Diggin’ This: Salami Rose Joe Louis & Brijean – “Propaganda” (Brainfeeder)

  Never has questioning misinformation been so danceable!       On “Propaganda,” Lindsay Olsen, otherwise known as Salami Rose Joe Louis, melds her galactic electronic science with Brijean‘s low-lit beats and vocal… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: The Ironsides – “The Web” (Colemine Records)

  Another goldmine from Colemine.       “We started the band to write music that evokes cinematic landscapes” says Max Ramey, bassist of the Bay Area psyche-soul collective, The Ironsides.    … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Gareth Donkin ft quickly, quickly & The Breathing Effect – “GEEK OUT!” (drink sum wtr)

  An ode to late-night music-making sessions.       London, UK musician Gareth Donkin has recruited DanDigs.com faves quickly, quickly and The Breathing Effect for his latest single, “GEEK OUT!,” a spacious… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Kay Young ft Ego Ella May – “Woe Is Me” (Video)

  I first heard the voice of Kay Young featured on “Get Connected” by Sekrit back in 2017.       Since then, between supporting Jay Electronica in London and appearing on the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Tagua Tagua – “Pra Tr​á​s”

  Felipe Puperi lists Bill Withers, Shuggie Otis, and SAULT as his soul heroes past and present.       Opening with lush strings, “Pra Tr​á​s” by the ex-frontman of Wannabe Jalva, Sao… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Photo Ops – “The Dream Is Done” (Paul Is Dead Records)

  I’m all about these guitar pickings, that persistent piano, and especially those lightly dusted drums.       When he wasn’t touring with the likes of Camera Obscura and Fences, Terry Price,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: No Buses – “Eyes” (S.S.G.G. Records)

  Named after an Arctic Monkeys deep cut.       “Eyes,” a math-rock-flecked indie jaunt from the Tokyo five-piece, contains the most delightful guitar riff.      Fronted by Kondo Taisai (近藤大彗)… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Jaguar Sun & Husbands – “It Gets Better” (Born Losers Records)

  Chris Minielly, the Ontario musician behind Jaguar Sun, has teamed up with Oklahoma City duo Husbands.       “It Gets Better” is a highly pleasant and pastoral indie march that culminates… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Kassa Overall – “Ready to Ball” (Warp Records)

  “It got a shine to it.”       A gleaming collage of deconstructed hip-hop and jazz, “Ready to Ball” is the latest single from the Seattle drummer, producer, musician, emcee, and… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: JGrrey ft Kojey Radical – “May” (PACE Records)

  A collaboration between two of London’s best.       “May” is a summery yet bittersweet bop about love and loss.     Jgrrey ft Kojey Radical – “May”      … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Dijon – “Coogie” (R&R Digital)

  Raw and in-the-moment.       The artist behind my number 1 song of 2021, Dijon makes music that sounds so immediate, it’s as if you’re right there witnessing in real time… Continue reading

Recommended Gem: New Mix from Ta-ku – Drive Slow, Homie Pt 6 (Video)

  A recommended gem of a mix.       A slow roll.      Ta-ku returns to gift us with a new edition of the Drive Slow, Homie series, the first in… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Water From Your Eyes – “Barley” (Matador Records) (Video)

  “1, 2, 3, 4…”       With its centrifugal beat and pleading guitar lick, “Barley” by the experimental art-pop duo Water From Your Eyes is relentless and hypnotic.      Water… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Rahill – “I Smile for E” (Big Dada)

  A horn-led and piano-driven shuffling sundowner from the Iranian-American artist and NTS Radio DJ.       Originally from Lansing, Michigan and now based in upstate New York’s Hudson Valley, Rahill‘s latest… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Dele Sosimi & the Estuary 21 ft Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – “Mo Ṣe B’​ọ​́​lá T​á​n” (Wah Wah 45s)

  An easy and breezy jazz rhythm from the Afrobeat luminary.       Hackney, East London-born and Nigeria-raised Dele Sosimi was the keyboard player and musical director for Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Close Counters ft Izy – “Only One” (Holy Sound) (Official Video)

  It’s all about those piano key runs.       Allan McConnell and Finn Rees, the Melbourne-via-Tasmania duo otherwise known as Close Counters, sampled fellow Aussie artists Izy and enlisted Lucky Pereira to… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Speakers Corner Quartet ft Sampha – “Can We Do This?” (OTIH Records) (Official Video)

