Marc Hernandez - The Maturity (Karmaloft Music)

The Karmaloft Music imprint so often hones in on blissful, melodic house productions made for island settings, specifically of the well-documented Balearic vibe. Young Barcelonian producer Marc Hernandez's new four track EP for the label is no exception. The Maturity sees no sense of immediacy as it unfolds beside energized percussion elements. The melodies clearly come from a place of calm, a well of deep emotions pumped up and served within danceable compositions by Hernandez. He's had previous releases on the likes of Ninerecords, Zion Recordings, and Freshportmusic, but if this is to be deemed his coming of age, then it's a bright one with lush strings and bell-like synth tones providing much of the instrumentation. It's 'all aboard' for this first class flight through the sonic airways of the melodious, deep house-dominated islands off the coast of Spain.

Lorenzo al Dino (7th District Inc. / Royal Plastic) - "Great tracks. Solidly produced and deep … what we've come to expect from Karmaloft Music."
Vincent Kwok - "Deep and mellow tracks … very nice!"
Soulfusion (Centric Music) - "Banger!"
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - "Dreamy emotional deep house. Good stuff."
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) - "Lots of atmosphere and emotion … I like it!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Quirky and dreamy sounds … a nice, deep, fresh feel to all these grooves."
DJ Nartak ( Nightflight / Klassik Lounge Radio Show) - "I like the atmosphere of the EP … "Musical Trip" is sheer beauty."
Velanche (Velanche's Playtime Radio Show) - "Nice slice of chilled beats."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "'Apologize This' is a cracking track. Deep, warm, and excellently produced."
DJ Jazzy L (Jazzy Lounge Radio) - "Chilled minimal grooves with 'Apologize This' being the highlight."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "A wonderful selection. 'An Endless Story' has me hooked."
Jean Jérome (Radio FG / Kut 'N' Paste) - "Beautiful tracks right here."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "An early morning mellow deep house sound with some afro elements … The soft, percussive, and beautiful soundscape of 'Sound of Freedom' is magnificent. Simple and pure."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Jonbjorn - All The Way (DeepWit Recordings)

The thing about colder climates is that they allow inhabitants a mass amount of time to stay indoors and work on quality music. "All The Way", the latest single on DeepWit Recordings, was birthed in Iceland and comes from Jonbjorn, one of the artists behind that country's stand out label, Lagaffe Tales. As a naturally talented producer with a knack for simple hooks that make repeat listens a must, Jonbjorn crafts an all-too-rare-these-days ear worm that leaves an insatiable hunger for more. "All The Way" is warm and skittery with a fat kick and equally heavyweight sub bass. Increasing the heat, the label follows it up with an inextinguishable rework by Junktion who delivers pure, one-man-disco-band fire. Between his label Outplay, various appearances on vinyl imprints, and an outstandingly deep sound, this Dutchman shows a massive amount of poise with a remix whose quality can't be over-exaggerated. To round out the single, Lagaffe Tales' other half, Viktor Birgiss, shapes the original into its most housey form yet with an addictive, dance-friendly and melodically moving piece of ice capped bliss. With this release, DeepWit has put its foot down on what the label thinks deep house should be, in pursuit of quality and unbothered by others' chase for trendier sounds.

Matthias Vogt (Motorcitysoul / Large Records) - "Nice release, and an outstanding Junktion remix."
Hollis P Monroe - "Nice package over all but the Junktion remix takes the cake."
Natural Rhythm (Natural Rhythm Music) - "The Junktion remix is where it's at for me. Just groovy and hypnotic in the right amounts."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Beautiful!"
SlanG (Spring Tube / Movement) - "Good deep stuff, especially the remix by Viktor Birgiss."
Ourra (Pop Out And Play / Alola) - "The original cut is lovely, simple, warm, uncomplicated, and great!"
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Trax / Adult Selections) - "The original and the Junktion remix are my favorites. Great project."
Alkalino (Estimativa / Audaz Recordings) - "Great atmospheres! I dig them all."
Richie Hartness (untitledmusic) - "Viktor Birgiss's remix has a great vibe."
Kirby (Nordic Trax / Kolour) - "Both remixes sounds great … nice vibe! Cool and groovy with a twist."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Full of funk and large beats … this is doing it for me."
Edground (Brazilian Soul Crew) - "Very nice release. All mixes are perfect."
Rory Cochrane (Deep Site Recordings) - "Viktor Birgiss hits the spot for me … lovely deep house sounds."
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global) - "I'm digging this for sure. I like the low-slung original, the pseudo nu-disco of Junktion's remix, and the Viktor Birgiss remix tops it off quite nicely."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective Radio Show) - "This is a step into a slightly different direction for DeepWit, and it's an excellent step. More beat-based tech sounds with a solid kick and warm off key notes ... nice, solid sounds."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "I love the live drum feel on the Junktion remix. I could imagine the likes of Danny Howells playing this."
Kadabra (The House Hookup Radio Show) - "All the mixes are nice. The simple hook got me -- particularly the vocal sample used. I really think Junktion smashed the remix though … I can't wait to play that one early!"
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - "Beautiful slice of laid back yet mesmerizing late night house."

Available now from Beatport.

Hernene - In My Room EP (Rock It Science Labs)

Artist collective Rock It Science Laboratories (RIS Labs for short) has hit the ground running since the label's relaunch this summer, having moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Their first signing, Give In, was featured on XLR8R and Thump, subsequently having his cover of Claude VonStroke's "Califuture" signed to Dirtybird. Each release since has continued to build momentum for this quickly developing crew, with the slamming nu-disco single "Don't Give It Away" by Les Professionnels and most recently Eric Sharp's Wait Just Wait EP setting the internet ablaze.

