Sound4Sina Productions – The Electronic Music Blog

I can literally stroll around for hours and just soak in the atmosphere in my surrounding.  That is probably the best feeling in the world; to have time for thinking, reflecting and seizing my visions, accepting today’s challenges and tomorrows changes, thus new people will step in to life and new ties will be made, new thoughts will be born and disputes may blemish personality.

Many thoughts were buzzing in my head as I – step by step (literally speaking) – walked from Grand Central Station down the Park Avenue Street on W 41^st heading westbound and soon to Empire State Building. While standing in front of a crowded entrance, I tried to locate nearest Starbucks, which gladly (and not surprisingly) were just across the street on the same side of Empire State Building. Standing in the queue made me think of the ignorance I always had when passing Espresso House back home in Sweden. Sulky youngsters and non-affordable coffee lattemacchinatochino’s are now replaced by skilled youngster Baristas with lots of energy and smiling faces, portraying the magnificence and prominence of the Big Apple in one single shot of espresso in a tall cup of ice, topped with caramel sauce and a little (but not much) blessed air of Colombian $16 (or something)/lb coffee, which probably is their coffee of choice when crushing those beans (which I only could hear, but not see) in the coffee bean crushing machine. However, the coffee and I went out from the cooled air at Starbucks to a crowded Fifth Avenue and 32^nd street.

Strolling southbound to the Flatiron Building, where people as always where standing and trying to fit in the odd shaped building while pushing the camera buttons. A guy tried to jump up the orange road cone but failed and got my attention when he said something in Italian. I then continued on Broadway down to Union Square, where Farmer’s market was crowded with the people from the Greenwich Village people and their half mile long street market. My iced caramel coffee had been slurped long time ago, and the heat transformed me into a radar, scanning for a diner. The diner was soon found on Greenwich Avenue. Some Bulls Bar or something like that, serving those big fat burgers with a pound of Burger King-tasting fries. After a burger and some fries plus a Corona and twenty-something well-spent dollars, I walked out and left the male waiter a chunk of my fries and at least 20% for tips. I also repeated the text which was printed on the back of his T-shirt for myself: “If you are what you eat, then I am fast, cheap and easy”.

This was the first half of my day in Manhattan. Now you’re probably wondering what happened next?
Well, let’s just sum it up by formulating something nice…

Arbitrariness is apparent, but good luck and continuous prosperity is too much to ask. That is my resolution from my day long journey through a hot, humid and crowded Manhattan.

…or should I say “with great work comes great responsibility”? If that makes sense… don’t know

I am sorry for my absence the past week or so. I have been working on new projects (not musically related) at the bio-tech firm I work at in New York. There’s no much time for the monthly EP mixes, so I’ll pass this month and depend the coming mixes on my work schedule for the coming months.
It’s not that I have neglected to work on new music projects, but as the title says; I simply have too much responsibility to take care of. (You know, I am actually saving lives out here).

In any case, I have no idea on the new progressive & electro house releases but I will try to not overlook my part of this blog. Love ya’ll out there

And there’s picture of me and my co-worker from the DNA pre-PCR lab…

This part of Charles de Gaulle airport is really sweet. See you soon

Please let me introduce you to the word Geek
Someone can be geeky, nerdy or dorky – but please don’t confuse yourself. Geek is good, to be nerdy can be relatively good, but not as much as being a geek – but being a dork is an absolute no-no.

Let me unfold this complex modular origami for you (note the geeky term I just used). I can easily get excited by a bling-blinged Synthesizer (i.e. pre-programmed synthesizer with freaky samples and sounds), and I sure am impressed of the new Apple SDK (Software development kit), and I am a big Web 2.0 (pron. “web two point o”) supporter.

I am glad that I began my geekiness with computers (technology), electronic synthesizers (music) and general electronics. Being able to be a “MacGyver” whenever it suits me, is pretty handy when it comes to daily life and random errors (bleep blop, red sign). Let us say that I am a wannabe technocrat with a philantrophic vocation.

