Month: April 2013

I’m excited that I was able to talk Natasha Diggs into sneaking out of her popular Mobile Mondays party (which happens to be two blocks away) to come and play a set on next week’s show. Luckily the all-star cast of Operator Emz, Joey Carvello, Misbehavior, $$$ Mike and Just Blaze have her covered.

About Natasha Diggs:

For over a decade Natasha Diggs has been digging deeper to provide the soundscape for venues across the globe in such cities such as Berlin, London, Prague, Los Angeles and New York.

As resident of New York City’s premiere all-vinyl 45 party, Mobile Mondays, Diggs has become a force to be reckoned with and one of the most sought-after DJs in the 45 game.

She’s played alongside artists such as Kenny Dope, DJ Spinna, Cut Chemist, Spinderella, DJ Scratch (EPMD), Just Blaze (Jay Z, Eminem), DJ Muro, Break Beat Lou (Ultimate Breaks & Beats) & Boogie Blind (X-ecutioners)

Natasha has also cofounded the all girls jam “Us Girls” which takes place monthly downtown showcasing female DJs and artists while creating a network amongst NYC’s rising female talent.

Whether based in NYC or worldwide Natasha can be heard DJing her monthly spot on ScratchVision TV and also as a featured guest DJ on B-Real TV in LA.

For more info and dates connect with Natasha Diggs on Facebook or Twitter.

Probably my favorite success story from the last year or two, Hiatus Kaiyote will be joining me in the East Village Radio studio tonight. Formed in 2011, they self-released their debut album exactly one year ago today. I saw their leader singer Nai Palm perform a solo set in the fall (they were still raising funds to bring the full band over from Australia). She was billed 3rd out of 6 acts and played a great set to about 80 people in a less-than-half-full room in Brooklyn. I also saw the full band headline a show to an very enthusiastic sold out out crowd of 600+ (who knew most of their lyrics) at Le Poisson Rouge less than two weeks ago (less than 6 months later). Listen live tonight at midnight ET at eastvillageradio.com when they’ll answer my idiosyncratic questions about their music and creative process and share some of their favorite music.

About Hiatus Kaiyote:

The opening song in Hiatus Kaiyote’s Tawk Tomahawk captures you instantly. Guitarist and lead singer Nai Palm’s vocals are raw and sincere—weaving in and out of a beautiful blend of strings and snares. The debut EP is bold, yet intimate. Close your eyes after pressing play and you will be transported from your seat to the desert sands of Australia where the video for “Nakamarra” was filmed.

The Melbourne quartet is an internationally acclaimed “future soul” band. In little under two years, highly-respected artists, audiophiles and everyday people have been waxing poetic about Hiatus Kaiyote. The music is diverse and it expands into a sound that can’t fit within the boundaries of a single genre. Each track is like a key ingredient in the listening experience that adds to a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, electronic, opera, rock and soul. Subtle traces of the group’s major influences, ranging from Stevie Wonder and J Dilla to Flying Lotus are imbedded in the project.

Hiatus Kaiyote formed organically through a series of jam sessions that took place in a house three members shared. The Tawk Tomahawk recording process was inspired by everything from watching relationships unravel to traveling the world. There’s a freewheeling spirit to the band, comprised of Nai Palm, keyboardist Simon Mavin, bassist/producer Paul Bender and drummer/producer Perrin Moss. Prior to joining forces, the bandmates were working the local music circuit and refining their respective talents.
When Tawk Tomahawk was released in spring 2012, the EP quickly climbed the indie charts. It was as if a word-of-mouth shock wave moved from Melbourne, to Gilles Peterson in London, to Questlove and Erykah Badu in New York City and beyond. Hiatus Kaiyote began performing with artists like Taylor McFerrin (Brainfeeder) and José James (Blue Note) and are now headlining sold-out shows.

But this is only the beginning, as Hiatus Kaiyote embarks upon its U.S. debut tour.
“Music has always been medication to us,” Nai Palm explains. “It’s a force for self-healing that we’re ready to share with the world.” Through a musical symbiosis, the band has created its own lane and Tawk Tomahawk showcases the breadth of their talent and love for music lyric by lyric, and beat by beat.