Search results for: Empress Of

She’s Back! Listen to Slammin’ NEW Synth-Pop Jams from Empress Of’s Debut Album, Me

Empress Of - MeEveryone can let out a larger than life sigh of relief; The glorious and ever-so-sweet synth-pop princess, Empress Of is back with a serious vengeance.

Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of is a lovely 25-year-old, LA-raised, Brooklyn-based artist with the dreamiest of voices and the most bumpin’ beats, which she apparently started making at the age of 17. According to this interview in Fader, Rodriguez also studied production and audio engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to NYC in 2011.

She swept many off their feet with her swoon-worthy musical debut in ’12, and in ’13 with the release of her swirling EP, Systems, sang in both English and Spanish.

Some extremely talented artists come along, release a couple of obsessive-worthy tracks, disappear, and you hope like hell they reappear once again, but they never do. This luckily isn’t the case with Empress Of.

She’s announced her debut album, Me, (which was recorded in Mexico City) and is set to be released September 11, 2015 via XL Recordings/Terrible.

Have a listen to four amazingly slammin’ synth-pop tracks found on Me and rejoice in her reemergence. (p.s. The album is premiering and playing in full over at Hype Machine right now)

Empress Of – Kitty Kat

Empress Of – Standard

Empress Of – Water Water

Empress Of – How Do You Do It

Swoon-Worthy! Empress Of – Hat Trick

Empress Of SystemsThe ever-so-lovely, intriguing and dreamy voiced Brooklynite, Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of, continues to sweep us off our feet with yet another pop gem, “Hat Trick.” The swirling new single can be found on Empress Of‘s soon-to-be-released (April) EP, Systems, via Terrible Records (US) and Double Denim (world-wide).

From her endearing debut 7″ featuring “Don’t Tell Me” and “Champagne,” to her “colorminutes” Youtube clips and curious Craigslist look-a-like website, Empress Of has quickly doused us all in a serious case of swoon.

If you’re headed to Austin for SXSW, Empress Of (a must-see SXSW act) will be making the rounds, including a Gorilla vs. Bear & Yours Truly Showcase, at the Hype Hotel, March 13th. Otherwise, be sure to catch her while on tour with Jamie Lidell throughout March and April.

Empress Of – Hat Trick

 

NEW Band + Video – Empress Of

Empress Of - ChampagneFilming yourself gorging on watermelon to the soundtrack of your own smooth, sensual, electro-pop sounds will undoubtedly grab the attention of many. Lorely Rodriguez aka Empress Of has done this successfully with her new video and song, “Champagne.”

People have been eager to know/hear more from the young Brooklynite. Releasing her “colorminutes” Youtube clips, sporting a Craigslist look-a-like website, and debuting at the Gorilla vs. Bear CMJ showcase has placed Empress Of on people’s radars with an extreme douse of curiosity.

For now, Empress Of dons two songs, “Champagne” and “Don’t Tell Me” (found below), both of which have been released on a new 7″ via No Recordings. Join in on the curiosity and follow Empress Of on Facebook, SoundCloud, and watch her new eyebrow raising video for “Champagne.”

Empress Of – Champagne

Empress Of – Don’t Tell Me

Six Years in San Francisco: A Soundtrack and a ‘So Long’

CocoStereoSanFranciscoSoundtrack.JPG

I love San Francisco, which is why I’m content to say… I’m leaving it. Today, March 3rd, marks my 6-year anniversary in this beautiful city. In six days, I’ll be on a one-way flight to NYC.

Over the course of my six years here, I often had to fight my (somewhat tormenting and romanticized) nomadic tendencies.

My first year in San Francisco was the worst. Having come back to the states after a few years overseas, I was depressed by normalcy. My identity as an explorer had expired. I was just like everyone else, and what a painful reality that came to be.

I had a 9-5 job with a bus commute full of men in suits. I bought a smartphone, and to my dismay, found myself looking at it rather than people in the eyes. Two years in, I was aching to leave.

I made a plan and put together a list of things I had to see before I left for NYC. But it dawned on me: Why not always have this mentality? Why not live with joy and a sense of urgency as if I’m always about to lose this city? So I stayed because saying sayonara felt too soon. Plus, I needed to learn how to stay put and be happy. Something I wasn’t used to.

Then, I met someone.

One year later, that someone broke my heart in a million ways plus one. And while he lived across the bridge and the city was “mine,” the idea of even existing in the same state seemed unbearable.

I made a plan and compiled a list of Brooklyn neighborhoods to live in. But, it dawned on me: People aren’t perfect, and I still seemingly loved that heartbreaker of mine. So I decided to stay and see if things could be forgiven with time.

One year later, to paraphrase Mariah Carey, that heartbreaker got the best of me and I should’ve have known right from the start he’d go and break my heart…again.

The break up sucked, and a new city seemed like the perfect remedy. But, I’d just started a new job, at a startup no less. Leaving wasn’t an option, as much as I wanted it to be.

In two years’ time, I came through to the other side. I no longer wanted to run from San Francisco (though, of course, it was never the city I was running from). I loved it, even.

I also feel incredibly lucky to have shared this city with my beautiful sister and best friend. A city that taught me how to vogue, DJ a radio show, make a film, dance ballet, let loose at a show, start a blog, enjoy long walks, and most importantly, how to find adventure and love in just one spot.

Only now do I feel as if I can leave this city’s arms. Because I know they’ll always be open, and I’ll forever be happy to jump back into them when or if the time comes. But why am I leaving at all? While I’ve learned my lesson, living in New York has always been a dream. And, I don’t like to make a habit of regretting things.

So, to celebrate the last six years, I’ve decided to create a soundtrack – One that includes my top 6 most listened to jams from each of the 6 years I spent in SF (2011-2017). These jams may not be brand new, but they’re still amazing, and will always remind me of you.

So long, SF.

