Blog Archives

Kitsuné Trip Mode – Mixed by Jerry Bouthier / First Part

kitsune

Kitsuné’s latest compilation ‘Kitsuné Trip Mode’, mixed by Jerry Bouthier, is out now! Below, you can stream the first part! Get it here : bit.ly/KTMMOrder.

In case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with Jerry Bouthier here.

Davidian – Could Never EP feat Eli & Fur

davidian

Davidian is back with a new hybrid house single ‘Could Never’ (feat. Eli&Fur) to be released on October 6th 2014 on Kitsuné.

Davidian is a 22 year old electronic producer from Nottingham, England. Bringing his own brand of pulsating bass-edged house cuts, he has already done very well received remixes for MØ and The Wombats.

After a debut EP released with Kitsuné in May, the young producer is coming back stronly with a second title “Could Never” featuring English duo Eli&Fur who also produced a remix of his first track “What I Want”. Still in a very UK House style, to catchy piano lines with hypnotic voice takes us into a club atmosphere.

Davidian is once again supported by three producers who are making their first appearance on the label: J£zus Million’s remix simultaneously offers ebullient electro-funk vibes and slow motion sounds, while the Vague Recollection duo offers us a very housey version of the track. Artifact rounds off this EP with a very rythmic and powerful drum & bass style remix.

Stream the minimix below.

Interview: Jerry Bouthier (Continental, Kitsuné)

Jerry Bouthier 1 ©ElsaOkazaki

A Parisian DJ-producer who set up base in the British capital, Jerry Bouthier is first and foremost a busy dj strikingly passionate about music in all its forms. His ties with Continental Records, Vivienne Westwood, Kitsuné, BoomBox/Ponystep etc have made his name a fixture in the fashion world and beyond, from London to Paris, Milan to Tokyo.

Originally a club dj for whom unsurprisingly it is essentially about making people dance, Bouthier – always open to a wide range of music sensibilities and schools of thoughts – developed a challenging approach focusing on heart-melting emotions and tantalizing, at times hypnotic, atmospheres while remaining funky and danceable.

His latest mix/compilation is ‘Kitsuné Trip Mode’, a different kind of dj mix inspired by the escapists’ moods of the catwalk and supported by the prestigious online concept store Net A Porter, which is out next week on Kitsuné, the groundbreaking Parisian label renowned for fusing music and fashion under one stylish roof.

Today, Jerry Bouthier stops at SerialGK for a little chat about music, influences, fashion shows and his next plans. Read our interview below and get to know him better. He’s definitely an artist worth keeping an eye on.

Zac: DJ, producer, music director, label owner, fashion soundtracks! How do you manage your time?
Jerry:Oh I can’t complain, it’s all great fun. Music’s the main thing I’m truly passionate about, so it doesn’t take much to ignite my appetite. All these jobs are glued by one thing, sourcing music for various uses. I’m like a filter, a lot of my time is spent checking out tunes and sorting them out by styles, projects, designers… All tracks can serve a purpose, it’s just a question of working out which…

What made you decide to turn to music in the first place? Where do your musical influences come from?
I owe it to my parents who were big music fans. There were always lots of records at home, and good ones too, psychedelic, soul, pop… soon enough I started to collect my favourites. By the age of 13 I probably owned over 100 albums. It helped that one of my dad’s best friends was music journalist for one of the main French newspapers receiving tons of promos. We used to go to his some Sundays and come home with bagful of vinyl, the nutter would dispose of them in his rubbish shoot. His caretaker had worked it out and was selling them off!
I’ve always felt it was a good thing to move on with the times, as long as new stuff is exciting me and there always is – particularly in this day and age with so much out there. Although there can be pretty lean times too, that’s how it goes, things change all the time for better… or worse.
After years of vibing off to all kinds, i’ve come to realise that it was possibly my very first records when I was 6 or 7 year old that had the most impact on my tastes. Film soundtracks such as Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001 Space Odyssey’ and ‘Clockwork Orange’, ‘West Side Story’, the Jacques Demy movies (‘Peau d’Ane’, ‘Les Demoiselles de Rochefort’, super cult in France), as well as Tamla Motown, Beatles, Chicago, lots of stuff… The richness and diversity of orchestras and choirs had a profound impact on my emotions (the more the merrier for a child) and has stuck with time. As much as I love guitars and synths, orchestra and voices are powerful tools to reach out to the next level.

