Electric Feels: Your Weekly Electronic Music Recap
The best of the electronic world in the past week, including T.E.E.D., Baauer, Tora and more.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Don't You Forget About Me
After signing to Australian label I OH YOU for his glistening returning single Leave A Light On earlier this year, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED) has followed it up with another stellar single titled Don't You Forget About Me. Taken from what is assumingly his long-awaited second album, Don't You Forget About Me picks up where Leave A Light On ended, with TEED taking things down the beautiful, down-tempo route with a soothing, guitar-infused electronic ballad that is glistening with this sparkly sound and light vocals. It switches up a touch about two-thirds of the way in with a punchy bass-line and a generally more upbeat tone, but that slick, sensual feel of the single is definitely not lost - which is great, because it's bloody good. After his debut album showcased the versatility of the house favourite, it looks like this record is really strengthing that thus far, and we're so, so keen to see what else is in the pipeline.
Tora - Wouldn't Be The Same feat. Keelan Mak
One of last year's most overlooked Australian electronic albums came from Byron Bay's Tora, who really gave it all they had for their debut album Take A Rest. Wouldn't Be The Same is their first release since and it's a great, slightly more pop-centric return to form from the band, who have teamed up with rising up-and-comer Keelan Mak for a soothing, electro-pop ballad that unites their signature, R&B-infused electronica with a breathtaking vocal line and playful, glitchy synth that gives the single that slightly upbeat edge. It's a great move on for both parts, with Tora reminding us why they're one of Australia's best - if not most over-looked - while Keelan Mak continues to grow after exploding onto the scene with Weigh You Down earlier this year.
Luboku - None Of You
After returning with his vibrant new single Without You two months back, Melbourne's Luboku is back with another blissful, chilled-out beauty titled None Of You. None Of You strengthens Luboku's craft at creating wonderfully beautiful electronica, with his latest single bringing together this incredible vocal melody with soft piano, crashing waves and these really refreshing and light synth lines which give the single this summery brightness. "I wrote None Of You during a period when I was trying to connect with someone who was going through a difficult time in their life," the musician says on the single. "t’s one of the most personal tracks I’ve written - I found through that experience, sometimes that person you’re trying to connect with has to break away and focus on themselves to get better - None Of You is about that loss and struggle to connect."
Baauer - 3AM feat. AJ Tracey & Jae Stephens
It's between a while between drinks for electronic favourite Baauer, with the famed US producer only releasing the odd collaboration and remix ever since dropping his great debut album Aa two years ago now. 3AM changes this though, with the hip-hop-inspired producer uniting with UK breakthrough AJ Tracey and Jae Stephens for an unexpected, dancehall-infused twist on a bright pop/hip-hop song that is catchy as hell. Filled with summery melodies and the infectious, afro-dance percussion line that has been adopted by big names like Drake over the last two years, 3AM is a bit of a radio-friendly curveball from Baauer but it completely works, with his production dexterity shining through the single's pin-pointed production which fits in perfectly with AJ Tracey and Jae Stephens' vocal. Here's hoping there's more to come from Baauer in 2018 because he's one of the best in the game at the moment.
Westerman - Easy Money
After seemingly popping up out of nowhere with his incredible 2018 single Confirmation, London's Westerman has quickly built himself a profile as one of electronic's biggest (and most acclaimed) risers in 2018, with its follow-up, Edison, further cementing this with its optimistic, guitar-infused feel. His latest track, Easy Money, keeps the momentum going, with Westerman building upon his indie-infused electronica for another bold yet soothing single that'll surely go down amongst the year's best. "I started out writing a love song, then it sort of morphed into more of a conversation," he says on the single. "It's a conversation I had many times over with someone I care about a lot." With an EP scheduled in for later this year and his debut album on the way next year, be sure to get on the Westerman train before it's too late - looking at you, Australian festival promoters.