The Bay Area is one of those few standing cultural hubs in the United States where you can find music of all genres. The rap scene there has given birth to the Hyphy movement as well as weirdos like Lil B. Indie rock is still strong as ever in the Bay, as Girls are the latest buzzband to make a name for SF. And the electronic music scene, with its roots in SF’s burner community, remains extremely diverse to this day.
 
Enter Avalon Emerson, a young DJ/producer from the Bay who recently caught our ears with her tribal-influenced deep house tune “Warm Up Love.” In fact, we liked it so damn much we reached out for an interview to ask her about her influences and where she gets her unique sound. What started out as a talk about music, quickly ventured into a conversation about her wonderful home, San Francisco, and why it’s so freaking awesome.

Hit the jump for LFTF’s exclusive interview with Avalon Emerson:
 
 
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Paul Rose aka Scuba has made a name for himself by not confining his sound to one specific genre of electronic music, which is almost ironic, because in the process of doing so he  has crafted a sound that is uniquely and entirely his own. Even on tracks such as last year’s massive “Adrenalin” — with it’s leanings towards lighthearted trance — one can hear Scuba’s signature sound in the chords of the tune. Rose has been making music since the early days of dubstep, but moved to Berlin back in ’07, which is when he began to incorporate elements of classic house and contemporary techno into his work. He has become somewhat of a poster boy for bridging the gap between the two electronic music Meccas of London and Berlin.

In between DJing around the world and making tracks of his own Rose somehow finds time to manage the Hotflush Recordings imprint– the somewhat prolific label that might as well be responsible for forcing journalists and bloggers to coin the genre name “post-dubstep” behind the release of Joy Orbison’s 2009 underground smash “Hyph Mngo.” Hotflush’s next release is Rose’s 3rd LP, Personality, and like every new Scuba release before it Rose has pushed his sound in a new direction. At times the LP recalls the balearic house of Ibiza and the industrial techno of Berlin while not forgetting to inject the signature chords and basslines of the UK underground. This LP is huge and even though it won’t see an actual release until February 27th, you can stream it in it’s entirety below via the embedded SoundCloud player. I know that it’s only February, but don’t be surprised to see this LP on a number of year end lists come December. It really is THAT good.

Shinny, shimmering synth-based house music that makes you want to do nothing more but reach for the sky and dance the night away will always have a place in our hearts. It’s been awhile since anything in that field has had a lasting impression on us, but thanks to this song here we can officially say that drought is over. “You Said You Loved Me” is the kind of track that combines everything that is good about dance music. Like, if we had to give someone who didn’t know the most broad example of what “dance music” is, this would be it. From the very first drop, it’s instant elation, and that jovial feeling lasts all the way through to the very last drum kick.

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Krystal Klear, Broke One & Ghosts On Tape- You Said You Loved Me

Hotflush, the label behind releases from the likes of Joy Orbison, Mount Kimbie, Sepalcure and George FitzGerald, is beginning the new year by releasing a new full length by label head Paul Rose aka Scuba. Having already released one of 2011′s most critically acclaimed mixes (his edition of DJ-Kicks) and singles (the trancey “Adrenalin”), Rose doesn’t seem to want to take a break.

“On the 27th February, Scuba will release his third album through Hotflush. Entitled ‘Personality’ and featuring 11 brand new tracks, it takes in a wealth of genres across contemporary dance music, proving once again Scuba’s place at the cutting edge of the electronic music scene. Preceding his LP will be this single ‘The Hope’; pushing on from the tense atmospherics of previous Scuba material, the single fizzes with claustrophobic bass pressure and menacing narration. Backed by an exclusive non-album cut ‘Flash Addict’.”

Pre-order the single now over at boomkat and stream it below via the SoundCloud player.

Fresh off of the release of his Space Ace EP alongside Shiftee late last year, Brooklyn resident and ace beat matcher Rx has put together a special 43 minute mix of deep house and disco funk for us. Stream/download the mix below and enjoy.

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Rx Mix for LFTF

TRACKLIST:
01. Hot Toddy – Freekend [Smoke N' Mirrors]
02. Photek – 101 [Photek Productions]
03. Maceo Plex – Can’t Leave You [Crosstown Rebels]
04. Genius Of Time – House We Have a Problem [Royal Oak]
05. Tanner Ross – B Side [No.19 Music]
06. Motor City Drum Ensemble – L.O.V.E. [Studio !K7]
07. Instra:mental – Leave It All Behind [Apple Pips]
08. Rx – Out2C [Unreleased]
09. DJ Kaos – Horny Morning Loop (Dr Dunks Kaotic Remix) [Jolly Jams]
10. Rx – Sullivan Street [Unreleased]
11. Cosmin TRG – Form Over Function [50 Weapons]
12. Carl Craig – The Climax (David DeadRydm 0v3rEdIted r3fIx) [free download]
13. Eli Escobar – Love Thing (John Selway’s Endless Dub) [Plant Music Inc.]
14. Ellen Allien & Apparat – Metric [BPitch Control]
15. Aramac – Hurt Inside [Sticks "N" Stones Recordings]
16. Jam City – Barely A Trak [Night Slugs]
17. Rx – Orbit ( Zeppy Zep Remix ) [forthcoming Rad Summer Records]
18. Braille – A Meaning [Hotflush Recordings]
19. Paperclip People – Throw [Planet E]
20. Jay Dee – Where You At [The Beat Generation]

SIDE NOTE: The picture above is not just of some random hot chick. That’s Gina Turner ladies and gentleman.

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James Blake- The Wilhelm Scream (Gina Turner Bootleg)

Dirtybird, the San Francisco label known for it’s unique and bass heavy take on house music (which is sometimes called “booty tech”), is starting out 2012 by releasing a 3-part compilation of tunes by some of it’s roster’s biggest additions from the last year, including Bristolian Eats Everything and Londoner A1 Bassline, as well as bass music producers such as Kingdom and Breach. The first part of the compilation is available to purchase now over at Beatport. Parts 2 and 3 of the compilation are to be released on January 25 and February 8. In the meantime peep the full tracklisting of the comp and two of part 1′s standout tracks below.

TRACKLIST:

Part 1

1. Claude VonStroke & Eats Everything – Ignorance Is Bliss
2. Sacha Robotti – The Major
3. Kingdom – SFX

4. A1 Bassline – Why Do You

Part 2

1. Kill Frenzy – Make it Clap
2. Worthy – Shy Look
3. Christian Martin – Waiting
4. DJ Cra$y (Breach rmx) – that Amen Track

Part 3

1. Catz n Dogz – Bring Me That Water
2. Samuel Dan – Bitch
3. Tom Flynn – Jerry’s Liquor Store
4. Nick Monaco – Long Kiss Goodnight (Soul Clap Edit)