Afghan Raiders

Afghan Raiders open up their playlists for us in the exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature…

A Taste:

Madlib, Animal Collective, Yelle, LCD Soundsystem

There’s about to be a revolution on the dance floor.

It’s going to come courtesy of two Las Vegas electro rock outlaws known as Afghan Raiders. This duo stirs up a flurry of electronic ecstasy, blending massive infectious hooks with warm sonic flourishes for a sound that’s both entrancing and hypnotic. Mikey and Beans elevate electronic music to a whole new plain, and they want to take you to outer space with them. Just crank “Admiral’s Doorbell”…

In order to get closer to their enigmatic sound, we spoke to Mikey and Beans about what they’re listening to. Check out their playlists below in this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature.

Don’t miss Afghan Raiders!

Mikey’s Playlist:

1. Madlib — “Distant Land”

Madlib is an artist who redefined the way I listen to music. He is all about the power of the mix and exploring the endless possibilities of mixing and messing with the listener’s ears. I find Madlib to be a truly creative, visionary producer, and he is definitely an artist I look to for inspiration when mixing and producing tracks. “Distant Land” is one of many gems on the album Shades of Blue, where Madlib sampled and reworked tracks from Blue Note’s catalog. His unique choice of loops and the organic feel and groove of the track take the listener to another universe.
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Sharlto Copley of “District 9″

The star of District 9 shares the music that he was listening to while filming in this ARTISTdirect.com playlist feature

A Taste:

Transformers Soundtrack, Black Hawk Down Soundtrack, Johnny Clegg

What’s the best way to unwind after a long day of running from the law and fighting hostile aliens?

Crank some tunes!

That’s exactly what District 9’s star Sharlto Copley did after filming some of the more intense action sequences in Neill Blomkamp’s new sci-fi epic. However, what he was spinning is a bit surprising.

“I was listening to the Transformers soundtrack a lot,” laughs Copley. “I don’t listen to music to get into character, but I do listen to it to zone out of things when I’m on the way to the set or sitting in my trailer—during the few brief moments that could happen [Laughs].”

Sharlto truly immersed himself in this world, becoming his character Wikus. He continues, “As a character actor in improvisation mode, you are the character or you’re not. There’s no in-between. There’s no thought involved in it. You really just switch it on or switch it off.”
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He Is Legend

Frontman Schuylar Croom gives ARTISTdirect.com a closer glimpse at the music that makes him tick in this exclusive feature…

A Taste:

Radiohead, Blind Melon, Tom Waits, Neurosis

“My musical taste seems to change from day to day,” says He Is Legend’s Schuylar Croom. “Here are just a few of the jams I would pump on any given day.”

With It Hates You, He Is Legend skyrocket their cinematic southern rock into the next stratosphere. Vocalist Croom scoured his iTunes and assembled quite the playlist for ARTISTdirect.com.

Check it out below and pick up It Hates You now!

Schuylar Croom’s Setlist:

1. Radiohead — “Reckoner”

I got the opportunity to see this band twice last summer and it was the highlight by far. Radiohead’s records have always held a special place in my heart, and In Rainbows has become one of my favorites.

2. Bob Dylan — “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
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Burn Halo

Frontman James Hart shows us what’s on his playlist in this exclusive feature

A Taste:

Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots

James Hart has always had rock n’ roll pumping through his veins.

Even while fronting metalcore mavens Eighteen Visions, Hart had a whole lot of swagger that distinguished 18V from their peers. Burn Halo gives him a chance to fully realize all of those rock inclinations. On its self-titled debut, Hart’s new band hearkens back to ’80s arena bombast while nodding to grunge simultaneously. However, it’s a potent concoction all its own.

Hart shared his very rawk playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check it out below.

James Hart’s Playlist:

1. Guns N’ Roses

This is probably the obvious choice for any fan of pure rock n’ roll. This band had danger written all over them. My favorite rock vocalist and guitarist of all time are in GNR. Their solos are timeless. Their rock songs are dirty, and their ballads are epic. The danger element finally caught up to them as they ended up imploding. Damn shame since they could’ve ruled the world for decades.
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Erin McCarley

Erin McCarley gives ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what’s on her playlist…

A Taste:

Fiona Apple, Emily Haines, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Erin McCarley could very well be Fiona Apple’s successor for the Facebook generation.

Like Miss Apple, she crafts warm, brooding and poignant pop music that’s deeply personal and truly poetic. Just listen to “Pitter-Pat” from her debut album Love, Save the Empty for proof. She examines life and love through vibrant lyrics and undeniably catchy melodies.

After spin of Love, Save the Empty, it’s obvious that Erin is pulling from a lot of different places musically. So she shared her highly eclectic playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Erin’s playlist below and pick up Love, Save the Empty now.

Erin McCarley’s Playlist:

1. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss — Raising Sand
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Twista

Twista tears through his iPod and shows us what he’s spinning…

A Taste:

Bob Marley, Eminem, Method Man & Redman

Twista has a need for speed.

On his latest album, Category F5, the Chicago MC fires off rhymes at lightspeed, turning verses on a dime. However, he still manages to get soulful at the same time and that combination of lyrical fire and raw passion makes for one of the most epic hip hop releases on 2009. He’s about to tear through them game once more with this storm.

In order to get inside Twista’s head we conducted this exclusive playlist interview with him.

Check out Twista’s playlist below and pick up Category F5 now.

Twista’s Playlist:

1. Bob Marley — Legends

To be honest, I can’t stop listening to this.

2. Dustys

We’ve been bumping some Dustys here and there.

3. Drake

I like Drake.

4. Eminem — Relapse
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