Believe the hype! You gotta love KYGO…

The much hyped club/electronica/dance/pop artist KYGO is one of this years hottest names in pop music – worldwide!

You think you still haven´t heard KYGO?  I think you have…you just don´t know it yet!

KYGO ISN´T JUST ANOTHER HYPE;  THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE KYGO!

Who is KYGO

• KYGO is without doubt one on the hottest names in dance/club music these days – worldwide!
• Behind the name hides Kyrre Gørvell-Dahl, age 22 years old
• He´s from Bergen in Norway. One of the of the cities that has spawned some of the best musicians Norway has to offer!
• He was a bedroom DJ – in the words right meaning, specializing in making remixes of current hits, from his home where he lives with his parents

KYGO in Social media

• He has used SoundCloud and YouTube to make his name the biggest this years household name!
• The numbers; the 22. may 2014  had 47 million streams on SoundCloud, and 70 million views on YouTube. Over 300K following him on Facebook
• On Twitter he´s got 11K followers.

It makes you wonder – where would KYGO be without social media?

The Sound of KYGO

• Almost all songs/remixes run the same bpm; Around 100 bpm,
• Pop beats/soft-club, and his trademark piano playing which sounds mostly like a cross between a flute and a xylophone, lush keyboard sounds.
• Dry production. Smooth, cool, pop production but still very much danceable, and kinda sexy.
• KYGO music works just as good in a café, restaurant, a shopping centre, on your morning jogging, or listening to while chilling in the garden, or in the clubs at night

As soon as you discover the world of KYGO and his songs, you’ll find he´s allready got his trademark sound.

The influences and becoming KYGO

• Aviici was and still is a huge influence of KYGO.
• The Swedish Superstar DJ and producer, , Aviici, made the Norwegian bedroom DJ wanna start playing the piano again (he did practice piano at young age)
• KYGO bought a music program for his computer
• He used YouTube to learn playing his new inventions, the music program and the mini-piano/sampler
• He started making his own music. Slowly building his own career.

Fun fact!
Chris Martin of Coldplay personally contacted KYGO to remix one of their new tracks “Midnight” off their brand new album. KYGOs idol Aviici wrote, worked on and produced, a track  that ended up on Coldplays album. The Coldplay track “Midnight” (Kygo remix) has even been played on English super DJ Pete Tongs radio show on BBC Radio 1.

The future of Kygo

• Billboard magazine loves KYGO; In May 2014 influential magazine Billboard gave KYGO the top spot on their “Uncharted” list   “a chart of new and developing artists who have yet to appear on a major Billboard chart” the 17th of may.
• KYGO is still unsigned.
• Many record companies wants to have a piece of KYGO.
• He still hasn’t decided where he would end up.
• He debuted on a live scene in Paris, and is playing festivals in Norway + in the USA in this summer

Fun fact:
KYGO has released one single on Aviichis record company Ensis Records after being headhunted by the company.

Where can you find the music of KYGO?

• As aforementioned SoundCloud has lots of tracks for streaming and you can even download a bunch of them
• Listen to his songs on YouTube
• Like his Facebook page, and you´ll get a couple of handfuls of tracks for free
• Buy some tracks on iTunes
• See him live!
• Last but not least. Make sure you´ll check out and download this KYGO DJ-set from BBCs Diplo & Friends. The mix includes a bunch of toptunes of today – even KYGOs own remixes and classics plus a few unexpected surprises and todays monster hits; What about Pharell, Ed Sheeran, TLC, Marvin Gaye, Gnarls Barkley and 90s one hit wonder Londonbeat to mention a few…

See the whole playlist and download the whole thing from SoundCloud HERE!

1. Pharrell Williams – Happy (Neus Remix)
2. Ed Sheeran – I See Fire (Kygo Remix)
3. Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo Remix)
4. TLC – Waterfalls (Bixel Boys Remix)
5. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole – Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Thomas Jack Remix)
6. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy (TEEMID & Joie Tan Cover)
7. ZZ Ward – 365 Days (Jerry Folk Remix)
8. Londonbeat – I’ve Been Thinking About You (Dilemmachine Remix)
9. Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Shine (Kygo Remix)
10. Syn Cole – Miami 82 (Kygo Remix)
11. The Knocks – Comfortable (Oliver Nelson Remix) (feat. X Ambassadors)
12. Else – Her Movie
13. Seinabo Sey – Younger (Kygo Remix)

Discovering the magic of KYGO or how I became a fan!

