Sound

Freshair Best of 2012 Compilation

To say 2012 was a challenge would definitely be an understatement. I set out with the intention of redirecting and finding myself as an artist and as a DJ. Did I do it? I don’t know, how the hell would you even measure ‘it’? I’m down with the setting of intentions though, as long as we aren’t attached to an outcome. When we attach, we expect. When we expect, we aren’t as open to life’s lessons and curveballs. Things become linear. I know what I did do was set out to make a mix or compilation every month based on what I was listening to during that month. Putting a timeline on creativity has never really been a strength of mine, but now I can say I did it and trust me it wasn’t always easy…but I am truly better for it and that’s really all that matters. A lot of the mixtapes were recorded with one or two takes with no editing, adding to my belief that art is not meant to be perfect…just pure.

In 2012, I lost the most important person in my life. My foundation and backbone. Not to mention the friends I alienated during and after the process which thankfully seem to still be around. You know who you are and thank YOU. Without going into too much detail, music was one of the few comforts I have felt since August 3rd, 2012. They say in our deepest loss and sorrow we find our truest art. Maybe. It definitely forces you to realign who you are on the planet and I think very naturally, the music you are drawn towards follows in cue if you are a music junkie like me. So, here is the completion of the auditory photographic work for myself for one year of my life. The first a compilation of individual tracks that I fell in love with over the year, the second a mixtape of some of my favorite tracks of 2012 blended together and released later this week. So, listen UP if it moves you and witness my 2012. If you dig, follow me to where it is always Fresh & Sunny, because that is where I’ll be going in 2013…

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Artwork design by Nik Atkins

Download the mixtape here: FRESHAIR COMPILATION MIXTAPE

TRACKLIST

Ghost – “On an On”
Stars – “The Loose Ends Will Make Knots”
Lord Huron – “She Lit A Fire”
Cat Power – “Manhattan”
Wild Nothing – “Shadow”
DIIV – “Follow”
Summer Heart – “I Wanna Go”
Van She – “You’re My Rescue”
Tanlines – “Brothers”
Beach Fossils – “Lessons”
Craft Spells – “Burst”
Caged Animals – “This Summer I’ll Make It Up To You”
Brothertiger – “Lovers”
The New Division – “Kids”
Tomas Barfod – “November Skies” (feat. Nina Kinert)
Graffiti6 – “Colours”
Alt-J – “Something Good”
Ducktails – “Letter of Intent”
Tallest Man on Earth – “Leading Me Now”
Patrick Walter – “Ghost House”

Special thanks to Nik Atkins, Dersu Rhodes (Witness-This) & Zac Andrews (Life & Limb) for their friendship, inspiration & artistic design and dominance.

Extra special thanks to Kenny Parmalee (78 & Sunny) for showing me the way and doing so with some of the best music ever. Lesdodis buddy.

The most special of thanks to Lindsay Colip for not only being my spiritual guide and best friend but also my music guru for a good majority of this process. I wouldn’t be where I am without you as a human or as a musician. There I said it out loud.

This is for you Mom.

In love & music,
freshair

Download

By Dersu In Sound

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Best in Sound 2012

Witness-This-BIS-2012-Header

words Lindsay Colip ▼ artwork Luke VanVoorhis

“I love to fly. It’s just you alone. You’ve peace and quiet. Nothing around you but clear blue sky. No one to hassle you. No one to tell you where to go or what to do. The only bad part about flying is having to come back down to the fucking world.”
-Rat, Streetwise (1984)

Listening to good music is like flying. In our headphones we can experience magic. Lyrics, beats, melodies….the right combination of elements can stoke our fire, provoke our hearts, rip us apart and sew us carefully back together all at the same time. We can get behind the above statement on most counts, however the last sentence doesn’t ring true. Coming back down to the world is actually the best part about flying. Why? Because we love sharing what we’ve learned. Maybe we’ve felt the same. Maybe we haven’t but we’re curious. Maybe we have something that you’ve been missing. Maybe we can change the course of your life with a single lyric. It is with this sentiment that we present to you our 2nd annual Best In Sound.

Witness-This-BIS-Luke

songs:
1. Black Marble – “A Great Design”
2. Balue – “West Coast Bros”
3. New Build – “Schism of the Mind”
4. A$AP Rocky – “F__kin’ Problems feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar”
5. Pacific Air (formerly KO KO) – “So Strange”
6. Juicy J – “Bands A Make Her Dance”
7. Lower Dens – “Brains”
8. Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools”
9. Tanlines – “Brothers”
10. Weekends – “Roommate”

albums
1. DIIV – Oshin
2. Brothertiger – Golden Years
3. Wild Nothing – Nocturne
4. Beach House – Bloom
5. Antwon – Fantasy Beds Mixtape

shows:
1. Twin Shadow – Casbah
2. Slow Magic – Central SAPC Santa Monica
3. Gardens & Villa – Casbah

