The last time that Claude VonStroke dropped an album was in 2018 with Live In Detroit and before that, Urban Animal in 2013, so needless to say that when he does, it is a celebration! As you probably know, Claude is the head honcho and founder of Dirtybird records, a label that is pretty much a music genre unto itself, like DJ Mag said. And we couldn’t agree more!
Dirtybird has a sound that is mainly a blend of Bass House and Tech House, it is bass-heavy, eclectic, trippy, and yet super accessible! And Claude’s new album “Freaks & Beaks” is exactly that.
From the compelling and powerful old school breakbeat vibes of “These Note In This Order”, to the synth-heavy “Alpine Arpline,” and the deep and immersive “Youngblood” featuring rising talent Wyatt Marshall , “Freaks & Beaks” is vibrant, fresh, unique, captivating and captures perfectly the essence of the Dirtybird sound.
What you might not know about this new album is that Claude took a fresh new approach: he committed daily creative time, he experimented with a bit of everything, from complex modular synthesizers to basic iPad drum apps. He kept it all “DIY” and even sampled his own voice and his children on the track “Freaks Don’t Fail Me Now.”
The album is simply outstanding, it is really clean and polished (and yet has a very dirty side), you can clearly see the artist’s maturity and experience in its evolution and fresh variety of genres, flavors and sounds. A couple tracks are already DJ weapons only a few days after the release! This album is a gem, it is so diversified that you will without a doubt find something to your taste! Make sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlists on Spotify, Deezer, Napster, Youtube, or whatever music platform/app you use, the album is available everywhere!
Check out what people are saying about Claude’s new album!
“Delightfully funky and full of mechanical texture,” – Billboard
“Full of bumping bass and kinetic kick drums … As Mixmag’s #1 label of the decade, it has shown the possibilities of growth for an independent record label.” – Mixmag
“At this point, Dirtybird is practically a genre unto itself, with a bass-heavy sound that, no matter how trippy it gets, always bumps.” – DJ Mag
“Hard to think of anyone who’s shaped the house music landscape more,” – Fabric
“Brand new music … sounding fat!” – Pete Tong
“Invitation to both the peacocks and the wallflowers to loosen up and get down.” – LA Times
Check out Freaks & Beaks on Spotify below and grab your copy HERE.
More about Claude VonStroke:
Claude VonStroke created a small underground record label called Dirtybird in 2005 and grew it into a full-fledged events, clothing and music brand over the last 15 years. During this time, he has also managed to release 4 artist albums and some of the most iconic house music tracks of the last two decades.
Most people know Claude VonStroke for his smiling DJ persona touring every major city, festival, and basement after-party around the world. But Claude has also influenced the very fabric of the dance community, A&Ring an impeccable roster of acts like Justin Martin, Fisher, Shiba San, Catz n Dogz, Riva Starr, Tim Green, Breach, Eats Everything, Walker & Royce, Shadow Child, and countless others. (And even naming a few of these artists.) Today, his Dirtybird label continues to surprise and innovate in the underground dance scene, releasing an enigmatic combination of house, funk, dirty bass, and electronica.
VonStroke has released four original artist albums, a remix album, and a live album recorded when he closed the famed Movement Festival in his original hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Some other music highlights include working on records with Bootsy Collins, Rihanna, Disclosure and Kevin Saunderson, as well as a few #1 and #2 hits on Beatport. His partnership with Green Velvet as “GET REAL” has been one of the most rewarding friendships as Claude originally modeled his career off the quirky enigmatic style of his mentor and now good friend from Chicago.
In 2015, VonStroke brought his first festival to light called Dirtybird Campout, a unique boutique festival based on the games and activities associated with American Summer camp mixed with the best underground house and bass music in the world. He continues to innovate and curate new events with 2 additional multi-day festivals mirroring his Birdhouse radio show in Los Angeles and Chicago, and his record BBQ event series that has been going since 2003!
VonStroke also loves art; most notably pop-surrealist artwork that he has commissioned for the last 7 years on Dirtybird for all of the releases. Each year he hires a new artist and has had the pleasure of working with renowned artists such as Jeremy Fish, Dulk, Graham Carter, Dan May, Charlie Immer, Raoul Deleo and Felicia Chiao. Walking through the Dirtybird HQ in Los Angeles is like walking through an art gallery in the Wynwood district of Miami.
A lot of his success can be attributed to a good attitude. Claude does not scowl or look mean while he DJs. He does not pretend to know everything and he truly loves his fans. He is grateful to be curating, creating and performing music for a living and he knows that the reason people go to parties is to shake their booty and have fun.
Follow Claude VonStroke:
- https://www.instagram.com/vonstroke/
- https://twitter.com/VonStroke
- https://www.youtube.com/user/claudevonstroke/
- https://www.facebook.com/Claude.VonStroke/
- https://open.spotify.com/artist/5CYAFhywQTXdZmppCp0ukd?si=-UmCYQc2QmqGAMsLC0nNmg
