noonpacific

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW :: CURT REYNOLDS

What is your artist/band name? How did you come up with it?

Tyler and I came up with the name Curt Reynolds while we were nonchalantly washing dishes at a local watering hole. We met while working temp at a bar and joked about DJing because all the music that came through the place sucked. My (Ben) last name is Curtis and Tyler's last name is Reynolds. So we took the swagger from Burt Reynolds and made a double-barreled surname with some disco juice and deep rooted flow.

Where are you from?

Ben is from Solana Beach, CA and Tyler is from Austin, TX. We both live in LA now.

What’s your musical background? Did you grow up with music?

Ben: I grew up singing, acting, dancing, and taking piano lessons. While sometimes I hated it, it always crept up on me in positive ways. My parents are very musical so that also had a huge impact on me. I later taught myself guitar, bass, and bought a drum set, and ever since my head can't stop making up beats!

Tyler: I grew up in Austin, TX...which is a melting pot for all sorts of music. You can feel it whenever you're in Austin; it's really special. I picked up bass guitar when I was about 12 and was in the world's worst band in middle school. Thankfully, that taught me a bit about music and I continued to get better and understand more as I got older. Music is still (clearly) a big part of my life.

How do you work? What is the creative process for writing new material?

We work on production in the same way we perform our live sets, no pressure and just have fun with it. We like to bounce ideas back and forth but it's not always easy. As long as we both trust that our vision and ethic and creativity will represent us well, we don't mind doing things individually once in a while, as long as we are both content with the product and overall energy.

Favorite place to write new music?

Ben: In my hammock nestled within my tropical abode in Solana Beach.

Tyler: At a beach park with a bomb ass carnitas burrito in one hand and Modelo tall boy in the other.

How would you describe your sound?

Our sound isn't one set thing. We like to embrace the quick change that happens so rapidly within electronic music. But our sounds take influence from deep house, disco, nu disco, tribal sounds, neon 80s, and basically anything that will make you dance in your skivvies on a moonlit beach. We also really love female vocals.

What inspires you?

Ben: El sol.

Tyler: Coffee.

Name something you love, and why.

Ben: Surfing. The ocean does only good things to you.

Tyler: Venice, CA. It's the walk of life.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

"Everything is temporary"

You’re lined up to play a show. If you could have any other artist/band on the ticket with you, who would you want that to be?

Burt Reynolds doing live vocals over our set with a chrome guitar and a maroon satin suit.

Listen to their tunes on Soundcloud

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NOONERVIEW :: WILD & FREE

Featured on NOON // 149

What is your artist/band name? How did you come up with it?

George: We call ourselves Wild & Free. A few days after we first began working together, we realized we were probably going to keep doing so, and we wanted a name that evokes the feeling we want to create with our music.

Drew: I joke that I think coming up with a name has been the hardest thing about our group thus far.  The music part is fun and easy for us.

Where are you from?

Drew: I was born in Philadelphia but I’ve spent a lot of time growing up between Philly, NYC and New England.

George: I was born in Santa Cruz, California, and have spent most of my life since in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

What’s your musical background? Did you grow up with music?

George: My whole family are visual artists, so I grew up with a lot of creativity in the house. Eventually I got sick of not being able to draw or paint like the rest and tried music, which worked better.

Drew: I picked up a guitar when I was twelve and haven’t stopped playing instruments since then.  I have one other family member who was in music and is considered one of the top composers of the 20th century.  Unfortunately, I never got to meet him as an adult.  My Dad, however, give me a copy of Dark Side of The Moon and said have at it lol.

How do you work? What is the creative process for writing new material?

George: We usually get together and start banging on drums and percussion instruments until we've got something compelling going on. Both of us play lots of instruments and sing, so from then on it's basically "Hey, hand me that guitar, hand me that bass" and we improv parts until things are done.

Drew: I joke that we are like a few octopi (is that how you pluralize octopus?!) when we start a song because we literally lay out a bunch of things and play them all.  Then we sift through and pick the parts we like the most.

Favorite place to write new music?

George: In my tiny little cube house in Echo Park. It's 90% studio, 10% residence at this point.

Drew: I’ll second that little house in Echo Park and also add that I like walking around and writing.  I end up getting inspired by people and places that are new to me all the time.  

When was the last time you had that “Aha!” moment and knew you were on to something good?

