Electric Feels: Your Weekly Electronic Music Re-Cap

ALBUM / EP OF THE WEEK

Big Wild - Invincible

Originally making his name as one of the inaugural signings to ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective, Californian producer Big Wild has been one of our personal favourite electronic acts to break out over the past two years. Following up from the anthemic Aftergold and remixes for ZHU, Gallant and CHVRCHES, the producer’s Invincible EP encompasses everything we’ve come to love from Big Wild, whether it be the glittering synth melodies, the rolling bass lines, or that natural kick that organic instrumentation gives – which particularly shines on his five-track release. When I Get There sets the tone for what’s to come early, teasing a vocal-sampling, percussion-led breakdown after an epic orchestral build-up. Empty Room is where Big Wild branches into the more accessible pop world, teaming up with Yuna for a soaring banger that is repeated further into the EP, on the record’s fourth track and leading single Invincible, which blends the anthemic vocals of iDA HAWK with a building instrumental that highlights both classical instrumentation and the power and freedom of working with DAWS and samples. Invincible is the perfect start to what is set to be a big year for the ODESZA-backed producer and performer, a year hopefully full of new music and potential trips down under.

Best Track(s): Empty Room, Invincible

SINGLES / REMIXES OF THE WEEK

Moonbase - It Don't Matter feat. Anderson .Paak

Over the past few years, Sydney-based producer Moonbase Commander has been responsible for some of Australia’s heaviest-hitting productions. Last year’s Orthodox EP was one of my personal favourites, boasting dense collaborations with Ecca Vandal and Mikey Dollaz. This year he really levels up though, dropping the ‘Commander’ from his name and launching into the year ahead with an Australia-wide tour and a collaboration with none other than Anderson .Paak, premiered on Pitchfork. Expected from someone with a reputation as one of the world’s best rappers at the moment, It Don’t Matter sees Paak glides at ease over Moonbase’s bass-soaked production, which, as expected from the now-seasoned producer, punches with kicks of synth and crisp percussion work amongst the flurry of bass.

Kidswaste - Wild feat. Khai

Gearing up for the release of his debut EP Spleen (out through Next Wave Records on February 24), French producer Kidswaste has been hitting all the right spots. The EP’s debut tease, the Chelsea Cutler-featuring More Colours, showcased the producer’s craft for excellent song-writing, which has now been reinforced with the release of Wild. Featuring guest vocals from R&B vocalist Khai, Wild is a bright, uplifting track that shines through its delicate production and matching vocals, blending the soft tones of Khai with light guitar work, dampened claps of percussion of layers of lush melodies. It’s a song that would easily feel at home in an advert – especially with that catchy guitar melody – which really says something about the quality of the song-writing at play here, and has definitely got us excited for the full EP release later in the month.

Rytmeklubben - Like That

In case you’re unfamiliar, Rytmeklubben is a Norwegian producer ‘super-group’ of sorts, composed of NLV Records signee Hi Tom, Henrik The Artist, DJ Karaoke and Torjus. Their debut single, last year’s fizzy club-pop cross-over Girlfriend, bubbled with excitement and promise, something they’ve harnessed as they change their sound for their second single as a group – Like That. Like That is a far more traditional and accessible approach to song-writing in comparison to their debut, combining simplistic vocal work from an uncredited guest feature with a delicate, easy-to-digest electronic production, that still has subtle hints of their old sound in the piercing synth stabs – common in productions from Henrik. It’s a change in direction I’m definitely enjoying though, and I’m excited to see how Rytmeklubben builds on this change for their further work in 2017 and beyond.

RYAN Playground - Emily

RYAN Playground is an upcoming song-writer and vocalist who I truly believe will be one of the next big things. Her guest feature on Ryan Hemsworth’s Holy is where we originally met, but her latest effort, a cover of Skrillex’s emo-rock band From First To Last and their single Emily, is where she really shines. Emily showcases RYAN Playground’s soft, easing vocal capabilities, with a restrained, indie-rock guitar line that sits back and allows her vocals to excel. We’re probably smudging the definition of electronic music here to let this in, but between her co-writes with Ryan Hemsworth and her position as one of the most exciting vocalists around at the moment, we’re happy to blur the lines a little.

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