Toro Y Moi Interview and Awesome New Artist Discoveries!

Hey All!

Hope the week has been going well! Personally, it's been HUGE for me!

In addition to working for CollegeDJ, I have been busy with my radio show, planning Niteskool's Rock at the Rock, and going to shows.

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to see Toro Y Moi perform at Lincoln Hall and interview Chaz Bundick for my weekly radio show, which airs Wednesdays on WNUR from 2-4pm CST. Additionally, I got to chat with Becca Kauffman, one of three female vocalists from Brooklyn-based group Ava Luna. (A picture of me with Chaz and Becca can be found above.) In addition to Kauffman, the impressive 7-piece soul band consisted of Ethan Bassford on Bass, Julian Fader on Drums, Nathan Tompkins on Synth, Felicia Douglass on Vocals, Anna Sian on Vocals, and Carlos Hernandez as the only male vocalist. I enjoyed their mix of funky, offbeat and soulful sounds so much that I bought their 3rd Avenue Island /Services EP on vinyl at the show. So sonically pleasing--I hope that they come in to Airplay to do a live session next time they come to the Chicagoland area. Check them out on bandcamp please!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who had come from playing a gig at Reckless Records was also part of the line-up that evening and the crowd went WILD when they came on stage. On the heels of their Self-Titled album, the three-piece, Fat Possum Records band played some of their most popular tracks, "How Can U Luv Me" and "Boy Witch" with drummer Julien Ehrich going nuts. (Check them out here!)

As for Chaz Bundick, the mastermind behind Toro Y Moi, the man had a few interesting things to say. He wanted to call me "Hooty", which I found totally amusing. When asked what his dream show would be, he said that his dream show would be at the superbowl with Kanye and Taylor Swift!

I aired exclusive audio clips from my time with Chaz yesterday.

Listen to some exclusive clips from Lincoln Hall 9/24 below:

Rock at the Rock, Chaos and Clatter, Amazing Times.

Hey All!

Sorry it's been a little while since I've updated my personal blog. Between writing for Collegedj, working at WNUR as outreach chair, getting the freshmen revved up by planning events for Niteskool, and fitting in class somewhere it's been a pretty hectic few weeks back in Chicago.

Despite the chaos, I've managed to write a bunch of new songs that I can't wait to play with The Cables during our first reunited band practice this coming Monday! Bass major and a great friend of mine, Andy Henley will be filling in for Nic Park while he's abroad in New Zealand (lucky duck!)

The Cables will be playing along with Brandon Daley, The Aurelia Trio, and Fuzzy Moon at Niteskool's first event of the year, Rock at the Rock! If you haven't checked out Daley's mixtape yet, I sincerely recommend it. Come check us all out on October 6th on the Northwestern Campus at Rock at the Rock!

For now, I won't reveal the new songs I've written (mostly because they haven't been recorded yet--even in a lo-fi environment.

For now, enjoy this crazy little cover of Radiohead's "Creep" that I did over the summer:

Oh, and a crazy experimental electronic project I did called, "Playing By Ear":

Playing By Ear by karaalimusic

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Sufjan Stevens Has Scored a Film--And Will Be Performing It Live!

Last May, Pitchfork announced that Brooklyn-based folk/electro/avant-garde singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens would score a movie in collaboration with Castanet's Raymond Raposa for the film Beyond This Place.

Now, the artist is scheduled to perform the soundtrack live at a screening of the film at Brooklyn Academy of Music. After having scored and created his own film piece, The BQE, Stevens is no stranger to composing for film and becoming in touch with visuals. In fact, his latest tour for Age of Adz (Steven's sixth studio album released this past October) featured a visual/light show that portrayed work by schizophrenic artist Royal Robertson around whom the album was based.

From Michigan and Illinoise beginnings, the classically trained composer continues to stretch boundaries and experiment with sounds.

Trailer for the film Beyond This Place below:

Toro Y Moi releases new EP, "Freaking Out"

Adding to the Chillwave Scene, Chazwick Bundick (aka Toro Y Moi) has brought us Freaking Out, a new EP released yesterday on Carpak Records. Often compared to Washed Out and Neon Indian (both of which released albums just a bit earlier this year), Toro Y Moi has released a solid 5 tracks that fuse funk and electronic beats, with reverb-infused and spacious vocals.

Following his release of "Underneath the Pines" this past February, this EP is a bit more dance-y, reminiscent of the '80's. Pitchfork gave the album an 8 out of 10, comparing some tracks to work by Chromeo.

