During CMJ, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Swedish Music Conference on a panel devoted to New vs Traditional Media and how blogs can work effectively with labels, publicists and artists. In doing so, I met many influential and radly amazing individuals and it further enforces my love for the great country, people and music.


With all that said, a generous email floated into my flooded inbox that morning that begged to be read immediately. We're introducing you to 2 up-and-comers, hailing from the Scandinavian countryside.

Ungt Blod features music luminaries from Sweden's punk past, by pairing two tech-hungry vampires who love all things vinyl, metal and techno. They've finished their first EP, Hunger, which meshes a brave old-school style dance/electronica which brings to mind early Kraftwerk and SebastiAn.

The EP was released on October 31 and features a balearic-ispired remix by Triobelisk and a remix by former BMK member, L.A. Diamond, whom is dropping his EP next month. Which brings us to the latter dude.

L.A. Diamond is one of the mysterious members from BMK (Blandmissbruk) and is to blast out his first single, Bounce, later this month. As mentioned, he mixed Ungt Blood's Fadren, and has also received great reviews for his mix of Major Lazer's Keep it Goin Louder. All tracks can be downloaded below!

mp3: Ungt Blood - Fadren
mp3: Ungt Blood - Fadren (L.A. Diamond Remix)
mp3: Major Lazer - Keep it Going Louder (L.A. Diamond Remix)

There's really no other way to put it, than to say that our CMJ Friday (October 23) was the "weirdestly(?)" concocted and constructed day yet. After a TON of running around mid-morning and early afternoon to a few one-on-one artist interviews, checking out a panel or two and a super secret, but oh so killer, presentation we sat through, the latter portion of the day was sure to be a welcome change in which, hey, we actually saw some bands!


Starting off at the intimately arranged Spin party down at Rockwood Music Hall, we were treated to a 25 minute set from the lovable ladies of Au Revoir Simone. Their playful, and at times, adorably nerdy banter between songs entertained the 60 some odd people packed into the tiny venue space.

The talented and multi-instrumentalisted trio hopped around from the piano to keyboard, all taking turns on both lead and backing vocals. Highlight? Beaston favorite Take Me As I Am, off their current album, Still Night Still Light.


Jumping next over to le poisson rouge for Spanish outfit Delorean's set, we arrived just as the boys were about to take the stage. To say that their live stage show is energetic is a gross understatement. Watching the keyboardist jump around nonstop hyped our tired bodies up even more, and god we were thankful for that!

Bursting through lovable tracks like Deli (my personal fave) and Seasun, the 20 minute affair was a welcome warming to the weather outside which quickly turned to torrentially rain-ous/heinous.

Delorean head back to Europe for the remainder of 2009, so if you find yourself in London, Stockholm or Paris, I'd instantly suggest you check them out.


After a brief stop by Norwood (again!) to say hi to a few people, we donned our best makeshift "tshirt umbrella" and headed into Williamsburg to catch the Brooklyn-bred punk clan of Shiragirl over at Public Assembly.

After catching the all-girl quartet earlier this summer, we knew we needed to catch them live again. With an endless supply of punk heavy riffs and rants merged, at times, with a hip-hopinfused chant, the ladies of Shiragirl know how to have fun, and make good music while doing so.

Biggest and most enjoyable part of the set this night? They covered Red Hot Chili Peppers' Suck My Kiss, to which the room of frenetically dancing fans nearly lost their mind. A perfect end to a long and productively amazing day.

And now, enjoy some tracks from the bands we saw!

mp3: Delorean - Deli
mp3: Shiragirl - Roll With Tha Crew
mp3: Au Revoir Simone - Take Me As I Am
mp3: The Big Pink - Too Young To Love (Delorean Remix)
mp3: Au Revoir Simone - Fallen Snow (The Teenagers Remix)

**EXCLUSIVE**
Are we all doing ok this post-CMJ Monday morning? We've got a couple bruises, no voice and a raging fever, but isn't that the mark of a great few days? To celebrate surviving, we're hitting you with a sweet lil' exclusive, courtesy of Mr. Vega.


