Asian Dan

Bibio’s “Ambivalence Avenue” caught me off guard this past fall. I am familiar with his past work but this album is the perfect blend of introspective lo-fi electronica with beautiful guitar work. Exactly what I need in these banger times. “All The Flowers” and “Lover’s Carvings” are perfectly written pop songs that I just can’t stop listening to. “Ambivalence Avenue” is up there for album of the year for me (Check out the blog next week for all my obligatory end of the year/decade lists to see who made it, as well as a few lists from some guests)

Stephen was kind enough to answer a few questions for Asian Dan giving us all a peek into his musical mind, naming some of his favorite guitar compositions by the likes of Steve Reich and Tortoise as well as explaining his musical philosophy.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Bibio/Bibio/Ambivalence%20Avenue/03%20All%20The%20Flowers.mp3]
Bibio – All the Flowers

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Bibio/Bibio/Ambivalence%20Avenue/07%20Lovers’%20Carvings.mp3]
Bibio – Lover’s Carvings

Asian Dan Q&A: BIBIO

1. Who is Bibio?

Bibio is Stephen James Wilkinson from Wolverhampton, England.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Imperfections in technology like spherical aberration in lenses, wobble on tape, distortion in valves, crackles on vinyl. Also, beautiful common occurrences in nature like flickering shadows caused by overlapping leaves wagging in a gentle breeze. The smell of damp foliage. The sound of wind through leaves and the chorus of bees, lawnmowers and blackbirds.

What was your first musical memory?

Learning ‘Silent Night’ on my brother’s old bontempi electronic organ.

3. You set the guitar in a very interesting and refreshing context. When did you pick up guitar?

I started to learn guitar chords at the age of about 11 or 12.

Who are some guitar heroes?

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine),Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Joao Gilberto, Joe Pass.

Who are some non-guitar musicians/composers you love that inspire your playing?

Steve Reich, Boards of Canada.

[Read more]

My buddy EIKNARF and I had the opportunity to sit and chat with Jeff and Nate (Shuttle) of Passion Pit two weeks ago at their Phoenix/Passion Pit afterparty here in NYC. This is an impromptu/candid conversation as they look back at 2009 and what they have in store in the future.

Just remember that life is just a giant cactus and we are all woodpeckers just trying to get to that precious water inside…

The Belgian Trio Villa has hooked Asian Dan up with an hour long mix as well as answering some questions. Both shed some light on their disco/italo sound. I still can’t stop listening to their remix of Music Go Music.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Villa%20-%20Exclusive%20mix%20for%20Asian%20Dan%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Villa – Asian Dan Exclusive VILLA Mix

Asian Dan Interview: VILLA

1. Who is Villa?

Villa is what you get if you lock two crazy djs with an even bigger studio freak in a studio packed with synths. A trio comprising of DJ duo Fredo & Thang & composer/producer Seba. Hailing from Ghent/Belgium they have been very active as DJ’s & producers over the last 10 years.

2. How would you describe your music?

While wanting to make people dance, we like to think we try to ensure that the listener gets his portion of contentfull music (whatever that is…). We stribe towards a more universal sound with a distinct personality that inspires people of all ages and genres…From haunting basslines and hypnotic leads to sugarsweet string arrangements and pop chord progressions…Inside VillA anything is possible…as long as it works for all of us… Setup wise the VillA sound is a blend of Vintage rare synths/processors and flee-market treasury..

3. What is your first musical memory?

Abba…Every morning on the road to school in the neighbours yellow MG…Queen…killed that best of tape…Eurythmics…Still in love with Annie Lennox…

[Read more]

Crystal is a very unlike addition to the Hooligan Disco sounds of Institubes records but they are a Japanese quartet that does a great job making a nod to the early electronic greats, Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Jean Michel-Jarre, Human League, to name a few. There is something very quirky yet sincere about their brand of electro pop.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Nov%202009/Don’t%20Mind%20(first%20demo).mp3]
Crystal – Don’t Mind (Demo)

Asian Dan Q&A: Crystal

1. Who is Crystal? How would you describe your music?
MARS, Keita Onishi, Shinya Sato, Ryota Miyake. Our music is Techno or Elepop.

