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Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images

News
Avicii's New Album 'TIM' Honors The Dance Hero aviciis-new-posthumous-album-tim-honors-late-dance-music-hero

Avicii's New Posthumous Album 'TIM' Honors The Late Dance Music Hero

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"He told me that this was the first time he'd enjoyed making music in years, so I had to make this as good as I possibly could to honour him and our friendship," said Carl Falk, one of the co-producers of the LP
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 6, 2019 - 4:35 pm

Today, June 6, TIM was released. It is the project that Tim Bergling aka Avicii left about two-thirds completed when he took his life last April, and arrives as a powerful tribute to the late dance music icon.

"I will never let go of music – I will continue to speak to my fans through it"#TimBergling 1989 – Forever pic.twitter.com/8SQADzzwT4

— Tim Bergling (@Avicii) June 6, 2019

Seeing as his music connected with so many young people, and his collaborators saw the GRAMMY-nominated producer at his happiest in years while working on the tracks, his family reached out to several of them to help complete the album. The LP is filled with powerful vocals, including on the moving Chris Martin-assisted "Heaven" and "SOS," which reunites "Wake Me Up" vocalist Aloe Blacc with Avicii for another epic collab.

Not long before the one year anniversary of his death on April 20, Avicii's family announced the Tim Bergling Foundation, a Sweden-based non-profit they set up in his honor that "will initially focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention." Shortly after, the announced TIM, for which a hundred percent of the proceeds from the album will go to the org.

"When someone close to you passes, the emptiness becomes a mission. He told me that this was the first time he'd enjoyed making music in years, so I had to make this as good as I possibly could to honour him and our friendship," Carl Falk, one of TIM's co-producers, told The Guardian.

Falk, who met Avicii back in 2010, completed "Ain't A Thing," "Bad Reputation" and "Fades Away" for TIM, which they had started together. "There was never an ego with him," he also told The Guardian. On "Bad Reputation," Falk sampled "Levels," as Avicii sometimes used the same technique, reusing bits of his older tracks in new songs. The steel-drum beat on the track was inspired by a song from Kaliffa, a Swedish rapper the late producer loved.

Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir, who make up the Swedish songwriting/production duo Vargas and Lagola, are two of the other main co-producers on the album. They worked on "Piece of Mind," "Tough Love" and "Excuse Me Mr Sir" on TIM, all of which they co-wrote with Avicii prior to his death.

"Tim getting out of that bad place, exercising and meditating. He was strong. Everyone could see it," Al Fakir told the news outlet.

On "Tough Love," a duet which opens with an Arabic-inspired string arrangement, Vargos and Lagola spoke to Avicii's family and decided to not include any new vocalists on the track.

"The duo re-recorded their guide vocals from the demo with Pontare and his wife, the Swedish singer Agnes, to keep it as close to the last Bergling-approved version as possible," The Guardian explains.

"Even the interviews talking about the process are part of the therapy for us. [Avicii] loved these songs, and wanted them to come out. That's the sad part. He's not here, and I feel like he'd just started something," Al Fakir said.

Avicii's Family Establishes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Foundation

Avicii

Avicii

Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images for Rolling Stone

News
Adam Lambert & More To Play Avicii Tribute Concert adam-lambert-rita-ora-kygo-david-guetta-more-play-avicii-tribute-concert

Adam Lambert, Rita Ora, Kygo, David Guetta & More To Play Avicii Tribute Concert

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The newly announced show will support mental health research via the Tim Bergling Foundation and feature DJ sets and live performances of the late DJ/producer's biggest songs
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 3, 2019 - 5:41 pm

The Tim Bergling Foundation recently revealed details for the Avicii Tribute Concert, to honor the late, beloved DJ/producer in his hometown of Stockholm on Dec. 5, at Friends Arena.

