Every week we bring you a list our favourite new video clips – and this week’s are pretty damn cool.
Wet: Deadwater
Brooklyn-based trio (who we photographed earlier this year) Wet have released the first video clip of their forthcoming album, Don’t You, and it is absolutely beautiful. Featuring lead singer Kelly Zutrau walking around the streets of Peekskill, New York, the clip evokes feelings of longing, hope and nostalgia simultaneously.
And if you’re not digging the sweet, soulful track or the beautiful cinematography, its worth watching just for the adorable kitten at 0:38 seconds in. It’s just so small!
FFS: Johnny Delusional
When Franz Ferdinand and Sparks decided to collaborate we knew we were in for a treat. And their lead single, Johnny Delusional for their forthcoming self-titled album doesn’t disappoint. It’s pretty hilarious.
The music video is actually incredibly clever. Directed by France’s acclaimed AB/CD/CD collective, the film uses a camera loop to make it seem like the scene is going around in circles. Different repetitions of the same three characters sitting on chairs become slowly more unconventional and elaborate.
JP Klipspringer: Watch the River
After the release of his EP Drip Dry, Melbourne singer-songwriter Jack Poulson moved to Portland, Oregon. He fell in love with the city immediately, and in a spur of creativity, hid himself away to work on new material. What he created was beautiful.
The Watch the River music video alternates between shots of Klipspringer singing and the leafy streets of Portland.
Mary Epworth: Long Gone
It’s not everyday that you come across an artist like Mary Epworth. With a passion for nature and a big head of fluffy hair, her music is warm, genuine and incredibly uplifting.
The music video for Long Gone incorporates all of these things. It is simple enough, featuring Epworth alone in a field, but somehow works with the gradual build of the song to culminate in an explosion of pure joy. Epworth is unique and incredibly talented, she also just makes me smile.
The Mountain Goats: The Legend of Chavo Cuerrero
The Mountain Goats are no newbies to the music scene, with 15 albums to their name, so we can only assume that that’s why they feel so comfortable having a bit of fun with their music these days. The Legend of Chavo Cuerrero features Chavo himself saving lead singer John Darnielle from an epic beatdown.
The song itself is hilarious, and the video has this wonderfully old-school, shitty television quality to it, emphasising the idea that Chavo has been a hero of Darnielle’s right from the early days.
Hello and welcome to a extra large edition of your weekly Howl & Echoes playlist. The 130track whopper starts off with some soulful crooning, before we hit an electronic hill, and roll back down with some serious hip hop. Enjoy!
The Kite String Tangle & Dustin Tebbutt, Illuminate
Well this is just a match made in heaven. Blending TKST’s talent for gorgeous electronic melodies with Tebbutt’s vocals (as well as his own,) this is a beautiful song and the perfect start to your weekly playlist. A gentle atmosphere starts to build throughout, at a perfect pace and with such a rich soundscape. We hear a lot of melodic electronica every week, but this collab absolutely stands out. In fact I like this better than any song the two have released individually. The pair are touring together soon – hopefully an EP is in the works!
Wet, Deadwater
We had fun taking photos of Wet while they were on tour opening for London Grammar. I absolutely loved their debut EP, so it’s great to hear new music today. Taking cues from the likes of Purity Ring and Chvrches, Deadwater toys with a brighter electro-pop sound and airy, breathy vocals. However, the laid back groove and organic soundscape keep them a little more refrained, kind of like Rhye. Beautiful and somehow sad all at once, I absolutely love this track.
Darius, Helios ft. Wayne Snow (Myd Remix)
Yes, this is the third time this track has featured in a weekly playlists. I still can’t get enough of the original track, and now Myd has put his own spin on it. The Bromance Records producer has sped it up and tacked on a swift beat, a shuffled rhythm and a bright house beat. Admittedly I don’t like it as much as Bondax’s version, but I have a feeling this’ll be a big favourite for the house-inclined folk out there.
