
Lesbians, Theatre, and TikTok with Aria Velz
Recent Articles Aria Velz is a director, TikToker, and Lesbian Media Enthusiast based in the D.C. area. On November 2nd, she sat down with me
by Daniel Warren Hill
Sit back. Relax. Chill out with the very cool vibes produced by igloo two, a Washington, D.C. area music composition and production duo consisting of Mylie Durham IV (known to friends and family as Lee) and Dan Bradley. Together, Lee and Dan are responsible for writing, producing, and performing just about all the instruments heard on a number of singles, EPs, and full-length albums being released through local record label Growroom Productions.
Just a little over a year ago, igloo two released silver eyes meets doctor robot, described as a curio of atmospheric narrative and seemingly a great fit for a variety of applications: unwinding, party music, a long drive, and even recommended for public radio segment transitions. There is a simultaneous experience of both simplicity and complexity that it takes time to truly appreciate through multiple listening experiences. You are given permission to be pulled away by some distraction and then safely return to the music. As there are no lyrics, the music is naturally a little more forgiving in that regard. The subtle orchestral changes, however, are like little candies for your ears that reward you if you are a good listener, and as mentioned above, the mood of the tracks is designed to be more relaxed and unobtrusive.
So how do you take this seemingly endless multi-instrumental sonic exploration and somehow manage to explore just a little farther? Cue the remix! Even though the team at Growroom Productions features a dazzling array of contributors right here at home, all trained in a variety of skills and experiences, igloo two and Growroom show what a unique international collaborative hub the Washington, D.C. region has become. They do this by tapping into a global network of DJs and building relationships with local DJs to reveal semdr: remixed, released this month.
When we asked igloo two what would inspire them to make their music available to reinterpretation and reflected back at them by a variety of international producers, their response was simply, “Because it’s fun!”
Lee says, “While our music is pretty chill, it’s interesting to know whether or not our music will pump up the dance floor and get the clubs moving. We really hope people get up and dance.”
Producers and DJs that injected their energies into the tracks include Australian based Frankee More and fellow Aussie Pecoe, German producer Quincy Jointz, and Savages y Suefo from Hungary.
Here is the “Silver Eyes Theme” side by side with its original interpretation and its counterpart provided by Pecoe:
ORIGINAL EMEBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/silver-eyes-theme-1
REMIX EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/pecoe/igloo-two-silver-eyes-theme-pecoe-remix
Meanwhile, UK based Daytoner and Washington, D.C. based DJs Astronaut Jones and FADE opted to keep more of the chill igloo two vibe when transmutating their own interpretations of the source material.
This is the “Between Sleeping People” remix side by side with the original
ORIGINAL EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/between-sleeping-people-1
REMIX EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/between-sleeping-people-daytoner-remix
DC’s Ozker and Orlando’s Stereo 77 reinterpretations are clearly defined as house music, while DC based Ornette Hawkins and Kalu as well as Barcelona based Los Chicos Altos drive home a bit more drum & bass influences.
Here is “Lazy Daze”
ORIGINAL EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/lazy-daze-1
REMIX EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/djstereo77/igloo-two-lazy-daze-stereo-77-remix
And “Stuck In Traffic”
ORIGNIAL EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/stuck-in-transit-1
REMIX EMBED: https://soundcloud.com/igloo-two/stuck-in-transit-frankee-more-remix
What all this means to you, dear reader, is that you have an opportunity to engage with twenty-seven individual tracks, between silver eyes meets doctor robot and its creative reflection semdr: remix, each with the capability to transport you to strange and wonderful places. You have an opportunity to analyze what speaks to you personally while investigating what stood out to the individuals conducting the remixes.
It’s like a video game already having a lot of replay value, then releasing a ton of new downloadable content.
It’s a bit like the story of you and you and your best friend, if the story of you and your best friend is how you started DJing and producing music in high school and didn’t stop until your music was heard all over the world.
Click here for a link to listen to semdr: remix using your favorite music player: https://fanlink.to/semdr
Click here to follow along with igloo two adventures via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iglootwo
Daniel Warren Hill is an American musician, writer, and motivational speaker. He is best known as the frontman for Washington DC area Alternative Rock band YellowTieGuy, as co-founder of Capitol Groove Collective, and increasing the exposure of artists on a global scale through his work with Alchemical Records.
Recent Articles Aria Velz is a director, TikToker, and Lesbian Media Enthusiast based in the D.C. area. On November 2nd, she sat down with me
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