I was probably hearing his music almost everywhere this spring, even more often than I´ll know myself; All day on the radio, in the que while buying a damn fine cup of coffee, in cars rushing by, at the mall
And his sounds slowly but surely struck me, the warm sound followed me from early spring and to blooming summer. I was hooked, and was letting the smooth club sounds of KYGO fill my ears while the first rays of summer lick my skin on the terrace and while doing my doze of daily work. Before I knew it the sound of KYGO had become my soundtrack of 2014!

Fun fact! 
I got so disappointed the first time I tried to listened to KYGO, and downloaded 4 free songs and felt I listened to 4 pieces of “Coco Jambo”  by Mr President – and decided his music wasn´t worth a blog post – but as you can see and have just read…I changed my mind 😉

Do you wanna check out if KYGO is your becoming a part of your playlist of 2014?

Make sure you check out the free music, buy the singles, download the DJ-set
I´ll bet you, have this summers biggest and smoothest soundtrack!

The Jem Warren pre- and post album release interviews

My first encounter with the music of singer-songwriter Jem Warren was through Twitter. I checked out his debut EP “Lifeblood To My Soul” and some clips through YouTube and checked out the Jem Warren homepage.

I loved what I heard, took some time to get into him and the EP – but when he hit me he hit hard. References that fell into my mind was R.E.M, Talk Talk´s Mark Hollis, Marillions Steve Hogarth and a bit of James Blunt.

Listen to “Lifeblood To My Soul” by clicking the album cover!

I loved it so much that I decided to send him a request if he´d like to do a Q&A interview with me on my blog. I wrote a blog in my native language, Norwegian – before i started the Read And Hear music blog.

Jem Warren wanted to do this – and since I´ve read on his homepage, i knew that he was working on his debut album. Many of my questions is about the coming album.

The Jem Warren pre-“Heart Knows How” album release Q&A

Q: I saw on YouTube, you played harmonica and guitar on your version og Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice…” Do you play any other instruments?
A: I dabble in keyboards and bass guitar, particularly when I’m writing at home

Q: You also do covers of John Mayer and Jack Johnson, amongst others; Is this like artists you are influenced by? Which other artists would you say you are influenced by?
A: The Police, Tracy Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Jose Gonzales, Tom Petty

Q: Your coming record vs the EP you’ve already have released; Is the album more of the same or is there any large changes on the album?
A: The new album is very different from the EP. I wrote all the songs for “Lifeblood To My Soul” relatively recent with a very specific sound in mind. The new album, “Heart Knows How” is much different. It’s basically an accumulation of songs I’ve written over many years with no particular vision or theme for an album. I wrote them on the fly and felt the time had come to get them out there. The result is an album that’s somehow more americana rock´n´roll (and maybe a little bit more country too).

Q: After hearing your EP my mind is full of names and references I would like to mention in my upcoming blog post. So if you should say something like “If you like Jem Warren; You should also check out…” the rest is up to you…
A: Sun Kil Moon, Jose Gonzalez

Q: If you’d like to tell; Your homepage mention both your father and mother made music, are you influenced by them? Have they released any albums? Anything I could/or should check out?
A: My parents were both very musical but didn’t really go for it in a formal sense. They were great influences on me since they provided a rich musical environment, but never put out albums themselves…

Q: And the last one; My blog is quite new, with just under 20 posts so far, but so many drafts and thoughts and ideas about what I’d like to write about. I write in Norwegian, but the blog has a translate option. I write about mainly new music, that I like myself and feel most people should listen to. I feel have a fine sense about what become or should become a hit or more people should listen to.
…of all the blogs in the world why would like me to write about you!?
A: You seem pretty cool. Far be it from me to turn down anyone willing to write about my art. The honor is mine

Listen to Jem Warrens debut album by clicking the album cover!

The album that became his debut albums which he released march 2012 was named “Heart Knows How”. The Jem Warren debut was a large leap forward for the sound of Jem Warren i knew through the EP. He sounded more confident, he sings in a deeper tone, not so nasal as he was earlier. The band sounded groovy, more funky. They sounded like they had great fun while recording the album, you´ll also hear pop, americana – and wonderful timeless ballads. Jem is without doubt a singer-songwriter, he writes all his stuff himself, plays on all his songs. On the “Heart Knows How” I´ve heard references like The Black Sorrows, Hal Ketchum, The Waterboys´Mike Scott, Ryan Adams, John Mayer – but still no rip off  – Jem Warren has his own voice, his own sound – and writes songs with a meaning.