Drew: We have a new track we are working on called The Moonhowler and I think we finished 85% of the music, recording and production in 5 hrs.  It felt like everything we composed fit perfectly into the piece and then wrote a killer song that felt right.  My cousin was actually in the room and couldn’t believe how fast we worked.  

George: The remix we just finished for Ben Browning definitely had some watershed moments like that. We were really happy with the overall sound, but the tune needed something more "magical." We wound up stretching Ben's vocal into this tidal wave of ambient goodness and it really clinched the whole thing.

How would you describe your sound?

George: Sun, fun, and lots of magic.

Drew: I like George’s description.  I’ll add that we sound like Paul Simon made music with Hot Chip.

What inspires you?

Drew: I moved to LA about a year ago and the environment has definitely inspired my music and playing style.  LA has given me the courage to try new things and do the exact opposite of what I’ve done with music before.  I’ve also been listening to a lot of Nile Rodgers production lately.

George: Living here is definitely a big inspiration. So many people working so hard to make something new and awesome, all helping one another. Driving the coast is my happy place; makes me feel connected to the world.

Name something you love, and why.

George:  I love my drum kit an awful lot—it fits me like a nice old pair of gloves and it sounds like a Stax record.

Drew: I love guitar chucks and spring reverb on claps ‘n snares.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

George: Be yourself, even if you're a freak.

Drew: I agree. And I was told “Make what you feel.” I think that’s always stuck with me.

You’re lined up to play a show. If you could have any other artist/band on the ticket with you, who would you want that to be?

George: Daft Punk, though it'd be hard for me not to turn back into a fainting teenage fanboy in their presence.

Drew: I think I’d want to play on a Daft Punk, Justice, LCD Soundsystem bill.

--> Follow them around the interwebs: Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Active Child :: 1999 [VIDEO]

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Disclosure :: Holding On ft. Gregory Porter [VIDEO]

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This week’s full album streams

Waiting for next week’s Noon Pacific? In the meantime, check out these new albums that are streaming ahead of their release date.

Sea Of Bees is multi-instrumentalist Julie Ann Baenziger, whose mellow indie pop features ��angled harmonies and lush guitar arrangements.” Her third album is streaming now via the NYT.

Grammy-winning R&B singer Miguel is back with a new album. It’s streaming now via NPR, which calls it a “powerfully atmospheric, post-genre mix of soul, funk, synth pop, reggae, post-punk, grunge and hip-hop.”

Melbourne folk singer Fraser A. Gorman is signed to Courtney Barnett’s label. His “wistful and picturesque” debut album is streaming now via NME.

For more streams like these, subscribe to Streamsides, a weekly newsletter of upcoming releases that are streaming in full.

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Allen Stone :: Is This Love (Bob Marley Cover) // Mahogany Sessions

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Portugal. The Man. :: Tuesday (ILOVEMAKKONEN Cover)

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Leon Bridges :: Better Man (Acoustic & Live in Berlin)

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This week’s full album streams

Waiting for next week’s Noon Pacific? In the meantime, check out these new albums that are streaming ahead of their release date.

Fiona Bevan makes “modern stripped-down soul, folk and jazz.” The British-Canadian musician has also worked as a songwriter with Ed Sheeran. Her debut album is streaming now via Exclaim.

Twin brothers Zach and Ben Yudin are Cayucos, a California band specializing in sun-drenched pop. The duo’s sophomore album is streaming now via the Hype Machine.

Soul singer Leon Bridges is strongly influenced by ‘60s soul icons like Sam Cooke. His debut album is streaming now via NPR, which says: “What on the surface seems like mere replication becomes powerful evocation through extremely well-considered details.”

Royce Wood Junior is a London producer. His debut album “skits around the edges of pop and R&B, mixing atmospheric forward-thinking production with Moog synthesizers and chromaticisms straight out of the Stevie Wonder playbook.” It’s streaming now via the NYT.

For more streams like these, subscribe to Streamsides, a weekly newsletter of upcoming releases that are streaming in full.

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Jean Tonique :: What You Wanna Do (Feat. Dirty Radio)

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This week’s full album streams

Waiting for next week’s Noon Pacific? In the meantime, check out these new albums that are streaming ahead of their release date.

Alpine makes “spare and meticulous” indie pop. The Australian group’s sophomore album is streaming now via NPR.

