Pleased to present two new “Pink and Purple” remixes for your free-downloading pleasure. The first one comes from my main man, Tucker Dawson, a.k.a. Tuck Digz, and you can peep his dubbed-out instrumentals at myspace.com/tuckerdawson. I’ve known Tuck for a few years, and he’s another one of those freakish multi-talents… A supremely-funky drummer and all-around musician, and as you can tell from his remix, quite the hip-hop producer… He constructed his track entirely out of samples from “Pink and Purple,” but slooooowwwwwed it down, or as he put it, “J-Dillatized” it… Just imagine me sippin on sizzurp and ghost-riding the whip:
The next remix is brought to you by Canblaster and Myd of Club Cheval, a collective of producers and remixers from France. Their remix has some serious 80s-cheese in it, and that says a lot coming from me, considering the amount I typically pack in… It more or less preserves the form of the song, but they recorded loads of new parts, re-harmonized the chord progression, and threw in some tasty 8-bit synths for good measure… and maybe I’m crazy but I hear traces of “Everything She Wants” by Wham in there. Check it out!
It’s been 2 months since I put out “Pink and Purple,” and the reviews continue to roll in – now don’t I feel special?! Take a gander:
Would Be Hipster – “It’s so cool it’s hot – and so hot … it’s awesome… Layered, smooth-as-silk production, catchy vocals, and funky attitude to spare… A fun, awesome listen that’ll put a smile on your face and get you tapping you feet… It’s infectious, and listening was a sheer delight; pop as it should be – fun and unashamed of it’s levity.”
Too Much Happiness – “The funky beats are pure sensory overload… Some might say it’s like the Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack on steroids with vocals arranged by Earth Wind and Fire and a couple samples of Jamiroquai thrown in to boot. This mother fucker is equal parts smooth and rad.”
Music Liberation – “This record’s funk rating is through the roof… The tunes are so very phat, so very danceable and so very retro… So good I think I’m addicted. If this doesn’t become a floor-filler within a year there is no justice in the world.”
Berlin Battery – “DiscoFunk is back… Really fun and makes you smile… And don’t forget to listen to this funky shit on his myspace or better: just buy the E.P!” [INDEED!!!]
The Coolest Out – “[re: the remixes] They all sound amazing to me”
Attack Attack Attack – “Underrated NY genius… Think Chromeo in bed with Prince… [Re: the Remixes] The results are a diverse mixture of reworkings.”
Chic Moustache Club [Posted Father Abraham, Jack Tennis, and Music for Modern Man remixes]
Too Many Sebastians – “Alan Wilkis wants you to get down and dance, so much so that he made an EP that practically forces you do so… A happy little EP that is sure to put you a good mood.”
Stereoscope.FM – “Prince-esque sound… has something of (gasp!) an early-Michael Jackson thing going on.”
The Dissident Times – “I have been waiting for some new funk for ages. Prince has kept up the funk, and George Clinton as well. But we need the new FONK… Here it is. PINK AND PURPLE is this new release.”
I’m on the latest Indie Soup Runner Podcast – it’s a monthly free podcast that features the latest in high-energy exercise-friendly indie music… This month’s episode features yours truly, alongside some other great music, and if I could ever force myself to exercise on any kind of regular basis, this would be the mix for me:
Alan Wilkis – “Gotta Get You Back”
YACHT – “Psychic City”
My Awesome Mixtape – “Washing Machine” (Washing My t-Shirt Peluche Remix)
Valery Gore – “Shoes of Glass”
Electric Owls – “Magic Show”
Flashguns – “I Don’t Not Love You”
Ash – “Return of White Rabbit”
Gossip – “Heavy Cross”
Skatan – “Shine”
Discovery – “So Insane”
Napoleon IIIrd – “Zebra”
The Longcut – “Repeated”
TiMaria – “Pretty Girls Are Pretty High”
Patrick Wolf – “Hard Times”
Marian Call – “Volvo”
Plus you can hear me dorkily introduce myself at the beginning… If that doesn’t make you wanna get up and run out the door, then I don’t know what will
Pleased to present the second “Pink and Purple” remix – this one’s from Father Abraham, a top-notch Boston hip-hop emcee & producer extraordinaire. Abe is an old friend and a force to be reckoned with. He’s self-released several albums, and his current project, “52 Pickup,” is both impressive and borderline insane… The long-and-short of it is that he has set out to write, record, and produce a song a week for a year, which he then puts up for free download at his website www.52pickup.us. I believe he just released his 31st track…
Now, let me say that again… A SONG A WEEK FOR A YEAR, people… The scariest part is it’s all totally legit… SO MUCH hard work, creative juice, and determination needed to attack something like that. It actually reminds me in a way of Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois and Michigan albums from his 50 States Project – they both require a certain breed of meticulous/obsessive/ambitious human… Please visit 52 Pickup and download some tracks, see what Abe’s been cookin’ up!
