The Internet made their Australian debut two years ago and our thirst for them has been insatiable ever since. The Californian hip-hop/soul collective and Odd Future off-shoot is a tremendous beacon of talent. Aside from their three studio albums, each building on lessons learned from the last, almost each member has released their own solo material since the band’s latest Ego Death in 2015, all to esteemed acclaim. All of them contribute songwriting and production to each other’s work and their next group project will be decidedly more democratic than their previous records, with space to improvise and vibe off the other’s ideas.
This innate curiosity and concern for one another is magnified on stage. After catching their all too short-and-sweet set at Laneway Festival, we had to get along to their sideshow at the Enmore Theatre because, thirst. The band accrued Melbourne soul-beauty Kaiit on opening duties who quickly had the crowd in the palm of her hand. Her honey, neo-soul vocals and buoyant presence glittered like we were witnessing something special unfold. In between crowd favourite tunes and obliging alley-oops (“Bounce with me now”), and cute anecdotal banter about high school and tinder, Kaiit managed to lose her breath and reached for her inhaler, which goaded further praise from punters. Such a delight.
Following this ray of sunshine, the main act sans singer took their positions and lapped up the warm reception. After some brief chanting, Syd tha Kyd made her way out and the love and adoration was clearly mutual. A few hits in and we were gifted with individual performances from each member, featuring their recent solo work, including a satisfying bit from drummer Chris Smith.
That’s how it is with The Internet. What’s good for its members is whats good for the band, and all the personal exploration has only served to make their already-good music markedly better. Not only because of their eclectic craftsmanship but because they’re genuinely loveable people. For that reason, they’ll always have a second home here.
Kaiit
The Internet
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Laneway aptly marked it’s humble beginnings in a Melbourne laneway in 2005. It has since built a reputation as a festival with it’s finger firmly on the pulse of the music industry, despite canning one of Australia’s foremost up-and-coming artists from the bill this year (cc: Kirin J Callinan).
Nevertheless, we savour the release of each lineup with intense anticipation because the event delivers a solid slew of talent from around the world every single year; from artists who we don’t usually see in this neck of the woods, to absolute crowd favourites we can’t get enough of.For the Sydney leg of the tour, the weather was cool, clear and decidely perfect. We tipped in just in time for UK boys Shame who have received nods from the likes of Fat White Family, which might offer some indication of what we walked in on. Unwinding, The Babe Rainbow lulled us into a flowery frenzy right before we caught a highly anticipated set from Alex Cameron straight off the back of about two years of touring everywhere but Oz, including opening for The Killers (yes, they did Madison Square Garden). Roy Molloy’s stool review was an authentic delight.
Billie Eilish rolled out in a red tracksuit with a Louis Vuitton purse strapped to her back and she belted out her first song into a bung mic which somehow went completely unnoticed by the sound guy. We snuck in some quick muzzing courtesy of Kllo at the Red Bull stage before blissing out to (Sandy) Alex G over at Spinning Top. Sylvan Esso followed shortly after and systematically blew our minds with perhaps the most high-energy set of the day before we landed firmly back on the ground in time for Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Then, back over to the Garden Stage for big favourites The Internet who always receive the warmest reception. Guitarist Steve Lacy also played a bit from his solo EP to the glee of literally everyone present.
Photos: Dani Hansen
Shame
The Babe Rainbow
Alex Cameron
Billie Eilish
Kllo
Sandy Alex G
Sylvan Esso
Rolling Blackouts CF
The Internet
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
We’re currently in the throes of the festival season 2018. With the New Years events behind us, Laneway Festival is what we’re setting our sights on next. The 2018 lineup is filled with wonderful, diverse, talented acts—so many that you’d be hard pressed to catch them all during the festival itself. Likewise, while festivals are great for many reasons, some shows are simply better on their own. Not only do you get a full-length set as opposed to the 40-odd minutes at a festival, but you’re guaranteed a crowd that’s more passionate, enthusiastic and excited to see that one particular band.
Luckily, most Laneway artists are performing at least a couple sideshows while they’re in Australia. Here’s our five top picks.
