The Scion AV Installation supports independent artists and their creative visions by hosting monthly exhibitions and offering custom-made products for sale.  All of the proceeds from the sales of these products go either directly back to the artist, or to a charity of their choosing.  Now available at the Scion AV Installation is rugged iPhone accessories from group, Neck Strap Wallet.

This handcrafted leather iPhone case for iPhone 4, 4s, and 5 is available in 3 colors.  It’s an accessory that improves with wear into a unique rugged piece.

About the artist:

Neck Strap Wallet is Ivan and Andreas.  Friends from the early 80’s, they share a passion for raw materials and artisan craftsmanship.  Originally from Sweden, they are now based in New York and Stockholm.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Harry Fraud High Tide EP hits hip-hop’s next wave

Late last year Harry Fraud lit up Scion AV with his single “Mean,“ featuring French Montana and Action Bronson. Now one of the killing it-est producers in hip-hop right now has returned with the free High Tide EP for Scion AV.

Fraud is from Brooklyn but recently relocated to Florida to live that beach lifestyle. He’s also known as a versatile beatmaker, responsible for everything from French Montana’s “Shot Caller” to Action Bronson and Riff Raff’s team-up “Bird on a Wire.” With this background it makes sense that High Tide is such a sonically and geographically diverse piece. It goes without saying that it bumps, too.

Starting things off is “Rising,” a quick blast featuring Kansas City cult hero Tech N9ne that does its part to redeem the legacy of rap rock. Up next are young ones Smoke DZA and Chinx Drugz who rip  ”Loopy,” a dark electro track, quicker than a New York minute. On “Tell Em Bout,” Mistah FAB from Oakland and Troy Ave from Brooklyn make the cross-country connection on a suitably trippy beat. Next up is “Mean,” Montana and Bronson’s easy roller that’s perfect for your next ride in a space cadillac. The ride of High Tide ends at its most adventurous point with “Yacht Lash.” The song features mind-bending and surreal verses from Earl Sweatshirt and Riff Raff, two of contemporary hip-hop’s most notorious lyricists all while Fraud’s beat lurches and skitters unpredictably.

Download Scion AV Presents: Harry Fraud — High Tide for free.

Listen to Harry Fraud – Loopy ft. Smoke DZA & Chinx Drugs

Watch a video interview with Harry Fraud about the early stages of his producing career.

 Action Bronson talks about his rapid ascension to success and fame.

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

To get out of the culture of major label deals. I had been making a good living being a major label artist, but I wasn’t making a good career. The music wasn’t getting released and I didn’t own the rights. It was a deliberate decision on my part to no longer be signed to a major label, so nine years ago I became an electronic artist named Static Revenger who made his own music and owned all the rights.
 
My Worst Mistake

The worst mistake was something that I actually had no control over. It happened 12 years ago. It was my first record deal and I did what I thought was the right thing and hired a fancy lawyer to make sure the deal was done right. Then the following year I signed to a major label. There was one word that was supposed to be in the contract that my lawyer had accidentally forgotten—the word “not” was supposed to be in a clause, but it wasn’t. That mistake cost me $200,000. I never really understood the lesson in that. I guess I should haven taken the time to empower myself to know exactly what every part of what I was signing meant. After that mistake, what I should have done was sue the lawyer, but I wasn’t savvy enough to do that. Needless to say I didn’t work with him again.
 

Download Static Revenger’s recent EP Scion AV Presents: Music in Motion.

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

The Scion AV Installation supports independent artists and their creative visions by hosting monthly exhibitions and offering custom-made products for sale.  All of the proceeds from the sales of these products go either directly back to the artist, or to a charity of their choosing.  Now available at the Scion AV Installation is beautiful, handmade jewelry from designer Nina Kuna.

 Nina Kuna Jewelry Anchor Necklace

This anchor necklace is strung from a 14k gold-filled chain.

About the Artist:

Nina Kuna has been making Jewelry in Maui, Hawaii for over 6 years.  Before moving to Hawaii, Nina trained in New York as a photographer and lived in Los Angeles.  Stepping on to the beautiful Maui beaches inspired her to pursue her creative voice through jewelry.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Check out Scion AV on our other channels.

The monumental Scion Rock Fest for 2013 is only a month away. By now you should have RSVPed for this free show featuring over 30 bands playing multiple venues in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 1, but now you can enter our sweepstakes for VIP access for the festival!

The VIP wristband gives you priority entry into each venue. That means you can head straight to the front of the line. At the New Daisy Theater and Hard Rock Cafe venues, the VIP wristband also gets you access to VIP viewing areas.

HOW TO ENTER: Win VIP access to Scion Rock Fest 2013 by entering on either Twitter or Instagram. Post the photo at the top of this post with #scionav and #scionrockfestvip hashtags. 100 winners will be chosen at random.

This contest is open to US residents who are 13 years old or older and RSVPed for Rock Fest. Winners can pick up their VIP wristbands at the will call tent on the day of the event. There is a limit of one entry per person for the entire sweepstakes period of May 1 to May 24, 2013. Go here for the full official rules.

To preview some of the sounds you might hear and sights you might see at Rock Fest, here are a few videos from the Scion AV Video Series of the acts on the bill.

 Whitechapel, “I, Dementia”

Melvins, “The War on Wisdom”

Municipal Waste, “Repossesion” 

Corrosion of Conformity, “Feed On”

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

SCION ANNOUNCES GALLERY AND RETAIL SPACE ON MELROSE WILL HOST A HOOD BY AIR INSTALLATION FROM MAY 18 – JUNE 16 2013

NEW YORK – April 30 2013 – Scion has announced today that their lifestyle gallery and retail space on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles, the Scion AV Installation, will host cult fashion label Hood By Air for a month long installation opening May 18.

“Scion’s goal is to continually support influential and emerging artists with the opportunities and resources that otherwise might be unavailable to them,” says Jeri Yoshizu, manager of sales promotions at Scion, “Hood By Air was a brand we felt would really embody the conceptual retail experience we set out to deliver through this gallery space.”

The Scion AV Installation is a retail and gallery environment that merges Scion product and lifestyle for the first time by offering consumers the opportunity to test-drive vehicles from the space itself. ”Scion AV Installation is a step in a more interactive direction for the retail gallery,” says Yoshizu, “The focus of the space is affordable artwork, and limited edition products. Adding a test drive component moves Scion and our art initiatives closer to each other than they’ve ever been.” 

The Scion AV Installation project will bring New York City based fashion label Hood By Air to the west coast for the brands first pop up retail installation. “The partnership between Scion and Hood By Air was a natural step for the cultural strategy we focus on,” explains Jeri Yoshizu, manager of sales promotions at Scion, “Scion AV hosted a concert in Brooklyn with A$AP Rocky. It was during an interview with the rapper that we first began the Hood By Air conversation. It became clear that this would be a perfect partnership to shed light on the work we are doing at Scion and also support these emerging talents across the music and art worlds.”

Related: A$AP Rocky’s Favorite Fashions

The Scion AV Hood By Air pop up exhibition, entitled “MORPH,” will serve as the debut of a capsule luggage concept collection and feature three silicone art objects inspired by hiking luggage, tattooed skin and jewelry piercings as the focal point for the exhibit. On May 18th the Scion A/V Installation space will be transformed into a space reminiscent of a high school locker-room wherein the limited edition products will be sold for the duration of four weeks. Scion AV has partnered with Hood By Air to produce an entire inventory of limited edition Hood By Air items that will sell within the space, including but not limited to the coveted Hood By Air Classics t-shirt collection in never before seen color-ways, backpacks, posters, water bottles, Emory boards, small accessories and more.

Photos: A$AP Rocky Rules Scion AV Presents: Open Mic

The opening reception of the Scion AV Presents: Hood By Air “MORPH” will be held on Saturday, May 18th from 7 – 10 p.m. at the Scion AV Installation, located at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036. The Hood By Air exhibit will be present within the Scion AV Installation space for the duration of four weeks following the opening reception and close on June 16th.

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

The May session of Scion AV’s Open Mic series is a testament to how internet disseminated mixtapes can lead to in real life success. Headlining the night is Riff Raff, the virally potent Texan rapper. Filling out the lineup is Maybach Music Group signee Stalley and Harlem’s dream catcher Smoke DZA, with DJ GetLive! resuming his role as the night’s resident DJ. All three of the rappers on the bill made names for themselves in the past few years with a flood of web-only releases and guest verses, but now in 2013 they’re ready to truly reap the rewards of their hard work.

This edition of Open Mic is going down on May 22 at Coco 66 at 66 Greenpoint Ave. in Brooklyn, New York.

THE ONLY WAY TO ATTEND THE SCION OPEN MIC EVENT IS TO PARTICIPATE IN A SWEEPSTAKES ON TWITTER OR ON INSTAGRAM. AND YOU MUST BE 21 OR OVER TO ATTEND THE EVENT. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: 

On Twitter the sweepstakes runs from April 29 to May 17, 2013. To enter, users must write a tweet that mentions “@ScionAV” and includes the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic”. There is a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Twitter to attend the event.

On Instagram the sweepstakes runs from April 29 to May 17, 2013. To enter, users have to repost the sweepstakes photo posted on the @ScionAV Instagram account, and include a mention of “@ScionAV” and the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic” in the caption. @ScionAV will be posting the image a few times during the entry period. There’s a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Instagram to attend the event.

Official Rules:

Twitter: http://www.scionav.com/blog/scion-open-mic-twitter-sweepstakesofficial-rules/
Instagram:  http://www.scionav.com/blog/scion-open-mic-instagram-sweepstakesofficial-rules/

Check out Harry Fraud’s interview from Scion AV Open Mic

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

In the new issue of the Scion AV Journal, we feature a conversation between producers 45 King and Nick Hook. 45 King is a legendary hip-hop and breakbeat producer who is one of the founders of New Jersey’s famed Flavor Unit and was the primary sonic architect of the crew. He is responsible for such classic tracks as Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First,” Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” and his own “The 900 Number.” He also hosts the long-running Scion Radio 17 show, Making The Beat. Nick Hook is a Brooklyn-based producer, DJ, engineer, bassist and go-to dude when dance music artists want to start messing with analog equipment. He has collaborated with Azealia Banks, L-Vis 1990, El-P and many more. We got these two on the phone to talk about figuring out the balance between the creative and the business sides of their chosen profession.

Video: Nick Hook “Sirens” Music Video, Featuring El-P & Rood

When did you realize that what you were doing artistically through music was your career?

45 King: There’s really no career in art. Art is art if the person putting it out is liked. If they stay out of trouble and keep their name good, then they’re going to be good. People like whoever is known. You have to really put out some garbage to lose your name—you really have to do something bad or put out music that’s so far away from you’ve done.

How tough was it to make a name for yourself and get people to hear your music?

Nick Hook: It was definitely something that took a while, but I made a choice to make it organic and try not to skip any steps. I always felt like doing what I wanted was more important than trying to get my name out there. Once I solidified myself, I felt like I was going to be here forever, rather than some guy who shows up for an hour and is gone. 

45 King: When people started saying I had good stuff, I started getting work. When people stopped saying I has good stuff, I stopped getting work. You know what I’m saying? And that goes for someone who nobody knows what he looks like.

How long did it take for you to get good?

45 King: That’s a crazy question. Once you start to get attention, that’s when you get good, I guess. But who says I’m good?

Nick Hook: I made music as a teenager for a very long time, but my first real experience in music was actually signing to Warner Bros. [as part of the band Men, Women & Children]. The first record I actually put out was on Warner Bros., which is a different process than most. No one ever liked what I did from age 14 to 24, then we got signed and I learned one aspect of the business, but then I learned that it’s hard to make money, so I started to diversify. I started DJing because I liked it, but then people started paying me money to do it. Then people started paying me money to do remixes. Having five careers going on at once was the best way for me. If one of them disappeared, I’d have four to keep working on. If you keep it diverse, then people start to hear about you in different circles and they all start to correlate eventually. I feel like my career is kind of just starting.

What is it about your career that makes you feel like it’s just starting now?

Nick Hook: I’m just now getting to do what I want to do. Before it was just groundwork. Now I’m legitimate in other people’s eyes. In the business, the people who are signing the checks, they need to trust you. It’s a stupid game that we need to play. The Azealia Banks thing or working with Hudson Mohawke or certain milestones in other people’s minds verifies you. Now I want to go beyond that, whether it’s cultivating artists that I meet in the clubs or mixing records for $2000 each or producing a big major label rap record. Someone isn’t going to write a young producer a check for $100,000 and say, “Make an album.” They want to make sure that’s a good investment on their part.

When people ask you for advice, do you tell them not to go into music or do you tell them, “This is what you need to know upfront…”?

45 King: I don’t advise anybody to get into this. Art is not a concrete thing. Art can be anything. Art can be a rock. I would tell people to get something concrete, because art is not something concrete. But I would never tell anybody not to do this. If you can do it without it hurting, then you should do it. Because a lot of it hurts. You meet a lot of people, you fall in love with a lot of people, and then you find out they are not around when you need them. And that hurts and that’s called show business. I don’t want anyone to think that I’m bitter, that’s just what happened to me.

Nick Hook: For real, I tell them not to be delusional. I always had a job until last year, which I relied on to pay my income, then I could do my music and make it my music. A lot of these kids, they’re trying to make a banger that puts them on the map. The reason I think I’m here is that I kept it true to what I wanted. I would never tell someone not to make music, but when I started doing music, it was as a hobby. When I was 13 I didn’t start doing music to make money. Nobody liked me and girls didn’t like me, and I was like, I might as well hang out with these other nerds and make music. Now that we got a little bit of money and a couple of girls like us, it’s cooler, but I still try to keep the ideals of why I started. I had to save up all summer to buy an MPC when I was 18. It was $1200. To get $1200 in St. Louis when you’re 18, you’ve got to deliver mad pizzas. And I delivered those pizzas and I kept that sampler and I learned how to use it. It’s not a flash in the pan. I see these kids, and once a genre starts getting popular, they can learn about the whole genre in a night. When I wanted to learn about hip-hop, I went to the record store and put my headphones on. And that knowledge sticks with me to this day.

With the larger availability of software and the possibility to download basically any song you want, it’s tough to tell a kid to go save up for an MPC.

Nick Hook: I wish these tools would have existed when I was a kid in a way, but I think when we were DJing when were young, we’d go see 45 King because he had his crate and I had my crate and another dude played electro records. We were all unique. It was a different process. Now a guy like DJ Sega from Philly has a $100 PC and he can show his ideas through his brain. We’re cutting out that thing where you have to be middle class to make music, and that’s a beautiful thing. Things change.

45 King: It’s not that I don’t like kids, but I never thought about what the kids were going to learn from me when I do things. I just try to be nice to everybody. So if they can learn that, there’s not really much more they can learn from me. Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Nick Hook: There are a million people more talented than me, but the phone rings because I have fun when I work and I’m easy to work with. Giving someone the experience of a good time is more important than money. I’ve seen artists who might be making their manager five million dollars, but if they’re miserable, you don’t want to sit with them. The thing that changed my life the most, I did for free. I recorded “212” for Azealia Banks when she had 100 followers on Twitter and then she became a worldwide phenomenon. I did it because a friend asked me to. It wasn’t about making money, it was about being dope. And because we had fun that day, there was an energy that was transmitted through the music and it resonated. That got me a million more jobs, the chance to travel the world with her and legitimate fees.

Stream or download Nick Hook’s recent EP featuring El-P, The Gaslamp Killer, Computer Jay and many more, Scion AV Presents: Nick Hook — Without You.

45 King Studio Tour

For more content and information check out our other channels.

