Dillon Francis – Money Sucks Friends Rule [3.5/4]

Dillon francis - money sucks friends rule album cover

Marcin

Wow, what a difference a year can make; the last time I saw Dillon Francis was at the Aragon Ballroom when he played an after party with Excision. Unfortunately both let me down that night and I ended up leaving the show early. Fast forward to 2014 after months of touring the biggest festivals in the world and releasing a few hit singles Dillon Francis comes out with a much anticipated 1st album Money Sucks Friends Rule. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Dillon, but I started to like his sound after he dropped his single “Messages” and after “Get Low” hit the airwaves I knew I wanted more. That song alone got Dj Snake on my radar. Money Sucks, Friends Rule will definitely give everyone something to listen to. The first song “All that” had to grow on me mainly because of the hip hop influence once it did it completed what is a very multi dimensional album that you can put on repeat for nonstop dancing action. From slower songs to some awesome melodies and drops this album has it all. If you needed any more reason to see Dillon at the Aragon ballroom on Friday December 5, this is it. I give this album 4 out of 4 stars.

Nina:

Dillon Francis’ first album, “Money Sucks, Friends Rule”, takes #65 on the iTunes top album chart. The DJ granted his fans an album with tons of variety. One song contains rap and dubstep while another has a melody and vocals. You’ll definitely start hearing Francis’ songs at the parties and clubs you go to. I’m rating “Money Sucks, Friends Rule” a 3 out of 4 stars for the vibes and originality.

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Cathy:

The album, Money Sucks, Friends Rule, is quite possibly close to perfect! It really comes to no surprise when we find out that Dillon Francis is topping charts left and right. This album offers hit after hit, everybody will find a song on here that they cannot stop replaying. It is honestly refreshing to hear such a great album after well a pretty silent period of NEW in the EDM community. I seriously can’t take it when I listen to “I Can’t Take It.” “We Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” is absolutely weird, but it’s Dillon Francis, so I love it. A refreshing song that is bliss is my ears is most definitely “When We Were Young.” And I think we all know “What’s that Spell.” This album 100% convinced me to see Dillon Francis Dec 5th in Chicago! I”ll go von deeper for this one and give DJ Hanzel/ Rave Dad/ Diplo’s BFF a 4 out of 4!

Iza:

Dillon Francis’ first album and the most anticipated album of the year brings the best of all worlds to one album by mixing in all types of genres and artists. In just 12 tracks, Dillon manages to squeeze in mumbathon, pop, funk, house, and trap. This album is very original and it is obvious that Dillon put a lot of effort into it. My personal favorite is “Drunk All The Time” since it is a bit calmer (I’m a trance fan). I also like “We Make it Bounce” since I am a Major Lazer fan. Since he has blown fans away during his sets in the last year, I will be sure to see him on his tour. I give this album a 3/4.

3.5_stars

Steve Aoki – Neon Future I Review [2.5/4]

steve aoki neon future logo

Iza:

Aoki’s new album Neon Future I was a less anticipated album of the few coming out around the same time. Obviously listeners didn’t know what to expect since Aoki hasn’t been at the top of the charts for a while. Aoki compiled tracks with many unexpected vocalists and artists such as Will.i.am, Waka Flocka, Fall Out Boy, Flux Pavilion, and Chris Lake. My personal favorite track, “Neon Future” , features Luke Steele from Empire of the Sun. All of these songs are more party themed and are very catchy. I give it 3/4!

Cathy:

“Back to Earth,” which features Fall Out Boy is an interesting twist to the whole album and even the EDM scene.  Waka Flocka and Kid Ink rap over the albums two catchiest tracks to me, “Rage the Night Away” and “Delirious.” So from Pete Wentz to Flocka this album basically breaks all barriers. Aoki proved that EDM is so much more than some catchy beats, a loud bass, and random vocals. Overall this is not a super catchy album I’ll see myself listening to but, I will give him credit for trying something new. Neon Future I receives a solid 2 out of 4 from me.

