New Look – Nap On the Bow by New Look

About New Look:

Recorded over the past three years, across the creative trinity of Berlin, Brooklyn and the sleepy hollow town of Hamilton, near Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, New Look’s self-titled debut album is a feverishly anticipated affair. The Canadian future pop duo of Sarah Ruba and Adam Pavao first emerged in 2008, landing in Europe with a self-released EP of pitch perfect, experimental pop entitled, “How’s My Hair?”. This was accompanied by a masterfully stripped back yet soulful reworking of close friend and polymath producer, artist and photographer Jimmy Edgar’s anthemically androgynous smash single, “Function of Your Love”. The couple’s undeniable creative synergy translated directly to the stage, where the stunning, synth-playing chanteuse and former model, 25-year-old Ruba (previously shot by the likes of cult fashion provocateur Bruce Weber) and multi-instrumentalist, 31-year-old producer Pavao played a series of hypnotising live shows across the UK and Europe, with early support from the UK’s premiere music and style press, including an upfront spread in Dazed & Confused magazine.

“We’ve since developed a lot more and now fully realise what we have always wanted to do,” introduces Pavao, speaking from their home studio in a converted Victorian house in Hamilton, Ontario. “What’s most important to us is that every song has to sound super new to our ears. That feeling of unpredictability within every second of each song,” says Ruba. “We’ll never re-do a vibe and that’s the whole basis of what everything jumps off from.” There is a confidence and wit to their songwriting, coupled with a sublime subtlety in the cosmic tweaks and soft synths underpinning their future pop aesthetic. It’s controlled yet wistful pop perfectionism. “We try not to keep anything superfluous in our songs. We’re always conscious of the negative space in our music and that’s a constant theme,” explains Pavao, their trademark sparse 80s snap dynamically lifting Ruba’s crisp, siren-esque vocals and synth driven melodies.

Signed to !K7, certified home to Jimmy Edgar, Chromeo and the classic DJ-Kicks series, the first single to be released from their debut full length is “The Ballad”, a magical synth pop record, perfectly aligned to introduce New Look’s soaring ambition. “We recorded the song four different times, the vision of this was so strong and clear in our minds that it took us so many times to get it how we knew it should be,” Ruba explains. “We attempted it twice in Berlin, once in New York and finally got it in Canada. The song is a message to someone we know and even though it’s a fleeting message to them, we would never want them to find out. It’s too personal.”

“The Ballad” is set to a psychedelic music video directed by celebrated Australian fashion photographer and filmmaker Will Davidson. “It’s so beautiful, I can’t wait until it’s out,” enthuses Ruba. “I can really hear the energy of the different cities that we recorded in,” adds Pavao. “When we first got to Berlin and it was Spring and we felt so free, and then also moving back to New York, it definitely translates to the music.”

The self-titled album is also the inspired sound of a personal uprising for New Look, whose initial plan was to move to Berlin for nine months to finish the record amidst the critical acclaim surrounding their self-released EP that was followed by a sold out European tour supporting The xx. “We moved to Berlin to get a flow going, to focus just on music,” reminisces Ruba. “But last Fall it felt like absolutely nothing was happening. All these plans never came to fruition and we were really frustrated and felt like shit. So I wrote this song with super inspirational and motivational lyrics and – however cheesy it may sound – it actually somehow created a new hope. It’s called “A Light” and somehow actually manifested itself.”

New Look will be returning to the UK and Europe this Summer with their debut album and headlining tour which will see Sarah Ruba’s mesmerising vocals and melodic keys front Adam Pavao’s live analogue synths, drums and visuals performance. “It’s been three years and for us the album is hard to put into words, concludes Ruba. “We’re still super perfectionists and whilst some of the record is New Look pop, there are tracks that are pretty badass and serious. But it all reflects our grand vision.”