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

Earache Records Rages for the Scion Label Showcase

The new Scion Label Showcase release for Earache Records features two songs from Vektor, the riders of thrash music’s post-apocalyptic landscape. These versions of “Cosmic Cortex” and “Tetrastructural Minds” were recorded in the beginning of 2013 at The Glass House in Pomona, California at a show that also included performances from Oceano, Bonded by Blood and White Wizzard.

Photos: Oceano, Vektor, Bonded by Blood, and White Wizzard at Scion Label Showcase

Vektor is most easily classified as a thrash metal band, but they also incorporate elements of progressive rock from the 1970s and science fiction from the 1980s. Though they’ve been around in different forms for over a decade now, the rest of the world is finally catching up to their unexpected take on the sound.

Guitarist and vocalist David DiSanto started the band 2002 in Arizona, eventually crystallizing the lineup with guitarist Erik Nelson, bassist Frank Chin and drummer Blake Anderson in time for their 2009 debut album Black Future. They followed it up with Outer Isolation in 2011, the release that includes the original version of both of the songs on this free Scion AV release. Now working with Earache Records and living out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vektor plans to release a new album later this year. Lookout for it. Also, Vektor will also be playing this year’s Scion Rock Fest in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 1.

Related: Full Scion Rock Fest 2013 Lineup Announced

Download Scion AV Presents: Label Showcase — Earache Records for free.

Watch an interview with Vektor to learn more about how they arrived at their sound, plus check out an interview with Oceano, another Earache Records act.

 Vektor Interview

Oceano Interview

For more information and content, visit Scion AV on our other channels.

One of the dopest channels on our Scion AV radio “dial” is hosted by SMOG Records, the Los Angeles-based dubstep label owned by 12th Planet, Danny United, and Drew Best. The label releases monster dancefloor tunes by the likes of Flinch, SPL, and Noah D (look out for their forthcoming 12^th Planet & Mayhem release on May 7). They’ve also thrown many truly sick parties around the LA area over the last few years at places like The Roxy and Orange County’s Observatory (and even won Red Bull’s massive Culture Clash soundclash event last year, beating out the likes of Dim Mak and Mad Decent.)

It’s no exaggeration to say that SMOG basically started the dubstep scene in LA, so we thought we would ask Drew for some SMOG history and also advice for you aspiring promoters out there. Scroll down and you can download a free EP Scion released from 12th Planet and friends.

When did you throw your first party, where, and who were the DJ guests?

I feel like SMOG was born to fill a void. In the beginning of 2006 there were people in LA who were listening to dubstep music, there were a couple guys who were even DJing it, but there wasn’t a place to go and truly experience it. I remember seeing videos on YouTube where people would film the ashtray bouncing off the table at Dub War in NYC or a wake of p***  splashing around the urinal trough in the bathroom at DMZ in London, all being caused by the intense bass that the dubstep nights were producing. I wanted to create something similar to that in LA because I knew people would gravitate towards it, so we set out to produce LA’s first all-dubstep event.

The first challenge we faced was: Where do we find enough dubstep DJs in LA to constitute an all-dubstep event? Between my friends Knyphy and Unit (who probably had identical record collections anyways) there weren’t many other local options. I had heard a rumor that local drum & bass producer Infiltrata (you might know him now as 12th Planet) was making some dubstep tracks so I gave him a call. We connected well on the phone but he had prior obligations to an out-of-state gig and turned it down. He did put us in contact with Nick Argon (of Argon Records), who was beginning to put out dubstep records in San Francisco. Nick was real into the idea of driving down to LA for our gig and brought fellow Bay Area producer Matty G along with him. Now we had a party! We advertised it as “An Experiment in Dubstep” and it was a free event at an Irish bar in Downtown LA. They had an outdoor patio and we setup a Turbosound sound system that spilled sub bass all throughout the city of LA. Dave Q from NYC’s Dub War also happened to be in town and he played a 30-minute set. People from all over Southern California came out, the party went off, and history was made.

Other than your residents, who is the DJ you have booked the most often at your party?

It’s easily Joe Nice from Dub War NYC. Joe was the original DJ in the USA that was playing the UK dubplates. Most of the UK guys did not have agents, visas or even passports to visit us in the USA, so Joe was the next best thing. He had spent a lot of time across the pond trading tunes and it earned him the Ambassador title that everyone has always joked about. He’s been a staple at Smog events over our nearly seven years of running.

What has been the best or craziest moment of SMOG so far? 

I think our 2011 event at the five-room Mekka Nightclub in Miami was the craziest. It was our first time in a new venue in another city, and we had hired about 50 DJs. We had the legendary Skream headlining the main room and Goldie with Metalheadz in another room. We gave one of the rooms to the then up-and-coming producer Skrillex, who brought with him Datsik and then unknown talent Zedd and Porter Robinson. We had a way bigger turnout than we an anticipated. The line to get in was wrapped around the building and down the block. People who had tickets to get in were offering to pay more money at the door since that line was shorter. It was kinda chaotic, but everything worked out and it turned out to be one of my favorite events we produced.

Related: Skream & Benga EP Release

What kind of parties did you grow up going to and how does that affect what you do now?

I grew up in Chicago and started attending dance music events in the mid-’90s. Chicago was home to some of the best music producers and DJs in the world at that time, so we had a lot of pride about it. I initially got into it through house and techno music. Being too young to go to the clubs, my only option was the underground rave events. I really loved the creativity that people put into the production. You felt like you were a part of a secret as you found yourself in old factory buildings, tunnels, laser tag parks or barns in the fields. This was that way all across the Midwest in cities like Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Minneapolis. My friends and I used to travel great distances and met amazing people along the way. It was an adventure. Eventually I found myself working in every facet of the scene. I was DJing, organizing my own events, running a photocopy ‘zine, working with lights and video… Whatever I could to push what we were doing further.

I really feel like that era shaped me in a lot of ways, which is evident with SMOG. When I arrived in LA ten years ago I got the impression that there was not a lot of local pride in their music. The promoters told you the best music in the world came from anywhere but LA. I didn’t feel the same sense of community with the producers, DJs, and record labels I had experienced in Chicago. This development of a true music community has been our biggest priority with SMOG. We didn’t want to throw a couple parties; we wanted to start a movement.

How long have you personally been throwing parties now?

Seventeen years now… which sounds like a lot, but I took a six-year break somewhere in there. I threw my first event when I was 16 at a roller rink on the Southside of Chicago. I had decided that if no one was going to book me as a DJ, I would throw my own parties to DJ at. It kind of worked—after that, I was networking with other promoters and they didn’t see me as this nagging kid to listen to my mixtape. Around 1999, I decided I needed to get a real career, so I went to film school for animation and graduated and moved to LA. Somehow I ended up right where I started, though I do a lot of different animation projects too.

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen go down in LA in the last few years? 

Without a doubt, it has been the music community in this city. That old LA scene that I discovered when I got here? That changed and suddenly LA was at the center of this new emerging music scene. I think right around 2005/2006 is when it started. That’s when Smog started, that’s when Low End Theory started, that’s when groups like Dim Mak and Iheartcomix started to emerge. Los Angeles became this wealth of music support and, like a magnet, the local talent found a new home. Before you know it, musicians from all over the world are relocating to LA, the clubs and events start to take off, and it’s been an exciting thing to be a part of.

Obviously there are many dubstep crews and labels. What is the vibe of SMOG that makes it unique? 

With our events, I think we have always been able to separate ourselves. We moved away from the Hollywood clubs and found a home in the LA rock venues. We just brought in our own soundsystems the same way we would at an underground event. I think we’ve been very good at selecting the right artists to work with, and which artists best compliment them. From a label standpoint, I think the Smog sound has an undeniable energy to it. Some of our music is made for the rave, some of it is made to enjoy at home. There is a common thread that connects it. I think all of us come from a drum & bass background, so maybe that is the secret ingredient in there. We are always in a transitional phase though, and have big plans to venture into some new and unexplored territories.

Which famous squad do your crew most resemble and why?

The A-Team. We’re a diverse group with many opposing skill sets, but fighting for one common good!

What’s your best piece of advice about running a record label? 

My best piece of advice would be to really do your research about how this business works. I’ve come across a few people who own labels, and they’re not really sure how things work. There are plenty of resources out there that can help explain the basics. I would also recommend to stay organized. It’s easy to let things slide a few months, but then you’re faced with a lot of paperwork down the road. I’ve had to learn that the hard way.

What’s your best piece of advice about throwing a party? 

Start small and grow. Do something easy at first, create a following, and your events will steadily grow. If you bite off more than you can chew, it can be a sore mistake.

What parties do you have coming up or big releases we should look for?

We have an event coming up at the Sunset Strip House of Blues on Saturday, May 11th called SMOG vs. Respect. The guys at Respect have been running their weekly drum & bass night in LA for 14 years now (!) and are all good friends of ours. This will be our third time doing this event and it’s a lot of fun. We make it a $5 show, we get our local guys to go against their local guys. Our DJ’s get to be the headliners and everyone comes out to represent for LA. We even take turns playing each others’ music, so it gets to be competitive but it’s all in good fun.

Other than that, we have a few of our successful Sunday Night Session events coming up soon with people like Seven, Author, and Kryptic Minds. Our Sunday night events were meant to be an alternative to the big weekend dubstep raves. By being on Sunday, we can make things a little more mellow and take people back to the roots of dubstep. It has created a cult-like following and it’s something I get really excited about.

Download Scion AV Presents 12th Planet – The End is Near!

12th Planet & Flinch – The End is Near Pt. 1

Flinch – Light It Up feat. Heather Bright

Benga Studio Tour

For more content and information check out our other channels.

We’re still recovering from two weekends in a row of wilding out in the desert of Palm Springs—gotta admit it’s really hard to get back to work right now. Even though our Coachella timelines were mainly full of shaky cellphone vids of the Daft Punk album ad, it didn’t escape us that Wu-Tang clan main man RZA joined James Blake—the London producer who is chill dance music’s man-of-the-moment—on stage on Sunday, April 21 to perform a special version of Blake’s “Take a Fall For Me,” a song that Blake has said reminded him of Wu-Tang when he made it. RZA even pulled a lucky babe out of the crowd to rap to amidst the fog and Blake’s romantic future bass sounds.

We checked online and RZA’s lyrics are both romantic and leftfield spiritual, with lines about the the elohim and poltergeists mixed with British words and him offering “Candlelight dinners of fish and chips with vinegar.” Melding highbrow and street style in true Wu-Tang fashion!

RZA has long been one of the most open-minded dudes in hip-hop—he’s a true Renaissance man, whether collaborating with director Jim Jarmusch or hard rockers System of a Down or writing his own books and movies. Back in December 2012, he collaborated with Scion and artist David Choe to create a limited-edition art print (sold in an edition of 13). We sold these at our Gift Show at the Scion AV Installation space (along with products from Blek Le Rat, French, and way more), and the proceeds benefitting Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in New York City. Alongside the Abbott of Wu-Tang Clan, the Gift Show was also attended by Russ Karablin from SSUR, Willie Toledo, photographers Angela Boatwright and Estaval Oriol and many more movers and shakers from LA and beyond.

Photos: RZA & David Choe Collaborate For Limited Edition Prints At Scion AV Installation’s “The Gift Show”

Photos: “The Gift Show” Opening Party at Scion AV Installation

Scroll below to see some of the other collaborations Scion AV has done with members of the Wu-Tang Clan.

For more content and information check out our other channels.

On April 17, an intimate crowd of contest winners witnessed the latest edition of  Scion AV Open Mic at Public Assembly in Brooklyn, New York. Scion AV Open Mic is a monthly series put on to showcase hip-hop’s most promising talent.

Headlining the night was hooded-up youngster Rockie Fresh. Coming out of Chicago with tight lyrics and a high-energy stage show, resh showed exactly why he caught the attention of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group. This night he also brought out MMG crewmate and beard master Stalley to spit some of his tracks.

It’s surprising there was even a stage left for Rockie Fresh to stand on following the explosive set from World’s Fair that preceded him. The New York City crew represented for their city and brought their people out for a wild performance. The deep team from Queens is definitely getting the whole city’s attention, with support from the city’s biggest DJs and one of its best labels. Though they’re known for destroying at venues around NYC, they’ll soon start bringing their madness to the rest of the world.

[PHOTOS: Killer Mike Crushes Scion AV Open Mic]

The first performer of the night was Julian Malone, another Chicago act, but one who recently signed to Stones Throw Records. This was Malone’s first performance in New York City and the crowd could tell they were witnessing something special. Talent like this doesn’t come through every day. Be ready for Malone to make lots of noise and get lots of attention in the coming years. You saw it here first.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Scion AV Open Mic and to DJ Getlive!, who kept the music going all night long.

Maybach Music’s new signee Rockie Fresh spittin’.

Rapper Jeff Donna of World’s Fair shows some leftfield denim swag.

Clowning around with Jeff Donna, Cody B Ware and Prince Samo of World’s Fair.

Remy Banks of World’s Fair and Children of the Night gettin’ low.

Cody B. Ware going hammertime.

Fans throwin’ bows.

Stones Throw’s new signing, MC/producer Julian Malone, hypes the crowd.

Julian Malone lookin’ suave as…

Rockie Fresh and Stalley.

For more content and information check out our other channels.

In March, the Scion Motivate project brought 50 young entrepreneurs to Santa Monica for the final stage of this nation-wide competition. The contestants spent two days in workshops led by experts where they learned about key aspects of running a small business, ranging from fundraising, to developing an online presence, to creating a visual identity, to making sales. Each day started and ended each day with a keynote interview with someone whose story could inspire them. 

The final night of Scion Motivate, before the big checks came out for the 10 winners, featured an interview with documentarian and videographer Levi Maestro, conducted by writer and columnist Simon Dumenco. A self-taught filmmaker through his own skateboarding videos, Maestro originally moved to Los Angeles to learn to be a music video director. Unfortunately just as he came to the city, the music video industry went into a deep decline and all the budgets dried up. Maestro assessed his options and talents, then he decided to create his own web video series called Maestro Knows where he profiles celebrities, his friends and his celebrity friends. But the real innovation of Maestro Knows was Maestro’s decision to partner with brands to sponsor each episode.

Photos: “Here I Am, There I Go” From Levi Maestro Opens at Scion AV Installation

In the following years, new opportunities for Maestro have continued to spring from Maestro Knows. He’s collaborated with many brands and consulted for them as well. He’s worked with Scion on projects that take him away from strictly his filmmaking roots. In February of 2013, Maestro put together Here I Am, There I Go, at the Scion AV Installation space in Los Angeles for the first exhibit of his art and designs, which included hats, multi-media fine art pieces, apparel and much more.

You can now watch a portion of Levi Maestro’s keynote address at Scion Motivate, as well as an interview with him about the Here I Am, There I Go show.

For more content and information check out our other channels.

Lunice is one of the many young artists that Scion AV is working with who pushes the boundaries of what hip-hop can be. The young producer remains one of 2013′s hottest prospects, as listeners wait to hear what he’ll unleash next through both his solo work and his project TNGHT with Hudson Mohawke. Lunice is capable of blending disparate movements into his music, incorporating bass-heavy sounds like trap music, the skittering snares of Chicago’s juke and his own percussive flexing on the MPC. Sometimes listening to these compositions can feel like you’re hearing the personal video game soundtrack playing in Lunice’s mind.

