(Source: wepartyravestyle)
Radikal Videos Hit The Front Page Of Blastro.com -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/18/radikal-videos-hit-the-front-page-of-blastro-com/ -
Not one, but three of our artists are currently have their video clips on the front page of music video hub, Blastro.com. Ayah Marar, Bombs Away, and Djs From Mars all made the cut with the videos for “Alive,” “Party Bass,” and “Phat Ass Drop” being featured….
DJs From Mars Mashup Bastille And The Verve -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/17/djs-from-mars-mashup-bastille-and-the-verve/ -
Djs from Mars recently posted up a new mashup called “Bittersweet Pompeii,” which features Bastille’s “Pompeii” and The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” What seems like a strange pairing actually go together quite well. The vocals on…
bringing out my kandi for spring awakening. #me #triples1xangie #triples1xangie #kandi #raver #og #springawakening #music #festival
Beautiful Ayah Marar
Ayah Marar.
Dance music is a broad church but within each parish there’s usually a set of rules. A doesn’t always go with B and X shouldn’t really mix with Y, but sometimes those rules are meant to be broken or manipulated into odd new shapes. Ayah Marar’s kaleidoscopic debut album, The Real, is a case in point; thirteen songs that take inspiration from the underground dance scene, cherry-picking the very best elements of drum and bass, techno and house and bolting them onto well-crafted pop hooks that look set to shatter dance floors.
Born in Jordan to a Czech-Bulgarian mum and a Palestinian-Jordanian dad and attending an international school with members of Jordan’s royal family, Marar refers to herself as a “proper mongrel”. From an early age she was exposed to a myriad of musical styles, the Marar household was full of everything from Elton John, Boney M and Freddie Mercury to The Beatles, Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy. Whilst at school, Marar moved onto hip-hop, finding an immediate connection.
At the age of 17 Marar decided that she needed something more; more freedom, more autonomy, more of a say. Completely unfazed by her new-found independence, she launched herself into the drum & bass scene, starting her own labels, club nights and touring as an MC. Along the way she met Calvin Harris in a record shop she worked in, offering him a place to stay and collaborating on some of his early singles. Soon after, her manager introduced her to producer Paul Epworth who was looking for vocalists to work on Jack Penate’s second album. Marar suddenly found herself warbling alongside Florence Welch, hanging out in a studio and absorbing everything around her.
In a pop world dominated by quick fixes and TV talent show acceleration, Marar’s put in the hard graft, be it adding guest vocals to tracks on Hospital Records and the Metalheadz label, touring Europe with DJs or having her own four year DJ residency at Herbal. Not that she’s prepared to rest on her laurels. Music means too much for that to happen.
It’s this passion mixed with a willingness to collaborate and form creative bonds that’s come to define much of Ayah’s career so far. That early friendship with Calvin Harris has lead to a recent recording session between the two, with the “happy, 90s house” song they came up with nestling alongside recent bangers for Rihanna, Ne-Yo and Example (who Ayah recently toured with) on Harris’ new album. Another old friend in need of an amazing vocal was DJ Fresh, who called Ayah out of the blue. Their two collaborations are set to appear on his soon-to-be chart slaying debut album. The key thing with Ayah Marar is that the two worlds – the mainstream and the underground – co-exist because it’s all part of who she is.
Self-belief is key. After Yogi (who produced Wretch 32′s Top 5 smash Traktor) remixed the amazing Follow U earlier this year, Ministry Of Sound immediately wanted to release it as a single. Cautious about relinquishing any control over her output, she agreed but only on a one single deal, the rest of her output remaining on her own independent label Hussle Girl.
In fact, it was the success of this single (the video premiered on The Guardian’s New Music blog) that lead to a host of other collaborations with the likes of drum and bass producers Camo & Krooked (on the huge drum and bass anthem Cross The Line and forthcoming single Unstoppable), lava hot rapper P Money on the ridiculous Alive and a host of underground producers who recognised in Ayah a genuine passion not only for dance music but for music in general. It’s this love for all genres (Marar used to be in a ska covers band and had a huge crush on Zach de la Rocha in her youth, fact!) that makes The Real such an eclectic listen. Lyrically it’s that alluring mix of strength and vulnerability, with boxfresh beats and Marar’s supple, characterful vocals providing an emotional anchor. From Mind Controller’s yearning, bass-heavy pop (which was championed by KISS FM earlier this year), to the ravey synth stabs and hands-in-the-air chorus of Beg Borrow Steal, via The Predator’s brilliantly black-hearted dubstep rave up, it’s all anchored by real human emotion.
With seemingly every other new pop star trying to marry a gargantuan dance beat to a pretty melody, it’s a competitive world. The difference here is that Ayah Marar isn’t faking it; she lives the life of an underground dance fiend, of a DJ and MC, of a strong woman in a male-dominated industry. Her two worlds – the underground and the mainstream – have been brought together organically, co-existing in a way that sounds fresh rather than forced.
The Real gets it just right. (Bio from official website)
Ayah Marar Talks To The Irish Times -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/14/ayah-marar-talks-to-the-irish-times/ -
Ayah Marar took some time out to talk to The Irish Times in this new interview. If you ever were wondering how to pronounce her name (eye-ah), she reveals the mystery in the interview. In addition to such, she talks about her album The Real, upcoming studio plans, her label, working with Calvin…
(Source: terecomeselviaje)
Throwback Thursday: Warp Brothers, “Blast The Speakers” -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/13/throwback-thursday-warp-brothers-blast-the-speakers/ -
Rough week? Why not let go of some stress and get ready to party with the Warp Brothers! Their classic 2001 club hit, “Blast The Speakers” is a fantastic mix of relentless beats, acid-spiked breakdowns, and killer bass, and is the perfect kickoff to an insane weekend. So start your…
Watch Ayah Marar On The Hospital Podcast -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/12/watch-ayah-marar-on-the-hospital-podcast/ -
Ayah Marar recently stopped by the Hospital Records office in London to special guest appear on their Hospital Podcast hosted by London Elektricity. Ayah Marar was also accompanied by Etherwood, who shared their thoughts on some of the latest and greatest drum & bass tracks. Check out the…
Ayah Marar - Alive -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/11/ayah-marar-alive/ -
“Alive” is the premier single for the American release off Ayah Marar’s debut album “The Real.” Championed by the likes of Q Magazine (four stars), Dazed Digital, Attitude, Mix Mag, Timeout and The Sun who have labeled her the “Queen Of Bass,” this…
Lucky us, we happen to know the QUEEN of “bass bass bass,” Ayah Marar!
You can stream the full “The Real” album here, out July 9th!
Wideboys’ “Addicted 2 The Bass” Featured On House-Mixes.com -
http://www.radikal.com/2013/06/10/wideboys-addicted-2-the-bass-featured-on-house-mixes-com/ -
EDM authority, house-mixes.com recently featured the Mark Krupp remix of Wideboys’ “Addicted 2 The Bass.” After selling 1 million copies of their Ministry Of Sound compilation, Wideboys decided to reissue their “Addicted 2 The Bass” single with a set of new singles….
