New album, Elegant Rhythms, to be released on August 2nd
My new album, Elegant Rhythms, has been announced! It’s out on August 2, and it features collaborations with Andy Shauf, Sam Wilkes and Max Jaffe. You can listen to three songs from the record over on my Bandcamp — teendaze.bandcamp.com/album/elegant-rhythms
There are a limited number of records for sale on Bandcamp (30 in total). A huge thank you to everyone who’s already bought an LP! The records will ship a month after the digital release, around September 13.
Two New Singles Now Available To Stream
Modern Compromise & New Spirits, two new singles from Teen Daze, are out, and available to stream/purchase from your preferred platform. Both singles stand out in amongst the rest of the Teen Daze catalog, while retaining the ambience and restraint that you’ve come to expect.
About Modern Compromise: “After making Interior, which was an attempt to try and tap into a sound that had a big influence on his early experiences with electronic music, I wanted to try and look ahead. I find it can be easy to rest on sounds and feels that I’ve worked with in the past, but with this one I wanted to challenge myself to go in a different direction. I don’t think there’s any song in my catalog that really feels like this one.”
About New Spirits: “I think about running when I make dance music; if a song works while I’m on a run, then I feel like it’s in the right place. When this one was in the mixing phase, I would listen to it lots on the trail. I ended up extending the ending, with its more straight-ahead club feel, after hearing it on a run and wishing the energy it provided could help me get in a few more steps. Like the last single, Modern Compromise, it sits in a unique place in my catalog; there's not really any other Teen Daze song that feels this way.”
New album INTERIOR announced, first single streaming everywhere
Stream the first single, Swimming, here.
British Columbia producer Jamison Isaak aka Teen Daze didn’t anticipate an adulthood of globe-trotting song craft, but teenage exposure to iconic French house music videos cast a spell on him that still holds: “I knew then – this is what I wanted to do.”
Catalyzed by synthetic sights and sounds from oceans away, he patiently taught himself primitive software and recording programs, reverse engineering the heady, swooning horizons of the dance music that had permanently bewitched him. A decade later, having amassed an expansive discography of soft-focus synth pop and romantic electronica – crisscrossing the planet many times in the process – the subtext of his project’s journey rings clear: “Teen Daze is dream fulfillment.”
Enter Interior, announced today for a December 10th release via Cascine. Mixed by Joel Ford and mastered by Dave Cooley, it's an ode to electric futures glimpsed in ecstatic heights, from bedrooms to big rooms, it’s an album of first loves refracted through prisms of wisdom, wounds, and wonder. Filter house and flashing lights; soft acid and vaporous neon; bumping clubs in spiral towers: “Like what the teenagers in Akira might be listening to.”
Listen to the soft-focus rhythms of "Swimming", with a Nicole Ginelli-directed video out today alongside the track available on all digital services. The new album can be pre-ordered here.
"This is one of the first songs I made for this record, some three years ago," Jamison describes. "It benefited so much from Joel’s guidance. When I first sent him the original demos he said he could hear slivers of “early 2000s French house music”, even though I was hearing was colder, more modular-based synth sounds. Anyways, that note sent me down a rabbit hole which resulted in the record you’re hearing today, and Swimming is one of the songs that benefitted most from that note. This track is truly meant for a dancefloor. I’ve spent a lot of the last few years trying to craft “ambient music that you could dance to”, but this one is about as close as I get to a DJ tool."
"For me, the song is a celebration of dancing together again and the anticipation of those moments," director Ginelli says about "Swimming." "It feels like being in your brain and excited about something forthcoming, an active dreaming forward. Using an abstract avatar of myself - my movements and dances trigger reactive animations and cue the interactive space around me. Made in VR using real-time motion capture."
Collaborative cameos by multi-instrumentalist Joseph Shabason (on sublime fantasia opener “Last Time In This Place”) and vocalist Cecile Believe (on the glitch-glamorous anthem “2AM (Real Love)”) evocatively expand the record’s palette but otherwise Interior is Isaak’s love letter to his own artistic awakening, to the paradigm shifts inherent in youthful discovery and remote dreaming – your world exploded, your life forever changed. Years of devotion and divergence have honed his craft radically; tracks like “Nite Run,” “Nowhere,” and “Translation” are among the most supreme bangers in the entire Teen Daze canon, a delirious fusion of textural finesse and emotional transcendence. It’s music of skylines, escape, and sensual energy, forever cresting through nights that never end.
