Crooked Colours Langata Interview

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Crooked Colours Announce New Single Hold On and New Album Langata

Ahead of their highly anticipated second album Langata, electronic dance trio Crooked Colours have released another cut from the record, Hold On, out now. The simmering track follows previous hit singles I'll Be There and Do It Like You, and is another piece of the enigmatic puzzle that is Langata. The trio, consisting of members Philip Slabber, Leon De Baughn and Liam Merrett-Park, have revealed that the album will be out on May 17, with preorders available now. The group have also announced the tracklist for the record, available below. Tickets to the upcoming Langata national tour are moving quickly, with a second Melbourne show being announced for May 26 after the first sold out within days, and shows added for Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle. Joining Crooked Colours on the headline dates will be fellow triple j faves Nyxen and Kayex.

Hold On opens with a dreamy, swirling synthesiser, then blossoms into a hook-laden electronic dance pop jam, buoyed by percolating rhythms and sharp synthesisers. It feels like a love song, but there's a darkness there; as Philip Slabber's gentle vocal dives smartly in and out of the layers of the track, it's impossible not to feel moved. Speaking about the track, Leon De Baughn says "I remember the idea for this track first came to me while I was driving home from the beach. We had just got back from touring in the US and getting back to our summer inspired this track. It started with the chords and the floating vocal line that ended up building into a club beat with the bouncing bass line."

On Langata, Crooked Colours have created a new world; atmospheric beats, soft vocals, synths and guitars that move harmoniously throughout – it's addictive bliss. Singles I'll Be There, Do It Like You and Hold On are highlights, but there is so much more to this record – Never Dance Alone featuring the fabulous Ladyhawke is meditative, tender, and soft, while I C Light is deep and heavy. Written, recorded, and produced entirely by Crooked Colours, and mixed by Tim Watts and David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The XX, Caribou, FKA twigs), Langata contains multitudes and is a masterclass in the ecstatic simplicity of electronic dance music. Speaking about the album Philip Slabber says "Langata carries forward what we created with Vera while including what we learnt connects with fans while touring around the world. We're incredibly excited to release this record and even more excited to perform it live."

After taking Australia by storm with their ambitious and impressive new live show, Crooked Colours will be heading overseas to perform at some of the hottest festivals in the world, including Bonnaroo and Firefly festivals, plus more. Thilled to be hitting the road, Liam Merrett-Park enthuses, "The response to the tour so far has been crazy. We never thought we would be able to headline the Forum Theatre and now we're doing two. Also, we're very excited to be heading to New Zealand for our first ever headline tour there."

Crooked Colours have established themselves as one of the hottest rising acts with the debut Vera. Now they are on track to become one of our biggest electronic exports with this superb sophomore release.

Stream Hold On // Pre-order Langata here

Langata Official Tracklist
1. I'll Be There
2. Do It Like You
3. Heart String
4. Just Breathe
5. I C Light
6. Hold On
7. Langata
8. Mirror Ball
9. Never Dance Alone (featuring Ladyhawke)
10. Lose Someone

Crooked Colours Langata National Tour
Presented by Falcona, Select Music, Sweat It Out and triple j

SAT 18 MAY | THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE QLD | 18+ | *WITH SPECIAL GUEST KAYEX
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au

SAT 25 MAY | THE FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | *WITH SPECIAL GUESTS NYXEN AND KAYEX *SOLD OUT
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au

SUN 26 MAY | THE FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | *WITH SPECIAL GUESTS NYXEN AND KAYEX
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au

FRI 31 MAY | MEOW, WELLINGTON NZ | 18+ | *WITH SPECIAL GUESTS CLAYE AND JOISE MOON
Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.com.au

SAT 1 JUNE | GALATOS, AUCKLAND NZ | 18+ | *WITH SPECIAL GUESTS CLAYE AND IMUGI
Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.com.au

Interview with Crooked Colours

Question: I'm loving Hold On; where did the inspiration come from, for this track?

Liam Merrett-Park: Leon first came up with the idea of this track just after we had come back from our last foray to the US. He was driving back from the beach after spending a large period of time in the cold and he was like, "I want to write a warm summery song". He started with some warm chords which then turned into a funky club tune.

Question: What can you tell us about Langata?

Liam Merrett-Park: Langata was largely written on the road. It encompasses travelling in the tour bus, the periods sitting in hotels killing time, and the brief stints you get at home in between tours. There are a lot more emotions. It's more mature than Vera with a broader spectrum of songs. I think there is definitely a song on it for everyone.

Question: What was it like to work with Ladyhawke on Never Dance Alone?

Liam Merrett-Park: She is incredible! So easy to work with and she has such an incredible voice that she just nailed it straight away. You dream of working with people like her!

Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Liam Merrett-Park: We really enjoyed making 'I Hope you Get It' with Ivan Ooze. Making hip hop beats are so enjoyable because everyone bounces and vibes together in the studio. So, a rapper like Tyler, The Creator would be awesome. I'm sure the vibes would be thick in a studio with him.

Question: What can we expect from the upcoming tour?

Liam Merrett-Park: We are completely revamping our light show which we are excited about. We are still going through the concepts even now but we can't wait to see it live!

Question: What is the best part about playing at festivals like, Groovin The Moo?'

Liam Merrett-Park: Playing Australian festivals is always such a fun time. Especially the regional shows since the crowds go wild! You also have so many other bands that you have been playing with over the years, so it turns into one big catch up backstage!

Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Liam Merrett-Park: Perfect Run has been our favourite to play live. For the people that know it they get to wild out to one of our heavier dancier songs, and for people who don't know it, they are always surprised and get into it as well.

Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Liam Merrett-Park: Kylie Jenner. You would immediately sell out any show in the world with her attending.

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Liam Merrett-Park: Jungle, Leisure, Parcels, Mansionair, Tyler The Creator and Flume.

Interview by Brooke Hunter

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Crooked Colours Langata Interview

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