It's what steampunk might sound like if it were milked through Henry Cow after the beast had been ridden by a minotaur through a labyrinth constructed on the grounds of the Hollywood Bowl.
It's what Brian Eno could have created had he been crossbred with Martin Denny and blueprinted by Luigi Russolo's The Art of Noises.
It's sinuous enough for Ninja Tune, smart enough for Brainfeeder, unidentifiable enough for Mush, and opposed enough for Anticon. Mostly though, it's about as kaleidoscopic as aural wonder gets, without losing any of its high color. It is the spectacularly beautiful racket made by the myth-dripping man known as Daedelus, and it will blow your mind.
See also: Review & Photos: Daedelus - The Nest, Miami
Crossfade: For those damn few who don't yet know, just who (and what) is Daedelus?
Daedalus was the mythological figure you probably heard as Icarus' father, a little footnote for children to get a little morality alongside ancient history. Don't fly too high or else... This father-figure did so much more, supposed invention, petty jealousy/murder, maze making, etc. Really wonderful ideas to sample from, and that's where I've sourced my Daedelus.
If you had to sum up your sound in a single sentence, what would it be?
I'm out for the swoon of romance, the lurch of airplanes taking off, beats familiar yet we've never met. That is kind of a run-on sentence, but I'm as well, I guess.
If you had to choose three pivotal influences from the past, who (or what) would they be (and why)?
My namesake first, then Leonardo da Vinci determining the fundamental that sound is carried in waves, and Nikola Tesla for his gumption basically inventing the format those sounds have been transmitted on. I'm a passionate believer of invention.
And if you were forced to pick three from the present?
Names you might not be familiar with but made my young ears see beyond the radio forced feed. Acen, the Bomb Squad, Ray Keith.
Speaking of now, what's the most recent track(s) to rack?
Diversa's "Do You" has been making my days rich with intrigue and vague R&B-tinge. Cupp Cave's "Everlastic," taking house to a messier, better home. DJ Clap's "Let Yourself Go," a version of juke and footwork feels like a logical conclusion, every part of it vibrates.
See also: Five Signs You Might Be a Shitty DJ
What's on tap for the near now?
New album for Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder imprint entitled The Light Brigade, very chill. Also, upbeat oddities ready in the wings.
What else has Daedelus been up to this summer?
Touring and being very concerned with sounds to come... Life as a musician often crests and falls on little punctuation (like shows) or grand paragraphs (as albums are). You never get to predict those moments, but inviting them in helps, so does staying working towards.
And what are some of the highlights to come?
Returning to Miami is foremost. The Nest is new to me and by the sound of it, as a pop up venue, the scene as well, but welcomed a new space for new sounds! Also, sudden opportunities in Chile have me traveling south almost immediately, that'll be my first time there. Hard to see beyond those.
How should fans brace themselves for your July 3 storming?
Please bring open minds along with eager ears. I enjoy taking requests, but only if given by poison apple-bearing witches, or pig-hearted huntsmen.
Any other helpful hints for those who live by the beat?
Who doesn't? What else is there? Yours might move really slowly, but somewhere in that work-tired body there is need for pulse-pounding rhythm. You might not want to begin there. But by evening's end, get up and out and into something higher frequency.
Last but not least, noting your name-de-stage and the myth it reps, is there any chance of Daedelus tracking with/for Ariana Grande?
If the world made such a pairing possible, well, I'd be astonished. The Zedds of the world tend to paint in loud bold colors, but let's just say the canvas remains largely blank. We don't need to tease the analogy further, you get the picture. I'm excited to showcase a vibrant sound.
Crossfade's Top Blogs
Daedelus. With Galactic Effect. Thursday, July 3. The Nest, 62 NE 14th St., Miami. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets costs $10 to $20 plus fees via holdmyticket.com. All ages. Call 786-766-2411 or visit thenestmia.com.
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