FOMO came correct to Parramatta Park at the weekend and we’re still buzzing. Now in its third year running, the festival saw an incredible lineup hit Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne this year to help punters get their freak on with one stage, zero clashes and zero worries.
We breezed in just in time for Tourist to take the stage. The UK producer has been a festival staple in Australia over the last couple of years, having completed a run with Laneway Festival last year and returning recently for a string of events across both sides of the country. His buoyant brand of electronica swept out across the valley and kicked things off in an awesome wave.
Next up, TDE It Girl SZA ignited the crowd with a brief but electric performance. Her 2017 debut Ctrl stole the hearts of damn near everyone who had one, and with her live band in tow, she belted out pure favourites including The Weekend, Supermodel and Kendrick collab Doves In The Wind.
The legendary Post Malone shortly followed to an absolutely ecstatic reception. Motioning toward the audience, someone threw him a rank, muddy sneaker and he proceeded with his signature shoey move that we clearly couldn’t start the show without. His loveable personality shined through in his on-stage banter between hits like Rockstar, White Iversion, Candy Paint and Congratulations.
A sweet sunset slot from Kaytranada took us smoothly into the night. His deck was hidden behind a wall of LED lights with a GoPro perched on top to capture all of his quirky jives. His rework of Flume track Sleepless had the crowd in a frenzy.
Onto a pounding set from ZHU, the California based producer let rip track after banging track, including a dope edit of Michael Jackson’s Thriller which spared no one’s butts from grooving.
Finally, a wicked closing set from RL Grime was looming, pyrotechnics and all. Opening with the utterly dystopian 2017 single Era, we lost a firm grip on our minds before the fire balls had even kicked in.
If you didn’t attend this bootylicious spectacle, check all of the action below, and make sure you head out next year. We’re already thirsty for what 2019 will bring.
Tourist
SZA
Post Malone
Kaytranada
ZHU
RL Grime
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Say NO to clashes and let your summer festival experience be epitomised by this absolutely delicious lineup brought to you by FOMO.
Returning for it’s third year running, the ever-expanding dance festival is bringing Kaytranada, ZHU, Post Malone, SZA, Tourist, The Kite String Tangle, Drezo, Stööki Sound, Nina Las Vegas, and Dena Amy together for one day of pure sensory overload next January, all with mastermind RL Grime taking the helm.
The deflation of Future and Stereosonic has left some room to groove in the dance festival sector, and FOMO has responded in sweet delight. Having kicked off in Brisbane last year with some eye-watering acts on the bill, they expanded to Sydney and Adelaide for their sophomore round, and 2018 is their biggest yet with the introduction of FOMO by Night in Melbourne.
If the one day, one stage, no clashes deal doesn’t quite swing it, Sydney and Adelaide punters can also opt for a payment plan to pay off their ticket in installments. There it is; literally no reason not to get in on this red hot action.
Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast. ¡Vamos!
Read our FOMO Adelaide 2017 review!
Top image: Mitch Lowe
Just a few days after Kaytranada dropped the insane remix of TLC’s classic Diggin On You, our fav Canadian producer is back again, this time with a collaboration titled Sweet F’in Love with the sublime Alicia Keys. If you follow Kay deeply, though, you’ll know that the tune was actually hidden deep within his mixtape 0.001%, released late last year.
As you’d expect, it’s a match made in heaven, with each of these soulful artists tangling their sounds brilliantly together. While the beat has a classic Kaytranada groove, it does have a different sound, chopping interestingly down-tempo jazz keys and flipping it into a smooth bopping instrumental as he his keeps true to his sample-based roots. Combine this with his brilliantly swinging drum line and signature wobbling bass, and we’re in a total trance, topped by Alicia Keys’ vocals, which soar effortlessly over this beat. As she repeats the softly sung line, “sweet, sweet f-in’ love”, flexing her dynamic and sultry vocal range, it just leaves us wanting more and more – you’re probably gonna spin this one a couple times on repeat.
Interestingly enough the tune was actually posted on Keys’ husband, Swizz Beat’s Soundcloud page, but details into whether he had anything to do with the production is scarce.
In the meantime, take a listen to the pair’s incredible tune below!
