It’s Wednesday, four nights before what ended up being the best New Year celebration of my life, Beyond The Valley. Following a car ride from Melbourne city out to the Lardner festival and setting up the campsite, it was boogie time almost immediately, with a mystery international guest in tow to entertain the earlybird campers. And so, the festival began with an intimate set from none other than Claptone, whose chiming house tunes bellowed through the central park, gathering all attendees into the one spot for the first and last time of the festival – an amazing way to kick things off.
Image: Facebook – Beyond The Valley
Day 2
Waking up on day two, the skies were looking dim, and to make matters even more interesting a heavy storm was predicted to hit mid to late afternoon. So, we got out to as much as we possibly could. Alex Lahey cleared the skies and brought the sun and good vibes with her, delivering her signature Australian twang and down to earth lyrics making for a warm welcome to the main festival. Running through tracks from her debut EP like Wes Anderson, and PTSD early on, she amped up the crowd with the inevitable revelry of Let’s Go Out, and closing number You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me.
There was no question though, that the day peaked early with Boy Better Know’s CEO JME, drawing an energetic crowd at 3PM. Joined by BBK’s resident DJ, DJ Maximum, JME opened on strong with his latest album’s title track Integrity. Being his first ever Australian show, there was a solid mix of both classics alongside the more recent album cuts, smoothly transitioning from the tracks like Serious to Taking Over.
The energy in the crowd was wild, despite many not being fully aware of the artist, who is also the brother of grime’s standout king Skepta. Still, his raw and gritty delivery atop booming instrumentals was so on point that they were impactful whether you’d heard them before or not. Adding to the stage antics, at one point an Australian cork hat was thrown on stage, and JME proceeded to flip some of his verses and freestyle about Australia and the hat itself.
Soon, the rain began to pour, showering onlookers with much needed cool water. We were drenched from top to bottom, but we were happy with one of the highlights of the entire festival.
Image: Semplesize – Christopher Cohen
The storm picked up even stronger, so headed back to the tent to gather out gumboots and ponchos, ready to head to the main stage. While JME took us into the rain, GoldLink braved the storm and pulled us out the other end. Although he arrived little late (no doubt because of the rain), his DJ did an amazing job to keep the energy up and the worries away, playing tracks like Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head and Migos’ Bad and Boujee.
GoldLink emerged, thankful that his fans actually still came out in such weather. Tracks like Sober Thoughts and Dark Skinned Women had the intimate yet devoted crowd belting his lyrics, and the energy really heightened when he had a little covers jam, dropping tracks like Next Episode, Killing in the Name Of and Smells Like Teen Spirit. Sliding back into his own hits, Dance on Me and Fall In Love provided just the right upbeat energy needed to create another magical moment.
Thundamentals came through next with yet another energetic set that helped us forget about the weather. Joined by a DJ and live trumpet, the tracks sounded fresher than ever. Tuka’s vibrancy and jumps around the stage were infectious, while tracks like Smiles Don’t Lie and Got Love worked the crowd into a sing-along frenzy, while Thunda’s experienced their very first mudslide.
The highlight of the night came courtesy of Hermitude, who had a fully live set with an MPC (drum machine), turntables, keys and synths to bring their tunes to life. A well balanced mix of their own productions alongside remixes, they flipped tunes from Rihanna, Kanye and even The Lion King in between their own hits. Blitzhing through the classics, Speak of the Devil had an amazing breakdancing video, Searchlight featured a special appearance from Yeo, and of course Hyperparadise, which they couldn’t play without the Flume remix, resulting in a sea of screams and a chant of “I don’t have to worry!” As if the good vibes couldn’t get any better, they even handed out a gnome to the crowd, as this apparently brings good luck to whomever touches it. The only thing left was The Buzz, and boy did that go off.