To celebrate the release of the first single, Teen Daze will be doing a live DJ set on Blast Radio today 2pm PST / 5pm EST. Teen Daze has been using Blast Radio to host recurring radio shows under the name 'Interior Club Radio.' In honor of the release of "Swimming", he is dedicating his next episode to the song; a deep dive into the influences, both musical and otherwise, as well as an in-depth look into the production and arrangement. All Blast Radio broadcasts can be heard while live and then expire after 24 hours. Listeners can follow and tune in to Teen Daze by searching for his username (@teendaze) in the app. Download iOS and Android versions.
Lastly, Teen Daze has also announced a handful of Album Release shows, where he will be doing live dj sets in Vancouver, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs in support of the Interior release.
New EP, Breathing Tides, Released
Breathing Tides, a new three-track ambient EP, is now available to stream/download.
Breathing Tides is a new, three track EP from British Columbian artist Teen Daze (Jamison Isaak). Following last year’s Reality Refresh series, which leaned more towards balearic and house sounds, Breathing Tides is a collection of wintery, cinematic ambient pieces. While Teen Daze has usually used these types of textures and sounds as the foundation for more traditional pop structures, this EP takes a much more minimalist approach. Breathing Tides relaxes, and aims to create a sense of calm for the listener. A collection of pieces that can reward a listener with a deep listening experience, or create a mood as background music.
Reality Refresh 3 & 4 Released
The final releases in the Reality Refresh series have been released digitally, and are available to stream/download across all platforms. There are still a very limited amount of cassettes available as well, if physical formats are your thing.
Some words about Reality Refresh 3:
Roll the windows down, and breathe in that cool ocean breeze. Another trip, another opportunity to hit refresh on your reality: Teen Daze returns with the third EP in his Reality Refresh series, filled with more light grooves, delicate guitar melodies and rolling percussion.
We begin on that aforementioned coastal drive, which is where NBD (which could stand for No Bad Days, or No Big Deal, you decide!) sits right at home. Maybe it’s a convertible making its way from Tokyo to Yokohama, or its an 80s sports car, hugging the soft curves of the PCH north of Los Angeles; whichever ride you choose, NBD is the perfect soundtrack to help you achieve the motorized bliss you seek.
Pull over at the next lookout point, watch the waves, and let Environments wash over you. The light birdsong and lapping creek sounds fill the silence, amongst gentle pads and twinkling, clean and delayed guitars. The unobtrusive percussion sits quietly in the background, slowly keeping rhythm with the waves. The perfect score to a quiet afternoon overlooking the ocean.
Let’s head back to the city: Peaceful Groove is pure sunset. The dancing marimbas, the rolling percussion, the swirling synthesized sounds; the sun is setting on our escape from the city, and Peaceful Groove is guiding us back home.
Finally, we reach Zen Zone: the Shavasana, and hopefully, our place of Zen. The last rays of sun peak out behind the mountains in the distance, and we reach our sense of home. Zen Zone closes out this third EP in the Reality Refresh series, with its meditative melodies, and deep pads. Hopefully, a good place to find rest and that sense of ‘Refresh’ that we all seek.
And a few words about Reality Refresh 4:
After three EPs, we reach the end of Teen Daze’s Reality Refresh series; one last opportunity to hit refresh. With this last EP, we feel a sense of closure in every song, and a hopeful look into the uncertain future ahead of us.
So where do we find ourselves at the end of this journey? We start with Clear Path, with its dancing hand drums, sparkling synths and tasteful guitar lines, evoking the feeling of a quiet sunset from the sand. All things must pass.
Piano Exercise continues with the nocturnal feels. Though the sonic framework would suggest this might be a song intended for dancing, there’s a gentleness that makes its way through the arrangement. The filtered drums are pulsing, but with a softness; the piano played delicately, the sound of the pads hitting the strings still intact. Perfect for a sunset DJ set where actually watching the sun set is a higher priority than dancing.
Next we have one the more experimental pieces of the whole series: Amsterdam. Drums are replaced by common, almost mundane, sounds; the real world transformed into rhythms. Combined with deep, fuzzed out pads and a twinkling Rhodes lead, Amsterdam is an ode to a hazy night.
