1. Phoenix’s past
1.

It’s true what they say, the world is a small place. Before Phoenix was even formed, Laurent Brancowitz, the guitarist, was in a band with future Daft Punk member, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They were call Darlin’ based on the Beach Boys song. Funny story, a British magazine called Melody Maker labelled the band as a “daft punky trash”. Guess how Daft Punk got their name?

2. Charli XCX’s parents support

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Just like most talented young artist, she started writing and producing her own music since she was 14. She started putting her own songs online before being approached by a music promoter that ran parties in East London and invited her to play at one of them. But being 16 and performing at an illegal warehouse in Hackney Wick got her parents worried. But instead of telling her to let it down, they instead went with her. Family support at its best!

3. The talented Lipa family

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it seems that musical talent runs in the Lipa family. Before the British-Kosovar singer Dua Lipa started listening to singers like Nelly Furtado and Pink, she grew up listening to his father’s, Dukagjin Lipa, a Kosova Albanian rock singer.

4. Big Sean love for meditation

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Instead of being in an industry worshipping fame and glamour, the rapper known as Big Sean is a very spiritual person. He opened up about his meditation process before he records a song. He credits his mother for his interest in spiritual. His mother would give him books to read as a kid.

5. G-Eazy missing Drake’s gig to avoid getting an F

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Education first was definitely the motto of Gerald Gillum, mostly known as G-Eazy. When the rapper toured with Drake during a break from his classes at Loyola University in New Orleans, he was forced to miss some dates to get back to a class. While granted permission by most of his teachers to go on tour, he sadly couldn’t got one from this particular teachers that’s going to fail him if miss another class. So instead of getting wild on the stage with Drake, he went silent in a room for a class.

This is the second time for Last Dinosaur to list down some great songs for us. Just like how good their playlist before, this one has become much greater because we are so vamped up since we listen to the first track.

Last Dinosaurs’ Playlist (A Mixtape by Last Dinosaurs) by Svanamix on Mixcloud

Music scene in Indonesia always has something to offer. If you get bored with the same tunes that people play over and over, you just have to dig in a little deeper to find what kind of tunes that you want. Let’s meet SEMAKBELUKAR, a Palembang-based band. While most of the current bands are influenced from western life style and being a cool-ass, in contrary, SEMAKBELUKAR are doing something different on their own. SEMAKBELUKAR elevates the level of ‘melayu’ tunes. However, theirs won’t be like those ‘melayu’ bands that you always see on Tv. SEMAKBELUKAR also completes their music with lyrics that have a wiseful meaning and most of their songs are inspired by Moslem’s Koran. 

It’s David Hersya, vocalist and frontman who leads Belukaria Orkestar. After releasing two mini albums in 2009, ‘Semoga Kita Mati Dalam Iman‘ dan ‘Mekar Mewangi‘, and followed by their EP, ‘Drohaka‘, in 2012. Now, they have returned with their latest single, entitled ‘Berlayar di Daratan‘ from their latest EP that will be released on October 22nd. With a one of a kind vocal, a flawless percussion, and a beautiful sound of accordion, SEMAKBELUKAR are ready to take the spotlight of Indonesian music scene.

Running, the exercise that has existed since thousand of years ago, has lately been stealing spotlight as the trendiest exercise. Move over, fixie bikes and muay thai, it’s time for pairs of colorful running shoes hitting the tracks. As running sophistication level escalates, we would like to encourage you to get your lazy ass of the couch, and run! It’s healthy, it’s easy, it’s free. It is also best accompanied by selection of songs that would pumped your spirit. Today’s #MixtapeMonday series is thoughtfully picked by Cholil from Efek Rumah Kaca who also loves to jog. The pace of him running reflected on his playlist this week.

The start line until second kilometer is the easy part. Still high-spirited. Estimated time: 15 minutes.

1. Roscoe – Midlake 

2. I Feel The Earth Move – Carole King 

3. St.Petersburg – Brazillian Girls 

4. Ventura Highway – America

Third to fourth kilometer is where we’re getting critical. All the sweating, the faster heart-beating. This is where usually the thought of quitting crosses our mind. So we need songs that will pump the adrenaline, that will keep us going. Estimated time: 15-16 minutes.

