7 February 2018
If you need an anthem to supercharge you to Victory!, I've got you covered. Or, should I say, Rou and the boys have you covered with the powerhouse that is Solidarity.
From the opening cascade of saw-toothy goodness (you guys know how much I love my saw-tooths. Saw-teeth? Hmm...), Enter Shikari do not disappoint in delivering an incredible journey and a powerful message of unification. I've said it before, but even lone heroes need to team up every now and then to unite in the face of Common Dreads, and what better way to do it than to a backdrop as powerful and dynamic as this one?
It's easy to feel alone out there, especially when your adversaries seem to be getting the upper hand (I don't know about you, but the long gap between the December and January paydays has made a significant nemesis out of my bank balance), so at times like this we need to focus on the fact that we're all part of the same dumbass species, and that's a great reason to stick together and look after one another.
I think this may actually be the oldest song on the playlist now, given that Common Dreads was released nearly 10 years ago, but it's as relevant as if it were written yesterday (funny how songs have the power to transcend time isn't it), and after last weeks chill sesh, I felt like it was time to inject a bit of energy back into the mix.
Get yourself moving to Solidarity's infectious flow, and make sure you're having a great week while you're at it x
You can learn more aboutEnter Shikari here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Fire Away – Skrillex
30 January 2018
Every Hero needs to take time out to rest and recuperate: how can you make that miraculous comeback if you never went away in the first place?
When I picture the kind of place I'd escape to, it's very much your typical exotic retreat; an island, rich and lush, full of nature and all that nice stuff (zero tolerance policy on snakes though), somewhere fresh and relaxing to bring those all-important wellbeing levels back up.
Fire Away really captures this vibe beautifully. Most obviously, the lyrics are all about escapism, but that isn't what makes this track so... escapey. We've got this really crunchy percussion top line that sounds like an excursion into the jungle undergrowth, sine synths that emulate soft droplets of water on tropical leaves, and pads as light as clouds in the dense canopy above. Show me another song that paints a sonic picture this clearly.
This is the kind of track you stick on loop while you immerse yourself in you work, because at 5:41, it's just not long enough. My only gripe is that I'd like an instrumental version since lyrics tend to engage the analytical gremlins in our mind swamp, which isn't necessarily what we're after when we throw on a track to get lost in, but it's a small price to pay for audio magic. My favourite thing about this track is it comes at the end of an onslaught of dubstep mayhem (which isn't really my cup of tea. Since you ask, that would be a strong cup of Yorkshire tea, milky but no sugar. I'm sweet enough), and shows off Sonny's versatility as a producer. Although that's really no secret.
This week I invite you to fuck whatever place you call home at the moment and instead Fire Away to somewhere more wholesome. Maybe your bank balance won't let your body join in on the journey (mine certainly won't), but that doesn't mean your mind can't take the trip!
Have a great week team x
You can learn more about Skrillex here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Haunted – Beyoncé
23 January 2018
Cast your mind back to my earliest posts, when we built the foundations for what this playlist is about: people, achieving super-humans feats of existence on a daily basis.
Lyrically, Haunted hits this nail on the head: 9-5 / to stay alive. Ambition takes a back seat to the more pressing reality of surviving. And that takes serious strength to push through every single day, especially if it feels like the embers of a dream are dying in the process.
What I really love about this track, aside from the incredible vibe inspired by some stellar production, is that it arose from two people's frustrations with the peculiarities of the modern music industry. Probably won't make no money off this / oh well. The fact that something experimental in scope is considered so commercially invalid so as to actually be acknowledged in the lyrics should be a wake up call for all of us.
Because Haunted is truly a work of art.
For the most successful pop artist of a generation to throw this into the mix is remarkable. You know how much I love my soundscapes, and this track is no exception. Ethereal pads, expansive reverbs, distorted 808s (my new favourite thing), wrapped up in an arrangement that never stops to rest on one single vibe, instead progressing from abrasive hiphop, through slick latin-inspired grooves to finally culminate on in a rich saw-tooth symphony without ever seeming jarring or laboured.
Haunted is a welcome reminder that no one ever really 'makes it', where they arrive at a place where all the pain and anguish that is an integral part of the human condition is washed away on tide of fame and fortune. Knowing that struggle is inherent to any endeavour makes it that much easier to pursue a goal, because if you're going to have to work regardless of what you do, it might as be for something that you actually want.
