Pilerats, Journalist

LP1 is out now, and we excited.. Tahlia Barnett, also known as FKA Twigs, is an experimental R&B musician/dancer hailing from Gloucestershire, UK. Originally known as just Twigs, due to her constantly cracking and popping bones, she was pressured to change her name due to another artist named Twigs, leading to her current moniker FKA (formerly known as) Twigs. Growing up in Gloucestershire with musical parents, she discovered her sweet and airy vocal abilities in her teenage years whilst in the local recording studio with her Jamaican father and local musicians. Moving down to London at the age of 17 to pursue a career in dancing, it didn’t take her long to realise that music was her true calling. Since then, Twigs has released two EPs on the highly acclaimed record label Young Turks, home of artists such as The xx and SBTRKT, and has just released her debut album, LP1:

Danny Harley gives us the lowdown on his debut EP.. Header photo by Slice Of Life. In case you've been living under a rock, The Kite String Tangle has had a massive year or so - kicking off with his first single Given The Chance, and now culminating in the release of his first EP, Vessel. It's out today - you should probably go HERE and buy it - and once you've given it a listen, or potentially while you listen to it, have a read of the below, where he gives a little explanation behind each of the six glorious tracks. ARCADIA This track was one of the first tracks I knew was a definite for the EP. It started with the chorus synth and steel drum combo. It has a slow energy and I liked the triplet strange high percussion as well (that sound is actually a typewriter for those interested). The sound that pushes and pulls in the verses is from an old ambient track I did which I wanted to incorporate. The vocals actually changed a whole bunch throughout the process. About a few weeks before

The Melbourne based chanteuse has a new single/EP/tour.. We've been vibing on Meg Mac since she worked with our Perth synth-pop pal Sid Pattni on one of Pilerats Records' earliest releases, Go Back Home (check the amazing video clip for it HERE and their collaborative process HERE), and it's epic to see her killing it on her latest solo release, Roll Up Your Sleeves. Penetrating the nation's airwaves with her sultry, dark, stomping soul-pop sounds, Meg Mac is on the verge of releasing her debut EP on September 12 via littleBIGMANrecords. Take a listen to Roll Up Your Sleeves below, then mark one of her tour dates in your diary - and do it now, 'cause shows keep selling out! UPCOMING SHOWS: THU 28 - SUN 31 AUG | DUGONG FESTIVAL - DUNGOG, NSW w/ Tim Rogers, Husky & more (TICKETS)  EP TOUR: FRI 12 SEP | NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB, SYDNEY NSW w/ Rainy Day Women (SOLD OUT)  SAT 13 SEP | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE VIC w/ Rainy Day Women (SOLD OUT)  SAT 20 SEP | AMPLIFIER BAR, PERTH WA w/ Rai

Go underwater with Willow Beats ahead of the release of their new EP, Water.. With their latest single Merewif announcing Willow Beats as a part of the Pilerats Records family, along with just generally killing it, it's time for the world to see the video clip. Premiering yesterday on PIGEONS & PLANES, it's a tumbling bustle of mystical excitement, bringing the duo’s water-soaked visions for both the single and the upcoming EP to life. The clip was filmed almost completely underwater by the same groundbreaking RED camera technology used in the The Hobbit, and is full of the kind of motion only Willow Beats could conjure. A story of Merewif (The Water Woman), the clip follows vocalist Kalyani being dragged then buoyed by the water and its people. It was shot both in an indoor pool, and the stunning and salty surroundings of Rottnest Island, showcasing the outfit’s ability to make even the most sublime and other-worldy fit right next to the beats of us mere mortals: Water is an invitati

Lower Spectrum's single Khlever gets the atmospheric film clip it deserves.. You've probably heard me blabbing on about Lower Spectrum a lot lately, so I'll spare you too much pre-amble (just check out his EP HERE, or some gushing over KHLEVER) - needless to say he's making music that does good things for me, and it's a fairly unique sound in Australia's crowded producer pool. So when I'm asked if I'd like to premiere the video clip for Khlever, filmed on location in a tiny fishing village somewhere in Iceland, and by David Rusanow who in the past has worked with Snakadaktal and Megan Washington, who the hell am I to say no. You can buy his EP HERE, and you can catch Lower Spectrum launching Traces at one of the following dates: Sat 9 Aug - The Bird, Perth Fri 15 Aug - Flyrite, Perth: RTRFM Radiothon Launch Party on August 15 (details HERE). Sat 16 Aug - The Toff In Town, Melbourne Sep 10-12 - BIGSOUND, Brisbane Follow Lower Spectrum on FACEBOOK // WEBSITE