5. Alter Ego – Tame Impala 

6. Yet Again – Grizzly Bear 

7. Standing Next To Me – The Last Shadow Puppets 

8. Winter Hill – Doves 

Fifth kilometer. According to some researches, after exercising for approximately 30 minutes, our body will produce enzyme that induces some kind of happy feeling. A joyful outburst. Estimated time: 7-8 minutes.

9. Get Lucky – Daft Punk 

10. I Saw The Light – Todd Rundgren

Sixth kilometer. Cholil’s personal target before trying for 10k run. Victorious-themed songs needed. Estimated time: 7-8 minutes.

11. Ready To Start – Arcade Fire

12. Bright Lit Blue Sky – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

The sweaty road of satisfaction. Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes.

13. Impossible Germany – Wilco 

14. I Think of You – Rodriguez

15.Oh Marc, Please, Let Me Fly With My Lv – Giorgio Tuma

Cholil said that he usually runs at Stadion Kuningan or somewhere around his office, after office hour. Join him, shall we?

(Thanks to Tiara Ayuwardani for helping me wrapping up this article)

Bet You Didn’t Know : The Killers

It’s our hobbies to collect all of the fun facts for you, the music fans! For this time, we are bringing up about The Killers’ fun facts since the band is making a debut in Kuala Lumpur on September 22^nd 2013.  Here we go, the 10 fun facts that you didn’t know and you should know about the Killers ;

1. Some bands were formed through music festivals or by living in the same neighbourhood. But the Killers? They did it in a different way to complete the band. The Killers’ guitarist, David Keuning, put a small ad to get a band member for the band and the words that he put were : “Looking to start or join band? Influences: U2, Pumpkins, Oasis.”

 2. Still from the ad, Brandon was clearly not the first person who responded to David’s ad. According to David, Brandon was the first “non-freak” applicant who responded to it.

 3. The Killers’ music video, ‘Mr.Brightside’, was inspired from a romantic musical movie, Moulin Rouge.

 4. New Order’s ‘Crystal’ inspired the band’s name!

 5. Before being everyone’s candy-eye or one of the best rock band vocalists, Brandon worked as a bellboy at a hotel in Las Vegas. And Ronnie Vannucci worked at a flower shop.

 6. The Killers once got offered to perform as one of the headliners for Glastonbury due to Kylie Minogue’s withdrawal to perform since she had a breast cancer on that time. However, the band turned down the offer just because they didn’t have enough songs to perform.

 7. Love or hate it, Brandon Flowers did a solo record before, ‘Flamingo’, and he is planning to do another solo record. Guess we are going to face another hiatus from the band.

 8. Remember when some bands do some different version for their music video? The Killers also took part in this kind of thing. “Mr. Brightside” the UK version is in black and white while the US version portrays “Moulin Rouge”.

 9. It’s not only British bands’ hobbies to badmouth about the other bands to the press. The native American band like the Killers, are also known for their bad-mouth about Fall Out Boy, Panic At the Disco, and the Bravery.

 10. The Killers love using a chapel choir to glorify their music. Sweet Inspirations are the name of the choir that the band. And it’s also the choir who worked for Elvis Presley.

Some musicians think it’s better for them to work in a group, therefore they formed a band, but some think it’s better to sing it out alone, then we got a soloist. For this week, we got one of the freshest and the finest soloist, He is Dan Croll. Dan Croll is a British singer-songwriter based in Liverpool.  Dan Croll’s passion in music was firstly brought up when he was a kid. His mom is a fan of Jazz and folk music and he learned to play piano because of his sister. At age 16, he started writing some songs. When he turned 17, he decided to pick music as his career, and he hasn’t stopped making music since then. Because of this passion, at age 18 he moved to Liverpool to attend the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) which was founded by Sir Paul McCartney. Whilst building his degree, he joined a national songwriting competition which the eight winners will have a chance to get a 101 music lesson with the founder, and Dan was one of them.

