The post Support the Threads Crowdfunder appeared first on Pretend.

The post Threads is Crowdfunding appeared first on Pretend.

The post Interview: Nix Northwest appeared first on Pretend.

Spector – London – Oval Space – 13th November – Tickets

Spector are probably the best indie band out there. Don’t fight it.

Giant Swan – London – Electrowerkz – 14th November – Tickets

Loud live techno. Get up for it. (Might be a bit sold out, sorry)

Holding Hands – Leeds – Wire – 15th November – Tickets

Nice label showcase with Adam Pits and Desert Sound Colony and Breaka all making noises. Expect to drink Buckfast and go fast.

Kris Baha – London – Peckham Rye – 22nd November – Tickets

From Berghain to Peckham. Bringing post-punk to a dance floor near you.

No Plastic More Fun – London – Canvas – 22nd November – Tickets

A networking event from Music Declares Emergency, Tail & Twist and Oval Space.

The post 5 events to check out appeared first on Pretend.

After a wee digital hiatus this year however, his return to song-writing comes in the form of his latest single Overthinking.

Though very much identifiable as a Will Killen tune, this single points towards a new sound. With considerable musical depth and excellent production, Killen has got the absolute most out of his band.

This new creative development comes as no surprise considering what he’s been up to over the course of this year.

2019 has been a year of building. I’ve tried to keep away from the surface, away from distraction, and build things that I’m proud of. The biggest being Evoke Studios, which has become a space to work with and record other artists, but mostly it’s a space for me to create and experiment with the seemingly endless pile of songs I have in the pages. Overthinking being the first experiment.

This sense of moving onto bigger and better things is wholly reflected in the song; that of gaining clarity and finding the ability to move on. Killen has previously described his song-writing as ‘therapy and torture’, and that he ‘almost exclusively draw(s) inspiration from sadness’. Overthinking, on the other hand, feels more like a breakthrough from sadness and torture, entering into a new state, emotionally as well as musically.

But the development doesn’t stop there, as Killen has grand plans for upcoming live shows, taking influence from fellow band members.

I have two unbelievably talented musicians by my side, so for live shows I tend to construct alternate versions of the songs, leaving space for them to express their voices too. It’s such a joy.

But fans of the more stripped back singer-songwriter style need not feel neglected, as the king of tease keeps us on our toes.

Overthinking needed to go big; it’s an outburst. There’s definitely more where this came from, but also songs to come that need no more than a piano and a voice. Spoiler alert.

He’s an artist that gives nothing away. When asked if the ‘08.11.19 overthinking’ tattoo was real…

Now that would be telling. You’ll have to come to a show and I’ll spill the beans.

The post Look Leeds: Will Killen appeared first on Pretend.

The post 10 Tracks To Pretend You Like appeared first on Pretend.

As a producer, the Toronto native now based in Berlin began his career as part of the post-dubstep scene putting out UK bass influenced tracks as Bwana. Like so many artists raised in that scene, in recent years he began shifting towards a more techno-focused sound until, in 2018, he ditched the Bwana alias altogether and now releases exclusively under his own name. This transformation is demonstrated perfectly with his recent album “Blue Spring”, where he creates a sound that blends various strains of dance music with gorgeous synthesiser melodies and textures to create lush, emotive soundscapes that still remain firmly rooted on the dancefloor.

It was with some excitement that we headed down to Leeds’ Freedom Mills, a firm favourite underground venue. Dance Disease had invited Micay to play alongside fellow Berliner Eluize and local duo Space Cadets. Entering the no-frills warehouse venue, we were greeted by a modest crowd who were already moving steadily to Eluize’s techno and electro selections. Eluize is another artist who has been seriously impressing recently, with her 2019 “Confide LP”, released on Craigie Knowes, showing off her ability to produce wonderfully creative house and techno, varying between tracks within the same synth-laden vibe as Micay’s and harder, more acidic productions. On the night, Eluize adeptly warmed up the crowd and kept the room simmering away. Whilst never quite reach boiling point, her upper mid-tempo, sharp and percussive techno and electro provided us with as much enjoyment as she was visibly experiencing behind the decks, something which is always a treat to see.

