Dan Digs 2026 Essentials
An ever-growing list of 2026’s most fantastic songs. As ever, if you dig leftfield beats, electronic soul, and experimental sounds, you’ll feel right at home. Listen to… Continue reading
Tag Archive: Music Blog
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Diggin’ This: SAULT – “Fulfil Your Spirit” (Forever Living Originals)
The best album of 2026 so far? The mysterious UK collective has returned with a brand new project, which, in addition to mainstays Inflo and Cleo Sol, counts Jack… Continue reading
Dan Digs Top 100 Tracks of 2025
This year gave us beautiful, inspiring, boundary-pushing songs from artists such as Sampology, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ichiko Aoba, Cid Rim, Luke Titus, Kokoroko, Oddisee, Mocky, Night Tapes, LEISURE, Grandbrothers, Homeboy Sandman, Thundercat,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Anaiis – “Call Me (a) (B)” (Dream Sequence Recordings/5dB Records)
The moment those drums come in. Don’t be thrown by the song’s fragile and vulnerable start, “Call Me (a) (B)” by the London artist Anaiis, packs a powerful emotional… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nubiyan Twist – “Azimuth” (Strut Records)
Featuring Eniola, the group’s new lead vocalist. Fusing Afrobeat with jazz to create a powerful groove imbued with humanity, “Azimuth” is a joyful and celebratory explosion of life and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Amadeu – “If Considered” (Holunderbeat Records)
Lo-fi indie soul with a side of distant funk. Sounding like a cross between the wide-eyed vintage eclecticism of Stereolab, the casual strolling songwriting of Benny Sings, and the… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nia Smith – “Limit” (Polydor Records)
Sampling James Blake’s “Limit to Your Love.” An inspired rework of one of 2010’s best tracks, itself a cover of a Feist original, “Limit” by the Brixton, London artist… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ímã – “Magnolias” (Lewis Recordings)
A slo-mo samba from Saint Augustine. Breathy and beachy, “Magnolias” is the first song, a chilled MPB-bossa nova creation, from Ímã, a Florida-based duo made up of producer Evan… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Rural Tapes – “Flower Lab” (Clay Pipe Music)
Cinematic audio artistry from Grimstad, Norway. “Flower Lab” by Rural Tapes, the nom de plume of the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and composer Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen, is storytelling through sound at… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Chet Faker – “This Time For Real” (Detail Records) (Video)
A piano line brimming with hope and optimism. Melbourne‘s very own Nick Murphy aka Chet Faker returns with a buoyant soul-pop cut, “This Time For Real.“ Check… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kotoa – “Higher Being” (Wah Wah 45s)
Global rhythms from South East London. Loughborough Junction’s Kotoa are saxophonist and singer Maia Avery, guitarist and singer Memphis Koloi, bassist Frank Black, keyboard player Sam Hillier, and drummer… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: 野巢 Nosu – “魚湖 Fish Lake”
“Back to the memory.” Very into this new track from the Taipei, Taiwan group 野巢 Nosu (translated as “Wild Nest” in English). “魚湖 Fish Lake” is a… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Prefaces – “Marmoura” (Ruptured & Hisstology)
Instrumental surf rock from Lebanon. Lebanese indie music heavyweights Charif Megarbane (a multi-instrumentalist who plays in Cosmic Analog Ensemble and Heroes & Villains), Salim Naffah (from Alko B), and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Charles Webster & EMAMKAY & Bokang Ramatlapeng – “Rain” (Stay True Sounds)
“Intriguing and abounding, and so refreshing…” “Rain” is a mellow downtempo soul-jazz excursion from the UK house legend Charles Webster, the South African producer EMAMKAY, and the Soweto vocalist… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Vimbai Mango – “Searching (Nzira)” (Produced by Footshooter) (Tru Thoughts)
“Searching (Nzira)” is a jazz-house-broken beat collaboration between the British-Zimbabwean artist Vimbai Mango and the South London producer Footshooter. Nzira is a Shona word from the Bantu language spoken… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Alfa Mist ft Tawiah – “All Time” (Sekito)
An otherworldly London soul-jazz dream. By teaming up with the prolific UK soul singer Tawiah for his latest single “All Time,” the London-based songwriter, pianist, MC, and producer Alfa… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Pino Palladino & Blake Mills ft Chris Dave – “Taka” (Verve/New Deal/Impulse!) (Video)