Your new dj-mix compilation for Kitsuné is inspired by “the escapists’ moods of the catwalk”. Tell us more. How did you chose the tracks? Which is your favourite one?
After a few years producing soundtracks for fashion shows, I noticed the process of mixing tracks together was quite different from doing a dj mix. For a start in fashion shows it’s not about making people dance, you’re less drawn to songs and vocals, there can be a few but it’s the mood, the successive atmospheres, that matter most because you don’t want to distract too much from the clothes. At the same time the musical backdrop is make or break at a show as it can truly mess things up and ruin the designer’s vibe if wrong. So you end up cutting and splicing bits of tunes, focussing on one breakdown or a particular line, and often you end up getting rid of the rest and totally rejigging the tracks around to cater for your needs. It opened up my mind in a big way.
Maybe you could do the same thing over a longer length of time like a 1h mix (fashion shows tend to be between 10′ and 20’), and not totally squeeze out the groove element as it’s sometimes the case on the catwalk, so that it’s still dancey. I started to experiment putting mixtapes on my Soundcloud (the series Heart & Soul) and quickly realised these turned out to be great home parties mixes, quite trippy/after-hours, funky and still musically evocative, emotionally charged, a bit lovey-dovey…
Although when I dj I always try to be as eclectic as possible cos I enjoy much stuff and don’t see the point in dividing music, I noticed that with this approach, I could blend in almost anything in the mix (thanks to Vivienne Westwood and other luminaries always pushing the threshold), electronic genres I wouldn’t play out like minimal or whatever, but folk too, world music or classical even, given that the mood and melody worked in the mix.
In the end, it’s all a question of timing and order, getting the right link to the next track at the right time. I do the same with the MiniMixes I produce for Kitsuné, I pick up my fave sections of the tracks off the new Maison comp or else, and recreate my own logic and melodic/emotional path out of them, trying to make some kind of sense out of the sum of it all. All the components become linked together in one main recording, the overall soundtrack, rather than it being a succession of tunes. It can be quite mind-blowing and much fun to work on cos this infinite palette of sounds to work with brings endless possibilities.

Your latest single under your project with Andrea Gorgerino, JBAG’s Through Blue, features the singer of Polish electronic band Kamp! How did you guys meet and end up making music together?
It was through their original label DiscoTexas (Moullinex, Xinobi and Hugo Moutinho in Lisbon), who asked JBAG to remix their debut single ‘Cairo’ a few years back. From that moment on we fell in love with Kamp! and its invaluable singer/songwriter. It was only a question of time before we would meet, sample their great live performances and become good friends. These guys are proper gems, talented, on the good stuff, humble as fuck with the right open-minded attitude. If they stick long enough at it they could become the first Polish act to make it internationally, they truly deserve to.

Which is the ideal place to listen to your music?
With Continental – and Kitsuné too for sure – the aim is to offer music that you can live with at all moments. It may be dancey but it’s about sharing feelings, singing along to, boosting your confidence, making you feel alive and in touch with the world around you. It’s not so much where ‘to listen to music’ but where that music can take you. Without sounding clichéd, if it’s good, wherever you are, it can have a profound effect and make you escape.

What was the first record you bought?
Honestly I have no idea. As mentioned before there was a lot of records at home whilst growing up, and it didn’t take me long to master the art of borrowing my dad’s without returning them haha. Don’t know, the first 7” I bought must be Soft Cell ’Tainted Love’ or Blondie ‘Dreaming’ I reckon.