See, around the 'ville of Beastonia, we dig us some Vega. So much so that we even booked him for ours and The Culture of Me's totally kickass CMJ party this past Thursday. If you didn't come we basically are mad at you (joking)...but you can relive the mayhem and madness through TCoM's pics here.

He hit us up with a fantastic fix of Dragonette's new album standout, Pick Up The Phone, earlier this weekend, so we thought, hey, let's share! This mix has no shortage of bumping beats, which is why we love it so much. Think of it as an excuse to "not hear" anyone you don't want to talk to. I jest!

mp3: Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone (Mr. Vega Remix)

MNDR, pronounced man dar, hails from Brooklyn through Los Angeles via San Francisco, but the BK should be proud to call her as it's own, considering she's the kind of musician who can take the bare minimum and achieve maximum radness.


According to the industrially ghettotech minded gal, MNDR, aka Amanda Warner, is a "cassette tape player, midi mapping work days, nightime beat maker, nord modular defier, 909 to the 303 and a casual beverage admirer". Heavily influenced by IDM, MNDR embraces her "nerdcore" while maintaining a synth-driven musical style that is easily integratable onto any house party playlist.

So how did we get blessed with the beats of this blonde-haired beast? MNDR hit us, and hit HARD, at The Fader Fort over at the Ace Hotel. Wrapping up a gnarly CMJ week, this was the perfect medicine, in that it made us dance even MORE, shaking the cobwebs off our weary bones.


MNDR has toured with and opened for groups including The Shins, Har Mar Superstar and Deerhoof among many others. She's most recently designed and programmed Yeah Yeah Yeah's touring keyboard rig. All this while currenly being in the studio completing her first full-length album with producer Peter Wade.

Video of MNDR getting chatty with The Fader is below.

Check out the demo of my, and soon to be your favorite MNDR track, C.L.U.B. You can buy the C.L.U.B. single on iTunes. And bonus! MNDR plays Cameo on Tuesday! So if you're not going to Flo (see below post), then come kick it with MNDR!



mp3: MNDR - C.L.U.B (Demo)

Per my below note...I lied! I simply could not wait until tomorrow to post on the amazingness that was Florence + the Machine at The Fader Fort yesterday, and since there's a new video bouncing around, hey, perfect coincidence! Yes, all my other CMJ coverage will come out in a more streamlined and "true-to-whence-it happened in time" format, but for now, let's just relish in this wondrousness.


Throughout the course of the nearly 8 hours we spent in the Ace Hotel basement for The Fader's monstrous lineup of insanely rad musicians, kids came and went and typically cleared out post performances before starting to fill up again for the next set. This however, was untrue prior to the set by the London lady and her solo guitar accompanist.

Hundreds of sweatsoaked 'seers began to sing along with hands raised in unison as Florence took the stage. Leading chorused and spirited renditions of hits from debut album, Lungs, the duo and their stringed strummer kept a throbbing audience awaiting each perfectly sung note. It did get a bit rowdy with a number of the "more drunk than should be allowed" fellows pushing their way to the front of the tiny venue space, but ultimately the eloquence and charisma as displayed by Florence Welch was enough to keep everyone entertained and wanting more.


Oh and that vid we mentioned above? It's the official video for The XX's remix of F+tM's latest single, You've Got the Love. The single is out November 15, and here are the similarly edited and chopped visuals of the original to go with the mix.

Florence + the Machine play Bowery Ballroom this Tuesday, October 27. For those of you going, get there early and be prepared for a truly magical experience!

mp3: Florence and the Machine - Rabbit Heart (SLOF MAN Dubstep Remix)

CMJ has officially kicked my butt. No voice, weary legs, 12 shirts with drunken idiots' spilled drinks down the back, and 1000's of pictures to go through...we concede our non-super human abilities.

I'll be back in full force tomorrow, or hey, maybe even later this afternoon...if my body will stop screaming.