2011

  • Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me
  • Austra – Lose it
  • Class Actress – Love Me Like You Used to
  • Grimes – Crystal Ball
  • Elite Gymnastics – Omamori
  • Twin Sister – Bad Street

2012

  • Grimes – Genesis
  • Vacationer – Good as New
  • Purity Ring – Obedear
  • How to Dress Well – & it Was You
  • Charli XCX – Nuclear Seasons
  • Tennis – My Better Self

2013

  • Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good a Being in Trouble
  • Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
  • No Joy – Hare Tarot Lies
  • Angel Olsen – The Waiting
  • K-X-P – Easy
  • Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough

2014

  • St. Vincent – Prince Johnny
  • Trust – Capitol
  • Rickey Eat Acid – It Will Draw Me Over to it Like it Always Does
  • Tirzah – Inside Out
  • Hundred Waters – Show Me Love
  • Black Milk – Dirt Bells

2015

  • Widowspeak – All Yours
  • Julien Baker – Something
  • Prince Rama – Bahia
  • Grimes – Kill v. Maim
  • Empress Of – Everything is You
  • Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ur Life One Night

2016

  • Mitski – Your Best American Girl
  • Woods – Can’t See At All
  • Banks – Gemini Feed
  • Julie Byrne – Natural Blue
  • Julia Jacklin – Pool Party
  • Beyonce – Don’t Hurt Yourself (feat. Jack White) (not on Spotify, sorry) / Subbing in with Miya Folick – Pet Body

2017

  • Austra – Future Politics
  • Sampha – Plastic 100°C
  • Temples – Certainty
  • Future Pelo – Swamp
  • Jens Lekman – What’s that Perfume That You Wear?
  • Tei Shi – Keep Running …. Fitting? 😉

p.s. The featured image/picture is one I took of Sutro Tower from my backyard – What a gloriously breathtaking city.

coco stereo radio

Listen to “Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground“ on BFF.fm, San Francisco’s best online streaming underground radio station, every Sunday, 11 am – Noon PT.

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 1-11-15 – Austin Psych Fest 2015 Picks
This is my last radio show 😦 “Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground” aired on BFF.fm every Sunday 11am-Noon PST for an entire year! Thanks for always listening, Stay tuned on cocostereo.com for more new music and news.

Thee Oh Sees – Tidal Wave
Melody’s Echo Chamber – Shirim
Fuzz – What’s in My Head
The Flaming Lips – The W.A.N.D.
Indian Jewelry – Eva Cherie
Mac DeMarco – She’s Really All I Need
Tame Impala – Stranger in Moscow (MJ Cover)
White Fence – Like That
Fat White Family – Touch the Leather
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
Nothing – Bent Nail
The Blank Tapes – Coast to Coast
Rose Windows – Wartime Lovers

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 12-28-14 Best Tracks of 2014 

Mt. Royal – Missing Reward
Honeyblood – Super Rat
Love Again (Akinyele Back) feat. Gangsta Boo – Run the Jewels
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
Angel Olsen – Hi-Five
Perfume Genius – Queen
Tirzah – No Romance
Shamir – On the Regular
Woods – Leaves Like Glass
St. Vincent – Prince Johnny
Hundred Waters – Show Me Love
Sisyphus – Rhythm of Devotion
Kero Kero Bonito – Sick Beat
Glass Animals – Gooey

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-30-14 – Super Fresh Jams

Disa – Sculpture
Cherry Glazerr – Had Ten Dollaz
Shaprece – Her Song
Panda Bear – Mr Noah
Weaves – Buttercup
SZA – Sobriety
Fat White Family – Touch The Leather
Girlpool – Jane
Young Ejecta – Your Planet
Baby Bash – Suga Suga (Jerry Folk Remix)
American Wrestlers – I Can Do No Wrong
Trust Fund – Cut Me Out
Only Real – Yesterdays
Tune-Yards – Gangsta

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-16-14 – Fresh Jams

Misun – Penny
LoneLady – Grove it Out
Mykki Blanco – A Moment with Kathleen feat. Kathleen Hannah
Tei Shi – See Me
Cherry Glazerr – Tip Toe Through The Tulips (Nick Lucas Cover)
Slow Magic – Waited 4 U (ODESZA Remix)
Bosco Rogers – The Middle
Flowers – Joanna
Daniel Wilson – Boy Who Cried Thunder
Robin Bacior – If it Does
Jessica Pratt – Back, Baby – Drag City
RÉN – Time
Island Boy – Hospital Bed

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-2-14 – Funky Fresh Jams

Shamir – On the Regular
Continental Shelf – Viet Cong
Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck) feat. Zack De La Rocha – Run the Jewels
It’s Okay with Me – The Good Sports
Better Man – Leon Bridges
Unforgettable – The Harpoons
Waiting Around for Grace – Pond
Got It – Marian Hill
Close Enough – K Stewart
Rose Knows – Allison Crutchfield
Everybody’s Free – TALA
Between Cans – Deers
Shithole – Weaves
Strawberries & White Light – Blue Hawaii
Get Happy – Blue Hawaii

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 10-19-14 Must See Bands at CMJ Music Marathon 2014

CMJ Music Marathon is October 21-25th in NYC. 80+ venues, 1,300 bands, 125K fans! Here are this year’s must-see bands.
Only Real – Cadillac Girl
Dinner – Girl
Banoffee – Let’s go to the beach
Weaves – Hulahoop
Pins – Lost Lost Lost
Tei Shi – Bassically
Gulp – Vast Space
Spookyland – Rock and Roll Weakling
Ami Dang – This Charm
Adult Jazz – Am Gone
Juan Waters – Escucho Mucho
Twin Peaks – Strawberry Smoothie
Doomsquad – Head Spirit (for our Mechanical Times)
Lydia Ainsworth – PSI

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 10-5-14 – The Freshest of New Jams!

Liv – Come a Little Closer
K.Flay – Make Me Fade (Feat. Sol & Buddy)
AlundaGeorge – Supernatural
Ex Hex – How You Got That Girl
Perfume Genius – Longpig
PlanningtoRock – The One (Summer 2014 Version)
Sisyphus – Booty Call
La Plage – Rendez Vous
She Keeps Bees – Owl
TALA – Alchemy
Absolutely Free – Vision’s
Little Dragon – Cat Rider (Poolside Remix)
Hush Pup – Magic Hour
Elliot Moss – Slip

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-28-14 – Eclectic New Tracks

Dinner – Going Out
Blonde Redhead – No MOre Honey
Perfume Genius – Fool
Wampire – The Amazing Heart Attack
Black Milk – Ruffin
Hush Pup – Thailand
Lo-Fang – When We’re Fire
Phlynt – Silence
Blood Sister – Ghost Twin
Caribou – Silver
Makthaverskan – Asleep
Yellerkin – Tools
iamamiwhoami – Vista

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-21-14 – Deliciously Dark Folsom Street Fair Tracks
This radio show is dedicated to SF’s iconic, infamous and non-profit BDSM spectator fest: ‪‎Folsom Street Fair‬. In honor of this delightfully kinky and eye-opening festivity, I ‘whipped’ up these deliciously dark tracks. Enjoy!

