Asian Dan

Artwork by EIKNARF

THE ORION is now upon us. Shuttle has crafted the most epic mix to ever grace this blog. One Hour and Forty-Five Minutes of deep bass, UK 2-Step Garage, Dubstep goodness. If you listen to this all at once I applaud you. Checkout a little Q&A with Mr. Shuttle as he divulges his love of UK electronic music and why it took so long to get me this mix, 10 Months – but I must say it was well worth the wait.

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Download: Asian Dan Presents Shuttle “The Orion Mixtape”

Asian Dan Q&A:

1. Who is Shuttle? How would you describe your music?

Legally, I am Nathan Donmoyer from Leonardtown, Maryland, but I go by Shuttle because I try to make music that transports the listener through different places in a believable yet refreshing path.

2. What are biggest influences, musical or otherwise?

The rhythm section, drums and bass, bass and drums. The rhythm section is the most powerful ingredient, you can have the same chicken, noodles and vegetables raw to start, but with rhythm and bass you can make 1,000 thai, indian, italian, mexican, or japanese dishes. All delicious. That and all UK bass music. I love it all. Slow, fast, swung, straight, instrumental, mc’s, diva’s. I wonder if I was born in london if I would appreciate it as much…

3. This mix is anything but an Asian Dan MINImix, it is the most epic/longest mix ever to grace this blog – 34 tracks clocking in at 1 hour and 45 mins. What took so long and what was some of your inspiration for it?

Ok, to contradict my Anglophilia from above, I have to say, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND mini-mixes. It’s this BBC British phenomenon I can’t understand. Plus, I told you would do this mix in April 2009 so when I finally got around to doing it this week I thought I owed you at least 90 minutes right? Mp3 = freedom from 74 minute compact discs, why not embrace the long form?
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Shook is a Dutch producer/DJ that crafts a more musical sounding sound in the electronic/banger world. He follows suit in other electronic acts such as Kavinsky, Danger and Daft Punk by creating an alternate universe with an animated self that produces a mystique and allure, allowing his music to speak for itself. I was most impressed by his piano skills – check out the video below that won me over with his fantastic Rhodes solo. Siriusmo is a fan of his work and Shook has just finished up a remix of Emil & Friends’ “Josephine” which is waiting to be approved – so let us see what Shook has in store for us.

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Shook – Rise And Fall

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Shook – Something About You

1. Who is Shook? How would you describe your music?

Shook is a musical and visual outlet to escape from the world we live in today. It all began in my childhood really, when I found the glasses and I first came eye to eye with Beast. Since then nothing was like it was before. I would describe my music as electronic story telling funk.

2. What was your first musical memory?

My first musical memory is probably the constant Jazz piano playing by my father.

3. Who are your influences musical or otherwise?

I grew up listening to music ranging from Micheal Jackson and Prince to George Gerswin and Claude Debussy. Recently I have been listening to a lot of old jazz records and early 70’s funk. But, it doesn’t necessarily need to be music. It can be anything really. Like the sound of a microwave or the sounds of a skateboard. I can be influenced by art and animation too.
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Boston’s own Shuttle has been making quite big moves this year with his little band, Passion Pit but his remixes of acts such as Phoenix have been showing how versatile of a musician and producer he is. His style of dubstep is not your typical wonky basslines, but his music is sound is definitely HUGE in a good way. I could not get enough of his remix of Phoenix’s “Love Like a Sunset” and his recent remix of Body Language’s “Work This City” is quite a catchy one. I love that he included one of my favorite remixes of the year, Joy Orbison’s remix of Four Tet – a massive talent that Nate and I have talked about numerous times.

Be sure to catch him at Webster Hall 1.8.2010 with Holy Ghost! and Classixx to witness his DJing magic. What Shuttle has in store for Twenty-Ten, who knows, maybe a remix of Lady Gaga & Beyonce or a remix of P Diddy featuring Biggie or maybe even finally a mix for Asian Dan…who knows?

