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IJALE returns with his latest single ‘XXL’, his first since signing with Untitled Group’s tastemaker label Daily Nightly Records. The playfully bodacious ‘XXL’ comes off the back of his independently released debut EP earlier this year, featuring triple j approved singles ‘Hotlines’ & ‘Coffee Cups’. Since then IJALE (aka Jerry Agbinya) has been cooped up in Melbourne lockdown refining his sound.
A crowd favourite from his pre-covid live shows, ‘XXL’ features shimmering keys & crispy boom bap drums that give it the timelessness of a classic Madlib instrumental. IJALE’s flow on the other hand, dripping in swag & confidence, with off the cuff lyrics that encapsulate his mindset, content with his choices & easing into a well earned confidence.
“The song is basically me talking my shit, feeling confident, about life, about my choices, about my path and the people I had around me at the time,” says IJALE of the release. “It’s about not needing hella followers or heaps of cash to be on top of your game.’
With a new label signing, recent Unearthed feature artist profile and a mixtape on its way in 2021, IJALE is most definitely on top of his game.
BIO
Melbourne producer, vocalist & performer, IJALE, is a self-contained master of his sound. A keen music fan & avid creator, he blends a myriad of Afrocentric sounds & western influences that reflect his Nigerian heritage, Australian upbringing & the multifaceted taste of an open-minded listener of the internet age. These concoctions vary in sound from piece to piece, but are usually punctuated by hints of African percussion, infectious basslines and layered electronic textures, all of which pay direct homage to the hallmark genres of black creativity including Jazz, Soul, RnB, and of course Hip-Hop.
Jerry Agbinya, aka IJALE, began releasing music in 2017 but has been busy honing and perfecting his songwriting and production skills for years. The name IJALE is Jerry’s middle name and the name of his dad’s eldest brother who recently passed away. He chose this name to release music under as “a way to make the culture and my heritage front and centre of my music.”
Following a brief break from his previous project Spirals, IJALE hit the ground running with support shows alongside Winston Surfshirt, Raiza Biza and Phondupe. In January of 2020, IJALE hosted his first show and played alongside some of Melbourne’s most promising up and comers including Jordan Dennis, Nasty Mars, Rara Zulu & more.
PRAISE FOR IJALE:
“Smart and sophisticated, but it still has a sting in its tail” – Richard Kingsmill, triple j
“IJALE is the true definition of a hidden gem” EARMILK
“He’s out here doing the lord’s work and he’s doing it with finesse and flow” – Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed
“IJALE is proving he is one artist worth keeping both eyes firmly planted on” Purple Sneakers
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | TWITTER
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For their new single ‘Can’t Get It Right’, Alt Fiction hit the turbo-boost button on their distinctive sound. Amping up the tempo and the attitude without sacrificing any of the band’s sun-splattered tone, ‘Can’t Get It Right’ (out via Specific Music) premiered on triple j home & hosed and is a brash, bratty dedication to messing up and starting again. Produced by Chris Collins, what first appears to be an honest-to-goodness three chord number, gives way to a sublimely jangly verse riff that’s more Johnny Marr than Billie Joe. Here is a band that doesn’t wear these influences on their sleeve insomuch as use them to sew a new shirt, one that looks as good shouting choruses and as it does crooning dazed lower-octave melodies. Details-wise, it’s a track flanked by a bass line that doesn’t so much walk as glide and drums that seem programmed to shoot to the moon. Tight and crisp without a wrinkle to be seen, it’s the Alt Fiction fit you love in a brand-new style. Launching their debut single ‘All My Friends’ into the world via triple j unearthed, their follow up track ‘People You Know’ would see the evolution of this offensively charged trio. While Alt Fiction’s analog aesthetic might evoke spirits of certain mid-west guitar bands, ‘People You Know’ proved there’s more humming beneath the hood. The 90’s inspired, self-created video