Smirnoff has joined forces with British electronic music producer DJ Fresh and PhD Julien Castet, a leading brainwave technology expert, to enable a group of physically disabled music fans – Andy, Mark and Jo – to create a music track controlling musical software with nothing but their mind. The project, named Smirnoff Mindtunes, is the first of its kind and focusses on how technology can be used to transform brain activity and emotions into music, “enabling physical barriers to musical creativity to be broken down.” Supported by Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF), The Smirnoff Mindtunes project aims to raise money for the charity through proceeds of the sale of the track.
If you know the awesome bluetooth speaker Lowdi produced by a french start-up, and if you also are fans of what Ed Banger has been doing in the graphic & music industry for the last 10 years, then you are in for a treat. The two music-oriented labels got together thanks to Heineken and are proposing an awesome pack that includes a Heineken bottle entirely designed by So-Me (EdBanger) and the awesome speaker that is Lowdi.
With what seems like a constant need to chatter away on cellphones or listen to music with earbuds, a little quiet time may be in order. We’ve got the perfect place: the Guinness Book of World Records’s quietest room. It’s so quiet the longest anyone has been able to stand it before beginning to go a bit batty was 45 minutes — to be fair, part of that challenge was to remain in the dark too. The “anechoic chamber” at Orfield Laboratories in South Minneapolis is 99.9 percent sound absorbing. The Daily Mail reports the room is made with 3.3-foot-thick fiberglass acoustic wedges with walls made of insulated steel and a foot of concrete. An anechoic chamber in Minneapolis’s Orfield Laboratory holds the Guinness world record for the world’s quietest place at -9.4 decibels. As humans can only detect sounds above 0 decibels, the chamber is virtually soundless. Because the chamber is so soundless, NASA has conducted tests on its astronauts in there to simulate what it would sound like in space. Orfield said manufacturers, like Harley Davidson and Whirlpool, have also used the chamber to test how loud their products are or to evaluate sound quality.
The re-design of Alice Tully Hall is intended to transform the venue from a good multi-purpose hall into a premiere chamber music venue with street identity and upgraded functionality for all performance needs. Tucked under The Juilliard School, the opaque base of Pietro Belluschi’s building is stripped away to reveal the hall’s outer shell. The sloped underside of Juilliard’s expansion serves as the canopy framing the hall, its expanded lobby and box office. A shear one-way cable net glass façade puts the hall on display. The liner of African moabi is tailored around all existing hall features and new programmatic elements to eliminate visual noise and illumination emerges from the wood skin the way a bioluminescent marine organism exudes an internal glow. A percentage of the wood liner is constructed of translucent custom-molded resin panels surfaced in veneer to match and blend seamlessly with the wood, binding the house and stage with light. Like the raising of a chandelier or the parting of a curtain signaling the start of performance, the blush will be part of the performance choreography: a hush will fall in the seconds of transition from distraction to attention when the blushing walls become the first performer.
Raekwon shares his thoughts on the friction between Wu Tang group members before they dropped their last album “8 Diagrams,” revealing that personalities were just clashing, despite talent. Raekwon also details his new project “Lost Jewlry,” which is a compilation of past projects he’s resurrected and remastered, which features artists like Maino, Faith Evans, Freddie Gibbs and more.
They are on the top of the influence pyramid. Their new languages and behaviors are inspirational to people that are both younger and older than them. But the incredible power of today’s youth is directly related to those who came before them.
Take a look at nicely crafted portable Wireless Speaker System that accompanies solid bass and excellent treble with added optimal quality and audio effects. The Bluetooth technology is the core of innovative gears these days, so don’t think about a sound system that doesn’t even have a wireless control. With integrated audio 3.5mm jack, this speaker system is good for wired music players as well. Play the music on demand right away and enjoy the soul soother.