Listen to the playlist; “The Roots of Jem Warren” here!

A few months back I decided to hear if Jem Warren would like to do a follow-up Q&A and he liked the idea. Being a hard-working artist – who has spent most of the year on the road – it took some time before he´d answered the questions…but then he did…

The Jem Warren post-“Heart Knows How” album release Q&A

hey man. sorry it took so long. I appreciate the interest in my music and career, man.

Q: Since releasing your debut album “Heart Knows How” do you feel you life has changed?
A: i think when any artists creates and then puts out an album there’s an immediate sense of emotional release. I’m no different in that way. but like any artist you start thinking about the next album and what you want to express.
career wise, the album’s had a great affect. I’ve picked up a lot of new fans. I’m set to release 2 videos from the album in february

Q; I see you play a lot live these days, tell me whats the best things about being on the road?
A: i think the best thing about being on the road and performing live is the people of course. the energy that you get from an audience (cooperative or hostile) is invaluable as a writer. seeing and feeling the reaction of people from all walks of life is both telling and inspiring.

Q: Earlier you covered John Mayer and Bob Dylan and such, are you doing any playing any new covers while touring these days?
A: i actually was doing “teenage dream” by Katy Perry which always went over well because it was unexpected and my band rock the shit out of it! “the weight” by the band has been a staple in the set lately.

Q: Last but not least, have you started thinking or planning a follow-up to your album? Where do you see your self next time? Any plans about how it will sound?
A: yes, I have a couple of ideas for albums. i would like to return to the sound of my first ‘lifeblood to my soul.’ i have a lot songs in the works. i also want put a collection of mostly acoustic songs that i record and produce in my apartment which will be pretty experimental since I’m not a producer. but I’m curious to see how people would react to it.

thanks so much man!!

I have lived with Jem Warrens great debut album for over a half-year – and have to say – Jem Warren is one of the best new singer-songwriter discoveries I´ve found in 2012.
“Heart Knows How” is a timeless album that will still live on years after we´d say goodbye to 2012.

I swear that the career of Jem Warren is being followed by me through social media like his Facebookpage/jemwarren, his Twitter/jemwarrenmusic. – and Jem Warren homepage.

As soon as I know more about his second album – I´d love to do another Q&A!

 

The Ballad(s) of Jimi Hendrix

When I say Jimi Hendrix? Whats the first thing that pops into your mind?
I, myself, think things like – guitar hero, legend, how would he sound today, guitar playing with his teeth, “All Along The Watchtower” a song he made his (sorry Mr Bob Dylan) to name but a few things I thought about!

That´s not the only thing I think about when someone mentions his name – i immediately start to hum for myself “Hey Joe” or “Little Wing”. His ballads – because it has to be said, I have a weak spot for his ballads, if they can be called that. His slower songs maybe? No, I call them ballads even if they are not like contemporary ballads with acoustic instruments and sitting-by-the-fireplace-on-the-beach-with-friends-and-sing-along-all-night songs!

Jimi played his ballads like he played his rock songs;
With enormous energy. His rock songs he could make his guitar sound like a machine-gun (see: “Machine Gun”), he could make his guitar speak (see “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”), he could make his guitar sound like a train (See: “Third Stone From The Sun”. There was no limits to what Jimi Hendrix could do with his six stringed friend (which was a right-handed guitar, but he played left-handed). He could played rock and hard rock, he played psychedelic tracks, and he played jazz and the blues. Jimi could and did play both the rhythm guitar parts of his songs + all the guitar solos – without no one even noticing and thinking about that all guitar sounds on the song were made by the same guitar player. Like I said earlier, there was no limitations!

What this blogpost is about;
Jimi Hendrix ballads, because he was (also) a fantastic performer when he slowed down a bit. When he dared sit down (at least that what it sounds like he did) and really feel the songs. When Jimi played ballads his voice became more focused, he sounded relaxed, he showed his smooth(er) side – he dared show his soul – his blues.
Even in his ballads, Jimi Hendrix and his band had this restless thing, that makes his ballads more jazzy and funky than your average ballad. With a drummer, Mitch Mitchell, that played as funky as James Browns drummer, Clyde Stubblefield, at times – and with  bass and guitars that sounds like they want to speed things up and really wants just to party hard(er). But still they manage to tie the knot together and make some of the best songs ever written and played by a Guitar God and his band.