Day 3
After Hudson Mohawke pulled out of his Australian tour, the anticipation was even higher for his TNGHT collaborator Lunice. Known for his dark, bass heavy beats, it was extremely weird to see him perform bright and early at 3pm. nevertheless, the Canadian’s DJ set was really fun and entirely unexpected. Rather than stay behind the decks pumping fists, he climbed on the table, partied with the crowd, and most of all took us on a journey (one that didn’t include actual DJing, clearly). Gliding through tracks from Rihanna, Travis Scott, Chance The Rapper, Goldlink and Kanye to name a few, he also delivered grime from Skepta, Novelist and producer Faze Miyake. From there, it only got heavier, with BPM continuously rising to a point of experimental hardstyle, and his own TNGHT tracks Higher Ground and Buggn. It ended suddenly, and we wished it could’ve lasted much longer.
Things took another turn with Luke Million, who delivered the funkiest set in the dance tent. 80s dance musicinspired dance music had the listeners grooving to their hearts content, and rather than simply spin tracks he too was performing live with additional synths and keys. When Arnold dropped, the audience followed suit in incredible fashion, squatting up and down to the bodybuilder-turned-politician’s voice, while Luke fired up the stage with a belter of a keytar solo, all in all making for an incredible moment. Of course, his Stranger Things remix was another hit, having enjoyed massive runaway success last year.
Returning to the state they used to call home, The Delta Riggs were certainly welcomed warmly. Keeping the energy high singer Elliott Hammond kicked the set into gear, quite literally with his bag of stage theatrics. Each track felt livelier and livelier. The Record’s Flawed and … got the crowd in a ramble, and despite the early microphone failures which popped and crackled through tracks, their raw bravado and punk nature kept things full steam ahead. Supersonic Casualties rung out through the arena as their final track, and regardless of their psychedelic sound their set had taken us on one hell of a trip.
Image: Tone Deaf – Brandon John
Emoh Instead of What So Not fame was the first of the three heavyweight acts to grace the main stage that night. If you had to describe his set in one word, fat would be it. Every drop felt bassier, grittier, deeper than the next, and pulled the crowd further into his grip. He delivered a varied set of his own tunes and remixes, including his own heavenly trap take on the Stranger Things theme. We sang to Gemini, moshed to Tell Me and Waiting, and went wild to Jaguar.
As far as stage setups go, ZHU’s eerily cloaked band members was incredible. His set was jazzy, funk rhythms, delicately wrapped up in a range of bouncing beats. With the addition of live guitar and saxophone from the cloaked band members, the American producer’s electronic jams sounded tastier than ever. Each tune received warm praise, but it wasn’t until Faded that the crowd really livened up in the latter end of his set. All in all while I enjoyed his set, the change from What So Not was so different that I found myself really just craving the next act.
The man of the hour year, festival headliner Chance The Rapper was the next and final to appear on the main stage for the night. Showing up around 10 minutes late, he wasted no time, jumping right into Angels. Cutting the track half way through, he switched to Blessings, before apologising for having lost his voice. It was clear that his voice was cracking a little, but it seemed so sincere and genuine, and the energy did not waver for a moment. Lesser artists would have cancelled with a lost voice, yet he pushed through, delivering the best set of the entire festival. Introducing Acid Rap, he then delved into some favourites like Pusha Man, Cocoa Butter Kisses and Favourite Song. He then performed a couple of tracks he’d guested on, namely Action Bronson’s Baby Blue (which he dedicated to his ex) and of course, the brilliant Ultralight Beam.
But he wasn’t done just yet. After a brief wait, Chance launched into a back-to-back medley of No Problem, Mixtape and All Night, bringing the energy higher than ever. Thanks to The Social Experiment behind him, he was also able to change things up a bit in comparison to the recordings, delivering a stripped-back, heartfelt All We Got and Blessings part 2 as the final track, blasting confetti out over the crowd. Frankly, only thing keeping this from being a perfect set was that the audience surrounding me weren’t as hyped as they should have been.
