In a recent interview/feature in LA Weekly, Frite Nite boss and BBC Radio One DJ Salva opined that ”It was only last year when I realized that I’m a hip-hop DJ and producer who likes dance music, not the other way around.” The difference between the two approaches might seem like semantics to some people, but the results are drastically different. Take the difference between a guy like Bird Peterson and, say, Ryan Hemsworth. They both purportedly make hip hop-informed dance music, or the other way around if you prefer, but the results are dramatically different. Hemsworth is part of the Green Ova click (Main Attrakionz, Shady Blaze) and has been producing for hip hop artists for years. On the other hand, Peterson essentially makes synth-heavy house music with hip hop samples. Two different approaches, two entirely different outcomes. On February 12, Salva will release the Odd Furniture EP on FoF Music and important step for a producer/curator who has opened huge new pathways for himself and his cohorts over the past few months. “Drop That B” is the first taste from the EP and, like Salva’s recent collaboration with Brenmar, borrows heavily from the ghetto/bass club music varieties of the late 80′s/early 90′s. The track is definitely a departure from the house-informed tones of 2011′s Complex Housing LP, but is also far more subtle than the “Mercy” remix that has become synonymous with his name. We’ll let you decide which approach he took on it. Stream below and cop Odd Furniture on February 12.
Over the past few weeks, several track I was blown away by at the Groundislava/Salva/Tomas Barfod/Shlohmo show at the Echoplex have surfaced in some format or another. First, it was Girl Unit’s “Ensemble (Club Mix)”. Next up, RL Grime let loose “Trap On Acid”. Well, I’m a little late on this one, but if you saw me incoherently stomping my feet when Salva played it out, you’d want to hear it immediately. If you don’t know, Salva is the head of Frite Nite and Grenier, under the DJG moniker, has been making some of the best Dubstep and Drum & Bass this side of the Atlantic since 2006. “Wake The Dead” is the A-Side of the FTNT014 and the out and out banger while B-Side “Forest Floor” is far deeper. “Wake The Dead” features brash claps and synth stabs, occasionally interrupted by some classic soulful Garage vocals. Both artists signature styles are readily apparent, and the track transitions effortlessly between half-step and two-step, bringing London, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco together. “Forest Floor” brings Grenier’s Jungle roots to mind with a tribal beat spurring warm synth washes accentuated by chopped R&B vocals. Whereas “Wake The Dead” aims straight for a driving club atmosphere, “Forest Floor” brings the listener to the same atmosphere before they even realize it. Overall, a short, but promising debut collaboration from the two California residents. Stream the tracks below and 
