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
The Kite String Tangle, a.k.a. Danny Harley, is something of a homegrown indie electronic music prodigy. After winning Triple J’s Unearthed comp to perform at The Falls Music and Arts Festival in Byron Bay a few years back, he has been booking festival and support slots thick and fast, including a headline tour earlier in April and appearances at SXSW and Coachella. The Brisbane based 20-something year old also released his Vessel EP in 2014 to rave reviews that earned him an ARIA nomination for “Best Breakthrough Artist”.
The guy has been breaking down genre barriers with his own incredibly emotive style of electronica. Beautifully crafted synths and intelligent drum patterns coupled with almost homiletic vocals; gentle and even trance-like with a peaking damaged, humanistic element to them. This style hasn’t just earned him the attention of the people and scored him millions of Spotify plays, but has also piqued the interest of his peers. He’s toured with the likes of RÜFÜS and Dustin Tebbutt and has just been announced as the opening act for ODESZA’s headline tour around Australia later this year.
Similar to his Seattle counterparts with their independent collective Foreign Family, Harley also launched his own record label Exist. Recordings earlier this year. He has said that it’s an opportunity for him to hone in on the A&R and creative side of a project that’s designed to develop the music, talent and careers of other gifted artists.
His self-titled debut album is out July 14, and with the release of latest single The Prize featuring Bridgette Amofah, it’s sounding very spicy indeed.
We recently caught up with the electronic master himself for a cazh analogue portrait session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ffcNgLmak
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Boo Seeka – Does This Last
Sydney dynamic duo Boo Seeka have swiftly become one of the best rising acts in the country over the last 12 months. Each of the singles they’ve put out has performed remarkably, racking up time on the airwaves and millions of streams along the way. Their latest is Does This Last. Coming as the initial taste of what is sure to be a ripper of a debut album scheduled for later this year, it’s atmospheric and uplifting, awash in spacey synths and a driving backbeat, it’s some damn gorgeous listening.
Catch Boo Seeka on their national headline tour in April and May when they get back from a spot at SXSW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg1wtleydVA&feature=youtu.be
Ride – Charm Assault
Heading across the pond and to shoegazers Ride, who have this week fired off their first track in some 20 years with the fiery Charm Assault. The percussion is pummeling and the guitars are deliciously twangy throughout, the chorus a veritable gut-punch when it hits.
It’s a look at the very near future for the revitalised Ride, who have a brand new album on its way later this year after returning to the stage in 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5gBOlOWCLs
Doozy Daze – Trish Jones And The Fish Bones/Grapefruit Charger/Without A Doubt
Swooping in from the city of the Brown Snake is four-piece newcomers Doozy Daze. Giving off an amalgam of positively headspinning Hole, Tired Lion and pre-Hungry Ghost Violent Soho fumes, Doozy Daze have been making a name for themselves with some of the most energetic performances in Brisbane’s live scene over the past 12 months and make their recorded debut with a triumvirate of punchy rock and roll in the form of three separate singles.
Slow-burning Trish Jones And The Fish Bones and it’s bluesy chord progression is a thumper, building to a raging, rollicking chorus. Grapefruit Charger is pure fist-raising fury distilled and delivered lightning quick and Without A Doubt is a stomping punk rock anthem with a chorus catchier than rabies. It’s a promising start from this hard-rocking quartet, who’ll be playing a launch show very soon.
Tinker – On The Outside
Also dropping new goods this week is up-and-coming producer Chris Bristow, who flies by night under the moniker of Tinker, and his latest track On The Outside. It’s a sublime slice of electronica, a swirling, almost icy soundscape and subdued beats wrapped around some ethereal vocals from an anonymous guest (which makes it all the more fun), it’s definitely a track for the colder nights about to arrive and it’s some of the easiest listening you will do all flipping week.
It’s already getting love from the J’s and for damn good reason, look for Tinker’s to be a name that blows up in 2017.
https://soundcloud.com/tinkermusic/t-i-n-k-e-r-on-the-outside
The Kite String Tangle – Selfish
Back to Brisbane and the multitalented producer The Kite String Tangle and his latest single Selfish. The newie is a celebration of sorts, TKST having just launched independent label Exist. Recordings and signed Golden Vessel and Lastlings as its first artists.
It’s a marvellous return, off-kilter synths and beats building up to a chorus that just bangs. It’s the same TKST you know and love but with some sharper edges. We’re happy to be hearing more of the brainchild of Danny Harley in 2017.
