Berlin artist Joplyn has gained serious traction of late, as a result of her dramatic live and hybrid shows. At the end of last year, she was invited to speak at the Berlin Dance Music Event and spoke at an Ableton masterclass soon after, followed by Pete Tong listing her in his ‘Future Stars of 2022’.
Fresh from the success of Joplyn’s recent Crosstown Rebels debut in the form of We Will Forgive Ourselves, prolific producer MK and label-head Damian Lazarus will be re-inventing the original this May. Serving up two remixes in the form of MK’s Dub and Damian Lazarus’ Re-Shape, it acts as another milestone release for the near twenty-year-old imprint.
To celebrate the release of the revamped remix package of Joplyn's 'We Will Forgive Ourselves', we asked her to join our Hot Picks series. I'm sure you'll agree she shows a deepened level of musical understanding and impeccable taste from these selections alone:
1) Nicolas Jaar - Colomb
I remember first stumbling upon this track when I was super young. Roaming the internet on a hunt for special sounds I hadn’t heard before. To me there was something so otherworldly and rare about it that I couldn’t stop listening. Nowadays it grounds me, and calms me down on busy days.
2) Ornette - Crazy (Nôze Remix)
This is the one track I always listen to when I feel like I’ve lost myself musically. Making songs, there’s so many roads to go down on, that sometimes you take a wrong turn and end up getting lost. In those times, this song acts like a guide sign bringing me back to the main road.
3) Björk - Venus As A Boy
A classic. Björk is such a huge inspiration. The music video is a forever mood and influence too.
4) The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Undercatt Remix)
I sometimes find it extremely hard putting full songs with vocals into a club context. It often feels overloaded or just in the wrong place. This song is a reminder that it is possible to make it work and even elevate club music through vocals.
5) Jane - It’s A Fine Day
There’s this eerie nostalgia to this acapella. It seems so innocent but heavy at the same time - with this maternal, reassuring feeling, that in the end it’s all going to be fine. And the fact that it went from this to becoming the club anthem we know it as today, makes it that more beautiful.
6) Robag Wruhme - Wortkabular (Luciano Remix)
Such an OG track that convinced me that the German language can be beautiful.
7) Kraftwerk - Mensch Maschine
I mean? Obviously. Kraftwerk has become part of German identity. They started it all. Who knows where we’d be today if they hadn’t picked up that synth (or whatever it was) all those years ago.
8) Marie Davidson - Work It (Soulwax Remix)
This is so different to anything else out there. A breath of fresh air. There’s something so absurd and fun about it. A real mood-lifter. Didn’t think I would become this addicted to it when I first put it on… But here we are.
9) Fred again…, Romy, HAAi - Lights Out
Fred again… has become a huge inspiration this last year. The energy of this track is unbeatable. It’s my self-proclaimed goal to experience it live one day. Then I can die happily.
10) Sade - Cherish The Day
This song is special. It’s the song I grew up listening to (my Dad’s favorite song) and brings me back to my childhood. There’s something so effortless, timeless about it. Like it’s free flowing. I always feel so lightweight when I listen to it.
Joplyn's 'We Will Forgive Ourselves (Remixes)' is out on Crosstown Rebels on 20th May.