Before the year is over, Hudson Mohawke has one final instrumental to share with us. 

Inspired by John Carpenter’s 1981 movie “Escape from New York”, Mohawke’s synths are pretty close to the original and give you that same eerie feeling as the movie did. 

The track is featured on  the 7th annual LuckyMe Records advent calendar, which offers a free download every day from December 27 to January 6. Mohawke had one hell of a year, and we can’t wait to hear what he delivers in 2016. Check out the track below. 

The post New Music: Hudson Mohawke – “Escape” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Recently the very versatile and talented producer Hudson Mohawke (who’s also signed to G.O.O.D Music‘s production imprint) decided to put a dope spin on Pusha T‘s “Amen” single from his Fear of God: Let Us Pray  2011 album. The track had already delivered once before four years ago with the help Kanye West and Jeezy but some how Hudson just made it even more okay to  circulate it around just once more.  Check out why the song’s remix is making wave and is worth the replay below.

The post New Music: Pusha T – Amen (Hudson Mohawke Remix) Feat. Jeezy & Kanye West appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Hudson Mohawke via consequenceofsound

Hudson Mohawke has become one of the most prolific names in music production in the past few years. First performing and gaining critical acclaim as part of the electronic trap duo TNGHT alongside Lunice, Mohawke is now a collaborator on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label. The pair even worked together on on Yeezus (see “God Level”). Mohawke is famous for his booming bass lines and epic drops.

Months ago, Mohawke dropped the finalized version of “Chimes” on soundcloud—an earth shattering track that wobbles in from light and ethereal to heavy and gut-punching. Today, the producer released a remix of the track featuring verses by Future, Pusha T, French Montana, and Travis Scott. The rappers’ lyricism meshes with the flow of this track expertly, making us almost forget that this song stood alone before the addition of these four artists’ talent.

Take a listen via audiomack below:

The post New Music: Hudson Mohawke feat. Future, Pusha T, French Montana & Travis Scott – “Chimes (REMIX)” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by Martin Blondet

Manhattan’s Webster Hall swelled with anticipation last Wednesday as Hudson Mohawke stealthily approached the DJ booth, soaked in fog and purple lighting, accompanied by thin layer of watery synths. With this night being one of the last of Red Bull Music Academy’s month-long string of events in New York City, expectations were high, and the question of who the “friends” the headliner was supposed to bring out had rumors buzzing.

After an energetic performance from NY-based rapper and producer Le1f, HudMo’s calm was a counter-intuitively exhilarating change of pace. Rather than going for a sucker-punch high-energy opener, HudMo caught the crowd’s curiosity with his slow-building, majestic remix of Bjork‘s “Virus.” Many shouted anxiously for a “drop.” Others, trusting in HudMo’s subtlety, let themselves take the bait, listening intently for his next move. All were pleased to hear the Glaswegian producer’s more melodic sensitivities be followed by his dark side, transitioning into the menacing “100HM,” originally conceived as a Rick Ross instrumental. Hudson Mohawke’s versatility doesn’t only make for a unique live performance: in the past few years, it has established him as a key player in both the electronic music scene and, most recently, in the world of hip-hop.

Hudson Mohawke is currently in an artistic Goldilocks zone that most producers could only dream of. His first taste of recognition came with his collaborative project with Montreal producer, Lunice (TNGHT). Their self-titled EP, released in 2012, was two steps ahead of the game, being one of the first instances–and certainly one of the best–in which the Southern trap sound was fused with electronic music. It was this project in particular that caught Kanye West‘s attention, who signed HudMo to G.O.O.D. Music’s production wing early last year. HudMo has consistently brought his precise and hard-hitting style to G.O.O.D. Music’s table, receiving production credits on the Cruel Summer compilation and on West’s last album, Yeezus. Though HudMo refrains from labeling his music, his use of 808s, fat synths, and distorted vocal samples made for a deadly combination that greatly popularized the trap sound within the EDM community. It’s safe to say, however, that few producers who adopted the sound have managed to do it as creatively as Hudson Mohawke. Of course, the Webster Hall crowd was well-aware of this as they bounced to TNGHT-bangers like “Goooo” and “Higher Ground.”

