Soundclouds of the Underground: House Party DJ Edition

ABOVE: FALCONS

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.

DJing a party is almost synonymous with hosting one—whether you’ve got turntables, a computer or an iPod, there’s no excuse for a lack of music amidst any celebration. While music selection might be a specialty for some of us, others who aren’t as skilled are likely in need of some help to keep things consistent. The three songs below should perfectly fill any annoying lull that may come along in your playlist.

Slava: “Better”

Who: Moscow-born, but New York-based, Slava’s sounds are all over the spectrum, with ethereal footwork ballads like “Girl Like Me,” and sexy club bangers like his remix of The-Dream’s “Used to Be.” The producer’s talent has hardly gone unnoticed—he’s played alongside cool contemporaries like Lil Silva, Kelela, and Cities Aviv.

The Song: A more house-inclined track than some of Slava’s past works, “Better” is a happy, sultry tune that bounces along in perfect time. Wobbling bass keeps things loud and fun while the interjecting vocal sample acts another instrument in Slava’s arsenal.

Current Project: Keep up with all things Slava via the Team Slava Facebook page.

M.I.A: “YALA” (Falcons Remix)

Who: A young talent working out of Los Angeles, you might’ve most recently heard of Falcons following his mix on BBC1’s Diplo & Friends radio show, where he spun alongside EDM giant Borgore.  Falcons is surely on his way to securing a similar status, especially thanks to his forward-thinking R&B/trap fusion EP Birdcall, which was just released.

The Song: “This was supposed to be official but it’s unofficial now, so… turn up,” is how Falcons explains his edit of M.I.A’s “YALA,” a track that in its normal condition cuts fast and hits hard similar to other Maya tracks like “Bamboo Banga.” Falcons takes a different approach, slowing up the tempo and transforming the track while maintaining its epic weight.

Current Project: Falcons is always busy with new tracks and gigs-stay in tune with his Facebook page for info.

Ariana Grande: “The Way” (Teen Witch Fan Club “Dolphin Tears” Edit)

Who: A creative Chicago staple whose influence goes as far as making websites for Miley Cyrus, Teen Witch does everything from parties to magazines to music, and he happens to be awesome at all of it. Known as of late for taking teen-pop anthems and turning them on their heads, Teen Witch’s love for bubblegum divas and dance music combines into something entirely its own.

The Song: Mainstream’s most recent gem Ariana Grande’s “The Way” is in good hands with Teen Witch, who gives it an extra layer of soul with his revved up remix, which finds Grande’s vocals cut up and pitched low. Of course there’s some dolphin squeals thrown for good measure—what kind of “Dolphin Tears” edit would this be without them?

Current Project: Stay updated with all things Teen Witch by checking out the Teen Witch Fan Club on Facebook.

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