Witness-This-BIS-Nissa

songs
1. Alt-J – “Something Good”
2. Sebo & Madmotormiquel – “Boys Boys (Original Mix)”
3. Lord Huron – “The Ghost on the Shore”
4. Rhye – “The Fall”
5. Pacific Air (formerly KO KO) - “Float”
6. Nicolas Jaar – “And I Say (ft. Scout LaRue and Will Epstein)”
7. Ghosts – “On An On”
8. Theme Park – “Wax”
9. Grimes – “Oblivion”
10. Pollyester – “Voices”

albums
1. Alt-J - An Awesome Way
2. Polica - Give You The Ghost
3. Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams
4. The Tallest Man On Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
5. Nicolas Jaar - Essential Mix

shows
1. James Murphy DJ Set – Sasquatch Music Festival
2. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – The Malkin Bowl
3. Cat Power – The Vogue

Witness-This-BIS-Lindsay

songs
1. Tanlines – “Brothers”
2. Flight Facilities – “Clair de Lune”
3. Craft Spells – “Burst”
4. Lord Huron – “She Lit A Fire”
5. Frank and Ry Wiedemann – “Howling (Ame Remix)”
6. Pachanga Boys – “Time”
7. Hot Chip – “Flutes”
8. Pat Walter – “Ghost House”
9. Tomas Barfod – “November Skies”
10. Milo Greene – “Don’t You Give Up On Me”

albums
1. Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams
2. Tallest Man on Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
3. Brothertiger - Golden Years
4. Hot Chip – In Our Heads
5. DIIV – Oshin

shows
1. Other Lives – La Blogotheque Take-Away Show
2. Hot Chip + Passion Pi t- Hollywood Bowl
3. Gary Clark Jr. – Sayers Club

Witness-This-BIS-Freshair

songs
1. Summer Heart – “I Wanna Go”
2. Tanlines – “Brothers”
3. Pat Walter – “Ghost House”
4. Arsenal – “Melvin (Compuphonic Remix)”
5. Lord Huron - “She Lit A Fire”
6. Perseus – “Seychelles”
7. Jean Winner – “Alive & Kicking (Zimmer Remix)”
8.  Flight Facilities – “Clair de Lune”
9. On an On – “Ghosts”
10. Pachanga Boys – “Time”

albums
1. Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams
2. Brothertiger - Golden Years
3. Tallest Man On Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
4. Summer Heart - About A Feeling
5. Wild Nothing - Nocturne

shows
1. Poolside (dj set) – V Lounge Santa Monica
2. Radiohead – Santa Barbara Bowl
3. Other Lives – La Blogotheque Take-Away Show

Witness-This-BIS-Dersu

songs
1. Father John Misty – “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”
2. Lord Huron - “Lonesome Dreams”
3. Summer Heart - “I Wanna Go”
4.  Nico Stojan – “After The Hour”
5. Peer Kusiv – “Let Her Go”
6. Ben Howard – “Burgh Island”
7. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Thrift Shop”
8. Crystal Castles – “Affection”
9. Twin Shadow - “Five Seconds”
10. Brolin – “NYC”

albums
1. Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams
2. Odesza – Summer’s Gone
3. Summer Heart - About A Feeling
4. DIIV – Oshin
5. Father John Misty – Fear Fun

shows
1. Radiohead – Wuhlheide, Berlin
2. Nico Stojan – Kater holzig, Berlin
3. Bon Iver – Spreckles Theatre

Witness-This-BIS-Reyjay

songs
1. Tame Impala – “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”
2. Summer Heart - “I Wanna Go”
3. Icky Blossims – “Cycle”
4. Twin Shadow - “Five Seconds”
5. Tibury – “Tenderloin”
6. Housse De Racket – “Roman”
7. Grimes – “Oblivion”
8. Lower Dens – “Brains”
9. Benchwarmers – “Benchwarmers”
10. Moon Duo – “Sleepwalkers”

albums
1. Summer Heart - About a Feeling
2. Tame Impala – Lonerism
3. Housse De Racket – Alesia
4. Tibury - Exorcise
5. Moon Duo – Circles

shows
1. Beats Antique – Belly Up
2. Bridge School Benefit Concert – Shoreline Ampitheatre
3. Delta Spirit – Belly Up

By Luke In Sound

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The Golden Hour Series: Dusk to Dawn

No matter if you witness the grandeur of the sun kissing the horizon on the front or back nine of your evening, it’s impact is the same. Life seems to stand still, if just for a few minutes. Conversation stops. You forget what you are doing and pause to take in its beauty. The sky painted pastels and the surrounding mountains defined in the alpineglow. Simply put, it’s the Golden Hour. It happens twice a day and your life is richer the more you witness it.

