Wow. I don’t even know what to say. It’s like a wave of emotions, and I’m absolutely shredding that wave. Cutting back and forth, and ending my run with a huge launch of the top a 5 footer of enjoyment.
Finally, we can Enjoy Music again.
It’s been a few months, six to be precise, and in that time I’ve been roaming around Southern California, searching for the most Enjoyable Music Known To Humankind. Actually I spent most of my time going for lunch. But there was so much Enjoyable Music entwined in my experience! I mean, let’s be real: a lot of the Enjoy Music Sound feels pretty at home in Los Angeles. But wow: the feeling of listening to Music while I drove around the great City Of Lights is an experience in and of itself. The stories are true by the way: when you live here, you drive around a lot! I loved it, personally. That’s not a bit either, this is some earnest writing from me, for once. For example, the intensity of the spot where the 110 meets the 101, and that three lane freeway becomes a SIX LANE freeway? That needs a musical counter-balance. Enter Enjoy Music (EDITOR’S NOTE: There’s two ways of pronouncing Enjoy Music: Enjoy Music, which is the genre of music we cover here, and Enjoy Music, which, of course, is the act of enjoying music. We could really call this stack Enjoy Enjoy Music, but it wouldn’t make sense to anyone that hasn’t read this sentence.)
Anyways, I had lunch with Raihan during my first week in LA, and he said, “Of course ambient music was invented in LA! How else are you supposed to get through LA traffic!” It makes sense! Listen to Raihan!
Alright, enough exposition, Let’s Get To The Goods.
Fire up your choice automobile, throw a hot disc in the dash, and Let’s Hit The Road: It’s time to Enjoy Music (LA STYLE).
Torcuato Mariano - Sobre O Mar (1993)
Of all the music I enjoyed during my time in LA, this one takes the cake. It is perfect in every single way: the Metheny-esque wordless vocals, the tasteful guitar tone, the IMPECCABLE album art. It’s all there baby. I have a distinct memory of driving from Glendale to Silver Lake with the windows down in sunny 20 degree weather (celsius of course!), and thinking to myself, “This is the only music that exists in this moment.” VERY IMPORTANT NOTE here: this record came out on Windham Hill in 1993. What More Do I Need To Say.
Herbie Hancock - Trust Me (1979)
If you’re a returning reader, you already know about my affinity for the Greatest Musician Of All Time, Herbie Hancock. I had the TRULY IMMENSE PLEASURE of getting to witness Herbie and his band play at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel on my first weekend in the city. And of course, it did not disappoint. A weekend or two later, I’m outside Gold Diggers, about to see LA’s best Grateful Dead cover band, Richard Pictures, and I bump into my friends Miles and Aaron. I mentioned seeing Herbie, and Aaron brought up this tune. I’m obsessed with his Sunlight album, and Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now came out right after, so you know, Same Vibe. We’ve got Vocoder-Herbie in full effect here. This one moves at an enjoyably pleasant pace, and even though the chorus has got a pretty triumphant feel to it, it never pushes too hard in any direction. A dreamy cut from the MASTER. Enjoy Herbie, as per usual.
Dana and Alden - Glock (2023)
New music from, and for, Young People. We absolutely love to see it here at Enjoy Music HQ. Gen Z Jazz is in safe hands with Dana and Alden, who you may or may not know from Alden’s incredible TikTok account. I’m obsessed with this record, and while I chose Glock as an Enjoy Music Pick, the whole record is worth a listen. I only discovered this at the end of our time in LA, but the languid nature, the truly Enjoyable way the melodies unfold, it feels completely baked in sunny weather. And these young men are making their way across North America this fall, and I think it’d be nice to go see them. Enjoy Dana, and Enjoy Alden!
Lionel Pillay - Deeper In Black (1980)
This one immediately takes me to the dance floor at Homage Brewing in Chinatown, a place that really did come to feel like a Cheers-spot. You know, everyone knows your name, etc. The staff knew my name cause I played there twice, I guess. Anyways, I came across this tune while I was prepping for my first set there, and it really does express my tastes in a very succinct way: funky, jazzy, danceable. It’s ENJOY Music! Enjoy it baby.
Cristina Camargo - Moral Tem Hora (1980)
Wrapping up this week, we’ve got a tune with enough energy to carry you through to next week’s Inbox Heat care of Enjoy Music. This absolute burner is courtesy of Cristina Camargo, a Brazilian singer and composer, who released only a handful of tunes in the early 80s. Another Important Note: if you spend a little time digging around her credits, you’ll quickly notice the Brazilian Star Power on this record. This tune specifically has Marcos Valle with the writing credit. ENOUGH SAID. Anyways, this has got the top spot the 2014 comp, Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds (1978-1982), and it’s been the first thing I’ve been listening to each morning this week. A perfect way to start the day. Enjoy The Energy!
In TEEN DAZE related news: that’s me up there, pondering life In The Big City, while taking in a cloudy sunset over Downtown. Neil Kryszak took this incredible photo, and it’s just one of an amazing selection of shots we got. More of those to come soon.
But in the meantime: I’VE GOT NEW MUSIC COMING OUT! “Back yard” is the first sound from my new LP, which is called Elegant rhythms. This tune features Sam Wilkes on the bass guitar, and Andy Shauf on the drums, two good friends in any weather. The single is out May 8, and I just can not wait for you to hear it. If you pre-save music (which, does…anyone do that?), you can do it here.
There’s other things happening, but for the time being, this new single is all I wanna talk about. If you’re a TikTok user, it’s already up there. Maybe we need to create some sort of viral trend that involves the song? Enjoy Music Challenge: go make a video featuring Back yard by Teen Daze as your sound, and we’ll watch the tune, and my career, skyrocket!
Feels good to be back. We’ll see ya next week for more ENJOYMENT. Love y’all.
As always, feel free to sound off in the comments about anything related to Enjoyable Music, and absolutely nothing else!
Built the spotify playlist so I could ENJOY this Saturday. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Hsdb4YlorPqEWqulfBxkE?si=6bcf0cbb82364d99
Good to have you back, Jamison! Excellent enjoy music offerings to enjoy once again. Sobre O Mar was my fav this time around--just a real ear-tickler.