‘So Good’ is the next single to see release from the forthcoming My Friends EP by Swedish producers and long-time friends, Tobtok and farfetch’d. Following in the vein of its experimental predecessor ‘I Like When You’, which received loving feedback from tastemakers ranging from Auntie Flo to Sam Divine, ‘So Good’ is an alarmingly refreshing release. Into a high-energy stutter house track it packs in a styled-up drill beat with an uplifting choir vocal, to show yet again that these producers are on the most accomplished streak of their careers so far.

Over six tracks, the forthcoming ‘My Friends’ EP – due for release on London-based indie Perfect Havoc in September – is a diverse and exciting body of work that spans disco, breakbeat, drum and bass and house in the flavours of stutter, French and filter. 

With a catalogue of work that precedes them, it’s important to remove all preconceptions of what Tobtok and farfetch’d have done before. Forget their platinum-selling records, streaming numbers and chart positions, just listen to the result of when they start producing for the pure fun of it.

On their latest single, Tobtok aka Tobias Karlsson, candidly tells the story of its creative journey.

So Good started out completely differently, like a tribalesque record with almost Spanish vibes and with me singing the lead in falsetto. It sounded so awkward that we completely changed it!

After we ditched that initial idea, we were joking around saying, let’s do a “trendy” stutter house record, but not taking ourselves remotely seriously. We upped the BPMs and created a little drill beat in the verse. We landed on a choir vocal which I think is what makes it sound so unique.

Like with the previous track, we’re not trying to sound like anything. So Good is obviously inspired by the stutter house movement, but really, we’re just having fun.”

Tobtok has always worked in his own lane, from his early nu disco signings to highly respected French label Kitsuné– who released his only EP to date, ‘Savanna’ – to his more dancefloor-geared signings to Selected as heard on ‘My Carousel’. There have been plenty of nods to the Swede’s talents over the years, from specialist spins from Pete Tong and Zane Lowe, to being asked to curate Toolroom’s Miami Poolside compilation.

Although still early on in their career farfetch’d aka Jerry Sjödin and Johnny Bergström have been making waves of their own. Taking influence from old-time childhood heroes and fusing the feelings of the past with those of today, their music spans genres and is always drenched in love and happiness. Just check out their releases on Spinnin’, Axtone and Soave for evidence.

Tobtok and farfetch’d go way back to when they first bonded over their love of nu disco and French house when meeting at a student club night and have since produced together on singles for Selected and Perfect Havoc. 

Tobtok and farfetch’d have already spoken about what to expect from the new EP, where they go all out with technique, playing around with sampling, micro-sampling live sounds, and manipulating and pitching vocals.

“The concept was to do something really playful”, Tobtok explains, “We experimented with new ways of thinking. We tried not to think about what’s going to stream or what’s gonna go viral on TikTok, we just wanted to make music that we like.” 

‘So Good’ by Tobtok & farfetch’d is released 21st July on Perfect Havoc. Pre-save here https://perfecthavoc.lnk.to/sogood

Follow Tobtok:

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Follow farfetch’d:

Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Instagram

Follow Perfect Havoc:

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Evasion EP: Concept

The past years have pushed us to seek and value blissful moments of escapism more than most of us ever have in our lifetimes. We’ve all relied on feeding art into our minds as a means of evading the weight of isolation and frustration in our stalled lives. This EP is a sonic vessel meant to carry us to the distant spaces we drift to when we need a break from it all. Every song represents its own form of escapism or refuge, steering the listeners, our passengers, from gambling games to Matrix-inspired double dimensions, from sea folklore to religious legend. Some are forms of distraction, others sites of solace in a most trying time. The instrumentals evoke the carefree sense of cruising down a coastline, decadent sunsets, and the timeless allure of discovering new places and faces.

Another place of refuge has been the internet, which happens to be where we met. Moses shared the snippet of an instrumental on his Instagram stories, calling out for vocalists. Thaïs was immediately inspired by the track’s mysterious melody and bewitching beat. The top line and lyrics flowed out instantly, and before long she’d sent back the track which would go on to be the first song on the EP.

We’ve spent the past months cooking up our own home remedy for the symptoms of our era because making music is how we self-medicate. These songs are the silver lining to a crushing situation, global confinement birthing a stillness without which this collaboration may never have come to be.