Image: HW&W
BADBADNOTGOOD – Lavender ft. Kaytranada
Now, we’re not saying that Dungeons and Dragons was the reason Will Byers ended up in The Upsidedown in Stranger Things, but the video for BADBADNOTGOOD‘s collab with Kaytranada isn’t exactly helping the case. Lavender is the second video to come off the back of this year’s album IV and centres around a D&D campaign gone horribly wrong. Seemingly all hope is lost after a shady as hell Dungeon Master shackles the band to their chairs and even a holographic Kaytranada can’t rescue them when they’re forced into a game of Russian Roulette.
Thankfully, when the pizza (food of Gods and basement nerds alike) arrives, they have time to poison his drink, leading him to a gruesome and bloody death. Honestly, all the kidnapping and death could have been avoided if they’d just gone with John Dempsey -a far more legit-seeming Dungeon Master 4 Hire whose infomercial runs at the end of the clip- instead of some dude whose ad was stapled to an electrical pole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AJOqx6_UKQ
Emeli Sandé – Garden
The video for Scottish singer Emeli Sandé utterly dreamy track Garden is, as expected following the track’s October release, exquisite and ethereal. Set on the grounds of a resplendent estate in the country-side, the clip has Sandé, along with an entourage that includes featured artists Áine Zion and Jay Electronica surrounded by greenery and shrouded in mist and smoke as Sandé distinct, hypnotic, haunting vocal refrain echoes throughout. Speaking about the song, which she says is her favourite on the album, Sandé said it was “an expression of freedom and passion, two important parts of life, which I hadn’t really explored until a few years ago.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqlf9FAKPRc&feature=youtu.be
All Our Exes Live In Texas – Tell Me (Live)
Heartache personified is a song called Tell Me by Sydney’s All Our Exes Live In Texas. So poignant is the song –a one-sided conversation between two former lovers– that the folk quartet didn’t need to make use of an overly conceptual music video. Instead, the live clip consists of a stage, beautiful soft lighting and places all the focus on the raw emotions of rejection and longing brought to life through the swaying group harmonies and poignant instrumentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xTyQu6iz68
Alicia Keys, Blended Family (What You Do For Love) ft. A$AP Rocky
Following the release of her latest album Here, Alicia Keys has returned to her heartfelt sound with second single, the beautiful Blended Family. With a laid-back guitar driven beat, Keys’ tone glides beautifully over the track, only to be contrasted by a similarly sincere verse from A$AP Rocky. The video too continues this genuine feel, exhibiting people and families as they laugh and interact, not to mention the chemistry that Alicia Keys and Rocky show in the video; feel good is an understatement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbGm5f5PR2o
A Tribe Called Quest, We The People…
After releasing their final album just two weeks ago following the passing of the legendary Phife Dawg, A Tribe Called Quest have now continued their incredible takeover with visuals for We The People… It couldn’t have come at a more better time; with America split in two ahead of the recent presidential election, Tribe’s empowering track has been given an equally powerful clip. Fronted by the group’s surviving members, along with collaborator Busta Rhymes, the pioneers broadcast their conscious message to a sea of supporters. Of course there is a touching tribute to Phife, which showcases through the video, proving while they may be one man down, Tribe’s spirit will continue to break down barriers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO2Su3erRIA
Spring King, City
The sequel to their incredible last clip Detroit, Manchester’s own Spring King are back with an equally hilarious video for City. The clip follows characters Roderick and Penelope in an 80s inspired European dating show, as they stumble through a number of hilarious dating scenarios and situations, from bumper carts to roller-skating. As funny as it is, in the end it’s the explosive tune that keeps you watching, with jangly riffs and throat scorching sing-alongs, Spring King know how to rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgwm9wrbL7Y
Bassnectar, TKO ft. Rye Rye & Zion I
After releasing his tenth studio album back in June, Cali’s dance king Bassnectar has returned with a powerful clip for this heavy single TKO. A genre defying mix of glitch, electronic and hip-hop, the gritty synth driven banger features both rap verses alongside a smooth hook from collaborators Rye Rye and Zion I. Bassnectar has always been known for pushing the boundaries with his music videos, and this was no different. An incredible mix of lo-fi and futuristic twangs, the clip is a testament to modern visual effects and editing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kekmipvfZ2I
Washington, Saint Lo
After releasing her last album back in 2014, there’s been quite a wait for fans of Megan Washington, but luckily, her newest video lives up to expectations. Written in LA, the track builds upon her relaxed electronic style, with her voice soaring smoothly over the wavy instrumental beneath. Playing along an equally powerful, experimental video, no doubt we can’t wait to see what Washington has next up her sleeves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40S9VeTrYA0
Words by Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh and Martin McConnell
Image: ATCQ
The crowd was getting restless. “Soon, soon,” assured a man on stage. Whether he was a sound technician, a tour manager or otherwise, I couldn’t say; nor did anybody care. The mass of bodies was writhing and murmuring with increasing intensity, desperate for the music to begin. Moments later, the lights dimmed, smoke swept across the stage and “Kaytranada”, scrawled in red, appeared on the enormous screen behind the decks.
