Midnight Wayne
Dublin born home producer-writer and frontman of the Hot Sprockets, latest tune "it's alright hold on tight" out now with more dreamy lofi tunes to come this year.
Turn the light - Danger Mouse and Karen O
Where do you begin with Danger Mouse (Brian Joseph Burton) ?! Huge influence on me one of my favourite producers and musicians of all time! he started Gnarles Barkly with Ceelo Green, Broken Bells with your man from The Shins (James Mercer), he's Produced and Co-written albums for Beck, Black Keys, ASAP rocky, Norah Jones, Gorillaz’, MF doom, Jack White ( check out the Rome LP ) and lots of other hits you know, including a few Grammys I think. So when I heard of this collaboration with Karen O, who is just a killer singer and musician in her own right (seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs live was a religious and important time in my life) it just tripped me out. My favourite album of 2019 which I remember so well as it was the last year before this lockdown stuff began. I was only getting into producing at home and was thinking ‘Damn Danger mouse does it again!’ He just has a sound and mood Im in love with, Its super chill, meditative in a way and hits hard. All vibes no fuss. Big up Danger! the Midnight thanks you.
Lying has to stop - Soft Hair // Connan Mockasin // LA Priest
The first time I heard of Connan Mockasin was from a guy at a deli in town who I struck up a conversation about music, he was telling me about his “Caramel” LP, creamy LoFi weirdness in all its glory, I’ve been a fan ever since, this is the stand out track from a collaboration with LA Priest. I love the sounds in this track it just trips me out and makes me strive for experimentation and to remember to have fun.
Let it happen - Tame Impala
Kevin Parker is my higher power ! When I first got wind of his music in like 2012 I felt a huge shift. For a while I didn't understand what music I wanted to create anymore, it was weird and wonderful, I think it happens to musicians all the time including the ones that are doing it to you!? But that unknown power is just massive, It was a perfect marriage of a Pink Floyd with breakbeats and synth sounds, they just got better and smoother with each album too, I love the progress from the albums in terms of production and vibes, all of it just speaks to me. I always wrote my tunes alone anyway, but to make beats, synths and vibes all done alone, writing and creating a world, it just blew my mind, I'm a changed man because of this music and “let it happen” for me is the pièce de résistance.
The New Pollution - Beck
Ever since my big brother Damien handed me Beck’s “Mellow Gold” CD as a kid I’ve never been the same. Seeing how much an artist can develop and put out so much diverse music while still staying current, but just under the fringes of the mainstream is just so inspiring, from the 90s slacker stuff right up the spaced out electronic pop stuff in 2019s “Hyperspace” I love it all and have been following him for a long time now. This tune just blew me away the mix of breakbeat drums and harmonica and the mad sax sample. Beck just thought me to always think outside the box and get out of the comfort zone as much as you can when writing and producing.
I don't Wanna see whats Happening Outside - Morgan Delt
Morgan Delt is one of my favourite producers and writers, totally his own, All of his music is liquid dreams, dark and weird, this one really made me want to make music at home and just trip out on my own creations. He's kind of an elusive artist I don't know much about but I think there is news of new music, I can't wait!
The Boy is a Gun - Tyler, the Creator
One of the most creative artists out there from an absolute banger of an album, a lot more than just hip hop if you dig deep I love the production in his tracks, so many sounds and ideas jumping out of the bag, most of the time, the music you don't usually make can have the biggest effect on you , it subconsciously takes the ideas and dreams you have in your head and flips them upside down. Its always good to be upside down when you create something new.
My Doorbell - The White Stripes
The first time I heard the White Stripes was in a skateboard video when I was an avid skater, it was for the song “lets build a home” back then I actually found out about a lot of music through skate vids it was always a mix of genres to suit the skater. First time I heard Modest Mouse and Wu-tang and loads of stuff. Well the White Stripes just blew me away, they came at the perfect time. Raw, loose and live! Simple songs and riffs that stud out and made their mark on me, the colour code and style, they had it all. Meg is the best Rock’n’Roll drummer ever. Jack White is one of the greatest, an all round super producer and songwriter and lover of vinyl, using his influence at the height of his fame to bring it back as a more desired format.
Family Man - Fleetwood Mac
This is my favourite song to sing to my family. Its gas , try it! Its makes me smile every time. I’ve probably worn out my LP copy of “Tango in the night” I spin it weekly. I know people will call me nuts but I’ve always liked the 80s vibe Fleetwood Mac over the other stuff Im just closer to it in terms of home studio and drum machines and its just a fun sound that lends itself more to experimentation.
I would die 4 U - Prince
To be totally honest I was only into Prince hits mostly for years, Again my other bigger brother had ‘Love symbol’ and a few other 90s LPs of him including a poster on the wall of the “love sexy” album which I remember thinking what the hell ! Haha... the music didn't really resonate with me then, I just wasn't ready for it. But when I got through my Punk and Rock’n’Roll teens , I eventually went back to him and understood the true power of probably the Greatest artist of all time! He's having a huge influence on me and how I approach recording too, the sexy, nonchalant singing style, repetitive Linn drum grooves and Oberheim style synths, after I listen to a Prince record I always Immediately want to hit the home studio. Most of my tunes start off as Prince rip offs....The never-ending album collection to get through will keep me going for a good while.
RIP Prince
So Fresh, So Clean - OutKast
Outkast are one of my favourite hip hop groups ever . “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” is one of my favourite double albums of all time and “Stankonia” is just full of flavour and vibes its hard not to like. They step out the hip hop box and experiment with diverse genres like jazz and psychedelic funk. So many memories of good times with Outkast and this song. Andre3000 is a big influence I love his voice and flavour for arrangements he's just a great diverse musician that has a huge palate of song styles, including a taste for HITS.