The search for Jimi Hendrix ballads;
I have lost count how many times I have done searches in record-stores (back in the days when we went there to find music – these days they sell more movies and games than music) for an album that collects all Jimi Hendrix ballads. When we got internet i´d done numerous searches from time to tome through the years  – to see if anyone have released a record with Jimi Hendrix best ballads. But I have to say; without any luck. I repeat; No one has never ever released an album with all of Jimi Hendrix best ballads. No record company, no playlist. (Take note Jimi Hendrix estate!).

It could have been done easily – if someone with a CD-burner (are some one still using these?) and some good photoediting/design skills and a good copy machine – to make their own “Jimi Hendrix – The Ballads” compilation with CD-cover et all. That would have been bootlegging or piracy and not to forget an unofficial record. That´s something I don’t support! I would love to have an original CD or LP with Jimi Hendrix ballads. A albums that had been compiled and approved by his estate and record company!

Since we have streaming services for music, like Spotify (I prefer Spotify as my music streaming service) and Last.fm to name a couple of these. It´s easy to make your own playlist or mixtape. I did manage to make my own Jimi Hendrix ballad album, so left me introduce to you:

Jimi Hendrix “The Ballad(s) of Jimi Hendrix”
Some of you might guessed the title of the album by the header of this blogpost?

About this homemade album; When I did compile this mixtape I first concentrated on the official Jimi Hendrix albums, the albums he gave out before his all to early death in 1970, then I sorted out the best slow jams from his posthumous albums.
Jimi Hendrix gave out the following albums during his lifetime; “Are Your Experienced?” 1967, “Axis: Bold As Love” 1967, “Electric Ladyland” 1968 and a greatest hits album (with the singles he had released so far) “Smash Hits” was released 1968 (before “Electric Ladyland” was released). His first posthumous album was called “Cry Of Love” and was released just in short time after his death.

Jimi also become only 27 y.o., like his music colleagues( starting with the letter J) from the same time, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison to mention a few). Jimi Hendrix was said to be killed in his sleep by a mix of 9 sleeping pills and some wine.

Back to the album I compiled;
I managed to squeeze in 21 tracks, in a little more than an hour (2 short CDs)
21 Jimi Hendrix ballads that goes from short instrumental intro, to only acoustic guitar, a little trip into the blues and soul of Jimi Hendrix, A few instrumentals, A great amount of songs using the weather as metaphors, great songs about (lost) love and a couple of acoustic/unreleased tracks.

The song count goes as follows
4 tracks from “Are Your Experienced”
4 tracks from “Axis: Bold As Love”
3 tracks from “Electric Ladyland”
4 tracks from “Valleys Of Neptune” (“Cry Of Love”)
1 track  from “First Rays Of The New Rising Sun” (“Rainbow Bridge” (soundtrack)
1 track  from “Valleys Of Neptune”
2 tracks from “Blues”
2 tracks from “South Saturn Delta”

The track list goes as follows, in order from eldest to newest albums.
If you use other services than Spotify, here’s a little guidance of which tracks to use to compile your very own Jimi Hendrix “The Ballad(s) Of Jimi Hendrix”

Side A (or CD1)

1. Hey Joe
2. May This Be Love
3. Wind Cries Mary
4. Red House
5. Electric Ladyland
6. Burning of Midnight Lamp
7. Moon Turn The Tides
8. Little Wing
9. Castles Made Of Sand
10. One Raining Wish

Side B (or CD2)

1. Bold As Love
2. Drifting
3. My Friend
4. Angel
5. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
6. Belly Button Windows
7. Sweet Angel (Unreleased track)
8. Midnight Lightning
9. Crying Blue Rain
10. Hear My Train Coming
11. Once I Had A Woman

Listen to the whole compilation of Jimi Hendrix “The Ballad(s) of Jimi Hendrix here!

Do you know or miss any Jimi Hendrix slow jams in the playlist?
Which Jimi Hendrix track is your personal favorite?

R. Kelly is back with; Write Me Back

It´s as simple as this!
When R. Kelly released his first single from his then upcoming new album “Write Me Back” by the way a follow up to his until then latest album “Love Letter” I knew it was a must-have album!

On “Share My Love” he was back, and this time with a loose disco-soul track that lots of nods to Barry White and other late 70s and early 80s kings of soul like; Barry White, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Alexander O´neal, Joe Smooth and Colonel Abrams

I have made a spotify that matches R. Kellys “Share My Love”. Just click the play button to play!

