Iglooghost is a UK-based, electronic producer of hyperspeed booms, fizzes, squeezes and stretches. As the newest signee to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, he first released his dizzying ‘Chinese Nü Yr’ EP to much acclaim and contorted facial reactions. Iglooghost is also responsible for a large amount of the visual accompaniments to his music
On 29 September 2017, Iglooghost released his debut album “Neō Wax Bloom”, almost two years to the day since he made his debut as a teenager on Flying Lotus’s Brainfeeder imprint with the “Chinese Nü Year” EP – four tracks documenting the time-traveling adventures of a gelatinous worm-shaped creature called Xiangjiao. Expanding on this story, “Neō Wax Bloom” follows the events surrounding two giant eyeballs crashing into the mysterious world of Mamu. Across its 11 tracks, Iglooghost builds a typically intense, hysterical, borderline crazy soundtrack, introducing new characters to his fantastical world and inviting back old friends Mr. Yote and Cuushe for the ride.
In the words of Iglooghost “When a pair of giant eyeballs crash into the strange, misty world of Mamu, the mysterious forces that govern nature itself are disrupted. A life cycle of transforming creatures is thrown off balance, and the odd looking inhabitants of Mamu are forced to adapt to this calamity. These inhabitants include Yomi – a multicoloured pom-pom monk; Lummo – a wise blind witch training a band of melon coloured babies; and Uso – a sneaky bug thief hidden in a green cloak – as well as many others. As their respective stories begin to interlock, the mysteries surrounding the giant eyeballs are slowly revealed.”
At just 18 years old the Dorset based Kai first got into production at the age of 12, teaching himself how to use digital production tools “with Google Chrome and 50 tabs open”, he started experimenting with remixing computer game soundtracks that he and his friends were playing at the time.
His first break came after encouragement from Brainfeeder’s Iglooghost (they actually hail from the same small town) who inspired Kai to start getting his music out into the world, and subsequently put him in touch with LA based label TAR, run by PBDY of Brainfeeder and JP Moregun (with Jeremiah Jae). They went on to release his debut EP “Houndstooth” in 2016, garnering immediate support from Mary-Anne Hobbs and leading to his inclusion as a featured producer, alongside Grimes and Jam City, on Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes mixtape “Humans Become Machines” in 2017.
On his new material, Kai explains “This is an unveiling of some of the grim and humorous sounds I’ve been up to. More than anything, I wanted to portray a playful and juvenile sense of humour that I felt was missing in the music I was making and hearing, which ended up being a total blast to make. I was thoroughly intrigued in using aggressive sound as a mark-making tool and explore the malleability of sonics in a painterly & silly way. Actively running away from my direct influences & creating a universe around this sound was a really great process that had me laughing the whole time.”
The artwork was created by Dallas-born NY-based artist Sam Rolfes. Sam has created his signature surreal digital work for artists as diverse as Kingdom, DAWN, Rihanna, Danny L Harle and Caroline Polachek. “Sam Rolfes was a heavy inspiration and perfect partner during the whole process. I can vouch that the visual stimuli, conversations and friendship we built were a big factor in making this project possible.” says Kai.
The EP also features rising South London MC BUCHANAN, who released a collaborative EP with Brainfeeder’s PBDY earlier this year.
“Fissure Price” EP is out on Big Dada on 21st July, coming as the label celebrates it’s 20th anniversary this year with releases also forthcoming from Young Fathers, King Geedorah, Zomby, Hype Williams, Sampa The Great, Kutmah and many more.
