Eat. Drink. Design.

Founded in 2007

Eat. Drink. Design.

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Founded in 2007

The Fox is Black

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    Vrints-Kolsteren Develops a Dynamic, Evolving Identity for the Doel Festival

    Vincent Vrints and Naomi Kolsteren are the partners behind Antwerp-based design studio, Vrints-Kolsteren, working across creative direction, photography and graphic design. I found a project of their’s that I really liked, some branding work for the Doel Festival, which takes place in what I believe is sort of a “ghost town” in Belgium. The festival works together with local entrepreneurs and supports the current inhabitants and redevelopment of Doel by donating a percentage of each purchased ticket into a support fund, specifically set up for that purpose. We love projects that give back to a community.


    The work itself is fluid and dynamic, creating a visual identity which evolves with every edition, and references the shiny metal perforated plates covering up the windows and doors of houses, as well as the the washed off graffiti and faded signage. I love the mood this identity has. It’s so messy and captivating and beautiful all at the same time. The way they play with the legibility of the wordmark is a really nice touch, and the color palette they’re using (which is kind of all the colors tbh) feels very contemporary. Overall, really excellent work.

    Vrints-Kolsteren Brings A Dynamic Identity to the Doel Festival
    Vrints-Kolsteren Brings A Dynamic Identity to the Doel Festival
    Vrints-Kolsteren Brings A Dynamic Identity to the Doel Festival
    Vrints-Kolsteren Brings A Dynamic Identity to the Doel Festival

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    Purelink Releases ‘Signs,’ a Perfect Album for Calm Mornings

    One of my go-to waking up in the morning, soothing ambient chillness records has been the new record from Purelink called Signs. I tend to put albums on repeat, listening to them over and over to get a better sense of the overall narrative, and this one works great for that.

    Listen on
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    “Distilled from extended compositions prepared and performed across 2022 in Chicago, Kansas City, New York, and Los Angeles, Signs captures their chemistry at its most liquid and immaterial, mapped in mutating systems of glitch, glass, rhythm, and space. It’s music alternately subdued and subterranean, elevated and remote, attuned to the flickering sentience of outer spheres.”

    The other thing I’ll point out is the cover art by Ezra Miller (not that one) who has created what I would describe as a serene bathhouse vibe. This really comes to life in the video below for the track “4k Murmurs” where these inky washes of movement come to life, reminiscent of delftware plates, sumi ink, and weather patterns or fishes swimming in schools.

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    Eartheater Charts a Brutally Beautiful Path with Her New Album, ‘Powders’

    I first heard of Eartheater thanks to Kyle as he would play her singles throughout the day, her music and harmonies throbbing through the apartment. Now, her new album Powders is out and it’s such a fascinating evolution of her sound. For me, it’s somewhere between 90s pop and trip hop, with distinctive bass lines, floating strings, hints of acoustic guitar, and electronic drum beats that feel familiar in a comfortable way. Hints of Morcheeba meets Massive Attack, perhaps. Her distinctive vocal styling though makes this all her own, creating a beautiful sound that’s underpinned by a dark eeriness.

    I would highly recommend the single “Pure Smile Snake Venom” as well as and “Face in the Moon” to listen to first if you’re curious. And yes, there is a cover of System of the Down’s “Chop Suey” on the record, but I’ve gotta say, it’s not for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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    'Powders' by Eartheater - Album cover art

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    Talking Robots Into Heaven, A Conversation Between James Blake & Brian Eno

    One of my favorite albums of the year so far is Playing Robots into Heaven from James Blake because of his decision to steer back toward the more odd, experimental side of music yet again. Fittingly, he sat down with ambient music pioneer Brian Eno and listened to the album together, with Eno sharing his thoughts on the record and Blake giving some insights into the making.

    It’s really interesting to be somewhat of a fly on a wall between these artists. I’m sure they’ve been friends for years but I think personally I would be very intimidated sitting their have Brian Eno listen to your new baby. I also loved the way they filmed this, it’s so lo-fi in the best way, filled with character and charm.

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    ‘Cloud Suites’ by Nico Georis

    Happy Monday, I hope your weekend was mostly relaxing, maybe some good wine or food. I’m not sure I’m ready for the week yet, though some good music can help you ease into most situations. I can’t quite remember how I came across Nico Georis and his album Cloud Suites, I believe it was one of those rabbit hole discoveries.

    Nico Georis is an LA-based “keyboard player, experimental composer & songwriter” who composed Cloud Suites in real-time to render specific clouds as music, each named after a particular formation. It’s an album filled with soft, melodic songs which augment your mood or surroundings. I’ve been writing to this album for the last couple weeks and I’ve found it to be so additive to whatever I’m doing, enhancing my mood and sharpening my focus. Hopefully you find Nico’s music equally as enjoyable.