landed Rage’s Wild One and the song charged them straight to triple J unearthed feature artist. Writing songs together from the age of twelve, the members of Alt Fiction spent their teen years sharpening their craft whilst navigating the inevitable hurdles of adolescence. Cultivated in an insular rural town in South-East QLD, the band managed to breed their idiosyncratic style in their backyard shed. The band covered punk songs at local gigs whilst self-recording demos with several band names and iterations. They finally landed on Alt Fiction, their music giving you an insight in to their past whilst firmly embracing the future with their aural athleticism, proto-Strokes guitars cresting to meet quotable lyrics about disaffection in the Internet era. Alt Fiction are three players locked in relative unison, recalling the heyday of groups like Phoenix. With every glimmering chorus and offbeat ad-libs, the three brothers – Will, Matt and Mitch, give a dynamic performance pushing the jams towards their peak. There’s much more to come, but already more than enough to love. |
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Praise for Alt Fiction “youthful indie rock vibe that seems so effortless it’s almost unfair” – Happy “new alt fiction isn’t simply moreish, it takes control of your right hand and hovers the mouse over the repeat button without you even realising.” triple j Declan Byrne 4.5 stars “Building itself around this contrast between modern-day indie-pop and their fascination with the songwriting of yesteryear” – Pilerats |
“CAN’T GET IT RIGHT” IS OUT NOW (via Specific Music)
Check out more Alt Fiction here
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
![SUPPORT FOR PREVIOUS SINGLE ‘GUESS WHO?’ “Chaotic, cheeky and a bit too real. More gold from SCABZ!” – 4.5/5 stars - Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS) “In news that will come as a shock to absolutely no one, SCABZ have my whole heart. The out-of-nowhere sax solo is the cherry on top of this completely chaotic anthem.” - 4.5/5 stars - Abby Butler – triple j Unearthed (AUS) "[‘Guess Who?’] is further evidence that SCABZ are Australia’s unwavering punk heroes." - Life Without Andy (AUS) Premiered on triple j's Home & Hosed Added to Spotify playlists ‘New Punk Tracks’ and 'Local Noise' Following on from their critically praised lead single ‘Guess Who?’, Dharawal and Gadigal country-based punks SCABZ have just unveiled the second single and title track ‘Pressure’ from their forthcoming debut record – due Friday November 27. Taking cues from punk luminaires The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Joy Division, ‘Pressure’ exuberates the sharp wit and fierce attitude indicative of the genre, while putting a twist on it that is wholly their own. Lead singer Siobhan Poynton’s ferocious performance is complemented by the tracks driving bass lines, piercing guitar chords and propelling percussion, setting the stage for an invigorating debut album. Siobhan talks about the inspiration behind ‘Pressure’: “‘Pressure’ is about what it actually feels like to live in a world where you have no power and no control. Not necessarily the anger but the actual feeling of being under pressure to understand and fix something you didn’t choose.” In the live arena, SCABZ has shared stages with the likes of Skegss, Ruby Fields and Bugs, as well as performances at Yours & Owls Festival, Festival of the Sun, BIGSOUND and Bad Friday. The band also equalled a record for performing the most amount of sets at the King Street Crawl last year, playing an impressive five shows back-to-back. Previous releases have been widely embraced by Australian radio stations triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi, 3RRR, 4ZZZ, RTR FM, Edge Radio, SYN FM, PBS FM, 2XX, 2SER and Radio Adelaide. They’ve also seen support from online blogs The Line of Best Fit (UK), Pilerats, Life Without Andy, Savage Thrills, Music Feeds, Little Indie Blogs (UK) and Podcart (UK), as well as their video clips being added to rotation on the ABC’s Rage. In the coming weeks, SCABZ will reveal an accompanying music video for ‘Pressure’. ‘Pressure’ is available worldwide now FOLLOW SCABZ FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC](https://thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SCABZ.png "SCABZ")
SUPPORT FOR PREVIOUS SINGLE ‘GUESS WHO?’
