shows // kaleidoscope

lauren // chvrches

kaleidoscope // 08.05.13 // Recover

You've just come back from touring but will heading back on the road for your Dallas debut with Still Corners, under Gorilla vs. Bear's wing - whom, subsequently, are one of the show's favourite blogs for new music finds - then later in the Summer will be supporting Depeche Mode. How has the touring experience been for you? The June US tour isn't actually for GvB - I think that's just the one show. I am a big fan of Still Corners so am really excited to tour with them. We haven't done too much 'heavy touring' yet so this summer will be a baptism of fire for us. I think the key is taking a lot of things to entertain yourself (podcasts are my personal fave) and knowing when to give people space. Luckily we're all pretty nice humans, so there haven't been any fall outs as yet.

You formed the band back in 2011, how did you come to meet Iain and Martin? Iain had been producing the EP of my other band, Blue Sky Archives, at Chem 19 and asked if I wanted to do some demos on a new writing project he was starting with a friend, who turned out to be Martin. Iain and Martin know each other from university and Martin had played session in Aereogramme with Iain too, so they go way back.

You've got a degree under your belt, what made you leave the world of academia for music? I think this is something that has become a chinese whisper and isn't entirely true. I did a law degree at Strathclyde then graduated from a journalism masters in 2010, so had been working as a freelance journalist and production runner for a couple of years. I've been in bands since I was 15 years old, and music was always something that was important to me but I never put all me eggs in that one basket - how often does that plan work out for people?!

Having picked up 'Inaugural Grulke Prize' (for Developing Non-US Act) at South by Southwest, are you more conscious of your ever growing global fan base? That whole trip to the US was a bit mind blowing, as I'm more of a "play to 20 people in a basement venue on a Tuesday night" kind of gal, so it was weird that people were coming out to see us so early in the band's existence. I guess that's the strength of the internet, though - bands can sometimes sidestep certain geographical barriers in ways they couldn't previously. Ours is a band that was born on the internet so it's important to us that we remember that stuff like the Grulke prize is really nice, but we wouldn't be anywhere if people hadn't sent their friends, blogs and so on links to our band in the first place. Without that word of mouth, we would be nowhere.

The EP 'Recover' came out earlier this year, when can fans expect a full playing record? We're finishing recording now, with a view to having the record out in September.

It is a fairly mixed bag of records, ranging from the old to the new; did you have a specific theme in mind or is this a reflection of what you are currently listening to? I didn't go for a particular theme as such - just things that are important to me, some of them more recent findings than others. For me, a good mix CD is as much about the order and flow of the songs as the songs themselves.

You did the remix of MS MR, which is amaziiiing. If you could pick one artist within that playlist you would like to collaborate with (marvin gaye in a hypothetical sense...counts!!) who would be your first choice? Glad you like it. We made it Whitney. I admire all the artists in that playlist but Kathleen Hanna is my number one.

You've included PINS, an amazing all female band from Manchester, they recently played live at TYCI - could you tell us more about TYCI and how you came to form the collective? TYCI is a collective run by women, with a blog (www.tyci.org.uk), zine, monthly live event and radio show. Our first live event at Bloc was in November last year and we've booked amazing female musicians and DJs like PINS (luvthem4lyf), Honeyblood, Divorce, Patricia Panther, Pretty Ugly, Ladyfest and SummerSlams. Our hope was that we could create a fun platform for likeminded women, showcasing the wealth of female talent that is out there.

We're Subcity family - as you can catch TYCI on the station too, every fourth Thursday, 5-7pm - do you feel, with both the show and the club night in bloc - that music is the best platform for getting like minded people together? or is much of your traffic/interest generated through the blog articles? It's a mixed bag, really - some people find out about the blog through the radio show and vice versa; some find out about the collective in general from the live events. Someone from Minnesota sent us a jingle for the next show, and we've had people get in touch who are listening in Europe and Canada too. Although we cover a lot of music, we also cover art, theatre, literature and other more general pop culture. I think our hope was always that the live events would have more of an identity if they were tied in with a website, zine or radio show - an hopefully that's the way it's working out.

You had an amazing mix from the girl with kaleidoscope eyes, back in December.... nah I'm just kidding, no one likes self flattery but you've got another subcity sista' Bounce playing at the next TYCI before I will join ranks with the LUYD girls in June - if you were a writer/artist what is the best way of getting involved? We operate a pretty open forum and are always looking for new contributors to the site, radio show and live events. Email us on contact.tyci@gmail.com or find us on the various social newtworks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc!).

Posted at 16:13, 8th May 2013

your hold me down is my design

kaleidoscope // 10.04.13 // Play by Play

This week’s show is designed to slow your roll and sit your study cup down with catchy slices of wavey goodness chosen for optimal, smooth knowledge transfer. With new tracks from Mount Kimbie, Lapalux and SZA, perfect for taking the edge off the sting of revision and easing you into dreamy state of maximal relaxation. There is also a melodically rhythmic new track from The Knife and a whole load of astral favourites from Balam Acab, Washed Out and Mmoths to help you sink your stress and glide over your notes.