Image: Tone Deaf – Brandon John
Day 4
Finally at long last, New Year’s eve had arrived, bringing clear skies and good vibes along with it. The daytime was mainly focused on electronic singer-songwriters, with our favourite being the super talented Wafia. Delivering one of the most solemn performances of the festival, her emotive yet danceable music was the perfect kick off for the day. Racing through her own jams alongside those produced with collaborator Ta-ku, and we even got a glimpse into new material with an ‘unnamed track which doesn’t yet have a home’. While her performance was relaxed, and the audience mimicked this, the atmosphere was still extremely positive, and the set was so enjoyable.
Brisbane’s stoner rock heroes Dune Rats contrasted these calm vibes with a weed-filled whirlwind soon after. Walking out onstage to the Rocky theme song and jumping straight into Dalai Lama, Big Banana, Marijuana, it packed a mean punch from the get go. Tracks like Fuck It and Superman are perfect for festival sing-alongs, and later, they held a shoey competition, even giving a fan the stage for one song. What followed was a sloppy reinterpretation of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, yet once the drums slapped in, the mosh went wild, before they ended their set with the unruly Bullshit.
Image: AAA Backstage – Emily Mathison
Tokimonsta matched Lunice as my favourite DJ set of the festival, with her incredible ability to really transport the crowd. Beginning with hip-hop bangers like The Next Episode and Alright, it soon blended into trap, slowly getting heavier, bassier and more experimental, keeping punters on their toes. She also played a new track that she has in the works with one of our favourite artists Anderson .Paak, a tune we’ll be eagerly waiting for.
The night was now fully underway, with 2017 fast approaching. Phantogram delivered a gritty and dark set which masterfully demonstrated their blend of hip-hop, rock and electronic vibes. Their stage presence was intoxicating, especially when You Don’t Get Me High Anymore rang out, setting the bar high for the rest of the night.
Canberra kings Safia came through next with a mystical performance. Playing crowd favourite My Love Is Gone early on, the bass vibrated to a new level, and with only a few tracks into their set, the man next to me claimed that he could now die happy. Make Them Wheels Roll added to the adrenaline, but the major highlight was when the trio merged Led Zeppelin into their hit Counting Sheep.
As the countdown neared, Sticky Fingers took to the stage for one of the final sets before their hiatus. It was a bittersweet moment, and the topic of many discussions among the mosh. While they were meant to show up ten minutes before the countdown, the lads decided to take it time, only arriving in time for the ten second countdown.
Confetti exploded as the crowd cheered their way into the year, as the band launched into Australia Street, followed by Our Town and Gold Snafu; this was the the blast into the year we wanted, and we got. Gliding through their catalogue, it was clear that despite the controversy facing them of late, their fans are as dedicated as ever belting out every word as if it was their own. After playing through some recent tunes, their classic material really took the cake, Rum Rage, Caress Your Soul and of course closing with How To Fly made for a great start to a (hopefully) great year.
Image: Sam Brumby
The night was coming to a close, but first, Motez and Dom Dolla rounded it off in amazing fashion. With Motez on the hill and Dom in the tent, each set went off and kept the party going until 3am.
At risk of sounding reductive, everything about this year’s Beyond The Valley was incredible. The music was loud, and I mean loud. The stage designs were next level, and each even had its own side-of-stage DJ booth to keep the party going between sets. The people, food, bars and campsites were great, but it was the music curation that really won out. Okay, we would have preferred a bit more hip-hop, but that’s just us. The variety of local and visiting talent was so solid, and it made for the best possible way to ring in the new year. Bring on BTW 2017-8!