2. What are some of your influences musical or otherwise?
We love Human League, Depeche Mode, Jean Michel Jarre, Der Plan etc.. YMO was a great band too. But we don’t know them well. We like the exaggerated seriousness of the arrangements of the songs of 80’s. But we like folksongs, psyche music, krautrock, calipso, mambo

[Read more]

Artwork by EIKNARF

After hearing the Magistrates 20 Min Mixtape – a what I would call a “scanning through the radio/channel surfing” mix/mashup, I wanted to hear more. I asked the Magistrates boys if they would craft another similar mix that would give us all another peak into their pop music minds and they graciously agreed. Get ready for 20 mins of schizophrenic pop madness. They mix Can’s “Vitamin C” into Radiohead’s “Idioteque” into Yellow Magic Orchestra’s “Rydeen” – three of my favorite tunes of all time so I cannot argue with the insanity and awesomness that is this mix. Try to guess all the tunes. Also checkout how they let Damon Albarn win in ping pong.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Oct%202009/Magistrates%20-%20Mix%20Tape%20Part%20II%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Asian Dan Presents Magistrates 20 Min Mixtape Part II

Asian Dan Interview: MAGISTRATES

1. Who is Magistrates? How would you describe your sound?

We are a collective of scientists, mathmeticians, chefs and philanthropists. The music we play alters the chemicals in your brain and makes your feet and hips groove uncontrollably.

2. What was your first musical memory?

Michael Jackson and The Beatles dominate most of our childhood. I [Galbally] have a weird memory of having Sunday Roast when I was about 4 or 5 and my Dad was playing Chris De Burgh, I think it was the whole album, and I remember at the time feeling physically sick… I’ve never been able to enjoy a Sunday Roast again.

3. How did the band form? What is the band’s vision and goal?

Our paths crossed, we all enjoyed the same things, we had the same type of mindset and we all played music; so we just put our heads together and eventually formed Magistrates. We aim to keep on making good music for as long as humanly possible, to express ourselves through it, and to send it rippling around the globe.
[Read more]

Scarlets’ Stefano & Ivan answer a few questions allowing listeners into their musical minds. Their “Boundaries” single is out 11.1.2009 – check out the video for the B-side “The Women of WWII” after the jump and checkout Stefano’s latest mix “KIMONOII”

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Oct%202009/KIMONOII.mp3]
Stefano Murgia – KIMONOII

Asian Dan Interview: SCARLETS

1. Who is Scarlets? How would you describe your sound?
Scarlets are five italian boys with a lot of sense of humour, but with a very serious attitude towards their music. Our sound changed radically during the last year. Now I guess we sound like an army charging upon the land.


2. What was your first musical memory?
Ivan:The big huge silver boombox radio standing in our sitting room playing some italian songwriters when I was 3.
Stefano: I guess my mum playing Violent Femmes’ vinyls and not liking them.


3. How did the band form? What is the band’s vision and goal?
We formed because of all the crappy bands hitting off british indie or american punkfunk. We just wanted to do something authentic. Our main goal is succeeding in writing 10 songs that we can still find satisfying after two weeks.
[Read more]

“Todd is genius and I have never been disapointed by his music. I keep telling my friends I can hear angels singing, do you?” – Busy P

Todd Edwards is the angelic voice behind “Face to Face” – that amazing tune by a little french duo known as Daft Punk. Todd is one of the godfathers of the UK Garage scene and has remixed everyone from Zoot Woman, Phoenix, Justice, Klaxons, Paul Johnson, and St. Germain. Now here is a little peak into this man from New Jersey’s musical mind and find out how the Daft Punk collaboration came about and how/why he remixed Japan’s own Boris.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202009/Todd%20Edwards/Face%20to%20Face%20(Todd%20Edwards%20Remix).mp3]
Daft Punk – Face To Face (Todd Edwards Remix)

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202009/Todd%20Edwards/Taken%20it%20all%20(Todd%20Edwards%20Soul%20Line%20Remix).mp3]
Zoot Woman – Taken It All (Todd Edwards Remix)

Also this time around I had some producers/DJs send in their own questions for Mr. Edwards -find out what Nate Donmoyer (Shuttle/Passion PIt), Pete Dougherty (Hey Champ), Emil & Friends, and GLOVES had to ask.

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Asian Dan Exclusive Interview: TODD EDWARDS

Who is Todd Edwards? How would you describe your sound?

I’m a music producer from New Jersey. ..Lot of talent in Jersey 😉 I’ve been making club music since 1991. The driving force that has inspired me to keep going all these years is God. My faith plays an important part in my music and the direction I take it. I have always described my sound as a musical collage. I take bits and pieces that I’ve sampled and fill in the spaces until I feel the track sounds complete.

What are some of your biggest influences, musical or otherwise? What is your first musical memory?

I will always give credit to the original influences that started me on the path of my sound. Marc Kinchen better known as MK introduced us all to a very unique sampling style in his remix of Nightcrawlers “Push The Feeling On.” He cut up the vocals into a two bar loop that sounded like it was saying something, but it wasn’t. The remix was huge with many to follow. I took on exploring that cut-up sample style. I also listened to a lot of Enya. Enya used a lot of her own vocals as part of her background music. I combined Enya’s vocal concept with MK’s vocal cut ups. Add some Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez inspired drum patterns and you get the genesis of what I do now. Film scores have been a great source of inspiration to me. There are chord progressions in film scores that you don’t usually find in club music. The sampling process itself has exposed me to many genres of music from disco and r&b of the 70’s to the 60’s folk music movement. I look for interesting textures to sample. What I sample plays an even more important role in my tracks than how I arrange the samples.

