D.V.S* (Derek VanScoten)
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D.V.S* (Derek VanScoten)

New York City, New York, United States | INDIE

New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
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"D.V.S*: DUSK & DAWN Double-Album Review"

When you dig into the backstory of today's hottest EDM producers, even the 19-year-old phenoms, chances are you'll find a deep dedication to music. Not just a passion for creating movement with sound, but a deep devotion to organic instruments--not skillful button-pushing. Years and years are spent lovingly pouring their every fiber of being into strings and wood, tightly-wound steel and horsehair, or polished brass and delicate ivory. Then they discover electronic music. No more frustrating band practice, no in-fighting or dilution of creative will, just the artist, the instrument, and a computer. Adaptation.

But to call the career of guitarist, mandolinist, and all-around multi-instrumentalist Derek VanScoten "adaptation," is to sell it short. Not only has he taken his virtuosic playing to the next level to blend it seamlessly with contemporary beats and bass, he's actually pushing the envelope of today's EDM to places it's never before been. For the past year, D.V.S* has slowly, piece by piece, been unveiling his masterpiece, a double-album entitled DUSK and DAWN. This 30-track behemoth represents more than a year of prolific productin spanning genres far and wide. The first 15-tracks found on DUSK embody grittier dance trends in today's scene, including wobbly bass, stuttered beats, and glittering synths. DAWN tends towards subdued downtempo, twinkling melodies, and subtle beat scene accoutrements.

The noise-pop opener "Reverse Universe" gives way to "Oxygen," which could very well have been written by math-metal enthusiasts, Umphrey's McGee, or its progeny Digital Tape Machine. Standouts "Society of the Evening Star," "Crime Crunk Scene," and "Timeless Air," feature VanScoten's signature soaring thirds and fifths, big meaty guitar licks on top of fuzzed out beats and low-end support. But tracks like "Baile Baile Baile!" schowcase his diversity, as he adopts the Pretty Lights aesthetic of blending hip-hop with sliced up soul samples--but wait, D.V.S* nosedives into a slow-mo moombahton take that throws the whole track out the window. Beyond the sheer magnitude of the number of tracks there's also variety between them, so there's no possible way to get bogged down in one oppressive style.

DAWN takes the back half of the album, the gentler side of D.V.S*. Bubbling beats and wonky cadences underscore more idyllic string work from VanScoten. Speaking of PL, the second part features collaborations with PLM labelmate Michal Menert, another virtuoso in Govinda, and the sweet and sultry musings of Chantel. Creative sampling and an uabashed use of a slew of instruments almost gives DAWN the feel of an indie-instrumental album, with tracks like the opener "The Bending Bloom," "Sundial," and "Trees." "Jarêt" has a bouncy 80's feel, "The Ship" is a jazz exploration--the last 15 tracks are inspired by some brilliant musings.

Dance music is one thing: fun. But electronic music encompasses something greater. It doesn't preclude sonic sophistication. It doesn't preclue instrumental prowess or even risk-taking. DUSK and DAWN are musical statements, not just of how far Derek VanScoten has progressed in the past year, but of a shift in where the electronic frontiers are headed. - theuntz.com


"Quick Spins"

D.V.S*

Coming Up For Air

Octave Memory Tapes

3.5 out of 5 stars

Former Boulderite and current Brooklynite Derek VanScoten has added a unique title to the hackneyed producer/dj tag that he and thousands of others already sport — guitarist. D.V.S* combines live guitar riffs over produced electronic dance beats, and in doing so brings an organic dynamic to the genre. The former DeVotchKa and Motet player who made the move to New York a few years back utilizes his guitar chops (and on one dubstep track, mandolin) to bring a very earthy feeling to electronica. The double album features an absolutely massive 30 tracks broken up into two volumes, subtitled Dusk and Dawn.

:: Aggie Theatre :: November 18 ::

:: Summit Music Hall :: November 19 ::

:: Mountain Sun :: November 20 :: - Marquee Magazine


"D.V.S* – COMING UP FOR AIR [2LP][ALBUM REVIEW]"

Brooklyn based guitarist/producer D.V.S* has just released a 30 track audial journey that will take you from the dance floor to the bedroom. Now, Coming Up For Air is a double album roller coaster that you won’t want to get off of.


Volume 1 (DUSK) showcases 15 dancefloor oriented jams in styles of hiphop, dubstep, electrofunk, and moombaton. Oxygen is one of my favorite tracks from Dusk: the tempo and energy that is released in the track will get anyone’s legs moving… Yea I’m looking at you gramps! Volume 2 (dawn) illuminates the more relaxed side of D.V.S*, with several guest musicians spread out over 15 introspective downtempo tracks. “Bright Beginings” is a track that I could wake up every morning to and know that I’ll have a good day…and know that things will be alright. Dusk has a lot of offerings for when you want to just chill and take it all in.