In 2012, Dan signed to Turn First Record, then in September of 2012, he launched his debut ‘From Nowhere’.  By the time when his debut single was launched, this song started filling a slot to be played at a prime-time show in UK’s radio stations. Dan’s music is pretty much full of experimental sound, as he likes to create some interesting sound from his toys and also an African rythm, especially on his second single ‘Compliment Your Soul’. The Guardian also labels his music as a channel of Paul Simon. In July of 2013, he released his latest work, ‘In/Out’. Dan’s inspiration when he’s recording music is from musicians like Beirut, Metronomy, Dirty Projectors, Feist, Grizzly Bear, and a few others. Most of the songs that Dan wrote is about his life experience, he also said ” These songs, it’s almost like a mixtape of my past two or three years so it’s all a bit different, but hopefully it’s got a bit of a charm about it.”

Dan’s huge passion and a great skilll in songwriting are his best facets. You can jump around when you listen to his songs or even start reflecting some old memories. Either you’re a fan of pop music, folk, electronic sounds, or even african rhythms, Dan Croll always knows what’s best for his music, and what you find from his music is a perfect balance in an intriguing proportion.

Tracklist:

1. Sovereignty – Japandroids
2. Float on – Modest Mouse
3. 1979 – Smashing Pumpkins
4. Little Motel – Modest Mouse
5. Shining Light – Ash
6. Young Hearts Speak Fire – Japandroids
7. Tonight, Tonight – Smashing Pumpkins
8. Sometimes – Ash
9. Today – Smashing Pumpkins

1.Kiss : Starchild, The Demon, Space Ace, Catman

Real Identity :  Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss
History           :  The makeup of each member of KISS is inspired by their individual characteristics. The Starchild is a hopeless romantic. The Demon is the one with a dark side of humor. The Space Ace is a reference to Frehley’s love of science fiction, and The Catman was inspired by the fact that Criss felt he had nine lives due to the rough Brooklyn neighborhood he grew up in.
Why?                   : The influences of Kiss’ make up are inspired by theatrical bands like Alice Cooper and the New York Dolls.

2.Deadmau5

Real Identity         : Joel Thomas Zimmerman
History                  : The story behind it was very surprising! Zimmerman’s stage name was inspired by a dead mouse that he found in his compter. The story started growing rapidly in chatrooms, and he was constantly referred to as “that dead mouse guy.” After that, Zimmerman changed his username to Deadmau5.

Why                             : Deadmau5 doesn’t like being called a DJ. He feels that the term is highly-antiquated and an improper description of his approach to music.

3.Slipknot

Real Identity           : Sid Wilson, Paul Gray, Joey Jordison, Chris Fehn, Jim Root, Craig Jones, Shawn Crahan, Mick Thomson, Corey Taylor
History              : The idea was inspired by Crahan’s clown. Crahan often brought it to rehearsals, then the band decide to scope the concept. The jumpsuits, along with their numbered aliases, are intended as a commentary on the commercialism of the music business.
Why                  :The reasons behind it is to make people to be more focus on their music instead of their physical appearance. “It’s our way of becoming more intimate with the music,” vocalist Corey Taylor told NY Rock. “It’s a way for us to become unconscious of who we are and what we do outside of music. It’s a way for us to kind of crawl inside it and be able to use it.”

4.Bucket Head

Real Identity : Brian Carroll
History : “Buckethead was raised by chickens, according to his official story. He lived in the coop with them on a farm run by evil owners. One day, the chickens scratched his face off, but Buckethead didn’t care. That just meant he got to wear a mask everyday like on Halloween. The Bucket came into his life when the evil farmers threw a bucket of fried chicken into the coop. Buckethead tried to put the poor chicken back together again, but he just couldn’t make it work. Of course the most logical thing to do then was to start wearing the bucket as a hat. Buckethead started playing guitar to add a soundtrack to the horror and sci-fi movies he would watch at the drive-in theater through the hole in the farm’s fence. The drive-in was too far away for him to hear. Now Buckethead travels the world playing his songs and informing the public about the terrible things his feathered friends are being subjected to in fast-food restaurants around the world.“ What a long story.
Why : It’s still a secret, but when he was asked by MTv about his mask, and he simply replied “There is no mask.”