Fellow EDM DJs Kygo, David Guetta, Laidback Luke, Nicky Romero, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike will offer DJ sets, while over a dozen more artists will perform live versions of Avicii's music. Past collaborators including Adam Lambert (2013's "Lay Me Down) Aloe Blacc (2013's "Wake Me Up" and 2019's "SOS") Rita Ora (2017's "Lonely Together), Joe Janiak (2019's "Bad Reputation" and "Never Leave Me") and Vargas & Lagola (2019's "Piece of Mind," "Tough Love" and "Excuse Me Mr Sir," as well as co-writes on earlier hits, including 2013's "Hey Brother") are slated to bring his songs to life with a 30-piece live band.

All proceeds from the show will benefit mental health awareness via the Tim Bergling Foundation, which the artist's parents set up in his honor earlier this year to "focus on supporting people and organizations working in the field of mental illness and suicide prevention," following his suicide last April.

The concert will mark the first time many of his songs, namely those from his 2019 posthumous album TIM, are performed live, as well as the first time so many of his collaborators gather together to showcase his music that moved so many. The proceeds from TIM were also earmarked for the foundation, which also supports non-profit organizations with causes close to Avicii's heart, including climate change, endangered species preservation and ending global hunger.

Related: Avicii Remembered In Stockholm, At Coachella, And By Fellow Artists

"Tim had plans for his music to be performed together with a large live band, and now we are realizing his dream and giving fans a chance to experience his music in this unique way," Klas Bergling, Avicii's father, said in a statement.

"We are grateful that his friends, producers, artists and colleagues are coming to Stockholm to help. They have all expressed a sincere interest and desire to engage in efforts to stem the tide of mental illness and lend their support to our work with the Tim Bergling Foundation. We are very much looking forward to this evening, which will be a starting point for the foundation's work going forward… We want this concert to help put the topic on the agenda and pay attention to the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. Policies and tools are needed to detect the risks and prevent suicide, especially among young people," Bergling added.

Tim Bergling Foundation will advocate for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency and promote removing the stigma attached to the discussion of mental health issues. pic.twitter.com/LmEmB22jBb

— Tim Bergling Foundation (@aviciicharity) September 3, 2019

Tickets for what is sure to be a powerful concert go on sale Sept. 5 at 10:00 a.m. CET via Ticketmaster. The full lineup can be found here, with more artists to be announced later.

Lizzo, Halsey, Shawn Mendes & More To Talk Mental Health On Upcoming Radio Special

Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter in "I Do"

Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter in "I Do"

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Watch Aloe Blacc Get Romantic In New "I Do" Video watch-aloe-blacc-get-romantic-valentines-day-new-i-do-video

Watch Aloe Blacc Get Romantic This Valentine's Day In New "I Do" Video

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The touching new song is the first single from the artist's long-anticipated follow-up to his 2014 GRAMMY-nominated album, 'Lift Your Spirit'
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 14, 2020 - 6:01 am

In case your social media feed hasn't reminded you what day it is yet, surprise, it's Valentine's Day! To celebrate the heart-shaped-everything holiday, GRAMMY-nominated crooner Aloe Blacc has dropped a sentimental new song and video dedicated to his wife, Maya Jupiter.

"I Do" is the first single from the golden-voiced artist's long-anticipated follow-up to his 2014 GRAMMY-nominated album, Lift Your Spirit. The song was inspired by his longtime partnership with Jupiter, who is also a musician, and his decision to re-propose to her on their recent 10 year anniversary.

More Aloe Blacc: Musical Message-Maker | "Required Listening"

"Luck brought us together despite living halfway across the world with a vast ocean between us. 'I Do' is the perfect representation of the profound love we share. I wanted to create a song for Maya that was personal and universal," Blacc shared in a statement with the new music video. It also notes that this heartfelt track is one of his most personal songs to date, being the first time he's written about his relationship.

"Thought I was good / I was good on my own / I was all right," he repeats in the opening refrain. "Never understood why people say love chooses you / now I do, now I do." 

The beautiful visual features both Blacc and Jupiter, along with shots from their remarriage ceremony. In the behind-the-scenes video, which you can watch below (warning: tears ducts may be activated), the couple explains how the breakout success of 2010's "I Need A Dollar" and two years on the road prevented them from having a "real" wedding ceremony. This time, Blacc makes the day extra special, gathering their family—including flying her mom in from Australia—and friends, to celebrate their love and shoot an epic music video along with it.

