We noticed something very special immediately upon entering BUKU 2014… It might have been because we were totally out of our element in the deep south, or maybe it was being so close to the Mississippi river. Maybe it was the perfect weather or maybe it was the beautiful people… No matter what it was, we knew we were going to have an incredible time at BUKU right from the get-go.

The festival was set up exactly like a shotgun home in New Orleans: the stages were all in line with each other, allowing attendees to go from the main stage all the way to the back alley without having to walk around aimlessly or use a confusing map. Everything was straight forward and easily navigated. You could literally walk in a straight line next to the river and hit ever stage. It was incredibly easy and convenient.

Along the way from one stage to another, concert-goers could stop by an assortment of INCREDIBLE vendors including food, merchandise, and more. New Orleans is home to some of the best cooking in the entire world, so taking a break for food was something to look forward to. From brats to pizza and even some vegetarian options, BUKU had the food game locked down.

BUKU 2014 Day 1 Recap:

If you weren’t able to make it to the first day of BUKU as soon as the gates open, you missed out on some serious up-and-comers. Treasure Fingers was a blast in the Ballroom, and NO native DXXXY tore it up in the back alley (check out DXXXY’s full set from BUKU right here) before Jesse Slayter completely blew it up. Kid Kamillion was after Slayter making the Back Alley the place to be for some of the best underrated acts at the festival.

Meanwhile at the Power Plant main stage, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony were bringing everyone back to the 90’s with all of their hits. Seeing them followed by NAS was one of the coolest and most nostalgic festival experiences ever.

The Ballroom definitely had its own vibes throughout the entire afternoon with Classixx and Miami Horror playing some incredible live sets that were each funkier than the next.

We were also able to hop on board the S.S. Blu-Ku to catch Big Freedia’s Twerk Lesson which had to have been one of the most unique experiences of any festival we have ever been to. Watching a swarm of people twerk as hard as they could while Big Freedia slapped their asses was hilariously educational.

If you were looking for a place to really get down, the Float Den was where it was at. Good lord was that place sweaty. Watching Paper Diamond we thought there was no possible way that stage could get any more rowdy, until Carnage came on and completely ruined every one in attendance.

Once the sun went down was when things really got goin’ at BUKU. After rocking out to Sleigh Bells (who were extremely impressive and above our expectations) we were relaxing with a few beers during Dusky‘s deep set in the Back Alley before catching the last bit of Ellie Goulding at the main stage.

One of the biggest (and best) surprises of the entire festival was getting to catch The Gaslamp Killer‘s set in the ballroom between Pusha T and Chance The Rapper. GLK’s set was full of awesome new music from Hudson Mowhake and live scratching that showed the audience what an actual DJ does…

The best set of the night (and possibly the entire weekend) was without a doubt Chance The Rapper. Saying his stage presence is “high energy” does not do the man justice. An hour was not nearly enough time to soak in the magic that was Chance. His band was tight, on point, and perfectly coupled his quick flow.

BUKU 2014 Music + Arts Festival Photos

More photos and a recap video on the way! Stay tuned!

BUKU 2014 Day 2 Recap:

Day 2 of BUKU 2014 started off harder than expected with DJ Snake in the Float Den. It was our first time seeing Snake perform live and it was not a let down whatsoever. Focusing more on his  festival set than what he showcased in his two-hour essential mix, DJ Snake definitely blew us away. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.

As we made our way into the Ballroom, we noticed something strange happening during Dan Deacon‘s set. He had shifted the entire audience into a giant dance party — and not the kind you would expect. Playing on the floor instead of on stage, Dan Deacon was able to shape the crowd into a huge circle that completely occupied the space of the Ballroom.

People would take turns running into the middle and showing off their moves. Once he felt the crowd had enough, Dan had everyone run to the center and greet each other with high fives. It was yet again one of the most unique things you could ever witness at a festival.

Since the Back Alley was a success for us on the first day of the festival, we made our way back and once again were not dissappointed. We caught another New Orleans native, Shanook, on stage while Boyfriend was getting down with the crowd performing one of her newest tracks. It was just another in-your-face experience from BUKU.

One of the most anticipated acts of BUKU (for the JNTM BUKrew at least) was the Funklords known only as Chromeo. It was awesome getting a chance to see the the guys live, right in midst of their 2014 tour. The guys were on point as always and their set featured some of their new jams like “Jealous” and “Come Alive,” both of which were even better live.

Cashmere Cat was another catch in the Back Alley, playing everything from his own Wedding Bells EP to other FoFoFadi-inspired artists like Drippy Dolphin and Trippy Turtle. Cat went super hard and had the entire back alley packed to the brim with adoring fans.

There was really no other choice other than seeing Baauer b2b RL Grime. Two of trap music biggest stars collaborating with each other behind the decks was by far the most insane experiences of the festival.

After getting completely turnt up at Baauer and RL Grime, we made our way to Soul Clap who was playing two full hours of some of the most soulful, funky house music we had heard all weekend long.