Crater – Crater Head
Trust – Rescue, Mister
Yo! Majesty – Freaks Come Out
Hi Fashion – Amazing
Phedre – Atomic Love
Brooke Candy – Bed Squeak
Light Asylum – Hour Fortress
iamamiwhoami – Clump
Austra – Painful Like
Night Drive – After Dark
Mykki Blanco – Wavvy
Trust – Captiol

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-14-14 – Fresh New Jams

FEMME – 1990s // Killer (Seal & Adamski Cover)
Helado Negro – Ojos Que No Ven
Kailo – NinetiesGirl
Fictonian – Full Circle Influence
TĀLĀ – Black Scorpio
Rome Fortune – FreandsMaybe feat. IloveMakonnen
Run the Jewels – Blockbuster Night Part 1
Purling Hiss – Forcefield of Solitude
SBTRKT – Gon Stay feat. Sampha
Bass Drum of Death – For Blood
Operators – True
ODESZA – White Lies feat. Jenni Potts
Perfume Genius – Grid
Masionair – Hold Me Down

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 9-7-14 – WEIRD/Fun/Funky New Jams

Hush Pup – Swimming
BabyMetal – Gimmie Chocolate!!
Gay Dog Food – New Feelings prod. by Sasha DZA
Jenny Hval & Susanna – I Have Walked This Body
ODESZA – Sun Models (Feat. Madelyn Grant)
TwinzTrack – All N My Grill
Crooked Colours – Keep Your Mouth for Lying (cln Remix)
Kindness – This is Not About Us
Eyelid Kid – Time Travel
Willow Smith – Easy Easy (King Krule Cover)
New Swears – See You in a Hull
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Cellophane
Institute – Salt
BabyMetal – Head Bangya!!

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-30-14 – Fab New Jams

Tomas Barfod – Lost (Feat. Pell)
Sleepy Dinosaur – Leaving
Femme – Heartbeat
BRONCHO – What
Black Milk – What it’s Worth
Foreign/National – Life Tourist
Allison Crutchfield – You
Love Inks – Shoot 100 Panes of Glass
Spookyland – The Silly Fucking Thing
Jonwayne – World Championship Karate Champion Feat. Quelle Chris And Zeroh
Astronauts, etc. – Gravity
No Rome – Heaven
Honeyblood – Mesmerizing (Liz Phair Cover)
Visuals – Pixel

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-24-14 – Fresh New Jams

Femme – High
Menace Beach – Tennis Court
Generationals – Black Lemon
Only Real – Pass the Pain
PAWS – Erreur Humaine
Beaty Heart – Yadwigha’s Theme
Galimatias – Ocean Floor Kisses
WAFIA – Let Me Love You (Mario Cover)
Alt-J – Every Other Freckle
Mozart’s Sister – Do it Myself (run run)
Leland – Aware
Golden Coast – Dream and an MPC

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-17-14 – Rockin’ & Eclectic New Jams

Daniel Wilson – Killed Ya
Bass Drum of Death – Black Don’t Glow
Ramona Lisa – Getaway Ride
Whyte Horses – The Snowfalls
Thrupence – Don’t You Mind
FKA Twigs – Give Up
Happyness – You Come to Kill Me?!
Fold – Human Again
Needle Points – I Drink Rainfall
Cancer – The Same Colour as Digital Photography
Kero Kero Bonito – Sick Beat
Paul White – Where You Gonna Go?
Josef Salvat – Shoot & Run
Slow No Wake – Noah, Pt. 1

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-2-14 – New EZ Listening Jams

Beaty Heart – Get the Gurls
Highasakite – Since Last Wednesday
Wampire – Wizard Staff
Jenny Lewis – One of the Guys
Eyelid Kid – Sleep Well on Knives
Chance The Rapper & The Social Experiment – Wonderful Everyday: Arthur
Dead Times – Every Moment
Kero Kero Bonito – Kero Kero Bonito
Allan Kingdom – Already feat. Kevin Abstract
Mozart’s Sister – Lone Wolf
The Delphines – Vice
Roses – Florence Girls
GRMLN – Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper Cover)
King Tuff – Eyes of the Muse

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 7-27-14 – Wacky, Funky, Wild New Jams

Redinho – Playing with Fire
Meanwhile – Luvletta
Twin Peaks – Strawberry Smoothie
Black Milk – Detroit’s New Dance Show
Beaty Heart – Banana Bread
Guerilla Toss – 367 Equalizer
Fryars – Prettiest Ones Fly Highest
Sinkane – How We Be
BANKS – Beggin’ for Thread
MisterWives – Vagabond (Jared Poythress Remix)
Erlend Øye – Garota
Club KURU – Seesaw
Lowell – The Bells (Dd Elle Remix)

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 7-20-14 – Phat New Jamz

Teen – Not For Long (Saint Pepsi Remix)
SlowPlaceLikeHome – Luna
Perfume Genius – Queen
Emilie Nicolas – Pstereo (DumDum Boys Cover)
Broncho – Class Historian
Slow Club – Tears of Joy
Body Language – 4 Real
Indian Summer – Shiner feat. Ginger & the Ghost
Los Angeles Police Department – She Came Through (Again)
JUCE – Burning Up
Lydia Ainsworth – PSI
Markis Precise – Kiss The Ring(Feat. Elzhi & Fashawn)
La Roux – Sexotheque
SuicideYear – Hope Building A

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 7-13-14 – Fabulous New Tracks

Majid Jordan – A Place Like This
Black EL – White ’95 Maxima
Mozart’s Sister – Bow a Kiss
Adult Jazz – Idiot Mantra
Sia – Fair Game
Cash+David – Funn
Dana Buoy – Preacher
SZA – Warm Winds (Feat. Isaiah Rashad)
Roses – It’s Over
Mt. Si – Oh
Geoffrey O’Connor – Her Name On Every Tongue
Wet – Move Me
Le Pélican Noir – …Et Les Arbres Déserteront Les Champs
Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 7-6-14 – Ridiculously Catchy New Tracks

Kailo – Need Ya feat. Aela Kae
Meg Mac – Roll Up Your Sleeves
Baxter Dury – Pleasure
Zella Day – East of Eden
Spider Bags – Japanese Vacation
Glass Animals – Psylla
Juan Wauters – Escucho Mucho
Nautic – Lay Back
Shamir – I Know it’s a Good Thing
PHOX – 1936
White Fence – Like That
Yalls – Finally
Beat Connection – Hesitation
Anand Wilder and Maxwell Kardon – Wedding Day
Mø – Never Wanna Know (Night Version)
Austra – Hulluu