Rooted in soul and funk, Outlines is a synth-heavy collaboration between London producer Shawn Lee and Los Angeles singer-songwriter AM. It’s streaming now via KCRW.

The first album in over a decade from Afropop master Pat Thomas is streaming now via the Hype Machine, which calls it the “perfect album with which to kick off summer.”

Ben Browning, the bassist of Australia’s Cut Copy, is releasing his first solo album of danceable synthpop. It’s streaming now via the NYT.

For more streams like these, subscribe to Streamsides, a weekly newsletter of upcoming releases that are streaming in full.

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Miami Horror :: Love Like Mine (Cleopold Remix)

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This week's full album streams

Waiting for next week's Noon Pacific? In the meantime, check out these new albums that are streaming ahead of their release date.

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, the band Sea Cycles makes instrumental synthpop influenced by post-rock. Their new album is streaming now via PopMatters, which describes it as a "reflective summer soundtrack."

Pat Grossi, a.k.a. Active Child, is a former boys' choir member who combines choral music with electronica in his experimental pop. His sophomore album is streaming now via the Hype Machine.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tourmates Teen Men take their name from a 1960s Playboy ad. The band's experimental brand of indie pop features guitars, synths, and vocals underscored by ambient electronics. Their debut album is streaming now via PopMatters.

For more streams like these, subscribe to Streamsides, a weekly newsletter of upcoming releases that are streaming in full.

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LISTENER PROFILE 008 :: The Couch Sailors (Gina & Jose)

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do? Where do you live?

We're a young couple based in San Francisco, sometimes living in our apartment, sometimes on our boat. We work together at a tech company, Jose is in sales, Gina in marketing and we're taking off on a two-year (maybe longer?) adventure...we're going to travel the world by sailboat!

How’d you hear about Noon Pacific?

Our old roommate and buddy sent a link to Noon Pacific one afternoon when we were experiencing what we call a "musical drought." California has all kinds of droughts ;)

Where and when do you typically listen to Noon Pacific?

We're anxious every week for a new mix to come out! Noon Pacific mixes are our go-to for our sailing adventures on the Bay. It's pretty much the soundtrack to our every afternoon.

What has kept you coming back and listening week after week?

We're pretty good about uncovering new music but Noon Pacific mixes always have something that we've never heard and always love!

If you could change one thing about Noon Pacific, what would it be?

Not a single thing!

Why do you choose Noon Pacific when there are so many other options out there?

It's a no brainer, really. Every week we get free mixes that always seem to be exactly what we want to listen to. The themes change a little each week but they're always just right. Fun, danceable jams that are perfect for everything. We are usually busy and moving around on the boat so we don't want to spend time fiddling with changing songs, making playlists...Noon Pacific just fits perfectly.

What’s your all-time favorite Noon Pacific mixtape?

I think we have to say 140. The mix cover art is pretty cool ;)

Anything else you’d like to share?

We're sailing around the world and use Noon Pacific for our #boatjams. If you're interested in following our story, check us out at facebook.com/couchsailors.

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Exclusive Interview :: Falcon Punch

Featured on this week’s NOON // 141.

What is your artist/band name? How did you come up with it?

It came about when I was in college producing a totally different style of music and I had a song I wanted to release but didn't have a name. I basically wanted to put the song out more than I wanted to pick a name so I just decided on the first thing that came to mind. Which was Falcon Punch on recommendation from a friend. I don't really even play video games which is where the reference came from, but since it had some recognizability to it. I just went with it and now it's too late to change!

Where are you from?

I’m from the western suburbs of Minneapolis, and I lived there through high school, and then I moved to LA for college. Now I live in Boulder, CO.

What’s your musical background? Did you grow up with music?

I grew up in a fairly musical background. When my dad retired he really got into guitar heavily, started a guitar collection, and basically turned our basement into a recording studio. Even before that my parents encouraged my brother and I to learn guitar, bass, and piano. In high sschool, I was in your classic alt punk rock band. I really had no idea the current genre I’m in even existed until i moved to LA for school. I tried my hand at dubstep and mashups but was later introduced to a few artists and the whole disco tip which is really awesome.

How do you work? What is the creative process for writing new material?

It really starts from something I’m sampling either from digging through records or trolling through YouTube tracks and new artists. If I find a song I like, I’ll look into who played guitar on it and look at what else they’ve done. Sometimes I’ll dig until I find a groove I like and think “Ooh that could be cool.” Often times I’ll hear a few songs and try and take a little inspiration, either a progression or groove from it and adapt it to my own song. I do a lot of melody writing on guitar because I know the instrument the best.

