Stay Cool

This mix is a celebration of weird inside, highlighting his own music plus that of his friends and inspirations. Over the running time the mix includes not one, not two, but SEVEN exclusive ideas and songs from weird inside’s vault, all of which are unnamed. The exclusives range from original versions of previously released songs to unreleased concepts and beyond.

Illustration by weird inside.

Tracklist:

1. weird inside - who knows?

2. bruno verhaar - undrcut (weird inside remix)

3. weird inside - SinkSwim

4. weird inside - ???

5. Greyhat - Glider

6. weird inside - ???

7. froyo ma - olive green (w/ j'von)

8. weird inside - ???

9. senzo - sweather weather (weird inside rmx)

10. weird inside - ???

11. weird inside - love poison (with beatmachinearon)

12. UNDA & weird inside - warm air

13. Submerse - Trees

14. weird inside - 1218

15. off.white - em.face (w/ xavier)

16. Apollo Brown - Beauty of a Day Instro

17. weird inside - ???

18. CYGN - Old Tape 9

19. weird inside - ???

20. weird inside - no more heroes

21. Teebs - Piano Days

22. weird inside - ???

▶ Discover: @weirdinside

▶ Read the write-up via @first-ear: bit.ly/weirdinsideinterviewtext

In the two-and-a-half years weird inside has been making music for he’s established himself as a gifted producer with a knack for crafting emotive instrumentals that take you on an aural journey, all the while carrying a slight air of mystery about himself, letting the music act as his mouthpiece.

His talent for music and illustration has lead to his debut EP 'as we know', a concept project that looks at an alternative version of the producer had he made different decisions in his life. It’s a compelling release, and it’s introspective tones and seamless blend of acoustic, electronic and hip-hop sounds show weird inside growing musically, developing his ability to tell stories with his sounds.

I recently caught up with weird inside to talk about finding his sound, 'as we know' and what the future holds for his music and other creative passions.

Photo by Sunil Subramanian

▶ Discover: @melloworange

▶ Listen to my recent interview with Freddie Joachim & Yusai from the label: bit.ly/MTM006

▶ Catch the rest of the Meet the Movement series: bit.ly/meetthemovement

This mix was made to celebrate the sounds of Mellow Orange, featuring a number of tracks that have been released by the label, from artists on the roster and friends alike. Enjoy the vibes!

Tracklist:

1. Rampelli - Vancaze '71

2. Ozay Moore - Headspace feat. Xperiment

3. Kansado - Part 2: Journey To The One

4. Hir-0 - 4.Officers Pt. 1 [Ft. Doss The Artist, Red Pill & L05]

5. Full Crate & Mar - She Was Fly (Freddie Joachim Remix)

6. Bhonstro - Drizzle

7. DIBIA$E - Ballroom Swing

8. Question - Better Man

9. Versis - All In

10. Hir-O - El Mar

11. Wes Pendleton - 313 (feat Freddie Joachim)

12. Bhonstro x Aso - Careless

13. Freddie Joachim - Let Me Know

14. Mental Abstrato feat. Shing02 & Tássia Reis - TIRO LIVRE

15. QSTN x CAZAL ORGANISM - Get Got

16. Aso - When The Love Comes

17. Chloe Martini - Temptation

18. Teeko feat. Black Spade, Dwight Trible and Kenny Brooks - Neva Find Anotha (All My Love)

19. Khadisma - Spanish Realms

20. MOZZDEEP - Star Eater

21. Wes Pendleton - Be Alright

22. kwesi - This, Always

▶ Discover: @melloworange

▶ Read part one of the interview via Artistic Manifesto soon.

Don’t let Mellow Orange’s relaxed and often easy-going musical output fool you, it’s one of the hardest-working labels in the industry. Started by Bay Area DJ Yusai Goda it quickly became a duo with his friend, musician and DJ Freddie Joachim joining soon after. From there the label has since expanded to a comfortable size, the roster isn’t massive but that’s a testament to how much importance they place in friendships and the bonds between artists before music even enters the conversation. The concept of being real is inherently a part of Mellow Orange, and is integral to why it’s remained on the tips of tongues since it was founded six years ago.

I recently spoke to the pair on their own musical origins, the importance of keeping your brand honest and more.

▶ Listen to my recent interview with @bengfang: bit.ly/bengfangaudiointerview

▶ Read the write-up via @first-ear: bit.ly/bengfanginterview

The latest Inspired By mix celebrates the sounds of Bengfang, and features the world premiere of “Why Would U”, a chilling cut from his upcoming album Imperial Grade that showcases just how dark his sound is going. This mix also contains music from the Chicago native’s pals and affiliates The GTW, Brandun DeShay and Lili K, plus that of a few others I felt fit, like Dripmob, Wu05, and Tsuruda & Huxley Anne’s recently formed group Paint. Press play and get ready for almost 40 minutes of bass heavy anthems.