“Chaotic, cheeky and a bit too real. More gold from SCABZ!” – 4.5/5 stars
– Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS)
“In news that will come as a shock to absolutely no one, SCABZ have my whole heart. The out-of-nowhere sax solo is the cherry on top of this completely chaotic anthem.” – 4.5/5 stars
– Abby Butler – triple j Unearthed (AUS)
“[‘Guess Who?’] is further evidence that SCABZ are Australia’s unwavering punk heroes.”
– Life Without Andy (AUS)
Premiered on triple j’s Home & Hosed
Added to Spotify playlists ‘New Punk Tracks’ and ‘Local Noise’
Following on from their critically praised lead single ‘Guess Who?’, Dharawal and Gadigal country-based punks SCABZ have just unveiled the second single and title track ‘Pressure’ from their forthcoming debut record – due Friday November 27.
Taking cues from punk luminaires The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Joy Division, ‘Pressure’ exuberates the sharp wit and fierce attitude indicative of the genre, while putting a twist on it that is wholly their own. Lead singer Siobhan Poynton’s ferocious performance is complemented by the tracks driving bass lines, piercing guitar chords and propelling percussion, setting the stage for an invigorating debut album.
Siobhan talks about the inspiration behind ‘Pressure’:
“‘Pressure’ is about what it actually feels like to live in a world where you have no power and no control. Not necessarily the anger but the actual feeling of being under pressure to understand and fix something you didn’t choose.”
In the live arena, SCABZ has shared stages with the likes of Skegss, Ruby Fields and Bugs, as well as performances at Yours & Owls Festival, Festival of the Sun, BIGSOUND and Bad Friday. The band also equalled a record for performing the most amount of sets at the King Street Crawl last year, playing an impressive five shows back-to-back.
Previous releases have been widely embraced by Australian radio stations triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi, 3RRR, 4ZZZ, RTR FM, Edge Radio, SYN FM, PBS FM, 2XX, 2SER and Radio Adelaide. They’ve also seen support from online blogs The Line of Best Fit (UK), Pilerats, Life Without Andy, Savage Thrills, Music Feeds, Little Indie Blogs (UK) and Podcart (UK), as well as their video clips being added to rotation on the ABC’s Rage.
In the coming weeks, SCABZ will reveal an accompanying music video for ‘Pressure’.
‘Pressure’ is available worldwide now
FOLLOW SCABZ
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
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After being premiered on triple j Unearthed earlier this week, Picket Palace have officially released their brand new music video for single “All About The Money”. The Simpsons-esque video was animated by band member Gus himself, spending 10 weeks on the process.
The video plays with the idea of the band becoming soulless, corporate sell-outs after being criticised online for the mainstream media attention they received when their tribute to Essendon footy player ‘Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’ went viral.
“I loved using the animation to visualise the ridiculousness of what happened to us last year and the misconceptions that kind of media attention generates,” explains Gus. “I think the video and track will give people a better sense of who we are and what our values are, we are putting ourselves out there more than ever on this track and I hope people feel and understand that we are pissed off and pushing back against the way the arts are treated and undervalued in this country.”
‘All About The Money’ is a welcome return for Picket Palace and a thematic piece of dolewave that will leave you smiling & questioning the entertainment industry all at once.
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Award-winning Canadian country recording artist Karen Lee Batten is celebrating her new single, “Too Strong”. Currently available on all digital platforms, the track is new on Canadian radio this week.
“Too Strong” – co-written by Batten, Jeff Johnson (Madeline Merlo), Mitch Merrett (Tyler Joe Miller), and Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) – was also co-produced by the CCMA-winning Merrett (Aaron Pritchett) and Johnson (Meghan Patrick). The music video was directed by Meaghan Gipps. The single is rooted in the country genre but is carried by a pop rhythm and an empowering message of love, strength, and hope.
