0On Our Radar: November 2020

Flaurese has been bubbling up in the London scene for a couple of years, but really hit his stride in 2020 with the release of his debut EP, Sake Of Lust. Beforehand, he impressed with strong remixes for Rosie Lowe and Promis3, but Sake Of Lust further showed the depth and scope of his abilities. Comprising one instrumental and collaboration with vocalist Rosa, the two-tracker Sake Of Lust is lush house music at its best. Brimming with key melodies and founded on satisfyingly-chunky percussion, his tracks are timeless and clearly informed by real musicianship. It’s no wonder they are being picked up by tastemakers, from BBC Radio’s Lauren Laverne to Bonobo and DJ Monki. The latter was so impressed by his sound, that Flaurese’s brand new disco-tinged next single, “Silk Robe”, will be dropping on Monki’s &Friends imprint on November 13. Check out the delicious groove below.

Parisian Christelle Oyiri (AKA CRYSTALLMESS) is a richly-talented and visionary multi-media artist. Her music occupies an ever-evolving niche between glistening ambient, spiky IDM, techno, and other forward-thinking electronics. She has released on leading, experimental outpost PAN and remixing Lafawndah while self-releasing her debut EP ‘Mere Noises‘ in 2018. Aside from her work in the studio, CRYSTALLMESS is an NTS Radio host (of the monthly show UNLEASHED), had a residency at the UK’s celebrated Wysing Arts Centre, and has played in some of Europe’s best venues. Each chapter of CRYSTALLMESS’s story brings new, cutting-edge, and thought-provoking work across various disciplines.

As the daughter of a Stockholm scene veteran, dance music is in MOLØ’s blood. She has been DJing regularly in her home city, and landed her first release in 2019 when her inspired sketch “Vanadis” was completed by Jeremy Olander and released as a collaboration on his label Vivrant. A year later, she is back on Vivrant with her debut solo EP, Luma. It’s been two years in the making, and it shows. The distinctive, refined brand of melodic techno, full of twinkling arpeggios, could well be the work of somebody much longer in the game. The five tracks on Luma encompass the range of moods you might hear in a MOLØ DJ set, from melancholic soundscapes to punchy, technoid rollers. It’s a bold statement from a promising talent in Swedish dance music, and a sign of big things to come.

If you haven’t already heard of Wax Wings from his releases on HE.SHE.THEY, Kneaded Pains and Mobilee, or remixes for Maya Jane Coles and Jimmy Edgar, his new single “Reclaim Me” is the perfect chance to change that. It’s an infectious cut of vocal, UKG-leaning house, in the vein of golden era Disclosure. Though Wax Wings himself is a captivating performer, he hands the vocal reins to Nimmo on “Reclaim Me” and instead shines in the production role. When the live music industry gets back on its feet, you should mark Wax Wings down as someone to see play. His DJ sets revolve around his original music, striking look, and dark, captivating performance style. Altogether, it’s something to behold.

If organic, earthy, and retro-edged sounds from around the world are your thing, Paula Tape’s music should tick all the boxes. Her freewheeling show on Worldwide FM displays her enviable record collection and wide-ranging tastes, which she distills into productions for much-loved labels like Permanent Vacation, Rhythm Section, and Montreal’s SOBO. Though originally from Santiago de Chile, Paula Tape now resides in Italy, from where she runs the label Tempo Dischi. Reissuing lost and forgotten gems from Italy’s rich musical history, Tempo Dischi’s impeccable curation further proves Paula Tape’s ear to the ground and comprehensive knowledge.

Davey’s self-titled debut EP is a stirring concoction of elements that shouldn’t work together but do. It’s avant-garde in the least pretentious way possible, maximizing fun, energy, and creativity in a unique manner that’s not for the fainthearted. As half of Vallis Alps, davey (born David Ansari) is already known in the Sydney music scene and beyond, but his solo music is a different beast. If this first EP is anything to go by, Davey will soon be a trusted source of provocative dance music innovation and collaboration. His beats equally stand-alone or lend themselves to rappers, so expect him to straddle the world’s of instrumental music and rap in a way that’s purely davey.