Kai Whiston - Fissure Price (2017)

"The now 18 year old 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.”