Header Image: Facebook – Beyond The Valley
RL Grime, What So Not and Skrillex, three expert producers and leaders in the trap and electronic music world have had rumoured collaborations between some combination of them in the works as far back as 2013. RL Grime and What So Not last collaborated on the track Tell Me which debuted in early 2014. Now, the two have reunited, this time with additional collaborator Skrillex, to create Waiting, a trap and bass experiment for the ages. RL Grime premiered the song at the tail end of the 2016 edition of his annual Halloween mix. This year’s Halloween mix garnered quite a bit more attention than previous years, and brought with it various surprises, as the voice of Pharell Williams ushered us into the mix, as well as teasing listeners with a taste of some unreleased music. Listen to it here:
The single gets its official release on Thursday, but the three artists gave us a special preview of the song by creating a vague website that they each promoted on their social media sites. The website, http://w8-ing.com contains a one minute preview of the song atop a video advertising a phone number, which when called, plays the track in full, and gives it a retro sex-hotline feel. In 2015, Justin Bieber allowed fans to hear his cover of Hotline Bling using this same method, in that case quite literally allowing a hotline to bling. Soulja Boy also used this back in 2008, giving out a phone number that fans could call to leave messages which came as close as they could to quite literally, kissing him through the phone. It’s an interesting twist for a song to get pre-released in this way, and allows the duration of the song to be heard without giving everything away in full quality.
The full version of Waiting comes out on November 3rd. Listen to Tell Me below:
It’s almost that time of that year, where merry festival-goers nationwide journey to the remote Lardner Park to party their hearts out and ring in the New Year with style at Beyond The Valley. If you haven’t yet got the memo, this year in particular is boasting Beyond The Valley’s biggest lineup yet, showcasing an even wider range of hip-hop, electronic and rock artists then ever before.
If you’re still contemplating whether to go or not, or simply aren’t just entirely sure who to see, don’t worry, we got you! Here’s our top ten picks for Victoria’s tastiest New Years fest.
Jme
If you don’t know his voice by now, have you been living under a rock? Born in Hackney and raised in Tottenham, Jme is one of UK Grime’s early originators, and is a definite must see. Co-founder of Boy Better Know alongside his brother, who you may know from last year’s Beyond the Valley in Skepta, Jme has been making music for over 10 years now, cementing himself as one of the realest in the genre.
His most recent album Intergrity > embodied this. One of the hardest albums from the UK in recent times, it was an incredible mix of bravado, lyricism and classically grimey beats. Make sure you don’t miss out on one of the finest proponents of a genre that has never been more popular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rivFCwwvoh8
Alex Lahey
Dropping her critically acclaimed B-Grade University EP back in July, and performing on Splendour In The Grass’ main stage as a Triple J Unearthed winner, it feels like almost overnight that Alex Lahey managed to brand herself as one of this year’s most promising breakout Aussie acts.
Backed by her upbeat and entirely feel-good style of garage rock, it’s almost the perfect soundtrack for those New Year vibes and hits like Let’s Go Out Tonight and You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me will be sure to make the crowd go wild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDBqxBbdWS8
Ryan Hemsworth
From his distinctive sampling style, mixed alongside his even more notable electronic and hip-hop sound, there’s an adept level of diversity with Ryan Hemsowrth as he produces anything from a complex soundscape to a bass heavy trap tune.
No doubt the Canadian is one of the more unique producers around at the moment, and live this is no different. His mixes share this variety, smoothly transitioning from the ill-est trap to the cleanest house tune in a heartbeat. We’d also like to acknowledge that Ryan is definitely our favourite Hemsworth and it’s not even close.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14-OVAmgFo0
GoldLink
Despite performing so recently at this year’s Laneway Festival, we definitely aren’t going to complain that Washington emcee GoldLink is back so soon. He’s not coming empty handed though, since then he’s gone on to drop two new singles, the sultry Kaytranada and BADBADNOTGOOD-produced Fall In Love, alongside the equally groovy Rough Soul.
Adding these to his already diverse range of festival favourites, we can’t wait to see him bring his slick flow and dance-inspired raps back to our shores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX6_tfJaFaM
Motez
Arguably one of Australia’s best dance producers at the moment, it doesn’t take much to be drawn in to Motez’s deep and booming house sound. From his signature funky bass-lines, to his irresistible grooves and soaring synths, it’s a combination that can easily slip you into a trance and have you dancing for hours on end.
