Fresh off the “All Hearts” tour with Robyn and Kelis, Dan Black is stepping out on his own with a headlining engagement at Bowery Ballroom on September 9. The British singer-songwriter has been on a bit of a hot streak lately – his new single, “Alone”, will be released this week with a remix by MJ Cole, and his video for “Symphonies” has been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets for his show on September 9th, and in preparation for what is sure to be a fantastic show, check out his Weird Science mixtape HERE and his VMA-nominated video for “Symphonies” after the jump.

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After a five-year absence, Robyn is set to release Body Talk Pt. 1 – her fifth studio album – on June 14. In anticipation, she has already released three tracks – “Femebot”, “None of Dem” (produced by Royksopp) and “Dancehall Queen” (produced by Diplo) – through digital outlets; today sees the video release for her first single, “Dancing On My Own”. The video, directed by Max Vitali, is about “being sad on a dance floor”, Robyn said in a behind-the-scenes video,”there’s a lot of dancing in the video, both by me and other people.” Decida, the video’s choreographer, adds: “It’s about her being kind of pissed off… and dancing and bringing out some kind of energy.” Indeed, the video showcases Robyn’s signature dance style that first charmed us on her 2007 tour.

The behind-the-scenes video also gives us a sneak peek of what her upcoming tour will look like. “It’s going to be looking a little bit like what I’m going to bring on tour,” Robyn said of the video set, “So it’s going to be a performance video but it’s also going to be in something like a rave or like a club or somewhere where people are dancing.” In a creative marketing move, Robyn and Kelis engaged in a Twitter conversation yesterday, which served to announce their joint US Tour, tentatively called the “All Hearts Tour”.

Watch the video for “Dancing On My Own” after the jump, and CLICK HERE for a behind-the-scenes look. We’ll be catching Robyn this summer when she headlines the Øya Festival in Oslo, and will bring you more details on her stateside jaunt as they emerge. Stay tuned…

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Last week, the third and final phase of the Ultra Music Festival was posted, adding LMFAO and Sander Kleinenberg (among others) to the already massive line-up that includes Damian Marley and Nas, Passion Pit, Tiesto, A-Trak, Bassnectar, Crookers, The Bloody Beetroots, Major Lazer, and hundreds more.

This year will feature some special collaborations – Florence (from Florence and the Machine) will join Swedish House Mafia on the Ultra Main Stage on Saturday, and Kelis, whose sound as taken a turn towards electro, will team up with Benny Benassi for a few songs.

Four new arenas have been added to the festival grounds – the UMF Ibiza Tent, the UMF Brazil Tent, the Root Society Dome, and the Heineken Dome Experience – bringing the total to a staggering ten (yes, TEN) stages.

Another new addition to Ultra is Sonic Forest, an interactive installation by artist/composer Christopher Janney that will entice festival goers into a unique environment with aural and visual components. Sonic Forest is composed of eight-foot tall aluminum poles that trigger melodic and environmental sounds as people move through the “electronic trees”. Independent drummers will be present in the Forest during various parts of the installation. Sonic Forest has been featured at Bonnaroo, All Points West, and Coachella in the US, and various festivals around the world.

This is shaping up to be the best Ultra to date, and is certainly not to be missed if you’re going to be in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out The HiFi Cartel Guide to the Winter Music Conference for more events in Miami that week.

Last week, Kelis took to her Twitter account to leak “Acapella”, the lead single off her upcoming album. The album, which is “pretty much finished“, will include tracks produced by David Guetta (“Acapella”), Boys Noize and Major Lazer (aka Diplo and Switch).

The singer was recently featured on “Scars”, the title track from Bassment Jaxx’s latest album, and also collaborated with Crookers on the track “No Security” for their upcoming release, Tons of Friends. With that top-notch roster of producers, it’s safe to say that Kelis is going in a more electro-dance direction for her upcoming album. The record is set for a spring release through Geffen Records via Will.I.Am Music Group.

Check out “Acapella” below, click through to listen to Basement Jaxx’s “Scars” and the video for Crookers’ “No Security”.

Kelis – “Acapella”

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Hailing from Brixton, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe got their start as Basement Jaxx in 1994. While the duo may have gotten their start with UK chart-topper “Rendez Vu,” from their first album, Remedy, they are better known for their singles “Where’s Your Head At?” and  “Do Your Thing” from their second album, Rooty (2001). In 2004, the group won the Best Electronic/Dance Album Grammy for Kish Kash. Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe can now add Scars to their list of marks. This revel of an album is beyond the group’s typical style, and more than delivers a satisfying listening experience. It is an eccentric collection of pure ingenuity and energy that accentuates the duo’s skills and attention to detail in sound and vocals.

The fifth studio album by the house duo, Scars features vocals by Kelis, Santigold, Yoko Ono, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Yo Majesty! and others. While the duo may be overshadowed by a myriad of featured artists, it may serve them well to have such a comprehensive album with a widespread of variety, style and flavor. In making an album around the styles of  fourteen unique vocalists, Basement Jaxx creates the crowning touch for what is an a la carte of an album. While each track can hold-up on their own, the compilation shows their versatility and ability to create a feast of an album. It reflects a time of mash-ups and cultural pollination in a musical-period where the focus is no longer on the construction of the album but on sole tracks – (the reason DJs like David Guetta and Tiesto are moving towards albums and compilations with an array of vocalists).

The album is available now. Basement Jaxx is scheduled for a DJ set in New York City at Santo’s Party House on November 7th. Click through for a listen, recommended tracks and a track list. Also, check out their visually enthralling video for “Raindrops”.

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