.Evolving Music.

“Don’t wait is just a song about going out, finding a girl and dancing with her. Living life and having a good time. With everybody. Together. We don’t think that just because we have a reggae feel in some of our music that we should preach righteousness, sing about smoking ganja, or pretend to be Bob Marley. Enough people do that already. It’s just a pop song.” -- The Beautiful Girls

Now that’s a refreshingly honest and unapologetic introduction to what is indeed a catchy poppy song with a reggae feel. It’s called “Don’t Wait.” Have a listen:

The Beautiful Girls hail from Australia and are indeed beautiful, albeit not female. The sound they create is an electric harmony of rock, reggae, pop and folk, which at times sounds a lot like the boys from the softer surfer-singer-songwriter corner (most notably Jack Johnson, to whom lead singer Mat McHugh bears a striking resemblance), and at other times sounds much less soft…

The rootsy carefree sound of “Don’t Wait’ will get you grooving in no time.

Hailing from Jamaica’s tough West Kingston Waterhouse district, Junior Reid has been a mainstay of reggae and dance hall music since the 70’s. Junior may be best known as the lead vocalist of Black Uhuru, taking over for Michael Rose in 1985; but in the last few years, he has been infiltrating the hip hop scene. Samples of Junior’s best known hit, “One Blood,” have appeared on the Wu-Tang Clan’s 2000 album The W, and in The Game’s song “It’s Okay (One Blood).” Junior has also collaborated with Mims to create a remix of his hit “This Is Why I’m Hot.”

Junior’s latest solo album, Living Legend is set to be released October 27th of this year, on Bay Area’s ABB Records. To give you a little taste, he has made his new single, “Never Let You Go,” available through Tra.kz for you to listen to, download and share! After you’ve listened to it, be sure to say hello to Junior on Twitter.

New York born indie rock band, Longwave, was formed in 1999 by guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Steve Schiltz, guitarist Shannon Ferguson, bassist Dave Marchese and drummer Jeremy Greene. While some say their early music was influenced by shoegaze pioneers and post-punk icons, the current Longwave sound is very distinct, perhaps due to their numerous lineup changes over the years. Their most recent release, Secrets are Sinister, debued in November 2008 on Original Signal Recordings (the same label that supports the likes of Ingrid Michaelson and David Ford, whom we interviewed last year).

Longwave is now releasing a new single, “Sideways Sidesways Rain” exclusively on tra.kz! Check it out here.

Young and full of passion, Alessandra Conti is an 18 year old singer, composer, guitarist, and writer who is fresh to the D.C. Music Scene. A city girl who grew up in a small town, Alessandra and was lucky enough to escape frequently to perform and experience life in New York City. She has performed on MTV’s TRL: “I Wanna Be a Rock Star” segment and was a “Viewer Host” (Celebrity Interviewer) for a brand new show on MTV. Seen on VH1, The Oxygen Network, and of course MTV, Alessandra is on her way to establish herself as a personality and musician in the industry. She recently recorded with Ben Folds, and will be featured on his upcoming album with her acapella group, “Treble in Paradise”. She will be opening for Ben Folds at his upcoming concert in Baltimore. Alessandra has also been featured in Seventeen Magazine and has walked the runway for Teen People Magazine’s Model Search. A very strong beginning to a very promising career.

Now a Freshman at American University in Washington, D.C. Alessandra is studying Communications: Broadcast Journalism and Marketing. Young, vivacious, talented and excited to hit the scene, Alessandra is just beginning her career in the indie-town DC making her official live debut this weekend!

Alessandra’s newest single “Empty Words”: http://tra.kz/ew
Alessandra’s music on MixMatchMusic: http://tra.kz/almmm

“Sasha Don’t Sleep” is a track off of The Dance Party’s new tour EP titled “Tiger” coming out this Spring. They’re one of DC’s mega cool indie bands and also becoming a staple in the New York rock scene. Their gigs may be spreading across America but when The Dance Party puts on a show on at home, DC doesn’t sleep. A Dance Party show is a fun & exciting night of outta control rock and roll. You heard me. Check ‘em out but be prepared for the addiction.

