Diggin’ This: Chronixx – “Never Give Up” (Produced by Inflo) (Forever Living Originals)

  One of my favorite tracks of 2022 so far.       Dean Josiah Cover, better known as Inflo (producer to Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Cleo Sol, and more), has teamed up… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Braxe & Falcon – “Creative Source” (Smugglers Way/Domino)

  I’m going to need an 11-minute So Much Love to Give-ish 128bpm house remix of this.       French Touch artisans Alain Quême and his younger cousin Stéphane, better known as… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: The IgG Band – “IgG Theme” (Kalita Records)

  A disco-soul-funk rarity.        Thrilled to hear the celebratory and party-starting groove of “IgG Theme” by the IgG Band, who formed in March 1979 while they were students at Meharry… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Hidden Spheres – “Euan 92” (Rhythm Section)

  Lose yourself in this piano-heavy ravey gravy business.       Nothing but euphoric 90s house feelings from Manchester, UK producer and DJ Tom Harris aka Hidden Spheres, which I first heard… Continue reading

Recommended Gem: ドロステのはてで僕ら (Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes) (Film)

  A recommended gem of a film.           Absolutely loved this mind-bending feature-length Japanese time travel comedy-drama that was shot entirely in one take.    Starring Kazunari Tosa and… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Danielle Ponder – “So Long” (Future Classic)

  Powerful soul from Rochester, NY’s Danielle Ponder.       Love the interplay of that winding bass, those organ keys, and that heavy kick drum around Danielle’s fantastically fiery vocal performance.  … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Jimpster ft Oliver Night – “Ascension”

  Late night UK soul from the Freerange label boss Jamie Odell aka Jimpster.       Featuring the talents of British vocalist Oliver Night, “Ascension” is a piano-propelled R&B move for the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: ABUNAI ft Glenn Astro – “Falling Forwards” (Tartelet Records)

  Glacial vocals meet a frenetic yet chilled beat.       Into this new single from Oakland, California musician ABUNAI (translated as “dangerous” in Japanese) which features Berlin’s Glenn Astro.    … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: José González – “El Invento” (Sofia Kourtesis Remix)

  A percussive reimagining of the Swedish singer-songwriter’s original.       Drums that sway in the sunshine.     José González – “El Invento” (Sofia Kourtesis Remix)          … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Hiatus Kaiyote – “Red Room” (Nick Hakim Remix) (Brainfeeder)

  A remix to make you feel like you’re inside a flower.       Nick Hakim dials up the mellow on “Red Room,” turning it into a sunsetter with streaks of scorching electric… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: soullette (소울렛) – “Sagwa”

  Future soul from Seoul.       “Sagwa” from South Korea’s soullette (소울렛) is a vivacious pop-R&B bounce.     soullette (소울렛) – “Sagwa”           “Sagwa” is taken… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Lenna Bahule – “Eu Quero Ser” (New Sector Movements Remix) (Da Lata Music)

  IG Culture dons his New Sector Movements guise for this monstrously good bruk bounce rework of “Eu Quero Ser” by Brazil-via-Mozambique’s Lenna Bahule.       (If you love this track like… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Fatima & Joe Armon-Jones – “#1” (Aquarii Records) (Official Video)

  Cruisin’.       Love this easy Sunday morning soul with a sliding beat from two of my favorite London-based artists: Fatima and Joe Armon-Jones.     Huge fan of that wandering… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Kid Bloom – “Does It Feel Real” (Position Music)

  Scintillating disco-funk meets the pop-rock soundtrack from an 80s movie courtesy of Los Angeles musician Kid Bloom.       Love that guitar solo.      Kid Bloom – “Does It Feel Real”… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: tinyumbrellas – “Please Don’t Make This Weird”

  Ukelele-driven bedroom pop.       “Please Don’t Make This Weird” is some delicate folk from England’s tinyumbrellas that combines the softly spoken vocals of Arlo Parks with the playful melodies of… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Nanna.B ft Raphael Saadiq – “Too Much”

  Piano-led R&B from the Danish singer-songwriter and the legendary Raphael Saadiq.        I recognize that snare and deliciously sharp hi-hat from Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky,” which Raphael Saadiq also… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Laundromat – “Combo” (Brace Yourself Records)