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-29-14 – The Best Fresh Tracks

Vacationer – Vision
Ryn Weaver – OctaHate
Slow Magic – Girls
Grimes – Go feat. Blood Diamonds
Julia Holter – Don’t Make Me Over (Dionne Warwick Cover)
Sam Smith – How Will I Know (Whitney Houston Cover)
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
Chris Staples – Dark Side of the Moon
Dub Thompson – No Time
Moodoïd – La Lune
Sisyphus – Rhythm of Devotion
Mozart’s Sister – My House is Wild

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-22-14 – Rad New Tracks

Islands – Aloe Hills are Blooming
Memory in Plant – Eyes Up
Phoria – Efforttobreathe
The Bilinda Butchers – Edo Method
Honeyblood – Super Rat
Small Black – Real People (Feat. Frankie Rose)
How to Dress Well – Face Again
Salt Cathedral – Tease
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Jackson
Juan Wauters – Water
Dorothy – After Midnight
Lia Ices – Thousand Eyes
Dessert – You’re Welcome
Jessie Ware – Tough Love

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-15-14 – Delightfully Wacky New Jams

Future Punx – 999
Movie – Mr. Fist
Blackbird Blackbird – There is Nowhere (DWNTWN Remix)
Deers – Bamboo (Demo)
Jaymes Young – Habits of My Heart (Surfjan Stevens Remake)
The Homesick – Breakfast
Death Grips – Have a Sad Cum feat. Bjork.
Fold – Be Water My Friend
Rubblebucket – Sound of Erasing
Got a Girl – Did We Live Too Fast
OOIOO – Jesso Testa
TĀLĀ – On My Own In Hua Hin
Sam and Dave – Soul Man (1967) – Father’s Day request by my dad!

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-8-14 – Eccentric New Tracks

SBTRKT – Temporary View feat. Sampha
Panama Wedding – Uma
EMA – So Blonde
Hyde & Beast – Blue
Mac DeMarco – Eating Like a Kid aka Cum on My Lip – Acoustic & Live Vol. 1
Mac DeMarco – Only You – Acoustic & Live Vol. 1
Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Body Electric
Adult Jazz – Spook
Sam Smith – Stay with Me feat. Mary J. Blige
Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – A Sender
Kelis – Breakfast
Kelis – Rumble

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-1-14 – Eclectic New Jams

Yann Tiersen – Lights
Hundred Waters – Show Me Love
Hundred Waters – [Animal]
Hundred Waters – Innocent
TĀLĀ – The Duchess
MisterWives – Reflections
Lydia Ainsworth – White Shadows
Mozart’s Sister – Enjoy
Adult Jazz – Am Gone
Courtship Ritual – Kingdom of Beauty
EKKAH – Figure it Out
Alvvays – Ones Who Love You
Low Roar – I’m Leaving
Tove Styrke – Even if I’m Loud it Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking to You

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-25-14 – Funky/Soulful New Tracks

Naomi Punk – Television Man
Black Milk – Dirt Bells
Black Milk – Cold Day
Meatbodies – Wahoo
Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me
Agnes Obel – Aventine
JUCE – (H)ours
Parquet Courts – Instant Disassembly
Helado Negro – Mitad de tu Mundo
Lulu James – Beautiful People
Hush Pup – Sign 11:11
Fol Chen – Boys in the Woods
ZHU – Paradise Awaits

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-18-14 – Anniversary Edition! Amazing Tracks from 2012-2014

Mac DeMarco – Rock and Roll Night Club
Phedre – Aphrodite
How to Dress Well – & it Was U
Empress Of – Champagne
Light Asylum – IPC
Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – Lamia
Banks – Waiting Game
Hush Pup – Dusty Rose
Cherry Glazerr – Grilled Cheese
Hundred Waters – Cavity
Sylvan Esso – Wolf
Tirzah – No Romance

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-11-14 – Mother’s Day + Best New Tracks

The Lonely Island –  Motherlover
Last Lynx – Curtains (Embody Remix)
Machineheart – Circles
Kent Odessa – Physical Genius
Landlady – Above My Ground
PAWS – Owls Talons Clenching My Heart
PAWS – Tongues
Cousin Marnie – Cain
Kishi Bashi – Philosophize it! Chemicalize with it!
Atmosphere – Let Me Know What You Want Now
Devonte Hynes – Palo Alto
Emily King – Distance
Kuhrye-oo – Air Days feat. Evy Jane

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-4-14- Brand Spankin’ New Tracks

Colleagues – Tears
Sylvan Esso – Wolf
Sylvan Esso – H.S.K.T.
Honeyblood – Choker
SlowPlaceLikeHome – She Comes in Colour Stereo
Jessica Lea Mayfield – I Wanna Love You
M&O – Jimi Savannah
Seoul – White Morning
Homeboy Sandman – White Sands
Tune-Yards – Wait for a Minute
IYES – Toys
Gentlemen – Gentle Duke
Young Magic -Holographic

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-20-14 – Best Live Acts of 2014 (thus far)

Painted Palms – Not Really There
Pure Bathing Culture – Lucky One
Berndsen – Planet Earth
Hjaltalín – Letter to […]
Trentemøller – Gravity feat. Jana Hunter (Lower Dens)
Angel Olsen – High & Wild
St. Vincent – Severed Crossed Fingers
White Hinterland – Baby
Jenny Hval – Mephisto in the Water
Iska Dhaaf – All the Kids
Temples – A Question isn’t Answered
The Knife – A Tooth for an Eye

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-13-14 – Fresh New Jams

Mark McGuire – Wonderland of Living Things
Coves – Beatings
First Aid Kit – My Silver Lining
Banoffee – Reign Down
Ásgeir – Torrent
PHOX – Slow Motion
SZA – Julia
Belgian Fog – Loveless Way
BOOTS – My Heart is a Stone Today (Unharmed)
DESSERT – Player
GMGN feat. Opey Tha Poet – We Got Now
Glass Animals – Holiest fest. Tei Shi
Movement – Like Lust
MS MR – Think of You (Wet Remix)

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-6-14 – Best New Tracks

Rome Fortune – Trap Pop
Courtney Barnett – Bein’ Around (Lemonheads Cover)
East – Old Age
Now, Now – School Friends (Ansible Remix)
Julie Byrne – Melting Grid
White Hinterland – Ring the Bell
Alice Boman – What
Blooms – Lust
Strange Bodies – This Town
Sean Nicholas Savage – Heartless
Swans – A Little God in Our Hands
Tune-Yards – Water Fountain
How to Dress Well – Repeat Pleasure
The Bamboos – Avenger