Every night of lockdown Thaïs has little solo raves on her balcony, elevated by the music, in withdrawal from the energy of dancing in a room full of vibing strangers. And so we set out to create the very vibe we’ve been searching for, the vibe we’ve been needing. Thaïs sitting by her bedroom window in Marrakech, armed with a microphone and her lyric book, Moses in his Montreal home studio, surrounded by synths. Thousands of miles apart, in different time zones, but on the same wavelength. It takes a rare creative synergy for two people who’ve never met to work in such organic consonance, and the two artists have jumped head first into this project, Moses seamlessly weaving Thaïs’ raspy soul vocals into his rousing synths and hypnotic beats.

Artist Quote – “Created between Montreal and Marrakech, Évasion pairs Moses Belanger’s jazz-infused synths and rolling bass lines with Thaïs Sala’s escapist lyrics, delivered with deep soul vocals.”

Record Sounds Like: Basslines like Channel Tres, dreamy synths like Kerri Chandler, mystical strings like Nicolas Jaar, percussions and raspy vocals evocative of Sinego

Track Listing:

1 – Dice & Aces

2 – La Salacia

3 – The Genie

4 – High Road

5 – Blue Pill

6 – La Salacia (Deep Mix)

Follow Société Holographique de Montréal:

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Follow Thaïs Sala:

Instagram

Follow Moses Belanger:

Instagram

2021 has been bliss for the Bloom Twins who have been commended for their collaborative artistry, with  BBC noting them as Game Changers on socials. The duo have also shared an official remix from renowned duo SOFI TUKKER via Armada Music, for their original track with Jan Blomqvist titled ‘High On Beat’. The Ukraine sisters Anna and Sonya Kuprienko are charming vocalists that carry any track with conviction in their delivery. The SOFI TUKKER remix once again proves that the Bloom Twins have the adaptable vocals for the ever-changing electronic music landscape. We wait in anticipation to see what this versatile duo have in the works moving forward, but until then we chatted with the sisters Bloom Twins and discovered that they are comfortable in their skin. 

Stream/ download: ‘High On Beat’ (SOFI TUKKER remix)

Tell us about your earliest musical memory?

Before we could speak, we started to sing. We would copy every sound we could hear. Our parents felt a strong need to put us in the music school because it was the first language we picked up.

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

I’m not sure which genre I want to create,  I just know which emotion I want to deliver. Looking at the blank canvas I don’t really know where it’s gonna take me, I just fill it in step by step. The songwriting process is a mystery – the beauty of the unknown.

Please list some of the most influential albums on your creative outlook and output:

The Velvet Underground & Nico.

 This year has seen you collaborate on several dance singles with globally renowned music producers. What are the highlights of these experiences so far?

It’s crazy to think that it all came to life with the help of Instagram. In a new digital era, you’re only one DM away from connecting with literally anyone. We messaged Benny Benassi, Jan Blomqvist, Sofi Tukker and they all responded that they like our music. It feels so great to have such feedback from such iconic electronic artists!

What inspires you outside of music? What do you turn to when the creative well runs a little low?

We love fashion and how it comes together with music. Seem like one can’t exist without the other. Like my twin and I.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

Studio work and performing are just such different sides to music. One could turn you into an introvert and another into an extrovert. It makes it hard to compare the two. I must admit coming out of the lockdown makes me excited about performing but equally terrified. 

As a music artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?

We should support the differences rather than fitting into the existing genres. We were also asked to fix our accents as otherwise wouldn’t be favored and played on the radio stations. We don’t think it is necessary, we should all be proud of our upbringing and where we are from.

Any new or upcoming artists on your radar? Who shouldn’t the world sleep on?

Absolutely in love with Jelani Blackman’s work! He recently released a track with the Gorillaz and it’s doing really well!

Can you describe the feeling of having the original track reworked by SOFI TUKKER?

We are thrilled! We absolutely love the new direction SOFI TUKKER chose for this track. We believe all good songs can be redone in many different ways and it’s amazing when the same song can evoke different feelings.

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

At the moment we’re concentrating on writing as many tracks as possible. We have tons of features that we worked on during the lockdown, cannot wait to share them with you all.

