This is what happened in dance and electronic music today, Tuesday, July 21, 2015.
- Gary Richards, the founder of HARD Summer and DJ known to the masses as Destructo, was featured in an interview in SPIN where he talked about his daughter’s affinity for Calvin Harris, how tUnE-yArDs rocked his world, and why other music festivals can’t crack his formula. And, in news that surprises no one, it turns out that HARD is so awesome because Richards is a musician first and a promoter second (via SPIN).
- Swedish duo Dada Life talked over 600 people into donning banana costumes at a music festival this past weekend in order to break a world record. Because of this wild success, there are rumors that there will be a mysterious, Kool-Aid concoction at their next major event with a plan that includes safe passage to the afterlife (via LAist).
Look at this long enough and you’ll start to hear the voices. - James Murphy and 2manydjs are going to bring their soundsystem-centric party, Despacio, back to London in September. Based around the idea of phenomenal sound paired with incredible vinyl while losing money, but never caring because of how much fun you’re having, the event is set to take place at London’s Roundhouse after happenings at Lovebox and Glastonbury. Which begs the question: guys – when the fuck do you plan on bringing that awesomesauce to the United States…? (via Skiddle)
- A YouTube user replaced the disco music that plays in the background during the club scene in William Friedkin’s Cruising with the soundtrack from Super Mario Bros. And while Al Pacino’s dancing is still one of the scariest, most scarring experiences you’ll ever inflict on your eyes, the addition of chiptunes makes the video oddly worth your time (via AV Club).
- James Blake has confirmed that there will be appearances from Kanye West and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on his upcoming third LP, Radio Silence. The announcement was made in a recent interview with Esquire magazine. The album is set to popularize Blake even more here in the United States with his breed of downtempo, R&B infused electronica – even if he has to soulfully mumble even louder to make it happen (via Stereogum).
Blake’s latest album will feature whispers, moans, and telepathy versus traditional vocals where people pronounce actual words.