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-30-14 – New Albums Edition

Liars – Mess on a Mission
Iska Dhaaf – All the Kids
Iska Dhaaf – Everybody Knows
TacocaT – Crimson Wave
TEEN – Not for Long
TEEN – Tied Up, Tied Down
Frankie Cosmos – Birthday Song
TacocaT – Bridge to Hawaii
Timber Timbre – Curtains?!
TImber Timbre – Hot Dreams
Mac DeMarco – Let My Baby Stay
Mac DeMarco – Goodbye Weekend
Mac DeMarco – Jonny’s Odyssey
Pure X – Heaven
Pure X – Starlight
 
Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-16-14 – Best New Tracks

Gardens & Villa – Colony Glen
Tirzah – Inside Out
Tirzah – No Romance
How to Dress Well – I Don’t Know the Words
Future Islands – Fall from Grace
Sharon Van Etten – Taking Chances
September Girls – Heartbeats
Tame Impala – Stranger in Moscow (Michael Jackson cover)
Bear Hands – Giants
Anna Calvi – Suddenly
CunninLyngists – Beyond the Sun ft. J-Live
Highasakite – Son of a Bitch
Diane Coffee – Amor Fati (Washed Out cover)
WizardBeats – Lap Dance

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-9-14 – Must-See SXSW 2014 Bands

Tei Shi – M&Ms
Black Atlass – Blossom
Cherry Glazerr – All My Friends
Quilt – Arctic Shark
Chance The Rapper – Cocoa Butter Kisses (ft. Vic Mensa & Twista)
Mutual Benefit – Golden Wake
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Glass Animals – Gooey
Sophie – Bipp (*update* It’s been discovered at South By that Sophie is a HE. Ah, the joys of SXSW)
Speedy Ortiz – Everything’s Bigger
Wet – Bad Idea
Cate Le Bon – Are You with Me Now?
Diane Coffee – Hymn
Hundred Waters – Cavity
Ex Hex – Hot and Cold

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-2-14 – Post Vacay Survival Edition

Clare Maguire – Whenever You Want It
Mac DeMarco – Chamber of Reflection
Trust – Joyland
Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me
Mt. Royal – Missing Reward
Woods – Moving to the Left
Hundred Waters – Down from the Rafters
KIll J – Bullet
Majical Cloudz – Love Soul
St. Vincent – Prince Johnny
Mr Little Jeans – Good Mistake
Happy Fangs – Electricity, Man
FKA Twigs x Inc. – FKA Twigs x Inc.

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-16-14 – Valentine’s Day Edition

Clare Maguire – In the Night
K.Flay – So What
Marian Hill – Lovit
FKA Twigs – Ache
Sean Nicholas Savage – Lonely Woman
Chance the Rapper – Lost (Prod. by Nate Fox)
Farao – To Sleep Apart
Daniel Wilson – Will You
Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams
Gregory Alan Isakov – Saint Valentine
Widowspeak – Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)
Wet – No Lie (Noah Breakfast Remix ft. Spank ROck)
Mutual Benefit – C.L. Rosarian
Beyonce – Drunk in Love
Shy Girls – Second Heartbeat

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-9-14 – Best New Tunes Edition

Hospitality – It’s Not Serious
Black Atlass – Blossom
Ex Hex – Hot and Cold
Tomas Barfod – Pulsing (Ft. Nina K)
Julie Byrne – Prism Song
Temples – The Golden Throne
Hidden Cameras – Year of the Spawn
G-Eazy – Tumblr Girls ft. Christoph Andersson
Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me
Marissa Nadler – Dead City Emily
SKATERS – MIss Teen Massachusetts
Waterstrider – Twice (Little Dragon Cover)
Lowell – Cloud 69

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-2-14 – Groundhog Day Edition

Cherry Glazerr – Haxel Princess
Cherry Glazerr – Grilled Cheese
Cherry Glazerr – All My Friends
Woods – Leaves Like Glass
Woods – Be All Be Easy
Hozier – Take Me to Church
Hozier – Like Real People Do
dd elle – Kind 2 U
dd elle – A Note
Supreme Cuts – Gone (ft. Mahaut Modino)
Supreme Cuts – Envision (ft. Channy of Polica)
Brolin – Reykjavik
Brolin – Portland
Ricky Eat Acid – It Will Draw Me Over to it Like it Always Does

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-26-14 – GIRL POWER! Edition

Alpines – Oasis
The Courtneys – Lost Boys
Tei Shi – Sickasfuck
Alice Boman – Waiting
Marian Hill – Whisky
Warpaint – Biggy
Honor Gavin – Yes Mazoni
Angel Olsen – Hi-Five
Kyla La Grange – Cut Your Teeth
Hospitality – I Miss Your Bones
MISUN – Travel with Me
Farao – The Hours
BROODS – Bridges
iamamiwhoami – Fountain

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-19-14 – Trashy, Bubblegum, Surf/Punk Rock Edition

Pookie & The Poodlez – Hallucinating
The Black Lips – Boys in the Wood
NOBUNNY – I am a Girlfriend
Bleached – Dead in Your Head
The Coathangers – Shut the Fuck Up
Mac DeMarco – Treat Her Better, Salad Days & Let Her
The Blank Tapes – Coast to Coast
Hunx And His Punx – You Think You’re Tough & Everyone’s a Pussy (Fuck You Dude)
Together PANGEA – Offer
Colleen Green – Time in the World
Summer Twins – I Will Love You
Shannon and the Clams – Hey Willy
Allah-Las – Catamaran
Sam Flax – Fire Doesn’t Burn Itself

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-12-14 – Loopy Head Cold Edition

R.L. Kelly – Life’s a Bummer
PLANNINGTOROCK – Human Drama
Seinabo Sey – Younger
Trust – Rescue, Mister
CEO – Wonderland
Connan Mockasin – Caramel
HWLS – 001
Damaged Bug – Eggs at Night
Lucius – Hey, Doreen
Netherfriends – Uptwon Boys
Juana Molina – Sin Guia No
Son Lux – Lost it to Trying
Ginger & The Ghost – One Type of Dark (Ta-ku Remix)
Elvis Depressedly – Okay
Phèdre – Supernatural

Coco Stereo Radio 1-5-14 – Breakout Bands You Shouldn’t Have Slept On Edition

SALES – Renee
Béisbol – Is it Over?
Tweens – Be Mean
FUZZ – What’s in My Head
Melt Yourself Down – We Are Enough
Dungeoness – Shucks
Chance the Rapper – Favorite Song (ft. Childish Bambino)
Companion – 20th Century Crime
Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Speedy Ortiz – Everything’s Bigger
Ejecta – It’s Only Love
Jamaican Queens – Water
Jacco Gardner – Clear the Air

