NEVER NOT MAKING NOISE – ’20 Years of fabric’ 20th Anniversary celebration of the beating heart of EC1.

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December 13, 2019

Having made serious waves with the release of his debut album ‘Coeur Calme’ in 2014 and the incredible 2016 follow up album ‘Zawadi’, Kimyan Law steers his sound in a darker, more introspective direction with the twelve heavily themed set-pieces of his new album, ‘Yonda’.

The album title, ’Yonda’, homophonically flits between a location in Kimyan Law’s native Congo and definitions of something situated at a distance but still visible, foreshadowing the artist’s move away from his typical uplifting palette into less playful territory.

While previous work seemed to be a personal exploration of joy-tinged melancholy, ‘Yonda’, feels much more sober and pensive, infected with external events. In conversation with Kimyan Law, the artist described one piece (‘Krieg’) as his “portrait of war”, with the music moving through phases of violence, silence, panic, redemption, and peace. Ever the allegorist, Kimyan Law relates themes of conflict and war not just to obvious geopolitics but also to his own physical struggles, and even an obsessive battle with the music itself, (‘Yonda’ has been more than three years in the making). In 2017 the artist wrote, “I’ve reached a point where I couldn’t sleep because it bothered me so much…I have found myself unable to make any music except for Krieg”.

An accomplished drummer in his own right, Kimyan Law’s intricate rhythmic sensibility is the lifeblood that runs throughout the album, incorporating ever more outlandish sources of percussion recorded from his natural surroundings and filtered through technology.

‘Yonda’s opener, ‘Jaardin’, is deceptively gentle, with off-kilter rhythms and pianos providing fertile ground for Elyn’s delicate singing before the whole piece careens off into what can only be described as orchestral proto-jungle territory. It soon becomes apparent that this placid introduction is misleading, with subsequent tracks fluctuating between pounding tribal beats (‘Arboreal Epitone’ / ‘Kin’), chilling orchestration (‘Byo’ / ‘Krieg’) and rehabilitated jungle forms (‘Seven Ant Foley’). A constant mix of light and dark, futuristic yet primitive atmosphere hangs over the album, with waves of luscious synths and deeply musical string arrangements lovingly cloaked over the razor-sharp drum work.

Unusual conceptual themes litter ‘Yonda’; ‘Dor Rhythm’ is about a Dung Beetle’s journey, ‘Lampion’ is about paper lanterns, ‘Nova’ is about plant growth while ‘Kilele’ is a song about peace, featuring Kimyan Law’s own vocals in a new language he created himself, conjuring memories of Cocteau Twin’s Liz Fraser.

While ‘Yonda’ contains moments of incontestable beauty it can often be a difficult listen, an illustration of a restless mind yearning for peace. An obsessive and intricate musician, Kimyan Law’s use of African percussion, finely honed polyrhythmic patterns and celestial sprinklings of keys melded with slabs of sub-bass power and sheer energy makes for an intoxicating listen. As ever, Kimyan Law has delivered a profoundly serious piece of work that expands the vocabulary of his genre. Despite the darkness saturating the work, a soft light still breaks through the window. It is the east, and Kimyan Law is the sun.

Follow Kimyan Law online

Official website | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

obylx defies genres with new offering ‘Flicker’

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December 5, 2019

Bristol-based producer obylx creates bass music with elements of neo-classical swing. His latest track, ‘Flicker‘ is one such offering. Released via Guise Records, the track is a genre bending collage of sound.

Since January 2018, obylx has released a new song on the first day of each month. These monthly tracks combined with his first album, Once and his upcoming offering, Twice has culminated in the output of an impressive 37 songs in the space of 24 months.

Twice will be available on December 13.

‘Flicker’ on – AppleMusic

Follow obylx:

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Instagram – Youtube – Spotify

Music producer Paul C announces new EP ‘Coney Island’

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December 3, 2019

Paul C is the co-founder of Posh Records and has already released on the likes of Hot Creations and Terminal M amongst many others. He has done so over the last 15 years, all while clocking up Beatport hits and playing in Europe’s best clubs. His forward-thinking sound is tinged with influences from his homeland and that’s laid bare once more here.

First up is the fantastic ‘Coney Island,’ which rolls on a warm and hooky groove that stays deep. The rugged bass stabs add texture as spoken word snippets bring the drama. After a breakdown filled with tension, it drops again and the floor is sure to go off as laser-like synths fire across the mix and the percussion gets raw.

Then it’s the brilliant ‘Combination‘, a much more textured and freaky track with a weird lead synth phrase and skeletal drums. It’s one that drags you down the rabbit hole and late into the night on subtle effects and with plenty of detailed sound design really making it pop.

