Ocelote Rojo- Untitled #1

Jam: Untitled #1
Good to jam when: Outdoors

     Ocelote Rojo adds mastery to the chillwave genre without the helps of a label and with just about the most grounded influences you can have, the pure marvels of the simplistic nature.  The influences are more than evident because they not only shine powerfully throughout his songs, but they also somehow make you feel as if any minute it would be completely normal to see a monkey swing by or a storm begin to brew.  

     Francisco Aravena, from Santiago, Chile, is the one and only main man behind the spanish name, which in english means red ocelot, a medium-sized wild cat that looks similar to a jaguar that is dispersed mostly throughout the jungles of South America, but can even be found all the way in some parts of Texas.  Be sure to check out the new album Pacarina which was just released in March of this year and download a couple of his songs including today's feature for free here.   With very little information on this group out there and with such a recent release of an obvious jammable track, jump on the jungle vines quick with this one so you can claim your scrumptious bananas when your friends are still lookin' at the clouds!     

Blue Sky Black Death- And Stars, Ringed

Jam: And Stars, Ringed
Good to jam when: Needing motivation

     Blue Sky Black Death is a chiller duo from Seattle made up of two dudes that go by the name of Young God and Kingston who originally produced solely hip hop beats that have more recently transformed their magic into layed-back electronic beats mixed with the helps of a violin, cello, keyboard, and guitar while combining drawn out vocals and random samplings to create nothing but goodness served straight-up.  I am more than inclined to say that this group has nailed the art of projecting feeling into music and its ever so evident not only in today's featured jam, but also all throughout their newly released album titled Noir, which was just dropped at the end of April this year.  A few others that reached out to me on the new album were "To the Ends of the Earth" and "Where Do We Go," but personally, the whole album seems time-worthy of checking out.  While the group says their name refers to a skydiving phrase that's supposed to allude to beauty and death, their music only seems to lead to one, and in this case, that's undoubtedly beauty.  

Seapony- Nobody Knows

Jam: Nobody Knows

Good to jam when: Jacked up, amped, excited, or wanting to be any or all of the above

     I don't know what it is, but this song just gets me jacked. Anytime of day, despite multiple and conflicting moods, all I want to do is jam this.  The summer tones correlate perfectly with the scorching season and physically won't allow me to remove the beachy images that pop into my head when listening to this song.  It's decorated with simple chords, easy, sea-breezy harmonies, and, I'll admit, the talent isn't anything that will get your panties in a doozy, but by the end of it...I can guarantee you'll be feelin' mighty dandy and a little woozy.  

     Small World Fun Fact: On top of the easy jammableness, the songwriter and bass player grew up and began playing together in the same state I was welcomed to the kingdom, OkieHoma, and the songwriter started dating the singer when they studied together in the same city that I attend my lovely school in good ol' Lawrence, KS.  Smart jammers think alike.  

Tips on how YOU can be a smart jammer: Download Seapony's "Blue Star" and "Dreaming" singles for free heeea! AND you can start commenting on my posts. I don't care if you absolutely hate every song I have ever posted, or if you think I'm a dousche.  Maybe you wanna tell me that I spelled dousche wrong, or that you had blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  I don't care, because either would be cool.  I just want some feedback. And I know you're reading.

Cotton Jones- Gone The Bells

Jam: Gone The Bells

Good to jam: On an afternoon in the park

     Soft and simplistic melody from a Maryland-based band with a formation you've heard a thousand times before.  Not to fret, because all this lack of adornment could be exactly what it takes to get you to finally lay back and relax in the park to delightfully pass the afternoon away.  Besides, the story behind the formation of the group only makes for a unique blog post and who wants hard and complex jams when they relax anyways?  Story time can wait, just be sure to charge that Ipod today.

Blackbird Blackbird- Pure

Jam: Pure
Good to jam when: Running/Driving/Kickin' it

Perfect song for the season to get you lacin' up your kicks and making your feet meet the pavement in the sweet, sweet summer shine. Hopefully this one will give you some extra umph when the sun is just about to drag your weary feet back inside... and hey, if working out isn't really your thing or you're feeling like an overheated, lazy lard, this song will undoubtedly go nicely with a cooled down summer cruise or a kicked-back, chillaxer afternoon by the pool.  Try it, I dare you.