Befitting his unorthodox sound, Lunice got deeply into music through the unexpected songs he chose to break dance to as a teen in Montreal. He soon began making his own music at home using FruityLoops software. In the intervening years he’s released a pair of EPs and a pair of singles on the LuckyMe and Souther Hospitality labels, respectively. After a hometown DJ gig opening for Diplo, the two went on to work together on remixes for indie rockers Deerhunter and Julianna Barwick. Another friend and collaborar is Harlem hellion Azealia Banks—that’s Lunice goofing around with her in the mega-popular video for “212″ and he produced the song “Runnin’” off her Fantasea mixtape from 2012. But so far Lunice’s most fruitful partnership has been with Scottish producer Hudson Mohawke as TNGHT. Though their self-titled debut EP is only five songs long, it landed on many of 2012′s Best Of lists and even got the attention of Kanye West, who made a surprise cameo during the duo’s show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn last December. 

To get further acquainted with Lunice, check out a video interview with him as well a Scion AV-produced introductory video for TNGHT.

For more content and information check out our other channels.

As of April 9, beat scene goddess Tokimonsta dropped her new album, Half Shadows, via dance music giants Ultra Records. It’s a surprising move for Brainfeeder’s first lady, who first made her name fellowshipping with the likes of Flying Lotus and Samiam at small club nights, cafes and leftfield hip-hop ciphers around Los Angeles. But since traveling with Skrillex on his eclectic Full Flex Express tour and playing alongside the likes of Wolfgang Gartner and Tiësto, Toki (born Jennifer Lee) is no stranger to winning over big-room house and dubstep crowds with her introspective and heady low-end theories.

On the new record, Toki collaborates with a cool line-up of vocalists, including legendary rapper/alien Kool Keith, avant-pop group MNDR, rising LA star Gavin Turek, and R&B/soul singers Andreya Triana and Jesse Boykins III (who, like Toki, are also alumni of the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy). These voices add even more layers to an album that’s already full of personality and her trademark laid-back and hazy beatscapes – always full of pure, distilled Californian cool. The record is reportedly inspired by Kafka On the Shore, a 2002 novel from the enigmatic Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and it definitely seems there are some intricate plot lines (as well as poppy hooks) weaving through this experimental hip-hop journey. Half Shadows  truly puts the “trip” in trip-hop.

You can vibe out to – and buy! – the impressive new record here, but in the meantime we’ve got some exclusive Tokimonsta content just for you. Last year, Toki touched down at our 2012 Scion Music(less) Conference, and offered some important advice, inspiration and insight for up-and-coming musicians alongside moombahton main man Dave Nada and NYC producer Nick Hook. You can watch one of the many videos below, then scroll down even further to score yourself a free download of an amazing 11-track EP from Analogue Monsta, Tokimonsta’s cool side project with Suzi Analogue. Perfect music for coastal drives, morning coffee and chilling in the sun!

DOWNLOAD ANALOGUE MONSTA’S BOOM FOR FREE!

For more content and information check out our other channels.

RSVP now for Scion Rock Fest, happening on June 1, 2013, in Memphis, Tennessee. Rock Fest is a free event but you must RSVP to attend, so don’t flake on this.

Over 30 acts are scheduled to appear, including thrash legends Testament, masters of heavy weirdness Melvins, new thrash champions Municipal Waste, early doom merchants The Obsessed, new doom upstarts Pallbearer, progressive Southerners Royal Thunder and adventurous blasters Vektor.

Rock Fest offers free admission with ticket. Maximum one (1) ticket per person. Must be 21+ to gain entry to Club 152. Must be 18+ to gain entry to Band Box. All ages are welcome at New Daisy Theater and Hard Rock. Early arrival is suggested as space is limited. Entry is NOT guaranteed. Line up subject to change.

To check out some of Scion AV’s other crushing metal events, download two free songs recorded at Scion Label Showcase: Roadburn Records and watch an interview with Earthless.

For more content and information check out our other channels.

From Rick Ross’ mighty Maybach Music Group imprint – home to artists including Wale, Meek Mill and French Montana – arises the soft-spoken but hard-hitting Chicago dude known as Rockie Fresh. He caught the eye of Mr. Rozay (and Diddy’s Bad Boy, with whom he almost signed) thanks to two highly acclaimed mixtapes, 2010′s The Otherside and 2012 mixtape Driving 88. And despite his chill vibes, you could definitely say 21-year-old Rockie’s been on his grind, working with the likes of Nipsey Hussle, Curren$y and even pop-punkers Good Charlotte.

Rockie recently dropped his first Maybach mixtape, Electric Highway, on January 21 (you can download it here), along with a truly dope video for “Nobody” that shows him cruising a Delorean through a neon-hued digital future. On April 17 – the day after his 22nd birthday – Rockie Fresh will play an exclusive Scion Open Mic event in Brooklyn alongside World’s Fair, Julian Malone and DJ Getlive! The event is free but you have to win tickets – AND THE CONTEST ENDS TOMORROW! Details below.

THE ONLY WAY TO ATTEND THE EVENT IS TO PARTICIPATE IN A SWEEPSTAKES ON TWITTER OR ON INSTAGRAM. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: 

On Twitter the sweepstakes ends April 12, 2013. To enter, users must write a tweet that mentions “@ScionAV” and includes the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic.”There is a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Twitter to attend the event.

On Instagram the sweepstakes ends April 12, 2013. To enter, users have to repost the sweepstakes photo posted on the @ScionAV Instagram account, and include a mention of “@ScionAV” and the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic” in the caption. @ScionAV will be posting the image a few times during the entry period. There’s a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Instagram to attend the event.

The Scion Music(less) Music Conference of 2012 gathered over 70 experts for two days of panels, workshops and interviews directed towards people interested in expanding their creative possibilities and gaining insights on how the music industry works. Some of the most helpful events featured in-depth advice from behind the scenes experts who know about the realities of making a career in music and what is necessary to make that happen.

This year’s Scion Music(less) Music Conference featured participants representing labels and companies including Third Man, Big Cartel, Spotify, SoundCloud, Relapse, Fool’s Gold, Blue Collar Distro, Dim Mak, StatusPeople, Ole, Winogradsky/Sobel and many more. The topics they covered ranged from Avenues for Online Commerce and Vinyl Developments to Truth in Social Media and Licensing.

For full videos of all the panels, workshops and interviews from the Scion Music(less) Music Conference check out our YouTube channel.

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The Scion Music(less) Music Conference of 2012 featured insights from some of the metal world’s top creative and industry thinkers. At the conference, several hundred invited guests came to Hollywood to take in panels, workshops and interviews about music’s most pressing issues and to find out about new directions where they can take their careers.

Frank Kozik and Jermaine Rogers dropped knowledge on the business side of music’s visual art world. Prolific director David Brodsky talked about how to make a video that will stand up to the power of the song. Rennie Jaffe of Relapse Records broke down the importance of merchandising in metal. Dave Sweetapple of Tee Pee Records and Roadburn Records covered the fundamentals of selling vinyl online.

Check out the preview video below. For full videos of all the panels, workshops and interviews from the Scion Music(less) Music Conference check out our YouTube channel.

New Jersey garage pioneer Todd Edwards moved to L.A. recently, and also just officially announced his work on Daft Punk’s highly anticipated Random Access Memories album, forthcoming on May 21. He recently talked to Vice’s Creator’s Project about working with house music’s favorite androids, but we thought you might want some more insight into why the Daft Punk dudes were so keen to have Todd on-board.

Below, we share with you a studio tour of Todd’s impressive analog set-up, where you’ll gain some insight into how he derived the highly cut-up and sampladelic sound that is his signature. Then watch a video interview from Scion’s Music(less) Conference, where Vivian Host (a.k.a. Star Eyes of Trouble & Bass) finds out more about Todd’s back story and what inspires him to create. To tie it all together, stream Todd’s infectious “I Might Be,” complete with remixes from Joy Orbison, MJ Cole and more!

STUDIO TOUR WITH TODD EDWARDS

INTERVIEW FROM THE SCION MUSIC(LESS) CONFERENCE

STREAM THE I MIGHT BE EP

The Scion Music(less) Music Conference returned to Los Angeles in October of 2012. Killer Mike dropped knowledge alongside Action Bronson and Harry Fraud. TOKiMONSTA delivered the truth with co-panelists Dave Nada and Nick Hook. While other more behind the scenes figures like Patrick “The Captain” Rood of Trouble & Bass, Nick Catchdubs and Andre Torres of Wax Poetics gave uncommon insights.

Watch the preview below and check out our YouTube channel for videos of all the panels, workshops and interviews from the Scion Music(less) Music Conference.

You haven’t really lived unless you’ve thrown the goat at a metal show at least once . Every year at Scion’s free metal events – the massive Rock Fest and our label showcases with the likes of Relapse and Metal Blade –  we capture tons of bandmembers and fans flashing all sorts of hand signs, from the comical to the totally terrifying. After you check out these epic photos, don’t forget to RSVP to the Scion Rock fest 2013 in Memphis, featuring Testament and The Melvins. Make it to the bottom of this post to check out the entire lineup plus interviews with and free music from Roadburn Records.

Party ’til you puke at the Earache Records Showcase at the Glass House in Pomona.

Always amazing thrash dudes Vektor prepare to shred at the Earache 25th Anniversary showcase.

Serious multi-tasking: posing, crowd-surfing and keeping it totally metal at the same time at Scion Rock Fest 2011 in Pomona, California.

Joyful goat-throwage going on at the Relapse Records showcase at The Roxy in Hollywood.

Ladylike rock fists, crazy eye rolling and lace-up leathers at the recent Roadburn Records showcase.

Very serious horns being thrown under a sinister red light during Cattle Decapitation’s set at last year’s Metal Blade Showcase.

Bonded by Blood deliver premium goat-throwing at the Earache Records event.

Make sure you check out interviews and download free new music from progressive metal label Roadburn Records here and throw some goat signs of your own!

CABLE KNIT: LETTERPRESS COASTERS (SET OF 4)

For this set of coasters we painstakingly created a cable knit pattern inspired by warm and fuzzy knit sweaters and scarves. Next we letterpressed each coaster one-by-one with subtle warm silver gray hand mixed ink on our 100 year old hand fed Chandler & Price printing press. The result is a perfect place to rest your steaming mug of hot chocolate or a nice frothy cappuccino. We love the graphic statement they make around the house, studio or office. Never fear! The ink will not run when they get wet! Handmade in Atlanta, GA. USA!!

You Get:

• Ultra Thick Paper
• 4″ Round Coasters
• Letterpress Printed
• Hand Mixed Warm Silver Grey Ink

NUMBERED COASTERS

I was thrilled to get my hands on this set of antique wood type… Each number has its own character from years of printing. This is my first project using this typeface and I am so excited about the finished product!

Each coaster in this collection is hand fed into our Chandler & Price letterpress and hand typeset using a single number 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. We chose a black ink on white coasters for a timeless graphic statement. Don’t worry, the ink will not run when it gets wet. These super thick 3.5″ round coasters love to get letterpressed! They also hold up for dozens of uses as long as you don’t spill colored liquid on them.

You get:

• 10 ultra thick 3.5″ pub coasters
• One of each number 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Red Bird Ink is an art, design, and letterpress studio located in Atlanta, Georgia. They design and produce limited edition art prints, stationery, and home goods. Their perspective is what makes them special. They see familiar things in unexpected ways and their ability to simplify and filter out the inessential gives their clients the opportunity to appreciate everyday life from a fresh frame of reference. Red Bird Ink offers design and letterpress print services for most anything with paper and ink.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Roadburn is the latest entity featured in Scion AV’s Scion Label Showcase series. What began as a website, Roadburn has developed into a  global force for experimental and adventurous sounds in heavy music. They are now best known for putting together the four-day Roadburn Festival in Holland and their own imprint, Roadburn Records.

The new Scion Label Showcase: Roadburn Records release is a split featuring live recordings of “Red” by Earthless and “Under Skin or by Name” from White Hills. They were recorded at the Scion Label Showcase event last November at the Roxy in West Hollywood. Both of these cosmic blasters are available for free download and are sure to flip your mind around a few billion times.

We also talked to Jean-Paul Van Steen and Jurgen Van Den Brand, two of the key figures behind Roadburn’s success, about how they have developed their strategy to connect with listeners and how they have built their record label.

Before Roadburn’s free Scion Label Showcase event in Los Angeles, we taped interviews acts with Enslaved, Earthless and White Hills, three veteran and tremendous bands who performed that day. 

“The Most High” by Terror gets the life of the road treatment for the Scion AV Video Series. The gritty black and white imagery captutres the fans, the friends, the influences and the reality of being dedicated to hardcore for decades. “The Most High” is from Terror’s soon-to-be released album Live by the Code and the video was directed by Carlo Opperman.

One of the bands that Terror pays tribute to in “The Most High” video is H20, who recently filmed and interview with Scion AV.

For more hardcore, download live tracks from Bridge Nine artists Expire and and Control on the Scion Label Showcase: Bridge Nine release.

Hey Meshuggah fans! We are giving away 20 vinyl test pressings of Meshuggah’s “Pitch Black.” The only way to get one is to enter our Instagram contest! To enter, follow us on Instagram (@ScionAV) and repost the image above and include “#ScionAV #Meshuggah” in the caption. We’ll be giving away five vinyls per week for the next four weeks.

Here are the official rules: http://www.scionav.com/blog/scion-av-meshuggah-test-pressing-instagram-sweepstakesofficial-rules

Last month, Swedish metal giants Meshuggah wrapped up The Ophidian Trek 2013: The 2nd Slithering, a massive tour of heavy metal mayhem that snaked its way across all of North America, from Orlando, Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada. With the support of Scion, the kings of polyrhythmic thrash also released two new free EPs, Pitch Black and I Am Colossus. Check out these exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from Meshuggah’s 2012-2013 long, strange trip.

If you’re a real metal fan, make sure you keep scrolling after the photos for details to download Pitch Black and I Am Colossus for free!

Meshuggah setting up their amazing psychedelic tour art work (based on the cover of their most recent album Koloss) by Kathmandu-based artist Luminokaya.

The band thrashes the stage at Chicago’s House of Blues.

The band cutting-out a cardboard version of vocalist Jens Kidman to take on tour with them.

Cardboard Jens throws the goat!

A behind-the-scenes shot of Tomas Haake’s massive drum kit.

A coffee refueling moment in Philly before the band played the Theatre of the Living Arts.

See the world like drummer Tomas does: a couple views of Roseland Ballroom from behind the kit.

See the world like drummer Tomas does: a couple views of Terminal 5 from behind the kit.

Cardboard Jens makes a ghostly appearance.

Tomas Haake pursues the American Way in Portland… with chili fries and Buffalo wings.

Meshuggah squints in the streets of Seattle.

A green-lit balcony view from House of Blues Boston.

 A fiery stage as seen from the backstage monitors. Spooky!

Many of the workshop leaders and keynote speakers at Scion Motivate were drawn from Scion’s broad community of creative collaborators. Below are a just a few of the people who were involved and some previous Scion AV projects they’ve been involved with.

Levi Maestro makes and hosts the video series Maestro Knows. He spoke to the attendees about his own story and helped lead the workshop about Expanding the Size & Services of Your Company. Previously Maestro had his own exhibit at the Scion AV Installation gallery, plus he and Scion AV put together a soundtrack for his trip across the country, which is available for free download.

Erik Lavoie has been part of VICE for the past 18 years, seeing it through its transformation from a Montreal punk zine into a leading global media company. He is currently in charge of developing new divisions within the company, such as AdVICE, VICE’s partner site network for video distribution. At Scion Motivate he spoke at the Growing Sales workshop. VICE has worked with Scion on many projects over the years, most recently the Young Americans video series directed by Lance Bangs.

James Friedman is the head of the Throne of Blood record label and is also a lawyer who co-owns the company Passé Publishing. He headed up the Scion Motivate workshop on Legal Issues. Here he talks about his involvement in dance music.