If you’re not familiar with Haitian-Canadian producer Kaytranada, you ought to be. His debut album 99.9% is one of the best of 2016, melding slinky rhythms with irresistible bass grooves and a generous dose of soul, not to mention a raft of guest contributors. When Kay walked on stage on Thursday it was to a feverish Brisbane crowd, who had packed out The Tivoli in anticipation of a special performance. They weren’t disappointed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKlA5tRu6f0
At just 24 years of age, the Montreal local (real name Kevin Celestin) is a remarkable young talent, and his confidence and charisma reflect this. “Dance, motherfuckers, dance!” he cried early in the set, grinning to his adoring audience. And dance they did. It was hard not to with Kay spinning tracks like Together, which features London duo AlunaGeorge and Washington, D.C. rapper Goldlink, from the get-go. It’s one of many cuts from 99.9% that exists blissfully at the intersection of R&B and dance. Kaytranada’s beats are always perfectly complemented by the guest vocalist’s style, whether that’s the neo-soul crooning of Syd tha Kid, the smooth flow of Phonte or the frenetic verses of Vic Mensa. He doesn’t mind returning the favour, either; Mensa’s Wimme Nah and a collaboration with Syd’s band The Internet, Girl, both got a look-in, much to the audience’s joy.
Remixes of Flume’s Holdin On and Chance The Rapper’s All Night were also warmly received, but the set revolved around tracks from 99.9%. Inspired by drummers like Karriem Riggins – who features on Bus Ride – Kaytranada’s music owes a lot to its percussive samples. Most are memorable enough that you can identify a song from just its percussion. This allowed Kay to excite the crowd with drums alone, upon which he would construct and deconstruct the melodies, masterfully transitioning between tracks. Behind him, fascinating visuals played: a strip club robbery, a boating holiday, a trio of muscular women flexing and carrying our boy Kay through the woods. Bizarre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWesK-nWts
The highest peak of Kaytranada’s tremendous musical mountain range was Glowed Up. Anderson .Paak – who himself released one of the finest albums of the year in Malibu – is superb, displaying his considerable talents as both a rapper and a singer. You’re the One, Got It Good (featuring Craig David) and Lite Spots also made an impact, but it was hard to discern the popularity of any particular track given the intensity of the audience’s excitement throughout. I’ll forgive Kay’s pronunciation of Brisbane (“Bris-bAne”) because his set was near-flawless. I’m 99.9% sure he blew a speaker towards the end, too, but it didn’t inhibit his performance or dampen his exuberance. It was a spectacular showcase from a young producer in form, but perhaps not yet at the peak of his powers. That’s an exciting prospect.
Image: Juan Castro / Howl & Echoes
Check out all the photos from Kaytranada’s Melbourne show here.
Kaytranada is currently in Australia on tour in support of his stellar album 99.9% (and his more recent 0.001% mixtape). AT only 24, the renowned producer has not only produced one of 2016’s best albums, but has delivered countless incredible collaborations with artists including Mick Jenkins, Badbadnotgood, Chance the Rapper, Anderson Paak, Talib Kweli, Vic Mensa, Freddie Gibbs and many more across the past couple years.
We were lucky enough to catch the renowned producer and collaborator live in Melbourne at 170 Russell, on the second night of two sold out Melbourne shows.
