Viewing Posts Tagged ‘Kid Sister’
Around The World, Pt.33: Magic 8-Ball Tour – West Coast and Canada
Ladies and gentlemen here is the official recap video for the whole tour:
Straight up, the West Coast leg of the Magic 8-Ball Tour felt like a victory lap. Our sets were in tip-top shape after a couple weeks on the road and the crowds out there were some of the warmest of the whole run. Full of chutzpah. The tour was supposed to end in San Fran but we decided to extend it with one last weekend in Eastern Canada, moving the Montreal date and adding one in Toronto. Those last 2 dates were without Kid Sister and Gaslamp Killer, though.
Around the World, Pt.32: Magic 8-Ball Tour – South, East Coast & Midwest
Whoa, we’re already 3 weeks into the Magic 8-Ball tour… so much to blog, so many state lines, so many truck stops, long nights… all of the lights! We’ve done 12 cities so far. I’m proud to say I haven’t messed up a city name on the mic yet. The tour started in the South, then we made our way up the East Coast, into the Midwest. Now I’m not even sure where I am. I will attempt to recount the adventures.
How I produced “Pro Nails”
Being on tour with Kid Sister has got me reminiscing on the songs we made together in the early days of Fool’s Gold, “Pro Nails” being the most known. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to 2006 when that song was first crafted and examine the DAW set-up that I was using.
I met Kid Sis in the summer of ’06 and pretty quickly we decided to work on some music together. I was itching to try some new sounds with my production. Up until then, every track I made was sample-based. I used to play samples (and often scratch them) straight from my DJ mixer into Protools, and then edit them into beats. If you listen to “Step Off” which was done just a few months prior, not only was the sample triggered off vinyl but even the drums were scratched — you can hear the different tones on consecutive kick drums, coming from the stab scratches on the record. I loved doing that type of beat but I could hardly play these songs in my sets. I wanted my tracks to reflect my DJ sets more, so I started experimenting with uptempo beats. This type of production would rely less on samples and edited audio, there would be more synths and programmed drums, and I didn’t like the way Protools handled MIDI at the time (I think this was on Protools 6 or 7). So I started looking for other DAW’s. After years of being bound to my record collection at home, I was also transitioning to a mobile set-up.
The Magic 8-Ball Tour is ready to roll
Guess what I’ll be doing right after Coachella?
I’m going to hop on a tour bus with Kid Sister and The Gaslamp Killer and criss-cross our fair continent for a month, with the sole purpose of bringing the noise. Catch us in a city near you!
Apr 15 – Coachella Festival (just A-Trak) – Indio, CA USA - TICKETS
Apr 15 – Coachella Festival (with Duck Sauce) – Indio, CA USA - TICKETS
Apr 19 – Trees – Dallas, TX USA - TICKETS
Apr 20 – Venue 222 – Austin, TX USA - TICKETS
Apr 21 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA USA - TICKETS
Apr 22 – Quad – Atlanta, GA USA - TICKETS
Apr 23 – Limelight – Nashville, TN USA - TICKETS
Apr 26 – U Street Music Hall – Washington, DC USA - TICKETS
Apr 27 – Voyeur – Philadelphia, PA USA - TICKETS
Apr 30 – Terminal 5 (also with Clipse) – New York, NY USA – TICKETS
May 2 – Royale Nightclub – Boston, MA USA - TICKETS
May 3 – Telus Theater – Montreal, Quebec Canada - TICKETS
May 5 – The Mid – Chicago, IL USA - TICKETS -
May 6 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI USA - TICKETS
May 7 – Willamette Valley Music Festival (just A-Trak) – Eugene, OR USA - TICKETS
May 9 – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO USA - TICKETS
May 10 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT USA - TICKETS
May 12 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC Canada - TICKETS
May 13 – Branx – Portland, OR USA - TICKETS
May 14 – WaMu Theatre at Qwest Field Events Center – Seattle, WA USA - TICKETS
May 16 – Mezzanine – San Francisco, CA USA - TICKETS
* I’ll continue to update this post with ticket purchase links as they become available…
Also, if you’re in New York at the end of the week, make sure you catch me at the Downtown Music Festival on Friday at Webster Hall! Get your tickets here.
Carte Blanche x Kid Sister x Fafi x Yué video
This song was originally featured on Dirty South Dance 2 and on Carte Blanche’s Black Billionaires EP (Ed Banger). There’s a Laidback Luke remix coming out next week, and now here is the video, directed by our homegirl Fafi and Yué. Do that dance.
Late pass: DJ Hero 2 and Hennessy Blending of Art
I’m late on announcing my contribution to 2 projects…
First of all I’m in the new DJ Hero 2 video game.
Apparently this is what my section looks like. I don’t know why I’m in Vegas!
I made 2 “mixes” for the game (which you can preview on the youtubes below) and they also used a few of my other tracks elsewhere, like “Say Whoa” and my remixes for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and MSTRKRFT.
The way this worked is, I had to pick songs from a pre-cleared list and figure out ways to flip them, whether it be as a remix or some sort of mashup. I wanted to go for songs that already stood the test of time… party classics. Compared to the first DJ Hero game which to me didn’t always reflect what DJs are playing, I like the fact that this new one is more focused on electronic music and hip hop. Although to be honest I haven’t properly played the new one yet. I don’t even play video games! But I’m glad I got a chance to be a part of this.
Also, Hennessy recently launched a project called Blending Of Art where they paired a couple musicians with graphic artists and had them make their own customized version of a Henny bottle. I worked with Dust La Rock on one, and Kid Sister also made one with Fafi. Now pour it up…
Some upcoming events…
I’m not really in touring mode right now but I do have various shows lined up… just wanted to draw your attention to 2 in particular, both Holiday-themed.
This Saturday, in Chicago – buy tix here
New York – HARD Turkey Soup – Nov 27 – buy tix here:
For my complete show listings, check the Tour section. Keep the holiday spirit high.
Catch Kid Sister on tour in the US
If you don’t have the Kid Sister album by now you ain’t no friend of mine. As most of you know I executive-produced Ultraviolet, her début album which came out in November. You can still grab it of course, and redeem your friendship.
But I digress. She’s currently touring America. Go check her out!
Records for you to buy!
My Yeah Yeah Yeahs remix is available on iTunes since last week and is now also up on Beatport in its various edits.
And the long-awaited Kid Sister album Ultraviolet is also available now! Executive-produced by yours truly. CD is in stores and of course you can cop it on iTunes.
Kid Sister video for Right Hand Hi!
Right Hand Hi
KID SISTER | MySpace Video
Check out the new video for Kid Sister “Right Hand Hi” directed by Sarah Chatfield.
The single is out now on iTunes with remixes, and the album Ultraviolet drops TUESDAY!
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- RT @KINGS0L0M0N: Newest work @atrak + @DILLONFRANCIS "Money Makin" official video http://t.co/ulvkSoyw
- #throwbackthursdays : also known as Rashid http://t.co/ZXeqFjYH
- RT @ComplexMusic: This new @ONRABEATS song "L.O.V.E." is the perfect soundtrack for a hot summer evening in the city http://t.co/BBXZXdqn
