Author: VMan
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- Express check-in at the box office
- Inner Circle parking on festival grounds
- Express entry into the festival, with dedicated Inner Circle – only entrances
- Full time hosts in lounges
- Beautiful lounge area with comfortable seating & shade
- Complimentary snacks and beverages in the lounges
- A designated viewing area at the main stage, with unobstructed views of the performers
- Inner Circle Private Bars in viewing areas and lounge
- Pop-up experiences
- Access to private restrooms
- A gift bag with festival merchandise and other surprises
- Phone charging stations
Albums | Cousin Vinny Shares New Single “Too Humble”
Posted by VMan on April 27, 2024
Indian-American artist and producer Cousin Vinny, based out of Chicago, Illinois, has just unveiled his latest single, “Too Humble”, marking the final chapter of a compelling trilogy of releases. Following the success of his previous singles “Relax” and “Capone”, Cousin Vinny continues to captivate audiences with his distinct style and introspective lyricism.
Cousin Vinny’s musical journey has been one of evolution and exploration. His debut album, Fear of Missing Out (2019), introduced listeners to his dynamic range of styles, earning him recognition as a SoFarSounds Chicago artist and paving the way for further artistic endeavours. In 2021, he pushed the boundaries with Method To The Madness 1: Momentum, an ambitious project intertwining sonic innovation with a narrative inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Now, after a brief hiatus, Cousin Vinny returns with “Too Humble”, a cold, hype, introspective hip-hop track that delves deep into the struggles of imposter syndrome and self-discovery. Accompanied by a visually stunning music video directed by Cousin Vinny alongside Gasper Gomez, the song serves as a poignant conclusion to the thematic trilogy.
In his own words, Cousin Vinny elaborates on the meaning behind the single and its accompanying visuals: “The video completes the trilogy, laying out a deep introspective of what it means to be an artist and the battles many face with imposter syndrome while trying to be the character they want. Highlighting the battle a lot of artists face when they aren’t able to necessarily live the life they’d like to portray in their music and how they have to come to terms/face to face with that. And that the best therapist is yourself to understand who you are.”
With “Too Humble”, Cousin Vinny continues to push the boundaries of contemporary hip-hop, offering listeners an authentic and thought-provoking musical experience.
Drum & Bass | Feint Reveals Brisk, Fun-Loving Drum & Bass Song ‘Hope I Did Okay’
Posted by VMan on April 27, 2024
Andrew Hu, better known as Feint, has carved a niche for himself in the drum and bass arena with his distinctive musical style. Starting his career on a high note, he made his debut on Monstercat’s “001 – Launch Week,” which opened doors to a lasting partnership with the label. Feint’s arc in the music industry has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by successful collaborations and a growing discography that fans thrive on.
His affiliation with Liquicity Records has led to a series of popular releases, echoing his unique approach to music production. Tracks like “We Won’t Be Alone” and “Words,” featuring Laura Brehm, have become fan favorites, amassing millions of plays and becoming staples in the drum and bass community.
Feint’s latest offering, “Hope I Did Okay,” is a robust addition to his musical repertoire. This track captures the essence of Feint’s artistry. The drop introduces an unexpected twist, incorporating mid-tempo elements that elevate the listening experience, making it both refreshing and exhilarating.
“Hope I Did Okay” seems destined to become a beloved track among fans and a highlight in Feint’s career. It’s a vibe that not only fills dance floors but also sticks with you long after the party ends.
House | [Interview] A Rescued Pup, A Live Electronic Duo, A Demanding Tour Schedule – Hear The Story Of CHKLZ
Posted by VMan on April 25, 2024
In 2023, the Phoenix New Times honored CHKLZ as the Best Dance Artist, a title that only scratches the surface of this duo’s compelling journey in the music scene. Comprising DJ iLL Choppo and LeMarshawn Jean, CHKLZ is a electronic dance duo with a dynamic narrative of community and creativity sparked by a serendipitous rescue of a small white dog named Charlie, or “Chuckles,” on a hot Fourth of July.
The duo’s name, CHKLZ, chosen by LeMarshawn Jean, cleverly stands out while hinting at their approach to music—a playful yet thoughtful fusion of live elements and electronic influences. DJ iLL Choppo’s background as a seasoned drummer infuses their music with a rhythmic richness that transforms each concert into a unique, energetic experience.
Their musical journey is characterized by independence and an extensive touring footprint that includes performances across the USA, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and Costa Rica—all achieved without the aid of an agent. This independent streak brought them a surprising twist at Alberta’s Friendzy Fest 2023, where a last-minute schedule change put them in a prime nighttime slot, this jolted their music profile and leading to more festival appearances and headline gigs.
CHKLZ is also revisiting their musical roots with an upcoming remix of “White Wine Spritzer” by Okilly Dokilly, blending their early heavy metal elements with their current upbeat house influences, which only exemplifies their evolving sound.