That Wasn’t a Dream, but this is a dream team. The levels are stratospheric on this one. Three virtuosos and veritable masters of their respective instruments—Pino Palladino,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: El Michels Affair ft Florence Adooni – “Say Goodbye” (Big Crown Records)
A new bounce from Leon Michels. Featuring a superb singalong chorus from the Ghanian artist Florence Adooni, “Say Goodbye,” the latest song from the storied New York production outfit… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jeb Loy Nichols ft Cold Diamond & Mink – “Step In” (Timmion Records)
Cosmic folk with a soul-jazz twist. Wales-via-Wyoming troubadour Jeb Loy Nichols wraps the sun-fried heat of Southern roots music with the icy chill of Finnish soul by enlisting Helsinki’s… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yazmin Lacey – “Ain’t I Good For You” (AMF Records) (Video)
Some UK jazz-infused R&B for the summertime. London-via-Nottingham singer-songwriter Yazmin Lacey‘s latest is a breezy yet confident, percussive modern soul number. Yazmin Lacey – “Ain’t I Good… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Galdive – “Teach Me How to Love” (Mom + Pop Music) (Video)
A dreamy new tune from the Indonesian duo. Tisha and Osvaldo are Galdive, who draw their musical inspiration from the likes of DanDigs.com favorites Jordan Rakei, Lianne La Havas,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Collettivo Immaginario – “Fine Di Un’Era” ft Nicolò Masetto, Alberto Lincetto, Tommaso Cappellato & Mocky (Domanda Music)
Italian jazz-funk with a distinct yacht rock flavor. The highly talented LA-via-Italy trio of Alberto Lincetto on keys, Nicolò Masetto on bass, and Tommaso Cappellato on drums, together known as… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Luke Titus – “Above Us” (Sooper Records) (Video)
A vibe not unlike Thundercat meeting Toro Y Moi. Having previously contributed to music by Kiefer, Orion Sun, Ravyn Lenae, Steve Lacy, Monte Booker, and more, the LA-via-Chicago singer, songwriter,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 – “Hei Ti” (Légère Recordings)
A Welsh-Latin boogie. “Hei Ti,” the new Welsh-language single from Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 is a perfect distillation of samba, disco, pop, electro, and disco, which is why… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yuuf – “Alma’s Cove” (Live in Preveli Gorge, Crete) (Video) (Technicolour Records)
A live session recorded during the London group’s recent trip to Greece. With members hailing from Switzerland, Denmark, France, and England, Yuuf‘s latest instrumental is a chilled and thoughtful… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: SAULT – “I.L.T.S.” (Forever Living Originals)
It’s so difficult to pick a favorite track (it always is) from the new SAULT album (their twelfth!), but I’m going to go with “I.L.T.S.,” a mellow neo-soul jam that fetures Cleo… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Asta Hiroki x Tristan de Liège – “Define, Derive” (Folded Music)
A glitchy and shimmering downtempo jazztronica cut from Asta Hiroki, an experimental hip hop producer and visual artist from Brighton, UK, and Tristan de Liège, a Los Angeles-based composer-producer, that pulses with synth… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Lady Wray – “Be a Witness” (Produced by Leon Michels) (Big Crown Records)
Leon Michels adds lo-fi drum machine textures as part of his signature production sparkledust along with a rubbery funk bassline courtesy of Nick Movshon on this new gospel-tinged retro-R&B cut from Atlanta… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ea Akilat – “Run IV” (Midas 104 Remix) (Dog Tooth Records)
One of the best remixes of 2025 so far. A cool and understated track by Ea Akilat, the project of the Berlin-born, Iceland-based composer and producer Sinah Blohberger, gets… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yves Jarvis – “One Gripe” (In Real Life Music) (Video)
The Montreal musician’s latest album sounds like a free-wheelin’ DIY distillation of the best musical elements of Dijon, Paul McCartney, Sly Stone, and Steely Dan. “One Gripe” is one… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Samplelov – “A New Day”
“When the story begins, we often don’t know it’s beginning.” Drifting away to this extremely wavy oldies-meets-modern R&B cut from the Oakland, California artist Samplelov. Samplelov –… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jilsky – “I Think You Should Try”
The Berlin artist cites his influences as Chopin, Débussy, Flying Lotus, and Jimi Hendrix, among others. “I Think You Should Try” is a laid-back yet tender and encouraging psyche-indie… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: MRCY – “Man” (Dead Oceans)