Slowdive
https://youtu.be/F2YJbTrxeos
There aren’t many artists who can return after 22 years with a good album. Slowdive returned after 22 years with a really, really, really good album. Slowdive easily rivals the band’s earlier releases, and might even be their best to date. I was lucky enough to catch them performing overseas last year and can genuinely say it was one of the most gorgeous live shows I’ve seen in years, if not ever.
Slowdive Tour Dates
Jan 31: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Feb 8: Forum, Melbourne
The Internet
https://youtu.be/CNJkas_LiCM
Led by the incredibly talented Syd, The Internet are a band who, though a nightmare to search for online, have been producing some of the most original, sensual, smoky R&B in recent years. Originally formed as an offshoot of the Odd Future collective, there’s a good reason they’re still touring off the back of their incredible 2015 album Ego Death—it’s really, really good on stage.
The Internet Tour Dates
Jan 31: Forum, Melbourne
Feb 9: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Moses Sumney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMyRfIpNvPs
It’s difficult to quantify the experience of a Moses Sumney live performance in words. The utterly brilliant, unique artist has the talent to captivate, devastate and delight at once. His intriguing music hits hard on record, but on stage, it takes on a life of its own. Touring his 2017 debut album Aromanticism, this will haunt and hypnotise you long after the show ends.
Moses Sumney Tour Dates
Feb 1: Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
Feb 11: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Anderson Paak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OqrcUvrbRY
If you aren’t aware of Anderson Paak, I can only hope the rock you’re living under is comfortable and warm. The hip-hop-meets-R&B-meets-soul wunderkind made a huge splash with his solo album, Malibu, as well as collaborations with artists including Dr Dre, ScHoolboy Q and A Tribe Called Quest. On stage, Paak doesn’t just sing and rap, he also plays drums—at the same time. And he’s incredible at them all.
Anderson Paak Tour Dates
Feb 6: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Feb 7: 170 Russell, Melbourne
S U R V I V E
https://youtu.be/zfAgTIFeXV4
Any Stranger Things fans out there? If you aren’t yet aware, the musical maestros behind the hit series’ brilliant, synth-heavy soundtrack is Texas four-piece SURVIVE. With three albums and at least six EPs under their belt, it’s about time they made their way down under. These will be their first ever shows in Australia, and judging by their immersive, spooky music, it’s going to be something special—whether you’ve seen the show or not.
S U R V I V E Tour Dates
Feb 7: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Feb 9: Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Image: Michelle Grace Hunder/Howl & Echoes
There are two things that can happen when members of an internationally venerated music group decide to branch out and go solo. The results are either gloriously realised or an absolute shitshow. You get the beginnings of Beyonce or Michael Jackson (more pertinently in this case, Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt); or you get Roger Water’s Radio K.A.O.S living in the shadow of Pink Floyd. There is little to no in between. Of course, the groups in those examples disbanded completely, and thankfully for us, The Internet are still very much together and look set to remain that way. Vocalist Syd Tha Kid just happens to also be launching a solo career of her own, with the release of her sophisticated, suave debut album Fin today only solidifying her Ultimate Cool Person status further. Despite her remarks that the album is “not that deep” – perhaps true – it is extremely good.
Though largely self-produced, Fin also features production work from Melo X (Lemonade), Hit Boy, Haze, and Rahki. Fans of Syd’s ultra-smooth delivery and swaggering lyrical bravado that are trademarks of The Internet are in for a treat. Fin is nigh on wall to wall matter-of-fact dark braggadocio and confidence, delivered so softly and gently that it feels like a whispered inner dialogue. Though lacking in some of the groovier vibes that one might come to expect as a natural follow-on from Syd’s work with her erstwhile band, there’s no shortage of interesting sonic territory here. Clunky industrial synths, metallic skittering vocals, hypnotic layered effects borrowing from 90s RnB, trap, hip-hop and back.
The lynchpin of this album is Syd’s ineffable star quality. She is fiercely confident, but her utterances are so unassuming that it never feels excessive. Where tracks like Drown in it and Body are relatively straightforward, they are elevated to seductive, lean-in-as-close-as-you-can, don’t-miss-a-second status by this effortless, mellifluous presence. It’s not even simply a matter of Syd having technically great vocal abilities – it’s how she doesn’t even sound like she’s trying, yet is in complete control the entire time. On Fin, you are in Syd’s world, you are eating out of her palm, and she knows it. Oh, and make no mistake: she’s here to steal your girl.