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- Crookers ft. Kelis – “No Security (Hot City Bass Mix)
- Gucci Vump – “Sha!Shtil! (L-Vis 1990 Remix)”
- Ramadanman – “Revenue (Untold Remix)”
- Friendly Fires – “Jump in the Pool (Thin White Dukes Remix)”
- Yacht – “Psychic City (Classixx Remix)”
- The Streets – “Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix)”
- Four Tet – “Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix)”
- Florence and the Machine – cover of “You Got the Love”(the xx remix)
- La Roux – “In for the Kill (Skream Let’s Get Ravey Mix)”
- Udachi and Jubilee – “Smoke Rings (Luna C remix)

You are probably wondering who is this “Sam” – and why does he get to put together a list for Asian Dan. He just looks like some skinny French hipster that enjoys bangers way too much. But this is Sam, the Sam, Asian Dan intern Sam. He is more than just an intern but my eyes and ears overseas finding me fresh new music everyday. You can even think of him as the French Asian Dan, I now bestow him Asian Sam.

He had a hardtime narrowing down his favorite music of 2009 which why his list is quite robust. But I know that we both are in love with Emil & Friends’ “Josephine” and we constantly listened to it over the summer. We are both looking forward to what Emil & Friends has in store for Twenty-Ten now that he and co have signed to Cantora Records. Also check out his fav mixes especially that Breakbot “Dance on Glass Disco Mix” and the Grum Annie Mac 5 Min Minimix.

Top of 2009

Album (10):
Florence and The Machine «Lungs»
Toro Y Moi «My Touch»
The Gossip «Music For Men»
Phoenix «Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix»
Washed Out «High Times»
Letting Up Despite Great Faults «LUDGF»
The XX «XX»
La Roux «La Roux»
Passion Pit «Manners»
SomethingALaMode «SALM»

Top 15 Songs of 2009:

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Emil & Friends – Josephine
Paul – Shine Sweet Freedom
Phoenix – Lisztomania
Bullion – Get Familiar
Ellie Goulding – Fighter Plan
Fake Blood – The Dozens
Siriusmo – Gummiband
Organ Morgan – Cocaine Afternoon
Fenech Soler – Lies
Two Door Cinema Club – Costume Party
Phonat – Set Me Free (Short Version)
Memory Tapes – Bicycle
80 Kidz – Miss Mars
Dusty Kid – Nemur (Wall of Guitars)
Cassius – Youth Speed Trouble Cigarettes

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Bibio’s “Ambivalence Avenue” caught me off guard this past fall. I am familiar with his past work but this album is the perfect blend of introspective lo-fi electronica with beautiful guitar work. Exactly what I need in these banger times. “All The Flowers” and “Lover’s Carvings” are perfectly written pop songs that I just can’t stop listening to. “Ambivalence Avenue” is up there for album of the year for me (Check out the blog next week for all my obligatory end of the year/decade lists to see who made it, as well as a few lists from some guests)

Stephen was kind enough to answer a few questions for Asian Dan giving us all a peek into his musical mind, naming some of his favorite guitar compositions by the likes of Steve Reich and Tortoise as well as explaining his musical philosophy.

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Bibio – All the Flowers

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Bibio – Lover’s Carvings

Asian Dan Q&A: BIBIO

1. Who is Bibio?

Bibio is Stephen James Wilkinson from Wolverhampton, England.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Imperfections in technology like spherical aberration in lenses, wobble on tape, distortion in valves, crackles on vinyl. Also, beautiful common occurrences in nature like flickering shadows caused by overlapping leaves wagging in a gentle breeze. The smell of damp foliage. The sound of wind through leaves and the chorus of bees, lawnmowers and blackbirds.

What was your first musical memory?

Learning ‘Silent Night’ on my brother’s old bontempi electronic organ.

3. You set the guitar in a very interesting and refreshing context. When did you pick up guitar?

I started to learn guitar chords at the age of about 11 or 12.

Who are some guitar heroes?

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine),Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Joao Gilberto, Joe Pass.

Who are some non-guitar musicians/composers you love that inspire your playing?

Steve Reich, Boards of Canada.

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My buddy EIKNARF and I had the opportunity to sit and chat with Jeff and Nate (Shuttle) of Passion Pit two weeks ago at their Phoenix/Passion Pit afterparty here in NYC. This is an impromptu/candid conversation as they look back at 2009 and what they have in store in the future.

Just remember that life is just a giant cactus and we are all woodpeckers just trying to get to that precious water inside…

The Belgian Trio Villa has hooked Asian Dan up with an hour long mix as well as answering some questions. Both shed some light on their disco/italo sound. I still can’t stop listening to their remix of Music Go Music.