London, Paris. Which is your favorite destination?
Paris is a fantastic city for a romantic break, or er… if you’re old and well off haha. So much culture and good restaurants, it’s fascinating. But for me, it’s all been about London since I was 14. Although it’s changed a lot over the years – or to be precise due to globalisation it’s the rest of the world that’s changed a great deal, as the same things have become available everywhere, resulting in the British capital becoming less unique – still for me London’s the place. And it’s now become the capital of Europe, with sooo many foreigners living here, thousands and thousands attracted by what I call the London myths (gigs, clubs, fashion…), not forgetting all the other immigrants who come here to work or study. Its main downfall? It’s become too expensive, geared essentially at rich people and as such is chasing creative kinds away, a situation which is now affecting music scenes and venues, a real shame…

How do you chill out?
Like everybody else : ) I tend to favour intimacy with my loved one and close friends rather than doing it in public places mind. Hence the importance of mixtapes.

What’s next? Should we expect a new JBAG single soon or other releases on Continental records and Kitsune? Any fashion shows?
Yes keeping busy. The second part of JBAG’s single with Kamp! is out monday 1/9/14 with remixes from Mjolnir (Jakarta), Saint Pauli (Hamburg) and James Curd (Adelaide), check the instrumental finally out, it’s proved popular with djs, the song’s lovely too.

More to come on Continental soon, such as the 2014 versions of ‘No Memory’, a lost cult classic from 80s discopop band Scarlet Fantastic as well as new material from Reflex, Cyclist, JBAG (we’ve started work on an album)… This year JBAG has kicked off its live DJ set thing which is me deejaying and Andrea’s playing keytar over our productions, remixes and other current faves, a bit like a gig. It’s way more interactive and entertaining than two guys behind the decks and has given us a new angle which feels comfortable and fun. Andrea’s an amazing musician, definitely JBAG’s main asset, he owns that stage! I’ve already dubbed him the Italian Jimmy Page haha.
As far as Kitsuné goes, ‘Fashion Trip’ is my 5th mixed cd for them but I’m only an ambassador for the label you know. It’s exciting contributing once more to this imprint for which I’ve got much respect for; it seems a long time ago now when Gildas and a handful of assistants were squatting Daft Punk’s office in Paris’ 18th quarter. Hopefully KTM will hit a chord with music lovers, it aims at delivering something a little bit magical and for sure more feminine than most dj mixes, like an audio movie that can nurture your imagination and fantasies. It’s a personal project I’m really chuffed about, it sounds a bit silly but I’ve almost build religious connection to it, the idea of trying to touch on beauty’s purity and perfection makes it a fascinating goal.

What are you most excited about right now?
To be honest between the explosion of EDM and the house revival, things could be a lot better (and imaginative) right now cos i’m not convinced any of it is really gonna lead anywhere. The democratisation of music on paper is a fantastic idea, but in reality it’s a bit of a nightmare with everybody and his dog aiming at becoming famous out of very little and in no time at that. Yet I do believe that when things get pretty bad, with so little fresh musicality and honest emotions about, there can only be a turnaround waiting to happen. Maybe it’s just me but I find it difficult to choose between the over-commercialisation of the charts and the aridity of the underground scenes. In my opinion the best stuff’s always what’s in the middle. Coming from all sources the tracks in Kitsuné Trip Mode are melodic in grand and naive ways, there’s an emotional thread throughout, some of it is a little arty and out there yet there’s always space for interesting musical developments, so after all the turnaround could be nearer than we think.

JBAG’s Through Blue (feat. Kamp!) EP1 and EP2 are out now on Continental Records. Get them here and here, respectively. JBAG’s latest “Asia tour” mixtape can be streamed here. Kitsuné Trip Mode, mixed By Jerry Bouthier is out on September 8th 2014. Stream a minimix below.

Kitsuné Trip Mode – Mixed By Jerry Bouthier

kitsune

Kitsuné, the groundbreaking Parisian label renowned for fusing music and fashion under one stylish roof welcomes back Jerry Bouthier for ‘Kitsuné Trip Mode’, a different kind of dj mix inspired by the escapists’ moods of the catwalk and supported by the prestigious online concept store Net A Porter.

The dj/producer behind the acclaimed Kitsuné cds BoomBox, Ponystep and Soleil series (the latter in partnership with boss Gildas) makes a leap forward by introducing a gorgeous, dreamlike slant to dj mixes. Music director of Vivienne Westwood’s labels for five years and collaborator of numerous designers such as Matthew Williamson, Sibling, Roksanda Ilincic, Peter Jensen, Songzio or Kokon To Zai, Jerry’s honed a new craft by conceiving the soundtracks of the London, Paris and Milan catwalk shows of some of the most innovative talents in fashion.