No doubt you’ll see us cutting shapes when Motez time comes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LkorIdXrHw
What So Not
Despite losing founding member Flume in February of last year, Emoh Instead has been continually repping the What So Not name, and damn has he been putting in work. His latest EP Divide & Conquer without a doubt was his boldest work yet, packed to the brim with an array of choppy sounds and banging beats and contrasted with yet another selection of sky-high electronic ballads.
With this kind of diversity, who knows what he might bring to his set at Beyond the Valley. All we know is we’ll be grooving hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvPgCAAq1Y
Sticky Fingers
Armed with an even larger selection of powerhouse rock anthems with the addition of their latest album Westway (The Glitter & the Slums), this certainly wouldn’t be a top ten list without a mention of our favourite Sydney lads Sticky Fingers.
While we’re still recovering from their truly mind-blowing set at this year’s Splendour, their truly infectious blend of hard-hitting rock riffs, reggae-infused grooves and bellow-along choruses can’t come sooner, and we can’t wait to vibe out to them once again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ-pnbOxhcY
Kllo
Amidst all the moshing, shape cutting, and throat ripping sing-alongs, it’s helpful to your festival stamina to take things down a notch once in a while to avoid burning yourself out too quickly, and what better than with the cousin duo act Kllo. With singer Chloe Kaul’s beautifully luscious tone gliding over a range of their down-tempo and house influenced beats, it’s hard to deny the pair’s unmistakable chemistry.
Coming off the release of their debut EP, this invigorating duo certainly aren’t to be missed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYd4t5uINNY
Lunice
It’s been quite a few years since we last saw the Canadian bass king, but luckily for us he’s made it back. While you may know him for his work alongside Hudson Mohawke (also at BTV) with their duo TNGHT, Lunice‘s solo work is just as incredible, with a brutally dark and heavy sound that needs to be heard to be believed.
At the start of this year, Lunice onfirmed that his debut album 360 would be arriving sometime throughout, but despite this acknowledgement there still haven’t been any signs… yet. Perhaps Beyond The Valley will be the place we might finally hear some of these heavily anticipated tunes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv70IhlW5D4
Chance The Rapper
If you weren’t planning on seeing Lil Chano, seriously…what are you thinking? Chance The Rapper is without a doubt one of the most genuine, talented artists in the game right now. After just three projects and a slew of collabs, his unique, loveable and feel-good sound has captured the hearts of millions worldwide, branding him as one of the most vital artists of our time.
While we can’t predict the future, it’s safe to say that seeing Chance live will be a lot more than your average gig, so just make sure you’re there to recieve these blessings, and if you’re having an off day and still need more reasons to see Chance? Check this out: What to Expect from Chance the Rapper’s Debut Australian Tour!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eedeXTWZUn8
Beyond The Valley:
28 December 2016 – 1 January 2017
Lardner Park, Victoria
Get Tickets Here!
Image: This Is Radelaide
EDM is often defined by a standard set of rules. Start off with some twinkling synths, add in a vocal and some simulated hand claps and begin the build to a drop that never quite delivers. The idea is to leave people wanting more, not less right?
What So Not doesn’t play by the rules. The now solo Emoh Instead seems to have a new-found sense of adventure that wasn’t around on previous outings. Last year’s Gemini EP was digestible, fun and a good choice for some head-bopping car jams, but it didn’t stand up and scream “I’m different! Give me some extra attention.” It wasn’t bad, it was just….normal. It followed the rules and ticked the boxes.
If Gemini was the well-behaved student, Divide And Conquer is the rebellious, angst-filled teenager that makes people uncomfortable due to their sheer charisma and energy.