Loana dP Valencia handles of publicity and video promotion for the independent metal label Nuclear Blast.  Her Scion Motivate workshop covered online development. Scion featured live recordings from several Nuclear Blast artists on the recent Scion Label Showcase: Nuclear Blast release, which is available as a free download.

Nikao Yang of AdColony, a startup that develops video ads for online games and aps, also participated in the Online Development Panel. Yang helped developed the Scion AV Radio app.

Shawn Carrano works at The Artery Foundation, a management company he co-founded that represents over 90 acts. He spoke on the Scion Motivate workshop about Marketing, Publicity and Promotion. One of the acts he represents is Revocation, who put out a free EP on Scion AV last year.

Dust La Rock is a respected artist who works as the creative director of Fool’s Gold Records. He appeared on the Scion Motivate panel about Creating a Visual Identity. Fool’s Gold star Danny Brown released the single for his song “Grown Up” on Scion AV last year.

The Scion Music(less) Music Conference gathers dozens of artists and behind the scenes experts to discuss crucial ideas and smart approaches for  a successful career in music. They share their knowledge in panels, workshops and interviews. As a supplement the Scion Music(less) Music Conference, we film visits to the studios of producers from a range of genres to get a look at the equipment they use and the environments they’ve created.

Here are five videos featuring Jazzy Jeff, Party Supplies, Bare, Poolside and Nick Hook, some of the leading lights of dance music and hip-hop.

Jazzy Jeff is a legend since the 1980s and in his suburban home he’s custom built a studio where he can both develop his DJ routines and produce music. Along with his top of the line contemporary gear, he’s even got a classic Neve mixing console

Party Supplies takes us to his spot in Brooklyn where he recreates his beat for Danny Brown’s “Grown Up” and plays some of the new tracks he’s working on, all using his trusty Akai MPC 1000 sampler.

Dubstep titan Bare lets us into his place in Downtown Los Angeles and illustrates how he spends hours tinkering with his effects-heavy sounds.

Filip Nikolic of Poolside opens up the Los Angeles poolhouse studio that gave his group its name. In his ramshackle space he quickly puts together the start of a new daytime disco jam.

Nick Hook is a producer, engineer and DJ in New York City who also has extensive experience playing in bands. He takes us through his vintage keyboard and drum machine collection before showing that he can work digitally as well.

For more video content from Scion Music(less) Conference 2012, check out our YouTube playlist.

New York’s Nick Hook is many things to many people: DJ, producer, engineer, sake enthusiast, infamous redhead… He even moonlights as Doctor Nick, giving very savvy business and relationship advice to the fine readers of XLR8R magazine.

Given his penchant for making things work out right – and the recent release of his free EP, Without You, for Scion AV (download it for free below) – we rang up the Hookemon and asked him to give us some sage tips on collaborating in the studio and also tell us a bit more about some of the people he’s worked with along the way (many of whom appear on the EP). After you’re suitably inspired, scroll down further to stream or download Without You for free!

You’ve collaborated with a lot of people. Can you give us some advice about how to make things go smoothly in the studio? 
I think this answer can relate to many things but taking your time, leaving your ego behind and communication are, to me, the essential keys in making music. As with anything, you are good at some things and bad at some things; if you feel comfortable letting these vulnerabilities show, your strengths are going to come at the same time. Hopefully you made something with someone that neither of you were capable of on your own and it was a memorable experience in the process – hence the term record. It’s not just the music that’s going on record but that image that is burned in your mind of the process. It’s also important to know that sometimes it just might not work. That’s completely okay.

What was your most nightmarish collaboration and why? 
I think a lot of them turn out to be the best ones. The people that are hard to work with are generally incredibly gifted and speedy at their craft, and you might be the opposite. You either sink or swim, and I’m still trying to become a better swimmer everyday.

What is your dream collaboration? 
I’d love to work with Kraftwerk, Bootsy Collins, Organized oise and Outkast, Dre, Deftones, Kendrick Lamar. I’d love to track drums with Dave Grohl. The list could literally go on forever, but mostly I think we are creating our own legacy right now and the people I am creating with now are the ones that I always dreamed of working with.

Should you ever ask to collaborate with someone or should you just let it come about naturally?
If you are comfortable with them, absolutely. If not, be careful because it gets kinda scary. Usually a long night of partaking in things leads to the natural discussion of, “Hey, I f**k with you,” and usually said person says the same thing.

What do you have coming out next that we should look out for?
I made a little EP with Vin Sol and Matrixxman called I Can Feel It. It’s coming out on a dope label called Classicworks from Barcelona. A bunch of various stuff in the works that I’m really excited about that I don’t wanna jinx yet, and I’m starting to formulate my next project.

Tell us a little bit about some of the people that you’ve worked with…

El-P
The master. Our musical relationship started via my friend Daryl Palumbo (of Glassjaw and Head Automatica) and Yak Balls. I first started working with El as a live player in his band. I did some Ableton work and keys and stuff. It was incredibly amazing getting to literally go through a majority of El’s catalog preparing the show. He’s truly one of the greats when it comes to hip-hop production and how to make music make you feel things. Since then, I helped engineer some vocals for El on his last album and actually last night, I was recording him and Killer Mike for some stuff they are currently working on. I always envisioned us making beats together on a project of mine, but me and Rood cooked up this sick beat one day that ended up being “Sirens” and it ended up being something perfect for El to rap on. I love his verse so much on it.

Andrea Balency
Andrea is an alien. She’s the greatest at everything. It’s just a matter of time before she sells 23 million records and I don’t know how to get ahold of her anymore, but it’s cool for now. We’ve worked on a lot of stuff since we met at the Red Bull Music Academy. Our workflow is pretty insane and it’s ’cause we communicate so well. We’ve written a mob of music and it always flows like water ’cause we have so much fun. I sent her most of the music while she was in Mexico, then she came out to LA and we tracked vocals and listened to KDAY for a week. I showed her the secret that the god of percussion Lenny Castro adds to the track too.

Machinedrum
I can’t say enough about Travis. Him and Hudson Mohawke are the dalai lamas of what we do. They make you want to quit music and also inspire you to work as hard as you can for the rest of your life at the same time. Didn’t even think we would work together but I think Trav hit me one day he was in town and it ended up great. We were both vegetarian for so long; since I broke, I always end up asking veggie cats if they are still veggie and he was like, “Nah, I eat burgers now.” We went and got a burger at Five Leaves in Brooklyn – medium rare, of course. After that, we cut up some amens and had a blast. The song originally had an amazing He-Man sample before the drop but we had to take it out. Still always secretly want someone to voice this track.

The Gaslamp Killer
Willie is the best. Myself, Computer Jay and GLK chilled in Jay’s basement and cooked up a track. Willie told us to erase the first idea, which was maybe the pinnacle of the session ’cause we ended up with the song we wrote. I spent so much time in L.A. in the past few years that I needed something from the West on my record. This song reminds me of all the good, bad and weird things of 2011 out there.

L-Vis 1990
I wouldn’t be here without L-Vis. He was the first person to give me a shot to do a project that wasn’t a band of my own. We wrote a whole record together and actually made a beat yesterday. L-Vis has the most amazing imagination – it’s really inspiring. He’s one of my favorites. The best part of making this record with L-Vis was connecting in a life way forever. From the beginning to the end, we were both in rough spots in our lives and being there for each other to work them out is really why I love doing this so much.

STREAM OR DOWNLOAD THE NEW NICK HOOK BELOW:

Follow Scion AV for the latest releases, events, downloads, and video content.

Facebook – facebook.com/SCIONAV

YouTube – youtube.com/SCIONAV

Twitter – @ScionAV

Instagram – @ScionAV

On Tuesday, we announced the massive lineup for Scion Rock Fest 2013 on June 1 in Memphis, Tennessee, a bone-crushing all-day event headlined by metal gods Testament and The Melvins, plus Municipal Waste, Whitechapel, Corrosion of Conformity and so many more. RSVP for the totally free Rock Fest opens on April 12, but while you wait, practice your goat-throwing with the help of these live videos from Scion Rock Fest 2012.

First up is Down, the band fronted by Phil Anselmo of Pantera and CoC’s Pepper Keenan, performing the utterly heavy “Bury Me in Smoke” off their legendary debut record NOLA.

California stoner doom dudes Sleep get sludgy and psychedelic with the hypnotic shredder “Dragonaut.”

Experimental Japanese noise god Merzbow performs with homemade instruments and tape loops alongside Balasz Pandi and Oxbow.

Watch a whole collection of videos from Scion Rock Fest 2012, including interviews and performances by Psychic TV, Cerebral Ballzy, Sick of It All and Suffocation in one place by visiting our YouTube  playlist.

Bootsy Collins sat down with Scion AV for an illuminating interview. The star-eyed funk legend has been in the music game for over 40 years and has plenty of knowledge to share. Collins grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and unexpectedly became part of two incredible and undeniable bands: the J.B.’s and Parliament-Funkadelic. He developed a unique bass-playing style that helped define the sound of funk and whose influence would reach far beyond that world, taking hold of rock & roll, hip-hop and dance music. In the past few decades he has not only continued making his own music, but has played on and contributed to recordings of some the days’ rising stars.

In the first part of the interview, the Collins discusses the creative relationship he was fortunate to have with two music icons, James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, and George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic.

In the second part of the interview Colins weighs in on the importance of understanding the business side of being a working musician, contrasting the approaches (or in one case, a lack of an approach) of Brown and Clinton.

As part of the recent Scion Motivate program, Collins gave a tour of his native Cincinnati and offered his insights on the importance of mentors in developing your career. Scion Motivate was a recent contest where 50 young entrepreneurs were selected to come to Los Angeles to learn more about operating a small business, and 10 of whom were rewarded with $10,000, a new Scion and a their own mentor. Watch a video that shows Collins own roots and how his career flourished from them.

And now that the funk is on your mind, download InnaFocusedDaze, a free EP from Scion AV and Dam-Funk and, a master of modern funk.

One goal of the Scion Music(less) Music Conference is to give the nitty gritty details of what it takes to have a career in music. To accomplish this, Scion features a series of workshops that layi out the essentials for establishing a strong knowledge base. Each workshop is led by a expert in their respective field.

We filmed these discussions and now you can preview the intro segments from some of them.

David Weitzman works at the ole, one of world’s largest independent music publishers,  as the Director of Business  Development for the Los Angeles team. He has over 15 years of experience in the music business, ranging from A&R and radio promotion to digital music development and distribution to music supervision. He led a workshop on Publishing, which is essential for any artist’s long-term financial stablility.

AJ Finizio has worked in music, events, and marketing for over 15 years.  After running the digital distribution and licensing department at Studio Distribution, Finizio launched seed, a boutique digital distribution, licensing, and marketing house located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. His workshop covered Online Music Sales and the Reality Behind Distribution.

Kristin Lee Geisler is a business manager at deBlois, Mejia & Kaplan in Beverly Hills, California. Geisler focuses her accounting practice on multi-state and multi-national touring and recording artists, but maintains a diverse clientele including some of the top writers, actors, comedians, and other players in the entertainment industry. For here Finance 101 panel, she laid out the first steps any artist should take to establish themselves as a business.

David Brodsky is a veteran music video director with hundreds of credits to his name. He often directs, shoots and edits his own pieces. His workshop How to Make a Badass Video gets at what it takes emotionally and practically to create a music video that will stand out from the rest.

Check out some of the other workshops, keynote speakers, and panelists on our Scion AV YouTube playlist.

TRIPTIC TEARDROP RING

Everything is best in threes. This fun and funky ring is made of three layers of acrylic — brown, orange and ivory — cut into teardrop shapes and set together in a fanned out formation.

The ring is cut from three pieces of 3mm acrylic and sticks up approximately 0.35″ above your fingers. It adds a playful and whimsical fashion sense to your style at a low price.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Plastique* is a Los Angeles based jewelry company owned by graphic designer, Jen Murse. The company started as a hobby and grew steadily over time. As a result of Jen’s keen sense for clean design, the pieces have a very modern and minimalistic look to them. All of the jewelry is made from acrylic that has been laser cut. Jen designs and assembles all the jewelry herself. From initial designs on the computer to assembly and packaging, it’s all done piece by piece in her modest office space. As a result, no two pieces are 100% alike.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Every month Scion throws a totally bonkers hip-hop show in Brooklyn called Open Mic. These intimate events feature your favorite artists up close and personal – past guests have include the A$AP Mob, Trinidad James, Harry Fraud, and Hot Sugar among others. (See pictures from last month’s killer event featuring Killer Mike here). This month the madness continues, with Rockie Fresh, World’s Fair, and Julian Malone turning up to rock the stage at Public Assembly on April 17. The only way to get into this special show is by winning a golden ticket… and info on how you can do that is below.

And after you finish all that Tweeting and Instagramming, scroll down for a rad exclusive video interview with Brooklyn’s up-and-coming rap sensations Flatbush Zombies.

THE ONLY WAY TO ATTEND THE SCION OPEN MIC EVENT IS TO PARTICIPATE IN A SWEEPSTAKES ON TWITTER OR ON INSTAGRAM. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: 

On Twitter the sweepstakes runs from March 27 to April 12, 2013. To enter, users must write a tweet that mentions “@ScionAV” and includes the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic”. There is a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Twitter to attend the event.

On Instagram the sweepstakes runs from March 27 to April 12, 2013. To enter, users have to repost the sweepstakes photo posted on the @ScionAV Instagram account, and include a mention of “@ScionAV” and the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic” in the caption. @ScionAV will be posting the image a few times during the entry period. There’s a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Instagram to attend the event.

Official Rules:
Twitter - http://www.scionav.com/blog/scion-open-mic-twitter-sweepstakesofficial-rules
Instagram - http://www.scionav.com/blog/scion-open-mic-instagram-sweepstakesofficial-rules

Gluekit recently opened their Long Play exhibit at the Scion AV Installation space in Los Angeles. The duo created a broad and beautiful range of products that are now available for purchase that includes everything from a collection of publication to skateboards to pillows. Long Play will be up until April 17 and the Scion AV Installation is open on Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 7pm.

Below is the rundown of what’s available.

“Number Two Futura” and “Number Six Futura” Bookends design by Gluekit. $35

Prototype. White powder-coated set of two steel bookends. Made in the USA.

Cube Bookends design by Gluekit. $35

Purple powder-coated set of two steel bookends. Made in the USA.

Brick Bookends design by Gluekit. $35

Red powder-coated set of two steel bookends. Made in the USA.

Zee-Zee Top design by Gluekit. $500

Powder-coated steel end tables.  Available in red or blue.  Made in the USA. 12 x 12 x 18 inches.

“The Present” Clock design by Gluekit. $500

Powder-coated steel clock. Available in red or blue. Made in the USA. 14 inches.

“Not Art” Skateboard design by Gluekit. $50

2 color silkscreen. Maple wood.  Made in California.

Brick Moleskine design by Gluekit. $80

Classic Moleskine notebook wrapped in a handmade 100% natural vegetable-tanned leather case. 5 ½ x 8 ¾ inches with case.

Yin-Yang et Vous design by Gluekit. $28

Blue type on red 100% cotton t-shirt. Available in unisex sizes S/M/L/XL/XXL

Brick Pillow design by Gluekit. $40

100% linen cotton pillow case with red brick design. 14 x 14 inches.

Youth of / Break Down the Walls LP design by Gluekit. $15

Original album by Youth of Today.

Les Créateurs Graphiques, Vol. 1 curated and designed by Gluekit. Published by Draw Down Books.