Tracklist:

1. Bengfang - Gossip Hour

2. Bengfang - Halsted

3. DRIPMOB - CABO

4. Bengfang - Snapchat Shawty v2

5. Mint Club - High Pitch Vocals

6. Mint Club - Tropical Weed

7. Mint Club - After Party

8. Bengfang - Acquired Taste

9. Mint Club - Son of Vegeta

10. Mint Club - Swell Baby++

11. Bengfang - Why Would U

12. Mint Club - Know Just To Do It

13. Mint Club - My Get Up +2 ft. Ronnie Vyce

14. Mint Club - UYUY4

15. Wu05 - Glaze

16. The GTW & Bengfang - Cold Shoulder ft. Lili K

17. Paint - Zatoichi

18. Bengfang - Something Rare

19. Bengfang - Honey Dip

20. Bengfang - Honey+**_

21. The GTW - LSD ft. Brandun DeShay & Rai Knight

22. Mint Club - Lowkey Bahdahhh

▶ Discover: @bengfang

▶ Read the write-up via @first-ear: bit.ly/bengfanginterview

Bengfang has been one of your favourite producer’s favourite producers for years. Starting out in the dubstep genre the Chicagoan quickly found success with a series of acclaimed remixes but he soon moved into a more bass-heavy sound that has slowly grown darker, receiving praise from the likes of Soulection, Mr Carmack, Sango, Majestic Casual and more. With his latest release Imperial Grade Bengfang has evolved again. Envisioned as a sci-fi soundtrack, the project removes some of the busier elements of Bengfang’s sound and takes things even darker, making for a compelling project that’s the most minimalistic and challenging release from the producer yet.

Ahead of Imperial Grade’s release I spoke to the producer about it’s unique release format, his musical background and more.

▶ Discover: @geotheorymusic

▶ Listen to the interview: http://bit.ly/geotheoryaudiointerview

▶ Read the write-up via @first-ear: bit.ly/geotheorycatchup

▶ Read my first interview with Geotheory: bit.ly/geotheoryinterviewsept2014

This is the mix I made to play in the background of my catch-up interview with GEOTHEORY featuring "Submerged", an exclusive track from the Flow-Fi producer's forthcoming project along with tracks from Swindail, Tails, Ramzoid, Haywyre and more.

Tracklist:

1. GEOTHEORY - Submerged

2. GEOTHEORY - snapfrombae

3. Pomo - Feel The Same Way

4. GEOTHEORY - Work It Girl

5. Haywyre - Do You Don't You

6. cosmo's midnight & kucka - walk with me (swindail remix)

7. GEOTHEORY - Aphrodite (Ramzoid Remix)

8. Alina Baraz & Galimatias - Can I (GEOTHEORY Remix)

9. Ramzoid - Turtle Theme

10. Tails x Alexander Lewis - Time

11. Herzeloyde - daytime ft. dodeka

12. GEOTHEORY - Geotheory & Chill

▶ Discover: @geotheorymusic

▶ Read the write-up via @first-ear: bit.ly/geotheorycatchup

▶ Read my first interview with Geotheory: http://bit.ly/geotheoryinterviewsept2014

GEOTHEORY isn’t into comfort zones. Since I first interviewed the New York native in September 2014 it was clear that progression is paramount to the producer. At the time he’d just released Futuristic Love, his debut EP as Geotheory, featuring Futuristic Love pt. 1, a seminal single that took over SoundCloud and is still found in sets by popular DJs to this today. Given its success one could expect the Flow-Fi member to stay within that style, but his drive has expanded his sound in new directions. That passion has since led to a jazzy sequel to the single, his spaced themed Inner Planets EP and a number of loosies that have branched out into hip-hop while getting deeper into the house and electronic sounds he provides.

GEOTHEORY and I recently caught up with each other, discussing his plans for growth in 2016, leaving behind the “Future Japan” aesthetic he started out with and more.

Stay Cool #15 looks at some of my favourite hip-hop that's been inspired by, or samples video-games and anime. Starting out with a bass and trap offering, the mix slows down into smooth hip-hop about a quarter of the way in.

This mix also includes a track from myself, but it's not in the tracklist below so you'll have to listen (and maybe check my instagram posts) to find out which one it is!

Tracklist: http://bit.ly/rhythmhaventracklisting

▶ discover: @swindail

▶ Read part one (bit.ly/swindailinterviewpt1) and part two (bit.ly/swindailinterviewpt2) via @first-ear

This is the mix I made to play in the background of my Swindail interview. My aim was to create a sonic picture of the Australian producer using his sounds along with those of similar artists and his friends + influences like montell2099, Herzeloyde and Alexander Lewis.

Tracklist:

1. Swindail - one for chuck

2. montell2099 - whats your name

3. T1R & Swindail - Merce

4. Mura Masa - Miss You

5. swindail & montell2099 - red bull chick

6. Swindail - out frontin

7. weirdinside - slow hours

8. silo & MadBliss - space girl

9. Braeden Bailey - The Kids Are Not Alright

10. swindail - chao (goodbye)

11. MR CARMACK - Vanessa

12. Sam Gellaitry - nebula

13. Alexander Lewis x Medasin - Alexander Lewis x Medasin

14. disfnk - Wrist Motion

15. Harris Cole x IanEwing x A Sol Mechanic - Fedora Rodgers

16. K-Wash - Love Me

17. Monte Booker - Kolors ft. Smino

18. Swindail - Gellaitry Groove

19. Herzeloyde - Pull

20. montell2099 - trying (swindail remix)

21. Danny Brown - Lie4 (Flamingosis Remix)

22. Haan808 - Insomnia

23. Jone BL - BDKMV

24. William Crooks & Swindail - Alchemy