Albums | Electro-soul virtuoso Homemade Spaceship unveils debut album Ghost Ride The Spaceship
Posted by VMan on August 25, 2023
DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Homemade Spaceship is a vivid world-builder.
With a heavy, astral-inspired sound and electro-soul performance style, the Chicago-bred, Denver-based producer has spent the last decade making an indelible mark on the Denver bass music scene. His infectious music and stage presence – which sees him folding in electric guitar and flute into his earth-shattering DJ sets – have led to collaborations with soulful bass queen Maddy O’Neal and saxophone-wielding artist SoDown, in addition to performances at festivals such Sonic Bloom and Electric Forest. This journey has allowed him to display his evocative soundscapes to listeners not only in Denver, but to fans across the nation.
With origins in metal music and hip-hop, the Homemade Spaceship musical ethos is defined by DIY sensibilities: the impulse to create your own outlets for self-expression, ambitious, individualized artistic endeavors that help you reach your inner-peace. As a result, he’s cultivated a wholly original sound that combines the heaviness of metal with the grooviness of electro-soul, translating his expertly-crafted, handmade sound design into cacophonous, bass-boosted bangers.
Homemade Spaceship fully embodies this creative method on his debut album, Ghost Ride The Spaceship – a genre-blurring, full length project that showcases how his artistry is used as catharsis and a way to escape reality. Idiosyncratic, vibrant, and brimming with heavy bass sounds, Ghost Ride The Spaceship envelops listeners on a narrative voyage through the space-time continuum.
Listeners got their first taste of Ghost Ride The Spaceship with the LP’s lead single, “Electric Indigo,” a spacey, vivacious track that catapults listeners into an otherworldly realm with its lush electro-soul vibe. Next was “Astro Jones,” and then the trunk-rattling dubstep banger “Gassed Up.”
Ghost Ride The Spaceship tells a chronological story, kicking off with “Kick Dust,” a boom-bap-inspired track that combines its dusty hip-hop beats with extraterrestrial bass sound design. This opening song begins the story of a wannabe astronaut, who, desperate for an adventure, builds his own spaceship to blast off into space. “Astro Jones” is the name of an outer space being he befriends, and “Gassed Up” chronicles their boisterous, reckless travels through the cosmos.
Next is the explosive, action-packed “SpaceBlaster,” which uses cowboy-themed guitar melodies and distorted laser synths to detail a shootout with space pirates. The ethereal, heavy 808-imbued “Interlude” then evokes the protagonists taking a wrong turn into a wormhole, while the soul-infused euphoria of “Elevation” shows them entering a strange new world.
“Electric Indigo” and the sample-heavy, sweetly melodic, and bass-inflected “Chaka” portrays our two characters coming to grips with their new life as astral nomads. The nostalgic tone and raucous dubstep wubs of “My Sunshine” show them setting sail towards the nearest star, while the blues-inflected “Voyage Pt.1” evokes their ascent into another wormhole, ready for their next adventure.
The metaphor of Ghost Ride The Spaceship’s story is a relatable one, translating the universal mission of trying to find one’s purpose and place in the universe through immaculate production technique and ample amounts of bass and swagger. The LP also contains potent emotion that runs through its tracklist, articulating how the journey towards self-actualization isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s the turbulence that makes it exciting.
Alternative, Electronic | D Malik Makes Grand Debut with “Prince”
Posted by VMan on October 1, 2021
A multi-hyphenate creative, D Malik is in full pursuit of his artistic vision. The Dubai-raised, Los Angeles-based producer brings a unique perspective to his music, drawing inspiration from a multitude of genres from rock to electronic to rap. On his long-awaited debut release, D Malik makes a powerful first impression with “Prince“ ft. Michael Lanza, available now on all platforms with a striking music video accompaniment.
Inspired by the live experience, D Malik presents “Prince” as a bold, stadium-ready piece. The track combines fierce guitar riffs with a pulsating beat, and striking vocal performances by Michael Lanza – D Malik’s creative collaborator – and Malik himself. A high-impact debut, “Prince” is D Malik’s first act in the public eye, and a stirring expression of his own identity.
Listen to “Prince” on your favorite platform here, and watch the music video below.
