November 14 - Darkest Jumbalaya I've done

Songs Played (* Cancon):

• Boots feat. Deradoorian - Aquaria
• FKA twigs - Mothercreep
• Empress of - Need Myself
• Grimes feat. Aristophanes* - Scream
• Health - Men Today
• Gang Signs* - Heist
• Jade Statues* - She Don't Evn Smoke
• River Tiber* - Waves
• Shaunic* - Mo $
• Majical Cloudz* - Downtown
• Snowday* - Evoke

Maybe it's the gloomy weather we have here in the Lower Mainland, but I've been tempted to play the dark stuff recently on my Jumbalaya shows. Or maybe it's just that my music tastes have changed and I'm craving more of the dark electronic-influenced stuff. Who knows. Either way, Boots (Jordy Asher), an electronic producer who's added a nice dark touch to works he's done with Beyonce, Run the Jewels, and FKA twigs, kicks off the dark Jumbalaya with the title track from his newest album Aquaria. This track is hard to categorize...as in, no single genre would describe this track. It's a collaboration with former Dirty Projectors bassist Angel Deradoorian.

Angel Deradoorian, or Deradoorian, also has a new solo album out called The Expanding Flower Planet. It's a very cool alternative/art rock album so if you're into that it's definitely worth a listen.

FKA twigs follows with a track co-produced by Boots, the frightening 'Mothercreep'. Following that is another electronic producer-artist Empress Of, with the driving 'Need Myself'.

A new track from Grimes follows. It's her first 'producer track' where she is just doing the background work of putting together the beats while Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes delivers some ferocious rap in Mandarin. It's off of her new album Art Angels, released last week. I quite enjoy the new album! It's a very interesting listen, though I can't really give an opinion on the entire album since I haven't listened to the album in order, just a shuffled playlist on Spotify. Still, really strong songwriting and production on the new songs, I'm impressed!

Health wraps up the chaotic first half of the Jumbalaya, and Gang Signs keeps the beats going but allows for a smoother transition to the calmer yet still very sombre second half.

Gang Signs' Matea Sarenac (Wobangs) and Jade Statues are part of a new Vancouver artist collective called Cyber Spa. Their compilation release party will be on November 18 at the Astoria Pub!

Thoughts go out to the participants of the Red Bull Music Academy still in Paris. The event has been suspended until November 19 due to the tragic shooting that occured just yesterday. Our thoughts also go out to the victims and family and friends of those affected by the shootings. Luckily both River Tiber and Jade Statues had wrapped up the set before the wave of violence struck.

After that, more sombre and downtempo stuff from Canadian artists Shaunic, Majical Cloudz, and Snowday.

Next week though! I think I'll do something a lot more upbeat. Commemorate my 2nd year on-air (yet still doing a Jumbalaya). ;)