Personal photographs selected by designers and artists. “Parents” is the theme for this volume. Contributors: Keri Bronk, Benjamin Critton, Deanne Cheuk, Dan Funderburgh, Adam R. Garcia, Michael C. Hsieung, Zeynab Izadyar, Brian Janusiak, Zak Jensen, Mike Joyce, Mike Krol, Yenwei Lui, Angie Myung, Christine Moog, Mike Perry, Jaewon Seok, Anna Wolf, and Forest Young. Open edition, 2012. 32 pages.

To Ti Esti Poster design by Gluekit

Double-sided typographic poster. To ti esti translates from the Greek as “the what that is. ” 22 ½ x 33 inches.

Pretty Much curated and designed by Gluekit. Published by Draw Down Books. $20

Black and white portraiture by eight contemporary photographers: Henry Gaudier-Greene, Gracie Hagen, Fox Harvard, Olivia Lazer, Francisco Marin, Nick Nemphos, Michal Pudelka, and Greta Tu. First edition, 2013. 16 pages.

Luck design by Gluekit. Published by Draw Down Books. $7

Isaac McKay-Randozzi’s analog photographs of skateboarding, street culture, and everyday observations. First edition, 2012. Printed in numbered edition of 500. 16 pages.

—Long Play design by Gluekit. $5

Exhibition catalog, 8 pages. 22 ½ x 16 ½ inches.

Haunted design by Gluekit. Published by Draw Down Books. $10

Feature images by photographer Andy Reaser of a single subject, Amanda Jones. First edition, 2012. Printed in numbered edition of 525. 32 pages.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Beloved Los Angeles DJ (Thee) Mike B (born Mike Brillstein) has had a crazy career that’s spanned working for Madonna’s record label, opening for Junior Vasquez at legendary NYC club Twilo and DJing for the likes of Slash and Ludacris. These days, he can be found at parties around L.A. and the world — he’s as comfortable rocking a high-end bottle service spot as the most dirty and downlow dive bar. Since this month marks the one-year anniversary of Mike’s awesome Scion Radio show, we found out a bit more about what he likes to play, where he likes to go and all the amazing music he’s about to release on labels including Fool’s Gold, Mad Decent and Jesse Rose’s Play It Down.

And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to stream this month’s show, featuring special guests Joyce Muniz and Matpat. Keep going and you’ll get a free download of Mike B’s seven-track Tite at Night compilation plus watch he and Steven Bloodbath’s video for the dub-fueled dance track “Iration,” featuring cameos from Omar Doom, Matty Pipes and Jen Lasher.

How would you describe the style of music you like/play? 
The most honest answer would be to say I play what I really and truly like, whether it be hip-hop, house, reggae or electronic music of any given sub-genre. I spend most of my time digging for and listening to tunes, and I try to present each genre in the correct context. Like when I’m playing rap, I try to channel Funk Flex or Stretch Armstrong by doing clever mixes, and making sure that there’s some reason for going from one song to the next. But if I move into house music, even if it’s in the same set, I try to present it the way I think DJ Sneak or Doc Martin would – letting the tracks breathe, and doing mixes that complement the tracks and blending subtly for minutes at a time.

It’s the one-year anniversary of your show! Who is your favorite guest you’ve had on? 
Off the top, I’d say Brodinski has been one of my favorites. He played a great set, but so did all the other guests. The thing that makes his appearance a stand out is his epic French accent – him pronouncing “Shout out” as “Shoot out” (which he did like 15 times) still makes me laugh to this day when I listen back to it. I remember my girlfriend at the time wanting to listen to it over and over, which was understandable, but discomforting. I also got to do a really cool segment with Para One where, as opposed to playing a DJ set, we played specific tracks that had a story and talked for a few minutes about each one. I thought that was especially fun because it gave insight into him as an artist and not just what he was playing recently.

Tell me a sentence or two each about three of your favorite tracks you’re playing on the show this month. 
Jesse Rose and Thee Mike B “Shuffle The Paper”
I was super stoked to premier the track I produced with Jesse Rose. It just dropped on Play It Down. I’m unbelievably proud of this. No promo.

Toddla T Sound “Worst Enemy”
It’s a perfect piece of unclassifiable genre-bending emotional goodness.

Linda McCartney “Seaside Woman”
This is a Lee “Scratch” Perry-produced jam from a post-mortem compilation that Paul McCartney put together. Playing it reminded me that I can do anything I want on this show.

Along with the show, Scion Radio does parties every month in Los Angeles (and formerly New York as well). Tell us about your favorite party.
There was one we did in July with Todd Edwards and Nick Hook. Both those guys just radiate positive vibes, so playing with them on the same bill was amazing. Nick brought The Gaslamp Killer to play with him in NY and the whole room was dancing.

What are some of your favorite clubs and club nights in L.A.? If people come to LA, where can they check you out?
Right now, Hemingway’s is the best club. The Well and A Club Called Rhonda are the best nights.I do a Thursday night at Hemingway’s called FICTION with my lil’ bro Rick Rude, and I’m a resident at Dim Mak Sundays at Drai’s in Hollywood. 

What have you got up your sleeve production-wise?
I have many projects. There’s Camo UFOs with Nate Day; our remix of Major Lazer’s “Get Free” just dropped on Mad Decent. The second EP from Fifteenth – a project from Sammy Bananas and I – is about to drop on Fool’s Gold in the coming weeks. Morse Code and I are gearing up to drop some new POOLS stuff for the summertime. I’m also working on a mixtape with the incredibly talented Michele Wylen; her voice is unbelievable and she’s a great writer and producer. Jesse Rose and I have gone back in the studio as well to follow up “Shuffle The Paper.” There’s lots of other stuff that may be too early to mention.

How did it come about that you collaborated with Jesse Rose?
Jesse and I have been friends for a few years and one night while hanging out at Drai’s he casually said, “We should make a track.” I was taken aback, as he’s one of my favorite producers. Ideas like that get thrown around a lot, but Jesse is a make-it-happen guy. I came to his studio with samples a few days later and the track got done in just a few sittings. It was awesome working with him and we had excellent studio chemistry. I’m really excited for our new stuff to get done. Working with him is literally a dream come true.

Who is your favorite other person named Mike? 
The pro skater Mike Carroll. I don’t know him personally, but he’s epic.

The Scion Rock Fest has announced its full lineup. Scheduled for June 1, 2013, in Memphis, Tennessee, previously announced groups including Melvins, Municipal Waste and Pallbearer are joined by 17 additional acts including co-headliner Testament, plus Corrosion of Conformity, Whitechapel, Negative Approach and many more.

As always, Scion Rock Fest is a free event, but you must RSVP to attend. The RSVP will open on April 12, 2013, at scionav.com/rock.

Here is the full list of Scion Rock Fest 2013 artists:

Testament

Melvins

Municipal Waste

Whitechapel

The Obsessed

Corrosion of Conformity

The Casualties

Negative Approach

Pallbearer

Six Feet Under

Impaled

Vision of Disorder

Royal Thunder

Vektor

Arsis

A Life Once Lost

Touché Amoré

Code Orange Kids

The Gates of Slumber

Hot Lunch

Rotting Out

The Shrine

Ice Dragon

Call of the Void

Subrosa

Gigan

Anciients

Dirty Streets

Inter Arma

Complete Failure

Indian Handcrafts

Noisem

Also, check out two of the performances from last year’s Rock Fest in Tampa, FL at the Ritz Ybor with Down and Saint Vitus. For more videos from Rock Fest 2012, check out the Scion AV YouTube playlist.

Killer Mike, Atlanta’s big beast, headlined the latest Scion AV Open Mic event at Public Assembly in Brooklyn last week. With his powerful set, Killer Mike lived up to his reputation as one of hip-hop’s most dominant performers. And since it all went down in New York, he brought out special guest and local mainstay El-P, the producer of his incredible R.A.P. Music album from 2012.

Also on the bill that night were upstarts Two-9 and Morri$, who showed what else is coming in hot these days.

The lineup for next month’s Scion AV Open Mic will be announced later this week, as well as information on how to enter the contest to attend.

In the crowd at Public Assembly was Nick Hook, a friend of El-P’s who recently worked with him on the song “Sirens” from Hook’s Without You EP on Scion AV. Below you can download Without You for free, and then watch the video for “Sirens.”

SALTY SINGLES
These are salt shakers. Or pepper shakers. But if you are one of those types who only grinds fresh ground pepper from a pepper mill, then these are salt shakers. They are about 3″ tall and handmade in Amy Adams’ Brooklyn studio.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Started in 2004, Perch! is the design work of Amy Adams. Combining industry and craft to make functional yet sculptural ceramic products, Perch! continues to evolve. Most Perch! products are handmade right in her little studio in Brooklyn New York. Amy has most likely touched every piece that goes out the door. Perch! products are environmentally friendly – low impact materials and processes, non-toxic finishes and byproducts. She does her best to keep shipping practices low-impact as well. Perch! is an advocate for a design process with time for research and fine-tuning, manufacturing that supports local industries, workshops and craftspeople. Amy Adams, the designer of all Perch! products, is from Minneapolis but lives in and cares deeply about Brooklyn. She has a few degrees – in Art (Iowa State) and Design (Pratt). She likes to make things – mostly ceramics but also furniture and food things too.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

If you’re not listening to A Club Called Rhonda’s radio show, then what on earth are you waiting for? The crew – known for resuscitating L.A.’s house and leftfield disco scene with utterly amazing underground parties – is at #17 on the Scion Radio dial, streaming the best in electronic body music.

But don’t just take our world for it. Watch the interview with resident DJ Goddollars below, where he explains how he started working in a punk record store at age 12 and why the fearless Rhonda-onians don’t see anything wrong with being referential.

After you’re done with that, listen to the six tracks of glittering dancefloor fabulousness from B.C. x Delivery! This special offering comes straight to you from Rhonda International, a collaborative label effort between Scion and A Club Called Rhonda. There’s even more contained in this special Dance Zine, which includes an interview with the crew, plus past guests Azari & III.

Of course, don’t forget to tune in every month to Rhonda’s radio. Stream the March show below!

GODDOLLARS INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO THE B.C. x DELIVERY RELEASE

STREAM A CLUB CALLED RHONDA RADIO

The Scion Rock Fest will be unleashed once again on June 1, this time arriving in Memphis, Tennessee. This anual all-day free event has become a highly anticipated tradition that brings together both metal legends and newcomers in a different U.S. city each year.

Today we can announce a partial list of the over 30 acts who will be playing across multiple stages. The full list and RSVP information will be arriving next week.

Until then, here’s a preview of who will be there:

Melvins

Municipal Waste

A Life Once Lost

Six Feet Under

Arsis

Impaled

The Casualties

Vision of Disorder

Code Orange Kids

Pallbearer

Subrosa

Ice Dragon

The Shrine

Indian Handcrafts

Anciients

Noisem

If you missed last year’s festival, here’s a ton of videos of live performances, interviews and behind the scenes action.

Heavy music heroes Melvins are one of this year’s headliners. Download The Bulls & The Bees, the group’s recent EP for Scion AV, for free.

Also, check out Melvins’ “The War on Wisdom” video that’s part of the Scion AV Video series.

Gluekit celebrated the opening of their “Long Play” exhibit at the Scion AV Installation space in Los Angeles on Saturday. Guests including ATL Twins, Levi Maestro, Chad Muska, Eli Reed and Kenton Parker checked out the pair’s fine art pieces, as well as purchasable products including end tables, pillows and notebooks.

“Long Play” will be on view until April 6 at Scion AV Installation, 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

CHAIR SILHOUETTE COASTERS
Take a Seat. After all, everyone can use an extra chair for those unexpected guests.

With this set of four wooden drink coasters you can be sure to add a little bit of fancy under that refreshing drink. And maybe even spruce up your table and home.

The hand drawn chairs have been etched on the surface of the wood while little pieces have been cut away for a very fun look. . The coasters have been laser cut from cherry wood that has been hand rubbed with tung oil to protect them.

This set of coasters contains four coasters. Each one has a different chair.
Size: 3.4″ x 3.4″ and approx .25″ thick.
Material: Cherry Wood

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Living in New York City can be hard. Living in a basement apartment with one tiny window is even harder, especially if you grew up with the woods in your backyard and the ocean just a bike ride away. So in 2009, in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, Jen Pepper started making home goods that reminded her of childhood adventures, while still being modern enough to fit in with her city digs.

While Jen no longer lives in that tiny studio, she continues to fuse her love for nature with her love for design, creating a range of home goods and personal accessories that look right at home in the country or the city. By using modern manufacturing techniques, and a little elbow grease, Peppersprouts brings a title bit of nature to your urban jungle.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Long Play presents new products and work designed by Gluekit. Modernism and the ethos of the youth crew era pair off with clichès and classical Greek expressions. Now you can view some of the limited products that will be available for sale at the Scion AV Installation gallery starting March 16.

Furniture
Powder-coated steel end tables. Available in blue and red.
Quantity: 8

Pillow – Brick
100% linen cotton pillow case with red brick design.
Quantity: 20

Moleskine Notebook
Classic Moleskine notebook wrapped in a handmade 100% natural vegetable-tanned leather case. 5.5″ x 8.75″ with case.
Quantity: 15

Don’t forget to RSVP for the opening reception taking place on March 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Scion AV Installation. The reception is all ages, and open to the public with RSVP at ScionAV.com. You must RSVP to attend the opening reception. The gallery will be on view from March 16 to April 13, 2012.

Long Play presents new products and work designed by Gluekit. Modernism and the ethos of the youth crew era pair off with clichès and classical Greek expressions.

The opening reception takes place on March 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Scion AV Installation. The reception is all ages, and open to the public with RSVP at ScionAV.com. You must RSVP to attend the opening reception. The gallery will be on view from March 16 to April 13, 2012.

Scion AV Installation
7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Also, check out the photos from last week’s opening reception for Levi Maestro’s “Here I Am, There I Go” gallery.

Straight out of the suburbs of Daytona, Florida, we love teen rap sensation Kitty, a girl whose carefully-crafted emo rhymes and Hello Kitty flow have got all the rap dudes swooning. Recently, she performed at a Scion Open Mic show in Brooklyn, and mini-Danny Brown (9-year-old actor Dante Hoagland from Danny’s “Grown Up” video) was on hand to interview her. Miss Kitty tells us all about how she got started and why ex-boyfriends are good for creativity, with some live footage from the show. Check the Facebook page to see some pictures of Kitty rocking the stage alongside the Bruiser Brigade and Flatbush Zombies.

Also, make sure you enter to win tickets now to the next hot Scion Open Mic event with Killer Mike on March 20 in Brooklyn. Details are below and at this site. 

Enter to win tickets to go see Killer Mike at Scion’s next Open Mic event on March 20!

Flatbush Zombies, the rowdy higher plane travelers, recently took over the stage at the Scion Open Mic event in their native Brooklyn. In this interview the trio tell the story about how they came together as kids and how they now measure  their success.

The contest is now open to attend the next Scion AV Open Mic with Killer Mike, Two-9, Morri$ and DJ GetLive! at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on March 20, 2013.

Brooklyn record label Trouble & Bass is known for their raw approach to bass music. For over six years, the crew of Drop the Lime, AC Slater, Star Eyes and Strange VIP (formerly The Captain) have been making and releasing wild tunes and throwing even crazier parties all over the globe. You can catch some of the madness every month via their Scion Radio show, which has featuredmixes from the likes of Girl UNIT, Nasty Nasty and Clicks & Whistles. We caught up with label head Drop the Lime and asked him a few questions about T&B and his fellow vamp champs.

And if you enjoy this interview, keep scrolling down for an exclusive one-on-one with DTL from the Scion Music(less) Conference, plus a free download of Trouble & Bass Scion CD sampler, featuring big tunes from Starkey, Little Jinder and more!

