After a five-year hiatus, Canadian electronic music producers MSTRKRFT (Jesse F. Keeler & Al-P) are back with a new track, “Little Red Hen.” Driven by a distorted drum beat, hauntingly hypnotic synth, and booming cinematic soul, the track immediately captivates. Fans will get a taste of what’s to come from MSTRKFT via a selection of five live shows during SXSW in Austin this March with confirmed appearances at FLOODfest, Southwest Invasion, the Pandora Discovery Den, Beautiful Buzzz + We The Beat and McDonalds.
“It’s probably the most accurate reflection of how we work on stage,” says Jesse of “Little Red Hen” as it surfaces just in time for MSTRKRFT’s SXSW plays. “We had to be very creative with very few elements. It took time to figure that out. ‘Little Red Hen’ is an honest representation of where we’re at right now.”
“A big part of the sound is the curation of equipment,” adds Al. “There’s no trickery—what you hear is what you get and we’re not manipulating anything afterward. We set limits for ourselves sonically and stylistically as far as the palette goes.”
2011 was the last time we heard from MSTRKRFT with the release of the single “Back in the USSA.” It capped off an incredible run for the Toronto electronic dance music disruptors that began with their Juno Award-winning debut album The Looks in 2006. Electrifying festival appearances at Bonnaroo and HARD Summer followed in addition to high-profile official remixes for everybody from Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue to Wolfmother, Justice and Bloc Party. 2009’s Fist of God boasted collaborations with the likes of John Legend, Ghostface Killah, E-40, N.O.R.E., Lil’ Mo and more as it predicated an eventual crossover between hip-hop and electronic music on the horizon.
Look for more to come from MSTRKRFT.
MPHD
Bradley Exum, better known as the producer and DJ called MPHD, is creating a buzz that cannot be contained. Characterized by his self-described “Gastrobass” sound, a modern mixture of house and electro, MPHD’s work naturally takes on a life of its own. Until you’ve seen one of his DJ sets or been possessed into a dance frenzy by one of his meticulously crafted productions, you haven’t seen his power in the the musical underground. Living in San Francisco, he’s working to share his sound with everyone around him, and ensuring that it won’t soon be forgotten. With more productions to come, and more dancefloors to take over, MPHD’s proving to be one to watch out for.
NVO
Since 2010, NVO has been rocking the scene with a steady assault of guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers and whatever else they find to channel the funk. The group takes an organic path to groove creation, always dissecting and reconstructing their sounds with the freshest tech. The resulting fusion of bass-heavy rock, sci-fi funk and rave-hop epitomizes the NVO sound as they blast you into space – featuring producer/guitarist Mike Laglia, drummer Greg Maximov, DJ Chuck Jones, and recent addition vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Charles Darius.
NVO’s forthcoming EP, “The Signal” is a turning point for the group, moving from purely instrumental compositions to lyrically focused songs, and features collaborations with Lateef the Truthspeaker and Eko Zu. The group has 5 EPs and 1 LP to date, and a recent official remix for Mochipet. Their music has been featured in the Hulu show “Resident Advisors” and at the SF Giant’s stadium. Their signature live performances include custom-built visuals and projection mapping, ensuring that late-night dance devotees leave sweaty and satisfied.