Lil Wayne has stunned fans with his latest piece of body art after having the word ‘Baked’ inked on his face. The “Lollipop” hitmaker has an extensive collection of tattoos, including the words “Fear” and “God” on his eyelids and teardrops on his cheeks, and now he has paid homage to Baker Skateboards with his new facial design. The rapper has had the skate company’s block letter logo etched on his forehead. Lil Wayne is an avid skateboarder, and even announced plans to take a break from music earlier last year to focus on his passion for the street sport. He explained:
I picked up the skateboard and I thought it’d be a hobby and what happened is it’s a lifestyle. You have to be fully committed because it’s super scary. In order to be fully committed you have to live that lifestyle. … It’s kind of putting rap on the back burner. So I’ll be on my skateboard in the meantime.
The tatted up titan, Kid Ink, releases the scenes for his new single “What They Doin” off the Rocket Ship Shawty mixtape presented by The Alumni Music Group. The clip is directed by Matt Alonzo Song and beat produced by T-Nyce.
Designer Paul Cocksedge introduces his next smartphone speaker simply dubbed the Volume. The speaker carries the same elegant simplicity as its vinyl counterpart, which is a horn like shape allowing users to hear the music however they prefer. Mid-air for ambient listening is the most popular choice, but there is also the option for more directional sound which can be achieved by using its angled foot on a flat surface.
Joachim Garraud is a Frenchman, alien enthusiast, computer nerd, DJ and producer extraordinaire. Known for his impressive audiovisual shows and high-end production, Joachim has always been drawn to two things in his life: music and technology. Read the interview after the jump.
“When I was young, I learned to play piano and drums. In ’84 there was the first software on the computer, that was a fusion between my two loves, music and technology. Making the fusion with these two things was like, wow… This is exactly what I want to do! I want to make music with my computer.
“The first track I made, was a real techno track because there was only cheap sounds. Short, because there was no memory. In mono, because there was no stereo, and using only 8-bits, so the sound was like ‘qsh qsh qsh qsh’.
“Even if the quality was bad, I was so excited to use this kind of tool to make music.”
As with many, DJing for Joachim was about being able to share his passion for music. It may not have been in the spotlight or on the festival stage yet, but it was just where he wanted to be.
“At the beginning, being a DJ was not very sexy. The DJ was in the basement and nobody could see him playing, but I was very excited to be a DJ in the dark, I was excited to share my love and my passion of the music.
“Before being able to play my own tracks as a DJ, there were two different jobs. There was the producer and the DJ. Today, these are completely linked. If you want to be famous as a DJ you have to be a producer, and you have to play your own tracks.”
Serato Video is now one of the pillars of Joachim’s performance. It’s another way of making the show bigger, the fans more excited and the experience special.
“There is a very strong link between video and audio, you need to be synchronized, but keep the DJ spirit and control everything by yourself. With this kind of technology, you can be flexible as a DJ but as massive as YouTube. When you see a huge crowd, dancing, hands in the air on your own track, you have so many good vibes, after that you cant sleep.”
INOX Park Festival in Paris, is Joachim’s pride and joy. It’s a place where he gives back to his fans, tests out new show ideas and experiments.
“Every year I produce an outdoor event in Paris. This is the third edition of INOX park. It’s my baby, it’s my own festival. Producing my own festival is very important for me, for many reasons. It is a way for me to transmit my passion to the new generation. INOX park is the best place for me to do an experimental show.
“This is the first time I am doing a 3D show, with mask.”
With so much going on – Video, Audio, Lighting – it’s important that he gets out in front and makes a connection with the crowd. Whether it’s shooting a smoke cannon into the front row, playing his keytar or dancing, Joachim loves to perform.
“I am very proud to say that I’m a showman. That’s why I started playing keyboard. You make a direct link, unique with people, and they freak out. On top of that, you are going to be able to play audio and video synchronized, it makes people hypnotized by the show. To deliver more than the classical DJ, I’m very excited and very proud of that.”
The Space Invader, now an iconic feature of Joachim’s brand, is an important part of his identity as a performer and something he personally connects with.
“This icon is very close to my music, there is no question of religion, racism, it’s like universal, it’s for everyone. On top of that, I like all the stories about alien space invaders, it’s linked to my passion of the machine.”
Joachim’s other passion in life is his family. DJing hours aren’t always suited to family life but it’s important he tries to find balance. Now, Joachim lives in Los Angeles, where he is still hard at work producing and planning his shows.
