While performing in Ibiza, Little Dragon decided to appropriately covered Crystal Water’s classic dance-club anthem, “Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)”. The band, who has stepped up their energy level times 100 over the past few years, surely had the crowd rockin’ out. Not sure if Crystal has heard this yet, but I will definitely be reaching out to see what she thinks. In the meantime, what do you guys’ think? Hit or miss?

Hamburg’s awesome DJ/Producer, Tensnake continues to lace and impress with his stellar remixes. His latest track, “Ritual Union” comes off of Little Dragon’s Ritual Union Remix EP (which dropped yesterday). Quite honestly, I wasn’t going completely banana’s over the original version of this song. Yukimi’s lyrics and melodies as always, are on point, but the high-energy of the track just wasn’t doing it for me. However, the mellowed-down  and eerie-like version from Tensnake (who left Yukimi’s vocals pretty much in tact) is slooowly winning me over. Little Dragon’s “Ritual Union” drops July 26 via Peacefrog.

SBTRKT’s Little Dragon collabo, “Wildfire” has been lighting the net UP over the past few weeks – for good reason. And now we finally have some cool visuals to accompany the beautiful vocals of Yukimi Negano.

SBTRKT’s forthcoming self-titled album, is set to drop June 27 on Young Turks. Stream it here if you haven’t already.

The Bay Area’s dope producer Trackademicks has a serious knack for remixing Little Dragon songs. He first laced us a while back with the “After the Rain” joint which was so impressive it reportedly caught the ears of the Swedish quartet immediately. And now, rumor has it that Yukimi Negano and co. have personally enlisted Trackademicks for another remix, this time for their song “Looking Glass” (off of the Machine Dreams album) which I am kinda of digging more than the original.

Little Dragon recently announced that their new album, Ritual Union will drop July 12 and Trackademicks currently has a hot free mixtape available called The [Re]Mixtape Vol. 3 – Loosies. Cop it here.

Looking Glass (Trackademicks’ Quasar Gazer Remix)

Yep, that time of year is already upon us. South By Southwest. And in 2011, it’s getting crazier (and more corporate) than ever. With Kanye, Snoop Dogg and (possibly Eminem) stealing the spotlight, you might not hear about the 10 artists below. However, if you’re in Austin or following from home I highly suggest that you

Jamie Woon

People are going crazy over James Blake but I could care less. I think that Jamie Woon is the real UK Soul crooner to check out. His latest release is flying beneath the surface, but hopefully things will change soon after this week.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jamie XX

To be honest, I wasn’t really impressed when I saw The XX last year in Austin. And when I met them in person I was kinda freaked out. However, Jamie has moved from behind the scenes to become a brand of his own. His … remix project is superb and his knoledge of UK Grime, Dubstep, and 2-Step is rather amazing for someone who is only 23 years old.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Little Dragon

Another European soul group that is about to reach mainstream success is Little Dragon. Yukimi and company already have completed a successful sold-out East Coast tour and toured with Gorillaz in the past few months, and if they continue on this trek their first SXSW might be their most successful.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Marques Toliver

My first “oh snap!” moment of 2011 was seeing this video clip of Brooklyn’s Marques Toliver. I love music in it’s simplicity, because it shows true tallent, and Maques might be the most talented individual I’ve seen on the music scene in years.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Miguel

I have problems with major label artists playing SXSW, only because it seems akin to LeBron James going back and playing for his High School team after a few years in the NBA. However, Miguel had one of the most progressive projects in R&B and it will be interesting to see how it will connect with a different audience in Austin.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Odd Future

Let’s face it. Odd Future is the future, whether you like it or not. The group of Southern California misfits have dominated the conversation in hip-hop lately and even if you can’t get down with their lyrics or demeanor you have to respect their swag. SXSW marks a big moment for them, as it’s one of the few opportunities to catch theses guys outside of the East or West coasts.

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Quadron

Yes, I’m partial to the Danish duo, but Quadron has captured the hearts of everyone in the urban alternative community and are set to break the mainstream. With opening dates set for the illustrious Raphael Saadiq, South by Southwest looks to be a breakout week for the soulsters. If you haven’t seen Quadron yet, then you must see them at SXSW. You will be in for a treat.

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Stalley

I find most of the XXL Freshman list to be unimpressive. And someone who wasn’t on that list managed to put out the best mixtape of the year (so far). Ohio’s Stalley is set for big things in 2011. With his everyman rhymes and small town influened producition, the beareded MC is a good reason to love hip-hop in 2010.

