Santi-land continues! Check out the music video for Big Mouth, the first single from Santigold‘s upcoming album Master of My Own Make-Believe directed by Cody Critcheloe of SSION (who also directed MNDR’s #1 in Heaven). Be sure to check out my reviews of Santigold’s first two gigs of 2012 featuring brand new material here: Monday 1/16 and Tuesday 1/17!

Visit Santigold.com for more updates and your free MP3 of Big Mouth!

Over the past couple of weeks @_VFILES has innovatively debuted original tracks from the likes Lemonade and MNDR via their 1-855-MYV-3800 hotline. The pre-recorded telephone service debuts one new track a week and clues in callers on “What’s Hot” in fashion, along with a list of the hottest NYC parties. Last week I dialed in to hear MNDR‘s latest #1 In Heaven, which is actually the studio version of a song Sheena Beaston and I have long referred to as Send My Greetings/”the Patti Hearst song” as once described by MNDR in conversation.

MNDR has been performing this song live for quite some time, which makes it especially exciting to hear the mastered version in all of it’s glory. Stream the track below and stay tuned for her upcoming Ultra Records debut, along with the music video for #1 in Heaven directed by Cody Critcheloe aka SSION and styled by M.I.A.’s /\/\ /\ Y /\-era stylist Haley Wollens. Check out my interview with MNDR from 2010 and this V Magazine piece.

Stream:  MNDR – #1 In Heaven

The L Magazine

The party continues on May 13th with MEN and Savoir Adore, and again on June 10th with Theophilus London with a special guest TBA.

RSVP to audiophile@thelmagazine.com

Stream: MNDR – Cut Me Out

Stream: MEN – Off Our Backs (Steven Bloodbath Remix)

Stream: Theophilus London – Humdrum Town

MNDR Live at Mercury Lounge 8/2010

Green Label Sounds has released the latest contribution to their music series, which is none other than MNDR‘s latest track Cut Me Out! I heard the infectious dance-pop track a few weeks ago during her set for POPSHOP at Tammany Hall, and loved it instantly.

Have a listen to the track below and be sure to see MNDR on tour with Chromeo for the Risky Business Tour this Spring! Check out my 2010 interview with MNDR HERE.

French Horn Rebellion's Robert Perlick-Molinari

Last Thursday was the launch of the new monthly party/gig POPSHOP at the newly opened Tammany Hall (formerly The Annex – RIP), and coincidentally my first gig of 2011. Space-wise Tammany Hall isn’t much more than a hall…hence the mandatory coat check upon entry (which was annoying, yet understandable).

Brahms (who just premiered a brand new single on Stereogum today called called Add it Up) were first up on the bill followed by an excruciatingly fun set from French Horn Rebellion. FHR were joined by Savoir Adore‘s Deidre Muro and Paul Hammer and turned up the energy a few more notches for the night’s headliner, none other than my pal MNDR.

MNDR is gearing up to release her latest single Cut Me Out via Green Label Sound, and fans were lucky enough to hear a live performance of the track as she closed out her set! Check out Green Label Sound’s In the Studio With feature where she discusses the new track here.

Special shout out to Colleen Nika who cranked out the tunes behind the turn table between sets! Popshop will take place on the first Thursday of every month!

Stream:  BRAHMS – Another Time
Stream:  French Horn Rebellion – This Moment
Stream:  MNDR – Jump In

Monday night the gang joined onstage at Music Hall of Williamsburg and again for last night’s gig at Webster Hall which I attended. I’ve seen Mark Ronson DJ at Charlotte Ronson’s runway shows, corporate events, parties and club nights but never onstage as a performer. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and who exactly would appear onstage. Last night’s list of live appearances included Q-Tip, MNDR, Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Marsha Ambrosius, Spank Rock, Pill and Rose Elinor Dougall (The Pipettes) and of course Mark Ronson who actually took to the mic for Record Collection.

The stage set up was immaculate along with the male coordinated wardrobes and rotating performances by each guest, like a extravaganza variety in the best way. My personal highlights from the show include Rose Elinor Dougals’ rendition of Stop Me, Alex Greenwald’s California, Q-Tip and MNDR’s performance of Bang Bang Bang and Marsha Ambrosius’s closing rendition of Valerie (although nobody can match Winehouse.) I was a little disappointed that Somebody to Love Me was left off of the setlist and to the be honest the first song performed by the Atlanta rapper Pill Introducing the Business was a complete mess. Regardless, last night’s epic gig will definitely make it on my list of best shows of the year. Check out a few videos below and the rest on TLCblog Tube, the full photo gallery can be seen HERE.