Aeroplane, Let’s Get Slow ft. Benjamin Diamond
Another house track to lighten up this playlist, Aeroplane’s latest takes you back to those balmy summer nights, now a distant memory. I really love Benjamin Diamond’s vocals. There’s something nostalgic about that melody, and his voice has a really lovely richness to it. The bubbly synths brighten up the simple rhythm, and the whole thing blooms into something heavier and really catchy as it progresses along.
Leon Osborn, You Were Gone ft. Barksdale
Newly signed to Pilerats Records, Leon Osborne releases this eerie, experimental electronic track. It’s one of those track where there’s a lot to explore – the more you listen, the deeper you delve. There’s a great variety of tones and colours throughout the layers, and they’ve come together to create something really unique and definitely interesting. Definitely a track to listen to with headphones on, at full volume to take it all in.
Slumberjack, The Others ft. KLP (UZ Remix)
I’ll admit that I’m pretty sick of super low pitch-shifted vocals, but I really do enjoy this deep, dark remix of Slumberjack’s track with KLP. The slow beat really envelops you, and as the soundscape starts to build, it only grows more haunting and more captivating. Strange, strange things starts to happen after the 90-second mark, and the drop is all kinds of fun. Falling just shy of a guilty-pleasure-banger, there’s a lot more than what meets the eye to this cool, if convoluted remix.
Big Wild, Aftergold
This is the latest single on Odesza’s brand new label – and it’s definitely clear that Odesza had a say in this, particularly through the more ambient moments. Bright and catchy with a big, bouncy rhythm, this is a super fun tune. Despite the bright synths and over-used clap rhythms, it doesn’t stray into that over-bright Wave Racer territory, largely thanks to the massive brassy synths and occasionally glitchy rhythmic embellishments.
Tashka, Taken
Blending on-trend electro-pop-soul with a headier R&B melody, upcoming Sydney artist Tashka has named her new single after the Liam Neeson film of the same name. It’s a very safe track, sure, but there’s a lot to love, particularly the sensual beat, the beautiful melody and the wonderful harmonies which accompany it, as well as those breathy marimba-style echoes. Mixed and mastered by Andrei Eremin, keep an eye out for Tashka’s debut EP later this year.
Maiday, You
A piano-led pop track with a twist, there’s so much sublime vulnerability in Maiday’s vocals. As the track starts to grow and move, a great rhythm kicks in, and her voice rises with soft, yet demanding confidence. It’s one of those tracks where the devil is in the details – those little piano harmonies, the occasional synth flickers and momentary bass booms make all the difference. A really impressive track from the upcoming UK singer, keep an eye out for Maiday’s debut EP, also set for release later this year.
Eska, Boundaries
I absolutely fell in love with the power and originality of Eska’s music a few months back, so I’m really excited that she’s back in our playlist today. Boundaries is raw and simply stunning. Her vocals take centre stage – as they should – accompanied by dramatic, theatrical instrumental layers. The slightly off-beat, ever-changing timing only makes this track even more intriguing. As the melody swells up, I can’t help but feel like this would be at home in a contemporary musical. We don’t hear music like this every day – so thank you, Eska.
Jordan Bratton, Prisoner ft. Chance The Rapper
WHAT A TRACK! My pick for the week. There’s so much honesty and emotion in Bratton’s melody, and it’s so raw, with a simple backing beat and harmonies gently building behind it. “Is this just a prisoner without a cage?” he sings, delivering a powerful message about a girl who has been so hypnotised by fame and money that she’s lost her way in the world. Guest vox from Chance The Rapper (who takes the form of Chance The Singer here) add another beautiful layer to it all, and the star power will no doubt bring Bratton the attention he deserves.
Master Wolf, Never Question The Dopeness
I’m excited to introduce you to Master Wolf, an upcoming rapper from Brisbane. It’s so, so, so refreshing to hear good rap coming from Australia, and Master Wolf nails it on his debut track. Taking the lead above a chilled, gangsta-inspired beat, Master Wolf shows us what he’s got – and what’s got is a liquid flow off his liquid flow. I admit that I’m still getting used to liking Australian accents in rap, but his quick-to-flip tongue and smart (if silly at times) lyrics make this a great new track, and a bright new player in the Aus rap scene.