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The Strokes

On the surface the Strokes are another band that probabaly shoudln’t be playing SXSW. (Same for the Foo Fighters). However, much has changed since their 2001 debut Is This It? Mainly, good guitar rock is few and far between, with most bands becomeing pop stars with guitars (Kings of Leon) or indie darling snooze fests (Arcade Fire. Yeah, I said it.) so there is no better place than Austin for a hopeful rock revival in 2011.

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Toro Y Moi

I missed Toro last year unfortunately, and I kind of regret it. His album Causers of This was hands down my favorite listen of 2010. Fortunately his latest, Beneath the Pine is my favoire listen of 2011, and his reworked sound and live band should go over nicer than his solo shows in Austin last year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Most of y’all know that I will always prefer concert photos over video any time of the day. Let’s face it, photo captures an artists moment in time better than any grainy cell phone video ever would.

However, Ralston Smith’s mini-documentary does that and more. If you have been to a Little Dragon concert lately, you know that its an experience. It’s like church almost–a shared revival among your peers as you watch the doctrine as expressed by one Yukimi Nagano and her choir. It’s an experience that is hard to describe, especially to non-believers, those who don’t get it. But for those who do, it’s one for the ages.

Ralston was able to capture this concert better than anyone in recent memory. This mini-documentary for Shine On Me Productions is truly a gem. Enjoy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photos by Jati Lindsay. Please support.

People, where have you been? // Have you been hiding // in your big houses?
~ Little Dragon, “After the Rain”

I had to hear it right then. I remember getting the itch at a board meeting where everyone gathered in a cramped room to host yet another meeting about meetings. Yawn. I finally found an excuse to sneak upstairs to the main office to make copies and fiendishly tapped “Blinking Pigs” into the YouTube search bar. I couldn’t shake the hollow, vibrating intro and subtle percussion that builds up to Yukimi Nagano’s effortless vocals. In the middle of my work day, for three and a half minutes, I blasted “Blinking Pigs” at full volume and danced buoyantly between my co-worker’s cubicles. For the first time, I was grateful for the copy machine’s sluggish turnaround, buying me enough time to repeat steps one (confirm main office door is locked), two (press play) and three (bounce around gleefully).

Nagano, the lead singer of the Swedish synthesized soul-pop band, Little Dragon, reminds me of one of my favorite older cousins, Elaine, who used to take photographs of legumes to make them appear slightly pornographic and held cookie parties for NYC’s elite arts underground in her Lower East Side loft. Elaine also took me to my first salsa dance class in New York when I was a teenager. I stomped around awkwardly in combat boots because she sprung the lesson on me, and my winter gear left me woefully unprepared. What Yukimi and Elaine share is the ability to migrate effortlessly across genre confines. They both splintered their own glass ceilings delicately and deliberately rather than smashing through them. Or, as I like to say, “Different approaches, same F-U.” They both embody grace, behave strangely, remain feminine and admirable all at once. And they play in a boy’s world without apology.

Neither Yukimi nor her bandmate, Hakan, succeeded in being accepted into music school. Tell that to the 750 people who swayed impatiently to the electronic folk band (sans vocals or audience interaction) while awaiting Little Dragon’s performance at the Black Cat last Saturday, January 22, and see if they blink.

It had been a long time since I’d been to the Black Cat, but opening act Billygoat’s “Little Miss Sunshine” / “Amelie” soundtrack vibe warmed me up, albeit slowwwwly, for some Little Dragon. Little did I know that we were all about to go into a collective trance, or that the kiss-and-grind fest would commence as soon as Dreamykimi hit the stage. Wow. The audience was getting it IN. Enhanced states of consciousness? Definitely. Being sober left me shocked as I observed foursomes in the making and, more innocently, people engaged in private moments of hypnotism. Visibly enthralled by the ambient yet danceable melodies on stage, hundreds of shoulders wove through space to the LD staples: “Constant Surprises,” “Runabout,” “Wink” and, of course, “Blinking Pigs” were among my favorites.

Though the concert started past 11 p.m., once the musicians hit their first notes, we were all captivated by the magical qualities the band possess. Of Little Dragon’s second album, Machine Dreams, Liv’s owner, Omrao Brown, commented on his blog, “It’s kept me happy and held me over.” I saw just how happy Little Dragon made the crowd on Saturday. When technical difficulties held up the bass player, the audience launched into an encouraging soul clap as Yukimi apologized for being bad at telling jokes. The band quickly recovered and shared “Little Man” and “Summer Tears,” two new tracks from their forthcoming third album.

