Soundclouds of the Underground: The Remix Edition, Part 2
ABOVE: BRANCHEZ. PHOTO COURTESY OF GREGORY CARTELLI
These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number ofwebsites dedicated to hosting tunes for the laptop-wielding masses.However, the web’s bottomless pit of blogs isn’t the only place to trollfor mp3 treasures—some of the newest and most exciting(Internet-friendly) artists can be sought out via Soundcloud, the onlinestage that allows musicians to promote and distribute their music tofans and friends across the globe. In this weekly column, expertInternet sleuth Alex Chapman go deep 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.
For every original song discovered on the internet, there are a boatload of remixes—a mixed bag of edits by artists and producers from all walks of musical life. The last time we approached the aforementioned subject, we took a listen to three producers who reinterpreted pop songs of yesteryear. Today, the trio of tracks selected are reinventions of more recently released songs, each of which are turned on their head in fun and unexpected ways.
Rihanna: “Stay” (Branchez Bootleg)
Who: A trap music maker by trade, Branchez is an NY-based producer with plenty to offer—his work is polished and chocked full of bounce, yielding an energetic sound that seems to exemplify what his genre of expertise is all about.
The Song: Rihanna’s newest ballad was begging for a remix and in a sea full of contenders Branchez hits the nail right on the head. Without doing much to obscure the original melody (beyond smart loops and cuts), the producer pitches Rih Rih’s voice a few notches higher and hones in on percussion—his booming trap rhythm takes Rihanna and Mikky Ekko‘s track from the tub to the club.
Current Project: Branchez recently released a new song called “That Ish,” which you can check out here. For more info, visit his Facebook page.
Death Grips: “Klink” (Djemba Djemba Remix)
Who: Djemba Djemba is one of those producers that every producer and artist seems to love. A member of many cliques including Team Supreme, his own imprint Rabbit Records, and Mad Decent, the Los Angeles beatmaker crafts crazy tracks, often a culmination of far-left ideas infused into the context of a catchy rhythm.
The Song: Djemba Djemba gives industrial hip-hop group Death Grips a trap edge with his rendition of “Klink.” Starting things out with an epic R&B synth riff, the track explodes into a gritty, bass-heavy anthem. Oscillating between hard-hitting beats and softer build-ups, this track seems prime for a wild night.
Current Project: Keep up with Djemba Djemba via his Facebook page.
Waka Flocka Flame ft. Wale & Roscoe Dash: “No Hands” (Blackedout Remix)
Who: A young talent who’s already a pro at making emotional beats, Blackedout’s material is both calming and captivating. Songs like “Bambi” are supreme in their subtle movements, a culmination of rippling echoes and sparkling synth tones.
The Song: One of the biggest club anthems of late, Blackedout takes Waka Flocka‘s “No Hands” and morphs it into a melancholic, slow snap jam. The washed out guitar adds an element of contemplation to the track, and the relaxed tempo takes the focus away from the words and places it on sensation, something Blackedout seems to tinker with in all his tracks.
Current Project: See what Blackedout is up to via his Facebook page.
Soundclouds of the Underground runs every Thursday. For more, click here.