Their story is more than a tale of accolades or a sequence of events; it’s about making real connections through music, celebrating inclusivity, and carrying the joyful spirit of Chuckles wherever they go, proving that sometimes, the best stories are those that feel a bit like home.
These boys have a story to tell. We chatted with them on a variety of subjects, see the full interview below.
INTERVIEW
CHKLZ seems to have a strong community focus. How important is that community to your identity as artists?
A: It’s everything to us. Community is at the focus of everything that we do. In this community we all identify as “Doggies” because anyone from anywhere and any walk of life can be a “Doggie!” In this community, we look past even modern labels to make sure all always feel welcomed in our pack!
Without a strong community, we have no relationships and no career. Our community is the lifeblood of our ecosystem. And within that community, our strongest focus always has been, and always will be, inclusivity.
We feel that music needs to create community and unite people, not divide them socially. I have never been in “the in crowd” my whole life, always feeling like I have been going against the grain because I speak and play from only from the heart! I never wanted to be carbon copy of anyone.
I also got bullied and made fun of often growing up because I was always willing to be myself in nature. It bothered me sometimes back then, but as I grew out of caring about what other people think, I look back and realize all of those moments built me to whom I am today. And those memories serve as a main focus of our communal intentions to make people feel joy about who they are and where they come from. That what makes them unique is what makes them beautiful, no matter what walk of life people come from. And we believe that whole heartedly about our identity as artists, without question.
How do you ensure that every fan, new or old, feels part of the ‘Doggies’ community at your shows?
A: We always do our best to check in with our audiences at our live sets. We like to make sure the Doggies are letting loose and having a great time at our shows. We also arrive early and stay late to make sure to connect and thank them for coming to our shows. And our shows will also include some fun audience pawticipation. Sometimes we do stuff like a group howl or barking session, you know fun stuff.
What role does inclusivity play in your music and performances?
A: It plays a vital role. When we release music, we want the lyrics to speak to the human experience. We select songs based on this. We write our lyrics based on this. We write and find remixes that we feel have strong messages of social inclusivity and make sure to use them in our live sets. We don’t just pick songs because we think they are “cool.” We carefully curate the Groove Fiesta to speak and inspire the soul of the listener, whether that be us performing live or in our songs worldwide.
How do you balance the demands of international touring with personal life?
A: It can be really crazy at times. So much work all day everyday. My Pawdner Rizla travels with us almost everywhere. When we travel, her and I make sure to work in time to have fun and do something in the cities we travel to. It doesn’t happen every time, but quite often we figure out a way to do something non-music related on the road to keep things fun and not just about music.
Also, while at home, we make sure to try and spend as much time as we can with our Chihuahua, friends, and families. Rizla and I also work really hard on maintaining a routine as a team, and we find that really helps us stay balanced in our very busy lives.
Rizla and I both have work we do entirely remotely while touring as well, so we can help offset touring costs with other sources of income. We worked hard to find all of these avenues to make all of this traveling work. Is it a grind? Totally! However, being in control of our lives and where we go and all of these amazing experiences we have had make all the extra efforts worth it. It keeps us inspired and it’s amazing that we keep getting these opportunities to keep the touring going.
We also love to spend time in nature and take small trips to recharge regularly. And we have a date once a week (unless we physically are not in the same place) to keep our personal lives alive and well. It’s crazy a schedule, but we see committed as a team to making it work and so far so good! And we have been pretty steady touring for the last 2 years.
Can you share how your experience at Friendzy Fest 2023 impacted your career?
A: Friendzy Fest was truly an amazing experience. It was the first time we got play a larger international festival in a proper night time slot. It was a surreal moment as we were on the main stage bringing our Groove Fiesta alongside some heavy hitters and artists that we admire and look up to.
And we were so well received. It really gave us the confidence that we can play alongside anyone, anywhere and hold our own with the big dogs doing it our way. It also really pushed us to believe further that we are definitely not just performing to fit in. It showed us that we really had our show and our vibe at festival level. And we couldn’t be more pumped about that thought as we move forward in 2024 and beyond.
What has been the most unexpected source of inspiration for your music?
A: On the 4th of July in 2015, I found a little white dog underneath a truck on the I-10 and 16th St off ramp in downtown Phoenix. I saw some movement underneath the truck and I thought to myself, “Is that a dog?”
She immediately came over to us and basically asked to be picked up. Her with sweet little eyes seemed so desperate when I walked over to her in the crosswalk. We took her with us and took her in.
The name CHKLZ (pronounced Chuckles) was born from our little white dog Charlie. We called here “Chuckles” as a nickname because she was a little girl “Chuck” just wasn’t going to stick.
