LAMP Weekly Mix #119 feat. Mahalo

LAMP Weekly Mix #119 feat. MahaloThis week we welcome one of our own back into the mix series. Coming through with an extended 2hr mix this week is our good friend and LAMP family member Mahalo. MR PUZL caught up with the LA based producer to talk about his latest release on Armada Deep Compilation, our feature of his superb late night groover 'Midnight Delight' and his plans for the rest of 2016.MR PUZL: You've cooked up a stellar 2 hour mix this week! What have you got in store for our listeners and what made you want to record something this robust?Mahalo: I wanted to do something different that also serves as a testament to my own abilities. I feel that there's so much noise and saturation out there right now and everyday it's getting harder to break through it. As an artist, you need to always be pushing the envelope of what's expected and always do your best to keep it fresh and unique. I've been trying to do that a lot in my productions and I feel this mix embodies it in the style of a performance. During that two hours I'm showcasing some of the tracks I've been feeling throughout 2016. Most of these tracks have had some kind of lasting impact on me and I want to share that with the listeners. I'm also debuting some new unreleased content that I'll be pushing next month such as my remix of Robert Miles, a fun summer pool party dub titled "Summer is Coming" and a super sleazy tech remix that Mutiny did for my tune "Catch My Eye."MP: It was nearly a year ago that we first featured you here on LAMP. We've obviously come to know a lot more about you and have even been fortunate to share some of you music on our channel. What are some things that you've learned or experienced over the past year that have helped you progress as a musician?Mahalo: Well for starters, this industry is one hell of a roller coaster. One day, things are going spectacular and falling into place the way you'd hoped. The next, those same things are falling apart and coming undone. The up-down aspect of it all has helped me come to learn what to expect from people in this industry; I definitely take things with a grain of salt more than I did a year ago. On the production end, I think I've gotten a lot better over the last year. I've started to take a step back and work on quality-over-quantity and am really letting my inner perfectionist takeover (or my OCD, but I prefer inner perfectionist). By and large though, the biggest lesson I've learned over the last year is that you need to maintain a professional attitude at all times regardless of how the cards are being dealt.MP: Your track 'Famous' with Cat Lewis last year really demonstrated a knack for working with strong vocal artists. What other types of musicians do you look for when working on new music? Do you lean towards a particular style of vocalist or instrumentalist?Mahalo: I wouldn't say that I'm for a certain style or at least that's not what determines who I'll work with. I'm more on the lookout for raw talent that hasn't been showcased a whole lot yet. Breaking through the noise and doing something unique is very central to overall vibe of Mahalo so having these artists that aren't well known pouring their souls into my music, that's the bee's knees man. We all benefit from it and you can feel that radiate in the music more than someone who's being paid four figures to record some bars for you.MP: When working on any new piece of music or art for that matter there can be blocks or hurdles to overcome in creativity. How do you approach those moments and find a positive solution to the problem?Mahalo: I will almost always stop writing if I'm having a block. For me, I can't get around it, so it's best to set what I'm working on down and pick it back up later. Over the last year I've developed a lot of techniques for clearing my head. Thinking positive and keeping a positive attitude are essential to my core attitude and approach. Sometimes that's easier said than done but being able to take a step back and correct your negativity is what's really important in the end.MP: As a producer and DJ you have your ear to the ground on some of the latest music that's hitting the internet. Who are some of your influences at the moment and who should we start listening to that's on the come up?Mahalo: There are a whole bunch of really great artists that are in my rotation right now. This dude Yotto out in Norway has been on a roll with heater after heater. If he's not on your radar yet he better be now. I also have really been digging Enzo Siffredi, Deniz Kabu, Paji, Bijou, Mutiny, Going Deeper and VINNE; who are all very different from each other. Check those guys out for some tunes that are on the cutting edge of what's hot right now.MP: You've been busy this year with a host of releases most recently with a huge inclusion on an Armada Deep House Compilation. What are some other labels that you are interested on getting music on?Mahalo: I don't want to come outright and say I want to be on any label in particular because there are lots that I'm interested in working with. At this point in time I'm more interested in finding the right place for some of my content that doesn't fit with who I've worked with already. Having that backing from Armada on the compilation is a great starting point and sets the bar high for the quality of labels I'd like to sign my upcoming singles with.MP: The landscape for electronic music in LA is continuously evolving and progressing. Labels are popping up everywhere, new musicians are arriving everyday, and new events and groups are forming overnight. What do you see as qualities in any of those situations that provide longevity for a brand or artist?Mahalo: I think being able to take a look at the way things are changing and adapting with it is what's going to keep an artist's career sustainable. There is so much going on here in LA and it serves as a snapshot of what to expect in a way. Trends tend to get their start in LA before taking off in other places. That provides the artists living here with a crystal ball, if you will, of what's coming down the pipeline and gives us a unique opportunity to capitalize on what's coming up before others. Some may see the LA dance music scene as over saturated or competitive but I see it as a constant learning opportunity to grow as an artist.MP: We're very excited to have you as part of our lineup for Ritual Union in Palm Springs in a few week. What other news can you share with us about forthcoming releases and other events you're performing at?Mahalo: I'm stoked to be out there and rock it with you guys. I do have some other events but they haven't announced so I cannot spill the beans just yet. On the music front, I promised 2016 would be a big year back in January and I'm looking to make good on that promise. I have two EPs on the way during May/June. One on Cristian Poow's label, Dbeatzion, in Argentina and another on Sleazy Deep over in the UK. The Sleazy Deep EP will have two remixes, one of which I featured in this guest mix from Mutiny and the other for my track "Heartbeat" from the Sleazy bossman himself, Rob Made. I've also teamed up with a pretty established music video director to tackle some interesting projects I haven't mentioned yet. I'm really excited to share my new crop of tracks with everyone and I want to give a big thank you LAMP for the opportunity to share what I have going on!

