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September 16, 2022 Dragonette strikes gold with big release: ‘Twennies’

Dragonette strikes gold with big release: ‘Twennies’

Image credit: Shervin Lainez

JUNO and SOCAN Award-winning electro-pop artist Dragonette delivers ‘Twennies’, the title track, dancefloor single and second release from the newly announced forthcoming album Twennies, out October 28th via BMG. Twennies Dragonette’s first full-length release since 2016’s Royal Bluescomes on the heels of a newly signed global recordings agreement with BMG earlier this summer and follows last month’s release of the infectious power-pop anthem ‘New Suit’, described as a “mash-up of retro and contemporary sounds and imagery”.

Discussing the new single, Dragonette (the professional moniker for highly sought-after songwriter Martina Sorbara) notes, “This song is about the push and pull of progress versus nostalgia, which is present in the instrumentation as well: a house track with an acoustic drum solo! Everyone has a point that they let go of the new world, hold on to what is familiar and let progress carry on without them. I think about that a lot. I have a lot of nostalgia for earlier times, life without the crazy frantic energy of what the digital/social media age has wrought. But I also have a genuine excitement about current and future knowledge/progress/technical and scientific discoveries. ‘Twennies’ is the internal collision of those two polarities.”

On Twennies, Dragonette chose to work with one creative partner for the entire project—the Los Angeles-based producer Dan Farber (Dizzee Rascal, Lizzo). The two spent several weeks together holed up in Sorbara’s Toronto studio, where they wrote the majority of the record. “I’ve never concentrated on working on an album like that; just living and breathing this one thing,” she shares. 

Twennies marks a full-circle moment for Dragonette; “It’s a true hybrid of my original influences as a child and what I’ve learned along the way. It feels so representative of my musical journey.” She adds, “It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever done. I’m so proud of it.”

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Dragonette has scored numerous global hits including “Pick Up the Phone,” “Let it Go,” “Tokyo Nights” with Digital Farm Animals and Shaun Frank, “Outlines” with Mike Mago, “Slow Song” with The Knocks, and the chart-topping “Hello” with Martin Solveig, which garnered a JUNO Award win for ‘Dance Recording of the Year’ and returned to the Billboard Dance Charts just last year. Collaborating with the world’s biggest DJs including Martin Garrix, Basement Jaxx, Kaskade, Galantis, and more, Dragonette’s musical diversity knows no bounds, and as a songwriter, her credits include Keith Urban, Cyndi Lauper, Pretty Sister, and Carly Rae Jepsen, among others.

Creative versatility shines across Dragonette’s four acclaimed studio albums, including Galore (2007), which earned Dragonette a JUNO nomination for ‘Breakthrough Group of the Year’, the JUNO-nominated Fixin To Thrill (2009), the JUNO-nominated Bodyparts (2012), and 2016’s Royal Blues. With global headlining credits too numerous to list, Dragonette has also supported the likes of Duran Duran, New Order, Ke$ha, and Miike Snow, and amassed major festival credits, playing to thousands of fans at Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza.

With Twennies Dragonette moves into the newest chapter of her illustrious career, looking forward with more wisdom, experience and confidence than ever before, and creating her best work to date.

Twennies Tracklist

1. Seasick

2. Hysteria

3. New Suit

4. Twennies

5. T-Shirt

6. Winning

7. Stormy

8. This Is All You Get

9. Good Intentions

10. Outie

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August 19, 2020 Interview with London-based electronic/alt-R&B/Hip-hop duo E L E V N S

Interview with London-based electronic/alt-R&B/Hip-hop duo E L E V N S

London-based electronic/alt-R&B/Hip-hop duo E L E V N S made their debut in 2019 with their first single ‘Let Me In’ hitting Spotify’s New Music Friday on release day. They have been busy travelling between London, Paris, NYC and LA performing and finding artists to collaborate with, including getting endorsements from companies such as Soundbrenner and ROLI.

Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?

Gramm: I was lucky to be part of a band when I was 15 years old. My first gig was probably the best memory I have and also one of the reasons I’m into music. The excitement mixed with stress before going on stage became like a drug. I only started producing at the age of 25 and hearing the first song done from scratch without having to work with other producer was quite a proud moment.

Aurelian: I started playing the drums when I was 12 and I was listening to a lot of different things like Michael Jackson and Blink-182. I had a few bands and like Gramm, performing live became a drug. I would go to jam sessions and play with other musicians for hours. I realised I could produce and write music myself after listening to Ben Kenny, bass player for Incubus. He made an EP where he recorded everything and that was the moment I started producing but it only got serious in the last 5 years for me.

What are some of your key musical influences?

We take inspiration from everywhere, we’re like sponges that absorb anything that could be inspiring. We both listen to a variety of musical styles but in general, it gravitates around Hip-Hop/Soul with artists like Chance the Rapper, Aminé, Brasstracks, Anderson.Paak and Mac Miller, pop with Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake and electronic with Snakehips, Kaytranada and 20Syl / Alltta. 

If you could paint a picture of your unique sound, what would it look like?

It would look like a KAWS painting,  lots of colours and dynamism.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

We really believe that the more people you work with the more magic you can create. But we don’t really have a specific process. We always start the two of us and then we send a beat to an artist we know or that we found on Instagram. We especially target some artists we love by scouting on Spotify and then reach out to them on IG. With overseas collaboration, most of the time artists would write, record themselves and send us the vocals. From then we wrap up the production. But sometimes we would have a session at ours or in a studio with some friends or artists and do everything in one day.

What gets your creative juices flowing?