De La Soul, God It ft. Nas
Does a De La Soul track ft. Nas even need much of a writeup? The rap legends have joined forces for an instant classic, a refreshingly old-school track in a constantly forward-moving genre. Stripped back and bare, there’s a distinctly retro vibe and I really like it. De La Soul recently announced that they will be funding their forthcoming fifth album via Kickstarter, and while this track will not be featured, it’s a sign of the sweet, sweet tunes to come. Expect features from Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, 2 Chainz and more.
Photos by Aaron Browning
Follow him on Instagram: @abrownin
Check out our exclusive photo shoots with Wet and Until The Ribbon Breaks!
Until The Ribbon Breaks
Wet
London Grammar
Check out our gallery of Wet with Until The Ribbon Breaks and London Grammar live
Read our live review of Wet with Until the Ribbon Breaks, Tkay Maidza and more
Photos by Aaron Browning (@abrownin on instagram)
The Oxford Art Factory sure knows how to throw a wicked party!
Last night, Dew Process threw a label party in Sydney, featuring performances from some of their biggest artists including Tkay Maidza and Brooklyn’s Wet. As we walked into the venue, we were graced with their fantastic lighting display, quickly getting us pumped up for the amazing night ahead. The intimate, exclusive setting made it all the more exciting!
We got up close and personal with the artists,and this is what we saw.
First up, Eves The Behavior set the bar for what we could expect for the rest of the night. Not only was she beautiful to look at, but her sound was just as alluring. You could see how much she gets into her performances with the way she closes her eyes and feels the music with her body. Her sensual vocals soared above the commanding backing music, and her dancing was almost hypnotic, as she soaked up the sound into her veins, just like we did.
While all of her songs were fantastic, her latest single TV was really impressive. It showed the crowd who she was as an artist and the sheer passion she has for her music. If someone who had never hear her before and came to saw this performance, they would’ve fallen in love with her in a matter of minutes.
Tkay Maidza was next. You could just see how excited the crowd was, even before she got on stage. She definitely has an undeniable presence on stage, with the entire audience hyped up as she danced like crazy throughout the whole set. Her DJ added to the hype as he got into the swell of the sound, filling every corner of the sweaty room.
Her tracks are fantastic, but she is even more incredible live. Her strong performance showed off her serious talent and obvious star power – it’s easy to see why she is “one of the most buzzed about young artists in Australia.”
Each one of her tracks was so full of energy and genuine joy. It’s so hard to pick a favourite, but the one that I can’t stop singing is Must Die! With its easy-to-remember hook and catchy tune, it had everyone singing along, showing off the way she can control a crowd with only her voice. As she finished, the noise from the audience was deafening.
And then Until The Ribbon Breaks, one of my personal faves, graced the stage. As frontman Pete Lawrie-Winfield told me in our recent interview, they usually have a projector in the room when they record their songs. Indeed, they brought one along, and it was a great asset to their sensational performance.
Their performance was everything I anticipated it would be and more. Being up close, I could not only feel the intensity, but also see it on Pete’s face as he sang his beautiful lyrics. James Gordon, the magician behind the programming, lived up to his reputation of consistently being on point. Drummer Elliot Wall brought the joy of performing to life with the constant smile on his face that you could see when he was visible in amongst the fog.
From 2025 to Goldfish, each track was so incredible. With everything going on, they threw instruments to the ground and immediately turned to tear up a new one. It left me thinking, “is there anything they can’t play?” There was so much energy that by the end of their set, Pete was completely wiped out. That just shows how much work and passion they put into their music, live and pre-recorded alike. Read my review of their album and you’ll see what I mean.
