Dan Digs’ Top 100 Tracks of 2018
Music of 2018, you were very, very, very good to us. Here are my favorite one hundred tracks from this year. 100. Kali Uchis ft Tyler,… Continue reading
Category Archive: Songs I’m Diggin’
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Diggin’ This: Babeheaven – “November”
November in December. West London’s Nancy Andersen and Jamie Travis write music as Babeheaven. Their latest song, “November,” is a stark and blue-hued indie-soul offering, enriched by steady strings,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Steve Spacek – “Carnival Nights” (Eglo Records)
The perfect combination of spaceship soul, digital doo-wop, bleepy blip-hop, astral bruk business, and satellite scat. It’s hard to pick just one, but the infectious yet delicate post-broken beat… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sampology ft Seven Davis Jr – “Blooming In the Streets” (Middle Name Records)
“Don’t go bringing up the future to those who live in the past.” “Blooming In the Streets” sees Brisbane’s Sampology teaming up with LA-via-Houston’s Seven Davis Jr to create… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Laser Background (Andy Molholt from Speedy Ortiz) – “Wasting Away” (Official Video)
Cannot stop pirouetting to this technicolor, tropical indie bop from Philly musician and Speedy Ortiz guitarist Andy Molholt, otherwise known as Laser Background. Shades of Pond psychedelia meet 60s… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Shadowgraphs – “Before the Time” (Golden Brown Records)
Best listened to while turning in circles, head and hands raised to a better future. I’m very completely feeling this neo-psychedelic nugget from Portland, Oregon band Shadowgraphs. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Oso Leone – “Virtual U” (Apollo Records)
Brb, just sailing into an Ibizan sunset. Barcelona quartet Oso Leone return after five years with “Virtual U,” a dreamy, sun-drenched, R&Balearic delicacy. Warm electronic keys meet… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sea Moya – “New Past” (Majestic Casual Records)
“I will meet you there And I will bring my danceshoes and we’ll dance where The light will cut the air…” Montreal-via-Germany digital indie-funk outfit Sea Moya wrote and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Chip Wickham – “Snake Eyes” (Ishmael Ensemble Remix) (Lovemonk Records)
A strut supreme. “Snake Eyes” by Madrid-via-UK flautist, saxophonist, and jazz multi-talent Chip Wickham gets the remix treatment by Pete Cunningham’s Bristol, UK-based experimental electronic jazz collective Ishmael Ensemble.… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Julien Dyne – “Design” (Soundway Records)
The groove is real. On “Design,” Berlin-via-Wellington-via-Auckland-via-Montreal musician, drummer, DJ, and visual artist Julien Dyne opens with a gritty, Theo Parrish-ish beat loop and shimmering piano punctuation before melting it… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Skinshape – “After Midnight” (Lewis Recordings)
Khruangbin meets a Money Mark instrumental meets early downtempo Bonobo. Like many of my favorite musical moments, “After Midnight” by London’s Skinshape takes its cues from when the late… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jadu Heart – “The Cure” (VLF Records)
Jadu Heart have the cure. From the moment I heard those mandolin-ish (or quite definitely maybe an acoustic guitar in a London flat) plucks paired with those heavy handclaps,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Scott Xylo – “Hold On” (Black Acre)
In the mood for some very excellent soupy psychedelic jazz that glimmers with experimental wonder? You are, then, very much in the right place. “Hold On,” from… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: YesYou ft OFEI – “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” (The Korgis Cover)
Autumnal audio. Originally recorded in 1980 by the Korgis, the pop-ballad hit “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” got the cover treatment a few years back by London soul musician… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nao Yoshioka – “The Truth” (Produced by Khari Mateen) (Yamaha Music/Sweet Soul Records)
“Never lose what you know to be true.” Produced by Khari Mateen (The Roots, Jill Scott), Tokyo-via-New York-via Osaka singer-songwriter Nao Yoshioka‘s “The Truth” is an uplifting and ebullient neo-soul… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Teddy Obot – “Amnesia” (The Function Records) (Live Video)
May the falsetto be with you. Huge fan of this one-take low-lit late-in-the-evening live video of “Amnesia,” the latest single from rising LA-via-Nigeria future soul artist Teddy Obot. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ezra Collective ft Jorja Smith – “Reason in Disguise”
