Soundclouds of the Underground: Pump Up the Jams Edition

ABOVE: ZAK-MATIC. IMAGE COURTESY OF KESH

These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number of websites dedicated to hosting tunes for the laptop-wielding masses. However, the web’s bottomless pit of blogs isn’t the only place to troll for mp3 treasures—some of the most new and exciting (Internet-friendly) artists can be sought out via Soundcloud, the online stage that allows musicians to promote and distribute their music to fans and friends across the globe. In this weekly column, expert Internet sleuth Alex Chapman goes deep into the depths of the music-sharing site, in hopes of shedding light on emerging acts, as well as sharing some digital diamonds in the rough.

With the excitement of the new year still fresh in our thoughts, now seems like as good a time as ever to hit the ground running—if you really plan to fulfill all your champagne-fueled resolutions, maintaining high energy is a big to-do. We want to help out, so we’ve gathered a group of tracks that will hopefully inspire even the most committed of couch potatoes (i.e., us) to get up, get out, and get things in motion.

Zak-Matic: “Dança” (feat. Blaya)

Who: A member of creative collective Traphouse, Las Vegas-born, LA-residing DJ and producer Zak-Matic is on the cutting edge of cool, a purveyor of internationally inspired dance music—whether that takes the form of the essential mixes he crafts or his own torrid production.

The Song: Featuring rhythmic vocals from Blaya, the female portion of Portugal’s kuduro darlings Buraka Som Sistema, “Dança” calls to mind a dance floor without rules, a place where the music is so pure and hard that keeping composure becomes a matter of irrelevance. The track’s ceaseless sound, hypnotizing and full of vigor, can no doubt serve as some musical vitamin C.

Current Project: Keep up with Zakmatic and his crew via the Traphouse website, which you can check out here.

Isaac Tichauer: “I Forgive You”

Who: Australian producer Isaac Tichauer is a deep disco maven—his slick use of nostalgia-inducing samples and soulful, lightly somber dance production make him an Internet favorite.

The Song: Although the song’s vibe is more relaxed than most cuts meant to put a pep in your step, “I Forgive You” finds strength in subtlety. Framed by a slow build, the song’s funky climax is completely different from its start, a fact almost unnoticeable if you fall victim to its finesse.

Current Project: The DJ/Producer has slew of gigs in 2013—read up on where and when he’ll be performing on his Facebook page.

Gita: “Let That”

Who: Gita is a Calfornia-based artist who’s gotten a great deal of buzz, thanks in large part to her track “Hood Rich” and its accompanying video. Armed with a cold flow and killer look, the rapper’s realness seeps through her songs: tough, alluring, and uniquely exciting.

The Song: “Let That” is produced by innovative beatmaker Two Stacks (responsible for Kreaysahwn’s breakout hit “Gucci Gucci,” as well as the aforementioned “Hood Rich”), which makes sense, given that him and Gita make such a good team—her charismatic delivery knocks boots nicely with the track’s bumpin’ bass.

Current Project: The video for “Let That” is worth checking out for the Hype Williams-inspired fisheye close-ups alone. If that doesn’t quench your thirst, take a look at Gita’s Tumblr.

For more Soundclouds of the Underground, click here.