Set List: Cicuit Breaker //  Just  //  Lose It (In the End)  //  Ooh Wee  //  Oh My God  //  California  //  The Night Last Night  //  Mark Ronson DJ Set  //  Spank Rock: Bump/Race Riot  //  Introducing the Business  //  MNDR:  Sparrow/Fade to Black  //  Bang Bang Bang (Q-Tip & MNDR)  //  Mark guitar solo: God Put  A Smile Upon Your Face  //  Hey Boy  //  You Gave Me Nothing  //  Stop Me  //  Record Collection. Encore: The Bike Song  //  Valerie

mp3: Mark Ronson & The Business Intl – The Bike Song (Major Lazer Remix)

Warner (MNDR) opened with her Calypso tinged taboo jam Caligula as a lightshow projection burst onto the stage like a layered veil. Sadly her set didn’t include the catchy new song she debuted at Mercury Lounge Diamonds, but was a great opportunity for her to play alongside one of the most successful electronic acts of the past year, to which she shone brightly.

Miike Snow appeared onstage masked  after a moody introduction, kicking off their set with one of my favorite tracks Cult Logic. After having seen the trio countless times over the past 12 months, it was great to see them switch it up a bit with their setlist (which included a light-up suit cover of Vampire Weekend’s The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance.) Miike Snow never disappoint with their live sets, which create an awesome array of lights, visuals and improvisational musical moments. Can’t wait to see them again!

Setlist: Intro // Cult Logic // Burial // A Horse is Not a Home // Silvia // Plastic Jungle // Sans Soleil // Animal // In Search Of // Kids Don’t Stand a Chance

mp3: Crookers – Remedy Ft. Miike Snow

mp3: Mark Ronson And The Business Intl – Somebody To Love Me (ft. Boy George & Miike Snow)

M

MNDR’s live show is full of raw emotion, positive energy, an interactive light show and songs you just can’t help but sing and dance your heart out to. It’s always great to check in with her as she hones her craft and deservingly continues to blow up (ie: collaborating with Mark Ronson and this Esquire bio!) Check out my interview with MNDR from earlier this year and don’t miss her supporting set for Miike Snow on October 7th at Terminal 5! I can’t wait!

mp3: MNDR – Fade to Black

In a press release, The Creators Project was described as “a new initiative by VICE and Intel to identify leading artists across the world who are pushing creative boundaries through technology. The project establishes new platforms for these artists to showcase their work and to engage a young audience of millions.”

The event stretched across a total of 5 floors and pleasantly devoured 12 hours of my weekend. Photography has been broken up into two galleries: one for the exhibitions and one for the performances along with a write-up describing each.

The Creators Project goes International on July 17th in London before making stops at Brazil on August 14th, South Korea on August 28th and China on September 17th. For more info visit The Creators Project and follow @CreatorsProject on Twitter.

The Exhbitions: full gallery

The Digital Flesh installation by Radical Friend exhibit was my favorite installation, an otherworldly experience that captures the digital imprint of the participant and incorporates it as part of the piece. Triptych and Hereafter by the United Visual Artists along with the Cube by Multi Randolph also invited viewers to become part of the art, combining lights and sound beautifully along with space,  perception and the manipulation of it.

We’ve all seen Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ guitarist Nick Zinner snap photos of the crowd onstage, so it was of no surprise to see his audio/visual photography wing A.D.A.B.A. What did surprise me was how modest about discussing his talent. Other exhibitions of note were xx: A Sculpture of the Album and of course the Spike Jonze short I’m Here.

The Performances: full gallery

The first performance of the night proceeded Spike Jonze‘s film when the screen lifted to reveal Aska Matsumiya (the featured band in the short.) At 6PM The Rapture played the loading dock of Milk Studios and although it was packed people didn’t dance they just stood around like this [arms crossed.] The new line-up sounded great, especially when covering tracks from their dancey, cowbell-heavy record Pieces of The People We Love.

At about 5 hours into The Creators Project I skipped out on Gang Gang Dance for some rooftop relaxation before heading down to the 2nd Floor Gallery for Sleigh Bells. I chose a spot in the crowd rather than the photo pit in favor of dancing and thrashing out and in doing so I wore myself out, causing  me to only see tail-end performances by Interpol and Die Antwoord. I redeemed myself when getting a prime spot for M.I.A. though!

M.I.A. took the stage at around midnight and played nearly an hour-long set of new and old songs. As always it was an intense madhouse for her set, when she gets onstage it’s a total adrenaline rush. The new material sounded fantastic live, especially the Derek Miller (Sleigh Bells) collaboration Meds and Feds and Teqkilla (in which a bottle was passed around.) Guests Rye Rye and Ninjasonik also helped step up the performance another notch, which was the perfect cap on the event for me. Bruised, battered and pumped I wandered into the 1st Floor Gallery for Mark Ronson‘s performance while none other than MNDR wrapped her surprise appearance with Fade to Black.

The Creators Project was almost too good to be true, bringing together people of all shapes, sizes and color for the love of art. After a 12-hour day at The Milk Studios, I was in recuperation mode but the memories and smile on my face still subside two days later. I wonder if I can get vacation time to follow this traveling circus around the world..?

mp3: M.I.A. – Bamboo Banga

mp3: Interpol – Rest My Chemistry

mp3: The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers

mp3: Aska Matsumiya – There Are Many of Us