What is Trouble & Bass?
A gang, a label, a party, an attitude. Discovering new dimensions in sonic magic and sharing it with the world through dance parties and beyond.

What are some of the main inspirations behind the T&B label?
Vintage horror, dark fashion, ’90s jungle and drum & bass, ’90s Chicago and New York house music and taking a DIY punk approach to throwing a party and running a label.

What gang or cast of characters does Trouble & Bass most resemble?
We’re like the four classic monsters of horror living in a dark comic caper. Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein and Vampira. Even though we lean towards the darker things in life, crackin’ jokes and being funny plays a big part in who we are as well.

When did you first know Trouble & Bass was successful?
When we progressed from small warehouse parties to bigger events with headliners like Skream and Benga and people we didn’t know were wearing our T&B shirts. We knew we had reached an audience that expanded beyond hardcore producers and DJs, and also included general partygoers and ravers.

Tell us a bit about your Scion radio show. What can people expect?
We love to mix it up and bring various guests to come do exclusive mixes for us. Everything always bass-heavy and bass-oriented, of course, and we like to throw in interviews as well.

How do you know when the bass is really good?
When the windows break.

What are some upcoming releases/projects/parties we should look out for?
We’ve got three massive free events going on at SXSW and Miami Music Week this year. We’re teaming up with artists like Plastician, Salva, Brodinski and Clicks & Whistles, to name a few. Read all about the parties and RSVP here. All sets will be recorded and available to listen to on our Scion Radio show. We also have a lot of new music and collaborations dropping. One is a project called Renegades that is myself teaming up with Plastician and Shox from London. Also Damn Kids, Lucent and a new side project from Hostage and Neil Landstrumm.

Do you guys ever get sick of wearing all black?
Once a year we wear all white and go sailing on the Hudson and drink Aperol spritzes. Only once a year though.

Drop the Lime One-on-One Interview from Scion Music(Less) Conference

Free Download of Trouble & Bass CD Sampler

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

1X1 Plexiroid

This is a high-resolution scan of a Polaroid 600 integral photo that has been printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Polyester and encapsulated in Plexiglas. It is presented at 1:1 scale and signed by the artist on the side. These objects are thick enough to stand on their own so they may be placed on a desk, shelf or photo ledge. Alternately, they can easily be hung on the wall with velcro, rare-earth magnets or other methods. These are an open edition.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Iowa City-based photographer Grant Hamilton uses an SX-70 to create beautiful abstract photographs from found objects and colors. Grant has a sharp eye for detail, form, and color, and his work shows the brilliance that exists in the everyday, hidden in plain sight.

Scion brought dance music leader Drop the Lime, rapper A$AP Ferg, pro skater Eli Reed, David Witte of Municipal Waste, Rob Dukes of Exodus and producer SKYWLKR to the Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California for some friendly competition with the Scion FR-S. This motley crew were split into two teams of three and competed against each other, bolstered by guidance from Scion Racing’s Formula Drift drivers Ken Gushi and Fredric Aasbo.

A video of how it went down on the track is coming soon, but until then, get a look behind the scenes with these exclusive photos.

Drop the Lime is a producer, DJ, bandleader and one of the founders of Brooklyn Trouble & Bass crew. T&B have a long history of working with Scion AV, including putting together their Sounds of NYC compilation EP from a few years back. 

A$AP Ferg is part of the Harlem’s reigning talent pool, the A$AP Mob. He recently performed at the Scion AV Open Mic event in Brooklyn.

Pro skater Eli Reed is based in New York City and is a friend of Scion AV.

Dave Witte is the drummer of Virginia’s thrash kingpins Municipal Waste, who released a whipping three-song EP with Scion AV last year. 

 

Static Revenger “Movement in Motion” video

Static Revenger Music in Motion EP Free Download

Not content to just rule various corners of electronic dance music, Static Revenger also makes his own travel documentaries. In the videos below, he travels to Spain to document two cool movements: the castellers, who build human castles in the sky, and the groups of fiery night devils known as correfoc. Blazin’!

Static Revenger’s Castellars Documentary

Static Revenger’s Correfoc Documentary

A highlight of the 2012 Scion Music(less) Music Conference was a series of in-depth one-on-one conversations with Drop the Lime, Frank Kozik, Dave Sardy and Doug Pray—a collection of intensely creative individuals who have maintained a level-headed approach to the business side of their industries. 

We filmed these discussions and now you can preview some segments from them.

Drop the Lime, is a producer, DJ, bandleader, label owner and party promoter who is one of the founders of Brooklyn’s Trouble & Bass crew. He spoke with Christopher Roberts about how he has evolved Trouble & Bass as an entity and his own performance style over the course of his career.

Dave Sardy is a veteran music producer who has found a new career in composing music for films. He and Miles Raymer discussed what approaches to working with a team can be applied to both mediums.

Doug Pray is a veteran documentary director, whose filmography includes Hype!, Scratch, and Art & Copy. He explained to Chris Cruse how that the best music documentaries don’t even require the viewer to be a fan of the music that’s being examined.

Now you can watch even more videos from 2012′s Scion Music(less) Music Conference.

Alan Braxe keeps gliding on with his new Moments in Time EP for Scion AV. Cruise the empty, lovelorn  streets of your own mind with his timeless, low BPM songs. Moment in Time features four new songs, plus seven additional remixes (whoa!) from Gigamesh, Memory Tapes, DJ Falcon, Lifelike, Chateaubriand, Le Crayon and Mr. Gonzo.

Tracklist

1. One More Chance [with The Spimes]

2. Time Machine [with The Spimes].

3. Voices

4. Daydreaming

5. Time Machine [with The Spimes] (Gigamesh remix)

6. Time Machine [with The Spimes] (Chateaubriand Remix)

7. Time Machine [with The Spimes] (Le Crayon Remix)

8. Time Machine [with The Spimes] (Mr. Gonzo Remix)

9. One More Chance [with The Spimes] (Memory Tapes Remix)

10. One More Chance [with The Spimes] (Lifelike Remix)

11. Time Machine [with The Spimes] (DJ Falcon Remix)

Scion AV Presents: Alan Braxe — Moments in Time is now available as a free download

Watch a lo-fi futuristic video for Braxe’s new track “Time Machine.”

Check out some archival Scion AV interviews with Alan Braxe and his cousin/sometimes-collaborator DJ Falcon.

Last weekend “Here I Am, There I Go,” the new solo show from Levi Maestro, opened at the Scion AV Installation space. Here’s a guide to some of the products, from everyday item to bigger art pieces, that are available for purchase.

Plywood Prints – $200

Also, check out the soundtrack Maestro put together for Maestro Know America, the documentary he made about travelling the country in a Scion xB.

For the last few months, Scion’s Open Mic series has been bringing NYC monthly free shows featuring strictly the hottest acts in hip-hop right now, including Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Trinidad James, Flatbush Zombies and way more to even mention. (Back in November 2012, we turned our showcase over to of-the-moment rap producer Harry Fraud (he made the beats for French Montana’s “New York Minute” and “Shot Caller”) and his friends, one of whom is New Orleans rapper Curren$y (a.k.a. Spitta). Ya boy has been burning up the mixtape scene by keeping it real – rapping about driving around in Chevys, eating crappy Chinese food and downloading videogame cheat codes – while also collaborating with the likes of Wiz Khalifa and Pharrell and running his label Jet Life. (While Curren$y might chat lyrics about being lazy, he most definitely is not). Having just dropped his debut full-length, he talks about starting his rap career in elementary school and shares some secrets to rap stardom. After that, watch cool interviews with two of NYC’s hottest rap names right now – Action Bronson and Harry Fraud – plus enter to win tickets to see Killer Mike. Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh.

Action Bronson interview

Harry Fraud interview

And don’t sleep on the next Scion Open Mic event. The date is March 20 at Brooklyn’s Public Assembly and it’s gonna be a roadblock with Killer Mike, Two-9, MORRI$, and DJ GetLive. Entry is by contest only and you can win tickets by Tweeting and Instagram-ing so get busy doing that here! 

Still here? Check out photos from February’s Open Mic event with A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Bodega Bamz, and 4th Pyramid.

The Scion Music(less) Music Conference of 2012 gathered over 70 experts for two days of panels, workshops and interviews  for people interested in expanding their creative possibilities and improving their business approach. Participants included Killer Mike, TOKiMONSTA, Action Bronson, Jermaine Rogers, Dave Nada, Harry Fraud, and Nick Hook, plus representatives from VICE, SoundCloud,  Third Man Records, Spotify, Mishka, Rdio, Acéphale, Dim Mak, and many more.

We filmed everything and in coming weeks we’ll be releasing the complete series. For now we’re proud to preview some highlights from the in-depth panels that we put together.

In the panel The Business of Visual Art and Music, artists Jermaine Rogers, Justin Hampton and Chrissie Abbott talk about how you deal with direction from clients, be it a band or a label.

TOKiMONSTA, Dave Nada and Nick Hook, appeared on the Independent Dance Music panel where they explore the pros and cons of being associated with a particular subgenre or community. Also Nada does a funny Scottie B impression.

On the State of Online Music Distribution panel, Marisol Segal of Rdio, Trevor McFedries of Spotify and Dave Haynes of SoundCloud discuss whether the ownership model of music is dead or if it’s evolving.

For the Vinyl Developments panel, Ben Blackwell of Third Man Records, Patrick North of Acéphale Records and Mackie Osborne, an artist who works closely with the Melvins, talk about some of the most innovative vinyl releases they’ve put together.

On the Building a Team panel, a trio of managers—Laurel Stearns of LSS Management, Alexis Rivera of Echo Park Records and Matt Colon of Deckstar—talk about whether they think artists need to sign to labels or if they should put out their music on their own.

For more videos from the Scion Music(less) Conference 2012, check out the Scion AV MMC 2012 YouTube playlist.

If you love rap, make sure to enter for your chance to win tickets to the exclusive Scion Open Mic show with Killer Mike, Two-9 and Morris. Just announced this morning, the event will be at Public Assembly in Brooklyn, New York on March 20, and the only way you can win is via Twitter and Instagram. The last few have been wild, with A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson, Harry Fraud and more gracing the stage, so don’t sleep. Scroll down for more details on how to win!

Bruiser Brigade Interview

Download the new Bruiser Brigade EP for Free!

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kathleen and Christopher are two independent artists who make illustrations, graphics and pictures under the pseudonym GlueKit. They also make products, like these fun bookends.

Also, stay tuned for the next Scion AV Installation gallery with Gluekit titled Long Play. The opening reception will be on March 16 in Los Angeles and will be free to attend with a RSVP on ScionAV.com.

Season of Mist tell us what they’re made of in the latest edition of the Scion Label Showcase. With this series of documentary videos and a collection of live recordings, it becomes clear what sets this transcontinental label apart.

For a primer on the label, get the back story on how Season of Mist grew from a tiny European import label, how it has expanded in the United States and the importance it places on packaging and limited edition releases.

Of course a label is only as good as its artists, and the veteran and brand new titans on Season of Mist’s roster include the Casualties, Atheist, A Life Once Lost and Black Sheep Wall, all of whom gave their own stories.

Late in 2012, Season of Mist were featured at the Scion Label Showcase live event in Southern California. Download or stream two songs recorded at this show, Saint Vitus’ “Waste of Time” and “Get Of My Back” by the Casualties.

You can also check out photos from Season of Mist’s Scion Label Showcase event.

For more Scion AV metal releases, get your ears on Meshuggah’s recent single.

A$AP Rocky, New York’s fresh prince of hip-hop, dominated the latest Scion AV Presents: Open Mic event at Brooklyn’s Public Assembly. Also hitting the stage that night was Rocky’s teammate A$AP Ferg, Bodega Bamz and 4th Pyramid—all talented young NYC rappers flying higher than rockets right now.

Be sure to enter the contest to attend the next month’s Scion AV Presents: Open Mic with  Killer Mike, Two-9 and Morri$.

Last Saturday night the Scion AV Installation retail space hosted the opening for “Here, I Am, There I Go,” the new show from Levi Maestro, the filmmaker behind the Maestro Knows video series. “Here I Am, There I Go” features items including hats, T-shirts, mugs, moleskins and varsity jackets made specially for the exhibit, as well as fine art objects like photoprints, screenprints and mixed media pieces.

Streetwear luminaries and all kinds of other good folks came through to celebrate young Levi. In case you missed it, the show runs through March 9, 2013, at the Scion Installation: 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Scion AV’s Open Mic series returns with a showcase featuring Killer Mike, Two-9, Morri$ and DJ GetLive! at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on March 20, 2013.

The only way to attend the event is to participate in a sweepstakes on Twitter or on Instagram. Here’s how it works:

On Twitter the sweepstakes runs from February 27 to March 15, 2013.  To enter, users must write a tweet that mentions “@ScionAV” and includes the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic”.  There is a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Twitter to attend the event.

On Instagram the sweepstakes runs from February 27 to March 15, 2013. To enter, users have to repost the sweepstakes photo posted on the @ScionAV Instagram account, and include a mention of “@ScionAV” and the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic” in the caption.  @ScionAV will be posting the image at 10am (Pacific Standard Time) on February 27 and a few other times during the entry period. There’s a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Instagram to attend the event.

Here are the full rules for the Twitter contest and the full rules for the Instagram contest.

New York’s David Brodsky has possibly done more for metal than any other video director, working with everyone from Kylesa and As I Lay Dying to Gwar and Papa Roach. Along the way, he’s been bestowed many a “Best Video” award, lots of them from MTV’s long-running metal show Headbanger’s Ball. Brodsky is at one with the do-it-yourself mentality — from an early job creating window displays for Tower Records through teaching himself how to use cameras, edit video and develop 3D animation, he’s developed a huge range of techniques to make each clip different from the last. Below, we check out some of the sickest videos he’s made in collaboration with Scion AV. At the end, watch Brodsky explain how to make a great video on a tiny budget at 2012’s Scion Music(less) Conference. A must watch for any up-and-coming artist! 

Arsis “Carve My Cross” 
You wouldn’t expect Virginia Beach’s tech-death kingpins Arsis to be scared of anything, but even they get shook as they trip through a haunted house in this jewel-toned clip. Pair spooky shots and crazy camera angles with up-close shots of serious guitar shredding and you’ve got another Brodsky winner.

Municipal Waste “Repossession”
Party thrashers (and fellow Virginians) Municipal Waste play repo men in this straightforward video based directly on the song. Watch them steal your couch and your pizza, then rock the junkyard hard.

Tombs “Passageways”
A heavy, goth-inspired song by Brooklyn experimental metal outfit Tombs gets equally moody and eerie visuals in this candle-lit clip.

Whitechapel “I, Dementia”
In an homage to the White Stripes’ highly graphical style and limited color palette, Brodsky uses his design background to create a striking take on the traditionally bland performance video. You’ve never seen deathcore like this before.

Revocation “The Grip Tightens”
Brodsky shows his lighter side as he imagines what tech-death band Revocation would look like as old men rocking the nursing home, complete with headbanging seniors and hot emo nurses.

David Brodsky’s “How To Make A Music Video” at Scion Music(less) Conference 2012

Action Bronson has only been rapping for two years and in this interview for Scion AV he breaks down what he’s already accomplished. The pride of Flushings, Queens also gives a little insight on his upcoming full-length for Vice and the freedom that the label has given him. There’s also some tight live footage of him on stage at a recent Scion Open Mic event where he’s ripping through his shirt like he’s the Hulk (either Hogan or the incredible one).

Check out Bronson’s lyrical contribution to the recent single from producer Harry Fraud, “Mean,” on Scion AV.