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The Main Ingredient / Show #138 Playlist / 01.17.12 (East Village Radio)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Show
leroy hutson – time brings on a change (curtom/charly)
union – intro / mystery part 1 (fat beats)
adrian younge presents venice dawn – two hearts (wax poetics)
full crate – without my heart featuring david simmons (self-released)
dj adlib – enter (melting pot)
martin luther king, jr. – dr. king’s desired eulogy (gordy)
hypnotic brass ensemble – prelude (self-released)
krts – make-up sex (forthcoming)
raashan ahmad – these foolish things featuring count bass d & silya noomen (trad vibe)
the mighty showstoppers – shaft in africa (freestyle)
jack & juke – ain’t nobody (self-released)
ta-ku & kit pop – bounce (DNte remix) (paperchain)
jonti – flesh of morning (stones throw)
saturn never sleeps – all season are good (starkey remix) (saturn never sleeps)
sbtrkt – blue cassette featuring sampha (young turks)
shigeto – huron river drive (ghostly international)
teebs – there is a difference (autumn’s trash) (brainfeeder)
diggs duke – holding on (self-released)

dr. martin luther king, jr. – i’ve been to the mountain (gordy)
played over:
-heather – billy cobham (atlantic)
-earth wind & fire – departure (columbia)
-soul mann & the brothers – bumpy’s lament (pickwick)
-james brown – theme from king heroin (polydor)
-the wooden glass featuring billy wooten – in the rain (stones throw)
-cymande – one more (janus)

The Year Was…1968
stevie wonder – i don’t know why (motown)
marvin gaye – chained (motown)
david mccallum – the edge (capitol)
blood, sweat and tears – i love you more than you’ll ever know (columbia)
hank ballard – how you gonna get respect (when you haven’t cut your process) (king)
freddie scott – (you) got what i need (shout)
the staple singers – (sittin’ on) the dock of the bay (stax)
jerry butler – just because i really love you (mercury)
the impressions – fool for you (curtom)
diana ross & the supremes – i’m gonna make it (i will wait for you) (motown)
the delfonics – ready or not (here i come) (philly groove)
marvin gaye – his eyes are on the sparrow (motown)
jazz crusaders – love & peace (pacific jazz)

Click “Listen” next to “Playlist – January 17, 2012″ on the show page.

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The Main Ingredient / Show #137 Playlist / 01.10.12 (East Village Radio)
quantic & alice russell with the combo barbaro – look around the corner (tru thoughts)
tall black guy – love to the world (crosstalk)
robert glasper – afro blue featuring erykah badu (blue note)
union – blue wave (fat beats)
julien dyne – so far featuring mara tk (bbe)
dj adlib – ice cold (mpm)
diggs duke – something in my soul (self-released)
homeboy sandman – sweet emotion (orchard beach) (stones throw)
hezekiah – ways to go (saturn never sleeps)
sbtrkt – hold on featuring sampha (live) (young turks)
little dragon – crystal film (closer remix) (self-released)
columbia nights – stormy weather (record breakin)
raashan ahmad – pain on black (trad vibe)
mayer hawthorne – you’ve got the makings of a lover (pillow talk edit) (self-released)
bonobo – all in forms (falty dl remix) (ninja tune)
dego – pushing you to begin featuring ferraz (2000 black)
aeed – error code (error broadcast)
hawthorne headhunters – teleport (plug research)
georgia anne muldrow – seeds (madlib production) (someothaship)
charles bradley – stay away (dunham/daptone)
b.lewis – what it do donkey (self-released)
fLako – blurry dream (project mooncircle)
14kt – blessed (a-side worldwide)
icebird (rjd2 & aaron livingston) – wander (rj’s electrical connections)
hipnosis – my words featuring marc frank (mitchell & dewbury remix) (perfect.toy)
chico mann – all that is rising (wax poetics)
dj rhettmatic & daz-i-kue – back to the beach house (the do over)
electric men – swede:art (tokyo dawn)
jamie woon – spiral (polydor uk)
rjd2 – to all of you (def jux)
j.rawls – light shine (polar)

Click “Listen” next to “Playlist – January 10, 2012″ on the show page.

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The Main Ingredient / Show #136 Playlist / 01.03.12 (East Village Radio) / Best Songs of 2011 Edition
oddisee – al mawrada (mello music group)
release date: May 17, 2011 (support)

boom clap bachelors – falder ind og falder ud (plug research)
release date: May 17, 2011 (support)

new look – nap on the bow (!k7 germany/uk) EU
release date: Sept. 26, 2011 (support)