Exquisite jazz happens when Ezra meets Jorja. From the very first bars of Femi Koleoso’s rimshot break to Jorja Smith‘s intro hums to Joe Armon-Jones’ keyboard tapestries to TJ… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Tim Parker – “Slanted” (20/20 LDN)
Cosmic. With an astral boom-bap beat woven through a pulsing vocal sample beamed from the other side of the galaxy, “Slanted,” a new track from influential NTS Radio host… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sam Wilkes – “Tonight” (Leaving Records)
Underwater jazz that sounds like it’s on fire. “Tonight” by Los Angeles jazz musician Sam Wilkes is a stew of hazy horns (including alto sax from Sam Gendel) from… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jerry Paper ft Weyes Blood – “Grey Area” (Stones Throw)
Jerry Paper is here to augment your August. Featuring Weyes Blood, “Grey Area” finds the Los Angeles musician combining textured acoustic guitar, doo-wop falsetto, and mid-century lounge crooning to produce… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Roses Gabor ft Sampha – “Illusions” (All Points)
That uptempo, future, UK experimental soul. No stranger to collaborating with some of the world’s finest musicians (Gorillaz, SBTRKT, Machinedrum, Brasstracks, to name just a few, and, if you… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Leisure Centre – “Getting to Know” (HopeStreet Recordings)
Melbourne got soul. Formerly known as the Do Yo Thangs, Melbourne septet Leisure Centre specialize in left-of-center R&B and futurist soul. “Getting to Know” effortlessly floats through… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Tomas Barfod – “Better Than I Would” (rAHHH Remix) (Friends of Friends)
Having been an advocate of the musical output of both Copenhagen’s Tomas Barfod and London’s rAHHH for quite some time now, I am therefore reasonably and understandably overjoyed to hear their talents collide… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: James Alexander Bright – “Mallorca” (!K7 Records) (Official Video)
Bright is right. UK musician James Alexander Bright was formerly known as Hairy Hands. His album Magic, released via the esteemed New Los Angeles label, was number 18 in… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jazzanova ft Pete Josef – “Follow Your Feet” (Sonar Kollektiv)
So good. “Follow Your Feet” is a loose, summertime pop-soul jam made for 10pm July sunsets courtesy of Alex Barck, Claas Brieler, Axel Reinemer, Jürgen von Knoblauch and Stefan Leisering,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Slow Pulp – “At Home”
Feeling this overcast indie jangle-pop from Wisconsin’s Slow Pulp. Reposed and reflective, “At Home” is the creation of Madison musicians Hen, Al, Ted, and Em. The song features pleasantly… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kastle & Mind of A Dragon – “Either Way” (Mind Of A Kastle)
Nothing but bass-driven heat on this new UKG roller from LA producer Kastle and London producer Mind of A Dragon. “Either Way” showcases MJ Cole-ish acoustic guitar pickings that… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kaidi Tatham ft Dego – “It’s a World Before You” (First Word Records)
Summer 2018 is officially in session! Fresh from collaborating with Eric Lau for their excellent remix of Moonchild’s “Run Away,” Belfast maestro Kaidi Tatham returns with “It’s a World… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Astronauts, Etc – “The Border” (Co-Produced by Toro Y Moi) (Company Records) (Official Video)
Underpinned by a late 60s rubbery bassline noodle that could easily be from an Adrian Younge production, “The Border” by Oakland musician and Toro Y Moi‘s touring keyboardist Anthony Ferraro, otherwise known… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Hot Flash Heat Wave – “Glo Ride” (Free Download)
Davis, California’s Adam, Ted, Nathaniel, and Nick, otherwise known as Hot Flash Heat Wave, come correct just in time for summer with “Glo Ride,” a lazy, casual indie stroll in triple-digit heat that centers… Continue reading
Music by Dan Digs – Jungle – “House in LA” (Dan Digs’ 1Bed 1Bath in Los Feliz Remix)
Had to get down with the bruk funk and remix one of my favorite tracks of 2018. Hear the original version of Jungle‘s “House in LA” here. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Henrik Schwarz & Metropole Orkest ft Ben Westbeech – “Counter Culture” (7KMusic)
Let’s get along. Feeling the spritely and sauntering “Counter Culture” from Bodensee, Germany’s Henrik Schwarz, here teaming up with Metropole Orkest and Ben Westbeech for a piano-led journey into… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sunny Levine – “D.A.Z.E.” (Alpha Pup Records)
Delta. Alpha. Zulu. Echo. Exceptionally enjoying this woozy, wandering, indie soul swirl from Venice Beach’s Sunny Levine (and grandson of Quincy Jones, no less) that imagines Shabazz Palaces jamming with… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jungle – “House in LA” (XL Recordings)