Finally, the sun begins to rise, and we’re left with the hopeful optimism that is built in to Oakmoss and Amber. A simple bass melody weaves the song through layers of soft guitars and brushed drums. A quiet, contemplative end to this collection of music, and an end to the Reality Refresh series.
A huge thank you to all of you who have supported/listened to these records. Hope you’re all in good spirits and good health!
Reality Refresh (Green Tape) Available to Preorder
The second Reality Refresh tape (which contains the music from EP3 and EP4) is now available to preorder. There’s very limited supplies, so get your copy today!
"Side A features the four songs on Teen Daze's third Reality Refresh EP, while Side B features the four songs on Teen Daze's fourth, and final, Reality Refresh EP. Another beautiful collection of peaceful sunset music, meant to help you feel refreshed and relaxed. Limited to 50 copies.”
Reality Refresh 2 Streaming Now
Reality Refresh 2, the second in Teen Daze’s four part ‘Reality Refresh’ series, is now streaming/available for download. The second EP carries on from where the first one ended; four tracks of blissful, meditative tracks to help you refresh your reality.
New Teen Daze EP, Reality Refresh, available for preorder
Reality Refresh is the first in a series of four EPs, which will be released throughout 2020, created (for the most part) since quarantine began in March 2020. The first EP is now available for preorder, and two singles, Reality Refresh and Cosmic Mood, are available to stream. Here’s some more info on the first EP:
We start with the title track, with its swung drums, soft, phased keyboard loop and dancing bass line. An omen for what can be expected in the releases to come. Comfort, with its dreamy, lurching percussion, is a turn inwards. We're all searching for comfort at this moment in time, this one might be a perfect soundtrack for those of you who find comfort in gentle keyboards and light percussion. Cosmic Mood continues with the percussive grooves. Throw in some lush pads, spaced flutes and the sound of birdsong, and you'll be put into some sort of Cosmic Mood yourself. Finally, the EP fades out to a sunrise over the mountains overlooking Los Angeles, California. Picture yourself on the top of a parking garage, one of the many in LA, perhaps after a long night out (remember those?) watching the sun come up. Sunrise Over LA gently hits refresh on your day, and brings this first Reality Refresh EP to its natural conclusion.
Keep your ears and eyes open for more of these Reality Refresh EPs.
How's Life, a new album from Pacific Coliseum
How’s Life is the third full length record from Pacific Coliseum. Released on Let’s Play House, the album traverses balearic, house and ambient sounds, while maintaining the warmth and melody that we’ve come to expect from this project.
Feel-good, chilled-out disco and downtempo to soundtrack the holiday you wish you could be on. Canadian artist Jamison Isaak, better known as Teen Daze, has used the Pacific Coliseum alias to reinvent himself as something of a house producer, but the trademarks of his music—beautiful textures, sun-kissed melodies and tight arrangements—are still intact.
Test Pressing:
Allusions to these forms come through loud and clear at points across "How's Life", a suite of 12 club-ready tracks drenched in midi jazz-funk, classic house and new age reference points. That said, club-ready is probably a bit of a red herring, because these songs have a tender, introspective quality that simultaneously locates them on the slightly more uptempo side of the chillout lounge - chair-dancing groovers that can, in the right context, heat up into something more potent and powerful. Get you a Coliseum that can do both.
Let’s Play House’s Release Notes:
Before this illness was but a blip on the radar, before this epidemic became pandemic, we were looking forward to sharing this LP, Pacific Coliseum's How's Life, with you because, simply, it is a joy, but now it's taken on new, prescient dimensionality, and we're looking forward to it even more.
Before, it was a salve, a relief from the monotony of daily life and the troubles that burden us, but now it is an antidote to the physical isolation we're experiencing. It's an inward-looking album, one that's gentle and tender, but it's not quiet. It's full of life, color, spirit; its purpose is to take the emotion on the inside and connect it with the bright, miraculous world on the outside.
Full of jazzy melodies and funky riffs and easy drums that land with a measured poof rather than a aggressive pop, it is, we are certain, what you need right now.
You can download the digital version of the LP from Bandcamp. The vinyl edition is sold out through Let’s Play House, but is available through a handful of record stores.
Spring Patterns 3 Released
Spring Patterns 3, the latest in my annual collection of ambient synth & guitar loops, has now been released through the Flora Bandcamp. A few words on the process of making it:
Spring Patterns 3 was recorded on April 9 & 10, 2020, at my home studio in Chilliwack, BC, Canada.
