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Awhile back we batted about ideas with Omeed Boghraty at the Esquire Network about shaking up the live music session format. We’re happy to finally share the link for the first (of what will hopefully be many) Elevator Music sessions, featuring indie duo Little Hurricanes.

Who knows who’ll be next on board? Hint: it won’t be Polyphonic Spree.

Our old friend El May just released the video for her bouncy new single “I Played A Role,” using impromptu reactions from strangers on the streets of NY, including subway car dancers (another reason we need a real subway in LA)! Check out the video and write up in Entertainment Weekly by clicking here.

Her new record “The other Person Is You” drops August 26th.

This month’s mix includes singles from Alt-J and Grimes upcoming albums, the return of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, J Mascis shredding on a Strand of Oaks tune, and arguably my favorite track ever from longtime soulster Lee Fields.

Btw, the pic above was taken during my friend Jayme’s awesome July 4th party, featuring LA Hootenanny’s distinct spin on live country. When I realized at one point the oddly familiar tune playing was a country cover of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind” (sung in German, no less!) well, my mind was indeed blown. Music will take you to strange, wonderful places, and hopefully this mix will do the same!

BONUS:
Speaking of “bringing ’88 back,” who knew Weird Al was still killin’ it? We’re assuming you’ve seen his  “Blurred Lines” parody that took the internet by storm last week, the best track/video off his new album. Here’s another great parody he recently did (spoofing Mr. Thicke’s twerking partner) which you may have missed:

Since all eyes are on Brazil, we wanted to include native son Rodrigo Amarante (remember Little Joy?), whose solo album dropped last month. Other collaborators making a name for themselves on this mix  include violinist Kishi Bashi (Of Montreal), M83 vocalist Morgan Kibby (as White Sea), Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman Thomas Fec’s Tobacco, and former Old Crow Medicine Show member Willie Watson’s beautifully back-to-the-basics folk record.

It’s no secret we’re a sucker for some good grooves, but the latest mix offers a wide range of how soul can seep into any style. From the throwback sound of Greyhounds to the 21st century blue-eyed croon of Chet Faker, the dusty samples of Malachai, the swampy folk of the Secret Sisters, to the bliss hop of SZA, the permutations are endless(ly engaging).

Meet Hendrick, a 1.5yr old White English Lab. Born in Southwestern Wisconsin, Hendrick decided the small town life and harsh winters just weren’t for him. So, he packed his bags and headed west to the City of Angels.

Nowadays, he spends his time watching Food Network, escapades to the beach, and random trips to Las Vegas. He also loves posh hotels, riding in elevators, and chewing on firewire cables and expensive cameras.

Luckily for “H,” he gets a steady diet of production gear from his owner Adam Brummond of The Factory. Adam directed the 4 Polaris snowmobile spots for which we recently did some intense sound design.

Here’s a full grown Hendrick gearing up for another adventure. Stay tuned for more production pooches from future projects…

Click the artwork above to download:

Here’s 20 of our favorite new jams, including a great collaboration between Frank Ocean, Diplo, and The Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (yet another eclectic but surprisingly effective pairing courtesy of Converse).

There’s also some good ol’ rock and roll from The Men, hip-hop from Black Milk, indie folk from the likes of Ages and Ages, Afropop from Ibibio Sound Machine, and a dozen others!

While you’re downloading, watch this Bonus Video featuring Native American artist Supaman bringing new meaning to old and new school hip-hop!

Our Bigelow spot has been getting a lot of love online! It was an editor’s pick in ad industry showcase Creativity. There’s an article on the backstory in Fast Company. It’s also been mentioned in dozens of  pop culture mags and design blogs like Juxtapoz, It’s Nice That, Freshness Mag, Baller Status, Cube Me, etc.

If you’re not one for clickin’ links, here’s the full length version:

ORIGINAL MUSIC: WOOFER

Agency: Ideo

Production Company: Republic Content

Director: Bucky Fukumoto

Between the music industry about to descend on the Lonestar state for the annual SXSW festival, not to mention the identity crisis in Ukraine, we could smell the secession in the air (or was that bbq)?

If you’re for the status quo, check out some new tunes from the amazing Beck, Broken Bells, and St. Vincent records. If you’re looking to turn over a new leaf, there’s some gorgeous folk from Noah Gundersen, a new hip-hop collaboration featuring Sufjan Stevens (yes, you read that correctly), and if you really want to get riled up, there’s even some awesome Puerto Rican punk from AJ Davila!

It’s pretty rare to be in Los Angeles and wish you were in a different climate. I’ll own up to some jealousy when director Adam Brummond first showed us the footage for the 4 ads he shot for Polaris’ new snowmobile line, though. These guys had a powder paradise all to the themselves.

Adam was determined to not have any music on the spots, nor was there any dialogue or VO (thanks must also be given to the client for going along with this approach). Instead of going the obvious route and slapping some rock tracks over the picture, we were tasked to come up with a sonic aesthetic that would unite the 4 commercials but separate Polaris from the competition. So, we were encouraged to go for broke with the sound design and created huge, epic, heavily stylized SFX that played off the slo-mo shots and loud/quiet dynamic.

Hope you enjoy watching them as much as we enjoyed making them. I still want to ride one of those machines, though!

Polaris “RMK”

Polaris “Switchback”

SOUND DESIGN: WOOFER MUSIC & SOUND

Directed by: Adam Brummond

Production Company: The Factory