Generate ///

Generate is a new visual app, that offers features never seen before. With over 20 different filters that you can stack on top of each other, the possibilities are mind-blowing. You can merge different images together, which can be used to distort perception. Not only this, the app has a ground breaking feature – audio-reactivity. The app creates unique visual effects dependant upon your acoustic surroundings.

Check out the video below that was created using Generate:

Semi Precious // E.P Launch

12 days ago, trendy east London boozer the Old Blue Last played host to the eponymous E.P launch of Semi Precious, aka Guy Baron. 

Guy, along with fellow Squareglass Collective producers, captivated the audience from beginning to end with his uniquely dense material which takes the listener on a meandering, trippy journey through the more beautiful side of melancholy with a shoegaze-esque sound. 

We caught up with Guy afterwards for a short interview. Check it out below:

Hi, how are you today? 

Quite excited, actually. This has been a somewhat overwhelming couple of weeks in terms of the work on the EP that has been released on Wednesday and I feel so fortunate for the support I’ve been receiving so far.

How would you describe your sound to those unfamiliar with you?

A middle grounds between strangeness and familiarity, or perhaps between distance and intimacy. These are the (so-called) tensions I’m interested in exploring and conveying in my music and through the use of sampling. It terms of the sonic aesthetics itself, the tracks are all rather vocal-centred and are characterized by a somewhat sketchy or slightly rough-on-the-edges quality. I try not too over polish my tracks. 

Which artists influence you the most?

The first artist that really inspired me and made me think about music in different and new ways is probably Matthew Herbert. For me he represents a certain kind of musicianship that can result in quite mellow or catchy (and often quite danceable) tunes, but at the same time also draws from certain sonic agendas and correspond with sound art. I’m also a big fan of Burial’s music, which I think captures South London’s distinguished and somewhat gloomy atmosphere.

Which artists are you really into at the moment?

I listen to a lot of not-too-known sampling producers, like Myown, AKA dj vtgnike, Seenmr and Orlogin. I also really like Hackman’s stuff. Also a big fan of Dimlite.

You just released your E.P at a launch at the Old Blue Last, how did it go?

I think it went quite well. I really enjoyed it and the audience was so supportive and responsive. Being a studio/bed-room producer, I personally feel that live performance is a quite an interesting and multi-layered medium, which can be somewhat challenging but also very rewarding. 

You’re a part of the Squareglass collective, can you tell us a bit about that?

I formed squareglass together with Bunki (Aviram Barath) and Ballerino (Robin Braum), with whom I’ve studied at Goldsmiths, University of London. We’re all working as individual producers, which can be a somewhat lonely thing to do. So joining forces and creating a platform that would allow mutual support, both creatively and practically, seemed like a natural thing to do. We’re also motivated by an attempt to explore new production approaches/aesthetics. For instance, we're quite interested in working with certain limitations, exploring the way they influence the overall sound and challenging the conventional hierarchy or function of different elements within an arrangement or track. Working with samples or ‘chunks of recordings’ as Semi Precious, for instance, didn’t allow me to treat each element or instrument separately, but for me that’s part of the magic. The next release we’ll be working on together is Ballerino’s double-sided single, which I really like, followed by some other great releases later on this year.

Your sound is created with your voice and two samples - what are your key pieces of gear?

A rather simplistic bedroom set-up. A laptop, a condenser mic and two monitors. I mainly work with Ableton Live.

Have you got any plans for after the E.P - Tour, album, other projects/collabs?

I have a new single coming up on the NX Records compilation, which is a joint venture of Goldsmiths and Matthew Herbert’s Accidental Records. I also have a few more live gigs in in the next few months that are yet to be announced. It's worth noting that my live set-up is quite different to the original tracks – I work with a 4-piece band that recreates the sampled source material and translates it into a purely live set (no laptops/samplers involved), which is a rather interesting and challenging experience.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?

I would like to think that I would have become an architect, but I would probably end up being a lawyer.

With Semi Precious receiving much-deserved attention from the blogosphere, as well as being the Guardian’s artist of the week, keep your eyes and ears peeled.

www.semi-precious-music.com

www.squareglass.co.uk

www.facebook.com/semiprecious

Spotlight on... Slowlights

New boys on the scene Slowlights are a four-piece from London who united over their love of indie rock. Having all toured and recorded in separate projects, the foursome found themselves coming together with the same vision. Their debut single Dive Right In is out on September 28^th. We recently chatted with Dan, who enlightened us about all things Slowlights.

Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?

Hi! It's Dan here. Today I'm going to be demoing some new songs and then we've got a rehearsal together this evening.