Coco Stereo Radio 12-29-13 – Best Tracks of 2013 Edition

Josef Salvat – Every Night
No Joy – Hare Tarot Lies
Mozart’s Sister – Mozart’s Sister
K-X-P – Magnetic North
Teen – Carolina
Sean Nicholas Savage – You Changed Me
Jessie Ware – Still Love Me
The Holidays – Voices Drifting
Jackson Scott – Evie
Wet – Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl
Mortar & Pestle – U.V.
Banks – Waiting Game (Produced by SOHN)
SOHN – Bloodflows
Fyfe – Lies
Still Corners – Berlin Lovers

Coco Stereo’s Top 50 Tracks of 2013

Coco stereo's top 50 tracks of 2013This year has been one full of new friendships, experiences, and unexpectedly, love. It’s also been a year full of disappointment, self-doubt, and a healthy dose of heartbreak –  Sounds like a year well spent. However, if there’s one thing that remains consistent, it’s that coasting along with us through the ebbs and flows that is life, there is music. So to celebrate the ups, downs and in betweens of 2013, I present to you 50 of the best tracks that have been with us through it all.

To accompany the top 50 tracks, here are a few musical highlights to round out our nostalgic look back of the year:

Note: All tracks are in alphabetical order (‘cus ranking them is just something I’m not into). Also subscribe or have a listen to the entire playlist on Spotify. Enjoy:

Active Child – Evening Ceremony
Angel Olsen – Sweet Dreams
Austra – Home
Autre Ne Veut – Play by Play
Banks – Waiting Game
Baths – Miasma Sky
Bibio – À tout à l’heure
Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough
Blue Hawaii – Try To Be
Braids – In Kind
Chromatics – Looking for Love
Chvrches – The Mother We Share
Diana – Born Again
Disclosure – White Noise feat. Aluna George
Empress Of – Hat Trick
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Fyfe – Lies
Gems – Sinking Stone
Haerts – Wings
Haim – The Wire
Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
Jackson Scott – Evie
James Blake – Life Round Here
Jenny Hval – Mephisto in the Water
Jessie Ware – Still Love Me
Josef Salvat – Every Night
K-X-P – Magnetic North
Keep Shelly In Athens – Recollection
Lorde – The Love Club
Majical Cloudz – Childhood’s End
Mortar & Pestle – U.V.
Mozart’s Sister – Mozart’s Sister
Museum of Bellas Artes – Abyss
No Joy – Hare Tarot Lies
Phosphorescent – Song for Zulu
Psychic Twin – Dream State
Pure Bathing Culture – Dream the Dare
Rhye – Open
Sean Nicholas Savage – You Changed Me
S O H N – Bloodflows
Still Corners – Berlin Lovers
Summer Camp – Fresh
Teen – Carolina
The Holidays – Voices Drifting
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good at Being in Trouble
Vampire Weekend – Step
Wet – Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – Lamia
Young Galaxy – New Summer
Yuck – Rebirth

Sounds of Sorrow: A World-Wide Roundup of Sad Breakup Songs

High-Fidelity-John-Cusack-miseryAside from maybe death, there’s nothing as painful, soul crushing and gut wrenching as a breakup. A breakup certainly emulates the feeling of death when the black pit of despair you’ve suddenly been thrust into wraps its cold, unforgiving fingers around your heart and mangles it until you’re gasping for air, feeling empty, desperate, delirious and broken.

The only logical way to “cope” with the pain, of course, is to (no… not jump on OKCupid), but drown your sorrow in the sounds of ridiculously sad songs, and there are plenty of ’em. And since “everybody hurts,” I asked people of various ages from across the globe (San Francisco to New York, Australia to Germany) to spill their number one sob-song. If you’re going through a breakup (big hug), know someone who is (‘cus we sadly all do), or you just wanna be a sad sap, turn up these depressing tracks and force yourself to ‘get on with it.’

It’s no wonder we’re all such a mess, is it? We’re like Tom Hanks in Big. Little boys and girls trapped in adult bodies and forced to get on with it.  ― Nick Hornby, High Fidelity

*Note: Some of these songs were just like a stubborn ex-lover; too damn difficult to work with. So I’ve compiled most into a Spotify player and the few tracks that just didn’t want to work things out are linked.

SIDE A:
Emily, 23, Los Angeles: My Blood – Ellie Goulding
*Greg, 24, San Francisco: Sun Was High (So Was I) – Best Coast
Max, 24, Germany: This is Letting Go – Rise Against
Freddy, 25, England: Eskimo – Damien Rice
Kayla, 25, Ireland by way of Boise, ID: It doesn’t Matter Anymore – Linda Ronstadt
Jessica, 26, Ireland: Ever – Team Sleep
Kevin, 26, San Antonio, TX: Walk On By – Dionne Warwick
Stuart, 26, Scotland: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Bob Dylan
*Ashley, 27, Los Angeles: Oh! Darling – The Beatles
Naomi, 28, San Francisco: Stormy Weather – Billie Holiday
Inelen, 30, Italy: I Love it (I Don’t Care) – Icona Pop
Kyle, 30, NYC: I Don’t Believe You – The Magnetic Fields
Matt, 30, Salt Lake City, UT: Ms. Jackson – OutKast
Brandon, 31, West Valley, UT: Stop Me June (Little Ego) – Kent
Ryan, 31, San Francisco: January: The One with “Kid” – Local H
Elisa, 31, Italy: Mi Sono Innamorato Di Te – Luigi Tenco
Emma, 32, San Francisco: Tous Le Garcons Et Les Filles – Francoise Hardy
Amanda, 33, San Francisco: Think of You – MS MR
Hyunmi, 33, South Korea: If I Were a Boy – Beyonce
Michelle, 34, San Francisco: Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
*Magnolia, 34, San Francisco: Recall – Susanna & The Magical Orchestra
Anthony, 35, Australia: Psychic Returns – Nedelle Torrisi
Sam, 35, Brooklyn: Get Me – Dinosaur Jr.
James, 39, San Francisco: Concrete Wall – Zee Avi
*Lana, 41, San Francisco: Nunca – Volován
*Clarice, 45, San Francisco: In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel
Tom, 63, San Mateo, CA: Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe – Kendrick Lamar

 

coco stereo’s picks: SIDE B
Always See Your Face – Love
Don’t Tell Me – Empress Of
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards – Tame Impala
Give Out – Sharon Van Etten
Hood – Perfume Genius
Losing You – Solange
Love Me Like You Used To – Class Actress
Pale Blue Eyes – The Velvet Underground
Sinking Stone – Gems
So Good At Being in Trouble – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Still Love Me – Jessie Ware
Tell a Lie – Farao
Waiting Game – Banks
Water Me – FKA Twigs
We Hit a Wall – Chelsea Wolfe

That’s a Wrap! 8 Phenomenal Highlights from SXSW 2013 Music Fest

SXSW No Breakfast TacosToday, I don’t have any plans to stay up until 4 am, drink cheap booze, eat copious amounts of meat or breakfast tacos and race around Austin, TX to watch 2,000+ bands play on a bridge, some steps, in a bar, church, garage, house, backyard, or in a burger joint… it’s weird. SXSW is officially over.