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Marcin:

I’ve always liked Steve Aoki, his music is always on point and his shows are full of energy. Even though I don’t see how throwing cakes or riding a blown up water raft is relevant to the music. Regardless Neon Future I is a solid album. The 4 singles released to build hype for the album ( Rage The Night Away, Delirious, Free The Madness, Get me Outta Here) are definitely hits even though by now they have been overplayed, “Back to Earth” which features Fall Out Boy is a pleasant surprise on the album. It continues with Aoki’s trend of working with non EDM artists. The album is exactly what you expect of Aoki  with a futuristic theme. That being said the album is good not great. I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Nina:

Neon Future I, is the mainstream edm scene at its finest. This album lacks creativity and sounds like a typical Aoki track. The album shows that he’s putting too much effort caking fans and not enough effort trying to make good music. No song on the album struck me as a edm music fan; therefore, I’m giving “Neon Future I” a 1 out of 4 stars for being totally predictable.

2.5_Stars

 

Twitchcast 004

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Chicago’s very own Twitchin Skratch of Murky Beats released his third FREE monthly mixes on soundcloud today. If you like house, deep house, tech house or techno give it a listen. below.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/166844451″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Animale [Interview]

Animale logo

After a short but wild Friday (August 29th)  night at union Park for North Coast Music Festival I traveled with a few WhySoChi members to check out the Portage Theater, a new EDM hosting venue in Chicago, for a coast after party. After getting settled and checking out the place (which has a great sound system by the way) we were ushered passed the stage into a nicely hidden green room. There we found some familiar faces including our friend Jai Sephora aka Animale.

After a drink, some chit chat and meeting his agent and manager, a crew member enounced ”where is the press?!” Instinctively a few friendly fingers pointed my way. “Do it on the fly” cheers ensued. Below is what I came up with spare of the moment. Hope it gives you some insight to who I think is a very talented local DJ,

1.“You have had a really busy year. You have come out with some great singles and performed at EDC Chicago last year. Is there anything that we should know about within the next 12 months?”

“Yeah, absolutely. We also just dropped a Borgeous remix so we will have a free download. We also have an Oliver Heldens remix we have been sitting on so that should be coming out within the next couple of months as well. I have an EP I am working on. A lot of new music and hopefully more gigs as well.”

  1. “You have a lot of local success. We also saw that you have been touring around in not only the Midwest, but also other states. You just recently went to Orlando. Being that you are from Chicago, how do you feel the Chicago scene or crowd differs from other places around the country?”

“The one thing I notice is that most crowds are all the same as far as if they’re going to come out to see you. The internet makes it so that you don’t have to be from a certain city to know what people’s songs are or what they’re going to play. There’s  a lot of love everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are from.”

  1. “You mentioned you are working on a EP. I know you had collaboration with Dani Deahl and Alex Peace.  Is there anybody local or anyone up and coming we should know about that will be on your EP?”

“I don’t have anyone directly that I am collaborating with. However, I am working with Trentino on a new track and had a release with David Hopperman not too long ago that was on Big & Dirty. I am trying to focus a lot on branding myself without being stuck to too many other people.”

animale press pack photo

  1. “Given the recent success, what is your personal triumph that you take pride in and what is the ultimate goal for Animale?”

“I just want more people to know my music and experience my live shows. I’ve been doing this 10 years now and I am very comfortable with DJing and so I want more people to come out. My motto has always been to aim as high as you possibly can and if you come up short, you are still above everybody else. For example, my goals are obviously to play Ultra Music Festival and hopefully headline one day but the goals are high obviously. ”

  1. “What is one thing you want your fans to know?”

“Be safe and have fun. Live it up. Life is short. You should never be unhappy doing anything. Whatever makes you happy – DO IT”

6.“What is with that port-a-potty video?”

“Well I like to have a lot of fun and I was really drunk. I had just gotten a GoPro and I wanted to make the best of my new GoPro. Plus, how many DJs have you seen go to a port-a-potty. I am probably the first and the last.”