SCION RELEASES VOLUME 18 OF MIX SERIES, FEATURING DARKO OF SPANK ROCK, NINJA TUNE RECORDS
Win it here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win a copy of the latest Scion CD sampler, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Scion CD” in the subject line.
Scion’s commitment to artistic expression provides a platform for passionate musicians to focus on developing their art and exploring their endless possibilities. The promotional Sampler CD series on Scion’s Audio/Visual label highlights the best in cutting edge DJ talent and shines light on under-represented artists.
DJ Darko of Spank Rock, AKA Ronnie Darko, Darkness or Lord Darko presides over volume 18 in conjunction with innovative labels Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records. Previous mixes in the series have been curated by the likes of Cosmo Baker & DJ Ayers, DJ Cutler and Flosstradamus.
Darko is one half of the two-part DJ backbone that keeps Baltimore party hounds Spank Rock upright. The “hip-hop” collective, built around Devlin & Darko, CoolDisco MC Spankrock and producer XXXchange continues to set stages and body parts alight with its wildfire debut YoYoYoYoYoYo on Big Dada Recordings. Darkness is half-Scorpio, half-Libra and all-time snacker. He hates good people and loves good times.
Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records form a family of like-minded labels operated in London and Montréal since 1990. Renowned for challenging listeners on and off the dancefloor, Ninja Tune has set landmarks with artists such as Amon Tobin, Kid Koala and Coldcut; and Roots Manuva, Spank Rock, and Diplo on the Big Dada roster. The latest foray is into astral mathematics with Pop Levi’s debut on the new Counter imprint, marking the electronic and hip-hop labels’ resounding arrival in the rock canon.
To learn more about Scion Audio/Visual (SA/V), please visit www.scion.com/sav, where you can listen to exclusive promotional records.
To listen to this mix, previous mixes or check on future mixes in the Sampler series please visit:
www.Scion.com/culture/av/mix_cds
For more on DJ Darko:
Spankrock.net // ronniedarko.com // lorddarko.com
Mix CD Tracklisting:
01. Kid Koala – “Stoppin Traffic” / Kid Koala – “Party at Eric’s!” / The Herbaliser – “Geddim!!”
02. Coldcut – “Boogieman” / Ty – “This Here Music” / Hint – “You Little Trooper”
03. Spank Rock – “Backyard Betty”
04. Blockhead – “The Art of Walking” / Hexstatic – “Chase Me”
05. Coldcut feat. Roots Manuva – “Tru Skool”
06. Mr. Scruff – “Get A Move On” / Spank Rock – “What It Look Like”
07. DJ Food – “Dark Lady”
08. Amon Tobin – “Four Ton Mantis” / XXXchange – “Lady Huh”
09. TTC – “(Pas La Peine D’Appeler Je Ne Respons Pas Au) Telephone” / XXXchange – “Clint Instrumental”
10. Pop Levi – “Sugar Assault Me Now (Part 2)” / Spank Rock – “Competition”
11. Bonobo – “Nightlife (ZeroDB Reconstruction)” / Spank Rock – “Far Left (Mochipet Rmx)”
12. TTC – “Une Bande De Mecs Sympas”
13. The Herbaliser – “8 Men Strong (Intro)” / Sharkey feat. Zooks – “Darkness”
14. One Self – “Cupid Smiling That Smile”
15. Bonobo – “Days to Come”
GRAMMY WINNER DAN WILSON TO RELEASE SOLO DEBUT IN OCTOBER
Win it here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win a copy of Free Life, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Dan Wilson CD” in the subject line.
Dan Wilson is poised for the release of his solo debut Free Life. Produced by Wilson, a Grammy-winning songwriter and former member of cult band Trip Shakespeare and the critically acclaimed group Semisonic, the album will be available Oct. 16 on American Recordings. Executive produced by label head Rick Rubin, Free Life features contributions from Sheryl Crow, Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.), among others.
Now working as a solo artist and collaborating with a collective of notable musicians from his home city of Minneapolis, Wilson earned a Song of the Year Grammy in February for his co-writing work on the Dixie Chick’s “Not Ready To Make Nice†from the album Taking the Long Way. He also contributed writing to six songs on the album, which won the Dixie Chicks a total of five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year. Wilson has also collaborated with such acclaimed artists as Mike Doughty, Rachael Yamagata, Jewel, Jason Mraz and others.
Wilson’s first solo effort, Free Life, began as a self-produced project in the Twin Cities and was finished in Los Angeles by Wilson and Rubin, who enthusiastically agreed to help complete the record, saying of Wilson, “Dan’s music touches my soul. He is/has the perfect combination of inspiration and songcraft. He is a timeless artist whose music will feel as good in 50 years as it does today.â€
The album features contributions by renowned artists from the worlds of pop, rock, country and bluegrass. Sheryl Crow provides harmony vocals on “Sugarâ€, Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) plays the finger-picked acoustic guitar on “Free Life†and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) contributes a guitar solo on “Cryâ€. Furthermore, Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.) plays drums on a number of tracks and Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers) provides piano on “Against History†and several others.
Wilson wrote the songs that would become Free Life while living in a house built in 1903, infusing the tracks with the spirit of their surroundings. Inspired by sheet music Wilson purchased at antique stores and a Neil Young biography emphasizing his insistence on live recording, the more open and unpredictable Free Life expands upon the more structured arrangements of Wilson’s previous work.
Following his tenure with Trip Shakespeare, Wilson rose to prominence as a founding member of the Minneapolis-based trio Semisonic. The band released its full-length debut Great Divide in 1996 and was launched to stardom with its second album, 1998’s Feeling Strangely Fine. The record produced the hit single “Closing Timeâ€, which reached number one on Modern Rock charts and number nine on the Billboard Top 40 charts.
Official Site:
www.danwilsonmusic.com
MySpace Page:
www.myspace.com/danwilsonmusic
OMILLIO SPARKS ANNOUNCES THE “DJ TURN IT UP” REMIX/MASH-UP CONTEST
In anticipation of the new Omillio Sparks’ album, The Payback, which will be released on Aug. 28, 2007, via his own label, Colossal Entertainment (Koch), we are offering a contest to remix the new club-ready party anthem single “DJ Turn It Up”.
Here is your chance to remix the song and have it spun by some of the top DJs in the country. Included is the acapella of the song. Submit a remix or mash up the song and one winner will receive the following:
– Remix blast on the 1200Squad.com
– Remix featured on a future Cornerstone Mixtape
– Remix featured on Omillio Sparks MySpace page
– Gemini PS-626 mixer
– Yak Pak DJ Bag (fit for vinyl and Serato)
– V.I.P. pass to any upcoming Remix Hotel
– 10 runners up will win a free subscription to Remix magazine
Photos of the prize items located here: http://www.cornerstonepromotion.com/digitalcontest/omillio/index.html
All MP3s must be submitted to: omilliosparksremix@gmail.com.
All MP3 submissions can be only 192 kbps MP3 (no other file sizes will be accepted).
All entries due by Sept. 3, 2007.
Omillio Sparks MySpace: www.myspace.com/sparksmusic1
Omillio Sparks official site:
www.omilliosparks.com
Listen:
Omillio Sparks – “DJ Turn It Up” (audio):
http://h.zeitbyte.com/o1/cornerstone/omillio_sparks/dj_turn_up_128.asx
Download the acapella:
www.zshare.net/audio/30602085064f3e/
Sponsored by:
1200Squad.com
Remixmag.com
Geminidj.com
YakPak.com
