A modern made in Japan classic with Sweet William's 'Jasmine Instrumentals'

Born in 1990, producer / beatmaker from Aichi Prefecture Sweet William took the Japanese hip hop scene by storm alongside Okinawan MC 唾奇 (Tsubaki) - with the release of their album ‘Jasmine’ in 2017.

The release received widespread support, largely for it’s smooth, expertly-crafted beats and head-nodding lyrical wordplay. But in many ways, it is the album’s deep and personal approach that makes it an honest gem of Japanese modern music. The album’s title ‘Jasmine’ refers to the local tea of Okinawa, which has been a favourite drink on the islands since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom for hundreds of years. The title sums up the sound and feel of the album well: a refreshing and fragrant experience with notes of nostalgia. The release is an invigorating start to finish listen with guest appearances from Fukuoka-born singer Kiki vivi lily and Tokyo rapper Jinmenusagi.

Following up this modern day classic is a recently released fresh perspective on the album - Jasmine Instrumentals. Stripping away all the extras to let Sweet William’s meticulous productions speak for themselves, the album contains velvety keys, crunchy beats and crisp samples. There’s even a bonus beat ‘Walkin’ (above) not previously found on the original album.

’Jasmine Instrumentals’ is highly recommended for any hip hop head, beat scene fan, or someone who just needs a good chill after a long week.

Hear more from Sweet William
Soundcloud
Twitter
Instagram
Spotify

Spiritual music from a Tokyo Dragonfly

Guest Musician : Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen (東京月桃三味線) on Shamisen Promo from forthcoming EP by Tonbo Press Kit Download -> drive.google.com/open?id=1PQSkjrO…4Ndzg4rp6ARxeUxQ (Japanese follows English) Atmospheric synths with chilled vibes on top of driving beats A new type of Japanese beat music in contexts of psychedelic, chill-out and bass music Featuring Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen and female singer Mocca This release, which was based on Tokyo Shibuya, TONBO (means Dragonfly in Japanese) that crosses the site and created Psyche · Chill · Bass as a theme. Synth that makes Chillwave feel like a beat in front makes coloring the space, building a special music world. As guest musician, the Shamisen (Japanese traditional string instrument ) player Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen and female vocalist Mocca from Gifu participate, and finished in a new form of Japanese Beat Music that is borderless genre. >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< >|< 前のめりなビートに空間を彩るチルウェイブなシンセ Psyche・Chill・Bassをテーマにした新しい形のJapanese Beat Music ゲストには三味線演奏家の東京月桃三味線と女性シンガーの木歌が参加 東京 渋谷を拠点に数多くの現場を渡り歩く蜻蛉-TONBO-がPsyche・Chill・Bassをテーマに作り上げた本作。 前のめりなビートにチルウェイブを感じさせるシンセが空間を彩り、独特の音楽世界を築いている。 ゲストミャージャンとして、蜻蛉の盟友である三味線演奏家の東京月桃三味線と、岐阜の女性ボーカリスト=木歌が参加しており、ジャンルに囚われない新しい形のJapanese Beat Musicに仕上がっている。

Next up for your listening pleasure is a local (for those of us in Japan, that is) Japanese artist, Tonbo (meaning Dragonfly in Japanese). Tonbo has been flying around the Tokyo underground electronic music scene for some years now, exploring the spiritual side of music and Japanese culture. Tonbo produces, DJs, plays guitar and even gets on the mic from time to time. He also puts on a regular party dubbed the Tonbo Matsuri, (Dragonfly Festival) which is described as, "...a crazy bash to make a place for releasing spirits." Our featured track, "Gion", comes from the recently released Yellow Trance EP. It’s been released on the Psymatics label and follows Tonbo's first full length album, released in early 2017, Tokyo Mad Cave. Tonbo works and collaborates with numerous musicians and creators, "Gion" follows that trend. The tune features the Japanese traditional string instrument the shamisen, as played by Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen.

"Gion" is hard to pin down, it dabbles in the ambient, downtempo and psychedelic genres, while also containing elements of minimal, acid house and trance. As a whole it has a deep, transcendental feeling, combining analog and digital sounds. There's both traditional Japanese drums and our aforementioned shamisen playing a dominant role in the track, along with electronic drum beats, treble droplets, and a constant bassline. At times the track feels foreign and cold but always maintains a feeling of Japaneseness; a certain ancient spirituality, that lingers throughout.

Tonbo is an interesting experience listening to in single track form. A given tune feels like it belongs to a piece of a much bigger expression. I have a feeling a full set from Tonbo is an experience that is sure to transport participants to another world and may very well be up to the task of releasing a spirit or two in the process.

If our Dragonfly man Tonbo has enticed you, as he has me, make sure to give him a look on the following platforms.

Soundcloud
Youtube
Instagram
Spotify
Web
Bandcamp

New Soulful Hip-Hop from Big-O and P-Rawb

The American producer / MC duo of Orlando Turner, aka 'Big O', and Patrick Roberts, aka 'P-Rawb' come correct with their new single 'Good Company.' 

Forgoing the usual trappings of cash, women and expensive cars for a more soulful take on the genre, the two describe the new track as "a song about finding peace within yourself and surrounding yourself with the company of good people to help you move forward in life."

With P-Rawb lacing the A side with a skillful, feel-good flow, the collab comes together like a backyard BBQ on a chill summer day. The B side instrumental version of the track enters with profound strings and keys setting up for something special. With a rolling, percussion-rich beat, the track contains just the right amount of weight and finesse. With mixing and mastering coming from Portland based audio engineer, Kevin Carafa, not only is the beat infectious but the whole track sounds crisp, clear and well balanced. 