These are two high-grade underground club tunes once more from this essential label.

Tracklist:
01 Coney Island
02 Combination

Follow Paul C online

Facebook | Soundcloud

Music duo SQWAD released new song ‘Big Ting Vibe’

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December 3, 2019

French duo SQWAD have unveiled their new single ‘Big Ting Vibe’, out on Friday 29th November via DJ Snake’s record label Premiere Classe.

Harnessing a sound that SQWAD have made their own over the past few years, ‘Big Ting Vibe’ is an imposing, bass-heavy release that pairs speaker-shuddering bass with mutated Patois vocals to devastating effect.

The single marks SQWAD’s first release on Premiere Classe, DJ Snake’s record label that has previously put out music from the likes of Da Vinci, Plastic Toy, Malaa, Gammer and SAYMYNAME.

Making waves in the bass house scene since launching in 2015, SQWAD is made up of high school friends Etienne and Antoine, both from Toulouse, France. Their first real buzz was created by 2017 track ‘Damn Right’, which received support from fellow acclaimed producers JAUZ, Habstrakt, Ekali, and NGHTMRE.

The following year they remixed Zeds Dead & JAUZ’s ‘Lights Go Down’ for a remix package that also included Sikdope, Gentlemans Club and Subtronics. This, in turn, led to gigs and shows for the pair, who shared stages with Taiki Nulight, Getter, Tony Romera, Sikdope, Bellecour and Bad jokes.

2019 has already proven to be SQWAD’s biggest year yet, performing at several clubs and festivals – including Lollapalooza Paris, E-WAX Festival and SANS MERCI Toulouse – and releasing on labels such as Mad Decent, Monstercat, Nightbass and Confession.

Delivering the kind of bass-heavy sound that they are renowned for, ‘Big Ting Vibe’ sees SQWAD at their uncompromising best.

Follow SQWAD online

Step out of your comfort zone with music producer JKP’s latest release

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November 27, 2019

Sometimes we like to explore other genres as they can surprise and enlighten us. Avante-garde house producer, JKP does this with his double A-side single ‘Blue Sun/ Quiet Place’. The tracks were released on the 15th of November, with a premiere in Clash Magazine giving them a jump start.

Clash Magazine were clearly fans from the beginning as the gave JKP a beautiful write-up, “London’s JKP goes into another realm of the minimalism electro with his new track. The contrast is deceiving and would almost be seen as surreal. Organic sounds are still the basis of his work but slightly more industrial influences have been thrown into it.” You can read the full interview here.

JKP was also featured in an exclusive interview with The Playground in which he takes the time to describe his time in the recording studio, “I experiment more when I’m by myself as I often get into a very deep into trial and error mode, it can be quite an alienating experience for some…” You can read the full interview here.

Follow JKP:

Facebook – Soundcloud – Instagram– Youtube – Spotify

Music trio Meduza, Becky Hill and Goodboys share a new song ‘Lose Control’

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October 15, 2019

Global artist Meduza returns with Goodboys to collaborate with chart-topping singer-songwriter Becky Hill on the intoxicating new single ‘Lose Control’, out 11th October.

The now-iconic signature sound of Meduza immediately draws anticipation, as the emotive and powerful vocals and songwriting from Becky weaves through the smooth and effortless cool of Goodboys harmonies and adlibs.

It follows on from the global summer smash ‘Piece Of Your Heart’, a track that has clocked up over 600 million streams and 69 million YouTube hits since its release. The song is multi-platinum and gold worldwide, including in the UK selling over 900,000 units and peaking at #2 in the UK Singles Charts and #1 in the US Dance Charts.

Within a few weeks of release, the single was added to the Radio 1 A-List, amassing over 60,000 plays on UK radio alone. It also featured as Spotify’s 16th most streamed track this summer globally and hit #1 on the Apple Music & iTunes, placing top positions on Capital Radio’s Big Top40, Spotify UK and Shazam UK charts. The debut single from the production trio remains one of the biggest hits of 2019 to date.

British Artist and Songwriter Becky Hill is one of the UK’s upcoming stars and hitmakers, known for her heartfelt, powerful vocals and songwriting on tracks like 2019’s breakthrough solo hit ‘I Could Get Used This’, recent top ten hit ‘Wish You Well’ (With Sigala), worldwide hit ‘False Alarm’ (with Matoma), certified platinum hits UK #1 single ‘Gecko (Overdrive)’ (with Oliver Heldens) and top ten hit ‘Afterglow’ (with Wilkinson) and 2018’s UK top 20 gold-certified hit ‘Back & Forth’ (with MK and Jonas Blue), Becky’s second collaboration with MK, following the pair’s success with their 2016 Gold-certified hit ‘Piece of Me’.

