Valentine's Day is a time for lovers, for people to express what they truly mean to one another.
Music is the perfect way to do that. The way a particular track can resonate with a person is truly special, allowing them to express things they previously couldn't quite reach.
Kitsune are high-tailing it from Paris this weekend to throw a special French Kiss bash in London. Taking place at the Village Underground on February 13th, the line up features The 2 Bears (Raf Daddy), Star Slinger, Kaasi, Pyramid and a live set from Cesare.
Ahead of this, Starslinger has pieced together his essential Valentine's playlist especially for Clash readers.
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Sunny And Gabe – 'I Luv It' (ft. D.R.A.M)
Super fun, smooth track from my new favourite duo Sunny And Gabe feat. my new favourite rapper D.R.A.M. From what I gather the songs about loving life, staying on your grind, thriving. They all rep their crew RBLE and they come from Virginia in the US. Next time I go to DC I’m gonna make an effort to stop in Virginia! Seriously some of the freshest sounds. I discovered this track late but to be honest its fresher than most shit out there a year later. Plus they started coming up after the world including Beyonce fell in love with D.R.A.M’s 'Cha Cha'. Gabe just sent me the stems to I Luv It and began putting my spin on it for the dance floor.
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The Other People Place – 'Moonlight Rendezvous'
An alias of the wonderful late Detroit legend James Marcel Stinson of Drexciya. A humble genius who died one year after the release of the album this is on 'Lifestyles Of The Laptop Cafe' (2001. Warp Records). Equal parts eerie as it is seductive. Something about it means I never get bored of it. No one made music like this apart from him. Often imitated never duplicated.
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Kilo Kish – 'Goldmine'
I produced this track for Kilo Kish. It was released on a Kitsune Maison compilation and on her mixtape K + a couple years ago. Its a slow jam we recorded out in Manhattan. I made the lead line, and Kish started singing the chorus to it! A special track for me. Something strange is that same day my girlfriend found out she was pregnant with our daughter at that studio. It was a pleasure to record with Kish and hope to again some day. Maybe she will meet our daughter finally!
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Antwon – '3rd World Grrl'
Myself and Antwon met via our mutual friend Sad Andy who I always hang with when I am in San Francisco. Sad Andy is his DJ and partner in business with their Nature World Clothing label. I heard they were touring in London and I was there the same weekend. We hung out in Dalston, drank far too many Modelos at the Alibi and made a track at The Strongroom. Hopefully that’ll be on his album in the fall. But here is one of my favourite early Antwon tracks devoted to the ladies.
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Pete Heller – 'Big Love'
OK so this one dates back to me tuning in to Pete Tong’s Essential Selection on BBC Radio 1 back in the late Nineties. I heard this track, long before I could go out clubbing legally and it is what had me hooked on House music. The LP version is 10 minutes and I can just let the whole thing play at a show. It really hypnotises the crowd and in a special way. One for the dark dingy clubs with Funktion One speakers to really feel how lush this track is. Along with other tracks at the time like Armand Van Helden “You Don’t Know Me” this is what ignited a passion for dance music and made me want to go clubbing, DJ and Produce too.
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MJ Cole – 'Crazy Love'
This one is very special. UK Garage really is special genre. This was a big hit back in the day, but executed with such class like everything MJ Cole has ever done. I still drop this at the end of the night sometimes and people go wild when they hear those Pizzicato strings at the intro. When I played the same night as him at Kendall Calling a few years ago I got to tell him what the song meant to me. I probably came across like a fan boy but I don’t care. A fucking great tune. Anthem.
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Sia – 'Little Man' (Exemen Works / Wookie Remix)
This one is not really romantic but the baseline and those steel drums and the rhythm all complement the dance, and if you’re dancing to this one you forget all inhibitions. Such a great remix and one I look up to. It was an underground banger in London despite Sia being a massive star! Big up to Wookie. Play this at every given opportunity if I’m honest.
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Catch Kitsune French Kiss at Village Underground, London on February 13th – tickets.
