Ambur Masen, Author at MendoWerks

An Artist with a Boundless Vision: NOANNE on debut single “Goodwill”, AI-assisted creative process, and more [exclusive interview]

28Nov

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

An Artist with a Boundless Vision: NOANNE on debut single “Goodwill”, AI-assisted creative process, and more [exclusive interview]

The use of Artificial Intelligence in the arts is something that’s been heavily discussed online; that’s not news. If you’ve spent any time on Twitter in the last several months, you may have gotten lost in the “should/n’t” of it all—in visual arts, in publishing, in education, in music, in film, you name it. You may even remember the AI-related aspects of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the results of which are believed to set a precedent for other industries moving forward. However, like with all hot topics on social media, we feel it’s important to dive into the details and have conversations about a topic in order to fully understand it. This belief led to us connecting with NOANNE, a Prague-based artistic multi-hyphenate who is able to “[shed] the veil of self-consciousness and [step] into the...

Kareful Unveils a Fresh New Wavy EP: ‘Phantom’

25Nov

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Kareful Unveils a Fresh New Wavy EP: ‘Phantom’

In wave music, there are few names that hold as much weight as Jude Kaufmann--better known as Kareful, an OG wave producer and the co-founder of Liquid Ritual, Dektora, and most recently, Wave Global. After dedicating a huge amount of time post-covid to curating and promoting wave shows all over Europe--including two years' worth of wave nights at the prestigious Amsterdam Dance Event as well as the beloved "Liquid Ritual Conference" in 2022--this artist-slash-industry-savant has finally returned to his DAW and gave us the gift of his 3rd EP, Phantom. This EP builds on what we already have come to expect from Kareful--fresh, emotional atmospheres, soft melodies with a tinge of darkness, and an absolutely seamless effort to infuse classic wave sounds with catchy modern twists. Phant...

18Nov

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features, Music

STARSET Announces Huge Plans for 2024

After the release of their 2021 album, HORIZONS, and subsequent tour in support of the new album, fans of the iconic cinematic rock band STARSET have been left on the edge of their seats, wondering what’s to come next from their favorite spacemen-turned-dystopian heroes. It's going to be 2024 soon, and dang it, STARSET, we just wanna know! Will it be... Another album? A tour? The novels we were promised all those years ago? Another app--or maybe a new puzzle? When it comes to STARSET, the possibilities are endless. Well, we finally have some answers. Read on to learn more about the band’s plan for Spring 2024. https://open.spotify.com/album/0tJI0EBOHEcxov6V1ddIo7?si=qeerYT6rQYeXAD9ZF1qeNg STARSET Presents... A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE One thing to understan...

5Nov

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Enter the Creative World of Cybrfly

The act of DJing is nothing short of an art form. Being able to create a cohesive collage (of sorts) out of other artists' tunes is not an easy feat. Sure, anyone can build a decent playlist, but it takes a special sort of talent to mix the music together--to create an experience, one that's both engaging and organic all the way through. If you need proof of this fact, please turn your attention to Cybrfly, a SoCal-based DJ and music producer hailing from the wave scene, and her latest cinematic mix, 'The Monarch: Vol 3." Over the years, Cybrfly has curated a couple series of mixes for fans to enjoy. Through these mixes, Cybrfly shows off her great ear for music--and her skill at weaving sounds together into electronic journeys unlike any other. If you were lucky enough to catch Cy...

almogfx Reunites with Vinter in “worlds apart”

30Oct

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Features, Music

almogfx Reunites with Vinter in “worlds apart”

Liquid Ritual, the UK's premier wave music label, is at it again with another gentle, introspective new song: "worlds apart" by almogfx and Vinter. Profound and atmospheric, "Worlds Apart" is a song that will stay with you long after your first listen. This powerful collaboration shows off the best of both artists: the analog, the ambient, the ethereal, and more. Together, almogfx and Vinter create a special sort of magic that's yet to be replicated elsewhere. Check out "worlds apart" on Spotify, below. For the next Elder Scrolls: Skyrim rerelease that we all know is coming, I'd really love it if Bethesda considered updating the soundtrack to include songs like "worlds apart". Imagine exploring the open world's mountain peaks in HD with something as gorgeous and immersive a...

