Trak Joy

If you haven’t heard of New York-based Electronic R&B duo Trak Joy yet, then let us pull you ahead of the curve.

Vocalist Kile Atwater and multi-instrumentalist/producer Shane Dinet embrace and subvert elements of electronic music and R&B to create a compelling sound that is sure to have them headlining all over the place in the very near future.

Trak Joy’s neo-R&B sound came about after a chance meeting between the two (Kile was moving out of his NYC apartment and Shane was moving in) and their new track Skin explores that unexpected relationship and what it means to be an individual in the big city.

We’ve got a first look at the official video for Skin. Check it out in the player below. - Sammy Lee

Watch the cinematic visual for Alt R&B duo Trak Joy's new single, 'Skin'. The NYC based act are made up of vocalist Kile Atwater and producer Shane Dinet. -

Vocalist Kile Atwater and producer/multi-instrumentalist Shane Dinet, also known as Trak Joy, have released the stunning visuals (courtesy of Connor Coleman) to their neo-R&B summer jam, “Skin”. Add this one to your chill vibes house party playlist, and catch the NYC-based duo at their upcoming show on May 28 at The Paperbox. - Sian-Pierre Regis

Yesterday the alternative R&B duo Trak Joy debuted the cinematic promo for their song Skin. The sweeping camera movements of director Connor Coleman display solid technical expertise and creates a contrast with the melodic beat of the song. With unique visuals (including visual effects) to accompany the track it will be interesting to see where both the duo and the director go from here.

You can find out more about Trak Joy here. - Jordan Rossi

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling like I’ve come down with a fever of sorts– SPRING FEVER that is. But truly, there’s something in the air as the seasons change. Remember that first warm weekend back in April? The really violent one? Well, according to some studies violent crime is more common in the summer months, meaning as the temperature boils, so do tempers. Strange, coz we’re feeling nothing but bliss right now. At one point all this hullabaloo about “the L train set” packing up and leaving to live under the sunny skies of LA might have made us feel left out. Hell, if I’d read such slander back when I was still hoofing it through the graffitied garbage-snow, perhaps I too would have resorted to green-eyed violence. But now that it’s beautiful out, I can scoff at all those stylists, tattooers, and Jemima Kirke wannabes who moved to LA LA Land because no matter what the Times says, in terms of culture, we still got it. Right kids? Our weekly show report is proof of that if nothing else.

Slackgaze Presents: Trak Joy, Throw Vision, Softspot, Little Shaman, the Pluto Moons

Dance party alert! We’re not in the business of scaring people — well, not intentionally — but get ready for some house music brought to you by Trak Joy, though with just enough of an R&B twist that it’s impossible not to move to this. There’s the slightest hint of sadness to this, but like dancing-through-the-tears kind of sadness. - NICOLE DISSER

We’ve always got time for something a bit different. So step forward Trak Joy, aka New York’s Kile Atwater and Shane Dinet, whose debut track Skin is all sorts of original. Imagine a neo-R&B track being held underwater, then embellished with some electronic-pop flourishes and you’re about there. Whatever if it is, we’re digging it and we’re gasping for more of that funk. - Press Play OK

How did the two of you first power up as the team, Trak Joy?

Shane: Random meeting when I first moved to NYC. He was moving out I was moving in.

Kile: We clicked instantly as soon as we started talking about music while I was trying to move my stuff out.

With you, Kile, on the mic, and Shane on the production decks, how do the two of you describe how you collaborate as Trak Joy?

Shane: I’ll either have a track, beat, or melody. Present it to Kile and we’ll jam out what makes the song as a whole sound the best it can. Ableton is kinda of key for this sort of electronic jamming.

Kile: The songs we write usually start as fragments but after playing around and experimenting with sounds and my vocals we are able to create something that conveys a mood or a story in the song.

The secret recipe to creating joy and bliss on your tracks?

Shane: Not sure if I can say there is a secret recipe except for trying to make them sound as true to the person you think you are at the moment, while filtering through your influences and trying not to be your influences, but using them as tools instead.

Kile: I don’t think there is a secret recipe at all. I just try to approach every song idea with a sense of openness. We aren’t really worried about anything but making good music and I think that comes across on “Skin” and in future tracks as well.

“Skin” is the see summer jam, and we want to know how it was the two of you managed to make us all feel good in our own skins?

Shane: I try to make my creations feel positive whether its for Trak Joy or my other project Ether Teeth. If I’m sad then the beat/song might sound a little more melancholy, but I don’t like to reinforce people to stay in negative moods. Kile is the same with his lyrics, he’s a character and his lyrics are generally really positive or wanting to lift you up in some way. It’s been interesting getting to know someone by their lyrics.

What is next from the two of you, any Trak Joy releases or collabs with other artists in the works?

Shane: Next up is an EP. No specific release date, but we’ll announce that in the next couple of weeks.

Kile: Also we plan to do some more shows in the near future we will keep you guys posted! - Goldmine Sacks

New York-based Trak Joy provides the kind of raw talent hidden in the darkness of the indie scene that we love most. The track “Skin” wraps you in a blanket of synths and the drop into the first chorus is reminiscent of synth pop in its better days. The track is both capable of portraying a feeling of nostalgia through their usage of elements from R&B, Discotheque and incorporation of percussion design that draws on the feel-good evolution happening on the chiller end of electronic music. The track brings you up, keeps you level, reminds you of a feeling in the past but lets it flow seamlessly still into the present moment. Trak Joy really knew how to pick a name.

The track is raw, yes, but that’s part of its charm. In the structure of the song you find a duo that still has their heart in the beauty of self-discovery in sound. The track becomes more honest to who they are at this time in their lives and with it the layout of the track changes to accommodate that sincerity. Synths come in and leave without detracting from the original sound or rhythm as the story unfolds. If you peel back the skin you’ll find that music just feels better with Trak Joy. - Nathan Wofford

The Neu Bulletin is a daily update of the most exciting new things DIY’s listening to. Some of the music you’ll like, some of it you won’t. Think of it as a stream of recommendations that every so often pops up something spectacular. Most of these are Bandcamp finds, big ups from readers or cheeky submissions that pop out of the inbox.

Every day we offer up a choice show, a song of the day (branched under the understated heading “Big Neu Thing”) and a little something extra that’s caught our attention. Check back here every day for your latest Neu Bulletin delivery and follow our ‘Listen’-tag for everything new music related.

The debut track from NYC duo Trak Joy initially sounds like a dozen nights out blended into one. There’s a school of shuffling feet tripping over each other, eager to get onto the floor. When ‘Skin’ reaches boiling point, it begins to merge disparate parts into some kind of formation. Shane Dinet’s production is a fidgety beast, but Kile Atwater’s vocals offer some kind of sweet continuity, the running thread in a sea of ideas. - Jamie Milton

This week in the streaming music-verse, we got news of a Bass Drum Of Death rebirth, a band name change and a sweetly powdered new track from Mr. Twin Sister, the second bonkers SOPHIE jam in as many weeks and long awaited word of Joey Bada$$’s debut LP. Revisit those tracks and more in this week’s Head In The Clouds playlist below. - CMJ

Trak Joy is the phenomenal combination of Kile Atwater and Shane Dinet. Hailing from past notable projects respectively, the two come together to form an unstoppable duo. Kile Atwater takes lead vocal duties, as Shane Dinet works on the production decks. The sound they create blends a mix of alternative R & B, which will appeal to many. The group will be releasing their debut album in the upcoming months, and have recently given us "Skin," to listen to. I had the opportunity of talking with the group about their future endeavors, which is below for your reading pleasure.

Listen to Trak Joy on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/trakjoy/skin

How did Shane and Kile meet to form Trak Joy?

Kile: We met as I was moving out of my old apartment. Shane was actually trying to move in as I was moving out. We just started talking anout music and we bonded instantly.

What is the musical and creative process like for the group?

Kile: Shane usually plays me a beat or an idea he's been working on and I'll come up with a melody and lyrics to add onto it.

Shane: It's a super smooth process we really jam out on the songs and work on them until they have a good vibe. I use ableton for all the electronic jamming.

What is your songwritng process? What inspires the tracks?

Shane: It all depends on the particular mood I'm in. If I am sad or I feel down then the songs might sound more melancholy but if I'm in a good mood the music will reflect that. We're also inspired by a lot of UK garage and alternative artist in general.

Kile: I have a background singing a lot of Pop and R&B so I am inspired by a lot of smooth vocal stylings and really strong melodies. I just try to write songs that will hopefully connect with people in a strong way.

Coming from separate musical backgrounds, creating music under different names prior, how did your musical skills and concepts blend when creating songs for Trak Joy?

Kile: always wanted to break out and do stuff that was more creative but I was stuck in a rut for a little bit. Shane is able to really flesh out ideas and he is unafraid to try new things which is really great for an artist like me.

Shane: I was working on finding my sound in electronic music exclusively. I was really fascinated in how other-worldly you can make things with electronic music, samples, etc. I had a bunch of ideas that would not work with my band Ether Teeth, and I was really wanting to work with an R&B style singer.

How would you describe your music to someone who has not heard of Trak Joy yet?

Kile: It's music you could really lose yourself in. It's a sound that is nostalgic but still present and tangible at the same time.

Shane: I would describe it as ethereal R&B, or maybe ambient and blues A&B haha

What is the inspiration behind the track, "Skin,"?

Shane: My inspiration for skin came from listening to a lot of UKG and Post-Dubstep. Then having my Indie-pop/Indie-rock influences fill in the rest.

Kile: When I wrote the melodies for skin I was thinking about having a deep connection with someone. How someone being there for you can be the thing that lifts you up the most and brings you back into the moment.

How would you describe the current Brooklyn / New York music scene?

Kile: I think it is very close knit. A lot of people who do music here really just love it and they usually do it with people they're close with. There's a lot of extremely talented and creative people here so most likely your friends friend does music and he/she is amazing. It is quite competitive but I think it something that inspires me to work harder and do better and better.

Shane: I've been pretty new to the NYC music scene, so far i've noticed you have everything. It can get experimental and obscure, wacky and crappy, or inspirational, and great, but most importantly it seems like there is great support with the different scenes I've come in contact with. Seriously there is a music scene for anything out here.

What is next on the horizon for Trak Joy?

We are currently recording an Upcoming EP for a fall release. We are also going to do a lot of shows this fall/winter so we will keep you guys posted. - slowshow

Alright guys, it’s been a good year here at Hearing Gold HQ, with tons of superb artists and bands constantly quenching our thirsty ears with audible gold. In no particular order, we’ve curated a handful of amazing tracks that have stuck with us this year for your perusing. Some tracks may have been omitted here as they’ll be a part of our other year-end lists–Hearing Gold’s EPs of 2014 and Hearing Gold’s LPs of 2014–so be sure to check those out. Thanks for the great year everyone! We’ll let the music do the talking now. - Nathan Wofford