Continuing in its mission to break new artists, RIS Labs' latest offering is the In My Room EP by Hernene, a brand new production project from a seasoned Los Angeles-based producer. More info about this mysterious wizard will be revealed in due time, but for now all you need to know is that his tracks are straight deep house fire.

The release rolls in with "Rainy Dayz", an uplifting jam despite its title that conjures images of gloom. Here Hernene makes delightful use of a sampled vocal hook, classic house percussion, warm pad stabs, and an undeniable bass groove. "Roly Poly" follows, wasting no time getting loose with its infectious sequencing built around a nasty piano chord progression, Arps, a walking bass line, and more deft pad work.

"Rainy Dayz" gets reenergized with two remix treatments. The first is a dark, sophisticated bass-heavy rub from Whitney Fierce who goes above and beyond what's due by adding in her own sultry vocals alongside the original samples. Next, Les Professionals take us for a long drive with a techier version built around a modulated synth line. This rework is a long crescendo, perfect for those weirder late night hours. Finally, Low Tide come through with a more haunting and evolved version of "Roly Poly" for those who like songs to unfold in deep, melodic waves. With that, RIS Labs wraps up another successful experiment.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "This is nice!"
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings / Way Out West) - "The Low Tide remix of 'Roly Poly' is ace."
Graeme Park - "Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes. I'm in."
Birdee (Southern Fried Records / Nurvous) - "'Roly Poly is funky!"
Vanilla Ace - "The remixes are cool."
Human Life (Exploited / Win Music) - "That Low Tide remix is the one."
Jason Hodges (Sampled Recordings) - "'Rainy Dayz' is the cut!"
Phonatics (Housesession Records) - "VIbing this … great release."
DJ Craig C (Peace Bisquit / Pound Boys) - "I like the variety, the creativity, and how this sounds different than most of the stuff out there."
Carlo Gambino (Midnight Social Recordings) - "Great EP. 'Rainy Dayz' is my pick … nice slab of deep house right there."
Ardalan (Dirtybird / Tech Dolphin) - "Dope. I'm loving Whitney Fierce's remix."
Rafael Moraes (Nomumbah / Yoruba) - "Nice and deep."
Pierre Ravan (KaRavan / Pacha Ibiza Dubai) - "Great energy."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Full of funk and bounce … tight grooves."
Vincent Kwok - "Great deep tracks."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "I'm really digging the deeper 'Roly Poly' original … lovely stuff and really warm. Remix-wise, all three are solid, but the Les Professionnels Remix is wicked."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences Radio Show) - "Great stuff here. The entire EP is superb."
Mygaff (Play FM, Dublin) - "Straight outta the Smiley Face Factory!"
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - "A sexy slice of underground flavored house."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Marley Sherman - Kinky Vibrations (Deep House Aficionado)

Six releases in and Jason Mitchell's Deep House Aficionado label has already carved out a sound for itself, sitting somewhere between classic, mold-fitting deep house sounds and modern, bottomless dubs. The newest artist addition to the imprint, Marley Sherman, has always had a passion for the sea of music's deeper reaches. Born and raised on the northern beaches of Sydney, he first started producing hip-hop beats while at school, until he discovered house, influenced by the likes of Motor City Drum Ensemble and Miguel Migs. His focus is now on creating a mix of deep tech and funky house grooves.

On his debut release, Kinky Vibrations, he does exactly that. The bass ebbs and flows on "Deep Vibrations" alongside reverberating stabs and hints of funkier, pitched up flairs. Pulling from an even groovier place, "Kinky Tonight" brings a wave of pads crashing over a deep, catchy garage-like bass line, the kind that leaves hips in all kinds of seductive arrangements. It's a feeling the sweet and softly spoken female vocals expand on. From there, the release evolves in a more mellow direction with "Untitled", a real highlight for anybody looking to increase the depth on the ideas laid out in the first two cuts. After a teasing first half, a tense breakdown unleashes the previously repressed progression of its filtered piano lead. Overall, the release provides something deep and dub-tinged for every stage of the night.

Nick Holder - "Dope!"
Daz-I-Kue (Future Soul Records) - "Deep soulful house biz … nice."
Sebastian Davidson (Nightbird Music) - "Back to classic diffuse … nice EP!"
Hippie Torrales - "Nice, deep grooves."
Tyree Cooper - "Hot stuff."
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "I like it."
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - "Very nice deepness here, a cool three tracker."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit) - "Great stuff! I'm really liking them all, especially the emotion in "Untitled" and its chords."
Fine Cut Bodies (Biscuit Real / Chi Recordings) - "Some great house vibes."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Loving these tracks! Can't wait to try them out soon."
Kadabra (The House Hookup Radio Show) - "'Deep Vibrations' is nice and groovy. Sounds like Mark Farina meets Disclosure."
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - "Real deep house with funky undertones. Yeah, I can get behind this release, all right."
Tony D'Onghia (Radio Koper-Capodistria) - "Deeper than deep!"
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences Radio Show) - "Wow … what a pack of exquisite deep house sounds. A true pleasure … really ace stuff here!"
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - "Tantalizing deep house vibes and rhythms perfect for late night or early morning play."
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - "Finally … some proper deep house!"

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.