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?

We're still trying to work this out ourselves! Most of our songs go for a more 'anthemic' sound with big guitar driven hooks and choruses. They don't always start out that way but we usually can't resist it when we start playing them in rehearsal.

How did Slowlights come about?

We'd all been in bands before but were taking a bit of a break. In March this year our drummer Bill decided that he wanted to get something started again, we all vaguely knew each other from our previous bands and got together to try some songs out. Our first rehearsal was the first time all of us had been in the same room as each other, it could have been really awkward but everything just clicked. We all had the same goals and wanted to make the same music and we haven't looked back since. 

Where did you get the name from?

'Slow Lights' is a song by an Icelandic band called Sin Fang. We wanted our name to just been one word, so we put the two words together.

How do you write? Does one of you take the lead, or is it a collaborative process?

I tend to write a song on my own and demo it, then I take it to rehearsal and we'll work on it together and everyone will write their own parts and we'll restructure it together. It's a very collaborative effort which is great. 

What are the 5 albums and artists that have influenced you the most?

Radiohead - Kid A
Sigur Ros - Ágætus Byrjun
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
The Beatles - Revolver
Arcade Fire - Funeral

What other artists do you really like at the moment and why?

My favourite band at the moment have to be Dry The River. A lot of their songs are like folk songs, played by a rock band. The harmonies are beautiful, their singer Pete has a great Buckley-esque voice and is a really talented lyricist.

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?

The best one we've played was at Club Fandango in London. That's only because no equipment broke/none of us fell over on stage. I see that as a successful show.

What’s the worst gig you have ever done and why?

Once in an old band, during a set in a pub in front of about 4 people a drunk man decided to climb on stage and start dancing. He ended up throwing up all over himself/the stage and then just walked out. That wasn't a good one.

What are your thoughts on the following genres…?

Folk

I properly got into folk music a few years ago which was what really made me want to start writing songs. It started with Bob Dylan, his back catalogue is insane. One of my favourite's is John Martyn, his first album 'London Conversation' is one of my favourite folk records. More recently I've really got into The Tallest Man on Earth.

Blues

Blues music is so important. As a guitarist I really started to understand my instrument a lot more when I started to get my head around blues. I've been listening to a lot of JJ Cale recently.

Classical

I really appreciate Classical music. The structure, dynamic and melodic changes make no sense a lot of the time, but they just seem to work perfectly. I'm going to blast some Vivaldi right now.

Hip-Hop

I remember starting secondary school and getting really into Hip Hop. The rhythm of the lyrics were like nothing I'd heard before. One of my favourite album's is Dr Dre's 'The Chronic 2001. Also 'Hynoptize' by Biggie Smalls has one of the best bass lines ever.

Dubstep

I really appreciate the production skills that go into making dubstep but I just don't get it. You can't even dance to it without looking like you're getting attacked by a wasp.

What are your guilty listening pleasures?

I love well written pop music. I'll definitely have to go with Abba. I don't even feel slightly guilty about it though. Undeniably amazing songs. 

We loved Our Time, can we expect any new music from you soon?

Thanks! Our Time was the first thing we recorded together. We just went into a studio to see what would happen and it turned out alright. We've just filmed a music video for our debut single, which is called 'Dive Right In'. We'll be releasing it on the 28th September.

Finally, if you weren't a musician what would you be?

I'm genuinely struggling to think of what I'd actually be doing so I'm going to go with the first thing that comes into my head. Beekeeper, definitely a Beekeeper.

Make sure to check out Our Time below, and keep your eyes peeled for Dive Right In (we’ve had the pleasure of hearing it, and it’s pretty tasty).

Sinden Presents The Crystal System

Having released Step Back through his new side project (Sinden Presents The Crystal System), we were eagerly awaiting a new release. Finally, it has happened. The latest offering from SPTCS is a track called Got Me Moving with guest vocals from SYF.

Sinden uses a kaleidoscopic range of influences such as boogie, new wave, early house and has drawn upon them to create the new track. He also selected specific producers to remix the track to make sure it was malleable enough for a wide club audience.

The side project is a new and different sound from Sinden, as he claims that the project is “more song based, … more musical”. We like where this project is going, keep ‘em peeled for future releases (they’re in the pipeline) and in the meantime, check out the PILO remix of the track below:

Mansions On The Moon /// Where You Are

Mansions On The Moon have upped their game in the past few months by uploading track after track. Their latest offering, Where You Are, is yet another reason why we’re going to be picking up their album in October. It is electro/pop at its finest. Make sure you check it out for yourself below: