Miles Bonny – Let It Out [EP]

What started out as a simple email exchange between a young, hungry beatmaker and a seasoned player in the worlds of jazz and midwestern indie hip-hop, has resulted in a vibrant record nearly a decade in the making. On one side of “Let It Out” sits Miles Bonny, a long time musical collaborator who spent his youth soaking in powerful musical moments in NYC under the tutelage of his trumpet-slinging father, Francis Bonny, and later as a teen immersed in New York’s busy indie-hip-hop scene. As he grew up Miles cemented himself a niche in the Midwest, most notably in Lawrence, Kansas where tireless forays into beatmaking led to the founding of the much-loved INnatesounds Crew and record label, as well as a series of solo releases and collaborative projects. Eventually shifting his focus to his own vocal stylings, it wasn’t long before Miles caught the attention of the international music community, including the young, curious ears of the at time unknown, soon-to-be future R&B sensation Ta-Ku. Through a series of emails and conversations, Ta-Ku asked to send Miles beats and the two planned to work on a series of tracks. From there the pair developed a friendship that was built upon mutual encouragement and a creative admiration between two artists both navigating their own personal and professional responsibilities. “The Let It Out” EP, released on Brooklyn’s Bastard Jazz Recordings, acts as the culmination of such an intimate and organic journey. Recorded by Miles in Kansas City during a time

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Watch Ta-ku & Wafia’s Tiny Desk Concert [Video]

The chemistry between Australian singer-producer Ta-ku and his fellow Aussie singer-songwriter Wafia becomes apparent the instant you hear their voices intertwined in song. On their first collaborative EP, “(m)edian“, they draw on their individual experiences to touch on subjects like compromise in relationships as they trade verses and harmonize over hollow melodies. Ta-ku and Wafia live within the sonic landscape of artists like Drake or Bryson Tiller, but their style puts them in a world all their own. With production characterized by weary low-end rumbles and resonant keys, the two float above the music, playing off each other’s harmonies. Fortunately for us at NPR, they took a moment to grace our Tiny Desk with a stripped-down, intimate performance of three songs from “(m)edian“.

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Ta-ku – You&I [Audio]

brrwd is a creative label between photographers/beatmakers and friends – Repeat Pattern and Ta-ku. This next release is the beginning of a 10″ series that is as much a photographic series as a music focused one. A carefully curated selection of images and dirty loops, this first release in the series is a compilation containing work by close friends and admired fellow creatives. So with a love for the tangible, the compilation will be available digitally and on limited 10″ vinyl, powered by Jakarta Records.

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Ta-ku & Blu – Everyday [Audio]

After “Summer In Jakarta” and “Winter In Jakarta” it was time for another season comp by Jakarta as it’s also our 10th birthday as a label. 15 unreleased tracks from Jakarta artists and people we are just friends with / like. Full release dropping as a free DLL in mid november. Some retailers will also have a free cassette tape version. This track was originally meant to be on a Ta-ku release on Jakarta that never happened. Still we felt it deserves to be shared with you guys. What a magical combination.

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Ta-Ku feat. Wafia – American Girl [Audio]

American Girl started as a joke when I was watching old Kobe Bryant highlights and Estelle’s ”American Boy” was the soundtrack. I really wanted to make a stripped back #emotional version that would play on its really great melodic structure. I reached out to my lovely friend @Wafia to sing a duet with me & mustered enough courage to jump on the first verse. I’m very proud of this song. I hope you enjoy it. Produced by Ta-ku, Daniel Crawford & Will Langer.

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Ta-Ku – Make It Last [Free EP]

Within everything we do here at LFTF, there’s still nothing more satisfying than to witness an artist we know deserves it finally see their rise. For Perth, Australian beatmaker Ta-ku, the climb to the top has been a long time coming. In 2008, Ta-ku was invited to attend the esteemed Red Bull Music Academy in its Barcelona chapter—an undoubtedly prestigious feat that is sure to kickstart any budding artist’s career. But afterwards, while fellow RBMA classmat… Download: Ta-Ku – Make It Last

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