Kenna & RJD2: "Imitation is Suicide" (Chapter 3)
Kenna has been on a marathon of music over the past four months as he has worked on his Imiation is Suicide music series which saw the blossoming artist team up with several acts, including Childish Gambino, who he recorded the track "Relations" with. For the past couple weeks we have been teasing the third chapter in Kenna's series as he has worked with DJ-juggernaut RJD2. Today, they released their three-song EP that serves as the final installment of what has been one of the more interesting and open-minded series of music releases to come about recently. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance", Kenna set out to pull from a multitude of different mediums and genres to create his eclectic mix of sounds across 12 brand new, original tracks that act as a lead-up to his upcoming full-length album due out in 2014. One of the beautiful thing about the Internet and the world we live in today is that collaborations like these can happen so seamlessly, at the benefit of everyone who gets to listen. Take some time out of your day to groove along with D2 and Kenna, stream below.
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RJD2, STS & Khari Mateen: “See You Leave” (Insane Warrior Remix)
As end of the year lists continue to roll out from all over the internet, I have yet to see RJD2's More Is Than Isn't LP pop up on many people's favorites of 2013. Perhaps it was that this was the year I finally caught RJ do his thing live, but with each listen, his latest offering seems to hook me in more and more. Since the projects release in October, there have been a steady stream of off-shoots, one-offs and remixes. Today, Okayplayer premiered RJD2's collaboration remix with STS and Khair Mateen for the track "See You Leave". The track bears RJD2's alter-ego, "Insane Warrior" for the gritty intro that can leave your ears shaking while frequent collaborators STS and Mateen prove they know where the other will be heading with any track as they add their own unique elements to make the re-done version come together in full. Check out the track below, with upcoming tour dates, and cop More Is Than Isn't available now on iTunes.
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Tour Dates:
Wed. Dec. 4 Miami, FL @ Bardot Miami
Thu. Dec. 12 San Francisco, CA @ 1015 Folsom
Fri. Dec. 13 Santa Cruz, C @ The Catalyst Club
Fri. Jan. 31 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Fri. Feb. 21 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Sun. Feb. 23 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club – DNA
Kenna: "How Will It End" (Prod. RJD2)
Kenna has been releasing a steady barrage of uniquely eclectic musical releases as part of his Imitation is Suicide EP series that concludes next Tuesday. This week's single release came complete with production from American-DJ juggernaut, RJD2 who is as perfect a blend of the new and old schools of DJ'ing and producing that is out today. His crafty production work is a breath of fresh air over which Kenna's low, sinewy voice gently lulls the lyrics over D2's stuttering, airy backdrop. "Day and night people searching, searching high and low ..." he sings. "A thousand miles and many reasons to shed my skin these days." Interesting stuff that is soon to get even more so with next week's final release of the series, Chapter 3, will be produced entirely by RJD2, something I'm personally excited to hear. Check out the teaser track for the project below here.
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RJD2: "Temperamental" (Feat. Phonte Coleman)
RJD2 is back with "Temperamental" off their upcoming album More Is Than Isn't due out October 8. The first album since 2010's Collosus, RJD2 has made himself a regular in the experimental-pop lane with a series of projects that have ranged in sound, aesthetic and instrumentality throughout his career. More Is Than Isn't should prove to be a furtherance of that if "Temperamental" is any inkling of what else is in store for listeners this Fall. Check it out for yourself below.
Favorite line: "I made my bed and tried to sleep/And still my eyes are open wide/Inside my head, can't find my peace"