This series of mixes was inspired by the emotion evoked by this time of day. Acting as bookends to your evening; one for dusk to warm you up and one for dawn to not go softly into that good night. Enjoy……

Visit FreshandSunny’s Soundcloud for the set lists and to download the mixes for free.

soundcloud.com/freshandsunny/dusk

soundcloud.com/freshandsunny/dawn

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Artwork by Dersu Rhodes

Nicolas Jaar | Space is Only Noise

While scouring through my library and pulling my favorite sounds of 2012, I stumbled upon Nicolas Jaar‘s debut album, Space is Only Noise, planning to include it amongst my list of top albums of the year. That is, if the album had actually been released in 2012. Actually released early 2011, I wonder to myself how is it that I managed to completely fall in love with everything this guy does yet hadn’t even heard any songs from his only album? I realize I had been listening to his stuff only through Soundcloud and not only had the the way I had been listening to music shifted dramatically but my own personal taste in music had also morphed to now include a vast catalog of electronic musicians.

Although this shift is far from unique, I can’t help but reflect on the rapid evolution of this genre of music. We find ourselves at the cusp of a completely new style of music that is developing so quickly that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to keep up with the slew of new releases, compilations, albums, sets, podcasts, collaborations and mixes from basement dwellers, DJ’s, producers and bands world-wide. As a music enthusiast, the space has never been so overwhelming and so exciting.

Amongst those leading the charge, Jaar created his own label (Clown and Sunset) three years ago, his U.S. appearances just this last year included Pitchfork Music Festival, Brooklyn Electonic Music Festival and Art Basel in Miami, to name a few. He tours the world playing at the top clubs and festivals and he’s just a 22-year old college kid.

Nicolas Jaar | Space is Only Noise | Witness This
Expectations being central to the enjoyment of many albums, I strongly encourage you to experience this one without preconceived notions related to any of Jaar’s previous tracks. This particular body of work is a soundtrack through outer space that explores uncharted territory that even Jaar himself is unable to define. Difficult to swallow in short doses, its depth is better navigated patiently. Reach for your headphones and if at all possible, I strongly suggest giving the album your full attention for the full 45 minutes from beginning to end. But if you are unable to lend yourself completely and would prefer to merely sample, “Too Many Kids Finding Rain in the Dust” is a great place to start.

Initially seeking to decipher each sound, I continue to dive deeper and relax into the album settling into a state of serenity. Content to simply lie on my bed, eyes closed and listen with everything that I have. I can’t help but wish I could step into Jaar’s complex mind, so curious about the inner workings if his craft, to where it is that he travels to create an album of this magnitude. The ability to develop new sounds – organic noises found in our everyday lives combined with engineered synthetic creations. Joining offbeat, minor notes and seamlessly transitioning them into a brilliant progressions seemingly intended only for each other.

By Nissa In Darkroom, Sound

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Balue: Paradoxical Intention

WitnessThis-Sound-BalueWitnessThis-Sound-Balue-Paradoxical-Intention

Eli Thomas who makes music under the name Balue is one of the standout bedroom artists of this year.  Residing in Denver, CO he is a one-man hit factory – creating a vivid, surfy summer dream-inspired collection of songs. As with other bedroom acts, the themes of youth and adventure play deeply in Worry Toobs and Paradoxical Intention, two stellar releases that both came out this year.  This is lo-fi perfection and we’re right next to Eli soaking up the sun on the beach with a tasty beverage in hand watching the waves roll in.

Youth I don’t know what you are anymore 
Youth I don’t know what comes next or what’s in store 
Youth I just hope that you’ll meet me down on the shore 
Youth that was the place that you and I did adore 

The waves are like opiates 
Like ultimate pleasure 
They hit my face like opiates 
If I open it, what a treasure

I don’t ever want to grow up 
I don’t want to give up my drugs 
Like movies, and music and traveling gets hard man

- from Youth Waves

 

Horse Feathers


Words by Kari Hendrick

Three years ago I sent an album to a friend. Not just any friend. This was a potential friend. What I knew of him was little – but I DID know that he was a music God. Purposefully selective, but a ward of singer/songwriters. I sent him this album, with fingers crossed, that maybe someday we could hang out and listen to music together.

And listen we did. Together, we fell in love with Horse Feathers and so I hold this Portland based band a bit responsible for our friendship. Its nostalgic, distant tone carried us through a world of loneliness but still, hope. The somewhat religious undertones in “Curse in the Weeds” were inspiring and real. Lyricist Justin Ringle depicts the battle between finding faith, purpose, direction in life, and turning your back and running away. Growing up, losing your inner child. Finding the deepest, darkest corners of your own heart and the desire to dig even deeper. Horse Feathers allows your soul to journey – lost or found – or float, more so, with the sounds of the strings. The deep, harmonious cry of the cello, the whine of the violin and eerie howl of the saw. Their post folk style depicts a conflicting world of the grey landscape of the Northwest and the bright, rising sun of California, and bridged the gap of our two separate worlds.

Horse Feathers inspired us. It punished us. It threatened to break our hearts and fall back in love with us. Horse Feathers is intimate, and at any moment, they know exactly what to say. Truth be told – to what we needed to hear at the time. Last night I heard Horse Feathers live, again, after about a year. I felt inspired to write this, to reach out to my friend and share my experience. So I guess it’s fair to say we’re still friends. Embraced by the banjo and revisiting our relationship again through Horse Feathers, their new album Cynic’s New Year will only make it stronger.

By Nissa In Sound

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