Tag Archives: Jerome Blaze

Monday Music: Mickey Kojak, Mochipet, OLWIK, Jerome Blaze & Houses in Motion!

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New year, new tunes! For this first Monday Music of 2016, I added a Bonus EP from a cool indie label from Melbourne. Lots of good stuff this week, and if you’re hungry for more, don’t forget to check out my 2015 Gems playlist on Soundcloud for my favorite sleeper tracks of the last year.

This Mickey Kojak came out of nowhere but hit me like a ton of bricks. The uptempo, nu  house vibe hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. The drop at 1:10 is a wobbly delight that I didn’t anticipate. It’s got an electric disco groove that is super danceable and the vocals keep the energy from barreling out of control. Lots to like from this upstart from Sydney native.

Mochipet has done some great work, so I gave this mashup time to breathe before passing judgment. You should do so as well. It’s a murky, almost sullen reworking, bringing the best elements of both Tool & Kendrick Lamar to prominence. Inventive and well executed, it’s a breath of fresh air considering how chock full of pop and house mash ups tend to be. Free as well, so what’s not to like?

I’ve talked about OLWIK before, and you better get used to it, because you’re going to be hearing a lot more from him. His progressive wings continue to grow, and this track soars because of it. He’s walking a very fine line between progressive and pop, which is a huge step forward. This kind of sound is going to continue to be crucial to the integration between the EDM & pop/commercial markets, even with the final collapse of Big Room in 2015. The light, airy & bubbly sound that OWLIK absolutely nails with this is where it’s going, and he’ll be at the front of the pack.

Jerome Blazé is a name I’m hoping gets a lot of attention in 2016. The track and some of his earlier work have a very Porter Robinson feel to them, and that’s as a huge fan. It’s high praise, but I think if Jerome stays the course, in a year or so, he’ll be making waves at festivals way above what he’s doing now. The build up is well-executed, and the crescendo into major chords awash in synthy keyboard work is excellent. It’s a positive tune that should get signed to a label as soon as possible.

Stoney Roads made sure I didn’t miss the “For The Heat” EP, the second issuance from the Houses in Motion label. This fam is super under the radar at the moment, but the EP is a DJ delight. The first tune is a slow simmer, meditative track that would find itself at home in a CityFox or Robot Heart set in a second. The 2nd track is a remix by Sweetland, another Melbourne producer, and as almost a high fashion vibe, blending a quick tempo with some vintage house elements. It’s a clean, clubby tune that deserves some love on this side of the Pacific.

Midweek Music: Jerome Blaze, Xavier Dunn, Bonobo, Dusky & Drake!

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As summer turns to fall, so does the music spectrum & sonic landscape. Here for you, a couple of the best tracks that I thought transitioned from the shiny, sun-drenched vibe of the last 3 months, to the inevitable harvest & apple picking feels. Don’t worry, no pumpkin spice beats here, I promise.

Jerome Blaze is one of those producers I’d totally miss if it wasn’t for Stoney Roads. These masters of the Australian & NZ scene are crucial and if you’re not following them, you need to. This kind of pick up is one that will change your whole day. Heartbeat is a track that gives people hope for the future. The high energy proglectro is not to be missed. There’s a vibe in him we haven’t heard since before the Swedish Fish Mafia discovered cocaine. Don’t skip this one, it’ll make your day better, in a way we’ve not experienced since early Avicii. Yes, I went there. Hit it.

Someone needs to give Xavier Dunn a fucking medal. This is the best retro/vintage cover ever. I’m serious. In the 2-3 decades of retro covers, this is the best one that’s ever been conceived of and executed. Go ahead and play it for the old ladies in your office, or anyone who has a lady boner for Travolta/hard on for Olivia Newton John. I almost want to drop it on Webster Hall just to see how many of the kids actually recognize what they’re listening to. I say it every time I bring up Fresh New Tracks, but V-Man needs a raise.

Back in the realm of non-ironic covers & remixes, Bonobo continues to absolutely kill it. This rework of a George FitzGerald original continues to drive home the point that you do not fuck with Bonobo. The tune glides along, in a way that you’d only expect from Bonobo. It’s a relaxed but exceptionally well-produced Odyssey that doesn’t rush, but hits every mark it plans for. No beat out of place, or sound that wasn’t specifically put there. It’s these kinds of tracks that give me hope. This is some certified hipster shit, so make sure to push up your glasses while talking about it over non-cheap, locally sourced whiskey.

This one took me by surprise. Tesher comes out of nowhere with this absolutely huge mashup of Florence + The Machine & Drake. You heard me right. Delilah and Back 2 Back fuse in a way I could not have forseen if you described it to me after putting LSD in my drink. This absolutely needs to be heard to be believed because it is larger than life. I had no idea these two tracks could mash together as well as they do, and I heavily recommend it for you hip pop/top 40 DJs out there. On your standard Irish Bar dance floor, this will destroy.


Ending this update out with some new hotness from Global Communication. That’s the first time this moniker has been used since 1997. That’s right, you’re getting music from someone who was in the game just about 20 years ago. This remix has eight minutes of almost any genre you could look for at the moment. With a half dozen genres of music being represented and several breaks/beat builds to speak of, I don’t even want to keep wasting your time with you reading this. Hit play & go about your day citizen!