It surprised me that Boston based artists W00dy and Tone Ra have never collaborated, because based on new track “Which Way,” released via Soundcloud this week, you would think that it had been a common occurrence, especially since they are both prominent in the scene surrounding the HNDMD (hand made) label, as well as the production crew Zone Def Collective. Not to mention that most of the electronic artists I’ve known who delve so deep into these genres are in their mid to late twenties, which is not the case here. Both W00dy and Tone Ra love of noisey music, and took a combination of their mutual interests in the dance/future (Tone Ra) and experimental/noise (W00dy) genres and ran with it. “Which Way,” is a brilliantly executed mixture of both of their personal styles, and well, when it came to the lyrical content they just played off of the conversation at hand. And usually, the concepts behind lyrics, presented with W00dy’s smooth vocals, are best produced when the artists are purely in the moment together.
This is a track that hits you dead on, aggressive and a bit on the dark side at first, but in the best way that you can imagine. Psychedelic, and subtlety tribal, it is one of latest Boston based EDM tracks that I’ve heard with the potential to easily transfer into the booming Brooklyn underground scene. It reminds me of those secret warehouses and lofts where a modern EDM fan should cut their teeth on more experimental and hardcore genres, in nights spent immersed in the half freak-show, half budding artist filled dance floor, where everyone is in costume, and the parties stretch on until well after daybreak. I’d put this joining of forces in the up and coming category though, as I think that it has the ability to slip through those secretive scenes without permanently being buried, due to both the production quality and the genuine passion for electronic music behind it.
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