“Too Strong” is the first new music for Batten – a former “Canadian Idol” finalist and 7-time BC Country Music Association Award Winner for Female Artist of the Year – since the 2018 album, “Under the Covers in Muscle Shoals”, which debuted in Canada at #2 Billboard Soundscan and #4 on iTunes. Newly nominated for four 2020 BCCMA Awards – Female Artist, Industry Supporter, Interactive Artist, and Fans’ Choice – Batten is reflective about the circumstances that brought her new single together and contemplative about its place in a changed world.
She says, “This song is a testament to how music can develop almost by accident. Jeff Johnson had finished a long studio day when we started talking about life. By 3:30AM, we had started recording into a phone. By the next morning, Mitch and Chad were adding their own ideas and soon after, we had a complete song that was effortless and organic to create from start to finish.”
The creative happenstance that brought “Too Strong” to life at the end of 2019 has given way to a new personal meaning for the artist as the song as it begins its release phase in a new landscape.
Batten explains, “The heart of ‘Too Strong’ is about staying strong through the tough times in a relationship. With the challenges of our new reality, I feel that there is a deeper message about recognizing how strong we really are as humans. Whether that strength is there for us as individuals or to put into our relationships, we are too strong to give up. We must move forward.”
“Too Strong” will be followed by two more singles and an EP in the summer of 2021, also co-produced by Johnson and Merrett.
“Too Strong” is available across all digital platforms. It is now on Canadian radio.
For more about Karen Lee Batten, please go to KarenLeeBatten.com or visit her on social media:
Facebook: @KarenLeeBatten | Instagram: @KarenLeeBatten
Twitter: @KarenLeeBatten | YouTube: @KarenLeeBatten
Spotify: smarturl.it/KLBSpotify
SUPPORT FOR PREVIOUS SINGLE ‘SNAKES & LADDERS’
“2 things we know about Timi. First up, he loves snakes. Secondly, he can write a crunchy, colourful, super fun jam and this one has me sliding down the ladder to come geddit.” – 4/5 stars
– Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS)
“Rolling double 1s cos I’ve only got snake eyes for this new Timi Temple track. This review makes less sense the more you read it, so just listen to the song.” – 4/5 stars
– Dave Ruby Howe – triple j Unearthed (AUS)
“Showcasing his continually evolving lyricism and his unrivalled ability to have so much fun.”
– Purple Sneakers (AUS)
Following on from creating the world’s largest game of Snakes & Ladders, DIY indie-rock artist Timi Temple has just returned with his bittersweet new track ‘Just A Phase’ – produced and mixed by the artist himself.
Welcoming the listener with sun-soaked guitars and shuttering drums, ‘Just A Phase’ is three minutes of captivating indie-rock, channelling Timi’s pensive lead vocals and biting lyricism. The song flourishes through its uplifting bridge, before delicately closing the track out with a tender and intimate performance from the artist.
Timi talks about the inspiration behind ‘Just A Phase’:
“’Just A Phase’ is a song dedicated to my little sister. I wrote the song filled with emotional fervour after having dinner with my sister and consoling her through her first experience with a friend taking their own life. I say the first experience solemnly, because as a creative, depression and addiction is rampant and sadly it’s taken many of my friends. The lyrics unfold chronologically as my sister describes the events leading up. It follows the ubiquitous path of anxiety, addiction, prescription, ostracization, loneliness, then escape.”
Timi has consistently toured the country, selling out venues across NSW, including Waywards, Oxford Art Factory Gallery, The Vanguard and Marly Bar, as well as touring with established acts like Baker Boy, Kilter, Cosmo’s Midnight and Bootleg Rascal.
As a performer Timi has featured on triple j‘s Like A Version with Kilter, Cosmo’s Midnight and Kota Banks, and performed at Australian festival juggernauts Splendour in The Grass, Field Day, Listen Out, Yours & Owls and Falls Festival.
