Qrates

26/09/2023

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
Hand-picked by ,Cindy Zhang ’s Songs for Rainy Days” EP is live and available for preorder. https://qrates.com/projects/28745-songs-for-rainy-days

The San Francisco-based Asian-American ’s songwriting style operates in the and arena, with an eclectic sound that draws from the likes of , , and .

Zhang was classically trained from an early age, starting with the as a child, then finding her way to the , then finally a a love for , even studying under -winning producer .

After achieving success with single “Moon River” and debut album followup “Voice Memos” across South East Asia in 2020, Zhang’s sophomore "Songs for Rainy Days" is a tribute of sorts to this musical journey.

Including diverse range of musical influences—from jazz to , RnB and classical music—the LP serves as a journal of sorts, tracing her experiences of lost love, long-distance relationships, and negotiating social media in her early 20s.

My second album “Songs for Rainy Days” is now available on vinyl ☔️ This album is a collection of songs that are extremely personal to me and I’d like to think of it as a diary that encompasses all the ups and downs of my early 20s. It captures lessons from long distance relationships, hea...

25/09/2023

𝙈𝙐𝙎𝙄𝘾 𝙄𝙉 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙎
's limited edition , "Cruise Control Z" is available to preorder on til Oct 5 https://qrates.com/projects/29723-cruise-control-z

The Paris-based producer & founder trades in bliss, & nostalgia, in his sampled hardware-created music.

He releases both his newest "Cruise Control Z" and 2020 EP "Cruise Control" on clear red vinyl.

Limited Vinyl pressings of both my newest EP "Cruise Control Z" and 2020 EP "Cruise Control" on Clear Red vinyl

20/09/2023

ℚ𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤: Hand-picked
An eclectic mix of projects curated by the Qrates team https://qrates.com/stories/qrates-recommends-hand-picked-sep-19

Featuring the soulful jazz covers of Jake Sherman, the city pop and new wave blends of Japanese reggae on Time Capsule's "Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985" compilation, a folk music score from Leeds's Archipelago , and an emotionally-charged hip hop and RnB throwback from grouptherapy. · Official Music.

➭ “What A Wonderful World” / Jake Sherman
➭ “Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985” / V.A.
➭ “Mother of the Revolution” / Archipelago
➭ “i was mature for my age, but i was still a child” / grouptherapy.

Help make these happen, for the artists and their fans ✨🛸

An eclectic mix of projects curated by the Qrates team Image: grouptherapy.

13/09/2023

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
Hand-picked by , Knoche’s “I Could Die Just Thinking Of Us” EP is live and available for preorder till Oct 30. https://qrates.com/projects/29861-i-could-die-just-thinking-of-us

This is the Los Angeles-based , , and ’s third EP, featuring ten tracks of renditions of and styles.

Only 21 years old and born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Knoche has been making music from age 11, and writes and produces everything himself. and drive the artist’s intimate lyrics, with tracks like “Icarus" and "Please Hurry" marking opposite ends of the beats-to-ballad spectrum.

Having amassed a whopping 80 million views for his song debut, “First Hello” in 2022—and publicly announcing himself as a part of the + community—Knoche’s future is no doubt as bright as the sounds of this latest EP.

Cover by

GRANT KNOCHE's highly anticipated 10-track 3rd EP, "I COULD DIE JUST THINKING OF US," is set to release on October 20th, 2023 & soon to be released on vinyl... with your help! "I COULD DIE JUST THINKING OF US" explores themes of love, revenge, longing, and self-discovery. Whether it's the pulsating....

13/09/2023

𝙳𝙸𝚈 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚍𝚜
If there ever was a design style to fall under the genre of , then the work of Love Hultén is it. The Gothenburg-based artist and recently debuted a fantastic creation at his account.

The custom setup includes a combination of and processors, including the , , , and , and even a mechanical crab.

Hultén is in the business of creating custom , as well as other extraordinary that blend traditional with .

His portfolio includes everything from custom and retro game casings—even a special for the of this featured synth ensemble emulating .

Inspired by the magic and mystique of the fiction worlds of illustrators such as Sweden's , Hultén's work is the work of a deft and inspiring collaboration between functionality and aesthetics.

Check out our Qrates “Discover” page for more things and -related.

10/09/2023

ℚ𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤: Soul & Spirit
Read some words on our selection of the best in , , , ,and : https://qrates.com/stories/qrates-recommends-soul-spirit-september-5
Featuring the doo-wop harmonies of ensemble Joaquin, soulful South London singer Laolu , sample super-producer Aviad, and the cult Japanese funk of Petrolz.

➭ “Ranhansha” / Petrolz
➭ “BLOOM” / Laolu
➭ “Joaquin Soul Music” / Joaquin
➭ “undersensitized” / Aviad

The best in jazz, RnB, soul, funk and adult contemporary Image: Laolu

29/08/2023

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
Hand-picked by , × ’s first self-titled split seven-inch single is now in stocK .https://qrates.com/projects/29428-tentenko-x-plasticmai-dubplate-lounge

The two Tokyo-based producers each contributed a track made especially for the first limited-edition “Dubplate Lounge” project—a recurring event where a resident WOLFPACK JAPAN engineer demonstrates and explains analog record cutting, live, for visitors.