As HudMo rocked out with his signature slightly-off-beat head bob to one of his own 808-heavy tracks “Chimes,” a familiar voice suddenly began crooning over the blasting horns. Houston rapper and fellow G.O.O.D. Music signee Travi$ Scott rushed the stage, stomping wildly, dapping up fans and singing a hypnotic tune: “She in love with the party…” After allowing a moment of silence for the audience to soak it all in, Scott baptized the crowd with a water bottle and growled furiously into the mic as the opening to his titanic single “Upper Echelon” blasted. Remaining on stage for a few extra minutes to continue hyping up the crowd, stage-diving and giving his t-shirt away to one lucky female, Travi$ Scott’s electric performance proved to be tough act to follow for HudMo’s second guest, Bodega Bamz. The Harlem MC performed unreleased material with great enthusiasm and charisma, but was somewhat lost in Travi$ Scott’s dust cloud.

After expertly leveling the slight dip in energy, teasing the crowd with a snippet of his latest collab with Yeezy, “God Level,” HudMo was joined on stage by Antony Hegarty, front man of chamber pop band Antony and the Johnsons, in the form of a ghostly silhouette haunting the back of the stage. Hegarty swayed gently as she sang an eery melodic number, later revealed to be an unreleased song produced by HudMo. While being by far the oddest choice of guest performer, those who’d learned from the intro knew that this was only a quiet before the storm. Making sure to finish on a high note, HudMo threw down three classics in a row, “Cbat,” “Thunder Bay,” and “Fuse,” which he then topped off with his cheerful, clubby remix of Duck Sauce‘s “NRG.”

Tongue firmly in cheek, HudMo walked a few feet away from the booth, pointing at his watch apologetically, knowing full well that he had us in the palm of his hand. Murmurs of “Kanye” and “Bjork” could be heard throughout the crowd, but he would not save his encore song for something that wasn’t all the way him, and rightfully so. Few artists are bold enough to finish a set with something that will challenge rather than appease their fans. The unreleased song’s pounding buildup resembled a punk beat played on drums forged by the gods. The “drop” (if you can call it that) was awe-inspiring. With no signature HudMo style rapid-fire snares to be heard, a sublime tidal wave of harmonic synths washed over the crowd, crashing and fading, with HudMo disappearing into it. While some remained milling around, clinging to hope that Kanye would make an appearance, most left contently knowing that the silence was only yet another set up for the many things Hudson Mohawke still has in store for us down the line.

The post Concert Review: Hudson Mohawke Is Full of Surprises appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Since releasing her EP, Neon Nights, Tamara Saul has experienced a wild ride to acclaim. Songs like “Biggie Say My Name (Girls Love Beyonce Bootleg)” and “Pink Skies In Dark Nights” have pushed her to the forefront in a big way, with the listening public clearly willing to embrace a young singer-songwriter with an experimental interest in hip-hop, smooth R&B jams and soulful pop classics.  Tamara spoke with RESPECT. about her musical inspirations, dream collaborations, upcoming projects, and what she hopes to achieve with her music.

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RESPECT: What’s it like in Croatia, and when did you decide to start exploring music?

Croatia is facing some serious issues right now, in terms of corruption, human rights, working class rights, unemployment, but, I don’t know if it’s in spite of all of that, I see some positive changes when it comes to the music scene. There are great people doing wonderful and inspiring things. I didn’t decide to do music, I just had to do it. There were times I felt as an outcast but music was my thing, music made me feel happy and special, music was something that people knew me by. I would record live shows by Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Usher, R. Kelly, watch them and try to do what they did. Later on, I tried songwriting because I felt I needed to express myself.

Your music is very far removed today’s contemporary sound. How did you develop the sound that you have?

I am still in the process, I am exploring and doing different things and I’ve come to a realization I can do whatever I want to do, so if I want to make R&B, indie pop, hip hop or whatever-you-want-to-call-it, I can do it. Every time I make a new song, I feel it’s a bigger part of me. I never think about labels and genres during the process of making my music. So, the key is exploring, your soul and your sound.