All images: Juan Castro / Howl & Echoes
Bundles and bundles of new music, albums, videos and more are out coming out every week, and 2016 seems to be one of the most fruitful years in memory. Here’s this week’s best videos!
Sparrow – Get To Know You
A delightfully kitsch and somewhat eccentric clip featuring, this new video from Sydney’s Sparrow is a soft, playful adventure through the awe-inspiring, picturesque Blue Mountains.
It all seems a bit odd at first: the handmade animal masks, the toy instruments, the styling which seems to feature socks as mittens… But it all makes sense once you find out that the whole story behind the song informs the video. Speaking on Get To Know You, the singer explained that she had found herself in one of those magical festival settings where you’re having the time of your life with a bunch of strangers. “I think the costumes certainly played a role in us being able to express ourselves freely. The video is a fun extension of this experience… the masks and styling creates an other-wordly feel.”
The actors in the video too, were all strangers who all got to know one another as the day of filming went on. “We are all strangers but could easily get to know each other if we wanted too, but we often don’t and I wish we would more.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AszsnFUGboY&feature=youtu.be
Röyksopp – Never Ever ft. Susanne Sundfør
Two words: Intergalactic. Disco.
Honestly what more could you even want from a music video? Stepping away from their usual dark, sombre approach to music videos, the clip for Röyksopp‘s Never Ever is full of colour, shape, movement and some very disco outfits. The result is a fun, at times kind of strange but ultimately carefree, video that fits pretty perfectly with the energy of the song – which needless to say is set on high. With Never Ever, the duo have made an effort to strip away the serious art business facade in favour of a refreshing burst of colour, energy and fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDBzeM6KLlQ
Kaytranada – You’re The One ft. Syd
Having just released his new mixtape 0.001% last week, Kaytranada has now dropped the video for his Syd (Tha Kyd)-featuring track You’re The One, from his award-winning, critically acclaimed debut LP 99.9%. The idea from the video, directed by Shomi Patwary (Beyonce, A$AP Rocky, Mark Ronson) was born out of Kaytranada’s favourite episode of the sitcom Martin in which an African prince turns up with the offerings of life-changing opportunities. The music video, however, takes a slightly different turn. It looks decidedly 90s, which works well with the whole Martin theme and is set up to seem a lot like an episode of a TV show, complete with a girl’s night in and a fancy af party.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKlA5tRu6f0
Dave – Wanna Know
One of the UK’s most promising acts is undoubtedly South London’s Santan Dave. The 17 year old blew up with the huge hit Thiago Silva alongside friend and collaborator AJ Tracey, and while AJ has been churning out banger after banger, Dave has been hard at work on his upcoming Six Paths EP. Six tracks deep, last month Dave dropped the first single, the thought-provoking piano based Picture Me, yet now he’s returned with an even catchier tune. Brilliantly shot by Dir. Lx with Italy as the backdrop, Wanna Know sees him flexing his variety as an artist, singing and rhyming over a more mid tempo, bass heavy beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2H0mXC2Wbs&feature=youtu.be
Flume – Heater
After dropping his incredible sophomore album Skin earlier this year, and even announcing that he has a series of EPs on the way, Australia’s favourite good guy himself Flume has dropped a new single for a good cause. Used as the background song for the latest #KeepSydneyOpen video, Heater is an atmospheric, wavy banger which undeniably sounds like a lost deep cut to his LP. We only hope that this track features on a later project so that we can get that official release.
Read our full review of Flume, Skin here
Born Joy Dead – Sourdough
Fresh from their unbelievable showcases at this year’s Bigsound, Brissy boys Born Joy Dead have returned with a punchy new single called Sourdough. An infectious blend of enchanting guitar riffs, bouncing drums, and a calming yet uplifting tone from front man Ben Dalton, this is feel good in the best of ways. The tune is a result of the band’s new organic writing style, and so far we can’t fault it! Even the video parallels this good natured feel, with a hilarious office instructional video which will have you playing office chair dodgems in no time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruD0CjmW9A
Captain Murphy – Crowned
Thanks to Adult Swim’s Singles series, we’ve been lucky enough to have some incredible tunes from the likes of Vince Staples, Earl Sweatshirt and Ryan Hemsworth, and if it couldn’t get any better, Flying Lotus himself has made an appearance. Performing in the form of his alias Captain Murphy, Crowned is an incredibly evil and shivering track, in which Lotus’ rap ego flexes a distorted and unearthly sound as he tangles rhymes into place. It’s like a real horror movie – so gripping that you just can’t look away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnbxXYaGC4g
Image: Flume / Cybele Malinowski
Ever wondered what would happen to the extra .1% that fell off Kaytranada‘s brilliant album 99.9%? Well, he’s just released a brand new mixtape on Soundcloud, titled 0.001% ???