Favorite place to write new music?

Theres only one place to write music and that’s in my studio. I need a big chunk of time to work on music. If I just have an hour, I won’t get anything done.

When was the last time you had that “Aha!” moment and knew you were on to something good?

I’m working on some remixes right now for a few artists, and for a few of them, nothing was working, but when I played a new chord progression, it was like, “Oh that works perfectly!” I’ll have a lot of songs kind of done, and then I’ll layer in one new track, and it takes it to the next level. It’s less of the original idea, but more like a song will be good and then one more instrument makes it amazing.

How would you describe your sound?

I guess to would describe my sound, it’s 2-fold. I sometimes produce all-original songs, but almost every song I have out right now has a sample element to it, a small section, a small vocal section etc. I take a lot of influence from guitar, heavy funk and boogy, and late 70s/early 80s disco. I then take that and put it together with my own organic electronic sound. My own keyboard, my own guitar, bass, drum set. I try to get a more organic sound, I feel it sounds less sterile.

What inspires you?

I listen to a lot of music. I’ll hear one thing, like one little piano line, and if something gives me that goosebumps feel, I go with it. I’ll hear a sound, and I’ll be like “THAT!” and want to work it into my song.

Name something you love, and why.

Food. Haha. I love to cook a lot. My roommates and I used to run a recipe blog that was basically different recipes paired with a playlist that fit the vibe of the meal you were making. Same way as music, you can experiment with food.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep pounding the pavement. You make your own opportunities, they don’t come to you. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities you’ll find. Just make it happen.

You’re lined up to play a show. If you could have any other artist/band on the ticket with you, who would you want that to be?

Todd Terje. hands down. Oh man he’s the best. He’s a producer and plays in a band, he’s just the most interesting sound in electronic music by a mile. Check out  “Inspector Norse.” That and “Delorean Dynamite.” It’s the most standout, all-around good production you’ll hear..I’d give my right arm to play with that dude.

♫ Listen to Falcon Punch’s remix of Holy Models’ ‘Lessons’ on NOON // 141

Find Falcon Punch on the interwebs: Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook

Interview by Joshua Arter

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Fellini Felin & Camel Power Club :: Money Can’t Lie

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Exclusive Interview :: Mirror Signal

Real name: Steven Kenneth Barker

What is your artist/band name? How did you come up with it?

My artist is Mirror Signal. I came up with it when I failed my first driving test for signalling wrong too many times. My instructor kept saying “mirror, signal” over and over again after that...

Where are you from?

I was born in Nigeria, raised in South Suffolk, England.

What’s your musical background? Did you grow up with music?

I actually didn’t grow up around much music. My mum listened to a lot of christian music in the car and at home, but I never really connected with it. I got into listening to music when I got into playing it, which was at school.

How do you work? What is the creative process for writing new material?

I’ve had a laptop for as long as I’ve been writing songs, so even when I was just making acoustic music, I was writing and recording the same time, re-arranging song structures, adding effects etc and chucking stuff up online. The transition to a more electronic style alter on was quite natural for me because of that.

Favorite place to write new music?

just anywhere that I’m comfortable, if I’m self conscious it doesn’t come out the same way.

When was the last time you had that “Aha!” moment and knew you were on to something good?

I get a little bit of that every time I finish a song, although a lot of the time I’ve gone off of it in a couple of hours! There’s a song on the new EP called “Dat Won’ Save Me”. When I was producing that, it felt really fresh for me, because I’d tried to avoid my own conventions of production, so I remember that song feeling really good.

How would you describe your sound?

Just a bunch of weird chords, lyrics and sounds moulded together that sounds somewhere near to electronic soul

What inspires you?

Knowledge and skill is a big inspiration to me, I’m drawn to anyone who has a good grasp on a subject matter. That doesn’t make me feel inferior, it just makes me want to reach that person’s level of ability.

Name something you love, and why.

I think laughter is good, it’s a pure feeling and you can do it whenever you want to

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Be good with money, and eat vegetables

You’re lined up to play a show. If you could have any other artist/band on the ticket with you, who would you want that to be?

Lianne la Havas! Big fan

Where can we find you on the web?

Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Interview by Joshua Arter