Lastlings – Urges
Not about to be left out at all, Gold Coast sibling duo Lastlings are celebrating inking their names to contracts with Exist by putting out a brand new tune of their own with Urges. It’s all in the lead-up to their second EP Verses that’s slated for release in March.
First taste Urges is like stepping into a hot shower exactly when you need it, the fuzzy synths and a chilled backbeat with singer Amy Dowdle’s heavenly vocal delivery floating over it all, exploring those urges as reactions in the human body and conjuring up some intense imagery. You’ll be able to catch the pair on tour down the East Coast in March.
Image: Supplied
We’re big fans of Brisbane producer The Kite String Tangle around here, having followed his career since its humble beginnings, all the way up to his recent collaboration with folk artist Dustin Tebbutt.
He’s set to perform at Sea ‘N Beats, Australia’s very first cruise ship festival. Taking place from March 5th to 8th, it will be headlined by a full array of local and international beat-bouncers like Alison Wonderland, Peking Duk and Slumberjack. He’ll also be playing at Beyond The Valley, alongside a huge list of names like Boys Noize, Snakehips and Skepta.
TKST, real name Danny Harley, knows all about those chill tunes and smooth rhythms – kinda the perfect thing for driving home to, y’know? Especially after a few days of partying, it might be wise to rest those ears a bit.
Harley cares about you, and so, he’s put together a gorgeous lil playlist of chilled out music for the long drive home from Sea ‘N Beats – or anywhere, really. Enjoy!
1. SBTRKT – The Light Feat. Denai Moore
This is my favourite track on the new SBTRKT album. Such an amazing and unique melody
2. MOVEMENT – Us
Always a good band to chill to. This is my favourite of theirs.
3. Jamie XX – All Under One Roof Raving
This tune got me so pumped for his album and oddly wasn’t actually on the album which is cool….I think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk28cgCG3Ho
4. Blood Orange – You’re Not Good Enough
Such a feel good jam. Re-visit it. you won’t regret it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gtdpnKbT10
5. FKA Twigz – Papi Pacify
My favourite Twigz song. It’s from the EP before her album. It’s also the first song I ever heard of hers.
6. Sampha – Too Much
Really enjoyed the debut EP from Sampha who you may know as the contributor to many an amazing SBTRKT tune.
7. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Household Goods
This was such a jam when it came out. Why not.
8. Jai Paul – Jasmine
An incredible tune that so many producers have tried to re-create since.
9. Nosaj Thing – Cold Stares Feat. Chance the Rapper
Try and not love this tune. It has a really weird structure and the beats are super textural based. I love it and I hope you will.
10. Bonobo – Cirrus
The North Borders album by Bonobo is one of my all time favourite albums. This is possibly the best track on it.
11. Seekae – Void
My go to Seekae tune. I recommend watching the unofficial video clip for it about the challenger space craft mission.
12. Radiohead – Ideoteque
This song almost single handedly got me interested in electronic music
13. The Kite String Tangle – What If
Gotta plug your own tunes right? Hustle hustle
Catch The Kite String Tangle and plenty more at Sea ‘N Beats in March 2016!
Not too long ago we spoke to Danny Harley (aka The Kite String Tangle) about his collaboration with Dustin Tebbutt for Illuminate, a gorgeous piece of dream-pop showcasing Harley and Tebbutt’s tender vocals amongst a wistful soundscape of melodic, warm synths. With the promise of a two-for-one performance featuring Dustin’s achingly pretty folk-pop and Danny’s kaleidoscopic, pared-back electro-pop, I was there with bells on to review the Illuminate LIVE show at The Metro Theatre in Sydney last week.
From the outset, I felt really good about this show. It’s wonderful to see two artists – quite distinct in their respective sounds – display the vulnerability and openness to create something like Illuminate together, and then lend their support to one another to design a live show that allowed them to share both their collaborative and individual work. This feeling of mutual admiration and friendship permeated the entire set and set a wonderful tone for the evening’s show.