Although the mayhem of a music festival is utterly exhausting, it’s also rejuvenating in the sense that you fully submerge yourself into the deep end of a music-worshiping pool. At SXSW, you’re surrounded by thousands of bloggers, musicians, music industry folk, podcasters, writers, celebrities, and most importantly, but simply, fans. During these 6 whirlwind days, you’re immersed amongst a concentration of people who all share the same love and appreciation for music as equally as you do. It’s refreshing.

The festival exposes you to so many surreal opportunities, chances, music discoveries, and connections that you’d most likely never experience otherwise – It’s a truly magical experience. With that, here are 8 phenomenal highlights from SXSW 2013:

k-x-p

K-X-P

K-X-P at the Karma Lounge + Bob Boilen (Creator and Host of NPR’s All Songs Considered)
Helsinki’s goth LCD Soundsystem trio, K-X-P was absolutely electrifying and their performance was by far my favorite of the SXSW experience. Donning goth gear in the form of black capes and studded leather dresses, K-X-P pulsed long, intensely dark synth and heavy beats throughout the bar at 1 am. I also spotted Bob Boilen from NPR’s All Songs Considered in the room and introduced myself, as I’m a big fan. Quite extraordinarily, Bob mentioned me in his podcast that night, and coco stereo in his SXSW wrap up – Truly an honor!  You simply never know who may rock out next to at SXSW!

K-X-P – Melody

Empress Of at the Hype Hotel
12 pm is early by SXSW standards, but it was Empress Of‘s first appearance on the festival circuit and it was well worth the price of a little lost sleep. Empress Of is not only adorable, but possesses a magnetic voice and purges raw, refreshing talent that made her performance appear seamless. Her voice quavered when introducing herself, but she happily bounced along to new electro-pop gems we were all eager to hear, as she currently only dons three. Humble, yet extremely talented, Empress Of stole the hearts and ears of many.

Empress Of – Don’t Tell Me

Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco. Photo: Colin Kerrigan

M for Montreal /Arbutus Records Showcase at the Swan Dive
I could write a novel’s worth of blog posts purely about this showcase as I never left, and it was 7 hours long! The lineup included Mac DeMarco, Sean Nicholas Savage, Majical Cloudz, Pat Jordache, Blue Hawaii, Doldrums, and Braids. If it wasn’t already obvious that Montreal is kicking serious ass in the music realm, it should be now.

Though Mac DeMarco, everyone’s favorite goofy crooner/rocker isn’t an Arbutus Records artist, he is from Montreal and a dear friend to these musicians. This was the 3rd time I’d seen DeMarco (who was still wearing the same garbs) at SXSW, and not purposefully, he just seemed to be everywhere. However, this was by far his best performance, as he seemed to be in true bizarro form amongst friends. At one point mid-performance, DeMarco scrambled up a wooden beam and began swinging from the ceiling rafters which throughly pissed off venue owners, yet pleased the crowd to no end.

Mac DeMarco – Ode to Viceroy

Sean Nicholas Savage

Sean Nicholas Savage. Photo: Colleen Corkery

The intriguing, ever-ecclectic and highly talented singer/songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage got on stage with just a keyboard and a microphone. He took his shoes off, swayed his hips, sang his best hits and the audience melted, or maybe that was just me.

Sean Nicholas Savage – Lonely Woman

Blue Hawaii‘s performance was by for the most surprising and mind-blowing for many. The duo filled the white washed venue with pulsing synth and Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s sweet, melodic, falsetto voice strikingly resembled Grimes. The crowd danced hard, especially Devon of Majical Cloudz who was front and center.

Blue Hawaii – In Two 

With a drummer and two keyboard/synth backups, Doldrums ferociously played his hypnotic, experimental electro beats (out of a suitcase), belted lyrics while crowd surfing with ease, and placed a dance inducing spell over the entire audience. Never had I seen such a massive conglomerate of pulsating, jumping and gyrating humans at SXSW. Everyone in the audience completely lost themselves in the music and it was incredible to witness/experience. The energy was at an all-time high.

Doldrums

Doldrums at SXSW 2013. Photo: Colin Kerrigan

Doldrums – Egypt

The most endearing aspect of the showcase, however, was witnessing the camaraderie, support and love each of the Arbutus and/or other Canadian artists showed for each other. I also spotted DeMarco obviously, as well as Born Gold and Mozart’s Sister amongst others. The entire venue was filled to the brim with artists who watched, cheered and danced harder than most to their fellow musicians’ music.

Rhye at the Pitchfork Day Party
I had the guilty pleasure of proving multiple people wrong at the Pitchfork Day Party, by exclaiming “Rhye‘s a guy y’all!” when many were smacked with the realization that Rhye is indeed a man. I mean, his name is Mike Milosh and he owns that dreamy, silky, seductive and sultry voice. Rhye explained that he and his band, including a phenomenal violinist and trombone player, had just flew in from Berlin and were on their 40th hour of being awake. Yet, they still played an astonishing set of what Milosh referred to as sexy “night time music” during broad day light.

Rhye

Rhye’s a guy! Photo: Trent Maxwell

Rhye – Open

Girls Names at the Flamingo Cantina
Though their faces were quite complacent, Girls Names rocked long and hard, and not an eye could pry away from their quint essential post-punk Brit rock, (they are from Belfast, after all). There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, crazy, or gasp-worthy necessary to make this a successful set, Girls Names simply provided steady, hefty, refreshing rock n’ roll.