5.Daft Punk

Real Identity : Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter
History : “We did not choose to become robots,”. According to Thomas, he stated that he and Guy-Manuel were in an accident on September 9^th 1999 in their studio. They were working on their sampler, then their studio exploded Thomas Bangalter reportedly once said. “There was an accident in our studio. We were working on our sampler, and at exactly 9:09 a.m. on September 9, 1999, it exploded.” When they woke up, they found out themselves had become a robot!. Well, this could be a good story for a movie.

Why  : There are two reasons, 1. Shyness. 2.They want people to recognize their music more than people recognize their real identities.

Source : www.pastemagazine.com

“Segarkan ingatanmu saat menghirupku
Resapi rasa hadirnya diriku
Aku bisa hidupkan dirimu hari ini
Terbang melayang, ke awan, menghilang
Datang dan pergi sendiri, tak terkendali”

(And that was a song about oxygen. Told ya, poetic.)

Dadang’s recognizable bariton voice along with strum of the guitar and beat of the drum has created a signature ambience: you’ll know them when you hear them. Their latest album is Lengkung Langit (2012) after Beranda Taman Hati and Dialog Dini Hari.

You can continue to immerse yourself with their sets in https://soundcloud.com/dialogdinihari

Kau Keluhkan, Ke Entah Berantah, Di Atas Kapal Kertas, and Rindu were available to download on their Soundcoud and gained encouraging responses from listeners. Rara in Ubud, Ananda in Jakarta. The fact that they are currently living on a different land does not stop them from joining as Banda Neira. Thus the release of their first full-length album, Berjalan Lebih Jauh, earlier this April. Claiming nelangsa-riang as their genre, the innocently poetic lyrics are delivered in such delightful duet, wrapped with folk-popish tunes which made them undoubtedly easy to enjoy.

 Bangun, sebab pagi terlalu berharga ‘Tuk kita lewati dengan tertidur

Bangun, sebab hari terlalu berharga ‘Tuk kita lewati dengan bersungut-sungut
You can listen, purchase, or contact them on Soundcloud and Twitter. Alrighty, enjoy your weekend!

The 3-Days event will start hitting the town from March 1st – 3rd 2013. Who doesn’t know Joss Stone with her hit “Fell In Love With  A Boy“, Lisa Stanfield’s “All Around The World” which was UK’s #1 Single, Basia’s ‘Baby You’re Mine’, and also Craig David’s “Walking Away“. Those are the great names who will pump up the festival. But, no worries with the price! As usual you can purchase the ticket with a very affordable price on the website.

For the local act, JJF 2013 will bring you the best Indonesian artists, such as Maliq & D’ssentials, Glenn Fredly, The Groove, Tompi, Andien and many more. Not only the locals for the regular show, but international acts like The Soul Rebels, Gregory Porter, and Wouter Hamel will be on the regular show too!

Psst, FYI, for the online purchasing, the price will be added IDR5000 on each day!!

So what are you waiting for guys?!! go grab the ticket now before the price’s gettin higher and lets be Jazzy March at the Java Jazz Festival 2013.

(Putri Bianca)

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For the ticket price’s list, click on this link

Kimbra Johnson, a New Zealand born artist has been in the business for roughly four years now, but have you ever heard of her?

The answer will vary, but if you follow the latest updates on hit-and-hip songs like that Gotye single “Somebody That I Used to Know”, you have certainly heard her voice. She featured in the single which was a commercial success, certified 9x Platinum in Australia. The single won her the Critics’ Choice Prize at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2011.

Her first single “Settle Down” was released as early as 2010, with Guy Franklin being the single’s video director. Her recent appearance was on April 14^th 2012 in America’s arguably most loved Saturday night show SNL where she performed “Somebody That I Used to Know” with Gotye.

Her voice and musical style has been said to be similar with the likes of the recently-passed Amy Winehouse and Björk. If you enjoy hearing their music, Kimbra may well just be another addition to your iPod’s playlist. [FA]