With the room already beginning to heave and bulge at the sides, Brisbane support act JOY. (Olivia McCarthy, who we also took photos of recently) kicked off the performance with her delicate, crystal voice, which smoothed over a neat handful of songs including Stone and Weather. She had a slightly awkward stage presence and her voice grappled with commanding the room (hell, she’s only 17), but there was something captivating about her, with all the right things to grow into something marvelous.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtcz1gD47PQ]
Dustin Tebbutt was up next. When he joined the stage, the room bloomed with crimson, soda-orange and purple light, spliced amongst the shadows cast from a backdrop image of icy mountains (perhaps a nod to Sweden, where Dustin lived for two years). His set was simple and captivating; easing through songs like Bones and Honest Hands, with Dustin’s familiar falsetto melting into the rolling, gentle guitar chords. The drums, keyboard and backup harmonies that came with the live set added a new dimension to his songs and provided a structure that helped his sound carry through the room, the vibe of which had softened and felt like an intimate church. Covering TKST’s track Words, as well as new track Where I Find You and crowd-favourite The Breach, Dustin’s gorgeous voice shimmered against articulately delivered guitar. At times he was stripped back and completely acoustic, and others he flirted more strongly with TKST’s gleaming synth backbones, but his performance was a delight throughout.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/100360674″]
Danny (The Kite String Tangle) then emerged and embraced his production box, a space-like cube of synthesisers and microphones, wrapped in blinding strips of kaleidoscopic lights. The mood shifted immediately to an energised, chaotic fever as he delivered his first song What If, a funky assortment of jangling, clankering synthetic percussion that sounded like someone was let loose with drum sticks in an empty prison cell. Songs like What’s the Point? (with its gleaming keyboard), Stone Cold (with JOY. doing a splendid job filling in for Tiana Khasi) and Commotion felt seamless, textured and rich, and overall stronger than his more popular songs like Arcadia and Given the Chance. Danny also did a stunning cover of Dustin’s The Breach, a soaring, amped-up interpretation with scratchy electro beats and a deeper, atmospheric synth base. It was the highlight of his set.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul5NkRKzIkE]
It was then time for Dustin and Danny to take the stage together, first for a cover that everyone but me seemed to recognise (unfortunately Shazam doesn’t work in these situations) but more importantly for their collaboration Illuminate, a flawless amalgamation of their two voices in gorgeous harmony, set amongst a backdrop of flickering lights that hung in the sky like teal stars. Visibly overwhelmed by the reception from the crowd, Danny and Dustin hugged and thanked everyone and left the stage.
As the crowd dissipated I thought, man, more artists should do this; what a great display of camaraderie and friendship. Harley and Tebbutt built and shared the live experience together, and for want of a less clumsy phrase, the sum felt more than the parts.
State of Origin is here. That time of year when New South Wales and Queensland sports teams don their colours, go head to head and battle it out on the field – while the rest of us shout profusely at the television. And it’s bloody fun.
Of course, not all of us love sport. Some of us love music – and some us love music AND sport. SO we thought, why stop the rivalry there?
So in true Howl & Echoes style, we have decided to create our very own Musical State of Origin, where we pit the bbest NSW music against the best from QLD.
The competition runs in four categories: Rock, Electronic, Hip hop and Nostalgia.
We’re leaving the winners up to you – there’s little polls next to each category. May the best state win!
Rock
QLD – VIOLENT SOHO
There are a lot of sweet maroon-bleeding bands we could have picked for this: Velociraptor, Dune Rats, The John Steel Singers among a whole bunch of others, but we can’t go past Mansfield’s favourite sons; Violent Soho. Possibly the hardest rocking band to come out of this great nation. Shove that up you, everybody south of the border.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN9NC4iQcsA]
NSW – GANG OF YOUTHS
First of all, Gang of Youths frontman Dave Le’aupepe already has the distinct advantage of already playing NRL as his alter-ego, Kevin Gordan.
Hair that luscious is hard to disguise.
Gang of Youths also has a serious leg up in terms of stamina – these guys put out seven minute tracks like it ain’t no thing, and their live energy will knock your teeth out. If this was coming towards you, I don’t care who you are – you are going down.
Their sound, too, is ground-shakeable. A mix of soaring Kings of Leon peaks and gravelly, The-National-esque lows, Gang of Youths have the scope of a much more mature band and can take you on journeys you didn’t expect. They’re rabble-rousers in Poison Drum¸ heartbreakers in Knuckles White Dry, cosmic rockers in Radioface. Gang of Youths are the NRL side’s all-rounders. Put them anywhere on the field and they’ll smash through the opposition, and best of all with a smile on their face and a smack on the back. Off the field, these are the guys you want giving you the pep talk in the locker room that will inspire the second-half comeback – these guys have been through some shit, and come out stronger on the other side. Look out QLD – Gang of Youths may be the youngest on the field, but if their debut is anything to go by they’ve got big things ahead.
