PACO VERSAILLES - SHANGRI LA

Paco Versailles is a name you’ll be hearing a LOT in the near future. The electric duo is composed of songwriter/producer Ryan Merchant (of Capital Cities fame) and guitarist/composer Vahagni, and they recently released their second single “Shangri La” — but I’m already a fan for life. Merchant’s mesmerizing dance/pop vocals are fantastically memorable instant sing-alongs, exquisitely complemented by Vahagni’s resplendent flamenco guitar. Together, they’ve dubbed their sound Dancemenco (a new genre moniker I quite like). 

The group’s first single “Unwind” dropped in late June. The delightful concoction of enthralling acoustic guitar riffs, dance claps, and romantic vocals is instantly enamoring. With that release, they also debuted their captivating live show at LA’s esteemed Peppermint Club. All I can say is: this is a band that will be playing festivals this time next year. Following up “Unwind” with “Shangri La”, Paco Versailles has delivered more of their addictive Dancemenco, alluding to the search for the legendary literary utopia Shangri La, which represents a mystical paradise, isolated from the world (a place I think we’d all enjoy going to for a while). Keep your eyes and ears on Paco Versailles. I hear lots more new music is coming soon :D

ARIZA - KEEP ON

Need a little chill #mondaymotivation? This Tuesday is more like a Monday for most after the holiday weekend here in the US. This new track from artist/producer ARIZA is as relaxing as it is relatable. Entirely written, recorded, and produced by the Colombian-born, LA-based musician, “Keep On” is minimally produced, but manages to say a lot about the artist. Describing the inspiration behind “Keep On,” ARIZA expressed how the song is “one of the most personal tracks to describe a musician’s life in LA. The constant ups and downs. The ego checks. The emotional and existential turmoil experienced. It’s an honest look towards getting over hurdles and continuing to improve within the craft.”

ARK PATROL - DARLING, YOU CAN'T WALK AWAY

Acid-house meets indie electronic on Ark Patrol’s latest single, “Darling, You Can’t Walk Away.” A mere two weeks ago we were reveling in the producer’s romantic track “Your Eyes (And Other Safe Havens),” the lead single to his debut self-titled project. Today, Ark Patrol is capitalizing on his momentum with a second preview of what’s to come late February. With a wicked draw to it, this groovy track is a daring ocean of energy. His versatility as a producer is apparent as he fuses a labyrinth of sounds to oscillate the digitized vocal feature. Chromatic and charismatic as hell, Ark Patrol is fearless with “Darling, You Can’t Walk Away.”

Photo Credit: Nick Guzman (@nckguz)

Disclaimer: Ark Patrol is promoted by Beautiful Buzzz writer Alli Lindsey

[TICKET GIVEAWAY] HAZEY EYES ANNOUNCES FIRST HEADLINE SHOWS IN SF, LA, & NYC

It’s twenty-friggin-nineteen y’all, and Beautiful Buzzz is honored to announce that one of our favorite artists to watch, Hazey Eyes, is announcing his first ever headline shows in SF, LA and NYC (dates in March listed below) and we’re giving away tickets yo! We also had a chance to talk with the young legend about everything from finishing college, to tour life, to his favorite gifs.

Known for delicate and emotive singles like "Love Is" and "Some Reason", Hazey Eyes is the producer/artist whose music you’ve probably heard, even if you don’t know him yet by name. His production can be found on the massive Spotify hit "Flare Guns" by Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler, and the 22-year-old mastermind, real name Thomas Michel, has cultivated 63 million streams on Spotify alone. That’s why it’s no surprise he’s already landed touring gigs with Shallou and Petit Biscuit and released official remixes for artists like Charlie Puth, Billie Eilish, and Jai Wolf, just to name a few. His latest single "Scars (feat. Yoke Lore)" was the first off his forthcoming EP which arrives March 1st.

Our announcement of these SF/LA/NYC headline shows comes ahead of Hazey’s next single "Hungover You" which is due out on January 30th.

This tour is a game changer for the young artist as he's including a live drummer for the first time ever, adding awesome visuals and an enhanced stage setup with new instruments and of course—new music :) Tom has spent the last year and a half growing as a live performer, and is readier than ever to hit the road again. These headline shows are part of a larger slew of dates which will be announced very soon.

Here at Beautiful Buzzz, we always like to make things interesting, so we’re stoked to be giving away a pair of tickets for each headlining city. Smash this button to enter for a chance to win tix:

HAZEY EYES MARCH 2019 HEADLINE SHOWS:

San Francisco @ Cafe Du Nord - March 4 - Tickets

Los Angeles @ The Echo - March 6 - Tickets

New York City @ Mercury Lounge - March 23 - Tickets

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Without further ado, let’s get into it with Hazey Eyes:

BB: Remind us all, how old are you again?

HE: 22 years young!

BB: Damn, that's young. What're you going to school for?

HE: I go to Drexel University as an Electrical Engineering major—within that I'm a signal processing concentration. Counting down to graduation in June!!

BB: We heard you built some sort of robot piano?

HE: Haha sorta, for my senior design project my team and I are creating a system that takes a piano and vibrate the strings with magnets instead of the traditional hammers. It creates a sound more similar to a synthesizer, but still creates sound using the body of the piano.

BB: Alright...so tell us about this upcoming tour. What cities are you playing in? Are you bringing a robot piano with you?

HE: This tour is three headlining dates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York! There are indeed more dates I'll be playing around these but that's all I'm allowed to say for now. I am unfortunately not bringing the robot piano, but I am bringing an entirely new live set that I'm super excited about.

BB: Do you have favorite spots in any of the cities you're playing in? Any secret Hazey Eyes approved pre- or post-show must-gos?

