Our BFF Jessy G of Bright House Events is adding DJ to her impressive resume. This blue-eyed ingénue of the music scene offers a fresh spin on spinning, incorporating oldies, electro, and even 90′s hip hop into her playlists. We love.

This Damsel of D’Fresh can be seen and heard at her Tuesday residency at Hollywood Hotspot Kitchen 24.

-S

The Tenori-on takes an inventive new approach to music composition. Music instantly becomes a wall of light graffiti as you paint the sounds across its 256 LED buttons. IMO, It’s the digital musical instrument for the 21st century. Check out youtube for a bunch of step-by-step tutorials that will amaze you. It may look kinda funny, but it’s actually a sophisticated instrument for advanced users.

Check out my new favorite girl, “Little Boots”, as she uses the Tenori-on to cover Hot Chip’s “Ready for the floor”.

This is the kinda stuff that makes you realize that we are living in a futuristic age. Love it.

I can’t wait to see the first Tenori-on DJ break onto the scene.

Of Montreal’s latest album “Skeletal Lamping” is awesome. It’s experimental, funky, lyric driven goodness. If you haven’t heard it yet, check them out.

Here’s a version of M.I.A.’s track “Jimmy” that they covered. Love it.

Of Montreal – “Jimmy” Cover

BTW, it turns out that the M.I.A. version of the song is actually a cover of this:

Open letter to Timbaland:

I’m all for sampling loops as a valid form of artistic expression in music, but please give credit when and where it’s do. When you’re “sampling” tracks like that of Crystal Castles song “Courtship Dating” or the loads of Arabic & Iranian music that you sample, please send a few dollars to the originators way. This way, you fuel the sources of creativity which inspire you, and everyone’s a winner.

For seanyashar.com readers with extra curiosity on this subject, just go to youtube and type in “Timbaland ripps off Arabic music”, “Timabaland ripps off Iranian Folklore”, and the creme de la creme “Producer Timbaland rips song from finnish musician?”

By the way, I’m loving Crystal Castles “Courtship Dating” … an awesome track.

-S

It’s good ol’ Friday, and that means I’m sharing a song from my personal collection.

Cerrone’s “Give Me Love” is one of those disco songs long forgotten. I love the way it makes me feel… it’s just some goodness I’m sending your way.

This particular clip is from a French music show in the late 70′s… very fun stuff!

-S

Grace Jones is back with an upcoming album and her first music video in about 20 years.

I don’t really think I love the song (just a little too dark for me), but the video is so quintessentially avante garde that it must be noted.

At 60 years of age, it’s pretty kick-ass to see an artist like Grace Jones doing her thing, and not selling out. She’s been gone for so long, but if you ask me she’s giving everyone in the biz a run for their money.

Madonna should be ashamed…(Hard Candy, scoff).

-S

SYI: My prediction: The irony is that Grace will probably do a special performance of the song at some big Hollywood event sponsored by a real life “Corporate Cannibal”.

My friend, “David-Israeli” always offers up the most obscure international jams. From what I understand, the song was #1 all over Europe in 1987, so you know it’s good stuff.

Great song, great voice, great lead singer. This is quintessentially everything we must not forget about the 80′s.

BTW, I LOVE HER HAIR!

-S

I’ve always been fascinated with karaoke in America. I mean, strangers gathering in dark rooms to sing their favorite guilty pleasures?! I feel like there’s a profound story behind the type of individuals who become regulars at karaoke bars.
I see a documetary. At the least, I see an idea for a photo exhibition.

The idea is to snap random lines on the screen at karaoke bars (just as I have done above), and let the photos speak for themselves.

Maybe I could even do a seperate blog where people from all over could submit shots of their favorite karaoke lines.

The blog could supplement the documentary.

The doc would be called EMPTY ORCHESTRA (karaoke translated).

-S

FRIDAYS=MUSIC

On fridays, I like to share a selection from my personal collection.

Here’s how the story goes:
About a month ago, my friend Bil (w/ one l) gave me the sickest DJ mix ever. I instantly fell in love with it, and with one song specifically. It’s Called ‘Hold On’ by Holy Ghost!

Holy Ghost is Nicholas Millhiser and Alexander Frankel, and it was produced by DFA records… who, by the way, is single handedly producing everything good right now (Hercules & Love Affair, Hot Chip, Still Going, The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem).

‘Hold On’ just has this sexy ease to it…the synths are simple yet sophisticated (which is not as easy as it sounds)…and it’s pretty lyrically driven too (“Why do the good things happen in the past / Streamline the news and trim the fat / I love the city but I hate my job / And this old city loves me back”.)

I love,

-S

I just got wind of Lykke Li from my friend Gaza D.

In a time when record companies are throwing millions to make “high concept” music videos, it’s refreshing to see a video like that of new artist Lykke Li’s. The song’s called “Little Bit”, and I’m a little bit in love with it at the moment. Those Swedes sure know how to crank out talent with originality (must be something in the meatballs).

I’m not sure what the tech term is for this, but the “fast slow-motion” effect of the video is the best part… look out for it. There’s a bit of tecktonik dancing in there too (for those who remember my blog about the dance style).

Have fun,

-S