Electronic
QLD – THE KITE STRING TANGLE
Some would say Danny Harley, aka The Kite String Tangle is the Jonathan Thurston of electronic music. That is to say he is a leader of the game, who crushes souls with his sheer awesomeness at any given opportunity. Harley’s own favorite track What If from debut record Vessels is stellar and is bound to leave those southerners crying big, sad, blue tears of defeat.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t37aseIe9E]
NSW – GOLDEN FEATURES
Every team needs someone absolutely huge. Someone to intimidate the other team and know that they shouldn’t be fucked with. For New South Wales, that person is Golden Features. Huge huge sounds, bass whose filth cannot be rivaled, and an emergence onto the scene much like his tackles on the field – out of nowhere. In only a little over a year, Golden Features has proved that he’s one of the biggest on the Electronic field, and now one of the biggest in the Music State of Origin as a whole. Most recently playing a string of club shows Australia wide to promote his latest EP XXI, and yesterday revealed to be returning to Listen Out Festival for the second year in a row, his reputation as a player is well known. If Queensland thinks that they can get past the New South Wales defense, they’d better think again. Golden Features is the big wall of sound that none can penetrate, with the weak being crushed under the weight of his bass. For his teammates, he’s the one who gets them ready for the game. Listen to final track of his latest EP then tell me you that you’re not going to win whatever you’re doing – you’d be lying.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/210339716″ params=”color=5f5f5f&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Hip Hop
QLD – ASTRO TRAVELLERS
There is no question that there is a bit of a stigma attached to Aussie hip hop, but up in the Sunshine State, that’s starting to shift. More and more acts are challenging your standard raps and rhymes, pushing boundaries with their beats and defying expectations and vocabularies with their lyrics. Brisbane 7 piece Astro Travellers bring it home for me. A bunch of classically trained jazz musicians from the Conservatorium, two astounding emcees and a formidable force with their female singer, I don’t see an act further south than the River City to bring it home for us Queenslanders! Check their first single Future Supernova and try to defy those grooves. Impossible. Take that, NSW!
NSW – THUNDAMENTALS
Do I even need to explain why Thundamentals are our choice to represent New South Wales in this epic head-to-head battle? Lyrically dense and musically brilliant, the beloved hip hop trio have undoubtedly proved themselves to be one of the greatest rap groups in NSW, if not the whole country. With the strength, stamina and lyrical muscle to kick serious hip hop ass, it’s hard to think of a worthy opponent. They’re the only rappers around who can spit rhymes about beef noodle soup, and make it sound badass.
Everyone knows the best thing about going to a big sports game is the electric energy in the audience. In that sense, anyone who has ever been to Thundamentals show knows that there’s many similarities between it and State of Origin: the thunderous cheers, the singing and chanting from the crowd, the sweaty men on stage and (for the winning team anyway) heading home with a beaming smile.
We actually contacted Thundamentals for a comment, and Tuka (who also has some pretty bangin’ solo work out now by the way), sent us back the ultimate pre-game song to get PUMPED UP:
Let’s be real here: anyone who uses the Beastie Boys to pump it up, is gonna go hard as hell. Queensland: watch out.
Nostalgia
QLD – THE BEE GEES
This one was really tough, because when it comes to amazing nostalgia acts there is no drought in the Sunshine State. We have everything from the seminal Brisbane indie outfit The Go Betweens, to the party inducing tunes of Regurgitator, to the classic rock of Powderfinger. But, if you want to win at the nostalgia game you have to go back – way back. Right back to the smooth toe tapping melodies that got your parents bopping at the Redcliffe RSL. That’s right. We have the BeeGees and we are proud. Let that sweet hook carry you all the way back to the locker rooms NSW. See you next year.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNfFZULPcgk]
NSW – SILVERCHAIR
Daniel Johns may have moved onto to different things, but Silverchair will forever be the absolute greatest New South Wales rock band. Dubbed Nirvana in Pyjamas when Frogstomp blasted its way around the world 20 years ago, Silverchair went on to be one of the loudest, angst-iest riff rockers we’ve ever seen. It would be a Pure Massacre on the field. You’ll be wishing it was already Tomorrow, because some freakin’ Madman is coming right for you. You’ll be feeling (Dearest) Helpless, because you know the other team is just a Freak of nature.