Cover Songs for a Post-‘Punk Goes…’ World

28Oct

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Features, Music

Cover Songs for a Post-‘Punk Goes…’ World

Like most emo kids on the Internet in 2010, I was practically raised by Fearless Records' Punk Goes... compilation series. More specifically, I sunk a ton of time into the Punk Goes Pop compilations; I got my taste of contemporary pop by listening to guitar-heavy cover songs performed by bands I was already a fan of. It's been a few years since we got a Punk Goes... album. However, the tradition is still very much alive, thanks to artists like Pendulum and Toadies, both of which released some cool, reimagined pop cover songs recently. Additionally, if you're looking for information about cover songs, we'll be including three key facts about the process, as well as links to these new covers, below. Pendulum covers Taylor Swift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMbiRjjTWj0 Pend...

19Oct

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Features, Music

Psycho, We Will “Never Forget U”

New releases from Liquid Ritual are practically guaranteed to be epic. The label's recent release of "Never Forget U" by Psycho further proves this fact to be true. This newest song is a dreamy blend of UK garage and breakbeat structures wrapped up in wave music's emotional undercurrent. All together, Psycho delivers a tranquil, low-tempo wavy treat that is perfect for this time of year--or any time of year, really. Find the new song on Spotify, below. "Never Forget U" feels like the descent into fall that we experience here in upstate New York. It's slow, cold, aching--it's almost as if a crisp November breeze is on the metaphorical horizon of the song itself. With each note, another fistful of crisp autumn leaves have fallen away; with each note, we're transported deeper into...

Cherry Lena Weaves Together Darkness & Feminine Rage in “EDGE”

17Oct

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Cherry Lena Weaves Together Darkness & Feminine Rage in “EDGE”

Canadian alternative pop artist, Cherry Lena, just released a new single: "EDGE". Touching on emotional themes like loneliness and isolation, this song is imbued with dark feminine energy and feminine rage. It also shows off the artist's rich vocals as well as her unique blend of drum 'n' bass beats and hypnotic dark pop tropes. Check it out: https://open.spotify.com/track/2uhtmKLHFHdf3K0NRWT1HE?si=33b6ddb822f94187 While this song doesn't quite emanate the same kind of "dark feminine"/"villain era" energy as some other tracks we've recently covered, it does lean into a specific side of 'bad bitch' behavior: inner strength and relentless self-care. It shows how one can drag herself out of the darkness--back from 'the edge'--and start anew. Explaining the song's history, C...

‘What Kind of Fool’ Are You? The Lovelines Help Us Find Out (Exclusive Interview)

15Oct

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

‘What Kind of Fool’ Are You? The Lovelines Help Us Find Out (Exclusive Interview)

"I love recording with my sister. It’s like dumping a box of Legos on the floor and building something together."- Todd goings, The Lovelines Many musicians consider their bandmates to be like family, but in the case of The Lovelines, the music truly is a family affair. A sibling duo, connecting across the Atlantic, is responsible for making the special sort of sickly-sweet pop music found on The Lovelines' streaming platforms, including a new single, "What Kind of Fool Would Want to Fall in Love?" If you're a fan of dreamy romantics, clever songwriting, and soulful femme vocals--this one is for you. We also come bearing exciting news: Todd Goings, one half of The Lovelines, connected with us here at MendoWerks Magazine and gave us a look into the band's origins, this new single...

Worldwide Wave: Global Wave Music Tours 2023

30Sep

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features, Music

Worldwide Wave: Global Wave Music Tours 2023

Last year, we saw the wave community hit a couple monumental milestones: wave music at the Amsterdam Dance Event for the first time, the launch of the first-ever dedicated North American wave music festival, and much more. Later on this year, however, some major players in the wave scene are going to be hitting the road all across the globe. Many of these tour dates are first-time cities (and countries!) for these artists. That's right: we are getting wave music tours... worldwide! Read all about these tours and more, below. Worldwide Wave Music Tours, Forthcoming: These forthcoming international wave tours, led by Kompass Music Group artists barnacle boi, Brothel, and Skeler, are following the massive North American 'wave tour' that these three producers set out on together ea...