Artists to Watch in 2018: FEELS

As someone who is naturally exposed to a vast array of different music from both working in the industry and travelling often, I’ve gotta say that our Australian scene is pretty much packed to rafters more than ever with all types of musical talent.

FEELS are another promising act that have swept through like a storm and slayed 2017. Comprised of classically trained percussionists and electronic producers Elise Reitze and Rosie Taylor, these immensely talented women blend live percussion and instrumentation with harmonious synth arrangements and delicious electronic beats to create their own forte of delectable idiosyncratic compositions.

Earlier this year Feels signed with Spirit Level and made their label debut with their track ‘Prior Engagement’, which was highly acclaimed by national and international audiences. The duo has since gone on to perform showcases at BIGSOUND and also won triple j Unearthed’s Listen Out competition to earn a spot on the Perth leg of the festival’s tour.

Feels' articulate their own unique musical dialect while remaining conversant with the minimalist style polyrhythms that are often exhibited in contemporary dance music, showcasing a whirlwind style of complex rhythms, melodic riffs and instrumental layers that is brilliantly juxtaposed by smooth synth textures and minimalistic production to create a malleable fusion of near-overpowering sonic complexities and sublime palatable phrases.

It’s not surprising that word of Feels is quickly spreading as these two are making some of the most intricate and refined pieces of electronic music to emerge from Australia in, well, ever. We're definitely penning them as one to watch in 2018, and they could well be an Australian coequal of BADBADNOTGOOD - only time will tell!

If you haven't already done so, be sure to give their Emerald EP a spin, which is out now via SPIRIT LEVEL.

Words by FREYA DINESEN

Image: Zal Kanga-Parabia

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO

FEELS FORGE ELECTRONIC VIBES WITH PERCUSSION TO BUILD THIS EPIC ‘GLASSHOUSE’

FEELS CAST THEIR SPELLS IN THIS MAGICAL GUEST MIX