CANADIAN ARTIST FRENCH BRAIDS LANDS ON ARMADA MUSIC WITH ‘SHADY’

The genre-crossing artistry of Canadian producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hasn’t gone unnoticed. His six-song EP ‘Breathe In’ already caught the eye and ear of Amsterdam-, New York- and London-based record label Armada Music back in 2020, and he is now releasing a brand-new single on the imprint in partnership with Toronto-based indie label Sadboy Records: ‘Shady’.

Written over a single one-hour video call between Toronto and London reminiscing past relationships, ‘Shady’ couples a lighthearted production with reflective vocals and lyrics that say no to conditional love. Perfect for sunny days spent chilling by the water, ‘Shady’ makes for a laidback listening experience that lightens the mood in the blink of an eye.

“The story came together as Dom McAllister and I sipped wine over the screen and exchanged stories about romantic experiences”, French Braids says. “Dom told a story about an encounter he had with a partner who was communicating in an elusive and shady manner, which led to the title of the song. We wanted the track to be the perfect blend of vintage bossa nova and modern chill electronic music, and we got there by recording lo-fi guitars through our iPhones and sampling a toy woodblock and turning it into the lead instrument for the track. We wanted to make a lush tapestry of sounds you could put on your headphones and get lost in. Dom’s sultry R&B vocals were the perfect match for the chilled-out alternative electronic production.

Sean Fischer’s production name French Braids makes perfect sense for an electronic artist known for weaving styles and genres together. In addition to the well over 15 million streams worldwide under this moniker, Fischer’s talents can also be heard on hundreds of syncs ranging from Grey’s Anatomy to Toyota, Walmart, Disney, Air Canada and McDonalds. Having fallen for electronic music, the Toronto-born beat-maker, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has also branched out into remixes for an international array of artists, including Grammy-nominated Australian trio Mansionair, South African superstar Sketchy Bongo, Swedish pop icon Zara Larsson and rising Canadian club crooner Virginia to Vegas.

HANS GÖRAN X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [RECENT EP, GENRES INSPIRING FUTURE TRACKS, RUNNING YOUR OWN LABEL]

Established Swedish artist Lucas Nord has seen consistent success throughout the last year with his involvement in the recent formation of pop-dance DJ/production trio Moodshift, with release after release garnering much critical acclaim. Using his multifaceted talents, Nord decided to create Hans Göran, a moniker featuring both of his middle names that is used to release new, unique house-influenced sounds separate from his other ongoing projects. A noteworthy career highlight worth mentioning includes his hit with Tove Lo, ‘Run On Love’, reaching the number one spot via Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart, as well as amassing over 45 million-plus streams to-date. Recently, he’s also received a Juno nomination for Mackenzie Porter’s ‘Drinkin Songs’, in addition to gaining a top 25 position via the U.K. Dance Charts for Moodshift’s ‘Touch’.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello, Hans Göran aka Lucas Nord, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing? Also, tell us a bit about yourself?

HG: Hey guys, all good here! So born and raised in Stockholm. Been making music all my life basically. Come from a family of musicians so music was always around. Spend my days in the studio working on my own projects but also writing and producing for others.   

CR: ‘GIRL’ being your fourth track on the EP, reminds us of some early house vibes. any story behind producing of this track?

HG: It was a track that I had to lay around for quite some time. It started out with me sampling myself and this little hook line i recorded. I just couldn’t figure out what to do with it. So it just sat for a few months before I picked it up again and pretty much re-made it into what it is today.

CR: When you are completing a track, how many times would you listen to it before you say to yourself that I want to put this out?

HG: Oh man, hundreds. When it’s something I wanna put out myself for one of my own projects it usually takes a long, long time for me to be fully happy with it to the point where i wanna put it out. 

CR: How has your music/producing style changed from when you started to where it is right now?

HG: I’m not really sure how it’s changed soundwise since I’m still very much influenced by the same music, however, I think that I’ve just gotten a lot better at everything. Ears have gotten a lot better too. 