You’ve been described as R&B, but your creativity seems to go beyond that. What kind of music inspires you the most?

What inspires me is that new, fresh, crisp sound that no one has yet done too much of, if you understand me, that new sound that makes you go, ‘Wow I haven’t heard this yet!’ or ‘Wow, you’re really doing this and it’s good!’, and it makes a new path in your heart and brain. Artists like Lizzo, Barnaby, Shy Girls, Tink, ASTR, Javeon, Kelela, Debian Blak,… I also love AlunaGeorge, Fatima, Disclosure, Hudson Mohawke, Jesse Boykins III… Mish Mash. I listen to a lot of new music and artists daily. I even have my secret Youtube channel where I upload music that I like if it’s not already up. As I have less and less time I think I will have to end that love story.

How would you describe the music you make?

In colors, flavors, and scents. Sometimes it’s dark, cold, bitter, and sometimes it’s all about neon colors, tender breezes, pink skies, leopard prints, hot summer nights, sugar and spices. I guess I like to introduce feelings and other senses as a unique new dimension. I mean, it’s not new, it’s always here, but sometimes people just forget it’s there, oversee it.

Your songs seem quite delicate, you write about emotional subjects. How do you sustain a balance when it comes to sharing your life with other people?

I’m very open about my feelings when it comes to my music but when it comes to sharing my life with people on a daily basis, I’m quite cautious. Or shy? Hm, anyway, I keep a lot of things to myself, my friends and family only. I have no problem sharing my love towards cats, tomatoes and Tumblr with other people though [laughs].

What would you like your music to signify or correspond?

That I grew up on R&B, but love to experiment and bring it together with the sounds I’m hearing and feeling today. You always try to push it a bit forward, take on some new steps and bring some new sounds, and what you’re doing by that is creating and representing the sound of your time, and if you’re lucky, future. But again, that’s not really out there when I’m making my music. When I’m in the process, I just do what feels and sounds good. I love melodies and music should be fun, inspiring and interesting.

Do you have any track in particular that speaks most to that notion?

I think “Pink Skies In Dark Nights” is that song. It’s just really out there, was a bit tricky to do, cross-genre always is, but people recognized what we wanted to do and it always feels good when that happens. It’s electro, it’s R&B, it speaks for itself and I love it because it represents a new take on my music, the new path I’m taking.

Two standout tracks for me that you released this year are “Pink Skies In Dark Nights” and “Biggie Say My Name (Girls Love Beyonce Bootleg).” I think they’re totally different than anything on your Neon Nights EP.

I think that’s because I’m growing and becoming more aware of what I want to do. Neon Nights EP was everything I had to do right at that moment, but I feel that one of the tracks off Neon Nights EP that really stands out and is on that way of this different sound I took on is “Sleep It Off.” Though it’s a bit darker, colder and represents loneliness, it’s actually different than the other tracks off the EP, and shows the early stages of what I’m doing now.

“Biggie Say My Name (Girls Love Beyonce Bootleg)” opens with the line, “Hey Biggie,” which almost sounds like you’re speaking directly to him. The whole song focuses on him.  Do you think that’s why it’s connecting with so many people?

Yes, that could be it. Maybe it’s also because I speak in Biggie‘s lines and track titles, flipping them into something of my own, I guess people love when they come across something like that; it’s worldly and real. Plus, I think you can really feel my respect for him in that song. I love the original track and girls really love Beyonce, that’s a classic, I just had to express what I was thinking when I heard it – we love Biggie too, let’s not forget Biggie.

If you had five minutes with Biggie — how would you spend it?

‘Scrambling, gambling, up in restaurants with mandolins and violins’. [Laughs]

I need to ask you the obvious question, which, of course is do you have a crush on The Notorious B.I.G.?

[laughs] Of course, as any woman who loves hip-hop does, in a way.

Have you ever had any awkward moments onstage? Have you ever blanked?

Forgetting lyrics is my thing from time to time, but it always works out alright. Sometimes the audience helps me by singing along and it just all comes back to me. Sometimes I make other lyrics up right at the spot! But I think it’s really about you being there and enjoying the moment, people will feel that and they’ll forget about these “technical issues.” If it’s on the level, of course.