The vitality of the New York City / Brooklyn lifestyle can be felt in every track, and each tune can be dissected over and over, producing new emotions and discoveries each time… just like navigating the cityscape. Get your dancing kicks on or grab your favorite bad habit and unwind…. Coming Up For Air will fill your lungs, ears, and entire body with a feel good sensation that you won’t want to quit.
Visit D.V.S* to grab both digital albums today…. as always…. Enjoy! - earmilk.com


"In The Mix- D.V.S*"

This week we break the space-time continuum and land in a new layer of the electronic stratosphere with Brooklyn-based DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Derek VanScoten, or D.V.S.*. As the purveyor of timelessly smart, emotionally-charged music that knows no boundaries, I find D.V.S.* to be a rather sublimely inspired artist.

As a musician, Derek has explored virtually every genre of music, spanning from ethnic beats to Motown to funk and soul, only recently settling on his trip-hop/instrumental laptop setup. Despite planting his feet in the technological orchestra of 2011, Derek never loses sight (or use) of his power and puller of heart-strings: his trusty guitar.

During a live set, he begins by DJing for a few songs, then when the crowd is good and primed, enters the next level igniting the senses with his soulful and funky guitar riffs, all the while improvising and remixing.

It’s no wonder that he has releases on Soulection and 1320 (STS9‘s label) as well as his own, Octave Memory Tapes.

His eight track mix, The Newell & Doran Mix (live at Dublab in LA), is a perfect representation of the chiller, more instrumental side of D.V.S* in which he flawlessly melts his tracks together and engages his listeners in a sea of auditory bliss with his complex yet unconventional layering of sounds. In this mix, he journeys from hip-hop acoustic, to airy futuristic quips, percussive lines, and then poignant vocals in “The Kill” (15.11). This song is the moment in the mix for me, where Derek shoots for the heart and lands perfectly.

It’s as though he crossed sound waves with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) only to then meet Flying Lotus all the while running alongside Thom Yorke. It is this distinct reason as to why Derek has earned the right to close every music festival he graces. Many musicians can keep you moving all night, but few know a soundtrack for welcoming day-break while bringing comfort to the soul. - BostonDig


Discography

This is a selected discography. Full discography available at http://dvsmusic.com/discographymusic
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"Coming Up For Air" -Nov 2011
30 song double album released on Octave Memory Tapes (NYC) and Gravitas Recordings (Austin, TX)

"Belongings (D.V.S* Remix)" Nov 2011
Remix of Bear Hands' "Belongings" on Cantora Records (MGMT, Francis and the Lights)

"Jet Stream (D.V.S* Remix)" on Emancipator's "Remixes" June 2011 on 1320 records/ Hydeout (Japan)

"Can't Hold Love" on Michal Menert's second release due January 2012 on Pretty Lights Music

"Ruberjunk"- Electronic Musician Magazine Mixtape Vol 2. Released April 2011

"Newell and Doran Mix- Live at Dublab LA" January 2010

"Beyond the Looking Glass" January 2010

"Before I Sing" October 2009

Photos

Bio

Brooklyn based producer D.V.S* (aka Derek VanScoten) creates that elevated feeling in the listener’s chest with his guitar-soaked experimental dance beats.

He currently has music released on Soulection, 1320 Records, Cantora Records, Daly City, Electronic Musician Magazine, and his own label, Octave Memory Tapes.

Over the past few years, D.V.S* has spent considerable time on the road with acts like Random Rab, Bluetech, Tipper, FreQnasty, Marco Benevento, Big Gigantic, Lotus, MartyParty, emancipator, Ana Sia, and Beats Antique.

No stranger to the live band scene, he has also performed as a respected multi-instrumentalist with acts as diverse as DJ Logic, Devotchka, The Motet, and the Boulder Philharmonic.

While his current beatsmithing pushes the boundaries of futuristic rhythms and timbres, D.V.S* hasn’t always experienced music via a laptop. Influences and performance history includes 19th century romantic music, motown, swing, bossa nova, afrobeat, traditional folk music from multiple cultures, hip hop, and of course, rock n’ roll.

Recent Press:::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::
• A shift in where the electronic frontiers are headed." -TheUntz.com
• "It’s as though he crossed sound waves with Bon Iver, only to then meet Flying Lotus, all the while running alongside Thom Yorke." -DigBoston.com
• "The vitality of the New York City / Brooklyn lifestyle can be felt in every track, and each tune can be dissected over and over, producing new emotions and discoveries each time." Earmilk.com
• “D.V.S* combines beautiful melodies, super fat beats, and jazz guitar power. Very positive sounds from a unique, new voice in modern music…highly recommended.” Brian Haas, Pianist – JFJO
• “Amon Tobin and Nina Simone would be proud to embrace his style as their own.” Lost in Sound (NYC/ Boston)
• “Downtempo Track of the Year for 2010 (Attunement).” Welcome Hohme (NYC)
• “Keep climbing higher with D.V.S*. Today you take on the mountains, tomorrow the universe.” Dublab (L.A.)