If you’re up to date on popular music and haven’t been sleeping under a rock, you’ll know that over the past few months, grime has spread far from its origins in the UK, all the way to the United States and Australia. Grime artists like Skepta and Stormzy have visited us down under in the last few months, and we’re on the cusp of another visit from 19-year-old up and comer Novelist. What timing then, that over the last 24 hours he’s released two brand new tracks, off the back of his feature on Baauer’s Day Ones.
Casper Riddim [Ruff Sound Movement] is purely instrumental – three and half minutes of really dark beats. Strings, horns and lots of reverb make it sound like it’d be right at home as the soundtrack for a horror movie, and it’s absolutely begging for a vocal feature – fingers crossed we’re getting one soon. Following on from that, about 16 hours later we got Hoax [Ruff Sound Movement]. It follows on the same trend of super dark and eerie, this time with Novelist jumping on the mic and spitting some absolute filth – in a good way. The only realistic complaint is that his verses are over too quickly, but if anything that makes us more thankful, and the track more punchy and aggressive. Both tracks being marked with ‘[Ruff Sound Movement]’, as well as mention of “Ruff Sound Movement going global” in the description gives us the impression that maybe Novelist is gearing up to start something similar to Skepta and Jme’s BBK? Only time will tell.
If you’re down on these tracks, and keen on Novelist in general, then here’s some very good news coming your way. This Friday sees his tour across Australia and New Zealand kick off in Brisbane, with dates spread over the week following. Tickets are still on sale, though no doubt they’ll sell out. Check dates and get tickets below, and check the Facebook event here.
NOVELIST TOUR DATES:
FRI 1 APRIL – Oh Hello!, BRISBANE
SAT 2 APRIL – Platform One Nightclub, MELBOURNE
WED 6 APRIL – Jack Rabbit Slim’s, PERTH
FRI 8 APRIL – Neck of the Woods, AUCKLAND
SAT 9 APRIL – Oxford Art Factory, SYDNEY
Check out our feature on the rise of grime and BBK here
Image: Rinse FM