In The Mix: Collard Steals The Show and Dijon Gets Tearful
This week came with exciting commercial and independent releases, but only a few were enticing enough to write about. Check out the picks below.
Single of the Week
Collard ft. Bakar, “Stone”
Two of the UK’s most exciting new singers have decided to combine their talents for Collard’s new single, “Stone.” A guitar riff pitches down as Collard enters, lamenting about a lost love that’s “made me f--ked up twice.” Collard and Bakar trade verses about their own self-doubt before singing a final chorus together. The song rides on a groovy guitar melody, and the pitch down halfway through its loop adds an extra layer to the refrain. Bakar’s raspy tone complements Collard’s airy falsetto, and the two harmonize beautifully when singing together. Hopefully this is one of many collaborations between the two rising stars.
Music Videos of the Week
Dijon, “CRYBABY :*(“
Dijon’s latest is a masterclass in stop motion, utilizing separate photographs and threading them together for a surreal, life-like video. Dijon sings in close up shots facing the camera, juxtaposed by brief clips of a baby. They share the screen too, and Dijon also shares a passionate kiss with a frog man. Needless to say, this video has to be seen to be believed.
Femdot. ft. Smino, “Rap City”
Femdot. and Smino bring the fun in the video for “Rap City.” The main attraction is the bars the two are trading between one another; the scenery continually changes, as do their outfits, but both of their verses stay on point. The point of view shifts repeatedly, with a particular shot appearing to be taken inside a television.
ROSALÍA, “A Palé”
For her newest single, ROSALÍA dons a unibrow and gold teeth. “A Palé” is set in a dystopian factory and shipping yard, where she dances, leaps between containers, and rides the factory beltline. There’s even a container featured that’s been converted into a mini stage for ROSALÍA and her dancers to perform on. If the song isn’t enough to pull you in, the video will do the trick.
Mix of the Week
Adriana Lopez, Boiler Room x BAU Gijón
This week’s mix comes from Adriana Lopez at the BAU Gijón Festival in Asturias, Spain. A Colombian producer hailed as a pioneer of electronic music, Lopez did not disappoint. The mix starts simply enough, with a low note humming alongside rising and falling techno melodies. The song picks up within a few minutes and fully comes together, bass and all.
Later on the percussion’s reached breakneck speed, furiously thumping while Lopez mixes in melody, bass, and another layer of percussion. One sound emulates a dial tone, and rings in and out of the song. Lopez hops between four different platters to ensure the mix remains upbeat and entrancing, her hands glued to the dials.
The set continues and Lopez remains in her element, and by this point the audience has begun to appreciate her presence. Previously few were dancing and vibing with her set, but now everyone is moving and enjoying themselves. Night has fallen and the mix has taken an even darker note; Lopez has begun mixing acid house with hi-hats and arpeggiating synths, much to the crowd’s delight.
Lopez ends the set on warbled synths, bouncing back and forth between rapid toms. She starts strong and ends soft, slowly muting each individual track on the mix until all that’s left are the synths and toms. Lopez’s set ends and the audience applauds, in awe of Lopez’s curative skills and swift talent on the turntables.
