Tag Archives: Chance The Rapper

Playlist: Máni Orrason

Máni Orrason

Self-confessed emo kid Máni Orrason shares his latest ruminatory offering that captures his vulnerabilities through a frivolous lens in which he recounts the fascination of molding a new identity and the idea of erasing yourself to create something better: an untouchable Romeo wrapped in leather or a ghostly fabrication of effervescent cool.

We asked Máni to put together a playlist, which you can listen to below:

Francis and The Lights – You Still Take Me To The Light

A couple days ago I read this NYT interview with him from 2020. It’s a really moving article that gave me a new window into his music. I’ve been listening a lot to him the last few days. I love this song with Kanye, Bon Iver, Chance The Rapper and him.

Nicholas Britell – Agape

I always say that it’s really difficult to be anxious floating in the ocean. That’s kind of how I feel about listening this song. It forces me to breathe. It’s like dawn in spring. I listen to this all the time

Björk – I Remember You

I don’t need to fall in love as long as this song exists. Björk transcended the physical realm with this one. I get goosebumps every time. I feel one step closer to god when Björk belts like that.

Madlib – Slim’s Return

This song is on the “Shades Of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note” album. I found it randomly a couple weeks ago. Madlib was given access to the whole Blue Note discography and he made this album. It’s really brilliant. I just want to play chess and drink cognac by a fireplace when I hear it.

Yeat – Sorry Bout That

My 16 year old brother has been trying to get me into Yeat for a while. I kind of just got into him but it’s so good. Stylistically so on point. Insane heat.

Black Country, New Road – Good Will Hunting

An amazing song from an amazing album. This song feels like if Funeral and Arcade Fire made an album in 2022. Also feels like Cap’ n Jazz and those emo bands a bit.

Moondog – Pastoral II

I think most of the music I’ve been listening to has just been to get me through the winter. This song is so soothing. Harp music. Listen to this and tell me you don’t feel a bit better.

Clairo – Bambi

I think first of all this album sounds so incredible. These songs, the arrangements, the production is just so inspiring to me. I really love it.

Samaris – Góða Tungl

Samaris is an amazing Icelandic band. I bought the EP this song is on when it came out almost 10 years ago. I was recently going through my records at my parents house a few days ago and put this on. It’s so interesting listening to something you haven’t heard for 10 years and how differently you respond to it. It such a good song.

A$AP NAST, D33J – Designer Boi

I listen to this song on loop all the time. It’s perfect.

Overmono – Bby

I was in a trance with this song for a few days. I didn’t listen to anything else.

FKA twigs – meta angel

This new FKA twigs album fills the void of PC music Charli XCX. It feels like Pop 2 in some ways. This song is great.

George Jones – I’ve Aged Twenty Years In Five

I recently finished listening to season 2 of Cocaine and Rhinestones. It’s a podcast about country music and the new season focuses on George Jones. I really recommend it wether you like country or not. When you hear George Jones sing “I’ve seen the dark side of life”, he means it. It’s really heartbreaking music.

The Smile – The Smoke

I love that the most subversive thing Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke could do right now is start a rock band. I also love this song cause it fills the void of the Sault album not being on streaming platforms anymore.

Död Mark – Paranoid schizofren

I love Yung Lean. His project as jonatan leandoer96 is really inspiring to me. I really like this album too from his punk band.

Elliot Smith – Ballad Of Big Nothing

I was always scared of Elliot Smith, when I was young I heard how he died and it made me really scared of his music. Like there was a darkness to it I couldn’t handle. But I don’t think there’s an album I’ve listened to more the last year than Either/Or.

The Weeknd feat. Tyler, The Creator – Here We Go… Again

I get really emotional every time I hear the weekend sing “my new girl, she a movie star”. Don’t know why. Love this song.

Sounds like: Jesse, SUM41, The 1975, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi

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TOBY – Gold Feat. Otiuh

TOBY

Australian/UK producer TOBY hits us with his popping new single ‘Gold’, featuring the mad vocal-slinging work of Perth duo Otiuh.

The alt hip-hop/electro-house sound, that we haven’t really heard much of before, is heavily influenced by the likes of Kaytranada, Disclosure and Mura Masa.

A super easy track for TOBY to make, it was meant to be.

Sounds like: Chance The Rapper, Kaytranada, Young Franco, Mura Masa, Georgia, Disclosure, Jerry Folk

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An Indietronica Preview of NOS Alive 2018

NOS Alive

We do like a good festival, and after hearing that NOS Alive in Lisbon, Portugal is up there as one the world’s best music festivals, we decided to plan a trip in July to find out what all the fuss is about!