Don't be Haunted by regret. Get out there and kick stuff!
You can learn more about Beyoncé here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Throne – Bring Me The Horizon
16 January 2018
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
For every clear-cut Superman, there's a darker, more complicated Al Simmons (y'know, the guy that became Spawn? Todd McFarlene's breakthrough character! No? I promise you he's very well known!). Whether you're a noble Ned or a redeemed Jaime, you have the potential to overcome great adversity on your path to Victory! (although Ned did lose his head, so maybe don't follow his lead too rigorously...)
If there's one outfit that embodies the dark and the complicated, it's Bring Me The Horizon.
Throne really shocked people when BMTH first unleashed it on the world. Sempiternal, the predecessor to That's the Spirit, had been an eye-opener in it's own right, but this was something completely unheard of for fans who'd grown used to the gnarling and snarling from Suicide Season and the briefly titled TIAHBMISITIAHLKIAS.
This kind of bravery is rare in the world of modern music. Artists find a sound that works and then stick to it religiously, which is fun for a while but it's not the stuff of legend that we're so interested in here. Throne is a Victory song in every sense of the word. It's a triumph in the face of creative stagnation, an anthem for the under-trodden and the forgotten, and it's one that soars over a powerful electronic landscape driven as usual by Matt Nicholls' characteristic artillery-like drumming.
BMTH haven't always had an easy ride in the public sphere, but like the one-handed Lannister of Westerosi fame, they've matured and developed into a band who are loved by millions, and rightly so - they're a lovely bunch of lads!
Given the lyrical and visual imagery invoked in Throne, I wouldn't be surprised if the track was directly written about The Kingslayer himself.
You can learn more about Bring Me The Horizon here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Atom – Madison Mars
9 January 2018
This week we're getting back to our roots with Madison Mars' interstellar journey 'Atom'!
This track oozes cinematic brilliance, from the trancey string lead to the gritty vocal bass, everything about Atom screams soundtrack. Picture this: you're about to go up against your nemesis (your boss, your annoying neighbour, your in-laws ...) and you need to get the adrenaline pumping: Atom will surely see you to Victory. It's dark in all the right places (highlighting our internal dichotomy, which is a big theme over here), with enough punch and power to push you through the inevitable fight scene and all of it's ups and downs.
Madison was one of the very first producers I started listening to when I got into future house, along with our old pal Tchami, and I've always been captivated by his subtle twists on sound design that lend to his unique sound. The world 'average' isn't in Madison's vocab: everything he releases is testament to the amount of work you know went into it, which isn't surprising since he's one of the hardest working producers out there!
So get ready to take another journey into the unknown, and take a break from the world for 3 transcendent minutes!
You can learn more about Madison Mars here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Song of Cedric – The Blue Wave Pavilion
2 January 2018
There are two forces in this world that no hero, regardless of how powerful they are, can defeat - Time, and Death.
It's easy to forget this when we're all wrapped up in the business of Saving the World!, especially when our current endeavours behave as though they're matters of life or death. But eventually, Time will age us, and Death will take us, and it won't matter how many cars are on the drive or numbers are in the account.
We've discussed the importance of a hero accepting Death before, but Time deserves our attention too since it's Time who will ultimately take us to meet the shadowy customer himself (or herself!). It's something that Cedric, the titular character in this week's saga, contemplates a lot, since Time has already taken his sidekick on to the next plane, and now our hero has to take on the world alone. It's a reminder to value what we have when we have it, and to not take life for granted.
This week's track is a special one for this playlist. Not only is it our first real dive into the world of indie rock since we touched base with Kasabian a few weeks ago, but it's also the first time I've introduced one of my own musical projects into the Save the World! family. At the helm is my brother, guiding us through a swirling soundscape littered with crisp guitar lines and layers of ethereal goodness, driven along by punchy drums and a bass player doing his best. James really captures the emotion of the song with each vocal layer, mixing sadness, regret, and a hint of triumph as the song reaches it's spiralling crescendo and fades out on a bittersweet note. It packs a lot of punch and it's definitely one of my favourite songs to play live!