Previous singles have been widely embraced by radio tastemakers triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi, 4ZZZ, RTR FM, 2XX and a slew of other Australian community stations. His catalogue has also seen support from tastemaker blogs Indie Shuffle (ZAF), Clash Magazine (UK), Monster Children, Pilerats, Life Without Andy, Purple Sneakers and Savage Thrills, and his video clips have been added to rotation on ABC’s Rage and MTV Upload.
In the coming weeks, Timi Temple will reveal an accompanying music video for ‘Just A Phase’.
‘Just A Phase’ is available worldwide now
Click to stream ‘Just A Phase’
FOLLOW TIMI TEMPLE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
Today it is with great pleasure that I OH YOU release Hayley Mary’s new single ‘The Chain’, her first offering since the release of her debut EP The Piss, The Perfume to critical acclaim earlier this year. ‘The Chain’ comes with a visually captivating video directed by Tyson Perkins at Sydney’s iconic Elizabeth Bay House.
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FFRR/PARLOPHONE
OBSKÜR – ‘BAYSIDE’
OUT NOW
Topping Spotify viral charts across Europe, peaking at Number 6 in the UK and bursting into the Top 10 in The Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and Russia, rising stars Obskür bring us their classic house sounding ‘Bayside’, out now on FFRR.
‘Bayside’ comes after the Dublin based pair have cultivated a distinctive sound in their short career, packed with 909 drum machines and sharp synth stabs, they utilise the classic and instantly recognisable sound of A.D.O.R’s ‘One For The Trouble’ vocal; packed with energy and infectious vibes. With an authentic feel from these young producers and contemporary relevance, ‘Bayside’ is primed for when we can eventually return to the club dancefloor.
Hailing from Dublin, Obskür since their inception in May 2019 have begun to make a name for themselves. Consisting of Lorcan McCarthy & Faustas Astrauskas, the duo have played headline and support shows across some of Ireland’s premiere clubs such as Konspiracy Club, Meridian and Equilibrium.
Slowly creating heat, ‘Bayside‘ has been building since release, racking up over 2.2 Million streams and featuring in over 20,000 TikTok videos. Although not their debut release, they have already set out their sound and style, earning them recognition for their use of hard hitting 909’s, slick Hip-Hop samples and raw elements. Obskür continue to grow their fanbase with 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 10,000 streams a day on Soundcloud.
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ONE OF HOUSE MUSICS MOST ICONIC MOMENTS OF ALL TIME, FRANKIE KNUCKLES’ ‘YOUR LOVE’ RECEIVES TWO NEW REMIXES
SoSure Music
Frankie Knuckles pres. Director’s Cut feat. Jamie Principle ‘Your Love’ Remixes
Out Now
How do you rework such a classic moment in time? Arguably one of the most iconic house music moments, born from the black LGBTQ+ scene in Chicago at the legendary Warehouse nightclub and known as one of Frankie Knuckles earliest productions; ‘Your Love’ is a stone cold classic. A record up there with the greats, instantly recognisable and a song that only gets better with time.
Written by Jamie Principle and initially released in 1986, ‘Your Love’ has become a seminal recording over the past 34 years. Originally an underground club anthem, which was famously borrowed on the crossover hit ‘You’ve Got The Love’ (The Source feat. Candi Staton) and most recently re-produced by as part of the Director’s Cut project which aimed to update a number of classic cuts for the modern dancefloor, this is a record that endures the test of time. Working alongside The Frankie Knuckles Foundation and Eric Kupper, SoSure Music now releases two new remixes for 2020 from Darius Syrossian and Alan Dixon.
House music aficionado and legendary Sankey’s resident Darius Syrossian offers his unique blend of beats to the remix package. Darius’ production is heavily influenced by some of the greats – from the finest artists from Detroit, New York and Chicago. Having released on some exceptional labels including Get Physical, Viva Music and Hot Creations, he understands the soul that sits at the core of House music. Darius remix brings ‘Your Love’ in 2020, rolling beats and big breaks he taps into the feeling of euphoria that ‘Your Love’ brings in peak time moments.