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    Cloud Suites by Nico Georis

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    Ambient Roméo Poirier Mix for pleasure gallery

    Let’s kick things off this week with a mix I’ve been enjoying lately. While looking for mixes by Roméo Poirier, a Brussels-based ambient artist, I inadvertently discovered pleasure gallery, a Bristol-based mix series and radio show. Now on their 4th season of mixes (really 12 episodes per season), Roméo actually kicked off the series with the mix below, an eclectic blend of found sounds and ambient din. I love working to Roméo’s music, and for me, mixes like these help me focus on my projects.

    Roméo Poirier Mix for pleasure gallery

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    Kylie Minogue Releases HAAi Remix of “Padam Padam”

    Something I didn’t see on the moodboard for 2023 was, a) Kyle Minogue having the song of the summer, and b) her asking Australian DJ and producer HAAi to create a remix of said song, the one and only “Padam Padam.” It’s edgier, it’s harder, it’s more rave than gay club, and I love it. I’m a huge fan of HAAi, and the way this remix came together is pretty funny:

    “A funny story is. I’ve never asked for parts for a song to remix before. Usually you’re approached by a label or management and are commissioned to put a rework together. Until I had a group with some of my nearest and queerest called ‘Padam’. Everything was “padam this” and “padam that’. I thought. How funny would it be, if as a surprise, I got the stems to the track and made a remix for our group of friends. I asked my mgmt, then 2 days later they arrived in my inbox with a message from BMG saying “can’t wait to hear what HAAi does”.“

    Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam - HAAi Remix

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    Experiencing the Joy of a DJ Set by Soichi Terada

    This past weekend, I had the pleasure of experiencing acclaimed Japanese DJ Soichi Terada perform here in Barcelona at SoundIt. His signature style of house music is inflected with city pop has a feeling like Studio Ghibli showing up to the rave. There’s a joyousness and spontaneity to his performances, such as playing a handheld synth, and jumping up on stage to lead the audience in simple dance moves. The music is still banging though, every couple of minutes transitioning to something unexpected. Honestly, it was one of the best DJ performances I’ve seen in a long time.

    Soichi Terada, Japanese house music DJ

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    Sampha Releases New Single, “Spirit 2.0”

    Few musicians out there today who do it quite like Sampha. His newest single is titled “Spirit 2.0” and yet again shows just how special his music is. It’s a joyful sounding track “about the importance of connection to both myself and others, and the beauty and harsh realities of just existing.” From what I’ve read Owen Pallet lended some help on the production side and the ending has a special appearance from Yaeji. It’s a song that’s easy to keep on repeat.

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    Sampha - "Spirit 2.0"

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    Interview with Róisín Murphy on her new album, Hit Parade

    I’m incredibly excited for Róisín Murphy’s upcoming album Hit Parade as it’s co-produced with one of my other absolute faves, DJ Koze. So I was thrilled to see Philip Sherburne’s epic profile on the singer for Pitchfork, titled Life, Death, and Disco in Ibiza With Róisín Murphy. It goes in depth on her long rise to stardom, and the lengthy and wild production of the album, which gets me even more hyped than I already was:

    “Hit Parade has Murphy showcasing the range of her voice not just stylistically, flipping from ballads to bangers, but in the way she explores every aspect of it: sandy, breathy, severe, gentle; caterwauling, cooing, hissing, belting, pleading, celebrating; leaping for joy, scowling with dejection, slipping wantonly between notes. Aided by Koze’s liquid blend of vintage soul and digital mischief, she locates entirely new pockets of marbled texture and elastic timbre in every drawn-out syllable.”

    Róisín Murphy, photograph by Nik Pate

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    ‘Live at Spiral House’ by DARKSIDE

    Nicolás Jaar is a great example of a musician who continues to push forward into new territories. His seminal album Space Is Only Noise is a timeless record, and his work under Against All Logic has so many gems. It’s the music that he creates under DARKSIDE, alongside Dave Harrington and newly joined member drummer Tlacael Esparza, that seems to be his current passion.

    The now trio have a new record out titled Live at Spiral House, featuring material recorded during sessions at the band’s Los Angeles rehearsal space, Spiral House. The record does a great job of capturing that feeling you get hearing a band play live. The added depth that Esparza’s drumming brings is immediately noticeable. They sound like super rad jam band who plays electronic music, guitar solos replacing glitches and noise, a din of noise laying underneath the sounds, bringing a unified warmth to the record.

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    Live at Spiral House by DARKSIDE