LOWPASS TV PRESENTS : Our Favorite Electronic Artists of 2011

ESKMO

Brendan Angelides is a San Francisco based electronic music producer who records and performs live as Eskmo. His multi-genre compositions have been featured on influential labels like Warp Records and Planet Mu (And as of July 2010, he was most recently signed to Ninja Tune). While Angelides’ tracks encompass a wide range of electronic styles, he avoids classifications. Bleep.com described his tracks as “Masterfully produced… sophisticated, post-Dilla hip-hop funk”. His last single of 2009 entitled “Let Them Sing” on Mu was met with equal praise and described by sites like Boomkat as “[Putting] Eskmo on his own electronic plateau.”

Inspired Flight

Rooted in hip-hop with branches of indie rock, electronica, downtempo, dub, and dance, Inspired Flight gives life to a hypnotizing and influential new musical experience that listeners are finding refreshing and authentic. iF’s use of turntablism and sampling along with live instrumentation and vocals, all centered around innovative songwriting, has given birth to an independently-released debut album featuring high-profile MC’s and sparking global attention, and a live show that has compelled audience members to scream, “Where have you been all my life!?”…read more
http://www.inspiredflightmusic.com

Self Evident

Representing Lighta!; a collective of Vancouver producers and djs. Ongoing projects with Hxdb, Max Ulis, Wepa!, Cure and Ronin to name a few. Producing and remixing in a variety of styles and genres.

Played alongside some of the most respected artists in the industry; including Africa Hitech, Addison Groove, Silkie, The Bug, Kingdom, Girl Unit, Eprom, Skream, Distance and Starkey.

Current and forthcoming releases on Palms Out Sounds, Aufect Recordings, Innovative Leisure, Car Crash Set, Freshmore, Muti Music, De’fchild Productions, Crude Records, Blipswitch, Gradient, East Van Digital and 10 Pin.
http://soundcloud.com/self_evident

The Human Experience

David’s music is the soundtrack to my soul.” – Zan Roberts
“The Human Experience” is David Block’s debut project as a live electronic composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer. Listeners experience a delicious symphonic blend of prismatic soundscapes and sultry beats.
David is constantly pushing the boundaries of live electronic music. Playing, composing, and conducting his own electronic symphony live on stage, his performances are brimming and layered with human emotion, world exploration, and sacred sounds. Whether performing by himself, or with a live band, “The Human Experience” always delivers an emotionally charged show.
www.HumanExperienceCreations.com

Emancipator

Emancipator’s intricate, artful beats have earned him the kind of organic success 99% of artists only dream about. His debut album “Soon It Will Be Cold Enough,” was released only in Japan, but it filtered out into the rest of the world thanks to determined fans who got the music before the label did, ordered the expensive import or donated money in exchange for mp3s. But on September 8th 2009 the album will come out in the U.S. on STS9′s own 1320 Records. The re-release is timed with Emancipator’s first North American tour, 10 performances across the country including three stops with Pretty Lights in the southeastern U.S and appearances at Trinumeral Festival in Asheville and Symbiosis Gathering in Yosemite.

“Emancipator’s debut album ‘Soon It Will Be Cold Enough’ beautifully mixes hip hop beats with guitar feedback and a delicate piano melody,” Rolling Stone says. “You can feel his energy when he performs. His face lights up and you can see how much he enjoys the music.”

Other reviews call the music “chill but captivating,” “fresh, clean production and sweet melodies,” and “damn cool.” Because it’s impossible to pin Emancipator to a specific genre, his fans struggle to describe the music: “Um, it’s really pretty, but like with SICK beats.”
http://www.emancipatormusic.com

Funk Hunters

In just a few short years, The Funk Hunters have built an international following, releasing music on labels around the globe and showcasing their signature high-energy DJ sets at some of the world’s most popular music festivals and clubs. The duo (Dunks & The Outlier) first teamed up because of a mutual love for “Hunting” good music, and today this passion still rings true as they continue to champion the simple but often lost idea that the music itself comes first, regardless of attachments to genre. The Funk Hunters name is now in high demand, receiving bookings, accolades, and remix requests from all corners of the electronic music scene…READ MORE
www.thefunkhunters.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/thefunkhunters

Govinda

Govinda is the alter-ego of Austin based producer/composer Shane Madden. He began studying violin and composition at the age of eight and went on to study classical violin at the University of Texas where he fell in love with electronic music production. It was in Madden’s pursuit of his gypsy roots that he opened his ears to music from around the world. From experiences learning violin with mysterious masters on his journeys across the globe and his passion for modern design and technology, the current sound of Govinda was born.

Govinda has played with Thievery Corporation, Tipper, Bassnectar, Shpongle, Cheb I Sabbah, STS9 and many more and been featured on over 25 compilations such as Buddha Bar II, Asian Travels II, and Nirvana Lounge selling a combined 400,000 copies. Govinda has played at numerous festivals throughout North America including Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Sea of Dreams, SXSW and more. Govinda’s music has been licensed on shows like “Roswell” WB, “Road Rules” MTV, and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” Bravo as well as many independent films….READ MORE

http://www.govindamusic.com

The Librarian

A familiar name in BC’s bass music. The Librarian is one of the major forces behind the Bass Coast Project summer festival and Halloween event. She has also been opening for countless major names here in Vancouver, up in Whistler, and all around BC. Exquisite taste in music, her dubstep sets are deep and moving, energetic yet enveloping. Come and hear for yourself.