There's not a whole lot of time to post about all the insanely rad stuff we have been/are seeing this week, yet one act warrants a hit of my time to rave about. Sleigh Bells are the "noisily hip-hop and rock influenced" Brooklyn based duo of Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller. It's safe to say, this unique and superbly talented team is the hottest thing to come out of CMJ. Guaranteed.


There's so many great things I coud tell you about their performance, which consisted of 5 songs, a guitar on 3, a tambourine, and an iPod as a backing track. In short, it was one of the best live shows I've seen all year.

Krauss commanded the stage verging on episodic thrashing convulsions that upped the energy from the get-go of their 3:15pm start time. Miller's frenetic strums of the guitaer added to the intensity and passion of which they relay their songs. Winding down with noted track, Ring Ring, which Abbey debuted on East Village Radio a few weeks ago with us, the only complaint is that we wanted more!

Good thing they're playing Quiet Color's show at Market Hotel tomorrow. We'll be there, along with Anthony, who featured the band last week as well.

Do NOT sleep on Sleigh Bells...big in the rest of 09, HUGE in 2010. Mark my words.


mp3: Sleigh Bells - AB Machines
mp3: Sleigh Bells - Ring Ring

Oh well isn't this just the perfect way to cap off the night prior to my speaking at the Swedish Music Seminar tomorrow! Stockholm outfit, Girls With Moustaches, hit us up with their second delicious tidbit today, and hey, we're gonna share it with you.


Girls With Moustaches are Blacklash Cortez and Deadly Earnest Redux, two producer/DJ/songwriters from Sweden. The two met in 4 years ago and began a jump on the DJ circuit in different venue before going on to do avantgarde remixes.

Influenced by 90's club giants like Quadrophonia, they started writing and recording songs in 2 years ago. Overheated was their first underground release (which we already hit you with), and now their second drop is ready for your wanting ears.

I put this song on repeat. And then I did again. One word. HANDCLAPS.

mp3: Girls With Moustaches - Moonchild (Born to Weed)

In case you've been living under a massive rock, then you don't know CMJ is this week. You're probably also unaware that we're throwing a huge party, that has free beer, and more importantly, super killer bands. One said set belongs to VOICEsVOICEs, a terrifcally talented duo from Los Angeles.


Don't know who's behind the beats and bellows of the band? Check out what Nico and Jenean have to weigh in on, from day jobs to dream bills.

SB: Who is/are VOICEsVOICEs and how did you come to the point where you decided "this is what we want to do"?

Jenean: After a few shows it was affirmed for me. Then ambition took over and we just went for it.

Nico: I knew from the time I was fifteen. Actually...the first time I saw you drum, Jenean.

SB: Did you have musical roots growing up?

Nico: Indeed, I did. Yes. No...Yes.

Jenean: I'm wondering what "roots" means. My mom and dad were both musicians... they listened to everything from trippy hippie music, Rock, Punk, Death Metal...

Nico: Yeah, mine are Hip Hop, Jazz, Classic Rock.

SB: Do you have any dayjobs and/or sideprojects, hobbies, etc...?

Jenean: Yes, unfortunately.

Nico: I paint. Jenean does multimedia art... graphic design, video...

Jenean: We have more hobbies than we have the time to do. Our hobbies take a backseat to our day jobs.

SB: What is your songwriting process like?

Jenean: Oh Jesus.

Nico: Process, what's that?

Jenean: We haven't had a chance to write much...

Nico: Yeah, we don't have time to have a process...

Jenean: The music just happened.

Nico: We had shows booked before we had a song.

Jenean: ...and we had a month to write all the songs on our EP. ...Our song writing process essentially is being under pressure.

SB: What are your ultimate goals with your music career? Is longevity or massive appeal a bigger attractor for you?

Nico: Longevity...we want this to be our job. I mean, we want it to be fun and inspiring, but this is what we want to do.

Jenean: Yeah in that sense, as massive as it can be without it being commercialized. As high as we can be within the counter culture.