The title track opens proceedings and its mosquito drone and knife-edge 8-bit synth lines give off an instant sense of expectation. Something big is coming, and its worth sticking around to hear the result. Feeling more like the soundtrack to the final boss-battle of a 90’s Game Boy game (remember those?), the build drops into one of the filthiest grooves of the year, with dirty, distorted bass erupting from the studio and giving the listeners eardrums an almighty thrashing.
After the eruption of the first song, bringing things down into the piano-based interlude of Severence seems confusing at first, with the gentle atmosphere feeling slightly out-of-place after such a huge opening; however, as the song flows into the atmospheric Lone, it becomes clear that such a blatant contrast of style is what truly allows the emotion of the song to shine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktv43aUvb1c
What Emoh manages to achieve on this EP is the rare ability to make every song truly stand on its own. From the blissful theatrics of Buried, with the guest verses of Rome Fortune and George Maple delivered with so much confidence (it almost seems like they aren’t even trying) to the glitchy depths of Montreal, there is no sense of “sameness” here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH_u_OiDChE
Kimbra appears on the latter, adding some angelic vocals to break up the tension of the ‘push-pull’ generated by the groove. Whilst Montreal might focus too much on its drops as opposed to the talents of its guest, it sees Emoh pushing even further into the unknown, exploring the wide world of soundscapes available through the wonders of technology.
Whilst the EP certainly expands the musical palette of What So Not, it doesn’t completely abandon the realm of accessibility. Despite being packed to the brim with all manner of choppy sounds, Trust contains that killer hook that made us love the music of What So Not in the first place. Scaling back on the musical ambition heard previously on the EP, Trust uses both dynamics and melody to capture attention, succeeding on both counts.
Feel It wraps things up. Serving as the more down-the-line cut of the record, it helps the listener finish with at least some puff. With a steady drive from the bass, the song sits nicely beneath the verses of Tunji, almost feeling like a final victory lap of sorts.
‘Victory lap’ may be too bold of a term for some when talking about an EP, but the format shouldn’t detract from the extraordinary musical growth that What So Not has shown between drinks.
Divide And Conquer is a collection of songs that well and truly break the mould that Emoh’s contemporaries have sat in so nicely for the last five years. It takes some getting used to, but its worth the effort.
Image: Supplied
We were lucky to catch the incredible What So Not at his homecoming show in at the Enmore theatre in Sydney last Thursday, along with Canadian co-headliner A-Trak. The night was opened by Oh Glam and Mickey Kojack, before each headlining artist took their turn. The grand finale came by way of a spectacular, albeit short B2B sound-off, bringing an end to a brilliant night at the Enmore. Unfortunately Rome Fortune, who had previously been announced as a special guest, was unable to head to Australia for the tour in the end. Nevertheless, it was still an unforgettable night, and the crowd loved every moment.
The pair have since continued their tour, burning holes in dance floors in both Adelaide and Perth. This week will see them play two shows in Melbourne, with the final date in Brisbane this weekend. Dates are as follows:
Thu, Jul 7th: Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
Fri, Jul 8th: Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
Sat, Jul 9th: Max Watt’s, Brisbane, QLD
Information and any remaining tickets can be found right here on What So Not’s official website. Don’t miss out!
A-Trak
What So Not
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
What So Not and George Maple have teamed up once more for a new track, and accompanying video, Buried featuring rapper Rome Fortune. The track is their latest collaboration, following on from last year’s Gemini. Both the track and video have me absolutely mesmerised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH_u_OiDChE
The track is glistening and theatrical, with a glam feel to the atmospheric instrumental. Rome’s increasingly frantic verse is rhythmically amazing, blending so perfectly with WSN’s sweeping, syncopated production and Maple’s honeyed hook. The video was co-directed by Leticia Dare and Andrew O’Tools, and is a stunning representation of the dark, powerful track. The slow, visceral scenes of the artists underwater blend moments of calm collection with frantic, panicked jolts. Beautifully shot, with incredible colours and rhythmic timing, this might just be one of my favourite new tracks of the year so far.