Originally a club dj for whom unsurprisingly it is essentially about making people dance, the London-based Parisian – always open to a wide range of music sensibilities and schools of thoughts – developed a challenging approach focusing on heart-melting emotions and tantalizing, at times hypnotic, atmospheres while remaining funky and danceable.

Kitsuné with its all-encompassing approach to cutting-edge sounds is the perfect imprint to uncover this unconventional approach to the dj mix. The track selection, a melting pot of diverse infectious savours, naturally boasts some fresh Kitsuné blood, off the press remixes from the likes of London’s finest indie-popsters Citizens!, Japan’s leading dj Shinichi Osawa, French don Pyramid or ace newcomers Nimmo And The Gauntletts, danglo, ViLLAGE, as well as hot, across the board acts such as Jerry’s own music project JBAG, one-man band Roosevelt, German djs Jam & Spoon (newly remixed by Sally Shapiro), the mysterious Lyla Foy, Fuck Art, Let’s Dance! or Visage (doing an unexpected come back) and many more.

Blurring the lines between forward-thinking electronic music, indie grit and celestial soundtracks, ‘Kitsuné Trip Mode’ sprinkles whimsical and enchanted phantasies over intricate beats and haunting vocals, dipping deep into cinematic landscapes, fairy tale-like moods and ecstatic melodies, an evocative, almost psychedelic, excursion that’s both gentle and off-kilter.

Jerry concludes: “In an often harsh world I find it is one of music’s duties to offer a safe haven where feelgood feelings can lift you up and take you places. I often think of the fashion shows’ soundtracks I work on as aural movies to let yourself go in and travel in the mind. As a result, for me, ‘Kitsuné Trip Mode’ is the perfect mix to groove and chill to with your loved one(s).

Out on September 8th 2014. Stream a minimix below.

Tracklist:
1 Lyla Foy – Left To Wonder (Turtle Rework)
2 Fuck Art, Let’s Dance! – We’re Manicals! (Deo & Z-Man Dub Remix)
3 Nimmo And The Gauntletts – Others (Logo Remix)
4 Nimmo And The Gaunteletts – Others (Wild Beasts Remix)
5 Roosevelt – Montreal
6 Danglo – Forget You
7 Jam & Spoon – Find Me (Sally Shapiro Dub)
8 JBAG – Through Blue (feat. Kamp!)
9 Pyramid – Lunar Ghosts
10 Citizens ! – Lighten Up (Cesare Remix)
11 Maco Akoda – Gentle Song (Yoshiyuki Ota Remix)
12 Laszlo Dancehall – Plimton (George FitzGerald Remix)
13 Snakadaktal – The Sun II (Just Kiddin Remix)
14 Village – The Touch (Henry Saiz Remix)
15 Second Date – Della
16 Night Drive – Sea Of Light (Kulkid Remix)
17 Rubberlips – The Traveller (Plastique De Rêve Remix)
18 Visage – Hidden Sign (Kim & Buran Disco Version)
19 Morgan Visconti – Can’t Say Goodbye (Ghosting Season Remix)
20 Shinichi Osawa – Breaking Through The Night (Eggo Remix)
21 Kisses – Up All Night
22 Hussein Sherbini – Liana

Danglo – Spotlight EP

danglo

Danglo, the UK bass newcomer takes advantage of the summer heat and releases his first EP on Kitsuné “Spotlight”, on July 28th 2014. Danglo is a South East London fast rising talent whose profile has built up over the last twelve months in the exploding UK bass scene remixing the likes of Maribou State and Say Lou Lou, picking up good club and radio support along the way.

For his first release on Kitsuné , the young producer is making a splash with an EP containing three uplifting original tracks: “Spotlight” showcases the bouncy 90s garage-influence of the producers’ sound, whilst “Drifter” (featuring Estonian songstress Liisi Koikson) delivers hypnotic bass and shows a darker and deeper side. Finally, “Forget You” offers summer vibes with pounding drums and an infectious steel drum hook!