Posted at 15:24, 25th April 2013

truth is truth

kaleidoscope // 13.03.13 // Kruisemode

New York producer Kruisemode is the latest guest to join Kaleidoscope. The co-founder of label Cadence Collective divulges his personal music making process alongside his love for hip hop and R.Kelly. We explore his own beats in both 'Yours' and 'Truth is Truth' before turning our attention to the half hour mix made especially for Kaleidoscope. A fusion of his latest finds and remixes, the mix also plays host to the work of fellow Cadence contributors webbing together the musical progression that he explains in the interview.

The rest of the show takes shape following the same pattern, highlighted in Frank Ocean's 'Lost', Purity Ring's cover of Soulja Boy's 'Grammy' and the latest Rihanna related discovery, as Ricky Eat Acid hauntingly samples 'Only Girl'. The producer focus latterly switches to Bristol's Julio Bashmore when his version of Justin Timberlake 'Suit and Tie' pips Four Tet's to the Kaleidoscope playlist, with Star Slinger and Hudson Mohawke also making the cut.

Posted at 15:58, 27th March 2013

groups we love...the violent lashes

kaleidoscope // 27.02.13 // Group Hug

One of the most interesting and striking things about your music is it's unique sound, I read that you record you music just using an acoustic guitar and your mac. Can you tell us a bit more about this recording process and how it came about?

It came about by a need to vent the music I was hearing in my head. Some songs I was writing didn't fit stylistically or lyrically with my other band (Young Fangs) but I had to get them out of my system. So I used whatever I had available (an acoustic guitar, garageband, and a spare room in me and my wifes apartment) and just started writing. The recording process couldn't involve loud instruments because of where I lived but I had to incorporate bass and electric guitar, so I just modified my acoustic sound after I tracked it to sound like whatever I needed. Then I cut and pasted real drum loops into the beats I heard in my head and there you go!

Is it something you would maintain? even if the opportunity to record in a massive studio, complete with paid enginer to mix it came along?

Ha, um. It depends, really. There are a lot of melodies and layers that got lost in the mix because the acoustic guitar ISN'T an electric guitar, nor a bass. so, I would maintain what I did as long as I could use that actual instruments, but I think obstacles, like having to record as quietly as possible, opens your mind up to new sounds and compositions.

Do you play live? if so, do you keep the same set up? get any additional help for the shows?

No, but I'd love to get some friends together. I prefer playing with people.

Could you tell us how you got involved with Group Hug?

My friend Dan Bombard (Cotton Keys, Dinasaurus Rex, etc.) asked me and I was like, Hell Yah!

What or who are your musical influences - specific to the shoegaze vibe that you have going on?

Oh man. Youth Lagoon, Washed Out, Theives Like Us, Ravonettes, Beach Fossils, Gnarwhals. I could go on forever.

You put out your own digital album in December, 'we're only here for the ending' - there were a lot of creative similarities to that of Youth Lagoon - but the lyrical content was super interesting, where does your writing begin, music or words first?

I love Youth Lagoon. He's from my hometown, Boise, Idaho. I start with a feeling. then write a melody, then get to lyrics. The lyrics for The Violent Lashes were mostly recorded in the moment. I had the feeling, the melody, then pressed record and just sang. whatever came out first or second i would write down and then refine it. we're only here for the ending is mostly about an old love for a girl that is still fresh in my mind. I never allowed myself to tap into it because I find it cheesy. Thats what I liked about The Violent Lashes as well; all the stuff im too embarrassed to write in Young Fangs, i put into The Violent Lashes. Its liberating, I guess.

Are you currently working on any other material?

All the time. I just need to find the time to record. I want to release a full length with some new mixes of the older songs. That is what bothers me the most about my songs is that they are so quiet compared to the rest of the Group Hug comp. Oh well, next time!

Would you be keen to do more collaborative work like Group Hug?

Absolutely. It is like opening for your favorite band at a super cool venue. Its educational, humbling, and exciting to see such talent! some of the greatest feelings ever is having your friends' write your new favorite songs. I love it. I hope it never stops.

Posted at 17:26, 27th February 2013

always

kaleidoscope // 13.02.13 // You Da One

After a month long hiatus, Kaleidoscope returns, hoping to win back listeners affections with a Valentines inspired mix. Without delving into sentimental territory, it is an opportunity to showcase new finds - a haunting Rihanna remix by J.u.D - alongside the familiar in Drake and Al Green.

February the 14th aside, Kaleidoscope is true to form in hosting new tracks and collaborations. Aluna George's soft eerie vocals fuse with tough synthetic beats on Disclosure's White Noise. Another collaboration featured is Ryan Hemsworth's remix of Manhatten by Catpower. The addition of Angel Haze allows the vulnerability betrayed by Chan Marshall to become even more pronounced. With no guest on the show this week, the girl with kaleidoscope eyes instead indulges in playing more of her favourite songs, hoping they might become yours too.

Posted at 00:01, 27th February 2013