COMMUNITY BULLETIN: JAN 2024
Our next party, new music from friends and what we loved reading and listening to this month.
Ella Hu$$le at HEADS KNOW in SILO 26 May 2023 // Captured by Sifa Gonzalez
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Here’s what our friends are up to.
JEWELSSEA announced her debut album
Dwelling arrives on February 7th. I’ve heard it and it’s incredible. Scroll down for details about the HEADS KNOW-hosted album release party in NYC (it’s free!).
Oak City Slum blesses us with JAM-2400
LA-based Oak City Slums (also one-third of Dance Maniacs) dropped a track every day of January. Support him and buy them all here. He’s also our special guest for next month’s party.
Micro-Chop puts your crate-digging to shame
Friend of the platform Micro-Chop created a playlist for tracks with under 1,000 plays. Subscribe to his Substack to learn more about beatmaking, DJing and sampling.
Never Normal turns 10
Suzi Analogue’s label celebrates their decade-long run with a year’s worth of releases, events and other activations. The program is titled “1 Million Realities.” Follow Never Normal on Instagram for updates.
RapRave release a music video
One of our favorite parties and platforms, RapRave dropped visual for one of their releases. Check out Bu$$ The Bank’s “Dastardly Kids“ (Ka!ros Flip) above.
RapRave is throwing a warehouse party this Friday
Get your tickets here and make sure you catch Eden b2b Dylan Ali (On that note—does anyone miss my party picks newsletter and should I bring it back???).
HEADS KNOW UPDATES
Here’s what we have going on.
On Sunday, February 11th we’re hosting JEWELSSEA’s official album release party at Brooklyn’s favorite cozy club. Special guest Oak City Slums makes his Bossa debut with support from NYC talents ARCHANGEL, DJ SHIELDES and ariellenyc. It starts at 10 and is free before 11PM!
Out latest HEADS KNOW TAPE is here with Leeds powerhouse, Niamh. She’s weekend editor of Mixmag, a resident presenter at Subtle Radio and hosts a podcast called Belta focused on the northern UK dance music scene. Read and listen here!
We’re looking for sponsors
People or brands who align with our vision and think they might be able to help can connect with us at headsknownyc@gmail.com.
TRACK IDS
This is what we loved this month.
Nicholas Craven + Boldy James: Penalty of Leadership
Benny The Butcher: Everybody Can’t Go
nextdimensional: mazeworld
Shameless playlist plug: electronic beats to have a breakdown to
FIELD NOTES
Because partying is part of my job.
On Saturday, January 13th, I stopped by Elsewhere for a Laylit party and was blown away by Chicago’s DJ Nanoos. Afterwards, I headed to Paragon and caught Miley Serious, DJ Swisha and nextdimensional for an insane night of music that really reminded me what I love about our little scene—no genre went untouched and no ass was left unshook. One of the best curated nights I had been to in a while.
The next day, I kept it chill with a trek to the Crown Hill Theater for Winter Jazz Fest’s “A Night At The East,” curated by Brice Rosenbloom and (one of my journo heroes) Marcus J Moore. Elucid and Moor Mother were part of an ensemble alongside Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Shabaka, Julius Rodriguez, Luke Stewart, Nicole Mitchell, Kweku Sumbry and Charles Burnham. Special night.
Two weeks later, I returned to Elsewhere for Umru’s Capacity party. The bill was stacked with names like Lunice, Milkfish, Ninjarachi and even two past HEADS KNOW bookings, JEWELSSEA and Certified Jesus Freak, took over the loft. While that high-energy hyperpop-adjacent sound isn’t something I normally seek out, the night galvanized me into prioritizing events that’ll get me out of my comfort zone rather than continuing to frequent the same type of parties every weekend.
The next day (after an 8+ hour Tetris tournament), I sprinted to Nowadays for my first nonstop of the year. Jubilee blessed us with a hypnotic three-and-a-half-hour electro-heavy set that kept me dancing from start to finish. I snuck out for a nap before experiencing Nick Léon bringing Miamis bass and breaks to Brooklyn at sunrise and then transcending to OK Williams’s soulful sounds straight after.
HISTORY HOMEWORK
Further reading because heads KNOW.
Raphael Helfand reflects on Phill Niblock’s passing.
Robin Murray shares his thoughts on Pitchfork’s impact.
No Bells rounds up random EOY lists.
Kamila Rymajdo connects with DJ Paulette.
Tajh Morris says goodbye to Amp Fiddler.
Ria Hylton recognizes Karen Nyame KG.
Arielle rants about the hip-hop and electronic music divide.