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Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol. 3. [Post-Pantheon Ponderings]

30Dec

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol. 3. [Post-Pantheon Ponderings]

It’s absurd to me that Pantheon 2022 is already four weeks behind us. Between the holidays and the “Pantheon flu” so many of us ended up with, I suppose it makes sense that a month seemed to just blow by… but still! Where did the time go? Even now, there are some mornings, in those brief moments between sleep and consciousness, that I still dream that I’m going to wake up in Seattle– about to embark on what was a life-changing journey alongside so many members of the wave music community. I don’t write that with hyperbole– Pantheon 2022 was genuinely a life-changing event for me. This “Breaking Waves” entry is the first of many to explore life post-Pantheon 2022. This entry specifically contains my own musings about the experience, now that the festival...

Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol 2. – Exploring Days 1-2

2Dec

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Music

Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol 2. – Exploring Days 1-2

Since we covered "Day 0" in an earlier edition of "Breaking Waves", this volume will focus on cataloguing the many artists featured throughout the rest of the historic weekend that is Pantheon 2022. In that earlier volume, you will also find information about the promoters--Soul Food Music Collective, vibe.digital, and Human Error--as well as an exclusive interview with YAMA. Find "Breaking Waves: Pantheon, volume 1" here, if you need to catch yourself up to speed. If you're ready, go ahead and read on to learn more about Days 1-2 of the festival. Pantheon 2022: The Main Festival North America's first-ever wave festival, Pantheon 2022, was initially announced on August 22nd, but earlier this week, promoters announced the official day-by-day lineup, including ma...

Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol 1. – Day 0 + more!

30Nov

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews, Music

Breaking Waves: Pantheon 2022, vol 1. – Day 0 + more!

Listen up, folks: we are but a mere day away from North America’s biggest wave music festival (ever!): Pantheon 2022. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, or if you find yourself a bit overwhelmed by it all, then this special Pantheon edition of Breaking Waves is just for you! In this first volume, we are going to check out some of what the promoters have been up to in preparation of this event, and do a quick dive into the artists featured on "Day 0." We will cover the 30-odd artists playing through the rest of the weekend in a subsequent edition. Stay tuned! So... Pantheon? Like in Greece? No–in Seattle, WA. This 'Pantheon' is a three-day wave music event spearheaded by prominent US-based figures–Djedi of vibe.digital, RamonPang of Soul Food Musi...

Breaking Waves: Yama on Human Error//, War Dubs, Pantheon & More. [interview]

31Oct

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

Breaking Waves: Yama on Human Error//, War Dubs, Pantheon & More. [interview]

"Wave encapsulates the whole range of the human experience, from love to grief. There is something that your heart can relate with somewhere in this scene." - Yama on "what does Wave Mean To you?" If there was an award for 'busiest wave producer', it might have to go to Yama this year. In the past few weeks alone, the dude has released two singles, hosted a vibe.digital podcast, and has been promoting the hell out of North America's first-ever wave festival, Pantheon. Before that, Yama was spearheading the coordination of said festival, as well as the annual 'war dubs season' that we all know and love. If you're unfamiliar with Yama, you're in luck. I connected with the artist a little while ago and was able to ask him some questions about all the different roles he takes on i...

Adams Traktor Drops Optimistic New Single “You Found A Way”

22Feb

By mendowerksNo Comments

Features, Music

Adams Traktor Drops Optimistic New Single “You Found A Way”

The new single from Adams Traktor is a bit of a departure from their previous work. "You Found A Way" finds songwriter JR Smith switching it up from the darker lyrics present on previous songs. Instead, the track is more of an upbeat love song. It combines elements of rock, pop, and even a hint of some 80s era synth. Adams Traktor is a project formed by JR Smith who is originally from Seattle. While from the west coast, he has called Europe home for more than two decades. Having worked in the technology field, music has always been a major part of his existence. According to an article in Vogue, he went for a five-month job and up staying. Smith's goal with Adam's Traktor is to explore and take alternative rock music to another level. On "You Found A Way" he taps into his own life ...

Seattle’s Adams Traktor’s New Single “Bleed” Available Worldwide

29Oct

By mendowerksNo Comments

Music, Reviews

Seattle’s Adams Traktor’s New Single “Bleed” Available Worldwide

Progressive rocker JR Smith formed Adams Traktor as a vessel to explore and bend genres of modern music. That journey continues with the release of his new single "Bleed". A stellar group of musicians assembled to perform on the track including Manny Elias, founding drummer for Tears for Fears. Special guest Fernando Saunders (Lou Reed, Slash) rounds out the rhythm section on bass while Olda Krejcoves is featured on lead guitar. The result is a hard-hitting rock song with a danceable groove. We can see this one translating well to a live setting. "Bleed" is the existential rock song that circles around a story told by so many artists and musicians that have sought the magic of a muse to stimulate them, inspire them, love them, hate them and otherwise make them feel alive. The g...