  Sampha’s vocals always, always shine.       Fresh from turning in my 22nd favorite remix of 2022, London’s Speakers Corner Quartet have teamed up with Sampha to create “Can We Do… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Melati ESP – “E.M.Z” (Carpark Records)

  Atmospheric 5am jungle breaks with lyrics sung in Indonesian.       Melati ESP is an Indonesian-born, NYC-based artist.      Sounding not unlike a lost Future Sound of London dubplate, her… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Phum Viphurit – “Lady Papaya” (Rats Records)

  A hip indie-hop jam with “extra spice.”       With an intro that sounds like a chop of the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache,” “Lady Papaya” by the Thailand-born, New Zealand-raised, and… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Layla” (Jagjaguwar)

  It’s officially UMO szn.       Very excited for Unknown Mortal Orchestra aka the Portland, Oregon-residing, Hawaiian-New Zealand artist Ruban Nielson‘s new album.      “Layla” is the second single to… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Petite Noir ft Sampa The Great – “Blurry” (Roya) (Official Video)

  Introducing the sound of Noirwave, the genre coined by Petite Noir.       Petite Noir is a Congolese artist, who was born in Belgium, raised in South Africa, and now divides… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Daniel Caesar – “Do You Like Me?”

  Produced by Raphael Saadiq.       Last year I was very happy to hear Daniel Caesar working with BADBADNOTGOOD on the excellent “Please Do Not Lean,” which ended up at number… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Jadu Heart – “There Is No Door” (VLF Records)

  I’ve been a fan of Dina and Faro, also known as Diva-Sachy Jeffrey and Alex Headford, for nigh on nine-ish years now, ever since I first heard “Late Night” back in 2016.… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Slowe – “Superego” (Tru Thoughts)

  A new signing to the legendary Brighton, UK label.       “Superego” is a brand new track from the Bristol, UK-based producer and songwriter, where warm neo-soul keys meet a shuffling… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Braids – “Evolution” (Secret City Records) (Official Video)

  “Patience, like evolution, evolving into love.”       “Evolution” is a gently upbeat yet calming indie-electronic cut from the Montreal trio.     Watch the deep-dive-into-nature-themed video below.     Braids… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Skinny Pelembe – “Oh, Silly George” (Partisan Records) (Official Video)

  Featuring Malcolm Catto of the Heliocentrics on drums.       “Oh, Silly George,” the latest single from Donny-via-Joburg artist and Brownswood Future Bubblers alum Skinny Pelembe, is a wistful and nostalgic… Continue reading

Dan Digs 2023 Essentials

  New songs added every Monday.       An ongoing playlist of 2023’s very best music.     If you dig leftfield beats, electronic soul, and experimental sounds, you’ll feel right at… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: LANNDS – “Blueprint” (Run For Cover Records) (Official Video)

  “Plant-based drippy psyche-pop.”    I’m on board.       “Blueprint” is indeed a blueprint for the future of electronic R&B from the Los Angeles-via-Jacksonville duo of Rania Woodard and Brian Squillace,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Meg Baird – “Ashes, Ashes” (Drag City) (Official Video)

  A subtle, pensive start to 2023.       “Ashes, Ashes,” the latest single from San Francisco’s Meg Baird, is a mindful, half-speed, folk-jazz instrumental with warm piano keys that meander around… Continue reading

Dan Digs Top 100 Tracks of 2022

  It was a joy to hear great, great songs from Chronixx, Ural Thomas & The Pain, SAULT, Flying Lotus, Jimetta Rose, Toro Y Moi, Floating Points, Kokoroko, Gabriels, Mount Kimbie, Kutiman, River… Continue reading

Dan Digs Top 30 Albums of 2022

  Toro Y Moi, Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin, DOMi & JD BECK, Whitney, СОЮЗ, Triathalon, SAULT, Beth Orton, Kutiman, and many more all feature in my 30 favorite albums of 2022.  … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Pale Jay & Okonski (Durand Jones and the Indications) – “By the Lake” (Karma Chief/Colemine Records)

  Dusty and sweet vintage soul honey.        “By The Lake” is a new collaborative single from Los Angeles-via-Germany artist Pale Jay (who lists his musical guides as Donny Hathaway, J… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Wild Child – “Photographs” (Reba’s Ranch Records)