This summer you will find The Librarian playing at Shambhala Music Festival, Diversity Festival, Bass Coast Project, SERF as well as other dates in Kelowna, Victoria, Vancouver, and Whistler. Look for her debut EP on http://www.eastvandigital.com/. Release date in Early July.

http://soundcloud.com/the-librarian
http://www.basscoastproject.com
AstroLogical is a multi-instrumentalist hiphop/trip-hop producer from Vancouver B.C. With a love and knowledge for late 60?s and 70?s progressive music, he makes jazzy beats using obscure samples and drum programming. The lush, atmospheric, moody, groove-based tracks are fused with that good ol’ hip-hop bounce. Currently releasing music under the Jellyfish Recordings net label (www.jellyfishrecordings.com), he is also the main beatmaker in the throwback golden age style hip-hop crew Elekwent Folk (www.facebook.com/elekwentfolk) and plays bass and keyboards in Panther & The Supafly (pantherandthesupafly.bandcamp.com/album/nkazi).

www.facebook.com/AstroLogical
www.twitter.com/nateastrobeats

Mashimon

Mashimon is a multidiciplinary arts project based in Guatemala city formed by Daniel Garcia (musician, producer), Samuel Coto (musician, producer),

Amy Secada (visionary dancer and singer) and Sefirah Fierce (dancer, costum designer).
The name and vision of Mashimon is inspired by the indigenous deity from the precolombine mayan history. It is asociated with one of the multiple forms of Kukulcan, the feathered serpent, the union of the reptiles and the birds, the sky and the earth, the maximum deity of the mesoamerican civilization. It creates its multiple divine variations through infinite transfigurations that allow it to move in time.

The story of Mashimon dates back to the colonial times when the catholic priests came to mesoamerica as missionaries. This meant that they had to get rid of everything that seemed satanic and/or a threat to christianity (even if it meant the destruction of temples, and the killing of the natives and their priests who opposed) and impose christianity as the only truth. This lead to one of the most horrible crimes against culture ever performed by the church and the conquistadors, the burning of almost all sacred scripts called “codices” and also the murder of many elders, who were the holders of the time and mayan sacred knowledge…..READ MORE

http://www.mashimon.net

Lynx

Lynx, is an innovative singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, beat-boxer and producer from the Bay Area by way of Colorado. At 25, she has already been breaking new ground in both the live and electronic music scenes playing events all over the world including the US, Asia, Europe and Canada. Performance highlights include appearances at Coachella, Austin City Limits festival, BOOM festival, and improv collaborations with Matisyahu, Beats Antique, John Popper, Bassnectar and more. Lynx’s music combines elements from multiple genres including electronica, folk, and indie pop. Her new album On the Horizon intertwines powerful vocals, lyrics that are both universal and intimate, timely and timeless, and a sound that switches from folky to cutting edge with bumping beats that melt to raw, melancholy melodies and resolve with infectious pop hooks. On the Horizon is now available on Cartesian Binary Recordings.

http://www.LYNXMUSIC.org

HEADSPACE

I make beats in between a few other creative endeavors that i have my hands in. Sometimes juggling all my interests lands me precariously close to exhaustion, but luckily one of those interests in coffee.

My music leans heavily in the hip hop direction but I leave the music to speak for itself most of the time because i believe words to be rather blunt tools unless used well, often not leaving room for other ideas. Not to say there aren’t many talented Emcees and Vocalists out there in the world and here in Vancouver but i feel the need to leave some of it up for interpretation.

I use samples mainly but try to think of my sampler as more of an instrument, rather than something to merely program with. I am also using live instrumentation more and more to try and diversify and distinguish my sound.
Growing like wildfire under the canopy of live electonica and world roots music comes Beats Antique, a masterful merge of modern technology, live instrumentation and seductive performance. Beats Antique combines the sounds of the Middle East and orchestral gypsy music with the styles of hip-hop, brass band, downtempo, glitch and dubstep in a new collage of music that is mixed and broken down with clever breakbeats for an adept international flair. Beats Antique is producing an un-charted style of music by adding live horns, accordion, glockenspiel, viola, string quartets, kalimba, clarinet and various unusual instruments to their big beat arrangements.

Born of Oakland, CA, the musical trio consists of producers, David Satori, Sidecar Tommy and world-renowned belly dance performer/producer Zoe Jakes, who helped inspire the thematic Middle East tempo of the band…READ MORE

http://www.beatsantique.com

ill-esha

For over a decade, ill-esha has been an integral part of the North American electronic scene. Beginning as a vocalist, she soon added MCing and DJing to her repertoire, creating a dynamic and unique live show which has headlined alongside artists such as Andy C, Klute, Dieselboy, Vibesquad, LTJ Bukem, Tipper, T-Power & De La Soul. She has performed across North America, Europe and Asia; in clubs, at festivals, and even on TV shows on MTV Canada and the CBC.

In 2001 her first 12” single was released on New York label Breakbeat Science; since then ill-esha has worked steadily as a producer and vocalist on labels like Dub Police, Haunted Audio, Simplify & Muti Music; hitting #1 singles download on Juno and commanding six spots of the top ten in the inaugural Beatport Glitch Hop charts. One of the founding members of the premier online community GlitchHopForum.com, her remixes are hugely popular, popping up in DJ sets across the globe. Her show is a fiery combination of original beats, glitch edits and live vocals, not to be missed!