guest mix: lepque

For this guest mix I present you, the listener, with an absolutely stellar outing from an ambient DJ that hails from Hungary. Not only that, but the only female ambient DJ in Hungary. How cool is that? Beyond a measurable scale of incredibly cool. 

LEPQUE started out as a radio DJ, but got the bug for digging into ambient via Peter Namlook and Jonn Serrie, and has been fighting for the pure ambient style for over 10 years now. The name 'Lepque' is a play on the word 'Lepke', which means butterfly in Hungarian. She claims that it comes from the moth symbol. Just as a moth seeks the light, but dies when reaching it, Lepque also prefers to stay in the background, within the cool and soothing darkness.

When not preaching the gospel of ambient at a number of festivals at Ozora, the Sziget Festival, VOLT Festival, Waha, and many others, she's afforded the opportunity to spread her art in the club scene as well as radio. When performing at festivals, she is the lone wolf, representing the weary in their unique and mysterious space. In this world, she takes pleasure in witnessing thousands giving in to the sandman as she weaves her sleep-inducing sonic yarn. Seeing the happy faces the next morning proves that it's not just dance music that is welcome at festivals.

guest mix: junkyard angel (part II)

I know that I've already had JUNKYARD ANGEL recently guest on a mix, but this one to me is a real mind blowing epic. I'm really drawn in by the theme of it, and the subtle blend of each approaching color. I grew up on the coast, and visiting the oceans is nowhere near the same as growing up there. There is a sense of comfort for the soul that lives there, and in my opinion, this mix by Junkyard Angel captures the peaceful and beautiful vibe with an extreme accuracy.

We've conversed about the importance of the ocean in our lives, and it has equal impact upon us. The waters can be unforgiving for those who seek to conquer it, but offer solace for those who respect it. Perhaps Junkyard Angel can put his thoughts into words best:

lose yourself, find yourself

(from Webster's Dictionary)

imag·i·na·tion noun \i-ˌma-jə-ˈnā-shən\

1: the act, process, or power of forming a mental picture of something not present especially of something one has not known or experienced
2: creative ability
3: a creation of the mind

Creative thought is a basic sense that we are born with, but grows dull as we suppress its misalignment within modern society. Stop saying silly things, stay within the lines, act like a grown up. We are molded to learn how to act based on 'more mature' peers within our age group, sacrificing our creative soul. I have say, when you have kids, you go one way or the other. On one hand, you can act like a 'normal' parent, with strict rules and norms that society expects, monitoring the 'fun meter'. On the other hand, one could revert to being  a child, in order to gain a greater understanding. The alleged 'adult child' will begin adopting the mannerisms of their offspring, gaining a second wind of their childhood and doing such juvenile things such as making faces at the dinner table for a laugh, reading comic books and watching cartoons together, and so on.

guest mix: L.D.R.

I'm very excited to be awarded the opportunity to host a mix by this gentleman. L.D.R. hails from Sweden, and has some of the most eccentrically cool and diverse music that graces Mixcloud. I originally asked for a single mix quite a while back, just to give it a few listens to when on my daily commute. Those listens warranted an addition to my media player's 'Bike Ride' playlist, which is highly restricted to the best of the best (fewer than 4 tunes have made it on there in 2 years). FROM DUSK TILL DAWN HANGOVER MIX 2013 happened to be the mix that made it to the coveted playlist. What that means is that on my bike rides (13 miles, 20 kilometers or up to 30 miles, 48 kilometers if I'm not being a sissy) I play this playlist in shuffle mode, and for that one hour I'm locked in. Everything that I play in this playlist gives me the same buzz I got when I heard it the first time. Basically the music is my fuel, and without it I'm a hot mess.

amazing time-lapse space video

I surf the web at night (like most people), and found an amazing video I want to share. For some reason, it really made an impact on me. Enjoy!

Turn on, tune in, sleep...

the black keys (and the white ones, too)

Being a guitarist, I give my piano playing musician friends a hard time. I accuse them of having no soul since they can't get vibrato, sustain notes without the aid of machinery, and can't bend notes. In other words, they can't do all the cool stuff that guitarists do (keyboards are another story). But to say that they don't emote is a bold statement. Piano covers a lot of ground, even if you can't take it to a campfire (still got them beat!). Just put on most amazing soundtracks and you can feel piano wire delicately gluing the mood to the scene. 
I remember being a young guitarist and sitting in a piano practice room with a big hollowbody guitar. I'd rest the end of the neck somewhere up on the piano, hold down the sustain key, and play really nice add 9 sus 11 chords and listen to the overtones that formed like a cloud, barely dissipating. That could be my first dive into real, live ambient, and those moments have defined a valuable moments in my life.

guest mix: junkyard angel

Admittedly, I search out some odd music a lot of times, just to keep my ear sharp. I am always really stoked by something that can capture my full attention or sit in the background, but it's very hard for music to have an equal footing in each camp. There are even fewer that can keep my attention musically, inspiring me to search the artists involved, and have me floored from beginning to end with an anxious anticipation of each approaching colorful scene. Now, I have to say that I post mixes that I wish I had created myself. When I hear these mixes, I am happy that someone created this with the hopes that anyone would possibly hear this, not even realizing that this someone was me. I like to think that they made it for me, because its mood fits whatever I'm feeling at the time, as if to say 'here's the current soundtrack to your life's situation'. Those kinds of mixes stay in your head, swimming around, building your addiction to their sonic offerings.

guest mix: omul nou

As a 'sleep DJ', I'm always searching for others in the same business. I have to say that I'm pretty blown away by the whole scene of creators and our common mission of easing the tension created by a turbulent world. We all in a sense pay respects to Dave at LOWLIGHT MIXES for essentially paving a lot of the way for us to do what we do (he wasn't the first, but he's been so dedicated and consistent throughout the years that he may as well be the first). Dave got me into all of this in the first place, and through tons of badgering and questions, he got me up and running. So I'm constantly on the lookout for others that do what we do, and use Mixcloud to discover and communicate.

cosmic voyage of the mind

It's time to get back within your mental spaceship for another cosmic endeavor. I've been digesting a good share of space music, and have been fine tuning the craft for a peaceful journey to the deep, quiet spaces within your mind. I trust that you've gotten your pre-flight briefing and that there are no questions. Feel free to use electronic devices during any part of flight (mental snapshots are encouraged). There will be an in-flight meal of relaxing cosmic energy, as well as morsels of mind nourishment. You are advised to check your negative energy and bad vibe baggage in at check-in. These burdens will be stowed under the craft and will more than likely dropped from the sky like a hot potato at some point during the trip. Do not let this sadden you.

If at any time during the flight you feel mental weightlessness, feel free to engage this phenomenon with subdued vigor. Letting go of yourself will bring you great peace and it has to be noted that it is the journey and the destination that provides you with renewal. It must also be noted that the destination for each traveling soul will be different from the next. Searching peace and elation is our next stop. Make sure that your sleep belts are fastened, you have been properly hydrated, and enjoy your flight.

guest mix: melmoth_the_wanderer

The greatest joy that I get from going to Mixcloud is discovering new music. New music means new artists to discover. HGTR's ODES TO THE SEA mix is the first thing (and usually the only) that I spin for my every other day bike rides around the BWI airport loop (12.5 miles or 20 kilometers); it has made an impact upon me for sure because of the newness of it and its diversity. Being a musician, I absolutely thrive on discovering new sounds, progressions, and styles, and it's a really big deal to me to discover a completely new direction of music and mixing.