Though essentially a modern reimagining of an RnB album, Fin houses its share of surprises. Know sees Syd sounding alarmingly delicate. At 1:13, No Complaints is the shortest track on the album, feeling closer to party music than anything else on the album with its West Coast beat and references to a “motherfuckin spaceship”. But not even the perennially-confident Syd is without her moments of doubt; Shake Em Off is primarily a “fuck the haters” cut, but temporarily pulls the curtain back on such a moment (can’t sleep cos I’m anxious/counting sheep). Closer Insecurities takes these doubts and turns them on their head with a wry smile. Lead single All About Me sounds like an instant classic, but it’s Got Her Own that hogs the spotlight with its unabashed admiration for the success and backbone of a woman (Heard she got her own/I just wanna be there cos I just wanna know) and anti-rape culture message (You try to sex her but she said no).
Photo: Facebook
Welcome to The Soundtrack, a column where we plumb the depths of our musical knowledge to bring you the best* (subjective) music to listen to for very specific life situations.
Most of us, hopefully, aren’t complete disasters in the kitchen. Sure, when nobody’s looking you might sometimes revert to a cheese and tomato toasty for dinner, but you probably have a solid handful of go-to meals you’re pretty confident with, if nothing more than a nice colourful stir-fry (if not, please work on yourself). Regardless, that’s actually not what this week’s The Soundtrack is about. This week we’re talking about those times you’ve bitten off more than you can chew (heh) and gone absolutely ham (heh heh) with cooking something far fancier than you’re comfortable with.
Perhaps it’s a first date you want to impress, or the in-laws are coming over, or you’re throwing your first Grown Up Dinner Party. Something has motivated you to crack open that dusty old French dining cookbook your parents gave you in the hopes you’d grow up to be a fully functional human being (sorry, mum and dad). You’ve bought the ingredients, got the right cookware, and are now completely broke and scared shitless that you might not actually be able to pull this off. You need to remain focused and calm, but the clock is also ticking and your confidence needs a boost – you need The Soundtrack.
Björk – It’s Oh So Quiet
Let’s get stuck in while your anxiety is still relatively low. This song will make you feel like you’re cooking in a light-filled apartment in Paris, with posies in your window-box and nothing but time. You’re not a cuisine-challenged twenty-something, you’re Amélie and everything you’re doing is super quirky and endearing, even – especially – the mistakes you make as you go along. It should be noted that yes, this is a cover, but it’s arguably even more intrinsically charming than the original, and that’s what you need right now. It is a truth universally acknowledged that woodwinds in a pop song will transport you to another, much more Wes Anderson-y reality. Knead that dough lovingly with the confidence that Our Lady and Saviour Björk is watching over you, and she believes in you.
Kelis – Jerk Ribs
Alright, perhaps the song this album is from (Food) is what made it spring to mind initially, but just you fucken try chucking this bad boy on and telling me it’s not perfect. Hear that beat? That definitely sounds like pots and pans, right? You’re a regular Nigella Lawson, playing each kitchen instrument just so to make this meal sing. That meaty brass section is the key here – taking organised chaos to a more self-assured level. “It feels just like it should” – I mean, you can’t argue with that. The water is boiling, you’ve lined up the spices you’re going to need to use all nice on the bench in front of you. Honestly? Maybe this won’t be so hard. Maybe you ARE a culinary god/dess after all?
