Coachella: Day 2

Saturday – April 13th

Headliners: Phoenix

With Day 1 of Coachella completed, lets look ahead to my ‘Top Acts’ for Day 2.

Baauer:  3:00pm – 4:00pm | Sahara

American DJ/Producer and Trap sensation Baauer is set to cause havoc with what will no doubt be a mass Harlem Shake in the Sahara Tent . Having recently toured and collaborated with Hip Hop legend Just Blaze on the epic trap banger ‘Higher‘, Baauer is fresh off a mini tour with Hip hop rapper Danny Brown.  Baauer has an impressive track record of remixes including No Doubt, Nero and Prodigy, and the recent AlunaGeorge ‘Attracting Flies‘. Upcoming UK dates include SW4 at Clapham Common and Reading & Leeds Festival, London.

The 2 Bears:  4:15pm – 5:45pm | Yuma

The Two Bears, made up of Joe Goddard (of electronic band Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell (Raf Daddy), are set to hit Coachella with their infectious house music. With 3 EP’s and 1 album under their belt,  previous releases have included ‘Bear Hug‘ and ‘Be Strong‘. Having already received massive support on UK radio, the duo also host their own radio show ‘Follow The Bears‘ on Ministry Of Sound Radio. Upcoming UK dates included SW4 at CLapham Common, London.

Bat for Lashes: 5:10pm – 6:00pm | Mojave

Bat for Lashes, aka English singer songwriter Natasha Khan, has made quite the impression having taken her inspiration from artists such as ‘The Carpenters‘ and ‘Neil Diamond‘, which led to her 2013 Brit nomination for Best British Female. ‘The Haunted Man’ was Laura’s third studio album which brought us the stunningly haunting ‘Laura‘, and ‘All Your Gold‘.

Major Lazer: 6:25pm – 7:15pm | Mojave

Major Lazer (AKA American DJ/Producer Diplo and Walshy Fire) are set to bring their carnival vibes to Coachella. Their forthcoming album, Free The Universe’ has been almost two and a half years in the making, so Coachella serves as the perfect stage to showcase new material.  Having already released ‘Get Free‘ ft. Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors, ‘Jah No Partial’ ft Flux Pavillion and their latest single ‘Bumaye’ (Watch Out for This) ft. Busy Signal & Flexican, Major Lazer are primed to take over 2013 with their infectious reggae rhythms and dance hall vibes. Expect a few custom duplates and Diplo in an inflatable Zorb! Upcoming UK dates include Sheffield, Oxford, Bristol and London’s Roundhouse and Reading & Leeds.

Julio Bashmore: 7:30pm – 9:00pm | Yuma

DJ & producer Julio Bashmore was responsible for one of the most infectious house tracks of 2012 with ‘Au Seve‘, which he released under his very own label, ‘Broadwalk Records‘. Previous production credits have included Jessie Ware’s ‘110%‘ and the most recent collaboration with Jessie on ‘Imagine It Was Us‘. No doubt we’ll see plenty of ‘Bashmore Bass’ during his Coachella debut.

Saturday has an incredible line up including Knife Party, Biffy Clyro, Two Door, Ben Howard, Franz Ferinand, The xx, Benny Benassi, Grizly Bear, Hot Chip, 2 Chainz, and Action Bronson. Special mention has to go to Radio 1’s DJ and taste maker Zane Lowe, who is set to deliver an energetic genre defying set; Definitely one to check out!

Don’t forget, you can watch all the action LIVE on the dedicated Coachella YouTube Channel. Check back soon for my ‘Top Act’s for Day 3.

Year in Review: Top 100 Tracks of 2012

With 2013 just around the corner, I wanted to compile a list of my favourite tracks of 2012. Not an easy task, considering the amount of standout tracks throughout the year. From TNGHT’s massive trap anthem ‘Higher Ground‘, to Frank Oceans RnB odyssey in ‘Pyramids‘, below are my top 100 tracks. Roll on 2013 and here’s to another exciting year in music!