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Villa – Asian Dan Exclusive VILLA Mix

Asian Dan Interview: VILLA

1. Who is Villa?

Villa is what you get if you lock two crazy djs with an even bigger studio freak in a studio packed with synths. A trio comprising of DJ duo Fredo & Thang & composer/producer Seba. Hailing from Ghent/Belgium they have been very active as DJ’s & producers over the last 10 years.

2. How would you describe your music?

While wanting to make people dance, we like to think we try to ensure that the listener gets his portion of contentfull music (whatever that is…). We stribe towards a more universal sound with a distinct personality that inspires people of all ages and genres…From haunting basslines and hypnotic leads to sugarsweet string arrangements and pop chord progressions…Inside VillA anything is possible…as long as it works for all of us… Setup wise the VillA sound is a blend of Vintage rare synths/processors and flee-market treasury..

3. What is your first musical memory?

Abba…Every morning on the road to school in the neighbours yellow MG…Queen…killed that best of tape…Eurythmics…Still in love with Annie Lennox…

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Crystal is a very unlike addition to the Hooligan Disco sounds of Institubes records but they are a Japanese quartet that does a great job making a nod to the early electronic greats, Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Jean Michel-Jarre, Human League, to name a few. There is something very quirky yet sincere about their brand of electro pop.

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Crystal – Don’t Mind (Demo)

Asian Dan Q&A: Crystal

1. Who is Crystal? How would you describe your music?
MARS, Keita Onishi, Shinya Sato, Ryota Miyake. Our music is Techno or Elepop.

2. What are some of your influences musical or otherwise?
We love Human League, Depeche Mode, Jean Michel Jarre, Der Plan etc.. YMO was a great band too. But we don’t know them well. We like the exaggerated seriousness of the arrangements of the songs of 80’s. But we like folksongs, psyche music, krautrock, calipso, mambo

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Artwork by EIKNARF

After hearing the Magistrates 20 Min Mixtape – a what I would call a “scanning through the radio/channel surfing” mix/mashup, I wanted to hear more. I asked the Magistrates boys if they would craft another similar mix that would give us all another peak into their pop music minds and they graciously agreed. Get ready for 20 mins of schizophrenic pop madness. They mix Can’s “Vitamin C” into Radiohead’s “Idioteque” into Yellow Magic Orchestra’s “Rydeen” – three of my favorite tunes of all time so I cannot argue with the insanity and awesomness that is this mix. Try to guess all the tunes. Also checkout how they let Damon Albarn win in ping pong.

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Asian Dan Presents Magistrates 20 Min Mixtape Part II

Asian Dan Interview: MAGISTRATES

1. Who is Magistrates? How would you describe your sound?

We are a collective of scientists, mathmeticians, chefs and philanthropists. The music we play alters the chemicals in your brain and makes your feet and hips groove uncontrollably.

2. What was your first musical memory?

Michael Jackson and The Beatles dominate most of our childhood. I [Galbally] have a weird memory of having Sunday Roast when I was about 4 or 5 and my Dad was playing Chris De Burgh, I think it was the whole album, and I remember at the time feeling physically sick… I’ve never been able to enjoy a Sunday Roast again.

3. How did the band form? What is the band’s vision and goal?

Our paths crossed, we all enjoyed the same things, we had the same type of mindset and we all played music; so we just put our heads together and eventually formed Magistrates. We aim to keep on making good music for as long as humanly possible, to express ourselves through it, and to send it rippling around the globe.
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Scarlets’ Stefano & Ivan answer a few questions allowing listeners into their musical minds. Their “Boundaries” single is out 11.1.2009 – check out the video for the B-side “The Women of WWII” after the jump and checkout Stefano’s latest mix “KIMONOII”

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Stefano Murgia – KIMONOII

Asian Dan Interview: SCARLETS

1. Who is Scarlets? How would you describe your sound?
Scarlets are five italian boys with a lot of sense of humour, but with a very serious attitude towards their music. Our sound changed radically during the last year. Now I guess we sound like an army charging upon the land.


2. What was your first musical memory?
Ivan:The big huge silver boombox radio standing in our sitting room playing some italian songwriters when I was 3.
Stefano: I guess my mum playing Violent Femmes’ vinyls and not liking them.


3. How did the band form? What is the band’s vision and goal?
We formed because of all the crappy bands hitting off british indie or american punkfunk. We just wanted to do something authentic. Our main goal is succeeding in writing 10 songs that we can still find satisfying after two weeks.
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