THE COACHELLA 50
#10. Breakbot - Friday
Active: ’00s - Present
There are just millions of realms you can discover and fall in love with in Electronic music. You can crave the jittery glitch-type of Electronica, ambient, synth-Pop and that sort of soft Pop Electro or go harder with gritty Electro-House, go all out with macho Bro-step remixes. But my heart will always reside in Disco-House and soft Pop House like the music of Breakbot.
The bass and the grooves of Breakbot is my kinda thing: sorta retro-synth keys with a smooth, cool persona, and the bass lines are the kinds that might lead a Disco track. Not so aggressive but as much fun, if not more. Every remix he does has those elements but makes me fall in love with every single time. If you’re looking for something to get down and groove to, Breakbot might be your best best.
Listen to…
Songs
1. “Baby, I’m Yours”
2. “Fantasy”
3. “Make You Mine”
Remixes
1. “Baby (Breakbot Remix)” by PNAU
2. “What’s Up Fatlip? (Breakbot Remix)” by Fatlip
3. “Nightcall (Breakbot Remix)” by Kavinsky
BADBADNOTGOOD x TYLER, THE CREATOR
orange juice
THE COACHELLA 50
#9. Santigold - Sunday
Active: ’00s - Present
Formerly known as “Santogold,” Santigold is about to come back any day now with her upcoming Master of Make Believe. She rocked out in her eclectic and fun debut in 2008, her self-titled Santogold. Her songs are mixed with different influences and sorta difficult to pinpoint a single genre that would fit her flexibility but that is the beauty of Santigold and her energetic songs. The jams she gets on is sort of a mix Electronic, Dub, Hip Hop and Indie Rock. “Creator” is a wacky Switch produced number with a Dancehall or an Electro twist waiting to happen. The popular “L.E.S. Artistes” drives with a strong guitar riff and maybe you heard Drake rap over the poppy “Unstoppable.” But the real player in Santogold and all of Santigold is herself. She is fun like no other artist out there. Santigold shakes it away in “You’ll Find a Way” and “Say Aha” while maintaining the groove in sort of mellower cuts like “Shove It” or “Lights Out.” All sorts of moods unfold in Santogold but it’s all a great party that she will bring forth as she steps out at Coachella.
Listen to…
Albums
Santogold (2008)
Songs
1. “L.E.S. Artistes”
2. “You’ll Find a Way”
3. “Creator“
THE COACHELLA 50
#8. The Shins - Saturday
Active: ’00s - Present
Natalie Portman said in Garden State, “The Shins will change your life.” Now, if Portman listens to the band is a matter of debate that will have to hold until next time, but no doubt that The Shins and maybe even Indie Rock has officially entered a realm between the mainstream and obscurity. The Shins, to me, honestly, is not a band that would replace The Smiths in that phrase of ____ will change your life, but they have the characteristics of an Indie darling, that is for sure.
The Shins have entered in 2001 with their debut Oh, Inverted World, an album that had them in a good direction but not quite them in full throttle. That is not to say, it’s not full of good work. There’s “New Slang,” a popular The Shins acoustic sing-along, or “Know Your Onion!” a gutsy guitar song. They came stronger in Chutes Too Narrow (2003) with songs like “Gone for Good” or “Kissing the Lipless” that has them with sharp, strong and little quirky lyricism. Wincing the Night Away, the newest release out now from 2007 is more imaginative and exploring in mood. “Australia” might be the lead in Wincing with its fun sing-along. “Phantom Limb” is also a fun number, a little mellower but a nice dreamy float. “Spilt Needle” gets them into a darker timbre that hits harder than the previous songs.
With a new release coming up soon entitled Port of Morrow, The Shins is a fun band with strong songwriting for a good time.
Listen to…
Albums
Oh, Inverted World (2001)
Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
Wincing the Night Away (2007)
Songs
1. “Know Your Onion!”
2. “New Slang”
3. “Kissing the Lipless”
4. “Gone for Good”
5. “Australia”
6. “Phantom Limb“
THE COACHELLA 50
#7. Neon Indian - Friday
Active: ’00s - Present
“Chillwave.” Let’s not call Neon Indian Chillwave. Let’s just stop saying people make “Chillwave” music. It just sounds dumb and awkward. Anyway, if you followed the trends probably in 2009 to early 2010, “Chillwave” was the “Blog-Rock” or “Indie Electronica” of then hay day. There were 3 names that tag along this imaginary genre which are Toro y Moi, Washed Out, and our very own Neon Indian. It’s unfortunate the other two didn’t get billed but that’s another story.
Described as bedroom Electronica, the kind that is programmed in the atmosphere of your bedroom (or any other empty room) while being solitary. Neon Indian fits that sort of expansive Electronica explosion that is laced with Acid trips as you push play for his records. His 2009 debut Psychic Chasms was a whirl with Neon Indian and his instruments zoning in and out. His synths were warm and playful like in “Deadbeat Summer” or “Should Have Taken Acid With You,” maybe even a bit borrowed from the past. All in all, Psychic Chasms was a hit.
For the follow-up Era Extrana released in 2011, his palette might have been similar sounding as the warm, nostalgic synths but he grabbed more tricks and techniques. Era Extrana is different in personality where Chasms might have been more playful and Extrana more mature and ambitious. With the lead effort “Polish Girl” being a more bold effort while borrowing some previous ideas with the household synths and toggling around with distortion. While the stupid genre label might keep him confined both physically and artistically, Neon Indian is energetic and something to groove to.
Listen to…
Albums
Psychic Chasms (2009)
Era Extrana (2011)
Songs
1. “Deadbeat Summer”
2. “6669 (I Don’t Know If You Know)”
3. “Should Have Taken Acid With You”
4. “Polish Girl”
5. “Hex Girlfriend“
