ListenUp

XXL's Playlist For The Government Shutdown, Sam Valenti's nostalgic #PrivateJam, Darkside's "Paper Trails" and more

Darkside: Paper Trails When Darkside remixed the entirety of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories this summer, it was clear they were warming up to something much bigger. Producer Nicolas Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington have been concocting a musical experiment since their 2011 EP, and new singles “Golden Arrow” and “Paper Trails” are evidence their work will continue to blur genres and break new ground …

Cory Jreamz: Alive

XXL's Playlist For The Government Shutdown, Sam Valenti's nostalgic #PrivateJam, Darkside's "Paper Trails" and more

Hailing from Houston, TX, unsigned artist Cory Jreamz dropped a haunting new track called “Alive” this week. The dark video—which Jreamz made himself—avoids big budget antics in favor of a staring contest-style rap along, while still managing to be theatrical enough to retain audience attention. With a James Brown sample in the intro of the Treyshawn-produced track, and nods to various chopped and screwed stylings …

Interview: Nico Muhly

The dynamic composer discusses his Met Opera production of "Two Boys"

Two years ago, composer Nico Muhly premiered his first full-scale opera with London’s English National Opera. The critically acclaimed work, entitled “Two Boys,” also became a commercial success, and now US audiences will have an opportunity to experience the performance when it premieres later this month at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. With this, he will again flex his musical prowess and perhaps even bring …