Steve Aoki announces forthcoming project 'Kolony'
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Grammy-nominated DJ, producer, and music executive Steve Aoki unveils his new project in the form of upcoming album Steve Aoki Presents Kolony (out Friday July 21st), an amalgamation of party-cranking tracks that stretch across the boundaries between EDM and rap music, landing on something in between and adding supplemental flavour.
The announcement follows the release of monster hit ‘Just Hold On’ with Louis Tomlinson (from One Direction), which went to #1 iTunes overall in 43 countries. The new Kolony project, due for release on Friday 21 July via Liberator Music/Ultra Music, marks Aoki’s first full turn into rap music, with nearly 10 years of hip-hop collaborations, which he describes as “bridging the gap” between genres and is stacked with hard-hitting rhymes from some of the most prominent lyricists today, including Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Migos, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, ILOVEMAKONNEN, T Pain, and more.
‘Night Call’ serves as a standout on the Kolony tracklist and is the product of mutual support between Aoki and rap’s hottest trio Migos – who have just announced their first New Zealand show for this October – recorded in their ATL studio and featuring Yachtyon the off chance of dropping by during the session.
“When I was in the studio working on this project or a song with someone that made it to the album, they brought their own crew, and I'd turn around and be like, ‘this squad is like a colony,’” explains Aoki of the title. “We're like a colony, because it just felt like the energy in the room was more vibrant. It was a lot of energy from people flowing from the studio, and I loved that think tank, that group collaboration, and spirit.”
Steve Aoki is a two-time Grammy-nominated electronic dance music superstar who stands as one of pop music's most tireless multi-hyphenates. One of the Top 50 artists in the world on Spotify, Aoki has continuously established himself as one of music’s most notable names and faces, boasting an illustrious catalogue with chart-topping hits. This past year, his latest single with Louis Tomlinson of One Direction fame, ‘Just Hold On’, reached #1 iTunes overall in 43 countries, #1 iTunes Dance in 50 countries including the US, #34 on the Official NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Aoki also earned his latest Grammy nomination this past year for the Best Music Film category via his Netflix original documentary “I'll Sleep When I'm Dead”, which chronicles his fast-paced life as a DJ/producer and offers fans a firsthand look into his world. The film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival last spring to a sold-out audience.