There’s still so much to learn and so much new technology to take advantage of. It’s what drives Joachim, and what excites him about the future.
“I try to keep the balance right, between family and business, but this is very hard. One month ago I moved to L.A. with my family, because I’m going to produce much more music with American people.
“I’m very excited by the future, thats why I love technology, there is something more to learn everyday, it’s very, very exciting.”
In this short documentary, JAY Z’s Life+Times takes an unprecedented behind the scenes look at the creation of JAY Z’s Barclays Center opening concerts.
Transform your iPhone or iPod touch into a cutting-edge mashup machine for your music and videos. Mix and scratch your favorite music videos from iTunes or combine songs from your music library with personal video footage into an interactive audio visual experience. You can even use the built-in camera on your device to add your very own clips to the mix with added special effects. The first of its kind on the iPhone or iPod touch, vjay lets you create fun video mashups, display directly to a TV, or record your performances live to share instantly on Facebook or YouTube.
“Breakn’ a Sweat” is a song by American electronic music producer Skrillex. It is the third track on his fourth EP, Bangarang. It features guest vocal and musical contributions from the American rock band The Doors. It was created for the 2012 documentary film Re:Generation. Musically, “Breakn’ a Sweat” has heavy influences of dubstep, electro house and progressive house. It contains a vocal sample from a 1960s interview with Jim Morrison, while the remaining members of The Doors and Skrillex did the chants. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with some highlighting it as the standout track from the EP.
Check out this very cozy chair “Rosa – Poltrona with acoustics” designed by Studio KMJ. Whether you are listening to music or reading a book the “Rosa” Poltrona keeps one shielded with its acoustic absorbing foam and fabric. The shape of the ROSA chair is inspired by the rose in a particular position. This natural position is clearly seen by roses or sunflowers that direct their head to the sun for their photosynthesis cycle. The strips represent the layers of the rose and contribute to the curves of the volume. The shape acts like a sound and visual protection which is fitted with sound absorbing foam. The Poltrona also turns in a 360° radius.
Small (19cm length, 4.5 cm height), Light (0.31kg) but quite powerful, Pill brings both sound & design into the same product. Working with bluetooth, and delivered with USB & 3.5mm jack cables, you’ll be able to listen to your music everywhere and anytime. But the Pill will also fit perfectly any room, and will let you answer your phone and handle any phone call hands-free.
“Botanicus Interacticus” is a Disney research project that uses an electrode in the soil of a plant to turn the entire plant into a multitouch interface that can be used to control computers and other devices.
Botanicus Interacticus is a technology for designing highly expressive interactive plants, both living and artificial. The technology is driven by the rapid fusion of our computing and living spaces. Botanicus Interacticus an interaction platform that takes interaction from computing devices and places it anywhere in the physical environment. In particular we are targeting living plants.
Botanicus Interacticus has a number of unique properties. This instrumentation of plants is simple, non-invasive, and does not damage the plants. It requires only a single wire placed anywhere in the soil. The interaction with plants goes beyond simple touch and allows rich gestural interaction. Examples include: sliding fingers on the stem of the orchid, detecting touch and grasp location, tracking proximity, and estimating the amount of touch contact between user and a plant.
Botanicus Interacticus also deconstructs the electrical properties of plants and replicates them using electrical components. This allows the design of a broad variety of biologically inspired artificial plants that behave nearly the same as their biological counterparts. The same sensing technology is used with both living and artificial plants.
A broad range of applications are possible with Botanicus Interacticus technology: designing interactive responsive environments and new forms of living interaction devices as well as developing organic ambient and pervasive interfaces.
Every person I know loves to have some form of music while getting ready in the morning. Be it in the shower, brushing their teeth, or getting dressed, the morning routine is always energized by a little bit of music. Having music to listen to in the background at the office, getting ready, or just being in need of a good playlist is the general concept behind ‘The List’. Everyone likes to be kept in the loop when it comes to the newest emerging music. ‘The List’ is a 20 track playlist that is updated once a week with the both new and classic music in Hip Hop, Top 40′s, Electro. In addition to the traditional selection, there are also exclusive remixes from DJ’s around the world that can only be found on ‘The List’. Click the pic to take a listen. (Flash is required).
