2016 was an exceptional year for NYC by-way-of Slovenia producer / DJ Gramatik. After teasing his upcoming album throughout 2015 at some of the biggest venues and festivals in the world, the Epigram LP finally dropped in March 2016 to wide acclaim from peers and critics alike. This served as a starting point for Gramatik’s enormous worldwide tour in support of the release, with highlights including an album release party at Zenith in Paris, Europe's largest music festival Roskilde, and a New Year’s extravaganza with Bassnectar in Alabama.

Still, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater remains one of Gramatik’s favorite places on Earth. Following 2015’s epic Blizzmatik show and last year’s reprise, he is making his annual return to the legendary amphitheater this spring with an all new support line-up and completely re-worked stage design. A trio of incredible artists have been invited to share the stage and add their own flavor to the unforgettable event. Making his Red Rocks debut, Mr. Carmack is a producer / DJ who is increasingly becoming one of the strongest voices of the undefined musical area between hip hop and electronic music. Also stepping up to the plate will be a young Canadian artist from Vancouver, Ekali, who already has a writing credit on the latest Drake record. Finally, Flamingosis, a music producer, beatboxer and DJ hailing from New Jersey will be hoping on the decks for a turn to show off his critically renowned sound.

Along with the new line-up of talent, Gramatik will be using the 2017 Red Rocks show to bring back the now re-worked Nikola Tesla-inspired stage design fans may remember from a few years back. Aside from the coil's aesthetic appeal, the revamped design also functions more as a symbolic departure from the year 2016. For many, the year 2016 will be largely remembered for the countless tragedies and bizarre events that occurred, but more importantly, it was a year that intensified a feeling of pessimism for what the future holds. While we recoil from the shocking year that was 2016, it is also a time to remember we can always harness the good which exists inside every one of us, and continue to fight for a better world for all humanity.

It’s the year of the Re:Coil.

***Special fan experiences will be available with amenities ranging from a backstage tour of Red Rocks and photos inside the famous Red Rocks tunnel to an exclusive VIP soundboard viewing area and limited edition event poster. More details are available via CID Entertainment here: http://www.cidentertainment.com/events/gramatik-at-red-rocks-2017/ ***

To commemorate what would be the 52nd birthday of late groundbreaking DJ / producer, Jam Master Jay of legendary hip-hop trio Run DMC, his son TJ Mizell has teamed up with turntable artisan Skratch Bastid for a tribute to the legacy of JMJ. The three minute session features both turntablists laying it down on the 1s and 2s in an epic side by side performance. Mixing and sampling classic Run DMC tracks, the celebration of JMJ induces a fond nostalgia for the hay days of the trailblazing hip-hop pioneer. 

The tribute is brought you by Doperoots, a multi-facted music label founded by Jam Master Jay's sons TJ and Jesse Mizell. Check out the video below and keep it locked for additional Doperoots content in 2017.

Just before 2016 came to a close, Gramatik treated his fans to the final remix pack of tracks from his album Epigram that came out earlier that year and was celebrated as his most accomplished work to date. Single "Satoshi Nakamoto" served as one of the most nostalgic tracks on the record as it represented a return to Gramatik's hip-hop roots. A couple of sessions in the studio spliced with some signature production tricks, and the bits & pieces came together beautifully for MCs Adrian Lau and ProbCause to lay down some bars to complete the track. In honor of the timeless tune, Gramatik has invited a select group of tastemakers to throw their spin on the track for an official "Satoshi Nakamoto" remix EP.

But one of the remixes didn’t make it onto the EP and Lowtemp is now set to correct that by releasing it as a single, representing the final entry to the Epigram saga. The Funk Hunters are a Canadian producer/DJ duo and one of the finest exports of funky bass music from the West Coast. Borrowing generously from the vast legacy of classic funk and hip hop, they aim to inject some much-needed soul back into electronic dance music. And that’s exactly what they accomplished with their booming remix of Satoshi Nakamoto.

Following suit of a sound that FADER describes as "full of misty grays and blues," Brooklyn by way of Philadephia producer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Yellow Shoots is now unveiling another cut of his upcoming EP- 'Stormy Weather.' Titled "Heaven," Yellow Shoots, real name Greg Matthews, teams up with legendary Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo for a hypnotizing melodic commentary on humanity.

Originally composed for Nate Parker's film Birth Of A Nation, "Heaven" features a mix of organic and electronic instrumentation including guitar strums, synth, and vocals from Matthews. Additionally, Skyzoo emboldens the track with his own set of vocal stylings for an original rap verse. The lyrical inspiration behind the track is drawn from the idea of a lack of empathy for others and the "squabbling of humanity." If "Heaven" has caught your ear, be sure to stay tuned for the remainder of Yellow Shoots' 'Stormy Weather' EP dropping in March.

