My “Sweet Disposition” remix has struck again, this time with a trifecta of exciting news tidbits. First off, it’s been released on the latest Ministry of Sound compilation, “Hed Kandi: Nu Disco.” It features Chromeo, Fred Falke, Lindstrom, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, and… me? You can check it out here:
“…featuring a myriad of modern day disco gems taken from a dance music phenomenon that has taken over Hed Kandi headquarters and every enlightened dancefloor across the globe… Nu Disco is Hed Kandi’s perspective on the natural evolution of our beloved disco as it is transformed into the pioneering distant futuristic sound of the 21st century. This is disco’s budding romance with science fiction…”
Next order of business, the SD remix snuck it’s way onto DJ-AM-protegé DJ Morse Code’s latest mix, entitled “Walking on the Moon!” It’s a great mix (and not just because I’m biased!) – Calvin Harris, VHS or Beta, Miike Snow, and many more… Check it:
I’m insanely pleased to announce my latest remix, this time of Yeasayer’s “Ambling Alp” from their upcoming record “Odd Blood.” If you’re unfamiliar with Yeasayer, please take a moment to check them out, as they are an UNBELIEVABLE band. They write wonderful wonderful music, and they manage to combine live instruments with electronics & samples in a totally unique and inspiring way.
As I told their guitarist, Anand, within minutes of hearing the remix stems, I was completely floored. I was already a big fan, but upon hearing each instrument isolated, I couldn’t believe my ears. They labored over every little sound with the utmost care, from the tiniest percussion slaps, to their singer Chris’ own voice re-pitched through a sampler… All I could think was “man, I gotta step my game up if I’m gonna do this song any justice.”
I tried to approach my remix with that similar attention to detail in mind. I re-harmonized the song into a minor key, and I mixed a number of electronic sounds (synths, bleeps, boops) with live instruments (banjo, live hi-hat & snare drum). The song struck me as having some African influences deep in it – I tried to tease those out a bit more, although filtered through my bizarre-child-of-the-80s lens…
I’m especially proud of this, and I’ve gotten a great response from the band about it – I really hope you like it, too! And as always, please feel free to download and share it with any and everyone you know! HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD!
Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE support the band and pick up their album when it drops next week. And check out their psychedelic not-safe-for-work video, below, and the also not-safe-for-work website Ambling Alp Experience:
Aside from all the critical acclaim and my own personal enjoyment of the series, I have an alterior motive for posting about the show… They used my song, “Bad Mamma Jamma,” to soundtrack the following episode from their new season!
And because I’m SOOOOO nice, for a limited time I’m offering up a free download of “Bad Mamma Jamma” just for you!
Check out my song, “The Hustle,” in the new video (above) from Nika Water. Nika is a California-based 100% carbon-neutral bottled water company:
“Through the sale of our premium bottled water, NIKA hopes to bring a voice to the world’s poor who suffer without the basic right to clean water and simple sanitation. And by donating 100% of our profits to support clean water projects in impoverished countries, NIKA will provide the basic tools and critical assistance to help thousands of families improve their lives in a meaningful way and end the cycle of poverty. Furthermore, by enlisting today’s newest generation of kids through our Agents of Change program, our goal is to create awareness and knowledge to serve as a catalyst for thousands of youth to get involved in our quest to bring clean water to the impoverished world.”
Please visit Nika’s wesbite, http://www.nikawater.org/, to learn more about their mission. Simply put, they are doing great things for the world, and I’m honored to be involved.
It’s been a little while, apologies for being a bit out of touch. I was busy stuffing myself full of Turkey and enjoying the drive through Connecticut. Hope those of you Stateside had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a pleasant regular old week to the rest of you international folk!
I’ve been hard at work over here, a few exciting tidbits to report:
1) I’ve completed a brand spankin’ new remix for a very talented band, and friends of mine from college. I would have shared it with y’all already, but there’s been some talk of a potential “official” release for it… so I’m in a bit of a holding pattern there – stay tuned!
2) I’m about 2/3’s of the way finished with another remix for an artist that I have truly loved and admired over the years. By some insane stroke of luck, I’ve been corresponding with him over email and working on a new single from his upcoming record. I shouldn’t say who he is just yet, but I WILL say that fans of the show Mad Men will be especially excited about this one.
3) Been hard at work, co-producing for my pals, Project Jenny, Project Jan, on their new record. We’re entering the tracking stages. The skeletons are in place for all the tunes, now on to recording different live parts and honing, editing, and honing some more. It’s gonna be awesome.
4) Wanted to share a few more studio videos with y’all from my adventures with Rob a few weeks ago at his studio in Greenpoint. If nothing else, these videos are a neat little way of demystifying the recording process a bit…
New Video from my friends over at GOOD Magazine with yet another one of my jams in there! You can hear “Pink and Purple” around the 25-second mark. Thanks GOOD mag!
The folks at GOOD Magazine just released a new video + put my song, “Gotta Get You Back,” all up in it!!! Check it out – it’s a really cool idea: what if you could Photoshop the world around you with your glasses?
Welcome to Wilcassettes, the home of everything Alan Wilkis. Alan is a Brooklyn-based musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and general musical mover-and-shaker... Anything else you'd like to know? Ask Alan HERE: http://www.formspring.me/alanwilkis
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