28 November 2017
We've talked a lot about the importance of perseverance in this business of saving the world. A wise chimp once said, 'we only fail when we give in trying.' As long as we never give up and never surrender, we can only succeed, even if we're walking on two left feet all the time!
I felt it twas time to inject some EDM back into this playlist, and what better way to do it than with Sergio T's summer nostalgia kit? It's incredibly well produced, the vocals are perfect, and it oozes all of the positivity we need to get us through the darker winter nights (at least until Christmas hits, which I'm actually looking forward to this year since it's my first festive period where I won't have to work!)
Lyrically, 'Never Give Up' documents an every day struggle that I'm sure we've all been through, that of having to deal with reminders of an ex partner continuing to haunt us long after they've gone. It's another ode to the sidekick, letting us know that even when it feels like we're at rock bottom, there's always a reliable team behind us to keep us going toward, you guessed it - Victory!
We've been exploring some darker vibes lately, so it's nice to come back to something equally as powerful in it's positivity. Indulge yourself today and have a little dance, Sergio will thank you for it and, more importantly, you'll thank yourself!
You can learn more about Sergio T. here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Bloodline – S.O.S
21 November 2017
A hero should be the voice of unity. If the true evils of the world are intolerance and prejudice, then it's our job as superheroes to battle against them in whatever way we can.
S.O.S has answered this call to arms with elegance. 'Bloodline' is a reminder that despite our superficial differences, in opinion or in attitude, ultimately we all came from the same place. Saving the World! often isn't really about battling supernatural threats and narrowly averting major cataclysmic events. It's about challenging damaging mentalities and confronting the darkness woven into our being to rise above it as better humans. Super Humans.
Sonically, I feel like 'Bloodline' really taps into the duality of human nature. Down-tempo drums, deep pulsing synths and chilling piano melodies soften in the wake of S.O.S's soothing voice, reminding us that things don't have to be so bleak; that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It's an incredibly well produced track with plenty of subtleties going on low in the mix - treats for the repeat listener (and the headphone listener, the TRUE appreciators of music!)
Take the message from 'Bloodline' and use it to do something great today. 'If we all just take a little time,' we could find ourselves one step closer to Victory!
You can learn more about S.O.S here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Dreamlife – Morning Fatty
14 November 2017
Even heroes need a day off.
I mean come on, it gets tiring saving the world every. single. day. Sometimes we'd rather not whack on our supersuit (as usual, points for the reference), and just kick our feet up and watch some bad telly instead. And that's perfectly within our right! No one's paying us to be heroes - the world owes us some down time!
'Dreamlife' is the epitome of this sense of relaxing our responsibilities for the time-being. As Andrew tells us in the chorus, he wants to do big things, just not right now, if that's all the same to you. Being a hero can wait - Game of Thrones is on and it's the one where... Well, I won't spoil it for you. But it's the one. Yeah, that episode...
I think my favourite thing about this track is that it really lives up to it's name sonically; luscious pads, laidback grooves, groovin bass. This stuff really matters; don't call your song 'Chillout Melody #2' if you're gonna open with blastbeats and a death growl (I don't know if anyone's actually doing this but if you are, stop.)
The choruses are a real jam as well. There's some trap vibes easing their way in, underpinning a damn catchy lead synth (in my head now for the rest of the year, thanks) and an incredibly powerful vocal hook.
So take a day off, chill out, and let the world save itself for a bit. And make sure 'Dreamlife' is your soundtrack to this endeavour, you'll thank me for it later
Morning Fatty are taking on the world and you definitely want to get involved before they go stratospheric and you've missed your chance!
You can learn more about Morning Fatty here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Bow – Kasabian
8 November 2017
The best heroes are aware of two very important facts in life.
The first is that, in order to truly defeat evil, you have to be unpredictable. Life doesn't move in straight lines, and neither should you. We make our best decisions when they come from an unexpected place, because despite all of the wonders of our evolution, we're complete idiots when it comes to deciding what's best to do for ourselves. That's the curse of being rational.
By placing evil on a linear continuum, we force it onto a straight line. And that makes it damn easy to defeat when we hit it side-on. Accept the fact that you're completely fucking clueless about what's around the corner, and use that knowledge to your advantage. Play the future at it's own game. Be the curveball.
The second thing the truly successful heroes know is when it's time to throw in the towel. Perseverance is an incredible trait to possess, but true wisdom comes from knowing when to persevere, and when to take a knee. There's no use taking a juggernaut to the noggin if it'll absolutely definitely kill you. Don't be an idiot. Play the long game.
Alright so by this point you're probably wondering what the fuck this has to do with, like, anything. Well let me fill you in kiddo. This week's song is one that I feel embodies both of these qualities perfectly. In terms of genre, Kasabian are quite the fresh kettle of fish when you consider the other songs on the playlist; 1 point to unpredictability. Lyrically, the song is a journey into accepting that it's time to take a bow, call it quits, move on with your life. 1 point to wisdom.