With several DC appearances in the last year thanks to folks like MN8 and Shine On Me Productions, it’s okay to admit a few of y’all–not naming names–were a bit tardy to the party. But, I think we’ll all be glad if Little Dragon keeps making DC a preferred destination. On the Little Dragon Web site, the biography writer explains, “Basically they are like family because they see a lot of each other. [They] will continue to make music hopefully until grey and senile.” Yes, please! It might have taken the city a few go-rounds to finally sell out a Little Dragon show, but judging from Saturday’s turnout, I doubt DC will sleep on any future tours.

Little known fact? Cover art for their first album, Peace Frog Recordings, was done by Yusuke Nagano, Yukimi’s father, whose artist statement confirms:

I was a champion of rascals.

Shout-out to Asian dads who raise brave, singing daughters unafraid to throw a sheet over their heads to find a moment of solitude (see image by Jati Lindsay) and drink in their own beautiful music. In a room full of people chanting your name, many of whom opt to “experience” the moment via their “Smart”/camera phones, that’s certainly no small victory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Download: Gorillaz feat Yukimi Nagano – Empire Ants (Miami Horror Remix)

Most of y’all know that the beautiful Empire Ants is my favorite track off of Gorillaz Plastic Beach album which dropped last year.  Y’all might also know that I’m a huge fan of Australia’s electronic outfit Miami Horror. So when the two of these acts collide it’s bound for greatness.

The duo flips the track and highlights what I feel is the best part–the end with Yukimi Nagano’s voice. What results is a dance floor filler, more uptempo than the original (obviously) but enough to get played in the clubs. Enjoy. (Via Please Don’t Stare, IllVibes)

The awesome Swedish band Little dragon dropped visuals yesterday for their current single  “My Step” which is off  their last album Machine Dreams. The video tells the story of a hard-working puppet who seeks alternative spiritual remedies from an ancient medicine man.

Not my favorite Little Dragon song but nonetheless the video is very cool.

Little Dragon is currently on tour in the U.S. If you haven’t seen them live yet, you’re missing out. Tour dates and video below.

TOUR DATES:
1-12 Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
01-14 Fargo, ND – the Aquarium
01-15 Northfield, MN – The Cave (Carleton College)
01-16 Chicago, IL – Tomorrow Never Knows (Lincoln Hall)
01-17 Toronto, Ontario – Wrongbar
01-18 Montreal, Quebec – Il Motore
01-19 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
01-20 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall
01-21 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
01-22 Washington, DC – Black Cat
01-23 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas
01-25 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
01-26 Orlando, FL – Backbooth
01-27 Tampa, FL – Crowbar
01-28 Miami, FL – The Electric Pickle
01-29 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
01-30 Austin, TX – Parish
02-02 Riverside, CA – The Barn @ UC Riverside
02-03 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
02-04 San Francisco, CA – Independent

<< Audio Link Removed Per Request >>

Did you cop it?

I’ve had the preview copy for a while, and I gotta say, it’s different from their previous album. They managed to make Machine Dreams more dancable and dare I say pop than their previous effort. I know a few of you were expecting more ballads, but after their show in DC this summer, which became a full on dance party, I can’t front them for trying to go more pop. Creative Loafing calls the album “a great model of how an album should be put together: an equal blend of upbeat and chill numbers that spotlight the band’s most worthy assets.” I have to agree. I will give it a few more listens before the full review. I do have to say that Yukimi has one of the sexiest female voices I’ve ever heard. It’s not overbearing in the least, but overly soulful at the same time. What do y’all think?

Little Dragon Interview

Fortune Video (with artwork by Yukimi Nagano’s father)

Little Dragon was on our side of the pond for a small North American tour, and DC showed them much love last Sunday at Liv. In addition to the multiple “WE LOVE YOU YUKIMI’s,” the fact that everybody knew every song in their catalog straight up shocked the band.

Last week, I got to sit down down with Swedish band Little Dragon before their amazing and much talked about DC Performance. The band talks about their origins, why Sweden stays winning, their creative videos, and opening for Q-Tip just one day earlier.

Much thanks to Remi at SHEWORKS Entertainment and Liv Nightclub

Bonus Video: Little Dragon Performs Twice