The Internet – Gabby
Okay, don’t panic, but you forgot to include butter way back at the start when you needed it. Look, it’s okay, it’s fixable, but this is your first really huge roadblock, and you’re going to need something that will play backdrop to your valiant corrective efforts as well as berate you gently for being such a fucking moron. This little slice from The Internet is simultaneously smooth as HELL – to soothe your frazzled nerves – and kinda uncomfortable in its chord movements, creating the same sort of environment as a good friend telling you “Look, you screwed up, but she’ll be right mate”. And you will, if you can keep your cool, which leads us right into…
Desmond Cheese – Dope Vhs Master
There’s only one kind of song that can help you level out now: a slow-moving soulful instrumental jam. Something steady, something that feels as fresh as it does familiar. Brisbane duo MakCheese and Desmond Bagely are otherwise known as Desmond Cheese, which is simultaneously both the coolest and grossest name I have ever heard. Everything they do is incredibly groove-based and delightfully weird, but this song is the ticket to the state of calm you’re going to need to make it through this stressful time. Warped, tropical synths and a simple motif that repeats but develops each time will ground and inspire you as you carefully back-track to where you went wrong. You’re good now. Everything looks as it should, basically. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back – except…
UV Boi فوق بنفسجي – Running Out Of Time
Oh shit. Your guest(s) are due in like twenty minutes and, according to this incredibly convoluted recipe, you have thirty minutes of work left to do before you plate up. This is literally your own personal version of MasterChef, and the clock is ticking. You might be rolling your eyes at me for choosing a song with such an obvious title for this situation – chuck it on and I think you’ll see just how appropriate this is. Suspenseful, rolling toms dash in and out of the mix, with some particularly apt clock-tick effects thrown in for good measure, reminding you that you are literally the worst ever at time management. But this track isn’t all about stressing you the fuck out – faux-choral sounds take this vibe back from the edge of tension and throw it all the way back to the whimsical. Because, let’s be honest you guys – it’s just dinner. If you royally screw it up, there’s always Deliveroo.
Image: Wallpaper Cave
Frank Ocean isn’t the only former Odd Future member who has dropped new music this past week! The Internet’s Syd (formerly Syd Tha Kyd) also released a new song, titled Amazing, seemingly for no real reason other than to bless us all a little more than she already has as of late. Though she’s obviously been busy with her main duties fronting neo soul collective The Internet, she’d been putting out solo material and lending her vocals to collaborations with other artists here and there as well.
https://vimeo.com/169117129
This latest track starts pretty abruptly but is a continuation of the soul stylings that have become synonymous with The Internet over their three albums. We get Syd’s sweet serenade wafting over some very dreamy Dornik production. Throughout the song, Syd professes her adoration for an unnamed woman – though it appears she isn’t the only one trying to win her heart. Syd pleads her case and shares her frustration with having to do so at all, insisting that she’s the right one and singing about how she wants to take this amazing woman to her favourite places and just spend some time with her.
With the song now out in the world, one wonders if she ever did get to actually tell her how amazing she thinks she is, and if they’re together now. It seems a bit of an open-ended tale, mainly exploring the shitty situation she’s found herself in of falling for someone who might not feel the same way.
Any which way, there’s no denying that this song is adding to the weighty pile of ex-Odd Future members (and Syd in particular, who had spent a lot of time behind the scenes as DJ, writer and mixer rather than front and centre) proving that their talents stretch far and wide in terms of genre and even medium (from music to fashion and everything in between) and that they’re not going anywhere any time soon.
Image: Danielle Hansen for Howl & Echoes Full gallery here.
Having just played one hell of a set at this year’s Splendour In The Grass, we had the absolute pleasure of catching neo-soul collective The Internet as they stopped in for a Splendour sideshow at The Metro Theatre live in Sydney.
Supported by London-based Dreller, the solo project of Papa Vs Pretty frontman and Sydney local Thomas Rawle, having just played Splendour In The Grass himself.
We were up front to catch both acts positively owning the stage. Check out our review too.
Dreller
The Internet
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Australia seems to really fucking love The Internet. They’re here for the second time this year and following a standout set at Splendour in the Grass, have three sold out shows lined up in Melbourne.
We were lucky enough to find ourselves at the very first date; the perfect come down from a whirlwind Splendour trip. We stepped foot into a bustling 170 Russell only a couple of hours after touching down back in the state, and with the energy high and the lights dancing over the still drawn curtains, the excitement bubbling beneath the surface of the full house is palpable.
It isn’t until the first bars of Dontcha fill the room that the setup is revealed and frontwoman Syd Tha Kyd works the crowd into a frenzy immediately. As she dances onto the stage to join the band, the words THE INTERNET lighting up behind them in perfect symmetry. There are very few bands who can get away with wearing their own merch on stage without it coming across in poor taste; with both Syd and guitarist Steve Lacy (who treats us to some of the best solos throughout the night in his typically humble fashion) sporting the same black hoodies available over at the merch desk, we are reminded that this is one of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28JAS1ZUUqw
Perhaps it’s all down to how utterly magnetic they are as a band; cool but not so casual that they’re disengaged. They’re endless fun but professional, which proves important tonight as they experience a few technical difficulties by the way of microphone malfunctions and a few false starts throughout their set. Through it all, Syd harmonises with and works the crowd while Matt Martians holds the fort down.