The Fürst pencil, manufactured in Germany, is a must-have for artists and designers. Measuring 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) in length, the pencil features a tiny, built-in sharpener at its end, and is compatible with 2 mm lead refills.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

You should have already grabbed Alan Braxe’s smooth weeper single “One More Chance,” and now in the trailer below you can hear some more of what else the French classic has coming in his upcoming Moments in Time EP with vocalist Spimes on Scion AV. The whole deal is due March 5, 2013, and a video for the song “Time Machine” will also be coming soon.

And if you missed it, you can download “One More Chance” for free.

After discovering a talent for music at an early age, Travis Hayes Busse made the decision to do what it takes to make it his career. We’ve seen the success he’s found as a music promoter first hand, having spoken at the Scion Music(less) Music Conference, but director Doug Pray helped show us how he uses a Scion tC to help others follow their passion in the short film, Make Every Second Count: Life of Music.

Travis got his start by simply picking up a guitar and seeing what he was capable of doing with it. Being encouraged by his dad to share his music with others led Travis down a path that snowballed into the career he has today. While it’s a 24/7 job that requires lots of work even during his time off, it’s also a job that pays off in a few less apparent ways.

Moving from venue to venue and taking in new bands gives Travis the opportunity to give them something that the industry gave him – a chance to make it. According to Travis, “I’m the kind of guy that will listen to single demo, CD, tape, or record that comes in, just because someone took the time to send that in.” By helping others Make Every Second Count, he gets the chance to serve as an ambassador for the same music industry that’s made him one of its own.

Make Every Second Count: Life of Music is available for viewing below, and you can find out more about Travis’ music at the following link.

www.facebook.com/iamtravishayes

Growing up eating homemade Italian food gave Lisa Nativo the inspiration for her Nonna’s Kitchenette food truck, but it was a casting call for a competitive reality TV show that got her to put her ideas into action. In Make Every Second Count: Street Friendly Food, director Doug Pray documents how Lisa uses the Scion xD to help her put a modern twist on the meals she grew up with.

Lisa’s 2^nd place finish on the show gave her the confidence she needed to turn Nonna’s Kitchenette into her full time job. Although running the truck is hard work, often requiring her to stay up late into the night preparing ingredients, being able to set an example for other women who want to live out their dreams makes it worthwhile for Lisa and her dedicated team.

Nonna’s Kitchenette may have stepped into the industry as an underdog, but Lisa has shown that it’s possible to successfully break into a tough business by Making Every Second Count. With lines of customers following her truck wherever it goes, she’s proven if you’re committed to turning your dreams into a reality, there’s always a way to pull through.

Make Every Second Count: Street Friendly Food is up for viewing below. You can find more about Lisa’s food truck, Nonna’s Kitchentte, at the following link.

http://nonnaskitchenette.com/

The traffic congested streets of Los Angeles are an unlikely place to cultivate a love of bicycles, but Danny Farahirad’s childhood rides to the beach have helped him do just that. In Make Every Second Count: High Gear, director Doug Pray takes a look at how Danny uses a Scion xB to connect his Downtown LA Bicycles shop to the city.

As someone who was raised a cycling enthusiast, Danny spent his life learning what it takes to make in on a bike in LA. With help from his father, he was able to use his knowledge to turn Downtown LA Bicycles into a resource to educate current and potential new riders on the rules of the road.

Whether it’s on his bike or while he’s in the Scion xB, Danny is Making Every Second Count by being an active part of the city’s growing cycling movement. In his own words, “my dream is really to share that passion, get more people into a healthier lifestyle, and make a change.”

Check out the full Make Every Second Count: High Gear video below, and don’t forget to stop by the Downtown LA Bicycles site at the following link!

www.downtownlabicycles.com

New York City rapper A$AP Rocky has become one of hip-hop’s favorite young stars, but his appeal extends beyond his lean-laced lyrics. The rapper has also forged a reputation in the fashion world thanks to his well-documented taste for high-end streetwear and haute couture threads, and often posts pictures of his freshest looks on his Twitter and Instagram. To celebrate the recent New York Fashion Week and A$AP’s upcoming live performance for Scion AV in Brooklyn, we thought we’d give you a lowdown on some of his favorite brands. It’s more than likely that he’ll be wearing some of them next Wednesday, February 20, when he and crewmate A$AP Ferg will be mob up to Brooklyn’s Public Assembly with Bodega Bamz and 4th Pyramid. Scroll down below for the flyer and details of how you can win a ticket to go see A$AP Rocky!

HOOD BY AIR
Last week, Rocky took a strut down the runway at Hood By Air‘s fashion show to support Shayne Oliver and Raul Lopez’s hot-to-death “ghetto gothic” brand. The high-end streetwear company has started to make a serious name for itself based on its penchant for jet black t-shirts, sweatshirts and drop-crotch pants—not to mention A$AP’s endorsement.

RICK OWENS
A$AP Rocky’s preference for dark colors has drawn him to Rick Owens (whom he’s shown wearing above). The American designer (now based in Paris) combines angular, space-age shapes with a postmodern gothic sensibility that involves lots of draped layers.

RAF SIMONS
Rocky isn’t just a fan of Raf Simons‘ sleek, colorful kicks (his DeStijl hiking boots are shown here) and warped, ostentatious prep school outfits. The rapper recently announced a collaboration with the designer and posted a preview of one of the pieces on Instagram, an A$AP x Raf Simons 1995 sweatshirt.

JEREMY SCOTT
Jeremy Scott‘s eccentric use of bright colors makes his collections hard to miss, and A$AP Rocky has certainly taken note. In fact, Rocky told Vice that he’s admired Scott’s flashy, vibrant work for years, ever since he released a line of cartoonishly offbeat Mickey Mouse-inspired Adidas. Rocky is seen in this pic with Scott himself, flashing the man’s gold AK47 ring.

A$AP
You may never approach the effortless cool of Pretty Flacko, but you can step closer to Rocky’s style with garms from his own merchandise line. Available through his website, this range of beanies, tanks and tees sticks with a black-and-white colorway and a classic L.A. gangster vibe: lots of Old English fonts, baseball themes and an all-over print bandana shirt, for starters. Get it while it’s hot.

Tweet or Instagram the image below for a chance to win tickets to the A$AP Rocky Open Mic event next week in Brooklyn, NY. The sweepstakes is still open so hurry up and join! Here are the full rules for the Twitter contest and the full rules for the Instagram contest.

Levi Maestro found his passion for filmmaking through his early interest in skateboarding. By filming his friends doing tricks, he developed the skills he needed to create his webseries, Maestro Knows. Though we’ve long been acquainted with Levi through works such as the Scion AV MKUSA Tour and the upcoming Here I Am, There I Go showcase, director Doug Pray gave us an inside look at how Levi uses the Scion FR-S to turn his show into reality in Make Every Second Count: Life, Camera, Action.

Based in Los Angeles, Maestro Knows is a documentary-styled series that follows the lives of Levi and his Friends.  While the show gives Levi an outlet through which he can express both himself and his creativity, it also serves as his way of highlighting the importance of the people in his life.

According to Levi, “In life, we’re really good at celebrating people once they’ve passed. Someone passes away and all of a sudden we have so much great stuff to say about them.” With his work on Maestro Knows, Levi Makes Every Second Count by using the show to “celebrate people now.”

Catch Levi’s in Make Every Second Count: Life, Camera Action in the video below, and find episodes of Maestro Knows, at the following link.

http://vimeo.com/maestroknows

Harry Fraud sat down for an interview before his performance at the Scion AV Open Mic series. Fraud is one of the top producers in hip-hop right now, working with acts including French Montana, Action Bronson, Curren$y and Smoke DZA. In this interview he opened up about his early days as a musician and producer, as well as revealed information about his upcoming project with Scion AV.

Stream or download Harry Fraud’s recent “Mean” single on Scion AV

Chef, author, and food activist Bryant Terry has made a name for himself in the culinary industry by promoting food that’s healthy, sustainable, and most importantly, delicious. In Make Every Second Count: Healthy Mission, director Doug Pray explored how Bryant uses the Scion iQ to find fresh produce from local farmers, promote his cause, and empower others to change their lifestyles.

Bryant began Making Every Second Count as a grassroots activist in New York, where he held workshops for young people in urban communities to educate them about the role one’s diet plays in maintaining personal health and well-being. In his own words, “It’s really a personal mission. It’s really about me wanting to prolong the life of the people I care about.”

From there, he began authoring cookbooks and speaking at public events as a means of further reaching out to the community. Bryant’s activism extends to his personal life, where he grows many of his own ingredients in order to prove that living a sustainable lifestyle is much more than a mere passing fad.

Watch the full Make Every Second Count: Healthy Mission short film below, and find out more about Bryant Terry at the following link.

http://www.bryant-terry.com/

One small bud vase with predominately peacock green based areas with raised patterns. They look great displayed individually or in a group setting.

The colors are in the turquoise-to-teal spectrum with invigorating pops of yellow, orange and white. Actual patterns and vases may vary from those shown in above pic, but will be very similar. Sizes range from 3-5″ in height.

The vases are made from a proprietary fine translucent porcelain that she formulated and mix herself. If you raise one to a lamp, you can see light coming through the piece. She throws all of my work on the wheel in my studio. The pigmented slip is applied through a needle-like tool in a precise and clean pattern which requires both skill, time, and years of practice.

All pieces are lead-free and are completely food and microwave safe. Dishwashing detergents may wear down the raised textures, so gentle-cycle or hand washing is preferred.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Her body of work is diverse in intention and themes, but unified by the use of symbolic and narrative surface decoration as a means of communication.  Continued investigation in slip application has led to her precise vocabulary of lines, layers, patterns, colors and textures.

The pieces she produces cannot always be neatly classified as art, design or craft.  Instead of pigeonholing work in one distinct area, she sees these concepts as three points on a graph- some of my work is more towards one point, some is closer to another.  The versatility of ceramics invites her to explore across genres.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Daedelus is set to tour North America soon with his Magical Properties Tour, presented by Scion AV and featuring Salva, Two Fresh, Ryan Hemsworth, and Samo Sound Boy. The tour kicks off February 21 in Chicago and ends in Seattle in April. Scion AV will be giving away two (2) pairs of tickets for each tour stop through Twitter. Enter by tweeting “@ScionAV #Daedelus [date of event]” and check out the full rules. Tour dates are below.

Tour Dates:

Feb 21 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL

Feb 22 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

Feb 23 – The Loving Touch – Ferndale, MI

Feb 24 – Soundlab – Buffalo, NY

Mar 1 – Middle East – Boston, MA

Mar 2 – Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY

Mar 3 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA

Mar 6 – Ustreet – Washington, DC

Mar 7 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC

Mar 8 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA

Mar 10 – Fitzgeralds – Houston, TX

Mar 18 – 2720 Cherokee – St. Louis, MO

Mar 19 – Granada – Lawrence, KS

Mar 21 – Three20South – Breckenridge, CO

Mar 22 – Avon – Vail, CO

Mar 23 – Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Mar 26 – Club Red – Tempe, AZ

Mar 28 – Casbah – San Diego, CA

Mar 29 – Fonda Theater – Los Angeles, CA

Mar 30 – Glass House – Pomona, CA

Mar 31 – Independent – San Francisco, CA

Apr 2 – WOW Hall – Eugene, OR

Apr 3 – Branx – Portland, OR

Apr 4 – The Crocodile – Seattle, WA

Prep yourself for the tour with Daedelus Looking Ocean EP, five wildly original beatscapes available for free from Scion AV.

And in this in-depth interview Daedelus enlightens audiences to the reasons behind the Looking Ocean record and how he seeks to be genre-referential and genre-exploding at the same time. A must watch for any fan of deep beats!

The Gates of Slumber have released the clip for “Death March” as part of the Scion AV Video Series. Filmed in gritty black & white, it’s the perfect companion to the song’s intense and unrelenting sonic assault.

“Death March” comes from Stormcrow, The Gates of Slumber’s new EP on Scion AV, which is available to download or stream for free. Also check out their interview below.

From pumping electro-house to hard-hitting dubstep, L.A. producer Static Revenger knows the art of the club banger. He’s had more Top 10 hits than you can count, remixed Swedish House Mafia and Madonna, worked with Dev and Adam Sandler (on music for the #1 box office movie Hotel Transylvania) and had his music featured in blockbuster films. Now he serves up five free tracks exclusively for us. If you like to rave ’til dawn, you won’t want to miss the Music in Motion EP — with the beautiful dubstep title track and the anthemic wobble ‘n’ drop of the Skrillex-esque “Units,” we defy you not to throw your hands in the air. Download it below! (And keep your eyes peeled for the cool “Movement in Motion” video, coming soon!)

Check out some behind the scenes footage from “Level” the new Zombie Nation contribution to the Scion AV Video Series. Raphael Gibbs gives a glimpse of director Bradonio at work on the clip for this belly blasting electro jammer. This is how music video magic happens!

Now that it’s on your mind, check out the full “Level” video as well.

And if you’re the mood for more bangers, download Treasure Fingers‘ Rooftop Revival EP that Scion AV released in 2012.

A389 Recordings is the latest indie to be featured in the Scion Label Showcase series. The Baltimore-based label specializes in bands known for their intensity and uncompromising approach.

A389 is a one man operation run by Dom Romero out of his basement. In these three videos he offers a behind the scenes look at how he gets attention for A389 releases, manages the label on his own and chooses the right bands for the label.

Next up are in-depth interviews with Seven Sisters of Sleep, the Love Below and Integrity—three of the acts that define A389′s current mission.

Be on the lookout for the next Scion Label Showcase, featuring Season of Mist.

Embassy Recordings boss Distal comes from Atlanta and you can hear the essence of Southern hip-hop and bass music in his productions, even when they’re refracted through the sounds of Berlin techno, juke or acid house. On his label, he releases really future-forward bass music by the likes of Wheez-ie and Thefft, and then turns around and records mysterious no-wobble dubstep for Pinch’s Tectonic imprint. But maybe the best thing about this Southern gent is his large collection of Simpsons and Beavis & Butthead-theme attire. Distal recently played for a Scion Radio event (watch the video here) and we asked him to tell us a bit about some other Scion Radio guests whose music he’s into. Check out his comments below, along with fresh interviews.

“This guy is one of my favorite producers and label owners around. His label, Night Slugs, and his original productions are very precise and focused. When I think of Bok Bok, I think of his Southside EP cover – I love the aesthetic his label represents! I’ve corresponded with him a few times over the past few years and he seems to be a genuinely nice guy. I’m also a big fan for his recent signing of a fellow Georgia resident Helix. Plus, c’mon, his name rules!”

Favorite Track: “Reminder.” ”It’s a perfect balance of old-school techno influence but with a modern arrangement.”

DISTANCE
I’m on the Tectonic label with this guy, under Pinch’s watchful eye. It’s an honor for me because I loved his stuff from the minute I heard it. His “dubstep” always sounded way different than everyone else’s. He focuses mainly on the use of guitar sounds and effects in his tracks, but more often than not he’s got these techno soundscapes in the background. It’s a certain type of juxtaposition that only he can pull off. He runs his own label as well called Chest Plate. I’m wearing the shirt right now actually.

Favorite track: “Magnesium”

CLICKS & WHISTLES
I say their name Clicks & Vissles like a German every time I hear it in my head. They bring a heavy influence of rap music into their dance tracks and apparently are just making straight-up rap from time to time now. I met Jorge after playing a party with him in Charlotte and shortly thereafter began to talk to Petey about football. After they sent Mite and I their demo for “Cranberry Goose” we knew we wanted them to be a part of Embassy right away. We felt they were some of the strongest producers coming out of our region, the South. Jorge’s dog Graham gets excited when he sees me and has peed on me a few times. Also, Petey has a tattoo of Jimi Hendrix on his leg that says Bob Marley under it.