CR: Since you are from Sweden, are there any Swedish artists that caught your eye that you would like to collaborate with in the future?

HG: Id love to make a track with DJ Seinfeld. Don’t know him personally at all but I’m a big fan of his stuff.

CR: What other genres are you currently listening to get inspired for your future projects?

HG: I listen and make a ton of different stuff all the time, country, hip-hop, house, pop. I feel like it always kinda blends together for me in everything I do. 

How is it running your own label ‘Bisous’? Were there any hurdles when you were starting it up?

HG: Definitely gotta shout out my manager Luca who I run it with. He’s a massive help with everything regarding the label. We kinda had a vision and were able to partner with the Orchard to make it happen which I’m very happy with. 

CR: Is there a track that never leaves your personal playlist because it has a certain emotional connection to you?

HG: Craig David - Fill Me in. track of the year, every year. Aside from DJing and music production, what else do you enjoy? I fell in love with running a while ago which i now try to do as often as possible. It’s the perfect break from all the sitting down in the studio and also a great time going through demos you’re working on. 

CR: As things are opening back up in 2021, is anything our followers should know about related to more music as well as any tour dates?

HG: No tour dates as of now unfortunately but there’s definitely more music in the works. Hopefully, I’ll have something out sooner than later! 

Lighting Round 

Texting or talking? Talking

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Hard liquor or Wine? Wine

Cake or pie? Pie

Hot dogs or hamburgers? Hamburgers

Xbox or PlayStation? Playstation

Movie theatre or arcade? Movie theatre

Guitar or piano? Piano

Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel

Dog or cat? Dog

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot

CONNECT WITH HANS GÖRAN

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING... JOHN DIGWEED AND NICK MUIR DELIVER TWO CAPTIVATING REMIXES

FOR JOE T VANNELLI’S 1993 TRACK,

‘PLAY WITH THE VOICE’ FT. CSILLA

 AND LONDON-BASED DUO THE PRESSURE’S

‘COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS’

AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS STREAMING PLATFORMS

Dance music icon John Digweed and longtime studio collaborator Nick Muir have spent years crafting timeless productions together. Following the release of the 50-track compilation, Quattro II, from earlier this year, Digweed and Muir return to lend their remixes capabilities on two new stunning remixes. The latest offerings mark John Digweed’s first official remixes in a few years and showcase his unparalleled studio ability alongside Nick Muir.

After nearly thirty years since the iconic release of Joe T Vannelli’s track ‘Play With The Voice’ feat. Csilla, John Digweed and Nick Muir have picked up the original and transformed it into a driving progressive melody that allows the listener to experience the track in a completely reimagined way. Paying homage to Vannelli’s 1993 classic, the pair reworks the track to incorporate edgy instrumentals and distorted vocals for a club-ready weapon.

Shortly after being championed by Digweed for his Transitions radio show, The Pressure has united with Digweed and Muir to craft a hypnotizing and emotive progressive house cut. The production duo who’ve never worked apart regarding their productions meet at an apex with their accustomed style. The Pressure’s diverse nature and raw talent coupled with Digweed’s knack for club-ready productions blend together for a timeless record. ‘Counting Down The Days’ effortlessly encapsulates feelings of hope for better days ahead as the soaring melody captivates the listener with tangible energy.

London-based electronic band The Pressure have been diligently growing their own intriguing discography since 2019. Their recent releases include the poignant single ‘Saturday Night’ and self-released singles ‘Ride’ and ‘Planes’. Offering a refreshing outlook on live electronic music, The Pressure capitalizes on a unique production approach pulling influences from modern rave culture influences and Bristol-era UK electronica. Receiving continuous support from Digweed himself, the duo continues their promising trajectory within the electronic music space.

As one of the most prolific electronic artists of the modern era, John Digweed continues to influence and shape the future of dance music. Working alongside Nick Muir to build his quintessential collection of music, the pair continues to redefine the standards of electronic music with each subsequent release and project. Their latest remixes showcase their studio versatility and ability to lend themselves to various genres.

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