I recently became obsessed with Hiatus Kaiyote after my voice teacher showed me some of their music. My music taste at the moment is mainly rooted in R&B and soul, so this band was right up my alley! The lead singer, Nai Palm, has such a unique quality to her voice that I almost immediately latched onto. She also has her own original music aside from that of the band and released her solo album Needle Paw, which I have also been listening to, in October. Her song “Crossfire/So Into You” is my current “I-put-this-on-repeat-for-days-because-I-love-it-so-much” song; it’s also on the TDP Editor’s Picks Spotify playlist, so you shoulddefinitely check it out if you’re interested! You won’t regret it, I promise.

Hiatus Kaiyote, which includes members Naomi “Nai Palm” Saalfield, Paul Bender, Simon Mavin and Perrin Moss, refer to themselves as a “future-soul” band. I definitely think is an accurate genre title, as their music has many qualities of soul music while also having a distinct, futuristic vibe. They use different types of sounds outside of the standard instrumentals, which is partially why I find this band so entertaining. Also, Hiatus Kaiyote utilizes a variety of tempos and intensities in their songs: some are smooth and flowing while others are more upbeat and faster-paced. I always look for these different dimensions of songs while listening to any band, and Hiatus Kaiyote is easily at the top of my list for ingenuity in this respect. I hope more people come to know and (hopefully) love them in all of their amazingness!

You can find Hiatus Kaiyote and Nai Palm’s albums on basically any music service (Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music, Pandora, etc.). Here’s one of my favorites from Hiatus Kaiyote’s second-most recent album, Choose Your Weapon, called “Fingerprints”. Dig It, Devils!

This year, we are reaching out to students, faculty, and staff to let us know about what they are listening to right now. Our first Dig it, Devils! for the year is a guest post by Mrs. Janovitz. This is what’s playing from her headphones lately:

Atlantic Manor – a collaboration between BHS Devils’ Playist’s very own  Matt Martin and BHS alumnus, and lead singer of Grandview, Billy Restivo – digitally released their first track “Pull” earlier this week. The song’s lyrical depth presents cries of altered love, pleas for strength of action, and expressions of self questioning. The alternative sound starts slow, paralleling the wistful longing present in the early lyrics, and progresses to a powerful crescendo of percussion that culminates with frustrated questioning layered over a subtle screaming. Somehow simultaneously soft and loud, angry and affectionate, well crafted oppositions permeate the song and reflect the conflicting emotions present in changing relationships. The track, recorded at Billerica’s Kennedy Studios and engineered by BHS alumni Chris LaRocque and Nick Stewart, is a fantastic listen. Dig it, Devils!

Technology today has not only facilitated the recording and producing of traditional music, but also has spurred on the synthesis of totally new and exciting branches of sound design and performance. New York-based “creative collective” Archie Pelago combines the highly traditional and melodic tones of the cello and saxophone with the session management and creative beat-making capabilities of the DJ. Together with the aid of various digital and hardware tools, the trio of Cosmo D, Kroba, and Hirshi create eclectic and melody-driven songs and live mixes that retain the musical beauty and technical mastery of the instruments used, yet rebound with the energy of punchy electro-style beats and pulse of dance music. Archie Pelago’s marriage of the old and new is easy for non-musicians to enjoy while still providing the musical connoisseur and analyst with much to explore, study, and reflect upon. Check them out, Devils; you’ll dig them!

 The trio’s latest EP, Lakeside Obelisk, is available on iTunes. You can also find an in-depth interview and authentic studio performance on the Ableton website at:

https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/archie-pelago-creative-collective/

Often times, the best kinds of songs are those during which one can sit back, nod in rhythm, and just jam in silence. If you are looking for this euphoric kind of effect, look no further than the band known as the Wild Ones. Sporting a lush and equally infectious sound, the Portland, Oregon-based five-piece teams together to seamlessly amalgamate influences that include hardcore punk, techno, and classical. As one could assume, the product of these diverse influences is impressively unique, creating a sound that is best described as a blissful pop paradise with an intense focus on musicality. Being one of the catchiest and most enjoyable songs from their most recent release Keep This Safe, “Golden Twin” encapsulates all of the Wild Ones’ potential and expresses just how versatile their pop and electronica-laced tracks can be. Dig it, Devils!

Big Black Delta is the solo project of former Mellowdrone vocalist Jonathan Bates. In the 2013 song “Side of the Road,”  Bates creates this well balanced electronica/ indie masterpiece, which displays great creativity and a unique sound. Dig it, Devils!

TDP Recommends: M83 – “Wait”