One last thought to leave your fans with?

Don’t ever give up even when no one believes in you. Write as many tracks as possible, experiment with different genres. This way you will come up with something new! Impress yourself and you will impress others. Do it because you love doing it and not because of other reasons.

‘High On Beat’ (SOFI TUKKER remix) features on the Spotify playlist  HOUSE_GROUND.fm

Follow Bloom Twins:

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

Follow SOFI TUKKER:

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

Follow Jan Blomqvist:

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

While we wait for this remix to be unveiled, we chatted with this dynamic team Mick Wilson & Dylan Debut a.k.a PaperMacheTiger.

Stream/Download: Way of Life

Tell us about your earliest musical memory?

All a bit hazy as music has been in my life from a very young age; playing the piano from very young, to listening to the radio, buying records. Showing my age here…

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

Again, from a very young age. I was always into synthesisers and electronic synth music, so probably about the age of fourteen I started to explore this path and then it just grew from there.

Please list some of the most influential albums on your creative outlook and output:

Apex Twin Selected Ambient Works 85-92. I see this in a lot of listings when it comes to influential albums, but there is a reason for this.

Burial – Untrue

Quincy Jones – Michael Jackson Thriller

Radiohead – Kid A (any Radiohead album) truly groundbreaking band that creates music from all angles.

To be honest, it is very difficult to answer a question like this. We could talk for a week about the most influential albums that have helped define my journey through music; from Hip Hop, Electronica, Classical, pop, to stuff that is completely out there and random.

What key pieces of gear/software are you using to define your sound?

We use a lot of Moog hardware as well as Roland and Korg, however, we like to run these through additional hardware like FX units, amps and pedals in order to create something slightly more unique. We throw some things through Erika Synths Black Sequencer, this really does help to create some great soundscapes.

What inspires you outside of music? What do you turn to when the creative well runs a little low?

To be honest, everything inspires me; from day to day to film, to art, to books. Just getting out and about and observing, taking note of what is going on around yourself, the surroundings. All these things help to top up the creative well.

What is your opinion on the ever spreading sub-genre vine? Are there too many? Do you think there’ s perhaps a sub-genre that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Too many plain and simple/okay sub-genres and genres help to categorise a sound. However when it all starts getting silly and everything needs to be slotted into a sub-genre with every week something new pops out, it becomes all a little bit like The Emperor’s New Clothes. I suppose it feeds the demands for something new, inventing a new sub-genre to keep things appearing fresh and innovative.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

Depends on the day, at times I just love sitting in the studio and being creative from that side of things even if it is just playing with the machines moreover making a track. Other days it has to be interacting with a crowd, playing great records/music and getting a superb reaction. It all works together, this is what feeds the passion.

As a music artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?

Greed across the industry full stop. And the wanting of instant fame. You have to be put into the scene, earn your stripes and through this equally, your hard work and efforts need to be recognised. An artist needs to be able to treat their craft as a way of life without having to worry about how to pay the bills,  and how to get on in the world. They should have the ability to earn from their creations. Greed is what drives a lot of the anguish as it all becomes about “the one” making the most money and not even looking to redistribute it in an even manner where everyone wins. We could look at the argument around streaming companies and the low royalty rates paid out to artists as an example. If the balance of distribution was better a lot more artists could sustain a way of life from their music. There really is enough for everyone in this pie.

Any new or upcoming artists on your radar? Who shouldn’t the world sleep on?

Tia Cousins. She is great, plays a diverse spread of underground music. Check her out for sure.

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

We’ve got a whole load of stuff that will be hitting soon. We’ve got a collab with DJ Pierre. We are pretty excited about this coming out on his Afro Acid label. There is also new music coming through on Exit Planet Earth, RAWAX which explores other avenues of underground music. And we are also working on a new radio show for OpenLab – a super-diverse station based in Ibiza that really explores fresh music, with music discovery at its core.

One last thought to leave your fans with?

Always be true to the music, it is the music that drives the scene from the listeners to the creators.

Follow PaperMacheTiger:

Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud

After 10 years residing in Madrid, producing for other artists and programming in their own clubs, in 2010 he returns to Marbella to develop its musical activity.