In the mean time, buckle up and check out our ones to watch within the indietronica genres (looks like we’ll mainly see you at the Sagres Stage then!).

THURSDAY 12 JULY

Friendly Fires, Sagres Stage

Friendly Fires

Energetic Brit boys Friendly Fires return to the festival circuit after a hiatus.

Having already had massive success with hits such as ‘Paris’, ‘Jump In The Pool’ and ‘Skeleton Boy’, their new single ‘Love Like Waves’ doesn’t disappoint and continues the theme of tropical-tinged synth sounds.

Expect a highly fun and bold performance at NOS Alive.

Sounds like: Fenech-Soler, Two Door Cinema Club

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Jain, Sagres Stage

Jain

Jain is a multi-cultural singer/songwriter and self confessed beat-maker, originally from France, but who has also spent time in Dubai and The Congo.

Jain means achieving liberation of the soul, and that’s exactly what this music embodies with its flecked sounds of African rhythms with simple, yet vibrant vocals.

Watch the video for highly recognised song ‘Makeba’ below and catch Jain at the Sagres Stage on Thursday.

Sounds like: Brigitte, Santigold, L.E.J, Yodelice, Lilly Wood & The Prick

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Khalid, Sagres Stage

Khalid

One artist we are super stoked to check out live is Khalid.

The American singer/songwriter originally started writing music during his college years, where he was also declared prom king. Amalgamating an array of sounds from classical, pop to hip hop, Khalid shows a real sense of urgency in his music.

We can’t get enough of his track with Billie Eilish, and can’t wait to see him perform at NOS Alive.

Sounds like: Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Father John Misty, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Lorde, James Blake, Billie Eilish

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Wolf Alice, Sagres Stage

Wolf Alice

Indie rockers Wolf Alice have been our firm favourites from the UK for some time now. They never disappoint at a live show, fronted by a fresh-faced Ellie Rowsell’s seemingly blasé but endearingly nervous attitude.

Expect a set full of their most brilliant tunes…so that’s all of them then!

Sounds like: Black Honey, Peace, Superfood, Foals, Circa Waves, Harry

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Sampha, Sagres Stage

Sampha

Sampha is to be one of the UK’s best musical exports in 2018.

He has a knack for writing songs with deep and personal lyrics of pain and reflection, some of which have unfortunately has stemmed from health hardships suffered with his family at home, and we can’t help but think we are supporting him on this journey.

Truly thought-provoking stuff, definitely worthy of a slot at NOS Alive.

Sounds like: Jessie Ware, Frank Ocean, Solange, Moses Sumney, James Blake, Chet Faker, SBTRKT, Dallas Green

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FRIDAY 13 JULY

Two Door Cinema Club, NOS Stage

Two Door Cinema Club

We have watched Irish electro-poppers Two Door Cinema Club play live countless times, and that’s why they’ve made this list.

It’s hard to believe these youngsters have been around for over eight years. Still full of energy and banging tunes, catch them on the Friday!

Sounds like: Phoenix, Hot Chip, Passion Pit

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Future Islands, NOS Stage

Future Islands

Future Islands‘ front man Samuel T Herring’s dancing is reason enough to go watch these guys at NOS Alive. And of course, the US synthpop band are wildly brilliant in as many unique, refreshing and inspiration ways possible.

Expect big things on stage!

Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Perfume Genius, Twin Shadow, Sylvan Esso, Austra

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CHVRCHES, Sagres Stage

CHVRCHES

Feisty feminist attitudes and catchy lyrics is what CHVRCHES brings to the table.

Lauren Mayberry has faced her fair share of trolls online, but to her testament, the Scottish trio continue to go from strength to strength. We are very much looking forward to this show!

Sounds like: Kate Boy, Avec Sans, Purity Ring, Vogue Dots, R.A.B.B.I.I., Kaleida, Gems, IYES, For Esmé, ALMA, Pale Hands, Acre Tarn, Prinze George, Leitbur, Monogem, PALMEDO, NONONO, Still Corners, MUNA

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Portugal. The Man, Sagres Stage

Portugal. The Man

Bold American rock band Portugal. The Man have been making serious waves of late, and if you haven’t heard of them, you soon will.

An iPhone soundtrack waiting to happen; expect goosebumps, sway inducing vocal harmonies and a fist pumping bass line.

Sounds like: Foster The People, Broken Bells, Grouplove, Circa Survive, MGMT

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Surma, Coreto Stage

Surma

Imagine if M83 and Joanna Newsom met one day and decided to make some music. The result would be the quirky and ambient tones of Portuguese Surma (aka Débora Umbelino).