The loops you’re hearing were created with my Gibson SG guitar, running through a Space Echo pedal, a Loop Station, and finally a CS-1 compression pedal. It also features a Korg Minilogue running through the same pedals.
This collection of music is coming during a very tumultuous time in the world. I hope that it can bring you peace, and help you to reflect on the changing seasons. All things must pass.
Hope you’re feeling safe and healthy.
Open EP Released
Open is my last release of 2019, and the three track single is now available to stream/download. After a busy year, it feels to have this one out in the world. To learn more about the tracks, head over to the Teen Daze Bandcamp.
Thanks to everyone for listening this year. See you soon with another new release.
Bioluminescence (Remixes) Released
Bioluminescence (Remixes), a collection of eight remixes from my last LP, is now available to stream/download from your preferred platform. This carefully curated compilation of reinterpretations weaves its way through transcendent ambient, dancefloor jams and atmospheric experimentations from some of my favourite artists. The whole collection was mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri, the cover art was made by Nathaniel Whitcomb, and was released by FLORA.
Bioluminescence (Remixes) Announced, Available For Pre Order
Bioluminescence, the most recent Teen Daze record, has been remixed in its entirety, from some of the most talented artists from the worlds of ambient and dance music. The collection can be pre ordered through Bandcamp, and will be released next month.
Remixers include r beny, Instupendo, Jex Opolis, Cyril Hahn, Seb Wildblood, Baltra, Khotin and Airbird (aka Joel Ford, who mixed the original record). The collection was mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri.
You can check out Cyril Hahn and Instupendo’s remixes already.
Bioluminescence (Remixes) is available through FLORA, on October 4.
Two New T Shirt Designs Now Available
“Everything is Within and Within and Within.”
Two new Teen Daze t-shirts (black and white) are now available to preorder, through Everpress. The designs were done by Landen Sperling, and will be available to order for the next 21 days. So get on them quick!
Bioluminescence, the new album from Teen Daze, is out.
Bioluminescence, the sixth Teen Daze LP, is now available to stream/download here: http://smarturl.it/iv7pzq. Mixed by Joel Ford (Oneohtrix Point Never, How To Dress Well, Ford & Lopatin) and Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri (The Sight Below, Black Knoll Studio), the album is available on all streaming platforms, and is available on vinyl through the Teen Daze Bandcamp.
New T-Shirt Available For Preorder
Spring Patterns is a new T-Shirt design available for preorder through Everpress. This shirt, featuring one of my bloom photos, is super soft, and made with ethically sourced materials. The shirt will be available to order until Friday, May 3, and there are limited quantities.
Longing, the final single from Bioluminescence is now streaming.
Longing, the final single from Bioluminescence, has been released, and is now streaming across all platforms. Not only is it streaming, but you can check out the official music video for the single here. Bioluminescence is available to preorder, and will be released on April 26.
Ocean City Remixes Released
I’m so happy to be revisiting my Pacific Coliseum, with this collection of remixes, which is out now on Coastal Haze. The three remixers (D. Tiffany, Manuel Darquart and Seb Wildblood) are three of my current favourites, and I’m so happy with the way this collection came together.
Vinyl edition of Bioluminescence is now available to preorder.
Bioluminescence is now available to preorder on coloured vinyl here. This pressing is limited to 300 copies, and will ship on, or around, the album’s release date on April 26.
The third single, Endless Light, is also now available to stream on all platforms.
Teen Daze announces Canada/US shows for May/June 2019
In honour of my new Teen Daze record, Bioluminescence, I’m thrilled to announce my first headlining tour since 2017. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 AM EST; for more info/ticket & RSVP links, head to http://bit.ly/teendaze-live.
05.17 SEATTLE, WA Central Saloon
05.18 ABBOTSFORD, BC Kariton Art Gallery
05.23 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Neck Of The Woods
05.24 LOS ANGELES, CA El Cid
05.26 LOS ANGELES, CA Ace Hotel DTLA Rooftop (Dublab’s Vibing Time) (DJ Set)
05.30 TORONTO, ON The Baby G
05.31 MONTRÉAL, QC Casa Del Popolo
06.01 NEW YORK CITY, NY (Le) Poisson Rouge
06.02 WASHINGTON, DC Songbyrd
06.03 CHICAGO, IL Empty Bottle