Favorite track: “Radiator.” Hands down! Such an emotional song

UNTOLD
When I think of Untold I think of Atlanta Dubstep’s two-year anniversary flyer when we brought him to Atlanta. Orange and brown, baby. Jack is a great guy. I’ve gotten to play alongside him a few times. This guy is one of the reasons I had so much energy to push things forward four or five years ago. He runs the label Hemlock Recordings, who release stuff from Randomer, who I really love.

Favorite track: “Kingdom.” If you haven’t heard this, you’re missing out. When it first dropped, I had never heard anything like it before.

OMAR S
Omar S is a house and techno producer from Detroit who runs his own label called FXHE. I love his tracks mainly because a lot of them are DJ tools. They’re normally a solid groove and idea and super focused, but with a very raw, natural feel to them. It reminds me of J Dilla – not clean, but dirty on purpose. I think it’s in his mixdowns. I really enjoy the fact that he’s also just a normal guy; he seems very humble in the interviews I read with him. Never met him, but I’m making big plans to add him on Facebook soon. Hahaha.

Favorite track: “Churchill.” I always think of black and white with a splash of purple when I think of Omar S.

California artist Sage Vaughn asks tough questions of nature in his show Life, which wraps up February 9th at the AV Installation art space in Hollywood. At the show opening, Slick Rick Rivera catches up with the artist, who explains why he prefers painting animals to people and the allure of taking a tradesman-like approach to art. A walk-through of the show reveals paintings, photographs, blankets and even a stained-glass window —all of which are on sale to the public through this Saturday. Get ’em while they’re hot!

Plus, make sure to RSVP to the opening party of our next gallery show, Levi Maestro’s Here I Am, There I Go, which happens Saturday, February 23 from 7p-10p. The show documents Maestro’s journey as an artist from 2006 to the present day, from hosting his popular Maestro Knows web TV show to skating to running his own clothing line, STRO. And to guide you on your journey, download a free five-track EP of chill-out music below that comprises the soundtrack to Levi’s MKUSA documentary film. If you can’t make it to the opening, Levi’s show will be up through March 9, 2013 at Scion AV Installation, 7667 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

The Arc Necklace is hand formed, etched and varnished polymer clay arc on gold plated chain. It is 20″ long with approximately 5.5″ Arc.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Launched in 2010, Academy Jewelry was founded on a love for visual art, interest in fashion, and desire to combine the two. This ever-evolving jewelry line seeks to embolden simplicity and find the delicate balance between the organic and the avant-garde. All pieces are made entirely by hand in Richmond, Virginia and are a one-of-a-kind venture in art meeting accessory.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Meshuggah have released “Pitch Black,” their new brain-drilling single on Scion AV. Available along with this new power hitter is a live recording of ”Dancers to a Discordant System,” the epic album closer from 2008′s obZen full length.

Both song are available to stream and download.

This is not the first time Meshuggah has put out great music with Scion AV. Last year they teamed up for the towering I Am Collossus EP.

Meshuggah also created a music video for “Demiurge” for the Scion AV Video Series.

Later this month, Meshuggash will be touring North America with the support of Scion. You can still win tickets to any of the tour dates.

“Seven Billion Graves,” the new video from The Secret that’s part of Scion AV Video Series, depicts a landscape as  brutal as the music itself. These Southern Lord signees from Italy teamed  with director Shazzula to deliver this dark vision. Plan your vacation accordingly.

And for more Scion AV heaviness, download or stream Stormcrow, the new EP from The Gates of Slumber.

Trinidad James, Hot Sugar and Antwon lit the fuse on Scion AV Open Mic events for 2013 last week. This diverse threesome packed out Public Assembly in Brooklyn to represent new frontiers of rap music from Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. Whether you made it there or not, check out the photos from the show.

And you can still enter the contest if you want to check out the next Scion AV Open Mic event with A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Bodega Bamz and more, happening at Public Assembly on February 20.

Tim Sweeney has been an integral voice on NYC radio for the last 14 years – he’s like the Funkmaster Flex of classic and bleeding-edge house, disco, post-punk and techno (but without all the bomb noises). Since 1999, his Beats in Space radio show on WNYU 89.1 FM (Tuesday nights, 10:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.) hasn’t missed a beat, introducing the world to the likes of DFA Records, Kompakt, Todd Terje and Pilooski from the basement of a college dorm building in the West Village. (You can also stream the radio show all over the world via iTunes and Tim’s archives.) In this interview, the charming Mr. Sweeney talks about little girls beating him up, why he still presses vinyl and what’s going on with his two-year-old record label, BiS.

Also on the NYC house and disco tip, we’ve got a free EP for you from DFA Records (longtime Sweeney friends), featuring four sweet remixes of The Juan Maclean by House of House, Canyons, Sh*t Robot and Gavin Russom.

Finally, if disco edits are your thing, check out this intensive video of The Rub DJs interviewing the master of the genre: Pilooski. The foxy Frenchman explains the ins and outs of remaking obscure old tracks in new and banging ways. Check it!

Growing up in the UK, Graeme Sinden ingested a steady diet of hip-hop, house, jungle and grime, influences which he chops up, reconfigures and then spits out in the form of fun dancefloor bangers with real personality. Sinden always has great collabos, working on twisted future garage with SBTRKT, grime tunes with 5kinandBone5 and sexy house with Brenmar, among many others.  In this interview, Sinden takes us through his early days working with Made to Play’s Jesse Rose and Dave “Switch” Taylor (of Major Lazer and Solid Groove fame) and into the present, explaining the ethos behind his eclectic label Grizzly and his approach to DJing.

Check out below to stream the EPMD remixes from Sinden, frequent production partner Herve (a.k.a. The Count) and their buddy Duke Dumont. And if you like chunky, jacking house the way certain Brits are so good at making it, then check out a free compilation from Mr. Rose’s Made to Play label from us as well.

EPMD “Run It” Remixes

Made to Play Compilation

Scion Radio hosts Mike B and The Captain (now known as Strange VIP) from Trouble & Bass give Lloydski the lowdown on three super sweet DJs on the scene: Jubilee, Clicks & Whistles and Rick Rude. Known as “Brooklyn’s bass sweetheart,” Jubilee combines her love of underground bass with musical influence from her Miami background, releasing on such labels as Grizzly and Unknown to the Unknown and frequently collaborating with Dre Skull’s Mixpak imprint. We catch up with Boston transplant Rick Rude (now living in LA) — not the dead wrestler (and not just another pretty face), he plays some of the hottest house music around. Mixing things up, Charlotte, NC duo Clicks & Whistles have been scorching up the scene with their futuristic take on hip-hop, trap, and jungle flavors, and Lloyd chats to Petey Clicks about what it means to be from the gateway to the Dirty South.

If you like this interview, check out another cool video with fellow DJ/producer friends Dre Skull, Salva and Eli Escobar below, then download a free compilation, Sounds of New York, courtesy of Trouble & Bass and Scion AV. Hotness!

Dre Skull, Salva & Eli Escobar Interview

Trouble & Bass Sounds of New York

The Scion AV Installation supports independent artists and their creative visions by hosting monthly exhibitions and offering custom-made products for sale.  All of the proceeds from the sales of these products go either directly back to the artist, or to a charity of their choosing.  Now available at the Scion AV Installation are beautiful Aqua Curve necklaces from creator Erin Graves, SparkleFarm.

For product inquiries and purchases please call Scion AV Installation at (323) 272-4266 or visit us at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Aqua Curve Necklace
Join the geometric jewelry party with a beautiful vintage brass curve topped on either side with bright aqua beads. It’s suspended from a long, thin silver chain that slips over your head for easy wear. Super unique and perfect with a simple tank top or dress.

Necklace falls 30″, pendant measures 2 3/8″ wide x 1.75″ tall, no clasp. Brass shows slight signs of age making each piece unique.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
SparkleFarm mixes old, new, tried & true. Since 2011, you can find her working near a window with lots of sparkly (or once sparkly) things & the music on. She is passionate about giving new life to little bits and pieces, often repurposing vintage elements into fresh designs. Her items are versatile, playful, and made with love to complement your clever spirit.

The Gates of Slumber have released their new Stormcrow EP on Scion AV. It features five new crushing tracks from the Indianapolis-based band, including  ”Death March,” which will get a music video in the coming weeks. As The Gates of Slumber explain an our video interview, Stormcrow sees them moving away from  fantasy-based subject matter and towards more personal and darker experiences.

Download Scion AV Presents: The Gates of Slumber — Stormcrow

Starting This February, Meshuggah will be touring North America with the support of Scion. Scion AV will be giving away two (2) pairs of tickets for each tour stop through Twitter. Enter by tweeting “@ScionAV #Meshuggah [date of event]” and check out the full rules. Tour dates are below.

Feb 11 – Beacham Theatre – Orlando, FL

Feb 12 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA

Feb 13 – The Filmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC

Feb 14 – Theater of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA

Feb 15 – Roseland Ballroom – New York, NY

Feb 16 – The Fillmore Silver Spring. Silver Spring, MD

Feb 17 – House of Blues Boston – Boston, MA

Feb 20 – House of Blues Cleveland – Cleveland, OH

Feb 21 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH

Feb 22 – House of Blues Chicago – Chicago, IL

Feb 23 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL

Feb 24 – Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN

Mar 1 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA

Mar 2 – Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

Mar 3 – House of Blues Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

Meshuggah fans, we’ve got more exciting news for you. Check back next Tuesday for more information.

Also check out Meshuggah’s previous release ‘I Am Colossus’ from Scion AV. Enter your email below for a free download.

Venice, California-based renegade Ace Norton has made music videos for the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Aesop Rock and even J. Lo, but in this gripping clip he gets moody and cinematic on behalf of New York synth mastermind Chrome Canyon. “Generations,” off his Stones Throw album Elemental Themes, is a masterpiece of layered keyboards recalling giallo movies, Vangelis and disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder. Norton makes the track into a soundtrack for a dark, twisted and alluring mystery, crafting a noir fantasy that will appeal to fans of Drive and Twin Peaks with its slow-motion closeups and dark LA glamour.

Of course, Chrome Canyon isn’t the only analog-gear-obsessed dude Stones Throw has up its sleeve. Following the “Generations” video below, check out a studio tour with L.A.’s groovy keyboardist Dâm-Funk and find out how these soaring keys and drum machine drops really get made. Then, check out Dâm and his band kicking out the jams in outerspace in the video for “Forever.” Electro-boogie never dies!

Dâm-Funk Studio Tour

Dâm-Funk “Forever”

Scion AV’s Open Mic series returns with a showcase featuring A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Bodega Bamz, 4th Pyramid, and DJ GetLive! at Public Assembly in Brooklyn.

The only way to attend the event is to participate in a sweepstakes on Twitter or on Instagram. Here’s how it works:

On Twitter the sweepstakes runs from January 28 to February 18, 2013.  To enter, users must write a tweet that mentions “@ScionAV” and includes the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic”.  There is a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Twitter to attend the event.

On Instagram the sweepstakes runs from January 28 to February 18, 2013. To enter, users have to repost the sweepstakes photo posted on the @ScionAV Instagram account, and include a mention of “@ScionAV” and the hashtag “#ScionOpenMic” in the caption.  @ScionAV will be posting the image at 10am (Pacific Standard Time) on January 4 and a few other times during the entry period. There’s a limit of 1 entry per person. A total of 250 winners will be selected from Instagram to attend the event.

Here are the full rules for the Twitter contest and the full rules for the Instagram contest.

Levi Maestro, the endearing host of the Maestro Knows video series, will bring six years of products, videos and stories to the Scion AV Installation space. The opening for his “Here I Am, The I Go” exhibit is happening on February 23, 2013 from 7pm to 10pm. You must RSVP to attend. Limited products will be available for purchase.

Scion AV Installation is located at 7667 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Also, check out the soundtrack Maestro put together for Maestro Know America, the documentary he made about travelling the country in a Scion xB.

Eli Escobar is one of New York’s unsung heroes. Not only is he a truly flawless DJ – effortlessly going between uptown bottle-service clubs and the most underground disco parties (like Tiki Disco and Night People, hosted by Scion AV conspirators Lloydski and Blu Jemz) – but he’s also an accomplished producer in his own right, turning out glittering house remixes and on-point edits of all your favorite names. His own original productions for Big Apple labels like Plant Music and Dither Down show a mastery of the dancefloor, combining pop touches with the kind of melodies that make everyone move. In this interview with The Rub DJs — Ayres, Cosmo Baker and DJ Eleven – Eli explains the pause tapes that launched his career, how he landed a Kanye West remix and the way he keeps it all in motion. Also take a listen to Eli’s killer track “Oslo,” from Scion AV’s free Plant Music compilation.

Scion AV took an interest in Jonwayne because he is one of the rare examples of a rapper who also produces. Or is he is a rare example of a producer who also raps? Whatever. He’s been making a name for himself doing both and we talked to this recent Stones Throw signee about the relationship between these two skills. At the Scion Open Mic event where he performed, we got a look at his shorts and sandals in the club look, and that definitely was something extra.

Check out InnaFocusedDaze, the Scion AV EP from Jonwayne’s Stones Throw labelmate Dam-Funk.

Alan Braxe debuts “One More Chance,” a new song from his upcoming EP on Scion AV, plus a remix from Memory Tapes. “One More Chance” is a sentimental jam that finds the French electronic music producer teaming with female vocalist Spimes. It’s got some real “special moments” vibes. We love it.

Stream “One More Chance” on YouTube or download the original and the remix. And keep your ears open for when the full EP arrives this February.

Also, check out the tracks from Nick Hook ‘Without You’ featuring big collabs with El-P, Gaslamp Killer, Computer Jay, and Machinedrum.

In this video, Lloydski and fellow Scion Radio hosts Star Eyes, Mike B and Blu Jemz sit down to dish the dirt on three of computer music’s most loveable characters. Once known as Pittsburgh heavy bass producer B Rich, Barrett Busch is now based in San Francisco and makes silky, romantic future garage sounds as Kastle. The talented DJ/producer, who also runs the forward-thinking Symbols Recordings label, reveals he’s been messing with synths since age 12 and is currently at work on a new album. Australian DJ/radio host/babe-of-all-trades Anna Lunoe recently moved to L.A. and is fast becoming one of the biggest names in house music, when she’s not writing toplines. And straight from the lab, neo-funk synth maestro Computer Jay talks about dusty drum machines, his beef with The Game and why nerds rule. With cameos from Dave Nada and a pitbull named Montego, this is one clip you won’t want to miss.

Check out the hot Computer Jay collabs with Nick Hook and Daedelus below.

Listen to Kastle’s remix of Treasure Fingers“Rooftop Revival” below and watch out his music video “You Know That I Know You Know”.

The Scion Label Showase is a regular event held in Southern California where each show highlights one of best labels in metal and some of the heavy, heavy bands associated with it. Los Angeles’ own Southern Lord was featured in 2012 and each act that played that day sat down for an interview before the show.

The members of Pelican tell the story of how they are proceeding as a group without founding member Laurent Schroeder-Lebec and with the addition of guitarist Dallas Thomas.

Black Breath get deep into detail about the band’s relationship with Swedish Black Metal, the sound they are most commonly tied to, even though they are from Washington. Call it Washington Black Metal.

Mikael Kjellman of Martyrdöd explains how his group’s roots are in Stockholm, Sweden’s punk scene.

Burning Love describe how its sound comes from the joining of two different bands and two different generations to create something entirely new.

Finally, Enabler get into taking risks and finding flexibility as a young band.

For more on the Scion Label Showcase, check out our recent live recording and video series with Metal Blade Records.