  A slinky indie groove.       Love this latest one from Brighton, UK musician Toby Hayes aka Laundromat.      “Combo” recalls the alt-90s audio aesthetics of Luscious Jackson and the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Telephone Man – “Angel” (Tropic of Love)

  Library music blended with a Salsoul sensibility.       Telephone Man is Nostalgia 77 aka Benedic Lamdin and DrumTalk aka Nathaniel Pearn.   “Angel” began by the duo diving into the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Immy Owusu – “Mantra” (Hopestreet)

  Highlife meets psychedelic soul.       “Mantra,” the latest single from Torquay, Australia’s Immy Owusu, is a carefree coastal breeze.     Immy Owusu – “Mantra”          … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Kokoroko – “Something’s Going On” (Brownswood)

  West African rhythms fused with grooves straight from the Funkadelic mothership.       “Something’s Going On” by the London eight-piece is some gloriously fuzzed funk.     Kokoroko – “Something’s Going… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Sunflower Thieves – “I Don’t Know Why”

  A pathos-led, ethereal acoustic folk number from Leeds, UK duo Sunflower Thieves, whose 16-year friendship is evident through the effortless and knowing way their vocal harmonies meld together.       Love… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Sampha – “In-Between and Overseas” (Young Records)

  Previously only available on the Japanese edition of Sampha’s Process, which was my number one album of 2017.       Brimming with vulnerability and emotion, “In-Between and Overseas” will comfort you.… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Maria Chiara Argirò – “Clouds” (Innovative Leisure)

  Synths on synths from the Italian-born, London-based artist.       “Clouds” is a meandering, brass-infused keyboard daydream.     Maria Chiara Argirò – “Clouds”             “Clouds”… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Modern Nature – “Dunes” & Island of Noise Film (Bella Union)

  “A new beginning.”       With its softly sung, pastoral jazz-flecked folk and nods to Talk Talk and fellow Bella Union labelmates Lost Horizons, “Dunes” is my favorite track from the… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Chris Dave ft Lindsay Niccs & C-Red – “C U Later”

  “No matter what, we keep it frrrreeeeeeesshhhhh.”       Definitely enjoying the heavy Houston funk of “C U Later” from one of my favorite drummers, Chris Dave.     Chris Dave… Continue reading

Watch Indigo De Souza in Conversation with Dan Digs for WNXP/NPR Music (Video)

  It was a pleasure to chat with the wonderful Indigo De Souza on stage at WNXP Nashville‘s performance space, the Sonic Cathedral.        We talked about the Asheville creative community,… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Black Flower ft Meskerem Mees – “Morning In The Jungle” (Sdban Ultra)

  A perfect song to start the day.       Featuring singer-songwriter Meskerem Mees on vocals, “Morning in the Jungle” by Belgium’s Black Flower wakes slowly and sways gently.     The… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Jazzanova – “Creative Musicians” (Henrik Schwarz Remix) (BBE Music)

  This jazz stomp is strong.         Extremely into this Henrik Schwarz rework of Jazzanova’s reimagining of the Lyman Woodard Organization original.       Love those vocals from Indianapolis… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Tuff Bear ft bb sway – “Talk To You” (Acrophase Records)

  Bristol-via-Somerset musician Tuff Bear aka Theo Vernon has shared “Talk to You,” a gentle cosmic slo-disco cut that features the London-via-Hong Kong artist, bb sway.       Tuff Bear ft bb… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Ben Marc – “Mustard” (Innovative Leisure)

  Rich strings over steady meditative drums.       Inspired by the “beat-driven production of artists like Four Tet, Bonobo, Machinedrum, DJ Shadow, and Madlib,” Ben Marc’s latest release, “Mustard,” is a… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Aldous Harding – “Lawn”

  Currently experiencing waves of experimental French pop sounds on this new single from New Zealand’s Aldous Harding.       Love that piano paired with those vocals.     (Oh, and also… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Holodrum (Side Project of Yard Act & Hookworms Members) – “Free Advice”

  LCD Soundsystem and !!! meet Liquid Liquid in Leeds.       “Free Advice” is a freeform disco rollercoaster from the Yorkshire seven-piece that sonically encourages all who hear it to try… Continue reading