Blacc is also set to release more new music, including a new album for which "I Do" will serve as the lead single. No further details have been revealed about the LP yet, but it follows a busy year of collaboration in 2019 for "The Man" singer. He was featured on Avicii's posthumous album, TIM, with "SOS" earning the pair another chart-topping dance hit after 2013's "Wake Me Up."

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8VH_cHh72N

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A post shared by Aloe Blacc (@aloeblacc)

Since the smash success of EDM game-changer "Wake Me Up," Blacc's powerful vocals have been sought out by many other big-name DJ/producers. In 2019 alone, he was featured on over a dozen tracks, including Gryffin's "Hurt People" and David Guetta's "Never Be Alone." With "I Do," Blacc promises to balance out all the recent dancefloor bangers he's contributed to with more of his own music. His soothing, energetic blend of pop, R&B, classic soul and, at times, Caribbean sounds (a nod to his Panamanian roots) is exactly what we need in 2020.

I’m A Seat Filler at The GRAMMYs

Hayden James

Hayden James

Photo: Cybele Malinowski

News
Hayden James Dives Deep Into Debut Album hayden-james-dives-deep-debut-album-feeling-inspired-flume-daft-punk

Hayden James Dives Deep Into Debut Album, Feeling Inspired By Flume & Daft Punk

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"I wanted to keep it very true to what I do, which I think is very simple production but very powerful, very summery style beats as well," the Aussie singer/producer tells the Recording Academy about 'Between Us'
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 19, 2019 - 11:01 am

Hayden James released his debut album, Between Us, on June 14. Featuring nine powerful vocalists across its 11 dreamy, chill-house tracks, it explores the different phases of romantic relationships in a story of like and love. But the Aussie singer/producer isn't the new kid in town. In fact, he's been putting out vibey, warm-weather jams for several summers now.

Hayden James’ long awaited debut album ‘Between Us’ is now available everywhere. @hayden_james pic.twitter.com/Wjh3kp5LLP

— Future Classic (@futureclassic) June 14, 2019

James first released his self-titled debut EP in 2013 on Aussie indie electronic label Future Classic, home to a small but mighty group of talent, including GRAMMY winner Flume. He followed with a trail of big singles, including "Something About You" in 2015, which put him on the map in both Australia and the U.S., with American dream-house duo ODESZA releasing a firery remix that same year.

Prior to dropping Between Us Stateside, we sat down with James to learn more about his vision for the project, what goes into choosing his collaborators, putting out an album versus a single, and how he gets the finished product to feel so fluid. James also talked about his biggest musical influences, which include his labelmates (Hi, Flume!), as well as the group that first caused him to fall in love with electronic music: GRAMMY winners and dance-music icons Daft Punk.

You're about to drop Between Us, your debut album. How are you feeling?

Great, amazing. It actually is out now in Australia. It hit midnight a couple of hours ago, tomorrow. I'm already getting some people commenting and going, "Oh, it's worth the wait." Because it's been six years since my first release and yeah, people have always just gone like, "We need more music," basically. So to be able to give them this, it feels incredible.

I don't think it's really hit me. It kind of did this morning; I've been up since 5:00 a.m. and through flying around a lot and the different time zones, but seeing it on Spotify for the first time and Apple Music, scrolling through I'm like, these aren't just demos on my phone anymore, people can actually actively listen to them now. It feels really cool.

What did you tweet earlier today, like, "I'm not crying, you're crying"?

Yeah. [Laughs.] I think I will later. Absolutely.

I bet it comes in waves, right?

Definitely. Yeah, for sure. And it's the first time I've ever had an album out, so, I'll let you know. [Laughs.]



