Yesterday morning started off wonderfully for me. My near-four-year-old son woke me up with a "good morning" naked from the waist down after going "potty," and handed me a small piece of chocolate for "lunch" and shove it in my mouth. "It tastes good dada!" It did. André Allen Anjos' day started swimmingly as well. He received the news his remix of Odesza's "Say My Name" (featuring Zyra) landed him -- or shall I say his RAC moniker -- a Grammy nomination for best remix. You decide who won the Monday a.m. showdown (just go easy on me when replying below).
Grammy or not, RAC has been a proven winner for years. Actually, the artists who've been on the receiving end of one of his remixes have. Grammy or not, RAC has been a proven winner for years. Actually, the artists who've been on the receiving end of one of his remixes have been. An eclectic array of musicians spanning just about every genre have had songs deconstructed by the Portugal-born mix master including Lady Ga Ga, Ella Fitzgerald, Kings Of Leon, Katy Perry, The Shins, Chromeo, and Lana Del Rey. His remixes have also been featured in numerous ads -- likely causing you to hold off on the fast forward button on your DVR.
With all this being said, it should come as little surprise that everybody wants a piece of the man called RAC. He's a regular at summer festivals, has toured extensively on his own, and has his own monthly singles series on Entertainment Weekly . In a word, he's "fresh" in the old school sense of the word. Last year, he released his debut album Strangers to all kinds of critical and commercial goodness. Shocking? Nah.
At Primary Wave in New York City, RAC sat down for an A-Sides chat, and performed three songs with a trio of collaborators who are equally filled with awesome: Pink Feathers, Karl Kling, and Troupe Gammage of SPEAK. What a special treat you're in for - sort of like getting a chocolate from your son at 7 a.m. Anyway, watch "One House" below, "Can't Forget You" here, and "Back of the Car" there. Oh, and check out the interview over there.
"One House"
R.I.P. Scott Weiland
Everything you'd want in a frontman. What an influence on me. What a tragic loss. Rest easy rock star. You were one of the great ones.
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Jon Chattman's music series features celebrities and artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometime humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, Jon strives for a refreshing change. Artists featured on the series include Imagine Dragons, Melissa Etheridge, Air Supply, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, fun, Bleachers, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds and Bastille.