My first musical memory was writing a simple song in a note pad a couple days after my mother received a piano from my father as a gift. I remember when that piano was delivered. It was a great morning, and I still love that piano.

[Read more]

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202009/CHINEESE%20CHRISTMAS%20CARDS%20-%20WELCOME%20TO%20LIFE.mp3]
Chinese Christmas Cards – Welcome to Life

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202009/Chinese%20Christmas%20Cards%20-%20No%20radar%20no%20phone.mp3]
Chinese Christmas Cards – No Radar No Phone

Myspace: Chinese Christmas Cards

Asian Dan Interview: Chinese Christmas Cards

1. Who is Chinese Christmas Cards?

Chinese Christmas Cards is young band from Barcelona that was created over a year ago and whose members are Mario Gutiérrez and Joan Sala. We met at school and fact that we shared musical interests, that Mario plays the guitar and Joan the piano was what made us bring this project together, in which song writting is combined with synthesizers and other electronic sounds.

2. What are your influences?

It is quite hard to talk about a direct influence, we think that it is all the music that we have listened to over the years that has made us do what we are doing, and it goes from the music from the 80’s, the 90’s pop all the way to the new current electronic trends. If something has really influenced us while componing that would be the songs our mothers sang in the shower, the sound of the construction work we hear nextdoor to where we produce, and the christmas cards, if possible chinese ones.

3. Are either of you Chinese? Is Christmas your favorite holiday?

Hahahahaha! The truth is no, neither of us is Chinese, but it all goes back to the school years when everybody called Joan “Chino”, which in Spanish means Chinese, because of the shape of his eyes.

Christmas is nice and is cool basically because of the days off school and the presents, but then it is too cold. If we could wear flipflops and shorts and eat ice cream in Winter then it would be our favourite holiday.

[Read more]

Sam, the official Asian Dan intern was able to wrangle Australia’s own, Gloves to put together this 25 min minimix for the b-log as well as answer a few short questions. I sure do love me my Australian bands and producer/DJs.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Aug%202009/Gloves%20-%20Asian%20Dan%20Presents%20Gloves%27%20House%20of%20Octavia%20Minimix%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Download: Asian Dan Presents Gloves “House of Octavia Minimix”

Asian Dan Interview: GLOVES

1. Who is GLOVES? How would you describe your music?

Gloves is me, Yama Indra. I also have wealth of talented friends that I collaborate on tracks with sometimes. A lot of the originals I have coming up feature contributions from friends. Up until now it’s been almost all disco & house orientated dance music, I have some new material I’ll be releasing later in the year though, there’ll be more dance music but there’s also some pop, soundtrack & RnB influenced tracks.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise? What are your first
musical memories?

Musically I have been into just about every genre at one time or another. Over the last year I’ve been listening to mainly RnB (old & new), 70’s Jazz, 70’s Psych & as always a lot of disco & house music. \
Other influences? Well I love giallo films, good food, playing tennis on Wednesday’s with Melbourne’s pop/disco/house mafia, traveling, thunderstorms, swimming, adventure & of course hanging tough with my
girlfriend & pals. The very first musical memory I can recall involved my sisters & I performing a dance & karaoke routine to Madonna ‘Material Girl’ in for our parents & their friends on a camping trip. I think we also did Poison’s ‘Nothing but a good Time’ & Michael Jackson’s ‘BAD’. Pretty lame huh. That & spending endless hours learning classical pieces on the family piano.

[Read more]

Pink Stallone, a cosmic disco pop duo from New Jersey crafted this Micromix for Asian Dan in honor of man’s first steps on the moon. They are championed by Erol Alkan and Late of the Pier. Erol recently dropped a track of theirs on his BBC 6 residency show and Pink Stallone’s first 12″ was released on Zarcorp records, Late of the Pier’s personal label.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/July%202009/Asian%20Dan%20Presents%20Pink%20Stallone’s%20%22Man%20on%20The%20Moon%20Mix%22%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Download: Asian Dan Presents Pink Stallone’s “Man on The Moon” Micromix

Asian Dan Interview: Pink Stallone

1. Who is Pink Stallone?

Pink Stallone is two jersey kids recording sound in the abandoned house of a science fiction writer (seriously).

2. How would you describe your music?

A celebration of the failures of Futurism, in an abandoned house of a science fiction writer.

3. What is your first musical memory?

Like your first love, only much better.

4. What is the NJ music scene like and how does it feel to be getting more attention overseas?

There’s a NJ music scene? We normally stay inside. It appears as if like-minded individuals from all over the world have developed a heightened ability to locate one another, and we are grateful that such a process has enabled us to become part of a scene much larger and less literal.
[Read more]