10 shows you don´t want to miss at Melt festival
It's again that time of the year when Melt is about to happen. And Melt is one of my favorite festivals. The venue is simply spectacular. Walking through Ferropolis is like walking through some sort of post apocalyptic scenario and it gives you the feeling of being part of any Blade Runner set. Only for that, it's totally worth the visit.
But today let's focus only on the music. No need to say a word about the headliners but if we dig a bit in the smaller names of this year's lineup, these are the 10 names I would not miss. Check them out!
01. Lemaitre
Lemaitre is an electronic duo hailing from Oslo, Norway. Formed in 2010 by longtime friends Ketil Jansen and Ulrik Denizou Lund, the band members named themselves after Belgian priest Georges Lemaître, father of the Big Bang theory. It's an appropriate reference for their sound, which ranges from electro-house to catchy pop grooves that fall somewhere between Daft Punk and Phoenix. Their music is a mix of electronics, live instruments, and a strong vocal presence. They have reached number one on the U.S. and Canadian charts for digital electronic albums in 2012.
02. Agar Agar
Clara and Armand produced their first track in Paris, for the retirement of their art school’s librarian, thus beginning the collaboration which brought them to post a few recordings on Soundcloud, including their debut single ‘Prettiest Virgin’ in April 2016. They remained shrouded in mystery for the release of their first EP ‘Cardan’ which came out in September 2016. The silky & roaring voice of Clara perfectly matches Armand’s drum machine and their 90’s synths. Coupled with hammering acid basslines, the tandem delivers an ‘early warp’ sound between Daniel Malaso, Black Devil Disco & Ariel Pink.
03. Elderbrook
About two years ago, Elderbrook teamed up with Producer duo CamelPhat to release a lil‘ club banger called ‘Cola’. However, fate had other plans when the track was catapulted into the charts around the world shortly after its release. What followed was a nomination for the Grammy and the inspiration that he would rather merge innovative dance music and leftfield pop. With his latest EP ‘Old Friend’ and his rousing and energetic one-man live show, Elderbrook has become the focus of attention all over the world, and this summer he’s finally visiting Ferropolis!
04. Parra for Cuva
Indulging in his relentless fascination for sound and harmony, Nicolas Demuth, aka Parra For Cuva, commenced his quest for music at a very young age. Starting with classical piano and taking stops in Jazz, Pop and Indie music, the young artist soon developed a strong passion for electronic music that made him leave the countryside and to big and creative Berlin. Using musical instruments, synthesizers and digital music editing, the audio designer masters the art of creating intelligent, intertwined music pieces from melodies, soft beats and sounds that he records in daily life. The result can be witnessed listening to his new album ‘Paspatou’: A piece of well-mended electronica that touches the soul, somewhere between melancholy and euphoria and most of all: well beyond mainstream electronic music.
05. Kollektiv Turmstrasse
There are few artists operating in the house/techno milieu who offer much beyond functionality in their music. Those who bring more than this to the table always stand out from the crowd. Hamburg/Berlin duo Kollektiv Turmstrasse (Christian Hilscher and Nico Plagemann) are one of those rare acts whose music caters for both body and soul. Watching their live show reveals how their music connects with crowds on an emotional level, and how its melodic and textural depth works in such synergy with its rhythmic backbone.
06. Nilüfer Yanya
21 year-old Nilüfer Yanya’s music incorporates the London’s urban edge with beautiful wandering guitar lines, downtrodden soulful and jazz flickered melodies, on top of minimalist and atmospheric beats.
Calling to mind artists as diverse as Tracy Chapman, King Krule and Portishead, each track Nilüfer writes leaves a perfect imprint of simplicity. She takes her inspiration from iconic songwriters such as Nina Simone and Jeff Buckley as well as modern influences Conan Mockasin and Rosie Lowe.
07. Boy Pablo
Since his meteoric rise, thanks to plenty of appearances on your favourite video platform, the 19-year-old Pablo Muñoz aka Boy Pablo’s releases have been going through the roof. It’s no surprise that Pitchfork called him one of the hottest new indie up-and-comers of the planet. He produces sugar-sweet pop music for all the highs and lows of teenage life, from sheer ecstasy to melancholy, all guised in youthful lyrics and catchy riffs. On stage, his four best friends help him to perform his schmaltzy Mac DeMarco-style 80s dream pop, taking everyone on an energetic and lyrical journey to the land of bedroom pop.
08. James Vickery
To stand out from the current flood of highly talented British singer/songwriters, something special is needed. 22-year-old James Vickery from, well, South London is doing just that, with his extraordinary falsetto voice and a sound that’s actually good for one or the other surprise. More specifically, subtle electro sound meets raw, emotional soul vocals, nothing new, but with James Vickery, it sounds like it’s just being reinvented.
09. Duckwrth
Jared Lee aka Duckwrth is one of the most refreshing rappers of the moment. He grew up in Los Angeles as a skater kid listening to classical, jazz and gospel music and now he makes a perfect mix of hip hop and funk. However, this 31-year-old MC stayed true to himself and birthed a project that just makes you want to move. He uses his environment as inspiration.
10. Jorja Smith
I know I said that this list was not about the obvious headliners which are familiar to everyone but if there is always an exception to the rule, let Jorja Smith be the exception. Her show is a must see and Melt! is going to be her only stop in Germany!
The young London-based musician Jorja Smith has been dabbling in music since her early childhood. Coming of age, she already uploaded such promising tracks to Soundcloud she instantly laid the foundation of a promising career which she forms and fosters completely by herself. As an avowed Amy Winehouse fan, she infuses 90s soul with bits and pieces of grime, defining it as her own neo soul creation after adding warm R&B vibes to her sound. On top, her smoky voice makes everyone fall for her ‘Teenage Fantasy’ immediately. Superstars such as Drake and Bruno Mars have been smitten by her and hits such as ‘Blue Lights’ and ‘I Am’ for quite some time.
Melt festival will take place in Ferropolis (Germany) between July 19th and 21st, 2019. Check out all the information to know more about the lineup, schedule or ticket sales here.
Cover photograph by Matías Altbach