Hip-Hop | merry choppins debut is 2 Tracks That Sound Great
Posted by VMan on August 23, 2021
merry choppins (aka Tony Esterly) has been helping other artists create music for years. His production & songwriting credits include work with BTS, SIA, Andra Day, Yo Gotti, KIRBY and Ashe among numerous others. However, as the Covid-19 Pandemic hit and Esterly was spending time away from others, he decided it was the perfect time to take a step back and create music for himself again. The music is an experimental artistic project that blends elements of together Electronic, Pop, Hip-Hop/R&B, Funk, Alternative all into one cohesive sound. The first two songs reminder me a lot of Vacationer. choppins debut is a double single “cloudin / nananana” and it is out now. Keep a tab on the upcoming project and do your research on Tony Esterley’s work that has got him this far.
“This project serves a dual purpose – to have a platform to share my own unique sound as an artist after years of helping others define their sound and also challenge myself to take a couple steps past the norms into the weird zone. I’ve written so many great songs with artists that didn’t necessarily fit their lane. Some of what you’ll hear from merry choppins are songs that started with others but were re-produced and made into my own, while others have been merry choppins from day one” – merry choppins
Pop | Heckyl drops debut single, “Preacher”
Posted by VMan on April 20, 2021
“Preacher” is the first ever release by Heckyl aka singer/songwriter/producer, Luke Potter. The Pop infused jam is a solid introduction to the upcoming artist, though this is not his first rodeo. In the past, Potter [aka Heckly] released music with millions of plays, though this new project is his current highest musical priority where he ‘focuses on the inner demons plaguing us all, a world where anxiety love and creativity come together – especially in the current climate” Check out “Preacher” above now.
Alternative | LA Parties Unveils Impressive Debut Single “LA Parties”
Posted by VMan on March 19, 2021
“LA Parties” is a song about looking at the ‘Instagram life’ – what we see on TV and social media – and discerning it as fake. It was written amidst chaos as LA Parties (real name Andy Gorel) was enduring during a very difficult and depressed period of his life. The breakout artist had just turned 20 years old, and had mangled his hand in an accident – leaving him to believe he’d never play music again. “I struggled greatly with how this visual world we live in would see me, and the prospect of not being able to pursue my greatest passion, music,” says Gorel.
That was in September 2017. Gorel spent every moment he could, re-learning how to play the guitar. By March 2018, he had miraculously recovered enough to write “LA Parties” alone in his West Philadelphia apartment. It began with the simple guitar part heard in the intro. Coming off of a booze-packed, party weekend full of new friends and new crush, “LA Parties” came to fruition.
Hitting the ground running, “LA Parties” is the wondrous debut single from LA Parties. A hard-hitting alternative rock single tailor-made for the 2020s, LA Parties is an artist you’re going to want to keep an eye on.
Stream “LA Parties” on Spotify below.
Alternative | Berne turn up the ‘heat’ with debut climate change EP, ‘STAY’
Posted by VMan on October 6, 2020
Berne expertly combine a distinct mix of abstract and often cerebral lyricism with emotive, vivid imagery, haunting harmonies and dark melodies on their new environmentally friendly ‘STAY‘ EP. The result is an incredibly distinct sonic atmosphere, underpinned by a tenor of unity and collective responsibility towards the planet. The 4 track project (including a fifth track that is an acoustic version of the single “Oceans”) explores important themes that are well worth diving into. Check out a quote from the rising duo below and stream their debut EP above now.
“Our debut EP is a reflection of what keeps us up at night. It comes at a time when humans need to work together towards common goals more than ever. We really believe that small changes will collectively make a big impact and that is the common thread in all the songs.” – Berne.
Alternative | ÄTNA Releases Multi-Layered New Single “Grinding”
Posted by VMan on September 28, 2020
After the release of their acclaimed debut album ‘Made By Desire‘ earlier this year, ÄTNA is back with a new single called “Grinding'” via Humming Records. The track sees the duo immersing themselves in a dark world: multi-layered, intelligent and reflective. Grinding’ breathes zeitgeist. The band has just been nominated for the renowned Anchor Award, an International newcomer award, which will be presented at this year’s Reeperbahn Festival. Tune into “Grinding” above now!