“It’s probably one of the toughest projects you could ever take, with a track which has this much legendary status. You cannot disrespect it by changing it too much but at the same time you have to put your stamp on it. I’m very happy with how it has turned out. It’s also great knowing that this release is going to be helping out the Frankie Knuckles Foundation” – Darius Syrossian
Charting a rapid rise through the ranks in a relatively short time Alan Dixon is already built a name for himself in the House and Nu Disco scenes and has recently released on labels including Glitterbox, Permanent Vacation, Running Back and True Romance. Alan’s remix aims directly at the centre of the dancefloor. Strong beats dominate a unique energy through the mix along with a slightly nostalgic vibe, Alan’s remix updates a classic with respect.
“Getting the opportunity to remix one of the most iconic house tracks of all time is obviously an honour. Luckily with the original having the old Chicago Trax sound I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Retain the original song structure and melodies and just freshen them up for today’s dancefloors (if they still exist). Frankie Knuckles if he was from Berlin in 2020…” – Alan Dixon
Remixing this mammoth track is no easy task, but in producing these new remixes both Darius Syrossian and Alan Dixon have both retained the unique vibe of ‘Your Loves’, while adding a contemporary edge fit for today’s diverse dancefloors.
Alan Dixon & Darius Syrossian’s ‘Your Love’ Remixes Are Available Now via SoSure Music.
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Thor Rixon drops catchy cut ‘Dark Side’ featuring Deep Aztec, with video.
The charismatic producer crafts a special surprise blend of nu-disco, lo-fi and house, written entirely on analog drum-machines, synthesizers, samplers and his very own custom-built modular synth and recorded on 1/8″ tape. Eschewing the computer allows a sound that’s warm, dirty and full of deep grooves, channelling global-funk & bedroom pop.
Born in Cape Town, Thor has been immersed in the heart of Berlin’s music scene for the last five years. ‘Deep Aztec and I have worked closely together for years. We wrote ‘Dark Side’ when Aza was visiting Berlin from Cape Town in September 2019’ Thor says. ‘We wrote the song in an afternoon in my very humble bedroom studio. Everything just flowed in that session and it all happened so fast. We felt we had found something special once we were done that day.’
The video was shot in Cape Town with FarOutFilms mid-March before worldwide lockdown, then edited and sculpted with animator Caitie Weare. ‘We wanted a very nostalgic lo-fi aesthetic to match the tone of the track. The message and concept of the track is the relationship we have between love and drugs; our reliance on a ‘good time’ and how that can lead to a ‘dark side’. We tried to convey this message with the visuals using positive ‘good time’ footage which slowly devolves into disturbing and ‘dark’ imagery.’
‘Dark Side’ is out now on Thor’s Eko Worldwide imprint.
Bandcamp Buy Link: https://thorrixon.bandcamp.com
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“The music, the look, the dance moves, the confidence—whatever this guy’s selling, we’re buying.” This Song Is Sick
“The perfect soundtrack to both sitting in your feelings and dancing around your bedroom.” EARMILK
“Thor Rixon injects a freshness into the world of dream/pop…” Acid Stag
Connect with Thor Rixon:
https://www.thorrixon.com | https://www.instagram.com/thorrixon | https://www.facebook.com/thorrixon
Connect with Deep Aztec:
https://www.instagram.com/deepaztec | https://www.facebook.com/deepaztec
The smell of popcorn
Strangers in the dark
A collective inhalation of breath
The projector whirs into life
Lights weave story and sound
“[Joelistics is] someone always at the cusp of what’s next, pushing forward new and unexplored ideas in a way that makes it feel like his specialty”
– Hayden Davies, Pilerats
Australian hip hop royalty Joel Ma aka Joelistics returns with a mesmerising new project in his forthcoming conceptual long-play Film School. A departure from Joelistics’ typically evocative, smooth and considered wordsmithery, Film School is a project of music and film ; an album of beats and synths, ‘70s Asian pop samples, psych-rock journey music and studio improvisations and a short film incorporating dance and animation. Following his serendipitous accolade as the inaugural Best Producer winner at the recent Music Victoria Industry Awards, Joelistics is thrilled to finally present the first taste of his ambitious new cinematic production with the psychedelic single ‘Yokai’.