So there you have it, a little slice of the world your humble narrator inhabits. Enjoy it, and enjoy your life x
You can learn more about The Blue Wave Pavilion here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Strobe – Michael Woods 2014 Remix – deadmau5, Michael Woods
18 December 2017
Remixing deadmau5 takes some serious courage. Not only does Joel have incredibly high standards when it comes to people messing with his music, but he's also not afraid to tell them - often in the bluntest way possible.
So you can imagine the stakes involved when it comes to tackling Strobe, which is arguably one of the most well-loved deadmau5 tracks out there (it's certainly one of my favourites). With that being said, Michael Woods certainly deserves a place on this playlist for his sheer bravery alone, never mind the fact that he did an incredibly tasteful job reworking an absolute EDM classic.
Michael gets it so right in fact, that Joel will often play Michael's versions of his tracks instead of his own, and that has to be the highest compliment that can be paid to a remixer!
Strobe is one of those tracks that makes you believe that anything is possible, and it delivers this message without the need for any words. It's ethereal, uplifting, powerful and melancholic all at the same time, and it conjures emotions that probably couldn't ever be conveyed in any other way. Think of the penultimate scene in your favourite superhero drama; the protagonist has managed to Save the World!, albeit at great cost and through huge sacrifice, and the film is coming to an end. Strobe could almost certainly be playing in the background. It conjures images of finality with just a hint of loose ends to be tied up, and in doing so it adopts subtle ominous overtones. It's as cinematic as dance music gets, and that is not a formula you wanna be fucking with.
Michael takes the original track and keeps all the fundamental pieces in place, but paints his characteristic trancey vibes over the top seamlessly. The Strobe adventure takes a new direction, whilst still ending at the same destination. In fact, I actually prefer his grittier, saturated approach to the original drop; there was an incredible amount of power lying just underneath that filter cutoff!
This week's track is a reminder to team up with other heroes, even if they usually work alone (as usual, points for guessing the reference. It's always from the same film anyway), since new and interesting results can arise from reworking classics that are commonly considered untouchable.
You can learn more about Michael Woods here:
You can learn more about deadmau5 here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Mirage – Platon Emil & Stefan Nixdorf feat. Landry Cantrell & Kristen Hicks
12 December 2017
What's the point in Saving the World! if the world isn't worth saving? I think we all have days where we think everything is so completely fucked up that to try and change anything is pointless.
Well this week I'm giving you an incredible gift, one to remind you how much good stuff there is to get involved in on this big ol' stupid piece of rock we call Earth. 'Mirage', the collaborative work of four incredibly talented characters, is a captivating listening experience that brings to mind visions of expansive vistas, vast, open landscapes, and breathtaking panoramas. The use of instrumentation is tastefully exotic, and both vocal performances are executed flawlessly. It's the perfect reminder of all the beauty that sits in the world just waiting to be experienced.
Lyrically, 'Mirage' ties in wonderfully with the idea that sometimes we feel like we're wasting time, chasing illusions, running after nothing more than a mirage. But there's a subtle beauty in this idea, because sometimes it's worth chasing an ideal instead of settling for a reality that's unfulfilling and y'know, boring.
So maybe the world we want to save isn't anything other than a dream. But I'd take that over not trying at all!
Have a great week kids x
You can learn more about Platon Emil here:
You can learn more about Stefan Nixdorf here:
You can learn more about Landry Cantrell here:
You can learn more about Kristen Hicks here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Afterlife – Tchami (feat. Stacy Barthe)
5 December 2017
Sometimes the most superhuman thing we can do is acknowledge our mortality.
All heroes know that there's a very good chance they can be defeated, and what comes next? Where do we go in the Afterlife? It's important that we make peace with this fact if we're to stay brave in the face of Danger; if we don't, we might find ourselves succumbing to the Great Unknown.
Tchami's future house piledriver of a track asks this very question. Right from the opening swell, it's clear we're going on a spiritual journey, and boy what a journey it is. Guided by Stacy's creamy vocal, we're taken through a dreamy soundscape filled with moving pads and sonic curiosities, before melting into a drop that's understated yet incredibly powerful.
I've had this track on my personal playlists ever since I heard it last year and it's never lost it's appeal to me. It's just an incredibly cohesive track; the vibe is one of uncertainty with an anxious undertone, and it fits the lyrical theme perfectly. Too often we hear lyrics that are so clearly removed from the tone of the music and it's not only lazy, it also ruins the immersiveness of the music. Tchami won't stand for it!