Girls Names – Hypnotic Regression

Ólafur Arnalds at Peckerheads
I was completely unaware of this ambient Icelandic group/producer until my good ol pal, Bob Boilen had suggested the show. The bar, rightfully named Peckerheads, was clamoring with noise from happy drunkards and thumping beats from below, but Ólafur Arnalds urged people to take a seat and enjoy the beauty he was about to embark upon us. Accompanied by an intense violinist and cello player, Ólafur’s soothing, melodic and beautiful instrumental music quieted the crowd and made people exclaim, “wow.” 

Ólafur Arnalds – Only the Winds

The Exploded Drawing Party Boat

View from the Exploded Drawing SXSW Party Boat. Photo: Colleen Corkery

Giraffage on the Exploded Drawing Party Boat
I somehow managed to start day 1 of SXSW, typically the tamest of all, in the most blissful way. A crowd of people piled onto the Exploded Drawing double-decker party boat and we floated down the river into the sunset, all while sipping on cucumber/kale margaritas and dancing to the seriously sweet beats of 10+ DJs. Giraffage, the moniker of San Francisco-hailing producer, Charlie Yin, had the quickest, and most nimble fingers of them all, and he induced everyone to jump up, and all the ladies to get down.

Giraffage – Close 2 Me

Parquet Courts, Merchandise & Destruction Unit on Pedestrian Bridge at 3 am
Granted, this was technically a Chaos in Tejas event put on by BrooklynVegan, but racing to watch indie punk rockers Parquet Courts, Merchandise and Destruction Unit rock hard on a bridge at 3 am seemed so utterly SXSW. The bridge was literally rockin’ while the crowd was rollin’ into each other during a frenzy of excited mosh pits that lasted well into early morning.

Parquet Courts – Stoned and Starving

In the effort to make this wrap up reasonably succinct, out of the 50+ bands I managed to see, other stand out performances included: Baths, DIANA, Autre Ne Veut, Mozart’s Sister, CHVRCHES, Austra, Ryan Hemsworth, and MØ. And while everyone in attendance may be missing SXSW already, it’s never too early to plan for next year. Until next time, adios Tejas!

Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013

must-see bands at sxsw 2013The anticipation and chaos for this year’s SXSW music fest in Austin, Texas (March 12th-17th) continues to grow at great lengths. The amount of parties, new bands added, RSVPs, lineups and showcases consistently flow in at alarming rates; and it certainly isn’t over yet. The increasing excitement is contagious and overwhelming, especially when you envision just how much amazing music (and people; 60K to be exact) will embark upon the Tejas capital, and all at once.

To contribute to the ever-growing hype, here is a compilation of (40+) absolute must-see acts/bands at this year’s SXSW. Granted, no one’s ever gonna see ’em all (one can only hope!), so these top 6 absolute must-sees are ones you should seriously kick yourself if missed:

1. Mozart’s Sister
2. Autre Ne Veut
3. Doldrums
4. Empress Of
5. Chvrches
6. MØ

p.s. coco stereo will be representin’ in full force at SXSW, March 7th-16th – Let’s get our dance on together!

Top 55 Songs of 2012

Top 55 Songs of 2012

There have been endless “best song” lists that’ve already purged themselves (well before the year has actually ended) into the blogosphere – Some have been predictable, some ridiculous. It’s easy to criticize, scoff, laugh and/or roll your eyes at some choices made on “best of” lists. To be honest, it’s kind of fun to size up each list, that is until you attempt to compile one yourself. It’s really  fucking hard y’all (!), not to mention ridiculously time-consuming.

I remember ridiculing NPR for releasing their ‘best songs’ list in alphabetical order, thinking “Come on, that’s the easy way out!” and here I am, releasing my top 55 tracks in alphabetical order via Spotify (which has its pros/cons). I totally get it now. Not everyone is going to be 100% happy with your choices, and people love to point out “obvious” exclusions, but in the end, it’s amazing knowing that 2012 produced so much incredible music that it is really difficult to pack just 25, 50, or even 100 songs into a list, to the point that you piss people off.

The way in which you present your list is also a dilemma. I finally chose to use Spotify so that I wouldn’t crash everyone’s computers with an endless list of SoundCloud players, however, there were some tracks or bands (Kate Boy, HAERTS) I had to eliminate from the list, simply because they weren’t on Spotfiy. Is that shitty? But for almost a month, I brood over my best tracks list and created, dissected, reconstructed, added, edited, and said ‘ah fuck it’ more times than I’d probably like to admit. At some point, you have to say “just publish it!” and that’s what I’m doing… at the actual end of the year. So finally, I present to you three hours of listening pleasure via coco stereo’s top 55 songs of 2012 (psst…the http link for Spotify by default only shows 30 tracks at a time, so see full music player below). Enjoy:

Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean

Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco

Death Grips

Death Grips

alt-J – Breezeblocks
AlunaGeorge – Just A Touch
Animal Collective – Applesauce
Azealia Banks – 212
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Windshield Smasher
Blood Diamonds – Phone Sex (feat. Grimes)
Chet Faker – I’m Into You
CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share
Death Grips – I’ve Seen Footage
Diplo feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex – Set It Off (feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex)
Dirty Projectors – Gun Has No Trigger
Disclosure – Latch
Django Django – Default
Doldrums – She Is The Wave (Ft. Guy Dallas)
Dum Dum Girls – Lord Knows
Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen
Empress Of – Champagne
Flume – Sleepless (feat. Jezzabell Doran)
Frank Ocean – Lost
Graphics – There’s a Way Back
Grimes – Genesis
Haim – Send Me Down
Here We Go Magic – How Do I Know
Holobody – Prelude
How To Dress Well – & It Was U
Hundred Waters – Sonnet
Iamamiwhoami – Sever
The Irrepressibles – Arrow
Kendrick Lamar – The Recipe
Kindness – Cyan
Liars – Brats
Light Asylum – IPC
Lord Huron – Time To Run
Lower Dens – Brains
Mac Demarco – Rock and Roll Night Club
Major Lazer – Get Free
Miguel – Do You…
Mikky Ekko – Pull Me Down
Mykki Blanco – Wavvy
On An On – Ghosts
Perfume Genius – Hood
Phèdre – IN DECAY
Porcelain Raft – Unless You Speak From Your Heart
Pure Bathing Culture – Ivory Coast
Purity Ring – Obedear
Sam Flax – Fire Doesn’t Burn Itself
Sharon Van Etten – Give Out
Solange – Losing You
Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Tennis – My Better Self
Tomas Barfod – November Skies
Trust – Sulk
Wild Nothing – Nocturne
Yuna – Live Your Life
Zambri – You’ll Never Beat Dogs