After the huge success of last years’ summer anthem, ‘All my friends ft. Tinashe, Chance The Rapper’ the duo have now been dubbed as ones to watch this year with the recent release of ‘Cruel ft. ZAYN’. This is pop, but the good stuff; their sound takes the best components of R&B, Electronic and Tropical House creating catchy yet skillfully crafted tracks.
It’s not only originals however, Snakehips (composed of Oliver Lee and James Carter) are masters at remixing. On Soundcloud, their 40-minute mixes have been met with high praise using smooth transitions to cross all genres. Performing at Camden’s KOKO, the supporting artists (Hannah Faith and Cadenza) laid the foundations for an energy-filled night. It’s a shame that the masses tend to arrive just to see the headline act as there is so much undiscovered talent. Especially up-and-coming producer Hannah Faith, who brought a sound that appealed to all on the night - think the style of Snakehips but with more track throwbacks.
Cadenza, also a producer, sustained the vibes with his remixes of Wiley, Watch The Duck and Ruary. However, with a more urban sound, it was less well received by the audience most likely accustomed to the more Pop orientated tracks like ‘All my friends'. Nonetheless, his mixes were super slick and should be checked out.
The crowd’s anticipation of Snakehips grew as the minutes counted down. Around me were people visiting from America, Canada and China, clearly demonstrating the duo’s international appeal. Oliver and James met for the first time at Hong Kong in 2012, and it’s clear to see that the Oriental style and culture has not only influenced their album art, but also the night’s set. The graphics and lighting were a spectacle in itself, which added to the incredible music to deliver the whole package.
It’s a shame that Snakehips’ (and other DJs) perform behind the lights in the darkness. Although atmospheric, from an audience's perspective it’s nice to see the artists’ enjoyment when performing and feed off their energy. But, from the silhouettes, you could clearly see the duo dancing. As were the audience, everyone was hyped by the perfectly constructed set list of remixes’, originals and throwback tracks. The night concluded with the song that made them: ‘All my friends’, the crowd knew every word, showing just how far the duo have come.
Felixe Forde