  Brass-powered rootsy soul from Austin, Texas.       Fronted by songwriters Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins, Wild Child is a seven-piece ensemble that create richly constructed songs like “Photographs,” my favorite… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Nilüfer Yanya – “Midnight Sun” (Sampha Remix)

  Any and all new output from Sampha gets an automatic post from me.       The London artist has reshaped a standout track from Nilüfer Yanya‘s latest album, PAINLESS, into a… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: СОЮЗ – “Beige Days (Бежевые дни)” (Mr Bongo Records)

  Magnificent MPB from Minsk.       I am stunned by the musical expertise on display here.     Led by Alex Chumak and featuring Mikita Arlou and drummer Anton Nemahai, Belarus… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Afternoon Bike Ride – “Not Ideal” (Friends of Friends)

  Gorgeous lo-fi folk.       “Not Ideal,” the latest song from the Montreal trio of Lia (vocals, guitar), David (vocals, guitar, drums), and Éloi (vocals, keys, drums), is lush yet bittersweet… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Movulango – “The Peak” (DEEWEE Records)

  Alt-electro from Belgium.       Antwerp‘s Mozes Mosuse aka Movulango‘s latest, “The Peak,” is a dizzying rush of pulsing electronic drums paired with a vocal that imagines Kurt Cobain meeting Gary Numan.… Continue reading

Recommended Gem: Scenes: SoCal Soul by SoundCloud

  A recommended gem of a music documentary.       One of the most beautifully shot docs I’ve seen.     I truly loved watching SoCal Soul, the latest in the Scenes series… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Goon – “Flower Bell” (Démodé Recordings)

  I first fell in love with the sounds of Goon when I first heard “Garden of Our Neighbor” back in January of this year, which was the first track on their Paint… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: DanDlion – “Knock Knock” (Official Video)

  Featuring an eccentric and bee-centric video.        London’s DanDlion will get you dancing with this Tom Misch-ish dance-pop bop.     DanDlion – “Knock Knock”          … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Julien Chang – “Snakebit” (Transgressive Records)

  Hints of Unknown Mortal Orchestra-esque psyche-pop.       “Snakebit,” my favorite track from Julien Chang‘s new album, The Sale, is a dreamy yet faded cut of filtered funk-indie.     Julien… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Pozi – “Slightly Shaking Cells”

  Stay pozi.       “Slightly Shaking Cells,” the latest track from the London trio Pozi, is a Stereolab-ish bass-led groove with discordant strings and digitized rain stick flourishes.     Pozi… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Jitwam – “Confidence” (Roya/Warp Records) (Official Video)

  A Quincy-esque soul bossa nova ode to self-belief.       Brooklyn-via-Assam, Northeast India artist Jitwam‘s “Confidence” brims with bravado.     Jitwam – “Confidence”              … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Awkward Branches – “A Frame (Not a Window)” (Tip Top Recordings) (Official Video)

  A new project from Phil Swan (guitar) and former Fiction frontman Mike Barrett (vocals, keys).       Phil and Mike have worked together previously in outfits such as Brand New Moon… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: FFFACTS – “Lonely” (Fresh Selects)

  A mid-tempo nu-soul 2-step skip.       “Lonely” is my favorite song to date from Brooklyn’s FFFACTS, a trio comprised of Soul Clap’s David Marston, Dan Izco, and Mirror Gazer’s Dorian… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Paddy Fred – “Found You” (Extra Soul Perception)

  Toro Y Moi meets Thundercat.       Love this gauzy psychedelia from Wellington, New Zealand’s Paddy Fred.      (And love love those light yet ride cymbal-heavy drums.)     Paddy… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: bb sway – “Like Honey”

  A buoyant dry beat that hops and skips around a rubbery bassline.       “Like Honey” is a late-night bedroom-pop-meets-R&B soundtrack to a lonely cityscape from the Hong Kong-born, London-based artist… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: SAULT ft Chronixx & Jack Peñate – “Angel” (Forever Living Originals)

  A 10-minute 10-second song released on 10/10 that scores a 10/10.       The mysterious UK outfit led by producer Dean Josiah Cover aka Inflo has teamed up with the Jamaican… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: KIRBY ft Dave Guy – “Take Care”

  If Minnie Ripperton and Erykah Badu co-wrote an ode to self-care, it would sound a lot like this.       “Take Care” is a mellow and soulful jazz cut that features… Continue reading