HE: It's not really a secret, but I never get to experience In-N-Out since I live on the east coast, so I always hit that when I'm in LA. For New York, usually any food truck will do. By the time shows are over I'm super hungry and will eat anything.

BB: Can your fans expect any new music coming in 2019 around the tour?

HE: Yes, definitely. There will be a new single this month and even more to follow that, and the details about that will be released very soon.

BB: Do you ever get homesick on the road? If so, what's your cure for homesickness on the road?

HE: Yeah it gets weird sometimes being in a different city every day, but it makes going home feel fresh every time I do it which is kinda nice. So far I've had to bring homework with me on every tour and nothing gets me back into the Philly/school spirit like a nice coding assignment.  

BB: Do you have any favorite songs to listen to on the road? What about before a show? Any funny pre-show rituals?

HE: I listen to a lot of LANY on the road while I'm traveling and stuff in a similar vein to that—not totally sure why but it hasn't failed me yet. Before a show I listen to some high energy music, whether it be rap or something electronic, just to get in the mood to give it my all during a performance. I don't have any pre-show rituals as of now, but that may change in the future. I like to stay in the moment and just go do it, ya know?

BB: Okay, now for the good stuff...do you have a favorite gif (or three)?

HE: Gifs from the Office are always super effective!

via GIPHY

BB: What's your favorite color?

HE: I like blue.

BB: Pick one: a spaceship or cello.

HE: Hmm I gotta go with the spaceship, have not had the chance to try one out yet.

BB: Pick one: rain or shine.

HE: Shine for sure, doesn't mess up my shoes.

BB: Finish this sentence: "we won't stand for..."

HE: We won't stand for overcooked steak

And there you have it. Catch Hazey Eyes soon in a city near you!

SNBRN & AUTOGRAF - MOVE ALL NIGHT (FEAT. KOLE)

It’s Halloween y’all, and I’ve been jamming to this song for the past week. All of us at BB love pretty much everything Autograf and SNBRN make, and this groovin' new joint is no exception. This time, the future house producers are joined by talented newcomer KOLE, who’s had some great releases of her own lately with our homie Aire Atlantica. Her catchy songwriting and sensual vocals take this already fire track to a new level. If you plan on dancing tonight and making the house party go up on a Wednesday, definitely add this one to the queue on your Halloween party playlist!

RUUTH - SO HEAVY

Ruuth is a new name to the blog, but we’ve had backyard pool party hangs so we’re pretty much homies by now. She hails from a small island off the north coast of Germany, near Denmark, but was in Los Angeles recently for sessions with writers/producers (the likes of Emmit Fenn, Graham Candy, Younotus, Em Basa, and several other acts). 

“So Heavy” is only her second original solo release, following “All About”, her impressive debut single. With it, she continues to establish her forward-thinking lightweight electropop sound, characterized by catchy, lilting, bouncy melodies and percussive, minimal production. Lyrically, she speaks on the seriousness of a toxic relationship, “Why does it have to be so heavy? Why do we drag each other down?” Ruuth tells a compelling story through her uniquely sweet and airy vocal approach coupled with relatable lyrics and memorable melodies. We’ll be keeping a close eye on her as she continues to share more foot-tappingly terrific tunes.

URCHN - COMPOSURE

From the first 10 seconds of URCHN’s debut single “Composure” I was instantly hooked. Soft muted guitar plucks that drive with a sense of urgency. A nervous percussive shaker sound. A brief flutter that reminds me of a baby dinosaur. My early impression was that I was listening to something I hadn’t quite heard before, and it only gets better as the song continues. Making his debut via Casablanca Sunset, URCHN is the solo project of the Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer Max Greenhalgh. Max is also notably recognized for his work as the front man in the indie pop act Inspired & The Sleep amongst other projects and musical outlets. Cinematic in feel, with thought-provoking lyrics sung in a haunting half-falsetto, URCHN quickly weaves a web of contemplative discomfort on “Composure”. The thoughtful blend of organic and electronic sonic elements, syncopated rhythms, and vocal affectation come together to make this track one of the most compelling debuts of 2018 thus far.

FRND - BEFORE U I DIDN’T EXIST (CHARLOTTE THE MANNEQUIN REMIX)

Only in 2018 can a mannequin have 20K Twitter followers and remix a future pop song into a dance floor rave-ready beat. Yes this is a blog post about a FRND remix done by a mannequin (“Charlotte” from the world of creepy YouTube phenomenon Poppy). Only in the age of Gen Z is it acceptable for computer-generated voice to be incorporated into music. I’m not talking about Styx singing about Mr. Roboto or Soulwax using a MicroKORG, Charlotte is all computer. Or is Poppy speaking for her through a computer? The mystery of the internet, my friends. All things considered, this remix does what most great remixes generally do: twists the original track on its head in a unique and refreshing way that makes you want to dance. Nice job, Charlotte. Not half bad for a mannequin.

FRND - BEFORE U I DIDN’T EXIST

Everyone’s favorite Koala-loving producer/artist FRND is back again with another deliciously glitchy and catchy pop banger. The title offering from his upcoming second EP, “Before U I Didn’t Exist” follows last month’s “Erase.” It’s what one might call an oddly humanist robotic glitch-pop opus, replete with FRND’s signature sugary vocal hooks, futuristic synths and emotional heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics. The production is so unique and crisp, and the catchiness of the underlying composition just makes this one addictive track. There’s even a RAD anime-style video accompanying the release which follows an odd pair of lovers as they embark on a post-apocalyptic adventure to escape Earth. I won’t spoil the ending, so you’ll have to watch it for yourself HERE. Keep your eyes on FRND because he may just be on the verge of blasting off.