SBTRKT – trials of the past featuring sampha (young turks)
release date: June 24, 2011 (support)

jesse boykins III – light to dark (self-released)
release date: June 30, 2011 (support)

tall black guy – with you (self-released)
release date: Sept. 2011 (support)

vindahl – monday i die (tokyo dawn)
release date: Oct. 17, 2011 (support)

saturn never sleeps – hearts on fire (saturn never sleeps)
release date: Aug. 2, 2011 (support)

m-phazes – raise it up for dilla (self-released)
release date: March, 2011 (support)

jon phonics – the one (chakra sounds)
release date: May 17, 2011 (support)

evil needle – summer blap (self-released)
release date: April 18, 2011 (support)

malice & mario sweet – speed of light (self-released)
release date: Feb. 14, 2011 (support)

icey – salva (FoF)
release date: Feb. 5, 2011 (support)

b. bravo – kiss ‘n’ tell featuring zackery force funk (earnest endeavors)
release date: Oct. 24, 2011 (support)

b.lewis – streetview (self-released)
release date: March 11, 2011 (support)

full crate – fluffy dragons (wonderful ear)
release date: Oct. 21, 2011 (support)

omar & zed bias – dancing (tru thoughts)
release date: June 27, 2011 (support)

little dragon – when i go out (peace frog)
release date: July 22, 2011 (support)

scrimshire – ascension featuring the hackney colliery band (wah wah 45s)
release date: Nov. 11, 2011 (support)

oscar + martin – oyster / lions heart (twobrightlakes)
release date: April 15, 2011 (support)

wildcookie (freddie cruger & anthony mills) – jackson miles (tru thoughts)
release date: March 8, 2011 (support)

swiff d – 100 man march (self-released)
release date: Feb. 2011 (support)

brenk – one daaay (melting pot)
release date: Sept. 23, 2011 (support)

ta-ku – out of my way (self-released)
release date: May 31, 2011 (support)

jamie woon – night air (polydor uk)
release date: April 12, 2011 (support)

james blake – i never learnt to share (r & s)
release date: Feb. 7, 2011 (support)

jono mcleery – tomorrow (ninja tune)
release date: Sept. 27, 2011 (support)

submotion orchestra – all yours (exceptional)
release date: May 23, 2011 (support)

fredericks brown – land of plenty (jazz&milk)
release date: April 18, 2011 (support)

king – supernatural (self-released)
release date: March 1, 2011 (support)

krts – rooftop (project mooncircle)
release date: Sept. 23, 2011 (support)

Click “Listen” next to “Playlist – January 03, 2012″ on the show page.

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Just to state the obvious, I only heard a small fraction of the music that came out this year but I did manage to acquire, listen to and rate 3601 songs that were released in 2011. The percentage of music that is released as albums by record labels is definitely shrinking but they still have the lion’s share, for now. Here are my favorites. I’ll also be playing my favorite songs of 2011 on my January 3rd show.

Every album listed here is either released by an independent label or by the artists themselves. Please support if and when you can.

1. Vindahl – Serendipity (Tokyo Dawn)
Release Date: October 17, 2011
Copenhagen
More Info/Support

2. Jono McCleery – There Is (Counter/Ninja Tune)
Release Date: September 27, 2011
London
More Info/Support | @JonoMcCleery

3. SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Young Turks)
Release Date: June 24, 2011
London
More Info/Support | @SBTRKT

4. B.Lewis – Science Within Reason (Self-Released)
Release Date: March 11, 2011
San Jose/San Francisco
More Info/Support | @blewis17

5. James Blake – James Blake (R & S)
Release Date: February 7, 2011
London
More Info/Support | @jamesblake

6. New Look – New Look (!K7 – only available in the UK and Germany right now)
Release Date: September 26, 2011
Brooklyn/Ontario
More Info/Support | @new_look_

7. Oscar + Martin – For You (TwoBrightLakes)
Release Date: April 15, 2011
Melbourne
More Info/Support | @Oscarandmartin

8. Toro Y Moi – Underneath The Pine (Carpark)
Release Date: February 21, 2011
Columbia, South Carolina
More Info/Support | @ToroyMoi

9. Salva – Complex Housing (FoF)
Release Date: February 5, 2011
Los Angeles
More Info/Support | @THEPROBLEMSALVA

10. Scrimshire – The Hollow (Wah Wah 45s)
Release Date: November 11, 2011
London
More Info/Support | @scrimshire

Other Excellent Projects That Came Out This Year
Bon Iver – Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar) Release Date: June 21, 2011
Minnesota, WI | More Info/Support | @boniver

Brenk – Gumbo 2: Pretty Ugly (Melting Pot) Release Date: September 23, 2011
Vienna | More Info/Support | @BrenkSinatra

Dego – A Wha’ Him Deh Pon? (2000 Black) Release Date: June 20, 2011
Brooklyn/London | More Info/Support | @2000black_dego