So, who is the winner?
You be the judge. Either way, we are pretty sure the real winner is music.
Fresh off the plane from a whirlwind appearance at Japan’s 24 hour Taico Club festival, we caught Danny Harley, aka The Kite String Tangle, to chat about his collaboration with folk-pop delight Dustin Tebbutt on the single Illuminate, released in late April 2015. With a glistening core steeped in TKST’s distinctive, warm synths, Illuminate is a beautifully produced, melodic piece of electropop, with a rich, layered soundscape and a dreamy emulsion of both Harley and Tebbutt’s choral vocals. On the back of the single, the two have also announced an East Coast tour in June (Illuminate LIVE) as well as a set of limited edition 10″ vinyl splits featuring the gorgeous cover art of Leif Podhajsky and two additional songs, where each artist covers one of the other’s tracks (you can hear a sneak-peek of TKST covering The Breach on the artists’ Facebook pages).
After chatting way back in December, in this interview Danny gave us an update on his experience collaborating with Dustin: what it was like to build Illuminate from “the ground up”, the balance of holding your own creatively and being open to the creation process. Danny also talks to us about what they have planned for the Illuminate LIVE tour, wanting to have a female support act (Brisbane’s gorgeous pop ingenue JOY), who he really wants to collaborate with and his upcoming trip to visit the Northern Lights in Iceland.
As always, a delight to speak to one of Australia’s most exciting electropop artists and celebrate a collaboration that – we hope – isn’t over just yet.
Hi Danny, how’s it going? Are you back in Australia?
Hey there! Yeah I got back yesterday. Things are pretty good, cruisey, I’ve just been tinkering away.
You were just in Japan for the Taico Club Festival. How was it?
It was insane, really good. The Japanese audiences are very different – they’re super polite and attentive, they kind of watch the whole thing and then clap at the end, and they really absorb what you’re doing. It was a nice reception, and a nice mix of people who knew my stuff and people who were hearing it for the first time. It was an insane festival; I can’t believe they don’t have that kind of thing here. It went all the way through the night, it started at 2pm and went through to 2pm the next day – there was no sleeping time. I made it to about 7am but I had to be on a bus at 11am to get back to Tokyo.
That’s pretty hectic. Well, the primary reason for us chatting is to catch up about The Kite String Tangle x Dustin Tebbutt collaboration, Illuminate. Congratulations – it’s a gorgeous track and we think it brings the best out in both your sounds. You must be thrilled with the reception.
Thank you. It’s funny actually, for me it was a project that didn’t really have the pop song structure or anything immediately ‘grabby’ about it, it was just a cool track that was really vibey that I liked, and Dustin liked, and it was more about the process of creating an awesome little song that we both loved. Then when it got added to radio I was a bit baffled by it because I didn’t think it was the kind of song that would do that. I’m stoked with the reception, it’s really cool, and a testament to peoples’ music tastes in Australia that that kind of song can be added.
It sounds like you and Dustin have a great friendship and the collaboration was pretty smooth overall. Reflecting back on when you were going into it, what were you the most excited about and what were you the most unsure about?
Actually we’d only met a couple of times before we got in a room and started producing music. I guess there was a bit of pressure to hold your own creatively, and that’s both exciting and nerve wracking. There was no real ‘bad’ option because we went into it with no specific purpose in mind. We thought, if we got something out of it, cool, if we don’t, no time’s been wasted, so I guess there wasn’t any fear of failure. We went into it completely open and went from there. I had some of the basic structure (a lot of the sounds that you hear at the start, the pittery pattery synth ambience and random sounds) laid out from something I had been working on that wasn’t right for just me alone, so we laid that out and started working on it, and it turned into what it is now. We built it from the ground up from there.
You’ve got an incredible ability to capture feelings of nostalgia and the complexities of romance through your lyrics. Can you describe some of the key themes that Illuminate aimed to capture and how you and Dustin wrote the lyrics together?
I’ve never written lyrics with someone else before so it was kind of strange because Dustin and I, having only met a couple of times, had to get into a process that we both found quite personal. So it was interesting writing lyrics with someone else for the first time. We didn’t base it on anything too close to ourselves but it was something that we could both relate to that we could extrapolate from. The theme was exploring a blossoming relationship and the start of some of the complications that come with that.