SB: Are you influenced by pop culture/mainstream radio? Does popular media make you decide to go one way or another with song choice, etc...?

Jenean: Absolutely.

Nico: How can you not be?

Jenean: Subliminally, yes. Deliberately, on some levels. I mean, we choose what we want to be around, but some things will inevitably influence you whether you want them to or not.

Nico: Popular media as a promotional tool is great.

SB: If you had the opportunity to play any venue, who's opening for you and where are you playing at?

Nico: Venue... I wanna play in...

Jenean: Can we get back to you when we get back from Europe?

Nico: We'd bring our friends along and have them play with us.

Jenean: Yeah, keep it in the family.

Nico: EXITMUSIC, Voice On Tape, 60-Watt Kid. But, if we were opening for anyone - PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Bjork, Thom Yorke, Explosions in the Sky.

Jenean: Yeah, with Bjork I think I'd want to observe her and get to know her better - bring it down to a human level.

Nico: With people like PJ Harvey or Patti Smith, I'd want to learn life lessons from them.

Jenean: Yes. I think we want to learn how to deliberately let ourselves go in controlled chaos, like the people we mentioned. It's so impressive.

So yeah, we super dig the sounds stemming from VOICEsVOICEs, and we're pretty sure you will too. SEE YOU TOMORROW. Or else.

mp3: VOICEsVOICEs - Flulyk Visions (Radio Edit)

One of the most hyped acts that is on the tipe of nearly every CMJ-goer's tongue is that of Atlas Sound. This solo project from Deerhunter's own Bradford Cox, will be in this fine city for a two-day invasion that's sure to keep the Brad-babies abuzz with praise.


Atlas Sound's second studio album, Logos, is actually dropping tomorrow, and it's definitely a must own. Andto top it off, we've got a nifty little mix, courtesy of the "still so mysterious I don't even have a MySpace" dude known as BODYTIME.

According to this enigmatic kiddo,

I've done some fiddling around with one of my favorite (if somewhat repetitive) tracks of the summer. I enjoy it, and maybe you will too.

This remix includes: 1) more BODY and 2) more TIME

Someone who DOES have a 'Space account is Atlas Sound. Go check it out here for those all important CMJ showcase dates now.

mp3: Atlas Sound - Walkabout (BODYTIME Remix)

Sydney native, Via Tania, is a self-described outsider, but she's quick to note, "I've always been quite comfortable with it, though." Tania's quiet confidence is best on display with new album, Moon Sweet Moon, a collection songs ranging from whispered melodics to theatrically placed intonations.


We wanted to get to know the woman behind the mysteriously intriguing music, so we had a little chat with Tania to talk about her early musical career through this latest release.

SB: You've been playing music since an early age, more so rooted in the underground noise pop scene. What were your earliest musical inspirations to get you started?

VT: There were some bands I enjoyed going to see play live, that were based in Sydney ,and I was able to see them play throughout the 90s. The Hummingbirds, Ratcat, The Falling Joys to name a few. It was a good scene when I started to see live bands, I was underage but that didn't stop me, I really loved it. I loved seeing the women in these bands rock out too, but still be totally feminine about it. It really was great because up until then Australia suffered from a very macho pub rock scene and there were women here and there like Lindy Morrison (Go Betweens) before that but for the most part I wasn't aware of too many indie rock ladies. The other inspiration was my sister Kim who was older and just spent time working out cool songs on the guitar. She taught me to play by ear.

SB: After playing in the band SPDFGH (which was a facet of that early 90s postpunk scene), your style changed when you began working on solo efforts that focused more on an ethereally based sound. How and what sparked the transition from one genre to this, which is so drastically different?

VT: After a few years of playing this kind of garagey pop music I began to feel the need to balance it out with my own songs that didn't really suit the band format. I often only listened to music when it was late out and getting ready to fall asleep so naturally folky stuff was what I was listening to. I can't say I was ever hell bent on making it ethereal. It just sort of went that way. But the timing was also right, just at the end of SPDFGH days I met Tony Dupé who was beginning to make records in an old beach house on the coast of NSW, a great location and there was no pressure, no money and no one really knew we were making stuff. It was a perfect first experience to do some solo songs.