So galvanise your spirituality, make peace with your fate, and head toward Victory safe in the understanding of your Afterlife!
You can learn more about Tchami here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Never Give Up – Sergio T. feat. Dim Gerrard
28 November 2017
We've talked a lot about the importance of perseverance in this business of saving the world. A wise chimp once said, 'we only fail when we give in trying.' As long as we never give up and never surrender, we can only succeed, even if we're walking on two left feet all the time!
I felt it twas time to inject some EDM back into this playlist, and what better way to do it than with Sergio T's summer nostalgia kit? It's incredibly well produced, the vocals are perfect, and it oozes all of the positivity we need to get us through the darker winter nights (at least until Christmas hits, which I'm actually looking forward to this year since it's my first festive period where I won't have to work!)
Lyrically, 'Never Give Up' documents an every day struggle that I'm sure we've all been through, that of having to deal with reminders of an ex partner continuing to haunt us long after they've gone. It's another ode to the sidekick, letting us know that even when it feels like we're at rock bottom, there's always a reliable team behind us to keep us going toward, you guessed it - Victory!
We've been exploring some darker vibes lately, so it's nice to come back to something equally as powerful in it's positivity. Indulge yourself today and have a little dance, Sergio will thank you for it and, more importantly, you'll thank yourself!
You can learn more about Sergio T. here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Bloodline – S.O.S
21 November 2017
A hero should be the voice of unity. If the true evils of the world are intolerance and prejudice, then it's our job as superheroes to battle against them in whatever way we can.
S.O.S has answered this call to arms with elegance. 'Bloodline' is a reminder that despite our superficial differences, in opinion or in attitude, ultimately we all came from the same place. Saving the World! often isn't really about battling supernatural threats and narrowly averting major cataclysmic events. It's about challenging damaging mentalities and confronting the darkness woven into our being to rise above it as better humans. Super Humans.
Sonically, I feel like 'Bloodline' really taps into the duality of human nature. Down-tempo drums, deep pulsing synths and chilling piano melodies soften in the wake of S.O.S's soothing voice, reminding us that things don't have to be so bleak; that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It's an incredibly well produced track with plenty of subtleties going on low in the mix - treats for the repeat listener (and the headphone listener, the TRUE appreciators of music!)
Take the message from 'Bloodline' and use it to do something great today. 'If we all just take a little time,' we could find ourselves one step closer to Victory!
You can learn more about S.O.S here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.
Dreamlife – Morning Fatty
14 November 2017
Even heroes need a day off.
I mean come on, it gets tiring saving the world every. single. day. Sometimes we'd rather not whack on our supersuit (as usual, points for the reference), and just kick our feet up and watch some bad telly instead. And that's perfectly within our right! No one's paying us to be heroes - the world owes us some down time!
'Dreamlife' is the epitome of this sense of relaxing our responsibilities for the time-being. As Andrew tells us in the chorus, he wants to do big things, just not right now, if that's all the same to you. Being a hero can wait - Game of Thrones is on and it's the one where... Well, I won't spoil it for you. But it's the one. Yeah, that episode...
I think my favourite thing about this track is that it really lives up to it's name sonically; luscious pads, laidback grooves, groovin bass. This stuff really matters; don't call your song 'Chillout Melody #2' if you're gonna open with blastbeats and a death growl (I don't know if anyone's actually doing this but if you are, stop.)
The choruses are a real jam as well. There's some trap vibes easing their way in, underpinning a damn catchy lead synth (in my head now for the rest of the year, thanks) and an incredibly powerful vocal hook.
So take a day off, chill out, and let the world save itself for a bit. And make sure 'Dreamlife' is your soundtrack to this endeavour, you'll thank me for it later
Morning Fatty are taking on the world and you definitely want to get involved before they go stratospheric and you've missed your chance!
You can learn more about Morning Fatty here:
About the curator - Matt Jenko
Matt Jenko is a university postgraduate and music producer with an unhealthy obsession with Rick & Morty and all things Game of Thrones. When he’s not in the studio (a rare occurrence these days), he’s fueling his passion for music either on the net or out in the real world. He likes being out in the nature (in the least strenuous capacity though, let’s be real here) and chilling with his cat, and he’s also pretty proud of his mammoth collection of books that he’s never read.