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It’s finally here... my album, ‘Between Us’. I honestly didn’t think this day would come. It’s been a long journey to get here and I’m so proud of what I’ve created. ⁣ ⁣ Between Us is about those intimate moments in your life.. that energy you feel with someone. It’s a look at different stages of relationships - love, loss and everything in between. ⁣ ⁣ I dreamed of writing a record that you can press play on the first song and just let it play all the way through... no fillers - every song belonging, fitting into the story and meaning something special. I hope I’ve done this for you. ⁣ ⁣ To everyone that listens to my music, comes to my shows and supports me, thanks for waiting so long for this moment. I’m so excited to share this new music with you. ⁣ There’s so many people that helped me get here. To everyone involved in making this record with me, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve helped me realise my dream. ⁣ This feels like just the beginning. ⁣ ⁣ Love, ⁣ Hayden James. ⁣

A post shared by Hayden James (@haydenjames) on Jun 13, 2019 at 2:37pm PDT

I'm sure it's a different feeling from putting a track out that people really vibe with.

Yeah, one song and it's like, cool. But this is a whole story and it makes sense together so it's definitely... It's like I'm writing a book. And yeah, it nearly killed me. [Laughs.]

"I wanted to keep it very true to what I do, which I think is very simple production but very powerful, very summery style beats as well."

Going into that process of starting your first album, what was the main sound or goal you had with the project?

So the main goal was to not only tell this story of mine, but to keep the production the same. You know when a band or a group, they'll write a couple of singles or whatever, then they'll go for the album or they'll do the second album and there will be a change. It'll be like, "You know we're trying something different." I hate that. The reason I'm a fan of you is how you do something.

I wanted to keep it very true to what I do, which I think is very simple production but very powerful, very summery style beats as well. I've worked with a bunch of amazing feature vocalists on this, people who I've worked with previously too, so it kind of felt right to tell this story together.

I started the process about two years [ago]. I always wanted to write an album, but I actively said, "Hey, I want to do an album." That was about maybe two and a half years ago, actually. After I had written maybe 30, 40 demos, I kind of dwindled it down into 11.

What was that process like, of having to put your babies away in the corner?

I've still got them. But yeah it feels good to just choose the strongest ones, the ones that make sense together. I really enjoyed picking the order of the tracks as well, that's a huge thing for me. One of the big goals of mine as well with an album is, and you can't do this with many albums I don't think, is to listen, like press play on the first track and just listen through. There tends to be a lot of other filler songs or stuff that just doesn't make sense to the listener, which I'm sure that that'll be the case with this for a lot of it, but to me it makes a lot of sense. It was a lot of fun figuring out how they all fit together too.

Did having that "just press play and listen" qualifier help you find the sound of the album or the path of the songs?

Yeah, absolutely. These all fit together not just through the story, but also sonically as well. And they all kind of came effortlessly in that every single that I've ever done, it's been quite quick. It's often taken months to produce and make it what I want, but the actual writing of the song has always been literally a day or less with that vocalist, so that's what these songs represent too.

Where do you start when you work on a song? Is it the beat, is it an idea?

It's always different. I play piano and guitar and saxophone, so I'll just play and see what happens. I'll listen to friends' stuff and be like, "Oh, that's cool." I'll listen to older stuff as well, older electronic stuff. Or I'll have 10 or 15 demos, when I'm like, "Oh, I'm with Boy Matthews tomorrow, I'm gonna write a bunch of stuff quickly now." With literally just a couple of core progressions and maybe some different beat ideas, we'll get together and just start going and then it just evolves like that.

I was impressed by how you have nine different collaborators on the album and, even with those different inputs in the way they sound and their style, it all flows well so together.

Yeah, I think that's because I'm the one telling the story and they're helping me do that.

How did you choose the collaborators?

A lot of them through my label Future Classic. I met Shungudzo at the Future Classic x Dropbox studio [in Los Angeles] last year. I met Boy Matthews from a friend of a friend in New York the year before. Elderbrook, I toured with in the States, so there's all these different connections. Nat Dunn, who sings with NAATIONS on "Nowhere To Go" and on "Favours," she's an Aussie as well, but we had never met and have mutual friends. So yeah, it's all different connections. Some people I just reached out to on their Instagram and said, "Hey let's do something."