I amuse myself with various GizWiz’ and some sound sampling on my keyboard rather than counting grains of sand on the bottom of the ocean. This said, I find swimming and diving very fun but it’s not my vocation!
Now, don’t let me smash this geeky post to smithereens, but I am pretty confident that geek is good. Mr Laporte, the Tech Guy usually says that he is a Geek – and he sure is a darn good Geek!

“Geek is Good!” and not everyone is able to become a geek. So all you cool glamourous people out there, try becoming a geek!

This non-important issue has surged within me ever since… I saw her (Sara Varga) for the first time! I don’t know whether she really is talented or not, and, quite frankly, I don’t think her skills are that impressing as she is describes it. Come on girl, from doing some (not so good) DJ sets to being a “sing and songwriter” and a writer.

I’ll continue to write songs as long as my heart is beating, and I hope that you’ll enjoy listening to them. Each and every song has their own story to tell and they are all related to me and my life, but I really hope that you can relate to them as well.

My complaint list is just too shallow (hah) to be written here, but she could at least:

• keep her voice in tune when singing those deep ooo’s and high iiii’s
• be a better role model for those shallow youngsters
• learn how to do make-up
• get rid of those hair extensions
• get herself a marketer (check her website and be the judge)

I would suggest her to choose between either being a DJ, a sing and songwriter or a writer. I always believed that girls could keep track on multiple tasks… but hey, she ain’t that skilled – who cares, right!?
Once again, be the judge – I am probably putting my feet in my mouth by writing all this, but it’s just my honest opinions. And Sara, if you someday somehow, by searching your own name in Google, find this post, please don’t get mad! I shook your hand and you continued playing that funky house track. Thanks for the time being and a sincere Good Luck wish to you

http://www.saravarga.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xkpKH0Oock

Check out this #1 Beatport track
Axwell & Dirty South – Open Your Heart (ft Rudy)
Really hot!

Makes me really happy, I keep smiling and it really opens my heart (wiieha). I bought it on the release date (July 9th 2008) and I just knew it would be a hit. I wouldn’t mind to play it on my next gig. It’s simply banging really hard. The track goes with a beautiful bass line and it has very straightforward vocals with the hall effect and some delay. A Vocal Mix and a Dub Mix has been released and I’m sure that there will be at least 3-4 remixes coming out very shortly!

“Baby, open your heart and just face to my face” 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Available @ Beatport and Juno | Label: Axtone Records AXT007

Yesterday on July 11th 2008, Chaka Khan performed at Tivoli in Copenhagen (no, I wasn’t there). She has been in the business for 4 decades (if not more), and I believe most of her songs has on some way or another been sampled and remixed and got remade. “Through the Fire” became “Through the Wire” when Kanye West put his hands on her lyrics and music. (I have read articles (and seen videos) of him showing off his MPC, explaining that it is his “favourite tool” for sampling and making beats)

I wish I could enjoy her music in private (oh yeah), or at least have the opportunity to attend her next live performance in US. My favourite song is Ain’t Nobody, which I once requested on the swedish P3 Radio (click to listen/download my request).

“Den här låten väcker lite 80-talsminnen då jag och min kompis klättrade upp på idrottshallens tak och lyssnade på den på vår bärbara kasett-walkman.”

“This song reminds me of the 80’s when a friend and I climbed up to the sports hall roof and listened to it on our portable cassette Walkman.”

There you go. That’s actually the truth, I had such a great time growing up and climbing up the walls
I wouldn’t consider myself a true fan of Chaka Khan, but some songs are hearty and uplifting and I am sure that many would agree the fact that she is a true singer and songwriter with plenty of charisma.

And I thought I could kill two birds with a stone…
Yazoo recently released a remix EP called Reconnected (Buy/Listen @ Juno). The sound of the 80’s is back. Turn on the analogue synthesizers, frame and glaze the previous remixes of Yazoo and put on the rubber gloves, cuz’ these tracks are really cool, very industrial and Yazoo:ish!
By the way, my favourite Yazoo track is Situation, it’s also available on the new Reconnected EP.