Fortunately the grooves kept on rollin’ with Skream, who as of late has been venturing further away from the disgusting dubstep he made his name with and has moved closer to disco house that had the Back Alley getting down with their funky selves.

After passing through the Float Den to catch a little of Tyler the Creator (who was raunchy and awesome as always), we made our way to the Beats Antique set in the Ballroom. The place was packed and sweatier than ever. The crowd was full of die-hard fans who were dancing and enjoying the last few hours of the festival.

BUKU 2014 Review

The festival was overall a huge success. Everywhere we turned we were met with another great act. The venue could not have been better and the food and beverage vendors were a perfect representation of the host city.

It wasn’t just the entertainment that was impressive, the attendees of BUKU 2014 were also something to write home about. The people in New Orleans are some of the most down to earth and friendly folks. There were multiple times where people would walk up to us and start a conversation like we had all been best friends for years. Now THAT was truly a unique festival experience.

Another important aspect was the art. Now, most festivals say they’re an “music and arts” festival, but not many actually mean it as much as BUKU does. Everything about the festival was in some form or another focused on art. Whether it was the wall of live graffiti or the commissioned piece hanging in the float den, BUKU was actually an art festival.

Overall, the BUKU experience was a refreshing one. The festival is still very young and growing into itself, but that’s what makes it so great. There weren’t a lot of bros or VIP people spending tons of money just to be seen at the show. Everyone in attendance was someone who was there for the music, or at least there to have fun.

That’s the bottom line. The festival was FUN. There was nothing quite like BUKU and I personally cannot wait to return.

The post BUKU 2014 Music + Arts Festival Recap & Photos appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

The festival is a network of various stages and interactive attractions, along the river. Featuring unconventional stage setups, Buku will be delivering vibes at all corners, with one stage located in a Mardi Gras float manufacturing warehouse and one on a docked riverboat.  In it’s third year, Buku presents its best lineup yet with a vast range of artists and genres making it the festival for anyone and everyone.

From The Flaming Lips to UK dubstep pioneer Skream, Zeds Dead to Chance the Rapper and so many other different artists in between, it’s hard to believe Buku packs this incredibly loaded lineup into just two days on only five stages.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90220195″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Genre-blurring acts across a wide soundscape marks this festival’s lineup with a caliber of diversity that is hard to recreate.  Veteran hip-hop trend setter Nas is slated to deliver a soulful homage to rap’s roots, while Colorado’s favorite son Paper Diamond, will surely bring his distinct blend of trap-inspired electro to the mix.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83251021″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Adding sets from saxophone slayer Griz,  New Orlean’s own Kid Kamillion, Holy Ghost! and a slew of other talents, Buku is boasting one of the best lineups on the entire 2014 festival circuit.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/115652902″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Immersing a festival experience into The Big Easy’s remarkably rich cultural atmosphere, enables Buku Music and Art Project to expose everyone to everything New Orleans has to offer in just two days. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the fun, and be sure to follow the journey as the action unfolds.

And if you haven’t already, snag your tickets for Buku here, as the limited number of tickets is bound to run out soon!

The post Bringing The Noise: Buku Music + Art Project appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

The tune is a vibe-setting, bouncy cut that is dripping wet with bubbly synths and mellow bass-lines layered throughout.  JB’s latest tasty treat incorporates an ultra-catchy hook that will surely continue to bounce around in your head, after one quick listen.  The video, premiered via Thump features everyone from Skrillex to veterans like Skream and Benga. Nadastrom’s Dave Nada, bass-maestro AC Slater, as well as Dirty Bird‘s Justin Martin all lend a hand too, featured in some candid footage of the modern-day rock star life. Appearances by BBC taste-maker Annie Mac, Flux Pavillion, and Mad Decent‘s mad scientist Diplo, all help make for an enticing music video as well.

Jack Beats gives us a quick glimpse of what life behind the decks is like with the official video for “Beatbox.” Quickly hopping between frames, the viewer is taken from packed clubs to festival tents, on the road, and into green rooms with this fresh, immersive new video.

Check out the video for “Beatbox” and get down with some of your favorite DJs. The bumping new video should hold you over until “Beatbox” is officially released on March 18th via OWSLA. Cheers.

Jack Beats

Facebook//Twitter//Soundcloud

Preorder “Beatbox” here!

The post Jack Beats Release Star Studded Video for ‘Beatbox’ appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Disclaimer Part 2: Singles and short EPs didn’t make the cut for this list, there would simply be too much to consider.

Disclaimer Part 3: You’re getting tired of disclaimers, I know.  It’s a little late for a best of 2013 post, and I realize that.  But I needed the time to gather my thoughts, okay?

It was a massive year for EDM.  We saw the rise and fall of trends, the emergence of new artists and the dissolving of old.  Through it all, some artists really pulled themselves together to create masterpieces which broke trends, made us take a step back, and really think about where our music is headed.  I had a huge amount of fun discovering and sharing the diverse sounds of 2013, but there were just a few albums that really stuck with me.  Albums that I had on repeat for weeks on end.  These are my top five.

