Rising British electronic DJ / production duo TIBASKO are poised to announce a brand new release with the arrival of 'Traces / Gradients', lifted from their forthcoming self-titled EP due this September through Another Rhythm.
Drawing on a myriad on influences from techno, house, breaks, bass, including Bulgarian Folk Choir samples. This ethos of discovery and experimentation firmly plants TIBASKO in the driving seat of modern, progressive creators.
They say: "The beginning phase of this EP perfectly captures the feeling that this extended project will go down, showing a diverse and eclectic side of all things TIBASKO. We wanted to encorporate a wide range of production techniques across this project and you'll hear them in both Traces and Gradients. Going back to our love of digging through worldly music, we've found Bulgarian Folk music has this incredibly captivating element to it. 'Traces' features a beautiful sample titled 'Pilentze Pee' which showcases intense and dissonant vocals. Paired with the big, dreamy synth elements we created, we feel it's drawn out a mysterious and haunting feel to the track. 'Gradients' acts as a juxtaposition to 'Traces' - we intentionally gave it a more industrial and experimental sound parallel to what you'd find in those sweaty basement raves, whilst the vocals still retain that tribal element we love to include in our music."
About TIBASKO:
It all started with a couple of friends making tunes in their bedroom. Now, TIBASKO have been touted as upcoming stars by some of the biggest names in dance music. Childhood friends since the age of 12, with a shared love of electronic music and production, Ken Petalcorin and Andy Bowden first became acquainted in Hertfordshire’s Welwyn Garden City, but neither could have dreamt they’d be where they are quite so soon.
In his teenage years, Bowden was entranced by minimal and underground electronic music - learning to DJ during his time in the West Midlands at Worcester University. Former indie rock front man/guitarist Petalcorin was born in the Philippines and spent time in Japan before moving to Welwyn Garden City in 2000. With Andy’s knowledge of the dance music scene and Ken’s production skills, they forged a partnership in 2018 and created the Omusaré label to showcase their talent. Incredibly, the smooth Balearic sound of their self-released debut EP, Alma, exploded on Spotify and the twosome were instantly discovered.
By the following year, Alma had collated 1 million Spotify streams, putting TIBASKO firmly on the dance music map. Later that year, they signed to Billy and Al Webber’s Another Rhythm label, where their sound began to morph into a more melodic techno/break beat style.
Throughout 2019/20, a string of singles and EPs such as Imperium, Vertigo, Resistance and Reverie, showcased TIBASKO’s versatile alchemy of dance music styles. The duo were championed by the likes of The Blessed Madonna, John Digweed, and Franky Wah, while being listed as ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2020 by both BBC Introducing and Kiss FM. The pair also seized attention from radio heavyweights such as Annie Mac, Danny Howard, Ben Malone, and Pete Tong who named TIBASKO as future stars for 2021 and had them accompany the accolade with a BBC Radio 1 ‘Future Stars’ mix.
May 2021 saw the release of singles The One, followed by Let Me Tell You in June, firmly establishing TIBASKO’s epic, highly melodic electronic sound, seguing between breaks, electronica, techno and trance. The One has been supported relentlessly by super-producer Diplo on SiriusXM, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, with the duo also featuring on his Revolution dance music satellite channel with their own TIBASKO Guest Room Mix. Further radio support arrived from Pete Tong, Jaguar, and Kiss FM’s Ben Malone as the track peaked at #9 on Music Week’s Cool Cuts chart.
Represented globally by leading entertainment and media agency William Morris Endeavor, during lockdown TIBASKO live streamed exclusive sets for Jaguar’s ‘Utopia’ and, significantly, DJ Mag HQ who regularly invite some of the world’s best DJs to perform. Meanwhile, Andy and Ken began their post-Covid live comeback with a swathe of DJ shows including The Cause, Queen's Yard Summer Party, Creamfields Festival, Motion Bristol, Detonate Festival and their first European booking at the Poney Club in Toulouse.
In October 2021, TIBASKO released their single Icaro hit new global heights in it’s reception, achieving their first BBC Radio 1 Friday Feature, branded Sarah Story’s ‘Track ID’. A staple track in the sets of Pan-Pot and supported by Rebuke, Syreeta, Jaguar and Pete Tong. This momentum led them to Hibiscus, released soon after in in December. A staple display of melodic emotion, with a switch up of sound design prowess. Both singles included as Billbaord ‘First Spins’, TIBASKO finalised the year being featured in Notion, Mixmag, DJ Mag, and appeared on Beatport’s debut TikTok Live Q&A.
Rightfully storming into 2022, with a Tobacco Dock NYD set no less, TIBASKO’s debut remix package dropped from January to February. Icaro remixes from their close peer ABSOLUTE. and a favourite producer artist of Ken & Andy’s, Australia-based Juno Mamba. Then came their BBC Radio 1 Mini Mix, titled TIBASKO’s ‘Festival Fiesta’, which received outstanding praise and was cemented as one of the most reactive mini mixes aired by Danny Howard.
Confirmed for Snowbombing Festival (Austria), Hideout Festival (Croatia), Boardmasters (UK), Nass Festival (UK), Cultivate Festival (UK), Verve Festival (Switzerland), El Dorado Festival (UK), Fields Of Fantasy (UK) and Queens Yard Summer Party (UK), TIBASKO are on for an exciting UK/EU festival season. After global support in their music in 2021, TIBASKO continue to grow internationally with their live performances and following.
They have also confirmed their debut USA tour for September this year, a staple moment in their touring journey as they look to solidify their place amongst the strongest emerging electronic music artists to be breaking out of the UK.
Focusing on their forthcoming EP until summer takes over, TIBASKO’s eclectic menagerie of styles promises further intriguing shifts in tone as they aspire to reach a deeper emotional connection with their audience.
Traces / Gradients / 10 June
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