Soundclouds of the Underground: The Maluca Remix Edition

ABOVE: MALUCA. PHOTO BY NEIL ALINE

These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number of websites dedicated to hosting tunes for the laptop-wielding masses. However, the web’s bottomless pit of blogs isn’t the only place to troll for mp3 treasures—some of the newest and most exciting (Internet-friendly) artists can be sought out via Soundcloud, the online stage that allows musicians to promote and distribute their music to fans and friends across the globe. In this weekly column, expert Internet sleuth Alex Chapman goes into the depths of the music-sharing site, in hopes of shedding light on emerging acts, as well as sharing some digital diamonds in the rough.

Who invented the remix? Diddy says he did, but somehow we doubt that’s the case. But whoever fathered the concept of putting your own spin on an already existing track should be damn proud, because remix culture is alive and well, thanks in large part to the internet’s obsession with edits and alternate renditions. Using this to her advantage is New York-born talent Maluca, who (to mark her return) enlisted a handful of the hottest producers to remix her new single “Trigger.” Below we spotlight three of our favorites.

Maluca: “Trigger” (Mess Kid Remix)

Who: Undoubtedly one of the coolest DJs out, Mess Kid has been recruited by everyone from Boiler Room to Balenciaga to play his eclectic sets—often a blend of moody house, vogue, and juke jams. 

The Song: Mess Kid’s remix hones in on certain vocal phrases and sounds, pulling them out of the track and expanding on them, giving the song a newly realized ominous, sexy feel complete with beat breakdowns and fat bass.

Current Project: Keep up with Mess Kid on his Facebook.

Maluca: “Trigger” (Rizzla Remix)

Who: Fade To Mind’s Rizzla is an electronically inclined producer with global sensibilities, taking influence from Caribbean rhythms and ballroom culture (amongst other categories and cultures).  The result is big, wild bangers like his recent take on producer False Witness‘ “Makina.”

The Song: Rizzla’s edit is far more faithful to the original, but the producer layers the track with smooth synths and speeds things up, priming the track for usage on a crowded dancefloor.

Current Project: Find out more about Rizzla on his Facebook page.

Maluca: “Trigger” (Brenmar Remix)

Who: A renowned club music king whose name and future-sounding style are recognized by just about every act in the business, Chicago-born, New York-based Brenmar is a remix pro. In the past, he’s served up variations on tracks by Chromeo, Dom Kennedy, and Supreme Cuts, among others.

The Song: Brenmar’s take on “Trigger” is perhaps the most aggressive of the three, with the producer employing punchy drums and snaps along with synth riffs to give the track some added power.

Current Project: Keep up with all things Brenmar by checking out his Facebook page.

Soundclouds of the Underground runs every Thursday. For more, click here.