We aren’t given any reprieve as the band moves into Get Away and Under Control to a raucous response. The room is shaking and we’re only three songs in as the band drop cuts from last year’s Grammy nominated album, Ego Death, the album we’re rumored to be getting a follow-up to very soon.
Having turned their set down a smooth, soulful path with Partners In Crime and Somthing’s Missing, Syd makes sure that the crowd is still there when she calls on some assistance for Just Saying/I Tried, requesting a display of anger and frustration. She gets it and as they start the song up, the crowd shouts “I don’t love you no more” and “you fucked up!” so loudly and repeatedly the band is almost drowned out. When it’s over, she prowls the stage, praising “that’s real anger there! Thank you!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU95OQaB7UI
The set continues in this fashion: peaks and troughs, the high energy tracks balanced with slower, more soulful numbers. Not once does the band fail to be charmingly captivating: banter flowing back and forth from behind their instruments between them as well as with the audience members.
They move through For The World and Penthouse Cloud in a most commanding fashion before Special Affair fills the room, taking on a life entirely its own as the audience is lulled into a trance; swinging and swaying as the pungent scent of marijuana permeates the room. They slide into Girl after Syd makes the observation that “damn – all the songs are for the ladies”, which is of course met with a loud roar of appreciation before they slip into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESxDzsv3CkI
There is only once instance that almost manages to spoil the entire night – a lone dudebro making a section towards the centre of the room feel very uncomfortable as he made his unwanted presence very much known. Still, shortly after he retreats following a few harsh words, the band up on stage remind us why we’re there and how completely captivating they are to watch as they see out the night with a handful of impressive solos during their final two songs.
Gabby demands the rest of our anger, seeing things out on a high as it spills over into The Garden. Tthe band retreats one by one, only to come back and hand out setlists to the fans hanging over the front of the stage barriers, keys player Jameel Bruner giving us one last flash of his practically infectious grin as he dances back off stage.
One of the most consistently enthralling live acts, if this first show is anything to go by, the crowds for the remaining two Melbourne dates are in for nothing short of a good time.
Image: thesubversal
Read our review of Laneway Festival Brisbane 2016
We snapped up Laneway Festival in Sydney this year. This gallery contains photos of: The Internet, Violent Soho, Battles and Beach House
Part one contains photos of: Slum Sociable, Blank Realm, Banoffee, METZ, DIIV and FIDLAR
Part two contains photos of: Goldlink, Shamir, Royal Headache, DMAs, The Smith Street Band
Part four contains photos of Chvrches, Purity Ring, Grimes and Flume
The Internet
Read our review of The Internet live in Melbourne
Check out our photos of The Internet at Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Violent Soho
Battles
Beach House
Currently meandering their way throughout the country as part of Laneway Festival 2016, The Internet made a slight detour to partake in triple j’s Like a Version, where they’ve unveiled a rendition of N.E.R.D’s Tape You.
Featured on the Pharrell-fronted outfit’s 2001 effort In Search Of…, the original jam was sexy enough before The Internet unstrapped its little black dress and poured honey down its spine. The effortless steeze of vocalist Syd The Kyd rivals, if not surpasses that of the songs original vocalist, dare I say it.
https://youtu.be/Fm90y13cGMQ
The cover was with a performance of the original track Girl, a notable standout from the Grammy nominees’ third studio album Ego Death.
https://youtu.be/C24puKaB3xw
While in town, the hip-hop/soul force majeure have performed headline performances at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory and The Corner in Melbourne. Howl & Echoes’ Louella Deville left The Corner utterly convinced that “these young musicians have filled a spot in the music scene that we have all been craving…it’s no wonder their shows are selling out within days.”
The Internet sure know how to treat the fans. As if it wasn’t enough that Ego Death was widely considered a highlight of 2015, the band ended the year with two previously unheard tracks from the record.
More: Check out our photos of The Internet live in Sydney
Image: Howl & Echoes/Dani Hansen