SB: Your solo debut came out in 2004. Now, 5 years later, the sophomore album, Moon Sweet Moon, is ready for release. Was this album all of the 5 years in the making and what was the process like in getting this album to where you wanted it to be?

VT: It indeed took a long time to make but it was more stopping the project, starting it again that stretched it out...

I'd record, run out of money, think about what to do next. Relocate, start that all again.

The project only really started shaping up to be it's own little record when Craig agreed to mix it. Before then it was a collection of songs and tracks that went in every which way and direction. A lot changes in 5 years! But, mixing and editing I think is where the real magic happens, that transforms songs and ideas into a record.

SB: Speaking of Craig [Ross] (who's done projects with Emmylou Harris and Spoon) on this album. Can you talk a little about the process of collaborating with him?

VT: He has a studio in Austin TX he built with friends, which has a great vibe. Collaborating with him was like working with a musician that I could trust. He has a melodic ear but he also had a great sense of who I was and what I wanted to say with that record. Also, he pushed me to cut stuff and start again which I enjoyed.


SB: Self-described as "moon pop", can you elaborate on why this is a fitting descriptor of your music?

VT: I love phrases with "moon" in them. I like the idea of the moon. I like moon imagery. I make pop music.

SB: You've played bass, along with singing, in your previous works. Do you play anything on this album?

VT: I think bass on a song, ukulele on most. And some guitar and keyboards.

SB: When was the last time you were in NYC? You're getting ready to head here for CMJ next week!

VT: I was in NYC to play last June I think. I do come to New York a few times a year for various things. I have Thanksgiving there too! I'm looking forward to a new experience with CMJ. I'm kind of curious about it.

Well, we're also itching to catch Via Tania during her stretch here next week. And if you want to see what a live moon pop experience is, check her out at the following spots.

October 22 - Le Poisson Rouge
October 23 - Norwood Showcase
October 24 - Joe’s Pub

mp3: Via Tania - Wonder Stranger

In brief, My Gold Mask are way cooler than me. And you. Long story short, from the first time we heard the opening eight of their song, Bitches, we were sold, and knew that somehow, someway, we needed to work with Gretta and Jack and get mass exposure rolling.


That said, we couldn't be more psyched to bring them to NYC for CMJ. You know, during that pretty gnarly party known as THE CULTURE OF ME and our joint affair on Thursday, October 22.

And now, with a finalized and monstrously mastered version of the song, Violet Eyes, we're both preparing and warning you, that if you're not in attendance at Europa next week, you'll be missing out on one of the hottest acts to rise out of Chicago since the deep dish pizza.

Enjoy Violet Eyes below. And if that's not enough to whet your appetite, then we best be seeing you next week...bitches.

mp3: My Gold Mask - Violet Eyes

If you were to ask me to name a truly innovative artist with a flair for all things perfectly molded out of the clay that is electropop, I'd be quick to say, "Oh my god, I know the answer to this one...it's Dan Black!" Can you sense my excitement?


Black is the sort of artist that easily merges his sense of fun with extraordinary talent. With instant hits Alone and I Love Life spreading like the plague throughout the blogger community, it's evident that DB has the songs to make the girlies swoon and the panache to make the duders wish they were him.

In case you;ve been living as a hermit, and have just now found how to use the internet, then please, by all means, view what will very well may be coined "Sheena Beaston's Video of the Year", courtesy of Dan Black and Symphonies.

Upon having raved about his works for the better part of this past year and a half, it gives me great pleasure to know that he's bringing his French-via-London butt over to the States next week...specifically, during CMJ! Here's where you can catch him.

October 23 - On The Side @ Seaport Music Festival
October 24 - Windish Party @ Santos House

mp3: Dan Black - Pump My Pumps
mp3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ (Notorious B.I.G. Cover)

Back when Beyonce was "Jay-less", Kelly had yet to dive into her solo work, and Michelle was doing whatever she was known for, Destiny's Child had a bonafide bumper in their repetitiously delicious single, Bills, Bills, Bills. In a moment of honesty, I'll straight up tell ya, I STILL STILL STILL love that song.