Out today via Odd Head Music and Ditto, ‘Yokai’ is equal parts, uplifting and menacing – a blend of instrumental hip hop, post rock stylings and lo-fi synthscapes conjured from the scraps of ancestor’s vocals, dusty loops and old synthesizers. Channeling the cunning supernatural monsters and spirits in Japanese folklore known to be bewitching, mysterious and foretelling calamity, ‘Yokai’ delves deep into a meditation on the anxiety of our times and the transcendence that comes from facing fear.
“With the track, I wanted to weave an eerie feeling built from loops, reminiscent of empty streets, a distant sense of dread and the hypnotic patterns of lockdown life. With the clip I wanted the dancers to personify our collective fear of sickness and loneliness and how those fears dance at the edge of every moment we hold dear.”
– Joelistics
Moody and angular, Film School is a project fusing dance, film, animation and a sprawling soundtrack of immersive atmospherics. The roots of the project go back as far as 2016 when Joelistics took a trip to his birth land of Malaysia. Whilst in Kuala Lumpur he stocked up on Canto pop records from the 70’s and 80’s. Over the proceeding years he collaborated with artists such as Parvyn Singh (The Bombay Royale), Hailey Cramer (HAYCH) and others, often writing for their projects but then delving into some of the hypnotic grooves he had put aside for Film School.
Though you’ll have to hold out until 2021 for the LP’s release, enjoy the first glimpses of Joelistics’ enthralling new project with his brooding debut soundscape, ‘Yokai’ and look out for the Joelistics Presents Film School short film and event coming soon.
‘Yokai’ is out now via Odd Head Music and Ditto
Spotify / iTunes / Apple Music / Bandcamp
‘Yokai’ single credits:
Composed and Produced by Joel Ma
‘Yokai’ video credits:
Directed by Rhys Graham
Devised in collaboration with
Joel Ma, Elle Shimada, Yumi Umiumare, Tony Yap & MaggZ
Produced by Rhys Graham & Natalie Nalesnyik
Performance by:
Yumi Umiumare
Tony Yap
MaggZ
& featuring Joel Ma
Cinematographer – Alex Cardy
Editor – Natalie Nalesnyik
Gaffer – Hannah Palmer
Colour Grader – Daniel Stonehouse / Crayon
A production of Daybreak Films, 2020
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Where are you currently based?
I’m recently moved to Enmore NSW
How did you first start playing music?
I played piano from about 6 but never fully fell in love with it until I first picked up the guitar. I started hiding in the music rooms at school during lunch & the music teacher would do group guitar lessons. I eventually got more interested in classical guitar & played in a bunch of school bands. I then went on to do a bachelor in guitar. I’ve been writing songs since I picked up the guitar.
What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?
I’ve been living in Bowral for a chunk of this year since we got evicted. I used the time to work on my skills as a producer. Before covid struck everyones plans out the window like many people I’d planned to spend most of the year traveling to work with new collaborators overseas. I’ve done a few zoom writing sessions with some people I’d planned on meeting. I’ve been working on finishing
my EP & always working on writing more songs. The start of the year had a lot of ups & downs with feeling fairly isolated in Bowral but I’m making up for my lack of socialising now that i’m back in Sydney.
Your new single The Eviction Song, is out now, what influenced the sound and song writing?
I’ve always had a broad taste in music & find it hard to narrow down my influences. Some of my favourite artists are Wolf Alice, The Japanese House & Rex Orange County. I’ve also made a playlist of artists that i’ve been listening to this year> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/ 1AtMA91E9cX4GtyA6rVmoZ?si=-NPsDB3bTr2TzDHMx96pTw
How did you go about writing The Eviction Song?
