Arcade picks: ELECTRONIC

To say that New Orleans has a vibrant electronic scene would be a stretch. When compared to the likes of Los Angeles with its West Coast flavor, or London with its dubstep roots, New Orleans doesn’t quite measure up. Down here, we’d rather pride ourselves on our incredible jazz history or our current rap and indie scenes. That said, a few New Orleans electronica artists have incorporated the city’s flavor into their music, creating a genre that may not be as hip as Chicago’s house scene but is just as impressive. To get a taste of what native New Orleans electronica sounds like, listen to acts like Telefon Tel Aviv, Quintron or The Buttons.

Telefon Tel Aviv was plagued by tragedy early this year when half of the electronic duo, Charles Cooper, died after an accidental drug overdose. He is survived by Joshua Eustis who produces emotionally evocative tracks that drift somewhere between frigid backgrounds and engaging melodies. In his live performances, Eustis continues to throw ghostly vocals on top of synth sketches that pull you in and out of the subtle nuances of his music like a dream. He is currently touring with close friend Benn Jordan.

Quintron embodies a goofier side of the New Orleans electronic scene with bubbly organ melodies produced on his patented Drum Buddy sound machine. His vocals sound straight out of danceable ’60s tunes that have been retro-glamorized to fit the present day. Quintron is accompanied onstage by Miss Pussycat, a technicolor-puppeteer diva who creates enchanting black light visuals to augment the “Swamp-Tech” dance beats spun by her better half. The duo’s crazy, bayou-native shows should not be missed by those looking to kick up their brightly colored heels.

The Buttons represent a third facet of the New Orleans electronic scene. Incorporating both the eerie synth beats found in Telefon’s music and the playful spirit that floats around in Quintron’s tunes, the duo commonly lays distorted vocals over music imbued with a pop glow. Their tracks make for funky, dance-inspiring numbers that are perfect those looking to get their groove on. The Buttons will be hosting Throwback Night at The Republic Dec. 4, a night sure to be filled with shimmy-worthy songs.

If you want to see some of the acts that have been described here, there are a few specific venues to check out in town, depending on your taste. For retro-inspired dance electronica, head to The Republic to boogy. For tunes that have a heavier drum-and-base line, be on the lookout for performances at Dragon’s Den, one of the only spots in New Orleans to hear dubstep. Finally, for those who are partial to a Chicago-inspired house and electro scene, Club Ampersand is your hotspot. So get out there, get funky and help keep the New Orleans electronic scene bumpin’.