And let's face it, it's a very synthy track and it should sit nicely amongst it's playlist buddies. Kasabian are an incredibly versatile band and they serve as an interesting crossroads for allowing me to branch out and create a playlist that isn't just blunt force trauma to the genre-skull!
If this is your first experience with Kasabian, I think you're in for a treat (which, incidentally, is the name of another song off this album, and as the name suggests, it's quite the treat!)
You can learn more about Kasabian here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Never Be Like You – Flume, kai
2 November 2017
Subscribe to this playlistSometimes we heroes forget that at the end of the day, we’re only human. We make mistakes. Flume and kai know this, and they want you to know it to. Maybe you fucked up today—you didn’t Save the World! Maybe you even destroyed a one. That’s okay. You’re only human, and yes, you make mistakes.
Let ‘Never Be Like You’ be the reminder that you needed that it’s okay to drop the ball once in a while, get your cape caught in a few engine exhausts (maximum points to anyone who gets this reference), and cause a few global catastrophes. Every story has it’s ups and downs, and when we’re hit with the downs, it might seem like there aren’t any ups at all. When this happens, don’t beat yourself up. Understand that as humans, we have limitations. We can’t be heroic 24/7—we’d burn out.
Flume never fails to astound me with his production prowess. He’s a vibe-builder, a groove-warper, and an all-around musical genius. If this is your first encounter with Flume, let this introduction serve as a portal into the worlds he can create, and I promise you, once you set foot into his universe, you might never return. And that is a very good thing.
You can learn more about Flume here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Lean On – Major Lazer ft. MO & DJ Snake
2 November 2017
Subscribe to this playlistBeing the full-time superheroes that we are, we often need reminding that we don’t have to do all this on our own. As this track perfectly surmises, ‘we all need someone to lean on.’ This track is a loving tribute to all the sidekicks in our lives, the ones who make our endeavours possible, the ones who stick by us through thick and thin. Without them we are mere mortals; together, we can Save the World!
Lean On has been at the top of my playlists ever since it was released. It holds a special power to it, there’s an emotionality to it that I can’t really describe. It’s exotic and it’s sad but it’s also raw and uplifting. It does exactly what a song should do; that is, embody some way of feeling that can’t properly be done with words. It’s a timeless classic that serves as testament to the production powerhouses responsible for its creation.
You can learn more about Major Lazer here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
The Only Way Is Up – Martin Garrix & Tiësto
2 November 2017
Subscribe to this playlistThere’s no rush quite like the one when Victory! is in sight. In these moments, the world is ours, we have full control, and nothing can get in our way. In other words, the Only Way Is Up!
Our soundtrack needs to reflect this. Martin & Tiësto join forces to create what in my opinion is possibly one of the most uplifting tracks ever written. The melodic choices they made in producing this song are truly sublime; this track isn’t just positive, it’s the embodiment of euphoria. It reminds you that every success is yours for the taking if you keep heading in the right direction – Up!
And if you feel like Victory! is out of your grasp at the moment, don’t worry. Martin & Tiësto are here to remind you that no matter how much the odds seem stacked against you, that life is really trying to piss on you, there’s only one way you’re coming out of your slump – and that way is Up!
You can learn more about Martin Garrix here:
You can learn more about Tiësto here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Stamina – Jordy Dazz
1 November 2017
Subscribe to this playlistIf there's one thing any hero needs, it's stamina. Life is a marathon, and this track is the juice in your veins that keeps you pumping past those moments where you feel like you haven't got anything left to give. Unlike most tracks of the genre, this track works it's way to the drop in a much more measured, progressive fashion, which is truly fitting given the title, forging a listening experience that is steady but in a fully intentional way. This is the track you need when you're gearing up for your next mission, crossing the next apocalyptic wasteland, or delving into an underground cave system in search of a subterranean lair.
Jordy Dazz is a producer who definitely deserves more limelight. Not only is he can incredibly talented producer, but he's also active in supporting the producing community, providing project files to be used as a learning resource which is information not everyone is so keen to part with. In Music's fight against Evil, Jordy Dazz is instrumental in training the next wave of heroes, and this is something we should all be eternally grateful for.
You can learn more about Jordy Dazz here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Happiness – Sagan
31 October 2017
Subscribe to this playlist*Villains Beware: the following content is not suitable for those of a malevolent disposition*
This song truly delivers on the title. Like a jumper cable to the nipples of your soul, it'll boost you through the most troubling parts of your adventure and see you on your way to Victory! From the chipmunked lead vocal to the intensity of the drop, the song injects groove and vibe from start to finish. If there were ever to be a soundtrack to being on top of the world, this would surely be it. As the song says, 'I just can't get enough', and I guarantee once you give this a spin, you won't either!
I only discovered Sagan a short while ago, but I have to say I've been addicted to his tracks ever since. As producers the first thing we wanna do after hearing a fire track is try and emulate it for ourselves, break it down into it's core pieces and figure out what it is about it that makes it worm into our brain and stay there. Sagan is one producer I just can't reverse engineer, and for this reason his tracks will remain enigmatic to me and therefore, awesome
You can learn more about Sagan here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.