View this post on Instagram

  We are very excited to announce that @lateworks_  of Noise will be out on @slowdancerecords on 10TH NOVEMBER You can pre-order the limited edition vinyl now via our website in our bio and on @roughtrade The 40 minute album features members of @bmblackmidi @goatgirlofficial @404guild @sorrybanduk @powerplant___  @curlrecordings & more who came into a studio in six groups to record with a set of instruments sculpted by @mathildabgreene @a4ngus @joe.bradleyhill & @jonaspequeno     The groups were only allowed to sample the instruments and their voice, and any lyrics had to be written in the time (of which they only had six hours). You can listen to a sampler and find more information on the Slow Dance & Late Works websites. Tracklist: A1 – “forged in fire” ft.( @djdairy2020 @thegreep @agaujma @silkarmour100 & @jerskinfendrix ) A2 – “diggy diggy fuck off” ft.( @plopper5000 @mrinstargram @maxsyedtollan & @tobyevansjesra ) A3 – “don’t sleep on” ft.( @glowsmusic & @felix.raman ) A4 – “unmenacingly violent” ft.( @marthaskye @krnlnrd @skrillig & @cajm_ ) B1 – “DRAIN MYTH” ft.( @bathwater.404 @devenny.404 @eliot.404 & @sonny.404 ( @404guild )) B2 – “DARK LORE BINGO” ft.( @bianca_scout @jacobfsamuel @homerhands @j_b_glazer @h__smart & @elenaisolini ) Musicians selected by @ggskips @joe.bradleyhill @maddymokeefe & @biancascout . All tracks mixed by the respective artists and @felix.raman and mastered for vinyl by @technodaddy666 (@pva_are_ok ) . Concept + vinyl design by @joe.bradleyhill inspired by Luigi Russolo’s 1913 manifesto “The Art of Noises”.

A post shared by Slow Dance (@slowdancerecords) on Oct 5, 2020 at 4:06am PDT

Ventures like this are typical of Slow Dance, run by three entrepreneurial music lovers Marco Pini, Darius Williams and Maddy O’Keefe. Slow Dance is a label, management, radio and events company that grew organically out of a college art zine. It has been recognised for its status as ‘one of the capital’s finest arbiters of taste’, and for its grassroots ethos, by publications such as NME, Dazed and The Quietus.

Fitting with their artistic origins, Slow Dance have collaborated with intermedia arts organisation Late Works on this project. Late Works founder Joseph Bradley Hill, who designed the concept, was inspired by Luigi Russolo’s 1913 manifesto The Art of Noises which classifies noises into six categories. Hill chose the four sculptors to contribute while O’Keefe, Pini and Bianca Scout weighed in to choose the musicians.

One group of musicians includes Lottie Pendlebury and Rosy Jones from the Rough Trade signed band Goat Girl while another saw DJ Dairy & MC Spritz, from the 2019 Mercury nominated black midi, team up with burgeoning experimental-folk musician Aga Ujma. The musicians were only able to sample the instruments and their own voices. The result is a fascinating cross-genre set of tracks, created over six hours, that demonstrates the innate musicality of its participants.

The physical product is covered in interesting graphics and contains a black and white risographed concertina booklet detailing the project. Projects like these are important because they question the purpose of music and push its parameters.

View this post on Instagram

Shows are one of the most magical things on the planet and it’s all because of you lot! Without them my life feels a bit empty This Tour is gonna so emotional as it’ll have been a year since our last show in the UK, and we’re gonna make it extra special to show how much we have missed you Get tickets using link in you know where

A post shared by WALT DISCO (@waltdisco) on Sep 8, 2020 at 9:30am PDT

An early review of Young Hard and Handsome by DIY magazine gave it 4 stars, which the band was very happy with. They also had a recent interview with NME in which they talked about the upcoming release. The band, who all share a flat together, told the interviewer that ‘if it weren’t for lockdown, the whole EP would have a completely different look’ as they worked on a lot of the art and video work during that period.

Young Hard and Handome contains tracks that harken back to ‘new romanticism’ while also including modern ‘pop bangers’. The interviewer described the ‘honesty’ in Walt Disco’s lyrics as ‘what sets them apart from their peers’. The upcoming album will include songs that talk about gender identity, societal judgement and personal insecurities.

These worthwhile topics have long been present in the bands music. 2018 single Drowning in Your Bed, was an angst ridden rally against perfection. Here, the feedback sounds and urgent guitar playing make way for frontman James Potter’s powerful voice, singing: ‘perfection what do you make of this// draw me a picture, I’ll sit very still’.

James Potter is a force of life. With a restless energy reminiscent of David Byrne, he commands the stage in flamboyant clothes and makeup. His musical icons include The Blue Nile, Simple Minds and The Associates. This 80’s influence can be heard in tracks such as Strange to Know Nothing, which features a funky bass line and upbeat synth melody.

There is also a definite homage to the 70’s glam rock movement in Walt Disco’s music. Potter’s stage persona has more than a whiff of Marc Bolan about it. In the band’s video performance for BBC Introducing, he can be seen winking flirtatiously at the camera and dancing about to the beat in his feather pink jacket.

In an interview with DIY he stated that he cares deeply about ‘the show… the vision as a whole’; this is clear to see and explains why the band are so praised for their live performances. The upcoming album, and its promotional tour to follow next year, will not be one to miss.

View this post on Instagram

We’re 100, baby! To celebrate our 100th (!!) issue, we’re teaming up with @signaturebrew for a week of COVID-compliant celebrations, with @matthewmaltese, @blackhoneyuk and @spector playing some extra special (socially distanced, obv) live shows and @sportsteam hopping on the decks for our big closing party! Tix available tomorrow at 10am via @dicefm!

A post shared by DIY (@diymagazine) on Aug 24, 2020 at 6:01am PDT

DIY has been a staple publication within the Indie UK music scene for a while now. Like its name suggests, DIY was started in founding member Stephen Ackroyd’s University bedroom with limited resources. Since then it has become one of the most highly regarded UK music publications, boasting cover-features from the likes of Mike Skinner, Biffy Clyro and Wolf Alice.

Such an evolution can be owed to the hard work and passion of DIY’s contributors, as well as their ability to stay on the cutting edge by helping emerging artists gain recognition. The ‘Get to Know‘ section of their website promises to get readers ‘a little bit closer to the buzziest new acts‘. With features such as musical prodigy Alfie Templeman and the new Bristolian ‘heavy pop trio’ INDIGOS, it certainly succeeds in its aim.

The ‘100th Issue Party‘ will commence with a live performance from Matt Maltese on the 8th September. Maltese has been a recurring presence on the pages of DIY since his first EP was released back in 2016. He was recently interviewed by them on his  new EP Madhouse which came out on the 7th August. This interview saw Matt open up about, amongst other things, being dropped by Atlantic Records; and when the interviewer teasingly asks ‘Are you saying you’re cute Matt?’ it serves as a perfect example of how DIY mag often uses humour to make their features more personal and entertaining.

Matt posted on his instagram that he was looking forward to playing his ‘first gig in years celebrating @diymagazine 100th issue!’. On the following evening, 9th September, raucous indie-rock band Black Honey will take the stage. They too shared their enthusiasm on Instagram, stating ‘Woooahhh Can’t believe this is happening!’.

The week of live performances will surely be a joyous occasion, and it’s fair to say that DIY certainly deserves to celebrate such an impressive legacy!