Excited to see what comes next from this California-based Filipino composer.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

"Art School Girls" Hip Hop Trio to do a show in Evanston

Just today, my facebook event requests reported that Minneapolis-based hip-hop trio, Art School Girls, will be coming to Evanston to do a live apartment show. The group, consisting of Cory Grindberg (instrumentals), Julian Fairbanks (instrumentals), and Chantz Erolin (vox) started up after the boys had been dropping beats and making music in High School. Soon, the three went their separate ways to college but still wanted to make music a priority. During a winter break, "Art School Girls" was born.

Fairbanks and Grindberg are both producers of Audio Perm as well, along with fellow producer Taylor Madrigal. They have just released their sophomore album, "Audio Perm in Full Effect". Grindberg, a Jazz Studies Major and bass player at Northwestern, is also a solo artist. Check out some of his tracks here on myspace.

Art School Girls will be performing Saturday, Oct 1st in Evanston, IL. Details on openers and exact location to follow here on facebook.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Writing for Collegedj.net!

Fellow Possessors of Headphones Blasting Fabulous Music:

Some Exciting News!

As of Monday, I have been writing for Collegedj.net, which I surprisingly reported on in one of my last posts. I urge you all to check out the site and what we report about as college students from Hip-Hop, to Rock, to Pop, to Jazz to Industry News. Any posts with Kara Ali as the author were written by me and I couldn't be happier to be working for them.

I will be posting at least once a day on Collegedj, but will also try my hardest to keep updating this blog with other, maybe less well known info on underground bands.

Keep Reading! Keep Listening!

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Coldplay Releases New Single from upcoming release, Xylo Myloto

In anticipation of Coldplay's new album Xylo Myloto, due to release officially on October 24th, the alternative rock band released "Paradise"today. The somber and flowing song follows the release of "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Major Minus", both due to appear on the group's 5th studio album. As they did with Viva La Vida, Coldplay is working with musical producer, Brian Eno, the man behind artists from U2 to David Bowie to Dido. The group has described the album as "more intimate" than its predecessor.

The Official Track Listing can be found below:

1. Mylo Xyloto

2. Hurts Like Heaven

3. Paradise

4. Charlie Brown

5. Us Against the World

6. M.M.I.X.

7. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

8. Major Minus

9. U.F.O.

10. Princess of China (feat. Rihanna)

11. Up in Flames

12. A Hopeful Transmission

13. Don't Let It Break Your Heart

14. Up with the Birds

Unidentified blogger, "Roadie #42" of Coldplay's News section reports on "Up in Flames" calling it a "master of restraint. He also said of track 13, "Don't Let it Break Your Heart" (or DLIBYH) that it's "almost violently life affirming." Plus, track 10 features Rihanna, so really what could be bad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMhvkC3A84

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ZWlDks0nQ

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

The Soundtracks of 9/11

I know that each and every one of us can remember where we were. We can remember the fear and panic that our nation faced, as well as the heroism and the coming together of our nation as Americans.

As a New Jersey native, with two parents who commuted into Manhattan daily, the events of September 11th, 2001 struck incredibly close to home for me. As I watch the news today, hearing the thousands of names being read off, and listening to Paul Simon, James Taylor and various choirs paying their tribute, I am reminded of the power of music to help heal, comfort, overcome and maybe break the silence that our nation was left in for weeks afterward as we began to rebuild.

In the aftermath of 2001 there was a surge of patriotism mixed with confusion, disillusionment, and sorrow. So many songs were written to honor, question and perhaps express what can not always be expressed through words alone. Artists that contributed to this phenomenon included, Tori Amos with "I Can't See New York" (2002), The Black Eyed Peas with "Where is the Love?" (2003), John Mayer with "Covered in Rain" (2003), Lily Allen with "Him" (2008), Five for Fighting with "Tuesday" (2009), Beyonce with "I Was Here" (2011) and so many more. (A more comprehensive list can be found here.) I find it particularly valuable that these songs were released over a number of years and have kept the memories going.

God Bless America and God Bless all of the families still rebuilding...

Albums Released on 9/11/2001:

They Might Be Giants Mink Car

SOiL Scars

Slayer God Hates Us All

P.O.D Satellite

No Use for a Name Live in a Dive

Nickelback Silver Side Up

The Moldy Peaches The Moldy Peaches

Mercury Rev All Is Dream

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley Halfway Tree

Long Beach Dub Allstars Wonders of the World

Jay-Z The Blueprint

Ben Folds Rockin' the Suburbs

Fabolous Ghetto Fabolous

Bob Dylan Love and Theft

Dream Theater Live Scenes From New York

Days of the New Days of the New [III]

Mariah Carey Glitter

Biohazard Uncivilization

Alsace Lorraine Through Small Windows

CollegeDJ.net--An Awesome Source for New Music!

