Dennis Lloyd Interview: Writing Process, Playing Coachella Ahead Of His Australian Tour

Dre Li
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Dennis Lloyd Interview: Writing Process, Playing Coachella Ahead Of His Australian Tour

Dennis Lloyd is the man behind the breakthrough hit “Nevermind”, his powerful lyrics and honed vocals are distinctly recognisable and having just release his Exident EP a few weeks ago he’s showing he’ll be sticking around. His production and worldly inspired sound has a mass appeal for its originality and captivates listeners with a raw emotion that has seen him collect more than half a billion streams.

He recently played both weekends of Coachella, which we were lucky enough to catch one of. It was his first ever festival performance in the US as part of his North American “Never Go Back” Tour which included 21 dates.

He’s had an incredibly interesting path to get where he has today from being in the Navy to disconnecting in Thailand for an entire year to write. So ahead of his debut tour in Australia kicking off with shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth we found a moment to catch up with him and learn a bit more.

For those who haven’t heard your music, how would you describe it? What inspires you?

I would describe it as “genreless”, I’m inspired by rock, hip hop, jazz, reggae and electronic music. I don’t think there’s one box where I can fit perfectly.

You moved to Thailand for a while. It seems like things really started to connect for you there. Did something about it inspire your writing?

Of course. The key was that I had no distractions. I didn’t have WiFi in my apartment and I wasn’t really listening to music. It allowed me to find my sound and be loyal to myself.

Was there a certain point in your life when you knew music was going to be the path you followed?

I joined the navy when I was 18 and at that time I almost didn’t write and record music at all. I decided that if after my service I still wanted to make music that’s what I was going to do for the rest of my life. No plan B’s.

If you hadn’t chosen music, what would you be doing now?

My two options were becoming a musician or a scuba-diving instructor.

You recently played Coachella, how was that experience? 

I didn’t know what to expect. Coachella was the first festival I’ve ever played in the US. It was absolutely wild. The people, the energy – I still can’t decide which weekend was my favorite.

Your EP, Exident, just released earlier this month on Arista Records. You’ve got some powerful messages in there. Would you say you have one overall message you are trying to convey? 

I think Dr. Gary Lewandowski (sampled in GFY) described the overall message of Exident in the best way.

“When you think back on your life
And you’re 95, a hundred years old
And you look back over the course of your lifetime
You’re not gonna think
I wish I owned a better phone
I wish I spent more time on the internet
I wish I spent more time at work or sleeping
It’s not gonna be any of those kinds of things
It’s gonna be I wish I spent more time with the people I love”

You grew up in Tel Aviv. What is the music culture like at home?  

The music scene in Israel is very interesting. You can find every genre of music there. Recently I’m listening to a lot of oriental music – I love the middle eastern sound.

How do you deal with the pressure when choosing what to release next? 

There’s a lot of pressure in the music industry but if I am always worried about the future then I won’t be able to enjoy the present – and that’s not how I want to live.  Music makes me happy, whether I’m playing in front of 12,000 people at Coachella or in front of my two dogs.

If you could’ve written one song by any artist, which would you choose?

Bill Withers – “Ain’t No Sunshine”

You’re heading to Australia for the first time, what are you most excited to see about the country? 

I’m really excited to meet my fans in Australia. I wish I had more time to travel and explore the country, but I’m sure it’s going to happen at some point.

What’s the funniest or strangest thing you’ve heard about Australia so far? 

I’ve been told that every animal in Australia is going to try to kill me – even the adorable ones.

Can you tease any upcoming projects you’re working on?

We just shot a second music video to one of the songs from Exident that I’m very excited about. My fans are going to experience an emotional roller coaster.

What are your goals for the second half of 2019? 

Every year I used to write a list of goals, but this year I haven’t. I want to enjoy the ride, live my life to its fullest. The journey IS the goal.

Dennis Lloyd is touring Australia this fortnight. Get your tickets!

MAY  07 –  Max Watt’s, Sydney  –  BUY TICKETS

MAY 08  –  Prince Bandroom, Melbourne  –  BUY TICKETS

MAY 10  –  256 Wickham, Brisbane  –  BUY TICKETS 

MAY 11 – Metropolis Fremantle, Perth –  BUY TICKETS 

Hayden James Teams Up With NAATIONS For “Nowhere to Go”

Alexandra Harris
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Hayden James Teams Up With NAATIONS For “Nowhere to Go”

It may come as a shock to you that Australian producer Hayden James hasn’t yet released a full-length album, but that’s exactly the case. Now, the wait is over: James has finally released the first single off the highly-anticipated record, “Nowhere to Go.”

The track, a collab with vocal/production duo NAATIONS, is a groovy summertime dance jam with a hook so catchy you can’t help but sing along. The synths glide smoothly over funky bass lines that are made to get you moving. Hayden says of the track: “This song has always had a big summer vibe for me, I feel a sense of freedom and hope and the notion of ‘you only live once’ so make the most of it… ‘we ain’t got no better place to go / doesn’t matter cause I know you’.”

Hayden James first appeared on the scene back in 2013 with his self-titled EP. Since then, he’s released a number of fan-favorite singles, including “Numb”, “Just Friends”, and “Something About You”. Now, he’s back with the announcement of his very first full-length LP, Between Us, due out June 14 on Future Classic. If “Nowhere to Go” is any indication, it’s going to be one hell of a banger.

Stream “Nowhere to Go” now and keep up with Hayden James:

The Newest Single From Bobby Love Is The Perfect Chill Summertime Anthem

Alexandra Harris
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The Newest Single From Bobby Love Is The Perfect Chill Summertime Anthem

If you’re looking for the perfect beach chillout song to kick off the warmer season, look no further. Toronto native Bobby Love has returned this week with a perfectly chill new creation “Why” featuring Olive B.