Were there any chance encounters, like someone introduced you to someone, but it felt naturally once it happened?

Yeah, the last song I wrote on the record is "Lost to You" featuring Farr, and the guy who sings on it is Romero. So I was in L.A. in January and kind of finishing up the album, but I felt like I needed a couple of more songs to choose from. And he is a friend of my manager actually, they manage him too but he hasn't really put a lot of stuff out yet. We had a session, I was literally flying out back to Sydney that night and I had like three hours, and we had a session near the airport, and within half an hour I was like, "This has got to be on the record." It just makes sense to me. Yeah so, that was very chance it was just like, "What?" And out here, the right time, the right place.

"Just Friends" with Boy Matthews was a really big summer track last year. Did you guys go back in the studio together to work on "Hold Me Back," or what was the process for the second collab together?

We didn't actually, because I haven't been here in the States for a little while, so we did that one just over the net and FaceTime. So I would rent out a studio here, like a Future Classic studio, or there's another one called Westlake Studios, and kinda just be on the phone with him, guiding him through what I was feeling and all that kind of stuff, and we would write together that way, just on FaceTime. And just send stuff back and forth. I think it wouldn't have worked if we didn't collaborate before and knowing how we work together. Everyone else I was in the studio with, but yeah the fact that we knew each other from before that and had collaborated very closely in the studio made it easier.

What was your hope going into that second song together? Were you trying to create your next summer hit?

Boy and I together equal pop music. So it's like the brother or sister of "Just Friends," a little bit darker. The theme revolves around the fact that you want to let this person go, but they're not leaving. So it's a bit darker and a bit sadder then "Just Friends," but I love it.

You talked a bit about being part of Future Classic, but I'd like to know a little more about what it's like being part of such a powerhouse indie label.

Yeah, it feels like a major label because of the incredible artists on it. It's amazing because they're an Aussie label and they've only just recently come over to the States.

The L.A. studio, I don't think it's a year old, but yeah they've been here in that office for maybe two years I think. They're Sydney guys and I knew of them because of Flume, Touch Sensitive and a whole bunch of people like that. So it's an honor to be a part of a group of such amazing artists that I look up to, and it's also great representing Australian music too, with an Australian label.

They're great people. They're so dedicated to what they do and they just got this idea of where they want to take things.

Do you feel like it enhances you as an artist creatively, being a part of that crew?

Yeah, definitely. I think because the music's so cool that people release, you feel... Not pressure, but just like, "I need to step up too and make my mark." 

Like healthy sibling rivalry with your brother or sister.

Exactly, it's like "Oh that's good! All right, sh*t." I just heard Flume's song with London Grammar and was like, that's tight, I always wanted to collaborate with someone like her. It's great too because we're all actually friends. I think all of us kinda live over here [in L.A.] now, but, we all live really close to each other in Sydney. It's pretty wild. What So Not, Flume, Touch, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Flight Facilities, we're all within like 20 miles of each other.

Do you have a good summer barbecues together? 

Absolutely, I had the ODESZA guys around last summer and they were like, "We need to move here, this is wild, you guys all live here together." And we've all got studios so we can all just hang out, and we send each other music all the time and demos.

That's cool, that sounds like being in a really good school for music.

Yeah, it's fully open, everyone trusts each other, it's good just to share other music as well, because we DJ as well, and just sharing what we're into.

What sort of music did you listen to growing up, and who are your biggest influences now?

Growing up, it was whatever my parents and my older brother would listen to. So my parents used to listen to Queen, David Bowie, Lionel Richie, the Beach Boys. I love the Beach Boys because of their harmonies and that's how I kind of got into music. My brother used to listen to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, but then he brought home Daft Punk's "Around The World." When I heard that it just changed my whole perspective on music, and I just started getting into dance music from there.

About how old where you then?