I was watching the visualiser and reflecting on how electronic music can be quite visual, even some of the words we use to describe it are visual (sparkly, glittering, etc.) and the name Illuminate is quite visual. Given this idea of the ‘visual’ side of the song, can you tell us more about the cover art and the visualiser? Were you trying to represent the essence of the track?
Sexy cover art for TKST x DT ‘lluminate
Totally. The cover art was actually done by Leif Podhajsky. He’s one of my favourite album artists and I was really stoked we could get him onboard to do the art. He did the art for Bonobo’s The North Borders and a bunch for Tame Impala, some really impressive visual art. For this particular artwork we got a whole bunch of options and Dustin and I really resonated with this one. Visually it had a lot going on which was representative of the track for us, lots of little bits and pieces and glimmery little morsels. The visualiser was something that we wanted to do so it wasn’t a static picture. Something that Dustin said, which I hadn’t really thought about, is that it kind of ‘switches your brain off’ – there’s something happening to distract you but it’s not totally engaging in a way where it distracts you from listening. It’s a nice thing to have that gets you to think about the music more.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsowSrJmP0c&w=560&h=315]
You and Dustin have the Illuminate LIVE Tour coming up in June. I love that you’re designing the shows to highlight both your collaborative work as well as your independent stuff. Two for one, we like a lot. What do you think will be different about this tour?
This will be the first time I’m not performing solo, I’ll have a drummer with me which is cool and the first time I’ve ever done that. We’ll be doing the collaboration with my drummer, Dustin’s band and Dustin himself. It will be a fun collaborative energy towards the end of the set. You’ll have to let me know how it is!
Definitely, it will be great. Can you tell us about the choice of JOY. as your support act? (PS – check out our photo shoot with JOY. here)
Dustin and I know her from Brisbane. We both wanted a female support act to give it a balance and dynamic, and she’s pretty amazing. She does a lot of dancey stuff, and so do I, and I also do a lot of sombre stuff, so I think it’ll be great for her to be able to explore that side of things as well.
In the theme of Illuminate, we were thinking about how humans love lights, we’re attracted to them like moths to a flame. We’re going to give you a list of some of the most famous night lights in the world and you have to pick which one you want to see in person and why. The options are: a) NYE fireworks in Times Square, New York b) the Northern Lights in Scandinavia c) the Eiffel Tower at night d) heading to outback Australia and being able to see the stars and of course, e) Vivid Sydney.
Definitely lock in b) ‘Aurora Borealis’, for sure. It was my birthday a little while ago and my girlfriend got me a package to go to Iceland in a year or two – so it’s a long term project – but it’s one of those things we’ve always wanted to do. Huge goal of mine.
We know you haven’t crossed out the option of collaborating with Dustin again so we’ll definitely keep our fingers crossed for that in the future. Are there other artists you’d love to collaborate with?
Totally. I really like working with other producers and also with other artists (as a producer), so it leaves me really open to collaborate. If it was an open skies conversation I’d love to work with producer Jon Hopkins (who did a lot of work with Brian Eno), he’s my number one guy I’d want to work with. He’s got an insane grasp on sound and texture and everything he releases blows my mind.
Well it’s been a big year for you and sounds like it’s only getting bigger with your latest US tour announcement, really exciting. Good luck on the upcoming Illuminate LIVE Tour and thanks for chatting today!
Thanks – see you then!
Here are the details for the (very sadly SOLD OUT shows)
Sat 20 June – Brisbane – The Triffid
www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545
Thur 25 June – Sydney – The Metro
www.ticketek.com.au 1300 795 012
Fri 26 June – Melbourne – 170 Russell
www.170russell.com 1300 724 867
The Kite String Tangle has just premiered the video for his current single What If on VICE’s electronic music and culture channel, THUMP. Complete with ink, smoke and a cheeky South Australian sparkling ale, the video perfectly accompanies the tune’s wariness of trust and letting go. The delicacy of love and its proximity to vulnerability is interwoven through the different narratives and the potential for loss and violence lies in every scene.
Danny Harley considers What If his favourite tune on the debut LP, Vessel, which is high praise considering the overall quality of the record. And we’d say it’s pretty deserved, but enough from us; check it out for yourself:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t37aseIe9E]
On top of the new vid, The Kite String Tangle just unveiled his newly created live lighting show, with the help of Jack Daniel’s Australia and the #JDFutureLegends series. No tour dates in Oz have been announced but watch this space, the new show looks STUNNING. Here’s a sneak peak:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmtE5QVxI00]
Here it is, your weekly playlist! We’re starting off with a couple of really cool pop tracks, before going down into indie territory. We end up on a couple of electronic tracks, but everything it really smooth, really chilled and really soulful. The perfect start to a chilled weekend. Enjoy!
