bravehound – criminal.mp3
(to download, right-click and choose save.  Apple users control-click and choose download.)

- Featuring -
Sophia Somajo / Dragonette / Lady Gaga / Paul Van Dyk / Britney Spears / Chew Fu / Mariah Carey / Jeremy Word / Cassie / Timbaland / SoShy / Nelly Furtado / Johnny McDaid / Jennifer Lopez / Villians

I’m not even sure where to start with this one.

Life has been quite a ride for me this past year. And since Summer, I’ve gone through a separation, moved back to the U.S., and have begun the process of starting my life over. And while good things will come of it, there is quite a bit to wade through, that isn’t so pleasant.

That’s what this mix is about. It’s mourning, it’s angry, it hurts. It’s dark, hard, and sexual. There is a dash of hope here and there, but it quickly escapes.

It’s impossible to outrun the bad things in life, as much as one might like to. So in the true nature of my tunes being a reflection of the here and now for me… here’s me, wading through (and not around) the rough stuff.

Artistically, I’m quite happy with how it turned out. It starts a bit here and there, and really starts cranking. It grows darker and harder towards the end, at doesn’t let up at the finish. It’s still very much pop remixes going on here… but I tried to push it to be darker and harder than my usual. I’m not sure how well it’ll do on a treadmill or at a house party - it’s a bit much - but it is what it is. Hope ya like it.

I’ve had quite a number of people contacting me asking when this mix was coming out. It’s awesome to know people are excited and wanna keep hearing more. I promise my next mix have a little more light shining through :)

Thanks everyone… and see you in the New Year!

- Andy

PS. Thanks to my photographer for making me as dark, dirty, and sleazy as the tunes.

Share on Facebook

bravehound – glory afternoon.mp3
(to download, right-click and choose save.  Apple users control-click and choose download.)

- Featuring -

Robyn / Frankmusik / La Roux / Röyksopp / M.I.A. / Sophie Ellis Bextor / Santogold / Basement Jaxx / Black Eyed Peas / Imogen Heap / Lykke Li / The Killers / U2

The last mix was a ‘beach party at night’… this one is definitely for under the hot Summer sun.  It’s PACKED with some of my favorite artists - across a few genres - remixed.  For your pleasure.

The beat gets going with some current favorites, including the hot Sophie Ellis Bextor anthem and yet ANOTHER awesome Robyn track (with Röyksopp) that was a no-brainer to help kick things off.  It moves into electro-ghetto-funky, and starts getting a little nutty, jumping around before you get too comfy, giving you a little electro-mixshow… and I had to include new favorites Frankmusik and La Roux.  Before long, settles into a fun, sweet Summer groove becomes just all about celebration and sunshine.  Things end with a track I’m really loving right now… be sure not to miss it.

I wanted to produce a mix that was fun a festive enough to rock the Pride season right, and loaded the table with all the chips I had.

Hope you like!  Tips much appreciated.

PS. OH HAI GIANT ANDY FACE

Share on Facebook

bravehound - show.mp3
(to download, right-click and choose save.  Apple users control-click and choose download.)

Here’s a little something to help melt the last of the snow, and help push you through some of the pre-Summer workouts :)

Inspired by a recent trip to California, I came back with all sorts of great ideas and tunes for my next  mix.  When I sat down to put it together, there was clearly two different vibes going on… one being very sunny and smooth, and one being a bit more bangin’,  with sexier vibe.  The first one ended up giving way to the second.  A lot.

It’s like a beach party.  But at night.

It starts out really thumping, starts edging into aggressive, and then breaks down and ends up bitter-sweet and emotional.  Britney, Solange and Robyn (SWEET track) kick things off and make you shake a tail feather.  At the end, Kings of Leon tears your heart out… his voice amazes me.  If you don’t have the Kings of Leon album, you should check it out.

Hope you enjoy!  Comments and Tipjar monies (located on the sidebar below the mixes) greatly appreciated, as always.

- Andy

PS. I went what you might call "too far" on the album art this time.  It’s like a gay Sisqó Space Odyssey.  Being a creative professional, I’m accustomed to learning how to strictly edit… but this being my non-professional creative outlet… so I’m letting the big guns run, unchecked :)

Share on Facebook

bravehound - stay.mp3
(to download, right-click and choose save.  Apple users control-click and choose download.)

Even after putting out a request for track submissions, I had been struggling with putting out a mix I really liked.  It seemed forced and uninteresting.

