BEST NEW MUSIC: SAN HOLO - LIFT ME FROM THE GROUND FEAT. SOPHIE WINTERSON

San Holo makes sad music for fun people.

While this may seem like an overly broad generalization for the artist as a whole, it is certainly the case with “lift me from the ground,” his collaboration with Sofie Winterson. San Holo adds some much-needed emotionality to the genre of Future Bass while simultaneously keeping true to the sound that made him famous in the first place. This track features San Holo’s now-classic sound with his refreshingly clean, yet heavy as hell bass wubs alongside some big ol’ drums that sound like they're lifted straight from the drum break of Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight.” You know what’ I’m talking about… right before that song pops off. 

Winterson adds so much to the track with her dream pop sensibilities, layering Holo’s lush production with a quirk and nuance that we wouldn’t normally get from your average singer on your average track.  “lift me from the ground” is anything but average.

SAN HOLO - LIFT ME FROM THE GROUND

Sure, there is some rawness and mega honesty on display here, but that's San Holo for you.  He is constantly riding the middle between making tracks that are just for the rager versus you alone with your headphones. If anyone else were to play this jam live, and I'm sure they will, it will most definitely pop into the set as a palate cleanser. A break, to wash away the heavier stuff and make way for the set to head in a different direction. At a sushi dinner it would be the ginger. In a future bass set it's that moment were thousands of sweaty 20 year olds stop to question their mortality. 

All of this emotion doesn’t stop this jam from being fun as all hell though, does it? No no, quite obviously the opposite. It's the kind of tune that gets you thinking as much as you've been drinking. It makes you feel as much as you’re able to keep it real. It’s sick, and that ain’t no trick.

I truly appreciate that San Holo stayed true to his roots and didn't change his name after that terrible Han Solo movie came out this year. He shouldn't be bothered by a mediocre movie coming out and trying to steal all the thunder he’s been building up over the past couple of years.  No shame here, bro; you had the name first.

“lift me up from the ground” comes off the producer's newest two-track “worthy / lift me up to the ground” EP. For more of the same--in the best possible way (+ with kiiiiiiller guitar riffs)-- definitely make sure to take a listen to “worthy” as well.

After listening to twenty more San Holo tracks it turns out I was right. Most of San Holo’s tracks do seem to fall into this ‘sad music for fun people’ category. Some of his earlier tunes lean a little harder on the fun-only banger territory, but we here at We Are: the Guard like the new direction he’s headed.  Whatever the case, his incorporation of live or at least live-sounding instrumentation (sick guitars dude) is not only uncommon, but also unparalleled. He brings a whole new layer of sound to a genre that might have otherwise started to sound stagnant if we didn't have producers crushing out material like this.

Dip on over and watch Sofie Winterson’s music video for her track “Dreams” for a feel of just how much the Netherlands-based singer/songwriter/guitarist brings to this track.

SOFIE WINTERSON - DREAMS

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.