"Started in 2005 by InterSearchMedia's Celestine O. Chukumba Ph.D. at Penn State University, CollegeDJ is a premier source for new music, dj tips, technology, gear, and college topics."

Thus reads the "about" section of CollegeDJ.Net, an awesome site that I was introduced to just today by a friend at Northwestern who happens to be a contributing writer. As I peruse the sight, I am enthralled by the amount there is to read about technology and new artists, and the amount of music available for streaming. With 4,000 plus likes on Facebook, CollegeDJ is certainly a website on the rise and great exposure for college DJs. There is even a "For Hire" section that plugs DJs for private events, lounges and clubs.

In listening to the latest mixtape, I was delighted by the variety from Hip-Hop to R&B to Urban and Straight-Up Rap. Plus, in reading the blog, it's easy to keep tabs on student artists in each genre with frequent updates. The site is appealing because in addition to writing about student talent, it discusses current relevant industry news such as the BET Hip Hop Awards and Lil Wayne's new album.

With videos, free music and industry news, this site is definitely worth a look!

Check it out at: www.collegedj.net

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Ladytron's Gravity the Seducer on Spotify Today!

Ladytron's 5th studio album, Gravity the Seducer, due to be released in the US on September 13th by Nettwerk was released on Spotify today!

This was especially exciting for me as I got to do a bunch of facebook ads and other social media work to help promote their upcoming album tour and track the release while interning at Nettwerk this past summer, which I documented over at Summerphones.

After the initial release of opening track "White Elephant", as well as "Ace of Hz" and "Ambulances", it was awesome to hear the album from start to finish. The right mix of trance, electronic ambience, and haunting vocals make this album worth a listen. The album allows for a lot of space between the listener and the vocalist, sounding haunting and beautiful.

In continuing their trend of darker themes, there is something incredibly creepy and somewhat forbidden sounding about the album. If the video for "White Elephant" didn't make the foreboding clear, I don't know what does. Perhaps, however, "90 Degrees" is my favorite track with its minor, descending chord progression and synth-y strings.

I'm certainly awaiting the tour, and can't wait to see Ladytron at The Vic on October 4th. Check out the rest of the tour dates on their website.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Black and White America---Lenny Kravitz and his 9th Studio Album

The New Music Just Keeps on Coming.

August 30th, famed half Jewish, half Black rock artist Lenny Kravitz came out with Black and White America. His first record since 2008's It is Time for a Love Revolution, the artist had intended to record Negrophilia when he went to the Bahamas about a year ago to work on his next record. Instead, he came up with a 16-plus track fusion of funk, rock, soul, and R&B with positive undertones and hopeful messages.

The album opens with the ever-catchy, reminiscent of Stevie Wonder title track, "Black and White America" with excellent base work and a funky groove. Track 2, "Come On, Get It", which was recently featured on an NBA commercial was the album's first single and definitely assumes more of the style of "Let Love Rule", with rock dominating. The smooth soul returns again by Track 4, with "Liquid Jesus" and reemerges for "Looking Back On Love" again on Track 11. The smooth soul and funk elements particularly draw me in to the music on this album, where tracks like "Life Ain't Never Been Better Than It Is Now" remind me of John Legend's recent album with The Roots.

With Track 6, "Boongie Drop" featuring rap legend, Jay-Z and track 14, "Sunflower" featuring fellow interracial rapper and former Degrassi star, Drake, the album definitely shows off Kravitz' talent for diversifying among genres. This, perhaps, adds to the overall message of the album--one of love and a coming together among music and people. "The Faith of a Child", the album's 13th Track reminds me of a more soulful "Waiting on the World to Change", with clearly positive lyrics, if not slightly preachy. "Push", the 16th track written "as a rebuttal" to those who did not approve of President Obama's election, continues to carry this same distinct message of acceptance of difference.

With 4 distinct parts, Kravitz states, "I knew it would have to come out on vinyl" in an interview with CTV . "An album used to be a thing -- just like a piece of art, a sculpture, a painting -- and it's just sad to me that that's gone, because when I'm working on an album I'm working on an entire body of work and it matters how it all sounds together, " said Kravitz.