I do a lot of writing with one of my close friends Oscar Sharah. We wrote The Eviction Song in the studio in Coogee where we wrote a lot of the EP. We started out with the opening riff & it was originally going to be a vocal melody & had completely different lyrics. We then went back to writing with just an acoustic guitar until we had come up with the main melodies & lyrics. I always prefer stripping back the session to just guitar to make sure I like the song as an acoustic before we dive into the production elements.
Where and when did you record and who with?
I’m pretty sure started writing the song late December last year after I’d received the first eviction notice. We recorded most of the track in Coogee in the same session that we wrote it.
What programs/instruments did you use?
The main guitar is recorded on a nylon guitar through an iPhone. The opening riff was recorded on Juno. A lot of the soundscape elements are fuzzy guitarmonies. I can never help myself with chucking harmony stacks on the guitars & BV arrangements. Oscar plays live drums on majority of the EP. We are going to film us pulling apart the stems & chatting about the production in more detail in a couple weeks so keep an eye out.
How did the concept for the music video come about?
I wanted to include my old housemates and my friends who’d experienced our parties before the eviction so I just got some old ass video cameras & started taking them out everywhere. I’ve got a shit tonne of left over footage that will probably come out sometime soon also (but some of it will never see the light of day lol). I knew I wanted to shoot one of the scenes in my bedroom because we just moved into a new place & I was excited that I could fit a couch in my room. Lewis Clark (director) & I went to a party store the day before & got excited by all the balloons & streamers so that’s how the backdrop came about. Lewis & I brainstormed over coffee to come with the aesthetic and locations that we thought would best suit the song.
Where and when did you film and who did you work with?
A lot of the filming was unplanned so I think that’s how we captured so many heartfelt moments with my friends & housemates. Maybe I just think the dadcam footage of my friends is adorable because I know them but I’m going to treasure the shots in this video & it will remind me of this
stage of my life forever. Most of the footage in shot walking around Enmore & in my bedroom. The video was directed by a close friend Lewis Clark (Mel Blue) & we had another close friend Jimmy Heathwood (Bronte Public Housing) assisting on handy cam & everything else that he could assist with on the day. I think it made it a lot easier to show my real personality with only two friends behind the camera having a laugh.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the music video?
This was definitely the least challenging video I’ve shot to date. Lewis had a super clear plan for the day so the whole shoot was pretty chill. We had a few drinks when Georgia arrived to ‘sleep’ on the couch & then went out to trivia afterwards to look through the footage. We came so far last that they forgot to call our name in the rankings & gave us free sympathy beer.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been delving into Dominic Fike’s new album. I can’t stop listening to Caroline Polachek. I’m always going back to the old Gorillaz albums & love some 90s grunge.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love a long walk & eating a whole cabbage to try and heal my body after the house parties. I don’t do a lot away from music but it doesn’t sound super musical when I try to practise trumpet & drums which are my newest hobbies.
You have some upcoming shows, how do you prepare for live shows and what can we expect?
I’ve had a couple prep sessions to organise stems with my guitarist & MD Ryan. After that I brought in my band & backing vocalists for a rehearsal & hope the songs all come back to them. It’s been a while since we’ve done a full band show & we’ve never done the band with live backing vocals but I think it’s sounding pretty sick.
We’ll be playing duo at The Hard Rock Cafe on the 12th of Nov & full band at Kelly’s on the 26th of Nov.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
I’ll be working on some vids for the rest of the EP & doing the final touches on mixing & getting it mastered. I’m also working on the next 2 EPs after that & producing/ writing for some other artists.
Favourite food and place to hang out?
I recently 3rd wheeled a date at Emma’s Snack Bar with my pal’s Pat & Leah. The food was next level & the company was also OK. I do love to hang out at Vic on the Park & haven’t joked about how it feels like I live there.
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