The Dance Party is a high-energy rock group from Washington, DC. With a sound that combines Dance-Punk, 80’s New Wave, and Powerpop, The Dance Party created a buzz throughout DC and the Mid-Atlantic with their frenetic live performance and hook-laden debut album, “Friction! Friction! Friction!”

The Dance Party recently recorded 10 tracks with Andros Rodriguez at the helm (Justin Timberlake, Cobra Starship, !!!). With a host of shows booked and new songs yet to be released, the band is positioned for rock & roll domination.

The new material demonstrates the band’s strengths – undeniably catchy pop songs executed with an over-the-top delivery, guaranteed to cause the uncontrollable desire to throw caution to the wind and get radical on the dance floor.” – blurb taken from The Dance Party MySpace Music Page.

It’s been a great day of new music releases on Twitter and everybody at MixMatchMusic would like to give a big shout out to the folks at Controlled Substance Sound Labs (label umbrella for Stoopid Records and Law Records) for making the tra.kz launch a promotion to remember!

BUT… the music isn’t over yet, as you’ve still got a chance to grab the Controlled Substance tracks and share them with your friends. Check out the complete list of songs that were released today, and download them to your heart’s content.

To download a track, right click on its ‘Download’ link below and click “Save Link As…”

To download a track, right click on its ‘Download’ link above and click “Save Link As…”

Radio Nowhere brings you fresh alt rock/pop sounds from Oakland, California. The band was started by Mike Baker, who writes all the songs, sings, plays guitar, and does “pretty much anything else that needs doing” for the band. Apparently, Mike writes most of his songs while he’s driving, on an ancient Casio keyboard bungee-corded to the passenger seat. This doesn’t seem safe, but we can’t complain.

As a youngster, Mike’s family would drive from the Bay Area to Idaho every summer, and his mom would make up stories to go along with what they were seeing along the highways. So, he got imprinted with the whole combination of music, empty roads and stories early on. This shows in his music. Take a listen to “London Calling” here (no not THAT London Calling, silly).

If you read Evolving Music, you probably know that the Bayliens have been taking the Bay Area by storm this last year, and are currently inviting you to remix their single “Bubble Gum”. But, Enzyme Dynamite (1/3 of the Bayliens) is a man of many flavors. “Girls” features Enzyme leaving his familiar hip-hop roots and stepping into new territory: electro.

And, Enzyme handles it well. “Girls” is remixed by Energy 92.7’s Trevor Simpson, a master producer and DJ who lays down the necessary dirty synth and driving beats to make this song bang. This song will surely find its way in the your local dance club very soon. Listen/Download Girls here!

Live electronica is a unique art form that brings together two very different communities, the dance music club scene and live music fans. BLVD seemlessly integrates the two into a stunning hip-hop, house and breakbeat experience that uses both riveting samples from the studio and organic live sound.

At times reminiscent of the live jams of bands like String Cheese Incident and Phish, the foundational grooves of BLVD have an air of spontaneity that lend themselves to live crowds. As if the juxtaposition of jam band style instrumentals and riveting electronica beats weren’t enough, add to the mix the lyrics of MC Souleye, a “conscious wordsmith”, and you’ve got something pretty unique. Listen to/download their track, “Vortex”, here.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad calls their music North American International Body Music, and Evolving Music couldn’t agree more! They bring a relentless reggae sound that is laced with experimental dub that will keep your head boppin’ and your bones rockin’. Here is a delicious track by them called “Season’s Change“.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad was formed in 2004, by brothers Matthew and Christopher O’Brian, and mutual friends James Searl and Dylan Savage. The Rochester, New York-based group’s current lineup solidified with the addition of Rachel Orke, and Aaron Lipp. GPGDS plays an eclectic blend of roots reggae, dub, and afrobeat. The sextet’s impeccable musicianship and explosive live show have received widespread acclaim. Giant Panda will be releasing a new album in 2009, but be sure to check out their debut release Slow down.