She quickly became an instant source of inspiration one night sitting in my living. Our entire theme and language is “Doggies!” And it’s because of her. LeMarshawn Jean suggested we spell it this way to be different and stand out. And what a great decision that was looking back today.
That dog changed my life and existence. Prior to having Charlie in my life, I can confidently say I wasn’t in the best spot in my own existence. The dog forced me to change my ways and increased my focus. It really is a “who rescued who” situation. I think without that chance encounter with that little dog, my life might be very different and I thank higher beings every day that we were able to connect. She changed my life.
And because of her, we found new approaches and new inspirations for music that I have been trying to compose since the early 2000s. And even though we had to say goodbye to her in October 2022, she still remains our muse and her spirit will live on with us forever. There would be no “Whaddup Doggies!” without her. She is our brand!
What has been your strategy for growing your audience without an agent?
A: Network, network, and network some more. I (DJ iLL Choppo) do so much digging for shows and new opportunities for us. I also keep spreadsheets for shows to keep order. And now that we are few years deeper into our project, better shows are coming along. However, I really believe that is because of the relationships we have cultivated over the years through effort and dedication.
How do you keep your shows fresh and engaging for repeat attendees?
A: We are always doing new things on the fly with our live elements. No two shows are ever the same. We are also constantly finishing new music and adding it to our live shows. We have even finished tracks for shows less than an before showtime before and decided to add them for that night. And we really love taking chances to keep things interesting for both us and all of our attendees.
Albums | Cascade Equinox Festival unveils multi-genre initial lineup for its second edition
Posted by VMan on April 23, 2024
Building upon the triumph of its debut edition in 2023, seasoned event organizers Gem & Jam and 4 Peaks Presents have just announced the eagerly anticipated lineup of Cascade Equinox‘s 2024 edition. Set amidst the tranquil landscapes of the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon, the cross-genre festival will once again captivate attendees from Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22, 2024.
Cascade Equinox has revealed a remarkable initial lineup for its sophomore year, showcasing a diverse array of acts that mirror both the vibrant community and stunning surroundings of the festival’s Central Oregon location. With a mission to connect with music lovers from all walks of life, the event seamlessly blends jam, electronic, funk, soul, and bluegrass genres, promising a rich and varied musical experience.
Earlier this month, the festival began to release a wide array of headliners via social media, starting with French trailblazer CloZee, and continuing with additional headliners such as fan-favorite psychedelic band STS9, UK dance duo Jungle, electronic musician and YouTuber Marc Rebillet, Wakaan label boss Liquid Stranger, and Portland-based musicians John Craigie & The Shook Twins.
Now, the festival reveals a handful of exciting support acts including hip-hop supergroup Deltron3030, alternative pop music duo NEIL FRANCES, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Poolside, genre-melding bass maestro Barclay Crenshaw, versatile electro-soul artist Daily Bread, electro-twang outfit Dirtwire, electro-funk duo The Floozies, folk-infused bluegrass quartet Kitchen Dwellers, and Denver-based jamtronica trio SunSquabi. Additional acts gracing the Cascade Equinox lineup are experimental bass producer Ravenscoon, Los Angeles-based house act Justin Jay, American hip-hop virtuoso Sol, funk five-piece The Motet, and queer DJ and rapper Wreckno.
Cascade Equinox will also welcome additional support acts including Assembly of Dust, Cliche, Cytrus, Dizgo, Free Creatures, Goodnight Texas, Goopsteppa, Häana, High Step Society, Karina Rykman, Late Night Radio, Living Roots, Noetik the Alchemist, Madeline Hawthorne, parkbreezy, Ryan Montbleau Band, Spunj, Sugarbeats, Talking Dead, Willdabeast, Wolfchild, Zach Darling, Billy & The Box Kid, Blackstrap Bluegrass, Call Down Thunder, DJPK, Feathered Indians, Fractal, Gonzofuze, Heaven Zest, Joel Chadd, Leadbetter Band, Majitope, Smokestack Lightning, Quattelbaum, Skillethead, Smokovich, Stealhead, Sunsei, Takimba, TEB, The Flying Skulls, The Hasbens, Tony Inorbit, and Tyler Spencer.
The first-ever Cascade Equinox boasted more than 50 acts that spanned the genre spectrum, such as Pretty Lights (marking his first music festival after his 5-year hiatus), Big Wild, Goose, Phantogram, Trevor Hall & The Great In Between, Of The Trees, Emancipator, and many more.
In a show of unity with its local community, Cascade Equinox is teaming up with the Pacific Northwest’s renowned Summer Meltdown Festival, in an exciting grassroots collaboration known as the “Melty Migration.” Following a hiatus in 2023 to secure a new venue, both festivals have decided to join forces to create an even more spectacular experience that will be showcased at Cascade Equinox.