Have a look at “Share My Love” here!

Now his new album is finally here “Write Me Back” and his sounding better and greater than ever.

It´s a great retro-feel on the albumcover don´t you think!

Listen to the Deluxe-Edition by clicking the album cover underneath here!

You can download the standard edition of R. Kellys “Write Me Back” from iTunes here

Reviews all over the world – gives it the big thumb up (see reviews from metacritic.com a site that keeps score of entertainment, gives him 79 of totalt 100 points) – and gives R. Kelly the respect he deserves as one of the worlds greatest male singers! This time no guest singers or rappers, one track that´s using a sample, everwhere else a lot of real instruments – and a organic feel to the whole album.

If you prefer the deluxe-edition, this is how the cover looks!

You can also hear the R. Kelly “Write Me Back” Deluxe-edition, with 4 bonus tracks here in Spotify

You can download it here from the iTunes Store (US)

He may has done some odd and strange things from time to time, and quite controversial things like the “Trapped In The Closet”s epic soul-opera. But still he always rises from the ashes and shows that he can do comeback like no one else can!

This time R. Kelly is back with a classic record that will stand out as a real classic years from now

R. Kelly is a artist that the press tries to knock-down. 

And he still does comebacks from time to time that shows the world who´s the man!

Yes, you can you dance to this!

In the 70s every artist seemed to hook up the latest trends, like the disco boom.

Even hard rock bands like Kiss flirted with disco on their classic “I Was Made For Loving You”. I made a Spotify playlist with some tracks thats not necessary aimed at the dance floor, but has more or disco/funk elements than their usual songbook.

Welcome to the eclectic disco playlist!

Push the PLAY button to play the playlist in Spotify

Dolly Parton – Baby I´m Burnin´
A fab mix of well known Dolly Parton country and disco beats, sounds really amazing!

Lenny Kravitz – Black and White America
The newest track on here. Lenny can play anything he want. But is without best when he is soulful and funky!

10CC – Blackmail Soft Rock legends, who’s done everything from symphonic pop to reggae and on this track, they´re flirting with the discotheque

Bruce Springsteen – Blinded By The Light
Funky Springsteen – and you can dance to this too! Fab and way better then the Mannfred Manns Earth Band cover!
Rilo Kiley – Breakin Up

Huh? Is this a disco song? Yup! Listen to the chorus!

Badly Drawn Boy
Disillusion – Badly Drawn Disco? No, a great look back to the happy 70s…

Eric Clapton – Forever Man
Listen to the high-hats here, disco or not disco? A least a little influence there!

Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin´ You
Hard rock band my xxx, this has written disco all over!
The Alan Parsons Project – I Wouldn´t Want To Be Like You
Progrock and soft rock band thats really funky and disco-friendy here!

Gil Scott-Heron – Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)

The uncredited godfather of rap, has also tested the disco…
Toto – Miss Sun
They´re quite jazzfunky on Gorgy Porgy and it would have been a obvious choice, but this is more discoish if you ask me!

Elvis Presley – Moody Blue
From the late great kings last album – listen to the melody and high-hats here…hit the floor girls and boys

Donavon Frankenreiter – Move By Your Self
Play this track back to back with the Alan Parsons track (see over) – one of the the coolest rip-offs ever?

Level 42 – Starchild
Mark King´s the king (sic) of 80s slap-bass – this is an amazing track!

Billy Ocean – Stay The Night 
He is so much more than “When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Gets Going) and Get Out Of My Dreams (And Into My Car)
Randy Crawford – Streetlife
This is a disco song – and one of worlds best songs ever – this HAD TO BE HERE!

Chicago – Street Player 

Listen to this and you´ll understand why Masters At Work sampled this track for there The BuckedHeads project and their legendary “The Bomb”

Steely Dan – The Fez
For a band named after a dildo – this is a amazing disco track!

The Clash – Magnificent Seven
They´ve done punk, and Reggae and Dub, and this disco track.
Neil Young – We Are In Control
Robotic vocals, and some disco influences. Could Daft Punk have listened to Neil Youngs Trans record before going in the studio and making their Discovery record?
The Police – When The World Is Running Down
When i hear the name The Police – i think about; Sting Reggae/Pop…and this track…Disco!

Okay, so this is a proof that 80s, soft-rock, singer-songwriters, rock legends, soul artists, prog-rockbands all can unite for one thing – DISCO!