Backing up the originals, 2 great remixes from the upcoming Birmingham based producer Golden Boy and a powerful clubby version signed DE$iGNATED complete the package.

Lively and singular with a sunny live show to match, danglo will be playing several Kitsuné Club Nights this summer! Stay tuned for more info.

Listen and download the minimix below.

Tracklist:
1. Spotlight (feat. Ivan Franco)
2. Drifter (feat. Liisi Koikson)
3. Forget You
4. Drifter (The Golden Boy remix)
5. Spotlight (DE$iGNATED remix)

VA: Kitsuné AMERICA 3

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Episode 3 of Kitsuné’s saga in the US is out June 2nd 2014.

If there’s one thing Kitsuné’s renowned for, apart from stylish garb, it’s its flair. So being handed the Parisian label’s latest findings out of the talent brewing in the USA today is a proper treat, as Kitsuné AMERICA, the compilation series, never fails to deliver a fresh and innovative selection of offbeat musical snapshots, even by American standards.

The French imprint, instrumental in putting Two Door Cinema Club, Yelle, Hot Chip and numerous others on the map, is conquering the US, picking up the country’s own local artists where it’s buzzin’. After showcasing Childish Gambino, Toro Y Moi, Theophilus London, Haerts and other prestigious artists on previous Kitsuné AMERICA compilations, this 3rd edition keeps on favouring the thinking-outside- the-box generation, with beats and grooves continuing their growing domination and a slower, cooler vibe for sun-drenched days.

America is feeling adventurous, musicians are letting loose, striking combinations of styles and sounds are taking place, and the audience is listening. A perfect time for boss Gildas to invest in new exciting artists: “We believe in those acts and want to help them develop. Our ear is finely-tuned, we know a good tune when we hear one.”

Kitsuné AMERICA 3 is ideal to stream comfy at home or to drive down Route 66 and experience what it’s all about.

TRACKS:

01 BEAU – Karma

Beau is a duo from NY: two girls, two voices and an appetite for taking on the world.

02 MY BODY – If I Need You I’ll Call

Based out of Brooklyn NY, Darren and Jordan formed My Body, a synth pop two piece, with the intention of creating a new sound.

03 SUNNI COLÓN – 1000 Roses

Los Angeles-based 23-year-old Thierry Tetsu is Sunni Colón, an artist/producer with consuming passion. His ballad ‘1,000 Roses’ will give Franck Ocean’s fans a run for their money.

04 KELELA – Cut 4 Me

Born and raised outside of Washington DC vocalist Kelela Mizanekristos found her own sound in the music emerging out of LA’s underground. She contributes to forward-thinking and experimental songwriting mixing popular and club cultures.

05 LAWRENCE ROTHMAN – Montauk Fling Inspired amongst others by writer Charles Bukowski, artist Cindy Sherman, film scores, R&B and house music, Lawrence Rothman cultivates an inner-sanctum that’s as charming as it is personal. This is his debut 7” single.

06 SON LUX – Lost It To Trying (Radio Edit)

Son Lux, Ryan Lott’s brainchild, is a grand and baroque electronica project fuelled by numerous collaborations with the indie, urban and classical worlds. The sound of that alternative dreamscape reaching exquisite operatic heights feels both alien and familiar.

07 MISUN – Eli Eli

Effortlessly blending 60’s rock & roll nostalgia with hip hop and dance, Misun have self-proclaimed their sound, Aquawave, a deft exploration of sonics and styles which leads to a cohesive and timeless output.

08 HEARTSREVOLUTION – Kishi Kaisei

Having finally completed their debut album, which joins the dots between electro and pop whilst staying true to their DIY punk ethics, NY duo Heartsrevolution could be the Blondie of today.

09 LANE 8 – Nothing You Can Say (feat. Lucy Stone)

Cross-breeding melodic trance and spacey deep house, Daniel Goldstein aka Lane 8 has hit a major chord with his audience and has left San Francisco for Berlin.

10 JEROME LOL – Fool (feat. Angelina Lucero)

Originally part of electronic duo Lol Boys with likeminded DJ/producer Markus Garcia, Jerome’s now solo, touring and dropping DIY releases non-stop. His debut EP manipulates satisfaction into melancholy.