Working with loop pedals, the solo artist works with analogue and digital sounds creating a primal yet sonic environment.

Sounds like: Yellerkin, Yoke Lore, M83, Joanna Newsom

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SATURDAY 14 JULY

Lotus Fever, Coreto Stage

Lotus Fever

Kicking off Saturday’s ones to watch are Lisbon natives, Lotus Fever.

They fit somewhere in-between Alt-J and Pink Floyd and it’s really refreshing to hear. We are expecting a super tight performance, thanks to their longstanding stint together since 2011 and it being their local city.

Sounds like: Alt-J, Pink Floyd

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Mighty Sands, Coreto Stage

Mighty Sands

Mighty Sands is a Lisbon-based quintet.

Their music has tendencies to sway in the 60’s, psychedelic market – imagine riding on a surfboard in space. However, we expect their set at NOS Alive to be a relaxed affair, where you can chill out and have a cider…or ride a surfboard in space, whatever takes your fancy!

Sounds like: Father John Misty, Tame Impala, MGMT

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MGMT, NOS Stage

MGMT

Less under the radar than the counterparts in this piece, but still worthy of a slot on one’s to watch at this year’s NOS Alive. The mighty MGMT!

The eclectic US-based duo are known for their otherworldly take on modern indie rock music, often combining psychedelic synths, crunchy guitars and stodgy vocals with fun videos.

Sounds like: Empire of the Sun, Foster the People, Tame Impala, Portugal. The Man

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Perfume Genius, Sagres Stage

Perfume Genius

Covering topics such as sexual abuse, suicide and alcohol abuse, Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) is one such musical role model we want to be more involved with.

His music represents such struggles and recoveries in a camp but delightfully magnificent way.

Sounds like: Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, Kate Bush, M83, David Bowie, Future Islands, Fever Ray

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Bernado, Coreto Stage

Bernardo

Wow, Bernado‘s vocals have blown us away after watching her live performance of ‘The Boy Is Mine’.

The London based British/Portuguese singer/songwriter effortlessly combines modern attitudes from London attitude with a jazzy flair.

Sounds like: Amy Winehouse, Jorja Smith

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Real Estate, Sagres Stage

Real Estate

With a warming lo-fi sound, Brooklyn-based dream team, Real Estate is our last act to consider watching at NOS Alive.

Run by childhood friends who played in their backyards during the summer months, Real Estate write simple and endearing songs full of luminous guitar riffs and delicate synths.

We envisage this show to be a perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Sounds like: Summer Heart, Washed Out, MGMT

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Find out more info about NOS Alive and purchase remaining tickets here.

Playlist: Glassio

Glassio

Glassio

Meet Glassio, the alt-pop project of Sam Rad and Charlie P.

Glassio have put together a playlist for us about the influences behind their recent atmospheric cover of Iggy & The Stooges‘ ‘Search & Destroy’.

You can listen to/find out more below.

“These are 11 songs that played a role in influencing our production of “Search & Destroy,” and that we still often reference when working on new music.

Individually, there might not be much in common with the cover, but there are elements from each that either exist in the cover or that we had on our mind when working on the track.

Most notably is the idm-electro inspired cover of “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” by German producer Schneider TM –originally performed by The Smiths. That served as a specific influence by taking something from one genre and fitting it into another.

I (Sam) have also been listening to a lot of UK garage and 2-step lately. Sticky is one of my favorite producers in that area, and the song we’ve included on here, “War Rhythm” played a big part in influencing a portion of the beat in the cover.

Lately, we’ve both been digging deep into old Philly soul, MFSB, and then lots of 90s and early 2000s R&B. That’s been having a major comeback lately, and you can hear it all over the Chance album. The voices on “Same Drugs” are particularly uplifting, and we wanted our voices in the gospel section of our cover to resemble the same mood.

“Heartbeats” by Joakim and “Transformer Man” by Neil Young are both basically singer-songwriter songs performed through vocoders, and that idea was really attractive to us, so we added that very faintly in the vocals on the first verse.

Our cover ends with a Beach Boys-inspired ending, emanating the trapped feeling that the vocals at the end of “’Til I Die” give off.

The playlist also starts off with a song by a former classmate of ours at Clive Davis. We never spoke in person, but his album is pretty fantastic, and definitely removes you from your current headspace with lots of controlled and orchestrated noise-rock. We wanted the ending of our song to have that same feeling.”

Sounds like: Aquilo, Foals, Jagwar Ma, Rüfüs

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