Just like they said during their debut US radio interview on my weekly show for WNXP last year, MRCY are now readying the release of their new album VOLUME 2. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Salami Rose Joe Louis – “Inside” (Brainfeeder)
Lovelorn transmissions from outer space. “Inside,” the latest cosmic missive from California’s Salami Rose Joe Louis is a hushed and delicate bubbler that glides frictionlessly through galaxies. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Thandii – “Past”
Is Future Blues a genre? It is now. Fresh from landing on the number 1 spot on my Top 30 Albums of 2024 list, Margate, UK duo Thandii… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: lavender – “lowlight:slowlight”
Music for deserts. London, UK duo lavender are childhood friends Adam Jackson and Oskar Rice. Sharing a love of Elliott Smith and J Dilla, one is in… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto – “Zero Sun” (Easy Eye Sound)
Psychedelic fuzz-funk blues. Love this ongoing collaboration between the Nottingham, UK retro-blues funk-rock band Little Barrie and Malcolm Catto, the English drummer, producer, and member of the Heliocentrics. … Continue reading
Dan Digs 2025 Essentials
A continuously updated playlist of 2025’s best songs. If you dig leftfield beats, electronic soul, and experimental sounds, you’ll feel right at home. Listen to my 2025… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: DARKSIDE – “S.N.C” (Matador Records) (Video)
Still. No. Center. DARKSIDE, the duo of Nicolás Jaar and Dave Harrington, has officially become a trio by adding instrument designer and drummer Tlacael Esparza. The group’s… Continue reading
Recommended Gem: Four Tet DJ Set from Awakenings During ADE 2024 (Video)
A recommended gem of a DJ set. A four-and-a-half-hour inspirational, emotional journey from one of the best to ever do it. (And infinite respect for the… Continue reading
Album of the Week: SHOLTO – Letting Go of Forever (Root Records via DeepMatter Records)
The London musician has previously worked with Nick Waterhouse, Inflo, and Dan Carey. Over the 26 tracks of new album Letting Go of Forever, Oscar “SHOLTO” Robertson creates nostalgic,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: The Mighty Tiny & The Many Few – “Be the Good People” (Ånd& Records)
Those piano keys. Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire, South London-via-Jamaica artist, Grammy-winning composer, and writer Randy Valentine, and Copenhagen jazz musician Steven Jess Borth II, also known as CHLLNGR (I… Continue reading
Recommended Gem: SBTRKT Live From DJ Mag HQ (Video)
A recommended gem of a DJ set. SBTRKT‘s latest DJ set for DJ Mag is chock-full of unreleased heat, including a stirring edit of Mk.gee! (“RIP… Continue reading
Album of the Week: Ego Ella May – FIELDNOTES: COMPLETE
The new album from the South London artist. Comprised of three parts and an epilogue, FIELDNOTES: COMPLETE is the latest collection of alternative soul and jazz-inflected R&B tracks from… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: anaiis & Grupo Cosmo – “B.P.E” (Dream Sequence Recordings/5dB Records) (Video)
As chosen by special guest Ego Ella May on episode 32 of my WNXP/NPR Music Nashville radio show. Co-written by Sessa and Biel Basile, “B.P.E” is a powerful alt-soul cut by… Continue reading
Recommended Gem: Michael Kiwanuka – The Making of Small Changes (Video)
A recommended gem of a music documentary. A behind-the-scenes look at how my Album of the Week last week was made. (Stick around until the very end… Continue reading
Album of the Week: André Ethier – Cold Spaghetti (Telephone Explosion Records)
The latest album from the Toronto musician and member of the Deadly Snakes. André Ethier‘s new album encompasses percussive folk, adult contemporary stylings, and lounge jazz moods. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: DARGZ – “Save You”
The London-via-NYC producer and engineer has previously worked with Moses Boyd and Poppy Ajudha. “Save You” by DARGZ is a gospel-tinged, heartwarming slice of soul. DARGZ –… Continue reading
Recommended Gem: House Music Royalty: The Story of King Street Sounds by Beatport Films & Armada Music (Video)
A recommended gem of a music documentary. Hear DJ Spinna, Danny Krivit, David Morales, Barbara Tucker, Ultra Naté, Blaze, Joe Claussell, and more tell the story of a NYC house… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Katie Schecter – “Pay It No Mind” (Video)
As chosen by special guest Homer on episode 30 of my WNXP/NPR Music Nashville radio show, who you’ll hear playing drums on this song. Can’t stop listening to the… Continue reading