Simulator”, it brings us joy to shed light on a #house duo who hail from Germany and truly push the genre in any direction they choose. You’ll here some disco, “dusty downtempo excursions”, “modern beat science”, and a whole lot of jazz. They favor live instruments in many of their creations and it works to the music’s advantage. 2. Flamingosis - “Believe In Me” A NJ / Brooklyn native that first made an appearance on #theneedle back in November, but has now graduated to the “Don’t sleep on” status...i’m sure he’s honored. He smashes influences from “Flying Lotus and J Dilla as well as vintage funk and disco music” to create a sound that most of us can get along with on the first date. The name came from a frisbee move that his dad invented. 3. Los Vinagres - “Aguardiente” Aguardiente is from Colombia. Los Vinagres are from Spain. Apparently the two mix well as ‘Aguardiente’ by the Los Vinagres definitely brings the heat and will drive you to dig for more if you’re a fan of #rock. The trio met in the Canary Islands and their music sounds like it’s been brewed within a volcano. 4. Moreno Veloso -” Deusa do Amor” The #brazilian channel has been steady since its inception so if you haven’t browsed around, there’s some great music to be discovered. This week, we’re reaching two weeks back to pull up a gem posted by @jpgomes that may have gone overlooked by many of y’all. This one is by Moreno Veloso who was born in Salvador, Bahia. Even though he came from a musical lineage, he set off to study physics at university in Rio de Janeiro, but it didn’t take long before music manifested itself completely. Ever since then, he’s been putting out albums including dipping into some experimental on an album called, Music Typewriter, on which this song, ‘Deusa do Amor’, appears. 5. To You, by Andy Shauf On his previous LP The Bearer of Bad News, Shauf started out with 100 songs and whittled it down to 11, the cream of the crop—no wonder it turned heads. This time, older, wiser, and with a clearer vision and narrative construct in mind, the self-produced multi-instrumentalist and master of subtlety focused on 15 and cut it to 10.” 6. Unloved - “Cry Baby Cry” A heavyweight tune by a filmscorer/producer named David Holmes was dropped in #indie by @lauraglu and it’s cinematic for sure. In 2015, he formed a group with two others called Unloved and released ‘Guilty of Love’ as one of their first singles released on their premiere album.