5. Aleph By Gesaffelstien

French House producer Gesaffelstien saw a big rise in popularity in 2013, from his collaboration on  Kanye West’s Yeezus, alongside big names like Daft Punk and Brodinski.  He also found a huge following with his remixes, taking on huge songs like Lana Del Rey’s Blue Jeans, and Justice’s Helix.  His hard-hitting, dark industrial style was a refreshing change of pace from the upbeat, happy-go-lucky vibe that was prominent in EDM in 2013.  Gesaffelstien’s newest album, Aleph, which was fully released in October, began to catch attention earlier on in the year with the release of “Pursuit”; an angry, progressive house song complete with unintelligible chanting, vicious beats, and intimidating melodies.  Although the album as a whole was not met with the same success as the single, Aleph’s disregard of trends in the industry and dedication to originality secures it as the number five spot on the list.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/19296602″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

4. Teddy Massacre by Teddy Killerz

Okay, so technically, this release is an EP.  But the exclusive tracks released alongside Teddy Massacre bumps it up to a nine-song production, making it an acceptable album-length.  These Russian producers have been around for a few years, producing small EPs and singles with a classic dub/drum and bass style.  Their newest release, Teddy Massacre, sponsored by the one and only OWSLA, made a splash with its diverse take on the horror-oriented sound made popular by juggernauts like Knife Party and Dog Blood.  Featuring songs with swing and jazz influence, supported by interesting bass lines and thick drum sounds, the Teddy Killerz proved themselves to be powerful innovators in EDM, and we hope that they continue their streak into 2014.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/14492670″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

3. A Color Map of the Sun by Pretty Lights

Derek Smith (better known as Pretty Lights) has long been credited for creating music that easily introduces people the concept of EDM.  His remixes of popular classics like Pink Floyd’s Time and Steve Miller Band’s Fly Like an Eagle began to turn heads and sway opinions as early as 2008.  Since then, he has become the proprietor of his own record company, Pretty Lights Music, which has gone on to sign funk-soul legends Grammatik and GRiZ, as well as push the Digital Liberation movement, encouraging artists to release their music free of charge for distribution.  In July, Pretty Lights released his newest album, A Color Map of the Sun.  Relying heavily on Smith’s gift from combining samples (all of which he created himself) with groovy beats, the album creates a pleasant, yet distinctly funky vibe front start to finish.  Although it leans slightly towards the mainstream with a premier on Conan, as well as a nomination at the Grammys, A Color Map of the Sun has cemented itself in the EDM scene as step forward for funk and soul.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/7358451″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

2. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

What “Best of 2013” list would be complete without the earth-shaking release of everyone’s favorite robo-duo?  I’ll spare you the Daft Punk backstory that you’ve surely read 20 times this year, and get straight to the praise.  RAM was a massive wake-up call for EDM is 2013, proving that the bar can be raised in more ways than one.  This album collected tons of hype in the month preceding its release, and many weren’t sure what to expect.  Would Daft Punk follow the trends and progression of the genre they helped create and release a dub-centered, aggressive and heavy production? Nope. Instead, Daft Punk shocked old and new fans alike by releasing a smooth and thoughtful yet goofy album that shook the scene by its roots.  The first track off of RAM, Bring Life Back to Music perfectly summarizes their not-so obscure message, and we hope more artists will take heed of these legends in 2014.  Here’s to hoping for more ground-breaking material from the boys this year.  (Also, Coachella?)

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/19297371″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

1. Rebel Era by GRiZ 

Grant Kwiecinski has been called a pioneer of musical expression, and that powerful, emotional expression shines bright and clear in GRiZ’s newest album, Rebel Era.  The album flaunts an air of defiance, Kwiecinski claiming it to be an act of rebellion against the oppression of capitalism, as well as a democratic government.  Besides the potent (and important) political statement carried with the production, Rebel Era contains the best combination of electronic music and live instrumentation I’ve heard thus far.  The beats in the album are, at times, slow and sensual, though the samples and horn instrumentation laid over the top build the songs in a visceral way, creating an outstanding and unavoidably danceable experience.  From the James Brown-influenced funk guitar licks to the perfectly placed and balanced electronic riffs, this album quickly became my go-to for every situation.  At parties, nobody hesitated to move to the main room and start dancing, all the while leaning over and asking “Who is this?”.  Rebel Era perfectly blended the fantastical, off-the-wall style of EDM, and the sultry, emotional style of funk and soul music.  We can only hope that GRiZ continues on his quest to liberate music, all the while keeping us on the dance floor.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/12408917″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Honerable Mention: Rollercoaster by Skream (feat. Sam Frank)

I’m a massive disco-house fan, and to see Skream take a full 180 from his dubstep career to focus on disco was both hilarious and awesome.  Luckily for him, he completely nailed it, and I wouldn’t at all mind seeing Rollercoaster become the quintessential party anthem of 2014.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/107653873″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

So that’s it, I hope I didn’t step on too many toes.  Feel free to give your input in the comments, I’d love to hear it.  Happy 2014!

The post Zak’s Top 5 Albums of 2013 appeared first on Just Noise To Me.