The , & of TENTENKO and PLASTICMAT was cut on the spot, a test-listen of the freshly-made dub plates were then played loudly through the speakers installed in the studio. This allowed those in attendance to actually experience the sound quality of the dub plates firsthand.

The “Dubplate Lounge” series aims to demystify the cutting process, which is an important step in bringing out the musicality of a song, and give listeners a deeper understanding of vinyl records in general.

Wolfpack Mastercut Studioでの企画、”DUBPLATE LOUNGE”第一弾企画のために制作されたTENTENKO × PLASTICMAI によるスプリットダブプレートの専用販売ページです。 DUBPLATE LOUNGEでは、WOLFPACK JAPAN専属エンジニアによるアナログレコードのカ...

25/08/2023

⚠️𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞⚠️
Don’t miss out on getting your hands on a copy of ’s self-titled LP, which live and ending today! https://qrates.com/projects/29656-peace-blessings-be

The collaboration between respective New York and Richmond-based & artists Perry Maysun and Young'Wabo follows a May release of an album under both their names called “Warping Time.”

“Peace Blessings Be,” meanwhile, draws on similar , and , while adding lightly soulful touch on tracks like “TO BERLIN (with love)” and “Contemplating At Penn Station.”

14/08/2023

𝙳𝙸𝚈 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚍𝚜
If you've ever wondered what the most expensive might look like, look no further than the space age veneer of the GOLDMUND's . The , state-of-the-art device is priced at a whopping $300,000, with only 25 units in existence.

Launched in 2007, the Reference II followed the original 1982 which used the computer-controlled —on which the French company was founded—and 2003's and player. After the latter was built using using previously previously reserved for the military, the Reference II achieved a level of sophistication never before encountered in a phonograph.

The meticulously-constructed collector's item boasts a distinctive design that includes a 20kg platter, a motor shielded by 15kg of brass to reduce vibration, and signal-carrying electronics insulated with teflon. The turntable's sheer solidity and weight are emphasized at every turn, even extending to its dedicated plinth.

Check out our Qrates “Discover” page for more things and -related. 🔗 in bio. https://qrates.com/discover

25/07/2023

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
Hand-picked by , Petardos!’s “Can-Can” LP is live and reading for back to Sep 8. https://qrates.com/projects/28668-can-can

The Aguadilla-based band blends with elements and nostalgic undertones, reflecting the diverse influences of Puerto Rico's mountains, beaches, and islands.

Their third album (and second vinyl release via Qrates) offers a loud rock & roll sound with , featuring and rock musician Macoyo on vocals, on saxophone and bass, Nelson on guitar, Cedric J. Figueroa on percussion, Eri on drums, and Cezgo on keyboard and guitar.

From Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Los Petardos! Can-Can is a loud rock & roll album laced with electronic Caribbean dub.

15/07/2023

ℚ𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤: Block Party Beats
Dazzling drops of breaks, rhythm & rhyming in & selected by . Featuring the cold-as-ice beats of a vsthebest215_intl and Spoda AKA Mr.dopeflow collaboration, the summery soundscapes of F V N T V N V, and the haunting, dubbed–out old school beats of DJ TWI$T II https://qrates.com/stories/qrates-recommends-block-party-beats-july-14

➭”Champagne Is For Champions” / Spoda x VStheBest215
➭”Cheaper By The Dozen” / FVNTVNV
➭”Confrontation Of Mind” / DJ TWI$T II

Help make these happen, for the artists and their fans ✨🛸

Dazzling drops of breaks, rhythm & rhyming in hip hop & rap Featured Image: FVNTVNV

07/07/2023

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
Hand-picked by , Capsule Records ’s “Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985” LP is live and available now for preorder: https://qrates.com/projects/29260-tokyo-riddim-1976-1985

The London-based # reissuelabel’s compilation captures the moment when reggae gained popularity in Japan in the late 1970s and '80s, featuring overlooked tracks from this era, and showcasing artists like Miki Hirayama, Chu Kosaka, Izumi"Mimi"Kobayashi, Junko Yagami, Miharu Koshi, Marlene, and Lily.

Instead of directly emulating Caribbean island’s styles, Japanese producers and artists drew inspiration from the accessible sounds of UK bands like and , blending reggae with and .

Part of Time Capsule's —exploring various Japanese musical scenes from the 1970s to the 1990s—the songs on “Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985” demonstrate the indirect and creative ways in which musical styles blend, resulting in something beautifully unique.

Cover art b Fukuoka-based Japanese artist Noncheleee pays homage to the iconic album art by .

If there is a year zero for the introduction of reggae music to Japan, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 1979 when Bob Marley and the Wailers toured the country, trailed by an entourage of journalists, photographers and fans ready to spread the message of the music into all corners of Japanese...