Introducing Tori Levett and her very good debut single, Something Bad

Tori Levett is a Sydney-based artist who's spent the past couple of years cutting her teeth in clubs in DJ mode, grinding hard to the point where she's headlined shows in the past along with supporting the likes of Peking Duk and Party Thieves. As is the natural order, Levett is now tipping her cap towards production and Something Bad is the first taste of what's to come, and what a telling first tale. Her melodic vocal work meshes perfectly with the darker trappy elements to combine for something that sounds very unique in what is a pretty crowded market place.

It's the first of a series of new originals and remixes she has planned for this year, so we figured there's no time like the present find out a little more:

Tell us about about yourself?

I’m a musician from Sydney. I’m at home behind the DJ decks and I sing a bit too. I grew up in Manly. Surfing a lot, geeking out on music and sharing mix tapes with my school friends. I played a lot of different bits and pieces growing up, that lead me to DJing and I got hooked. It has been inspiring watching a lot of people who grew up in my neighbourhood become international touring DJs, that has definitely driven me to push my writing and production.

What kinda tunes we talkin’?

Trap Bangers. Not always, but my live set is pretty hectic. In the studio I write lots of different stuff, electronic, vocals. I listen to a lot of Enschway, Carmada, George Maple, so banging beats with nice vocal melodies.

Production/writing process:

A lot of hours in the bedroom. I collect a lot of drum loops and samples, days and days of scrolling through sample packs. I start off with a college of beats in Ableton and then chop them up into something new, add some chords, usually from my Push. On this first track I wrote the lyrics with my friend Jess who has a really great project called Kota Banks.

Can you tell us about your debut single, Something Bad?

Something Bad is a representation of me and whats to come. I wanted my first single to be for myself and not take into any consideration on who is and who isn’t going to like it. I had a lot of people in the industry telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing musically so I thought I would do the opposite and to create something that I really loved, instead of fitting into a mould.

Any shows coming up?

Yep! Friday 23 March at King St in Newcastle and Marquee Sydney on April 4.

Where can we hear more of your music?

Follow me on Spotify and keep an eye on my Soundcloud. I have a bunch of mixes up there, and some club remixes to come.

Follow Tori Levett: FACEBOOK