“Why” marks the second time the pair have collaborated, after previous single “New Love” which dropped back in February. “Why” maintains the same laid back vibes as “New Love”, but carries a decidedly brighter and more sunny, tropical feel. If the two tracks sound slightly similar, however, that’s no coincidence; Bobby says he utilized one of Olive B’s unused vocal lines from “New Love” and gave them a place to shine on “Why”.

“I’ve always loved the lyrics and performance of Olive B’s voice on that verse in particular, so I decided to build a new song entirely around them,” Bobby says. “There’s a certain emotion in what she’s trying to say that I felt needed to be brought to life.” After laying down guitar chords and a melody, he found he’d crafted a whole new idea. “I’ve recently been obsessed with trying to capture an organic sound while still being electronic and familiar with my previous releases,” he continues. “I feel this song really captures that.”

Bobby Love is the latest export from the ever-growing Toronto club scene. He’s made a name for himself playing at some of the city’s top venues, and he’s taken his mixing talents to a larger audience with opening slots for the likes of Hannah Wants, Wankelmut, and Danny Howard. Plus, his remixes for top artists like Felix Cartal and MiC Lowry have garnered massive acclaim. When his 2018 original mix of “Still” featuring Ben Stevenson achieved viral success, it became clear that Bobby Love is set to become the next big thing.

Stream “Why” below and keep up with all things Bobby Love.

LAUV Drops New Song ‘Drugs & The Internet’ Along With Trippy Video

CULTR Staff
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LAUV Drops New Song ‘Drugs & The Internet’ Along With Trippy Video

If you saw LAUV drop a new single today an expected something mellow when you hit play, think again. As of today we’re introduced to a new direction for LAUV and we’re loving it!. The new single “Drugs & The Internet” is an impressive and powerful anthem, with gritty production and smart lyrics.

The main hook “I traded all my friends for drugs and the internet, Ah shit, am I a winner yet?” appears to draw ties between the addiction and social media fame. It comes along with an equally impressive and out of the box music video which supports our initial first thoughts.

It starts off walking alone in the night he kicks a broken PC monitor and is transported into a trippy new dimension of coloured walls, prescription bottles, VHS tapes, neon lights, animal filters, and jumps to him sat at a table full of mannequins and models and taking a spoonful of jelly (which was also featured in the video for NIKI’s ‘Lowkey’ which we covered yesterday). The video takes one last twist when he jumps back to the original scene, however as it zooms out it shows Lauv watching himself.

This ones without a doubt destined to hit radio waves worldwide in no time, and we’ll be singing along!

 

 

 

 

NIKI’s back with a brand new single on ‘lowkey’

CULTR Staff
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NIKI’s back with a brand new single on ‘lowkey’

NIKI’s back today with new music, and we’re delighted – as is her steadily growing supporters now counting in the hundreds of thousands. She strikes back with “lowkey”, her first single of the year arriving on 88 Rising/ 12 Tone Records.

Combining her luscious delicate vocals with a catchy spaced beat on top of wavy synths, the song describes a forbidden love, wanting a relationship but needing to keep it “lowkey”, away from the public eye. It comes along with a stunning “Visualiser” featuring NIKI sitting down sipping away on tea, and dry ice rising meanwhile situated in a yellow and blue coloured room and paired with a matching outfit, fruits, vegetables, eggs and jelly.

After making a splash with her debut singles “See U Never” and the breakout “I Like U” back in 2017, she raised the eye brows worldwide. Last year NIKI let the world know she was here to stay with her highly acclaimed EP “Zephyr” on top features on label mate Rich Brian’s debut Album ‘Amen’ and Higher Brothers ‘Five Stars’. She continued to further cement her rise by supporting Halsey on tour throughout Asia and performing at 88 Risings first festival in LA “Head In The Clouds”.

San Holo Unleashes New Single Ahead of Debut Album

Oliver Tryon
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San Holo’s debut album release is only a week away, and he’s now dropped another single in the form of “forever free” with Duskus. The new collaboration hints at the depth in which San’s sought to perfect on ‘album1’, creating melancholic driving exploration over more than 6 minutes.

Accompanying previous releases “lift me from the ground” / “worthy” and “brighter days” with Bipolar Sunshine, this debut album is shaping up to be an expressive master piece from the Dutch producer.

San also has dropped a mini mix courtesy of his hometown radio kingpin SLAM FM which includes several ID’s and some of the songs that have helped him in his rise to mass awareness such as ‘Light’. The full album is set to drop September 21 and we’re excited to sit back and absorb it in it’s full form as the collective story San has worked hard to craft together for us.

 

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Gianni Marino and ILY Release ‘Can You Hear Me’

Oliver Tryon
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Platinum-selling Dutch DJ & Producer Gianni Marino teams up with Sweden’s rising star ILY on new single “Can You Hear Me”. An 80’s retro-inspired dance record released on Tipsy Records that has already landed placements on several of Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists. 

ILY’s vocals have likely found their way to your speaker’s before thanks to her single ‘Remedy’ with Mike Mago & Tomy Ferry which now withstands over 20 Million streams on Spotify. Gianni, meanwhile is typically known for heaving club weapons that have seen releases on labels such as Dim Mak, Mad Decent, and Barong Family with collaborations with the likes of Alvaro, ETC!ETC!, Dirtcaps and Junkie Kid. However from time to time he explores a chiller side and it seems to have quite an audience, his releases ‘Make You’ ft LUNA MAY and ‘Call Me’ Ft. Zashanell have clocked up millions of streams and support on some of Spotify’s biggest pop playlists.

 

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