Genevieve, Colors
I’m opening with this one as it’s definitely my favourite track of the week. LA-based Genevieve is about to release her debut solo EP and this is one of her first singles. It’s big, it’s fun, it’s bright and it’s absolutely glorious – an addition to every summer playlist, no doubt. Indie pop at it’s finest.
Eleanor Dunlop, Rollin’ On
Sydney’s Eleanor Dunlop is definitely one to look out for in 2015. The track opens with roaring drums and a driving guitar riff, while the husky melody really hits all the right spots. A feel-good track if ever there was one, there’s something sweet, yet in-your-face about this track.
Twin Lakes, Wolf Hall
I’m only new to Twin Lakes, but I’m really enjoying the chilled vibes in this tune. The gorgeous vocals are gorgeous and so rich, while the melody is catchy and really enticing. I’m not so big on indie rock, but I really like this and I think you will too.
Seafret, Angel of Death and the Codeine Scene (Hozier cover)
I’ve spent a lot of time getting into Hozier this year, and I’m really enjoying this stripped back cover from Seafret. Recorded live, it’s an intimate, powerful performance showcasing some really beautiful vocal tones, backed by acoustic guitar and a small string section.
Cherokee Red, Far From It
This is a lazy blues/folk/country track. Usually if you said that to me, I’d fall asleep instantly, but not the case right here! There’s a lot more going on than what meets the eye – a lot of guitar layers, slides, twangy chords and more, topped off by an wonderful dulcet melody.
Jeremy Neale, The News
Ah, what’s not to love about Jeremy Neale? His new single is punchy and fun, with (obviously) excellent vocals and some wicked instrumental riffs. I really like the punchy beats, and the female backing vocals. This is a lot more than your average indie pop tune.
La Mar, Anchor (GRMM remix)
I love this remix. Delicate vocal loops create a delicate atmosphere, and it feels a lot more stripped back than the original. Slight tweaks and flickers shine through, until the beat drops down into a cool, syncopated vibe. There’s a LOT to like about this six-minute remix.
Orches & Caruso, Raise
I’m really loving the bass in the opening of this track, and the way it opens up with a swift yet distant beat. There’s something really quite emotional about the melody. The vocals have a gorgeous intimacy to it, really carrying the rhythm as it builds and grows.
The Kite String Tangle, Stone Cold (Hermitude remix)
I love TKST and I love Hermitude, so I was hoping I’d like this remix – and I really do. It’s seductive and driving, with a hollowed bass and great use of vocals, both as melody and samples. Hermitude have really outdone themselves on this one.
Montgomery, Pinata (Japanese Wallpaper remix)
I OH YOU signee Montgomery has been remixed by Gab Strum who, despite only being 17, has such a knack for mellow electronic tunes. There’s such a smooth, chilled vibe to this remix, the perfect complement to Montgomery’s angelic, almost childlike vocals.
Not one to sit still for long, Brisbane’s Danny Harley – better known as The Kite String Tangle – has had one hell of a year. Two sold out national tours, one of the biggest Splendour In The Grass Sets, tours overseas, a coveted spot in the top end of Triple J‘s Hottest 100 AND the release of highly praised EP, Arcadia – the man really does know what he’s doing!
The latest release from the Tangle camp is a visually stunning film clip for his latest track, Stone Cold. The track has the added vocal enhancement of Brisbane singer Tiana Khasi and is one of TKST‘s stronger songs, which is saying something. Combining Harley’s flawless production skills, Khasi’s R’n’B pipes and some pretty beautiful lyrics, it’s no wonder the film clip had to be equally beautiful. Directed by Lachlan Dickie (who worked on Golden Features‘ Tell Me feat. Nicole Millar), the clip is really quite bizarre but entirely captivating. You can see it below!
This comes ahead of a remix package including reworks by the likes of Hermitude and Amtrac on December 12, as well as a five-track vinyl release with extra remixes by Kilter and Shy Girls on December 19. You can catch The Kite String Tangle in action over the end of the year, at Field Day, Falls and Southbound!