Staley Sharples

Essentials: “Pull Up” – Gunkst and Sightlow

You know the endless “AUX cord” memes that you see? Well, if those memes had an official soundtrack, it would be “Pull Up”. Denver-based Gunkst experiments with sound in a way that’s appealingly undefinable. It’s heavy and complex and goes down great at a party. Isn’t that how all music should be? The producer’s collab [continued]
PressPlaylist: Dot Gives Us Some “Breathing Room”

As the founder and CEO of all-female record label Unspeakable Records, vocalist, and producer, TeamSupreme collective member Dot has a lot to balance. In between her many roles and a recent EP release, the Los Angeles based producer finds time to practice meditation. Here, she shares her PressPlaylist, titled “Breathing Room”, for her practice – read on for [continued]
Screen Sounds: Popstar’s Music Editor, Will Kaplan

For our latest Screen Sounds, we jumped to the big screen and talked to Will Kaplan, music editor. His latest project is The Lonely Island’s feature film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Read on for more about Kaplan’s incredible work! Hey Will! Your career as a music editor is extensive, having worked on Birdman, Guardians of the [continued]
PressPlay Mixes #018: Cóilín Phelan

Irish producer Cóilín Phelan (known on Soundcloud as Duke Silver)’s jazz and funk inspired foray into electronica is one of our most interesting mixes yet. Read on for our chat below, and give the mix a spin! Hey! What’s up? introduce yourself to your readers – what are three words you’d use to describe your music? Hey, [continued]
Essentials: “Andre” – Samuel Proffitt and Josh Jacobson

NYC’s churning out some great music right now – earlier this month, we saw new releases from Aire Atlantica and Nick AM, and now it’s time to bring your attention to the incredibly talented Samuel Proffitt and Josh Jacobson. While only Josh resides in New York, the pairing of Russian producer Proffitt and producer/vocalist Jacobson emphasizes both [continued]
Essentials: “All That’s Left (Nick AM Remix)” – Manila Killa feat. Joni Fatora

“Sparse” is a word that’s all too often overused when describing techno music. So is “minimal”. The way I’d characterize Nick AM‘s production is… selective. No sound is used without a purpose in his music, and when you listen to his remix of Manila Killa‘s “All That’s Left”, you can hear the way that his [continued]
Essentials: “May” – Aire Atlantica

Despite its allusion to the breezier climates of this month, don’t let the title of Aire Atlantica‘s “May” fool you – warm percussion and Motown-tinged vocals belie the sassy exasperation within the lyrics. That lyrical indigence is thanks to the sampling of “I Just Found Out”, the 1972 Freddie Hughes and The Chevelles track that gives off a bite similar to Beyonce‘s [continued]
Behind The Beats: Get To Know Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book Producers

Revolutionary, joyous, enigmatic, brilliant – all are apt descriptions for Chance the Rapper‘s mixtape Coloring Book. I can wax poetic about Chance’s contributions to both rap music and our shared hometown of Chicago, but you’ve most likely read about fifteen thinkpieces over the weekend on the rapper’s socially conscious, enthusiastic artistry. Part of Coloring Book‘s magic [continued]
Watch Drake Parody His Meek Mill Beef On SNL

Drake returned to Saturday Night Live as a second-time host and third-time musical guest, and he had some pretty golden moments. My favorite by far is the “Drake’s Beef” sketch – using the “Back to Back Freestyle” beat (in which he absolutely ethered Meek Mill), Drake hashes out even more of little things that piss him off. You have [continued]
Essentials: “Honey” – No Way Back

2016 has been the year of the pop diva – Rihanna and Beyonce‘s albums are some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed work of their careers, and budding icon Ariana Grande‘s got a highly anticipated new record coming later this month. But where would all those superstars be without Miss Mariah Carey herself? Back when she [continued]