Earlier this year, London/Los Angeles band Lovelife released fourth EP Feel. The quartet is currently in an L.A. studio to record its debut LP. In the meantime, check out the mix tape we asked Lovelife to make us below. It’s pretty awesome.
Broken Bells “Holding On For Life”
We’ve been fans of BB for a while and got really into the new record while on the road with Ellie Goulding. It’s been a while since I’ve put on a record and felt engaged front to back. Every song is great, and it’s over before you know it. Never dragging, gorgeous piece of work. We love Danger Mouse as a producer, too; his style is right up our street. The record he did with Electric Guest is great, and the Beck record, too. Video
Chela “Romanticize”
Chela is an Australian singer that Frank got us listening to last year. I think he came across her at SXSW. Shes not got a lot of material out there, but what she does have we’ve been really enjoying. Its got this ’80s electronic-pop energy that we all dig, and she’s got a dead cool voice. The video for this song is pretty kooky, but I like it. Looks like a ’90s educational video or something. Video
The Dandy Warhols “You Were The Last High”
The Dandys are one of those bands that should be way bigger than they are. Obviously, they blew up in the ’90s, but we saw them in London a couple of years ago, and I couldn’t help but think, “Why isn’t this happening in the o2 arena?” I love the production on this song, and it’s not really a million miles away from what we do in Lovelife. The synth bass line sounds like something Ally might do, and that little jangly guitar is very cool. The vocals in the chorus sound so great, too. Totally fabulous jam, y’all. Video is a trip. Video
David Bowie “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”
It was such a treat to get a new Bowie record last year. I didn’t know what to think of it at first, but now I love it. I struggled to choose between this and Valentine’s Day, but this is my favourite. I love the idea of celebrities following the lives of ordinary people, which is what’s going on in the video. Someone should start a gossip magazine for celebrities who want to know what normal people are up to. Call it Civilian Banter or something. Video
Friends “I’m His Girl”
Friends are a band from Brooklyn that popped up a few years back. My friend Dan played it to me first, and I loved it. Very cool band. Samantha Urbani’s voice is haunting, and you’ll fall in love with her without even seeing her face, then you’ll fall more in love with her when you actually see her. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen them live but have only heard good things. Video
James Blake “Life Round Here”
Lovely Blakey. We’ve listened to his records and mixes on the road a lot, and I think Overgrown is probably in my top-three records of the last three years. I actually had a hard time choosing a JB track to put in here, but this one is certainly up there. They’re all good. The production is magical on this; I reckon it would be a good track to play to someone who’s never heard JB. Video
The Flaming Lips “Race For The Prize”
This is such a euphoric song and is stunning live. We saw them at the Osheaga festival in Montreal a few years back. They blew me away. Wayne was running around on top of the crowd in one of those huge inflatable balls. Between the music, the visuals, the confetti and the dozens of dancers onstage made it feel like what I can only imagine an acid trip feels like. Video
M.I.A. “Bad Girls”
I really admire MIA’s attitude; she seems to literally do whatever she wants whenever she wants and isn’t afraid to offend. I’m a big, big fan of her videos, especially the one for “Bad Girls.” It looks so expensive. How are they driving on two wheels?! The beat is cool. I’m a big fan of those really roomy drum sounds alongside the electronic sounds, and that sort of Middle Eastern synth riff is brilliant. I saw her at Brixton Academy a while back, and it blew me away. It was so loud it made me sick. Video
Kitten “Like A Stranger”
Kitten are a young band from L.A. we’ve been fans of for a while. This song in particular. Its got a really cool middl-eight that makes me shiver a bit. Chloe is absolutely wild live; we saw them at the Jubilee festival in downtown L.A. last summer and she was absolutely out of control, but sang really well. Very cool band. Cool video, too; it’s got a panther in it. Cheers. Video