The inaugural Stoney Roads Producer Of The Year has a sexy new clip.. Last night saw the first official Stoney Roads Producer Of The Year Awards go down (check all the results HERE), celebrating our country's current glut of talented beatsmiths. And we couldn't think of a more deserving winner than Motez - the guy has been pushing house sounds for a while now in a sea of future-beat/chilltrap producers, and killing DJ sets around the country (soon to be world - he's overseas next month). Don't say we didn't warn you in our little article about the Aussie House Scene at the moment (HERE).  And not a moment too soon, Motez has released a rad new video clip for his latest single Own Up, and it's as sexy and smooth as the tune it plays under: Follow Motez on FACEBOOK // SOUNDCLOUD

Flume on ketamine, is what I'm calling this.. Plucked straight out of the stars and pulled down into your ears, Goldielocks is a Sydney-based producer whose recent work has turned towards syncopated rhythms, off-kilter beats, subliminal noise and sparse production. Inspired by the likes of dance music's most influential player, Flume, Jamie xx, Flying Lotus and Seekae, all are on display in this new single, Moonbeam, while still crafting something totally unique to himself. Blaze one up, stream the below, and get mellow in the night sky the Goldielocks. Follow Goldielocks on FACEBOOK // SOUNDCLOUD

Some seriously forward thinking music, with a couple of classic acts for good measure.. Now entering its third year, Sydney boutique music festival OutsideIn have not surprisingly announced a cracking first-round line-up for their 2014 event, raving in to Sydney’s Manning House complex on Saturday 29 November. As mentioned, it's a stellar mix of old and new, headed by '90s hip hop pioneers The Pharcyde, along with Sydney three-piece Seekae, Germany's Pantha Du Prince, Giraffage, and '80s throwback synth-lords Client Liasion. Check out the full line-up below, and click the poster to head to the OutsideIn Festival website for more info. Or in our case, to start planning how we're gonna afford to fly over to Sydney for this epically good time. Like OutsideIn on FACEBOOK or head to the EVENT PAGE.

A beautiful new single from Sydney indie-tronic duo Wolf Tide.. We get sent so much music every day it can actually get really overwhelming from time to time, but due to the constant influx of new music from all over the world - we get to hear some amazing music. Today we're premiering this single from Sydney two-some Nick Lynar and Rob Taylor, AKA Wolf Tide. They've had some early demos kill it in the triple j Unearthed charts in the past, and they're now in the process of polishing off a six-track EP. Spoke The Words is the lead single from that upcoming release, and as alluded to at the start of this post, while there's so much good music coming out it makes it even more awesome when a song cuts through. Spoke The Words cut through for us in a big way. Fans of The Kite String Tangle will love it, and the pleasing new wave of not just producers - but those who can add a "singer/songwriter" to their bow - is taking Australian electronic music into very aurally pleasing places. The del

Dunies got a new single f'ya, and are heading back on the road.. On the back of a tour that saw Dune Rats sell out every show across Australia while celebrating their debut album release, the unholy trinity are rising up from the dangerous boredom of downtime and getting back to doing what they do best - making soundtracks for hellmen and women to leap to from stage to crowd! And with that ethos in mind, it makes complete sense they've released their new single, Superman, and announced another superhero sized tour to ring in the Aussie spring time. If previous shows around here are anything to go by (check Slice Of Life's epic photo diary HERE), it's gonna be just a swell, swell time. TOUR DATES: Wed 10 Sept: Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough WA (TICKETS) Thur 11 Sept: Barbados, Bunbury WA (TICKETS) Fri 12 Sept: Players Bar, Mandurah WA (TICKETS) Sat 20 Sept: The Spiegeltent, Brisbane Festival QLD (ALL AGES - TICKETS) Fri 26 Sept: Barwon Club, Geelong VIC (TICKETS) Sat 27 Sept: Republic

The rise and rise of our bright hip hop star.. Fresh from tearing the roof off the… tent… at Splendour In The Grass's Mixup Stage this year - at midday no less, vibes were strong early - Tkay Maidza has dropped the snappy video clip for her latest single, U-Huh. It follows the release of that single a couple of weeks AGO, along with the announcment that she'll be joining Illy for his upcoming national tour, as well making party at the upcoming Listen Out Festivals. Tkay's star burns brighter and brighter each day, so you'd be wise to jump on board if you haven't already. Follow Tkay Maidza on FACEBOOK // WEBSITE