Elzhi – Elmatic (Self-Released) Release Date: May 10, 2011
Detroit | More Info/Support | @ELZHI

Evil Needle – Cirrostratus (Self-Released) Release Date: April 18, 2011
Strasbourg, France | More Info/Support | @itsmeneedle

Full Crate – Golden Glasses (Wonderful Ear) Release Date: October 21, 2011
Amsterdam | More Info/Support | @fullcrate

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Bulletproof Brass (Choice Cuts) Release Date: July 20, 2011
Chicago/NYC | More Info/Support | @hypnoticbrass

I, Ced – All In My Mind (Record Breakin’) Release Date: July 12, 2011
Los Angeles | More Info/Support | @i_ced

iSHÉ & Hezekiah – iSHÉ & Hezekiah Project (Self-Released) Release Date: June 1, 2011
San Diego & Philadelphia | More Info/Support | @iSHETHAiSH & @hezekiah3rd

Illvibe Collective – All Together Now (Soulspazm) Release Date: March 29, 2011
Philadelphia | More Info/Support | @illvibecrew

Jesse Boykins III – Way Of A Wayfarer (Self-Released) Release Date: June 30, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @JB3Music

King – The Story EP (Self-Released) Release Date: March 1, 2011
Los Angeles | More Info/Support | @wearekingmusic

Krts – Hold On EP (Project Mooncircle) Release Date: September 23, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @KrtsBrooklyn

Miles Bonny – Lumberjack Soul (Melting Pot) Release Date: June 24, 2011
Kansas City | More Info/Support | @milesbonny

Oddisee – Rock Creek Park (Mello Music Group) Release Date: August 23, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @oddisee

Sarah White – Space Madness (Cultura Love) Release Date: October 18, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @sarahwhiteblack

Saturn Never Sleeps – Yesterday’s Machine (Saturn Never Sleeps) Release Date: August 2, 2011
Philadelphia | More Info/Support | @satnevsleeps

Shigeto – Full Circle Remixes (Ghostly International) Release Date: February 1, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @__SHIGETO

Space Invadas – Soul:Fi (BBE) Release Date: February 21, 2011
Sydney | More Info/Support | @spaceinvadas

Submotion Orchestra – Finest Hour (Exceptional) Release Date: August 23, 2011
Leeds | More Info/Support | @Submotion

Sunclef – The Tesser∆ct (Self-Released) Release Date: April 22, 2011
Toronto | More Info/Support | @snclf

Ta-ku – DAY & NIGHT EP. (highs & lows x new balance) Release Date: April 10, 2011
Perth | More Info/Support | @TakuBeats

Ta-ku – Scraps (Self-Released) Release Date: May 31, 2011
Perth | More Info/Support | @TakuBeats

The Stuyvesants – The Finer Things Vol. 1&2 (SD) Release Date: October 17, 2011
Brooklyn | More Info/Support | @TheStuyvesants

Teeko – Light Up The Darkness (4onefunk) Release Date: February 21, 2011
San Francisco | More Info/Support | @TeekoMusic

TiRon & Ayomari – A Sucker For Pumps (The Cafeteria Line) Release Date: September 13, 2011
Los Angeles | More Info/Support | @TiRon & @ayomari

Various – The Boogie (Tokyo Dawn) Release Date: January 21, 2011
Munich | More Info/Support | @TOKYODAWN

Various – The Heart Volume 2 (Tokyo Dawn) Release Date: July 29, 2011
Munich | More Info/Support | @TOKYODAWN

When Saints Go Machine – Fail Forever EP (!K7) Release Date: February 21, 2011
Copenhagen | More Info/Support | @whensaints

Wildcookie (Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills) – Cookie Dough (Tru Thoughts) Release Date: March 8, 2011
Stockholm | More Info/Support | @ghettotrance

Zebrahim – In My Heart I Am (Self-Released) Release Date: May 17, 2011
Paris, Vancouver | More Info/Support | @eebsofresh + @hazeldizzy