I saw on your Twitter that you like watching a lot of cookery shows. What’s your favorite meal?

Ha, maybe that was my thing at the time you researched. I definitely love to watch cookery shows, the problem is sometimes I end up hungry and want to eat the exact same thing I saw there. But I love sataraš. You’ll have to Google it, but trust me, it’s yummy. Sataraš is one of the main dishes in the Croatian cuisine, like salsa is to the Latin culture, in fact, it very much resembles salsa.

You spoke about “Pink Skies In Dark Nights” a moment ago. What were you trying to articulate with that?

That sometimes you just have to stay up all night, go to music festivals, enjoy love and life. It might not be everlasting but it makes you feel good at the time and you should enjoy every little moment, hot cocoa and pink skies in dark nights, duh.

Do you plan on working with DZA some more?

Yes, it’s in the plans, hanging up there, would definitely like to make it happen again! We spoke about an EP, hope we’ll manage to make it happen. He is real cool, simple to work with, I love when things go smoothly like that, plus I really love what he does, his sound is trop fresh.

At this point, do you have any dream collaborations?

Hudson Mohawke, Sango, Angel Haze,… I wish I could just have one studio session with HudMo, that would be great. Oh and Disclosure. Have your people call my people, guys [laughs].

What do hope to accomplish as a musician?

Everything I can – I am building my life around my music. I want to grow as a person, inspire other artists, make you feel what I feel, and prove other people that there’s nothing you can’t do, even if you’re ‘just’ a girl from Croatia. So, a lot of plans out there.

What’s coming up for you?

I have a new single coming out soon, with this new producer called New Mantra. As far as early 2014, I have a video in the plans, also want to do festivals again in 2014, summer 2013 was so much fun, neon cocktails and sour sugar!

For more on Tamara Saul, visit her website.

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Stooki Sound was supposed to bless New York City with an hour long set at the Governor’s Ball silent disco on June 9th, but they cancelled the appearance. We’d like to think they had a very good reason for skipping out because it’s a shame- damn near a crime- to hide their new exclusive mix from the public.
East London duo, DJ Lukey and Jelacee are Stooki Sound, a brand new production crew deep into the trap sound. Their new 45 minute cut of remixes should definitely be on the summer playlist of anyone who enjoys a high quality, electronic UK sound with tons of sub-bass and beats that are loaded with grimy, energetic rap lyrics. When listening to this mix, we’re not sure if we want to rave or riot, but either way, Stooki Sound’s new Soundcloud cut is sure to put your speakers through a workout.

Tracklist:

Outkast – SpottieOttieDopaliscious (HugLife Remix)
Hucci x GameFace – The Leaves Are Brown
Shiftkey – Geeky playtime
Ozzie – Flat 15 (Stööki Sound Remix)
Heroes x Villains + Stooki Sound – Today ft Rome Fortune
Lil Reese- Traffic (Feat. Chief Keef)
Stooki Sound x Hucci – BALL SO HARD
Benny St.Claire – Lose It
Kanye West – Mercy (RL Grime & Salva Remix)
Yellow Claw X Timo – Parade de Tittas V3
Hudson Mohawke – Thunder Bay
Flosstradamus x DJ Sliink – Test Me (UZ Remix)
Stooki Sound – UPPERS
Ludacris – Rich & Flexin (High Roller$ Remix)
SALVA & BRENMAR – LET ME BANG (PYRAMID JUKE REMIX)
Stooki Sound – GOLD VICTORY
Gent & Jawns – Turn Up
French Montana – Marble Floors (Thugli Bootleg)
Falcons – Vroom
Hudson Mohawke – CBat
Stooki Sound – Thirsty
Flosstradamus – From the Back (Lunice Remix) [feat. Danny Brown]
DJ Snake – Bird Machine
Mr Carmack – Birth Control

The post New Music: Stooki Sound – Exclusive Mix (ft. Kanye West, Outkast, French Montana, Lil Reese & more) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.