Finally! The date we all have been longing for – July 11th 2008 - the Official release of the iPhone 2.0

I’ve been TWiT’ing (This Week in Tech) for a couple of hours, joining the live broadcast of Leo Laporte. A new Guiness World Record has been set by some die hard iPhone fans (a.k.a geeks) in New York in front of the the “cube” at Apple Store. Although the AT&T plans has been set to (IMO) ridiculous prices (not mentioning the Swedish TeliaSonera’s) (former Telia) price plans for the iPhone. I haven’t deep digged into the plans, but comments and critics has been buzzing around the Internet. I myself have been exploring the world of intelligent marketing and product placing for the new era of tech products.

I wonder how many people where standing in queue for the Zune on its premiere release in mid November 2006. The self-explained marketing strategy of Apple products has been far beyond any conventional product release. The hype over the iPhone is truly amazing and I wish Apple all the best

iPhone Blues Song

It would simply be very wrong to end this post without relating it to something musical, so I would like to present the iPhone Blues Song for you. A lyric funky blues track contributed by phunkysai. It’s just great and appropriate for this gizwiz-happening! (Gizwiz, a Dick DeBartolo term for new tech gadgets).

I would like to shout out a great mix by Laszlo which I came across. A set of good tracks are mixed with lots of love, that is for sure

Download Sundeck Silvertejp [192 kbit | 71 min] 

Check out his blog @ http://www.djlaszlo.com/

This is the very first time I personally hear the Tech House and Electro DJ Claude Vonstroke playing a minimal track. The deep jungle-themed (sorry for my poor interpretation) minimal track called Scarlet Macaw was released today and really caught my attention when I pressed the play button at Beatport.
There are three tracks in the release; the Original Mix, Edgar Dirksen Remix and finally the Scarlet Macaw Unstrung which is a simple modification of the original mix (no strings etc). I really like the Edgar Dirksen remix, it’s highly experimental and still defines some mellow melodies throughout the song. The song reminds me of some dance track, but I can’t put my finger on which track it is. It might be some old trance track that had a similar melodic pattern. Maybe a Ferry Corsten track, or DJ Jurgen!?

By the way, where is DJ Jurgen at? I found two tracks at Beatport (Wicked Waves) which has been made by DJ Jurgen. And they were released on 2005-01-01. I am not convinced… the fact that he has retired from the Electronic Music business… that can’t be true! Okey, I am not t h a t worried. We still have plenty of talented fellows out there!

And one more thing: I miss my blue Strictly Trance CD. I bough it in Holland. It was before 2000. Probably in 1999. The place was Rotterdam. That was the early years of me being introduced to the trance scene, and I started making some crazy rave music. I tapped the tempo and wrote it down on the CD folders. The early years of everything

I actually never noticed this until today, when I read the ad about David Guettas unreleased track which has been offered for free at Beatport. After having listened to the track, it almost felt like a newbie had been playing around in Fruity Loops or Acid. What a disappointment!
The track is called “Jack is Back” and David explains:

‘Jack is Back’ has a real old school, acid house feeling; it’s totally different from my usual stuff, but is as much a reflection of my taste as my crossover productions.
If you have never heard me DJ, this might surprise you, but if you have spent the early hours in a club with me, you won’t be shocked.
There are some very cool DJs supporting it – we mailed it unannounced just before WMC and I love that I’m back in their boxes; as much as I love making hits like ‘Love Is Gone’ which reaches outside of our culture.”

Oh boy, I am even more dissapointed! Old school acid house feeling?
Nuff’ said – I’ll just delete the song and forget about all this mess.
VIP-tracks… anyone?

Australian Swordtail Records just released the track Monkey Island (preview track). The artist is Python.
Really great track, pounding bass and sweeping sounds.. schoooooooooff. Wondering where the idea of the track name came from. Overall, very much progressive and lovely melodies!

Buy @ Beatport