Currently there’s no information or track details whatsoever. The mixtape runs for a continuous eighty-seven and twenty seconds, and begins with Kaytranada introducing the mixtape, before splintering off into a fluid world of rhythms, scratching and effects.
The news comes just days after Kaytranada was awarded the coveted Polaris Music Prize, which is basically the Canadian Mercury Prize. He was up against records by Grimes, PUP, Black Mountain and White Lung among others. The Haitian-born producer even took to Twitter to reveal that fellow Haitian Wyclef Jean called him to congratulate him on the accolade.
The acclaimed artist has not only released his own albm and mixtape this year, but has collaborated with Badbadnotgood, remixed Rihanna, and worked on production for Mick Jenkins, Craig David, Chance the Rapper, GoldLink, River Tiber and more.
Kaytranada is touring Australia next month. Details:
Fri 21 October – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Sat 22 October – Metro City, Perth
Thu 27 October – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri 28 October – Studio, Auckland
Sat 29 October – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Image: Joseph Okpako/Redferns
GoldLink has teamed up with Ciscero to create a funk-filled track called Fall In Love, a gorgeous new tune dripping with good vibes, via walking bass lines and gentle vocals. With collaborative production efforts from BADBADNOTGOOD and Kaytranada, Fall In Love‘s merit comes as no surprise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQmltBqeoZw
There is a noticeably increased level of finesse in GoldLinks flow and style since his last two albums. His delicate vocals swim smoothly above the complex instrumentals and are refined enough to melt into the track and play the part of another instrument.
Staying to true BBNG’s form, the track hints at 1940s jazz with a groovy upgrade. Bands like Digable Planets and A Tribe Called Quest have been fusing jazz with hip-hop for decades, and GoldLink is among those carrying the flame today. Yet instead of employing looped samples, Kaytranada and Badbadnotgood’s production has created something truly unique and polished as heck.
https://twitter.com/KAYTRANADA/status/769227176055017472
GoldLink last visited Australia for Laneway Festival 2016, and will be back across New Years, having been announced to perform at Perth’s Origin NYE and Beyond The Valley. Meanwhile, Kaytranada will be touring Australia in late October, and Badbadnotgood will be in town in December. It’s a shame they won’t all be here at the same time to link up, but we can no doubt look forward to great performances from all three.
Image: Michelle Grace Hunder for Howl & Echoes – full gallery here.
Fresh off the back of the jazzy Hyssop Love featuring Mick Jenkins, Canadian jazz-hop masters Badbadnotgood have returned with their new single Lavender.
Featuring Kaytranada, the song beautifully treads the line between dark techno beats and soulful grooves. An all-instrumental track, it’s not hard to imagine the tune being sampled in the near future by any number of hip-hop artists. The tune bops itself out of the room with 110% swagger.
Put simply, it picks up straight where the pair left off, after Badbadnotgood lent a hand to Weight Off on Kaytra’s recent 99.9% LP.
Listen below.
Speaking about the creation of the track, the group stated that, “Kay started the idea as a beat with our drum breaks and some synth melodies. Then we recut the drums and synth to formulate a song with more sections. Kay came back to Toronto and gave us that hot lead melody as well as percussion and we all finalized the arrangement. It’s an incredible honor to call Kay a close friend of ours; he is a talent like no other.”
The song is just the latest of a series of cuts that we have been hearing from Badbadnotgood ahead of their forthcoming album IV.
Back in April the group gave us the track Speaking Gently, before sharing Time Moves Slow (featuring Sam Herring of Future Islands) and Confessions Part II (Featuring Collin Stetson).
A glance at those names is all you need to know that this is going to be one of the albums of the year.
Image: RWD Mag