Dan Digs 2022 Essentials

  Updated every Monday.       An ongoing playlist of 2022’s very best music.     If you dig leftfield beats, electronic soul, and experimental sounds, you’ll feel right at home.   … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “Black Hot Soup” (DJ Shadow “My Own Reality” Re-Write)

  Overjoyed to hear new DJ Shadow beats in 2022.       A groove-filled, scratch-laden reimagining of the jam from the Melbourne band “Black Hot Soup” that sounds like it was beamed… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Dope Lemon ft Louise Verneuil – “High Rollin”

  “Pas besoin de s’inquiéter d’une chose…”       Love this bilingual Sunday stroll of a song from Dope Lemon aka Angus Stone.     Dope Lemon ft Louise Verneuil – “High… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Mydreamfever – “Rough and Beautiful Place”

  Sensual instrumental ambient-soul from South Korea’s Mydreamfever, the side project of Seoul artist 파란노을 (Parannoul, or “Blue Sunset” in Korean).       Released on New Year’s Day, “Rough and Beautiful Place”… Continue reading

Dan Digs Top 30 Remixes of 2021

  Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Special Request, Salami Rose Joe Louis, AK Paul, Harvey Sutherland, Nightmares on Wax, Moses Boyd, and many more are all here in my 30 favorite remixes of 2021.  … Continue reading

Dan Digs Top 30 Albums of 2021

  Fred again.., Jeff Parker, Little Simz, Dijon, Cleo Sol, Hiatus Kaiyote, Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, Kiefer, Puma Blue, Leisure, SAULT, and many more all feature in my 30 favorite albums of… Continue reading

Listen to Arlo Parks in Conversation with Dan Digs for WNXP

  One of my radio highlights of 2021 was talking with the wonderful Arlo Parks for WNXP Nashville.          We talked about the genius of Frank Ocean, her Mercury Prize… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Blush – “Best Friend”

  Singaporean shoegaze.       Bo Zhang, Daniel Lim, Soffi Peters, and Daniel Pei are Blush.     Blush – “Best Friend”           “Best Friend” is taken from… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Dad Bod – “Playground Love” (Air Cover) (Nice Guys Records)

  A weighty Air cover from Salt Lake City’s Dad Bod.       Love that corkscrew reversed guitar at 1min 3sec.     Dad Bod – “Playground Love” (Air Cover)    … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Cruza – “Brewster”

  Low-key neo-funk excellence from Orlando-via-San Diego’s Cruza.       “Brewster” unfurls slowly with elements of Childish Gambino and Steve Lacy woven throughout.     Cruza – “Brewster”        … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: China Charmeleon ft El Payo & Dindy – “Falling” (Stay True Sounds)

  Deep jazz-house of the finest order from South Africa’s China Charmeleon.       Low-lit for late-night.     Love those vocals.     China Charmeleon ft El Payo & Dindy –… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Dowdelin – “Simé Love” (Underdog Records)

  Highly danceable.       Love the Creole-sung kaleidoscopic electro-pop of “Simé Love” by the Lyon, France collective Dowdelin.     It’s all about those pianos.     Dowdelin – “Simé Love”… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – “B-Side” (Dead Oceans Records)

  I’ve said it before, and I’ll no doubt say it again, disco Khruangbin is the best Khruangbin.       This is also why I never finalize my Top 100 Tracks of… Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Golf Alpha Bravo – “Smoothie” (Treasured Recordings) (Official Video)

  Sail away with the ex-Jagwar Ma frontman Gab Winterfield aka Golf Alpha Bravo.       “Smoothie” is a 60s-inspired psyche-garage groover.     Golf Alpha Bravo – “Smoothie” (Official Video)  … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Risa T – “Lucky” (CoOp Presents)

  A footwork-broken beat amalgamation from the Tokyo-born, London-based producer.       Love those slipping and sliding synth keys over that future-facing beat.     Risa T – “Lucky”      … Continue reading

Diggin’ This: Anand Wilder (Yeasayer) – “I Don’t Want Our Love To Become Routine” (Last Gang Records)

  Delicate psychedelic folk from the former Yeasayer co-frontman.       Love those waterlogged piano keys.     Anand Wilder – “I Don’t Want Our Love To Become Routine”      … Continue reading