DJ AM was found dead in his New York City apartment yesterday afternoon, which, needless to say, has been a huge blow to anyone who knew him and his work. No one had the technical skills that AM did, or the feel for so many different genres. He was a mentor to many of the most amazing DJs out there these days, and he will never be forgotten.

Below, some links to a few DJ AM sets. Listen, and celebrate the life of an amazingly talented man.

DJ AM - Live on Power 106 12/29/05
DJ AM - 2009 mix
AutoErotique - Gladiator (Steve Aoki & DJ AM Remix)

While I'm on about Mark Ronson's show, that reminded me about how much I really wanted to talk about Ellie Goulding. Surprise surprise, she's from the UK! I was initially introduced to her by a friend who thought I might like her, and I immediately got addicted to "Starry Eyed", a electronic meshing of teenage romance that could be the soundtrack to a first kiss. It's that perfect mix of simplistic idealism that is unique to late adolescence and first love, and I can't get enough of it.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed:

Ellie is unique among her peers: playing acoustic gigs around London in the singer-songwriter scene (she's friends with One Small Sound favourite Laura Marling!), she eventually began a natural progression into electronically influenced music. Since then, she's met up with UK producer Starsmith, with whom she's been collaborating ever since. While she doesn't have a full length album out just yet, she's recently signed a deal with Polydor records in the UK, and I believe an album is in the works.

In the meantime, Ellie stopped by EVR on 7 August to do an interview and perform a few songs on air. Below, hear her performance of "Guns & Horses". She's soon to be touring the UK with Little Boots, so don't miss her.

Ellie Goulding - Guns & Horses (Live on East Village Radio)


Ellie Goulding on Myspace
Ellie Goulding on Twitter

You've probably heard of Miike Snow by now-- the Swedish electropop band that The Guardian describes as "Ah-Ha meets Animal Collective". Their music is melodic and incredibly pleasing to the ear; sweet summer sounds that you just want to lie back and put on your headphones for.

It doesn't hurt the band's immediate credibility that two of its members wrote the Britney Spears hit "Toxic", but Miike Snow is more than the sum of its parts. They have a consistent idea of exactly where they're going, and their debut album, the self-titled Miike Snow, has the pleasant ebb and flow that we're all looking for in a pop record.

Ever the taste-maker, Mark Ronson got a hold of their single, the very catchy "Animal", and did his own reggae-influenced remix that works perfectly with lead singer Andrew Wyatt's smooth vocals. The remix has been on heavy rotation on Mark's show on East Village Radio the past few Friday nights, and it's definitely a must hear.

The band will play The Mercury Lounge here in NYC on September 15th & 16th, but you'll have to scalp on Craigslist, cos the gig is sold out.

Miike Snow - Animal (Mark Ronson Remix):


Buy the album

Well, it's been a long time, but One Small Sound is back, and ready to get serious. Stay tuned for some great music!

It was a few years ago when I first heard the voice of one Gemma Hayes, the Tipperary-born & raised singer/songwriter who has since become one of my very favourite voices. At the time, Gemma was touring with the Counting Crows to support the US release of her first LP, Night On My Side, an impressive collection of songs full of love, loss, and an unmistakable air of calm which seems inherent to Hayes' airy, soothing voice.

For all its pop sensibilities, Night On My Side remained an organic freshman effort, with heavier tracks echoing Hayes' early musical influences (My Bloody Valentine topping that list) as well as her quieter side. It wasn't until 2006's The Road's Don't Love You was released that her commercial appeal began to be realized, with one track, "Two Step", even going on to be featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. The songs are noticeably more upbeat than NOMS, in form if not in function, though Hayes' trademark lyrical styles and gorgeous vocals don't get lost by the wayside.

Cut to May of 2008, in which Gemma finally releases a long-awaited third album. Entitled The Hollow of Morning, the album features a few of the tracks previewed as rough version over the past few months on her MySpace page, including the the lovely and intense "Home", and the album's first single, "Out Of Our Hands". The song is gentle and yet slightly gritty, a song lamenting (or perhaps just accepting, finally) the unpredictability of even the best relationships. The Hollow of Morning is a beautiful album, and has an organic feel that those who have been fans of Gemma's from the beginning with recognise and love. I know I do.

In a world in which musical favourites come and go, it's hard to say why Gemma has stayed with me for as long as she has. While she's got a wonderful knack for melody and an incredibly warm, accessible voice, there's still something more. I can't put my finger on what it is, but I'm sure if you gave her a listen, you'd feel it too.

The Hollow of Morning was released in the UK on 5 May 2008 and is available online from HMV, Amazon UK, and Play. No US release date has been set currently.

Gemma will be playing the Filmore @ Irving Plaza here in NYC along with fellow Irish band BellX1 on 4 June 2008. Tickets can be purchased from the Irving Plaza website.

The wave of young talent never quite stops-- just last entry I was saying what great acts the UK fosters, and now I bring you 17 year old Laura Marling, an ethereal singer/songwriter whose voice and lyrics are well beyond her tender years. Often described as part of the "alt-folk" genre (a description I find vague and often unattractive), Marling's songs are well-crafted and sharp, often containing contradicting elements and ending up at one end whimsical while retaining a stark, serious quality that is almost haunting. Think early Joni Mitchell, with the blonde hair to match.

Marling may seem to be facing a challenge within the current musical climate-- consider that she's coming out of a pop-centric group of bass and synth-heavy youngsters like Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, and you'll understand what I mean. However, Marling is obviously on a different trajectory, one whose success may very well rely on those very challenges which in any other circumstances might hinder her. Veering away from the twee, Marling pens lyrics like "I jump into your grave and die / and on my word you'll give up your whole life for me/ and you'll be reborn, bigger and stronger/ and less alive" and places them atop what is clearly her poppiest number, a song called "Cross Your Fingers", which, while it may be her most upbeat number, still comes nowhere close to cheesy or over-produced.

Marling's independently released debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim, will be released in the UK on 11 February and can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk, among other places.

Download:
Laura Marling - New Romantic
Laura Marling - Cross Your Fingers