Dancing Astronaut’s Soundtrack to BUKU Music + Arts Project 2018
BUKU Music + Art Project returns to the Big Easy as the South’s premiere urban festival for its sixth consecutive year. Topping the bill in 2018 is an incredibly diverse cast of musical talent ranging from electronic acts Bassnectar, MGMT, and Virtual Self, to hip-hop acts Migos and Lil Uzi Vert, to five-time Grammy nominated R&B newcomer SZA. BUKU’s 2018 line-up signals superb curation against a plethora of live street art, custom-made industrial installations, and dozens of surprise “pop-up” performances.
To capture a sliver of the magic that was slated for BUKU 2018 in New Orleans, we’ve hand selected a few tracks highlighting some the bigger headlining acts as well as a small, yet quite notable portion of rising artists for the Soundtrack to BUKU Music + Arts Project 2018.
Tickets for BUKU are available here.
Featured photo courtesy of aLive Coverage.
Ganja White Night
Belgian bass duo Ganja White Night is quickly setting the tone for the bass community around the globe. Members Benjamin “Bamby” Bayeul & Charlie “Erwan” Dodson have just released a new chapter in their iconic “Wobble” sound with the release of their latest album. With the live ensemble they’re bringing to Buku 2018, GWN is sure to bring a truly freeing and fully captivating audio-visual experience.
Bonobo
After a 4 year-long hiatus from producing records, Simon Green returned in 2017 with his magisterial sixth LP, Migration — an album which cements his place in the uppermost echelons of ambient electronic. With roots in jazz and global pop, this is perhaps Bonobo‘s most ambitious attempt yet in tranquility as he captures the very textures of human existence. “Life has highs, lows, loud and quiet moments, beautiful ones and ugly ones. Music is a reflection of life,” says Bonobo on the broad dynamics of his brand new album, which he” be performing live in his Buku set.
Mura Masa
21-year-old Alex Crossan, known on stage as Mura Masa, grew up on the island of Guernsey in England, where he spent most of free time playing in indie bands with his friends and listening to popular American music. “I was very disconnected from British music,” he says.
“My mum is American and I was exposed to a lot of her records at first — Joni Mitchell and stuff. From there, I assumed pop culture was American.”
He channeled multiple influences — including Hudson Mohawke & James Blake — to create early beat experiments that started setting Soundcloud alight. BUKU welcomes the Grammy nominated artist’s wonky pop, alternative R&B sound in his debut New Orleans festival appearance.
Gryffin
LA-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Gryffin has become one of dance music’s fastest rising pioneers in the live arena after his official remixes of Tove Lo, BANKS, and Maroon 5 got him booked at marquee festivals like Coachella, Governor’s Ball, Lollapalooza, and EDC Las Vegas. He just wrapped his largest North American LIVE tour to date, spanning 37 cities and selling out legendary venues. Gryffin can be counted on to bring unparalleled energy and force to his sets through his live performance juggling the decks, electronic guitar, piano, MIDI drums, and sometimes a full band.
CloZee
In a feedback loop of adventure, music, and love, CloZee and her fans are ready to let the force of tribal sound carry everyone to places they’ve yet to journey before. With inspirations far left field from popular electronic music – a painting, the weather, and a dream in her pallet – Chloé Herry’s derivations are difficult and exciting to trace. Categorized under the broad brush strokes of electronic and bass music, this French beat maker is making waves in the her community with her tribal-inspired blend of bass, world, and glitch.
graves
Hawaii’s Christian Mochizuki, aka graves, is a DJ and electronic producer known for his sophisticated, hip-hop influenced progressive style. A native of Honolulu, Mochizuki first came to prominence after working as an engineer on Kanye West’s Grammy Award winning 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. As a recording engineer, he is also credited with working alongside Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kid Cudi, Justin Bieber and Big Sean. This talented future bass producer will to bring his best to the Big Easy, putting popular radio hits into a blender of trap, electro, and forward thinking electronic beats.
Medasin
Medasin is carving out a name for himself. In a scene that’s filled with generic copy cats, Dallas’ own Grant Nelson thrives on being off-beat and different. The promising young talent has a a knack for creativity and an innate ability to read a crowd, as his production style ranges from dance floor bangers to chilled-out, vibey tracks and everything in between. We’re hoping Medasin’s momentum continues to peak with a set that marries his own unique style with the voodoo spirit of NOLA.
Mad Zach
Mad Zach combines sonic influences from hip-hop, jungle, techno, dubstep, and trap, while remaining unique in his own right. With releases on Deadbeats, Saturate, Plasma Audio, and Robotech Neo, his bass heavy sound stamp has received support from underground extraordinaires like Aphex Twin, Barclay Crenshaw, and G Jones. Simultaneously aggressive and introspective, Zach’s genre-bending style both invigorates and entrances his audiences on an aural rollercoaster into the lowest lows and highest highs of their minds.
DROELOE
Dutch producer Vincent Rooijers and visual designer Hein Hamers are DROELOE. Their emphasis on playing to artistic strengths has seen them weave sonically and visually intricate stories through their music. Their signature branded skull has quickly become synonymous with forward-thinking music and breathtaking art. With 2018 kicking off, DROELOE is ready to dive headfirst into the world of solo touring while continuing to push their creative boundaries as audio and visual artists.
A Day To Remember
Over the course of the past several years, A Day To Remember has had #1 Billboard Rock releases, sold more than a million units, been awarded 2 gold-selling albums and sold out entire continental tours, amassing a global fanbase whose members number in the millions. But for their latest album Bad Vibrations, the Florida-based quintet switched gears. They headed for uncharted territory with a loose and much more collaborative songwriting process that saw them recording for the first time with producers Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and Jason Livermore (Rise Against, NOFX). The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Album Sales Chart.