Since having their sound labeled as “generic” and unimaginative synth-pop by The Guardian back in 2017, Fenech Soler band member Ben Duffy has gained positive feedback with his solo work. His discography includes multiple song collaborations with critically acclaimed house music luminary Claptone back in 2018.
Stream ‘Last Chance ft. Ben Duffy’ on Spotify – iTunes
Now in 2021, Ben returns to the EDM scene, teaming up with producer Prince Paris on the new indie dance music meets vocal house single ‘Last Chance’. Featuring Ben’s attention-commanding sincere lyrics paired together with Prince Paris’s house fueled hooks, results in a dance track with substance.
Prince Paris is known for his collaborations through the years, exchanging notes and producing electronic harmonies for the likes of Finneas, Karen Harding, and Mako in recent years. Ben Duffy range proves to be the perfect pairing for Prince Paris’s colourful vision. ‘Last Chance’ is a stellar dance track that exudes talent and is anything but unimaginative.
Ancient Astronauts have released their song ‘Do It To The Beat feat. Blessed San’, along with their anticipated EP Kampala Fire on the 16th of October.
Speaking about the EP release, Dogu mentions: “We have always been huge fans of African music and rhythms from different African regions. Afrobeat from artists like Fela Kuti or Ebo Taylor inspired us a lot when it comes to creating grooves in our own music. Kampala is our home base in East Africa and the studio of my partner label East African Records is the place where we record a lot of music and singers. The city of Kampala is such a special place with a really unique music and party scene that I cannot compare to any other place in this world. As a long follower of Nyabinghi Reggae Music, I was overwhelmed that the origin of Nyabinghi and its unique way of drumming is in Uganda. Since my first travels and tours in East Africa, I was stoked by the huge talent of young and mostly unknown artists within the city that it was a natural move for us to pay homage to that powerful vibe of Kampala.”
This latest offering by this duo embraces the country of Uganda and its many intricacies. ‘Do It To The Beat’ flows naturally rather than feeling pressure to conform to a particular style.
Kampala Fire EP Tracklist:
1. Ghetto Youth Never Give Up feat. C Wyne Nalukalala
2. Ddala feat. Spyda MC
3. Pump Up The Sound feat. Bani Fyah
4. Do It To The Beat feat. Blessed San
5. Source Of Life feat. Nilotika Cultural Ensemble
The new single follows up on the recently released albums opening track <<‘Allison Something>> and is one of the two tracks she featured on from Air’s multi-platinum album Moon Safari. The story goes that Beth and Air members Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel all lived in Montmartre; Nicolas was my neighbour, but I didn’t know him, says Beth. Hirsch was working on her own EP with Nouvelle Vague’s Marc Collin at the studio of Étienne Wersinger, cult French producer known for his work with Air, Nouvelle Vague and Camille. One morning Godin was there sitting on the couch I asked him if he was in music and he replied, ‘Yes, I am. Actually, my partner and I are putting out a record, and we’d like you to be on it, she recalls.
They showed me a couple of tracks and I happened to really like them. You could just tell their sense of melody was so strong. I felt very drawn to it. Hirsch went on to write the lyrics and melody of All I Need. At the request of the band, she also composed another track for the album, You Make It Easy. Moon Safari went on to sell an estimated two million copies around the world, and ‘All I Need‘ became its third single, after ‘Sexy Boy’ and ‘Kelly Watch The Stars.’
People have offered or suggested to me over the years to remix it, and I’ve never really jumped on board,she says while working in the studio with ELIOT two years ago in Greece, he mentioned he’d really like to remix ‘All I Need’ and showed me the sketch. I thought ‘This is so cool, let’s just do this.’
Beth Hirsch rose to fame as a consequence of her collaborations with French duo Air on that critically acclaimed debut album Moon Safari, as well as making a significant contribution to the album as lead vocalist/co-writer on two of the record’s key moments, the hit single All I Need and You Make It Easy, she also performed live around the world as part of Airs live touring band.
Her sultry and haunting vocals were also key on a duet with Senegalese singer Wasis Diop. Everything was included in the soundtrack for the acclaimed remake of the classic movie, The Thomas Crowne Affair. Signed to !K7 Records Hirsch released her debut solo album, the acoustic Early Days in 2000, followed by the Pitchfork-approved electronic Titles & Idols in 2001. After a series of collaborations with artists including Pale 3, Jakatta and D*Note, Hirsch released her third solo album Wholehearted in 2007.
With All I Need (ELIOT’s Cosmic Remix)Beth Hirsch proves her vocals are an essential part of what made the song a timeless piece of music.
Welcome to CLAPTONE in The Circus, a series of DJ sets, live and direct from a small circus in need of support during these challenging times – Claptone’s latest residency, so to speak. Twelve weeks in a row, we will dance together, to specially-themed mixes, and at the same time support a kind circus family and their happy, loving animals. During this new Claptone venture we’ll be introduced to more than 40 exclusive and unreleased Claptone originals, remixes and edits.
To make it even more spellbinding, in each episode, CLAPTONE’s DJ Set will be accompanied by the dazzling performance artists that inhabit the grounds of the circus. They will, at safe distances, of course, enact the most thrilling of performances, to complement the dreamy melodies and funky rhythms. Exciting jugglers, daring knife-throwers, a regal pony show and much more, await you every Wednesday, starting on April 22nd.
“In these trying times, I’ve often found myself going on long, isolated walks to appreciate the beauty of nature. It was on one of these scenic, afternoon journeys that I first stumbled upon a tiny family-run circus. The circus director told me about their struggle to pay the rent and buy food for the animals since the pandemic hit, as they couldn’t put on public shows.
The following day, I returned, this time, with fresh carrots in hand, hoping to be able to meet and feed the animals. It was then and there that I decided not simply to donate food and money, but to play specially themed and carefully selected sets at this little circus, involving parts of their show, to bring joy to my friends and fans in sound and vision.” says CLAPTONE.