The track was co-written by all three artists, and produced by What So Not and THC. On the track, the artists have commented, “We’re all guilty of our vices. Whether a flickering thought or a lifestyle, our obsession with fame, money, sex & power drives a paradox of wonderful & horrible behaviour.”
Both What So Not and George Maple are touring Australia soon. See dates below:
What So Not
June 30th – Enmore Theatre – Sydney, NSW
July 1st – Thebarton Theatre – Adelaide, SA
July 2nd – Metro – Perth, WA
July 7th – Prince – Melbourne, VIC
July 8th – Prince – Melbourne, VIC
Jul 9th – Max Watts – Brisbane, QLD
July 23rd – Splendour in the Grass – Byron Bay
George Maple
Fri, Jul 8th | Metro Theatre – Sydney, NSW
Sun, Jul 10th | Fat Controller – Adelaide, SA
Wed, Jul 13 | Corner Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
Fri, Jul 15 | Oh Hello – Brisbane, QLD
Sat, Jul 16 | Jack Rabbits Slims – Perth, WA
Image: Youtube
It’s great to see a famous Aussie come back home to give us some love, so when What So Not (A.K.A Chris Emerson) announced his Australian headline tour, we were pretty stoked. Emerson will be teaming up with legendary DJ A-Trak later this year as they tour Australia in early July. Having just performed at Groovin The Moo and slated on the Splendour In The Grass lineup, 2016 is shaping up to be a massive year for the Sydney native.
What So Not is fresh off the back of a new release Lone, featuring JOY. and co-produced by GANZ, as well as a remix of RUFUS‘ Inerbloom. Now, it looks like the Australian winter will be spiced up by Emerson’s homecoming. In addition to A-Trak, Atlanta rapper and recent signee to Fool’s Gold Records Rome Fortune will be joining the tour.
A-Trak is also an exciting announcement to be touring with What So Not. One of the more versatile figures in electronic music, A-Trak is the man behind the legendary Fool’s Gold Records, and one of the most respected DJs in the world. To see such a big name coming to Australia for a headline tour is exciting to say the least.
Tickets will be available after Thursday 19 May here at What So Not’s website. Tour dates are below:
As 2015 begins to wrap up, and holiday season well and truly gets underway, the need for “holiday jams” as we like to call it gets pretty dire. Thankfully, we’ve had our ears to the figurative ground this week and have collected ten top tracks you should be jamming into your ears right this second. Enjoy!
Dreamers, Shooting Shadows
Good old indie rock at it’s finest, this Dreamers’ track has a driving beat, some searing guitar work and vocals that remind me of any of the great indie rock frontmen (Alex Turner or Julian Casablancas, anyone?). It’s angsty, punchy, and powerful, and has us really excited for the band’s forthcoming album that is said to be in the works.
VHS Collection, Lean
Hailing from NYC, VHS Collection make songs that practically make good times happen. Warm, fun, catchy but not overdone, Lean perfectly encapsulates the band into one track- a move we hope to hear a lot more of in 2016.
Dividem, The Beat Is My Master
Tipped to really blow up next year, Dividem started making waves with their last single, All In My Head, and now they’re set to do it all again with this bad boy. Hard hitting, dark, pulsating and threatening, The Beat Is My Master is exactly the type of track a duo with this much hype around them should be releasing going into a new year, and we can’t wait to hear what they come out with next.
Project 46, Signs (Ft. Shantee)
Coming out via tastemaker label Monstercat, duo Project 46 have teamed up with the heavenly Shantee for this serene song. Titled Signs, this is what I like to call a “gentle banger”. It might be an oxymoron, but with it’s soft drop, subtle synths, airy vocals and tender bassline, there isn’t a better term to describe it. Summer in a song!