Prior to this project, you may be familiar with Matthew's due to his stints as guitarist for GoGo Morrow and Ryan Toby of “City High." His "Heaven" counterpart, Skyzoo, has also built a renowned reputation for himself within the hip-hop genre thanks to critically acclaimed collaborations with artists including Jill Scott, Dr. Dre, Spike Lee, John Legend, Tyrese, Talib Kweli, Jadakiss, and many more, as well as a number of notable solo albums as well. 

Keep it locked for more info to come on the 'Stormy Weather' EP, and make sure to pick up your free download of "Heaven" here.

Standing at the forefront of the epicenter of the electro-funk scene, Colorado trio Sunsquabi have championed the thriving genre as one of the culture's integral live acts. In 2016, Sunsquabi took their live show across North America, to festivals from Electric Forest to Camp Bisco, or their local world renowned amphitheater- Red Rocks. Gearing up for a massive 2017, Sunsquabi are kicking off the year with their highly-anticipated sophomore EP 'Deluxe' still to come via GRiZ's All Good Records.

Before the full EP drops, the band are giving us another glimpse of the record with EP cut "Dexter" feat. jam scene staple Nick Gerlach out today. Yet another laid-back funk production, "Dexter" sees Sunsquabi fuse both organic and electronic instrumentation through the use of synth, drum kits, keyboard, guitar strums, Gerlach on saxophone, and more. An ample follow up to the EP's thriving first singles "Pygmy Up" Feat. Russ Liquid, and "Cinnamon" Feat. Late Night Radio, "Dexter" will be an insta-favorite among fans of a more classic jam based Sunsquabi sound.

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2017, anticipate additional tracks from the full 'Deluxe' EP prior to the project's full release. In addition, fans will be able to catch the Sunsquabi experience live at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, a return to Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, Summer Camp Music Festival, and a series of North America tour dates outlined below. Stay tuned for additional updates to come and pick up your copy of "Dexter" here.
 

SUNSQUABI TOUR DATES
Mar 24- Blue Moose Tap Room -Iowa City, IA
Mar 25- Bottom Lounge- Chicago, IL
Mar 31- Brooklyn Bowl- Las Vegas, NV
Apr 13- The Bottleneck- Lawrence, KS
Apr 14- Club Dada- Dallas, TX
Apr 15- Empire Control Room- Austin, TX
Apr 16- Empire Control Room & Garage- Austin, TX
Apr 21- Druid City Music Hall- Tuscaloosa, AL
Apr 23- 420 Sweetwater Festival- Atlanta, GA
Apr 26- The Broadberry- Richmond, VA
Apr 28- Higher Ground- South Burlington, VT
Apr 29- American Beauty NYC- New York, NY
Apr 30- Wonder Bar- Allston, MA
May 03- El Club- Detroit, MI
May 04- The Miramar Theatre- Milwaukee, WI
May 06- Red Rocks Amphitheater- Morrison, CO
May 26- Summer Camp Music Festival- Chillicothe, IL
Aug 03- Werk Out Music Festival- Thornville, OH

Find Tickets HERE

Spring is shaping up to be a productive period for Gramatik’s label Lowtemp. Starting with an exciting release in late March - a clash of the label’s jazz titans so to say. In 2016 Lowtemp released guitarist Teo Collori’s masterful gypsy swing album honoring the great Django Reinhard and one of the cuts, Tony Mitraglia, caught the eye of keyboard virtuoso Nicolas Dupuis, better known as Anomalie.

Teo Collori is a classically trained jazz guitarist from Slovenia known for his infectious creative energy, which culminated on last year’s album “Hot Club Piran” for which he wrote and arranged all of the songs. He is also responsible for those delicious guitar licks in Gramatik’s track “Just Jammin” that is still in very high demand among his fans. Similarly, Anomalie’s musical interests are also rooted in jazz but his weapon of choice was the piano which he has now been playing for more than 16 years. During the last five or so years he developed a taste for electronic music and started to combine the two in a completely unique way. Following his signing to Lowtemp and an excellent single “Odyssee”, he is currently busy touring and performing with Gramatik while also working on a new EP.

Despite all of that he couldn’t resist Teo’s signature track Tony Mitraglia and had to put his twist on it. The result is a joyful ride through crazy arrangements, chopped up guitar licks and clarinet stabs, all brilliantly held together by Anomalie’s keyboard wizardry. Aside from that, Anomalie’s remix of “Tony Mitraglia” also serves as the lead single from the third edition of Lowtemp’s compilation series, coming out in May. The 2017 volume will once again feature highlights from the previous year, while also hinting at what’s to come next with exclusive, previously unreleased material from the label’s roster.

Earlier this year, Colorado trio Sunsquabi revealed their now critically acclaimed sophomore EP 'Deluxe.' Released via GRiZ's All Good Records, 'Deluxe' saw Sunsquabi bring their electro-funk- meets-jam-band sound to new heights on the five track project that Earmilk describes as "a deep, dank, and funky surprise."