A marked change from Jungle‘s earlier work, “House in LA” sees the London outfit step back the tempo and offer up a sun-bleached and and soulful R&B vista complete with sweeping synths,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sam Evian – “Health Machine” (Saddle Creek)
There’s no two ways about it, I am greatly enjoying the turquoise buzzsaw psychedelia of Sam Evian‘s latest, “Health Machine.” It’s all about those menthol vocals, those unknown, mortal,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: WVR BVBY – “And Another Thing” (Plug Seven Records)
Ah, Melbourne, is there anything you can’t do? Kllo, Lanks, Woodes, 30/70 Collective, Crepes, Slum Sociable, I’lls, Chet Faker, and of course, Hiatus Kaiyote, are just some of the… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Anushka – “Do You Have Soul” (Yossarian Records)
Anushka got soul. Max Wheeler and Victoria Port are Anushka, the Brighton, UK duo who make future-facing, digital soul with a sound that leans towards discerning dancefloors while still… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Tenderlonious ft Yussef Dayes – “Yussef’s Groove” (22a Records)
It’s jazzy. Tenderlonious, otherwise known as Ed Cawthorne, is a flautist, saxophonist, producer, and DJ, in addition to being the label boss of the forward-thinking 22a Records. He’s released… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Octavian – “Hands” (Drilla Records) (Official Video)
On “Hands,” France-via-London’s Octavian blends the restless experimentation of Kanye West, the emotional Auto-Tuned hymnary of Bon Iver, and the fearless production of James Blake, resulting in instantly becoming one of my… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: MJ Cole x Kojey Radical – “Soak It Up” (892 Recordings)
Feeling this incredible soulful garage half-stepper from Kojey Radical and MJ Cole, especially that granite-cold delivery from Kojey, those ascending vocal swirls, those menthol synth chords, and that wintry jazz piano line straight… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Hopetoun Brown – “Let’s Not Be Friends”
Named after Hopetoun St in the Auckland neighborhood of Ponsonby where they grew up (the very same neighborhood where I hosted my very first leftfield beats and electronic soul radio show on… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yazmin Lacey – “90 Degrees” (First Word Records)
“This will be my remedy…” “90 Degrees,” from Nottingham, UK singer Yazmin Lacey is a relaxed yet intricate crepuscular jazz meditation. I’m all about that ascending double… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Andre Wiken – “Get Avion” (Astro Nautico)
“Get Avion” by San Francisco musician and globetrotting hatmaker Andre Wiken is a watercolored and dreamlike house stomp that sits nicely alongside the uptempo beat collages of the Avalanches and Tycho. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Lionlimb – “Clover” (Bayonet Records)
Stewart Bronaugh and Joshua Jaeger, otherwise known as Lionlimb, are a duo from Nashville. “Clover,” the opening song from their new album, Tape Recorder, is a wistful indie-folk meditation flush… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sonnymoon – “Ideas” (Sonnymoon Music)
“Let ideas run… run… ruuuuun…..” Dane Orr, J Hoard, and Anna Wise are the Brooklyn-based trio Sonnymoon, whose latest song “Ideas”… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kuzich ft Mei Saraswati – “Innervisions” (Ta-ku’s 823 Records) (Official Video)
Perth musician, drummer for Ta-ku, and Aristophanes collaborator Sam Kuzich has released the first single from his latest EP, Dawn Chorus, via Ta-ku’s newly minted 823 Records. Featuring the… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Skinny Pelembe – “I’ll Be On Your Mind” (Brownswood Recordings) (Free Download)
Doncaster-via-Johannesburg songsmith Skinny Pelembe has signed to Gilles Peterson‘s Brownswood Recordings, the perfect home for his new single. “I’ll Be on Your Mind” is a despondent doo-wop-hop complete with ominous Massive Attack-ish atmospherics,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: JD. Reid ft Henry Wu & Venna – “Just Know”
Long live the jazz. UK producer JD. Reid has teamed up with fellow London musicians Henry Wu and Venna to produce “Just Know,” an agile and taut, future-proofed jazz-grime cut.… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Henry Green – “Another Light” (Akira Records)
Bonobo meets Rhye. Bristol, UK-based producer Henry Green starts 2018 strong with “Another Light,” an emotive and gentle, garage-folk [Is that a thing? Let’s make it a thing!] Jon… Continue reading
Dan Digs’ Top 30 Remixes of 2017
My favorite 30 remixes of this year. 30. Kelela – “Truth or Dare x Steve Gurley’s Hotboys” (Bok Bok Edit) 29. De Lux – “875 Dollars” (Juan Maclean’s Casa… Continue reading