When current events, movies, tv shows breathe new life into an old song it re-introduce it to the masses and allows us as DJs to work a forgotten song back into our sets. Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden’s “Bonkers” was the most-tagged song during the Olympics’ opening ceremonies broadcast on July 27. Check out the list below of the top 20 songs from the broadcast. In the U.S., “Bonkers” shot up from almost nothing to nearly 2,000 units last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Sales of Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” rose 890%.
The Olympics has been good for other songs, too. Jones says Phillip Phillips’ “Home” has shot up Shazam’s charts because of use in daytime and primetime broadcasts. The song has also risen to No. 1 on the iTunes list of top tracks in the United States. Check the rest of the list after the jump.
Shazam’s most-tagged songs during the Olympics’ opening ceremonies broadcast:
1. Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden, “Bonkers”
2. Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells”
3. London Symphony Orchestra, “Chariots Of Fire”
4. Sex Pistols, “Pretty Vacant”
5. David Holmes, “I Heard Wonders”
6. The Jam, “Going Underground”
7. New Order, “Blue Monday”
8. Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
9. The Who, “My Generation”
10. Underworld Feat. Dame Evelyn Glennie, “And I Will Kiss”
11. Millie Small, “My Boy Lollipop”
12. The Prodigy, “Firestarter”
13. The Rolling Stones, “Satisfaction”
14. Underworld, “Born Slippy”
15. Mud, “Tiger Feet”
16. David Bowie, “Starman”
17. Rizzle Kicks, “When I Was A Youngster”
18. Brian Eno, “An Ending”
19. The Beatles, “She Loves You”
20. Eric Clapton, “Wonderful Tonight”
A while back, one of my best friends and I were driving around a shopping center, and I wanted to stop to grab a few things. The only store open was Walmart, and oddly, she refused to step foot into Walmart. After sever seconds of poking and prodding, I just let it go, and didn’t hassle her about going in, but it always made me wonder what certain people had against the store chain. Last night that question was answered when a friend of mine showed me Mr. Ghetto’s video titled “Walmart” a.k.a. “Wally World”. The video has cause a storm of controversy already, and is a viral nightmare all over the web. Just be warned before you watch, it’s quite…. um… graphic.
How healthy is your heart? Well even if you hate amazing beats, and even if you’ve got some sort of terrible heart condition, you can glance with glee at this fabulous watch by Seahope: the “Heart Beat Watch” It’s got so many LED lights on it you wont know what to do with yourself. Perhaps tell the watch where to start? You’ve got LEDs spiking in all the right places. Your heart will soon be prone to swoon over it. The series of LED lights on this watch are meant to mimic an EKG spiking right at the right time. There is no real electrocardiogram system on this watch, but father time might know where his heart is when you’ve got it on your wrist. One minute is then shown on the sub LED screen below.
Two modes can be chosen.
1. Normal LED watch mode, which lights up on your command, only for a moment so as to save power.
2. Always on, which of course is for when you want to constantly stare at the time all day, which is approximately the amount of time the watch stays charged if you run it non-stop.
And, AND, you know how most watches, when they run out of power, you’ve got to buy a whole new battery for? Not this one. This one charges via USB.
These Pictogram music posters were designed by an artist known as Viktor Hertz. He decided to make some posters depicting songs, which left him a lot of new unexplored ground. He is a freelance graphic designer and artist from Uppsala, Sweden. He likes to focus on simple illustrations and make logos, posters, and icons.
MTV has a new series about Dev. Watch the 22 year old pop star show MTV behind the scenes for the launch of her career as a popstar recording her album, touring, as well as her life as a mom.
On an average of about once a month, DJ Jeff Phantom and I got together since February to put out some podcast mixes that started with Project X, and are now culminating in the 30 minute mix session titled ‘Swerve’. With it being half Hip Hop, and half Electro/House/Dubstep, tons of ideas, mashups, and remixed were thrown around during the early phase of putting things together, but in the end we felt it was just best to just rock live on the turn tables for about 15 minutes each. Click the player below to listen, and we hope you enjoy.