Well, the 'Deluxe' surprises aren't quite done yet. Today, the band is excited to unveil another piece of the 'Deluxe' puzzle with a brand new take on EP cut "Pygmy Up" from remix extraordinaire Cloudchord. The original, a collaboration with Russ Liquid, takes an uptempo turn at the hand of Cloudchord who accentuates the track's percussive elements and transforms it into a bonafide festival anthem.

If unfamiliar with Sunsquabi before now, the act have become infamous as trendsetters in the electronic music circuit thanks to a sound This Song Is Sick describes as a "hybrid sound infusing irresistible and funky live instrumentation with electronic production elements in a unique way." Prior to 'Deluxe,' Sunsquabi built their reputation with debut EP 'Odyssey' that featured collaborations with Big Gigantic and GRiZ. On 2017's 'Deluxe,' the band continued the heavy-hitting collabs- this time with Late Night Radio, Russ Liquid, and Nick Gerlach.

Catch the guys live this summer with performances lined up at music festivals Summer Camp and Werk It Out. As for what to expect from the live show, Sunsquabi have enlisted Tucker Wilde’s Stage Dynamics to build out a full-stage production. As we wait until Sunsquabi hit a stage near us, be sure to check out the brand new EP 'Deluxe' out now via All Good.

With an epic year behind him, Gramatik is now ready to start the next chapter, and 2017 promises to be just as wild. Last year, he impressed fans and critics alike with the new album, Epigram and its subsequent remix EP featuring a number of Gramatik's favorite producers.  To kick off 2017, Gramatik released a new collaboration with GRiZ, titled "As We Proceed" that has clocked in over a million plays on Soundcloud since its January release. Keeping the momentum going, Gramatik is now releasing another single, this time with close friend and frequent collaborator Eric Krasno on "Recovery."

Out today via Gramatik's label Lowtemp, "Recovery" came into existence after a leg injury Gramatik sustained that required a break from his intense touring schedule. This time off the road allowed Gramatik to return his focus on writing, testing new ideas, and producing a host of new music. For "Recovery," the release has a more traditional arrangement than what we are generally used to in electronic dance music, so Gramatik made sure the tone of this one is set right from the get go. The track opens with a blissful, 50’s musical instrumentation, and then jumps right into the first verse with no long build-ups. Krasno was responsible for the straight-to-the-point lyrics that don’t hide behind unnecessary metaphors, and he also provided the vocals as well as his signature guitar playing.

As for how the track came to be, Gramatik simply states "Kraz and I are in Recovery from Torture." According to Krasno, "Recovery" began as a part of his larger concept album until Gramatik got an ear on it: 

"Recovery" is a track I initially wrote as part of a concept album I've been working on (coming early 2018). Gramatik heard it and instantly wanted to work on it. He had been through an intense leg injury and really related to the hook of the song. He then flipped it on its head in the best way possible.... I love working with him; his tracks always feel and sound amazing. We have also have a few more tracks in the works."

As for what's next, it's yet to be known what will become of the many tracks Gramatik created during his time off the road, but stay tuned as those hard-drives are sure to come to light. You can also catch Gramatik live around the world from Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater to Paris' Zenith through fall 2017. Find all Gramatik tour dates here. For Krasno, he'll be touring with his band and gearing up for a Soulive residency at Brooklyn Bowl in June. More info on Krasno's tour dates here.

STREAM:
SoundCloud | Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes HERE
FREE DOWNLOAD

Nicolas Dupuis is a classically trained, highly versatile keyboardist and producer based in the beautiful city of Montreal. Music has been in his blood since an early age, leading to more than 17 years of experience studying classical and jazz piano performance. He also became the first person to be awarded the Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain, Rotterdams Philharmonisch) excellence grant in 2012.

It was around that time he decided a change was in order. Using the moniker Anomalie, he began producing tracks infused with a combination of classical music, jazz, hip hop, funk, fusion and various electronic elements. Sounds hectic, but Nicolas pulls it off seamlessly as evidenced on his debut self-titled EP from 2014, and further confirmed by nearly 2M views his performance videos garnered on Facebook. Anomalie then made his debut on Lowtemp with single “Odyssée” in April of 2016. Soon after he began touring with Gramatik as his keyboard player on live shows, while also working on his second EP.

The “Métropole" EP is now completed and the first single lifted from it is titled “Velours." It is beautifully constructed and a perfect example of how Anomalie’s singular style became even more refined over the years. The track is still smooth, jazzy, and has an unmistakable hip hop beat, but it’s also a lesson in how to achieve more with less. The backbone of composition is a gloriously syncopated groove that gives "Velours" a truly unique characteristic and it’s this foundation that Anomalie’s masterful keyboard strokes are then layered on top of. It feels dynamic, despite the fact it is a slower jam not dependent on the  unexpected arrangements that Nicolas became known for earlier on. It’s just velvety and smooth like an evening summer breeze in the city.