Soon enough Micay was on the decks and opened with his typically warm and enticing sound, playing with subtle breakbeats and starting to steadily ramp up the energy in the room. Not too long into the set, his mixing into one of his own, the excellent “The Party We Could Have Had” from his debut album, demonstrated an ability to keep a seamless groove going. From within the intimate crowd it was clear to see that he was keeping everyone just as locked into the rhythm as he was. Maintaining the vibe, his selections continued with tracks that were often difficult to classify, treading right on the borders between house, techno and electro, much like his productions. Another stand-out track came with the urgent percussion and big bassline of Xpress-2’s “AC/DC”, showing off Micay’s lack of fear when playing tunes that others might dismiss as out of fashion. In fact, what impressed most overall was his ability to construct an exciting set out of tunes that in the wrong hands could result in something that was frankly boring. As he moved through the second hour of his set Micay switched to a more garage-oriented sound, showing off his stylistic origins. Clearly playing to the UK crowd, he got a big response to Armand van Heldens classic remix of “Spin Spin Sugar” by Sneaker Pimps. Positioning this amongst other less recognisable garage tracks, he fairly successfully maintained the energy he had built over the course of the last 90 minutes, something that is not always easy to do with genre changes. Soon after though, the set was rounded off by moving back to more recognisable territory, with an appropriately big and synthy track to finish.

Finishing off the night were Leeds’ own Space Cadets, a recent collaboration between Adam Pits and Lisene. Both are making a name for themselves as solo DJs and producers but, as shown by their self-titled EP recently released on Sheffield label Seven Hills, they clearly made a smart decision to team up. Living up to their name, they took the vibe of their closing set into bleepy sci-fi territory with fast and exciting techno and electro, whilst throwing in the occasional big trancey breakdown for good measure.

Reflecting on the night, credit has to be given to Dance Disease for curating a thoughtful line-up of talented DJs that complimented one another so well. In a city with a dance music scene that can often feel saturated with carbon-copy student promoters making safe and repetitive bookings, dancing the night away in Freedom Mills made me feel like Dance Disease are doing something very right at the moment.

By Andrew Pretorius

The post Reviews: Dance Disease with Nathan Micay, Eluize and Space Cadets appeared first on Pretend.

The post Featured Mix: Venture appeared first on Pretend.

Lazarus Kane feels like a southern Heavenly Records supergroup akin to what might happen if The Orielles and Working Mens Social Club were to form a band. The whole set had an infectious energy with the band opening with their only release so far, Narcissus, a four to the floor indie disco groover you can’t help but shake your hips to. With Katy J Pearson’s voice cutting through some of the heavier synths and a precussionist who looks so like James Acaster that a drunk mind may become confused Lazarus Kane commanded the audience from his first moment on stage.

For most, it would be a risky move to open with your only release but the crowd was packed with people who had clearly seen the set before and knew the words to every song already. A particular highlight was a tune which I can only assume is called “Song” where Mr. Kane tries to state that what he has written is, in fact, just a song. It has a riff that brings a smile to your face and warms your heart.

Support came from Lynks Afrikka and PVA who had played together the night before at Lynks’ “Hell On Earth” Haloween soiree and the experience held up well to a second viewing in as many days.

Opening was Lynks. Lynks is a drag act, flanked by Lynks Shower Gel, they move through a series of starical songs with heavy production. From “Str8 Acting” to the newly released “On Trend” Lynks twists the lives of the young, artsy, middle class fans who make up their primary audience into something that allows them to laugh at themselves. This is paricularly apparent in an as yet unreleased song with the hook “Art and London, that’s what I’m about” spat at the audience while Lynks Shower Gel flank them either side and the crowd shouts it back at them. A brilliant opening act for this gig but defiantely one better suited to a club setting.

In the middle of Lynks and Lazarus was PVA. The relentlessly touring dance trio have built their following almost exclusively on their live show without any music publicly released on major streaming services so far. Like Lynks PVA have a sound better suited to a club setting than an indie bar, but there was the right crowd to really bring the energy together in the right way for their set at the Windmill.

The triumph of the evening was that any of the acts could have topped the bill on a different night. People often say that there’s no community in London or that it’s hard to come by but this night did a lot do dispel at least some of that rumour.

By James Ward

The post Lazarus Kane at the Windmill appeared first on Pretend.

The post Photogallery: Nix Northwest @ Notting Hill Arts Club appeared first on Pretend.