Support the release on Bandcamp

Follow Big-O
Soundcloud
Twitter
Insta
Spotify

Follow P-Rawb
Soundcloud
Twitter
Spotify

Follow Kevin Carafa
Website

Lush downtempo from Japanese producer- KEET

KEET is a Japanese artist, designer and producer who crafts chilled out, downtempo beats. Previously studying music theory and jazz piano, he was attracted to beatmaking and electronic music for it's limitless sonic potential and creative flexibility. 

In addition to his audio prowess and crisp beats, KEET also designs his own cover art. He designs both the audio and visual designs in parallel, so as to compliment one another and serve as a singular cohesive package. 

His recent track 'Told you so' is a fresh twilight drive along the Japanese coast. A 5 minute journey through falling keys, cascading vocals and gently lapping guitar fading into the distance. 

Follow
Soundcloud
Spotify
Twitter

An Acid House Rollercoaster from Japan's CD Hata and Koyas

Preview from forthcoming EP

Japanese producer Koyas and his Tokyo-based label 'Psymatics' continue their eclectic collaboration series with a fresh creative amalgamation for the third instalment. This time welcoming experienced producer and multi-instrumentalist: CD Hata. 

Hata serves as the synth player, producer, and remix director for the well-known Japanese psychedelic jam band 'Dachambo.' Formed in 2001, the band's free form live jams, deep tribal rhythms and energetic stage presence has made them a festival favourite in Japan. In addition to his participation in the band, CD Hata also works on his solo production and DJ projects, which has brought him to festivals and club events around the world.

Koyas is a producer, DJ, and label owner based in Tokyo. He manages the label 'Psymatics' which releases a variety of electronic music with an emphasis on spontaneous live creation. Koyas is also one of the first Ableton certified trainers in Japan and runs Ableton Meetup Tokyo; a regular producers' meetup that features guest speakers and workshops. In addition to his active duties as a trainer and organizer, Koyas has released on quality Japanese imprints such as Jet Set, Third ear, Grand Gallery and more. 

'Spring Lover' is a reconstructed recording of a hardware-drive session from the 2 experienced producers. Showcasing the live, spontaneous nature of the collaboration, the track's acid bassline chugs ahead like a locomotive while live synth solos and eclectic effects bring further flavour to the sonic framework. 

Support the release on Bandcamp. 

Follow Koyas
Website
Twitter
Spotify

Follow CD Hata
Twitter
Mixcloud
Tumblr
Spotify

Follow Psymatics
Website

New album from Chill electronic producer- Hotwax

Nightwatch, a song by Hotwax on Spotify

Hotwax is 24 year old musician and producer Adam Keilbach. Adam is a self-taught musician and electronic music producer, and since 2011 has been crafting downtempo tunes with chilled out vibes, engaging hooks, atmospheric beats.

Based in Florida, Keilbach has released across a number of domestic and international labels including: Bad Pop (Mexico), Vacant Music (South Carolina), Intelligent Sound (Missouri), 2060 (Washington) and has contributed remixes to up and coming artists such as James Deen, Conclave, and fka Spazzkid. 

Last year Adam dropped his debut album- 'Communicator' on Olympia, Washington eclectic tape label, 2060. The album, consisting of 12 tracks packed with lush soundscapes and ethereal melodies, featured a number of special musical collaborations including live guitar from Nate Wagner and vocals from Navigateur and Steffalloo. 

Now, fresh off the press, we have the brand new Hotwax album entitled 'Nightwatch' to share with all you music heads today. Released just yesterday on Texas label 'Sleepless Collective', the album features 7 tracks of expertly articulated, synth-laden electronic experiences. From the upbeat, drum-driven rhythm of 'Nightwatch' to the minimal and melancholic 'Secret River' the album showcases Keilbach's skill in creating infectious, synth heavy atmospheres that are as cinematic as they are serene. 

Support the release over on Bandcamp

Follow Hotwax
Soundcloud
Spotify
Facebook

Follow Sleepless Collective
Soundcloud
Facebook
Insta

Mary Yalex "Some Kind of Joy" Track premiere

Thanks to Romanian youtube channel- Verzila for premiering the full track: "Lonely Drift" from our upcoming vinyl release with German producer Mary Yalex. Grab the release here!

Mary Yalex - 'Some Kind of Joy' marks the German producers first appearance on the ADSR label and the first vinyl release from the eclectic west coast collective. Having been featured on the blog three years ago, Mary's deeply personal sound now finds a more permanent home within the label's discography.

Clips of our first vinyl release are up

We are proud to present our 9th label release and first vinyl release! Featuring the music of Leipzig-based producer: Mary Yalex and pressed on white label vinyl.
Only 100 of these made so jump on the pre-order over here:
http://adsrmusic.ca/album/some-kind-of-joy

Hello friends, We are very happy to announce our 9th label release and first vinyl release! The music, coming from a long time friend who we featured a few years back on the blog, Mary Yalex. We've been a fan of Mary's music for many years, and after hearing how her tracks are layered with melody and emotion it's easy to see why. We pressed 100, one track a side, white label vinyl, nice and simple so we can let the music speak for itself. The pre-order is over here: http://adsrmusic.ca/album/some-kind-of-joy Enjoy! Connect with Mary Yalex: https://www.maryyalex.de/ https://soundcloud.com/mary-yalex https://maryyalex.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mary_yalex/ https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/ma... Connect with ADSR Collective: https://www.adsrcollective.com/ http://adsrmusic.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/adsrcollective