WET was the last to perform. Their beautiful, whimsical sound gave us a break after the upbeat, intense madness of the night. Currently on tour opening for London Grammar, they gave a chilling performance that made me want the night to start over once again.
The dreamy feel washed over the room as they listened intently, swaying and softly singing along. They set a different atmosphere from the rest, using a softer presence to bring the crowd together. This was so refreshing after the night we’ve had, and would’ve been the perfect soundtrack while winding down after having such a long and busy day.
Their performance of Bad Idea opened up their setlist on a high note. It was immediately ear-catching from the difference in tempo. The beat drove its way into our hearts and made us feel closer together as they played. The perfect way to end a great show.
Are you familiar with Brooklyn trio Wet, yet?
I hope you are. If not, I take great pleasure in showing you this:
Their self-titled debut EP came out earlier this year. I raved about it like nothing else, so I’m personally excited to share with you the excellent news that they’re heading down under to support London Grammar in March, as well as two headline shows in Melb & Sydney!
Their fluid blend of flawless female vocals with totally understated electro-trip hop-ish rhythms and beats are among the more beautiful things I’ve heard all year, and I cannot recommend catching them live highly enough.
Tour Dates
Headline:
Tuesday March 10th: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Friday March 13th: Howler, Melbourne
Supporting London Grammar:
Thursday, March 5: Redhill Auditorium, Perth
Saturday March 7th: Riverstage, Brisbane
Monday March 9th: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Thursday March 12th: Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Saturday March 14th: Festival Hall, Melbourne
Brooklyn trio Wet (not easy to Google, by the way) have been receiving a lot of attention throughout the music world of late, and it’s easy to see why. Their self-titled EP is such an obvious standout among music I’ve heard this year. According to the press release, the three musicians have been playing together since 2006, and it’s clear that those years have given them the time to truly define themselves and create a unique, sultry, incredibly well-considered sound.
I’m going through an extended sulty-vocals/alt-r’n’b/trip hop/chilled-electro phase right now, and Wet fit the bill perfectly. The first track, Dreams, (released in Aus as a single late last year) is sparse and spritely. Blank spaces between the vocals, beats and backing music place a strong emphasis on what is going on. Staccatoed lyrics, synth notes and harmonies add punch and funk to the understated track. It swings from note to note and beat to beat with ease and fluidity. A soft start, but by no means shy.
You’re The Best is mesmerising. The vocals are soothing and so full of love, especially with some of the harmonies and the melodic vocal gymnastics. But, what I’m coming to love about Wet is that it may be sweet, but it ain’t bubblegum. As clear, clean-sounding and immaculately arranged as it is, there’s something else there. It’s not your run-of-the-mill female-led pop/R’n’B, that’s for sure.
Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl is an ethereal, emotional break-up track. It’s very, very well thought out. Starting with lovely fuzziness and some slowly-strung guitars, there’s a repetitive mantra-like simplicity in the melody, a soothing antidote to the subject matter. Wet’s signature use of contrast and subtlety create so much power in their music. I really love the syncopated beat, it’s kind of Massive Attack-esque.
Vocals, courtesy of Kelly Zutrau, are divine. She has the voice of an angel, and it’s probably best shown in the despairing ballad No Lie. It’s a tale of finding the silver lining, of finding the strength to escape a destructive relationship. “My baby, he said he loved me, but that’s a lie, No more Lies, The time I have wasted, But I’ve had enough..”
A heavier drum beat brings the track up toward the latter half. I’m such a sucker for this kind of sound, this is definitely my favourite track off the EP. It’s fairly heartbreaking, too. I imagine this would sound brilliant live, slowed down and silent save for vocals and that beat.
The final track is a remix of the first, Dreams. The UNO Stereo remix hastens the pace, adds spacey synth sounds, small glitches and multiplies the beats, making a jingly jangly dance-floor hit. It’s really fresh and summery, but I prefer the original version, to be honest.
Wet are sensual, introverted and understated. There’s clarity and beauty in every beat of this EP. I want more.