After an electric debut with Meduza, Goodboys who featured on ‘Piece Of Your Heart’ style their signature vocal hooks throughout with a harmonic tone, perfectly balancing the energy of the track and further cementing reputation as one of the most in-demand artists in dance music through their understanding of how to write incredibly catchy hooks to mesmerize the audience into repeating as soon as the first listen.

The follow up to one of the biggest songs of the year, ‘Lose Control’ sees three of the most in-demand acts in dance music come together for what’s set to be another global sensation.

Follow Meduza online

Follow Becky Hill online

Follow Goodboys Online

Music duo Prospa releases new song ‘Control The Party’

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October 15, 2019

London via Leeds electronic duo Prospa are back with blistering new single ‘Control The Party’, the first release to drop on their brand new imprint Rave Science. The propulsive track opens with heavyweight percussion before heralding in warm, shimmering synths and a euphoric, chopped up vocal – another irresistible earworm from the ascendant pair. The track is out now and the duo will be celebrating with a launch party at a secret London location tonight – sign-up here for more info.

The single comes at the end of a packed summer for Prospa – Leeds natives Harvey Blumler and Gosha Smith – which saw them make their debut at iconic festivals including Glastonbury, Lovebox and Parklife, sharing the stage with the likes Jon Hopkins, Paranoid London, Jayda G and more. A run of releases including underground hit ‘Intended,’ rave-ready smasher ‘Get That,’ high-energy ‘Back To The Motherland’ (“An absolute heater” – Mixmag) and French Touch-inspired floor filler ‘Guitar Anthem’ had them garnering praise and spins from heavyweight and niche tastemakers from Annie Mac and Pete Tong to DJ Seinfeld and The Black Madonna, building on the breakout success of their debut single ‘Prayer,’ hailed by DUMMY as “a club staple in the making.”

Speaking about their new track, the duo reveals, “It all started with the vocal sample. We messed around with a few ideas and ended up time-stretching a classic ‘Hoover’ synth sound to make the bassline in the ambient section, and we built the tune from there. Control The Party is a new side to us, it’s a statement in terms of our sonic journey and where we are heading.”

With further DJ dates including two appearances at this year’s Warehouse Project season – with the boys making the first one last weekend to a hyped crowd – and a second stint at London’s Printworks, there’s no doubt that Prospa are heading rapidly in the right direction.

Prospa DJ dates:

27th September – Control The Party launch, secret London location
28th September – Stealth, Nottingham
13th October – Printworks, London
25th October – Nitsa, Barcelona
12th November – Cosmic Ballroom, Newcastle
21st December – Warehouse Project, Manchester

Follow Prospa Online

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Electronic Music Producer Gidon Schocken Shared A New Song ‘Show Me The Way (featuring Filippo Fabbri, Tahel & Ori Lichtik)’

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October 15, 2019

Image: Zakie Mashiah

Electronic Producer Gidon Schocken released ‘Show Me The Way’ independently on October 4th. So far, Schocken has received support from publications such as Magnetic Magazine, CLASH Magazine, Music News, Essentially Pop, Chill Sounds Good Music, and others, and he will undoubtfully receive more praise. Featured on the track are singer-songwriter and electronic producer Tahel, composer and musician Filippo Fabbri and electronic artist Ori Lichtik. The song is from his album Immerse expected October 25th via Gidon Schocken Music.

Schocken names the likes of Massive Attack, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, DJ Shadow, Lorn, and Throwing Snow as influences. ‘Show Me The Way’ demonstrates his versatility as an artist prompting one to think of artists such as Gesaffelstein, Perturbator and SebastiAn, with Tahel’s vocals reverberating over a driving beat. The track entwines the collaborators with true artistic mastery.

While speaking of the track Schocken revealed, “The track is about the fragility of life, how death can be so sudden and abrupt and how sometimes there’s no time to truly say goodbye to a loved one. I’d met up with a good friend for dinner who had told me of a family member’s sudden passing. A few hours later I got back home, worked on the track and added the main synth that comes in around the middle that set the tone for the rest of the song.”

Follow Gidon Schocken:

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify – Instagram

Follow Tahel:

Website – Facebook – Instagram – SoundCloud – Youtube – Spotify – Apple

Follow Ori Lichtik:

Facebook – Soundcloud – Spotify – Bandcamp

Follow Filippo Fabbri:

Facebook – Instagram – SoundCloud

FABRICLIVE presents finest in dubstep and drum & bass to celebrate 20 years in the music industry

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October 14, 2019