We’re more coffee guys than juices so a nice flat white or latte would work best (laughs)! To be more serious, it is the vibe a sound or a drumbeat can create. Creativity is something you need to cease when it comes because you can’t invoke it. For us, it is a lot about the vibe and good energy that things, like travelling and being surrounded by cool people, bring to us. The opposite of quarantine basically (laughs).

As an artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?

Spotify should remove the number of streams, followers and monthly listeners like Apple Music does so people would judge less on the number of streams and focus more on the music.

Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.

It is awesome! We can really feel the energy they bring and how they interact with us. As we feature different vocalist along with the show, the vibes change often and it keeps a nice dynamic. One of the best crowds we had was when we played Sofar Sounds, people are really here to listen to the music and you can bond with them easily.

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

The most memorable one was being added to Spotify New Music Friday on our first ever release ‘Let Me In’. That was insane! We didn’t have any fan base, a few followers on Instagram but that was it (laughs)!

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

We would like to do big tours, travel the world, connect with new people and have fun with our music. Obviously there is all the fame and being able to live off your music but when people move their head to the music and we can see them smile and enjoy, this is a success!

What’s on your current playlist?

There’s a lot of music but here’s a little list (laughs): 

Goner (feat. Audrey Mika) by Souly Had 

Blueberry Cadillac by Landon Sears

Blue World by Mac Miller

The Plug (feat. Drelli) by Party Pupils

Backyard by Kota the Friend

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?

We are currently working on releasing a song a month and we’ve got some amazing collaborations mainly coming from the US with Atlanta based singers Zach Paradis and Jaylon Ashaun again and Danny Diamonds from Boston. We are also working on a new live set to perform when things will be back to normal after COVID-19!

Famous last words?

Hasta la vista, baby!

Follow E L E V N S online

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

August 17, 2020 Music producer Franky Wah releases new house song ‘Come Together’

Music producer Franky Wah releases new house song ‘Come Together’

In a time of global uncertainty, Franky Wah shares the euphoric and hopeful ‘Come Together’, his first single release of 2020 which is out today.

A breakbeat twist on the classic UK house sound, ‘Come Together’ pairs hands-in-the-air piano chords with irresistible female vocals and atmospheric drums – delivering carefree vibes with a strong message of unity to encourage and uplift people during this difficult global situation.

 Talking on the single, Franky Wah explains: “I wrote this record at the end of summer 2019 inspired by one of the best summers of my life touring and playing all over the world. I wanted to capture the essence of the 90s and put a modern take on it, and the minute I found those piano chords I really felt I was onto something.” He adds: “I think given the global crisis we’re going through at minute this record couldn’t be more fitting, and I hope everyone resonates with this like I do.”

Follow  Franky Wah online 

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May 8, 2020 Interview with producer Jaime & vocalist Sherly

Interview with producer Jaime & vocalist Sherly

Music producer Jaime is known for his forward-thinking production skills, switching between future bass, electronic and touches of hip hop and R&B, Jaime has worked as music director, producer and drummer for some of the biggest names in the German-speaking European markets, including R&B and hip hop artists Cassandra Steen.

While rising vocalist and songwriter Sherly is heavily influenced by alternative R&B ballads and early 2000s aesthetics, encompassing elements of Nao, Ashanti, Amerie and Lianne La Havas.

What are some of your earliest memories of music?

We’ve always been music addicts since our early childhoods. Sherly: I grew up listening to a lot of RnB and Hip Hop like Brandy, Whitney, and Tupac with my mother and aunts. These influences are deeply rooted in my present style. Jaime: I was always drumming on anything I could find. So the pans and pots from my grandma had a hard life. This vibe developed over the years… that´s why I´m a drummer and music producer today.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?

Every single song starts differently. Sometimes Jaime hits some interesting chords. Sometimes there is a topic that I come up with. Sometimes you got one catchy hook line that is the fundament of the song.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?

Sherly: I love to play live! To connect with the audience and being able to move people with the voice is such a good feeling and very special to me. 

Jaime: For me, both worlds are very important. I won´t miss playing live getting direct feedback to your art. I love seeing the audience freaking out! But rather I won´t miss all the studio work. Playing live is the “don´t think, just let it flow” part of our job. And the studio work is about thinking a lot what you would give to the people, jamming on synth and drums for hours… simply lose yourself to find great sounds and topics!

What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?

Sherly: My first concert. A lot of my songs talk about personal events and experiences. To share those intimate thoughts with an audience for the first time was so exciting and unforgettable. 

Jaime: For me it´s the fact that all the response and support make it happen to be just a musician for the last years. I’m doing music almost every day working for my project or other artists. I think this is a big gift and every single day a new memorable response!

If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?

Sherly: I wouldn’t always play the newest releases but a collection of songs that give you chills.

Jaime: Just music nobody else would play in a radio show… 😀 From Amon Tobin over weird Flume tracks to The National… Simply to show the people that we have some really amazing art out there!

Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show

Sherly: 

Snoh Aalegra – ugh, those feels again

Ama Lou – DDD

Anderson .Paak – Ventura

Definitely Kaytranada – 99.9.% He is in my Playlists for years now!

Solange – A Seat at the table

Jaime:

Flume – Hi This Is Flume

Amon Tobin – Isam

Baauer – Aa

Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book

The National – Boxer

What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?

Jaime: It would be totally awesome to get a nice international standing in this business. With my solo project but also as a producer! Playing some big Festivals every year and a big tour to every album release. This must not be a big stadium tour. It would be totally cool to play locations with 1500 people but always sold out!

Sherly: Success can look very different. It can be a number one chart entry or a Grammy. But my biggest goal is to play at the most renowned music festivals for RnB music with other artists that I admire.

One last thought to leave your fans with?

Stay safe and healthy!!!

Follow Jaime online 

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Follow Sherly online 

Facebook | Spotify | Instagram