Decco

Back in April, I was checking new music on my Release Radar playlist on Spotify. I was stoked to see that Kygo had released a new single and even more excited to listen. The song was alright but I was very intrigued by the artist singing on the new track because I was into his voice. The artist was named James Gillespie. I decided to check out his page and sample a few of his songs, which is where I found my latest music discovery, the electronic duo, Decco.

Decco is the project of songwriters and producers Joacim Persson and Sebastian Arman. Both spent years writing and producing for artists such as John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and Selena Gomez before teaming up to form Decco. Their first single, “Shooting Stars” featuring Mapei, came out in 2016. Shortly after the duo released remixes of the Alex Vargas song “Higher Love” and Dua Lipa’s “Thinking ‘Bout You.” Throughout the last five years the producers have been releasing new singles here and there with their latest being “I Didn’t Know” featuring James Gillespie which was released in September 2020. Although they’ve been releasing music for the last five years, they have yet to perform a live set.

Their music style fits in the tropical house genre of electronic music, but slightly less tropical/island vibes than what you might get from Kygo, Matoma, or Sam Feldt. Their tracks have a very vibey type of sound. Despite their limited discography, I feel like each song that they’ve released gives off a different feel and uses different elements/instruments. It’s not quite unique to the genre but it’s always cool when an artist can create a sound that is signature to them yet still unique in its own right.

Usually when I discover a new artist, band, or group, I get excited for their new albums or their tours/festival appearances, but with Decco I’m not sure what to expect. This project seems more of a side hustle for Persson and Arman with singles coming out every so often. I feel like they’d be more likely to appear as Decco at a festival than to go on tour so I’m hoping that can eventually happen, especially with music festivals and concerts finally making a comeback this year! We’ll see what the future holds. In general though, Decco is great. I’ve been listening to them constantly since I found them in April and I highly recommend them if you’re into electronic music.

Doses & Mimosas

It’s so weird not writing about this year’s Coachella artists during this time. As a result, new music has been sparse since the turn of the new year. As soon as the clock hit midnight on New Year’s Eve though, I was filled with a new kind of energy. Even though this year so far is still a continuation of 2020, it feels better. It feels more optimistic and hopeful. It’s definitely not going to be the ideal year, but it will be better. I see it as a transition from the disaster that was 2020 to a return to normalcy. It’s all a process, but we’ll get there.

On New Year’s Eve, I hung out with a few close friends. We decided to get dressed up and ring in 2021 together. While getting ready that night, my friend put on her playlist that she uses when she’s in the mood to dance and a song that I’ve known for several years came on. It was the track “Doses & Mimosas” by Cherub. For some reason, it just hit the right way. I couldn’t get it out of my head all night and the entire the next day. Neither could she. So we listened to it a bunch in the 40 or so hours we spent together. That song reflects the energy I want to carry in the year. I now listen to it all the time since I added it to my new work out playlist. So I thought since I’m enjoying it so much, why not talk a little bit about the artists that created it.

Cherub is an electronic indie duo from Nashville, TN. Formed in 2010, Cherub is comprised of Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber. They met while studying music production in college at Middle Tennessee State University. In 2011 they released their first EP, followed by their first album in digital form MoM & DaD in 2012. Their big hit “Doses & Mimosas” was part of that album and contributed to the growth they experienced afterward. They signed with Columbia Records and re-released the track on their debut studio album Year of the Caprese. Since then the group released a second studio album Bleed Gold, Piss Excellence and embarked on several tours all over the country. This past July the duo released a compilation of previously unreleased songs titled DJ BJ’s Faves.

Back when “Doses & Mimosas” was on the scene, I had trouble finding an interest in Cherub because I was more into indie rock. However as I’ve gotten into electronic music in the last several years, I now have an appreciation for the group. They truly have a more indie based electronic sound than I initially thought to the point that I’ve taken an interest in their other tracks as well. There’s nothing like overdue music discovery. Maybe at some point I’ll get to hear “Doses & Mimosas” live and I’ll be reminded of the vibe I had in early 2021. Until then we can at least be stoked that we’re done with the “bitch ass hoe” of a year that was 2020 and I’m gonna keep that energy, momentum, and optimism flowing through this transitional year as long as I can.

You’ve Got That Power Over Me

Back at Coachella this year during Weekend 1, I was walking out of the Mojave Tent after listening to Lizzo absolutely crush her set, when I was intrigued by the music I heard coming from the Gobi Tent right next door. I took a slow walk by the stage and really liked what I heard. It sounded like a mixture of pop, folk, and rock music. I looked to see who was on the stage and found out it was an artist by the name of Dermot Kennedy.

During Weekend 2, I went to his set with a friend after again hearing Lizzo perform some of her set. Although I was feeling kind of tired that afternoon and decided to sit on the side listening for a bit, I enjoyed listening to Dermot perform and told myself I was going to start listening to him after Coachella. Sure enough I followed through.

Dermot Joseph Kennedy is an Irish singer/songwriter/musician who hails from Rathcoole, Ireland, which is about 30 minutes from Dublin. He began playing guitar at age 10 and started songwriting by the age of 14, but did not start focusing on music until his late teen years. He played open mic nights, competed in talent competitions, and began busking on the streets of Ireland to get noticed. However, the use of a streaming platform is where his breakthrough came from.

He developed a following through Spotify and self-released music on the platform for the last couple of years. He released his self-titled debut album on January 4th and was signed to major label Interscope Records shortly after. His sophomore album Without Fear is set to be released in late September. Kennedy spent the last two years touring in Europe, Australia, and the U.S. He even played several major U.S. festivals including Bonnaroo in 2017, Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Austin City Limits in 2018, and Coachella in 2019. He will again be embarking on tour this fall in the U.S., Canada, and Europe in support of his newest album.

Kennedy’s style is just as I described it – a mixture of pop, folk, and rock music. He even incorporates a bit of hip-hop on a few of his tracks. His sound at times reminds me of a darker, more Irish version of Ed Sheeran. Yes, you can definitely hear the Irish accent in his music too. It’s actually pretty sick!

As I mentioned I first heard of Dermot Kennedy while attending Coachella this year. That’s why it’s always worth it to walk around and check out some sets by artists you might not know anything about at any music festival. You might just find something that you really like. I always feel like Coachella brings me to listen to different artists or gets me into artists I only knew a little bit about before. It was no different this year with the introduction of Dermot Kennedy. I highly recommend checking him out since he’s still very much on the rise. I may even try to see one of his shows during his tour this fall. He’s super talented and his tunes are pretty good as well. Here’s a few you might want to check out:

1. Power Over Me
2. Outnumbered
3. After Rain
4. A Closeness
5. Glory