And that brings me to today’s remix, “Pink and Purple (Father Abraham Black and Blue RMX),” (also the 28th installment at 52 Pickup). On it, Abe basically reworks the beat into an agressive hip-hop party jam, while slicing and dicing my vocals + synths, and then KILLS it on the mic… So cool.
Download it for FREE right here, and share it with your friends, tweet it, facebook it… Show some love & spread the word if you’re feeling it!!!
Over the past few months, I’ve reached out to a number of talented folks to remix songs from Pink and Purple. Thanks to the power of the internet, I’ve been able to connect with all sorts of incredible musicians from all over the world – France, Germany, Australia, and yes, even Boston! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting new ones up here for you to stream/download/share as your heart so desires… Also, check out the awesome remix artwork from Chad Rush (see above)
Now, there can be many pitfalls to remixes, but when done right, the results can be explosive… They can be a great way for an artist to put his or her own spin on another’s work while simultaneously enhancing the original.
So without further ado, I’d like to present the first “Pink and Purple” remix, by my friend, Futures, the sinister alter-ego of Gunnar Olsen. If that name rings a bell, it could be because he plays drums on my record… or perhaps you’ve heard any number of the zillion bands that he drums in (The Exit, Bell, Fires of Rome…). Gunnar is one of those freakish talents – he drops jaws when he’s behind a drumset, but he can also sing and harmonize like a pro (rather, he just IS a pro), and as he’s been demonstrating quite a bit recently, he’s got some serious remix skillz, too… What a show-off… Check it out:
Here comes the weekly blog roundup again – a couple more nice writeups here and there, I think the initial coverage is finally cooling down – I managed to pull in over 100 reviews, and they were all pleasant-to-awesome! I’m very grateful!
And before I get started, I’d like to direct people’s attention to one of the original Philly soul bands from the 1970’s, The Stylistics. I’ve been a fan since I was wee, thanks to my white Jewish dad’s curious love for Philly soul… been listening to their first album all morning, today, and it just slays…
nickjamvendetta – “The sounds feel as if it’s from an 80’s movie that was dubbed onto VHS, but only highly produced to sound from none other than a gold plated 808… This release is bursting out a plain ol’ bunch of fun funk for the day or night”
Longon, ON: Burgeoning Metropolis – “Sounds like its taken a backing track from a hidden song from M’Js Off the Wall and… well, it just has a very 80s feel”
Lemoncat [Blog in Madrid] – “Electrofunk popero desde el Bronx, con muchos synthes, guitarreo y vocales con humor. Buen EP, ecléctico e intenso” ["Electrofunk popero" may very well be the coolest thing anyone's ever called me]
Chic Moustache Club [re: Parker & Lewis remix of PAP] – “A new remix of Pink and Purple (THE track which is now parts of my heart and my daily ‘Life is cool’ training)”
It’s been a BUSY week for your pal, Willikers… Just finding some time to come up for air this mornin’. Been plugging away at writing for some fancy poppers, took a pass at writing a theme song for a TV show, and one of the top-secret remixes I mentioned a while back is properly done! I heard the final master on Friday and it sounds slammin! As soon as I’m able to share any of the above, I WILL!!!
The feedback from the “Dorm Life” episode’s been great – people apparently REALLY watch that show! If you missed my little feature on Monday, check out the post HERE.