The Main Ingredient / Show #134 Playlist / 12.20.11 (East Village Radio)
the twilite tone – BOY! (uno)
paper plane project – don’t lie featuring j mitchell & raashan ahmad (self-released)
fLako – shake it harder (project mooncircle)
diz gibran & moonshine – slick (self-released)
paul white – never too late (one-handed music)
jamie woon – lady luck (polydor uk)
dimlite – heroine roof (now again)
scrimshire – everything you say featuring heidi vogel (wah wah 45s)
the stepkids – shadows on behalf (stones throw)
the echocentrics – party people (ubiquity)
gRadient overlay – cosmoviolettfantompowerlift (luckyme)
new look – the ballad (!k7 germany)
robot koch – tapedeck (project mooncircle)
sina. – from love to dust (kelpe remix) (project mooncircle)
oscar + martin – party time is scary (two bright lakes)
jono mccleery – garden (ninja tune)
b.lewis – saddle up (self-released)
14kt – ain’t really that funny (janet flip) (a-side worldwide)
i, ced – flying under (record breakin)
the stuyvesants – strollin’ (self-released)
analog players society – let the music play featuring ethan white (redbud)
mecca:83 – with you (freeform)
toro y moi – freak love (freddie joachim remix) (mellow orange)
krystal klear & olivier daysoul – never thought you would go (eglo)
ta-ku & roughsoul: LoveChild – we are (self-released)
the log.os – blades (self-released)
kindness – seod (female energy)
james blake – measurements (r&s)
masterclass – survival (self-released)
duke hugh – w a v e (self-released)
sbtrkt – sanctuary (young turks)
sixtus preiss & the clonious – specimen from (affine)
fLako – i want you featuring dirg gerner (tokyo dawn)
lee fields – you’re the kind of girl (truth & soul)
b.lewis – our journey begins (self-released)
teebs – verbena tea with rebekah raff (brainfeeder)

Click “Listen” next to “Playlist – December 20, 2011″ on the show page.

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The Main Ingredient / Show #133 Playlist / 12.13.11 (East Village Radio)
zaki ibrahim – something in the water (motif)
the echocentrics – it’s hot (ubiquity)
james blake – love what happened here (r&s)
oOoOO – nosummr4u featuring miss lisa (self-released)
1000names – paper trip (project mooncircle)
captain planet – another dollar (bastard jazz)
samuel & the dragon – rising up (slow mix) (brownswood)
pavel dovgal – kissing purple (project mooncircle)
coultrain as seymour liberty – mutual possesion (self-release/FRSH SLCTS)
the roots – the otherside featuring bilal & greg porn (def jam)
sarah white – dance on mars (bagpack)
bairns – s-type (lucky me)
mr. scruff – bounce (ninja tune)
damu the fudgemunk – faster rhyme for self (redefinition)
full crate – qcta (wonderful ear)
allen hoist – inner city blues (soulab)
tomson & benedict – blind featuring bantu soul (opolopo remix) (tokyo dawn)
new look – relax your mind (!k7 germany)
vindahl – you know (tokyo dawn)
oddisee – glamour (mixtape)
gonjasufi – love of reign (warp)
royalty – halley’s trail (five easy peices)
georgia anne muldrow – the jump rope song (animated creatures)
dj adlib – wine featuring black spade & the primeridian (melting pot)
the stuyvesants – thorough thread thoroughbreds (sd)
tanya morgan – in the city (self-released)
mecca:83 x kano sano x buscrates – midnight kids (freeform)
sam trump – groove (self-released)
kingpin slim – sad (self-released)
tawiah – run (warner/free ep)
jono mccleery – it’s all (ninja tune)
the log.os – dunes (rebirth) (self-released)

Click “Listen” next to “Playlist – December 13, 2011″ on the show page.

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About Hold On:

Last year, Brooklyn’s Krts released Remixes for Beards and Flannels, a mix-tape of top shelf classics from hip-hop’s ‘80s and ‘90s heyday. This September, he’ll follow this with his newest and first-ever proper EP release, Hold On, on the Berlin label Project Mooncircle.

With sounds ranging from the eclectic side of Hip-Hop, Broken Beat, Downtempo, soulful Dubstep, Indie Rock, and Fusion Jazz, Krts crafts a soundtrack to an ever-changing NYC landscape, fraught with struggles and flashbacks of what-was, all while letting go of ideals in favor of a new, raw, and heartfelt future. The album’s title track, “Hold On”, concerns the battle of a fleeting love – electronic and psychedelic sounds lead to a heavy, mid-range looped chorus and a deep, rumbling dubstep-style bassline. A taste of struggle is represented in “Whatever”, with it’s 808 kicks, layered snare, eerie and rattling samples, sweeping syths, and improvised piano… all as an ode to the cluttered market of Brooklyn’s indie art scene.

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