In Montreal this weekend, I found the inspiration that put this mix together - in the after AFTER party after Black and Blue.  Music at the main event was a bit of a drag for most of the night/morning (think tinker-toy drums,  played by hungry demons).  There was a bit of relief once the DJs changed, but the most fun I had all weekend dancing, was at 3pm - 9pm, the day after the actual party.  I know… hardcore.

The music I was enjoying was super vocal and happy.  I’ve always avoided doing such a vocal mix, as T-Dance tunes aren’t really once I rock out to.  It’s vocal, yes, but with a little necessary grit and lack of innocence that you’d hear at a party 2 days going.

I got home, and the mix just flew out.  It’s not as much of a hardcore workout mix as my other recent ones, but it held up nicely to the long-ass run I did tonight to test it out.  The mood is generally that of happiness, but there are a few songs where it shifts and begs for it.  It amps up along the way, and slows to a sad crawl at the end.  We’ve got old-school Madonna, new Pussycat Dolls, Fragma, new takes on some 80s tracks & circuit tunes from the winning year of ‘04, and the Sharam track I love that samples Daniel Beddingfield.

Thanks to Yannick for making me go to the party. And to Sébastien for his grin and Oliver for his happy dance.

Enjoy! 

Comments and tosses in the tip jar are always appreciated.

PS: It’s amazing what the right lighting can do to a photograph.

Share on Facebook

I’m not dead!  But I need your help!

Between the flurry of countless work trips and personal getaways this Summer (San Francisco, San Diego, Toronto, Montreal, San Antonio, Austin, Kansas City, Seattle, rinse and repeat), some family stuff, and moving into our new place… I’ve been run a little thin.  But things are starting to settle.  Hope you haven’t given up on me!

Last mix, I asked for suggestions for songs I need to include, more out of curiosity than anything else.  This go around, it’s out of necessity :)  I’ve got one started, but with more work travel (it’s our busiest time of year, and I’ve been promoted), I’ve had no time to catch up.  But hopefully with your help, I can get one out in the next few weeks.

So here we go:  email me tracks you love (or think I will, at least) to andrew@bravehound.com…  or at minimum, the name of the track & specific mix, and I’ll see if I can’t get it to play nice with the others I’ve collected to start with.  Sadly, I’ve grown tired of some of the stuff I’d collected, as I started this mix not long after posting my last one (I’d wanted to make an effort to get them out more frequently, and look what happened). 

I’m sure you know my tastes by now, and I had some *great* tracks sent my way last time.  And even though I thought, "I can’t do this again, I did it last time"… so what?  I had fun hearing from people, and it turned out great.

On other fronts - I have about a billion photos to post, from all over the U.S. and Canada.  I’ve had quite the Summer, and it doesn’t appear to be coming to an abrupt stop.  Gotta get the photos in check before Janet Jackson, our housewarming, and some Montreal shenanigans coming up, truly get the pile overflowing.

Thanks for all the nice emails asking about where the next mix is… it’s good to know that folks out there like them enough to worry that they might stop.  I ain’t tapped out yet, though.

- Andy

PS. I kinda wanna live in a Solange music video.  Don’t you?

Share on Facebook

bravehound - resuscitation.mp3
(to download, right-click and choose save.  Apple users control-click and choose download.)

Shameless, I know.  Self-indulgence, anyone? :)

This baby took a lot of work.  But I’m really proud of it.

I got an overwhelming amount of track suggestions once I posted that I wanted to do a fan-based mix set.  And I got quite a variety of ideas thrown my way - and a few of you really surprised me with what you came up with… so here you go.

I love that many of you found some HOT remixes of artists I love.  There’s one artist in this set that appears throughout - Robyn, no surprise there.  But there’s a couple other themes going on… some SWEET modern, electro versions of 90’s tunes you’ve long since forgotten, some new stuff, and a few surprises.  Surprises like Missy Elliott with backing fiddles.

Most of my sets, I start with my favorite track combo… and I thought I was doing the same here.  I love every second of the sucker.  When I test a mix, I export it, take it to the gym…. and if I ever wanna fast-forward, it still needs work.  Now I feel minute 16 is where it starts just going crazy.  In a good way.

Most of the songs in the mix came from you guys - and I put a few in - but I certainly didn’t put anything in this set that I didn’t love 110%.

Each time I try to do a mix, I wanna trump what I’ve done previously.  I’m still pretty damn happy with my last efforts, so this took a long while to perfect.  I love it… but it wouldn’t be what it is, without your input.

Oh yeah.  There’s one track I knew I was gonna get shit for including… but I can’t help but love it more every time I hear it.

Hope you guys like it - thanks for everyone’s support!

- Andrew

PS: If you’re a new visitor, you can view all my house mixes here.

Share on Facebook