Self-described “NEW BAROQUE DIGITAL BITCH TRAP AMBIENT BALL” artist RIVA released his Fast Life EP yesterday through the record label/club night/clothing line/post-physical place to be, SEAPUNKGANG. While SPG is #tumblrwave, they have created a very real, very tangible place in this world recruiting Groundislava, Cid Rim, and Panteros666 to be poster children. 

“Fast Life / 速い 人生” starts off the EP with pikachu crying over four on the floor bass before a stuttered euphoric wash leads the way for RIVA to riddle off “fast life, chemical addiction.” The song comes together with a space battle sounding hardstyle beat that clears all misconceptions about what Fast Life is. “1993” might be RIVA telling us his life story over a slow, but the slow, growling techno beat and occasional kandi dipped synth explosions make sure we don’t get too close. The three-piece ends with “White Magic / 白 マジック”. Heavier in sound and content than the other two, White Magic is the emotional breakthrough from the Milanese producer; ascending out of the party that traps the other two. Stream RIVA’s Fast Life EP below and download for the price of a like here.

With yesterday’s Secret Mix, GFOTY (girlfriend of the year) joins Hannah Diamond and Princess Bambi on the list of PC Music girls that I have a crush on.

Only recently emerging on to the scene, London’s PC Music label has released some of the funnest, catchiest, pop songs to be stuck in my head in the last year (<<maybe ever>>). Label head AG Cook, with a seemingly tireless work ethic, takes his collage-of-top-40-charts-drowned-in-every-pop-up-ad-you-have-ever-exited-out-of sounding production and creates digital personas for singers that he then works with. The result of these collaborations are beyond commercial pieces of work that are simultaneously simple minded and reminiscent of schizophrenia. To sum it up, AG Cook could DJ the best bar mitzvah ever. Take ten minutes out your day, stare at your computer or mobile device, and listen to six new songs from GFOTY. Stream and download the mix below.

Coming on to the scene as one of many new ~ mystery ~ artists, Alauda gave us reasons to pay attention to her with earlier efforts “Cyan Water” and “Fallen Star”, but it is “Honey Priest” that sets the table for her. This song is so good and so fun. It takes the unintelligible lullabies of Candy Claws and then focuses them in with some India Shawn-like range. Alauda might just be my favorite new pop-y dream-y singer out there. Watch the crystal ball filtered/abduction feeling video for “Honey Priest” below.

These boys tease me. Hailing from Osaka and Brooklyn, Seiho and Obey City (respectively) released Shochu Sounds to cap off last week’s Way Cool Winter Tour of Japan. Released through Osaka label Perfect Touch, the EP sees Seiho and Obey City trading off songs and it sounds so so sweet. I don’t know how these opposite-side-of-the-world got in touch, but Seiho’s rave-like dance songs find their match in the sexy shifted vocals of Obey CIty. Close your eyes and listen to “Koi” and pretend that one day you might be able to see these two take over Tokyo-3. Stream a teaser of Shochu Sounds below and cop a t-shirt/EP combo through Perfect Touch here.

Dripping in ‘sace, Chicago rapper Z-Money delivered “Dope Boy Magic” to the world yesterday. Like a mix of Atlanta’s Migos and drill sergeant King L with a sprinkle of Gucci, Z-Money has a flow that doubles and triples back on itself and a voice that stays sounding like strained whisper. “Dope Boy Magic” sees the 20 year-old on a JNeal beat that teases at continuity, but instead stutters and stumbles into a dark, smoked-out world of foreign clothes, foreign cars, and condos.  After dropping two mixtapes on the same day last summer (Rich B4 Rap and Heroin Musik) and gaining some notoriety with “Regular,” Z-Money is ready for the spotlight. Check out the video for “Dope Boy Magic” below.