Tracklist

1) Kyle Watson - Moments2) Louis the Child ft. K Flay - It's Strange (Win & Woo Rmx)3) Causes - Teach Me How To Dance With You (Claptone Rmx)4) Oliver Dollar, Jimi Jules - Pushin On5) Kasey Kaotto - Inter-G6) Claptone - The Only Thing (Tube & Berger Rmx)7) Paji - Venom8) Vinne, Illusionism - Bring It Back9) Superlover - Love Machine10) Enzo Siffredi - People11) Doug English - That Dope12) MISHQA - Switchy13)Juliet Sikora, King Brain - All Day, All Night, Non Stop14) RÜFÜS - You Were Right (Catz 'N Dogz Rmx)15) Fatboy Slim - Praise You (Sondrio Rmx)16) Klle Dawid, Jack N' Jane - U Got Me17) Mahalo - Wave Attack**18 ) Antonio Giacca, Fort Arkansas - What U Know19) Nytron, Sugar Hill - Saturday Night20) Liva K, Consoul Brainin - Snatch!21) Chris Jay - Spent22) MJ Cole - Alcatraz23) Bijou - Shadows24) Yotto - Personal Space25) City Kid Soul - Brainworms26) ID27) Vanilla Ace & Boy George - Another Guy (Juany Bravo Rmx)28) Ciszak - Summertime29) Morttagua - Observatory30) Mahalo - Catch My Eye (Mutiny Rmx)**31) Gerry Gonza - Bad Bitches32) Luciano, Jaw - 7direction(s) (Dennis Ferrer Drum Rmx)33) Jack Beats - Work It34) Flume - Holdin On (N2N & Laetus Rmx)35) Mahalo - Summer is Coming**36) Giom, Stage Rockers - Tetris37) Noir - Music 4 Me38) Robert Miles - Children (Mahalo Rmx)**39) Matthew Styles - Wrong Move40) J Worra - The Hype41) Carnao Beats - Paradox42) Ray Foxx, LO'99 - The Lick43) Milk & Sugar ft. Nomfusi - Heat (Calippo Rmx)44) Josh Butler - The Essence Of House Ft. Lono Brazil (Metodi Hristov Rmx)45) Volac - That Girl46) Basti Grub, Natch! & Dothan - Oh Baby Dance47) Amtrac - Once is EnoughEnjoy,LAMP