And moving along, the reviews continue to roll in – if you can believe it, I’ve almost hit 100 reviews and/or honorable mentions, and they’ve ALL BEEN POSITIVE so far! Here goes:
Groovin’ You – “A crazy mixture of styles and genres that somehow manage to come together to form a cohesive whole… Packed with catchy and infectious vocodered vocals and synth melodies layered over a bubbling bassline, lo-fi shuffling drum machines and more meaty percussion… An impressive and varied release, so much so that it was tough to decide which tracks to post.”
Hot Biscuits – “[re: 'Snuggle Up'] A fun summer track that would be great in the background of an afternoon gathering…”
I was on the Contrast Podcast this week! For those of you unfamiliar with it, it’s this awesome podcast founded by an awesome gentleman named Tim Young who recently just moved to France, and said of his recent move, “I’ve had wine with every meal so far!”
Basically, it involves a theme each week, and various bloggers and fans submit songs that best fit the theme. Say the theme is “songs about loving more than humanly possible,” I might cleverly suggest “8 Days a Week” by the Beatles :)
A few times a year, Tim opens the podcast up to musicians, including yours truly… We get to introduce ourselves + then put on a song… It’s an awesome way to discover new music, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it for the 2nd time!
Writing to you today from Miami, Florida… On a much-needed vacation, soaking up some rays and chugging gallons of Cuban Café con Leche, alternatively known as my kryptonite.
So here’s the blog roundup for the week – reviews continue to roll in, and people are saying some lovely things!
Also, the record is getting some serious love on AmieStreet.com! It was featured on their homepage, they did a little post about me, and “Snuggle Up…” has been on their Top 25 chart all week! If you haven’t already bought the album, it’s available for under $2 (last I checked, at least): PINK AND PURPLE ON AMIE STREET
On to some reviews…
Paper Magazine [Interview] – “An explosion of retro-inspired, electro-funk-tastic, booty-shaking goodness”
Amie Street Blog – “Looking for that retro dance track to put on your summer mix? Intrigued by the idea of fusing musical concepts that range from disco and stadium rock to synthed-out ’80s pop ballads? Sick of playing Purple Rain over and over? These jams will have you grooving your way through the Reagan years”
Slice – “From the funky guitar lines to the high-pitch vocal hook-lines, it’s all here… ‘Pink And Purple’ is the perfect late-night driving track with some of the best synth solos I’ve heard in years… A wonderful homage to the history of pop, and music itself. Buy. This. Now.”
You Sound Like a Robot – “Supremely grooveable beats… Bringing back the sounds of the 1980’s all while adding his own special touch.”
Off the Radar – “A very funky/synthy dancey blend… Perfect for the summer.”
Fuzzy Thoughts – “It is, through and through, a funky throwback that ultimately leaves a lasting impression despite being a mere 26 minutes… Wilkis accomplishes so much on Pink and Purple that it’s hard to believe it is an EP… There’s no filler whatsoever.”
It’s The Money Shot – “He actually seems to really like making music more than he likes being cool, and it shows in his songs.” [This one is kind of hilarious, has an amazing music video idea for 'Gotta Get You Back']
Danger Danger – “Thank you again, Alan Wilkis. You are a genius in my eyes.”
Indie Passion – “Clearly derived from the synth-laden funk rock of the early 80’s, but it’s never derivative. There is something immediate and familiar about the tunes.”
IndieRocker.net [Review from Brazil! Any Portuguese speakers out there?]
Welcome to Wilcassettes, the home of everything Alan Wilkis. Alan is a Brooklyn-based music producer and remixer. His latest project is called "PRINTS" and can be found here: http://www.prints.fm
LISTEN:
To hear what Alan's been listening to, subscribe to his Spotify playlist. It's updated every Friday with Alan's hand-picked favorites of that week.
DISCLAIMER:
Every file posted here is for sampling purposes only. Alan encourages everyone to support the artists on Amazon, iTunes, etc... Should anyone object to a posted file, please email info [at] wilcassettes [dot] com, and it will be promptly removed.