Jodie Abacus, I’ll Be That Friend (Boston Bun Remix)
South-London rapper Jodie Abacus is quickly becoming a H&E favourite with his soul-pop jams, and this remix is another example of why we just can’t get enough of it. His nostalgic voice and style mixed with Boston Bun’s forward thinking production makes for an aural overload in the best possible sense.
Landings, My Bones
Brisbane newcomers Landings released their first ever single this week, and what a single it is! Taking inspiration from fellow Brisbane bands like Last Dinosaurs and The Jungle Giants, their guitar-focused indie-rock/pop sounds spot on here, and has our intrigue well and truly piqued for future releases.
Djemba Djemba & Maribelle, Shout
One of our favourite producers teaming up with one of Australia’s most promising up-and-comers, Djemba Djemba and Maribelle are a match made in musical heaven. Maribelle’s achievements speak for themselves, with production credits on both Major Lazer‘s and Alison Wonderland‘s 2015 albums, as well as being the sensational singer on Carmada‘s stellar track, On Fire. Djemba Djemba is a producer that needs no introduction, as he continues his journey towards total world domination. Together, the pair bring out the absolute best in each other, creating Shout just in time for your weekend.
Lemon., Dope Baby
Incorporating elements of pop, R&B, hip-hop and more, Toronto artist Lemon. doesn’t exactly fit anywhere whilst fitting everywhere at the same time. This smoky, hazy track is seductive and hypnotic, and had us hooked from about 2 seconds in with it’s thick synths, piercing drums, unique vocals and more swirling together. Stunning.
Time Pilot, Zulu
Pilerats Records‘ most recent signees, Time Pilot have been on my radar for a while thanks to their absolute enormous tunes. Living by the motto “go big or go home”, the duo smash everything they touch- and this latest single is no exception. Self-described as “Lion King at 5am in the club”, Zulu is yet another massive release from Time Pilot. We’re expecting big things to come from these two!
What So Not, Oddity
Choosing to release an EP this close to the end of the year may be a risky move for some, but considering the fact that What So Not is one of the biggest producers in the country, I don’t really think he will have much difficulty getting his new music out there. Available for free download now via his Soundcloud, What So not has delivered the goods with this EP, and in particular this track. If there is any wonder left why What So Not is as big as he is right now, this release shows why.
Flume has left What So Not, his collaborative project with Emoh Instead to pursue his solo career. With Flume’s solo career taking him to new heights, touring the whole world and (hopefully) working on his follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut, it seems the days of What So Not as a duo are no more.
It’s a fair call, with Manly local Harley Streten explaining that the pair have been moving in different directions creatively for a while now. He thanked his partner, Emoh, for taking the reins of What So Not – while they had ben producing together, Emoh has been the sole touring member of What So Not for more than a year now.
Fans have reacted divisively, of course.
Harley posted the news of his resignation from What So Not on their Facebook page:
The boys are known for huge club bangers like Jaguar, Touched, and Tell Me. The boys will be releasing an EP soon, their final joint project as What So Not. And last goodbye as a team.
Well, shit.
Reaping the ridiculous benefits of having every big name in electronic music in town at the same time, Triple J cashed in on Stereosonic Festival by putting together probably the biggest Saturday JJJ Mix-Up, well, ever.
Joining Nina Las Vegas was Jack U (Skrillex & Diplo), RL Grime, What So Not and Carmada.
Yeah, wow.
They spun an epic three hour, 95 track set including tracks from each artist’s back catalogue, new singles and never before heard cuts. Other tracks were from the likes of Diplo’s Major Lazer, Dillon Francis, Mr Carmack, remixes of Lorde, Baauer, TNGHT, Banks and MIA, Carmada’s new EP in its entirety, Boys Noize and rappers including Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, A$APs Rocky & Ferg and Busta Rhymes.
Listen below. Full track listing here.
Jack Ü (Skrillex & Diplo) & RL Grime & What So Not & Carmada – Triple J (JJJ) Mixup 2014-12-06 by Diriger on Mixcloud