The festival is gearing up for an even bigger second year with a wide variety of experiential programming and activations throughout the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, in addition to its star-studded lineup.
Cascade Equinox Festival will offer a bevy of activities and programming, including a vendor marketplace, workshops, kids zones, a roller rink, carnival rides, culinary commons, a healing sanctuary, yoga, beer and wine tastings, interactive art installations and live art. It will also have wellness experiences such as the Oasis Bath House that includes luxurious boutique showers, and options for enjoying a sauna and cold plunge.
Deschutes County Fairgrounds is the Pacific Northwest’s premier event facility and venue. With sweeping panoramic views of snow-capped mountain peaks, trees, and a creek running through its 340-acre space, Cascade Equinox promises a vast, naturalistic music festival unlike any other.
The festival will offer various camping options, including glamping in the Alpenglow Campground. The centrally-located, boutique campground is just a stone’s throw away from the festival’s epicenter, making it the perfect basecamp for festival-goers who want to immerse themselves in the excitement while also enjoying the comfort and convenience of premium accommodations.
The Alpenglow Campground will offer amenities such as sponsor-activated happy hours, phone charging stations, yard games, dressing room and private areas to get ready, a lounge with music, premium bathrooms, concierge services, a separate private check-in, and a premium parking pass for one vehicle. This campground area will be fenced off with security guards and will have a prime location on grass.
Cascade Equinox Festival will also offer Expo Center RV Park for RV hookups, as well as areas for dry RVs, car camping, walk-in camping, and basic camping packages. All onsite accommodation packages, as well as off-site hotel packages, are available here.
Attendees who have already bought a 3-Day GA pass to the festival have the opportunity to purchase the The Inner Circle upgrade ($249 per person), which will give VIP access to:
Cascade Equinox aims to redefine the festival experience, seamlessly merging tradition with innovation. With a commitment to inclusivity and dynamism, this pioneering event caters to the diverse tastes and evolving expectations of its attendees. The festival is driven to showcase the best of the Pacific Northwest region by featuring local artists, food and craft vendors, performers, and more. Going beyond the usual crowd, it seeks to connect with individuals who share its mission, inviting them to be part of an extraordinary and transformative celebration for their second annual edition.
Early Bird GA passes for Cascade Equinox are now sold out. Additional ticketing tiers and payment plans are currently available for all festival passes via https://cascadeequinox.com/tickets/
Albums | ZUSO drops new single “Crystal Lights”
Posted by VMan on April 20, 2024
Australian producer Gabriel Cuenca aka ZUSO returns on the scene with his new single “Crystal Lights” that infuses elements of both progressive house and drum n bass. Read a quote from him on the release below now and listen to the track above!
“‘Crystal Lights’ was an idea that came about pretty naturally. I wrote the song pretty quickly andfeel it represents the ZUSO sound quite well. I actually took a bit of inspiration from one of my past ep’s ‘Lost In Time’ with this one and wanted to bring those feelings of escapism and vivid imagery back. It’s definitely a song you can get lost in and let go of all worries too, and I hope it has the same effect for everyone who listens.”~ ZUSO
Albums | Zel? Shares New Single “PULL UP!”
Posted by VMan on April 20, 2024
Maryland-based recording artist Zel? continues to make waves in the music industry with his latest release, “PULL UP!” The up-and-coming artist, known for his infectious tunes and relatable narratives, brings forth a dynamic fusion of alternative hip-hop with a hint of rage, featuring UK rapper Len.
Zel? has crafted a distinctive sound that resonates with audiences on a profound level. His meticulous attention to detail in beats and music production ensures a captivating experience for listeners, regardless of their musical preferences. Zel? effortlessly traverses multiple genres, including hip-hop, indie rock, R&B, punk and pop, all while maintaining a cohesive brand identity.
“PULL UP!” is a high-energy anthem fuelled by guitar loops, 808s and synths, designed to incite exhilaration and excitement in its listeners. Collaborating with Len, Zel? delivers a track that is bound to captivate audiences worldwide.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind “PULL UP!”, Zel? shares, “It means time to syke out, have fun to an extent of really letting go. This is music for shows. I had spoken to Len about him getting on a song for my album, but timing didn’t match up. It ended up getting done after that, where I wanted something hard-hitting, attention-grabbing, something crowds could go crazy to and chant, and that’s the motivation behind it.”
Albums | Kaelin Ellis taps in with TOBi & Anomalie on new track “Celebration”
Posted by VMan on April 19, 2024
One of the more mellow songs I’ve heard in the past week. Florida based multi-instrumentalist and producer Kaelin Ellis taps in with Juno-winning Canadian rapper/singer TOBi and pianist Anomalie for “Celebration”. The song feels like one big win, and I hope it gets the success it deserves which than makes us all the real champions and alludes to more music by the trio!