Were my vinyl player home in New Jersey with me, and not still anxiously awaiting my return in Evanston, I would have listened to it in its entirety on vinyl. However, being limited just to Spotify for now, I still listened to the album from start to finish to get a feel for what Kravitz was doing.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

Far From a "Deadbeat Summer"---Neon Indian's Second Album, Era Extrana, on NPR

As I rode back from the Jersey Shore this afternoon, I was more aware than ever that summer is swiftly coming to an end. Despite the harsh reality of getting back to work and school, the remanence of relaxation and the chillwave vibe that I always am left with upon my return will linger brilliantly.

What better way to help make the summer last than with a free streaming of Neon Indian's Second Full-Length album, Era Extrana from none other than NPR. I had the fortunate opportunity to hear "Polish Girl" about a month back at my internship, where it was a reference track. That song and the album are pure bliss, with a nice mix of low-fi verb, electro-synthetic sounds, murmurs, and repeated patterns. Running just over 42 minutes, tracks are anywhere from just under a minute long, to 5 minutes and 30.

But none of that seems to matter as the tracks flow easily, while remaining unique from one another. As with Alan Palomo's first compositions on the band's debut Psychic Chasms, there is an easy nostalgic flow with distant vocals and intriguing downtempo rhythms. From disorienting sounds and pitch bends that remind me a bit of dream-pop duo Beach House on "Future Sick" to the cornucopia of psychedelia on "Suns Irrupt", this album is definitely worth a listen.

Track Listing

1. Heart: Attack

2. Polish Girl

3. Blindside Kiss

4. Hex Girlfriend

5. Heart: Decay

6: Fallout

7: Era Extrana

8: Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow)

9: Future Sick

10: Suns Irrupt

11: Heart: Release

12: Arcade Blues

13 Eras Ending Above Us *Bonus Track

Era Extrana is due to be released officially by Static Tongues/Mom + Pop on September 13th and according to Pitchfork, Palomo will co-host Sirium XMU from 5-6pm Eastern, Sept. 12-15, and perform live for one of their sessions on the 21st at 9pm EST.

Some Pretty Exciting Stuff. My heart's pumping right along with the track titles. Tour Soon?

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

...and, we're back! What better way than with Wilco?

Well Folks, after a summer interning at Nettwerk Music Group this past summer and putting Kara's Headphones on hiatus to keep a separate blog devoted to my time there, I'm happy to say that I'm back.

Keeping my Summerphones blog, reading up on Billboard, NME, Pitchfork, and various other blogs and music sites taught me a ton. From Spotify to Summer Tours to Warehouse Fires to Amy Winehouse's death so much has happened over the past few months in the world of music, as it always does and I got a taste for just how much news there is to report on. Plus, interning at Nettwerk taught me a ton from pitching songs for music licensing, to creating press kits to social media management for touring artists...

...All the while, I was writing songs for my own band, The Cables and even gigging a bit as Kara Ali along with Ursula Ellis and my good friend Rachel Naar around the Lower East Side. Fat Baby, Rockwood Music Hall---some fun stuff for sure.

In a few weeks I will be going back to Chicago for my final year at Northwestern, and my first year as president of Niteskool Productions, the student music group on campus. Along with being Outreach Chair for WNUR, rehearsing with The Cables again, and sound designing a few shows and movies, I will be planning a bunch of awesome events to promote student music. The first, being Rock at the Rock, which will have artists playing around NU's famed "Rock" in early October. Never thought I'd be ready to leave NYC, but I'm actually looking forward to all that's in store this year!

What better way to celebrate my return to Chicago than with a listen to Wilco's new album--The Whole Love--due to be released September, 27th.

But wait, their 8th full length album comes out the 27th? How could I possibly be listening now? Well, thanks to Pitchfork, I found out the album would be stream-able for 24 hours, today only and completely free on the band's website. (Still a few hours left, one more if you're in the Midwest so get on it people!) I am loving what I hear so far with a variety of sonically fulfilling sounds, highs and lows, with a mix of soothing down tempo folk melodies and catchy upbeat repetitions. The page features a spinning vinyl, with track names to the left as the album is played from start to finish. There is no skip option, no button but pause, and a simple thumbnail of the album artwork in the upper left hand corner. Not only does this give listeners a chance to listen the way the album was intended--from start to finish--but I would venture to say that it's an awesome promotional tool for the upcoming September release. Just as Radiohead released In Rainbows as a free download, and then decided to release King of Limbs days before its intended release date, the free streaming from Wilco only makes fans more excited. In the digital age, why not? 12 tracks and a bonus of pure bliss. Enjoy!

Expect even more intriguing sounds to be playing through Kara's Headphones.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali