In these tumultuous times, one cause for optimism in the music world is the rising prominence of the bass. While the masters of the low end have often been under-appreciated over the years, some current artists are bringing the bass to more widespread awareness. While Thundercat comes to mind, there’s another bass player out of Australia who is blazing his own trail of bass-centric musical goodness. Horatio Luna has been a mainstay of the Melbourne music scene as a founding member of the hip-hop and soul collective 30/70 and is now stepping out as a solo artist with a new album due out later this year, led by the fiery single “F*ck the System.”
The new track arrives with a video that features Luna with guest vocalists Willy Dynamo and Thampson P basking under the lights of a Melbourne football pitch as they deliver stylish verses over the infectiously grooving instrumentals. “F*ck the System” offers an apt depiction of the musical creativity coming out of Melbourne, with a sound that seamlessly blends diverse genres into something new, and in Luna’s case, with the bass front and center. Anyone who has heard Horatio Luna’s work in previous projects cannot question his ability to hold down a deep pocket, and “F*ck the System” shows that he is also equally at ease leading the charge.
Horatio Luna's upcoming LP Boom Boom is due out September 18 on Jitwam's label The Jazz Diaries. F*ck The System is available to stream or download here.
Tune into Horatio Luna TV here.
Connect with Horatio Luna: Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Soundcloud