11 BRENMAR – Medusa (feat. Rush Davis)

New York City by way of Chicago-based producer/dj Brenmar represents a strange musical paradox. Somehow defying the odds, he marries the bling gloss of r’n’b and hip hop with the urban grittiness of underground dance music such as Chicago ghetto house, UK bass, Jersey club.

12 MAX JURY – Christian Eyes

Every so often a new artist instantly captures both your heart and your mind. Crafting heartfelt, country-tinged, beautifully sung and perfectly executed American music at its finest, Max Jury, a 21 year old from Des Moines, Iowa, is one of a kind.

13 ISSUE – Ten Monks

This 19-year-old follows in his father’s footsteps, key rap figure E-40. His extensive mixtape catalogue is characterized by loose, stream-of-consciousness meditations bathed in bizarre soundscapes that hit somewhere unheard before.

14 NAVVI – Speak

Seattle-based vocalist Kristin Henry and producer/multi- instrumentalist Brad Boettger form Navvi, a glamorous Gothic project that builds an ever-changing bridge between experimental and accessible soundscapes.

ViLLAGE – The Touch EP [2014]

Kitsuné ventures to Eastern Europe and bring back rising talent ViLLAGE and his first EP "The Touch" out on May 5.

The sound of Romania-born producer ViLLAGE is a stirring mash-up of contemplative bass, incisive percussion bits and bobs of footwork, house, Jersey club and cleverly reworked R&B vocals. He first came to the wider world’s attention with breakthrough track "Takeover" back in 2012. Constantly on the move, the beginning of 2014 has brought him official rerubs for the likes of Lana Del Rey and Lily Allen, some of his first shows abroad and his first release on Kitsuné.

For his first release on Kitsuné, ViLLAGE unveils the rousing and efficient "The Touch" which will find its way to clubs and dancefloors around the world.

The track is backed by 4 clubby remixes: famous Spanish producer Henry Saiz, ARME for quite a tropical version, Maxthor who brings a 80’s touch to the song and Lemonick who puts a nervous and intense final touch to the EP. With this catchy EP, what happens next promises to be exciting.

Tracklist 
1. The Touch 
2. Henry Saiz remix 
3. Arme remix 
4. Maxthor remix 
5. Lemonick remix

BeatauCue – Kyllan EP [2014]

BeatauCue are back to make you bounce with their new single ‘Kyllan’ out March 31st on Kitsuné.

For their seventh release on Kitsuné, the French duo presents two very sunny tracks: first, ‘Kyllan’ an understated audio gem that gradually builds up to a bass laden crescendo. Then comes ‘Lovato’, a sun drenched belearic winner perfectly suited for outdoor raving. Available for free download below.

The stunning remixes come courtesy of fellow electronic stalwarts including – JoeFarr who envisages a dark and techno version of the lead track, Belarbi’s take is more dance friendly, rising star Asa gives it a smooth, groovy rework and Montréal pair Prince Club round it off with a rather excellent take on the genre. Kyllan EP is out via Kitsuné on March 31.

Video: Chela – Zero

Aussie darling Chela‘s second collaboration with Kitsuné on her Zero EP is officially out. To celebrate the release, Chela’s shared the official video for the single. Most of the video plays out like "a club scenario turned inside out, where casual characters get replaced with the cast of a horror movie. Smoke gets in the eyes, laser pyrotechnics split open the sense. Retro-fused to boot, it gives the best insight yet into the madness behind Chela’s brilliant craft."

Written and composed by Chela & Le Bruce and produced by Le Bruce, "Zero" is a single for the hopeless romantic in all of us. "We can punch the air together to this," Chela says about the track. Featuring remixes from Keljet, Knuckle G, Nick Lynar, Sable and Clancy, the EP is out now. Get it here. A minimix is available below.

Video: Years & Years – Real

Here’s the official video of London quintet Years & Years‘ ‘Real’, taken off Kitsuné’s new compilation album ‘New Faces’? It features Ben Whishaw last seen in the role of Q in Skyfall! Directed by Robert Francis Müller. "New Faces" is out on February 24.