We've got even more reason to embrace it now, with the lady of late night bangers, CJ Milli, bringing us the penultimate in all things sexily amazing. By first grabbing Discorocket's lounge-aliciously smooth song, Warmer, Milli then weaved the trio's silky vocals ever so gently throughout this mix to make one of the most lusciously laid back mixes I've heard all year.

And save the date for Thursday, October 22, because THE CULTURE OF ME and I have that lil' CMJ party we announced last week. And we're pleased as punch, because we're bringing CJ Milli along to jockey the jams!

mp3: Destiny's Child and Discorockets - Bills, Bills, Bills (CJ Milli's Warmer Mix)

BONUS!

Want more Milli? We're all in luck, because two more new pieces of heat were included with the above. First up is a megasmash of early 2000's pop with the current king of dubby dancehall. Then dive into a monstrously major "stinger".

mp3: Mandy Moore and Bird Peterson and Diplo - Candy (CJ Milli Mix)
mp3: AC Slater and The Police - Message in a Bottle Calm Down (CJ Milli Mix)

If you're not already hot on Apache Beat, the remarkably knee-weakening NYC quintet, then let this be a gentle nudge on the path to enlightenment. Since forming in 2007, the outfit quickly shot to notoriety on tours with We Are Scientists, Chairlift and School of Seven Bells. Friday, October 9, however, saw the kids of AB on their largest excursion to date; as openers for Gossip.


While most concertgoers appeared to arrive later than normal to Terminal 5 for an evening of beatbusting and bootyshaking bawdiness, the floor was surprisingly well "jammed" with attentive audience members for the opening set courtesy of Apache Beat.

With a short but strikingly rich 30 minute timeslot, lead singer Ilirjana Alushaj commanded the stage while demanding that everyone pay attention to the vocally robust output pouring forth from within. Cruising through noted songs Tropics and Your Powers Are Magic, I, as well as fellow friends in attendance, were left wanting more.

And it looks like we're in luck. CMJ week belongs to Apache Beat with shows on October 20, 21 and 24. More info can be found here.



Another noteworthy bit of information. Apache Beat's debut album, Last Chants (release date is early 2010), was produced by New York producer Martin Bisi, a most rad dude whose own album we reviewed last year!

mp3: Apache Beat - Tropics (CFCF Remix)
mp3: Apache Beat - Your Powers are Magic (Boy Crisis Remix)

CMJ is rapidly approaching, and while some rad stuff is in the works, I'm pleased to let you know that I will be speaking on a panel dedicated to new media and the role of bloggers within the realm of it. This discussion is part of the 2-day Swedish Music Seminar; Turning the Market Around: Creative Dialogues for Stepping up the Game.


The two-day professional seminar will explore the ongoing, extensive and highly successful relationship between the Swedish and U.S. music industries. Record label professionals, songwriters, producers, music publishers and artists from both Sweden and the United States are scheduled to appear and speak.

Yours truly will be present on the below panel.

Swedish Music Seminar
NYU Kimmel Center
Silver Board Room
60 Washington Square South
New York City

October 22, 2009
2:45 – 3:30 pm

Panel III: MEDIA IN TODAY'S MUSIC WORLD
What is the role of today's blogosphere vs traditional media. Is print still relevant. Who are the new players?

Panelists:
Avi Roag - Founder, It's a Trap!
Adam Lewis - Founder, Planetary Group
Matthew Schnipper - Associate Editor, The Fader
Hannah Rad - New Music Blogger/Editor, sheenabeaston.com

More info can be found here.

Some Swedish goodies for you as well. One from countrymen Mando Diao from their latest album, and another produced by superteam, Bloodshy and Avant.

mp3: Mando Diao - Mean Street
mp3: Kelis (featuring Spragga Benz) - Fire