Top 100 Tracks of 2012

1. TNGHT – Higher Ground
2. Azealia Banks – Esta Noche
3. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
4. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
5. Kanye West – Clique Ft Big Sean and Jay Z
6. Frank Ocean – Thinkin’ Bout You
7. Major Lazer – Get Free
8. Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments
9. Plan B – Ill Manors
10. Disclosure – Latch
11. Rudimental – Feel The Love ft John Newman
12. Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait
13. Frank Ocean – Bad Religion
14. Foals – Inhaler
15. Angel Haze – New York
16. Knife Party – Sleaze
17. Kanye West – Mercy Ft Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz
18. Hot Natured & Ali Love – Benediction
19. MIA – Bad Girls
20. Baauer – Harlem Shake
21. Angel Haze – Werkin’ Girls
22. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – American Dream Part 2
23. Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough
24. Swedish House Mafia – Greyhound
25. Jack White – Sixteen Salteens
26. Julio Bashmore – Au Seve
27. Jake Bugg – Two Fingers
28. Steve Aoki – Beat Down ft Angger Dimas & Iggy Azalea
29. Dillon Francis – Masta Blasta (The Rebirth)
30. Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
31. Grimes – Oblivion
32. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name)
33. Scissor Sisters – Lets have a Kiki
34. AlunaGeorge – You Know You Like It
35. Haim  – Forever
36. Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing ft Florence Welch
37. Solange – Losing You
38. DJ Fresh – Gold Dust Shy fx re edit
39. Chvrches –  The Mother We Share
40. The Maccabees – Feel to Follow
41. Everything Everything – Cough Cough
42. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen
43. Example ft Clavin Harris – We’ll Be Coming Back For You
44. Purity Ring – Fineshrine
45. Alt J – Something Good
46. Palma Violets – Best Of Friends
47. Django Django – Default
48. Skrillex –  Breakn’ a Sweat
49. Redight – Lost In Your Love
50. Polica – Wandering Star
51. Haim – Don’t Save Me
52. Jessie Ware – Night Light
53. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever ..
54. Two Door Cinema Club  – Sleep Alone
55. Madeon – Finale
56. Kasabian – Goodbye Kiss
57. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs- Tapes & Money
58. Puirity Ring – Lofticries
59. Benga – Pour Your Love
60. Grizzly Bear – Yet Again
61. Polica – Lay Your Cards Out
62. Santigold – Disparate Youth
63. AlunaGeorge – Your Drums Your Love
64. The xx – Angels
65. Coldplay ft Rihanna – Princess of China
66. Knife Party – Bonfire
67. Baauer – Dum Dum
68. TNGHT – Bugg’n
69. The Maccabees – Ayla
70. Emeli Sande – Read All About It (Part III)
71. Underworld – Caliban’s Dream ft Alex Trimble
72. Madeon – Icarus
73. Villagers – Nothing Arrived
74. Alt J – Matilda
75. Language – Porter Robinson
76. Bat For Lashes – Laura
77. Grimes – Genesis
78. Diplo – Express Yourself
79. Kasabian – Man of Simple Pleasures
80. Scissor Sisters vs Krystal Pepsy ft Azealia Banks – Shady Love
81. Alabama Shakes – Hold On
82. Maxsta – I Wanna Rock
83. The Neighbourhood – Let It Go
84. Passion Pit – Take A Walk
85. The 2 Bears – Work
86. Bloc Party – Octopus
87. Ben Howard – Only Love
88. Roses Gabor – Stars
89. Hooray for Earth  – No Love
90. Benzel & Jessie Ware – If You Love Me
91. PartyClub – Young and Free
92. Delphic – Good Life
93. Tame Impala – Elephant
94. Major Lazer – Jah No Partial
95. Blur – Under The Westway
96. Muse – Survival
97. The Killers – Runaways
98. Bombay Bicycle club – How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
99. Hot Chip – Night & Day
100. The Cast of Cheers – Human Elevator

Bat For Lashes – Laura

English singer songwriter, Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, has released her new single, ‘Laura‘. Taken from her upcoming album, ‘The Haunted Man‘, ‘Laura’ is a very minimal, yet striking song, with beautiful chord progressions and haunting vocals. Having taken her inspiration from artists such as ‘The Carpenters‘ and ‘Neil Diamond‘, Natasha set about creating this 70’s style piano ballad.

‘Laura’ had it’s debut on Zane Lowe on BBCR1, where she confirmed the upcoming album will be more direct and ‘dancy’, as it features a lot of beat programming and drum machines, making it quite electronic.

“There’s more of a consistent balance between the lighter and darker songs.”

Such a striking song, also deserves a striking album cover, and that’s exactly what we get. US photographer, Ryan McGinley, famous for his nude portraits, created the provocative album art.

‘Laura’ is available to download now from iTunes, and the album ‘The Haunted Mam’, will be released October 15th. You can catch ‘Bat for Lashes’ at Electric Picnic in Ireland, Bestival in Isle of Wight and on her upcoming Autumn Headline Tour.