Sh*t, like, 15, 14. From there I was the biggest Daft Punk fan, even still now. There's a couple songs on my record, there's one called "Feelin'" which I'm singing on and it's got that very Daft funky vibe. And it comes from my love of my favorite album, [Daft Punk's 2001 LP] Discovery. That's [almost] 20 years old, Discovery. It's wild, I still listen to it, I'm like, if this was released now I'd still be in love with it.

It feels really classic without feeling super vintage.

Exactly. It's not so much the fact of they're telling story through their songs, but they're not relying on production of the time, which is what I try and do as well. If you can listen to a song that's five years old that you still love, that's great, it's a good song. I think for me it's important to be able to play a song on the guitar around a campfire, it doesn't have to be the electronic version of it. It's about writing songs first for me then producing at some point.

And you mentioned that the production part tends to be the longest part of the process for you. Are you kind of your own worst critic?

That's why it's taking me so long, yeah. Well, that's kind of the how of telling the story, we've got the why, with what the song is, and the how is that, well you can tell it any way you want, and that's the most difficult thing. I could've released this two years ago, but it just wouldn't have been anything like what it is now for me. So it's really important for me to be able to find that voice and get it right, through the production.



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Who’s got better taste in shirts? @followthefishtv

A post shared by Hayden James (@haydenjames) on Jan 7, 2019 at 1:04am PST

What do you think makes a good dance track? What about a good summer jam?

I mean, I love FISHER. I love just all that kind of massive builds into really simple drops. I don't write dance music really, but I love DJing so, yeah, lots of different dance music on my USB too, other than FISHER.

It's just all FISHER.

[Laughs.] It's all FISHER. But yeah totally different to writing songs, and summer songs.

For me it's like, there's a saying people say, "Don't bore us, get to the chorus." So it's just like, if there's a hook or something, I don't want eight bars of something before the first verse, it's like, let's go. I guess that's what pop music is for me as well, it's pretty immediate. And that's kind of what I figured out, when I wrote "Just Friends" and "Something About You" especially it's like, you are straight in, within the first five seconds, you're into the track you know what's going on immediately.

It takes a while to figure out, okay, why is this song so popular, what have they done? And a lot of people try and emulate that, unsuccessfully. And it's just about being unique but also figuring out, there are little things you can do, it's not a formula, it's a feeling. And the better you are at it the more you'll make it your own. So I feel like I've made a certain thing work for me.

It's kinda like your thesis statement as an artist, it can adapt and evolve but if you know, sort of the way you're going to go it makes more sense to the listener.

And it's got your DNA on it because you're writing it. And that's why there's a lot of other big pop stars out there that have people write their music for them, and you can kind of tell because it just doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel the same as what their earlier stuff felt like.

You have a big tour coming up: You're going to hit up Australia first, and then the U.S. in the fall. What are you most looking forward to about touring this time around?

Playing all the new music. When I was touring the last couple of years, it was off singles, and so what else do I play? Because when I played my live show I don't want to play anyone else's music, I like playing only stuff I've touched, so it's like remixes, edits of things. For years I've played demos of some of the songs that were on the album, I would just say "Hey, here's something new" and just see what the crowd reaction was. But now that I have an album that's probably the most exciting thing, I'm pumped about playing that live, but also bringing it to so many different cities in a new way as well. It's a new show, so I'm really excited about it.

When you would play demos and stuff did that sort of affect your creative process or editing process?

Definitely. I remember before "Better Together" was released with Running Touch I would structure it a bit differently live to make it build a bit longer and play some base notes on the SPD a little bit differently, and I'm like, "Actually, that's really hot, that's gotta be in the track." So yeah, playing something live changed a few things for me for sure.

Any hints you want to give to fans about the tour? What to expect, any special guests?

Yeah so I've got a couple of people. Especially on the West Coast I've got a whole bunch of people from the record. They're actually going to come and sing at the shows, which is cool. I love that, when I go and see a group and they've got the singers that actually perform on the track come out. So that's really fun. Brand-new production as well, the lighting thing that we've been working on with my Aussie guys for like six months.

What are you most excited about for next year?

I'm pumped for the album but I feel like there's a huge weight that's been lifted off me now. That's done and it's so exciting, and I feel way more confident.

