Acrillics are the perfect embodiment of the global world we live in today. The two producers met while Andro was studying abroad at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Him and Rob connected through a mutual friend and started working together shortly after. With Andro returning to Philadelphia after finishing school and Rob remaining in New Zealand, the duo have managed to not only live on but to flourish. Modern technology has allowed their partnership and output to grow and improve in spite of the vast distance. We had the pleasure of premiering of their massive collab with Troy Kete a few months back and today we have the honour of releasing their new EP ALIVE.
The project is a true testament to their talent, balancing lush and stirring soundscapes with aggressive and gritty drops. The title track sets the tone with icy chords and gripping vocals courtesy of Maddie. It’s a hauntingly beautiful introduction that’s trapped out with co-production from fellow New Zealander Ashez. ‘Faults’ is reminiscent of a QUIX banger but the atmospheric breaks and smooth keys make it their own. The duo proceeds to bring the ‘Filth’ with their Sidewalk Boy collab. An apprehensive energy drifts into TNGHT inspired drops that remind us of trap’s early days with a touch fresh experimental bass influence.
While the bulk of Alive’s songs feel wordly and rooted to earth, ‘Woes’ feel like a trip into space. There’s a triumphant and hopeful undertone that fights as listeners are sucked into blackholes and caught battling cosmic storms. It’s a wild ride but the finale sees that sense triumph winning out. ‘Gloom’ caps things off by slowing things down for an ominous, almost occult spiritual energy that’s balanced out with heavier sections with precision percussion. Much like the project’s opening, the powerful chords have a way of pulling you in, but also letting you go as the track fades away bringing ALIVE to a close.
You can stream ALIVE below. For more on Acrillics be sure to check out our interview.
Tell me a little bit about the Acrillics project. How did you two connect? What made you want to work together?
Andro: We met through a mutual friend in Dunedin, on the South Island of New Zealand. I went to a boarding school in Germany for the last 3 years of high school where I met our mutual friend. After a couple years of college in Philadelphia, I studied abroad in Dunedin in 2016, where I met Rob. We actually DJ’d a house party together like 2 weeks after we met. After that, we started floating the idea of working together and basically just started producing together – many of our favorite artists were the same – RL Grime, Mr. Carmack, What So Not, Josh Pan – and so we had similar musical interests. We realized that we both produced a similar style, we decided to see if we could put out an EP within a semester and try and play some shows in NZ – and we did haha.
we have found a way of changing our format to take turns when the other person is asleep due to time zones. Waking up and seeing what the other has created or added is always great and refreshing in a creative way.
What’s your production and songwriting process like given that you live on the other side of the world from each other?
Andro: It’s complicated :) We chat and Skype a lot but our main, if not only, medium is Splice. It’s a lifesaver for us. Besides their great sample banks, the ability to share projects, see updates and add comments to them is amazing. Normally we’ll talk about what we wanna make next and then go from there.
Rob: Yeah, we mostly just chat a lot and keep each other up with ideas and thoughts on collaborations, gigs, new sounds to use and when we have put up an idea on Splice. It’s much easier when you’re in the same place and can work on a project at the same time, but we have found a way of changing our format to take turns when the other person is asleep due to time zones. Waking up and seeing what the other has created or added is always great and refreshing in a creative way.
How did you land on the EP title Alive?
Andro: We floated a couple of different options at first but none of them seemed to stick. Initially, the title track wasn’t a collaboration and had no vocals – we wanted to add something more and make a track that was really differed and stood out, so after some talks with Ashez and Maddie we sat down to think about lyrics, from whence came the name.
What was your main goal while creating the project?
Andro: We wanted to make something that would help us define our sound. Both of us enjoy a nice and lush slow melodic and atmospheric pad as much as the next producer but we also enjoy experimental and gritty sounds, which make listeners really wonder “What the heck is that?” So we tried to incorporate those in a way that wasn’t too outlandish.
I think unintentionally we mimicked our creative process – It’s a constant state of turmoil and uncertainty, with just as many beautiful elements as dark and grimy parts
Most of the songs balance a smooth and atmospheric air with gritty and hard-hitting sections. Can you speak to the juxtaposition?
Andro: I think unintentionally we mimicked our creative process – It’s a constant state of turmoil and uncertainty, with just as many beautiful elements as dark and grimy parts.
Rob: Having such gritty main drop sections meant having an atmospheric and smooth intro/break/outro was vital in giving the EP its character and resulting in the majority of tracks having a cohesive ‘musical’ piece, rather than just a dark grimy tone the whole way through haha.
What’s next for you?
Andro: We’re working on a couple remixes with other producers both here in the states and in NZ. I personally hope to get back there for a couple shows over the summer, i.e. December, January or February but we’ll see. Ultimately, I think the goal is to move to LA soon.
Rob: I’m hoping to get some shows here in New Zealand (that hopefully Andro can join in on), especially in the North Island, where the scene is huge, to gain some exposure and play some of the venues we haven’t had the chance to play at yet but have heard so much about.