I think that's one of the big things for me is, when you release something, there are people out there on the internet that will just shade you, and you're just like, "Aw, I feel horrible." Which is tough, and you've gotta learn just to say, "F*** off." Like, who are these people? So releasing the album, now I feel really confident because I'm so proud of it, no matter what anyone says or thinks about it, to be honest.

I'm just using that energy and writing a whole lot more. I'd love to do a couple of collaborations, first up. I want to release another two singles this year after the album. I've been speaking with the Gorgon City guys, the ODESZA guys. I have a whole bunch of stuff in the works already.

GRiZ Talks Pride, Snoop Dogg Collab, Detroit's Music Scene, Giving Back & More

Claude VonStroke at Dirtybird Campout 2018

Claude VonStroke at Dirtybird Campout 2018

Photo: Max Benedict

News
Dirtybird Campout: Justin Jay, Jhené Aiko, More dirtybird-campout-2019-justin-jay-jhen%C3%A9-aiko-jphlip-shiba-san-mija-tiga-more

Dirtybird Campout 2019: Justin Jay, Jhené Aiko, J.Phlip, Shiba San, Mija, Tiga & More

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The camping music festival includes "'OG' Saturday night" sets, featuring your favorite Dirtybird heavyweights, from label head and house music legend Claude VonStroke himself, as well as Ardalan, Justin Martin, J.Phlip, Kill Frenzy, Worthy and more
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 4, 2019 - 4:24 pm

Today, Dirtybird Campout announced the lineup for their beloved 2019 West Coast music festival, which includes many of your Dirtybird favorites like Justin Jay, J.Phlip, Shiba San, Mija, Walker & Royce and Dirtybird Records founder Claude VonStroke. The event returns to its 2018 home along the water at Modesto Reservoir Campgrounds on Oct. 4–6.

GRAMMY-nominated soulful R&B queen Jhené Aiko, turntable legend Cut Chemist, Detroit funkstress DJ Holographic, and Wajatta, the project of spoken word artist/comedian Reggie Watts and experimental house producer John Tejada, will also be bringing the beats to Dirtybird Campout West 2019.

More: Justin Jay On The Joy Of DJing, Expanding His Horizons, And How Fans Think He's Still A College Freshman

Who are you most excited to see at Dirtybird Campout 2019?

Retweet + tell us for a chance to WIN 2 TICKETS to DBC '19! pic.twitter.com/HfCgtfGh8Y

— Dirtybird Campout (@DirtybirdCamp) June 4, 2019

For all the early Dirtybirds who can't wait until that Friday to get their groove on, this year's Campout offers early arrival passes that not only guarantee "premier camping spots," but an extra special Thursday night B2B set from Tiga and Matthew Dear, as well as a "warm up set" from VonStroke. "Head Counselor Claude," as the press release calls him, will also be performing under his trippy beats alias Barclay Crenshaw aka VonStroke's given name.

Other musical highlights include an "'OG' Saturday night" featuring sets from longtime Dirtybird Records/events regulars including Ardalan, Justin Martin, J.Phlip, Kill Frenzy, Worthy, Christian Martin and, of course, the OG master of good times, VonStroke.

Related: Metronomy's Joe Mount Breaks Down Surviving Music Festivals

The weekend will not only be filled with enough music to keep you dancing literally all day and night, the camp-themed fest also features tons of fun activities and games to help you live out the best version of summer camp you could possibly dream up. Attendees, including those behind the decks, are assigned to teams who will duel it out in dodgeball, tug of war matches and even the ".5K Floatie race."

Arts and crafts will also be aplenty, for campers to get their creativity flowing with screen-printing, totem-making and more. Grill$on's BBQ, a staple of the Dirtybird BBQ day parties the label hosts across the country every summer, will be on site to provide ample dancefloor and activity fuel up.

Tickets for Dirtybird Campout West are on sale now; for all options, including camping and BBQ add-ons, as well as the complete lineup, check out their website.

Your 2019 Guide To The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals

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